Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Poor Health and Long-Term Care: Health Transitions in Europe – Results from the European Community Household Panel

This is the final report of Work Package 3 of the AHEAD project, undertaken by the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Kent. This Work Package has aimed at providing estimations, based on the European Community Household Panel (ECHP), of annual probabilities of transition between health states, including two states regarded as absorbing: permanent institutionalisation and mortality. The purpose of this work is to serve as a building block for estimating healthy life expectancy and forecasting the future health expenditure needs of populations. This report breaks new ground in providing comparative information on rates of long-stay entry into permanent health-care institutions for persons aged over 65. Two definitions of health state are used for this purpose: self-assessed health and a chronic, hampering health condition. After an initial assessment of the ECHP, undocumented problems regarding the reporting of mortality and institutionalisation resulted in a change of strategy. This change involved post-stratification to adjust for mortality and obtaining information about rates of institutionalisation from alternative sources on a country-by-country basis for those countries for which information was available. Yet this approach was not practicable for all of the countries participating in the ECHP. Full results are provided for Belgium, the UK, Ireland and Italy; partial results are provided for Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal and Finland. These results consist of the estimated annual probabilities of transition between health states (including mortality) for adults living in private households, and for persons over 65 the estimated annual probabilities of first-time admission from the community as a long-stay resident of a health-care institution. The results are presented in the form of probit equations, which enable estimates to be prepared by age and gender.
A Mental Model Perspective of a Driver Workload System

Conceptualizing driver mental models is not a common tool used to evaluate vehicle human-machine interfaces (HMIs) in the transportation-related literature. The presented research examines the results of a mental model exercise used to explore drivers' perception of a task mitigation workload manager. The driver workload system was designed to disable HMI functions when driving demand was estimated (by the system algorithm) to be high based on real-time assessment of the external driving environment. This paper focuses on abstracting driver comprehension of the workload system using mental model concepts.
Vaccins antipoliomyélite oral et inactivé : vers une éradication de la poliomyélite

L'administration alternee de deux vaccins poliomyelitique inactive et vivant attenue, donne au pediatre et ses patients de nouvelles perspectives. En effet, l'administration de deux doses du vaccin inactive, suivie de deux doses du vaccin vivant attenue, limite le risque de la paralysie post vaccinale et assure une meilleure immunite locale et humorale.
Board Quality and Earnings Management: Evidence from India

This article examines whether board qualities influence the earnings management behaviour of firms in a large emerging market set-up by using panel data of 783 Indian private manufacturing firms over a period of 7 years (April 2009–March 2016). The study finds that it is board quality that helps in curbing earnings manipulation and not just board independence. Results reveal that diligent and busy boards help in reducing earnings management, CEO duality affects the quality of reported earnings and promoters’ influence on boards increases earnings management. Domestic or foreign institutional investors do not have any independent impact on earnings management. However, domestic institutional ownership reduces earnings management when promoters’ influence exists. The article contributes to the literature by focusing on whether corporate governance (CG) mechanisms are important in curbing earnings management in an emerging market context. The findings are expected to be helpful to policymakers and regulators while framing appropriate CG policies and regulations.
Sexual self-perception and adjustment of cardiac patients: a psychometric analysis

The psychological impact of a cardiac event includes anxiety and depression, poor sexual quality, and diminished sexual satisfaction. Few measures capture psychosexual recovery following a cardiac event. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the Sexual Self-Perception and Adjustment Questionnaire (SSPAQ) among cardiac patients (N = 128), measuring sexual anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and satisfaction. Scale-level content validity was 0.97. After item analysis, 28 items were retained; Cronbach’s alpha is >0.90, indicating item appropriateness for the combined scale (0.97). A four-factor model was supported with each of the subscale items accounting for at least 64% of the variance. Construct validity comparing sexually active to inactive showed those inactive had significantly lower sexual self-perception. The SSPAQ is a cohesive measure of sexual self-perception, and findings suggest each subscale can be used independently for measures of sexual anxiety, sexual depression, sexual self-efficacy, and sexual satisfaction, and may be useful in research and clinical settings.
A Pilot Protection Method for Active Distribution Networks Based on Protected Line Model

After Distributed Generations were connected to the distribution network on a large scale, the traditional single-ended radial distribution network structure became an active distribution network structure, which affected the sensitivity and reliability of traditional protection methods. Therefore, a new pilot protection method for active distribution network based on the protected line model is proposed in this paper, which determines whether the protected line model is integrity according to whether the waveforms are similar. The protection units on both sides of the line compare the waveform similarity between the respective measured voltages and the referenced voltages, then compare the fault location judgment results on both sides, and then make an accurate judgment on whether the protected line has internal or external faults. Finally, the active distribution network model was built in PSCAD/EMTDC simulation software. The simulation results show that the method proposed in this paper can accurately identify internal and external faults, has high reliability and good applicability, and is less affected by noise.
Did Interest Rates at the Zero Lower Bound Affect Lending of Commercial Banks? Evidence for the Euro Area

Abstract The paper examines the bank lending activities of banks in a low interest rate environment. External financing of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the euro area primarily takes place via bank loans and not through capital markets. Based on the Bankscope database, bank balance sheet data is utilized. Control variables are included, such as for the system of banking regulation. The panel estimation includes 706 banks from 15 Euro area member states and is conducted for the period 2000 to 2015. All models show a significant positive impact of lower interest rates on net lending. In particular, the results do not indicate that credit is restricted if interest rates move towards the zero-lower bound.
The Relationship between User Perception and Preference of Greenway Trail Characteristics in Urban Areas

Greenways provide multiple benefits for trail users’ individual experiences based on users’ background environment and their perceptions of characteristics such as the trail width, vegetation, water, and facilities. Although greenway trail characteristics are important factors that affect users’ preferences, only a few studies have examined individuals’ experiences of greenways based on their perceptions and preferences. The purpose of this study is to examine how greenway trails can be designed to improve users’ experiences in relation to their perceptions and preferences by considering trail characteristics. We examine the relationship between greenway trail characteristics and likability using t-tests as well as correlation and multiple regression analyses. In the current study, virtual tour surveys of greenway users were conducted, with two urban greenway trails as the study sites: Town Lake Trail in Austin, Texas, and Buffalo Bayou Trail in Houston, Texas. Perceptions of all eight greenway trail characteristics, except for background buildings, were significantly different between the trails, and a significant difference in likability was found for five characteristics (the presence of water, trail facilities, trail width, adjacent automobile traffic, and built structures on the trail). In addition, the results of the correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed that the presence of water, amount of vegetation, automobile traffic, and built structures were correlated with likability. These findings suggest that designing appropriate types of greenway trails can help increase users’ likeability ratings of urban greenways. This study contributes to the enhancement of trail environments by providing strategies for practitioners to effectively design and manage greenways.
E-Commerce as a Strategy for Sustainable Value Creation among Selected Traditional Open Market Retailers in Enugu State, Nigeria

This paper aims to explore E-commerce as a strategy for sustainable value creation among selected traditional open market retailers in Enugu state. Every town in Nigeria boasts of an appreciable number of traditional retail markets, which play an essential role in African life, acting as both an economic necessity, and a cultural phenomenon that has helped to shape community ideas for centuries. Transactions are mainly conducted using cash. Increased sales, lower costs and enhanced sustainability are potential benefits accruable to the traditional retail markets, considering full adoption of E-commerce. Using a concurrent mixed method, this research used a descriptive survey design with a population, which comprised retailers in the selected traditional markets. A sample size of 234 was drawn from the selected markets using Bill Godden’s sampling size determination. Primary data were collected by questionnaire and interviews, and these data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Hypotheses were tested with chi square. It was concluded that E-commerce has the potential to open up vistas of opportunities in the traditional open markets when used strategically, thereby eradicating incidences of debt, which is a common factor in the traditional retail business, ensuring a mutually beneficial business relationship between retailer and consumer. This ultimately leads to a wider reach, higher transaction rates, bigger profits and sustainability.
Low-voltage Power Supply Network Topology Identification Based on Measurement Data

The automatic identification of the topology of low-voltage power supply network is the basis for the intelligence of low-voltage distribution network. The widespread installation of smart meters and the development of intelligent remote meter reading technology have brought a large amount of power grid operation data, providing a new path for topology identification of low-voltage power supply networks. In this paper, a topology identification method of low-voltage power supply network based on measurement data is proposed. Firstly, the feature extraction by wavelet transform is performed on the power sequence of the branch node, and the connection of branch nodes is obtained according to the power value and the similarity of the feature power sequence. Then the position of user nodes is obtained by using the idea of 0-1 integer quadratic programming. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method for complex topological structures is verified by an example of 12 branches and 114 users.
Component Characterization in a Growth-Dependent Physiological Context: Optimal Experimental Design

Synthetic biology design challenges have driven the use of mathematical models to characterize genetic components and to explore complex design spaces. Traditional approaches to characterization have largely ignored the effect of strain and growth conditions on the dynamics of synthetic genetic circuits, and have thus confounded intrinsic features of the circuit components with cell-level context effects. We present a model that distinguishes an activated gene’s intrinsic kinetics from its physiological context. We then demonstrate an optimal experimental design approach to identify dynamic induction experiments for efficient estimation of the component’s intrinsic parameters. Maximally informative experiments are chosen by formulating the design as an optimal control problem; direct multiple-shooting is used to identify the optimum. Our numerical results suggest that the intrinsic parameters of a genetic component can be more accurately estimated using optimal experimental designs, and that the choice of growth rates, sampling schedule, and input profile each play an important role. The proposed approach to coupled component–host modelling can support gene circuit design across a range of physiological conditions.
Efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy for Graves' ophthalmopathy: the University of Athens experience.

For citation purposes: Kouloulias V, Kouvaris J, Zygogianni A, Mosa E, Georgakopoulos J, Theodosiadis P, Antypas C, Platoni K, Tolia M, Beli I, Alonistiotis D, Dilvoi M, Patatoukas G, Asimakopoulos C, Efstathopoulos E, Kelekis N. Efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy for Graves’ ophthalmopathy: the University of Athens experience. Head Neck Oncol. 2013 Feb 06;5(2):12. Efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy for Graves’ ophthalmopathy: the University of Athens experience
The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook

It is quite difficult to discuss the functioning of network-based economic and social relations by revealing a historical background especially for the period when Neo-liberal economics was dominant. The classical economics approach claims that it takes the individual to the centre while making the economic analysis. One of the deficiencies in the studies conducted through this approach is to explain major structural events or facts based on individual level analysis. The network analysis approach, which has been frequently encountered recently, examines the individual, as a social entity with its social interactions. Network analysis, by analyzing economic events in many ways, can better explain the problems related to social structure in a cause-effect relationship. The network analysis approach is considered a structural approach as it examines not only individuals but also relationships and their effects.
Price volatility and price transmission in perishable commodity markets: evidence from Chinese lychee markets

ABSTRACT This paper examines price volatility and price transmission in lychee markets in China. The empirical results provide strong evidence of price volatility clustering in farm and retail markets, and the farm prices exhibit negative asymmetric volatility. We find a bi-directional Granger causal relationship between farm prices and retail prices. The impulse analysis shows that the retail price responses to farm price shocks reach the maximum value faster than the farm price responses to retail price shocks. Retail price shocks cause larger short-run positive effects on farm prices. The variance decomposition indicates that the long-run effects of retail price shocks on farm price changes are larger than the effects of farm price shocks on retail price changes.
Length of stay in care homes

Care home placements constitute the majority (57%) of net council spending in England on social care for older people. Information about the expected length of stay for people admitted to a care home is important for predicting lifetime costs and for understanding the implications of reforming funding arrangements for social care. To date there has been very little research able to give us an accurate picture of how long people live in care homes before they die. In this study, we draw on anonymised information about all the residents (11,565 residents in total) that died in Bupa care homes in the period Nov 2008 to May 2010. The availability of this Bupa data has given the opportunity to produce some needed and timely research on the question of length of stay. The results of this study will help to fill some of the gaps in our knowledge on this subject. Residents of the 305 Bupa homes are largely representative of the England average in relation to age, sex and funding source. Bupa have more people in nursing beds with a higher level of frailty than the average in England, but we are able to re-weight the results to estimate average lengths of stay that more closely reflect the England situation. In the Bupa sample, the average length of stay was 801 days, but with a considerable tail of long-stayers. Half of residents had died by 462 days. Around 27% of people lived for more than three years, with the longest stayer living for over 20 years. People had a 55% chance of living for the first year after admission, which increased to nearly 70% for the second year before falling back over subsequent years. Lengths of stay for the Bupa sample and those estimated for England are given in Table One (below). Adjusted figures show a bigger difference between nursing beds and residential beds than the unadjusted figures as they account for people that might have changed from a residential to a nursing bed during their stay in the home. Length of stay information can be combined with information about the unit (e.g. weekly) costs of a care home placement to calculate expected costs of care for people newly admitted to care homes (see Table One). At £550 per week (before inflation), an 832-day expected stay would cost £65,400. The total cost for around a quarter of people would exceed £94,700 at this weekly rate, and for 10% it would be more than £166,000.
IMPACT OF CLEFT LIP WITH OR WITHOUT CLEFT PALATE ON PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF RISK AND OPINIONS OF GENETIC TESTING

by HANNAH LEIGH COLABRESE The purpose of this study was to examine the uptake and impact of environmental and genetic information by parents of children with isolated CL/P. A 33-item questionnaire queried parents on impact of the diagnosis, beliefs regarding the origin of CL/P, recurrence risk, risk reduction, interest in genetic testing, and perceived barriers to testing. A recurrence risk of 2-5% was reported by 40.4% of the participants. No variables were identified as significant predictors of overestimating risk. The majority of participants indicated interest in testing (59.1%, 97/164). Parents interested in testing perceived greater emotional burden (p=.006). Predictors of interest included greater emotional burden (OR=1.19; p =.030) and minority status (OR=5.78; p =.030). Parents of affected females were more likely to be interested in testing, particularly as perceived burden on family activities increased. This study indicates that, if developed, genetic counselors should participate in the testing process for this population.
A Novel Approach in Clustering Supervised Learning (CSL) for Recommender Systems

A recommender system is a novel approach in clustering supervised learning for identifying the necessity to develop a recommender system for movies. Here we try to adjust the training and testing samples to get the best accuracy for the recommender system. A recommender system applies the method of knowledge discovery for a specific problem to adapt the recommendation of the products and services to the users. The vast growth in the information and the count of visitors to web sites especially on e-commerce applications in the past few years has created some challenges for recommender systems. E-commerce recommender systems are vulnerable to profile injection attacks, involving insertion of fake profiles into the system to influence the recommendations to users. Prior work shows the performance of systems is affected by a small number of biased profiles. In this paper, we propose that a supervised clustering approach can be used effectively for the detection of profile injection attacks in recommender systems. We formulate the problem as a mapping model between rating behavior and item distribution by exploiting the least-squares approximate solution. Experimental results are given to validate the superior performance of our approach in comparison with benchmarked methods and user methods.
Tourism Total Factor Productivity and Its Regional Variation in China from 1992 to 2005

Total factor productivity is a basic index reflecting the quality of economic growth and the rate of technical progress in a country or a region.Adopting the Solow's Residual Method and the C-D production function,this paper estimates tourism total factor productivity(TTFP)growth rates and identifies sources of tourism economic growth for the period from 1992 to 2005 in China and its 30 provinces(municipalities or regions)except Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan). Based on it,this paper analyzes the causality between TTFP and tourism economic growth,then classifies the tourism growth patterns of 30 provinces into five categories according to the contribution of TTFP to tourism economic growth,and finally discusses the divergence of TTFPs and tourism economic growth rates among 30 provinces.The main conclusions are as follows. (1)The Chinese tourism industry belongs to an obvious factor-driven economy with cheap labor forces contributed 63.69% to the total economic growth. (2)The average growth rate of TTFP is slightly positive by 2.91% during the sample period thanks to the effect of tourism education,encouraging policy,and better information provision,but may be hampered by the inadequate infrastructure investment and investment inefficiency. (3)Tourism technical progress is a sufficient but not a necessary condition for tourism growth,and the improvement of tourism technical progress is irrelevant to region's economic level,nor to its geographic location due to the enclave tourism model and the special trait of tourism that tourist attractions are "fixed" in geographic location. (4)There is obvious and ever enlarging divergence among provinces in tourism growth pattern and TTFP growth rate.If it continues,the provincial tourism developing level will be even more unbalanced in the future.But it will be helpful for the laggards to obtain higher TTFP growth rate by enhancing the public services system.
An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Tourism Development: The Mauritian Case

This article investigates the link between foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism development for the case of the small island economy of Mauritius for the period 1980–2015. The research employs a dynamic time series econometrics framework, namely a vector error correction model (VECM), to account for potential dynamic and endogenous relationship in the FDI–tourism nexus. Analysis of the finding shows that FDI has a positive and significant effect, albeit relatively lower compared to the other classical factors of tourism development, in the long run. Interestingly, a bicausal effect is observed in the long run while an indirect link between FDI and tourism development via the economic growth channel is found.