Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Using Multiple Phenotypes in General Pedigrees

The use of correlated phenotypes may dramatically increase the power to detect the underlying quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Current approaches for multiple phenotypes include regression-based methods, the multivariate variance of components method, factor analysis and structural equations. Issues with these methods include: 1) They are computation intensive and are subject to problems of optimization algorithms; 2) Existing claims on the asymptotic distribution of the likelihood ratio statistic for the multivariate variance of components method are contradictory and erroneous; 3) The dimension reduction of the parameter space under the null hypothesis, a phenomenon that is unique to multivariate analyses, makes the asymptotic distribution of the likelihood ratio statistic more complicated than expected. In this article, three cases of varying complexity are considered. For each case, the efficient score statistic, which is asymptotically equivalent to the likelihood ratio statistic, is derived, so is its asymptotic distribution. These methods are straightforward to calculate. Finite-sample properties of these score statistics are studied through extensive simulations. These score statistics are for use with general pedigrees.
A Systematic Review of Common Physiotherapy Interventions in School-Aged Children with Cerebral Palsy

ABSTRACT This systematic review focused on the common conventional physiotherapy interventions used with children with cerebral palsy (CP), aged 4 to 18 years, and critically appraised the recent evidence of each of these interventions using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence. The search strategy yielded 34 articles after inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The investigated physiotherapy interventions included strength and functional training, weight-supported treadmill training (WBSTT), and neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT). A category of treatment dosage was also included. Strength training was the most studied intervention with significant improvements found in the strength of selected muscle groups using dynamometry, with fewer studies showing significant improvement in function. Functional training showed improvements in gross motor function, endurance, and temperospatial measures, such as gait speed and stride length. Nonsignificant trends of improvement on the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and gait velocity were found for WBSTT by a few studies with low levels of evidence (case series). Of three studies that evaluated NDT, one high-level evidence study, i.e., randomized controlled trial (RCT) found significant improvements on the GMFM. All studies reviewing treatment dosage had high levels of evidence (RCTs), yet found no significant differences for different intensities of treatment. These results indicate that the levels of evidence for physiotherapy interventions, particularly strengthening and to a lesser extent functional training, in school-aged children with CP has improved; however, further high-level evidence is needed for other interventions.
Brief Communication: EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL QI-THERAPY ON EMOTIONS, ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAMS, AND PLASMA CORTISOL

The authors investigated the effect of external Qi-therapy (EQT) on changes in encephalograms (EEGs) and circulating cortisol concentrations. Ten college students participated in cross over sessions, receiving EQT or placebo treatment with their eyes open. Subjects reported improved emotions of satisfaction, relaxation, and calmness during EQT as compared to levels reported during placebo treatments. There were significant differences in the proportions of alpha and beta EEG waves between the two sessions, and the relative strengths of alpha waves were higher during EQT than during control sessions (p < .05). Plasma cortisol concentrations during EQT were significantly lower than during control sessions p < . 05). Thus, Qi-therapy was more effective in inducing relaxation than placebo treatment.
Teachers' Understanding of the Particulate Nature of Matter: The Case of Zambian Pre-Service Science Teachers.

This study assessed Zambian Junior High School pre-service science teachers’ understanding of the particulate nature of matter. A sample comprised 30 pre-service science teachers at a teacher training college. Data was collected through a questionnaire adopted from Ozmen and Kenan (2007). Results show that most teachers had correct views on the effect of phase change on speed, spaces and number of particles in a substance. However, most pre-service teachers had poor understanding about the effect of phase change, cooling and heating on the size of the particles in a substance. Most pre-service teachers erroneously believed that when a substance is cooled it contracts because the sizes of its particles decrease, and when a substance is melting the size of its particles increase. Results have implications on science teaching and learning and teacher education.
Stakeholder relations and maintaining the licence to operate: a comparative case study of the Swiss telecommunications industry

Purpose – In the research project “Good practices of stakeholder view” three firms in the Swiss telecommunications industry were analysed in order to compare their stakeholder involvement. This paper seeks to illustrate how these three firms, namely Swisscom, Sunrise, and Orange, dealt with a particular problem all of them faced: the deployment of antennas for mobile telephony that in some cases was strongly opposed by the population. Thereby, the “Telco” firms were challenged as societal institutions and had to defend their licence to operate. The three firms chose different strategies to deal with the problem.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on comparative case studies that combine qualitative and quantitative aspects.Findings – The benefits of good stakeholder relations are illustrated as well as the problems that might arise when stakeholders are ignored.Research limitations/implications – The findings are based on a sample of three telecommunication firms.Practical implications – The .
Full Chip-Package-Board Co-Design of Broadband QFN Bonding Transition Using Backside via and Defected Ground Structure

A complete chip-package-board co-design of bonding transition for a quad flat pack nonlead (QFN) package was conducted from dc to millimeter wave frequencies. First, two ground paths in parallel were used to improve the operating frequency of the commercially available QFN to 50 GHz. Owing to its rectangular cross section, ribbon bond has a better form factor than the corresponding round wire bond with the same dc resistance; it is therefore more effective in impedance matching, and can carry more current at high frequencies. Ribbon bonds were utilized to improve incrementally the frequency performance. Applying the -1.5-dB rule for |S21| and the -10-dB rule for |S11|, improvements are found to be 1.7 and 3.2 GHz, respectively. Second, QFN frequency performance was significantly improved by using an embedded DGS on the PCB. At 50 GHz, the transition was found to be excessively capacitive. A high-impedance DGS, being inductive itself, was used to compensate for the capacitive nature of the transition. The lumped element approach was taken to provide the background rationale how a DGS on the PCB ground can be adequately used to reduce the capacitive nature of the transition around 50 GHz. Indeed, from simulation at 50 GHz, utilizing the DGS helped to improve the impedance matching, and reduce the insertion loss, further extending the range of operating frequencies. Later, a full wave simulation of the DGS-compensated transition was conducted and the transition was experimentally validated. The full-wave simulated and experimentally obtained results are in good match. From measurements, when the DGS is used, the -1.5-dB rule for |S21| and the -10-dB rule for |S11| enable the QFN package to achieve the bandwidth up to 62.3 and 66 GHz, respectively.
Jomtien to Jomtien: The Evolving Coordination Process of Education for All 1990-2011

UNESCO’s EFA coordination mechanisms have been serving political platforms for EFA stakeholders for over 20 years. During the Ninth Meeting of the High-Level Group on EFA (HLG) in 2010, however, UNESCO was called on to enhance the effectiveness of the coordination mechanisms. This paper examines the EFA coordination mechanisms between the World Conference in Jomtien in 1990 and the 10th HLG in Jomtien in 2011 and identifies three reasons behind the call to revitalize the mechanisms: (1) EFA stakeholders’ weakened commitment to EFA, (2) decreased education funding and (3) the diminished prospect of meeting EFA goals. The paper concludes by summarizing the direction of the new EFA coordination mechanisms that have been put in place since the HLG in 2011.
The emerging European corporate governance model: Anglo-Saxon, Continental, or still the century of diversity?

During recent years the European Commission has been active in creating a "level playing-field' for European companies through the creation of a harmonized regulatory framework. The Europeanization of national corporate governance models was seen as an important part in this endeavour. However, the likely policy consequences are far from clear and the direction of corporate governance convergence in Europe is still a matter of debate. One key question is whether national governance models across Europe will converge as a result of the European regulatory framework and, if so, what the shape of the European corporate governance model will be. This article advances the view that, owing to EU decision-making procedures and the diversity of national corporate governance models across Europe, it is difficult to ensure that the European project of governance convergence is underpinned by a dominant coalition promoting a well-articulated corporate governance model.
Virtual reality navigation system for prostate biopsy

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancer in America. Tumor detection involves non-invasive screening tests, but positive results must be confirmed by a prostate biopsy. About twelve random samples are obtained during the biopsy, which is a systematic procedure traditionally performed with trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance to determine prostate location. Recently, methods of fusion between TRUS and preoperative MRI have been introduced in order to perform targeted biopsies aimed to reduce the number of samples to few suspicious areas. Since the TRUS displaces the prostate during the procedure, the preoperative MRI does not match patient anatomy. Therefore, complex MRI deformation algorithms are needed. However, despite the substantial increase in complexity and cost, there is no strong evidence that the TRUS-MRI fusion actually improves accuracy and surgical outcomes. This paper presents an innovative virtual reality surgical navigation system for performing targeted prostate biopsies, without the need of the uncomfortable TRUS. Both biopsy needle and patient anatomy are constantly tracked by an electromagnetic tracking system that provides their 3D position and orientation with respect to the surgical bed. Multiple fiducial markers are placed on the patient skin (at the iliac crest and pubic bone) during MRI scanning. Once in the operative room, the surgeon is presented a stereoscopic 3D volumetric rendering and multiple orthogonal views of the patient anatomy, as well as a virtual representation of the tracked needle. After a simple registration process between the MRI and the tracker coordinate system, the navigation system guides the needle insertion in the patient perineum through several anatomical layers towards the biopsy targets.
Reasons for adopting Public–Private Partnership (PPP) for construction projects in Ghana

Over the past decade, Public–Private Partnership Policy has increasingly been adopted by governments over the world and the Ghanaian Government is no exception. This paper explores the key reasons for adopting PPP for construction projects in Ghana. In an empirical questionnaire survey respondents were invited to rate their perception on 17 reasons identified from literature. The results show that five most important reasons for adopting PPP are: ‘reduces public sector administrative cost’, ‘allows for shared risk’, ‘reduces the problem of public sector budget constraint’, ‘private sector possess better mobility’ and ‘private sector has ability to raise funds for project’. A significance test using one – way ANOVA indicates that ‘offers benefit to local economic development’, ‘increase access to the public sector market’, ‘provides tax exemption and reduction’ and ‘provides incentives to new market penetration’ receive different views from the public and private organizations as reasons for adopting PPP policy. Factor analysis also shows that the factor groupings for the 17 reasons are: innovation enhancement and economic benefits, private sector efficiency, opportunities for market penetration and innovation, effective project risk management and business growth incentives for the private sector.
The Average Value Ranking Multi-criteria Method for Project Evaluation in Regional Planning

A major problem in regional planning is the choice of the plan to be implemented. Because non-monetary effects are becoming more important, a multi-criteria method is presented allowing a ranking of the alternatives on the basis of several criteria by only taking into account ordinal priorities. After the methodology has been described the method is illustrated with an application for a land consolidation project in Belgium. Copyright 1992 by Oxford University Press.
Subsistence and the single woman among the amuesha of the upper Amazon, Peru

Abstract Among the Amuesha (Yanesha) indigenous people, single women practice agriculture differently and opportunistically construct subsistence strategies differently than most tribal members. Single women cross gender‐defined boundaries that traditionally determined participation in subsistence. Single women cultivate small lowland fields cut from young secondary regrowth. Crop density is high while diversity is lower because crops needing heavy labor are avoided. Crop rotation is delayed, resulting infields that are older than normal. Home gardens are important. In a broader context, creative subsistence strategies are opportunistically developed using child labor, barter, and cash. Off‐farm employment may be important. These trends may represent acculturation or some creative development within the larger trend of feminization of agriculture in Latin America.
Introducing New Competences in Managing Logistics Outsourcing: The Case of Industry in South-East Europe

The aim of this research paper is to examine the current state of the managing logistics outsourcing and determine key components and factors that are limiting logistics outsourcing in the market of South-East Europe. During last decades a privatization process occurred in almost all important logistics companies, where new owners introduced new working philosophies and completely new logistics goals. Despite this, a traditional logistics outsourcing through second party logistics (2PL) and standard third party logistics (3PL) activities is still very strongly present in the region, which limits logistics industry to be competitive with global logistics enterprises and to follow increasing demand from important clients. This has been confirmed also by the performed survey between logistics companies in Slovenia. Based on performed survey and obtained findings a two pillars model for fourth party logistics (4PL) engineering was developed. Defined and described measures are filling up the gaps of logistics excellence and give the opportunities to the regional logistics providers to be more competitive on a wider European market.
Basel III's ability to mitigate systemic risk

Purpose - The financial crisis 2007-2009 calls for a regulatory response. A crucial element of this task is the treatment of systemic risk. Basel III gains centre stage in this process. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate Basel III, examining its ability to reduce systemic risk. Design/methodology/approach - The paper highlights the importance of reducing systemic risk to achieve the goal of overall financial stability. By first focusing on the theoretical foundations of systemic risk, this paper explores and analyzes the crucial aspects of this almost impalpable risk type. It further investigates the current regulation of systemic risk, clearly showing Basel II's inability to reduce it. Then, it evaluates the Basel Committee's efforts to address these weaknesses through Basel III by investigating its incentives and its ability to reduce obvious drawbacks of Basel II as well as systemic risk factors. Findings - The findings show that there are still adjustments necessary. Although the development of Basel III is well advanced, providing some stabilizing incentives, there are still issues calling for closer consideration to counter all Basel II drawbacks and systemic risk factors adequately. These include: a risk-weighted leverage ratio; a more thorough treatment of procyclicality; adjustments for the NSFR (Net Stable Funding ratio); and most importantly, the mandatory issue to internalize negative externalities from financial institutions, that is, the call for pricing systemic risk. Originality/value - The paper not only examines the new Basel III framework, as a response to the Financial Crisis 2007-2009, but also draws attention to specific areas which the Basel Committee and regulators need to focus on more thoroughly.
In vivo waveguide elastography: Effects of neurodegeneration in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Waveguide elastography (WGE) combines magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and anisotropic inversions for a determination of the elastic properties of white matter. Previously, the method evaluated the anisotropic elastic properties of the corticospinal tracts (CSTs) of healthy volunteers. Here, the sensitivity of WGE is tested for the detection of pathologic changes in a cohort of patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
In vivo comparison between cardiac allograft vasculopathy and native atherosclerosis using near-infrared spectroscopy and intravascular ultrasound.

AIMS The aim was to compare cardiac allograft vasculopathy to native atherosclerosis by near-infrared spectroscopy-intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS). METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-seven atherosclerotic (non-transplant) patients and 28 heart transplant recipients undergoing routine surveillance coronary angiography underwent NIRS-IVUS imaging of the left anterior descending coronary artery. In each proximal, middle, and distal coronary artery segment, the maxLCBI4mm [4-mm long segment with maximum lipid core burden index (LCBI)] and corresponding IVUS parameters were compared. MaxLCBI4mm was significantly greater among atherosclerotic patients than the transplant patients in both proximal and middle coronary artery segments, but not in the distal segment. There was a positive linear correlation between maxLCBI4mm and maximum plaque burden in both groups, but atherosclerotic patients demonstrated a smaller maxLCBI4mm than transplant recipients among segments with plaque burden <40%. Among segments with a maximum plaque burden ≥40%, native-atherosclerosis patients had a greater maxLCBI4mm compared with transplant patients (P = 0.015). Calcification was present in 72.9% of native atherosclerosis and 14.7% of transplant segments (P< 0.001). Among the 165 analysed segments, prevalence of lipid-rich plaque (LRP) with superficial attenuation (30.9 vs. 1.2%, P < 0.001) or calcified LRP (13.6 vs. 2.4%, P = 0.03) was significantly greater in native atherosclerosis compared with transplant patients. Conversely, the proportion of segments with non-LRP (46.4 vs. 11.1%, P < 0.001) was higher in transplant patients. CONCLUSION NIRS-IVUS imaging demonstrated early and accelerated lipid accumulation with smaller plaque burden and less calcium in patients after heart transplant when compared with patients with native atherosclerosis.
Conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh: An Unimplemented Accord and Continued Violence

This article analyzes the dynamics of the conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. This study argues that violations of human rights by law enforcement agencies and Bangali settlers against indigenous people continue even after the signing of the 1997 peace accord. Furthermore, peace remains elusive because of the "top-down" nature of that accord.
Risk-Return Tradeoff in U.S. Stock Returns over the Business Cycle

Abstract In the empirical finance literature, findings on the risk-return tradeoff in excess stock market returns are ambiguous. In this study, I develop a new qualitative response (QR)-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity-in-mean (GARCH-M) model combining a probit model for a binary business cycle indicator and a regime-switching GARCH-M model for excess stock market return with the business cycle indicator defining the regime. Estimation results show that there is statistically significant variation in the U.S. excess stock returns over the business cycle. However, consistent with the conditional intertemporal capital asset pricing model (ICAPM), there is a positive risk-return relationship between volatility and expected return independent of the state of the economy.
Monetary Policies in the Presence of Asymmetries

In this paper we study the theory of monetary policy when the monetary authority faces asymmetries in the countries constituting the monetary union. We identify two asymmetries (shocks and transmission) in the context of a two country model. A general finding is that as the degree of asymmetries increases, the effectiveness of stabilization of output and unemployment is reduced. As a result, when asymmetries increase, the stabilization effort of the central bank declines for given preferences about stabilisation. We also find that the central bank can improve the efficiency of its monetary policies when asymmetries in the transmission exist, by using national information in the setting of optimal policies. The declared strategy of the ECB conflicts with this prescription. In practice the ECB is likely to follow this prescription, however.
Hold Up Under Costly Litigation and Imperfect Courts of Law

Most of the incomplete contracting literature assumes courts of law perfectly distinguish verifiable from nonverifiable variables and that only claims related to the former can be brought to courts. We consider a more realistic enforcement technology: Parties are able to sign "vague contracts" and, by spending resources on litigation, get the court to hear and rule on cases even if they have bogus grounds and-or the claim is related to nonverifiable variables. We reexamine the results obtained in the literature on contractual solutions to the hold-up problem. In contrast to Che and Hausch (1999 "Cooperative Investment and the Value of Contracting," 89 American Economic Review 125--47.) , we find that a simple contract can be valuable and even the first-best might be achievable in the cooperative investment case. For the case of selfish investment, the efficient result of Edlin and Reichelstein (1996 "Holdups, Standard Breach Remedies, and Optimal Investment," 86 American Economic Review, 478--501.) does not hold in general if attention is restricted to simple contracts. Our model predicts that, if allowed to do so, the parties will--by choosing the appropriate contract--manipulate the litigation costs and court rulings in opposite directions, depending on the nature of investment. (JEL: D20, D78, K10, K40, L22) The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Yale University. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com, Oxford University Press.