Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Food Deserts to Food Swamps: Health Education Strategies to Improve Food Environments in Urban Areas

Copyright: © 2014 Reel JJ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Improving access to nutritious foods is critically important in the fight against obesity [1]. The “food desert” metaphor has been used to characterize geographic areas associated with low socioeconomic status and inadequate access to healthy food choices. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has defined food deserts as census tracts with a poverty rate of 20% or greater, a median family income at or below 80% of the median income for the surrounding area, and at least 33% of the residents living over a mile away from a supermarket or grocery store [2].
Forecasting Expected Shortfall: An Extreme Value Approach

We compare estimates of Value at Risk and Expected Shortfall from AR(1)-GARCH(1,1)-type models (standard GARCH, GJR-GARCH, Component GARCH), to estimates produced using the Peak Over Threshold method on the residuals of these models. We find that the conditional volatility model matters less than the choice of distribution for the innovations in the loss process, for which we compare the normal and the t-distribution. The Peak Over Threshold estimates are found to improve upon the estimates of the original models, particularly in the case of normally distributed innovations.
Endophenotypes and suicide behaviour.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested that genetic predisposition to suicidal behavior may be independent of the risk of suicide associated to mental disorders, such as affective disorders, schizophrenia or alcohol dependence. Given the suicidal behavior heterogeneity and its hereditary complexity, the need to find demonstrable intermediate phenotypes that may make it possible to establish links between genes and suicide behaviors (endophenotypes) seems to be necessary. The main objective is to review which are the candidate endophenotypes of suicidal behaviors. METHODS We carried out a non-systematic review of all published literature in English, French and Spanish in MEDLINE. The search terms were endophenotypes and suicide behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The main candidate endophenotypes of suicidal behaviors are neuropsychological (decision-making, executive functions), personality traits (impulsivity, aggressiveness, and neuroticism), neurochemistry (5-HIAA in CNS) and neuroimaging (fMRI of cerebral amygdala or PET of prefrontal cortex metabolism).
Calling the tune without paying the piper? Social policy regulation: The role of the commission in european community social policy

Regulatory policy is presently the principal form of European Community (EC) social policy legislation affecting European citizens. One possible explanation of this trend is that the Commission, far from being a neutral bureaucracy, has been an active force in pushing outward the frontiers of Community social policy. Expanding its skills, and learning from past experience, the Commission makes maximum use of its limited powers in the social sphere. One important aspect of the Commision's opportunistic role may be its ability to prepare the ground for future regulatory action. The relatively costless nature of regulatory policy-making, from the point of view of the Commission's budget, increasingly allows the Commission to call the proverbial tune without incurring the costs of paying the piper.
Resiliency of cortical neural networks against cascaded failures

Network tools have been extensively applied to study the properties of brain functional and anatomical networks. In this paper, resiliency of Caenorhabditis elegans cortical networks against cascaded failures is studied. To this end, directed network formed by chemical connections and undirected network formed by electrical couplings through gap junctions are considered. Furthermore, two types of C. elegans networks are studied: the whole cortical network of the hermaphrodite type and the network of the posterior cortex in male C. elegans. The results show that resiliency of hermaphrodite and male networks is different. The male cortical network of chemical synapses shows extensively weaker resiliency than the randomized counterparts, whereas there are some patchy differences for the gap junctions network. However, the chemical and electrical networks of hermaphrodite type show a completely different behavior. In this type, for a range of medium to large capacity parameter (load capacity of the nodes is proportional to their capacity parameter), the network of chemical connections has significantly less resiliency (P<0.001) than the randomized networks, whereas the network of gap junctions is more resilient (P<0.001) than the random ones. These results show different functionalities of chemical and electrical connections in the cortical networks of hermaphrodite C. elegans.
The Status of the Small Hotel Firm

This paper builds on research that was carried out in the early 1990s in order to assess the contemporary status of the small firm within the hotel industry sector. It raises debates concerned with definition and associated statistical constraints and limitations. While a fluid, grounded definitional approach is recommended as a means of more effectively accessing the ‘real world’ of small firms, challenges are recognised relative to its contribution to consistent and comparable research findings. The paper concludes that the status of the small hotel firm continues to weaken, operating at the periphery as broadly conceived. Furthermore, the final assessment is that too much remains unknown about this phenomenon.
Price‐knowledge‐induced bias: a cross‐cultural comparison

Explains that bias in human problem‐solving behaviour may sometimes conflict with the assumptions that underlie normative models of valuation. Possibilities include faulty perceptions of the task, routinized valuation procedures that rely heavily on pending sale price‐knowledge and reliance on innate and distorting problem‐solving heuristics. Describes an experiment conducted with appraisers in the USA and valuers in the UK to investigate the impact of price knowledge on the process of valuation and the search and selection of comparable sales. Concludes that both appraisers and valuers can be subject to price‐knowledge bias, reflected in the choice of the less than “best” comparables and in the actual value estimate. Discusses how cultural differences in the appraisal and valuation processes, especially in the transparency of comparables adjustments, help to explain these effects.
Performance in local government HRM: the role of external customers

Purpose – The purpose of the article is to contribute to HRM‐performance research by focusing on how HR managers discursively construct performance in local government HRM.Design/methodology/approach – The study is carried out in Finnish local government organizations, where HR managers of ten large and medium‐sized cities were interviewed. The study adopted a constructionist approach: performance is constructed through the talk of different stakeholders, in this case, HR managers. The analysis draws upon discourse analysis.Findings – Performance in local government HRM is constructed through three predominant discourses: the service discourse, the process discourse, and the customer change discourse. The central finding of the study is the strong role of local residents, portrayed as external customers to HRM.Research limitations/implications – Typical to discourse analysis, the number of interviews is limited and the results cannot be generalized. Thirdly, according to the constructivist approach, resea.
Effects of voluntary activity on the excitability of motor axons in the peroneal nerve

To investigate whether there are inter‐nerve differences in the extent and pattern of axonal excitability changes produced by voluntary contractions of tibialis anterior (TA) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB), threshold tracking was used to measure axonal excitability parameters [threshold, supernormality and strength‐duration time constant (τSD)] of peroneal and median motor axons in 11 healthy subjects. Maximal contractions for 1 min resulted in an increase in threshold, an increase in supernormality, a decrease in τSD and an increase in latency, all of which indicate axonal hyperpolarization. The increase in threshold was less in peroneal axons (18 ± 4%) than median axons (37 ± 6%, mean ± SEM, P < 0.001), and was accompanied by smaller absolute changes in latency, supernormality, and τSD. Peroneal axons had less supernormality at rest but a greater change in supernormality for the change in threshold. There were major contraction‐induced changes in the compound muscle action potential of TA but not that of APB. Voluntary contractions depress axonal excitability, but the changes are quantitatively different for motor axons innervating different muscles. There are three clinical implications. First, weakness and fatigue due to activity‐dependent conduction block may vary for different muscles, independent of disease severity, and therapeutic strategies to overcome activity‐dependent conduction block may not be equally effective for different muscles. Second, in motor control studies using the H reflex to document motoneuron excitability, a constant stimulus will not produce a constant neural volley if the stimulated axons have been activated by, for example, a voluntary contraction. Third, TA is probably not optimal for testing for activity‐dependent conduction block. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 25: 176–184, 2002 DOI 10.1002/mus.10030
The structural basis for catalytic function of GMD and RMD, two closely related enzymes from the GDP‐d‐rhamnose biosynthesis pathway

The rare 6‐deoxysugar d‐rhamnose is a component of bacterial cell surface glycans, including the d‐rhamnose homopolymer produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, called A‐band O polysaccharide. GDP‐d‐rhamnose synthesis from GDP‐d‐mannose is catalyzed by two enzymes. The first is a GDP‐d‐mannose‐4,6‐dehydratase (GMD). The second enzyme, RMD, reduces the GMD product (GDP‐6‐deoxy‐d‐lyxo‐hexos‐4‐ulose) to GDP‐d‐rhamnose. Genes encoding GMD and RMD are present in P. aeruginosa, and genetic evidence indicates they act in A‐band O‐polysaccharide biosynthesis. Details of their enzyme functions have not, however, been previously elucidated. We aimed to characterize these enzymes biochemically, and to determine the structure of RMD to better understand what determines substrate specificity and catalytic activity in these enzymes. We used capillary electrophoresis and NMR analysis of reaction products to precisely define P. aeruginosa GMD and RMD functions. P. aeruginosa GMD is bifunctional, and can catalyze both GDP‐d‐mannose 4,6‐dehydration and the subsequent reduction reaction to produce GDP‐d‐rhamnose. RMD catalyzes the stereospecific reduction of GDP‐6‐deoxy‐d‐lyxo‐hexos‐4‐ulose, as predicted. Reconstitution of GDP‐d‐rhamnose biosynthesis in vitro revealed that the P. aeruginosa pathway may be regulated by feedback inhibition in the cell. We determined the structure of RMD from Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus at 1.8 Å resolution. The structure of A. thermoaerophilus RMD is remarkably similar to that of P. aeruginosa GMD, which explains why P. aeruginosa GMD is also able to catalyze the RMD reaction. Comparison of the active sites and amino acid sequences suggests that a conserved amino acid side chain (Arg185 in P. aeruginosa GMD) may be crucial for orienting substrate and cofactor in GMD enzymes.
Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in an intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration, generally used in patients with acute renal failure, enables elimination of humoral mediators of systemic inflammatory response and sepsis from blood. This effect should improve treatment results in patients with multiple organ dysfunction, but evidence of improved survival is insufficient. OBJECTIVES Describe the effect of continuous venovenous hemodiaflitration on patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in terms of systemic and brain hemodynamics, oxygenation, metabolism and status on ICU separation. METHODS An observational case series was done of 18 patients (11 men and 7 women) aged 24-78 years with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome treated with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration in the Medical-Surgical Research Center's ICU in Havana. General, systemic and brain hemodynamic, oxygenation and metabolic variables were assessed immediately before and 12 hours after starting the procedure; vital status on separation from intensive care was recorded. For analysis, patients were grouped by whether cause of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was septic or nonseptic. Variable means before and after treatment were compared using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test. Standardized mortality ratios were calculated for both groups, with survival efficacy defined by a ratio of <0.9. RESULTS After 12 hours continuous venovenous hemodiafitration, the septic group showed clinical improvement, with statistically significant improvement in all variables except mean arterial pressure and brain hemodynamics. Survival to discharge from ICU was 64%, with a standardized mortality ratio of 0.66. In the nonseptic group, survival was 0% and ratio was 2.13; temperature was the only variable found to improve significantly. CONCLUSIONS Continuous venovenous hemodiafltration improved clinical parameters and survival in patients with multiple organ dysfunction of septic origin. Further studies are needed with larger numbers of patients to corroborate these results.
RECOGNITION BY CHILDREN OF INVERTED PHOTOGRAPHS OF FACES.

The present experiment is concerned with the question, "Are young children superior to older children in recognizing spatially disoriented visual stimuli? " This particular question and several related ones have received attention by psychologists (see 3, 16, for review of experiments), and, as a consequence of their research, apparently contradictory answers have been offered. Much of the early literature, poorly documented and heavily anecdotal, supports the generally accepted idea that children do recognize inverted pictures as easily as normally oriented ones (11, pp. 313-314; 14, p. 190; 15, PP. 70-71, 78). Although it was not common to test adults and children in the same experiment, apparently it was tacitly assumed that adults could not perform as well as children. For example, Newhall (13) concluded that stimulus recognition of 3to 5-year-old children was not affected by stimulus orientation. The stimuli in his experiment were very simple and differed greatly in form one from the other (chair, horse, boat, rabbit, child). Perhaps adults' performance would be identical with the children's in this situation; without comparison data from other age groups, any conclusion is unwarranted. Experimental evidence has been offered to support the rather vague claim that some adults do have difficulty when
Effects of Competitive E-Learning Tools on Higher Education Students: A Case Study

Over the last few years, most of the attempts to introduce active learning methodologies in the classroom have made use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Many of these efforts have been directed to collaborative scenarios used in remote, blended or face-to-face experiences, in order to take advantage of the flexibility provided by ICT. However competitive learning could also have some positive effects on the success of the learning process, to be added to those of collaborative virtual environments. This paper explores the effects of competitive learning on the satisfaction and the academic achievement of telecommunications students. A tool for active and competitive learning (called QUEST) has been used in the ldquoCommunications Networksrdquo undergraduate course. Significant results on the use of competitive e-learning tools in university students' outcomes and satisfaction are presented.
The public perception of carbon dioxide capture and storage in the UK: results from focus groups and a survey

Abstract A series of meetings of two ‘Citizen Panels’ were held to explore public perceptions of off-shore carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage (CCS). In addition, a face-to-face survey of 212 randomly selected individuals was conducted. We found that, on first hearing about CCS in the absence of any information on its purpose, the majority of people either do not have an opinion at all or have a somewhat negative perspective. However, when (even limited) information is provided on the role of CO2 storage in reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, opinion shifts towards expressing slight support for the concept. Support depends, however, upon concern about human-caused climate change, plus recognition of the need for major reductions in CO2 emissions. It also depends upon CCS being seen as just one part of a wider strategy for achieving significant cuts in CO2 emissions. A portfolio including renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, and lifestyle change to reduce demand was generally favoured. CCS can be part of such a portfolio, but wind, wave, tidal, solar and energy efficiency were preferred. It was felt that uncertainties concerning the potential risks of CCS had to be better addressed and reduced; in particular the risks of accidents and leakage (including the potential environmental, ecosystem and human health impacts which might result from leakage).
Real-field performance of hybrid MISO time reversal multi-beam beam-former at mm-Waves

In the present paper we evaluate the performance of a hybrid digital/analog multi-beam beam-forming architecture with polarization and delay compensation using time reversal (TR). Double-directional, ultra wideband dual-polarized channel measurements at 70 GHz in a conference room have been used to emulate the channel. The use of multiple beams to mitigate human shadowing has been evaluated and the temporal and spatial focusing of time-reversal to reduce inter-user interference.
A 400 MHz wave-pipelined 8/spl times/8-bit multiplier in CMOS technology

We attempt to exploit wave pipelining in CMOS technology. We use Normal Process Complementary Pass Transistor Logic (NPCPL) which is modeled after CPL, to achieve equal delay along all the propagation paths in the logic structure. An 8/spl times/8-bit multiplier is designed using this logic in a 0.8 /spl mu/ technology. The carry-save multiplier architecture is modified suitably to support wave pipelining, viz., the logic depth of all the paths are made identical. The 1 mm/spl times/0.6 mm multiplier core supports a throughput of 400 MHz and dissipates a total power of 0.8 W. The methodology can be extended to introduce wave pipelining in other circuits as well. <<ETX>>
The Domestic Political Impact of Foreign Aid: Recalibrating the Research Agenda

The recent concentration of attention by some political scientists on evaluating the effectiveness of democracy assistance, drawing on the transient policy concerns of major donors, is a welcome innovation to a research agenda traditionally biased towards aid's significance for economic development. But its focus is restricted and unrepresentative. This article argues the case for a more comprehensive assessment of the domestic political consequences - both direct and indirect - of all forms of aid, in principle for aid recipients everywhere. This recommendation offers the advantage of serving the limited purposes of analysts of democratisation generally and democracy aid specifically, but more importantly reconnects their approach with the broader political analysis of aid by a wider social science community. It is important to ‘think outside the box’ of contemporary donor concerns, recalibrating the research agenda in ways that raise other political priorities. The article offers a framework for this purpose. Comprehending the political dynamics in aid-receiving countries should be the primary orienting principle, rather than viewing countries as objects of aid and proceeding to interpret their politics through the distorting lens of donor perspectives.L'intérêt récent que pretent certains politistes à l'evaluation de l'efficacité de l'assistance à la démocratie, en s'appuyant notamment sur le caractère transitoire des préoccupations politiques des principaux donateurs, représente une innovation bienvenue dans un domaine de recherche où on s'intéresse traditionnellement avant tout à l'importance de l'aide au développement économique. Le choix des thèmes est cependant limité et peu représentatif. L'article plaide pour une analyse plus complète des effets directs et indirects de tous types d'aide - et en principe pour tous les bénéficiaires d'aide - sur la politique intérieure des pays concernés. Cette recommandation offre un avantage certain pour les analystes de la démocratisation en général et de l'appui à la démocratie en particulier. Mais en plus, elle a l'avantage d'établir un lien entre leur approche et celle, plus vaste, de l'analyse politique de l'aide au développement par l'importante communauté des sciences sociales. Il est essentiel de sortir du carcan des préoccupations au jour le jour des donateurs en redéfinissant les principaux thèmes de la recherche de manière à y inclure d'autres priorités politiques. L'article propose un cadre pour atteindre cet objectif. Plutôt que de considerer les pays comme “objets” de l'aide et d'interpréter leurs politiques à partir de la réalité déformée des donateurs, il faut d'abord comprendre la dynamique politique dans les pays bénéficiaires d'aide.
Strategic Planning Activities of the Manufacturing Firms in Kocaeli, Turkey

The study aimes at uncovering the characteristics of the strategic planning activities conducted by the manufacturing firms operating in K ocaeli, the second mostly industrialized region of Turkey. A survey is carried out on 400 fi rms’ executives -who accept to respond to our questionnairesout of 1567 industrial enterpri ses registered at Kocaeli Chamber of Industry. As for the characteristics of the strateg ic planning activities the following factors are studied; planning periods, types of strategic goals set by managers, and written and oral sources of information used during the planning pro cess. Findings show that planning horizon in Turkey has b een extended since mid-1990s, and that it is in the large companies is significantly longer t han the SMEs, but still the average planning term in large firms is not more than 3 years. Autho ri y and responsibility in strategic decision making has been decentralized since mid-1990s. ; inv olvement of the stakeholders increased. The mostly used sources of information are the cust omers and the MIS reports and the mostly adopted strategic goal is to increase the total sal es.
How Strong Are Bequest Motives? Evidence Based on Estimates of the Demand for Life Insurance and Annuities

This paper presents new empirical evidence in support of the view that a significant fraction of total saving is motivated by the desire to leave bequests. Specifically, I find that social security annuity benefits significantly raise life insurance holdings and depress private annuity holdings among elderly individuals. These patterns indicate that the typical household would choose to maintain a positive fraction of its resources in bequeathable forms, even if insurance markets were perfect. Evidence on the relationship between insurance purchases and total resources reinforces this conclusion.