Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Providing local cloud services to mobile devices with inter-cloudlet communication

The importance of mobility has influenced the emergence of several mobile computing frameworks, one of which is cloud computing. In this paper, we propose a design for a system that allows mobile users to access discoverable cloudlet servers which can provide them with services and resources on demand. The system involves a cloudlet root server that acts as a directory with which cloudlets register their presence and offered resources, and to which users may direct their requests for mobile services. Cloudlets communicate in order to service the user's requests, by either delegating these requests or by breaking requests into tasks and working on them cooperatively. We provide an experimental evaluation for measuring the delay of user requests and the load on the cloudlets under different scenarios. The results are promising.
Lisbon and social Europe: towards a European 'adult worker model' welfare system

The Lisbon Process, launched in 2000 and relaunched in 2005, revived the debate about the existence of a European social model. This article argues that the Lisbon agenda presents a coherent vision of a social model which can be characterized as a Europe-wide Adult Worker Model (AWM). This is a system which assumes paid employment for all adults in order to secure their economic independence. The article identifies evidence of a development in this direction in the European Employment Strategy guidelines from 1997 through to the 2005 integrated macro-economic and employment guidelines. It concludes that this reorientation of the European social model is a vision of a supported AWM welfare system more akin to Sweden than the United States. However, the soft governance method used for social policy makes it vulnerable to changing political constellations in member states.
Seasonal chaotic features of pulse rate in a healthy subject and a patient after coronary stenting

This study analyzes seasonal features of pulse rate chaos in both healthy and unhealthy subjects. Analytical methods, such as numerical titration, sample entropy and spectral analysis, were used to detect and estimate the seasonal fluctuations in chaotic attributes, complexity and nonlinearity of pulse rate. Chaotic feature analyses are based on pulse rate data collected over one year from a healthy male and a male patient after coronary stenting. The results show that the mean level of pulse rate chaos in the healthy subject is lowest in winter (values of NL, DR, and SampEn are 8.1 ± 0.3%, 41.0 ± 1.2%, and 1.98 ± 0.02, separately) and highest in summer (corresponding values are 9.9 ± 0.6%, 46.8 ± 2.3%, and 2.06 ± 0.03, separately) (P < 0.05), whereas the postoperative individual has a relatively lower mean chaotic dynamics that is least active in autumn (7.1 ± 0.5%, 14.8 ± 1.5%, and 0.80 ± 0.01) and more active in winter (7.7 ± 0.4%, 35.9 ± 1.9%, and 0.93 ± 0.01) and spring (9.1 ± 0.7%, 28.6 ± 2.1%, and 0.87 ± 0.01) (P < 0.05). The study reveals distinct seasonal autonomic and cardiac activities in both good health and disease. These findings may also pave the way for developing new approaches to monitoring long-term HRV and interpreting HRV chaotic features.
The Development of a Virtual Reality Training Curriculum for Colonoscopy

Objectives: The development of a structured virtual reality (VR) training curriculum for colonoscopy using high-fidelity simulation. Background: Colonoscopy requires detailed knowledge and technical skill. Changes to working practices in recent times have reduced the availability of traditional training opportunities. Much might, therefore, be achieved by applying novel technologies such as VR simulation to colonoscopy. Scientifically developed device-specific curricula aim to maximize the yield of laboratory-based training by focusing on validated modules and linking progression to the attainment of benchmarked proficiency criteria. Methods: Fifty participants comprised of 30 novices (<10 colonoscopies), 10 intermediates (100 to 500 colonoscopies), and 10 experienced (>500 colonoscopies) colonoscopists were recruited to participate. Surrogates of proficiency, such as number of procedures undertaken, determined prospective allocation to 1 of 3 groups (novice, intermediate, and experienced). Construct validity and learning value (comparison between groups and within groups respectively) for each task and metric on the chosen simulator model determined suitability for inclusion in the curriculum. Results: Eight tasks in possession of construct validity and significant learning curves were included in the curriculum: 3 abstract tasks, 4 part-procedural tasks, and 1 procedural task. The whole-procedure task was valid for 11 metrics including the following: “time taken to complete the task” (1238, 343, and 293 s; P < 0.001) and “insertion length with embedded tip” (23.8, 3.6, and 4.9 cm; P = 0.005). Learning curves consistently plateaued at or beyond the ninth attempt. Valid metrics were used to define benchmarks, derived from the performance of the experienced cohort, for each included task. Conclusions: A comprehensive, stratified, benchmarked, whole-procedure curriculum has been developed for a modern high-fidelity VR colonoscopy simulator.
Initial vocational training and youth transition: a comparative analysis in France and Germany

The integration of the youth on the labor market differs widely in France and in Germany, as the huge difference in youth unemploympent shows. In this context, vocational education could be one key factor explaining the relative success of Germany. This paper analyzes the impact of a vocational education on the early stages of the working life of individuals. The hypothesis is that because the French and the German labor markets are different (one is institutional, the other is occupational), and that the school system is not the same, the impact of vocational education will be different in the two countries, and might be more beneficial to the integration of the youth in Germany. Using the dataset of the European Community Household Panel from 1994 to 2001, two aspects of the youth integration on the labor market are studied: the length of the school-to-work transition and the hourly wages. The results confirm the hypothesis, pointing out the disadvantages linked to vocational education in France and the opposite effect observed in Germany. The bad image of vocational studies in the French society and the lack of involvment of firms in the vocational education system are two factors that can partly explain these results. 1I am grateful to Isabelle Knock Meo for the suggestions on the subject and the interesting discussions on the needs for more links between firms and education, Yann Algan for providing me the data, Denis Fougere for the helpful comments on duration models and Matthieu Teachout for the invaluable help and patience.
Reconsidering Performance at the Summer Olympics and Revealed Comparative Advantage

This article examines the performance of the participating countries at the Summer Olympic Games. It investigates each country's performance and attempts to identify the determinants of this performance in each sport, and also examines other issues related to specialization at these games, using the concept of revealed comparative advantage (RCA) developed in the field of international economics. Each country's RCA is explained by geographical, biological, and economic variables of the participating countries. Most previous studies investigated the correlation between total/per capita performance and a wide range of variables using a range of methods the authors' consider inappropriate. A few studies employed more appropriate censoring methods; however, they did not consider heteroscedasticity or nonnormality in their regressions that could make the estimates inconsistent. In addition, RCA and specialization in the Olympics has never been analyzed. The analyses present the determinants of each country's specialization in sports and the patterns of RCA, which are substantially different from those obtained when analyzing total and per capita performance. The authors found that high-income countries specialize less; in other words, they win medals in a more diversified range of sports, which is analogous to a country's patterns of specialization in production, a topic frequently explored in international economics.
The Use of Franchising by U.S.‐Based Retailers

The question of whether to franchise or to own has received much research interest in recent years. Two popular approaches used to explain the proportion of franchising (PF) in the franchisor's system are resource‐scarcity and agency theories. This study combines both theories to explain the proportion of franchised outlets in the U.S. retailing sector between 1990 and 1997. The findings show mixed results with regard to both previous studies and hypothesized relationships. The study shows that the proportion of franchising used by retailers is positively related to size (number of outlets) and geographical scope, and negatively related to the rate of growth and the level of investment. Age and royalty rates are not found to be significant to the proportion of franchising.
Right and Left Ventricular Function and Mass in Male Elite Master Athletes: A Controlled Contrast-Enhanced Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Study

Background— It is under debate whether the cumulative effects of intensive endurance exercise induce chronic cardiac damage, mainly involving the right heart. The aim of this study was to examine the cardiac structure and function in long-term elite master endurance athletes with special focus on the right ventricle by contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Methods and Results— Thirty-three healthy white competitive elite male master endurance athletes (age range, 30–60 years) with a training history of 29±8 years, and 33 white control subjects pair-matched for age, height, and weight underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography including tissue-Doppler imaging and speckle tracking, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Indexed left ventricular mass and right ventricular mass (left ventricular mass/body surface area, 96±13 and 62±10 g/m2; P<0.001; right ventricular mass/body surface area, 36±7 and 24±5 g/m2; P<0.001) and indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (left ventricular end-diastolic volume/body surface area, 104±13 and 69±18 mL/m2; P<0.001; right ventricular end-diastolic volume/body surface area, 110±22 and 66±16 mL/m2; P<0.001) were significantly increased in athletes in comparison with control subjects. Right ventricular ejection fraction did not differ between athletes and control subjects (52±8 and 54±6%; P=0.26). Pathological late enhancement was detected in 1 athlete. No correlations were found for left ventricular and right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and high-sensitive troponin was negative in all subjects. Conclusions— Based on our results, chronic right ventricular damage in elite endurance master athletes with lifelong high training volumes seems to be unlikely. Thus, the hypothesis of an exercise-induced arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy has to be questioned.
Income Distribution and Growth: A Global Model

This paper estimates the effects of a change in the wage share on growth at global level in the G20 countries. A decrease in the wage share in isolation leads to lower growth in the euro area, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, the US, Japan, Turkey, and South Korea, whereas it stimulates growth in Canada, Australia, Argentina, Mexico, China, India, and South Africa. However, a simultaneous decline in the wage share in all these countries leads to a decline in global growth. Furthermore, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, and India also experience negative effects on growth when they decrease their wage share along with their trading partners. The results indicate that the global decline in labour share has had significant negative effects on growth.
Survival outcomes following aggressive treatment of oligometastatic breast cancer: a systematic review protocol.

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE The objective of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness of aggressive treatment of oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC) on survival outcomes by conducting a meta-analysis of current available evidence.More specifically, the objectives are to identify the effectiveness of intensified multidisciplinary treatment with aggressive locoregional therapies on survival time, five-year survival rates and disease free survival. The population is adult women (18 years and over) with OMBC defined as single or few (five or less) metastases limited to a single organ and the comparative group is conventional palliative treatment aimed at disease control. Secondary objectives to be assessed will be adverse outcomes associated with intensified treatment regimes.
Maternal mortality associated with tuberculosis–HIV-1 co-infection in Durban, South Africa

ObjectivesTo document the impact of tuberculosis and HIV-1 on maternal mortality. DesignProspective study, 1997 and 1998; retrospective analysis, 1996. ParticipantsKnown maternal deaths, defined as the death of a mother within a year post-delivery, were studied in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. The HIV-1 status, presence of tuberculosis, maternal clinical features and perinatal outcomes were documented. The overall as well as HIV-1 and tuberculosis-specific maternal mortality rates for the hospital were calculated. The attributable fraction of deaths as a result of HIV-1 was calculated in the overall group and in those with tuberculosis co-infection. ResultsA total of 50 518 deliveries and 101 maternal deaths were recorded. Of the deaths, 29.7% (30/101) were HIV-1 infected. The overall mortality rate was 200/100 000; for HIV-1-infected women this was 323.3/100 000, HIV-1-negative mothers, 148.6/100 000 live births. The attributable fraction of overall deaths as a result of HIV-1 was 15.9% Fourteen of the 15 mothers with tuberculosis were HIV-1 co-infected. The mortality rate for tuberculosis and HIV-1 co-infection was 121.7/1000; for tuberculosis without HIV-1 co-infection, 38.5/1000. Fifty-four per cent of maternal deaths caused by tuberculosis were attributable to HIV-1 infection. Thirty-five per cent of maternal deaths were associated with stillbirths; perinatal outcomes were no different between groups of mothers with tuberculosis, HIV-1 or neither infection. ConclusionTuberculosis and HIV-1 are emerging as significant contributors to maternal mortality in KwaZulu Natal. Any attempt to improve maternal health must also include careful screening and investigation for tuberculosis in high-risk pregnant women.
Inflation Risk Premia in the Term Structure of Interest Rates: Evidence from Euro Area Inflation Swaps

This paper estimates Inflation risk premia in the Euro area based on nominal swap yields, inflation swap rates, CPI and surveys. To assess the uncertainty of the infaltion risk premia estimates we use a Markov Chain Monte Carlo method to estimate our model. We find that including surveys help identifying risk premia, in fact a model that does not include surveys may conclude that inflation risk premia is insignificant, where a model including surveys will that it significant. Finally our estimated risk premia fluctuate between -40 and 110 basis points, with average levels between 30 and 65 basis points (depending on maturity).
How Do Youth and Adults at a Rural High School Conceptualize the Role of Student? An Investigation of the Student Role Identity Standard at the Intersection of Student and Teacher Perspectives

This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact pdxscholar@pdx.edu. Recommended Citation Zenisek, Joseph M. , "How Do Youth and Adults at a Rural High School Conceptualize the Role of Student? An Investigation of the Student Role Identity Standard at the Intersection of Student and Teacher Perspectives" (2014). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1829.
Tourism and economic development: A survey

This article surveys the literature on tourism and economic development, identifying the contribution that tourism can make to development, including foreign currency, income and employment, and the costs that it entails. Single equation and system of equations models for estimating tourism demand are provided, indicating developing countries' potential to benefit from increasing expenditure on tourism but their susceptibility to deterioration in price competitiveness. The main sectors of tourism supply -transportation, tour operators, travel agents and accommodation -are examined and the importance of cross-country integration between firms is highlighted. The article argues that many of the problems associated with the use of environmental resources for tourism stem from market failure, and it considers methods for increasing, sustainably, the returns from them.
Learning soft task priorities for safe control of humanoid robots with constrained stochastic optimization

Multi-task prioritized controllers are able to generate complex robot behaviors that concurrently satisfy several tasks and constraints. To perform, they often require a human expert to define the evolution of the task priorities in time. In a previous paper [1] we proposed a framework to automatically learn the task priorities using a stochastic optimization algorithm (CMA-ES), maximizing the robot performance for a certain behavior. Here, we learn the task priorities that maximize the robot performance, ensuring that the optimized priorities lead to safe behaviors that never violate any of the robot and problem constraints. We compare three constrained variants of CMA-ES on several benchmarks, among which two are new robotics benchmarks of our design using the KUKA LWR. We retain (1+1)-CMA-ES with covariance constrained adaptation [2] as the best candidate to solve our problems, and we show its effectiveness on two whole-body experiments with the iCub humanoid robot.
The internationalisation of Portuguese SMEs

This paper begins with an overview of the history of Portuguese entrepreneurship over the last century. Next, the study analyses the importance of SMEs in actual competitive environment of international markets, investigating the case of the internationalisation of Portuguese businesses (processes, modes of entry, strategies and intentions and reasons of internationalisation) and the principal features of Portuguese entrepreneurship and SMEs on domestic and foreign markets.
Empirical measurement of depreciation of telephone plant and equipment of local exchange carriers

In this paper, the authors measure the depreciation of telecom capital by measuring the performance change of that capital in production of local telecom services. The performance of the capital is measured by its marginal product in current production. The restricted variable cost function (RVCF) econometric model is used to estimate depreciation of the capital stocks of two major categories of telecommunication equipment of seven Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) for the period from 1984 to 1995. No producer equilibrium assumption is required by the method applied in the estimation. The annual depreciation shortfall, based on 1995 capital stocks, probably exceeds $25 billion.
ClC-3-independent, PKC-dependent Activity of Volume-sensitive Cl- Channel in Mouse Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

Volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) Cl- channels are activated during osmotic swelling and involved in the subsequent volume regulation in most animal cells. To test the hypothesis that the ClC-3 protein is the molecular entity corresponding to the VSOR Cl- channel in cardiomyocytes, the properties of VSOR Cl- currents in single ventricular myocytes isolated from ClC-3-deficient (Clcn3-/-) mice were compared with those of the same currents in ClC-3-expressing wild-type (Clcn3+/+) and heterozygous (Clcn3+/-) mice. Basal whole-cell currents recorded under isotonic conditions in ClC-3-deficient and -expressing cells were indistinguishable. The biophysical and pharmacological properties of whole-cell VSOR Cl- currents in ClC-3-deficient cells were identical in ClC-3-expressing cells. The VSOR Cl- current density, which is an indicator of the plasmalemmal expression of functional channels, was essentially the same in cells isolated from these 3 types of mice and C57BL/6 mice. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by a phorbol ester was found to upregulate VSOR Cl- currents in ClC-3-deficient and -expressing cardiomyocytes. This effect is opposite to the reported downregulatory effect of PKC activators on ClC-3-associated Cl- currents. We thus conclude that functional expression of VSOR Cl- channels in the plasma membrane of mouse cardiomyocytes is independent of the molecular expression of ClC-3.
British Universities: The “Coal Exporters” of the 21st Century

There are surprising parallels between the once substantial coal export trade of the United Kingdom and present-day international student recruitment to its higher education sector. This article uses the history of the coal trade to highlight two points. The first is that onshore international education has a particularly favourable impact on the U.K. balance of payments. The second is that the global education market is characterised by a number of features that could ultimately prove highly detrimental to the growth in U.K. inward student migration. Recent attempts to reinforce Britain’s market position by means of a more coordinated trade strategy are thus timely. Even so, the article concludes that long-run forecasts of foreign demand for U.K. university places should be treated with caution.
A Novel Algorithm for Utilizing Relay Stations for Enhancement of Data Rata in 4G Mobile System

In a wireless system, the relay station (RS) is introduced to increase the data rate of a mobile station (MS) in a shadowing area or a cell edge. RS is stationary of non-stationary and takes charge of relaying between a base station (BS) and an MS. However, the adoption of several RSs causes inefficient time-slot. In this paper we propose a novel algorithm for utilizing RSs and provide an appropriate frame structure. We divide the zone into two, inner and outer zone for a sectorized cell structure. RSs are stationary at inner zone edge in each sector and connect an MS at outer zone with a BS. And a special time-slot is shared by all RSs existing in the same sector. The proposed algorithm will increase the opportunity of connection between a BS and an MS out of RS coverage. Simulation result shows that throughout increases about three times in inner and outer zone.