Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysing technical and allocative efficiency in the French grocery retailing industry

This paper focuses on the innovative two-stage procedure developed by Simar and Wilson to estimate the determinants of French retailing efficiency. During the first stage, the technical and allocative efficiency of French retailers will be assessed using the DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) methodology to identify the best companies, in order to serve as peers for improving the performance of weaker companies. The companies analysed have therefore been ranked according to their total productivity over the period 2000–2004. During the second stage, the Simar and Wilson model will be used to bootstrap DEA scores via a truncated regression. The economic and managerial implications arising from this study will also be considered.
Excess of mesotheliomas after exposure to chrysotile in Balangero, Italy

Background: Chrysotile from the mine in Balangero, Italy is considered to be free of tremolite. In a cohort study of miners and millers only two pleural cancers were reported, a finding considered to indicate that chrysotile has a low potency for inducing mesothelioma. However, follow-up ended in 1987 and white-collar workers and the employees of subcontractors were not studied. Methods: To complete the case ascertainment, the study searched the Registry of Malignant Mesotheliomas of Piedmont for records of cases of pleural mesothelioma among the following: mine employees; employees of subcontractors or of other firms transporting or refining Balangero asbestos, asbestos ore or mine tailings; individuals exposed to air pollution from the mine or living with mine employees; and individuals exposed to mine tailings from Balangero. Results: The study identified four new cases of pleural mesothelioma among blue-collar workers in the mine, in addition to the two reported in the cohort study. Thus, six mesotheliomas occurred, compared to the 1.5 expected (p<0.01). The study also identified three mesothelioma cases among white-collar employees at the mine, five in workers in the mine hired by subcontracting firms, and three among workers processing Balangero chrysotile outside the mine. Finally, 10 additional cases due to non-occupational exposure or exposure to re-used mine tailings were identified. Conclusions: The cluster of 14 mesothelioma cases among workers who were active in the mine and 13 among other people exposed to Balangero chrysotile provides further evidence that tremolite-free chrysotile is carcinogenic.
Introductory Price as a Signal of Cost in a Model of Repeat Business

A two-period game between firms and consumers is considered. Firms are privately informed about their individual costs, and consumers must pay a search cost in order to learn a firm's current price. Consumers thus have incentive to use introductory price as a signal of cost and, hence, second period price. Recent refinements of the sequential equilibrium concept are employed, and the resulting equilibria involve low introductory prices (introductory sales).
Cheap Talk, Coordination, and Evolutionary Stability

Abstract Asymmetric information games where the informed player can send a costless message ( sender–receiver games) typically have equilibria where meaningful communication occurs. We therefore know such "cheap talk" can matter. Still, even when there is no conflict of interest, there are also equilibria where no information transmission occurs. This paper shows that for a class of games with perfectly coinciding interests modeled as asymmetric contests, where players are unsure of which role they will have, only meaningful communication is evolutionarily stable. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers C70, C72, D82.
Social Environments, Genetics, and Black-White Disparities in Infant Mortality.

BACKGROUND Genes and environments often interplay to produce population health. However, in some instances, the scientific literature has favoured one explanation, underplaying the other, even in the absence of rigorous support. We examine parental race disparity on the risk of infant mortality to see if such an analysis might provide clues to understanding the extent to which genes and environment may shape perinatal risks. METHODS We assessed parental racial disparities in infant mortality among singletons by analysing the risk of infant mortality among racially consonant vs. dissonant couples over time between 1989-1997 and 1998-2006 in the state of Michigan (n = 1 428 199). We calculated the degree of modification of the relation between maternal race and infant mortality by paternal race dynamically across the two time periods. RESULTS Infant mortality among interracial couples decreased with time relative to white-white couples, while infant mortality among black-black couples increased with time after adjusting for socio-economic, demographic, and prenatal care differences. The degree to which paternal black race strengthened the relation between maternal black race and higher infant mortality risk relative to white mothers increased with time throughout our study. CONCLUSIONS Evidence from these data suggests that environmental factors likely play the greater role in explaining the parental race disparity and risk of infant mortality.
On robust nonlinear modeling of a complex process with large number of inputs using m-QRcp factorization and Cp statistic

The problem of modeling complex processes with a large number of inputs is addressed. A new method is proposed for the optimization of the models in minimum C(p) statistic sense using QR with a modified scheme of column pivoting (m-QRcp) factorization. Two different classes of multilayer nonlinear modeling problems are explored: 1) in the first class of models, each layer comprises multiple linearly parameterized submodels or cells; the individual cells are optimally modeled using QR factorization, and m-QRcp factorization ensures optimal selection of variables across the layers. 2) The nonhomogeneous feed-forward neural network is chosen as the second class of models, where the network architecture and structure are optimized in terms of best set of hidden links (and nodes) using m-QPcp factorization. In both the cases, the optimization is shown to be direct and conclusive. The proposed is a generic approach to the optimal modeling of complex multilayered architectures, which leads to computationally fast and numerically robust parsimonious designs, free from collinearity problems. The method is largely free from heuristics and is amenable to automated modeling.
Eating out of home and dietary adequacy in preschool children

The present study aims to describe dietary intake and dietary adequacy according to eating location in preschool children. A sub-sample of 2414 children from the Generation XXI birth cohort (Porto, Portugal), evaluated during the follow-up between 2009 and 2011, was included. Dietary intake was assessed by 3 d food diaries and four groups of children were defined according to the eating location: ‘Home’ ( ≥ 80 % of meals at home), ‘Other homes’, ‘Preschool’ and ‘Restaurants’. A dietary adequacy index was developed based on general recommendations for children; a higher score represents a better dietary adequacy. The comparison of nutrients and foods daily intake according to the eating location groups was performed by ANOVA and ANCOVA to adjust for potential confounders. Children classified in ‘Preschool’ group ate significantly more vegetables, fruit, bread and fish, and less meat, compared to children classified into the ‘Home’ group. Children classified in the ‘Restaurants’ group ate more cakes, salty snacks and fruit juices than children in ‘Home’ group; and less vegetables, dairy products and pasta/rice/potatoes. In ‘Restaurants’ children obtained the lowest mean score of the dietary adequacy index (15·5, 95 % CI 14·8, 16·3) and in ‘Preschool’ children had the highest mean score (18·3, 95 % CI 18·1, 18·4), corresponding to a better dietary adequacy. Preschools seem to have a relevant role in promoting the intake of healthy foods in preschool children. The consumption in restaurants/coffee shops seems to contribute to energy-dense food intake and reduced consumption of nutrient-dense foods.
Job changes, hours changes and labour market flexibility:panel data evidence for Britain

This study uses the first twelve waves of the British Household Panel Survey covering the period 1991-2002 to investigate the extent of constraints on desired hours of work within jobs and the degree of flexibility of the labour market for a sample of women. Our main findings are as follows. First, the largest movements in hours worked are observed for workers who change their jobs. Second, about 40 percent of the women in the sample are not putting in the hours they would like. Most of them (mainly full-timers) would like to work fewer hours at the prevailing hourly wage. Again, women who change job experience the greatest hours changes, especially if they are over- or under-employed. Third, there is evidence of hours constraints. The hours movements among quitters are up to 5 hours greater than the movements among stayers. Fourth, we do not detect systematic time trends in the relationship between hours changes and job changes. But there is some evidence that overemployed women find it increasingly more difficult to move towards their desired hours even after changing job. Fifth, the evidence on a flexible labour market is mixed. We find only partial support for the hypothesis that overemployed or underemployed quitters receive compensating wage differentials if the new job does not satisfy their hours preferences, as well as for the hypothesis that quitters get a wage premium when they end up moving to jobs that constraint their desired hours.
A Novel Maximum Power Point Tracking Strategy for Stand-alone Solar Pumping Systems

A novel hybrid maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control strategy for stand-alone solar pumping systems without backup batteries is proposed in this paper. The whole control process consists of two steps: the judgment of speed up or down and the selection of step size of speed command. Basically, the system with the proposed MPPT strategy is controlled by a normal constant voltage method, while the reference voltage is periodically updated by a new multi-criterion method. In order to compare the control characteristics of different methods, two identical solar pumping systems are implemented. Experimental results show that the proposed control strategy is much better for stand-alone solar pumping systems
Morphologic characteristics of optic disc in normal population with physiologic large cup in Chinese Han people

Background: The early diagnosis of glaucoma is a global problem. Physiologic large cup (PLC) with an abnormally high cup/disc ratio may be confused with changes of the optic disc in early glaucoma. However, fewer reports are available regarding PLC in normal population. Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) can provide quantitative topographic parameters of the optic discs and be used widely. Consequently, we desire to find the rule of morphologic changes of PLC in Chinese Han people using HRT for differentiating it from glaucoma. Methods: One hundred (100) subjects with PLCs and 74 subjects with normal cups (NCs) were examined by HRT. The topographic parameters were analyzed and the characteristics of the inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants of PLCs were examined. Parameters obtained from HRT were compared between two groups. The effect of age, refractive error, and disc area on each parameter was analyzed by the multiple linear regression model. This was a prospective study and the mean length of follow-up of the subjects was 28 months. Results: Compared to NC group, PLC group had larger disc (P < 0.0001) but smaller mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (mRNFLt) (P<0.0001). The nasal quadrant of disc area was larger than the inferior quadrant. Mean cup depth and maximum cup depth were unaffected by refractive error (P = 0.0539, 0.2228, respectively), age (P = 0.1981, 0.8207, respectively) or disc area (P = 0.1927, 0.3718, respectively). There was no significant change in disc area or cup shape measure (P = 0.847, 0.051, respectively). Conclusions: Optic disc structural parameters in PLC presented a similar pattern to NC, while PLC’s disc area was larger but mRNFL thickness was smaller than the NC’s. There were some changes in the topographic parameters of the optic discs of PLC overtime, but no glaucomatous damage was detected during our follow up.
Testing for Nonlinear Adjustment in the Portuguese Target Zone: Is there a Honeymoon Effect?

The aim of this paper is to examine to what extent the adoption by Portugal of an exchange rate target zone regime in the context of its participation in the ERM of the EMS can be characterised by the existence of a nonlinear S-shaped relationship between the exchange rate and its fundamental. If there is such a relationship, a target zone would have a stabilising effect on the exchange rate, the so-called ‘honeymoon effect’, as predicted by the basic target zone model developed by Krugman (1991). We tested three models: OLS, Auto-correlation by Maximum Likelihood and GARCH (p, q). However, the evidence of a negative trend in the interest rate differential prevented the empirical confirmation of a nonlinear relationship. The use of LSTAR and ESTAR models also failed to reconcile the theory with the data. This does not mean that a stabilising effect on the exchange rate had not happened. Portugal’s current participation in the EMU is demonstrative of this reality. Maintaining a downward trend in interest rate differential turns out to reflect the increased credibility in the conduct of monetary policy, allowing the objective of exchange rate stability to be pursued, framed by the main objective of price stability. Without this policy it would not be possible to participate in the Euro Zone. The adoption of a target zone has functioned as an important foreign exchange regime of transition to a single currency ‘strategy’. This study also supports the idea that a target zone regime should be considered a feasible solution for ‘tomorrow’ to countries that ‘today’ can be forced to abandon the Euro Zone, since this kind of option combines monetary policy autonomy with macroeconomic stability.
UK National Clinical Guidelines in Paediatric Dentistry. Managing anxious children: the use of conscious sedation in paediatric dentistry.

The twelfth National Clinical Guideline in Paediatric Dentistry is published here. The process of guideline production began in 1994, resulting in first publication in 1997. Each guideline has a nominated main author but the content is not a personal view; it represents rather a consensus of opinion of current best clinical practice. Each guideline has been circulated to all consultants in paediatric dentistry in the UK, to the Council of the BSPD, and to people of related specialities recognized to have expertise in the subject. The final version of the guideline is produced from a combination of this input and thorough review of published literature. The intention is to encourage improvement in clinical practice and to stimulate research and clinical audit in areas where scientific evidence is inadequate. Evidence underlying recommendations is scored according to the SIGN classification and guidelines should be read in this context. For those wishing further detail, the process of guideline production in the UK is described in International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 1997; 7: 267–268.
Money and Monetization in China's Economic Reform

In addition to privatization marketization, liberalization and pragmatization, monetization has been argued as the fifth feature in china's economic reform. If monetization is taken to mean a process through which variations in money supply or interest rate are to affect macroeconomic variables, the construction of four causality relationships between interest rate and investment, and money and national income do not support the evidence of such a process in China between the late 1970s and early 1990s.
Defragmentation of Public International Law Through Interpretation: A Methodological Proposal

Fragmentation of public international law (PIL) is perceived as a growing problem and answers to it are proliferating. International courts and tribunals are adjudicating ever more on issues that would be considered—were they not transnational or international in nature—constitutional problems. In national law, countervailing values, or intra-constitutional conflicts, are reconciled through a balancing of those values that is usually embedded in the application of the proportionality principle. A similar mechanism in PIL remains underdeveloped from a methodological point of view. This article aims to develop a methodological proposal for defragmentation through interpretation, drawing on legal theory, to be more precise on a theory of balancing.
Improved immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a replicon DNA vaccine encoding the Hc domain of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A by electric pulses and protein boosting

Vaccination by intramuscular injection of naked DNA is very efficient in mouse model, but immunogenicity of DNA vaccines needs to be improved in human use. Thus, we wanted to determine whether suitable electric pulses-mediated DNA delivery technology and DNA prime-protein boost regimen could improve the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the replicon DNA vaccine pSCARSHc in mouse model. In this study, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the replicon DNA vaccine pSCARSHc following electric pulses were dramatically improved in Balb/c mice. Also, priming of the immune response by DNA vaccination followed by a single booster with AHc protein immunogen resulted in very high levels of ELISA and neutralization antibodies and afforded more efficient protection against botulinum neurotoxin serotype A. Therefore, these methods described here potentially provide suitable strategies in developing an efficacious vaccine against Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A.
Serving customers with automatic speech recognition — Human-factors issues

This paper explores the human-factors issues in designing human/machine interfaces employing automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology. It describes how a designer of a product or service who uses this technology must ensure successful interactions between computers and end-users, leading to customer satisfaction and success of the product or service. The paper discusses how ASR technology can support human/machine interactions in telecommunications applications, if the human-factors issues that arise in ASR user-interface (UI) design can be appropriately addressed.
Strong arts, strong schools : the promising potential and shortsighted disregard of the arts in American schooling

In this elegantly written, passionately argued book, Fowler presents a convincing case for teaching the arts to all children. He argues that, far from a luxury, the arts are a vitally important part of our society and our schools. Highlighting the crucial effect of the arts on learning, this volume shows how the arts can enliven and extend the entire school curriculum by integrating different subjects in innovative interdisciplinary ways These eighteen compelling essays are a clarion call to action for any teacher, parent, policy maker, or citizen concerned about the fate of the arts in American society and schools.
Diagnosis, prevention and management of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

The overall incidence of clinically important (moderate to severe) OHSS ranges from 1% to 10% of IVF cycles, but only a small proportion (0.5% to 2%) of the cases are severe. In extreme but rare cases, secondary complications such as deep vein thrombosis, respiratory distress and acute hepato-renal failure may occur. The main risk factors are the presence of polycystic ovaries, high ovarian response to superovulation therapy, the use of hCG to trigger the ovulatory process or for luteal phase support, and the endogenous production of hCG by an early pregnancy. The pathogenesis of OHSS is unknown, although the predominant biochemical mediator is thought to be the renin-angiotensin system. Ovarian stimulation should always be carefully monitored to identify those women at risk. In IVF cycles, the hCG injection should be withheld if the risk is judged to be too great. Some women will benefit from a policy of proceeding to collect oocytes, but electively cryopreserving any resulting embryos, thus allowing the ovarian stimulation cycle not to be wasted. The administration of albumin at the time of oocyte collection will reduce the chance of severe OHSS occurring. If a decision is made to proceed with oocyte recovery and embryo transfer, it may be advisable to give 5000 IU of hCG, rather than 10,000 IU, as the ovulatory trigger. Progesterone, and not hCG, should be given in the luteal phase. Women developing mild or moderate OHSS should be kept under outpatient surveillance to detect the minority that may progress to severe OHSS. Those with severe OHSS should be hospitalised for fluid and electrolyte management. Paracentesis under ultrasound guidance is recommended where there are tense ascites, but further surgical intervention should rarely be undertaken and only when there is good clinical evidence of ovarian torsion or haemorrhage.
Monosynaptic circuit tracing in vivo through Cre-dependent targeting and complementation of modified rabies virus

We describe a powerful system for revealing the direct monosynaptic inputs to specific cell types in Cre-expressing transgenic mice through the use of Cre-dependent helper virus and a modified rabies virus. We generated helper viruses that target gene expression to Cre-expressing cells, allowing us to control initial rabies virus infection and subsequent monosynaptic retrograde spread. Investigators can use this system to elucidate the connections onto a desired cell type in a high-throughput manner, limited only by the availability of Cre mouse lines. This method allows for identification of circuits that would be extremely tedious or impossible to study with other methods and can be used to build subcircuit maps of inputs onto many different types of cells within the same brain region. Furthermore, by expressing various transgenes from the rabies genome, this system also has the potential to allow manipulation of targeted neuronal circuits without perturbing neighboring cells.