Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of the Catch-Up Mechanism on the Structural Transformation of Sub-Saharan Africa

Structural transformation is one of the processes of productivity growth urgently needed in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study uses the catch-up mechanism to analyze how international contacts and domestic absorptive capacity constraints are shaping the pattern of structural transformation in SSA. Using a two-step Generalized Method of Moments on 2000–2015 data for 29 SSA countries, the paper finds that SSA is undergoing a non-classical structural transformation led by the service sector instead of manufacturing. Import penetration, a key variable of international contact, has negative coefficients for both the agricultural and manufacturing shares of gross domestic product (GDP) but is positively associated with both the services shares of employment and GDP. A test of Kaldor’s third law finds that if growth in employment outside manufacturing is in services, it can also increase economy-wide productivity. Hence, it is the international constraints, such as import penetration and foreign direct investment, that are making the structural transformation of SSA non-classical. Services that involve transfer of skills and technology, such as international tourism and information and communications technology services exports, provide opportunities for structural change and productivity growth.
Structure and Opto-Electronic Behavior of Diamondoids, with Applications as MEMS and at the Nanoscale Level

Diamondoids have been of great interest in recent years due to their role in nanotechnology, drug-delivery and medicine. Due to their six or more linking groups, they have found major applications as templates and as molecular building blocks in nanotechnology, polymers synthesis, drug delivery, drug targeting, DNA-directed assembly, DNA-amino acid nanostructure formation, and in host-guest chemistry. In this paper, the molecular nature of diamondoids, their molecular specificities, their intermolecular interactions and their opto-electronic properties are introduced. These will help in the understanding of the structure-property relations and self-assembly of diamondoids, which is essential for designing functional molecular gears for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and sensitive bionanosensors, and for developing new nanodrugs, just to name a few. Preprint Diamondoid Molecules Diamondoid molecules are cage-like, ultra-stable, saturated hydrocarbons. These molecules are ringed compounds, which have a diamond-like structure consisting of a number of six-member carbon rings fused together (see Figure 1). More explicitly, they consist of repeating units of ten carbon atoms forming a tetra-cyclic cage system [1-3]. They are called "diamondoids" because their carbon-carbon framework constitutes the fundamental repeating unit in the diamond lattice structure. The diamondoid carbon skeleton is a basic portion of diamond as shown in Figure 2. This structure was first determined in 1913 by Bragg and Bragg [4] using X-ray diffraction analysis. Figure 1: Molecular structures of adamantane, diamantane and trimantane (the smaller diamondoids) with chemical formulas C10H16, C14H20 and C18H24 from left to right. Figure 2: Structures of adamantane, diamantane and triamantane superimposed over the three-dimensional diamond network The first and simplest member of the diamondoids group, adamantane, is a tricyclic saturated hydrocarbon (tricyclo[3.3.1.1]decane). Adamantane is followed by its polymantane homologues (adamantologues): diamantane, tria-, tetra-, pentaand hexamantane. Figure 1 illustrates the smaller diamondoid molecules, with the general chemical formula C4n+6H4n+12: adamantane 2 G.A. Mansoori, T.F. George, G.P. Zhang, L. Assoufid Structure and Opto-Electronic Behavior of Diamondoids, with Applications as MEMS and at the Nanoscale Level Prog. Nanotech. Research (A.T. Larimar, Ed.) 1: 1-19, 2010, Nova Sci.
Some Misconceptions about the Normal Distribution

It is alleged that Abraham de Moivre was the first to propose the normal distribution, in a supplement to a letter dated November 12, 1733. However, the name of Carl Friedrich Gauss is more closely associated with the normal, or Gaussian, distribution. The movement away from the term Gaussian occurred during the first part of the 20 century. According to Helen M. Walker, the origin of the term “normal” is obscure, though the Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences states that C. S. Peirce may have been the first to use it in the mid 1870s.
Commercial Local Pharmacotherapeutics and Adjunctive Agents for Nonsurgical Treatment of Periodontitis: A Contemporary Review of Clinical Efficacies and Challenges

Periodontal infections tend to be site-specific, mostly confined to the periodontal pocket. With the surge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the trend is shifting towards other therapeutic modalities, especially locally delivered approaches that include other pharmacotherapeutic drugs and medical devices. This narrative review aimed to provide insights into the clinical efficacy of local drug delivery and adjunctive agents used in nonsurgical management of periodontitis. Electronic (PubMed/MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and EMBASE) and bibliographic searches of past systematic reviews were carried out to identify previous publications on the topic. Only relevant literature and randomized controlled trials published in English were selected. In addition, a literature review was developed based on the selected articles. Experimental drugs or agents were excluded. This review highlights the clinically proven and commercially available therapeutic agents related to the management of periodontal disease with comparisons of their clinical efficacies and challenges. A vast array of commercial local pharmacotherapeutic agents had been clinically tested, but the methodologies and clinical results varied within and between each agent used, causing difficulty in drawing conclusions and providing support to the superiority of one agent over another. Considering the benefit–cost ratio with the modest clinical results, the long-term usefulness of these agents remains debatable.
University of Groningen Differences in overweight and obesity among children from migrant and native origin: the role of physical activity, dietary intake, and sleep duration Labree,

A cross-sectional survey was performed to examine to what degree differences in overweight and obesity between native Dutch and migrant primary school children could be explained by differences in physical activity, dietary intake, and sleep duration among these children. Subjects (n=1943) were primary school children around the age of 8–9 years old and their primary caregivers: native Dutch children (n=1546), Turkish children (n=93), Moroccan children (n=66), other non-western children (n=105), and other western children (n=133). Multivariate regressions and logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between migrant status, child’s behavior, and BMI or prevalence of overweight, including obesity (logistic). Main explanatory variables were physical activity, dietary intake, and sleep duration. We controlled for age, sex, parental educational level, and parental BMI. Although sleep duration, dietary intake of fruit, and dietary intake of energy-dense snacks were associated with BMI, ethnic differences in sleep duration and dietary intake did not have a large impact on ethnic differences in overweight and obesity among children from migrant and native origin. It is suggested that future preventive strategies to reduce overweight and obesity, in general, consider the role of sleep duration. Also, cross-cultural variation in preparation of food among specific migrant groups, focusing on fat, sugar, and salt, deserves more attention. In order to examine which other variables may clarify ethnic differences in overweight and obesity, future research is needed. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone. 0123672 June 1, 2015 1 / 12 a11111
Inference for conditional value-at-risk of a predictive regression

Conditional value-at-risk is a popular risk measure in risk management. We study the inference problem of conditional value-at-risk under a linear predictive regression model. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the least squares estimator for the conditional value-at-risk. Our results relax the model assumptions made in Chun et al. (2012) and correct their mistake in the asymptotic variance expression. We show that the asymptotic variance depends on the quantile density function of the unobserved error and whether the model has a predictor with infinite variance, which makes it challenging to actually quantify the uncertainty of the conditional risk measure. To make the inference feasible, we then propose a smooth empirical likelihood based method for constructing a confidence interval for the conditional value-at-risk based on either independent errors or GARCH errors. Our approach not only bypasses the challenge of directly estimating the asymptotic variance but also does not need to know whether there exists an infinite variance predictor in the predictive model. Furthermore, we apply the same idea to the quantile regression method, which allows infinite variance predictors and generalizes the parameter estimation in Whang (2006) to conditional value-at-risk in the supplementary material. We demonstrate the finite sample performance of the derived confidence intervals through numerical studies before applying them to real data.
An investigation into the effectiveness of thyroid shielding as a dose optimisation tool when carrying out radiographic imaging prior to , or during , orthodontic treatment of children

ISRRT Chesney Research Grant – 2016 Project: An investigation into the effectiveness of thyroid shielding as a dose optimisation tool when carrying out radiographic imaging prior to, or during, orthodontic treatment of children By Rebekah Goulston Radiographer Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust Dental Radiology Department University Dental Hospital of Manchester Higher Cambridge Street Manchester UK
Low-Level Laser Therapy with a 635 nm Diode Laser Affects Orthodontic Mini-Implants Stability: A Randomized Clinical Split-Mouth Trial

Background: The study aimed to clinically estimate an influence of a 635 nm diode laser on the stability of orthodontic mini-implants, to assess mini-implants loss, and to evaluate a pain level after the treatment. Materials and Methods: The randomized clinical split-mouth trial included 20 subjects (13 women and 7 men; age: 32.5 ± 6.1 years), 40 implants (RMO, West Colfax Ave., Denver, CO, USA) with a diameter 1.4 mm and length of 10 mm. Mini-implants were placed in the area of the attached gingiva between the second premolar and first molar teeth, 2 mm below the mucogingival junction of both sides of the maxilla. Each implant on the right side (G1, n = 20) of the maxilla was irradiated with a diode laser, and the implants on the opposite side (left, G2, n = 20) were a control group (without laser irradiation). The 635-nm laser parameters; dose: 10 J per point (20 J/cm2), time: 100 s per point, two points (irradiation on a buccal, and a palatal side of the alveolus/implant), the total energy per session 20 J. Laser application protocol: immediately and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 30 days after surgery. The total energy after all therapeutic sessions was 140 J. The implants’ stability was measured employing a Periotest device (Periotest Test Value—PTV) immediately and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 30, and 60 days after the insertion of the mini-implants. Results: We found significantly higher secondary stability, lower mean PTV (6.18 ± 5.30) and (1.51 ± 2.25), for self-drilling mini-implants (G1, test group) in contrast to the control, G2 group (9.17 ± 8.25) and (5.00 ± 3.24), after 30 (p = 0.0003) and 60 days (p = 0.0000). Moreover, the analysis of the mini-implants stability after 635-nm diode laser application revealed significant higher stability in comparison with none irradiated implants (G2 group) after 3 days. (p = 0.0000) There was no significant difference in pain level measured on the NRS-11 scale on both sides of the maxilla. (p = 0.3665) An important finding was that all inserted mini-implants survived during a two-month observation period. Conclusions: 635-nm diode laser at laser irradiation increases the secondary stability of orthodontic mini-implants.
PULLBACK D-ATTRACTORS FOR THE NON-AUTONOMOUS NEWTON-BOUSSINESQ EQUATION IN TWO-DIMENSIONAL BOUNDED DOMAIN

We investigate the asymptotic behavior of solutions of a class of non-autonomous Newton-Boussinesq equation in two-dimensional bounded domain. The existence of pullback global attractors is proved in L2(Ω) × L2(Ω) and H1(Ω) ×H1(Ω), respectively.
An Investigation of the Influence of a Micro-Textured Ball End Cutter’s Different Parameters on the Surface Residual Stress of a Titanium Alloy Workpiece

When machining titanium alloy parts, aside from accuracy, the other key concern when evaluating their quality is the integrity of the machined surface. Residual stress can have a significant impact upon this. A certain amount of residual stress can help to strengthen the workpiece, but excessive residual stress can lead to its deformation. In this paper, we report on an experimental study of the surface integrity of titanium alloy after milling with a microtextured ball-end cutter. Tests were conducted to assess the residual stresses on the surface of titanium alloy workpieces according to the direction of feed and milling. The impact of different micro-texture parameters was also assessed; namely, the diameter, depth, spacing and distance from the cutting edge of the individual pits. Range analysis, which is an orthogonal test, was used to analyze the results of the experiments and a prediction model of surface residual stress was established for the milling of titanium alloy with micro-textured ball-end cutters. This model can provide theoretical support for the optimization of the parameters involved in future milling processes.
Elucidation of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Potential of Some Selected Plant Species of Family Asteraceae

: Fourteen wild plant species of family Asteraceae were selected to assess their pharmaceutical potential with the following objectives: Antioxidant properties were investigated by using three different methodologies such as DPPH free radical scavenging, Phosphomolybdenum (Total Antioxidant Activity, TAA) and FRAP assays. Quantitative phytoconstituents were examined by total phenol and total flavonoid contents. Among the selected plant species, maximum DPPH activity (%) was observed in aqua methanol and aqua acetone extract of Eclipta alba and Lagascea mollis, and FRAP in Vernonia cinerea and Ageratum houstonianum whereas TAA was in Erigeron bonariensis and Emilia sonchifolia, respectively. The Total Phenol Content (µg GAE/ mg) was highest in Erigeron bonariensis and Gnephalium pensylvanicum; while TFC (µg QE/ mg) was maximum in Xanthium strumerium and Ageratum houstonianum in aqua methanol and aqua acetone, respectively.
Understanding Poverty in Cash-crop Agro-forestry Systems

This paper examines the linkages between cash-crop income and other dimensions of poverty to interrogate assumptions regarding the relationship between agricultural income and poverty alleviation. The analysis treats poverty as a multi-dimensional and socially disaggregated phenomenon. The paper employs a mixed methods approach to case studies of Ghana and Ethiopia to explore two critical issues. First, how income from cash crops is linked with other dimensions of poverty. Second, how income and land are socially disaggregated. The paper then draws on qualitative data to critically re ﬂ ect on how poverty is understood within studied communities. The results show that some, but not all, indicators of poverty vary across income quartiles and that signi ﬁ cant di ﬀ erences exist across social groups. The analysis suggests that although cash crops are essential, focusing on increasing income from cash crops will not necessarily have a predictable or progressive impact on wellbeing. Furthermore, the analysis highlights how contextual factors, such as the provision of communal services, the nature of land holdings and the quality of local governance mediate the potential poverty alleviating outcomes of income increases. Future development of sustainable intensi ﬁ cation strategies should focus on the prevalence of trade-o ﬀ s and the fundamental social relations underpinning poverty dynamics.
Ecological Sex Ratios 1 Ecological Sex Ratios and Human Mating

Men are more likely than women to be both the perpetrators and victims of violence; men typically engage in more risk-taking and self-defeating behavior than women; and despite substantial variation within the sexes, men on average are more sexually promiscuous, sometimes shying away from long-term committed relationships in favor of casual sexual relationships. So what happens when there is an overabundance of men, relative to women, in the population? Intuition might suggest that rates of violent crime would skyrocket, marriages would destabilize, and many children would be born out of wedlock. Intriguingly, however, the opposite has been observed. When the population ratio of men to women increases, homicide rates drop, people are more likely to get and stay married, and children are more often born into intact homes [1-2]. What explains these patterns?
Lindsay tumor: An unusual entity: A case study with review of literature

Abstract Solid, encapsulated, follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid is termed as Lindsay tumor. Follicular carcinoma carries a worse prognosis than papillary thyroid carcinoma with higher incidence of hematogenous metastasis. Lindsay tumor being encapsulated follows an indolent course and has a better outcome. We present a rare case of Lindsay tumor in a 30 years adult male who presented with hoarseness of voice.
A Clinical Research on Treating Old Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Combined Inhaling Treatment

Objective To explore the effects of proliferation and apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocyte on articular inflammation in adjuvant arthritis(AA). Methods 0.1 mL of the complete Freud's adjuvant (CFA) was subcutaneously injected into the tail of Wistar rat. 14 days after CFA injection,Arthritis index (AI) was evaluated every 7 days and a group of rats (6 rats) were executed every 7 days. Fibroblast-like synoviocyte was cultured in vitro. The amount of apoptotic cells and cells in S-phase was measured by flow cytometry. The correlation of fibroblast-like synoviocyte apoptosis and AI was analyzed. Results AI was increased in the early course of AA,but decreased in the later course. Flow cytometry demonstrated the amount of cells in S-phase increased with the course of AA progressed. The increase of S-phase cells positively correlatedto the increase of RI. Apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocyte in the early course of AA was significantly inhibited,but the inhibition attenuated in the later course. Apoptosis inhibition was positively correlated to the increase of AI. Conclusion In the pathogenesis of AA,the inhibition of fibroblast-like synoviocyte apoptosis may take a role in acute synovial inflammtion.
Physiological Studies of Extremely Thermoacidophilicmicroorganisms Under Normal and Stressed Conditions

HAN, CHAE JOON. Physiological Studies of Extremely Thermoacidophilic Microorganisms under Normal and Stressed Conditions. (Under the direction of Professor Robert M. Kelly.) The purpose of this research was to study thermoacidophilic physiology for the purpose of developing a new strategy for metal and sulfur biotransformation processes. Metallosphaera sedula, an extremely thermoacidophilic archaeon growing mixotrophically on organic and inorganic substrates at pH 2.0 and 74C, was used as a model organism to address this issue. The manipulation of M. sedula’s energetics under thermally and chemically challenged states led to increase in specific leaching rates. A dual-limited continuous culture, at a dilution rate of 0.04 hr, was used to provide a steady-state operation at which the cellular and sub-cellular responses were monitored and the biocatalytic efficiency of cells was evaluated. Under the thermal stress, M. sedula showed acquired thermotolerance and “stressed-phase” growth at 81C, which is 2C is higher than its normal maximum growth temperature, and over-synthesized (~6-fold increase) a 66 kDa heat shock protein (MseHSP60), which is immunologically related to a molecular chaperone (Thermophilic Factor 55) from Sulfolobus shibatae. More importantly, however, there was a significant increase in specific iron turnover rate presumably through disruption of cellular proton network. In addition, although less dramatic when compared to thermal stress effects, similar results could be obtained when M. sedula was subjected to the chemical stress. By temporarily short-circuiting M. sedula’s proton network with uncouplers, the respiration capacity of cells was disrupted, leading to the increased Fe to Fe iron turnover rate. The work described here should propose a new approach for analyzing physiological responses under extreme growth conditions and thereby points to novel strategies for improving whole-cell catalytic efficiency of thermoacidophilic microorganisms. PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF EXTREMELY THERMOACIDOPHILIC MICROORGANISMS UNDER NORMAL AND STRESSED CONDITIONS
Food Choices, Food Sufficiency Practices, and Nutrition Education Needs of Hispanic Migrant Workers in Pennsylvania

This study examined components of health and well-being including nutrition, food choices, food sufficiency practices, and nutrition education needs of Hispanic migrant workers in Pennsylvania. Twelve focus group interviews were conducted with Hispanics in 5 different counties in Pennsylvania. Issues cited as affecting food choices were flavor, habit, tradition, and pleasure. Participants in all the focus groups mentioned that their eating habits have changed dramatically since coming to the United States, such as not eating as many fresh fruits and vegetables, because of perceived poor quality and high price. According to these results, the nutrition information and skills needed by this target audience are similar to what is needed by other population groups.
Hombre de 75 años de edad con leucemia mieloblástica aguda M5 y aspergiloma.Informe de un caso

Summary We report here a case of pulmonary aspergilloma in a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia. We present the clinical and radiological characteristics of this case. Aspergillus flavus was isolated. The antifungal treatment was unsuccessful. Pulmonary aspergillomas are associated with a high mortality in the immunocompromised host. It is important to know the diagnostic approach and the surgical and medical treatment of this disease.
Difficulty-aware Distractor Generation for Gap-Fill Items

Many computer-assisted language learning (CALL) systems offer gap-fill items, often with multiple choices in order to facilitate immediate feedback. Automatic distractor generation can therefore be helpful in providing the multiple choices. While existing algorithms focus on proposing the most plausible distractors, many realistic scenarios make use of distractors at a variety of difficulty levels. This paper evaluates the use of a neural language model to rank distractors in terms of difficulty. Experiments show that BERT outperforms semantic similarity measures, in terms of both correlation to human judgment and classification accuracy of distractor plausibility.