Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Drives Differences in Health Care Demand? The Role of Health Insurance and Selection Bias

This paper employs an econometric model to parse di erences in health care utilization attributable to private health insurance and differences due to self-selection into insurance status, with specifc interest in selection on unobservable traits such as insurance preference or attitude toward health risks. The model has two components, one component to model insurance outcome, the other to model demand for care measured as the annual number of doctor visits and prescriptions filled. Recognizing the endogeneity of health insurance, the model allows for correlated unobserved heterogeneity by assuming a latent factor structure. Values for these latent factors are drawn through simulation and the model is estimated using maximum simulated likelihood methods. For the observable characteristics that predict need for health services we find evidence of adverse selection. However, we also find evidence of advantageous selection on the unobservable characteristics common to insurance choice and utilization. In other words, unobserved heterogeneity that increases the chances of being uninsured isassociated with higher utilization. Given this selection decomposition, there is no inherent conflict in describing the influence of both adverse and advantageous selection in utilization comparisons. After controlling for selection, the insurance incentive effect (ex-post moral hazard) is positive and signifcant. For the average individual, switching from no coverage to full coverage would result in 2 additional visits to the doctor per year (+160%) and 8 additional prescriptions lled (+207%).
The short-term efficacy and safety of fractional CO2 laser therapy for vulvovaginal symptoms in menopause, breast cancer, and lichen sclerosus.

OBJECTIVE To review the short-term effects and safety of vulvovaginal fractional microablative CO2 laser therapy on atrophy symptoms using validated questionnaires pre- and posttreatment. METHODS This is a retrospective chart review from January, 2016 to December, 2019 on 139 women with vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms, who completed three treatments about 6 weeks apart. All were >18 years old and nonpregnant. As is the practice in our clinic for all women receiving treatment, they were surveyed prior to the 1st and 3rd treatments with validated questionnaires, Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (VSQ), as well as a visual analog scale (VAS). Paired t test was completed on the pre- and post FSFI and VAS scores. Pre- and postproportions of the VSQ were evaluated by the Fisher's exact test. Means were presented for each study variable. Multivariable regression analysis was completed on continuous and binomial variables for scores predictors. RESULTS Mean age was 62 years with a mean follow-up of 13.8 weeks. Concomitant topical estrogen was reported in 53% (n = 74). Breast cancer diagnosis was documented in 27% (n = 38), and lichen sclerosus in 22% (n = 31). All FSFI scores improved (pre: 12.7, post: 19.0, P < 0.001). The VSQ showed 18 of 21 questions significantly improved (P < 0.05). The VAS showed significant improvement in painful intercourse (pre: 6.6, post: 2.4, P < 0.001), and vulvar dryness (pre: 4.6, post: 1.5, P < 0.001). Posttreatments, 17 additional women became sexually active. No major adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS Fractional CO2 laser may be effective and safe for the treatment vulvovaginal atrophy. Video Summary:http://links.lww. com/MENO/A700.
TRE DS I O STEROIDAL A TI-I FLAMMATORY DRUG UTILIZATIO I THE ORTHOPAEDIC OUTPATIE T U IT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL I I DIA

A cross-sectional study was conducted to study the pattern and quality of prescribing NSAIDs in a unit of the Orthopaedic out patient department in a tertiary care hospital in India. Prescriptions were collected from a unit of the Orthopaedics out patient department for a period of six months. NSAID utilization was analysed using the Drug Utilization 90% (DU 90%) method. 1008 prescriptions were analysed. NSAIDs were prescribed in 804 prescriptions. 989 NSAID preparations were prescribed. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.13 and the average cost of each prescription was Rs.129. 13 (approximately US$ 2.7). Fourteen NSAIDs among 29 different NSAIDs used, were found in the DU 90% segment. Eight preparations were single drug preparations and six were fixed drug combinations. Diclofenac topped the list with 21.2% prescriptions containing it, followed by Diclofenac + Serratiopeptidase with 11.1%. Among the selective COX-2 inhibitors only Etoricoxib (4.15%) figured in the list. Diclofenac was the most common NSAID prescribed. Despite reports of the relative gastrointestinal safety of Ibuprofen, it is being under-prescribed. Selective COX-2 inhibitors are being used only occasionally. Though topical Diclofenac was used commonly, it was not used alone; it was always combined with an oral NSAID.
Study on EEMD-Based KICA and Its Application in Fault-Feature Extraction of Rotating Machinery

A method is proposed to improve the feature extraction of vibration signals of rotating machinery. Firstly, the single-channel vibration signal is decomposed with ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD). Then, the number of fault signals can be estimated with singular-value decomposition (SVD). Finally, the fault signals can be extracted with kernel-independent component analysis (KICA). The advantage of this method is that it can estimate the number of fault signals of single-channel vibration signals and can extract the fault features clearly. Compared with wavelets, empirical mode decomposition (EMD), variational mode decomposition (VMD) and EEMD, the better performance of this method is proven with three experimental analyses of faulty gear, a faulty rolling bearing and a faulty shaft. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is efficient to extract the fault features of single-channel vibration signals of rotating machinery.
MIMO-OFDM Wireless Channel Prediction by Exploiting Spatial-Temporal Correlation

We propose a general MIMO-OFDM channel prediction framework, which exploits both the spatial and temporal correlations. We also derive two predictors which select data for auto-regressive (AR) predictors in various ways based on the proposed MIMO-OFDM channel prediction framework. By minimizing the mean square error (MSE) of prediction model, the first predictor chooses the data set. The second predictor chooses the data in a heuristic way, programmed to reduce the computational complexity. Our algorithms can be applied to improve the precoding performance in multi-user MIMO-OFDM systems.
Should We Reconsider the Necessity of a Refinement of Prostate Cancer Risk Classification and Radiotherapy Treatment Strategy? Experiences from a Retrospective Analysis of Data from a Single Institution

Background: Radiation therapy has undergone significant technical development in the past decade. However, the complex therapy of intermediate-risk patients with organ-confined prostate carcinoma still poses many questions. Our retrospective study investigated the impact of selected components of the treatment process including radiotherapy, hormone deprivation, risk classification, and patients’ response to therapy. Methods: The impact of delivered dose, planning accuracy, duration of hormone deprivation, risk classification, and the time to reach prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir state were analyzed among ninety-nine individuals afflicted with organ-confined disease. Progression was defined as a radiological or biochemical relapse within five years from radiotherapy treatment. Results: We found that 58.3% of the progressive population consisted of intermediate-risk patients. The progression rate in the intermediate group was higher (21.9%) than in the high-risk population (12.1%). Dividing the intermediate group, according to the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) recommendations, resulted in the non-favorable subgroup having the highest rate of progression (33.3%) and depicting the lowest percentage of progression-free survival (66.7%). Conclusion: Extended pelvic irradiation on the regional lymph nodes may be necessary for the ISUP Grade 3 subgroup, similarly to the high-risk treatment. Therapy optimization regarding the intermediate-risk population based on the ISUP subgrouping suggestions is highly recommended in the treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer.
On the properties of high-capacity VAEs

We present a detailed theoretical analysis of the behaviour of high-capacity β-VAEs [1], advancing our understanding of VAEs on multiple fronts: (i) We demonstrate that the posterior density of unconstrained VAEs will converge to an equiprobable partition of the latent-space; (ii) We provide a connection between β-VAEs and spectral clustering; (iii) Drawing from statistical mechanics we study phase-transitions in the reconstruction fixed-points of β-VAEs.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN KUALA NERUS, TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA

Overweight and obesity are major health concerns in Malaysia, which are linked to other health consequences such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and several others. Among dietary factors, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are reported to be one of the leading factors of weight gain and a higher body mass index (BMI). Sugar-sweetened beverages are beverages with added sugar that only add calories to an individual’s normal diet and they represent the largest contributor to the added sugars intake. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of SSB consumption among university students in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, as well as to investigate the association between the students’ SSB consumption and their BMI. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Gong Badak Campus and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) students by using the convenience sampling. Each participant was given a questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic details, anthropometric assessment and beverage intake. The results revealed that half of the students consumed 2 cups (500 mL) of SSBs on average days (49.4%), whereas 21.7% of them consumed at least 3 cups daily. It was found that sweetened tea was the students’ most preferred SSB and there was also an association between the SSB consumption and the BMI. In conclusion, university students in Kuala Nerus drink 2 cups of SSBs daily and sweetened tea is their preferred SSB. Since the students’ SSB consumption influences their BMI, these students must be aware on the contents of SSB and the related health consequences in order to reduce the consumption of these beverages and hence, reduce their BMI to a healthy level.
TECENDO CONHECIMENTOS DE MULTIPLICAÇÃO COM O USO DA PLATAFORMA KHAN ACADEMY COM ALUNOS DO 5º ANO DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL

O presente artigo tem o objetivo de apresentar as contribuições do uso da plataforma Khan Academy nas aulas de Matemática, com alunos do 5º ano, do Ensino Fundamental de uma Escola Municipal, da Zona Leste, da cidade de Manaus (AM). O uso de recursos tecnológicos no Ensino de Matemática converge para a superação de estigmas e concepções enraizadas de que esse componente curricular é cansativo, decorativo e sem contextualização. Por isso, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa-ação interventiva, na qual organizamos uma Sequência Didática com atividades que envolveu a operação de multiplicação e o uso da plataforma Khan Academy, isto a fim de oportunizar uma experiência de aprendizado significativo. Nesse ínterim, os registros da sequência didática foram coletados a partir de conversas informais, observações, registros no caderno de campo e filmagens das ações docentes e discentes frente a proposta de trabalho com o Khan Academy. Os resultados da ação demonstram o aumento do interesse dos estudantes, que outrora se mantinham dispersos nas aulas de matemática, além de possuírem notas abaixo da média na disciplina. Sendo assim, consideramos que o uso desta plataforma no processo de ensino e aprendizagem da matemática, quando explorada de modo planejado, pode ser uma forte aliada a didática do professor.
Response Surface Modelling of Water Vapor Adsorption in Fixed Bed of Impregnated Alumina Grains

The experimental design methodology was applied for response surface modelling (RSM) of a packed-bed based pilot-scaled set-up for water vapour adsorption on impregnated alumina grains. Experimental breakthrough curves were determined. The variables considered were the ratio between the volume of adsorbent bed and air flow rate (residence time), a geometrical parameter, the ratio between adsorption column diameter and the bed height, and air relative humidity respectively. The Central Composite Design (CCD) allowed developing an empirical model as a functional relationship between breakthrough time and the considered independent variables. It was found that all considered factors have an important effect on the response. The suggested mathematical model was validated using experimental data other than those employed in the experimental design. The predicted values are in good agreement with experimental data. The present paper shows that RSM can be also employed to predict dynamic adsorption processes.
A Probabilistic Short-length Linear Predictability Approach to Blind Source Separation

A merit function based on short length linear predictability of signal in an objective probabilistic algorithm is defined and used for blind source separation (BSS) of linear mixtures of signals. In BSS literatures, it has been conjectured that linear mixture of statistically independent source signals will result in a set of signals which each of them has less predictability than (or equal to) that of any of component source signals. We have used this property to extract source signals by finding an un-mixing matrix that maximizes the proposed merit function of predictability for each recovered signal. This method which is called Probabilistic Short-length Linear Predictability BSS (PSLP-BSS), its performance has been driven with many tests performed with mixtures of different kinds (speech, audio, image, constructed mathematical signals like saw tooth and sinusoidal). In all cases, correlation between each of source signals and each of extracted signals shows near-perfect performance of the method. The proposed BSS doesnt require any assumption regarding the probability density function of source signals. It has been demonstrated that PSLP-BSS can separate signal mixtures in which each mixture is a linear combination of source signals with gaussian, super-gaussian and sub-gaussian probability density functions. However, the method is adapted to temporal structure of recovered signals. Since, the un-mixing matrix that is concluded by proposed merit function can be obtained as the solution to a generalized eigenvalue routine, signals can be extracted simultaneously using the fast eigen value.
When supply meets demand : Wage inequality in Portugal ∗

Wage inequality in Portugal increased over the last quarter of century. The period from 1982 to 1995 witnessed strong increases in both upperand lower-tail inequality. A shortage of skills combined with skill-biased technological changes are at the core of this evolution. Since 1995, lower-tail inequality decreased, while upper-tail inequality increased at a slower rate. The supply of high-skilled workers more than doubled during this period, contributing significantly to the slowdown. Polarization of employment demand is the more credible explanation for the more recent evolution. As in other developed economies, for instance Germany and the United States, we show that institutions played a minor role in shaping changes in inequality.
Characterizing User Roles in HCI Technologies for Nature Exploration

The exploration and the discovery of nature through walking, cycling, touring, trekking and hiking are targeted by this work, part of an on-going research on persuasive user interaction. Considering HCI solutions dedicated to discover and explore nature, we uncover several classes of roles that users may endorse during a long-term usage of such interactive solutions. We claim the importance of these roles as, leveraging persuasion, they may contribute to increase the nature discovery experience and to sustain motivation through user interaction. In this contribution we share the early insights from our ﬁrst studies on the Mhikes platform, designed for such kind of nature-involved activities, and present our research directions for further investigations.
A MODIFIED BIC TUNING PARAMETER SELECTOR FOR SICA-PENALIZED COX REGRESSION MODELS WITH DIVERGING DIMENSIONALITY

This paper proposes a modifled BIC (Bayesian information criterion) tuning parameter selector for SICA-penalized Cox regression models with a diverging number of covariates. Under some regularity conditions, we prove the model selection consistency of the proposed method. Numerical results show that the proposed method performs better than the GCV (generalized crossvalidation) criterion.
Streamer propagation in a non-uniform electric field under lightning impulse in short gaps insulated with natural ester and mineral oil

This article describes the comparative experimental studies on streamer propagation in natural ester and mineral oil under a high voltage lightning impulse. These studies were concentrated around the small electrode gaps and the point-plane electrode arrangement. The spatial shapes of the developing streamers, light emission and propagation velocity were analyzed and compared between the two diﬀerent dielectric liquids. In both of them two streamer propagation modes were registered during the studies performed. Propagation of slow 2nd mode streamers took place below the so-called acceleration voltage while fast 3rd mode streamers developed at acceleration voltage and above. Comparing the streamer shapes corresponding to a given voltage polarity, no visible diﬀerences were observed between the liquids tested. Concerning the light emission, higher frequencies of light pulses were registered however in the case of natural ester. The signiﬁcant diﬀerences between both liquids were noticed in the value of the acceleration voltage estimated. In the case of positive polarity streamers started to develop in natural ester as a 3rd mode at lower value of testing voltage than in the case of mineral oil. For negative polarity, within the applied testing voltages, 3rd mode streamers appeared only in natural ester. On this basis, the fundamental conclusion is that natural ester may have a lower ability of preventing the development of fast and energetic 3rd mode streamers, even at small electrode gaps.
Investigating the Effect of Detecting and Mitigating a Ring Oscillator-Based Hardware Trojan

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Dominant mechanisms for the delivery of fine sediment and phosphorus to fluvial networks draining grassland dominated headwater catchments Published in Science of the Total Environment

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Unexpected Returns on Bonds. The Case of the Pandemic Period in Poland

Changes in the term structure of interest rates unknown a priori to investors induce unanticipated rates of return on all financial instruments, especially on bonds and bond portfolios. Unexpected returns on bond investments arise particularly often in economic downturns. During the COVID-19 pandemic period in Poland interest rates have been substantially reduced by Central Bank. Within three months, the WIBOR 1Y rate fell from 1.84% (February 27, 2020) to 0.3% (June 4, 2020). The consequences of the Central Bank decision have been crucial for investors. A one-time increase (decrease) in rates decreases (increases) the market value of assets. The literature offers some mathematical tools to investigate this problem. The aim of this study is to assess and analyse the influence of a considerable decline in spot rates on unexpected profits on Treasury bonds to support investors decisions and emphasize practical aspects of bond risk measurement. It is important to note that after the quite long time period of almost flat interest rate structure in Poland, the topic regarding bond risk caused by changes in interest rates has become significant again.
Thermal robustness of biomechanical processes

ABSTRACT Temperature influences many physiological processes that govern life as a result of the thermal sensitivity of chemical reactions. The repeated evolution of endothermy and widespread behavioral thermoregulation in animals highlight the importance of elevating tissue temperature to increase the rate of chemical processes. Yet, movement performance that is robust to changes in body temperature has been observed in numerous species. This thermally robust performance appears exceptional in light of the well-documented effects of temperature on muscle contractile properties, including shortening velocity, force, power and work. Here, we propose that the thermal robustness of movements in which mechanical processes replace or augment chemical processes is a general feature of any organismal system, spanning kingdoms. The use of recoiling elastic structures to power movement in place of direct muscle shortening is one of the most thoroughly studied mechanical processes; using these studies as a basis, we outline an analytical framework for detecting thermal robustness, relying on the comparison of temperature coefficients (Q10 values) between chemical and mechanical processes. We then highlight other biomechanical systems in which thermally robust performance that arises from mechanical processes may be identified using this framework. Studying diverse movements in the context of temperature will both reveal mechanisms underlying performance and allow the prediction of changes in performance in response to a changing thermal environment, thus deepening our understanding of the thermal ecology of many organisms. Summary: Mechanical processes that replace chemical processes in organismal movement can result in performance that is robust to changing temperature.
Subsurface-domain, interferometric objective functions for target-oriented waveform inversion

ABSTRACTResolving details in subsurface reservoir parameters from surface waveform data is a challenging problem, particularly when a reservoir is beneath a complex overburden whose properties are also poorly known. We have developed new metrics for detecting and quantifying errors in subsurface models that are well-suited for target-oriented inversion. Our metric, when combined with state-of-the art redatuming, aims at enabling waveform inversion for target volume parameters with no need to resolve model features elsewhere (e.g., in the overburden). We refer to these metrics as “interferometric objective functions” because they rely on extrapolation from reciprocity integrals commonly used in seismic interferometry. As in seismic interferometry, wavefield extrapolation retrieves the wave response between two points by combining observed data with an extrapolator that describes the response between the subsurface and the data boundary. When the source point is outside a target volume, either forward time .