Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Can we enforce a benefit for dynamically typed languages in comparison to statically typed ones? A controlled experiment

There are a number of experiments that show a benefit for statically typed programming languages. However, it is unclear whether these results are mainly driven by the expectations that developers do benefit from static type systems, i.e. whether the results reflect on the experimenters' bias. From that perspective, it seems consequent to design an experiment that tries to reveals the opposite: to enforce a benefit for dynamically typed languages. This paper describes an experiment that tries to enforce such a benefit for dynamically typed languages in an experimental setting. Four (quite artificial) tasks were designed from which the experimenters expected to measure a clear benefit for dynamically typed languages. However, only in two cases such a benefit could be measured. What is even more interesting is that two other tasks (again, explicitly designed to show a benefit for dynamically typed languages) showed the opposite.
Effect of Muesli with 4 g Oat β-Glucan on Postprandial Blood Glucose, Gastric Emptying and Satiety in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Objective: Products enriched with oat β-glucan have been shown to reduce postprandial glucose and insulinemic responses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an extruded muesli product based on oat β-glucan on the rate of gastric emptying, postprandial blood glucose and satiety in healthy subjects. Methods: Gastric emptying rate (GER) was measured by standardized real-time ultrasonography. Twelve healthy subjects were assessed using a randomized crossover double blind trial. The meals were administered after 8 hours’ fasting after measuring the subject's normal fasting blood glucose level. Blood glucose measurements were made before, 30 and 60 min after the end of the meal. Satiety scores were estimated 15 and 90 min after the end of the meal. The GER was calculated as the percentage change in the antral cross-sectional area 15 and 90 minutes after ingestion of vanilla yoghurt with muesli containing 4 g oat β-glucan (GER1) or vanilla yoghurt with muesli containing cornflakes (GER2). Results: The median values were 60% for GER1 and 44% for GER2. The effect of 4 g oat β-glucan on the rate of gastric emptying was not statistically significant compared with corn flakes. Muesli with 4 g oat β-glucan lowered the postprandial glucose response significantly compared to the cornflakes meal (p = 0.045). The effect of oat β-glucan on satiety was not statistically significantly. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that intake of muesli with 4 g oat β-glucan does not affect the gastric emptying rate or satiety but lowers the postprandial blood glucose response, indicating that the GER does not regulate the blood glucose level.
Efficacy and safety of intranasal peptide YY3-36 for weight reduction in obese adults.

CONTEXT The gastrointestinal peptide hormone, peptide YY(3-36) (PYY(3-36)), is implicated to be a postprandial satiety factor. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to assess the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of intranasal PYY(3-36) to induce weight loss in obese patients. DESIGN The study was designed as a randomized, 2-wk, single-blind placebo run-in followed by a 12-wk double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment period. SETTING The study was set within a private and institutional practice. PATIENTS A total of 133 obese patients (body mass index, 30-43 kg/m(2); age, 18-65 yr) participated in the study. INTERVENTION Placebo or 200- or 600-microg PYY(3-36) was administered as an intranasal spray 20 min before breakfast, lunch, and dinner in conjunction with a hypocaloric diet and exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Body weight was the main outcome measure. RESULTS The number of patients completing 12 wk on the drug was 38 of 43 (88%), 31 of 44 (70%), and 12 of 46 (26%) for placebo, 200 microg three times a day (t.i.d.) and 600 microg t.i. d. , respectively. In the 600 microg t.i. d. group, 27 of 46 (59%) patients discontinued due to nausea and vomiting. Among all randomized patients who took at least one drug dose and had a postbaseline measurement, the mean body weight change from baseline was -2.8, -3.7, and -1.4 kg for placebo, 200 and 600 microg, respectively. The least squares mean difference (95% confidence interval) between placebo and 200 microg was -0.9 (-2.6, 0.7) kg (P = 0.251). A difference of 2.11 kg was sought. No meaningful inference can be drawn from the few patients who completed the study on 600 microg. CONCLUSIONS Intranasal PYY(3-36) as administered at these intervention doses and preprandial timing is not efficacious in inducing weight loss in obese patients after 12 wk of treatment.
Podstawowe klasy aktywów jako determinanty ceny złota w okresie długim. Analiza zależności

Streszczenie: Celem artykułu jest ocena ekspozycji ceny złota na zmiany ceny czterech klas aktywów: akcji, obligacji, surowców i nieruchomości, reprezentowanych przez następujące indeksy: S&P500 index, Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index (LBUSTRUU), Thomson Reuters/CoreCommodity CRB Index (TRJ/CRB) oraz Wilshire US Real Estate Investment Trust Index (WILREIT). Badana wykonano w okresie 1998 XII-2017 XII. Badania wykazały, że w całym okresie, a także w okresie hossy i bessy na rynku złota, nie stwierdzono relacji kointegrującej między ceną złota a cenami poszczególnych klas aktywów Wyniki testu ADF dla reszt modelu wskazują, że w okresie długim ceny tych aktywów nie determinowały ceny złota, zatem regresja miała charakter pozorny. Tezę tę potwierdza również analiza współczynników korelacji dla pierwszych różnic szeregów logarytmów poszczególnych zmiennych. Otrzymane wyniki są istotne dla inwestorów dokonujących wyboru między inwestycjami w fizyczne produkty złota a innymi klasami aktywów.
Multi‐national underwriting cycles in property‐liability insurance: Part I – some theory and empirical results

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to examine the existence of underwriting cycles in property-liability insurance for Switzerland, the USA, Japan, and West Germany over a period of 40 years (1957-1997), i.e. it looks at the question of whether the unit price of insurance coverage (given by the inverse of the loss ratio) fluctuates cyclically over time. The article serves as basis and starting point for Part II, where some of the limitations of the model presented here are dealt with. Design/methodology/approach – Loss ratio data for the four countries are used for the recent period 1957-1997. To test for the existence of cycles and calculate their length, the article applies autoregressive processes of second order, which were brought to a broader audience by a paper by Cummins and Outreville in 1987. The article also conducts a spectral analysis of the series. Findings – For West Germany, much longer cycles than in earlier studies were found for the basic model. In general, the cycles get longer for the longer period, 1957-1997. The article concludes that the hypothesis of cycles of six years in length no longer holds globally. It also finds cross-country differences for the primary markets of the four countries. Originality/value – Most empirical work on underwriting cycles has so far been carried out on US data. This study replicates a previous study for four countries on three continents and discusses the results and some limitations. It serves as the basis for Part II of this work.
Oral Insulin and Buccal Insulin: A Critical Reappraisal

Despite the availability of modern insulin injection devices with needles that are so sharp and thin that practically no injection pain takes place, it is still the dream of patients with diabetes to, for example, swallow a tablet with insulin. This is not associated with any pain and would allow more discretion. Therefore, availability of oral insulin would not only ease insulin therapy, it would certainly increase compliance. However, despite numerous attempts to develop such a “tablet” in the past 85 years, still no oral insulin is commercially available. Buccal insulin is currently in the last stages of clinical development by one company and might become available in the United States and Europe in the coming years (it is already on the market in some other countries). The aim of this review is to critically describe the different approaches that are currently under development. Optimal coverage of prandial insulin requirements is the aim with both routes of insulin administration (at least with most approaches). The speed of onset of metabolic effect seen with some oral insulin approaches is rapid, but absorption appears to be lower when the tablet is taken immediately prior to a meal. With all approaches, considerable amounts of insulin have to be applied in order to induce therapeutically relevant increases in the metabolic effect because of the low relative biopotency of buccal insulin. Unfortunately, the number of publications about clinical-experimental and clinical studies is surprisingly low. In addition, there is no study published in which the variability of the metabolic effect induced (with and without a meal) was studied adequately. In summary, after the failure of inhaled insulin, oral insulin and buccal insulin are hot candidates to come to the market as the next alternative routes of insulin administration.
A novel type of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy characterized by a mild phenotype.

BACKGROUND Three loci for autosomal dominant hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I (HMSN I) or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 (CMT1) have been identified on chromosomes 17p11.2 (CMT1A), 1q21-q23 (CMT1B), and 10q21.1-q22.1 (designated here as CMT1D). The genes involved are peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22), myelin protein zero (MPZ), and the early growth response element 2 (EGR2), respectively. Probably a fourth locus (CMT1C) exists since some autosomal dominant HMSN I families have been excluded for linkage with the CMT1A and CMT1B loci. Four loci for autosomal dominant hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type II (HMSN II) or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2 (CMT2) have been localized on chromosomes 1p35-p36 (CMT2A), 3q13-q22 (CMT2B), 7p14 (CMT2D), and 3p (HMSN-P). OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical, electrophysiologic, and neuropathological features of a novel type of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed linkage studies with anonymous DNA markers flanking the known CMT1 and CMT2 loci. Patients and their relatives underwent clinical neurologic examination and electrophysiologic testing. In the proband, a sural nerve biopsy specimen was examined. RESULTS Linkage studies excluded all known CMT1 and CMT2 loci. The clinical phenotype is mild and almost all affected individuals remain asymptomatic. Electrophysiologic and histopathological studies showed signs of a demyelinating neuropathy, but the phenotype is unusual for either autosomal dominant HMSN I or HMSN II. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the HMSN in this family represents a novel clinical and genetic entity.
Diagnostic accuracy of sonography for pleural effusion: systematic review

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The initial method for evaluating the presence of pleural effusion was chest radiography. Isolated studies have shown that sonography has greater accuracy than radiography for this diagnosis; however, no systematic reviews on this matter are available in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of sonography in detecting pleural effusion, by means of a systematic review of the literature. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a systematic review with meta-analysis on accuracy studies. This study was conducted in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging and in the Brazilian Cochrane Center, Discipline of Emergency Medicine and Evidence-Based Medicine, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: The following databases were searched: Cochrane Library, Medline, Web of Science, Embase and Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs). The references of relevant studies were also screened for additional citations of interest. Studies in which the accuracy of sonography for detecting pleural effusion was tested, with an acceptable reference standard (computed tomography or thoracic drainage), were included. RESULTS: Four studies were included. All of them showed that sonography had high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting pleural effusions. The mean sensitivity was 93% (95% confidence interval, CI: 89% to 96%), and specificity was 96% (95% CI: 95% to 98%). CONCLUSIONS: In different populations and clinical settings, sonography showed consistently high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting fluid in the pleural space.
The curious compatibility of consensus, corporatism, and neoliberalism: The Finnish business community and the retasking of a corporatist welfare state

Abstract This article addresses the apparent paradox of simultaneous neoliberal change and welfare-statist, corporatist continuity by presenting an empirical case study of the advent of neoliberal ideas in Finland in the 1970s and 1980s. The article focuses on the attempts of a free-market think tank, EVA, and the employers’ association, STK, to advance policies such as economic deregulation, international competitiveness, welfare retrenchment, and active social and labour market policies through the neoliberal retasking of the corporatist Finnish welfare state. EVA and the STK utilised seemingly non-neoliberal means, that is an economic policy consensus and tripartite corporatist arrangements, and reformulated their content to better correspond with business interests. Instead of demolition, the outcome has been the redefinition and incremental transformation of the state from a provider of welfare to a promoter of competitiveness, productivity, and employment.
GLIAL FIBRILLARY ACIDIC PROTEIN IN HUMAN GLIOMAS

The presence of GFA protein, an astrocyte specific antigen, was investigated in surgical biopsies of ninety‐five gliomas using an immunoperoxidase detection method. In some cases electron microscopy was added and also in one tumour immunoelectron microscopy. The results were correlated with the histological classification and grading of the tumours. In astrocytomas, the number of GFA positive cells decreased with increasing malignancy. Some malignant oligodendrogliomas surprisingly showed GFA in oligodendroglial and gemistocytic tumour cells. Thus, transition from oligodendroglial into astrocytic tumour cells seems to occur. In the mixed astrocytoma/oligodendrogliomas, theoli godendroglioma areas were negative. Subependymomas were strongly GFA positive, whereas ependymomas and medulloblastomas were negative. The presence or absence of GFA seems to contribute a ‘hard’ criterion for classifying gliomas and may be helpful in grading them according to the degree of malignancy.
Probabilistic threat assessment with environment description and rule-based multi-traffic prediction for integrated risk management system

The objective of this paper is to propose an original probabilistic threat assessment method to completely predict and avoid all possible kinds of collision in multi-vehicle traffics. The main concerns in risk assessment can be summarized as three requirements: 1) a description of a traffic situation containing the geometric description of the road, dynamic and static obstacle tracking, 2) a prediction of multiple traffics' reachable set under the reasonable behavior restriction, and 3) an assessment of collision risk which corresponds with driver sensitivity and can be applied to many complex situations without loss of generality. To fulfill these three requirements, the proposed algorithm for estimating the probability of collision occurrence of the ego vehicle follows the basic idea of the particle filtering and the collision probability can be numerically implemented and calculated. The overall performance of the proposed threat assessment algorithm is verified via vehicle tests in real road. It has been shown that the threat assessment performance for the given driving situations can be significantly enhanced by the proposed algorithm. And this enhancement of risk assessment performance led to capabilities improvement of driver assistance functions of ADASs.
Effect of Corporate Income Tax Incentives on Investment in Rwanda

The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of corporate income tax incentives on investment using privatesector manufacturing companies in Kigali special economic zone, Rwanda. The study adopted descriptive researchdesign and the study population comprised of thirty-nine manufacturing companies in free zone in Rwanda which areregistered by the private sector. The sample size comprised of 36 private companies determined from a totalpopulation of 39 companies. Only two employees that are acquainted with decision making from each manufacturingcompanies registered by the private sector were targeted hence the target population respondents was 72 respondents.The Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Data was collected from both primaryand secondary data using questionnaires and documentation. The findings in the study revealed that tax incentiveshave significant positive effect on investment in private sector manufacturing companies in Rwanda. The p -valuesfor all the variables are lower than 5% this implies that are significant. From the study the p-values are 0.009, 0.000,0.003 and 0.000 for company income tax, capital allowance, value added tax and capital gains tax incentivesrespectively. The capital allowance incentive has the highest t value of 4.656, followed by company income taxincentives with 3.954, and next is capital gains tax incentives with 3.184, while the lowest is the value added taxincentives with 2.954. Based on the empirical evidences and results of the analysis, there is positive and statisticallysignificant relationship between the tax incentives and investments. The study recommends that Government andpolicy makers should concentrate on efforts at ensuring that more CIT incentives and strategies that are specificallyaddressing small and medium enterprises are introduced.
Identification and control of NAO humanoid robot to grasp an object using monocular vision

NAO is a humanoid robot which is developed by Aldebaran robotics, a French robotic company having its headquarters in Paris. Various works related to monocular vision for hand eye coordination in NAO robot has been done which are explained in this paper. Camera calibration is done to determine parameters defining relationship between reference 3D coordinate system and camera coordinate frame, which are combined with transformation and parameters related to camera. Control of robotic arm is a bit complex, it requires complete dynamics study and its implementation. Though it is a wide area, some of the works are done on its arm control using different methods. Accurate control requires identification of D-H parameters and forward and inverse kinematics of NAO arm which needs to have knowledge about degrees of freedom (DOF). Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System(ANFIS) is used for inverse kinematics calculation. Future works in this direction could be implementing controllers which would help to reduce the stability problem.
Integrin Regulation of β-Catenin Signaling in Ovarian Carcinoma*

Reversible modulation of integrin-regulated cell-matrix adhesion and epithelial (E)-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion plays a critical role in the establishment of ovarian cancer metastases. In contrast to most epithelial cell-derived tumors that down-regulate E-cadherin expression during progression, acquisition of E-cadherin expression accompanies malignant transformation of the ovarian surface epithelium and is maintained in peritoneal metastases. Metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer cells are disseminated intraperitoneally and preferentially adhere via integrins to interstitial collagens in the peritoneal cavity. This study was undertaken to determine whether integrin engagement influences E-cadherin and β-catenin localization and function. The data demonstrate that multivalent integrin engagement results in increased internalization of E-cadherin, inhibition of GSK-3β, elevated levels of nuclear β-catenin, increased β-catenin-regulated promoter activation, and transcriptional activation of Wnt/β-catenin target genes. Blocking β-catenin transcriptional control with inhibitor of β-catenin and Tcf-4 reduces cellular invasion, suggesting a key role for β-catenin nuclear signaling in EOC invasion and metastasis. These studies support a model wherein cell-matrix engagement regulates the functional integrity of cell-cell contacts, leading to increased β-catenin nuclear signaling and enhanced cellular invasive activity. Furthermore, these results provide a mechanism for activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the absence of activating mutations in this pathway.
Employment change, institutions and migrant labour: the Italian case in comparative perspective

This article investigates how employment change has been intersecting and intertwining with the growth of immigrants among the labour forces in Italy under the hypothesis that migration inflows not only depend on but also affect the labour demand and employment changes in the receiving countries while also changing the composition of the labour supply. Employment changes and labour migrations are very often separately considered. The results from both of these broad literature streams provide several pieces of evidence to highlight how employment structures and migration flows influence each other, mediated by the institutional context. Indeed, employment structures and employment changes are affected by the characteristics of the economic fabric, labour market regulation and the welfare system, which also influence natives' and immigrants' opportunities and choices. This article adopts a macro-structural approach and focuses on the Italian case in comparison with seven European countries representing the European institutional variety: Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Spain. The aim is to show how in Italy, the downgrading pattern builds both on the stagnation of skilled job creation by the productive fabric and the enormous demand for care services from families, intertwined with immigrant labour. The analyses build on European Labour Force Survey microdata that have provided information about respondents' country of birth since 2005, thus allowing for immigrants to be distinguished from natives.
The Effectiveness of Topical Antibacterials in Acne: A Double-Blind Clinical Study

In a double-blind study, three groups of patients with mild to moderate acne were treated for eight weeks with topical acne creams containing the antibacterials triclosan or triclosan plus propylene phenoxetol. The formula without antibacterials served as the control. Total-face lesion counts, evaluation of the overall degree of inflammation of the lesions, and patient self-assessment showed the added efficacy of the antibacterials when incorporated into the control.