Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Bayesian Change-Point Analysis for Software Reliability Models

In most software reliability models which utilize the nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP), the intensity function for the counting process is usually assumed to be continuous and monotone. However, on account of various practical reasons, there may exist some change points in the intensity function and thus the assumption of continuous and monotone intensity function may be unrealistic in many real situations. In this article, the Bayesian change-point approach using beta-mixtures for modeling the intensity function with possible change points is proposed. The hidden Markov model with non constant transition probabilities is applied to the beta-mixture for detecting the change points of the parameters. The estimation and interpretation of the model is illustrated using the Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) data. The proposed change point model will be also compared with the competing models via marginal likelihood. It can be seen that the proposed model has the highest marginal likelihood and outperforms the competing models.
City Directories as Sources of Migration Data

The city directories of Norristown, Pennsylvania, were analyzed to determine their usefulness for the study of migration and occupational mobility. Tests showed that they provided a complete enumeration of the city's population and its occupational composition. Death certificates identify persons who disappeared from directory listings through death, and birth certificates and school records identify those who first appeared in the listings upon arriving at the minimum age for inclusion. Then, by the method of residues, the remainder were classified as either out-migrants or in-migrants. Thus, through corroborative use of diverse sources, American demographers have a valid substitute for the system of continuous population registers found in several European countries.
Everyone knew everyone: diversity, community memory and a new established–outsider figuration

This article explores the transformation of a community and its diversity as narrated by former industrial workers from a neighbourhood in Nuremberg, in a context in which company-based social housing of workers had been replaced by private rented accommodation accessed by middle class residents of migrant backgrounds. In biographical interviews, narratives emerge in which diversity and social difference are not seen as ethnic difference, but rather as a power difference within an established–outsider figuration. In this figuration, heterogeneous past and present cultural practices are homogenised through community control and regulation along normative rules as defined by the established. Workers’ nostalgic laments for the loss of their former status show that figuration of established and outsiders is dynamic, opening up new ways of thinking about diverse place-making and alternative perspectives on urban gentrification.
Parents’ perceptions of children's weight: the accuracy of ratings and associations to strategies for feeding

The general objective of this study was to assess parents’ perceptions of their preschooler's body weight, and the association between children's current weight status and parental feeding strategies. A sample of 150 parents of three- to five-year-old children (72 girls and 78 boys) completed questionnaires on sociodemographic information, body-size perception of their child, and feeding practices information. Children were classified into weight categories according to body mass index scores. Results showed that: (1) parents of children who were overweight were less accurate in determining their child's body size, (2) parents who did perceive their child's body size accurately reported being more concerned with their child's eating habits and weight when this child was actually overweight, (3) parents who were accurate in perceiving their child's weight reported using more food restriction than parents who were inaccurate, and (4) parents of girls reported significantly more monitoring of sweets and snack food consumption than parents of boys. Prevention programmes should be implemented in early childhood and include parent education components.
Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems ( PACIS ) 2010 An Empirical Study of the Impact of Trial Experiences on the Continued Usage of Mobile Newspapers

This study explores the effects of trial experiences on users’ continued mobile data services usage intention. Using the context of a mobile service with trial option, this research proposes a conceptual model by integrating perceived fee with the expectation-confirmation model of IT continuance (ECM-IT). Data was collected from 192 mobile newspaper trial users in China. Results suggest that the extent of confirmation with initial expectation affects post-adoption expectations while post-adoption expectations and confirmation positively impact satisfaction. Next, expectations, satisfaction with prior trial experience, and perceived fee positively impact continued usage of mobile newspaper. Overall, this study provides an understanding of how consumers make their purchase decision of mobile data services. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.
Longitudinal Changes in Multiple Biomarkers Are Associated with Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Doxorubicin, Taxanes, and Trastuzumab.

BACKGROUND Biomarkers may play an important role in identifying patients at risk for cancer therapy cardiotoxicity. Our objectives were to define the patterns of change in biomarkers with cancer therapy and their associations with cardiotoxicity. METHODS In a multicenter cohort of 78 breast cancer patients undergoing doxorubicin and trastuzumab therapy, 8 biomarkers were evaluated at baseline and every 3 months over a maximum follow-up of 15 months. These biomarkers, hypothesized to be mechanistically relevant to cardiotoxicity, included high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), myeloperoxidase (MPO), placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor-1 (sFlt-1), and galectin 3 (gal-3). We determined if biomarker increases were associated with cardiotoxicity at the same visit and the subsequent visit over the entire course of therapy. Cardiotoxicity was defined by the Cardiac Review and Evaluation Criteria; alternative definitions were also considered. RESULTS Across the entire cohort, all biomarkers except NT-proBNP and gal-3 demonstrated increases by 3 months; these increases persisted for GDF-15, PlGF, and hs-cTnI at 15 months. Increases in MPO, PlGF, and GDF-15 were associated with cardiotoxicity at the same visit [MPO hazard ratio 1.38 (95% CI 1.10-1.71), P = 0.02; PlGF 3.78 (1.30-11.0), P = 0.047; GDF-15 1.71 (1.15-2.55), P = 0.01] and the subsequent visit. MPO was robust to alternative outcome definitions. CONCLUSIONS Increases in MPO are associated with cardiotoxicity over the entire course of doxorubicin and trastuzumab therapy. Assessment with PlGF and GDF-15 may also be of value. These findings motivate validation studies in additional cohorts.
Treatment-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease in prostate cancer survivors.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), either by bilateral orchiectomy or chronic administration of a gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, is the mainstay of treatment for metastatic prostate cancer [1]. Additionally, GnRH agonists are a standard part of the management for many men with locally advanced or recurrent disease [2]. The use of GnRH agonists has increased steadily over the past two decades [3, 4]. GnRH agonists improve survival in specific settings but have a variety of adverse effects, including vasomotor flushing, gynaecomastia, obesity and osteoporosis [1]. In addition, GnRH agonists have recently been associated with greater risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease [5]. Several mechanisms may contribute to greater risk for treatment-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including obesity, insulin resistance and increased serum cholesterol and triglycerides. This review summarizes the evidence that GnRH agonists increase risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the potential mechanism(s) for treatment-related diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and emerging strategies to prevent the morbidity associated with treatment.
Diagnostic values of combination of free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level in children with asthma

Background A free running asthma screening test is usually used for screening exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction. The total serum allergen IgE level can reveal the patient's atopy characteristics. Our study is to evaluate the diagnostic values of the combination of the two tests in asthmatic children and compare this new diagnostic method with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISSAC) questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test, which are popular diagnostic tool for pediatric asthma. Methods A total of 773 school children were recruited in this study. The children's asthma was diagnosed by means of a combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level. The new diagnostic method value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and compared with other diagnostic tools such as ISSAC questionnaires and the bronchial provocation test. Results The AUC of this new diagnostic method was higher than 0.9. When the cut‐off value of total serum allergen IgE level was ≥47 KU/L, the sensitivity and the specificity were 71.4% and 85.1%, respectively, which were better than those of either the ISSAC questionnaires or bronchial provocation test. Conclusion The combination of the free running asthma screening test and total serum allergen IgE level may be an effective diagnostic tool for children's asthma.
“Knows what is good and bad”, “Can teach you things”, “Does lots of crosswords”: Children's knowledge about wisdom

Whereas a number of studies have investigated adult laypersons' understanding of the concept of wisdom, children's knowledge about wisdom has not yet been studied. A total of 461 Austrian elementary-school children filled out a questionnaire about wisdom. Results showed an increase in self-reported familiarity with the term “wisdom” from 43.0% in grade 1 to 92.1% in grade 4. Children's open definitions of wisdom as well as their wisdom-typicality judgements of a list of adjectives focused on cognitive aspects, especially fluid intelligence, and social aspects of wisdom, especially friendliness. Aspects involving reflection, such as learning from experience or perspective taking, were seldom mentioned. The frequency with which old age was judged as typical for wisdom increased across grades 1 to 4. Gender differences were mostly found in nominations of wise figures, where boys nominated male figures more often than girls.
Stiffness Study of a Hexapod Telescope Platform

This paper presents our study on the structure of a hexapod platform used as a coplanar mount for a radio interferometer array. We have surveyed the hexapod platform using the photogrammetry method to measure its upper surface deformation under various pointing positions of the hexapod. We have also measured the strain distribution at the high strain areas of the platform structure. The results provide important information to verify the structural design of the platform, and a direct monitoring on the platform structural integrity. These measurements are compared with the finite-element analysis (FEA) that takes into account the gravity loading and the interaction loading between the platform and the hexapod. This study concludes that the interaction loading between the platform and the hexapod actuators is the dominant factor affecting the platform deformation.
Genetic Patterns of Paternity and Testes Size in Mammals

Background Testes size is used as a proxy of male intrasexual competition, with larger testes indicative of greater competition. It has been shown that in some taxa, social mating systems reflect variance in testes size, but results are not consistent, and instead it has been suggested that genetic patterns of mating may reflect testes size. However, there are different measures of genetic patterns of mating. Multiple paternity rates are the most widely used measure but are limited to species that produce multi-offspring litters, so, at least for group living species, other measures such as loss of paternity to males outside the social group (extra group paternity) or the proportion of offspring sired by the dominant male (alpha paternity) might be appropriate. This study examines the relationship between testes size and three genetic patterns of mating: multiple paternity, extragroup paternity and alpha paternity. Methodology/Principal Findings Using data from mammals, phylogenetically corrected general linear models demonstrate that both multiple paternity and alpha paternity, but not extra group paternity, relate to testes size. Testes size is greater in species with high multiple paternity rates, whereas the converse is found for alpha paternity. Additionally, length of mating season, ovulation mode and litter size significantly influenced testes size in one model. Conclusions/Significance These results demonstrate that patterns of mating (multiple paternity and alpha paternity rates) determined by genetic analysis can provide reliable indicators of male postcopulatory intrasexual competition (testes size), and that other variables (length of mating season, ovulation mode, litter size) may also be important.
Experimental Escherichia coli O157:H7 carriage in calves

Nine weaned calves (6 to 8 weeks of age) were given 10(10) CFU of a five-strain mixture of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 by oral-gastric intubation. After an initial brief period of pyrexia in three calves and transient mild diarrhea in five calves, calves were clinically normal throughout the 13- to 27-day study. The population of E. coli O157:H7 in the faces decreased dramatically in all calves during the first 2 weeks after inoculation. Thereafter, small populations of E. coli O157:H7 persisted in all calves, where they were detected intermittently in the feces and rumen contents. While withholding food increased fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 by 1 to 2 log10/g in three of four calves previously shedding small populations of E. coli O157:H7, the effect of fasting on fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 was variable in calves shedding larger populations. At necropsy, E. coli O157:H7 was not isolated from sites outside the alimentary tract. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from the forestomach or colon of all calves at necropsy. Greater numbers of E. coli O157:H7 were present in the gastrointestinal contents than in the corresponding mucosal sections, and there was no histologic or immunohistochemical evidence of E. coli O157:H7 adhering to the mucosa. In conclusion, under these experimental conditions, E. coli O157:H7 is not pathogenic in weaned calves, and while it does not appear to colonize mucosal surfaces for extended periods, E. coli O157:H7 persists in the contents of the rumen and colon as a source for fecal shedding.
The miR-35-41 Family of MicroRNAs Regulates RNAi Sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans

RNA interference (RNAi) utilizes small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to direct silencing of specific genes through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. The siRNA guides can originate from exogenous (exo–RNAi) or natural endogenous (endo–RNAi) sources of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). In Caenorhabditis elegans, inactivation of genes that function in the endo–RNAi pathway can result in enhanced silencing of genes targeted by siRNAs from exogenous sources, indicating cross-regulation between the pathways. Here we show that members of another small RNA pathway, the mir-35-41 cluster of microRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate RNAi. In worms lacking miR-35-41, there is reduced expression of lin-35/Rb, the C. elegans homolog of the tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma gene, previously shown to regulate RNAi responsiveness. Genome-wide microarray analyses show that targets of endo–siRNAs are up-regulated in mir-35-41 mutants, a phenotype also displayed by lin-35/Rb mutants. Furthermore, overexpression of lin-35/Rb specifically rescues the RNAi hypersensitivity of mir-35-41 mutants. Although the mir-35-41 miRNAs appear to be exclusively expressed in germline and embryos, their effect on RNAi sensitivity is transmitted to multiple tissues and stages of development. Additionally, we demonstrate that maternal contribution of miR-35-41 or lin-35/Rb is sufficient to reduce RNAi effectiveness in progeny worms. Our results reveal that miRNAs can broadly regulate other small RNA pathways and, thus, have far reaching effects on gene expression beyond directly targeting specific mRNAs.
Phytotherapy and Nutritional Supplements on Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of nonskin malignancy among women worldwide. In general, conventional cancer treatment options (i.e., surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and hormone therapy) are not completely effective. Recurrence and other pathologic situations are still an issue in breast cancer patients due to side effects, toxicity of drugs in normal cells, and aggressive behaviour of the tumours. From this point of view, breast cancer therapy and adjuvant methods represent a promising and challenging field for researchers. In the last few years, the use of some types of complementary medicines by women with a history of breast cancer has significantly increased such as phytotherapeutic products and nutritional supplements. Despite this, the use of such approaches in oncologic processes may be problematic and patient's health risks can arise such as interference with the efficacy of standard cancer treatment. The present review gives an overview of the most usual phytotherapeutic products and nutritional supplements with application in breast cancer patients as adjuvant approach. Regardless of the contradictory results of scientific evidence, we demonstrated the need to perform additional investigation, mainly well-designed clinical trials in order to establish correlations and allow for further validated outcomes concerning the efficacy, safety, and clinical evidence-based recommendation of these products.
Trabeculectomy and Combined Phacoemulsification-Trabeculectomy: Outcomes and Risk Factors for Failure in Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma

Purpose:To evaluate tonometric outcomes of patients with primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) who have undergone trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) with and without concurrent phacoemulsification and to identify risk factors for postoperative failure. Patients and Methods:Retrospective cohort study of 44 eyes of 33 phakic patients who underwent trabeculectomy with MMC with or without combined phacoemulsification for PACG. The primary endpoint was qualified tonometric success at 12 months according to predefined criteria. LogMAR visual acuity, number of glaucoma medications, and postoperative complications were also evaluated. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to identify potential risk factors for trabeculectomy failure. Results:Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased from 21.3±7.9 to 12.2±3.9 mm Hg at 12 months (P<0.001) in all patients. A significant reduction in mean number of glaucoma medications (P<0.001) was also seen. There was no change in logMAR visual acuity (P=0.39) after 12 months. There were no significant intergroup differences in mean IOP (P=0.42), number of glaucoma medications (P=0.85), or logMAR visual acuity (P=0.42) between the trabeculectomy versus combined surgery groups after 12 months. Increased age, greater baseline IOP, limbus-based conjunctival flaps, and MMC duration >1 minute were associated with decreased risk of surgical failure. Concurrent phacoemulsification at the time of trabeculectomy did not alter tonometric success or rate of complications. Conclusions:In phakic patients with PACG, trabeculectomy with MMC significantly reduces IOP and number of glaucoma medications at 12 months without change in visual acuity. However, success rates are modest when based on more demanding tonometric criteria.
Baby Tartanian8: Winning Agent from the 2016 Annual Computer Poker Competition

Imperfect-information games, where players have private information, pose a unique challenge in artificial intelligence. In recent years, Heads-Up No-Limit Texas Hold'em poker, a popular version of poker, has emerged as the primary benchmark for evaluating game-solving algorithms for imperfect-information games. We demonstrate a winning agent from the 2016 Annual Computer Poker Competition, Baby Tartanian8.
Early use of vasopressors after injury: caution before constriction.

OBJECTIVE Recent evidence suggests that overly aggressive crystalloid resuscitation is associated with poor outcome. This has led to a renewed interest in the use of vasopressors for hemodynamic support during resuscitation after injury. We sought to characterize early vasopressor (EV) use and aggressive early crystalloid resuscitation (ECR) and their association with mortality in severely injured patients. METHODS Data were obtained from a multicenter, prospective, cohort study designed to evaluate the outcome of blunt injured adults in hemorrhagic shock. Early deaths (<48 hours) were excluded from the analysis. A single Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the effects of EV use (levophed, phenylephrine, dopamine, or vasopressin) and aggressive ECR on mortality at 12 and 24 hours postinjury, while controlling for important physiologic, injury, resuscitation, and patient demographic confounders. RESULTS Cox proportional hazard regression revealed that EV use within 12 hours after injury was independently associated with over an 80% higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.9, p = 0.013), and was independently associated with over a twofold higher risk of mortality at 24 hours (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.4-3.4, p = 0.001). These findings were consistent across all vasopressor subtypes. Aggressive ECR was independently associated with a 40% reduction in mortality (HR 0.594, 95% CI 0.37-0.95, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION These findings provide evidence that the early use of vasopressors for hemodynamic support after hemorrhagic shock may be deleterious, and should be used cautiously and not in place of aggressive crystalloid resuscitation after severe blunt injury.