Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rank Centrality: Ranking from Pairwise Comparisons

The question of aggregating pairwise comparisons to obtain a global ranking over a collection of objects has been of interest for a very long time: be it ranking of online gamers (e.g., MSR’s TrueSkill system) and chess players, aggregating social opinions, or deciding which product to sell based on transactions. In most settings, in addition to obtaining a ranking, finding ‘scores’ for each object (e.g., player’s rating) is of interest for understanding the intensity of the preferences.In this paper, we propose Rank Centrality , an iterative rank aggregation algorithm for discovering scores for objects (or items) from pairwise comparisons. The algorithm has a natural random walk interpretation over the graph of objects with an edge present between a pair of objects if they are compared; the score, which we call Rank Centrality, of an object turns out to be its stationary probability under this random walk.To study the efficacy of the algorithm, we consider the popular Bradley-Terry-Luce (BTL) model (equivalent to the Multinomial Logit (MNL) for pairwise comparisons) in which each object has an associated score that determines the probabilistic outcomes of pairwise comparisons between objects. In terms of the pairwise marginal probabilities, which is the main subject of this paper, the MNL model and the BTL model are identical. We bound the finite sample error rates between the scores assumed by the BTL model and those estimated by our algorithm. In particular, the number of samples required to learn the score well with high probability depends on the structure of the comparison graph. When the Laplacian of the comparison graph has a strictly positive spectral gap, e.g., each item is compared to a subset of randomly chosen items, this leads to dependence on the number of samples that is nearly order optimal.Experimental evaluations on synthetic data sets generated according to the BTL model show that our algorithm performs as well as the maximum likelihood estimator for that model and outperforms other popular ranking algorithms.
Chronos: a graph engine for temporal graph analysis

Temporal graphs capture changes in graphs over time and are becoming a subject that attracts increasing interest from the research communities, for example, to understand temporal characteristics of social interactions on a time-evolving social graph. Chronos is a storage and execution engine designed and optimized specifically for running in-memory iterative graph computation on temporal graphs. Locality is at the center of the Chronos design, where the in-memory layout of temporal graphs and the scheduling of the iterative computation on temporal graphs are carefully designed, so that common "bulk" operations on temporal graphs are scheduled to maximize the benefit of in-memory data locality. The design of Chronos further explores the interesting interplay among locality, parallelism, and incremental computation in supporting common mining tasks on temporal graphs. The result is a high-performance temporal-graph system that offers up to an order of magnitude speedup for temporal iterative graph mining compared to a straightforward application of existing graph engines on a series of snapshots.
Observed fearlessness and positive parenting interact to predict childhood callous‐unemotional behaviors among low‐income boys

BACKGROUND Callous-unemotional behaviors identify children at risk for severe and chronic antisocial behavior. Research is needed to establish pathways from temperament and parenting factors that give rise to callous-unemotional behaviors, including interactions of positive versus harsh parenting with child fearlessness. METHODS Multimethod data, including parent reports and observations of parent and child behavior, were drawn from a prospective, longitudinal sample of low-income boys (N = 310) with assessments at 18, 24, and 42 months, and at ages 10-12 years old. RESULTS Parent-reported callous-unemotional, oppositional, and attention-deficit factors were separable at 42 months. Callous-unemotional behaviors at 42 months predicted callous-unemotional behaviors at ages 10-12, accounting for earlier oppositional and attention-deficit behaviors and self-reported child delinquency at ages 10-12. Observations of fearlessness at 24 months predicted callous-unemotional behaviors at 42 months, but only when parents exhibited low observed levels of positive parenting. The interaction of fearlessness and low positive parenting indirectly predicted callous-unemotional behaviors at 10-12 via callous-unemotional behaviors at 42 months. CONCLUSIONS Early fearlessness interacts with low positive parenting to predict early callous-unemotional behaviors, with lasting effects of this person-by-context interaction on callous-unemotional behaviors into late childhood.
Relative bioavailability of phosphorus in feed and agricultural phosphates for poultry.

Nine hundred fifty male Hubbard chicks were used in a 21-d study (10 birds per battery cage) to determine relative bioavailability of P (RBP) in four feed-grade phosphates (FP) [two Brazilian dicalcium and two U.S.-made phosphates (di-monocalcium and defluorinated)] and four Brazilian agricultural grade phosphates (AP) [single (AP-1), and triple (AP-2) superphosphates, monoammonium (AP-3), and thermomagnesium (AP-4) phosphates]. The reference standard was a purified-grade calcium phosphate dibasic (SP). Phosphates were added to the corn-soybean control diet (22% protein; 0.40% P + 0.08% P from SP), providing 0.08 and 0.16% additional P. Calcium level was 1.0% for all diets. Slope ratio was used to determine RBP, with BW, bone ash (BA), or bone strength (BS) regressed on P added within each P source. A relative biological value (RBV) was estimated using BW, BA, and feed efficiency. Performance was depressed (P < 0.01) by AP as compared with FP; BW was decreased by 11%, and feed intake (FI) was decreased by 14%. Mortality increased (P < 0.05) by 154% (7 vs 2.8%). Phosphate source AP-4, which had the lowest content of P and a high content of F, Fe, Ba, Ti, and Th, was toxic based on a 44% decrease (P < 0.01) in BW, 46% decrease in FI, 19% decrease in BA (32.4 vs 40.0%), 55% decrease in BS (7.1 vs 15.8 kg), and mortality increase (P < 0.05) from 0.7 to 26% compared with the average of AP-1, -2 and -3. The RBP could not be estimated for AP-4; and average availabilities for FP and AP, respectively, were 100.6 and 107.6% (BW), 88.3 and 93.2% (BA), 84.2 and 96.3% (BS), and 100.0 and 99.9% (RBP). The AP varied in RBP, with particularly high values calculated for AP-3. Performance and bone parameters in this study were not strongly affected by high levels of potentially toxic mineral elements in certain AP; this result may be explained by the low levels of phosphate addition and the short duration of the feeding period (21 d). However, considering their relatively high levels of F, Fe, Mg, S, Ba, Ti, and Th, agricultural-grade phosphate may represent considerable risk of toxicity for use in animal diets.
The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to suppress the effects of aflatoxicosis in broiler chicks.

Three hundred and sixty day-old commercial broiler chicks were assigned to a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to examine the effects of three levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 0, . 05, and . 1% of feed, and two levels of aflatoxin, 0 and 5 ppm, singly and in combination on aflatoxicosis. Each treatment group was replicated three times. The S. cerevisiae and aflatoxin were incorporated in a standard commercial broiler ration and fed to chicks for 4 wk. Data were collected weekly on body weights, and at the end of the experiment on the relative weights of the liver, proventriculus, pancreas, and heart. Serum concentrations of the albumin, total protein, cholesterol, uric acid, triglycerides, and enzyme activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactase dehydrogenase, and creatine phosphokinase were also evaluated. Results showed that chicks receiving aflatoxin-contaminated feed had suppressed body weight (456 g), which significantly improved (516 g) with the inclusion of . 1% S. cerevisiae. The relative weights of liver (3.58%), heart (.916%), and proventriculus (.770%), which increased significantly with the addition of 5 ppm of aflatoxin, were restored to 3.00, . 783, and . 680%, respectively, with the dietary inclusion of . 1% S. cerevisiae. The serum concentrations of albumin and total protein (.66 and 1.62 g/100 mL), which were significantly decreased by aflatoxin, were elevated to . 88 and 2.24 g/100 mL, respectively, with the inclusion of . 1% S. cerevisiae. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The response of male chicken broilers to the dietary addition of virginiamycin.

Two replicate trials, each involving 400 Arbor Acre male broiler chicks, were conducted to determine the effect of virginiamycin as a growth promoter when added to either the feed or drinking water. A control group received no growth promoter while one treatment group was provided a diet containing 11 mg of virginiamycin/kg. Another treatment group was provided drinking water containing virginiamycin in amounts calculated to ensure equivalent or one-half equivalent intake of the antibiotic. Virginiamycin supplementation had no significant (P greater than .05) effect on mortality or feed conversion ratios, regardless of the mode of administration. Body weights at 21 days of age but not at 42 days of age were significantly (P less than .05) heavier for broilers receiving virginiamycin via the drinking water. The inclusion of virginiamycin in the feed failed to improve body weights at either 21 or 42 days of age.
The effect of age of breeder hens on residual yolk fat, and serum glucose and triglyceride concentrations of day-old broiler chicks.

The fat content and the concentrations of glucose and triglyceride in day-old chicks hatched from 27 and 60 wk-old broiler-breeder hens were determined from pooled samples of residual yolk and blood serum, respectively. Serum glucose and triglyceride levels were unaffected (P greater than .05) by breeder age, although there was a linear (P less than .001; r = .67) relationship between these characteristics and chick weight. Yolk fat, adjusted for chick weight, was on the average 13% greater (P less than .05) in chicks from old breeders than chicks from young breeder hens. Yolk wet weight was not affected (P greater than .05) by breeder age. Results indicate that breeder age may affect chick performance through alterations in the fat content of residual yolk.
Mechanical Properties of TiN Coatings Deposited at Different Temperatures by IBAD Process

TiN coatings were deposited on hot working steel substrates by ion beam assisted deposition technique. The deposition process was conducted at two different temperatures 50 and 400 oC. The influence of applied deposition temperature on the mechanical properties, adhesion strength and surface morphology of TiN coatings was studied. The mechanical properties, i.e. hardness, modulus of elasticity and coating strength were characterized by nano-indentation technique. Adhesion strength was evaluated by generally accepted scratch test technique. In addition, HRC adhesion test was utilized to compare adhesion of different coatings qualitatively. Surface morphology was analyzed by atomic force microscopy before and after the film deposition. The coating deposited at higher temperature displayed higher hardness, and also higher critical loads were obtained during scratch test, when compared to coating deposited at lower temperature. The ion bombardment during the deposition process enhances the adatom mobility allowing the deposition of coatings with high hardness and adhesion strength even at low temperatures.
Effects of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on sperm chromatin condensation and DNA integrity

The present study was performed to investigate the relation of Chlamydia trachomatis infection to sperm chromatin/DNA integrity in a population of infertile men (male partner of infertile couples) from Iran. Blood, semen and first‐void urine samples were obtained from 250 infertile men. Data were analysed with regard to the results of (i) serological analysis for specific antibodies to C. trachomatis in serum; (ii) the presence of C. trachomatis and DNA in first‐void urine; and (iii) in the semen sample of the male partner, in addition to sperm analysis, four different tests (aniline blue, chromomycin A3, acridine orange and TUNEL) were used to detect sperm chromatin and DNA abnormalities. The main conclusions of the results were: (i) no evidence of C. trachomatis infection in semen samples was found; (ii) sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin studies were not correlated with C. trachomatis diagnosis; (iii) the percentage of DNA fragmentation is positively correlated with the percentage of immotile sperm but negatively with semen volume, normal morphology; and (iv) in sperm chromatin evaluations, only the percentage of chromatin protamination was related to male age.
Early age thermal conditioning and a dual feeding program for male broilers challenged by heat stress.

The effects of early age thermal conditioning (TC) and dual feeding on responses of male broilers to a thermal challenge at 34 d of age are reported. Three hundred chicks were randomly divided into two equal groups. One group was exposed to thermal conditioning (38 C, 42% relative humidity for 24 h) at the age of 5 d, and the other group was not exposed. From 11 to 41 d of age, temperature was diurnally cyclic: 26 C (1600 to 0900 h) and 30 C (0900 to 1600 h). From Day 19, a factorial (2 x 2, TC x diet) experiment was conducted using eight pens of six broilers per treatment. Diets were control diet and dual feeding of a high protein fraction (1600 to 0900 h) and an energy-rich fraction (0900 to 1600 h). Growth and feed efficiency were slightly enhanced (+4%) by thermal conditioning and slightly reduced (-4%) by dual feeding. Mortality during thermal challenge was reduced by both factors. [In not conditioned chicks (N), 31 fed a control grower diet (NG) and 12 on a dual feeding program (NDF) died; in thermal conditioned chicks (T), 18 fed a control grower diet (TG) and 11 on a dual feeding program (TDF) died. ] Before the thermal challenge period, body temperature (Tb) was consistently reduced in T. During the thermal challenge period, Tb was reduced by thermal conditioning and dual feeding. Measured at the age of 32 d, Tb gave an estimation of the ability of the chickens to cope with heat stress 2 d later. Pectoral mass was increased in TG, whereas the liver and the gizzard were significantly heavier in TDF and NDF. These results suggest that thermal conditioning at 5 d of age induces a consistent metabolic change in broiler males. The dual feeding program might have induced transitory effects on heat production during the heat stress.
Nonphytate phosphorus requirement of laying hens with and without phytase on a phase feeding program.

An experiment was conducted to reevaluate the nonphytate P (NPP) requirement of laying hens with and without phytase. The experiment involved 12 treatments in a 6 x 2 factorial design. The hens of the control group (T1) were fed a sequence of 0.40-0.35-0.30% NPP during 30 to 42, 42 to 54, and 54 to 66 wk, respectively. The NPP was reduced in increments of 0.05% in T2 to T6. The hens of T7 to T12 were fed NPP regimens similar to T1 to T6 but with 300 units phytase/kg diet. Two digestion trials were conducted during 42 and 66 wk, and nitrogen, phytate, and total P retention were determined. In the absence of phytase, production traits were not different for hens fed a NPP regimen of 0.25-0.20-0.15% than for the unsupplemented phytase control group for the entire experiment (P > 0.05). However, production traits were inferior for hens fed the lower NPP regimens (P < 0.05). In the presence of phytase, production traits were not different for hens fed the lowest NPP regimen (0.15-0.10-0.10%) than for the unsupplemented phytase control for the entire experiment (P > 0.05). The overall effect of NPP regimens and phytase on specific gravity for the entire experiment was significant. Specific gravity was greater for hens fed the regimens with less NPP than for hens fed regimens with greater NPP, and phytase had an adverse effect on specific gravity. However, specific gravity of hens fed the lowest NPP regimen with phytase was not significantly different from the unsupplemented phytase control group. The overall effect of phytase on phytate P retention was significant during digestion trials; phytase increased phytate P retention by about 15%. Daily total P excretion was 34 to 47% less for hens fed the lowest NPP regimen with phytase than for the unsupplemented phytase control group. Significant interactions existed for a number of traits and are discussed in the text.
C-Reactive Protein in Atherothrombosis and Angiogenesis

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a short pentraxin mainly found as a pentamer in the circulation, or as non-soluble monomers CRP (mCRP) in tissues, exerting different functions. This review is focused on discussing the role of CRP in cardiovascular disease, including recent advances on the implication of CRP and its forms specifically on the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis and angiogenesis. Besides its role in the humoral innate immune response, CRP contributes to cardiovascular disease progression by recognizing and binding multiple intrinsic ligands. mCRP is not present in the healthy vessel wall but it becomes detectable in the early stages of atherogenesis and accumulates during the progression of atherosclerosis. CRP inhibits endothelial nitric oxide production and contributes to plaque instability by increasing endothelial cell adhesion molecules expression, by promoting monocyte recruitment into the atheromatous plaque and by enzymatically binding to modified low-density lipoprotein. CRP also contributes to thrombosis, but depending on its form it elicits different actions. Pentameric CRP has no involvement in thrombogenesis, whereas mCRP induces platelet activation and thrombus growth. In addition, mCRP has apparently contradictory pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic effects determining tissue remodeling in the atherosclerotic plaque and in infarcted tissues. Overall, CRP contributes to cardiovascular disease by several mechanisms that deserve an in-depth analysis.
Inferring multi-scale neural mechanisms with brain network modelling

The neurophysiological processes underlying non-invasive brain activity measurements are not well understood. Here, we developed a novel connectome-based brain network model that integrates individual structural and functional data with neural population dynamics to support multi-scale neurophysiological inference. Simulated populations were linked by structural connectivity and, as a novelty, driven by electroencephalography (EEG) source activity. Simulations not only predicted subjects’ individual resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) time series and spatial network topologies over 20 minutes of activity, but more importantly, they also revealed precise neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie and link six empirical observations from different scales and modalities: (1) slow resting-state fMRI oscillations, (2) spatial topologies of functional connectivity networks, (3) excitation-inhibition balance, (4, 5) pulsed inhibition on short and long time scales, and (6) fMRI power-law scaling. These findings underscore the potential of this new modelling framework for general inference and integration of neurophysiological knowledge to complement empirical studies.
Medical science is based on evidence (answer to Spronck et al.'s refutation: physics cannot be disputed).

reporting small numbers of cases (<10) in an article, we are unable to report the distribution of these H. pylori cases by the HDP subtypes presented in our original article or to conduct further analysis to investigate the authors’ hypothesized association(s). The small number of H. pylori cases in our study population could be explained by several factors. First, clinicians are less likely to order H. pylori tests for women hospitalized for labor and delivery indications only. Second, the NRD includes data from inpatient hospitalizations, which misses other clinical encounters takingplace in outpatient or emergency settings in which H. pylori may be diagnosed. We believe that the actual role of H. pylori infection in causing preeclampsia or HDP is worthy of further research given the accumulating evidence so far [3–7]. In the absence of well established proof for causal relationships and mechanisms involved, it is probably too early to recommend universal screening of H. pylori in women of reproductive age, at least in the context of preventing preeclampsia.
Mastectomy Skin Necrosis After Breast Reconstruction: A Comparative Analysis Between Autologous Reconstruction and Implant-Based Reconstruction

Background Mastectomy skin necrosis is a significant problem after breast reconstruction. We sought to perform a comparative analysis on this complication between patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction and patients undergoing 2-stage expander implant breast reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review was performed on consecutive patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction or 2-stage expander implant breast reconstruction by the senior author from 2006 through 2015. Patient demographic factors including age, body mass index, history of diabetes, history of smoking, and history of radiation to the breast were collected. Our primary outcome measure was mastectomy skin necrosis. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis between the 2 patient cohorts. The treatment patterns of mastectomy skin necrosis were then analyzed. Results We identified 204 patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction and 293 patients who underwent 2-stage expander implant breast reconstruction. Patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction were older, heavier, more likely to have diabetes, and more likely to have had prior radiation to the breast compared with patients undergoing implant-based reconstruction. The incidence of mastectomy skin necrosis was 30.4% of patients in the autologous group compared with only 10.6% of patients in the tissue expander group (P < 0.001). The treatment of this complication differed between these 2 patient groups. In general, those with autologous reconstructions were treated with more conservative means. Although 37.1% of patients were treated successfully with local wound care in the autologous group, only 3.2% were treated with local wound care in the tissue expander group (P < 0.001). Less than half (29.0%) of patients in the autologous group were treated with an operative intervention for this complication compared with 41.9% in the implant-based group (P = 0.25). Conclusions Mastectomy skin necrosis is significantly more likely to occur after autologous breast reconstruction compared with 2-stage expander implant-based breast reconstruction. Patients with autologous reconstructions are more readily treated with local wound care compared with patients with tissue expanders, who tended to require operative treatment of this complication. Patients considering breast reconstruction should be counseled appropriately regarding the differences in incidence and management of mastectomy skin necrosis between the reconstructive options.