Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Graph-Based Label Propagation in Digital Media

The expansion of the Internet over the last decade and the proliferation of online social communities, such as Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, as well as multimedia sharing sites, such as YouTube, Flickr, and Picasa, has led to a vast increase of available information to the user. In the case of multimedia data, such as images and videos, fast querying and processing of the available information requires the annotation of the multimedia data with semantic descriptors, that is, labels. However, only a small proportion of the available data are labeled. The rest should undergo an annotation-labeling process. The necessity for the creation of automatic annotation algorithms gave birth to label propagation and semi-supervised learning. In this study, basic concepts in graph-based label propagation methods are discussed. Methods for proper graph construction based on the structure of the available data and label inference methods for spreading label information from a few labeled data to a larger set of unlabeled data are reviewed. Applications of label propagation algorithms in digital media, as well as evaluation metrics for measuring their performance, are presented.
The long-term impact of job displacement in Germany during the 1982 recession on earnings, income, and employment

"We show that workers displaced from their stable jobs during mass-layoffs in 1982 recession in Germany suffered permanent earnings losses of 10-15% lasting at least 15 years. These estimates are obtained using data and methodology comparable to similar studies for the United States. Exploiting advantages of the German data, we also show that while reduction and recovery in time worked plays a role in explaining earnings losses during the first ten years, the majority of the long-run loss is due to a decline in wages. We also show that even the generous German unemployment insurance system replaced only a small fraction of the total earnings loss. These findings suggest that job displacements can lead to large and lasting reductions in income even in labor markets with tighter social safety nets and lower earnings inequality. " (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Narratives of Former Foster Youth in Higher Education

The purpose of this narrative inquiry is to learn about the experiences of former foster youth in higher education. Nationwide, 26,547 youth emancipate from foster care each year. Former foster youth who continue with education beyond high school may elect to receive supportive services through the state’s independent living program. Although these services are intended to provide the necessary support while the youth completes a post-secondary degree program, research has shown that fewer former foster youth enter college and complete a degree than their non-former foster youth peers. Further, there has been very little research that explores firsthand experiences of former foster youth as college students. Narrative inquiries are most suited for small numbers of participants in qualitative research studies. Moreover, the best way to understand the human experience is to hear it firsthand from those who have lived it. For this study, eight former foster youth were interviewed about their experiences in foster care and as students in a large, southeastern U.S. community college. Findings from the data were presented as profiles in the youth’s own words and through an analysis of the themes found across interviews. Two over-arching topics that relate to the research questions were addressed: meaning-making experiences and identity construction. Within those two topics are themes that support each one. The findings revealed that meaning is made through the transitions former foster youth have experienced, the preparation for college they have had, the connections they have made, and whether or not they feel in control of their lives. The resulting themes of crisis, commitment, transformation, and confidence help to understand how identity is constructed for these youth.
O A ] 1 6 M ar 2 00 7 Random-walk approximation to vacuum cocycles

Quantum random walks are constructed on operator spaces using the concept of matrix-space lifting, a form of ampliation intermediate between those given by spacial and ultraweak tensor products. It is shown that these walks, after suitable scaling, converge in a strong sense to vacuum cocycles, certain vacuum-adapted processes which are Feller cocycles in the sense of Lindsay and Wills. This result is employed to give a new proof of the existence of ∗-homomorphic quantum-stochastic dilations for completely positive contraction semigroups on von Neumann algebras and separable unital C∗ algebras.
Energy control for complex pendulums based on tracking of online computed force trajectories

In this paper we propose to track online computed force trajectories to control the energy of various types of pendulum-like objects. The considered pendulum-like objects can be controlled by multiple agents and swing in different oscillation degrees of freedom. Our goal is to excite one specific oscillation, the intended oscillation, while damping all other disturbance oscillations. By approximating the intended oscillation as a simple pendulum oscillation, we can specify a desired force trajectory. Tracking of this force trajectory results in a controlled swing-up of the intended oscillation accompanied by a simultaneous damping of the disturbance oscillations. Simulation experiments with a two-agent trapezoidal pendulum show convincing control performance. A human-robot virtual reality experiment shows the transferability of the control approach to a human interaction partner. The limitations of the approach are discussed based on simulation results obtained for a single-agent double pendulum.
Internet Addiction Prevalence and Quality of (Real) Life: A Meta-Analysis of 31 Nations Across Seven World Regions

Internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a universal issue, but its international estimates vary vastly. This multinational meta-analysis fills this gap by providing estimates of its global prevalence. Two hypotheses were formulated to explain the cross-national variations. The accessibility hypothesis predicts that IA prevalence is positively related to Internet penetration rate and GDP per capita, whereas the quality of (real) life hypothesis predicts that IA prevalence is inversely related to a global national index of life satisfaction and specific national indices of environmental quality. Multiple search strategies were used in an attempt to retrieve all empirical reports from 1996 to 2012 that adopted the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire or Internet Addiction Test for assessing generalized IA. The data set comprised 164 prevalence figures derived from 80 reports, including 89,281 participants from 31 nations across seven world regions. A random effects meta-analysis showed a global prevalence estimate of 6.0% [95% CI 5.1-6.9], with moderate heterogeneity (I(2)=44%, p<0.0001). The highest prevalence was in the Middle East with 10.9% [95% CI 5.4-16.3], and the lowest was in Northern and Western Europe with 2.6% [95% CI 1.0-4.1]. Moreover, IA prevalence was higher for nations with greater traffic time consumption, pollution, and dissatisfaction with life in general. The prevalence rate of IA varies across world regions. IA prevalence is inversely associated with the quality of life, as reflected by both subjective (life satisfaction) and objective (quality of environmental conditions) indicators.
An Empirical Study on Bayesian Network-based Approach for Test Case Prioritization

A cost effective approach to regression testing is to prioritize test cases from a previous version of a software system for the current release. We have previously introduced a new approach for test case prioritization using Bayesian Networks (BN) which integrates different types of information to estimate the probability of each test case finding bugs. In this paper, we enhance our BN-based approach in two ways. First, we introduce a feedback mechanism and a new change information gathering strategy. Second, a comprehensive empirical study is performed to evaluate the performance of the approach and to identify the effects of using different parameters included in the technique. The study is performed on five open source Java objects. The obtained results show relative advantage of using feedback mechanism for some objects in terms of early fault detection. They also provide insight into costs and benefits of the various parameters used in the approach.
Clinical, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic features in 117 adult patients with mixed-phenotype acute leukemia defined by WHO-2008 classification

Among 4,780 consecutive adult acute lymphoblastic/myeloblastic leukemia patients, we identified 117 (2.4%) patients with mixed-phenotype acute leukemia fulfilling WHO 2008 criteria; these were classified as: Blymphoid+ myeloid (n=64), T-lymphoid+myeloid (n=38), B+T-lymphoid (n=14) and trilineage (n=1). Of 92 patients karyotyped, 59 were abnormal and were classified as: complex (22 of 92), t(9;22)(q34;q11) (14 of 92), monosomy 7 (7 of 92), polysomy 21 (7 of 92), t(v;11q23) (4 of 92), t(10;11)(p15;q21) (3 of 92), while STIL-TAL1 fusion was detected in one (T+My) patient. After investigating common acute leukemia-related mutations in 17 genes, 12 of 31 (39%) patients were found to have at least one mutation, classified with: IKZF1 deletion (4 of 31), and EZH2 (3 of 31), ASXL1 (3 of 31), ETV6 (2 of 31), NOTCH1 (1 of 31), and TET2 (1 of 31) mutations. Array-CGH revealed genomic deletions of CDKN2A (4 of 12), IKZF1 (3 of 12), MEF2C (2 of 12), BTG1 (2 of 12), together with BCOR, EBF1, K-RAS, LEF1, MBNL1, PBX3, and RUNX1 (one of 12 each). Our results indicate that mixed-phenotype acute leukemia is a complex entity with heterogeneous clinical, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic features.
E-Mail Research: Targeting the Enterprise

The research program at IBM's® Collaborative User Experience (CUE) group supports an e-mail system used by millions of people. We present three lessons learned from working with real-world enterprise e-mail solutions. First, a pragmatic, system-level approach reveals that e-mail programs are generally used idiosyncratically, often for many different goals at once. This fact has strong implications for both the design and assessment of new features. Second, we discuss how viewing e-mail as an element of corporate collaboration—not just communication—provides insights into problems with current systems as well as potential solutions. Third, we describe constraints imposed by the realities of software development and how they shape the space of feasible new designs. Finally, we illustrate these lessons with an overview of CUE research strategies in the context of an extended case study of one specific new technology: Thread Arcs. Although not all researchers work with an enterprise-level product team, we believe the experiences described here will be useful to anyone wishing to see their ideas ultimately implemented on a broad scale.
Volume loss from lower Peyto Glacier, Alberta, Canada, between 1966 and 2010

Abstract Mass loss from mountain glaciers contributes to sea-level rise and reduces freshwater availability in glacier-fed river basins, with negative effects on hydropower generation, agriculture and the health of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we determine the volume of lower Peyto Glacier, Alberta, Canada, from ground-penetrating radar surveys in 2008–10, and compare our volume estimate with previous estimates from 1966 and 1984. The long-term record of mass-balance estimates on Peyto Glacier highlights Peyto’s importance as an ‘index’ glacier for the region. We calculate a mean volume of (3.39 ± 0.30) × 107 m3 for the glacier snout for the period 2008–10. Glacier volume decreased linearly from 1966 to 2010. If this trend persists, the glacier snout will disappear by ~2019 and Peyto Glacier will have retreated by ~1 km. Our results agree with modelling studies, which suggest that Peyto Glacier and other nearby glaciers along the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains will likely lose 80–90% of their present-day volume by 2100.
Is first trimester exposure to the combination of antiretroviral therapy and folate antagonists a risk factor for congenital abnormalities?

Objectives: To assess use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) by HIV positive pregnant women in London since 1994 and the risk of congenital abnormalities associated with multidrug exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Retrospective multicentre study of medical, obstetric, and paediatric notes of all mother-infant pairs, where the mother was known to be HIV infected before delivery, using a standardised proforma. Results: In this study of 195 mother-infant pairs, use of ART during any stage of pregnancy increased from 33.3% in 1994 to 92.5% in 1999 (p=0.01, trend). First trimester exposure increased from 0% in 1994 to 27.5% in 1999 (p=0.00045, trend). Congenital malformations were observed in nine infants (4.6%). Compared with infants not exposed to ART or folate antagonists during the first trimester (n=148), exposure to both ART and folate antagonists during the first trimester (n=13) was associated with an increased risk of congenital abnormalities (4% v 23.1%; OR 7.10, 95% CI 1.5, 34.2). No malformations were observed in the 34 children exposed to either ART or folate antagonists alone during the first trimester. Conclusion: An increasing number of HIV infected women conceived while on ART. Although there is no evidence of teratogenicity caused by ART if given alone during the first trimester, exposure to the combination of ART and folate antagonists was associated with a significantly higher risk of congenital abnormalities in this cohort.
Essays on Formal and Informal Long-Term Health Insurance Markets

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Democratisation and the Political Economy of Agricultural Policy in Africa. Future Agricultures Working Paper 043

Theories of policy neglect of, or discrimination against, agriculture in Africa include urban bias (Lipton 1977; Bates 1981) and the narrow self-interest of autonomous elites (van de Walle 2001). Whilst structural adjustment removed much of the previous tax burden on African agriculture (Anderson and Masters 2009), the sector also saw declining investment from international development partners and through national budgets (Fan et al. 2009). Whilst there has been some recovery in public investment in agriculture over the past decade, signalled by the 2003 Maputo Declaration (Assembly of the African Union 2003), investment in the infrastructural and institutional public goods needed to support smallholder-led agricultural growth remains disappointing. As a result, the contribution of the agricultural sector to growth and poverty reduction objectives in Africa is widely believed to have been below potential. In theory, democratisation, which has proceeded unevenly across Africa during the past two decades, should encourage pro-poor agricultural policy, as the majority of voters in many countries remain rural and poor. This paper draws on case studies of recent policy change (attempted and actual) in eight African countries, plus an analysis of the political systems in these countries, to explore the evolving role of competitive electoral politics in agricultural policy making. An important observation is that politicians are as likely to rely on ethnic allegiances and forms of social or political control to secure votes as they are to engage in policy competition. Moreover, the political incentives facing senior policy makers in the agricultural and rural development sphere may be inimical to the development of strong institutions to promote smallholder agricultural growth. Instead the paper finds that it is exogenous factors-macroeconomic dependence on agriculture and, most strikingly, sustained threats to regime survival-that create positive incentives for agricultural investment, even where social or political control is relied on to secure votes. The implications for participants in agricultural policy processes are briefly explored. The seminal work on the political economy of agricultural policy in Africa was produced by Bates (1981). He sought to explain major common features of agricultural policy then prevailing in Africa – most notably, the high level of taxation imposed upon the sector, combined with targeted support to selected (elite) producers – as well as variations in observed policy across countries. Writing prior to both structural adjustment and democratisation in Africa, Bates argued that African political elites had been successful in suppressing any genuinely pro-farmer political movements, …
Radiotherapy in the management of early breast cancer

Radiotherapy is an indispensible part of the management of all stages of breast cancer. In this article, the common indications for radiotherapy in the management of early breast cancer (stages 0, I, and II) are reviewed, including whole‐breast radiotherapy as part of breast‐conserving treatment for early invasive breast cancer and pre‐invasive disease of ductal carcinoma in situ, post‐mastectomy radiotherapy, locoregional radiotherapy, and partial breast irradiation. Key clinical studies that underpin our current practice are discussed briefly.
The Retailing of Life Insurance in Nigeria: An Assessment of Consumers' Attitudes

There is considerable unexploited potential for life insurance in Nigeria, due to the lack of confidence, based on years of negative experiences in the sector. On the other hand, consciousness of Nigerians coupled with the non-existence of social security system is encouraging factors for life insurance growth. A structured questionnaire consisted of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) construct was used and 240 respondents co-operated for this study. The findings show that lack of confidence in the insurance companies had the most negative effect on life insurance purchase. Ignoring risks and reliance on family for help in emergencies are the other main factors preventing purchase. Application of TRA revealed that intention is determined by normative factors rather than the attitudinal factors. The recommendation is that marketers should target marketing communication efforts at the significant others. Key terms
Achievement Goal Orientations and Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being in School: The Mediating Roles of Academic Social Comparison Directions

The purpose of this study was to examine the multiple mediational roles of academic social comparison directions (upward academic social comparison and downward academic social comparison) on the relationships between achievement goal orientations (i.e., mastery goals, performance-approach goals, and performance-avoidance goals) and subjective well-being (SWB) in school (school satisfaction, school affect) in adolescent students in China. A total of 883 Chinese adolescent students (430 males; Mean age = 12.99) completed a multi-measure questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypotheses. Results indicated that (1) mastery goal orientations and performance-approach goal orientations both showed a statistically significant, positive correlation with SWB in school whereas performance-avoidance goal orientations showed a statistically significant, negative correlation with SWB in school among adolescents; (2) upward academic social comparisons mediated the relation between the three types of achievement goal orientations (i.e., mastery goals, performance-approach goals, and performance-avoidance goals) and SWB in school; (3) downward academic social comparisons mediated the relation between mastery goal orientations and SWB in school as well as the relation between performance-avoidance goal orientations and SWB in school. The findings suggest possible important cultural differences in the antecedents of SWB in school in adolescent students in China compared to adolescent students in Western nations.
An Empirical Investigation of Mobile Health Adoption in Preventive Interventions

Innovative applications of mobile information and communication technology (ICT) include the recent use of mobile services for preventive health interventions. We report on a one-month empirical study of such an intervention to evaluate a model that includes positive user adoption factors, together with user perceptions impeding adoption. Findings revealed intrinsic motivation to be a sufficient reason for adoption, and a multi-faceted perceived overall risk as the main reason for resisting the new mobile health service.
Assessment of Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide/Oxygen, Isoflurane and Pentobarbital Killing Methods in Adult Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

Background Exposure to carbon dioxide (CO2) gas as a killing method is aversive and exposure to high concentrations is likely to be painful. Bradycardia during exposure to CO2 is associated with nociception and pain. However, it is unclear if bradycardia occurs before loss of consciousness as definitions of loss of consciousness vary in the literature. The objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between recumbency, loss of righting reflex (LORR) and a quiescent electromyograph as measures of loss of consciousness, and identify the onset of bradycardia in relation to these measures. Our primary hypothesis was that CO2 exposure would result in bradycardia, which would precede LORR. Methods Thirty-two adult, female Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented with a telemetry device and randomly assigned to one of four killing methods (concentrations of 100% CO2, CO2 (70%)/O2 (30%), isoflurane (5%) and intraperitoneal pentobarbital (200 mg/kg). Time to achieve recumbency, LORR, quiescent electromyograph, isoelectric electrocorticograph, heart rate and apnea were recorded. Results The general order of progression was recumbency, LORR, quiescent electromyograph, isoelectric electrocorticograph and apnea. Recumbency preceded LORR in the majority of animals (CO2; 7/8, CO2/O2; 8/8, isoflurane; 5/8, pentobarbital; 4/8). Bradycardia occurred before recumbency in the CO2 (p = 0.0002) and CO2/O2 (p = 0.005) groups, with a 50% reduction in heart rate compared to baseline. The slowest (time to apnea) and least consistent killing methods were CO2/O2 (1180 ± 658.1s) and pentobarbital (875 [239 to 4680]s). Conclusion Bradycardia, and consequently nociception and pain, occurs before loss of consciousness during CO2 exposure. Pentobarbital displayed an unexpected lack of consistency, questioning its classification as an acceptable euthanasia method in rats.