Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Optimally Timed Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Length of Hospital Stay in Moderate and Late Preterm Infants: Results from a RCT

Introduction. Little research has been conducted looking at the effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) on preterm infants. Aim of the Study. This study hypothesized that osteopathic care is effective in reducing length of hospital stay and that early OMT produces the most pronounced benefit, compared to moderately early and late OMT. A secondary outcome was to estimate hospital cost savings by the use of OMT. Methods. 110 newborns ranging from 32- to 37-week gestation were randomized to receive either OMT or usual pediatric care. Early, moderately early, and late OMT were defined as <4, <9, and <14 days from birth, respectively. Result. Hospital stay was shorter in infants receiving late OMT (−2.03; 95% CI −3.15, −0.91; P < 0.01) than controls. Subgroup analysis of infants receiving early and moderately early OMT resulted in shorter LOS (early OMT: −4.16; −6.05, −2.27; P < 0.001; moderately early OMT: −3.12; −4.36, −1.89; P < 0.001). Costs analysis showed that OMT significantly produced a net saving of €740 (−1309.54, −170.33; P = 0.01) per newborn per LOS. Conclusions. This study shows evidence that the sooner OMT is provided, the shorter their hospital stay is. There is also a positive association of OMT with overall reduction in cost of care.
Multisource Data Processing for Semi-Automated Radiometrically-Correct Scene Simulation

The digital imaging and remote sensing image generation (DIRSIG) model is an established, first-principles based scene simulation tool that produces synthetic multi-spectral and hyperspectral images from the visible to long wave infrared (0.4 to 20 microns). Significant enhancements such as spectral polarimetric and active light detection and ranging (lidar) models have also been incorporated into the software, providing an extremely powerful tool for algorithm testing and sensor evaluation. However, the extensive time required to create large-scale scenes has limited DIRSIG's ability to generate scenes "on demand. " To date, scene generation has been a laborious, time-intensive process, as the terrain model, CAD objects and background maps have to be created and attributed manually. To shorten the time required for this process, we have initiated a research effort that aims to reduce the man-in-the-loop requirements for several aspects of synthetic hyperspectral scene construction. Through a fusion of 3D lidar data with passive imagery, we are working to semi-automate several of the required tasks in the creation of high-resolution urban DIRSIG scenes. This paper reports on the progress made thus far in achieving these objectives.
A comparison between the flexilevel and conventional approaches to objective testing

A flexilevel test is a test that applies fixed branching techniques to select the items to be administered during a given test. In the study reported here, 180 first year Computer Science undergraduates took a test as part of their summative assessment for a programming module. The test was administered in 2 stages: one flexilevel test and one conventional test. The order in which the stages were presented to each test-taker (i.e. flexilevel test followed by conventional test or vice-versa) was randomly selected. The scores obtained by test-takers in both – the flexilevel test and the conventional test – were compared. The scores for the two conditions were highly and significantly correlated (p<0.01).
Circadian rhythms in cognitive performance: implications for neuropsychological assessment

Circadian variations have been found in human performance, including the efficiency to execute many tasks, such as sensory, motor, reaction time, time estimation, memory, verbal, arithmetic calculations, and simulated driving tasks. Performance increases during the day and decreases during the night. Circadian rhythms have been found in three basic neuropsycho- logical processes (attention, working memory, and executive functions), which may explain oscillations in the performance of many tasks. The time course of circadian rhythms in cognitive performance may be modified significantly in patients with brain disorders, due to chronotype, age, alterations of the circadian rhythm, sleep deprivation, type of disorder, and medication. This review analyzes the recent results on circadian rhythms in cognitive performance, as well as the implications of these rhythms for the neuropsychological assessment of patients with brain disorders such as traumatic head injury, stroke, dementia, developmental disorders, and psychiatric disorders.
Searching Choices: Quantifying Decision‐Making Processes Using Search Engine Data

Abstract When making a decision, humans consider two types of information: information they have acquired through their prior experience of the world, and further information they gather to support the decision in question. Here, we present evidence that data from search engines such as Google can help us model both sources of information. We show that statistics from search engines on the frequency of content on the Internet can help us estimate the statistical structure of prior experience; and, specifically, we outline how such statistics can inform psychological theories concerning the valuation of human lives, or choices involving delayed outcomes. Turning to information gathering, we show that search query data might help measure human information gathering, and it may predict subsequent decisions. Such data enable us to compare information gathered across nations, where analyses suggest, for example, a greater focus on the future in countries with a higher per capita GDP. We conclude that search engine data constitute a valuable new resource for cognitive scientists, offering a fascinating new tool for understanding the human decision‐making process.
Making massive probabilistic databases practical

Existence of incomplete and imprecise data has moved the database paradigm from deterministic to proba- babilistic information. Probabilistic databases contain tuples that may or may not exist with some probability. As a result, the number of possible deterministic database instances that can be observed from a probabilistic database grows exponentially with the number of probabilistic tuples. In this paper, we consider the problem of answering both aggregate and non-aggregate queries on massive probabilistic databases. We adopt the tuple independence model, in which each tuple is assigned a probability value. We develop a method that exploits Probability Generating Functions (PGF) to answer such queries efficiently. Our method maintains a polynomial for each tuple. It incrementally builds a master polynomial that expresses the distribution of the possible result values precisely. We also develop an approximation method that finds the distribution of the result value with negligible errors. Our experiments suggest that our methods are orders of magnitude faster than the most recent systems that answer such queries, including MayBMS and SPROUT. In our experiments, we were able to scale up to several terabytes of data on TPC- H queries, while existing methods could only run for a few gigabytes of data on the same queries.
An investigation of the luminosity-metallicity relation for a large sample of low-metallicity emission-line galaxies

Context. We present 8.2 m VLT spectroscopic observations of 28 H ii regions in 16 emission-line galaxies and 3.6 m ESO telescope spectroscopic observations of 38 H ii regions in 28 emission-line galaxies. These emission-line galaxies were selected mainly from the data release 6 (DR6) of the Sloan digital sky survey (SDSS) as metal-deficient galaxy candidates. Aims. We collect photometric and high-quality spectroscopic data for a large uniform sample of star forming galaxies including new observations. Our aim is to study the luminosity-metallicity (L − Z) relation for nearby galaxies, especially at its low-metallicity end and compare it with that for higher-redshift galaxies. Methods. Physical conditions and element abundances in the new sample are derived with the Te-method, excluding six H ii regions from the VLT observations and nearly two third of the H ii regions from the 3.6 m observations. Element abundances for the latter galaxies were derived with the semiempirical strong-line method. Results. From our new observations we find that the oxygen abundance in 61 out of the 66 H ii regions of our sample ranges from 12 + log O/H = 7.05 to 8.22. Our sample includes 27 new galaxies with 12 + log O/H Mg > −20) and nearly 2 dex in its oxygen abundance (7.0 < 12 + log O/H < 8.8), allowing us to probe the L − Z relation in the nearby universe down to the lowest currently studied metallicity level. The L − Z relation established on the basis of the present sample is consistent with previous ones obtained for emission-line galaxies.
Nominal Wage Rigidities and the Propagation of Monetary Disturbances

Recent research has challenged the ability of sticky price general equilibrium models to generate a contract multiplier, i.e., an effect of a monetary innovation on output that extends beyond the contract interval. We show that a simple dynamic general equilbrium model that includes "Taylor-style" (1980) wage and price contracts can account for a substantial contract multiplier under various assumptions about the structure of the capital market. Most interestingly, our results do not rely on a high intertemporal labor supply elasticity or elastic supply of capital: our preference specification is standard (logarithmic), and we can account for a strong contract multiplier even when the aggregate stock of capital is fixed. Finally, our analysis highlights the importance of the income elasticity of money demand in accounting for output persistence.
Bidding for the Surplus : A Non-cooperative Approach to the Shapley Value

We consider zero-monotonic environments with transferable utility and propose a simple non-cooperative game to determine how the surplus generated by cooperation is to be shared. First, the players bid for the right to propose a sharing of the surplus. Second, after the winner pays the bids, she makes a proposal to each of the other players. If the proposal is rejected, the rest of the players will play the same game again with the proposer left out. If her proposal is accepted, she forms the grand coalition, keeping its value for herself in exchange for the proposed payments to the rest of the players. We show that the final outcome of any subgame perfect equilibrium of this mechanism always coincides with the vector of the Shapley value payoffs. Finally, we extend our results to implement the weighted Shapley values.
A Ruelle Operator for continuous time Markov Chains

We consider a generalization of the Ruelle theorem for thecase of continuous time problems. We present a result which we believeis important for future use in problems in Mathematical Physics relatedto C-Algebras.We consider a nite state set S and a stationary continuous timeMarkov Chain Xt, t 0, taking values on S. We denote by the setof paths w taking values on S (the elements w are locally constant withleft and right limits and are also right continuous on t). We consideran innitesimal generator L and a stationary vector p0. We denoteby P the associated probability on (; B). All functions f we considerbellow are in the set L1(P). From the probability P we dene a Ruelle operator Lt; t 0, actingon functions f : ! R of L1(P). Given V : ! R, such that isconstant in sets of the form fX0 = cg, we dene a modied Ruelleoperator ~ LtV ; t 0, in the following way: there exist a certain fV suchthat for each t we consider the operator acting on g given by~ LtV (g)(w) = [1fVLt(eR t0 (V s)(:)ds g fV ) ] (w)We are able to show the existence of an eigenfunction u and aneigen-probability V on associated to ~ LtV ; t 0.We also show the following property for the probability V : for anyintegrable g 2 L1(P) and any real and positive tZe
Modelling of Hip Resurfacing Device Contact under Central and Edge Loading Conditions

—A combination of computational models and theoretical methods have been used to study the contact of hip resurfacing devices under normal/central and edge loading conditions. The techniques have been developed and are based on the finite element method. It has been found that the study of hip joint modelling, numerical methodologies of mechanical wear simulations and shakedown analysis can be developed to study the contact mechanics and biotribology of hip resurfacing devices under central and edge loading conditions. Each method developed in this study provides a unique platform to study these problems.
Assessing National Discourse and Local Governance Framing of Climate Change for Adaptation in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT While many national governments struggle to maintain global climate change as a high priority issue, many local governments are taking action to fill the policy gaps. This study examines how local governments across the United Kingdom of Great Britain are reframing climate change. We compiled a dataset of newspaper publications covering climate change over a 10-year timeframe, plus survey and interview responses from local governance practitioners, to identify a shift in national discourse that has changed the priority level of climate change in UK local governance. This paper argues that many local governments are strategically reframing climate change as alternative issues in order to make progress in climate adaptation planning.
Activation of Dopamine Receptors in the Nucleus Accumbens Promotes Sucrose-Reinforced Cued Approach Behavior

Dopamine receptor activation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) promotes vigorous environmentally-cued food-seeking in hungry rats. Rats fed ad libitum, however, respond to fewer food-predictive cues, particularly when the value of food reward is low. Here, we investigated whether this difference could be due to differences in the degree of dopamine receptor activation in the NAc. First, we observed that although rats given ad libitum access to chow in their home cages approached a food receptacle in response to reward-predictive cues, the number of such approaches declined as animals accumulated food rewards. Intriguingly, cued approach to food occurred in clusters, with several cued responses followed by successive non-responses. This pattern suggested that behavior was dictated by transitions between two states, responsive and non-responsive. Injection of D1 or D2 dopamine receptor agonists into the NAc dose-dependently increased cue responding by promoting transitions to the responsive state and by preventing transitions to the non-responsive state. In contrast, antagonists of either D1 or D2 receptors promoted long bouts of non-responding by inducing transitions to the non-responsive state and by preventing transitions to the responsive state. Moreover, locomotor behavior during the inter-trial interval was correlated with the responsive state, and was also increased by dopamine receptor agonists. These results suggest that activation of NAc dopamine receptors plays an important role in regulating the probability of approach to food under conditions of normative satiety.
The effects of heritage image on destination branding: an Iranian perspective

ABSTRACT As brands are extremely influential in marketing, destinations should work to develop strong and recognizable brands for tourism to succeed in differentiating their competitive advantages over other destinations. The main purpose of this study is to identify the constituent elements of the overall image of the brand of Iran’s main heritage destinations by utilizing heritage, general, and unique images, and it proposes a model for branding Iran’s heritage destinations. The study population included 750 tourists and was conducted from August to the end of September 2013 in three Iranian historic cities. Results indicate that the heritage image and the unique image have a relationship with the general image of the destination, and that general image itself has a relationship with overall destination brand. The results also revealed that the overall destination image and brand are linked to tourists’ perceptions of the quality of the destination, and the quality itself has a relationship with tourists’ loyalty to the destination.
A phase II study of lapatinib monotherapy in chemotherapy-refractory HER2-positive and HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND The efficacy and tolerability of the epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib in refractory metastatic breast cancer were assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a phase II, open-label study, patients with previously treated HER2-positive (n = 140) or HER2-negative (n = 89) metastatic breast cancer received once-daily oral lapatinib 1500 mg/day. RESULTS Most (76%) patients had received four or more lines of prior therapy. The response rate in the HER2-positive cohort was 4.3% by investigator assessment and 1.4% by independent assessment. Both assessments established that approximately 6% of HER2-positive patients derived clinical benefit from lapatinib, being progression free for >/=6 months. No objective tumor responses occurred in the HER2-negative cohort. Independent review assessments of median time to progression and median progression-free survival were similar in the HER2-positive and HER2-negative cohorts (9.1 and 7.6 weeks, respectively). All responders exhibited HER2 overexpression (3+ by immunohistochemistry), and five of six responders were HER2 amplified by FISH. Lapatinib-related adverse events, including diarrhea (54%), rash (30%), and nausea (24%), were primarily mild to moderate in severity. CONCLUSIONS Lapatinib monotherapy had modest clinical activity in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that progressed on prior trastuzumab regimens. No apparent clinical activity was observed in chemotherapy-refractory, HER2-negative disease.
Balancing the pros and cons of GMOs: socio-scientific argumentation in pre-service teacher education

ABSTRACT This study investigates the role of the discursive process in the act of scientific knowledge building. Specifically, it links scientific knowledge building to risk perception of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). To this end, this study designed and implemented a three-stage argumentation programme giving pre-service teachers (PSTs) the opportunity to consider, discuss and construct shared decisions about GMOs. The study involved 101 third-year PSTs from two different classes, randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The study utilised both quantitative and qualitative methods. During the quantitative phase, researchers administered a pre- and post-intervention scale to measure both groups’ risk perception of GMOs. During the qualitative phase, data were collected from the experimental group alone through individual and group reports and an open-ended questionnaire. T-test results showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups’ risk perception of GMOs. Qualitative analysis also revealed differences, for example, in PSTs’ weighing of the pros and cons of scientific research demonstrating positive results of GMOs. In addition, PSTs’ acceptance of GMOs increased. Consequently, this study suggests that developing familiarity with scientific enterprise may play an effective role in adopting a scientific perspective as well as a more balanced risk perception of GMOs.
FUZZY PROGRAMMING APPROACH FOR A COMPROMISE ALLOCATION OF REPAIRABLE COMPONENTS

The present paper, considered the allocation problem of repairable components for a parallel-series system as a multi-objective optimization problem for two different models. In the first model, the reliability of subsystems are considered as different objectives. While in the second model, the cost and time spent on repairing the components are considered as two different objectives. Selective maintenance operation is used to select the repairable components and a fuzzy programming algorithm is used to obtain compromise allocation of repairable components for the two models under some given constraints. A numerical example is also given to illustrate the procedure.
hp analysis of a hybrid DG method for Stokes flow

This manuscript deals with the hp error analysis of a hybrid discontinuous Galerkin method for incompressible flow. Besides the usual coercivity and boundedness estimates, we establish the inf-sup stability for the discrete incompressibility constraint with a constant, which is only slightly sub-optimal with respect to the polynomial degree. This result holds on irregular and hybrid meshes in two and three spatial dimensions, and its proof is based on a new stability estimate for the L projection on simplex elements. The sharp estimate for the inf-sup constants in turn allows to derive a-priori estimates, which are optimal with respect to the meshsize and only slightly sub-optimal with respect to the polynomial degree. In addition to the a-priori results, we also present a rigorous hp analysis of a residual-type a-posteriori error estimator. Reliability and efficiency are proven and the explicit dependence of the estimates on the polynomial approximation order is elaborated. The theoretical results are illustrated with numerical tests.
Towards an understanding of the Of ?p star HD 191612: phase-resolved multiwavelength observations★

We present the analysis of phase-resolved X-ray and optical observations of the peculiar hot star HD 191612 (Of ? p). This star is known to display line-profile variations that are recurrent with a period of 538 d and its spectrum was found to present the signature of a magnetic field. In the X-rays, it is slightly overluminous compared to the canonical L-X/L-BOL) relation and appears brighter when the optical lines are strongest. Our XMM-Newton observations further reveal that the X-ray spectrum of HD 191612 exhibits rather broad lines and is dominated by a 'cool' (0.2-0.6 keV) thermal component, two characteristics at odds with the proposed magnetic rotator model. We also report for the first time the low-level variability of the metallic (absorption/emission) lines and He ii absorptions that appear to be associated with radial-velocity shifts. Finally, we compare our results with observations of the early-type stars and discuss several possible scenarios.