Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Causality without potential outcomes and the dynamic approach

Several approaches to causal inference from observational studies have been proposed. Since the proposal of Rubin (1974) many works have developed a counterfactual approach to causality, statistically formalized by potential outcomes. Pearl (2000) has put forward a theory of structural causal models which gives an important role to graphical models and do not necessarily use potential outcomes. On the other hand, several authors have developed a dynamical approach in line with Granger (1969). We analyze prospective and retrospective causal questions and their different modalities. Following Dawid (2000) we develop criticisms about the potential outcome approach and we show that causal effects can be estimated without potential outcomes: in particular direct computation of the marginal effect can be done by a change of probability measure. Finally, we highlight the need to adopt a dynamic approach to causality through two examples, "truncation by death" and the "obesity paradox".
‘I Want to Have My Future, I Have a Dialogue’: Social Work in Sri Lanka between Neo-capitalism and Human Rights

Sri Lanka is one of many developing countries where poverty, neo-liberal economic exploitation, economic migration and traditional long-term injustice towards ethnic minorities, children, people with disabilities and women, have created difficult conditions for social work to truly become a human rights profession. This article links poverty issues with some social work issues such as the child's perspective and disability issues, both being important parts of universal human rights. Despite a long social work tradition—early social work training was established in 1952—social work is still a developing profession. The article gives a descriptive overview of the development of social work education since 1952 and provides an example of a successful international collaboration between the University of Colombo and the University of Ljubljana in order to develop social work education at the university level and to establish it as an academic discipline. It gives a case study analysis of the absence of the child's perspective in children's institutions and presents an example of good practice in working with children with disabilities. Both analyses show a need for more professional social workers in the country.
Examining the Retention of Nontraditional Latino(a) Students in a Career-Based Learning Community

Learning communities are designed to increase student persistence and academic achievement and are a retention strategy to increase these outcomes for 1st-year college students. This article examines the educational outcomes for a learning community specifically designed for nontraditional Latina(o) students enrolled in a grant-funded program to become bilingual teachers. The learning community model was a grant objective. Student evaluations, retention, and graduation rates were analyzed to examine the effectiveness of the learning community.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Gene Status by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Malignant, Atypical, and Benign Hidradenomas

Background:Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein overexpression and gene amplification are important prognostic factors in various tumors and EGFR inhibitors are now available as promising chemotherapeutic agents. There is little information in the literature regarding the EGFR protein and gene status in hidradenocarcinomas which has an aggressive biologic course characterized by repeated local recurrences and systemic metastasis. We have previously reported EGFR protein overexpression in malignant, atypical, and benign hidradenomas and would like to further evaluate their gene status by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Methods:Fluorescence in situ hybridization by 2-color probe Vysis LSI EGFR SpectrumOrange/CEP 7 SpectrumGreen Probe (Abbott Molecular) and EGFR immunostain (H11, Dakocytomation) were performed in 15 malignant, 15 atypical, and 7 benign hidradenomas. Results:High polysomy and low trisomy was noted in 1 and 4 hidradenocarcinoma, respectively; however, EGFR overexpression was seen only in 1 low trisomy case. Disomy is noted in the remaining 29 cases (9 hidradenocarcinomas, 15 atypical hidradenomas, and 5 benign hidradenomas). EGFR overexpression was seen in 3/12 (25%) malignant hidradenomas, 7/15 (47%) atypical hidradenomas, and 3/5 (60%) benign hidradenomas; none of these cases demonstrated EGFR gene amplification. Conclusions:Polysomy/trisomy is more frequently seen in hidradenocarcinoma than atypical and benign hidradenomas. The role of EGFR inhibitor therapy in hidradenocarcinoma cases with protein overexpression remains unclear. Lack of correlation between the protein expression and polysomy/gene amplification suggests that molecular mechanisms other than gene amplification play a role in EGFR overexpression in malignant, atypical, and benign hidradenomas.
Discourses of Writing and Learning to Write

This paper presents a meta-analysis of theory and research about writing and writing pedagogy, identifying six discourses – configurations of beliefs and practices in relation to the teaching of writing. It introduces and explains a framework for the analysis of educational data about writing pedagogy in which the connections are drawn across views of language, views of writing, views of learning to write, approaches to the teaching of writing, and approaches to the assessment of writing. The framework can be used for identifying discourses of writing in data such as policy documents, teaching and learning materials, recordings of pedagogic practice, interviews and focus groups with teachers and learners, and media coverage of literacy education. The paper also proposes that, while there are tensions and contradictions among these discourses, a comprehensive writing pedagogy might integrate teaching approaches from all six.
Reoperations for Persistent and Recurrent Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Forty-nine rcoperations for persistent or recurrent secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in 30 patients are reported. The patients are part of a total of 184 patients operated on for secondary HPT; 28 reoperations in 18 patients were performed in the neck or in the upper mediastinum for remaining glands. Eleven reoperations at the forearm autograft revealed hyper-plasia of the grafted tissue as the reason for recurrent disease in seven patients; they were treated by excision of all grossly enlarged particles. Ten patients received autologous cryopre-served tissue because of permanent postoperative hypopara-thyroidism. The rate of graft-dependent recurrent HPT was 7%, and inadequate graft function was found in 6% of the patients.
Posttenure Review: The Disparity Between Intent and Implementation

Based on the analysis of faculty responses and a review of other studies, this study argues that externally mandated posttenure review has failed in its primary policy objective to motivate the majority of faculty to improve quality and quantity. For externally mandated posttenure review to become an effective policy intervention, faculty and administrators must devise processes that deliver meaningful feedback, rewards, and recognition for solid faculty performance and that tie institutionally supported professional development to tangible outcomes.
The role of collective efficacy in the relations between transformational leadership and work outcomes

Using a sample of 402 employees from the banking and finance sectors in China and India, we found that transformational leadership is positively related to organizational commitment and job satisfaction, and negatively related to job and work withdrawal. We also found that collective efficacy mediated the contribution of transformational leadership to job and work withdrawal and partially mediated the contribution of transformational leadership to organizational commitment and job satisfaction. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Instructors as Facilitators of Learner–Learner Interaction in Third-Generation Learning Environments

My commentary proposes an extension of Kraiger’s (2008) ideas. In my opinion, it appears that in promoting the important role of learner–learner interaction in thirdgeneration instruction, he may have understated the importance of the role of instructors in Web-based instruction (WBI). Considering the degree of focus on the instructor in the training literature noted by Kraiger, such an orientation certainly is understandable. However, given the concerns over self-directed learning he also noted, further elaboration on the role of the instructor in WBI seems warranted. Therefore, I wish to expand on his discussion by noting results of recent research on these types of interactions and presenting elements of an emerging framework of WBI to explain these results. In doing so, I also hope to stimulate dialogue between organizational training and development researchers and management education researchers interested in WBI.
Self-building safe havens in a post-service landscape: how adults with learning disabilities are reclaiming the welcoming communities agenda

Personalisation in adult social care, allied with more ‘austere’ funding of social services, is leading to a sharp decline in day care services. Support is becoming less placement-driven and instead woven into everyday spaces within the community. Consequently, support is being re-framed from ‘care’ in formal settings towards a broader effort at enabling meaningful lives nested in local neighbourhoods and ordinary spaces. This article explores what it means to live in a ‘welcoming community’ within the context of declining social care services from the perspective of adults with learning disabilities. It draws on empirical data collected from focus groups and photo diaries with adults with learning disabilities on their experiences of negotiating a life in the community. We identify a process of ‘self-building’ safe havens in ordinary British spaces, including allotments, marinas and ‘fish and chip shops’, and argue that adults with learning disabilities are reclaiming the welcoming communities agenda.
Facial and other non-verbal communicative behaviour in chronic schizophrenia

Synopsis Facial behaviour may be an important determinant in clinical ratings of psychopathology. A standardized objective technique was used to quantify measures of facial behaviour in 21 chronic schizophrenic subjects, in comparison with control groups of depressed, demented and Parkinsonian subjects. Facial behaviours were counted and timed from video-recordings of each subjects' face during a clinical interview. Separate measurement of behaviours were obtained while subjects were speaking and silent. For most variables, the amount of facial behaviour was significantly less in schizophrenic subjects than in control groups. The groups differed significantly on a number of measures, but schizophrenics could not be reliably identified by a single facial behaviour variable. However, using a discriminant function analysis with measures for eye contact while speaking and silent, broad smiles and small smiles, discrimination between groups was good, with over 80% correctly classified as either schizophrenic, or not schizophrenic. These techniques may increase our understanding of psychopathological signs and the mechanisms that underly them.
Impacto da republicação de demonstrações financeiras no preço das ações de empresas brasileiras

This study investigates whether the republication of . nancial impact the stock price. We analyzed 197 republications of 24 Brazilian companies from 2001 to the second quarter of 2009. For data analysis, we used the event study considering a window of three days before until three days after the date of the event. The results, considering the total sample and in most samples, we can not . nd cumulative abnormal returns signi.cantly different from zero, indicating that the market does not react, either positively or negatively, the republication of accounting information. In reprints of requirement, found a positive market reaction with 1% signi.cance, showing evidence that the market expected that the reruns impacting more negatively demonstrations. The results obtained in studies conducted in other countries differ from these results, probably due to the difference of the reasons that led the Brazilian and foreign companies to republish.
The effect of self-modeling on the performance of beginning swimmers.

The present study compared the effects of two types of modeling, self- and other-modeling, on learning elementary swimming skills. Specifically, potential differences between the two modeling conditions in swimming performance, swimming self-efficacy, and state anxiety were investigated. Participants were adult volunteers from a college community. Ages ranged from 20 to 58. Each participant took five individual swimming lessons. Results indicated that participants in the self-modeling condition demonstrated better swimming performance by the fourth swim session than participants in the other-modeling condition. No differences were found between modeling conditions on either swimming self-efficacy or state anxiety. Potential reasons for the difference in performance are identified and discussed.
The octadecaneuropeptide ODN prevents 6‐hydroxydopamine‐induced apoptosis of cerebellar granule neurons through a PKC‐MAPK‐dependent pathway

Oxidative stress, induced by various neurodegenerative diseases, initiates a cascade of events leading to apoptosis, and thus plays a critical role in neuronal injury. In this study, we have investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of the octadecaneuropeptide (ODN) on 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA)‐induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons (CGN). ODN, which is produced by astrocytes, is an endogenous ligand for both central‐type benzodiazepine receptors (CBR) and a metabotropic receptor. Incubation of neurons with subnanomolar concentrations of ODN (10−18 to 10−12 M) inhibited 6‐OHDA‐evoked cell death in a concentration‐dependent manner. The effect of ODN on neuronal survival was abrogated by the metabotropic receptor antagonist, cyclo1–8[DLeu5]OP, but not by a CBR antagonist. ODN stimulated polyphosphoinositide turnover and ERK phosphorylation in CGN. The protective effect of ODN against 6‐OHDA toxicity involved the phospholipase C/ERK MAPK transduction cascade. 6‐OHDA treatment induced an accumulation of reactive oxygen species, an increase of the expression of the pro‐apoptotic gene Bax, a drop of the mitochondrial membrane potential and a stimulation of caspase‐3 activity. Exposure of 6‐OHDA‐treated cells to ODN blocked all the deleterious effects of the toxin. Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time that ODN is a neuroprotective agent that prevents 6‐OHDA‐induced oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death.
Are Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Associated With Mortality in Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with a substantial reduction in life expectancy, and mortality has long been evaluated as part of the natural history of this progressive disease. Survival time also plays an important role in projecting the future public health costs of AD. There is now considerable evidence linking mortality in AD with the severity of cognitive impairment and the level of disability in common activities of daily living (Bowen et al., 1996; Jagger et al., 1995; Moritz et al., 1997); established predictors of mortality in AD are listed in Table 1. However, the relationship between mortality and other disease characteristics has received less attention.
Isolation of a novel species of flavivirus and a new strain of Culex flavivirus (Flaviviridae) from a natural mosquito population in Uganda

The genus Flavivirus, which contains approximately 70 single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses, represents a unique model for studying the evolution of vector-borne disease, as it includes viruses that are mosquito-borne, tick-borne or have no known vector. Both theoretical work and field studies suggest the existence of a large number of undiscovered flaviviruses. Recently, the first isolation of cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) was reported from a natural mosquito population in Puerto Rico, and sequences related to CFAV have been discovered in mosquitoes from Thailand. CFAV had previously been isolated from a mosquito cell line in 1975 and represented the only known ‘insect-only’ flavivirus, appearing to replicate in insect cells alone. A second member of the ‘insect-only’ group, Kamiti River virus (KRV), was isolated from Kenyan mosquitoes in 2003. A third tentative member of the ‘insect-only’ group, Culex flavivirus (CxFV), was first isolated in 2007 from Japan and further strains have subsequently been reported from the Americas. We report the discovery, isolation and characterization of two novel ‘insect-only’ flaviviruses from Entebbe, Uganda: a novel lineage tentatively designated Nakiwogo virus (NAKV) and a new strain of CxFV. The individual mosquitoes from which these strains were isolated, identified retrospectively by using a reference molecular phylogeny generated using voucher specimens from the region, were Mansonia africana nigerrima and Culex quinquefasciatus, respectively. This represents the first isolation, to our knowledge, of a novel insect-only flavivirus from a Mansonia species and the first isolation of a strain of CxFV from Africa.
Design Roadmapping: A Framework and Case Study on Planning Development of High-Tech Products in Silicon Valley

© 2016 by ASME. We propose a framework for design roadmapping that parallels existing product roadmapping and technology roadmapping processes. It leverages three needs we have observed in organizations as they use existing roadmapping processes: (1) to focus on development of customer and user experiences (UX), not just on features; (2) to increase engagement of designers early in the planning process; and (3) to provide a means for rapidly responding to changes in the environment. Design roadmapping is an attempt to reconcile differences that arise when customer/user needs are not considered simultaneously with technology choices. The proposed design roadmapping process assists project prioritization and selection. The process aggregates design experience elements along a timeline that associates key user needs with the products, services, and/or systems the organization wishes to deliver. To illustrate the design roadmapping process, we conducted a case study in which we applied the design roadmapping process to projects undertaken by a large corporation's innovation lab located in research centers in San Francisco and Mountain View, CA, in partnership with corporate stakeholders located in Asia. The five-step design roadmapping procedure is provided along with detailed information. The decisions from the design roadmapping process have been incorporated into the company's commercial plans. Key findings in this corporate case study bolster the positive impact of design roadmapping in moving strategic thinking from a technology/ feature-driven process to one that is design/experience-driven. It shows how firms might weigh choices between user needs, design principles, and technological innovation.
Tracking Quantiles of Network Data Streams with Dynamic Operations

Quantiles are very useful in characterizing the data distribution of an evolving dataset in the process of data mining or network monitoring. The method of Stochastic Approximation (SA) tracks quantiles online by incrementally deriving and updating local approximations of the underly distribution function at the quantiles of interest. In this paper, we propose a generalization of the SA method for quantile estimation that allows not only data insertions, but also dynamic data operations such as deletions and updates.
Juvenile polyposis syndrome

Aim: Report of a series of 12 cases of juvenile polyposis coli. Methods: The study period was from 1995 to 2005. All the patients were treated by total colectomy with rectal mucosectomy and endorectal ileoanal pullthrough with or without ileal pouch formation. Covering ileostomy was avoided in all the cases. Time taken for the surgery, postoperative complications and continence were documented. Results: The mean operating time was 4.2 h (range: 4–5 h). The mean duration of hospital stay was 16.3 days (range: 15–18 days). The most common postoperative complication was pouchitis and perianal excoriation. Initially, all the patients were passing stools at an interval of 2 h, and after 3 weeks, the frequency has reduced to 6–8 stools per day. In the follow-up after 3 months, the frequency was 3–5 per day with minimal soiling. Conclusions: Single-stage total colectomy with rectal mucosectomy and endorectal ileoanal pull-through without covering ileostomy and pouch formation is a safe and definitive treatment for juvenile polyposis coli if the patient selection is appropriate.
Computer-mediated communication and cooperation in social dilemmas: an experimental analysis

One of the most consistent findings in experimental studies of social dilemmas is the positive influence of face-to-face communication on cooperation. The face-to-face `communication effect' has been recently explained in terms of a `focus theory of norms': successful communication focuses agents on pro-social norms, and induces preferences and expectations conducive to cooperation. 1 Many of the studies that point to a communication effect, however, do not further explore whether and to what extent the communication medium affects cooperative behavior. In this article, we ask if pro-social behavior can emerge and survive in computer-mediated environments. We show that, like face-to-face communication, computer-mediated communication also positively affects cooperation in social dilemmas, but cooperation is more difficult to establish and maintain. We argue that the discrepancy between the computer-mediated and the face-to-face communication effects is a consequence of the distinct capabilities of different media to focus agents on pro-social norms and to allow them to develop mutual expectations about future behavior.
‘Sensory highs’, ‘vivid rememberings’ and ‘interactive stimming’: children’s play cultures and experiences of friendship in autistic autobiographies

Children’s play is a principal site for the construction of disability, and this is particularly the case for autistic children. Investigation of children’s own perspectives in play provides information about the interests, concerns and meanings that are being produced in play and provides insight into what is valuable in children’s play and children’s skills as players. Autobiographies produced by autistic writers often include descriptions of enjoyable leisure activities and playful encounters with others the writer experienced as a child. Using thematic analysis, this study identifies patterns of experience in autistic autobiographies in relation to childhood play and friendship. Strongly sensory experiences of play, forms of pretending that involve orderly and predictable representations of real life, vividly remembered details of external sources and particular ways of interacting with playmates were found to be shared features of autistic play cultures.