Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impacts of Network Structure on User Activity Level in Online Social Networks

Understanding how users in online social networks (OSNs) get exposed to different information and how they adopt such information is essential for OSN management and for understanding information diffusion. In particular, recent studies have demonstrated the importance of studying users' information exposure in characterizing information overload and attention competition in OSNs. However, most existing work mainly focuses on users' adoption of diffused information, with few studies investigating users' information exposure. Moreover, the impacts of the underlying social network structure on users' information exposure and adoption have not been fully addressed. In this paper, we investigate the predictability of users' activity levels in both information exposure and adoption, utilizing the structural features. Specifically, we propose a comprehensive set of structural features, consisting of global features, egocentric features and community features. Based on collected abundant video diffusion traces on a popular OSN, our empirical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed features. Finally, we formulate the prediction of users' activity levels of video exposure and adoption as a multiclass classification problem. Experiments conducted on collected dataset not only validate the performance of our proposed approach, but also provide insights into the importance of different features.
Multiphase Plasma in Sub-Damped Lyα Systems: A Hidden Metal Reservoir

We present a VLT UVES spectrum of a proximate sub-damped Lyα (sub-DLA) system at zabs = 2.65618 toward the quasar Q0331-4505 (zqso = 2.6785 ± 0.0030). Absorption lines of O I, Si II, Si III, Si IV, C II, C III, C IV, Fe II, Al II, and O VI are seen in the sub-DLA, which has a neutral hydrogen column density log N = 19.82 ± 0.05. The absorber is at a velocity of 1820 ± 250 km s-1 from the quasar; however, its low metallicity [O/H] = -1.64 ± 0.07, lack of partial coverage, lack of temporal variations between observations taken in 2003 and 2006, and nondetection of N V imply the absorber is not a genuine intrinsic system. By measuring the O VI column density and assuming equal metallicities in the neutral and ionized gas, we determine the column density of hot ionized hydrogen in this sub-DLA, and in two other sub-DLAs with O VI drawn from the literature. Coupling this with determinations of the typical amount of warm ionized hydrogen in sub-DLAs, we confirm that sub-DLAs are a more important metal reservoir than DLAs, in total comprising at least 6%-22% of the metal budget at z ≈ 2.5.
The Solar Neighborhood. XVI. Parallaxes from CTIOPI: Final Results from the 1.5 m Telescope Program

Trigonometric parallaxes, proper motions and VJ(RI)KC photometry are given for 25 stars (of which one is a zero-parallax control field) targeted by the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory Parallax Investigation (CTIOPI), a widely scoped program aimed at discovering and characterizing nearby stars. The trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions presented are the last that were obtained with the CTIO 1.5 m telescope, which targeted the fainter subset of the CTIOPI input list. First trigonometric parallaxes are given for 22 systems, of which one is within 10 pc (DENIS 0255-4700), and 10 of which are between 10 and 25 pc. At a distance of 4.97 ± 0.10 pc, and with a spectral type of L7.5 V, DENIS 0255-4700 is now the closest known L dwarf. In addition, with MV = 24.44, it is the faintest dwarf with a measured absolute visual magnitude. We present preliminary trigonometric parallaxes for five additional systems worthy of follow-up, and VRIJHKS photometry and photometric distance estimates for four of them. We also give photometry and distance estimates for 21 other promising targets in our input list for which definitive trigonometric parallaxes were not possible; 13 are likely to be closer than 25 pc. We also present color-magnitude and color-color diagrams, which, in combination with theoretical isochrones from the literature, tangential velocities, and MR and MJ, have aided to identify the general nature of each of our targets. We have in this way discovered one new (spectroscopically confirmed) subdwarf and two suspected extreme subdwarfs that could be among the most extreme cases of these objects. We have also identified several very low mass stars, a few of which could be brown dwarfs. This concludes the CTIOPI 1.5 m program, from which we have derived a total of 69 trigonometric parallaxes (55 definitive, 6 preliminary, and 8 calibration).
Large-Margin kNN Classification Using a Deep Encoder Network

KNN is one of the most popular classification methods, but it often fails to work well with inappropriate choice of distance metric or due to the presence of numerous class-irrelevant features. Linear feature transformation methods have been widely applied to extract class-relevant information to improve kNN classification, which is very limited in many applications. Kernels have been used to learn powerful non-linear feature transformations, but these methods fail to scale to large datasets. In this paper, we present a scalable non-linear feature mapping method based on a deep neural network pretrained with restricted boltzmann machines for improving kNN classification in a large-margin framework, which we call DNet-kNN. DNet-kNN can be used for both classification and for supervised dimensionality reduction. The experimental results on two benchmark handwritten digit datasets show that DNet-kNN has much better performance than large-margin kNN using a linear mapping and kNN based on a deep autoencoder pretrained with retricted boltzmann machines.
Blastocystis, an unrecognized parasite: an overview of pathogenesis and diagnosis

Blastocystis sp. is among the few enteric parasites with a prevalence that often exceeds 5% in the general population of industrialized countries and can reach 30–60% in developing countries. This parasite is frequently found in people who are immunocompromised (patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or cancer) and a higher risk of Blastocystis sp. infection has been found in people with close animal contact. Such prevalence in the human population and the zoonotic potential naturally raise questions about the impact of these parasites on public health and has increased interest in this area. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have shed new light on the pathogenic power of this parasite, suggesting that Blastocystis sp. infection is associated with a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, may play a significant role in irritable bowel syndrome, and may be linked with cutaneous lesions (urticaria). Despite recent significant advances in the knowledge of the extensive genetic diversity of this species, the identification of extracellular proteases as virulence factors and the publication of one isolate genome, many aspects of the biology of Blastocystis sp. remain poorly investigated. In this review, we investigate several biological aspects of Blastocystis sp. (diversity and epidemiology, diagnosis tools and pathophysiology). These data pave the way for the following challenges concerning Blastocystis sp. research: deciphering key biological mechanisms and pathways of this parasite and clarification of its clinical impact in humans.
POPULATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE EMERGING ECONOMIES

The impact of population on economic development is an issue that has sparked debate across different organizations. Despite discussions, one thing is clear: developing countries are not able to afford a very large increase in population. Unlike developing countries which are facing increasing number of population Albania has recently decrease of population. The main challenge for Albania is: population is ageing; this brings reduction in workforce participation. The methodology consists in using secondary data from World Bank reports for econometric approach, obtaining quantitative results through regression analysis, for a period of 24 years (1990-2014) with the purpose to examine the economic effects of the demographic transition in developing countries. The objective of this paper is to determine main demographic factors that affect economic development and economic growth in developing countries, empirically stated for Albania case. By identifying the factors that influence the economic decrease we have the opportunity to put forward in the future the best policies to ensure sustainable economic growth.
Conditions Associated with Circulating Tumor-Associated Folate Receptor 1 Protein in Healthy Men and Women

Background Serum concentrations of the tumor-associated folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) protein may be a marker for early cancer detection, yet concentrations have also been detected in cancer-free women. We investigated the conditions associated with circulating FOLR1 protein in healthy individuals and sought to clarify the range of normal serum values. Methods Sera of cancer-free men and women (N = 60) enrolled in a population-based cohort study in Alberta, Canada were analyzed for FOLR1 protein using an electrochemical luminescence immunoassay. Dietary, lifestyle, medical and reproductive history information was collected by questionnaires. Differences in serum FOLR1 concentrations between groups were assessed by non-parametric tests, and predictors of serum FOLR1 concentrations were estimated using multivariable linear regression. Results Median serum FOLR1 concentration was higher in women (491 pg/ml, range = 327–693 pg/ml) than in men (404 pg/ml, range = 340–682 pg/ml), P = 0.001. FOLR1 concentration was also positively associated with vitamin A intake (P = 0.02), and showed positive trends with age and with oral contraceptive hormone use among women and an inverse trend with body mass index. All variables examined explained almost half of the variation in serum FOLR1 (model R2 = 0.44, P = 0.04); however, the retention of gender (P = 0.003) and vitamin A intake (P = 0.03) together explained 20% (P = 0.001) of serum FOLR1 variation. No other predictor was significant at P<0.05. Conclusions The positive association between serum FOLR1 concentration and female gender independent of an age effect suggests caution against statements to exploit serum FOLR1 for early cancer detection without further understanding the biological underpinnings of these observations. Serum FOLR1 concentrations may be influenced by the steroid retinoic acid (vitamin A) but do not appear to be associated with folate nutritional status. These findings require confirmation in larger independent studies.
An interactivist-constructivist approach to intelligence: Self-directed anticipative learning

This paper outlines an original interactivist-constructivist (I-C) approach to modelling intelligence and learning as a dynamical embodied form of adaptiveness and explores some applications of I-C to understanding the way cognitive learning is realized in the brain. Two key ideas for conceptualizing intelligence within this framework are developed. These are: (1) intelligence is centrally concerned with the capacity for coherent, context-sensitive, self-directed management of interaction; and (2) the primary model for cognitive learning is anticipative skill construction. Self-directedness is a capacity for integrative process modulation which allows a system to "steer" itself through its world by anticipatively matching its own viability requirements to interaction with its environment. Because the adaptive interaction processes required of intelligent systems are too complex for effective action to be prespecified (e.g. genetically) learning is an important component of intelligence. A model of self-directed anticipative learning (SDAL) is formulated based on interactive skill construction, and argued to constitute a central constructivist process involved in cognitive development. SDAL illuminates the capacity of intelligent learners to start with the vague, poorly defined problems typically posed in realistic learning situations and progressively refine them, transforming them into problems with sufficient structure to guide the construction of a solution. Finally, some of the implications of I-C for modelling of the neuronal basis of intelligence and learning are explored; in particular, Quartz and Sejnowski's recent neural constructivism paradigm, enriched by Montague and Sejnowski's dopaminergic model of anticipative-predictive neural learning, is assessed as a promising, but incomplete, contribution to this approach. The paper concludes with a fourfold reflection on the divergence in cognitive modelling philosophy between the I-C and the traditional computational information processing approaches.
An Economic History of Europe: Knowledge, Institutions and Growth, 600 to the Present

Introduction: what is economic history? 1. The making of Europe 2. Europe: from obscurity to economic recovery 3. Population, economic growth and resource constraints 4. The nature and extent of economic growth in the pre-industrial epoch 5. Institutions and growth 6. Knowledge, technology transfer and convergence 7. Money, credit and banking 8. Trade, tariffs and growth with Paul Sharp 9. International monetary regimes in history with Paul Sharp 10. The era of political economy: from the minimal state to the Welfare State in the twentieth century 11. Inequality among and within nations: past, present, future 12. Globalization and its challenge to Europe Glossary with Marc Klemp.
Mortality during 25 years of follow-up of a cohort with diabetes.

BACKGROUND Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in Western populations. There have been few large published cohort studies of people with diabetes that have had more than 10 years of follow-up, and none other than the present one are in the UK. Such studies are important to understand the long-term fatal consequences of diabetes and their variation over time and between countries. METHODS Cause-specific mortality was analysed in follow-up from 1966-1970 to December 1992 of 5783 members of the British Diabetic Association living in England and Wales during 1966-1970. Comparison was made with age-, sex- and calendar year-specific mortality by cause in the general population of England and Wales. RESULTS During the follow-up 3399 (58.8%) subjects died. The relative risk of all-cause mortality in the cohort compared to the general population was 2.31 in women and 1.58 in men (both P < 0.001). Relative risks were greater for women than men at almost all ages and for each major diabetes-related cause of death. Absolute excess ('attributable') mortality rates were also greater in women than in men, except at ages < 50. Half the deaths in each sex were from circulatory diseases and only 3.4% were from renal disease. The relative risks of mortality for all-causes and circulatory diseases were particularly great at younger ages, but changed little with duration of follow-up. At ages < 40 the relative risks for all-causes were 3.75 in men and 5.51 in women and for ischaemic heart disease were 10.44 and 25.25 respectively (all P < 0.001). At these ages one-third of deaths were due to acute complications of diabetes, suicides and accidents, whereas at older ages these accounted for only 4% of deaths. CONCLUSIONS The mortality rates at young ages in the cohort were around twice those in Sweden, Norway and Israel, suggesting that many of the deaths in England and Wales are preventable. The results also indicate a particular need for investigation and amelioration of cardiovascular risk factors in English and Welsh patients, especially women.
Adverse drug reaction profile of cancer patients on chemotherapy in a tertiary care hospital

A monitoring program was carried out in Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, a tertiary care hospital in South India to monitor and assess the pattern of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Case records, drug charts, medical and nursing notes of patients receiving chemotherapy were reviewed and analyzed for presence of any ADRs. Laboratory results, patient notes, discussion with the doctors and patient interview served as the markers for ADRs. Five hundred eighty two suspected ADRs were reported in 387 patients during the study period. Common ADRs were fever, neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, peripheral neuropathy, hand foot syndrome, constipation, oral ulcers, blackening of nails, skin pigmentation, maculopapular rash, pustules, erythematous patch, scaling of body, hearing loss and ear pain. All patients developed type A reaction. Naranjo’s algorithm showed all ADRs to be ‘probable’. Only 1% ADRs were found to be definitely preventable. The study showed that chemotherapy has a high potential to cause ADRs. Thus, there is a need for vigilant ADR monitoring to prevent morbidity and mortality due to ADRs.
Innovating in 'the dream-factory' : social change through mindset-change: evidence from Kerala, India

BackgroundThe mindset of an individual is made up by perception and motivation. Motivation is in turn driven by personal experiences, values and goals. Many times, a personal experience can act as a ‘Gandhi-moment’ or a triggering event to take action towards achieving a specific outcome. For a social entrepreneur, this outcome is many times some type of positive social change. In order for the social entrepreneur to create this, he or she needs to be innovative and creative, and therefore stay open towards new opportunities and perspectives to not get stuck in a particular mindset.PurposeThe purpose of the thesis is to investigate the role of personal experiences and a person’s mindset in the start-up of a social project. Furthermore, the study aims to explore how a change in one’s mindset can result in social projects or enterprises that are successfully able to create social change.MethodThe research approach of the thesis takes the form of a multiple case study; one main large case and four illustrative smaller ones. The data analysis is of abductive style, going back and forth between theory and empirical data.ConclusionIt can be concluded that personal experiences can serve as a motivational platform for an individual starting a project or enterprise, aiming to create a social change. However, other elements of a person’s mindset will also influence this process, in terms motivation and perception. Furthermore, for changes in society to occur, changes first needs to be made from within. Therefore, in order for a social entrepreneur to create actual social change; he or she needs to go through a process of mindset-change.
Our Sun. V. A Bright Young Sun Consistent with Helioseismology and Warm Temperatures on Ancient Earth and Mars

The relatively warm temperatures required on early Earth and Mars have been difficult to account for via warming from greenhouse gases. We tested whether this problem can be resolved for both Earth and Mars by a young Sun that is brighter than predicted by the standard solar model (SSM). We computed high-precision solar evolutionary models with slightly increased initial masses of Mi = 1.01-1.07 M☉; for each mass, we considered three different mass-loss scenarios. We then tested whether these models were consistent with the current high-precision helioseismic observations. The relatively modest mass-loss rates in these models are consistent with observational limits from young stars and estimates of the past solar wind obtained from lunar rocks and do not significantly affect the solar lithium depletion. For appropriate initial masses, all three mass-loss scenarios are capable of yielding a solar flux 3.8 Gyr ago high enough to be consistent with water on ancient Mars. The higher flux at the planets is due partly to the fact that a more massive young Sun would be intrinsically more luminous and partly to the fact that the planets would be closer to the more massive young Sun. At birth on the main sequence, our preferred initial mass Mi = 1.07 M☉ would produce a solar flux at the planets 50% higher than that of the SSM, namely, a flux 5% higher than the present value (rather than 30% lower, which the SSM predicts). At first (for 1-2 Gyr), the solar flux would decrease; subsequently, it would behave more like the flux in the SSM, increasing until the present. We find that all of our mass-losing solar models are consistent with the helioseismic observations; in fact, our preferred mass-losing case with Mi = 1.07 M☉ is in marginally (although insignificantly) better agreement with the helioseismology than is the SSM. The early solar mass loss of a few percent does indeed leave a small fingerprint on the Sun's internal structure. However, for helioseismology to significantly constrain early solar mass loss would require higher accuracy in the observed solar parameters and input physics, namely, by a factor of ~3 for the observed solar surface composition and a factor of ~2 for the solar interior opacities, the p-p nuclear reaction rate, and the diffusion constants for gravitational settling.
Socially Excessive Dissemination of Patent Licences

Compared with the social optimum, a monopolist usually sells too little. This result seemingly includes the case of a lab that licences its patented cost innovation: Katz and Shapiro (1986) find `conditions under which lthe labr will issue fewer than the socially optimal number of licences. ' However, I find instead that its incentives can be socially too high; the monopoly seller may sell too much. For example, it can be profit maximizing to sell several licences, while it is socially optimal that none is sold.
Early Starters versus Late Beginners

We consider a model of wage formation characterized by two features, learning and downward rigidity. We show that wages should exhibit a late‐beginning property: when one controls for the wage at date t, the wage at date t + 1 should be negatively correlated with the wage at date 6–1. We test this property on a sample of about 1,000 executives of a French state‐owned firm whose careers we observe for 15 years. This organization exhibits the features that charecterize internal labor markets; in particular, careers consist of sequences of discrete promotions, a fact that generates specific econometric problems. The results confirm the prediction.
A mismatch-insensitive high-accuracy high-speed continuous-time current comparator in low voltage CMOS

This paper presents a CMOS current comparator which employs nonlinear feedback to obtain high-accuracy (down to 1.5 pA) and high-speed for low input currents (8 ns@50 nA). This structure is much faster for low currents (below 10 /spl mu/A) than other previous nonlinear feedback comparators. Particularly, when compared to the fastest current comparator reported up to now, the new one operates at more that 100 times faster for a 1 nA current, with smaller area occupation and similar power consumption. In addition, the new comparator is virtually insensitive to mismatch and capable of operating with supply voltages as low as 1 V.