Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hashtagger+: Efficient High-Coverage Social Tagging of Streaming News

News and social media now play a synergistic role and neither domain can be grasped in isolation. On one hand, platforms such as Twitter have taken a central role in the dissemination and consumption of news. On the other hand, news editors rely on social media for following their audience’s attention and for crowd-sourcing news stories. Twitter hashtags function as a key connection between Twitter crowds and the news media, by naturally naming and contextualizing stories, grouping the discussion of news and marking topic trends. In this work, we propose Hashtagger+, an efficient learning-to-rank framework for merging news and social streams in real-time, by recommending Twitter hashtags to news articles. We provide an extensive study of different approaches for streaming hashtag recommendation, and show that pointwise learning-to-rank is more effective than multi-class classification as well as more complex learning-to-rank approaches. We improve the efficiency and coverage of a state-of-the-art hashtag recommendation model by proposing new techniques for data collection and feature computation. In our comprehensive evaluation on real-data, we show that we drastically outperform the accuracy and efficiency of prior methods. Our prototype system delivers recommendations in under 1 minute, with a Precision@1 of 94 percent and article coverage of 80 percent. This is an order of magnitude faster than prior approaches, and brings improvements of 5 percent in precision and 20 percent in coverage. By effectively linking the news stream to the social stream via the recommended hashtags, we open the door to solving many challenging problems related to story detection and tracking. To showcase this potential, we present an application of our recommendations to automated news story tracking via social tags. Our recommendation framework is implemented in a real-time Web system available from insight4news.ucd. ie.
A Modified Production Possibility Frontier for Efficient Forestry Management Under the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme

type="main" xml:id="ajar12047-abs-0001"> Carbon sequestered through increased forest biomass provides a low cost means to curb emissions and has become a major focus of New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme. We present a forest planning optimisation model where land use is governed by forest owners maximising the returns to both timber harvest and carbon sequestration. By varying carbon prices, we model efficient trade-offs between the two forest activities along a modified production possibility frontier for four distinct wood supply regions in New Zealand. Results show that while more productive regions such as the Central North Island (CNI) and Northland have a greater capacity as a carbon sink, it is the less productive regions that have a comparative advantage in carbon sequestration in terms of a lower cost of wood production revenue foregone. However, moderate increases in carbon uptake can be achieved in the CNI at low opportunity cost by subtle changes in forestry management. The implication for policy-makers is that initial increases in carbon sequestration will be achieved at the lowest cost to society by favouring high volume timber production in some productive woodland areas and/or by more carbon farming in less productive areas.
Amino acids with an intermolecular proton bond as proton storage site in bacteriorhodopsin

The positions of protons are not available in most high-resolution structural data of biomolecules, thus the identity of proton storage sites in biomolecules that transport proton is generally difficult to determine unambiguously. Using combined quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical computations, we demonstrate that a pair of conserved glutamate residues (Glu 194/204) bonded by a delocalized proton is the proton release group that has been long sought in the proton pump, bacteriorhodopsin. This model is consistent with all available experimental structural and infrared data for both the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin and several mutants. In particular, the continuum infrared band in the 1,800- to 2,000-cm−1 region is shown to arise due to the partially delocalized nature of the proton between the glutamates in the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin; alternations in the flexibility of the glutamates and electrostatic nature of nearby residues in various mutants modulate the degree of proton delocalization and therefore intensity of the continuum band. The strong hydrogen bond between Glu 194/204 also significantly shifts the carboxylate stretches of these residues well <1,700 cm−1, which explains why carboxylate spectral shift was not observed experimentally in the typical >1,700-cm−1 region upon proton release. By contrast, simulations with the proton restrained on the nearby water cluster, as proposed by several recent studies [see, for example, Garezarek K, Gerwert K (2006) Functional waters in intraprotein proton transfer monitored by FTIR difference spectroscopy. Nature 439:109], led to significant structural deviations from available X-ray structures. This study establishes a biological function for strong, low-barrier hydrogen bonds.
Disappearance of Vimentin in Sertoli Cells: A Mono(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Effect

The effects of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) on 21-day-old C57Bl/6N mice and their Sertoli cell cultures were studied. Mice were given a single dose of 800 mg/kg MEHP by oral gavage and sacrificed 24 h later. At the same time, testes were harvested from another batch of mice for Sertoli cell cultures. Cultures were subsequently exposed to 0, 1, and 100 nmol/ml MEHP for 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. An antivimentin antibody was used to detect intermediate filament changes in Sertoli cells. Meanwhile, detection of preapoptotic signals and presence of apoptotic cells were done using annexin V–FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) and TUNEL (deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) analyses, respectively. In vivo results showed a correlation between the increase in TUNEL-positive cells and the vimentin disruption in treated mice. Toluidine blue staining of the Sertoli cell cultures showed the increased number and size of vacuoles in Sertoli cell cytoplasm. Vimentin immunohistochemistry showed gradual disappearance of vimentin in Sertoli cell cultures as time and dose increased. Some Sertoli cells were found to be annexin V–FITC positive, but no TUNEL-positive cells were found. Taken together, these results show that the appearance of vacuoles and the vimentin disappearance caused by MEHP in the Sertoli cells are related with each other and can be observed in relation to time. This can be used as an indicator of the loss of mechanical support for spermatogenic cells, which in the end causes apoptosis of spermatogenic cells.
Evidence disputing deforestation as the cause for the collapse of the ancient Maya polity of Copan, Honduras

Archaeologists have proposed diverse hypotheses to explain the collapse of the southern Maya lowland cities between the 8th and 10th centuries A.D. Although it generally is believed that no single factor was responsible, a commonly accepted cause is environmental degradation as a product of large-scale deforestation. To date, the most compelling scientific evidence used to support this hypothesis comes from the archaeological site of Copan, Honduras, where the analysis of a sediment core suggested a dramatic increase in forest clearance in the Late Classic period (A.D. 600–900). By contrast, in the work presented here, the authors’ analysis of a longer sediment core demonstrates that forest cover increased from A.D. 400 to A.D. 900, with arboreal pollen accounting for 59.8–71.0% of the pollen assemblage by approximately A.D. 780–980. The highest levels of deforestation are found about 900 B.C. when, at its peak, herb pollen made up 89.8% of the assemblage. A second, although less pronounced, period of elevated deforestation peaked at approximately A.D. 400 when herb pollen reached 65.3% of the assemblage. The first deforestation event likely coincided with the widespread adoption of agriculture, a pattern found elsewhere in Mesoamerica. The second period of forest clearance probably was associated with the incursion of Maya speakers into the Copan Valley and their subsequent construction of the earliest levels of the Copan Acropolis. These results refute the former hypothesis that the ancient Maya responded to their increasingly large urban population by exhausting, rather than conserving, natural resources.
Insights Into the Beliefs and Practices of Preservice Elementary Mathematics Teacher Educators: A Naturalistic Inquiry

The purpose of this naturalistic inquiry was to explore and analyze aspects of the reported beliefs and practices of a group of preservice elementary mathematics teacher educators. Until now, researchers have had little understanding of beliefs and practices of teachers in elementary mathematics methods classrooms, despite the fact that teacher educators’ beliefs and practices have profound effects on what happens in thousands of classrooms every day. The qualitative research in this study offered insights with the potential to inform higher educational practice in regard to the preparation of elementary mathematics teachers and mathematics teacher educators. Participants were six professors and instructors of elementary math methods courses at six different colleges and universities. A series of 18 in-depth interviews, three with each participant, allowed context, nuance, and detail to be closely examined. Typological analysis led to the emergence of six themes. They dealt with consistency, challenge, content, methods, resources, and reasons. Details related to those themes helped to illuminate what the working experience of a preservice elementary mathematics teacher is like. Study conclusions indicated (a) general consistency, with some exceptions, between reported beliefs and reported practices; (b) some common challenges faced by most participants, particularly in regard to limited elementary classroom experience, and perceived time constraints; (c) wide variation in content and methods despite agreement on teaching philosophy; (d) perceived student needs as the main reported basis of participant teaching decisions, and; (e) some indication of the extent of influence of curricular and pedagogical reform as elementary mathematics teacher educators sought to enact generally constructivist inspired teaching visions. Recommendations for educators, researchers and policy makers stemming from these conclusions have potential benefits for elementary mathematics teacher preparation.
Phillips and Wage Curves: Empirical Evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina

This study is an empirical examination of the existence and characteristics of the Phillips curve and the wage curve in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The findings indicate that there is no evidence of the existence of the short-term Phillips curve. Instead, the data suggests that in the short-term an increase in inflation leads to an increase in unemployment. The estimated wage curves indicate that only increases in real payment increase employment. The conclusion of this study is that increases in inflation might have a negative short-term impact on the level of employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
An Analysis of Sec Guidelines for Executing Open Market Repurchases

Rule 10b-18 is the only guidance the Securities and Exchange Commission provides for open market stock repurchases. Fashioned as a safe harbor without disclosure, 10b-18 conformity is unverifiable with public data. We use privately disclosed data to document claimed and actual compliance. While the level of compliance is relatively high, only two firms in our sample consistently comply for all repurchases. Even firms that publicly declared compliance violate the safe harbor's bounds. We document that violations of the safe harbor are more likely to occur following price declines. Our investigation questions the regulatory effectiveness of safe harbors without mandatory disclosure.
Communities of management knowledge diffusion

A Communities of Practice approach is used to unravel the actions and activities that facilitate the diffusion of management knowledge among organizations. In so doing, the local embedded nature of knowledge is recognized, as is the manner in which interactions between the general and the specific provide a creative dynamic that facilitates the widespread diffusion and a multiple creation of knowledge. Knowledge interactions are explored in terms of boundary processes involving interactions between management gurus, management consultants, business schools/management academics, managers and business media. Moreover, by making a clear distinction between implicit management knowledge and management ideas and techniques, important differences between the communities engaged in the diffusion of management knowledge are revealed.
Estimated cardiovascular relative risk reduction from fixed-dose combination pill (polypill) treatment in a wide range of patients with a moderate risk of cardiovascular disease

Aims Recent data indicate that fixed-dose combination (FDC) pills, polypills, can produce sizeable risk factor reductions. There are very few published data on the consistency of the effects of a polypill in different patient populations. It is unclear for example whether the effects of the polypill are mainly driven by the individuals with high individual risk factor levels. The aim of the present study is to examine whether baseline risk factor levels modify the effect of polypill treatment on low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, blood pressure (BP), calculated cardiovascular relative risk reduction and adverse events. Methods This paper describes a post-hoc analysis of a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of a polypill (containing aspirin 75 mg, simvastatin 20 mg, lisinopril 10 mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg) in 378 individuals without an indication for any component of the polypill, but who had an estimated five-year risk for cardiovascular disease ≥7.5%. The outcomes considered were effect modification by baseline risk factor levels on change in LDL-cholesterol, systolic BP, calculated cardiovascular relative risk reduction and adverse events. Results The mean LDL-cholesterol in the polypill group was 0.9 mmol/l (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8–1.0) lower compared with the placebo group during follow-up. Those with a baseline LDL-cholesterol >3.6 mmol/l achieved a greater absolute LDL-cholesterol reduction with the polypill compared with placebo, than patients with an LDL-cholesterol ≤3.6 mmol/l (−1.1 versus −0.6 mmol/l, respectively). The mean systolic BP was 10 mm Hg (95% CI: 8–12) lower in the polypill group. In participants with a baseline systolic BP >135 mm Hg the polypill resulted in a greater absolute systolic BP reduction with the polypill compared with placebo, than participants with a systolic BP ≤ 135 mm Hg (−12 versus −7 mm Hg, respectively). Calculated from individual risk factor reductions, the mean cardiovascular relative risk reduction was 48% (95% CI: 43–52) in the polypill group. Both baseline LDL-cholesterol and estimated cardiovascular risk were significant modifiers of the estimated cardiovascular relative risk reduction caused by the polypill. Adverse events did not appear to be related to baseline risk factor levels or the estimated cardiovascular risk. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the effect of a cardiovascular polypill on risk factor levels is modified by the level of these risk factors. Groups defined by baseline LDL-cholesterol or systolic BP had large differences in risk factor reductions but only moderate differences in estimated cardiovascular relative risk reduction, suggesting also that patients with mildly increased risk factor levels but an overall raised cardiovascular risk benefit from being treated with a polypill.
Closed-End Fund Discounts and Expected Investment Performance

This article provides empirical support for the theory that closed-end fund discounts reflect expected investment performance. Evidence is presented to explain how equity closed-end fund initial public offerings (IPOs) can sell at a premium when existing funds sell at a discount and why the initial IPO premiums decay after the IPO. Relative premium decay data are presented. Tests on (1) the relation between relative premium changes and investment performance following IPOs, (2) relative premium mean-reversion following management changes, and (3) net redemptions following closed-end fund open-endings for funds trading at pre-open-ending announcement discounts individually support and collectively strongly support the theory.
Antecedents of New Director Social Capital

Prior research shows that firms benefit from the social capital of their boards of directors but has not explored the antecedents of new director social capital. We argue that firms can attract directors with social capital by offering more compensation. We also argue that more complex firms (firms with a greater scale and scope of operations) are more attractive to such directors because of the greater experience and exposure that such directorships provide. Similarly, we argue that firms with high-status directors on their current boards will be more attractive to directors with social capital. We analyse the social capital of new outside directors added to boards of semiconductor firms between 1993 and 2007. Surprisingly, we find no support for the hypothesis that higher compensation is associated with adding directors with high status or board ties. However, firm complexity is associated with the ability to add new directors who have social capital, and the status of current board members is associated with the ability to add new directors who also have high status.
An Information Processing Approach to Public Organizations: The Case of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency

This article presents the results of a single-case study done in order to probe a specific version of an information processing approach to the study of (public) organizations. The case used for this probe is the European Fundamental Rights Agency. The article demonstrates that the information processing approach to public organizations as sketched out in the first sections of this article provides a conceptual framework that enables a fine-grained descriptive analysis of bureaucratic processes and their essential structures. It is shown how the rather fierce (‘constitutive’) politics behind the Fundamental Rights Agency establishment resulted in specific organizational structures that, from a strictly formal point of view, seem to effectively put the agency in shackles. This article also shows that although seemingly weak, the Fundamental Rights Agency is able to circumvent its formal restrictions through the exploitation of the structural incoherencies and gaps that are inevitable concomitants of political compromise in its daily operations.
NGOs, the state and civil society

This article examines the validity of some of the objectives of nongovernmental organisations (hereafter NGOs) that are based in the donor states and operate in the third world. The author has personal experience in the evaluation of several Scandinavian NGOs working in Africa and takes a somewhat sceptical position as to the capacity of such NGOs to ‘construct’ civil society in African states. Inevitably, such NGOs are part of a wider system of development assistance, and their field operations ‐ particularly if they are to participate in the development of long‐term sustainable development ‐ will both inevitably reflect the nature of this system and have to work closely with existing state structures. On the other hand, in this new phase, the NGOs are outsiders which are, in an artificial way, entering into a process which ought to be much more genuinely and organically evolving out of the local context itself. How this is to be achieved is beyond the scope of this article.
Risk of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract in Cancer-Free Alcoholic Japanese Men: An Endoscopic Follow-up Study

Asian case-control studies have shown a strong relationship between the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus and alcohol consumption combined with inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2*1/*2), less-active alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B*1/*1), high mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and self-reported facial flushing in response to alcohol. However, little is known about whether these risk factors prospectively influence cancer development in cancer-free alcoholics. Between 1993 and 2005, 808 Japanese alcoholic men diagnosed as cancer-free by an initial endoscopic screening examination received follow-up examinations ranging from 1 to 148 months (median, 31 months) later, and SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract was diagnosed in 53 of them (esophagus in 33 and oropharyngolarynx in 30). Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that the age-adjusted relative hazard for SCC was 11.55 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 5.73-23.3] in ALDH2*1/*2 heterozygotes compared with ALDH2*1/*1 homozygotes, 2.02 (95% CI, 1.02-4.02) in ADH1B*1/*1 homozygotes compared with ADH1B*1/*2 heterozygotes or *2/*2 homozygotes, 2.64 (95% CI, 1.49-4.67) in patients with flushing compared with those who had never experienced flushing, 2.91 (95% CI, 1.63-5.20) in those with an MCV ≥ 106 compared with those with an MCV < 106, 2.52 (95% CI, 1.22-5.22) in those who smoked ≥30 cigarettes per day compared with those who smoked 0 to 19 cigarettes per day, 7.26 (95% CI, 3.99-13.23) in those with esophageal dysplasia compared with those without distinct iodine-unstained lesions ≥5 mm, and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.09-0.85) in those with body mass index ≥ 23.2 (highest quartile) compared with those with body mass index < 19.0 (lowest quartile). These predictors are useful for selecting appropriately patients for careful follow-up examinations. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(11):2209–15)
Detecting stumbles with a single accelerometer

Falls are a common problem in the elderly population, and their prediction has been a major interest for the medical field. The relationship between stumbles and falls has not been very well understood yet. A critical requirement in advancing the study of this relationship is the realization of a realistic and effective stumble detection system. In this paper, we present a system for the detection of stumbles during walking. Our system consists of a single low cost triaxial accelerometer that may be worn by patients and is convenient for a wide range of subjects. We formulate the problem as an anomaly detection and we validate our system with a large data set collected from 9 subjects. The data set contains a total of 100 stumbles and 45 minutes of walking. We compare 7 different placements for the accelerometer, and show that our system achieves a 99% detection rate, with a 0.2% false alarm rate using an accelerometer worn on the chest.
Regulatory T Cells in the Control of Transplantation Tolerance and Autoimmunity

A role for immunoregulatory T cells in the maintenance of self‐tolerance and in transplantation tolerance has long been suggested, but the identification of such cells has not been achieved until recently. With the characterisation of spontaneously occurring CD4+CD25+ and NK1.1+ T subpopulations of T cells as regulatory cells in rodents and in humans, together with several in vitro generated regulatory T‐cell populations, it seems possible that ‘customised’ regulatory cells possessing antidonor specificity may become therapeutic tools in clinical transplantation tolerance.