Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Word Embeddings to Item Recommendation

Social network platforms can use the data produced by their users to serve them better. One of the services these platforms provide is recommendation service. Recommendation systems can predict the future preferences of users using their past preferences. In the recommendation systems literature there are various techniques, such as neighborhood based methods, machine-learning based methods and matrix-factorization based methods. In this work, a set of well known methods from natural language processing domain, namely Word2Vec, is applied to recommendation systems domain. Unlike previous works that use Word2Vec for recommendation, this work uses non-textual features, the check-ins, and it recommends venues to visit/check-in to the target users. For the experiments, a Foursquare check-in dataset is used. The results show that use of continuous vector space representations of items modeled by techniques of Word2Vec is promising for making recommendations.
Continued high HIV-1 incidence in a vaccine trial preparatory cohort of injection drug users in Bangkok, Thailand

Background A large epidemic of HIV-1 subtype B began among injection drug users (IDUs) in Bangkok in 1988. Despite ongoing prevention efforts, HIV-1 prevalence among IDUs remained at 30–50% through the 1990s. ObjectivesTo measure the incidence of HIV-1 infection and related risk factors to guide prevention efforts and to evaluate the feasibility of conducting an HIV vaccine efficacy trial. Design and methodsA prospective cohort study in which IDUs attending methadone treatment programs in Bangkok were screened during 1995–1996 for enrollment into the study. IDUs found to be HIV-seronegative on two occasions were offered enrollment with follow-up visits every 4 months. On each visit participants were evaluated with a questionnaire and serologic testing. ResultsA total of 1209 HIV-negative IDUs were enrolled. Through the end of 1998, the overall HIV-1 incidence rate was 5.8 (95% confidence interval, 4.8–6.8) per 100 person–years of follow-up. HIV-1 subtypes E and B accounted for 79 and 21% of infections, respectively. On multivariate analysis, HIV-1 seroconversion was primarily associated with the frequency of heroin injection, the sharing of injection equipment, and incarceration, especially with drug injection. Sexual behavior was not associated with increased risk for HIV-1. Risk factors for infection with HIV-1 subtypes E and B were similar. ConclusionHIV-1 transmission risk remains high among Bangkok IDUs despite methadone treatment and other current prevention strategies. There is an urgent need to address this ongoing epidemic, especially in jails and prisons. This study led to the initiation in 1999 of a phase III HIV-1 vaccine efficacy trial in this population.
Characterizing the performance of baseball bats

The characterization of the performance of baseball bats is presented from a physics point of view. The goal is to define a set of laboratory measurements that can be used to predict performance in the field. The concept of a model-independent collision efficiency, which relates the post-collision ball speed to the initial ball and bat speeds, is introduced and its properties are investigated. It is shown to provide a convenient link between laboratory and field measurements. Other performance metrics are presented, related to the collision efficiency, and evaluated according to their predictive power. Using a computational model, it is shown that bat performance depends on the interplay of the elasticity of the ball–bat collision, the inertial properties of the ball and bat, and the bat swing speed. It is argued that any method of determining performance needs to take all of these factors into account. A new method is proposed and compared with commonly used existing methods.
Physically inspired, interactive lightning generation

We present an interactive technique for generating realistic lightning. Our method captures the main characteristics of the dielectric breakdown model, a physical model for lightning formation. Our algorithm uses a distance‐based approximation to quickly compute the electric potentials of different charge types. In particular, we use a rational function in lieu of summed potentials to better produce interesting lightning patterns. We also propose to use the waypoints commonly available in many game scenes to guide lightning shapes in complex scenes. We found that our algorithm is 2 times faster than the state‐of‐the art method with better controls on lighting shapes, and can generate realistic lightning shapes interactively.
Analysis of Effect of Farmer Field School Approach on Adoption of Biological Control on Rice Producer ’ Producer ’ Characteristics in Iran

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of farmer field school (FFS) approach on rice producer's characteristics and adoption of biological control. The research population consisted of 72 farmers who participated in FFS program and 346 farmers who had not participated in this program. Target population selected through randomized sampling method. The methodological approach of this study was twofold: descriptive-correlative and causal-comparative. The results of the multiple regression analysis (stepwise method) revealed that the variables of knowledge of biological control, relative advantage, mechanization level, rice producers experiences, social participation, number of contacts with extension agents, the extent to which farmers used mass media and information sources described a variation of 75.9% of the adoption of biological control by rice producers who had participated in FFS program. Also the results of the multiple regression analysis (stepwise method) revealed that the variable of knowledge of biological control described a variation of 83.1% of the adoption of biological control by rice producers who had not participated in FFS program.
Intermittent Water Application through Surface and Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Intermittent water application allows reducing mean irrigation rate to a level which coincides with soil's hydraulic conductivity and minimizes percolation below the main root zone. Field experiment was conducted to confirm the efficiency of this approach, in a clay loam soil. The treatments consisted of two irrigation systems (surface and subsurface drip), and two methods of water application (continuous and intermittent). Drip piping with 0.8-m emitter spacing was placed on the soil surface in the middle of alternative plant rows. Laterals with the same characteristics were buried at 0.45 m in the subsurface plots. The moisture distribution in the soil one day after irrigation, measured by time domain reflectometry instrumentation, indicated that intermittent application in both surface and subsurface plots produced wider wetted patterns. Intermittent or pulsed drip irrigation application has proven its potential to improve sugar beet yield. The results demonstrate that plots irrigated by intermittent application exceeded the continuous irrigated ones in terms of root yield and sugar content.
Evaluation of the CMC regional wave forecasting system against buoy data

Abstract In February 1996 the Canadian Meteorological Centre @CMC) of the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), formerly the Atmospheric Environment Service and Program (AES/AEP), implemented regional versions of the third generation global ocean wave model WAM Cycle‐4 (WAM4) in its operational ‐wave forecasting system; one for the north‐east Pacific and one for the north‐west Atlantic. This replaced the first generation Canadian Spectral Ocean Wave Model which had been in operation from December 1990. The 10‐m level wind forcing is obtained from the CMC global atmospheric model for driving the Pacific wave model and from its regional atmospheric model for driving the Atlantic wave model. Analyzed and forecast model wave and wind parameters are evaluated against moored buoy‐measured data in the coastal and shelf regions of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America for the period December 1996 to November 1999. The evaluation is presented in the form of time histories of the seasonal verification statistics, summary tables, and time series of individual model and buoy data for given periods at selected buoy locations in order to highlight seasonal differences in model performance and any impacts due to atmospheric model replacement and grid changes. The results are further compared with the results from the global WAM4 running in operational mode at the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) using the same dataseis for the same period and from the recent study based on the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data. This is done to assess better the performance of the CMC regional wave models with respect to the global wave models and other regional wave models. The evaluation results indicate that the Pacific ocean has more wind and wave variability and swells than the Atlantic ocean and that there is seasonal variation in this variability. The skill of the CMC regional WAM4 is comparable to that of the global WAM4 in operation at other international wave forecasting centres. The results are also comparable to those obtained using the NCEP 40‐year reanalysis data. The impact on the performance of the wave model resulting from the replacement of the CMC global and regional atmospheric models and also from the changes made to these models is more or less neutral.
Hyperthermia with radiation in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer: a report of randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Head and neck cancer is the leading cause of male mortality due to cancer in India. Surgery, radiation alone or in combination has been the backbone of treatment strategies. Chemo-radiation has emerged as the standard of care in most types of head and neck cancer. This strategy has the advantage of maintaining both structure and functions, albeit with increased acute and delayed side effects. Radiation with hyperthermia can achieve the same objective without additional toxicities. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 56 patients were randomized to radiation therapy (RT) alone or RT-hyperthermia (RT-HT) arm. Twenty-six patients were included in RT alone arm and 28 patients in the RT-HT arm. Both groups were evenly matched for age, sex, and stage. Patients in both the arms received radiation to a dose of 66-70 Gy in 6.5-7 weeks. Patients in the study group received weekly HT. HT was started after impedance matching to last for 30 minutes. RESULTS Complete response was seen in 42.4% of RT alone group compare to 78.6% in the HT group. The difference was statistically significant ( < 0.05). Kaplan-Meir analysis of survival also showed a significant improvement in favor of RT-HT. No dose limiting thermal burns and excessive mucosal or thermal toxicity were recorded. CONCLUSION Radiofrequency (RF) based heating and radical radiation of head and neck cancers is better than in RT alone group. HT should be considered as a valid option wherever the facility for HT is available. This report should infuse greater confidence in radiation Oncologists to practice HT as an adjuvant treatment modality.
Assessment of arterial stiffness in hypertension: comparison of oscillometric (Arteriograph), piezoelectronic (Complior) and tonometric (SphygmoCor) techniques*

Background Arterial stiffness, measured as aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), and wave reflection, measured as augmentation index (AIx), are independent predictors for total and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare a new device, based on oscillometric pressure curves (Arteriograph), which simultaneously measures PWV and AIx, with standard techniques for measuring PWV (Complior) and AIx (SphygmoCor) in untreated hypertensive patients. Methods We compared PWV and AIx measured using the Arteriograph with corresponding Complior and SphygmoCor measurements in 254 untreated hypertensive patients, age 48 ± 14 years (mean ± SD, range 17–85 years). Results Arteriograph PWV and AIx were closely related with Complior (r = 0.60, P < 0.001) and SphygmoCor (r = 0.89, P < 0.001), respectively. Using stepwise regression analysis, the independent determinants of Arteriograph PWV were age, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and sex (r2 = 0.44, P < 0.0001) and for AIx were age, weight, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and sex (r2 = 0.65, P < 0.0001). The bias between the different techniques was determined by age and sex for PWV and age, body weight, sex, heart rate and mean arterial pressure for AIx. Bland–Altman plots showed that although the techniques were closely related, the limits of agreement were wide. Conclusion Although Arteriograph values and the determinants of PWV and AIx are in close agreement with corresponding parameters obtained by Complior and SphygmoCor, respectively, the techniques are not interchangeable.
Genome Scan for Locus Involved in Mandibular Prognathism in Pedigrees from China

Background It is well known that genetic components play an important role in the etiology of mandibular prognathism, but few susceptibility loci have been mapped. Methodology In order to identify linkage regions for mandibular prognathism, we analyzed two Chinese pedigrees with 6,090 genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from Illumina Linkage-12 DNA Analysis Kit (average spacing 0.58 cM). Multipoint parametric and non-parametric (model-free) linkage analyses were used for the pedigrees. Principal Finding The most statistically significant linkage results were with markers on chromosome 4 (LOD = 3.166 and NPL = 3.65 with rs 875864, 4p16.1, 8.38 cM). Candidate genes within the 4p16.1 include EVC, EVC2. Conclusion We detected a novel suggestive linkage locus for mandibular prognathism in two Chinese pedigrees, and this linkage region provides target for susceptibility gene identification, a process that will provide important insights into the molecular and cellular basis of mandibular prognathism.
Stock Market Prediction through Technical and Public Sentiment Analysis

STOCK market price behavior has been studied extensively. It is influenced by a myriad of factors, including political and economic events, among others, and is a complex nonlinear time-series problem. Traditionally, stock price forecasting is performed based on technical analysis, which focuses on price action, which is the process of finding patterns in price history. More recently, research has shown that public sentiment is correlated with stock market events [1], [2], [3]. This project proposes to study the potential of using both behavioral and technical features in stock price prediction models based on traditional classifiers and popular neural networks. We believe that behavioral data may offer insights into financial market dynamics in addition to that captured by technical analysis. An improved price forecasting model can yield enormous rewards in stock market trading.
Neogenesis of cerebellar Purkinje neurons from gene-marked bone marrow cells in vivo

The versatility of stem cells has only recently been fully recognized. There is evidence that upon adoptive bone marrow (BM) transplantation (BMT), donor-derived cells can give rise to neuronal phenotypes in the brains of recipient mice. Yet only few cells with the characteristic shape of neurons were detected 1–6 mo post-BMT using transgenic or newborn mutant mice. To evaluate the potential of BM to generate mature neurons in adult C57BL/6 mice, we transferred the enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene into BM cells using a murine stem cell virus-based retroviral vector. Stable and high level long-term GFP expression was observed in mice transplanted with the transduced BM. Engraftment of GFP-expressing cells in the brain was monitored by intravital microscopy. In a long-term follow up of 15 mo post-BMT, fully developed Purkinje neurons were found to express GFP in both cerebellar hemispheres and in all chimeric mice. GFP-positive Purkinje cells were also detected in BM chimeras from transgenic mice that ubiquitously express GFP. Based on morphologic criteria and the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase, the newly generated Purkinje cells were functional.
A fuzzy k-modes algorithm for clustering categorical data

This correspondence describes extensions to the fuzzy k-means algorithm for clustering categorical data. By using a simple matching dissimilarity measure for categorical objects and modes instead of means for clusters, a new approach is developed, which allows the use of the k-means paradigm to efficiently cluster large categorical data sets. A fuzzy k-modes algorithm is presented and the effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated with experimental results.
The Boundedness Problem for Monadic Universal First-Order Logic

We consider the monadic boundedness problem for least fixed points over FO formulae as a decision problem: Given a formula phi(X, x), positive in X, decide whether there is a uniform finite bound on the least fixed point recursion based on phi. Few fragments of FO are known to have a decidable boundedness problem; boundedness is known to be undecidable for many fragments. We here show that monadic boundedness is decidable for purely universal FO formulae without equality in which each non-recursive predicate occurs in just one polarity (e.g., only negatively). The restrictions are shown to be essential: waving either the polarity constraint or allowing positive occurrences of equality, the monadic boundedness problem for universal formulae becomes undecidable. The main result is based on a model theoretic analysis involving ideas from modal and guarded logics and a reduction to the monadic second-order theory of trees
An ECG Signals Compression Method and Its Validation Using NNs

This paper presents a new algorithm for electrocardiogram (ECG) signal compression based on local extreme extraction, adaptive hysteretic filtering and Lempel-Ziv-Welch (LZW) coding. The algorithm has been verified using eight of the most frequent normal and pathological types of cardiac beats and an multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network trained with original cardiac patterns and tested with reconstructed ones. Aspects regarding the possibility of using the principal component analysis (PCA) to cardiac pattern classification have been investigated as well. A new compression measure called ldquoquality score,rdquo which takes into account both the reconstruction errors and the compression ratio, is proposed.
Random matrix models for decoherence and fidelity decay in quantum information systems

This course aims to introduce the student to random matrix models for decoherence and fidelity decay. They present a very powerful alternate approach, that emphasizes the disordered character of many environments and uncontrollable perturbations/couplings. The inherent integrability of such models makes analytic studies possible. We limit our considerations to linear response treatment, as high fidelity and small decoherence are the backbone of quantum information processes. For fidelity decay, where experimental results are available, a comparison with experiments shows excellent agreement with random matrix theory predictions.
Interaction between thin- and thick-skinned tectonics in the foothill areas of an inverted graben. The Middle Magdalena Foothill belt

Abstract The Magdalena Valley fold-and-thrust belt is a tectonic province associated with inverted rift zones. This belt displays a narrow and discontinuous deformation front indicating association with inversion tectonics. We show the differences with an analogue belt on the eastern side of the Eastern Cordillera (Llanos foothills). To do that we use structural data (seismic, wells and geological maps) which characterize different structural geometries as well as palaeocurrents, provenance and thermochronology to analyse the timing of deformation. The new datasets allowed us to detect that inversion is limited whenever the stresses are more orthogonal to the rift structures, whereas the mountain front is more segmented in comparison to the Eastern Foothills because of the absence of a continuous low basal friction detachment horizon and a pronounced eastwards basement dip. These two factors favoured fault hard linkage. It is remarkable that, in spite of the distinct segmentation, all the different segments in the Magdalena belt are coeval. Supplementary material: U–Pb Zircon data are available at: http://www.geolsoc. org.uk/SUP18630.
Natural disasters in the Middle East and North Africa : a regional overview

Disasters are increasing worldwide, with more devastating effects than ever before. While the absolute number of disasters around the world has almost doubled since the 1980s, the average number of natural disasters in Middle East and North Africa (MNA) has almost tripled over the same period of time. In the MNA, the interplay of natural disasters, rapid urbanization, water scarcity, and climate change has emerged as a serious challenge for policy and planning. Projections by climatologists and United Nations specialists suggest that MNA economies and livelihoods will be the second most affected by climate change. Governments across the region have seen a progressive increase in demand for comprehensive disaster risk management (DRM) services. Since 2007, a range of country-level programs have been launched in Djibouti, Morocco, and the Republic of Yemen to increase their resilience to disasters due to Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). Decentralization of the DRM agenda has progressed slowly, although some countries are making a progressive shift. This report aims to take stock of progress in risk management in MNA, while identifying gaps for future interventions, to broaden the dialogue for a more proactive and collaborative management of risks. This report builds on the strategic vision, principles, and goals of the MNA region's countries; the Islamic Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (ISDRRM); the MNA strategic framework for climate action; and the World Bank's strategy update for MNA. This report aims to establish a more strategic and collaborative framework between the World Bank and its international partners, particularly United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and UN Development Program (UNDP), in order to assist MNA countries to shift from disaster response to proactive risk management.
Attitudes antecedent to transition to self‐management of a chronic genetic disorder

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is the exemplar of chronic genetic disorders that require multiorgan system management by health care providers (HCPs) and lifelong self‐management by affected individuals. This article describes the ways to facilitate transition to self‐management (TSM) by the adolescent with MFS. This thematic content analysis uses data collected for a larger grounded theory investigation of TSM of a chronic genetic disorder in adolescents and focuses on the system issues related to transition. A total sample of 107 included three groups of participants: parents (n = 39), adolescents (n = 37, ages 14–21 years) and young adults (n = 16, ages 22–34 years) with MFS, and HCPs (n = 15), including physicians, genetic counselors, and nurses. Data were derived from 180 transcripts of audiotaped interviews and a sociodemographic survey. Frames of mind that are antecedent to transition were belief in the diagnosis, wanting to understand and appreciate the cause and effect of MFS, and willing to share responsibility in problem solving. These frames of mind occurred primarily within the context of the family relationship. Parents taught children self‐surveillance as ‘listening to one’s body’. The parent’s fears and need to stay involved in the child’s health care slowed the child’s independent work on self‐management responsibilities. A systematic, institutionalized transition program for adolescents might involve parents and the child soon after diagnosis and incrementally build acknowledgment, understanding, and rapport.