Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Shrinkage of the Pythagorean exponents

The Pythagorean expectation is a formula designed by Bill James in the 1980s for estimating the number of games that a baseball team is expected to win. The formula has since been applied in basketball, hockey, football, and soccer. When used to assess National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, the optimal Pythagorean exponent is generally believed to be between 14 and 17. In this study, we empirically investigated the accuracy of the formula in the NBA by using data from the 1993-1994 to 2013-2014 seasons. This study confirmed the results of previous studies, which found that the Pythagorean exponent is slightly higher than 14 in the fit scenario, in which the strengths and winning percentage of a team are calculated using data from the same period. However, to predict future winning percentages according to the current evaluations of team strengths, the optimal Pythagorean exponent in the prediction scenario decreases substantially from 14. The shrinkage factor varies from 0.5 early in the season to nearly 1 toward the end of the season. Two main reasons exist for the decrease: the current evaluated strengths correlate with the current winning percentage more strongly than they do with the future winning percentage, and the scales of strengths evaluated in the early or middle part of a season tend to exceed those evaluated at the end of the season because of the evening out of randomness or the law of averages. The prediction accuracy decreases with time over a season. Four measurements of strength were investigated and the ratio of total points scored to total points allowed was the most useful predictor. Point difference exhibited nearly the same accuracy, whereas the ratio of games won to games lost was somewhat less accurate. An explanation of Dean Oliver's choice of 16.5 as the Pythagorean exponent is offered.
The performance of concurrent data structure algorithms

This thesis develops a validated of concurrent data structure algorithm performance, concentrating on concurrent B-trees. The thesis first develops two analytical tools, which are explained in the next two paragraphs, for the analysis. Yao showed that the space utilization of a B-tree built from random inserts is 69%. Assuming that nodes merge only when empty, we show that the utilization is 39% when the number of insert and delete operations is the same. However, if there are just 5% more inserts than deletes, then the utilization is at least 62%. In addition to the utilization, we calculate the probabilities of splitting and merging, important parameters for calculating concurrent B-tree algorithm performance. We compare merge-at-empty B-trees with merge-at-half B-trees. We conclude that merge-at-empty B-trees have a slightly lower space utilization but a much lower restructuring rate, making merge-at-empty B-trees preferable for concurrent B-tree algorithms. We analyze queues that service readers and writers. Readers are served concurrently and writers are served serially. Customers receive service in FCFS order. We show that the additional time that a writer must wait for preceding readers increases logarithmically with the proportion of readers to writers. From this, we can calculate the expected wait in the queue and the capacity of the queue. We use the analytical tools to model a representative set of concurrent B-tree algorithms. The algorithms use a variety of locking, restructuring and path recovery techniques. The analyses, which are validated by simulations, show that the Link-style algorithms are by far the best. The analyses are extended to account for buffering and database recovery. We show that holding non-leaf locks until commit time is bad for performance. The analysis of concurrent B-tree algorithms can be extended to cover other concurrent data structure algorithms. We describe a template for analyzing concurrent tree data structures, and apply the template to some concurrent extensible hashing schemes.
Antenna diversity combining schemes for WCDMA systems in fading multipath channels

We analyze the performance of various receive antenna diversity schemes for use in combination with transmit diversity on the downlink of WCDMA third generation systems. We consider both open loop and closed loop versions of maximal ratio combining, as well as selection diversity combining. The analytical results are compared to simulation results obtained in typical channels. We also consider the impact of channel correlation on the performance of the combining schemes.
Comparing exercise prescribed with exercise completed: effects of gender and exercise mode Running Head: Exercise and compliance

The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of exercise prescribed with the amount completed between two different modes of training intervention and gender. Thirty-two men (mean age=39.1yr; BMI=32.9kg/m) and women (mean age=39.6yr; BMI=32.1kg/m) were prescribed traditional resistance training (RT) or lightresistance circuit training (CT) for 16 weeks. Measurements of lean mass (LM) and fat mass (FM) were determined by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry at weeks 1 and 16. A completion index was calculated to provide a measure of the extent to which participants completed exercise training relative to the amount of exercise prescribed. The absolute amount of exercise completed by the CT group was significantly greater than the amount prescribed (P<0.0001). The RT group consistently under-completed relative to the amount prescribed, but the difference was not significant. The completion index for the CT group (26%±21.7) was significantly different compared with the completion index for the RT group (7.4%±3.0). The completion index was not significantly different between men and women in either group. These data suggest that overweight and obese individuals participating in light-resistance circuit training completed more exercise than prescribed. Men and women do not differ in the extent to which they overor undercomplete prescribed exercise.
The effect of antagonist muscle co-contraction on damping of the wrist joint during voluntary movement

Damping characteristics of the musculoskeletal system were investigated during rapid voluntary wrist flexion movements. Oscillations about the final position were induced by coupling the wrist to a load which had the characteristics of negative viscosity. The greater the negative viscosity of the load, the greater the observed co-contraction of wrist flexor and extensor muscles. While wrist stiffness increased in parallel with the increased co-contraction, wrist viscosity varied in a more complex manner that appeared to depend on both velocity of oscillation and reflex force produced by muscle stretch.
Understanding Competitiveness

Using firm level data, we analyze the factors that drive the evolution of the aggregate Unit Labor Costs – the main European competitiveness indicator – in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The evolution of the aggregate Unit Labor Cost is not d riven by the evolution of the firm level Unit Labor Costs, but rather by an important factor for the co mpetitiveness of a country: the reallocation of resources among the firms of the economy. Using the methodology of Hsieh and Klenow (2009), we show the importance of an efficient allocation of r esources for productivity gains.
PALEOBOTANY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY OF LATE OLIGOCENE TERRESTRIAL STRATA FROM THE NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIAN PLATEAU

This paper describes the sedimentology and paleobotany of a Late Oligocene (27.36 ± 0.11 Ma) succession of volcaniclastic strata from the Margargaria River region, northwestern Ethiopian Plateau. Sedimentology indicates fluvial deposition of clayand silt-rich strata during the early sedimentary phases, whereas organic-rich deposits and massive and fluvially-reworked ash layers are increasingly more common in the middle and upper parts of the succession, respectively. Periods of interrupted deposition are indicated by three paleosol types present in the basal and middle parts of the succession. Paleobotany documents an exclusively angiosperm flora typical of riparian environments in the lower parts of the succession, and a flora dominated by ferns and a few angiosperm taxa typical of disturbed environments in the middle and upper parts. Sedimentology and paleobotany, combined, indicate a riparian environment inhabited by angiosperms for the lower part of the succession, characterized by rather calm deposition by meandering streams. The middle and upper parts of the succession represent transient environments colonized by pioneer vegetation consisting of a diverse fern community and fewer pioneer angiosperms, characterized by deposition of organicand ash-rich strata in situ in ephemeral ponds and by small-scale crevasse-like channels and by aereal means on the landscape, respectively. Physiographic changes are interpreted to have resulted directly from the influence of volcanism on the surface environment. In summary, this study shows that the volcanic activity associated with the elevation of the northwestern Ethiopian Plateau during the Oligocene repeatedly influenced the development of plant communities and paleoenvironments, favoring the succession of heterogeneous ecosystems on short temporal and spatial scales. Finally, this study is the first that combines paleobotanical and sedimentological data for paleoenvironmental reconstruction and understanding of plant community dynamics in Paleogene deposits from Africa, and it demonstrates the advantages of a multiproxy approach for assessment of paleoecosystem dynamics on an unstable landscape. J.L. Garca Massini. Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University,PO Box 750395 Dallas TX 75275-0395, USA. jgarciam@smu.edu B.F. Jacobs. Environmental Science Program, Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750395, Dallas, PE Article Number: 13.1. 6A Copyright: Palaeontological Association March 2010 Submission: 27 July 2008. Acceptance: 19 January 2010 García Massini, J.L. , Jacobs, B.F. , and Tabor, N.J., 2010. Paleobotany and Sedimentology of Late Oligocene Terrestrial Strata from the Northwestern Ethiopian Plateau. Palaeontologia Electronica Vol. 13, Issue 1; 6A: 51p; http://palaeo-electronica.org/2010_1/184/index.html GARCÍA MASSINI ET AL.: ETHIOPIAN PALEOENVIRONMENTS Texas 75275-0395, USA N.J. Tabor. Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University,PO Box 750395 Dallas TX 75275-0395, USA
Complex Word Identification for Swedish

Complex Word Identification (CWI) is a task of identifying complex words in text data and it is often viewed as a subtask of Automatic Text Simplification (ATS) where the main task is making a complex text simpler. The ways in which a text should be simplified depend on the target readers such as second language learners or people with reading disabilities. In this thesis, we focus on Complex Word Identification for Swedish. First, in addition to exploring existing resources, we collect a new dataset for Swedish CWI. We continue by building several classifiers of Swedish simple and complex words. We then use the findings to analyze the characteristics of lexical complexity in Swedish and English. Our method for collecting training data based on second language learning material has shown positive evaluation scores and resulted in a new dataset for Swedish CWI. Additionally, the built complex word classifiers have an accuracy at least as good as similar systems for English. Finally, the analysis of the selected features confirms the findings of previous studies and reveals some interesting characteristics of lexical complexity.
Physical and Dosimetric Properties of the Applicators Used in Cervix Cancer Brachytherapy: ICRU 89 Recommendation

When radiation therapy is the primary choice of the curative treatment, brachytherapy plays a crucial role in the therapeutic management of cervix cancer. Brachytherapy techniques and the selection of suitable applicator primarily depend on the patients’ anatomy and extension or location of the disease. In addition to applicator selection, technical adequacy of the brachytherapy implant and treatment conditions like simulation or treatment protocol (rectum and bladder fullness), packing, use of rectal spacer or rectal retractor significantly affect the quality of the brachytherapy treatment. This review provides an overview of the dosimetric and physical properties of the brachytherapy applicators used in treating cervix cancer with the guidance of ICRU 89.
Comparison of Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality Between Pietrain × Thai Native and Duroc × Meishan Crossbred Pigs

The present experiment was conducted in order to compare carcass characteristics and meat quality of Thai native and Chinese native crossbred with Pietrain and Duroc (n=8 each). Pigs were fattened for 120 days after weaning. They were slaughtered and dressed in USDA style. Treatments were statistical by t-test. Slaughter weights of Pietrain × Thai native (P×N) or Duroc × Meishan (D×M) were quite similar with 88.8 vs 90.2 kg, respectively. The P×N had a greater lean percentage (50.7 vs 46.1, P<0.01), loin eye area (47.2 vs 37.4 cm, P<0.05), ham percentage (33.6 vs 31.0, P<0.01) and less total fat (11.4 vs 13.5, P<0.01) compared with D×M. The meat quality of D×M was found to be significantly lower in terms of boiling loss (22.3 vs 24.8, P<0.05) and shear force value (45.8 vs 70.8, P<0.05). The results of this study suggest that D×M is more suitable to achieve the goal of more intramuscular fat (IMF) (level measured in M. longissimus dorsi: 6.11%) than P×N (5.37%). However, the very unfavourably high shear force would be a major factor impairing palatability. Therefore, although less efficient in providing meat with very high IMF, P×N would be the crossbred of choice. It is possible that crossing Thai natives with Duroc instead of Pietrain may even be the better choice for enhancing IMF at constant general meat quality.
A clinical study of acute pulmonary embolism in internal medicine patients and postoperative patients

The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics of internal medicine and postoperative patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in our hospital. 313 patients with acute PE were selected. Based on whether acute PE had developed postoperatively and whether other concurrent risk factors for PE were present, patients were divided into 4 groups. The oxygen partial pressure was significantly higher and the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was significantly lower in group of postoperative PE patients without other concurrent risk factors compared with other 3 groups. The percentage of postoperative PE patients with other concurrent risk factors who underwent anticoagulant therapy was considerably lower than those 3 groups. There was a positive correlation between diabetes and hemorrhagic complications in internal medicine patients with PE. For all patients, deaths were positively correlated with both increased BNP levels and hypotension. In patients with postoperative PE, deaths were positively correlated with tumor and the decrease of oxygen partial pressure. In conclusion, Patients with postoperative acute PE who had no other concurrent risk factors exhibited a high cardiopulmonary compensatory capacity. For patients with postoperative acute PE who had other concurrent risk factors, the anticoagulant treatments administered by the clinicians were often inadequate. In internal medicine patients with PE, the incidence of hemorrhagic complications was related to diabetes. An elevated BNP level and hypotension increased the risk of death in patients with acute PE. Tumor and hypoxemia increased the risk of death in patients with postoperative acute PE.
MEASURING THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ’ PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION AND SPORTS TEACHERS ’ PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PEDAGOGICAL COMPETENCES

The purpose of the study was to explore the possibility of creating a valid and reliable model and instrument for measuring physical and health education teachers’ competences in classroom education process, perceived from the perspective of secondary schools students. Also, the goal was to explore to what extent official legislative documents as well as official curriculum of the Faculty of sport, health and physical education in Sarajevo represent a sufficient background for creating such a measuring instrument with satisfactory metric characteristics. The sample in this study were N=831 students from fourteen secondary shools in the urban parts of Sarajevo. The students attended third (N=422 or 50.8%) and fourth class (N=409 or 49.2%) at the time of the research. There were N=452 (54.4%) females and N=379 (45.6%) males in this sample, both aged from sixteen to eighteen. An analysis of legislative documents and the official curriculum was conducted by a group of education experts in order to establish the indicators of psysical and health education teachers’ competences and to design an instrument to register and measure these competences. Finally, a 28-item Teachers’ Competences Perception Questionnaire was constructed (TCPQ)and applied on the given sample. The results of Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the questionnaire measured five distinct and correlated factors and they are (1) teaching competences, (2) communication and empathy, (3) health care instruction, (4) pedagogical competences and (5) physical appearance of a teacher; these five factors explained 57.726% of total variance indicating a solid factor structure of the instrument. Oblimin rotation also yielded a meaningful factor solution following the frame of the Curriculum and Legislative documents’ content related to physical, health and sports teachers’ competences. Reliability analysis showed satisfactory reliability of the most of the factor scales. Implications for the use of the questionnaire on the students’ populations, as well as the possibilities for further instrument development and curriculum modification are stated on the account of the research results.
Effect of family psycho education on knowledge quality of life expressed emotions burden of disease and coping among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia

Severe mental illness like schizophrenia has devastating impact on patients as well as their family members. The illness is of chronic nature and patients experience profound disruption to their thoughts and lives. Families of patients face grief, emotional hardship and are frequently forced to assume lifelong caretaking roles. Psycho educational interventions offered to family members of people with schizophrenia have been developing with increasing sophistication. These methods bring about changes in the family emotional atmosphere leading to better compliance and social adjustment in the patients. On this background, the present study aims to examine the knowledge about schizophrenia, QOL, burden of disease, expressed emotions and coping strategies among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in the context of family psycho education. The objectives were to assess the existing knowledge about schizophrenia, QOL, expressed emotions, burden of disease and coping strategies among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia before and after family psycho education in the control and the study group and to determine the association between selected demographic attributes.A quasi experimental study was conducted in the psychiatric ward of specific tertiary care hospital of Nagpur with a sample of one hundred twenty caregivers of patients with schizophrenia divided into the control and the study group of sixty each. The tools used were Socio Demographic data sheet, Knowledge Interview, WHOQOL-BREF Scale, Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scale, Burden Assessment Schedule, Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale at base line, one month and three months after intervention. The study group received family psycho education for five sessions, two to three days apart and the data collected was compared with the control group. The Results -There was significant improvement in the Knowledge (KI) and Over All Quality of Life score (WHOQOL-BREF) at posttest in the study group. The study group showed good reduction in the Expressed Emotions (FEICS) score. Burden assessment score (BAS) was significantly reduced in the study group ‘Seeking spiritual support’ and ‘mobilizing family to accept help’ has emerged as the strongest coping strategy while ‘reframing’ as the weakest coping strategy in the study group. There was significant association found between posttest KI and FCOPES score with occupation. Significant association was also found between posttest BAS score with occupation and socio economic status of the study group. Nurse Educator led culturally sensitive Family psycho education is helpful and should be routinely provided to the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia following contact with the health services.
Scenario of Histoid Hansen at a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

high bacillary load. The occurrence of de novo' Histoid leprosy in patients without other features of leprosy has been reported. We present our observations on eleven cases of Histoid Hansen's disease who had attended our Outpatient Department. A detailed clinical history and clinical examination was done. Slit skin smear for Bacteriological Index and skin biopsy were performed in all. All eleven cases were males. Cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules were the commonest skin lesions found. Slit skin smear revealed abundant organisms. Histopathology was consistent with Histoid Hansen. Seven were de novo cases. During treatment, one patient developed type II reaction. All patients except one showed clinical clearance of lesions and fragmented bacilli after one year of MB-MDT. The treatment was extended in this single case who did not respond well. Awareness about the clinical features, characteristic histology and early diagnosis of Histoid Hansen is of utmost importance. It will be important to determine the bacteriological and morphological indices at the end of the treatment for all Histoid Hansen disease patients. Continuation of treatment may be decided based upon the bacterial and morphological indices.
Channel ranking in passive microwave wet-path delay measurements

Discrete optimization by channel ranking is used to study the utility of various radiometric channel combinations near the 22.235-GHz water vapor line for use in spaceborne wet path delay measurements. The study is based on brightness data from a combined statistical geophysical and radiative transfer model. Retrieval simulations show that most of the available information on wet path delay can be obtained from a pair of closely spaced channels located on one of the two wings of the 22.235 water vapor line. The results of the optimization study provide a quantitative basis for assessing performance and cost tradeoffs in spaceborne hardware design. <<ETX>>
A distributed restoration algorithm for multiple-link and node failures of transport networks

Fast restoration of broadband optical fiber networks from multiple-link and node failures, as well as single-link failures, is addressed. A distributed restoration algorithm based on message flooding is described. The algorithm is an extension of a previously proposed algorithm for single-link failure. It restores the network from multiple-link and node failures, using multidestination flooding and path route monitoring. Computer simulation of the algorithm verified that it can find alternate paths within 0.5 s, whenever the message processing delay at a node is 5 ms.<<ETX>>