Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MODELING ITEM-ITEM SIMILARITIES FOR PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS ON YAHOO! FRONT PAGE

We consider the problem of algorithmically recommending items to users on a Yahoo! front page module. Our approach is based on a novel multilevel hierarchical model that we refer to as a User Profile Model with Graphical Lasso (UPG). The UPG provides a personalized recommendation to users by simultaneously incorporating both user covariates and historical user interactions with items in a model based way. In fact, we build a peritem regression model based on a rich set of user covariates and estimate individual user affinity to items by introducing a latent random vector for each user. The vector random effects are assumed to be drawn from a prior with a precision matrix that measures residual partial associations among items. To ensure better estimates of a precision matrix in high-dimensions, the matrix elements are constrained through a Lasso penalty. Our model is fitted through a penalized-quasi likelihood procedure coupled with a scalable EM algorithm. We employ several computational strategies like multi-threading, conjugate gradients and heavily exploit problem structure to scale our computations in the E-step. For the M-step we take recourse to a scalable variant of the Graphical Lasso algorithm for covariance selection. Through extensive experiments on a new data set obtained from Yahoo! front page and a benchmark data set from a movie recommender application, we show that our UPG model significantly improves performance compared to several state-of-the-art methods in the literature, especially those based on a bilinear random effects model (BIRE). In particular, we show that the gains of UPG are significant compared to BIRE when the number of users is large and the number of items to select from is small. For large item sets and relatively small user sets the results of UPG and BIRE are comparable. The UPG leads to faster model building and produces outputs which are interpretable.
Consumption of added sugars among undergraduate students at a South African university and its association with BMI

Objectives: A study was undertaken to quantify added sugar intake; to show the association between added sugar intake and body mass index (BMI); and to identify determinants of added sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects: Non-probability sampling was used to recruit a sample of 387 undergraduate students, aged 18–25 years: 128 males and 259 females. Setting: The study was conducted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus. Outcome measures: BMI was calculated using weight and height. The mean added sugar and dietary energy intake was measured using a 24-hour dietary recall. The frequency and mean amount of added sugars consumed was analysed using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Females (66.1%), Black Africans (90.4%), and students living away from home (76.7%) formed the majority of the study sample. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 19.1% and 8.5%, respectively, with 64.9% of students having a normal BMI. There was a significant association between the frequency of consuming flavoured milks, hot chocolate drinks, jam and chocolate bars and BMI. Female students and those living at home consumed added sugars significantly more frequently than their counterparts. Taste and price were significantly associated with purchasing/consuming SSBs. Conclusion: A significant association between the frequency of consuming certain food items containing added sugar and the students’ BMI was observed. Poor dietary habits could impact negatively on an individual's weight status, thus highlighting the need for strategies to promote healthier dietary and lifestyle behaviours among young adults.
Differences in Lifespan by Month of Birth for the United States: The impact of early life events and conditions on late life mortality

We find significant differences in the mean age at death by month of birth on the basis of 15 million US death certificates for the years 1989 to 1997: Those born in fall live about 0.44 of a year longer than those born in spring. The difference depends on race, region of birth, marital status, and education: The differences are largest for the less educated, for those who have never been married and for blacks, and the differences are more marked in the South than in the North. They are only slightly larger for males than for females. For blacks, the shape of the month-of-birth pattern is significantly different from that of whites. We present evidence that this difference is due to whether one has an urban or a rural place of birth. We find a significant month-of-birth pattern for all major causes of death including cardiovascular disease, malignant neoplasms, in particular lung cancer, and other natural diseases like chronic obstructive lung disease, or infectious disease. We reject the hypotheses that the differences in life span by month of birth are caused by seasonal differences in daylight or by seasonal differences in temperature. Our results are consistent with the explanation that seasonal differences in nutrition of the mother during pregnancy and seasonal differences in the exposure to infectious disease early in life lead to the differences in lifespan by month of birth.
Migrating to e‐book: a study on perceived usefulness and ease of use

Purpose – In this study the technology acceptance model (TAM) is used to investigate non‐users' acceptance of e‐books. This study evaluates the relationships between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, perceived usefulness and intention, and attitude and behavioral intention towards using e‐books.Design/methodology/approach – This study utilized a quantitative approach where questionnaires were used to collect data from 119 undergraduates from the mathematics department of University Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia.Findings – The result shows that perceived ease of use is positively related to attitude. Perceived usefulness has a significant effect on attitude towards using e‐book. Perceived ease of use also has a significant effect on perceived usefulness. However, perceived usefulness has no significant effect on intention to use.Originality/value – This study has provided some useful factors based on TAM model on non‐users' intention of using e‐book.
Woven Textile Crafts in Contemporary Commercial Contexts: Waving not Drowning

Abstract This introductory article provides a framework for this special issue. It discusses the background and research context for these case studies. These cases are specific illustrations of textile and weaving initiatives where culture and cloth meet the contemporary context. It introduces the five case studies from around the world—from Indonesia, Morocco, Ghana, Aotearoa / New Zealand, and Peru—that have adapted “traditional” and heritage weaving for the contemporary context and worked in some way with an outside specialist. It also introduces the five interviews with international textile specialists that focus on their experiences of developing unique products. While not wanting to draw general or comparative conclusions from such a diverse range of projects it highlights some recurring themes that are of interest in a consideration of cloth and culture. It concludes that these examples of weaving initiatives underline the need to see these income generation weaving responses as part of a process.
Towards the Tangible Hyperlink

—Thanks to the persistent decrease in cost and size of electronics, this century is experiencing an important scale up in number of devices surrounding us, with a subsequent increment on the complexity of the user interaction with such devices. The proposed interaction concept - the tangible hyperlink - demonstrates that it is possible to apply the capacitive coupling communication technology to simplify the interaction with embedded devices without preventing users from maintaining control on their privacy.
Web interface for "Time to Build and Aggregate Fluctuations"

This is a student version of the program used for Finn Kydland and Edward Prescott, "Time to Build and Aggregate Fluctuations", Econometrica, vol. 50, pp. 1345-1370, Nov. 1982 Some parameter values can be entered interactively. They should be quite obvious. The program can also generate impulse responses.
Practical testing of the precision and accuracy of target image centering algorithms

Close range photogrammetry and vision metrology often use signalized points in the form of active or passive targets. Many theoretical and some practical tests of different target image centering algorithms have been carried out. This paper will describe the empirical testing of several such algorithms using real data acquired for industrial measurement projects and camera calibrations. The precision and accuracy of the centering algorithms will be characterized by analysis of self calibrating network solutions using multiple camera stations and a target array. Particular emphasis will be placed on the comparison between centroiding and ellipse fitting to locate target image center.
Effects of Treadmill Training in chronic hemiparetic: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

Background: It is estimated that the prevalence of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) increases significantly as a result of the increase in the elderly population, leading to dependence and care. Interventions with physical exercises are essential for patients with chronic CVA and hemiparesis to contribute to functional motor recovery. The gait of the hemiparetic patients is very impaired, including decreased speed, unipodal support in the abbreviated paretic limb, increased step length, decreased hip flexion, increased knee flexion and plantar flexion and involves compensatory strategies to deal with deficits of the affected limb. Rehabilitation programs of patients with CVA should focus on the restoration of the individual’s independence and ability to move. Objective: To analyze the effects of the addition of a load on a lower limb not affected in the discharge of weight and motor function of paretic lower limb. Method: Experimental, randomized, double-blind study conducted at the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas (HC) UNICAMP. Participants were assessed by the Confidence and Balance Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Physical Performance (FMA), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Postural Stroke Scale for post-stroke patients (PSS), Time up and go test (TUG), 10-Meter gait test, Stroke Scale Barthel and weight transfer in the affected lower limb. Participants were treated in 12 walking training sessions on the treadmill with 1 kg added to the ankle of the lower limb. Results: There were variations between the 3 times for gait time (p= 0.005), FMA (p= 0.002), Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC scale) (p= 0.007) and EAPA (p= 0.042). Conclusion: Treadmill therapy and weight addition in the healthy limb revealed improvement in motor function, balance in orthostatism and walking speed.
Handbook Of Genetic Algorithms

This book sets out to explain what genetic algorithms are and how they can be used to solve real-world problems. The first objective is tackled by the editor, Lawrence Davis. The remainder of the book is turned over to a series of short review articles by a collection of authors, each explaining how genetic algorithms have been applied to problems in their own specific area of interest. The first part of the book introduces the fundamental genetic algorithm (GA), explains how it has traditionally been designed and implemented and shows how the basic technique may be applied to a very simple numerical optimisation problem. The basic technique is then altered and refined in a number of ways, with the effects of each change being measured by comparison against the performance of the original. In this way, the reader is provided with an uncluttered introduction to the technique and learns to appreciate why certain variants of GA have become more popular than others in the scientific community. Davis stresses that the choice of a suitable representation for the problem in hand is a key step in applying the GA, as is the selection of suitable techniques for generating new solutions from old. He is refreshingly open in admitting that much of the business of adapting the GA to specific problems owes more to art than to science. It is nice to see the terminology associated with this subject explained, with the author stressing that much of the field is still an active area of research. Few assumptions are made about the reader's mathematical background. The second part of the book contains thirteen cameo descriptions of how genetic algorithmic techniques have been, or are being, applied to a diverse range of problems. Thus, one group of authors explains how the technique has been used for modelling arms races between neighbouring countries (a non- linear, dynamical system), while another group describes its use in deciding design trade-offs for military aircraft. My own favourite is a rather charming account of how the GA was applied to a series of scheduling problems. Having attempted something of this sort with Simulated Annealing, I found it refreshing to see the authors highlighting some of the problems that they had encountered, rather than sweeping them under the carpet as is so often done in the scientific literature. The editor points out that there are standard GA tools available for either play or serious development work. Two of these (GENESIS and OOGA) are described in a short, third part of the book. As is so often the case nowadays, it is possible to obtain a diskette containing both systems by sending your Visa card details (or $60) to an address in the USA.
The value of research

The remarks concern recent research in information retrieval, specifically on the design and evaluation of retrieval systems, and in both cases betray a feeling that much previous and present IR research is misdirected or irrelevant. (The fact that the two reviewers have quite different reasons for holding this view does not invalidate the point.) This feeling seems to me to be widespread in the profession, and I regret that good and useful research work may be ignored as a result. The first point concerns the remarks by B.C. Brookes on Van Rijsbergen’s chapter in Progress in Communication Sciences. Brookes makes the comment that recall is an inappropriate measure of retrieval performance because if a user reads 60% of the relevant documents, he will get 89% of the information. It is not clear from the review where the figure of 89% comes from, though it clearly depends on some strong assumptions about the degree of overlap or redundancy between documents. But in any case, recent IR research [1] has shown that it ’is not necessary to make such assumptions: on the basis of far weaker assumptions (that there may be some unspecified degree of redundancy), optiniising recall implies that total utility is also optimised. So recall is, after all, an appropriate measure, both for theoretical studies and for evaluation experiments. (I simplify somewhat but so does Brookes! ) The second point concerns Jutta Sorensen’s review of Keen’s report on the evaluation of printed subject indexes. Sorensen claims to have gathered the impression that Keen was testing &dquo;live indexing systems&dquo;; she then expresses disappointment that ,this is not what he has done. I find it surprising that she got this impression: I could match her quote for quote, but two will suffice:
Liever Mark dan Mohammed

Maakt Mohammed minder kans op de arbeidsmarkt dan Mark, ook al hebben zij dezelfde opleiding en werkervaring? En zijn werkgevers ten opzichte van Sonaya onvriendelijker dan Marloes? Deze studie neemt het selectiegedrag van werkgevers onder de loep. Er is gebruik gemaakt van zogenoemde praktijktests: twee vergelijkbare - maar fictieve - kandidaten solliciteren per brief of telefonisch op bestaande vacatures. Op basis van ruim 1300 tests wordt vastgesteld of kandidaten met een niet-westerse achtergrond minder kans hebben om een uitnodiging te krijgen en of zij anders bejegend worden. Omdat alleen de etnische herkomst van de beide kandidaten verschillend is, kan goed worden vastgesteld of etniciteit een rol speelt in selectiegedrag van werkgevers. Dit is een verdiepende studie bij de Discriminatiemonitor niet-westerse allochtonen op de arbeidsmarkt, die wordt uitgevoerd op verzoek van het ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid. Het onderzoek is uitgevoerd met medewerking van sollicitatiebrief.eu en acteursbureau Kapok
Abdominal tuberculosis: experiences with 300 cases.

Problems in the management of abdominal tuberculosis are discussed with reference to 300 surgically verified cases. The protean clinical manifestations depend on the site and extent of the disease, and its complications. Operation was resorted to for complications when diagnosis was in doubt and when intrinsic intestinal disease was proved. Surgery was preceded by antituberculous drugs whenever possible. At operation, the disease was found to involve the alimentary canal in 196 cases; in the remaining 104, only the lymph nodes and/or the peritoneum were affected. Intestinal resection was carried out in 100 cases. Emergency surgery carries a high mortality (18/76) because of toxemia, hypoproteinemia, anemia, etc. Positive histology was obtained in 229 cases. One hundred and seventy-nine cases showed evidence of caseation. Caseation and peritoneal tubercles (103 cases) differentiate intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease. Despite considerable progress made in therapy and prophylaxis during the last quarter of the century, tuberculosis of various sites continues to be a major health hazard in India. The precise prevalence of Koch's disease of the abdomen has not been determined due to lack of a survey in random samples of population. This common malady, however, with its protean profiles and varied complications continues to challenge the diagnostic acumen and therapeutic skill of clinicians practicing various discplines of medicine.
Effect of Instruction Using Students' Prior Knowledge and Conceptual Change Strategies on Science Learning. Part II: Analysis of Instruction.

One of the factors affecting students' learning in science is their existing knowledge prior to instruction. The students' prior knowledge provides an indication of the alternative conceptions as well as the scientific conceptions possessed by the students. This study is concerned primarily with students' alternative conceptions and with instructional strategies to effect the learning of scientific conceptions; i.e., to effect conceptual change from alternative to scientific conceptions. The conceptual change model used here suggests conditions under which alternative conceptions can be replaced by or differentiated into scientific conceptions and new conceptions can be integrated with existing conceptions. The instructional strategy and materials were developed for a particular student population, namely, black high school students in South Africa, using their previously identified prior knowledge (conceptions and alternative conceptions) and incorporate the principles for conceptual change. The conceptions involved were mass, volume, and density. An experimental group of students was taught these concepts using the special instructional strategy and materials. A control group was taught the same concepts using a traditional strategy and materials. Pre- and posttests were used to assess the conceptual change that occurred in the experimental and control groups. The results showed a significantly larger improvement in the acquisition of scientific conceptions as a result of the instructional strategy and materials which explicitly dealt with student alternative conceptions.
Topography and morphology of the llama (Lama glama) stomach

El estomago de los camelidos sudamericanos presenta una estructura morfologica diferente al de rumiantes verdaderos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue describir las caracteristicas anatomicas e histologicas del estomago de la llama y sus relaciones con las estructuras adyacentes. Se utilizaron cuatro llamas machos. Las muestras para estudios anatomicos fueron fijadas por perfusion con formol al 10%. Para histologia, las muestras fueron fijadas en Bouin y procesadas rutinariamente. Los estudios anatomicos mostraron que el compartimiento proximal esta localizado totalmente en la pared abdominal izquierda. Un labio derecho simple, el pliegue ventricular, resulta notorio. El compartimiento intermedio presenta forma arrinonada con paredes gruesas. El compartimiento distal es elongado y tubular hacia la zona ventral derecha de la cavidad abdominal. Histologicamente, los compartimientos proximal e intermedio presentan areas con y sin glandulas. La region no glandular esta cubierta por epitelio plano estratificado con pliegues y sin papilas. El area glandular presenta pliegues cuyos recesos originan profundos sacos, ocupados por glandulas tubulares simples, tapizadas por epitelio cilindrico simple. El compartimiento distal es completamente glandular
HOW TO USE SIROLIMUS IN ORDER TO INCREASE SURVIVAL IN HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS?: 1586

Aim: Aim of the study was to was to assess the impact of sirolimus used as part of immunosuppressive therapy on survival of orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) recipients. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective casecontrol study involving all 60 OHT recipients receiving sirolimus (study group), and 60 matched individuals treated without sirolimus (control group). In almost half of the study group sirolimus was used briefly, or introduced late after OHT. However, we identified 31 pts. in whom sirolimus was introduced before the 3 rd year post-transplant, and continued permanently (28M/3F, 45 ±11y/o, ischaemic cardiomyopathy in 15 pts.). Sirolimus was combined with low-dose cyclosporine-A, replaced with mycophenolate mofetil 3 years post-transplant. The study subgroup was compared with its matches from the control group (28M/3F, 44 ±11y/o, ischaemic c-pathy in 17 pts.). We compared time free from all-cause death, cardiac death and non-cardiac death. Results: Average follow-up was 2138 ±1192 days in the study group and 1949 ±1221 days in the control group (2169 ±650 vs. 1872 ±987 days, respectively in substudy). Fourteen (33%) deaths occurred in the study group and 25 (42%) in the control group (p = 0.032) – 5 (16%) deaths in the study subgroup vs. 14 (45%) deaths in the control subgroup (p = 0.028). Time free from all-cause death was significantly longer both in the whole study group and the subgroup (p = 0.044 and p = 0.019, respectively). The same trend was observed for the time free from non-cardiac death (p = 0.036 and p = 0.022, respectively). Conclusion: A combination of sirolimus with low-dose cyclosporine-A prolongs survival in OHT recipients, decreasing