Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical Methods for Drug Safety

Introduction Randomized Clinical Trials Observational Studies The Problem of Multiple Comparisons The Evolution of Available Data Streams The Hierarchy of Scientific Evidence Statistical Significance Summary Basic Statistical Concepts Relative Risk Odds Ratio Statistical Power Maximum Likelihood Estimation Non-Linear Regression Models Causal Inference Multi-Level Models Introduction Issues Inherent in Longitudinal Data Historical Background Statistical Models for the Analysis of Longitudinal and/or Clustered Data Causal Inference Introduction Propensity Score Matching Marginal Structural Models Instrumental Variables Differential Effects Analysis of Spontaneous Reports Proportional Reporting Ratio Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) Empirical Bayes Screening Multi-Item Gamma Poisson Shrinker Bayesian Lasso Logistic Regression Random-Effect Poisson Regression Discussion Meta-Analysis Fixed-Effect Meta-Analysis Random-Effect Meta-Analysis Maximum Marginal Likelihood/Empirical Bayes Method Bayesian Meta-Analysis Confidence Distribution Framework for Meta-Analysis Discussion Ecological Methods Time Series Methods State Space Model Change Point Analysis Mixed-Effects Poisson Regression Model Discrete-Time Survival Models Introduction Discrete-Time Ordinal Regression Model Discrete-Time Ordinal Regression Frailty Model Illustration Competing Risk Models Illustration Research Synthesis Introduction Three-Level Mixed-Effects Regression Models Analysis of Medical Claims Data Introduction Administrative Claims Observational Data Experimental Strategies Statistical Strategies Illustrations Conclusion Methods to Be Avoided Introduction Spontaneous Reports Vote Counting Simple Pooling of Studies Including Randomized and Non-Randomized Trials in Meta-Analysis Multiple Comparisons and Biased Reporting of Results Immortality Time Bias Summary and Conclusions Final Thoughts Bibliography Index
Peer-supported exercise intervention for persons with mild cognitive impairment: a waitlist randomised controlled trial (the BRAin Vitality Enhancement trial).

BACKGROUND motivating older people with cognitive impairment to remain physically active is challenging. OBJECTIVE this study aimed to examine the effects of a peer-supported exercise intervention on the cognitive function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). DESIGN a two-arm randomised controlled trial. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS community-dwelling persons with MCI were recruited from community centres for older adults in Hong Kong. METHODS participants randomised to the intervention group received an 8-week group-based peer-supported multicomponent exercise intervention, while the waitlist control group received usual care. A battery of neuropsychological tests and the Short Form-36 were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention. RESULTS two hundred and twenty-nine participants were randomised to the intervention (n = 116) or control (n = 113) group. Compared with the control group, participants in the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in processing speed and attention measured by the Colour Trails Test 1 (β = 7.213, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.870-11.557, P = 0.001) and working memory measured by the Digit Span Backward Test (β = 0.540, 95% CI = 0.199-0.881, P = 0.002) immediately post-intervention. The effects were sustained at 3 months post-intervention. Similarly, significantly greater improvements in sequencing and mental flexibility measured by the Colour Trails Test 2 were observed in the intervention group 3 months post-intervention (β = 6.979, 95% CI = 3.375-10.584, P < 0.001). Changes in global cognition, short-term memory and HRQoL were not significant. CONCLUSION the peer-supported exercise intervention was effective at sustaining improvements in executive function, attention and working memory in persons with MCI.
National Culture, Firm Characteristics, and Dividend Policy

ABSTRACT This study examines the joint impact of national culture and firm characteristics on dividend payouts by analyzing firms from 35 countries. We find that national culture, along with firm characteristics, such as sales growth, return on assets, and debt ratio, affects dividend payouts. More specifically, dividend payouts are less affected by firm characteristics in countries with a high uncertainty avoidance index compared with countries with a low uncertainty avoidance index. However, dividend payouts are more affected by firm characteristics in countries with high individualism compared with countries with low individualism. Our results support that national culture matters for dividend policy.
Attitudes Toward Technologies of the Near Future: The Role of Technology Readiness in a Hungarian Adult Sample

Past decades’ rapid development of technological innovations can ease individual’s everyday lives, but they can also convey a sense of frustration. The aim of the present study was to investigate attitudes toward technologies that are expected to become widespread in the near future. The Technology Readiness Index was administered to a sample of Hungarian respondents to measure the capacity to adopt technologies. The results add significant novelties about the specific patterns related to perceptions of considerably different future technologies, emphasizing the unique role of optimism. Derivations are further specified by demographic characteristics, future directions and practical implications are also discussed.
Effect of Speculators’ Position Changes on the LME Futures Market

This paper employs Granger causality tests to analyze the role of speculators using weekly COTR (commitment of traders reports) data covering the period of August 2014 to July 2017. The paper presents statistically significant evidence that the position changes of speculators, such as hedge funds and CTAs (commodity trading advisors), unidirectionally Granger-cause the prices of base metals, such as aluminum, copper, and zinc. This finding is a result of causality going from the levels of net futures positions of money managers to futures price changes on the London Metal Exchange (LME). However, producers’ and swap dealers’ speculative roles in price-formation are rejected in Granger causality tests. This paper presents clear results with important market implications.
Towards a Cloud-based Data Analysis and Visualization System

In recent years, increasing attentions are paid on developing exceptional technologies for efficiently processing massive collection of heterogeneous data generated by different kinds of sensors. While we have observed great successes of utilizing big data in many innovative applications, the need on integrating information poses new challenges caused by the heterogeneity of the data. In this thesis, we target at geo-tagged data, and propose a cloud based platform named City Digital Pulse (CDP), where a unified mechanism and extensible architecture are provided to facilitate the various aspects in big data analysis, ranging from data acquisition to data visualization. We instantiate the proposed system using multi-model data collected from two social platforms, Twitter and Instagram, which include plenty of geo-tagged messages. Data analysis is performed to detect human affections from the user uploaded content. The emotional information in big social data can be uncovered by using a multi-dimension visualization interface, based on which users can easily grasp the evolving of human affective status within a given geographical area, and interact with the system. This offers costless opportunities to improve the decision making in many critical areas. Both the proposed architecture and algorithm are empirically demonstrated to be able to achieve real-time big data analysis.
Relation and fuzzy clustering for document categorization and analysis

In multiprocessor and distributed real-time systems, scheduling jobs dynamically on processors is likely to achieve better performance. However, analytical and efficient validation methods to determine whether all the timing constraints are met do not exist for systems using modern dynamic scheduling strategies, and exhaustive simulation and testing are unreliable and expensive. This paper describes several worst-case bounds and efficient algorithms for validating systems in which jobs have arbitrary timing constraints and variable execution times and are scheduled on processors dynamically in a prioritydriven manner. Reference: [1] <author> J. A. Stankovic, K. Ramamritham, and S. Cheng. </author> <title> Evaluation of a flexible task scheduling algorithm for distributed hard real-time systems. </title> <journal> IEEE Transactions on Computers, </journal> <volume> 34(12) </volume> <pages> 1130-1143, </pages> <month> December </month> <year> 1985. </year> Reference: [2] <author> K.G. Shin and Y.C. Chang. </author> <title> Load sharing in distributed real-time systems with state-change broadcasts. </title> <journal> IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, </journal> <volume> 38(8) </volume> <pages> 1124-1142, </pages> <month> August </month> <year> 1989. </year> References-found: 13 (a) Figure 4.5: A sample record of extracted information of a paper in the Cora data. Each record usually consists of three parts: the header part, which includes URL, Title, Author(s) and some other related information like Address, Affiliation and Email; the content of abstract; a list of formatted references. 4.6. 2.1 Data-derived Relation: W = Wd We first collect the relational data based on the citations among papers. To be more specifically, the value of w ij ∈Wd is 1 if any of the two papers is in the reference list of the other, and is 2 if two papers are mutually cited. Two papers xi and xj are said to be linked if wij > 0. As shown in Table 4.1, the relation matrix is quite sparse since each paper only cites a small number of other papers. We compare LinkFCMm and LinkFCMq with the following three fuzzy approaches:
Improved low-frequency decay estimation using the multipaper spectral analysis method

Spectral analysis is one of the most ubiquitous signal processing tools used in exploration geophysics. Among many applications, it is used simply to look at the frequency content of seismic traces, to find notches, to estimate wavelets under the minimum-phase assumption, and to match broadband synthetic seismograms to seismic data. Seismic spectra exhibit very large dynamic ranges, particularly at low frequencies. Estimation of low-frequency decay is very important for accurate modelling. However, when using traditional spectral estimates incorporating smoothing windows, too much sidelobe energy leaks from high power into low power areas, spoiling our ability to estimate low-frequency spectral decay. The multitaper method of spectral analysis due to D. Thomson does not employ just a single window, but rather a set of orthogonal data tapers. It is possible to have much less sidelobe contamination, while maintaining a stable estimate. The trace is tapered by each of a subset of the orthogonal tapers, and a raw spectral estimate produced in each case. These are combined to produce a final spectral estimate. The technique can be made adaptive by applying different weights to the different raw spectra at different frequencies. A comparison of seismic spectral estimation using this multitaper technique with a traditional approach having the same analysis bandwidth and stability demonstrates the very different estimates of spectral decay in the areas of high dynamic range. The multitaper approach provides estimates with much reduced sidelobe leakage, and hence is a very appealing method for reflection seismology.
Antimicrobial Effect of Honey from the Arabian Gulf Region against Bacterial Isolates from Pus and Wound Swabs

Of the many beneficial effects attributed to honey, its antimicrobial properties have drawn considerable interest. Five types of natural honey originating from three countries but available in the local markets in UAE were randomly selected. The antibacterial activity of the honey types was tested against bacterial reference strains as well as 21 bacterial isolates obtained from pus and wound swabs from patients. All the five types of honey showed antibacterial activity, however, there were differences in the antibacterial efficacy of the different honey types. All the strains of Staphylococcus aureus (reference, clinical and methicillin-resistant) exhibited better susceptibilities contrast to the gram-negative isolates including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when tested against all different honey types. The findings from this study indicate that the antibacterial activity of locally available honey varies depending on their provenance. Further work is needed to identify factors which determine the antimicrobial efficacy of these different honey types. Their antibacterial activity can be explored for the treatment of wound infections in patients.
CONTRIBUTION A L’ETUDE DE LA QUALITE PHYSICOCHIMIQUE DE L’EAU DE LA RIVE DROITE DU FLEUVE SENEGAL

L’etude concerne l’analyse des parametres physico-chimiques (T°, pH, C.E, MES, Cl - , NH 4 + , NO 3 - et MO) le long de la rive droite du fleuve Senegal. Ainsi, des prelevements d’eau ont ete effectues au niveau de dix sites d’etudes en saison des pluies et en saison seche. L’application des methodes d’analyses statistiques sur les resultats physicochimiques ont montre l’existence de deux groupes d’eau : un groupe d’eau ayant une temperature elevee, basique et de salinite et de mineralisation exprimee par la conductivite electrique, les chlorures et les matieres oxydables. Ce groupe est caracteristique de l’eau du fleuve Senegal pendant la saison seche et un groupe d’eau riche en matieres et particules en suspension et dissoutes et contenant de l’azote ammoniacal. Ce groupe est caracteristique de l’eau du fleuve Senegal pendant la saison des pluies. Cette etude nous a permis de ressortir egalement l’influence primordiale des variations saisonnieres et des activites anthropiques. Il s’agit d’un plus, pour les modalites de traitement adequat de cette eau qui est actuellement approvisionnee pour l’alimentation de la ville de Nouakchott en eau potable.
Characterization of Indoor Air Bacterial Isolates from Rafidia Hospital, Nablus-Palestine

Air can play a vital role as a reservoir for both pathogenic and non pathogenic living microorganisms. Microbial contamination of air hospitals is considered as a source of hospitalassociated infections. This study aimed to assess microbial profile of air contamination in different wards of Rafidia Hospital, City of Nablus-Palestine, during the period September and October 2014, using both an active and a passive sampling methods. Results of this research showed that total viable count of Gram positive bacteria; coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Micrococcus spp. were the most predominant among isolated bacteria from air samples in all surgical operation rooms (SOR), intensive care unit (ICU) and neonatal room (NR) by passive air sampling method. The percentage of CoNS and Micrococcus spp. in air of SORs, ICU and NR by passive air sampling has ranged from 61.8%-100% and the average was 5158 CFU/m/h to 17753 Original Research Article Adwan et al.; ACRI, 5(3): 1-11, 2016; Article no.ACRI. 29066 2 CFU/m/h. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common microorganisms isolated from the neonatal room by active air sampling method, the percentage was 100% and the average was 100 CFU/m. Total bacterial level in these rooms had a range 116 CFU/m to 1085 CFU/m. The percentage of CoNS and Micrococcus spp. in air from SORs and ICU by active air sampling was 58.8%-100% and the average was 100-1080 CFU/m. The finding of this research showed that most frequent CFUs were obtained from Blood agar with a range 4085 CFU/m/h to 8721 CFU/m/h and Tryptic Soy Agar with a range 2043 CFU/ m/h to 7935 CFU/ m/h by passive air sampling method. In this study, ERIC PCR profile (number and size of bands) revealed that clinical bacterial strains S. aureus, E. coli and Klebsiella spp. and those isolated from air samples collected at the same time were not clonally related. This study is considered the first one to be conducted in Palestine in order to determine air bacterial isolates in SORs, ICU and NR. More studies are warranted on quality of air in these rooms. These data may be valuable to develop interventions to improve the microbial indoor air quality among hospital SORs, ICU and NR and also for preventing or decreasing the occurrence of the nosocomial infections.
An Analysis of Lexical Text Coverage in Contemporary German

One of the many practical applications of corpus studies is the generation of word frequency information. It makes sense that for the teaching of vocabulary in a second language, lexical frequency should play a significant role in the selection of vocabulary to be included in pedagogical materials. Using the concept of “lexical text coverage”, a study based on the BYU/Leipzig Corpus of Contemporary German has shown that a basic vocabulary of 3,000 high frequency words can account for between 75% and 90% of the words in the text, depending on the register.
Society and Culture in the Early Modern Middle East: Studies on Iran in the Safavid Period

The volume comprises a collection of 20 of the 43 papers presented at the Third International Round Table on Safavid Persia, held at the University of Edinburgh in August, 1998 and edited by the Round Table's organiser. The Third Round Table, the largest of the series to date, continued the emphasis of its predecessors on understanding and appreciating the legacy of the Safavid period by means of exchanges between both established and 'newer' scholars drawn from a variety of fields to facilitate an exchange of ideas, information, and methodologies across a broad range of academic disciplines between scholars from diverse disciplines and research backgrounds with a common interest in the history and culture of this period of Iran's history.
Phonetic Effects on the Timing of Gestural Coordination in Modern Greek Consonant Clusters.

Although position in word, order of place of articulation, and manner of articulation have been shown to influence gestural timing in CC clusters in various languages, there is no consensus on whether these timing patterns are due to biomechanical or perceptual-recoverability constraints (or both) on production. This study of Modern Greek speakers’ CC productions investigates the effects of within-word position (initial, medial), place order (front-to-back, back-to-front), C1 manner (plosive, fricative), and C2 manner (plosive, fricative, liquid) on articulatory lag between C1 and C2. A perception-oriented account predicts an influence of both C1 and C2 manner on gestural lag when acoustic masking is most likely (i.e. when CC is word-initial and back-to-front), whereas a biomechanical account predicts no such effect. To assess relative degree of gestural lag, ultrasound imaging and lip video are used to track the timing patterns of labial, tongue-tip, and tongue-dorsum constrictions during production. Pre.
Studying bibliographic enhancement data for library catalogs

Few studies have examined bibliographic records enhancement in library catalogs. The purpose of this study is to identify the types and sources of bibliographic enhancement data used by libraries, online booksellers, and social cataloging sites. Based on a content analysis of 210 bibliographic records collected from six bibliographic systems, this study identifies 21 types of bibliographic enhancement data and their sources. The typology can help libraries identify, select, use/reuse, and evaluate the bibliographic enhancement data that can be implemented in their catalogs. This study also found that libraries no longer count on catalogers to supply all the bibliographic data, but invite their staff and users to contribute data to their catalogs and incorporate data from external resources. Future research will interview users regarding their use of bibliographic enhancement data and their quality requirements for the data.
Big Data Analytics Services for Enhancing Business Intelligence

ABSTRACT This article examines how to use big data analytics services to enhance business intelligence (BI). More specifically, this article proposes an ontology of big data analytics and presents a big data analytics service-oriented architecture (BASOA), and then applies BASOA to BI, where our surveyed data analysis shows that the proposed BASOA is viable for enhancing BI and enterprise information systems. This article also explores temporality, expectability, and relativity as the characteristics of intelligence in BI. These characteristics are what customers and decision makers expect from BI in terms of systems, products, and services of organizations. The proposed approach in this article might facilitate the research and development of business analytics, big data analytics, and BI as well as big data science and big data computing.
Testing Expression Effects of Language and Inhibition Within a Series of False Belief Tasks

The extent to which theory of mind task success depends on children’s language and executive function skills is tested in this study. Specifically, the hypothesis that the requirements of the false belief task mask successful expression of an underlying theory of mind is examined. To test this hypothesis, four versions of a false belief task are used in which each version has a high or low language and executive function component. The language component is modified by altering the phrasing of the theory of mind question such that a more simple language version is included in addition to the standard syntactically complex version. The executive function component is modified by allowing children to respond using either the standard finger-pointing version, or through the use of a game-board arrow. Additionally, the hypothesis that any resulting changes according to task manipulation would be related to an underlying cognitive ability in either language or inhibition is examined. Results from 28 children are reported, and main effects for the manipulation in both language and executive function were observed. Observed differences were in a direction opposite of what was expected, and these differences appeared unrelated to underlying cognitive skills. The results are interpreted in a context in which language plays a strong role in theory of mind success, possibly through working memory, and that subtle differences in theory of mind tasks can yield significantly different performances.