Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed Resource Management with Monetary Incentives

Modern communication networks handle millions of applications simultaneously, and mechanisms of resource sharing, most prominently sharing of data transmission bandwidth and processing power, between competing jobs have been considered in computer science since its beginning. Classical mechanisms, however, balance claims of cooperating users that do not try to manipulate the system to their advantage. Due to their cost of installation, information technology infrastructure has to be used by clients with no joint interest: by individual users and accross borders of companies. With resources available only in a limited quantity, allocation conflicts do arise. It is natural to apply the classical remedy for conflict resolution and install a market for the system’s resources. This thesis proposes market mechanisms for resource allocation in distributed computer systems. We define a new budget-balanced pricing scheme for combinatorial exchanges that allows matching of bids of autonomous buyers and sellers. We suggets a new bid synchronization rule and prove that it performs superior to periodic and random bid clearing. We give an application of a combinatorial exchange to unicast bandwidth allocation. We demonstrate by a simulation that, for a large part of the parameter space, auctioning bandwidth performs superior to fixed price bandwidth sale, while not requiring prior information on the distribution of bids. The situation for unicast cost sharing is more complicated. After proving that the classical equilibrium mechanism of Kelly can’t looses much efficiency if applied to group communication, we present a generalization of Feigenbaum’s adoption of marginal cost pricing to publish/subscribe settings. We also develop an algorithm for efficient distributed price computation.
Optimal target refraction for implantation of monofocal intraocular lenses

Editor, I t is encouraging that Harris (2011) – employing an entirely different approach – reached the same conclusion as Naeser & Hjortdal (2011), namely that a slight myopia without astigmatism is an optimal pseudophakic refraction. Harris has actually improved our theory by his use of exact, rather than numerical integration. In Harris¢ equation (12), the optimal refraction for any fixation range is described as the vergence of the arithmetic mean in the fixation range. This means that optimal refractions for any fixation interval are easily calculated. For example, for a patient mostly interested in reading at 33 cm and watching television at 2.67 m, the optimal refraction is: 2 ⁄ ()2.67 ) 0.33) = )0.66 D. As correctly stated by Harris, the described defocus model will yield a target correction of emmetropia for a distant fixation range approaching infinity. In theoretical optics, distances of infinity and close to zero may give problems. However, in clinical optics, we are used to solve theoretical problems in a pragmatic manner. In clinical refraction, incident light from ‘infinity’ is tested with acuity cards in distances of 4–6 m, and near visual acuity is tested in 25– 33 cm. Our group is currently developing a more generalized expression for binocular defocus. This study aims to optimize the distribution of refractions in binocular pseudophakia and following presbyopic corneal laser ablations.
Molecular Detection of Streptococcus Species Isolated from Cows with Mastitis

Streptococcal mastitis is considered as one of the most common infectious diseases in the dairy cattle, which threatens the dairy industry all over the world. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Streptococcus species in mastitic cows with molecular investigation to detect the presence of some virulence genes of the recovered isolates by PCR. A total of 150 milk samples were collected from dairy cattle with clinical and subclinical mastitis from different areas in ElGharbia governorate, Egypt. Streptococcus species were isolated with an incidence of 38%. S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S. uberis, S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae and S. faecalis were isolated from the milk samples of the examined cows with the percentage of 14.7%, 6%, 9.3%, 4.7%, 1.3% and 2%, respectively. Molecular investigation of virulence associated genes revealed that sip, cfb and bca genes of S. agalactiae were found with the percentage of 77.7%, 88.8% and 33.3%, respectively. The mig gene of S. dysgalactiae was found with an incidence of 77.8%. Of the examined S. uberis isolates, 55.5%, 22.2% and 33.3% were carrying the cfu, oppF and has A genes, respectively. The present study revealed the prevalence of Streptococci and distribution of virulence associated genes among the isolates. The high frequency of virulence genes in the isolates suggests an important role of these virulence genes in the pathogenesis of Streptococci in cattle mastitis.
Measuring job satisfaction: the case of malaysian workers

A B ST R A C T This study aimed to examine the impacts of employee’s rewards and employee’s motivation on employee’s job satisfaction between public and private sectors in Malaysia. A total of 689 employees from both sectors participated in this study. While hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the relationship between employee’s rewards, employee’s motivation and employee’s job satisfaction, gap analysis was utilized to determine the significant differences on the levels of employee’s rewards, employee’s motivation and employee’s job satisfaction between both sectors. The result revealed that (1) employee’s reward is positively related to motivation; and (2) both employee’s rewards and employee’s motivation are found to have positive significant influences on employees’ job satisfaction. The t-test result revealed that employees in public sector scored significantly higher on the levels of employee’s rewards, motivation and job satisfaction.
Incidence of cancers, ischemic cardiovascular diseases and mortality during 5‐year follow‐up after stopping antioxidant vitamins and minerals supplements: A postintervention follow‐up in the SU.VI.MAX Study

The Supplementation in Vitamins and Mineral Antioxidants Study was a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized trial, in which 12,741 French adults (7,713 women aged 35–60 years and 5,028 men aged 45–60 years) received a combination of ascorbic acid (120 mg), vitamin E (30 mg), β‐carotene (6 mg), selenium (100 μg) and zinc (20 mg), or placebo daily for a median follow‐up time of 7.5 years [October 1994 to September 2002]. Antioxidant supplementation decreased total cancer incidence and total mortality in men. Postintervention follow‐up assessment of total cancer incidence, ischemic cardiovascular disease incidence and total mortality was carried out for 5 years [September 1, 2002, to September 1, 2007]. No late effect of antioxidant supplementation was revealed 5 years after ending the intervention neither on ischemic cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in both genders nor on cancer incidence in women. Regarding duration of intervention effects in men, the reduced risk of total cancer incidence and total mortality was no longer evident after the 5‐year postintervention follow‐up. During the postsupplementation period, the relative risk (RR) for total cancer incidence (n = 126) was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75–1.27) among antioxidant recipients compared to nonrecipients. For total mortality (n = 90), the RR was 0.98 (95% CI, 0.75–1.26) for men receiving antioxidants compared to nonrecipients. In conclusion, beneficial effects of antioxidant supplementation in men disappeared during postintervention follow‐up.
Immortal time bias in critical care research: Application of time-varying Cox regression for observational cohort studies*

Objectives:To examine the bias introduced by using time-fixed methodology to analyze the effects of a time-varying exposure incurred in the intensive care unit. Design:Prospective cohort and Monte Carlo simulation studies. Setting:Medical and coronary intensive care units in a university hospital. Patients:A total of 224 mechanically ventilated patients. Methods:Part I was a case study analyzing the association between delirium in the intensive care unit (exposure variable) and outcomes (intensive care unit length of stay and 6-mo mortality) in a prospective cohort study. Part II was a Monte Carlo simulation generating 16,000 data sets wherein the true associations between delirium and outcomes were known before analysis. In both parts, we assessed associations between delirium in the intensive care unit and outcomes (intensive care unit length of stay and mortality), using time-fixed vs. time-varying Cox regression methodology. Measurements and Main Results:In the case study, delirium analyzed as a time-fixed variable was associated with a delayed intensive care unit discharge (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval, 1.3–2.7, p < .001), but no association was noted using a time-varying method (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.1, 95% confidence interval = 0.7–1.6, p = .70). Alternatively, delirium analyzed as a time-fixed variable was not associated with 6-mo mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.9, 95% confidence interval, 0.9–5.0, p = .09), whereas delirium analyzed as a time-varying variable was associated with increased mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval, 1.4–7.7, p = .008). In the simulation study, time-fixed methods produced erroneous results in 97.1% of the data sets with no true association; time-varying methods produced erroneous results in only 3.7%. Similarly, time-fixed methods produced biased results when a true association was present, whereas time-varying methods produced accurate results. Conclusions:Studies using a time-fixed analytic approach to understand relationships between exposures and clinical outcomes can result in considerable bias when the variables overlap temporally in occurrence. Those conducting such studies, and clinicians reading them, should ensure that time-varying exposures are correctly analyzed to avoid biased conclusions.
Towards a holistic internal market orientation measurement scale

This paper seeks to propose a conceptual framework for the development of a holistic measurement scale to determine the extent of internal market orientation (IMO) of a firm. To this end, the study reviewed the antecedent of the internal marketing (IM) constructs, and identified some disagreement and controversies surrounding the internal marketing philosophy. Some of the disagreement and arguments identified concerned internal marketing as an approach to human resource management (HRM); similarities regarding IMO and external marketing; and mutual misunderstanding on marketing and public administration. The paper also reviewed research works that confirmed the importance of employees to a firm's performance. Finally, the paper proposed a new direction of research that integrates institutional factors in the development of IMO measurement. The new direction of research is expected to facilitate response to calls for periodic review of an IMO measurement instrument that is consistent with changes in the marketing environment.
Deepening Services Market Integration - A Critical Assessment

The greatest asset of the European Union is undoubtedly its internal market. However, the internal market is not completed: it suffers from a giant hole with respect to many services. The present contribution addresses the status of services in the internal market and, in particular, the horizontal liberalisation (or, the lack of it) of services outside the two large sectors which greatly deepened market integration (6 modes of transport and 3 financial services markets). Because a horizontal perspective on services in the EU is still little understood, it is briefly summarized what services really are and how their regulatory logic in the internal market can help to classify them. The (strong) economic case for deepening services market integration is built on recent empirical economic analysis as well as simulation. This is followed by a discussion, with flowchart, of the Bolkestein draft directive, against the backdrop of the frustrating lack of, or at best, selective progress on services for decades. A survey of economic impact studies of the draft directive is provided, too, underpinning its importance even when the infamous origin principle is taken out. Some light is subsequently shed on the tumultuous politicisation of the services debate. Emphasis is laid on the socio-economic context (which, it is submitted, sharpened the discussion at times into polarisation) and a series of other factors such as the diversity of the national regulatory frameworks of services and the labour employed, the complexity of the draft directive, the potentially radical nature of the origin principle (especially for those not aware of the case law of the ECJ), the dominant role of the EP and the opportunism of leading national politicians. Finally, directive 2006/123 - meanwhile in force - is explained and briefly assessed. Apart from the conspicuous manifestation of "Angst" in drafting the directive, the (de) merits are set out. The conclusion is that a badly drafted directive with excessive emphasis on exclusions and derogations, and which lacks a driving principle, nevertheless comprises several functional obligations in general (e.g single window, administrative cooperation in dedicated networks, etc.), significant advantages for free establishment (which imply equally significant economic gains) and a firm discipline for (or prohibition of) bad practices with respect to temporary provision of services.
Managing Engagement Behaviors in a Network of Customers and Stakeholders

Firms striving for long-term profitability need to build stronger customer-firm relationships by getting their customers more engaged with the firm. One path to this end is introducing practices to manage different forms of customer engagement behaviors (CEBs). To develop more effective and efficient CEB management practices, this research proposes and empirically tests a theoretical model on managerial and psychological processes to encourage CEBs that are embedded in a broader network of customers and stakeholders. Based on qualitative and quantitative studies in nursing homes, we demonstrate that organizational support and overall service quality toward significant others influence some forms of CEBs—more particularly feedback and positive word of mouth (WOM) behaviors—through customer affect toward the organization. It is interesting to note that customer affect toward the organization encourages WOM behaviors, while it discourages feedback behaviors. Conversely, managerial processes that increase customer role readiness—such as organizational socialization and support from other customers—were found to have a positive impact on all forms of CEBs. This research helps managers of nursing homes and other services with a broad network of customers and stakeholders to improve existing CEB management practices and develop new CEB management practices that are beneficial for the firm and its stakeholders.
Signaling the trustworthiness of small online retailers

One of the major challenges facing all online retailers, especially small online retailers, is how to initiate consumer trust. This study examines the nature of this unique type of consumer trust by proposing the concept of “cue-based trust. ” It also examines the signaling role of various cues in building initial trust and the behavioral consequences involved. A 25–1 factorial experiment was conducted with sample size of 402 to explore the signaling effects of five cues of interest in this study: seals of approval, return policy, awards from neutral sources, security disclosures, and privacy disclosures. The online study supported the signaling roles of most of these cues. Findings can be summarized as follows: (a) security disclosures and awards from neutral sources were found to enhance cue-based trust which, in turn, positively influenced two behavioral responses—bookmarking intentions and willingness to provide personal information, and (b) seals of approval and privacy disclosures were found to directly encourage consumers’ willingness to provide personal information while awards from neutral sources were found to directly encourage bookmarking intentions. Implications for online retailers and future theoretical studies are discussed.
Combined calcium, magnesium and potassium supplementation for the management of primary hypertension in adults.

BACKGROUND Previous research suggests that increasing dietary intakes of calcium, potassium or magnesium separately may reduce BP to a small degree over the short term. It is unclear whether increasing intakes of a combination of these minerals produces a larger reduction in BP. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of combined mineral supplementation as a treatment for primary hypertension in adults. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, ISI Proceedings, ClinicalTrials.gov, Current Controlled Trials, CAB abstracts, and reference lists of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) included in the review. The search was unrestricted by language or publication status. SELECTION CRITERIA Inclusion criteria were: 1) RCTs of a parallel or crossover design comparing oral supplements comprising a combination of potassium, and/or calcium, and/or magnesium with placebo, no treatment, or usual care; 2) treatment and follow-up >=8 weeks; 3) participants over 18 years old, with raised systolic blood pressure (SBP) >=140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >=85 mmHg with no known primary cause; 4) SBP and DBP reported at end of follow-up. We excluded trials where participants were pregnant, or received antihypertensive medication which changed during the study. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. Disagreements were resolved by discussion or a third reviewer. Random effects meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted. MAIN RESULTS We included three RCTs (n=277) with between 24 and 28 weeks follow-up. Three combinations of minerals were investigated: potassium & magnesium, calcium & magnesium, and calcium & potassium. One trial investigated combinations of calcium & magnesium and of calcium & potassium, and for each found a statistically non-significant increase in both SBP and DBP. All three trials investigated the combination of potassium & magnesium. None of the trials provided data on mortality or morbidity. The combination of potassium & magnesium compared to control resulted in statistically non-significant reductions in both SBP (mean difference = -4.6 mmHg, 95% CI: -9.9 to 0.7) and DBP (mean difference = -3.8 mmHg, 95% CI: -9.5 to 1.8), although the results were heterogeneous (I(2)=68% and 85% for SBP and DBP respectively). A sensitivity analysis using alternative reported values which accounted for missing data had very little effect on DBP but resulted in a larger, statistically significant reduction in SBP (mean difference = -5.8 mmHg, 95% CI: -10.5 to -1.0). The quality of the trials was not well reported. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We found no robust evidence that supplements of any combination of potassium, magnesium or calcium reduce mortality, morbidity or BP in adults. More trials are needed to investigate whether the combination of potassium & magnesium is effective.
COMBINED EFFECTS OF CADMIUM AND MECURY ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN LIVER, KIDNEY AND GILLS OF CHANNA PUNCTATUS (BLOCH)

Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) in combination at sub-lethal concentrations for 32 days on histochemical localization of heavy metals and on serum biochemical parameters such as glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and total protein concentrations in Channa punctatus . Methods: Biochemical estimations of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), glucose and different lipids were done using the standard protocols provided in the commercial kits purchased from Reckon diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., India. Histochemical analyses of liver, kidney and gills were determined by sulphide–silver method and heavy metal (cadmium and mercury) concentrations in gills, kidneys and liver were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Results: Glucose, lipid, total protein and SGPT levels were significantly altered in fish exposed to Cd or Hg salt alone. However, combined exposure of Cd and Hg normalized all the aforesaid biochemical indices. The accumulation of heavy metals was in following order: cadmium content was more in kidney>liver>gills; whereas, Hg content was more in liver>kidney>gills. Histochemical analyses revealed that mercury accumulation was comparatively more than that of cadmium in all the tissues. Several histological abnormalities were noted in the liver, kidney and gills of the Cd or Hg treated animals. However, Cd in combination with Hg caused alleviation in the toxic effect of Hg on histochemical and biochemical parameters. Results of our study showed that Cd may have a protective effect against Hg toxicity. Conclusion : Our findings indicate that cadmium may protect mercury-induced toxicity.
Deep magmatic degassing versus scrubbing: Elevated CO2emissions and C/S in the lead‐up to the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

We report CO2, SO2, and H2S emission rates and C/S ratios during the five months leading up to the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano, Alaska. CO2emission rates up to 9018 t/d and C/S ratios ≥30 measured in the months prior to the eruption were critical for fully informed forecasting efforts. Observations of ice‐melt rates, meltwater discharge, and water chemistry suggest that surface waters represented drainage from surficial, perched reservoirs of condensed magmatic steam and glacial meltwater. These fluids scrubbed only a few hundred tonnes/day of SO2, not the >2100 t/d SO2expected from degassing of magma in the mid‐ to upper crust (3–6.5 km), where petrologic analysis shows the final magmatic equilibration occurred. All data are consistent with upflow of a CO2‐rich magmatic gas for at least 5 months prior to eruption, and minimal scrubbing of SO2by near‐surface groundwater. The high C/S ratios observed could reflect bulk degassing of mid‐crustal magma followed by nearly complete loss of SO2in a deep magmatic‐hydrothermal system. Alternatively, high C/S ratios could be attributed to decompressional degassing of low silica andesitic magma that intruded into the mid‐crust in the 5 months prior to eruption, thereby mobilizing the pre‐existing high silica andesite magma or mush in this region. The latter scenario is supported by several lines of evidence, including deep long‐period earthquakes (−28 to −32 km) prior to and during the eruption, and far‐field deformation following the onset of eruptive activity.