Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consultants' forum: should post hoc sample size calculations be done?

Pre‐study sample size calculations for clinical trial research protocols are now mandatory. When an investigator is designing a study to compare the outcomes of an intervention, an essential step is the calculation of sample sizes that will allow a reasonable chance (power) of detecting a pre‐determined difference (effect size) in the outcome variable, at a given level of statistical significance. Frequently studies will recruit fewer patients than the initial pre‐study sample size calculation suggested. Investigators are faced with the fact that their study may be inadequately powered to detect the pre‐specified treatment effect and the statistical analysis of the collected outcome data may or may not report a statistically significant result. If the data produces a “non‐statistically significant result” then investigators are frequently tempted to ask the question “Given the actual final study size, what is the power of the study, now, to detect a treatment effect or difference? ” The aim of this article is to debate whether or not it is desirable to answer this question and to undertake a power calculation, after the data have been collected and analysed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystal structure of amyloid precursor-like protein 1 and heparin complex suggests a dual role of heparin in E2 dimerization

Mutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP) are associated with familial Alzheimer’s disease. Recent development suggests that homo- and heterodimerization of APP and APP-like proteins (APLPs), which are enhanced by heparan sulfate binding, may play a role in signal transduction and cell adhesion. Despite efforts to model heparin binding based on known apo crystal structures, the mechanism of heparin-induced APP/APLP dimerization has not been established experimentally. Here we report the crystal structure of a complex between heparin and the E2 domain of APLP1, which harbors the conserved high affinity heparin binding site of the full-length molecule. Within the asymmetric E2:heparin complex, the polysaccharide is snugly bound inside a narrow groove between the two helical subdomains of one protein protomer. The nonreducing end of the sugar is positioned near the protein’s 2-fold axis, making contacts with basic residues from the second protomer. The inability of the E2 dimer to accommodate two heparin molecules near its symmetry axis explains the observed 2∶1 binding stoichiometry, which is confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetric experiment carried out in solution. We also show that, at high concentrations, heparin can destabilize E2 dimer, probably by forcing into the unoccupied binding site observed in the 2∶1 complex. The binding model suggested by the crystal structure may facilitate the design of heparin mimetics that are capable of modulating APP dimerization in cells.
Modeling Spark Spread Option AndPower Plant Evaluation

Spark spread is an important feature in the electricity industry. The spark spread option pricing framework is presented in this paper. We start from a one-factor model and then provide a two-factor model. Closed form solution is derived. Numerical examples of spark spread option and power plant evaluation are studied. Because of the complexity of real-life constraints, we also use Monte-Carlo simulation in a more complicated example.
Intangible training capital and productivity in Europe

This paper employs industry data, derived from linking the EU LFS to productivity accounts from EU KLEMS, to examine workforce training and productivity in European Union original members states. Training activities are modelled as intangible investments by firms and cumulated to stocks so their impact can be evaluated within a production function framework, including links to the use of information and communications technology (ICT). The results suggest significantly positive effects of training on productivity, both direct and interacted with ICT, with different impacts in services than in production industries. These results are robust to the use of instrumental variables methods, both lagged instruments and a set of variables that capture features of the operation of labour markets.
Trust and HRM in the new millennium

This paper introduces the topic of trust in the workplace. The rationale for the growth of interest in trust is explored, as are the implications for HRM policy makers and researchers. Here, we also outline the main thrust of the eight papers incorporated in this special edition. First, we explore the topic of HRM and trust, before moving to issues relating to trust and workplace change. Next we discuss team dynamics, manager–employee relationships and trust and, finally, the characteristics associated with trust and situational, dispositional and affectual factors.
Foreign Direct Investment, Exchange Rate, and Their Roles in Economic Growth of Developing Countries: Empirical Evidence from Kazakhstan

This paper investigates the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, exchange rate, and economic growth of a developing country, and their effects on major economic activities in the nation. This paper examines macroeconomic activity variables of gross domestic product, fixed capital investment, employment ratio, retail trade turnover, industrial production, FDI inflows, and dollar exchange rate as a control variable. The macroeconomic activity statistics of ten calendar years (1997-2006) of Kazakhstan were analyzed by using a multivariate regression model with weighted least squares estimates. The results indicate that FDI has a minimum or statistically insignificant impact on GDP growth of Kazakhstan. The paper argues that a resource-seeking FDI has a minimal effect on improving the economic growth of developing countries. In other words, the resource-seeking FDI might have a minimal effect on achieving economic growth and national competitiveness of host countries, but not as much as manufacturing-based FDI does. Finally, this paper suggest policymakers of Kazakhstan should consider strategic goals of FDI to maximize its benefits into the economy.
Automated transistor sizing algorithm for minimizing spurious switching activities in CMOS circuits

In this paper a new approach for minimizing glitches in the combinational parts of static CMOS circuits is presented. Delay balancing is applied in order to guarantee synchronously arriving signal slopes at the inputs of the logic gates. Thus, glitching can be avoided. The delay of a logic gate depends directly on the transistor sizes, i.e. the channel-widths and -lengths (W and L). Specific variation of the transistor sizes allows one to equalize different path delays without influencing the total propagation delay of the circuit. Besides the delay, the total capacitance and the short-circuit power consumption of a circuit also depend on the transistor sizes. In order to take this fact into account when sizing transistors for delay balancing, the method is formulated as a multiobjective optimization problem, where the path delay differences and the power consumption are the design objectives. A program GliMATS for automated circuit optimization has been implemented. Experimental results show that significant power savings can be achieved with this method.
Radiotherapy vs surgery for T1‐2N0M0 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A population‐based and propensity score matching study

There are conflicting reports about whether radiotherapy or surgery is optimal for early‐stage laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), although both have recently been recommended. Patients with T1‐2N0M0 LSCC in the population‐based SEER database who underwent radiotherapy or surgery were reviewed. Propensity score matching was used to eliminate the baseline variations. After matching, 1913 pairs of patients were included. Overall, patients who received radiotherapy had worse cancer‐specific survival than patients with surgery. After stratification, the survival in patients who received radiotherapy was worse with respect to the following characteristics: ≤60 years of age; T1a glottis cancer; well‐differentiated tumors; and with married status. In other patients, survival outcomes were similar in patients who received radiotherapy and underwent surgery. Our results indicate that radiotherapy is not preferable in early‐stage LSCC patients who are ≤60 years of age, have T1a glottis cancer or well‐differentiated tumors, or are married. In other patients, both radiotherapy and surgery are comparable. However, our results cannot be a reference before controlled, prospective trials are performed.
Survival of Betta splendens fish (Regan, 1910) in domestic water containers and its effectiveness in controlling Aedes aegypti larvae (Linnaeus, 1762) in Northeast Brazil

Objective In Northeast Brazil, large domestic containers used to store water are important breeding sites of Aedes aegypti, the main vector of dengue fever. The objective of this study was to estimate the survival of Betta splendens (Perciformes: Osphronemidae) fish in domestic containers in Fortaleza (Ceará State), as well as its effectiveness in the control of premature A. aegypti stages.
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology launches human resources planning initiatives.

In 2002, the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) conducted a survey of the membership, the results of which were reviewed and developed by the Past Presidents' Council into a long term strategic plan. Survey findings and the resulting strategic plan were published earlier this year in The Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and can be reviewed on the CAG Web site at http://www.pulsus. com/Gastro/18_01/Pdf/newe_ed. pdf and http://www.pulsus. com/Gastro/18_02/Pdf/newe_ed. pdf. Members repeatedly noted the importance of collecting statistics on gastroenterology in Canada and addressing human resource issues.
System Optimization in Relay Enhanced LTE-Advanced Networks via Uplink Power Control

Relaying is a promising enhancement to current radio technologies, which has been investigated in the 3GPP LTE-Advanced study item and has been recently agreed to be standardized during the work item. Relay enhanced networks are expected to fulfill the demanding coverage and capacity requirements in a cost-efficient way. Yet, in order to fully exploit the benefits of relaying, the inter-cell interference which is increased due to the presence of relay nodes should be limited. Moreover, large differences in the received power levels from different users should be avoided. The goal is to keep the receiver dynamic range low in order to retain the orthogonality of the SC-FDMA system. In this paper, an evaluation of the relay based deployment within the LTE-Advanced uplink framework is carried out by applying the standardized LTE power control scheme both at eNBs and relay nodes. The power control is shown to be a crucial means to increase the cell edge and system capacity, to mitigate inter-cell interference and to adjust the receiver dynamic range.
A comparison of historical land-use change patterns and recommendations for flood plain developments in three delta regions in Southeast Asia

Historical land-cover changes in three delta regions in Southeast Asia are assessed by using selected Landsat images from 1990 to 2005. Potential inundation areas of the delta regions for different return periods are estimated by using digital elevation model data and extreme-value distribution of annual maximum river discharges. The results indicate significant changes of natural land cover within the potential inundation areas due to agricultural exploitation and industrialization. Implications for flood-mitigation policies are discussed. There is a clear need for sustainable land-use management strategies in all three areas.
New insights into the HCI degradation of pass-gate transistor in advanced FinFET technology

HCI degradation of pass-gate transistor with forward and reverse stress biases in advanced FinFET technology is investigated comprehensively. Due to the bidirectional stress, pass-gate HCI shows larger degradation than conventional HCI, which can induce up to 50% error in predicting pass-gate delay degradation. Based on the proposed underlying physics, compact model of pass-gate HCI is developed and verified. With further analysis on circuit level, new simulation methodology is demonstrated. It is thus helpful to the reliability-aware circuit design in advanced FinFET technology.
On inferring how resources are shared in IoT ecosystems; a graph theoretic approach

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an enabler of the digital transformation dictating new needs and trends in the domains of business and technology. Ecosystems of IoT devices are often organized in networks, using wireless technology and sharing access infrastructure. These networks are used to monitor a wide range of systems, from simple household activities to fully-interconnected smart cities. In many usage scenarios, the IoT devices are resource-constrained. Thus, energy scavenging is utilized to meet their expanding longevity requirements. In this paper, we study the local resource dynamics of IoT devices in an ecosystem, i.e., a set of different IoT devices that co-exist in spatiotemporal level to coordinate the use of available common resources for their individual goals. To this end, we model an ecosystem of IoT devices as a time-varying graph and provide a theoretical foundation for resource distribution using Graph Theory. We show that simple graph-theoretic metrics, such as, the clustering coefficient and degree distribution, can provide rich information about the priority policy that is followed for the distribution of resources among different IoT devices. We take the case of micro grids; with some nodes having harvesting potential and smart meters measuring the current consumption/generation and being connected to the control unit. We use this notion in our example use-case, appropriating this to micro-grids with enough harvested energy. Even one link per node can describe an ecosystem as a connected component with more than 60% of its total energy needs covered. Additionally, the nodes presenting harvesting potential are formed into unipartite graphs of affiliation networks. Studying their clustering coefficient we infer the priority policy that ia applied when excess energy is shared within their ecosystem.
An approach to construct simplified measures of dietary patterns from exploratory factor analysis

Exploratory factor analysis might work well in elucidating the major dietary patterns prevailing in specific study populations. However, patterns extracted in one study population and their associations with disease risk cannot be reproduced with this data-specific method in other study populations. To construct less population-dependent pattern variables of similar content as original exploratory patterns, we proposed to derive so-called simplified pattern variables. They represent the sum of the unweighted standardised food variables which loaded high at the pattern of interest. Data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study suggest that these simplified pattern variables might adequately approximate factor analysis-based dietary patterns. A simplified pattern variable based on the six highest loading food variables showed a correlation >0·95 with the originally derived factor score, which consisted of forty-seven food variables. Moreover, simplified pattern variables might adequately approximate patterns across different study populations. A simplified pattern variable showed similar factor loadings, ranging from 0·34 to 0·52, as well as similar associations with nutrient intake as a ‘western’ pattern originally reported from an US study population. These simplified pattern variables can subsequently be used to study pattern associations with disease risk, especially in multi-centre studies. It is therefore an approach that might overcome one of the most frequently claimed limitations of factor analyses applied in epidemiology: their non-comparable risk estimates.
AMAS: a fast tool for alignment manipulation and computing of summary statistics

The amount of data used in phylogenetics has grown explosively in the recent years and many phylogenies are inferred with hundreds or even thousands of loci and many taxa. These modern phylogenomic studies often entail separate analyses of each of the loci in addition to multiple analyses of subsets of genes or concatenated sequences. Computationally efficient tools for handling and computing properties of thousands of single-locus or large concatenated alignments are needed. Here I present AMAS (Alignment Manipulation And Summary), a tool that can be used either as a stand-alone command-line utility or as a Python package. AMAS works on amino acid and nucleotide alignments and combines capabilities of sequence manipulation with a function that calculates basic statistics. The manipulation functions include conversions among popular formats, concatenation, extracting sites and splitting according to a pre-defined partitioning scheme, creation of replicate data sets, and removal of taxa. The statistics calculated include the number of taxa, alignment length, total count of matrix cells, overall number of undetermined characters, percent of missing data, AT and GC contents (for DNA alignments), count and proportion of variable sites, count and proportion of parsimony informative sites, and counts of all characters relevant for a nucleotide or amino acid alphabet. AMAS is particularly suitable for very large alignments with hundreds of taxa and thousands of loci. It is computationally efficient, utilizes parallel processing, and performs better at concatenation than other popular tools. AMAS is a Python 3 program that relies solely on Python’s core modules and needs no additional dependencies. AMAS source code and manual can be downloaded from http://github.com/marekborowiec/AMAS/ under GNU General Public License.
Comparative Dexamethasone Suppression Test Measurements in Bulimia, Depression and Normal Controls

Twenty bulimics, 20 depressives and 20 normal controls were studied using the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) as defined by Carroll et al. Their past psychiatric and family histories were compared. We found that actively bulimic subjects had a rate of DST non-suppression of 20%, and that 20% of them had a past history of a major depressive disorder. Forty per cent had a history of alcoholism and I or antisocial personality in a first degree relative, but only 5% had a positive family history of affective disorder. These rates were significantly lower than those found in the depressed group except for the family history of alcoholism and/or antisocial personality for which there was no significant difference. We identified a subgroup of bulimic DST non-suppressors who, like patients with melancholia, were characterized by past history of major depressive illness and high rates of family history of affective disorder, alcoholism and/or antisocial personality in first degree relatives. This group responded to antidepressant medications in a manner similar to depressed patients.
Classification of epileptic EEG signals by wavelet based CFC

Electroencephalogram, an influential equipment for analyzing human's activities and recognition of seizure attacks can play a crucial role in designing accurate systems which can distinguish ictal seizures from regular brain alertness, since it is the first step towards accomplishing a high accuracy computer aided diagnosis system (CAD). In this article a novel approach for classification of ictal signals with wavelet based cross frequency coupling (CFC) is suggested. After extracting features by wavelet based CFC, optimal features have been selected by t-test and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) have completed the Classification.
Sliding mode control for functional electrical stimulation of a musculoskeletal model

Functional Electrical Stimulation appears currently as a promising solution improving the living conditions for victims of spinal cord injury and stroke. Thus, many control strategies have been employed. This paper deals with the control of the flexion-extension of the elbow joint. At first, two Functional Electrical Stimulation controllers are developed namely Proportional-Derivative and Sliding Mode Control. Secondly a comparison study between of both of them is done. Finally, simulations results are provided to prove the performance of the sliding mode controller.
On Number of Almost Blank Subframes in Heterogeneous Cellular Networks

In heterogeneous cellular scenarios with macrocells, femtocells or picocells users may suffer from significant co-channel cross-tier interference. To manage this interference 3GPP introduced almost blank subframe (ABSF), a subframe in which the interferer tier is not allowed to transmit data. Vulnerable users thus get a chance to be scheduled in ABSFs with reduced cross-tier interference. We analyze downlink scenarios using stochastic geometry and formulate a condition for the required number of ABSFs based on base station placement statistics and user throughput requirement. The result is a semi-analytical formula that serves as a good initial estimate and offers an easy way to analyze impact of network parameters. We show that while in macro/femto scenario the residue ABSF interference can be well managed, in macro/pico scenario it affects the number of required ABSFs strongly. The effect of ABSFs is subsequently demonstrated via user throughput simulations. Especially in the macro/pico scenario, we find that using ABSFs is advantageous for the system since victim users no longer suffer from poor performance for the price of relatively small drop in higher throughput percentiles.
Strategic choices and change in non‐profit organizations

More than ever, non-profit organizations are embracing strategy in order to navigate the rapid change in their operating environment. This study draws on the Miles and Snow generic strategies (prospector, analyser, defender and reactor) to examine: (a) current and previous strategic choices of non-profit organizations and (b) the role of government funding in the change (if any) from one strategic type to another. The study finds that while there were movements from and towards the four strategic types, analyser is the most common strategy among non-profit organizations followed by prospector. Non-profit organizations appear to be considering many factors including government funding, internal environment and prior strategy in order to determine their current strategy. However, government funding was not the primary factor in the strategic change in non-profit organizations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changing Capitalization of CBD-Oriented Transportation Systems: Evidence from Philadelphia, 1970-1988

Abstract This paper presents estimates of how the value of central business district (CBD) accessibility has changed over the period 1970–1988 for the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Using a large data set on suburban Philadelphia house sales, we estimate house value premiums associated with CBD-oriented train service provided by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority for each year in the sample. Additionally, we provide evidence on the changing value of highway access to the CBD. For the Philadelphia metropolitan area, we find strong evidence that accessibility to the CBD is capitalized into suburban house values. The estimated value of CBD accessibility fluctuates with the economic health of the city, indicating that the central city economy is an important factor in the overall wealth of suburban communities. From a policy perspective, these findings suggest that suburban communities may not be able to isolate themselves from the consequences of central city decline, and in fact, that suburban communities may benefit substantially from a growing central city.