Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficient PAC Learning from the Crowd Pranjal Awasthi

In recent years crowdsourcing has become the method of choice for gathering labeled training data for learning algorithms. Standard approaches to crowdsourcing view the process of acquiring labeled data separately from the process of learning a classifier from the gathered data. This can give rise to computational and statistical challenges. For example, in most cases there are no known computationally efficient learning algorithms that are robust to the high level of noise that exists in crowdsourced data, and efforts to eliminate noise through voting often require a large number of queries per example. In this paper, we show how by interleaving the process of labeling and learning, we can attain computational efficiency with much less overhead in the labeling cost. In particular, we consider the realizable setting where there exists a true target function in F and consider a pool of labelers. When a noticeable fraction of the labelers are perfect, and the rest behave arbitrarily, we show that any F that can be efficiently learned in the traditional realizable PAC model can be learned in a computationally efficient manner by querying the crowd, despite high amounts of noise in the responses. Moreover, we show that this can be done while each labeler only labels a constant number of examples and the number of labels requested per example, on average, is a constant. When no perfect labelers exist, a related task is to find a set of the labelers which are good but not perfect. We show that we can identify all good labelers, when at least the majority of labelers are good.
Costs of raising equity capital by renounceable rights issues in Australia

Rights issues remain a common method for raising equity capital in Australia for companies listed on me Australian Stock Exchange. This study investigates the capital raising costs of Anstralian renounceable equity rights issues from 2001 to 2006. Both direct and indirect costs are investigated and the explanatory power of potential influencing factors is analyzed. The total direct costs averaged nearly 4% of gross proceeds raised and the mean offer price was discounted around 17% from the current market price. Issue size, percentage underwritten, concentration of ownership and issuer risk significantly influence the percentage direct costs of the rights issue. The age of the issuer, the average historical volume of shares traded and the offer price appear to influence the percentage discount.
Sustainable Transport, Mobility Management and Travel Plans

Contents: Preface Transport issues and their solutions The development of the travel plan Segment: examining the influence of activities on trips and travel plans Scale: all travel plans great and small Structure: re-orienting travel plans to increase effectiveness and level of take up Supporting travel plans: what role for public authorities and the wider travel plan industry? Recommendations for practice and policy and implications for the future Index.
Depression and anxiety in parent versus spouse caregivers of adult patients with traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

A systematic review of studies which evaluated depression and anxiety in parent versus spouse caregivers of adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) was conducted. Demographic variables of the TBI patients and caregivers, study design, measurement tools used, and outcomes reported were collected. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated for methodological quality. While the majority of studies revealed no significant differences between caregiver types on measures of depression and/or anxiety, there was a great deal of variation in methodology and quality between the studies. Overall, high levels of caregiver distress were exposed, regardless of caregiver type (parent versus spouse). There is a need for qualitative and quantitative research designs in order to elucidate the factors that put caregivers at risk for depression and anxiety.
Screening and elementary excitations in narrow-channel semiconductor microstructures.

The dielectric response of a one-dimensional electron gas occurring in the narrow inversion layers in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (or quantum-well) structures is investigated theoretically. A nonsingular screening function appropriate for dc transport calculations is derived. The plasma frequency in such a system is obtained as an explicit function of wave number. Plasmon dispersion for a lateral two-dimensional superlattice made from such one-dimensional quantum wires is also calculated.
Preschool children's sentence comprehension: strategies with respect to word order

ABSTRACT Fifty-two children aged 2; 5 to 6; 3 acted out the meaning of reversible passive and inverted cleft sentences. The younger children overgeneralized two strategies that led to passive sentence reversal. In order of frequency, they are: (1)‘agent + action’ (the noun preceding the verb being interpreted as agent even when it is the second noun), and (2) ‘order-of-mention’ (the first noun being treated as agent). Whereas younger children tended to use an individually consistent approach to both structures, older children were more likely to vary their approaches when they did not comprehend a structure.
Extracting Financial Information from Text Documents

The majority of electronic data today is in textual form. Financial data such as articles in the Wall Street Journal are written as texts. These electronic documents contain a wealth of information but require human interpretation. For financial analysis, rapid up-to-date information is critical. Most software tools currently require data which are better structured than text (such as data in relational databases). Thus, our research goal is to build a system, “FIRST” (Flexible Information extRaction SysTem), that will extract data from financial articles and store the output in an explicit format. FIRST uses natural language processing techniques and resources such as the lexical database WordNet and collocation information to extract information. We hope to be able to extract data such as an organization’s name, its profit/loss status, and sales status, from financial articles to input into a database. The data will come from international corporate reports which appear in the Wall Street Journal.
Models of blood coagulation

&NA; We have used three models to study the process of tissue factor‐initiated blood coagulation. These are: synthetic ‘plasma’ mixtures prepared with the proteins and membranes involved in the reaction and its regulation; mathematical models based on the reaction kinetics, binding constants and stoichiometries of individual procoagulant and inhibitor reactions, and contact pathway‐inhibited coagulation of minimally altered whole blood in vitro. In all of these models, the procoagulant process may be divided into two phases: an initiation phase and a propagation phase. The initiation phase is characterized by the appearance of thrombin and other coagulation enzymes, and the activation of pro‐cofactors V and VIII. The propagation phase is characterized by explosive and extensive prothrombin activation. During normal blood coagulation, the bulk of thrombin generation occurs after clot formation, while most release of fibrinopeptide A is observed just at the conclusion of the initiation phase. In the case of haemophilia A and B, the initiation phase is slightly extended, while thrombin generation during the propagation phase is significantly suppressed. The clot time, as well as fibrinopeptide release, is delayed in these patients. Data obtained in our laboratory, employing the above models, indicate that they are efficient tools for blood coagulation studies. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 11 (suppl 1):S9‐S13 © 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Value mapping for urban infrastructure projects: Mapping project outcomes to corporate objectives

Current research, in conjunction with the Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation (Australia), is investigating the role of greater corporate responsibility in the provision of urban infrastructure projects. This paper reports on doctoral research which is enabling project teams to better identify and align project objectives with corporate objectives, thus assisting in managing future risk and possible ecological and social harm. The research methodology in use is based on Checkland's soft system methodology, engaging in action-research with Brisbane City Council (Australia) on three case study projects. Key findings of the collaborative case studies include: • Linking project objectives to corporate objectives provides greater decision-making transparency; increased rigor in establishing objectives; and greater awareness of project opportunities. • Using an iterative process to identify the project's stakeholder footprint and accountabilities, at the pre-feasibility phase, can better inform the subsequent project phases. • Developing project indicators, measureables and targets, linked to corporate objectives can enhance decision-making transparency and communication.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome in Athletes

Background The details of the occurrence of tarsal tunnel syndrome in athletes have not been well documented in the literature, and more data on tarsal tunnel syndrome related to sporting activity are necessary to enable better recognition of this condition. Hypothesis Sporting activities make athletes vulnerable to the occurrence of tarsal tunnel syndrome under specific conditions. Study Design Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods Between 1986 and 2002, 18 patients with tarsal tunnel syndrome related to sporting activities were surgically treated, of whom 15 patients (21 feet; mean age, 17.8 years) were competitive athletes and 3 were recreational sports amateurs (4 feet; mean age, 52.7 years). To assess the role of physical factors and sporting activities in making athletes vulnerable to the occurrence of tarsal tunnel syndrome, the authors reviewed the medical charts and evaluated the results of treatment. The mean duration of follow-up was 58.6 months. Results Activities that triggered tarsal tunnel syndrome were those that applied a heavy burden on the ankle joint such as sprinting, jumping, and performing ashibarai in judo under specific physical conditions. Predisposing underlying physical factors were flatfoot deformity and an existence of talocalcaneal coalition, accessory muscles, and bony fragments around the tarsal tunnel. The majority of patients were able to return to the same sport after treatment. Conclusion Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs in athletes involved in strenuous sporting activities, especially when predisposing physical factors are present.
Multi-institutional Validation Study of the American Joint Commission on Cancer (8th Edition) Changes for T and N Staging in Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and validate the proposed 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) system for T and N staging of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Summary of Background Data: Investigators have questioned the clinical relevance and reproducibility of previous AJCC staging for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: Prospective databases at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) were queried for patients who had undergone resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients who underwent a margin-negative (R0) resection, and who had previously undergone pathologic review, were included. Patients were staged according to 7th edition AJCC criteria, as well as the proposed 8th edition system that includes different definitions of tumor size (T) and nodal status (N). The dataset was randomly split into training and test sets. Results: Two thousand three hundred eighteen patients were identified who met inclusion criteria. Recursive partitioning on the training set (n = 1551) identified statistically appropriate cutoffs for tumor size (<2.2 cm, ≥4.8 cm,) and nodal status (no positive nodes, 1 to 3 positive nodes, ≥4 positive nodes) that supported the proposed 8th edition changes. Median survival in patients staged as T3, N0 by the 7th edition definitions was different between institutions (median Center 1, 24 mo; Center 2, 37 mo; Center 3, 29 mo; P = 0.054). This difference was not observed when patients were staged as T3, N0 by 8th edition criteria. Stage, and stage-specific outcome (7th edition), on the test set revealed a predominance of patients (68%) within the IIB subgroup, and a concordance probability estimate (CPE) of 0.57 for stage-specific survival. When assessed with 8th edition criteria, no stage subgroup had a majority of patients, and the CPE was 0.58. Conclusions: The proposed 8th edition changes for T and N classification were statistically valid and may allow a more reproducible system of T staging. This system also stratifies patients more evenly across stages without sacrificing prognostic accuracy.
Sample Size Determination for the Estimate of Process Capability Indices

Process capability indices such as C p , C pk , and C pm are extensively used in manufacturing industries to assess processes and evaluate purchasing decisions. The aim of this paper is to estimate the approximate sample size required to reach the desired confidence bound with a specified confidence level for the inferring C p , C pk , and C pm .
Stability analysis of discrete input output second order sliding mode control

The success of the sliding mode control (SMC) is due to the simplicity of its implementation and its robustness against external disturbances via state space and input output model. In spite of this characteristic, the sliding mode control (SMC) suffers from a main drawback known as the ‘chattering phenomenon’. In order to overcome this problem, a new discrete second order sliding mode control via input output model is proposed in this paper. A stability analysis of the proposed control was then studied. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed discrete second order sliding mode control law, a classical discrete sliding mode control and discrete second order sliding mode control were applied to a real discrete second order system via input output model. The experimental results of the proposed discrete sliding mode control law show good performances in terms of the rejection of the external disturbances and the reduction of the chattering phenomenon.
Granulocyte macrophage colony–stimulating factor is required for cytokine induction by a highly 6-branched 1,3-β-d-glucan from Aureobasidium pullulans in mouse-derived splenocytes

We have previously obtained and elucidated the precise structure of a highly branched 1,3-β-d-glucan (with 6-monoglucopyranosyl side chains), Aureobasidium pullulans-fermented β-d-glucan (AP-FBG), from the fungus A. pullulans. However, the mechanism(s) of the effects of AP-FBG on in vitro mouse primary cells have not been analyzed in detail. Herein, we report that the induction of cytokines by AP-FBG was dependent on the existence of a granulocyte macrophage colony–stimulating factor (GM-CSF); this is similar way to be a typical 1,3-β-d-glucan from Sparassis crispa (SCG), which is a 1,3-β-d-glucopyranosyl backbone with single 1,6-β-d-glucopyranosyl side branching units every three residues. In other words, the production of cytokines in DBA/2-mouse-derived splenocytes by AP-FBG was completely hampered by an anti-GM-CSF neutralizing monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, the addition of exogenous GM-CSF to C57BL/6-derived splenocytes, which are less sensitive to AP-FBG, induced the production of cytokines by AP-FBG. Therefore, GM-CSF is indispensable for the induction of cytokines by AP-FBG in mouse-derived splenocytes. This finding has provided a new insight into our understanding of the actions of β-d-glucan but will also aid in the design and development of more effective β-d-glucan agents.
Quantitative Determination of Drugs in Dosage Forms as a Tool of Quality Control Studies

Pharmaceutical stability may be defined as the capability of a particular formulation, in a specific container/closure system, to remain within its physical, chemical, microbiological, therapeutic, and toxicological specifications, during transport, storage and use. Chemical degradation may results in a loss of potency or an increase in drugs toxicity, so that clinical use of a medicine must be unacceptable if the degradation is relatively great. When a drug dosage form is altered (by dissolution, pulverization, or addition to other materials) or the environment of the drug is modified by changes in storage conditions, the stability of a drug may be affected [1-5]. Although there are exceptions, 90% of labeled potency generally is recognized as the minimum acceptable potency level (Gennaro, 2000). Stability testing forms an important part of the process of drug development; it provides evidence on how the quality of drug substance or drug product varies with time under the influence of a variety of environmental factors, such as humidity, temperature, and light. The stability studies of drugs can be performed at the original product (“real-time” tests or long-term tests at specific temperatures and relative humidity representing storage conditions experienced in the distribution chain of the climatic zone(s) of the country or region of the world concerned; accelerated stability tests; pharmacies storage tests) or at remainder doses of these products. The chemical stability is evaluated by testing quantity of drug at different time during the storage (Lund, 1994; USP, 2007). The aim of the stability studies is to determine the shelf life of the product and its optimum storage conditions (Connors et al., 1986; Lund, 1994; The Sixth ICH International Conference on Armonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use [ICH], 2003; The United States Pharmacopeia [USP], 2007; Watson, 2005; Yoshioka, 2000). Therefore, the authors have been developing and validating HPTLC methods with the aim of quantification of drugs in dosage forms, suitable for stability and quality control studies, as at original products as at its remainder doses.
MOTION ANALYSIS OF OVERHAND THROWING: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Overhand throwing motion is often regarded as one of the basic motions along with walking, running, and jumping. Three-dimensional (3-D) image analysis of the kinematics and kinetics using of rigid body segment model of overhand throwing motion has been studied widely in recent years. In this paper biomechanical research on throwing is reviewed with a special focus of studies from Japan. Considering throwing is not an ontogenic but rather a phylogenic motion, more thorough and longitudinal studies on various aspects of skill development and training would be expected. The fact that the trunk, shoulder, and hand are difficult to model as a single rigid body has limited research depth. Studies linking advanced 3-D motion analysis and musculo-skeletal modeling are required if a better understanding of the biomechanics of overhand throwing motion are to result.
A study in the effectiveness of predicting default using the Merton model during financial distress

i Acknowledgments ii Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Objective and outline 5 Theoretical framework 7 2.1 The Merton model 7 Data 11 3.1 Fundamental data 11 3.2 Bond 13 3.3 Interest rate 14 Methodology 15 4.1 Software 15 4.2 Balance sheet 15 4.2.1 Balance sheet Theoretical 16 4.2. 2 Balance sheetReal data 18 4.3 Interest Rate 20 4.4 Applied Merton model 21 Results 22 5.1 Volatility 22 5.2 Default probability 24 Conclusion and Discussion 26 Bibliography 27 Appendix 29 A Stochastic analysis and pricing theory 29 B Interpolated risk free rate 34 C Balance sheet 35 C1 Asset 35 C2 Equity 36 D Bond PriceLast price 37 E Historical market capitalization 38
Returns to Returning: Who Went Abroad and What Does it Matter?

We examine the labor market performance of return migrants using the Hungarian Household Panel Survey. Two distinct selection issues are considered in the estimation of the earnings equation. The result that there is a Apremium@ to work experience abroad for women is robust across models we considered. This premium varies by former host country. For men, the return to working abroad is not generally significant, except for those Hungarians who worked in non-European OECD countries.
Isolation and identification of stem cells from degenerated human intervertebral discs and their migration characteristics

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated and identified separately from the three components of intervertebral disc, i.e. annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus (NP), and cartilage endplate (CEP). However, few studies have been carried out to compare the properties of these three kinds of stem cells, especially their migration ability which is essential for their potential clinical application. In this study, MSCs were isolated from AF, NP, and CEP, respectively, of human degenerated discs and identified by surface markers and multilineage differentiation assay at passage 3. These three types of stem cells were named as AF-MSCs, NP-MSCs, and CEP-MSCs. Then, their biological characteristics were compared in terms of proliferation, passage, colony formation, migration, and invasion capacity. Results showed that all the three types of cells were identified as MSCs and had similar characteristics in proliferation, passage, and colony formation capacity. CEP-MSCs showed the highest migration and invasion potency, while NP-MSCs showed the lowest migration ability and almost no invasion potency, suggesting that CEP-MSCs had the most powerful properties of migration and invasion when compared with AF-MSCs and NP-MSCs. It was also found that the expression of CXCR4 was higher in CEP-MSCs than in the other two, suggesting that SDF-1/CXCR4 axis may play significant roles in the migration of these cells.
Voluntary IAS and U.S. Gaap Adoption by Continental European Firms: The Role of Labor Relations

We investigate the decision by a sample of Continental European firms to voluntarily adopt the International Accounting Standards (IAS) or U.S. GAAP. The strong employment protection laws in Continental Europe lead to labor practices that lack responsiveness to firm underlying economic performance. We argue that by switching to IAS/U.S. GAAP, a Continental European company can more credibly communicate with its labor force, and/or a potential third party (e.g. a government labor office, an arbitrator, or a labor court judge in the case of labor disputes), the true economic conditions of the firm and potentially reduce the costs associated with labor force adjustments. We expect the costs of rigid labor practices, thus the potential benefits of switching to IAS/U.S. GAAP, to be particularly high for firms with low labor productivity. Therefore, we predict that 1) firms with low labor productivity are more likely to adopt IAS/U.S. GAAP after controlling for other factors potentially affecting the adoption decision; 2) firms adopting IAS/U.S. GAAP and with low labor productivity report lower earnings than before the adoption and the earnings change is more negative than for similar non-adopting firms; 3) firms adopting IAS/U.S. GAAP and with low labor productivity are more likely to reduce labor forces than before the adoption and the reduction in labor forces is more pronounced than for similar non-adopting firms. Our results are consistent with these predictions.
Utilization of Preferential Trade Arrangements: Sri Lanka's Experience with the EU and US GSP Schemes

The GSP scheme was initiated by UNCTAD in 1968 with the objective of enabling developing country exports to enter developed country markets under preferential rates. Sri Lanka has been a beneficiary under the GSP scheme over the last three decades. However, meeting the scheme’s objective of export expansion seems to have fallen short and Sri Lanka has not been able to export effectively under the EU and US GSP schemes, which are the most important non-reciprocal preference arrangements providing access to Sri Lanka’s main export markets.