Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Practical Reason and Desire

According to the Humean Theory of Practical Reason (HTPR), every rational action must serve some desire that the agent has (or at least would have if she rationally performed that action)—where this desire is, as I shall put it, a ‘contingent desire’, a desire that the agent is not in any way rationally required to have. Humeans typically argue for the HTPR on the basis of the following two premisses: first, the Humean Theory of Motivation (HTM), the view that all motivation of action has such contingent desire ‘at its source’; and second, the Internalism Requirement (IR), the view that ‘reasons must be capable of motivating’. This argument for the HTPR is familiar, but it has rarely been stated with sufficient precision. In this paper, I shall give a precise statement of this argument and of the HTPR. I shall then rely on this statement to show two things. First, the HTPR is false: it is incompatible with some extremely plausible assumptions about weakness of will or akrasia. Second, this argument for the HTPR is invalid: even if the HTM and the IR are true, they do not support the HTPR.
Measuring semantic similarity within sentences

Sentence similarity measures have taken an increasingly important role in a variety of applications of text knowledge presentation and discovery. Current methods utilize only semantic or syntactic information. We propose a novel method to calculate sentence similarity, which takes into account both semantic information and word order. The experimental results show that our method outperforms existing methods.
Economic evaluation of cognitive behavioral therapy and Internet‐based guided self‐help for binge‐eating disorder

OBJECTIVE To determine the cost-effectiveness of individual face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) compared to therapist guided Internet-based self-help (GSH-I) in overweight or obese adults with binge-eating disorder (BED). METHOD Analysis was conducted alongside the multicenter randomized controlled INTERBED trial. CBT (n = 76) consisted of up to 20 individual therapy sessions over 4 months. GSH-I (n = 71) consisted of 11 modules combining behavioral interventions, exercises including a self-monitoring food diary, psychoeducation, and 2 face-to-face coaching sessions over 4 months. Assessments at baseline, after 4 months (post-treatment), as well as 6 and 18 months after the end of treatment included health care utilization and sick leave days to calculate direct and indirect costs. Binge-free days (BFD) were calculated as effect measure based on the German version of the Eating Disorder Examination. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was determined, and net benefit regressions, adjusted for comorbidities and baseline differences, were used to derive cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. RESULTS After controlling for baseline differences, CBT was associated with non-significantly more costs (+€2,539) and BFDs (+40.1) compared with GSH-I during the 22-month observation period, resulting in an adjusted ICER of €63 per additional BFD. CBTs probability of being cost-effective increased above 80% only if societal willingness to pay (WTP) was ≥€250 per BFD. DISCUSSION We did not find clear evidence for one of the treatments being more cost-effective. CBT tends to be more effective but also more costly. If the societal WTP for an additional BFD is low, then our results suggest that GSH-I should rather be adopted.
Isolation and characterization of subgingival staphylococci from periodontitis patients and controls.

OBJECTIVES To isolate and characterize subgingival staphylococci from patients with periodontal disease and from periodontally healthy controls, to evaluate the periodontal environment as a potential source for systemic staphylococcal infections. METHODS Periopaper strips were used to isolate subgingival staphylococci from 28 patients with chronic periodontitis and 28 periodontally healthy age and sex-matched controls. Staphylococci were identified by microbiological methods and antibiotic resistance profiles determined. RESULTS Staphylococci were isolated from 54% diseased subgingival and 43% healthy subgingival sites in over 50% periodontitis patients and from 29% healthy subgingival sites in 54% controls. No significant differences in the frequency of isolation or numbers of staphylococci isolated from diseased and healthy sites were noted. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant oral species. Seventy per cent (115 of 165) of all isolates were penicillin-resistant. CONCLUSIONS Subgingival staphylococci are present in both periodontitis patients and controls. In periodontitis there is an increased risk of bacteraemia because of the increased dentogingival surface area. The dental and periodontal health of patients at risk from haematogenous infections should therefore be maintained at a high level. Antibiotic resistance profiles of the oral staphylococcal isolates suggest that amoxicillin may no longer be a suitable antibiotic for prophylaxis against systemic infections such as prosthetic valve endocarditis.
A Multicenter Randomized Double-Blind Study: Comparison of the Epley, Semont, and Sham Maneuvers for the Treatment of Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

We evaluated the short-term efficacy of Epley, Semont, and sham maneuvers for resolving posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in a prospective multicenter randomized double-blind controlled study. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups: Epley (36 patients), Semont (32 patients), and sham (Epley maneuver for the unaffected side, 31 patients). Out of 14 institutes which participated in this study, 5 institutes had previous experience of the Epley but not the Semont maneuver and the other 9 had previous experience of both maneuvers. Each maneuver was repeated twice if there was still positional vertigo or nystagmus on day 0, and the presence of nystagmus and vertigo on positional testing were evaluated immediately, 1 day, and 1 week after treatment. After the first maneuver, the Epley group showed a significantly higher resolution rate of positional nystagmus than the Semont or sham groups (63.9, 37.5, and 38.7%, respectively). After the second maneuver, the resolution rate (83.3%) of the Epley group was significantly higher than that (51.6%) of the sham group. At 1 day and 1 week after treatment, the resolution rate of the Epley group was significantly higher than those of the other groups. Similar results were seen for the resolution of positional vertigo. The Epley maneuver showed persistent resolution rates of positional vertigo and nystagmus without a fatigue phenomenon. The Epley maneuver was significantly more effective per maneuver than Semont or sham maneuvers for the short-term treatment of posterior canal BPPV. The Semont maneuver showed a higher success rate than the sham maneuver, but it was not significantly different.
Assessing Knowledge Sharing Among Academics: A Validation of the Knowledge Sharing Behavior Scale (KSBS)

Background: There is a belief that academics tend to hold on tightly to their knowledge and intellectual resources. However, not much effort has been put into the creation of a valid and reliable instrument to measure knowledge sharing behavior among the academics. Objectives: To apply and validate the Knowledge Sharing Behavior Scale (KSBS) as a measure of knowledge sharing behavior within the academic community. Subjects: Respondents (N = 447) were academics from arts and science streams in 10 local, public universities in Malaysia. Measures: Data were collected using the 28-item KSBS that assessed four dimensions of knowledge sharing behavior namely written contributions, organizational communications, personal interactions, and communities of practice. Results: The exploratory factor analysis showed that the items loaded on the dimension constructs that they were supposed to represent, thus proving construct validity. A within-factor analysis revealed that each set of items representing their intended dimension loaded on only one construct, therefore establishing convergent validity. All four dimensions were not perfectly correlated with each other or organizational citizenship behavior, thereby proving discriminant validity. However, all four dimensions correlated with organizational commitment, thus confirming predictive validity. Furthermore, all four factors correlated with both tacit and explicit sharing, which confirmed their concurrent validity. All measures also possessed sufficient reliability (α > .70). Conclusion: The KSBS is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to formally assess the types of knowledge artifacts residing among academics and the degree of knowledge sharing in relation to those artifacts.
Advanced colorectal carcinoma. A prospective randomized trial of sequential methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin versus 5-fluorouracil alone.

One hundred and twenty-five previously untreated patients bearing metastatic or advanced recurrent (inoperable) colorectal carcinoma and measurable disease were prospectively randomized. Those in arm A received 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 1,200 mg/m2 i.v. infusion over 2 h, while those in arm B received methotrexate (MTX), 200 mg/m2 i.v. (push injection), followed 20 h later by 5-FU, 1,200 mg/m2 i.v. infusion over 2 h, plus calcium leucovorin (LV), 25 mg i.m. every 6 h for eight doses beginning 24 h after MTX administration. Cycles were repeated every 15 days. All patients receiving treatment were evaluable for toxicity and survival, and 118 patients were evaluable for response. The objective regression rate (complete plus partial response) was 12% (7 of 58) in arm A and 28% (17 of 60) in arm B (p = 0.049). No change was observed in 24% (14 of 58) in arm A and in 35% (21 of 60) in arm B (p = 0.28), while progressive disease was registered in 64% (37 of 58) and 37% (22 of 60) in arms A and B, respectively (p = 0.006). Median duration of response was 3 months in arm A and 5 months in arm B (p = 0.39). The median survival was 8.3 months in arm A and 11.2 months in arm B (p = 0.25). No statistically significant differences were found when objective regression and survival were related to site of primary tumor, performance status, and number of involved organs. There were two drug-related deaths in arm B due to severe myelosuppression followed by mucositis and sepsis. Of nonhematologic toxicities, diarrhea was more frequently observed in arm B, as were mucositis and infectious complications. Our results indicate that the sequential schedule MTX-5-FU-LV with 20-h intervals between MTX and 5-FU is superior in terms of objective regression to 5-FU alone given at the dose and schedule used in the present study. However, MTX-5-FU-LV did not have a significant impact on survival.
Longitudinal effects of air pollution on exhaled nitric oxide: the Children's Health Study

Objectives To assess the effects of long-term variations in ambient air pollutants on longitudinal changes in exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a potentially useful biomarker of eosinophilic airway inflammation, based on data from the southern California Children's Health Study. Methods Based on a cohort of 1211 schoolchildren from eight Southern California communities with FeNO measurements in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, regression models adjusted for short-term effects of air pollution were fitted to assess the association between changes in annual long-term exposures and changes in FeNO. Results Increases in annual average concentrations of 24-h average NO2 and PM2.5 (scaled to the IQR of 1.8 ppb and 2.4 μg/m3, respectively) were associated with a 2.29 ppb (CI 0.36 to 4.21; p=0.02) and a 4.94 ppb (CI 1.44 to 8.47; p=0.005) increase in FeNO, respectively, after adjustments for short-term effects of the respective pollutants. In contrast, changes in annual averages of PM10 and O3 were not significantly associated with changes in FeNO. These findings did not differ significantly by asthma status. Conclusions Changes in annual average exposure to current levels of ambient air pollutants are significantly associated with changes in FeNO levels in children, independent of short-term exposures and asthma status. Use of this biomarker in population-based epidemiological research has great potential for assessing the impact of changing real world mixtures of ambient air pollutants on children's respiratory health.
Conceptual Design and Trajectory Planning of a Precision Repetitive-Scanning Stage With Separated Drive Unit for Energy Saving

Precision repetitive-scanning stages, which exist in lithographic reticle systems, scanning probe microscopes, and scanning electrodischarge machines, have been widely used in modern precision industry. To design such stages, energy consumption has become one of the most important criteria due to energy crisis and practical heat-reduction request. Considering the motion characteristics of such stages, it would lead to an energy-saving nature if the accelerated and constant-speed motions are driven by two separated drive units (SDUs). Inspired by this thought, we propose a novel concept of precision repetitive-scanning stage especially equipped with a separate permanent-magnet drive unit for accelerated motion. In order to exploit the function of SDUs for achieving high energy-saving performance, a modified repetitive-scanning trajectory is proposed. For this trajectory, complete analytic formulas allowing real-time planning are provided to match the permanent-magnet drive force, which results in a sufficient utilization of the SDUs' drive ability. Finally, a precision repetitive-scanning stage prototype is set up. Comparative experimental results demonstrate that the proposed structural concept and its matched trajectory can significantly save energy without any motion accuracy deterioration. Essentially speaking, the proposed conceptual design and trajectory planning strategy provide a good guidance for precision repetitive-scanning system on energy saving, which could be applied to industry of semiconductor manufacturing, precision detection, microfabrication, and so on.
Comparative effectiveness of lipid-lowering treatments to reduce cardiovascular disease

ABSTRACT Introduction: The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor is a new treatment option for patients with hypercholesterolemia. The objective of this study was to systematically review the cost-effectiveness of lipid-lowering agents. Areas covered: Based on Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, we identified 29 relevant articles. Studies found statins were cost-effective compared with placebo or no treatment in general. Atorvastatin was reported to be cost-effective against simvastatin. In most cases, rosuvastatin was more cost-effective than atorvastatin or simvastatin. Additionally, ezetimibe was considered to be cost-effective compared with no treatment for statin intolerant patients. For patients not meeting treatment goals with their statins, switching to ezetimibe plus simvastatin was consistently reported cost-effective. The cost-effectiveness of ezetimibe plus a hybrid of a statin varied by the source of clinical data and cost of ezetimibe. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of PCSK9 inhibitor plus a statin against statin monotherapy was uncertain. The PCSK9 inhibitor plus a stain was cost-ineffective compared with ezetimibe plus a statin. Expert commentary: Drug costs and treatment efficacy were the key drivers of the cost-effectiveness results in prior analyses. Future evaluations are warranted to reflect the decreasing drug prices and the long-term treatment effects of PCSK9 inhibitors.
A physical surface potential model of α-IGZO TFTs

A Physical surface potential model of α-IGZO thin-film transistors based on the Lambert W function is proposed. The model is single-piece and valid in all operation regions above flat band voltage. The distribution of trap states, which includes both exponential deep-level and exponential tail states, is also taken into account. Comparison with the numerical result is accomplished, and good agreement is obtained.
MODELING MAGNETAR OUTBURSTS: FLUX ENHANCEMENTS AND THE CONNECTION WITH SHORT BURSTS AND GLITCHES

The availability of a large amount of observational data recently collected from magnetar outbursts is now calling for a complete theoretical study of outburst characteristics. In this Letter (the first of a series dedicated to modeling magnetar outbursts), we tackle the long-standing open issue of whether or not short bursts and glitches are always connected to long-term radiative outbursts. We show that the recent detection of short bursts and glitches seemingly unconnected to outbursts is only misleading our understanding of these events. We show that, in the framework of the starquake model, neutrino emission processes in the magnetar crust limit the temperature, and therefore the luminosity. This natural limit to the maximum luminosity makes outbursts associated with bright persistent magnetars barely detectable. These events are simply seen as a small luminosity increase over the already bright quiescent state, followed by a fast return to quiescence. In particular, this is the case for 1RXS J1708−4009, 1E 1841−045, SGR 1806−20, and other bright persistent magnetars. On the other hand, a similar event (with the same energetics) in a fainter source will drive a more extreme luminosity variation and longer cooling time, as for sources such as XTE J1810−197, 1E 1547−5408, and SGR 1627−41. We conclude that the non-detection of large radiative outbursts in connection with glitches and bursts from bright persistent magnetars is not surprising per se, nor does it need any revision of the glitches and burst mechanisms as explained by current theoretical models.
Coinfection with Helicobacter pylori and Opisthorchis viverrini Enhances the Severity of Hepatobiliary Abnormalities in Hamsters

ABSTRACT Persistent infection with Opisthorchis viverrini causes hepatobiliary abnormalities, predisposing infected individuals to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In addition, Helicobacter pylori is highly prevalent in most countries and is a possible risk factor for CCA; however, its role in enhancing hepatobiliary abnormality is unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of coinfection with H. pylori and O. viverrini on hepatobiliary abnormality. Hamsters were divided into four groups: (i) normal, (ii) H. pylori infected (HP), (iii) O. viverrini infected (OV), and (iv) O. viverrini and H. pylori infected (OV+HP). At 6 months postinfection, PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to test for the presence of H. pylori in the stomach, gallbladder, and liver. In the liver, H. pylori was detected in the following order: OV+HP, 5 of 8 (62.5%); HP, 2 of 5 (40%); OV, 2 of 8 (25%). H. pylori was not detected in normal (control) liver tissues. Coinfection induced the most severe hepatobiliary abnormalities, including periductal fibrosis, cholangitis, and bile duct hyperplasia, leading to a significantly decreased survival rate of experimental animals. The greatest thickness of periductal fibrosis was associated with a significant increase in fibrogenesis markers (expression of alpha smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor beta). Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR revealed that the highest expression levels of genes for proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 [IL-1], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were also observed in the OV+HP group. These results suggest that coinfection with H. pylori and O. viverrini increased the severity of hepatobiliary abnormalities to a greater extent than either single infection did.
painDETECT: a new screening questionnaire to identify neuropathic components in patients with back pain

ABSTRACT Objective: Nociceptive and neuropathic components both contribute to pain. Since these components require different pain management strategies, correct pain diagnosis before and during treatment is highly desirable. As low back pain (LBP) patients constitute an important subgroup of chronic pain patients, we addressed the following issues: (i) to establish a simple, validated screening tool to detect neuropathic pain (NeP) components in chronic LBP patients, (ii) to determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain components in LBP in a large-scale survey, and (iii) to determine whether LBP patients with an NeP component suffer from worse, or different, co-morbidities. Methods: In co-operation with the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain we developed and validated the painDETECT questionnaire (PD‐Q) in a prospective, multicentre study and subsequently applied it to approximately 8000 LBP patients. Results: The PD‐Q is a reliable screening tool with high sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive accuracy; these were 84% in a palm-top computerised version and 85%, 80% and 83%, respectively, in a corresponding pencil-and-paper questionnaire. In an unselected cohort of chronic LBP patients, 37% were found to have predominantly neuropathic pain. Patients with NeP showed higher ratings of pain intensity, with more (and more severe) co‐morbidities such as depression, panic/anxiety and sleep disorders. This also affected functionality and use of health-care resources. On the basis of given prevalence of LBP in the general population, we calculated that 14.5% of all female and 11.4% of all male Germans suffer from LBP with a predominant neuropathic pain component. Conclusion: Simple, patient-based, easy-to-use screening questionnaires can determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain components both in individual LBP patients and in heterogeneous cohorts of such patients. Since NeP correlates with more intense pain, more severe co‐morbidity and poorer quality of life, accurate diagnosis is a milestone in choosing appropriate therapy.
A game theory-based asymmetric multi-channel selection algorithm in wireless ad hoc networks

While multi-channel allocation has been studied in many networks by different theories, asymmetric channel characteristics are seldom considered. This paper considers the channel selection problem in wireless Ad hoc networks from the game-theoretic viewpoint, which is based on the assumption that quality discrepancy exists between the candidate channels. A simple saturation throughput model is presented to quantify to the utility of each player. The mixed Nash Equilibrium (NE) model is used to analyze the channel selection, and a mixed strategy algorithm is proposed to maximize the throughput and also improve the fairness of channel selection. Simulation results confirm that the proposed mixed game model is effective, and the mixed strategy can improve the network throughput greatly.
The role of ontologies in autonomic computing systems

The goal of IBM's autonomic computing strategy is to deliver information technology environments with improved self-management capabilities, such as self-healing, self-protection, self-optimization, and self-configuration. Data correlation and inference technologies can be used as core components to build autonomic computing systems. They can also be used to perform automated and continuous analysis of enterprise-wide event data based upon user-defined configurable rules, such as those intended for detecting threats or system failures. Furthermore, they may trigger corrective actions for protecting or healing the system. In this paper, we discuss the use of ontologies as a high-level, expressive, conceptual modeling approach for describing the knowledge upon which the processing of a correlation engine is based. The introduction of explicit models of state-based information technology resources into the correlation technology approach allows the construction of autonomic computing systems that are capable of dealing with policy-based goals on a higher abstraction level. We demonstrate some of the benefits of this approach by applying it to a particular IBM implementation, the eAutomation correlation engine.