Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving Matrix Factorization-Based Recommender via Ensemble Methods

One of the most popular approaches to Collaborative Filtering is based on Matrix Factorization (MF). In this paper, we focus on improving MF-based recommender's accuracy by homogeneous ensemble methods. To build such ensembles, we investigate a series of methods primarily in two aspects: (i) manipulating the training examples, including bagging, AdaBoost, and Forward Stepwise Additive Regression; (ii) injecting randomness to the base models' training settings, including randomizing the initializing parameters and randomizing the training sequences. Each method is evaluated on two large, real datasets, and then the effective methods are combined to form a cascade MF ensemble scheme. The validation results on experiment datasets demonstrate that compared to a single MF-based recommender, our ensemble scheme could obtain a significant improvement in the prediction accuracy.
A Decision Support System for Exposition Timetabling Using Ant Colony Optimization

The exposition industry has developed rapidly in recent years. For exposition centers, exposition timetabling is a complicated problem. The timetables arranged by the administrators usually result in an imbalanced usage percentage between showgrounds and a low total usage percentage for all showgrounds. In this paper, we developed a decision support system that considers the characteristics of exposition timetabling. The proposed system applies ant colony optimization for determining the near-optimal timetable of expositions. The ants are grouped into teams representing multi-layer ant paths for priority ranking. This improvement allows us to classify candidate expositions with different time preferences. The showground timetabling of an exposition center is used to validate the proposed system. The timetable proposed by the decision support system ensures a higher efficiency and a higher total usage percentage of the showgrounds than the timetable proposed by a human expert.
Enhancing Financial Portfolio Robustness with an Objective Based on ϵ-Neighborhoods

Financial portfolio optimization is a challenging task. One of the major difficulties is managing the uncertainty arising from different aspects of the process. This paper suggests a solution based on ϵ-neighborhoods that, combined with a time-stamped resampling mechanism, increases the robustness of the solutions. The approach is tested on four of the most popular evolutionary multiobjective algorithms over a long period of time. This results in a significant enhancement in the reliability of the estimated efficient frontier.
Changing Treatment Strategy From Clipping to Radial Artery Graft Bypass and Parent Artery Sacrifice in Patients With Ruptured Blister-Like Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms

BACKGROUND: Blood blister-like aneurysms (BBAs) are aneurysms with ill-defined fragile necks arising from an internal carotid artery (ICA) and associated with high mortality. OBJECTIVE: To describe strategies and outcomes in patients in whom radial artery (RA) graft bypass with ICA sacrifice was considered as the primary treatment during the acute phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage. METHODS: The authors analyzed the clinical records of 20 patients who were treated between 2004 and 2011 at their hospital and affiliate institutions. RESULTS: A majority of the patients were treated during the acute phase (<24 hours, n = 15). A favorable outcome was achieved in 18 (90%) patients. The treatment strategies used were as follows: (1) ICA trapping/external carotid artery (ECA)-RA-middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass (n = 13), (2) ICA trapping/superficial temporal artery-MCA bypass (n = 2), (3) aneurysm clipping with RA-MCA temporary bypass (n = 3), (3) aneurysm clipping with proximal ICA ligation and ECA-RA-MCA bypass (n = 1), and (4) direct clipping (n = 1). Postoperative infarction was observed in 6 patients and was ascribed to vasospasm (n = 1), retrograde thrombosis associated with trapping (n = 2), and reasons unrelated to the surgical procedures (n = 3). CONCLUSION: Trapping with RA graft bypass demonstrated favorable results in patients with internal carotid BBAs. Although trapping/RA graft bypass is a definitive treatment for BBAs located proximal to the origin of the posterior communicating artery, some distal BBAs preclude ICA trapping to spare the perforating arteries. ABBREVIATIONS: BBA, blister-like aneurysm DCI, delayed cerebral ischemia ECA, external carotid artery ICA, internal carotid artery MCA, middle cerebral artery mRS, modified Rankin scale Pcom, posterior communicating RA, radial artery SAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage; STA, superficial temporal artery
Knowledge Management Styles and Organizational Performance: an Empirical Study in a k-Space Framework

This paper addresses the relationships between certain attributes of knowledge, knowledge management styles and organizational performance. From an extensive study of the literature, an innovative knowledge space (K-Space) model of organizational knowledge was developed as the first stage of the research. This led to the identification of four knowledge management styles and a framework that relates these styles to knowledge creation and improved organizational performance. A survey instrument was developed to measure the constructs contributing to the relationships in this framework and mailed to 338 organizations in different Australian industries. The results confirm that an organization can improve its performance through better management of its knowledge capabilities. Using a MANOVA analysis, the four knowledge management styles were found to be deployed in significantly different ways by organizations in different industry types. There is, however, in all organizations a particular benefit from deploying a balance of knowledge management styles which combine the human and technology perspectives. The findings of the study also demonstrate that the K-Space model provides a basis for a new way of conceptualising knowledge creation processes within organizations.
Assessment of Postural Balance in Multiple Sclerosis

Compromised postural balance is a common manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Effective quantitative methods of assessing postural imbalance are needed to help clinicians evaluate progression of this impairment. The primary objective of this study was to compare postural balance in MS patients and healthy controls using a standard screening tool, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), as well as a more technically sophisticated device, the NeuroCom SMART Balance Master (NeuroCom International, Inc, Clackamas, OR). The study participants consisted of 14 individuals diagnosed with MS and 10 healthy controls. Each participant was assessed with the BBS and also underwent six different balance tests using the NeuroCom, most comprising several subcomponent measures. Assessment with the BBS showed significantly more postural instability in the MS group than in the control group (P < .05). Testing with the NeuroCom showed significantly more postural instability in the MS group than in the control group on two of the .
Classification Methods in the Detection of New Suspicious Emails

Email has become one of the fastest and most economical forms of communication. However, the increase of email users has resulted in the dramatic increase of suspicious emails during the past few years. This paper proposes to apply classification data mining for the task of suspicious email detection based on deception theory. In this paper, email data was classified using four different classifiers (Neural Network, SVM, Naive Bayesian and Decision Tree). The experiment was performed using weka on the basis of different data size by which the suspicious emails are detected from the email corpus. Experimental results show that simple ID3 classifier which make a binary tree, will give a promising detection rates.
Predictive value of somatosensory evoked potentials for patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Many tests have been used to predict outcome of patients with severe brain injury. In this study, we compared predictive powers of clinical examination (Glasgow Coma Scale, GCS), and computed tomography (CT) to that of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) by 1 year follow-up. We conducted a prospective cohort study. Median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials were obtained from 67 comatose patients with traumatic brain injury (Initial GCS ≤8). Somatosensory evoked potential grades were calculated from results obtained on days 3 and 7 after traumatic brain injury. Glasgow Outcome Scale, Barthel Index, Follow-up Questionnaire, and General Health Questionnaire were obtained 1 yr after injury. Somatosensory evoked potential grade on days 3 and 7 related significantly with Glasgow Outcome Scale and Barthel scores, but did not relate with General Health Questionnaire scores. Approximately 90 percent (89.1% to date) of patients with bilaterally absent somatosensory evoked potentials duing initial test (Day 3) showed poor outcome. Over 70 percent (approximately 76%) of patients with bilaterally normal somatosensory evoked potentials had favourable outcome. Patients with bilaterally present but abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials, whose somatosensory evoked potential grade improved between days 3 and 7, had marginally better functional outcome than those without somatosensory evoked potential grade improvement. Early somatosensory evoked potential grade related to funcitionaly outcome after traumatic brain injury, and Day 3 somatosensory evoked potential grade had the strongest relationship with functional outcome.
Hypothalamic mechanisms linking fatty acid sensing and food intake regulation in rainbow trout.

We assessed in rainbow trout hypothalamus the effects of oleate and octanoate on levels and phosphorylation status of two transcription factors, FoxO1 and CREB, possibly involved in linking activation of fatty acid sensing with modulation of food intake through the expression of brain neuropeptides. Moreover, we assessed changes in the phosphorylation status of three proteins possibly involved in modulation of these transcription factors such as Akt, AMPK and mTOR. In a first experiment, we evaluated, in pools of hypothalamus incubated for 3 h and 6 h at 15°C in a modified Hanks' medium containing 100 or 500 µM oleate or octanoate, the response of fatty acid sensing, neuropeptide expression and phosphorylation status of proteins of interest. The activation of fatty acid sensing and enhanced anorectic potential occurred in parallel with the activation of Akt and mTOR, and the inhibition of AMPK. The changes in these proteins would relate to a neuropeptide expression through changes in the phosphorylation status of transcription factors under their control, such as CREB and FoxO1, which displayed inhibitory (CREB) or activatory (FoxO1) responses when tissues were incubated with oleate or octanoate. In a second experiment, we incubated hypothalamus for 6 h with 500 µM oleate or octanoate alone or in the presence of specific inhibitors of Akt, AMPK, mTOR, CREB or FoxO1. The presence of inhibitors counteracted the effects of oleate or octanoate on the phosphorylation status of the proteins of interest. The results support, for the first time in fish, the involvement of these proteins in the regulation of food intake by fatty acids.
Marketing Information System (MkIS): Benefits for Small and Medium Enterprises in Fiji

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the benefits of using Marketing Information System (MkIS) for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Fiji. The paper comprises of quantitative data, which is comprehensively analysed statistically. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the SMEs from five major towns in Fiji forming a sample of 96 SMEs. This research has found that, SMEs in Fiji are quite aware of the resulting benefits of MkIS, though the usage rate is low. This has resulted in changes for SMEs' business in terms of growth (sales and profits), from the time when SMEs started using MkIS or any form of technologies. The importance of MkIS in making extreme decision is also tested and analysed.
A Framework for Knowledge Management and New Product Development

Knowledge management is one element that determines success of new product development. This study explores how knowledge management is interrelated with new product development so that resource-limited organisations can break down knowledge management processes and focus on those most critical. With insights gained from existing literature, a framework is proposed focusing on integration of knowledge management processes and various perspectives (long and short term) of new product development. In order to verify and demonstrate this framework, application within a medium-sized manufacturing company in New Zealand is discussed. This study aims to improve current poor performance of knowledge management among companies, allowing these companies to better understand their knowledge management practices.
Barriers of Knowledge Sharing Among Employees: The Case of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

Commercial banks are one of the main engines that enhance the economic growth of the country by managing financial transactions. Banks process and use information to run their business. Knowledge is one of the strategic resources that commercial banks use to increase their internal efficiency and to operate competitively. Knowledge-sharing barriers hinder the smooth flow of knowledge among employees which often results in negative consequences such as customer dissatisfaction, low employee learning and poor service quality. This research identified complex individual, organisational and technological factors that affect knowledge sharing and puts forward interventions that can improve the culture of knowledge sharing in an organisation. The research also revealed that although organisations put much emphasis on the development of a technological infrastructure as a means to develop their knowledge management, it is the organisational and individual factors that may prove to be more important in improving organisational knowledge management. This research has a theoretical contribution for the generalisability of existing knowledge sharing theory across different socioeconomic contexts, in particular in Ethiopia.
Evaluation of the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab on choroidal thickness in eyes treated for diabetic macular edema

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal Ranibizumab on central choroidal thickness (CCT) in eyes treated for diabetic macular edema (DME). Materials and Methods: This prospective non-randomized interventional cohort study included 20 eyes of 20 diabetic patients, recruited between March 2013 and March 2014. Eyes with DME (thickness from 290 to 600 μm) underwent intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab (three consecutive injections, 1 month apart). Prior to injection, all patients had a complete ophthalmic examination, including manifest refraction, slit-lamp bio-microscopy, intraocular pressure measurement, and a detailed fundus examination. Prior to injection and 1 month from the third injection, the central macular thickness and CCT were assessed again by SD-OCT. After each injection, patients were followed to diagnose and treat any complications from injections. Results: Twenty eyes of 20 diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients, 9 females and 11 males with a mean age of 49.7 ± 4.1 years, were included. The pre-injection mean CCT was 234.35 ± 38.36 μm. In the NPDR group, it was 238.2 ± 41.36 μm; and in the PDR group, it was 228.5 ± 35.26 μm. This was not significantly different (P = 0.851). After injections, the mean CCT in all patients, in the NPRD group and in the PDR group showed a decrease to 215.5 ± 39.08, 224.9 ± 40.72 and 201.31 ± 34.02 μm, respectively (P = 0.362). There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-injection and the post-injection CCT (P < 0.001). The improvement in the CCT after treatment was not significantly correlated with the pre-injection CCT or the pre-injection CMT (P = 0.346, P = 0.096 respectively). No significant correlation was found between post-injection CCT and CMT in all patients (P = 0.436) or in the different groups separately (P = 0.191, P = 0.817, respectively). No injection-related complication was observed in either group. Conclusion: Intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab was effective in significantly decreasing the CCT as well as the CMT after three consecutive injections, 1 month apart regardless of the level of DR. Whether the number of injections can influence the amount of this reduction or not should be evaluated in future studies. No correlation was found between the reduction in CMT and that of the CCT after intravitreal injection with 0.5 mg of Ranibizumab.
The Effects on Shoulder Stabilizer Activation of Finger Flexor Activation during the Push-up Plus Exercise

[Purpose] We investigated the effect of the finger flexor muscles activation on the stabilizer muscle of the shoulder joint during push-up exercise using a push up grip to increase the muscle activation of the finger flexor, had a distal part. [Subjects] The subjects were 18 healthy male adults in their 20s who normal ROM and no musculoskeletal disease of the shoulder complex and the upper limbs. [Methods] The subjects performed push-ups (vertical and transverse grips, and on flat ground) three times. The muscle activity was measured three times when performing the exercise using the push-up grip (vertical and transverse grips) and on flat ground, and the mean values were used for the analysis. To prevent the effect of muscle fatigue of the shoulder stabilizer muscles, the three different exercise positions were randomly performed. [Results] The muscle activations induced under the three different conditions were compared and the results showed that there were significant differences among the wrist flexor bundle, wrist extensor bundle, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major, deltoid, serratus anterior muscles. [Conclusion] It is possible that finger flexor and extensor muscle activation elevated to increase stability in performing the exercise on the push-up grip as it is ales stable position than the push-up plus exercise on flat ground. We assume that the distal part muscle activation affected the muscle activation of the shoulder stabilizer, proximal part, muscles.
Robust Adaptive Fuzzy Tracking Control for a Class of perturbed Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Uvcgf

In this paper, a robust adaptive fuzzy controller is presented for a wide class of perturbed uncertain nonlinear system with unknown virtual control gain function (UVCGF). The Mamdani fuzzy system is used to approximate unstructured uncertain functions in the system. The proposed algorithm, which incorporated Nussbaum-type gain into the decoupled backstepping approach, does not require a priori knowledge of the sign of UVCGF, and circumvents the controller-singularity problem gracefully in some existing literatures. It proved that the tracking error can be driven to a small residual set while keeping all signals in the closed-loop system semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded (SGUUB). Simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
An Optimization Algorithm for Biorthogonal Wavelet Filter Banks Design

A new approach for designing the Biorthogonal Wavelet Filter Bank (BWFB) for the purpose of image compression is presented in this paper. The approach is broken into two steps. First, an optimal filter bank is designed in the theoretical sense, based on Vaidyanathan's coding gain criterion in the SubBand Coding (SBC) system. Then, the above filter bank is optimized based on the criterion of Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) in the JPEG2000 image compression system, resulting in a BWFB in practical application sense. With the approach, a series of BWFBs for a specific class of applications related to image compression, such as gray-level images, can be quickly designed. Here, new 7/5 BWFBs are presented based on the above approach for image compression applications. Experiments show that the 7/5 BWFBs not only have excellent compression performance, but also easy computation and are more suitable for VLSI hardware implementations. They perform equally well with respect to 7/5 filters in the JPEG2000 standard.
A Systematic Review of the Treatment of Geriatric Type II Odontoid Fractures.

BACKGROUND Odontoid fractures are the most common cervical spine fracture in the geriatric population; however, the treatment of type II odontoid fractures in this age group is controversial. OBJECTIVE To compare the short-term (<3 months) mortality, long-term (≥12 months) mortality, and complication rates of patients >60 years of age with a type II odontoid fracture managed either operatively or nonoperatively. METHODS We performed a systematic review of literature published between January 1, 2000, and February 1, 2015, related to the treatment of type II odontoid fractures in patients >60 years of age. An analysis of short-term mortality, long-term mortality, and the occurrence of complications was performed. RESULTS A total of 452 articles were identified, of which 21 articles with 1233 patients met the inclusion criteria. Short-term mortality (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.63) and long-term mortality (odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.64) were lower in patients who underwent surgical treatment than in those who had nonsurgical treatment, and there were no significant differences in the rate of complications (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.63). Surgical approach (posterior vs anterior) showed no significant difference in mortality or complication rate. Similarly, no difference in mortality or complication rate was identified with hard collar or a halo orthosis immobilization. CONCLUSION The current literature suggests that well-selected patients >60 years of age undergoing surgical treatment for a type II odontoid fracture have a decreased risk of short-term and long-term mortality without an increase in the risk of complications.
Where is your evidence

Features: words from statement (S condition). words, emotion lexicon (EmoLex), sentiment lexicon (SentiStrength), LIWC and metadata (S+M condition). words from justification (J condition). Feature-based Machine Learning Models: Logistic Regression Support Vector Machine Deep Learning Models: BiLSTM: one BiLSTM for both the statement & justification. P-BiLSTM: Two BiLSTM layers, one that reads the statement and the other that reads the justification. Statement: “Says Rick Scott cut education to pay for even more tax breaks for big, powerful, wellconnected corpo rations. ” Speaker: Florida Democratic Party Context: TY Ad Label: half-true Extracted Justification: A TY ad by the Florida Demo cratic Party says Scott “cut education to pay for even more tax breaks for big, powerful, well-connected corporations. ” However, the ad exaggerates when it focuses attention on tax breaks for “big, powerful, well-connected corpo rations. ” Some such companies benefited, but so did many other types of businesses. And the question of whether the tax cuts and the education cuts had any causal relationship is murkier than the ad lets on. Excerpt from the LIAR-PLUS dataset