Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic detection of multilevel communities: scalable and resolution-limit-free

Community structure is one of the most important features of complex networks. Modularity-based methods for community detection typically rely on heuristic algorithms to optimize a specific community quality function. Such methods are limited by two major defects: (1) the resolution limit problem, which prohibits communities of heterogeneous sizes being simultaneously detected, and (2) divergent outputs of the heuristic algorithm, which make it difficult to differentiate relevant and irrelevant results. In this paper, we propose an improved method for community detection based on a scalable community"fitness function. "We introduced a new parameter to enhance its scalability, and a strict strategy to filter the outputs. Due to the scalability, on the one hand our method is free of the resolution limit problem and performs excellently on large heterogeneous networks, while on the other hand it is capable of detecting more levels of communities than previous methods in deep hierarchical networks. Moreover, our strict strategy automatically removes redundant and irrelevant results, without any artificial selection. As a result, our method neatly outputs only the stable and unique communities, which are largely interpretable by the a priori knowledge about the network, including the implanted structures within synthetic networks, or metadata for real-world networks.
Learning Generalized Policy Classes for Stochastic Shortest Path Problems

Several goal-oriented problems in the real-world can be naturally expressed as Stochastic Shortest Path Problems (SSPs). However, a key difﬁculty for computing solutions for problems in the SSP framework is that the computational requirements often make ﬁnding solutions to even moderately sized problems intractable. Solutions to many of such problems can often be expressed as generalized policies that are quite easy to compute from small examples and are readily applicable to problems with a larger number of objects and/or different object names. In this paper, we provide a propose an approach that uses canonical abstractions to compute such generalized policies and represent them as AND-OR graphs that translate to simple non-deterministic, memoryless controllers. Such policy structures naturally lend themselves to a hierarchical approach for solving problems and we show that our approach can be embedded in any SSP solver to compute hierarchically optimal policies. We conducted an empirical evaluation on some well-known planning benchmarks and difﬁcult robotics domains and show that our approach is promising, often computing optimal policies signiﬁcantly faster than state-of-art SSP solvers.
A Wasserstein Distance Approach for Concentration of Empirical Risk Estimates

This paper presents a unified approach based on Wasserstein distance to derive concentration bounds for empirical estimates for two broad classes of risk measures defined in the paper. The classes of risk measures introduced include as special cases well known risk measures from the finance literature such as conditional value at risk (CVaR), optimized certainty equivalent risk, spectral risk measures, utility-based shortfall risk, cumulative prospect theory (CPT) value, rank dependent expected utility and distorted risk measures. Two estimation schemes are considered, one for each class of risk measures. One estimation scheme involves applying the risk measure to the empirical distribution function formed from a collection of i.i. d. samples of the random variable (r.v.), while the second scheme involves applying the same procedure to a truncated sample. The bounds provided apply to three popular classes of distributions, namely sub-Gaussian, sub-exponential and heavy-tailed distributions. The bounds are derived by first relating the estimation error to the Wasserstein distance between the true and empirical distributions, and then using recent concentration bounds for the latter. Previous concentration bounds are available only for specific risk measures such as CVaR and CPT-value. The bounds derived in this paper are shown to either match or improve upon previous bounds in cases where they are available. The usefulness of the bounds is illustrated through an algorithm and the corresponding regret bound for a stochastic bandit problem involving a general risk measure from each of the two classes introduced in the paper.
Concept mapping as a strategy for higher performance in automobile engineering exams

worldwide, concept mapping is not a new technique. However, it is yet to be adapted to teaching Automobile Engineering (AE) at University of Maiduguri. In the area of AE, essay tests are the foundations of B. Eng. exams so often required by Examiners. Furthermore, it is generally accepted that practice on related instruments improves students’ performance on B. Eng. Exams (E). Thus, the majority of exams given in the AE lec- ture rooms are essays. The purpose of this study is to determine if incorporating concept mapping to the lecture rooms will create more meaning- ful knowledge that will improve students’ performance on essay tests. AE courses were selected. Concept map training began in the first week of the instruction and continued throughout the semester as considered necessary. Four concept mapping assignments were assigned. The final exam results were compared to results from the same course taught a year before without concept mapping.
Trust Management in Mobile Environments: Autonomic and Usable Models

In a digital context, trust is a multifaceted concept, including trust in application usability, trust in information security, and trust in fellow users. Mobile technologies have compounded the impact of such considerations.Trust Management in Mobile Environments: Autonomic and Usable Models explores current advances in digital and mobile computing technologies from the user perspective, evaluating trust models and autonomic trust management. From the recent history of trust in digital environments to prospective future developments, this book serves as a potent reference source for professionals, graduate and post-graduate students, researchers, and practitioners in the field of trust management.
Assessing the sustainable application of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) can yield significant reductions in the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of larger buildings, and the use of these systems has been rapidly growing in Europe – especially in the Netherlands, where over 3000 systems are currently active in urban areas. However, the successful management of this technology poses a range of policy challenges, due to its reliance on subsurface resources and to the possibility of thermal interactions across adjacent systems. In particular, recent research suggests that ATES planning policies should acknowledge a potential trade-off between the total energy or GHG savings which can be obtained by ATES systems within a given area, and the economic returns realized by individual system operators. To better understand this compromise, this paper follows a simplified version of the multi-objective robust decision making framework (Kasprzyk et al., 2013), using an idealized agent-based model of ATES adoption and operation coupled with a geohydrological subsurface model. This simulation approach was used to investigate suitable options for the spatial planning of ATES systems, by exploring the behaviour of the coupled system under a set of sociotechnical and geohydrological uncertainties. A multiobjective evolutionary optimization algorithm was then applied to search for ATES well layout parameters which perform well in relation to the assessment criteria. The optimization identified a set of planning parameters which describe a Pareto-efficient trade-off between the individual and collective performance of ATES systems under uncertainty.
Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and sarcopenia using a protocol developed for use by the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, and to conduct a meta-analysis to summarize the evidence. Multiple electronic databases were searched for studies investigating sarcopenia risk factors or risk of sarcopenia and dietary patterns. Eligible studies were 1) peer-reviewed controlled trials or observational trials, 2) involving adult or older-adult human subjects who were healthy and/or at risk for chronic disease, 3) comparing the effect of consumption or adherence to dietary patterns (measured as an index/score, factor or cluster analysis; reduced rank regression; or a macronutrient distribution), and 4) reported on measures of skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle performance, and/or risk of sarcopenia. Thirty-eight publications met all inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis. Thirteen observational studies met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Higher adherence to a healthy dietary pattern was associated with a decreased risk of gait speed reduction (OR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.97). The association between healthy dietary pattern adherence and other intermediate markers or risk of sarcopenia was not statistically significant. The majority of individual studies were judged as “serious” risk of bias and analysis of the collective evidence base was suggestive of publication bias. Studies suggest a significant association between healthy dietary patterns and maintenance of gait speed with age, an intermediate marker of sarcopenia risk, but the evidence base is limited by serious risk of bias, within and between studies. Further research is needed to understand the association between healthy dietary patterns and risk of sarcopenia.
An ergonomic flexible girdle design for preteen and teenage girls with early scoliosis

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional (3D) deformity of the spine that can occur in children aged 9 and older. It is more commonly found in girls. This paper presents an ergonomic flexible girdle or brace design for preteen and teenage girls who have early scoliosis with a spinal curve that is less than 20 degrees, which reduces the chances of further aggravation of their scoliosis by exerting corrective forces onto their torso and improving their posture. During the design and development process, it was found that the key factors that affect the efficiency of the flexible girdle are the design and fit of the garment, corrective force mechanism employment, material selection and application, and aesthetic and convenience of the product that affect compliance. The results of ergonomic design process in this project can be applied to related product development projects in the future and used as reference for doing so.
Global profile of individuals undergoing total knee replacement through the PROGRESS-PLUS equity lens: Protocol for a systematic review

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogenous degenerative disorder often causing destructive joint changes with severe pain and functional disability. Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, social context and psychological factors influence the development and progression of the disease. Total knee replacement (TKR) aims at reducing pain and improving function and is more successful with pre-operative and post-operative rehabilitation. However, most international research on rehabilitation interventions is conducted in high income contexts. Objective The aim of our systematic review is to gain an overview of the demographic and social profiles of adults undergoing TKR for primary knee OA in lower, middle- and high-income countries through a health equity lens to inform the translation of intervention research in local contexts. Methods A systematic review will be conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Eligibility criteria include observational studies and grey literature (theses) since the beginning of the databases reporting on demographic data of adults awaiting or undergoing TKR surgery. The PROGRESS-Plus framework will be used to describe equity elements. Results A narrative summary and description of the global profile of individuals undergoing total knee replacement for osteoarthritis. Conclusion A snapshot of the global demographic and social profile of individuals receiving TKR for primary knee OA through an equity lens will shed light on the similarities and differences between individuals from different contexts. Global demographic profile information may inform or assist in the development of translational strategies for evidence-based rehabilitation. Clinical implications Translation of existing rehabilitation interventions to local contexts could improve pre-operative and post-operative outcomes for individuals on our surgical waiting lists.
Impulsivity Moderates the Effect of Neurofeedback Training on the Contingent Negative Variation in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background The contingent negative variation (CNV) is a well-studied indicator of attention- and expectancy-related processes in the human brain. An abnormal CNV amplitude has been found in diverse neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders. However, its role as a potential biomarker of successful clinical interventions in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains unclear. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, we investigated how the CNV changes following an intensive neurofeedback training. Therefore, twenty-one adolescents with ASD underwent 24 sessions of slow cortical potential (SCP) neurofeedback training. Twenty additional adolescents with ASD formed a control group and received treatment as usual. CNV waveforms were obtained from a continuous performance test (CPT), which all adolescents performed before and after the corresponding 3-month long training period. In order to utilize all available neural time series, trial-based area under the curve values for all four electroencephalogram (EEG) channels were analyzed with a hierarchical Bayesian model. In addition, the model included impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity as potential moderators of change in CNV. Results Our model implies that impulsivity moderates the effects of neurofeedback training on CNV depending on group. In the control group, the average CNV amplitude decreased or did not change after treatment as usual. In the experimental group, the CNV changed depending on the severity of comorbid impulsivity symptoms. The average CNV amplitude of participants with low impulsivity scores decreased markedly, whereas the average CNV amplitude of participants with high impulsivity increased. Conclusion The degree of impulsivity seems to play a crucial role in the changeability of the CNV following an intensive neurofeedback training. Therefore, comorbid symptomatology should be recorded and analyzed in future EEG-based brain training interventions. Clinical Trial Registration https://www.drks. de, identifier DRKS00012339.
Which ‘imperfect vaccines’ encourage the evolution of higher virulence?

Abstract Background and objectives Theory suggests that some types of vaccines against infectious pathogens may lead to the evolution of variants that cause increased harm, particularly when they infect unvaccinated individuals. This theory was supported by the observation that the use of an imperfect vaccine to control Marek’s disease virus in chickens resulted in the virus evolving to be more lethal to unvaccinated birds. This raises the concern that the use of some other vaccines may lead to similar pernicious outcomes. We examine that theory with a focus on considering the regimes in which such outcomes are expected. Methodology We evaluate the plausibility of assumptions in the original theory. The previous theory rested heavily on a particular form of transmission–mortality–recovery trade-off and invoked other assumptions about the pathways of evolution. We review alternatives to mortality in limiting transmission and consider evolutionary pathways that were omitted in the original theory. Results The regime where the pernicious evolutionary outcome occurs is narrowed by our analysis but remains possible in various scenarios. We propose a more nuanced consideration of alternative models for the within-host dynamics of infections and for factors that limit virulence. Our analysis suggests imperfect vaccines against many pathogens will not lead to the evolution of pathogens with increased virulence in unvaccinated individuals. Conclusions and implications Evolution of greater pathogen mortality driven by vaccination remains difficult to predict, but the scope for such outcomes appears limited. Incorporation of mechanistic details into the framework, especially regarding immunity, may be requisite for prediction accuracy. Lay Summary A virus of chickens appears to have evolved high mortality in response to a vaccine that merely prevented disease symptoms. Theory has predicted this type of evolution in response to a variety of vaccines and other interventions such as drug treatment. Under what circumstances is this pernicious result likely to occur? Analysis of the theory in light of recent changes in our understanding of viral biology raises doubts that medicine-driven, pernicious evolution is likely to be common. But we are far from a mechanistic understanding of the interaction between pathogen and host that can predict when vaccines and other medical interventions will lead to the unwanted evolution of more virulent pathogens. So, while the regime where a pernicious result obtains may be limited, caution remains warranted in designing many types of interventions.
Effect of Abduction Brace Wearing Compliance on the Results of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Background: The benefit of protective bracing after rotator cuff reconstruction has been debated for many years, although immobilization compliance has never been assessed objectively to date. In a previous study, compliance with the wearing of an abduction brace was measured for the first time with use of temperature-sensitive sensors. The purpose of the present follow-up study was to assess the effect of immobilization compliance on tendon-healing after rotator cuff repair. Methods: The clinical and radiographic outcomes for 46 consecutive patients with objectively assessed abduction brace wearing compliance after arthroscopic repair of a superior rotator cuff tear were prospectively analyzed. Rotator cuff integrity was examined with ultrasound. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the relative Constant-Murley score (RCS), the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and pain and patient satisfaction ratings. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the optimal cutoff value of abduction brace compliance for discriminating between shoulders that will and will not have a retear and the association of compliance with the failure of rotator cuff repair. Results: After a mean duration of follow-up of 20 ± 9 months, the odds ratio for having a rotator cuff repair failure was 13-fold higher for patients with a compliance rate of <60% (p = 0.037). The retear rate was 3% (1 of 35 patients) in the high-compliance cohort (≥60% compliance) and 27% (3 of 11) in the low-compliance cohort (<60% compliance) (p = 0.037). No differences in RCS, SSV, pain, or postoperative patient satisfaction were observed between patients with ≥60% compliance and those with <60% compliance. Conclusions: Patients with a compliance rate of <60% had a 13-fold increase in the risk of rotator cuff retear. The 2 patients with the lowest compliance rates (11% and 22%) both had retears. Due to the small sample size, no final conclusions can be drawn regarding the influence of immobilization compliance on tendon-healing after rotator cuff repair. These findings justify a prospective trial with a larger cohort to confirm or disprove the value of compliance with abduction bracing. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (sRAGE) Isoforms Predict Changes in Resting Energy Expenditure in Adults with Obesity during Weight Loss

Abstract Background Accruing evidence indicates that accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and activation of the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) play a significant role in obesity and type 2 diabetes. The concentrations of circulating RAGE isoforms, such as soluble RAGE (sRAGE), cleaved RAGE (cRAGE), and endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE), collectively sRAGE isoforms, may be implicit in weight loss and energy compensation resulting from caloric restriction. Objectives We aimed to evaluate whether baseline concentrations of sRAGE isoforms predicted changes (∆) in body composition [fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM)], resting energy expenditure (REE), and adaptive thermogenesis (AT) during weight loss. Methods Data were collected during a behavioral weight loss intervention in adults with obesity. At baseline and 3 mo, participants were assessed for body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) and REE (indirect calorimetry), and plasma was assayed for concentrations of sRAGE isoforms (sRAGE, esRAGE, cRAGE). AT was calculated using various mathematical models that included measured and predicted REE. A linear regression model that adjusted for age, sex, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and randomization arm was used to test the associations between sRAGE isoforms and metabolic outcomes. Results Participants (n = 41; 70% female; mean ± SD age: 57 ± 11 y; BMI: 38.7 ± 3.4 kg/m2) experienced modest and variable weight loss over 3 mo. Although baseline sRAGE isoforms did not predict changes in ∆FM or ∆FFM, all baseline sRAGE isoforms were positively associated with ∆REE at 3 mo. Baseline esRAGE was positively associated with AT in some, but not all, AT models. The association between sRAGE isoforms and energy expenditure was independent of HbA1c, suggesting that the relation was unrelated to glycemia. Conclusions This study demonstrates a novel link between RAGE and energy expenditure in human participants undergoing weight loss. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03336411.