Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cost–effectiveness thresholds: pros and cons

Abstract Cost–effectiveness analysis is used to compare the costs and outcomes of alternative policy options. Each resulting cost–effectiveness ratio represents the magnitude of additional health gained per additional unit of resources spent. Cost–effectiveness thresholds allow cost–effectiveness ratios that represent good or very good value for money to be identified. In 2001, the World Health Organization’s Commission on Macroeconomics in Health suggested cost–effectiveness thresholds based on multiples of a country’s per-capita gross domestic product (GDP). In some contexts, in choosing which health interventions to fund and which not to fund, these thresholds have been used as decision rules. However, experience with the use of such GDP-based thresholds in decision-making processes at country level shows them to lack country specificity and this – in addition to uncertainty in the modelled cost–effectiveness ratios – can lead to the wrong decision on how to spend health-care resources. Cost–effectiveness information should be used alongside other considerations – e.g. budget impact and feasibility considerations – in a transparent decision-making process, rather than in isolation based on a single threshold value. Although cost–effectiveness ratios are undoubtedly informative in assessing value for money, countries should be encouraged to develop a context-specific process for decision-making that is supported by legislation, has stakeholder buy-in, for example the involvement of civil society organizations and patient groups, and is transparent, consistent and fair.
Effectiveness of Group Behavioural Activation for Depression: A Pilot Study

Background: The evidence base for behavioural activation (BA) is mainly grounded in the individual delivery method, with much less known about the impact of group delivery. Aims: To conduct a pilot study of behavioural activation in groups (BAG) for depression delivered in a routine service setting, in order to explore acceptability, effectiveness and predictors of outcome. Methods: The manualized group treatment format was delivered in a Primary Care mental health setting, at step three of an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service. BAG was facilitated by cognitive behavioural psychotherapists, and outcome measures (depression, anxiety and functional impairment) were taken at each session. Seventy-three participants were referred and treated within nine groups. Results: BAG was an acceptable treatment generating a low drop-out rate (7%). Significant pre–post differences were found across all measures. There was a moderate to large depression effect size (d + = 0.74), and 20% met the criteria for a reliable recovery in depression. Greater severity of initial depression and attendance of at least four BAG sessions predicted better outcomes. Conclusions: BAG appears to be an effective depression treatment option that shows some clinical promise. Further larger and more controlled studies are nevertheless required.
The Experimental Turn in Economics: A History of Experimental Economics

The emergence of experimental economics in the last third of the 20th century revisited the long-standing belief that economics is a non-experimental discipline. The history of this new practice reveals this went further than simply introducing the experimental method to economics. Its history shows individual economists and research communities above all redefining the relationship between economic theory and rigorous data. Replicable data that were specifically created to satisfy conditions set by theory in controlled environments could not be avoided by economists or explained away as irrelevant to economic theory. The reconceptualization of the relationship between economic theory and rigorous experimental data culminated at the end of the 1980s in what I call the experimental turn, after which the experimental method became accepted in the wider economics community.
Rational Metaprogramming

Metaprogramming, using programs to manipulate other programs, is as old as programming. From self-modifying machine code in early computers to expressions involving partially applied functions in modern functional-programming languages, metaprogramming is an essential part of an advanced programmer's arsenal. Everyday metaprogramming involves on-the-fly code production. Representative examples include dynamically generated SQL statements and code created for evaluation at runtime in interpreted languages. Metaprogramming also occurs in programs that spew out HTML or XML. Although we can't classify these markup languages as code, their rich syntactic structure qualifies their generation as metaprogramming. Unfortunately, we commonly produce code on the fly by simply pasting together character strings. This means that it's difficult to verify essential properties of the generated code - such as validity, correctness, and safety - at compile time.
Gender differences in alcohol consumption and adverse drinking consequences: cross-cultural patterns.

AIMS To examine the consistency and/or variability of gender differences in drinking behavior cross-culturally. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS Women's and men's responses in 16 general population surveys from 10 countries, analyzed by members of the International Research Group on Gender and Alcohol. MEASUREMENTS Comparable measures of drinking, versus abstention, typical drinking frequencies and quantities, heavy episodic drinking, intoxication, morning drinking, and alcohol-related family and occupational problems. FINDINGS Women and men differed little in the probability of currently drinking versus abstaining, but men consistently exceeded women in typical drinking frequencies and quantities and in rates of heavy drinking episodes and adverse drinking consequences, while women were consistently more likely than men to be life-time abstainers. In older age groups, both men and women drank smaller quantities of alcohol and were more likely to stop drinking altogether, but drinking frequencies did not change consistently with age. CONCLUSIONS A theoretical synthesis proposes that gender roles may amplify biological differences in reactions to alcohol, and that gender differences in drinking behavior may be modified by macrosocial factors that modify gender role contrasts.
The origin of Homo floresiensis and its relation to evolutionary processes under isolation

Since its first description in 2004, Homo floresiensis has been attributed to a species of its own, a descendant of H. erectus or another early hominid, a pathological form of H. sapiens, or a dwarfed H. sapiens related to the Neolithic inhabitants of Flores. In this contribution, we apply a geometric morphometric analysis to the skull of H. floresiensis (LB1) and compare it with skulls of normal H. sapiens, insular H. sapiens (Minatogawa Man and Neolithic skulls from Flores), pathological H. sapiens (microcephalics), Asian H. erectus (Sangiran 17), H. habilis (KNM ER 1813), and Australopithecus africanus (Sts 5). Our analysis includes specimens that were highlighted by other authors to prove their conclusions. The geometric morphometric analysis separates H. floresiensis from all H. sapiens, including the pathological and insular forms. It is not possible to separate H. floresiensis from H. erectus. Australopithecus falls separately from all other skulls. The Neolithic skulls from Flores fall within the range of modern humans and are not related to LB1. The microcephalic skulls fall within the range of modern humans, as well as the skulls of the Neolithic small people of Flores. The cranial shape of H. floresiensis is close to that of H. erectus and not to that of any H. sapiens. Apart from cranial shape, some features of H. floresiensis are not unique but are shared with other insular taxa, such as the relatively large teeth (shared with Early Neolithic humans of Sardinia), and changed limb proportions (shared with Minatogawa Man).
A Comparison of Community College Full-Time and Adjunct Faculties' Perceptions of Factors Associated With Grade Inflation

Abstract Grades historically have indicated student performance in college. Previous studies in the higher education literature, primarily conducted at four-year teaching institutions, have suggested reasons for grade inflation but have provided little supporting empirical data. This quantitative, non-experimental, comparative study used survey research to explore whether there is a difference in the degree to which full-time and adjunct faculties perceived themselves to be influenced by factors thought to be associated with grade inflation, specifically in a community college setting. Data analyzed from 1,559 full-time and adjunct faculty of a Midwestern community college in the United States indicated full-time faculty felt they were significantly more influenced by administration pressures than adjunct faculty in their grade assignment, whereas adjunct faculty reported being most often influenced by student concerns such as (a) personal circumstances, (b) academic anxieties, and (c) success after the course.
Efficient algorithm fo the computation of 3D Fourier descriptors

This work describes a new approach for the computation of 3D Fourier descriptors, which are used for characterization, classification, and recognition of 3D objects. The method starts with a polygonization of the object’s surface. Next, a progressive mesh is constructed from the polyhedron using quadric-based polygonal surface simplification. Then, the same progressive mesh is exploited to efficiently reconstruct the original polyhedron onto the surface of a sphere, which is a necessary step for the computation of 3D Fourier descriptors. The mapping method is shown to be efficient and fast in projecting an arbitrarily shaped polyhedron onto a sphere surface.
MiR-138 suppresses airway smooth muscle cell proliferation through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting PDK1

ABSTRACT Background: Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) play important physiological roles in the lung, and their abnormal proliferation directly contributes to airway remodeling during development of lung diseases such as asthma. MicroRNAs are small yet versatile gene tuners that regulate a variety of cellular processes, including cell growth and proliferation, but little is known about the precise role of microRNAs in the proliferation of ASMCs. Methods: In this study, human ASMCs from asthmatic and non-asthmatic donors were used. MicroRNA and mRNA expression were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to determine whether microRNA-138 (miR-138) binds directly to 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1(PDK1) 3′ untranslated region (3′-UTR) to alter gene expression. Results: The results showed that overexpression of miR-138 reduced proliferation of human ASMCs, whereas inhibition of miR-138 increased proliferation of ASMCs. MiR-138 directly suppressed PDK1 expression by targeting the 3′-UTR of the gene. MiR-138 controls ASMC proliferation through directly inhibiting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Conclusions: Our study indicated that miR-138 regulation of PI3K signaling in ASMCs by altering the expression of PDK1 can have a profound impact on cell proliferation.
Transarterial Embolization and Percutaneous Ethanol Injection as an Effective Bridge Therapy before Liver Transplantation for Hepatitis C-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background. Transarterial chemoembolization alone or in association with radiofrequency ablation is an effective bridging strategy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting for a liver transplant. However, cost of this therapy may limit its utilization. This study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of a protocol involving transarterial embolization, percutaneous ethanol injection, or both methods for bridging hepatocellular carcinomas prior to liver transplantation. Methods. Retrospective review of all consecutive adult patients who underwent a first liver transplant as a treatment to hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma at our institution between 2002 and 2012. Primary endpoint was patient survival. Secondary endpoint was complete tumor necrosis. Results. Forty patients were analyzed, age 58 ± 7 years. There were 23 males (57.5%). Thirty-six (90%) out of the total 40 patients were within Milan criteria. Complete necrosis was achieved in 19 patients (47.5%). One-, 3-, and 5-year patient survival were, respectively, 87.5%, 75%, and 69.4%. Univariate analysis did not reveal any variable to impact on overall patient survival. Conclusions. Transarterial embolization, ethanol injection, or the association of both methods followed by liver transplantation comprises effective treatment strategy for hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma. This strategy should be adopted whenever transarterial chemoembolization and/or radiofrequency ablation are not available options.
The Definition of Normal‐Tension Glaucoma

PurposeTo evaluate the consistency of the definition of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). MethodsAll articles about NTG published between 1973 and 1997 from three clinical journals of ophthalmology were identified by a literature search. They were reviewed to determine criteria used to define NTG, including optic nerve assessment and intraocular pressure (TOP) requirements. ResultsThere were 63 articles identified that defined the disease entity NTG, including 30 published between 1973 and 1992 and 33 published between 1993 and 1997. Maximum IOP values acceptable for designation as NTG ranged from 17 mmHg to 26 mmHg. A significantly greater proportion of studies published during the last 5 years required maximum IOP values ≤21 mmHg. Inclusion criteria based on structural characteristics of the glaucomatous optic disc or on the glaucomatous visual field were present in 55 (87%) and 56 (89%) articles, respectively. Of the seven articles that listed specific features classifying a disc as glaucomatous, seven (100%) were published within the last 5 years. Of the 13 articles that listed specific features classifying a field as glaucomatous, 9 (69%) were published within the last 5 years. ConclusionThe criteria used to define NTG during the last 25 years have been highly variable. However, publications during the last 5 years have been more likely to require a maximum IOP ≤21 mmHg and to describe specific features of the glaucomatous optic disc and visual field.
Task allocation and distributed cooperation strategies in a group of object transferring robots

Based on the constrain-move concept previously proposed by the authors (1997), two distributed cooperation strategies for a group of multiple mobile robots to turn an object about a fixed point and move it along a straight line are introduced. In these protocols, some of the robots passively constrain the object and the other ones move the load. It is assumed that the robots grasp the object through some friction contacts. The cooperation strategies are designed in such a way that the task of stabilizing the robot-object contact is simplified. Moreover, task allocation in the group is performed in such a way that the size of the robot team is reduced. Information system and robot behavior required by the team transferring the object are also discussed. In addition, simulation and experimental results are reported to show the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed approach.
Multistage Constructions of Linear Compressors, Non-Overtaking Delay Lines, and Flexible Delay Lines

Queueing theory is generally known as the theory to study the performance of queues. In this paper, we are interested in another aspect of queueing theory, the theory to construct queues via switched delay lines. We consider three types of discrete-time queues: linear compressors, non-overtaking delay lines and flexible delay lines. These three types of queues correspond to certain conditional nonblocking switches and (strict sense) nonblocking switches in switching theory. Analogous to their counterparts in switching theory, there exist multistage constructions for these three types of queues. Specifically, we develop a two-stage construction of a linear compressor and a three-stage construction of a non-overtaking delay line. Similarly, there is a three-stage construction of a flexible delay line. Moreover, a flexible delay line can also be constructed by a layered Cantor network.
Increase of genetic variability through recombination in Drosophila melanogaster.

genetic variability concealed in natural populations is the evolutionary Tg material of Mendelian populations. How the genetic variability increases through recombination is important in obtaining an understanding of the genetic structure of Drosophila populations. In fact, this problem has been studied in natural and artificial populations of several species of Drosophila (D. pseudoobscura: SPASSKY et al. 1958; D. persimilis: SPIES 1959; D. prosaltans: DOBZHANSKY et al. 1959; D. willistoni: KRIMBAS 1961; D. melanogaster: SPIES and ALLEN 1961; ALLEN 1966). It may be concluded from the series of studies referred to above that recombination between linked genes and polygenes controlling viability yields an extensive array of variability. These studies have also shown that the amount of variability released through recombination seems to be different for different species and in different chromosomes of the same species. DOBZHANSKY (1946) first presented experimental evidence that even lethal chromosomes could be synthesized as the most extreme products of recombination within the second chromosome of Drosophila pseudoobscura. Thereafter, such “synthetic lethals” or “recombinational lethals” were reported in D. prosaltans and D. willistoni (DOBZHANSKY et al. 1959; KRIMBAS 1961). In Drosophila melanogaster, WALLACE et al. (1953) , GIBSON and THODAY (1962), BATTEN and THODAY (1969), and others reported “synthetic lethals” in the second chromosome; but GANTNER (1958), SPIES and ALLEN (1961), and ALLEN (1966) could not obtain decisive evidence for their production in the same chromosome. HILDRETH (1956), SPIES and ALLEN (1961 ) , and ALLEN (1966) were unable to detect such lethals in the third chromosome and HILDRETH (1956) could not exhibit them in the sex chromosome. Therefore, it is interesting to know whether “synthetic lethals” really exist in D. melanogaster. The purposes of the present study are to clarify how genetic variability is released through recombination and to determine the circumstances under which synthetic lethals (if they exist) are produced. Some preliminary results have been reported in KOSUDA and MORIWAKI (1968).
Evaluating nominal and ordinal classifiers for wind speed prediction from synoptic pressure patterns

This paper evaluates the performance of different classifiers when predicting wind speed from synoptic pressure patterns. The prediction problem has been formulated as a classification problem, where the different classes are associated to four values in an ordinal scale. The problem is relevant for long term wind speed prediction and also for wind speed reconstruction in areas (mainly wind farms) where there are not direct wind measures available. The results obtained in this paper present the Support Vector Machine as the best tested classifier for this task. In addition, the use of the intrinsic ordering information of the problem is shown to improve classifier performance.
Knowledge-Guided Methodology for Specification Analysis

The number of Soft-IP vendors and designsbecoming available on the global market is growing at a phenomenal rate. The current practice of evaluating Soft IPs using their specification is a time consuming manual process. A specification document is primarily written in English, which serves as a common language for internal product development teams as well as customers. Designers have a preference for writing specifications in an informal natural language using text and notations, including diagrams, charts and tables. The lack of formality of specification documents is a limiting factor in their analysis. The current state-of-the-art in hardware design lacks any specification analysis technique. In this paper, we present a knowledge-guided methodology for specification analysis that can automatically analyze specification documents. Our approach avoids formal specification. Instead we rely on domain-based ontologies to capture design behavior. We tested our approach by analyzing floating point specification from several third party IP vendors. We define spec coverage and requirement coverage metrics to quantify our results.
Zero-reachability in probabilistic multi-counter automata

We study the qualitative and quantitative zero-reachability problem in probabilistic multi-counter systems. We identify the undecidable variants of the problems, and then we concentrate on the remaining two cases. In the first case, when we are interested in the probability of all runs that visit zero in some counter, we show that the qualitative zero-reachability is decidable in time which is polynomial in the size of a given pMC and doubly exponential in the number of counters. Further, we show that the probability of all zero-reaching runs can be effectively approximated up to an arbitrarily small given error ε > 0 in time which is polynomial in log(ε), exponential in the size of a given pMC, and doubly exponential in the number of counters. In the second case, we are interested in the probability of all runs that visit zero in some counter different from the last counter. Here we show that the qualitative zero-reachability is decidable and SquareRootSum-hard, and the probability of all zero-reaching runs can be effectively approximated up to an arbitrarily small given error ε > 0 (these results apply to pMC satisfying a suitable technical condition that can be verified in polynomial time). The proof techniques invented in the second case allow to construct counterexamples for some classical results about ergodicity in stochastic Petri nets.
Ascending and Transverse Aortic Arch Repair: The Impact of Retrograde Cerebral Perfusion

Background— The benefit of retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) with profound hypothermic circulatory arrest has been subject to much debate. We examined our experience with ascending and transverse arch repairs to determine the impact of retrograde cerebral perfusion on stroke and mortality. Methods and Results— Between August 1991 and June 2007, we performed 1107 repairs of the ascending and transverse aortic arch. RCP was used in 82% of cases (907 of 1107). Sixty-two percent were men (682 of 1107); median age was 64 years (range, 16 to 93 years). Perioperative variables were evaluated using univariate and multivariable analysis for mortality and stroke. Thiry-day mortality was 10.4% (115 of 1107). Stroke occurred in 2.8% (31 of 1107) of patients. Univariate risk factors for mortality were increasing age (P<0.0001), history of coronary artery disease (P=0.02), previous coronary artery bypass (P=0.02), emergency status (P<0.0001), acute dissection (P=0.02), rupture (P=0.0001), preoperative glomerular filtration rate, bypass time (P<0.0001), crossclamp time (P<0.007), RCP time (P<0.0001), and packed red blood cell transfusions (P=0.0001). Univariate risk factors for stroke included emergency status (P<0.02), cerebrovascular disease (P<0.02), and crossclamp time (P<0.04). Independent risk factors for mortality were glomerular filtration rate <90 mL/min (P=0.0004), emergency status (P=0.006), rupture (P=0.004), cardiopulmonary bypass time >120 minutes (P<0.04), and packed red blood cell transfusions (P=0.0002). Risk factors for stroke were emergency status (P<0.009) and hypertension (P<0.05). RCP was protective against mortality and stroke. Conclusions— The use of RCP with profound hypothermic circulatory arrest was associated with a reduction in mortality and stroke. The use of RCP remains warranted during repairs of the ascending and transverse aortic arch.