Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colectomy rate comparison after treatment of ulcerative colitis with placebo or infliximab.

BACKGROUND & AIMS The efficacy of infliximab for treating patients with ulcerative colitis has been established. METHODS The Active Ulcerative Colitis Trial (ACT)-1 and ACT-2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluated infliximab induction and maintenance therapy in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Overall, 728 patients received placebo or infliximab (5 or 10 mg/kg) intravenously at weeks 0, 2, and 6, then every 8 weeks through week 46 (ACT-1) or 22 (ACT-2). Colectomy, hospitalization, and surgery/procedure data through 54 weeks after the first infusion were obtained from ACT-1, ACT-2, and associated data sources. In the prespecified analysis, all data were combined to ascertain time to colectomy. Kaplan-Meier product-limit method was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of colectomy, and log-rank test was used to compare the combined infliximab group and placebo. RESULTS Eighty-seven percent (630 of 728) of patients had complete colectomy follow-up; 13% (98 of 728) of patients had a median follow-up of 6.2 months. The cumulative incidence of colectomy through 54 weeks was 10% for infliximab and 17% for placebo (P = .02), yielding an absolute risk reduction of 7%. Compared with placebo, fewer ulcerative colitis-related hospitalizations and surgeries/procedures per 100 patient-years of treatment occurred with infliximab therapy: 40 vs 20 (P = .003) and 34 vs 21 (P = .03), respectively. Serious adverse events occurring in infliximab-treated patients included serious infections, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis, listeriosis, and malignancy. CONCLUSIONS Patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis treated with infliximab were less likely to undergo colectomy through 54 weeks than those receiving placebo.
Associations between Self-Esteem and Subjective Sport Performance in Gaelic Players.

Introduction: The game of Gaelic football has been growing in popularity over the past number of years. Subjective sport performance (SSP) in Gaelic football players has been an under researched topic. Although, it is suggested that many factors influence an individual’s levels of subjective performance which include self – esteem (SE), age, gender and country of residence. Method: There were 119 participants in this study (68 males and 53 females) with age ranging from 18 – 41 years. 82 participants were located in Ireland and the rest were from other countries. SE was measured with the Rosenberg Self – Esteem Scale (RSES) and SSP was measured using the Physical Activity and Sports Anxiety scale (PASAS). Results: It was found that there was a moderate, positive correlation between SSP and SE with higher scores of SE correlating with higher levels of SSP. Additionally, female Gaelic players had higher levels of SE than men, which is on the contrary of relevant research. There was no significant difference in age groups and levels of SSP. Additionally, there was no significant relationship with SSP and country of residence. Discussion: The results from this study are profound as they highlight what affects an individual’s levels of subjective sport performance and what does not. As this study is the first of its kind, that presents with new and under researched areas of sport psychology, makes this study influential.
Training for Learning Mandarin Tones

This study explores the effect of two training paradigms for learning Mandarin tones in pedagogical contexts. Eighteen beginning learners of Chinese with different first language background received three weeks of training as extra curriculum CALL activities. Based on learners’ choices, one group (the A Group, n=10) received perceptual training only with auditory input involving four-way forced choice identification tasks with immediate feedback. A second group (the AV Group, n=8) received perceptual and production training with auditory and visual input. At post test, both groups improved significantly in perceptual accuracy of Mandarin tones as compared with a control group (the C Group, n=10) and perceptual learning also generalized to new stimuli by a new speaker. Both training groups’ production accuracy of Mandarin tones also improved significantly at post test. The findings show that both training paradigms are effective and laboratory based training techniques can be implemented in CALL contexts.
The Abundance of Mg in the Interstellar Medium

An empirical determination of the f-values of the far-UV Mg II λλ1239, 1240 lines is reported. The strong near-UV Mg II λλ2796, 2803 lines are generally highly saturated along most interstellar sight lines outside the local interstellar medium (ISM) and usually yield extremely uncertain estimates of Mg+ column densities in interstellar gas. Since Mg+ is the dominant form of Mg in the neutral ISM, and since Mg is expected to be a significant constituent of interstellar dust grains, the far-UV lines are critical for assessing the role of this important element in the ISM. This study consists of complete component analyses of the absorption along the lines of sight toward HD 93521 in the Galactic halo and ξ Persei and ζ Ophiuchi in the Galactic disk, including all four UV Mg+ lines and numerous other transitions. The three analyses yield consistent determinations of the λλ1239, 1240 f-values, with weighted means of (6.4 ± 0.4) × 10-4 and (3.2 ± 0.2) × 10-4, respectively. These results are a factor of ~2.4 larger than a commonly used theoretical estimate, and a factor of ~2 smaller than a recently suggested empirical revision. The effects of this result on gas- and dust-phase abundance measurements of Mg are discussed.
Sreedevi Sampath Information Systems

Test suite prioritization and reduction are two approaches to managing large test suites. They play an important role in regression testing, where a large number of tests accumulate over time from previous versions of the system. Accumulation of tests is exacerbated in user-session-based testing of web applications, where field usage data is continually logged and converted into test cases. This paper presents a tool that allows testers to easily collect, prioritize, and reduce user-session-based test cases. Our tool provides four contributions: (1) guidance to users on how to configure their web server to log important usage information, (2) automated parsing of web logs into XML formatted test cases that can be used by test replay tools, (3) automated prioritization of test cases by length-based and combinatorial-based criteria, and (4) automated reduction of test cases by combinatorial coverage.
ICES REPORT 15-20 October 2015 Discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin ( DPG ) Method

The article reviews fundamentals of Discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin (DPG) Method with Optimal Test Functions. The main idea admits three different interpretations: a Petrov-Galerkin method with (optimal) test functions that realize the supremum in the inf-sup condition, a minimumresidual method with residual measured in a dual norm, and a mixed formulation where one solves simultaneously for the Riesz representation of the residual. The methodology can be applied to any well-posed variational problem but it is especially effective in context of discontinuous (broken) test spaces. We discuss how one can “break” test functions in any variational formulation, and use the convection-dominated diffusion model problem to illustrate challenges related to the choice of an appropriate test norm.
Information-theoretic Measures and Sequential Monte Carlo Methods for Detection of Regeneration Phenomena in the Degradation of Energy Storage Devices

This paper compares the performance of several approaches for anomaly detection that are based on a combination of information-theoretic measures and sequential Monte Carlo methods for state estimation in nonlinear, non-Gaussian dynamic systems. All approaches conveniently use properties of the differential entropy to quantify the impact of process measurements on the posterior probability density function (PDF) of the state, assuming that sub-optimal Bayesian estimation algorithms such as classic particle filters (PF) or risk-sensitive particle filters (RSPF) are to be used to obtain an empirical representation of the system uncertainty. The proposed anomaly detection strategies are tested and evaluated both in terms of (i) detection time (early detection) and (ii) false alarm rate, when utilized to identify the existence of capacity regeneration phenomena ([A-h]) in energy storage devices (particularly, Lithium-Ion batteries).
Clinical Ophthalmology Dovepress Dovepress Visual and Subjective Outcomes of Phototherapeutic Keratectomy after Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty

Background: Patients with endothelial disease also often have scarring or surface corneal disease. This study examined the outcomes of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) performed in patients with prior Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK). Methods: This retrospective case series examined all patients undergoing PTK after DSEK in a single private practice. The primary outcome was best-corrected visual acuity, with secondary outcomes of change in spherical equivalent versus targeted change, change in endothelial cell count, improvement in corneal topography, and subjective satisfaction with vision. Results: For the ten patients who met the inclusion criteria, mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) 0.43 to 0.36 (P=0.24) at the most recent postoperative visit. PTK treatments that included a refractive component showed good predictability of 1.13 diopters spherical equivalent/diopter attempted. There was no evidence of a decrease in endothelial cell count from PTK, even with the use of mitomycin C (P=0.95). Subjectively, 80% of patients noted improvement in their vision. Conclusion: PTK after DSEK has the potential to improve patients' vision with high levels of patient satisfaction, even though many patients had significant ocular comorbidities. Surgeons should consider using PTK to treat anterior corneal pathology following DSEK.
A Set Cover-Based Density Control Algorithm for Sensing Coverage Problems in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks consist of a large number of sensor nodes with limited power and resource. To prolong network lifetime, the energy consumption must be somehow reduced. In this paper, we propose a localized density control algorithm for energy savings. The goals are to maintain a minimal number of active sensor nodes and to reduce radio-traffic intensity while conserving the sensing coverage of the network. Our localized algorithm is based on a greedy solution of a weighted set-cover problem. Each node locally computes whether to sleep or to stay active. Given that the local decision might worsen the sensing coverage, we also introduce a voting scheme for selecting active nodes to assure that a node can sleep if and only if its sensing area is completely covered by its active neighbors. We have implemented our localized algorithm and voting scheme on Tiny OS and evaluated on TOSSIM. The result indicates that our algorithm is efficient and viable for practical use.
Research Practice and Participant Preferences: The Growing Gulf

Reframing research practice to align with participant interests is important for ensuring long-term success of genomic investigation. “The irony is, if you had asked me, I probably would have consented” (1). So said Andrea Beleno, a plaintiff suing the Texas Department of State Health Services over its role in the use of newborn screening blood samples in research. Carletta Tilousi, a plaintiff in the Havasupai tribe's lawsuit against the Arizona Board of Regents, expressed similar sentiments: “I'm not against scientific research. I just want it to be done right. They used our blood for all these studies, people got degrees and grants, and they never asked our permission” (2).
Menstrual cycle, pregnancy and oral contraceptive use alter attraction to apparent health in faces

Previous studies demonstrating changes in women's face preferences have emphasized increased attraction to cues to possible indirect benefits (e.g. heritable immunity to infection) that coincides with periods of high fertility (e.g. the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle). By contrast, here we show that when choosing between composite faces with raised or lowered apparent health, women's preferences for faces that are perceived as healthy are (i) stronger during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle than during the late follicular, fertile phase, (ii) stronger in pregnant women than in non–pregnant women and (iii) stronger in women using oral contraceptives than in women with natural menstrual cycles. Change in preference for male faces was greater for short– than long–term relationships. These findings indicate raised progesterone level is associated with increased attraction to facial cues associated with possible direct benefits (e.g. low risk of infection) and suggest that women's face preferences are influenced by adaptations that compensate for weakened immune system responses during pregnancy and reduce the risk of infection disrupting foetal development.
ON THE ROLE OF THEORY IN BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS 1

Several recent writers have argued that the rejection of hypothetical constructs is one of the defining features of radical behaviorism. The present discussion argues that this claim is ill-founded and based on an erroneous distinction regarding different kinds of theoretical constructs. All constructs, including those commonly employed by behavior analysts, are argued to be inherently hypothetical, because they provide a causal basis for extending empirical findings to new sets of variables. Moreover, the constructs employed by radical behaviorists (e.g. "reinforcement") are not qualitatively different from those often employed by cognitivists (e.g. "short-term memory"). The result is that much of the basis for recent criticisms of cognitive psychology by behaviorists disappears. To the extent that differences do remain it is not in the qualitative nature of the two enterprises, but instead in attitudes about parsimony in the relation between data and theory.
Simvastatin Results in a Dose-Dependent Toxic Effect on Spiral Ganglion Neurons in an In Vitro Organotypic Culture Assay

Statins are inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, an enzyme necessary for the production of mevalonate. They are widely used as cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, conflicting data about the effect of statins on neuronal cells has been published. To explore the effect of simvastatin on spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), SG explants of 5-day-old rats were treated with increasing concentrations of simvastatin. In addition, SG explants were treated with mevalonate and with the combination of simvastatin and mevalonate. SGN number, length of the neurites, area of nonneuronal supporting cells, and neuronal survival were analyzed. Simvastatin treatment results in a significant dose-dependent decrease of SG neurite number, length of neurites, area of supporting cells, and SG neuronal survival compared to control. Interestingly, treatment with mevalonate in addition to simvastatin increased SG neuronal survival compared to simvastatin treatment only. However, treatment with mevalonate in addition to simvastatin did not influence SG neurite number, length of neurites, and area of supporting cells compared to simvastatin treatment only. Our results suggest a neurotoxic effect of simvastatin on SGNs in vitro. Neurotoxicity seems to be at least partially mediated by the mevalonate pathway. Therefore, caution is warranted to use simvastatin as a potential otoprotective drug.
The Self-Effacing Buddhist: No(t)-Self in Early Buddhism and Contemplative Neuroscience

Abstract One of the core teachings of Buddhism is the doctrine of anattā. I argue that there is good evidence that anattā as understood in early Buddhism should be viewed less as a doctrine and a metaphysical pronouncement (‘no-Self’) than as a soteriological claim (‘not-self’) – an appeal and a method to achieve, or move progressively closer to, liberation. This view opens up anattā to empirical scrutiny – does un-selfing, as an act, lead to liberation? Neuroimaging data collected on Buddhist or Buddhism-inspired meditators show interesting correspondences with this view of not-self as a possibly soteriological strategy. First, meditation leads to a quieting of the narrative self. Second, this quieting of the narrative self seems to lead to at least momentary increases in well-being. Third, this process can be learned, and seems to be already underway after a mere 40 hours of experience. Finally, very highly accomplished meditators seem to be able to tune down even the core self and truly experience anattā, including an apparent subduing of reflexive awareness.
Análise da efetividade de componente curricular para motivar colaboradores em projetos de Software Público

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a efetividade do Nucleo Tematico do Software Publico Brasileiro (Nucleo SPB) para motivar estudantes a colaborarem em projetos do Portal do Software Publico Brasileiro. O Nucleo SPB foi a primeira disciplina ofertada por uma universidade publica no Brasil, exclusivamente, para a promocao do Software Publico Brasileiro. Os resultados indicam que a disciplina promoveu ganhos significativos na motivacao dos estudantes, colaborando para o aprendizado e a reflexao dos beneficios associados ao Software Publico Brasileiro.
Diagnosis of Dementing Diseases through the Distribution of Cerebral Atrophy : Development of a Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm Optimiser

This report describes the development of a multi-objective genetic algorithm within the TINA machine vision software. This algorithm is intended to be used to optimise the diagnostic capabilities of the dementing disease diagnosis technique described in [23]. Many features previously described in the literature are incorporated: the use of a secondary population, mating restriction, random immigration, and deterministic crowding. However, a novel mating restriction is used in order to prevent global convergence in the primary population, such that the primary population searches the space indefinitely. Convergence is performed exclusively in the secondary population. This division of searching and convergence across two populations avoids the difficulties commonly associated with the trade-off between these two behaviours, such as premature convergence, but without applying features that artificially enforce diversity in the population (e.g. fitness sharing) or require problem-specific adjustments (e.g. annealing schemes). The algorithm is compared to four other algorithms incorporating fitness sharing, and is shown to produce a better estimate of the Pareto front over a range of real-valued multi-objective test problems.
Individual Utility under Incomplete Rationality

The mathematical description of individual utility under incomplete rationality is discussed. Since the assumption of rational economic man was proposed, it has received numerous criticisms. As humanity is complex and variable, the assumption of incomplete rationality is introduced, which is an extension to the traditional complete rationality. An individual utility function under incomplete rationality is proposed to replace the individual benefit under complete rationality. The individual utility function has well analytical and symmetrical characteristics and is in good agreement with the trends of altruistic behaviors. It is helpful to describe the irrational behavior. The individual utility function is applied to find the harmonic solution of the Prisonerpsilas Dilemma.
Berry phase effects on electronic properties

Ever since its discovery, the Berry phase has permeated through all branches of physics. Over the last three decades, it was gradually realized that the Berry phase of the electronic wave function can have a profound effect on material properties and is responsible for a spectrum of phenomena, such as ferroelectricity, orbital magnetism, various (quantum/anomalous/spin) Hall effects, and quantum charge pumping. This progress is summarized in a pedagogical manner in this review. We start with a brief summary of necessary background, followed by a detailed discussion of the Berry phase effect in a variety of solid state applications. A common thread of the review is the semiclassical formulation of electron dynamics, which is a versatile tool in the study of electron dynamics in the presence of electromagnetic fields and more general perturbations. Finally, we demonstrate a re-quantization method that converts a semiclassical theory to an effective quantum theory. It is clear that the Berry phase should be added as a basic ingredient to our understanding of basic material properties.
Comparison of Artificial Intelligence Based Techniques for Short Term Load Forecasting

The past few years have witnessed a growing rate of attraction in adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to solve different engineering problems. Besides, Short Term Electrical Load Forecasting (STLF) is one of the important concerns of power systems and accurate load forecasting is vital for managing supply and demand of electricity. This study estimates short term electricity loads of Iran by means of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) which are the most successful AI techniques in this field. In order to improve forecasting accuracy, all AI techniques are equipped with preprocessing concept, and effects of this concept on performance of each AI technique are investigated. Finally, outcomes of the approaches are evaluated and compared by means of the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Results show that data preprocessing can significantly improve performance of the AI techniques. Meanwhile, ANFIS outcomes are more approximate to the actual loads than those of ANN and GA, so it can be considered as a suitable tool to deal with STLF problems.
Computational Complexity of Multiple Sequence Alignment with SP-Score

It is shown that the multiple alignment problem with SP-score is NP-hard for each scoring matrix in a broad class M that includes most scoring matrices actually used in biological applications. The problem remains NP-hard even if sequences can only be shifted relative to each other and no internal gaps are allowed. It is also shown that there is a scoring matrix M(0) such that the multiple alignment problem for M(0) is MAX-SNP-hard, regardless of whether or not internal gaps are allowed.