Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Index of Mortality and PIM2 Scores Have Good Calibration in a Large Cohort of Children from a Developing Country

Objective. Our objective was to validate the Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) and PIM2 scores in a large cohort of children from a developing country. Design. Prospective observational study. Setting. Pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients. All children aged <18 years admitted between June 2011 and July 2013. Measurements and Main Results. We evaluated the discriminative ability and calibration as measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit (GOF), and standardized mortality ratio (SMR), respectively. Of the 819 children enrolled, 232 (28%) died. The median (IQR) age of the study subjects was 4 years (0.8, 10). The major reasons for ICU admission as well as mortality were sepsis/severe sepsis. The area under ROC curves for PIM and PIM2 was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.67–0.75) and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.70–0.78), respectively. The goodness-of-fit test showed a good calibration across deciles of risk for the two scores with P values being >0.05. The SMR (95% CI) was 0.99 (0.85–1.15) and 1 (0.85–1.16) for PIM and PIM2, respectively. The calibration across different age and diagnostic subgroups was also good. Conclusion. PIM and PIM2 scores had good calibration in our setup.
Classical Security Protocols for QKD Systems Nikolaos Papanikolaou

The purpose of this report is to document the three principal classes of classic cryptographic protocols which are needed in systems for quantum key distribution. We will detail the protocols used for secretkey reconciliation by public discussion, privacy ampli cation by public discussion, and unconditionally secure authentication. We suggest the use of the model checking method for the analysis of these protocols and the veri cation of relevant security requirements; the model checking technique is described, and the PRISM model checker is presented. Key words: quantum cryptography secret-key reconciliation privacy ampli cation authentication unconditional security model checking
Strong Ferromagnetically-Coupled Spin Valve Sensor Devices for Droplet Magnetofluidics

We report a magnetofluidic device with integrated strong ferromagnetically-coupled and hysteresis-free spin valve sensors for dynamic monitoring of ferrofluid droplets in microfluidics. The strong ferromagnetic coupling between the free layer and the pinned layer of spin valve sensors is achieved by reducing the spacer thickness, while the hysteresis of the free layer is eliminated by the interplay between shape anisotropy and the strength of coupling. The increased ferromagnetic coupling field up to the remarkable 70 Oe, which is five-times larger than conventional solutions, brings key advantages for dynamic sensing, e.g., a larger biasing field giving rise to larger detection signals, facilitating the operation of devices without saturation of the sensors. Studies on the fundamental effects of an external magnetic field on the evolution of the shape of droplets, as enabled by the non-visual monitoring capability of the device, provides crucial information for future development of a magnetofluidic device for multiplexed assays.
Entre la ciencia y la política: la forja de una élite intelectual latinoamericana

Este artículo examina el circuito latinoamericano de centros académicos independientes formado a mitad de los años 70 por el CEBRAP brasileño, el CEDES argentino y el CIEPLAN chileno, decisivo para explicar el ascenso de una élite intelectual que tendría repercusiones políticas y públicas en los años 80 al calor de las transiciones democráticas. Por tal motivo, se analizan la circulación de ideas y temas, los intercambios intelectuales y las relaciones personales que vehículo esta red en un contexto histórico caracterizado por las dictaduras militares. Además se pondrá especial atención a las relaciones académicas que estos centros mantuvieron con Estados Unidos, con sus intelectuales y con sus fundaciones filantrópicas.
Bibliographical Notes on Tree-structured classifiers

The main source for the lecture on trees is Chapter 8, sections 1 to 4 inclusive, of the textbook [5]. CART is described in the lovely book by Breiman, Friedman, Olshen and Stone [1], which contains an extensive discussion of all the main points we touched during the lecture. A machine-learning point of view is contained in Chapter 3 of Mitchell’s book [8], which is a good reference for ID3 and C4.5. Devroye, Györfi, and Lugosi devote Chapters 20 and 21 of their book [4] to the topic. As usual, they devote a substantial effort to consistency proofs for classifiers, and provide us with interesting examples. Unlike the previous references, they also consider trees constructed using only the observations and not their labels. The material described in class came from two papers [3, 6]. The problem of matching impurity functions to loss functions was addressed by P.A. Chou in 1991 [3]. From this work we derived the analysis of the selection of optimal labels for nodes and leaves, and the theory of how to optimally choose splitting points. Chou’s paper also descries an algorithm that performs optimal (greedy) splitting in linear time (in the number of samples, in the number of classes and in the number of dimensions). The description of pruning methods provided during the lecture comes essentially from a paper by Esposito, et al.,[6]. Other pruning methods are also described in this work and in [7]. Two interesting interesting conclusions were reached in [6]: the use of a pruning set is often a bad idea, and some common methods exhibit a marked tendency to overprune/underprune, which one would not easily infer from their description.
AdS/CFT Correspondence and Unification at About 4 TeV

I will give a brief summary of an approach to string phenomenology which is inspired by AdS/CFT correspondence and which has been pursued for the last five years. Finite-N non-SUSY theories as discussed here are not obtainable from AdS/CFT although a speculation, currently under study, is that key UV properties of infinite-N theories which may be so obtained can survive, at least in some(one? ) cases for the finite-N case. Future work will study the (non-)occurrence of quadratic divergences in the resultant finite-N gauge theories.
The Effect of Green Investment on Corporate Behavior

Abstract This paper explores the effect of exclusionary ethical investing on corporate behavior in a risk-averse, equilibrium setting. While arguments exist that ethical investing can influence a firm's cost of capital, and so affect investment, no equilibrium model has been presented to do so. We show that exclusionary ethical investing leads to polluting firms being held by fewer investors since green investors eschew polluting firms' stock. This lack of risk sharing among non-green investors leads to lower stock prices for polluting firms, thus raising their cost of capital. If the higher cost of capital more than overcomes a cost of reforming (i.e., a polluting firm cleaning up its activities), then polluting firms will become socially responsible because of exclusionary ethical investing. A key determinant of the incentive for polluting firms to reform is the fraction of funds controlled by green investors. In our model, empirically reasonable parameter estimates indicate, that more than 20 % green investors are required to induce any polluting firmss to reform. Existing empirical evidence indicates that at most 10% of funds are invested by green investors.
Characterizing Information Spreading in Online Social Networks

Online social networks (OSNs) are changing the way in which the information spreads throughout the Internet. A deep understanding of the information spreading in OSNs leads to both social and commercial benefits. In this paper, we characterize the dynamic of information spreading (e.g., how fast and widely the information spreads against time) in OSNs by developing a general and accurate model based on the Interactive Markov Chains (IMCs) and mean-field theory. This model explicitly reveals the impacts of the network topology on information spreading in OSNs. Further, we extend our model to feature the time-varying user behaviors and the ever-changing information popularity. The complicated dynamic patterns of information spreading are captured by our model using six key parameters. Extensive tests based on Renren's dataset validate the accuracy of our model, which demonstrate that it can characterize the dynamic patterns of video sharing in Renren precisely and predict future spreading tendency successfully.
Wigner–Yanase information on quantum state space: The geometric approach

In the search of appropriate Riemannian metrics on quantum state space, the concept of statistical monotonicity, or contraction under coarse graining, has been proposed by Chentsov. The metrics with this property have been classified by Petz. All the elements of this family of geometries can be seen as quantum analogs of Fisher information. Although there exists a number of general theorems shedding light on this subject, many natural questions, also stemming from applications, are still open. In this paper we discuss a particular member of the family, the Wigner–Yanase information. Using a well-known approach that mimics the classical pull-back approach to Fisher information, we are able to give explicit formulas for the geodesic distance, the geodesic path, the sectional and scalar curvatures associated to Wigner–Yanase information. Moreover, we show that this is the only monotone metric for which such an approach is possible.
An MIU [Most Influential Users]-Based Model for Recommender Systems

Recommender Systems have emerged as an imperative research domain ever since the explosion of information on the web made it impractical to review the exhaustive data in search of specific/valuable content. The application of this technique in various e-commerce related fields have exposed several downsides related to the process through which the online user profiles are evaluated, the semantics of the related content are matched, and the way in which the recommendations rely on the underlying filtering technique. Extensive research in this field has proposed extensions like alleviating the sparsity problem using trust metrics, incorporating a confidence value in the formed similarities among users, studying the privacy/accuracy trade-offs, classifying the database items into attribute class, etc. In an effort to extend the scope of this field, we hereby endeavor to propose a better administration of recommendations through intelligently formed user models. We implement the concept of Most Influential User group [MIU] governed recommendations and hence prove that the quality of decisions that such decision making systems produce better approximates the requirements of the participating users. It also formalizes the new item recommendation model that proposes to alleviate the quality of items modeled in the data warehouse.
A Comparison of HPF-like Systems : Early Prototypes

This paper describes our experience with some of the prototype HPF parallelisation tools, namely Adaptor, Fortran 90D and xHPF90, as they were available to us at the end of 1993. The comparison and evaluation of these earlyHPF compilerswasequally difficultand important in order togain some feedback to the compiler designers but also to accumulate some initial skills in writing efficient HPF programs. The available HPF-like systems were applied to the existing GENESIS benchmarks that have already been rewritten in Fortran 90 with HPF data distribution directives. At the beginning of the paper, an overview of the three systems is given with emphasis on their specific features and limitations, together with comparative analysis based on carefully designedmethodology. The comparison includes a detailed study of the extent of implementation for both Fortran 90 and subset HPF attributes into the prototype systems, aswell as the compilation characteristicsof those systems and the range of new language features covered by the test programs. In order to ensure a basis for comparative performance evaluation, all benchmark measurements were taken on iPSC/860 as it was the only common platform for the three prototype systems. The subset HPF compiler tools under consideration have been having different levels of development during the evaluation exercise, and therefore the extent of benchmarkmeasurements is different for different systems. The evaluation results include discussion and comments on compiling and runing the benchmark codes with focus on subset HPF features and some optimisation strategies for compilation of data-parallel programs in terms of communication, temporary storage requirements, and processor utilisation. The benchmarkmeasurements are finally presented along with a comparison to the corresponding hand-written message-passing versions of benchmarks and interpretation of performance results. This work was supported in part by ESPRIT (CEC) through project P6643 (PPPE), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK) under contract # GR/J50309 and the AustrianMinistry for Science and Research (BMWF).
Secure Vault: A privacy preserving reliable architecture for Secure Social Networking

Social Networking Sites(SNS) are becoming the preferred medium for internet users to stay connected. Unfortunately, there are numerous threats to the privacy and security of users' personal data shared on these sites. Some third party privacy and security enhancing applications and solutions are available, but they only give a piece meal solution. The need of the hour is to design and develop a Secure Social Networking Site (SSNS) which addresses users concerns right from design stage. This paper proposes a novel architecture for a Secure Social Networking Site called "Secure Vault". Secure Vault addresses the privacy and security issues of a user by interleaving the concepts of data dislocation, fake information and encryption. In a unique solution to restrict unauthorized viewing by visitors we propose presenting to the unauthorized visitors "fake" information, rather than blocking out the visitor, an approach currently adopted by the existing SNSs. The architecture shields users' private data by using encryption and enhances reliability of storage of critical and sensitive data by dislocating it to user specified servers.
Celecoxib Can Induce Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression and Tumor Angiogenesis

Increased COX-2 expression has been linked to increased angiogenesis and a worse prognosis in patients with malignant gliomas and other tumor types. This led to our interest in assessing the response of glioma cell lines to treatment with celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor. However, contrary to its reported antiangiogenic effects, treatment with celecoxib actually induced the expression of VEGF in multiple glioma as well as other cancer cell lines. This induction of VEGF was comparable to, if not greater than, that found after exposure of cells to hypoxia. Pharmacologic inhibition and siRNA silencing of p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase and the Sp1 transcription factor revealed their involvement in this celecoxib-induced VEGF expression. Consistent with the documented role of Sp1 in this effect, VEGF induction was found to involve transcriptional activation and not to change the stability of VEGF mRNA. The biological significance of this effect was confirmed in vivo by showing both induction of VEGF expression and microvessel density in tumor xenografts and increased angiogenesis in a matrigel plug assay in nude mice that were administered celecoxib. We speculate that treatment with celecoxib may, in some instances, enhance tumor cell expression of VEGF as well as angiogenesis and, consequently, may have detrimental effects on the response of tumors to this drug. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(1); 138–47. ©2011 AACR.
Adaptive information visualization based on the user's multiple viewpoints-interactive 3D visualization of the WWW

We introduce the adaptive information visualization method for hypermedia and the WWW based on the user's multiple viewpoints. We propose two graphical interfaces, the CVI and the RF-Cone. The CVI is the interface for interactive viewpoint selection. We can select a viewpoint reflecting our interests by using the CVI. According to the given viewpoint, the RF-Cone adaptively organizes the 3D representation of the hypermedia so that we can understand the semantic and structural relationship of the hypermedia and easily retrieve the information. Combining these methods, we have developed the WWW visualization system which can provide highly efficient navigation.
Bacteriophages and Biofilms

Biofilms are an extremely common adaptation, allowing bacteria to colonize hostile environments. They present unique problems for antibiotics and biocides, both due to the nature of the extracellular matrix and to the presence within the biofilm of metabolically inactive persister cells. Such chemicals can be highly effective against planktonic bacterial cells, while being essentially ineffective against biofilms. By contrast, bacteriophages seem to have a greater ability to target this common form of bacterial growth. The high numbers of bacteria present within biofilms actually facilitate the action of bacteriophages by allowing rapid and efficient infection of the host and consequent amplification of the bacteriophage. Bacteriophages also have a number of properties that make biofilms susceptible to their action. They are known to produce (or to be able to induce) enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix. They are also able to infect persister cells, remaining dormant within them, but re-activating when they become metabolically active. Some cultured biofilms also seem better able to support the replication of bacteriophages than comparable planktonic systems. It is perhaps unsurprising that bacteriophages, as the natural predators of bacteria, have the ability to target this common form of bacterial life.
Using Keywords to Improve the Display of a Search Results List

This article presents the results of a comparative study of various user interfaces used to obtain search results from textual databases. This study is one of a series carried out at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It focuses on the display of text elements in search results and their impact on user behavior. The findings indicate several distinct benefits in the interface developed for the experiment, in which the search results display consists of the document title, keywords, and several lines from the text that fulfill the search criteria. These user benefits include ease of use, increased confidence that the parameters defined for the search query will yield the correct results and allow successful completion of the task, and satisfaction with the relevance of the information displayed.
The relationship between age and consumer fraud victimisation

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates consumer fraud costs Australians $1.4b per year. Advances in technology allow fraudsters to reach an increasing number of potential victims. Age has long been considered a potential factor in the risk of victimisation; however, it remains unclear which age groups are most vulnerable. This paper examines the relationship between age and the risk of consumer fraud, using the results of online surveys conducted by the AIC on behalf of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce in 2011 and 2012. The surveys found statistically significant relationships between age and how invitations were received; age and frauds resulting in victimisation; and age and those who sent money in response to invitations. Targeted, age-specific awareness-raising campaigns may be an effective means of reducing the risk of consumer fraud. Initiatives that address the risks associated with lifestyle factors such as social networking, online dating and the use of both new and existing technologies may be of particular benefit.
Slicing probabilistic programs

Probabilistic programs use familiar notation of programming languages to specify probabilistic models. Suppose we are interested in estimating the distribution of the return expression r of a probabilistic program P. We are interested in slicing the probabilistic program P and obtaining a simpler program Sli(P) which retains only those parts of P that are relevant to estimating r, and elides those parts of P that are not relevant to estimating r. We desire that the Sli transformation be both correct and efficient. By correct, we mean that P and Sli(P) have identical estimates on r. By efficient, we mean that estimation over Sli(P) be as fast as possible. We show that the usual notion of program slicing, which traverses control and data dependencies backward from the return expression r, is unsatisfactory for probabilistic programs, since it produces incorrect slices on some programs and sub-optimal ones on others. Our key insight is that in addition to the usual notions of control dependence and data dependence that are used to slice non-probabilistic programs, a new kind of dependence called observe dependence arises naturally due to observe statements in probabilistic programs. We propose a new definition of Sli(P) which is both correct and efficient for probabilistic programs, by including observe dependence in addition to control and data dependences for computing slices. We prove correctness mathematically, and we demonstrate efficiency empirically. We show that by applying the Sli transformation as a pre-pass, we can improve the efficiency of probabilistic inference, not only in our own inference tool R2, but also in other systems for performing inference such as Church and Infer.NET.
Analog realization of fractional order hybrid differentiators via Carlson's approach

Rational approximation of fractional order (FO) elements are now of prime importance for the need of its hardware implementation in control design and signal processing. Among the well known analog realizations methods, the Carlson's approach has been used in this paper due to its simplicity of calculation for designing a certain class of FO differentiators as hybrid filters. Impact of the independent parameters of the hybrid differentiator on the phase response has been depicted along with the achievable accuracies for increasing order of realization for filter design.
Information on the Go: Perspective of Academic Librarians on Use of Social Media in Reference Services

ABSTRACT Librarians have different perceptions on the employment of social media in library services. This research focused on investigating the perceptions that academic librarians in Ghana hold about the employment of social media in providing reference and user services. A quantitative research approach employing a Likert-type questionnaire was used in soliciting the views of 99 librarians from six top public and private universities in Ghana on their perspective on the use of social media in providing reference and user services. The findings of the study indicate mixed perceptions on the application of social media in reference and user services. These are variously attributed to lack of skills on the part of librarians to use social media, low bandwidth and poor internet connectivity, and inadequate support/motivation from parent institutions among others. As a result, librarians found the traditional mode of service delivery more comfortable, though they knew the importance of social media in their services. The study recommended, among others, development of skills and sensitization workshops to whip up interest in librarians to use social media in reference and user services.