Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Toward Causal Inference With Interference

A fundamental assumption usually made in causal inference is that of no interference between individuals (or units); that is, the potential outcomes of one individual are assumed to be unaffected by the treatment assignment of other individuals. However, in many settings, this assumption obviously does not hold. For example, in the dependent happenings of infectious diseases, whether one person becomes infected depends on who else in the population is vaccinated. In this article, we consider a population of groups of individuals where interference is possible between individuals within the same group. We propose estimands for direct, indirect, total, and overall causal effects of treatment strategies in this setting. Relations among the estimands are established; for example, the total causal effect is shown to equal the sum of direct and indirect causal effects. Using an experimental design with a two-stage randomization procedure (first at the group level, then at the individual level within groups), unbiased estimators of the proposed estimands are presented. Variances of the estimators are also developed. The methodology is illustrated in two different settings where interference is likely: assessing causal effects of housing vouchers and of vaccines.
Endoscopic retreatment of recurrent choledocholithiasis after sphincterotomy

Background: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) carries a substantial risk of recurrent choledocholithiasis but retreatment with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is safe and feasible. However, long term results of repeat ERCP and risk factors for late complications are largely unknown. Aims: To investigate the long term outcome of repeat ERCP for recurrent bile duct stones after ES and to identify risk factors predicting late choledochal complications. Methods: Eighty four patients underwent repeat ERCP, combined with ES in 69, for post-ES recurrent choledocholithiasis. Long term outcomes of repeat ERCP were retrospectively investigated and factors predicting late complications were assessed by multivariate analysis. Results: Complete stone clearance was achieved in all patients. Forty nine patients had no visible evidence of prior sphincterotomy. Two patients experienced early complications. During a follow up period of 2.2–26.0 years (median 10.9 years), 31 patients (37%) developed late complications, including stone recurrence (n = 26), acute acalculous cholangitis(n = 4), and acute cholecystitis (n = 1). There were neither biliary malignancies nor deaths attributable to biliary disease. Multivariate analysis identified three independent risk factors for choledochal complications: interval between initial ES and repeat ERCP ⩽5 years, bile duct diameter ⩾15 mm, and periampullary diverticulum. Choledochal complications were successfully treated with repeat ERCP in 29 patients. Conclusions: Choledochal complications after repeat ERCP are relatively frequent but are endoscopically manageable. Careful follow up is necessary, particularly for patients with a dilated bile duct, periampullary diverticulum, or early recurrence. Repeat ERCP is a reasonable treatment even for recurrent choledocholithiasis after ES.
File access characterization of VAX/VMS environments

A comprehensive analysis of file access behavior of several commercial production VAX/VMS environments, based on detailed I/O traces, is presented. The characterization focuses on file control operations (such as opens and closes) which are often expensive in both processing and I/O requirements. The motivation for this analysis is the need to design good data management algorithms for distributed file systems. These algorithms are particularly important for managing client caches. Most of the operations for managing client caches are performed on file opens and closes. The authors present quantitative data on the number of file opens and closes, their timing characteristics, and their declared intent to allow sharing or have exclusive access. The precise dynamic sharing of files is examined. <<ETX>>
An integrated model to predict the atmospheric spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus

The application of a computer model called Rimpuff for simulating the airborne spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is described. Rimpuff is more sophisticated and accurate than other FMD simulation models previously described. It can be run on a desktop computer and performs analyses very quickly. It can be linked to a geographical information system and so the information generated can be integrated with geographical and demographical data for display in a format that can be easily assimilated and transmitted electronically. The system was validated using historical data from outbreaks of FMD in France and the UK in 1981, and from Denmark and the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1982. A very good fit was obtained between the direction of the plumes of virus simulated by the model and the spread of disease from France to the UK in 1981. Although cattle in the UK were infected during the episode, the concentrations of airborne virus in the plumes simulated by the model were beneath the infectivity threshold for cattle. It was concluded from the analysis that the number of pigs infected in France, and therefore the source concentration of airborne virus, was probably much higher than was recorded at the time of the outbreaks. Analysis of the Denmark/GDR episode pointed to the possibility that the source of virus for the 1982 epidemic in Denmark could have been one or more unreported outbreaks involving pigs in the former GDR.
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of the respiratory depressant effect of alfentanil.

BACKGROUND Although respiratory depression is the most well-known and dangerous side effect of opioids, no pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model exists for its quantitative analysis. The development of such a model was the aim of this study. METHODS After institutional approval approval and informed consent were obtained, 14 men (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II; median age, 42 yr [range, 20-71 yr]; median weight, 82.5 kg [range, 68-108 kg]) were studied before they underwent major urologic surgery. An intravenous infusion of alfentanil (2.3 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) was started while the patients were breathing oxygen-enriched air (fraction of inspired oxygen [FIO2 = 0.5) over a tightly fitting continuous positive airway pressure mask. The infusion was discontinued when a cumulative dose of 70 microg/kg had been administered, the end-expiratory partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PE(CO2) exceeded 65 mmHg, or apneic periods lasting more than 60 s occurred During and after the infusion, frequent arterial blood samples were drawn and analyzed for the concentration of alfentanil and the arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2). A mamillary two-compartment model was fitted to the pharmacokinetic data. The PaCO2 data were described by an indirect response model The model accounted for the respiratory stimulation resulting from increasing PaCO2. The model parameters were estimated using NONMEM. Simulations were performed to define the respiratory response at steady state to different alfentanil concentrations. RESULTS The indirect response model adequately described the time course of the PaCO2. The following pharmacodynamic parameters were estimated (population means and interindividual variability): EC50, 60.3 microg/l (32%); the elimination rate constant of carbon dioxide (Kel), 0.088 min(-1) (44%); and the gain in the carbon dioxide response, 4(28%) (fixed according to literature values). Simulations revealed the pronounced role of PaCO2 in maintaining alveolar ventilation in the presence of opioid. CONCLUSIONS The model described the data for the entire opioid-PaCo2 response surface examined. Indirect response models appear to be a promising tool for the quantitative evaluation of drug-induced respiratory depression.
High on-treatment platelet reactivity by more than one agonist predicts 12-month follow-up cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction in acute coronary syndrome patients receiving coronary stenting

Summary There is some data available on the role of high on-treatment platelet reactivity by ADP whereas, as regards arachidonic acid or other agonists, there is no proof of the best cut-off for identifying populations with a different cardiovascular outcome by the construction of appropriate receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curves. We enrolled 1,108 acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation and followed them up for 12 months. Platelet reactivity was assessed by light transmission aggregometry (LTA) using 10 μM ADP, 1 mM arachidonic acid (AA) and 2 μg/ml collagen. At a 12-month follow-up, we found 37 cardiovascular deaths (3.3%), 54 non-fatal myocardial infarctions (MI) (4.8%) and 154 target vessel revascularisations (TVR) (13.8%). ROC analysis demonstrated that 10 μM ADP LTA, 1 mM AA and 2 μg/ml collagen LTA were able to distinguish between patients with and without subsequent cardiovascular death and non-fatal MI (area under the curve for 10 μM ADP 0.63 (0.55–0.71), p<0.001; for 1 mM AA 0.68 (0.61–0.76), p<0.0001; for 2 μg/ml collagen 0.62 (0.52–0.73), p<0.0111), whereas no association was demonstrated with the occurrence of TVR. Ten μM ADP LTA ≥55%, 1 mM AA LTA ≥15% and 2 μg/ml collagen LTA ≥31% were identified as the optimal cut-off to predict cardiovascular death and non-fatal MI at 12-month follow-up. The contemporary platelet hyperreactivity to more than one agonist was associated with a higher risk of 12-month cardiovascular death and MI, whereas isolated platelet hyperreactivity to only one agonist had not a predictive value [10 μM ADP LTA ≥55% + 1 mM AA LTA ≥15%: odds ratio [OR]=3.6(2.4–6.1), p<0.0001; ADP LTA ≥55% + 1 mM AA LTA ≥15% + 2 μg/ml collagen LTA ≥31%: OR=4.7(2.9–7.7), p<0.0001]. In this prospective study on a large number of acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing stent implantation, we have found that high on-treatment platelet reactivity measured by LTA induced by more than one agonist – AA, ADP, collagen – is an independent risk factor for 12-month cardiovascular death and non-fatal MI. Isolated platelet hyperreactivity to only one agonist has not a predictive value for clinical recurrences.
Comparative studies on chemical parameters and antioxidant properties of stipes and caps of shiitake mushroom as affected by different drying methods.

BACKGROUND Shiitake, the second most cultivated mushroom, is famous for its high nutritional value and medicinal properties. In this study, various chemical parameters and antioxidant properties of caps and stipes of shiitake mushroom dried by different methods (freeze-drying, shade drying and hot air drying) were comparatively investigated by spectrophotometric assays, high-performance liquid chromatography, 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay, ferric reducing power assay and lipid peroxidation inhibition assay. RESULTS The contents of amino acids, neutral sugar and total phenolics in stipes were higher than those in caps of shiitake, while caps showed advantages in terms of their contents of protein and eritadenine. The chemical parameters and antioxidant activities of shiitake were significantly affected by the drying method used. CONCLUSION The contents of total phenolics, amino acids and neutral sugar in stipes were higher than those in caps of shiitake, which suggested that stipes were more nutritional than caps in some respects. Hot air drying at 50 °C resulted in high total phenolic, amino acid, uronic acid and neutral sugar contents and antioxidant activities, which could be useful for the application of shiitake and related products in the food industry.
Rationale of Physical Education and Sports in Non-Formal Education System

Educative system classification proposal, comprising formal, non-formal and informal education, their features and relations at the level of concepts and practical utilization is presented. “Every human being has a fundamental right of access to physical education and sport, which are essential for the full development of his personality. The freedom to develop physical, intellectual and moral powers through physical education and sport must be guaranteed both within the educational system and in other aspects of social life. ” National Institution of Open Learning System mainly caters to the educational needs of the out of school children in general and those belonging to school drop-outs and organised different programs such as Life Enrichment Program and Life Skill Program. Empowerment of adolescents through education and life skills development of NIOS to make informed choices, keep of infections like HIV and adopted a responsible behavior leading to a healthy society. Learning is not restricted to the time spent in school. It begins at birth and continues all your life. However, ongoing learning throughout life enables people to take advantage of new opportunities that arise as society changes. World Health Organisation emphasized the importance of health, physical activity and other innate powers training. It is the role of PE to provide instructional actions that not only promote skill development and proficiency, but also enhance an individual's overall health. PE may incorporate following rationales in non-formal education:  Set up and upgrade non-formal courses related to fitness, lifestyle and wellbeing  Offer online courses in physical education and sports sciences Given the importance of PE foundations, currently those who miss out on basic education suffer exclusion because the health of the people is which all their happiness and all their powers as a
Talent management of skilled migrants: propositions and an agenda for future research

Abstract This paper unpacks the dominant conceptualizations of talent management (TM) in contemporary academic publications, and considers these in relation to the increasingly important workforce population of skilled international migrants. It postulates that TM approaches are generally built from a relatively narrow human capital-based perspective wherein organizations focus on readily accessible and immediate skills, ignoring the longer term strategic potential of the international workforce of skilled migrants, particularly for multinational enterprises and other international organizations. Through a series of propositions, the paper highlights how organizations, in strategically using a more comprehensive TM lens rather than a human capital lens in approaching the TM of skilled migrants, could benefit from improved HRM performance over time. It also proposes a research agenda, by which future studies might test, explore, and further develop understanding on a more strategic utilization of skilled migrants in organizations.
CYP2E1 Rsa I polymorphism impacts on risk of colorectal cancer association with smoking and alcohol drinking.

AIM To investigate associations between the Rsa I polymorphism of CYP2E1 and risk of colorectal cancer. METHODS A case-control study was conducted with 315 colorectal cancer cases (105 colon, 210 rectal) and 439 population-based controls in Jiangsu Province of China. Genomic DNA samples were assayed for restriction fragment length polymorphisms in CYP2E1 by PCR amplification followed by digestion with Rsa I. Information on smoking and alcohol drinking was collected using a questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated with an unconditional logistic model. RESULTS The proportional distribution of the CYP2E1 Rsa I c1/c1, c1/c2 and c2/c2 genotypes were 61.4%, 35.6% and 3.0% in controls, 60.6%, 33.7% and 5.8% in colon cancer cases, and 58.4%, 34.0% and 7.7% in rectal cancer cases, respectively. A significant difference was noted between controls and rectal cancer cases (P = 0.029), the c2/c2 genotype being associated with elevated OR (adjusted age, sex and status of the smoking and alcohol drinking) for rectal cancer (1.64, 95% CI, 1.12-2.41, vs c1 allele carriers), but not for colon cancer. In interaction analysis between the CYP2E1 Rsa I genotype and smoking and drinking habits, we found a significant cooperative action between the c2/c2 genotype and alcohol drinking in the sex-, age-adjusted ORs for both colon (4.74, 95% CI, 1.10-20.40) and rectal (5.75, 95% CI, 1.65-20.05) cancers. Among non-smokers, the CYP2E1 Rsa I c2/c2 genotype was also associated with elevated ORs in the two sites (1.95, 95% CI, 0.99-3.86 and 2.30, 95% CI, 1.32-3.99). CONCLUSION The results of the present study suggest that the CYP2E1 c2/c2 genotype increases susceptibility to rectal cancer and the gene-environmental interactions between the CYP2E1 polymorphism and smoking or alcohol drinking exist for colorectal neoplasia in general.
Effect of elevated blood FFA levels on endurance performance after a single fat meal ingestion.

PURPOSE This study was designed to examine the effect of elevated blood free fatty acid (FFA) levels on carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation and cycling performance after ingesting a single fat meal (FM). METHODS Four hours before cycling exercise, nine trained males consumed either a FM (4711 kJ; 30% CHO, 61% fat, and 9% protein) or control meal (CM) (4877 kJ; 58% CHO, 31% fat, and 11% protein). The intensity of exercise employed was 67% of the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for the first 120 min of exercise, followed by an increase to 78% VO2max. RESULTS The FM ingestion significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) elevated serum FFA levels above those resulting from CM ingestion almost throughout the entire exercise. A significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) lower respiratory exchange ratio in the FM versus the CM trials was observed during the first hour of exercise. This was accompanied by a significantly greater amount of fat oxidized at 20 (P < 0.01) and 60 min (P < 0.05) of FM trials and a significantly smaller amount of CHO oxidized at 20 min (P < 0.05) of FM trials. However, endurance time and work production did not differ between the FM (141 +/- 8 min, 134333 +/- 6049 kg x m (SEM)) and CM (138 +/- 5 min, 131450 +/- 4737 kg x m) trials. Also, there were no significant differences in oxygen consumption, heart rate, and perceived exertion or in glucose, lactate, and triglyceride levels in the blood. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the elevated blood FFA levels after a single FM ingestion reduce CHO oxidation early in exercise, but this decrease in CHO oxidation would not be adequate enough to contribute to an increased endurance.
Performance of TC-QPSK-OFDM System with Phase Error and Perfect Compensation in Rayleigh Fading Channel

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) combines the advantage of high achievable rates and relatively easy implementation. In this paper we present an evaluation of the combined use of the turbo codes (TC) and the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with pilot-aided data in Rayleigh fading channel with compensation the phase error and perfect compensation. The system is called TC-QPSK-OFDM. The simulation results of TC-QPSK-OFDM at three iterations are sufficient to provide good BER performance with phase error and perfect compensation. The gain factor is 7 dB compared with un-coded QPSK-OFDM with perfect compensation at BER 2*10-4 and 8 dB at 3*10-4 with phase error compensation. The proposed system can be used in several wireless standard such as 802-11a.
Metamaterial Resonator Based Wave Propagation Notch for Ultrawideband Filter Applications

Metamaterial resonator based wave propagation notch for ultrawideband (UWB) filter applications is proposed. The presented filter combines a conventional bandpass characteristic and negative permittivity metamaterial to establish a UWB response and extra wave propagation notch to reject the HiPerLAN interference, without compromise in performance and size. The negative permittivity metamaterial is made of complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs), etched on the ground plane. In addition a new method is proposed, demonstrating a significant improvement in the matching between the CSRRs and the host transmission line. The measured results show that the filter has an insertion loss less than 1 dB and bandwidth of 8.4 GHz with 22 dB rejection at 5.4 GHz.
Efficient Test Collection Construction via Active Learning

To create a new IR test collection at low cost, it is valuable to carefully select which documents merit human relevance judgments. Shared task campaigns such as NIST TREC pool document rankings from many participating systems (and often interactive runs as well) in order to identify the most likely relevant documents for human judging. However, if one's primary goal is merely to build a test collection, it would be useful to be able to do so without needing to run an entire shared task. Toward this end, we investigate multiple active learning strategies which, without reliance on system rankings: 1) select which documents human assessors should judge; and 2) automatically classify the relevance of additional unjudged documents. To assess our approach, we report experiments on five TREC collections with varying scarcity of relevant documents. We report labeling accuracy achieved, as well as rank correlation when evaluating participant systems based upon these labels vs. full pool judgments. Results show the effectiveness of our approach, and we further analyze how varying relevance scarcity across collections impacts our findings. To support reproducibility and follow-on work, we have shared our code online\footnote\urlhttps://github.com/mdmustafizurrahman/ICTIR_AL_TestCollection_2020/ .
MotionDesigner: Augmented artistic performances with kinect-based human body motion tracking

In the last two decades the use of technology in art projects has proliferated, as is the case of the interactive projections based on movement used in artistic performances and installations. However, the artists responsible for creating this work typically have to rely on computer experts to implement this type of interactive systems. The tool herein presented, MotionDesigner, intends to assist the design of these systems by providing artists with higher levels of autonomy and efficiency during the creative process, allowing them to specify the rules by which a human body interacts with both the audio and the visuals used in their interactive art work. The presented tool relies on an RGB-D camera to modulate the multimedia content according to the performer's body motion. MotionDesigner is extensible so as to accommodate additions required by artists. The tool has been tested with dancers, choreographers, and architects. Results show that MotionDesigner is a valuable aid to artists, working as a catalyst of their creative process.