Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning Preference Distributions From Pairwise Comparisons

We introduce the problem of learning distribution of user preference over a population via pairwise comparison of a set of items. We consider the setting where each individual only answers one pairwise comparison. In this scenario, learning each user’s individual preference is impossible. Hence the question of interest is what can we learn about the distribution of user preferences over the population? Since we are limited to binary answers to pairwise comparison queries, we focus on learning the mass of the underlying distribution in the regions defined by the intersecting midpoint hyperplanes between the pairs of items in the query set. We investigate this fundamental question in both 1-dimensional and higher dimensional settings under noiseless response settings. We show that the problem is identifiable in a 1-dimensional setting and provide recovery guarantees. We also show that the problem is not identifiable for higher dimensional settings. We propose using a regularized recovery for higher dimensional settings and provide guarantees on the total variation distance between the true mass in each of the regions and the distribution learned via regularized constrained optimization problem. We validate our findings through simulations and experiments on real datasets.
Artificial intelligence in medicine: has the time come to hang up the stethoscope?

The question of whether the time has come to hang up the stethoscope is bound up in the promises of artificial intelligence (AI), promises that have so far proven difficult to deliver, perhaps because of the mismatch between the technical capability of AI and its use in real‐world clinical settings. This perspective argues that it is time to move away from discussing the generalised promise of disembodied AI and focus on specifics. We need to focus on how the computational method underlying AI, i.e. machine learning (ML), is embedded into tools, how those tools contribute to clinical tasks and decisions and to what extent they can be relied on. Accordingly, we pose four questions that must be asked to make the discussion real and to understand how ML tools contribute to health care: (1) What does the ML algorithm do? (2) How is output of the ML algorithm used in clinical tools? (3) What does the ML tool contribute to clinical tasks or decisions? (4) Can clinicians act or rely on the ML tool? Two exemplar ML tools are examined to show how these questions can be used to better understand the role of ML in supporting clinical tasks and decisions. Ultimately, ML is just a fancy method of automation. We show that it is useful in automating specific and narrowly defined clinical tasks but likely incapable of automating the full gamut of decisions and tasks performed by clinicians.
Sustainable tourism development in the Israeli Negev Desert: an integrative approach.

This paper presents a conceptual strategic approach for sustainable tourism development in desert areas with the Israeli Negev region as its focus. The approach advocated in this paper refers to both the suggested processes and the conceptual themes that might be utilized for developing sustainable tourism in isolated desert areas. In terms of suggested processes, the paper presents a two-tier development process, where central planning lays the foundation for entrepreneurial profitmaking ventures. This approach emphasizes both the role of individual entrepreneurs and the need for the development of a guiding master plan in the area. With respect to the contents of the attractions, the current study proposes an approach that combines cultural heritage and natureoriented themes with simulated attractions. The strategic approach presented in this paper is illustrated with respect to two master plans for future sustainable tourism development in the Israeli Negev Desert: a) “The Incense and Spice Road” (ISR) that passes through the Negev Desert, and b) a sustainable tourism development project planned for the Negev town of Yeruham. The ISR project, conceived by the Israel Ministry of Regional Cooperation, was recognized by UNESCO as an “international landmark heritage project” (www.silkscentsandspice.com/pages/spiceroute.html). Its declared vision is to facilitate accelerated growth of the Negev through rapid growth of the tourism industry. The project is supposed to follow the ancient Incense and Spice Route that stretched from the Persian Gulf to the shores of the Mediterranean and ran parallel to the Silk Road. The master plan for the economically depressed town of Yeruham, which is located on top of the Great Crater in the Negev area, was designed by the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The objective of this plan was to emphasize the open landscape of the desert as a potential environment for frontier tourism development based on nature-oriented themes. Overall, the paper endorses an integrative conceptual approach in which seemingly contradicting planning aspects are integrated as a means for developing sustainable tourism in desert areas. Specifically, the “bothand” perspective endorsed in this paper can be viewed as an alternative to the “either-or” attitude that characterized previous tourism development attempts in the Negev as well as in other desert areas designated for tourism.
Blood pressure and hypertension in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients with long duration

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has significantly better prognosis which has led to increased cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) prevalence. The detection of CVD risk factors and their treatment become tasks of paramount importance. Among them, high blood pressure (BP) is a target of primary purpose. Aim: to explore the blood pressure values, the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and its management in patients with T1DM with long duration and without overt CVD, in comparison to matched controls. Participants and methods: totally, 124 patients with T1DM were matched to 59 controls by sex, age and approximate body mass index (BMI). All participants filled in questionnaires with information on demographics, physical activity, life style, concomitant diseases, treatments, presence of complications, etc. Blood samples were taken for laboratory and biomarkers investigation. Blood pressure was measured by investigators twice and the mean of the two measurements was used. HTN was accepted using standard definitions. BP values were compared using t-test. Multiple linear regression models with dependent variable BP measures and age, sex, BMI, presence of T1DM, glycated hemoglobin levels, creatinine levels as independent variables were created. ANOVA method was used to test the interaction of sex and presence of T1DM. Results: The mean age of the participants was 43.47 ± 10.1 years, 54% were males. The mean duration of T1DM was 25.31 ± 8.2 years and the mean HbA1c was 8.42 ± 1.8% for diabetic patients. The mean blood pressure measures in T1DM groups were higher than in controls, both in males and females. The difference reached significance for SBP and pulse pressure (PP). The presence of T1DM independently affected the BP values, after adjusting for major confounders. The mean adjusted differences between T1DM and controls were 8.37 mm Hg for SBP, 4.92 mm Hg for DBP, and 5.19 mm Hg for PP (p < 0.001). HTN was significantly more frequent in T1DM patients than in controls – 54% vs. 27%, p = 0.0001, mainly due to already known hypertension. BP control was insufficient – in only 36% and 13% of the treated hypertensive participants, respectively, for BP < 140/90 and < 130/80 mm Hg. The majority of the patients with HTN were treated with combination therapy, mostly single-pill fixed dosage but 30% of the hypertensive patients with diabetes did not take antihypertensive medications. Inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system were the preferred class of medications. Conclusions: SBP and PP were significantly higher in middle-aged patients with T1DM with long duration than their control counterparts. The presence of HTN was significantly more common in T1DM. Although treated according to the current recommendations, the control of BP was far from effective. These results show the need for constant screening of patients with T1DM for HTN and other risk factors and for more aggressive antihypertensive treatment to prevent future CVD events.
Noninvasive mechanical ventilation in the weaning of patients with respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND In patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mechanical ventilation is often needed. The rate of weaning failure is high in these patients, and prolonged mechanical ventilation increases intubation-associated complications. OBJECTIVE To determine whether noninvasive ventilation improves the outcome of weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation. DESIGN Multicenter, randomized trial. SETTING Three respiratory intensive care units. PATIENTS Intubated patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. INTERVENTION A T-piece weaning trial was attempted 48 hours after intubation. If this failed, two methods of weaning were compared: 1) extubation and application of noninvasive pressure support ventilation by face mask and 2) invasive pressure support ventilation by an endotracheal tube. MEASUREMENTS Arterial blood gases, duration of mechanical ventilation, time in the intensive care unit, occurrence of nosocomial pneumonia, and survival at 60 days. RESULTS At admission, all patients had severe hypercapnic respiratory failure (mean pH, 7.18+/-0.06; mean PaCO2, 94.2+/-24.2 mm Hg), sensory impairment, and similar clinical characteristics. At 60 days, 22 of 25 patients (88%) who were ventilated noninvasively were successfully weaned compared with 17 of 25 patients (68%) who were ventilated invasively. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 16.6+/-11.8 days for the invasive ventilation group and 10.2+/-6.8 days for the noninvasive ventilation group (P = 0.021). Among patients who received noninvasive ventilation, the probability of survival and weaning during ventilation was higher (P = 0.002) and time in the intensive care unit was shorter (15.1+/-5.4 days compared with 24.0+/-13.7 days for patients who received invasive ventilation; P = 0.005). Survival rates at 60 days differed (92% for patients who received noninvasive ventilation and 72% for patients who received invasive ventilation; P = 0.009). None of the patients weaned noninvasively developed nosocomial pneumonia, whereas 7 patients weaned invasively did. CONCLUSIONS Noninvasive pressure support ventilation during weaning reduces weaning time, shortens the time in the intensive care unit, decreases the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia, and improves 60-day survival rates.
leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes by inducing trophoblast oxidative stress and 1 mitochondrial apoptosis via KLF 9 / CYP 1 A 1 transcriptional axis 2

49 Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with 50 adverse obstetric and postnatal metabolic health outcomes, but the mechanism remains unclear. This 51 study aimed to investigate the toxicological pathways by which PM2.5 damaged placental trophoblasts 52 in vivo and in vitro. We confirmed that PM2.5 induced adverse gestational outcomes such as increased 53 fetal mortality rates, decreased fetal number and weight, damaged placental structure, and increased 54 apoptosis of trophoblasts. Additionally, PM2.5 induced dysfunction of the trophoblast cell line 55 HTR8/SVneo, including in its proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration and angiogenesis. Moreover, 56 we comprehensively analyzed the transcriptional landscape of HTR8/SVneo cells exposed to PM2.5 57 through RNA-Seq and observed that PM2.5 triggered overexpression of pathways involved in oxidative 58 stress and mitochondrial apoptosis to damage HTR8/SVneo cell biological functions through CYP1A1. 59 Mechanistically, PM2.5 stimulated KLF9, a transcription factor identified as binding to CYP1A1 60 promoter region, which further modulated the CYP1A1-driven downstream phenotypes. Together, this 61 study demonstrated that the KLF9/CYP1A1 axis played a crucial role in the toxic progression of 62 PM2.5 induced adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggesting adverse effects of environmental pollution on 63 pregnant females and putative targeted therapeutic strategies. 64
Heritage, sport and tourism : sporting pasts -- tourist futures

Introduction. Sporting Pasts - Tourist Futures. More than just Nostalgia? Exploring the Heritage/Sport Tourism Nexus. The Spectacle of the Past: Leveraging History in Fenway Park and Camden Yards. Heritage Tourism and Canadian Junior Hockey: Consumption in Space over Consumption of Place Sports Memorabilia: Collecting Places, Artefacts and Experiences. Sport, Nostalgia and the British and Irish Lions: From Players on Tour to Tourism Phenomenon. Expanding the Conceptualization of Nostalgia Sport Tourism: Lessons Learned from the Fans Left Behind after Sport Franchise Relocation. Stadia Tours and the Power of Backstage. The Sustainability of Sports Heritage Attractions: Lessons from the Australian Football League Hall of Fame Olympic Opportunity: Realising the Value of Sports Heritage for Tourism in the UK. Conclusion. The Future of Sports Heritage.
Property Rights and the Nature of the Firm Author ( s ) :

The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters. Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. The University of Chicago Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Journal of Political Economy. This paper provides a framework for addressing the question of when transactions should be carried out within a firm and when through the market. Following Grossman and Hart, we identify a firm with the assets that its owners control. We argue that the crucial difference for party 1 between owning a firm (integration) and contracting for a service from another party 2 who owns this firm (nonintegration) is that, under integration, party 1 can selectively fire the workers of the firm (including party 2), whereas under nonintegration he can "fire" (i.e., stop dealing with) only the entire firm: the combination of party 2, the workers, and the firm's assets. We use this idea to study how changes in ownership affect the incentives of employees as well as those of owner-managers. Our framework is broad enough to encompass more general control structures than simple ownership: for example, partnerships and worker and consumer cooperatives all emerge as special cases.
Automatic verification of competitive stochastic systems

In this thesis we present a framework for automatic formal analysis of competitive stochastic systems, such as sensor networks, decentralised resource management schemes or distributed user-centric environments. We model such systems as stochastic multi-player games, which are turn-based models where an action in each state is chosen by one of the players or according to a probability distribution. The specifications, such as “sensors 1 and 2 can collaborate to detect the target with probability 1, no matter what other sensors in the network do” or “the controller can ensure that the energy used is less than 75mJ , and the algorithm terminates with probability at least 0.5”, are provided as temporal logic formulae. We introduce a branching-time temporal logic rPATL and its multi-objective extension to specify such probabilistic and reward-based properties of stochastic multiplayer games. We also provide algorithms for these logics that can either verify such properties against the model, providing a yes/no answer, or perform strategy synthesis by constructing the strategy for the players that satisfies the specification. We conduct a detailed complexity analysis of the model checking problem for rPATL and its multiobjective extension and provide efficient algorithms for verification and strategy synthesis. We also implement the proposed techniques in the PRISM-games tool and apply them to the analysis of several case studies of competitive stochastic systems.
"The Best Defense is a Good Offense:" Teaching Phishing Defense Tactics Through a High Agency Playable Experience

Phishing attacks are challenging to detect and can have severe consequences. For example, in 2020 alone, phishing attacks cost organizations more than $1.8 billion. Numerous phishing training programs such as reading materials, training videos, and games aim to mitigate the incurred losses. However, regardless of the medium, nearly all existing training places the learner in the role of the victim. We hypothesize placing the players as an attacker tasked with strategically creating emails will naturally lead to players better recognizing phishing emails. Based on this hypothesis, we have developed an interactive game that trains the users against phishing attacks as an attacker. Our players actively craft simulated emails that employ various phishing techniques rather than passively receiving emails and being asked to classify them. We conducted user testing with 11 participants, and our results showed that participants recognized and understood phishing emails better after playing the game.
An Effective Method for Secure Data Delivery in IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become very popular recently due to its important features that contribute to many aspects of our lives such as health and transportation. It consists of a vast number of different projects such as sensors, tags, actuators, and mobile devices, which can communicate and collaborate without human interactions. These devices carry small memory and low-energy battery, which affects their performance and lead to many issues. In this work, we are going to focus on the efficiency and security issues. We will propose a secure and efficient routing protocol for data delivery in order to improve its performance. The proposed technique will be evaluated in an implemented platform with appropriate case study. The expected outcome of this study will be a reference design and its practical implementation to support efficiency and security in IoT.
A Qualitative Case Study of Two School Districts’ Onboarding and Retention Mentorship Programs for New Teachers during the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Every year, districts welcome new teachers to a school community and prepare them for the new school year. Establishing and maintaining a strong school culture is an important and vital part of a teacher's job. Part of this preparation entails hiring, training, and retaining the best teachers to establish a framework for ensuring that new teachers hit the ground running from the first day of school (Howard, 2019). This qualitative research case study focused on the onboarding and retention mentorship program for new teachers in two school districts in Washington State. This case study focused on two districts’ onboarding and retention programs, their structure, and effectiveness. The case study included two specific educator groups from Sumner/Bonney Lake and Puyallup School Districts in Washington State. For this case study, I used Qualtrics, an online survey program, to collect participant feedback. The survey collected responses from 21 participants, 11 belonged to the district group, whereas the remaining 10 were teachers. The following six themes were central to district and teachers' onboarding and training experiences, as described by district-level personnel and early-career teacher participants: district onboarding support, district training opportunities, effective teacher onboarding, teacher barriers to effective training, teacher support systems, and training recommendations. The findings of this case study have implications for new teachers and district employees who are part of the onboarding and retention of new teachers.
Face Recognition System

Using a straight advance algorithm called the primary component method which accurately and quickly recognizes human faces in real time using matched faces it has been possible to quickly identify the faces. Further monitor the children’s attendance. Facial identification is usually an incredibly difficult vision-related task due to enlighten position as well as facial expression. Since the persons figure is a complex and nuanced graphical portrayal it is extremely challenging to create a computational model for identifying it. It is a function that is utilized frequently in camcorders media platforms tagging and sensors. Educator’s attendances are regularly maintained by our system. The students face is registered in our module. Their face will be saved in the database after this one-time enrollment process. Since enrolling a face is a one-time activity we need a mechanism. Each student will have a unique identification number called a roll number which they can use. A database will be updated to reflect each students presence. Following student identification attendance is noted.
UNDERWATER FLOW VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUES

Abstract : Flow visualization techniques useful for studies of models and live fish, have been developed by he N val Or nance Test Station in conjunction with the Fish ries Research Institute of the University of Washington. General patterns of the flow around fish are shown by means of flow marker t c niqu s. Becau of the incompa ibili y of e fish with flow markers, these techniques ere not ntirely successful. Boundary layer phenomena are shown by means of a Schlieren technique. The Schlieren technique appears to be a powerful new tool for boun ry layer studies.
Putting People in Their Place: Affordance-Aware Human Insertion into Scenes Supplementary Materials

We discuss implementation details in Sec. 1. We present results on general segmentation masks instead of bounding boxes in Sec. 2, partial body completion in Sec. 3, and cloth swapping in Sec. 4. We highlight the diversity of poses predicted by our model in Sec. 5. We conclude with a discussion of failure cases in Sec. 6 and societal impact in Sec. 7.