jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
Influence of recycled aggregates on the mechanical and tribological behavior of concrete

Field: Engineering (Physical Sciences)

The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a current concrete using recycled aggregate. Physical and mechanical tests of characterization were conducted on the aggregates to better understand the effects of absorptions. An experimental program to test fresh concrete was conducted regarding the workability and tribology for different substitutions of recycled aggregates with a constant and variable W/C ratio. Mechanical strength tests were also performed. The results on aggregates clearly show a lower density for recycled aggregates which is reflected in the fresh concrete according to the substitution. The rate of porosity is important, reaching 17% with an uptake of 7%, greater than that of the natural gravel. The mechanical tests confirm low wear resistance. With a W/L constant, the drop in workability is significantly dependent on the content of the % recycled, while the mechanical strength decreases only slightly. In terms of tribology, yield interface friction (τ) increases with the percentage of recycled aggregate and the viscous constant (η) of 100% recycled, reaching twice that of natural concrete. The test with constant workability and a W/C ratio variable causes a fall in compressive strength values approaching 25%. A third formulation dosed in adjuvant, with workability and constant volume of dough gives resistance values ​​comparable to that of the reference concrete with a yield interface equivalent to that of the reference concrete and a slightly higher viscous constant.
Quasi-Newton acceleration of EM and MM algorithms via Broyden$'$s method

Field: Mathematics (Physical Sciences)

The principle of majorization-minimization (MM) provides a general framework for eliciting effective algorithms to solve optimization problems. However, they often suffer from slow convergence, especially in large-scale and high-dimensional data settings. This has drawn attention to acceleration schemes designed exclusively for MM algorithms, but many existing designs are either problem-specific or rely on approximations and heuristics loosely inspired by the optimization literature. We propose a novel, rigorous quasi-Newton method for accelerating any valid MM algorithm, cast as seeking a fixed point of the MM \textit{algorithm map}. The method does not require specific information or computation from the objective function or its gradient and enjoys a limited-memory variant amenable to efficient computation in high-dimensional settings. By connecting our approach to Broyden's classical root-finding methods, we establish convergence guarantees and identify conditions for linear and super-linear convergence. These results are validated numerically and compared to peer methods in a thorough empirical study, showing that it achieves state-of-the-art performance across a diverse range of problems.
Fast construction algorithms for overlay networks

Field: Computer Science (Physical Sciences)

A family of algorithms is described for rapidly constructing an overlay network in a peer-to-peer system where all nodes can in principle communicate with each other directly through an underlying network, but each participating node initially has pointers to only a handful of other participants. The output of each algorithm is a linked list of all participants sorted by their identifiers, which can be used as a foundation for building various linear overlay networks such as Chord [39], a skip graph [5] or SkipNet [19].
The algorithms assume the initial pointer graph is weakly-connected with maximum degree d and the length of a node identifier is W. The first of these algorithms constructs a binary search tree of nodes of depth O(W) in expected O(W log n) time using expected O((d + W) n log n) messages of size O(W) each in a completely asynchronous environment. The algorithm has low contention : at any time there are only O(d) undelivered messages for any given recipient. We prove a lower bound of Ω( d + log n) for the running time of any procedure in a related synchronous model that yields a sorted list from a degree- d weakly-connected graph of n nodes and conjecture that this lower bound is tight.
It is still unclear how we can achieve the lower bound on a general graph. But we can get much closer in a special case that the initial graph has out-degree 1, a natural starting case that arises in peer-to-peer systems where each node attempts to join by contacting some single other node. An improved algorithm for this case reduces the time bound to O(W + log n) by a factor of log n while still retaining the properties of low contention and short messages of size O(W). Besides improving the time complexity, the algorithm is based on an improved distributed tree structure that responds gracefully to node failures and supports search, predecessor, and successor operations in O(W) time with smoothly distributed load for predecessor and successor operations. Though a tree data structure may be vulnerable to disconnection due to failures, the fast predecessor and successor operations can be used to quickly construct standard overlay networks with more redundancy.
The Effect of using Chain Game toward Students’ Speaking Skill

Field: Arts and Humanities (Social Sciences)

This research was aimed to find out the effect of using chain game toward students’ speaking skill. The quasi-experimental with nonequivalent control group design was applied in this study. The seventh grade students of SMP Negeri 17 Kota Serang as the population. The samples were 30 students of VII C as the experimental class which is treated by using chain game and 30 students of VII A as the control class which is treated without using chain game. The data came from an oral test that was divided into two parts: pre-test and post-test. After collecting the data, the researchers used statistical computation to analyze the data. The result showed that there was significant effect of using chain game towards students’ speaking skill. It can also be seen from the calculation using an independent sample t test. The t test value was 3.966 and the significance value was 5% of t table df = 56, which was 1.673. So, t observed was higher than t table (3.966 > 1.673). Hence, this research could be used as a reference for teaching speaking with chain game since the use of chain game was effective for teaching speaking to the seventh grade students at SMP Negeri 17 Kota Serang.
Comparison between Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy for Their Effectiveness in Esophageal Cancer Treatment: A Retrospective Single Institution Study

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Although a large number of influential studies that have been conducted worldwide on locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) have employed the treatment modality of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), an advanced as well as highly conformal technology known as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has attracted increasing attention from the radiotherapy research community. This is because of the clear advantages of IMRT, including decrease in radiation dose that reaches critical cardiopulmonary organs. These two treatment modalities need to be investigated with regard to their effect on local control rate and patient survival. In addition, related clinical factors also need to be explored. Data from a total of 431 patients with locally advanced EC, who underwent radiation therapy between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013, were included in the present study. Two hundred and ninety-three patients received 3D-CRT, while 138 patients received IMRT. We constructed propensity score matches to make the two groups be comparable (136 patients in 3D-CRT group and 138 patients in IMRT group. Kaplan–Meier analysis was conducted to evaluate the endpoint of overall survival (OS). A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to analyze the relationship between the associated factors and the outcomes via univariate and multivariate approaches. The mean follow-up period was 36.2 months, and the median follow-up period was 23 months. For the IMRT group, the median OS was 31 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 70.3%, 50.0%, and 42.8%, respectively, while for the 3D-CRT group, the median OS was 22 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 63.2%, 41.0%, and 35.4%, respectively (p<0.05). The univariate analysis revealed that quit drinking, chemotherapy, and concurrent chemotherapy were significant risk factors for the prognosis of EC (p<0.05), as well as the radiation therapy technique used (p=0.052). The multivariate analysis indicated that chemotherapy and quit drinking were independent predictive factors for OS. OS is found to be significantly better in the IMRT group, compared with that of the 3D-CRT group. Even though these outcomes need further validation, IMRT should be considered preferentially as a therapeutic option for EC, in combination with chemotherapy and persuading patients to quit drinking.
Dissimilarity Space Based Multi-Source Cross-Project Defect Prediction

Field: Computer Science (Physical Sciences)

Software defect prediction is an important means to guarantee software quality. Because there are no sufficient historical data within a project to train the classifier, cross-project defect prediction (CPDP) has been recognized as a fundamental approach. However, traditional defect prediction methods use feature attributes to represent samples, which cannot avoid negative transferring, may result in poor performance model in CPDP. This paper proposes a multi-source cross-project defect prediction method based on dissimilarity space (DM-CPDP). This method not only retains the original information, but also obtains the relationship with other objects. So it can enhances the discriminant ability of the sample attributes to the class label. This method firstly uses the density-based clustering method to construct the prototype set with the cluster center of samples in the target set. Then, the arc-cosine kernel is used to calculate the sample dissimilarities between the prototype set and the source domain or the target set to form the dissimilarity space. In this space, the training set is obtained with the earth mover’s distance (EMD) method. For the unlabeled samples converted from the target set, the k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm is used to label those samples. Finally, the model is learned from training data based on TrAdaBoost method and used to predict new potential defects. The experimental results show that this approach has better performance than other traditional CPDP methods.
A Simple Correction for Misspecification in Trend-Cycle Decompositions with an Application to Estimating r *

Field: Decision Sciences (Social Sciences)

We propose a simple correction for misspecification in trend-cycle decompositions when the stochastic trend is assumed to be a random walk process but the estimated trend displays some serial correlation in first differences. Possible sources of misspecification that would otherwise be hard to detect and correct for include a small amount of measurement error, omitted variables, or minor approximation errors in model dynamics when estimating trend. Our proposed correction is conducted via application of a univariate Beveridge-Nelson decomposition to the preliminary estimated trend and we show with Monte Carlo analysis that our approach can work as well as if the original model used to estimate trend were correctly specified. We demonstrate the empirical relevance of the correction in an application to estimating r* as the trend of a risk-free short-term real interest rate. We find that our corrected estimate of r* is considerably smoother than the preliminary estimate from a multivariate Beveridge-Nelson decomposition based on a vector error correction model, consistent with the presence of at least a small amount of measurement error in some of the variables included in the multivariate model.
A Brief Description of Pharyngeal Consonant Phonemes in Classical Arabic

Field: Arts and Humanities (Social Sciences)

This paper investigates the unique pharyngeal consonant phoneme of Classical Arabic (Language of Quraan) not the colloquial one, from point of view of the International Phonetic Association (IPA). These kinds of sound or phoneme are two in the Classical Arabic which has been classified into voiced and voiceless. The aim of our paper is to shed light on their other closer phonemes which they are called "emphatics" that use the wall of the pharynx as secondary in their production, hence the name of "pharyngeal" implemented, their voiceness, and their place and manner of articulation which are still debatable to the Arabic phoneticians
Rhipicephalus Tick: A Contextual Review for Southeast Asia

Field: Veterinary (Health Sciences)

Rhipicephalus species are distributed globally with a notifiable presence in Southeast Asia (SEA) within animal and human populations. The Rhipicephalus species are highly adaptive and have established successful coexistence within human dwellings and are known to be active all year round, predominantly in tropical and subtropical climates existing in SEA. In this review, the morphological characteristics, epidemiology, and epizootiology of Rhipicephalus tick species found in SEA are reviewed. There are six commonly reported Rhipicephalus ticks in the SEA region. Their interactions with their host species that range from cattle, sheep, and goats, through cats and dogs, to rodents and man are discussed in this article. Rhipicephalus-borne pathogens, including Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species, Babesia species, and Theileria species, have been highlighted as are relevant to the region in review. Pathogens transmitted from Rhipicepahalus ticks to host animals are usually presented clinically with signs of anemia, jaundice, and other signs of hemolytic changes. Rhipicephalus ticks infestation also account for ectoparasitic nuisance in man and animals. These issues are discussed with specific interest to the SEA countries highlighting peculiarities of the region in the epidemiology of Rhipicephalus species and attendant pathogens therein. This paper also discusses the current general control strategies for ticks in SEA proffering measures required for increased documentation. The potential risks associated with rampant and improper acaricide use are highlighted. Furthermore, such practices lead to acaricide resistance among Rhipicephalus species are highlighted.
Hedging crash risk in optimal portfolio selection

Field: Decision Sciences (Social Sciences)

When almost all underlying assets suddenly lose a certain part of their nominal value in a market crash, the diversification effect of portfolios in a normal market condition no longer works. We integrate the crash risk into portfolio management and investigate performance measures, hedging and optimization of portfolio selection involving derivatives. A suitable convex conic programming framework based on parametric approximation method is proposed to make the problem a tractable one. Simulation analysis and empirical study are performed to test the proposed approach.
Effect of chemoradiotherapy, with adjuvant surgery for local control, on survival in AC and SCC of the esophagus.

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

81 Background: Esophageal cancer usually presents with systemic disease, necessitating systemic therapy. Neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy improves short-term survival, but its long-term impact is disputed because of limited accrual, treatment-protocol heterogeneity and a short follow-up of randomised trials. Aims:Long-term results of 2 simultaneous RCTs comparing neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy and surgery (MMT) with surgical monotherapy were examined, and the response of AC (AC) and SCC (SCC) to identical regimens compared. Methods: Between 1990 and 1997, two RCTs were undertaken on 211 patients. Patients with AC (n=113) or SCC (n=98) were separately randomised to identical protocols of MMT or surgical monotherapy. Results: 211 patients were followed to 206 months; 104 patients were randomised to MMT (58 AC and 46 SCC, respectively) and 107 to surgery. MMT provided a significant survival-advantage over surgical monotherapy for AC (P=0·004), SCC (P=0·01). There was a 54% relative risk-reduction in lymph-node metastasis following MMT, compared with surgery(64% vs 29%, P<0·001). MMT produced a pCR in 25% and 31% of AC and SCC respectively. Survival advantage accrued to MMT, pCR and node-negative patients: AC pCR vs surgical monotherapy(P=0·001); residual disease following MMT vs surgical monotherapy(P=0·008);SCC pCR vs surgical monotherapy (P=0·033). Conclusions: A survival advantage for MMT persisted long-term in AC and was replicated in SCC. MMT produced loco-regional tumor down-staging to extinction in 25-31% of patients, potentially permitting personalized treatment in this cohort that avoids the morbidity and mortality associated with resection. Node-negative patients with residual localized disease following MMT had a survival advantage over node-negative patients following surgery alone, supporting a systemic effect on micro-metastatic disease.
Book Review: Stephen Mason (ed.), Electronic Evidence: Disclosure, Discovery and Admissibility, London: Lexis Nexis Butterworths, 2007, 510 pp, hb £125

Field: Arts and Humanities (Social Sciences)

This edited volume is a product of the Digital Evidence Research Programme at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, directed by Stephen Mason, with the assistance of fifteen specialist contributors. It provides a valuable introduction to the issues surrounding electronic evidence, from the work of investigators securing that evidence (particularly in relation to a possible criminal offence) through to the work of counsel challenging its admissibility and probative value. Buying this book will cost you less than the first hour of a forensic computing consultants time. It is recommended reading for almost anyone involved in fact investigation or fact finding, as well as in corporate security, internal audit or legal affairs.
Insights to the online phenomenon of make-up tutorials : a netnographic approach.

Field: Social Sciences (Social Sciences)

The proliferation of make-up tutorials generated by both consumers and global industry players online presents an interesting phenomenon for researchers and industry players to delve into. Online communities are seemingly ‘market-places’ where the transactions of knowledge sharing and acquisition take place. The knowledge contents, usually in forms of make-up tutorials, are usually generated by experienced and involved consumers. These motivated consumers take the extra effort to produce make-up tutorials to teach and share experiences. Their knowledge and deep involvement within the online communities make them potentially influential to other members. This niche group of make-up tutorial generators (MTGs) thus comes under the spotlight, drawing the attention of the make-up industry players. This study hence aims to fill the information gap for make-up industry players to uncover the characteristics and behaviours of these MTG and translate these findings into possible managerial implications for them. The Netnography approach, an unobtrusive methodology, is adopted to observe online make-up tutorials from two online forums. Netnography is chosen for its appropriate fit for this study in terms of its ability to observe naturalistic behavior of MTGs and collect extensive and timely data. The findings of this study unveil three main characteristics of MTGs. MTGs are found to express individuality, conceptualized to be proactive consumers and display a need for their expertise and skills to be recognized. Through focusing on the MTG, this study provides a new perspective from other literature and sheds light on their behavioural characteristics.
Follicular Development Dynamics and Plasma Progesterone Profile during the Estrous Cycle of Dairy Cows

Field: Veterinary (Health Sciences)

A total of five local Friesian cows, 4 to 5 years, healthy, reproductively sound, were used in the study to understand the development dynamics of dominant follicles and plasma progesterone profile during estrous cycle. Transrectal ultrasonographic examination using real time, B-mode, with 7.5 MHz transducer was performed daily for one full cycle to follow the development of dominant follicle and corpus luteum dynamics. Blood plasma was collected daily to determine progesterone levels using EIA technique. Follicular development dynamics and plasma progesterone levels were analyzed statistically using analyses of variance, while correlation between plasma progesterone levels and corpus luteum size were tested using correlation analyses. The length of estrous cycle in local Friesian cow was 21.00 + 1.00 days. Follicular dynamics during estrous cycle indicated only had two waves of dominant follicular development. The first wave of dominant follicle was firstly identified on day 3, reached maximum diameter (11.17 + 0.90 mm) on day 11 and identifiable until day 15. The second dominant follicle appeared on day 11, reached maximum size on day 21 (13.17 + 0.69 mm) and underwent ovulation on the next day. The increased diameter of dominant follicle from days 17 to 21 was linear with growth rate of 1.20 + 0.18 mm/day. Ovulatory dominant follicle had larger size than non-ovulatory ones (P<0.05). Corpus luteum was ultrasonically detectable from days 5 to 19 of the estrous cycle. The maximum size of corpus luteum (11.83 + 0.75 mm) attained on day 11, and then regressed substantially till day 19. Plasma progesterone level started to rise during the luteal phase, reached the peak level on day 12 (4.64 + 0.23 ng/ml) and then decreased steadily till the lowest level (0.42 + 0.05 ng/ml) at the time of estrus. The plasma progesterone profile and the corpus luteum development were concomitant each other during estrous cycle of the cow. It can be concluded that the follicular dynamics during estrous cycle in local Friesian cows only had two waves of dominant follicular development, while plasma progesterone levels manifested corpus luteum function throughout the estrous cycle. (Animal Production 10(2): 73-77 (2008) Key Words: Follicle, corpus luteum, progesterone, estrous cycle, cow
Real-World Study: Drug Reduction in Children With Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Receiving Immunotherapy

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Background: The reduction of pharmacological treatment after allergen immunotherapy (AIT) for house dust mites (HDMs) has been little studied in children. Objective: To evaluate the reduction of pharmacological treatment comparing children that receive HDM immunotherapy (AIT group) versus only pharmacotherapy. Methods: A historic cohort of children with rhinitis or asthma was assessed. The main outcome was the frequency of complete drug discontinuation. Results: 100% drug reduction was higher for rhinitis (4-year cumulative incidence: 30 vs 10.7%) and asthma (24.1 vs 10.5%) in the AIT group (n = 987) than in the pharmacotherapy group (n = 2012). Conclusion: Immunotherapy is associated with a significant reduction of pharmacotherapy in children. This is a marker of clinical control and could be associated with positive economic impact.