Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From Metropolis to Diffusions: Gibbs States and Optimal Scaling

This paper investigates the behaviour of the random walk Metropolis algorithm in high dimensional problems. Here we concentrate on the case where the components in the target density is a spatially homogeneous Gibbs distribution with nite range. The performance of the algorithm is strongly linked to the presence or absence of phase transition for the Gibbs distribution; the convergence time being approximately linear in dimension for problems where phase transition is not present. Related to this, there is an optimal way to scale the variance of the proposal distribution in order to maximise the speed of convergence of the algorithm. This turns out to involve scaling the variance of the proposal as the reciprocal of dimension (at least in the phase transition free case). Moreover the actual optimal scaling can be characterised in terms of the overall acceptance rate of the algorithm, the maximising value being 0:234, the value as predicted by studies on simpler classes of target density. The results are proved in the framework of a weak convergence result, which shows that the algorithm actually behaves like an innnite dimensional diiusion process in high dimensions.
Leukocyte Proliferation and Immune Modulator Production in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Introduction In Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), immune cells are affected by uremic retention toxins. Given this effect, we analyzed lymphocyte proliferative response and immune modulators production following in vitro stimulation. Methods Whole blood was drawn from healthy controls, patients with eGFR <20 ml/min/1.73 m2 (Pre-dialysis, CKD stages 4 and 5) and hemodialysis patients (stage 5D). Peripheral cells were incubated for six days with pokeweed mitogen, concanavalin A, Staphylococcus enterotoxin A or influenza A vaccine. Peripheral lymphocyte proliferation was then analyzed by the “Flow-cytometric Assay of Specific Cell-mediated Immune response in Activated whole blood” (FASCIA) method, and cytokine profile in the cell supernatants was analyzed by the Milliplex multi-array method. Results The absolute number of lymphoblasts in response to mitogenic stimulation and the number of cells in each CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulation were similar comparing the three groups, except for a single decline in number of lymphoblasts after stimulation with Staphylococcus enterotoxin A, comparing dialysis patients with healthy controls. Levels of interleukin (IL)-2 (p=0.026), -10 (p=0.019) and -15 (p=0.027) in the Staphylococcus enterotoxin A-stimulated supernatant were lower in hemodialysis patients compared to healthy controls. Levels of IL-15 (p=0.017) from pre-dialysis patients and levels of IL-5 (p=0.019) from hemodialysis patients in influenza A vaccine-stimulated supernatants were also lower compared to controls. In pokeweed mitogen–stimulated supernatant, IL-2 levels (p=0.013) were lower in hemodialysis patients compared to pre-dialysis patients. TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12, IL-15, IL-8, MCP-1, IP-10, IFN-α2, IL-1α and eotaxin levels were all significantly higher in plasma obtained from CKD patients. Conclusion Our results suggest that T-cells from CKD patients have similar proliferative response to stimulation compared with healthy individuals. Moreover, however the immune cells show inability to produce selected cytokines, most likely due to the uremic milieu or dialysis procedure.
Characterization of Tunga penetrans Antigens in Selected Epidemic Areas in Murang’a County in Kenya

Tunga penetrans are fleas that cause tungiasis, a condition characterized by high transmission rate due to poor housing conditions, social neglect and inadequate health care in economically disadvantaged communities in developing countries. This study therefore aimed at characterizing jiggers antigens to identify immunodominant ones to help understand immunological behavior of the parasite that would otherwise be important in future control of the parasite. Samples were gravid fleas and blood samples from infested individuals in Kahuro and Murang’a East district in Murang’a County. Freeze and thaw was used to extract soluble proteins from the fleas. Ouchterlony Double immunodiffusion was used to assess antigen-antibody reactions between extracted soluble protein and the serum from immunized rats, Rattus norvegicus prior to analysis of human sera. These results were comparable to results of immunoelectrphoresis. Jigger protein isolates were analyzed in Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis technique (SDS—PAGE), against Pharmacia standard protein markers. Further analysis of jigger antigens against pooled human sera from infested victims in Western blot revealed three immunodominant antigens. Using simple regression analysis molecular weights of the three immunodominant antigens were estimated as 51.795, 23.395 and 15.38 kDa respectively. These results are important since they would help understand immunological behavior of the parasites. This would help to create basis for designing and improving approaches against jiggers such as development of immune prophylaxis to complement social science approaches that is mainly concerned with maintenance of high standards of hygiene.
Long-term administration of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant mitoquinone mesylate fails to attenuate age-related oxidative damage or rescue the loss of muscle mass and function associated with aging of skeletal muscle

Age‐related skeletal muscle dysfunction is the underlying cause of morbidity that affects up to half the population aged 80 and over. Considerable evidence indicates that oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to the sarcopenic phenotype that occurs with aging. To examine this, we administered the mitochondria‐targeted antioxidant mitoquinone mesylate {[10‐(4,5‐dimethoxy‐2‐methyl‐3,6‐dioxo‐1,4‐cyclohexadien‐ 1‐yl)decyl] triphenylphosphonium; 100 μM} to wild‐type C57BL/6 mice for 15 wk (from 24 to 28 mo of age) and investigated the effects on age‐related loss of muscle mass and function, changes in redox homeostasis, and mitochondrial organelle integrity and function. We found that mitoquinone mesylate treatment failed to prevent agedependent loss of skeletal muscle mass associated with myofiber atrophy or alter a variety of in situ and ex vivo muscle function analyses, including maximum isometric tetanic force, decline in force after a tetanic fatiguing protocol, and single‐fiber‐specific force. We also found evidence that long‐term mitoquinone mesylate administration did not reduce mitochondrial reactive oxygen species or induce significant changes in muscle redox homeostasis, as assessed by changes in 4‐hydroxynonenal protein adducts, protein carbonyl content, protein nitration, and DNA damage determined by the content of 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine. Mitochondrialmembrane potential, abundance, and respiration assessed in permeabilized myofibers were not significantly altered in response to mitoquinone mesylate treatment. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that long‐term mitochondria‐targeted mitoquinone mesylate administration failed to attenuate age‐related oxidative damage in skeletal muscle of old mice or provide any protective effect in the context of muscle aging. —Sakellariou, G. K. , Pearson, T. , Lightfoot, A. P., Nye, G. A. , Wells, N. , Giakoumaki, I. I. , Griffiths, R. D. , McArdle, A. , Jackson, M. J. Long‐term administration of the mitochondria‐targeted antioxidant mitoquinone mesylate fails to attenuate age‐related oxidative damage or rescue the loss of muscle mass and function associated with aging of skeletal muscle. FASEB J. 30, 3771–3785 (2016) www.fasebj. org
Can Subjective Mortality Expectations and Stated Preferences Explain Varying Consumption and Saving Behaviors Among the Elderly?

This study investigates how subjective mortality expectations and heterogeneity in time and risk preferences affect the consumption and saving behavior of the elderly. Previous studies find that the large wealth disparities observed among the elderly cannot be explained by differences in preferences. In contrast, this study identifies a strong relationship between answers to survey questions about time and risk preferences and consumption and saving behaviors. This paper uses data on information about preferences and subjective mortality expectations from the Health and Retirement Study merged with detailed consumption data from two waves of the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey. The main results are: 1) consumption and saving choices vary with subjective mortality rates in a way that is consistent with the life cycle model; 2) different answers to survey questions about time and risk preferences reflect differences in actual saving and consumption behavior; and 3) there is substantial heterogeneity in estimated time discount rates and risk aversion parameters.
Control of the Heating System with Fuzzy Logic

The heating system is widely used because it can sustain wide range of temperature. So temperature control is of prime importance. The heating systems are used for controlled maintenance of indoor ambient characteristics in optimal manner. The objective of these systems is to achieve comfortable and pleasant sensation of people staying in the warm area. The heating control problem is tackled by a fuzzy control scheme. Fuzzy logic systems are employed to maintain the room temperature in required range by determines the maximum and minimum for temperature. One important Artificial Intelligence tool for automatic control is the use of fuzzy logic controllers, which are fuzzy rule-based systems comprising expert knowledge in form of linguistic rules. These rules are usually constructed by an expert in the field of interest who can link the facts with the conclusions. Fuzzy Logic is a paradigm for an alternative design methodology, which can be applied in developing both linear and non-linear systems for embedded control. By using fuzzy logic, designers can realize lower development costs, superior features and better end product performance. In control systems there are a number of generic systems and methods which are encountered in all areas of industry and technology. From the dozens of ways to control any system, it turns out that fuzzy is often the very best way. The only reasons are faster and cheaper. One of successful application that used fuzzy control is heating control system. This paper describes the concept of using simulation as a tool for performance validation and energy analysis of heating systems.
The Fujaba Statechart Synthesis Approach

The Fujaba project tries to provide tool support for iterative software development with the UML. Each iteration starts with a textual scenario description for some new usecase. Then this textual scenario is refined by UML scenario diagrams, i.e. activity diagrams or collaboration diagrams or sequence diagrams. Along with these scenarios, we derive class diagram elements for all used kinds of objects, relations, attributes and messages. From such UML scenarios we try to systematically derive precise operational UML specifications for the behavior of employed active objects and for the used methods. Combining the class diagram and these precise behavior specifications, the Fujaba environment generates the whole Java code of the desired system. In [Mai02] Fujaba has been extended by a generator that derives statecharts from sequence diagrams according to the ideas of the SCED [KMST94] and the MAS system [KMS01]. In addition, we adapted some ideas from [WKS02] and [WKS03] concerning higher level statechart features like complex states and history states. This paper discusses our sequence diagram extensions and outlines our statechart synthesis algorithm.
Does the PEG ratio add value

Warren Buffet started an investment partnership of $100 in 1956 and has gone on to accumulate a personal net worth of over $60 billion. He started primarily as a value investor, and gradually changed over time to a strategy which uses the PEG ratio as its main tool. Peter Lynch, one of the most successful fund managers in history and had a compound annual growth rate of 29% for 13 years, was the man to first introduce the world to the PEG ratio. With such prominence, however, widespread use of previously successful strategies tend to render them ineffective due to everyone using them, and today the PEG ratio’s effectiveness as a valuation tool remains a topical debate between market commentators. This study sets out to determine if the PEG ratio adds value using JSE Main Board data from 2002 to 2012. Returns from five portfolios constructed directly from share quintiles based on PEG ratio magnitude are compared to returns of a portfolio constructed from the optimum quintile of value shares. The PEG ratio portfolio returns are examined based on 3 rebalancing period strategies, and on relative performance between the quintiles within each strategy. It is found that a 24 monthly rebalancing strategy provides superior returns to that of 3 or 12 monthly rebalancing for PEG quintiles of selected stocks. Furthermore, the lowest PEG ratio quintile in this strategy outperforms the value portfolio by a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%. The second lowest PEG ratio quintile portfolio performs slightly better to ensure that 40% of stocks selected based on the PEG ratio produced sustained superior returns to the optimum quintile value portfolio.
Positioning Accuracy And Multi-Target Separation With A Human Tracking System Using Near Field Imaging

Abstract We analyze the performance of a novel human tracking system, which uses the electric near field to sense human presence. The positioning accuracy with moving targets is measured using raw observations, observation centroids and Kalman filtered centroids. In addition to this, the multi-target discrimination performance is studied with two people and a Rao-Blackwellized Monte Carlo data association algorithm. A reel-based triangulation system is used as the reference positioning system. The mean positioning error for five test subjects walking at different speeds is 21 centimeters. The discrimination performance is 90% when the distance between the two people is over 0.8 meters. With distance over 1.1 meters the discrimination performance is 99%.
Independent self-construal, self-reflection, and self-rumination: A path model for predicting happiness

Abstract A construal theory of happiness emphasises the mediating impact of cognitive and motivational processes on the individual's perceptions of their happiness. This study investigated a path model with the two cognitive variables, self-reflection and self-rumination as mediating factors between an independent self-construal and subjective happiness. One hundred and twenty three participants completed a questionnaire designed to measure subjective happiness, independent self-construal, self-reflection, and self-rumination. Individuals' propensity to self-reflect and self-ruminate was not found to be affected by an independent self-construal. A higher independent self-construal was associated with greater happiness. The results also indicated that self-reflection has the potential to both increase and decrease (when mediated by self-rumination) subjective happiness. This study suggests that although meaningful self-reflection may be beneficial for individuals who do not enjoy high levels of happiness, .
The Social Pipeline: How Friend Influence and Peer Exposure Widen the STEM Gender Gap

Individuals’ favorite subjects in school can predetermine their educational and occupational careers. If girls develop weaker preferences for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), it can contribute to macrolevel gender inequalities in income and status. Relying on large-scale panel data on adolescents from Sweden (218 classrooms, 4,998 students), we observe a widening gender gap in preferring STEM subjects within a year (girls, 19 to 15 percent; boys, 21 to 20 percent). By applying newly developed random-coefficient multilevel stochastic actor-oriented models on social network data (27,428 friendships), we investigate how social context contributes to those changes. We find strong evidence that students adjust their preferences to those of their friends (friend influence). Moreover, girls tend to retain their STEM preferences when other girls in their classroom also like STEM (peer exposure). We conclude that these mechanisms amplify preexisting preferences and thereby contribute to the observed dramatic widening of the STEM gender gap.
Adaptive anterior hippocampal responses to oddball stimuli

An efficient memory system requires the ability to detect and preferentially encode novel stimuli. Human electrophysiological recordings demonstrate differential hippocampal responses to novel vs. familiar stimuli, as well as to oddball stimuli. Although functional imaging experiments of novelty detection have demonstrated hippocampal activation, oddball‐evoked hippocampal activation has not been demonstrated. Here we use event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure hippocampal responses to three types of oddball words: perceptual, semantic, and emotional. We demonstrate left anterior hippocampal sensitivity to all three oddball types, with adaptation of responses across multiple oddball presentations. This adaptive hippocampal oddball response was not modulated by depth of processing, suggesting a high degree of automaticity in the underlying process. However, an interaction with depth of encoding for semantic oddballs was evident in a more lateral left anterior hippocampal region. We conclude that the hippocampal response to oddballs demonstrates a second‐order novelty effect, being sensitive to the “novelty of novelty” of oddball stimuli. The data provide support for a more general theory that a function of the anterior hippocampus is to register mismatches between expectation and experience. Hippocampus 2001;11:690–698. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aligning Technology with Business Strategy

OVERVIEW:This article describes the approaches being used by large high-technology companies, including the author's, to align technology strategy with business strategy. Comparative data are given that were obtained through benchmarking interviews with senior technology executives at 16 corporations. Following a discussion of how RD nontechnical core competencies; and core “incompetencies. ” (3) Technical networks for nourishing technical core competencies, with three distinct examples: 3M's democratically based Technical Forum; Hughes Aircraft's management-linked Technical Networks; and Martin Marietta's electronically connected.
Discovering planar disorder in close-packed structures from x-ray diffraction: Beyond the fault model

We solve a long-standing problem\char22{}determining structural information for disordered materials from their diffraction spectra\char22{}for the special case of planar disorder in close-packed structures (CPS's). Our solution offers the most complete possible statistical description of the disorder and, from it, we find the minimum effective memory length for stacking sequences in CPS's. We contrast this description with the so-called ``fault'' model by comparing the structures inferred using both approaches on two previously published zinc sulphide diffraction spectra.
Entrepreneurial academies - myth or reality? The perceptions of senior academy leaders.

The ‘Academies Programme’ has been the subject of limited research and virtually none focusing on their ‘entrepreneurial’ nature. As an inaugural piece of research, the research methodology was that of a survey, based upon semi-structured interviews of Senior Leaders in academies. The theoretical basis of the research is drawn from the modelling work published by Woods et al (2007). Emerging from the research are a number findings about entrepreneurism in academies based on the perceptions of Senior Leaders. These relate to: the entrepreneurial differences between earlier and recent ‘convertor’ academies; the impact of ‘chain’ academies; and the almost unanimous perception by those interviewed that academies are primarily focused on ‘social entrepreneurism’. From an initial review of the Woods et al (2007) ‘Lens Model’, the findings lead to a revision of the model to express the apparent predominant perception of social entrepreneurism in academies and the postulation of additional conceptual models. With the number of academies already standing at over fifteen hundred it is now apposite to consider the implications of the findings of this thesis, This thesis will be of interest to current and future academy Senior Leaders, new academies, researchers wishing to take forward the limited historical research, and policy makers for whom there are some major challenges to be faced in re-defining the nature of the ‘academy movement’.
A Sparse Parametric Mixture Model for BTF Compression, Editing and Rendering

Bidirectional texture functions (BTFs) represent the appearance of complex materials. Three major shortcomings with BTFs are the bulky storage, the difficulty in editing and the lack of efficient rendering methods. To reduce storage, many compression techniques have been applied to BTFs, but the results are difficult to edit. To facilitate editing, analytical models have been fit, but at the cost of accuracy of representation for many materials. It becomes even more challenging if efficient rendering is also needed. We introduce a high‐quality general representation that is, at once, compact, easily editable, and can be efficiently rendered. The representation is computed by adopting the stagewise Lasso algorithm to search for a sparse set of analytical functions, whose weighted sum approximates the input appearance data. We achieve compression rates comparable to a state‐of‐the‐art BTF compression method. We also demonstrate results in BTF editing and rendering.
Dispelling A Few Common Myths About Journal Citation Impacts

Last October I participated in a conference on research assessment in Capri, Italy. The various discussions and presentations at this meeting reminded me that there are still widespread Misunderstandings -indeed, myths about citation analysis, especially with respect to journal impact. For those readers who are not aficionados of citation analysis, journal impact factors as used in the Institute for Scientific Information's (ISI's) Journal Citation Reports are a simple ratio of citations and papers. They are calculated by dividing the number of current-year citations (for example, 1997) to a journal's papers published in the previous two years (that is, 1996 and 1995) by the combined total of these papers.
A Young Blue Tidal Stream in NGC 5128

Stellar streams in galaxy halos are the natural consequence of a history of merging and accretion. We present evidence for a blue tidal stream of young stars in the nearest giant elliptical galaxy, NGC 5128 (Centaurus A). Using optical UBVR color maps, unsharp masking, and adaptive histogram equalization, we detect a blue arc in the northwest portion of the galaxy that traces a partial ellipse with an apocenter of 8 kpc. We also report the discovery of numerous young star clusters that are associated with the arc. The brightest of these clusters is spectroscopically confirmed, has an age of ∼350 Myr, and may be a proto–globular cluster. It is likely that this arc, which is distinct from the surrounding shell system and the young jet-related stars in the northeast, is a tidally disrupted stellar stream orbiting the galaxy. Both the age derived from the integrated optical colors of the stream and its dynamical disruption timescale have values of 200–400 Myr. We propose that this stream of young stars was formed when a dwarf irregular galaxy, or similar-sized gas fragment, underwent a tidally triggered burst of star formation as it fell into NGC 5128 and was disrupted ∼300 Myr ago. The stars and star clusters in this stream will eventually disperse and become part of the main body of NGC 5128, suggesting that the infall of gas-rich dwarfs plays a role in the building of stellar halos and globular cluster systems.