Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sparse Combinatorial Structures: Classification and Applications

We present results of the recent research on sparse graphs and nite structures in the context of contemporary combinatorics, graph theory, model theory and mathematical logic, complexity of algorithms and probability theory. The topics include: complexity of subgraph- and homomorphism- problems; model checking problems for rst order formulas in special classes; property testing in sparse classes of structures. All these problems can be studied under the umbrella of classes of structures which are Nowhere Dense and in the context of Nowhere Dense { Somewhere Dense dichotomy. This dichotomy presents the classication of the general classes of structures which proves to be very robust and stable as it can be dened alternatively by most combinatorial extremal invariants as well as by algorithmic and logical terms. We give examples from logic, geometry and extremal graph theory. Finally we characterize the existence of all restricted dualities in terms of limit objects dened on the homomorphism order of graphs.
Active Learning for Natural Language Parsing and Information Extraction

In natural language acquisition, it is dicult to gather the annotated data needed for supervised learning; however, unannotated data is fairly plentiful. Active learning methods attempt to select for annotation and training only the most informative examples, and therefore are potentially very useful in natural language applications. However, existing results for active learning have only considered standard classication tasks. To reduce annotation eort while maintaining accuracy, we apply active learning to two non-classication tasks in natural language processing: semantic parsing and information extraction. We show that active learning can signicantly reduce the number of annotated examples required to achieve a given level of performance for these complex tasks.
SUPPRESSION OF PLASMA ACTH CONCENTRATION BY ANGIOTENSIN II INFUSION IN NORMAL HUMANS AND IN A SUBJECT WITH A STEROID 17α‐HYDROXYLASE DEFECT

Six healthy subjects were infused with angiotensin II and plasma concentrations of angiotensin, ACTH and cortisol were measured before, during and after the infusion. In all cases the plasma ACTH concentration fell as plasma angiotensin increased and rose again, sometimes to higher than basal levels, when the angiotensin infusion was terminated. These effects were most marked at the highest rate of infusion (8 pmol/kg/min) and, at the lower rates (2 and 4 pmol/kg/min), there was some recovery of ACTH levels during the infusion period in some subjects. Plasma ACTH concentrations also fell when angiotensin was infused into a patient with high ACTH levels due to a steroid 17α‐hydroxylation defect. The inhibition of ACTH secretion is not due to a rise in plasma cortisol operating a negative feedback inhibition. It could be a direct effect of the infused angiotensin on the brain‐hypothalamus‐pituitary complex or an effect on the metabolism of ACTH.
Split or Steal? Cooperative Behavior When the Stakes Are Large

We examine cooperative behavior when large sums of money are at stake, using data from the television game show Golden Balls. At the end of each episode, contestants play a variant on the classic prisoner's dilemma for large and widely ranging stakes averaging over $20,000. Cooperation is surprisingly high for amounts that would normally be considered consequential but look tiny in their current context, what we call a “big peanuts” phenomenon. Utilizing the prior interaction among contestants, we find evidence that people have reciprocal preferences. Surprisingly, there is little support for conditional cooperation in our sample. That is, players do not seem to be more likely to cooperate if their opponent might be expected to cooperate. Further, we replicate earlier findings that males are less cooperative than females, but this gender effect reverses for older contestants because men become increasingly cooperative as their age increases. This paper was accepted by Brad Barber, Teck Ho, and Terrance Odean, special issue editors.
An analysis of BGP convergence properties

The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the de facto inter-domain routing protocol used to exchange reachability information between Autonomous Systems in the global Internet. BGP is a path-vector protocol that allows each Autonomous System to override distance-based metrics with policy-based metrics when choosing best routes. Varadhan et al. [18] have shown that it is possible for a group of Autonomous Systems to independently define BGP policies that together lead to BGP protocol oscillations that never converge on a stable routing. One approach to addressing this problem is based on static analysis of routing policies to determine if they are safe. We explore the worst-case complexity for convergence-oriented static analysis of BGP routing policies. We present an abstract model of BGP and use it to define several global sanity conditions on routing policies that are related to BGP convergence/divergence. For each condition we show that the complexity of statically checking it is either NP-complete or NP-hard.
Convergence Time of Power-Control Dynamics

We study convergence of distributed protocols for power control in a non-cooperative wireless transmission scenario. There are n wireless communication requests or links that experience interference and noise. To be successful a link must satisfy an SINR constraint. Each link is a rational selfish agent that strives to be successful with the least power that is required. A classic approach to this problem is the fixed-point iteration due to Foschini and Miljanic , for which we prove the first bounds on worst-case convergence times - after roughly O(n \log n) rounds all SINR constraints are nearly satisfied. When agents try to satisfy each constraint exactly, however, links might not be successful at all. For this case, we design a novel framework for power control using regret learning algorithms and iterative discretization. While the exact convergence times must rely on a variety of parameters, we show that roughly a polynomial number of rounds suffices to make every link successful during at least a constant fraction of all previous rounds.
Overcoming Open Source Project Entry Barriers with a Portal for Newcomers

Community-based Open Source Software (OSS) projects are usually self-organized and dynamic, receiving contributions from distributed volunteers. Newcomer are important to the survival, long-term success, and continuity of these communities. However, newcomers face many barriers when making their first contribution to an OSS project, leading in many cases to dropouts. Therefore, a major challenge for OSS projects is to provide ways to support newcomers during their first contribution. In this paper, we propose and evaluate FLOSScoach, a portal created to support newcomers to OSS projects. FLOSScoach was designed based on a conceptual model of barriers created in our previous work. To evaluate the portal, we conducted a study with 65 students, relying on qualitative data from diaries, self-efficacy questionnaires, and the Technology Acceptance Model. The results indicate that FLOSScoach played an important role in guiding newcomers and in lowering barriers related to the orientation and contribution process, whereas it was not effective in lowering technical barriers. We also found that FLOSScoach is useful, easy to use, and increased newcomers’ confidence to contribute. Our results can help project maintainers on deciding the points that need more attention in order to help OSS project newcomers overcome entry barriers.
Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) Stem Bark Extracts Exert Antitumor Activities In Vitro and In Vivo

A Ficus umbellata is used to treat cancer. The present work was therefore designed to assess antitumor potentials of F. umbellata extracts in nine different cell lines. Cell cycle, apoptosis, cell migration/invasion, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), caspases activities as well as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein content were assessed in MDA-MB-231 cells. The 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced carcinogenesis in rats were also used to investigate antitumor potential of F. umbellata extracts. The F. umbellata methanol extract exhibited a CC50 of 180 μg/mL in MDA-MB-231 cells after 24 h. It induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, while it did not alter their cell cycle phases. Further, it induced a decrease in MMP, an increase in ROS levels and caspases activities as well as a downregulation in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein contents in MDA-MB-231 cells. In vivo, F. umbellata aqueous (200 mg/kg) and methanol (50 mg/kg) extracts significantly (p < 0.001) reduced ovarian tumor incidence (10%), total tumor burden (58% and 46%, respectively), average tumor weight (57.8% and 45.6%, respectively) as compared to DMBA control group. These results suggest antitumor potential of F. umbellata constituents possibly due to apoptosis induction mediated through ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathway.
Aetiological treatment of congenital Chagas' disease diagnosed and monitored by the polymerase chain reaction.

OBJECTIVES This prospective study focused on the evaluation of anti-parasitic therapy in congenital Chagas' disease, diagnosed and monitored by PCR and conventional diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied 152 children born to seroreactive mothers, living in a non-endemic area. Fifty infants aged 0-6 months (GA) were diagnosed by microhaematocrit and PCR and 102 children aged 7 months to 17 years (GB) were diagnosed by serology and PCR. Forty treated patients were monitored for 2 or 3 years by PCR and conventional methods. A competitive-quantitative PCR was used to determine pre-therapy parasitic loads and follow their post-treatment evolution. RESULTS In GA, the sensitivities of the PCR and microhaematocrit were 100% and 82.4% and their specificities 97% and 100%, respectively. In GB, the sensitivity of the PCR was 73.8% with a specificity of 100%. Pre-therapy parasitic loads ranged from 12.5 to 125,000 and 12.5 to 125 parasite genomic equivalents/mL of blood in GA and GB, respectively. PCR turned negative in all treated pre-therapy PCR positive patients before or at the end of treatment, which was followed by their seronegativation in 10/10 GA, in 3/5 children initiating therapy at 7 months to 2 years of age but in 0/16 initiating therapy at an older age. Two out of the latter patients were occasionally PCR positive during post-treatment, suggesting no parasitological response. Out of nine pre-therapy PCR negative patients, four turned seronegative after treatment, suggesting that in undetermined patients, undetectable parasitic burdens may lead to better post-treatment prognosis. CONCLUSIONS PCR was useful for sensitive diagnosis and therapy monitoring, allowing early detection of refractory cases.
Role of Rac 1 / p 38 and ERK-Dependent Cytosolic Phospholipase A 2 Activation in Porphyromonas gingivalis-Evoked Induction in Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9 ) Release by Salivary Gland Cells

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a highly glycosylated endopeptidase implicated in a wide rage of oral mucosal inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, including chronic periodontitis, a persistent mucosal inflammation attributed primarily to infection by oral anaerobe, P. gingivalis. In this study, we explored the role of Rac1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in the processes of MMP-9 release in sublingual salivary gland cells exposed to P. gingivalis key endotoxin, cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We demonstrate that the LPS-elicited induction in the acinar cell MMP-9 release is associated with MAPK, ERK and p38 activation, and occurs with the involvement of Rac1 and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). Further, we reveal that the LPS-induced MMP-9 release involves ERK-mediated phosphorylation of cPLA2 on Ser505 that is essential for its membrane translocation with Rac1, and that this process requires p38 activation. Moreover, we show that phosphorylation and membrane localization of p38 with Rac1-GTP play a pivotal role in cPLA2-dependent induction in MMP-9 release. Thus collectively, our findings infer that P. gingivalis LPS-induced up-regulation in the acinar cell MMP-9 release requires ERK-dependent recruitment of cPLA2 to the membrane localized Rac1/p38 complex.
Hyb-Seq: Combining target enrichment and genome skimming for plant phylogenomics1

Premise of the study: Hyb-Seq, the combination of target enrichment and genome skimming, allows simultaneous data collection for low-copy nuclear genes and high-copy genomic targets for plant systematics and evolution studies. Methods and Results: Genome and transcriptome assemblies for milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) were used to design enrichment probes for 3385 exons from 768 genes (>1.6 Mbp) followed by Illumina sequencing of enriched libraries. Hyb-Seq of 12 individuals (10 Asclepias species and two related genera) resulted in at least partial assembly of 92.6% of exons and 99.7% of genes and an average assembly length >2 Mbp. Importantly, complete plastomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA cistrons were assembled using off-target reads. Phylogenomic analyses demonstrated signal conflict between genomes. Conclusions: The Hyb-Seq approach enables targeted sequencing of thousands of low-copy nuclear exons and flanking regions, as well as genome skimming of high-copy repeats and organellar genomes, to efficiently produce genome-scale data sets for phylogenomics.
Multiple imputation analysis of case–cohort studies

The usual methods for analyzing case–cohort studies rely on sometimes not fully efficient weighted estimators. Multiple imputation might be a good alternative because it uses all the data available and approximates the maximum partial likelihood estimator. This method is based on the generation of several plausible complete data sets, taking into account uncertainty about missing values. When the imputation model is correctly defined, the multiple imputation estimator is asymptotically unbiased and its variance is correctly estimated. We show that a correct imputation model must be estimated from the fully observed data (cases and controls), using the case status among the explanatory variable. To validate the approach, we analyzed case–cohort studies first with completely simulated data and then with case–cohort data sampled from two real cohorts. The analyses of simulated data showed that, when the imputation model was correct, the multiple imputation estimator was unbiased and efficient. The observed gain in precision ranged from 8 to 37 per cent for phase‐1 variables and from 5 to 19 per cent for the phase‐2 variable. When the imputation model was misspecified, the multiple imputation estimator was still more efficient than the weighted estimators but it was also slightly biased. The analyses of case–cohort data sampled from complete cohorts showed that even when no strong predictor of the phase‐2 variable was available, the multiple imputation was unbiased, as precised as the weighted estimator for the phase‐2 variable and slightly more precise than the weighted estimators for the phase‐1 variables. However, the multiple imputation estimator was found to be biased when, because of interaction terms, some coefficients of the imputation model had to be estimated from small samples. Multiple imputation is an efficient technique for analyzing case–cohort data. Practically, we suggest building the analysis model using only the case–cohort data and weighted estimators. Multiple imputation can eventually be used to reanalyze the data using the selected model in order to improve the precision of the results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Evaluation of Input Controls for In-Car Interactions

The way drivers operate in-car systems is rapidly changing as traditional physical controls, such as buttons and dials, are being replaced by touchscreens and touch-sensing surfaces. This has the potential to increase driver distraction and error as controls may be harder to find and use. This paper presents an in-car, on the road driving study which examined three key types of input controls to investigate their effects: a physical dial, pressure-based input on a touch surface and touch input on a touchscreen. The physical dial and pressure-based input were also evaluated with and without haptic feedback. The study was conducted with users performing a list-based targeting task using the different controls while driving on public roads. Eye-gaze was recorded to measure distraction from the primary task of driving. The results showed that target accuracy was high across all input methods (greater than 94%). Pressure-based targeting was the slowest while directly tapping on the targets was the faster selection method. Pressure-based input also caused the largest number of glances towards to the touchscreen but the duration of each glance was shorter than directly touching the screen. Our study will enable designers to make more appropriate design choices for future in-car interactions.
Lifetime hormonal factors may predict late-life depression in women

ABSTRACT Background: Fluctuating hormone levels are known to influence a woman's mood and well-being. This study aimed to determine whether lifetime hormonal markers are associated with late-life depression symptoms among elderly community-dwelling women. Method: Detailed reproductive histories of 1013 women aged 65 years and over were obtained using questionnaires, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multivariate logistic regression models were generated to determine whether any lifetime endogenous or exogenous hormonal factors were associated with late-life depression. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 17%. Age at menopause was associated with depressive symptoms, but only among women with a lower education level. For these women, an earlier age at menopause increased their risk of late-life depression (linear effect, OR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.91–0.99). The odds of late-life depression were also increased for women who were past (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1–2.5), but were not current users. On the other hand, long-term oral contraceptive use (≥10 years) was protective against depression (OR = 0.3, 95%CI: 0.1–0.9). These associations remained significant even after extensive adjustment for a range of potential confounding factors, including sociodemographic factors, mental and physical incapacities, antidepressant use and past depression. The other factors examined – including age at first menses, parity, age at childbirth and surgical menopause – were not associated with late-life depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Lifetime hormonal factors that are significantly associated with depression symptoms in later life have been identified. Further work is needed to determine how potential hormonal interventions could be used in the treatment of late-life depression in certain subgroups of women.
Children as Respondents in Survey Research: Cognitive Development and Response Quality 1

Les enfants comme répondants dans les enquêtes - Développement cognitif et qualité des réponses. Quoique les enfants ne sont plus une population négligée des statistiques officielles et des enquétes, des études méthodologiques sur des enquêtes d'enfants sont rares. Les chercheurs doivent se baser sur des connaissances ad hoc venant des domaines aussi divers que la psychiatrie enfantine et les tests d'éducation, ou extrapoler à partir de la connaissance méthodologique associée aux enquêtes auprès d'adultes. Dans cet article, les auteurs passent en revu la littérature scientifique disponible sur les enfants comme répondants, et présentent les résultats préliminaires d'une analyse secondaire de l'influence du développement cognitif sur la qualité des réponses. Enfin, il y a des recommandations concernants les enquêtes d'enfants.
The Permian mammal-like herbivore Diictodon, the oldest known example of sexually dimorphic armament

Dicynodonts, a highly successful group of Palaeozoic tetrapods, were herbivores with keratinous beaks, and were frequently equipped with large, neomorphic tusks. Diictodon is a particularly abundant dicynodont genus, allowing statistical investigation of its palaeobiology. Anatomical, morphometric and distributional analyses provide evidence of sexual dimorphism, based on the presence or absence of formidable tusks. Tusk occurrence is also correlated with the presence of a cranial boss on the skull roof and, possibly, with greater cranial size. This earliest well–documented example of dimorphic armament suggests that sexual dimorphism, and the complex social behaviour that accompanies it, have long been characteristic of the synapsid lineage.
Clones of Streptococcus zooepidemicus from Outbreaks of Hemorrhagic Canine Pneumonia and Associated Immune Responses

ABSTRACT Acute hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by Streptococcus zooepidemicus has emerged as a major disease of shelter dogs and greyhounds. S. zooepidemicus strains differing in multilocus sequence typing (MLST), protective protein (SzP), and M-like protein (SzM) sequences were identified from 9 outbreaks in Texas, Kansas, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. Clonality based on 2 or more isolates was evident for 7 of these outbreaks. The Pennsylvania and Nevada outbreaks also involved cats. Goat antisera against acutely infected lung tissue as well as convalescent-phase sera reacted with a mucinase (Sz115), hyaluronidase (HylC), InlA domain-containing cell surface-anchored protein (INLA), membrane-anchored protein (MAP), SzP, SzM, and extracellular oligopeptide-binding protein (OppA). The amino acid sequences of SzP and SzM of the isolates varied greatly. The szp and szm alleles of the closely related Kansas clone (sequence type 129 [ST-129]) and United Kingdom isolate BHS5 (ST-123) were different, indicating that MLST was unreliable as a predictor of virulence phenotype. Combinations of conserved HylC and serine protease (ScpC) and variable SzM and SzP proteins of S. zooepidemicus strain NC78 were protectively immunogenic for mice challenged with a virulent canine strain. Thus, although canine pneumonia outbreaks are caused by different strains of S. zooepidemicus, protective immune responses were elicited in mice by combinations of conserved or variable S. zooepidemicus proteins from a single strain.
The eye lens: age-related trends and individual variations in refractive index and shape parameters

The eye lens grows throughout life by cell accrual on its surface and can change shape to adjust the focussing power of the eye. Varying concentrations of proteins in successive cell layers create a refractive index gradient. The continued growth of the lens and age-related changes in proteins render it less able to alter shape with loss of capacity by the end of the sixth decade of life. Growth and protein ageing alter the refractive index but as accurate measurement of this parameter is difficult, the nature of such alterations remains uncertain. The most accurate method to date for measuring refractive index in intact lenses has been developed at the SPring-8 synchrotron. The technique, based on Talbot interferometry, has an X-ray source and was used to measure refractive index in sixty-six human lenses, aged from 16 to 91 years. Height and width were measured for forty-five lenses. Refractive index contours show decentration in some older lenses but individual variations mask age-related trends. Refractive index profiles along the optic axis have relatively flat central sections with distinct micro-fluctuations and a steep gradient in the cortex but do not exhibit an age-related trend. The refractive index profiles in the equatorial aspect show statistical significance with age, particularly for lenses below the age of sixty that had capacity to alter shape in vivo. The maximum refractive index in the lens centre decreases slightly with age with considerable scatter in the data and there are age-related variations in sagittal thickness and equatorial height.