Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic Analysis of Complex LASSO via Complex Approximate Message Passing (CAMP)

Recovering a sparse signal from an undersampled set of random linear measurements is the main problem of interest in compressed sensing. In this paper, we consider the case where both the signal and the measurements are complex-valued. We study the popular recovery method of l1-regularized least squares or LASSO. While several studies have shown that LASSO provides desirable solutions under certain conditions, the precise asymptotic performance of this algorithm in the complex setting is not yet known. In this paper, we extend the approximate message passing (AMP) algorithm to solve the complex-valued LASSO problem and obtain the complex approximate message passing algorithm (CAMP). We then generalize the state evolution framework recently introduced for the analysis of AMP to the complex setting. Using the state evolution, we derive accurate formulas for the phase transition and noise sensitivity of both LASSO and CAMP. Our theoretical results are concerned with the case of i.i. d. Gaussian sensing matrices. Simulations confirm that our results hold for a larger class of random matrices.
Characterization of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria in Sediments from a Shallow Eutrophic Lake and a Wetland: Isolation, Molecular Identification and Phosphorus Release Ability Determination

The transformation of phosphorus (P) is a major factor of lake eutrophication, and phosphate releasing bacteria play an important role in the release process. Experiments were conducted to investigate P content and characterize phosphate solubilizing bacterial composition at the molecular level in a shallow eutrophic lake and a wetland. Results showed that P concentrations were relatively high and derived from agricultural runoff and domestic or industrial pollution. Enumeration and molecular identification of these strains indicated that these bacterial groups were abundant in the ecosystem and various kinds of bacteria participated in the phosphorus release process. Twelve phosphate solubilizing bacteria, including eight organic P-solubilizing bacteria (OPBs) and four inorganic P-solubilizing bacteria (IPBs), which belonged to three different families, were isolated and identified. Cupriavidus basilensis was found for the first time to have the ability to mineralize organic P (OP). Laboratory tests on P release ability revealed that IPBs were more effective at releasing P than OPBs. The most efficient IPB strain could accumulate over 170 mg·L-1 orthophosphate, while the equivalent OPB strain only liberated less than 4 mg·L-1 orthophosphate in liquid culture. The results obtained from this investigation should help clarify the roles of microorganisms in aquatic systems and the mechanisms of eutrophication.
Socioeconomic determinants of dietary patterns in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND In high-income countries, high socioeconomic status (SES) is generally associated with a healthier diet, but whether social differences in dietary intake are also present in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains to be established. OBJECTIVE We performed a systematic review of studies that assessed the relation between SES and dietary intake in LMICs. DESIGN We carried out a systematic review of cohort and cross-sectional studies in adults in LMICs and published between 1996 and 2013. We assessed associations between markers of SES or urban and rural settings and dietary intake. RESULTS A total of 33 studies from 17 LMICs were included (5 low-income countries and 12 middle-income countries; 31 cross-sectional and 2 longitudinal studies). A majority of studies were conducted in Brazil (8), China (6), and Iran (4). High SES or living in urban areas was associated with higher intakes of calories; protein; total fat; cholesterol; polyunsaturated, saturated, and monounsaturated fatty acids; iron; and vitamins A and C and with lower intakes of carbohydrates and fiber. High SES was also associated with higher fruit and/or vegetable consumption, diet quality, and diversity. Although very few studies were performed in low-income countries, similar patterns were generally observed in both LMICs except for fruit intake, which was lower in urban than in rural areas in low-income countries. CONCLUSIONS In LMICs, high SES or living in urban areas is associated with overall healthier dietary patterns. However, it is also related to higher energy, cholesterol, and saturated fat intakes. Social inequalities in dietary intake should be considered in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in LMICs.
Cortical connections of visual area MT in the macaque

We have identified the cortical connections of area MT and determined their topographic organization and relationship to myeloarchitectural fields. Efferents of MT were examined in seven macaques that had received injections of tritiated amino acids, and afferents were examined in one macaque that had received injections of two fluorescent dyes. The injection sites formed an orderly sequence from the representation of central to that of peripheral vision in the upper and lower visual fields.
Groupsourcing: Distributed Problem Solving Using Social Networks

Crowdsourcing and citizen science have established themselves in the mainstream of research methodology in recent years, employing a variety of methods to solve problems using human computation. An approach described here, termed "groupsourcing", uses social networks to present problems and collect solutions. This paper details a method for archiving social network messages and investigates messages containing an image classification task in the domain of marine biology. In comparison to other methods, groupsourcing offers a high accuracy, data-driven and low cost approach.
The Influence of Loading Rate on the Mode II Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Composite Materials

The effect of varying loading rate on the mode II interlaminar fracture toughness of a range of composite materials has been investigated. A screw-driven universal testing machine and a fully instrumented drop-weight carriage have been used to obtain crosshead speeds in the range 0.01 mm/min to 3 m/s. The results have shown that the value of GIIc for many composites is rate-sensitive, tending to increase with increasing loading rate. Damage development in the crack tip region has been investigated by examining the polished edges of a number of test specimens in a scanning electron microscope. It has also been shown that offsetting the center plies by a few degrees in order to reduce fiber bridging results in a greater degree of rate-sensitivity in GIIc . It is believed that the presence of fiber-bridging in standard unidirectional fracture-mechanics samples conceals much of the intrinsic viscoelastic response of the polymeric matrix. Failure mechanisms at the crack tip have been investigated using the Double Edge Notch Flexure specimen. A scanning electron microscope study of this region has shown that the size and nature of this zone is dependent upon the crosshead displacement rate.
Effect of atrial septal occlusion on mitral area after Inoue balloon valvotomy.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the atrial communication created during transseptal passage of the Inoue balloon catheter on calculated mitral valve area after balloon valvotomy for severe mitral stenosis. Even in the absence of oxymetric evidence for a shunt, atrial septal puncture may result in left-to-right shunting of blood with reported spurious increases in postvalvotomy mitral valve area calculations ranging from 16-29% in prior studies. Occlusion of the septal puncture site after double balloon valvotomy has previously been shown to result in decreased postvalvotomy mitral valve area determinations. We evaluated 20 patients undergoing mitral dilation. Each patient had three postvalvotomy measurements made: (1) with the Inoue balloon catheter positioned across the septum, (2) during septal occlusion with a 7F balloon-tip catheter, and (3) without any catheters across the septum. With the Inoue catheter across the septum after successful valvotomy, the cardiac output was 4.6 +/- 1.5 L/min and the calculated mitral valve area was 1.7 +/- 0.5 cm2. No difference was found in either cardiac output or valve area when the septum was unobstructed by catheters. During septal occlusion, however, the postvalvotomy cardiac output decreased to 4.3 +/- 1.3 L/min (P < 0.001) and the calculated mitral area decreased by 12% to 1.5 +/- 0.5 cm2 (P < 0.001). The calculated mitral valve areas determined with the Inoue catheter in place after valvotomy were in agreement with echo derived data. Although statistically significant differences in post-Inoue valvotomy cardiac output and calculated mitral valve area were found during septal occlusion, these differences were small. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Helminth Parasites of the Western Willet, Tringa semipalmata inornata, From Montana and Texas with a Checklist of Helminth Parasites

abstract: In total, 26 western willets, Tringa semipalmata inornata, were examined for helminth parasites, including 8 spring migrating hosts from the Chihuahua Desert, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and 18 post-breeding hosts from east central Montana. Sixteen species of helminth parasites were present in component communities for both spring migrants and post-breeding birds. There were 9 species of trematodes, 2 cestodes, and 5 of nematodes, with a total of 1,593 individual specimens (X = 99.6, ±SE = 57.9, M = 9) present in migrating willets, and 5 species of trematodes, 8 cestodes, and 3 nematodes for a total of 1,148 individual specimens (X = 71.8, ±SE = 34.4, M = 12) present in post-breeding hosts. Species richness in infracommunities ranged from 2 to 10 (X = 5.1, ±SE = 0.95, M = 5.3) for spring migrants, and from 1 to 4 (X = 2.8, ±SE = 0.26, M = 3) for post-breeding birds. Diversity and evenness were 0.72 and 0.23 for spring migrants and. 0.62 and 0.17 for post-breeding hosts. Trematodes were the dominant taxa in spring migrants and cestode taxa in post-breeding hosts. Helminths with marine-associated life cycles were present in larger numbers in spring migrants from the Rio Grande Valley (11 of 16 species) than in post-breeding hosts from Montana hosts (4 of 16 species). The higher number of marine species in spring migrants was probably related to their more recent association with a marine habitat. Several species of Anomotaenia were major contributors to the component communities in both localities. Four species of nematodes with large prevalence, i.e., Schistorophus skrjabini, Sciadiocara umbellifera, Skrjabinoclava inornatae, and Sobolivicephalus lichtensfelsi, observed in spring migrants from the Rio Grande Valley were absent from Montana hosts. There was only a 2% similarity between the Rio Grande Valley and Montana. All helminth species, except for the possibility of Anomotaenia spp. , were generalists. A checklist of helminth parasites of the willet is included.
Treatment planning for heavy-ion radiotherapy: physical beam model and dose optimization.

We describe a novel code system, TRiP, dedicated to the planning of radiotherapy with energetic ions, in particular 12C. The software is designed to cooperate with three-dimensional active dose shaping devices like the GSI raster scan system. This unique beam delivery system allows us to select any combination from a list of 253 individual beam energies, 7 different beam spot sizes and 15 intensity levels. The software includes a beam model adapted to and verified for carbon ions. Inverse planning techniques are implemented in order to obtain a uniform target dose distribution from clinical input data, i.e. CT images and patient contours. This implies the automatic generation of intensity modulated fields of heavy ions with as many as 40000 raster points, where each point corresponds to a specific beam position, energy and particle fluence. This set of data is directly passed to the beam delivery and control system. The treatment planning code has been in clinical use since the start of the GSI pilot project in December 1997. Forty-eight patients have been successfully planned and treated.
Questionnaire development: 2. Validity and reliability.

In order to have confidence in the results of a study, one must be assured that the questionnaire consistently measures what it purports to measure when properly administered. In short, the questionnaire must be both valid and reliable. In this article we will define validity and reliability and provide some examples of how to think about these issues and how to take some first steps in verifying them. The importance of validity and reliability cannot be emphasized too strongly. For example, the thermometer must indicate the correct temperature to be valid and must repeatedly give the same reading to be reliable. If the thermometer were reliable but not valid it would give consistently inaccurate readings; if it were valid but not reliable it would indicate different temperatures at each use, the correct temperature being occasionally indicated. In both of these situations the thermometer could not be relied on to contribute to sound clinical judgements.
Expatriate performance in overseas assignments: the role of Big Five personality

This paper investigates the affects of Big Five personality and its dimensions on expatriate job performance. Based on sample of 332 expatriates working in Malaysia, personality factor found to be a significant determinant of expatriate job performance in international assignments. Specifically, the results of this study reveal that expatriates in Malaysia with greater conscientiousness personality fared better in their task and contextual performance. Those with greater openness to experience found to perform better in their task, contextual and assignment-specific performance. The findings of this study contributes to the body of knowledge in the cross-cultural management field and have practical implication to expatriating firms especially in the area of selection and training of candidates for international assignments.
Mathematical Model Reveals the Role of Memory CD8 T Cell Populations in Recall Responses to Influenza

The current influenza vaccine provides narrow protection against the strains included in the vaccine, and needs to be reformulated every few years in response to the constantly evolving new strains. Novel approaches are directed toward developing vaccines that provide broader protection by targeting B and T cell epitopes that are conserved between different strains of the virus. In this paper, we focus on developing mathematical models to explore the CD8 T cell responses to influenza, how they can be boosted, and the conditions under which they contribute to protection. Our models suggest that the interplay between spatial heterogeneity (with the virus infecting the respiratory tract and the immune response being generated in the secondary lymphoid organs) and T cell differentiation (with proliferation occurring in the lymphoid organs giving rise to a subpopulation of resident T cells in the respiratory tract) is the key to understand the dynamics of protection afforded by the CD8 T cell response to influenza. Our results suggest that the time lag for the generation of resident T cells in the respiratory tract and their rate of decay following infection are the key factors that limit the efficacy of CD8 T cell responses. The models predict that an increase in the level of central memory T cells leads to a gradual decrease in the viral load, and, in contrast, there is a sharper protection threshold for the relationship between the size of the population of resident T cells and protection. The models also suggest that repeated natural influenza infections cause the number of central memory CD8 T cells and the peak number of resident memory CD8 T cells to reach their plateaus, and while the former is maintained, the latter decays with time since the most recent infection.
Magnesium Intake and Depression in Adults

Background: Depression is a common and often disabling disorder. Magnesium supplementation has been linked to improvement in depressive symptoms, but consensus on the relationship between magnesium and depression has not been reached. Methods: The purpose of this study was to test the existence of an association between dietary magnesium intake and depression in the adult US population. A cross-sectional, population-based data set (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) was used to explore the relationship of magnesium intake and depression in 8894 US adults (mean age, 46.1 years; 47.4% men) from 2007 to 2010. Using logistic regression to model the relationship between the presence of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥5) and low magnesium intake (<184 mg/day), we examined the risk ratio (RR) of magnesium intake and its 95% confidence interval. Results: After adjusting for all potential confounders, the strength of the association of very low magnesium intake with depression was statistically significant (RR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06–1.30). Adjusting for all other covariates, low magnesium intake was associated with depression in subjects younger than age 65 (RR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.06–1.40; P = .007) but seemed to be protective in seniors (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.56–0.98; P = .032). Conclusions: We found a significant association between very low magnesium intake and depression, especially in younger adults. The finding of the potential protective effect of low magnesium intake in older adults is surprising and warrants further investigation.
Formats and prior knowledge on learning in a computer-based lesson

This study investigated the effects of presentation format (animation, still graphics, text) and the students' prior knowledge on learning a computer-based physics lesson. A total of 357 eighth-grade (novice learners) and ninth-grade students (experienced learners) were randomly assigned to different treatments on a class basis. A 3 x 2 ancova (Animation/Still graphics/Text x Novice/Experienced) (control-led by covariants, physics and mathematics scores) was used to determine the effect of these two variables. The significant interaction effect found between presentation format and prior knowledge in both descriptive and procedural learning (p 0.05).
Intensive red blood cell transfusions and risk of alloimmunization

Exposure to allogenic red blood cells (RBCs) may lead to formation of antibodies against nonself‐antigens in transfused patients. While alloimmunization rates are known to increase with the number of transfusions, the transfusion course in patients can vary from receiving multiple units during a single transfusion event or getting them dispersed over a long(er) period. In this study we compared the immunization risk between different transfusion intensities.
The pax-3 gene is involved in vulva formation in Pristionchus pacificus and is a target of the Hox gene lin-39

The Hox gene lin-39 plays a crucial role in the establishment of the nematode vulva equivalence group. Mutations in lin-39 in Caenorhabditis elegans and Pristionchus pacificus result in a vulvaless phenotype because presumptive vulva precursor cells adopt non-vulval fates. Interestingly, the non-vulval fate of anterior and posterior epidermal cells differs between Caenorhabditis and Pristionchus; in C. elegans, non-vulval cells fuse with the hypodermis, whereas, in P. pacificus, they die as a result of programmed cell death. C. elegans lin-39 (Cel-lin-39) indirectly controls the cell fusion gene eff-1 by regulating the GATA transcription factors egl-18 and elt-6. In P. pacificus, the genetic context of its lin-39 (Ppa-lin-39) function was unknown. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of gev-2, a second generation-vulvaless mutant in P. pacificus. We show that gev-2 is the Ppa-pax-3 gene and that it has distinct functions in the cell fate specification of epidermal cells. Whereas Ppa-pax-3 regulates cell survival of the presumptive vulval precursor cells, it controls cell death of posterior epidermal cells. Molecular studies indicate that Ppa-pax-3 is a direct target of Ppa-LIN-39. Thus, we describe the first specific developmental defect of a nematode pax-3 gene and our data reveal different regulatory networks for the specification of the vulva equivalence group.
Two-year follow-up of inpatients with dissociative identity disorder.

OBJECTIVE A group of 135 inpatients with dissociative identity disorder was followed for 2 years to monitor treatment outcome. METHOD Fifty-four of the patients were located and reassessed after a 2-year period through the use of the same self-report measures and structured clinical interviews that had been initially administered. RESULTS The patients showed marked improvement on Schneiderian first-rank symptoms, mood and anxiety disorders, dissociative symptoms, and somatization, with a significant decrease in the number of psychiatric medications prescribed. Patients who were treated to integration were significantly more improved than those who had not yet reached integration. CONCLUSIONS These findings, although preliminary, provide empirical validation of previous clinical impressions that patients with dissociative identity disorder may respond well to treatment.
A reduced order finite element algorithm for surgical simulation

We present a reduced order finite element (FE) algorithm suitable for real-time nonlinear simulation of soft tissues. A dynamic FE formulation with explicit time integration is employed. We demonstrate significant computation acceleration by performing the time integration in a low-dimensional generalised basis, generated from a set of a priori training simulations. The key mechanism for the acceleration is the large increase in integration time step afforded by this means. Futhermore, we present a simple procedure for imposing inhomogeneous essential boundary conditions, thus overcoming one of the principal deficiencies of such approaches. The algorithm is described and demonstrated using an example neurosurgical simulation. The computation acceleration and errors introduced are examined.
The association between physical activity in leisure time and leukocyte telomere length.

BACKGROUND Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for many aging-related diseases. Leukocyte telomere dynamics (telomere length and age-dependent attrition rate) are ostensibly a biological indicator of human aging. We therefore tested the hypothesis that physical activity level in leisure time (over the past 12 months) is associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in normal healthy volunteers. METHODS We studied 2401 white twin volunteers, comprising 2152 women and 249 men, with questionnaires on physical activity level, smoking status, and socioeconomic status. Leukocyte telomere length was derived from the mean terminal restriction fragment length and adjusted for age and other potential confounders. RESULTS Leukocyte telomere length was positively associated with increasing physical activity level in leisure time (P< .001); this association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, socioeconomic status, and physical activity at work. The LTLs of the most active subjects were 200 nucleotides longer than those of the least active subjects (7.1 and 6.9 kilobases, respectively; P= .006). This finding was confirmed in a small group of twin pairs discordant for physical activity level (on average, the LTL of more active twins was 88 nucleotides longer than that of less active twins; P= .03). CONCLUSIONS A sedentary lifestyle (in addition to smoking, high body mass index, and low socioeconomic status) has an effect on LTL and may accelerate the aging process. This provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to promote the potentially antiaging effect of regular exercise.