Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mirror Neurons based Object Recognition Deliverable Item 2 . 3 Visual Primitives for Object Identification Delivery

We propose an approach for a robot to imitate the gestures of a human demonstrator. Our framework consists solely of two components: a Sensory-Motor Map (SMM) and a View-Point Transformation (VPT). The SMM establishes an association between an arm image and the corresponding joint angles and it is learned by the system during a period of observation of its own gestures. The VPT is widely discussed in the psychology of visual perception and is used to transform the image of the demonstrator’s arm to the so-called ego-centric image, as if the robot were observing its own arm. Different structures of the SMM and VPT are proposed in accordance with observations in human imitation. The whole system relies on monocular visual information and leads to a parsimonious architecture for learning by imitation. Real-time results are presented and dis-
Parity and death from colon cancer in women: a case-control study.

Within the population of ever-married women, aged 40 or over, in South Australia, the parity distributions of 515 consecutive registered deaths attributed to colon cancer during 1976–1980, 17,941 consecutive deaths from other causes, and the mid-1976 census population of 203,718 women were compared. The age-adjusted relative risks of colon cancer death, using the census population as controls and treating nulliparous women as RR = 1.00, were 0.72 and 0.63 for para 1–2 and para 3-plus women respectively. These risk reductions were statistically significant (p<0.05). Comparison of cases with other deceased women as controls yielded lesser reductions in risk associated with increasing parity (RR = 0.89 and 0.80); the equivalent comparison for ever-married men showed a negligible change in risk associated with having fathered children (RR = 0.98). The similarity of these findings with other recent reports of colon cancer in relation to parity in women, and their likely biological significance, is discussed.
Immune rejection of metastases arising from intraocular tumors in mice.

The role of the immune response in the elimination of spontaneous metastases arising from intraocular tumors was examined in a syngeneic intraocular murine tumor model. P91 mastocytoma (DBA/2 origin) expresses strong tumor-specific transplantation antigens and grows transiently in the eyes of syngeneic hosts before undergoing spontaneous rejection. An organ culture technique was used to detect spontaneous metastases in the lungs, spleens, brains, and thymuses of intraocular tumor-bearing mice. Metastatic tumor cells were detected in all organs of immunodeficient mice (i.e., athymic, nude, or x-irradiated DBA/2 mice) within 14 days of intraocular transplantation, and grew progressively thereafter. By contrast, metastatic tumors were rejected in 100% of the immunocompetent DBA/2 mice examined on day 15. Timed enucleation experiments demonstrated that the immune rejection of disseminated tumor cells occurred within 24-48 hr of their arrival at the various organs. The immune rejection of spontaneous metastases could be adoptively transferred to immunodeficient tumor-bearing mice using spleen cells, but not immune serum, from intraocular tumor-bearing immunocompetent donors. Selective cell depletion experiments revealed that the immune spleen cell effecting immunity was an Lyt 1+, 2+ T cell. The results indicate that the immune rejection of the spontaneous metastases arising from primary intraocular tumors is a T cell-dependent, radiosensitive process that rapidly eliminates metastases within the lungs, brain, thymus, and the spleen of the immunocompetent host.
Irritable bowel syndrome and drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives; a comparative-safety study.

BACKGROUND Mineralocorticoids are thought to play a role in tissue repair, including fibrous tissue formation. The antimineralocorticoid activity of spironolactone has been linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin approved in combination with ethinyl-estradiol as an oral contraceptive (OC). It is a spironolactone-derivative, and its antimineralocorticoid effects could irritate the gastrointestinal tract leading to symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted evaluating women 18-46 years of age in the IMS claims-database. New-users of progestin-based OCs were identified between 1997-2009. Ninety days of OC therapy and one year of prior enrollment with no prior diagnosis of IBS were required for inclusion. Cases were identified using a previously validated method for the diagnosis of IBS. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for developing IBS with the different OC formulations using levonorgestrel as a reference. RESULTS The cohort included 939,281 women, averaging 29.1 years of age and 247 days of OC therapy. 3,050 incident cases of IBS were detected. The annualized incidence for IBS with drospirenone was 0.77% (1083 cases) while that for levonorgestrel was 0.46% (483 cases). The crude HR for development of IBS with drospirenone compared to levonorgestrel was 1.70 (95%CI 1.53-1.90), while the adjusted HR was 1.63 (95%CI 1.46-1.82). Multiple sensitivity analyses confirmed this association. Other OCs were unassociated with IBS. CONCLUSION Our study found a positive association between drospirenone and a diagnosis of IBS that was not observed with other OCs.
Treatment of myasthenia gravis with high‐dose intravenous immunoglobulin

ABSTRACT We treated 37 patients affected by autoimmune generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) with high‐dose intravenous gammaglobulin (HDIVIg), 400 mg/kg per day on 5 consecutive days. A one‐degree improvement of Oosterhuis global clinical classification of myasthenic severity (OGCCMS), the disappearance of bulbar involvement or both were recorded 12 days after the beginning of the treatment in 70.3% of the patients and persisted up to 60 days in 58.7%. A two‐degree improvement of OGCCMS was recorded in 54.1% of the patients and it was maintained up to 60 days in 37.8%. The percentage of improvement did not significantly differ between patients entering the treatment in a long‐standing, drug‐refractory stationary phase of the illness (n = 26) and patients who received HDIVIg in an acute phase of MG (n = 11). None of the patients experienced side effects. Our data indicates that HDIVIg is an interesting, virtually riskless therapeutic choice for MG patients, and allows the planning of a controlled trial versus plasma‐exchange.
The differences in Frequent and Intense Affect Balance when measuring Subjective Well-being and Personality : A study among young adults

In this study 170 Swedish University students participated and evaluated themselves on Subjective well-being with affect balance measured both in frequency and in intensity, and on the five-factor personality factors. The results clearly indicate that intense positive emotions and intense negative emotions correlate positively, and that women experience emotions more intensely than men. Further, measuring affect balance in frequency leads to gender differences in happiness while intensity affect balance does not. Neuroticism (inverted) and extraversion are both strong predictors of happiness, but when using frequent affect-balance, neuroticism evidently stands out as the better of the two. Extraversion and to some extent neuroticism are intensifying people’s emotions. The findings suggest future research to distinguish between intense and frequent affects when calculating Subjective well-being.
Directing electron transfer within Photosystem I by breaking H-bonds in the cofactor branches

Photosystem I has two branches of cofactors down which light-driven electron transfer (ET) could potentially proceed, each consisting of a pair of chlorophylls (Chls) and a phylloquinone (PhQ). Forward ET from PhQ to the next ET cofactor (FX) is described by two kinetic components with decay times of ≈20 and ≈200 ns, which have been proposed to represent ET from PhQB and PhQA, respectively. Immediately preceding each quinone is a Chl (ec3), which receives a H-bond from a nearby tyrosine. To decrease the reduction potential of each of these Chls, and thus modify the relative yield of ET within the targeted branch, this H-bond was removed by conversion of each Tyr to Phe in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Together, transient optical absorption spectroscopy performed in vivo and transient electron paramagnetic resonance data from thylakoid membranes showed that the mutations affect the relative amplitudes, but not the lifetimes, of the two kinetic components representing ET from PhQ to FX. The mutation near ec3A increases the fraction of the faster component at the expense of the slower component, with the opposite effect seen in the ec3B mutant. We interpret this result as a decrease in the relative use of the targeted branch. This finding suggests that in Photosystem I, unlike type II reaction centers, the relative efficiency of the two branches is extremely sensitive to the energetics of the embedded redox cofactors.
Seasonal and Yearly Trends in Cleft Lip and Palate in Northeast Iran, 1989–2011

&NA; Cleft lip and palate are the most common craniofacial congenital anomalies. The aim of this study was to detect the trend of seasonal and yearly fluctuations in the prevalence of cleft lip and palate birth in the northeast of Iran. Materials and Methods Data were obtained from 348 patients referred to the Cleft Lip and Palate Research Center of Mashhad Dental School during a 22-year period. Children with syndromes or patients from other areas of Iran were not included in this investigation. Recorded data included sex, type of cleft, date of birth, place of birth, and area of residence. Chi-squared test was used for comparisons. Results Without sex difference, the prevalence of all cleft types was more in winter and spring; however, there was no significant seasonal difference in birth dates of children with clefts (P = 0.777). This study showed that there was no significant difference in cleft types in both sexes(P = 0.113). Moreover, there appeared to be a reduction over time in the prevalence of all types of clefts, but there were fluctuations between years. Conclusions This article suggests the influence of genetic and environmental factors other than season on the prevalence of orofacial clefts.
Function point structure and applicability validation using the ISBSG dataset: a replicated study

Background: The complexity of providing accurate software size estimation and effort prediction models is well known in the software industry, turning it into one of the most important research issues in empirical software engineering. Function points (FPA) is currently one of the most accepted software functional size metrics in the industry, but it is hardly automatable and generally requires a lengthy and costly process. Although accurate size estimation and effort prediction are very important for the success of any project, many practitioners have experienced difficulties in applying them. Objectives: This paper reports on a replicated study carried out on a subset of the ISBSG dataset to evaluate the structure and applicability of function points. The goal of this replication was to aggregate evidence and confirm results reported about internal issues of FPA as a metric using a different set of data. First, we examined FPA counting in order to determine which base functional components (BFC) were independent of each other and thus appropriate for an additive model of size. Second, we investigated the relationship between size and effort. Methods: A subset of the ISBSG dataset was used with 14 business application projects developed in C# from 2008 to 2011. We studied BFC independence and correlation between size, effort and productivity. FPA base functional components independence was checked with the Pearson and Kendall's Tau correlation coefficient. Besides, we studied the correlation between size and effort. Results: The replication aggregated evidence and confirmed that some BFC of the FPA method are correlated. There is a relationship between BFC unadjusted function points and effort. Limitations: This is an initial experiment of a research in progress that was performed on a small subset of 14 recent projects taken from the ISBSG dataset. Conclusions: Simplifying and automating a FPA measurement process based on counting BFC could encourage the adoption of FSM methods. Further research is needed.
Variation of Molecular Cloud Properties across the Spiral Arm in M 51

We present the results of high-resolution 13 CO (J = 1–0) mapping observations with the NRO 45m telescope of the area toward the southern bright arm region of M 51, including the galactic center, in order to study the physical conditions of the molecular clouds in the arm and the interarm. The obtained map shows the central depression of the 13 CO (J = 1–0) emission, the circumnuclear ring (radius ∼ 10 �� –20 �� ), and the spiral arm structure. The arm-tointerarm ratio of the 13 CO (J = 1–0) integrated intensity is 2–4. We also have found a feature different from that found in the 12 CO results. For example, the 13 CO distribution shows a depression in part of the spiral arm. The 12 CO/ 13 CO ratio spatially varies, and shows high values (∼ 20) for the interarm and the central region, but low values (∼ 10) for the arm. Their values indicate that there is a denser gas in the spiral arm than in the interarm. The distribution of the 13 CO shows a better correspondence with that of the Hα emission than with the 12 CO in the disk region, except for the central region. We found that the 13 CO emission is located on the downstream side of the 12 CO arm, namely there is an offset between the 12 CO and the 13 CO as well as the Hα emission. This suggests that there is a time delay between the accumulation of gas caused by the density wave and dense gas formation, accordingly star formation. This time delay is estimated to be ∼ 10 7 yr based on the assumption of galactic rotation derived by the rotation curve and the pattern speed of the M 51 spiral pattern. It is similar to the growth timescale of a gravitational instability in the spiral arm of M 51, suggesting that the gravitational instability plays an important role for dense gas formation.
The Interpersonal Relationship Perspective on Virtual Community Participation

Understanding virtual community ( VC ) participation is of importance to VC organizers and VC researchers . Although VC participation has been explored from diverse perspectives, few stud ies offer a comprehensive theoretical framework to explain why people participate in VCs . This paper contributes to virtual community research by proposing and empirically validating an exploratory theoretical framework based on the interpersonal relationship perspective using two interpersonal relationship model s—the Triandis interpersonal behavior model, based on a social ps ycholog ical perspective , and the Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation (FIRO) model, based on a communicational perspective —to explain two types of VC participation : behavior to obtain information (BOI ) and behavior to give information ( BGI ). The data analysis results showed that the two interpersonal relationship model s are effective in explaining VC participation. The interpersonal relationship perspective of VC participation not only offers a comprehensive theoretical framework but also open s up a new avenue of VC research.
A Monotonic Archive for Pareto-Coevolution

Coevolution has already produced promising results, but its dynamic evaluation can lead to a variety of problems that preventmost algorithms from progressing monotonically. An important open question therefore is how progress towards a chosen solution concept can be achieved. A general solution concept for coevolution is obtained by viewing opponents or tests as objectives. In this setup known as Pareto-coevolution, the desired solution is the Pareto-optimal set. We present an archive that guarantees monotonicity for this solution concept. The algorithm is called the Incremental Pareto-Coevolution Archive (IPCA), and is based on Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization (EMOO). By virtue of its monotonicity, IPCA avoids regress even when combined with a highly explorative generator. This capacity is demonstrated on a challenging test problem requiring both exploration and reliability. IPCA maintains a highly specific selection of tests, but the size of the test archive nonetheless grows unboundedly. We therefore furthermore investigate how archive sizes may be limited while still providing approximate reliability. The LAyered Pareto-Coevolution Archive (LAPCA) maintains a limited number of layers of candidate solutions and tests, and thereby permits a trade-off between archive size and reliability. The algorithm is compared in experiments, and found to be more efficient than IPCA. The work demonstrates how the approximation of amonotonic algorithm can lead to algorithms that are sufficiently reliable in practice while offering better efficiency.
Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States

Contemporary information on the fraction of cancers that potentially could be prevented is useful for priority setting in cancer prevention and control. Herein, the authors estimate the proportion and number of invasive cancer cases and deaths, overall (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers) and for 26 cancer types, in adults aged 30 years and older in the United States in 2014, that were attributable to major, potentially modifiable exposures (cigarette smoking; secondhand smoke; excess body weight; alcohol intake; consumption of red and processed meat; low consumption of fruits/vegetables, dietary fiber, and dietary calcium; physical inactivity; ultraviolet radiation; and 6 cancer‐associated infections). The numbers of cancer cases were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute; the numbers of deaths were obtained from the CDC; risk factor prevalence estimates were obtained from nationally representative surveys; and associated relative risks of cancer were obtained from published, large‐scale pooled analyses or meta‐analyses. In the United States in 2014, an estimated 42.0% of all incident cancers (659,640 of 1570,975 cancers, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers) and 45.1% of cancer deaths (265,150 of 587,521 deaths) were attributable to evaluated risk factors. Cigarette smoking accounted for the highest proportion of cancer cases (19.0%; 298,970 cases) and deaths (28.8%; 169,180 deaths), followed by excess body weight (7.8% and 6.5%, respectively) and alcohol intake (5.6% and 4.0%, respectively). Lung cancer had the highest number of cancers (184,970 cases) and deaths (132,960 deaths) attributable to evaluated risk factors, followed by colorectal cancer (76,910 cases and 28,290 deaths). These results, however, may underestimate the overall proportion of cancers attributable to modifiable factors, because the impact of all established risk factors could not be quantified, and many likely modifiable risk factors are not yet firmly established as causal. Nevertheless, these findings underscore the vast potential for reducing cancer morbidity and mortality through broad and equitable implementation of known preventive measures. CA Cancer J Clin 2018;68:31‐54. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Management of Complicated Aortic Aneurysms Using Multiple Overlapping Uncovered Stents

AbstractThis study sought to report the mid-term outcome of a modified flow-diverting strategy in the treatment of complicated aortic aneurysms of different morphology.Historical data suggested aortic aneurysm expansion and rupture after endovascular treatment with current commercial flow-diverters, indicating the essentiality of further investigation of this technique prior to its large-scale clinical application.An alternative flow-diverting strategy using layer-by-layer assembled multiple overlapping uncovered stents was employed in this study. The treatment outcome in aneurysms of different morphology (saccular, fusiform, and dissecting) was assessed during a mid-term follow-up period.Of 42 patients enrolled in this study (30 male, mean age: 63.3 years), technical success was achieved in 40 cases. During an average follow-up period of 20.9 months, mean aneurysm diameter shrunk from 53.4 ± 13.6 mm to 48.8 ± 13.9 mm (P < 0.001), while stent-induced sac thrombosis ratio increased significantly (18.1 ± 14.9% to 93.6 ± 9.5%, P < 0.001). The majority of side branches (74/76 major visceral branches, 237/244 minor segmental arteries), covered by 3.3 stents on average, maintained their patency after stenting. Saccular aneurysms manifested the highest thrombus deposition speed (18/20 were totally thrombosed within 12 months) and most significant shrinkage (51.4 ± 13.3 mm pre-operatively vs 43.5 ± 10.2 mm during follow-up, P < 0.001) compared with fusiform and dissecting aneurysms.This modified flow-diverting strategy could be a feasible alternative in the management of complicated aortic aneurysms where vital branches need to be preserved. The treatment outcome may depend on the aneurysm type. Further studies with larger patient cohort and longer follow-up are required to substantiate these results.
Practical applications for student affairs: A phenomenological exploration of how black male undergraduate persisters describe retention and social integration at a midwestern PWI

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES x CHAPTER ONE: Introduction 1 Background 2 Persistence and Retention 5 Statement of the Problem 7 Purpose of the Study 7 Research Question 9 Student Affairs Divisions 10 Methodology and Data Gathering 11 Qualitative Research 11 Assumptions 12 Delimitations and Limitations 12 Significance of the Study 14 Public and Individual Good 14 Higher Education Institutions 16 Financial Implications 17 Student Affairs 18 Research Contribution 21 Essential Terms 22 Summary 23 CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review 25 Introduction 25 Theoretical Framework 26 Student Departure Theory 26 Academic and Social Integration 28 Separation 29 Transition 30 Incorporation 30 Cautions and Critiques 31 Response to Cautions and Critiques 33 Alternative Models and Theories 34
PLOW: A Collaborative Task Learning Agent

To be effective, an agent that collaborates with humans needs to be able to learn new tasks from humans they work with. This paper describes a system that learns executable task models from a single collaborative learning session consisting of demonstration, explanation and dialogue. To accomplish this, the system integrates a range of AI technologies: deep natural language understanding, knowledge representation and reasoning, dialogue systems, planning/agent-based systems and machine learning. A formal evaluation shows the approach has great promise.
Learning to select data for transfer learning with Bayesian Optimization

Domain similarity measures can be used to gauge adaptability and select suitable data for transfer learning, but existing approaches define ad hoc measures that are deemed suitable for respective tasks. Inspired by work on curriculum learning, we propose to learn data selection measures using Bayesian Optimization and evaluate them across models, domains and tasks. Our learned measures outperform existing domain similarity measures significantly on three tasks: sentiment analysis, part-of-speech tagging, and parsing. We show the importance of complementing similarity with diversity, and that learned measures are–to some degree–transferable across models, domains, and even tasks.