Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Convergence Analysis of Evolutionary Algorithms That Are Based on the Paradigm of Information Geometry

The convergence behaviors of so-called natural evolution strategies (NES) and of the information-geometric optimization (IGO) approach are considered. After a review of the NES/IGO ideas, which are based on information geometry, the implications of this philosophy w.r. t. optimization dynamics are investigated considering the optimization performance on the class of positive quadratic objective functions (the ellipsoid model). Exact differential equations describing the approach to the optimizer are derived and solved. It is rigorously shown that the original NES philosophy optimizing the expected value of the objective functions leads to very slow (i.e., sublinear) convergence toward the optimizer. This is the real reason why state of the art implementations of IGO algorithms optimize the expected value of transformed objective functions, for example, by utility functions based on ranking. It is shown that these utility functions are localized fitness functions that change during the IGO flow. The governing differential equations describing this flow are derived. In the case of convergence, the solutions to these equations exhibit an exponentially fast approach to the optimizer (i.e., linear convergence order). Furthermore, it is proven that the IGO philosophy leads to an adaptation of the covariance matrix that equals in the asymptotic limit—up to a scalar factor—the inverse of the Hessian of the objective function considered.
Adaptation to dislodgement risk on wave-swept rocky shores in the snail Littorina saxatilis

The periwinkle Littorina saxatilis has repeatedly evolved both a small, fragile and globose "wave ecotype" confined to wave-swept shores and a large, robust and elongated "crab ecotype" found in nearby crab-rich but less-exposed shores. This phenotypic divergence is assumed to reflect, in some part, local adaptation to wave exposure, but this hypothesis has received incomplete experimental testing. Here, we report a test of the prediction that the wave ecotype has a higher capacity to resist water flow than the crab ecotype. We sampled snails along a crab-wave transect and measured their resistance to dislodgement in a high-speed water flume with water speeds that match those of breaking waves in a range of relevant field conditions. Snails from the wave environment were consistently more resistant to water flow than snails from the crab environment and high resistance was positively correlated with the surface area of the foot and the area of the outer aperture contour both relative to shell size, and to the extent of lateral shell compression. In a separate experiment, we found that snails raised in still water in a common garden showed higher resistance to water flow if originating from a wave environment than from a crab environment, and this was true both at juvenile (2 weeks) and adult (10 months) developmental stages. This result suggests genetic control of a distinct “wave adapted” phenotype, likely to be maintained under strong divergent selection between the two adjacent habitats.
From signal perception to signal transduction: ligand‐induced dimeric switch of DctB sensory domain in solution

Sinorhizobium meliloti DctB is a typical transmembrane sensory histidine kinase, which senses C4‐dicarboxylic acids (DCA) and regulates the expression of DctA, the DCA transporter. We previously reported the crystal structures of its periplasmic sensory domain (DctBp) in apo and succinate‐bound states, and these structures showed dramatic conformational changes at dimeric level. Here we show a ligand‐induced dimeric switch in solution and a strong correlation between DctBp's dimerization states and the in vivo activities of DctB. Using site‐directed mutagenesis, we identify important determinants for signal perception and transduction. Specifically, we show that the ligand‐binding pocket is essential for DCA‐induced ‘on’ activity of DctB. Mutations at different sections of DctBp's dimerization interface can lock full‐length DctB at either ‘on’ or ‘off’ state, independent of ligand binding. Taken together, these results suggest that DctBp's signal perception and transduction occur through a ‘ligand‐induced dimeric switch’, in which the changes in the dimeric conformations upon ligand binding are responsible for the signal transduction in DctB.
Angiotensin II protects fibroblast-like synoviocytes from apoptosis via the AT1-NF-kappaB pathway.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment on apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS AT1 receptor expression was detected by western blotting and flow cytometry. Apoptosis induction was quantified by nucleosome ELISA and by TUNEL; cell proliferation was determined by a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay. Silencing of p65 NF-kappaB was obtained by using a specific siRNA. Caspase 3 activation was evaluated by a colorimetric assay and its cleavage by western blotting. RESULTS AT1 expression resulted comparable in FLS from OA and RA patients. Ang II pre-treatment reduced FLS apoptotic response to serum starvation and nitric oxide (NO) exposure. This protective effect was reverted in the presence of the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan as well as after silencing the expression of NF-kappaB. Moreover, FLS treatment with the caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk cancelled this Ang II effect on apoptosis. Caspase 3 activation was reduced in presence of Ang II. CONCLUSIONS Ang II could represent an important mediator involved in FLS expansion, reducing their capacity to undergo apoptosis, through the activation of NF-kappaB and the blockage of caspase cascade.
Type-D personality, psychosomatic symptoms and voice handicap in female voice patients: A perspective on vocal communication

Abstract Objectives: The association between vocal communication and personality was studied in 82 female voice patients with a mean age of the 39.3 years (range 18–65 years). Study design: The relation between type-D personality (Type-D Scale-16), psychosomatic symptoms (Symptom Check List–90) and the biopsychosocial impact of the voice problem (Voice Handicap Index) was assessed. Results: The findings indicate that type-D voice patients are relatively more handicapped by their voice problem, predominantly in the emotional domain, and have a relatively higher level of psychosomatic symptoms compared to non-type-D patients. Conclusions: Apparently, the well-being of females with a voice problem is more at risk in type-D than in non-type-D personalities. These results lead to the suspicion that voice patients with a type-D personality are especially at risk because they are prone to be involved in a circular negatively reinforcing process. This process influences the vocal problem in such a way that a detrimental course of vocal communication possibly occurs.
Modulation of allergen-induced bronchoconstriction by fluticasone furoate and vilanterol alone or in combination

This placebo‐controlled study assessed the effects of the once‐daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) fluticasone furoate (FF) and long‐acting beta2‐agonist (LABA) vilanterol (VI) on early and late asthmatic responses (EAR/LAR) and airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR).
Polyaniline-Doped Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brush Nanocomposites with Enhanced Electrical Conductivity, Thermal Stability, and Solubility Property

The synthesis procedure and dopant are crucial to the electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and solubility properties of polyaniline (PANI). In this paper, high-performance PANI was synthesized by means of chemical oxidative polymerization using anionic spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (ASPB) as dopant. The bonding structure, crystallographic structure, morphology, and thermal stability of the conductive nanocomposite were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. Meanwhile, investigation on the electrical conductivity suggested that the room-temperature electrical conductivity of PANI doped with ASPB (PANI/ASPB) was 19.3 S/cm, which was higher than that of PANI (7.0 S/cm), PANI doped with poly(sodium-p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) (PANI/PSS) (14.6 S/cm), PANI doped with SiO2 (PANI/SiO2) (18.2 S/cm), and PANI doped with canonic spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (CSPB) (PANI/CSPB) (8.0 S/cm). Meanwhile, the addition of ASPB improved the thermal stability and solubility properties of PANI. ASPB played the role of template. Conductive mechanism of PANI/ASPB nanocomposite can be explained by the theoretical models of three-dimensional variable range-hopping (3D VRH).
Relational Aggression in Peer and Dating Relationships: Links to Psychological and Behavioral Adjustment

We examined the contribution of relational aggression in adolescents’ peer and dating relationships to their psychological and behavioral adjustment. In the Fall and again four months later, 1279 (646 female) grade 9 students reported on relational aggression perpetration and victimization in their romantic and peer relationships, depression/anxiety symptoms (psychological adjustment) and delinquency (behavioral adjustment). Using hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for Time 1 adjustment/behavior, peer relational aggression perpetration predicted depression/anxiety. Dating relational victimization also predicted depression/anxiety, but only for girls. Furthermore, girls who were perpetrators of relational aggression in both peer and dating contexts were most likely to show increases in delinquent behavior. We conclude that dating and peer relationships are not redundant, but make independent and additive contributions to adolescent adjustment. Girls, in particular, may be at greatest risk for poor outcomes when they have relationally aggressive relationships. Results also highlight the need for greater awareness of the complexity and significance of adolescent dating relationships.
Negotiating Boundaries of Refugee Resettlement: A Study of Settlement Patterns and Social Support*

Cet article analyse des aspects du processus bureaucratique dans la negociation du lieu d'etablissement et du soutien social par et pour les refugies reetablis au Canada. Les questions theoriques soulevees comprennent la capacite d'adaptation des refugies et les effets des structures du pouvoir sur des reseaux de migrants. ***Il decrit une etude qualitative des raisons sous-jacentes a la migration secondaire vers l'Ontario des refugies subventionnes par le gouvernement. L'etude demontre que les refugies recherchent du soutien social lorsqu'ils demenagent de leur lieu d'etablissement initial pour rejoindre leur famille elargie et analyse comment la bureaucratie de reetablissement, poussee par des interets politiques aussi bien qu'humanitaires, essaie de controler le processus en contradiction avec les preferences des refugies. L'on passe en revue la negociation de l'etablissement et les definitions des soutiens sociaux pertinents par les bureaucrates et les refugies. En conclusion, l'on suggere d'apporter une plus grande attention a l'autodetermination des refugies pour ameliorer l'etablissement au Canada. This article analyses aspects of the bureaucratie process of negotiating placement and social support by and for resettled refugees in Canada. Theoretical issues addressed include refugee resilience and effects of power structures on migrant networks. The article describes a qualitative study of underlying reasons for government-assisted refugee secondary migration to Ontario. The study demonstrates that refugees seek social support by moving from initial settlement sites to join extended family and analyses how the resettlement bureaucracy, driven by political as well as humanitarian interests, attempts to control the process, in contradiction to refugees' preferences. The negotiation of placement and definitions of relevant social supports by bureaucrats and refugees are discussed. In conclusion, greater attention to refugee self-determination is suggested to improve settlement outcomes.
Management of acute diarrhoea with low osmolarity oral rehydration solutions and Lactobacillusstrain GG

Two hypotonic oral rehydration solutions with osmolarities of 224 mosmol/l (Na+ 60 mmol/l, glucose 84 mmol/l) and 204 mosmol/l (Na+ 60 mmol/l, glucose 64 mmol/l), respectively, and oral treatment withLactobacillus GG were evaluated in a double blind trial in children aged 6–36 months hospitalised for acute diarrhoea. Early administration ofLactobacillus GG at the start of oral rehydration resulted in the shortest duration of diarrhoea, best weight gain, and fastest correction of acidosis. A reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution (224 mosmol/l) combined with early administration of Lactobacillus GG is an effective treatment for acute diarrhoea in young children; further reduction of osmolarity may not be beneficial.
REVIEW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND DEPRESSION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA Y DEPRESIÓN: REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA

This review examines original pieces of research which have investigated overall associations between physical activity (PA) and depression or symptoms of depression in. A search in the most important electronic databases was performed. A total of 12 articles were included, 10 of them were observational studies and 2 of them were intervention studies. Results show an inverse relationship between physical activity and symptoms of depression or the ability to mitigate those symptoms in depressed people. Most studies examine the frequency and regularity in PA.
The Relation of Early Adolescents’ College Plans and Both Academic Ability and Task-Value Beliefs to Subsequent College Enrollment

Although it is likely that plans to attend a 4-year college are made much earlier than the last 2 years of high school, few researchers have assessed the pre–high school factors that influence high school performance and course-enrollment decisions, which, in turn, affect college attendance. The data presented in this article were collected as part of the longitudinal Michigan Study of Adolescent Life Transitions. In this article, we used data from 681 adolescents in sixth grade and from their mothers to predict college attendance 2 years after high school graduation. Hierarchical logistic regression revealed the following as significant predictors of full-time college attendance: youth’s grade point averages, their plans for college, their resiliency, family income, mother’s education level, and mother’s educational valuing.
The Hybrid Nested/Hierarchical Dirichlet Process and its Application to Topic Modeling with Word Differentiation

The hierarchical Dirichlet process (HDP) is a powerful nonparametric Bayesian approach to modeling groups of data which allows the mixture components in each group to be shared. However, in many cases the groups themselves are also in latent groups (categories) which may impact the modeling a lot. In order to utilize the unknown category information of grouped data, we present the hybrid nested/ hierarchical Dirichlet process (hNHDP), a prior that blends the desirable aspects of both the HDP and the nested Dirichlet Process (NDP). Specifically, we introduce a clustering structure for the groups. The prior distribution for each cluster is a realization of a Dirichlet process. Moreover, the set of cluster-specific distributions can share part of atoms between groups, and the shared atoms and specific atoms are generated separately. We apply the hNHDP to document modeling and bring in a mechanism to identify discriminative words and topics. We derive an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo scheme for posterior inference and present experiments on document modeling.
A comparative study on the health and well- being of adolescent immigrants in Spain and Portugal Saúde e bem-estar nos adolescentes imigrantes em Espanha e Portugal: um estudo comparativo

The terms on which the integration of new generations of immigrants into Portuguese and Spanish societies happens will have a decisive influence in the future of both countries. Therefore, promoting their health, well-being, and psychosocial adaptation is a matter of strategic interest. This paper analyses psychosocial factors associated with well-being and psychological adjustment on a sample of 108 adolescents (55 males and 53 females), children of immigrants from Huelva (Spain) and Algarve (Portugal), aged between 10 and 17 years. Adolescents were assessed for demographic characteristics and perceived well-being. We used the “KIDSCREEN-5”, a self-report questionnaire that yields detailed profile information for children aged 8 to 18 years for the following ten dimensions: Physical well-being, Psychological well-being, Moods and emotions, Self-perception, Autonomy, Parental relationships and home life, Financial resources, Social support and peers, School environment, and Social acceptance (Bullying). Overall, significant differences were found between the Spanish and Portuguese samples on physical well-being, psychological well-being, mood, financial resources and social acceptance (bullying). Boys perceived themselves as having a better physical well-being than girls. Mothers’ educational level was associated with psychological well-being and mood. Also, results suggested that residence location and other socio-demographical variables were not associated with the adolescents’ well-being and psychological adjustment.
An examination of try scoring in rugby union: a review of international rugby statistics.

The purpose of this study was to review some of the key statistics collected by the International Rugby Board (IRB) in their review of the game (2003) and to compare these findings in relation to previous statistical analysis studies. Primary objectives of Rugby Union where identified using the IRB statement of intent. Statistics collected by the IRB for these objectives were then compared to parallel research in other sports regarding recommendations for effective play. The IRB statistics for Rugby Union would appear to replicate previously discovered characteristics of football (Reep and Benjamin, 1968), and would seem to favour a ‘long ball’ style of play in order to maximise scoring success. This paper highlights the IRB findings and illustrates the possible benefits of comparison and cross referencing with previous research in other sports.
Role of integrins in regulation of collagen phagocytosis by human fibroblasts

Phagocytosis of collagen fibrils by fibroblasts is an important pathway for degradation of extracellular matrix in mature connective tissues. To study regulatory mechanisms in phagocytosis, 2‐μm fluorescent beads coated with either collagen (COL) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) were incubated with human gingival fibroblasts in vitro. For these studies single cell suspensions were prepared by trypsinization, and bead internalization and collagen receptor expression were assessed by flow cytometry. After 3‐h incubations, up to 8‐fold more cells internalized COL beads than BSA‐coated beads. Increased collagen coating concentration was associated with elevated proportions of cells that internalized COL beads, and was observed also in the presence of competing fibronectin‐coated beads. The number of beads per cell and the percent of phagocytic cells increased proportionally with higher bead loadings. At > 4 beads per cell a maximum of ∼︁80% of cells were phagocytic. Cells reacted with mAbs against the α1, α2, and α3 integrin subunits were, respectively, 5%, 98% and 93% positively stained above background controls. All cells that internalized COL beads exhibited α2 staining but there were large proportions of phagocytic cells that were not stained for α1. In unfixed cells, bead internalization caused an immediate reduction of surface staining of membrane‐bound α2 by ∼︁55% which returned to control levels within 3 h, indicating that cell‐surface α2 was internalized by phagocytosis. Preincubation of cells with up to 8 COL beads per cell reduced the proportion of phagocytic cells and the number of internalized beads after a second COL bead incubation 4 h later. To assess the relationship between the percent of phagocytic cells and α2 integrin levels, serum starvation and cycloheximide experiments were conducted. Compared to controls, serum starvation for 24 h induced a 3.2‐fold increase of cells internalizing COL beads but did not alter α2 staining levels. In contrast, 3 h cycloheximide treatment reduced α2 staining to 60% of control levels and this treatment also inhibited COL bead internalization. GRGDTP peptide as well as mAbs against the α1 and α2 subunits significantly reduced internalization of COL beads by 1.8 to 2.6‐fold, whereas GRGESP peptide and α3 mAb exerted no effect. Internalization of BSA beads was not affected by any of these treatments. Collectively, these data indicate that the α2 integrin, along with other, as yet unidentified components, is likely involved in COL bead internalization. The α2 integrin subunit is rapidly recycled or synthesized following a phagocytic load. In contrast, the α1 integrin is not directly required for phagocytosis but may regulate the internalization step. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inference meta models: A new perspective on belief propagation with bayesian networks

We investigate properties of Bayesian networks (BNs) in the context of robust state estimation. We focus on problems where state estimation can be viewed as a classification of the possible states, which in turn is based on the fusion of heterogeneous and noisy information. We introduce a coarse perspective of the inference processes and show that classification with BNs can be very robust, even if we use models and evidence associated with significant uncertainties. By making coarse and realistic assumptions we can (i) formulate asymptotic properties of the classification performance, (ii) identify situations in which Bayesian fusion supports robust inference and (iii) introduce techniques that support detection of potentially misleading inference results at runtime. The presented coarse grained analysis from the runtime perspective is relevant for an important class of real world fusion problems where it is difficult to obtain domain models that precisely describe the true probability distributions over different states.
Depth profile high-energy spectroscopic study of Mn-doped GaN prepared by thermal diffusion

We have performed an in situ depth profile study of Mn-doped GaN prepared by a low temperature thermal diffusion method using photoemission and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. It was revealed from the core-level photoemission measurements that Mn ions are diffused into a deep (∼70 A) region of the GaN substrates and that the line shapes of Mn 3d partial density of states obtained by resonant photoemission measurements were close to that of Ga1−xMnxN thin films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. From x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements at the Mn L edge, it was revealed that the doped Mn ions were in the divalent Mn2+ state and primarily paramagnetic. In magnetization measurements, weak hysteresis was detected in samples prepared using p-type GaN substrates while samples using n-type GaN substrates showed only paramagnetism.