Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Minorization-Maximization Algorithm for Maximum a Posteriori Signal Estimation

We develop an iterative algorithm based on minorization-maximization optimization to determine the maximum a posteriori estimate of the signal. We focus on linear Gaussian signal model with a family of heavy-tailed prior distributions which can be represented as scale mixture of Gaussian. We then modify the proposed algorithm for wavelet domain image denoising. Experimental results show that using complex wavelet representations, the performance of the proposed algorithm is very competitive with that of the state-of-the-art algorithms
Bankruptcy Exemptions, Credit History, and the Mortgage Market

We develop and test a model of mortgage underwriting, with particular reference to the role of credit bureau scores. In our model scores are used in a standardized fashion, which reflects the prevalence of automated underwriting in industry practice. We show that our model has implications for the debate on the effect of personal bankruptcy exemptions on secured lending. Recent literature (Berkowitz and Hynes (1999), Lin and White (2001)) has developed conflicting theories—and found conflicting results—seeking to explain how exemptions affect the mortgage market. ; By contrast, our model implies that when lenders use credit scores in a standardized manner, exemptions should be irrelevant to the mortgage underwriting decision. Merging data from a major credit bureau with the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) dataset, we confirm this prediction of our model. We also show that while ignoring borrower credit quality may make exemptions appear to be significant, once one controls for credit scores then exemptions have no effect on the likelihood that a mortgage application is approved. We confirm this empirically and argue that this may help explain some of the results of the previous literature.
Equivariant cohomology theories

Throughout this note G denotes a discrete group. A G-complex is a CPP-complex on which G acts by cellular maps such that the fixed point set of any element of G is a subcomplex. On the category of pairs of G-complexes and equivariant homotopy classes of maps, an equivariant cohomology theory is a sequence of contravariant functors 3C into the category of abelian groups together with natural transformations 8: 3C(L, 0)—»3C(i£, L) such that (1) W»(KSJL, L) ~>3C(K, KC\L) induced by inclusion, (2) • • • ->3C(K, L)~^JC(i^)~»JC(L)-~>5C(^ £ ) * • • • is exact. (3) If S is a discrete G-set with orbits Sa then I l £ : 3C"(5)->Il3C(^) a a
Mixed Logit Mode Choice Model Using Panel Data: Accounting for Systematic and Random Variations in Responses and Preferences

Travel demand models are usually estimated using cross-sectional data. The increased need of understanding variability in travel behavior and the parallel advances in travel demand modeling techniques has recently brought to the re-discovery of panel data. The most recent works on panel data are based on multi-week travel diary, where a number of households recorded all their daily trips continuatively over a certain number of weeks. In this paper, we use the six weeks panel data from Mobidrive survey to estimate mode choice model that accounts for systematic and random heterogeneity over individual preferences and responses, and correlation across individual over three time periods: the single day, the single week, the days of week (all Monday in the wave, and so on), and correlation across individuals and members of the families over the six weeks. We also analyze the effect on modeling results of the day-to-day variation and the repeated behaviors over time. The results suggest that individual tastes for time and cost, and in particular the SVT point estimates, are fairly stable across the sequence-day but there is a significant systematic and random heterogeneity around these mean values and in the preferences for the different alternatives. The study found that accounting for correlation over individual improves model results, however the degree of the correlation and its effect on the significance of systematic and heterogeneity differs over the time periods considered. Moreover, the improvement in model estimates achieved by accounting for correlation across individuals is to a great extent given by persistent behaviors.
The Interplay of Qur'ānic Synonymy and Polysemy with Special Reference to Al-asfār and Al-kutub (the Books) and their English Translations

This study investigates the meanings of the near-synonyms al-asfār and alkutub (the books) and their English translations. It aims at identifying the contextual meanings of the Qur'ānic near-synonyms based on different exegeses of the Holy Qur'ān. Then, it explains the semantic differences that exist between the Qur'ānic pair and how such semantic differences are reflected in two English translations of the Holy Qur'ān. Besides, it highlights the meanings of the polysemous lexical item alkutub (the books) in different Qur'ānic contexts and how the various senses of this lexical item are transferred to English. The study adopts the RC-S approach as a theoretical framework for data analysis. It also employs the qualitative approach for collecting and analyzing the data of the study. The exegeses of the Holy Qur'ān are consulted to identify the semantic differences between the Qur'ānic near-synonyms as well as the meanings of the polysemous lexical item alkutub (the books). The findings reveal that there are some semantic differences between the selected Qur'ānic near-synonyms and that such semantic differences are not reflected in the English translations. The findings also show that the polysemous lexical item alkutub (the books) and its singular formal-kitāb (the book) are literally translated in some Qur'ānic contexts. The study provides recommendations for readers as well as translators especially the translators of the Holy Qur'ān. Keywords: contextual meaning; denotative meaning; near-synonyms; polysemy; synonymy; translation.
Effects of the combinations of amlodipine/valsartan versus losartan/hydrochlorothiazide on left ventricular hypertrophy as determined with magnetic resonance imaging in patients with hypertension

Abstract Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a marker of cardiac end-organ damage, is frequently found in patients with arterial hypertension and is associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. Therefore, LVH regression is an important treatment goal. For amlodipine plus valsartan (A/V) no specific study on LVH has been reported to date. Methods: Prospective, open-label, randomized parallel-group study. Patients with essential hypertension and LVH were randomized to 52-week treatment with A/V 10/160 mg (n = 43) or the active comparator losartan/HCT 100/25 mg (L/H, n = 47). Add-on medication was allowed in case of inadequate blood pressure control. LV parameters were measured by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and adjudicated in a blinded manner. Study identifiers were NCT00446563 and EudraCT 2006-001977-17. Results: In addition to the study treatment, 35% of patients in the A/V group and 49% in the L/H group received additional antihypertensive medication. Compared to baseline, both treatments reduced measures of LVH significantly after 52 weeks (e.g. LV mass index in the A/V group from 64.7 g/m2 by −3.5 g/m2, in the L/H group from 69.1 g/m2 by −4.4 g/m2, p < 0.01 for both). LV ejection fraction and LV volumes were not significantly changed by any regimen. A/V and L/H treatments were well tolerated. Conclusions: Both regimen were effective in reducing LV mass compared to baseline and were well tolerated.
Outcomes of living kidney donors with medullary sponge kidney

Background Patients with medullary sponge kidney (MSK) commonly encounter recurrent nephrolithiasis. The existing knowledge on safety of donors with MSK has not been studied. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary referral hospital to assess the outcomes of living kidney donors with MSK. All adults with MSK (N = 26) who underwent nephrectomy as living kidney donors between January 2000 and September 2014 were included. Non-donors with MSK (N = 78) were randomly selected by matching the year of birth and the comorbidity score with a ratio of 1:3 for comparison. Results The incident rates of symptomatic stone were 0.7, 0.4 and 4.9 events/100 patient-years in donors, recipients and non-donors, respectively. After adjusting for history of kidney stones and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the kidney stone-related event was significantly lower in donors than in non-donors (hazard ratio 0.14; 95% confidence interval 0.01–0.66). One recipient of MSK living donor had symptomatic stone at median follow-up time of 8.4 years (interquartile range 5.6–12.4 years). None of MSK donors had hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia or hyperoxaluria prior to kidney donation. At 5 years after the index surgery date, there was no significant difference in eGFR between donors and non-donors (76.1 versus 70.9 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.12). Conclusions These findings are reassuring for the safety of MSK kidney donors with normal kidney function, low kidney stone risk and no significant comorbidity.
A Short Introduction to Laughter ∗

The human speech production system is composed of the lungs, trachea, larynx, nasal cavity and oral cavity as shown in Fig. 1. Speech is simply a sound wave originating from the lungs. Air coming out of the lungs first passes through the trachea and then through the vocal tract. The shape of the vocal tract determines the speech sound produced. The position of the lips, tongue, velum, teeth and jaw (the articulators) define the shape of the vocal tract and therefore can influence the produced sound [65]. The nasal tract is usually closed but it can open when the velum is lowered. A key component in the production of speech is the vocal cords, which are located at the top of the trachea, and define if a sound is voiced or unvoiced. If the vocal cords vibrate when air flows through the trachea then the produced sound is voiced and the rate of the vibration determines the fundamental frequency of the sound. In case they do not vibrate then the produced sound is unvoiced since an aperiodic noise-like sound is produced. Laughter is produced by the same mechanism as speech but there is an important difference between them, speech is articulated but laughter is not. Bachorowski et al. [8] has shown that laughter mainly consists of central sounds and it is not articulated. This agrees with the suggestion by Ruch and Ekman [70] that articulation requires voluntary control over the vocal system which is not present during spontaneous laughter.
Stabilization of singular fractional-order systems: A linear matrix inequality approach

In this study, the problems of stability and stabilization for singular fractional-order (SFO) systems have been studied. For the stability problem, conditions are given such that the SFO system is regular and stable; while for the stabilization problem, we design a state feedback control law which guarantees the resulting closed-loop system is stable. In terms of linear matrix inequality, an explicit expression for the desired state feedback control is given. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Constructive Journalism in Arab Transitional Democracies: Perceptions, Attitudes and Performance

ABSTRACT In the Arab region, unexpected political changes have influenced the media scene; political and commercial pressures exercised over media entities have affected their credibility and created a crisis of trust. This study focuses on Egypt and Tunisia as the first two Arab countries who experienced political uprisings in 2010/2011, and endured 30-year presidencies. It examines the role that constructive journalism can have during transitional periods given the critical role of media in transitional countries, highlights the possible challenges within the given political, economic context and changes in the media landscapes, and proposes a model of implementation. A total of 21 Egyptian and Tunisian journalists were interviewed for this study. Among the main identified roles of constructive journalism during transitional periods are: regaining audience trust and engagement, fighting terrorism, serving the public interest and reviving the economy of the mainstream media. Interviewees pointed to political power structures, private ownership and the possible negative connotations of the term constructive as the main challenges. An integrated strategy between the mainstream media and social media platforms based on the concept of “constructive-interactive” was proposed by the interviewees as the optimum model to pave the way for a reconciliation between media entities and their audiences.
A genetic link between epigenetic repressor AS1-AS2 and a putative small subunit processome in leaf polarity establishment of Arabidopsis

ABSTRACT Although the DEAD-box RNA helicase family is ubiquitous in eukaryotes, its developmental role remains unelucidated. Here, we report that cooperative action between the Arabidopsis nucleolar protein RH10, an ortholog of human DEAD-box RNA helicase DDX47, and the epigenetic repressor complex of ASYMMETRIC-LEAVES1 (AS1) and AS2 (AS1-AS2) is critical to repress abaxial (ventral) genes ETT/ARF3 and ARF4, which leads to adaxial (dorsal) development in leaf primordia at shoot apices. Double mutations of rh10-1 and as2 (or as1) synergistically up-regulated the abaxial genes, which generated abaxialized filamentous leaves with loss of the adaxial domain. DDX47 is part of the small subunit processome (SSUP) that mediates rRNA biogenesis. In rh10-1 we found various defects in SSUP-related events, such as: accumulation of 35S/33S rRNA precursors; reduction in the 18S/25S ratio; and nucleolar hypertrophy. Double mutants of as2 with mutations of genes that encode other candidate SSUP-related components such as nucleolin and putative rRNA methyltransferase exhibited similar synergistic defects caused by up-regulation of ETT/ARF3 and ARF4. These results suggest a tight link between putative SSUP and AS1-AS2 in repression of the abaxial-determining genes for cell fate decisions for adaxial development. Summary: This paper reports the importance of cooperative action between the nucleus-localized epigenetic repressor and the nucleolus-localized proteins involved in ribosomal RNA processing for polarity establishment of Arabidopsis leaves.
Induced Matchings in Graphs of Degree at Most 4

For a graph $G$, let $\nu_s(G)$ be the strong matching number of $G$. We prove the sharp bound $\nu_s(G)\geq \frac{n(G)}{9}$ for every graph $G$ of maximum degree at most 4 and without isolated vertices that does not contain a certain blown-up 5-cycle as a component. This result implies a strengthening of a consequence, namely, $\nu_s(G)\geq \frac{m(G)}{18}$ for such graphs and $\nu_s(G)\geq \frac{m(G)}{20}$ for a graph of maximum degree 4, of the well-known conjecture of Erdos and Nesetřil, which says that the strong chromatic index $\chi_s'(G)$ of a graph $G$ is at most $\frac{5}{4}\Delta(G)^2$, since $\nu_s(G)\geq \frac{m(G)}{\chi_s'(G)}$ and $n(G)\geq \frac{2m(G)}{\Delta(G)}$. This bound is tight and the proof implies a polynomial time algorithm to find an induced matching of this size.
Direct visualization of the microtubule lattice seam both in vitro and in vivo

Microtubules are constructed from alpha- and beta-tubulin heterodimers that are arranged into protofilaments. Most commonly there are 13 or 14 protofilaments. A series of structural investigations using both electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction have indicated that there are two potential lattices (A and B) in which the tubulin subunits can be arranged. Electron microscopy has shown that kinesin heads, which bind only to beta-tubulin, follow a helical path with a 12-nm pitch in which subunits repeat every 8-nm axially, implying a primarily B-type lattice. However, these helical symmetry parameters are not consistent with a closed lattice and imply that there must be a discontinuity or "seam" along the microtubule. We have used quick-freeze deep-etch electron microscopy to obtain the first direct evidence for the presence of this seam in microtubules formed either in vivo or in vitro. In addition to a conventional single seam, we have also rarely found microtubules in which there is more than one seam. Overall our data indicates that microtubules have a predominantly B lattice, but that A lattice bonds between tubulin subunits are found at the seam. The cytoplasmic microtubules in mouse nerve cells also have predominantly B lattice structure and A lattice bonds at the seam. These observations have important implications for the interaction of microtubules with MAPs and with motor proteins, and for example, suggest that kinesin motors may follow a single protofilament track.
SPECTRAL EVOLUTION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY TYPE IIn SUPERNOVA 2006gy

We present a detailed analysis of the extremely luminous and long-lasting Type IIn supernova (SN) 2006gy using spectra obtained between days 36 and 237 after explosion. We derive the temporal evolution of the effective temperature, radius, blast-wave and SN-ejecta expansion speeds, and bolometric luminosity, as well as the progenitor wind density and total swept-up mass overtaken by the shock. SN 2006gy can be interpreted in the context of shock interaction with a dense circumstellar medium (CSM), but with quite extreme values for the CSM mass of ∼20 M☉ and SN explosion kinetic energy of at least 5 × 1051 erg. A key difference between SN 2006gy and other SNe IIn is that, owing to its large amount of swept-up mass, the interaction region remained opaque much longer. At early times, Hα emission-line widths suggest that the photosphere is ahead of the shock, and photons diffuse out through the opaque CSM shell. The pivotal transition to optically thin emission occurs around day 110, when we start to see a decrease in the blackbody radius RBB and strengthening tracers of the post-shock shell. From the evolution of pre-shock velocities, we deduce that the CSM was ejected by the progenitor star in a ≳1049 erg precursor event ∼8 yr before the explosion. The large CSM mass definitively rules out models involving stars with initial masses of ≲10 M☉. If the pre-SN mass budget also includes the likely SN ejecta mass of 10–20 M☉ and the distant >10 M☉ shell inferred from a light echo, then even massive MZAMS = 30–40 M☉ progenitor stars are inadequate. At roughly solar metallicity, substantial mass loss probably occurred during the star's life, so SN 2006gy's progenitor is more consistent with sequential giant luminous blue variable eruptions or pulsational pair-instability ejections in extremely massive stars with initial masses above 100 M☉. This requires significant revision to current paradigms of massive-star evolution.
The targeting mechanism of DHA ligand and its conjugate with Gemcitabine for the enhanced tumor therapy

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 C22 natural fatty acid serving as a precursor for metabolic and biochemical pathways, was reported as a targeting ligand of anticancer drugs. However, its tumor targeting ability and mechanism has not been claimed. Here we hypothesized that the uptake of DHA by tumor cells is related to the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) contents in cell membranes. Thus, in this manuscript, the tumor-targeting ability of DHA was initially demonstrated in vitro and in vivo on different tumor cell lines by labeling DHA with fluorescence dyes. Subsequently, the tumor targeting ability was then correlated with the contents of PE in cell membranes to study the uptake mechanism. Further, DHA was conjugated with anticancer drug gemcitabine (DHA-GEM) for targeted tumor therapy. Our results demonstrated that DHA exhibited high tumor targeting ability and PE is the main mediator, which confirmed our hypothesis. The DHA-GEM displayed enhanced therapeutic efficacy than that of GEM itself, indicating that DHA is a promising ligand for tumor targeted therapy.
Charter-School Management Organizations: Diverse Strategies and Diverse Student Impacts. Updated Edition.

http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/quickreview.aspx? sid=197[3/7/2012 2:22:32 PM] What is the study about? The study examined the effect of non-profit charter-school management organizations (CMOs) on middle school academic achievement and rates of high school graduation and post-secondary enrollment. Within eight geographically diverse states, the authors matched each charter school student with similar students attending conventional public schools. The sample included nearly 14,000 students attending 68 middle schools operated by 22 CMOs and nearly 3,000 students who attended 13 high schools operated by six CMOs.
Detecting Spam and Promoting Campaigns in Twitter

Twitter has become a target platform for both promoters and spammers to disseminate their messages, which are more harmful than traditional spamming methods, such as email spamming. Recently, large amounts of campaigns that contain lots of spam or promotion accounts have emerged in Twitter. The campaigns cooperatively post unwanted information, and thus they can infect more normal users than individual spam or promotion accounts. Organizing or participating in campaigns has become the main technique to spread spam or promotion information in Twitter. Since traditional solutions focus on checking individual accounts or messages, efficient techniques for detecting spam and promotion campaigns in Twitter are urgently needed. In this article, we propose a framework to detect both spam and promotion campaigns. Our framework consists of three steps: the first step links accounts who post URLs for similar purposes; the second step extracts candidate campaigns that may be for spam or promotion purposes; and the third step classifies the candidate campaigns into normal, spam, and promotion groups. The key point of the framework is how to measure the similarity between accounts' purposes of posting URLs. We present two measure methods based on Shannon information theory: the first one uses the URLs posted by the users, and the second one considers both URLs and timestamps. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed methods can extract the majority of the candidate campaigns correctly, and detect promotion and spam campaigns with high precision and recall.
Pathophysiology of nonparkinsonian tremors

Patients with nonparkinsonian tremors are the second largest group treated with functional neurosurgery. We summarize the present pathophysiological knowledge of these conditions. Essential tremor (ET) may be due to oscillations within the olivocerebellar circuit. There is experimental evidence from animal models for such a mechanism, and clinical data indicate an abnormal function of the cerebellum in ET. Cerebellar tremor may be closely related to the tremor seen in advanced ET. The malfunction of the cerebellum causes a pathological feed‐forward control. Additionally an oscillator within the cerebellum or its input/output pathways may cause cerebellar tremor. Almost nothing is known about the pathophysiology of dystonic tremor. Holmes tremor is based on a nigral and a cerebellar malfunction and presents clinically as the combination of tremor in Parkinson's disease and cerebellar tremor. Neuropathic tremor can be extremely disabling and is thought to be due to an abnormal interaction of the disturbances within the periphery and abnormal cerebellar feedback. Unlike the case of Parkinson's disease, functional neurosurgery of nonparkinsonian tremors is not yet based on a solid pathophysiological background. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society