Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TAPAS: Two-pass Approximate Adaptive Sampling for Softmax

TAPAS is a novel adaptive sampling method for the softmax model. It uses a two pass sampling strategy where the examples used to approximate the gradient of the partition function are first sampled according to a squashed population distribution and then resampled adaptively using the context and current model. We describe an efficient distributed implementation of TAPAS. We show, on both synthetic data and a large real dataset, that TAPAS has low computational overhead and works well for minimizing the rank loss for multi-class classification problems with a very large label space.
[Necessity analysis of bone scan in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE To construct a classification and regression tree (CART) to predict the occurrences of bone metastases in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer so as to reduce unnecessary bone scans. METHODS CART analyses were performed in 501 subjects from 2005 to 2011 of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center to establish Fudan CART model and externally validate Briganti's CART model. The both models were compared with regards to the area under the curve (AUC) and their clinical values. RESULTS The rate of bone metastasis was 27.5% (138/501). The predictive accuracy of Fudan CART model, Briganti's CART model and skeleton-related events (SRE) model was 0.813, 0.691 and 0.645 respectively. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Fudan CART model had a lower missed diagnosis and an over-examination rate of bone scan within the probability threshold (Pt) range of 24.2% to 36.8%. CONCLUSION With a higher predictive value, Fudan CART model may be employed to reduce the unnecessary bone scans for Chinese patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.
Epigenetics and Allostasis

The purpose of this review article is to show how sociological theories of criminal behavior can be illuminated by drawing on insights from epigenetics and the concept of allostasis. The burgeoning field of epigenetics has the promise of burying whatever lingering fears about “genetic determinism” some criminologists may still have. Epigenetics concerns itself with environmental conditions that regulate the transcript and expression of genes and is a discipline that can be of enormous use to criminology because it emphasizes the plasticity of the human genome. We know that the brain is amazingly plastic and a major target for epigenetic modification. All stimuli must be funneled to the brain before a behavioral response is initiated. Because the brain and the systems of stress response—the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system (ANS)—are designed for plasticity, they are highly vulnerable to epigenetic and allostatic changes when exposed to environmental experiences that are evolutionarily novel. The downregulation of systems of behavioral control (dopamine/serotonin ratios and hyporeactive HPA axis and ANS) has frequently and strongly shown to be related to criminal behavior. This article outlines how these changes occur, and why they occur most frequently in deprived environments. We believe that an understanding of how criminogenic environments “get into” the person molecularly can plug gaps in poverty- and control-based theories of criminal behavior. We present this article in the spirit of biosocial criminology which avers that the more we come to understand and appreciate the biology of behavior, the more we realize the importance of the environment.
Tailoring magnetic anisotropy at the ferromagnetic/ferroelectric interface

It is predicted that magnetic anisotropy of a thin magnetic film may be affected by the polarization of a ferroelectric material. Using a Fe∕BaTiO3 bilayer as a representative model and performing first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that a reversal of the electric polarization of BaTiO3 produces a sizable change in magnetic anisotropy energy of Fe films. Tailoring the magnetic anisotropy of a nanomagnet by an adjacent ferroelectric material may yield entirely new device concepts, such as electric-field controlled magnetic data storage.
HOW COLLECTIVISM AND FAMILY CONTROL INFLUENCE DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN ASIAN AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS

The impact of individualism and collectivism on depression in Asian heritage students was investigated. Results replicated the existing finding of greater report of high parental control and depressive symptoms among AsianAmerican students compared to EuropeanAmerican. Depressive symptoms were linked to failures of personal achievement in both groups, but family control and vertical collectivism (VC) were associated with depressive symptoms only for AsianAmericans. VC values were endorsed by AsianAmericans twice as frequently as they were by EuropeanAmericans. VC emphasizes duty and subordinating of one's own goals to those of authority figures; therefore, it may be a risk factor for depression for AsianAmericans, as they often must integrate family expectations of goal subordination while living in a society which values individual expression. Assessments of students' own views about what experiences can cause depression revealed both groups cited failures of personal achievement as likely causes of depression, while only AsianAmericans cited family control as likely to cause depression
Fatigue Effects on Muscle Excitability

Repeated isometric or shortening contractions of skeletal muscle cause muscle fatigue but several prior studies have reported an apparent absence of muscle fatigue when humans performed up to 70 lengthening contractions. We pursued the hypothesis that perhaps muscle excitability is a factor that aids force preservation with repeated eccentric actions. Soleus compound muscle action potential (M-wave) latency, peak-to-peak amplitude (PPA), duration, and area under the curve were examined in 12 subjects (mean age 24.3 y) over 4 testing days that included: no exercise, isometric exercise (neutral ankle angle), isokinetic (0.5 rad.s-1) concentric and eccentric exercise of the plantar flexors in the seated position on a Biodex dynamometer. Supramaximal shocks were delivered to the tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa at baseline (3 shocks, 1 min apart), during exercise (1 shock-after each of 5 bouts/10 contractions), and during 10-min recovery. From initial to final contractions, concentric, isometric, and eccentric fatigue was -32, -41 and + 2% (Condition by Trial Interaction, F2,22 = 25.1, p = 0.000). No changes occurred in latency or duration (p > 0.05), but PPA (Condition by Time interaction, F51,561 = 3.7, p = 0.000) increased during isometric and eccentric exercise and remained elevated during recovery. Area increased (F51,561 = 3.1, p = 0.000) significantly during all three exercise conditions and approximated baseline by minute 8 of recovery. It was concluded that although the potentiation of the action potential of individual muscle fibers seems to be the common mechanism underlying the increase in muscle excitability during plantar flexion exercise, it is possible that different factors could cause such a non-specific response.
The Effect of Soil Moisture Perturbations on Indian Monsoon Depressions in a Numerical Weather Prediction Model

AbstractIndian monsoon depressions (MDs) are synoptic-scale cyclonic systems that propagate across peninsular India three or four times per monsoon season. They are responsible for the majority of rainfall in agrarian north India, thus constraining precipitation estimates is of high importance. Here, we use a case study from August 2014 to explore the relationship between varying soil moisture and the resulting track and structure of an incident MD using the Met Office Unified Model. We use this case study with the view to increasing understanding of the general impact of soil moisture perturbations on monsoon depressions. It is found that increasing soil moisture in the monsoon trough region results in deeper inland penetration and a more developed structure – e.g. a warmer core in the mid-troposphere and a stronger bimodal potential vorticity core in the middle/lower troposphere – with more precipitation, and a structure that in general more closely resembles that found in depressions over the ocean, in.
Identification of a Candida albicans Ferrichrome Transporter and Its Characterization by Expression inSaccharomyces cerevisiae *

Saccharomyces cerevisiaecan accumulate iron through the uptake of siderophore-iron. Siderophore-iron uptake can occur through the reduction of the complex and the subsequent uptake of iron by the high affinity iron transporter Fet3p/Ftr1p. Alternatively, specific siderophore transporters can take up the siderophore-iron complex. The pathogenic fungus Candida albicans can also take up siderophore-iron. Here we identify aC. albicans siderophore transporter, CaArn1p, and characterize its activity. CaARN1 is transcriptionally regulated in response to iron. Through expression studies in S. cerevisiae strains lacking endogenous siderophore transporters, we demonstrate that CaArn1p specifically mediates the uptake of ferrichrome-iron. Iron-ferrichrome and gallium-ferrichrome, but not desferri-ferrichrome, could competitively inhibit the uptake of iron from ferrichrome. Uptake of siderophore-iron resulting from expression of CaARN1 under the control of theMET25-promoter in S. cerevisiae was independent of the iron status of the cells and of Aft1p, the iron-sensing transcription factor. These studies demonstrate that the expression of CaArn1p is both necessary and sufficient for the nonreductive uptake of ferrichrome-iron and suggests that the transporter may be the only required component of the siderophore uptake system that is regulated by iron and Aft1p.
A Homotopy Algorithm for the Quantile Regression Lasso and Related Piecewise Linear Problems

We show that the homotopy algorithm of Osborne, Presnell, and Turlach (2000), which has proved such an effective optimal path following method for implementing Tibshirani’s “lasso” for variable selection in least squares estimation problems, can be extended to polyhedral objectives in examples such as the quantile regression lasso. The new algorithm introduces the novel feature that it requires two homotopy sequences involving continuation steps with respect to both the constraint bound and the Lagrange multiplier to be performed consecutively. Performance is illustrated by application to several standard datasets, and these results are compared to calculations made with the original lasso homotopy program. This permits an assessment of the computational complexity to be made both for the new method and for the closely related linear programming post-optimality procedures as these generate essentially identical solution trajectories. This comparison strongly favors the least squares selection method. However, the new method still provides an effective computational procedure, plus it has distinct implementation advantages over the linear programming approaches to the polyhedral objective problem. The computational difficulty is explained and the problem that needs to be resolved in order to improve performance identified. An online supplement to the article contains proofs and R code to implement the algorithm.
Attitudes toward science among grades 3 through 12 Arab students in Qatar: findings from a cross-sectional national study

ABSTRACT This study assessed students’ attitudes toward science in Qatar. A cross-sectional, nationwide probability sample representing all students enrolled in grades 3 through 12 in the various types of schools in Qatar completed the ‘Arabic Speaking Students’ Attitudes toward Science Survey’ (ASSASS). The validity and reliability of the 32-item instrument, encompassing five sub-scales, have already been shown to be robust. The present analysis focused on responses from 1978 participants representing the students who completed the ASSASS in Arabic. Descriptive statistics were computed and a competing pair of multiple indicators multiple causes models is presented that attempt to link patterns in students’ responses to the ASSASS with a set of indicators. The final model retained student age, gender, nationality (i.e. Qatari vs. Non-Qatari Arab), and school type as indicators. Findings from this study suggest that participants’ attitudes toward science decrease with age, and that these attitudes and related preferences are influenced by students’ nationality and the type of school they attend. Equally important, the often-reported advantages for male over female precollege students in terms of attitudes toward science were much less prominent in the present study.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging in the diagnosis of prostate cancer : initial experience *

OBJECTIVE: To report an experiment involving the introduction of a protocol utilizing commercially available three-dimensional 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (3D 1H MRSI) method in patients diagnosed with prostatic tumors under suspicion of neoplasm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one patients in the age range between 51 and 80 years (mean, 67 years) were prospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with one or more biopsies negative for cancer and high specific-prostatic antigen levels (group A), and patients with cancer confirmed by biopsy (group B). The determination of the targetarea (group A) or the known cancer extent (group B) was based on magnetic resonance imaging and MRSI studies. RESULTS: The specificity of MRSI in the diagnosis of prostate cancer was lower than the specificity reported in the literature (about 47%). On the other hand, for tumor staging, it corresponded to the specificity reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: The introduction and standardization of 3D 1H MRSI has allowed the obtention of a presumable diagnosis of prostate cancer, by a combined analysis of magnetic resonance imaging and metabolic data from 3D 1H MRSI.
Lightning Protection of Pole Mounted Transformers

The authors present an update on Australian experience with recommended lightning protection of distribution transformers, first implemented in 195/6. It is believed that the major reduction in transformer failure rates is directly attributed to the relocation of HV (high voltage) arresters close to the terminals and to the fitting of LV (low voltage) arresters. The recommended protection has virtually eliminated all transformer fault types other than inter-turn/layer faults on the HV winding, and the rate of occurrence of this type of fault has been greatly reduced. It is concluded that data from over 12 years' field experience demonstrates the effectiveness of the recommended protection, confirming the laboratory studies conducted in Australia and subsequently in the US and Norway. The results given in the paper should be of value to other electric utilities contemplating measures for reducing transformer failure rates attributable to lightning, particularly the use of LV arresters. >
Evolution Pattern of Auto-Antibodies against Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins in Renal Transplant Recipients

An increased degree of oxidative stress in renal transplant recipients and a possible role of ciclosporin A (Cs-A) immunosuppressive therapy in this process have already been described. However, prospective data using in vivo markers and the influence of Cs-A in the oxidizability of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are scarce. We aimed at investigating in this prospective study the evolution pattern of auto-antibodies directed against malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) and Cu2+-oxidized LDL in 28 stable renal transplant recipients on Cs-A immunosuppressive therapy before and after 3 successive years of renal transplantation. Also, the effect of enrichment of LDL with Cs-A on the susceptibility of LDL to in vitro oxidation was tested. The results showed a significant increase of both auto-antibody titres (MDA-LDL and Cu2+-oxidized LDL) after 1 year, and the values remained high during the 2nd and the 3rd year following transplantation. The yearly mean relative variations of auto-antibodies against MDA-LDL and Cu2+-oxidized LDL during the follow-up period were 133, 149, and 137%, and 111, 115, and 117%, respectively. A significant correlation was observed during the 1st year between Cs-A trough blood level and Cu2+-oxidized LDL auto-antibody: r = 0.04 (p = 0.046). Incorporation of Cs-A into LDL from healthy volunteers showed no changes during the lag phase in comparison with Cs-A-free LDL, indicating that Cs-A had no effect on in vitro LDL oxidizability. Our results suggest that Cs-A may be involved earlier in the LDL oxidation, but the mechanism by which it acts is still unclear.
Finding perfect rendezvous on the go: accurate mobile visual localization and its applications to routing

While on the go, more and more people are using their phones to enjoy ubiquitous location-based services (LBS). One of the fundamental problems of LBS is localization. Researchers are now investigating ways to use a phone-captured image for localization as it contains more scene context information than the embedded sensors. In this paper, we present a novel approach to mobile visual localization that accurately senses geographic scene context according to the current image (typically associated with a rough GPS position). Unlike most existing visual localization methods, the proposed approach is capable of providing a complete set of more accurate parameters about the scene geo---including the actual locations of both the mobile user and perhaps more importantly the captured scene along with the viewing direction. Our approach takes advantage of advanced techniques for large-scale image retrieval and 3D model reconstruction from photos. Specifically, we first perform joint geo-visual clustering in the cloud to generate scene clusters, with each scene represented by a 3D model. The 3D scene models are then indexed using a visual vocabulary tree structure. The phone-captured image is used to retrieve the relevant scene models, then aligned with the models, and further registered to the real-world map. Our approach achieves an estimation accuracy of user location within 14 meters, viewing direction within 9 degrees, and scene location within 21 meters. Such a complete set of accurate geo-parameters can lead to various LBS applications for routing that cannot be achieved with most existing methods. In particular, we showcase three novel applications: 1) accurate self-localization, 2) collaborative localization for rendezvous routing, and 3) routing for photographing. The evaluations through user studies indicate these applications are effective for facilitating the perfect rendezvous for mobile users.
A Dynamic Model of Metric Rhythm in Electroacoustic Music

The possibilities offered by electronic composition tools, while liberating, make difficult the dynamic use of organized rhythm in electroacoustic music. This paper explores a model stemming from interactive electroacoustic work by the author that adapts aspects of the hocketed, disjunct rhythmic textures of funk styles for use as a developmental musical parameter. These methods for generating rhythm that facilitate transformation in ways more naturally manipulated by computer-based tools are demonstrated in theory and in use by the author.
Multiple Modernities

ABSTRACT Meaning is inscribed in the material/built environment and this article considers the materiality of change in urban Africa, focusing particularly on the kitchens of a group of first-generation professionals from northern Ghana who have “made it” and now live in the suburbs of Accra, Ghana. In the hometown area, they live in or are surrounded by the architectural idiom of mud and wattle round huts, whereas in relocation, as these Ghanaians become “modern,” they create modern housing designs. The new aesthetic is performative of their cosmopolitanism, as it speaks to their aspirations for new identities and status. At the same time, members of this new elite perpetuate old practices that are tied to an old materiality. To explore the change in identity and status that is embedded in design, and the accommodation of old and new practices, I focus on the change in the kitchen as it becomes representative of a supremely modern ideal.
Identification of a potential physiological substrate for oncogenic Ras‐activated protein kinases in activated Xenopus egg extracts: Correlation with oncogenic RAS‐induced cell cycle arrest

Activated Xenopus egg extracts are capable of undergoing cell‐free cell cycling. Using these activated extracts, we previously showed that purified, bacterially expressed oncogenic human RasH protein arrests cell cycle progression. Because oncogenic Ras activates many serine/threonine protein kinases in Xenopus oocytes and egg extracts, it is possible that induction of cell cycle arrest involves the action of oncogenic Ras‐activated kinases. Thus, the identification of the physiological substrates for oncogenic Ras‐activated kinases is important for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying oncogenic Ras‐induced cell cycle arrest. We used 32P‐orthophosphate as a label to identify the potential substrates. Our results demonstrated that the 32P‐labeling of both a 32 and a 33 kDa protein were greatly enhanced by oncogenic Ras during the incubation of activated Xenopus egg extracts. The enhanced labeling correlated with the induced cell cycle arrest and was contributed by serine phosphorylation. Moreover, the 33 kDa protein was detected only in the presence of oncogenic Ras and was a serine‐hyperphosphorylated form of the 32 kDa protein. Furthermore, new protein synthesis was not required for the enhanced labeling, consistent with the concept that the enhanced serine phosphorylation of the 32 kDa protein is by oncogenic Ras‐activated protein kinases. In addition to serine phosphorylation, our results also suggested that an as yet unidentified modification of the 32 kDa protein might also be induced by oncogenic Ras. Our results suggest that the 32 kDa protein is a potential physiological substrate for oncogenic Ras‐activated protein kinases. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.