Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Consistency of Bayes estimates for nonparametric regression: normal theory

Consider a sequence of independent pairs (Y1, 1), (Y2, 2), . Given ? i, suppose Yi is normally distributed with conditional mean f($i) and conditional variance 1. Thus, Yi = f(li) + ei, where ei r N(O, 1). Here, f is an unknown function to be estimated from the data. A Bayesian approach postulates that flies in some class of functions O and puts a prior distribution -r on 0. This generates a posterior distribution i~n, namely, the conditional law of the regression function f given the data (Y1, A1), (Y2, 2), *. -, (Y, ). The prior . r is said to be consistent for f if ii, converges to point mass at f almost surely as n -0o. When O is finite-dimensional, . r will be consistent for any f in the support of jr; of course, some additional regularity conditions are needed, but normality is not involved. If E is infinite-dimensional, the situation is quite different, and inconsistency is the rule rather than the exception. See, for instance, Freedman (1963; 1965) and Diaconis and Freedman (1988). This paper continues the story for normal models. We show that for conventional hierarchical normal priors, consistency obtains provided the data are independent with a common normal distribution. We use a nested increasing family of finite-dimensional models with the usual normal prior in each dimension, but the dimension is itself a hyperparameter with its own (discrete) prior. So far, the priors under discussion have been
Caesarean Delivery and Subsequent Stillbirth or Miscarriage: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective To compare the risk of stillbirth and miscarriage in a subsequent pregnancy in women with a previous Caesarean or vaginal delivery. Design Systematic review of the published literature including seven databases: CINAHL; the Cochrane library; Embase; Medline; PubMed; SCOPUS and Web of Knowledge from 1945 until November 11th 2011, using a detailed search-strategy and cross-checking of reference lists. Study Selection Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies examining the association between previous Caesarean section and subsequent stillbirth or miscarriage risk. Two assessors screened titles to identify eligible studies, using a standardised data abstraction form and assessed study quality. Data synthesis 11 articles were included for stillbirth, totalling 1,961,829 pregnancies and 7,308 events. Eight eligible articles were included for miscarriage, totalling 147,017 pregnancies and 12,682 events. Pooled estimates across the stillbirth studies were obtained using random-effect models. Among women with a previous Caesarean an increase in odds of 1.23 [95% CI 1.08, 1.40] for stillbirth was yielded. Subgroup analyses including unexplained stillbirths yielded an OR of 1.47 [95% CI 1.20, 1.80], an OR of 2.11 [95% CI 1.16, 3.84] for explained stillbirths and an OR of 1.27 [95% CI 0.95, 1.70] for antepartum stillbirths. Only one study reported adjusted estimates in the miscarriage review, therefore results are presented individually. Conclusions Given the recent revision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines (NICE), providing women the right to request a Caesarean, it is essential to establish whether mode of delivery has an association with subsequent risk of stillbirth or miscarriage. Overall, compared to vaginal delivery, the pooled estimates suggest that Caesarean delivery may increase the risk of stillbirth by 23%. Results for the miscarriage review were inconsistent and lack of adjustment for confounding was a major limitation. Higher methodological quality research is required to reliably assess the risk of miscarriage in subsequent pregnancies.
Capacities of spectrally overlaid single-code and multicode CDMA systems

This paper is concerned with the capacities of spectrally overlaid narrowband and wideband systems using two code-division multiple-access (CDMA) techniques - single-code and multicode. The capacity is defined here as the maximum achievable total throughput in the narrowband and wideband subsystems. User signal power in the overlay systems affects the performance of the systems. The signal power is characterized as the relative power level of wideband and narrowband users according to the spreading bandwidth, spectral overlay ratio, and the number of spreading codes assigned to a user in single-cell and multiple-cell environments. The capacities of the overlay systems are then analyzed. The results of the analysis show that the single-code technique yields better performance than the multicode scheme in terms of the capacities of the overlay systems. Furthermore, the use of a multicode technique for wideband subsystems and a single-code scheme for narrowband subsystems is desirable for enhancing the performance of CDMA overlay systems.
Geometry of face space

The geometrical character of face space is investigated, and is analyzed within the framework of eigenface decompositions. To deal with the sparse data problem, which occurs when not enough data is present to fill the space, we construct and test a range of probabilistic models. A key tool in this investigation is the decomposition of the eigenfaces representation of face space into odd and even (in the face midline) components. As has been pointed out in the literature, lighting artifacts may account for most of the variance encountered in analyzing face space data. It is here demonstrated that most of the odd eigenfaces, and a very small set of even eigenfaces, are associated with the lighting artifact. On filtering out this set of eigenfaces in the analysis, we achieve near perfect recognition rates, even for faces exhibiting extreme lighting artifacts. It is also shown here that a multidimensional Gaussian model of face images is a moderately successful approximation in describing symmetrized face subspace. Random sampling of the Gaussian model for this subspace provides visually realistic synthetic faces, which respect gender. Index Terms Face and gesture recognition, computational models of vision, psychology, singular value decomposition.
Evaluating Fairness In Heterogeneous Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

When both TCP Vegas and TCP Reno share the same wired network, TCP Reno dominates and obtains most of the bandwidth due to its more aggressive mechanisms. In this paper, a simulation study of the compatibility of TCP Reno and TCP Vegas in wireless IEEE 802.11 ad hoc networks using both static and mobile network configurations, is presented. It is shown that when both coexist in the same static ad hoc network, TCP Vegas generally dominates and gets most of the wireless bandwidth. The main reason is that the static wireless ad hoc network environment does not favor the aggressive nature of TCP Reno. However, using a mobile network model, it is shown that TCP Reno is slightly more dominant than TCP Vegas. This is because TCP Vegas is more sensitive to node mobility and the resulting high variability of RTT caused by re-routing. This causes TCP Vegas to lose some of its advantages in mobile environments. In all scenarios examined, it is shown that better fairness can be achieved, while not sacrificing goodput performance, via the use of a small TCP maximum window size.
Noise Trading and the Effects of Monetary Policy Shocks on Nominal and Real Exchange Rates

A number of empirical studies have reported the result that exchange rates show a delayed overshooting in response to monetary policy shocks. This result is puzzling. Economic theory suggests that the overshooting should occur immediately after the shock, not with a delay. This paper uses a ? new open economy macroeconomics? model with pricing-to-market to analyze whether the assumption of noise trading in the foreign exchange market helps to resolve the delayed overshooting puzzle. The implications of noise trading for the effects of monetary policy shocks on the nominal and on the real exchange rate are analyzed.
Comparative Assessment of the Prognostic Value of Biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injury Reveals an Independent Role for Serum Levels of Neurofilament Light

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and disability, worldwide. Early determination of injury severity is essential to improve care. Neurofilament light (NF-L) has been introduced as a marker of neuroaxonal injury in neuroinflammatory/-degenerative diseases. In this study we determined the predictive power of serum (s-) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-) NF-L levels towards outcome, and explored their potential correlation to diffuse axonal injury (DAI). A total of 182 patients suffering from TBI admitted to the neurointensive care unit at a level 1 trauma center were included. S-NF-L levels were acquired, together with S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). CSF-NF-L was measured in a subcohort (n = 84) with ventriculostomies. Clinical and neuro-radiological parameters, including computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, were included in the analyses. Outcome was assessed 6 to 12 months after injury using the Glasgow Outcome Score (1-5). In univariate proportional odds analyses mean s-NF-L, -S100B and -NSE levels presented a pseudo-R2 Nagelkerke of 0.062, 0.214 and 0.074 in correlation to outcome, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, in addition to a model including core parameters (pseudo-R2 0.33 towards outcome; Age, Glasgow Coma Scale, pupil response, Stockholm CT score, abbreviated injury severity score, S100B), S-NF-L yielded an extra 0.023 pseudo-R2 and a significantly better model (p = 0.006) No correlation between DAI or CT assessed-intracranial damage and NF-L was found. Our study thus demonstrates that S-NF-L correlates to TBI outcome, even if used in models with S100B, indicating an independent contribution to the prediction, perhaps by reflecting different pathophysiological processes, not possible to monitor using conventional neuroradiology. Although we did not find a predictive value of NF-L for DAI, this cannot be completely excluded. We suggest further studies, with volume quantification of axonal injury, and a prolonged sampling time, in order to better determine the connection between NF-L and DAI.
MLICA-Based Separation Algorithm for Complex Sinusoidal Signals with PDF Parameter Optimization

Blind source separation (BSS) techniques are required for various signal decomposing issues. Independent component analysis (ICA), assuming only a statistical independence among stochastic source signals, is one of the most useful BSS tools because it does not need a priori information on each source. However, there are many requirements for decomposing multiple deterministic signals such as complex sinusoidal signals with different frequencies. These requirements may include pulse compression or clutter rejection. It has been theoretically shown that an ICA algorithm based on maximizing non-Gaussianity successfully decomposes such deterministic signals. However, this ICA algorithm does not maintain a sufficient separation performance when the frequency difference of the sinusoidal waves becomes less than a nominal frequency resolution. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a super-resolution algorithm for complex sinusoidal signals by extending the maximum likelihood ICA, where the probability density function (PDF) of a complex sinusoidal signal is exploited as a priori knowledge, in which the PDF of the signal amplitude is approximated as a Gaussian distribution with an extremely small standard deviation. Furthermore, we introduce an optimization process for this standard deviation to avoid divergence in updating the reconstruction matrix. Numerical simulations verify that our proposed algorithm remarkably enhances the separation performance compared to the conventional one, and accomplishes a super-resolution separation even in noisy situations. key words: radar signal processing, maximum likelihood independent component analysis (MLICA), complex sinusoidal signals, PDF parameter optimization
Neuro-psychological sequelae in HIV-negative cryptococcal meningitis after complete anti-fungal treatment.

PURPOSES The cognitive sequelae and influence of depression in patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM) after complete anti-fungal treatment has not been completely surveyed in literature. METHODS Seventeen HIV-negative CM patients and 26 health y controls were enrolled in this prospective study. Neuro-psychological evaluation was performed to assess the attention, execution, speech and language, semantic and visuo-construction function, and depression. These were correlated with longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through the following checklists: dilated Virchow-Robin spaces, pseudo-cysts, intra-cerebral nodule or mass, meningeal enhancement, hydrocephalus, and hyper-intensity of white matter. For cognitive outcome measurement, initial clinical and biochemical markers were collected and analyzed. RESULTS The mean follow-up duration in CM patients was 69.6 months. They had impairments in attention, execution, speech and language, and visuo-construction function, while six (35%) patients fulfilled the depression criteria. Initial cryptococcal antigen titer was inversely correlated with block design score (ρ=-0.54, p<0.05), after adjustment for depression. Patients with two or more CM-related lesions (mean, 19.2; SD, 12.6) (p=0.04). CM with depression is highly associated with poor cognitive performance and higher likelihood of two or more lesions in MRI (likelihood ratio=6.012, p=0.014). CONCLUSION Cognitive deficits persist in CM patients even after complete treatment. The number of lesions plays an important role in cognitive performance and depression. Extensive involvement of the cognitive domains with wide radiographic presentations suggests a disseminated nature of cryptococcus.
Extending The Ekop Model To Estimate The Probability Of Informed Trading

Abstract Easley, Kiefer, O'Hara and Paperman (1996) introduced a model that enables one to estimate the probability of informed trading in a stock using as input data the numbers of buyer and seller initiated trades over a period. Empirical testing suggests that this model does not fit data well. We formulate several extensions of the model improving its ability to fit data and discuss the effects this has on the accuracy of estimating the probability of informed trading.
Hospitality Student Expectations

ABSTRACT This article reports the findings of an exploratory study that primarily examined the relationship between hope and expectations of success among hospitality students at a southeastern university. It also discusses relationships among factors such as grade point averages, student class standing, and declared program majors. The article presents results of the study that identify relationships between measurable criteria associated with the concept of hope and expectations for student success, as well as other associated factors. The article concludes with areas for future research, as well as implications for hospitality educators and human resource practitioners.
What Promotes Fiscal Consolidation: OECD Country Experiences

Fiscal consolidation is required in most OECD countries. This is especially so in view of mediumand long-term spending pressures on public finances, related, inter alia, to ageing. Based on a dataset covering a large number of OECD fiscal consolidation episodes starting in the late 1970s, the paper presents evidence, both descriptive and econometric, on macroeconomic conditions and policy set-ups that have been effective in triggering and sustaining fiscal consolidation. Main findings include: Large initial deficits and high interest rates have been important in prompting fiscal adjustment and also in boosting the overall size and duration of consolidation. Concerning the quality of fiscal policies, an emphasis on cutting current expenditures has been associated with overall larger consolidation. Fiscal rules with embedded expenditure targets tended to be associated with larger and longer adjustments, pointing to institutional features playing a potentially important role in generating successful consolation efforts. Experience across countries also shows that certain design features such as transparency, flexibility to face shocks and effective enforcement mechanisms seem important for the effectiveness of fiscal rules. Qu'est-ce qui favorise la consolidation budgetaire : L'experience des pays de l'OCDE La plupart des pays de l’OCDE doivent consolider leurs finances publiques. C’est particulierement le cas en raison des pressions de depenses a moyen et long terme sur les finances publiques, liees entre autres au vieillissement des populations. Sur la base de donnees couvrant un grand nombre d’episodes de consolidation budgetaire dans les pays de l’OCDE depuis la fin des annees 70, le papier met en evidence, a la fois de maniere descriptive et econometrique, les conditions macroeconomiques et les politiques qui ont ete efficaces pour initier et supporter la consolidation budgetaire. Il montre en particulier que lorsque le deficit budgetaire et les taux de grand interet sont eleves la consolidation est non seulement plus probable mais aussi plus importante et plus longue. Concernant la qualite de l'ajustement budgetaire, des efforts concentres sur la reduction des depenses courantes sont associes a des consolidations plus importantes. La presence de regles budgetaires incluant des cibles de depenses a ete generalement associee a des ajustements plus important et plus longs, soulignant ainsi que les dispositifs institutionnels jouent un role potentiellement important pour le succes des consolidations budgetaires. L’experience des differents pays montre aussi que certaines caracteristiques telles que la transparence, la flexibilite face a des chocs et les mecanismes d’application efficaces semblent importantes pour l? efficacite des regles budgetaires.
Entry Mistakes, Entrepreneurial Boldness and Optimism

We analyze the investment decision of a population of time inconsistent entrepreneurs who overweight current payoffs relative to future returns. We show that, in order to avoid inefficient procrastination, agents may find it optimal to keep optimistic priors about their chances of success and 'blindly invest'. This explains entrepreneurial boldness and entry mistakes (or an excessive level of investment in the economy) without assuming the existence of boundedly rational, 'intrinsically optimistic' managers. We also prove that: (i) there is a negative correlation between the risk free rate and theproportion of bold entrepreneurs in the economy, (ii) realist and bold agents can coexist and achieve the same payoff and (iii) entrepreneurs with highest ability are most likely to keep optimistic prospects and make entry mistakes.
Naturalness from runaways in direct mediation

Postulating that the NMSSM singlet is a meson of a microscopic confining theory opens up new model-building possibilities. Based on this, we construct calculable models of direct mediation that solve the {mu}/B{mu} problem and simultaneously lead to realistic phenomenology. The singlet that couples to the Higgs fields develops a runaway produced by soft interactions, then stabilized by a small superpotential perturbation. The mechanism is first realized in an O'Raifeartaigh model of direct gauge mediation with metastable supersymmetry breaking. Focusing then on the microscopic theory, we argue that super QCD with massless and massive flavors in the free magnetic phase gives rise to this dynamics in the infrared. A deformation of the SQCD superpotential leads to large spontaneous R-symmetry breaking, gaugino masses naturally at the scale of the Higgs mass parameters, and absence of CP violating phases.
I Know What You Did Last Quarter: Economic Forecasts of Professional Forecasters

In this paper we have examined data from the Survey of Professional Forecasters. We study nominal GDP, the unemployment rate, the Treasury bill rate and the implicit price deflator beginning with the first quarter of 1992. Forecasts for a single time period appear several times in consecutive forecasts in the survey. We study the revision of forecasts for a fixed points in time. We find that the forecasts were not unbiased, but they were biased in directions one would expect, ex post. There is strong dependence of revisions of expectations on the most recently observed one step forecast errors. For most series, lagged innovations do not enter the regression equations significantly and constant terms are not significantly different from zero. Most forecasters seem to be using information on several series in their forecasts.
Angiogenic growth factor axis in autophagy regulation

Understanding the molecular mechanisms promoting therapy resistance is important. Previously, we reported that VEGFC can promote cancer cell survival during stress via interaction with its receptor NRP2. While examining the molecular mechanisms involved in this survival, we performed a microarray study in which we identified two genes, WDFY1 and LAMP2, which have been suggested to function in autophagy. Our subsequent studies further confirmed the regulation of autophagy by the VEGFC-NRP2 axis in cancer during starvation- and chemotherapy-induced stress. We are currently in the process of determining the mechanism(s) through which WDFY1 and LAMP2 control autophagy; however, we did observe an increase in MTOR complex 1 (MTORC1) activity after the depletion of the VEGFC-NRP2 axis. It would therefore be interesting to study whether WDFY1 and LAMP2 can influence MTORC1 activity and regulate autophagy. Taken together, our data suggest that targeting the VEGFC-NRP2 axis in combination with chemotherapy could be an effective treatment for advanced cancers.
Staphylococcus aureus biofilms: recent developments in biofilm dispersal

Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections and represents a significant burden on the healthcare system. S. aureus attachment to medical implants and host tissue, and the establishment of a mature biofilm, play an important role in the persistence of chronic infections. The formation of a biofilm, and encasement of cells in a polymer-based matrix, decreases the susceptibility to antimicrobials and immune defenses, making these infections difficult to eradicate. During infection, dispersal of cells from the biofilm can result in spread to secondary sites and worsening of the infection. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the pathways behind biofilm dispersal in S. aureus, with a focus on enzymatic and newly described broad-spectrum dispersal mechanisms. Additionally, we explore potential applications of dispersal in the treatment of biofilm-mediated infections.
Dihydromyricetin induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a life-threatening disease that is known to exhibit a poor prognosis. Therefore, it is important to identify an effective drug therapy for the treatment of HCC. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a flavonoid compound, isolated from the classical Chinese herb Ampelopsis grossedentata, which exhibits multiple pharmacological activities, including anticancer effects. In this study, the anticancer effect of DHM was investigated in nine different types of HCC cell lines via cell proliferation and immunoassays, as well as apoptosis detection. Two immortalized normal human liver cell lines were utilized to determine hepatotoxicity. The results revealed that DHM significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in the HCC cell lines. However, DHM exhibited no cytotoxicity to normal human hepatic cell lines. Furthermore, it was found that DHM induced cell apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner. DHM upregulated p53 expression, and the upregulation of p53 increased the levels of the cleaved caspase-3 protein, directly inducing cell apoptosis. These results indicate that DHM is a promising candidate for the treatment of HCC.