Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Large sample group independent component analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging using anatomical atlas‐based reduction and bootstrapped clustering

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a popular method for the analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals that is capable of revealing connected brain systems of functional significance. To be computationally tractable, estimating the independent components (ICs) inevitably requires one or more dimension reduction steps. Whereas most algorithms perform such reductions in the time domain, the input data are much more extensive in the spatial domain, and there is broad consensus that the brain obeys rules of localization of function into regions that are smaller in number than the number of voxels in a brain image. These functional units apparently reorganize dynamically into networks under different task conditions. Here we develop a new approach to ICA, producing group results by bagging and clustering over hundreds of pooled single‐subject ICA results that have been projected to a lower‐dimensional subspace. Averages of anatomically based regions are used to compress the single subject‐ICA results prior to clustering and resampling via bagging. The computational advantages of this approach make it possible to perform group‐level analyses on datasets consisting of hundreds of scan sessions by combining the results of within‐subject analysis, while retaining the theoretical advantage of mimicking what is known of the functional organization of the brain. The result is a compact set of spatial activity patterns that are common and stable across scan sessions and across individuals. Such representations may be used in the context of statistical pattern recognition supporting real‐time state classification. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 21, 223–231, 2011
Weak subordination of multivariate Lévy processes and variance generalised gamma convolutions

Subordinating a multivariate Levy process, the subordinate, with a univariate subordinator gives rise to a pathwise construction of a new Levy process, provided the subordinator and the subordinate are independent processes. The variance-gamma model in finance was generated accordingly from a Brownian motion and a gamma process. Alternatively, multivariate subordination can be used to create Levy processes, but this requires the subordinate to have independent components. In this paper, we show that there exists another operation acting on pairs $(T,X)$ of Levy processes which creates a Levy process $X\odot T$. Here, $T$ is a subordinator, but $X$ is an arbitrary Levy process with possibly dependent components. We show that this method is an extension of both univariate and multivariate subordination and provide two applications. We illustrate our methods giving a weak formulation of the variance-$\alpha$-gamma process that exhibits a wider range of dependence than using traditional subordination. Also, the variance generalised gamma convolution class of Levy processes formed by subordinating Brownian motion with Thorin subordinators is further extended using weak subordination.
An Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot Assay Measuring Borrelia burgdorferi B31-Specific Interferon Gamma-Secreting T Cells Cannot Discriminate Active Lyme Neuroborreliosis from Past Lyme Borreliosis: a Prospective Study in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT Two-tier serology testing is most frequently used for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis (LB); however, a positive result is no proof of active disease. To establish a diagnosis of active LB, better diagnostics are needed. Tests investigating the cellular immune system are available, but studies evaluating the utility of these tests on well-defined patient populations are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the utility of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay to diagnose active Lyme neuroborreliosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of various study groups were stimulated by using Borrelia burgdorferi strain B31 and various recombinant antigens, and subsequently, the number of Borrelia-specific interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-secreting T cells was measured. We included 33 active and 37 treated Lyme neuroborreliosis patients, 28 healthy individuals treated for an early manifestation of LB in the past, and 145 untreated healthy individuals. The median numbers of B. burgdorferi B31-specific IFN-γ-secreting T cells/2.5 × 105 PBMCs did not differ between active Lyme neuroborreliosis patients (6.0; interquartile range [IQR], 0.5 to 14.0), treated Lyme neuroborreliosis patients (4.5; IQR, 2.0 to 18.6), and treated healthy individuals (7.4; IQR, 2.3 to 14.9) (P = 1.000); however, the median number of B. burgdorferi B31-specific IFN-γ-secreting T cells/2.5 × 105 PBMCs among untreated healthy individuals was lower (2.0; IQR, 0.5 to 3.9) (P ≤ 0.016). We conclude that the Borrelia ELISpot assay, measuring the number of B. burgdorferi B31-specific IFN-γ-secreting T cells/2.5 × 105 PBMCs, correlates with exposure to the Borrelia bacterium but cannot be used for the diagnosis of active Lyme neuroborreliosis.
Social Discrimination in a Personnel Selection Context: The Effects of an Authority's Instruction to Discriminate and Followers' Authoritarianism1

Social discrimination in a personnel-selection context was studied using an in-basket exercise. West German participants had to select personnel from an applicant pool that included West German applicants (in-group members) and East German applicants (out-group members). As predicted, we found a main effect for an authority's instruction to discriminate against out-group members. This main effect was, as predicted, qualified by an Instruction Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) interaction effect. Only high scorers on RWA discriminated against out-group members when instructed to do so.
Limit properties of the monotone rearrangement for density and regression function estimation

The monotone rearrrangement algorithm was introduced by Hardy, Littlewood and P\'olya as a sorting device for functions. Assuming that $x$ is a monotone function and that an estimate $x_n$ of $x$ is given, consider the monotone rearrangement $\hat{x}_n$ of $x_n$. This new estimator is shown to be uniformly consistent. Under suitable assumptions, pointwise limit distribution results for $\hat{x}_n$ are obtained. The framework is general and allows for weakly dependent and long range dependent stationary data. Applications in monotone density and regression function estimation are detailed.
A Comprehensive Immunologic Portrait of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a high-risk malignancy due to its high capacity for invasion and lack of targeted therapy. Immunotherapy continues to demonstrate efficacy in a variety of cancers, and thus may be a promising strategy for TNBC given the limited therapeutic options currently available for TNBC. In this study, we performed a comprehensive portrait of immunologic landscape of TNBC based on 2 large-scale breast cancer genomic data. Methods We compared expression levels of immune-related genes and gene-sets among TNBC, non-TNBC, and normal tissue, and within TNBCs of different genotypic or phenotypic features. Moreover, we explored the association of immune-related genes or gene-sets expression and survival prognosis in TNBC patients. Results We found that almost all analyzed immune-related gene-sets had significantly higher expression levels in TNBC than non-TNBC. These highly expressed gene-sets in TNBC included 15 immune cell type and function, human leukocyte antigen (HLA), cancer testis (CT), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), immune cell infiltrate, regulatory T (Treg) cells, immune checkpoint, cytokine and cytokine receptor, metastasis-promoting, pro-inflammatory and parainflammation (PI) gene-sets. Moreover, TP53-mutated, TNBC had significantly higher expression levels of the immune checkpoint, Treg, PI, and CT gene-sets, and lower expression levels of the immune cell infiltrate gene-set than TP53-wildtype TNBC. Furthermore, we found that elevated expression of most of the immune-related genes in TNBC was associated with the ER-status, while some were associated with both ER-and HER2-status. Elevated expression of the immune-related genes in TNBC was also associated with the high tumor mutation burden (TMB) in TNBC. Finally, elevated expression of the immune-related gene-sets was likely to be associated with better survival prognosis in TNBC. Conclusions Our findings suggest that TNBC is a breast cancer subtype with particularly strong immunogenicity, and therefore could be propitious to immunotherapeutic options.
Feeding by heterotrophic dinoflagellates on the common marine heterotrophic nanoflagellate Cafeteria sp.

To investigate interactions between heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HTDs) and heterotro- phic nanoflagellates (HNFs), we tested whether or not 5 HTDs (Oxyrrhis marina, Gyrodinium cf. gut- tula, Pfiesteria piscicida, Luciella masanensis, and Stoeckeria algicida) feed on the common HNF Cafeteria sp. and measured the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina, G. cf. guttula, and P. pisci- cida when feeding on Cafeteria sp. (equivalent spherical diameter = ca. 3.5 μm). We calculated graz- ing coefficients by combining field data on abundances of O. marina and G. cf. guttula and co-occur- ring HNFs with laboratory data on ingestion rates obtained in the present study. O. marina, G. cf. guttula, P. piscicida, and L. masanensis were able to ingest Cafeteria sp. , while S. algicida did not feed on it. Cafeteria sp. supported positive growth in O. marina and G. cf. guttula, but not in P. pisci- cida. Specific growth rates of O. marina and G. cf. guttula on Cafeteria sp. increased with increasing mean prey concentration before becoming saturated at the mean prey concentration of ca. 100 ng C ml -1 (20 000 cells ml -1 ). The maximum growth rates of O. marina and G. cf. guttula on Cafeteria sp. were 0.19 and 0.05 d -1 , respectively. With increasing mean prey concentration, the ingestion rates of O. marina, G. cf. guttula, and P. piscicida on Cafeteria sp. rapidly increased at mean prey concentra- tions <100 ng ml -1 (ca. 20 000 cells ml -1 ), but slowly increased at higher mean prey concentrations. The maximum ingestion rate of O. marina on Cafeteria sp. (0.294 ng C predator -1 d -1 ) was much higher than that of G. cf. guttula (0.034 ng C predator -1 d -1 ) or P. piscicida (0.028 ng C predator -1 d -1 ). The maximum clearance rates were 0.18 to 0.54 μl predator -1 h -1 . Mean grazing coefficients for O. marina and G. cf. guttula on co-occurring HNFs calculated in the present study were 2.88 and 0.42 d -1 , respectively. The results of the present study suggest that O. marina and G. cf. guttula some-
Dynamic analysis of railway vehicle-track interactions due to wheel flat with a pitch-plane vehicle model

This paper presents the responses of the railway vehicle and track components in terms of contact forces and displacements. The considered vehicle model is a five-DOF pitch-plane lumped parameter quarter car model supported on two-dimensional track systems comprising three layers. The car body is linked with the vehicle bogie through secondary suspension springs and damper elements, which is further linked to the wheels through primary suspension springs and damper elements. In modeling of the track, the rail is considered as an infinitely long beam discretely supported by a series of springs, dampers and masses representing the elasticity and damping effects of the rail pads, ballasts, and subgrades respectively. The non-linear Hertzian contact theory is employed to accomplish the dynamic interactions between the lumped mass vehicle and the continuous rail. The drastic effect of one wheel flat to the other perfect wheel-rail contact point is also taken into account. the main sources of railway vehicle-track abnormal vibrations. Wheel flat is the most common type of wheel defect encountered by the railway industry. With the significant increase of train speed and axle load, the vibration of the coupled vehicle and track system due to wheel flat is further intensified and the safe operation of trains is reduced. Furthermore, the presence of flat in the wheel within these criteria may cause harm not only on the wheel and rail but also to the entire vehicle and track system. The repeated dynamic loads due to wheel flats will cause failure and fatigue damage of the vehicle and track components. A comprehensive study in the presence of wheel flat is thus necessary for prediction of the impact force generated at the interfaces of different components of vehicle-track system.
PS-FW: A Hybrid Algorithm Based on Particle Swarm and Fireworks for Global Optimization

Particle swarm optimization (PSO) and fireworks algorithm (FWA) are two recently developed optimization methods which have been applied in various areas due to their simplicity and efficiency. However, when being applied to high-dimensional optimization problems, PSO algorithm may be trapped in the local optima owing to the lack of powerful global exploration capability, and fireworks algorithm is difficult to converge in some cases because of its relatively low local exploitation efficiency for noncore fireworks. In this paper, a hybrid algorithm called PS-FW is presented, in which the modified operators of FWA are embedded into the solving process of PSO. In the iteration process, the abandonment and supplement mechanism is adopted to balance the exploration and exploitation ability of PS-FW, and the modified explosion operator and the novel mutation operator are proposed to speed up the global convergence and to avoid prematurity. To verify the performance of the proposed PS-FW algorithm, 22 high-dimensional benchmark functions have been employed, and it is compared with PSO, FWA, stdPSO, CPSO, CLPSO, FIPS, Frankenstein, and ALWPSO algorithms. Results show that the PS-FW algorithm is an efficient, robust, and fast converging optimization method for solving global optimization problems.
Random polymers on the complete graph

Consider directed polymers in a random environment on the complete graph of size $N$. This model can be formulated as a product of i.i. d. $N\times N$ random matrices and its large time asymptotics is captured by Lyapunov exponents and the Furstenberg measure. We detail this correspondence, derive the long-time limit of the model and obtain a co-variant distribution for the polymer path. Next, we observe that the model becomes exactly solvable when the disorder variables are located on edges of the complete graph and follow a totally asymmetric stable law of index $\alpha \in (0,1)$. Then, a certain notion of mean height of the polymer behaves like a random walk and we show that the height function is distributed around this mean according to an explicit law. Large $N$ asymptotics can be taken in this setting, for instance, for the free energy of the system and for the invariant law of the polymer height with a shift. Moreover, we give some perturbative results for environments which are close to the totally asymmetric stable laws.
The Promises and Pitfalls of Robo-Advising

We study a robo-advising portfolio optimizer that constructs tailored strategies based on in- vestors’ holdings and preferences. Adopters are similar to non-adopters in terms of demographics, but have more assets under management, trade more, and have higher risk-adjusted performance. The robo-advising tool has opposite effects across investors with different levels of diversification before adoption. It increases portfolio diversification and decreases volatility for those that held less than 5 stocks before adoption. These investors’ portfolios perform better after using the tool. At the same time, robo-advising barely affects diversification for investors that held more than 10 stocks before adoption. These investors trade more after adoption with no effect on average performance. For all investors, robo-advising reduces - but does not fully eliminate - pervasive behavioral biases such as the disposition effect, trend chasing, and the rank effect, and increases attention based on online account logins. Our results emphasize the promises and pitfalls of robo-advising tools, which are becoming ubiquitous all over the world.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Factors among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Southwest Ethiopia

Background Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) among type 2 diabetic patients is completely ignored in developing regions like Africa paving the way for public health and economic burden in the region. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to evaluate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and associated factors among type 2 diabetic patients in Southwestern Ethiopia attending Diabetic Clinic of Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH). Methods Facility based cross-sectional study design was used. Anthropometry, fatty liver (using utrasonography), liver enzymes, and lipid profiles were measured among type 2 diabetic patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed using standard questionnaires. Results Ninety-six (96) type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence was 73%. Of non-alcoholic fatty Liver disease documented patients, 35.4%, 31.3% and 6.3% exhibited mild, moderate and severe fatty liver diseases, respectively. Alanine aminotransferase (p ≤0.001), Triacyglycerol (p ≤0.001), total bilirubin (p ≤0.05), direct bilirubin (p ≤0.05) and diabetic duration (p ≤0.01) were significantly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among type 2 diabetic patients. The Aspartate aminotransferase/Alanine aminotransferase ratio among non alcoholic fatty liver disease patients was greater than one. Conclusions The magnitude of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is high among study groups and it needs urgent action by healthcare systems. Therefore, targeted treatment approach inclusive of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease should be designed.
Mood and Trust in Intuition Interactively Orchestrate Correspondence Between Implicit and Explicit Attitudes

The goal of the current research was to subject the prediction that affect and trust in intuition would interactively shape implicit and explicit attitude correspondence to empirical assessment. In four experiments, either trust versus distrust in intuition was measured or manipulated and positive or negative moods were induced. The outcome of interest was correspondence between implicit and explicit academic attitudes (Experiments 1–2) and self-attitudes (Experiments 3–4). As predicted, affect served as information about chronically or temporarily accessible tendencies to trust or distrust their intuitions, with positive affect validating and negative affect invalidating such tendencies, which in turn shaped correspondence between implicit and explicit attitudes. By drawing together these two seemingly unrelated lines of research, these experiments provide important insights into the sometimes mysterious circumstances in which implicit attitudes are translated into explicit attitude reports.
Solubility and pH of bioceramic root canal sealers: A comparative study

Background This study compared the solubility and the pH of different root canal sealers in vitro. Material and Methods BioRoot™RCS, TotalFill BC Sealer, MTA Fillapex, SealapexTM, AH Plus, EasySeal, Pulp Canal Sealer™ and N2 were tested. Similar specimens were prepared using ring molds with an internal diameter of 20 ± 0,1 mm and a height of 1,5 ± 0,1 mm and digitally weighted to register the mass of each specimen before and after immersion in distilled water. Solubility was determined after 24 hours and statistically analysed using a one-way ANOVA test and post-hoc Tukey test. The pH value was measured by a digital pH meter after 3 and 24 hours from manipulation. Results BioRoot™RCS and TotalFill BC Sealer showed significantly higher solubility (P<0.05). All the remnant root canal sealers fulfilled the requirements of solubility of the International Standard Organization 6876 demonstrating a weight loss of less than 3%. BioRoot™RCS and Totalfill BC Sealer exhibited high alkaline pH over time (P<0.05); the alkalinity of the other tested cements was significantly lower. Conclusions The prolonged alkalinity of bioceramic sealer matched the increase in solubility. This may encourage their biological and antimicrobial effects, but the ongoing solubility may impact their ability to prevent apical leakage. Key words:pH, root canal sealers, solubility.
Mutagenicity and Lung Toxicity of Smoldering vs. Flaming Emissions from Various Biomass Fuels: Implications for Health Effects from Wildland Fires

Background: The increasing size and frequency of wildland fires are leading to greater potential for cardiopulmonary disease and cancer in exposed populations; however, little is known about how the types of fuel and combustion phases affect these adverse outcomes. Objectives: We evaluated the mutagenicity and lung toxicity of particulate matter (PM) from flaming vs. smoldering phases of five biomass fuels, and compared results by equal mass or emission factors (EFs) derived from amount of fuel consumed. Methods: A quartz-tube furnace coupled to a multistage cryotrap was employed to collect smoke condensate from flaming and smoldering combustion of red oak, peat, pine needles, pine, and eucalyptus. Samples were analyzed chemically and assessed for acute lung toxicity in mice and mutagenicity in Salmonella. Results: The average combustion efficiency was 73 and 98% for the smoldering and flaming phases, respectively. On an equal mass basis, PM from eucalyptus and peat burned under flaming conditions induced significant lung toxicity potencies (neutrophil/mass of PM) compared to smoldering PM, whereas high levels of mutagenicity potencies were observed for flaming pine and peat PM compared to smoldering PM. When effects were adjusted for EF, the smoldering eucalyptus PM had the highest lung toxicity EF (neutrophil/mass of fuel burned), whereas smoldering pine and pine needles had the highest mutagenicity EF. These latter values were approximately 5, 10, and 30 times greater than those reported for open burning of agricultural plastic, woodburning cookstoves, and some municipal waste combustors, respectively. Conclusions: PM from different fuels and combustion phases have appreciable differences in lung toxic and mutagenic potency, and on a mass basis, flaming samples are more active, whereas smoldering samples have greater effect when EFs are taken into account. Knowledge of the differential toxicity of biomass emissions will contribute to more accurate hazard assessment of biomass smoke exposures. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2200
Effect of montmorillonite (MMT) content on the mechanical, oxygen barrier, and thermal properties of rice husk/MMT hybrid filler-filled low-density polyethylene nanocomposite blown films

Montmorillonite (MMT)/rice husk (RH) hybrid filler-filled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposite films, containing 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 wt% MMT (based on the total weight) were prepared by extrusion blown film. The films were characterized by morphological, mechanical, oxygen (O2) barrier, and thermal properties. The delamination of MMT layers evidenced from X-ray diffraction results suggests an increase in the interlayer distance and shows intercalated structure of the nanocomposites. Adding MMT did not adversely affect the interfacial morphology, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Addition of MMT into the LDPE/RH system improved the mechanical and O2 barrier properties. For instance, tensile strength, tensile modulus, and tear strength increased by 8, 10, and 5%, respectively, with the addition of 3 wt% MMT. Further, the O2 barrier of the composite films improved more than twofold by adding 4 wt% MMT. Initial degradation temperature of LDPE/RH composites increased with the incorporation of MMT suggesting that the nanocomposites are more thermally stable than LDPE/RH composites.