Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation and prediction using generalized Wendland covariance functions under fixed domain asymptotics

We study estimation and prediction of Gaussian random fields with covariance models belonging to the generalized Wendland (GW) class, under fixed domain asymptotics. As the Matern case, this class allows a continuous parameterization of smoothness of the underlying Gaussian random field, being additionally compactly supported. The paper is divided into two parts: First, we characterize the equivalence of two Gaussian measures with GW covariance function, and we provide sufficient conditions for the equivalence of two Gaussian measures with Matern and GW covariance functions. We elucidate the consequences of these facts in terms of (misspecified) best linear unbiased predictors. In the second part, we establish strong consistency and asymptotic distribution of the maximum likelihood estimator of the microergodic parameter associated to GW covariance model, under fixed domain asymptotics. Our findings are illustrated through a simulation study: The first compares the finite sample behavior of the maximum likelihood estimation of the microergodic parameter with the given asymptotic distribution. We then compare the finite-sample behavior of the prediction and its associated mean square error when using two equivalent Gaussian measures with Matern and GW covariance model, using covariance tapering as benchmark.
Development and predictors of psychological outcomes following the 2008 earthquake in Iceland: a longitudinal cohort study

Aims: On 29 May 2008, an earthquake struck in South Iceland. The aim of this study was to explore the trajectories of post-traumatic stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms among exposed inhabitants during the first year following the earthquake, as well as predictors for symptomology. Methods: This was a longitudinal cohort study based on a sample that was randomly selected from the earthquake-stricken area (n = 1301). Participants answered a questionnaire assessing demographic and disaster-related factors 2 months after the earthquake. In addition, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety were assessed 2, 4, 8 and 12 months post-disaster. Results: Two months after the earthquake, 5.2% of the participants reported PTSD symptoms, 6.7% depression and 6.4% anxiety symptoms. When comparing first and last time points only, we found a significant decrease in anxiety (p = 0.05), particulary among females (p = 0.05), those with a primary education (p = 0.01), prior history of accidents/disasters (p = 0.02) and those experiencing damage to their home (p = 0.02). No significant trends were found when the development of other symptoms between the four time points was assessed.Conclusions: Findings indicate a reduction in anxiety symptoms between 2 and 12 months post-disaster, with PTSD and depression symptoms remaining fairly constant across time. No trends in symptomology were observed over time. The results highlight the need for continued monitoring of those affected by disasters and the identification of subgroups at risk in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Comparison of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Interferon Gamma Release Assays in Patients at Risk for Tuberculosis and in Health Care Workers

ABSTRACT The QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus; Qiagen, Germantown, MD) interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) received FDA clearance in 2017 and will replace the prior version of the assay, the QFT-Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT). Here, we compared performances of the QFT-Plus assay and the QFT-GIT version in a diverse patient population, including patients undergoing evaluation for or follow-up of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI; n = 39) or active TB infection (n = 3), and in health care workers (HCWs; n = 119) at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). Compared to the QFT-GIT, the QFT-Plus assay showed 91.2% (31/34) positive, 98.4% (124/126) negative, and 96.6% (156/161) overall qualitative agreement among the 161 enrolled subjects, with a Cohen's kappa value of 0.91 (excellent interrater agreement). Among the 28 patients diagnosed with LTBI at the time of enrollment, the QFT-GIT and QFT-Plus assays agreed in 24 (85.7%) patients; in all four discordant patients, the positivity of the QFT-GIT or QFT-Plus IGRA was associated with low-level interferon gamma (IFN-γ) reactivity, ranging from 0.36 IU/ml to 0.66 IU/ml. Additionally, we document a high degree of correlation between IFN-γ levels in the QFT-GIT TB antigen tube and each of the two QFT-Plus TB antigen tubes, as well as between the QFT-Plus TB1 and TB2 tubes (Pearson's correlation coefficients [R] > 0.95). Overall, we show comparable results between the QFT-GIT and QFT-Plus assays in our study population composed of subjects presenting with a diverse spectrum of TB infections. Our findings suggest that the necessary transition to the QFT-Plus assay will be associated with a minimal difference in assay performance characteristics.
Self-Regulated Learning Interventions with At-Risk Youth: Enhancing Adaptability, Performance, and Well-Being

The primary role of many professionals and service providers, such as teachers, therapists, counselors, and school psychologists is to enhance the competencies, performance outcomes, and/or well-being of children and adolescents. In addition to serving as exemplary models and empowering sources of support for the individuals with whom they work, these professionals often have the greatest influence on youth who are vulnerable or at risk for sub optimal performance and other types of dysfunction. Although many at-risk youth can learn how to adapt and function more effectively over time, particularly when immersed in positive support systems, the unfortunate reality is that not all children and adolescents are able to overcome challenging circumstances and experiences. Rather, many become stuck in negative cycles of poor performance and display self-handicapping behaviors that persist throughout their development.
White matter hyperintensities and the mediating role of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in dominantly-inherited Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction White matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume on MRI is increased among presymptomatic individuals with autosomal dominant mutations for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). One potential explanation is that WMH, conventionally considered a marker of cerebrovascular disease, are a reflection of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and that increased WMH in this population is a manifestation of this vascular form of primary AD pathology. We examined whether the presence of cerebral microbleeds, a marker of CAA, mediates the relationship between WMH and estimated symptom onset in individuals with and without autosomal dominant mutations for AD. Participants and methods Participants (n = 175, mean age = 41.1 years) included 112 with an AD mutation and 63 first-degree non-carrier controls. We calculated the estimated years from expected symptom onset (EYO) and analyzed baseline MRI data for WMH volume and presence of cerebral microbleeds. Mixed effects regression and tests of mediation were used to examine microbleed and WMH differences between carriers and non-carriers and to test the whether the association between WMH and mutation status is dependent on the presence of microbleeds. Results Mutation carriers were more likely to have microbleeds than non-carriers (p<0.05) and individuals with microbleeds had higher WMH volume than those without (p<0.05). Total WMH volume was increased in mutation carriers compared with non-carriers, up to 20 years prior to EYO, after controlling for microbleed status, as we demonstrated previously. Formal testing of mediation demonstrated that 21% of the association between mutation status and WMH was mediated by presence of microbleeds (p = 0.03) but a significant direct effect of WMH remained (p = 0.02) after controlling for presence of microbleeds. Discussion Although there is some co-dependency between WMH and microbleeds, the observed increases in WMH among mutation carriers does not appear to be fully mediated by this marker of CAA. The findings highlight the possibility that WMH represent a core feature of AD independent of vascular forms of beta amyloid.
Assessing the Variability in the Relationship Between the Particulate Backscattering Coefficient and the Chlorophyll a Concentration From a Global Biogeochemical‐Argo Database

Characterizing phytoplankton distribution and dynamics in the world's open oceans requires in situ observations over a broad range of space and time scales. In addition to temperature/salinity measurements, Biogeochemical-Argo (BGC-Argo) profiling floats are capable of autonomously observing at high frequency bio-optical properties such as the chlorophyll fluorescence, a proxy of the chlorophyll a concentration (Chla), the particulate backscattering coefficient (bbp), a proxy of the stock of particulate organic carbon, and the light available for photosynthesis. We analyzed an unprecedented BGC-Argo database of more than 8,500 multi-variable profiles collected in various oceanic conditions, from subpolar waters to subtropical gyres. Our objective is to refine previously established Chla vs bbp relationships and gain insights into the sources of vertical, seasonal and regional variability in this relationship. Despite some nuances in the relationship considering one or another water column layer or region, a general covariation occurs at a global scale. We distinguish two main contrasted situations: (1) concomitant changes in Chla and bbp that correspond to actual variations in phytoplankton biomass, e.g. in subpolar regimes; (2) a decoupling between the two variables attributed to photoacclimation or changes in the relative abundance of non-algal particles, e.g. in subtropical regimes. The variability in the bbp:Chla ratio in the surface layer appears to be essentially influenced by the type of particles and photoacclimation processes. The dense BGC-Argo database helps identifying the spatial and temporal scales at which this ratio is predominantly driven by one or the other of these two factors.
Learning a deep network with spherical part model for 3D hand pose estimation

3D hand pose estimation is a hot research topic in recent years. It's been widely used in many advanced applications for virtual reality and human-computer interaction, since it provides a natural interface for communication between human and cyberspace. Despite the fast development of this field, it is still a difficult task due to the various challenges. In this paper, we aim to build a 3D hand pose estimation system which can correctly detect human hands and accurately estimate its pose using depth images. To guarantee the robustness of our system, we design a hand model called spherical part model (SPM), and train a deep convolutional neural network using this model. Moreover, to reduce the influence of human's omissions, we use a data-driven approach to integrate them together. Our network can more accurately estimate hand pose based on prior knowledge of human hand. To demonstrate the superiority of our method, a complete experiment is conducted on two public and one self-built datasets. The results show that our system can detect human hands with average precision at almost 90% and the average error distance of the pose estimation is about 10 millimeters, and is better than the other state of the art works.
Use of Global Risk Score for Cardiovascular Evaluation of Rural Workers in Southern Brazil

The objectives of the present study were to classify the cardiovascular evaluation of rural workers through the Global Risk Score and analyze the intensity of the relationship between the classification and the variables of the score. A descriptive study was developed with 38 rural workers from the extreme southern Brazil. Data collection was performed through an interview and verification of anthropometric measurements and arterial blood pressure. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Spearman correlation test. The overall 10-year cardiovascular risk classification using the Framingham global score showed a predominance of low risk (n = 22; 57.9%); however, 11 rural workers (28.9%) had a high cardiovascular risk. Spearman's correlation analysis showed significance between the Global Risk Score and gender (rho = 0.623, p ≤ 0.001), age (rho = 0.783, p ≤ 0.001), systolic blood pressure (rho = 0.545, p ≤ 0.001), and smoking (rho = 0.483, p = 0.002). These results show that rural workers need attention with regard to components that may put them at risk for cardiovascular disease. This study may help in the early diagnosis and more effective actions on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Thiol-Activated Hydrogen Sulfide Donors Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

We have recently shown that endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an important cellular gaseous mediator, exerts an antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, and that exogenous H2S delivered via the synthetic H2S-releasing compound GYY4137 also has similar properties. In this study, we sought to extend our findings to a novel class of H2S donors, thiol-activated gem-dithiol-based (TAGDDs). In an in vitro model of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, TAGDD-1 treatment significantly reduced viral replication, even when added up to six hours after infection. Using a mouse model of RSV infection, intranasal delivery of TAGDD-1 to infected mice significantly reduced viral replication and lung inflammation, markedly improving clinical disease parameters and pulmonary dysfunction, compared to vehicle treated controls. Overall our results indicate that this novel synthetic class of H2S-releasing compounds exerts antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity in the context of RSV infection and represents a potential novel pharmacological approach to ameliorate viral-induced lung disease.
Asthma Control and Asthma Medication Use among Swedish Elite Endurance Athletes

Background Asthma is common in elite athletes. In this study, we examined the use of asthma medication and asthma control in endurance athletes in Sweden and compared the findings with those in a reference group of patients with asthma. Methods The Asthma Control Test (ACT) and a questionnaire on asthma, respiratory symptoms, and medication use were posted to endurance athletes (n=711) and the reference group of patients with asthma (n=1026). Four hundred and sixty-nine athletes (66%) responded, of whom 141 (20%) reported physician-diagnosed asthma. In the reference group, 397 (39%) responded. Results Seventy-seven percent of the athletes with asthma reported using asthma medication during the previous year; 39% used short/long-acting β2-agonists, 31% used inhaled corticosteroids, and 31% used both daily. According to the ACT scores, 19%, 24%, and 58% of athletes with asthma had uncontrolled, partially controlled, or well-controlled asthma, respectively. After adjustment, there was no difference in ACT scores or daily use of asthma medication between the study groups. Conclusions Many endurance athletes had uncontrolled or partially controlled asthma, and one-third used inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists daily. Their adjusted ACT scores and use of asthma medication were similar to the values in the reference population.
Applying User-Centered Design Methods to the Development of an mHealth Application for Use in the Hospital Setting by Patients and Care Partners

Abstract Introduction Developing an optimized and user-friendly mHealth application for patients and family members in the hospital environment presents unique challenges given the diverse patient population and patients' various states of well-being. Objective This article describes user-centered design methods and results for developing the patient and family facing user interface and functionality of MySafeCare, a safety reporting tool for hospitalized patients and their family members. Methods Individual and group usability sessions were conducted with specific testing scenarios for participants to follow to test the usability and functionality of the tool. Participants included patients, family members, and Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) members. Engagement rounds were also conducted on study units and lessons learned provided additional information to the usability work. Usability results were aligned with Nielsen's Usability Heuristics. Results Eleven patients and family members and 25 PFAC members participated in usability testing and over 250 patients and family members were engaged during research team rounding. Specific themes resulting from the usability testing sessions influenced the changes made to the user interface design, workflow functionality, and terminology. Conclusion User-centered design should focus on workflow functionality, terminology, and user interface issues for mHealth applications. These themes illustrated issues aligned with four of Nielsen's Usability Heuristics: match between system and the real world, consistency and standards, flexibility and efficiency of use, and aesthetic and minimalist design. We identified workflow and terminology issues that may be specific to the use of an mHealth application focused on safety and used by hospitalized patients and their families.
Novel Keratinolytic Activity of Cyberlindnera fabianii Nrc3 Aza as A Plant Growth Promoting Agent (PGPA)

Two field experiments had been conducted in Nubaria sandy soil, Behaira Governate, Egypt to show the effect of keratinase enzyme produced by the novel microbial isolate ( Cyberlindnera fabianii NRC3 Aza) on plants.The trials had been conducted in the two successive summer seasons (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) to show the effect of keratinase enzyme from degraded feather–waste on the morphology and chemical composition of peas pods ( Pisumsativum L.)–family Fabaceae ( Leguminasae ). In 2011/2012 season, only the chemical analysis of the dried powdered beads was studied. In 2012/2013 season, the morphological studies of the yield were considered beside the chemical ones. The results depicted significant effects of the sprayed enzyme (keratinase) on peas as plant growth promoting agent (PGPA), compared with the blank (sprayed with water). Electrophoreses and amino acid analysis were carried out for the characterization of the partial pure keratinase enzyme. Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(4): 609-618
De novo Synthesis of Chemical Defenses in an Aposematic Moth

Abstract Many animals protect themselves from predation with chemicals, both self-made or sequestered from their diet. The potential drivers of the diversity of these chemicals have been long studied, but our knowledge of these chemicals and their acquisition mode is heavily based on specialist herbivores that sequester their defenses. The wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis, Linnaeus, 1758) is a well-studied aposematic species, but the nature of its chemical defenses has not been fully described . Here, we report the presence of two methoxypyrazines, 2-sec-butyl-3-methoxypyrazine and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, in the moths’ defensive secretions. By raising larvae on an artificial diet, we confirm, for the first time, that their defensive compounds are produced de novo rather than sequestered from their diet. Pyrazines are known for their defensive function in invertebrates due to their distinctive odor, inducing aversion and facilitating predator learning. While their synthesis has been suspected, it has never previously been experimentally confirmed. Our results highlight the importance of considering de novo synthesis, in addition to sequestration, when studying the defensive capabilities of insects and other invertebrates.
Dynamic Indeterminacy and Welfare in Credit Economies

We characterize the set of dynamic equilibria of a pure credit economy with random matching and limited commitment. For standard trading mechanisms there are a continuum of steady states, a continuum of credit cycle equilibria of any periodicity, a subset of which yield a higher welfare than the ones singled out in the literature, and a continuum of sunspot equilibria. The set of equilibria expands as agents become more patient, trading opportunities are more frequent, and borrowers have more bargaining power. We characterize the constrained-e¢ cient allocations under both pairwise and centralized meetings, and we establish conditions under which the second welfare theorem of Alvarez and Jermann (2000) fails to apply to our economy, i.e., constrained-e¢ cient allocations cannot be implemented with "not-too-tight" solvency constraints.
Fast vessel segmentation in retinal images using multi-scale enhancement and second-order local entropy

Retinal vasculature is one of the most important anatomical structures in digital retinal photographs. Accurate segmentation of retinal blood vessels is an essential task in automated analysis of retinopathy. This paper presents a new and effective vessel segmentation algorithm that features computational simplicity and fast implementation. This method uses morphological pre-processing to decrease the disturbance of bright structures and lesions before vessel extraction. Next, a vessel probability map is generated by computing the eigenvalues of the second derivatives of Gaussian filtered image at multiple scales. Then, the second order local entropy thresholding is applied to segment the vessel map. Lastly, a rule-based decision step, which measures the geometric shape difference between vessels and lesions is applied to reduce false positives. The algorithm is evaluated on the low-resolution DRIVE and STARE databases and the publicly available high-resolution image database from Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany). The proposed method achieved comparable performance to state of the art unsupervised vessel segmentation methods with a competitive faster speed on the DRIVE and STARE databases. For the high resolution fundus image database, the proposed algorithm outperforms an existing approach both on performance and speed. The efficiency and robustness make the blood vessel segmentation method described here suitable for broad application in automated analysis of retinal images.