Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Layered Coding for the Interference Channel With a Relay

This paper studies and derives new results for the interference channel with a relay (ICR). Three inner bounds for the discrete memoryless ICR are proposed, based on three coding strategies that employ layered code at the relay. The first scheme is inspired by layered noisy network coding, proposed by Lim et al. for the two-way relay channel, the second and the third schemes rely on simpler encoding and decoding processes, dubbed layered quantize-forward. Performance of the proposed schemes is investigated for two classes of channels with Gaussian noise: the interference channel with in-band relay reception/out-of-band relay transmission and the interference with in-band relay reception/in-band relay transmission. For the former class of channels, it is shown that the first proposed scheme achieves the same inner bound as the generalized hash-forward scheme with incremental binning. In addition, the inner bound is within 0.5 bit of the capacity region under certain conditions on the channel parameters. For the latter class of channels, new upper bounds on sum-rate are established by extending known upper bounds for symmetric channels. The first inner bound is shown to be within 0.5 bit of the capacity region if the relay's power exceeds a certain threshold, which depends on channel parameters. Numerical examples show that the proposed schemes can achieve significantly higher sum-rates when compared with other compress-forward schemes. Analysis also reveals a tradeoff between achievable rates, coding delay, and complexity of the proposed schemes. Results in this paper provide a better understanding of coding for the ICR, in particular, they show that layered coding is a beneficial element in multiuser networks with relays.
The Effect of Composite Pig Islet-Human Endothelial Cell Grafts on the Instant Blood-Mediated Inflammatory Reaction

Instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) causes rapid islet loss in portal vein islet transplantation. Endothelial cells are known to protect against complement-mediated lysis and activation of coagulation. We tested composite pig islet–human endothelial cell grafts as a strategy to overcome IBMIR. Porcine islets were cocultured with human endothelial cells in specially modified culture medium composed of M199 and M200 for 1–9 days. A positive control group, negative control group, and the endothelial cell-coated group were examined with an in vitro tubing loop assay using human blood. The endothelial cell-coated group was subdivided and analyzed by degree of surface coverage by endothelial cells (≤50% vs. >50%) or coculture time (<5 days vs. ≥ 5 days). Platelet consumption and complement and coagulation activation were assessed by platelet count, C3a, and thrombin–antithrombin complex (TAT), respectively. After 60-min incubation in human blood, the endothelial cell-coated group showed platelet consumption inhibition and low C3a and TAT assay results compared to uncoated controls. When the endothelial cell-coated group was subdivided by degree of surface coverage, the ≤50% coated group showed less platelet consumption and less activation of complement and coagulation compared with the positive control (uncoated) group. On analysis by coculture time, only the subgroup cocultured for <5 days showed the same protective effect. Human endothelial cell-coated pig islets, especially the partially coated and short-term cocultured pig islet–human endothelial cell composites, reduced all components of IBMIR. If the optimal endothelial cell–islet coculture method could be identified, human endothelial cell coating of pig islets would offer new strategies to improve xenogenic islet transplantation outcomes.
Critical appraisal of paclitaxel balloon angioplasty for femoral–popliteal arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease, particularly critical limb ischemia, is an area with urgent need for optimized therapies because, to date, vascular interventions often have limited life spans. In spite of initial encouraging technical success after femoropopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stenting, postprocedural restenosis remains the major problem. The challenging idea behind the drug-coated balloon (DCB) concept is the biological modification of the injury response after balloon dilatation. Antiproliferative drugs administered via DCBs or drug-eluting stents are able to suppress neointimal hyperplasia, the main cause of restenosis. This article reviews the results of DCB treatments of femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal lesions in comparison to standard angioplasty with uncoated balloons. A systematic literature search was performed in 1) medical journals (ie, MEDLINE), 2) international registers for clinical studies (ie, www.clinicaltrials.gov), and 3) abstracts of scientific sessions. Several controlled randomized trials with follow-up periods of up to 5 years demonstrated the efficacy of paclitaxel –DCB technology. However, calcified lesions seem to affect the efficacy of DCB. Combinations of preconditioning methods with DCBs showed promising results. Although the mechanical abrasion of calcium via atherectomy or laser ablation showed favorable periprocedural results, the long-term impact on restenosis and clinical outcome has to be demonstrated. Major advantages of the DCBs are the rapid delivery of drug at uniform concentrations with a single dose, their efficacy in areas wherein stents have been contraindicated until now (ie, bifurcation, ostial lesions), and in leaving no stent scaffold behind. Reinterventions are easier to perform because DCBs leave no metal behind. Various combinations of DCBs with other treatment modalities may prove to be viable options in future. The follow-up results of clinical studies will evaluate the long-term impact of DCBs.
Correlates of Psychotherapy Use Among Ethnically Diverse College Students

College student mental health is a public health concern. Mental health disorders that are diagnosed early in life have been found to predict educational attainment, employment and productivity, and interpersonal relation­ ships (Byrd & McKinney, 2012; Eisenberg, Speer, & Hunt, 2012; Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Mental health issues among college students are usually related to adjustment and developmental challenges. Throughout the years, mental health problems in college students have grown in complexity and severity. The literature and news media have reported several incidents related to mental health issues among college students that have led to tragic events (e.g., Castillo & Schwartz, 2013; Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Furthermore, the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors indicated that in the past decade there has been an increase in the number of students with more severe psychological problems such as substance­use disorders, problems associated with sexual assault, and self­injury (Castillo & Schwartz, 2013). Therefore, it is important that we continue to understand variables that contribute to psychotherapy use among college students. Scholars of mental health literature have noted that college students are among those who underutilize services when necessary (Cheng, Kwan, & Sevig, 2013; Joyce, Ross, Vander Wal, & Austin, 2009). Correlates of psychotherapy use include help­seeking attitudes (Corrigan, Morris, Michaels, Rafacz, & Rüsch, 2012), mental health stigma (Cheng et al., 2013; Corrigan, Watson, Warpinski, & Gracia, 2004), and psychological distress (Arria et al., 2011; Downs & Eisenberg, 2012). In addition, some authors have highlighted the importance of intersecting identities on mental health services use (e.g., Castillo & Schwartz, 2013; Donovan et al., 2013). Given the increasing diversity on college campuses, attention needs to be given to better understand the variables that impact the use of psychological services among college students from diverse backgrounds. According to Marsh and Wilcoxon (2015), data indicate that anywhere from 30% to 45% of college students in nonclinical samples report some form of mental health problem. Factors that impact college students’ mental health may include coping with educational demands, academic self­confidence, and forming new social relationships (Watkins, Hunt, & Eisenberg, 2011). Furthermore, research notes that some individuals report not completing college as a result of early onset mental health issues (Marsh & Wilcoxon, 2015). Given the impact of mental health on an individual’s functioning and the potential negative impact on the success of college students, it is imperative
Long Non-Coding RNA BANCR Promotes Proliferation in Malignant Melanoma by Regulating MAPK Pathway Activation

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be implicated in the complex network of cancer including malignant melanoma and play important roles in tumorigenesis and progression. However, their functions and downstream mechanisms are largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether BRAF-activated non-coding RNA (BANCR), a novel and potential regulator of melanoma cell, participates in the proliferation of malignant melanoma and elucidate the underlying mechanism in this process. We found that BANCR was abnormally overexpressed in human malignant melanoma cell lines and tissues, and increased with tumor stages by quantitative PCR. BANCR knockdown induced by shRNA transfection significantly inhibited proliferation of tumor cells and inactivated MAPK pathway, especially by silencing the ERK1/2 and JNK component. Moreover, combination treatment of BANCR knockdown and suppression ERK1/2 or JNK (induced by specific inhibitors U0126 or SP600125 respectively) produced synergistic inhibitory effects in vitro. And the inhibitory effects induced by ERK1/2 or JNK could be rescued by BANCR overexpression. By tumorigenicity assay in BALB/c nude mice, we further found that BANCR knockdown inhibited tumor growth in vivo. In addition, patients with high expression of BANCR had a lower survival rate. Taken together, we confirmed the abnormal upregulation of a novel lncRNA, BANCR, in human malignant melanoma. BANCR was involved in melanoma cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. The linkage between BANCR and MAPK pathway may provide a novel interpretation for the mechanism of proliferation regulation in malignant melanoma.
The level of blast CD33 expression positively impacts the effect of gemtuzumab ozogamicin in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

To the editor: Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is an immunoconjugate, combining an anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody to calicheamicin, a highly cytotoxic antibiotic. First developed as single agent in adults with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML),[1][1] it was then evaluated in combination with
Revisiting Robustness and Evolvability: Evolution in Weighted Genotype Spaces

Robustness and evolvability are highly intertwined properties of biological systems. The relationship between these properties determines how biological systems are able to withstand mutations and show variation in response to them. Computational studies have explored the relationship between these two properties using neutral networks of RNA sequences (genotype) and their secondary structures (phenotype) as a model system. However, these studies have assumed every mutation to a sequence to be equally likely; the differences in the likelihood of the occurrence of various mutations, and the consequence of probabilistic nature of the mutations in such a system have previously been ignored. Associating probabilities to mutations essentially results in the weighting of genotype space. We here perform a comparative analysis of weighted and unweighted neutral networks of RNA sequences, and subsequently explore the relationship between robustness and evolvability. We show that assuming an equal likelihood for all mutations (as in an unweighted network), underestimates robustness and overestimates evolvability of a system. In spite of discarding this assumption, we observe that a negative correlation between sequence (genotype) robustness and sequence evolvability persists, and also that structure (phenotype) robustness promotes structure evolvability, as observed in earlier studies using unweighted networks. We also study the effects of base composition bias on robustness and evolvability. Particularly, we explore the association between robustness and evolvability in a sequence space that is AU-rich – sequences with an AU content of 80% or higher, compared to a normal (unbiased) sequence space. We find that evolvability of both sequences and structures in an AU-rich space is lesser compared to the normal space, and robustness higher. We also observe that AU-rich populations evolving on neutral networks of phenotypes, can access less phenotypic variation compared to normal populations evolving on neutral networks.
Some power of an element in a Garside group is conjugate to a periodically geodesic element

We show that for each element g of a Garside group, there exists a positive integer m such that gm is conjugate to a periodically geodesic element h, an element with |hn|𝒟 = |n| · |h|𝒟 for all integers n, where |g|𝒟 denotes the shortest word length of g with respect to the set 𝒟 of simple elements. We also show that there is a finite‐time algorithm that computes, given an element of a Garside group, its stable super summit set.
How does ownership structure and manager wealth influence risk? : a look at ownership structure, manager wealth, and risk in commercial banks

Bank managers, stockholders, and directors must work closely together in deciding what risks their bank will assume and how to control the bank's overall risk exposure. Each decision-maker will have to understand the risk preferences of others in order to make mutually acceptable decisions and develop policies that reflect all of their concerns. To the extent that weak risk control is tied to management and ownership structure, bank examiners must also understand the basic components of a sound management and ownership structure if the examiner is to suggest corrective steps for a problem institution. ; This study looks at a sample of Tenth Federal Reserve District banks to investigate the relationship between bank risk, ownership of the bank by managers, and the degree to which managers and owners have their wealth concentrated in their bank stockholdings. Data for 270 randomly selected banks reveal that ownership and wealth diversification of bank owners and managers do influence bank risk. These effects extend not only to the overall risk of the bank, but are also reflected uniquely in asset quality measures, bank leverage, and other parts of a bank's risk exposure. ; Major findings highlight connections between bank risk, ownership structure, and manager wealth. Banks are less risky when bank managers have a higher concentration of wealth in their bank and, thus, have more to lose from taking on additional risk. Possibly seeking to avoid large loan losses that could threaten their employment, hired managers typically operate their banks with lower credit risk than banks with owner managers. Using capital as a buffer against risk, owner-manager banks tend to have higher capitalization than banks with hired managers. Stock ownership by hired managers provides incentives to operate their bank more in line with the risk preferences of owners. Finally, a hired-manager bank will be less risky when a major owner monitoring the bank has much of his or her wealth concentrated in the bank's stock. ; Thus, ownership structure and concentration of wealth in bank equity have a significant influence on bank risk. Understanding how risk preferences depend on ownership and wealth diversification can be valuable information to managers and owners as they grapple with the level and type of risk to take in their banks.
Glutathione Restores the Mechanism of Synaptic Plasticity in Aged Mice to That of the Adult

Glutathione (GSH), the major endogenous antioxidant produced by cells, can modulate the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) through its reducing functions. During aging, an increase in oxidative stress leads to decreased levels of GSH in the brain. Concurrently, aging is characterized by calcium dysregulation, thought to underlie impairments in hippocampal NMDAR-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity thought to represent a cellular model for memory. Here we show that orally supplementing aged mice with N-acetylcysteine, a precursor for the formation of glutathione, reverses the L-type calcium channel-dependent LTP seen in aged animals to NMDAR-dependent LTP. In addition, introducing glutathione in the intrapipette solution during whole-cell recordings restores LTP obtained in whole-cell conditions in the aged hippocampus. We conclude that aging leads to a reduced redox potential in hippocampal neurons, triggering impairments in LTP.
Glucosylceramide Synthase Inhibition of Melanoma Tumor Growth by a Novel Inhibitor of Updated

Tumor ganglioside metabolism has been implicated in modulating tumor formation and progression. We found previously that transient ganglioside depletion by inhibition of glucosylceramide synthesis of MEB4 melanoma cells in vitro reduced their tumorigenic capability. Here, we have established that treatment of the host with a novel p.o. inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthesis, the imino sugar OGT2378, inhibits MEB4 melanoma tumor growth in a syngeneic, orthotopic murine model. The glucosylceramide and ganglioside content of MEB4 cells exposed to 20 M OGT2378 in culture were reduced by 93 and >95%, respectively, without either cytotoxic or antiproliferative effects. Administered in the diet to C57BL/6 mice, 2500 mg/kg/day OGT2378 was well tolerated in vivo and biologically active, depleting host tissue (hepatic) gangliosides by 82% and tumor gangliosides by >98%. p.o. treatment with OGT2378 starting 3 days before intradermal tumor inoculation of 4 10 MEB4 cells, and continuing for 4 weeks, resulted in a 10-fold lower mean tumor volume at the end of treatment (60 versus 538 mm, P < 0.0001). Even when OGT2378 treatment was initiated 7 days after tumor inoculation, tumor growth was similarly impeded (61 versus 620 mm, P < 0.0001), demonstrating an effect on an established tumor. The effectiveness of p.o. OGT2378 in this murine model suggests that inhibition of glycosphingolipid synthesis is a promising and now feasible novel therapeutic approach to inhibit tumor progression.
Moving Forward: Tackling Stigma in a Tanzanian Community

Although there are a growing number of programs working to reduce stigma few of these programs have been evaluated particularly at the community level. Documentation and evaluation of these pioneering efforts is essential so that successful program elements can be replicated and scaled up. To help fill this gap ICRW the Muhimbili University College of the Health Sciences (MUCHS) the Horizons Program of Population Council and Family Health International (FHI) conducted an evaluation of a community-based effort to reduce stigma in a peri-urban community in Tanzania. Results: People recognize stigma. Both fear and value drivers of stigma remain high. Fear-driven stigma is hard to shift despite high knowledge of HIV. Individuals exposed to KPE activities reported less stigmatizing attitudes. Community members observed more instances of discrimination / enacted stigma. Balozi leaders are a promising entry point for intervention. KPE’s program did not reduce stigma community wide. The stigma indicators performed solidly over time. (Excerpts)
Learning Discriminative Fisher Kernels

Fisher kernels provide a commonly used vectorial representation of structured objects. The paper presents a technique that exploits label information to improve the object representation of Fisher kernels by employing ideas from metric learning. In particular, the new technique trains a generative model in such a way that the distance between the log-likelihood gradients induced by two objects with the same label is as small as possible, and the distance between the gradients induced by two objects with different labels is as large as possible. We illustrate the strong performance of classifiers trained on the resulting object representations on problems in handwriting recognition, speech recognition, facial expression analysis, and bio-informatics.
Empowerment (character, motivation, and regulatory mode), positive affect, and resilience

Positive affectivity plays an important role in the endowment of resilience, which in turn is an important factor for individuals’ adaptation to adversities in the changing environment. Based on hope theory and the Science of Well-Being we investigate a ternary model (character, motivation, and regulatory mode) for individual empowerment that promotes positive affectivity. A total of 1,876 participants, four separate samples, responded to the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (Study I-IV), the Temperament and Character Inventory (Study I), the modified Situational Motivation Scale (Study II), the Regulatory Mode Questionnaire (Study III), and the modified Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Study IV). We investigated, separately, each empowerment component’s relationship to positive affect (Study I-III) and the positive affect-resilience relationship (Study IV). Four regression analyses showed that character (β = .28; Study I), intrinsic motivation (β = .35; Study II) and locomotion (β = .53; Study III) predicted positive affect, which in turn, predicted resilience (β = .53; Study IV). The ternary structure of empowerment (character, intrinsic motivation, and locomotion) does indeed predict positive affect thereby endowering individuals with a strength that emerges as resilience. However, the Ternary Empowerment Model suggested here needs to be further developed and studied in order to ensure that it actually is ternary in nature.
ANALYSIS OF MEANS TO IMPROVE COOPERATIVE DISPARITY ESTIMATION

(Zitnick and Kanade, 2000) proposes a cooperative approach for disparity estimation from stereo imagery based on support and inhibition in three-dimensional (3D) disparity space. By several means we obtain a significant improvement over the results reported for (Zitnick and Kanade, 2000) in (Scharstein and Szeliski, 2002). The results are in the range of the best approaches in (Scharstein and Szeliski, 2002), while the numerical complexity of our approach compares favorably to these approaches. Our main contribution lies in analyzing the different means for improvement including their performance gain. The most important are the use of symmetric support, the combination of absolute differences and (normalized) cross-correlation weighted by the strength of the horizontal gradient, the use of auto-correlation to estimate the significance of a matching score, the preference for small disparities to obtain more meaningful results for occluded regions, and the enforcement of the alignment of disparity and image gradient. Results for additional images with the same set of parameters show that the means are applicable to a wider range of imagery.