Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Numerical Methods on the Basis of Fuzzy Approximation

The notion of a fuzzy set, a natural extension of a classical set, was defined in 1965 by L.A. Zadeh; see [16]. Since that time, the fuzzy set theory has been deeply developed and it has influenced many fields of applications and therefore we can find results in branches like: fuzzy time series, fuzzy modeling, fuzzy graph theory and finally, the most often one fuzzy control. In general, the fundamental idea behind most of them is hidden in expressing dependencies between variables by conditional sentences of human language. The sentences are called fuzzy rules and together they determine so-called fuzzy rule base. One of the main points of of all ’fuzzy theories’ is to reasonably answer how to interpret a fuzzy rule base. Two main forms, namely DNF and CNF (the disjunctive normal form and the conjunctive normal form), of such interpretations are described; see [7]. It is worth mentioning that the DNF in a combination with the minimum t-norm determines well known Mamdani-Assilian’s approach, perhaps the most often used approach in applications; see [5]. Other results concerning the DNF interpretation can be found in [3, 4]. Some results aiming at the CNF interpretations have been published in [7, 11, 1]. For some reasons (higher computational efforts, discontinuity), the CNF approach is the less favorite one, however, a universal approximation ability has been proved for both approaches; see [3, 7, 11, 1]. Moreover, the CNF approach has deep logical roots since the generalized modus ponens is involved in it; see [2]. A fuzzy approach to an approximation surely brings some advantages, namely robustness, interpretability, transparency, or simplicity. Since any approximation model can replace an approximated function in further numerical computations to decrease computational efforts we can establish numerical methods on the basis of fuzzy approximation models. Here we keep this name proposed by I. Perfilieva, the author of one particular fuzzy approximation technique called the fuzzy transform; see [8, 9]. Numerical methods using this simplified model has been already successfully applied. We refer to applications to ordinary differential equations in [6], partial differential equations [13, 14] and noise removing [12]. Promising results have been achieved in the data compression as well; see [10].
Hyperphosphataemia and related mortality.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have a dramatically higher risk of death compared with the general population [1]. In 1998, Block et al. showed that hyperphosphataemia and a high calcium phosphorus product are independently associated with mortality in dialysis patients [2]. More recently, based on a large cohort, the same authors have confirmed these findings adding hypercalcaemia and severe hyperparathyroidism (HPT) to risk factors for mortality. They have shown that the mortality risk associated with disorders of mineral metabolism is higher than that associated with a low urea reduction ratio (URR) and anaemia [3]. These risk factors for mortality were confirmed in the DOPPS study [4] and more recently in the USRDS waves study [5]. The excess mortality observed in dialysis patients is mainly of cardiovascular origin and it has been associated with cardiovascular calcifications in ESRD patients [6–8]. Non-modifiable risk factors (such as age, diabetes and dialysis vintage) and co-morbid factors (such as hypertension, tobacco use, hyperlipidaemia and chronic inflammation), which are prevalent among dialysis patients, are the main risk factors for increased mortality; disorders of bone mineral metabolism and related treatments are also contributory, as shown by Guerin and London [9,10]. Recently, these authors also pointedout that hyperphosphataemia per se, its associated treatments (calciumbased and aluminium-containing phosphate binders) and complications (parathyroidectomy and adynamic bone disease) are linked to a high prevalence of vascular calcification. However, the underlying relationship between calcium–phosphorus balance and vascular calcification is still unclear. Based on earlier data, the DOQI guidelines for management of bone and mineral disease recommend targets for serum phosphorus level (3.5–5.5mg/dl) and serum calcium phosphorus product (55mg/dl) for calcium corrected for albumin [11]. The general acceptance and wide dissemination of these guidelines enable us to estimate the proportion of patients meeting the guidelines in each country. In the USRDS Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study, a HD patient in 1993 had a 53.6% rate of hyperphosphataemia [5]. Bone mineral disorders were reported 10 years later by the DOPPS study (Table 1) [4] and the prevalence of hyperphosphataemia remained high in most countries, with 46.7% of patients having phosphate levels >5.5mg/dl in spite of phosphate binders being used in 80% of patients (DOPPS II). We can conclude from this that current dialysis schedules, dietary interventions and medications are not sufficient to meet the DOQI targets for phosphate. Why? Are the treatments available inadequate or just not powerful enough? Can we improve their use?
Cancer Screening Knowledge Changes

Background: Women with developmental disabilities are much less likely than nondisabled women to receive cervical and breast cancer screening according to clinical guidelines. One barrier to receipt of screenings is a lack of knowledge about preventive screenings. Method: To address this barrier, we used a randomized control trial (n = 175 women) to test Women Be Healthy, an intervention designed to promote cervical and breast cancer screening for women with developmental disabilities. Women assigned to the experimental group participated in weekly health education program for 8 weeks. Women assigned to the control group participated in their regular vocational training or educational activities. Results: Unadjusted findings indicated modest gains for both groups in knowledge related to cervical and breast cancer screening. Regression results indicated statistically significant but modest knowledge gains for the experimental group related to breast cancer screening. Implications: These findings indicate that the Women Be Healthy curriculum is promising but needs to better address cervical cancer.
Global Organization of a Positive-strand RNA Virus Genome

The genomes of plus-strand RNA viruses contain many regulatory sequences and structures that direct different viral processes. The traditional view of these RNA elements are as local structures present in non-coding regions. However, this view is changing due to the discovery of regulatory elements in coding regions and functional long-range intra-genomic base pairing interactions. The ∼4.8 kb long RNA genome of the tombusvirus tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) contains these types of structural features, including six different functional long-distance interactions. We hypothesized that to achieve these multiple interactions this viral genome must utilize a large-scale organizational strategy and, accordingly, we sought to assess the global conformation of the entire TBSV genome. Atomic force micrographs of the genome indicated a mostly condensed structure composed of interconnected protrusions extending from a central hub. This configuration was consistent with the genomic secondary structure model generated using high-throughput selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analysed by primer extension (i.e. SHAPE), which predicted different sized RNA domains originating from a central region. Known RNA elements were identified in both domain and inter-domain regions, and novel structural features were predicted and functionally confirmed. Interestingly, only two of the six long-range interactions known to form were present in the structural model. However, for those interactions that did not form, complementary partner sequences were positioned relatively close to each other in the structure, suggesting that the secondary structure level of viral genome structure could provide a basic scaffold for the formation of different long-range interactions. The higher-order structural model for the TBSV RNA genome provides a snapshot of the complex framework that allows multiple functional components to operate in concert within a confined context.
Using automated program repair for evaluating the effectiveness of fault localization techniques

Many techniques on automated fault localization (AFL) have been introduced to assist developers in debugging. Prior studies evaluate the localization technique from the viewpoint of developers: measuring how many benefits that developers can obtain from the localization technique used when debugging. However, these evaluation approaches are not always suitable, because it is difficult to quantify precisely the benefits due to the complex debugging behaviors of developers. In addition, recent user studies have presented that developers working with AFL do not correct the defects more efficiently than ones working with only traditional debugging techniques such as breakpoints, even when the effectiveness of AFL is artificially improved. In this paper we attempt to propose a new research direction of developing AFL techniques from the viewpoint of fully automated debugging including the program repair of automation, for which the activity of AFL is necessary. We also introduce the NCP score as the evaluation measurement to assess and compare various techniques from this perspective. Our experiment on 15 popular AFL techniques with 11 subject programs shipping with real-life field failures presents the evidence that these AFL techniques performing well in prior studies do not have better localization effectiveness according to NCP score. We also observe that Jaccard has the better performance over other techniques in our experiment.
Using memory profile analysis for automatic synthesis of pointers code

One of the main advantages of high-level synthesis (HLS) is the ability to synthesize circuits that can access multiple memory banks in parallel. Current HLS systems synthesize parallel memory references based on explicit array declarations in the source code. We consider the need to synthesize not only array references but also memory operations targeting pointers and dynamic data structures. This paper describes Automatic Memory Partitioning, a method for automatically synthesizing general data structures (arrays and pointers) into multiple memory banks for increased parallelism and performance. We use source code instrumentation to collect memory traces in order to detect linear memory access patterns. The memory traces are used to split data structures into disjoint memory regions and determine which segments may benefit from parallel memory access. We present an algorithm for allocating memory segments into multiple memory banks. Experiments show significant improvements in performance while conserving the number of memory banks.
A Cross-Cultural Study of the Denver Prescreening Developmental Questionnaire

The purpose of this study is to examine the variation of the scores of the DPDQby different cultural factors, especially the urban and weather factors. Another purpose of this study is to compare the scores of the DPDQ in a rural village and an urban city with those in Tokyo and the Yaeyama Islands. In summer, the scores of the DPDQ in a rural village were significantly lower than those in an urban city. But in winter, the scores of the DPDQ in a rural village did not differ significantly from those in an urban city. The reason was the difference of the mothers' life between a rural village and an urban city. In summer and winter, the scores of the DPDQin a rural village, an urban city, Tokyo and the Yaeyama islands differed significantly. The reasons were that the persons who answered the DPDQ and the places where it was administered varied widely. When we evaluate child development by using the DPDQ, we need to consider these factors.
Quality Selection, Chinese Exports and Theories of Heterogeneous Firm Trade

Recent models of international trade have identified product quality as an important determinant of bilateral trade flows. Yet relatively little is understood about the relationship between the characteristics of the export market and the quality of products. In this paper we examine this link using Chinese data. We find evidence that product unit values vary with standard gravity variables in a different manner across sectors of the Chinese economy, and run contrary to earlier findings for the U.S. These results are not compatible with existing heterogeneous firm trade models such as Melitz (2003) model and its extension to include product quality by Baldwin and Harrigan (2007). To explain these differences we propose a heterogeneous firm trade model with quality differences and spatial price discrimination based on Melitz and Ottaviano (2007).
Continuous Influenza Virus Production in Cell Culture Shows a Periodic Accumulation of Defective Interfering Particles

Influenza viruses are a major public health burden during seasonal epidemics and a continuous threat due to their potential to cause pandemics. Annual vaccination provides the best protection against the contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. However, the current production capacities for influenza vaccines are insufficient to meet the increasing demands. We explored the possibility to establish a continuous production process for influenza viruses using the duck-derived suspension cell line AGE1.CR. A two-stage bioreactor setup was designed in which cells were cultivated in a first stirred tank reactor where an almost constant cell concentration was maintained. Cells were then constantly fed to a second bioreactor where virus infection and replication took place. Using this two-stage reactor system, it was possible to continuously produce influenza viruses. Surprisingly, virus titers showed a periodic increase and decrease during the run-time of 17 days. These titer fluctuations were caused by the presence of defective interfering particles (DIPs), which we detected by PCR. Mathematical modeling confirmed this observation showing that constant virus titers can only emerge in the absence of DIPs. Even with very low amounts of DIPs in the seed virus and very low rates for de novo DIP generation, defective viruses rapidly accumulate and, therefore, represent a serious challenge for continuous vaccine production. Yet, the continuous replication of influenza virus using a two-stage bioreactor setup is a novel tool to study aspects of viral evolution and the impact of DIPs.
The SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances. IV. SBF Magnitudes, Colors, and Distances

We report data for I-band surface brightness fluctuation (SBF) magnitudes, (V-I) colors, and distance moduli for 300 galaxies. The survey contains E, S0, and early-type spiral galaxies in the proportions of 49 : 42 : 9 and is essentially complete for E galaxies to Hubble velocities of 2000 km s-1, with a substantial sampling of E galaxies out to 4000 km s-1. The median error in distance modulus is 0.22 mag. We also present two new results from the survey. (1) We compare the mean peculiar flow velocity (bulk flow) implied by our distances with predictions of typical cold dark matter transfer functions as a function of scale, and we find very good agreement with cold, dark matter cosmologies if the transfer function scale parameter Γ and the power spectrum normalization σ8 are related by σ8Γ-0.5 ≈ 2 ± 0.5. Derived directly from velocities, this result is independent of the distribution of galaxies or models for biasing. This modest bulk flow contradicts reports of large-scale, large-amplitude flows in the ~200 Mpc diameter volume surrounding our survey volume. (2) We present a distance-independent measure of absolute galaxy luminosity, and show how it correlates with galaxy properties such as color and velocity dispersion, demonstrating its utility for measuring galaxy distances through large and unknown extinction.
Laplacian channel state estimation for state dependent channels

In this paper, we extend the results for optimal transmission of the Gaussian channel state via the state-dependent channels to the communications of the Laplacian data. We derive a minimum mean square estimate (MMSE) of the stationary independent identically (i.i.d.) distributed Laplacian channel state corrupted by an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and demonstrate that estimation accuracy is the same in both cases and does not depend on the channel state pdf. For transmission performance improvement we propose to decompose the Laplacian data using the paradygm of parallel source splitting. We show that for the case of infinite Gaussian mixture approximation of Laplacian source it is possible to significantly improve the performance of the considered communication protocol.
A Comparison of Parallel Graph Coloring Algorithms

Dynamic irregular triangulated meshes are used in adaptive grid partial diierential equation (PDE) solvers, and in simulations of random surface models of quantum gravity in physics and cell membranes in biology. Parallel algorithms for random surface simulations and adaptive grid PDE solvers require coloring of the triangulated mesh, so that neighboring vertices are not updated simultaneously. Graph coloring is also used in iterative parallel algorithms for solving large irregular sparse matrix equations. Here we introduce some parallel graph coloring algorithms based on well-known sequential heuristic algorithms, and compare them with some existing parallel algorithms. These algorithms are implemented on both SIMD and MIMD parallel architectures and tested for speed, eeciency, and quality (the average number of colors required) for coloring random triangulated meshes and graphs from sparse matrix problems.
Calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside (CG) on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in vivo. Hemodynamic parameters, including ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were monitored using an ultrasound system, and infarct size was measured using Evans blue/tetrazolium chloride double staining. The activities of serum creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined to assess the degree of myocardial injury and oxidative stress-induced damage. The protein expression levels of cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, phosphorylated (p)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) p85, PI3K p85, p-Akt and Akt were determined using western blotting. The results demonstrated that pretreatment with high dose (H)-CG markedly improved cardiac function, as evidenced by upregulated EF, FS and LVESP, and downregulated LVEDP. In addition, administration of CG resulted in significant decreases in infarct size in the I/R+low dose-CG and I/R+H-CG groups, compared with the I/R group. The activities of CK and LDH, and the levels of MDA in the I/R+H-CG group were reduced, compared with those in the I/R group, whereas SOD activity was elevated. Treatment with CG inhibited the cleavage and activity of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and enhanced the phosphorylation of PI3K p85 and Akt. Notably, administration of the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, markedly lowered the levels of p-PI3K p85/p-Akt, and eradicated the inhibitory effects of H-CG on infarct size, myocardial injury and oxidative stress-induced damage. Taken together, the results suggested that CG may alleviate I/R injury by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Augmented instructions - a fusion of augmented reality and printed learning materials

Augmented reality (AR), which overlays virtual objects onto real scenes, has large potential to provide learners with a new type of learning material. Although many AR systems have been developed for demonstration, there is a gap between their ideal and practical use. We discuss a concept for augmented instructions that mix AR and traditional printed materials. Improvement of human-computer interface is considered to serve as a bridge for the gap. To investigate on characteristics of augmented instructions and its appropriate interface, we conducted subjective evaluation, comparing 3D presentation systems; a handheld PC and a head-mounted display. The result suggested that a handheld PC was more suitable for a presentation tool of augmented instructions.
The influence of writing achievement goals and writing selfregulation on college students' writing grades

THE INFLUENCE OF WRITING ACHIEVEMENT GOALS AND WRITING SELFREGULATION ON COLLEGE STUDENTS’ WRITING GRADES By Joseph Tadlock, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2016 Dissertation Chair: Kathleen Cauley, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Foundations of Education This study examined relationships between college students’ writing achievement goal orientations, writing self-regulation, and writing grades. The study was conducted in a postsecondary setting at a large public university in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Using multivariate quantitative techniques (confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling), survey and writing sample data were gathered to address the following research questions: Do college students’ writing achievement goals relate to their writing grades; do college students’ writing achievement goals relate to their writing self-regulation; and, does writing self-regulation partially mediate the relationship between writing achievement goals and writing grades in college writing classrooms? A convenience sample of 107 participants completed both the survey and writing prompt portions of the study. Findings showed that all three writing achievement goal orientations tested (mastery, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance) were related to college students’ writing self-regulation. However, only writing performance-approach orientation was related to college students’ writing grades. Additionally, writing self-regualtion did not partially mediate the relationship between all three writing achievement goal orientations and writing grades as expected. Writing self-regulation did fully mediate the relationships between writing mastery and performance-avoidance goal orientations and writing grades, but failed to mediate the relationship between writing performance-approach goal orientation and writing grades. These findings contradict some of the prior literature on achievement goal orientations and self-regulation. However, these results help bridge a gap in the achievement goal orientation and self-regulation research, as prior studies have predominantly focused on PK-12 settings and domains other than writing (reading, mathematics, science, etc.). The findings from this study are limited by the size and nature of the sample, and the survey items used. Future studies should attempt to gather further insight into the goals college students set for their writing, how those goals impact their self-regulation behaviors, and ultimately their writing grades.