Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Semiparametric inference in mixture models with predictive recursion marginal likelihood

Predictive recursion is an accurate and computationally efficient algorithm for nonparametric estimation of mixing densities in mixture models. In semiparametric mixture models, however, the algorithm fails to account for any uncertainty in the additional unknown structural parameter. As an alternative to existing profile likelihood methods, we treat predictive recursion as a filter approximation by fitting a fully Bayes model, whereby an approximate marginal likelihood of the structural parameter emerges and can be used for inference. We call this the predictive recursion marginal likelihood. Convergence properties of predictive recursion under model misspecification also lead to an attractive construction of this new procedure. We show pointwise convergence of a normalized version of this marginal likelihood function. Simulations compare the performance of this new approach with that of existing profile likelihood methods and with Dirichlet process mixtures in density estimation. Mixed-effects models and an empirical Bayes multiple testing application in time series analysis are also considered. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Boosted Dyadic Kernel Discriminants

We introduce a novel learning algorithm for binary classification with hyperplane discriminants based on pairs of training points from opposite classes (dyadic hypercuts). This algorithm is further extended to nonlinear discriminants using kernel functions satisfying Mercer's conditions. An ensemble of simple dyadic hypercuts is learned incrementally by means of a confidence-rated version of AdaBoost, which provides a sound strategy for searching through the finite set of hypercut hypotheses. In experiments with real-world datasets from the UCI repository, the generalization performance of the hypercut classifiers was found to be comparable to that of SVMs and k-NN classifiers. Furthermore, the computational cost of classification (at run time) was found to be similar to, or better than, that of SVM. Similarly to SVMs, boosted dyadic kernel discriminants tend to maximize the margin (via AdaBoost). In contrast to SVMs, however, we offer an on-line and incremental learning machine for building kernel discriminants whose complexity (number of kernel evaluations) can be directly controlled (traded off for accuracy).
Expressive policy analysis with enhanced system dynamicity

Despite several research studies, the effective analysis of policy based systems remains a significant challenge. Policy analysis should at least (i) be expressive (ii) take account of obligations and authorizations, (iii) include a dynamic system model, and (iv) give useful diagnostic information. We present a logic-based policy analysis framework which satisfies these requirements, showing how many significant policy-related properties can be analysed, and we give details of a prototype implementation.
Microfabrication and Applications of Opto-Microfluidic Sensors

A review of research activities on opto-microfluidic sensors carried out by the research groups in Canada is presented. After a brief introduction of this exciting research field, detailed discussion is focused on different techniques for the fabrication of opto-microfluidic sensors, and various applications of these devices for bioanalysis, chemical detection, and optical measurement. Our current research on femtosecond laser microfabrication of optofluidic devices is introduced and some experimental results are elaborated. The research on opto-microfluidics provides highly sensitive opto-microfluidic sensors for practical applications with significant advantages of portability, efficiency, sensitivity, versatility, and low cost.
Gradient Descent using Duality Structures

Gradient descent is commonly used to solve optimization problems arising in machine learning, such as training neural networks. Although it seems to be effective for many different neural network training problems, it is unclear if the effectiveness of gradient descent can be explained using existing performance guarantees for the algorithm. We argue that existing analyses of gradient descent rely on assumptions that are too strong to be applicable in the case of multi-layer neural networks. To address this, we propose an algorithm, duality structure gradient descent (DSGD), that is amenable to a non-asymptotic performance analysis, under mild assumptions on the training set and network architecture. The algorithm can be viewed as a form of layer-wise coordinate descent, where at each iteration the algorithm chooses one layer of the network to update. The decision of what layer to update is done in a greedy fashion, based on a rigorous lower bound of the function decrease for each possible choice of layer. In the analysis, we bound the time required to reach approximate stationary points, in both the deterministic and stochastic settings. The convergence is measured in terms of a Finsler geometry that is derived from the network architecture and designed to confirm a Lipschitz-like property on the gradient of the training objective function. Numerical experiments in both the full batch and mini-batch settings suggest that the algorithm is a promising step towards methods for training neural networks that are both rigorous and efficient.
Association between traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder: results from the ESEMeD-Spain study

Background. The relative importance of traumatic events (TEs) in accounting for the social burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could vary according to cross-cultural factors. In that sense, no such studies have yet been conducted in the Spanish general population. The present study aims to determine the epidemiology of trauma and PTSD in a Spanish community sample using the randomly selected TEs method. Methods. The European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders (ESEMeD)-Spain is a cross-sectional household survey of a representative sample of adult population. Lifetime prevalence of self-reported TEs and lifetime and 12-month prevalence of PTSD were evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Reports of PTSD associated with randomly selected TEs were weighted by the individual-level probabilities of TE selection to generate estimates of population-level PTSD risk associated with each TE. Results. Road accident was the most commonly self-reported TE (14.1%). Sexual assault had the highest conditional risk of PTSD (16.5%). The TEs that contributed most to societal PTSD burden were unexpected death of a loved one (36.4% of all cases) and sexual assault (17.2%). Being female and having a low educational level were associated with low risk of overall TE exposure and being previously married was related to higher risk. Being female was related to high risk of PTSD after experiencing a TE. Conclusions. Having an accident is commonly reported among Spanish adults, but two TE are responsible for the highest burden associated with PTSD: the unexpected death of someone close and sexual assault. These results can help designing public health interventions to reduce the societal PTSD burden.
Comparison of peri-implant crevicular fluid levels of adrenomedullin and human beta defensins 1 and 2 from mandibular implants with different implant stability quotient levels in nonsmoker patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To achieve satisfactory osseointegration, primary stability and healthy peri-implant tissue must be available. In this study, our objective was to compare the adrenomedullin, human beta-defensin (hBD)-1 and hBD-2 levels in implants with different implant stability quotient (ISQ) values and with different peri-implant tissue health values in the peri-implant crevicular fluid. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty patients with 60 endosseous osseointegrated implants were included in this study. Following the completion of the osseointegration process, these implants were divided into two main groups: a group of 15 implants with peri-implantitis (peri-implantitis: 40 ≤ ISQ ≤ 80 peri-implantitis, n = 15) and a group of 45 implants with healthy peri-implant tissue. The healthy peri-implant tissue group was further divided into three subgroups according to their ISQ values (Healthy-60: 60 ≤ ISQ ≤ 70, healthy peri-implant, n = 15; Healthy-80: 71 ≤ ISQ ≤ 80, healthy peri-implant, n = 15; and Healthy-100: 81 ≤ ISQ ≤ 100, healthy peri-implant, n = 15). The levels of adrenomedullin, hBD-1 and hBD-2 in the peri-implant crevicular fluid were assessed using ELISAs. RESULTS When the peri-implant clinical measurements were compared within groups, they were found to be highest in the peri-implantitis group and lowest in the Healthy-100 group. The adrenomedullin, hBD-1 and hBD-2 levels in the peri-implant crevicular fluid of the peri-implantitis group were found to be significantly higher than those in the Healthy-60, Healthy-80 and Healthy-100 groups. When only the healthy peri-implant tissue groups were evaluated, the adrenomedullin, hBD-1 and hBD-2 levels in the peri-implant crevicular fluid of the Healthy-60 group were found to be significantly higher than those in the Healthy-80 and Healthy-100 groups. The lowest adrenomedullin, hBD-1 and hBD-2 levels were observed in the Healthy-100 group. CONCLUSION In cases of peri-implantitis, higher adrenomedullin, hBD-1 and hBD-2 levels were observed. These results indicate the presence of a tissue response to prevent the creation of a pathological environment in the peri-implant tissue. In groups with healthy peri-implant tissues, the ISQ value decreases as the adrenomedullin, hBD-1 and hBD-2 levels increase. This condition is thought to be caused by increased dental plaque accumulation and bone resorption in addition to increased lateral implant movements and colonization of microorganisms in the microcavities between the implant elements.
Bursty escape fluxes in plasma sheets of Mars and Venus

High resolution measurements of plasma in the plasma sheets of Mars and Venus performed by almost identical plasma instruments ASPERA‐3 on the Mars Express spacecraft and ASPERA‐4 on Venus Express reveal similar features of bursty fluxes of escaping planetary ions. A period of bursts lasts about 1–2 min. Simultaneous magnetic field measurements on Venus Express show that these burst‐like features arise due to flapping motions of the plasma sheet. Their occurrence can be related to large‐amplitude waves propagating on the plasma sheet surface and launched by reconnection in the magnetic tails.
BF066, a Novel Dual Target Antiplatelet Agent without Significant Bleeding

In this study, we report BF066, a novel adenine derivative, inhibits platelet activation and thrombosis via the adenosine receptor (A2A) activation and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition. BF066 inhibits platelet aggregation and ATP releasing induced by multiple platelet agonists in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of BF066 on ADP-induced aggregation is potentiated by adenosine and can be dramatically antagonized by the A2A antagonist SCH58261. BF066 also inhibits the PDE activity and platelet spreading on fibrinogen. In FeCl3-injured mouse mesenteric arterial thrombosis model, BF066 prevents thrombus formation effectively, similar to clopidogrel. Intriguingly, at dose achieving similar antithrombotic effect compared to clopidogrel, BF066 does not increase bleeding significantly. Taken together, these results suggest that BF066 may be an effective and safe antiplatelet agent targeting both PDE and A2A. Considering the successful use of combined antiplatelet therapy, BF066 may be further developed as a novel dual target antiplatelet agent.
Hybrid Multi-level Intrusion Detection System

Intrusion detection is a critical process in network security. Nowadays new intelligent techniques have been used to improve the intrusion detection process. This paper proposes a hybrid intelligent intrusion detection system to improve the detection rate for known and unknown attacks. We examined different neural network & decision tree techniques. The proposed model consists of multi-level based on hybrid neural network and decision tree. Each level is implemented with the technique which gave best experimental results. From our experimental results with different network data, our model achieves correct classification rate of 93.2%, average detection rate about 95.6%; 99.5% for known attacks and 87% for new unknown attacks, and 9.4% false alarm rate. Keywords-component; network intrusion detection; neural network; Decision Tree; NSL-KDD dataset
Comparative Genomic and Phylogenetic Analyses of Gammaproteobacterial glg Genes Traced the Origin of the Escherichia coli Glycogen glgBXCAP Operon to the Last Common Ancestor of the Sister Orders Enterobacteriales and Pasteurellales

Production of branched α-glucan, glycogen-like polymers is widely spread in the Bacteria domain. The glycogen pathway of synthesis and degradation has been fairly well characterized in the model enterobacterial species Escherichia coli (order Enterobacteriales, class Gammaproteobacteria), in which the cognate genes (branching enzyme glgB, debranching enzyme glgX, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase glgC, glycogen synthase glgA, and glycogen phosphorylase glgP) are clustered in a glgBXCAP operon arrangement. However, the evolutionary origin of this particular arrangement and of its constituent genes is unknown. Here, by using 265 complete gammaproteobacterial genomes we have carried out a comparative analysis of the presence, copy number and arrangement of glg genes in all lineages of the Gammaproteobacteria. These analyses revealed large variations in glg gene presence, copy number and arrangements among different gammaproteobacterial lineages. However, the glgBXCAP arrangement was remarkably conserved in all glg-possessing species of the orders Enterobacteriales and Pasteurellales (the E/P group). Subsequent phylogenetic analyses of glg genes present in the Gammaproteobacteria and in other main bacterial groups indicated that glg genes have undergone a complex evolutionary history in which horizontal gene transfer may have played an important role. These analyses also revealed that the E/P glgBXCAP genes (a) share a common evolutionary origin, (b) were vertically transmitted within the E/P group, and (c) are closely related to glg genes of some phylogenetically distant betaproteobacterial species. The overall data allowed tracing the origin of the E. coli glgBXCAP operon to the last common ancestor of the E/P group, and also to uncover a likely glgBXCAP transfer event from the E/P group to particular lineages of the Betaproteobacteria.
Fly-in fly-out workforce practices in Australia: the effects on children and family relationships

This paper summarises the emerging literature on the effect on children and family relationships of having a fly-in fly-out/drive-in drive-out FIFO/DIDO parent. Abstract: A limited but growing amount of Australian research into fly-in fly-out (FIFO) work practices tentatively suggests that a FIFO lifestyle can have positive, negative or few effects on children and on family relationships, depending on the circumstances. Effects vary according to a range of contextual factors, such as workplace cultures, rosters and recruitment practices, as well as community and home environments, and individual characteristics. As a result, there is a high level of complexity involved in understanding the FIFO lifestyle and how it may impact on outcomes for children and family relationships. Substantial limitations in regards to the available evidence highlight the need for further research rather than providing any robust conclusions. Key messages: Limited studies exist that explore the effects on children and family relationships of having a FIFO parent. Research to date indicates that FIFO families are likely to be healthy, functioning families that demonstrate high levels of communication and cohesion. Most FIFO couples report healthy, satisfying and cohesive relationships. Potential impacts on children include: negative emotions experienced as a result of the FIFO parent's absence; increased levels of behaviour problems (particularly amongst boys) when the parent is away for longer periods; greater experiences of bullying at school; and increased pressure to succeed academically. However, some children view the extended time that a FIFO parent has at home as a positive outcome. Parenting is a challenge for FIFO families, particularly for partners at home to manage the continual transitioning from solo parenting to co-parenting. Providing for the physical, emotional and intellectual needs of children can be difficult without the support of a partner at home. The ability to communicate regularly, privately, effectively and spontaneously is an important factor that mediates the impact a FIFO lifestyle can have on children and families. Family support services, policy-makers and practitioners need to be aware of the unique set of challenges faced by FIFO workers and their families. Further research is needed that is longitudinal, engages with all types of FIFO workers and their families, and includes data collection prior to entry into FIFO work. A FIFO lifestyle does not suit everyone. Families considering FIFO should thoroughly review the likely advantages and disadvantages to all members of the family. Before commencing FIFO work, families should identify the resources and supports available at the work site and in the home environment and be aware of pressure points and coping strategies.
Public health nutrition workforce composition, core functions, competencies and capacity: perspectives of advanced-level practitioners in Australia

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the attitudes, experiences and beliefs of advanced-level public health nutritionists with respect to public health nutrition workforce composition, core functions, competency requirements and existing workforce capacity. Design: Qualitative study using structured interviews. Setting: Australia. Subjects: Forty-one advanced-level public health nutritionists employed in academic and senior technocratic positions in state health systems. Results: Advanced-level public health nutritionists recognise the diversity of the public health nutrition workforce but clearly identify the need for a specialist public health nutrition workforce tier to provide workforce leadership. Nominated core functions for public health nutrition reflect broader public health core functions but, in the context of nutrition, specific problem resolution. Opinions about competency needs were similar to many of the cross-cutting competencies identified in the public health field but with specific application to nutrition problems. Competency in the scientific underpinning of nutrition was considered particularly important and delineated this public health nutrition workforce from the broader public health workforce. Public health nutrition was identified as a specialisation within public health and dietetics. Workforce capacity assessments by this group indicate a need for workforce development. Conclusions: Qualitative data from a large proportion of the Australian public health nutrition leadership group have identified core functions, competencies and workforce development priorities that can be a basis for further systematic research and workforce strategy development.
Influence of sodium-calcium exchange on calcium current rundown and the duration of calcium-dependent chloride currents in pituitary cells, studied with whole cell and perforated patch recording

The whole cell patch-clamp technique, in both standard and perforated patch configurations, was used to study the influence of Na+-Ca++ exchange on rundown of voltage-gated Ca++ currents and on the duration of tail currents mediated by Ca++-dependent Cl- channels. Ca++ currents were studied in GH3 pituitary cells; Ca++-dependent Cl- currents were studied in AtT-20 pituitary cells. Na+-Ca++ exchange was inhibited by substitution of tetraethylammonium (TEA+) or tetramethylammonium (TMA+) for extracellular Na+. Control experiments demonstrated that substitution of TEA+ for Na+ did not produce its effects via a direct interaction with Ca++-dependent Cl- channels or via blockade of Na+-H+ exchange. When studied with standard whole cell methods, Ca++ and Ca++- dependent Cl- currents ran down within 5-20 min. Rundown was accelerated by inhibition of Na+-Ca++ exchange. In contrast, the amplitude of both Ca++ and Ca++-dependent Cl- currents remained stable for 30-150 min when the perforated patch method was used. Inhibition of Na+-Ca++ exchange within the first 30 min of perforated patch recording did not cause rundown. The rate of Ca++-dependent Cl- current deactivation also remained stable for up to 70 min in perforated patch experiments, which suggests that endogenous Ca++ buffering mechanisms remained stable. The duration of Ca++-dependent Cl- currents was positively correlated with the amount of Ca++ influx through voltage- gated Ca++ channels, and was prolonged by inhibition of Na+-Ca++ exchange. The influence of Na+-Ca++ exchange on Cl- currents was greater for larger currents, which were produced by greater influx of Ca++. Regardless of Ca++ influx, however, the prolongation of Cl- tail currents that resulted from inhibition of Na+-Ca++ exchange was modest. Tail currents were prolonged within tens to hundreds of milliseconds of switching from Na+- to TEA+-containing bath solutions. After inhibition of Na+-Ca++ exchange, tail current decay kinetics remained complex. These data strongly suggest that in the intact cell, Na+-Ca++ exchange plays a direct but nonexclusive role in limiting the duration of Ca++- dependent membrane currents. In addition, these studies suggest that the perforated patch technique is a useful method for studying the regulation of functionally relevant Ca++ transients near the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane.
Random pattern testability of the open defect detection method using application of time-variable electric field

In this paper, random pattern testability of the open defect defection method is discussed. In the test method, time-variable electric field is applied from the outside of ICs so as to vary the voltage at floating nodes caused by a defect. To detect opens the excessive supply current caused by the applied electric field is measured. The test pattern requirements for detecting opens are shown. The fault coverage for open defects is calculated for benchmark circuits. The experimental results shows random pattern can be effectively utilized for the test method even if it cannot attain high fault coverage for stuck-at-faults.