Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ANCILLARY STATISTICS: A REVIEW

In a parametric statistical model, a function of the data is said to be ancillary if its distribution does not depend on the parameters in the model. The concept of ancillary statistics is one of R. A. Fisher's fundamental contributions to statistical inference. Fisher motivated the principle of conditioning on ancillary statistics by an argument based on relevant subsets, and by a closely related ar- gument on recovery of information. Conditioning can also be used to reduce the dimension of the data to that of the parameter of interest, and conditioning on ancillary statistics ensures that no information about the parameter is lost in this reduction. The present review article is an attempt to illustrate various aspects of the use of ancillarity in statistical inference. Both exact and asymptotic theory are considered. Without any claim of completeness, we have made a modest attempt to crystalize many of the basic ideas in the literature.
Towards a holistic approach to heritage values: a multidisciplinary and cosmopolitan approach

ABSTRACT In this paper, we explore the ‘Preservation/Heritage Values/Management’ triptych, and we propose a new method for addressing the values attributed to cultural heritage sites. Combining multidisciplinary and cosmopolitan approaches, we propose a way of moving beyond the traditional lens of assessing significance within the imposed categorical framework of ‘aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual values’. We provide an example of our new approach through a worked case study in the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site (South African section). Our case study concerns the values associated with the world famous San (Bushman) rock art of this mountain area. Through a thematic analysis of data collected in this area from 2009 to 2017, six cross-cultural interest points are identified and are discussed. Building upon the history of values-based heritage management, we argue that our multidisciplinary and cosmopolitan method is transferable and can be applied to heritage sites around the world. It can facilitate the construction of heritage management plans that are more in tune with local actors and that will therefore prove to be more effective and sustainable.
Characterization of mice expressing Ins1 gene promoter driven CreERT recombinase for conditional gene deletion in pancreatic β-cells

Gene manipulation using Cre-loxP recombination has proven to be an important approach for studying the impact of gene expression on pancreatic β-cell biology. We report the generation of a transgenic mouse line that enables a highly specific system for conditional gene manipulation within β-cells and achieve tissue specific and temporally regulated deletion of the Ctnnb1 (β-catenin) gene in pancreatic β-cells. cDNA encoding Cre recombinase fused to modified estrogen receptor (CreERT) under control of mouse insulin 1 gene promoter (Ins1) was used to construct the mouse line Tg(Ins1-Cre/ERT)1Lphi, also termed MIP1-CreERT. In a cross of MIP1-CreERT with a ROSA26/LacZ reporter strain, tamoxifen [Tmx] - dependent β-galactosidase expression occurred within pancreatic β-cells but not in other organ systems. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests and glucose-stimulated changes in β-cell cytoplasmic calcium concentration were not adversely affected in adult MIP1-CreERT. A mouse line with floxed Ctnnb1 gene (Ctnnb1f/f) was crossed with the MIP1-CreERT line to generate a mouse model for inducible β-cell specific deletion of β-catenin gene (Ctnnb1f/f:MIP1-CreERT). Ctnnb1f/f:MIP1-CreERT mice and Ctnnb1f/f littermate controls, were injected with Tmx as adults to knock down β-catenin production in the majority of pancreatic β-cells. These mice showed normal glucose tolerance, islet cyto-architecture and insulin secretion. A novel protein fraction of 50Kd, immunoreactive with anti-β-catenin was observed in islet extracts from Ctnnb1f/f:MIP1-CreERT[Tmx] mice but not MIP1-CreERT-negative Ctnnb1f/f[Tmx] controls, indicating possible presence of a cryptic protein product of recombined Ctnnb1 gene. The MIP1-CreERT mouse line is a powerful tool for conditional manipulation of gene expression in β-cells.
Maximum Margin Vector Correlation Filter

Correlation Filters (CFs) are a class of classifiers which are designed for accurate pattern localization. Traditionally CFs have been used with scalar features only, which limits their ability to be used with vector feature representations like Gabor filter banks, SIFT, HOG, etc. In this paper we present a new CF named Maximum Margin Vector Correlation Filter (MMVCF) which extends the traditional CF designs to vector features. MMVCF further combines the generalization capability of large margin based classifiers like Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and the localization properties of CFs for better robustness to outliers. We demonstrate the efficacy of MMVCF for object detection and landmark localization on a variety of databases and demonstrate that MMVCF consistently shows improved pattern localization capability in comparison to SVMs.
Trends and variability of midlatitude stratospheric water vapour deduced from the re-evaluated Boulder balloon series and HALOE

This paper presents an updated trend analysis of water vapour in the lower midlatitude stratosphere from the Boulder balloon-borne NOAA frostpoint hygrometer measurements and from the Halogen Occulation Experiment (HALOE). Two corrections for instrumental bias are applied to homogenise the frostpoint data series, and a quality assessment of all soundings after 1991 is presented. Linear trend estimates based on the corrected data for the period 1980–2000 are up to 40% lower than previously reported. Vertically resolved trends and variability are calculated with a multi regression analysis including the quasi-biennal oscillation and equivalent latitude as explanatory variables. In the range of 380 to 640 K potential temperature (≈14 to 25 km), the frostpoint data from 1981 to 2006 show positive linear trends between 0.3±0.3 and 0.7±0.1%/yr. The same dataset shows trends between −0.2±0.3 and 1.0±0.3%/yr for the period 1992 to 2005. HALOE data over the same time period suggest negative trends ranging from −1.1±0.2 to −0.1±0.1%/yr. In the lower stratosphere, a rapid drop of water vapour is observed in 2000/2001 with little change since. At higher altitudes, the transition is more gradual, with slowly decreasing concentrations between 2001 and 2007. This pattern is consistent with a change induced by a drop of water concentrations at entry into the stratosphere. Previously noted differences in trends and variability between frostpoint and HALOE remain for the homogenised data. Due to uncertainties in reanalysis temperatures and stratospheric transport combined with uncertainties in observations, no quantitative inference about changes of water entering the stratosphere in the tropics could be made with the mid latitude measurements analysed here.
Using regressions to explore deviations between corpus data and a standard/target: two suggestions

The main goal of this study is to develop more appropriate ways to study variation between corpus data that instantiate a linguistic standard or target on the one hand, and corpus data that are compared to that standard, or that represent speakers that may aspire to approximate the target (such as second- or foreign-language learners). Using the example of SLA/FLA research, we first, briefly, discuss a highly influential model, Granger's (1996) Contrastive Interlanguage Analysis (CIA), and the extent to which much current research fails to exploit this model to its full potential. Then, we outline a few methodological suggestions that, if followed, can elevate corpus-based analysis in SLA/FLA to a new level of precision and predictive accuracy. Specifically, we propose that, and exemplify how, the inclusion of statistical interactions in regressions on corpus data can highlight important differences between native speakers (NS) and learners/non-native speakers (NNS) with different native linguistic (L1) b.
Longitudinal progesterone profiles in baleen from female North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) match known calving history

We compared known calving events to longitudinal baleen progesterone profiles from baleen plates of two stranded adult female North Atlantic right whales. Reproductive history of the previous ten years was recorded accurately in baleen, with pronounced elevations in progesterone in regions of baleen grown during known pregnancies.
User Perceptions of Social Media: A Comparative Study of Perceived Characteristics and User Profiles by Social Media

Despite the proliferation of social media and the widespread adoption of these diverse communication tools, there is a lack of studies that conceptualize the characteristics of social media as perceived by users and compare the perceived characteristics or benefits of different social media types. This study examines the user perceptions of six main groups of social media—blogs, micro-blogs, social networks, wikis, forums, and content communities—on five dimensions: participation, commonality, connectedness, conversationality, and openness. User profiles are also investigated to assess the role of demographics and usage in such perceptions. The results of a national consumer panel survey show that different social media applications are perceived differently and social media usage patterns, gender, and age affect these perceptions.
More Friction, Less Noise? Relative Efficiency in a Two-Tier Stock Exchange

If trading becomes easier and cheaper, does this attract more noise trades or more informed trades? We investigate this question in the Brussels market, where about 100 stocks were simultaneously traded in two parallel tiers, whereof one, the "forward'' segment, was organizationally far superior than the "spot" tier. In an exploratory test based on Roll (1984), we write spot and forward prices as equal to a common true value, plus a market-specific settlement effect (a correction for time value until payment), plus an unpredictable noise term. We expect to find that in the forward markets the noise has lower variance, that is, the pricing is more efficient. Yet we find no such thing; in fact, by some measures the forward market may actually have been the more noisy one.Going on to the issue of price discovery, which is a more formal way of testing whether the forward market is less noisy, we extend the Margrabe-Silber price-discovery model to take into account the asynchronism in the opening forward and spot prices. Although the presence of the latent true morning return in our extended model precludes us from estimating explicitly the price adjustment coefficients, we can still identify the sign of the estimated difference of these coefficients and the lower and upper bounds of its t-statistic. This information enables us to conclude on the significance of the test. Also, our results reject the potential price discoverer status of the forward market: spot prices seem more informative than forward prices. Even more puzzlingly, the phenomenon is most pronounced for active stocks. For robustness, our Hasbrouck (1995) information-share analysis also supports this finding. This result raises the issue of how far the financial markets perform their central function of price discovery and how far the conventional wisdom can be trusted (e.g. the higher the trading volume or the lower the friction, the less noise the observed price contains).
Aspirin vs anticoagulation in carotid artery dissection

Background: No randomized study has yet compared efficacy and safety of aspirin and anticoagulants in patients with spontaneous dissection of the cervical carotid artery (sICAD). Methods: Prospectively collected data from 298 consecutive patients with sICAD (56% men; mean age 46 ± 10 years) treated with anticoagulants alone (n = 202) or aspirin alone (n = 96) were retrospectively analyzed. Admission diagnosis was ischemic stroke in 165, TIA in 37, retinal ischemia in 8, and local symptoms and signs (headache, neck pain, Horner syndrome, cranial nerve palsy) in 80 patients, while 8 patients were asymptomatic. Clinical follow-up was obtained after 3 months by neurologic examination (97% of patients) or structured telephone interview. Outcome measures were 1) new cerebral ischemic events, defined as ischemic stroke, TIA, or retinal ischemia, 2) symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and 3) major extracranial bleeding. Results: During follow-up, ischemic events were rare (ischemic stroke, 0.3%; TIA, 3.4%; retinal ischemia, 1%); their frequency did not significantly differ between patients treated with anticoagulants (5.9%) and those treated with aspirin (2.1%). The same was true for hemorrhagic adverse events (anticoagulants, 2%; aspirin, 1%). New ischemic events were significantly more frequent in patients with ischemic events at onset (6.2%) than in patients with local symptoms or asymptomatic patients (1.1%). Conclusions: Within the limitations of a nonrandomized study, our data suggest that frequency of new cerebral and retinal ischemic events in patients with spontaneous dissection of the cervical carotid artery is low and probably independent of the type of antithrombotic treatment (aspirin or anticoagulants).
Searching behavior in peer-to-peer communities

The focus of this paper is the searching behavior in peer-to-peer (P2P) communities and in that context, will discuss potential for enhancement of the P2P protocol using searching behavior. Due to excessive network traffic, network scalability is a major P2P problem. The purpose of this paper is to study searching behavior by using log files and subsequently, will propose solutions to reduce the amount of redundant searching activities. In the current research, log data containing over 5 million query messages was collected over seven consecutive days using a Gnutella-based P2P program. The results of this study will be instrumental in providing ways to reduce existing problems with P2P network traffic.
Emetine hydrochloride and dehydroemetine combined with chloroquine in the treatment of children with amoebic liver abscess.

A combination of emetine hydrochloride with chloroquine yields better results than either drug alone in the treatment of amoebic liver abscess in adults (Wilmot, Powell, and Adams, 1959). A similar combination of dehydroemetine with chloroquine is equally satisfactory (Wilmot, Powell, MacLeod, and Elsdon-Dew, 1964; Powell, Wilmot, MacLeod, and Elsdon-Dew, 1967). Dehydro-emetine is claimed to be less cardiotoxic than emetine (Schwartz and Herrero, 1965), and in adults it produces fewer electrocardiographic changes when given in identical dosage (Powell, 1967) so that up to 2 mg. /kg. day have been given with apparent safety (Powell, Wilmot, MacLeod, and Elsdon-Dew, 1965).
Combination of imatinib mesylate with lithium chloride and medroxyprogesterone acetate is highly active in Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma in vitro

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate whether lithium chloride and medroxyprogesterone acetate can potentiate the cytotoxicity of imatinib mesylate in human endometrial cancer in vitro and the effect of midkine in these therapies. Methods Imatinib mesylate (50 µM), lithium chloride (100 µM), medroxyprogesterone acetate (200 µM) and their combination were applied to monolayer and three dimensional cultures of human Ishikawa endometrial cancer for 72 hours. The cell proliferation index, apoptotic index, caspase-3 and midkine levels, cell cycle distributions in monolayer cultures and cell ultrastructure in spheroid cultures were evaluated. Results were statistically analyzed using the Student's t-test. Results All drug applications inhibited cell proliferation (p<0.05), however the combination were the effective groups for 72 hours (p<0.05). Interestingly, although the loss of efficiency was seen higly seen every 24 hours at single applications, the inhibition rates of the combination groups were almost same for 72 hours. In concordance with these results, the apoptotic index, caspase-3 levels (p<0.05), cell morphology and ultrastructure damages were much higher in the combination groups. Imatinib mesylate induced S-phase arrest, however other groups induced G0+G1-phase arrest at 24 hours and all groups induced G0+G1 arrest at 72 hours (p<0.05). Imatinib mesylate and imatinib mesylate with medroxyprogesterone acetate induced highest decrease in midkine levels, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion The present study showed that the combination of imatinib mesylate with lithium chloride and medroxyprogesterone acetate is highly active in Ishikawa endometrial carcinoma in vitro and the inhibition of midkine involved in their mechanism of action against endometrium defense.
Pricing perishable products : an application to the retail industry

This paper studies intertemporal pricing strategies when selling perishable products in retail stores. Initially we present a continuous time model where a seller faces a stochastic arrival of customers with different valuations of the product. For this model, we characterize the optimal pricing policies as functions of time and inventory. We find necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimal pricing strategy, which provide an efficient algorithm to compute the optimal pricing policies. This model is extended to consider a more realistic framework with periodic pricing reviews. We show that the structure of the optimal pricing policies is consistent with the procedures observed in practice; retail stores successively discount the product during the season and promote a liquidation sale at the end of the planning horizon. We also show that the loss experienced when implementing periodic pricing review policies instead of continuous time policies is small when the appropriate number of reviews is chosen. Finally, we generalize the model to the case of a company that has multiple retail stores oriented to different market segments. For this case, we develop a heuristic to solve real size problems; this heuristic has a satisfactory performance with respect to an upper bound that we derive for the optimization problem. The paper also discusses the broader applicability of the models to other industries that have similar features.
The Power of Trust: Teams and Collective Action in Self-Managed Schools

Trust is a significant factor in collective action. This article delineates the concept of trust in collective action in the self-managed school context. A composite case is provided to illustrate the valence of trust as a critical element in effective teamwork. A series of propositions implicit in the case is suggested in order to increase comprehension of the complex phenomenon of trust and suggest alternative directions for future inquiry.
The Role of Anxiety in Binge Eating Behavior: A Critical Examination of Theory and Empirical Literature

The purpose of this manuscript is to expand the understanding of binge eating by reviewing the role of aspects of negative affect. Specifically, this paper will present evidence for further investigation of the bearing that anxiety may have in binge eating development and maintenance. A comprehensive review of the literature regarding the relation of binge eating and anxiety was performed. Valuable contributions have been made to the binge eating literature regarding some aspects of negative affect (i.e., depression); however, outside of bulimia nervosa studies, much of the theoretical and empirical binge eating research to date has not directly addressed the role of anxiety. Research supports expansion of investigations of negative emotionality and binge eating to include specific study of anxiety. Greater inclusivity and specificity in the unique contributions of various negative emotions may further the development of temporal models and intervention efforts.
Impact of sire PTA SCS on mastitis resistance and measures of daughter performance

The relationship between sire PTASCS and incidence of mastitis in daughters was analyzed for 304 Holsteins first freshening since 1991 in the Va. Tech dairy herd. No direct sire selection for PTASCS had been practiced. In first lactation, linear regressions of lactation average SCS (1.34), number of cases of mastitis (.794), days treated (6.99), and number of treatments (2.01) on PTASCS were significant. Quadratic and cubic relationships were not significant. Linear, quadratic, and cubic relationships between PTASCS and the variables of interest for second and third lactation were not significant. Heavy culling imposed on first lactation cows resulted in a group of highly selected second and third lactation cows. The relationship of sire PTASCS and number of lactations, DPL, TDIMM, lifetime milk, fat, and protein production, 1 lactation average SCS, and RNIOC calculated for fluid and manufacturing markets were also determined for 2,494,195 cows freshening between 1983 and 1990. Linear relationships between PTASCS and number of lactations (-.31), DPL (-85.6), total milk (-1567.6), fat (-79.0), and protein (-46.8) production, TDIMM (-71.3), 1 lactation average SCS, and RNIOC values for both the manufacturing and fluid markets (-6.7 and –15.8, respectively) were significant. Quadratic and cubic relationships were significant. No quadratic or cubic relationship existed between SCS and PTASCS. When PTAMilk, and PTAProtein were held constant, the effect of PTASCS on yield and profit variables became more severe. Effects were reduced when PTAFat was held constant due to the lack of correlation between PTAFat and PTASCS. When PTAPL was held constant, the relationship between PTASCS and DPL, TDIMM, and RNIOC variables became positive. Results indicated that loss previously explained by increase in PTASCS was also explained by variation in PTAPL.
Simultaneous state estimation and attenuation correction for thunderstorms with radar data using an ensemble Kalman filter: tests with simulated data

A new approach to dealing with attenuated radar reflectivity data in the data assimilation process is proposed and tested with simulated data using the ensemble square‐root Kalman filter. This approach differs from the traditional method where attenuation is corrected in observation space first before observations are assimilated into numerical models. We build attenuation correction into the data assimilation system by calculating the expected attenuation within the forward observation operators using the estimated atmospheric state. Such a procedure does not require prior assumption about the types of hydrometeor species along the radar beams, and allows us to take advantage of knowledge about the hydrometeors obtained through data assimilation and state estimation. Being based on optimal estimation theory, error and uncertainty information on the observations and prior estimate can be effectively utilized, and additional observed parameters, such as those from polarimetric radar, can potentially be incorporated into the system. Tests with simulated reflectivity data of an X‐band 3 cm wavelength radar for a supercell storm show that the attenuation correction procedure is very effective—the analyses obtained using attenuated data are almost as good as those obtained using unattenuated data. The procedure is also robust in the presence of moderate dropsize‐distribution‐related observation operator error and when systematic radar calibration error exists. The analysis errors are very large if no attenuation correction is applied. The effect of attenuation and its correction when radial velocity data are also assimilated is discussed as well. In general, attenuation correction is equally important when quality radial velocity data are also assimilated. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society