Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decentralized Online Learning With Kernels

We consider multiagent stochastic optimization problems over reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. In this setting, a network of interconnected agents aims to learn decision functions, i.e., nonlinear statistical models, that are optimal in terms of a global convex functional that aggregates data across the network, with only access to locally and sequentially observed samples. We propose solving this problem by allowing each agent to learn a local regression function while enforcing consensus constraints. We use a penalized variant of functional stochastic gradient descent operating simultaneously with low-dimensional subspace projections. These subspaces are constructed greedily by applying orthogonal matching pursuit to the sequence of kernel dictionaries and weights. By tuning the projection-induced bias, we propose an algorithm that allows each individual agent to learn, based on its locally observed data stream and message passing with its neighbors only, a regression function that is close to the globally optimal regression function. That is, we establish that with constant step-size selections agents’ functions converge to a neighborhood of the globally optimal one while satisfying the consensus constraints as the penalty parameter is increased. Moreover, the complexity of the learned regression functions is guaranteed to remain finite. On both multiclass kernel logistic regression and multiclass kernel support vector classification with data generated from class-dependent Gaussian mixture models, we observe an stable function estimation and the state-of-the-art performance for distributed online multiclass classification. Experiments on the Brodatz textures further substantiate the empirical validity of this approach.
Association of Military Deployment of a Parent or Spouse and Changes in Dependent Use of Health Care Services

Background:U.S. Armed Forces members and spouses report increased stress associated with combat deployment. It is unknown, however, whether these deployment stressors lead to increased dependent medication use and health care utilization. Objective:To determine whether the deployment of Army active duty members (sponsors) is associated with changes in dependent health care utilization. Design:A quasi-experimental, pre-post study of health care patterns of more than 55,000 nonpregnant spouses and 137,000 children of deployed sponsors and a comparison group of dependents. Measures:Changes in dependent total utilization in the military health system, and separately in military-provided and purchased care services in the year following the sponsors’ deployment month for office visit services (generalist, specialist); emergency department visits; institutional stays; psychotropic medication (any, antidepressant, antianxiety, antistimulant classes). Results:Sponsor deployment was associated with net increased use of specialist office visits (relative percent change 4.2% spouses; 8.8% children), antidepressants (6.7% spouses; 17.2% children), and antianxiety medications (14.2% spouses; 10.0% children; P<0.01) adjusting for group differences. Deployment was consistently associated with increased use of purchased care services, partially, or fully offset by decreased use of military treatment facilities. Conclusions:These results suggest that emotional or behavioral issues are contributing to increased specialist visits and reliance on medications during sponsors’ deployments. A shift to receipt of services from civilian settings raises questions about coordination of care when families temporarily relocate, family preferences, and military provider capacity during deployment phases. Findings have important implications for the military health system and community providers who serve military families, especially those with children.
The Structure of the Plakin Domain of Plectin Reveals an Extended Rod-like Shape*

Plakins are large multi-domain proteins that interconnect cytoskeletal structures. Plectin is a prototypical plakin that tethers intermediate filaments to membrane-associated complexes. Most plakins contain a plakin domain formed by up to nine spectrin repeats (SR1–SR9) and an SH3 domain. The plakin domains of plectin and other plakins harbor binding sites for junctional proteins. We have combined x-ray crystallography with small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) to elucidate the structure of the plakin domain of plectin, extending our previous analysis of the SR1 to SR5 region. Two crystal structures of the SR5-SR6 region allowed us to characterize its uniquely wide inter-repeat conformational variability. We also report the crystal structures of the SR7-SR8 region, refined to 1.8 Å, and the SR7–SR9 at lower resolution. The SR7–SR9 region, which is conserved in all other plakin domains, forms a rigid segment stabilized by uniquely extensive inter-repeat contacts mediated by unusually long helices in SR8 and SR9. Using SAXS we show that in solution the SR3–SR6 and SR7–SR9 regions are rod-like segments and that SR3–SR9 of plectin has an extended shape with a small central kink. Other plakins, such as bullous pemphigoid antigen 1 and microtubule and actin cross-linking factor 1, are likely to have similar extended plakin domains. In contrast, desmoplakin has a two-segment structure with a central flexible hinge. The continuous versus segmented structures of the plakin domains of plectin and desmoplakin give insight into how different plakins might respond to tension and transmit mechanical signals.
Crystal structure of tubulin tyrosine ligase-like 3 reveals essential architectural elements unique to tubulin monoglycylases

Significance Tubulin is subject to diverse posttranslational modifications that constitute a code read by cellular effectors. Most of these modifications are catalyzed by tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) family members. The functional specialization and biochemical interplay between TTLL enzymes remain largely unknown. Our X-ray structure of TTLL3, a tubulin glycylase, identifies two functionally essential architectural elements and illustrates how the common TTL scaffold was used to functionally diversify the TTLL family. We show that TTLL3 competes with the glutamylase TTLL7 for overlapping modification sites on tubulin, providing a molecular basis for the anticorrelation between these modifications observed in vivo. Our results illustrate how a combinatorial tubulin code can arise through the intersection of activities of TTLL enzymes. Glycylation and glutamylation, the posttranslational addition of glycines and glutamates to genetically encoded glutamates in the intrinsically disordered tubulin C-terminal tails, are crucial for the biogenesis and stability of cilia and flagella and play important roles in metazoan development. Members of the diverse family of tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) enzymes catalyze these modifications, which are part of an evolutionarily conserved and complex tubulin code that regulates microtubule interactions with cellular effectors. The site specificity of TTLL enzymes and their biochemical interplay remain largely unknown. Here, we report an in vitro characterization of a tubulin glycylase. We show that TTLL3 glycylates the β-tubulin tail at four sites in a hierarchical order and that TTLL3 and the glutamylase TTLL7 compete for overlapping sites on the tubulin tail, providing a molecular basis for the anticorrelation between glutamylation and glycylation observed in axonemes. This anticorrelation demonstrates how a combinatorial tubulin code written in two different posttranslational modifications can arise through the activities of related but distinct TTLL enzymes. To elucidate what structural elements differentiate TTLL glycylases from glutamylases, with which they share the common TTL scaffold, we determined the TTLL3 X-ray structure at 2.3-Å resolution. This structure reveals two architectural elements unique to glycyl initiases and critical for their activity. Thus, our work sheds light on the structural and functional diversification of TTLL enzymes, and constitutes an initial important step toward understanding how the tubulin code is written through the intersection of activities of multiple TTLL enzymes.
A clinical trial of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by resection for esophageal carcinoma

Background: Esophageal carcinoma is a common malignancy in the North East of Iran. Combined modality treatments have been adopted to improve survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma. In this trial, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy protocol in the patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Between 2006 and 2011, eligible patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma underwent concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and 3-4 weeks later, esophagectomy. Pathologic response, overall survival rate, toxicity, and feasibility were evaluated. Results: One hundred ninety-seven patients with a median age of 59 (range: 27-70) entered the protocol. One hundred ninety-four cases (98.5%) had esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Grades 3-4 of toxicity in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradotherapy were as follows: Neutropenia in 21% and esophagitis in 2.5% of cases. There were 11 (5.6%) early death probably due to the treatment-related toxicities. One hundred twenty-seven patients underwent surgery with postsurgical mortality of 11%. In these cases, the complete pathological response was shown in 38 cases (29.9%) with a 5-year overall survival rates of 48.2% and median overall survival of 44 months (95% confidence interval, 24.46-63.54). Conclusion: The pathological response rate and the overall survival rate are promising in patients who completed the protocol as receiving at least one cycle of chemotherapy. However, the treatment toxicities were relatively high.
Effective Antimicrobial Regimens for Use in Humans for Therapy of Bacillus anthracis Infections and Postexposure Prophylaxis

ABSTRACT Expanded options for treatments directed against pathogens that can be used for bioterrorism are urgently needed. Treatment regimens directed against such pathogens can be identified only by using data derived from in vitro and animal studies. It is crucial that these studies reliably predict the efficacy of proposed treatments in humans. The objective of this study was to identify a levofloxacin treatment regimen that will serve as an effective therapy for Bacillus anthracis infections and postexposure prophylaxis. An in vitro hollow-fiber infection model that replicates the pharmacokinetic profile of levofloxacin observed in humans (half-life [t1/2], 7.5 h) or in animals, such as the mouse or the rhesus monkey (t1/2, ∼2 h), was used to evaluate a proposed indication for levofloxacin (500 mg once daily) for the treatment of Bacillus anthracis infections. The results obtained with the in vitro model served as the basis for the doses and the dose schedules that were evaluated in the mouse inhalational anthrax model. The effects of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin treatment were compared to those of no treatment (untreated controls). The main outcome measure in the in vitro hollow-fiber infection model was a persistent reduction of culture density (≥4 log10 reduction) and prevention of the emergence of levofloxacin-resistant organisms. In the mouse inhalational anthrax model the main outcome measure was survival. The results indicated that levofloxacin given once daily with simulated human pharmacokinetics effectively sterilized Bacillus anthracis cultures. By using a simulated animal pharmacokinetic profile, a once-daily dosing regimen that provided a human-equivalent exposure failed to sterilize the cultures. Dosing regimens that “partially humanized” levofloxacin exposures within the constraints of animal pharmacokinetics reproduced the antimicrobial efficacy seen with human pharmacokinetics. In a mouse inhalational anthrax model, once-daily dosing was significantly inferior (survival end point) to regimens of dosing every 12 h or every 6 h with identical total daily levofloxacin doses. These results demonstrate the predictive value of the in vitro hollow-fiber infection model with respect to the success or the failure of treatment regimens in animals. Furthermore, the model permits the evaluation of treatment regimens that “humanize” antibiotic exposures in animal models, enhancing the confidence with which animal models may be used to reliably predict the efficacies of proposed antibiotic treatments in humans in situations (e.g., the release of pathogens as agents of bioterrorism or emerging infectious diseases) where human trials cannot be performed. A treatment regimen effective in rhesus monkeys was identified.
Multi-scale computation of plant tissue deformation using models for individual cell behavior

We present a micro-macro method for the simulation of large elastic deformations of plant tissue. At the microscopic level we use a discrete element model to describe the geometrical structure and basic properties of individual plant cells. The macroscopic domain is discretized using standard finite elements, in which the unknown macroscopic material properties (the stress-strain relation) are computed using the microscopic model in small sub-domains, called representative volume elements (RVEs), centered around the macroscopic quadrature points. The boundary conditions for these RVEs are derived from the macroscopic deformation gradient. The computation of the macroscopic stress tensor is based on the definition of virial stress, as defined in molecular dynamics. The anisotropic Eulerian elasticity tensor is estimated using a forward finite difference approximation for the Truesdell rate of the Cauchy stress tensor. We investigate the influence of the size of the RVE and the boundary conditions via numerical experiments. We show that the multi-scale method converges to the solution of the full microscopic simulation, both for globally and adaptively refined finite element meshes and achieves a significant speed-up compared with the full microscopic simulation.
A Multicenter Study of Recombinant Factor VIII (RecombinateTM) in Previously Treated Patients with Hemophilia A

Summary A prospective, open-label multicenter investigation has been conducted to compare pharmacokinetic parameters of recombinant DNA-derived FVIII (rFVIII) and plasma-derived FVIII concentrate (pdFVIII) and to assess safety and efficacy of long-term home-treat- ment with rFVIII for subjects with hemophilia A. Following comparative in vivo pharmacokinetic studies, 69 patients with severe (n = 67) or moderate (n = 2) hemophilia A commenced a program of home treatment using rFVIII exclusively for prophylaxis and treatment of all bleeding episodes for a period of 1.0 to 5.7 years (median 3.7 years). The mean in vivo half-lives of rFVIII and pdFVIII were both 14.7 h. In vivo incremental recoveries at baseline were 2.40%/IU/kg and 2.47%/IU/kg, respectively (p = 0.59). The response to home treatment with rFVIII was categorized as good or excellent in 3,195 (91.2%) of 3,481 evaluated bleeding episodes. Thirteen patients received rFVIII for prophylaxis for twenty-four surgical procedures. In all cases, hemostasis was excellent. Adverse reactions were observed in only 13 of 13,591 (0.096%) infusions of rFVIII; none was serious. No patient developed an inhibitor to r FVIII.
Effect of supplementation of methionine, betaine and choline on the performance of broiler chicken in early life fed methionine deficient ration.

The experiment was designed and conducted to evaluate the effect of methionine, betaine and choline in the broiler chicks given low methionine starter ration. Day old broiler chicks (n=250), were randomly divided into five treatment groups (n=5) with five replicates of ten chicks. A low methionine (LM) starter ration was formulated and the treatment groups were (A) LM supplemented with methionine @ 0.14%, (B) LM, (C) LM supplemented with choline @ 0.17%, (D) LM supplemented with betaine @ 0.14% and (E) LM with Betaine @ 0.07% in the starter ration. Choline was added @ 700 mg/kg to treatment groups (A and B). Data of weight gain (WG) and feed intake (FI) were collected from 0-28 days and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Statistical analysis of data revealed significant differences among the treatment groups in FI, WG and FCR (P<0.05). Supplementation of Choline and betaine to treatment groups C, D and E respectively did not show results as per treatment group (A) supplemented with methionine. However, betaine supplementation showed better WG and FCR as compared to treatment B and C (P<0.05); but the inclusion rate of betaine had no significant effect on the performance of broiler chicken (P>0.05).
The Wzx translocases for Salmonella enterica O‐antigen processing have unexpected serotype specificity

Most Gram‐negative bacteria have an O antigen, a polysaccharide with many repeats of a short oligosaccharide that is a part of the lipopolysaccharide, the major lipid in the outer leaflet of the outer membrane. Lipopolysaccharide is variable with 46 forms in Salmonella enterica that underpin the serotyping scheme. Repeat units are assembled on a lipid carrier that is embedded in the cell membrane, and are then translocated by the Wzx translocase from the cytoplasmic face to the outer face of the cell membrane, followed by polymerization. The O antigen is then incorporated into lipopolysaccharide and exported to the outer membrane. The Wzx translocase is widely thought to be specific only for the first sugar of the repeat unit, despite extensive variation in both O antigens and Wzx translocases. However, we found for S. enterica groups B, D2 and E that Wzx translocation exhibits significant specificity for the repeat‐unit structure, as variants with single sugar differences are translocated with lower efficiency and little long‐chain O antigen is produced. It appears that Wzx translocases are specific for their O antigen for normal levels of translocation.
Extracting Semantic Orientations of Words using Spin Model

We propose a method for extracting semantic orientations of words: desirable or undesirable. Regarding semantic orientations as spins of electrons, we use the mean field approximation to compute the approximate probability function of the system instead of the intractable actual probability function. We also propose a criterion for parameter selection on the basis of magnetization. Given only a small number of seed words, the proposed method extracts semantic orientations with high accuracy in the experiments on English lexicon. The result is comparable to the best value ever reported.
Cross-Country Variations in Capital Structures the Role of Bankruptcy Codes

We conduct a theoretical and empirical investigation of the impact of bankruptcy codes on firms’ capital-structure choices. In our theoretical framework, costs of financial distress are endogenously determined as a function of the bankruptcy code. Anticipated liquidation values emerge as the key variable in the capital structure-bankruptcy code link: among other things, the theory predicts that the difference in leverage between a debt-friendly bankruptcy code (such as the UK’s) and a more equity-friendly code (such as the US’s) should be a monotone function of liquidation values. We examine empirical support for the theory by comparing leverages in the US and the UK for the period 1990 to 2002. Our tests use two (inverse) proxies of liquidation values: asset-specificity of the firm, and the fraction of the firm’s assets that are intangibles. We find the theory is strongly backed by the data. The results are robust to considerations such as employing net leverage (debt net of cash holdings) and controlling for other firm characteristics that affect leverage.
Mechanical and morphological characterization of wood plastic composites based on municipal plastic waste

v Foreword . vii Acknowledgments . ix List of Tables . xix List of Figures . xxi Nomenclature . xxv Chapter 1. Plastic Recycling . 1 1.1 Importance of plastic recycling . 1 1.2 Methods for recycling of thermoplastics . 2 1.2.1 Re-use and primary recycling . 3 1.2.2 Energy recovery . 3 1.2.3 Chemical recycling (Feedstock recycling) . 4 1.2.4 Mechanical recycling . 5 1.3 Compatibility of polyethylene and polypropylene . 7 1.4 Compatibilization methods for PE/PP blends . 9 1.4. 1 Reactive compatibilization . 9 xiv 1.4. 2 Nonreactive compatibilization . 11 Chapter 2. Natural Fiber Composites . 15 2.1 Natural vs. artificial reinforcements . 15 2.2 Characteristics of natural fibers . 17 2.3 Modification of natural fiber composites . 20 2.3. 1 Surface modification of natural fibers . 20 2.3. 1.1 Chemical surface treatment of natural fibers . 20 2.3. 1.2 Physical surface treatment of natural fibers . 23 2.3. 2 Modification of polymeric matrix . 24 2.4 Matrices for natural fiber composites . 26 2.4. 1 Bio-based polymers . 26 2.4. 2 Use of waste plastics . 28 2.5 Structural design of composite materials . 30 2.6 Thesis objectives and organization . 36 Chapter 3. Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Wood Plastic Composites Based on Municipal Plastic Waste . 39 Résumé . 39 Abstract . 40. 40 3.
Binocular combination in abnormal binocular vision.

We investigated suprathreshold binocular combination in humans with abnormal binocular visual experience early in life. In the first experiment we presented the two eyes with equal but opposite phase shifted sine waves and measured the perceived phase of the cyclopean sine wave. Normal observers have balanced vision between the two eyes when the two eyes' images have equal contrast (i.e., both eyes contribute equally to the perceived image and perceived phase = 0°). However, in observers with strabismus and/or amblyopia, balanced vision requires a higher contrast image in the nondominant eye (NDE) than the dominant eye (DE). This asymmetry between the two eyes is larger than predicted from the contrast sensitivities or monocular perceived contrast of the two eyes and is dependent on contrast and spatial frequency: more asymmetric with higher contrast and/or spatial frequency. Our results also revealed a surprising NDE-to-DE enhancement in some of our abnormal observers. This enhancement is not evident in normal vision because it is normally masked by interocular suppression. However, in these abnormal observers the NDE-to-DE suppression was weak or absent. In the second experiment, we used the identical stimuli to measure the perceived contrast of a cyclopean grating by matching the binocular combined contrast to a standard contrast presented to the DE. These measures provide strong constraints for model fitting. We found asymmetric interocular interactions in binocular contrast perception, which was dependent on both contrast and spatial frequency in the same way as in phase perception. By introducing asymmetric parameters to the modified Ding-Sperling model including interocular contrast gain enhancement, we succeeded in accounting for both binocular combined phase and contrast simultaneously. Adding binocular contrast gain control to the modified Ding-Sperling model enabled us to predict the results of dichoptic and binocular contrast discrimination experiments and provides new insights into the mechanisms of abnormal binocular vision.