Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regression estimation from an individual stable sequence

We consider univariate regression estimation from an individual (non-random) sequence $(x_1,y_1),(x_2,y_2), . \in \real \times \real$, which is stable in the sense that for each interval $A \subseteq \real$, (i) the limiting relative frequency of $A$ under $x_1, x_2, . $ is governed by an unknown probability distribution $\mu$, and (ii) the limiting average of those $y_i$ with $x_i \in A$ is governed by an unknown regression function $m(\cdot)$. A computationally simple scheme for estimating $m(\cdot)$ is exhibited, and is shown to be $L_2$ consistent for stable sequences $\{(x_i,y_i)\}$ such that $\{y_i\}$ is bounded and there is a known upper bound for the variation of $m(\cdot)$ on intervals of the form $(-i,i]$, $i \geq 1$. Complementing this positive result, it is shown that there is no consistent estimation scheme for the family of stable sequences whose regression functions have finite variation, even under the restriction that $x_i \in [0,1]$ and $y_i$ is binary-valued.
Prevalence and Control of Hypertension in Iraqi Diabetic Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives: Diabetes and hypertension are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death in humans. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension, and hypertension control among adults with diabetes in Basrah (Southern Iraq). Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Al-Faiha Diabetes and Endocrine Center in Basrah. It was started in August 2008 to April 2011. The total number of recruited patients with diabetes was 5578. Results: Hypertensive diabetic patients constituted 89.6% of this study cohort, with 45.3% of them newly discovered in the center. From hypertensive patients, 48.2% achieved the target blood pressure of less than 130/80 mmHg. The results of the multivariate analyses showed that the factors independently associated with the hypertension were aged > 50 years (odds ratio, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.5; p < 0.001), body mass index equal or more than 25 (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.4 to 0.6; p < 0.001), insulin use (odds ratio, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5 to 0.8; p < 0.001) and duration of diabetes > 5 years (odds ratio, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5 to 0.7; p < 0.001) . Conclusion: This study confirmed that hypertension was seen in ~90% of diabetic patients in Iraq, and approximately half of them were achieving target blood pressure level.
Selection is more intelligent than design: improving the affinity of a bivalent ligand through directed evolution

Multivalent molecular interactions can be exploited to dramatically enhance the performance of an affinity reagent. The enhancement in affinity and specificity achieved with a multivalent construct depends critically on the effectiveness of the scaffold that joins the ligands, as this determines their positions and orientations with respect to the target molecule. Currently, no generalizable design rules exist for construction of an optimal multivalent ligand for targets with known structures, and the design challenge remains an insurmountable obstacle for the large number of proteins whose structures are not known. As an alternative to such design-based strategies, we report here a directed evolution-based method for generating optimal bivalent aptamers. To demonstrate this approach, we fused two thrombin aptamers with a randomized DNA sequence and used a microfluidic in vitro selection strategy to isolate scaffolds with exceptionally high affinities. Within five rounds of selection, we generated a bivalent aptamer that binds thrombin with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) <10 pM, representing a ∼200-fold improvement in binding affinity over the monomeric aptamers and a ∼15-fold improvement over the best designed bivalent construct. The process described here can be used to produce high-affinity multivalent aptamers and could potentially be adapted to other classes of biomolecules.
No Evidence of Involvement of Chlamydia pneumoniae in Severe Cerebrovascular Atherosclerosis by Means of Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Background and Purpose— All studies reporting high numbers of Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA positives in stroke patients published to date have used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques highly prone to generate false-positive results. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of C. pneumoniae DNA in plaques of the carotid artery as well as in peripheral blood by means of a new, closed, real-time PCR system. Methods— Carotid endarterectomy specimens and preoperative peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 75 individuals with severe cerebrovascular atherosclerosis were analyzed by means of a C. pneumoniae-specific quantitative omp A-based real-time PCR TaqMan system. Plaques were also cultured onto HEp-2 cells. Before the surgical intervention, C. pneumoniae-specific IgM, IgG, and IgA as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were determined. Results— 89% of all patients studied had C. pneumoniae- specific antibodies, but the pathogen was not detected in a single carotid atheroma by real-time PCR and cell culture. However, C. pneumoniae DNA was detected in 4 PBMC samples (5.3%) at very low levels (<1 inclusion/6 mL EDTA blood). No statistical significance was found between symptomatic/asymptomatic patients, C. pneumoniae PCR, results and CRP values after correction for multiplicity-of-test adjustment. Conclusions— By means of a closed, highly sensitive, and specific real-time PCR, C. pneumoniae was not detected in cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. PCR on PBMC was not predictive for endovascular chlamydia infection and most likely stem from previous C. pneumoniae respiratory tract infection in individual cases. (Stroke. 2004;35:2024-2028.)
Recent Developments in Fiber Optics Humidity Sensors

A wide range of applications such as health, human comfort, agriculture, food processing and storage, and electronic manufacturing, among others, require fast and accurate measurement of humidity. Sensors based on optical fibers present several advantages over electronic sensors and great research efforts have been made in recent years in this field. The present paper reports the current trends of optical fiber humidity sensors. The evolution of optical structures developed towards humidity sensing, as well as the novel materials used for this purpose, will be analyzed. Well-known optical structures, such as long-period fiber gratings or fiber Bragg gratings, are still being studied towards an enhancement of their sensitivity. Sensors based on lossy mode resonances constitute a platform that combines high sensitivity with low complexity, both in terms of their fabrication process and the equipment required. Novel structures, such as resonators, are being studied in order to improve the resolution of humidity sensors. Moreover, recent research on polymer optical fibers suggests that the sensitivity of this kind of sensor has not yet reached its limit. Therefore, there is still room for improvement in terms of sensitivity and resolution.
Relationship between Students' Self-Assessment of Their Capabilities and Their Teachers' Judgments of Students' Capabilities in Mathematics Problem-Solving

The study examined the judgments made by four seventh-grade mathematics teachers of their 107 students' competence in solving mathematics problems. Simultaneously, the 107 students made self-efficacy judgments about their capability in solving mathematics problems. The two sets of judgments were tested for predicting students' mathematics performance. Also, students' prior mathematics achievement was studied for its influence on both teachers' and students' judgments and students' mathematics performance. Teachers were asked to make judgments of each student for every mathematics problem solved. Results were consistent with prior research indicating that students' mathematics self-efficacy beliefs were highly predictive of their performance. Path analysis indicated that the mathematics teachers' judgments were also highly predictive of students' performance and self-efficacy. In turn, these variables predicted students' postperformance judgments. Combining students' self-efficacy judgments and teachers' judgments of students increased predictiveness for students' mathematics performance. Educational implications were also discussed.
The antimicrobial sensitivity of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sangius to colloidal solutions of different nanoparticles applied as mouthwashes

Background: Metal nanoparticles have been recently applied in dentistry because of their antibacterial properties. This study aimed to evaluate antibacterial effects of colloidal solutions containing zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sangius and compare the results with those of chlorhexidine and sodium fluoride mouthrinses. Materials and Methods: After adding nanoparticles to a water-based solution, six groups were prepared. Groups I to IV included colloidal solutions containing nanoZnO, nanoCuO, nanoTiO2 and nanoAg, respectively. Groups V and VI consisted of 2.0% sodium fluoride and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwashes, respectively as controls. We used serial dilution method to find minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and with subcultures obtained minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of the solutions against S. mutans and S. sangius. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance and Duncan test and P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The sodium fluoride mouthrinse did not show any antibacterial effect. The nanoTiO2-containing solution had the lowest MIC against both microorganisms and also displayed the lowest MBC against S. mutans (P < 0.05). The colloidal solutions containing nanoTiO2 and nanoZnO showed the lowest MBC against S. sangius (P < 0.05). On the other hand, chlorhexidine showed the highest MIC and MBC against both streptococci (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The nanoTiO2-containing mouthwash proved to be an effective antimicrobial agent and thus it can be considered as an alternative to chlorhexidine or sodium fluoride mouthrinses in the oral cavity provided the lack of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on biologic tissues.
Attitudes of middle-aged women to aging:contribution of the Reactions to Aging Questionnaire

Attitudes to aging in mid-life have been found to be a predictor of health and well-being. The main purpose of the study was to assess the contribution of the Reactions to Aging Questionnaire (RAQ) to the understanding of middle-aged women's attitudes towards their aging. An additional purpose was to expand the existing information regarding the dimensions of the new version of the RAQ. Middle-aged Melbourne women (n = 381) were asked to complete the RAQ, in addition to another attitudes-to-aging scale (Worries About Aging). Factor analysis of the RAQ was used to explore its dimensionality, and frequencies of responses were used to assess the spread of response of both instruments. The factors extracted in the factor analysis of the RAQ were interpretable and meaningful in terms of emotions related to aging. They were also similar to the factors described by previous data. The RAQ was more effective in its distribution ability than the Worries About Aging Scale. With some modifications, the RAQ may be more informative than was the Worries About Aging Scale in its ability to assess emotions, opinions and beliefs associated with aging in middle-aged women.
Circulating folate levels and colorectal adenoma: a case-control study and a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The relationship between folate and colorectal neoplasia remains controversial. We examined the association between serum folate concentrations and colorectal adenomas in a case-control study of Korean adults and conducted a meta-analysis. SUBJECTS/METHODS Our case-control study included 113 pairs of case and control who underwent colonoscopy and provided blood samples. We used multivariable conditional logistic regression models to obtain the odds ratios and 95% confidence interval (CIs). For meta-analysis, we identified the relevant studies by searching the PubMed database up to February 2017, included our case-control study and combined the study-specific relative risks (RRs) using a random-effects model. RESULTS In this case-control study, we included 58 men and 55 women with colorectal adenomas and sex and fasting status matched the controls. We did not find any significant association between the serum folate levels and colorectal adenomas in either men or women. For meta-analysis, a total of eleven studies were included in our analysis and classified into two groups; polyp clearance group (PC) for the studies that included participants who underwent endoscopies and had their polyps removed at baseline; and no polyp clearance group (NPC) for the studies that included participants whose histories of endoscopies were unknown or who underwent their first endoscopies. Four PC (1,311 cases and 1,672 non-cases) and eight NPC studies (3,501 cases and 11,347 non-cases) were included. The combined RRs (95% CIs) comparing the bottom with the top categories of circulating folate levels were 1.07 (0.97-1.18) for the NPC group but 1.45 (1.16-1.74) for the PC group. CONCLUSIONS Low circulating folate levels were associated with new adenoma formation.
HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Managuan secondary school students.

The authors assessed the AIDS-related knowledge attitudes and practices of final (5th) year students at 4 Managuan high schools in 1990. Completed self-administered questionnaires were received from 155 males and 296 females of mean age 18 years. 86% of the respondents knew that AIDS is transmitted sexually but far fewer were aware of other transmission pathways and effective preventive measures. 55% of males and 33% of females cited condom use as a preventive measure. 90% of males and 50% of females reported having had sexual intercourse. Further 60% were very worried about AIDS but only 23% considered themselves at risk of contracting AIDS. 38% of the boys and 7% of the girls reported changing their sexual behavior because of AIDS. This reported behavior change was strongly associated with concern about AIDS but not for the perception of personal risk. In sum this paper documents the general existence of inadequate knowledge about the transmission and prevention of AIDS among these students especially the females. Preventive efforts should target such female youths with health and sex education interventions.
Long-Term Control of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Replication with Central Memory CD4+ T-Cell Preservation after Nonsterile Protection by a Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Based Vaccine

ABSTRACT Induction of virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses is a promising strategy for AIDS vaccine development. However, it has remained unclear if or how long-term viral containment and disease control are attainable by CTL-based nonsterile protection. Here, we present three rhesus macaques that successfully maintained Env-independent vaccine-based control of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) mac239 replication without disease progression for more than 3 years. SIV-specific neutralizing antibody induction was inefficient in these controllers. Vaccine-induced Gag-specific CTLs were crucial for the chronic as well as the primary viral control in one of them, whereas those Gag-specific CTL responses became undetectable and CTLs specific for SIV antigens other than Gag, instead, became predominant in the chronic phase in the other two controllers. A transient CD8+ cell depletion experiment 3 years postinfection resulted in transient reappearance of plasma viremia in these two animals, suggesting involvement of the SIV non-Gag-specific CTLs in the chronic SIV control. This sustained, neutralizing antibody-independent viral control was accompanied with preservation of central memory CD4+ T cells in the chronic phase. Our results suggest that prophylactic CTL vaccine-based nonsterile protection can result in long-term viral containment by adapted CTL responses for AIDS prevention.
Roboser: A Real-World Composition System

We present a novel paradigm for the interactive composition and performance of music called Roboser consisting of a real-world device (i.e., a robot), its control software, and a composition engine that produces streams of MIDI data in real time. To analyze the properties of this framework, we present the application of Roboser to a learning mobile robot, called EmotoBot, that is controlled by the Distributed Adaptive Control (DAC) architecture. The EmotoBot composition is based on the generation of real-time sound events that express sensory, behavioral, and the internal states of the robot’s control model. We show that EmotoBot produces a complex set of sonic layers and quantify its ability to generate complex emergent sonic structures. We subsequently describe further applications of the Roboser framework to other interactive systems, including a large-scale interactive exhibition called Ada. Our results show the potential of the Roboser paradigm to define the central-processing stage of interactive composition systems. Moreover, Roboser provides a general framework for transforming information from real-world systems into complex sonic structures and as such constitutes a real-world composition system.
Action Recognition from Arbitrary Views using 3D Exemplars

In this paper, we address the problem of learning compact, view-independent, realistic 3D models of human actions recorded with multiple cameras, for the purpose of recognizing those same actions from a single or few cameras, without prior knowledge about the relative orientations between the cameras and the subjects. To this aim, we propose a new framework where we model actions using three dimensional occupancy grids, built from multiple viewpoints, in an exemplar-based HMM. The novelty is, that a 3D reconstruction is not required during the recognition phase, instead learned 3D exemplars are used to produce 2D image information that is compared to the observations. Parameters that describe image projections are added as latent variables in the recognition process. In addition, the temporal Markov dependency applied to view parameters allows them to evolve during recognition as with a smoothly moving camera. The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated with experiments on real datasets and with challenging recognition scenarios.
A new maximal inequality and invariance principle for stationary sequences

We derive a new maximal inequality for stationary sequences under a martingale-type condition introduced by Maxwell and Woodroofe [Ann. Probab. 28 (2000) 713-724]. Then, we apply it to establish the Donsker invariance principle for this class of stationary sequences. A Markov chain example is given in order to show the optimality of the conditions imposed.
The Identification of Pcl1-Interacting Proteins That Genetically Interact With Cla4 May Indicate a Link Between G1 Progression and Mitotic Exit

In budding yeast, Cla4 and Ste20, two p21-activated kinases, contribute to numerous morphogenetic processes. Loss of Ste20 or Cla4 individually confers distinct phenotypes, implying that they regulate different processes. However, loss of both proteins is lethal, suggesting some functional overlap. To explore the role(s) of Cla4, we and others have sought mutations that are lethal in a cla4Δ strain. These mutations define >60 genes. Recently, both Ste20 and Cla4 have been implicated in mitotic exit. Here, we identify a genetic interaction between PHO85, which encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase, and CLA4. We further show that the Pho85-coupled G1 cyclins Pcl1 and Pcl2 contribute to this Pho85 role. We performed a two-hybrid screen with Pcl1. Three Pcl1-interacting proteins were identified: Ncp1, Hms1, and a novel ATPase dubbed Epa1. Each of these proteins interacts with Pcl1 in GST pull-down experiments and is specifically phosphorylated by Pcl1•Pho85 complexes. NCP1, HMS1, and EPA1 also genetically interact with CLA4. Like Cla4, the proteins Hms1, Ncp1, and Pho85 appear to affect mitotic exit, a conclusion that follows from the mislocalization of Cdc14, a key mitotic regulator, in strains lacking these proteins. We propose a model in which the G1 Pcl1•Pho85 complex regulates mitotic exit machinery.
Honour Thy Neighbour: Clique Maintenance in Dynamic Graphs

Whenever objects and their interaction is modelled via undirected graphs, it is often of great interest to know the cliques of the graph. For several problems the graph changes frequently over time, and we therefore seek methods for updating the information about the cliques in a dynamic fashion to avoid expensive recomputations. This dynamic problem was investigated by Stix, and in this paper we derive a new simple method based on the Bron-Kerbosch algorithm that compares favourably to Stix’ approach. The new approach is generic in the sense that it can be used with other algorithms than just Bron-Kerbosch. The applications include fuzzy clustering and optimal triangulation of Bayesian networks.
Daily Changes in Fed Funds Futures Prices

This paper explores the properties of daily changes in the prices for near-term fed funds futures contracts. The paper finds these contracts to be excellent predictors of the fed funds rate, and shows that the claim of a nonzero term premium in the short-horizon contracts is more sensitive to outliers than previous research appears to have recognized. I find some statistically significant evidence of serial correlation in the daily changes, but this accounts for only a tiny part of the one-day movements and there is essentially zero predictability for horizons longer than one day. Settlement futures prices for each day appear to incorporate the information embodied in that day's term structure of longer-horizon Treasury securities. Previous employment growth makes a statistically significant contribution to predicting futures price changes, though again this could only account for a tiny part of the daily variance. The paper concludes that futures prices provide a very useful measure of the daily changes in the market's expectation of near-term changes in Fed policy.
Ovarian cancer screening

This screening algorithm is based on majority expert opinion of the Ovarian Cancer Screening workgroup at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. It was developed using a multidisciplinary approach that included input from the following: Disclaimer: This algorithm has been developed for MD Anderson using a multidisciplinary approach considering circumstances particular to MD Anderson’s specific patient population, services and structure, and clinical information. This is not intended to replace the independent medical or professional judgment of physicians or other health care providers in the context of individual clinical circumstances to determine a patient's care. This algorithm should not be used to treat pregnant women.
Intrusive Mental Imagery in Psychological Disorders: Is the Self the Key to Understanding Maintenance?

Intrusive mental imagery is a transdiagnostic process (1) present in many psychological disorders including trauma-related disorders; anxiety, mood, and eating disorders; as well as severe mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder and psychosis. In this article, we summarize some of the current literature on intrusive images and then argue that one critical way in which they maintain disorders is through their representation and relationship with patients’ sense of self. We conclude by briefly discussing the treatment implications of this position.