Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Noise-Contrastive Estimation of Unnormalized Statistical Models, with Applications to Natural Image Statistics

We consider the task of estimating, from observed data, a probabilistic model that is parameterized by a finite number of parameters. In particular, we are considering the situation where the model probability density function is unnormalized. That is, the model is only specified up to the partition function. The partition function normalizes a model so that it integrates to one for any choice of the parameters. However, it is often impossible to obtain it in closed form. Gibbs distributions, Markov and multi-layer networks are examples of models where analytical normalization is often impossible. Maximum likelihood estimation can then not be used without resorting to numerical approximations which are often computationally expensive. We propose here a new objective function for the estimation of both normalized and unnormalized models. The basic idea is to perform nonlinear logistic regression to discriminate between the observed data and some artificially generated noise. With this approach, the normalizing partition function can be estimated like any other parameter. We prove that the new estimation method leads to a consistent (convergent) estimator of the parameters. For large noise sample sizes, the new estimator is furthermore shown to behave like the maximum likelihood estimator. In the estimation of unnormalized models, there is a trade-off between statistical and computational performance. We show that the new method strikes a competitive trade-off in comparison to other estimation methods for unnormalized models. As an application to real data, we estimate novel two-layer models of natural image statistics with spline nonlinearities.
Place and Purpose in Public Education: School District Mission Statements and Educational (Dis)Embeddedness

Local control of schooling has been considered a defining feature of the American school system; however, in the past several decades public schooling has also increasingly been subject to the influence of extralocal institutional mandates that encourage curricular and organizational standardization. We conducted a content analysis of 480 school district mission statements from Pennsylvania to understand the relationships between school and place and the locally articulated purposes of schooling. Strikingly uniform use of language and themes across multiple district contexts suggests that (a) district mission statements may not be representative of locally articulated visions of schooling and (b) the influences of local context may be superseded by broader institutional discourses regarding the purposes of education and schooling.
Itrust: interpersonal trust measurements from social interactions

Interpersonal trust is widely cited as an important component in several network systems such as peer-to-peer networks, e-commerce, and semantic web. However, there has been less research on measuring interpersonal trust due to the difficulty of collecting data that accurately reflect interpersonal trust. Currently, friends of a user in almost all OSNs are indistinguishable, that is, there is no explicit indication of the strength of trust between a user and his/her close friends, as opposed to acquaintances. To address this issue, we quantify interpersonal trust by analyzing the social interaction frequencies between users and their friends on Facebook. We consider bidirectional interacting data in OSNs to deconstruct a user's social behavior and apply principal component analysis to estimate interpersonal trust. A Facebook app, itrust, is developed to collect interaction data and calculate interpersonal trust. Results show that itrust achieves more accurate interpersonal trust measurements than existing methods.
Accuracy of computed tomography (CT) scan in the detection of penetrating diaphragm injury.

BACKGROUND The use of computed tomography (CT) to identify injury after penetrating torso trauma has become routine in the hemodynamically stable patient. The diaphragm has been a historically difficult structure to evaluate, however, and missed injuries to the diaphragm may result in significant morbidity. With the increasing use of multidetector row CT (MDCT), we hypothesized that CT would be an accurate detection modality to identify patients with diaphragm injuries. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the admission CT of consecutive patients admitted for penetrating injury to the torso during a 4-year period. The CT scans were reviewed and classified into three categories: positive (P), negative (N), or equivocal (Eq). Data from the medical records of these patients were abstracted to identify demographics, injury-specific data, length of stay, length of follow-up (LOFU), and operative findings. RESULTS There were 803 patients who met inclusion criteria. Mechanism of injury was gunshot wound in 36% and stab wound in 64%. Mean length of stay was 4 days (+/-6.6) and mean length of follow-up was 43 days (+/-184). CT was read as P in 57, N in 710, and Eq in 36 patients. Diaphragm injury was detected in 67 patients overall and was excluded in 736. For the entire study population, sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 94.0% (95% CI = 88.4-99.7) and 95.9% (94.5-97.4) with an overall accuracy of 95.8% (94.4-97.2) if the CT scan was used to exclude diaphragm injury ([P and Eq] vs. N). Sensitivity and specificity were 82.1% (72.9-91.3) and 99.7% (99.4-100) if CT was used to detect diaphragm injury (P vs. [N and Eq]). One hundred and forty-eight patients underwent operative procedures in which the diaphragm was evaluated. Diaphragm injury was identified in 50 (38 P, 4 N, 8 Eq) and was surgically excluded in 104 patients (2 P, 93 N, 9 Eq). Three hundred and eighty-four patients were lost to follow-up; including 348 who had negative finding on CT. There were no known missed diaphragm injuries during the study period or in follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Injuries to the diaphragm occur commonly after penetrating torso trauma. MDCT scan is an accurate test to detect diaphragm injury. When MDCT is equivocal, further investigation is required to evaluate the diaphragm.
Visual Search Is Modulated by Action Intentions

The influence of action intentions on visual selection processes was investigated in a visual search paradigm. A predefined target object with a certain orientation and color was presented among distractors, and subjects had to either look and point at the target or look at and grasp the target. Target selection processes prior to the first saccadic eye movement were modulated by the different action intentions. Specifically, fewer saccades to objects with the wrong orientation were made in the grasping condition than in the pointing condition, whereas the number of saccades to an object with the wrong color was the same in the two conditions. Saccadic latencies were similar under the different task conditions, so the results cannot be explained by a speed-accuracy trade-off. The results suggest that a specific action intention, such as grasping, can enhance visual processing of action-relevant features, such as orientation. Together, the findings support the view that visual attention can be best understood as a selection-for-action mechanism.
Carbohydrate‐independent recognition of collagens by the macrophage mannose receptor

Mannose receptor (MR) is the best characterised member of a family of four endocytic molecules that share a common domain structure; a cysteine‐rich (CR) domain, a fibronectin‐type II (FNII) domain and tandemly arranged C‐type lectin‐like domains (CTLD, eight in the case of MR). Two distinct lectin activities have been described for MR. The CR domain recognises sulphated carbohydrates while the CTLD mediate binding to mannose, fucose or N‐acetylglucosamine. FNII domains are known to be important for collagen binding and this has been studied in the context of two members of the MR family, Endo180 and the phospholipase A2 receptor. Here, we have investigated whether the broad and effective lectin activity mediated by the CR domain and CTLD of MR is favoured to the detriment of FNII‐mediated interaction(s). We show that MR is able to bind and internalise collagen in a carbohydrate‐independent manner and that MR deficient macrophages have a marked defect in collagen IV and gelatin internalisation. These data have major implications at the molecular level as there are now three distinct ligand‐binding sites described for MR. Furthermore our findings extend the range of endogenous ligands recognised by MR, a molecule firmly placed at the interface between homeostasis and immunity.
Lateral epicondylitis in tennis: update on aetiology, biomechanics and treatment

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is the most frequent type of myotendinosis and can be responsible for substantial pain and loss of function of the affected limb. Tennis biomechanics, player characteristics and equipment are important in preventing the condition. This article presents an overview of the current knowledge on lateral epicondylitis, and focuses on treatment strategies. Conservative and surgical treatment options are discussed, and recent techniques are outlined.
Analysis and Computational Dissection of Molecular Signature Multiplicity

Molecular signatures are computational or mathematical models created to diagnose disease and other phenotypes and to predict clinical outcomes and response to treatment. It is widely recognized that molecular signatures constitute one of the most important translational and basic science developments enabled by recent high-throughput molecular assays. A perplexing phenomenon that characterizes high-throughput data analysis is the ubiquitous multiplicity of molecular signatures. Multiplicity is a special form of data analysis instability in which different analysis methods used on the same data, or different samples from the same population lead to different but apparently maximally predictive signatures. This phenomenon has far-reaching implications for biological discovery and development of next generation patient diagnostics and personalized treatments. Currently the causes and interpretation of signature multiplicity are unknown, and several, often contradictory, conjectures have been made to explain it. We present a formal characterization of signature multiplicity and a new efficient algorithm that offers theoretical guarantees for extracting the set of maximally predictive and non-redundant signatures independent of distribution. The new algorithm identifies exactly the set of optimal signatures in controlled experiments and yields signatures with significantly better predictivity and reproducibility than previous algorithms in human microarray gene expression datasets. Our results shed light on the causes of signature multiplicity, provide computational tools for studying it empirically and introduce a framework for in silico bioequivalence of this important new class of diagnostic and personalized medicine modalities.
O Teste Gestáltico Visomotor de Bender na avaliação clínica de Crianças

This study discusses the most frequent errors committed by children in the Bender Test, assesse d by the Koppitz method, and identified the correlation regarding age and sex. 1111 psychological assessment protocols were examined, including boys and gi rls, aged five and twelve years, which had emotional, cognitive and neurological difficulties, composing a clinical sample. The most frequent errors in the Bender test were distortion of form in Figures 7 and 8, and Rotation in Figure 7. Using Qui&square test was identified a significant relationship between errors in Figures A, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 and variable age (p = 0000) was found. The variable sex showed significant correlation only in error of Figures 4 and 7 on the rotation item (p <0005).
Cluster Analysis of Scores of Children on the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests

A cluster analysis of scores of 1961 children on the Sensory Integration and Praxis (SIPT) tests was performed to explore subgroupings of children referred for SIPT testing, and to provide information concerning the validity of the six profiles currently used in the SIPT interpretation process. The results yielded a five rather than a six cluster solution, including the following profiles: Low-average Bilateral Integration and Sequencing; Dyspraxia; Generalized Sensory Integration Dysfunction and Dyspraxia-Severe; Generalized Sensory Integration Dysfunction and Dyspraxia-Moderate, and Average Sensory Integration and Praxis. Clinical implications of the results of this study related to SIPT interpretation are discussed.
Cross-Layer Resource Allocation for Scalable Video Over OFDMA Wireless Networks: Tradeoff Between Quality Fairness and Efficiency

This work addresses the tradeoff between quality fairness and system efficiency for scalable video delivery to multiple users over OFDMA wireless networks. We consider a cross-layer optimization framework seeking to maximize the sum-PSNR corresponding to average user rates, subject to relaxed PSNR-fair constraints. More specifically, a pure quality-fairness (PF) problem is solved first to determine the maximum PSNR value obtained by imposing the same PSNR level to all users. Next the constraints in the PF problem are relaxed by allowing the relative difference between the PSNR of each video and the PF PSNR value to be within some range <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$[0,\sigma ]$</tex-math></inline-formula>. Thus, the parameter <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sigma$</tex-math> </inline-formula> controls the tradeoff between quality fairness and system efficiency. The PF problem is equivalent to the quality fairness problem proposed by Cicalò and Tralli, which was solved using a vertical decomposition approach. Further, we convert the optimization problem with the relaxed fairness constraints into a convex problem and solve it using established techniques. Our simulation results show that by varying the value of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sigma$</tex-math></inline-formula>, a wide range, densely populated, of trade-off points between quality fairness and efficiency can be achieved. Additionally, a subjective quality assessment reveals that while the maximum efficiency scheme (ME), i.e., when <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\sigma =\infty$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, may compromise the quality of the high demanding videos, the PF scheme may sacrifice the quality of the low demanding videos. On the other hand, by providing a trade-off between PF and ME, the proposed scheme has the potential of finding a middle ground where all users are satisfied.
Spirituality versus Individualism: Why we should nurture relational consciousness

This paper proposes an approach to spiritual education which transcends the religious-secular boundary by conceiving of spirituality as a natural human predisposition labelled 'relational consciousness'. Evidence drawn from recent research demonstrates that this predisposition is universally identifiable in young children and expresses itself in many forms apart from the religious. Nevertheless it is this which allows the possibility of religious belief. As a result of the cultural construction of an extreme individualism which is particularly evident in the Western world, there has been a 'forgetting' of relational consciousness/spirituality resulting in damaging effects to the texture of human community. Some major sources of individualism are identified as having particularly serious effects on relational consciousness. These are reflected upon in the light of empirical research on children as well as contemporary philosophical and political critiques. Spiritual education is seen as a major means of resistance to the damaging effects of possessive individualism.
Randomized phase III trials of adjuvant FAMTX or FEMTX compared with surgery alone in resected gastric cancer. A combined analysis of the EORTC GI Group and the ICCG.

BACKGROUND In patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer, we investigate the relative efficacy of combined 5-fluorouracil+adriamycin or epirubicin and methotrexate with leucovorin rescue (FAMTX or FEMTX) compared with a control arm. PATIENTS AND METHODS This report is a prospective combined analysis of two randomized clinical trials conducted on patients who underwent radical resection for histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophago-gastric junction. Three hundred and ninety-seven untreated patients, 206 from 23 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) institutions and 191 from 16 International Collaborative Cancer Group (ICCG) institutions, were randomized. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the treatments were compared for these end-points by means of the log-rank test, retrospectively stratified by trial. RESULTS In a planned combined analysis of the two trials, no significant differences were found between the treatment and control arms for either DFS (hazards ratio: 0.98, P=0.87) or OS (hazards ratio: 0.98, P=0.86). The 5-year OS was 43% in the treatment arm and 44% in the control arm and the 5-year DFS was 41% and 42%, respectively. CONCLUSION Neither FAMTX nor FEMTX can be advocated as adjuvant treatment in patients who undergo resection for gastric cancer.
Incidence and determinants of mortality and morbidity following early antiretroviral therapy initiation in HIV-infected adults in West Africa

Objective:To estimate the incidence and risk factors of mortality and severe morbidity during the first months following antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation in West African adults. Methods:A cohort study in Abidjan in which 792 adults started ART with a median CD4 cell count of 252 cells/μl and were followed for a median of 8 months. Severe morbidity was defined as all World Health Organization stage 3 or 4-defining morbidity events other than oral candidiasis. Results:In patients with pre-ART CD4 cell count < 200, at 200–350 and > 350 cells/μl, incidence of mortality was 5.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.6–8.7], 1.7 (95% CI, 0.6–3.8) and 0.0 (95% CI, 0.0–3.4]/100 person-years, and incidence of severe morbidity was 13.3 (95% CI, 9.0–19.1), 9.5 (95% CI, 6.2–12.9) and 7.9 (95% CI, 3.4–15.5)/100 person-years, respectively. The most frequent diseases were invasive bacterial diseases (32/65 episodes, 49%) and tuberculosis (25/65 episodes, 38%). Both diseases followed the same curve of decreasing incidence over time. Patients who experienced severe morbidity had higher risks of mortality, virological failure and immunological failure. Other independent risk factors for mortality and/or severe morbidity were: at baseline, high viral load, advanced clinical stage, past history of tuberculosis, low BMI, low haemoglobin and low CD4 cell count; during follow-up: low CD4 cell count and persistently detectable viral load. Conclusion:These data give new arguments to reinforce the hypothesis that, in this region, ART should be started before the CD4 cell count drops below 350 cells/μl. Further studies should assess whether patients with low BMI, low haemoglobin, high viral load or past history of tuberculosis should start ART earlier.
Effects of grain boundaries, field-dependent mobility, and interface trap States on the electrical Characteristics of pentacene TFT

We have fabricated pentacene-based thin film transistors and analyzed their electrical properties with the help of two-dimensional drift-diffusion simulations which favorably compare with the experimental results. We have set up a model considering the polycrystalline nature of pentacene and the presence of grains and grain boundaries. We show how this model can be applied to different devices with different grain sizes and we analyze the relationship between mobility, grain size and applied gate voltage. On the basis of the simulation results, we can introduce an effective carrier mobility, which accounts for grain-related effects. The comparison between experimental results and simulations allows us to clearly understand the differences in the mobility derived by the analysis of current-voltage curve (as done experimentally by using standard MOSFET theory) and the intrinsic mobility of the organic layer. The effect of the pentacene/oxide interface traps and fixed surface charges has also been considered. The dependence of the threshold voltage on the density and energy level of the trap states has been outlined.
Wandering Minds: The Default Network and Stimulus-Independent Thought

Despite evidence pointing to a ubiquitous tendency of human minds to wander, little is known about the neural operations that support this core component of human cognition. Using both thought sampling and brain imaging, the current investigation demonstrated that mind-wandering is associated with activity in a default network of cortical regions that are active when the brain is “at rest. ” In addition, individuals' reports of the tendency of their minds to wander were correlated with activity in this network.
Decline in cognitive performance between ages 13 and 18 years and the risk for psychosis in adulthood: a Swedish longitudinal cohort study in males.

CONTEXT Clear evidence from many prospective, population-based studies indicates that patients who develop psychosis in adulthood experienced various cognitive deficits during childhood and adolescence. However, it is unclear whether these deficits become more severe during adolescence. OBJECTIVE To assess the influence of cognitive developmental trajectories in adolescence and young adulthood on the risk for psychosis in adulthood. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING Academic research. POPULATION-BASED COHORTS: Four population-based cohorts of adolescent boys and young men born in Sweden in 1953, 1967, 1972, and 1977, totaling 10,717 individuals, and followed up through December 31, 2006. EXPOSURE Scores on tests of verbal, spatial, and inductive ability at age 13 years and in equivalent tests at army conscription (age 18 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Hospital admissions for nonaffective or affective psychoses in adulthood. RESULTS A relative decline (compared with the unaffected population) in verbal ability between ages 13 and 18 years was associated with increased risk for schizophrenia and for other nonaffective and affective psychoses (adjusted hazard ratio for schizophrenia for an increase of 1 SD in verbal ability, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40-0.88; P = .009). Decline between ages 13 and 18 years was a much stronger predictor of psychosis than the verbal ability score at age 18 years alone. The association remained significant after adjustment for urbanicity, parental educational level, and family history of psychosis and persisted when cases with onset before age 25 years were excluded, indicating that this was not a prodromal effect. CONCLUSIONS A relative decline in cognitive performance in adolescence and young adulthood, particularly in verbal ability, is associated with increased risk for psychosis in adulthood, and a relative decline in verbal ability between ages 13 and 18 years is a stronger predictor of psychosis than verbal ability at age 18 years alone. This suggests an impairment of late neurodevelopment affecting the acquisition of verbal skills in adolescent boys and young men who later develop psychosis.