Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First-order methods with inexact oracle: the strongly convex case

The goal of this paper is to study the effect of inexact first-order information on the first-order methods designed for smooth strongly convex optimization problems. It can be seen as a generalization to the strongly convex case of our previous paper [1]. We introduce the notion of (δ,L,μ)-oracle, that can be seen as an extension of the (δ,L)-oracle (previously introduced in [1]), taking into account strong convexity. We consider different examples of (δ,L,μ)-oracle: strongly convex function with first-order information computed at a shifted point, strongly convex function with approximate gradient and strongly convex max-function with inexact resolution of subproblems. The core of this paper is devoted to the behavior analysis of three first-order methods, respectively the primal, the dual and the fast gradient method, when used with a (δ, L, μ)- oracle. As in the smooth convex case (studied in [1]), we obtain that the simple gradient methods can be seen as robust but relatively slow, whereas the fast gradient method is faster but more sensitive to oracle errors. However, the strong convexity leads to much faster convergence rates (linear instead of sublinear) for every method and to a reduced sensitivity with respect to oracle errors. We also prove that the notion of (δ, L, μ)-oracle can be used in order to model exact first-order information but for functions with weaker level of smoothness and different level of convexity. This observation allows us to apply methods, originally designed for smooth strongly convex function, to weakly smooth uniformly convex functions and to derive corresponding performance guarantees.
Effects of long-term storage on Fusarium toxin concentrations in wheat - sources of error of the analytical results

The concentrations of the Fusarium toxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) of a heavily contaminated wheat grain batch were followed over a period of 1 year by taking samples 15 times every 28 days. The air temperature and relative humidity at the top of the wheat batch ranged between 7 and 22°C and 44 and 55%, respectively, and corresponded to a variation in the moisture content of the wheat grain between 11.5 and 12.3%. None of these fluctuations were related to ZON and DON concentrations, which varied between 0.46 and 0.66 and 15.0 and 19.5 mg/kg DM. Therefore, the data were used to analyse the error sources for the analytical results. It was found that the variance proportions due to sampling and sample preparation plus analysis were not similar for DON and ZON. The variance proportion due to sampling was found to be 0.62 for ZON, which corresponded to a variance proportion of 0.38 due to sample preparation plus analysis. In contrast, the latter variance proportion for DON was estimated to be 1.0 and consequently completely superimposed the sampling error. It is concluded that long-term storage of contaminated wheat grain does not affect the concentrations of DON and ZON considering the measured fluctuations in ambient temperature, relative humidity and moisture content of the grain. Therefore, no degradation of DON and ZON occurred during the storage of wheat for a period of one year under ambient conditions. The effects of sampling and sample preparation plus analysis on the final analytical results are different for DON and ZON and require further consideration.
Fast Non-uniform Deblurring using Constrained Camera Pose Subspace

where Kθ is the matrix that warps latent image L to the transformed copy at a sampled pose θ and S denotes the set of sampled camera poses. While these algorithms show promising results, they entail high computational cost as the high-dimensional camera motion space and the latent image have to be computed during the iterative optimization procedures. In this paper, we propose a fast single-image deblurring algorithm to remove non-uniform blur. We first introduce an initialization method that facilitates convergence and avoid local minimums of the formulated optimization problem. We then propose a new camera motion estimation method which optimizes on a small set of pose weights of a constrained camera pose subspace at a time rather than using the entire space. We develop an iterative method to refine the camera motion estimation and introduce perturbation at each iteration to obtain robust solutions. Fig. 1 summarizes the main steps of our method.
Multicomponent Gas-Particle Flow and Heat/Mass Transfer Induced by a Localized Laser Irradiation on a Urethane-Coated Stainless Steel Substrate

A three-dimensional numerical simulation is conducted for a complex process in a laser-material system, which involves heat and mass transfer in a compressible gaseous phase and chemical reaction during laser irradiation on a urethane paint coated on a stainless steel substrate. A finite volume method (FVM) with a co-located grid mesh that discretizes the entire computational domain is employed to simulate the heating process. The results show that when the top surface of the paint reaches a threshold temperature of 560 K, the polyurethane starts to decompose through chemical reaction. As a result, combustion products CO2, H2O and NO2 are produced and chromium (III) oxide, which serves as pigment in the paint, is ejected as solid parcels from the paint into the gaseous domain. Variations of temperature, density and velocity at the center of the laser irradiation spot, and the concentrations of reaction reactant/products in the gaseous phase are presented and discussed, by comparing six scenarios with different laser powers ranging from 2.5 kW to 15 kW with an increment of 2.5 kW.
Specific and Pronounced Impacts of Lisinopril and Lisinopril Plus Simvastatin on Erythrocyte Antioxidant Enzymes

Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors are effective at reducing blood pressure, whereas statins decrease plasma cholesterol impeding atherosclerosis. It is hypothesized that these medications may improve blood pressure and serum cholesterol by modifying the antioxidative status and energy metabolism of erythrocytes. In this study, the effects of 2 treatments are compared: lisinopril alone versus lisinopril + simvastatin, on erythrocyte antioxidant and energy metabolic enzymes. Patients with atherosclerosis and moderate hypertension are randomly assigned to receive lisinopril 10 to 20 mg/d or lisinopril 10 to 20 mg/d plus simvastatin 20 mg/d for 24 weeks. Higher catalase activity and lower glutathione peroxidase activity are observed in 94% to 100% patients from both groups after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Superoxide dismutase activity is increased significantly only after 24 weeks. No changes of glutathione reductase, lactate dehydrogenase, and phosphofructokinase activities are found under any conditions indicated. Both treatments decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure equally. Only lisinopril + simvastatin treatment decreases plasma total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. The results show for the first time that lisinopril monotherapy and combined lisinopril + simvastatin therapy exhibit specific and pronounced effects on antioxidant and energy metabolic enzyme activities in erythrocytes of hypertensive patients.
Tectonic-magmatic-metallogenic system, Tongling ore cluster region, Anhui Province, China

The Tongling ore district of the Middle-Lower Yangtze metallogenic belt is a famous Cu-Au-Fe-S polymetal region, and its tectonic deformation, magmatic evolution, and metallogenic processes have been studied for decades. In this article, we propose a comprehensive tectonic-magmatic-metallogenic model of the ore-forming mechanism constrained by magmatism and regional deformation. In the Tongling district, the tectonic regime underwent two transitions. (1) In the Middle Triassic, the tectonic regime transitioned from quiescence to intense compression. During contraction, the lithosphere thickened and a series of NE-trending folds developed in the cover sequence; because of the multi-layered structure of this caprock, bedding faults, typically cut by steeply dipping faults, developed widely. (2) From 134 to 150 Ma, the tectonic regime changed from compression to extension. During this transition, mantle–crust interaction was prominent; ore-bearing magma was generated by the mixing of crust-derived and mantle-derived melts triggered by delamination of the thickened lithosphere. Meanwhile, detachment faults developed along the interfaces, for example between the lower and upper crust, serving as emplacement sites for several magma chambers. Ore-bearing magma dikes containing large amounts of volatiles derived from a shallow chamber at about –10 km depth migrated into the cover sequence along the pre-existing steeply dipping faults. Melt injection reworked the structural framework, facilitating further development of steeply dipping faults, as well as the vertical transport of ore-bearing fluids. Hydrothermal fluids derived from the emplaced magmas not only formed a range of deposits, including skarns, porphyries, and cryptobreccias around the intrusions but also widely replaced carbonates along bedding-parallel faults and formed so-called stratabound skarn ore bodies, as well as superimposing synsedimentary orebodies developed in the quiescence stage to form several large polymetallic hydrothermal ore deposits. Various types of ore deposits at different depths are clustered in a single orefield, composing a multi-layered mineralization network. In the network, skarn deposits dominate and are characterized by fluid immiscibility processes and diverse element enrichments. The intense mineralization in the Tongling region was caused by the abundance of metals derived from the mantle, favourable ore-controlling structures, and widespread fluid boiling of magmatic hydrothermal fluids, which facilitated metal deposition during the Mesozoic, as well as the superposition of Mesozoic hydrothermal reworking of earlier Palaeozoic sedimentary ore bodies.
Adverse-Weather Trends in the Canadian Arctic

Abstract This study provides an assessment of changes in the occurrence frequency of four types of adverse-weather (freezing precipitation, blowing snow, fog, and low ceilings) and no-weather (i.e., no precipitation or visibility obscuration) events as observed at 15 Canadian Arctic stations of good hourly weather observations for 1953–2004. The frequency time series were subjected to a homogenization procedure prior to a logistic regression–based trend analysis. The results show that the frequency of freezing precipitation has increased almost everywhere across the Canadian Arctic since 1953. Rising air temperature in the region has probably resulted in more times that the temperature is suitable for freezing precipitation. On the contrary, the frequency of blowing snow occurrence has decreased significantly in the Canadian Arctic. The decline is most significant in spring. Changes in fog and low ceiling (LC) occurrences have similar patterns and are most (least) significant in summer (autumn). Decreases.
The European iNPH Multicentre Study on the predictive values of resistance to CSF outflow and the CSF Tap Test in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Objective The objective was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the CSF Tap Test (CSF TT) and resistance to CSF outflow (Rout) for the outcome of shunting in a sample of patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Methods 115 patients were included in this European multicentre study. Diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and signs, and MRI changes. All patients were treated with programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunts and re-examined 12 months after surgery. Outcomes were measures with a newly developed iNPH Scale and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Before surgery, a CSF TT and measurement of Rout was performed, with the results blinded to all caregivers. The 12 month outcome was correlated with Rout and the result of the CSF TT. Results Rout and the results of the CSF TT showed no correlation with outcome measured by either domain, or with total iNPH score or mRS score. Only an increase in the gait task (10 m of walking at free speed) of the CSF TT correlated significantly (r=0.22, p=0.02) with improvement in iNPH score. The positive predictive value of both tests was >90% and the negative predictive value <20%. Rout >12 had an overall accuracy of 65% and the CSF TT 53%. Combining both tests did not improve their predictive power. No correlation was found between Rout and the results of the CSF TT. Conclusions Rout and the results of the CSF TT did not correlate with outcome after 12 months. Rout and CSF TT can be used for selecting patients for shunt surgery but not for excluding patients from treatment. Trial registration The study has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT00874198.
The Effect of Copayments and Income on the Utilization of Medical Care by Subscribers to Japan's National Health Insurance System

This study uses cross-sectional data from Japan's 47 prefectures covering subscribers to Japan's National Health Insurance system to analyze the effects of income and copayment levels on the utilization of medical care. Multivariate regression models were run for the years 1984 and 1989, with the utilization ratio (number of health insurance claims per 100 insurance subscribers) for total, inpatient, outpatient, and dental services as the dependent variable. Independent variables included copayment per patient day, deflated per capita income, population density, percentage of subscribers over age 65, number of beds and clinics per 1,000 persons, and number of doctors and dentists per 1,000 persons. The data were then stratified according to per capita income and percentage of insurance subscribers over the age of 65 in each prefecture. The copayment amount exhibited a small, but significant negative effect on the utilization of all medical services. Utilization of outpatient care was most sensitive to the copayment rate. The per capita income stratification models revealed the greatest copayment effect on inpatient care for the lowest income group. The results of the age stratification models support popular notions about the use of hospitals by the elderly as substitutes for elderly care facilities. The effects of copayments and income vary not only among the type of medical care (inpatient, outpatient, and dental) but also among the income and age stratifications of groups in the National Health Insurance system.
Comparability of a Three-Dimensional Structure in Biopharmaceuticals Using Spectroscopic Methods

Protein structure depends on weak interactions and covalent bonds, like disulfide bridges, established according to the environmental conditions. Here, we present the validation of two spectroscopic methodologies for the measurement of free and unoxidized thiols, as an attribute of structural integrity, using 5,5′-dithionitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) and DyLight Maleimide (DLM) as derivatizing agents. These methods were used to compare Rituximab and Etanercept products from different manufacturers. Physicochemical comparability was demonstrated for Rituximab products as DTNB showed no statistical differences under native, denaturing, and denaturing-reducing conditions, with Student's t-test P values of 0.6233, 0.4022, and 0.1475, respectively. While for Etanercept products no statistical differences were observed under native (P = 0.0758) and denaturing conditions (P = 0.2450), denaturing-reducing conditions revealed cysteine contents of 98% and 101%, towards the theoretical value of 58, for the evaluated products from different Etanercept manufacturers. DLM supported equality between Rituximab products under native (P = 0.7499) and denaturing conditions (P = 0.8027), but showed statistical differences among Etanercept products under native conditions (P < 0.001). DLM suggested that Infinitam has fewer exposed thiols than Enbrel, although DTNB method, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence (TCSPC), and activity (TNFα neutralization) showed no differences. Overall, this data revealed the capabilities and drawbacks of each thiol quantification technique and their correlation with protein structure.
Privacy in e-commerce: examining user scenarios and privacy preferences

Privacy is a necessary concern in electronic commerce. It is difficult, if not impossible, to complete a transaction without revealing some personal data ‐ a shipping address, billing information, or product preference. Users may be unwilling to provide this necessary information or even to browse online if they believe their privacy is invaded or threatened. Fortunately, there are technologies to help users protect their privacy. P3P (Platform for Privacy Preferences Project) from the World Wide Web Consortium is one such technology. However, there is a need to know more about the range of user concerns and preferences about privacy in order to build usable and effective interface mechanisms for P3P and other privacy technologies. Accordingly, we conducted a survey of 381 U.S. Net users, detailing a range of commerce scenarios and examining the participants' concerns and preferences about privacy. This paper presents both the findings from that study as well as their design implications.
An Experimental Study of an Ant-colony Algorithm for the Mesh-partitioning Problem

Parallel computer systems are suitable for solving computationally intensive numerical methods such as finite-volume and finite-element methods for solving partial di.erential equations. A program and associated data are distributed among the processors. The aim is to find a distribution where the communication is as low as possible. This leads to the mesh-partitioning optimization problem, which is known to be an NP-hard. Ant-colony algorithm (ACA) is a relatively new metaheuristic search technique for solving general optimization problems. We experimentally study ACA for solving the mesh-partitioning problem.
Methionine Dependency of Cultured Human Lymphocytes

Abstract Human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and a lymphocyte model consisting of the RPMI 6410 cell, a human virus-transformed B cell, required added methionine (Met) for growth of the cultures. This failure to meet all needs for Met via endogenous synthesis, which is characteristic of oncogenic transformation, occurred even in the presence of adequate homocysteine, methylfolate (5-CH3-H4PteGlu) and cobalamin (Cbl)-dependent methionine synthetase activity. Folinic acid (5-CHO-H4PteGlu), which provides available folate independently of Cbl, improved growth only slightly in the absence of Met. Free Cbl at 222 nM, an amount great enough to alter other intracellular events, failed to increase growth in the absence of Met, but 0.22 nM Cbl bound to transcobalamin II did, however, enhance growth.
Fast time response measurements of HNO3 in air with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer

A chemical ionization mass spectrometer has been developed for fast time response measurements of HNO3 in ambient air. The apparatus was characterized in an informal intercomparison campaign at Green Mountain Mesa in Boulder, Colorado. Nitric acid was measured over a wide range of meteorological conditions. Detection limits of less than 15 pptv for a 1 s integration period were routinely obtained. The apparatus was sufficiently sensitive to measure ambient levels of HNO3 for all conditions except for periods of fog or heavy precipitation when HNO3 mixing ratios were less than 10 pptv.
Investigation of late-Holocene moraines in the western Southern Alps, New Zealand, applying Schmidt-hammer exposure-age dating

Chronological studies applying Schmidt-hammer exposure-age dating (SHD) were performed on six glacier forelands in the western part of the Southern Alps, New Zealand. Although lithological heterogeneity prevented a regional age-calibration curve to be established, local age-calibration curves for La Perouse Glacier and Strauchon Glacier could be derived. They show similar linear equations and trends/slopes and enabled a preliminary assessment of the representativeness of individual 10Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating (TCND)-ages obtained from the other forelands. No mid- and early-Holocene advance periods were detected. Clusters of moraine ages date around 2800, 1850–1450, and 1100–900 years ago, followed by the ‘Little Ice Age’ commencing c. 500 years ago. There is no good agreement with earlier radiocarbon-based studies and recently published TCND-chronologies. As it will be outlined, this partly could be the result of different approaches to the palaeoclimatic interpretation of the dated samples. The results obtained from this recent study do not support an elsewhere proposed general asynchronous glacier behaviour between the mid-latitudinal Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Standard penetration test procedures and the effects in sands of overburden pressure, relative density, particle size, ageing and overconsolidation

Granted that good site control is exercised in carrying out the standard penetration test the energy delivered to the sampler, and therefore the blow count obtained in any given sand deposit at a particular effective overburden pressure, can still vary to a significant extent depending on the method of releasing the hammer, on the type of anvil and on the length of rods (if less than 10 m). For consistency it is essential to correct the observed blow count N to the value which would have been measured using a specified rod energy. A recommended value, which should be recognized internation- ally, is 60% of the free-fall energy of the standard hammer weight and drop. The corrected blow count is then designated as N60 and the normalized value (N1)60 at unit effective pressure (1 kg/cm2 or 100 kPa) may be regarded as a basic characteristic of the sand. Factors controlling the rod energy ratio are examined in detail and methods of deriving N60 values are developed. An examination of selected field and laborat.
Correlations between cognitive impairment and brain‑derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus of post-stroke depression rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and cognitive impairment in post‑stroke depression (PSD) rats and to explore the mechanism(s) involved in the process of cognitive impairment. A rat model of focal cerebral ischemia was established by occluding the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Rats were subjected to isolation-housing combined with chronic unexpected mild stress (CUMS) to establish a PSD rat model. The learning and memory abilities of the PSD rat model were evaluated by passive avoidance tests. Real‑time PCR and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect changes in BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the hippocampus. Passive avoidance defects were revealed in the PSD and depression groups. Passive avoidance defects were more evident in the PSD group compared with the depression group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). BDNF expression in the hippocampus was significantly lower in the PSD and depression groups compared with that in the normal control group (P<0.01). No significant difference in BDNF expression was identified between the normal control and stroke groups (P>0.05) or between the PSD and the depression groups (P>0.05). The decrease in BDNF expression in the hippocampus of PSD rats may aggravate cognitive impairment, however, the degree of cognitive impairment cannot be reflected by the expression levels of BDNF in the hippocampus.