Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms in two DNA repair genes (XPD and XRCC1) – association with age related cataracts

Purpose Age related cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world today. The association between DNA damage to the lens epithelium and the development of lens opacities has been reported in many studies. Polymorphisms of DNA repair enzymes may affect repair efficiency and thereby lead to the development of age related cataract. Methods In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of polymorphisms in two DNA repair enzyme genes, xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group (XPD) codon 312 and X-ray complementing group1 (XRCC1) codon 399, in a sample of 208 cataract patients (69 with cortical, 69 with nuclear and 70 with posterior sub capsular) and 151 sex and age matched healthy controls. XPD genotype was determined by Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) while XRCC1 was genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. Results There was a significant difference between frequencies for XPD-312 Asn/Asn genotype in cataract patients (21.6%) and healthy controls (13.2%; p=0.03, OR=1.97, 95% CI=1.06–3.63). Considering the types of cataract, XPD-312 Asn/Asn genotype was found to be significantly different in patients with cortical (29%) type in comparison to controls (13.2%; p=0.03, OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.11–5.12). No statistically significant difference was found for the genotypic and allelic distributions of the polymorphism in XRCC1. The MDR interaction analysis revealed weak synergism between the markers XPD-Asp312Asn and XRCC1-Arg399Gln contributing to cataract. It also showed that the AA genotype of XPD-Asp312Asn polymorphism when present in combination with the GA genotype of XRCC1-Arg399Gln had a fivefold and with AA had a fourfold risk for developing cataract. Conclusions The present study suggests that a polymorphism in XPD codon 312 may be associated with the development of maturity onset cataract. This is the first report on the association of XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism with maturity onset cataract.
Techniques supporting threadprivate in OpenMP

This paper presents the alternatives available to support threadprivate data in OpenMP and evaluates them. We show how current compilation systems rely on custom techniques for implementing thread-local data. But in fact the ELF binary specification currently supports data sections that become threadprivate by default. ELF naming for such areas is thread-local storage (TLS). Our experiments demonstrate that implementing threadprivate based on the TLS support is very easy, and more efficient. This proposal goes in the same line as the future implementation of OpenMP on the GNU compiler collection. In addition, our experience with the use of threadprivate in OpenMP applications shows that usually it is better to avoid it. This is because threadprivate variables reside in common blocks and they impede the compiler to fully optimize the code. So it is better to keep threadprivate as a temporary technique only to ease porting MPI codes to OpenMP
Third-Party Intervention and the Civil War Process

What effect do third parties have on the evolution of civil wars? The authors argue that intervention by third parties is central to the civil war process, a process that is characterized by the duration of hostilities and the type of outcome. The authors examine empirically the effect of third-party intervention into civil wars during the period 1816—1997, using the event history framework of competing risks. From the perspective of competing risks, as a civil war endures, it is at risk of experiencing a transition to one of three civil war outcomes in our sample: military victory by the government, military victory by the opposition group, and negotiated settlement. The competing risks approach provides considerably better leverage on the dynamic qualities of civil wars and, in particular, the influence of interventions by third parties. The analysis suggests that third-party interventions can be decisive in the evolution of civil wars and that third-party interventions have a different effect on the duration than different civil war outcomes. The results show that third-party intervention decreases the time until the supported group achieves military victory. Furthermore, third-party interventions, on both the government and opposition sides, increase the time until a negotiated settlement.
Information-theoretic upper and lower bounds for statistical estimation

In this paper, we establish upper and lower bounds for some statistical estimation problems through concise information-theoretic arguments. Our upper bound analysis is based on a simple yet general inequality which we call the information exponential inequality. We show that this inequality naturally leads to a general randomized estimation method, for which performance upper bounds can be obtained. The lower bounds, applicable for all statistical estimators, are obtained by original applications of some well known information-theoretic inequalities, and approximately match the obtained upper bounds for various important problems. Moreover, our framework can be regarded as a natural generalization of the standard minimax framework, in that we allow the performance of the estimator to vary for different possible underlying distributions according to a predefined prior
Pasteurella multocida: from Zoonosis to Cellular Microbiology

SUMMARY In a world where most emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in nature and our contacts with both domestic and wild animals abound, there is growing awareness of the potential for human acquisition of animal diseases. Like other Pasteurellaceae, Pasteurella species are highly prevalent among animal populations, where they are often found as part of the normal microbiota of the oral, nasopharyngeal, and upper respiratory tracts. Many Pasteurella species are opportunistic pathogens that can cause endemic disease and are associated increasingly with epizootic outbreaks. Zoonotic transmission to humans usually occurs through animal bites or contact with nasal secretions, with P. multocida being the most prevalent isolate observed in human infections. Here we review recent comparative genomics and molecular pathogenesis studies that have advanced our understanding of the multiple virulence mechanisms employed by Pasteurella species to establish acute and chronic infections. We also summarize efforts being explored to enhance our ability to rapidly and accurately identify and distinguish among clinical isolates and to control pasteurellosis by improved development of new vaccines and treatment regimens.
An Image Steganalysis Method Based on Characteristic Function Moments of Wavelet Subbands

In this paper a universal steganalysis scheme is proposed for images. The scheme is based on the characteristic function moments of three-level wavelet subbands including the further decomposition coefficients of the first scale diagonal subband. The first three order statistical moments of each band are selected to form a feature vector for steganalysis. The Euclidean distance is used as the separability criterion to analysis the effectiveness of feature vectors for classification and the BP neural network is adopted as the classifier. Simulation results show the efficacy of our steganalyzer on several kinds of typical steganography algorithms. Compared to other well-known methods, the proposed scheme performs the best in attacking Jsteg, OutGuess, F5, JHide and S-Tools.
Dynamic model and motion planning for a pendulum-actuated spherical rolling robot

This paper deals with the dynamics and motion planning for a spherical rolling robot with a pendulum actuated by two motors. First a dynamic model for the rolling robot is established. In general, not all feasible kinematic trajectories of the rolling carrier are dynamically realizable. A notable exception is when the contact trajectories on the sphere and on the plane are geodesic lines. Based on this consideration, a motion planning strategy for complete reconfiguration of the rolling robot is proposed. The strategy consists of two trivial movements and a non-trivial maneuver that is based on tracing multiple spherical triangles. To compute the sizes and the number of triangles, a reachability diagram is constructed. To define the control torques realizing the rest-to-rest motion along the geodesic lines, two possible approaches are suggested. A computational algorithm, implementing the motion planning strategy, is developed and verified under simulation.
FINITE MARKOV CHAINS

This paper provides basic information and theorems about finite Markov chains. The inspiration for this paper came from Professor Laci Babai’s Discrete Mathematics lecture notes from the REU program of 2003. After reading through his chapter on Markov chains, I decided to proceed by answering as many exercises from the notes as possible. Below is what I have finished.
Translocation and the alternative D-galacturonate pathway contribute to increasing the ascorbate level in ripening tomato fruits together with the D-mannose/L-galactose pathway

The D-mannose/L-galactose pathway for the biosynthesis of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid; AsA) has greatly improved the understanding of this indispensable compound in plants, where it plays multifunctional roles. However, it is yet to be proven whether the same pathway holds for all the different organs of plants, especially the fruit-bearing plants, at different stages of development. Micro-Tom was used here to elucidate the mechanisms of AsA accumulation and regulation in tomato fruits. The mRNA expression of the genes in the D-mannose/L-galactose pathway were inversely correlated with increasing AsA content of Micro-Tom fruits during ripening. Feeding L-[6-14C]AsA to Micro-Tom plants revealed that the bulk of the label from AsA accumulated in the source leaf was transported to the immature green fruits, and the rate of translocation decreased as ripening progressed. L-Galactose feeding, but neither D-galacturonate nor L-gulono-1,4-lactone, enhanced the content of AsA in immature green fruit. On the other hand, L-galactose and D-galacturonate, but not L-gulono-1,4-lactone, resulted in an increase in the AsA content of red ripened fruits. Crude extract prepared from insoluble fractions of green and red fruits showed D-galacturonate reductase- and aldonolactonase-specific activities, the antepenultimate and penultimate enzymes, respectively, in the D-galacturonate pathway, in both fruits. Taken together, the present findings demonstrated that tomato fruits could switch between different sources for AsA supply depending on their ripening stages. The translocation from source leaves and biosynthesis via the D-mannose/L-galactose pathway are dominant sources in immature fruits, while the alternative D-galacturonate pathway contributes to AsA accumulation in ripened Micro-Tom fruits.
Benefits and Challenges of Using Live Modeling to Help Preservice Teachers Transfer Technology Integration Principles

Abstract One method underutilized in training teachers to use technology is to use live modeling sessions. This study qualitatively investigates how the use of modeling sessions impacted students. In this study we found that modeling was perceived by most students to be effective at teaching technology skills and ideas for integrating technology as teachers. However, we identified several breakdowns in the ability of students to transfer their understanding of technology integration to their own situations. We explain this difficulty of transfer of learning and describe five situations when these breakdowns were likely to occur. Implications include the benefits of using live modeling if adapted to address students’ unique needs, as well as future research into the impact of contextual differences on the transfer of students’ learning.
Vaginal Practices of HIV-Negative Zimbabwean Women

Background. Vaginal practices (VPs) may increase HIV risk by injuring vaginal epithelium or by increasing risk of bacterial vaginosis, an established risk factor for HIV. Methods. HIV-negative Zimbabwean women (n = 2,185) participating in a prospective study on hormonal contraception and HIV risk completed an ancillary questionnaire capturing detailed VP data at quarterly followup visits for two years. Results. Most participants (84%) reported ever cleansing inside the vagina, and at 40% of visits women reported drying the vagina using cloth or paper. Vaginal tightening using cloth/cotton wool, lemon juice, traditional herbs/powders, or other products was reported at 4% of visits. Women with ≥15 unprotected sex acts monthly had higher odds of cleansing (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04–1.32). Women with sexually transmitted infections had higher odds of tightening (aOR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.08–1.86). Conclusion. Because certain vaginal practices were associated with other HIV risk factors, synergism between VPs and other risk factors should be explored.
Computational strategies for object recognition

This article reviews the available methods for automated identification of objects in digital images. The techniques are classified into groups according to the nature of the computational strategy used. Four classes are proposed: (1) the simplest strategies, which work on data appropriate for feature vector classification, (2) methods that match models to symbolic data structures for situations involving reliable data and complex models, (3) approaches that fit models to the photometry and are appropriate for noisy data and simple models, and (4) combinations of these strategies, which must be adopted in complex situations. Representative examples of various methods are summarized, and the classes of strategies with respect to their appropriateness for particular applications.
Non-coherent Rayleigh fading MIMO channels: Capacity and optimal input

Information transfer over a discrete time uncorrelated Rayleigh fading multiple input multiple output (MIMO) channel is considered, where neither the transmitter nor the receiver has the knowledge of the channel state information (CSI) except the fading statistics. We derive a capacity supremum with the receive antenna number at any signal to noise ratio (SNR) using Lagrange optimisation. We show that the asymptotic capacity is double logarithmic when the input power is large. We prove that to achieve the capacity, the amplitude of the multiple input needs to have a discrete distribution with a finite number of mass points, one of them necessarily located at the origin. We show how to compute the capacity numerically in multi-antenna configuration at any SNR with the discrete input using the Kuhn-Tucker condition for optimality. Furthermore, we show that the capacity with two mass points is optimal at low SNR signifying on-off keying. As the number of receive antennas increases, the maximum SNR at which two mass points are optimal decreases.
Frequency preference and attention effects across cortical depths in the human primary auditory cortex

Significance To the best of our knowledge, our data provide the first imaging evidence compatible with columnar processing of sound frequency in the human auditory cortex. Our study depicts the human auditory cortex with unprecedented spatial detail and demonstrates the feasibility of acquiring submillimeter functional images outside visual/motor cortices, setting the stage for a wide range of research possibilities. Our results elucidate the role of cortical layers in bottom-up and top-down processing of sounds, and suggest that ongoing behavioral goals shape population-based sound representations especially in superficial layers of A1 columns. These results may inform and improve computational models of auditory cortical processing and may be relevant for understanding neurological conditions that do not yet have an imaging “biomarker” (e.g., tinnitus). Columnar arrangements of neurons with similar preference have been suggested as the fundamental processing units of the cerebral cortex. Within these columnar arrangements, feed-forward information enters at middle cortical layers whereas feedback information arrives at superficial and deep layers. This interplay of feed-forward and feedback processing is at the core of perception and behavior. Here we provide in vivo evidence consistent with a columnar organization of the processing of sound frequency in the human auditory cortex. We measure submillimeter functional responses to sound frequency sweeps at high magnetic fields (7 tesla) and show that frequency preference is stable through cortical depth in primary auditory cortex. Furthermore, we demonstrate that—in this highly columnar cortex—task demands sharpen the frequency tuning in superficial cortical layers more than in middle or deep layers. These findings are pivotal to understanding mechanisms of neural information processing and flow during the active perception of sounds.
Adaptação Brasileira e Estrutura Fatorial da Escala 240-item VIA Inventory of Strengths

The aims of this study were: (1) to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the 240-item VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) to use in Brazil; (2) to investigate the factor structure of the VIA-IS in a Brazilian sample; and (3) to conduct descriptive analyses of strengths scores in the VIA-IS in the Brazilian sample. The cross-cultural adaptation provided a Brazilian-Portuguese version of the VIA-IS that is similar to the original version of the instrument. The descriptive and factor structure analysis were conducted in a sample of 1.975 Brazilians, with a mean age of 35.0 years old (SD = 10.8). Results suggest that the instrument should be used as a unidimensional measure of strengths and virtues. The sample presented high scores in all strengths assessed, and women scored higher than men in the majority of the strengths. We discuss implications for the assessment of strengths and virtues in Positive Psychology using the VIA-IS in the Brazilian context.
Reconstructing the Ocean's Interior from Surface Data

A new method is proposed for extrapolating subsurface velocity and density fields from sea surface density and sea surface height (SSH). In this, the surface density is linked to the subsurface fields via the surface quasigeostrophic (SQG) formalism, as proposed in several recent papers. The subsurface field is augmented by the addition of the barotropic and first baroclinic modes, whose amplitudes are determined by matching to the sea surface height (pressure), after subtracting the SQG contribution. An additional constraint is that the bottom pressure anomaly vanishes. The method is tested for three regions in the North Atlantic using data from a high-resolution numericalsimulation. The decomposition yields strikinglyrealistic subsurfacefields. It is particularly successful in energetic regions like the Gulf Stream extension and at high latitudes where the mixed layer is deep, but it also works in less energetic eastern subtropics. The demonstration highlights the possibility of reconstructing three-dimensional oceanic flows using a combination of satellite fields, for example,seasurfacetemperature(SST)andSSH,andsparse(orclimatological)estimatesoftheregionaldepthresolveddensity.Themethodcouldbefurtherelaboratedtointegrateadditionalsubsurfaceinformation,such as mooring measurements.
Bandwidth Selection in Nonparametric Kernel Testing

We propose a sound approach to bandwidth selection in nonparametric kernel testing. The main idea is to find an Edgeworth expansion of the asymptotic distribution of the test concerned. Due to the involvement of a kernel bandwidth in the leading term of the Edgeworth expansion, we are able to establish closed-form expressions to explicitly represent the leading terms of both the size and power functions and then determine how the bandwidth should be chosen according to certain requirements for both the size and power functions. For example, when a significance level is given, we can choose the bandwidth such that the power function is maximized while the size function is controlled by the significance level. Both asymptotic theory and methodology are established. In addition, we develop an easy implementation procedure for the practical realization of the established methodology and illustrate this on two simulated examples and a real data example.
Low neural exosomal levels of cellular survival factors in Alzheimer’s disease

Transcription factors that mediate neuronal defenses against diverse stresses were quantified in plasma neural‐derived exosomes of Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia patients and matched controls. Exosomal levels of low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 6, heat‐shock factor‐1, and repressor element 1‐silencing transcription factor all were significantly lower in Alzheimer's disease patients than controls (P < 0.0001). In frontotemporal dementia, the only significant difference was higher levels of repressor element 1‐silencing transcription factor than in controls. Exosomal transcription factors were diminished 2–10 years before clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Low exosomal levels of survival proteins may explain decreased neuronal resistance to Alzheimer's disease neurotoxic proteins.
Contactless palmprint recognition based on convolutional neural network

Palmprint recognition has become the novel and effective technology in biological recognition fields. The contactless palmprint recognition is the mainstream way with its unique advantages. However, hand pose variations, rotations, translations, complicated backgrounds are the common problems in contactless palmprint recognition. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a palmprint recognition approach based the convolutional neural network (CNN), which consists of three main parts, namely, image preprocessing, CNN feature extraction and matching. First palmprint images are preprocessed using the improved fuzzy enhancement algorithm, then using the AlexNet with eight layers network structure for palmprint feature extraction. Finally match the feature with the hausdorff distance. The results of the experiments on three public available databases in different circumstances indicate that the proposed method achieves the best equal error rate (EER) 0.044% with respect to some typical methods of the state of the art.
Predictive models for prostate cancer based on logistic regression and artificial neural network

This study aims to develop two predictive models for prostate cancer and to compare their diagnostic performance on the basis of logistic regression (LR) and artificial neural network (ANN). The data used in this study were collected from 586 men with histologically confirmed diagnoses. One third of those data were randomly retained for model validation. Bivariate correlate and logistic regression analyses were applied for predictor selection. The diagnostic abilities were evaluated and compared by performance parameters (including sensitivity, specificity, Youden index and accuracy) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. The ultimate predictors for modeling included age, percent free prostate specific antigen (%fPSA), prostate volume, and PSA density (PSAD). The sensitivity, specificity, Youden index, and accuracy of LR model were 0.8623, 0.8616, 0.7239 and 0.8618 versus 0.8563, 0.8854, 0.7417 and 0.8771 for the ANN. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.924 for LR model and 0.933 for the ANN, respectively. Comparison of ANN to LR model showed no statistically significant difference. The above results verified the high diagnostic validity of these two models. LR and ANN model can be incorporated into urologic decision making to assist the clinician making diagnosis and treatment and to reduce the unnecessary biopsies.