Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mathematical analysis and numerical methods for pricing some pension plans and mortgages

El objetivo principal de esta tesis se centra en el analisis matematico y la solucion numerica de algunos modelos de ecuaciones en derivadas parciales (EDPs) para valorar planes de pensiones con beneficios definidos e hipotecas a tipo de interes fijo. En los planes de pensiones, los beneficios por jubilacion dependen del salario medio. Cuando no se permite jubilacion anticipada, se plantea un problema de Cauchy asociado con un operador de Kolmogorov degenerado, en otro caso aparece un problema de complementariedad. Bajo ambas alternativas, obtenemos la existencia y unicidad de solucion en los espacios funcionales adecuados. Ademas, si incorporamos saltos en el salario, entonces los problemas de Cauchy y de complementariedad estan asociados a un operador integro-diferencial. En las hipotecas a tipo de interes fijo, consideramos las opciones de amortizacion anticipada e impago. Los factores estocasticos subyacentes son el tipo de interes y el valor del colateral. La valoracion del contrato requiere resolver una serie de problemas de frontera libre enlazados. Los valores del seguro y de la fraccion de perdida potencial no cubierta por dicho seguro son la solucion de una serie de problemas de Cauchy enlazados. Para obtener una solucion numerica, se propone un metodo de Lagrange-Galerkin para la discretizacion de las EDPs, que se combina con un metodo iterativo de conjunto activo basado en una formulacion de tipo lagrangiana aumentada para las restricciones de desigualdad. El termino integral en el operador integro-diferencial se trata con tecnicas de integracion numerica apropiadas.
Cutaneous adverse drug reactions in children. A series of 90 cases.

BACKGROUND Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR) are frequent in children. They have different clinical presentations and may be caused by several drugs. AIM To evaluate the epidemioclinical features of cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADR) and the different causative drugs in a Tunisian paediatric series. METHODS We have retrospectively included 90 children (under 16 years old) with a well documented cutaneous drug reaction, seen in the Department of Dermatology of Charles Nicolle hospital of Tunis over 18 years (1991-2008). Age, gender, duration of skin disorders, type of cutaneous lesions, incriminated drugs, delay between drug consumption and eruption, validation by the national pharmacovigilance centre, treatment and outcome were recorded. RESULTS Our patients were 6.9 year-aged (sex-ratio M/F 1.19). They had maculopapular eruption (MPE) (57.7%), acute urticaria (16.6%), fixed drug eruption (14.4%), erythema multiform (2.2%), photosensitization (1.1%) or severe cutaneous drug reactions (10%). Incriminated drugs were: Antibiotics (55.5%), non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (18.8%), antiepileptics (11.1%), and analgesics (5.5%). Betalactamins were the most commonly incriminated antibiotics (32 out of 50 patients; 64%). Barbiturates were the most commonly incriminated anti-epileptics (7/90 cases, 7.7%). Favourable outcome was noted in all patients, even those with severe drug reactions. CONCLUSION MPE to antibiotics were the most common kinds of CADR in children. Drug responsibility should be based on solid criteria given the frequency of MPE of infectious origin and the frequent prescription of antibiotics in paediatric population.
Expected Critical Path Lengths in PERT Networks

A method of obtaining a fairly good lower approximation to the expected duration time of a project whose individual job times are discrete random variables is described. It is assumed that jobs that immediately precede any given job may have a joint distribution of times, with independence between immediate predecessors of different jobs. The method provides an estimate that is usually much better, and never worse, than the one obtained by replacing each random job time by its expected value. An application to expected minimal path lengths in networks whose arc lengths are random variables is discussed.
Progression from Acute to Chronic Disease in a Murine Parent-into-F1 Model of Graft-Versus-Host Disease

The parent-into-immunocompetent-F1 model of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) induces immune dysregulation, resulting in acute or chronic GVHD. The disease outcome is thought to be determined by the number of parental anti-F1 CTL precursor cells present in the inoculum. Injection of C57BL/6 (B6) splenocytes into (B6 × DBA/2)F1 (B6D2F1) mice (acute model) leads to extensive parental cell engraftment and early death, whereas injection of DBA/2 cells (chronic model) results in little parental cell engraftment and a lupus-like disease. This study demonstrated that injection of BALB/c splenocytes into (BALB/c × B6)F1 (CB6F1) mice resulted in little engraftment of parental lymphocytes and the development of lupus as expected. Injection of B6 splenocytes into CB6F1 initiated an initial burst of parental cell engraftment similar to that of B6 into B6D2F1. However, the acute disease resolved, and the CB6F1 mice went on to develop chronic GVHD with detectable Abs to ssDNA, dsDNA, and extractable nuclear Ags. Limiting dilution CTL assays determined that B6 splenocytes have CTL precursor frequencies of 1/1000 against both CB6F1 and B6D2F1, whereas DBA/2 and BALB/c splenocytes have a CTL precursor frequency of 1/20,000 for their respective F1s. The Th cell precursor frequency for B6 anti-DBA/2 was 3-fold higher than that for B6 anti-BALB/c determined by limiting dilution proliferation assays. These results indicate the importance of adequate allospecific helper as well as effector T cells for the induction and maintenance of acute GVHD in this model, and presents an unexpected model in which initial acute GVHD is replaced by the chronic form of disease.
High frequency of coxsackie‐B‐virus‐specific IgM in children developing type I diabetes during a period of high diabetes morbidity

Twenty‐four consecutive children with newly diagnosed insulin‐dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were investigated for a history of infectious disease. Thirteen of the 24 (54%) patients reported symptoms of acute infection within two months before diabetes was diagnosed. The mean age was 8.5 years and 15 (63%) of the patients were girls. No clear seasonal variation in onset was seen.
Discrete-rate adaptation schemes in multi-channel systems with finite-length buffer

Assuming a single-user multi-channel system, we study the performance of joint adaptive modulation and finite-length buffer. For higher spectral efficiency and more efficient usage of channel resources, we introduce hybrid schemes using discrete-rate adaptation jointly with discrete-power adaptation and selection-diversity. To analyze the queuing operation, we characterize the channel state of each scheme and derive the transition probability of the queue state and its stationary distribution. Furthermore, we investigate the system performance, in terms of the spectral efficiency, the packet dropping rate and the average delay. Numerical results show that hybrid scheme offers noticeable performance gain over the conventional adaptive modulation.
Propagation of Caenorhabditis japonica in the Nest of Its Carrier Insect, Parastrachia japonensis

We demonstrated the disembarkation of the bacterial-feeding nematode Caenorhabditis japonica dauer larvae (DL) from adult Parastrachia japonensis female insects and observed the propagation of nematodes in artificial insect nests. Our results clarify the process of propagation in this nematode species and provide insights into the nematode-insect relationship. Quiescent C. japonica DL resumed their mobility only at > 99.9% relative humidity (RH) at 25°C in the presence or absence of the carrier insect. In artificial nests with > 99.9% RH, DL resumed their mobility and the number of DL on female insects decreased gradually after oviposition, although numerous DL remained on the insects. Very few DL were detected on mother insects after hatching. Nematode propagation was observed on the egg mass after hatching and on nymphal carcasses; the total number of nematodes in the nest increased dramatically after this point. These results indicate that humidity is an important factor for disembarkation of C. japonica DL and that C. japonica propagates in the nest of P. japonensis where it feeds on the remains of eggs and nymph carcasses, indicating that C. japonica and P. japonensis have a unique phoretic and necromenic association.
FIABILIDAD Y VALIDEZ

En este capitulo se describen conceptualmente las propiedades psicometricas de fiabilidad y validez y los procedimientos para evaluarlas. El apartado dedicado a la fiabilidad o precision de las puntuaciones de las pruebas describe los distintos modelos, procedimientos empiricos e indices estadisticos para cuantificarla. En cuanto a la validez, la propiedad psicometrica mas importante y la que ha experimentado mayores transformaciones a lo largo de la historia de la Psicometria, se resumen las principales concepciones y los debates en torno a la misma. Se previene al lector de dos frecuentes malentendidos: en primer lugar, considerar que la fiabilidad y la validez son caracteristicas de los tests cuando corresponden a propiedades de las interpretaciones, inferencias o usos especificos de las medidas que esos tests proporcionan; en segundo lugar, tratar la fiabilidad y la validez como propiedades que se poseen o no en lugar de entenderlas como una cuestion de grado.
Neighborhood sociodemographics and change in built infrastructure

Abstract While increasing evidence suggests an association between physical infrastructure in neighborhoods and health outcomes, relatively little research examines how neighborhoods change physically over time and how these physical improvements are spatially distributed across populations. This paper describes the change over 25 years (1985–2010) in bicycle lanes, off-road trails, bus transit service and parks, and spatial clusters of changes in these domains relative to neighborhood sociodemographics in four US cities that are diverse in terms of geography, size, and population. Across all four cities we identified increases in bicycle lanes, off-road trails, and bus transit service, with spatial clustering in these changes that related to neighborhood sociodemographics. Overall, we found evidence of positive changes in physical infrastructure commonly identified as supportive of physical activity. However, the patterning of infrastructure change by sociodemographic change encourages attention to the equity in infrastructure improvements across neighborhoods.
Cognitive load theory in health professional education: design principles and strategies

Context Cognitive load theory aims to develop instructional design guidelines based on a model of human cognitive architecture. The architecture assumes a limited working memory and an unlimited long‐term memory holding cognitive schemas; expertise exclusively comes from knowledge stored as schemas in long‐term memory. Learning is described as the construction and automation of such schemas. Three types of cognitive load are distinguished: intrinsic load is a direct function of the complexity of the performed task and the expertise of the learner; extraneous load is a result of superfluous processes that do not directly contribute to learning, and germane load is caused by learning processes that deal with intrinsic cognitive load.
Effect of Relocation and Parental Psychopathology on Earthquake Survivor-Children's Mental Health

Earthquakes may increase the risk for psychopathology in children because the disaster may disrupt family functioning through causing psychopathology in the parents or disrupting social network through migration, school changes, or socioeconomic status changes caused by the job losses of the parents. This study aimed to investigate the effects of parental psychopathology on the traumatic stress and depression of earthquake survivor-children 4 years after the earthquake. A convenience sample of 104 earthquake survivor-children (43 boys, 61 girls) and their parents were assessed at their homes for earthquake experience and traumatic stress symptoms. The outcome variables were the factor scores of a child/adolescent traumatic stress questionnaire (Traumatic Stress Symptom Checklist for Children and Adolescents). The predictors of child's factor scores were examined using linear regression analyses. The traumatic stress factor score of the children was predicted two variables: the child's reported fear during the earthquake and the father's traumatic stress factor score. The depression factor score, on the other hand, was predicted using the depression factor score of the mother only. Demographic variables or relocation status were not predictive for either of children's factor scores. The results of the present study show that maternal and paternal psychopathologies have differential effects on the psychological status of earthquake survivor-children. Traumatic stress in the child is predicted using the traumatic stress of father, whereas depression in the child is predicted by mother's depression levels. Social network disruption does not seem to have a negative effect on children once parental psychopathology is taken into account.
Association of clinical and serological parameters of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with Epstein‐Barr virus antibody profile

Epstein‐Barr viral infection is one of the known environmental factors involved in development of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE). Though not much is known about the exact role of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) in SLE pathogenesis, the theory of switching of lytic and lysogenic cycles of EBV in memory B cells fits well with the periods of waning disease activity and intermittent flares in SLE patients. In this study, we investigate the association of EBV antibody profile with clinical and serological parameters in SLE. Eighty‐seven clinically diagnosed SLE patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria and fifty healthy individuals were enrolled in this case control study. Anti‐VCA IgM, anti‐VCA IgG, and anti‐EBNA IgG were detected by ELISA technique. Antibodies concentrations between two groups were compared using Mann‐Whitney whereas the difference in categorical data was compared using Chi‐square considering statistical significance at P < 0.05. This study demonstrated a significant increase in EBV VCA‐IgG, VCA‐IgM, and EBNA‐IgG antibodies levels of SLE patients when compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). High seroprevalence was seen in both the study groups for EBV VCA‐IgG and EBNA‐IgG antibodies when compared to VCA‐IgM antibodies. A significant increase was noted in the anti‐VCA‐IgG levels with dsDNA autoantibody positivity (P < 0.05). Though there was no significant association between EBV antibody profile and clinical manifestations, 100% seropositivity for anti‐VCA‐IgG was seen in SLE patients with renal manifestations. Association of anti‐VCA IgG levels with presence of anti‐dsDNA antibodies suggests a possible role of EBV as an environmental trigger in pathogenesis of SLE.
Suicidal Ideation and Perceived Burdensomeness in Patients with Chronic Pain

There is a clear relationship between suicide risk and chronic pain conditions. However, the exact nature of this link has been poorly understood, with risk attribution often limited to comorbid depression. Perceived burdensomeness has already been confirmed as a risk factor for suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempt in the general population. Self‐perceived burden, studied among medically and terminally ill medical populations, has begun to receive a great deal of attention as a suicide risk factor. However, this risk has not been considered in an outpatient chronic pain population, a group likely to experience perceived burdensomeness as a particular problem. Guidelines recommend routine suicide risk screening in medical settings, but many questionnaires are time‐consuming and do not allow for the assessment of the presence of newly identified risk constructs, such as perceived burdensomeness. This retrospective study examined the relationship between depression, perceived burdensomeness, and SI in a patient sample seeking behavioral treatment for chronic pain management. A logistic regression model was developed, with preliminary results indicating perceived burdensomeness was the sole predictor of SI, even in the presence of other well‐established risk factors such as age, gender, depressive symptoms, and pain severity. Findings highlight the potential utility of a single‐item screening question in routine clinical care as an incrementally superior predictor of SI in a chronic pain population.
In vitro Cytotoxicity of Glass and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Heat-Polymerized Acrylic Resin Denture Base Material

Acrylic resin dentures may have cytotoxic effects on oral tissues. However, there is sparse data about the cytotoxic effect of fiber-reinforced acrylic resin materials. The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the cytotoxicity of a heat-polymerized acrylic resin denture base material reinforced with glass, carbon fibers and unreinforced acrylic resin denture base material. 100 acrylic resin discs were assigned to 5 experimental groups (n=20) and 1 control group. Group NOF did not receive any fiber. Roving type glass (Vetrolex) and carbon fibers (Type Tenox J) were introduced into the acrylic resin specimens of Group RGF and Group RCF with the "embedding" technique. Particulate glass and carbon fibers were impregnated into the specimens of Group PGF and PCF with the "blending" technique. Gingival fibroblast cells were exposed onto the test specimens and the cytotoxicity was determined by succinic dehydrogenase activity (MTT method) after 24 and 72 hours incubation. Data were analyzed with the 1-way- Anova test. Cell proliferation rates after 24 and 72 hours incubation ranged as follows: NOF (89%-83%)> RGF (80%-77%), PGF (80%-76%), RCF (79%-75%), PCF (77%-73%). All groups displayed significant cytotoxicity compared to control cell culture. Fiber reinforced groups were significantly more cytotoxic than the unreinforced group. No significant difference of cytotoxicity was found between the fiber-reinforced groups.
Synergistic effect of stromelysin-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-3) promoter 5A/6A polymorphism with smoking on the onset of young acute myocardial infarction

Summary The objective of this study was to elucidate the association between the polymorphism of stromelysin-1, also called matrix metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3), and smoking in the pathogenesis of young acute myocardial infarction (MI). Plaque rupture is well established as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of acute MI. MMP-3 can degrade extracellular matrix and are identified extensively in human coronary atheroslcerotic plaques, and may contribute to the weakening of the cap and subsequent rupture. We studied 150 consecutive patients with acute MI onset at age under 45 years (84% men) and 150 sex- and age-matched control subjects. 5A/6A genotype in the stromelysin-1 promoter was determined using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Results show that the frequency of the 5A allele and the prevalence of 5A/5A + 5A/6A genotypes were both significantly higher in the young MI than the control group (35.0% vs.20.0%, odds ratio [OR] 2.15,95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30 to 6.80, p<0.001; 44.7% vs. 27.4%, OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.98, p=0.009). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the 5A allele was an independent risk factor (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.24 to 5.90, p=0.008) as were as smoking (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.75 to 9.21, p=0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.41 to 6.32, p=0.0068) and hypertension (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.35 to 4.33, p=0.0025) for the premature onset of MI. Compared to 6A/6A subjects, among patients who did not smoke, the 5A allele poly-morphism was associated with a higher risk of MI at a young age (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.3 to 8.6), but smoking carriers of the 5A allele had a significantly 10-fold higher risk of MI (OR 9.98, 95% CI 2.3 to 12.5). We can conclude that there was a significant association between the 5A/6A polymorphism in the promoter region of stromelysin-1 gene and young MI in Taiwan. A synergistic effect between smoking and this polymorphism for the premature onset of MI had been shown in this study.
Multiplicative MJO Forcing of ENSO

AbstractThe Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is parameterized to study the role of the feedback it receives from sea surface temperature (SST) in its influence on El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The parameterization describes MJO surface westerlies in terms of a few basic parameters that include amplitude, zonal propagation extent, propagation speed, and the interval between adjacent events. It is used to drive a coupled ocean–atmosphere model of intermediate complexity tuned to a marginally stable regime. The MJO parameters acquire values either additively (i.e., based on observed estimates of most probable value and stochasticity) or multiplicatively (i.e., modulated by an evolving model ENSO SST, albeit with some stochasticity). Simulations reveal that ENSO variance increases with the stochasticity of MJO amplitude but is insensitive to the stochasticity of zonal extent and speed, except that ENSO vanishes completely when the propagation speed is zero. Likewise, ENSO strengthens linearly with the S.
Natural content of heavy metals on cattle regions soils of Mayabeque and Artemisa province in Cuba

In order to determine the pseudo-total concentrations of heavy metals (HM) on Cuban cattle soils with established grasslands from Mayabeque and Artemisa provinces, and to propose reference values of quality, samples of eleven representative soils were collected. They were taken at two depths and the pseudo-total and phyto-availability contents of the HM were assessed. After a cluster analysis, the soils were distributed into four groups according to the similarities in the contents of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr. A great variation of the natural values of HM in the different types of soils was demonstrated. Many of the values found are over those commonly reported in the international literature, especially those included in the third group, corresponding to ferralitic regions. Key words: degradation, trace elements, geochemical fund, values of reference .
Computerized writing and reading instruction for students in grades 4-9 with specific learning disabilities affecting written language

Computer scientists and educational researchers evaluated effectiveness of computerized instruction tailored to evidence-based impairments in specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in students in grades 4 to 9 with persisting SLDs despite prior extra help. Following comprehensive, evidence-based differential diagnosis for dysgraphia (impaired handwriting), dyslexia (impaired word reading and spelling), and oral and written language learning disability (OWL LD), students completed 18 sessions of computerized instruction over about 3 months. The 11 students taught letter formation with sequential, numbered, colored arrow cues with full contours who wrote letters on lines added to iPAD screen showed more and stronger treatment effects than the 21 students taught using only visual motion cues for letter formation who wrote on an unlined computer monitor. Teaching to all levels of language in multiple functional language systems (by ear, eye, mouth, and hand) close in time resulted in significant gains in reading and writing skills for the group and in diagnosed SLD hallmark impairments for individuals; also, performance on computerized learning activities correlated with treatment gains. Results are discussed in reference to need for both accommodations and explicit instruction for persisting SLDs and the potential for computers to teach handwriting, morphophonemic orthographies, comprehension, and composition.