Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A CBR-streaming scheme for VBR-encoded videos

Media files are required to use variable-bit-rate (VBR) encoding, such as MPEG-2, in order to get constant quality compressed video. However, it produces traffic burst, which makes streaming complicated. Large network latency and jitter cause long start-up delay and frequent unwanted pauses in media playback, respectively. In this paper, we have proposed a proxy based constant-bit-rate (CBR) streaming scheme that allows a server to transmit a VBR-encoded video at a fixed rate, close to its mean encoding bit rate, and deals with the network latency and jitter issues efficiently without caching an entire media file. We have used smoothing buffers at the proxy to eliminate jitter and traffic burst effects. We have used prefix buffers at the proxy to cache the prefixes of popular videos to minimize the start-up delay and to enable near mean bit rate streaming from the server as well as from the proxy. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of our streaming scheme.
Exposure to air pollution during different gestational phases contributes to risks of low birth weight.

BACKGROUND Although there have been growing concerns about the adverse effects of air pollution on birth outcomes, little is known about which specific exposure times of specific pollutants contribute to low birth weight (LBW). METHODS We evaluated the relationships between LBW and air pollution exposure levels in Seoul, Korea. Using the air pollution data, we estimated the exposure during each trimester and also during each month of pregnancy on the basis of the gestational age and birth date of each newborn. Generalized additive logistic regression analyses were conducted considering infant sex, birth order, maternal age, parental education level, time trend, and gestational age. RESULTS The monthly analyses suggested that the risks for LBW tended to increase with carbon monoxide (CO) exposure between months 2-5 of pregnancy, with exposure to particles <10 micro m (PM(10)) in months 2 and 4, and for sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) exposure between months 3-5. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that exposure to CO, PM(10,) SO(2) and NO(2) during early to mid pregnancy contribute to risks for LBW.
Isolation and characterization of two glycerol‐fermenting clostridial strains from a pilot scale anaerobic digester treating high lipid‐content slaughterhouse waste

Two obligately anaerobic bacterial strains were isolated from the contents of a pilot scale, anaerobic digester treating slaughterhouse waste with a high protein and lipid content. The isolates, LIP1 and MW8, were characterized as spore‐forming, Gram‐positive rods, capable of fermenting glycerol. Isolate LIP1 was also observed to be lipolytic and was able to hydrolyse tallow and olive oil. Both isolates grew optimally at 37 °C and formed either acetate and formate (LIP1), or acetate and butyrate (MW8), as major glycerol fermentation products. Both isolates produced ethanol as the major reduced fermentation end‐product. Neither MW8 nor LIP1 had growth and metabolism inhibited by the addition of stearic acid at concentrations normally considered bactericidal. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, in conjunction with the phenotypic data, confirmed that the isolates are members of the genus Clostridium (sensu lato), clustering with species of clostridial clusters I (MW8) and XIVa (LIP1).
Vibration Anesthesia for Pain Reduction During Intralesional Steroid Injection for Keloid Treatment

BACKGROUND Patients suffer significant pain during intralesional steroid injection treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars. Vibration anesthesia has been shown to effectively and safely alleviate pain sensations, likely by reducing pain transmission from peripheral receptors to the brain. OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction associated with vibration anesthesia for reducing pain during intralesional corticosteroid injection. METHODS The authors recruited 40 patients with 58 keloids who were scheduled to undergo intralesional triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections. Half of each keloid was injected with concomitant vibration anesthesia, whereas the other half was injected without vibration anesthesia. Pain experienced by patients during both procedures was assessed according to visual analog scale (VAS) score. The authors also assessed procedure safety. RESULTS The mean VAS score during intralesional TA injection therapy without vibration was 5.88 ± 2.34. By contrast, the same patients yielded a mean VAS score during intralesional TA injection therapy with vibration of 3.28 ± 1.85; the difference between the mean scores was significant (p < .05). Thirty-nine (97.5%) patients tolerated this therapy well. CONCLUSION Vibration anesthesia is a promising option for reducing pain during keloid treatment with intralesional steroid injection.
The Impact of Teacher Collective Bargaining Laws on Student Achievement: Evidence from a New Mexico Natural Experiment

This Note uses the 1999 sunset and 2003 reauthorization of New Mexico's public employee collective bargaining law to estimate the causal effect of teacher collective bargaining on student achievement. This Note finds that mandatory teacher bargaining laws increase the performance of high-achieving students while simultaneously lowering the performance of poorly achieving students. After establishing this core empirical result, the Note explores its implications for current trends in American education policy and for normative arguments about the role of teachers' unions in public schools. AUTHOR. Yale Law School, J.D. 2oo; Yale College, B.A. 2003. Many thanks to Ian Ayres, John Donohue, Christine Jolls, Jens Ludwig, Barbara Schone, and Chris Griffin for research guidance and excellent teaching; to Paige Elisha, Jonathan Justl, and my family for support and encouragement; to Kenneth Jamison for help preparing this Note for publication; and to my former students and colleagues for a topic that matters.
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition-like and mesenchymal to epithelial transition-like processes might be involved in the pathogenesis of pelvic endometriosis.

BACKGROUND Endometrium is derived from intermediate mesoderm via mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) during development of the urogenital system. By retaining some imprint of their mesenchymal origin, endometrial epithelial cells may be particularly prone to return to this state, via epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). We hypothesized that pelvic endometriosis originates from retrograde menstruation of endometrial tissue and that EMT-like and MET-like processes might be involved in the pathogenesis of pelvic endometriosis. METHODS We investigated commonly used molecular markers for EMT, including cytokeratin, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, S100A4 and dephosphorylated beta-catenin by immunohistochemistry in different forms of pelvic endometriosis: deep infiltrating endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis and superficial peritoneal endometriosis (red and black lesions), as well as samples of menstrual endometrium, other benign ovarian cysts (mucinous and serous cyst adenoma), and abdominal scar endometriosis for comparison. RESULTS Epithelial cells of red peritoneal lesions and ovarian endometriosis showed less epithelial marker (cytokeratin, P < 0.0001) expression and more mesenchymal marker (vimentin and/or S100A4, P < 0.0001) expression than those of menstrual endometrium. In contrast, epithelial cells of black peritoneal lesions and deep infiltrating endometriosis showed more epithelial marker (E-cadherin) expression than those of menstrual endometrium (P < 0.03), red peritoneal lesions (P < 0.0001) and ovarian endometriosis (P< 0.0001), but maintained expression of some mesenchymal markers (vimentin, S100A4). In addition, dephosphorylated beta-catenin protein expression was significantly higher in epithelial cells of deep infiltrating endometriosis (P < 0.0001) than in epithelial cells of red and black peritoneal lesions and ovarian endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS EMT-like and MET-like processes might be involved in the pathogenesis of pelvic endometriosis.
The Translocation Motif of Hepatitis B Virus Envelope Proteins Is Dispensable for Infectivity

ABSTRACT The early events of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remain unclear. In 2006, Stoeckl et al. proposed a new entry mechanism involving a translocation motif (TLM) present in the pre-S2 domain of envelope proteins (L. Stoeckl, A. Funk, A. Kopitzki, B. Brandenburg, S. Oess, H. Will, H. Sirma, and E. Hildt, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103:6730-6734, 2006). After receptor binding and internalization into the endosomal compartment, this motif would allow the translocation of HBV particles through the endosomal membrane into the cytosol. In this study we have used two different mutated viruses containing a truncated TLM and showed their ability to infect human hepatocytes in primary culture, thus demonstrating the dispensability of the TLM for HBV infectivity.
Why We Recommend Analytic Treatment for Some Patients and Not for Others

One hundred consecutive patients applying for analysis completed a comprehensive battery of structured interviews and self-report questionnaires assessing dimensions of psychopathology and psychological functions that analysts consider important when evaluating patients for analysis. Patients were evaluated for analysis by a candidate supervised by a training analyst. Fifty patients were accepted for analysis and fifty rejected. In both groups, psychiatric morbidity and psychosocial impairment were high, with a 50% current and 74% lifetime diagnosis of mood disorder, 56% current and 61% lifetime history of anxiety disorder. The mean Beck Depression Inventory score fell in the moderate range, 19.1 (SD = 11.0), mean Hamilton Depression score in the mild range, 14.1 (SD = 7.8), and the mean Hamilton Anxiety score in the moderate range, 14.6 ( SD = 8.1), with 57% meeting criteria for an Axis II diagnosis, and mean social adjustment in the moderate to high pathology range. Patients accepted and rejected for analysis did not differ with regard to any of these dimensions. Accepted patients scored lower on measures of impulsivity, aggression, and sociopathy, and on scores of personality rigidity, primitive defenses, and outward aggression. The major finding was the striking similarity between patients accepted and rejected for psychoanalytic treatment.
Exercise-induced effects on UCP1 expression in classical brown adipose tissue: a systematic review

Abstract Understanding the impact of regular exercise training on uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) activity in classical brown adipose tissue (CBAT) is vital to our knowledge of whole-body thermogenic activity. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the available experimental evidence on the effect of regular exercise training on UCP1 expression in CBAT. We performed a literature search using PubMed (1966–2016), Scopus, and EMBASE (1974–2016). Studies in any language that examined the effect of regular exercise training on UCP1 expression in CBAT, and not white adipose tissue (WAT), were eligible. Reviews, editorials, and conference proceedings were excluded. Nine studies fulfilled the set criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool. The quality of reporting the results in the included studies was assessed using the 38-item checklist of the Animal Research Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE). Based on the evidence available and a comprehensive analysis of different confounding factors, we conclude that regular exercise training does not represent a major stimulus of UCP1 expression in CBAT. However, regular exercise training may induce adaptive responses to CBAT thermogenic activity in cases where: (i) animals consume a high-fat diet, (ii) exercise is combined with cold exposure, and (iii) animals show endogenously low UCP1 levels. Finally, it is important to note an inconsistency in the results from the analysed studies, which may be attributed to a number of confounding factors, increased risk of bias, as well as low quality of reporting the results.
EPQ model with learning consideration, imperfect production and partial backlogging in fuzzy random environment

The article scrutinises the learning effect of the unit production time on optimal lot size for the uncertain and imprecise imperfect production process, wherein shortages are permissible and partially backlogged. Contextually, we contemplate the fuzzy chance of production process shifting from an ‘in-control’ state to an ‘out-of-control’ state and re-work facility of imperfect quality of produced items. The elapsed time until the process shifts is considered as a fuzzy random variable, and consequently, fuzzy random total cost per unit time is derived. Fuzzy expectation and signed distance method are used to transform the fuzzy random cost function into an equivalent crisp function. The results are illustrated with the help of numerical example. Finally, sensitivity analysis of the optimal solution with respect to major parameters is carried out.
Epidemiology of mental and behavioral disorders among the elderly: based on data of hospitalized patients in Thailand 2010.

BACKGROUND To date, only small, selected groups of elderly hospitalized with mental and behavioral disorders (EHMBD) have been studied. Since no national epidemiological studies have been published, the recent advent of universal healthcare in Thailand makes doing such a study timely for improving the medical curricula and service provision. OBJECTIVE To analyze the epidemiology of the EHMBD in the year 2010 of Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD The data analyzed were gathered from Medical Expense Reimbursement forms submitted for the fiscal year 2010. The particular focus of this research was on elderly inpatient aged 60 years and over with ICD-10 (for 2010) diagnosis: F00-F99 Mental and Behavioral Disorders. The authors extracted and analyzed the number of in-patient department (IPD) admissions, psychiatric diagnoses, length of hospital stays, hospital charges and mortality rate. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17 for Windows. RESULTS In 2010, EHMBD accounted for 11,418 admissions which was 1.56 admission per 1000 elderly people or 13.9% of overall admission (19 years and over). Of the 11,418 admission, 44 died (0.39%). The mean in-patient charges/admission in Thai Baht (SD) for the EHMBD with any F00-F99 diagnosis was 12,896 (51,659). The average range of stay was 8.3 +/- 22.2 days. The leading diagnosed clusters of behavioral and mental disorders were organic mental disorders (F00-F09: 23.8%), neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (F40-F48: 21.1%); and mental and behavioral disorders due to use of alcohol (F10: 20.3%). Alcohol use disorders among the elderly resulted in four times more men being hospitalized than women. Regarding the F30-F39 cluster mood (affective) disorders, the prevalence of depressive episodes increased with age and bipolar affective disorder decreased with age. CONCLUSION The prevalence of hospitalization among the elderly with mental and behavioral disorders was about one-eighth that of all admission of adult from 19 years old. Death was an uncommon result. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were organic mental disorders, neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders and mental and behavioral disorders due to use of alcohol.
Copper hypersensitivity: dermatologic aspects *

ABSTRACT: Reports of immune reactions of both the immediate and delayed types due to cutaneous or systemic exposure to copper have been reviewed, in the endeavor to draw a comprehensive profile of the immunogenic potential of that metal and its compounds. The metal's immunotoxic potential is also briefly reviewed. In principle, as noted for other transition metals, the electropositive copper ion is potentially immunogenic due to its ability to diffuse through biological membranes to form complexes in contact with tissue protein. Based on predictive guinea pig test and the local lymph node assay (LLNA), copper has a low sensitization potential. Reports of immune reactions to copper include immunologic contact urticaria (ICU), allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), systemic allergic reactions (SAR) and contact stomatitis (STO), but considering the widespread use of copper IUDs and the importance of copper in coinage, items of personal adornment and industry, unambiguous reports of sensitization to the metal are extremely rare, and even fewer are the cases, which appear clinically relevant. Reports of immune reactions to copper mainly describe systemic exposure from intrauterine devices and prosthetic materials in dentistry, implicitly excluding induction of the hypersensitivity from contact with the skin as a risk factor. We provide a diagnostic algorithm that might clarify the frequency of copper hypersensitivity.
A Spatial Analysis of Risks and Resources for Reentry Youth in Los Angeles County

Most research on youth reentering the community following incarceration has focused on individual-level risks for negative outcomes; in doing so, researchers have largely overlooked the potential importance of the neighborhood contexts to which youth return. To address this research gap, we explore the associations between the level of neighborhood risks and resources and the rates of youth reentering the community following incarceration. Using spatial analysis to examine archival data from 272 postal codes for Los Angeles County, California, we find positive associations between rates of youth reentry and neighborhood characteristics of unemployment, poverty, and racial/ethnic minority concentration. Analysis also shows reentry rates are positively associated with neighborhood risks, including density of off-premise alcohol outlets and level of community violence. Examining resources individually, we show that the density of designated youth services is positively associated with reentry rates, whereas the density of education and mental health and substance abuse services is negatively associated with reentry rates. However, when neighborhood risks and resources are considered simultaneously, none of the resources is significantly associated with rates of youth reentry. The study findings highlight the relevance of neighborhood context in youth reentry research and suggest several directions for future study.
Heparin Enhances the Specificity of Antithrombin for Thrombin and Factor Xa Independent of the Reactive Center Loop Sequence

Heparin activates the primary serpin inhibitor of blood clotting proteinases, antithrombin, both by an allosteric conformational change mechanism that specifically enhances factor Xa inactivation and by a ternary complex bridging mechanism that promotes the inactivation of thrombin and other target proteinases. To determine whether the factor Xa specificity of allosterically activated antithrombin is encoded in the reactive center loop sequence, we attempted to switch this specificity by mutating the P6–P3′ proteinase binding sequence excluding P1–P1′ to a more optimal thrombin recognition sequence. Evaluation of 12 such antithrombin variants showed that the thrombin specificity of the serpin allosterically activated by a heparin pentasaccharide could be enhanced as much as 55-fold by changing P3, P2, and P2′ residues to a consensus thrombin recognition sequence. However, at most 9-fold of the enhanced thrombin specificity was due to allosteric activation, the remainder being realized without activation. Moreover, thrombin specificity enhancements were attenuated to at most 5-fold with a bridging heparin activator. Surprisingly, none of the reactive center loop mutations greatly affected the factor Xa specificity of the unactivated serpin or the several hundred-fold enhancement in factor Xa specificity due to activation by pentasaccharide or bridging heparins. Together, these results suggest that the specificity of both native and heparin-activated antithrombin for thrombin and factor Xa is only weakly dependent on the P6–P3′ residues flanking the primary P1–P1′ recognition site in the serpin-reactive center loop and that heparin enhances serpin specificity for both enzymes through secondary interaction sites outside the P6–P3′ region, which involve a bridging site on heparin in the case of thrombin and a previously unrecognized exosite on antithrombin in the case of factor Xa.
Adversarial Spheres

State of the art computer vision models have been shown to be vulnerable to small adversarial perturbations of the input. In other words, most images in the data distribution are both correctly classified by the model and are very close to a visually similar misclassified image. Despite substantial research interest, the cause of the phenomenon is still poorly understood and remains unsolved. We hypothesize that this counter intuitive behavior is a naturally occurring result of the high dimensional geometry of the data manifold. As a first step towards exploring this hypothesis, we study a simple synthetic dataset of classifying between two concentric high dimensional spheres. For this dataset we show a fundamental tradeoff between the amount of test error and the average distance to nearest error. In particular, we prove that any model which misclassifies a small constant fraction of a sphere will be vulnerable to adversarial perturbations of size $O(1/\sqrt{d})$. Surprisingly, when we train several different architectures on this dataset, all of their error sets naturally approach this theoretical bound. As a result of the theory, the vulnerability of neural networks to small adversarial perturbations is a logical consequence of the amount of test error observed. We hope that our theoretical analysis of this very simple case will point the way forward to explore how the geometry of complex real-world data sets leads to adversarial examples.
The Long‐Run Effect of Government Ideology on Economic Freedom

According to popular attitudes in Western democracies, the choice between right‐wing and left‐wing parties is a choice between socialism and unbridled free markets. In contrast, the cold and staid research of academia has frequently concluded that particular political parties do not really matter, as whichever party is elected will be closely tethered to the will of the median voter. This article considers the effects of the ideology of parties in power over the long run (1928–95) on economic freedom in subsequent periods. Right‐wing governments are found to have modest, positive effects on economic freedom, but the effects are not particularly robust. The findings here are consistent with others elsewhere, which conclude that there is minor, uneven evidence of an effect. Nonetheless, historically small effects may not be indicative of the future, should these effects be poorly indicative of today's tumultuous political landscape.