Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Three Surrogate Modeling Techniques: Datascape r , Kriging, and Second Order Regression

Using surrogate models in place of high fldelity engineering simulations can help reduce design cycle times and cost by enabling rapid analysis of alternative designs. Surrogate models can also be used in a deliverable product as an e‐cient replacement for large lookup tables or as a soft sensor to predict quantities than cannot be directly measured. Many difierent surrogate modeling techniques exist, including new commercial technologies, each with difierent capabilities and pitfalls. The goal of this research is to aid the designer in selecting the appropriate surrogate model by comparing two popular techniques, second order regression and kriging, along with a new commercial application called Datascape. The three difierent modeling techniques are compared on model accuracy, computational e‐ciency, robustness, transparency, and ease of use. The comparisons were done using three test problems: an Earth-Mars transfer orbit problem, the analytic Shekel function, and a low Earth orbit three-satellite constellation design problem. It was found that kriging models performed the best when the sample data used to build the models was sparse, when larger sample sets were used Datascape produced more accurate models.
Use of beta-blockers and risk of fractures.

CONTEXT Animal studies suggest that the beta-blocker propranolol increases bone formation, but data on whether use of beta-blockers (with or without concomitant use of thiazide diuretics) is associated with reduced fracture risk in humans are limited. OBJECTIVE To determine whether use of beta-blockers alone or in combination with thiazides is associated with a decreased risk of fracture in adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Case-control analysis using the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). The study included 30,601 case patients aged 30 to 79 years with an incident fracture diagnosis between 1993 and 1999 and 120,819 controls, matched to cases on age, sex, calendar time, and general practice attended. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Odds ratios (ORs) of having a fracture in association with use of beta-blockers or a combination of beta-blockers with thiazides. RESULTS The most frequent fractures were of the hand/lower arm (n = 12,837 [42.0%]) and of the foot (n = 4627 [15.1%]). Compared with patients who did not use either beta-blockers or thiazide diuretics, the OR for current use of beta-blockers only (> or =3 prescriptions) was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.83); for current use of thiazides only (> or =3 prescriptions), 0.80 (95% CI, 0.74-0.86); and for combined current use of beta-blockers and thiazides, 0.71 (95% CI, 0.64-0.79). Data were adjusted for smoking; body mass index; number of practice visits; and use of calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, antipsychotics, antidepressants, statins, antiepileptics, benzodiazepines, corticosteroids, and estrogens. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that current use of beta-blockers is associated with a reduced risk of fractures, taken alone as well as in combination with thiazide diuretics. Many elderly patients with hypertension who are at risk of developing osteoporosis may potentially benefit from combined therapy with beta-blockers and thiazides.
Occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. in surface water supplies

Giardia and Cryptosporidium levels were determined by using a combined immunofluorescence test for source waters of 66 surface water treatment plants in 14 states and 1 Canadian province. The results showed that cysts and oocysts were widely dispersed in the aquatic environment. Giardia spp. were detected in 81% of the raw water samples. Cryptosporidium spp. were found in 87% of the raw water locations. Overall, Giardia or Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 97% of the raw water samples. Higher cyst and oocyst densities were associated with source waters receiving industrial or sewage effluents. Significant correlations were found between Giardia and Cryptosporidium densities and raw water quality parameters such as turbidity and total and fecal coliform levels. Statistical modeling suggests that cyst and oocyst densities could be predicted on the basis of watershed and water quality characteristics. The occurrence of high levels of Giardia cysts in raw water samples may require water utilities to apply treatment beyond that outlined in the Surface Water Treatment Rule of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Stable Antigen Is Most Effective for Eliciting CD8+ T-Cell Responses after DNA Vaccination and Infection with Recombinant Vaccinia Virus In Vivo

ABSTRACT The induction of strong CD8+ T-cell responses against infectious diseases and cancer has remained a major challenge. Depending on the source of antigen and the infectious agent, priming of CD8+ T cells requires direct and/or cross-presentation of antigenic peptides on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). However, both pathways show distinct preferences concerning antigen stability. Whereas direct presentation was shown to efficiently present peptides derived from rapidly degraded proteins, cross-presentation is dependent on long-lived antigen species. In this report, we analyzed the role of antigen stability on DNA vaccination and recombinant vaccinia virus (VV) infection using altered versions of the same antigen. The long-lived nucleoprotein (NP) of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can be targeted for degradation by N-terminal fusion to ubiquitin or, as we show here, to the ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10. Direct presentation by cells either transfected with NP-encoding plasmids or infected with recombinant VV in vitro was enhanced in the presence of short-lived antigens. In vivo, however, the highest induction of NP-specific CD8+ T-cell responses was achieved in the presence of long-lived NP. Our experiments provide evidence that targeting antigens for proteasomal degradation does not improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines and recombinant VVs. Rather, it is the long-lived antigen that is superior for the efficient activation of MHC class I-restricted immune responses in vivo. Hence, our results suggest a dominant role for antigen cross-priming in DNA vaccination and recombinant VV infection.
Radical prostatectomy: prospective assessment of mortality and morbidity.

OBJECTIVE To prospectively analyse the morbidity of radical prostatectomy. METHODS Morbidity data from 188 consecutive radical prostatectomy patients were collected prospectively. Mortality, intraoperative, early postoperative and late postoperative complications were analysed. RESULTS 1.5% mortality. 3.7% suffered an intraoperative complication. Early postoperative problems were common (43%). Of those with greater than 1 year follow-up, 5.9% remained with some incontinence, and a further 11 patients had artificial sphincters implanted; 32% had narrowing of the anastomosis, requiring at least 1 dilation; 43% of patients retained their potency. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that radical prostatectomy can be performed with minimal mortality and acceptable morbidity.
The Full Information Case

This paper surveys what can be learned from recent advances in the incomplete contract literature to understand how public goods are or should be provided. The paper starts with a section on the full information case that presents and discusses the classical Samuelson condition on the optimal provision of public goods. The rest of the paper presents results under asymmetric information. It is constituted of two main parts. In the first one, the social planner has complete contracting ability. We discuss the basic setting and assumptions of this comprehensive contracting approach and study the trade-offs it generates. The second part of the paper is devoted to the study of contracting incompleteness. Such incompleteness can emerge from various sources, which we present and discuss. We then study the case of a politically chosen decision-maker and the consequences of its inability to commit for more than one period and of the ability for individuals to form groups. Finally, we address the problem of the choice between public and private forms of public good provision. The concluding section summarizes the main policy lessons.
Object loss, renewed mourning, and psychic change in Jane Austen's Persuasion

Austen's extraordinary realism in depicting the dynamic internal processes which follow on the heroine's loss in Persuasion becomes clear in the light of a psychoanalytic understanding of mourning. Persuasion dramatizes the effects of a mother's death in adolescence as these come into play at the time of the heroine's separation from her fiancée and her later mourning. The thesis of this paper is that, despite falling in love with the brilliant hero, an unfinished mourning and an unconscious identification with her dead mother helped to persuade the heroine Anne Elliot to break her engagement, to create a ‘final parting’ as her mother had done to her in dying. The heroine's internal monologues show that she has projected some of the darker feelings of mourning, her anger and resentment, on to the hero and that she reopens a complex mourning process, partly through the displacement of affect, showing how traumatic effects of loss can be worked through in deferred action, effecting positive psychic change.
Extensions, restrictions, and representations of states on *-algebras

In the first three sections the question of when a pure state g on a C*-subalgebra B of a C*-algebra A has a unique state extension is studied. It is shown that an extension/is unique if and only if inf||6(o — f(a)\)b\\ = 0 for each a in A, where the inf is taken over those b in B such that 0 < b < 1 and g(b) =* 1. The special cases where B is maximal abelian and/or A — B(H) are treated in more detail. In the remaining sections states of the form ri-> lim^T"*,,, xa), where {■*„}«£« •* a "* °* uTM1 vectors in H and % is an ultrafilter are studied. Introduction. In [10] Kadison and Singer studied the question: if 65 is a maximal abelian subalgebra of $ (%) (the set of bounded linear operators on a separable Hubert space) does each homomorphism of ÍB have a unique state extension to $ (3C)? They showed that if % is isomorphic to L°°(0, 1) then there are homomorphisms of 9> for which distinct state extensions exist. More recently in [13] Reid showed that if $ is a maximal abelian subalgebra of $ (%) which is isomorphic to /°°(N), where N denotes the positive integers, then there are (nontrivial) homomorphisms of <S which do have unique state extensions to iß (%). In §§1-3 of this paper we study the extension question for arbitrary C*-algebras & and % and give generalizations of some of the results in [10]. For example in §3 we show that if <$ c & and/is a pure state on %, then/ has a unique state extension to & if and only if for each T in & there is a positive element B in $ so that/(A) = ||S|| = 1 and the distance from BTB to % is arbitrarily small. Using this fact we show that if <S is a maximal abelian subalgebra of & then each nonzero homomorphism of $ has a unique state extension to & if and only if there is a conditional expectation of £E onto 9> satisfying certain requirements, and that if % is also weakly closed then this occurs if and only if & = % + [% +, &]~, where [<& +, &]~ is the norm closure of {BX XB: B G <$>, B > 0 and X G <£}. Received by the editors February 10, 1977. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 46L05, 46L10, 46L25; Secondary 47A20, 47B47.
La metodología de la encuesta continua de hogares y el empalme de las series del mercado laboral urbano de Colombia

La encuesta de hogares tuvo cambios importantes en el ano 2000. Ello implico modificaciones en los conceptos, preguntas, periodicidad de recoleccion y cobertura que han dificultado la realizacion de estudios sobre el mercado laboral que requieran series completas desde 1984 hasta hoy. Efectos del cambio son menores registros en las tasas de desempleo y participacion y uno mayor en la tasa de ocupacion. Este articulo expone dos metodos de empalme de las series: uno apoyado en datos micro y otro en agregados del mercado laboral. Con base en los resultados de ambos metodos proponemos series de tasas de ocupacion, participacion y desempleo para empalmar con las series recientes del DANE generadas a partir de la Encuesta Continua de Hogares.
Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) Multiplexing: An Enabler of a New Era of Wireless Communications

SUMMARY This paper explores the potential of orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing as a means to enable high-speed wireless transmission. OAM is a physical property of electro-magnetic waves that are characterized by a helical phase front in the propagation direction. Since the characteristic can be used to create multiple orthogonal channels, wireless transmission using OAM can enhance the wireless transmission rate. Comparisons with other wireless transmission technologies clarify that OAM multiplexing is particularly promising for point-to-point wireless transmission. We also clarify three major issues in OAM multiplexing: beam divergence, mode-dependent performance degradation, and reception (Rx) signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) reduction. To mitigate mode-dependent performance degradation we ﬁrst present a simple but practical Rx antenna design method. Exploiting the fact that there are speciﬁc location sets with phase diﬀerences of 90 or 180 degrees, the method allows each OAM mode to be received at its high SNR region. We also introduce two methods to address the Rx SNR reduction issue by exploiting the property of a Gaussian beam generated by multiple uniform circular arrays and by using a dielectric lens antenna. We conﬁrm the feasibility of OAM multiplexing in a proof of concept experiment at 5.2 GHz. The eﬀectiveness of the proposed Rx antenna design method is validated by computer simulations that use experimentally measured values. The two new Rx SNR enhancement methods are validated by computer simulations using wireless transmission at 60 GHz. key words: orbital angular momentum multiplexing
Brain Microvascular Changes in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias a

ABSTRACT: Vasculopathy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) may represent an important pathogenetic factor of this disorder. In the present study, microvasculature was studied by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against a vascular heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Vascular changes were consistently observed in AD and included decrease in vascular density, presence of atrophic and coiling vessels, and glomerular loop formations. The laminar and regional distribution of these vascular alterations was correlated with the presence of neurofibrillary tangles. However, vascular changes may also follow neuronal loss. Vascular density may be related to a decrease in brain metabolism. Furthermore, one of the main features of AD is the presence of amyloid deposits within brain parenchyma and blood vessel walls. It is not yet clear whether amyloid components are derived from the blood or the central nervous system. Because AD is clearly heterogeneous, based on clinical and genetic data, evidence for either a brain or peripheral origin is discussed. Microvasculature was also analyzed in other neurodegenerative disorders devoid of amyloid deposits including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism‐dementia complex of Guam and Pick's disease. In conclusion, if vasculopathy in neurodegenerative disorders is not directly involved in pathogenesis, it may act synergistically with other pathogenetic mechanisms including genetic and environmental factors. This aspect of pathology is particularly interesting in view of its accessibility to therapeutic interventions.
The Janus face of pluripotent stem cells – Connection between pluripotency and tumourigenicity

Pluripotent stem cells have gained special attraction because of their almost unlimited proliferation and differentiation capacity in vitro. These properties substantiate the potential of pluripotent stem cells in basic research and regenerative medicine. Here three types of in vitro‐cultured pluripotent stem cells (embryonic carcinoma, embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells) are compared in their historical context with respect to their different origin and properties. It became evident that tumourigenicity is an inherent property of pluripotent cells based on p53 down‐regulation, expression of tumour‐related genes and high telomerase activity that allow unlimited proliferation. In addition, culture‐adapted genetic and epigenetic changes may induce tumourigenicity of pluripotent cells. The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine, however, requires non‐malignant cell types and strategies that circumvent stages of malignancy. Reprogramming strategies of adult somatic cells that avoid the tumourigenic state of pluripotency may offer alternatives for future biomedical application.
A Test for the Diagnosis of Dead Regions in the Cochlea

Abstract Hearing impairment may sometimes be associated with complete loss of inner hair cells (IHCs) over a certain region of the basilar membrane. We call this a ‘dead region’. Amplification (using a hearing aid) over a frequency range corresponding to a dead region may not be beneficial and may even impair speech intelligibility. However, diagnosis of dead regions is not easily done from the audiogram. This paper reports the design and evaluation of a method for detecting and delimiting dead regions. A noise, called ‘threshold equalizing noise’ (TEN), was spectrally shaped so that, for normally hearing subjects, it would give equal masked thresholds for pure tone signals at all frequencies within the range 250–10 000 Hz. Its level is specified as the level in a one-ERB (132 Hz) wide band centred at 1000 Hz. Measurements obtained from 22 normal-hearing subjects and TEN levels of 30, 50 and 70 dB/ERB confirmed that the signal level at masked threshold was approximately equal to the noise level/ERB and was almost independent of signal frequency. Masked thresholds were measured for 20 ears of 14 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss, using TEN levels of 30, 50 and 70 dB/ERB. Psychophysical tuning curves (PTCs) were measured for the same subjects. When there are surviving IHCs corresponding to a frequency region with elevated absolute thresholds, a signal in that frequency region is detected via IHCs with characteristic frequencies (CFs) close to that region. In such a case, threshold in the TEN is close to that for normal-hearing listeners, provided that the noise intensity is sufficient to produce significant masking. Also, the tip of the PTC lies close to the signal frequency. When a dead region is present, the signal is detected via IHCs with CFs different from that of the signal frequency. In such a case, threshold in the TEN is markedly higher than normal, and the tip of the PTC is shifted away from the signal frequency. Generally, there was a very good correspondence between the results obtained using the TEN and the PTCs. We conclude that the measurement of masked thresholds in TEN provides a quick and simple method for the diagnosis of dead regions.
Centrosome Hyperamplification in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Potential Phenotypic Marker of Tumor Aggressiveness

Objectives/Hypothesis There is currently no single histological or genotypic marker that reliably predicts the biological behavior of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). While multiple genetic mutations have been investigated, no single genotypic alteration has consistently correlated with tumor aggressiveness. Phenotypic markers may prove more predictive, because they can represent many different genetic alterations. We investigated the frequency of centrosome hyperamplification in HNSCC and examined its usefulness as a marker for tumor recurrence.
Image-based physiological and statistical models of the heart: application to tetralogy of Fallot. (Modèles physiologiques et statistiques du cœur guidés par imagerie médicale : application à la tétralogie de Fallot)

This thesis presents image-based methods for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy planning of patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot, a severe congenital heart disease. This was achieved by combining advanced medical image processing with both statistical and physiological modelling. First, we proposed a demons-based image registration algorithm to estimate the 3D myocardium strain from routine medical images, which is challenging due to the aperture problem (only the apparent motion is visible). The algorithm relies on elasticity and incompressibility constraints, rigorously implemented thanks to a new justification of the demons regularisation. Experiments on synthetic data and cine MRI of patients demonstrated that the proposed constraints improve the accuracy of the estimated cardiac displacements. Second, a generative model of the pathological right ventricle growth was proposed using a well-posed statistical framework for shape analysis, based on the "currents" shape representation. Principal component analysis was used to identify shape features that are relevant to the disease. Partial least squares and canonical correlation analysis were employed to design a generative model of heart growth. Applied on the right ventricles of 32 patients with tetralogy of Fallot, the method identified the right ventricle dilation, basal bulging and apical dilation reported in the clinical literature. The model showed that these features appear progressively as the child grows. Finally, we introduced an electromechanical model of the heart for personalised simulations of valve replacement in repaired tetralogy of Fallot patients. The electromechanical model simulates the main features of the cardiac function observed in these patients. Once personalised from clinical data, the model was used to predict the effects of pulmonary valve replacement on the postoperative cardiac function. Tested on two patients, the model managed to qualitatively reproduce their cardiac function. As expected, valve replacement predicted a significant improvement of the right ventricle but also of the left ventricle, suggesting a tight inter-ventricular relationship. The combination of medical imaging, statistical analysis and biophysical modelling provides a powerful framework for a more personalised computer-aided medicine.
The Size of the Largest Strongly Connected Component of a Random Digraph with a Given Degree Sequence

We give results on the strong connectivity for spaces of sparse random digraphs specified by degree sequence. A full characterization is provided, in probability, of the fan-in and fan-out of all vertices including the number of vertices with small ($o(n)$) and large ($cn$) fan-in or fan-out. We also give the size of the giant strongly connected component, if any, and the structure of the bow-tie digraph induced by the vertices with large fan-in or fan-out. Our results follow a direct analogy of the extinction probabilities of classical branching processes.