Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Mortality Modelling with Levy Processes based on GLM’s and Applications

Mortality rates have shown a gradual and steady decline over the last decades. In this thesis, we propose a stochastic process for the force of mortality. Similarly to Renshaw et al. (1996), the force of mortality will be defined using an exponential function of Legendre polynomials. In order to model perturbations in the force of mortality, we use the approach of Ballotta and Haberman (2006) and add a stochastic process which follows a one-dimensional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process. We show how Generalized Linear Models can be used to estimate coefficients of the explanatory variables as well as the value of the coefficient of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process. For this purpose, the estimator of this coefficient is obtained by minimizing the residual deviance. Next we change the structure of the perturbed term in the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process by replacing Brownian motion with Levy processes. We give some examples to clarify the fitting process and show the advantages of using stochastic forces of mortality. Predictions of the probabilities of death will be investigated to show how the model can be used in actuarial applications. Life annuities are then priced and compared using the proposed model based on Levy processes and the model in Renshaw et al. (1996). In this thesis, we also reconsider the two-factor stochastic mortality model introduced by Cairns, Blake and Dowd (2006). We first show that the underlying normality assumption of the error terms does not hold for the considered data set. We suggest to model the error terms using bivariate Generalized Hyperbolic distribution that includes four non-Gaussian, fat-tailed distributions. Our empirical analysis shows how the model can provide a better fit for the considered data. In addition, we try to model age adjusted death rates embedded in the Swiss Re mortality bond using generalized least squares approach. We use the variable length Markov chains (VLMC) model proposed by Machler and Buhlmann (2004) to model the incidence of catastrophic events. The proposed model is compared to the current recognized models in the literature. Finally, we perform a simulation study to estimate the market price of risk that can be used to fairly price the Swiss Re bond.
Tidal Interactions and Mergers in Intermediate-redshift EDisCS Clusters

We study the fraction of tidal interactions and mergers (TIMs) with well-identified observability timescales (fTIM) in group, cluster, and accompanying field galaxies and its dependence on redshift (z), cluster velocity dispersion (σ), and environment analyzing Hubble Space Telescope/ACS images and catalogs from the ESO Distant Cluster Survey. Our sample consists of 11 clusters, seven groups, and accompanying field galaxies at 0.4 ≤ z ≤ 0.8. We derive fTIM using both a visual classification of galaxy morphologies and an automated method, the G − M20 method. We calibrate this method using the visual classifications that were performed on a subset of our sample. We find marginal evidence for a trend between fTIM and z, in that higher z values correspond to higher fTIM. However, we also cannot rule out the null hypothesis of no correlation at higher than 68% confidence. No trend is present between fTIM and σ. We find that fTIM shows suggestive peaks in groups, and tentatively in clusters at R > 0.5 × R200, implying that fTIM gets boosted in these intermediate-density environments. However, our analysis of the local densities of our cluster sample does not reveal a trend between fTIM and density, except for a potential enhancement at the very highest densities. We also perform an analysis of projected radius–velocity phase space for our cluster members. Our results reveal that TIM and undisturbed galaxies only have a 6% probability of having been drawn from the same parent population in their velocity distribution and 37% in radii, in agreement with the modest differences obtained in fTIM at the clusters.
The efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy or anti-angiogenic therapy as a second-line or later treatment option for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective comparative cohort study

Background Although immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy remains the standard of second-line treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) , the objective response rate (ORR) is low. There is an urgent need to increase the response population of second-line immunotherapy, and ICI combination therapy may be a possible option. However, the evidence is insufficient. Methods We retrospectively collected the medical records of patients who received ICI monotherapy or ICI combination therapy as a second-line or later treatment option. We further analysed baseline clinical characteristics, evaluated treatment efficacy, assessed treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and followed up survival. The outcome variables assessed in the study were ORR, disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and AEs. Results A total of 145 patients were ultimately enrolled in this study, including the ICI monotherapy group (n=63) and ICI combination therapy group (n=82). The ICI combination therapy group was further divided into the ICI/chemotherapy group (n=57) and ICI/anti-angiogenic therapy group (n=25). The baseline was comparable among the three subgroups. The ICI combination therapy groups showed a higher ORR (29.3% vs. 11.1%, P=0.008) and DCR (85.4% vs. 61.9%, P=0.001) and a longer PFS (6.77 vs. 3.47 months, P<0.001) and OS (18.60 vs. 8.47 months, P<0.001) than the ICI monotherapy group. The ICI/chemotherapy group showed a significantly higher ORR (31.6% vs. 11.1%, P=0.006) and DCR (84.2% vs. 61.9%, P=0.006) and a longer PFS (6.37 vs. 3.47 months, P<0.001) and OS (18.60 vs. 8.47 months, P<0.001) than the ICI monotherapy group. The ICI/anti-angiogenic therapy group showed a significantly higher DCR (88.0% vs. 61.9%, P=0.021) and a longer PFS (8.17 vs. 3.47 months, P<0.001) and OS (19.20 vs. 8.47 months, P=0.005) than the ICI monotherapy group. Neither of the combined ICI therapy groups showed a significant increase in the incidence of AEs compared to the ICI monotherapy group. Conclusions ICI combined with chemotherapy or anti-angiogenic therapy as second-line or later treatment demonstrated superiority over ICI monotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients without prior immunotherapy. These results provide a potentially superior treatment strategy and require verification in prospective clinical trials.
Genetic Addiction Risk and Psychological Profiling Analyses for “Preaddiction” Severity Index

Since 1990, when our laboratory published the association of the DRD2 Taq A1 allele and severe alcoholism in JAMA, there has been an explosion of genetic candidate association studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS). To develop an accurate test to help identify those at risk for at least alcohol use disorder (AUD), a subset of reward deficiency syndrome (RDS), Blum’s group developed the genetic addiction risk severity (GARS) test, consisting of ten genes and eleven associated risk alleles. In order to statistically validate the selection of these risk alleles measured by GARS, we applied strict analysis to studies that investigated the association of each polymorphism with AUD or AUD-related conditions, including pain and even bariatric surgery, as a predictor of severe vulnerability to unwanted addictive behaviors, published since 1990 until now. This analysis calculated the Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium of each polymorphism in cases and controls. Pearson’s χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test was applied to compare the gender, genotype, and allele distribution if available. The statistical analyses found the OR, 95% CI for OR, and the post risk for 8% estimation of the population’s alcoholism prevalence revealed a significant detection. Prior to these results, the United States and European patents on a ten gene panel and eleven risk alleles have been issued. In the face of the new construct of the “preaddiction” model, similar to “prediabetes”, the genetic addiction risk analysis might provide one solution missing in the treatment and prevention of the neurological disorder known as RDS.
Nutritional and functional characterisation of flour from six plantain (Musa spp.) cultivars grown in Benin

Plantain flour is a promising functional ingredient of various domains in the food industry. The present work investigated the functional attributes and proximate composition of flours derived from six plantain cultivars from Benin, and evaluated their nutritional composition. Among the cultivars, proximate composition of the flours varied with moisture, ash, protein, and fibre ranging from 4.59 - 6.85, 2.01 - 2.56, 2.54 - 3.47, and 0.95 - 1.37% (dry basis), respectively. Significantly higher β-carotene contents (± 9 µg) were found in flours from Orishele and Pelipita cultivars, whereas flours from Aloga 2M and Kpahissi cultivars yielded the highest content of vitamin C (9.64 µg). Flour from Kpahissi cultivar exhibited higher water and oil absorption capacity (161.29 and 81.29%, respectively) than the other flours. In addition, higher viscosity, emulsion, and foaming capacities were recorded in flour from Kpahissi cultivar. Flours from different plantain cultivars differed in their physicochemical and functional properties, and could therefore be used in various food domains. In that respect, Kpahissi, Orishele, and Aloga 2M flours could be more suitable in the formulation of particular composite flour for specific uses having the functional parameters such as water and oil absorption, viscosity, emulsion, and foaming capacities.
Epidemiological Context and Risk Factors Associated with the Evolution of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): A Retrospective Cohort Study

Since its initial appearance in December 2019, COVID-19 has posed a serious challenge to healthcare authorities worldwide. The purpose of the current study was to identify the epidemiological context associated with the respiratory illness propagated by the spread of COVID-19 and outline various risk factors related to its evolution in the province of Debila (Southeastern Algeria). A retrospective analysis was carried out for a cohort of 612 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals between March 2020 and February 2022. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Further, logistic regression analysis was employed to perform the odds ratio. In gendered comparison, males were found to have a higher rate of incidence and mortality compared to females. In terms of age, individuals with advanced ages of 60 years or over were typically correlated with higher rates of incidence and mortality in comparison toindividuals below this age. Furthermore, the current research indicated that peri-urban areas were less affected that the urban regions, which had relatively significant incidence and mortality rates. The summer season was marked with the highest incidence and mortality rate in comparison with other seasons. Patients who were hospitalized, were the age of 60 or over, or characterized by comorbidity, were mainly associated with death evolution (odds ratio [OR] = 8.695; p = 0.000), (OR = 6.192; p = 0.000), and (OR = 2.538; p = 0.000), respectively. The study identifies an important relationship between the sanitary status of patients, hospitalization, over-age categories, and the case severity of the COVID-19 patient.
Predictors of insomnia symptoms in police employees: a longitudinal investigation and comparison of personality and psychosocial work factors

Abstract Insomnia is a growing public health concern and a risk factor for reduced health, safety, and performance among workers. This study investigated and compared the predictive value of personality traits and psychosocial factors associated with symptoms of insomnia. The study followed a longitudinal design and included 206 Norwegian police employees (52% men). The predictors of insomnia symptoms were divided into the following groups in the multiple regression analyses: 1) demands, control, and support at work, 2) stress and overcommitment, and 3) the personality traits of the five-factor model. A fourth final model included significant predictors from the initial analyses. The results showed high stability in insomnia symptoms at baseline and follow-up six months later. Neuroticism was the strongest and most stable predictor of insomnia, and associated with an increase in insomnia symptoms after six months. Overcommitment and stress had positive associations with insomnia symptoms but could not predict changes after six months. Social support had a negative association with insomnia, whereas job demands and control at work had no significant association with insomnia symptoms measured at follow-up six months later. The findings demonstrate that the personality trait neuroticism can play an important role in the development and maintenance of insomnia symptoms. Job demands and resources only explained a marginal proportion of variance in insomnia symptoms measured six months later in police employees, indicating that they may be less crucial in the development of insomnia. However, more research on the potential interaction effects between personality and organizational factors is needed. The study highlights the importance of taking personality characteristics into consideration when investigating predictors of insomnia.
Velocity bias from the small-scale clustering of SDSS-III BOSS galaxies

Author(s): Guo, H; Zheng, Z; Zehavi, I; Dawson, K; Skibba, RA; Tinker, JL; Weinberg, DH; White, M; Schneider, DP | Abstract: © 2014 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. We present the measurements and modelling of the projected and redshift-space clustering of CMASS galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey Data Release 11. For a volume-limited luminous red galaxy sample in the redshift range of 0.48 l z l 0.55, we perform halo occupation distribution modelling of the small- and intermediate-scale (0.1-60 h-1 Mpc) projected and redshift-space two-point correlation functions, with an accurate model built on high-resolution N-body simulations. To interpret the measured redshift-space distortions, the distribution of galaxy velocities must differ from that of the dark matter inside haloes of ~1013-1014 h-1 M⊙, i.e. the data require the existence of galaxy velocity bias. Most notably, central galaxies on average are not at rest with respect to the core of their host haloes, but rather move around it with a 1D velocity dispersion of 0.22-0.04+0.03 times that of the dark matter, implying a spatial offset from the centre at the level of ≲1 per cent of the halo virial radius. The luminous satellite galaxies move more slowly than the dark matter, with velocities 0.86-0.03+0.08 times those of the dark matter, which suggests that the velocity and spatial distributions of these satellites cannot both be unbiased. The constraints mainly arise from the Fingers-of-God effect at non-linear scales and the smoothing to the Kaiser effect in the translinear regime; the robustness of the results is demonstrated by a variety of tests. We discuss the implications of the existence of galaxy velocity bias for investigations of galaxy formation and cosmology.
Connecting the dots – III. Nightside cooling and surface friction affect climates of tidally locked terrestrial planets

We investigate how night side cooling and surface friction impact surface temperatures and large scale circulation for tidally locked Earth-like planets. For each scenario, we vary the orbital period between $P_{rot}=1-100$~days and capture changes in climate states. We find drastic changes in climate states for different surface friction scenarios. For very efficient surface friction ($t_{s,fric}=$ 0.1 days), the simulations for short rotation periods ($P_{rot} \leq$ 10 days) show predominantly standing extra tropical Rossby waves. These waves lead to climate states with two high latitude westerly jets and unperturbed meridional direct circulation. In most other scenarios, simulations with short rotation periods exhibit instead dominance by standing tropical Rossby waves. Such climate states have a single equatorial westerly jet, which disrupts direct circulation. Experiments with weak surface friction ($t_{s,fric}=~10 -100$ days) show decoupling between surface temperatures and circulation, which leads to strong cooling of the night side. The experiment with $t_{s,fric}= 100$ days assumes climate states with easterly flow (retrograde rotation) for medium and slow planetary rotations $P_{rot}= 12 - 100$~days. We show that an increase of night side cooling efficiency by one order of magnitude compared to the nominal model leads to a cooling of the night side surface temperatures by 80-100~K. The day side surface temperatures only drop by 25~K at the same time. The increase in thermal forcing suppresses the formation of extra tropical Rossby waves on small planets ($R_P=1 R_{Earth}$) in the short rotation period regime ($P_{rot} \leq$ 10 days).
Relationship Health and Intimate Partner Violence in Integrated Primary Care: Individual Characteristics and Preferences for Relationship Support across Risk Levels

This study explores differences in characteristics and relationship treatment preferences across different levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care patients. In Fall 2019, we sent a mail-in survey assessing relationship healthcare needs to N = 299 Veterans randomly sampled from 20 northeastern VA primary care clinics (oversampling female and younger Veterans). We compared those reporting past year use or experience of physical/sexual aggression, threats/coercion, or injury (Severe IPV; 21%), to those only reporting yelling and screaming (Verbal Conflict; 51%), and denying any IPV (No IPV; 28%). Participants across groups desired 2–6 sessions of face-to-face support for couples’ health and communication. No IPV participants were older and had preferred treatment in primary care. The Verbal Conflict and Severe IPV groups were both flagged by IPV screens and had similar interest in couple treatment and relationship evaluation. The Severe IPV group had higher rates of harms (e.g., depression, alcohol use disorder, relationship dissatisfaction, fear of partner) and higher interest in addressing safety outside of VA. Exploratory analyses suggested differences based on use vs. experience of Severe IPV. Findings highlight ways integrated primary care teams can differentiate services to address dissatisfaction and conflict while facilitating referrals for Severe IPV.
Chitosan Encapsulated Meloxicam Nanoparticles for Sustained Drug Delivery Applications: Preparation, Characterization, and Pharmacokinetics in Wistar Rats

Meloxicam (MLX) is currently used in the therapeutic management of both acute and chronic inflammatory disorders such as pain, injuries, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis in both humans and animals. Gastrointestinal toxicity and occasional renal toxicity were observed in patients taking it for a long-term period. Meloxicam’s late attainment of peak plasma concentration results in a slow onset of action. The goal of the current study was to prepare and characterize chitosan encapsulated meloxicam nanoparticles (CEMNPs) with high bioavailability and less gastro intestinal toxicity in order to prevent such issues. The size of the prepared CEMNPs was approximately 110–220 nm with a zetapotential of +39.9 mV and polydispersity index of 0.268, suggesting that they were uniformly dispersed nanoparticles. The FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy have confirmed the presence of MLX in the prepared CEMNPs. The pharmacokinetics have been studied with three groups of male Wistar rats receiving either of the treatments, viz., 4 mg·kg−1 of MLX and 1 or 4 mg·kg−1 of CEMNPs. Plasma samples were collected until 48 h post administration, and concentrations of MLX were quantified by using reverse (C18) phase HPLC. Non-compartmental analysis was applied to determine pharmacokinetic variables. Upon oral administration, the maximum concentration (Cmax) was reached in 4 h for CEMNPs and 6 h for MLX. The mean area under the plasma MLX concentration-time curve from ‘zero’ to infinity (AUC0–∞), half-life (t1/2β), and mean resident time (MRT) of 1 mg·kg−1 of CEMNPs was 1.4-, 2-, and 1.8-fold greater than 4 mg·kg−1 of MLX. The prepared CEMNPs demonstrated quicker absorption and prolonged release along with a significant improvement in the bioavailability of MLX, paving a prospective path for the development of drugs with enhanced bioavailability with less side effects.
The Near-Infrared Ca II Triplet-σ Relation for Bulges of Spiral Galaxies

We present measurements of the near-infrared Ca II triplet (CaT, CaT*), Paschen (PaT), and magnesium (Mg I) indices for a well-studied sample of 19 bulges of early to intermediate spiral galaxies. We find that both the CaT* and CaT indices decrease with central velocity dispersion σ with small scatter. This dependence is similar to that recently found by Cenarro for elliptical galaxies, implying a uniform CaT*-σ relation that applies to galaxies from ellipticals to intermediate-type spirals. The decrease of CaT and CaT* with σ contrasts with the well-known increase of another α-element index, Mg2, with σ. We discuss the role of Ca underabundance ([Ca/Fe] < 0) and initial mass function variations in the onset of the observed relations.
The effect of rotation on the thermal instability of stratified galactic atmospheres – II. The formation of high-velocity clouds

Whether High Velocity Clouds (HVCs) can form by condensation of the hot ($T \sim 10^6 \, {\rm K}$) Galactic corona as a consequence of thermal instabilities has been controversial. Here we re-examine this problem and we suggest that rotation of the corona might be a missing key ingredient. We do this by studying the evolution of the models of rotating galactic coronae presented in Sormani et al. (2018) under the presence of cooling and thermal conduction. We combine a linear stability analysis with the results of local and global hydrodynamical simulations. We find that condensations are likely to occur in regions where the corona has substantial rotational support. Under reasonably general assumptions on the rotation profile of the corona, the locations where condensations are expected are in remarkable agreement with the observed location of the major non-magellanic HVCs complexes in our Galaxy (namely, at distances $< 15 \, \rm kpc$ from the Sun and within $30^\circ$ from the disc plane). We conclude that HVCs can form by thermal instabilities provided that (i) the corona is rotating substantially in the inner ($R < 50 \, \rm kpc$) parts, as suggested by current observational data and predicted by cosmological simulations of galaxy formation; (ii) close to the disc the corona is well-represented by a nearly-equilibrium stratified rotating structure (as opposed to a fast cooling flow). Our results also suggest that a better understanding of the disc-halo interface, including supernova feedback, is critical to understand the origin of HVCs.