Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability and Exploitation in Differentiable Games

While machine learning has traditionally focused on optimising single loss functions, a growing number of algorithms deal with multiple interacting goals, from GANs to multi-agent RL. Naively transposing gradient descent has been shown to fail, while state-of-the-art proposals are tailored to specific applications (e.g. twoplayer zero-sum games) or lack strong theoretical guarantees. We provide a unified approach to this problem and prove local convergence of Consensus Optimisation, Symplectic Gradient Adjustment and lookahead in all differentiable games. Learning with Opponent-Learning Awareness (LOLA) takes a different approach by shaping and exploiting opponent learning, reaching better equilibria and outperforming previous methods. On the flip side, we construct the first example where this backlashes in self-play, producing arrogant behaviour and poor losses. We address and solve this catch-22 with a new algorithm named Stable Opponent Shaping (SOS), inheriting strong convergence guarantees from lookahead and shaping capacity from LOLA. We obtain convergence of LOLA to equilibria in two-player zero-sum and n-player cooperative games as a corollary.
Construction materials flows and stocks in Paris region: an overview

Mankind’s most-used materials, construction materials pose major environmental challenges, mainly related to the increasing scarcity of certain primary resources. Using secondary resources, i.e. materials extracted from buildings and networks, is one response to these challenges. However, powerful constraints confront this kind of use. Paris region is studied as an example of an urban area in which secondary resources for construction offer strong potential. Possible courses of action to meet these challenges are outlined in the conclusion.
Laboratory and field characterisation of fluorescent and primary biological aerosol particles

Primary biological aerosol (PBA) particles include bacteria, fungal spores, pollen and animal and plant debris. They are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and form a transmission vector for animal and plant disease. Several studies also suggest PBA are important in cloud ice processes despite being present at relatively low concentrations. Biodiversity changes caused by human activity may therefore have climate impacts through cloud-aerosol interactions, and improved methods are required to characterise PBA size distributions, sources and sinks on a global scale.Natural and anthropogenic sources contribute PBA while several processes remove it from the atmosphere. It therefore exhibits strong temporal and geographical variations in concentration. Published measurements involve several collection and offline analysis techniques, which are difficult to compare directly and generally feature low time resolution. This means PBA are poorly characterised globally and specific meteorological influences are difficult to identify. Light-induced fluorescence (LIF) offers a rapid, consumable-free method of measuring PBA size distributions, however false-positive results can contribute outdoors and LIF cannot resolve specific biological species.This thesis describes the use of a Wide Issue Bioaerosol Spectrometer version 3 (WIBS-3): a novel LIF instrument that records particle diameter, shape and fluorescence following excitations at two wavelengths. Its response to samples of PBA, non-PBA and calibration particles was assessed in the laboratory, and three outdoor studies are discussed at length: Below and above a tropical rainforest canopy (Malaysia); in an urban location (Manchester); and at a high-altitude background site (Puy de D�me, France). The likely sources of fluorescent aerosol are identified at each site: Fungal spore release was triggered by rainfall in Borneo; increased fluorescent concentrations were linked to traffic activity in Manchester and a strong diurnal cycle in France was attributed to boundary layer depth. The limitations and benefits of the different WIBS-3 measurement channels are also discussed, along with comparisons of fluorescent particle concentrations with published and in-situ PBA measurements.False-positives are found to play a strong role outdoors away from PBA sources such as tropical forest, and a ubiquitous background of fluorescent non-PBA was detected using one excitation wavelength. A shorter excitation wavelength appears more capable of discriminating between PBA and false-positives. Basic PBA emission rates are calculated using data from these studies and tropical rainforests are concluded to be the largest source of PBA mass globally.
The Mind's Eye: Writings on Photography and Photographers

Henri Cartier-Bresson's writings on photography and photographers have been published sporadically over the past 45 years. His essays--several of which have never before been translated into English--are collected here for the first time. "The Mind's Eye" features Cartier-Bresson's famous text on "the decisive moment" as well as his observations on Moscow, Cuba and China during turbulent times. These essays ring with the same immediacy and visual intensity that characterize his photography.
Quantifying the Uncertainty of Human Activity Recognition Using a Bayesian Machine Learning Method: A Prediction Study

Abstract Background: Machine learning methods accurately predict physical activity outcomes using accelerometer data generated by wearable devices, thus allowing the investigation of the impact of built environment on population physical activity. While traditional machine learning methods do not provide prediction uncertainty, a new method, Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) can quantify such uncertainty as posterior predictive distribution. We evaluated the performance of BART in predicting physical activity status. Methods: We applied multinomial BART and the benchmark method, random forest, to accelerometer data in 25,424 time points, which were generated by wearable devices attached to 37 participants. We evaluated prediction accuracies and confusion matrix using leave-one-out cross-validation. Results: BART and random forest demonstrated comparable accuracies in prediction. Conclusions: BART is a relatively novel ML method and will advance the incorporation of predicted physical activity status into built environment research. Future research includes the evaluation of the association between the built environment and predicted physical activity with and without accounting for prediction uncertainty.
Non-linear mendelian randomization: evaluation of biases using negative controls with a focus on BMI and Vitamin D

Mendelian randomisation (MR) is an established technique in epidemiological investigation, using the principle of random allocation of genetic variants at conception to generate predicted causal effects of an exposure on an outcome. Extensions to this technique include non-linear approaches, that allow for differential effects of the exposure on the outcome depending on the level of the exposure. One popular method is the residual approach, which allows for stratification of the exposure via the level of the exposure and generation of causal estimates within each stratum. These 'local' causal estimates are then used to make inferences about non-linear associations. Recent work has identified that under certain situations this method can lead to estimates that are seriously biased, and a new method - the doubly-ranked method - has been introduced as a possibly more robust approach. In this paper, we perform an analysis using negative control outcomes using both methods and find biased estimates. We suggest considerable caution in use of these methods and, if used, the performance of a number of sanity checks such as negative control outcomes in their reporting.
STRATIFIED MARINE LAKES OF PALAU (WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS)

The physical geography of the limestone islands of Palau permits permanent water-column stratification in 13 tropical sea-level marine lakes, each with unique water-column physics, chemistry, and biology. Embayments and lagoons amid the coral became isolated as marine lakes after Miocene uplifting. Surface mixing of lake water by wind is reduced by jungle-covered karst ridges. Surface tidal exchange through fissures in fenestrated karst is slow while midwater exchange through submarine tunnels is fast, but both produce damped, delayed tides with modest seawater exchange from the barrier-reef lagoon. Topographic protection from wind, heavy regular rain throughout the year, with precipitation exceeding evaporation, and modest tidal exchange produce stratified water columns with brackish waters above permanently anoxic saline hypolimnia. Permanent lake stratification is documented for 18 years; sediment cores (by others) show stratification for >100 years, and recent constant sea level implies ecosystem stab.
Responding to diseases caused by exotic tree pathogens.

Cronartium ribicola • J.C. Fisch. on pines (Pinus spp.) in North America and Europe (Geils et al., 2010) Cryphonectria parasitica • (Murrill) M.E. Barr on chestnuts (Castanea spp.) in North America and Europe (Hansen, 1999; Dutech et al., 2010; Prospero and Rigling, 2012) Discula destructiva • Redlin on flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) in woodlands of the eastern USA (Holzmüller et al., 2010) Erwinia amylovora • , a bacterium affecting trees of the family Rosaceae (e.g. Malus, Pyrus, Cydonia and Crataegus spp.) throughout the world (Johnson and Stockwell, 1998) Gibberella circinata • Nirenberg & O’Donnell ex Britz, T.A. Cout. , M.J. Wingf. & Marasas (anamorph: Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg & O’Donnell) causing pine pitch canker worldwide (Garbelotto, 2008; Ganley et al., 2009) North American • Heterobasidion irregulare (Underw.) Garbel. & Otrosina causing root rot of Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) in central Italy (Gonthier et al., 2007; Gonthier and Garbelotto, 2011) Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus • V. Queloz, C.R. Grünig, R. Berndt, T. Kowalski, T.N. Sieber & O. Holdenrieder (anamorph: Chalara fraxinea T. Kowalski) on European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in Europe (Kowalski, 2006; Queloz et al., 2011) Mycosphaerella pini • Rostr. ex Munk (anamorph: Dothistroma septosporum (Dorog.) M. Morelet) on Monterey pine (P. radiata D. Don) plantations, e.g. in Africa (Chungu et al., 2010) Neonectria • spp. , the cause of beech bark disease in New England (USA) together with the scale insect Cryptococcus fagisuga Lindinger (Lovett et al., 2006) Ophiostoma • spp. , the causal agent of Dutch elm disease (Brasier, 2001)
Holistic Ecological Assessment of Dendrochronological Series as Source of Information for Tree Eustress (Example with Beech)

Main goal of the paper is to present a new concept for stress in trees – eustress, which the authors define as a set of years with low stem growth, caused by unfavorable ecological impacts. The developed methodology for identification and assessment of eustress (SPPAM application) is demonstrated by analysis of 325 beech chronologies from 10 locations in Europe for the period 1904 - 2007. Three groups of locations are distinguished on the base of average tree ring width of the model sequences. In order to find eustress years the tree ring width sequences are approximated with polynomials of mainly 7th degree and R2 in the range 0.55 - 0.89. Then the index (It) is computed for every year as a ratio between measured and approximated value. Years where It is lower than a threshold value, the authors categorize as stress ones. The obtained inverse correlation between It and altitude is described by a linear regression and a power function. An inverse linear regression between It and the negative deviation of precipitation from the climate norms (dP) also exists for 60% of the studied locations. The specified in the study climatic and biological climatic year for a certain location and year, show significant differences that best occur in small and large altitudes. Common to 50% of the studied locations are 25 years: 1910-1914, 1918-1921, 1928-1929, 1946-1949 etc. The predominance of warm and dry years in total number of adverse years is established, except for the locations at high altitude. The eustress effect of wet and cold years on beech trees is significant, especially for the locations at high altitude. A four grade scale for assessment of frequency, duration and negative deviation of eustress periods is proposed. Five groups of locations are formed due to the comparative analysis of these characteristics. Tree of them have a potential to buffer the negative influences, while two of them need further investigations on the eustress etymology. If the sampled trees from a certain location have stress periods, which are long, frequently appearing and with large reduction in the growth, the probability of degradation, successive changes in species composition or the reduction of occupied area of forest community, exists. The capability of the approach allows manifestation of reactive functional types of trees (PFTs), which may support the vegetation modelling. The groups of trees with similar behavior, connected to the climatic types of years, and with similar characteristics of eustress periods, could be recognized and treated as a kind of PFTs.
The Geomorphic and Hydrologic Impact of Beaver Dams on Headwater Streams in Northeastern Connecticut and Implications for River Restoration

Of the many types of barriers to water flow, beaver dams are among the smallest, typically lasting less than a decade and rarely exceeding 1.5 meters in height. They are also among the most frequent and common obstructions in rivers, with a density often exceeding ten dams per kilometer, new dam construction frequency of years, and a historic extent covering most of North America. Past quantification of the geomorphologic impact of beaver dams has primarily been limited to local impacts within individual impoundments and is of limited geographic scope. In order to assess the impact of beaver dams at larger scales, this study examines channel shape and sediment distribution in thirty river reaches in northeastern Connecticut, U.S.A. Of the three fundamental segment classes previously identified in river networks colonized by beaver, the study reaches fall within the impounded and free-flowing segment classes. The third segment class of meadow requires additional study. The study reaches were sub-classified as free-flowing, valley-wide beaver pond, inchannel beaver pond, and downstream of beaver dam. The bankfull channel width to depth ratios and channel widths normalized by watershed area vary significantly
Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy and Respiratory Defects in a Mouse Model of DEPDC5‐Related Epilepsy

DEPDC5 is a common causative gene in familial focal epilepsy with or without malformations of cortical development. Its pathogenic variants also confer a significantly higher risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), providing opportunities to investigate the pathophysiology intersecting neurodevelopment, epilepsy, and cardiorespiratory function. There is an urgent need to gain a mechanistic understanding of DEPDC5‐related epilepsy and SUDEP, identify biomarkers for patients at high risk, and develop preventive interventions.
Ups and downs in PCSK9 inhibition in the cardiovascular arena: a review

Purpose of review This article reviews PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) with a focus on clinically relevant studies published in the last 18 months. Recent findings Prespecified subgroup evaluations, secondary analyses, and open-label extension studies from the two landmark trials, FOURIER and ODYSSEY Outcomes, have provided new data on the safety and efficacy of the monoclonal PCSK9 antibodies evolocumab and alirocumab. Recent studies of PCSK9i early in ACS and post percutaneous coronary intervention have explored early effects on biomarkers and plaque morphology with various imaging modalities. Two large outcome trials with PCSK9i in lower risk patients without prior myocardial infarction or stroke are ongoing and could expand the eligible population for these potent therapies. Additionally, novel methods to inhibit PCSK9 using oral administration, vaccination, and gene therapy are in various stages of clinical development. Summary PCSK9i represent a potent class of lipid-lowering therapies that are well tolerated and effective in a wide group of patients with high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Ongoing studies of PCSK9i in patients at lower risk and with acute myocardial infarction have the potential to broaden their indication. Alternative methods of PCSK9i are being evaluated and could provide easier and less expensive options for this important class of medication.
Severe chronic rhinosinusitis treated with dupilumab, a real-life analysis of early effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE The present study evaluated the safety and efficacy of dupilumab in severe uncontrolled type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of adult patients affected by severe CRSwNP treated with dupilumab. Maxillofacial computed tomography, evaluation of blood eosinophils and serum IgE levels, measurement of nasal polyp score (NPS), smell identification test (SSIT-16), sinonasal outcome test-22 (SNOT-22) and asthma control test (ACT) were performed. Follow-up was conducted at 2 weeks, and at 1, 3, and 6 months. Adverse events and the efficacy of treatment were monitored. RESULTS 23 patients were enrolled. After 15 days, scores of the SNOT-22, NPS and SSIT-16 significantly improved. These outcomes were also maintained after 1, 3, and 6 months (p < 0.001). At this latter follow-up time, SNOT-22 showed a change of -33.10 (p < 0.001), NPS -3.36 (p < 0.001) and SSIT-16 +5.60 (p < 0.001). In all, 26.1% of patients experienced early minor complications. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, dupilumab was effective in the treatment of severe uncontrolled CRSwNP, demonstrating a quick significant improvement in both questionnaires and endoscopic evaluation. Only minor complications were observed.
Interactions between free-living amoebae and Cryptosporidium parvum: an experimental study

Free-Living Amebae (FLA) and Cryptosporidium oocysts occasionally share the same environment. From 2004 to 2016, Cryptosporidium was responsible for 60% of 905 worldwide waterborne outbreaks caused by protozoan parasites. The aim of this study was to evaluate interactions between C. parvum oocysts and two common FLAs (Acanthamoeba castellanii and Vermamoeba vermiformis) in a water environment. Encystment and survival of FLAs were evaluated by microscopy using trypan blue vital coloration. Oocysts were numerated on microscopy. Interactions were studied over time in conditions both unfavorable and favorable to phagocytosis. Potential phagocytosis was directly evaluated by several microscopic approaches and indirectly by numeration of microorganisms and oocyst infectivity evaluation. Occasional phagocytosis of C. parvum by FLAs was documented. However, oocyst concentrations did not decrease significantly, suggesting resistance of oocysts to phagocytosis. A temporary decrease of oocyst infectivity was observed in the presence of A. castellanii. The effect of these interactions on C. parvum infectivity is particularly interesting. The biofilm condition could favor the persistence or even the proliferation of oocysts over time. This study demonstrated interactions between C. parvum and FLAs. Further knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the decrease of oocyst infectivity in the presence of A. castellanii could facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Evaluation of the transmissibility of norovirus and the effectiveness of prevention and control measures for schools in Jiangsu Province

Abstract Objective This study aims to estimate the transmissibility of norovirus outbreaks in schools by different transmission routes, and to evaluate the effects of isolation, school-closure and disinfection measures under different intervention intensities, finally, scientific prevention and control suggestions are proposed. Method 23 outbreaks of norovirus infectious diarrhea occurring in Jiangsu Province’s school from 2012-2018 were selected and fitted to the model. The data includes various types of school places and pathogen genotype. A ‘SEIAQRW’ model with two transmission routes was established. The transmissibility of each outbreak was assessed using effective reproduction number, the efficacy of different intervention measures and intensities were evaluated by calculating the total attack rate and peak incidence. Results The mean effective reproduction number of noroviruses was estimated to be 8.92 for the human-to-human route of transmission and 2.19 for the water or food-to-human route of transmission. When all symptomatic cases were isolated, the median peak incidence for both transmission routes both being less than 1.8%. There was a smaller reduction in total attack rate compared to peak incidence, the median total attack rate for the two transmission routes decreased by 17.59% and 42.09%, respectively. When the effect of school-closure or disinfection is more than 90%, the total attack rate and peak incidence in the human-to-human route are reduced by more than 90% compared to no intervention, and the peak incidence in the water or food-to-human routes can be reduced to less than 1.4%, but the reduction in the total attack rate is only 50% or so. Conclusion Norovirus outbreaks have a high rate of transmission in schools. In the case of norovirus outbreaks, isolation should be complemented by other interventions, and the implementation of high-intensity school closures or disinfection of the external environment can be effective in reducing the spread of the virus.
Exploration of Inflammatory Biomarkers and Psychological Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Community Dwelling Adults: A Gender Comparison Study

Patients with rheumatic disease (RD) are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading non-communicable chronic disease cause of death worldwide. Inflammatory biomarkers and psychological health status are reliable predictors of CVD in patients with RD. The primary aim of this study was to compare the inflammatory biomarkers and psychological CVD risk factors (CRFs) between a group of community-dwelling adults with RD and CRFs and a group of their peers with CRFs only. The secondary aim of this study was to analyze and compare the collected data by gender in the RD group. Data were collected and analyzed from 355 participants, with the 135 participants with physician-diagnosed RD assigned to the RD group and the remainder (n = 220) assigned to the comparison group. The measures used included a demographic datasheet, medical information, serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, and depression and global sleep-quality scale scores. The RD group had higher ratios of hypertension and depression diagnoses than the comparison group. The gender analysis of the RD group found significantly more-severe sleep disturbances in women than men and a significantly higher mean value of Hcy in men than women. The women in the RD group were significantly older, less educated, and less employed than their male counterparts and thus may be presumed to at higher risk of health illiteracy. Gender-tailored interventions to modify the risk factors of CVD identified in this study for patients with RD are recommended.
GABRA1‐Related Disorders: From Genetic to Functional Pathways

Variants in GABRA1 have been associated with a broad epilepsy spectrum, ranging from genetic generalized epilepsies to developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. However, our understanding of what determines the phenotype severity and best treatment options remains inadequate. We therefore aimed to analyze the electroclinical features and the functional effects of GABRA1 variants to establish genotype–phenotype correlations.