Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Rare Variants in Principal Component Analysis of Population Strati�cation

Background Population strati�cation is a known confounder of genome-wide association studies, as it can lead to false positive or false negative results. Principal component analysis (PCA) method is widely applied in the analysis of population structure with common variants. It is still controversial whether this method is effective when using rare variants to distinguish population strati�cation. Results In this work, we derive a mathematical expectation of the genetic relationship matrix. Variance and covariance elements of the expected matrix depend explicitly on allele frequencies of the genetic markers used in the PCA analysis. We show analytically that inter-population variance is contained in K principal components (PCs) and mostly in the largest K-1 PCs, where K is the number of populations in the samples. When allele frequencies become small, the ratio of the inter-population variance in the K PCs to the intra-population variance abates, the portion of variance explained by the K PCs decreases, and the distance among populations diminishes. As a result, the PCA of population strati�cation performs worse with rare variants than with common ones. The results are validated in the analysis of the 1000 Genomes Project data. The ratio of the two variance components is 93.85, variance explained by the largest �ve PCs is 17.09%, and population distance is 444.38 when using with common variants with allele frequencies between 0.4 and 0.5. However, the ratio, percentage and distance decrease to 1.83, 0.74% and 17.83, respectively, with rare variants of frequencies between 0.0001 and 0.01. Conclusions Although the vast majority of rare variants are population-speci�c and may have richer ancestry information than common ones, new methods must be developed to exploit the information effectively.
Site diversity gain at the equator: radar‐derived results modeling in Singapore

Site diversity is an effective rain attenuation mitigation technique, especially in the tropical region where high rainfall rates are common. According to our previous study, site diversity gain is found to be dependent on the site separation distance and path elevation angle while it is independent of signal frequency, baseline angle and polarization angle. Therefore, using 28 months of radar data, a simple site diversity gain prediction model is proposed. The proposed model is compared with the existing ITU‐R models. The seasonal wind direction, another factor that might affect the site diversity gain prediction model, is shown to have negligible effect on site diversity gain. Triple‐site diversity is also investigated, and although it is found to provide gain improvement over dual‐site diversity, this gain improvement is too little to justify for the cost of setting up an additional site. This study is useful for the implementation of site diversity as a rain attenuation mitigation technique in the tropical region. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Confidentiality and Integrity for Data Aggregation in WSN Using Peer Monitoring 1604-2007

Hop-by-hop data aggregation is a very important technique used to reduce the communication overhead and energy expenditure of sensor nodes during the process of data collection in a wireless sensor network (WSN). However, the unattended nature of WSNs calls for data aggregation techniques to be secure. Indeed, sensor nodes can be compromised to mislead the base station by injecting bogus data into the network during both forwarding and aggregation of data. Moreover, data aggregation might increase the risk of confidentiality violations: if sensors close to the base station are corrupted, an adversary could easily access to the results of the “in network” computation performed by the WSN; nodes can also fail due to random and non-malicious causes (e.g. battery exhaustion), hence availability should be considered as well. In this paper we tackle issues that affect data aggregation techniques by proposing a mechanism that: i) provides both confidentiality and integrity of the aggregated data so that for any compromised sensor in the WSN the information acquired could only reveal the readings performed by a small, constant number of neighboring sensors of the compromised one; ii) detects bogus data injection attempts; iii) provides high resilience to sensor failures. Our protocol is based on the concept of delayed aggregation and peer monitoring and requires local interactions only. Hence, it is highly scalable and introduces small overhead; detailed analyses supports our findings. Index Terms Wireless Sensor Networks, Secure data aggregation, Attack-Resilient.
Time Trends And Age-Period-Cohort Effects On The Incidence Of Gastric Cancer In Changle From 2003 To 2012

Purpose Although the incidence of gastric cancer in China has declined over the past decades, they were still much higher than the average of global. This aim of this study was to describe the trends and age-period-cohort effects on gastric cancer incidence from 2003 to 2012 in Changle and to explore the potential reason. Materials and methods Data on patients with gastric cancer diagnosed between 2003 and 2012 were collected by the population-based Changle cancer registration (n=4111). Age-standardized incidence rates of gastric cancer were calculated and joinpoint regression was used to evaluate the trends of gastric cancer incidence. Time trends in gastric cancer incidence by the period of diagnosis and birth cohort were analyzed by sex. Age-period-cohort analysis was performed to investigate the independent effects of age, period of diagnosis and birth cohort among over 25-year-old residents. Results A steady downward trend was observed among men, with the incidence ranging from 96.15 per 100,000 in 2003 to 62.6 per 100,000 in 2012 (APC, −5.1%; 95% CI: −6.9 to −3.2%). A similarly declining trend was observed among women with the incidence ranging from 34.5 per 100,000 to 15.7 per 100,000 (APC, −5.7%; 95% CI: −9.3 to −2.0%). Age-period-cohort model of incidence rate showed increasing age effect and decreasing period of diagnosis effects in both men and women. Birth cohorts exhibited a decreasing trend in the incidence among women who were born after 1935 and men after 1940. Conclusion Recent decreases in the incidence of gastric cancer were due to decreased period of diagnosis and cohort effects, which was attributed to the improvements in their lifestyle and habits.
University of Association between Periodontitis and mortality in stages 3-5 Chronic Kidney Disease: NHANES III and linked mortality study

Introduction Periodontitis may add to the systemic inflammatory burden in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), thereby contributing to an increased morality rate. This study aimed to determine the association between periodontitis and mortality rate (all-cause and cardiovascular disease- related) in individuals with stage 3-5 CKD, to
Severe eosinophilic asthma: from the pathogenic role of interleukin-5 to the therapeutic action of mepolizumab

: Mepolizumab is an anti-interleukin-5 (IL-5) humanized monoclonal antibody that has been recently approved as an add-on biological treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma, by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Moreover, mepolizumab is also currently included within the step 5 of the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, as an add-on therapy for severe uncontrolled asthma. The relevant therapeutic benefits detectable in patients with refractory eosinophilic asthma receiving mepolizumab depend on the pivotal pathogenic role played by IL-5 in these subjects. Indeed, IL-5 is the key cytokine responsible for maturation, activation, proliferation, and survival of eosinophils. Therefore, IL-5 represents a strategic molecular target for anti-eosinophilic treatments. By selectively inhibiting the biological actions of IL-5, mepolizumab provides a valuable therapeutic option for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, refractory to standard treatments including inhaled and even systemic corticosteroids. In particular, the very important advantages linked to the use of mepolizumab in these difficult-to-treat asthmatic individuals have been well documented by several different trials performed worldwide. c subunits. This event is responsible for the following involvement of multiple signaling pathways mediated by JAK/STAT interactions, as well as by activation of MAPK, Pi3K, and NF- κ B. The biologic actions of these kinases and transcription factors converge to induce the expression of key genes implicated in maturation, survival, degranulation, adhesion, and chemotaxis of eosinophils. See “iL-5 and eosinophilic asthma” section for additional information.
Shrinking cities : effects on urban ecology and challenges for urban development

Cities in highly industrialised countries have grown over time, yet the phenomenon of shrinking cities occurs in many regions. Urban shrinkage has various impacts on urban ecology, which can be observed on urban brownfield sites in particular. The integration of brownfield sites with sustainable urban development must be managed, and this presents new challenges for urban planners. The introductory chapters of this publication give an overview of urban ecology concepts and how research in this field is affected by urban shrinkage. The following sections are concerned with botanical aspects of shrinking cities, perception of nature in the context of shrinkage and discussion of aspects of urban planning with reference to several regional examples. The book concludes with an examination of urban shrinkage during the life cycles of city archetypes.
The Role of the Divergent Circulation for Large-Scale Eddy Momentum Transport in the Tropics. Part II: Dynamical Determinants of the Momentum Flux

This paper investigates the coupling between the rotational and divergent circulations aiming to explain the observations that show that the tropical eddy momentum flux is due to correlations between divergent eddy meridional velocities and rotational eddy zonal velocities. A simple linear model in which the observed eddy divergence field is used to force the vorticity equation can reproduce quite well the observed tropical eddy momentum flux. The eddy momentum flux in the model shows little sensitivity to the basic-state winds and is mainly determined by the characteristics of the divergent forcing. Vortex stretching and divergent advection of planetary vorticity produce eddy momentum flux contributions with the same sign but the former forcing dominates. It is shown that the main factor affecting the direction of the eddy momentum flux response to both forcings is the meridional tilt of the divergence phase lines, albeit with an opposite sign to the classical relation between rotational momentum flux and streamfunction phase tilt. How this divergent structure is determined remains an open question.
Trends in Mobile Learning Research in sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Given the flexibility and ubiquity brought about by mobile learning (m-learning), many learning institutions have adopted m-learning to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in teaching and learning. Catalysed by COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing and lockdowns, m-learning is gaining a lot of ground in Africa. As a result, several m-learning deployment models and strategies have emerged. Although many studies have been conducted in this domain, there are still no global models and best practices that guide implementation of m-learning especially in resource-constrained contexts. This study employs a systematic review and interpretive approach to collate the key body of knowledge in m-learning design and implementation over the past 10 years in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Comparison with m-learning practice in the developed world, as a barometer to ascertain the advancement of m-learning practice in the developing world, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa was also undertaken. The results show that m-learning research is predominantly undertaken in South Africa and Nigeria with only a few other countries engaging in such research. However, most of the studies were not grounded on solid theoretical frameworks and empirical findings. Moreover, this study found that the Technology Acceptance Model is the most used theoretical framework. Most studies on m-learning have relied on surveys as the most preferred data collection tool. These findings contribute towards knowledge creation at levels of theory and practice by highlighting the extant knowledge, and gaps that could inform future m-learning research.
Comparison of Various Diagnostic Techniques for the Detection of Blastocystis Spp. and its Molecular Characterisation in Farm Animals in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract Introduction Blastocystis spp. is a common anaerobic intestinal parasite infecting humans and a diverse range of animals. The aim of the study was to compare different diagnostic methods for the detection of Blastocystis and survey the occurrence of its subtypes in farm animals, namely sheep, cows and camels, in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. Material and Methods Ninety-seven faecal samples comprised of 69 from sheep, 12 from cows and 16 from camels were submitted to DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing. Blastocystis was screened for microscopically in 65 samples using direct wet-mount, modified acid-fast staining, trichrome staining and in vitro culture techniques. Results Fifteen (15.5%) samples were positive by PCR, twelve of which were confirmed by sequencing. Using PCR as a comparison standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the direct wet-mount, modified acid-fast staining, trichrome staining and in vitro culture methods were 40.0% and 78.3%, 40.0% and 83.3%, 80.0% and 80.0%, and 80.0% and 76.7% respectively. Only culture and trichrome tests were significantly associated with PCR (odds ratio (OR) = 13.14; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35–127.4; P = 0.007 and OR = 16; 95% CI: 1.63–156.5; P = 0.003, respectively) with trichrome detecting more positive cases than in vitro culture. The subtype (ST)10 was the only one found in all 12 sequenced sheep isolates. Conclusion The study corroborated previous data indicating that sheep are the natural hosts for ST10. No zoonotic subtypes nor mixed-subtype colonisation were found. The report also confirmed the superiority of trichrome staining in detecting Blastocystis spp.
Effect of Funding Source on “ Spin ” in Studies of Ocriplasmin Therapy for Vitreomacular Traction and Macular Hole

Purpose: To examine the relationship between industry funding and “ spin ” in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses investigating use of ocriplasmin for patients with vitreomacular traction (VMT) and macular hole (MH). Methods: In this study, we examined all PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE RCTs and meta-analyses published in journals with impact factor ≥ 2 investigating effectiveness of ocriplasmin use for VMT and MH. The main outcome measure was correspondence between the studies ’ main statistical outcome and their abstract conclusion wording. Each article was reviewed by three independent observers and was evaluated for source of funding, industry co-authorship, study methodology, statistical signi ﬁ cance of main outcome measure, correspondence between results of main outcome measure and abstract conclusion, and journal impact factor. Funding was determined by public disclosure. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Results: Twelve studies met inclusion criteria, of which 11 were industry funded and 1 was non-industry funded; 11 (91.67%) showed correspondence between outcome and abstract conclusion, without difference between industry-funded and non-industry funded publications or between publications in journals with high impact factor ( ≥ 3) versus low impact factor ( ≥ 2 and <3). Conclusion: In RCTs and meta-analyses of ocriplasmin for VMT and MH, our results suggest that neither industry funding nor journal impact factor affected the rate of “ spin ” in study conclusions. This study helps physicians understand what challenges they face when learning about a newer, less-established drug. assessed whether the articles ’ main outcome results matched their abstract conclusion. Our results suggest that neither industry funding nor journal impact factor affected how study conclusions were “ spinned ” . This study helps physicians understand the challenges they face when learning about a newer, less-established drug.
Dynamics of Output Growth , Consumption and Physical Capital in Two-Sector Models of Endogenous Growth

This paper presents a dynamic model of the firm size distribution. Empirical studies of the firm size distribution often compare the moments to a log-normal distribution as implied by Gibrat’s Law and note important deviations. Thus, the first, and basic questions we ask are how well does the dynamic industry model reproduce Gibrat’s Law and how well does it match the deviations uncovered in the literature. We show that the model reproduces these results when testing the simulated output using the techniques of the empirical literature. We then use the model to study how structural parameters affect the firm size distribution. We find that, among other things, fixed and sunk costs increase both the mean and variance of the firm size distribution while generally decreasing the skewness and kurtosis. The rate of growth in an industry also raises the mean and variance, but has non-monotonic effects on the higher moments. JEL Codes: L11, L13
The impact of first and second eye cataract surgeries on falls: a prospective cohort study

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the first and second eye cataract surgeries on the risk of falls in participants with bilateral cataract and to determine which changes in visual measures are associated with changes in the number of falls throughout the cataract surgery process. Patients and methods Fifty-five older adults with bilateral cataract aged 55+ years were assessed at three time points during the cataract surgery process, and they completed a falls diary. Two separate generalized estimating equation–negative binomial models were undertaken to assess changes in the number of falls before first eye cataract surgery, between first and second eye surgeries, and after second eye cataract surgery and which changes in visual measures were associated with changes in the number of falls. Results After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the risk of falls decreased by 54% (incidence rate ratio (IRR) =0.458, 95% CI=0.215–0.974, p=0.04) after first eye cataract surgery only, compared with the period before first eye surgery. The risk of falls decreased by 73% (IRR =0.268, 95% CI =0.114–0.628, p=0.002) after second eye cataract surgery, compared with the period before first eye surgery. Improved binocular visual acuity (IRR =5.488, 95% CI =1.191–25.282, p=0.029) and contrast sensitivity (IRR =0.257, 95% CI =0.070–0.939, p=0.040) were associated with a decrease in the number of falls. Conclusion The study found that first and second eye cataract surgeries reduced the risk of falls among a cohort of bilateral cataract patients with relatively good baseline vision. This suggests that timely first and second eye cataract surgeries could play an important role in reducing the burden due to falls among older adults with cataract.
Inflation Dynamics: A Structural Economic Analysis

We develop and estimate a structural model of inflation that allows for a fraction of firms that use a backward looking rule to set prices. The model nests the purely forward looking New Keynesian Phillips curve as a particular case. We use measures of marginal cost as the relevant determinant of inflation, as the theory suggests, instead of an ad-hoc output gap. Real marginal costs are a significant and quantitatively important determinant of inflation. Backward looking price setting, while statistically significant, is not quantitatively important. Thus, we conclude that the New Keynesian Phillips curve provides a good first approximation to the dynamics of inflation.
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Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 is a more innovative standardization including Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasting and mobile High-Definition (HD) broadcasting. It also includes the deployment of a disaster information alarm function as well as the adoption of All-Internet Protocol (IP) based transmission in terrestrial broadcasting networks. Thus, ATSC enables additional technologies such as hybrid broadcasting services by interworking terrestrial broadcasting and internet networks for bidirectional customized services. In addition, there is a growing interest in wider viewing contents, which provide more immersive contents than existing UHD broadcasting mediums. Wider viewing contents can be acquired by using large field of view (FoV) lenses such as fish-eye lenses or by stitching several sub-images. The images captured by large FoV lenses have heavily curved surface distortions, while the distortion of the stitching-based wider viewing contents caused by the synthesizing process on overlapping regions is lower. Provision of wider viewing contents over the traditional broadcasting service has limitations in terms of bandwidth. However, they can be overcome by using hybrid broadcasting platforms such as ATSC 3.0, which transmits a video sequence over an RF channel and other viewing-angle video sequences through the Internet network, where signalling among those video sequences is required. Therefore, this paper proposes a hybrid broadcasting platform for transmitting multiple video sequences over broadcasting and Internet networks, and stitching them for wider viewing. INDEX TERMS ATSC 3.0, stitching method, robust to parallax, calculation of similar space, minimum error seam.
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A 1×8 linear single polarized ultra-wideband connected dipole phased array with wide angle scan range is proposed. The dipoles in the array are connected with each other in E-plane to improve the impedance matching on the low end of the frequency band. The frequency band and the scan range in Eplane is 2~9 GHz for broadside radiation, 2~8 GHz for 30° scan, 2~7 GHz for 45° scan, and 2~6.5GHz for 60° scan. The VSWR is better than 2.0 across the frequency band from 2 to9 GHz for broadside radiation and the cross-polarization level is below -10dB. A hyperbolic microstrip balun is used as an impedance transformer to connect the 50Ω SMA connector to a 150 Ω broadband dipole in an array. The structure of this antenna is totally planar and low profile, thus it is made easy to integrate with the PCB boards. To eliminate the surface wave blindness, no other dielectric layer is used in the array. The proposed balun supports Common Mode (CM) current and the radiation of this CM current cancels the radiation of the dipole in some frequency for a certain scan angle, this results in Feed Blindness. Adding H-Plane PEC walls decreases the Feed Blindness frequency in the design. INDEX TERMS Connected dipole, feed blindness, hyperbolic microstrip balun, H-plane PEC walls, low profile array, ultra-wideband array, wide-angle scanning array
Study of tetraethoxysilane clusters in basic ethanol/water solutions by sans contrast variation

Small-angle neutron scattering has been applied to observe a cluster structure and specify its growth in ethanol-based solutions of hydrolyzed silicon tetraethoxide. The contrast variation has been used to reveal the inner structure of the clusters and compare it with the data of the previous analogous experiments. The presence of hydroxyl groups in the clusters is discussed based on the scattering data.