Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local asymptotic normality and efficient estimation for INAR(p) models

Abstract. Integer‐valued autoregressive (INAR) processes have been introduced to model non‐negative integer‐valued phenomena that evolve in time. The distribution of an INAR(p) process is determined by two parameters: a vector of survival probabilities and a probability distribution on the non‐negative integers, called an immigration distribution. This paper provides an efficient estimator of the parameters, and in particular, shows that the INAR(p) model has the Local Asymptotic Normality property.
Heat capacity and lattice dynamics of cubic and hexagonal SrMnO3: Calorimetry and density functional theory simulations

The heat capacity and entropy of cubic and hexagonal $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ have been determined by relaxation calorimetry and by density functional theory. A main aim was to study the effect of temperature and thus entropy on the relative stability of corner versus face sharing of octahedra in perovskites. The results show that the heat capacity and thus the entropy of cubic $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ in general are larger than the corresponding values for the hexagonal polymorph and suggest that face sharing of octahedra reduces the vibrational heat capacity compared to corner sharing. The experimental entropy difference at $298\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, in conjunction with the only experimental enthalpy of transition of hexagonal to cubic $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, reproduces the transition temperature within experimental uncertainty. Phonon dispersion relations are calculated by the direct method. The difference in vibrational entropy (harmonic approximation) between the two polymorphs derived from the phonon densities of state agrees well with the experimental value. The frequencies of the Raman and ir modes are calculated and the main characteristics of these modes discussed. A crossover feature observed in the experimental heat capacity data is also recreated by the calculations. Below about $70\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ the heat capacity of the hexagonal polymorph is higher than that of the cubic, while the opposite is true at higher temperatures. A phonon mode involving the Sr atoms lying between the ``one-dimensional'' strings of $\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ octahedra along the $c$ axis of the structure explains the high heat capacity of this polymorph at low temperatures.
Novel Phthalic-Based Anticancer Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis and Biological Activity

In this work, fragments of isophthalic and terephthalic acids are proposed as a structural scaffold to develop potential inhibitors of protein kinases. Novel isophthalic and terephthalic acid derivatives were designed as type-2 protein kinase inhibitors, synthesized and subjected to physicochemical characterization. The screening of their cytotoxic actions against a panel of cell lines derived from different types of tumors (liver, renal, breast and lung carcinomas, as well as chronic myelogenous and promyelocytic leukemia) and normal human B lymphocyte, for the sake of comparison, was performed. Compound 5 showed the highest inhibitory activity against four cancer cell lines, K562, HL-60, MCF-7 and HepG2 (IC50 = 3.42, 7.04, 4.91 and 8.84 µM, respectively). Isophthalic derivative 9 revealed a high potency against EGFR and HER2, at the levels of 90% and 64%, respectively, being comparable to lapatinib at 10 µM. In general, tumor cell cultures were more sensitive to isophthalic acid derivatives than to terephthalic acid ones. In cell cycle studies, isophthalic analogue 5 showed a pronounced dose-dependent effect, and with the increase in its concentration up to 10.0 µM, the number of living cells decreased to 38.66%, while necrosis reached 16.38%. The considered isophthalic compounds had a similar docking performance to that of sorafenib against the VEGFR-2 (PDB id: 4asd, 3wze). The correct binding of compounds 11 and 14 with VEGFR-2 was validated using MD simulations and MM-GPSA calculations.
Existence, uniqueness, and asymptotic behavior of solutions to a class of Zakai equations with unbounded coefficients

Conditions are given to guarantee the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the Zakai equation associated with the nonlinear filtering of diffusion processes. The conditions permit stronger than polynomial growth of the coefficients, and depend instead on the relative growth rates. The results are derived by adapting, through a sequence of exponential transformations, the classical existence and uniqueness theorems for parabolic PDE's due to Besala to the "robust" form of the Zakai equation. In this process we also obtain sharp estimates for the tail behavior of the conditional density. Examples, including observations through a polynomial sensor and estimation of the state of a "bilinear" system, are worked out in detail. Our results are compared to those of Fleming and Mitter, Pardoux, and Sussmann who, among others, have obtained existence and uniqueness theorems for a more limited class of problems by different methods.
Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and associated factors among healthcare workers in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A cross-sectional study

Background Overweight and obesity are multifactorial conditions that are prevalent in developing and developed countries. They are emerging as a significant public health concern among healthcare workers (HCWs). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associated factors among HCWs in the Gaza Strip. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit 1,850 HCWs aged 22 years and older. Interviews were carried out to collect sociodemographic information, nutritional information, and physical activity. Anthropometric measurements [height, weight, and waist circumference] were conducted with the HCWs. The body mass index was computed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Chi-square, t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the variables, and logistic regression was used to examine the associated factors of overweight and obesity. Results The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity among HCWs was 65%. The result of logistic regression showed the risk of being overweight and obesity increased within the age group of 40–49 years (OR = 3.20; 95% CI: 2.37–4.32; P < 0.001). Male participants had more risk of obesity than female participants (OR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.45–2.15). Married participants had a significantly higher risk of being overweight and obese (OR = 2.52; 95% CI: 2.05–3.28; P = 0.001). Increased monthly income was significantly associated with the risk of being overweight and obese (OR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.22–3.83; P = 0.008). In addition, hypertension (OR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.65–3.78; P < 0.001) and type 2 diabetes (OR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.21–4.85; P= 0.012) were associated with overweight and obesity. Finally, a family history of NCDs was associated with overweight and obesity (OR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.38–2.07; P < 0.001). Conclusion This study showed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among HCWs. Age, monthly income, marital status, known hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and eating habits were associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to other variables that were not associated with overweight and obesity such as profession, vegetables, fruit consumption, and physical activity. Urgent action is needed to tackle overweight and obesity among HCWs.
Deep Reinforcement Learning based Control of Stewart Platform with Parametric Simulation in ROS and Gazebo

The Stewart platform is an entirely parallel robot with mechanical differences from typical serial robotic manipulators, which has a wide application area ranging from flight and driving simulators to structural test platforms. This work concentrates on learning to control a complex model of the Stewart platform using state-of-the-art deep reinforcement algorithms (DRL). In this regard, to enhance the reliability of the learning performance and to have a test bed capable of mimicking the behavior of the system completely, a precisely designed simulation environment is presented. Therefore, we first design a parametric representation for the kinematics of the Stewart platform in Gazebo and robot operating system (ROS) and integrate it with a Python class to conveniently generate the structures in simulation description format (SDF). Then, to control the system, we benefit from three DRL algorithms: the asynchronous advantage actor-critic (A3C), the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient(DDPG), and the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) to learn the control gains of a Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller for a given reaching task. We chose to apply these algorithms due to the Stewart platform's continuous action and state spaces, making them well-suited for our problem, where an exact controller tuning is a crucial task. The simulation results show that the DRL algorithms can successfully learn the controller gains, resulting in satisfactory control performance.
Environmental control reduces white‐nose syndrome infection in hibernating bats

Infectious diseases caused by invasive, environmentally persistent fungal pathogens have increasingly endangered global biodiversity, yet disease management remains a major conservation challenge. A prominent example is white‐nose syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) that has devastated populations of multiple North American bat species, but for which few effective management tools exist. Here, we propose that strategies to delay environmental transmission of Pd during early winter could limit WNS disease effects across winter, benefitting bats. We used a small captive experiment and a multi‐year field trial on wild, free‐ranging bats to assess an environmental control strategy to manage Pd within its environmental reservoir in Pennsylvania, USA, where the pathogen has become endemic. The strategy centers on the application of Polyethylene Glycol 8000 (PEG) to roost substrates in summer, prior to bat hibernation, as a means to disrupt environmental transmission to bats in early winter. In the captive experiment, environmental transmission of Pd to immunologically naïve little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) occurred from roost substrates inoculated with Pd, but the application of PEG to these substrates effectively blocked this transmission. In the field trial, Pd load and infection extent both declined substantially in free‐ranging M. lucifugus after treatment relative to controls, with declines exceeding effects of inter‐site and inter‐annual variation. Pathogen prevalence and load also declined substantially after PEG treatment in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). No negative effects of PEG treatment were observed in body condition or colony counts of bats or in the microbial community. Together, these results are consistent with effective environmental control of Pd and reduced WNS disease effects in bats within contaminated hibernacula. The results also highlight the potential of carefully designed environmental control strategies for managing environmentally persistent pathogens.
An optimal control approach to a posteriori error estimation in finite element methods

This article surveys a general approach to error control and adaptive mesh design in Galerkin finite element methods that is based on duality principles as used in optimal control. Most of the existing work on a posteriori error analysis deals with error estimation in global norms like the ‘energy norm’ or the L2 norm, involving usually unknown ‘stability constants’. However, in most applications, the error in a global norm does not provide useful bounds for the errors in the quantities of real physical interest. Further, their sensitivity to local error sources is not properly represented by global stability constants. These deficiencies are overcome by employing duality techniques, as is common in a priori error analysis of finite element methods, and replacing the global stability constants by computationally obtained local sensitivity factors. Combining this with Galerkin orthogonality, a posteriori estimates can be derived directly for the error in the target quantity. In these estimates local residuals of the computed solution are multiplied by weights which measure the dependence of the error on the local residuals. Those, in turn, can be controlled by locally refining or coarsening the computational mesh. The weights are obtained by approximately solving a linear adjoint problem. The resulting a posteriori error estimates provide the basis of a feedback process for successively constructing economical meshes and corresponding error bounds tailored to the particular goal of the computation. This approach, called the ‘dual-weighted-residual method’, is introduced initially within an abstract functional analytic setting, and is then developed in detail for several model situations featuring the characteristic properties of elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic problems. After having discussed the basic properties of duality-based adaptivity, we demonstrate the potential of this approach by presenting a selection of results obtained for practical test cases. These include problems from viscous fluid flow, chemically reactive flow, elasto-plasticity, radiative transfer, and optimal control. Throughout the paper, open theoretical and practical problems are stated together with references to the relevant literature.
The effect of mechanical stress on a Barkhausen noise signal integrated across a cycle of ramped magnetic field

Experimental Barkhausen data are presented for XC10 French steel at various stress levels. The experimental data show an apparent almost linear correlation with stress of WH (hysteresis loss) and WBN (Barkhausen noise amplitude integrated over H). A model previously suggested by Sablik for Barkhausen noise stress and field dependence is used for analysis of the experimental data. With slight modifications of the previous model, it has been possible to produce semiquantitative fits to the Barkhausen peaks as a function of H while at the same time obtaining the apparent linear correlation between WH and WBN and stress. The model suggests however that the apparent linear correlation may only apply to certain types of materials. In addition, the fit to experiment suggests that additional refinements to the model may yet be necessary.
Contribution of the TCRβ Repertoire to Marek’s Disease Genetic Resistance in the Chicken

Marek’s disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease of chickens induced by Marek’s disease virus (MDV), an oncogenic α-herpesvirus. MDV has increased in virulence, prompting continued efforts in both improved vaccines and enhanced genetic resistance. Model pairs of genetically MD-resistant and MD-susceptible chickens that were either MHC-matched or MHC-congenic allowed characterization of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires associated with MDV infection. MD-resistant chickens showed higher usage of Vβ-1 TCRs than susceptible chickens in both the CD8 and CD4 subsets in the MHC-matched model, and in the CD8 subset only in the MHC-congenic model, with a shift towards Vβ-1+ CD8 cells during MDV infection. Long and short read sequencing identified divergent TCRβ loci between MHC-matched MD-resistant and MD-susceptible chickens, with MD-resistant chickens having more TCR Vβ1 genes. TCR Vβ1 CDR1 haplotype usage in MD-resistant x MD-susceptible F1 birds by RNAseq indicated that the most commonly used CDR1 variant was unique to the MD-susceptible line, suggesting that selection for MD resistance in the MHC-matched model optimized the TCR repertoire away from dominant recognition of one or more B2 haplotype MHC molecules. Finally, TCR downregulation during MDV infection in the MHC-matched model was strongest in the MD-susceptible line, and MDV reactivation downregulated TCR expression in a tumor cell line.
Transcriptional profiling analysis providing insights into desiccation tolerance mechanisms of the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis

Syntrichia caninervis is a desiccation tolerant moss and is the dominant bryophyte found in biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut desert. In this study, we assessed the transcriptome profiles of S. caninervis gametophytes during the dehydration-rehydration (D-R) process (across 9 time points) using Illumina sequencing. In total, 22489 transcripts were identified, including 5337 novel transcripts, that mapped to the reference genome. A total of 12548 transcripts exhibited significant alterations in the D-R samples compared with the control samples. The differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) possessed several enriched Gene Ontology terms, such as “water stress response”, “oxidation-reduction process”, “membrane metabolism”, “photosynthesis”, and “transcription factor activity”. Moreover, during early dehydration stress, the DETs were significantly enriched in stress-related pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, such as “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis”, “alpha-linolenic acid metabolism”, and “fructose and mannose metabolism”. Photosynthesis-related transcripts (e.g., ScPsa H, ScRubisco, and ScLhcb1) were inhibited during the dehydration treatment and significantly accumulated during the late rehydration period. Most transcripts from the late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA) and early light-inducible protein (ELIP) families strongly accumulated at the late dehydration stage. These pathways were positively correlated with the content changes of absolute water content and Fv/Fm values, alongside peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities. Seven transcription factor families, including AP2-ERF, bHLH, G2-like, MYB, NAC, WRKY, and bZIP, were enriched in DETs during D-R treatment. This study is the first transcriptome analysis using the S. caninervis genome for gene annotation and multigroup D-R treatment points. Our results demonstrated the detailed dynamic changes in the transcriptome of S. caninervis during the D-R process. These results also improve understanding of desiccation tolerant plants’ adaptations to desiccation stress at the transcription level and provide promising gene resources for transgenic crop breeding.
Dipulse-response measurement of a magnetic recording channel using Golay complementary sequences

We apply Golay complementary sequences for measuring the dipulse response and transfer functions of a digital magnetic-saturation-recording channel. Our experimental channel suffers from nonlinear distortion caused by a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor. The measured-channel characteristics are compared with the same characteristics obtained by the dipulse-response measurement technique by using feedback-shift register sequences. Based on a practical nonlinear Volterra model of a digital magnetic-saturation-recording channel, we analyze the artifacts caused by second- and third-order nonlinear distortion, which do-occur in the Golay dipulse responses and transfer functions. We show that with either of the considered dipulse-response measurement techniques, the artifacts caused by even-order nonlinear distortion, which occur in the measured-channel characteristics, can easily be removed. The measured-channel characteristics obtained show excellent performance for either of the considered excitation sequences.
The effects of prebiotics on gastrointestinal side effects of metformin in youth: A pilot randomized control trial in youth-onset type 2 diabetes

Disclosure summary Dr. Yadav is Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Postbiotics Inc and has no conflict of interest with this work. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. Background Metformin is the only approved first-line oral glucose lowering agent for youth with type 2 diabetes mellitus (Y-T2DM) but often causes gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, which may contribute to reduced treatment adherence and efficacy. Prebiotic intake may reduce metformin’s side effects by shifting microbiota composition and activity. Objective The aims of this study were to determine the feasibility and tolerability of a prebiotic supplement to improve metformin-induced GI symptoms and explore the changes in glycemia and shifts in the microbiota diversity. Methods In a two-phase pilot clinical trial, we compared, stool frequency and stool form every 1-2 days, and composite lower GI symptoms (weekly) at initiation of daily metformin combined with either a daily prebiotic or a placebo shake in a 1-week randomized double-blind crossover design (Phase 1), followed by a 1-month open-labeled extension (Phase 2). Plasma glycemic markers and stool samples were collected before and after each phase. Results Six Y-T2DM (17.2 ± 1.7y (mean ± SD), 67% male, BMI (42 ± 9 kg/m2), HbA1c (6.4 ± 0.6%)) completed the intervention. Stool frequency, stool composition, and GI symptom scores did not differ by group or study phase. There were no serious or severe adverse events reported, and no differences in metabolic or glycemic markers. After one week Phase 1metformin/placebo Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Enterobacteriales were identified as candidate biomarkers of metformin effects. Principle coordinate analyses of beta diversity suggested that the metformin/prebiotic intervention was associated with distinct shifts in the microbiome signatures at one week and one month. Conclusion Administration of a prebiotic fiber supplement during short-term metformin therapy was well tolerated in Y-T2DM and associated with modest shifts in microbial composition. This study provides a proof-of-concept for feasibility exploring prebiotic-metformin-microbiome interactions as a basis for adjunctive metformin therapy. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT04209075.
A combination of HLA-DP α and β chain polymorphisms paired with a SNP in the DPB1 3’ UTR region, denoting expression levels, are associated with atopic dermatitis

Introduction: Components of the immune response have previously been associated with the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD), specifically the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class II region via genome-wide association studies, however the exact elements have not been identified. Methods: This study examines the genetic variation of HLA Class II genes using next generation sequencing (NGS) and evaluates the resultant amino acids, with particular attention on binding site residues, for associations with AD. The Genetics of AD cohort was used to evaluate HLA Class II allelic variation on 464 subjects with AD and 384 controls. Results: Statistically significant associations with HLA-DP α and β alleles and specific amino acids were found, some conferring susceptibility to AD and others with a protective effect. Evaluation of polymorphic residues in DP binding pockets revealed the critical role of P1 and P6 (P1: α31M + (β84G or β84V) [protection]; α31Q + β84D [susceptibility] and P6: α11A + β11G [protection]) and were replicated with a national cohort of children consisting of 424 AD subjects. Independently, AD susceptibility-associated residues were associated with the G polymorphism of SNP rs9277534 in the 3’ UTR of the HLA-DPB1 gene, denoting higher expression of these HLA-DP alleles, while protection-associated residues were associated with the A polymorphism, denoting lower expression. Discussion: These findings lay the foundation for evaluating non-self-antigens suspected to be associated with AD as they potentially interact with particular HLA Class II subcomponents, forming a complex involved in the pathophysiology of AD. It is possible that a combination of structural HLA-DP components and levels of expression of these components contribute to AD pathophysiology.