Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Trimmed Lasso: Sparse Recovery Guarantees and Practical Optimization by the Generalized Soft-Min Penalty

We present a new approach to solve the sparse approximation or best subset selection problem, namely find a $k$-sparse vector ${\bf x}\in\mathbb{R}^d$ that minimizes the $\ell_2$ residual $\lVert A{\bf x}-{\bf y} \rVert_2$. We consider a regularized approach, whereby this residual is penalized by the non-convex $\textit{trimmed lasso}$, defined as the $\ell_1$-norm of ${\bf x}$ excluding its $k$ largest-magnitude entries. We prove that the trimmed lasso has several appealing theoretical properties, and in particular derive sparse recovery guarantees assuming successful optimization of the penalized objective. Next, we show empirically that directly optimizing this objective can be quite challenging. Instead, we propose a surrogate for the trimmed lasso, called the $\textit{generalized soft-min}$. This penalty smoothly interpolates between the classical lasso and the trimmed lasso, while taking into account all possible $k$-sparse patterns. The generalized soft-min penalty involves summation over $\binom{d}{k}$ terms, yet we derive a polynomial-time algorithm to compute it. This, in turn, yields a practical method for the original sparse approximation problem. Via simulations, we demonstrate its competitive performance compared to current state of the art.
(Re)construing Meaning in NLP

Human speakers have an extensive toolkit of ways to express themselves. In this paper, we engage with an idea largely absent from discussions of meaning in natural language understanding—namely, that the way something is expressed reflects different ways of conceptualizing or construing the information being conveyed. We first define this phenomenon more precisely, drawing on considerable prior work in theoretical cognitive semantics and psycholinguistics. We then survey some dimensions of construed meaning and show how insights from construal could inform theoretical and practical work in NLP.
Identifying Statistical Bias in Dataset Replication

Dataset replication is a useful tool for assessing whether improvements in test accuracy on a specific benchmark correspond to improvements in models' ability to generalize reliably. In this work, we present unintuitive yet significant ways in which standard approaches to dataset replication introduce statistical bias, skewing the resulting observations. We study ImageNet-v2, a replication of the ImageNet dataset on which models exhibit a significant (11-14%) drop in accuracy, even after controlling for a standard human-in-the-loop measure of data quality. We show that after correcting for the identified statistical bias, only an estimated $3.6\% \pm 1.5\%$ of the original $11.7\% \pm 1.0\%$ accuracy drop remains unaccounted for. We conclude with concrete recommendations for recognizing and avoiding bias in dataset replication. Code for our study is publicly available at this http URL .
Fractional Laplacians on ellipsoids

We show explicit formulas for the evaluation of (possibly higher-order) fractional Laplacians of some functions supported on ellipsoids. In particular, we derive the explicit expression of the torsion function and give examples of $s$-harmonic functions. As an application, we infer that the weak maximum principle fails in eccentric ellipsoids for $s\in(1,\sqrt{3}+3/2)$ in any dimension $n\geq 2$. We build a counterexample in terms of the torsion function times a polynomial of degree 2. Using point inversion transformations, it follows that a variety of bounded and unbounded domains do not satisfy positivity preserving properties and we give some examples.
B-CONCORD -- A scalable Bayesian high-dimensional precision matrix estimation procedure

Sparse estimation of the precision matrix under high-dimensional scaling constitutes a canonical problem in statistics and machine learning. Numerous regression and likelihood based approaches, many frequentist and some Bayesian in nature have been developed. Bayesian methods provide direct uncertainty quantification of the model parameters through the posterior distribution and thus do not require a second round of computations for obtaining debiased estimates of the model parameters and their confidence intervals. However, they are computationally expensive for settings involving more than 500 variables. To that end, we develop B-CONCORD for the problem at hand, a Bayesian analogue of the CONvex CORrelation selection methoD (CONCORD) introduced by Khare et al. (2015). B-CONCORD leverages the CONCORD generalized likelihood function together with a spike-and-slab prior distribution to induce sparsity in the precision matrix parameters. We establish model selection and estimation consistency under high-dimensional scaling; further, we develop a procedure that refits only the non-zero parameters of the precision matrix, leading to significant improvements in the estimates in finite samples. Extensive numerical work illustrates the computational scalability of the proposed approach vis-a-vis competing Bayesian methods, as well as its accuracy.
RoadText-1K: Text Detection & Recognition Dataset for Driving Videos

Perceiving text is crucial to understand semantics of outdoor scenes and hence is a critical requirement to build intelligent systems for driver assistance and self-driving. Most of the existing datasets for text detection and recognition comprise still images and are mostly compiled keeping text in mind. This paper introduces a new "RoadText-1K" dataset for text in driving videos. The dataset is 20 times larger than the existing largest dataset for text in videos. Our dataset comprises 1000 video clips of driving without any bias towards text and with annotations for text bounding boxes and transcriptions in every frame. State of the art methods for text detection, recognition and tracking are evaluated on the new dataset and the results signify the challenges in unconstrained driving videos compared to existing datasets. This suggests that RoadText-1K is suited for research and development of reading systems, robust enough to be incorporated into more complex downstream tasks like driver assistance and self-driving. The dataset can be found at http://cvit.iiit. ac.in/research/projects/cvit-projects/roadtext-1k
Targeting predictors in random forest regression

The random forest regression (RF) has become an extremely popular tool to analyze high-dimensional data. Nonetheless, it has been argued that its benefits are lessened in sparse high-dimensional settings due to the presence of weak predictors and an initial dimension reduction (targeting) step prior to estimation is required. We show theoretically that, in high-dimensional settings with limited signal, proper targeting is an important complement to RF's feature sampling by controlling the probability of placing splits along strong predictors. This is supported by simulations with representable finite samples. Moreover, we quantify the immediate gain from targeting in terms of increased strength of individual trees. Our conclusions are elaborated by a broad set of applications within macroeconomics and finance. These show that the inherent bias-variance trade-off implied by targeting, due to increased tree correlation, is balanced at a medium level, selecting the best 10-30\% of commonly applied predictors. The applications consolidate that improvements from the targeted RF over the ordinary RF can be significant, particularly in long-horizon forecasting, and both in expansions and recessions.
Structures, practical sources (gymnosperm seeds), gas‐liquid chromatographic data (equivalent chain lengths), and mass spectrometric characteristics of all‐cis Δ5‐olefinic acids

In view of the increasing interest of lipid researchers in the biological effects of all-cis A5-unsaturated polymethylene-interrupted fatty acids (Δ5-UPIFA) from vegetable origin, this paper is concerned with their occurrence in practical sources (gymnosperm seeds), structures, and identification by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). The use of equivalent chain lengths (ECL) determined by calculations based on available standards, in close agreement with data determined with easily available commercial gymnosperm seeds specific for each A5-UPIFA, allows identification of all A5-UPIFA. These tentative identifications are supported by GLC-MS of the appropriate (4,4-dimethyloxazoline and picolinyl ester) derivatives. ECL are particularly useful to identify A5-UPIFA in tissue lipids from animals experimentally fed oils containing these acids, with no interference with polyunsaturated fatty acids of endogenous origin. Repondant a l'interet grandissant des chercheurs pour les effets biologiques des acides cis Δ5-olefiniques d'origine vegetale, cette etude traite de leur structure chimique, leur biosynthese et leur identification par chromatographie gaz-liquide et spectrometrie de masse. L'utilisation d'equivalents en longueur de chaines est particulierement utile pour identifier les acides cis Δ5-olefiniques dans les tissus d'animaux nourris par des huiles contenant ces acides sans interference avec les acides gras polyinsatures d'origine endogene.
Treatment Outcome of Acute Intussusception in Children Under Two Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background Intussusception is a common cause of small intestinal obstruction in children under two years of age. Late diagnosis can lead to a potentially worse condition. This prospective study aims to describe the clinical manifestation and develop a conservative management protocol for acute ileocaecal intussusception in children under two years of age. Methods This prospective study was carried out in 118 consecutive patients under two years of age. Patients presented with symptoms and signs of acute intestinal obstruction and a diagnosis of ileocaecal intussusception confirmed by ultrasound were included in this study. All the patients were managed with either pneumatic reduction or operation. Results There were 70 boys and 48 girls ranging in age from three months to two years with a median of 12.5 months. Clinical presentation included abdominal pain (100%), vomiting (82.2%), bloody stool (11.9%), and a palpable mass (43.2%). Patients hospitalized with the symptoms and signs for less than 24 hours accounted for 80.5% of the cases. The overall success rate of pneumatic reduction was 98.3%. Late hospital admission (≥ 24 hours from illness onset), bloody stool, and presenting with the classic triad of symptoms of intussusception were found as the factors that correlated to the surgical management outcome. All patients recovered well without any complications. The median of postoperative hospital stay of two days for the pneumatic reduction group and six days for the operation group. Conclusion The early diagnosis of intussusception contributes to the success of pneumatic reduction and reduces the requirement of surgical intervention.
Therapeutic strategies for ischemia reperfusion injury in emergency medicine

Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury occurs when blood supply, perfusion, and concomitant reoxygenation is restored to an organ or area following an initial poor blood supply after a critical time period. Ischemia reperfusion injury contributes to mortality and morbidity in many pathological conditions in emergency medicine clinical practice, including trauma, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and post‐cardiac arrest syndrome. The process of IR is multifactorial, and its pathogenesis involves several mechanisms. Reactive oxygen species are considered key molecules in reperfusion injury due to their potent oxidizing and reducing effects that directly damage cellular membranes by lipid peroxidation. In general, IR injury to an individual organ causes various pro‐inflammatory mediators to be released, which could then induce inflammation in remote organs, thereby possibly advancing the dysfunction of multiple organs. In this review, we summarize IR injury in emergency medicine. Potential therapies include pharmacological treatment, ischemic preconditioning, and the use of medical gases or vitamin therapy, which could significantly help experts develop strategies to inhibit IR injury.
Heterospecific pollen transfer between sympatric species in a midsuccessional old‐field community

The cumulative (season-long) incidence of heterospecific pollen transfer (HPT) was examined using nine sympatric species in a midsuccessional old field. Inflorescences were collected weekly during the flowering season, and the proportion of foreign pollen/stigma was recorded. Flowering phenologies of sympatric species and ovule and seed counts of study species were also recorded. Heterospecific pollen was detected on some stigmas of each species. Medicago sativa (Fabaceae) received the most foreign pollen; in some cases, all of the grains on a stigma were heterospecific. Lotus corniculatus (Fabaceae) received the least amount of foreign pollen; the incidence of heterospecific pollen was near zero in most cases. The mean and range of foreign pollen received varied by as much as an order of magnitude between species. The six species with zygomorphic flowers, all Fabaceae, received more heterospecific pollen than the three species with actinomorphic flowers, Potentilla recta and P. simplex (Rosaceae) and Ranunculus acris (Ranunculaceae). This probably reflects a bias because our data were analyzed on a cumulative basis and the Fabaceae had longer flowering phenologies. HPT was not correlated with the species' relative abundance within the community. Proportion of foreign pollen received varied temporally within species, and this variation generally was not related to phenology of any sympatric taxa or the species' own phenology. Pollen grain diameter was positively related to levels of foreign pollen received by species. This might be caused by poor adhesion of large pollen grains to small stigmatic papillae or if generalist pollinators carrying large amounts of heterospecific pollen visit the large-grained species and specialists with little foreign pollen visit the small-grained species. The large proportions of heterospecific pollen on stigmas of many species indicate that HPT occurs frequently in the community we studied and the implications may include reduced seed set because of occlusion by foreign grains. As yet, however, it is unclear how important a factor HPT is in mediating pollen limitation of reproductive success.
Nutritional quality of storage proteins during germination of Indian bean (Dolichos lablab. var. lignosus) seeds

The dry Indian bean seed composed of starch is the major component (33%) and protein accounted for 25% of dry weight. The ability of germination to increase the nutritional quality of storage proteins was studied by germinating the Indian bean seeds for 0, 8, 16, 24 and 32 h and evaluated the nutritional quality through an in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), protein efficiency ratio (PER), apparent and true digestibility. The IVPD of raw Indian bean seeds by pepsin alone was 60.12% and the digestibility by pepsin and trypsin together improved to 64.24%. The in vitro digestibility by both processes increased appreciably with germination and marked increase was noticed in the early stage of germination. The PER values followed the same pattern as the value of weight gain of rats fed with diets containing raw and germinated Indian bean. The lowest PER values were observed with raw bean diet. However, the value increased in rats fed with diets of Indian bean germinated for different intervals of time, reaching comparable PER values with the group maintained on casein diet. The true and apparent nitrogen digestibility of raw bean low being only 82 and 72%, respectively observed with casein diet. Diets with germinated bean protein showed a marked increase in both parameters, although the values were still less than that displayed by the casein fed rats. Germination is a simple biochemical enrichment tool and significantly improves palatability, digestibility and the nutritive utilisation of proteins in Indian bean seeds.
Influence of rate and frequency of Ridomil plus applications on late blight severity and potato yields in Cameroon

The impact of Ridomil Plus® (12% metalaxyl + 60% cuprous oxide) spray rate and frequency on the severity of potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, was evaluated during 1997 and 1999 in Dschang, Cameroon. A randomised complete block design was used in both experiments. In 1997, plots were sprayed with 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, or 4.8 kg a.i.ha-1 of Ridomil Plus®, while in 1999, they were treated once, twice or thrice with 2.4 kg a.i.ha-1 of the fungicide. In both trials control plots were not sprayed. Late blight intensity was recorded weekly and yields were obtained at harvest. Fungicide applications reduced late blight intensity and consequently increased potato tuber yields. Marketable yields were significantly higher in the resistant variety, Cipira (22.4 - 34.8 t ha-1), than in the susceptible variety, Tezelfeu (4.0 - 12.0 t ha-1). A significant quadratic relationship existed between the rate or number of fungicide applications and tuber yields. Economic analyses indicated that two sprays of the fungicide at 2.4 kg a.i. ha-1 are necessary for a good late blight protection programme in potato. This spray regime resulted to increases in net returns of US$ 1947 to 3327 ha-1. Results also suggest that high rates or frequencies of fungicide applications do not necessarily lead to better economic benefits. Key Words: Economic gains, fungicide application, Phytophthora infestans, Solanum tuberosum (African Crop Science Journal 2001 9(1): 235-244)
Cardiovascular disease as a biomarker for an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and related poor prognosis

Nicola Ielapi1,2 , Noemi Licastro1,3, Michele Provenzano1,4 , Michele Andreucci1,4 , Stefano de Franciscis1,3 & Raffaele Serra*,1,3 1Interuniversity Center of Phlebolymphology (CIFL). International Research & Educational Program in Clinical & Experimental Biotechnology at the Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa 88100 Catanzaro, Italy 2Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Public Health & Infectious Disease, Roma, Italy 3Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa 88100 Catanzaro, Italy 4Department of Health Sciences University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa 88100 Catanzaro, Italy *Author for correspondence: Tel. : +39 0961 364 7380; Cell. +39 338 707 8043; rserra@unicz.it
Isolation and characterization of a cytotoxic pentapeptide, κ-casecidin, from bovine κ-casein digested with bovine trypsin.

Bovine κ-casein produced cytotoxic activity toward mouse spleen cells when it was digested with bovine trypsin or chymotrypsin. The cytotoxic activity reached a maximum when the casein was digested with the trypsin at 45°C for 5h and was observed when the spleen cells were cultured for 6h with the digest. A cytotoxic peptide was isolated from a digest prepared from κ-casein treated with trypsin for 5h by a combination of ion-exchange column chromatography, gel filtration and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The sequence of the isolated peptide was estimated as Phe-Phe-Ser-Asp-Lys, being compatible with sequence 17-21 of bovine κ-casein. A chemically synthesized peptide, Phe-Phe-Ser-Asp-Lys, produced cytotoxic activity toward mouse spleen cells at a dose response manner. On the other hand, the isolated peptide retained cytotoxic activities toward animal cells such as mouse spleen T- and B-lymphocyte-enriched cells, bovine milk cells and Jurkat, Clone E6-1 cells (a cell line from human acute leukemic T-lymphocyte). The mouse lymphocytes cultured with the isolated peptide revealed an internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The isolated peptide significantly inhibited the proliferative responses of mouse spleen cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide, pokeweed mitogen, phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. Moreover, the isolated peptide showed notable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus IFO3060.
Role of ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) in the presentation of retinoblastoma: findings from the UK

Background The relationship between the ethnic background or socioeconomic status (SES) and late retinoblastoma (Rb) presentation in the UK is unclear. We aimed to investigate if such correlations exist in a cohort of non-familial Rb cases. Methods A cross-sectional study based at the two centres providing Rb care in the UK. Included were non-familial Rb cases that presented from January 2006 to December 2011. Epidemiological and clinical data were retrieved from medical charts, as well as patients’ postcodes used to obtain the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) score. A postal questionnaire was sent to participants’ parents to collect further, person-level, information on languages spoken and household socioeconomic position. Statistical correlations to advanced Rb at presentation as well as to treatment by enucleation and need for adjuvant chemotherapy were investigated. Results The cohort included 189 cases, 98 (51.8%) of which were males. The median age at diagnosis was 16 months (IQR 8–34 months). Of the study patients, 153 (81%) presented with advanced Rb; 78 (41%) with group D and 75 (40%) with group E Rb. A total of 134 (72%) patients were treated with enucleation. South Asian ethnicity and being in the most deprived IMD quintile were associated with a higher likelihood of presentation with advanced disease, but these estimates did not reach statistical significance. Older age at presentation was associated with enucleation and bilateral disease with adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions In this national UK study of patients with non-familial Rb, there was no evidence of an association of ethnicity or SES and the risk of presenting with advanced disease. These findings may reflect equality in access of healthcare in the UK.
Virus Cooperation, ZIKV Viremia and in Utero Fetus Infection

Summary With growth and exponential globe trotter traveling of the human population, and many more conducive factors, the likelihood of merging and melting viruses capable of infecting humans in a cooperative fashion, has increased markedly. Hence, viruses that were limited to a particular region of the planet, or to certain population groups, have become capable of infecting humans on a pandemic scale. Some viruses not only can infect pregnant women, but also expand to the amnotic fluid and fetus. With this review, we will reflect upon some examples of known viral cooperations, as well as new ones that have the potential for compromising human health and survival of the fetus in utero.