Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bellman Gradient Iteration for Inverse Reinforcement Learning

This paper develops an inverse reinforcement learning algorithm aimed at recovering a reward function from the observed actions of an agent. We introduce a strategy to flexibly handle different types of actions with two approximations of the Bellman Optimality Equation, and a Bellman Gradient Iteration method to compute the gradient of the Q-value with respect to the reward function. These methods allow us to build a differentiable relation between the Q-value and the reward function and learn an approximately optimal reward function with gradient methods. We test the proposed method in two simulated environments by evaluating the accuracy of different approximations and comparing the proposed method with existing solutions. The results show that even with a linear reward function, the proposed method has a comparable accuracy with the state-of-the-art method adopting a non-linear reward function, and the proposed method is more flexible because it is defined on observed actions instead of trajectories.
A Qualitative Study of a Nutrition Working Group

The Behavioral Change Consortium (BCC) Nutrition Workgroup (NWG) is a multidisciplinary collaboration of representatives from BCC sites and federal agencies. Its mission is to improve measurement of dietary variables. This article presents findings from a qualitative study of perceived effectiveness of the workgroup collaboration. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted and examined for common themes using the constant comparison method. Themes contributing to perceived effectiveness included: funding and additional resources; invested, committed, and collegial members; strong leadership, clearly articulated goals, and regular communication. Influences seen as reducing effectiveness were: distance, disparate nature of the studies, limited time, and problems associated with starting collaboration after the primary studies had begun data collection. NWG members felt that the workgroup would continue to be successful; however, there were concerns about responsibility for writing and authorship of manuscripts and the need for continued funding to ensure full participation and productivity.
Mental Health Diagnoses 3 Years After Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion in the United States.

OBJECTIVES We set out to assess the occurrence of new depression and anxiety diagnoses in women 3 years after they sought an abortion. METHODS We conducted semiannual telephone interviews of 956 women who sought abortions from 30 US facilities. Adjusted multivariable discrete-time logistic survival models examined whether the study group (women who obtained abortions just under a facility's gestational age limit, who were denied abortions and carried to term, who were denied abortions and did not carry to term, and who received first-trimester abortions) predicted depression or anxiety onset during seven 6-month time intervals. RESULTS The 3-year cumulative probability of professionally diagnosed depression was 9% to 14%; for anxiety it was 10% to 15%, with no study group differences. Women in the first-trimester group and women denied abortions who did not give birth had greater odds of new self-diagnosed anxiety than did women who obtained abortions just under facility gestational limits. CONCLUSIONS Among women seeking abortions near facility gestational limits, those who obtained abortions were at no greater mental health risk than were women who carried an unwanted pregnancy to term.
The Risk of Bankruptcy Before and After Brain or Spinal Cord Injury: A Glimpse of the Iceberg's Tip

Background:Injury and illness are often cited as causes of bankruptcy. However, the incidence of bankruptcy after an acute medical event is unknown. Objectives:Determine the incidence of bankruptcy in survivors of brain and spinal cord trauma, identify vulnerable subgroups, and compare the incidence pre- and postinjury. Design:Retrospective cohort study of patients injured from 1991 to 2002. Bankruptcy tracked from 1991 to 2004. Subjects:Consecutive sample of 6345 adult residents of Western Washington State admitted to hospital with brain or spinal cord injuries. Measures:Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression to examine incidence of bankruptcy 5 years postinjury. We used Poisson regression to measure the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of bankruptcy before and after injury in a subgroup of 3527 subjects. Results:The incidence of bankruptcy 5 years postinjury was 3.5%. Bankruptcy was more frequent in patients with commercial medical insurance than those insured by Medicaid [hazard ratio (HR), 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47–2.70]. Bankruptcy was not consistently related to injury severity; patients with critical injuries tended to have a lower incidence of bankruptcy than those with mild injuries (HR, 0.65; CI, 0.41–1.03). Bankruptcy incidence was higher in younger patients and those with positive toxicology or moderately elevated blood alcohol concentration. Compared with preinjury, there was a 33% increase in bankruptcy incidence postinjury (IRR, 1.33; CI, 0.94–1.89). The relative increase was highest in Medicaid patients (IRR, 2.32; CI, 1.09–4.95). Conclusions:The risk of bankruptcy postinjury is not negligible. There is an increase in bankruptcy postinjury, most evident in Medicaid patients. Better rehabilitation, workforce reintegration, and disability programs might reduce bankruptcy postinjury.
Apolipoprotein E and Measured Physical and Pulmonary Function in Older Taiwanese Adults

The apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene, which has three common alleles (ϵ2, ϵ3, and ϵ4), has been linked to a number of health outcomes and longevity. The ϵ2 allele has been reported to have neuroprotective effects, whereas the ϵ4 allele has been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease in various populations. The relationships between ApoE and mortality and ApoE and physical function, however, are not clear-cut. We used the Social Environment and Biomarkers of Aging Study (SEBAS) to examine the relationship between ApoE polymorphisms and physical and pulmonary function in approximately 1,000 Taiwanese adults aged 53 years and older in 2006. In the 2006 SEBAS wave, measures of physical function included self-reported difficulties with respect to activities of daily living (ADLs) and other physical function indicators, as well as performance-based measures of grip strength (kg), walking speed (m/s) over a distance of 3 m, and chair stand speed (stand/s). Peak expiratory flow (PEF; L/min) rate was also examined as an indicator of pulmonary function. We used logistic regression models to determine the association between ApoE and inability to complete each of the tests of physical and pulmonary function. These models revealed no significant association between ApoE carrier status and any of the indicators of function. Among participants able to complete a given task, we next used linear regression models to examine self-reported limitations with ADLs and performance on the given test by ApoE carrier status. Similarly, there were no significant relationships between ApoE carrier status and the measures of function. Our estimates provide further confirmation that the ApoE gene may not be a risk factor for functional decline among older Taiwanese adults.
Protective effect of UR-12670 on chronic nephropathy induced by warm ischaemia in ageing uninephrectomized rats.

BACKGROUND In young animals, renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury and mass reduction are associated with chronic lesions that mimic those found in chronic rejection. We have shown that the phospholipid platelet-activating factor (PAF) participates in young animals in such chronic nephropathy. Here we examine the long-term effects of the orally active PAF antagonist, UR-12670 in ageing uninephrectomized rats exposed to prolonged warm ischaemia. METHODS Fifteen- to eighteen-month-old uninephrectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into three groups and followed for 16 weeks: UNx, rats without ischaemia; UNxISC, ischaemic kidney (60 min), and UNxISC+UR, ischaemic kidney and UR-12670 from day 0 to the 16th week. Serum creatinine and proteinuria were monitored every 4 weeks. At the end of the study, conventional histology was performed and monocyte-macrophages were identified with the specific monoclonal antibody ED-1. RESULTS The UNxISC group had severe acute renal failure with a high mortality rate, which was associated with incomplete restoration of renal function. Renal insufficiency in this group was sustained throughout the follow-up. Both UNx and UNxISC groups developed progressive proteinuria from the 12th week. Though UNxISC+UR group showed similar acute renal failure and mortality rate to the ischaemic non-treated group, serum creatinine decreased to levels similar to UNx group, which were maintained until the end of the study. Treatment of ischaemic kidneys with UR-12670 produced a slight decrease in 24-h proteinuria and a reduction in glomerulosclerosis, the mean tubulointerstitial score and number of monocyte-macrophages to values similar to UNx group. CONCLUSIONS The chronic administration of the PAF antagonist UR-12670 attenuates the long-term effects of ischaemia-reperfusion injury in uninephrectomized ageing rats. The beneficial effect of this agent suggests that PAF contributes to the progression to late renal damage in this model.
Intranasal Delivery of Group B Meningococcal Native Outer Membrane Vesicle Vaccine Induces Local Mucosal and Serum Bactericidal Antibody Responses in Rabbits

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that intranasal immunization of mice with meningococcal native outer membrane vesicles (NOMV) induces both a good local mucosal antibody response and a good systemic bactericidal antibody response. However, in the intranasal mouse model, some of the NOMV entered the lung and caused an acute granulocytic response. We therefore developed an alternate animal model using the rabbit. This model reduces the probability of lung involvement and more closely mimics intranasal immunization of humans. Rabbits immunized intranasally with doses of 100 μg of NOMV in 0.5 ml of saline developed serum bactericidal antibody levels comparable to those of rabbits immunized intramuscularly with 25-μg doses, particularly when the primary intranasal immunization was given daily for 3 days. Intranasal immunization also induced a local mucosal response as evidenced by immunoglobulin A antibody in saliva, nasal washes, and lung lavage fluids. NOMV from a capsule-deficient mutant induced higher serum bactericidal antibody responses than NOMV from the encapsulated parent. Meningococcal NOMV could be administered intranasally at 400 μg with no pyrogenic activity, but as little as 0.03 μg/kg of body weight administered intravenously or 25 μg administered intramuscularly induced a pyrogenic response. These data indicate that the rabbit is a useful model for preclinical testing of intranasal meningococcal NOMV vaccines, and this immunization regimen produces a safe and substantial systemic and local mucosal antibody response.
Volatility Spillovers between Crude Oil and Agricultural Commodity Markets since the Financial Crisis

This study examines the nature and dynamics of volatility spillovers between crude oil and agricultural commodity markets since the 2008–09 financial crisis. We tested for volatility spillovers with a flexible bivariate heterogeneous autoregressive model to identify the short-, mid-, and long-term spillover effects. We observed bidirectional spillovers of short-term volatilities between crude oil and agricultural commodity markets in the crisis period, compared to mid-term and long-term volatilities of corn being transmitted to the crude oil volatility in the post-crisis period. These findings suggest that crude oil and agricultural commodity markets have become less integrated after the 2008–09 crisis.
The Cognition Battery of the NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function: Validation in an Adult Sample

Abstract This study introduces a special series on validity studies of the Cognition Battery (CB) from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function (NIHTB) (Gershon, Wagster et al., 2013) in an adult sample. This first study in the series describes the sample, each of the seven instruments in the NIHTB-CB briefly, and the general approach to data analysis. Data are provided on test–retest reliability and practice effects, and raw scores (mean, standard deviation, range) are presented for each instrument and the gold standard instruments used to measure construct validity. Accompanying papers provide details on each instrument, including information about instrument development, psychometric properties, age and education effects on performance, and convergent and discriminant construct validity. One study in the series is devoted to a factor analysis of the NIHTB-CB in adults and another describes the psychometric properties of three composite scores derived from the individual measures representing fluid and crystallized abilities and their combination. The NIHTB-CB is designed to provide a brief, comprehensive, common set of measures to allow comparisons among disparate studies and to improve scientific communication. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–12)
Bis(μ-2-methylquinolin-8-olato)-κ3 N,O:O;κ3 O:N,O-bis[(acetato-κ2 O,O′)lead(II)]

Both independent PbII atoms in the title compound, [Pb2(C10H8NO)2(C2H3O2)2], are chelated by acetate and substituted quinolin-8-olate anions; the O atoms of the quinolin-8-olates also bridge to confer a five-coordinate status to each metal center. The geometry approximates a distorted Ψ-fac octahedron in which one of the sites is occupied by a stereochemically active lone pair.
Bacterial populations associated with rice seed in the tropical environment.

ABSTRACT During the 1995 wet season, harvested rice seed was collected from farmers' fields at different locations in Iloilo, Philippines. Bacterial isolations from crushed seed yielded 428 isolates. The isolates were characterized by BOX-polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting of total genomic DNA and represented 151 fingerprint types (FPT). Most FPTs were found on a single occasion, although matching fingerprints for isolates from different samples also were found. Identifications were made by cellular fatty acid methyl ester analysis and additional use of Biolog GN/GP MicroPlates and API 20E/50CHE systems. The predominant bacteria were Enterobacteriaceae (25%), Bacillus spp. (22%), and Pseu-domonas spp. (14%). Other bacteria regularly present were identified as Xanthomonas spp. , Cellulomonas flavigena, and Clavibacter michiganense. Of the total number of isolated bacteria, 4% exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani or Pyricularia grisea. Two percent of isolates were pathogens identified as Burkholderia glumae and Burkholderia gladioli. Five percent of isolates induced sheath necrosis on only 50 to 90% of inoculated plants and were related to Bacillus pumilus, Paenibacillus spp. , Pseudomonas spp. , and Pantoea spp.
Considerations of AC and DC testing of large electrical stator windings and components

This paper is written on the basis of recommendations in IEEE Std 95-2002. It is common practice to use both AC and DC power supplies for the high potential testing of large electrical generator stator windings. A much higher voltage, well above the machine operating voltage; is almost always used. This paper reviews the procedures, results and test aspects of both the AC and DC testing of stator coils and the completed stator winding. The major issues addressed are the voltage levels used; where and when they are applied; the relationship between the AC and DC test voltage levels; what components of the winding are actually being tested; and are the presently used multiplication factors between DC and AC really being used correctly? A significant issue to address is that the stator coils and the stator winding layout, is designed to primarily get through the final AC or DC hi-pot test Should this present way of thinking still be followed in going forward in the future?
Measuring intraregional trade

ABSTRACT This article develops a novel measure of intraregional trade. The new measure is easy to implement and robust to different gravity models. I use the new measure to study the economic integration of the major trade blocs and discuss how the measure can be extended to analyse the roles of trade policies and institutions in regional integration.
Correctors Promote Maturation of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR)-processing Mutants by Binding to the Protein*

The most common cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) is defective folding of a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutant lacking Phe508 (ΔF508). The ΔF508 protein appears to be trapped in a prefolded state with incomplete packing of the transmembrane (TM) segments, a defect that can be repaired by expression in the presence of correctors such as corr-4a, VRT-325, and VRT-532. To determine whether the mechanism of correctors involves direct interactions with CFTR, our approach was to test whether correctors blocked disulfide cross-linking between cysteines introduced into the two halves of a Cys-less CFTR. Although replacement of the 18 endogenous cysteines of CFTR with Ser or Ala yields a Cys-less mutant that does not mature at 37 °C, we found that maturation could be restored if Val510 was changed to Ala, Cys, Ser, Thr, Gly, Ala, or Asp. The V510D mutation also promoted maturation of ΔF508 CFTR. The Cys-less/V510A mutant was used for subsequent cross-linking analysis as it yielded relatively high levels of mature protein that was functional in iodide efflux assays. We tested for cross-linking between cysteines introduced into TM6 and TM7 of Cys-less CFTR/V510A because cross-linking between TM6 and TM7 of P-glycoprotein, the sister protein of CFTR, was inhibited with the corrector VRT-325. Cys-less CFTR/V510A mutant containing cysteines at I340C(TM6) and S877C(TM7) could be cross-linked with a homobifunctional cross-linker. Correctors and the CFTR channel blocker benzbromarone, but not P-glycoprotein substrates, inhibited cross-linking of mutant I340C(TM6)/S877C(TM7). These results suggest that corrector molecules such as corr-4a interact directly with CFTR.
Hemoglobin concentration, total hemoglobin mass and plasma volume in patients: implications for anemia

In practice, clinicians generally consider anemia (circulating hemoglobin concentration < 120 g.l−1 in non-pregnant females and < 130 g.l−1 in males) as due to impaired hemoglobin synthesis or increased erythrocyte loss or destruction. Rarely is a rise in plasma volume relative to circulating total hemoglobin mass considered as a cause. But does this matter? We explored this issue in patients, measuring hemoglobin concentration, total hemoglobin mass (optimized carbon monoxide rebreathing method) and thereby calculating plasma volume in healthy volunteers, surgical patients, and those with inflammatory bowel disease, chronic liver disease or heart failure. We studied 109 participants. Hemoglobin mass correlated well with its concentration in the healthy, surgical and inflammatory bowel disease groups (r=0.687–0.871, P<0.001). However, they were poorly related in liver disease (r=0.410, P=0.11) and heart failure patients (r=0.312, P=0.16). Here, hemoglobin mass explained little of the variance in its concentration (adjusted R2=0.109 and 0.052; P=0.11 and 0.16), whilst plasma volume did (R2 change 0.724 and 0.805 in heart and liver disease respectively, P<0.0001). Exemplar patients with identical (normal or raised) total hemoglobin masses were diagnosed as profoundly anemic (or not) depending on differences in plasma volume that had not been measured or even considered as a cause. The traditional inference that anemia generally reflects hemoglobin deficiency may be misleading, potentially resulting in inappropriate tests and therapeutic interventions to address ‘hemoglobin deficiency’ not ‘plasma volume excess’. Measurement of total hemoglobin mass and plasma volume is now simple, cheap and safe, and its more routine use is advocated.
Stacks of flattened smooth endoplasmic reticulum highly enriched in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) receptor in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells.

By immunogold electron microscopy we have shown that in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells fixed by perfusion with formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde solution, the InsP3 receptor are numerously detected on the stacks of flattened cisterns (OTSU et al, (1990) Cell Struct. Funct. , 15: 163-173). In the present experiment we investigated distribution, structure and properties of the stacks by conventional electronmicroscopy, lectin cytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. The size and number of stacks were variable depending on their intracellular localization; short stacks with 2-4 parallel cisterns predominate in the perikaryon, long stacks with 4-15 cisterns in the proximal dendrite, and long stacks with 3-4 cisterns in the distal dendrites. The flattened cisterns bind with concanavalin A but not with wheat-germ agglutinin and may contain KDEL proteins loaded with Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu at their C-terminin in their lumens, indicating that the cisterns are derived from ER membranes. The electron dense materials sandwiched between the cisternal membranes are composed of small particles, short cylindrical in shape and approximately 20 nm in diameter, and markedly labeled with anti InsP3R antibody. We suggest that they correspond to the tetramer of the InsP3R or their related molecules. It is not clear whether the stacks of flattened cisterns exist per se in the Purkinje cells or smooth ER existing in singlet in vivo in the Purkinje cells forms stacks during fixation. It is strongly suggested, however, that the smooth ER membranes covered by the InsP3R or their related molecules can easily interact and stack each other in the Purkinje cells.
Is There a Weather Effect? Evidence from a Panel of Emerging Countries’ Stock Markets

A long history of psychological studies has postulated that good (bad) weather induces a positive (negative) mood. Other studies have concluded that mood can influence humankind decision-making process under risk and uncertainty. Several behavioural finance studies have raised the question of whether sunshine, temperature or other weather variables exert an impact on stock prices by affecting the behaviour of market operators, thus challenging the efficient-market hypothesis. However, very few papers on the weather effect, with contradictory results, have concentrated on the stock markets of emerging countries. We fill this gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the effect of four weather variables (temperature, cloud cover, humidity and wind) on the stock markets of nine emerging countries located in three climatic and economically different areas of the world. Differently from the existent literature, we extend the analysis by analyzing stock prices’ behaviour along with that of stock indexes and by inspecting the opening market activity along with the whole-day activity. Based on our results, we strongly reject the weather effect hypothesis. Key words: Weather effect, market anomalies, efficient market hypothesis, trading behaviour, sunshine effect.