Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rényi information transfer: Partial rényi transfer entropy and partial rényi mutual information

Shannon and Rényi information theory have been applied to coupling estimation in complex systems using time series of their dynamical states. By analysing how information is transferred between constituent parts of a complex system, it is possible to infer the coupling parameters of the system. To this end, we introduce the partial Rényi transfer entropy and we give an alternative derivation of the partial Rényi mutual information, using the conditional Rényi α-divergence. We prove that, in the limit α → 1, this divergence tends to the conditional Kullback-Leibler divergence from Shannon information theory. As a result, when α → 1, we obtain the partial transfer entropy and the partial mutual information from their Rényi equivalents. Using these Rényi information-theoretic functionals, we identify the coupling direction and delay between two processes in an autoregressive system of order 1.
El objeto indirecto

Los objetivos fundamentales de este trabajo son: 1) establecer una clasificacion de los criterios habitualmente utilizados en la caracterizacion del complemento u objeto indirecto; 2) mostrar los problemas que conlleva el empleo de estos criterios, y 3) demostrar que lo que hasta ahora se ha entendido por complemento u objeto indirecto ni es una funcion sintactica oracional ni un concepto gramatical (de teoria del lenguaje) valido para la explicacion de cualquier lengua. Concluimos con la imposibilidad de utilizar el termino "complemento u objeto indirecto" para designar nocion gramatical universal alguna
Kernel density estimation based self-learning sampling strategy for motion planning of repetitive tasks

This paper introduces a new sampling strategy and shows that superior performance can be obtained for a range of sampling based robotic motion planners, used in scenarios with low task variance, as found in many vision guided pick and place operations. The strategy uses kernel density estimation to identify regions with high probability of containing configurations being part of feasible solutions, and use the estimation to bias sampling. The kernel densities are initialized with a uniform distribution and are continuously updated, whenever paths are successfully planned and optimized. The system is thereby self-learning and improves performance over time. The sampler is tested on a variety of planners and against other sampling methods in two different scenarios containing robotic arms with 6 degrees of freedom and compared to a state-of-the-art optimization based planning algorithm. Tests show that the sampler learns fast and improves both time taken for solving problems and the quality of the resulting paths compared to other samplers.
The effect of wage dispersion on satisfaction, productivity, and working collaboratively: Evidence from college and university faculty.

Nancy Langton would like to thank the Faculty of Commerce, UBC for computer support for the data analysis in this article. The writing and revision of this paper were partially supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada. Using a large sample of college and university faculty, we studied the effects of wage inequality on satisfaction, productivity, and collaboration. Results show that the greater the degree of wage dispersion within academic departments, the lower is individual faculty members' satisfaction and research productivity and the less likely it is that faculty members will collaborate on research. The negative effects of wage dispersion on satisfaction are reduced for people who are more committed (have longer tenure), in fields with more developed scientific paradigms, and when salaries are based more on experience and scholarly productivity, but they are greater for those who earn comparatively less money. Wage dispersion has a smaller negative effect on satisfaction in private colleges and universities in which salaries are less likely to be known. The results suggest that one's position in the salary structure, the availability of information about wage inequality, and legitimate bases of reward allocation all affect the extent to which wage dispersion produces adverse effects. '
A weakly-convex formulation for phaseless imaging

We consider the problem of reconstructing an object given magnitudes of linear measurements. We follow the ‘lifting’ approach, but unlike previous work which use convex relaxations of the unit rank constraint, we use a weakly-convex matrix penalty. We derive a convergent algorithm and show that it is computationally more feasible than those obtained under convex relaxations. We demonstrate numerically that when the signal to noise ratio is high, the proposed algorithm can achieve almost error-free reconstruction with fewer measurements than when convex relaxation is employed.
Data Mining for the Unique Identification of Patients in the National Healthcare Systems

This paper considers the application of data mining (DM) algorithms as a feasible and necessary strategy for optimal management of databases (DB) in the national healthcare systems. Specifically it deals with the management of multiple DB that consider patient’s affiliation information, under the supervision of the authorities in healthcare, an issue that involves not only the issues of every citizen but also its integral right to be treated by any institution. We support the idea that the administrative part of the healthcare system should not obstruct the attention of the patient and a total efficiency must be guaranteed. We believe that DM algorithms are appropriate for this task and human intervention should be minimized. A case study was developed in Colombia that considered the multiple affiliations to DB and its integration to a unique DB managed by the District Health Secretary (DHS, which detected frauds and other type of duplicities. The mechanism used to approach this, indicates not only a significant reduction of manual intervention of the DB, but also allows the extraction of data for future analysis, supporting the patient’s need for an efficient and integral health attention, as well as privacy of personal information registered.
The association of herpes simplex virus with squamous carcinoma of the cervix, and studies of the virus thymidine kinase gene

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is an endemic human virus characterized by latent infection of sensory ganglia, with reactivation leading to peripheral lesions in a proportion of cases. The virus genome (145 500 base pairs) comprises two segments, L and S, bounded by inverted repeat regions of approximately 10500 base pairs (TR Land IR L) and 6000 base pairs (IRsand TRs) respectively. A direct terminal repeat of about 300 base pairs is also present in an inverted form at the junction between L and S. Numerous indirect studies have suggested an association of the venereal serotype (HSV-2) with squamous carcinoma of the cervix (Nahmias et al. 1970; Thomas & Rawls 1978). Direct evidence has been notably lacking, but the presence of HSV RNA in cervical neoplasms has recently been reported (Jones et al. 1979; McDougall et al. 1980), with in situ hybridization to tritiated HSV DNA. In collaboration with Dr Frank Sharp of the Department of Midwifery, Glasgow University, we have now completed a major screening of cervical neoplasms by the in situ technique. Patients referred to Dr Sharp’s clinic for colposcopic examination were swabbed to detect intracervical infectious HSV. Punch biopsy samples (approximately 5 mm in section) were taken for pathological examination and categorization as non-neoplastic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (c. i. n.) or squamous carcinoma. Parallel punches were snap-frozen and thin sections (7 µm) mounted on glass slides, fixed and then hybridized to in vitro 125I-labelled HSV-2, Ad2, Ad5 or phage lambda DNA. Biopsies of primary adenocarcinomas of the cervix were treated in the same way. After washing and autoradiography, results are expressed as background-corrected mean grain counts per field (mean of ten fields per sample, 3.6 x 10–2mm2 per field; ca. 20 cells per field).
Inhibition of Blue Light-Dependent H+ Pumping by Abscisic Acid through Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Dephosphorylation of the Plasma Membrane H+-ATPase in Guard Cell Protoplasts1

Blue light (BL)-dependent H+ pumping by guard cells, which drives stomatal opening, is inhibited by abscisic acid (ABA). We investigated this response with respect to the activity of plasma membrane H+-ATPase using Vicia guard cell protoplasts. ATP hydrolysis by the plasma membrane H+-ATPase, phosphorylation of the H+-ATPase, and the binding of 14-3-3 protein to the H+-ATPase stimulated by BL were inhibited by ABA at 10 μm. All of these responses were similarly inhibited by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at 1 mm. The ABA-induced inhibitions of BL-dependent H+ pumping and phosphorylation of the H+-ATPase were partially restored by ascorbate, an intracellular H2O2 scavenger. A single-cell analysis of the cytosolic H2O2 using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin revealed that H2O2 was generated by ABA in guard cell protoplasts. We also indicated that H+ pumping induced by fusicoccin and the binding of 14-3-3 protein to the H+-ATPase were inhibited slightly (approximately 20%) by both ABA and H2O2. By contrast, H2O2 at 1 mm did not affect H+ pumping by the H+-ATPase in microsomal membranes. From these results, we concluded that inhibition of BL-dependent H+ pumping by ABA was due to a decrease in the phosphorylation levels of H+-ATPase and that H2O2 might be involved in this response. Moreover, there are at least two inhibition sites by ABA in the BL signaling pathway of guard cells.
How does the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) flash its blue rings?

SUMMARY The blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), one of the world's most venomous animals, has long captivated and endangered a large audience: children playing at the beach, divers turning over rocks, and biologists researching neurotoxins. These small animals spend much of their time in hiding, showing effective camouflage patterns. When disturbed, the octopus will flash around 60 iridescent blue rings and, when strongly harassed, bite and deliver a neurotoxin that can kill a human. Here, we describe the flashing mechanism and optical properties of these rings. The rings contain physiologically inert multilayer reflectors, arranged to reflect blue–green light in a broad viewing direction. Dark pigmented chromatophores are found beneath and around each ring to enhance contrast. No chromatophores are above the ring; this is unusual for cephalopods, which typically use chromatophores to cover or spectrally modify iridescence. The fast flashes are achieved using muscles under direct neural control. The ring is hidden by contraction of muscles above the iridophores; relaxation of these muscles and contraction of muscles outside the ring expose the iridescence. This mechanism of producing iridescent signals has not previously been reported in cephalopods and we suggest that it is an exceptionally effective way to create a fast and conspicuous warning display.
Expression of p 53 Enhances Selenite-Induced Superoxide Production and Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Although the anticancer effects of selenium have been shown in clinical, preclinical, and laboratory studies, the underlying mechanism(s) remains unclear. Our previous study showed that sodium selenite induced LNCaP human prostate cancer cell apoptosis in association with production of reactive oxygen species, alteration of cell redox state, and mitochondrial damage. In the present study, we showed that selenite-induced apoptosis was superoxide mediated and p53 dependent via mitochondrial pathways. In addition, we also showed that superoxide production by selenite was p53 dependent. Our study showed that wild-type p53–expressing LNCaP cells were more sensitive to selenite-induced apoptosis than p53null PC3 cells. Selenite treatment resulted in high levels of superoxide production in LNCaP cells but only low levels in PC3 cells. LNCaP cells also showed sequential increases in levels of phosphorylated p53 (serine 15), total p53, Bax, and p21 proteins following selenite treatment. The effects of selenite were suppressed by pretreatment with a synthetic superoxide dismutase mimic or by knockdown of p53 via RNA interference. LNCaP cells treated with selenite also showed p53 translocation to mitochondria, cytochrome c release into the cytosol, and activation of caspase-9. On the other hand, restoration of wild-type p53 expression in PC3 cells increased cellular sensitivity to selenite and resulted in increased superoxide production, caspase-9 activation, and apoptosis following selenite treatment. These results suggest that selenite induces apoptosis by producing superoxide to activate p53 and to induce p53 mitochondrial translocation. Activation of p53 in turn synergistically enhances superoxide production and apoptosis induced by selenite. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(4): 2296-304)
Sun exposure predicts risk of ocular melanoma in Australia

Previous studies examining sun exposure and ocular melanoma have produced inconsistent results. We investigated this association in a population‐based case‐control study in Australia. Cases (n = 290) aged 18–79 years were diagnosed between January 1996 and July 1998. Controls (n = 893) were randomly selected from the electoral rolls and frequency‐matched to cases by age, sex and state. A self‐administered questionnaire and a telephone interview measured sun exposure on weekdays and weekends at 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of age and over the whole of life for specific jobs and recreations. Multivariate logistic regression models of ocular melanoma and sun exposure contained age, sex, region of birth, eye color and measures of ocular and cutaneous sun sensitivity as covariates. Choroid and ciliary body melanoma (n = 246) was positively associated with time outdoors on weekdays and, less persuasively, total time outdoors but not ambient solar irradiance. Odds ratios increased with increasing exposure to OR 1.8 (95% confidence interval 1.1–2.8) for the highest quarter of sun exposure on weekdays up to 40 years of age for men and women together. The strongest positive associations were for total exposure up to 40 years of age, lifetime occupational exposure and total exposure at about 20 years of age in men; all had odds ratios between 2 and 3 in the highest exposure categories. There was inconclusive evidence for an association between sun exposure and iris (n = 25) or conjunctival (n = 19) melanomas. Sun exposure is an independent risk factor for choroidal and ciliary body melanoma in Australia. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Visual Inter-Attribute Contour Completion

A new visual phenomenon, inter-attribute illusory (completed) contours, is demonstrated. Contour completions are perceived between any combination of spatially separate pairs of inducing elements (Kanizsa-like ‘pacman’ figures) defined either by pictorial cues (luminance contrast or offset gratings), temporal contrast (motion, second-order-motion or ‘phantom’ contours), or binocular-disparity contrast. In a first experiment, observers reported the perceived occurrence of contour completion for all pair combinations of inducing elements. In a second experiment they rated the perceived clarity of the completed contours. Both methods generated similar results—contour completions were perceived even though the inducing elements were defined by different attributes. Ratings of inter-attribute clarity were no lower than in either of the two corresponding intra-attribute conditions and seem to be the average of these two ratings. The results provide evidence for the existence of attribute-invariant Gestalt processes, and on a mechanistic level indicate that the completion process operates on attribute-invariant contour detectors.
Benefits of Different Types of Enterprise Modeling Initiatives in ICT-Enabled Process Change

The paper reports a study that investigates the use of enterprise modeling empirically in eight combined process change and information technology initiatives. The paper targets a need in academia and industry for knowing more about enterprise modeling in practice. The authors identify five different types of modeling initiatives by analyzing how each case combines the use of ICT, the main focus of process change, and the objectives of modeling. They identify and compare the reported benefits of enterprise modeling in each type of initiative. The authors conclude that to be able to give a qualified answer to executive management on the potential benefits of an enterprise modeling initiative, it is beneficial to identify the type of initiative in question.
A fast randomized algorithm for overdetermined linear least-squares regression

We introduce a randomized algorithm for overdetermined linear least-squares regression. Given an arbitrary full-rank m × n matrix A with m ≥ n, any m × 1 vector b, and any positive real number ε, the procedure computes an n × 1 vector x such that x minimizes the Euclidean norm ‖Ax − b‖ to relative precision ε. The algorithm typically requires 𝒪((log(n)+log(1/ε))mn+n3) floating-point operations. This cost is less than the 𝒪(mn2) required by the classical schemes based on QR-decompositions or bidiagonalization. We present several numerical examples illustrating the performance of the algorithm.
On the Minimum of a Polynomial Function on a Basic Closed Semialgebraic Set and Applications

We give an explicit upper bound for the algebraic degree and an explicit lower bound for the absolute value of the minimum of a polynomial function on a compact connected component of a basic closed semialgebraic set when this minimum is not zero. As an application, we obtain a lower bound for the separation of two disjoint connected components of basic closed semialgebraic sets, when at least one of them is compact.
Southern California postrotary Nystagmus test: adult normative data

The SCPNT was administered to 73 female and 32 male volunteer subjects ranging in age from 21 to 60 years with a median educational level of 13 yeares. Subjects were divided into four age groups and a 4 (Age group) by 2 (Sex) analysis of variance was performed using postrotary nystagmus duration as a dependent measure. The results revealed a significant age main effect. Scheffe post hoc tests suggested that the two older age groups (41 - 50 and 51 - 60 year) had significantly longer nystagmic duration than the younger groups (21 - 30 and 31 - 40 years). The need to control for age in studies using the SCPNT with adults is discussed.
Histological and Immunohistochemical Study of Pars Tensa Retraction Pocket

Objective. To study the histological and proliferation characteristics of the pars tensa retraction pocket. To investigate the hypothesis that such retraction pockets may demonstrate breaks in the epithelial basement membrane. Study Design. Prospective evaluation. Fifty stage II-IV surgically resected retraction pockets. Setting. Tertiary care academic hospital. Methods. Paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Basement membrane evaluation by Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and silver-methenamine (SM). Evaluation of cellular proliferation by immunohistochemistry (MIB-1 score). Results. Following are findings noted as frequent but not invariable in pars tensa retraction pockets: (1) subepithelial chronic inflammation (86%), (2) proliferation and hyperkeratinization of the outer epithelial layer, (3) epithelial cones with proliferating cells (increased MIB-1 score) in the basal epithelial layer (39%), (4) loss of the middle double collagen layer (71%), and (5) loss of the inner mucosal layer (33%). Inflammation and cellular proliferation were noted as ubiquitous among all grades. A trend was noted along progressive grades of retraction (II-IV) for an increasing incidence of basal epithelial cones, middle collagen layer loss, and inner mucosal layer loss. Focal loss of basement membrane was noted in several cases with PAS staining, but further staining with the SM in all such cases indicated the basement membrane to be intact. Conclusion. A continuum of progressive histological features akin to cholesteatoma is noted with increasing grades of retraction (II-IV). Breach of the basement membrane was recently reported as a feature of cholesteatoma but is not a feature of retraction. The near universal presence of inflammation as noted suggests an etiological role.
Conditional results on the birational section conjecture over small number fields

In the present paper, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a birational Galois section of a projective smooth curve over either the field of rational numbers or an imaginary quadratic field to be geometric. As a consequence, we prove that, over such a small number field, to prove the birational section conjecture for projective smooth curves, it suffices to verify that, roughly speaking, for any birational Galois section of the projective line, the local points associated to the birational Galois section avoid distinct three rational points, and, moreover, a certain Galois representation determined by the birational Galois section is unramified at all but finitely many primes. Moreover, as another consequence, we obtain some examples of projective smooth curves for which any prosolvable birational Galois section is geometric.
Ultrastructural comparison between the parenchymal cells of tumors derived from parent and hybrid lines of C1300 mouse neuroblastoma and C6 rat glioma.

Hybrid cell line 108CC5, obtained by fusion of N18TG2 mouse neuroblastoma and C6BU1 rat glioma lines, was injected intracranially or s.c. into nude mice. The tissues of the resultant intracranial and s.c. tumors were processed for light, phase, and electron microscopy. For comparison, the tumors induced by inoculation of the parent lines in the respective animal hosts were also studied. Histologically, the hybrid tumor resembled a very cellular, anaplastic neoplasm bearing a greater resemblance to the neuroblastoma than to the glioma type of growth. Under the electron microscope hybrid tumor cells also showed a greater resemblance to neuroblastoma than to glioma tumor cells. Hybrid tumor cells were large (even huge). The cytoplasm contained all the typical organelles. Dense core vesicles and intracisternal type A particles were a regular feature of these cells. Annulate lamellae were also seen frequently. Some of the large cell processes contained numerous microtubules; others were instead packed with filaments. Dense core vesicles and clear vesicles were clustered along some of these processes and at their tips. Unequivocal synapses were not seen, but profiles suggestive of these structures were observed occasionally. Type C virus particles, both budding at the cell surface and lying extracellularly, were commonly noted in the specimens of the hybrid tumor. In conclusion, hybrid tumor cells bore a greater morphological resemblance to neuroblastoma than to glioma tumor cells and showed the “differentiated” morphology of neuroblastoma cells in vitro under a variety of experimental conditions. It would seem, therefore, that parent and hybrid cells from quickly growing, anaplastic-looking tumors, or at least a contingent of cells from these tumors, can achieve morphological “differentiation” in vivo just as effectively as their counterparts do in vitro under a variety of experimental conditions.