Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smoothings of Fano Varieties With Normal Crossing Singularities

Abstract This paper obtains criteria for a Fano variety X defined over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero with normal crossing singularities to be smoothable. In particular, we show that X is smoothable by a flat deformation X → Δ with smooth total space X if and only if where D is the singular locus of X.
Variation in Performance of Platinum Electrodes with Size and Surface Roughness

Platinum (Pt) has been extensively used in medical electrodes and is proposed as a candidate for stimulation sites in retinal neuroprostheses due to its relative inertness and stability in biological environments. However, as implantable therapeutic devices are created with increasingly smaller dimensions, it is necessary to ensure that electrode properties are optimised. In this study, we present the variation in Pt electrode performance, which occurs as a result of reducing the electrode size. Additionally, the feasibility of laser roughening these electrodes is considered with respect to stability under chronic stimulation. It is shown that as the electrode diameter is decreased, the charge storage capacity (CSC) per unit area is increased twofold. Additionally, the frequency-dependent impedance per unit area decreases, resulting in an increase in the charge injection limit of up to 3.4 times in the biological environment. Finally, the stability of laser-roughened electrodes is demonstrated by continuous biphasic stimulation for more than 1 billion pulses at levels consistent with the activation of the neural retina.
Optimal estimating equations for state vectors in non-Gaussian and nonlinear state space time series models

In state space times series models the development over time of the observed series is determined by an unobserved series of state vectors. The paper considers the estimation of these vectors by the mode of the posterior distribution of the state vectors given the data. It is shown that the estimates are the solution of an optimal unbiased estimating equation.
Supplemental Materials to the paper “ Robust Function-on-Function Regression

In this document we have the proofs for theorem and lemmas given in the ac-companying paper. We shall give proofs for the consistency and Fisher-consistency of the Robust Functional Linear Regression (RFLR) model. We shall follow a sim-ilar approach to Kalogridis and Aelst (2019) who developed a RFLR model for the scalar-on-function problem. We shall also prove the consistency of the RBIC model selection method.
structural on the regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of many cancers. The structure of intact forms of this receptor has yet to be determined, but intense investigations of fragments of the receptor have provided a detailed view of its activation mechanism, which we review here. Ligand binding converts the receptor to a dimeric form, in which contacts are restricted to the receptor itself, allowing heterodimerization of the four EGFR family members without direct ligand involvement. Activation of the receptor depends on the formation of an asymmetric dimer of kinase domains, in which one kinase domain allosterically activates the other. Coupling between the extracellular and intracellular domains may involve a switch between alternative crossings of the transmembrane in the absence of activation. Systematic mutagenesis of residues in the transmembrane helix of EGFR to leucine and phenylalanine shows that no single mutation disrupts transmembrane signaling. However, as shown by Das et al. (103), multiple mutations are required to disrupt this interface, supporting the model of active transmembrane coupling.
The Use of CloudSat Data to Evaluate Retrievals of Total Ice Content in Precipitating Cloud Systems from Ground-Based Operational Radar Measurements

AbstractAn approach is described to retrieve the total amount of ice in a vertical atmospheric column in precipitating clouds observed by the operational Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) systems. This amount expressed as ice water path (IWP) is retrieved using measurements obtained during standard WSR-88D scanning procedures performed when observing precipitation. WSR-88D-based IWP estimates are evaluated using dedicated cloud microphysical retrievals available from the CloudSat and auxiliary spaceborne measurements. The evaluation is performed using measurements obtained in extensive predominantly stratiform precipitation systems containing both ice hydrometeors aloft and rain near the ground. The analysis is based on retrievals of IWP from satellite and the ground-based KWGX and KSHV WSR-88D that are closely collocated in time and space. The comparison results indicate a relatively high correlation between satellite and WSR-88D IWP retrievals, with corresponding correlation coefficients.
A Novel Approach for the Design of Fast-Settling Ampliﬁers for Biosignal Detection

: The most common method used to pick up biomedical signals is through metallic electrodes coupled to the input of high-gain, low-noise ampliﬁers. Unfortunately, electrodes, amongst other effects, introduce an undesired contact resistance and a contact potential. The contact potential needs to be rejected since it would otherwise cause the saturation of the input stage of the ampliﬁers, and this is almost always obtained by inserting a simple RC high-pass ﬁlter in the input signal path. The contact resistance needs to be estimated to ensure that it does not impair correct measurements. Methods exist for estimating the contact resistance by dynamically modifying the input network conﬁguration, but because of the presence of the input RC ﬁlter, long transients are induced any time a switch occurs between different input conﬁgurations, so that the measurement time may become unacceptably long. In this paper, we propose a new topology for a DC removal network at the input of the differential signal ampliﬁer that results in an AC ﬁlter whose time constant can be continuously changed by means of a control voltage. As such, we can speed up the recovery from transients by setting very short time constants (during the input resistance estimation process) while maintaining the ability to obtain very low cut-in frequencies by setting a much larger time constant during actual measurements. A prototype of the system was built and tested in order to demonstrate the advantage of the approach we propose in terms of reduced measurement time.
CLEP_A_292546 81..90

1Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 2BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 3Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 4Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 5Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 6Division of Gastroenterology, CHEO Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Purpose: Canada maintains robust health administrative databases and British Columbia Children’s Hospital (BCCH), as the only tertiary care pediatric hospital in British Columbia (BC), maintains a comprehensive clinical inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) registry. To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of utilizing health administrative and clinical registry data to study the epidemiology of IBD in BC, we conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of all children <18 years of age who were diagnosed with IBD between 1996 and 2008 in BC. Methods: IBD cases from health administrative data were identified using a combination of IBD-coded physician encounters and hospitalizations while a separate IBD cohort was identified from the BCCH clinical registry data. Age and gender standardized incidence and prevalence rates were fitted to Poisson regression models. Results: The overall incidence of pediatric IBD identified in health administrative data increased from 7.1 (95% CI 5.5–9.2) in 1996 to 10.3 (95% CI 8.2–12.7) per 100,000 children in 2008. Similarly, the incidence of the BCCH cohort increased from 4.3 (95% CI 3.0–6.0) to 9.7 (95% CI 7.6–12.1) per 100,000. Children aged 10–17 had the highest rise in incidence in both data sources; however, the administrative data identified significantly more 10–17-yearolds and significantly less 6–9-year-olds (p<0.05) compared to clinical registry data. Conclusion: While the application of both health administrative and clinical registry data demonstrates that the incidence of IBD is increasing in BC, we identify strengths and limitations to both and suggest that the utilization of either data source requires unique considerations that mitigate misclassification biases.
Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University

Concurrent programs often use Labeled Transition Systems (LTSs) as their operational semantic models, which provide the basis for automatic system analysis and veriﬁcation. System behaviors (generated from the operational semantics) evolve as programs evolve for ﬁxing bugs or implementing new user requirements. Even when a program remains unchanged, its LTS models explored by a model checker or analyzer may be different due to the application of different exploration methods. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach (named SpecDiff) to computing the differences between two LTSs, representing the evolving behaviors of a concurrent program. SpecDiff considers LTSs as Typed Attributed Graphs (TAGs), in which states and transitions are encoded in ﬁnite dimensional vector spaces. It then computes a maximum common sub-graph of two TAGs, which represents an optimal matching of states and transitions between two evolving LTSs of the concurrent program. SpecDiff has been implemented in our home grown model checker framework PAT. Our evaluation demonstrates that SpecDiff can assist in debugging system faults, understanding the impacts of state reduction techniques, and revealing system change patterns.
Secured Scheme for Ad hoc Networks using Encryption as a Tool

— Ad hoc networks are a new wireless networking paradigm for mobile hosts. Unlike traditional mobile wireless networks, ad hoc networks do not rely on any fixed infrastructure. Routing in ad-hoc networks is nontrivial due to highly dynamic environment. In recent years several routing protocols targeted at mobile ad-hoc networks are being proposed and prominent among them are DSDV, AODV, TORA
EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, CYTOTOXIC AND ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF CLEOME VISCOSA LINN

From time immemorial, natural products, including plants, animals and minerals have been the basis of treatment of human diseases. Plants, in particular, have been the basis of many traditional medicine systems throughout the world for thousands of years and continue to provide mankind with new remedies. Plant-based medicines initially dispensed in the form of crude medicines such as tinctures, teas, poultices, powders, and other herbal formulations. In this present context, one traditional medicinal plant namely Cleome viscosa was selected and its antioxidant effect by DPPH, ABTS and Nitric oxide scavenging assay methods, cytotoxic and in vitro anticancer effects in different fractions of solvent were evaluated phytoconstituents.The results of studies show that the plant has good antioxidant activity low cytotoxic effect and good anticancer properties.
TRANSPLANTATION Ef ﬁ cacy, durability, and response predictors of low-dose interleukin-2 therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease

IL-2(1 3 10 6 IU/m 2 )for12weeks.MediantimefromtransplantationandcGVHDonsetwas616 days (range, 270-2145 days) and 317 days (range, 28-1880 days), respectively. Two patients withdrew and 5 required IL-2 dose reductions due to side effects. Twenty of 33 evaluable patients (61%) had clinical responses at multiple cGVHD sites (liver, skin, gastrointestinal tract, lung, joint/muscle/fascia). Three patients (9%) had progressive cGVHD. Compared with pretreatment levels, Treg and natural killer cell counts rose > fivefold ( P < .001) and > fourfold ( P < .001), respectively, without significant change in conventional CD4 T cells (Tcons) or CD8 T cells. The Treg:Tcon ratio rose > fivefold ( P < .001). Clinical responders initiated IL-2 earlier (508 vs 917 days after transplantation, P 5 .005; 249 vs 461 days after cGVHD onset; P 5 .03). Treg:Tcon ratios ‡ 0.07 at baseline and ‡ 0.2 at week 1 also predicted clinical response ( P 5 .003; P 5 .0003, respectively). After a 4-week treatment hiatus, clinical responders were eligible to continue IL-2 therapy indefinitely. During 2 years of extendedIL-2 therapy, clinical and Tregimmune responses persisted, while Tcon count and Treg:Tcon ratiogradually normalized. Low-dose IL-2 provides durable clinical improvement in active cGVHD and extended therapy is well-tolerated. ( Blood . 2016;128(1):130-137)
Multimodal Robot/Human Interaction for Assisted Living

This paper outlines the framework of a complex system to demonstrate multimodal spatial and transactional intelligence in a robot which autonomously supports aged, frail, or otherwise disabled people in a domestic assistive technology context. The intention is that the robot be able to navigate around a known multi-room environment along optimal, collision-free paths in search and retrieval of requested objects such as spectacles, books etc. and must also be capable of tracking and following humans and of reminding them of times for meals, medication etc. and to lead disoriented subjects to their meal place at appropriate times and even dispense medication, if necessary. The modes of communication interchanges with the supported human include spoken speech and gestures (including eye gaze direction) within the context of situational analysis which accommodates recent history, temporal factors and individual user behavioural models. This paper provides an overview of an ambitious research project in its early stages, describes many components developed to date and outlines future work.
Original article A randomised, concentration-controlled, comparison of standard (5-day) vs. prolonged (15-day) infusions of etoposide phosphate in small-cell lung cancer

Summary Purpose: This randomised trial was designed to investigate the activity and toxicity of continuous infusion etoposide phosphate (EP), targeting a plasma etoposide concentration of either 3 ug/ml for five days (5d) or 1 ug/ml for 15 days (15d), in previously untreated SCLC patients with extensive disease. Patients and methods: EP was used as a single agent. Plasma etoposide concentration was monitored on days 2 and 4 in patients receiving 5d EP and on days 2, 5, 8 and 11 in patients receiving 15d EP, with infusion modification to ensure target concentrations were achieved. Treatment was repeated every 21 days for up to six cycles, with a 25% reduction in target concentration in patients with toxicity. Results: The study has closed early after entry of 29 patients (14 with 5d EP, 15 with 15d EP). Objective responses were seen in seven of 12 (58%, confidence interval (CI): 27%-85%) evaluable patients after 5d EP, and two of 14 (14%, CI: 4%-42%) evaluable patients after 15d EP (P = 0.038). Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia or leucopenia during the first cycle of treatment was observed in six of 12 patients after 5d EP and 0/14 patients after 15d EP (P = 0.004), with median nadir WBC count of 2.6 x 10 9 /l after 5d and 5.0 x 10 9 /l after 15d EP (P - 0.017). Only one of 49 cycles of 15d EP was associated with grade 3 or worse haematological toxicity, compared to 14 of 61 cycles of 5dEP. Conclusions: Although the number of patients entered into this trial was small, the low activity seen at 1 ug/ml in the 15d arm suggests that this concentration is below the therapeutic window in this setting. Further concentration-controlled studies with prolonged EP infusions are required.
Recent Progress in Mathematical Psychology : Psychophysics, Knowledge Representation, Cognition, and Measurement

Contents: Part I:Measurement, Decision and Choice. P. Fishburn, Utility of Wealth in Nonlinear Utility Theory. R. Janssens, Structuring Complex Concepts. F.S. Roberts, Role Assignments and Indifference Graphs. Part II:Psychophysics and Psychometrics. T. Indow, Parallel Shift of Judgment Characteristic Curve According to the Context in Cutaneous and Color Discriminations. G. Storms, A Maximum Likelihood Model for Psychophysical Data and Response Times. A.H. G.S. Van der Ven, Inhibition Theory and the Concept of Perseveration. M. D'Zmura, G. Iverson, A Formal Approach to Color Constancy: The Recovery of Surface and Light Source Spectral Properties Using Bilinear Models. Part III:Knowledge Representation. C.E. Dowling, C. Hockemeyer, Computing the Intersection of Knowledge Spaces Using Only Their Bases. J-C. Falmagne, J-P. Doignon, Meshing Knowledge Structures. K. Lakshminarayan, F. Gilson, An Application of a Stochastic Knowledge Structure Model. P. Theuns, Building a Knowledge Space Via Boolean Analysis of Co-occurence Data. Part IV:Learning Models. J.N. Rouder, W.H. Batchelder, Multinomial Models for Measuring Storage and Retrieval Processes in Paired Associate Learning. P. Suppes, L. Liang, Concept Learning Rates and Transfer Performance of Several Multivariate Neural Network Models. Part V:Cognitive Modeling. V. Brown, Comparing Parallel and Sequential Multinomial Models of Letter Identification. H. Feger, U. von Hecker, Reciprocity as an Interaction Principle. R. Schweikert, J. Mounts, Additive Effects of Factors on Reaction Time and Evoked Potentials in Continuous Flow Models.
Body fat distribution and risk of type 2 diabetes in the general population: are there differences between men and women? The MONICA/KORA Augsburg Cohort Study 1

Background: It remains controversial whether body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or waist-hip ratio (WHR) is a better risk predictor of type 2 diabetes. Objective: The objective was to examine the sex-specific relevance of WC, WHR, and BMI to the development of type 2 diabetes. Design: The prospective population-based cohort study was based on 3055 men and 2957 women aged 35–74 y who participated in the second (1989–1990) or third (1994–1995) MONICA (Monitoring Trends and Determinants on Cardiovascular Diseases) Augsburg survey. The subjects were free of diabetes at baseline. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated from Cox proportional hazards models. Results: During a mean follow-up of 9.2 y, 243 cases of incident type 2 diabetes occurred in men and 158 occurred in women. Multivariable-adjusted HRs across quartiles of BMI were 1.0, 1.37, 2.08, and 4.15 in men and 1.0, 3.77, 4.95, and 10.58 in women; those of WC were 1.0, 1.15, 1.57, and 3.40 in men and 1.0, 3.21, 3.98, and 10.70inwomen;thoseofWHRwere1.0,1.14,1.80,and2.84inmenand1.0,0.82,2.06,and3.51inwomen. Injointanalyses,thehighestriskwasobservedinmenandwomenwithahighBMIincombina-tionwithahighWCandahighWHR. Conclusions: Both overall and abdominal adiposity were strongly related to the development of type 2 diabetes. Because there was an additive effect of overall and abdominal obesity on risk prediction, WC should be measured in addition to BMI to assess the risk of type 2 diabetes in both sexes. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:483–9.
of the Promoter of Emb5 from mays Identifies a Region of 523 bp Responsible for Its Embryo-Specific Activity

The maize Emb5 is an abscisic acid – responsive gene which is specifically expressed in the late embryo during seed maturity. To further dissect and identify the elements specific for its embryo expression pattern, we investigated the activity of the − 1653 bp upstream of the “ full-length ” promoter region of this gene in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. We first confirmed that the “ full-length ” promoter could indeed drive the expression of β -glucuronidase reporter gene ( GUS ) in the transgenic Arabidopsis seed embryo. Subsequently, DNA fragments of ~ 500 bp in length were generated after a series of progressive deletions from positions − 1653 bp to − 1 bp relative to the transcriptional initiation site. These fragments were fused with GUS and introduced into Arabidopsis. Measurement of the GUS activity in the immature seeds isolated from the transgenic plants revealed that the region between positions − 523 bp and − 1 bp, namely Pro Em-D, is absolutely required and sufficient for the temporal and embryo-specific expression of GUS with an activity comparable with the full-length Emb5 promoter in Arabidopsis. Therefore, our results clearly demonstrated that the 523 bp Pro Em-D can replace the − 1653 bp Emb5 promoter to drive embryo-specific expression in Arabidopsis seed. Because of its small size and strong embryo-specific activity, it could become the promoter of choice in metabolic pathway engineering to transfer multiple genes for the production of valuable pharmaceutical products in seeds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish oils, or pro-vitamin A where at least three transgenes are required to assemble the entire metabolic pathways. Key message A 523 bp DNA fragment was identified from Zea mays that can drive strong embryo-specific expression in Arabidopsis. Due to its small size, this promoter provides great versatility in vector construc- tion to assemble multiple transgenes for efficient expression in seeds, for example.
One-lung ventilation with pediatric Arndt endobronchial blocker in an adult patient with tracheal stenosis A

In thoracic surgery, functional isolation of the lungs can be accomplished by several methods. However, for patients with tracheal stenosis, only limited choices are available to achieve one-lung ventilation (OLV) because of the difficulties posed by the stenotic trachea. In our patient, the narrowest site in the trachea was as small as 9.3 mm in diameter, and therefore a 28 Fr double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) or a Univent tube (inner diameter [ID] 6.0 mm) could not be inserted into the trachea. Recently, 7 and 9 Fr Arndt endobronchial blockers (AEB) used in adults could not even be used in our patient. Here we report a case of successful OLV that was performed using a pediatric wire-guided AEB and a small diameter single lumen endotracheal tube (SLT). We believe that this pediatric AEB is a safer and more effective option for achieving OLV in adult patients with tracheal stenosis. (Anesth Pain Med 2011; 6: 353 ∼ 356)
NATIONAL UNITY AND COHESION: LIMITATIONS OF CITIZENSHIP FOR TRANS* PERSONS IN CUBA

The rhetoric of national unity as the basis for building a new society is one of the inspirations in the implementation of policies in the current Cuban context. As an example, the National Strategy for the Care of Transgender People in Cuba aims at the social integration of trans* people, using narratives of national and unity cohesion. This work reflects critically on the limits of public policies and on how certain rhetoric calls into question their universality. To this end, we take into consideration some contributions from cultural and feminist studies and debates about radical and plural democracy. In the conclusions, we point out alternatives to the discourse on the integration of trans* people in Cuba through national unity and cohesion. Among the alternatives we take a distance from conceptions that think of differences only in terms of subordination and antagonism relations as well as based on the provisional nature of policies, their possibility of creating alliances, to be mobilized by the passions, seem more feasible to contribute significantly to improve the citizenship of trans * people in the Cuban context.