Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation Free and Replication Robust Volume-based Data Valuation

Data valuation arises as a non-trivial challenge in real-world use cases such as collaborative machine learning, federated learning, trusted data sharing, data mar-ketplaces. The value of data is often associated with the learning performance (e.g., validation accuracy) of a model trained on the data, which introduces a close coupling between data valuation and validation. However, a validation set may not be available in practice and it can be challenging for the data providers to reach an agreement on the choice of the validation set. Another practical issue is that of data replication: Given the value of some data points, a dishonest data provider may replicate these data points to exploit the valuation for a larger reward/payment. We observe that the diversity of the data points is an inherent property of a dataset that is independent of validation. We formalize diversity via the volume of the data matrix (i.e., determinant of its left Gram), which allows us to establish a formal connection between the diversity of data and learning performance without requiring validation. Furthermore, we propose a robust volume measure with a theoretical guarantee on the replication robustness by following the intuition that copying the same data points does not increase the diversity of data. We perform extensive experiments to demonstrate its consistency in valuation and practical advantages over existing baselines and show that our method is model-and task-agnostic and can be ﬂexibly adapted to handle various neural networks.
Incentives and Firm Investment: Evidence from China's Reform

We study how managerial incentives affect firm behavior by studying a staggered reform in the Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) performance evaluation policy. To improve capital allocation efficiency, starting in 2010, Chinese regulators switched from using the return on equity (ROE) to economic value added (EVA) when evaluating SOE performance. This EVA policy adopts a one-size-fits-all approach by stipulating a fixed cost of capital for virtually all SOEs. We show that SOEs did respond to the performance evaluation reform by altering their investment decisions, more so when the actual borrowing rate was further away from the stipulated cost of capital. Our paper provides causal evidence on the impact of incentive schemes on real investment and sheds new light on challenges faced by economic reforms in China. JEL Classification: G31, G34, M12, M52, P31
Phoenix: Secure Computation in an Unstable Network with Dropouts and Comebacks

We consider the task of designing secure computation protocols in an unstable network where honest parties can drop out at any time, according to a schedule provided by the adversary. This type of setting, where even honest parties are prone to failures, is more realistic than traditional models, and has therefore gained a lot of attention recently. Our model, Phoenix, enables a new approach to secure multiparty computation with dropouts, allowing parties to drop out and re-enter the computation on an adversarially-chosen schedule and without assuming that these parties receive the messages that were sent to them while being offline - features that are not available in the existing models of Sleepy MPC (Guo et al., CRYPTO ’19), Fluid MPC (Choudhuri et al., CRYPTO ’21 ) and YOSO (Gentry et al. CRYPTO ’21). Phoenix does assume an upper bound on the number of rounds that an honest party can be off-line – otherwise protocols in this setting cannot guarantee termination within a bounded number of rounds; however, if one settles for a weaker notion, namely guaranteed output delivery only for honest parties who stay on-line long enough, this requirement is not necessary. In this work, we study the settings of perfect, statistical and computational security and design MPC protocols in each of these scenarios. We assume that the intersection of online-and-honest parties from one round to the next is at least 2 t + 1, t + 1 and 1 respectively, where t is the number of (actively) corrupt parties. We show the intersection requirements to be optimal. Our (positive) results are obtained in a way that may be of independent interest: we implement a traditional stable network on top of the unstable one, which allows us to plug in any MPC protocol on top. This approach adds a necessary overhead to the round count of the protocols, which is related to the maximal number of rounds an honest party can be offline. We also present a novel, perfectly secure MPC protocol in the preprocessing model that avoids this overhead by following a more “direct” approach rather than first building a stable network and then using existing protocols. We introduce our network model in the UC-framework, show that the composition theorem still holds
PWO BASED ELECTROMAGNETIC CALORIMETRY TO OPERATE AT A LOW TEMPERATURE

БГУ – столетняя история успеха О б р а з е ц ц и т и р о в а н и я: Орсич ПО, Бринкманн К-Т, Дорменев ВИ, Коржик МВ, Мечинский ВА, Козлов ДЮ, Цауник Х-Г. Электромагнитная калориметрия на основе PWO для работы при низких температурах. Журнал Белорусского государственного университета. Физика. 2021;3:67–73 (на англ.). https://doi.org/10.33581/2520-2243-2021-3-67-73 F o r c i t a t i o n: Orsich PO, Brinkmann K-T, Dormenev VI, Kоrzhik МV, Mechinsky VA, Kozlov DYu, Zaunick H-G. PWO based electromagnetic calorimetry to operate at a low temperature. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Physics. 2021;3:67–73. https://doi.org/10.33581/2520-2243-2021-3-67-73
Face Detection and Skin Detection Using RGB Ratio

: In today’s digital world the major controversy is substantiate and identification. In substantiate and identification the eloquent role is face detection . In real time application face detection and skin detection becoming a challenging task. In this paper RGB color model is used for skin detection . Basically, to remove the non-skin pixels from an image this color model is used. In face detection
Low work function material development for the microminiature thermionic converter.

Thermionic energy conversion in a miniature format shows potential as a viable, high efficiency, micro to macro-scale power source. A microminiature thermionic converter (MTC) with inter-electrode spacings on the order of microns has been prototyped and evaluated at Sandia. The remaining enabling technology is the development of low work function materials and processes that can be integrated into these converters to increase power production at modest temperatures (800 - 1300 K). The electrode materials are not well understood and the electrode thermionic properties are highly sensitive to manufacturing processes. Advanced theoretical, modeling, and fabrication capabilities are required to achieve optimum performance for MTC diodes. This report describes the modeling and fabrication efforts performed to develop micro dispenser cathodes for use in the MTC.
Continuous collision detection with medial axis transform for rigid body simulation

Continuous Collision Detection (CCD) is a fundamental problem for physically based simulation, such as rigid motion, elastic deformation, cloth animation, etc. CCD has been widely studied in the past decades, and most proposed algorithms are performed on the level of triangle mesh by using some culling methods to reduce the number of tested triangle pairs. However, the e � ciency of these algorithms is very sensitive to the resolution of the triangular mesh. In this paper, we present an e ↵ ective and e � cient CCD method based on Medial Axis Transform (MAT) for simulating rigid motion. The simpliﬁed MAT, represented as a medial mesh composed of medial primitives like cones and slabs can provide a high-quality tight enclosure of the original 3D shape, while its number of primitives is smaller than that of the original triangle mesh by several orders of magnitude. With this key observation, our colliding elementary tests are only performed on the medial mesh, and the ﬁrst time-of-impact in CCD can be computed by solving a quadratic optimization problem. The experiments show our algorithm can accurately and e � ciently handle CCD of multi-bodies with thin features, without any penetration or tunnelling artifacts. Compare to the standard Bounding Volume Hierarchy (BVH) methods, our method achieves great improvement in e � - ciency.
Defining the determinants of under-vaccination in migrant populations in Europe to improve routine and COVID-19 vaccine uptake: a systematic review

Diverse migrant populations in Europe are at risk of under-immunisation and have recently shown lower levels of COVID-19 vaccination intent and uptake. Understanding the determinants of vaccine uptake in migrants is critical to address immediate COVID-19 vaccination inequities, and longer-term will help improve coverage for routine vaccinations, aligning with the goals of the new Immunisation Agenda 2030. We did a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and using a PICOS framework (PROSPERO CRD42020219214; MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases, 1 January 2000 to 14 September 2021) exploring barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake and determinants of under-vaccination in migrants in the EU/EEA, UK, and Switzerland. We categorised barriers/facilitators using the 5As Determinants of Vaccine Uptake Taxonomy. 5259 data sources were screened, with 67 studies included from 16 countries, representing 366,529 migrants. Access barriers were most commonly reported (language, literacy and communication barriers; practical and legal barriers to accessing/delivering vaccination services; service barriers, including lack of specific guidelines and knowledge of healthcare professionals) for key vaccines including MMR, DTP, HPV, influenza, polio, COVID-19 vaccines. Acceptance barriers were mostly reported in Eastern European and Muslim communities for HPV, measles, and influenza vaccines. We identified 23 determinants of under-vaccination in migrants, including geographical origin (where 25/26 (96%) studies showed significance) - particularly African/Eastern European origin; recent migration; being a refugee/asylum seeker; higher income; parental education level; no healthcare contact in the past year; and lower language skills. Facilitators of migrants' vaccine uptake included tailored vaccination messaging, community outreach and nudging interventions. Migrants' barriers to accessing healthcare are already well documented, and this review confirms their role in limiting vaccine uptake. These data hold immediate relevance to strengthening vaccination programmes in high-income countries, including for COVID-19. Our findings suggested that targeted, evidence-informed strategies are needed to address access and acceptance barriers to vaccination in migrants, including the development of migrant-sensitive and adaptable vaccination services and systems, unambiguous public health messaging, and coproduction of tailored interventions.
Threshold voltage design incompatibility between partially-depleted SOI and bulk CMOS transistors

Summary form only given. Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS technology has proven to be compatible with bulk CMOS in many ways, ranging from circuit design and layout to wafer processing. In addition, partially-depleted (PD) SOI technology has been suggested as a method for achieving a high circuit performance at low supply voltage and low power (Jacobs et al, 1998). Unlike fully-depleted (FD) SOI transistors, PD SOI devices have the advantage of a threshold voltage V/sub T/ which is insensitive to variations in the silicon thickness uniformity. Based on device physics, the long-channel threshold voltage V/sub T/ is equal to the V/sub T/ of the bulk transistor as long as the channel doping concentrations are equal. Therefore, PD SOI CMOS design appears to be very similar to conventional bulk. Often, the design of a PD SOI CMOS technology is started from a present and well-known baseline bulk CMOS technology. During device fabrication, it is assumed, however, that the diffusivity of the channel dopants in the vertical direction in SOI is similar to bulk, which is fundamentally incorrect. In order to investigate the threshold voltage difference between PD SOI and bulk, SOI CMOS transistors have been fabricated on BESOI wafers with buried oxide and silicon layer thicknesses of 350 and 125 nm, respectively. In order to obtain a straight comparison with the bulk CMOS technology, each SOI wafer has a bulk counterpart for which the process conditions have been exactly the same.
Comparison of techniques for estimating the frequency selectivity of bandlimited channels

A transmission channel used in application such as telecommunications can be modeled as a bandpass filter. Measurement of the frequency selectivity of the channel is important to ensure that the information-bearing signal has minimal distortion and loss of information. A comparison is made for several methods used for estimating the frequency selectivity of the transmission. The methods presented are the correlation method, instantaneous energy and frequency estimation and the cross Wigner-Ville distribution. The theoretical foundations and assumptions are described for each method. In general, all the methods gave similar performance in terms of the frequency selectivity. Due to the shorter analysis duration, both the instantaneous energy and frequency estimation and cross Wigner-Ville distribution is ideal for estimating the frequency selectivity of time-varying channels.
A new technique to detect winding displacements in power transformers using frequency response analysis

A new method of transfer function analysis using spectral density estimates in conjunction with a random error and coherence function calculation has shown excellent experimental results in identifying mechanical displacements in the windings of power transformers. The new technique represents an extension of the traditional low voltage impulse method of frequency response analysis (FRA). Traditional low voltage impulse methods have been used to detect mechanical displacements in transformer windings or clamping structures through detection of changes in the transfer function, but have been limited in practical value due to the sensitivity of the transfer function to differences in the time parameters of the applied impulses, as well as sensitivity of the transfer function to variables such as oil condition and temperature. The new technique offers improved repeatability in diagnosing winding movements, and is based on an objective numerical calculation to quantify changes through a weighted normalized difference calculation.
The predictive value of disability at 2 weeks after plating of distal radial fractures: a prospective study of 101 patients

Assuming that some patients may benefit from early supervised rehabilitation after distal radial fractures, we investigated to what extent self-reported measures of disability, pain and performance of daily activities 2 weeks after anterior locking plating of distal radial fractures could predict long-lasting disability. We included 101 patients in a prediction study and recorded the scores of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, visual analogue scales for pain and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. We found that the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores with a cut-off score of 50 were the best at predicting disability at 6 months in patients who did not receive early supervised therapy. The positive predictive value was 65% and the negative predictive value was 71%. We conclude that these scores could be used as a single measure to predict patient disability, although the predictive value was rather weak. Level of evidence: II
Association analysis for SNPs of KRT26 and TCHH genes with cashmere production performance, body measurement traits and milk production traits in Liaoning cashmere goats

Abstract Cashmere fineness is getting thicker, which is one of the key problems in cashmere breeding, however, there have been no systematic studies on the molecular regulation of cashmere fineness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between KRT26 and TCHH gene polymorphism and production performance in Liaoning cashmere goats (LCG). The potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of LCG were detected by sequence alignment and PCR-Seq polymorphism of KRT26 and TCHH genes and analyzed the effect of SNPs on production performance by SPSS software. Two SNPs sites (A559T and A6839G) of two genes were detected. The AA genotype of KRT26 A559T locus was the dominant genotype. AG and GG at TCHH A6839G locus were the dominant genotypes. AAAA was the dominant haplotype combination. The results showed that KRT26 and TCHH genes were associated with cashmere fineness of LCG, and A559T (AA) and A6839G (GG) genotypes were the preferred marker genotypes for cashmere fineness, which provided more theoretical basis for further research on cashmere fineness.
Assays to Study Enzymatic and Non‐Enzymatic Protein Lysine Acetylation In Vitro

Proteins can be lysine‐acetylated both enzymatically, by lysine acetyltransferases (KATs), and non‐enzymatically, by acetyl‐CoA and/or acetyl‐phosphate. Such modification can be reversed by lysine deacetylases classified as NAD+‐dependent sirtuins or by classical Zn2+‐dependent deacetylases (KDACs). The regulation of protein lysine acetylation events by KATs and sirtuins/KDACs, or by non‐enzymatic processes, is often assessed only indirectly by mass spectrometry or by mutational studies in cells. Mutational approaches to study lysine acetylation are limited, as these often poorly mimic lysine acetylation. Here, we describe protocols to assess the direct regulation of protein lysine acetylation by both sirtuins/KDACs and KATs, as well as non‐enzymatically. We first describe a protocol for the production of site‐specific lysine‐acetylated proteins using a synthetic biological approach, the genetic code expansion concept (GCEC). These natively folded, lysine‐acetylated proteins can then be used as direct substrates for sirtuins and KDACs. This approach addresses various limitations encountered with other methods. First, results from sirtuin/KDAC‐catalyzed deacetylation assays obtained using acetylated peptides as substrates can vary considerably compared to experiments using natively folded substrate proteins. In addition, producing lysine‐acetylated proteins for deacetylation assays by using recombinantly expressed KATs is difficult, as these often do not yield proteins that are homogeneously and quantitatively lysine acetylated. Moreover, KATs are often huge multi‐domain proteins, which are difficult to recombinantly express and purify in soluble form. We also describe protocols to study the direct regulation of protein lysine acetylation, both enzymatically, by sirtuins/KDACs and KATs, and non‐enzymatically, by acetyl‐CoA and/or acetyl‐phosphate. The latter protocol also includes a section that explains how specific lysine acetylation sites can be detected by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). The protocols described here can be useful for providing a more detailed understanding of the enzymatic and non‐enzymatic regulation of lysine acetylation sites, an important aspect to judge their physiological significance. © 2021 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Prevalence and clinical correlates of impaired glucose tolerance in first‐episode versus chronic patients with schizophrenia

Studies using oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) have shown that impaired glucose metabolism presents in the early stages of schizophrenia (SCZ). However, there is a lack of studies on changes in glucose metabolism with the stage of the disease. We first explored the features of glucose metabolic pattern at different phases of male SCZ.
Use of real-time cadence to prescribe aerobic physical activity intensity and its comparison with existing methods

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of physical activity intensity prescription using real-time cadence on achieving the required intensities for health benefits. Forty adults (18–65 years) participated in the study. The intensity prescriptions included Rating of Perceived Exertion, Talk Test, Heart Rate, and Real-Time Cadence. The participants performed a2-min trial for both moderate- and vigorous-intensity according to each prescription. Atri-axial accelerometer was used as acriterion measure. After completion of the trials, participant’s preference for the prescriptions was assessed by three domains (e.g., understanding, performing, maintaining). The compliance and achievement rates of RC were calculated and compared to other prescription methods. Coefficient of Variance was used to evaluate the extent of variation of intensity during the trials. Higher compliance rates were found in both moderate- (92.1%) and vigorous-intensity (94.9%) when using RC. When using RC, most participants (92.5%) were able to achieve the targeted moderate-intensity, but not for vigorous-intensity although asignificant difference was found between the two intensities (p < .001). Overall, RC was the most favoured method in all three domains. RC is apromising tool to prescribe moderate-intensity of physical activity for health benefits but still needs to be refined on prescribing vigorous-intensity.
Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting survival of breast cancer patients with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis

Abstract Background: Breast cancer patients with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (ISLNM) but without distant metastasis are considered to have a poor prognosis. This study aimed to develop a nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) of breast cancer patients with ISLNM but without distant metastasis. Methods: Medical records of breast cancer patients who received surgical treatment at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Jiyuan People's Hospital and Huaxian People's Hospital between December 21, 2012 and June 30, 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Overall, 345 patients with pathologically confirmed ISLNM and without evidence of distant metastasis were identified. They were further randomized 2:1 and divided into training (n = 231) and validation (n = 114) cohorts. A nomogram to predict the probability of OS was constructed based on clinicopathologic variables identified by the univariable and multivariable analyses. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability were measured by calibration plots, concordance index (C-index), and risk group stratification. Results: Univariable analysis showed that estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), progesterone receptor-positive (PR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) with Herceptin treatment, and a low axillary lymph node ratio (ALNR) were prognostic factors for better OS. PR+, HER2+ with Herceptin treatment, and a low ALNR remained independent prognostic factors for better OS on multivariable analysis. These variables were incorporated into a nomogram to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS of breast cancer patients with ISLNM. The C-indexes of the nomogram were 0.737 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.660–0.813) and 0.759 (95% CI: 0.636–0.881) for the training and the validation cohorts, respectively. The calibration plots presented excellent agreement between the nomogram prediction and actual observation for 3 and 5 years, but not 1 year, OS in both the cohorts. The nomogram was also able to stratify patients into different risk groups. Conclusions: In this study, we established and validated a novel nomogram for predicting survival of patients with ISLNM. This nomogram may, to some extent, allow clinicians to more accurately estimate prognosis and to make personalized therapeutic decisions for individual patients with ISLNM.