Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk and ruin theory features of actuar

Risk theory refers to a body of techniques to model and measure the risk associated with a portfolio of insurance contracts. A first approach consists in modeling the distribution of total claims over a fixed period of time using the classical collective model of risk theory. A second input of interest to the actuary is the evolution of the surplus of the insurance company over many periods of time. In ruin theory, the main quantity of interest is the probability that the surplus becomes negative, in which case technical ruin of the insurance company occurs. The interested reader can read more on these subjects in Klugman et al. (2012); Gerber (1979); Denuit and Charpentier (2004); Kaas et al. (2008), among others. The current version of actuar (Dutang et al., 2008) contains four visible functions related to the above problems: two for the calculation of the aggregate claim amount distribution and two for ruin probability calculations.
Transcranial ultrasound as a risk marker for Parkinson's disease

The question of early, even premotor, detection of Parkinson's disease (PD) has become a major issue because the effect of neuroprotective therapies depends on the time they are started.A number of clinical premotor markers which are helpful especially in the early diagnosis are being discussed; however, they are mostly unspecific and already signs of the progressing neurodegenerative process. An increasingly important risk marker for PD is genetic predisposition, as the number of known disease causing and modulating genes is increasing. Still, only the minority of PD cases can be attributed to monogenetic forms. Substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity, assessed by transcranial sonography, has been shown to be a typical marker for PD. Because of its stability during the disease course, this echofeature is very helpful in early and differential diagnosis. Moreover, functional neuroimaging studies indicate a vulnerability of the nigrostriatal system of yet healthy subjects with SN hyperechogenicity. This vulnerability may become clinically relevant with age, under neuroleptic therapy, or under demanding motor tasks. The fact that still unaffected mutation carriers for monogenetic PD show this echofeature and that over the years some subjects with SN hyperechogenicity have already been observed to develop PD indicates that it may be regarded as a risk factor—a hypothesis which is currently being investigated in large prospective investigations. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Velocity selection in the symmetric model of dendritic crystal growth.

We present an analytic solution of the problem of velocity selection in a fully nonlocal model of dendritic crystal growth. Our analysis uses a WKB technique to derive and evaluate a solvability condition for the existence of steady-state needlelike solidification fronts in the limit of small undercooling . delta. For the two-dimensional symmetric model with a capillary anisotropy of strength . cap alpha. , we find that the velocity is proportional to . delta. /sup 4/. cap alpha. /sup 7/4/. We also describe the application of our method in three dimensions.
Physical mapping of the exuT and uxaC operators by use of exu plasmids and generation of deletion mutants in vitro

Operons uxaCA and exuT of the hexuronate system are very closely linked on the Escherichia coli genetic map. Using plasmid vectors constructed by Casadaban et al. (J. Bacteriol. 143:971-980, 1980), we formed exuT-lacZ and uxaA-lacZ fusions in vitro. The phenotypic properties of the new plasmids allowed us to confirm that the exuT and uxaCA operons are divergently transcribed. An analysis of these fusion plasmids and derivatives in the presence of multiple copies of the exuR regulatory gene demonstrated that the two operons possess separate control regions. The precise location of the operator site relative to endonuclease restriction sites was determined. In addition, deletions of different lengths were generated on exu plasmids by restriction enzymes and were recombined into the chromosome. The expression of the exu regulon genes in the resulting deletion mutants is in agreement with the postulated location of the exuT and uxaCA operators in the fusion plasmids.
The Incentives to Participate in, and the Stability of, International Climate Coalitions: A Game-Theoretic Analysis Using the Witch Model

This paper uses WITCH, an integrated assessment model with a game-theoretic structure, to explore the prospects for, and the stability of broad coalitions to achieve ambitious climate change mitigation action. Only coalitions including all large emitting regions are found to be technically able to meet a concentration stabilisation target below 550 ppm CO2eq by 2100. Once the free-riding incentives of non-participants are taken into account, only a “grand coalition” including virtually all regions can be successful. This grand coalition is profitable as a whole, implying that all countries can gain from participation provided appropriate transfers are made across them. However, neither the grand coalition nor smaller but still environmentally significant coalitions appear to be stable. This is because the collective welfare surplus from cooperation is not found to be large enough for transfers to offset the free-riding incentives of all countries simultaneously. Some factors omitted from the analysis, which might improve coalition stability, include the co-benefits from mitigation action, the costless removal of fossil fuel subsidies, as well as alternative assumptions regarding countries’ bargaining behaviour.
Extracting group relationships within changing software using text analysis

This research looks at identifying and classifying changes in evolving software by making simple textual comparisons between groups of source code files. The two areas investigated are software origin analysis and collusion detection. Textual comparison is attractive because it can be used in the same way for many different programming languages. The research includes the first major study using machine learning techniques in the domain of software origin analysis, which looks at the movement of code in an evolving system. The training set for this study, which focuses on restructured files, is created by analysing 89 software systems. Novel features, which capture abstract patterns in the comparisons between source code files, are used to build models which classify restructured files from unseen systems with a mean accuracy of over 90%. The unseen code is not only in C, the language of the training set, but also in Java and Python, which helps to demonstrate the language independence of the approach. As well as generating features for the machine learning system, textual comparisons between groups of files are used in other ways throughout the system: in filtering to find potentially restructured files, in ranking the possible destinations of the code moved from the restructured files, and as the basis for a new file comparison tool. This tool helps in the demanding task of manually labelling the training data, is valuable to the end user of the system, and is applicable to other file comparison tasks. These same techniques are used to create a new text-based visualisation for use in collusion detection, and to generate a measure which focuses on the unusual similarity between submissions. This measure helps to overcome problems in detecting collusion in data where files are of uneven size, where there is high incidental similarity or where more than one programming language is used. The visualisation highlights interesting similarities between files, making the task of inspecting the texts easier for the user.
Patterns of relapse in patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma who had surgery with or without adjunctive therapy: costs and effectiveness of surveillance

Purpose After therapy of localized gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) patients, the costs of surveillance, relapse patterns, and possibility of salvage are unknown. Materials and Methods We identified 246 patients, who after having a negative peritoneal staging, received therapy (any therapy which included surgery) and were surveyed (every 3–6 months in the first 3 years, then yearly; ∼10 CTs and ∼7 endoscopies per patient). We used the 2016 Medicare dollars reimbursed as the “costs” for surveillance. Results Common features were: Caucasians (57%), men (60%), poorly differentiated histology (76%), preoperative chemotherapy (74%), preoperative chemoradiation (59%), and had surgery (100%). At a median follow-up of 3.7 years (range, 0.1 to 18.3), the median overall survival (OS) was 9.2 years (95% CI, 6.0 to 11.2). Tumor grade (p = 0.02), p/yp stage (p < 0.001), % residual GAC (p = 0.05), the R status (p = 0.01), total gastrectomy (p = 0.001), and relapse type (p = 0.02) were associated with OS. Relapse occurred in 79 (32%) patients (only 8% were local-regional) and 90% occurred within 36 months of surgery. P/yp stage (p < 0.001) and total gastrectomy (p = 0.01) were independent prognosticators for OS in the multivariate analysis. Only 1 relapsed patient had successful salvage therapy. The estimated reimbursement for imaging studies and endoscopies was $1,761,221.91 (marked underestimation of actual costs). Conclusions The median OS of localized GAC patients was excellent with infrequent local-regional relapses. Rigorous surveillance had a low yield and high “costs”. Our data suggest that less frequent surveillance intervals and limiting expensive investigations to symptomatic patients may be warranted.
Design of unknown inputs and multiple integral observers for Takagi-Sugeno multiple model

In this paper, a proportional multiple integral observer (PMI) and a proportional integral observer with unknown inputs (PIUI) are proposed in order to estimate the state, the actuator and the sensor faults of nonlinear systems described by a Takagi-Sugeno multiple model. The convergence of the estimation errors between the system and each observer are studied using the Lyapunov theory. Academic examples are provided in order to illustrate the proposed methods. A comparaison between the two observers is made through mobile robot.
Robust Tracking Commitment

Many engineering problems that involve hierarchical control applications, such as demand-side ancillary service provision to the power grid, can be posed as a robust tracking commitment problem. In this setting, the lower level controller commits a set of possible reference trajectories over a finite horizon to an external entity in exchange for a reward corresponding to the size of the reference set and the allowed margin of tracking error. If the commitment is accepted, the lower level system is required to track any reference trajectory that can be sampled from the committed set. This paper presents the framework of robust tracking commitment and a method to solve the optimal commitment problem for constrained linear systems subject to uncertain disturbance and reference signals. The proposed method allows tractable computations via convex optimization for conic representable uncertainty sets and lends itself to distributed solution methods. We demonstrate the proposed method in a simulation based case study with a commercial building that offers frequency regulation service to the power grid.
Relationship between inflammatory lesions and cerebral atrophy in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To investigate the temporal relationship between inflammation and cerebral atrophy in a longitudinal study of 19 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) using serial monthly contrast enhanced MRI examinations and monthly measurements of brain fractional volume (BFV) for an average of 4 (range 2.4 to 10) years. Methods: In this retrospective study, all patients had an active MRI scan at entry with a minimum of two new contrast enhancing lesions (CEL) on baseline MRI examinations. Patients were followed for a minimum of 3 months during a baseline (pretreatment) phase and subsequently followed during treatment with recombinant interferon β (IFN) and various other immunomodulatory agents. Pre- and post contrast axial images were obtained using 3-mm slice thickness and a gadolinium contrast dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. Monthly CEL were sequentially numbered on hardcopy films and monthly BFV was determined on precontrast T1W images using a semiautomated program. For BFV measurements, all T1W scans were registered to the entry examination, which served as a mask image. Cerebral atrophy was measured as percent brain fractional volume change (PBVC) compared to the entry baseline scan. Results: The results demonstrate that cerebral atrophy paralleled that of contrast enhancing lesion accumulation. The correlation between cumulative CEL and PBVC ranged from R2 = 0.47 to 0.81. Immunomodulatory agents that effectively reduced CEL accumulation also slowed the rate of atrophy. Conclusions: The correlation between contrast enhancing lesions (CEL) and atrophy suggests that patients who are not responding to therapy with a decrease in CEL may also be at risk for developing increased atrophy.
Listening to learners: An investigation into college students' attitudes towards the adoption of e-portfolios in English assessment and learning

This study discusses the possibility of e-portfolio as a central component of assessment practice in the traditionally exam-oriented context of China's tertiary education. The aim was to listen to learners, and provide them with a voice to analyse their perception of the potential advantages and challenges of introducing a learning-focused assessment tool. From five consecutive annual cohorts (2007-2011), 220 university students completed questionnaires about their attitudes and experience of using e-portfolio assessment in an English as a foreign language course, with 120 students participating in follow-up interviews and focus groups. The vast majority of learners expressed preference for e-portfolio assessment, compared to paper-based examinations. This study contributes to understanding Chinese educational ideology of assessment, so as to place emphasis on assessment for quality learning rather than on teaching to the test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Nonlinear Control of a Buck Converter feeding a Constant Power Load

In this paper a nonlinear control strategy for controlling a dc/dc Buck converter feeding a constant power load is proposed. A feedback controller is combined with a feedforward strategy. A nonlinear reduced order observer is used for estimating the value of the power load and its time derivative. These estimated values are fed forward to the nonlinear feedback controller whose design is based on feedback linearization method. The proposed controller is tested via simulations and also, experimental results are presented.
Effects of body positions on the saddle on pedalling technique for cyclists and triathletes

Abstract Cyclists usually change their body position on the saddle depending on the characteristics of the race. We compared the effects of cycling at three body positions on the saddle (preferred/self-selected, most forward, most backward) on pedalling technique for cyclists and triathletes. Twelve cyclists and nine triathletes performed four trials starting with the maximal aerobic workload, followed by three trials at the workload of their ventilatory threshold. Force applied on the right pedal via an instrumented pedal, lower limb kinematics via video and muscle activation via electromyography were recorded during all trials. Pedalling technique was quantified using total force applied on the pedal, pedal force effectiveness, activation of six lower limb muscles, joint angles and mechanical work at the ankle, knee and hip joints. Analyses using effect sizes showed no large effects from changes in position on the saddle for pedal forces, ankle joint work and ankle kinematics. There were large increases in knee joint angle and mechanical work and rectus femoris activation along with smaller hip work at the forward position on the saddle. Differences between cyclists and triathletes were not substantial. Effects of changes in saddle positions were limited to the hip and knee joints.
Latino Sexual Styles: Developing a Nuanced Understanding of Risk

Theoreticians in adolescent sexuality have called for research that is contextual, health-focused, balanced between males and females, and from the perspective of adolescents, noting that scales developed by Buzwell and Rosenthal (1996) are promising. Cross-cultural validation of the measures in the United States. should include Latino adolescents, as they are the fastest-growing ethnic group. Contextual issues for this population include the roles of culture and the family, country of origin, and acculturation. The scales were tested with 155 Latino adolescents, Mexican-identified, and third generation plus. Scales indicated good reliability overall although several subscales were determined to best be combined as they created a single factor. Hierarchical agglomerative methods revealed a four-cluster solution with clusters conceptually mapping the original study. Clusters were significantly different on important sexual behaviors, such as virginity status, likelihood of engaging in safer sex, and number of sex partners.
Increased serum leptin concentration is related to steatosis in hepatitis C virus-infected patients

Steatosis is a common histological feature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (1). The prevalence of steatosis in liver biopsy specimens of chronic HCV patients is about 50% (1). Recent studies have found a role for steatosis in the progression of chronic HCV (1–3) In addition, hepatic steatosis is an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic HCV infection (4).
Comparing Implementations of Estimation Methods for Spatial Econometrics

Recent advances in the implementation of spatial econometrics model estimation techniques have made it desirable to compare results, which should correspond between implementations across software applications for the same data. These model estimation techniques are associated with methods for estimating impacts (emanating effects), which are also presented and compared. This review constitutes an up-to-date comparison of generalized method of moments and maximum likelihood implementations now available. The comparison uses the cross-sectional US county data set provided by Drukker, Prucha, and Raciborski (2013d). The comparisons will be cast in the context of alternatives using the MATLAB Spatial Econometrics toolbox, Stata's user-written sppack commands, Python with PySAL and R packages including spdep, sphet and McSpatial.
A coherent ultra-wideband receiver IC system for WPAN application

An integrated pulse based ultra-wideband (UWB) receiver using a coherent architecture is presented. BPSK modulation of monocycle Gaussian pulses which meet FCC's UWB frequency band (3.1 - 10.6 GHz) is adopted. The received pulses are correlated with template pulses from a local pulse generator. In each period the correlation value is either sampled by a high speed ADC for further signal processing or sent to a comparator to recover the transmitted data. Simulation and primary measurement results show that the receiver can achieve a demodulation rate of 100/220/480 Mbps and consumes 99 mW peak power. The design is based on a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process.
A slowly progressive retinopathy in the Shetland Sheepdog.

OBJECTIVE To describe a slowly progressive retinopathy (SPR) in Shetland Sheepdogs. Animals Forty adult Shetlands Sheepdogs with ophthalmoscopic signs of SPR and six normal Shetland Sheepdogs were included in the study. PROCEDURE Ophthalmic examination including slit-lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy was performed in all dogs. Electroretinograms and obstacle course-test were performed in 13 affected and 6 normal dogs. The SPR dogs were subdivided into two groups according to their dark-adapted b-wave amplitudes. SPR1-dogs had ophthalmoscopic signs of SPR, but normal dark-adapted b-wave amplitudes. Dogs with both ophthalmoscopic signs and subnormal, dark-adapted b-wave amplitudes were assigned to group SPR2. Eyes from two SPR2 dogs were obtained for microscopic examination. RESULTS The ophthalmoscopic changes included bilateral, symmetrical, greyish discoloration in the peripheral tapetal fundus with normal or marginally attenuated vessels. Repeated examination showed that the ophthalmoscopic changes slowly spread across the central parts of the tapetal fundus, but did not progress to obvious neuroretinal thinning presenting as tapetal hyper-reflectivity. The dogs did not appear seriously visually impaired. SPR2 showed significantly reduced b-wave amplitudes throughout dark-adaptation. Microscopy showed thinning of the outer nuclear layer and abnormal appearance of rod and cone outer segments. Testing for the progressive rod-cone degeneration ( prcd )-mutation in three dogs with SPR was negative. CONCLUSION Slowly progressive retinopathy is a generalized rod-cone degeneration that on ophthalmoscopy looks similar to early stages of progressive retinal atrophy. The ophthalmoscopic findings are slowly progressive without tapetal hyper-reflectivity. Visual impairment is not obvious and the electroretinogram is more subtly altered than in progressive retinal atrophy. The etiology remains unclear. SPR is not caused by the prcd-mutation.
Specific IgE and IgG Responses and Cytokine Profile in Subjects with Allergic Reactions to Biting Midge Forcipomyia taiwana

Background:Forcipomyia taiwana is a tiny blood-sucking midge whose habitat covers large parts of Taiwan and southern China. Female midges bite during the day, causing intense pruritis and swelling in allergic individuals. In this study, we investigated the immune responses of different allergic reactions to midge bites. Methods:F. taiwana (midge)-specific IgE, -IgG and -IgG subclasses were examined by ELISA in 62 human subjects. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 6 subjects with solely delayed reactions (SDR) to midge bites and 6 nonallergic controls (NAC) were cultured with midge extract at various time points and assayed. Proliferation of PBMC was measured by MTT assay. Expression of cytokine mRNA was measured by real-time PCR and protein levels by cytometric bead immunoassay or ELISA. Protease activity in midge extract was determined by the Azocoll method. Results: Midge-specific IgE among subjects with an immediate reaction were significantly elevated compared to SDR and NAC subjects. There were no differences in the level of midge-specific-IgG, -IgG1, -IgG2, -IgG3 and -IgG4 among subjects with different biting reactions. Midge extract elicited significantly more PBMC proliferation, higher expression of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in SDR subjects than in NAC. Protease activity was detected in midge extract. Protease inhibitors E64 and pepstatin suppressed midge-extract-induced IL-8 production. Conclusions: Our results suggest that an immediate reaction to midge bites is IgE-mediated. IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF-α are involved in delayed reactions to midge bites. A protease-activated pathway may also be involved in the intense, itchy reactions to midge bites.