Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Goodness-of-fit test for multistable Lévy processes

Abstract The multistable processes are extensions of stable processes, where the index of stability is replaced by a function ranging in (0, 2). The aim of this article is to build a statistical test which is able to detect a multistable behavior of a process belonging to the class of the multistable Lévy processes. The properties are stated for a discrete observation scheme of one trajectory.
Invariant manifold theory for impulsive functional differential equations with applications

The primary contribution of this thesis is a development of invariant manifold theory for impulsive functional differential equations. We begin with an in-depth analysis of linear systems, immersed in a nonautonomous dynamical systems framework. We prove a variation-of-constants formula, introduce appropriate generalizations of stable, centre and unstable subspaces, and develop a Floquet theory for periodic systems. Using the Lyapunov-Perron method, we prove the existence of local centre manifolds at a nonhyperbolic equilibrium of nonlinear impulsive functional differential equations. Using a formal differentiation procedure in conjunction with machinery from functional analysis – specifically, contraction mappings on scales of Banach spaces – we prove that the centre manifold is smooth in the state space. By introducing a coordinate system, we are able to prove that the coefficients of any Taylor expansion of the local centre manifold are unique and sufficiently regular in the time and lag arguments that they can be computed by solving an impulsive boundary-value problem. After proving a reduction principle, this leads naturally to explorations into bifurcation theory, where we establish generalizations of the classical fold and Hopf bifurcations for impulsive delay differential equations. Aside from the centre manifold, we demonstrate the existence and smoothness of stable and unstable manifolds and prove a linearized stability theorem. One of the applications of the theory above is an analysis of a SIR model with pulsed vaccination and finite temporary immunity modeled by a discrete delay. We determine an analytical stability criteria for the disease-free equilibrium and prove the existence of a transcritical bifurcation of periodic solutions at some critical vaccination coverage level for generic system parameters. Then, using numerical continuation and a monodromy operator discretization scheme, we track the bifurcating endemic periodic solution until a Hopf point is identifed. A cylinder bifurcation is observed; the periodic orbit expands into a cylinder in the extended phase space before eventually contracting onto a periodic orbit as the vaccination coverage vanishes. The other application is an impulsive stabilization method based on centre manifold reduction and optimization principles. Assuming a cost structure on the impulsive controller and a desired convergence rate target, we prove that under certain conditions there is always an impulsive controller that can stabilize a nonhyperbolic equilibrium with a trivial unstable subspace, robustly with respect to parameter perturbation, while guaranteeing a minimal cost. We then exploit the low-dimensionality of the centre manifold to develop a two-stage program that can be implemented to compute the optimal controller. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the two-stage program, which we call the centre probe method, we use the method to stabilize a complex network of 100 diffusively coupled nodes
Riemannian Geometry of Symmetric Positive Definite Matrices via Cholesky Decomposition

We present a new Riemannian metric, termed Log-Cholesky metric, on the manifold of symmetric positive definite (SPD) matrices via Cholesky decomposition. We first construct a Lie group structure and a bi-invariant metric on Cholesky space, the collection of lower triangular matrices whose diagonal elements are all positive. Such group structure and metric are then pushed forward to the space of SPD matrices via the inverse of Cholesky decomposition that is a bijective map between Cholesky space and SPD matrix space. This new Riemannian metric and Lie group structure fully circumvent swelling effect, in the sense that the determinant of the Frechet average of a set of SPD matrices under the presented metric, called Log-Cholesky average, is between the minimum and the maximum of the determinants of the original SPD matrices. Comparing to existing metrics such as the affine-invariant metric and Log-Euclidean metric, the presented metric is simpler, more computationally efficient and numerically stabler. In particular, parallel transport along geodesics under Log-Cholesky metric is given in a closed and easy-to-compute form.
Dealing with word ambiguity in NLP. Building appropriate sense representations for Danish sense tagging by combining word embeddings with wordnet senses

This thesis describes an approach to handle word sense in natural language processing. If we want language technologies to handle word ambiguity, then machines need proper sense representations. In a case study on Danish ambiguous nouns, we examined the possibility of building an appropriate sense inventory by combining the distributional information of a word from a vector space model with knowledge-based information from a wordnet. We tested three sense representations in a word sense disambiguation task: firstly, the centroids (average of words) of selected wordnet synset information and members, secondly the centroids of wordnet sample sentence alone, and thirdly the centroids of un-labelled sample sentences clustered around the wordnet sample sentence. Finally, we tested the features of the cluster members and evaluation data in supervised machine learning classifiers. The sense representations in all experiments generally beat the random baseline significantly, but not the most frequent sense as default. The representations made from selected wordnet synset information and synset members proved to generally give the best result, especially for those target words with rich synset information. The machine learning classifiers outperformed the sense representations significantly on the word sense disambiguation task. The best classifiers were those trained and tested on either the clustered data or the evaluation data. We conclude that the combination of word embeddings and wordnet associated data used to build a proper sense representation seems promising. However, we suggest some improvements for future work, specifically on the extracted information from wordnet sample sentences.
Dipping Seismic Reflectors, Electrically Conductive Zones, and Trapped Water in the Crust Over a Subducting Plate

The LITHOPROBE program across the northern Cascadia subduction zone at Vancouver Island has obtained geophysical data that suggest a dipping zone of trapped free pore water in the overlying continental crust. Land and marine multichannel seismic reflection profiles show several bands of reflectors. The primary one at a depth of about 30 km is about 5 km thick, dips inland, and appears to coincide with an electrically conductive layer defined by magnetotelluric data. The downgoing oceanic crust is imaged as a thin reflector dipping at about 15° and 10 km deeper than the primary reflector, a location that is consistent with seismicity and seismic refraction data. Both the reflectors and the conductor have been modeled by near-horizontal lamellae with 1–4% saline water porosity. Detailed geothermal measurements defining heat flow that decreases inland indicate that the dipping bands are nearly isothermal at a temperature of 400°–500°C. It is suggested that free water generated by dehydration of the downgoing oceanic plate migrates upward until reduced temperature results in hydration reactions and mineral precipitation that forms an impermeable barrier. Low vertical permeability is required to keep the water from separating to the top of the layer. This can be reconciled with the low electrical resistivity if pore interconnection is through thin grain boundary tubes as predicted by theoretical equilibrium pore geometry, although very small effective grain size is necessary. An abrupt transition from high permeability to very low permeability is predicted at a several percent porosity, in agreement with the modeled porosity. Such pore geometry with low permeability may be restricted to temperatures above about 400°C, i.e., in greenschist to amphibolite facies conditions, where grains will deform to equilibrium geometry and cracks are annealed. The region above the reflective and conductive band is estimated to be within blueschist conditions, consistent with the inferred high seismic velocity from refraction data and high density from gravity data.
CT-PET guided target delineation in head and neck cancer and implications for improved outcome

Aim: Fifty percent of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the Head and Neck develop loco-regional recurrence after treatment. Factors leading to this failure are most likely altered intra-tumoural glucose metabolism and increased hypoxia. Tissue glucose utilisation and the degree of hypoxia can be visualised by CTPET imaging with 18FDG and hypoxic radio-nuclides. This thesis has investigated 18FDG CT-PET guided target volume delineation methods and attempted to validate 64Cu-ATSM as a hypoxic radio-nuclide in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the Head and Neck. Materials and Methods: Eight patients with locally advanced disease underwent 18FDG CT-PET imaging before and during curative radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy. Fixed (SUV cut off and percentage threshold of the SUVmax) and adaptive thresholds were investigated. The functional volumes automatically delineated by these methods and SUVmax were compared at each point, and between thresholds. Four patients with locally advanced disease, two to seven days prior to surgery, underwent 3D dynamic CT-PET imaging immediately after injection of 64Cu- ATSM. Two patients were also imaged 18 hours after injection, and two underwent a dynamic contrast-enhanced CT to evaluate intra-tumoural perfusion. All patients received pimonidazole before surgery. The pimonidazole, GLUT1, CAIX, and HIF1a immuno-histochemical hypoxic fractions were defined. Staining was correlated with the retention pattern of 64Cu-ATSM at 3 time points. Hypoxic target volumes were delineated according to tumour to muscle, blood and background ratios. Results: 18FDG primary and lymph node target volumes significantly reduced with radiation dose by the SUV cut off method and correlated with the reduction in the SUVmax within the volume. Volume reduction was also found between thresholds by the same delineation method. The volumes delineated by the other methods were not significantly reduced (except the lymph node functional volume when defined by the adaptive threshold). 64Cu-ATSM correlated with hypoxic immuno-histochemical staining but not with blood flow. Tumour ratios increased with time after injection, which influenced the delineated hypoxic target volume. Conclusion: Dose-escalated image-guided radiotherapy strategies using these CT-PET guided functional volumes have the potential to improve loco-regional control in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the Head and Neck. CT-PET 18FDG volume delineation is intricately linked to the method and threshold of delineation and the timing of the imaging. 64Cu-ATSM is promising as a hypoxic radio-nuclide and warrants further investigation.
Surrogate model-based multi-objective MDO approach for partially Reusable Launch Vehicle design

Reusability of the first stage of launch vehicles may offer new perspectives to lower the cost of payload injection into orbit if sufficient reliability and low refurbishment costs can be achieved. One possible option that may be explored is to design the launch vehicle first stage for both reusable and expendable uses, in order to increase the flexibility and adaptability to different target missions. This paper proposes a multi-level MDO approach to design aerospace vehicles addressing multi-mission problems. The proposed approach is focused on the design of a family of launchers for different missions sharing commonalities using multi-objective Bayesian Optimization to account for the computational cost associated with the discipline simulations. The multi-mission problem addressed in this paper considers two missions: a reusable configuration for a SSO orbit with a medium payload range and recovery of the first stage using a glider strategy; and an expendable configuration for a medium payload injected into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). A dedicated MDO formulation introducing couplings between the missions is proposed in order to efficiently solve the multi-objective MDO problem while limiting the number of calls to the exact MDA thanks to the use of Gaussian Processes and multi-objective Efficient Global Optimization.
Outcome Assessment and Pulmonary Artery Why Does the Debate Continue

An injector for delivery of a fluid into a stream of hot gas is disclosed. The injector has a valve body with an elongated chamber in fluid communication with an orifice. A valve seat surrounds the orifice. A valve plunger is disposed within the chamber, an end of the plunger being adapted to sealingly interengage the seat. The plunger is slidably movable between an open and a closed position to open and close the orifice. A fluid inlet and an outlet are disposed within the valve body to deliver fluid to an annular fluid passageway in the chamber adjacent to the valve seat. Fluid is circulated through the annular passageway to cool the valve and a portion of the fluid is expelled through the orifice when the orifice is opened. The plunger is biased into the closed position by a coil spring and movable into the open position by a solenoid actuator mounted atop the valve body. The injector is mounted on an exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine with the orifice in fluid communication with the exhaust gases. A heat shield surrounding the orifice is interposed between the exhaust gases and the valve body, a radiant heat reflector is positioned between exposed parts of the injector and the exhaust conduit, and an atomizing hook is positioned in a spaced apart relation facing the orifice to control the dispersion characteristics of the expelled fluid.
Gray-Scale Image Colorization Using Various Affinity Functions

In this paper, we have proposed, implemented, and compared some affinity functions for an image colorization algorithm. The colorization qualityof the proposed affinityfunctions was just slightly behind the original functions, while one of the proposed functions performed faster than the original affinity function. We also implemented the colorization algorithm for coloring an Indonesian historical image.
Development of an Evolutionary Tree Concept Inventory

Despite the importance of tree-thinking and evolutionary trees to biology, no appropriately developed concept inventory exists to measure student understanding of these important concepts. To address this need, we developed a multiple-choice concept inventory consisting of 24 pairs of items, and we provide evidence to support its use among undergraduate students. A set of learning outcomes was developed to guide the creation of the concept inventory. The learning outcomes, student interviews, and student responses were used to develop and revise inventory items. Supporting evidence was gathered from traditional item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, traditional reliability analyses, and comparisons to alternative assessments. Appropriate implementation and utility of the concept inventory are discussed.
Treatment with low-energy shock wave alleviates pain in an animal model of uroplakin 3A-induced autoimmune interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome

Purpose To investigate whether treatment with low-energy shock wave (LESW) alleviates pain and bladder dysfunction in a mouse model of uroplakin 3A (UPK3A)-induced interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). Materials and Methods Forty female BALB/c mice were divided into four groups (n=10/group): Sham, Sham+LESW, UPK3A, and UPK3A+LESW. At 6 weeks of age, mice were injected with an emulsion containing water and complete Freund's adjuvant with (UPK3A and UPK3A+LESW groups) or without (Sham and Sham+LESW groups) 200 µg of UPK3A. At 10 weeks, mice received a second dose of Freund's adjuvant to booster immunization. At 12 weeks, mice underwent pain assessment and a frequency volume chart (FVC) test as the pretreatment assessment. LESW treatment and pain assessment were conducted from 13 to 15 weeks. One week after the final treatment, pain assessment and the FVC were conducted again as the post-treatment assessment. Mice were euthanized and sacrificed at 17 weeks. Results The presence of tactile allodynia and bladder dysfunction was significant in the UPK3A-injected mice. LESW raised the pain threshold and improved bladder function with decreased urinary frequency and increased mean urine output. Expression and secretion of local and systemic inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nerve growth factor (NGF), increased after UPK3A immunization. These markers were significantly decreased after LESW treatment (p<0.05). Conclusions LESW treatment attenuated pain and bladder dysfunction in a UPK3A-induced model of IC/PBS. Local and systemic inflammation was partially controlled, with a reduced number of infiltrated inflammatory cells and reduced levels of TNF-α and NGF.
Validity and reliability of an online self-report 24-h dietary recall method (Intake24): a doubly labelled water study and repeated-measures analysis

Abstract Online self-reported 24-h dietary recall systems promise increased feasibility of dietary assessment. Comparison against interviewer-led recalls established their convergent validity; however, reliability and criterion-validity information is lacking. The validity of energy intakes (EI) reported using Intake24, an online 24-h recall system, was assessed against concurrent measurement of total energy expenditure (TEE) using doubly labelled water in ninety-eight UK adults (40–65 years). Accuracy and precision of EI were assessed using correlation and Bland–Altman analysis. Test–retest reliability of energy and nutrient intakes was assessed using data from three further UK studies where participants (11–88 years) completed Intake24 at least four times; reliability was assessed using intra-class correlations (ICC). Compared with TEE, participants under-reported EI by 25 % (95 % limits of agreement −73 % to +68 %) in the first recall, 22 % (−61 % to +41 %) for average of first two, and 25 % (−60 % to +28 %) for first three recalls. Correlations between EI and TEE were 0·31 (first), 0·47 (first two) and 0·39 (first three recalls), respectively. ICC for a single recall was 0·35 for EI and ranged from 0·31 for Fe to 0·43 for non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES). Considering pairs of recalls (first two v. third and fourth recalls), ICC was 0·52 for EI and ranged from 0·37 for fat to 0·63 for NMES. EI reported with Intake24 was moderately correlated with objectively measured TEE and underestimated on average to the same extent as seen with interviewer-led 24-h recalls and estimated weight food diaries. Online 24-h recall systems may offer low-cost, low-burden alternatives for collecting dietary information.
Gene Editing Preserves Visual Functions in a Mouse Model of Retinal Degeneration

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a large and heterogeneous group of degenerative diseases caused by mutations in various genes. Given the favorable anatomical and immunological characteristics of the eye, gene therapy holds great potential for their treatment. Our goal is to validate the preservation of visual functions by viral-free homology directed repair (HDR) in an autosomal recessive loss of function mutation. We used a tailored gene editing system based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) to prevent retinal photoreceptor death in the retinal degeneration 10 (Rd10) mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. We tested the gene editing tool in vitro and then used in vivo subretinal electroporation to deliver it to one of the retinas of mouse pups at different stages of photoreceptor differentiation. Three months after gene editing, the treated eye exhibited a higher visual acuity compared to the untreated eye. Moreover, we observed preservation of light-evoked responses both in explanted retinas and in the visual cortex of treated animals. Our study validates a CRISPR/Cas9-based therapy as a valuable new approach for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa caused by autosomal recessive loss-of-function point mutations.
On Whether Task Experience of the Peer Differentially Impacts Feedback Scheduling and Skill Acquisition of a Learner

Previous research has shown that peers without task experience provided knowledge of results (KR) as effectively as performers who self-controlled their own KR schedule (McRae et al., 2015). In the present experiment, a group of participants first practiced a motor task while self-controlling their KR during a defined acquisition period. Twenty-four hours after their last retention trial, these participants with motor experience then provided KR to a learner during their skill acquisition. Participants were required to learn a serial-timing task with a goal of 2,500 ms. Participants completed a defined acquisition period and then returned 24 h later for a retention test. In retention, learners who received KR from experienced peers were predicted to outperform learners who received KR from inexperienced peers. The results showed that performers learned the task similarly, independent of the peer’s previous task experience. However, the peer groups differed in their frequency of providing KR to the learner and showed a discrepancy between their self-reported KR provision strategy and when they actually provided KR. The results have theoretical implications for understanding the impact of self-control in motor learning contexts.
A Metataxonomic Tool to Investigate the Diversity of Treponema

The genus Treponema contains a number of human and animal pathogenic as well as symbiotic bacteria that are found in vastly different anatomical and environmental habitats. Our understanding of the species range, evolution, and biology of these important bacteria is still limited. To explore the diversity of treponemes, we established, validated, and tested a novel metataxonomic approach. As the informative nature of the hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene differ, we first analyzed each variable region independently. Considering the in silico results obtained, we established and validated the sequencing of the V4-region of the 16S rRNA gene using known mixtures of Treponema species as well as a selected number of clinical samples. The metataxonomic approach was able to identify Treponema to a near-species level. We demonstrate that using a spirochete-specific enrichment, our method is applicable to complex microbial communities and large variety of biological samples. The metataxonomic approach described provides a useful method to unravel the full diversity and range of Treponema in various ecosystems.