Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New York State COMPAS-Probation Risk and Need Assessment Study: Examining the Recidivism Scale's Effectiveness and Predictive Accuracy

This report presents findings from a study which examined the effectiveness and predictive accuracy of the New York State COMPAS-Probation Recidivism Scale. This scale predicts the likelihood of rearrest for any felony or misdemeanor offense over a two-year follow-up period for offenders under probation supervision. The study also examined the prevalence of 19 risk/need factors among study cases and the extent to which these factors were correlated with the likelihood of rearrest. Findings indicated that the Recidivism Scale was both effective and predictively accurate (AUC = 0.71) with respect to the overall probation population. Furthermore, the likelihood of rearrest generally increased with the severity of a given criminogenic risk/need.
Pairwise Constraint-Guided Sparse Learning for Feature Selection

Feature selection aims to identify the most informative features for a compact and accurate data representation. As typical supervised feature selection methods, Lasso and its variants using L1-norm-based regularization terms have received much attention in recent studies, most of which use class labels as supervised information. Besides class labels, there are other types of supervised information, e.g., pairwise constraints that specify whether a pair of data samples belong to the same class (must-link constraint) or different classes (cannot-link constraint). However, most of existing L1-norm-based sparse learning methods do not take advantage of the pairwise constraints that provide us weak and more general supervised information. For addressing that problem, we propose a pairwise constraint-guided sparse (CGS) learning method for feature selection, where the must-link and the cannot-link constraints are used as discriminative regularization terms that directly concentrate on the local discriminative structure of data. Furthermore, we develop two variants of CGS, including: 1) semi-supervised CGS that utilizes labeled data, pairwise constraints, and unlabeled data and 2) ensemble CGS that uses the ensemble of pairwise constraint sets. We conduct a series of experiments on a number of data sets from University of California-Irvine machine learning repository, a gene expression data set, two real-world neuroimaging-based classification tasks, and two large-scale attribute classification tasks. Experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed methods, compared with several established feature selection methods.
Conditional IL-2 Gene Deletion: Consequences for T Cell Proliferation

To explore the role of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in T cell proliferation, and to circumvent the IL-2 deficiency autoimmune syndrome of conventional il2 gene deletion, mice were created to allow conditional il2 gene deletion when treated with the estrogen analog, tamoxifen (TAM) as adults. Splenocytes from four different mouse strains, C57Bl/6 wild type (WT), conventional IL-2(−/−), TAM-treated Cre recombinase-negative (Cre−)/IL2fl/fl, and Cre recombinase-positive (Cre+)/IL2fl/fl, were activated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28, and monitored for CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lymphocyte blastogenesis, aerobic glycolysis, BrdU incorporation into newly synthesized DNA, and CFSE dye dilution to monitor cell division. IL-2 production was monitored by quantitative ELISA and multiple additional cytokines were monitored by quantitative protein-bead arrays. Splenocytes from conventional IL-2(−/−) and TAM-treated Cre+ mice resulted in undetectable IL-2 production by ELISA, so that both strains were IL-2-deficient. As monitored by flow cytometry, activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from WT, Cre+, and Cre− mice all underwent blastogenesis, whereas far fewer cells from conventional IL-2(−/−) mice did so. By comparison, only cells from IL-2 sufficient WT and Cre− mice switched to aerobic glycolysis as evidenced by a drop in media pH. Blastogenesis was mirrored by BrdU incorporation and CFSE dye dilution by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from WT, Cre+, and Cre− mice, which were all equivalent, while proliferation of cells from conventional IL-2(−/−) mice was compromised. Splenocytes from IL-2 deficient conventional IL-2(−/−) mice produced low or undetectable other γc-chain cytokines (IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-13, IL-15, and IL-21), whereas production of these γc-chain cytokines from IL-2-deficient conditional IL-2(−/−) Cre+ mice were comparable with WT and Cre− mice. These results indicate that CD4+ and CD8+ T cell blastogenesis cannot be attributable to IL-2 alone, but a switch to aerobic glycolysis was attributable to IL-2, and proliferation after CD3/CD28 activation is dependent on γc-chain cytokines, and not CD3/28 triggering per se.
Isolation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bacteria from Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media Patients in Kerman, Iran

Background Chronic supportive otitis media (CSOM) is one of the commonest illnesses in ENT practice. This study was conducted to find out the various aerobic microorganisms associated with CSOM and their current antimicrobial susceptibility patterns to commonly used antimicrobials. Methods samples were collected from 117 clinically diagnosed cases of CSOM and processed according to standard protocols. Results Out of 117 CSOM cases, 105 (86%) showed positive bacterial culture. The Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest aerobic isolate in CSOM. The sensitivity of Staphylococci spp. to commonly used antimicrobials varied from 27.2% for cefixime to 95.5% for gentamicin and coagulase positive. Pseudomonas isolates showed complete (100%) resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate (co-amoxiclave), cloxacillin and cefixime, and high sensitivity to ciprofloxacin (95%) and cephalexin (90%). Conclusion An appropriate knowledge of antibacterial susceptibility of microorganisms would contribute to a rational antibiotic use and the success of treatment for chronic supportive otitis media.
A taxonomy of problem‐based learning methods

Summary. The increasingly popular term ‘problem‐based learning’ does not refer to a specific educational method. It can have many different meanings depending on the design of the educational method employed and the skills of the teacher. The many variables possible can produce wide variations in quality and in the educational objectives that can be achieved. A taxonomy is proposed to facilitate an awareness of these differences and to help teachers choose a problem‐based learning method most appropriate for their students.
Learning Partial Policies to Speedup MDP Tree Search

A popular approach for online decision making in large MDPs is time-bounded tree search. The effectiveness of tree search, however, is largely influenced by the action branching factor, which limits the search depth given a time bound. An obvious way to reduce action branching is to consider only a subset of potentially good actions at each state as specified by a provided partial policy. In this work, we consider offline learning of such partial policies with the goal of speeding up search without significantly reducing decision-making quality. Our first contribution is to study learning algorithms based on reducing our learning problem to i.i. d. supervised learning. We give a reduction-style analysis of three such algorithms, each making different assumptions, which relates the supervised learning objectives to the sub-optimality of search using the learned partial policies. Our second contribution is to describe concrete implementations of the algorithms within the popular framework of Monte-Carlo tree search. Finally, the third contribution is to evaluate the learning algorithms in two challenging MDPs with large action branching factors, showing that the learned partial policies can significantly improve the anytime performance of Monte-Carlo tree search.
NF‐κB signaling in B‐1 cell development

NF‐κB transcription factors play essential roles in hematopoiesis. In this review, we summarize the requirements of different components of the NF‐κB pathway for B‐1 cell development and maintenance. The B‐1 cell developmental steps are also reviewed, with particular emphasis on stages where NF‐κB signaling may be critical.
Advertising cached contents in the control plane: Necessity and feasibility

A key feature of Information-Centric Networking architectures is universal caching where anyone can cache any content and users can obtain the content from anywhere as long as the content itself is intact. This powerful feature benefits the content providers, the Internet service providers (ISPs) as well as end users since the requested content can be fetched from the nearest cache who is able to satisfy the request. Hence, server load, redundant network traffic and fetch latency are all reduced. However, given the huge number of contents in the Internet and the rapid replacement of cached contents, designing a scalable routing protocol to reach the full potential of universal caching is very challenging. Previous proposal in [1] tackles the problem by only considering contents on original servers in the control plane and opportunistically exploring cached contents in the data plane via so-called forwarding strategy. In this paper we argue that, to unleash the full potential of Information-Centric Networking, cached contents should be taken into consideration in the control plane and propose a specific scheme to achieve that. We believe addressing cached contents in the control plane (even imperfectly) is more efficient than “guessing” them in the data plane.
Pneumatic Big-hand gripper with slip-in tip aimed for the transfer support of the human body

This paper proposes a pneumatic gripper that allows gripping of the human body aimed for the transfer support, whether the body is lying down or leaning against the back support on the chair. To grip the body safely and comfortably under any conditions, two functions are newly introduced. One of them is “shape adaptive joints” which enable every gripping force to be equally distributed at each contact point regardless of body shape. The other is “slip in tip” which helps to reduce both the risk of injury and the uncomfortable friction between the body and the gripper, realized by a new pneumatic actuator to draw out the inner chambers without rubbing against the contact surface. It allows to bend following to the body shape and can also retract the chamber to release the patient safely. The validity of these functions are verified by a developed prototype called “Big-hand”, and its effectiveness for the transfer support is experimentally confirmed by lifting a mannequin and a human being.
Molecular Properties of Adult Mouse Gastric and Intestinal Epithelial Progenitors in Their Niches*

We have sequenced 36,641 expressed sequence tags from laser capture microdissected adult mouse gastric and small intestinal epithelial progenitors, obtaining 4031 and 3324 unique transcripts, respectively. Using Gene Ontology (GO) terms, each data set was compared with cDNA libraries from intact adult stomach and small intestine. Genes in GO categories enriched in progenitors were filtered against genes in GO categories represented in hematopoietic, neural, and embryonic stem cell transcriptomes and mapped onto transcription factor networks, plus canonical signal transduction and metabolic pathways. Wnt/β-catenin, phosphoinositide-3/Akt kinase, insulin-like growth factor-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, integrin, and γ-aminobutyric acid receptor signaling cascades, plus glycerolipid, fatty acid, and amino acid metabolic pathways are among those prominently represented in adult gut progenitors. The results reveal shared as well as distinctive features of adult gut stem cells when compared with other stem cell populations.
Potassium trifluoro[(Z)-3-methoxyprop-1-enyl]borate

In the title salt, K+·C4H7BF3O−, the K atom is surrounded by six anions making close contacts through seven F [K⋯F = 2.779 (1)–3.048 (1) Å] and two O [K⋯O = 2.953 (2) and 3.127 (2) Å] atoms in a trivacant fac-vIC-9 icosahedral coordination geometry.
Iterated Filtering 1

Inference for partially observed Markov process models has been a longstanding methodological challenge with many scientific and engineering applications. Iterated filtering algorithms maximize the likelihood function for partially observed Markov process models by solving a recursive sequence of filtering problems. We present new theoretical results pertaining to the convergence of iterated filtering algorithms implemented via sequential Monte Carlo filters. This theory complements the growing body of empirical evidence that iterated filtering algorithms provide an effective inference strategy for scientific models of nonlinear dynamic systems. The first step in our theory involves studying a new recursive approach for maximizing the likelihood function of a latent variable model, when this likelihood is evaluated via importance sampling. This leads to the consideration of an iterated importance sampling algorithm which serves as a simple special case of iterated filtering, and may have applicability in its own right.
Rapid generation of protein aerosols and nanoparticles via surface acoustic wave atomization

We describe the fabrication of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) atomizer and show its ability to generate monodisperse aerosols and particles for drug delivery applications. In particular, we demonstrate the generation of insulin liquid aerosols for pulmonary delivery and solid protein nanoparticles for transdermal and gastrointestinal delivery routes using 20 MHz SAW devices. Insulin droplets around 3 µm were obtained, matching the optimum range for maximizing absorption in the alveolar region. A new approach is provided to explain these atomized droplet diameters by returning to fundamental physical analysis and considering viscous-capillary and inertial-capillary force balance rather than employing modifications to the Kelvin equation under the assumption of parametric forcing that has been extended to these frequencies in past investigations. In addition, we consider possible mechanisms by which the droplet ejections take place with the aid of high-speed flow visualization. Finally, we show that nanoscale protein particles (50–100 nm in diameter) were obtained through an evaporative process of the initial aerosol, the final size of which could be controlled merely by modifying the initial protein concentration. These results illustrate the feasibility of using SAW as a novel method for rapidly producing particles and droplets with a controlled and narrow size distribution.
Cholesteryl Hydroperoxyoctadecadienoate from Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein Inactivates Platelet-derived Growth Factor*

Both oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) have been implicated in the genesis of various inflammatory responses, including atherosclerosis. We demonstrate here a novel interaction between specific oxidized lipids derived from ox-LDL and PDGF. The lipid moieties of ox-LDL caused concentration-dependent inactivation of PDGF as measured by loss of its mitogenic activity and its binding to high affinity receptors. Reverse-phase and normal-phase HPLC were used to purify the inactivating component in the lipid mixture. By fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy, we identified the inactivating lipids as the 9- and 13-hydroperoxy derivatives of cholesteryl linoleate, cholesteryl hydroperoxyoctadecadienoate. When a series of cholesteryl esters were subjected to oxidizing conditions, only those containing two or more double bonds caused inactivation of PDGF; the extent of inactivation increased with increased levels of oxidation. Exposing PDGF to cumene hydroperoxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, or hydrogen peroxide did not affect the activity of the mitogen. The oxidized lipid had no effect on the mitogenic activity of epidermal growth factor but did abolish the mitogenic activity of basic fibroblast growth factor and the antiproliferative activity of transforming growth factor β1. The inactivation of PDGF and other cytokines by lipid hydroperoxides may occur in such processes as vascular disease, inflammation, and wound healing.
Biodata in professional entry‐level selection: Statistical scoring of common format applications

This study of professional graduate entrants provides evidence that biographical data, common to application forms and resumes, can predict future preformance at professional entry level, outperforming current selection procedures. An actuarial model is developed to predict the major selection criterion for such entrants and to overcome the practical difficulties associated with processing high volumes of applications at the pre-selection stage. The six variable model demonstrates validity on entrants up to 5 years after the development sample and may be used across a wide range of different firms. Inter-temporal validity (rpbi = 0.23) compares favourably with other preliminary selection strategies. The evidence is consistent with such models suffering acceptable levels of shrinkage while being more efficient and less costly alternatives to the conventional selection methods currently used by the accounting profession.
Correlation between in vivo transmembrane action potential durations and activation-recovery intervals from electrograms. Effects of interventions that alter repolarization time.

Classic cable theory was used to analyze the relation between the activation-recovery interval measured from unipolar electrograms and transmembrane action potential duration. Theoretic analysis demonstrated that the temporal derivative of the extracellular potential is proportional to a spatial weighting of the third temporal derivative of the transmembrane action potentials along a cable with uniform propagation in a homogeneous medium. Thus, the activation-recovery interval, measured as the interval between times of minimum derivative (Vmin) of the QRS and maximum derivative (Vmax) of the T wave, should be related to action potential duration, measured as the interval between times of Vmax of the upstroke and Vmin of the downstroke of the transmembrane action potential. This relation was examined experimentally in 12 anesthetized dogs. Unipolar electrograms and transmembrane action potentials were recorded simultaneously from sites within 2 mm of each other during control states, cardiac sympathetic nerve stimulation, localized epicardial warming, and graded reductions in myocardial perfusion. The heart was paced from several sites. There was close correlation between activation-recovery interval and action potential duration measurements taken during cardiac sympathetic nerve stimulation and local epicardial warming (r = 0.96 and 0.99 for cardiac sympathetic nerve stimulation and warming, respectively). In five animals in which coronary perfusion pressure was gradually lowered, the variables correlated closely over a range of values from 62 to 212 msec (r = 0.98). However, although the overall correlation was good and mean differences between activation-recovery interval and action potential duration were small, in individual cases there were differences up to 24 msec. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ageing and Failure Modes of IGBT Modules in High-Temperature Power Cycling

This paper presents an experimental study on the ageing of insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power modules. The aim is to identify the effects of power cycling on these devices with high baseplate temperatures (60 °C to 90 °C) and wide temperature swings (60 °C to 100 °C). These values for thermal stresses have been defined according to automotive applications. The test conditions are provided by two types of test benches that will be described in this paper. The changes in electrical and thermal indicators are observed regularly by a monitoring system. At the end of the test (reaching damage criterion or failure), different analyses are performed (acoustic scanning and SEM imaging), and the damage is listed systematically. Nineteen samples of 600-V 200-A IGBT modules were thus aged using five different power-cycling protocols. The final summary of results shows that ageing mechanisms mainly concern wire bonds and emitter metallization, with gradual impact depending on protocol severity.
Performance Analysis of Fuzzy Logic And PID Controller for PM DC Motor Drive

This paper proposes to control the speed of the permanent magnet (PM) DC motor drive using fuzzy logic control (FLC) based on Matlab simulation environment. The proposed speed controller is developed based on fuzzy logic, to minimize maximum overshoot and steady state error. A comparison study and analysis of proposed fuzzy logic control to classical PID control system applied to PM DC motor is presented. The entire system is modeled and simulated using the matlab simulink tool box. The detailed simulation results confirm the better reduction in maximum overshoot and steady state error by the proposed FLC than the classical PID controller.
American Exceptionalism and Social Security: Complementary Cultural and Structural Contributions to Social Program Development

Although scholars routinely agree that a relative absence of socialism marks one way in which the United States is exceptional, they have argued over why we are distinct in this way. As representatives of an enduring comparative public policy issue, two “camps” of analysts have offered broad, competing explanations resting on cultural and structural variables, respectively. This article implements a strategy for demonstrating: (1) specific cultural and structural independent variables are applied most appropriately to explain specific aspects of policy development, and (2) cultural and structural contributions are thus complementary rather than competing. I proceed by focusing on an exception to the “laggard” character of the American welfare state, the unusual success of the social security program. Dealing with the obverse of the usual “why-America-lags” concern provides a more observable dependent variable, enabling us to highlight the actual operation of distinct cultural and structural forces. I then show how this strategy can be applied to broader questions of American exceptionalism and public policy development.
Genetic polymorphisms of DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC3 and risk of colorectal cancer in Chinese population.

AIM The distribution of DNA repair gene XRCC1 and XRCC3 genotypes was used to assess the potential influence of genetic polymorphisms on risk of colorectal cancer, and interactions with other factors. METHODS A 1:2 matched case-control study was conducted with 485 cases and 970 controls. XRCC1 and XRCC2 genotype polymorphisms were based upon duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with the confronting-two-pairprimer (PCR-CTPP) method. RESULTS The XRCC1 399Cln allele polymorphism was found to be associated with an increased colorectal cancer risk, while an non-significant inversely association was noted for XRCC3 241Thr/Thr genotype. We also found that individuals with the XRCC1 399 Gln and XRCC3 241Met alleles had an elevated risk, while XRCC3241Thr/Thr was proctective. CONCLUSION This study is the first to provide evidence of importance of XRCC1 and XRCC3 gene polymorphisms for risk of colorectal cancer in the Chinese population.