Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The global burden of cognitive impairment in people with HIV

Objective: While life expectancies of people with HIV (PWH) have increased through the successes of antiretroviral treatment, cognitive impairment remains a pressing concern. Prevalence estimates vary worldwide as different definitions for cognitive impairment are used and resource availability differs across geographical settings. We aim to explore this heterogeneity and estimate the global cognitive impairment burden in PWH. Design: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, and Web of Science for studies reporting on cognitive impairment prevalence in PWH. Nine factors were investigated for their potential association with the prevalence using a univariate meta-analysis and a meta-regression: assessment method, geographical region, country income, exclusion criteria, study quality, age, sex, publication year, and sample size. Results: The literature search identified 8539 records, of which 225 were included. The adjusted prevalence was significantly lower in males than females. Across 44 countries, 12 assessment methods were used; the HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder/Frascati criteria, known for high false-positive rates, was employed in 44.4% of studies. The pooled cognitive impairment prevalence estimate in PWH, including asymptomatic cases, was 39.6% (95% confidence interval: 37.2–42.1%; range: 7–87%). The meta-regression explained 13.3% of between-study variation, with substantial residual heterogeneity (I2 = 97.7%). Conclusion: Lack of data from more than 70% of the world's countries, cohorts being unselected for symptoms in most research studies, and limitations of the HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder/Frascati criteria restrict the ability to accurately determine the global burden of cognitive impairment in PWH. More studies in low-resource settings and a standardized approach to assessing cognitive impairment, bridging research and clinical realms, are needed.
A prospective study of clinical outcomes of HIV-associated and HIV-negative Kaposi sarcoma in Uganda

Objective: Improved understanding of the effect of HIV infection on Kaposi sarcoma (KS) presentation and outcomes will guide development of more effective KS staging and therapeutic approaches. We enrolled a prospective cohort of epidemic (HIV-positive; HIV+KS) and endemic (HIV-negative; HIV−KS) KS patients in Uganda to identify factors associated with survival and response. Methods: Adults with newly diagnosed KS presenting for care at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Kampala, Uganda, between October 2012 and December 2019 were evaluated. Participants received chemotherapy per standard guidelines and were followed over 1 year to assess overall survival (OS) and treatment response. Results: Two hundred participants were enrolled; 166 (83%) had HIV+KS, and 176 (88%) were poor-risk tumor (T1) stage. One-year OS was 64% (95% confidence interval [CI] 57–71%), with the hazard of death nearly threefold higher for HIV+KS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.93; P = 0.023). Among HIV+KS, abnormal chest X-ray (HR = 2.81; P = 0.007), lower CD4+ T-cell count (HR = 0.68 per 100 cells/μl; P = 0.027), higher HIV viral load (HR = 2.22 per log10 copies/ml; P = 0.026), and higher plasma Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) copy number (HR = 1.79 per log10 copies/ml; P = 0.028) were associated with increased mortality. Among HIV−KS, factors associated with mortality included Karnofsky score <70 (HR = 9.17; P = 0.045), abnormal chest X-ray (HR = 8.41; P = 0.025), and higher plasma KSHV copy number (HR = 6.21 per log10 copies/ml; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although survival rates were better for HIV−KS than HIV+KS, the high mortality rate seen in both groups underscores the urgent need to identify new staging and therapeutic approaches. Factors associated with mortality, including high plasma KSHV, may serve as important targets of therapy.
Compact remote optical system for real time measurement of aerosol emissions

Demonstrating particle matter (PM) emissions compliance with environmental regulations is required for operation of any industrial, commercial or military facility. Emission sources are initially screened based on their visible opacity via US EPA Method 9 standard. Nowadays, it is rather surprising that opacity is still visually determined by human eyes with smoke school training and semi-annual certification. Nonetheless, opacity alone doesn’t reveal particle concentration and size distribution which is crucial to determine PM values. It would be desirable to have an automated, calibratable device to make such a measurement with higher accuracy and reliability and is not available to date. We present our preliminary work on developing a compact, hand portable system capable of quantitatively determining plume optical opacity in combination with possible particle concentration and size distribution (and hence PM) measurement for standoff distances up to 150 meters. Our benchtop lidar-based system was built with a frequencydoubled Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and an optical receiver. We have demonstrated the feasibility of a remote-capable optical sensor system for real-time continuous monitoring of visible emission plumes and its effectiveness for quantitative opacity measurement. The hand-portable Remote Plume Particulate Matter (RPPM) meter being developed will be capable of determining opacity and PM load from remote PM sources will provide a regulatory compliance solution for visible emissions from sources for environmental studies, industrial and military applications.
Coupled Alfvén and kink oscillations in an inhomogeneous corona

Abstract We perform 3D numerical simulations of footpoint-driven transverse waves propagating in a low β plasma. The presence of inhomogeneities in the density profile leads to the coupling of the driven kink mode to Alfvén modes by resonant absorption. The decay of the propagating kink wave as energy is transferred to the local Alfvén mode is in good agreement with a modified interpretation of the analytical expression derived for standing kink modes. This coupling may account for the damping of transverse velocity perturbation waves which have recently been observed to be ubiquitous in the solar corona.
Perturbation Bounds for the $QR$ Factorization of a Matrix

Let A be an $m \times n$ matrix of rank n. The $QR$ factorization of A decomposes A into the product of an $m \times n$ matrix Q with orthonormal columns and a nonsingular upper triangular matrix R. The decomposition is essentially unique, Q being determined up to the signs of its columns and R up to the signs of its rows. If E is an $m \times n$ matrix such that $A + E$ is of rank n, then $A + E$ has an essentially unique factorization $(Q + W)(R + F)$. In this paper bounds on $\| W \|$ and $\| F \|$ in terms of $\| E \|$ are given. In addition perturbation bounds are given for the closely related Cholesky factorization of a positive definite matrix B into the product $R^T R$ of a lower triangular matrix and its transpose.
Equivalent quasi-norms and atomic decomposition of weak Triebel-Lizorkin spaces

Recently, the weak Triebel-Lizorkin space was introduced by Grafakos and He, which includes the standard Triebel-Lizorkin space as a subset. The latter has a wide applications in aspects of analysis. In this paper, the authors firstly give equivalent quasi-norms of weak Triebel-Lizorkin spaces in terms of Peetre’s maximal functions. As an application of those equivalent quasi-norms, an atomic decomposition of weak Triebel-Lizorkin spaces is given.
THE RMS SURVEY: THE LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS AND TIMESCALES OF MASSIVE YOUNG STELLAR OBJECTS AND COMPACT H ii REGIONS

We present a determination of the luminosity functions of massive young stellar objects (MYSOs) and compact (C) H ii regions within the Milky Way using the large, well-selected sample of these sources identified by the Red MSX Source survey. The MYSO luminosity function decreases monotonically such that there are few with L≳105 L☉, while the CH ii regions are detected up to ∼106 L☉. The lifetimes of these phases are also calculated as a function of luminosity by comparison with the luminosity function for local main-sequence OB stars. These indicate that the MYSO phase has a duration ranging from 4×105 yr for 104 L☉ to ∼7×104 yr at 105 L☉, while the CH ii region phase lasts of order 3×105 yr or ∼3%–10% of the exciting star's main-sequence lifetime. MYSOs between 104 L☉ and ∼105 L☉ are massive but do not display the radio continuum or near-IR H i recombination line emission indicative of an H ii region, consistent with being swollen due to high ongoing or recent accretion rates. Above ∼105 L☉ the MYSO phase lifetime becomes comparable to the main-sequence Kelvin–Helmholtz timescale, at which point the central star can rapidly contract onto the main sequence even if still accreting, and ionize a CH ii region, thus explaining why few highly luminous MYSOs are observed.
An iterative learning observer for fault detection and accommodation in nonlinear time‐delay systems

This article addresses fault detection, estimation, and compensation problem in a class of disturbance driven time delay nonlinear systems. The proposed approach relies on an iterative learning observer (ILO) for fault detection, estimation, and compensation. When there are no faults in the system, the ILO supplies accurate disturbance estimation to the control system where the effect of disturbances on estimation error dynamics is attenuated. At the same time, the proposed ILO can detect sudden changes in the nonlinear system due to faults. As a result upon the detection of a fault, the same ILO is used to excite an adaptive control law in order to offset the effect of faults on the system. Further, the proposed ILO‐based adaptive fault compensation strategy can handle multiple faults. The overall fault detection and compensation strategy proposed in the paper is finally demonstrated in simulation on an automotive engine example to illustrate the effectiveness of this approach. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MEMS/NEMS mechanical characterization on different thin film materials by scanning along micro-machined cantilevers

Mechanical characterization is vital for the design of MEMS/NEMS. Many methods have been developed to measure the mechanical properties of materials; however, most of them are either too complicated, or expensive for industrial application, or not accurate. This paper describes a new characterization method to extract the mechanical properties of the materials that is simple, inexpensive and applicable to a wide range of materials. The beams of the material under tests, are patterned by laser micromachining and released by KOH etch. Surface profilometer is used to scan along μ-machined cantilevers and produce a bending profile, from which the Young’s modulus can be extracted. The errors due to initial curling and anticlastic (width) effect have been carefully studied. A new ANSYS FEA model is developed to evaluate the effects and test structure designs. SiNx, Ni, SiC and nanocrystal diamond cantilevers have been fabricated and their mechanical properties, e.g. Young’s modulus have been evaluated as 154+/-12GPa, 202+/-16GPa, 360+/-50GPa and 504+/-50GPa, respectively. These results are consistent with those measured by nano-indentation. Residual stress gradient has also been extracted by surface profilometer, which is comparable with the results inferred from Zygo interferometer measurements. It is also possible to extract plate modulus and Poisson ratio with minimal error achieved. This method can be extended to AFM or nanometer-stylus profilometer for NEMS mechanical characterization.
A First Course in Coding Theory

Algebraic coding theory is a new and rapidly developing subject, popular for its many practical applications and for its fascinatingly rich mathematical structure. This book provides an elementary yet rigorous introduction to the theory of error-correcting codes. Based on courses given by the author over several years to advanced undergraduates and first-year graduated students, this guide includes a large number of exercises, all with solutions, making the book highly suitable for individual study.
A new approach to problems of shock dynamics Part 2. Three-dimensional problems

This paper gives the extension of the approximate theory developed in Part 1 (Whitham 1957) to three-dimensional problems. The basic equations are derived in §1, using the original assumption of a functional relation between the strength of the shock wave at any point and the area of the ray tube. An analogy with steady supersonic flow is found. For the diffraction of a plane shock wave by an obstacle, the equations and boundary conditions are exactly the same as those for steady supersonic potential flow past that obstacle, with a special choice of the density-speed relation. The successive positions of the shock wave are the equipotential surfaces of the supersonic flow. The 'shock-shocks’ introduced in Part 1, i.e. discontinuities in the slope and Mach number of the shock wave, correspond to the steady oblique shock waves in the supersonic flow problem. They arise when Mach reflexion occurs. In §2 the theory is applied in detail to the diffraction of a plane shock wave by a cone. Then, in §3, a small perturbation theory is applied to the two typical problems of (i) diffraction by a slender axi-symmetrical body of general shape, and (ii) the stability of a plane shock. Many further applications would be possible and some brief comments on these are made in §4.
Radiation Belt Environment model: Application to space weather nowcasting

[1] A data-driven physical model of the energetic electrons in the Earth's radiation belts, called the Radiation Belt Environment (RBE) model, has been developed to understand Earth's radiation belt dynamics and to predict the radiation conditions found there. This model calculates radiation belt electron fluxes from 10 keV to 6 MeV in the inner magnetosphere. It takes into account the realistic, time-varying magnetic field and considers effects of wave-particle interactions with whistler mode chorus waves. The storm on 23–27 October 2002 is simulated and the temporal evolutions of the radial and pitch angle distributions of energetic electrons are examined. The calculated electron fluxes agree very well with particle data from the low-orbit SAMPEX and LANL geosynchronous satellites, when the wave-particle interactions are taken into account during storm recovery. Flux increases begin near the plasmapause and then diffuse outward to higher L shells, consistent with previous findings from statistical studies. A simplified version of the RBE model is now running in real time to provide nowcasting of the radiation belt environment. With further improvements and refinements, this model will have important value in both scientific and space weather applications.
An Iteratively Weighted MMSE Approach to Distributed Sum-Utility Maximization for a MIMO Interfering Broadcast Channel

Consider the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) interfering broadcast channel whereby multiple base stations in a cellular network simultaneously transmit signals to a group of users in their own cells while causing interference to each other. The basic problem is to design linear beamformers that can maximize the system throughput. In this paper, we propose a linear transceiver design algorithm for weighted sum-rate maximization that is based on iterative minimization of weighted mean-square error (MSE). The proposed algorithm only needs local channel knowledge and converges to a stationary point of the weighted sum-rate maximization problem. Furthermore, the algorithm and its convergence can be extended to a general class of sum-utility maximization problem. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated by numerical experiments.
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study of Copper Tellurite Glasses

Tellurite glasses containing CuO with the nominal composition (CuO)x(TeO2)1−x, where x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, have been prepared and investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The core level binding energies of Cu 2p, Te 3d, and O 1s in these glasses have been measured. The appearance of a satellite peak in the Cu 2p spectra provides definitive evidence for the presence of Cu2+ ions in these glass samples where the asymmetry and broadening of the peaks are indicative of the presence of both Cu2+ and Cu+ ions. The broadened Cu 2p3/2 peaks were decomposed into two distinct peaks separated by approximately 2.0 eV, with the lower energy peak being associated with Cu+ and the higher energy peak with Cu2+. The relative Cu2+ content determined from the relative areas under these peaks and the satellite peak is found to be 44% for x = 0.5 glass sample while it is more than 70% for the remaining samples. The O 1s spectra for all glasses show slight asymmetry and were, therefore, fitted with two contributions, one from bridging oxygen (BO) and the other from non-bridging oxygen (NBO). The BO signal is due to the presence of oxygen atoms in the environment Te–O–Te while the NBO is due to oxygen atom in the environment Te–O–Cu. The ratio BO/Total oxygen was evaluated for each glass sample and was found to be in good agreement with the theoretical values. The Te 3d core level spectra show symmetry for all glass samples indicating that the chemical environment of Te atoms does not vary much with the concentration of copper.
Ecological Monitoring Of Terrestrial Ecosystem Recovery From Man-made Perturbation: Assessing Community Complexity

The dynamics of ecological complexity are presented from an area severely damaged by air pollution to understand the effect of perturbation intensity on long-term recovery dynamics of forest communities, Perturbation is assumed to be most intense near the smelter and to decrease with distance. Complexity is assessed using Shannon entropy as well as a contemporary measure of structural complexity. We find that while total complexity and diversity increase with decreasing perturbation intensity, structural complexity does not. It is also uncovered that community-level dynamics are more predictable than specieslevel dynamics. The data were analyzed using multivariate methods to determine how spatial pattern and groupings produce trends in community-level dynamics. The perturbation gradient is characterized by a continuum of understory communities with colonizing and metal-tolerant species proximal to the pollution source and sensitive species at distal sites. The overstory community mimicked this pattern, but vertical structure was found to be important in characterizing the gradient. Ecological monitoring of the multi-level effects of pollution on ecosystems is important for understanding the full implications of multiple stressors in the environment.
The variance of left-truncated continuous nonnegative distributions

Abstract Let X be a continuous nonnegative random variable with finite first and second moments and a continuous pdf that is positive on the interior of its support. A nonzero limiting density at the origin and a coefficient of variation (CV) greater than 1 are shown to be sufficient conditions for the distribution truncated below at t > 0 to have a variance greater than the variance of the full distribution. Distributions that satisfy these conditions include those with decreasing hazard rates (e.g., the gamma and Weibull distributions with shape parameters less than 1) and the beta distribution with parameter values p and q for which q > p(p + q + 1). The bound T for which truncation at 0 < t < T increases the variance relative to the full distribution is shown to be greater than the (1 — 1/CV)th percentile of the full distribution.
Case-Control Current Status Data

In this paper, we show that the distribution function of survival times is identified, up to a one-parameter family of distribution functions, based on information from case-control current status data. With supplementary information on the population frequency of cases relative to controls, a simple weighted version of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator for prospective current status data provides a natural estimator for case-control samples. Following the parametric results of Scott & Wild (1997), we show that this estimator is, in fact, the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator. Copyright Biometrika Trust 2004, Oxford University Press.
High-Quality Shape Fitting for Aesthetic Modeling Based on Class A Condition

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we propose a method of obtaining high-quality shapes from point clouds. We adopted the “Class A” concept, which has been defined as a shape that is monotonic in its curvature. Such high-quality shapes are preferred in product styling; therefore, an efficient method for their generation will be helpful in the style design process. The proposed method is based on a subdivision surface technique, the Class A definition, and a genetic algorithm. The proposed method is tested on some examples of surface generation, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
EFFECTS OF FEDERAL FUNDS TARGET RATE CHANGES ON STOCK PRICES

It is well-known that financial markets respond quickly to the announcements of changes in the Federal Funds target rate. This paper examines the stock price reaction of individual stocks listed under the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Federal Funds target rate change announcements using daily stock returns over the period 1996-2007. We measure such reactions using an event-study methodology to analyze the impact of changes in the Federal Funds target rate on individual stock returns using several event windows. We group the 30 individual stocks into 8 sectors and analyze the reaction of each sector to changes in the Federal Funds target rate. Results indicate that, on average, the impact of a Federal Funds target rate decrease on stocks is positive while the reaction of a Federal Funds target rate increase is negative.
Segmentation and Shape Classiﬁcation of Nuclei in DAPI Images

This paper addresses issues of analysis of DAPI-stained microscopy images of cell samples, particularly classification of objects as single nuclei, nuclei clusters or nonnuclear material. First, segmentation is significantly improved compared to Otsu’s method[5] by choosing a more appropriate threshold, using a cost-function that explicitly relates to the quality of resulting boundary, rather than image histogram. This method applies ideas from active contour models to threshold-based segmentation, combining the local image sensitivity of the former with the simplicity and lower computational complexity of the latter. Secondly, we evaluate some novel measurements that are useful in classification of resulting shapes. Particularly, analysis of central distance profiles provides a method for improved detection of notches in nuclei clusters. Error rates are reduced to less than half compared to those of the base system, which used Fourier shape descriptors alone.
Bounding $\bar{d}$-distance by informational divergence: a method to prove measure concentration

There is a simple inequality by Pinsker between variational distance and informational divergence of probability measures defined on arbitrary probability spaces. We shall consider probability measures on sequences taken from countable alphabets, and derive, from Pinsker's inequality, bounds on the d-distance by informational divergence. Such bounds can be used to prove the concentration of measure phenomenon for some nonproduct distributions.