Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capacity of a noisy function

This paper presents an extension of the memoryless channel coding theorem to noisy functions, i.e. unreliable computing devices without internal states. It is shown that the concepts of equivocation and capacity can be defined for noisy computations in the simple case of memoryless noisy functions. Capacity is the upper bound of input rates allowing reliable computation, i.e. decodability of noisy outputs into expected outputs. The proposed concepts are generalizations of these known for channels: the capacity of a noisy implementation of a bijective function has the same expression as the capacity of a communication channel. A lemma similar to Feinstein's one is stated and demonstrated. A model of reliable computation of a function thanks to a noisy device is proposed. A coding theorem is stated and demonstrated.
Oxidative stress and sperm function: A systematic review on evaluation and management

ABSTRACT Objective: To review and present the most distinct concepts on the association of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with male reproduction. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to search PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane electronic databases for studies investigating the role of oxidative stress (OS) on sperm function. Results: The literature search yielded 1857 studies, of which 1791 articles were excluded because of irrelevance of data, non-English language, non-human nature or because they were case reports or commentaries. All included studies were reviews (46), meta-analyses (one), original research studies (18) and guideline articles (one). The studies were published between 1984 and 2018. Under normal physiological conditions, ROS are vital for sperm maturation, hyperactivation, capacitation, acrosome reaction, as well as fertilisation. However, a number of endogenous and exogenous causes may induce supra-physiological levels of ROS resulting in lipid peroxidation, sperm DNA fragmentation and apoptosis, and consequently infertility. Several laboratory testing methods can be used in infertile men to diagnose OS. Treatment usually involves antioxidant supplementation and, when possible, elimination of the causative factor. Conclusion: OS is an important cause of male factor infertility. Its assessment provides essential information that can guide treatment strategies aimed at improving the male’s reproductive potential. Abbreviations: bp: base-pair; CAT: catalase; LPO: lipid peroxidation; MDA: malondialdehyde; MiOXSYS: Male Infertility Oxidative System; mtDNA: mitochondrial DNA; NAD(PH): nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate); NO: nitric oxide; 8-OHdG: 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine; ORP: oxidation–reduction potential; OS: oxidative stress; PKA: protein kinase A; PLA2: phospholipase A2; PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; PUFA: poly-unsaturated fatty acid; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SOD: superoxide dismutase; TAC: total antioxidant capacity; TBA: thiobarbituric acid
Strengths and Resiliencies of Black MSM in New York City Who Maintain HIV-Seronegativity

Strengths and Resiliencies of Black MSM in New York City who Maintain HIV-Seronegativity by Jagadisa-devasri Dacus Advisor: Harriet Goodman, Ph.D. Abstract: Black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) carry the greatest burden of the HIV epidemic in the United States. Because Black MSM’s identities lie at the intersection of race and sexual orientation, they are more likely to experience negative social determinants of health, which have been associated with greater HIV acquisition. However, the majority of Black MSM maintain seronegativity, but few public health studies have identified what contributes to their seronegativity maintenance. In order to address this gap in knowledge, I explored maintained HIV-seronegativity among a cohort of Black MSM in New York City (NYC). Guided by social work’s strengths-based approach, I employed constructivist grounded theory building on sensitizing concepts from extant theories to explicate how Black MSM demonstrate resilience amidst high seroprevalence in NYC. Results from this study suggest that their unique strategies, strengths, and resiliencies are indubitably interconnected with their intersecting identities as Black men. Their strengths and resiliencies for maintained seronegativity originate from survival strategies that Black people have employed for generations.
Uncertainty-Aware Autonomic Resource Provisioning for Mobile Cloud Computing

Mobile platforms are becoming the predominant medium of access to Internet services due to the tremendous increase in their computation and communication capabilities. However, enabling applications that require real-time in-the-field data collection and processing using mobile platforms is still challenging due to i) the insufficient computing capabilities and unavailability of complete data on individual mobile devices and ii) the prohibitive communication cost and response time involved in offloading data to remote computing resources such as cloud datacenters for centralized computation. A novel resource provisioning framework for organizing the heterogeneous sensing, computing, and communication capabilities of static and mobile devices in the vicinity in order to form an elastic resource pool-a hybrid static/mobile computing grid (also called a loosely-coupled mobile device cloud)-is presented. This local computing grid can be harnessed to enable innovative data-and compute-intensive mobile applications such as ubiquitous context-aware health and wellness monitoring of the elderly, distributed rainfall and flood-risk estimation, distributed object recognition and tracking, and content-based distributed multimedia search and sharing. In orderto address challenges such as the inherent uncertainty in the hybrid grid (in terms of network connectivity and device availability), the proposed role-based resource provisioning framework is imparted with autonomic capabilities, namely, self-organization, self-optimization, and self-healing. A thorough experimental analysis aimed at verifying and demonstrating the benefits brought by autonomic capabilities of the framework is also presented in detail.
Topological Born-Infeld Actions and D-Branes

We propose that the effective field theories of certain wrapped D-branes are given by topological actions based on Born-Infeld theory. In particular, we present a Born-Infeld version of the Abelian Donaldson-Witten theory. We then consider wrapping D3 branes on calibrated submanifolds and for the Calabi-Yau four-fold case, discuss how the resulting theory could give rise to a Born-Infeld version of the ampicheiral twisted N=4 super Yang-Mills topological field theory.
Intrinsic Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells in the Diurnal Rodent, Arvicanthis ansorgei

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) represent a new class of photoreceptors which support a variety of non-image forming physiological functions, such as circadian photoentrainment, pupillary light reflex and masking responses to light. In view of the recently proposed role of retinal inputs for the regulation of diurnal and nocturnal behavior, we performed the first deep analysis of the ipRGC system in a diurnal rodent model, Arvicanthis ansorgei , and compared the anatomical and physiological properties of ipRGCs with those of nocturnal mice. Based on somata location, stratification pattern and melanopsin expression, we identified two main ipRGC types in the retina of Arvicanthis : M1, constituting 74% of all ipRGCs and non-M1 (consisting mainly of the M2 type) constituting the following 25%. The displaced ipRGCs were rarely encountered. Phenotypical staining patterns of ganglion cell markers showed a preferential expression of Brn3 and neurofilaments in non-M1 ipRGCs. In general, the anatomical properties and molecular phenotyping of ipRGCs in Arvicanthis resemble ipRGCs of the mouse retina, however the percentage of M1 cells is considerably higher in the diurnal animal. Multi-electrode array recordings (MEA) identified in newborn retinas of Arvicanthis three response types of ipRGCs (type I, II and III) which are distinguished by their light sensitivity, response strength, latency and duration. Type I ipRGCs exhibited a high sensitivity to short light flashes and showed, contrary to mouse type I ipRGCs, robust light responses to 10 ms flashes. The morphological, molecular and physiological analysis reveals very few differences between mouse and Arvicanthis ipRGCs. These data imply that the influence of retinal inputs in defining the temporal niche could be related to a stronger cone input into ipRGCs in the cone-rich Arvicanthis retina, and to the higher sensitivity of type I ipRGCs and elevated proportion of M1 cells.
Assessing Creativity : The importance of unexpected novelty

In this paper we experimentally study the contribution of the unexpectedness, unpredictability or surprising value of a novel product to its overall creative value. Accordingly, this creative value is computed within our approach through the use of a mathematical function that relies on the contribution not only of novelty but also of unexpectedness. Implemented in artificial agents " living " in a multi-agent environment comprising objects such as buildings, this function, called within this context Utility Function, provides agents with a model of its preferences when evaluating a product, and thus allowing them to prefer those products that elicit more surprise (elicited by unexpectedness) and curiosity (elicited by novelty and unexpectedness). We performed a series of experimental tests that involved an artificial agent and humans in order to take conclusions about the nature of that mathematical function, and also about the contribution of unexpectedness to it.
Intracellular calcium levels as screening tool for nanoparticle toxicity

The use of engineered nano‐sized materials led to revolutionary developments in many industrial applications and in the medical field. These materials, however, also may cause cytotoxicity. In addition to size, surface properties and shape were identified as relevant parameters for cell damage. Cell damage may occur as disruption of membrane integrity, induction of apoptosis and by organelle damage. Generation of oxidative stress may serve as an indicator for cytotoxicity. Effects occurring upon short contact of particles with cells, for instance in the systemic blood circulation, could be identified according to increases of intracellular [Ca2+] levels, which are caused by variety of toxic stimuli. Negatively charged, neutral and positively charged polystyrene particles of different sizes were used to study the role of size and surface properties on viability, membrane disruption, apoptosis, lysosome function, intracellular [Ca2+] levels and generation of oxidative stress. Silica particles served to test this hypothesis. Twenty nm polystyrene particles as well as 12 nm and 40 nm silica particles caused membrane damage and apoptosis with no preference of the surface charge. Only 20 nm plain and amine functionalized polystyrene particles cause oxidative stress and only the plain particles lysosomal damage. A potential role of surface charge was identified for 200 nm polystyrene particles, where only the amidine particles caused lysosomal damage. Increases in intracellular [Ca2+] levels and cytotoxicity after 24 h was often linked but determination of intracellular [Ca2+] levels could serve to characterize further the type of membrane damage. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Applied Toxicology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
C lostridium difficile surface proteins are anchored to the cell wall using CWB2 motifs that recognise the anionic polymer PSII

Gram‐positive surface proteins can be covalently or non‐covalently anchored to the cell wall and can impart important properties on the bacterium in respect of cell envelope organisation and interaction with the environment. We describe here a mechanism of protein anchoring involving tandem CWB2 motifs found in a large number of cell wall proteins in the Firmicutes. In the Clostridium difficile cell wall protein family, we show the three tandem repeats of the CWB2 motif are essential for correct anchoring to the cell wall. CWB2 repeats are non‐identical and cannot substitute for each other, as shown by the secretion into the culture supernatant of proteins containing variations in the patterns of repeats. A conserved Ile Leu Leu sequence within the CWB2 repeats is essential for correct anchoring, although a preceding proline residue is dispensable. We propose a likely genetic locus encoding synthesis of the anionic polymer PSII and, using RNA knock‐down of key genes, reveal subtle effects on cell wall composition. We show that the anionic polymer PSII binds two cell wall proteins, SlpA and Cwp2, and these interactions require the CWB2 repeats, defining a new mechanism of protein anchoring in Gram‐positive bacteria.
Evaluation of the perceptual magnet effect and categorical perception for musical timbre

Evaluation of the Perceptual Magnet Effect and Categorical Perception for Musical Timbre by Melissa Kay Griffith Dr. Karen Kemtes, Examination Committee Chair Assistant Professor of Psychology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Recent auditory research has raised fundamental questions about the perceptual magnet effect (PME), where discrimination performance is poorer for stimuli that approach best exemplars o f a phonetic category. It has been suggested that the effect reflects inter-categorical comparisons, and might not generalize to nonspeech. Three experiments addressed these concerns. In Experiment I prototype and non-prototype stimuli were determined from goodness ratings o f synthesized (violin) timbres varying in center frequencies of El and F2 formants. Experiment 2 evaluated for a PME using discrimination data, and influences from other categories by comparing goodness ratings from stimuli in prototype, non-prototype, and no context conditions. Experiment 3 used labeling and discrimination tasks to assess if categorical perception occurs with timbres. Despite having stimuli reliably identified to be within the intended category, no PME was found. It is suggested that the PME, if a real phenomenon, is too difficult to tease apart from categorization tendencies.
Genetic programming function representation for Fuzzy Polar speed controller of induction motor

This paper presents a Genetic Programming (GP) function representation of Fuzzy Polar Controller (FPC) applied to Volt/Hertz closed loop induction motor speed control. The induction motor is modeled in terms of d-q axis with synchronous frame associated with the stator excitation frequency. The system is modeled and simulated under MATLAB/Simulink environment. Performances of the GP function controller are analyzed and compared to the Fuzzy Polar Controller. The simulation results show that the GP function controller gives performance very close to Fuzzy Polar controller in transient and steady-state responses.
Middleware for remote healthcare monitoring

The development of middleware has emerged as an area of expanding research, focused on the integration of services available for distributed applications. In this context, many challenges have also arisen with the use of middleware, such as communication, flexibility, performance, as well as integration with the Web and the computer itself. The development of middleware for mobile computing poses new challenges to developers because of the limitations of mobile devices. Thus, these developers must understand the new mobile computing and middleware technologies in order to integrate them. The objective of this work is to develop a service-oriented context-aware middleware for real-time data management in real-time using mobile devices.
Distance Based Subspace Clustering with Flexible Dimension Partitioning

Traditional similarity or distance measurements usually become meaningless when the dimensions of the datasets increase, which has detrimental effects on clustering performance. In this paper, we propose a distance-based subspace clustering model, called nCluster, to find groups of objects that have similar values on subsets of dimensions. Instead of using a grid based approach to partition the data space into non-overlapping rectangle cells as in the density based subspace clustering algorithms, the nCluster model uses a more flexible method to partition the dimensions to preserve meaningful and significant clusters. We develop an efficient algorithm to mine only maximal nClusters. A set of experiments are conducted to show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm and the effectiveness of the new model in preserving significant clusters.
STAT3 Activation Promotes Oncolytic HSV1 Replication in Glioma Cells

Recent studies report that STAT3 signaling is a master regulator of mesenchymal transformation of gliomas and that STAT3 modulated genes are highly expressed in the mesenchymal transcriptome of gliomas. A currently studied experimental treatment for gliomas consists of intratumoral injection of oncolytic viruses (OV), such as oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV). We have described one particular oHSV (rQNestin34.5) that exhibits potent anti-glioma activity in animal models. Here, we hypothesized that alterations in STAT3 signaling in glioma cells may affect the replicative ability of rQNestin34.5. In fact, human U251 glioma cells engineered to either over-express STAT3 or with genetic down-regulation of STAT3 supported oHSV replication to a significantly higher or lesser degree, respectively, when compared to controls. Administration of pharmacologic agents that increase STAT3 phosphorylation/activation (Valproic Acid) or increase STAT3 levels (Interleukin 6) also significantly enhanced oHSV replication. Instead, administration of inhibitors of STAT3 phosphorylation/activation (LLL12) significantly reduced oHSV replication. STAT3 led to a reduction in interferon signaling in oHSV infected cells and inhibition of interferon signaling abolished the effect of STAT3 on oHSV replication. These data thus indicate that STAT3 signaling in malignant gliomas enhances oHSV replication, likely by inhibiting the interferon response in infected glioma cells, thus suggesting avenues for possible potentiation of oncolytic virotherapy.
Oort Cloud Formation and Dynamics

The Oort cloud is the primary source of the “nearly isotropic” comets, which include new and returning long-period comets and Halley-type comets. We focus on the following topics: (1) the orbital distribution of known comets and the cometary “fading” problem; (2) the population and mass of the Oort cloud, including the hypothetical inner Oort cloud; (3) the number of Oort cloud comets that survive from the origin of the solar system to the present time, and the timescale for building the Oort cloud; (4) the relative importance of different regions of the protoplanetary disk in populating the Oort cloud; and (5) current constraints on the structure of the Oort cloud and future prospects for learning more about its structure.
On the Ergodic Secret-Key Agreement Over Spatially Correlated Multiple-Antenna Channels With Public Discussion

We consider secret-key agreement with public discussion over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Rayleigh fast-fading channels under correlated environment. We assume that transmit, legitimate receiver, and eavesdropper antennas are correlated. The legitimate receiver and the eavesdropper are assumed to have perfect channel knowledge while the transmitter has only knowledge of the correlation matrices. First, we derive the expression of the secret-key capacity under the considered setup. We prove that the optimal transmit strategy achieving the secret-key capacity consists in transmitting independent Gaussian signals along the eingenvectors of the transmit correlation matrix. The powers allocated to each channel mode are determined as the solution to a numerical optimization problem. A necessary and sufficient condition for beamforming (i.e., transmitting along the strongest channel mode) to be capacity-achieving is derived. Moreover, we analyze the impact of correlation matrices on the system performance. Finally, we study the system's performance in the two extreme power regimes. In the high-power regime, we provide closed-form expressions of the gain/loss due to correlation. In the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, we investigate the energy efficiency of the system by determining the minimum energy required for sharing a secret-key bit and the wideband slope while highlighting the impact of correlation matrices.
Feature evaluation of factorized self-localization

Localization on a digital map is a crucial point for many advanced driver assistance systems that make use of digital map data. State of the art work mainly relies on inaccurate GPS measurements, special and costly sensors or especially attributed digital maps. In contrast to that, this work presents a localization algorithm with in-vehicle available sensors and a standard navigation map. A factorized state estimation that computes position and orientation with separate features allows accurate and reliable positioning. This work thereto proposes correlation-based features that match road curvatures of digital map and sensor data for position estimation. The vehicle orientation on the digital map can then be computed by either matching an egomotion trajectory to the digital map road geometry or by using an optical lane recognition system. Sensitive parameters of this approach are thoroughly evaluated with a highly precise DGPS reference system.
Bias due to lack of patient blinding in clinical trials. A systematic review of trials randomizing patients to blind and nonblind sub-studies.

BACKGROUND Blinding patients in clinical trials is a key methodological procedure, but the expected degree of bias due to nonblinded patients on estimated treatment effects is unknown. METHODS Systematic review of randomized clinical trials with one sub-study (i.e. experimental vs control) involving blinded patients and another, otherwise identical, sub-study involving nonblinded patients. Within each trial, we compared the difference in effect sizes (i.e. standardized mean differences) between the sub-studies. A difference <0 indicates that nonblinded patients generated a more optimistic effect estimate. We pooled the differences with random-effects inverse variance meta-analysis, and explored reasons for heterogeneity. RESULTS Our main analysis included 12 trials (3869 patients). The average difference in effect size for patient-reported outcomes was -0.56 (95% confidence interval -0.71 to -0.41), (I(2)=60%, P=0.004), i.e. nonblinded patients exaggerated the effect size by an average of 0.56 standard deviation, but with considerable variation. Two of the 12 trials also used observer-reported outcomes, showing no indication of exaggerated effects due lack of patient blinding. There was a larger effect size difference in 10 acupuncture trials [-0.63 (-0.77 to -0.49)], than in the two non-acupuncture trials [-0.17 (-0.41 to 0.07)]. Lack of patient blinding also increased attrition and use of co-interventions: ratio of control group attrition risk 1.79 (1.18 to 2.70), and ratio of control group co-intervention risk 1.55 (0.99 to 2.43). CONCLUSIONS This study provides empirical evidence of pronounced bias due to lack of patient blinding in complementary/alternative randomized clinical trials with patient-reported outcomes.
Coding theorem and strong converse for quantum channels

We present a new proof of Holevo's (1973, 1977) coding theorem for transmitting classical information through quantum channels, and its strong converse. The technique is largely inspired by Wolfwitz's (1964) combinatorial approach using types of sequences. As a byproduct of our approach which is independent of previous ones, both in the coding theorem and the converse, we can give a new proof of Holevo's information bound.