Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regret Lower Bound and Optimal Algorithm in Finite Stochastic Partial Monitoring

Partial monitoring is a general model for sequential learning with limited feedback formalized as a game between two players. In this game, the learner chooses an action and at the same time the opponent chooses an outcome, then the learner suffers a loss and receives a feedback signal. The goal of the learner is to minimize the total loss. In this paper, we study partial monitoring with finite actions and stochastic outcomes. We derive a logarithmic distribution-dependent regret lower bound that defines the hardness of the problem. Inspired by the DMED algorithm (Honda and Takemura, 2010) for the multi-armed bandit problem, we propose PM-DMED, an algorithm that minimizes the distribution-dependent regret. PM-DMED significantly outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms in numerical experiments. To show the optimality of PM-DMED with respect to the regret bound, we slightly modify the algorithm by introducing a hinge function (PM-DMED-Hinge). Then, we derive an asymptotically optimal regret upper bound of PM-DMED-Hinge that matches the lower bound.
Modeling church services supply and performance , using geographically weighted regression

The objective of this study is to develop a multiple linear regression model that measures the relationship between the church services supply and the attendance to the services in the Uppsala diocese, Church of Sweden. By reviewing previous models and examining the nature of data available, two research questions were introduced, namely, the problem of omitted variables and the problem of spatial autocorrelation. For the first question, two methods were compared, namely, the Y-lag method and the first-differenced equation. Statistical tests then showed that the latter was more preferable for this study. For the second question, geographically weighted regression was used to examine the spatial variations in relationships estimated by above modeling strategies. However, no significant spatial variation was found for them. In conclusion, by using the ordinary least square estimation for the first-differenced equation the most suitable regression model was obtained. The data showed no need to consider the issue of spatial non-stationarity.
A CATALOG OF X-RAY POINT SOURCES FROM TWO MEGASECONDS OF CHANDRA OBSERVATIONS OF THE GALACTIC CENTER

We present a catalog of 9017 X-ray sources identified in Chandra observations of a 2°× 0. °8 field around the Galactic center. This enlarges the number of known X-ray sources in the region by a factor of 2.5. The catalog incorporates all of the ACIS-I observations as of 2007 August, which total 2.25 Ms of exposure. At the distance to the Galactic center (8 kpc), we are sensitive to sources with luminosities of 4 × 1032 erg s−1 (0.5–8.0 keV; 90% confidence) over an area of 1 deg2, and up to an order of magnitude more sensitive in the deepest exposure (1.0 Ms) around Sgr A*. The positions of 60% of our sources are accurate to <1 ″ (95% confidence), and 20% have positions accurate to <0. ″5. We search for variable sources, and find that 3% exhibit flux variations within an observation, and 10% exhibit variations from observation-to-observation. We also find one source, CXOUGC J174622.7 − 285218, with a periodic 1745 s signal (1.4% chance probability), which is probably a magnetically accreting cataclysmic variable. We compare the spatial distribution of X-ray sources to a model for the stellar distribution, and find 2. 8σ evidence for excesses in the numbers of X-ray sources in the region of recent star formation encompassed by the Arches, Quintuplet, and Galactic center star clusters. These excess sources are also seen in the luminosity distribution of the X-ray sources, which is flatter near the Arches and Quintuplet than elsewhere in the field. These excess point sources, along with a similar longitudinal asymmetry in the distribution of diffuse iron emission that has been reported by other authors, probably have their origin in the young stars that are prominent at l ≈ 0. °1.
Laminar Differences in Dendritic Structure of Pyramidal Neurons in the Juvenile Rat Somatosensory Cortex

Pyramidal cell structure varies between different cortical areas and species, indicating that the cortical circuits that these cells participate in are likely to be characterized by different functional capabilities. Structural differences between cortical layers have been traditionally reported using either the Golgi method or intracellular labeling, but the structure of pyramidal cells has not previously been systematically analyzed across all cortical layers at a particular age. In the present study, we investigated the dendritic architecture of complete basal arbors of pyramidal neurons in layers II, III, IV, Va, Vb, and VI of the hindlimb somatosensory cortical region of postnatal day 14 rats. We found that the characteristics of basal dendritic morphologies are statistically different in each cortical layer. The variations in size and branching pattern that exist between pyramidal cells of different cortical layers probably reflect the particular functional properties that are characteristic of the cortical circuit in which they participate. This new set of complete basal dendritic arbors of 3D-reconstructed pyramidal cell morphologies across each cortical layer will provide new insights into interlaminar information processing in the cerebral cortex.
Amphiphilic block copolymers enhance the cellular uptake of DNA molecules through a facilitated plasma membrane transport

Amphiphilic block copolymers have been developed recently for their efficient, in vivo transfection activities in various tissues. Surprisingly, we observed that amphiphilic block copolymers such as Lutrol® do not allow the transfection of cultured cells in vitro, suggesting that the cell environment is strongly involved in their mechanism of action. In an in vitro model mimicking the in vivo situation we showed that pre-treatment of cells with Lutrol®, prior to their incubation with DNA molecules in the presence of cationic lipid, resulted in higher levels of reporter gene expression. We also showed that this improvement in transfection efficiency associated with the presence of Lutrol® was observed irrespective of the plasmid promoter. Considering the various steps that could be improved by Lutrol®, we concluded that the nucleic acids molecule internalization step is the most important barrier affected by Lutrol®. Microscopic examination of transfected cells pre-treated with Lutrol® confirmed that more plasmid DNA copies were internalized. Absence of cationic lipid did not impair Lutrol®-mediated DNA internalization, but critically impaired endosomal escape. Our results strongly suggest that in vivo, Lutrol® improves transfection by a physicochemical mechanism, leading to cellular uptake enhancement through a direct delivery into the cytoplasm, and not via endosomal pathways.
On the Minimization Over Sparse Symmetric Sets: Projections, Optimality Conditions, and Algorithms

We consider the problem of minimizing a general continuously differentiable function over symmetric sets under sparsity constraints. These type of problems are generally hard to solve because the sparsity constraint induces a combinatorial constraint into the problem, rendering the feasible set to be nonconvex. We begin with a study of the properties of the orthogonal projection operator onto sparse symmetric sets. Based on this study, we derive efficient methods for computing sparse projections under various symmetry assumptions. We then introduce and study three types of optimality conditions: basic feasibility, L -stationarity, and coordinatewise optimality. A hierarchy between the optimality conditions is established by using the results derived on the orthogonal projection operator. Methods for generating points satisfying the various optimality conditions are presented, analyzed, and finally tested on specific applications.
Obesity and Endocrine Dysfunction Programmed by Maternal Smoking in Pregnancy and Lactation

Obesity is a global epidemic, and maternal smoking has been shown to be associated with the development of childhood obesity. Overall, approximately 40% of children worldwide are exposed to tobacco smoke at home. It is well known that environmental changes within a critical window of development, such as gestation or lactation, can initiate permanent alterations in metabolism that lead to diseases in adulthood, a phenomenon called programming. It is known that programming is based on epigenetic alterations (changes in DNA methylation, histone acetylation, or small interfering RNA expression) that change the expression pattern of several genes. However, little is known concerning the mechanisms by which smoke exposure in neonatal life programs the adipose tissue and endocrine function. Here, we review several epidemiological and experimental studies that confirm the association between maternal nicotine or tobacco exposure during gestation or lactation and the development of obesity and endocrine dysfunction. For example, a positive correlation was demonstrated in rodents between increased serum leptin in the neonatal period and exposure of the mothers to nicotine during lactation, and the further development of leptin and insulin resistance, and thyroid and adrenal dysfunction, in adulthood in the same offspring. Thus, a smoke-free environment during the lactation period is essential to improving health outcomes in adulthood and reducing the risk for future diseases. An understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of smoking on programming can provide new insights into therapeutic strategies for obesity.
An efficient nonlinear circuit simulation technique

This paper proposes a novel method for the analysis and simulation of integrated circuits (ICs) with the potential to greatly shorten the IC design cycle. The circuits are assumed to be subjected to input signals that have widely separated rates of variation, e.g., in communication systems, an RF carrier modulated by a low-frequency information signal. The proposed technique involves two stages. Initially, a particular order result for the circuit response is obtained using a multiresolution collocation scheme involving cubic spline wavelet decomposition. A more accurate solution is then obtained by adding another layer to the wavelet series approximation. However, the novel technique presented here enables the reuse of results acquired in the first stage to obtain the second-stage result. Therefore, vast gains in efficiency are obtained. Furthermore, a nonlinear model-order reduction technique can readily be used in both stages making the calculations even more efficient. Results will highlight the efficacy of the proposed approach
Computer Simulations of Soft Matter: Linking the Scales

In the last few decades, computer simulations have become a fundamental tool in the field of soft matter science, allowing researchers to investigate the properties of a large variety of systems. Nonetheless, even the most powerful computational resources presently available are, in general, sufficient to simulate complex biomolecules only for a few nanoseconds. This limitation is often circumvented by using coarse-grained models, in which only a subset of the system’s degrees of freedom is retained; for an effective and insightful use of these simplified models; however, an appropriate parametrization of the interactions is of fundamental importance. Additionally, in many cases the removal of fine-grained details in a specific, small region of the system would destroy relevant features; such cases can be treated using dual-resolution simulation methods, where a subregion of the system is described with high resolution, and a coarse-grained representation is employed in the rest of the simulation domain. In this review we discuss the basic notions of coarse-graining theory, presenting the most common methodologies employed to build low-resolution descriptions of a system and putting particular emphasis on their similarities and differences. The AdResS and H-AdResS adaptive resolution simulation schemes are reported as examples of dual-resolution approaches, especially focusing in particular on their theoretical background.
Eficacia del entrenamiento cognitivo basado en nuevas tecnologías en pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer

Efficacy of cognitive training programs based on new software technologies in patients with AlzheimerType dementia. The study aims to assess the efficacy of the Big Brain Academy (BBA), a computerized cognitive training program (CT) based on video games, compared to the Integrated Psychostimulation Program (IPP), a classical CT tool for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). A total of 45 patients with AD at the mild stage were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions. Two treatment groups were established, in which patients received either a stimulation program with BBA (EABB) or a traditional stimulation program (EAPI), based on paper-and-pencil tasks, for twelve weeks. A third group, the control group (EANT), did not receive any treatment during this period. The differential effectiveness of the programs was evaluated through pre-post design, considering neuropsychological, behavioral, and functional standard measures as outcome variables. The EABB group showed significantly slower rates of cognitive decline compared to the EAPI and EANT groups. Furthermore, the EABB group reported significantly greater decrease in depressive symptoms in comparison with the EAPI and EANT groups. The BBA program was more effective than IPP to reduce cognitive decline and depressive symptoms in patients with AD.
Randomized controlled trial of Mindfulness-based cancer recovery versus supportive expressive group therapy for distressed survivors of breast cancer.

PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of the following two empirically supported group interventions to help distressed survivors of breast cancer cope: mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR) and supportive-expressive group therapy (SET). PATIENTS AND METHODS This multisite, randomized controlled trial assigned 271 distressed survivors of stage I to III breast cancer to MBCR, SET, or a 1-day stress management control condition. MBCR focused on training in mindfulness meditation and gentle yoga, whereas SET focused on emotional expression and group support. Both intervention groups included 18 hours of professional contact. Measures were collected at baseline and after intervention by assessors blind to study condition. Primary outcome measures were mood and diurnal salivary cortisol slopes. Secondary outcomes were stress symptoms, quality of life, and social support. RESULTS Using linear mixed-effects models, in intent-to-treat analyses, cortisol slopes were maintained over time in both SET (P = .002) and MBCR (P = .011) groups relative to the control group, whose cortisol slopes became flatter. Women in MBCR improved more over time on stress symptoms compared with women in both the SET (P = .009) and control (P = .024) groups. Per-protocol analyses showed greater improvements in the MBCR group in quality of life compared with the control group (P = .005) and in social support compared with the SET group (P = .012). CONCLUSION In the largest trial to date, MBCR was superior for improving stress levels, quality of life and social support [CORRECTED] for distressed survivors of breast cancer. Both SET and MBCR also resulted in more normative diurnal cortisol profiles than the control condition. The clinical implications of this finding require further investigation.
Application of a modified gaseous exposure system to the in vitro toxicological assessment of tobacco smoke toxicants

Tobacco smoke is a complex mixture of over 6,000 individual chemical constituents. Approximately 150 of these have been identified as ‘tobacco smoke toxicants’ due to their known toxicological effects. A number of these toxicants are present in the gaseous phase of tobacco smoke. This presents a technical challenge when assessing the toxicological effects of these chemicals in vitro. We have adapted a commercially available tobacco smoke exposure system to enable the assessment of the contribution of individual smoke toxicants to the overall toxicological effects of whole mainstream cigarette smoke (WS). Here we present a description of the exposure system and the methodology used. We use the example of a gaseous tobacco smoke toxicant, ethylene oxide (EtO), a Group 1 IARC carcinogen and known mutagen, to illustrate how this methodology can be applied to the assessment of genotoxicity of gaseous chemicals in the context of WS. In the present study we found that EtO was positive in Salmonella typhimurium strain YG1042, a strain that is sensitive to tobacco smoke. However, EtO did not increase the mutagenicity of the WS mixture when it was added at greatly higher concentrations than those found typically in WS. The findings presented here demonstrate the suitability of this exposure system for the assessment of the mutagenic potential of gases in vitro. Whilst we have focused on tobacco smoke toxicants, this system has broad application potential in studying the biological effects of exposure to a wide range of gaseous compounds that are present within complex aerosol mixtures. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 55:662–672, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., on behalf of Environmental Mutagen Society
Estimated glomerular filtration rate and its association with the retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) locus on human chromosome 10q23.

BACKGROUND We tested for associations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) haplotypes found on human chromosome 10q23. This locus had been linked to eGFR in a previous linkage scan in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS We analysed 469 patients with Type 2 diabetes and 174 normoalbuminuric controls for associations between RBP4 haplotypes and eGFR. For comparison with controls, 295 cases with proteinuria/end-stage renal disease were tested for associations with advanced diabetic nephropathy. Genotyping was performed using high-resolution DNA melting assays. Data analysis was performed using the haplo.stats package. RESULTS Genetic variations in RBP4 were not associated with advanced diabetic nephropathy. Compared with the common A/G/G/C haplotype, C/A/A/C carriers among the normoalbuminuric controls had higher eGFR values among younger patients but lower eGFRs among the older patients (effect size=2.2, P=3.3×10(-7)). Furthermore, while eGFR values were fairly consistent over the range of systolic blood pressure (SBP) values for the common haplotype, eGFR in C/A/A/C carriers increased with SBP (effect size=3.6, P=1.5×10(-2)). There was a significant interaction between the C/A/A/C haplotype and HbA1c as they affect eGFR compared to the common haplotype (effect size=2.1, P=2.1×10(-3)). Power calculations demonstrated that our study had >90% power to detect the observed interactions even while performing multiple hypotheses testing. The interaction between SBP and the C/A/A/C haplotype remained significant (P=2.8×10(-2)) even when these three haplotype-environment interactions were simultaneously estimated. CONCLUSION RBP4 haplotypes may be important in genetically modulating renal function in response to environmental challenges among patients with Type 2 diabetes.
TCP Dynamic Acknowledgment Delay: Theory and Practice

We study an on-line problem that is motivated by the networking problem of dynamically adjusting delays of acknowledgments in the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). The theoretical problem we study is the following. There is a sequence of n packet arrival times A = and a look-ahead coefficient L. The goal is to partition A into k subsequences sigma1, sigma2, . ,sigmak (where a subsequence end is defined by an acknowledgment) that minimizes a linear combination of the cost for the number of acknowledgments sent and the cost for the additional latency introduced by delaying acknowledgments. At each arrival, an oracle provides the algorithm with the times of the next L arrivals. For all the results of our paper, we describe how to incorporate other contraints to better match the true acknowledgment delay problem. We first define two different objective functions for measuring the cost of a solution, each with its own measure of latency cost. For each objective function we first given an O (nsquared)-time dynamic programming algorithm for optimally solbing the off-line problem. Then. Read complete abstract on page 2.
Readiness of Makassar Public High School Counsellors in Coping Organizational Change

This study aims to determine the readiness of State High School counsellors in the city of Makassar who are confronted with organizational change. The assessment is viewed from the aspect of preparedness of counsellors that includes self-esteem, optimism and perceived control. A mixed method was used in this study that was simultaneously embedded. Survey questionnaires were distributed to 68 counsellors of State High Schools in Makassar for purposes of quantitative analysis, while an interview was conducted to five counsellor-coordinators for purposes of qualitative analysis. Â Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to best analyze the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was analyzed manually. The study revealed that the level of readiness of the 68 counsellorsâ€™ performance was low in coping with organizational change. This implies that there is a need for the counsellors to improve their performance in the future. Through the qualitative analysis, it was found out that the counsellors have numerous difficulties in their ability to cope with organizational change, while the result of good performance was noted in the quantitative analysis that was conducted.
An improved method for traffic control relying on close-loop control theory

Urban traffic adaptive control has been considered the most advanced traffic control in the traffic engineering, however, it belongs to the low-level (open-loop control)in the control engineering theory. In recent years, the promotion and application of computer video detection technology have made the real-time detection of delays possible, and have also provided a platform and opportunity for the open-loop control turning into closed-loop control in the traffic control. The parameters referring to traffic control are extracted from video traffic detection, therefore, the control effect is evaluated. Based on the evaluation results, the requirement for adjustment scheme can be analyzed, and a new traffic control scheme can be generated to construct the urban roads traffic control closed-loop self-tuning system. So the system control strategy can be adjusted real-timely according to the system output, and the open-loop control will be upgraded to the closed-loop control in the traffic control.