Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combinatorial Multi-armed Bandit with Probabilistically Triggered Arms: A Case with Bounded Regret

In this paper, we study the combinatorial multi-armed bandit problem (CMAB) with probabilistically triggered arms (PTAs). Under the assumption that the arm triggering probabilities (ATPs) are positive for all arms, we prove that a class of upper confidence bound (UCB) policies, named Combinatorial UCB with exploration rate $\kappa$ (CUCB-$\kappa$), and Combinatorial Thompson Sampling (CTS), which estimates the expected states of the arms via Thompson sampling, achieve bounded regret. In addition, we prove that CUCB-$0$ and CTS incur $O(\sqrt{T})$ gap-independent regret. These results improve the results in previous works, which show $O(\log T)$ gap-dependent and $O(\sqrt{T\log T})$ gap-independent regrets, respectively, under no assumptions on the ATPs. Then, we numerically evaluate the performance of CUCB-$\kappa$ and CTS in a real-world movie recommendation problem, where the actions correspond to recommending a set of movies, the arms correspond to the edges between the movies and the users, and the goal is to maximize the total number of users that are attracted by at least one movie. Our numerical results complement our theoretical findings on bounded regret. Apart from this problem, our results also directly apply to the online influence maximization (OIM) problem studied in numerous prior works.
CTX-M-5, a Novel Cefotaxime-Hydrolyzing β-Lactamase from an Outbreak of Salmonella typhimuriumin Latvia

ABSTRACT At a children’s hospital in Riga, Latvia, isolates identified asSalmonella typhimurium were found to be resistant to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. Two of the resistant strains were analyzed for the mechanism of cephalosporin resistance. Isoelectric focusing revealed a common β-lactamase with a pI of 8.8. In addition, one of the strains produced a pI 7.6 β-lactamase. A transconjugant producing only the pI 7.6 enzyme was susceptible to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins; therefore, this enzyme was most likely SHV-1. Transformants producing only the pI 8.8 β-lactamase were resistant to cefotaxime and aztreonam but were susceptible or intermediate to ceftazidime. A substrate profile determined spectrophotometrically with purified enzyme revealed potent activity against cefotaxime, with a relative kcat value of 95 (benzylpenicillin equal to 100). The enzyme showed lower relativekcat values for ceftazidime (3.3) and aztreonam (9.3). In addition, the enzyme was inhibited by clavulanate, sulbactam and tazobactam, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 19, 100, and 3.4 nM, respectively. These results indicated the presence of an unusual extended-spectrum β-lactamase. The gene expressing the pI 8.8 β-lactamase was cloned. Nucleotide sequencing revealed a β-lactamase gene that differs from the gene encoding CTX-M-2, which also originated from S. typhimurium, by 11 nucleotides, 4 of which result in amino acid substitutions: Ala27Thr, Val230Gly, Glu254Ala, and Ile278Val. These results indicated the presence of a novel extended-spectrum β-lactamase, designated CTX-M-5, that specifically confers resistance to cefotaxime.
Causal Relationship among Debt, GDP and Inflation in France

This paper examined the causal relationship among government debt, gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation in France using annual data from 1980 to 2010. The stationarity of these data series were first checked by ADF and PP tests for unit root hypothesis. Vector Autoregression (VAR) model and Granger causality test were further applied to analyze the casual relationship. The results indicated that there were bi-directional relationships between government debt and inflation, which is completely corresponding with the earlier comments in the literature and authenticates the evidences of the connection between government debt and inflation. While the unidirectional causality running from inflation to GDP and from government debt to GDP were also robustly confirmed.
Preponderance of thiopurine S-methyltransferase deficiency and heterozygosity among patients intolerant to mercaptopurine or azathioprine.

PURPOSE To assess thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) phenotype and genotype in patients who were intolerant to treatment with mercaptopurine (MP) or azathioprine (AZA), and to evaluate their clinical management. PATIENTS AND METHODS TPMT phenotype and thiopurine metabolism were assessed in all patients referred between 1994 and 1999 for evaluation of excessive toxicity while receiving MP or AZA. TPMT activity was measured by radiochemical analysis, TPMT genotype was determined by mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses for the TPMT*2, *3A, *3B, and *3C alleles, and thiopurine metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Of 23 patients evaluated, six had TPMT deficiency (activity < 5 U/mL of packed RBCs [pRBCs]; homozygous mutant), nine had intermediate TPMT activity (5 to 13 U/mL of pRBCs; heterozygotes), and eight had high TPMT activity (> 13.5 U/mL of pRBCs; homozygous wildtype). The 65.2% frequency of TPMT-deficient and heterozygous individuals among these toxic patients is significantly greater than the expected 10% frequency in the general population (P <.001, chi(2)). TPMT phenotype and genotype were concordant in all TPMT-deficient and all homozygous-wildtype patients, whereas five patients with heterozygous phenotypes did not have a TPMT mutation detected. Before thiopurine dosage adjustments, TPMT-deficient patients experienced more frequent hospitalization, more platelet transfusions, and more missed doses of chemotherapy. Hematologic toxicity occurred in more than 90% of patients, whereas hepatotoxicity occurred in six patients (26%). Both patients who presented with only hepatic toxicity had a homozygous-wildtype TPMT phenotype. After adjustment of thiopurine dosages, the TPMT-deficient and heterozygous patients tolerated therapy without acute toxicity. CONCLUSION There is a significant (> six-fold) overrepresentation of TPMT deficiency or heterozygosity among patients developing dose-limiting hematopoietic toxicity from therapy containing thiopurines. However, with appropriate dosage adjustments, TPMT-deficient and heterozygous patients can be treated with thiopurines, without acute dose-limiting toxicity.
Extracted Pole Bandpass Filters Based On The Slotted Irises

A new design of directly coupled bandpass filter that provides extracted stopband poles is presented by the example of a capacitive iris filter. The attenuation poles are introduced by cutting in iris strips additional slots parallel to the wider waveguide wall. This way of extracted poles implementation does not require spatially developed elements (in particular overmoded ones). The K-inverter corresponding the modified iris changes slightly and may be easily fine-tuned. Additional slot dimensions determine the location and Q-factor of the attenuation poles, which may be placed in the parasitic passband or on a required skirt of the main one. Numerical examples for the three-section filter in WR90 waveguide demonstrate the possibility to increase the skirt selectivity or to improve the stopband attenuation without any extension of the filter dimensions, keeping the same return loss within the passband.
Adenylate compartmentation and storage in coelomic cells of the polychaete Nereis virens

The concentrations of adenine nucleotides (AMP, ADP, ATP) were determined in coelomic cells (eleocytes) of the polychaete Nereis virens. In cells of immature and male animals, total ADP and AMP contents (each 10­15 µmol ml-1 packed cell volume) greatly exceeded that of ATP (0.8 µmol ml-1 packed cell volume). 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of living eleocytes showed that the high concentrations of both AMP and ADP are free in solution. Comparisons of in vivo NMR spectra with those obtained from metabolite extracts of eleocytes suggest that the adenylate pools are compartmentalized, with a large pool being in an environment with a pH<6.0 and a small pool being in a domain where pH>6.7. This indicates that eleocytes are capable of storing high concentrations of ADP and AMP without inhibiting energy metabolism by sequestering these compounds into an acidic compartment. The large acidic vacuole characteristic of eleocytes may function as this compartment.
A spur-reduction technique in a fully integrated CMOS frequency synthesizer for 5-GHz WLAN SOC

A spur-reduction technique is presented to accomplish low reference spurs while maintaining fast settling time for a fully integrated 5-GHz frequency synthesizer. The proposed synthesizer architecture smoothly adapts the loop parameters according to different operating modes, so as to reduce the loop bandwidth in the locked state to further attenuate the reference spurs. In addition, a high-performance charge pump circuit is incorporated with the adaptive synthesizer to alleviate non-ideal effects that cause spurs. The synthesizer, operating with a supply voltage of 1.2 V in a 0.18-μm CMOS process, achieves a low reference spur level of −60 dBc and a fast settling time of 32 μs for a frequency jump of 220 MHz.
Electroplating: Applications in the Semiconductor Industry

There is a lot of research that has been done on electroplating of metals depending on the type of application. In this chapter, the importance of this technique to the semiconductor industry is discussed in detail from an experimental as well as a modeling standpoint. In particular, the effect of solution variables i.e. chloride, accelerator, suppressor on copper electrodeposition is discussed. This knowledge is applied to achieve a defect-free, bottom-up metal/copper fill that eventually, is one of the most critical processes in this billion-dollar industry.
Low level of DNA repair in human chromosome 1 heterochromatin

Band 1q12 is a breakage prone region commonly involved in chromosome 1 rearrangements found in human cancer. We have investigated whether a lack of DNA repair can account for the observed 1q12 fragility. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)‐induced repair sites originating in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle were converted to chromosome breaks by blocking the re‐synthesis step of excision repair with cytosine arabinoside. Thus, unfilled repair gaps reached S‐phase and were detected as chromosome breaks after cell division. Chromosome breakage in the overall genome was monitored by scoring of micronuclei. Breaks in 1q12 were detected in interphase lymphocytes by in situ hybridization with tandem probes targeting the chromosome 1 centromere (D1Z5) and the adjacent heterochromatic band 1q12 (pUC1.77). Mitomycin‐C (0.12 and 0.24 μg/ml) and X‐rays (1 and 2 Gy) were used as positive controls to check the suitability of the tandem labelling approach in detecting 1q12 clastogenicity. Our data indicated that, although the methodology was suitable to detect 1q12 breakage and a high level of overall genome DNA repair occurred, there was a low level of EMS‐induced DNA repair sites in 1q12 converted to hromosome breaks. This finding was consistent throughout G1 phase, suggesting that there is a relatively low level of DNA excision repair in human chromosome 1 heterochromatin. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 20:173–184, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Observer-Generated Information Process: Composite Stages, Cooperative “Logical” Structure, and Self-Organization

ABSTRACT Conventional information science generally considers an information process, but traditionally uses the probability measure for random events, and Shannon’s entropy measure as an uncertainty function of the states. The cutting process on separated states decreases quantity information concealed in the states correlation, holding hidden process information. Up to now, “information process” has not had a scientifically conclusive definition nor its implicit structure. The presenting information process performs logical operations with discrete information units (Bits) to achieve a goal, integrating the discrete mutually connected sequence of symbols and the extracting process’ hidden information in the structure of an information Observer. The probing time-space observation develops the unit of space-time geometry-memorizing logic. The defined information process starts generating observations of a random process via the logic of probing impulses, sequentially cutting the process entropy measure and creating the discrete information units whose integration enfolds the information geometrical structure of an Observer. Found composite stages of the information process and the synthesized optimal process trajectory minimize observation time in an artificially designed information Observer with intellectual searching logic. The analytical modeling, computer simulations, and experimental applications validate the results.
Region covariance based object tracking using Monte Carlo method

Covariance features enabled efficient fusion of different type of image features have low dimensions and covariance-based object tracking has been proved robust, versatile for a modest computational cost. In this paper, a method combined Monte Carlo method and covariance features is proposed. Monte Carlo method is used to determine the scope of the search target at the region level. Covariance features are used to model the objects appearance at the object level. An improved object matching and occlusion handling strategies are given, which are followed by an appearance model update method. Experiments show our approach is robust and effective for tracking the object with irregular movement and partial occlusions.
A pharmacological approach to elucidation of the role of different nerve fibres and receptor endings in mediation of pain.

Capsaicin, after initial stimulation, induced a long-lasting insensitivity to chemical pain stimuli without reducing the sensitivity to mechanical pain. The effect was peripheral as shown by recording action potentials from sensory nerves. In order to throw light on the receptors responsible for chemogenic pain, the specificity of the capsaicin effect was analysed. 1. In cats, capsaicin given in close arterial injection excited the slowest conducting C2 fibres as measured by the collision technique on the saphenous nerve. In rats, the frequency of action potentials evoked by s.c. injection of capsaicin was sensitized by rapid warming of the skin area, while sudden cooling had a blocking effect. On the human skin, the threshold of thermal pain was shifted from 45 degrees C to 30-31 degrees C; below this skin temperature, the burning pain and hyperalgesia induced by capsaicin treatment disappeared and cold sensation remained unimpaired. 2. On the human tongue, local capsaicin desensitization resulted in an elevated threshold of warm discrimination, while gustatory sensitivity as well as the capacity for discriminating cold or tactile stimuli remained unimpaired. 3. It is concluded that capsaicin is a selective sensory blocking agent which acts by stimulation and subsequent sensory blockage of polymodal nociceptors and warm receptors.
THE DETECTION OF NON‐IMMUNE HYDROPS THROUGH SECOND‐TRIMESTER MATERNAL SERUM SCREENING

The objective was to investigate whether non‐immune hydrops in euploid pregnancies is associated with alterations in the second‐trimester levels of maternal serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated oestriol (uE3), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Ten singleton cases of fetal non‐immune hydrops were identified. The aetiology and timing of onset of the earliest signs of non‐immune hydrops, including polyhydramnios, in relation to maternal serum screening for Down syndrome were assessed. There was no clear relationship between the aetiology of non‐immune hydrops and the analyte levels, as aetiologies varied widely. AFP levels were elevated overall (median=1·78 MOM) and uE3 levels were unremarkable (median=0·82 MOM). hCG levels were elevated (median=3·53 MOM) when non‐immune hydrops was present at the time of screening, but were unremarkable (median=0·82 MOM) when the non‐immune hydrops presented later. It is concluded that second‐trimester non‐immune hydrops is associated with elevated hCG levels.
Analysis of parasitic resistance in double gate FinFETs with different fin lengths

A significant increase in parasitic resistance (R<inf>PARA</inf>) fluctuation is observed when S/D length is getting smaller than the characteristic length (L<inf>TRANS</inf>). Resistance change evaluated on double gate finFETs with various fin lengths shows an excellent agreement between the experimental data and the analytical model. Further R<inf>PARA</inf> fluctuation improvement can be realized by optimizing the L<inf>TRANS</inf>.
BDNF enhancement of postsynaptic NMDA receptors is blocked by ethanol

The neurotrophin brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates several distinct aspects of synaptic transmission. Physiological and biochemical evidence implicates the NMDA glutamate receptor as one of the targets for BDNF modulation. In the present studies, murine brain slices containing hippocampus and neocortex were used to study the effects of BDNF on excitatory neurotransmission. Acute exposure to BDNF rapidly and reversibly enhanced the magnitude of NMDA‐mediated, but not AMPA receptor‐mediated, synaptic currents, specifically enhancing the activity of NMDA receptors containing the NR2B subunit. This effect of BDNF was dependent on activation of trkB neurotrophin receptors because similar effects were not seen with the related neurotrophins NT‐3 or NGF. Furthermore, activation of trkB receptors in the postsynaptic neuron was required, as BDNF‐induced potentiation was blocked by postsynaptic injection of a trk tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Interestingly, the effect of BDNF was also completely blocked by pretreatment with ethanol, even at concentrations of ethanol that had minimal direct effects on NMDA‐mediated responses. These results provide a potential mechanism for the proposed role for BDNF in activity‐dependent synaptic plasticity and, potentially, learning and memory processes. Synapse 55:52–57, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of Restenosis in Femoropopliteal Arteries: Paclitaxel-Coated Versus Uncoated Balloon: Femoral Paclitaxel Randomized Pilot Trial

Background— The success of percutaneous intervention in peripheral arterial disease is limited by restenosis. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate a novel method of local drug delivery. Methods and Results— This randomized multicenter study with blinded reading enrolled 87 patients in Rutherford class 1 to 4 with occlusion or hemodynamically relevant stenosis, restenosis, or in-stent restenosis of femoropopliteal arteries. Treatment was performed by either conventional uncoated or paclitaxel-coated balloon catheters. The primary end point was late lumen loss at 6 months. Secondary end points included restenosis rate, ankle brachial index, Rutherford class, target lesion revascularization, and tolerance up to >18 months. Before intervention, there were no significant differences in lesion characteristics such as reference diameter (5.3±1.1 versus 5.2±1.0 mm), degree of stenosis (84±11% versus 84±16%), proportion of restenotic lesions (36% versus 33%), and mean lesion length (5.7 cm [0.8 to 22.6 cm] versus 6.1 cm [0.9 to 19.3 cm]) between treatment groups. The 6-month follow-up angiography performed in 31 of 45 and 34 of 42 patients showed less late lumen loss in the coated balloon group (0.5±1.1 versus 1.0±1.1 mm; P=0.031). The number of target lesion revascularizations was lower in the paclitaxel-coated balloon group than in control subjects (3 of 45 versus 14 of 42 patients; P=0.002). Improvement in Rutherford class was greater in the coated balloon group (P=0.045), whereas the improvement in ankle brachial index was not different. The difference in target lesion revascularizations between treatment groups was maintained up to >18 months. No adverse events were assessed as related to balloon coating. Conclusions— In this pilot trial, paclitaxel balloon coating caused no obvious adverse events and reduced restenosis in patients undergoing angioplasty of femoropopliteal arteries.
A survey of drug‐resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its relationship to HIV infection

Objective: To compare the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis disease among patients with and without HIV infection. Design: An historical prospective evaluation of patients with culture-proven tuberculosis reported between January 1988 and December 1995. Setting: A major metropolitan county public health department. Patients: A total of 802 consecutive culture-positive tuberculosis patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. HIV serologic testing and drug susceptibilities were completed on 741 (92%) eligible patients. Of these patients, 646 tested HIV-negative and 95 (12.8%) tested HIV-positive. Patients not tested for HIV (n = 59) and without drug susceptibilities (n = 2) were excluded from the analyses. Outpatient management was based on a policy of universal directly observed therapy. Main outcome measures: Patient HIV status, initial drug resistance and acquired drug resistance. Isolates were characterized for resistance to isoniazid, rifampin, rifabutin, ethambutol, streptomycin, capreomycin, kanamycin and ethionamide. Determination of initial resistance was based on the first available susceptibility study and acquired resistance on subsequent susceptibility studies. Results: Initial drug resistance was found in 55 (8.5%) HIV-negative patients and four (4.2%) HIV-positive patients. Acquired drug resistance occurred in five (0.8%) HIV-negative patients and one (1.1%) HIV-positive patient. These differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: HIV infection is not a risk factor for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Increased drug resistance in HIV infected tuberculosis patients reflects a failure of tuberculosis control in the underlying population.
The absence of differences in cellular immunity in elderly individuals with and without delayed local cutaneous reactions to influenza vaccine

Two groups of elderly subjects who received bivalent influenza virus vaccine were identified. Those in Group I manifested marked local reactions, suggestive of delayed hypersensitivity reactions, whereas those in Group II, matched with Group I for vaccine preparation, had no cutaneous reactions. In vitro assays of immune function were performed on pairs of subjects from the two groups and included serum immunoglobulin and complement levels, antibody response to vaccine, lymphocyte transformation to mitogens (phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen and concanavalin A) and antigens (streptokinase‐strepto‐dornase, influenza virus vaccine antigens and multiple mixed lymphocytes), and polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotactic responsiveness. There was no demonstrable correlation between delayed local cutaneous reaction and preservation of in vitro cell‐mediated immune function in these elderly individuals.