Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determining Inheritance Distributions via Stochastic Penetrances

The aim of linkage analysis is to map the position of a gene contributing to an inheritable disease. The statistical model contains the disease allele frequency and penetrance parameters. Here I investigate the inheritance distribution, that is, the conditional distribution of the inheritance vector given phenotypes at the disease locus. Based on this, the likelihood and likelihood score function of Whittemore can be defined. As a result, a general semiparametric methodology of choosing score functions in linkage analysis is proposed. The proposed approach is valid for arbitrary pedigrees, and I treat quantitative, dichotomous (binary), and other phenotypes in a unified framework. The resulting score functions can be easily incorporated into existing software for multipoint linkage analysis. I use the fact that the inheritance distribution depend on unknown founder alleles. These are treated as hidden data and give rise to “stochastic penetrance factors. ” Certain uncorrelated unit variance random variables that are functions of the founder alleles are introduced. I show that the moment-generating function and moments of these play crucial roles in choosing likelihoods and likelihood score functions. Lower-/higher-order moments are more important when the genetic effect is weak/strong, and this corresponds to simultaneous identical by descent (IBD) sharing of few/many individuals. For inbred pedigrees and nonadditive models, the likelihood score function is dominated by individuals homozygous by descent at the disease locus. For outbred pedigrees, the local score function involves pairwise IBD sharing. Relations to existing score functions of nonparametric linkage (Spairs, Sall, Srobdom) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) are highlighted.
Blocking and Rossby Wave Breaking on the Dynamical Tropopause in the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract Rossby wave breaking on the dynamical tropopause in the Southern Hemisphere (the −2-PVU surface) is investigated using the ERA-40 dataset. The indication of wave breaking is based on reversal in the meridional gradient of potential temperature, and persistent large-scale wave breaking is taken as a strong indication that blocking may be present. Blocking in the midlatitudes is found to occur predominantly during wintertime in the Pacific and is most vigorous in the east Pacific, while during summertime, the frequency of blocking weakens and its extent becomes confined to the west Pacific. The interannual variability of blocking is found to be high. Wave breaking occurs most frequently on the poleward side of the polar jet and has some, but not all, of the signatures of blocking, so it is referred to as high-latitude blocking. In general, cyclonic wave breaking occurs on the poleward side of the polar jet, otherwise anticyclonic breaking occurs. However, at least in wintertime, wave breaking in th.
Human object articulation for CCTV video forensics

In this paper we present a system which is focused on developing algorithms for automatic annotation/articulation of humans passing through a surveillance camera in a way useful for describing a person/criminal by a crime scene witness. Each human is articulated/annotated based on two appearance features: 1. primary colors of clothes in the head, body and legs region. 2. presence of text/logo on the clothes. The annotation occurs after a robust foreground extraction based on a modified approach to Gaussian Mixture model and detection of human from segmented foreground images. The proposed pipeline consists of a preprocessing stage where we improve color quality of images using a basic color constancy algorithm and further improve the results using a proposed post-processing method. The results show a significant improvement to the illumination of the video frames. In order to annotate color information for human clothes, we apply 3D Histogram analysis (with respect to Hue, Saturation and Value) on HSV converted image regions of human body parts along with extrema detection and thresholding to decide the dominant color of the region. In order to detect text/logo on the clothes as another feature to articulate humans, we begin with the extraction of connected components of enhanced horizontal, vertical and diagonal edges in the frames. These candidate regions are classified as text or non-text on the bases of their Local Energy based Shape Histogram (LESH) features combined with KL divergence as classification criteria. To detect humans, a novel technique has been proposed that uses a combination of Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) and Contourlet transform based Local Binary Patterns (LBP) with Adaboost as classifier. Initial screening of foreground objects is performed by using HOG features. To further eliminate the false positives due to noise form background and improve results, we apply Contourlet-LBP feature extraction on the images. In the proposed method, we extract the LBP feature descriptor for Contourlet transformed high pass sub-images from vertical and diagonal directional bands. In the final stage, extracted Contourlet-LBP descriptors are applied to Adaboost for classification. The proposed frame work showed fairly fine performance when tested on a CCTV test dataset.
Rapid Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Variant-Associated Mutations in Wastewater Using Real-Time RT-PCR

With the global spread of COVID-19, it is essential to identify emerging variants which may be more harmful or able to escape vaccines rapidly. To date, the gold standard to assess variants circulating in communities has been the sequencing of the S gene or the whole genome of SARS-CoV-2; however, that approach is time-consuming and expensive. ABSTRACT Within months of the COVID-19 pandemic being declared on March 20, 2020, novel, more infectious variants of SARS-CoV-2 began to be detected in geospatially distinct regions of the world. With international travel being a lead cause of spread of the disease, the importance of rapidly identifying variants entering a country is critical. In this study, we utilized wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to monitor the presence of variants in wastewater generated in managed COVID-19 quarantine facilities for international air passengers entering the United Kingdom. Specifically, we developed multiplex reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for the identification of defining mutations associated with Beta (K417N), Gamma (K417T), Delta (156/157DEL), and Kappa (E154K) variants which were globally prevalent at the time of sampling (April to July 2021). The assays sporadically detected mutations associated with the Beta, Gamma, and Kappa variants in 0.7%, 2.3%, and 0.4% of all samples, respectively. The Delta variant was identified in 13.3% of samples, with peak detection rates and concentrations observed in May 2021 (24%), concurrent with its emergence in the United Kingdom. The RT-qPCR results correlated well with those from sequencing, suggesting that PCR-based detection is a good predictor for variant presence; although, inadequate probe binding may lead to false positive or negative results. Our findings suggest that WBE coupled with RT-qPCR may be used as a rapid, initial assessment to identify emerging variants at international borders and mass quarantining facilities. IMPORTANCE With the global spread of COVID-19, it is essential to identify emerging variants which may be more harmful or able to escape vaccines rapidly. To date, the gold standard to assess variants circulating in communities has been the sequencing of the S gene or the whole genome of SARS-CoV-2; however, that approach is time-consuming and expensive. In this study, we developed two duplex RT-qPCR assays to detect and quantify defining mutations associated with the Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Kappa variants. The assays were validated using RNA extracts derived from wastewater samples taken at quarantine facilities. The results showed good correlation with the results of sequencing and demonstrated the emergence of the Delta variant in the United Kingdom in May 2021. The assays developed here enable the assessment of variant-specific mutations within 2 h after the RNA extract was generated which is essential for outbreak rapid response.
Gauge invariance of the energy shift of a bound electron in an electromagnetic field

The shift in the energy of a bound electron due to an electromagnetic field is shown to be gauge invariant if eigenvalues of the energy operator, which is not in general the Hamiltonian, are used. Using eigenvalues of the energy operator, the authors show by a direct calculation that the energy shift in a zero electromagnetic field is zero, even if the potentials are not zero.
Study of fatigue damage to the cochlea

Abstract In order to explore the hearing loss resulting from exposure to continuous or intermittent loud noise. A three-dimensional liquid-solid coupling finite element model of spiral cochlea was established. The reliability of the model was verified, and the stress and amplitude of the basilar membrane of the pivotal structure in cochlea were analyzed. The results show that under the action of the same high-pressure sound, the preferential fatigue area of the cochlear high-frequency area mainly causes fatigue in the cochlear. The safer area is a sound pressure level below 70 dB, while one above 90 dB accelerates damage to the ear.
A decrease in the incidence of encephalitis in South Korea during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A nationwide study between 2010 and 2021

Limited data are available on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic on encephalitis. Therefore, we evaluated trends in encephalitis in South Korea between 2010 and 2021 using data from the National Health Insurance Service. During the pandemic (February 2020 to 2021), the monthly incidence of encephalitis declined by 0.027 per 100 000 population (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.055 to 0.001, p = 0.062) compared to that before the pandemic. In subgroup analysis, the estimated coefficient for level change during the pandemic in the 0–4 and 5–9 years age groups were −2.050 (95% CI: −2.972 to −1.128, p < 0.001) and −0.813 (95% CI: −1.399 to −0.227, p = 0.008), respectively. The annual incidence of encephalitis during the pandemic period significantly decreased in the 0–4 and 5–9 years age groups (incidence rate ratio: 0.34 [p = 0.007] and 0.28 [p = 0.024], respectively). The intensive care unit admission rate (39.1% vs. 58.9%, p < 0.001) and cases of death (8.9% vs. 11.1%, p < 0.001) decreased significantly during the pandemic compared to the prepandemic. During the pandemic, the incidence of encephalitis decreased markedly in South Korea, particularly in children aged ≤9 years. In addition, there were changes in the clinical outcome of encephalitis during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Association of Locus Xq26.1–27.3 with Erosive Tooth Wear Phenotypes in a Group of Adolescents

Erosive tooth wear is a multifactorial condition of an increasing prevalence. There is a need for discovering individual genetic predisposition for the development of this condition. Considering that the chromosome X locus was previously shown to be associated with dental caries, the aim of the present study was to look for the association between this locus and erosive tooth wear when dietary habits are considered as a co-factor. Saliva samples, erosive wear experience data, and dietary information from 16- to 18-year-old dental patients (n = 705) were used. Genotyping analyses were performed, and thereafter, analyses considering diet and oral hygiene data, using logistic regression, with the assumption that erosive tooth wear is a complex gene-environment model. Genotypic analyses revealed an association between chromosome X marker rs1324156 and erosive tooth wear phenotype. Logistic regression analysis showed that, in the presence of less common allele of rs12687601 and rs1324156, erosive tooth wear more likely develops when associated with numerous dietary variables from the questionnaire. These results indicate that erosive tooth wear may be the result of gene-environment interactions.
Beyond the language barrier: A systematic review of selective mutism in culturally and linguistically diverse children

Selective mutism is a childhood psychiatric disorder that has been associated with adverse psychological, social and educational outcomes. Although evidence suggests that culturally and linguistically diverse children might be overrepresented among children with selective mutism, a direct examination of how migration or minority status are associated with the development and persistence of the disorder is still scarce. Guided by eco-cultural perspectives of development, the current review aims to provide an overview of selective mutism in culturally and linguistically diverse children. A systematic literature review of selective mutism studies that included a group of culturally and linguistically diverse children yielded eight studies that met our inclusion criteria. Although these studies support the view that bilingualism and minority status might be associated with selective mutism, the role of sociocultural factors in the development and persistence of the disorder remained mostly unexamined. The review concludes with a discussion of potential directions for future research, including examination of the cultural and psychological meanings of silence and talk, socialization goals, gender inequality, and parental acculturation strategies.
Recommendations from the ISPO lower-limb COMPASS: Patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures

Background: Outcome measures (patient-reported and performance-based) are used widely but not uniformly within the clinical setting for individuals with lower-limb absence (LLA). The need for more detailed information by funding bodies, service planners and providers, and researchers requires the systematic and routine use of outcome measures. Currently, there is no consensus on which outcome measure(s) should be used for individuals with LLA. The aim of the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) lower-limb Consensus Outcome Measures for Prosthetic and Amputation Services (COMPASS) was to produce a recommended list of outcome measures to be actively promoted for routine use within clinical practice before and after an episode of care. Methods: Between May and June 2021, 46 users, clinicians, researchers, managers, and policymakers working in the field of LLA and prosthetic users met virtually. Consensus participants were first asked to complete an online survey with questions based on the results from a systematic review and the outcomes from an expert panel. A modified Delphi technique was used to determine outcome measures for use in routine clinical practice. This paper discusses the ISPO lower-limb COMPASS process from which recommendations were made. Results: The ISPO lower-limb COMPASS resulted in the following 6 recommendations: (1) Amputee Mobility Predictor, Timed Up and Go, Two-Minute Walk Test, Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire—Residual Limb Health, Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire—Utility, and Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales-Revised, which make up the ISPO lower-limb COMPASS; (2) Comprehensive High-Level Activity Mobility Predictor and Six-Minute Walk Test are 2 additional outcome measures recommended for higher-activity-level individuals with LLA, which make up the COMPASS+; (3) Patient-Specific Function Scale makes up the COMPASS Adjunct; (4) a generic health-related quality of life outcome measure such as the European Quality of Life-5D-5L or Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System—29 item can be used to supplement the COMPASS; (5) outcome measures suited to low- and middle-income countries need to be developed with a focus on activities such as sitting cross-legged, kneeling, squatting, and other culturally important mobility-related activities; and (6) translation, validation, and open sharing of translated outcome measures included in the COMPASS, COMPASS+, and COMPASS Adjunct occurs. Conclusion: The above recommendations represent the current status of knowledge on outcome measures for LLA based on research and international consensus and hence, will change over time. This work has been developed for clinicians and researchers to improve knowledge on outcome measures to guide clinical decision-making and future research initiatives.
Comparison of fuzzy c-means classification, linear mixture modelling and MLC probabilities as tools for unmixing coarse pixels

Abstract Three different 'soft' classifiers (fuzzy c-means classifier, linear mixture model, and probability values from a maximum likelihood classification) were used for unmixing of coarse pixel signatures to identify four land cover classes (i.e., supervised classifications). The coarse images were generated from a 30m Thematic Mapper (TM) image; one set by mean filtering, and another using an asymmetric filter kernel to simulate Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) sensor sampling. These filters collapsed together windows of up to 11 11 pixels. The fractional maps generated by the three classifiers were compared to truth maps at the corresponding scales, and to the results of a hard maximum likelihood classification. Overall, the fuzzy c-means classifier gave the best predictions of sub-pixel landcover areas, followed by the linear mixture model. The probabilities differed little from the hard classification, suggesting that the clusters should be modelled more loosely. This paper demonstrates successful meth.
Transfer efficiency of guided electron waves in coupled quantum wells

Theoretical formulations based on a coupled-mode theory and a supermode theory are developed for discussing transfer efficiency of guided electron waves in coupled quantum well structures. We apply a coupled-mode theory to electron waveguide couplers in the weak coupling regime and show that the transfer efficiency will not be greater than 100%. In the strong coupling regime, we can appropriately handle the electron waves in coupled quantum well waveguide structures by introducing a supermode theory, and demonstrate that the transfer efficiency is always less than 100%. We discuss the underlying physics in an attempt to gain an insight into the transfer efficiency related issues. Calculations for specific semiconductor quantum well structures such as GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells are given for quantitative illustrations.
Spectral rigidity of automorphic orbits in free groups

It is well-known that a point T in the (unprojectivized) Culler-Vogtmann Outer space cv_N is uniquely determined by its translation length function ||. ||_T : F_N → R. A subset S of a free group F_N is called spectrally rigid if, whenever T,T' in cv_N are such that ||g||_T=||g||_T' for every g in S then T=T' in cv_N. By contrast to the similar questions for the Teichmuller space, it is known that for N > 1 there does not exist a finite spectrally rigid subset of F_N. In this paper we prove that for N > 2 if H < Aut(F_N) is a subgroup that projects to an infinite normal subgroup in Out(F_N) then the H-orbit of an arbitrary nontrivial element g in F_N is spectrally rigid. We also establish a similar statement for F_2=F(a,b), provided that g in F_2 is not conjugate to a power of [a,b].
Dust in the Wind: Ageism as Portrayed in Attitudes Toward Songs in Adulthood and Old Age

Ageism was found to be prevalent across various life domains, but not in the music domain. This study aimed to examine whether negative ageist attitudes toward older adults are associated with music preferences across life. Subjects (n = 214, age range 30–92, M = 56.14, SD = 16.39) were exposed to old (1910–1946), intermediate (1979–1987), and new (2014–2018) songs, chosen by a focus group, rated each song, and completed scales assessing ageism and socio-demographics. Ageist attitudes were negatively associated with liking for old songs among young and middle-aged participants. Young participants demonstrated a negative link between ageist attitudes and liking for intermediate songs. No significant results were reported regarding new songs. This provides an initial indication that ageism may be connected to attitudes toward music. Future studies can examine effects of perceived “oldness” in music on participants’ ageist attitudes, and negative attitudes toward new and intermediate songs alongside with examining negative attitudes toward younger adults.
A mobile-based aftercare intervention to increase self-esteem in inpatients diagnosed with depression: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objective In this randomized controlled trial, we investigated the effectiveness, side effects and user satisfaction of the self-help smartphone app “MCT & More” among inpatients with a diagnosis of depression after their discharge from a psychiatric hospital over a period of 4 weeks. Methods A total of 159 inpatients were recruited in four German psychiatric hospitals three days before hospital discharge (intervention group: n = 79; treatment as usual: n = 80). Based on the vulnerability model (low self-esteem contributes to depression), self-esteem represented the primary outcome, quality of life and depressive symptoms the secondary outcomes. Results Intention-to-treat analyzes showed no statistical significance for the primary and secondary outcome parameters, except for the subscale self-competence in favor of the intervention group (with a small effect size of d = 0.35), in the context of an exploratory approach (post hoc). The more positive the attitude toward mobile-based interventions and the more positive the treatment expectations, the more frequently the app was used (r = .35, p = .008; r = .34, p = .009). Conclusion Further symptom reduction could not be obtained. However, the results suggest that an effect on improvement in self-competence could be achieved by low-threshold aftercare programs. Future studies should include long-term assessments to examine the impact of mobile-based aftercare on relapse. Trial registration: DRKS00022559.