Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Convex and Network Flow Optimization for Structured Sparsity

We consider a class of learning problems regularized by a structured sparsity-inducing norm defined as the sum of l2- or l∞-norms over groups of variables. Whereas much effort has been put in developing fast optimization techniques when the groups are disjoint or embedded in a hierarchy, we address here the case of general overlapping groups. To this end, we present two different strategies: On the one hand, we show that the proximal operator associated with a sum of l∞-norms can be computed exactly in polynomial time by solving a quadratic min-cost flow problem, allowing the use of accelerated proximal gradient methods. On the other hand, we use proximal splitting techniques, and address an equivalent formulation with non-overlapping groups, but in higher dimension and with additional constraints. We propose efficient and scalable algorithms exploiting these two strategies, which are significantly faster than alternative approaches. We illustrate these methods with several problems such as CUR matrix factorization, multi-task learning of tree-structured dictionaries, background subtraction in video sequences, image denoising with wavelets, and topographic dictionary learning of natural image patches.
Honey in the Prevention and Treatment of Infection in the CKD Population: A Narrative Review

Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality at all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Multiresistant organisms are becoming increasingly common, particularly in the CKD population. Unfortunately, the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistance has not been mirrored by innovation in new antibiotic agents. Novel treatments are therefore urgently needed. Honey has garnered much interest due to its broad-spectrum antibacterial properties based on extensive experimental data. Unlike conventional antibiotics, honey has an added advantage as it appears to avoid inducing antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. This review discusses the potential mechanisms of action and role of honey in infection management in the general population, epidemiology and special challenges of infections in CKD populations, and the clinical trial evidence pertaining to the safety and efficacy of honey for the prevention and treatment of infections in CKD population.
Single-Phase PFC Converter Using Switched Capacitor for High Voltage DC Applications

This paper presents a single-stage nonisolated switched capacitor ac–dc converter for power-factor correction (PFC). This converter features reduced passive components, single switch, transformerless high voltage gain, and improves the power factor, reduces total harmonic distortion, and voltage stress across the switch. The peak current mode with a dynamic resonant perturbation scheme compensates the subharmonics that exist at zero crossing of the source current is implemented for PFC. In this paper, the principle of operation, large signal modeling of the circuit, and control method for the proposed PFC converter are provided.
Modeling Sea Ice Thickness

In this paper, we present a self contained review on the modeling of sea ice thickness distribution. This is an important quantity arising and contributing to global climate changes. We present the various pde describing it, which are strongly non linear. Detailed mathematical analysis will be reported elsewhere. The utility of this quantity is of course to set up a global analysis of sea, ice and atmospheric exchanges.
Droplet Size Spectra and Water-vapor Concentration of Laboratory Water Clouds: Inversion of Fourier Transform Infrared ͑500 –5000 Cm ͒ Optical-depth Measurement

Infrared extinction optical depth ͑500 –5000 cm Ϫ1 ͒ has been measured with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for clouds produced with an ultrasonic nebulizer. Direct measurement of the cloud droplet size spectra agree with size spectra retrieved from inversion of the extinction measurements. Both indicate that the range of droplet sizes is 1–14 ␮m. The retrieval was accomplished with an iterative algorithm that simultaneously obtains water-vapor concentration. The basis set of droplet extinction functions are computed once by using numerical integration of the Lorenz–Mie theory over narrow size bins, and a measured water-vapor extinction curve was used. Extinction and size spectra are measured and computed for both steady-state and dissipating clouds. It is demonstrated that anomalous diffrac-tion theory produces relatively poor droplet size and synthetic extinction spectra and that extinction measurements are helpful in assessing the validity of various theories. Calculations of cloud liquid-water content from retrieved size distributions agree with a parameterization based on optical-depth measurements at a wave number of 906 cm Ϫ1 for clouds that satisfy the size spectral range assumptions of the parameterization. Significance of droplet and vapor contribution to the total optical depth is used to evaluate the reliability of spectral inversions.
The effects of hypoglycaemia and dementia on cardiovascular events, falls and fractures and all‐cause mortality in older individuals: A retrospective cohort study

Older individuals with diabetes are susceptible to harm as the result of hypoglycaemia; however, the consequences of hypoglycaemia in older individuals with dementia are not known. We aimed to test the association between hypoglycaemia and serious adverse events in older patients with diabetes and dementia, and whether the consequences of hypoglycaemia were affected by the presence of dementia.
Proactive Memory Scaling of Virtualized Applications

Enterprise applications in virtualized environments are often subject to time-varying workloads with multiple seasonal patterns and trends. In order to ensure quality of service for such applications while avoiding over-provisioning, resources need to be dynamically adapted to accommodate the current workload demands. Many memory-intensive applications are not suitable for the traditional horizontal scaling approach often used for runtime performance management, as it relies on complex and expensive state replication. On the other hand, vertical scaling of memory often requires a restart of the application. In this paper, we propose a proactive approach to memory scaling for virtualized applications. It uses statistical forecasting to predict the future workload and reconfigure the memory size of the virtual machine of an application automatically. To this end, we propose an extended forecasting technique that leverages meta-knowledge, such as calendar information, to improve the forecast accuracy. In addition, we develop an application controller to adjust settings associated with application memory management during memory reconfiguration. Our evaluation using real-world traces shows that the forecast accuracy quantified with the MASE error metric can be improved by 11 - 59%. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the proactive approach can reduce the impact of reconfiguration on application availability by over 80% and significantly improve performance relative to a reactive controller.
Fusarium Mycotoxins Stability during the Malting and Brewing Processes

Mycotoxins are widely studied by many research groups in all aspects, but the stability of these compounds needs further research for clarification. The objective of this study is to evaluate deoxynivalenol and zearalenone stability during all steps of the malting and brewing processes. The levels of these compounds decreased significantly during the production process (barley to beer). During the malting process, the DON levels decreased significantly in the steeping, germination, and malting steps (62%, 51.5%, and 68%, respectively). Considering ZEN, when the levels were compared between barley and the last step of the process, a significant decrease was observed. Most of the mycotoxins produced were transferred to the rootlets and spent grains, which is advantageous considering the final product. Furthermore, the mycotoxin dietary intake estimation was included in this study. The results proved that if the concentrations of target mycotoxins in raw material are under the limits established by the regulations, the levels decrease during the malting and brewing processes and make the beer secure for consumers. The quality of the five commodities involved in the beer process plays a decisive role in the creation of a safe final product.
General relativity as an effective field theory: The leading quantum corrections.

I describe the treatment of gravity as a quantum effective field theory. This allows a natural separation of the (known) low energy quantum effects from the (unknown) high energy contributions. Within this framework, gravity is a well-behaved quantum field theory at ordinary energies. In studying the class of quantum corrections at low energy, the dominant effects at large distance can be isolated, as these are due to the propagation of the massless particles ( including gravitons) of the theory and are manifested in the nonlocal and/or nonanalytic contributions to vertex functions and propagators. These leading quantum corrections are parameter-free and represent necessary consequences of quantum gravity. The methodology is illustrated by a calculation of the leading quantum corrections to the gravitational interaction of two heavy masses.
Dimensionality Reduction by Supervised Neighbor Embedding Using Laplacian Search

Dimensionality reduction is an important issue for numerous applications including biomedical images analysis and living system analysis. Neighbor embedding, those representing the global and local structure as well as dealing with multiple manifolds, such as the elastic embedding techniques, can go beyond traditional dimensionality reduction methods and find better optima. Nevertheless, existing neighbor embedding algorithms can not be directly applied in classification as suffering from several problems: (1) high computational complexity, (2) nonparametric mappings, and (3) lack of class labels information. We propose a supervised neighbor embedding called discriminative elastic embedding (DEE) which integrates linear projection matrix and class labels into the final objective function. In addition, we present the Laplacian search direction for fast convergence. DEE is evaluated in three aspects: embedding visualization, training efficiency, and classification performance. Experimental results on several benchmark databases present that the proposed DEE exhibits a supervised dimensionality reduction approach which not only has strong pattern revealing capability, but also brings computational advantages over standard gradient based methods.
Optimal Sets of Color Receptors and Color Opponent Systems for Coding of Natural Objects in Insect Vision

Model calculations are used to find an optimal color vision system for the coding of natural objects. The criteria to assess the quality of color vision are (a) discriminability between all colors of a given set; (b) discriminability between nearest neighbors (only the most similar colors of a set); and (c) detectability (color difference between target and background). The colored objects investigated are several sets of flower colors, one set of green foliage colors, and one set of fruit colors. A large variety of hypothetical color vision systems was generated by varying both the wavelength positions of photoreceptors and the weights of color opponent processes used to evaluate the receptor inputs. It is shown that the set of spectral receptor types in flower visiting bees (lmax=340, 430 and 540 nm) is close to optimal for the discrimination of several sets of sympatric and simultaneously blooming flower colors, as well as for discrimination of green foliage, but not for fruit coloration. For two sets of objects, the illuminant was varied, which changed the results only marginally. Detectability of flowers against background is likewise optimal. The optimal wavelength positions of photoreceptors are largely independent of the particular color opponent mechanisms used to evaluate the photoreceptor signals. Optimal color opponent systems are all those which comprise two opponent processes with weighting factors differing strongly from one another. The evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed against the background of a recent phylogenetic study which showed that wavelength tuning of insect photoreceptors likely predated the evolution of flower color. 7 1996 Academic Press Limited
Effect of Adenylyl Cyclase Type 6 on Localized Production of cAMP by β-2 Adrenoceptors in Human Airway Smooth-Muscle Cells

β2-Adrenoceptors (β2ARs) are concentrated in caveolar lipid raft domains of the plasma membrane in airway smooth-muscle (ASM) cells, along with adenylyl cyclase type 6 (AC6). This is believed to contribute to how these receptors can selectively regulate certain types of cAMP-dependent responses in these cells. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that β2AR production of cAMP is localized to specific subcellular compartments using fluorescence resonance energy transfer–based cAMP biosensors targeted to different microdomains in human ASM cells. Epac2-MyrPalm and Epac2-CAAX biosensors were used to measure responses associated with lipid raft and nonraft regions of the plasma membrane, respectively. Activation of β2ARs with isoproterenol produced cAMP responses that are most readily detected in lipid raft domains. Furthermore, overexpression of AC6 somewhat paradoxically inhibited β2AR production of cAMP in lipid raft domains without affecting β2AR responses detected in other subcellular locations or cAMP responses to EP2 prostaglandin receptor activation, which were confined primarily to nonraft domains of the plasma membrane. The inhibitory effect of overexpressing AC6 was blocked by inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) activity with rolipram, inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) activity with H89, and inhibition of A kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) interactions with the peptide inhibitor Ht31. These results support the idea that overexpression of AC6 leads to enhanced feedback activation of PDE4 via phosphorylation by PKA that is part of an AKAP-dependent signaling complex. This provides insight into the molecular basis for localized regulation of cAMP signaling in human ASM cells.
Adhésion médicamenteuse chez les coronariens âgés: expérience marocaine

La prise en charge des coronaropathies a connu d'importants progrès. L’adhésion médicamenteuse chez les coronariens, en particulier chez les sujets âgés, demeure un défi majeur pour le contrôle de la maladie coronarienne et la prévention de ses complications. L’adhésion au traitement pourrait être influencé par la particularité démographique et socioéconomique précaire des pays africains. Nous avons réalisé une étude transversale de mars à octobre 2016 portant sur les patients âgés, suivis pour coronaropathie stable en ambulatoire. L'adhérence aux médicaments était évaluée par un questionnaire: Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Les informations relatifs aux facteurs prédictifs d’adhésion médicamenteuse était dérivés d'un modèle d’adhésion multidimensionnel. Ont été inclus dans cette étude 115 patients âgés (âge > 65 ans). L'adhésion médicamenteuse était de 72,2% selon Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. La sédentarité a été retrouvée dans 59% des patients, l'hypertension artérielle et le diabète dans 42,6% et 41,7% des patients respectivement. Les facteurs prédictifs de mauvaise observance étaient: l'absence d'une mutuelle de santé (p = 0,02), la sévérité de la symptomatologie (p = 0,001), les patients ayant présenté un syndrome coronaire aigue (p = 0,006), le niveau de support social (p = 0,011) et la dépression (p = 0,006). L’adhésion médicamenteuse reste un problème de santé au Maroc notamment chez les personnes âgées. Les fournisseurs de soins de santé doivent être conscients des facteurs associés à une plus grande probabilité d'arrêt de traitement, en particulier les facteurs variables afin de mettre en place des stratégies adaptées pour améliorer l'observance du traitement.
Design of a multi-robot bin packing system in an automatic warehouse

It is possible to reconfigure supply chains with less cost and time if we use the mobile-robot bin packing system. So, many companies attempt at adopting mobile robots as their new carrier in their own warehouse. However, it is difficult to utilize indoor service robots as a carrier due to the localization problem, the safety problem, and the narrow bin packing environment. So we propose a practically applicable solution technique for a multi-robot bin packing system in an automatic warehouse, which assures a reasonable safety, computation time and a real world application for more than 3 multi-robots. First, design criteria for out bin packing system are introduced. Second, we suggest some sketch of robot mechanical parts. Finally, the method of managing multi-robots in an automatic warehouse robot design with a collision motion planner is proposed.
Portfolio Optimization with Factors, Scenarios, and Realistic Short Positions

This paper presents fast algorithms for calculating mean-variance efficient frontiers when the investor can sell securities short as well as buy long, and when a factor and/or scenario model of covariance is assumed. Currently, fast algorithms for factor, scenario, or mixed (factor and scenario) models exist, but (except for a special case of the results reported here) apply only to portfolios of long positions. Factor and scenario models are used widely in applied portfolio analysis, and short sales have been used increasingly as part of large institutional portfolios. Generally, the critical line algorithm (CLA) traces out mean-variance efficient sets when the investor's choice is subject to any system of linear equality or inequality constraints. Versions of CLA that take advantage of factor and/or scenario models of covariance gain speed by greatly simplifying the equations for segments of the efficient set. These same algorithms can be used, unchanged, for the long-short portfolio selection problem provided a certain condition on the constraint set holds. This condition usually holds in practice.
Discharged and dismissed: A qualitative study with back pain patients discharged without treatment from orthopaedic consultations

Consultation‐based reassurance for patients with low back pain (LBP) in primary care has been shown to be associated with patients' outcomes. Little is known about the role of reassurance in people with LBP consulting with orthopaedic spinal care teams. Reassurance may be important, especially in cases where surgery is not indicated and patients are discharged without treatment.
Short and Long Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Impact on Health in India: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Health effects attributable to short-term and long-term ambient air pollution (AAP) exposure in Indian population are less understood. This study evaluates the effect of short time and long-term exposure to AAP on respiratory morbidity, mortality and premature mortality for the exposed population. A total of 59 studies are reviewed to examine the effects of short-term exposure (n = 23); long-term exposure (n = 18) and premature mortality (n = 18). Short-term exposures to ambient pollutants have strong associations between COPD, respiratory illnesses and higher rates of hospital admission or visit. The long-term effects of AAP, associated with deficit lung function, asthma, heart attack, cardiovascular mortality and premature mortality have received much attention. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) is primarily responsible for respiratory health problems. Out of 18 literature reviewed on premature mortality, most (12 of 18) studies have statistically significant associations between AAP exposure and increased premature mortality risk.
Safety of Dual‐Antiplatelet Therapy After Myocardial Infarction Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Although recommended in the guidelines, the safety of chronic P2Y12 inhibitor therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) after an acute myocardial infarction (MI) is not well studied. Methods and Results The TRANSLATE‐ACS (Treatment with ADP Inhibitors: Longitudinal Assessment of Treatment Patterns and Events After Acute Coronary Syndrome) study included 11 108 MI patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and discharged alive on a P2Y12 inhibitor from 233 US hospitals. We compared rates of GUSTO (Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Arteries) severe/moderate bleeding and premature discontinuation of P2Y12 inhibitor by 1 year after MI among patients with varying CKD severity. The majority of MI patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention had CKD: 42% had stage 2 (mild), 27% had stage 3 (moderate), and 4% had stage ≥4 (severe/end stage). Higher potency P2Y12 inhibitors (prasugrel or ticagrelor) were prescribed at discharge in 39%, 35%, 23%, and 15% (P<0.01) of patients with stages 1, 2, 3, and ≥4, respectively. One‐year GUSTO severe/moderate bleeding rates were higher with each stage of CKD: 1% in patients with CKD stage 1 or no CKD, 2% with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.61 (95% CI, 1.05–2.35) for CKD stage 2, 4% with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.92 (95% CI, 1.21–3.02) for CKD stage 3, and 10% with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.44 (95% CI, 1.40–4.23) for patients with CKD stage ≥4. By 1 year after MI, 16% of patients overall had prematurely discontinued P2Y12 inhibitor therapy; however, this rate was not largely affected by CKD stage. Premature P2Y12 inhibitor–discontinuation rates were higher for patients discharged on higher potency P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with CKD stage ≥2 (P<0.01). Conclusions CKD severity was associated with a higher bleeding risk among those with acute MI treated with a P2Y12 inhibitor. Patients with more advanced CKD were not significantly more likely than those with less advance CKD to prematurely discontinue P2Y12 inhibitor therapy.
[Bortezomib and obatoclax for dual blockade of protein degradation pathways show synergistic anti-tumor effect in human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cells].

OBJECTIVE To explore whether bortezomib and a Bcl-2 inhibitor exhibit synergistic anti-tumor effect in human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cells. METHODS MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of bortezomib in the absence or presence of Bcl-2 inhibitors (obatoclax, AT-101 and ABT-199) in Jurkat cells. The effects of drug treatment on the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, LC3B, p62, ubiquitin, BiP/Grp78, p-JNK, p-p38 and CHOP proteins were examined by Western blotting. Flow cytometry was used to determine the effects of bortezomib and Bcl-2 inhibitors (obatoclax, AT-101 and ABT-199) on cell apoptosis. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of the key regulatory factors of unfolded protein reaction (UPR). A zebrafish xenograft model was used to study the anti-tumor effect of bortezomib, obatoclax and their combination in vivo. RESULTS Bortezomib or Bcl-2 inhibitors alone inhibited the cell viability of Jurkat cells, but only obatoclax and bortezomib showed synergistic cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effect. Obatoclax, rather than AT-101 and ABT- 199, blocked autophagic flux in the cells evidenced by concomitant accumulation of LC3B-Ⅱ and p62. Both bortezomib and obatoclax alone caused accumulation of polyubiquinated proteins, and their combination showed a synergistic effect, which was consistent with their synergistic cytotoxicity. The dual blockade of proteasome and autophagy by the combination of bortezomib and obatoclax triggered unfolded protein response followed by cell apoptosis. Preventing UPS dysfunction by tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) significantly attenuated the cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effect of bortezomib in combination with obatoclax. In zebrafish xenograft models, bortezomib combined with obatoclax significantly decreased tumor foci formation. CONCLUSIONS Bortezomib and obatoclax for dual blockade of protein degradation pathways show synergistic anti-tumor effect in human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia cells.