Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fixed Points for Multivalued Weighted Mean Contractions in a Symmetric Generalized Metric Space

This paper defines two new concepts: the concept of multivalued left-weighted mean contractions in the generalized sense of Nadler in a symmetric generalized metric space and the concept of multivalued right-weighted mean contractions in the generalized sense of Nadler in a symmetric generalized metric space, and demonstrates fixed-point theorems for them. For these, we demonstrated two fixed-point existence theorems and their corollaries, by using the properties of the regular-global-inf function and the properties of symmetric generalized metric spaces, respectively. Moreover, we demonstrated that the theorems can be applied in particular cases of inclusion systems. This article contains not only an example of application in science, but also an example of application in real life, in biology, in order to find an equilibrium solution to a prey–predator-type problem. The results of this paper extend theorems for multivalued left-weighted mean contractions in the generalized sense of Nadler, demonstrating that some of the results given by Rus (2008), Mureșan (2002), and Nadler (1969) in metric spaces can also be proved in symmetric generalized metric spaces.
towards modelling of the human gut microbiome 3

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Identification of Rare Diseases:An Outlier Analysis Approach

In health industry, identification of most common diseases is very easy from health diagnosis data. Many frequency based algorithms are available to identify most frequent diseases. But there is little number of algorithms available to apply for low frequent diseases. In this paper some of the existing algorithms are applied to identify rare diseases and then optimized these algorithms to identify rare diseases automatically from huge amount of diagnosis data. Cancer data is used for experiments. Cancer data is collected from UCI ML repository [1]. The objective of the proposed work is to model a scientific method to detect rare diseases from diagnosis data. In this paper three models have been trained on the said data and detected these diseases automatically using Gaussian distribution. The main models along with Gaussian used here are Outlier factor by infrequency (OFI), Attribute value frequency (AVF) and BAD. Using these models with Gaussian achieved good accuracy.
Bank Misconduct, Trust, and Online Lending∗

We study the impact of trust on the expansion of online lending in the U.S. over the 2008-2016 period. Using nearly complete loan and application data from the online lending market, we demonstrate that a misconduct-driven decline of trust in traditional banking is associated with a statistically and economically significant increase in online lending demand at the state and county levels. Furthermore, we show that this effect is strongest for low rated borrowers and weakest in states with high levels of generalized trust. We also examine generalized trust in isolation and show that it strengthens in-person, bank-based borrowing, reducing the demand for impersonal online lending. Finally, we use a shock that affects only investors to demonstrate that distrust in traditional finance increases participation in online lending.
Information Campaign on Water Quality and Marriage Market: The Case of Arsenic Exposure in Rural Bangladesh

Arsenic contamination of drinking water has caused a major health emergency in Bangladesh owing to multiple health problems associated with it, which range from skin lesions to various types of cancers. However, it remained largely unknown and became a public knowledge only in 2002 through a nationwide information campaign. We study marriage patterns in Bangladesh and associate them with the information campaign which informed people about harmful health effects of arsenic and marked water sources into safe or unsafe categories. Using difference-in-difference we analyse the age at marriage and the bride price agreed at the time of marriage and find that both of them reduce in arsenic affected areas in comparison to non-arsenic affected areas in response to information campaign. We find that age at marriage for males reduced by 1 to 3.5 percent for males and by 0.67 to 1 percent for females. Bride price also reduced by around 60 percent. Our results are indicative of a behavioural change in marriage market found using census data, and have additionally been replicated using precise spatial contamination information constructed by using Demographic and Health Survey datasets for Bangladesh. JEL Classification: I12 J12 R11 Corresponding author: Prachi Singh Economics and Planning Unit Indian Statistical Institute New Delhi Email: prsingh@brookingsindia.org
Aortic Valve Segmentation using Convolutional Neural Network with Skip Mechanism

Segmentation is a method which can be implemented inside the verge of Artificial Intelligence World. In this approach, each pixel of an image is required to be labeled to yield the final segmented result. In this paper, a novel method has been proposed which is conducted following by Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with skip mechanisms for Segmentation. In this method, the original 3D medical image captured as a 2D slice to pass through multiple image channels along with Ground Truth in the last channel which work as an input of CNN. This sub-sample, however, gradually generate the segmentation mask for the corresponding input image. The proposed methods were tested to perform segmentation for the CT image of the human organ (Aortic Valve) which show a significant amount of accuracy with very few numbers of dataset. Here, the result has been compared with existing methods. Such a system, hence, will support many experiments to help better understanding of Humankind in the perspective of Artificial Visualization.
In Vivo Rate of Formaldehyde Condensation with Tetrahydrofolate

Formaldehyde is a highly reactive compound that participates in multiple spontaneous reactions, but these are mostly deleterious and damage cellular components. In contrast, the spontaneous condensation of formaldehyde with tetrahydrofolate (THF) has been proposed to contribute to the assimilation of this intermediate during growth on C1 carbon sources such as methanol. However, the in vivo rate of this condensation reaction is unknown and its possible contribution to growth remains elusive. Here, we used microbial platforms to assess the rate of this condensation in the cellular environment. We constructed Escherichia coli strains lacking the enzymes that naturally produce 5,10-methylene-THF. These strains were able to grow on minimal medium only when equipped with a sarcosine (N-methyl-glycine) oxidation pathway that sustained a high cellular concentration of formaldehyde, which spontaneously reacts with THF to produce 5,10-methylene-THF. We used flux balance analysis to derive the rate of the spontaneous condensation from the observed growth rate. According to this, we calculated that a microorganism obtaining its entire biomass via the spontaneous condensation of formaldehyde with THF would have a doubling time of more than three weeks. Hence, this spontaneous reaction is unlikely to serve as an effective route for formaldehyde assimilation.
IS FERTILITY STILL CORRELATED TO THE NUMBER OF SIBLINGS? A CROSS-GENERATIONAL STUDY INCLUDING HALF SIBLINGS

Research on the determinants of fertility and better knowledge of low fertility are still topical issues in developed countries. Among the numerous determinants described by the extensive literature, the size of the family of origin appears to be one of the most stable and persistent between countries (Murphy and Wang 2001). In general, the association between the number of siblings and the fertility that an individual will reach is positive. Reasons usually stated are socialisation—having grown up in a small/large family could raise preferences for this type of family—or biological effect (Kohler et al. 1999; Murphy and Knudsen 2002). The changing context of fertility might have affected both the magnitude and the nature of this relationship. On the one hand, the average number of siblings has diminished considerably since the 70’s. Family size has compressed, numerous families are thus less common and might appear more atypical than in the past (cf figure 1). On the other hand, with the development of step-families, and of the possibility to grow up with half-siblings, the siblings picture has to be extended to include half and step brothers and sisters.
An Update on the Reversal of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) include thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and coagulation factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, and betrixaban. NOACs have several benefits over warfarin, including faster time to the achieve effect, rapid onset of action, fewer documented food and drug interactions, lack of need for routine INR monitoring, and improved patient satisfaction. Local hemostatic measures, supportive care, and withholding the next NOAC dose are usually sufficient to achieve hemostasis among patients presenting with minor bleeding. The administration of reversal agents should be considered in patients on NOAC's with major bleeding manifestations (life-threatening bleeding, or major uncontrolled bleeding), or those who require rapid anticoagulant reversal for an emergent surgical procedure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two reversal agents for NOACs: idarucizumab for dabigatran and andexanet alfa for apixaban and rivaroxaban. The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) have released an updated guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation that provides indications for the use of these reversal agents. In addition, the final results of the ANNEXA-4 study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of andexanet alfa were recently published. Several agents are in different phases of clinical trials, and among them, ciraparantag has shown promising results. However, their higher cost and limited availability remains a concern. Here, we provide a brief review of the available reversal agents for NOACs (nonspecific and specific), recent updates on reversal strategies, lab parameters (including point-of-care tests), NOAC resumption, and agents in development.
Clinical comparison of two human papillomavirus detection assays: GenoFlow and reverse line blot.

INTRODUCTION Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is typically critical in the oncogenesis of cervical cancer. However, available HPV detection kits differ in their ability and sensitivity to detect various types of HPV, and this variability has led to inconsistencies in the reporting of the geographic prevalence of HPV types, especially in developing countries. Here, we compared results of the recently developed GenoFlow HPV array test, which detects 33 HPV genotypes, to those of the well-established reverse line blot (RLB) assay, which detects 23 HPV types. METHODOLOGY In total, 608 cervical specimens with cytology results ranging from normal to cancer were collected using an endocervical brush from women attending outpatient clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS Sixty-nine specimens (11%) were positive for HPV. HPV genotype detection using the GenoFlow test had a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 100%. Overall agreement between the two HPV genotyping methods was 97%, with a concordance rate of 95%. Among the GenoFlow test results, 2% indicated additional HPV types that were not detected in the RLB assay, whereas the GenoFlow test missed 0.3% of the HPV types that were detected by the RLB; however, both tests were in agreement in detecting all major HPV types. CONCLUSION The GenoFlow test was reliable, with results comparable to the RLB test. However, because the GenoFlow test is less labor-intensive and takes less total time (3 hours), it is a promising, affordable alternative to the RLB for HPV diagnosis and screening programs.
Comparative Transcriptomic Response of Two Pinus Species to Infection with the Pine Wood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Pine wilt disease (PWD) caused by pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a serious threat to global forest populations of conifers, in particular Pinus spp. Recently, the presence of PWN was reported in dead Yunnan pine (Pinus yunnanensis) trees under natural conditions. To further understand the potential impact caused by PWN in Yunnan pine populations, a transcriptional profiling analysis was performed over different time points (0 hours (h), 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days) after PWN inoculation. A total of 9961 differentially expressed genes were identified after inoculation, which suggested a dynamic response against the pathogen, with a more intense pattern at 48 h after inoculation. The results also highlighted a set of biological mechanisms triggered after inoculation that provide valuable information regarding the response of Yunnan pine to PWN infection. When compared with maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), the Yunnan pine response was less complex and involved a smaller number of differentially expressed genes, which may be associated with the increased degree of resistance to PWN displayed by Yunnan pine. These results revealed different strategies to cope with PWN infection by these two pine species, which display contrasting degrees of susceptibility, especially in the timely perception of the infection and response magnitude.
Labor Market Effects of Social Transfers: Evidence from India’s Public Distribution System

Social transfers have become an increasingly common form of social protection for the poor across the developing world, but their labor market effects are not well understood. In this paper, we estimate the effect of a large increase in social transfers on labor supply and wages in India. Our empirical analysis exploits changes in the generosity of the Public Distribution System, an in-kind food transfer program, brought about by the National Food Security Act of 2013. Using detailed individual data on transfer eligibility, labor supply and wages, we find that larger transfers led to lower labor supply and higher wages, and that these effects benefited the poor. The effect on labor supply and wages is particularly strong in years with bad productivity shocks, which suggests that social transfers can help prevent the vicious cycle of low wages and high labor supply that afflicts poor households in bad years. Overall, our results imply that the labor market effects of social transfers beget important additional benefits for the poor. ∗Corresponding author: Aditya Shrinivas (shriniv2@illinois.edu) †University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, Urbana, IL 6180. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from NSF grant SES-1832393 and ADMI Institute for PostHarvest Loss. We thank Hope Michelson, Mindy Mallory, Prabhu Pingali, Seema Jayachandran, Supreet Kaur, Brenda Samaniego de la Parra, Alessandro Tarozzi, Andrew Dustan, well as participants at various seminars
MODERN SCIENCE AND VEDIC SCIENCE

I. The Challenge of Substance Facing Higher Education . 156 Introduction . 156 \ Research on College Impact . 158 Values and attitudes . 158 Achievement . 159 Human development . 159 II . Maharishi's Vedic Science Based Education in Higher Education . 161 The Fundamentals of Vedic Science Based Education . 162 Maharishi International University: The Model of Vedic Science Based Education . 166 A Applications of the technologies of Maharishi's Vedic Science . 166 B. The knowledge of Maharishi 's Vedic Science . 166 C. Vedic Science based teaching techniques and curriculum design . 167 III. Research on Vedic Science Based Education in Higher Education at the Post-Secondary Level. 168 Research on Maharishi 's Transcendental Meditation and TM -Sidhi Program . 168 Research on Maharishi International University . ~ . 169 Achievement and aptitude . 169 lntelligence . 171 Values and attitudes . " . 173 The 1987 Alumni Survey . 174 Research that Expands the Scope of Higher Education Assessment . 176 The effect of Vedic Science based education on consciousness as a whole . 176 The effect of Vedic Science based education on physiology and health . 177 The effect of Vedic Science based education on the environment . 177 IV. A Comprehensive Model of Change in Maharishi 's Vedic Science Based Education . 179 The Nature of Change in Maharishi 's Vedic Science Based Education . 179 What Causes Change? 183 Maharishi 's Vedic Science as a source of change . 184 V. Summary and Conclusion . 187 Appendix A: Summary of Research on Maharishi International University . 194 Appendix B: Research Supporting Maharishi International University's Long-Range Goals . 198
TAKEOVER BIDS AND CAPITAL MARKET EFFICIENCY 89 TAKEOVER BIDS AND CAPITAL MARKET EFFICIENCY

This article deals with the structure and evolution of tender offers, takeover prices and the effects of tender offer announcements in the Czech Republic in 2001−2005. Semi-strong form efficiency is examined by means of the traditional event study methodology. Based on the results it is impossible to prove either semi-strong form efficiency of the Czech stock market or trading based on private information.
Development of a High-Performance, FPGA-Based Virtual Anemometer for Model-Based MPPT of Wind Generators

Model-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of wind generators (WGs) eliminates dead times and increases energy yield with respect to iterative MPPT techniques. However, it requires the measurement of wind speed. Under this premise, this paper describes the implementation of a high-performance virtual anemometer on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) platform. Said anemometer is based on a growing neural gas artificial neural network that learns and inverts the mechanical characteristics of the wind turbine, estimating wind speed. The use of this device in place of a conventional anemometer to perform model-based MPPT of WGs leads to higher reliability, reduced volume/weight, and lower cost. The device was conceived as a coprocessor with a slave serial peripheral interface (SPI) to communicate with the main microprocessor/digital signal processor (DSP), on which the control system of the WG was implemented. The best compromise between resource occupation and speed was achieved through suitable hardware optimizations. The resulting design is able to exchange data up to a 100 kHz rate; thus, it is suitable for high-performance control of WGs. The device was implemented on a low-cost FPGA, and its validation was performed using input profiles that were experimentally acquired during the operation of two different WGs.
Development of Eco-Friendly Ramp Control for Connected and Automated Electric Vehicles

Author(s): Wu, Guoyuan; Zhao, Zhouqiao; Wang, Ziran; Barth, Matthew J. | Abstract: With on-board sensors such as camera, radar, and Lidar, connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) can sense the surrounding environment and be driven autonomously and safely by themselves without colliding into other objects on the road. CAVs are also able to communicate with each other and roadside infrastructure via vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, respectively, sharing information on the vehicles’ states, signal phase and timing (SPaT) information, enabling CAVs to make decisions in a collaborative manner. As a typical scenario, ramp control attracts wide attention due to the concerns of safety and mobility in the merging area. In particular, if the line-of-the-sight is blocked (because of grade separation), then neither mainline vehicles nor on-ramp vehicles may well adapt their own dynamics to perform smoothed merging maneuvers. This may lead to speed fluctuations or even shockwave propagating upstream traffic along the corridor, thus potentially increasing the traffic delays and excessive energy consumption. In this project, the research team proposed a hierarchical ramp merging system that not only allowed microscopic cooperative maneuvers for connected and automated electric vehicles on the ramp to merge into mainline traffic flow, but also had controllability of ramp inflow rate, which enabled macroscopic traffic flow control. A centralized optimal control-based approach was proposed to both smooth the merging flow and improve the system-wide mobility of the network. Linear quadratic trackers in both finite horizon and receding horizon forms were developed to solve the optimization problem in terms of path planning and sequence determination, and a microscopic electric vehicle (EV) energy consumption model was applied to estimate the energy consumption. The simulation results confirmed that under the regulated inflow rate, the proposed system was able to avoid potential traffic congestion and improve the mobility (in terms of average speed) as much as 115%, compared to the conventional ramp metering and the ramp without any control approach. Interestingly, for EVs (connected and automated EVs in this study), the improved mobility may not necessarily result in the reduction of energy consumption. The “sweet spot” of average speed ranges from 27–34 mph for the EV models in this study.View the NCST Project Webpage
Exposure analysis of Chinese railways to multihazards based on datasets from 2000 to 2016

Abstract Railway structures are endangered by natural hazards. A better understanding of historical railway disaster events and the exposure of railway infrastructures to natural hazards will facilitate railway planning and disaster risk management. This article compiles internet news to build the first database of Chinese railway disasters from 2000 to 2016. Based on the database, the temporal and spatial characteristics of main railway natural disasters and their driving factors are analyzed. By exploring the relationship between the railway disaster and hazard intensity, railway hazard susceptibility maps were generated. The results reveal that 34.35%, 1.91%, 18.22% and 7.18% of railway lines are exposed to very high hazard susceptibility values related to rainfall, gale, earthquake and tropical cyclone, respectively. A multihazard map was further developed based on the single-hazard maps, and we found that 15.10% of railway lines are exposed to very high multihazard susceptibility values. This is the first study to quantify the exposure of China’s railway to multiple natural hazards. The methodology and results provided in this study have profound significance for the disaster risk management of the Chinese railway system and provide useful experience for other countries.