Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards Scalable Koopman Operator Learning : Convergence Rates and Distributed Implementation

In this paper, we propose an alternating optimization algorithm to the nonconvex Koopman operator learning problem, using shallow neural networks, for nonlinear dynamic systems. We show that the proposed algorithm will converge to a critical point with rate O(1/T ) or O( 1 log T ) under some mild assumptions. To handle the high dimensional nonlinear dynamical systems, we present the first-ever distributed Koopman operator learning algorithm. We show that the distributed Koopman operator learning has the same convergence properties as a centralized Koopman operator learning problem, in the absence of optimal tracker, so long as the basis functions satisfy a set of state-based decomposition conditions. Experiments are provided to complement our theoretical results.
Title : Reflectance Properties of Brown Mass Dyed Poly ( ethylene terephthalate ) Filament Yarns in the Visible-near Infrared Region

Near infrared and visible reflectance properties of brown mass dyed poly(ethylene terephthalate) melt spun filament yarns were studied compared to natural brown hue of desert areas. Pigment Red 177, Pigment Green 7 and carbon black particles were used in this investigation. Nearinfrared reflectance, mechanical and thermal properties as well as crystallinity of the camouflage poly(ethylene terephthalate) mass dyed filament yarns were measured. The obtained result indicated that by using an optimal content of the mentioned colored pigments and carbon black particles during the melt spinning operation could be achieved to desirable near infrared reflectance properties in the poly(ethylene terephthalate) drawn filament yarns. Also, mechanical properties of the samples were acceptable evaluated. The samples with the highest concentration of pigments had the highest percentage of crystallinity. XRD results indicated that 2 sample with the highest concentration of pigments and additives among other samples had the greatest distance between the crystalline plates. Maximum space between crystal layers is about 4.01-4.08 Å. Also, microstructural uniformity of the sample was confirmed by a low variation of samples.
A bridge over troubling waters: a snapshot of teacher graduates' perceptions of their ongoing professional learning needs

For graduating teachers, the bridging period between formal teacher preparation and joining the profession is a time of high anxiety and great excitement. While this transition influences efficacy, job satisfaction, career length and future teaching quality, it is widely recognised to be inconsistent, poorly planned and resourced and largely unsupported. In Australia, the transition to teaching remains largely a school-based affair. However, individual schools may not have the resources to support a comprehensive and cohesive transition program. This paper discusses a pilot university program of extended teacher preparation. It reports on the perceived professional learning needs of a group of graduates as they transition to teaching. The key findings indicate that these graduates are seeking ongoing support as they develop confidence in their canonical skills of teaching. The authors argue that university-based programs are one way of providing professional learning and support for beginning teachers.
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy in the Management of Neuroendocrine Tumors (Neoplasms): Fundamentals and Salient Clinical Practice Points for Medical Oncologists

Abstract This editorial commentary is an expert summary of “Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT),” encompassing the essential fundamentals and salient clinical practice points, deliberated and designed in a point-wise manner with theme-based subheadings. Emphasis has been laid on the topics of practical relevance to the referring oncologists with relevant finer points where necessary. A part of the presented overview has been generated from the authors' own practical experience of more than 3500 successful therapies delivered over the last 9 years at a large tertiary care PRRT setting by the joint efforts of Radiation Medicine Centre (RMC), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and Gastrointestinal services of Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) at the TMH-RMC premises. While the technical indigenization is beyond the scope of this treatise, we must mention here that India had been one of the frontrunners in this treatment modality, and the PRRT services in this country were developed purely as an indigenous effort right from the production of the radionuclide (177-Lutetium) at the reactor and radiolabeling and production of the radiopharmaceutical (177Lu-DOTATATE) by the radiopharmaceutical scientists at the BARC and RMC; such an endeavor allowed this very specialized therapy to be delivered at a very affordable cost in our setting which could be viewed as a major societal contribution of the atomic energy research in this country.
The effectiveness of an ice pack, a menthol based cooling gel, a menthol based cooling gel with extracts and a placebo gel in the treatment of acute ankle sprain

Cryotherapy is commonly used to decrease pain, swelling and disability in acute injury. The most common form traditionally used is ice packs, with menthol based cooling gels being increasingly used by physicians in place of ice. More recently companies are experimenting with adding herbs containing anti-inflammatory properties to these menthol based gels to enhance their effectiveness. There is a paucity of literature comparing different forms of cryotherapy to one another, and more experiments are necessary to determine if cooling gels containing menthol and cooling gels with menthol and anti-inflammatory herbs are comparable to that of conventional ice pack cryotherapy. Objectives To determine the relative effectiveness of an ice pack, a menthol based gel, a menthol based gel with herbal extracts (combination gel) and placebo gel in the treatment of an acute grade 1 or 2 inversion ankle sprains, in terms of subjective and objective measurements. Any adverse reactions were also noted. Method A placebo controlled randomised, single blinded clinical trial (n=48) was conducted. Participants were randomly allocated into one of the four groups. Each group consisted of 12 people between the ages of 18 and 45. Each participant had a case history, physical and ankle examination prior to being accepted to ensure that they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. On the initial consultation the respective treatments were administered and participants were instructed on how to apply the gel or ice pack, which they were required to utilise at home three times per day for 3 days. Those receiving the gels were blinded as to which gel they were receiving, all gels looked and smelt the same. On the 4th day the participants returned for data collection and were instructed to stop using the treatment and return 7 days later for further data collection. Statistical analysis consisted of repeated measures of ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Intra-group and inter-group analysis showed that all four groups had statistically significant improvements in terms of subjective and objective measurements. The results of the study demonstrated that the effects produced by the two cooling gels containing menthol, are comparable with those of conventional/traditional ice pack cryotherapy in the treatment of acute grade 1 or 2 inversion ankle sprains. No adverse reactions were reported. Conclusion This study found that all four treatment interventions were effective and safe in treating acute grade 1 and 2 inversion ankle sprains, however the ice pack and both cooling gel groups appear to statistically significantly improve treatment outcomes at a similarly higher rate when compared to the placebo gel group.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest after Daratumumab Infusion

301 Sir, Despite recent therapeutic advances, remission induction after myeloma relapse remains a major clinical challenge. Treatment of relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the background of resistance to immunomodulators and bortezomib usually results in inferior outcomes. [1] The use of newer drugs such as pomalidomide, carfilzomib, and daratumumab in the management of RRMM has yielded unprecedented results and provided hope of achieving deeper and durable responses. Daratumumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets CD38 receptors present on myeloma cells, has shown exceptional efficacy in RRMM as monotherapy and combination with conventional anti‐myeloma regimens. [2] Combination of daratumumab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone has been recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in RRMM patients who have received at least two prior therapies. [3] Its recent availability in India has ushered a new optimism in the management of RRMM patients who otherwise had limited therapeutic options. [4]
"Horror, guilt and shame" -- Uncomfortable Experiences in Digital Games

Gameplay frequently involves a combination of positive and negative emotions, where there is increasing interest in how to design for more complex forms of player experience. However, despite the risk that some of these experiences may be uncomfortable, there has been little empirical investigation into how discomfort manifests during play and its impact on engagement. We conducted a qualitative investigation using an online survey (N=95), that focused on uncomfortable interactions across three games: Darkest Dungeon, Fallout 4 and Papers, Please. The findings suggest games create discomfort in a variety of ways; through providing high-pressure environments with uncertain outcomes and difficult decisions to make, to the experience of loss and exposing players to disturbing themes. However, while excessive discomfort can jeopardize player engagement, the findings also indicate that discomfort can provide another facet to gameplay, leading to richer forms of experience and stimulating wider reflections on societal issues and concerns.
The Role of Uncertainty in Moment-to-Moment Player Motivation: A Grounded Theory

Uncertainty is widely acknowledged as an engaging characteristic of games. Practice and research have proposed various types and factors of game uncertainty, yet there is little work explaining when and why different kinds of uncertainty motivate, especially with respect to 'micro-level', moment-to-moment gameplay. We therefore conducted a qualitative interview study of players tracing links between uncertainty experiences, specific game features, and player motives. Data supports that uncertainty is indeed a key element in keeping players motivated moment-to-moment. We present a grounded theory of seven types of engaging gameplay uncertainty emerging from three sources - game, player, and outcome - and document links to likely underlying motives, chief among them curiosity and competence. Comparing our empirically grounded taxonomy with existing ones shows partial fits as well as identifies novel uncertainty types insufficiently captured in previous models.
The Role of Assertiveness in a Storytelling Game with Persuasive Robotic Non-Player Characters

Can social agents be assertive and persuade users? To what extent do the persuasion abilities of robots depend on the users' own traits? In this paper, we describe the results of a study in which participants interacted with robotic Non-Player Characters (NPC) displaying different levels of assertiveness (high and low), in a storytelling scenario. We sought to understand how the level of assertiveness displayed by the robots impacted the participants' decision-making process and game experience. Our results suggest that NPCs displaying lower levels of assertiveness evoke more positive emotional responses but are not more effective at influencing players' decisions when compared to NPCs displaying higher levels of this trait. However, NPCs displaying a personality trait are more effective persuaders than NPCs not displaying this feature. Overall, this paper highlights the importance of considering the player's personality and its relation to task-specific attributes during the process of game design.
Gestational Diabetes: Evidence-Based Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment

Gestational diabetes (GD) is defined as carbohydrate intolerance that begins or is first diagnosed during pregnancy. Hyperglycemia is found only during pregnancy and diagnosis is confirmed when glucose tolerance test results return to normal levels in the postpartum (Metzger et al., 2007). GD occurs in around 4-10% of pregnancies; however, its incidence varies as a function of nutritional habits and differences in genetic patterns between populations (Metzger et al., 2007). The importance of GD was first described around forty years ago when it was noticed that women with this disorder were more likely to develop diabetes mellitus later on in their lives. The original diagnostic criteria proposed by O’Sullivan and Mahan were in fact never validated for the development of gestational complications or adverse perinatal outcomes (O’Sullivan and Mahan, 1964). Throughout all this time, the importance of this diagnosis for the prognosis of the pregnancy has been the subject of debate (Holt et al., 2011). Whereas some specialists feared that even mild levels of hyperglycemia would negatively affect pregnancy outcome, others have questioned the very existence of GD as a disease (Buchanan and Kjos, 1999). Recently, however, the harmful effects of hyperglycemia during pregnancy have been demonstrated (HAPO, 2008) and evidence is mounting on the risks of hyperglycemia during pregnancy, not only in terms of adverse perinatal outcome, but also for the future of the infant in adult life (Catalano, 2010; Chandler-Laney et al., 2011; Fall, 2010; Lawlor et al., 2011). In this chapter, the rationale and current recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes will be evaluated based on the best scientific evidence currently available. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS and SciELO databases and the systematic reviews of the Cochrane Library were reassessed using the key words: gestational diabetes, screening, diagnosis and therapy. Preference was given to randomized clinical trials and meta-analyses, with observational studies and review articles being included only when studies with a better level of evidence were unavailable. Guidelines and recommendations established by medical societies for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes were also consulted.
Building Better Health. A Handbook of Behavioral Change

ISBN 92-75-11590-7 Building Better Health: A Handbook of Behavioral Change is a one-of-a-kind manual for communities to reduce disease, disability, and premature death throughout the life cycle. It blends proven disease prevention strategies with practical behavioral science principles and methods to create a handy guide that health workers at all levels can use in planning and operating local and regional health programs.
Indicaciones de corticoesteroides en gastroenterología

: Since the discovery of anti- inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of glucocorticoids in the late 40's, these drugs have been a cornerstone in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, being one of the most prescribed drugs in spite of their side effects occurring in up to 80% of patients treated. In Gastroenterology, as in other medical specialties, glucocorticoids are a widely used tool for the treatment of various diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, liver, bile ducts and pancreas, making it necessary to establish when and in which patients are indicated, as well as the glucocorticoid type, dose, route of administration and duration of treatment, taking into account that the long-term use without adequate control produces complications that may outweigh their beneficial effects.
PushTASEP in inhomogeneous space

We consider the PushTASEP (pushing totally asymmetric simple exclusion process, also sometimes called long-range TASEP) with the step initial configuration evolving in an inhomogeneous space. That is, the rate of each particle's jump depends on the location of this particle. We match the distribution of the height function of this PushTASEP with Schur processes. Using this matching and determinantal structure of Schur processes, we obtain limit shape and fluctuation results which are typical for stochastic particle systems in the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang universality class. PushTASEP is a close relative of the usual TASEP. In inhomogeneous space the former is integrable, while the integrability of the latter is not known.
High-dimensional and universally consistent k-sample tests

The k-sample testing problem involves determining whether $k$ groups of data points are each drawn from the same distribution. The standard method for k-sample testing in biomedicine is Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), despite that it depends on strong, and often unsuitable, parametric assumptions. Moreover, independence testing and k-sample testing are closely related, and several universally consistent high-dimensional independence tests such as distance correlation (Dcorr) and Hilbert-Schmidt-Independence-Criterion (Hsic) enjoy solid theoretical and empirical properties. In this paper, we prove that independence tests achieve universally consistent k-sample testing and that k-sample statistics such as Energy and Maximum Mean Discrepancy (MMD) are precisely equivalent to Dcorr. An empirical evaluation of nonparametric independence tests showed that they generally perform better than the popular MANOVA test, even in Gaussian distributed scenarios. The evaluation included several popular independence statistics and covered a comprehensive set of simulations. Additionally, the testing approach was extended to perform multiway and multilevel tests, which were demonstrated in a simulated study as well as a real-world fMRI brain scans with a set of attributes.
A characteristic free approach to secant varieties of triple Segre products

The goal of this short note is to study the secant varieties of the triple Segre product of type (1,a,b) by means of the standard tools of combinatorial commutative algebra. We reprove and extend to arbitrary characteristic results of Landsberg and Weyman regarding the defining ideal and the Cohen-Macaulay property of the secant varieties. Furthermore for these varieties we compute the degree and give a bound for their Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity which is sharp in many cases.
Deep speech inpainting of time-frequency masks

Transient loud intrusions, often occurring in noisy environments, can completely overpower speech signal and lead to an inevitable loss of information. While existing algorithms for noise suppression can yield impressive results, their efficacy remains limited for very low signal-to-noise ratios or when parts of the signal are missing. To address these limitations, here we propose an end-to-end framework for speech inpainting, the context-based retrieval of missing or severely distorted parts of time-frequency representation of speech. The framework is based on a convolutional U-Net trained via deep feature losses, obtained using speechVGG, a deep speech feature extractor pre-trained on an auxiliary word classification task. Our evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed framework can recover large portions of missing or distorted time-frequency representation of speech, up to 400 ms and 3.2 kHz in bandwidth. In particular, our approach provided a substantial increase in STOI & PESQ objective metrics of the initially corrupted speech samples. Notably, using deep feature losses to train the framework led to the best results, as compared to conventional approaches.
Unitriangular shape of decomposition matrices of unipotent
 blocks

We show that the decomposition matrix of unipotent $\ell$-blocks of a finite reductive group $\mathbf{G}(\mathbb{F}_q)$ has a unitriangular shape, assuming $q$ is a power of a good prime and $\ell$ is very good for $\mathbf{G}$. This was conjectured by Geck in 1990 as part of his PhD thesis. We establish this result by constructing projective modules using a modification of generalised Gelfand--Graev characters introduced by Kawanaka. We prove that each such character has at most one unipotent constituent which occurs with multiplicity one. This establishes a 30 year old conjecture of Kawanaka.
Computer-supported Analysis of Positive Properties, Ultrafilters and Modal Collapse in Variants of Gödel's Ontological Argument

Three variants of Kurt Gödel's ontological argument, proposed by Dana Scott, C. Anthony Anderson and Melvin Fitting, are encoded and rigorously assessed on the computer. In contrast to Scott's version of Gödel's argument the two variants contributed by Anderson and Fitting avoid modal collapse. Although they appear quite different on a cursory reading they are in fact closely related. This has been revealed in the computer-supported formal analysis presented in this article. Key to our formal analysis is the utilization of suitably adapted notions of (modal) ultrafilters, and a careful distinction between extensions and intensions of positive properties.
Online Pricing with Offline Data: Phase Transition and Inverse Square Law

This paper investigates the impact of pre-existing offline data on online learning in the context of dynamic pricing. We study a single-product dynamic pricing problem over a selling horizon of T periods. The demand in each period is determined by the price of the product according to a linear demand model with unknown parameters. We assume that before the start of the selling horizon, the seller already has some pre-existing offline data. The offline data set contains n samples, each of which is an input-output pair consisting of a historical price and an associated demand observation. The seller wants to use both the pre-existing offline data and the sequentially revealed online data to minimize the regret of the online learning process. We characterize the joint effect of the size, location, and dispersion of the offline data on the optimal regret of the online learning process. Specifically, the size, location, and dispersion of the offline data are measured by the number of historical samples, the distance between the average historical price and the optimal price, and the standard deviation of the historical prices, respectively. For both single-historical-price setting and multiple-historical-price setting, we design a learning algorithm based on the “Optimism in the Face of Uncertainty” principle, which strikes a balance between exploration and exploitation and achieves the optimal regret up to a logarithmic factor. Our results reveal surprising transformations of the optimal regret rate with respect to the size of the offline data, which we refer to as phase transitions. In addition, our results demonstrate that the location and dispersion of the offline data also have an intrinsic effect on the optimal regret, and we quantify this effect via the inverse-square law. This paper was accepted by Omar Besbes, revenue management and market analytics.