Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary Algorithms as Guaranteed Approximation Optimizers

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) are heuristic algorithms inspired from natural evolution. They are often used to obtain good enough solutions in practice. In this paper, we investigate a largely underexplored issue: the approximation performance of EAs, i.e., how much the obtained solution is close to the optimal solution. We study an EA framework simple evolutionary algorithm with isolated population, abbreviated as SEIP, which is generalized from recent advances in multi-objective EAs. We analyze the approximation performance of SEIP through partial ratio, which characterizes the behaviors of SEIP that lead to solutions with guaranteed approximation ratios. Specifically, we analyze SEIP on the set cover problem which is NP-hard. We find that, for unbounded set cover problem, SEIP efficiently achievesHn-approximation ratio, the asymptotic lower bound; and for the k-set cover problem, it efficiently achieves (k k−1 8k9 )-approximation ratio, the currently best-achievable result, using bit-wise mutation. Moreover, on an instance class of k-set cover problem, we disclose how SEIP using either one-bit mutation or bit-wise mutation can overcome the difficulty that obstructs the greedy algorithm. These results suggest that EAs can serve as highly practical tools for obtaining approximate
A Semidwarf Phenotype of Barley uzu Results from a Nucleotide Substitution in the Gene Encoding a Putative Brassinosteroid Receptor

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play important roles throughout plant growth and development. Despite the importance of clarifying the mechanism of BR-related growth regulation in cereal crops, BR-related cereal mutants have been identified only in rice (Oryza sativa). We previously found that semidwarf barley (Hordeum vulgare) accessions carrying the “uzu” gene, called “uzu” barley in Japan, are non-responding for brassinolide (BL). We then performed chemical and molecular analyses to clarify the mechanisms of uzu dwarfism using isogenic line pairs of uzu gene. The response of the uzu line to BL was significantly lower than that of its corresponding normal line. Measurement of BRs showed that the uzu line accumulates BRs, similar to known BR-insensitive mutants. The marker synteny of rice and barley chromosomes suggests that the uzu gene may be homologous to rice D61, a rice homolog of Arabidopsis BR-insensitive 1 (BRI1), encoding a BR-receptor protein. A barley homolog of BRI1, HvBRI1, was isolated by using degenerate primers. A comparison of HvBRI1 sequences in uzu and normal barley varieties showed that the uzu phenotype is correlated with a single nucleotide substitution. This substitution results in an amino acid change at a highly conserved residue in the kinase domain of the BR-receptor protein. These results may indicate that uzu dwarfism is caused by the missense mutation in HvBRI1. The uzu gene is being introduced into all hull-less barley cultivars in Japan as an effective dwarf gene for practical use, and this is the first report about an agronomically important mutation related to BRs.
Role of limited whole-body PET/CT in pediatric lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE Performing true whole-body FDG PET/CT is standard practice in pediatric lymphoma staging and follow-up. In adults, imaging is typically limited whole-body PET/CT, which has advantages over true whole-body PET/CT, primarily decreased scanning time and decreased radiation. We hypothesize that in pediatric lymphoma, limited whole-body PET/CT is sufficient for routine follow-up when disease on the true whole-body staging study is confined to the limited whole-body field of view (FOV). MATERIALS AND METHODS True whole-body PET/CT studies performed for staging and follow-up of pediatric lymphoma patients between November 2004 and July 2009 at two tertiary pediatric referral hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Abnormalities on the limited whole-body and additional true whole-body FOV were documented. RESULTS One hundred seventy patients met the inclusion criteria (752 examinations). At staging, disease involved the limited whole-body FOV without involving the additional true whole-body FOV in 150. Of the 150, 145 had routine follow-up (508 examinations). In these patients, no new (18)F-FDG-avid disease was identified outside of the limited whole-body FOV on routine follow-up (positive predictive value, 0%, 95% CI, 0-0.02). CONCLUSION The limited whole-body PET/CT for routine follow-up when disease is confined to the limited whole-body FOV at staging is appropriate. Given its definite advantages over true whole-body PET/CT, it is preferred.
Las políticas de demanda en uniones monetarias: ¿son necesarias las reglas de política fiscal?

Desde sus origenes, el exito de la Union Economica y Monetaria (UEM) europea se ha asociado a los beneficios de la moneda unica, al mayor grado de integracion de los mercados financieros, y tambien a la garantia de unas finanzas publicas saneadas gracias al conjunto de reglas fiscales proporcionadas por el marco institucional de la union monetaria. El objetivo de este proyecto es analizar si seria conveniente para las autoridades fiscales seguir explicitamente algun tipo de regla fiscal. Para ello, vamos a desarrollar un modelo macroeconomico para una union monetaria que, haciendo uso del enfoque de la Teoria de Juegos, nos permitira analizar los costes y beneficios derivados del uso de reglas fiscales; asi como la conveniencia o no de que la gestion de la politica fiscal (con reglas o sin ellas), se lleve a cabo de forma coordinada. Finalmente, realizaremos una aplicacion empirica para evaluar la magnitud de los resultados obtenidos. Las conclusiones derivadas de nuestro estudio podrian resultar de interes no solo en el debate de como deberia ser conducida la politica fiscal en una union monetaria, sino para evaluar de que modo una politica de estabilizacion basada en reglas puede contribuir a suavizar las fluctuaciones ciclicas.
BREAST CANCER PREVENTION: LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND CHEMOPREVENTION

Abstract Susceptibility to breast cancer is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Research is exploring which factors influence breast cancer risk, and by which mechanisms they exert their influence. Women should be informed about lifestyle factors influencing their life time breast cancer risk and encouraged by their physician to adapt changes in diet, physical activity, reproductive issues and use of hormone substitution after menopause, to minimize the risk. Patients identified as high risk to develop breast cancer can consider prophylactic surgery, chemo-preventive therapies and take part in personalized screening programs.
An application-aware qos routing scheme with improved stability for multimedia applications in mobile ad hoc networks

Both delay and bandwidth are the crucial node state information considered in QoS routing schemes for multimedia applications in mobile Ad Hoc networks. In this paper, we propose an application-aware QoS routing scheme for multimedia applications in mobile Ad Hoc networks. In our scheme, the real time control protocol (RTCP) is used to estimate the node state instead of the additional probing messages, and an optimally stable route can be established according to QoS requirements of the multimedia application based on the node state information. It has been shown that the routing performance is improved significantly compared to the existing schemes using the additional probing messages.
Printing Tablets with Fully Customizable Release Profiles for Personalized Medicine

Personalizing the release profiles of drugs is important for different people with different medical and biological conditions. A technically simple and low-cost method to fabricate fully customizable tablets that can deliver drugs with any type of release profile is described. The customization is intuitively straightforward: the desired profile can simply be "drawn" and printed by a 3D printer.
Adaptive changes of the locomotor pattern and cutaneous reflexes during locomotion studied in the same cats before and after spinalization

Descending supraspinal inputs exert powerful influences on spinal reflex pathways in the legs. Removing these inputs by completely transecting the spinal cord changes the state (i.e. the configuration of the spinal circuitry) of the locomotor network and undoubtedly generates a reorganization of reflex pathways. To study changes in reflex pathways after a complete spinalization, we recorded spinal reflexes during locomotion before and after a complete transection of the spinal cord at the 13th thoracic segment in cats. We chronically implanted electrodes in three cats, to record electromyography (EMG) in several hindlimb muscles and around the left tibial (Tib) nerve at the ankle to elicit reflexes during locomotion before and after spinalization in the same cat. Control values of kinematics, EMGs and reflexes were obtained during intact locomotion for 33–60 days before spinalization. After spinalization, cats were trained 3–5 times a week on a motorized treadmill. Recordings resumed once a stable spinal locomotion was achieved (26–43 days), with consistent plantar foot placement and full hindquarter weight support without perineal stimulation. Changes in Tib nerve reflex responses after spinalization in the same cat during locomotion were found in all muscles studied and were often confined to specific phases of the step cycle. The most remarkable change was the appearance of short‐latency excitatory responses in some ipsilateral ankle extensors during stance. Short‐latency excitatory responses in the ipsilateral tibialis anterior were increased during stance, whereas in other flexors such as semitendinosus and sartorius, increases were mostly confined to swing. Longer‐latency excitatory responses in ipsilateral flexors were absent or reduced. Responses evoked in limb muscles contralateral to stimulation were generally increased throughout the step cycle. These reflex changes after spinalization provide important clues regarding the functional reorganization of reflex pathways during spinal locomotion.
Lobster Sniffing: Antennule Design and Hydrodynamic Filtering of Information in an Odor Plume

The first step in processing olfactory information, before neural filtering, is the physical capture of odor molecules from the surrounding fluid. Many animals capture odors from turbulent water currents or wind using antennae that bear chemosensory hairs. We used planar laser–induced fluorescence to reveal how lobster olfactory antennules hydrodynamically alter the spatiotemporal patterns of concentration in turbulent odor plumes. As antennules flick, water penetrates their chemosensory hair array during the fast downstroke, carrying fine-scale patterns of concentration into the receptor area. This spatial pattern, blurred by flow along the antennule during the downstroke, is retained during the slower return stroke and is not shed until the next flick.
Age and Growth of Larval and Juvenile Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias Undulatus, from the Middle Atlantic Bight and Estuarine Waters of Virginia

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in OEAS Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@odu.edu. Repository Citation Nixon, Stephen W. and Jones, Cynthia M. , "Age and Growth of Larval and Juvenile Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias Undulatus, from the Middle Atlantic Bight and Estuarine Waters of Virginia" (1997). OEAS Faculty Publications. Paper 177. http://digitalcommons.odu.edu/oeas_fac_pubs/177
Non-uniform small-gain theorems for systems with critical and slow relaxations

We consider the problem of small-gain analysis of asymptotic behavior in in- terconnected nonlinear dynamic systems. Mathematical models of these systems are allowed to be uncertain and time-varying. In contrast to standard small-gain theorems that require global asymptotic stability of each interacting component in the absence of inputs, we consider interconnections of systems that can be critically stable and have infinite input-output L∞ gains. For this class of systems we derive small-gain conditions specifying state boundedness of the interconnection. The estimates of the domain in which the system's state remains are also provided. Conditions that follow from the main results of our paper are non-uniform in space. That is they hold generally only for a set of initial conditions in the system's state space. We show that under some mild continuity restrictions this set has a non-zero volume, hence such bounded yet potentially globally unstable motions are realizable with a non-zero probability. Proposed results can be used for the design and analysis of intermittent, itinerant and meta- stable dynamics which is the case in the domains of control of chemical kinetics, biological and complex physical systems, and non-linear optimization. The main results are illustrated with simple examples, and relation of our results with the standard small-gain conditions is discussed.
Semantic Storytelling, Cross-lingual Event Detection and other Semantic Services for a Newsroom Content Curation Dashboard

We present a prototypical content curation dashboard, to be used in the newsroom, and several of its underlying semantic content analysis components (such as named entity recognition, entity linking, summarisation and temporal expression analysis). The idea is to enable journalists (a) to process incoming content (agency reports, twitter feeds, reports, blog posts, social media etc.) and (b) to create new articles more easily and more efficiently. The prototype system also allows the automatic annotation of events in incoming content for the purpose of supporting journalists in identifying important, relevant or meaningful events and also to adapt the content currently in production accordingly in a semi-automatic way. One of our long-term goals is to support journalists building up entire storylines with automatic means. In the present prototype they are generated in a backend service using clustering methods that operate on the extracted events.
Vaginal birth following two cesarean deliveries—are the risks exaggerated?

Background Prior to 1996, most women who had undergone two previous cesarean deliveries were offered only cesarean delivery at Al-Hasa Health Centre. A policy of trial of labor was instituted in 1996. We compared the outcome of trial of labor versus cesarean delivery in women with a history of two previous cesarean deliveries who delivered between 1997 and 2002. Patients and Methods All patients with a history of two previous lower segment cesarean deliveries were included in the study. Those considered suitable were permitted a trial of labor that was neither induced nor augmented at any stage. Results Of the 205 patients in the study, 66 delivered vaginally (32.2%), 68 had an emergency cesarean delivery (33.2%), and 71 an elective cesarean delivery (34.6%). No scar dehiscence was observed, nor was hysterectomy performed in either group. The rate of complications was lower in the vaginal delivery group (4.5%) than in the cesarean delivery group (19.4%). Conclusion Trial of labor in women with a history of two cesarean deliveries is a reasonable consideration, and when carried out without the use of oxytocics or prostaglandins, is associated with reduced maternal morbidity with no difference in perinatal morbidity.
Letter: the neglected analgesic properties of red pepper in the clinical management of the irritable bowel syndrome pain—Authors’ reply

1. Beckers AB, Weerts ZZRM, Helyes Z, Masclee AAM, Keszthelyi D. Review article: transient receptor potential channels as possible therapeutic targets in irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2017;46:938-952. 2. Aniwan S, Gonlachanvit S. Effects of chili treatment on gastrointestinal and rectal sensation in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized, double-blinded, crossover study. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;20:400-406. 3. Bortolotti M, Porta S. Effect of red pepper on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: preliminary study. Dig Dis Sci. 2011;56: 3288-3295. 4. Bortolotti M, Coccia G, Grossi G, Miglioli M. The treatment of functional dyspepsia with red pepper. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2002;16: 1075-1082. 5. Gwee Ka, Lu CL, Ghoshal UC. Epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome in Asia: something old, something new, something borrowed. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2009;24:1601-1607. 6. Perveen I, Hasan M, Masud MA, Bhuiyan MM, RahmanMM. Irritable bowel syndrome in a Bangladeshi urban community: prevalence and health care seeking pattern Saudi J Gastroenterol2009;15:239-243.
A laboratory structure for dynamic and power quality studies of wind farms

The growing importance of wind farm resources has motivated the development of computational and experimental approaches to cope with the needs for professional formation and research. Although the recognition that a great computational effort has already being made, it has been found important to idealize and set up a physical structure that topologically and functionally is enable to represent wind conversion complexes as far as its power structure and control strategy are concerned. In light of these facts, this paper presents an experimental arrangement consisting of reduced scale equipment to simulate the operation of wind power conversion system. By utilizing the overall laboratory organization is has been found feasible to represent typical electrical dynamic and power quality operating performance. To highlight the potentiality of the assembled complex at representing field occurrences an experiment has been carried out and the corresponding results are given and discussed.
Targeting High Ability Entrepreneurs Using Community Information: Mechanism Design in the Field

Identifying high-growth microentrepreneurs in low-income countries remains a challenge due to a scarcity of verifiable information. With a cash grant experiment in India we demonstrate that community knowledge can help target high-growth microentrepreneurs; while the average marginal return to capital in our sample is 9.4 percent per month, microentrepreneurs reported in the top third of the community are estimated to have marginal returns to capital between 24 percent and 30 percent per month. Further we find evidence that community members distort their predictions when they can influence the distribution of resources. Finally, we demonstrate that simple mechanisms can realign incentives for truthful reporting. (JEL D82, G21, I38, L25, L26, O12, O16)
The pathophysiology and experimental therapy of acid pneumonitis in ex vivo lungs.

An ex vivo autoperfosed lung preparation which facilitates the study of pulmonary function under controlled conditions has been developed. The alterations which were produced by acid aspiration were studied in 35 experiments of which eight served as control studies. Acute acid pneumonitis can be produced in the isolated lung. The functional alterations were characterized by a threefold increase in resistance to blood flow and a decrease in compliance and oxygenating ability. A significant amount of acid appeared to be absorbed from the lungs which were damaged by gastric juice. Other materials may also have contributed to systemic failure in the lung donor-support dogs. Further investigation of these factors and treatment methods for acid pneumonitis and other forms of acute lung pathology can be carried out objectively in the model which is described.
Universal Vaccine Based on Ectodomain of Matrix Protein 2 of Influenza A: Fc Receptors and Alveolar Macrophages Mediate Protection

The ectodomain of matrix protein 2 (M2e) of influenza A virus is an attractive target for a universal influenza A vaccine: the M2e sequence is highly conserved across influenza virus subtypes, and induced humoral anti-M2e immunity protects against a lethal influenza virus challenge in animal models. Clinical phase I studies with M2e vaccine candidates have been completed. However, the in vivo mechanism of immune protection induced by M2e-carrier vaccination is unclear. Using passive immunization experiments in wild-type, FcRγ−/−, FcγRI−/−, FcγRIII−/−, and (FcγRI, FcγRIII)−/− mice, we report in this study that Fc receptors are essential for anti-M2e IgG-mediated immune protection. M2e-specific IgG1 isotype Abs are shown to require functional FcγRIII for in vivo immune protection but other anti-M2e IgG isotypes can rescue FcγRIII−/− mice from a lethal challenge. Using a conditional cell depletion protocol, we also demonstrate that alveolar macrophages (AM) play a crucial role in humoral M2e-specific immune protection. Additionally, we show that adoptive transfer of wild-type AM into (FcγRI, FcγRIII)−/− mice restores protection by passively transferred anti-M2e IgG. We conclude that AM and Fc receptor-dependent elimination of influenza A virus-infected cells are essential for protection by anti-M2e IgG.
Low baseline (pre-injury) blood pressure predicts inpatient mortality in elderly trauma patients: A bi-institutional study

OBJECTIVE The relationship between baseline (i.e., pre-injury) blood pressure and trauma outcomes in elderly patients is unknown. We therefore aimed to identify the independent impact of baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) on inpatient mortality among elderly trauma patients. METHODS The 2004 to 2014 trauma registries of two Level I Trauma Centers were linked to electronic health records then reviewed to identify patients ≥65 years old with available baseline vital signs. Baseline SBP was defined as mean outpatient SBP within 2 years before injury. Trauma SBP was defined as first SBP reading after presentation for trauma. Baseline and Trauma SBP were classified as Low (<110 mm Hg), Normal (110–139 mm Hg), or High (≥140 mm Hg). Logistic multivariable regression models were constructed to assess the independent impact of Baseline SBP on inpatient mortality, controlling for demographics, comorbidities, injury mechanism/severity, and Trauma SBP. RESULTS Of 37,494 patient admissions, 4,233 met inclusion criteria. Median age was 81 years; 63.6% were female. Mortality was 5.39%. In unadjusted analyses, mortality rates were 11.01%, 5.28%, and 4.52% in the Low, Normal, and High Baseline SBP groups, respectively (p = 0.001). In multivariable analyses, patients with Low Baseline SBP had significantly increased mortality risk [OR 3.19 (95% CI 1.62–6.26), p = 0.001] compared to patients with Normal Baseline SBP, in particular when they presented with Low Trauma SBP (<110 mm Hg) [OR 6.14 (2.17–17.36), p = 0.001] or Normal Trauma SBP (110–139 mm Hg) [OR 3.87 (1.43–10.45), p = 0.008]. The mortality risk associated with Low Baseline SBP was particularly elevated among patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of hypertension [OR 4.78 (1.97–11.62), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSION Low baseline pre-injury SBP is independently associated with more than a threefold increase in inpatient mortality among elderly trauma patients and a fivefold increase in mortality risk among patients with pre-existing hypertension. Given that blood pressure control in the elderly offers a long-term survival advantage, the paradoxical finding of decreased survival after trauma warrants further investigation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III.