Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Integral Representation of the Logarithmic Function with Applications in Information Theory

We explore a well-known integral representation of the logarithmic function, and demonstrate its usefulness in obtaining compact, easily computable exact formulas for quantities that involve expectations and higher moments of the logarithm of a positive random variable (or the logarithm of a sum of i.i.d. positive random variables). The integral representation of the logarithm is proved useful in a variety of information-theoretic applications, including universal lossless data compression, entropy and differential entropy evaluations, and the calculation of the ergodic capacity of the single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) Gaussian channel with random parameters (known to both transmitter and receiver). This integral representation and its variants are anticipated to serve as a useful tool in additional applications, as a rigorous alternative to the popular (but non-rigorous) replica method (at least in some situations).
Object Recognition with Human in the Loop Intelligent Frameworks

Classifiers embedded within human in the loop visual object recognition frameworks commonly utilise two sources of information: one derived directly from the imagery data of an object, and the other obtained interactively from user interactions. These computer vision frameworks exploit human high-level cognitive power to tackle particularly difficult visual object recognition tasks. In this paper, we present innovative techniques to combine the two sources of information intelligently for the purpose of improving recognition accuracy. We firstly employ standard algorithms to build two classifiers for the two sources independently, and subsequently fuse the outputs from these classifiers to make a conclusive decision. The two fusion techniques proposed are: i) a modified naive Bayes algorithm that adaptively selects an individual classifier's output or combines both to produce a definite answer, and ii) a neural network based algorithm which feeds the outputs of the two classifiers to a 4-layer feedforward network to generate a final output. We present extensive experimental results on 4 challenging visual recognition tasks to illustrate that the new intelligent techniques consistently outperform traditional approaches to fusing the two sources of information.
Benefits of Older Volunteering on Wellbeing: An International Comparison

Healthier aging implies lower health service expenditure and the possibility for individuals to make a longer and more valuable contribution to society. Lifestyles, including volunteering, affect our health. The policy implications of the present study are that it aims to broaden the state of knowledge and be useful to public decision-makers: if voluntary activities enhance the integration of older people into society, their participation will help to generate economic resources and improve their own welfare; if, however, health and participation do not show positive synergies, then policymakers must act independently in each of these fields. In this work, we focus on the societies of Chile, Mexico, and Spain because they have significantly aging populations and share common traits but also exhibit important differences. The empirical study employs micro-data from the World Value Survey (1994–1998, 2005–2009, and 2010–2014) and macro-data from the statistics of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Micro- and macro-data are merged by national and temporal identifiers. Our main results provide empirical evidence that volunteering might improve every indicator of wellbeing except happiness. Different kinds of activities have different impacts on individual wellbeing. For example, volunteering in activities related to social awareness is positive for male life satisfaction, whereas volunteering in activities related to religious issues is positive for male life satisfaction but also female happiness. In general, voluntary activities have a stronger impact on male wellbeing than female wellbeing.
Receptor targeting drug delivery strategies and prospects in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease, is characterized by cartilage damage, bone tissue destruction, morphological changes in synovial fluids, and synovial joint inflammation. The inflamed synovial tissue has potential for passive and active targeting because of enhanced permeability and retention effect and the existence of RA synovial macrophages and fibroblasts that selectively express surface receptors such as folate receptor β, CD44 and integrin αVβ. Although there are numerous interventions in RA treatment, they are not safe and effective. Therefore, it is important to develop new drug or drug delivery systems that specifically targets inflamed/swollen joints but attenuates other possible damages to healthy tissues. Recently some receptors such as toll-like receptors (TLRs), the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors, and Fc-γ receptor have been identified in synovial tissue and immune cells that are involved in induction or suppression of arthritis. Analysis of the TLR pathway has moreover suggested new insights into the pathogenesis of RA. In the present paper, we have reviewed drug delivery strategies based on receptor targeting with novel ligand-anchored carriers exploiting CD44, folate and integrin αVβ as well as TLRs expressed on synovial monocytes and macrophages and antigen presenting cells, for possible active targeting in RA. TLRs could not only open a new horizon for developing new drugs but also their antagonists or humanized monoclonal antibodies that block TLRS specially TLR4 and TLR9 signaling could be used as targeting agents to antigen presenting cells and dendritic cells. As a conclusion, common conventional receptors and multifunctional ligands that arte involved in targeting receptors or developing nanocarriers with appropriate ligands for TLRs can provide profoundly targeting drug delivery systems for the effective treatment of RA.
Clinico-hematological study of pancytopenia: A single-center experience from north Himalayan region of India

Background: Pancytopenia, an important hematological presentation is associated with different causes, which may vary in different regions. Uttarakhand, a north Himalayan state of India lacks studies of pancytopenia and the prevalent causes present in this region. Therefore, the present study was conducted to study the clinico-hematological profile of pancytopenia in a tertiary care center in the Uttarakhand, a north Himalayan state of India. It was also intended to study if these causes showed any variation from other studies done in different regions of India. Materials and Methods: The present observational study was conducted in a tertiary care institute situated in Uttarakhand state of India over a period of 1 year and 8 month from June 2017 to Feb 2019 including all the cases of pancytopenia. Results: The most common cause of pancytopenia was megaloblastic anemia (25%), followed by aleukemic leukemia and hypoplastic/aplastic anemia (19.1% each). Visceral leishmaniasis also constituted an important cause of pancytopenia in this study (11.7%). Conclusion: The study concludes that megaloblastic anemia and aleukemic leukemia are the most common cause of pancytopenia. Although leishmaniasis is considered to be non-endemic in this region, it constitutes an important cause of pancytopenia here. The clinicians, especially the physicians practicing the primary care and pathologists, should be aware of the different causes of pancytopenia present in this Himalayan region of India; therefore, delay in diagnosis can be prevented along with unnecessary investigations.
Reverse Engineering Gene Networks Using Global-Local Shrinkage Rules

Inferring gene regulatory networks from high-throughput ‘omics’ data has proven to be a computationally demanding task of critical importance. Frequently the classical methods breakdown due to the curse of dimensionality, and popular strategies to overcome this are typically based on regularized versions of the classical methods. However, these approaches rely on loss functions that may not be robust and usually do not allow for the incorporation of prior information in a straightforward way. Fully Bayesian methods are equipped to handle both of these shortcomings quite naturally, and they offer potential for improvements in network structure learning. We propose a Bayesian hierarchical model to reconstruct gene regulatory networks from time series gene expression data, such as those common in perturbation experiments of biological systems. The proposed methodology utilizes global-local shrinkage priors for posterior selection of regulatory edges and relaxes the common normal likelihood assumption in order to allow for heavy-tailed data, which was shown in several of the cited references to severely impact network inference. We provide a sufficient condition for posterior propriety and derive an efficient MCMC via Gibbs sampling in the Appendix. We describe a novel way to detect multiple scales based on the corresponding posterior quantities. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of our approach in a simulation study and compare it with existing methods on real data from a T-cell activation study.
Imagining Events Alternative to the Present Can Attenuate Delay Discounting

Previous studies have shown that delay discounting (DD), the tendency to prefer smaller-immediate to larger-delayed rewards, decreases following vivid imagination of future events. Here, we test the hypothesis that imagining complex events alternative to direct (perceptual) experience, whether located in the future, the past, or even the present, would reduce DD. Participants (N = 250) imagined future events (Future condition), remembered past events (Past condition), imagined present events (Present-imagine condition), or reported on the current events (Present-attend condition), and then made a series of intertemporal choices about money and food. Compared to attending to the present, imagining the future reduced DD, but this only held for individuals who claimed vivid pre-experiencing of future events. Importantly, a similar attenuation of DD was found in the Past and Present-imagine conditions, suggesting that a shift in perspective from the perceptual present towards mentally constructed experience can downplay the appraisal of immediate rewards in favor of larger-delayed rewards, regardless of the location of the imagined experience in subjective time.
Management Background and Release Conditions Structure Post-release Movements in Reintroduced Ungulates

One of the greatest challenges in restoring threatened species to the wild is insufficient knowledge about their habitat requirements and movement ecology. This is especially true for wide-ranging species such as the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah). Once widespread across Sahelo-Saharan grasslands, oryx were declared Extinct in the Wild in 1999. Here, we integrate GPS/satellite tracking, remote sensing, and gspatial analyses into a large reintroduction project to assess how captive-born oryx respond to wild conditions. We monitored two groups of oryx, reared under different management approaches and released in different seasons, for 12 months after release. Our study provides the first movement trajectories and home range estimates ever recorded for this species. We assessed how captive management methods, release timing, and local environmental conditions during and after release affected oryx movement behavior, survival, and fecundity. Post-release dispersal ranged from 2-90 km. Oryx raised under semi-free ranging conditions, which experienced a long acclimation period, and released during the wet season (“ranging”), moved 40-60 km from the release site. In contrast, oryx raised in smaller pens, with a short acclimation period, and released during the dry season (“penned”), remained within 5-25 km. We expected oryx movements after release to represent tradeoffs between risky, energetically expensive exploratory movements, and optimal resource exploitation. Ranging oryx exhibited this predicted pattern of exploration followed by home range establishment, while penned oryx explored less novel terrain and continuously returned to the release site where supplemental food and water were available. Ranging oryx also exhibited seasonal shifts in movement patterns, while penned oryx simply reduced overall movement. Our results demonstrate that captive management and environmental conditions at release strongly influence the rate and extent to which reintroduced oryx disperse and adapt to wild conditions. We also show that – in contrast to previous studies – longer acclimation periods do not always lead to greater site fidelity. Finally, our findings demonstrate the importance of tracking the largest possible proportion of reintroduced individuals in order to: (1) accurately record post-release behaviors and vital rates of a reintroduced population and (2) adaptively evaluate pre- and post-release management actions to improve conservation outcomes.
Leptin Induces Proadipogenic and Proinflammatory Signaling in Adipocytes

Background: Leptin is an adipokine with well-known effects on the central nervous system including the induction of energy expenditure and satiety. Leptin also has major relevance when activating immune cells and modulating inflammatory response. In obesity, increases in white adipose tissue accumulation and leptin levels are accompanied by hypothalamic resistance to leptin. Even though the adipose tissue is a leptin-rich environment, the local actions of leptin regarding adipogenesis were not thoroughly investigated until now. Here we evaluate the contributions of leptins direct signaling in preadipocytes and adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs) for adipogenesis. Methods: Adipocytes were differentiated from the murine lineage of preadipocytes 3T3-L1 or ASCs from subcutaneous and visceral (retroperitoneal) fat depots from C57Bl/6J mice. Differentiating cells were treated with leptin in addition to or in replacement of insulin. The advance of adipogenesis was assessed by the expression and secretion of adipogenesis- and lipogenesis-related proteins by Western blot and immunoenzimatic assays, and the accumulation of lipid droplets by fluorescence microscopy. Results: Leptin treatment in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes or ASCs increased the production of the adipogenesis- and lipogenesis-related proteins PLIN1, CAV-1, PPARγ, SREBP1C, and/or adiponectin at earlier stages of differentiation. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, we found that leptin induced lipid droplets' formation in an mTOR-dependent manner. Also, leptin induced a proinflammatory cytokine profile in 3T3-L1 and ASCs, modulating the production of TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-6. Since insulin is considered an essential factor for preadipocyte differentiation, we asked whether leptin would support adipogenesis in the absence of insulin. Importantly, leptin induced the formation of lipid droplets and the expression of adipogenesis-related proteins independently of insulin during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and ASCs. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that leptin induces intracellular signaling in preadipocytes and adipocytes promoting adipogenesis and modulating the secretion of inflammatory mediators. Also, leptin restores adipogenesis in the absence of insulin. These findings contribute to the understanding of the local signaling of leptin in precursor and mature adipose cells. The proadipogenic role of leptin unraveled here may be of especial relevance during obesity, when its central signaling is defective.
Pattern of T-cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in a Tertiary Care Center in North East India

Abstract Context: The non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) are lymphoid neoplasms that arise primarily in the lymph nodes. They are classified into B-cell, T-cell, and natural killer cell types and are subtyped on the basis of morphologic and immunohistochemical studies. T-cell neoplasms are clonal tumors of mature and immature T-cells at various stages of differentiation. T-cell lymphoma is common in Asia compared to Europe and America. The pattern and prevalence of T-cell lymphoma in India are, however, different from that of other Asian countries. Aims: The main aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence and pattern of T-cell NHL in North East India, as less number of studies have been carried out in this part of the country. Settings and Design: A 5-year retrospective study (2012–2016) was carried out in our institute, which is a regional cancer center located in North East India. Materials and Methods: Five-year records of previously diagnosed cases were obtained, and then the hematoxylin- and eosin-stained sections and the immunohistochemistry slides were reviewed and studied. Results: A total number of 294 cases of NHL were reviewed in the study period. Seventy-one cases were found to be of T-cell NHL type which comprised 24% of the total NHL. Peripheral T-cell lymphoma not-otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) (62%) was the most common followed by anaplastic large cell lymphoma (27%). T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (7%) was common in children and young adults. Conclusion: PTCL-(NOS) was found to be the most common T-cell lymphoma. Treatment of most of the cases was by chemotherapy using the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone regimen.
Resistance, Extinction, and Everything in Between – The Diverse Responses of Seaweeds to Marine Heatwaves

Anomalously Globally, anomalously warm temperature events have increased by 34% in frequency and 17% in duration from 1925 to 2016 with potentially major impacts on coastal ecosystems. These ‘marine heatwaves’ (MHWs) have been linked to changes in primary productivity, community composition and biogeography of seaweeds, which often control ecosystem function and services. Here we review the literature on seaweed responses to MHWs, including 58 observations related to resistance, bleaching, changes in abundance, species invasions and local to regional extinctions. More records existed for canopy-forming kelps and bladed and filamentous turf-forming seaweeds than for canopy-forming fucoids, geniculate coralline turf and crustose coralline algae. Turf-forming seaweeds, especially invasive seaweeds, generally increased in abundance after a MHW, whereas native canopy-forming kelps and fucoids typically declined in abundance. We also found three four examples of regional extinctions of kelp and one example of fucoids extinction following specific MHWs, events that likely have long term consequences for ecological structure and functioning. Although a relatively small number of studies have described impacts of MHWs on seaweed, the broad range of documented responses highlights the necessity of better baseline information regarding seaweed distributions and performance, and the need to study specific characteristics of MHWs that affect the vulnerability and resilience of seaweeds to these increasingly important climatic perturbations. A major factor will be to disentangle impacts caused by the extreme temperature increases of MHWs itself from co-occurring potential stressors including altered current patterns, changes in water clarity and nutrient content, solar radiation and desiccation stress in the intertidal zone. With future increases anticipated in the intensity, duration and frequencies of MHWs, we expect to see more replacements of large long-lived habitat forming seaweeds with smaller ephemeral weeds, reducing the structure and effective services seaweed-dominated reefs can provide.
DIF in the Spanish Version of the Verbal Selective Reminding Test Using Samples From Hispanics in the United States, Mexicans, and Spaniards

Aim Before a test can be used in the target population, it is necessary to demonstrate that there is measurement equivalence. One way to do this is by studying differential item functioning (DIF). Objective In this study, we used the Mantel–Haenszel procedure and logistic regression to analyze DIF in the Spanish version of the Verbal Selective Reminding Test between Spaniards, Mexicans, and Hispanics in the United States. Method Three balanced samples, matched by age, education, and sex, were studied: Spaniards, Mexicans, and Hispanics [616 healthy participants from Spain (n = 211), Mexico (n = 201), and the United States (n = 205)]. A six-trial version of the Spanish version of the Verbal Selective Reminding Test was administered and scored according to standard procedures. Results Statistical analysis showed some DIF between the samples of Spaniards, Mexicans, and Hispanics. A bootstrap validation of results confirmed that the item pollo showed DIF: the Mexicans and Hispanics outperformed the Spaniards, holding a total score constant. The item oído also showed DIF and was remembered in greater measure by the Spaniards. Conclusion The Spanish version of the Verbal Selective Reminding Test can be used with Hispanic populations.
Musculoskeletal Pain and Brain Morphology: Oxytocin’s Potential as a Treatment for Chronic Pain in Aging

Chronic pain disproportionately affects older adults, severely impacting quality of life and independent living, with musculoskeletal pain most prevalent. Chronic musculoskeletal pain is associated with specific structural alterations in the brain and interindividual variability in brain structure is likely an important contributor to susceptibility for the development of chronic pain. However, understanding of age-related structural changes in the brain and their associations with chronic musculoskeletal pain is currently limited. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide present in the periphery and central nervous system, has been implicated in pain attenuation. Variation of the endogenous OT system (e.g., OT receptor genotype, blood, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid OT levels) is associated with morphology in brain regions involved in pain processing and modulation. Intranasal OT administration has been shown to attenuate pain. Yet, studies investigating the efficacy of OT for management of chronic musculoskeletal pain are lacking, including among older individuals who are particularly susceptible to the development of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The goal of this focused narrative review was to synthesize previously parallel lines of work on the relationships between chronic pain, brain morphology, and OT in the context of aging. Based on the existing evidence, we propose that research on the use of intranasal OT administration as an intervention for chronic pain in older adults is needed and constitutes a promising future direction for this field. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research in the emerging field, guided by our proposed Model of Oxytocin’s Anagelsic and Brain Structural Effects in Aging.