Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantile-based Methods for Prediction, Risk Measurement and Inference A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

The focus of this thesis is on the employment of theoretical and practical quantile methods in addressing prediction, risk measurement and inference problems. From a prediction perspective, a problem of creating model-free prediction intervals for a future unobserved value of a random variable drawn from a sample distribution is considered. With the objective of reducing prediction coverage error, two common distribution transformation methods based on the normal and exponential distributions are presented and they are theoretically demonstrated to attain exact and error-free prediction intervals respectively. The second problem studied is that of estimation of expected shortfall via kernel smoothing. The goal here is to introduce methods that will reduce the estimation bias of expected shortfall. To this end, several one-step bias correction expected shortfall estimators are presented and investigated via simulation studies and compared with one-step estimators. The third problem is that of constructing simultaneous confidence bands for quantile regression functions when the predictor variables are constrained within a region is considered. In this context, a method is introduced that makes use of the asymmetric Laplace errors in conjunction with a simulation based algorithm to create confidence bands for quantile and interquantile regression functions. Furthermore, the simulation approach is extended to an ordinary least square framework to build simultaneous bands for quantiles functions of the classical regression model when the model errors are normally distributed and when this assumption is not fulfilled. Finally, attention is directed towards the construction of prediction intervals for realised volatility exploiting an alternative volatility estimator based on the difference of two extreme quantiles. The proposed approach makes use of AR-GARCH procedure in order to model time series of intraday quantiles and forecast intraday returns predictive distribution. Moreover, two simple adaptations of an existing model are also presented. Certificate of Originality “I hereby certify that the work presented in this thesis is my original research and has not been presented for a higher degree at any other university or institute”. Abdallah K. Ally
Preoperative Arterial Embolization of Musculoskeletal Tumors: A Tertiary Center Experience

Simple Summary Musculoskeletal tumors often require surgical treatment, which can result in substantial peri-operative blood loss. Preoperative transarterial embolization (TAE) is used to reduce peri-operative blood loss during the surgery of musculoskeletal tumors but there is no consensus about the actual place of TAE in the musculoskeletal tumor therapeutic algorithm, and there is no firm recommendation about its best technical approach. The purpose of this study was to report our experience in preoperative TAE of musculoskeletal tumors regarding the effectiveness of preoperative TAE in terms of blood loss and functional outcomes. For 31 patients, we found that TAE led to complete (58%) or near-complete (42%) tumor devascularization, allowing bloodless surgery in 71% of patients and moderate transfusion needs for the remaining 29%. A total of 27% of patients had complete improvement of the initial symptoms at the end of the follow-up, 15 (50%) with partially satisfying improvement, 4 (13%) with partially unsatisfying improvement and 3 (10%) with no improvement. Abstract The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of preoperative transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of musculoskeletal tumors in terms of blood loss and functional outcomes. Patients who underwent preoperative TAE of hypervascular musculoskeletal tumors between January 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively included. The patients’ characteristics, TAE procedure details, degree of post-TAE devascularization, surgical outcomes in terms of red blood cell transfusion and functional results were collected. The degree of devascularization was compared between patients who had peri-operative transfusion and those who did not. Thirty-one patients were included. The 31 TAE procedures led to complete (58%) or near-complete (42%) tumor devascularization. Twenty-two patients (71%) had no blood transfusion during surgery. Nine patients (29%) had a blood transfusion, with a median number of red blood cell packs of three (q1, 2; q3, 4; range: 1–4). Eight patients (27%) had complete improvement of the initial musculoskeletal symptoms at the end of the follow-up, 15 (50%) had partially satisfying improvement, 4 (13%) had partially unsatisfying improvement and 3 (10%) had no improvement. Our study suggests that preoperative TAE of hypervascular musculoskeletal tumors allowed for bloodless surgery in 71% of patients and minimal transfusion needs for the remaining 29%.
The Influence of Pollution on the Shortwave Albedo of Clouds

Abstract By increasing droplet concentration and thereby the optical thickness of a cloud, pollution acts to increase the reflectance (albedo) of clouds; by increasing the absorption coefficient it acts to decrease the reflectance. Calculations suggest that the former effect (brightening of the clouds in reflection, hence climatically a cooling effect) dominates for thin to moderately thick clouds, whereas for sufficiently thick clouds the latter effect (climatically a warming effect) can become dominant.
Reinforcement learning paycheck optimization for multivariate financial goals

We study paycheck optimization, which examines how to allocate income in order to achieve several competing financial goals. For paycheck optimization, a quantitative methodology is missing, due to a lack of a suitable problem formulation. To deal with this issue, we formulate the problem as a utility maximization problem. The proposed formulation is able to (i) unify different financial goals; (ii) incorporate user preferences regarding the goals; (iii) handle stochastic interest rates. The proposed formulation also facilitates an end-to-end reinforcement learning solution, which is implemented on a variety of problem settings.
TDOA-Based Target Tracking Filter While Reducing NLOS Errors in Cluttered Environments

We consider tracking a moving target in a wireless communication system that is based on the radio signal. Considering a bounded workspace with many unknown obstacles, we handle tracking a non-cooperative transmitter using multiple signal receivers. Here, a non-cooperative transmitter is a transmitter whose signal emission time is not known in advance. We consider a time difference of arrival (TDOA) location problem, which locates the transmitter by processing the signal measurement time at multiple receivers. In tracking a non-cooperative transmitter, non-line-of-sight (NLOS) errors occur if obstacles block the LOS line connecting the receiver and the moving transmitter. Our article addresses how to track a moving transmitter while decreasing the NLOS error in TDOA-only measurements. We propose an algorithm to localize a transmitter while decreasing the NLOS error in TDOA measurements. For tracking a moving transmitter in real time, we integrate the proposed localization algorithm and the interacting multiple model Kalman filter (IMM KF). As far as we know, our article is novel in tracking a moving transmitter based on TDOA-only measurements in an unknown mixed LOS/NLOS workspace. We show that the proposed filter considerably decreases the NLOS errors in TDOA-only measurements while running fast. Therefore, the proposed tracking scheme is suitable for tracking a moving transmitter in real time. Through MATLAB simulations, we show that the proposed filter outperforms other state-of-the-art TDOA filters, considering both time efficiency and tracking accuracy.
Validation of Non-invasive Method for Electrocardiogram Recording in Mouse using Lead II

Electrocardiogram measures the electric impulses generated by the heart during its cycle. Recently genome-wide association studies on electrocardiogram traits revealed many relevant genetic loci. Therefore, these findings need to be validated and investigated to determine the underlying mechanisms using mouse models. Invasive radiotelemetry has been widely used to record the electrocardiogram in mice because it has several advantages over non-invasive measurements. However, radiotelemetry is expensive and requires complicated surgery. On the other hand, a non-invasive method using 3 electrodes (one for earth) for lead II is easy to establish and allows for rapid measurement. In this study, eleven mice were measured with this non-invasive method and no statistical difference among them was found in any ECG measurements. In addition, repeat measurement in the same mouse was performed in 9 sets of experiment and the results indicated that non-invasive method was reliable for reproducibility. Further it was shown that measurements for 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes were not different so that a short recording such as 5 minutes was enough to estimate the ECG values including heart rate. Further this method was validated by measuring the ECG of Balb/c and FVB that were previously shown to differ in ECG values by radiotelemetry. Significant differences were found in heart rate, PR interval and corrected QT interval between these mouse strains. This study partially proved that non-invasive method also could provide the accuracy and reproducibility. Based on these results, the non-invasive ECG recordings of lead II is recommended as a useful method for quick test in mouse model.
Transient Numerical Study to Determine the Effect of Inlet Angle Variation on Flow Conditions inside a Circular Aquaculture Tank

Seeing how great the contribution and potential of the aquaculture sector to the fulfillment of food for the people of Indonesia, the development of aquaculture including the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) is very important to be carried out intensively. An important aspect that should be considered for the development of RAS is maintaining water quality as the main medium of cultivation. Optimization of the aquaculture tank is an effort that can be conducted to achieve this goal. A transient numerical study to determine the effect of inlet angle variation on flow conditions inside a circular aquaculture tank was conducted to assess the optimum geometry for the application. Single-phase CFD simulations using the k-ω SST turbulent model were carried out to evaluate the effect of inlet nozzle angle variations. Three angle variations 0°, 45°, and 90° were selected and the resultant fluid flow conditions were analyzed. From the CFD results, it can be known that the optimum condition for the circular aquaculture tank is achieved for the angle 0° among the tested angle in this present study.
Degradation of lignocellulosic substrates by Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus squarrosulus

Lignocellulosic substrates are wastes in the environment whose reducing sugars are not readily available for use. Biological pretreatment is the use of microorganisms and/or their metabolites to break down substrates to obtain simple sugars which is also cheap compared with other pretreatment techniques. This work is aimed at degrading lignocellulosic substrates with higher mushrooms to obtain simple sugars that could be used as raw materials for other industrial processes. The two mushrooms [Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) and Lentinus squarrosulus (LS)] with the ability to produce cellulase, xylanase, and lignase were used for degradation of lignocellulosic substrates [groundnut shell (GS), maize cob (MC), maize straw (MS), rice straw (RS) and sugarcane bagasse (SB)]. The residual extractives, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and reducing sugar contents were determined every 7 days. Least extractives (1.12 %), hemicellulose (15.09 %), lignin (17.60 %), and cellulose (5.60 %) were recorded in PO-degraded MS, POLS-degraded GS, LS-degraded GS, and PO-degraded MS at 28, 35, 49 and 42 days of degradation, respectively. The highest reducing sugar contents (mg/g) obtained in GS (11.83), MS (27.03), SB (28.70), and RS (37.96) were recorded when degraded by PO for 49, 14, 7, and 49 days, respectively while that of MC (13.32) was recorded when degraded by LS for 42 days. Reducing sugar obtained was higher from sole degradation with PO compared with LS and POLS. Degraded MS, RS, and SB had better yield of reducing sugar than GS and MC. The amount of reducing sugar released varied with substrates, organisms, and degradation time.
Boundary Effects and Repeat-Sales

We study in this article the consequences of the double censoring (right and left) applied on every sample of repeat-sales before calculating a repeat-sales index. We show that, independently of the specificities of each dataset, there exist some intrinsic features for this kind of index that directly depend on the censoring mechanism. Working with the standard deviation of the estimator and the well known bias of the Cass, Shiller model we bring to fore a time structure for these two quantities. Their behaviour is different near the edges of the interval compared to the middle, and this phenomenon is generally more pronounced for the right side than for the left side. A sensitivity analysis is developed using a neutral sample in order to study the way this U-shape evolve in relation with the fundamental parameters. With this analysis we also try to determine the optimal length of the estimation interval, the consequences of the data dispersion and the impact of the liquidity levels in the market (number of goods sold at each date and resale speed).
Liver Transplant in Patients with Hepatocarcinoma: Imaging Guidelines and Future Perspectives Using Artificial Intelligence

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary malignant hepatic tumor and occurs most often in the setting of chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation is a curative treatment option and is an ideal solution because it solves the chronic underlying liver disorder while removing the malignant lesion. However, due to organ shortages, this treatment can only be applied to carefully selected patients according to clinical guidelines. Artificial intelligence is an emerging technology with multiple applications in medicine with a predilection for domains that work with medical imaging, like radiology. With the help of these technologies, laborious tasks can be automated, and new lesion imaging criteria can be developed based on pixel-level analysis. Our objectives are to review the developing AI applications that could be implemented to better stratify liver transplant candidates. The papers analysed applied AI for liver segmentation, evaluation of steatosis, sarcopenia assessment, lesion detection, segmentation, and characterization. A liver transplant is an optimal treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in the setting of chronic liver disease. Furthermore, AI could provide solutions for improving the management of liver transplant candidates to improve survival.
Hardware Acceleration of Elliptic Curve Cryptographic (ECC) Scalar Multiplication Unit over Binary Polynomial based Galois Field GF (2m) using Verilog HDL

This paper describes algorithms and implementation of those algorithms that will hardware accelerate scalar multiplication unit of ECC over binary polynomial based Galois fields in the particular case of the K-163 NISTrecommended curve. The hardware/circuit design has been done in Verilog and synthesized and simulated in Altera Quantus-II and Modelsim, respectively. In finite field operations, GF Division is used instead of GF Inversion which makes the division operation in finite field more independent and faster. Furthermore, instead of double-and-add algorithm, Frobenius Map algorithm is used which makes the hardware faster. KeywordsElliptic Curve Cryptography, Frobenius Map, Hardware Acceleration, Galois Field.
Numerical simulation of relativistic plasmas in hydrodynamic regime

We present a numerical method to deal with the propagation of a a short and highly intense laser pulse in an underdense plasma, leading to relativistic self-focusing and wakefield effect. By assuming that the temperature is low enough and that there is no wave-breaking, we write hydrodynamic equations, coupled to Maxwell's equations. We treat them by a time splitting method, which stability is studied, and by a finite difference/volume method in space. A discrete version of Gauss'equation is preserved with time, so that no Poisson correction is needed. The code is consequently fully local and explicit. Results from two-dimensional simulations are presented.
Therapeutic and Diagnostic Potential of Exosomes as Drug Delivery Systems in Brain Cancer

Cancer is designated as one of the principal causes of mortality universally. Among different types of cancer, brain cancer remains the most challenging one due to its aggressiveness, the ineffective permeation ability of drugs through the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and drug resistance. To overcome the aforementioned issues in fighting brain cancer, there is an imperative need for designing novel therapeutic approaches. Exosomes have been proposed as prospective “Trojan horse” nanocarriers of anticancer theranostics owing to their biocompatibility, increased stability, permeability, negligible immunogenicity, prolonged circulation time, and high loading capacity. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on the biological properties, physicochemical characteristics, isolation methods, biogenesis and internalization of exosomes, while it emphasizes their therapeutic and diagnostic potential as drug vehicle systems in brain cancer, highlighting recent advances in the research field. A comparison of the biological activity and therapeutic effectiveness of several exosome-encapsulated cargo including drugs and biomacromolecules underlines their great supremacy over the non-exosomal encapsulated cargo in the delivery, accumulation, and biological potency. Various studies on cell lines and animals give prominence to exosome-based nanoparticles (NPs) as a promising and alternative approach in the management of brain cancer.
Genotype-Environment Interaction Concepts for Field Experimentation

A reference set of experiments based on sets of random environments available in time and space was characterized and used as a framework for considering genotype-environment interactions in quantitative genetic studies. Biases, introduced when data collected for y years at 1 sites were analyzed as a set of random environments, were evaluated. The ramifications involved primarily the magnitudes of the estimates for two intraclass correlations. Experimental estimates for the correlations were obtained from published genotype-environment studies conducted primarily in North Carolina. With the procedures presently used to select test sites, the sites and years had similar effects on relative genotypic responses, and one should be able to analyze associated environments as random without unduly biasing his estimates of genetic components.
Applied Multidimensional Girsanov Theorem

The present article is meant as a bridge between theory and practice concerning Girsanov theorem. In the first part we give theoretical results leading to a straightforward three step process allowing to express an asset's dynamics in a new probability measure. In the following sections we apply this three step process. The first application consists in expressing a foreign asset's dynamics in domestic currency which leads to the well known quanto adjustment formula. The second application is the expression of the forwards' dynamics under Libor Market Model using a unique probability measure. The final application consists in expressing foreign short rate Hull & White dynamics under domestic measure.
OPPENHEIMER AND BONDI LIMITS: THE CASE OF THE SINGULAR CONFORMAL CURVATURE

OPPENHEIMER AND BONDI LIMITS: THE CASE OF THE SINGULAR CONFORMAL CURVATURE∗ Andrzej Woszczyna, Sebastian Kubis Institute of Physics, Tadeusz Kościuszko Cracow University of Technology Podchorązych 1, 30-084 Krakow, Poland Wojciech Czaja Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies Slawkowska 17, 31-016 Krakow, Poland Zdzislaw A. Golda, Piotr Plaszczyk Astronomical Observatory, Jagiellonian University Orla 171, 30-244 Krakow, Poland Marek Kutschera The Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University Łojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland (Received October 22, 2015)
ESKAPEE Pathogen Biofilm Control on Surfaces with Probiotic Lactobacillaceae and Bacillus species

Combatting the rapidly growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and reducing prevalence and transmission of ESKAPEE pathogens in healthcare settings requires innovative strategies, one of which is displacing these pathogens using beneficial microorganisms. Our review comprehensively examines the evidence of probiotic bacteria displacing ESKAPEE pathogens, with a focus on inanimate surfaces. A systematic search was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases on 21 December 2021, and 143 studies were identified examining the effects of Lactobacillaceae and Bacillus spp. cells and products on the growth, colonization, and survival of ESKAPEE pathogens. While the diversity of study methods limits evidence analysis, results presented by narrative synthesis demonstrate that several species have the potential as cells or their products or supernatants to displace nosocomial infection-causing organisms in a variety of in vitro and in vivo settings. Our review aims to aid the development of new promising approaches to control pathogen biofilms in medical settings by informing researchers and policymakers about the potential of probiotics to combat nosocomial infections. More targeted studies are needed to assess safety and efficacy of different probiotic formulations, followed by large-scale studies to assess utility in infection control and medical practice.
On an Inequality of S. Bernstein

Let R > 1 and denote by ℰR the ellipse (1) If Pn is a polynomial of degree at most n such that (2) then ([2]; also see [13, p. 337] and [9, p. 158, Prob. No. 270]) (3) The standard proof of this well known result runs as follows. The function (4) is entire and in view of (2) we have Hence by the maximum modulus principle (5) which is clearly equivalent to (3).
Study on modeling test method and the critical Reynolds number of a micro centrifugal pump

In order to test the performance of the micro centrifugal pump and carry out performance analysis by using water instead of blood as the test medium, a modeling test method of the micro centrifugal pump was proposed in this paper. Dimensional analysis method was applied to study the dimensionless characteristic number of the micro centrifugal pump. The SST (Shear Stress Transport) k-ω model was used to simulate the flow in the prototype pump and model pump. The correctness of the similarity theory and modeling schemes was verified. The performance of the micro centrifugal pump for transporting water and blood was studied under the same working conditions, and the effect of Reynolds number on the performance of the micro centrifugal pump was discussed. The external characteristics of similar pumps can be converted to each other. For similar pumps under different modeling schemes, the pressure and velocity at the corresponding position is proportional. When the micro centrifugal pump that transports blood operates at low rotational speed and low flow rate, the performance of the micro centrifugal pump will change dramatically. The critical Reynolds number of the micro centrifugal pump is determined to be 1200. The similarity criterion between the prototype pump and model pump was established. The modeling schemes of the micro centrifugal pump were formulated. The critical Reynolds number of the micro centrifugal pump was determined. The research results provide a new method for the performance test of the micro centrifugal pump transporting blood.