Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning with Applications

StyleGAN2 is able to generate very realistic and high-quality faces of humans using a training set ( FFHQ ). Instead of using one of the many commonly used metrics to evaluate the performance of a face generator (e.g., FID , IS and P&R ), this paper uses a more humanlike approach providing a different outlook on the performance of StyleGAN2. The generator within StyleGAN2 tries to learn the distribution of the input dataset. However, this does not necessarily mean that higher-level human concepts are preserved. We examine if general human attributes, such as age and gender, are transferred to the output dataset and if StyleGAN2 is able to generate actual new persons according to facial recognition methods. It is crucial for practical implementations that a face generator not only generates new humans, but that these humans are not clones of the original identities. This article addresses these questions. Although our approach can be used for other face generators, we only focused on StyleGAN2. First, multiple models are used to predict general human attributes. This shows that the generated images have the same attribute distributions as the input dataset. However, if truncation is applied to limit the latent variable space, the attribute distributions change towards the attributes corresponding with the latent variable used in truncation. Second, by clustering using face recognition models, we demonstrate that the generated images do not belong to an existing person from the input dataset. Thus, StyleGAN2 is able to generate new persons with similar human characteristics as the input dataset.
Blockchain Powered Vaccine Efficacy for Pharma Sector

Infectious and contagious diseases exist in humanity for many centuries which causes a curb in the growth of the population. Immunization plays a vital role to prevent mortality and morbidity against infectious diseases. COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage the urgency of developing a vaccine that should ensure the safety, efficacy, swift and fair deployment, implementation, and monitoring of vaccines across the globe. In the present context, the vaccine production to immunization campaign is a critical challenge. Therefore, an effective vaccine supply chain mechanism is required to address issues such as counterfeit vaccines, reduce vaccine wastages, and vaccine record fraud. In this paper, a blockchain-enabled vaccine supply chain is proposed to ensure the correctness, transparency, trust, and immutable log and improve the efficiency of vaccine distribution in the cold chain. The uniqueness of the proposed system is to provide distributed system to verify the reliability and efficacy of the vaccine from production to end beneficiaries' feedback about the vaccine. Our proposed system gives a clear view to the users as well as to the healthcare provider about the vaccination and ensures the anticounterfeit vaccine. The proposed system minimizes counterfeit vaccines and records, provides transparent communication between stakeholders in the supply chain, and improves the security of the vaccine supply chain and immutable feedback system about the vaccine.
Aegis: Privacy-Preserving Market for Non-Fungible Tokens

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique non-interchangeable digital assets verified and stored using blockchain technology. Quite recently, there has been a surging interest and adoption of NFTs, with sales exceeding <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\$}$</tex-math></inline-formula>10 billion in the third quarter of 2021. Given the public state of Blockchain, NFTs owners face a privacy problem. More precisely, an observer can trivially learn the whole NFT collections owned by an address. For some categories of NFTs like arts and game collectibles, owners can sell them for a profit. However, popular marketplaces trade NFTs using public auctions and direct offers. Hence, an observer can learn about the new owner and the NFT purchase price. To tackle those problems, we propose <monospace>Aegis</monospace>,(Aegis is a shield carried by Zeus and Athena. It is a symbol of protection.) a protocol that allows users to add privacy to their NFTs ownership. In <monospace>Aegis</monospace> users can swap NFTs for payment amounts in fungible tokens while hiding the details (i.e., involved parties, the NFTs, and the payment amounts). One of the main properties of <monospace>Aegis</monospace> is its complete compatibility with existing NFT standards. We design <monospace>Aegis</monospace> by leveraging zkSNARK proof system and smart contracts. We build an open-source prototype and perform experiments to evaluate <monospace>Aegis</monospace>'s performance.
Payer-Addressable Burden of Crohn’s Disease in Members Treated with Biologics in the United States: Actuarial Analysis Findings from RAINBOW

Payer-addressable burden (PAB) reflects how real-world disease-associated costs impact the per member per month (PMPM) budget of a health plan, and can help to delineate drivers of PMPM costs and inform cost-management strategies for diseases with a high cost burden, such as Crohn’s disease (CD). We aimed to evaluate the U.S. PAB of CD managed with biologics. Weighted mean costs per member with CD in the commercial health plan population between 2017 and 2019 were evaluated from a health plan actuarial perspective. In addition to the overall population of members with CD treated with adalimumab, infliximab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab, the subpopulations of members who were naive to biologic therapies at treatment initiation and/or treatment-adherent members were also analyzed. Members treated with vedolizumab contributed the lowest PMPM costs. A similar number of members were treated with vedolizumab and ustekinumab, yet PMPM costs associated with ustekinumab were more than double those of vedolizumab. Biologic naivety and treatment adherence drove lower CD-related PMPM costs. The analyses we present here highlight that treatments and patient subgroups with lower PMPM costs are important focus areas for payers in terms of identifying strategies to manage the budget for CD in a U.S. plan population. Video Abstract Read the transcript Watch the video on Vimeo © 2022 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
The development of a new crop growth model SwitchFor for yield mapping of switchgrass

Switchgrass is a promising energy crop has the potential to mitigate global warming and energy security, improve local ecology and generate profit. Its quantitative traits, such as biomass productivity and environmental adaptability, are determined by genotype‐by‐environment interaction (GEI) or response of genotypes grown across different target environments. To simulate the yield of switchgrass outside its original habitat, a genotype‐specific growth model, SwitchFor that captures GEI was developed by parameterising the MiscanFor model. Input parameters were used to describe genotype‐specific characteristics under different soil and climate conditions, which enables the model to predict the yield in a wide range of environmental and climate conditions. The model was validated using global field trail data and applied to estimate the switchgrass yield potentials on the marginal land of the Loess Plateau in China. The results suggest that upland and lowland switchgrass have significant differences in the spatial distribution of the adaptation zone and site‐specific biomass yield. The area of the adaption zone of upland switchgrass was 4.5 times of the lowland ecotype's. The yield difference between upland and lowland ecotypes ranges from 0 to 34 Mg ha−1. The weighted average yield of the lowland ecotype (20 Mg ha−1) is significantly higher than the upland type (5 Mg ha−1). The optimal yield map, generated by comparing the yield of upland and lowland ecotypes based on 1 km2 grid locations, illustrates that the total yield potential of the optimal switchgrass is 61.6–106.4 Tg on the marginal land of the Loess Plateau, which is approximately twice that of the individual ecotypes. Compared with the existing models, the accuracy of the yield prediction of switchgrass is significantly improved by using the SwitchFor model. This spatially explicit and cultivar‐specific model provides valuable information on land management and crop breeding and a robust and extendable framework for yield mapping of other cultivars.
Safety Considerations of Lithium Lead Alloy as a Fusion Reactor Breeding Material

Test results and conclusions are presented for lithium lead alloy interactions with various gas atmospheres, concrete and potential reactor coolants. The reactions are characterized to evaluate the potential of volatilizing and transporting radioactive species associated with the liquid breeder under postulated fusion reactor accident conditions. The safety concerns identified for lithium lead alloy reactions with the above materials are compared to those previously identified for a reference fusion breeder material, liquid lithium. Conclusions made from this comparison are also included.
Software-Based Process Simulation and Feasibility Assessment of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Fatty Acid Extraction and Fractionation

Simple Summary Upscaling is a significant part of implementing industrial research in a large-scale market. In some cases, this means constructing a simulated factory version before establishing an in situ pilot-scale plant to predict and increase any chances of feasibility. A black soldier fly larvae fatty acid extraction factory may find its merit in the proper utilization of the increasingly explored potential of insect larvae. The factory predicted and assessed the feasibility of black soldier fly larvae under three different feed varieties. Fatty acids would be the final product, with several waste products and by-products. Abstract Black soldier flies have been studied as an alternative animal feed. On the other hand, they could be used to yield an abundance of fatty acids. Their omnivorous diet and low space requirements allow for the mass breeding of black soldier flies, using widely available food wastes as feedstock. This study simulates the industrial upscaling of an extraction process for black soldier fly larvae using SuperPro™ 9.5 simulation software. This software contains an extensive material library that regulated physical data for the chemical composition of the larvae and the products. It also bundled several types of bioreactors utilized in bioprocessing. The scheduling of the plant was aided by SchedulePro, which allows for the generation of batch durations and Gantt charts. Four fatty acids were chosen as the main revenue source, with simulated proteins assigned as by-products of the plant. Ash and cellulose were the wastes of the plant, and were separated through multiple filters. The plants were later assessed for their economic feasibility. The kitchen waste plant was the most profitable, and the control variable was the only unprofitable plant. These results may have been impacted by the waste content found in the control variable and the abundance of revenue products in the kitchen-waste-fed larvae.
Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor Mutations Predict Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patient’s Prognosis

Objective: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Epithelial Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) overexpression has been demonstrated in HCC patients frequently and is a poor prognostic factor. EGFR is a promising target for cancer treatment, but its variety in response by mutation status. Patients and Methods: We retrospective analyzed 28 Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients with good quality DNA samples, 5 hepatic dysplasia tissues, and 5 cholangiocarcinoma samples from 1996 to 2002. EGFR mutation status was detected by ARMS and Scorpions real-time PCR, using therascreen® EGFR RGQ PCR Kit. T790M, exon 19 deletions, L858R, L861Q, G719X, S786I, and exon 20 insertions can be detected. Clinical data of 28 HCC patients were collected for the longest period of 17 years. Results: All patients received liver segmentectomy. No one received tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment during the following period. All liver samples had T790M mutation detected. Based on overall survival, we calculated cut-off points, by ROC curve. In HCC patients with a higher percentage of T790M or G719X mutations had better overall survival (P=0.001, and 0.036). Patients with exon 19 deletion showed a trend of better overall survival. HCC patients with exon 19 deletions, L858R and G719X mutations showed trends of longer Disease Free Survival (DFS) and HCC patients with higher S768I mutation had a trend of shorter DFS. HCC samples from chronic hepatitis B carriers had a higher T790M mutation rate and the ones from chronic hepatitis C carriers showed the opposite in T790M mutation with statistics significant (P=0.013). No EGFR mutations contribute to HCC recurrence. Conclusion: EGFR mutation status can predict HCC patient’s prognosis post liver segmentectomy.
Analysis of an HDG method for the Navier-Stokes equations with Dirac measures

In two dimensions, we analyze a hybridized discontinuous Galerkin (HDG) method for the Navier-Stokes equations with Dirac measures. The approximate velocity field obtained by the HDG method is shown to be pointwise divergence-free and $H$(div)-conforming. Under a smallness assumption on the continuous and discrete solutions, a posteriori error estimator, that provides an upper bound for the $L^2$-norm in the velocity, is proposed in the convex domain. In the polygonal domain, reliable and efficient a posteriori error estimator for the $W^{1,q}$-seminorm in the velocity and $L^q$-norm in the pressure is also proved. Finally, a Banach's fixed point iteration method and an adaptive HDG algorithm are introduced to solve the discrete system and show the performance of the obtained a posteriori error estimators.
Cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with endometriosis: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Endometriosis is believed to be associated with dysfunction of the lymphocyte population and cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells, induced by the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Objective This study aimed to investigate T lymphocytes and NK cell activity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of women with endometriosis. Materials and Methods PBMCs were obtained from the peripheral venous blood samples of 14 women with and without endometriosis (n = 7 for each group). Then, the PBMCs were co-cultured for 4 days and were treated with recombinant IL-2 for cytotoxic activity toward target cells (Daudi and K562 cells). The cytotoxicity activity was determined using the 51 chromium release assay before and after stimulation. Flow cytometry measurement was used to examine the expression of T lymphocytes and NK cells before and after being treated with IL-2. Results The concentration of CD3+CD28+ (co-stimulatory) was significantly lower in the endometriosis group (65.62 ± 5.38) compared to in its counterpart (50.24 ± 4.22) (p = 0.04) before stimulation. However, no significant differences were observed in any other T lymphocytes and NK cells. It was also found that there was a significant increase of CD3-CD28+ after treatment with IL-2 only in the healthy control but not in women with endometriosis. Conclusion Increased expression of CD160 and decreased CD28 play a role in inhibiting NK cell activation and T cell response in women with endometriosis.
Growth performance, molting frequency and carapace coloration of marbled crab (Pachygrapsus marmoratus) in different salinity levels

This study was conducted to evaluate the parameters on growth performance, molting frequency and carapace coloration of marbled crab (Pachygrapsus marmoratus Fabricius, 1787). Crabs were collected from Urla, İzmir. The experiment was performed in 10 L plastic containers filled with 6 L of seawater at four different salinity levels (5‰, 15‰, 25‰ and 35‰). Ten crabs with an initial mean weight of 0.78±0.03 g were placed in each container with three replicates. Crabs were fed once a day with a commercial diet (46% protein and 18% lipid) for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the final mean weight (FMW) of the 25‰ group was significantly higher than the 5‰ and 15‰ groups (P<0.05). Specific growth rates (SGR) of the 15‰ and the 35‰ groups and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the 25‰ group were significantly higher than the 5‰ group (P<0.05). The mean molting frequency (MMF) of the 25‰ group was significantly higher than the 5‰ group (P<0.05). Final lightness (L*) of the 5‰ and 15‰ were significantly lower than their initials (P<0.05). Final redness (a*) of the 25‰ group was the highest among the experimental groups (P<0.05). Final yellowness (b*) of the 25‰ group was significantly higher than the 5‰ and 15‰ groups (P<0.05). According to the results, it is recommended to keep the salinity at 25‰ under marble crab rearing conditions. Further studies are needed to reveal the potential properties of this species in marine aquariums.
Sur une classe de problèmes de dénombrement liés au treillis des partitions des entiers

ion faite du facteur constant que l'on a sorti du signe ! L dans la ligne (74), la somme Sh fait donc intervenir D = £ ( l ) b " k ( b ^ k ) R(a + k), qui n'est autre que la différence b-ième, pour t = a, de R(t). Pour que le lemme s'applique, il importe de s'assurer que a et b sont bien des entiers positifs satisfaisant à a < b. Or a est bien positif puisque a = h 1 et que l'on a pris h ^ 2 ; d'autre part h a été pris au plus égal à a, donc a = h 1 < a, et comme on a supposé a b, on a bien a < b. Le lemme 3.2. 8. s'applique donc, et permet d'affirmer que D = 0, donc Sh = 0. Les sommes partielles Sh étant en fin de compte toutes nulles , le calcul fait à partir de la formule (73) établit bien que Pa'. b(b 1) = 0. Les propriétés (i) (ii) et (iii) des polynômes b(z) étant ainsi vérifiées, il en résulte, comme on l'a fait remarquer à la fin du §3.2. 6, que ces polynômes sont bien identiques aux polynômes P a ? b(z) introduits au §3.2. 3. Il s'ensuit finalement que la formule (66), qui avait été établie en définissant cp(h, k) par Ph k ( h k), est encore vraie si l'on définit cp(h, k) à l'aide de la formule (6 7), complétée par 9(0, 0) = 1, cp(l , 0) = cp(0, 1) = 1.
Exact, Uniform Sampling of Contingency Tables via Probabilistic Divide-and-Conquer

We present a new algorithm for the exact, uniform sampling of contingency tables based on the recently introduced probabilistic divide-and-conquer technique. The algorithm improves upon the rejection sampling algorithm for an $m\times n$ contingency table; in particular, it runs in $O(n^{3/2})$ for the well-studied case of a $2\times n$ table under a homogeneity condition, which is substantially better than existing Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques. Unlike MCMC, the runtime depends only on the size of the table and not on the size of the average entry, and the algorithm can be extended to exact sampling of real-valued contingency tables.
Universal Algebra: Fundamentals and Selected Topics

FUNDAMENTALS OF UNIVERSAL ALGEBRA Algebras Operations Examples More about subs, homs, and prods Generating subalgebras Congruences and quotient algebras Lattices Ordered sets Distributive and modular lattices Complete lattices Closure operators and algebraic lattices Galois connections Ideals in lattices The Nuts and Bolts of Universal Algebra The isomorphism theorems Direct products Subdirect products Case studies Varieties and other classes of algebras Clones, Terms, and Equational Classes Clones Invariant relations Terms and free algebras Identities and Birkhoff's theorem The lattice of subvarieties Equational theories and fully invariant congruences Maltsev conditions Interpretations SELECTED TOPICS Congruence Distributive Varieties Ultrafilters and ultraproducts Jonsson's lemma Model theory Finitely based and nonfinitely based algebras Definable principal (sub)congruences Arithmetical Varieties Large clones How rare are primal algebras? Maltsev Varieties Directly representable varieties The centralizer congruence Abelian varieties Commutators Directly representable varieties revisited Minimal varieties Functionally complete algebras Finite Algebras and Locally Finite Varieties Minimal algebras Localization and induced algebras Centralizers again! Applications Bibliography Index
Methionine uptake via the SLC43A2 transporter is essential for regulatory T-cell survival

Regulatory T cells survive after IL-2 withdrawal by taking up and using methionine through the SLC43A2 transporter in a Notch1-dependent manner. Cell death, survival, or growth decisions in T-cell subsets depend on interplay between cytokine-dependent and metabolic processes. The metabolic requirements of T-regulatory cells (Tregs) for their survival and how these are satisfied remain unclear. Herein, we identified a necessary requirement of methionine uptake and usage for Tregs survival upon IL-2 deprivation. Activated Tregs have high methionine uptake and usage to S-adenosyl methionine, and this uptake is essential for Tregs survival in conditions of IL-2 deprivation. We identify a solute carrier protein SLC43A2 transporter, regulated in a Notch1-dependent manner that is necessary for this methionine uptake and Tregs viability. Collectively, we uncover a specifically regulated mechanism of methionine import in Tregs that is required for cells to adapt to cytokine withdrawal. We highlight the need for methionine availability and metabolism in contextually regulating cell death in this immunosuppressive population of T cells.
Hidradenitis suppurativa: bacteriological study in surgical treatment

Introduction Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory chronic disease of the hair follicles that presents with different lesions in the apocrine gland-bearing areas of the human body. There are many possible factors for HS. Acne inversa is not primarily considered to be an infectious disease. A variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have been found from the lesions sporadically. Aim To assess the bacteriological profile of HS before surgical treatment. Material and methods We collected specimens for aerobic microbiological testing from 18 patients before surgical treatment in our hospital. The specimens were obtained from abscesses, directly from skin fistulas, on day 1 of hospitalisation. Results The most common bacteria in HS lesions were Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. In 4 patients we found multi-drug-resistant bacteria (MLSB, MRSA and A. baumannii). Conclusions Long-term antibiotic treatment can cause multi-drug resistance in strains collected in HS lesions.
The Earth's Ionosphere : Plasma Physics and Electrodynamics

Although interesting in its own right, due to the ever-increasing use of satellites for communication and navigation, weather in the ionosphere is of great concern. Every such system uses trans-ionospheric propagation of radio waves, waves which must traverse the commonly turbulent ionosphere. Understanding this turbulence and predicting it are one of the major goals of the National Space Weather program. Acquiring such a prediction capability will rest on understanding the very topics of this book, the plasma physics and electrodynamics of the system. *Fully updated to reflect advances in the field in the 20 years since the first edition published *Explores the buffeting of the ionosphere from above by the sun and from below by the lower atmosphere *Unique text appropriate both as a reference and for coursework.