Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal financing and dividend policy with Markovian switching regimes

ABSTRACT This work investigates an optimal financing and dividend problem for an insurer whose surplus process is modulated by an observable continuous-time and finite-state Markov chain. We assume that the insurer should never go bankrupt by issuing new equity. The goal of the insurer is to maximize the expected present value of the dividends payout minus the discounted cost of equity issuance. We obtain the optimal policies and explicit expressions for the value functions when the risk reserve process is modeled by both upward jump model and its diffusion approximation. Numerical illustrations of the sensitivities of the model parameters are provided.
Mass Determination of Sub-stellar Companions Around Young Stars - The Example of HR 7329

Abstract Lowrance et al. (2000) found a faint companion candidate about 4 arcsec south of the young A0-type star HR 7329. Its spectral type of M7-8 is consistent with a young brown dwarf companion. Here we report spectroscopic J band observations using the integral field spectrograph SINFONI at VLT, enabling a new estimation of effective temperature, extinction and surface gravity of the object and hence its mass. Although the data were reduced carefully, the presence of a spike within the point spread function of the object in each spectral image hampered the precise estimation of the properties of HR 7329. Nevertheless, we will show with the example of this sub-stellar companion how mass estimates independent of evolutionary models of directly imaged sub-stellar companions can be obtained, after removing most of the strong influence of the spike in the present data, and present a new mass estimation of HR 7329 B/b based on the values gained.
Dynapenic abdominal obesity increases risk for falls among adults aged ≥50 years: a prospective analysis of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing.

BACKGROUND There is a scarcity of studies examining the longitudinal relationship between dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO) (i.e., impairment in muscle strength and high waist circumference) and future fall risk. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prospective association between DAO at baseline and falls occurring during two years of follow-up in a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older individuals from Ireland. METHODS Data from two consecutive waves of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) survey were analyzed. Dynapenia was defined as handgrip strength of <26kg for men and <16kg for women. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference of >88 cm for women and >102 cm for men. DAO was assessed at Wave 1 (2009-2011) and was defined as having both dynapenia and abdominal obesity. Falls occurring between Wave 1 and Wave 2 (2012-2013) were self-reported. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS Data on 5275 individuals aged ≥50 years were analyzed [mean (SD) age 63.2 (8.9) years; 48.8% males]. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared to no dynapenia and no abdominal obesity at baseline, DAO was significantly associated with 1.47 (95%CI=1.14-1.89) times higher odds for falls at 2-year follow-up. Dynapenia alone (OR=1.08; 95%CI=0.84-1.40) and abdominal obesity alone (OR=1.09; 95%CI=0.91-1.29) were not significantly associated with falls at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS DAO increased risk for falls among middle-aged and older adults in Ireland. Interventions to prevent or reverse DAO may be beneficial for fall reduction.
Orographic precipitation across an island in southern Norway: model evaluation of time‐step precipitation

Observations of high spatio‐temporal resolution from a precipitation network across Stord Island, located off the west coast of southern Norway, are compared to state‐of‐the‐art numerical model simulations. The 12 week long observation period shows a clear orographic precipitation signal across the 10–15 km wide island (peak elevation 750 m). The model experiment designed to capture this signal is run with 9–3–1 km nested grid and results are compared with observations at different accumulation intervals. The total amount of precipitation over the 12 week period is underpredicted, even for the 1 km grid. The maximum precipitation intensity, however, is slightly overpredicted. Time‐step (5 s) precipitation from the model is also compared with observed intensities at the highest possible temporal resolution permitted by the rain collection method. The observations indicate that most of the precipitation is formed at intensities from 5 to 20 mm h−1. A smaller fraction of the precipitation is formed with intensities >20 mm h−1. The simulated precipitation at the 3 km grid did not reproduce at the correct intensities. The 1 km grid showed an improved tendency to produce the precipitation at the right intensities, but had too high maximum intensities. A test simulation where the intermediate grid had no cumulus parametrization was performed. Even though effects such as undercatchment and unresolved terrain influenced, it was concluded that the test run performed better than the control run. The investigation concluded that, in general, a 1 km grid is sufficient for capturing the most intensive precipitation event in a satisfying way.
Clinical feasibility of MRI-based synthetic CT imaging in the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation: a comparative study

Background Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are indicated for use in preoperative planning and may complicate diagnosis and place a burden on patients with lumbar disc herniation. Purpose To investigate the diagnostic potential of MRI-based synthetic CT with conventional CT in the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation. Material and Methods After obtaining prior institutional review board approval, 19 patients who underwent conventional and synthetic CT imaging were enrolled in this prospective study. Synthetic CT images were generated from the MRI data using U-net. The two sets of images were compared and analyzed qualitatively by two musculoskeletal radiologists. The images were rated on a 4-point scale to determine their subjective quality. The agreement between the conventional and synthetic images for a diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation was determined independently using the kappa statistic. The diagnostic performances of conventional and synthetic CT images were evaluated for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, and the consensual results based on T2-weighted imaging were employed as the reference standard. Results The inter-reader and intra-reader agreement were almost moderate for all evaluated modalities (κ = 0.57−0.79 and 0.47−0.75, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting lumbar disc herniation were similar for synthetic and conventional CT images (synthetic vs. conventional, reader 1: sensitivity = 91% vs. 81%, specificity = 83% vs. 100%, accuracy = 87% vs. 91%; P < 0.001; reader 2: sensitivity = 84% vs. 81%, specificity = 85% vs. 98%, accuracy = 84% vs. 90%; P < 0.001). Conclusion Synthetic CT images can be used in the diagnostics of lumbar disc herniation.
An on-line reference-trajectory generator for smooth motion of impulse-controlled industrial manipulators

Industrial manipulators driven by impulse-controlled servo motors commonly follow prescribed reference-trajectories which enable smooth movements (no discontinuity in acceleration profile). On-line generation of such smooth trajectories as a consequence of new target-settings during the motion, however, still suffers from the high computational effort for calculating an optimum solution, as far as the maximum limiting values of velocity, acceleration and jerk are taken into account. An additional problem increased by on-line target changes are position and speed deviations from the desired values at the final end-point, caused by the limited accuracy of clock-controlled pulse generation using a DSP or microcontroller and results in an undesired "creep" motion. In this paper we present a method for generating smooth motion reference-trajectory starting from the current velocity and acceleration and taking into account all given constraints. The calculation is based on purely kinematic models and is easy to implement as a real-time algorithm. Furthermore, a control loop for the correction of pulse generation using predicted position errors is proposed to eliminate the "creep" motion. Simulation and experimental results obtained by application of the proposed method to a pick and place machine using a microcontroller SAB C167 are presented.
Altered methionine-sulfone levels are associated with impaired growth in HIV-exposed-uninfected children

Objective: To determine immune-metabolic dysregulation in children born to women living with HIV. Methods: Longitudinal immune-metabolomic analyses of plasma of 32 pregnant women with HIV (WHIV) and 12 uninfected women and their children up to 1.5 years of age were performed. Results: Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and a multiplex bead assay, 280 metabolites (57 amino acids, 116 positive lipids, 107 signalling lipids) and 24 immune mediators (e.g. cytokines) were quantified. combinational antiretroviral therapy (cART) exposure was categorized as cART initiation preconception (long), cART initiation postconception up to 4 weeks before birth (medium) and cART initiation within 3 weeks of birth (short). Plasma metabolite profiles differed between HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU)-children with long cART exposure compared to HIV-unexposed-children (HUU). Specifically, higher levels of methionine-sulfone, which is associated with oxidative stress, were detected in HEU-children with long cART exposure compared to HUU-children. High infant methionine-sulfone levels were reflected by high prenatal plasma levels in the mother. Increased methionine-sulfone levels in the children were associated with decreased growth, including both weight and length. Conclusion: These findings based on longitudinal data demonstrate that dysregulation of metabolite networks associated with oxidative stress in children born to WHIV is associated with restricted infant growth.
A Study of Thunderstorm Formation Along Dry Lines

Abstract A study designed to point out the effect of the frequently sharp CT-MT boundary, herein called the “dry line,” on thunderstorm development was undertaken using synoptic surface charts, upper air soundings, 500-mb charts, 700-mb charts, and hourly radar summaries for the spring months of April-June from 1959 through 1962. Plots of new radar echo area formation versus distance from the surface dry line were made for all days on which the dry line was discernible, and it was found that the immediate vicinity of the dry line is indeed a highly preferred thunderstorm developmental zone. Activity also was found to develop carrier and organize more frequently into line formation along the dry line than at locations further removed. 500-mb supporting features were found present in a majority of cases. When equal amounts of moist and dry air were mixed, thunderstorm formation appeared feasible in all cases, even without the aid of convergence between moist and dry air. Essentially the same was true, howev.
Polyfunctional donor-reactive T cells are associated with acute T-cell-mediated rejection of the kidney transplant

Abstract Acute T-cell-mediated rejection (aTCMR) still remains a clinical problem after kidney transplantation despite significant improvements in immunosuppressive regimens. Polyfunctional T cells, i.e. T cells producing multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, are believed to be the most relevant T cells in an immune response. The aim of this study was to determine whether polyfunctional donor-reactive T cells are associated with aTCMR. In a case–control study, 49 kidney transplant recipients with a biopsy-proven aTCMR in the first year after transplantation were included, as well as 51 controls without aTCMR. Circulating donor-reactive T cells were identified by the expression of CD137 after short-term co-culture with donor antigen-presenting cells. Polyfunctional donor-reactive T cells were further characterized by dissection into different T-cell subsets encompassing the spectrum of naïve to terminally differentiated effector T cells. Prior to kidney transplantation, proportions of donor-reactive CD4+ (0.03% versus 0.02%; P < 0.01) and CD8+ (0.18% versus 0.10%; P < 0.01) CD137++ T cells were significantly higher in recipients with a biopsy-proven aTCMR versus non-rejectors. Polyfunctionality was higher (P = 0.03) in this subset of CD137-expressing T cells. These cells were predominantly of the EM/EMRA-phenotype, with polyfunctional donor-reactive CD137++CD4+ T cells predominantly co-expressing CD28 whereas approximately half of the polyfunctional CD137++CD8+ T cells co-expressed CD28. In addition, at the time of aTCMR, polyfunctional donor-reactive CD137++ CD4+, but not CD8+, T cells, were specifically decreased by 75% compared to before transplantation in recipients with as well as those without an aTCMR. Prior to transplantation, the proportion of polyfunctional donor-reactive CD137++ T cells is associated with the occurrence of a biopsy-proven aTCMR within the first year after transplantation.
The pattern of metachronous recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric adenocarcinoma and dysplasias

Background/Aims Metachronous recurrence incidences and risk factors following endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric adenocarcinoma and dysplasias were investigated. Methods Retrospective review of electronic medical records of patients who underwent gastric ESD at The Catholic University of Korea, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital. Results A total of 190 subjects were enrolled for analysis during the study period. The mean age was 64.4 years-old and the male sex occupied 73.7%. The mean observation period following ESD was 3.45 years. The annual incidence rate of metachronous gastric neoplasms (MGN) was about 3.96%. The annual incidence rate was 5.36% for the low-grade dysplasia group, 6.47% for the high-grade dysplasia group, and 2.74% for the EGC group. MGN was more frequent in the dysplasia group than in the EGC group (p<0.05). For those with MGN development, the mean time interval from ESD to MGN was 4.1 (±1.8) years. By using the Kaplan–Meier model, the estimated mean MGN free survival time was 9.97 years (95% confidence interval, 8.53–11.40) The histological types of MGN were not related to the primary histology types. Conclusions MGN following ESD developed in 3.96% annually and MGN was more frequent in the dysplasia group. The histological types of MGN did not correlate with those of primary neoplasm.
Low PD‐L1 expression in immune cells predicts the presence of nodal metastasis in early invasive (pT1) colorectal cancer: a novel tool to tailor surgical treatment

The current criteria for surgical treatment after endoscopic resection of a pT1 colorectal carcinoma (CRC) are unsatisfactory because nodal involvement is rarely present. This study investigates the correlation between PD‐L1 expression and nodal metastasis in pT1 CRCs to enable its use for tailoring surgical treatment after endoscopic removal.
Developing medical professionalism in care of gender nonconforming patients: Reflections of second-year medical students after a curricular experience with gender nonconforming people and allies

Abstract Introduction Negative healthcare experiences persist for gender nonconforming individuals. Clinician-related factors, including lack of comfort with gender nonconforming persons and unexamined personal biases, present barriers to equitable and affirming healthcare. We explored the effects of contact with gender nonconforming individuals in preclinical medical education through a structured curricular intervention designed to build medical and humanistic knowledge and stimulate the development of medical professionalism surrounding the care of gender nonconforming individuals. Methods A curricular module (didactic prework, time-synchronous online panel discussion, and post-event written reflection) was implemented in a second-year preclinical course in a large multi-campus Midwestern medical school. The module was based on pedagogical foundations of contact theory and reflective writing. Post-event written reflections were investigated using thematic analysis. Results Analysis of 355 written reflections revealed three major themes (moments of insight, topics of confusion, connections to professional identity formation) and eight sub-themes. The findings demonstrated emerging gender professionalism and the importance of contact in professional development. Discussion Contact with gender nonconforming people and the use of written reflections can encourage self-examination and foster professional identity formation among preclinical medical students. Modeling gender-affirming approaches may help counteract negative cultural messages about gender nonconforming people, aiding development of inclusive future physicians.
Theory of Wing Sections

The thin airfoil theory for calculation of section . http://charles-oneill.com/projects/iaf.pdf Thin Airfoil Theory Charles R. O’Neill . The objective is to review the thin airfoil theory and to apply the theory to three wing sections. THEORY OF WINGS AND WIND TUNNEL TESTING OF A NACA 2415 AIRFOIL http://www.ewp. rpi.edu/hartford/~ernesto/F2011/EP/MaterialsforStudents/Ferrari/Ghods2001.PDF 2.0 STRUCTURE AND THEORY OF WINGS Wing is an aerodynamic structure that generates lift when comes into contact with moving air molecules i.e. wind. tbausyd.wikispaces. com http://tbausyd.wikispaces. com/file/view/aerodynamics_report1. 3.doc Abbot & von Doenhoff, 1959, 'Theory of Wing Sections – including a summary of airfoil data', Dover Edition, Dover Publications, New York. Geometric Analysis of Wing Sections RITA | National . http://ntl.bts. gov/lib/1000/1200/1265/950049_chang. pdf GEOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF WING SECTIONS I-Chung Chang, Francisco J. Torres, and Chee Tung? Ames Research Center SUMMARY This paper describes a new geometric analysis . Geometric Analysis of Wing Sections NASA http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19950018209_1995118209. pdf This paper describes a new geometric analysis procedure for wing sections. This procedure is based on the normal mode analysis for continuous functions. 4. Incompressible Potential Flow Virginia Tech http://www.dept.aoe.vt. edu/~mason/Mason_f/C4WHMPanels.doc
Endoplasmic reticulum chaperone GRP78 participates in fluoride‐induced autophagy in LS8 cells by regulating the IRE1‐TRAF2‐JNK pathway

Fluoride induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in ameloblasts, which is responsible for enamel mineralization disorder. Fluoride induces autophagy in ameloblasts, but the molecular mechanisms through which ameloblasts respond to fluoride‐induced cellular stress and autophagy remain unclear. This study investigated ER stress‐induced autophagy and the regulatory role of the ER molecular chaperone GRP78 in fluoride‐induced autophagy in ameloblast LS8 cells. To explore the relationship between fluoride‐induced ER stress and autophagy, we assessed changes in fluoride‐induced autophagy in LS8 cells following overexpression and/or silencing of the ER stress molecular chaperone GRP78. We found that autophagy induced by fluoride was further increased after GRP78 overexpression in LS8 cells. Fluoride‐induced autophagy was reduced in GRP78‐silenced LS8 cells. Furthermore, we found that ER stress can regulate autophagy in fluoride‐treated ameloblasts (LS8 cells) and that the GRP78/IRE1/TRAF2/JNK pathway is involved in the underlying regulation. Our study suggests that ER stress plays a role in fluoride‐induced damage by inducing ameloblast autophagy.
Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Viruses Types 1 and 2 in a Population, Age 15-35 Years, of Mashhad City

Background: Considering the high prevalence and clinical importance of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection worldwide, we aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in a population aged between 15 and 35 years in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 916 cases composed of 288 (31.4%) men and 628 (68.6%) women. Using ELISA method, the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-2 was assessed. Results: Among the population studied, 681 (74.3%) cases were positive for anti-HSV antibodies, while 235 (25.7%) cases were negative. Moreover, no IgMs were found and all positive subjects had IgG antibodies. Age (p < 0.001), occupation (p < 0.001), education (p = 0.006), smoking (p = 0.029), and BMI (p = 0.004) demonstrated a significant association with HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection. Conclusion: Our study indicates a high seroprevalence of HSV infection; however, there was no cases positive for IgM antibodies, suggesting the high prevalence of latent infection.
Tight junction protein occludin is an internalization factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mediates virus cell-to-cell transmission

Significance Although initial infection by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurs via a cell surface entry pathway through its spike protein binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, subsequent spread largely involves direct cell-to-cell transmission and syncytium formation, processes in which host factors required remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the tight junction protein occludin (OCLN) is a key internalization factor critical for these events. OCLN binds the spike protein and mediates cell-to-cell virus transmission. Cell-to-cell transmission of both prototypic and variant SARS-CoV-2 strains is reliant on spike protein binding to OCLN, even though the extent of subsequent syncytium formation is virus strain dependent. Our results will provide a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 entry, transmission, and pathogenesis.
MULTIPLICATIVE CENSORING: ESTIMATION OF A DENSITY AND ITS DERIVATIVES UNDER THE Lp-RISK

• We consider the problem of estimating a density and its derivatives for a sample of multiplicatively censored random variables. The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to this problem based on wavelets methods. Two different estimators are developed: a linear based on projections and a nonlinear using a term-by-term selection of the estimated wavelet coefficients. We explore their performances under the Lp-risk with p � 1 and over a wide class of functions: the Besov balls. Fast rates of convergence are obtained. Finite sample properties of the estimation procedure are studied on a simulated data example.