Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Portfolio Allocation with Time Series and Machine Learning Models

The historical average stock return is commonly used to predict expected stock return in portfolio management for its better prediction and more straightforward calculations. However, most regressive models empirically proved to underperform the historical average return are explanatory models using predictor variables. This article takes the challenge to further explore the regressive power in predicting stock return but focuses on time series (TS) forecasting models and machine learning (ML) models. The results of this article show that many of these TS and ML regression models beat the historical average return, delivering higher portfolio Sharpe ratios and realized returns in backtesting. Although TS and ML models have inherently weaker explanatory power for their predictions, these results are still meaningful for retail and institutional mean-variance investors, opening up a new angle to forecast expected returns in portfolio allocation.
Plasma diagnostic method using the transmission attenuation of microwaves at double frequencies

The plasma frequency and the electron collision frequency can be deduced with the plasma diagnostic method that utilizing the transmission attenuation of microwaves at two neighboring (double) frequencies in a non-magnetized plasma. The process of attenuation measurement is presented,which utilizes a system consisted of a sweep oscillator, a pair of broad-banded horns, and a scalar network analyzer, etc. Errors of the diagnostic results are discussed. This method is suitable for the elementary diagnostics of a atmospheric-pressure plasma.
Dot-shaped range-angle beamforming of frequency diverse array using adaptive genetic algorithm based thinned array

The frequency diverse array (FDA) radar has range-dependent and time-varying characteristics, which can eliminate the limitation of the phased array whose beampattern is angle-dependent only. FDA can create more possibilities due to its unique features. However, the range-angle coupling characteristic of the conventional FDA makes it difficult to be an effective way in anti-jamming and detection areas. In this paper, adopting adaptive genetic algorithm based thinned array, a beamforming method of FDA with non-linear frequency offset is proposed, which can form a sharp dot-shaped beampattern. Simulations demonstrate the validity of the method.
Bayesian Method for Inverse Scattering Problem of Interior Cavity with Phaseless Data

This paper is concerned with the inverse acoustic scattering problem of a sound soft cavity based on phaseless near-field data. By combining the reference circle technique with the Bayesian method, this paper presents a numerical algorithm to retrieve the shape of the interior cavity from phaseless data. In this paper, the well-posedness of the Bayesian method is discussed. The posterior distribution of the shape parameters is obtained by DRAM algorithm and the reconstruction of the cavity boundary is acquired by taking the average value of the posterior distribution.
Research on Defect Detection Method of Substation Equipment Based on Cascade Network

In order to accurately identify and locate the typical visual defects of substation equipment, a defect detection model of power equipment based on cascaded network structure is proposed. Firstly, aiming at the weak representation ability of small target defects in the original image, a super-resolution representation method based on generative confrontation network and double attention mechanism is proposed. Secondly, the content loss function and anti-loss function are used to optimize the generated network, and the discriminant network is used to guide the calculation of the representation process. Finally, the optimal super-resolution representation generation network and YOLOv5s network are cascaded to form a substation equipment defect detection model. The method is tested on the sample set taken in practical engineering application, and the mAP index is over 92%. The experimental results show that this method can be well ap-plied to the substation equipment defect detection task.
Accelerated epithelial layer healing induced by tactile anisotropy in surface topography

Mammalian cells respond to tactile cues from topographic elements presented by the substrate. Among these, anisotropic features distributed in an ordered manner give directionality. In the extracellular matrix, this ordering is embedded in a noisy environment altering the contact guidance effect. To date, it is unclear how cells respond to topographical signals in a noisy environment. Here, using rationally designed substrates, we report morphotaxis, a guidance mechanism enabling fibroblasts and epithelial cells to move along gradients of topographic order distortion. Isolated cells and cell ensembles perform morphotaxis in response to gradients of different strength and directionality, with mature epithelia integrating variations of topographic order over hundreds of micrometers. The level of topographic order controls cell cycle progression, locally delaying or promoting cell proliferation. In mature epithelia, the combination of morphotaxis and noise-dependent distributed proliferation provides a strategy to enhance wound healing as confirmed by a mathematical model capturing key elements of the process.
Disease trajectories in elders with suspected non-Alzheimer’s pathophysiology and its comparison with Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology: a longitudinal study

Background According to the new ‘AT(N)’ system, those with a normal amyloid biomarker but with abnormal tauopathy or biomarkers of neurodegeneration or neuronal injury, have been labeled suspected non-Alzheimer’s pathophysiology (SNAP). We aimed to estimate the long-term clinical and cognitive trajectories of SNAP individuals in non-demented elders and its comparison with individual in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology using ‘AT(N)’ system. Methods We included individuals with available baseline cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ (A), CSF phosphorylated tau examination (T) and 18F-uorodeoxyglucose PET or volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (N) from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. Longitudinal change in clinical outcomes are assessed using linear mixed effects models. Conversion risk from cognitively normal (CN) to cognitively impairment, and conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia are assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. Results Totally, 366 SNAP individuals were included (114 A−T−N−, 154 A−T + N−, 54 A−T−N + and 44 A−T + N+) of whom 178 were CN and 188 were MCI. Compared with A−T−N−, CN elders with A−T + N−, A−T−N + and A−T + N + had a faster rate of ADNI-MEM score decline. Moreover, CN older individuals with A−T + N + also had a faster rate of decline in ADNI-MEM score than those with A−T + N− individuals. MCI patients with A−T + N + had a faster rate of ADNI-MEM and ADNI-EF decline and hippocampal volume loss compared with A−T−N− and A−T + N− profiles. CN older individuals with A−T + N + had an increased risk of conversion to cognitive impairment (CDR-GS ≥ 0.5) compared with A−T + N− and A−T−N−. In MCI patients, A−T + N + also had an increased risk of conversion to dementia compared with A−T + N− and A−T−N−. Compared with A−T + N−, CN elders and MCI patients with A + T + N− and A + T + N + had a faster rate of ADNI-MEM score, ADNI-EF score decline, and hippocampal volume loss. CN individuals with A + T + N + had a faster rate of ADNI-EF score decline compare with A−T + N + individuals. Moreover, MCI patients with A + T + N + also had a faster rate of decline in ADNI-MEM score, ADNI-EF score and hippocampal volume loss than those with A−T + N + individuals. Conclusions The findings from clinical, imaging and biomarker studies on SNAP, and its comparison with AD pathophysiology offered an important foundation for future studies.
Starvation-induced changes in somatic insulin/IGF-1R signaling drive metabolic programming across generations

Exposure to adverse nutritional and metabolic environments during critical periods of development can exert long-lasting effects on health outcomes of an individual and its descendants. Although such metabolic programming has been observed in multiple species and in response to distinct nutritional stressors, conclusive insights into signaling pathways and mechanisms responsible for initiating, mediating, and manifesting changes to metabolism and behavior across generations remain scarce. By using a starvation paradigm in Caenorhabditis elegans, we show that starvation-induced changes in dauer formation-16/forkhead box transcription factor class O (DAF-16/FoxO) activity, the main downstream target of insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor signaling, are responsible for metabolic programming phenotypes. Tissue-specific depletion of DAF-16/FoxO during distinct developmental time points demonstrates that DAF-16/FoxO acts in somatic tissues, but not directly in the germline, to both initiate and manifest metabolic programming. In conclusion, our study deciphers multifaceted and critical roles of highly conserved insulin/IGF-1 receptor signaling in determining health outcomes and behavior across generations.
Obesity-and lipid-related indices as a predictor of hypertension in Mid-aged and Elderly Chinese: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective Middle-aged and elderly people in China probably suffer from hypertension. There is a close relationship between obesity-and lipid-related index and hypertension, which is recognized by recent studies. However, these studies have not systematically compared the relationship between the two. We aim to find the most effective obesity-and lipid-related index for predicting hypertension. Method A total of 9488 middle-aged and elderly people in China participated in this study. In this study, the subjects were divided into male and female groups by the definition of the 2018 Chinese Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension. Searching for the best predictors among 13 obesity-and lipid-related indicators through binary logistic regression analyses and receiver operator curve (ROC). These 13 indicators are body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), conicity index (CI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), triglyceride glucose index (TyG-index) and its correlation index (TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR) Results After adjusting bias, all 13 indexes are risk factors for hypertension. In ROC curve analysis, thirteen obesity-and lipid-related factors can predict the occurrence of hypertension. Among them, CVAI has the best prediction effect (male: AUC = 0.660, female: AUC = 0.699). AUC for WHtR was equal to that for BRI and TyG - WHtR in identifying hypertension in male. Similarly, AUC of TyG-BMI and BMI were the same. In females, AUC for WHtR and BRI were the same when predicting hypertension. AUC of ABSI was much lower than other test indexes. Conclusion In predicting hypertension, thirteen obesity-and lipid-related factors are effective. In addition, in males and females, CVAI is the best indicator to indicate hypertension. TyG-WHtR, WHtR, and BRI performed well in predicting metabolic syndrome in both males and females. ABSI has a poor ability to predict hypertension.
The Impact of Body Mass Index and Medical Conditions on Home-based Anal Self-Sampling

Purpose. Self-sampling is increasingly being used in screening programs, yet no studies to date have examined the impact of bodily characteristics on self-sampling experiences. Our objective was to assess whether body mass index (BMI) and physical disability were associated with anal self-sampling difficulty. Methods. We recruited sexual minority men (SMM) and trans persons in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in an anal cancer screening study. Between January 2020 and August 2022, 240 participants were randomized to a home (n=120) or clinic (n=120) screening arm. Home participants received a mailed at-home anal self-sampling kit and were asked to attend a baseline clinic visit where biometric measurements were collected. Participants were asked to complete a survey about their experience with the kit. This research utilizes data from participants who used the kit and completed a baseline clinic visit and post-swab survey (n=82). We assessed the impact of BMI and physical disability on reported body or swab positioning difficulty. Results. Most participants reported no or little difficulty with body positioning (90.3%) or swab positioning (82.9%). Higher BMI was significantly associated with greater reported difficulty with body positioning (aOR=1.10, 95% CI 1.003–1.20, p=.04) and swab positioning (aOR=1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.20, p=.01). Physical disability was not significantly associated with body or swab positioning difficulty. Specimen adequacy did not differ by BMI category (p=.76) or physical disability (p=.88). Conclusion. Anal self-sampling may be a viable option to reach obese persons who may be more likely to avoid screening due to weight-related barriers.
Maternal exposure to metal components of PM2.5 and low birth weight in New Mexico, USA

Infants with low birth weight (LBW) are more likely to have health problems than normal weight infants. In studies examining the associations between particulate matter (PM) exposures and LBW, there is a tendency to focus on PM2.5 as a whole. However, insufficient information is available regarding the effects of different components of PM2.5 on birth weight. This study identified the associations between maternal exposure to 10 metal components of PM2.5 and LBW in offspring based on small area (divided by population size) level data in New Mexico, USA, from 2012 to 2016. This study used a pruned feed-forward neural network (pruned-FNN) approach to estimate the annual average exposure index to each metal component in each small area. The linear regression model was employed to examine the association between maternal PM2.5 metal exposures and LBW rate in small areas, adjusting for the female percentage and race/ethnicity compositions, marriage status and educational level in the population. An interquartile range increase in maternal exposure to mercury and chromium of PM2.5 increased LBW rate by 0.43% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18%−0.68%) and 0.63% (95% CI: 0.15%−1.12%), respectively. These findings suggest that maternal exposure to metal components of air pollutants may increase the risk of LBW in offspring. With no similar studies in New Mexico, this study also posed great importance because of a higher LBW rate in New Mexico than the national average. These findings provide critical information to inform further epidemiological, biological, and toxicological studies.
Precision measurement of the B[0 over s]–[– over B][0 over s] oscillation frequency with the decay B[0 over s]→D[– over s]π[superscript +]

A key ingredient to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model in Bs mixing phenomena is the measurement of the B 0 s – B 0 s oscillation frequency, which is equivalent to the mass difference1ms of the Bs mass eigenstates. Using the world’s largest Bs meson sample accumulated in a dataset, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb, collected by the LHCb experiment at the CERN LHC in 2011, a measurement of 1ms is presented. A total of about 34 000 Bs → D − s π + signal decays are reconstructed, with an average decay time resolution of 44 fs. The oscillation frequency is measured to be1ms = 17.768 ± 0.023 (stat) ± 0.006 (syst) ps−1, which is the most precise measurement to date. New Journal of Physics 15 (2013) 053021 1367-2630/13/053021+15$33.00 © CERN 2013 for the benefit of the LHCb Collaboration, published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence by IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation and DOI.
Myeloid sarcoma in a newborn: A rare manifestation of congenital acute myeloid leukemia

Cutaneous myeloid sarcoma is rarely present prior to the diagnosis of congenital acute myeloid leukemia (AML); the former is typically diagnosed with or after the leukemia. We report a 2‐day‐old male born with multiple cutaneous red to violaceous nodules. Histopathologic and immunohistochemistry findings from a skin nodule were suspicious for myeloid sarcoma. Bone marrow biopsy was initially negative for aberrant blasts; however, at age 4 months, AML with a KMT2A gene rearrangement was identified via bone marrow biopsy.
The relationship between adiposity and cognitive function: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study in UK Biobank

Abstract Background There may be a bidirectional relationship between cognition and adiposity, whereby poor cognition leads to increased adiposity and vice versa. We aimed to determine whether these findings are causal, by undertaking a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Methods A total of 378 877 UK Biobank participants had three adiposity indicators [body fat percentage (BF%), body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio] and two cognitive function measures (reaction time, visual memory). We examined observational associations between each adiposity indicator and cognitive function and vice versa. Using bidirectional inverse-variance weighted MR, we estimated the strength of the adiposity-cognitive function association using genetic instruments for adiposity indicators as our exposures, and we repeated this in the opposite direction using instruments for cognitive function. Results In the direction adiposity to cognitive function, MR analyses were generally directionally consistent with observational findings, but all confidence intervals contained the null. In the opposite direction, MR estimates for all adiposity measures on reaction time were imprecise and directionally inconsistent. MR estimates for the effects of visual memory on all adiposity measures indicated worse visual memory was associated with lower adiposity. For example, a 1-unit worse visual memory score was associated with a 1.32% [β = −1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.77,−1.88] and 3.57% (β = −3.64; 95% CI: −1.84,−5.15) lower absolute body fat percentage and relative body mass index, respectively. Conclusions Observational associations of adiposity on cognitive function are likely not causal. In the reverse direction, our consistent findings that worse visual memory is associated with three adiposity indicators provide support for a causal link between worse visual memory and lower adiposity.
GPR37L1 controls maturation and organization of cortical astrocytes during development

Astrocyte maturation is crucial to proper brain development and function. This maturation process includes the ramification of astrocytic morphology and the establishment of astrocytic domains. While this process has been well‐studied, the mechanisms by which astrocyte maturation is initiated are not well understood. GPR37L1 is an astrocyte‐specific G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) that is predominantly expressed in mature astrocytes and has been linked to the modulation of seizure susceptibility in both humans and mice. To investigate the role of GPR37L1 in astrocyte biology, RNA‐seq analyses were performed on astrocytes immunopanned from P7 Gpr37L1−/− knockout (L1KO) mouse cortex and compared to those from wild‐type (WT) mouse cortex. These RNA‐seq studies revealed that pathways involved in central nervous system development were altered and that L1KO cortical astrocytes express lower amounts of mature astrocytic genes compared to WT astrocytes. Immunohistochemical studies of astrocytes from L1KO mouse brain revealed that these astrocytes exhibit overall shorter total process length, and are also less complex and spaced further apart from each other in the mouse cortex. This work sheds light on how GPR37L1 regulates cellular processes involved in the control of astrocyte biology and maturation.
Amazonia's Hydrologic Cycle and the Role of Atmospheric Recycling in Assessing Deforestation Effects

Abstract Atmospheric and hydrologic phases of the water cycle in Amazonia are modeled coherently by subdividing the basin (which extends from about 47.5° to 77.5° west longitude) into six adjacent regions each 5° wide. Due to long-distance travel of the air masses, the recycling of vapor evaporated from upwind land surfaces is important. For example, it is found that 88% of the water precipitating on the westernmost region falls at least a second time from the air. The modeling of the longitudinal profiles of precipitable water in the atmosphere as well as exchangeable moisture in the soil is supplemented by the modeling of the complementary longitudinal profiles of annual mean surface and air temperature. In a climatonomical experiment, the forest cover in central Amazonia (i.e., in the two regions between about 57.5° and 67.5°W) is assumed to be reduced to one-half of the original value, thereby increasing the evaporative flushing rate of soil moisture in the two partly deforested regions. Computations .
Laparoscopic staple line invagination in low colorectal anastomosis – A Video Vignette

Dear Editor, Anastomotic leak/dehiscence has a variable incidence from 1%– 19% and is one of the most feared complications in colorectal surgery. It is more common in lower rectal surgery, at between 1.5% and 20%, and has a significant negative impact on patient morbidity and mortality. [1] The risk factors that influence its development can be divided into four groups: distance to the anal margin, characteristics of the patient and surgery and technical aspects. [2– 4] Although the doublestapled technique is the most widely performed procedure for the creation of anastomoses in the lower rectum, the truth is that it has some disadvantages, namely the two points of intersection of the staple lines, with the formation of ‘dog ears’. Recent studies show that these lateral crossing areas are sites of structural fragility, with ischaemic potential, predisposing to a greater risk of anastomotic leaks. [2– 5] In order to avoid the formation of dog ears, several techniques of ‘invagination’ of the staple line have been described, namely by Crafa et al.[6] and Chen et al., [5] to reduce its impact on the disruption of low colorectal anastomoses. The video that we present here (Video S1) is intended to show an alternative to the performance of a laparoscopic singlestaple anastomosis to avoid the intersection of the staple lines, with the execution of a zigzag suture in the rectal stump with 2/0 prolene. It also shows that this kind of technique is applicable to low colorectal anastomosis.
White matter hyperintensities in Alzheimer's disease: Beyond vascular contribution

White matter hyperintensities (WMH), frequently seen in older adults, are usually considered vascular lesions, and participate in the vascular contribution to cognitive impairment and dementia. However, emerging evidence highlights the heterogeneity of WMH pathophysiology, suggesting that non‐vascular mechanisms could also be involved, notably in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This led to the alternative hypothesis that in AD, part of WMH may be secondary to AD‐related processes. The current perspective brings together the arguments from different fields of research, including neuropathology, neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers, and genetics, in favor of this alternative hypothesis. Possible underlying mechanisms leading to AD‐related WMH, such as AD‐related neurodegeneration or neuroinflammation, are discussed, as well as implications for diagnostic criteria and management of AD. We finally discuss ways to test this hypothesis and remaining challenges. Acknowledging the heterogeneity of WMH and the existence of AD‐related WMH may improve personalized diagnosis and care of patients.