Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive backstepping control of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown backlash-like hysteresis

In this note, we consider the same class of systems as in a previous paper, i.e., a class of uncertain dynamic nonlinear systems preceded by unknown backlash-like hysteresis nonlinearities, where the hysteresis is modeled by a differential equation, in the presence of bounded external disturbances. By using backstepping technique, robust adaptive backstepping control algorithms are developed. Unlike some existing control schemes for systems with hysteresis, the developed backstepping controllers do not require the uncertain parameters within known intervals. Also, no knowledge is assumed on the bound of the "disturbance-like" term, a combination of the external disturbances and a term separated from the hysteresis model. It is shown that the proposed controllers not only can guarantee global stability, but also transient performance.
On the Detection of Dominant Points on Digital Curves

A parallel algorithm is presented for detecting dominant points on a digital closed curve. The procedure requires no input parameter and remains reliable even when features of multiple sizes are present on the digital curve. The procedure first determines the region of support for each point based on its local properties, then computes measures of relative significance (e.g. curvature) of each point, and finally detects dominant points by a process of nonmaximum suppression. This procedure leads to the observation that the performance of dominant points detection depends not only on the accuracy of the measure of significance, but also on the precise determination of the region of support. This solves the fundamental problem of scale factor selection encountered in various dominant point detection algorithms. The inherent nature of scale-space filtering in the procedure is addressed, and the performance of the procedure is compared to those of several other dominant point detection algorithms, using a number of examples. >
Rewriting of regular expressions and regular path queries

Abstract Recent work on semi-structured data has revitalized the interest in path queries, i.e., queries that ask for all pairs of objects in the database that are connected by a path conforming to a certain specification, in particular to a regular expression. Also, in semi-structured data, as well as in data integration, data warehousing, and query optimization, the problem of view-based query rewriting is receiving much attention: Given a query and a collection of views, generate a new query which uses the views and provides the answer to the original one. In this paper we address the problem of view-based query rewriting in the context of semi-structured data. We present a method for computing the rewriting of a regular expression E in terms of other regular expressions. The method computes the exact rewriting (the one that defines the same regular language as E ) if it exists, or the rewriting that defines the maximal language contained in the one defined by E , otherwise. We present a complexity analysis of both the problem and the method, showing that the latter is essentially optimal. Finally, we illustrate how to exploit the method for view-based rewriting of regular path queries in semi-structured data. The complexity results established for the rewriting of regular expressions apply also to the case of regular path queries.
Subdivision surfaces in character animation

The creation of believable and endearing characters in computer graphics presents a number of technical challenges, including the modeling, animation and rendering of complex shapes such as heads, hands, and clothing. Traditionally, these shapes have been modeled with NURBS surfaces despite the severe topological restrictions that NURBS impose. In order to move beyond these restrictions, we have recently introduced subdivision surfaces into our production environment. Subdivision surfaces are not new, but their use in high-end CG production has been limited. Here we describe a series of developments that were required in order for subdivision surfaces to meet the demands of high-end production. First, we devised a practical technique for constructing provably smooth variable-radius fillets and blends. Second, we developed methods for using subdivision surfaces in clothing simulation including a new algorithm for efficient collision detection. Third, we developed a method for constructing smooth scalar fields on subdivision surfaces, thereby enabling the use of a wider class of programmable shaders. These developments, which were used extensively in our recently completed short film Geri's game, have become a highly valued feature of our production environment.
Role of heterocellular Gap junctional communication in endothelium-dependent smooth muscle hyperpolarization: inhibition by a connexin-mimetic peptide.

A synthetic connexin-mimetic peptide (Gap 27 peptide) was used to evaluate the contribution of gap junctional communication to smooth muscle responses mediated by the endothelium-dependent agonist acetylcholine (ACh) in rabbit mesenteric arteries. Hyperpolarizations and relaxations to 0.1 and 1 microM ACh observed in the presence of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase inhibition were markedly attenuated by the peptide at a concentration of 300 microM, whereas the hyperpolarizing response to levcromakalim, a KATP channel opener, was unaffected. The peptide also attenuated intercellular transfer of Lucifer yellow in confluent cultures of COS-7 cells, thus confirming its ability to modulate the permeability of gap junctions. The findings demonstrate that heterocellular gap junctional communication contributes to NO- and prostanoid-independent mechanisms of vasorelaxation that are widely attributed to an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor.
Open Access Research Article Genome-wide Association Analysis of Total Cholesterol and High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels Using the Framingham Heart Study Data

article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons At-tribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract Background: Cholesterol concentrations in blood are related to cardiovascular diseases. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of cholesterol levels identified a number of single-locus effects on total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Here, we report single-locus and epistasis SNP effects on TC and HDL-C using the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) data. Results: Single-locus effects and pairwise epistasis effects of 432,096 SNP markers were tested for their significance on log-transformed TC and HDL-C levels. Twenty nine additive SNP effects reached single-locus genome-wide significance (p < 7.2 × 10-8) and no dominance effect reached genome-wide significance. Two new gene regions were detected, the RAB3GAP1-R3HDM1-LCT-MCM6 region of chr02 for TC identified by six new SNPs, and the OSBPL8-ZDHHC17 region (chr12) for HDL-C identified by one new SNP. The remaining 22 single-locus SNP effects confirmed previously reported genes or gene regions. For TC, three SNPs identified two gene regions that were tightly linked with previously reported genes associated with TC, including rs599839 that was 10 bases downstream PSRC1 and 3.498 kb downstream CELSR2, rs4970834 in CELSR2, and rs4245791 in ABCG8 that slightly overlapped with ABCG5. For HDL-C, LPL was confirmed by 12 SNPs 8-45 kb downstream, CETP by two SNPs 0.5-11 kb upstream, and the LIPG-ACAA2 region by five SNPs inside this region. Two epistasis effects on TC and thirteen epistasis effects on HDL-C reached the significance of "suggestive linkage". The most significant epistasis effect (p = 5.72 × 10-13) was close to reaching "significant linkage" and was a dominance × dominance effect of HDL-C between LMBRD1 (chr06) and the LRIG3 region (chr12), and this pair of gene regions had six other D × D effects with "suggestive linkage". Conclusions: Genome-wide association analysis of the FHS data detected two new gene regions with genome-wide significance, detected epistatic SNP effects on TC and HDL-C with the significance of suggestive linkage in seven pairs of gene regions, and confirmed some previously reported gene regions associated with TC and HDL-C. Background Total cholesterol (TC) is related to coronary diseases and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) cholesterol is anti-atherogenic. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and human genetic studies have identified a number of genes and gene regions affecting cholesterol phenotypes including TC and HDL-C [1-11]. A meta-analysis of HDL-C …
The job demands-resources model : state of the art

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to give a state‐of‐the art overview of the Job Demands‐Resources (JD‐R) modelDesign/methodology/approach – The strengths and weaknesses of the demand‐control model and the effort‐reward imbalance model regarding their predictive value for employee well being are discussed. The paper then introduces the more flexible JD‐R model and discusses its basic premises.Findings – The paper provides an overview of the studies that have been conducted with the JD‐R model. It discusses evidence for each of the model's main propositions. The JD‐R model can be used as a tool for human resource management. A two‐stage approach can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of individuals, work groups, departments, and organizations at large.Originality/value – This paper challenges existing stress models, and focuses on both negative and positive indicators of employee well being. In addition, it outlines how the JD‐R model can be applied to a wide range of occupations, and be used to i.
Role of Focal Adhesion Tyrosine Kinases in GPVI-Dependent Platelet Activation and Reactive Oxygen Species Formation

Background We have previously shown the presence of a TRAF4/p47phox/Hic5/Pyk2 complex associated with the platelet collagen receptor, GPVI, consistent with a potential role of this complex in GPVI-dependent ROS formation. In other cell systems, NOX-dependent ROS formation is facilitated by Pyk2, which along with its closely related homologue FAK are known to be activated and phosphorylated downstream of ligand binding to GPVI. Aims To evaluate the relative roles of Pyk2 and FAK in GPVI-dependent ROS formation and to determine their location within the GPVI signaling pathway. Methods and Results Human and mouse washed platelets (from WT or Pyk2 KO mice) were pre-treated with pharmacological inhibitors targeting FAK or Pyk2 (PF-228 and Tyrphostin A9, respectively) and stimulated with the GPVI-specific agonist, CRP. FAK, but not Pyk2, was found to be essential for GPVI-dependent ROS production and aggregation. Subsequent human platelet studies with PF-228 confirmed FAK is essential for GPVI-mediated phosphatidylserine exposure, α-granule secretion (P-selectin (CD62P) surface expression) and integrin αIIbβ3 activation. To determine the precise location of FAK within the GPVI pathway, we analyzed the effect of PF-228 inhibition in CRP-stimulated platelets in conjunction with immunoprecipitation and pulldown analysis to show that FAK is downstream of Lyn, Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), PI3-K and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) and upstream of Rac1, PLCγ2, Ca2+ release, PKC, Hic-5, NOX1 and αIIbβ3 activation. Conclusion Overall, these data suggest a novel role for FAK in GPVI-dependent ROS formation and platelet activation and elucidate a proximal signaling role for FAK within the GPVI pathway.
Retention: type, duration and need for common guidelines. A survey of Norwegian orthodontists.

AIMS To survey retention protocols and need for practical retention guidelines among orthodontists in Norway and to compare the results with similar studies in other countries. METHODS A questionnaire was mailed to all members of the Norwegian Association of Orthodontists. It included questions about their background and their current retention protocol, as well as their perceived need for common retention guidelines. RESULTS The response rate was 77.7% (69.3% males and 30.7% females). The most common maxillary retainer was a combination of a fixed and removable retainer, followed by a clear thermoplastic retainer. In the mandible, a fixed retainer bonded to all anterior teeth was most common (66.4%). Retention in the maxilla lasted 2 to 3 years (34.7%) or 3 to 5 years (23.8%). In the mandible, 41.5% of the orthodontists left the retainer in place for >5 years. When retention lasted more than 3 years, 70% of the orthodontists left the responsibility for retainer checkups to the patients or the general practitioners. The main reason for choosing a certain retention protocol was clinical experience (57.4%). Only 3.5% of the orthodontists based their protocols on information from the literature. Half? of the orthodontists, significantly women, expressed a need for common retention guidelines. CONCLUSIONS In Norway, bonded retainers alone were reported to be most commonly used in the mandible, while bonded retainers used in combination with a removable retainer appear to be the most commonly used appliances in the maxilla. This is similar to the most frequently used retainers in other countries, but there are disparities in duration and follow-up protocols. Most female orthodontists desire common retention guidelines.
Vaccinia Virus Entry into Cells Is Dependent on a Virion Surface Protein Encoded by the A28L Gene

ABSTRACT The A28L gene of vaccinia virus is conserved in all poxviruses and encodes a protein that is anchored to the surface of infectious intracellular mature virions (IMV) and consequently lies beneath the additional envelope of extracellular virions. A conditional lethal recombinant vaccinia virus, vA28-HAi, with an inducible A28L gene, undergoes a single round of replication in the absence of inducer, producing IMV, as well as extracellular virions with actin tails, but fails to infect neighboring cells. We show here that purified A28-deficient IMV appeared to be indistinguishable from wild-type IMV and were competent to synthesize RNA in vitro. Nevertheless, A28-deficient virions did not induce cytopathic effects, express early genes, or initiate a productive infection. Although A28-deficient IMV bound to the surface of cells, their cores did not penetrate into the cytoplasm. An associated defect in membrane fusion was demonstrated by the failure of low pH to trigger syncytium formation when cells were infected with vA28-HAi in the absence of inducer (fusion from within) or when cells were incubated with a high multiplicity of A28-deficient virions (fusion from without). The correlation between the entry block and the inability of A28-deficient virions to mediate fusion provided compelling evidence for a relationship between these events. Because repression of A28 inhibited cell-to-cell spread, which is mediated by extracellular virions, all forms of vaccinia virus regardless of their outer coat must use a common A28-dependent mechanism of cell penetration. Furthermore, since A28 is conserved, all poxviruses are likely to penetrate cells in a similar way.
Enrichment of Sialylated IgG by Lectin Fractionation Does Not Enhance the Efficacy of Immunoglobulin G in a Murine Model of Immune Thrombocytopenia

Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIg) is widely used against a range of clinical symptoms. For its use in immune modulating therapies such as treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura high doses of IVIg are required. It has been suggested that only a fraction of IVIg causes this anti immune modulating effect. Recent studies indicated that this fraction is the Fc-sialylated IgG fraction. The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of IVIg enriched for sialylated IgG (IVIg-SA (+)) in a murine model of passive immune thrombocytopenia (PIT). We enriched IVIg for sialylated IgG by Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) lectin fractionation and determined the degree of sialylation. Analysis of IVIg-SA (+) using a lectin-based ELISA revealed that we enriched predominantly for Fab-sialylated IgG, whereas we did not find an increase in Fc-sialylated IgG. Mass spectrometric analysis confirmed that Fc sialylation did not change after SNA lectin fractionation. The efficacy of sialylated IgG was measured by administering IVIg or IVIg-SA (+) 24 hours prior to an injection of a rat anti-mouse platelet mAb. We found an 85% decrease in platelet count after injection of an anti-platelet mAb, which was reduced to a 70% decrease by injecting IVIg (p<0.01). In contrast, IVIg-SA (+) had no effect on the platelet count. Serum levels of IVIg and IVIg-SA (+) were similar, ruling out enhanced IgG clearance as a possible explanation. Our results indicate that SNA lectin fractionation is not a suitable method to enrich IVIg for Fc-sialylated IgG. The use of IVIg enriched for Fab-sialylated IgG abolishes the efficacy of IVIg in the murine PIT model.
Vortex interactions with flapping wings and fins can be unpredictable

As they fly or swim, many animals generate a wake of vortices with their flapping fins and wings that reveals the dynamics of their locomotion. Previous studies have shown that the dynamic interaction of vortices in the wake with fins and wings can increase propulsive force. Here, we explore whether the dynamics of the vortex interactions could affect the predictability of propulsive forces. We studied the dynamics of the interactions between a symmetrically and periodically pitching and heaving foil and the vortices in its wake, in a soap-film tunnel. The phase-locked movie sequences reveal that abundant chaotic vortex-wake interactions occur at high Strouhal numbers. These high numbers are representative for the fins and wings of near-hovering animals. The chaotic wake limits the forecast horizon of the corresponding force and moment integrals. By contrast, we find periodic vortex wakes with an unlimited forecast horizon for the lower Strouhal numbers (0.2–0.4) at which many animals cruise. These findings suggest that swimming and flying animals could control the predictability of vortex-wake interactions, and the corresponding propulsive forces with their fins and wings.
Segmentation of dynamic PET images with kinetic spectral clustering

Segmentation is often required for the analysis of dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) images. However, noise and low spatial resolution make it a difficult task and several supervised and unsupervised methods have been proposed in the literature to perform the segmentation based on semi-automatic clustering of the time activity curves of voxels. In this paper we propose a new method based on spectral clustering that does not require any prior information on the shape of clusters in the space in which they are identified. In our approach, the p-dimensional data, where p is the number of time frames, is first mapped into a high dimensional space and then clustering is performed in a low-dimensional space of the Laplacian matrix. An estimation of the bounds for the scale parameter involved in the spectral clustering is derived. The method is assessed using dynamic brain PET images simulated with GATE and results on real images are presented. We demonstrate the usefulness of the method and its superior performance over three other clustering methods from the literature. The proposed approach appears as a promising pre-processing tool before parametric map calculation or ROI-based quantification tasks.
Instability of Plastid DNA in the Nuclear Genome

Functional gene transfer from the plastid (chloroplast) and mitochondrial genomes to the nucleus has been an important driving force in eukaryotic evolution. Non-functional DNA transfer is far more frequent, and the frequency of such transfers from the plastid to the nucleus has been determined experimentally in tobacco using transplastomic lines containing, in their plastid genome, a kanamycin resistance gene (neo) readymade for nuclear expression. Contrary to expectations, non-Mendelian segregation of the kanamycin resistance phenotype is seen in progeny of some lines in which neo has been transferred to the nuclear genome. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the instability of kanamycin resistance in nine of these lines, and we show that it is due to deletion of neo. Four lines showed instability with variation between progeny derived from different areas of the same plant, suggesting a loss of neo during somatic cell division. One line showed a consistent reduction in the proportion of kanamycin-resistant progeny, suggesting a loss of neo during meiosis, and the remaining four lines were relatively stable. To avoid genomic enlargement, the high frequency of plastid DNA integration into the nuclear genome necessitates a counterbalancing removal process. This is the first demonstration of such loss involving a high proportion of recent nuclear integrants. We propose that insertion, deletion, and rearrangement of plastid sequences in the nuclear genome are important evolutionary processes in the generation of novel nuclear genes. This work is also relevant in the context of transgenic plant research and crop production, because similar processes to those described here may be involved in the loss of plant transgenes.
Assessing the Distribution of Urban Green Spaces and its Anisotropic Cooling Distance on Urban Heat Island Pattern in Baotou, China

An essential part of urban natural systems, urban green spaces play a crucial role in mitigating the urban heat island effect (UHI). The UHI effect refers to the phenomenon where the temperature within a city is higher than that of the surrounding rural areas. The effects of the spatial composition and configuration of urban green spaces on urban land surface temperature (LST) have recently been documented. However, few studies have examined the effects of the directionality and distribution of green spaces on LST. In this study, we used a landscape index to describe the change in pattern of heat island intensity for the city of Baotou, China. We then used a semi-variable function and nearest neighbor algorithm to analyze the cooling effects of green spaces. We found that: (1) the cooling distance of an urban green space was not only influenced by its size, vegetation cover, and shape, but also showed anisotropy. In general, the larger the area of the urban green space and the higher the value of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI; a measure of plant photosynthetic activity), the larger the cooling distance within a certain threshold. Green spaces with more regular shapes displayed higher LST mitigation; however, the cooling distance was directional, and cooling effects depended on the semi-major axis and semi-minor axis of the green space. (2) The distribution of the urban green space within the landscape played a key role in mitigating the UHI effect. Within a certain area, the cooling effect of green spaces that are evenly distributed was greater than that which was associated with either green spaces that were large in area or where greens spaces were aggregated in the landscape. Therefore, within urban areas, where space is limited, urban planning should account for green spaces that are relatively scattered and evenly distributed to maximize cooling effects. The results of this study have key implications for sustainable urban planning and development; to mitigate urban heat island effects it is important to not only increase canopy cover or the size of urban green spaces, but also to optimize their spatial configuration.