Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Signed real measure of regular languages for discrete event supervisory control

This paper reviews, expands, and clarifies the underlying concepts of a signed real measure of regular languages, which has been used as a novel tool for synthesis of discrete event supervisory control systems. The language measure is constructed upon the principles of automata theory and real analysis. It allows total ordering of a set of partially ordered sublanguages of a regular language for quantitative evaluation of the supervised behaviour of deterministic finite state automata (DFSA) under different supervisors. In the setting of the language measure, a supervisor's performance is superior if the supervised plant is more likely to terminate at a good marked state and/or less likely to terminate at a bad marked state. The computational complexity of the language measure algorithm is polynomial in the number of DFSA states.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol: ready for prime time?

INTRODUCTION Statins reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events by about 25-35% compared with placebos, both in patients with and without clinical atheroslcerotic disease, across a wide range of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. All the landmark statin mega-trials provide solid evidence for reducing LDL-C as a primary target, yet these studies also show that up to 65-75% of events cannot be prevented by LDL-C lowering with statin therapy. This has led to a more aggressive approach to LDL-C lowering, as well as targeting other lipid targets such as high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). A low HDL-C has been found in more than 40% of patients experiencing a myocardial infarction (MI)(1). A low HDL-C level indicates reduced reverse cholesterol transport, reduced anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative protection, and often indicates high levels of atherogenic remnant lipoproteins. Currently, it is possible to achieve mild to moderate increases in HDL-C levels with non-statin drugs such as fibrates (10-20%) and niacin (15-35%). These drugs can, by and large, be combined safely with statins. Hence, the article by Tavintharan et al in this issue of the Singapore Medical Journal is timely, by drawing attention to low HDL-C as a potent independent cardiovascular risk factor and potential therapeutic target(2). Given that the cardiovascular benefits of LDL-C reduction and HDL-C improvement may be additive, such a multi-targeted, complementary approach is especially relevant in high-risk individuals(3). Low HDL-C may occur in isolation, but usually occurs with raised plasma triglyceride levels, in familial combined hyperlipidaemia, or more commonly as part of the atherogenic dyslipid triad (↓ HDL-C, ↑ VLDL-C, and ↑ small dense LDL-C) associated with the metabolic syndrome. Two potentially complementary approaches have emerged regarding the management of dyslipidaemia in patients with the metabolic syndrome: either aggressive statin therapy or combination therapy to achieve therapeutic targets.
On the Hardness of the Decoding and the Minimum Distance Problems for Rank Codes

We give a randomized reduction for the Rank Syndrome Decoding problem and Rank Minimum Distance problem for rank codes over extension fields. Our results are based on embedding linear codes in the Hamming space into linear codes over an extension field equipped with the rank metric. We prove that if any of the previous problems for the rank metric is in ZPP = RP∩coRP, then we would have NP = ZPP. We also give complexity results for the respective rank metric approximation problems.
Global optimization of a neural network-hidden Markov model hybrid

An original method for integrating artificial neural networks (ANN) with hidden Markov models (HMM) is proposed. ANNs are suitable for performing phonetic classification, whereas HMMs have been proven successful at modeling the temporal structure of the speech signal. In the approach described, the ANN outputs constitute the sequence of observation vectors for the HMM. An algorithm is proposed for global optimization of all the parameters. Results on speaker-independent recognition experiments using this integrated ANN-HMM system on the TIMIT continuous speech database are reported. <<ETX>>
The Relation Between the Seasonal Changes in Jet Characteristics and the Pacific Midwinter Minimum in Eddy Activity

This study relates the occurrence of the midwinter minimum in eddy activity over the North Pacific with the seasonality in jet characteristics. During winter, the Pacific jet core is typically around latitude 32°N and has features of a merged subtropical eddy‐driven jet. On the other hand, during transition seasons, the jet is at higher latitudes (≈40°N) and resembles more an eddy‐driven jet. We find that these differences in jet characteristics play a role in the occurrence of the midwinter minimum. It is found that a midwinter minimum‐like behavior in eddy activity, as observed, is obtained in idealized simulations where zonally symmetric temperature profiles are adjusted to mimic the seasonality of longitudinally averaged temperature observed across the North Pacific. Furthermore, we find in both reanalysis data and the idealized simulations that a poleward shift of the January jet leads to an increase in eddy kinetic energy.
Effects of Organic Fertilization on the Evolution of Microbiological Properties of Chrome Mining Sterile

In Camaguey, Cuba there is an surface chrome mine in need of restoration; the search for viable alternatives is an urgent need. One alternative used is initial micro organic stimulation of the soil with mineral fertilizers. However, due to the high costs of the procedure, organic sources were tried, as replacement for inorganic fertilizers. An experiment was set up at the Soil Laboratories, in Camaguey, Cuba, under semi-controlled conditions. A completely randomized design and six treatments were applied (mining sterile, ferromagnesial brownish-red fersialitic soil, originally found in the mine, from an unaltered area, mining sterile mixed with soils, manure (cattle or chicken), and a treatment using a mixture of mineral fertilizers: ammonium sulfate plus triple superphosphate, to determine the best microbiological variant. The results showed that the mining sterile was highly degraded, in comparison to the soils previously found in the site. The mixtures that contained organic fertilizers had higher microbial development, especially a treatment that included chicken manure.
Simulation and Stability Analysis of Current and Transverse Field Effects on Spin Transfer Noise

The spin transfer modified Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation is used to model a permalloy bar with configurations for current, transverse field, and magnetizations resembling those of a read head. The trends of noise power and noise peak frequency against sensing currents and transverse fields with different polarities are calculated and analyzed by symmetry and asymmetry properties, by magnetization dynamics, and by extended linear stability analysis that is applicable to shape anisotropy. With the linear stability analysis, it is found that smaller track width (with aspect ratio fixed) has larger field stability and larger current-density stability
Shiga-Like Toxin II Impairs Hepatobiliary Transport of Doxorubicin in Rats by Down-Regulation of Hepatic P Glycoprotein and Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein Mrp2

ABSTRACT We investigated the effect of Shiga-like toxin II (SLT-II), derived from Escherichia coli O157:H7, on the hepatobiliary excretion of doxorubicin, a substrate for P glycoprotein and the multidrug resistance-associated protein Mrp2, and on the expression of P glycoprotein and Mrp2 in rats. Histopathological examination did not show any liver injury in SLT-II-treated rats. A significant delay in the disappearance of doxorubicin from plasma after its intravenous administration (5 mg/kg of body weight) was observed in rats treated 24 h earlier with SLT-II (2 μg/animal). When rats received an infusion of doxorubicin (2.6 μg/min) 24 h after intravenous injection of SLT-II, the steady-state concentration of doxorubicin in plasma increased and the bile flow decreased, whereas the concentration in liver did not alter. SLT-II significantly increased the unbound fraction of doxorubicin in plasma but did not alter the concentration in liver tissue. SLT-II significantly decreased the biliary excretion rate and biliary clearance of doxorubicin based on the total concentration and concentration of the unbound fraction in plasma and liver. Western blot analysis revealed that SLT-II down-regulated P glycoprotein and Mrp2 in the liver, which could explain the observed decrease in the biliary excretion of doxorubicin by SLT-II. A tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production inhibitor, pentoxifylline, could not protect SLT-II-induced decreases in the biliary clearance of doxorubicin and down-regulation of both transporters. It is unlikely that TNF-α plays a major role in the SLT-II-induced decrease in the hepatobiliary transport of doxorubicin and the down-regulation of both transporters.
Influence of Flow and Pressure on Wave Propagation in the Canine Aorta

Data on wave speed acquired from 20 anesthetized dogs showed that the thoracic aorta was essentially nondispersive for small artificially generated pressure waves traveling in the downstream or the upstream direction and having frequencies between 40 and 120 Hz. The amplitude of these waves decayed exponentially with the distance traveled. The attenuation was independent of frequency and pressure if the distance was measured in wavelengths. The logarithmic decrement of the downstream waves ranged between 0.7 and 1.0, whereas that of the retrograde waves was between 1.3 and 1.5. The discrepancy in the attenuation for the two directions appeared to be due to the taper of the thoracic aorta. Simultaneous measurements of the transmission times of waves traveling downstream and upstream indicated that small pressure perturbations were convected with a speed that was approximately equal to the mean flow velocity. The speed of such perturbations depended strongly on the aortic pressure level at which they were generated. For normal pressure pulses generated by the heart, the speed of small perturbations at systole might be 30% higher than that at diastole. Theoretical studies have shown that such changes in wave speed due to variations in pressure and flow produce marked nonlinear effects in hemodynamics.
A new potato late blight disease prediction model and its comparison with two previous models

There are numerous disease prediction models for potato late blight based on recognition of weather conditions suitable for infection. The models have the potential to target fungicide application to times of greatest need, with a consequent reduction in chemical use. The Hartill-Young late blight model was developed about 20 years ago from disease and weather data recorded at the Pukekohe Research Station. This paper presents the more sophisticated Shtienberg model, which was developed recently from the same data but which treats components of the disease process separately. The outputs of the Hartill-Young and Shtienberg models and the established Fry model were analysed for the same input weather data, at Pukekohe (high disease risk area) and Lincoln (low risk) over the last five growing seasons. The Shtienberg model gave broadly similar results to the other two models.
Experiment of indoor position presumption based on RSSI of Bluetooth LE beacon

Real-time indoor location estimation needs multiple signals from different sources. To ensure accuracy of estimation, adopting Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) beacon devices as signal sources is a reasonable solution. We have installed a number of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) beacon devices in and around a room and observed beacons by portable devices with RSSI to achieve fundamental knowledge of beacons and feasibility of location estimation. By applying an estimation method, we have achieved over 95% of correct estimation rate and complete separation that a device is in a room or not.
Students' perceptions of academic quality and approaches to studying in distance education

Attempts to demonstrate a relationship between students' approaches to studying in higher education and their perceptions of their academic context have been bedevilled by limitations of the research instruments and the problem of aggregating students' perceptions and approaches across different course units. The extended version of the Course Experience Questionnaire (Wilson et al., 1997) and the Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory (Entwistle et al., 2000) were adapted for use in distance education and administered in a postal survey to students taking seven courses by distance learning with the Open University. Usable responses were obtained from over 2100 students. Both instruments proved to be remarkably robust, and the students' scores on these two instruments shared 61% of their variance. Students' perceptions of the academic quality of courses in distance education are strongly associated with the approaches to studying that they adopt on those courses.
Role of flanking E box motifs in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 TATA element function

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression is dependent on a number of cis-acting DNA elements present in the HIV-1 long terminal repeat. Previous studies have demonstrated that the TATA element is critical for basal and Tat-induced HIV-1 gene expression. The HIV-1 TATA region has an unusual structure in that the TATA sequence is flanked by two palindromic sequence motifs (CANNTG) known as E boxes which can serve as binding sites for the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) class of DNA-binding proteins. In this study, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of both the TATA and the flanking E box sequences of HIV-1. We also substituted the sequences flanking the adenovirus E3 promoter TATA sequence for those flanking the HIV-1 TATA sequence. Constructs were assayed for their levels of basal and Tat-induced gene expression by both in vitro transcription and transient expression assays. Both the TATA box and flanking sequences including the E box motifs were found to be important in modulating both basal gene expression and Tat-induced HIV-1 gene expression. Gel retardation analysis demonstrated that binding of both the recombinant TATA-binding protein (TBP) and the TFIID fraction which contains both TBP and TBP-associated factors was dependent primarily on the TATA element. However, competition analysis suggested that the E boxes may play a role in stabilizing the binding of TFIID but not recombinant TBP. Two proteins representing different classes of bHLH proteins, E47 and AP-4, were assayed for their ability to bind to the flanking E box motifs. We isolated a cDNA clone encoding the complete AP-4 protein and demonstrated that both AP-4 and E47 bound specifically to the 3' E box motif, which contains sequences that correspond to the consensus binding site (CAGCTG). Gel retardation analysis indicated that the binding of AP-4 to the E boxes excluded the binding of TBP to the TATA box. These studies are consistent with a model in which different classes of cellular bHLH proteins may be involved in regulating HIV-1 TATA element function by either inhibiting or promoting the assembly of different preinitiation transcriptional complexes.
The influence of physical rehabilitation on arterial compliance in patients after myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 6-week physical training on the mechanical properties of the arteries, in patients (pts) after acute myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS The group under investigation consisted 119 pts after their first acute MI qualified for the second stage of post-hospital training. Only 64 pts (Group 1) underwent the training program. The remaining 55 pts (Group 2) could not participate in it. All the pts underwent an initial exercise test, an ultrasound cardiac scan and a pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement by means of the COMPLIOR system. Group 1 underwent cardiac rehabilitation program according to Model A or B, depending on exercise tolerance at baseline. Then, both groups had another exercise test and another PWV measurement. Additional PWV measurements were taken in both groups after 6 months. RESULTS Both groups were comparable with respect to demographic data, the site of MI, the method of treatment, left ventricular function, mean exercise time, the workload attained and mean PWV values at baseline (12.8 +/- 1.6 m/s vs. 12.2 +/- 2.7 m/s). In group 1 a significant increase in exercise capacity was observed: from 6.46 +/- 2.7 to 8.95 +/- 2.16 MET, and the PWV values were significantly lowered from 12.8 +/- 1.6 to 8.7 +/- 1.8 m/s. Group 2 showed only a slight lowering of PWV from 12.2 +/- 2.7 to 10.8 +/- 2.3 m/s. CONCLUSIONS Controlled physical training after MI significantly improves systemic arterial compliance, probably through improving the endothelial function. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 366-371).
Differential presentation of tumor antigen‐derived epitopes by MHC‐class I and antigen‐positive tumor cells

SSX2 is a member of the family of cancer/testis antigens. The SSX2 derived peptide SSX2103–111 has been shown to be presented to cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes (CTL) by Major‐Histocompatibility (MHC) Class‐I complexes after endogenous processing, more precisely by the allele HLA‐A*0201. The HLA‐A*0201‐ and SSX2‐positive melanoma cell line SK‐Mel‐37 but not Me275 had been shown to elicit reactivity in SSX2103–111 specific cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes. To analyze the correlation between SSX2103–111 presentation and T‐cell stimulation, we intended to visualize presentation of SSX2103–111 in these melanoma cell lines. Fab‐antibodies were established from a human phage library with specificity for SSX2103–111/HLA‐A*0201 complexes (but non‐reactive with HLA‐A*0201 or SSX2103–111 alone) and used to visualize the presentation of SSX2103–111 in the context of HLA‐A*0201 by fluorescence microscopy. Presentation of SSX2103–111 the context of HLA‐A*0201 was demonstrated for the majority of SK‐Mel‐37, but for only a small fraction (<1%) of Me275 as indicated by a clear membrane‐staining pattern in fluorescence microscopy. The presentation of SSX2103–111 on SK‐Mel37 and Me275, but not the expression of the SSX2 protein correlated with the capability of these cells to stimulate cells of an SSX2103–111‐specific T‐cell clone. MHC‐peptide specific antibodies are a valuable tool for the analysis of antigenic peptides in the context of MHC‐I molecules and for the structural definition of immunodominant epitopes. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exposure to parabens at the concentration of maximal proliferative response increases migratory and invasive activity of human breast cancer cells in vitro

Alkyl esters of p–hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) are widely used as preservatives in personal care products, foods and pharmaceuticals. Their oestrogenic activity, their measurement in human breast tissue and their ability to drive proliferation of oestrogen‐responsive human breast cancer cells has opened a debate on their potential to influence breast cancer development. As proliferation is not the only hallmark of cancer cells, we have investigated the effects of exposure to parabens at concentrations of maximal proliferative response on migratory and invasive properties using three oestrogen‐responsive human breast cancer cell lines (MCF‐7, T‐47‐D, ZR‐75‐1). Cells were maintained short‐term (1 week) or long‐term (20 ± 2 weeks) in phenol‐red‐free medium containing 5% charcoal‐stripped serum with no addition, 10–8 M 17β‐oestradiol, 1–5 × 10–4 M methylparaben, 10‐5 M n‐propylparaben or 10–5 M n‐butylparaben. Long‐term exposure (20 ± 2 weeks) of MCF‐7 cells to methylparaben, n‐propylparaben or n‐butylparaben increased migration as measured using a scratch assay, time‐lapse microscopy and xCELLigence technology: invasive properties were found to increase in matrix degradation assays and migration through matrigel on xCELLigence. Western immunoblotting showed an associated downregulation of E‐cadherin and β‐catenin in the long‐term paraben‐exposed cells which could be consistent with a mechanism involving epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Increased migratory activity was demonstrated also in long‐term paraben‐exposed T‐47‐D and ZR‐75‐1 cells using a scratch assay and time‐lapse microscopy. This is the first report that in vitro, parabens can influence not only proliferation but also migratory and invasive properties of human breast cancer cells. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Survey of Perinatal Complications in the 1980s

Neonatal morbidity was assessed in the offspring of 878 mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), 132 mothers with pre-GDM, and 380 control subjects. Compared with the control group, the GDM group had a higher incidence of complications, including macrosomia, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypocalcemia, polycythemia, and major congenital anomalies (P < 0.05). Although our GDM patients were stringently managed with diet or diet plus insulin, as indicated, and maintained almost euglycemic values, these neonatal complications could not be eliminated. Our data may be consistent with observations published during the last decade that even subtle degrees of maternal hyperglycemia can have a detrimental effect on perinatal outcome. Most neonatal complications readily respond to therapy if diagnosed and treated early and promptly. Macrosomia can have a detrimental effect on delivery (trauma) and later long-term implications during childhood. Tight metabolic control with diet and, when indicated, insulin treatment may be advantageous in reducing fetal birth weight. Criteria of how tight the metabolic control should be remain to be accurately defined.
Determination of stability of Brucella abortus RB51 by use of genomic fingerprint, oxidative metabolism, and colonial morphology and differentiation of strain RB51 from B. abortus isolates from bison and elk

Brucella abortus RB51 and isolates from cattle, bison, and elk were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and standard techniques for biotyping Brucella species, which included biochemical, morphological, and antigenic techniques, phage susceptibility, and antibiotic resistance. The objectives were to ascertain the stability of RB51 and to differentiate RB51 from other brucellae. Genomic restriction endonuclease patterns produced by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis demonstrated a unique fingerprint for RB51 relative to other brucellae. Comparisons of the oxidative metabolic profiles of RB51 after time in vivo (14 weeks) and in vitro (75 passages) showed no change in characteristic patterns of oxygen uptake on selected amino acid and carbohydrate substrates. Strain RB51 was biotyped as a typical rough B. abortus biovar 1 (not strain 19) after animal passage or a high number of passages in vitro and remained resistant to rifampin or penicillin and susceptible to tetracycline. No reactions with A or M antiserum or with a monoclonal antibody to the O antigen of Brucella lipopolysaccharides were detected; however, RB51 agglutinated with R antiserum. The results indicate that the genomic fingerprint and rough colonial morphology of RB51 are stable characteristics and can be used to differentiate this vaccine strain from Brucella isolates from cattle, bison, and elk.