Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A New Sum-of-Squares Design Framework for Robust Control of Polynomial Fuzzy Systems With Uncertainties

This paper presents a new sum-of-squares (SOS, for brevity) design framework for robust control of polynomial fuzzy systems with uncertainties. Two kinds of robust stabilization conditions are derived in terms of SOS. One is global SOS robust stabilization conditions that guarantee the global and asymptotical stability of polynomial fuzzy control systems. The other is semiglobal SOS robust stabilization conditions. The latter is available for very complicated systems that are difficult to guarantee the global and asymptotical stability of polynomial fuzzy control systems. The main feature of all the SOS robust stabilization conditions derived in this paper are to be expressed as nonconvex formulations with respect to polynomial Lyapunov function parameters and polynomial feedback gains. Since a typical transformation from nonconvex SOS design conditions to convex SOS design conditions often results in some conservative issues, the new design framework presented in this paper gives key ideas to avoid the conservative issues. The first key idea is that we directly solve nonconvex SOS design conditions without applying the typical transformation. The second key idea is that we bring a so-called copositivity concept. These ideas provide some advantages in addition to relaxations. To solve our SOS robust stabilization conditions efficiently, we introduce a gradient algorithm formulated as a minimizing optimization problem of the upper bound of the time derivative of an SOS polynomial that can be regarded as a candidate of polynomial Lyapunov functions. Three design examples are provided to illustrate the validity and applicability of the proposed design framework. The examples demonstrate advantages of our new SOS design framework for the existing linear matrix inequality approaches and the existing convex SOS approach.
Mask Versus Nasal Tube for Stabilization of Preterm Infants at Birth: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: Positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) using a manual ventilation device and a face mask is recommended for compromised newborn infants in the delivery room (DR). Mask ventilation is associated with airway obstruction and leak. A nasal tube is an alternative interface, but its safety and efficacy have not been tested in extremely preterm infants. METHODS: An unblinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in Australia, and the Netherlands. Infants were stratified by gestational age (24–25/26–29 weeks) and center. Immediately before birth infants were randomly assigned to receive PPV and/or continuous positive airway pressure with either a nasal tube or a size 00 soft, round silicone mask. Resuscitation protocols were standardized; respiratory support was provided using a T-piece device commencing in room air. Criteria for intubation included need for cardiac compressions, apnea, continuous positive airway pressure >7 cm H2O, and fraction of inspired oxygen >0.4. Primary outcome was endotracheal intubation in the first 24 hours from birth. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-three infants were randomly assigned; the study terminated early on the grounds of futility. Baseline variables were similar between groups. Intubation rates in the first 24 hours were 54% and 55% in the nasal tube and face mask groups, respectively (odds ratio: 0.97; 95% confidence interval: 0.63–1.50). There were no important differences in any of the secondary outcomes within the whole cohort or between the 2 gestational age subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In infants at <30 weeks’ gestation receiving PPV in the DR, there were no differences in short-term outcomes using the nasal tube compared with the face mask.
On the Fourier tails of bounded functions over the discrete cube

AbstractIn this paper we consider bounded real-valued functions over the discrete cube, f: {−1, 1}n → [−1, 1]. Such functions arise naturally in theoretical computer science, combinatorics, and the theory of social choice. It is often interesting to understand when these functions essentially depend on few coordinates. Our main result is a dichotomy that includes a lower bound on how fast the Fourier coefficients of such functions can decay: we show that $$\sum\limits_{|S| > k} {\hat f(S)^2 \geqslant exp( - O(k^2 logk))} ,$$ unless f depends essentially only on 2O(k) coordinates. We also show, perhaps surprisingly, that this result is sharp up to the log k factor. p ]The same type of result has already been proven (and shown useful) for Boolean functions [Bou02, KS]. The proof of these results relies on the Booleanity of the functions, and does not generalize to all bounded functions. In this work we handle all bounded functions, at the price of a much faster tail decay. As already mentioned, this rate of decay is shown to be both roughly necessary and sufficient. p ]Our proof incorporates the use of the noise operator with a random noise rate and some extremal properties of the Chebyshev polynomials.
Culture-Independent Approaches for Studying Viruses from Hypersaline Environments

ABSTRACT Hypersaline close-to-saturation environments harbor an extremely high concentration of virus-like particles, but the number of haloviruses isolated so far is still very low. Haloviruses can be directly studied from natural samples by using different culture-independent techniques that include transmission electron microscopy, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and different metagenomic approaches. Here, we review the findings of these studies, with a main focus on the metagenomic approaches. The analysis of bulk viral nucleic acids directly retrieved from the environment allows estimations of viral diversity, activity, and dynamics and tentative host assignment. Results point to a diverse and active viral community in constant interplay with its hosts and to a “hypersalineness” quality common to viral assemblages present in hypersaline environments that are thousands of kilometers away from each other.
Influence of compositional banding on grain anisotropy in 3CR12 steel

Abstract The microstructural evolution of a 12 wt-%Cr steel (3CR12) during cooling from a solution heat treatment at 1380°C has been investigated. Emphasis has been placed on determining the microstructural factors responsible for the persistent occurrence of grain anisotropy in this steel. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to determine the composition of the phases resulting from the solid state δ ferrite to austenite transformation. It is shown that the high temperature δ ferrite phase partially decomposes to austenite via a Widmanstatten growth mechanism and consequently a banded two phase structure is produced after hot rolling. The element partitioning, which arises during the solid state δ ferrite decomposition, leads to irreversible compositional banding. An empirical model is proposed for the events leading to the generation of the banded phase structure and the formation of an elongated ferritic microstructure in 3CR12 after subcritical annealing.MST/1500
International prognostic scoring system and TP53 mutations are independent prognostic indicators for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome

We applied the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) to our series of 118 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to determine its validity, and also used univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the prognostic significance of TP53 configurations. Sixteen patients with the mutation had a strikingly worse prognosis and the multivariate analysis demonstrated that this alteration was the most significant factor. The prognostic comparison between patients with and without the mutation within each IPSS subgroup showed a significant difference in the intermediate subgroups. A combination of clinical manifestations and genetic configurations provided us with more accurate prognostic information in MDS patients.
A velocity-free attitude tracking controller for rigid spacecraft

In this paper, we propose a quaternion-based dynamic output feedback for the attitude tracking problem of a rigid body without velocity measurement. Our approach consists of introducing an auxiliary dynamical system whose output (which is also a unit quaternion) is used in the control law together with the unit quaternion representing the attitude tracking error. Roughly speaking, the necessary damping that would have been achieved by the direct use of the angular velocity can be achieved, in our approach, by the vector part q of the error signal between the output of the auxiliary system and the unit quaternion tracking error. The resulting velocity-free control scheme guarantees almost global 1 asymptotic stability which is as strong as the topology of the motion space can permit. Simulation results are provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Star cluster dynamics

Dynamical evolution plays a key role in shaping the current properties of star clusters and star cluster systems. A detailed understanding of the effects of evolutionary processes is essential to be able to disentangle the properties that result from dynamical evolution from those imprinted at the time of cluster formation. In this review, I focus my attention on globular clusters, and review the main physical ingredients driving their early and long-term evolution, describe the possible evolutionary routes and show how cluster structure and stellar content are affected by dynamical evolution.
Lung cancer deaths attributable to indoor radon exposure in West Germany.

BACKGROUND There is substantial epidemiological and experimental evidence that exposure to radon at levels found in underground mines can cause lung cancer. Although radon levels measured in homes are normally substantially lower, there is concern about the presence of a known lung carcinogen in a residential setting. METHODS Using national survey data on radon concentrations in homes in the former West Germany, the proportion and absolute numbers of lung cancer deaths attributable to radon are estimated. As lung cancer risk models derived directly from residential radon studies are not yet available, the risk model developed recently by Lubin et al. from a joint analysis of 11 underground miners' studies is applied. For an estimate of the impact of smoking on radon-attributable lung cancers, three different approaches are used and compared. RESULTS Our analysis shows that after adjusting for dosimetry differences between mines and homes about 7% of all lung cancer deaths in the western part of Germany may be due to residential radon. This corresponds to a total of about 2000 deaths (95% CI: 500-8200), 400 in females and 1600 in males. Adjusting for the intermediate relationship for smoking and radon, the attributable risk is estimated to be about 4-7% for smokers and 14-22% in non-smokers. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis basically confirms the results of former calculations with regard to the total number of lung cancer deaths attributable to radon in West Germany. However, we show that the standard practice that applies the same model to smokers and non-smokers may result in biased estimates for these groups.
Raised levels of CD39 in leucocytosis result in marked inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation via rapid ADP hydrolysis

We observed previously that the extent of ADP-induced platelet aggregation in blood from patients with leucocytosis is markedly reduced. We obtained evidence that this is via enhanced ADP metabolism consequent to the high leucocyte count, and speculated that ecto-NTPDase CD39 on leucocytes may be involved. Here we have investigated the association between ADP-induced platelet aggregation, ADP metabolism and expression of ecto-NTPDase CD39 on leucocytes in patients with leucocytosis. Six patients with leucocytosis were compared with six normal controls. Platelet aggregation was measured using platelet counting. ADP metabolism was analysed by HPLC. CD39 on leucocytes from each volunteer and patient was measured by flow cytometry and is presented as the CD39 fluorescence index (CD39FI, the sum of the product of CD39 median fluorescence and cell number for each leucocyte subtype). Compared with the controls, all patients displayed markedly reduced platelet aggregation to ADP in whole blood, markedly enhanced metabolism of ADP to AMP in whole blood, and increased leucocyte CD39FI. The increased CD39FI was due to either a high number of CD39+ve lymphocytes or a high number of CD39+ve neutrophils. In contrast, the measures of aggregation and ADP metabolism performed in platelet-rich plasma from the patients were similar to those obtained for the controls. There was an inverse correlation between ADP-induced aggregation in whole blood and CD39FI, and between the time taken to achieve complete removal of ADP from blood and CD39FI. For two patients with very high CD39FI (60,000 cf 1500 for controls) ADP-induced aggregation was abolished. Reduced aggregation, enhanced ADP metabolism and a raised CD39FI returned to normal in one patient following successful chemotherapy. It is concluded that ADP-induced platelet aggregation in leucocytosis is reduced as a result of enhanced ADP metabolism due to raised levels of leucocyte-associated CD39.
Clinical assessment of the effect of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor on aphthous ulcers

Objective. Aphthous ulceration is a common form of recurrent ulceration of the oral mucosa. Numerous treatments have been tried as a means of relieving pain, disinfecting the ulcer base, and reducing inflammation, but with limited success. Tetracycline and its derivatives have been shown to be inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are part of the inflammatory response and contribute to the breakdown of tissue in the ulcer. Of the commercially available tetracyclines, doxycycline has shown the best inhibition of the MMPs. The aim of this study was to test clinically whether the inhibitory effect of a low-dose doxycycline in a hydrogel on MMPs would speed the recovery of oral ulceration. Material and Methods. Forty-nine patients participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Results. Sixty-eight percent of ulcers had healed by the third day of treatment with the doxycycline gel, whereas only 25% of the patients receiving the placebo reported healing of their ulcers within 3 days. Patients treated with the docycline gel recounted faster reduction in pain during the treatment period than the placebo group did. Conclusions. Incorporation of low-dose doxycycline in a muco-adhesive gel has been demonstrated to have potential in the treatment of recurrent oral ulceration. It is concluded that MMP enzymes can be inhibited by low doses of doxycycline below levels likely to disrupt the oral flora.
Naïve bats discriminate arctiid moth warning sounds but generalize their aposematic meaning

SUMMARY Naïve red (Lasiurus borealis Müller) and big brown (Eptesicus fuscus Beauvois) bats quickly learn to avoid noxious sound-producing tiger moths. After this experience with a model tiger moth, bats generalize the meaning of these prey-generated sounds to a second tiger moth species producing a different call. Here we describe the three-dimensional kinematic and bioacoustic details of this behaviour, first, as naïve bats learn to deal with an unpalatable model tiger moth and subsequently, as they avoid acoustic mimics. The tiger moths' first clicks influenced the bats' echolocation behaviour and the percentage of interactions that included terminal buzzes was associated with capture and investigatory behaviour. When the mimic was introduced, the bats decreased both their minimum distance to the tiger moth and the time at which they broke off their attack compared with their exposure to the model on the night before. These kinematic signatures closely match the bats' behaviour on their first night of experience with the model. Minimum distances and time of pursuit cessation increased again by the last night of the mimic's presentation. These kinematic and bioacoustic results show that although naïve bats generalize the meaning of aposematic tiger moth calls, they discriminate the prey-generated signals as different and investigate. Extrapolating to experienced bats, these results suggest that acoustic predators probably exert potent and fine-scaled selective forces on acoustic mimicry complexes.
Opposing roles of Ubp3‐dependent deubiquitination regulate replicative life span and heat resistance

The interplay between molecular chaperones, ubiquitin/deubiquitinating enzymes, and proteasomes is a critical element in protein homeostasis. Among these factors, the conserved deubiquitinase, Ubp3, has the interesting ability, when overproduced, to suppress the requirement for the major cytosolic Hsp70 chaperones. Here, we show that Ubp3 overproduction counteracts deficiency of Hsp70s by the removal of damaged proteins deposited in inclusion bodies (JUNQ) during both aging and heat stress. Consistent with this, Ubp3 destabilized, deubiquitinated, and diminished the toxicity of the JUNQ‐associated misfolded protein Ubc9ts in a proteasome‐dependent manner. In contrast, another misfolded model protein, ∆ssCPY*, was stabilized by Ubp3‐dependent deubiquitination demonstrating a dual role for Ubp3, saving or destroying aberrant protein species depending on the stage at which the damaged protein is committed for destruction. We present genetic evidence for the former of these activities being key to Ubp3‐dependent suppression of heat sensitivity in Hsp70‐deficient cells, whereas protein destruction suppresses accelerated aging. We discuss the data in view of how heat stress and aging might elicit differential damage and challenges on the protein homeostasis network.
sigma(1)-receptor ligand 4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)-piperidine affords neuroprotection from focal ischemia with prolonged reperfusion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We previously showed that the intravenous administration of the potent final sigma(1)-receptor ligand 4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)-piperidine (PPBP) provides neuroprotection against transient focal cerebral ischemia and that the protection depends on treatment duration. We tested the hypothesis that PPBP would provide neuroprotection in a model of transient focal ischemia and 7 days of reperfusion in the rat as assessed with neurobehavioral outcome and infarction volume. METHODS Under the controlled conditions of normoxia, normocarbia, and normothermia, halothane-anesthetized male Wistar rats were subjected to 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with the intraluminal suture occlusion technique. We used laser Doppler flowmetry to assess MCAO. At 60 minutes after the onset of ischemia, rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups in a blinded fashion and received a continuous intravenous infusion of control saline or 0.1, 1, or 10 micromol. kg(-1). h(-1) PPBP for 24 hours. Neurobehavioral evaluation was performed at baseline (3 to 4 days before MCAO) and at 3 and 7 days of reperfusion. Infarction volume was assessed with triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining on day 7 of reperfusion in all rats. RESULTS Triphenyltetrazolium chloride-determined infarction volume of ipsilateral cortex was smaller in rats treated with 10 micromol. kg(-1). h(-1) PPBP (n=15, 68+/-12 mm(3), 18+/-3% of contralateral structure, P<0.05) (mean+/-SEM) compared with corresponding rats treated with saline (n=15, 114+/-11 mm(3), 31+/-3% of contralateral structure). PPBP did not provide significant neuroprotection in the caudoputamen complex. Although MCAO was associated with several alterations in behavior, the treatment with PPBP had no effect on behavioral outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The data demonstrate that the potent final sigma(1)-receptor ligand PPBP decreases cortical infarction volume without altering neurobehavior after transient focal ischemia and prolonged reperfusion in the rat.
YkdA and YvtA, HtrA-Like Serine Proteases inBacillus subtilis, Engage in Negative Autoregulation and Reciprocal Cross-Regulation of ykdA and yvtAGene Expression

ABSTRACT HtrA-type serine proteases participate in folding and degradation of aberrant proteins and in processing and maturation of native proteins. Mutation of the corresponding genes often confers a pleiotropic phenotype that can include temperature sensitivity, sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stress, and attenuated virulence. There are three HtrA-type serine proteases, YkdA, YvtA, and YycK, encoded in the Bacillus subtilis genome. In this report we show that YkdA and YvtA display many similarities: their expression profiles during the growth cycle in wild-type and mutant backgrounds are very alike, with expression being directed by very similar promoters. Both are induced by temperature upshift and by heterologous amylases at the transition phase of the growth cycle. These characteristics are quite different for YycK, suggesting that it has a cellular function distinct from that of the other two proteases or that it performs the same function but under different conditions. We also show that inactivation of either ykdA or yvtAresults in compensating overexpression of the other gene, especially during stress conditions, with a concomitant increase in resistance to heat and hydrogen peroxide stresses. Mutation of both ykdAand yvtA leads to growth defects and to thermosensitivity. The fact that their expression increases dramatically at the transition phase of the growth cycle under certain conditions suggests that the YkdA and YvtA proteases may function in the processing, maturation, or secretion of extracellular enzymes in B. subtilis.
Television Advertisements: A Reception Study from Turkey

This paper focuses on an analysis of advertising reception and explores how audiences interpret advertisements. The study attempted to answer how female and male participants interpret advertisements with symbolic expressions and advertisements with direct messages. The main purpose is to define differences in interpretation of advertisements based on gender. In this process, a two-stage approach is employed in order to examine the audience reception in the context of television advertising. In this study, we first identified the characteristic features of the advertisements, later we intended to explore the reception of advertisements. The first stage of the study evaluated the contribution of 21 participants in Antalya, Turkey determined by snowball sample with male and female participants within the age range 21-55 years. The participants articulated written reactions to two advertisements instantly displayed on computer screen. Participants were subject to viewing those advertisements and responding ready-made questions on paper. In the second stage, considering Hoijer (1990)’s study, a focus group discussion was conducted in order to reveal more detailed information as a second stage of the research. This group consisted of 10 participants of the first stage. A semi-structured focus group discussion was employed for our study which allowed group interaction. Our findings revealed a difference in interpretation based on the gender of the participant. This reception study is one of the few researches done in the field in Turkey. It is also expected to make a contribution to gender studies