Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linear systems with polynomial uncertainty structure: Stability margins and control

This paper is concerned with the stability and control of linear systems with uncertain physical parameters. The case where the characteristic equations of the systems are polynomially dependent on uncertain parameters is studied. A new algorithm is presented for the calculation of stability margins in the parameter space in general / p-norms. The stability is defined with respect to a desired region as the location of poles in the complex plane (so-called D-stability). The procedure is straight forward and computationally tractable. It contains the sweeping of the contour of the region (frequency sweeping) and at each point on the contour, the numerical solution of a system of equations. The Minimum Distance approach used in several previous works for polynomials with independent and linearly-dependent coefficients is generalized here for the case of polynomials with polynomially-dependent coefficients. Based on the above approach for the calculation of D-stability margins, a method is also presented for the design of robust controllers. Robust pole placement inside the regions of interest is addressed. The method provides a simple and computationally tractable solution for the synthesis of robust controllers for linear systems with polynomial uncertainty structure.
Distribution of ferritin chains in canine lenses with and without age-related nuclear cataracts

Purpose It was determined in an earlier study that ferritin-heavy (H) and -light (L) chains in lens fiber cells are modified in comparison to those in lens epithelial cells. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether changes in ferritin chain characteristics are developmental, age-related, or associated with cataractogenesis, by analyzing the distribution of modified chains throughout the lens fiber mass. Methods After removing the capsule, noncataractous and cataractous lenses were separated into six layers of fiber cells. The content of ferritin H and L chains in each layer was determined by western blotting with chain-specific antibodies. The level of ferritin complex (450 kDa protein made up of assembled L and H chains) was determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ability of ferritin complex to bind iron was assessed by in vitro labeling with 59Fe. Results Fiber cell ferritin L chains were 30 kDa (modified from the normal 19 kDa), and were present at the highest level in the outermost layers of both cataractous and non-cataractous lenses. The amount of modified L chains decreased gradually in the inner layers of the fiber mass, and was undetectable in the inner two layers of cataractous lenses. The ferritin H chains were also modified to 12 kDa (perhaps truncated from the normal 21 kDa size) in both cataractous and non-cataractous lenses. Similar levels of this modified H chain were found throughout the normal lens. Interestingly, in cataractous lenses, the modified H chains were found in decreasing amounts towards the interior of the lens, and were undetectable in the nucleus. However, in these cataractous lenses, the normal-sized ferritin H chains (21 kDA) appear in small quantities in the outer fiber layers, and increase in quantity and size (to 29 kDa) in the inner layers. This observation was best seen and demonstrated in advanced cataracts. Ferritin, which can bind iron, was found mainly in the outer layers of the lens fiber mass of normal lenses, but was more evenly distributed in fiber layers from cataractous lenses. Conclusions Both ferritin H and L chains were modified in lens fiber cells from normal and cataractous canine lenses. These modifications were not age-related, and most likely occur during the differentiation of epithelial cells to fiber cells, since only normal-sized chains have been found in lens epithelial cells. In addition, there was a specific and distinct distribution of these modified chains throughout the lens fiber mass. The most striking differences between normal and cataractous lenses fiber cells were the appearance of normal-sized ferritin H chains and the relatively even distribution of iron binding capacity throughout the fiber mass of the cataractous lenses. These differences may reflect a response of the lens to increased oxidative stress during cataractogenesis.
The relationship of sex and treatment modality to neuropsychologic outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE Long-term adverse neurobehavioral sequelae frequently are observed in pediatric patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To clarify the relative contribution of cranial irradiation (CRT) therapy and drug therapy to these outcomes, we evaluated neuropsychologic outcomes associated with different doses of CRT and intravenous (IV) methotrexate (MTX) in long-term survivors. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-one patients treated for ALL on Dana-Farber Cancer Institute protocol 81-01 were evaluated by standardized cognitive and academic achievement tests. These children had been assigned at diagnosis to a standard-risk (SR) or high-risk (HR) group and received 1,800 cGy or 2,800 cGy CRT, respectively. A subgroup of these patients was randomized to receive MTX during remission induction, either as a single low dose (LD; 40 mg/m2) or a single high dose (HD; 4 g/m2) with leucovorin rescue. RESULTS Sex and MTX randomization jointly predicted the intelligence quotient (IQ). Fifty percent of girls versus 14% of boys exhibited low IQ (less than 90; P = .01); 80% of girls who received HD MTX versus 25% of girls who received LD MTX exhibited low IQ (P = .03). In contrast, risk group better predicted performance on tasks sensitive to verbal memory and/or coding. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that (1) significant neurotoxicity occurred principally in girls; (2) increased dose intensity of IV MTX was associated with lower IQ, but only in girls; and (3) increased dose of CRT may have been associated with impairment of verbal memory and coding.
In Situ Design for Mental Illness: Considering the Pathology of Bipolar Disorder in mHealth Design

In this paper, we argue that atypical cognitive, perceptual and behavioral characteristics associated with serious mental illnesses should be taken into consideration when designing health technologies. While applications have been developed to assist in the treatment of these illnesses, the specific psychological characteristics of these disorders have rarely been considered extensively in the design process. Here, we explore how an understanding of the low-level characteristics of bipolar disorder, combined with a clinically-validated treatment and patients' lived experience, can inform mHealth design. We present a novel method -- in situ design -- to support ecologically valid design, and demonstrate its use through the co-development with 9 individuals with bipolar disorder of MoodRhythm, a mobile application designed to track and stabilize daily routines. We provide evidence that mHealth design elements tailored to the characteristics and needs of individuals with bipolar disorder can result in engaging interactions.
Interactions of Insulin-like Growth Factors and Estradiol in Rat Pituitary Gonadotrophs

Insulin-like growth factors are involved in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has an augmenting effect on gonodotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) release from female rat gonadotrophs that is facilitated by estradiol. To identify the underlying mechanisms, we investigated whether IGF-I influences total LH pool and the production of intracellular inositol phosphate. In another series of experiments we tested whether IGF-II and estradiol affect LH release of gonadotrophs. Pituitary cells were incubated with 100 pM IGF-I and/or 100 pM estradiol for 24 h. They were stimulated, partially in the presence of Wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, with 330 pM GnRH for 3 h. Subsequently, total LH pool (released and remaining hormone content in lysed cells) in cultures was measured. Intracellular inositol trisphosphate of ! T3-1 cells, a gonadotrope cell line, treated with estradiol and IGF-I as described before and stimulated with 100 nM GnRH for 15 min was analyzed by ion exchange chromatography. To determine the interaction of IGF-II and estradiol on GnRH-stimulated LH secretion, cells were treated with increasing concentrations of IGF-II (0.05 pM-10 nM) and 100 pM estradiol. IGF-I significantly increased the accumulation of inositol trisphosphate in basal and GnRH-stimulated cells. IGF-I, estradiol, or their combinations did not change total LH pool, although they enhanced LH secretion. Wortmannin abolished the positive effects of IGF-I and estradiol on LH secretion. IGF-II alone increased basal, but not GnRH-induced LH secretion at low concentrations (0.05 pM). Additional estradiol treatment further increased basal, but not GnRH-induced LH secretion. In conclusion, our results suggest that increased LH secretion from female anterior pituitary cells after IGF treatment is due to the amplification of early signal transduction steps rather than changes in LH pool. The inositol trisphosphate signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of LH secretion from gonadotrophs treated with IGF-I. It is not likely that IGF-II plays an important role in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion.
Non-small cell lung cancer: new hope for a chronic illness.

963 S ince the 1980s, important advances have been made in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The advances have doubled the cure rate, allowing more patients with NSCLC to live longer with improved quality of life. Since the 1980s, studies using “conventional chemotherapy” have shown that adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage NSCLC can prolong survival and improve cure (Arriagada et al., 2004; Pignon et al., 2006; Pisters, 2005; Shepherd et al., 2005), that chemotherapy is superior to best supportive care (defined as aggressive symptom management, including palliative radiotherapy when indicated) in patients with advanced NSCLC (Grilli, Oxman, & Julian, 1993; Marino, Pampallona, Preatoni, Cantoni, & Invernizzi, 1994; NSCLC Collaborative Group, 1995; Souquet et al., 1993), and that active, evidence-based first-, second-, and third-line treatments are available for advanced disease (Fossella et al., 2000; Hanna et al., 2004; Shepherd et al., 2005; Socinski, Morris, Masters, & Lilenbaum, 2003). Treatment with targeted therapies (epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] inhibitors) and new molecular biology discoveries have come of age and can help predict response and select patients for lung cancer treatment (Eberhard et al., 2005; Herbst, Onn, & Sandler, 2005; Olaussen et al., 2006; Potti et al., 2006; Rosell, Cecere, Santarpia, Reguart, & Taron, 2006). Lung cancer in women continues to be an area of concern and scientific investigation. Recent advances in the understanding of the epidemic in women also will be reviewed. Tobacco use continues to rise in developing countries; as a result, lung cancer mortality rates will continue to worsen in men and women (Alberg, Brock, & Samet, 2005). This article will propose everyday interventions that nurses can use to help control tobacco use. Control of tobacco use, new information on the molecular biology of lung cancer, and modern developments in treatment can lead to curtailment of the disease and continued improved outcomes.
Functional validation of mouse tyrosinase non-coding regulatory DNA elements by CRISPR–Cas9-mediated mutagenesis

Newly developed genome-editing tools, such as the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)–Cas9 system, allow simple and rapid genetic modification in most model organisms and human cell lines. Here, we report the production and analysis of mice carrying the inactivation via deletion of a genomic insulator, a key non-coding regulatory DNA element found 5′ upstream of the mouse tyrosinase (Tyr) gene. Targeting sequences flanking this boundary in mouse fertilized eggs resulted in the efficient deletion or inversion of large intervening DNA fragments delineated by the RNA guides. The resulting genome-edited mice showed a dramatic decrease in Tyr gene expression as inferred from the evident decrease of coat pigmentation, thus supporting the functionality of this boundary sequence in vivo, at the endogenous locus. Several potential off-targets bearing sequence similarity with each of the two RNA guides used were analyzed and found to be largely intact. This study reports how non-coding DNA elements, even if located in repeat-rich genomic sequences, can be efficiently and functionally evaluated in vivo and, furthermore, it illustrates how the regulatory elements described by the ENCODE and EPIGENOME projects, in the mouse and human genomes, can be systematically validated.
Archaeal uptake of enantiomeric amino acids in the meso‐ and bathypelagic waters of the North Atlantic

We determined the contribution of the three major prokaryotic groups (Bacteria, Crenarchaeota, and Euryarchaeota) on the uptake of D‐ and L‐aspartic acid (Asp) in the major water masses of the North Atlantic (from 100‐ to 4,000‐m depth) with the use of microautoradiography combined with catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (MICRO‐CARD‐FISH). The percentage of prokaryotic cells that assimilated D‐ and L‐Asp ranged from <5% to 25%. In the meso‐ and bathypelagic waters of the North Atlantic, Archaea are more abundant (42% ± 2% of 49,69‐diamino‐2‐phenylindole [DAPI]‐stained cells) than Bacteria (30% ± 1% of DAPI‐stained cells), and more archaeal than bacterial cells are actively incorporating D‐Asp (62% ± 2% vs. 38% ± 2% of total D‐Asp active cells). In contrast, Bacteria and Archaea almost equally contribute to L‐Asp use in the deep waters of the North Atlantic (47% ± 2% vs. 53% ± 2% of total L‐Asp active cells). The increase in the D‐Asp : L‐Asp uptake ratio in the prokaryotic community with depth appears to be driven by the efficient uptake of D‐Asp by, especially, the Crenarchaeota in the deep waters. Because Archaea, and particularly Crenarchaeota, commonly dominate the prokaryotic communities in the ocean's interior, we suggest that they represent a previously unrecognized sink of D‐amino acids in the deep ocean.
Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Decreases Vascular Superoxide and Atherosclerotic Lesions in Apolipoprotein E−/− Mice

Objective—Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway that is a major source of cellular NADPH. The purpose of this study was to examine whether G6PD deficiency affects vascular oxidants and atherosclerosis in high-fat fed apolipoprotein (apo) E−/− mice. Methods and Results—G6PD-mutant mice whose G6PD activity was 20% of normal were crossbred with apoE−/− mice. Among male apoE−/− mice that were fed a western-type diet for 11 weeks, G6PD wild-type (E-WT), and G6PD hemizygous (E-Hemi) mice were compared. Basal blood pressure was significantly higher in E-Hemi. However, superoxide anion release, nitrotyrosine, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase immunohistochemical staining were less in E-Hemi compared with E-WT aorta. Serum cholesterol level was lower in E-Hemi, but aortic lesion area was decreased in E-Hemi even after adjusting for serum cholesterol. Conclusions—Lower NADPH production in G6PD deficiency may result in lower NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide anion, and thus lower aortic lesion growth. The association of higher blood pressure with lower serum cholesterol levels in this mouse model is indicative of the complex effects that G6PD deficiency may have on vascular disease.
Incident-Related Travel Time Estimation Using a Cellular Automata Model

The purpose of this study was to estimate the drivers’ travel time with the occurrence of an incident on freeway. Three approaches, which were shock wave analysis, queuing theory and cellular automata models, were initially considered, however, the first two macroscopic models were indicated to underestimate travel time by previous literature. A microscopic simulation model based on cellular automata was developed to attain the goal. The model incorporated driving behaviors on the freeway with the presence of on-ramps, off-ramps, shoulder lanes, bottlenecks and incidents. The study area was a 16 mile eastbound section of I-66 between US-29 and I-495 in northern Virginia. The data for this study included loop detector data and incident data for the road segment for the year 2007. Flow and speed data from the detectors were used for calibration using quantitative and qualitative techniques. The cellular automata model properly reproduced the traffic flow under normal conditions and incidents. The travel time information was easily obtained from the model. The system is promising for travel time estimation in near real time.
ECG signal analysis through hidden Markov models

This paper presents an original hidden Markov model (HMM) approach for online beat segmentation and classification of electrocardiograms. The HMM framework has been visited because of its ability of beat detection, segmentation and classification, highly suitable to the electrocardiogram (ECG) problem. Our approach addresses a large panel of topics some of them never studied before in other HMM related works: waveforms modeling, multichannel beat segmentation and classification, and unsupervised adaptation to the patient's ECG. The performance was evaluated on the two-channel QT database in terms of waveform segmentation precision, beat detection and classification. Our waveform segmentation results compare favorably to other systems in the literature. We also obtained high beat detection performance with sensitivity of 99.79% and a positive predictivity of 99.96%, using a test set of 59 recordings. Moreover, premature ventricular contraction beats were detected using an original classification strategy. The results obtained validate our approach for real world application
The Role of Fracture Liaison Services in Re-Fracture Prevention

Osteoporosis is a disorder of low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration in bone, resulting in increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures even after minimal or inadequate trauma [Anonymous, Consensus conference, 1993]. On statistical grounds, more than 50% of postmenopausal women, and approximately 30% of men over the age of 60 years will suffer at least one minimal trauma fracture during their remaining lifetime [Kanis et al. 2000]. However, any osteoporotic fracture predisposes to further fractures, significant morbidity, and premature death. There is a 2-3 fold increase in the risk of repeat fractures after a first minimal trauma fracture. This is true for both men and women in all age categories [Langsetmo et al. 2009]. In the year 2000, there were about 8.9 million fractures worldwide [Johnell et al. 2006], of which 1.6 million were hip fractures. The number of hip fractures is expected to increase worldwide to 6.26 million by 2050 in the context of an ageing population, and longer life expectancy in the developing world [Sambrook P, Cooper C. 2006]. In Australia, the annual number of fractures is projected to increase by 250%, from 83,238 in 1996 to 207,657 fractures in 2051 as a result of the ageing population. Hip fractures are expected to quadruple over the same period of time [Sanders et al. 1999]. There is significant economic burden associated with minimal trauma fractures. In the USA the cost of minimal trauma fractures was estimated at US $17 billion in 2005, with the annual cost predicted to increase by 50% in 2025 [Burge et al. 2007]. In Australia the cost of fragility fractures was AU$ 7.4 billion in 2001 [Sambrook et al. 2002].
The Fission Yeast TOR Homolog,tor1 +, Is Required for the Response to Starvation and Other Stresses via a Conserved Serine*

Targets of rapamycin (TORs) are conserved phosphatidylinositol kinase-related kinases that are involved in the coordination between nutritional or mitogenic signals and cell growth. Here we report the initial characterization of twoSchizosaccharomyces pombe TOR homologs,tor1 + and tor2 +. tor2 + is an essential gene, whereastor1 + is required only under starvation and other stress conditions. Specifically, Δtor1 cells fail to enter stationary phase or undergo sexual development and are sensitive to cold, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress. In complex with the prolyl isomerase FKBP12, the drug rapamycin binds a conserved domain in TORs, FRB, thus inhibiting some of the functions of TORs. Mutations at a conserved serine within the FRB domain ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae TOR proteins led to rapamycin resistance but did not otherwise affect the functions of the proteins. The S. pombe tor1 + exhibits different features; substitution of the conserved serine residue, Ser1834, with arginine compromises its functions and has no effect on the inhibition that rapamycin exerts on sexual development in S. pombe.
Design of an Advanced Programmable Current-Source Gate Driver for Dynamic Control of SiC Device

Silicon carbide (SiC) power devices outperform Silicon-based devices in operational voltage levels, power densities, operational temperatures and switching frequencies. However, the gate oxide of SiC-based device is more fragile compared with its Si counterpart. The vulnerability of the gate oxide in SiC power devices requires the development of a gate driver that is able to have more control during the turn-on and turn-off process. This paper proposes an innovative current-source gate driver where the gate current can be fully programmed. The novelty of the gate driver is that the dynamic switching transients and the static on/off-state can be controlled independently. In order to achieve this approach, a signal decomposition and reconstruction technique is proposed to apply the separate control over the dynamic switching transient and the static on/off-state gate voltage respectively. The fundamental principle of the proposed circuit is verified in simulation. In addition, a prototype of the active gate driver has been built and tested to validate the effectiveness of the flexible control over the gate voltage.
Effect of Chronic Intermittent Immobilization Stress on Fos-like Immunoreactivity in Rat Brain and Adrenal Medulla

The present study examined the influence of short- and long-term chronic intermittent immobilization stress throughout the brain and on the adrenal medulla of intact rats using Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) as a marker of cellular activation. The effect of adreno-medullectomy on the central nervous system (CNS) response to chronic immobilization stress was also examined. It was found that control unoperated, unstressed rats had no Fos-LI cells in the brain or in the adrenal medulla. In intact rats, neither short term (1 week) nor long term (4 weeks) chronic intermittent immobilization stress produced significant increases in Fos-LI in the CNS compared with control animals. However, marked increase in the number of Fos-LI cells was observed in the adrenal medulla of animals stressed for 4 weeks compared with control, unstressed animals or those stressed for 1 or 2 weeks. In adreno-medullectomised rats, 4 weeks, but not 1 week, chronic immobilization stress produced significant increases in numbers of Fos-LI neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic and supraoptic nuclei and the medial amygdala compared with intact animals stressed for a similar period of time. It is concluded that long term stress produces chronic Fos-LI in the adrenal medulla and that adreno-medullectomy increases the Fos response of the PVN, supraoptic nucleus and medial amygdala to long term stress.