Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A graph-theoretic characterization of structural controllability for multi-agent system with switching topology

This paper considers the controllability problem for multi-agent systems. In particular, the structural controllability of multi-agent systems with a single leader under switching topologies is investigated. The structural controllability of multi-agent systems is a generalization of the traditional controllability concept for dynamical systems, and purely based on the communication topologies among agents. The main contribution of the paper is a graph-theoretic characterization of the structural controllability for multi-agent systems. It turns out that the multi-agent system with switching topology is structurally controllable if and only if the union graph G of the underlaying communication topologies is connected. Finally, the paper concludes with several illustrative examples and discussions of the results and future work.
Palestinian Territory Domestic Violence Against Single , Never-Married Women in the Occupied

This study examines the association between decision-making power, with other background variables, and domestic violence against single, never-married women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Secondary analysis using data from a 2006 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics domestic violence survey revealed that decision-making power and age were significant predictors of physical and psychological abuse. Relation to household head, refugee status, education, employment, and locality were not significant; region was only significant for psychological abuse. Further studies are needed to understand what factors allow single, never-married women to exercise decision-making power in the household and its association with domestic violence.
Retrograde Tracing with Recombinant Rabies Virus Reveals Correlations Between Projection Targets and Dendritic Architecture in Layer 5 of Mouse Barrel Cortex

A recombinant rabies virus was used as a retrograde tracer to allow complete filling of the axonal and dendritic arbors of identified projection neurons in layer 5 of mouse primary somatosensory cortex (S1) in vivo. Previous studies have distinguished three types of layer 5 pyramids in S1: tall-tufted, tall-simple, and short. Layer 5 pyramidal neurons were retrogradely labeled from several known targets: contralateral S1, superior colliculus, and thalamus. The complete dendritic arbors of labeled cells were reconstructed to allow for unambiguous classification of cell type. We confirmed that the tall-tufted pyramids project to the superior colliculus and thalamus and that short layer 5 pyramidal neurons project to contralateral cortex, as previously described. We found that tall-simple pyramidal neurons contribute to corticocortical connections. Axonal reconstructions show that corticocortical projection neurons have a large superficial axonal arborization locally, while the subcortically projecting neurons limit axonal arbors to the deep layers. Furthermore, reconstructions of local axons suggest that tall-simple cell axons have extensive lateral spread while those of the short pyramids are more columnar. These differences were revealed by the ability to completely label dendritic and axonal arbors in vivo and have not been apparent in previous studies using labeling in brain slices.
E-banking and Bank Performance: Evidence from Nigeria

The resultant of technological innovation has been the transformation in operational dimension of banks over some decades. Internet technology has brought about a paradigm shift in banking operations to the extent that banks embrace internet technology to enhance effective and extensive delivery of wide range of value added products and services. However, the fact that e-banking is fast gaining acceptance in Nigerian banking sector does not assuredly signify improved bank performance nor would conspicuous use of internet as a delivery channels make it economically viable, productive or profitable. Whether progression is made in the use of internet technology (e-banking) or not, there should be parameter to empirically assess its impact over specified period of adoption. Consequently, the study examined the impact of electronic banking on banks’ performance in Nigeria. Panel data comprised annual audited financial statements of eight banks that have adopted e-) and retained their brand name banking between 2000 and 2010 as well as macroeconomic control variables were employed to investigate the impact of e-banking on return on asset (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and net interest margin (NIM). Result from pooled OLS estimations indicate that e-banking begins to contribute positively to bank performance in terms of ROA and NIM with a time lag of two years while a negative impact was observed in the first year of adoption. It was recommended that investment decision on electronic banking should be rational so as to justify cost and revenue implications on bank performance.
Systemic Right Ventricular Fibrosis Detected by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Is Associated With Clinical Outcome, Mainly New-Onset Atrial Arrhythmia, in Patients After Atrial Redirection Surgery for Transposition of the Great Arteries

Background—We hypothesized that fibrosis detected by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance predicts outcomes in patients with transposition of the great arteries post atrial redirection surgery. These patients have a systemic right ventricle (RV) and are at risk of arrhythmia, premature RV failure, and sudden death. Methods and Results—Fifty-five patients (aged 27±7 years) underwent LGE cardiovascular magnetic resonance and were followed for a median 7.8 (interquartile range, 3.8–9.6) years in a prospective single-center cohort study. RV LGE was present in 31 (56%) patients. The prespecified composite clinical end point comprised new-onset sustained tachyarrhythmia (atrial/ventricular) or decompensated heart failure admission/transplantation/death. Univariate predictors of the composite end point (n=22 patients; 19 atrial/2 ventricular tachyarrhythmia, 1 death) included RV LGE presence and extent, RV volumes/mass/ejection fraction, right atrial area, peak VO2, and age at repair. In bivariate analysis, RV LGE presence was independently associated with the composite end point (hazard ratio, 4.95 [95% confidence interval, 1.60–15.28]; P=0.005), and only percent predicted peak VO2 remained significantly associated with cardiac events after controlling for RV LGE (hazard ratio, 0.80 [95% confidence interval, 0.68–0.95]; P=0.009/5%). In 8 of 9 patients with >1 event, atrial tachyarrhythmia, itself a known risk factor for mortality, occurred first. There was agreement between location and extent of RV LGE at in vivo cardiovascular magnetic resonance and histologically documented focal RV fibrosis in an explanted heart. There was RV LGE progression in a different case restudied for clinical indications. Conclusions—Systemic RV LGE is strongly associated with adverse clinical outcome especially arrhythmia in transposition of the great arteries, thus LGE cardiovascular magnetic resonance should be incorporated in risk stratification of these patients.
Expression of HA1 antigen of H5N1 influenza virus as a potent candidate for vaccine in bacterial system

The impending influenza virus pandemic requires global vaccination to prevent large-scale mortality and morbidity, but traditional influenza virus vaccine production is too slow for rapid responses. In this study, bacterial system has been developed for expression and purification of properly folded HA1 antigen as a rapid response to emerging pandemic strains. Here, a recombinant H5N1 (A/Indonesia/05/05) hemagglutinin globular domain, the synthesized HA1 (1-320 amino acids), was amplified and cloned into pET-28a bacterial expression vector. Then, his-tagged HA1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 under 1 mM IPTG induction. The protein expression was optimized under a time-course induction study and further purified using Ni-NTA chromatography. Migration size of protein was detected at 40 KDa by Western blot using anti-His tag monoclonal antibody and demonstrated no discrepancy compared to its calculated molecular weight. Since most antigenic sites are in the HA1 domain of HA, using this domain of influenza virus as antigen is of great importance in vaccine development. The ability of the antibody stimulation against HA1 expressed in bacterial cells is also examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Upon immunization of rabbits, oligomeric HA1 elicited potent neutralizing antibodies and high levels of serum antibody binding to HA1. Our findings suggest that HA1-based vaccines can be produced efficiently in bacterial systems and can be easily upscaled in response to a pandemic influenza virus threat.
Cytogenetic and Molecular Genetic Changes in Childhood Acute Leukaemias Tarja Niini

9 INTRODUCTION . 11 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. 12 1. Normal development of blood cells . 12 2. Leukaemias.12 3. Childhood leukaemias . 13 3.1. Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) . 13 3.2. Childhood acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). 14 4. Aetiology of childhood leukaemias.14 4.1. Prenatal origin. 14 4.2. Inherited predisposition and environmental factors . 15 5. Genetic aberrations in childhood acute leukaemias . 17 5.1. Translocations . 18 5.1.1. Translocation t(12;21)(p13;q22) and the TEL and AML1 genes. 21 5.2. Numerical chromosome aberrations . 23 5.3. Gene amplifications . 23 5.4. Tumour suppressor genes and allelic losses . 24 6. Genetic methods used in the diagnosis and follow-up of leukaemia . 25 6.1. Conventional cytogenetics. 25 6.2. Molecular genetic methods. 25 6.3. Molecular cytogenetic methods . 26 6.3.1. Chromosome painting and multicolour-FISH. 27 6.3.2. Interphase-FISH . 27 6.3. 3. Comparative genomic hybridisation . 28 7. Gene expression profiling by DNA arrays.31 7.1. Types of array and principles of the method . 31 7.2. Problems concerning patient sample and reference . 32 7.3. Data analysis . 34 7.4. Applications . 35 AIMS OF THE STUDY . 37 MATERIAL AND METHODS. 38 1. Material . 38 1.1. Patients and samples . 38 1.2. References. 39 2. Methods . 39 2.1. Comparative genomic hybridisation (I and II). 39 2.2. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (III and IV). 40 2.3. Calculation and comparison of overall and event-free survivals (IV) . 41 2.4. cDNA array method (V). 42 2.4.1. cDNA array hybridisation . 42 2.4.2. Data analysis . 42 2.5. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (V) 43 RESULTS . 45 1. DNA copy number changes in childhood AML (I) . 45 2. DNA copy number changes in childhood ALL (II) . 45 3. Increased copy number of the AML1 gene in childhood ALL (III) . 47 4. FISH analysis of the TEL and AML1 genes in ALL patients with loss at 12p (IV) . 48 5. Gene expression in childhood ALL (V) . 48 DISCUSSION. 50 1. Comparative genomic hybridisation and conventional cytogenetics in childhood AML (I) . 50 2. CGH as a support of conventional cytogenetics in childhood ALL (II) . 51 3. DNA copy number changes in childhood ALL (II) . 52 3.1. Gains. 52 3.2. Losses. 54 4. Amplification of the AML1 gene in childhood ALL (III) . 55 5. Association of loss at 12p with the TEL-AML1 fusion in childhood ALL (IV) 56 6. Gene expression in childhood ALL (V) . 57 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS . 61 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 63 REFERENCES . 65 ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS . 84
Technical note: Algal Pigment Index 2 in the Atlantic off the southwest Iberian Peninsula: standard and regional algorithms

Abstract. In this study, Algal Pigment Index 2 (API2) is investigated in Sagres, an area located in the Atlantic off the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. Standard results provided by the MEdium Resolution Image Spectrometer (MERIS) ocean colour sensor were compared with alternative data products, determined through a regional inversion scheme, using both MERIS and in situ remote sensing reflectances (Rrs) as input data. The reference quantity for performance assessment is in situ total chlorophyll a (TChl a) concentration estimated through a phytoplankton absorption coefficient (i.e. equivalent to API2). Additional comparison of data products has also been addressed for TChl a concentration determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The MERIS matchup analysis revealed a systematic underestimation of TChl a, which was confirmed with an independent comparison of product map analysis. The study demonstrates the importance of regional algorithms for the study area that could complement upcoming standard results of the current Sentinel-3/OLCI space mission.
An Overview of Offender Rehabilitation: Something Old, Something Borrowed, Something New

The topic of offender rehabilitation, particularly offender treatment, has been greatly revived over the past decade. This paper opens with a brief consideration of the moral basis of rehabilitation, perhaps favouring a utilitarian stance in which rehabilitation should be a proven means by which to reduce crime. In this empirical light, a summary of the meta-analyses of offender treatment is presented. The meta-analyses have provided a major impetus for offender treatment over the past decade, helping define the principles of effective practice. One consequence of the meta-analyses has been the rise in popularity of offending behaviour programs. The desirability of behaviour change programs has been widely debated in the clinical psychology literature. Wilson's (1996) paper offers a thorough review of the issues associated with a programmatic delivery of services. Wilson's insights from the perspective of clinical psychology are borrowed and applied to work with offenders. This analysis is used to highlight the practical strengths and weakness of offender programs, raising concerns for the future. It is suggested that these concems can be used to develop the next generation of programs and an illustration is given from work in progress in County Durham, in the north of England. The paper concludes with the view that future program development is critical if offender rehabilitation is to remain in favour.
Catechol oxidation by peroxidase-positive astrocytes in primary culture: an electron spin resonance study

In rodents, chronic estrogenization has been shown to induce degeneration of dendrites and myelin figures in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus adjacent to peroxidase-positive astrocyte processes. Because in this brain region estradiol is metabolized to 2- hydroxyestradiol (catecholestrogen), we hypothesized that the latter may be oxidized by the astrocytic peroxidase activity to cytotoxic ortho-semiquinones as occurs in peripheral tissues. Cysteamine induces nonenzymatic peroxidase activity in cultured astroglia identical to that observed in vivo. Using electron spin resonance, we demonstrate robust peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 2-hydroxyestradiol and dopamine by cysteamine-pretreated astrocyte cultures relative to untreated controls. These results implicate the peroxidase-positive astrocytes in the pathogenesis of estradiol-related hypothalamic damage, parkinsonism, and other free-radical-related neurologic disorders.
Africa's Education Enigma? The Nigerian story

In the last two decades, the social and economic benefits of formal education in sub-Saharan Africa has been debated. Anecdotal evidence points to low and time varying returns to education in Africa. Unfortunately, there has been little econometric evidence to support these claims at the micro level. Here I focus on Nigeria, a country that holds 1/5 of Africa's population, and use instruments based on the exogenous timing of the implementation and withdrawal of free primary education across regions in this country to precisely estimate the returns to education in the late 1990s. In addition, claims of time differences in returns are investigated. The results show that the average returns to education are particularly low in the 90s, in contrast to conventional wisdom for developing countries (3.6 % for every extra year of schooling in 1998). In addition, there have been significant changes in returns to education for head of households over short time periods. These results shed new light on both the changes in demand for education in Nigeria and the increased emigration rates from African countries that characterized the 90s.
Effects of the nutritional labels use on healthy eating habits in Spain

This study aims at testing a theoretical model explaining why people follow healthy eating habits and in particular to identify how the nutritional labels use influences this behavioural pattern. The results indicate that the individuals who utilise more often the nutritional labels follow healthier eating habits, such as avoiding snacking between meals, a lower intake of salt and avoiding the fat intake. According the factors explaining the label use, the health knowledge, the bad health status and being aware of the diet-health relation are found significant. Age and household size are the sociodemographic variables which also affect the nutritional label use and eating habits. Findings provide more evidence on the consumers’ underlying motivations to pay attention to nutritional labelling, which allows evaluating the impact of the implementation of the regulation Ec 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and the council of 20 December 2006 on nutritional and health claims made on foods (regulation Ec 1924/2006). in addition, empirical results could help the local policy makers to establish appropriate market strategies to increase healthy eating habits by promoting the nutritional label use by consumers.
Inflammatory cells in skin lesions of scabies

Cell infiltrates of biopsy specimens from nodular or papulovesicular skin lesions of seven patients with scabies were characterized by α‐naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) staining and immunoperoxidase labelling. T lymphocytes were the dominant cells in the dermal inflammatory infiltrates of both nodular and papulovesicular lesions. Their mean proportion in the deeper dermal infiltrates was 64% and in the papillary infiltrates 42%. However, they were few in number around the burrows in the epidermis. In contrast, macrophages were frequent in the epidermis and papillary dermis, where they accounted for 47% and 25% respectively of all mononuclear cells.
Information Markets and the Comovement of Asset Prices

Traditional asset pricing models predict that covariance between prices of different assets should be lower than what we observe in the data. This paper introduces markets for information that generate high price covariance within a rational expectations framework. When information is costly, rational investors only buy information about a subset of the assets. Because information production has high fixed costs, competitive producers charge more for low-demand information than for high-demand information. The low price of high-demand information makes investors want to purchase the same information that others are purchasing. When investors price assets using a common subset of information, news about one asset affects the other assets' prices; asset prices comove. The cross-sectional and time-series properties of comovement are consistent with this explanation. Copyright 2006, Wiley-Blackwell.
Inverse Association between Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Fatty Liver Disease: A Large-Scale Study in Populations Seeking for Check-Up

Background Although many studies have attempted to clarify the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and fatty liver disease, no prior studies have emphasized the relationship of HBV and fatty liver regarding different demographics of age and body mass index (BMI). Aim To investigate the correlation of HBV and fatty liver in the different demographics of age and BMI. Methods We enrolled consecutive subjects who had received health check-up services at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2002 to 2009 and ultrasonography was used to diagnose fatty liver according to the practice guidelines of the American Gastroenterological Association. Results Among the 33,439 subjects enrolled in this study, fatty liver was diagnosed in 43.9% of the population and 38.9% of patients with chronic HBV infection. Multivariate analysis showed that BMI, age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and platelet counts were positively associated, while hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was inversely associated with fatty liver, especially for subjects with BMI>22.4 kg/m2 and age>50 years. On the contrary, HBV infection was positively correlated with the presence of elevated serum ALT levels in subjects with fatty liver disease regardless of their age and BMI. Conclusions Metabolic factors are important determinants for the prevalence of fatty liver. Patients with HBV infection were inversely associated with fatty liver disease than the general population, especially in older and obese patients. Furthermore, metabolic factors and HBV infection were associated with elevated serum ALT levels in fatty liver disease.
Meniscal Repair in the Young Athlete

Twenty-nine meniscal repairs in 26 patients 17 years of age or younger were performed using arthroscopic techniques. Clinical follow-up examinations were performed and the SF-36 Health Status Survey and International Knee Documentation Committee evaluation form were administered. A Lysholm score was determined for each patient. All 26 patients were seen for follow-up at an average of 5.0 years (range, 2.0 to 13.5). All patients had a full range of motion with no effusion, joint line tenderness, or McMurray sign present at the time of examination. No patient experienced symptoms of locking. No patient underwent repeat surgery for a nonhealed meniscal repair. The clinical healing rate in this group was 100%. The SF-36 data demonstrated an average physical functioning score of 91 and an average role physical score of 91. The average Lysholm score was 90. Twenty-two patients (85%) were performing level I activities based on the International Knee Documentation Committee rating. Excellent rates of healing, even higher than those obtained in the adult population, can be obtained with meniscal repairs performed in this young age group.