Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability of Nonlinear Networked Control Systems Over Multiple Communication Links With Asynchronous Sampling

A nonlinear networked control system is considered in which the measured values are asynchronously sampled and transmitted over multiple communication links. The effects of communication in each link (transmission delay, packet loss and sampling jitter) are captured by a time-varying delay element. A sufficient condition for asymptotic stability of the resulting nonlinear delayed model is provided using the Lyapunov-Krasovskii method. This condition is in the form of a compact linear matrix inequality (LMI) which depends on the amount of communication effects in each link. The results are applied to a robot arm networked control system to show the capabilities of the proposed method. Comparison with the previous works indicates that a considerable improvement in the delay bounds for stability is achieved.
Differential Stability of State and Trait Self-Regulation in Academic Performance

Abstract Differential stability of state and trait self-regulation in academic performance was investigated in two areas with 153 participants enrolled in educational psychology (Psychology) courses and 127 participants taking courses related to research method (Method). The structural model supported the hypothesis regarding differential stability of individual differences for state and trait constructs over a 3-month interval—trait self-regulation was more stable over time. However, the students in the Method area showed higher stability in state self-regulation than those in the Psychology area. The students in both areas thought that they were more actively engaged in self-regulatory activities in the testing situations (state) than in generally perceived task-oriented situations (trait). The significant direct effect of trait self-regulation on state self-regulation within each testing occasion suggests that stability in state self-regulation may be partly mediated by stability in trait self-regulati.
Synaptic Interactions between Thalamic Inputs to Simple Cells in Cat Visual Cortex

We performed experiments in the cat geniculocortical pathway,in vivo, to examine how presynaptic spikes interact to influence the firing of postsynaptic targets. In particular, we asked (1) how do multiple spikes from a single presynaptic neuron interact to influence the firing of a postsynaptic target (homosynaptic interactions), (2) how do spikes from two different presynaptic neurons interact (heterosynaptic interactions), and (3) what is the time course of homosynaptic and heterosynaptic interactions? We found that both homosynaptic and heterosynaptic interactions increase the likelihood of driving a postsynaptic spike, although with different time courses. For two spikes traveling down a single geniculate axon, the second spike is more effective than the first for ∼15 msec. For two spikes on separate axons, the interaction is faster (∼7 msec duration, ∼2.5 msec time constant). Thus changes in firing rate are perhaps best relayed by homosynaptic interactions, whereas heterosynaptic interactions may help detect coincident spikes from different thalamic inputs.
Correlation Between Preoperative Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels and Expression on Pancreatic and Rectal Cancer Tissue

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)–targeted imaging and therapeutic agents are being tested in clinical trials. If CEA overexpression in malignant tissue corresponds with elevated serum CEA, serum CEA could assist in selecting patients who may benefit from CEA-targeted agents. This study aims to assess the relationship between serum CEA and CEA expression in pancreatic (n = 20) and rectal cancer tissues (n = 35) using histopathology. According to local laboratory standards, a serum CEA >3 ng/mL was considered elevated. In pancreatic cancer patients a significant correlation between serum CEA and percentage of CEA-expressing tumor cells was observed (P = .04, ρ = .47). All 6 patients with homogeneous CEA expression in the tumor had a serum CEA >3 ng/mL. Most rectal cancer tissues (32/35) showed homogeneous CEA expression, independent of serum CEA levels. This study suggests that selection of pancreatic cancer patients for CEA-targeted agents via serum CEA appears adequate. For selection of rectal cancer patients, serum CEA levels are not informative.
Maternal perceptions of the preterm infant

It has long been realized that preterm birth precipitates a series of adjustments for the mother. She may have to learn how the needs and growth patterns of the preterm infant differ significantly from her preconceived notions of the “fullterm” child. This study examined Maternal perceptions of their low birthweight infants, the neonatal hospital environment and attitudes toward general parenting during the perinatal period. The sample population consisted of thirty mothers whose infants fell into low birthweight (1501‐2000 grams) and very low birthweight (1500‐1000 grams) categories. Interviews and observations were conducted one week and then again at one month after the infant had made the transition from hospital to home, in order that data could be collected at the two points in time and changes in maternal perceptions over time could be assessed. Specific psychosocial and medical variables were chosen and tested for their potential to contribute to maternal perceptions and attitudes during the study.
Alternative methods to evaluate trial level surrogacy

Background: The evaluation and validation of surrogate endpoints have been extensively studied in the last decade. Prentice [1] and Freedman, Graubard and Schatzkin [2] laid the foundations for the evaluation of surrogate endpoints in randomized clinical trials. Later, Buyse et al. [5] proposed a meta-analytic methodology, producing different methods for different settings, which was further studied by Alonso and Molenberghs [9], in their unifying approach based on information theory. Purpose: In this article, we focus our attention on the trial-level surrogacy and propose alternative procedures to evaluate such surrogacy measure, which do not pre-specify the type of association. A promising correction based on cross-validation is investigated. As well as the construction of confidence intervals for this measure. Methods: In order to avoid making assumption about the type of relationship between the treatment effects and its distribution, a collection of alternative methods, based on regression trees, bagging, random forests, and support vector machines, combined with bootstrap-based confidence interval and, should one wish, in conjunction with a cross-validation based correction, will be proposed and applied. We apply the various strategies to data from three clinical studies: in opthalmology, in advanced colorectal cancer, and in schizophrenia. Results: The results obtained for the three case studies are compared; they indicate that using random forest or bagging models produces larger estimated values for the surrogacy measure, which are in general stabler and the confidence interval narrower than linear regression and support vector regression. For the advanced colorectal cancer studies, we even found the trial-level surrogacy is considerably different from what has been reported. Limitations: In general the alternative methods are more computationally demanding, and specially the calculation of the confidence intervals, require more computational time that the delta-method counterpart. Conclusions: First, more flexible modeling techniques can be used, allowing for other type of association. Second, when no cross-validation-based correction is applied, overly optimistic trial-level surrogacy estimates will be found, thus cross-validation is highly recommendable. Third, the use of the delta method to calculate confidence intervals is not recommendable since it makes assumptions valid only in very large samples. It may also produce range-violating limits. We therefore recommend alternatives: bootstrap methods in general. Also, the information-theoretic approach produces comparable results with the bagging and random forest approaches, when cross-validation correction is applied. It is also important to observe that, even for the case in which the linear model might be a good option too, bagging methods perform well too, and their confidence intervals were more narrow. Clinical Trials 2008; 5: 194—208. http://ctj.sagepub. com
Service-oriented Wifi connectivity maintenance with a mobile AP

We consider the problem of providing continuous wireless connectivity to mobile Wi-Fi users via a mobile access point (MAP). In traditional infrastructure Wi-Fi networks, mobile users may experience poor or no connectivity when they are away from an access point (AP) and/or there is an interfering obstacle in between. The connectivity is affected by the factors such as type of data traffic (like interactive, responsive, timely, and non-critical) or ambient conditions e.g., interference and distraction/refraction due to obstacles. In proposed approach, the quality of the connection is measured by the value of received signal strength (RSSI). If RSSI at a client is lower than a pre-specified threshold, a MAP acts as a relay node, and forwards the traffic from the AP to mobile clients instead of direct communication. MAP dynamically relocates in order to satisfy a service oriented level of connection quality. In our approach, the routing is performed at the MAC layer, so the network layer is unaware of the change in routing path. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach provides continuous connectivity to the clients at the cost of a low end-to-end average delay.
Participation in sex work: students' views

Increasing evidence points to student involvement in the sex industry. The current study comprised a cross-sectional sample of 315 undergraduates at a London university. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, data were gathered on students' financial and employment circumstances and their views on participation in sex work. Results suggested awareness of student sex work was widespread, and considered understandable by the majority. Students principally attributed participation in the sex industry to their financial situation. A relatively high proportion (16.5%) indicated that they would be willing to engage in sex work to pay for their education, with 11% indicating they would work as escorts. A model of willingness to undertake sex work was able to explain over one-quarter of the variance. These findings are explained in relation to the mainstreaming of sexual consumption, the supply routes of sexual labour from privileged socio-economic positions and the effects of student debt.
A width-invariant property of curves based on wavelet transform with a novel wavelet function

This paper is an improvement on the characterization of edges. Using a novel wavelet function, it is proven that the maximum moduli of the wavelet transform (MMWT) of a curve produces two new symmetrical curves on both sides of the original with the same direction. The distance between the two curves is shown to be independent of the width d of the original curve if the scale s of the wavelet transform satisfies s/spl ges/d. This property provides a novel method of obtaining the skeletons of the curves in an image.
Linguistic capital: continuity and change in educational language polices for South Asians in Hong Kong primary schools

Language-in-education policies within post-colonization, nationalism, and globalization are currently key concerns of the sociology of language as they impact language teaching and learning in multilingual contexts. Despite these concerns, studies of educational language policies for ethnic minorities, in this case, those of South Asians in Hong Kong, are rare. This paper looks at colonial and post-colonial language policies in education with an eye to shedding light on continuity and change of linguistic capital for this group. Given the complexity, contextuality, complicity, complementarity, and continuity of the approach, the research analyzes the influences of educational language policies concerning South Asians, especially at primary school level, in pre- and post-colonial times. It argues that while English linguistic capital predominates during both pre- and post-colonial periods, this predominant status has begun to be shared by Cantonese, which has emerged as the ‘high’ language in post-handover Hong Kong and forms the main barrier for South Asians to learn Chinese as a second language to enable upward mobility in Hong Kong society.
EFFECT OF NICKEL (Ni) ON CHLOROPHYLL, LIPID PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES ACTIVITIES IN BLACK GRAM (VIGNA MUNGO) LEAVES

Nickel (Ni) is an indispensable micronutrient for plants. At higher concentration Ni becomes toxic for various plant species. In several plants Ni induces change in activity of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and Catalase (CAT). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nickel on photosynthetic pigment, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and APX) activities in black gram leaves. Seven days old seedlings of black gram were subjected to different concentrations of nickel chloride (20 µM, 40 µM, 60 µM , 80 µM and 100 µM) every alternate day with nutrient solution. Plants were harvested after 10 th and 25 th days for determined photosynthetic pigment, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes activities. Photosynthetic pigment decreasd with increase nickel concentration due to oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation was measured by the production of malondialdehyde in the plants grown on Ni-treated sand and controls. These results indicate that nickel cause oxidative damage in black gram and as an adaptive feature, they increase the lipid peroxidation in leaves. The present results suggested that treatment with different levels of Ni may enhance the antioxidative activities in leaves. We observed that during Ni stress Cu/Zn-SOD was induced (100µM) at 25 th day after Ni treatment. Electrophoresis analysis suggested that a
Treatment of multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis with interferon-gamma via aerosol.

BACKGROUND Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is associated with substantial morbidity, despite drug therapy. Interferon-gamma, a cytokine produced mainly by CD4 T lymphocytes, can activate alveolar macrophages, important effector cells in host immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We investigated safety and tolerability of aerosolised interferon-gamma in patients with MDR-TB, and assessed its efficacy in terms of sputum-smear grades. METHODS We did an open-label trial of aerosol interferon-gamma given to five patients with smears and cultures positive for pulmonary MDR-TB, despite documented adherence to therapy. The patients received aerosol interferon-gamma 500 micrograms three times a week for 1 month. Safety and tolerability were assessed, and, as well as routine clinical assessments, sputum samples for smear and culture were collected at entry and weekly. Computed tomography scans of the chest were done at baseline and after therapy ended. FINDINGS Interferon-gamma was well tolerated by all patients. In all five, bodyweight stabilised or increased. Sputum acid-fast-bacillus smears became negative in all patients, and the time to positive culture increased (from 17 to 24 days, not significant), which suggested that the mycobacterial burden had decreased. The size of cavitary lesions was reduced in all patients, 2 months after treatment had ended. INTERPRETATION Preliminary data suggest that aerosol interferon-gamma is a well-tolerated treatment that may be useful as adjunctive therapy in patients with MDR-TB who are otherwise not responding well to therapy.
Network representations of causal relations in memory for narrative texts: Evidence from primed recognition

This study investigated how adult readers represent causal relations among events in a narrative. Existing models of text comprehension describe the representation either as a linear chain of text components that are adjacent in the surface structure of the text or as a network that includes relations between nonadjacent as well as adjacent text components. These models were tested in three priming experiments. In each experiment subjects read brief narratives and received a speeded‐recognition test of their memories for story events. Each story could be represented either by a linear chain or by a network. On each trial in the recognition procedure, subjects read a priming sentence that reminded them of either a story (general prime) or a specific event in a story (specific prime). The specific primes were either causally related or unrelated to the subsequent target event and they were either adjacent or nonadjacent to the target in the surface structure of the text. Across the three experiments, positi.
Afro-American Scholars in the University

Afro-American scholars recruited by historically white universities during the past two decades faced a number of complex issues about their role and function within the institutions. In addition to expectations concerning research and teaching, various institutional interests sought to appropriate the energies of new arrivals. The conflicting role expectations often influenced the work and position of Afro-American intellectuals in academe.
Prevalence of alcohol use and the association between onset of use and alcohol-related problems in a general population sample in Germany.

AIMS This paper examines the prevalence of alcohol use, alcohol-related problems and onset of regular alcohol use, including its association with the prevalence of CAGE symptoms. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS Data come from three nationally representative samples of the non-institutionalized German general population aged 18-59 years which were conducted annually between 1994 and 1996. Subjects (n = 7501) were surveyed through telephone interviews. FINDINGS Overall, men were more likely to drink alcohol, to be heavier drinkers and to experience more alcohol problems than women. Prevalence of 12-month use was constant across age among males, but decreased with age among women. Prevalence of heavier drinking, however, increased with age in both sexes. While for both sexes the median age of onset decreased towards younger cohorts, the prevalence of regular use at younger ages increased more strongly among females compared to males. In all cohorts of both sexes, an association between early age of onset and negative consequences measured by the CAGE questionnaire could be observed. Odds ratios were significantly lower for life-time experience of at least two CAGE symptoms among respondents if they had started regular alcohol use later than their peers. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate a narrowing of the gender gap due to an increasing prevalence of regular alcohol use for females across cohorts. Gender differences with regard to heavier drinking are still prominent. The findings confirm those of related studies in which early age of onset of regular alcohol use was found to be a significant predictor for life-time alcohol-related problems.
Laboratory Analogue of Field Helping Behavior

Within the context of a balanced factorial design, white college students (40 males, 40 females) individually viewed a videotape of a black or white, male or female, financially needy “cohort” performing an alphanumeric substitution task, and were instructed to award money for performance, which was identical in all conditions. Female Ss awarded more money than male Ss, but males were given as much money as females, and blacks were given as much as whites. Results were compared to field studies of the relation of race and sex to helping behavior.
A test of concurrent validity for linguistic indices of deception

Previous research suggested that 11 linguistic indices discriminate truth‐telling from deceptive language behavior. The present study sought to obtain concurrent validity for these indices by correlating them with other indices which have already been empirically validated as measures of various aspects of uncertainty, vagueness, negative affect, and reticence. Concurrent validity was obtained only for those indices purportedly measuring reticence.
Roundup: a multi-genome repository of orthologs and evolutionary distances

SUMMARY We have created a tool for ortholog and phylogenetic profile retrieval called Roundup. Roundup is backed by a massive repository of orthologs and associated evolutionary distances that was built using the reciprocal smallest distance algorithm, an approach that has been shown to improve upon alternative approaches of ortholog detection, such as reciprocal blast. Presently, the Roundup repository contains all possible pair-wise comparisons for over 250 genomes, including 32 Eukaryotes, more than doubling the coverage of any similar resource. The orthologs are accessible through an intuitive web interface that allows searches by genome or gene identifier, presenting results as phylogenetic profiles together with gene and molecular function annotations. Results may be downloaded as phylogenetic matrices for subsequent analysis, including the construction of whole-genome phylogenies based on gene-content data. AVAILABILITY http://rodeo.med.harvard.edu/tools/roundup.
Rapid cycling bipolar disorders in primary and tertiary care treated patients.

OBJECTIVE Rapid cycling (RC) affects 13-30% of bipolar patients. Most of the data regarding RC have been obtained in tertiary care research centers. Generalizability of these findings to primary care populations is thus questionable. We examined clinical and demographic factors associated with RC in both primary and tertiary care treated populations. METHOD Clinical data were obtained by interview from 240 bipolar I disorder (BDI) or bipolar II disorder (BDII) community-treated patients and by chart reviews from 119 bipolar patients treated at an outpatient clinic of a teaching hospital. RESULTS Lifetime history of rapid cycling was present in 33.3% and 26.9% of patients from the primary and tertiary care samples, respectively. Among community-treated patients, lifetime history of RC was significantly associated with history of suicidal behavior and higher body mass index. There was a trend for association between RC and BDII, psychiatric comorbidity, diabetes mellitus, as well as lower age of onset of mania/hypomania. In the tertiary care treated sample there was a trend for association between lifetime history of RC and suicidal behavior. Tertiary versus primary care treated subjects with lifetime history of RC demonstrated markedly lower response to mood stabilizers. CONCLUSIONS Lifetime history of RC is highly prevalent in both primary and tertiary settings. Even primary care treated subjects with lifetime history of RC seem to suffer from a more complicated and less treatment-responsive variant of bipolar disorder. Our findings further suggest relatively good generalizability of data from tertiary to primary care settings.