Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model reduction of interconnected linear systems

The problem of model reduction of linear systems with certain interconnection structure is considered in this paper. To preserve the interconnection structure between subsystems in the reduction, special care needs to be taken. This problem is important and timely because of the recent focus on complex networked systems in control engineering. Two different model reduction methods are introduced and compared in this paper. Both methods are extensions to the well‐known balanced truncation method. Compared with earlier work in the area these methods use a more general linear fractional transformation framework, and utilize linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, new approximation error bounds that reduce to classical bounds in special cases are derived. The so‐called structured Hankel singular values are used in the methods, and indicate how important states in the subsystems are with respect to a chosen input–output map for the entire interconnected system. It is shown how these structured Hankel singular values can be used to select an approximation order. Finally, the two methods are applied to a model of a mechanical device. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Local Lyα Forest. III. Relationship between Lyα Absorbers and Galaxies, Voids, and Superclusters

In this paper we use large-angle, nearby galaxy redshift surveys to investigate the relationship between the 81 low-redshift Lyα absorbers in our Hubble Space Telescope GHRS survey and galaxies, superclusters, and voids. In a subsample of 46 Lyα absorbers located in regions where the 2000 February 8 CfA catalog is complete down to at least L* galaxies, the nearest galaxy neighbors range from 100 h kpc to greater than 10 h Mpc. Of these 46 absorbers, eight are found in galaxy voids. After correcting for path length and sensitivity, we find that 22% ± 8% of the Lyα absorbers lie in voids, which requires that at least some low column density absorbers are not extended halos of individual bright galaxies. The number density of these clouds yields a baryon fraction of 4.5% ± 1.5% in voids. The stronger Lyα absorbers (1013.2-1015.4 cm-2) cluster with galaxies more weakly than galaxies cluster with each other, while the weaker absorbers (1012.4-1013.2 cm-2) are more randomly distributed. The median distance from a low-z Lyα absorber in our sample to its nearest galaxy neighbor (~500 h kpc) is twice the median distance between bright galaxies in the same survey volume. This makes any purported "association" between these Lyα absorbers and individual galaxies problematic. The suggested correlation between Lyα absorber equivalent width (𝒲) and nearest galaxy impact parameter does not extend to 𝒲 ≤ 200 mÅ or to impact parameters greater than 200 h kpc. Instead, we find statistical support for the contention that absorbers align with large-scale filaments of galaxies. The pair of sight lines, 3C 273 and Q1230+0115, separated by 0. °9 on the sky, provides an example of eight absorbers and seven galaxies aligned along a possible filamentary structure at least 20 h Mpc long. While some strong (𝒲 > 400 mÅ) Lyα absorbers may be gas in the extended gaseous halos of individual galaxies, much of the local Lyα "forest" appears to be associated with the large-scale structures of galaxies and some with voids.
EMPIRICAL STUDY OF DATA MINING TECHNIQUES IN EDUCATION SYSTEM

Educational institutions are important parts of our society and playing a vital role for growth and development of nation. In earlier days the information flow in education field was relatively simple and the application of technology was limited. However, as we progress into a more integrated world where technology has become an integral part of the business processes, the process of transfer of information has become more complicated. Today, one of the biggest challenges that educational institutions face the explosive growth of educational data and to use this data to improve the quality of managerial decisions. Data mining techniques are analytical tools that can be used to extract meaningful knowledge from large data sets. In this paper the applications of data mining in educational institution to extract useful information from the huge data sets and providing analytical tool to view and use this information for decision making processes by taking real life examples.
An fMRI study of brain processing related to stress states

The aim of this study is to investigate whether stress states affect brain responses in the regions related to emotional and cognitive processing. The brain activities of thirty-three healthy adults divided into stress and non-stress groups according to their stress responses were assessed during emotional audio-visual stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The results showed that the non-stress and stress groups had significant responses in the amygdala, hippocampus, and inferior frontal gyrus in the Pleasant and Unpleasant stimuli compared with the Relaxed stimuli, although no significant differences of activation was indicated in these regions between the non-stress and stress groups in each stimulus. Moreover, activation of superior and inferior parietal gyri in the non-stress group significantly increased in the Pleasant and/or Unpleasant stimuli compared with those in the stress group. These results suggest that the brain regions involved in emotional processing were activated in healthy adults with and without stress, while the brain regions involved in cognitive processing showed reduced activity in high-stress holders compared with the low-stress holders.
A Programmatic Approach to Patient Blood Management - Reducing Transfusions and Improving Patient Outcomes

In July 2008, the Western Australia (WA) Department of Health embarked on a landmark 5-year project to implement a sustainable comprehensive health-system-wide Patient Blood Management Program. Fundamentally, it was a quality and safety initiative, which also had profound resource and economic implications. Unsustainable escalating direct and indirect costs of blood, potentially severe blood shortages due to changing population dynamics, donor deferrals, loss of altruism, wide variations in transfusion practice and growing knowledge of transfusion limitations and adverse outcomes necessitate a paradigm shift in the management of anemia and blood loss. The concept of patient-focused blood management is proving to be an effective force for change. This approach has now evolved to embrace comprehensive hospital-wide Patient Blood Management Programs. These programs show significant reductions in blood utilisation, and costs while achieving similar or improved patient outcomes. The WA Program is achieving these outcomes across a health jurisdiction in a sustained manner.
Positioning the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Hunted by the Tyrolean Iceman into a Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeny

In the last years several phylogeographic studies of both extant and extinct red deer populations have been conducted. Three distinct mitochondrial lineages (western, eastern and North-African/Sardinian) have been identified reflecting different glacial refugia and postglacial recolonisation processes. However, little is known about the genetics of the Alpine populations and no mitochondrial DNA sequences from Alpine archaeological specimens are available. Here we provide the first mitochondrial sequences of an Alpine Copper Age Cervus elaphus. DNA was extracted from hair shafts which were part of the remains of the clothes of the glacier mummy known as the Tyrolean Iceman or Ötzi (5,350–5,100 years before present). A 2,297 base pairs long fragment was sequenced using a mixed sequencing procedure based on PCR amplifications and 454 sequencing of pooled amplification products. We analyzed the phylogenetic relationships of the Alpine Copper Age red deer's haplotype with haplotypes of modern and ancient European red deer. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the haplotype of the Alpine Copper Age red deer falls within the western European mitochondrial lineage in contrast with the current populations from the Italian Alps belonging to the eastern lineage. We also discussed the phylogenetic relationships of the Alpine Copper Age red deer with the populations from Mesola Wood (northern Italy) and Sardinia.
Research Article Bone Mineral Density in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with the Cftr I1234v Mutation in a Large Kindred Family Is Associated with Pancreatic Sufficiency

Objectives. To study bone mineral density (BMD) in cystic fibrosis (CF) children and adults with the CFTR I1234V mutation associated with pancreatic sufficiency. Methods. Lumbar spine, total hip, and whole-body mineral density were measured by dual-energy radiographic absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. Z score was used for those less than 21 years and T score was used for those 21 years or older. Results. Twenty-one CF patients were younger than 21 years and 5 CF patients were 21 years or older. Mean age was 17.29 ± 4.95 years, ranging from 10 to 33 years. The mean BMD Z scores for patients younger than 21 years were −0.69 ± 0.96 (lumbar spine = L1–L4), −0.48 ± 0.92 (total hip), and −0.38 ± 0.86 (total body). The mean T scores for patients 21 years or older were 0.14 ± 0.7 (L1–L4), 0.38 ± 1 (total hip), and 0.52 ± 1.03 (total body). BMD reduction less than −1 was found in 7 (26.9%) CF patients. Vitamin D deficiency in 20 CF patients (76.9%) tended to be lower in CF patients with low BMD. BMD was significantly correlated with FEV1; however, no significant association was observed with P. aeruginosa colonization. Conclusion. BMD reduction does occur in patients with mild CFTR mutation associated with pancreatic sufficiency.
Estimating Reaction Rate Parameters in Cell Signaling Pathways Using Extreme Decomposition and Belief Propagation Tailored for Data-Rich Cases

Motivation: Modeling biological signaling networks using ordinary differential equations (ODEs) has proven to be a powerful technique for generating insight into cellular dynamics, but it typically requires estimating rate parameters based on experimentally observed concentrations. New measurement methods can measure concentrations for all molecular species in a pathway, which creates a new opportunity to decompose the optimization of rate parameters. Results: In contrast with conventional methods that minimize the disagreement between simulated and observed concentrations, the BPPE method fits a spline curve through the observed concentration points, and then matches the derivatives of the spline-curve to the production and consumption of each species. Whereas traditional methods follow the ODEs exactly and then attempt to match the data, BPPE follows the data exactly and then attempts to match the ODEs. The new objective function is an extreme decomposition of the problem because each factor in the function is enforcing the equality of one ODE at one timeslice. A "loopy belief propagation" algorithm solves this factorized approximation of the parameter estimation problem providing systematic coverage of the search space and unique asymptotic behavior; the run time is polynomial in the number of molecules and timepoints, but exponential in the degree of the biochemical network. The implementation is a global-local hybrid optimization, and we compare with the performance of local, global, and hybrid methods. BPPE is demonstrated for a novel model of Akt activation dynamics including redox-mediated inactivation of PTEN. Availability: Software and supplementary information are available at this http URL . Contact: LisaTK@nus.edu. sg . Keywords: probabilistic graphical models, physico-chemical modeling, systems biology, signal transduction.
Asymptotic stability in the distribution of nonlinear stochastic systems with semi-Markovian switching

abstract In this paper, finite phase semi-Markov processes are introduced. By introducing variables and a simple transformation, every finite phase semi-Markov process can be transformed to a finite Markov chain which is called its associated Markov chain. A consequence of this is that every phase semi-Markovian switching system may be equivalently expressed as its associated Markovian switching system. Existing results for Markovian switching systems may then be applied to analyze phase semi-Markovian switching systems. In the following, we obtain asymptotic stability for the distribution of nonlinear stochastic systems with semi-Markovian switching. The results can also be extended to general semi-Markovian switching systems. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the theoretical results obtained.
A Stochastic Competitive R&D Race Where "Winner Takes All"

The paper considers a race among multiple firms that compete over the development of a product. The first firm to complete the development gains a reward, whereas the other firms gain nothing. Each firm decides how much to invest in developing the product, and the time it completes the development is a random variable that depends on the investment level. The paper provides a method for explicitly computing a unique Nash equilibrium, parametrically in the interest rate; for a given interest rate, the Nash equilibrium is determined in time that is linear in the number of firms. The structure of the solution yields insights about the behavior of the participants. Furthermore, an explicit expression for a unique globally optimal solution is obtained and compared to the unique Nash equilibrium.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education. Factors which contribute to a sustainable use of ICT in education

This paper argues that meaningful access to ICT encompasses more than providing computers and internet connections. As many cases show problems arise when greater importance is given to physical availability of computers and to connectivity than the issues of content, language, education, literacy or community and social resources. There are three basic issues which are discussed here in relation to sustainable use of ICT in education. First the need for invasive education as opposed to letting students teach themselves the use of technology. Second the need for developing awareness, planning and setting up processes of sustainable change before the purchase of the equipment. Finally the need to plan social inclusion along with the introduction of ICT because although the lack of access to ICT harms chances of inclusion the reverse is equally true. Those who are already marginalized will have fewer opportunities to access and use of ICT. So while planning technology access programs apart from the physical resources (computers and telecommunication connections) they should also cater for digital resources (relevant content in diverse languages), human resources (literacy and education) and social resources (community, institutional and societal structures that support access to ICT).
Determination of the Optimal Concentration of Valproic Acid in Patients with Epilepsy: A Population Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis

Valproic acid (VPA) is one of the most widely prescribed antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of epileptic seizures. Although it is well known that the doses of VPA and its plasma concentrations are highly correlated, the plasma concentrations do not correlate well with the therapeutic effects of the VPA. In this study, we developed a population-based pharmacokinetic (PK)-pharmacodynamic (PD) model to determine the optimal concentration of VPA according to the clinical characteristics of each patient. This retrospective study included 77 VPA-treated Japanese patients with epilepsy. A nonlinear mixed-effects model best represented the relationship between the trough concentrations of VPA at steady-state and an over 50% reduction in seizure frequency. The model was fitted using a logistic regression model, in which the logit function of the probability was a linear function of the predicted trough concentration of VPA. The model showed that the age, seizure locus, the sodium channel neuronal type I alpha subunit rs3812718 polymorphism and co-administration of carbamazepine, clonazepam, phenytoin or topiramate were associated with an over 50% reduction in the seizure frequency. We plotted the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the logit(Pr) value of the model and the presence or absence of a more than 50% reduction in seizure frequency, and the areas under the curves with the 95% confidence interval from the ROC curve were 0.823 with 0.793–0.853. A logit(Pr) value of 0.1 was considered the optimal cut-off point (sensitivity = 71.8% and specificity = 80.4%), and we calculated the optimal trough concentration of VPA for each patient. Such parameters may be useful to determine the recommended therapeutic concentration of VPA for each patient, and the procedure may contribute to the further development of personalized pharmacological therapy for epilepsy.
04 07 32 9 v 1 1 6 Ju l 2 00 4 Multiverses and Cosmology : Philosophical Issues

The idea of a multiverse – an ensemble of universes or universe domains – has received increasing attention in cosmology, both as the outcome of the originating process that generated our own universe, and as an explanation for why our universe appears to be fine-tuned for life and consciousness. Here we carefully consider how multiverses should be defined, stressing the distinction between the collection of all possible universes, and ensembles of really existing universes, which are essential for an anthropic argument. We show that such realised multiverses are by no means unique, and in general require the existence of a well-defined and physically motivated distribution function on the space of all possible universes. Furthermore, a proper measure on these spaces is also needed, so that probabilities can be calculated. We then discuss several other major physical and philosophical problems which arise in the context of ensembles of universes, including the emergence and causal effectiveness of self-consciousness, realized infinities, and finetuning, or the apparent need for very special initial conditions for our universe – whether they or generalized generic primordial conditions are more fundamental. Then we briefly summarise scenarios like chaotic inflation, which suggest how ensembles of universe domains may be generated, and point out that the regularities which must underlie any systematic description of truly disjoint multiverses must imply some kind of common generating mechanism. Finally, we discuss the issue of testability, which underlies the question of whether multiverse proposals are really scientific propositions.
Expenditure elasticities and growth linkages for rural households in two study areas of KwaZulu-Natal.

Expenditurepatterns were investigatedto determine thepotential impactofa widespreadincome shock on household expenditure and to estimate the potential for growth linkages to spur agriculture-led growth in two communal areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Expenditure data were collectedfrom 99 sample households at the rural areas ofSwayimana and Umzumbe during 1997. District and wealth group expenditure analyses for commodity groups suggested expenditure elasticities ofclose to unity for food. Low expenditure elasticities were found for staple foods. Expenditure elasticities for meat, meatproducts, andpoultry were close to unity, while horticultural products showed the greatest potential for demand growth within the food category. Of the statistically significant commodity categories, expenditure elasticities for durables, housing, and transport were more than double those estimatedfor the aggregate food category. There was little difference in the response of wealthier households (the top expenditure decile) and that ofpoorer households. However, wealthier households have a greater propensity for increased expenditure on transport, while poorer households show a greater propensity for increased expenditure on housing and durables. District and wealth group expenditure analysesfor tradable versus non-tradablefarm and nonfarm goods and services suggest a less than proportional increase in the demand for tradable farm commodities, and a more than proportional increase in demand for non-tradable farm commodities, following a one percent increase in household expenditure. Expenditure on nonfarm tradables (importedconsumer durables) showedthe greatestpotentialfor demand growth, with expenditure elasticities ranging from 1. 75 to 2.59. A one Rand increase in household income is predicted to add an additional 28 cents (multiplier of1.28) to the local economy. However, even relatively weak growth linkages could lead to much needed new income and , employmentopportunitieswithin the localfarm andnon-farm sectors ifthe constraints inhibiting agriculture, and hence broad-based growth in rural incomes are alleviated. Agriculture-led growth in South Africa requires public investment in both physical and institutional infrastructure to reduce transaction costs and risks in all markets, encouraging greater participation by local entrepreneurs and private sector investors. In addition, the roles,· functions and services offered by extension agents should be extended to promote collective marketing, facilitate landrental contracts, provide training, and technical and business support for farm and non-farm entrepreneurs.
Generalized Random Walks for Fusion of Multi-Exposure Images

A single captured image of a real-world scene is usually insufficient to reveal all the details due to under- or over-exposed regions. To solve this problem, images of the same scene can be first captured under different exposure settings and then combined into a single image using image fusion techniques. In this paper, we propose a novel probabilistic model-based fusion technique for multi-exposure images. Unlike previous multi-exposure fusion methods, our method aims to achieve an optimal balance between two quality measures, i.e., local contrast and color consistency, while combining the scene details revealed under different exposures. A generalized random walks framework is proposed to calculate a globally optimal solution subject to the two quality measures by formulating the fusion problem as probability estimation. Experiments demonstrate that our algorithm generates high-quality images at low computational cost. Comparisons with a number of other techniques show that our method generates better results in most cases.
Delay Throughput Tradeoffs in Wireless Mesh Networks (Invited)

The support of delay-sensitive applications like VoIP, video conferencing, video streaming, etc. on scheduled mesh networks requires careful configuration of routing and schedul- ing. We formulate a delay-optimal joint routing and scheduling optimization problem that minimizes the maximum average delay perceived by any flow under the physical interference model. Due to the non-convex nature of this proposed problem, we cannot find the globally optimal joint routing and scheduling that minimizes the maximum per flow average delay. We overcome this issue by fixing the routing which makes the problem convex and then compute the optimal scheduling that results in minimum delay. We investigate several different routing strategies and compare the per flow average min-max delay when the scheduling is computed optimally. Based on these results, we provide engineering insights on configuring a wireless network for delay-sensitive applications. Index Terms—Wireless mesh networks, scheduling, delay, throughput, non-linear optimization.