Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Orthonormal Basis and Radial Basis Functions in Modeling and Identification of Nonlinear Block-Oriented Systems

Nonlinear block-oriented systems, including the Hammerstein, Wiener and feedbacknonlinear systems have attracted considerable research interest both from the industrial and academic environments (Bai, 1998), (Greblicki, 1989), (Latawiec, 2004), (Latawiec et al., 2003), (Latawiec et al., 2004), (Pearson & Pottman, 2000). It is well known that orthonormal basis functions (OBF) (Bokor et al., 1999) have proved to be useful in identification and control of dynamical systems, including nonlinear blockoriented systems (Gomez & Baeyens, 2004), (Latawiec, 2004), (Latawiec et al., 2003), (Latawiec et al., 2006), (Latawiec et al., 2004), (Stanislawski et al., 2006). In particular, an inverse OBF (IOBF) modeling approach has been effective in identification of a linear dynamic part of the feedback-nonlinear and Hammerstein systems (Latawiec, 2004), (Latawiec et al., 2004). On the other hand, regular OBF (ROBF) modeling approach has proved to be useful in identification of the Wiener system. The approaches provide the separability in estimation of linear and nonlinear submodels (Latawiec et al., 2004), thus eliminating the bilinearity issue detrimentally affecting e.g. the ARX-based modeling schemes (Latawiec, 2004), (Latawiec et al., 2003), (Latawiec et al., 2006), (Latawiec et al., 2004). The IOBF modeling approach is continued to be efficiently used here to model a linear dynamic part of the feedback-nonlinear and Hammerstein systems and regular OBF modeling approach is used to model a linear part of the Wiener system. The problem of modeling of a nonlinear static part of the nonlinear block-oriented system can be classically tackled using e.g. the polynomial expansion (Latawiec, 2004), (Latawiec et al., 2004) or (cubic) spline functions. Recently, a radial basis function network (RBFN) has been used to model a nonlinear static part of the Hammerstein and feedback-nonlinear systems and a very good identification performance has been obtained (Hachino et al., 2004), (Stanislawski, 2007), (Stanislawski et al., 2007). The concept is extended here to cover the Wiener system. This paper presents a new strategy for nonlinear block-oriented system identification, which is a combination of OBF modeling for a linear dynamic part and RBFN modeling for a nonlinear static element. The effective OBF approach is finally coupled with the RBFN modeling concept, giving rise to the introduction of a powerful method for identification of the nonlinear block-oriented system.
Aid to Sharecroppers

When social scientists enumerate the reasons behind the vast expansion of the U.S. welfare state during the New Deal, they commonly cite pressure from unemployed workers, the Keynesian ideology of Roosevelt's policy advisors, and the political compromise between southern congressionalDixiecrats and northern Democrats which enabled the programs that extended relief to the needy (Schlesinger 1958; Conkin 1967: chap. 3; Alston and Ferrie 1985; Goldfield 1989; Kimeldorf and Stepan-Norris 1992; Alston and Ferrie 1993; Quadagno 1994: 20–22; Fleck 1999a). While it is uncontroversial that the working class played some part in the formation of New Deal policy, it would seem that American farmers, particularly the mostly black southern tenantry, had little or no direct role in the distribution of federal relief.
Analysis of In Vitro Differentiation Cues in Adult Mouse Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells

i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . iii DEDICATION . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . v LIST OF TABLES . viii LIST OF FIGURES . ix LIST OF APPENDICES . xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS . xii
Soluble molecules are key in maintaining the immunomodulatory activity of murine mesenchymal stromal cells

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess both immuno-privileged and immuno-inhibitory properties that contribute to their therapeutic effects. Ex vivo expansion is required to obtain sufficient cells for therapy, but might also alter their immunological properties. To date there has been no systematic study of MSC immunobiology during extended culture. Here, we demonstrate that both immuno-privilege and immunosuppressive properties of MSCs change with increasing passage. We demonstrate that although MSCs exhibit powerful immunosuppressive effects through secretion of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and induction of interleukin-10, these effects are diminished by a concomitant increase in MSC immunogenicity. Interferon-γ treatment for 3 days induced extendedly cultured MSCs to express significantly higher levels of major histocompatibility complex class I. In vivo, this results in cells that induce significant delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in allogeneic recipients. Importantly, these effects are alleviated by isolation of the transplanted MSCs using a semi-permeable barrier. Under these conditions, even MSCs cultured through as many as 14 passages still exhibit immuno-inhibitory effects in vivo. Furthermore, the levels of anti-inflammatory molecule TGF-β secreted by MSCs were maintained in the extended culture. These data shed light on the variable results of allogeneic MSCs in transplantation and suggest alternative strategies for prolonging the effect of allogeneic MSCs in cell-based therapy.
Splitting a Matrix of Laurent Polynomials with Symmetry and itsApplication to Symmetric Framelet Filter Banks

Let M be a $2\times 2$ matrix of Laurent polynomials with real coefficients and symmetry. In this paper, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of four Laurent polynomials (or finite-impulse-response filters) u1, u2, v1, v2 with real coefficients and symmetry such that $$ \left[ \begin{matrix} u_1(z) v z\in \CC \bs \{0 \} $$ and [Su1](z)[Sv2](z)=[Su2](z)[Sv1](z), where [Sp](z)=p(z)/p(1/z) for a nonzero Laurent polynomial p. Our criterion can be easily checked and a step-by-step algorithm will be given to construct the symmetric filters u1, u2, v1, v2. As an application of this result to symmetric framelet filter banks, we present a necessary and sufficient condition for the construction of a symmetric multiresolution analysis tight wavelet frame with two compactly supported generators derived from a given symmetric refinable function. Once such a necessary and sufficient condition is satisfied, an algorithm will be used to construct a symmetric framelet filter bank with two high-pass filters which is of interest in applications such as signal denoising and image processing. As an illustration of our results and algorithms in this paper, we give several examples of symmetric framelet filter banks with two high-pass filters which have good vanishing moments and are derived from various symmetric low-pass filters including some B-spline filters.
Effects of White Radish (Raphanus sativus) Enzyme Extract on Hepatotoxicity

Raphanus sativus (Cruciferaceae), commonly known as radish is widely available throughout the world. From antiquity it has been used in folk medicine as a natural drug against many toxicants. The present study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of radish ( Raphanus sativus ) enzyme extract (REE) in vitro and in vivo test. The IC_50 values of REE in human liver derived HepG2 cells was over 5,000 μg/m l in tested maximum concentration. The effect of REE to protect tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. REE showed their hepatoprotective activities on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity and the EC_50 value was 1,250 μg/m l . Silymarin, an antihepatotoxic agent used as a positive control exhibited 59.7% hepatoprotective activitiy at 100 μg/m l . Moreover, we tested the effect of REE on carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4)-induced liver toxicity in rats. REE at dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg and silymarin at dose of 50 mg/kg were orally administered to CCl_4-treated rats. The results showed that REE and silymarin significantly reduced the elevated levels of serum enzyme markers induced by CCl_4. The biochemical data were supported by evaluation with liver histopathology. These findings suggest that REE, can significantly diminish hepatic damage by toxic agent such as tacrine or CCl_4.
Convergence or Divergence

Do immigrant faculty trained in American higher education institutions adopt the outlook and practices of native US scientists and engineers (“convergence”), or do they diverge from such practices? The modern science paradigm holds that location will not matter significantly and that immigrants in either place will converge to a common standard of scientific practice. Drawing upon 134 in-depth interviews, this paper compares the scientific practices of two groups of Indian immigrant faculty in science and engineering: (i) those who studied and worked in the United States and then returned to India and (ii) those who continued to work in the United States. This paper shows that the two groups differed in important ways: ease of securing grants, management of grants, research environment, professional autonomy, and research type.
Developmental Effects of 7 Hz, Square Wave Magnetic Fields and Nitric Oxide Modulation on Organ Systems

Prenatal or perinatal exposure to physiologically-patterned magnetic fields (MFs) affects behaviour in weanling (22d) and young adult (90d) rats. However, the long-term (120d-730d) biological effects of these MFs have not been ex- amined. In the current study, the long-term effects of developmental exposure to a physiologically-patterned MF, and their dependence on nitric oxide (NO) activity, were investigated. Pregnant dams were exposed from 2d before to 14d after par- turition to square wave, 7 Hz MF and to either water or nitric oxide (NO) modulation in tap water with NO precursor 1.0 g/L L-arginine or 0.5 g/L NO inhibitor n-methylarginine. To assess the possibility of intensity-windowing of any effects, MF intensities of <1, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 500 nT were employed. Male offspring were euthanized for post-mortem examina- tion and wet organ weights were then taken. Analysis showed increased brain weight in 10 and 50 nT-treated groups, in- creased bodyweight in 50 nT-treated groups and suggested increased testicular weight in 5, 10 and 50 nT-treated groups. Few effects of NO modulation were evident in these rats, reinforcing the idea that these are short-term and reversible. These findings suggest that subtle long-term changes in organ structure can arise from developmental exposure to physio- logically-patterned MFs.
What motivate software engineers to refactor source code? evidences from professional developers

Refactoring is an increasingly practiced method in industry software development. However, existing research mostly focus on the technical aspect of refactoring, we still know little about the human behavior domain on this issue. Software developer's motivation has been recognized as a key human factor for the software development and maintenance tasks, therefore, identifying what motivates software developer refactor their (or others) source code will bring both theoretical and practical implications. In this paper, we report our case studies in four software development organizations. Through interviews with 10 professional software developers, we identified the major factors that motivate their refactoring activities. An empirical model on refactoring motivation is also presented based on the data collected.
Absence of Genetic Divergence Between Western Corn Rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Resistant and Susceptible to Control by Crop Rotation

Abstract The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a major pest of corn, Zea mays L. , in North America that has recently invaded Europe. A loss of ovipositional fidelity to cornfields has allowed the species to circumvent crop rotation as a means of control in part of its range in the United States. Analyses of variation at eight microsatellite loci provided no evidence for general genetic differentiation between samples of western corn rootworm collected in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. , fields and those collected in cornfields both inside and outside the rotation-resistance problem area. This result suggests that few or no barriers to gene flow exist between rotation-resistant and -susceptible rootworm populations. The implications of this result for the management of western corn rootworm in North America and Europe are discussed.
High VEGFR1/2 expression levels are predictors of poor survival in patients with cervical cancer

Abstract The aim of the study to evaluate the prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 and 2 (VEGFR1/2) expression levels and to correlate these levels with clinicopathological parameters in patients with cervical cancer. Forty-two patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IIB–IVB cervical cancer were analyzed between January 2011 and December 2012. RNA expression levels of VEGFR1/2 were assessed by branched DNA-liquidchip technology and immunohistochemistry. Associations between RNA expression levels, important clinicopathological parameters, and patient survival were statistically evaluated. Higher VEGFR1/2 expression levels were predictive of poor overall survival (P = 0.009 and P = 0.024, respectively). Patients with higher VEGFR1 expression levels were associated with poorer progression-free survival than those with lower VEGFR1 expression levels (P = 0.043). In addition, patients with higher VEGFR1 expression levels were more likely to develop distant metastases than those with lower VEGFR1 expression levels (P = 0.049). Higher VEGFR2 expression levels were associated with larger tumor size (P = 0.037). VEGFR1/2 expression levels were prognostic factors for patients with cervical cancer. Higher VEGFR1/2 expression levels were also predictive of poor overall survival.
Applying the Synchronous Approach for Real Time Active Visual Reconstruction

In this paper, we apply the synchronous approach to real time active visual reconstruction. It illustrates the adequateness of signal, a synchronous data flow programming language and environment, for the specification of a system dealing with various domains such as robot control, computer vision and programmation of hierarchical parallel automaton. More precisely, one application consists in the 3D structure estimation of a set of geometrical primitives using an active vision paradigm. At the level of camera motion control, the visual servoing approach (a closed loop with respect to vision data) is specified and implemented in \sc Signal as a function from sensor inputs to control outputs. Furthermore, the 3D reconstruction method is based on the ``structure from controlled motion'' approach (constraining camera motion for optimal estimation). Its specification is made in parallel to visual servoing, and involves the delay mechanism of \signal\ for the specification of filters. This reconstruction involves focusing on each object; we thus present a perception strategy for connecting up several estimations, using tasks hierarchies interruption and time intervals in \signal. The integration of these techniques is validated experimentally by their implementation on a robotic cell, from which we present experimental results.
Concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters in hair of alcoholics: comparison to other biological state markers and self reported-ethanol intake.

AIMS In a variety of clinical and forensic situations long term use of alcohol must be monitored. In this project we explore the utility of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) in this regard. Additionally, we propose a cut-off value of FAEE to distinguish teetotallers/moderate/social drinkers from alcoholics or individuals drinking at harmful levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS FAEE levels from 18 alcohol-dependent patients in detoxification were contrasted with those of 10 social drinkers and 10 teetotallers. FAEE in hair were determined, using headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. C(FAEE), as sum of the concentrations of four esters, was compared to a major FAEE, ethyl palmitate. PEth was measured in heparinized whole blood with a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Drinking validation criteria include self reports, phosphatidyl ethanol (PEth) in whole blood as well as the traditional markers of heavy drinking, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT). RESULTS Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for C(FAEE), indicated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90% for a cut-off of 0.29 ng/mg. By using a cut-off of 0.4 ng/mg, C(FAEE) identified 94.4% correctly. C(FAEE) and ethyl palmitate were significantly associated (r = 0.945; P < 0.001) as were C(FAEE) and PEth (r = 0.527; P = 0.025). No significant correlation was found between C(FAEE) and total grams of ethanol consumed last month, blood-alcohol concentration at admission to the hospital, CDT, MCV, or GGT. Among the serum and blood markers, %CDT identified 47.1%, MCV 38.8% and GGT 72.2% of patients with chronic intake of higher amounts of ethanol correctly, whereas PEth achieved 100% accuracy. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that C(FAEE) is a potentially valuable marker of chronic intake of high quantities of ethanol. Furthermore, the results indicate that a reasonable and provisional FAEE cut-off to distinguish between social/moderate and heavy drinking/alcoholism in hair is 0.4 ng/mg.
Comparing the E ff ectiveness of Employment Subsidies

This paper provides a theoretical and quantitative analysis of various types of wellknown employment subsidies. Two important questions are addressed: (i) How should employment subsidies be targeted? (ii) How large should the subsidies be? We consider measures involving targeting workers with low incomes/abilities and targeting the unemployed. To make our analysis particularly useful to policy makers, we focus on policies that are "approximately welfare efficient," i.e. policies that (a) improve employment and welfare, (b) do not raise earnings inequality and (c) are self-financing. This criterion enables us to identify policies which satisfy these favorable properties and to determine the size of the subsidies required for this purpose. We construct a simple, dynamic model of hiring and separations, derived from microfoundations, and calibrate it with German data. The calibration shows that hiring vouchers targeted at the long-term unemployed and low-income/ability workers can be approximately welfare efficient, while low-wage subsidies do not satisfy this criterion. Even in terms of inequality reduction low-wage subsidies are outperformed by targeted hiring vouchers. Furthermore, hiring vouchers targeted at the long-term unemployed are more effective than hiring vouchers targeted at low-income/ability workers. These subsidy rankings also hold if the self-financing constraint is relaxed and the government spends a given additional amount on the subsidies.
Misalignments: Challenges in Cultivating Science Faculty with Education Specialties in Your Department

Science faculty with education specialties (SFES) are increasingly being hired across the United States. However, little is known about the motivations for SFES hiring or the potential or actual impact of this trend. In the context of a recent national survey of US SFES, we investigated SFES perceptions about these issues. Strikingly, their perceptions about the reasons for hiring SFES were poorly aligned with their perceptions about the potential and actual contributions reported by SFES themselves, and the advice that they extended to beginning SFES was varied. Although the preparation of future teachers and departmental teaching needs were common reasons offered for SFES hiring, the potential and actual contributions of SFES highlighted, instead, their roles as pedagogical resources and as contributors to curricular reform. Misalignments between SFES perceptions about what motivates SFES hiring and their perceptions of their most valuable contributions present challenges for those interested in maximizing the impact of SFES.
Jitter probability in the breakpoints of discrete sparse piecewise-constant signals

It is shown that jitter is fundamentally inherent to the break-points of discrete sparse piecewise-constant signals measured in noise. No one estimator, even ideal, is able to provide the jitter-free breakpoints detection with unit probability. Even so, the jitter distribution in such signals was unknown so far. We have shown that for noise having white properties the jitter can be approximated with the discrete skew Laplace distribution irrespective of the segmental distributions. The theory was tested in Gaussian and heavy-tailed Cauchy noise environments and good correspondence was demonstrated.
The Role of Boards of Directors in Corporate Governance: A Conceptual Framework & Survey

This paper is a survey of the literature on boards of directors, with an emphasis on research done subsequent to the Hermalin and Weisbach (2003) survey. The two questions most asked about boards are what determines their makeup and what determines their actions? These questions are fundamentally intertwined, which complicates the study of boards because makeup and actions are jointly endogenous. A focus of this survey is how the literature, theoretical as well as empirically, deals - or on occasions fails to deal - with this complication. We suggest that many studies of boards can best be interpreted as joint statements about both the director-selection process and the effect of board composition on board actions and firm performance.
Positive Modulation Effect of 8-Week Consumption of Kaempferia parviflora on Health-Related Physical Fitness and Oxidative Status in Healthy Elderly Volunteers

Health-related physical fitness declines as the age advances. Oxidative stress is reported to contribute the crucial role on this phenomenon. This condition is also enhanced by antioxidant. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effect of Kaempferia parviflora, a plant reputed for antifatigue, longevity promotion, and antioxidant effects, on health-related quality physical fitness and oxidative status of the healthy elderly volunteers. Total 45 subjects had been randomized to receive placebo or K. parviflora extract at doses of 25 or 90 mg once daily for 8 weeks. They were determined baseline data of physical performance using 30 sec chair stand test, hand grip test, 6 min walk test, and tandem test. Serum oxidative stress markers including malondialdehde (MDA) level and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were also assayed. All assessments were performed every 4 weeks throughout the 8-week study period. The results showed that K. parviflora increased performance in 30-second chair stand test and 6 min walk test together with the increased all scavenger enzymes activities and the decreased MDA level. Therefore, K. parviflora can enhance physical fitness partly via the decreased oxidative stress. In conclusion, K. parviflora is the potential health supplement for elderly. However, further study is required.