Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Input-output finite-time stabilization with constrained control inputs

In this paper the problem of input-output finite-time stability (IO-FTS) and stabilization of linear time-varying systems is dealt with. The classical definition of IO-FTS is extended to that one of structured IO-FTS, since this allows to incorporate, in the definition of the stabilization problem, some amplitude constraints on the control input variables. A necessary and sufficient condition and a sufficient condition for constrained IO finite-time stabilization are provided in the case of ℒ2 and ℒ∞ disturbance inputs, respectively. Such conditions require the existence of a feasible solution to a certain differential linear matrix inequality (DLMI). A numerical example illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Mining Hate Crimes to Figure Out Reasons Behind

In order to identify the reasons behind the hate crimes in Diyarbakir, Turkey a data mining research has been made. Various data mining algorithms are applied to data set containing forty big cases happened between 2009 and 2010. some algorithms helped us to model criminality in Diyarbakir, we learned which features for hatred crime features are important while dealing with cases. There has been also contribution for identifying habits of Diyarbakir people which makes them vulnerable for the hate crimes.
Herpes simplex virus type 2 coinfection does not accelerate CD4 count decline in untreated HIV infection.

BACKGROUND Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) reactivations are associated with increased HIV load, but whether HSV-2 coinfection accelerates HIV disease is unclear. We compared rates of CD4 count decline according to HSV-2 status in untreated HIV-infected adults. METHODS HIV-infected patients with a past period of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-untreated follow-up with initial CD4 count of 400-900 cells/mm(3) and no chronic anti-HSV therapy were included. HSV-2 status was determined by HerpeSelect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Rates of CD4 count change were compared by HSV-2 status using mixed linear regression models, and time to the first of ART initiation or CD4 <350 cells/mm(3) using proportional hazards models. RESULTS Of 218 patients included, 123 (56.4%) were seropositive for HSV-2 and 161 (73.8%) for HSV-1. In univariate analysis, the difference in the rate of CD4 count change associated with HSV-2 was not statistically significant at +13.6 cells/mm(3)/year (P = .12). Results were similar at -4.5 cells/mm(3)/year (P = .68) after adjustment for sex, HSV type 1, oral and genital herpes symptoms, immigrant status, and the interaction of immigrant status with time. However, HSV-2 seropositivity was associated with a shorter time to the first of ART initiation or CD4 <350 cells/mm(3), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.07 (95% confidence interval, 1.28-3.33). CONCLUSIONS HSV-2 coinfection was not associated with the rate of CD4 count decline during ART-untreated HIV infection, but was associated with an earlier combined endpoint of ART initiation or CD4 <350 cells/mm(3). Attenuating effects of acyclovir on HIV disease progression observed in recent clinical trials may result from direct anti-HIV activity rather than indirect benefits from HSV-2 suppression.
The Yin and the Yang of Prediction: An fMRI Study of Semantic Predictive Processing

Probabilistic prediction plays a crucial role in language comprehension. When predictions are fulfilled, the resulting facilitation allows for fast, efficient processing of ambiguous, rapidly-unfolding input; when predictions are not fulfilled, the resulting error signal allows us to adapt to broader statistical changes in this input. We used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to examine the neuroanatomical networks engaged in semantic predictive processing and adaptation. We used a relatedness proportion semantic priming paradigm, in which we manipulated the probability of predictions while holding local semantic context constant. Under conditions of higher (versus lower) predictive validity, we replicate previous observations of reduced activity to semantically predictable words in the left anterior superior/middle temporal cortex, reflecting facilitated processing of targets that are consistent with prior semantic predictions. In addition, under conditions of higher (versus lower) predictive validity we observed significant differences in the effects of semantic relatedness within the left inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior portion of the left superior/middle temporal gyrus. We suggest that together these two regions mediated the suppression of unfulfilled semantic predictions and lexico-semantic processing of unrelated targets that were inconsistent with these predictions. Moreover, under conditions of higher (versus lower) predictive validity, a functional connectivity analysis showed that the left inferior frontal and left posterior superior/middle temporal gyrus were more tightly interconnected with one another, as well as with the left anterior cingulate cortex. The left anterior cingulate cortex was, in turn, more tightly connected to superior lateral frontal cortices and subcortical regions—a network that mediates rapid learning and adaptation and that may have played a role in switching to a more predictive mode of processing in response to the statistical structure of the wider environmental context. Together, these findings highlight close links between the networks mediating semantic prediction, executive function and learning, giving new insights into how our brains are able to flexibly adapt to our environment.
Serum Ferritin Is a Risk Factor for Stroke in Postmenopausal Women

Background and Purpose— Iron is an essential element for the human body. It has, however, been suggested that excessive iron stores may increase the risk of vascular disease. So far, epidemiologic studies on stroke are sparse. Methods— We studied the association between iron status and stroke risk in a population-based cohort of 11 471 Dutch postmenopausal women between 49 and 70 years of age. Women were included between 1993 and 1997 and followed up until January 1, 2000, for cerebrovascular events. We conducted a case-cohort study by using all stroke cases (n=63) and a random sample of the baseline cohort (n=1134). Serum ferritin, serum iron, and transferrin saturation were measured as markers of iron status. A weighted Cox proportional-hazards model was used to estimate crude and multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for tertiles of different iron parameters in relation to stroke. Results— In a multivariate model, the highest tertile of serum ferritin concentration was associated with an increased risk of stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 2.42) compared with the lowest tertile. For ischemic stroke, the increase was more pronounced (HR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.05 to 4.73) and reached statistical significance. Conclusions— Neither serum iron nor transferrin saturation was associated with an increased stroke risk. However, higher serum ferritin concentrations in postmenopausal women are associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.
Glutamic acid decarboxylase cDNA: nucleotide sequence encoding an enzymatically active fusion protein

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD;E.C. 4.1.1.15) catalyzes the production of GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. We recently isolated a lambda gt-11 recombinant, lambda-GAD, that contains the cDNA for GAD from feline brain (Kaufman et al., 1986). Interestingly, the beta-galactosidase-GAD fusion protein encoded by lambda GAD is enzymatically active, catalyzing the conversion of glutamate to CO2 and GABA. Here we report the nucleotide sequence of feline GAD cDNA. It consists of 2265 bases, with a continuous open reading frame of 625 codons. The derived sequence contains the sequence Asn-Pro-His-Lys, which is identical to sequence at the pyridoxal phosphate-binding site of porcine DOPA decarboxylase (Bossa et al., 1977). The first ATG sequence in the open reading frame begins at nucleotide residue 118. The 585 codons 3′ to this putative initiation site predict an amino acid composition, N-terminal residue, and molecular size consistent with published characterizations of GAD.
Packet error rate and efficiency closed-form expressions for cross-layer hybrid ARQ schemes

For several years, HARQ schemes have been extensively analysed in terms of Packet Error Rate and Efficiency at the MAC level. Nevertheless, in order to get realistic performance of the whole system, performance analysis at the IP level is crucial. Therefore, we derive in closed-form expressions the performance (Packet Error Rate and Efficiency) of any HARQ scheme (ARQ, Incremental Redundancy HARQ, Chase Combining) at the IP level. Moreover cross-layer optimization strategy between MAC and IP layers for HARQ schemes developed initially by [9] for ARQ schemes is considered.
Managerial Motivation Dynamics and Incentives

Firms can increase profitability by appropriately motivating managers. We investigate drivers of managerial motivation, and propose how firms can use performance pay to alter motivational patterns. We focus on the agent's optimal effort decision in trading off compensation utility with effort cost in a static and dynamic setting. Surprisingly, we find that lower risk aversion or increased pay are not necessarily motivating factors, and identify the relevant effort drivers underlying the agent's utility and compensation plan. We characterize properties of agents' preferences for output lotteries (risk aversion, aggressiveness, prudence) that trigger systematic motivational patterns with respect to a variety of factors, such as the agent's productivity and past performance, time to evaluation, the firm's capabilities, and market factors. Our insights are robust, holding under very general modeling assumptions on preferences, rewards, and the stochastic effort-output function.
A Velocity Based Boundary Element Method with Modified Trailing Edge for Prediction of the Partial Cavities on the Wings and Propeller Blades

This paper presents a new velocity based boundary element method for calculation of the partial cavities on the wings and propeller blades. The fully correct mathematical formulation of the problem about cavitating bodies is characteristic feature of the developed method and numerical algorithm. The special algorithm of Modified Trailing Edge (MTE) is used for definition of the lifting (circulation) part of the flow. MTE tool allows the approximate accounting for viscous effects on lift and pressure distribution. The miscellaneous cavity closure model is recommended for calculation. The prediction of the cavity patterns is performed using Iterative Cavity Alignment (ICA) procedure with Free Cavity Length (FCL). The results of the test calculations and comparisons with experimental data are given in the paper.
Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Women, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

To determine whether women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) were more likely than men to have extensively drug-resistant TB, we reviewed 4,514 adults admitted during 2003–2008 for drug-resistant TB. Female sex independently predicted extensively drug-resistant TB, even after we controlled for HIV infection. This association needs further study.
Is Extremism the ‘New’ Terrorism? the Convergence of ‘Extremism’ and ‘Terrorism’ in British Parliamentary Discourse

ABSTRACT That the distinctions between terrorism and extremism have become increasingly blurred is something of a truism, but there has been little systematic analysis of whether this is truly the case nor of its possible implications. This paper argues that there has been a recent convergence between these two concepts in British parliamentary discourse, reproducing the same signifiers and meanings for non-violent extremism as previously existed for terrorism. In doing so, the paper makes a threefold contribution: methodologically through utilising the underdeveloped approach of post-foundationalist discourse analysis (PFDA) and applying it to the field of terrorism studies; empirically through analysing all the discourse in 1,037 British parliamentary debates between 2010 and 2017; theoretically through drawing together post-foundationalism with Bourdieusian practice theory to show that this transformation of discourse has coincided with social practices of informal criminalization targeting non-violent extremism as if it were terrorism. This has important policy implications as it prescribes particular counter-terrorism practices associated with the hegemonic discourse of terrorism which, when extended to extremism, risk alienating, dehumanizing and motivating the very people deemed to be “at risk” of extremism. The paper illustrates these issues through a discussion of their application in the Prevent Strategy for Higher Education.
A canonical hyperkaehler metric on the total space of a cotangent bundle

A canonical hyperkaehler metric on the total space $T^*M$ of a cotangent bundle to a complex manifold $M$ has been constructed recently by the author (see alg-geom/9710026). This paper presents the results of alg-geom/9710026 in a streamlined and simplified form. The only new result is an explicit formula obtained for the case when $M$ is an Hermitian symmetric space.
An Improved Clustering Approach on Time Series Data Set

In clustering, objects are clustered or grouped based on the principle of maximizing the intra-class similarity and minimizing the inter-class similarity. This paper proposes use of BIRCH hierarchical clustering method on large amount of numerical data by integration of hierarchical clustering and other clustering methods such as iterative partitioning methods such as k-means and k-medoids and their comparison. Clustering feature and clustering feature tree (CF tree) will be used to summarize cluster representations. With this clustering method we can achieve good speed and scalability.
In Vivo Efficacy of the Combination of Ciprofloxacin and Cefotaxime against Vibrio vulnificus Sepsis

Objectives The in vivo efficacy of a cefotaxime-ciprofloxacin combination against Vibrio vulnificus and the effects on rtxA1 expression of commonly used antibiotics are unknown. Methods In vitro time-kill studies were performed to evaluate synergism. Female BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously with 1×107 or 1×108 cfu of V. vulnificus. Antibiotic therapy was initiated at 2 h after inoculation in the following four therapy groups: cefotaxime; ciprofloxacin; cefotaxime-plus-ciprofloxacin; and cefotaxime-plus-minocycline. The cytotoxicity of V. vulnificus for HeLa cells was measured using the lactate dehydrogenase assay; rtxA1 transcription was measured in a transcriptional reporter strain using a β-galactosidase assay. Results In vitro time-kill assays exhibited synergism between cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. In the animal experiments, the 96-h survival rate for the cefotaxime-plus-ciprofloxacin group (85%; 17/20) was significantly higher than that of the cefotaxime-plus-minocycline (35%; 7/20) and cefotaxime alone (0%; 0/20) groups (P<0.05 for both). Bacterial counts in the liver and spleen were significantly lower in the cefotaxime-plus-ciprofloxacin group 24 and 48 h after treatment, relative to the other groups. At sub-inhibitory concentrations, ciprofloxacin inhibited more effectively rtxA1 transcription and mammalian cell cytotoxicity than either minocycline or cefotaxime (P<0.05 for both). Conclusions Ciprofloxacin is more effective at reducing rtxA1 transcription and subsequent cytotoxicity than either minocycline or cefotaxime, and the combination of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime was more effective in clearing V. vulnificus in vivo than previously used regimens. These data suggest that the combination of ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime is an effective option for the treatment of V. vulnificus sepsis in humans.
Insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome

The polycystic ovary syndrome, described first as the association of bilateral polycystic ovaries and amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, hirsutism and obesity, was later shown to be a complex metabolic syndrome. The first purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of hyperinsulinaemia and the severity of insulin resistance and glucose tolerance disorders in polycystic ovary syndrome by means of the oral glucose tolerance test and the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp. The next goal was to investigate whether women with polycystic ovary syndrome would benefit from insulin-sensitising drugs, and in particular to compare the effects of metformin and a contraceptive pill containing ethinyl oestradiol and cyproterone acetate. Altogether, 81 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 34 healthy control subjects were involved in the study. Marked impairment of insulin sensitivity in obese subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome, including a decrease of both cellular oxidative and non-oxidative utilisation of glucose, and a slight non-significant decrease of insulin sensitivity in non-obese subjects was observed. Both non-obese and obese subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome exhibited increased abdominal obesity compared with the controls, confirming the fact that obesity, in particular abdominal obesity, is an important contributor in the development of insulin resistance in this syndrome. Metformin alleviated hyperandrogenism by essentially decreasing ovarian, but not adrenal androgen secretion. The improvement of hyperandrogenism and ovarian function seemed to be mediated by the improvement of hyperinsulinaemia, which resulted itself from subtle improvements in both hepatic insulin extraction and insulin sensitivity. Metformin decreased abdominal obesity and the release of free fatty acids from adipose tissue, and improved ovarian cyclicity and fertility. The transient decrease in serum leptin levels observed may have some role in the improvement of ovarian function. The contraceptive pill significantly improved hyperandrogenism and hirsutism, and it slightly affected glucose metabolism. Thus, it could be the treatment of choice in women with hirsutism problems and no fertility hopes. Metformin could be the drug of choice for women with polycystic ovary syndrome who wish to conceive. Because of its beneficial metabolic effects, the value of metformin in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases in polycystic ovary syndrome needs to be further studied.
Electrocardiographic and scintigraphic imaging of myocardial ischemia

The aim was to further validate the electrocardiographic imaging method we introduced previously — involving inverse calculation of heart-surface potential distributions from the 12-lead ECG — by comparison with data provided by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). To perform the electrocardiographic inverse solution, we used a torso model with 352 body-surface and 202 heart-surface nodes. Coefficients for estimating 352 body-surface potentials from 12-lead ECG were developed from the design set (n = 892) of body-surface potential mapping (BSPM) data. The test set consisted of 12-lead ECGs of 31 patients from the STAFF III dataset (Duke University Medical Center; Lund University) who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the LAD (n = 8), LCx (n = 5), or the RCA (n = 18) and had SPECT performed. BSPM distributions at J point were estimated from the 12-lead ECG and used to calculate bull's-eye displays of heart-surface potentials. The latter displays were found to have the area of positive potentials corresponding in all but 2 cases with the underperfused territory indicated by SPECT. For the LAD and LCx groups all ECG-derived bull's-eye images featured positive potentials in the expected territory and were consistent with SPECT images; for the RCA group 13/18 ECG-derived bull's-eye images indicated the expected territory, but 3/5 of “misclassified” cases were consistent with SPECT images. Therefore, our findings suggest that electro-cardiographic imaging based on just the 12-lead ECG might yield estimates of myocardial ischemic regions that are consistent with those provided by SPECT.
RESEARCH PAPER: Old stellar population synthesis: new age and mass estimates for Mayall II = G1

An irrigation system for watering lawns, plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, or other plants. The irrigation system includes a plurality of irrigation spikes which clamp onto and puncture into a standard garden hose. The spikes are placed into soil where desired and the garden hose is placed into a clamp opening of the spikes, where a needle pierces the hose. In a preferred embodiment, the hose is deformed by the clamp opening into an oblong shape to improve water flow through the spike. An alternative embodiment includes a remote hose connecting the clamp to the stake portion of the spike, so that the stake can be placed a distance away from the hose for remote irrigation.
On an approximation with prescribed zeros of SISO abstract boundary control systems

Finite-dimensional approximations of partial differential equations are used not only for simulation, but also for controller design. Modal truncation and numerical approximation are common practical methods for approximating distributed parameter systems. The modal approximation preserves the exact, low-order poles of the original system. However, the zeros of modal approximations may differ significantly from those of the original distributed parameter system. In particular, right half-plane zeros, which are not present in the original infinite-dimensional model, may appear in modal truncations. In this paper we consider a boundary control system and propose a moment matching based approximation which preserves a prescribed set of zeros. To illustrate the advantages of the method, we consider its application to the heat equation with Neumann boundary control at the right end (HENBCR). Although the modal approximation provides good error bounds for the HENBCR, it contains non-minimum phase zeros which lead to erroneous predictions. The moment matching approach sketched in this paper yields an approximation of the HENBCR with minimum phase zeros only. We consider that the numerical example is very interesting and convincing for the reader. Due to space limitations, further theoretical analysis will be addressed in the full paper.