Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Set-membership identification and fault detection using a bayesian framework

This paper deals with the problem of set-membership identification and fault detection using a Bayesian framework. The paper presents how the set-membership model estimation problem can be reformulated from a Bayesian viewpoint in order to determine the feasible parameter set and, in a posterior fault detection stage, to check the consistency between data and the model. The paper shows that, assuming uniform distributed measurement noise and flat model prior probability distribution, the Bayesian approach leads to the same feasible parameter set than the set-membership strips technique and, additionally, can deal with models nonlinear in the parameters. The procedure and results are illustrated by means of the application to a quadruple tank process.
Gene expression Evaluation and comparison of gene clustering methods in microarray analysis

Motivation: Microarray technology has been widely applied in biological and clinical studies for simultaneous monitoring of gene expression in thousands of genes. Gene clustering analysis is found useful for discovering groups of correlated genes potentially co-regulated or associated to the disease or conditions under investigation. Many clustering methods including hierarchical clustering, K-means, PAM, SOM, mixture model-based clustering and tight clustering have been widely used in the literature. Yet no comprehensive comparative study has been performed to evaluate the effectiveness of
Risk Management in Venture Capital Investor-Investee Relations

This paper provides an empirical analysis of risk handling arrangements adopted in the relationship between the venture capital investor and his investee. The theoretical framework adopted is principal-agent analysis, which views the investee as a risk averse agent entering into a risk sharing contract with the investor, a risk neutral Fully diversified) principal. The sample analysed is made up of twenty venture capital investors in the UK over the period 1992-93, and (where available) their corresponding investee(s). These investors accounted for about three-quarters of venture capital activity in the UK over this period. The paper reports on evidence gathered by semi-structured interviews with investors and investees, on expected returns, portfolio balance, screening and risk sharing.
C2H: A Computational Model of H&H-based Phonetic Contrast in Synthetic Speech

This paper presents a computational model of human speech production based on the hypothesis that low energy attractors for a human speech production system can be identified, and that interpolation/extrapolation along the key dimension of hypo/hyper-articulation can be motivated by energetic considerations of phonetic contrast. An HMM-based speech synthesiser along with continuous adaptation of its statistical models was used to implement the model. Two adaptation methods were proposed for vowel and consonant models and their effectiveness was tested by showing that such hypo/hyper-articulation control can manipulate successfully the intelligibility of synthetic speech in noise. Objective evaluations with the ANSI Speech Intelligibility Index indicate that intelligibility in various types of noise is effectively controlled. In particular, in the hyper-articulation transforms, the improvement with respect to unadapted speech is above 25 %.
Behavioural, educational and respiratory outcomes of antenatal betamethasone for term caesarean section (ASTECS trial)

Objectives To determine whether antenatal betamethasone prior to elective term caesarean section (CS) affects long term behavioural, cognitive or developmental outcome, and whether the risk of asthma or atopic disease is reduced. Design A questionnaire based follow-up of a multicentre randomised controlled trial (Antenatal Steroids for Term Elective Caesarean Section, BMJ 2005). Setting Four UK study centres from the original trial. Participants 862 participants from the four largest recruiting centres, 92% of the original study. 824 (96%) were traced and 799 (93%) were successfully contacted. Fifty-one percent (407/799) completed and returned the questionnaire. The children were aged 8–15 years (median 12.2 years, 52% girls). 386 gave consent to contact schools with 352 (91%) reports received. Main outcome measures Questionnaires including a strengths and difficulties questionnaire, International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, general health and school performance. Results There were no significant differences between children whose mothers received betamethasone and controls for the mean total strengths and difficulties questionnaire scores and subscores for hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, prosocial behaviour, conduct or peer problems. 25 (12%) children whose mothers received betamethasone had reported learning difficulties compared with 27 (14%) control children. The proportion of children who achieved standard assessment tests KS2 exams level 4 or above for mathematics, English or science was similar as were the rates of ever reported wheeze (30% vs 30%), asthma (24% vs 21%), eczema (34% vs 37%) and hay fever (25% vs 27%). Conclusions Antenatal betamethasone did not result in any adverse outcomes or reduction in asthma or atopy. It should be considered for elective CS at 37–38 weeks of gestation. Trial registration: Original trial was preregistration, the trial publication is BMJ. 2005 Sep 24;331(7518):662.
High-order center-frequency adaptive filters using block-diagram-based frequency transformation

This paper proposes a simple method of realization of center-frequency adaptive filters for high-accuracy detection of band-pass signals immersed in a broadband signal. Our method extends the conventional method proposed by Kumar and Pal. While the conventional center-frequency adaptive filters were mathematically difficult to describe in the case of high filter order, our method provides a simple procedure to construct any kind of high-order center-frequency adaptive filter. We achieve this goal with the help of the frequency transformation and its block diagram representation. Simulation results show that our high-order center-frequency adaptive filters achieve higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement than the conventional low-order filters including the adaptive notch filters.
XTT Rules Design and Implementation with Object-Oriented Methods

In this paper certain knowledge and software engineering methods integration issues are discussed. The principal idea is to consider an effective design and implementation framework for rule design with UML, and implementation with Java. The solution proposed in the paper consists of using a custom knowledge engineering design method for rules in the design stage. The rule base is then transformed to UML behavioral diagrams, which can be considered a visual encoding. The rule implementation involves the serialization to Java language using classes representing the decision tables grouping rules sharing the same attributes.
Determinants of Reduced Antiplatelet Effect of Aspirin in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease

Background Aspirin is a cornerstone in management of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, considerable variability in the antiplatelet effect of aspirin has been reported. Aim To investigate independent determinants of reduced antiplatelet effect of aspirin in stable CAD patients. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study including 900 stable, high-risk CAD patients. Among these, 795 (88%) had prior myocardial infarction, 250 (28%) had type 2 diabetes, and 170 (19%) had both. All patients received 75 mg aspirin daily as mono antiplatelet therapy. The antiplatelet effect of aspirin was assessed by measurement of platelet aggregation employing 1) multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA, Multiplate Analyzer) in whole blood anticoagulated with citrate or hirudin using arachidonic acid (AA) or collagen as agonists, and 2) VerifyNow Aspirin Assay. Compliance was assessed by measurement of serum thromboxane B2. Results Platelet count, prior myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes and body mass index were independent determinants of increased AA-induced MEA platelet aggregation in citrate and hirudin anticoagulated blood (p-values ≤ 0.045). Similar results were found with VerifyNow. Prior coronary artery bypass grafting, age, smoking (MEA, AA/citrate) and female gender (MEA, AA/hirudin) were also independent determinants of increased platelet aggregation (p-values ≤ 0.038). Compliance was confirmed by low serum thromboxane B2 levels in all patients (median [25%;75%]: 0.97 [0.52;1.97], range 0.02-26.44 ng/ml). Conclusion Platelet count, prior myocardial infarction, type 2 diabetes and body mass index were independent determinants of increased platelet aggregation, indicating that these characteristics may be key factors in reduced antiplatelet effect of aspirin in stable CAD patients.
Trends in the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Chinese Preschool Children from 2006 to 2014

Objective To examine the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children from 2006 to 2014. Methods A total of 145,078 children aged 3–6 years from 46 kindergartens finished the annual health examination in Tianjin, China. Height, weight and other information were obtained using standardized methods. Z-scores for weight, height, and BMI were calculated based on the standards for the World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards. Results From 2006 to 2014, mean values of height z-scores significantly increased from 0.34 to 0.54, mean values of weight z-scores kept constant, and mean values of BMI z-scores significantly decreased from 0.40 to 0.23. Mean values of height z-scores, weight z-scores, and BMI z-scores slightly decreased among children from 3 to 4 years old, and then increased among children from 4 to 6 years old. Between 2006 and 2014, there were no significant changes in prevalence of overweight (BMI z-scores >2 SD) and obesity (BMI z-scores >3 SD) among 3–4 years children. However, prevalence of obesity (BMI z-scores >2 SD) increased from 8.8% in 2006 to 10.1% in 2010, and then kept stable until 2014 among 5–6 years children. Boys had higher prevalence of obesity than girls. Conclusions Mean values of BMI z-scores decreased from 2006 to 2014 among Chinese children aged 3–6 years old due to the significant increase of height z-scores. Prevalence of obesity increased from 2006 to 2010, and then kept stable until 2014 among children aged 5–6 years. The prevalence of obesity was higher in boys than in girls.
On the Decidability of a Class of XOR-based Key-management APIs

We define a new class of security protocols using XOR, and show that secrecy after an unbounded number of sessions is decidable for this class. The new class is important as it contains examples of key-management APIs, such as the IBM 4758 CCA API, which lie outside the classes for which secrecy has previously been shown to be decidable. Earlier versions of the CCA API were shown to have serious flaws, and the fixes introduced by IBM in version 2.41 have not been formally verified in a model with unbounded sessions. In showing the decidability of this class, we also suggest a simple decision procedure, which we plan to implement in future work to finally verify the revised API.
Female Entrepreneurship, Agglomeration, and a New Spatial Mismatch

Abstract Female entrepreneurs may be less networked than their male counterparts and so derive less benefit from agglomeration. They may also have greater domestic burdens and therefore have higher commuting costs. This paper develops a theoretical model showing that either of these forces can lead to the segregation of male- and female-owned businesses, with female entrepreneurs choosing locations farther from agglomerations and commuting shorter distances. Empirical analysis is consistent with these predictions. Female-owned businesses are segregated, often to a degree similar to black-white residential segregation. Female-owned enterprises are less exposed to agglomeration, with 10% to 20% less own-industry employment nearby.
Context-sensitive binding by the laminar circuits of V1 and V2: A unified model of perceptual grouping, attention, and orientation contrast

A detailed neural model is presented of how the laminar circuits of visual cortical areas V1 and V2 implement context-sensitive binding processes such as perceptual grouping and attention. The model proposes how specific laminar circuits allow the responses of visual cortical neurons to be determined not only by the stimuli within their classical receptive fields, but also to be strongly influenced by stimuli in the extra-classical surround. This context-sensitive visual processing can greatly enhance the analysis of visual scenes, especially those containing targets that are low contrast, partially occluded, or crowded by distractors. We show how interactions of feedforward, feedback, and horizontal circuitry can implement several types of contextual processing simultaneously, using shared laminar circuits. In particular, we present computer simulations that suggest how top-down attention and preattentive perceptual grouping, two processes that are fundamental for visual binding, can interact, with attentional enhancement selectively propagating along groupings of both real and illusory contours, thereby showing how attention can selectively enhance object representations. These simulations also illustrate how attention may have a stronger facilitatory effect on low contrast than on high contrast stimuli, and how pop-out from orientation contrast may occur. The specific functional roles which the model proposes for the cortical layers allow several testable neurophysiological predictions to be made. The results presented here simulate only the boundary grouping system of adult cortical architecture. However, we also discuss how this model contributes to a larger neural theory of vision that suggests how intracortical and intercortical feedback help to stabilize development and learning within these cortical circuits. Although feedback plays a key role, fast feedforward processing is possible in response to unambiguous information. Model circuits are capable of synchronizing quickly, but context-sensitive persistence of previous events can influence how synchrony develops. Although these results focus on how the interblob cortical processing stream controls boundary grouping and attention, related modelling of the blob cortical processing stream suggests how visible surfaces are formed, and modelling of the motion stream suggests how transient responses to scenic changes can control long-range apparent motion and also attract spatial attention.
Epidermal growth factor receptor VIII peptide vaccination is efficacious against established intracerebral tumors.

PURPOSE The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is often amplified and structurally rearranged in malignant gliomas and other tumors such as breast and lung, with the most common mutation being EGFRvIII. In the study described here, we tested in mouse models a vaccine consisting of a peptide encompassing the tumor-specific mutated segment of EGFRvIII (PEP-3) conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin [KLH (PEP-3-KLH)]. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN C57BL/6J or C3H mice were vaccinated with PEP-3-KLH and subsequently challenged either s.c. or intracerebrally with a syngeneic melanoma cell line stably transfected with a murine homologue of EGFRvIII. Control mice were vaccinated with KLH. To test its effect on established tumors, C3H mice were also challenged intracerebrally and subsequently vaccinated with PEP-3-KLH. RESULTS S.c. tumors developed in all of the C57BL/6J mice vaccinated with KLH in Freund's adjuvant, and there were no long-term survivors. Palpable tumors never developed in 70% of the PEP-3-KLH-vaccinated mice. In the C57BL/6J mice receiving the PEP-3-KLH vaccine, the tumors that did develop were significantly smaller than those in the control group (P < 0.05). PEP-3-KLH vaccination did not result in significant cytotoxic responses in standard cytotoxicity assays; however, antibody titers against PEP-3 were enhanced. The passive transfer of sera from the immunized mice to nonimmunized mice protected 31% of the mice from tumor development (P < 0.05). In vivo depletion studies showed that the effector cell population was natural killer and CD8+ T cells, and in vitro assays showed that macrophages could lyse target tumor cells with serum from the PEP-3-KLH-vaccinated mice. Peptide vaccination was also sufficiently potent to have marked efficacy against intracerebral tumors, resulting in a >173% increase in median survival time, with 80% of the C3H mice achieving long-term survival (P = 0.014). In addition, C3H mice with established intracerebral tumor that received a single treatment of PEP-3-KLH showed a 26% increase in median survival time, with 40% long-term survival (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS Vaccination with an EGFRvIII-specific peptide is efficacious against both s.c. and established intracerebral tumors. The therapeutic effect of peptide vaccination may be mediated, in part, by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.
A cross-sectional survey of South African psychology interns’ perceptions of negative supervision events

Prevalence rates of negative supervision events among Psychology interns in South Africa are non-existent. This article investigates the incidence of negative supervision events and explores the influence of various contextual variables on supervision outcomes. Quantitative data were obtained via a web survey from a sample (N = 92) of Clinical and Counselling psychology interns across nine provinces in South Africa. In all, 42 (or 45.6%) of the 92 participants had a negative supervision event during their internship, 26.19% categorized their experience as ‘Harmful’, and 73.81% (or 31) had an ‘Inadequate’ experience. A total of 14 (or 22.6%) interns experienced a negative supervision event on a weekly basis. Proportionately more White interns reported experiencing negative supervision events and had the highest number of reported harmful experiences. Neither race nor gender significantly impacted the feedback and evaluation process. A significantly larger number of mixed race and mixed culture dyads reported harmful negative supervision compared to same race/culture dyads. There was no significant positive relationship between inadequate or harmful negative supervision event and sexual orientation, theoretical orientation, gender, religion, and language. Implications for training and professional development are discussed.
Representativeness of RELAX-AHF Clinical Trial Population in Acute Heart Failure

Background—The Relaxin for the Treatment of Acute Heart Failure (RELAX-AHF) trial enrolled 1161 patients admitted to the hospital for acute heart failure (AHF) to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of serelaxin, a recombinant form of human relaxin-2. We characterized how representative RELAX-AHF clinical trial enrollees were to those patients with AHF found in international registries. Methods and Results—We examined 196 770 AHF admissions from the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry-United States and Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry-International registries. Patients were considered RELAX-AHF-type if they met the following criteria: discharge diagnosis of heart failure, systolic blood pressure >125 mm Hg, dyspnea at rest or with mild exertion, intravenous diuretic use, glomerular filtration rate of 30 to 75 mL/min per 1.73 m2, hemoglobin >8 g/dL, and no use of intravenous inotropes or vasopressors. Baseline characteristics and treatments of RELAX-AHF-type and non–RELAX-AHF-type patients were compared. A Cox model was used to evaluate inpatient mortality. Among both Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry-United States and Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry-International registries, 20.7% (n=38 485) and 16.2% (n=1749) of patients met basic criteria for RELAX-AHF entry, respectively. These patients were more likely to be older, be women, have a previous history of hypertension, have preserved ejection fraction, and have better renal function. In-hospital mortality was lower in RELAX-AHF-type than in non–RELAX-AHF-type patients, even after multivariable adjustment (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.53–0.66; P<0.0001). Conclusions—Patients potentially eligible for RELAX-AHF represent ≈2 in 10 patients with AHF in the United States, Latin America, or Asia-Pacific. These patients differ significantly from other hospitalized patients based on clinical characteristics and outcomes.
Chemical Composition and Toxicity against Sitophilus zeamai s and Tribolium castaneum of the Essential Oil of Murraya exotica Aerial Parts

In our screening program for new agrochemicals from Chinese medicinal herbs, Murraya exotica was found to possess insecticidal activity against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. The essential oil of aerial parts of M. exotica was obtained by hydrodistillation and investigated by GC and GC-MS. The main components of M. exotica essential oil were spathulenol (17.7%), α-pinene (13.3%), caryophyllene oxide (8.6%), and α-caryophyllene (7.3%). Essential oil of M. exotica possessed fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults with LC50 values of 8.29 and 6.84 mg/L, respectively. The essential oils also show contact toxicity against S. zeamais and T. castaneum adults with LD50 values of 11.41 and 20.94 μg/adult, respectively.
Toxigenic Fusarium species infecting wheat heads in Poland

Toxigenic Fusarium species are common pathogens of wheat and other cereals worldwide. In total, 449 wheat heads from six localities in Poland, heavily infected with Fusarium during 2009 season, were examined for Fusarium species identification. F. culmorum was the most common species (72.1% on average) with F. graminearum and F. avenaceum the next most commonly observed, but much less frequent (13.4 and 12.5% respectively). F. cerealis was found in 1.8% of all samples, and F. tricinctum was found only in one sample (0.2%). Subsequent quantification of the three major mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and moniliformin) in grain and chaff fractions with respect to associated prevailing pathogen species uncovered the following patterns. Moniliformin (MON) was found in low amounts in all samples with F. avenaceum present. In contrast, deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) were the contaminants of F. culmorum- and F. graminearum-infected heads. The highest concentration of DON was recorded in grain sample collected in Radzików (77 µg g−1). High temperatures in Central Poland during July and August accompanied with high rainfall in July were responsible for this high DON accumulation. Trichothecene, zearalenone, enniatin and beauvericin chemotypes were identified among 21 purified isolates using gene-specific PCR markers.
Non-constant Hazard Function and Inflation Dynamics

This paper explores implications of nominal rigidity characterized by a non-constant hazard function for aggregate dynamics. I derive the NKPC under an arbitrary hazard function and parameterize it with the Weibull duration model. The resulting Phillips curve involves lagged inflation and lagged expectations. It nests the Calvo NKPC as a limiting case in the sense that the effects of both terms are canceled out under the constant-hazard assumption. Furthermore, I find lagged inflation always has negative coefficients, thereby making it impossible to interpret inflation persistence as intrinsic. The numerical evaluation shows that the increasing hazard function leads to hump-shaped impulse responses of inÂ‡ation to monetary shocks, and output leads inflation.