Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New evolutionary methods for optimal design of PID controllers for AVR system

An efficient and powerful design method suitable for calculating optimal proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers for AVR systems is proposed. The method is an improved version of the Discrete Action Reinforcement Learning Automata (DARLA) while discrete probability functions (DPF) of the design variables are not considered independent. The results of the proposed method called Extended Discrete Action Reinforcement Learning Automata (EDARLA) are compared to the results obtained by the well known Ziegler-Nichols (ZN), conventional DARLA and Genetic Algorithms (GA) approaches. The extensive simulation results prove superiority of the proposed design method in terms of optimality, efficiency, computation burden, and being less sensitive to the ranges considered for the design variables that is the search space. Besides being successful in providing globally optimal results, due to high efficiency and lower computation time, the proposed approach can be considered an interesting candidate for designing and tuning optimal adaptive PID controllers for many practical systems.
Star formation in blue compact dwarf galaxies: Mkn 104 and I Zw 97

Two blue compact dwarf galaxies Mkn 104 and I Zw 97 are studied photometrically and spectroscopically. Mkn 104 is found to contain three distinct bright star forming regions, whereas I Zw 97 is found to contain three bright and two faint star forming regions. Medium resolution spectra of three bright H ii regions in the two galaxies were obtained. Estimation of oxygen abundance in these regions yields a value equal to log(O/H)+12 = 8.5 (Z = Z⊙/2.7). Star formation rates in these star forming regions are estimated. The highest star formation rate for I Zw 97 is found to be 0.04 M⊙yr −1 and for Mkn 104, it is 0.02 M⊙yr −1 . I Zw 97 is realized to be a cometary blue compact dwarf galaxy undergoing a strong burst of star formation. A U B vs V I colour-colour mixed population model is created using the Starburst99 evolutionary model curves. The spectrum of the bright star forming knot of I Zw 97 does not show any strong signature of an underlying relatively older stellar population, but the U B vs V I two colour diagram indicates a strong contribution of a � 500 Myr population. A spectrum of the central region of Mkn 104 gives a hint about the underlying old stellar population. The age of this underlying population using the U B vs V I two colour diagram is estimated to be � 500 Myr. Surface brightness profiles and colour profiles for these galaxies are presented. The surface brightness profile of both
Accuracy of CNV Detection from GWAS Data

Several computer programs are available for detecting copy number variants (CNVs) using genome-wide SNP arrays. We evaluated the performance of four CNV detection software suites—Birdsuite, Partek, HelixTree, and PennCNV-Affy—in the identification of both rare and common CNVs. Each program's performance was assessed in two ways. The first was its recovery rate, i.e., its ability to call 893 CNVs previously identified in eight HapMap samples by paired-end sequencing of whole-genome fosmid clones, and 51,440 CNVs identified by array Comparative Genome Hybridization (aCGH) followed by validation procedures, in 90 HapMap CEU samples. The second evaluation was program performance calling rare and common CNVs in the Bipolar Genome Study (BiGS) data set (1001 bipolar cases and 1033 controls, all of European ancestry) as measured by the Affymetrix SNP 6.0 array. Accuracy in calling rare CNVs was assessed by positive predictive value, based on the proportion of rare CNVs validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), while accuracy in calling common CNVs was assessed by false positive/false negative rates based on qPCR validation results from a subset of common CNVs. Birdsuite recovered the highest percentages of known HapMap CNVs containing >20 markers in two reference CNV datasets. The recovery rate increased with decreased CNV frequency. In the tested rare CNV data, Birdsuite and Partek had higher positive predictive values than the other software suites. In a test of three common CNVs in the BiGS dataset, Birdsuite's call was 98.8% consistent with qPCR quantification in one CNV region, but the other two regions showed an unacceptable degree of accuracy. We found relatively poor consistency between the two “gold standards,” the sequence data of Kidd et al., and aCGH data of Conrad et al. Algorithms for calling CNVs especially common ones need substantial improvement, and a “gold standard” for detection of CNVs remains to be established.
An online adventure game for teaching math

This paper describes the development of an educational adventure game which aims to be useful in learning arithmetic. The main game platform communicates with several arithmetic mini games. A student modeling component is used to create a profile for every student and grant adaptive features to the main game platform. Additionally, an error diagnosis component is also useful for evaluating students' errors and giving relative advice. The choice of adventure game genre was based to past research which revealed that adventure games can have beneficial effects in learning process.
The Polysemy Problems, an Important Issue in a Chinese to Taiwanese TTS System

This paper brings up an important issue, the polysemy problems, in a Chinese to Taiwanese TTS system. Polysemy means there are words with more than one meaning or pronunciation, such as “¿¿”(we), “¿”(no), “¿”(you), “¿”(I), “¿”(want), and so on. We focus on the Chinese word “¿¿” (we) to show how imperative the polysemy problem in a Chinese to Taiwanese TTS system is. There are two pronunciations of the word “¿¿”(we) in Taiwanese, /ghun/ and /lan/. The corresponding Chinese words are “¿” and “¿”. We propose two approachs and their combination to solve this problem. The results show that we have a 93.1% precision in translating the correct meaning and pronunciation of the word “¿¿” (we) from Chinese to Taiwanese.
Khat promotes human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell apoptosis via mitochondria and MAPK-associated pathways

Khat (Catha edulis Forsk) is a flowering evergreen plant in Eastern Africa and Southwestern Arabia. Consumption of Khat has been associated with the development of oral cancer, but its mechanism of action on the molecular level remains unclear. The present study demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of khat extracts on the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Trypan blue exclusion assays, flow cytometry, fluorescent and electron microscopy, as well as western blotting were used to analyze the effects of Khat on the cell viability of breast cancer cells, expression of apoptotic-associated proteins and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results of the present study demonstrated that treatment with 400 µg/ml khat was able to induce cell death in breast cancers, with an increase in the protein expression of apoptosis regulator Bax and a decrease in the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2, along with a decrease in ROS levels in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the expression of activated c-Jun N-terminal and extracellular regulated protein kinases was increased in khat-treated cells compared with untreated cells. Mitochondria participated in cell apoptosis through the release of apoptogenic proteins to the cytosol and the generation of excess reactive oxygen species. The results of the present study suggest that khat induces MDA-MB-231 cell apoptosis via MAPK activation and mitochondrial-mediated death.
Aggregation and interspecific abundance-occupancy relationships.

Hartley (1998) is critical of the approach taken by recent attempts to understand the mechanisms underlying the positive relationship between the local abundances and regional occupancies of species which has been documented for many groups of organisms. Whilst he highlights important issues, some of the observations made are simplistic. Here we draw attention to the problems and to the substantial body of previous work that bears upon them.
Delayed cardioprotective effects of exercise in dogs are aminoguanidine sensitive: possible involvement of nitric oxide.

Dogs were subjected to exercise on a treadmill, using a protocol in which the speed and slope were increased every 3 min, and which elevated both heart rate (to a mean of 198+/-14 beats.min(-1)) and mean arterial blood pressure (to 150+/-4 mmHg). Then, 24 or 48 h later, the dogs were anaesthetized with a mixture of alpha-chloralose and urethane and subjected to a 25 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The control dogs (instrumented but not exercised) were subjected to the same procedure. In some dogs the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor aminoguanidine (50 mg.kg(-1); intravenous) was administered 30 min before occlusion. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was determined by the rapid bolus injection of phenylephrine 60 min before, and again 3 min after, the onset of occlusion. Exercise markedly reduced the consequences of coronary artery occlusion 24 h (but not 48 h) later, without modifying myocardial tissue blood flow. In the exercised dogs there were reductions in arrhythmia severity [ventricular fibrillation (VF) during occlusion, 0%; survival from the combined ischaemia/reperfusion insult, 70%] compared with controls (VF during occlusion, 36%; survival, 9%). BRS was preserved during occlusion in the exercised dogs (before occlusion, 1.60+/-0.54 ms.mmHg(-1); 3 min after occlusion, 1.37+/-0.4 ms.mmHg(-1)), but not in controls (before occlusion, 1.28+/-0.29 ms.mmHg(-1); 3 min after occlusion, 0.45+/-0.12 ms.mmHg(-1); P<0.05), and other ischaemic changes (inhomogeneity of electrical activation and changes in the ST-segment, recorded over the ischaemic region) were also less marked in the exercised dogs. Exercise-induced cardioprotection was abolished by aminoguanidine (VF during occlusion, 25%; survival, 0%). The results show that even a single period of exercise affords delayed protection against ischaemia/reperfusion-induced VF and other ischaemic changes. Since this protection is abolished by aminoguanidine, and since (inducible) NO synthase activity was elevated 3-fold in left ventricular samples 24 h after exercise, we suggest that this protection is mediated by nitric oxide.
Antibacterial activity of alkaloids from Sida acuta

Sida acuta is a shrub indigenous to pantropical regions. The plant is widely used for its various pharmacological properties. Among compounds of pharmacological interest occurring in the plant, are indoloquinoline alkaloids. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of alkaloids of S. acuta from Burkina Faso. The alkaloids had a good antimicrobial activity against the test microorganisms. In the agar-well diffusion assay, highest inhibition zone diameters were recorded with Gram-positive bacteria. The broth microdilution assay gave minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 16 to 400 µg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration values ranging from 80 to up to 400 µg/ml. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the same alkaloids led to the identification of cryptolepine and quindoline as the major components.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Rev-Binding Protein Is Essential for Influenza A Virus Replication and Promotes Genome Trafficking in Late-Stage Infection

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus uses cellular protein transport systems (e.g., CRM1-mediated nuclear export and Rab11-dependent recycling endosomes) for genome trafficking from the nucleus to the plasma membrane, where new virions are assembled. However, the detailed mechanisms of these events have not been completely resolved, and additional cellular factors are probably required. Here, we investigated the role of the cellular human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Rev-binding protein (HRB), which interacts with influenza virus nuclear export protein (NEP), during the influenza virus life cycle. By using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and overexpression of a dominant negative HRB protein fragment, we show that cells lacking functional HRB have significantly reduced production of influenza virus progeny and that this defect results from impaired viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) delivery to the plasma membrane in late-stage infection. Since HRB colocalizes with influenza vRNPs early after their delivery to the cytoplasm, it may mediate a connection between the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery and the endosomal system, thus facilitating the transfer of vRNPs from nuclear export to cytoplasmic trafficking complexes. We also found an association between NEP and HRB in the perinuclear region, suggesting that NEP may contribute to this process. Our results identify HRB as a second endosomal factor with a crucial role in influenza virus genome trafficking, suggest cooperation between unique endosomal compartments in the late steps of the influenza virus life cycle, and provide a common link between the cytoplasmic trafficking mechanisms of influenza virus and HIV.
Selective horizontal dysmetropsia following prestriate lesion.

We describe a patient (P.S.) who, following a right prestriate lesion, reported that objects in the left visual field appeared distorted and smaller than those on the right. Other aspects of visual processing were remarkably unaffected. We carried out a series of size comparison tests using simple or complex stimuli and requiring different types of behavioural responses. We found that P.S. significantly underestimated the size of stimuli presented in her left visual field. When comparison tasks involved stimuli placed along the vertical axis or in the right visual field, P.S. performed well. The vertical and horizontal components of size distortion were found to be differentially affected. We conclude that size processing may be dissociated from other aspects of visual processing, such as form or colour processing, and depends critically on part of the occipital, prestriate areas (Brodmann areas 18-19).
Functional MRI in Awake Unrestrained Dogs

Because of dogs' prolonged evolution with humans, many of the canine cognitive skills are thought to represent a selection of traits that make dogs particularly sensitive to human cues. But how does the dog mind actually work? To develop a methodology to answer this question, we trained two dogs to remain motionless for the duration required to collect quality fMRI images by using positive reinforcement without sedation or physical restraints. The task was designed to determine which brain circuits differentially respond to human hand signals denoting the presence or absence of a food reward. Head motion within trials was less than 1 mm. Consistent with prior reinforcement learning literature, we observed caudate activation in both dogs in response to the hand signal denoting reward versus no-reward.
Effect of Delayed Peripheral Nerve Repair on Nerve Regeneration, Schwann Cell Function and Target Muscle Recovery

Despite advances in surgical techniques for peripheral nerve repair, functional restitution remains incomplete. The timing of surgery is one factor influencing the extent of recovery but it is not yet clearly defined how long a delay may be tolerated before repair becomes futile. In this study, rats underwent sciatic nerve transection before immediate (0) or 1, 3, or 6 months delayed repair with a nerve graft. Regeneration of spinal motoneurons, 13 weeks after nerve repair, was assessed using retrograde labeling. Nerve tissue was also collected from the proximal and distal stumps and from the nerve graft, together with the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles. A dramatic decline in the number of regenerating motoneurons and myelinated axons in the distal nerve stump was observed in the 3- and 6-months delayed groups. After 3 months delay, the axonal number in the proximal stump increased 2–3 folds, accompanied by a smaller axonal area. RT-PCR of distal nerve segments revealed a decline in Schwann cells (SC) markers, most notably in the 3 and 6 month delayed repair samples. There was also a progressive increase in fibrosis and proteoglycan scar markers in the distal nerve with increased delayed repair time. The yield of SC isolated from the distal nerve segments progressively fell with increased delay in repair time but cultured SC from all groups proliferated at similar rates. MG muscle at 3- and 6-months delay repair showed a significant decline in weight (61% and 27% compared with contra-lateral side). Muscle fiber atrophy and changes to neuromuscular junctions were observed with increased delayed repair time suggestive of progressively impaired reinnervation. This study demonstrates that one of the main limiting factors for nerve regeneration after delayed repair is the distal stump. The critical time point after which the outcome of regeneration becomes too poor appears to be 3-months.
MCM Proteins Are Associated with RNA Polymerase II Holoenzyme

ABSTRACT MCMs are a family of proteins related to ATP-dependent helicases that bind to origin recognition complexes and are required for initiation of DNA replication. We report that antibodies against MCM2(BM28) specifically inhibited transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) in microinjected Xenopus oocytes. Consistent with this observation, MCM2 and other MCMs copurified with Pol II and general transcription factors (GTFs) in high-molecular-weight holoenzyme complexes isolated from Xenopus oocytes and HeLa cells. Pol II and GTFs also copurified with MCMs isolated by anti-MCM3 immunoaffinity chromatography. MCMs were specifically displaced from the holoenzyme complex by antibody against the C-terminal domain (CTD) of Pol II. In addition, MCMs bound to a CTD affinity column, suggesting that their association with holoenzyme depends in part on this domain of Pol II. These results suggest a new function for MCM proteins as components of the Pol II transcriptional apparatus.
Minimal Stimuli Generation in Simulation-Based Verification

Simulation-based verification is still the state-of-the-art when checking the correctness of complex Systems-on-Chips. In particular, constraint-based simulation is popular, since here dedicated stimuli are generated which trigger certain corner-case behavior. However, to the best of our knowledge, only heuristic methods have been introduced so far. In this paper, we propose an approach that determines a minimal set of stimuli for the desired set of scenarios to be simulated. For this purpose, we are making use of solving techniques from Boolean satisfiability. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that the proposed approach can be applied to generate very compact stimuli sets. Furthermore, the proposed approach can be used to evaluate the quality of results obtained by heuristic methods.
A survey of the nutritional and haemagglutination properties of legume seeds generally available in the UK

1. Eighty-five samples from fifteen different legume seed lines generally available inthe UK were examined by measurements of their net protein utilization by rats and by haemagglutination tests with erythrocytes from a number of different animal species. From these results the seeds were classified into four broad groups. 2. Group a seeds from most varieties of kidney (Phaseolus vulgaris), runner (Phaseolus coccineus) and tepary (Phaseolus acutifolius) beans showed high reactivity with all cell types and were also highly toxic. 3. Group b, which contained seeds from lima or butter beans (Phaseolus lunatus) and winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), agglutinated only human and pronase-treated rat erythrocytes. These seeds did not support proper growth of the ratsalthough the animals survived the 10 d experimental period. 4. Group c consisted of seeds from lentils (Lens culinaris), peas (Pisum sativum), chick-peas (Cicer arietinum), blackeyed peas (Vigna sinensis), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), mung beans (Phaseolus aureus), field orbroad beans (Vicia faba) and aduki beans (Phaseolus angularis). These generally had low reactivity with all cells and were non-toxic. 5. Group d, represented by soya (Glycine max) and pinto (Phaseolus vulgaris) beans, generally had low reactivity with all cells but caused growth depression atcertain dietary concentrations. This growth depression was probably mainly due to antinutritional factors other than lectins. 6. Lectins from group a seeds showed many structural and immunological similarities. However the subunit composition of the lectin from the tepary bean samples was different from that of the other bean lectins in this or any other groups.
Reliability of End, Neutral, and Stable Vertebrae Identification in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design. Analysis of radiographic interpretation and vertebral level identification. Objectives. To assess the intra- and interobserver reliability by observer training level used for selecting the end vertebra (EV), neutral vertebra (NV), and stable vertebra (SV) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Summary of Background Data. Various radiographic and clinical factors are important in surgical planning. For adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, an analysis of the end, neutral, and stable vertebrae are of paramount importance for understanding spinal deformity management and determining the distal fusion level. Additionally, the development and comparison of optimal surgical techniques requires reliable, reproducible radiographic parameters. Methods. One hundred consecutive radiographs of operative cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were evaluated on three separate occasions by three surgeons (2700 data points) at various levels of training (fellowship-trained spine surgeon, fellow in-training, orthopedic surgery resident). For each iteration, the observers attempted to identify the distal structural Cobb curve EV, NV, and SV. The radiographs included preselected Lenke type 1, 3, and 5 curves in random order. The average main thoracic curve was 53° (range, 30–82°) with a T8–T9 average apex, whereas the average thoracolumbar curve was 33° (range, 18–65°). Intra- and interobserver reliability was assessed by means of Cohen’s Kappa correlation coefficient, and raw percentages of agreement were recorded. Results. Intraobserver reliability was good to excellent for determining the EV (&kgr;a = 0.69–0.88), good for determining the NV (&kgr;a = 0.65–0.73), and good to excellent fordetermining the SV (&kgr;a = 0.74–0.91) with 83.5, 72.2, and 85.6% intraobserver agreement, respectively. A trendwas noted towards greater intraobserver reliability with increasing levels of observer experience. Interobserver reliability was poor (&kgr;a = 0.26–0.39) for each vertebral level, with interobserver agreement for only 48.7% of EV, 41.7% of NV, and 51.0% of SV. However, interobserver agreement increased significantly when concurrence within one vertebral level was assessed, with 91, 73, and 76% agreement for identifying the EV, NV, and SV, respectively. Conclusions. Radiographic determination of the EV, NV, and SV demonstrated good to excellent intraobserver, but poor interobserver, reliability. Interobserver agreement was fair to good when concurrence within one adjacent level was assessed. Observer experience level may be a factor. The difficulties in identifying these vertebral levels represent a potential obstacle to reproducible patient-specific fusion level determination and to the optimization and uniformity of patient care.