Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust H∞ Control of an Uncertain System via a Strict Bounded Real Output Feedback Controller

The paper presents a new approach to the robust H∞ control of an uncertain system via an output feedback controller which is both stable and has a H∞ norm strictly less than a specified value. The uncertain systems under consideration contain structured uncertainty described by integral quadratic constraints. The controller is designed to achieve absolute stabilization with a specified level of disturbance attenuation. The main result involves solving a state feedback version of the problem by solving an algebraic Riccati equation dependent on a set of scaling parameters. Then two further algebraic Riccati equations are solved which depend on a further set of scaling parameters. The required controller is constructed from the Riccati solutions
Influence of diet, exercise, and serum vitamin d on sarcopenia in postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of 12 months of dietary weight loss and/or aerobic exercise on lean mass and the measurements defining sarcopenia in postmenopausal women and to examine the potential moderating effect of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and age. METHODS Four hundred thirty-nine overweight and obese postmenopausal women were randomized to diet modification (N = 118), exercise (N = 117), diet + exercise (N = 117), or control (N = 87). The diet intervention was a group-based program with a 10% weight loss goal. The exercise intervention was 45 min·d, 5 d·wk, of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic activity. Total and appendicular lean mass (ALM) were quantified by dual x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 12 months. A skeletal muscle index (SMI = ALM (kg) / height (m)) and the prevalence of sarcopenia (SMI <5.67 kg·m) were calculated. Serum 25(OH)D was assayed using a competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay. RESULTS Dietary weight loss resulted in a significant decrease in lean mass and a borderline significant decrease in ALM and SMI compared with controls. In contrast, aerobic exercise significantly preserved ALM and SMI. Diet + exercise attenuated the loss of ALM and SMI compared with diet alone and did not result in significant loss of total mass or ALM compared with controls. Neither serum 25(OH)D nor age was significant moderators of the intervention effects. CONCLUSIONS Aerobic exercise added to dietary weight loss can attenuate the loss of ALM during weight loss and may be effective for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia among overweight and obese postmenopausal women.
KONSEP REVISI TAKSONOMI BLOOM DAN IMPLEMENTASINYA PADA PELAJARAN MATEMATIKA SMP

Tujuan kajian ini adalah agar dapat menyusun soal-soal matematika sesuai konsep revisi taksonomi bloom. Taksonomi Bloom merupakan suatu tingkatan dalam mengidentifikasikan keterampilan siswa dari jenjang yang dasar sampai yang tertinggi. Tingkatan dalam revisi taksonomi bloom yang dilakukan oleh Kratwohl dan Anderson meliputi mengingat (C1), memahami (C2), mengaplikasikan (C3), menganalisis (4), mengevaluasi (5) dan mencipta (6). Tingkatan 44,5, dan 6 sering diklasifikasikan sebagai tingkat keterampilan berpikir tingkat tinggi ( high order thinking skills ). Guru perlu mengembangkan soal-soal sesusai revisi taksonomi bloom khususnya level C4, C5 dan C6 agar siswa terbiasa menyelesaikan soal yang mengembangkan keterampilan berpikir tingkat tinggi tersebut.
Reduction of Luteinzing Hormone Secretion Induced by Long‐Term Feed Restriction in Male Rats Is Associated with Increased Expression of GABA‐Synthesizing Enzymes Without Alterations of GnRH Gene Expression

In rats, fasting or restriction of feed intake impairs the activity of the hypothalamic gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator which results in reduced luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. It is still unknown which neurotransmitters are involved in this phenomenon. However, it is known that increased GABA concentrations in the hypothalamus reduce GnRH biosynthesis and release. Therefore, we examined whether 17 days of feed restriction in male rats affected the hypothalamic gene expression of GnRH and the GABA‐synthesizing enzymes glutaminase (GLS) and glutamic acid decarboxylase–which exists in two forms, GAD67 and GAD65–in the mammalian brain. Furthermore, the expression of the GnRH receptor (GnRH‐R) and the GABA transporter 1 (GAT‐1) were investigated. Feed restriction resulted in a 75% reduction in body weight (b.w.) compared to rats fed ad libitum. Serum concentrations of LH and testosterone in the feed restricted group were significantly reduced to ≈15% of that of rats fed ad libitum, while the FSH concentration remained unchanged. In the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) where GnRH is released into the portal vessels, mRNA levels of GAD67 and GLS were increased twofold compared to rats fed ad libitum while no changes were observed in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) where GnRH is biosynthesised. Neither the expression of preoptic GnRH mRNA nor the expression of GAD65 and of GnRH‐R mRNA in both hypothalamic structures was affected by feed restriction. In the anterior pituitary, a significant reduction of the expression of GnRH‐R, LH‐β and the α subunit was observed in the feed restricted rats, whereas FSH‐β mRNA levels remained constant. Thus, feed restriction selectively increased the expression of GABA‐synthesizing enzymes in the MBH but did not modify GnRH expression in the POA. However, the reduced expression of the LH‐β‐ and α‐subunit and of the GnRH‐R in the anterior pituitary indicates that pulsatile GnRH release may have been attenuated or even abolished. We suggest, that enhanced expression of GABA‐synthesizing enzymes reflects increased GABAergic neurotransmission and thereby reducing GnRH release from the MBH.
Treatment of Labial Mucocele by Intralesional Injection of Dexamethasone: Case Series

Salivary mucocele is a common lesion derived from minor salivary glands with various surgical or non-surgical treatment modalities. To evaluate the effect of a highly potent corticosteroid (dexamethasone) in the management of salivary mucocele, we performed intralesional injection of dexamethasone in nine patients with labial mucocele. Complete healing of lesions observed in seven of nine patients, and size reduction in two of them. No local scarring or deformity of the lower lip occurred in any of the patients. One patient reported local discomfort at the site of injection. Intralesional injection of dexamethasone is a potentially curative method in the treatment of mucocele.
Structural Variations and Magnetic Properties of the Quantum Antiferromagnets  ${\rm Cs}_{2}{\rm CuCl}_{4-x}{\rm Br}_{x}$

Depending on the crystal growth conditions, an orthorhombic (O-type) or a tetragonal (T-type) structure can be found in the solid solution Cs2CuCl4-xBrx (0 ≤ x ≤ 4). Here, we present measurements of the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility and isothermal magnetization on the T-type compounds x = 1.6 and 1.8 and compare these results with the magnetic properties recently derived for the O-type variant. The systems were found to exhibit quite dissimilar magnetic properties, which can be assigned to differences in the Cu coordination in these two structural variants. Whereas the tetragonal compounds can be classified as quasi-2-D ferromagnets, characterized by ferromagnetic layers with a weak antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling, the orthorhombic materials, notably the border compounds x = 0 and 4, are model systems for frustrated 2-D Heisenberg antiferromagnets.
Exploring the Myth of Mixed Marriages in India: Evidence from a Nation-wide Survey

Marriages in India are essentially endogamous in nature. The influences of western education and socio-economic transformations have led to enormous change in the existing pattern of choosing one’s life partner and marriage practices in India. For the first time, this paper presents a comprehensive empirical assessment of the extent of mixed marriages by analyzing nationally representative data from the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS, 2005). We consider mixed marriages in the following key aspects: Inter-caste marriage, Inter-religious marriage and Inter-economic group marriage (Inter-class marriage). The trend analyses reveal that the proportion of inter-caste and inter-religious marriages has doubled in the last two and half decades. With the exception of inter-class marriages, the absolute level of mixed marriages is still exceedingly small. Besides, there are substantial variations across the states. Regression analyses show a significant socio-economic differential in the occurrence of mixed marriages. The study reveals that a very few women have the freedom to choose their spouse. These findings assume importance in the context of an increasing number of ‘honour killings’ in India in the recent years.
Prediction of adverse outcomes in children with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND The ability to identify infants with sickle cell anemia who are likely to have severe complications later in life would permit accurate prognostication and tailoring of therapy to match disease-related risks and facilitate planning of clinical trials. We attempted to define the features of such babies by following the clinical course of 392 children with sickle cell disease from infancy to about the age of 10 years. METHODS We analyzed the records of 392 infants who received the diagnosis of homozygous sickle cell anemia or sickle cell-Beta(0)-thalassemia before the age of six months and for whom comprehensive clinical and laboratory data were recorded prospectively; data were available for a mean (+/-SD) of 10.0+/-4.8 years. Results obtained before the age of two years were evaluated to determine whether they predicted the outcome later in life. RESULTS Of the 392 infants in the cohort, 70 (18 percent) subsequently had an adverse outcome, defined as death (18 patients [26 percent]), stroke (25 [36 percent]) frequent pain (17 [24 percent]), or recurrent acute chest syndrome (10 [14 percent]). Using multivariate analysis, we found three statistically significant predictors of an adverse outcome: an episode of dactylitis before the age of one year (relative risk of an adverse outcome, 2.55; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.39 to 4.67), a hemoglobin level of less than 7 g per deciliter (relative risk, 2.47; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.14 to 5.33), and leukocytosis in the absence of infection (relative risk, 1.80; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.05 to 3.09). CONCLUSIONS Three easily identifiable manifestations of sickle cell disease that may appear in the first two years of life (dactylitis, severe anemia, and leukocytosis) can help to predict the possibility of severe sickle cell disease later in life.
Characterization of Porcine EPLIN Gene Revealed Distinct Expression Patterns for the Two Isoforms

Epithelial protein lost in neoplasm (EPLIN) is a cytoskeleton-associated protein that is down-regulated in transformed cells. Two EPLIN isoforms (α and β) are generated by alternative promoter usage from a single gene. In pigs EPLIN was preferentially expressed in the muscle of splay-legged piglets, but not in the healthy ones, suggesting that it plays an important role in muscle development. A precise mRNA expression analysis through muscle development could shed some light on the EPLIN function associated with splayed legs. This article describes the isolation of the two alternative splice variants of EPLIN mRNA in pigs. The chromosome assignment and several polymorphism sites were also identified to lay a foundation for potential breeding applications. Gene expression analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that both of transcripts were expressed in almost all tissues examined but in variable amounts in adult pigs. The temporal expression analysis indicated that they are not coexpressional through muscle development: EPLIN-α was detected in developing skeletal muscle, but EPLIN-β was not.
Evaluation of the new red cell parameters on Beckman Coulter DxH800 in distinguishing iron deficiency anaemia from thalassaemia trait

The new red blood cell (RBC) parameters such as reticulocyte haemoglobin content and percentage of hypochromic red cells or equivalent, although useful in the laboratory assessment of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), are confounded by thalassaemia trait (TT). We aim to evaluate the new red cell parameters on the Beckman Coulter DxH800 in distinguishing between IDA and TT.
Information wall: evaluation of a gesture-controlled public display

Public displays that allow users to interact with them through mid-air gestures are still relatively rare, as many applications rely on touch-based interaction. This paper introduces Information Wall, a gesture-controlled public information display that provides multi-user access to contextually relevant local information using remote pointing and mid-air gestures. The application has been studied in two settings: a lab-based user study and several short-term deployments. Based on our results, we present practical guidelines for gesture-controlled public display design.
Controlling T cell senescence in the tumor microenvironment for tumor immunotherapy

Understanding molecular mechanisms involved in creating and sustaining the tumor suppressive microenvironment is critical for the development of novel antitumor therapeutic strategies. We have identified the induction of T cell senescence as a novel mechanism utilized by human tumor cells to induce immune suppression, and provided a new strategy using TLR8 ligands to reverse tumor immunosuppressive effects for tumor immunotherapy.
Intrauterine Device Placement During Cesarean Delivery and Continued Use 6 Months Postpartum: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare intrauterine device (IUD) use at 6 months postpartum among women who underwent intracesarean delivery (during cesarean delivery) IUD placement compared with women who planned for interval IUD placement 6 or more weeks postpartum. METHODS: In this nonblinded randomized trial, women who were undergoing a cesarean delivery and desired an IUD were randomized to intracesarean delivery or interval IUD placement. The primary outcome was IUD use at 6 months postpartum. A sample size of 112 (56 in each group) was planned to detect a 15% difference in IUD use at 6 months postpartum between groups. RESULTS: From March 2012 to June 2014, 172 women were screened and 112 women were randomized into the trial. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Data regarding IUD use at 6 months postpartum were available for 98 women, 48 and 50 women in the intracesarean delivery and interval groups, respectively. A larger proportion of the women in the intracesarean delivery group were using an IUD at 6 months postpartum (40/48 [83%]) compared with those in the interval group (32/50 [64%], relative risk 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.66). Among the 56 women randomized to interval IUD insertion, 22 (39%) of them never received an IUD; 14 (25%) never returned for IUD placement, five (9%) women declined an IUD, and three (5%) had a failed IUD placement. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine device placement at the time of cesarean delivery leads to a higher proportion of IUD use at 6 months postpartum when compared with interval IUD placement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I
Nucleic acid testing to detect HBV infection in blood donors.

BACKGROUND The detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in blood donors is achieved by screening for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). However, donors who are positive for HBV DNA are currently not identified during the window period before seroconversion. The current use of nucleic acid testing for detection of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and HBV DNA in a single triplex assay may provide additional safety. METHODS We performed nucleic acid testing on 3.7 million blood donations and further evaluated those that were HBV DNA-positive but negative for HBsAg and anti-HBc. We determined the serologic, biochemical, and molecular features of samples that were found to contain only HBV DNA and performed similar analyses of follow-up samples and samples from sexual partners of infected donors. Seronegative HIV and HCV-positive donors were also studied. RESULTS We identified 9 donors who were positive for HBV DNA (1 in 410,540 donations), including 6 samples from donors who had received the HBV vaccine, in whom subclinical infection had developed and resolved. Of the HBV DNA-positive donors, 4 probably acquired HBV infection from a chronically infected sexual partner. Clinically significant liver injury developed in 2 unvaccinated donors. In 5 of the 6 vaccinated donors, a non-A genotype was identified as the dominant strain, whereas subgenotype A2 (represented in the HBV vaccine) was the dominant strain in unvaccinated donors. Of 75 reactive nucleic acid test results identified in seronegative blood donations, 26 (9 HBV, 15 HCV, and 2 HIV) were confirmed as positive. CONCLUSIONS Triplex nucleic acid testing detected potentially infectious HBV, along with HIV and HCV, during the window period before seroconversion. HBV vaccination appeared to be protective, with a breakthrough subclinical infection occurring with non-A2 HBV subgenotypes and causing clinically inconsequential outcomes. (Funded by the American Red Cross and others.).
Therapeutic Discovery Chemoprevention of Chemically Induced Skin Tumorigenesis by Ligand Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator – Activated Receptor-b / d and Inhibition of Cyclooxygenase 2

Ligand activation of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-b/d (PPARb/d) and inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) activity by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can both attenuate skin tumorigenesis. The present study examined the hypothesis that combining ligand activation of PPARb/d with inhibition of COX2 activity will increase the efficacy of chemoprevention of chemically induced skin tumorigenesis over that observed with either approach alone. To test this hypothesis, wildtype and Pparb/d-null mice were initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), topically treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate to promote tumorigenesis, and then immediately treated with topical application of the PPARb/d ligand GW0742, dietary administration of the COX2 inhibitor nimesulide, or both GW0742 and nimesulide. Ligand activation of PPARb/d with GW0742 caused a PPARb/d-dependent delay in the onset of tumor formation. Nimesulide also delayed the onset of tumor formation and caused inhibition of tumor multiplicity (46%) in wild-type mice but not in Pparb/d-null mice. Combining ligand activation of PPARb/d with dietary nimesulide resulted in a further decrease of tumor multiplicity (58%) in wild-type mice but not in Pparb/d-null mice. Biochemical and molecular analysis of skin and tumor samples show that these effects were due to the modulation of terminal differentiation, attenuation of inflammatory signaling, and induction of apoptosis through both PPARb/d-dependent and PPARb/d-independent mechanisms. Increased levels and activity of PPARb/d by nimesulide were also observed. These studies support the hypothesis that combining ligand activation of PPARb/d with inhibition of COX2 activity increases the efficacy of preventing chemically induced skin tumorigenesis as compared with either approach alone. Mol Cancer Ther; 9(12); 3267–77. 2010 AACR.
Outcome of newly diagnosed children and adolescents with localized lymphoblastic lymphoma treated on Children's Oncology Group trial A5971: A report from the Children's Oncology Group

Localized lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL) is rare in pediatric patients. We report the 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for children and adolescents with localized LL treated on a uniform regimen based on Children's Cancer Group (CCG) leukemia therapy (COG A5971).
Event-triggered control for continuous-time switched systems

The co-design problem of an event generator and a hybrid controller for continuous-time switched systems is investigated. By using the piecewise Lyapunov function method and the average dwell time approach, we prove the exponential stability of the system under a hybrid event-triggered controller. A sufficient condition on the existence of the hybrid control law and the event generator is established via linear matrix inequalities. Consequently, we propose that the inter-execution times have positive lower bound. Finally, an example is presented to illustrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed method.
Fen Bilgisi Öğretmen Adaylarının Bilimin Doğası Bilgisine ve Öğretimine İlişkin Öz-yeterlik İnançları

Bu arastirmanin amaci fen bilgisi ogretmen adaylarinin bilimin dogasina ve ogretimine iliskin oz-yeterlik inanc duzeylerini belirlemek ve bu inanclarin cesitli degiskenlere gore degisip degismedigini tespit etmektir. Arastirma orneklemini 2013-2014 egitim-ogretim yilinda Adnan Menderes, Dokuz Eylul, Mugla Sitki Kocman ve Usak Universitesi’ndeki Fen Bilgisi Egitimi Anabilim Dalinin birinci ve dorduncu sinifinda ogrenim goren 547 ogretmen adayi olusturmaktadir. Bu calisma kapsaminda egitim fakultelerinin tum bolumlerinde ogrenim goren ogretmen adaylari ve tum branslardaki ogretmenler icin gelistirilen 30 madde ve iki faktorden olusan 5’li Likert tipi Bilimin Dogasina ve Ogretimine Iliskin Oz-yeterlik Olcegi ve 7 maddelik Kisisel Bilgi Formu arastirmanin veri toplama araclaridir. Gelistirilen olcek bilimin dogasi ve oz-yeterlik kavramlarina yer vererek, egitimcilerin bilimin dogasina ve ogretimine iliskin oz-yeterlik inancini belirlemesi bakimindan onem tasimaktadir. Arastirmanin sonucunda, fen bilgisi ogretmen adaylarinin bilimin dogasina ve ogretimine iliskin oz-yeterlik inanclarinin ogrenim gordukleri sinif duzeylerine, bolumlerini isteyerek secip secmemelerine, “Bilimin Dogasi ve Bilim Tarihi” dersini gorup gormemelerine ve bilimin dogasina iliskin bilgisinin yeterligine gore anlamli farklilik gosterdigi belirlenmistir.
Neurocognitive Performance in Breast Cancer Survivors Exposed to Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Tamoxifen

ABSTRACT The primary aim of the current study was to examine whether neurocognitive functioning among breast cancer survivors (BCS) exposed to systemic adjuvant chemotherapy differs from that seen among BCS who did not receive chemotherapy. The performance of each of these BCS groups was compared to a demographically matched comparison group without history of breast cancer, a group not included in the majority of previous cognitive functioning studies. We also sought to explore whether usage of the anti-estrogen drug tamoxifen, a common component of breast cancer treatment, was related to neurocognitive functioning. Finally, we wished to examine the relationship between subjective report of cognitive functioning and objective performance on neurocognitive measures among BCS. Fifty-three survivors of breast cancer (all between 2–5 years after diagnosis and initial surgical removal of cancerous tissue) and 19 healthy non-BCS comparison subjects were administered a comprehensive neurocognitive battery, and measures of mood, energy level, and self-reported cognitive functioning. Those BCS who received adjuvant chemotherapy performed significantly worse in the domains of verbal learning, visuospatial functioning, and visual memory than BCS treated with surgery only. Those who received both chemotherapy and tamoxifen showed the greatest compromise. Although patients who received chemotherapy (with and without tamoxifen) performed worse than those treated with surgery only on several domains, neither group was significantly different from demographically matched comparison subjects without a history of breast cancer. Finally, we found no relationship between subjective cognitive complaints and objective performance, although cognitive complaints were associated with measures of psychological distress and fatigue. We highlight ways in which these data converge with other recent studies to suggest that systemic chemotherapy, especially in combination with tamoxifen, can have adverse yet subtle effects on cognitive functioning.