Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discrete‐time low‐gain control of linear systems with input/output nonlinearities

Discrete‐time low‐gain control strategies are presented for tracking of constant reference signals for finite‐dimensional, discrete‐time, power‐stable, single‐input, single‐output, linear systems subject to a globally Lipschitz, non‐decreasing input nonlinearity and a locally Lipschitz, non‐decreasing, affinely sector‐bounded output nonlinearity (the conditions on the output nonlinearities may be relaxed if the input nonlinearity is bounded). Both non‐adaptive and adaptive gain sequences are considered. In particular, it is shown that applying error feedback using a discrete‐time ‘integral’ controller ensures asymptotic tracking of constant reference signals, provided that (a) the steady‐state gain of the linear part of the plant is positive, (b) the positive gain sequence is ultimately sufficiently small and (c) the reference value is feasible in a very natural sense. The classes of input and output nonlinearities under consideration contain standard nonlinearities important in control engineering such as saturation and deadzone. The discrete‐time results are applied in the development of sampled‐data low‐gain control strategies for finite‐dimensional, continuous‐ time, exponentially stable, linear systems with input and output nonlinearities. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MERIT40 cooperates with BRCA2 to resolve DNA interstrand cross-links

Jiang et al. found that Merit40−/− mice displayed marked hypersensitivity to DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) but not whole-body irradiation. This study implicates MERIT40 in the earliest stages of ICL repair and defines specific functional interactions between RAP80 complex-dependent ubiquitin recognition and the FA–BRCA ICL repair network.
A Double-Blind, Randomized Pilot Trial of Chromium Picolinate for Overweight Individuals with Binge-Eating Disorder: Effects on Glucose Regulation

ABSTRACT Purpose: Chromium treatment has been shown to improve glucose regulation in some populations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation improves glucose regulation in overweight individuals with binge-eating disorder (BED). Methods: In this double-blinded randomized pilot trial, participants (N = 24) were randomized to high (HIGH, 1000 mcg/day, n = 8) or moderate (MOD, 600 mcg/day, n = 9) dose of CrPic or placebo (PL, n = 7) for 6 months. Participants completed an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Fixed effects models were used to estimate mean change in glucose area under the curve (AUC), insulinAUC, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI). Results: Results revealed a significant group and time interaction (p < 0.04) for glucoseAUC, with glucoseAUC increasing significantly in the PL group (p < 0.02) but decreasing significantly in the MOD group (p < 0.03) at 6 months. InsulinAUC increased significantly over time (main effect, p < 0.02), whereas ISI decreased significantly over time (main effect, p < 0.03). Conclusion: As anticipated, a moderate dose of CrPic was associated with improved glycemic control, whereas PL was associated with decreased glycemic control. It was unexpected that the improved glycemic control seen in the MOD dose group was not seen in the HIGH dose group. However, although participants randomized to the HIGH dose group did not have improved glycemic control, they had better glycemic control than participants randomized to the PL group. These findings support the need for larger trials.
Activation of protein kinase B/Akt by urocortin is essential for its ability to protect cardiac cells against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cell death.

Urocortin (Ucn), is a peptide related to hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and binds with a high affinity to the CRF-R2 beta receptor which is expressed in the heart. Ucn promotes cardiac myocyte survival against hypoxia reoxygenation (HR) injury and this involves activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway (MEK1/2 p42/44 MAPK). In this study we report that Ucn stimulates the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) via phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-OH kinase (PI-3 kinase). To investigate the signalling pathways that mediate the anti-apoptotic and cell survival effect of Ucn in hypoxia reoxygenation (HR), gene based inhibitors of MEK1/2, PI-3 kinase and Akt were over-expressed in rat neonatal cardiac myocytes and cell survival effects against HR were assessed. The dominant negative mutants of the MEK1/2, PI-3 kinase and Akt inhibited Ucn mediated cardioprotection in HR and active PI-3 kinase was itself cardioprotective. In addition, chemical inhibitors of the PI-3 kinase pathway, wortmannin and LY294002 inhibit Ucn mediated cardioprotection in HR in both neonatal and adult cardiac myocytes. Hence the PI-3 kinase/Akt pathway is required in addition to MEK1/2 to mediate Ucn cardioprotection in HR. To our knowledge this is the first report of the activation of the PI-3 kinase/Akt pathway by a member of the CRF family of peptides.
Block in Insulin Release from Column-Perifused Pancreatic β-Cells Induced by Islet Cell Surface Antibodies and Complement

Dispersed rat pancreatic islet cells were mixed into a short column of Bio-Gel P-2 polyacrylamide beads and perifused with an antiserum containing islet cell surface antibodies. The release of radioactive chromium from prelabeled cells, as a measure of cell membrane permeability, was not affected by cell surface antibodies alone, but increased dramatically in the presence of complement. While there was an eightfold increase in glucose-stimulated insulin release from β-cells exposed to control serum and complement, insulin release was completely blocked from β-cells exposed to islet-cell-specific antibodies and complement. These findings suggest that islet cell surface antibodies can mediate complement-dependent cytotOXicity.
Pheromone sensing regulates Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan and stress resistance via the deacetylase SIR-2.1

Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila, and mice is regulated by conserved signaling networks, including the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling cascade and pathways depending on sirtuins, a family of NAD+-dependent deacetylases. Small molecules such as resveratrol are of great interest because they increase lifespan in many species in a sirtuin-dependent manner. However, no endogenous small molecules that regulate lifespan via sirtuins have been identified, and the mechanisms underlying sirtuin-dependent longevity are not well understood. Here, we show that in C. elegans, two endogenously produced small molecules, the dauer-inducing ascarosides ascr#2 and ascr#3, regulate lifespan and stress resistance through chemosensory pathways and the sirtuin SIR-2.1. Ascarosides extend adult lifespan and stress resistance without reducing fecundity or feeding rate, and these effects are reduced or abolished when nutrients are restricted. We found that ascaroside-mediated longevity is fully abolished by loss of SIR-2.1 and that the effect of ascr#2 requires expression of the G protein-coupled receptor DAF-37 in specific chemosensory neurons. In contrast to many other lifespan-modulating factors, ascaroside-mediated lifespan increases do not require insulin signaling via the FOXO homolog DAF-16 or the insulin/IGF-1-receptor homolog DAF-2. Our study demonstrates that C. elegans produces specific small molecules to control adult lifespan in a sirtuin-dependent manner, supporting the hypothesis that endogenous regulation of metazoan lifespan functions, in part, via sirtuins. These findings strengthen the link between chemosensory inputs and conserved mechanisms of lifespan regulation in metazoans and suggest a model for communal lifespan regulation in C. elegans.
On Implicit Fuzzy Proximal Dynamical Systems Involving General A-Monotone Operators in Banach Spaces

In this paper, we introduce a new class of general A-monotone operators in Banach spaces, study some properties of general A-monotone operator and define a new proximal mapping associated with the general A-monotone operator. Under some suitable conditions and by using generalized proximal mapping technique, we also construct and analyze a new class of implicit fuzzy proximal dynamical systems involving general A-monotone operators in Banach spaces, and show that the trajectory of the solution of the proximal dynamical systems converges globally exponentially to the solution of the proximal dynamical systems. Furthermore, the general A-monotone operators are illustrated by some examples. The results presented in this paper improve and generalize the corresponding results of recent works.
Fungistatic and fungicidal activity of human parotid salivary histidine-rich polypeptides on Candida albicans

Human parotid saliva histidine-rich polypeptides exerted antifungal activity against Candida albicans at concentrations similar to the known antifungal activity of the imidazole antibiotics. Inhibition of both growth and viability could be demonstrated by optical density monitoring and plating assays. Inhibition of growth was observed to be greatest when the histidine-rich polypeptides were added to the inoculum before addition to the growth media. However, complete inhibition by these polypeptides was still noted during active growth at turbidities of C. albicans corresponding to 10(6) CFU/ml. At higher cell densities, growth was delayed but not halted under the experimental conditions investigated. Candidacidal activity was observed with both growing and nongrowing cells. With respect to the latter, reaction of cells in buffer with the histidine-rich polypeptides for a period of 30 min resulted in killing of greater than 90% of two different strains of C. albicans, whereas a third strain was found to be less susceptible. Moreover, the kinetics of loss of cell viability correlated with the loss of potassium from the cells. In addition to the histidine-rich polypeptides, hen egg white lysozyme, poly-L-lysine, and poly-L-histidine affected C. albicans. Both of the polyamino acids completely inhibited the growth of the yeast whereas lysozyme was not as potent. Where delays in growth were observed for all of these agents, including the histidine-rich polypeptides, turbidities reached those of untreated controls after a 24-h period. Enhanced effects were noted if C. albicans was preincubated with these agents in 0.025 2-(N-morpholino)-ethanesulfonic acid buffer, pH 5.2, before growth in the yeast synthetic medium.
Management of Intracranial Aneurysms: Factors that Influence Clinical Grade and Surgical Outcome

Background We report the experience in managing intracranial aneurysms at our medical center. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 297 intracranial aneurysms managed during a 6-year period. Risk factors were analyzed with respect to their influence on outcome after surgery as measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale score. Results Fifty-eight patients had multiple aneurysms. Of all aneurysms, 83% were in the anterior circulation, 37% were unruptured, and 59% were larger than 10 mm in size. Good outcome was achieved in 75% of patients, and another 16% had fair outcomes. The mortality rate was 4%, and significant morbidity occurred in 5% of patients. Significant indicators of poor outcome were worsened clinical grade, posterior aneurysm location, and large aneurysm size. Conclusion Hypertensive patients, older patients, and patients with posterior circulation aneurysms had poorer neurologic status, which significantly influenced outcome. Larger aneurysms and vertebrobasilar aneurysms were associated with poor outcomes.
Sequencing of Parent Training Procedures

The effects of various sequences of time-out and attention on child behavior and on evaluations of acceptability of these techniques were examined using a combined between-and within-subjects design. During treatment periods, mothers administered attention and time-out to their noncompliant children in various sequences (time-out followed by attention or attention followed by time-out), or they administered both attention and time-out concurrently. Results indicated that prior use of differential attention appears to enhance the efficacy of time-out as a response reduction procedure, while prior use of time-out may enable differential attention procedures to maintain reductions in noncompliance effectively. Recommendations are made concerning the optimum use of time-out combined with attention in producing both immediate behavior change and positive treatment evaluations within parent training programs.
Hepatoprotective and some haematological effects of Allium sativum and vitamin C in lead-exposed wistar rats

The hepatoprotective and some haematological effects of Allium sativum (Garlic) and vitamin C were studied on experimental rats that were exposed to lead (Pb) for one week. Twenty ‐ four female Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six rats per group. Rats in group A were kept as the control. Rats in groups B, C and D were exposed to 100 µmol/kg body weight of lead acetate intraperitoneally for seven days. Garlic diet (200 g minced garlic/kg diet) and vitamin C (500 mg/kg body weight) were given to rats in groups C and D for additional seven days respectively. Garlic and vitamin C produced significant reduction at p < 0.05 in the levels of ALT, ALP and PCV while the level of AST increases significantly at p < 0.05. The level of Hb increases significantly at p < 0.05 in rats treated with garlic and reduces significantly at p < 0.05 in rats treated with Vitamin C. This study, therefore suggests that garlic and vitamin C have some hepatoprotective and haematological effects.
Positive selection of core 70Q variant genotype 1b hepatitis C virus strains induced by pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

BACKGROUND Approximately 20% of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection have nonresponse to the most current treatment, pegylated interferon with ribavirin. Mutations in the HCV core region were recently proposed to be associated with nonresponse. Our aim was to evaluate the viral factors associated with treatment failure. METHODS HCV variants were determined directly and after cloning in 66 HCV-1b-infected Japanese patients and in 5 urokinase-type plasminogen activator transgenic severe combined immunodeficiency mice with human hepatocytes (chimeric mice), at baseline, during treatment, and after treatment. RESULTS At baseline, glutamine at position 70 of the HCV core protein (70Q) was detected by direct sequencing in 20% of patients with virologic response and in 43.8% of patients with nonresponse. Among patients with nonresponse, who were examined during and after treatment, the prevalence of the 70Q substitution increased to 56.3%, which indicates that treatment-induced selection occurred in all patients with nonresponse who had 70Q quasispecies detectable by cloning. This observation was reinforced by the results from experimentally infected chimeric mice. Logistic regression analysis indicated that detection of 70Q quasispecies was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of nonresponse (odds ratio, 15.1; P = .004) in the studied cohort. CONCLUSION Presence of the 70Q quasispecies at baseline was associated with an increased risk of treatment failure, as indicated by the positive selection of the 70Q clones induced by treatment with pegylated interferon with ribavirin. These results urge further investigation of the mechanisms of this association.
Using a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach to Assessing the Impact of ICTs in Development

This paper describes the sustainable livelihoods framework as a useful tool in assessing the contribution of ICTs to development projects. Assessing the role of ICTs in development can be difficult because they are so multifaceted, and because the effect of ICT use is often indirect. This paper argues that applying the sustainable livelihood frameworks in assessment can help to broaden their scope in a manageable way and prove more analytically rigorous than other available methods. The example of an impact assessment of a Colombian telecentre is used to demonstrate how such an approach can be applied.
Current Therapies in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer affects 23,400 women in the United States annually and is responsible for 13,900 deaths. It is the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States and the most frequent cause of cancer deaths from gynecological malignancies. For the majority of patients, the treatment of ovarian cancer requires a multimodal approach, including surgery and chemotherapy. Surgery alone is not curative, except in a minority of patients presenting with well-differentiated stage 1 disease. Although overall response rates of up to 80% have been reported for postoperative, platinum-based chemotherapy, more than 75% of women with advanced stage ovarian cancer ultimately die of their disease, within five years of diagnosis. The management of advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma has changed over the past decade. Novel agents with unique mechanisms of action have been incorporated into first-line settings, with the goal to impact the overall survival in ovarian cancer. I. Initial Therapy
Erythrocyte deformability in multiple sclerosis.

cured by decompression of the Chiari malformation shown by a second myelogram. Three patients with hypercapnia, one with frank papilloedema and haemorrhages, have led to a greater awareness of this cause of headache and of the sleep apnoea syndrome which may accompany it. Of the 36 patients with "other" cause for blackout, drugs were judged responsible in 23 and there were six cases of postural hypotension induced by antihypertensive therapy. Surprisingly only five patients had cardiac arrhythmia (Holter monitoring was negative in other suspects) and four had cough syncope. Nine had episodes of hypoglycaemia, either insulin-induced or reactive after abdominal surgery. Of neurological causes of blackout nine had transient ischaemic attacks, five idiopathic drop attacks and three the narcolepsy tetrad. No clue to these organic causes appeared in the referral letters. Twenty of 1 10 patients with an unremarkable story of simple fainting had a photosensitive response during EEG. The abnormality was limited to a polyspike-and-wave burst on photic stimulation at 10-30 Hz, not continuing beyond the time of the stimulus and usually shorter, and always suppressed by occlusion of one eye by the patient's own hand. The yield of organic disease from the patients with dizzy spells was unexpectedly high. Among the 33 whose dizzy spell was due to central vertigo was one patient with cerebral tumour, nine with an episode of demyelination and the rest had either vertebro-basilar disease or minor epilepsy. Benign paroxysmal positional nystagmus and vestibular neuronitis were poorly recognised but relatively common disorders. Curiosities were two cases of Lermoyez' syndrome2 3 (allergy, deafness and tinnitus culminating in a vertiginous bout from which the patient emerged with restored hearing) and one with the disputed syndrome known as Tumarkin's otolithic crisis:4 a farmer with a long history of active middle-ear infection was looking over the rails at his cattle when he experienced "crynnu"-a goose walking over his grave-then found himself on the ground. CEC WELLS University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XW, UK.
Gait Alterations During Constant Pace Treadmill Racewalking

Abstract Hanley, B. Gait alterations during constant pace treadmill racewalking. J Strength Cond Res 29(8): 2142–2147, 2015—Racewalking is an Olympic event requiring great endurance, and racewalkers often use treadmills in training because of the benefits of having a flat unchanging surface where pace judgment can be learned and because inclement weather can be avoided. The effects of fatigue associated with racewalking on a treadmill have not been studied and could be informative with regard to the maintenance of legal technique. The aim of this study was to measure key gait variables during a physically demanding treadmill racewalk. Fourteen international racewalkers completed 10 km on an instrumented treadmill at a pace equivalent to 103% of their recent best time. Spatiotemporal and ground reaction force data were recorded at 4 distances. High-speed videography data were simultaneously recorded to analyze changes in knee angle between the early and late stages. Increases in step length and corresponding decreases in cadence were found, although the small changes were not considered meaningful. There was also a small increase in flight time and a small decrease in push-off force. There were no other significant changes for any other variables (including knee angles). The increase in flight time might be important given that racewalkers are not permitted a visible loss of contact and suggests that fatiguing sessions on a treadmill can lead to the adoption of nonlegal technique. However, this disadvantage of treadmill training can be negated if the coach scrutinizes athletes throughout the session, and overall the consistent technique used is of benefit with regard to learning correct form and pacing ability.
Kidney Cancer: Current Progress in Treatment

Kidney cancer accounts for approximately 2% of all cancers worldwide, with renal cell carcinoma being the most widespread form. Worldwide, the occurrence and mortality rates are rising by 2–3% per decade. Cigarette smoking, obesity, acquired cystic kidney disease and inherited vulnerability are identified risk issues for kidney cancer. Immunotherapy confers a small but significant overall survival benefit in metastatic renal cell carcinoma but only for the minority of patients, i.e. the 20% with good predictive characteristics. Current developments in the molecular biology of renal cell carcinoma have recognized multiple pathways related with the progress of this cancer. Several strategies have been explored targeting these trails, with major clinical benefits shown in early studies. New agents including the small molecule targeted inhibitors like sunitinib, sorafenib and temsirolimus, and the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab have shown anti-tumour activity in randomised clinical trials and have become the standard of care for most patients.
Exploring students' learning attitude and achievement in flipped learning supported computer aided design curriculum: A study in high school engineering education

This research aims to explore the benefits of a flipped learning approach for students who are taking an introductory‐level curriculum on bridge computer aided design in terms of learning attitude and achievement within the curriculum. In this study, collaborative problem based learning (CPBL) supported by flipped learning, a blended learning design, was integrated into a high school bridge computer aided design curriculum. Ninety‐one 17‐year‐old students from two K11 classes were assigned randomly to an experimental group and a control group for the study, respectively. To assess the students' achievements and learning attitudes in the different groups, an 8‐week (16 h in total) pre‐ and post‐test quasi‐experimental study was designed. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the flipped learning approach. Significant differences were found between the experimental and control group in terms of students' achievements. In the experimental group, students' learning attitudes, motivation and self‐evaluation were enhanced. In conclusion, the results show that the flipped learning approach has a positive effect on the transfer of learning. Based on the findings obtained, recommendations for the improvement of future K12 engineering education instruction using the flipped learning approach are provided. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 23:514–526, 2015; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21622