Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Direct Yaw Moment Control of Independent-Wheel-Drive Electric Vehicle ( IWD-EV ) Via Composite Nonlinear Feedback Controller

This paper proposes the application of a new optimal based controller for vehicle handling and stability system based on well known model matching structure. The controller is known as the Composite Nonlinear Feedback (CNF) controller which is expected could further improve the conventional optimal based controller (i.e. Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR)). This is due to the inclusion of an additional nonlinear term in its control law which further reduces the feedback error of vehicle system with the constraint of input saturation. The controller has been applied to the direct yaw moment compensation system as the correction input to enhance the vehicle dynamic behavior. Two selected maneuvers have been numerically simulated on the nonlinear vehicle model using MATLAB/Simulink to examine its effectiveness. Results show improvements in the yaw tracking capability, hence reduces the effect of oversteer or understeer during critical maneuvers. Keywords–direct yaw moment; composite nonlinear feedback; independent-wheel-drive; electric vehicle;
The cerebral metabolic ratio is not affected by oxygen availability during maximal exercise in humans

Intense exercise decreases the cerebral metabolic ratio of O2 to carbohydrates (glucose +½ lactate) and the cerebral lactate uptake depends on its arterial concentration, but whether these variables are influenced by O2 availability is not known. In six males, maximal ergometer rowing increased the arterial lactate to 21.4 ± 0.8 mm (mean ±s.e.m.) and arterial–jugular venous (a–v) difference from −0.03 ± 0.01 mm at rest to 2.52 ± 0.03 mm (P < 0.05). Arterial glucose was raised to 8.5 ± 0.5 mm and its a–v difference increased from 1.03 ± 0.01 to 1.86 ± 0.02 mm (P < 0.05) in the immediate recovery. During exercise, the cerebral metabolic ratio decreased from 5.67 ± 0.52 at rest to 1.70 ± 0.23 (P < 0.05) and remained low in the early recovery. Arterial haemoglobin O2 saturation was 92.5 ± 0.2% during exercise with room air, and it reached 87.6 ± 1.0% and 98.9 ± 0.2% during exercise with an inspired O2 fraction of 0.17 and 0.30, respectively. Whilst the increase in a–v lactate difference was attenuated by manipulation of cerebral O2 availability, the cerebral metabolic ratio was not affected significantly. During maximal rowing, the cerebral metabolic ratio reaches the lowest value with no effect by a moderate change in the arterial O2 content. These findings suggest that intense whole body exercise is associated with marked imbalance in the cerebral metabolic substrate preferences independent of oxygen availability.
Comparison of multidrug resistance gene regions between two geographically unrelated Salmonella serotypes.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify chromosomally integrated genes conferring multidrug resistance to a Salmonella enterica (S.) serotype Typhimurium isolate, phage type DT193, isolated in Ireland and to compare them with resistance genes conferring plasmid-mediated multidrug resistance to a S. Enteritidis isolate from Italy. METHODS A complete DNA sequence of the regions containing the resistance genes was obtained from the chromosome of the S. Typhimurium DT193 isolate and from the IncI plasmid of the S. Enteritidis isolate. The plasmid was also characterized by conjugation and incompatibility grouping. RESULTS Two 10 kb multidrug resistance non-Salmonella Genomic Island 1 type clusters were independently identified in the S. Enteritidis plasmid and in the chromosome of the S. Typhimurium isolate. Detailed characterization identified an IP-type 2 integron containing a dfrA1-aadA1 gene cassette and other common resistance determinants derived from the RSF1010 plasmid. CONCLUSIONS These multidrug resistance regions originate following chromosomal integration of key resistance markers encountered on plasmids circulating in other Salmonella serotypes. This mechanism of marker acquisition may have future implications for the evolution of similar structures in previously susceptible serotypes, leading to an increased public health risk.
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus with Intracranial Calcifications in a Child with Thalassemia Minor

Introduction: There are numerous causes for intracranial calcification in children. We describe an unusual cause of intracranial calcifications in a child, namely, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). Case Report: A 12-year-old boy presented with seizures and developmental delay. MRI of the brain revealed intracranial calcifications. Evaluation showed findings suggestive of NDI. The lack of evidence of any other metabolic defect suggests that these calcifications were secondary to NDI. He also had anemia for which he was investigated and diagnosed as thalassemia minor. Detailed literature review failed to reveal any reported association between NDI and thalassemia minor. Conclusion: We report this case to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of NDI to prevent organic brain damage. Keywords: Developmental Delay; Intracranial Calcifications; Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus; Seizures; Thalassemia Minor
Perceptual organization as a determinant of visual recognition memory.

Results of experiments by Shepard (1967) and by Standing, Conezio, and Haber (1970) suggest that recognition memory for pictures is virtually unlimited. Neisser (1967) implied that such performance depends on a specifically "visual memory," and Haber (1970) has also suggested that there may be "one kind of memory for pictorial material and another for linguistic" (p. 104). However, it is clear that not all pictorial materials are remembered equally well, for studies using meaningless forms and patterns (Goldstein and Chance, 1971) have produced far lower levels of performance. Thus, it is not the visual modality itself that leads to easy recognition. Goldstein and Chance have suggested that both the heterogeneity and the familiarity of visual stimuli play critical roles, but the precise manner in which these variables are supposed to affect recognition-memory performance has not been made clear. It seems to us that recognition can reach high levels of accuracy only when the material has been perceived and organized by the subject in an articulate and meaningful way that it is not heterogeneity and familiarity themselves but the meaningful structure of what is seen that makes it easily remembered. One aspect of meaningfulness is a knowledge of the properties of objects, or classes of objects, by which they can consistently be distinguished from other objects or classes. For example, a knowledge of the distinctive features of faces provides convenient and economical ways in which a face can be specified, and thereby provides dimensions for the storage of information relevant to recognition tasks. This implies that familiarity with classes of objects is related to recog-
Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors in five regions of Thailand: InterASIA data.

BACKGROUND Age- and sex- standardized mortality rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was high in Bangkok and central Thailand in the year 2000. This may partially be related to differences in risk factors. OBJECTIVE To compare prevalence of CVD risk factors among regions in Thailand in the same period. MATERIAL AND METHOD From a survey in 2000 (InterASIA) which involved 5 regions in Thailand, conventional CVD risk factors were compared multivariate-wise among regions and subsequently aligned with CVD deaths obtained within similar regions from the registry. RESULTS Bangkok and a central province had a higher prevalence of the following: hypertension, elevated body mass index, large waist circumference, elevated lipid associated with low density lipoprotein cholesterol and diabetes mellitus. The Northeast had a higher prevalence of smoking, low values of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and high triglyceride. CONCLUSION Definite regional differences existed of CVD risks and death in Thailand in 2000. Some of the metabolic risk factors may be more important than smoking in the link with CVD death in Thailand
Biochemical and molecular effects of chronic haloperidol administration on brain and muscle mitochondria of rats

The objectives of the current study were to evaluate (1) the respiratory rates and enzyme activities of brain and muscle mitochondria from rats chronically treated with haloperidol, (2) the protective role of dopamine (DA) D‐1 (SKF38393) and D‐2 (quinpirole) receptor agonists, and (3) the effect of haloperidol on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and protein synthesis. Thirty male Sprague‐Dawley rats were subdivided into the following five groups: controls, haloperidol, haloperidol plus SKF38393, haloperidol plus quinpirole, and haloperidol plus SKF38393 and quinpirole. We compared the respiratory rates and enzymatic activities of brain and muscle mitochondria from controls with other groups. We finally analyzed the mitochondrial protein synthesis and mtDNA alterations (deletions, point mutations, and depletion) in two rats from each group. In brain but not in muscle from haloperidol‐treated rats, we found a decrease of oxygen consumption rates using glutamate plus malate (−68 ± 35%, P < 0.05) and succinate (−78 ± 20%, P < 0.05) as substrates as well as low complex I, II, and V activities (−35 ± 15%, P < 0.05; −54 ± 13%, P < 0.05; and −60 ± 33%, P < 0.01; respectively). The administration of SKF38393 alone or together with quinpirole prevented most of haloperidol‐induced effects, whereas the protective effects of quinpirole alone were lower. Brain mitochondrial protein synthesis was decreased in haloperidol‐treated rats and was not prevented by SKF38393, quinpirole, or both. We did not find mtDNA abnormalities in brain or muscle mitochondria from haloperidol‐treated rats. Chronic administration of haloperidol in rats is associated with a nonspecific deleterious effect in the activity of electron transport chain of brain, and this effect is only partially prevented by DA D‐1 agonists. These results suggest that other mechanisms different from DA receptors pathway can contribute to the expression of behavioral supersensitivity. J. Neurosci. Res. 53:475–481, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Biomechanical Analysis of Intravertebral Pressures During Vertebroplasty of Cadaveric Spines With and Without Simulated Metastases

Study Design. A biomechanical cadaveric study of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae with simulated metastases quantifying intravertebral pressures during transpedicular vertebroplasty. Objective. To compare intravertebral pressures during percutaneous vertebroplasty in vertebrae with and without simulated lytic metastases. Summary of Background Data. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is designed to provide stability to vertebrae weakened by osteoporosis or metastatic disease. The complication rate is higher when the procedure is used for the treatment of lytic vertebral lesions. The major complications reported are radiculopathy, spinal cord compression, and embolic phenomena. Methods. Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric vertebrae were tested intact (7 lumbar, 3 thoracic) and 7 were tested with simulated lytic defects (4 lumbar, 3 thoracic). Defects were created by replacing a core of cancellous bone with soft tumor tissue in the center of the vertebral body. Simplex P (Howmedica Osteonics, Mahwah, NJ) cement was injected into each vertebra through a unipedicular approach at a constant rate of 3 mL per minute. Cement volume, injection force, and intravertebral pressures at the posterior vertebral body wall were recorded. Following the procedure, the vertebrae were sectioned to visualize cement and tumor disbursement. Results. There was no significant difference between the two groups for age, size, trabecular density, and cement volume. Vertebrae with simulated metastases generated an average maximum pressure of 39.66 kPa during cement injection versus 6.83 kPa in intact vertebrae (P < 0.05). Higher pressures were also generated in smaller vertebrae based on a power relationship (r2 = 0.71 intact, r2 = 0.43 tumor). Conclusions. Percutaneous vertebroplasty produces higher intravertebral pressures in vertebrae containing a simulated lytic metastasis than in intact vertebrae. Pressures generated in the tumor specimens are sufficiently elevated to cause embolic phenomena.
A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE ECOLOGY OF COMPOUND LEAVES

Few investigators have written on the adaptive significance of compound leaves. Leaflets of compound leaves have often been considered functionally equivalent to simple leaves (e.g., Parkhurst and Loucks, 1972); compound leaves have also been compared to lobed leaves (Vogel, 1970) in that the leaf dissection of both presumably increases the rate of convective cooling, in comparison with large, unlobed leaves (Taylor, 1975; Givnish and Vermeij, 1976). Small leaf blades might also allow flexibility of leaf position in a multilayered canopy without complete shading (Horn, 1971). However, Givnish (1978) points out that the leaflets of compoundleaved species are not necessarily smaller than the leaves of simple-leaved species, and that small leaves and compound leaves are found in somewhat different habitats. He proposes two principal advantages for compound leaves: (1) By dropping the rachises as well as the leaves during dry periods (or effectively dry periods, such as north temperate winters), compound-leaved plants may be minimizing water loss during these periods of dormancy. (2) By producing rachises, which serve as inexpensive, temporary lateral branches, plants of successional or gap phase sites do not invest a lot of energy in organs which will be shaded as they and their neighbors grow; in this way they increase their rate of vertical growth. We have undertaken a statistical analysis of the North American distribution patterns of compoundleaved plants in relation to climate, in an effort to better understand the adaptive significance of compound leaves.
Tunning of PID controllers for unstable time delay systems using synthesis method

Many processes of Chemical Engineering importance are represented by unstable first/second order plus time delay systems for the design PID controllers. It is proposed to design PID controller with lead lag filter for unstable First Order Plus Time Delay (FOPTD), Second Order Plus Time Delay (SOPTD) systems using synthesis method. The novelty of the proposed work is the selection of desired closed loop transfer function. For FOPTD systems the closed loop transfer function is selected as third order with second order lead term with time delay and for the SOPTD systems the closed loop transfer function is selected as fourth order with second order lead term with time delay. The closed loop time delay is same as process time delay. Simulation results on various transfer function models and on the non-linear model equations of Jacketed CSTR carrying out first order exothermic reaction show that the controllers designed by the proposed method perform better than the recently reported methods. Robustness of the controller is related to maximum magnitude of the sensitivity function. The proposed controllers are robust to parametric uncertainties as they give low Ms value compared to the recently reported methods.
Optical phase conjugation in third-order nonlinear photonic crystals

We predict that the efficiency of the optical phase conjugation generation can be enhanced by more than four orders of magnitude in a ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$ nonlinear superlattice, as compared with that in a homogeneous nonlinear medium of the same sample thickness and ${\ensuremath{\chi}}^{(3)}$ nonlinearity. Such an effective enhancement utilizes the localized properties of the fields inside the sample at the band-edge state, gap-soliton state, or defect state. Due to the presence of feedback mechanism at each interface of a superlattice, we also predict that the phase conjugation can still be effectively generated when only one pump wave is used.
Social Optima in Robust Mean Field LQG Control: From Finite to Infinite Horizon

This article studies social optimal control of mean field linear-quadratic-Gaussian models with uncertainty. Specially, the uncertainty is represented by an uncertain drift, which is common for all agents. A robust optimization approach is applied by assuming all agents treat the uncertain drift as an adversarial player. In our model, both dynamics and costs of agents are coupled by mean field terms, and both finite- and infinite-time horizon cases are considered. By examining social functional variation and exploiting person-by-person optimality principle, we construct an auxiliary control problem for the generic agent via a class of forward-backward stochastic differential equation system. By solving the auxiliary problem and constructing consistent mean field approximation, a set of decentralized control strategies is designed and shown to be asymptotically optimal.
Discordant temporal patterns of S100 β and cleaved tau protein elevation after head injury: a pilot study

There is considerable interest in S100 g protein as a potential marker that can be used to quantify central nervous system injury. However, increasing appreciation that S100 g may be produced by non-neural tissue (specifically adipocytes), has led to a search for more specific markers of brain injury. Recent interests have focused on a cleaved form of tau protein (c τ P) which is elevated in CSF from patients suffering traumatic brain injury. We have investigated whether levels in peripheral blood are a satisfactory alternative to provide an accessible marker of CNS injury severity. We measured levels of S100 g and c τ P in arterial blood from 20 patients with severe head injury. When compared with normal values S100 g was elevated 10-fold in the first 24 hours and c τ P was elevated at all time points, but showed a reversal of the temporal trend observed with S100 g. Patients with a poor outcome (GOS 1-3) had significantly higher S100 g levels on day one. Plasma c τ P levels did not correlate with outcome following head injury.
Acupuncture-ameliorated menopausal symptoms: single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial

Objectives To evaluate the effects of acupuncture and sham-acupuncture on women with menopausal symptoms as reflected in the intensity of their hot flushes and the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI). Method This was a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial with 81 patients assigned to two groups: Group 1 received 12 months of acupuncture, then 6 months of sham-acupuncture treatment (n == 56) and Group 2 received 6 months of sham-acupuncture, then 12 months of acupuncture treatment (n == 25). The needles were inserted in a harmonic craniocaudal manner at a depth of about 2 cm, and each session lasted approximately 40 min. The efficacy of acupuncture in ameliorating the climacteric symptoms of patients in postmenopause was determined through the KMI and the intensity of hot flushes. The analysis of variance method for two factors and repeated measures was applied. Results The baseline values of the women in both groups were similar for the KMI score and number of hot flushes. At the end of 6 months, the values for the KMI and hot flushes for the women in Group 1 were lower than those of the women in Group 2 (p < 0.05). After 12 months, the KMI and hot flush data were similar in both groups. After 18 months, the values of the KMI and hot flushes for the women in Group 2 for were lower than those of the women in Group 1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture treatment for relieving menopausal symptoms may be effective for decreasing hot flushes and the KMI score in postmenopausal women.
Does the performance of other functions in the frontline influence salesperson conflict

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of servicer and cross‐seller functional performance on salesperson perception of cross‐functional conflict.Design/methodology/approach – Frontline employees often specialize in selling, servicing, or cross‐selling to customers. Two studies separately examine the effect of servicer and cross‐seller functional performance on salesperson perception of cross‐functional conflict.Findings – In Study 1, salesperson conflict with frontline specialists who do not directly sell, called servicers, is examined and it is found that salespeople perceive less cross‐functional conflict when servicers perform well. Group cohesion decreases conflict directly. The effect of servicer performance on conflict is less pronounced as cross‐functional training increases. In Study 2, salesperson conflict with employees who cross‐sell additional goods and/or services to customers, called cross‐sellers, is evaluated and it is found that salespeople perceive more cross‐functiona.
Ultrasonographic measurement of normal common bile duct diameter and its correlation with age, sex and anthropometry.

BACKGROUND Ultrasonography is the diagnostic method of choice for visualization and rational work-up of abdominal organs. The dilatation of the common bile duct helps distinguish obstructive from non-obstructive causes of jaundice. Availability of normal measurements of the common bile duct is therefore important. There exists significant variations in the anthropometric features of various populations, regions and races. AIM Study was conducted to obtain data on sonographically measured diameters of common bile duct in a series of normal Rajasthani population and to measure its correlation with age, sex and anthropometry. SETTING AND DESIGN Cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study included 200 participants with equal proportion belonging to either sex. Common bile duct was measured at three locations- at the porta hepatis, in the most distal aspect of head of pancreas and mid-way between these points. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, chest circumference, circumference at transpyloric plane, circumference at umbilicus and circumference at hip were obtained using standard procedures. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Univariable analysis with measures of frequency and standard deviation and bivariable analysis using correlation. RESULTS Mean age of study subjects was 34.5 years (Range 18-85 years). Mean diameters of the common bile duct in the three locations were: proximal, 4.0 mm (SD 1.02 mm); middle, 4.1 mm (SD 1.01 mm); and distal, 4.2 mm (SD 1.01 mm) and overall mean for all measures 4.1 mm (SD 1.01 mm). Average diameter ranged from 2.0 mm to 7.9 mm, with 95 percent of the subjects having a diameter of less than 6 mm. We observed a statistically significant relation of common bile duct with age, along with a linear trend. There was no statistically significant difference in common bile duct diameter between male and female subjects. The diameter did not show any statistically significant correlation with any of the anthropometric measurements. CONCLUSION Our study reported the upper limit of normality as 7.9 mm. The diameter increased progressively from 3.9 mm among those aged 18-25 years to 4.7 mm among those in the age group more than 55 years. This was found to be statistically significant. Ductal diameters beyond these limits should prompt the need for further investigations.