Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Approximations of closed-loop minimax MPC

Minimax or worst-case approaches have been used frequently recently in model predictive control (MPC) to obtain control laws that are less sensitive to uncertainty. The problem with minimax MPC is that the controller can become overly conservative. An extension to minimax MPC that can resolve this problem is closed-loop minimax MPC. Unfortunately, closed-loop minimax MPC is essentially an intractable problem. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to approximate the solution to a number of closed-loop minimax MPC problems. The result is convex optimization problems with size growing polynomially in system dimension and prediction horizon.
Absorption, conjugation and excretion of the flavanones, naringenin and hesperetin from α-rhamnosidase-treated orange juice in human subjects

We have determined the absorption, conjugation and excretion of naringenin-7-O-rutinoside (narirutin) compared to the corresponding glucoside in an orange juice matrix in human subjects. Healthy volunteers (eight men and eight women), in a double blind, randomised, crossover study, consumed orange juice with (1) natural content of naringenin-7-O-rutinoside; (2) α-rhamnosidase-treated to yield naringenin-7-O-glucoside. Blood was sampled at twelve time points and three fractions of urine were collected over 24 h. The area under the plasma–time curve of naringenin from (2) α-rhamnosidase-treated orange juice was increased about 4-fold (P < 0·0001), peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was 5·4-fold higher (P < 0·0001) and Tmax was decreased from 311 to 92 min (P = 0·002) compared to untreated orange juice (1), indicating a change in absorption site from the colon to the small intestine. Furthermore, the amount in urine was increased from 7 to 47 % (P < 0·0001) of the dose after consumption of the α-rhamnosidase-treated orange juice (2). All urine samples contained both naringenin-7- and -4′-O-glucuronides. In addition, to examine the effect of dose and α-rhamnosidase treatment on hesperetin conjugate profiles, a further treatment where (3) orange juice fortified with three times the original content of hesperetin-7-O-rutinoside was used. Five hesperetin metabolites (3′-O-glucuronide; 7-O-glucuronide; 5,7-O-diglucuronide; 3′,7-O-diglucuronide; 3′-O-sulphate) were present after all treatments (1–3), with the same profile of the conjugates. The present data show that bioavailability of naringenin is increased by conversion from rutinoside to glucoside, but the profile of the conjugates of flavanones formed and excreted in urine is neither affected by the absorption site nor by a 3-fold change in dose.
Virtual worlds adoption: a research framework and empirical study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a new framework to examine the adoption of virtual worlds. Virtual worlds, defined as internet‐based simulated environments that emulate the real world and are intended for users to inhabit and interact within them through avatars, are growing fast and are attracting more and more users.Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, a new framework is proposed on the basis of previous literature. An empirical study is performed to test the framework, using survey research. The data are collected through a questionnaire, which is developed on the basis of previous empirical studies.Findings – Based on the data, it is found that perceived usefulness and social factors are two main factors influencing people's adoption of virtual worlds. The technology acceptance model (TAM) is still acceptable, while the diffusion of information (DOI) theory does not fit. Perceived enjoyment does not have a significant impact on the adoption of virtual worlds, but is highly co.
Recent Patterns in Testicular Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Survival in the Slovak Republic with Reference to International Comparisons

Incidence of testicular cancer in the Slovak Republic (SR) sharply increased in 1968–2006 (annual change 0.195/100,000, 95% CI = −0.178–0.212, p < .0001). Mortality was stabilized in 1968–2006 (−0.005/100,000/year, 95% CI = −0.011–0.001, p = .148), however, from 1990, it had a mildly significant decreasing trend. The 5-year relative survival for patients from the cohort 1993–1997 reached 91.7% (95% CI = 87.5–94.7), for the cohort 1998–2002, it was 93.2% (95% CI = 89.5–95.8). The average age of patients with seminomas was 30–41 years (25–75% quantile), for nonseminomas 23–34 years (25–75% quantile).
Effects of henna dye on oxygen saturation reading using pulse oximetry.

P oximetry is a non-invasive method that uses the spectrophotometric principle to monitor oxygen saturation in the blood. It produces a plethysmographic wave from which oxygen saturation is obtained.1 It is has become increasingly used in outpatient clinics and emergency rooms in addition to its use in critically ill patients and during anesthesia.1 Although it is an accurate method in reflecting oxygen level in the blood, its reading can be influenced by several conditions, including poor peripheral perfusion, carboxyhemoglobinemia, methemoglobinemia, and anemia. Henna is a cosmetic dye that is made from special leaves (Lawsonia inermis), which grow in hot climates (North Africa, Asia and Middle East). It is very popular in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and Indian subcontinent and is used in dying the skin and hair. Recently, it has been sold in the west as a form of transient tattoo. It is particularly used in dying the skin of the hands and feet. The natural henna when used to dye the skin gives an orange-red color. However, when combined with synthetic dye it produces a black color. Studies have shown changing the color of the skin in hyperbilirubinemia,2 and hyper-pigmentation3 may influence the reading of pulse oximetry. Similarly, White and Boyle4 demonstrated that applying nail polish to the nails can affect the accuracy of pulse oximetry readings. Therefore, it is possible that dying the fingers and toes with henna can give an erroneous pulse oximetry reading. However, we found only one study in the literature examining the effect of henna on pulse oximetry.5 In this prospective study we have addressed this issue, and studied the effect of natural henna on the reading of pulse oximetry. We recruited 104 healthy individuals (mean age 32.93; 16% male and 84% female) with normal oxygen saturation at room air. In addition, 14 patients (mean age 42.5; 6 male and 8 female) with hypoxemia on room air were enrolled. The study was explained to all subjects and consent was obtained. For the purpose of this study, hypoxemia was arbitrarily defined as oxygen saturation less or equal to 91%. The study was approved by the ethical committee of our institution (King Khalid National Guard Hospital), where the study was conducted. The study was explained to all Figure 1 The effect of henna on oxygen saturation in hypoxic patients measured by oximetry. Results expressed as median; *stand for p<0.01.
Xylanases, Cellulases, and Acid Protease Produced by Stenocarpella maydis Grown in Solid-state and Submerged Fermentation

Activity levels of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes produced by Stenocarpella maydis, a fungal pathogen of maize, have so far not been reported. Production of xylanase, cellulase, and acid protease by this ascomycete using different culture media in solid-state and submerged fermentation was studied. In solid-state fermentation, polyurethane foam was used as an inert support, and corncob, corn leaves, and broken corn were used as biodegradable supports. The highest xylanase activity was produced in the medium with xylan in both fermentation systems, reaching 18,020 U/L and 19,266 U/L for submerged and solid-state fermentation, respectively. Cellulase production was observed only in the culture medium with carboxymethylcellulose, obtaining values of 7,872 U/L in submerged fermentation and 9,439 U/L in solid-state fermentation. The acid protease was produced only in minimal medium with glucose in acidic pH, reaching the highest levels of activity in SSF (806 U/L). The corncob was the best biodegradable support for the production of xylanases and acid protease. Two isoenzymes of xylanase and cellulase were observed in both fermentation systems, and three isoenzymes of xylanase were produced on the biodegradable supports.
The Difficulty of Making Reparations Affects the Intensity of Collective Guilt

We examined how the difficulty of making reparations for the harm done to another group affects the intensity of collective guilt. Men were confronted with information documenting male privilege and were told that they would have a chance to help women and reduce patriarchy by collecting signatures on a petition. We manipulated the difficulty of making reparations by asking participants to collect 5, 50, or 100 signatures. As predicted by Brehm's (1999) theory of emotional intensity, collective guilt was a non-monotonic function of the difficulty of making reparations. Men in the moderate difficulty (50 signatures) condition expressed greater collective guilt than participants in the low (5) or high (100) difficulty conditions. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for the theory of emotional intensity, collective guilt, and collective emotions more generally.
Novel homozygous mutation in the alpha subunit of the rod cGMP gated channel (CNGA1) in two Spanish sibs affected with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP, MIM 268000) comprises a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders leading to progressive dysfunction of the rod photoreceptors of the retina. Patients suffer early night blindness followed by loss of peripheral vision associated with pigment accumulation in the outer retina and attenuation of the retinal vessels. The pathophysiology of RP involves apoptosis of rod cells. Although macular vision is preserved in the initial stages of the disease, visual field defects gradually increase and cone affectation follows. RP can be inherited as an autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, digenic, or X linked trait. Several RP genes and loci have been described to date (RetNet web site: http://utsph.sph.uth.tmc.edu/www/Wtsph/RetNet/home.htm). Altogether, the genes known to cause the autosomal recessive forms explain a small proportion of cases, while the great majority remain unexplained, which illustrates the extreme genetic heterogeneity of this condition. As expected, many of the ARRP genes are rod specific, some are only expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium, and none is cone specific. Cyclic nucleotide gated channels (CNCG) are a group of non-selective ion channels present in different tissues. The rod cGMP gated cation channel is located in the outer segment of the plasma membrane and is involved in the last step of the phototransduction cascade. In spite of a similar function, rod and cone cells express different CNCG genes.1 Rod channels are predicted to form heterotetramers of two alpha and beta subunit dimers. Each contains a core structural unit of six membrane spanning segments, a pore region, and a cGMP binding domain. The alpha peptide ( CNGA1 , MIM 123825, GDB 127557) forms a functional channel by itself and is considered the main functional subunit, while the beta counterpart ( CNGB1, MIM 600724, GDB 434397) modulates the activity of the channel and is unable to promote ion transfer by …
Early Identification of Biliary Pancreatitis With Procalcitonin

To the Editor: In acute pancreatitis, early detection of obstruction in the biliary tree is essential for urgent desobliteration (1). The endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) can identify ductal and gallbladder stones and allows immediate relief by endoscopic sphincterotomy (EPT). However, ERCP and EPT are not indicated in the majority of patients with nonbiliary pancreatitis and bear the risk of inducing pancreatitis itself. Several clinical and biochemical parameters have been proposed to differentiate between biliary and nonbiliary pancreatitis but lack specificity, whereas ultrasound (US) imaging is often not diagnostic because of technical limitations (bowel gas or ileus) (2). Increased serum concentrations of acute-phase proteins and cytokines have been emphasized to be of prognostic value, but to our knowledge they have not been used as differentiation markers between the types of pancreatitis. We tested whether the 116 amino-acid pep-tide procalcitonin (PCT), which is reported to be a sensitive and specific marker for bacterial inflammation (3, 4) allows early discrimination between biliary and nonbiliary pancreatitis.
Cooperative source localization of multi-agent system based on a cooperative PE condition

This paper deals with cooperative source localization with a group of agents where the source is static/dynamic. By making efficient use of the topology information, a loose condition-cooperative PE condition is obtained which is weaker than the traditionally defined PE condition. Since the agents that can directly connect to the source may exchange information with each other, a local cooperative estimator is designed to estimate the relative location of the source for them. We further study the cooperative source localization with a dynamic source, and obtain the corresponding conclusion. Finally, a simulation is provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
On the stability of the upside–down pendulum with damping

A rigorous analysis is presented in order to show that, in the presence of friction, the upward equilibrium position of the vertically driven pendulum, with a small nonvanishing damping term, becomes asymptotically stable when the period of the forcing is below an appropriate threshold value. As a by–product we obtain an analytic expression of the solution for initial data close enough to the equilibrium position.
Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping in Cerebral Cavernous Malformations: Clinical Correlations

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quantitative susceptibility mapping has been shown to assess iron content in cerebral cavernous malformations. In this study, our aim was to correlate lesional iron deposition assessed by quantitative susceptibility mapping with clinical and disease features in patients with cerebral cavernous malformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients underwent routine clinical scans in addition to quantitative susceptibility mapping on 3T systems. Data from 105 patients met the inclusion criteria. Cerebral cavernous malformation lesions identified on susceptibility maps were cross-verified by T2-weighted images and differentiated on the basis of prior overt hemorrhage. Mean susceptibility per cerebral cavernous malformation lesion (χ̄lesion) was measured to correlate with lesion volume, age at scanning, and hemorrhagic history. Temporal rates of change in χ̄lesion were evaluated in 33 patients. RESULTS: Average χ̄lesion per patient was positively correlated with patient age at scanning (P < .05, 4.1% change with each decade of life). Cerebral cavernous malformation lesions with prior overt hemorrhages exhibited higher χ̄lesion than those without (P < .05). Changes in χ̄lesion during 3- to 15-month follow-up were small in patients without new hemorrhage between the 2 scans (bias = −0.0003; 95% CI, −0.06–0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a positive correlation between mean quantitative susceptibility mapping signal and patient age in cerebral cavernous malformation lesions, higher mean quantitative susceptibility mapping signal in hemorrhagic lesions, and minimum longitudinal quantitative susceptibility mapping signal change in clinically stable lesions. Quantitative susceptibility mapping has the potential to be a novel imaging biomarker supplementing conventional imaging in cerebral cavernous malformations. The clinical significance of such measures merits further study.
Three-Port Versus Five-Port Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer Patients: A Propensity Score Matched Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of three-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TP-LDG) as a reduced port laparoscopic gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively identified 146 patients preoperatively diagnosed with early gastric cancer who underwent five-port laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (FP-LDG) or TP-LDG between May 2013 and July 2016. A propensity score matching analysis was used to create patient groups (48 patients in each group) matched for sex, age, body mass index, previous abdominal surgery history, and American Society of Anesthesiologist score. The short-term surgical outcomes between TP-LDG and FP-LDG were compared. Results: The TP-LDG group had a statistically shorter umbilical wound length [3.4 (range, 3.0–4.0) cm vs. 3.9 (range, 3.7–4.0) cm, p = . 000], shorter operative time [230 (range, 190–310) min vs. 250 (range, 180–320) min, p = . 036], and lower estimated blood loss [68 (range, 20–180) mL vs. 80 (range, 40–150) mL, p = . 005] compared to that in the FP-LDG group. However, there was no specific superiority regarding inflammatory profiles. Complication rates were also similar (8.4% TP-LDG vs. 12.6% FP-LDG, p = .504). Conclusions: TP-LDG is a feasible and safe surgical procedure for the patients with early gastric cancer and provides the benefit of better cosmesis.
Interpreting Recent Changes in the Credit Spreads of Japanese Banks

This paper examines the recent period of relatively low credit spreads in Japan, with particular emphasis on the market fs assessments of the credit risks of large Japanese banks implicit in the prices of credit derivatives. We extract the market-price implied likelihood of a credit event in the future, and explore the nature of the default risk premiums underlying recent changes in bank bond and credit derivatives prices. We document substantial increases in the gjump-at- default h default risk premiums for the large Japanese banks examined during the early part of 2006. These patterns in risk premiums are related to the recent patterns in market indicators of global event risk, local equity market volatility, and an estimate of the duration of the Bank of Japan fs zero interest rate policy.
Robot programming by human demonstration: the use of human inconsistency in improving 3D robot trajectories

Programming by human demonstration is an intuitive method of robot programming, in which the programmer demonstrates how a task is performed using a teaching gripper that measures human motion, and the data gathered is used to generate the robot program. A direct duplication of the demonstrated trajectory would result in unsatisfactory robot motion due to human "wiggles" and unnecessary motion. Here, human inconsistency is not treated as noise that should be eliminated from the analysis, but is used to gain information regarding the task accuracy requirements. A task of moving a part to a desired location while avoiding stationary obstacles is demonstrated. Variation between the demonstrations is interpreted as human inconsistency and defines a range of acceptable obstacle free robot motion. In previous work, a method was presented to generate robot trajectories for two dimensional motion. Here an alternate algorithm is presented that is extended to include three dimensional motion. The presence of human inconsistency is used to improve robot performance by generating robot trajectories that are shorter than the demonstrated ones and with the addition of a buffer between the robot and the obstacles. <<ETX>>
Introdução Anxiety constructs : translational and nomological perspectives

Basic research involving animal models is an important tool to improve our understanding of clinical conditions related with anxiety and panic attacks. In fact, animal models have been used to study several paradigms on analogous and homologous elements of human anxiety phenomena. However, the direct transposition (translation) to clinical practice of the results obtained with animal models may be restricted by the different constructs used to describe and explain empirical evidence of anxiety phenomena among humans. We aimed to analyze whether theoretical assumptions on the potential inhibitory effects of anxiety on panic could be observed among humans in prospective studies designed to analyze the relationship between anxiety and panic. A systematic literature review including papers published in English language between 1997 and 2011 was undertaken on the MEDLINE database. The search yielded a total of 257 articles, of which 11 were included in the review. In three studies, the global dimension of the anxiety sensitivity construct worked as a facilitator of panic attacks. Six studies showed a positive correlation between the AS-Physical Concerns subfactor and the occurrence of panic attacks, whereas two studies found a greater effect of the AS-Mental Incapacitation Concerns subfactor on panic. There was no evidence that anxiety might act as an inhibitor of panic attacks in humans, and there were no conclusive findings on the possibility that any anxiety construct could contribute toward inhibiting panic attacks. In sum, there seems to be a need for refining descriptions of anxious phenomena addressed both in basic preclinical research and in prospective-longitudinal studies involving humans.
Emodin inhibits splenocyte proliferation and inflammation by modulating cytokine responses in a mouse model system

Abstract Emodin, an anthraquinone derivative, was investigated for potential anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects in vitro. The potential to induce these outcomes was assessed using concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated mouse splenocytes. Dose–response studies showed that emodin at 100 µM was not cytotoxic to naive cells, and that the same dose caused proliferation to be significantly reduced in ConA-stimulated cells. In addition, emodin significantly reduced ConA-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and the formation/release of TH1 (IL-2, IFNγ, TNFα) and TH17 (IL-6 and IL-17) cell cytokines, but induced those of TH2 (IL-4) and Treg (IL-10) cells. From the results, it is concluded that earlier-reported immunomodulatory effects imparted by emodin may have been attributable, in part, to anti-proliferative effects on lymphocytes, as well as a shift within the TH1/TH2 and TH17/Treg balance (towards TH2 and Treg). These findings, while providing evidence of mechanisms of emodin immunomodulation, are also potentially important for sparking studies that ultimately may result in the potential use of this agent in preventive and/or corrective strategies against autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases.
On the pharmacology and toxicology of neutrophils.

OBJECTIVES To study the effect of H1-antihistamines dithiaden (Dit) and loratadine (Lor) and compare it with that of histamine (His) on phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA) stimulated chemiluminescence (CL) of whole blood, isolated neutrophils, release of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and on superoxide (SO) generation. METHODS Luminol- and isoluminol-enhanced CL was applied for measuring the oxidative burst, spectrophotometry was used for determination of MPO (o-dianisidine) and SO generation (superoxide dismutase inhibition of cytochrome c). RESULTS Dit and Lor dose-dependently inhibited CL of whole blood and significantly decreased oxidative burst both at the extra- and intracellular sites of neutrophils. Release of MPO was decreased with both drugs tested in 10-times lower concentrations than was SO inhibition. Histamine (His) was much less effective in the inhibition of the parameters investigated. CONCLUSIONS Histaminergic drugs of the 1st generation inhibited oxidative burst of human phagocytes in whole blood and in isolated neutrophils. The rank order of potency to inhibit CL, MPO release and SO generation in PMA stimulated phagocytes was: Dit>Lor>His.