Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectral analysis of the DC kernel for regularized system identification

System identification with regularization methods has attracted increasing attention recently and is a complement to the current standard maximum likelihood/prediction error method. In this paper, we focus on the kernel-based regularization method and give a spectral analysis of the so-called diagonal correlated (DC) kernel, one family of kernel structures that has been proven useful for linear time-invariant system identification. In particular, using the theory of Bessel functions, we derive the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions of the DC kernel. Accordingly, we derive the Karhunen-Loève expansion of the stochastic process whose covariance function is the DC kernel.
Molecular Pathobiology of Uveal Melanoma

Despite a century of advances in the clinical management of uveal melanoma, there has been no demonstrable improvement in patient survival. This remarkable fact underscores the deceptively complex uveal melanoma molecular pathophysiology and implies that improving life expectancy will require a more detailed understanding of these molecular changes. In this chapter, we review the genetic lesions from a chromosomal level to the level of individual genes and protein pathways. Finally, we synthesize these findings in the context of the latest studies of global gene expression patterns. As illustrated in the following sections, uveal melanoma is slowly surrendering its molecular secrets and investigators are steadily gaining new insights into uveal melanomamolecular pathobiology that will lead to advances in diagnosis, treatment and, ultimately, survival.
FOURIER COEFFICIENTS AND GROWTH OF HARMONIC FUNCTIONS

We consider Harmonic Functions, H of several variables. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions on its Fourier coefficients so that H is an entire harmonic (that is, has no finite singularities) function; the radius of har- monicity in terms of its Fourier coefficients in case H is not entire. Further, we obtain, in terms of its Fourier coefficients, the Order and Type growth measures, both in case H is entire or non-entire.
Energetics, Patterns of Interaction Strengths, and Stability in Real Ecosystems

Ecologists have long been studying stability in ecosystems by looking at the structuring and the strengths of trophic interactions in community food webs. In a series of real food webs from native and agricultural soils, the strengths of the interactions were found to be patterned in a way that is important to ecosystem stability. The patterning consisted of the simultaneous occurrence of strong "top down" effects at lower trophic levels and strong "bottom up" effects at higher trophic levels. As the patterning resulted directly from the energetic organization of the food webs, the results show that energetics and community structure govern ecosystem stability by imposing stabilizing patterns of interaction strengths.
Preparation and Characterization of Tiopronin Gold Nanoparticles

Characterization of gold nanoparticles is significant to appreciate and control nanoparticles synthesis and applications. The present work aims to study the characterization of tiopronin gold nanoparticles ,by TEM, SEM, UV-visble, and NMR.The results shows a rough doped shape of nanoparticleswhich due to tiopronin molecules attached on gold surface.The average particle size of prepared (Tio Au NPs) by chemical method was (48) nm which range between (15-75) nm. The λemwas (700nm) which means that the effective crystalline size of Tio Au NPs was about (1.6nm).
Inverse Correlation between Severity of Psychopathic Traits and Serum Cortisol Levels in Young Adult Violent Male Offenders

The aim of the present study was to fi nd out if there is an association between the severity of psychopathic traits and S cortisol levels in young adult violent male offenders. We recruited 20 healthy, detoxifi ed, medication-free adolescent and young adult (age range 16–22 years, mean 18.9, SD 1.77) male offenders with a history of violent acts. They were charged with either murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, attempted manslaughter or assault, and were recruited from a pre-trial forensic psychiatric examination lasting approximately 2 months. None of the participants had an acute mood disorder, psychosis or organic brain syndrome. All of the participants fulfi lled criteria for antisocial personality disorder. Psychopathy was assessed using the 20-item Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), a semi-structured interview, which includes also a review of fi le information. Each item is rated on a 3-point scale, with a total score of the scale ranging from 0 to 40. The PCL-R reportedly consists of two factors; factor 1 taps affective-interpersonal features and factor 2 socially deviant lifestyle and behaviors [1] . The PCL-R rating was based on the consensus of a team of a forensic psychiatrist, a social worker and a clinically experienced psychologist. The internal consistency of the PCL-R was checked by calculating Cronbach’s coeffi Psychopathy is a clinical construct traditionally defi ned by a constellation of interpersonal and affective characteristics that are associated with a socially deviant lifestyle [1] . Criminal psychopaths typically begin their antisocial and criminal activities at a relatively early age, and continue throughout much of their lives [2] . The neurobiological correlates of criminal psychopathy are relatively unknown. Psychopathy has been associated with low level of both autonomic and cortical arousal [3] . Psychopaths are reported to be under-reactive to stressful, exciting or frightening stimuli and insensitive to several types of fear and punishment contingencies [4] . The limbic system, the neural basis for emotions and social interactions [5] , infl uences functions of both the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland [6] . Many kinds of psychological stress have been shown to affect the level of pituitary-adrenal activity [7] . The HPA axis meets the demands of stress primarily through the synthesis and/or release of corticotropin-releasing hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol [7] . These HPA axis hormones may refl ect alterations of the limbic system functioning in individuals with criminal psychopathy. More specifi cally, the degree of psychopathic tendencies might be refl ected in serum (S) cortisol levels as a sign of reactivity to stress in forensic population. Published online: January 17, 2006
Infants’ neural oscillatory processing of theta-rate speech patterns exceeds adults’

During their early years, infants use the temporal statistics of the speech signal to boot-strap language learning, but the neural mechanisms that facilitate this temporal analysis are poorly understood. In adults, neural oscillatory entrainment to the speech amplitude envelope has been proposed to be a mechanism for multi-time resolution analysis of adult-directed speech, with a focus on Theta (syllable) and low Gamma (phoneme) rates. However, it is not known whether developing infants perform multi-time oscillatory analysis of infant-directed speech with the same temporal focus. Here, we examined infants’ processing of the temporal structure of sung nursery rhymes, and compared their neural entrainment across multiple timescales with that of well-matched adults (their mothers). Typical infants and their mothers (N=58, median age 8.3 months) viewed videos of sung nursery rhymes while their neural activity at C3 and C4 was concurrently monitored using dual-electroencephalography (dual-EEG). The accuracy of infants’ and adults’ neural oscillatory entrainment to speech was compared by calculating their phase-locking values (PLVs) across the EEG-speech frequency spectrum. Infants showed better phase-locking than adults at Theta (~4.5 Hz)and Alpha (~9.3 Hz) rates, corresponding to rhyme and phoneme patterns in our stimuli. Infant entrainment levels matched adults’ for syllables and prosodic stress patterns (Delta,~1-2 Hz). By contrast, infants were less accurate than adults at tracking slow (~0.5 Hz) phrasal patterns. Therefore, compared to adults, language-learning infants’ temporal parsing of the speech signal shows highest relative acuity at Theta-Alpha rates. This temporal focus could support the accurate encoding of syllable and rhyme patterns during infants’ sensitive period for phonetic and phonotactic learning. Therefore, oscillatory entrainment could be one neural mechanism that supports early bootstrapping of language learning from infant-directed speech (such as nursery rhymes).
The variation of center of mass excursion within and between innings and its relationship to pitched ball velocity in collegiate softball players

The purpose of this study was to measure the changes to excursions of the COM with pitch count and innings pitched in a collegiate softball game. Additionally, the effect of excursion on pitched ball velocity was investigated. Twenty-six collegiate pitchers were recorded using a high speed video camera. The first three fastballs and the last three fastballs in each inning were used to determine the COM position during the stride foot takeoff, the lead foot touchdown, and the release. Ball velocity was also calculated from the digitization of each video. MatLab and Excel were used to calculate the excursions between the start of the pitch to the lead foot land, the lead foot land and the release and the start of the pitch and the release. The multivariate 2x5 Factorial MANOVA indicated that there was no significant interactions (F(16,532)=0.133, p=0.809) therefore main effects were investigated. There were no significant differences between the performance variables between the beginning and ending of the innings pitched (F(4,130)=0.02, p=0.99). Finally, there were no differences between innings (F(16,532)=0.99, p=0.46). The lack of support was attributed to the complex nature of the pitch with a variety of variables contributing to the execution of the pitch. The small correlation found could possibly be an increase in the arm motion and be an example of one of the many compensating factors that allow a pitcher to maintain pitched ball velocity. Future research for this topic should look at conducting the study during the spring season to reduce the variability of innings pitched, and research a younger population of athletes with the idea that in younger players the changes may be more noticeable throughout a game due to lack of strength and lower skill level. THE VARIATION OF CENTER OF MASS EXCURSION WITHIN AND BETWEEN INNINGS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO PITCHED BALL VELOCITY IN COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL PLAYERS A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts
Numerical simulation of particle dynamics in an orifice–electrode system. Application to counting and sizing by impedance measurement

This paper describes how to numerically tackle the problem of counting and sizing particles by impedance measurement in an orifice–electrode system. The model allows to simulate the particle dynamics submitted to strong hydrodynamic stresses through a microorifice and to compute the voltage pulses generated by the modification of the inner dielectric medium. This approach gives important information about particles size distribution and allows to quantify the role of trajectory and orientation of particles on the size measurement. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in a Family of Rural English Police Forces

Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 is used by police officers to detain persons who they feel might be suffering with mental disorder until a formal Mental Health Act assessment can be undertaken. Previous studies have shown that the outcomes of these assessments result in remarkably different rates of subsequent hospital admissions. Within a rural setting it has also been shown that the rate of use of Section 136 varies considerably. This study examines the use of Section 136 within a family of eight police forces that have been matched to ensure that they cover similar populations. The results show that there are considerable variations in the use of Section 136, with the Devon and Cornwall region using the section over two and a half times the mean for the group. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.
Enzymatic iron oxidation by Leptothrix discophora: identification of an iron-oxidizing protein

An iron-oxidizing factor was identified in the spent culture medium of the iron- and manganese-oxidizing bacterial strain Leptothrix discophora SS-1. It appeared to be a protein, with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 150,000. Its activity could be demonstrated after fractionation of the spent medium by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A spontaneous mutant of L. discophora SS-1 was isolated which excreted neither manganese- nor iron-oxidizing activity, whereas excretion of other proteins seemed to be unaffected. Although the excretion of both metal-oxidizing factors was probably linked, the difference in other properties suggests that manganese and iron oxidation represent two different pathways. With a dot-blot assay, it was established that different bacterial species have different metal-oxidizing capacities. Whereas L. discophora oxidized both iron and manganese, Sphaerotilus natans oxidized only iron and two Pseudomonas spp. oxidized only manganese.
Molecular components of the B cell antigen receptor complex of class IgD differ partly from those of IgM.

Two classes of immunoglobulin, IgM and IgD, are present as antigen receptors on the surface of mature B lymphocytes. We show here that IgD molecules are noncovalently associated in the B cell membrane with a heterodimer consisting of two proteins of 35 kd (IgD‐alpha) and 39 kd (Ig‐beta), respectively. The two novel proteins are not found in the IgD‐expressing myeloma J558L delta m, which fails to bring IgD antigen receptor onto the cell surface. In a surface IgD positive variant line of this myeloma, however, membrane‐bound IgD molecules are associated with the heterodimer, suggesting that the formation of an antigen receptor complex is required for surface IgD expression. We further demonstrate that the IgD‐associated heterodimer differs partly from that of the IgM antigen receptor and that its binding to the heavy chain only requires the presence of the last constant domain and the transmembrane part of the delta m chain.
Evaluation of subsecond gated helical CT for quantification of coronary artery calcium and comparison with electron beam CT.

OBJECTIVE Since its introduction early in the 1990s, helical CT has become the predominant technology for obtaining CT images for medical applications. Recent improvements in the temporal resolution of helical CT (subsecond) and the addition of retrospective cardiac gating are combined in this report evaluating cardiac-gated helical CT for quantifying coronary artery calcium. We compare total calcium scores determined on subsecond gated helical CT with the current reference for coronary calcium evaluation, electron beam CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS We compared total calcium scores obtained using a general purpose, unmodified helical CT scanner with scores obtained using electron beam CT in 36 individuals who were 68+/-11 years old (age range, 41-85 years). RESULTS Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.97 to 0.98 (Pearson's product moment) and from 0.95 to 0.96 (Spearman's rank order), depending on the coronary calcium scoring method used. Agreement in the classification of participants as "healthy" or "diseased" at threshold total calcium scores of 10, 100, 160, 200, 400, and 680 was, respectively, 94%, 97%, 89%, 92%, 94%, and 100% using the conventional electron beam CT scoring method and an equivalent method with helical CT. CONCLUSION A general purpose, current generation helical CT scanner equipped for retrospective cardiac gating can accurately quantify coronary calcium, and the results are highly correlated to scores obtained with electron beam CT. As an alternative method for measuring coronary calcium, gated subsecond cardiac helical CT offers greater availability and lower cost, thereby making population-based screening for coronary artery calcium more feasible.
Well-Composed Sets

Abstract A special class of subsets of binary digital images called "well-composed sets" is defined. The sets of this class have very nice topological properties; for example, the Jordan Curve Theorem holds for them, their Euler characteristic is locally computable, and they have only one connectedness relation, since 4- and 8-connectedness are equivalent. This implies that many basic algorithms used in computer vision become simpler. There are real advantages in applying thinning algorithms to well-composed sets, For example, thinning is an internal operation on these sets and the problems with irreducible "thick" sets disappear. Furthermore, we prove that the skeletons obtained are "one point thick" and we give a formal definition of this concept. We also show that these skeletons have a graph structure and we define what this means.
Power for Robotic Artificial Muscles

Artificial muscles based on the dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) are an attractive technology for autonomous robotic systems. We are currently exploring their use on EcoBot (Ecological roBot), an autonomous robot being developed by Bristol Robotics Lab that uses microbial fuel cells (MFCs). DEA will provide actuators for fuel cell maintenance and other goals and will increase active mission time through greater mechanical efficiency and reduced mass. Artificial muscles use high voltages and running them normally requires voltage converters to boost the voltage on delivered charge several hundred times. A dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) when used with a recently developed self-priming circuit (SPC) can supply the high-voltage power directly to artificial muscle systems. The SPC can also be started using an initial low-voltage charge from another energy harvester such as a bank of MFCs or a solar cell array. This combination could lead to a completely autonomous power source for robotic artificial muscles. We demonstrate a proof-of-concept portable self-primed DEG for harvesting wind energy from moving tree branches.
Expression of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) in primary serous ovarian tumours.

OBJECTIVE Serous ovarian cancer is the most prevalent type of ovarian cancer. The majority of women present at an advanced stage and patient survival is poor. Resistance to chemotherapy is thought to relate to failure of tumours to undergo apoptosis. Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) has been demonstrated to be involved in apoptosis in the ovary but not in ovarian tumours as yet. This study examined SFRP4 expression in ovarian cancers and correlated this with expression of beta-catenin, a main component of the wNT-signalling pathway it inhibits. METHODS We examined 153 primary serous ovarian carcinomas for SFRP4 and B-catenin expression using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays and correlated this with clinical information. RESULTS SFRP4 expression was inversely associated with beta-catenin expression in 84% of samples. However, high-level SFRP4 expression was not significantly associated with patient survival (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION Elevated SFRP4 expression in serous ovarian tumours appears to correlate with reduced beta-catenin expression but long-term survival appears unaffected by this.
Investigation of class 1 integrons in Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical and microbiota isolates belonging to different phylogenetic groups in Recife, State of Pernambuco.

INTRODUCTION The high prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections is related to the ability of K. pneumoniae to acquire and disseminate exogenous genes associated with mobile elements, such as R plasmids, transposons and integrons. This study investigated the presence of class 1 integrons in clinical and microbiota isolates of K. pneumoniae belonging to different phylogenetic groups and correlated these results with the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the studied isolates. METHODS Of the 51 isolates of K. pneumoniae selected for this study, 29 were from multidrug-resistant clinical isolates, and 22 were from children's microbiota. The susceptibility profile was determined using the disk diffusion method, and class 1 integrons were detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS The results showed that none of the 22 microbiota isolates carried class 1 integrons. Among the 29 clinical isolates, 19 (65.5%) contained class 1 integrons, and resistance to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim was identified in 18 of these isolates (94.7%). Among the K. pneumoniae isolates with class 1 integrons, 47% belonged to the KpI phylogenetic group, and one isolate (14.3%) carrying these genetic elements belonged to the KpIII group. CONCLUSIONS The wide variety of detected class 1 integrons supports the presence of high rates of antimicrobial resistance, genetic variability, and rapid dissemination of beta-lactamase genes among K. pneumoniae clinical isolates in recent years in hospitals in Recife-PE, Brazil. The findings of this study indicate that the surveillance of K. pneumoniae integrons in clinical isolates could be useful for monitoring the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in the hospital environment.
A numerical treatment of the TiO2/C2H6O2–H2O hybrid base nanofluid inside a porous cavity under the impact of shape factor in MHD flow

ABSTRACT In this article, the physical aspects of magnetohydrodynamic convective flow and heat transfer of TiO2–Al2O3/ethylene glycol–water hybrid base nanofluid inside a porous enclosure under the impact of shape factor, Lorentz forces, thermal radiation has been analysed using Finite Element Method. Darcy model is chosen for porous media. The influence of variable, different parameters like Hartmann number (Ha), radiation parameter (Rd), volume fraction (φ), and buoyancy forces (Ra) on streamlines, temperature gradient and Nusselt number are exemplified quantitatively through graphs. Outputs demonstrate that inverse relevance among magnetic forces and temperature gradient, it causes to reduce Nuave for larger (Ha) number. Lamina shape nanoparticle has a greater impact on increasing Nuave compared to other shape factors.
Protection of the intestinal mucosa by intraepithelial γδ T cells

γδ intraepithelial T lymphocytes (IEL) represent a major T cell population within the intestine of unclear functional relevance. The role of intestinal γδ IEL was evaluated in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced mouse colitis model system. Large numbers of γδ T cells, but not αβ T cells, were localized at sites of DSS-induced epithelial cell damage. γδ IEL in DSS treated mice expressed keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), a potent intestinal epithelial cell mitogen. γδ cell-deficient mice (TCRδ−/−) and KGF-deficient mice (KGF−/−), but not αβ cell-deficient mice (TCRα−/−), were more prone than wild-type mice to DSS-induced mucosal injury and demonstrated delayed tissue repair after termination of DSS treatment. Termination of DSS treatment resulted in vigorous epithelial cell proliferation in wild-type mice but not in TCRδ−/− mice or KGF−/− mice. These results suggest that γδ IEL help preserve the integrity of damaged epithelial surfaces by providing the localized delivery of an epithelial cell growth factor.