Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improved results on stability analysis and controller synthesis for T-S fuzzy systems

ABSTRACT This paper is concerned with the stability analysis and synthesis issues for T-S fuzzy systems. By fully using the properties of fuzzy weighting functions and matrix inequalities, two improved sufficient stability conditions are derived based on the common Lyapunov function and fuzzy Lyapunov function, respectively. It is not necessary to require every fuzzy subsystem to be stable in these conditions. Following the analysis, both parallel and non-parallel distributed compensation controllers are obtained by solving linear matrix inequalities. Finally, four examples are given to show the effectiveness of our proposed approach and the advantages of the approach over existing methods.
On Homomorphism Theorem for Perfect Neutrosophic Extended Triplet Groups

Some homomorphism theorems of neutrosophic extended triplet group (NETG) are proved in the paper [Fundamental homomorphism theorems for neutrosophic extended triplet groups, Symmetry 2018, 10(8), 321; doi:10.3390/sym10080321]. These results are revised in this paper. First, several counterexamples are given to show that some results in the above paper are not true. Second, two new notions of normal NT-subgroup and complete normal NT-subgroup in neutrosophic extended triplet groups are introduced, and their properties are investigated. Third, a new concept of perfect neutrosophic extended triplet group is proposed, and the basic homomorphism theorem of perfect neutrosophic extended triplet groups is established.
The advancement and persistence of women in the information technology profession: An extension of Ahuja's gendered theory of IT career stages

In 2002, Manju Ahuja articulated the challenges women face in the information technology (IT) profession with the goal of developing a theoretical model of factors influencing career choice, career advancement, and career persistence for women in the IT profession. While Ahuja's work has been regularly cited in the IT workforce literature (citation count was around 120 using ISI Web of Science and around 425 using Google Scholar as of September 30, 2017), women continue to leave the IT profession at a disturbing rate. Using Ahuja's theoretical model as the foundation, this study asked women working in IT what workplace challenges they face. The findings from this study validate many of Ahuja's propositions and suggest an extended theoretical model that could be used to further explore the challenges women face at various career stages in the IT field. In addition, the extended theoretical model might be used to galvanize the discussion around developing a more inclusive IT work environment.
Transient Ischemic Attack after Air Contrast in Patients with Septal Aneurysm

guidelines (5), niacin can be safely and effectively prescribed with proper patient se lection, dosing, and monitoring. Not all niacin formulations are the same. Significant differences in safety and efficacy can exist among different sustained-release preparations of niacin, many of which are available without medical supervision. This issue needs to be explored further, and a regulatory policy should be devel oped for use of niacin in the management of Dislipoproteinemia.
Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Small Mesenteric Arteries Is Downregulated by Angiotensin II but Not by Hypertension

Many studies reported reduced antioxidant capacity in the vasculature under hypertensive conditions. However, little is known about the effects of antihypertensive treatments on the regulation of vascular antioxidant enzymes. Thus, we hypothesized that antihypertensive treatments prevent the reduction of antioxidant enzyme activity and expression in the small vessels of angiotensin II-induced hypertensive rats (ANG). We observed the small mesenteric arteries and small renal vessels of normotensive rats (NORM), ANG, and ANG treated with a triple antihypertensive therapy of reserpine, hydrochlorothiazide, and hydralazine (ANG + TTx). Systolic blood pressure was increased in ANG, which was attenuated by 2 weeks of triple therapy (127, 191, and 143 mmHg for NORM, ANG, and ANG + TTx, respectively; p < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the small mesenteric arteries of ANG was lower than that of NORM. The protein expression of SOD1 was lower in ANG than in NORM, whereas SOD2 and SOD3 expression was not different between the groups. Reduced SOD activity and SOD1 expression in ANG was not restored in ANG + TTx. Both SOD activity and SOD isoform expression in the small renal vessels of ANG were not different from those of NORM. Interestingly, SOD activity in the small renal vessels was reduced by TTx. Between groups, there was no difference in catalase activity or expression in both the small mesenteric arteries and small renal vessels. In conclusion, SOD activity in the small mesenteric arteries decreased by angiotensin II administration, but not by hypertension, which is caused by decreased SOD1 expression.
PIEZOs mediate neuronal sensing of blood pressure and the baroreceptor reflex

Heart rate and blood pressure control PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are two mechanically activated ion channels that are highly expressed in lungs, bladder, and skin. Zeng et al. found that both ion channels are expressed in sensory neurons of a ganglion complex that contribute to the baroreflex, a homeostatic mechanism that helps to keep blood pressure stable (see the Perspective by Ehmke). Conditional double knockout of PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 in these neurons abolished the baroreflex and disrupted blood pressure regulation and heart rates in mice. These changes were very similar to those seen in patients with baroreflex failure. In mice, selective activation of PIEZO2-expressing ganglion neurons triggered immediate increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Science, this issue p. 464; see also p. 398 PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are baroreceptor mechanosensors critical for acute blood pressure control. Activation of stretch-sensitive baroreceptor neurons exerts acute control over heart rate and blood pressure. Although this homeostatic baroreflex has been described for more than 80 years, the molecular identity of baroreceptor mechanosensitivity remains unknown. We discovered that mechanically activated ion channels PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are together required for baroreception. Genetic ablation of both Piezo1 and Piezo2 in the nodose and petrosal sensory ganglia of mice abolished drug-induced baroreflex and aortic depressor nerve activity. Awake, behaving animals that lack Piezos had labile hypertension and increased blood pressure variability, consistent with phenotypes in baroreceptor-denervated animals and humans with baroreflex failure. Optogenetic activation of Piezo2-positive sensory afferents was sufficient to initiate baroreflex in mice. These findings suggest that PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 are the long-sought baroreceptor mechanosensors critical for acute blood pressure control.
Therapeutic Apheresis in Metabolic Syndrome

Background: The metabolic syndrome unites three pathologies of the person – obesity, arterial hypertension and diabetes. In recent years the progressing of such distribution covering from 2.5% to 3.8% of the population with increase twice each 10-15 years is noted. Even at maintenance of level of sugar at diabetes accumulation of the secondary metabolites breaking small vessels isn't excluded. At the same time many life-endangering complications develop. Objective: To identify the possibilities of plasmapheresis in the prevention and treatment of complications of metabolic syndrome. Method: Analysis of the world literature data on complications of metabolic syndrome and methods of their treatment. Results: At metabolic syndrome the frequency of strokes and myocardial infarctions there is twice more often than in population. For 5-9 years the general life expectancy decreases. Disorders of microcirculation at diabetes lead to a retinopathy with total loss of sight, a nephropathy from the outcome in a renal failure, to polyneuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome with high risk of high level amputations of the lower extremities. At the same time medicamentous therapy is not able to prevent such complications and almost only way of removal of these pathological metabolites is therapeutic apheresis, mainly the plasmapheresis. Data from our own studies confirm the effectiveness of such tactics. Conclusion: Plasmapheresis has to be applied not only to the correction of already critical conditions, but also to their prevention.
Factors associated with TB in an indigenous population in Brazil: the effect of a cash transfer program

ABSTRACT The Mato Grosso do Sul State (MS) has the second-largest indigenous population and the highest incidence rates of TB among indigenous people in Brazil. However, little is known about the risk factors associated with active TB in indigenous people in the region, especially regarding socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of the Family Allowance Program (BFP) and of other predictors of active TB in a high-risk indigenous population in Brazil. We conducted a case-control study with incident TB cases matched by age and by village of residence (1:2 proportion) between March 2011 and December 2012. We used a conditional logistic regression for data analysis. A total of 153 cases and 306 controls were enrolled. The final model included the following risk factors: alcohol consumption (low-risk use OR=2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.3; risky use OR=2.4; 95% CI 1.0-6.0; dependent/ damaging use OR=9.1; 95% CI 2.9-29.1); recent contact with a TB patient (OR=2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.5); and male sex (OR=1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.2). BFP participation (OR=0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.6) and BCG vaccination (OR=0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.9) were found to be protective factors against TB. Although the BFP was not designed to target TB-affected households specifically, our findings reveal the importance of the BFP in preventing one of the most important infectious diseases among adults in indigenous villages in Brazil. This result is in line with the End-TB strategy, which identifies social protection, poverty alleviation and targeting other determinants of TB as key actions.
Last Hope

Heart, the capital city, when informed that death was at the palace gates, hauled his standard down. He could no longer count on his defenders, those lounging bodyguards, lungs, kidneys, eyes, already conniving to remain alive. They'd take the victor's shilling if they could, a chance to live in someone else's shell. That hope he thought as hopeless as his own but still he said, Enjoy yourselves, go out, be free and young. I wish I, too, could live the metaphor of love, say heart as though it were a passion, not disease. There will be dancing in the streets tonight. Go! May young girls at very brink of life, but needing lungs or kidneys, give you the virgin joy of an unbroken heart. But did those gay seducers of the night succeed? Ah no, at dawn the black marias filled and now the firing squads line up. The brain's already gone, the others barely worth a transplant surgeon's being called from sleep. Their hour has come but still the organs pray for miracles, the fabled midnight call. Who knows? Perhaps a sleepless governor will take an interest in a kidney tired from seventy years of metabolic work, an eye whose cornea has grown opaque, a lung burned by a lifetime's oxygen.
Visual Saliency Model-Based Image Watermarking with Laplacian Distribution

To improve the invisibility and robustness of the multiplicative watermarking algorithm, an adaptive image watermarking algorithm is proposed based on the visual saliency model and Laplacian distribution in the wavelet domain. The algorithm designs an adaptive multiplicative watermark strength factor by utilizing the energy aggregation of the high-frequency wavelet sub-band, texture masking and visual saliency characteristics. Then, the image blocks with high-energy are selected as the watermark embedding space to implement the imperceptibility of the watermark. In terms of watermark detection, the Laplacian distribution model is used to model the wavelet coefficients, and a blind watermark detection approach is exploited based on the maximum likelihood scheme. Finally, this paper performs the simulation analysis and comparison of the performance of the proposed algorithm. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is robust against additive white Gaussian noise, JPEG compression, median filtering, scaling, rotation attack and other attacks.
How infrastructures anchor open entrepreneurship: The case of Bitcoin and stigma

This paper delves into the question: How does an entrepreneur commercialising an open source technology (an “open entrepreneur”) respond when an underlying infrastructure that is maintained by a distributed and heterogeneous community become stigmatised, particularly when the source of the stigma is unclear? Research has found that, when faced with stigma, the most effective and robust strategy for established nondigital firms is to try to and create a distance from it. Open entrepreneurs with different ideologies would likely benefit from similar actions; however, the interdependencies created when they rely upon a digital infrastructure may make this strategy impossible. Given the tensions between ideological heterogeneity and a shared infrastructure, how—and why—do open entrepreneurs respond to stigma? This paper extends existing literature on stigma by developing a model of ideologically mediated responses to stigma by open entrepreneurs through an inductive study based upon interviews, archival, and forum data. We further contribute to extant literature on open entrepreneurship by proposing a model of ideologically mediated responses to stigma, which is grounded in group identity theory. We also build on digital infrastructure literature by proposing the concept of digital infrastructure anchoring. Lastly, we show how ideological heterogeneity leads to business model heterogeneity among open entrepreneurs and discuss the practical implications of this research.
Alzheimer's Disease: Biology, Diagnosis and Therapeutics

Iqbal K, Winblad B, Nishimura T, Masatoshi T, Wisniewski HM; eds. 831 pages. New York: Wiley; 1997. $250.00. ISBN 0471969648. Order phone 800-225-5945. Field of medicine: Neurology and geriatrics. Format: Hardcover book. Audience: Physicians and scientists engaged in research on the course, cause, and treatment of Alzheimer disease. Purpose: The 99 papers in this book were selected by the editors from among more than 800 papers presented at the Fifth International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders held in Osaka, Japan, in 1996. Content: Half of the papers cover pathophysiology and anatomy; the rest address epidemiology, genetics, therapy, and psychosocial care. Highlights: The table of contents gives a sense of the dynamism that underlies current work on Alzheimer disease. Breakthroughs in the genetic basis of this disease are slowly being made. This book gives considerable coverage of the roles of amyloid, protein, nerve-specific growth factors, apoptosis, and apolipoprotein E in the genesis of Alzheimer disease. New treatments are discussed, including muscarinic agonists, novel anticholinesterases, neuroprotective agents, and antioxidants. Limitations: Unless one is actively engaged in Alzheimer disease research, many of the papers are too esoteric and complex. Readers without a background in Alzheimer disease will be unable to understand many of the papers and will not be able to make reasonable judgments about the validity of the findings. There is no editorial commentary and no evidence that the editors individually reviewed or edited the papers. Context: Other multiauthor collections are available, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: Recent Developments (Plenum, 1995) and Pharmacological Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (Wiley, 1997). Practicing internists and neurologists should turn their attention to briefer, more concise, and better edited texts, such as Alzheimer Disease (Raven Pr, 1994), Alzheimer Disease: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care (CRC, 1996), Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Alzheimer's Disease (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1996), or Alzheimer's Disease: A Medical Companion (Blackwell Science, 1995). Reviewer: Daniel B. Hier, MD, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Development of Physiological Parameters Monitoring System using the Internet of Things

To meet the requirements of high quality of people’s life, a remote healthcare service with Internet of things (IoTs) is developed in this paper. The proposed system includes microcomputer, physiological sensors and corresponding signal preprocessing circuit, and wireless transmitting module etc. Sensors are used to detect the various vital signals. The collected data is transmitted to mobile device using Bluetooth. The doctors get patient’s physiological parameters through the GPRS which connects the mobile device and medical center. As a result, doctor can give diagnostic message to the patient without face to face. The detecting device is designed as a watch form which is wrist-worn enclosure, unobtrusive and low power consumption. An android mobile app is also designed to transmit data as well as display the collected data. The experiment validates the performance of the proposed system.
Bioethics: An Introduction to the History, Methods, and Practice

Jecker NS, Jonsen AR, Pearlman RA. 416 pages. New York: Jones and Bartlett; 1997. $33.35. ISBN 0763702285. Order phone 800-832-0034. Field of medicine: Bioethics and medical ethics. Format: Softcover book. Audience: Students at four levels: undergraduates, medical students, graduate students, and health care professionals in continuing education. Purpose: To introduce the history of bioethics and its methods and techniques for carrying ethical analyses into the various settings in which health care is practiced. Content: The book is divided into three parts, each with an introduction by one of the editors. The history section, introduced by Jonsen, contains 13 essays on such themes as organ transplantation, experimentation, terminating treatment, and bioethics as a discipline; the methods section, introduced by Jecker, has 15 essays; and the practice section, introduced by Pearlman, contains 16 selections, including state and federal statutes, professional association statements, and scholarly discussions of ethics committees and ethics consultation. Highlights: Most of the essays in the first part of the book are classic works in bioethics, and it is good to have them conveniently grouped together. Attention to the cultural context of bioethics in the method and practice sections is valuable. The essays and introductions are clear, free of unexplained jargon, and comprehensible even to those without much background in philosophy or bioethics. Limitations: Some essays that I would regard as central to the history of bioethics have been omitted, and some of those that have been included are less important. More disturbing than the exclusion of specific essays, however, is the exclusion of whole topics. For example, conception of the practitioner-patient relationship is a fundamental topic in bioethics, yet neither Veatch's classic essay sketching models of the relationship nor any other systematic treatment of this issue is included. One would expect the material in the practice section to be up to date, but there is as much material from the 1970s as there is from the 1990s, and most is from the mid- to late 1980s. Context: No other book attempts to cover all three of the topics addressed in this book, although most introductory texts include a summary of underlying principles and most now include some attention to the practice dimension of bioethics in legislation, professional position statements, and the workings of ethics committees and ethics consultants. Most introductory texts are organized around issues rather than along the lines of this book. However, those with a serious interest in exploring the field should pick up the revised edition of Encyclopedia of Bioethics by Warren T. Reich (Macmillan, 1995). It allows the reader to select topics of interest and offers history, methods, and clinical implications on almost any topic. Reviewer: Glenn C. Graber, PhD, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Comparison of professional and laypeople evaluation of nasolabial esthetics following unilateral cleft lip repair

ABSTRACT Objectives: The objective is to know the extent of agreement of clinicians' perception of nasolabial esthetic compared to that of laypeople (parents). Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of comparison of clinician's perception of nasolabial esthetics with that of laypeople following surgical repair of UCL. Participants were recruited from the Cleft Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, and surgical repair of the cleft was performed under general anesthesia. Surgical evaluation was done through direct clinical evaluation using the modified form of the Christofides' criteria by laypeople and professionals. Results: A total of 48 cleft participants were enrolled in the study. The evaluation of the lip by both the laypeople and professionals was similar, and there was no difference (0.588) in their rating. However, there was a significant disagreement (P = 0.001) between them in the nose assessment. Conclusion: Neither the solitary opinion of the professionals nor that of the laypeople is satisfactory in the evaluation of facial esthetics; both are equally important, especially in the assessment of nasal esthetics. However, opinion of either the laypeople or the professional might be enough in the evaluation of the lip esthetics.
Decision modeling of risks in pharmaceutical supply chains

Purpose Managing risks is becoming a highly focused activity in the health service sector. In particular, due to the complex nature of processes in the pharmaceutical industry, several risks have been associated to its supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the risks occurring in the supply chains of the pharmaceutical industry and propose a decision model, based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, for evaluating risks in pharmaceutical supply chains (PSCs). Design/methodology/approach The proposed model was developed based on the Delphi method and AHP techniques. The Delphi method helped to select the relevant risks associated to PSCs. A total of 16 sub risks within four main risks were identified through an extensive review of the literature and by conducting a further investigation with experts from five pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh. AHP contributed to the analysis of the risks and determination of their priorities. Findings The results of the study indicated that supply-related risks such as fluctuation in imports arrival, lack of information sharing, key supplier failure and non-availability of materials should be prioritized over operational, financial and demand-related risks. Originality/value This work is one of the initial contributions in the literature that focused on identifying and evaluating PSC risks in the context of Bangladesh. This research work can assist practitioners and industrial managers in the pharmaceutical industry in taking proactive action to minimize its supply chain risks. To the end, the authors performed a sensitivity analysis test, which gives an understanding of the stability of ranking of risks.