Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A robust particle filter for state estimation — with convergence results

Particle filters are becoming increasingly important and useful for state estimation in nonlinear systems. Many filter versions have been suggested, and several results on convergence of filter properties have been reported. However, apparently a result on the convergence of the state estimate itself has been lacking. This contribution describes a general framework for particle filters for state estimation, as well as a robustified filter version. For this version a quite general convergence result is established. In particular, it is proved that the particle filter estimate convergences w.p.1 to the optimal estimate, as the number of particles tends to infinity.
Innovation practices success in China: the use of innovation mechanisms in Chinese SOEs

Purpose: The climate for technical innovation has been improving in the past few years in China. This paper describes a case research concerning technical innovation practices success in three Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the manufacturing industry. This is executed by applying a technical innovation audit tool based on ‘Western’ good practices. Methodology: Studies on technical innovation in the Chinese SOEs started in the 1990s, but most investigations in this field were based on statistical survey and mathematical modelling. In this research, case study research method, including such strategies as open-ended, in-depth questions, intensive interviews and observations, are applied for the validity of information. Findings: The data and results reveal that the investigated Chinese SOEs have already some mechanisms for innovation in place. But there is still room for improvement and enhancement with respect to the effect on innovation success. It is also concluded that benchmarking (through the application of the technical innovation audit tool) does guide the Chinese management toward deciding which innovation mechanisms to adopt so as to provide the basics for innovation success. Additionally, based on the case studies the interesting conclusion could be drawn: In the context of the Chinese economy in transition, the case companies with less openness to the market (i.e. with high government involvement) have a more widespread use of innovation mechanisms. Practical Implication: The last finding seems to contradict the positive relationship between market focus and innovativeness as suggested in ‘Western’ innovation management theories. For clarification we relate this to the way the SOEs deal with their adaptive cycle, thereby considering their way of dealing with (increased) complexity as compared to ‘Western’ companies (complexity absorption versus reduction). The considered cases are embedded in the institutional setting of China in transition. Therefore, the conclusions and findings enrich the theory of transition by revealing the point that entering an open market abruptly may not be the solution for SOEs, which are rooted in a socialist economy, to become more competitive and more innovative. This was mostly elaborated through the influence of the two main stakeholders (i.e. government and customer/end user) on the openness of the SOEs and their use of innovation mechanisms in China, the largest socialist system of the world. Originality/Value: This paper is based on a doctoral research project, containing reliable, first hand data from the practice
Inflammatory and Haematological Markers in the Maternal, Umbilical Cord and Infant Circulation in Histological Chorioamnionitis

Background The relationship between histological chorioamnionitis and haematological and biochemical markers in mothers and infants at delivery, and in infants postnatally, is incompletely characterised. These markers are widely used in the diagnosis of maternal and neonatal infection. Our objective was to investigate the effects of histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) on haematological and biochemical inflammatory markers in mothers and infants at delivery, and in infants post-delivery. Methods Two hundred and forty seven mothers, delivering 325 infants, were recruited at the only tertiary perinatal centre in Western Australia. Placentae were assessed for evidence of HCA using a semi-quantitative scoring system. Maternal high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), procalcitonin, and umbilical cord hsCRP, procalcitonin, white cell count and absolute neutrophil count were measured at delivery. In infants where sepsis was clinically suspected, postnatal CRP, white cell count and absolute neutrophil count were measured up to 48 hours of age. The effect of HCA on maternal, cord and neonatal markers was evaluated by multivariable regression analysis. Results The median gestational age was 34 weeks and HCA was present in 26 of 247 (10.5%) placentae. Mothers whose pregnancies were complicated by HCA had higher hsCRP (median 26 (range 2–107) versus 5.6 (0–108) mg/L; P<0.001). Histological chorioamnionitis was associated with higher umbilical cord hsCRP (75th percentile 2.91 mg/L (range 0–63.9) versus 75th percentile 0 mg/L (0–45.6); P<0.001) and procalcitonin (median 0.293 (range 0.05–27.37) versus median 0.064 (range 0.01–5.24) ug/L; P<0.001), with a sustained increase in neonatal absolute neutrophil count (median 4.5 (0.1–26.4)×109/L versus 3.0 (0.1–17.8)×109/L), and CRP up to 48 hours post-partum (median 10 versus 6.5 mg/L) (P<0.05 for each). Conclusion Histological chorioamnionitis is associated with modest systemic inflammation in maternal and cord blood. These systemic changes may increase postnatally, potentially undermining their utility in the diagnosis of early-onset neonatal infection.
Diagnostic Accuracy of 4 Commercially Available Semiautomatic Packages for Carotid Artery Stenosis Measurement on CTA

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Semiautomatic measurement of ICA stenosis potentially increases observer reproducibility. In this study, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver reproducibility of a commercially available semiautomatic ICA stenosis measurement on CTA and estimated the agreement among different software packages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 141 arteries from 90 patients with TIA or ischemic stroke. Manual stenosis measurements were performed by 2 neuroradiologists. Semiautomatic measurements by using 4 methods (3mensio and comparable software from Philips, TeraRecon, and Siemens) were performed by 2 observers. Diagnostic accuracy was estimated by comparing semiautomatic with manual measurements. Interobserver reproducibility and agreement between different packages was assessed by calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement. False-negative classifications were retrospectively inspected by a neuroradiologist. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the diagnostic performance of the 4 semiautomatic methods. The sensitivity for detecting ≥50% and ≥70% degree of stenosis was between 76% and 82% and 46% and 62%, respectively. Specificity and overall diagnostic accuracy were between 92% and 97% and 85% and 90%, respectively. The interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient was between 0.83 and 0.96 for semiautomatic measurements and 0.81 for manual measurement. The limits of agreement between each pair of semiautomatic packages ranged from −18%–24% to −33%–31%. False-negative classifications were caused by ulcerative plaques and observer variation in stenosis and reference measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Semiautomatic methods have a low-to-good sensitivity and a good specificity and overall diagnostic accuracy. The high interobserver reproducibility makes semiautomatic stenosis measurement valuable for clinical practice, but semiautomatic measurements should be checked by an experienced radiologist.
Reconstruction of Local Sea Levels at South West Pacific Islands—A Multiple Linear Regression Approach (1988–2014)

Rising sea levels are a critical concern in small island nations. The problem is especially serious in the western south Pacific, where the total sea level rise over the last 60 years has been up to 3 times the global average. In this study, we aim at reconstructing sea levels at selected sites in the region (Suva, Lautoka—Fiji, and Noumea—New Caledonia) as a multilinear regression (MLR) of atmospheric and oceanic variables. We focus on sea level variability at interannual-to interdecadal time scales, and trend over the 1988–2014 period. Local sea levels are first expressed as a sum of steric and mass changes. Then a dynamical approach is used based on wind stress curl as a proxy for the thermosteric component, as wind stress curl anomalies can modulate the thermocline depth and resultant sea levels via Rossby wave propagation. Statistically significant predictors among wind stress curl, halosteric sea level, zonal/meridional wind stress components, and sea surface temperature are used to construct a MLR model simulating local sea levels. Although we are focusing on the local scale, the global mean sea level needs to be adjusted for. Our reconstructions provide insights on key drivers of sea level variability at the selected sites, showing that while local dynamics and the global signal modulate sea level to a given extent, most of the variance is driven by regional factors. On average, the MLR model is able to reproduce 82% of the variance in island sea level, and could be used to derive local sea level projections via downscaling of climate models.
Optimal Construction of Multi-Dimensional Indexes in Time-Series Databases: A Physical Database Design Approach

Similarity search in time-series databases is an operation that finds such data sequences whose changing patterns are similar to that of a query sequence. Typically, it hires the multi-dimensional index for its efficient processing. In order to alleviate the dimensionality curse, a problem in high-dimensional cases, the previous methods for similarity search apply the Discrete Fourier Transform(DFT) to data sequences, and take only the first two or three DFT coefficients for selecting organizing attributes of the multi-dimensional index. Other than this ad-hoc approach, there have been no research efforts on devising a systematic guideline for choosing the best organizing attributes among all the DFT coefficients. This paper first points out the problems occurred in the previous methods, and proposes a novel solution to construct the optimal multi-dimensional index. The proposed method analyzes the characteristics of a target database, and then identifies the organizing attributes having the best discrimination power. Finally, it determines the optimal number of organizing attributes by using a cost model for similarity search. We show the effectiveness of the proposed method through a series of experiments.
FLUORINATED PYRIMIDINES. XXI. THE TUMOR-INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF 5-TRIFLUOROMETHYL-2'-DEOXYURIDINE.

The tumor-inhibitory activity of 5-trifluoromethyluracil (F3T) and 5-trifluoromethyl-2′-deoxyuridine (F3TDR) has been studied in four transplanted mouse neoplasms. The toxicity has been determined in BDF1 female mice following daily intraperitoneal injection for 7 days, and the LD50's for F3T and F3TDR are 800 mg/kg/day × 7 and 325 mg/kg/day × 7, respectively. F3TDR is more toxic when given by stomach tube, the LD50 being 225 mg/kg/day × 7. The toxicity is caused by depletion of the bone marrow, depression of the white count, and denudation of the gastrointestinal tract. In Sarcoma 180 and the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, F3TDR is less effective than 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (FUDR). Against L1210 leukemia F3TDR and FUDR are equally effective, whereas in Adenocarcinoma 755 F3TDR has a significantly better chemotherapeutic index than does FUDR. F3T has significant activity only against the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Combination chemotherapy of F3TDR and FUDR shows additive, but not synergistic, effects. A FUDR-resistant line of the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma is cross-resistant to F3TDR. The mechanism of tumor inhibition appears to be primarily a result of the inhibition of thymidylate synthetase.
Neural Self Talk: Image Understanding via Continuous Questioning and Answering

In this paper we consider the problem of continuously discovering image contents by actively asking image based questions and subsequently answering the questions being asked. The key components include a Visual Question Generation (VQG) module and a Visual Question Answering module, in which Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) are used. Given a dataset that contains images, questions and their answers, both modules are trained at the same time, with the difference being VQG uses the images as input and the corresponding questions as output, while VQA uses images and questions as input and the corresponding answers as output. We evaluate the self talk process subjectively using Amazon Mechanical Turk, which show effectiveness of the proposed method.
Worst Case Response time analysis for CAN messages with offsets

Scheduling messages with offsets is proved to be an effective method to reduce the Worst Case Response time (WCRT) for messages on the CAN bus. But there is no method available in related literatures except some commercial tools to calculate WCRT for messages with offsets. Conventional method assumes that a so-called critical instant exists, but it doesn't happen at most case. This paper proposes an algorithm to compute the WCRT of messages with offsets. It is based on the creation of the worst case scenario for the analyzed message, and the result is although not exact but safe enough. The analysis is expected to be useful to assess an offset assignment algorithm.
Effect of date of sowing and level of phosphorus on growth and yield of summer mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) in Red and Lateritic soils of West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of two sowing dates (16th March and 26th March) and five phosphorus levels (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg P2 O5 / ha) in mungbean during pre-kharif (summer) season of 2022 at Instructional Farm of Seacom Skills University, Kendradangal, Birbhum, West Bengal, India. The research work revealed that growth parameters were significantly higher under 26th March sowing over 16th March. Among the P levels, higher dose of P improved growth parameters. In case of yield attributes maximum number of pods/plant (9.6), pod length (6.9 cm) and seeds/pod (10.3) were recorded in 26th March sown crop of mungbean. Maximum seed yield (705 kg/ ha) and stover yield (1609 kg/ha) also recorded in 26th March sowing. Different P dose showed significant variations for yield traits and maximum pods/plant (11.45), pod length (7.96 cm) and seeds/pod (11.23) recorded with 80 kg P2 O5 / ha. Highest seed yield (812 kg/ha) and stover yield (1710 kg/ha) were obtained with 80 kg P2 O5 /ha. The gross returns, net returns and benefit: cost ratio was maximum when the crop sown on 26th March with 80 kg P2 O5 /ha. Hence, mungbean sown on 26th March 2022 along with 80 kg P2 O5 /ha application could be more effective in augmenting growth, yield and economics in the red and lateritic soils of West Bengal.
Expression Profiles of Bovine Adeno-Associated Virus and Avian Adeno-Associated Virus Display Significant Similarity to That of Adeno-Associated Virus Type 5

ABSTRACT We present the first detailed expression profiles of nonprimate-derived adeno-associated viruses, namely, bovine adeno-associated virus (B-AAV) and avian adeno-associated virus (A-AAV), which were obtained after the infection of cell lines derived from their natural hosts. In general, the profiles of B-AAV and A-AAV were quite similar to that of AAV5; however, both exhibited features found for AAV2 as well. Like adeno-associated virus type 5 (AAV5), B-AAV and A-AAV utilized an internal polyadenylation site [(pA)p]; however, it was used to greater relative levels by B-AAV than by A-AAV. Similar to AAV5, >99% of B-AAV RNAs generated from upstream promoters were polyadenylated at (pA)p and hence not spliced. In contrast, ca. 50% of the A-AAV RNAs generated from upstream promoters read through (pA)p, as seen for AAV2. However, A-AAV generated lower levels of spliced P5 and P19 products than does AAV2, suggesting that A-AAV generates lower relative levels of Rep 68 and Rep 40. An additional difference in the expression profile of these viruses was that B-AAV generated a greater level of ITR-initiated RNAs than did A-AAV or AAV5. In addition, we demonstrate that, like AAV2, transactivation of transcription of the capsid-gene promoter of B-AAV required both adenovirus and targeting of its Rep protein to the transcription template; however, expression of the capsid-gene promoter of A-AAV was, like AAV5, largely independent of both adenovirus and its Rep proteins.
Cyclic fatigue resistance of four nickel-titanium rotary instruments: a comparative study.

AIMS The aim of this study is to investigate cyclic fatigue resistance of four nickel - titanium rotary (NTR) instruments produced by a new method or traditional grinding processes. METHODS FOUR NTR INSTRUMENTS FROM DIFFERENT BRANDS WERE SELECTED: group 1. Twisted File produced by a new thermal treatment of nickel - titanium alloy; group 2. Revo S SU; group 3. Mtwo and group 4. BioRaCe BR3 produced by traditional grinding processes. A total of 80 instruments (20 for each group) were tested for cyclic fatigue resistance inside a curved artificial canal with a 60 degree angle of curvature and 5 mm radius of curvature. Time to fracture (TtF) from the start of the test until the moment of file breakage and the length of the fractured tip was recorded for each instrument. Means and standard deviations (SD) of TtF and fragment length were calculated. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS Group 1 (Twisted File) showed the highest value of TtF means. Cyclic fatigue resistance of Twisted File and Mtwo was significantly higher than group 2 (Revo S SU) and 4 (BioRace BR3), while no significant differences were found between group 1 (Twisted File) and 3 (Mtwo) or group 2 (Revo S SU) and 4 (BioRaCe BR3). CONCLUSIONS The cyclic fatigue resistance of Twisted File was significantly frigher than instruments produced with traditional grinding process except of Mtwo files.
Characterization of RNA in Saliva

Abstract Background: We have previously shown that human mRNAs are present in saliva and can be used as biomarkers of oral cancer. In this study, we analyzed the integrity, sources, and stability of salivary RNA. Methods: We measured the integrity of salivary RNA with reverse transcription followed by PCR (RT-PCR) or RT-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). To study RNA entry sites into the oral cavity, we used RT-PCR analysis of salivary RNA from the 3 major salivary glands, gingival crevice fluid, and desquamated oral epithelial cells. We measured stability of the salivary β-actin mRNA by RT-qPCR of salivary RNA incubated at room temperature for different periods of time. We measured RNA association with other macromolecules by filtering saliva through pores of different sizes before performing RT-qPCR. To assess RNA–macromolecule interaction, we incubated saliva with Triton X-100 for different periods of time before performing RT-qPCR. Results: In most cases, we detected partial- to full-length salivary mRNAs and smaller amounts of middle and 3′ gene amplicons compared with the 5′. RNA was present in all oral fluids examined. Endogenous salivary β-actin mRNA degraded more slowly than exogenous β-actin mRNA, with half-lives of 12.2 and 0.4 min, respectively (P <0.001). Salivary RNA could not pass through 0.22 or 0.45 μm pores. Incubation of saliva with Triton X-100 accelerated degradation of salivary RNA. Conclusions: Saliva harbors both full-length and partially degraded forms of mRNA. RNA enters the oral cavity from different sources, and association with macromolecules may protect salivary RNA from degradation.
Association of Television Viewing Time with Body Composition and Calcified Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Singapore Chinese

Objective Sedentary behavior such as television viewing may be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. However, few studies have assessed the impact of television viewing time on coronary artery calcification and it remains unclear how body fat contributes to this relationship. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between television viewing time and subclinical atherosclerosis and whether effects on visceral or subcutaneous fat may mediate any associations observed. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 398 Chinese participants (192 men and 206 women) from Singapore prospective study. Participants were free from known cardiovascular diseases and underwent interview, health screening, computed tomography scans of coronary arteries and abdomen. Spearman’s correlation was used to test the correlation between television viewing time, physical activity, body composition and abdominal fat distribution. The association between television viewing time and subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results In men, television viewing time was significantly correlated with higher body fat mass index, percent body fat, subcutaneous and visceral fat. These associations were in the same direction, but weaker and not statistically significant in women. Television viewing time (hours/day) was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in men (odds ratio: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.03-1.93) but no significant association was observed in women (odds ratio: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.59-1.31) after adjusting for potential socio-demographic and lifestyle confounders. Further adjustments for biological factors did not affect these associations. Conclusions Television viewing time was associated with greater adiposity and higher subcutaneous and visceral fat in men. TV viewing time was also associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in men and the potential mechanisms underlying this association require further investigation.
Neurophysiology: Attenuated hemispheric lateralization in dyslexia: evidence of a visual processing deficit

CACorresponding Author THERE is controversial evidence that de®cits in the processing of low contrast and low spatial frequency stimuli are of importance in the pathogenesis of dyslexia. Fifteen adult dyslexics and 19 controls were examined using visual evoked potentials (VEP) at varying spatial frequencies (2 and 11.33 cpd) and contrasts (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8). Our results show that the amplitude of VEPs following different spatial frequencies and contrasts did not differentiate between dyslexics and controls. Further, we found signi®cantly higher amplitudes of the P1 and P2 over the right occipital cortex. For the P2, this hemispheric asymmetry was not found in the dyslexic group suggesting a speci®c low level visual processing de®cit in the right occipital region in dyslexia. NeuroReport 10:3697±3701 # 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.