Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Passivity-based integral control of a boost converter for large-signal stability

This paper presents a new integral control law for a boost converter that ensures the stability of large-signal operation. The integral controller is derived in two steps by means of passivity-based control theory. First, a static law, which ensures global stability, is obtained. Secondly, a combination of the storage function of this static law and a new positive semidefinite storage function results in a new integral control law. The proposed regulator satisfies the usual transient specifications and behaves robustly for parameter uncertainty. Global stability is guaranteed even if the duty cycle saturation is taken into account. Simulation and experimental results verify the theoretical predictions.
Hand Posture Subspaces for Dexterous Robotic Grasping Hand Posture Subspaces for Dexterous Robotic Grasping

In this paper we focus on the concept of low-dimensional posture subspaces for artificial hands. We begin by discussing the applicability of a hand configuration subspace to the problem of automated grasp synthesis our results show that low-dimensional optimization can be instrumental in deriving effective pre-grasp shapes for a number of complex robotic hands. We then show that the computational advantages of using a reduced dimensionality framework enable it to serve as an interface between the human and automated components of an interactive grasping system. We present an on-line grasp planner that allows a human operator to perform dexterous grasping tasks using an artificial hand. In order to achieve the computational rates required for effective user interaction, grasp planning is performed in a hand posture subspace of highly reduced dimensionality. The system also uses real-time input provided by the operator, further simplifying the search for stable grasps to the point where solutions can be found at interactive rates. We demonstrate our approach on a number of different hand models and target objects, in both real and virtual
Complexity of Makanin's algorithm

The exponent of periodicity is an important factor in estimates of complexity of word-unification algorithms. We prove that the exponent of periodicity of a minimal solution of a word equation is of order 2<supscrpt>1.07d</supscrpt>, where <italic>d</italic> is the length of the equation. We also give a lower bound 2<supscrpt>0.29d</supscrpt> so our upper bound is almost optimal and exponentially better than the original bound <italic>(6d)<supscrpt>22d4</supscrpt>+ 2</italic>. Consequently, our result implies an exponential improvement of known upper bounds on complexity of word-unification algorithms.
Effects of mutations causing hypokalaemic periodic paralysis on the skeletal muscle L‐type Ca2+ channel expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes

1 A truncated form of the rabbit α1S Ca2+ channel subunit (α1SΔC) was expressed with the β1b, α2δ and γ auxiliary subunits in Xenopus laevis oocytes. After 5–7 days, skeletal muscle L‐type currents were measured (469 ± 48 nA in 10 mm Ba2+). All three of the auxiliary subunits were necessary to record significant L‐type current. A rapidly inactivating, dihydropyridine‐insensitive endogenous Ba2+ current was observed in oocytes expressing the auxiliary subunits without an exogenous α subunit. Expression of full‐length α1S gave 10‐fold smaller currents than the truncated form. 3 Three missense mutations causing hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (R528H in domain II S4 of the α1S subunit; R1239H and R1239G in domain IV S4) were introduced into α1SΔC and expressed in oocytes. L‐type current was separated from the endogenous current by nimodipine subtraction. All three of the mutations reduced L‐type current amplitude (∼40% for R528H, ∼60–70% for R1239H and R1239G). 4 The disease mutations altered the activation properties of L‐type current. R528H shifted the G(V) curve ∼5 mV to the left and modestly reduced the voltage dependence of the activation time constant, τact. R1239H and R1239G shifted the G(V) curve ∼5–10 mV to the right and dramatically slowed τact at depolarized test potentials. 5 The voltage dependence of steady‐state inactivation was not significantly altered by any of the disease mutations. 6 Wild‐type and mutant L‐type currents were also measured in the presence of (—)‐Bay K8644, which boosted the amplitude ∼5‐ to 7‐fold. The effects of the mutations on the position of the G(V) curve and the voltage dependence of τact were essentially the same as in the absence of agonist. Bay K‐enhanced tail currents were slowed by R528H and accelerated by R1239H and R1239G. 7 We conclude that the domain IV mutations R1239H and R1239G have similar effects on the gating properties of the skeletal muscle L‐type Ca2+ channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes, while the domain II mutation R528H has distinct effects. This result implies that the location of the substitutions is more important than their degree of conservation in determining their biophysical consequences.
The role of employment status, work disruption, leisure, and resources in the mental health of dementia caregiving daughters

THE ROLE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS, WORK DISRUPTION, LEISURE, AND RESOURCES IN THE MENTAL HEALTH OF DEMENTIA CAREGIVING DAUGHTERS by LISA J FICKER December 2010 Advisor: Dr. Peter Lichtenberg Major: Psychology (Clinical) Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Employment has been consistently identified as a role strain among dementia caregivers. This study sought to examine the patterns and context of employment and work disruption among dementia caregiving daughters and learn the extent to which work disruption influences mental health through hypothesized reductions in financial resources and leisure activities. This study was a cross-sectional design that extracted data of 486 daughter caregivers from a dataset that gathered information from Caucasian, African American, and Latina dementia caregivers at six research sites across the nation. Results indicated that caregiving daughters who were employed reported the lowest number of depressive symptoms and chronic health conditions. In contrast, the unemployed and homemakers were most vulnerable to mental and physical health problems, despite being virtually the same age, having care recipients with similar levels of ADL impairment, and similar levels of engagement in leisure activities as the employed caregivers. Work disruption
The Retinoblastoma Protein Tumor Suppressor Is Important for Appropriate Osteoblast Differentiation and Bone Development

Mutation of the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor gene is strongly linked to osteosarcoma formation. This observation and the documented interaction between the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and Runx2 suggests that pRb is important in bone development. To assess this hypothesis, we used a conditional knockout strategy to generate pRb-deficient embryos that survive to birth. Analysis of these embryos shows that Rb inactivation causes the abnormal development and impaired ossification of several bones, correlating with an impairment in osteoblast differentiation. We further show that Rb inactivation acts to promote osteoblast differentiation in vitro and, through conditional analysis, establish that this occurs in a cell-intrinsic manner. Although these in vivo and in vitro differentiation phenotypes seem paradoxical, we find that Rb-deficient osteoblasts have an impaired ability to exit the cell cycle both in vivo and in vitro that can explain the observed differentiation defects. Consistent with this observation, we show that the cell cycle and the bone defects in Rb-deficient embryos can be suppressed by deletion of E2f1, a known proliferation inducer that acts downstream of Rb. Thus, we conclude that pRb plays a key role in regulating osteoblast differentiation by mediating the inhibition of E2F and consequently promoting cell cycle exit. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(9):1440–51)
Serological techniques.

It is rather curious that, although ser for a multitude of constituents in and haematological laboratories, the ter has come to imply almost exclusively the ( of serum for antibodies, and, in part bodies related to microbial diseases serological techniques tend to be regarde as the prerogative of microbiologists. When one considers for how long a extent in biochemical laboratories the of tests for other blood constituent developed, it is a little difficult to unc delay in automating routine tests for Although they may be imperfectly c substances, their physiochemical rea been studied for many years, and rout. well established. It can hardly be that for antibody tests has not been enoul automation an economical propositior at Figure 1 reveals that the number of se for syphilis antibodies each year in pi laboratories alone throughout England has almost doubled over a period of 10 rapidly approaching half a million. To 1
SCIENTIFIC HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH : Evolutionary crystal structure prediction : overview of the USPEX method and some of its applications Evolutionary crystal structure prediction : overview of the USPEX method and some of its applications

Prediction of the stable crystal structure on the basis of only the chemical composition is one of the central problems of condensed matter physics, which for a long time remained unsolved. The recently developed evolutionary algorithm USPEX (Universal Structure Predictor: Evolutionary Xtallography) made an important progress in this field, enabling efficient and reliable prediction of structures with up to 30-40 atoms in the unit cell using ab initio methods (or up to 100-200 atoms/cell with classical forcefields). Here we review this methodology, illustrating its variation operators and visualising evolutionary runs using specifically formulated similarity matrices. We also show several recent applications – (1) prediction of new high-pressure phases of CaCO3, (2) search for the structure of the polymeric phase of CO2 (“phase V”), (3) search for new phases of transition metals, (4) high-pressure phases of oxygen, (4) new high-pressure phases of FeS and FeO, (5) exploration of possible stable compounds in the Xe-C system at high pressures, (6) investigation of previously proposed cluster-based insulators Al13K and Al12C.
Reducing Features of KDD CUP 1999 Dataset for Anomaly Detection Using Back Propagation Neural Network

To detect and classify the anomaly in computer network, KDD CUP 1999 dataset is extensively used. This KDD CUP 1999 data set was generated by domain expert at MIT Lincon lab. To reduced number of features of this KDD CUP data set, various feature reduction techniques has been already used. These techniques reduce features from 41 into range of 10 to 22. Usage of such reduced dataset in machine learning algorithm leads to lower complexity, less processing time and high accuracy. Out of the various feature reduction technique available, one of them is Information Gain (IG) which has been already applied for the random forests classifier by Tesfahun et al. Tesfahun's approach reduces time and complexity of model and improves the detection rate for the minority classes in a considerable amount. This work investigates the effectiveness and the feasibility of Tesfahun et al.'s feature reduction technique on Back Propagation Neural Network classifier. We had performed various experiments on KDD CUP 1999 dataset and recorded Accuracy, Precision, Recall and Fscore values. In this work, we had done Basic, N-Fold Validation and Testing comparisons on reduced dataset with full feature dataset. Basic comparison clearly shows that the reduced dataset outer performs on size, time and complexity parameters. Experiments of N-Fold validation show that classifier that uses reduced dataset, have better generalization capacity. During the testing comparison, we found both the datasets are equally compatible. All the three comparisons clearly show that reduced dataset is better or is equally compatible, and does not have any drawback as compared to full dataset. Our experiments shows that usage of such reduced dataset in BPNN can lead to better model in terms of dataset size, complexity, processing time and generalization ability.
Cell type-specific filamin complex regulation by a novel class of HECT ubiquitin ligase is required for normal cell motility and patterning

Differential cell motility, which plays a key role in many developmental processes, is perhaps most evident in examples of pattern formation in which the different cell types arise intermingled before sorting out into discrete tissues. This is thought to require heterogeneities in responsiveness to differentiation-inducing signals that result in the activation of cell type-specific genes and ‘salt and pepper’ patterning. How differential gene expression results in cell sorting is poorly defined. Here we describe a novel gene (hfnA) that provides the first mechanistic link between cell signalling, differential gene expression and cell type-specific sorting in Dictyostelium. HfnA defines a novel group of evolutionarily conserved HECT ubiquitin ligases with an N-terminal filamin domain (HFNs). HfnA expression is induced by the stalk differentiation-inducing factor DIF-1 and is restricted to a subset of prestalk cells (pstO). hfnA− pstO cells differentiate but their sorting out is delayed. Genetic interactions suggest that this is due to misregulation of filamin complex activity. Overexpression of filamin complex members phenocopies the hfnA− pstO cell sorting defect, whereas disruption of filamin complex function in a wild-type background results in pstO cells sorting more strongly. Filamin disruption in an hfnA− background rescues pstO cell localisation. hfnA− cells exhibit altered slug phototaxis phenotypes consistent with filamin complex hyperactivity. We propose that HfnA regulates filamin complex activity and cell type-specific motility through the breakdown of filamin complexes. These findings provide a novel mechanism for filamin regulation and demonstrate that filamin is a crucial mechanistic link between responses to differentiation signals and cell movement in patterning based on ‘salt and pepper’ differentiation and sorting out.
Pregnancy-Induced Amelioration of Muscular Dystrophy Phenotype in mdx Mice via Muscle Membrane Stabilization Effect of Glucocorticoid

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common and severe type of dystrophinopathy, is an X-linked recessive genetic disease caused by the absence of dystrophin, which leads to fragility and vulnerability of the sarcolemma to mechanical stretching with increased membrane permeability. Currently, glucocorticoids such as prednisolone are the only medication available for DMD. However, molecular pathways responsible for this effect are still unclear. In addition, it remains unclear whether sex-related factors, including pregnancy and the postpartum period, affect the phenotype of dystrophinopathy. Here, we report the amelioration of muscle membrane permeability in the diaphragm muscle of pregnant and postpartum, but not in nulliparous, mdx mice, an animal model for DMD, during the physiological surge of corticosterone, the most abundant glucocorticoid in rodents. Cultures of single muscle fibers and myotubes isolated from mdx mouse diaphragm demonstrate resistance to hypo-osmotic shock when treated with corticosterone but not with estradiol or progesterone. This corticosterone-mediated resistance was diminished by an antagonist of corticosterone, indicating that the glucocorticoid-glucocorticoid receptor axis plays a role in this membrane stabilization effect on muscle. Moreover, subcutaneous injection of corticosterone into mdx mice showed decreased membrane permeability. This is the first report to demonstrate that pregnancy-related resistance to muscle fiber damage in mdx mice due to the membrane stabilization effect of corticosterone. We also propose that this membrane stabilization effect is exerted through annexin A1 up-regulation as the molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid effects on DMD muscle. Furthermore, single muscle fiber culture studies provide a sensitive chemical screening platform for muscular dystrophies.
Shallow techniques for argument mining

Argument mining has recently emerged as a promising field at the frontiers of the argumentation and text mining communities. However, most techniques developed within that field do not scale to larger amounts of data, depriving us for example of valuable insights in large-scale discussion forums. On two social media datasets, we study different lightweight scalable text mining techniques used within the sentiment analysis community and their applicability to the argument mining problem.
No One Knows: identifying and supporting prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities: the views of prison staff

No One Knows is a major initiative by the UK Prison Reform Trust which highlights the plight and predicament of prisoners with learning disabilities and of those with less severe degrees of learning difficulties. This major initiative has been sponsored by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and has yielded a number of pivotal recommendations which are already being explored actively by the Department of Health (England) and the Prison Health Service.
Matching Law Ontologies using an Extended Argumentation Framework based on Confidence Degrees

Law information retrieval systems use law ontologies to represent semantic objects, to associate them with law documents and to make inferences about them. A number of law ontologies have been proposed in the literature, what shows the variety of approaches pointing to the need of matching systems. We present a proposal based on argumentation to match law ontologies, as an approach to be considered for this problem. Argumentation is used to combine different techniques for ontology matching. Such approaches are encapsulated by agents that apply individual matching algorithms and cooperate in order to exchange their local results (arguments). Next, based on their preferences and confidence, the agents compute their preferred matching sets. The arguments in such preferred sets are viewed as the set of globally acceptable arguments. We show the applicability of our model matching two legal core ontologies: LKIF and CLO.
Analysis and optimization of EMF waveform of a novel axial field flux-switching permanent magnet machine

Axial field flux-switching permanent magnet motor is a novel PM machine of doubly-salient structure, with magnets and concentrated windings in the stator. This novel machine is suitable for electric vehicle because of its short axial length, high power and torque density. A typical 3-phase 12/10-pole AFFSPM motor is designed and prototyped. In order to gain sinusoidal back-EMF waveform, the influence of the design parameters, such as the stator tooth width, the magnet size, the stator yoke thickness, the stator tooth shape, the rotor pole width, and the rotor pole shape, on the back-EMF is investigated based on 3D FE analysis. It shows that the harmonics of back-EMF can be significantly reduced and the waveform of the back-EMF is sinusoidal by optimizing the stator tooth shape, the rotor pole width and shape. The experiments are conducted and the results are in agreement with the theoretical analysis.
Statistical Association Criteria in Forensic Psychiatry–A criminological evaluation of casuistry

Purpose. Identification of potential shared primary psychoprophylaxis and crime prevention is measured by analyzing the rate of commitments for patients–subjects to forensic examination. Material and method. The statistic trial is a retrospective, document–based study. The statistical lot consists of 770 initial examination reports performed and completed during the whole year 2007, primarily analyzed in order to summarize the data within the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, Bucharest, Romania (INML), with one of the group variables being ‘particularities of the psychiatric patient history’, containing the items ‘forensic onset’, ‘commitments within the last year prior to the examination’ and ‘absence of commitments within the last year prior to the examination’. The method used was the Kendall bivariate correlation. For this study, the authors separately analyze only the two items regarding commitments by other correlation alternatives and by modern, elaborate statistical analyses, i.e. recording of the standard case study variables, Kendall bivariate correlation, cross tabulation, factor analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results. The results are varied, from theoretically presumed clinical nosography (such as schizophrenia or manic depression), to non–presumed (conduct disorders) or unexpected behavioral acts, and therefore difficult to interpret. Conclusions. One took into consideration the features of the batch as well as the results of the previous standard correlation of the whole statistical lot. The authors emphasize the role of medical security measures that are actually applied in the therapeutic management in general and in risk and second offence management in particular, as well as the role of forensic psychiatric examinations in the detection of certain aspects related to the monitoring of mental patients.
ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS ON POPULATION GENETICS OF PHYTOPHAGOUS INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH DOMESTICATED PLANTS

Abstract The hypothesis of isolation by distance (IBD) predicts that genetic differentiation between populations increases with geographic distance. However, gene flow is governed by numerous factors and the correlation between genetic differentiation and geographic distance is never simply linear. In this study, we analyze the interaction between the effects of geographic distance and of wild or domesticated status of the host plant on genetic differentiation in the bean beetle Acanthoscelides obvelatus. Geographic distance explained most of the among-population genetic differentiation. However, IBD varied depending on the kind of population pairs for which the correlation between genetic differentiation and geographic distance was examined. Whereas pairs of beetle populations associated with wild beans showed significant IBD (P < 10−4), no IBD was found when pairs of beetle populations on domesticated beans were examined (P= 0.2992). This latter result can be explained by long-distance migrations of beetles on domesticated plants resulting from human exchanges of bean seeds. Beetle populations associated with wild beans were also significantly more likely than those on domesticated plants to contain rare alleles. However, at the population level, beetles on cultivated beans were similar in allelic richness to those on wild beans. This similarity in allelic richness combined with differences in other aspects of the genetic diversity (i.e., IBD, allelic diversity) is compatible with strongly contrasting effects of migration and drift. This novel indirect effect of human actions on gene flow of a serious pest of a domesticated plant has important implications for the spread of new adaptations such as resistance to pesticides.