Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Distributed Control of Transition in Plane Poiseuille Flow

Recently a mathematical model for flow transition control in 2-D channels has been proposed that is in interconnected systems representation. The model is valid for all spatial frequencies and can be used for the synthesis of controllers for flow transition control problems in channels of infinite length. In this brief the model is validated against known features of plane Poiseuille flow and against the response of a nonlinear simulation at Reynolds number 2000. Based on this model a distributed control scheme is then synthesized for Reynolds number 10 000 using a recently proposed approach for interconnected systems. The controller is designed to stabilize the otherwise spatially unstable flow. This instability causes the transition from laminar to turbulence. Furthermore, a desired closed loop frequency response is obtained by tuning the weighting filters. The designed controller is then tested in a nonlinear simulation and closed-loop results are presented. The approach proposed here does not make any assumption on the periodicity of the channel, as is the case in most of previously published work. The control scheme can be implemented on microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based control systems. Such systems are spatially discrete in nature which is taken into consideration in the controller synthesis phase.
Low-power low-noise amplifier IIP3 improvement under consideration of the cascode stage

This paper presents a linearity analysis to give insights into the impact of the cascode stage in a common-source low-noise amplifier (LNA) that is designed with subthreshold biasing and a linearity enhancement technique. It is shown how the third-order intermodulation intercept point (IIP3) of the subthreshold LNA improves through addition of an inductor and a digitally programmable capacitor at the gate of the cascode transistor. A 1.8 GHz LNA was fabricated in 0. 11μm CMOS technology to demonstrate the linearization approach with chip measurements. The linearized low-power LNA has a 14.8 dB voltage gain, a 3.7 dB noise figure, and a −3.7 dBm IIP3 with a power consumption of 0.336 mW.
Changes in Distribution of the Long Form of Type XII Collagen during Chicken Corneal Development

The expression and distribution of the long form of Type XII collagen were investigated histochemically during chicken corneal development using a monoclonal antibody (P3D11) raised against the N-terminal domain of chicken Type XII collagen. Specificity of the antibody was confirmed by immunoprecipitation before and after bacterial collagenase digestion. Immunofluorescent microscopic studies showed that during chicken cornea formation, the long form of Type XII collagen is initially detected on Day 3 embryo (stage 19) in the sub-epithelial matrix of the corneal periphery and in the matrix around the optic cup. On Day 5 embryo (stage 27) the long form was expressed in the primary stroma. Thereafter, as the secondary stroma was formed, the long form localized in the sub-epithelial and sub-endothelial matrices and in the anterior region of the limbus (corneoscleral junction) before the formation of Descemet's and Bowman's membranes. After hatching, the immunoreactivity decreased predominantly in the sub-epithelial and sub-endothelial matrices but remained at the anterior region of the limbus. Immunoelectron microscopic examination demonstrated that the long form localizes in the Descemet's and Bowman's membranes and along the collagen fibrils in the stroma with a periodic repeat. Based on the distribution of the long form of Type XII collagen in the sub-epithelial and sub-endothelial matrices and limbus, it was suggested that the long form of Type XII collagen is involved in formation of the Descemet's and Bowman's membranes and in stabilization of the limbus.
Effects of anxiety versus depression on cognition in later life.

OBJECTIVE The authors investigated the relationship between anxiety and cognition in older persons, taking account of comorbid depression. METHODS Data were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), a large epidemiological study of 3,107 elderly citizens in The Netherlands. Anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. In measuring cognitive performance, general cognitive functioning was measured by means of Mini-Mental State Exam, episodic memory was measured with the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), fluid intelligence by using the RAVEN, and information-processing speed by the coding task. Analysis of variance examined the association between anxiety symptoms and cognition in persons with and without depression. RESULTS Main effects of anxiety symptoms were found for learning and delayed recall of the AVLT. Depression symptoms showed significant main effects on almost all cognitive performance tests. Mild anxiety symptoms were associated with better cognitive performance, whereas severe anxiety symptoms were negatively associated with cognitive functioning. In contrast, depressive symptoms showed a linear association with cognition; more depression was associated with worse cognition. CONCLUSION This study suggests that anxiety has a curvilinear relationship with cognition. Depressive symptoms, however, were always negatively associated with cognitive performance.
Verkehrssicherheit in Autobahn- und Autostrassentunneln des Nationalstrassennetzes

In den letzten Jahren wurden in der Schweiz durchschnittlich jaehrlich bei ueber 600 Tunnelunfaellen rund 280 Personen verletzt und 8 getoetet. Die Unfallraten in Tunneln sind nach wie vor deutlich niedriger als auf der offenen Strecke, angenaehert haben sich jedoch die Verunfalltenraten und die Unfallschwere. Nach Meinung einer nach den Katastrophen im Montblanc- und im Tauerntunnel vom Departement fuer Umwelt, Verkehr, Energie und Kommunikation (UVEK) eingesetzten Task Force zaehlen Tunnelstrecken zu den sichersten Strassenabschnitten. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, in Ergaenzung zu den Empfehlungen der Task Force Massnahmen zur Erhoehung der Verkehrssicherheit in Tunneln zu finden. Der empirische Teil der Untersuchung umfasst eine retrospektive Umfrage bei allen verantwortlichen kantonalen Behoerden und eine Unfallanalyse mit statistischer Auswertung, um festzustellen, ob beziehungsweise inwieweit die anlage- und betriebstechnischen Merkmale das Unfall- und insbesondere das Verunfalltengeschehen beeinflussen. Nach Einschaetzung der Befragten sind Unaufmerksamkeit der Lenkenden, mangelhaftes Abstandsverhalten und ueberhoehte Geschwindigkeit die Hauptursachen fuer die Unfaelle in Tunnelanlagen. Diese subjektive Einschaetzung stimmt mit den Unfallursachen der polizeilich registrierten Unfaelle ueberein. Die Tunnellaenge hat sowohl auf das Unfall- als auch auf das Verunfalltenrisiko einen signifikanten expositionsbereinigten Einfluss. In laengeren Tunnelanlagen ist die Wahrscheinlichkeit, auf einem gleich langen Streckenabschnitt einen Unfall zu erleiden oder verletzt zu werden, gegenueber kuerzeren Anlagen reduziert. Eine Erhoehung des DTV fuehrt zu einem ueberproportionalen Anstieg der Unfaelle und Verunfallten. Tunnelanlagen mit 2 Roehren weisen gegenueber einroehrigen Anlagen mit Gegenverkehr grob gesagt ein halb so hohes Unfall- und Verunfalltenrisiko auf. Der Anteil des schweren Gueterverkehrs am DTV hat lediglich auf das Verunfalltenrisiko einen marginal signifikanten Einfluss, nicht aber auf das Unfallrisiko. Die Bankettbreite hat sich als signifikanter Unfallpraedikator erwiesen. Auf das Verunfalltengeschehen hat die Bankettbreite hingegen keinen Einfluss. Andere untersuchte Merkmale wie signalisierte beziehungsweise zulaessige Hoechstgeschwindigkeit, Kurvigkeit oder Raumhoehe scheinen keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Verkehrssicherheit zu haben. Abschliessend werden Empfehlungen zur Loesung der Unfallprobleme gegeben. Der Anhang enthaelt den fuer die Studie verwendeten Fragebogen, das Inventar der Tunnelanlagen in der Schweiz und die Formel zur Schaetzung von Unfall- und Verunfalltenzahlen in schweizerischen Tunnelanlagen. Titel in 1. Franzoesisch: Securite des tunnels routiers; 2. Italienisch: Sicurezza stradale in gallerie autostradali e semiautostradali; 3. Englisch: Road safety in motorway and road tunnels. (KfV/A)
A Novel Glove Monitoring System Used to Quantify Neurological Symptoms During Deep-Brain Stimulation Surgery

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery is most effective in reducing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. At present, there is no designated instrumental method for measuring the immediate effects of DBS. This paper presents the concept of a glove monitoring system for DBS. With the benefits of microelectromechanical systems, inertial measurement unit, and force sensitive resistor (FSR), the system is portable and can be integrated into a textile glove. Tremors, bradykinesia, and rigidity assessments are performed by the system. Several test tasks are chosen to be performed during DBS surgery to evaluate the electrode's position and stimulation intensity. Each quantified symptom severity of the patient is added to a list shown in the graphical user interface for comparison. Comparative experiments between the prototype and an electromagnetic motion tracking system were presented. The FSR boxes were validated with weights. Experimental results show that this system is reliable for tremor amplitude determination, movement angles measurement, and resistance measurement to a passive movement. In addition, it can be found that inconsistent tremor movements have an influence on the tremor amplitude calculation done with power spectral density estimation.
Effects of Plyometric Training and Recovery on Vertical Jump Performance and Anaerobic Power

We examined the effects of 2 plyometric training programs, equalized for training volume, followed by a 4-week recovery period of no plyometric training on anaerobic power and vertical jump performance. Physically active, college-aged men were randomly assigned to either a 4-week (n = 19, weight = 73.4 ± 7.5 kg) or a 7-week (n = 19, weight = 80.1 ± 12.5 kg) program. Vertical jump height, vertical jump power, and anaerobic power via the Margaria staircase test were measured pretraining (PRE), immediately posttraining (POST), and 4 weeks posttraining (POST-4). Vertical jump height decreased in the 4-week group PRE (67.8 ± 7.9 cm) to POST (65.4 ± 7.8 cm). Vertical jump height increased from PRE to POST-4 in 4-week (67.8 ± 7.9 to 69.7 ± 7.6 cm) and 7-week (64.6 ± 6.2 to 67.2 ± 7.6 cm) training programs. Vertical jump power decreased in the 4-week group from PRE (8,660.0 ± 546.5 W) to POST (8,541.6 ± 557.4 W) with no change in the 7-week group. Vertical jump power increased PRE to POST-4 in 4-week (8,660.0 ± 546.5 W to 8,793.6 ± 541.4 W) and 7-week (8,702.8 ± 527.4 W to 8,931.5 ± 537.6 W) training programs. Anaerobic power improved in the 7-week group from PRE (1,121.9 ± 174.7 W) to POST (1,192.2 ± 189.1 W) but not the 4-week group. Anaerobic power significantly improved PRE to POST-4 in both groups. There were no significant differences between the 2 training groups. Four-week and 7-week plyometric programs are equally effective for improving vertical jump height, vertical jump power, and anaerobic power when followed by a 4-week recovery period. However, a 4-week program may not be as effective as a 7-week program if the recovery period is not employed.
Expression of Intimin γ from EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli in Citrobacter rodentium

ABSTRACT The carboxy-terminal 280 amino acids (Int280) of the bacterial adhesion molecule intimin include the receptor-binding domain. At least five different types of Int280, designated α, β, γ, δ, and ɛ, have been described based on sequence variation in this region. Importantly, the intimin types are associated with different evolutionary branches and contribute to distinct tissue tropism of intimin-positive bacterial pathogens. In this study we engineered a strain of Citrobacter rodentium, which normally displays intimin β, to express intimin γ from enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. We show that intimin γ binds to the translocated intimin receptor (Tir) from C. rodentium and has the ability to produce attaching and effacing lesions on HEp-2 cells. However, C. rodentiumexpressing intimin γ could not colonize orally infected mice or induce mouse colonic hyperplasia. These results suggest that intimin may contribute to host specificity, possibly through its interaction with a receptor on the host cell surface.
In vivo targeting of colonic dysplasia on fluorescence endoscopy with near-infrared octapeptide

Objective To demonstrate a near-infrared (NIR) peptide that is highly specific for colonic adenomas on fluorescence endoscopy in vivo. Design A 3 mm diameter endoscope was adapted to deliver 671 nm illumination and collect NIR fluorescence (696–736 nm). Target (QPIHPNNM) and control (YTTNKH) peptides were labelled with Cy5.5, a NIR dye, and characterised by mass spectra. The peptides were topically administered separately (100 μM) through the endoscope's instrument channel into the distal colon of CPC;Apc mice, genetically engineered to spontaneously develop adenomas. After 5 min for incubation, the unbound peptides were rinsed off, and images were collected at a rate of 10 frames/s. Regions of interest were identified around the adenoma and adjacent normal-appearing mucosa on white light. Intensity measurements were made from these same regions on fluorescence, and the target-to-background ratio (TBR) was calculated. Results An image resolution of 9.8 μm and field of view of 3.6 mm was achieved at a distance of 2.5 mm between the distal end of the instrument and the tissue surface. On mass spectra, the experimental mass-to-charge ratio for the Cy5.5-labelled target and control peptides agreed with expected values. The NIR fluorescence images of adenomas revealed individual dysplastic crypts with distorted morphology. By comparison, only amorphous surface features could be visualised from reflected NIR light. The average TBR for adenomas was found to be 3.42±1.30 and 1.88±0.38 for the target and control peptides, respectively, p=0.007. Conclusion A NIR peptide was shown to be highly specific for colonic adenomas on fluorescence endoscopy in vivo and to achieve sub-cellular resolution images.
A nurse-led, needs-based psycho-education intervention for Chinese patients with first-onset mental illness

Abstract Background: To shorten the waiting time for psychiatric treatment, nurse-led services may help in the first-line mental health consultation and interventions for patients with recent first onset of mental illness. Aims: The study evaluated the effectiveness of a six-session nurse-led, needs-based psycho-education program for Chinese patients with mental health problems newly referred to an outpatient clinic in Hong Kong, when compared with routine outpatient care. Method: A randomized controlled trial with a pre- and post-test, control group design was conducted. Seventy-nine patients were randomly assigned to either the nurse-led psycho-education program (N = 39), or to usual psychiatric outpatient care (N = 40). Multiple patient outcomes and services utilization were measured at recruitment and 2 weeks after the intervention. Results: The results of a multivariate analysis of variance test indicated that the psycho-education group had significantly greater improvements in mental and overall health status, insights into their treatment and illness, and hospitalization rates at the post-test. Implications: The findings provide evidence that nurse-led, needs-based psycho-education can improve mental health, self-efficacy and insights into mental illness in Chinese first-onset mentally ill patients. A future multi-center controlled trial of this nurse-led intervention is recommended.
When is protein binding important?

The present paper is an ode to a classic citation by Benet and Hoener (2002. Clin Pharm Ther 71(3):115-121). The now classic paper had a huge impact on drug development and the way the issue of protein binding is perceived and interpreted. Although the authors very clearly pointed out the limitations and underlying assumptions for their delineations, these are too often overlooked and the classic paper's message is misinterpreted by broadening to cases that were not intended. Some members of the scientific community concluded from the paper that protein binding is not important. This was clearly not intended by the authors, as they finished their paper with a paragraph entitled: "When is protein binding important? " Misinterpretation of the underlying assumptions in the classic work can result in major pitfalls in drug development. Therefore, we revisit the topic of protein binding with the intention of clarifying when clinically relevant changes should be considered during drug development.
Personality as a risk factor in large bowel cancer: data from the Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study

SYNOPSIS In a case control study which formed one arm of a large, population-based investigation of colorectal cancer incidence, aetiology and survival, ‘The Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study’, among others, 22 psychosocially orientated questions were asked by personal interview of 637 histologically confirmed new cases of colorectal cancer and 714 age/sex frequency matched community controls, from Melbourne (population 2·81 million). Self-reported childhood or adult life ‘unhappiness’ was statistically significantly more common among the cancer cases, while ‘unhappiness with retirement’ was similarly distributed among cases and controls. Questions which were formulated to test a particular personality profile as a cancer risk, and which included the elements of denial and repression of anger and of other negative emotions, a commitment to prevailing social norms resulting in the external appearance of a ‘nice’ or ‘good’ person, a suppression of reactions which may offend others and the avoidance of conflict, showed a statistically significant discrimination between cases and controls. The risk of colorectal cancer with respect to this model was independent of the previously found risk factors of diet, beer intake, and family history of colorectal cancer, and was also independent of other potential confounding factors of socioeconomic level, marital status, religion and country of birth. Although the results must be interpreted with caution, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that this personality type may play a role in the clinical expression of colorectal cancer and was also independent of other potential confounding factors of socioeconomic level, marital status, religion and country of birth. Although the results must be interpreted with caution, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that this personality type may play a role in the clinical expression of colorectal cancer and merits further study.
Land Cover Classification Using Local Softened Affine Hull

Training samples are usually very scarce in land cover classification, which challenges many supervised classifiers. To deal with this problem, this work presents a new learning approach, called local softened affine hull (LSAH). One of the most attractive characters of this classifier is its ability to expand the training set through exploiting “virtual” prototypes. During classification, this method utilizes some local prototypes around the query sample to construct SAH manifolds for each class, which are then employed to determine the label ownership of the query by the nearest neighbor rule. Because each SAH represents infinite “virtual” samples that approximate the “underlying” or “possible” variants of the real prototypes, the representational capacity of the training set is greatly enlarged; LSAH thus avoids the sample scarce problem. Meanwhile, as the number of the local prototypes is usually very small relative to the total training samples of each class, LSAH can run efficiently in classification tasks. LSAH's performance is demonstrated on some land cover classification tasks using three remote sensing images, in comparison with several popular algorithms, including maximum likelihood classifier, K-nearest neighbor, backpropagation neural network, and support vector machine. Experimental results show that the accuracy of LSAH is significantly higher than those of most of others, with the classification speed being quite comparable.
Neil2-null Mice Accumulate Oxidized DNA Bases in the Transcriptionally Active Sequences of the Genome and Are Susceptible to Innate Inflammation* ♦

Background: NEIL2 (Nei-like 2) is a mammalian oxidized base-specific DNA glycosylase. Results: Neil2-null mice accumulate oxidative damage in transcribed genes and are susceptible to inflammatory agents. Conclusion: In long-lived species, NEIL2 plays a critical role in maintaining genomic integrity and tissue homeostasis. Significance: We provide in vivo evidence for NEIL2's role in preferential repair of oxidized bases in active genes in mammals. Why mammalian cells possess multiple DNA glycosylases (DGs) with overlapping substrate ranges for repairing oxidatively damaged bases via the base excision repair (BER) pathway is a long-standing question. To determine the biological role of these DGs, null animal models have been generated. Here, we report the generation and characterization of mice lacking Neil2 (Nei-like 2). As in mice deficient in each of the other four oxidized base-specific DGs (OGG1, NTH1, NEIL1, and NEIL3), Neil2-null mice show no overt phenotype. However, middle-aged to old Neil2-null mice show the accumulation of oxidative genomic damage, mostly in the transcribed regions. Immuno-pulldown analysis from wild-type (WT) mouse tissue showed the association of NEIL2 with RNA polymerase II, along with Cockayne syndrome group B protein, TFIIH, and other BER proteins. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis from mouse tissue showed co-occupancy of NEIL2 and RNA polymerase II only on the transcribed genes, consistent with our earlier in vitro findings on NEIL2's role in transcription-coupled BER. This study provides the first in vivo evidence of genomic region-specific repair in mammals. Furthermore, telomere loss and genomic instability were observed at a higher frequency in embryonic fibroblasts from Neil2-null mice than from the WT. Moreover, Neil2-null mice are much more responsive to inflammatory agents than WT mice. Taken together, our results underscore the importance of NEIL2 in protecting mammals from the development of various pathologies that are linked to genomic instability and/or inflammation. NEIL2 is thus likely to play an important role in long term genomic maintenance, particularly in long-lived mammals such as humans.