Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Joint state-parameter estimation for active vehicle suspensions: A Takagi-Sugeno Kalman filtering approach

In the paper, we present a novel nonlinear approach of combined on-line state and parameter estimation for controlled vehicle suspensions. With respect to vehicle dynamics, the vehicle body mass is a parameter that is crucial for the performance of state observers. Simultaneously, its value can significantly vary during operation, e. g. due to additional load. Hence, a joint estimation approach is adopted by augmenting the state vector with the unknown body mass. Based on a Takagi-Sugeno (TS) representation of the augmented nonlinear suspension model, the overall nonlinear observer is constructed by employing the Kalman filter theory for each linear subsystem. Stability of the error dynamics of the global observer is then enforced by means of linear matrix inequalities (LMI). In simulations and experiments on a hybrid quarter-vehicle test rig using stochastic disturbance inputs, the joint estimation approach is shown to maintain high estimation accuracy, despite the uncertain body mass parameter.
Recent developments of polar piezoelectric polymers

Following the extensive studies on the piezoelectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride and its copolymers, a vast number of polymers were investigated for these properties. Piezoelectric thin films of polyurea were prepared by vapor deposition polymerization in vacuum and stable up to 200 degC. Piezoelectric odd nylon was characterized by the field induced rotation of amide dipoles in the molecular sheet crystalline structure. Completely amorphous vinylidene cyanide copolymers produced a remanent polarization proportional to the large dielectric relaxation strength during poling. Drawn films of polylactic acid exhibited the large shear piezoelectricity due to the crystalline structure of helical molecules, however, a remnant polarization was also produced by poling at high temperatures. Various polymers containing dipolar groups of carbonyl, urethane, urea and thiourea bonds were poled and their ferroelectric hysteresis was observed. Application of magnetic field as high as 10 Tesla to the liquid crystalline state of helical molecules of poly-y-benzyl-L-glutamate during film formation resulted in a very high shear piezoelectric constant 26 pC/N. Unprecedented high piezoelectric constant such as 1000 pC/N was found in the highly hydrated cornea membrane consisting of collagen fibrils
Replication of ZNF804A gene variant associations with risk of heroin addiction

Heroin addiction is heritable, but few specific genetic variants have been reproducibly associated with this disease. The zinc finger protein 804A (ZNF804A) gene is a biologically plausible susceptibility gene for heroin addiction, given its function as a transcription factor in human brain. Novel associations of two common ZNF804A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs7597593 and rs1344706, with heroin addiction have been reported in Han Chinese. Both SNPs have also been implicated for regulating ZNF804A expression in human brain, including the addiction‐relevant dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In this independent replication study, we tested the rs7597593 and rs1344706 SNP genotypes and their corresponding haplotypes for association with heroin addiction using cases drawn from the Urban Health Study and population controls: total N = 10 757 [7095 European Americans (EAs) and 3662 African Americans (AAs)]. We independently replicated both ZNF804A SNP associations in EAs: the rs7597593‐T (P = 0.016) and rs1344706‐A (P = 0.029) alleles both being associated with increased risk of heroin addiction, consistent with the prior report. Neither SNP was associated in AAs alone, but meta‐analysis across both ancestry groups resulted in significant associations for rs1344706‐A [P = 0.016, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.13 (1.02–1.25)] and its haplotype with rs7597593‐T [P = 0.0067, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.16 (1.04–1.29)]. By showing consistent associations across independent studies and diverse ancestry groups, our study provides evidence that these two ZNF804A SNPs and their risk haplotype are among the few replicable genetic associations with heroin addiction.
A correlational study examining the relationship between state fiscal effort and high school graduation rates

One way of analyzing United States investment in human capital is through examination of the nation’s high school graduation rates. High school graduation has an impact on society’s growth and prosperity. This study examined states fiscal effort toward education and its impact on state high school graduation rate. Utilizing a qualitative design state fiscal effort and state high school graduation rate were examined over a 25 year period from 1986-2010. Multiple regression analysis and repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine if sustained fiscal effort had an interaction with state high school graduation rate over time. This study revealed that state fiscal effort by itself did not have an effect on state high school graduation rate. The data revealed that time and higher levels of fiscal effort supported higher graduation rates. Furthermore, the study found that the cumulating effect o f increasing fiscal effort over time had a statistically significant impact on increasing high school graduation rate over time. I would like to dedicate this work to my son to show him that with passion, commitment, perseverance, and resilience that he can make a difference in this world. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to recognize and thank my family for all of the support they have given me during this rigorous and life-changing process. Without my husband’s kindness, love, and support, I would not have had the countless hours needed to complete this process. Your understanding and gentle pushes kept me making steady progress. I would like to thank my parents because they truly made it their role in life to be my first teachers and role models. You have lived your life with strength and courage and ensured I knew the true heart o f a family. Without that instilled in me, I would not have had the grit to make it through this part o f my professional life. I would like to thank Dr. William Owings for being my second dad. Just as any great dad would do, he guided me, supported me, and gave me difficult feedback when needed. Dr. Owings is one of the most distinguished educators in all capacities, and it has been my great fortune to have been and continue to be mentored by him. His passion for and dedication to education and the work that must be done every day is inspiring to all. Additionally I would like to thank Dr. John Nunnery for the many hours spent running statistical analysis. Through your outstanding guidance I was able to see the true essence of data analysis and the power o f being persistent and asking the right questions. The time we spent discussing my work was intense and inspiring. Thank you, Dr. Steven Myran, for your participation on my dissertation committee. Your questions and feedback added needed guidance to create a useful final product in educational research. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS.iv LIST OF TABLES. viii LIST OF FIGURES. ix CHAPTER 1 .
Robotics library: An object-oriented approach to robot applications

We discuss the architecture and software engineering principles of the Robotics Library (RL). Driven by requirements of robot systems, research projects, industrial applications, and education, we identify relevant design requirements and present an approach to manage hardware and real-time, provide a user-friendly, object-oriented interface to powerful kinematics and dynamics calculations, and support various platforms. After over ten years of development that started in 2004 and evaluating many variants of the architecture, we discuss the design choices for the components of the library in its current version.
Effects of Methylprednisolone on Serum Neuron-Specific Enolase Levels Af ter Global Ischemic Brain Damage in Rats Harabiyetinde Metilprednizolonun Enolase Düzeylerine Etkisi Global Iskemik Beyin Neuron-Spesifik Ratlarda Serum

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a mitochondrial enzyme that is found at high levels in neurons. Changes in NSE levels may provide quantitative information about the extent of certain types of neurological injury, including cerebral infarction, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, and head trauma. This study investigated serum levels of NSE by enzyme immunoassay after global cerebral ischemia in rats, and evaluilted the effects of low-dose methylprednisolone on serum NSE concentration. The results confirmed that serum NSE is a sensitive marker of cerebral ischemia, and revealed a positive correlation between NSE levels and low-dose methylprednisolone treatment. Ozet: Noron-spesifik enolaz (NSE) noronlarda yuksek oranda bulunan mitokondria! bir enzim olup, serebral infarkt, subaraknoid kanarna, intraserebral kanama ve kafa travmasynda norolojik yaralanmanin derecesi hakkinda onemli bilgiler verdigi bilinmektedir. Bu calismada, ratlarda global serebral iskemide serum NSE duzeyleri enzim immunoessey metodu ile calisilmis, dusuk doz metilprednizolonun enzim serum konsantrasyonlarina etkisinin arastirilmasi amaclanmistir. Elde edilen sonuclar serum NSE sensitivitesinin serebral iskemide onemli bir gosterge oldugunu ve dusuk doz metilprednizolon tedavisi ile serum enzim duzeyleri arasinda anlamli bir iliski oldugunu belirgin olarak gos term is tir.
Associations Between Measures of Socioeconomic Position and Chronic Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure in Worcester, Massachusetts

Census block-group-specific predicted outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2; a marker of traffic pollution) levels and four census block group socioeconomic position (SEP) measures were used to evaluate whether chronic exposures to traffic-related air pollutants are higher in areas with lower SEP, after controlling for spatial autocorrelation in mixed models. NO2 levels were predicted using a geographic information system (GIS)-based spatiotemporal model that was validated with measured NO2 concentrations. The GIS-based model predicted weekly NO2 concentrations with high accuracy (slope of 0.98 from regression of held-out observations on predictions) and precision (cross-validation mean absolute error of 2.2 ppb). The model performed well in both rural and urban areas and warm and cold seasons. Estimated mean block group NO2 concentrations were significantly negatively associated with median household income, and positively associated with poverty, crowding, and low educational attainment rates after controlling for spatial autocorrelation. Results indicated that a standard deviation (3.5 ppb) increase in block group NO2 concentrations was associated with a $9090 decrease in median household income. Results suggest that on average those with lower SEP experience higher chronic exposure to outdoor NO2.
Molecular and phenotypic characterization of ring chromosome 22

We performed a phenotype study of 35 individuals (19 males, 16 females) with ring chromosome 22 or r(22) with a mean age of 10 years. In common with other studies, a phenotype of moderate‐to‐profound learning difficulties and delay or absence of speech affected all individuals with the exception of the case with the smallest deletion. Autistic traits were significantly associated with r(22), as shown by an autism screening questionnaire. Mild and variable dysmorphic features, predominantly craniofacial and distal limb, were observed. Internal organ involvement was uncommon. Even though ring chromosomes are reportedly associated with growth abnormalities, only 2 out of 24 individuals showed evidence of growth failure, while 2 showed accelerated growth. Chromosome 22 long arm deletions, as determined by hemizygosity for informative microsatellite markers, varied from <67 kb to 10.2 Mb in size (or <0.15 to 21% of total chromosome length), with no significant differences in the parental origin of the ring chromosome. Few phenotypic features correlated with deletion size suggesting a critical gene, or genes, of major effect lies close to the telomere. Loss of the SHANK3/PROSAP2 gene has been proposed to be responsible for the main neurological developmental deficits observed in 22q13 monosomies. This study supports this candidate gene by identifying a phenotypically normal r(22) individual whose ring chromosome does not disrupt SHANK3. All other r(22) individuals were hemizygous for SHANK3, and we propose it to be a candidate gene for autism or abnormal brain development. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Functions of ocular surface mucins in health and disease

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of the present review is to describe new concepts on the role of mucins in the protection of corneal and conjunctival epithelia and to identify alterations of mucins in ocular surface diseases. Recent findingsNew evidence indicates that gel-forming and cell surface-associated mucins contribute differently to the protection of the ocular surface against allergens, pathogens, extracellular molecules, abrasive stress, and drying. SummaryMucins are high-molecular weight glycoproteins characterized by their extensive O-glycosylation. Major mucins expressed by the ocular surface epithelia include cell surface-associated mucins MUC1, MUC4, MUC16, and the gel-forming mucin MUC5AC. Recent advances using functional assays have allowed the examination of their roles in the protection of corneal and conjunctival epithelia. Alterations in mucin and mucin O-glycan biosynthesis in ocular surface disorders, including allergy, nonautoimmune dry eye, autoimmune dry eye, and infection, are presented.
Identifiability and Estimation of Causal Effects in Randomized Trials with Noncompliance and Completely Nonignorable Missing Data

Summary In this article, we first study parameter identifiability in randomized clinical trials with noncompliance and missing outcomes. We show that under certain conditions the parameters of interest are identifiable even under different types of completely nonignorable missing data: that is, the missing mechanism depends on the outcome. We then derive their maximum likelihood and moment estimators and evaluate their finite‐sample properties in simulation studies in terms of bias, efficiency, and robustness. Our sensitivity analysis shows that the assumed nonignorable missing‐data model has an important impact on the estimated complier average causal effect (CACE) parameter. Our new method provides some new and useful alternative nonignorable missing‐data models over the existing latent ignorable model, which guarantees parameter identifiability, for estimating the CACE in a randomized clinical trial with noncompliance and missing data.
Ultraviolet radiation regulates cortisol activity in a waveband‐dependent manner in human skin ex vivo

Background 11β‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β‐HSD1), 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β‐HSD2), and glucocorticoids (GC) and their receptor (GR) play a key role in tissue‐specific regulation of GC action.
Comparison of three tests for the serological diagnosis of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection

Levels of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus antibody were assayed in 62 infected persons. The three tests used were indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), complement fixation, and neutralization in mice. The sera first became positive by the IFA test, and IFA titers rapidly rose to a relatively high level, with the sera remaining positive long after the antibody detectable by complement fixation had disappeared. The IFA test appeared to be specific. The sera became positive last by the mouse neutralization test; with this test, antibody first appeared several weeks after infection. Virus-infected cells were stable when stored at -60 C, allowing diagnostic sera to be tested promptly by the IFA test. The IFA test for lymphocytic choriomeningitis antibody should increase the number of serological diagnoses, since it is not only rapid and specific, but detects cases not diagnosed by the other methods.
Trafficking Networks and the Mexican Drug War

Drug trade-related violence has escalated dramatically in Mexico since 2007, and recent years have also witnessed large-scale efforts to combat trafficking, spearheaded by Mexico's conservative PAN party. This study examines the direct and spillover effects of Mexican policy toward the drug trade. Regression discontinuity estimates show that drug-related violence increases substantially after close elections of PAN mayors. Empirical evidence suggests that the violence reflects rival traffickers' attempts to usurp territories after crackdowns have weakened incumbent criminals. Moreover, the study uses a network model of trafficking routes to show that PAN victories divert drug traffic, increasing violence along alternative drug routes. (JEL D72, D85, K42, O17, Z13)
Comparative Analysis of Testis Transcriptomes from Triploid and Fertile Diploid Cyprinid Fish1

ABSTRACT The fertility of fish is a key factor in fish breeding. RNA-seq is widely used in high-throughput sequencing and provides a rapid method to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying a biological process. To probe fertility-related molecular mechanisms, we obtained testis transcriptomes from diploid and triploid cyprinid fish and tested for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the testis. A total of 6730 transcripts were differentially expressed between the triploid and diploid fish. In these transcripts, 2428 transcripts showed reduced expression and 4302 transcripts were overexpressed in triploid fish compared to the diploid fish. Functional analyses revealed that partial genes related to reproductive, developmental, and locomotion processes, and the axoneme, were differentially expressed in triploid fish relative to diploid fish. Pathway analysis indicated that variations in the gene expression levels of the “ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis pathway” and the “apoptotic pathway” played a central role in the sterility of triploid male fish. A series of genes (DNAHs, DNAL1, IFTs, and DNAAF1) associated with sperm flagellar assembly and motility, and testis-specific candidate markers (Tcte1, Tekt1, Tekt4, Spag17, Spag5, Spag9a, Spag1b, and Spef2), had low expression levels in the testis of triploid fish. We validated these DEGs in triploid fish using quantitative PCR to quantify expression of eight representative genes. Furthermore, 276 putative transcription factors, 6 chromatin remodeling factors, and 35 transcription cofactors exhibited differential expression in triploid compared to diploid fish. This study provides insight into the regulatory mechanisms causing sterility in male triploid fish.
CTLA-4 Gene and the Susceptibility of Multiple Sclerosis: An Updated Meta-analysis Study Including 12,916 Cases and 15,455 Controls

Abstract Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a cell surface molecule involved in the regulation of T cells. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CTLA-4 gene are known to be associated with susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to evaluate the association between CTLA-4 and the risk of MS. Comprehensive meta-analysis was applied to case-control studies of the association between MS and CTLA-4 to assess the joint evidence for the association, the influence of individual studies, and evidence for publication bias. The authors searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and reference lists of relevant studies to September 2013. In all, the allele or genotype analysis showed no significant association between + 49A/G, − 318C/T, or CT60A/G and MS. And the subgroups of the three polymorphisms divided into Americas, Europe, and Asia showed no significant association with MS. The sensitivity analysis or publication bias analysis showed no significance. In conclusion, this comprehensive meta-analysis suggested that + 49A/G, − 318C/T, or CT60A/G polymorphism, either in total analysis or in subgroup analyses, has no significant association with MS disease.
Efficient Thermal Aware Placement Approach Integrated with 3D DCT Placement Algorithm

3D ICs has the potential to reduce the interconnect delay, but thermal problem becomes one of the most serious challenges. In this paper, we proposed an efficient thermal aware 3D placement algorithm based on an efficient 3D DCT placement which unified cell distribution and wire length into one quadratic function through cosine transformation (DCT) and utilized iterative quadratic placement idea to get the solution. To utilize the advantage of DCT idea, thermal dissipation, cell distribution and wire length are integrated together elegantly in our proposed thermal aware placement algorithm. Thermal distribution was considered enough during placement process even when a cell was moved. Two fast methods to reflect thermal charge were proposed for thermal distribution computation. The experimental results shows our thermal aware 3D placement algorithm is efficient with about 3% reduction in average temperature and 15% in max temperature but a little perturbation on wire length.
Trends in Use of Scientific Workflows: Insights from a Public Repository and Recommendations for Best Practice

Scientific workflows are typically used to automate the processing, analysis and management of scientific data. Most scientific workflow programs provide a user-friendly graphical user interface that enables scientists to more easily create and visualize complex workflows that may be comprised of dozens of processing and analytical steps. Furthermore, many workflows provide mechanisms for tracing provenance and methodologies that foster reproducible science. Despite their potential for enabling science, few studies have examined how the process of creating, executing, and sharing workflows can be improved. In order to promote open discourse and access to scientific methods as well as data, we analyzed a wide variety of workflow systems and publicly available workflows on the public repository myExperiment. It is hoped that understanding the usage of workflows and developing a set of recommended best practices will lead to increased contribution of workflows to the public domain.
Impulse UWB energy detection receiver with energy offset synchronization scheme

Impulse ultra-wideband radios (IR-UWB) show strong advantages in low power and low cost applications such as RFIDs and wireless sensor networks. This paper presents an IR-UWB receiver based on Energy Detection (ED) with on-off keying (OOK) modulation. A novel synchronization and detection algorithm using the energy offset scheme with adaptive threshold detection is suggested, aiming to reduce energy consumption and simplify hardware complexity. Simulation and FPGA implementation reveal that the proposed method can avoid complex and power consuming synchronization blocks, and reduce the preamble length, whereas maintaining the performance in the target level. Hardware integration issues are discussed, implying that the proposed receiver architecture has the possibility to achieve low complexity and low power implementation with several nJs energy per bit, at a data rate of 10Mb/s.