Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distributed design of locally stabilizing controllers for large-scale networked linear systems

In this paper, we consider designing locally stabilizing controllers, each of which stabilizes each disconnected subsystem, in a distributed manner for large-scale networked linear systems. To this end, we design a low-dimensional hierarchical distributed compensator such that the L2-performance of the closed-loop system improves as long as that of the locally stabilizing controllers improves. We solve a controller reduction problem where the approximation error of the low-dimensional compensator gets better as long as the performance of the locally stabilizing controllers improves, while preserving the hierarchical distributed structure of the original compensator. Finally, we demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method through a numerical example of a power network.
MAPPING AQUATIC VEGETATION OF THE RAKAMAZ- TISZANAGYFALUI NAGY-MOROTVA USING HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGERY

Rapid development in remote sensing technologies provides more and more reliable methods for environmental assessment. For most wetlands, it is difficult to walk-in without disturbing the endangered species living there; therefore, application of opportunities provided by remote sensing has a great importance in population-mapping. One effective tool of vegetation pattern estimation is hyperspectral remote sensing, which can be used for association and species level mapping as well, due to high ground resolution. The Rakamaz-Tiszanagyfalui Nagy-morotva is an oxbow lake, located in the north-eastern part of Hungary. For this study, a wetland area of 1.17 km 2 containing the original water bad and shoreline was selected. For the image analysis, images taken by an AISA DUAL system hyperspectral sensor were used. At the same time, 7 main vegetation classes were separated, which are typical for the sample plot designated on the test site. Classification was performed by the master areas signed by the most common associations of the Rakamaz-Tiszanagyfalui Nagy-morotva with determined spectrums. During the image analysis, SAM classification method was used, where radian values were optimized by the results of classification performed at the control area.
Decoupling Word-Pair Distance and Co-occurrence Information for Effective Long History Context Language Modeling

In this paper, we propose the use of distance and co-occurrence information of word-pairs to improve language modeling. We have empirically shown that, for history-context sizes of up to ten words, the extracted information about distance and co-occurrence complements the n-gram language model well, for which learning long-history contexts is inherently difficult. Evaluated on the Wall Street Journal and the Switchboard corpora, our proposed model reduces the trigram model perplexity by up to 11.2% and 6.5%, respectively. As compared to the distant bigram model and the trigger model, our proposed model offers a more effective manner of capturing far context information, as verified in terms of perplexity and computational efficiency, i.e., fewer free parameters to be fine-tuned. Experiments using the proposed model for speech recognition, text classification and word prediction tasks showed improved performance.
Considerable Lack of Agreement Between S-FPIA and EMIT Cyclosporine Assay in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Heart Transplant Recipients

The authors performed a comparative analysis of 60 whole blood samples containing cyclosporine (CsA) from heart transplant (HTx) recipients (n = 60) by the two “specific” monoclonal immunoassays, enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) and fluorescence polarization immunoassay (S-FPIA), using the Altman-Bland approach based on graphical techniques and simple calculations. The CsA blood concentrations measured by S-FPIA [mean (SD): 268.1 (108.8) ng/mL] showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) from the corresponding concentrations measured by EMIT [219.6 (118.7) ng/mL]. The CsA concentrations were 27% (median) higher when determined by monoclonal S-FPIA than by EMIT. The comparison between EMIT and S-FPIA showed a good correlation (S-FPIA conc.(ng/mL) = EMIT conc. (ng/mL) · 0.88 + 76.1, r = 0.96, P < 0.001). However, a high correlation does not mean that the two methods agree, and their use as interchangeable might be misleading. The authors summarized the degree of agreement by calculating the bias estimated by the mean difference (d) and the standard deviation of the difference (SD). For CsA concentration data, the mean difference (S-FPIA minus EMIT) is +49.9 ng/mL and SD is 31.2 ng/mL. Altman-Bland analysis indicates considerable lack of agreement between EMIT and S-FPIA, with discrepancies of more than 100 ng/mL. The present study's data clearly show that there is a considerable and clinically unacceptable lack of agreement between the S-FPIA and the EMIT techniques in HTx recipients for the whole range of concentrations evaluated (25–500 ng/mL), and this is caused by the variation in the overestimation of the CsA parent compound. Even though a similar CsA reference range was reported during maintenance therapy for both methods (150–250 ng/mL), which might encourage their interchangeability in the clinical setting, this approach should be avoided. Laboratory reports should always state both the concentration of CsA and the analytical method.
Communicating Prevention: The Effects of the keepin’ it REAL Classroom Videotapes and Televised PSAs on Middle-School Students’ Substance Use

This study sought to determine if exposure to two communication-oriented activities, videotapes and public service announcements, accounts for changes in substance use among adolescents participating in the Drug Resistance Strategies Project's keepin’ it REAL adolescent substance use prevention curriculum. Middle-school students (4,734, 72% Latino) responded to questionnaires related to these analyses. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model was fit separately to six substance use outcomes. The results suggested that intervention students who saw four or five videos engaged in less substance use in the past month than did students who saw fewer videos. Having seen the PSAs one or more times did not predict the reported change in substance use.
Two genes required for the binding of an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae kinetochore complex to DNA.

Kinetochores are DNA-protein structures that assemble on centromeric DNA and attach chromosomes to spindle microtubules. Because of their simplicity, the 125-bp centromeres of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are particularly amenable to molecular analysis. Budding yeast centromeres contain three sequence elements of which centromere DNA sequence element III (CDEIII) appears to be particularly important. cis-acting mutations in CDEIII and trans-acting mutations in genes encoding subunits of the CDEIII-binding complex (CBF3) prevent correct chromosome transmission. Using temperature-sensitive mutations in CBF3 subunits, we show a strong correlation between DNA-binding activity measured in vitro and kinetochore activity in vivo. We extend previous findings by Goh and Kilmartin [Goh, P.-Y. & Kilmartin, J.V. (1993) J. Cell Biol. 121, 503-512] to argue that DNA-bound CBF3 may be involved in the operation of a mitotic checkpoint but that functional CBF3 is not required for the assembly of a bipolar spindle.
Word and voice: Spontaneous attention to emotional utterances in two languages

Adopting a modified Stroop task, the authors tested the hypothesis that processing systems brought to bear on comprehension of emotional speech are attuned primarily to word evaluation in a low-context culture and language (i.e., in English), but they are attuned primarily to vocal emotion in a high-context culture and language (i.e., in Japanese). Native Japanese (Studies 1 and 2) and English speakers (Study 3) made a judgement of either vocal emotion or word evaluation of an emotionally spoken evaluative word. Word evaluations and vocal emotions were comparable in extremity in the two languages. In support of the hypothesis, an interference effect by competing word evaluation in the vocal emotion judgement was significantly stronger in English than in Japanese. In contrast, an interference effect by competing vocal emotion in the word evaluation judgement was stronger in Japanese than in English. Implications for the cultural grounding of communication, emotion, and cognition are discussed.
Reported History of Physical and Sexual Abuse in Relation to Dissociation and Other Symptomatology in Women Psychiatric Inpatients

Among 88 women patients in an adult inpatient setting, 81% reported a history of sexual abuse physical abuse, or both. The scores on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and on the anxiety, hostility, and psychoticism scales of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL 90-R) early in hospitalization were significantly higher among those who reported a history of abuse than among those who reported no such history. Also, those with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of a dissociative disorder had significantly higher scores on the DES. Reported abuse also was associated with higher scores on the borderline, antisocial, schizoid, and self-defeating personality disorder scales of the Personality Disorder Questionnaire (PDQ-R).
Star formation along the Hubble sequence: Radial structure of the star formation of CALIFA galaxies

The aim of this paper is to characterize the radial structure of the star formation rate (SFR) in galaxies in the nearby Universe as represented by the CALIFA survey. The sample under study contains 416 galaxies observed with IFS, covering a wide range of Hubble types and stellar masses. Spectral synthesis techniques are applied to obtain radial profiles of the intensity of the star formation rate in the recent past, and the local sSFR. To emphasize the behavior of these properties for galaxies that are on and off the main sequence of star formation (MSSF) we stack the individual radial profiles in bins of galaxy morphology and stellar masses. Our main results are: a) The intensity of SFR shows declining profiles that exhibit very little differences between spirals. The dispersion between the profiles is significantly smaller in late type spirals. This confirms that the MSSF is a sequence of galaxies with nearly constant intensity of SFR b) sSFR values scale with Hubble type and increase radially outwards, with a steeper slope in the inner 1 HLR. This behavior suggests that galaxies are quenched inside-out, and that this process is faster in the central, bulge-dominated part than in the disks. c) As a whole, and at all radii, E and S0 are off the MSSF. d) Applying the volume-corrections for the CALIFA sample, we obtain a density of star formation in the local Universe of 0.0105 Msun/yr/Mpc^{-3}. Most of the star formation is occurring in the disks of spirals. e) The volume averaged birthrate parameter, b'=0.39, suggests that the present day Universe is forming stars at 1/3 of its past average rate. E, S0, and the bulge of early type spirals contribute little to the recent SFR of the Universe, which is dominated by the disks of later spirals. f) There is a tight relation between the intensity of the SFR and stellar mass, defining a local MSSF relation with a logarithmic slope of 0.8.
Structural and Mutational Analysis of Escherichia coli AlkB Provides Insight into Substrate Specificity and DNA Damage Searching

Background In Escherichia coli, cytotoxic DNA methyl lesions on the N1 position of purines and N3 position of pyrimidines are primarily repaired by the 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) iron(II) dependent dioxygenase, AlkB. AlkB repairs 1-methyladenine (1-meA) and 3-methylcytosine (3-meC) lesions, but it also repairs 1-methylguanine (1-meG) and 3-methylthymine (3-meT) at a much less efficient rate. How the AlkB enzyme is able to locate and identify methylated bases in ssDNA has remained an open question. Methodology/Principal Findings We determined the crystal structures of the E. coli AlkB protein holoenzyme and the AlkB-ssDNA complex containing a 1-meG lesion. We coupled this to site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids in and around the active site, and tested the effects of these mutations on the ability of the protein to bind both damaged and undamaged DNA, as well as catalyze repair of a methylated substrate. Conclusions/Significance A comparison of our substrate-bound AlkB-ssDNA complex with our unliganded holoenzyme reveals conformational changes of residues within the active site that are important for binding damaged bases. Site-directed mutagenesis of these residues reveals novel insight into their roles in DNA damage recognition and repair. Our data support a model that the AlkB protein utilizes at least two distinct conformations in searching and binding methylated bases within DNA: a “searching” mode and “repair” mode. Moreover, we are able to functionally separate these modes through mutagenesis of residues that affect one or the other binding state. Finally, our mutagenesis experiments show that amino acid D135 of AlkB participates in both substrate specificity and catalysis.
A comprehensive sex education approach for HIV testing and counselling

Despite huge prevention efforts the number of HIV infections worldwide continues to increase dramatically. Among other strategies, the HIV test offers an important chance for targeted prevention, provided quality counselling is offered. Several studies have revealed that HIV testing is often performed in less than optimal conditions and is often not effective. In this paper we argue that effective counselling must be based on a comprehensive sex education approach. To understand sexual risk behaviour, and to change it, the complexity of sexual behaviour has to be taken into account. Sex is one of the most socially diverse of human activities. The meaning of sex differs profoundly among societies, cultures, subcultures, particular relationships and individuals. As a consequence, HIV counselling must be tailored to the specific risk situation of the particular individual or couple asking for the test. Rather than (or in addition to) offering universal knowledge and advice, the counsellor should discuss the specific meaning of (unsafe) sex and the obstacles for safer sex for the specific person or couple in a dialogue and focus on their empowerment in order to have safer sex in the future.
THE RELEASE OF RIBONUCLEASE INTO THE MEDIUM WHEN ESCHERICHIA COLI CELLS ARE CONVERTED TO SPEROPLASTS.

Malamy and Horecker (1) discovered that when Escherichia coli cells were converted into spheroplasts by means of ethylenediaminetetraacetate and lysozyme (2), the alkaline phosphatase (3-7) was quantitatively released into the surrounding sucrosetris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane medium. Certain other enzymes, such as /%galactosidase and glucose g-phosphate dehydrogenase, were not set free and remained entirely within the spheroplasts. In this paper, we show that another enzyme, a ribonuclease,l is also released when such spheroplasts are made. It appears to be the “latent” ribosomal ribonuclease @-lo), perhaps slightly altered during the course of its release. A preliminary report, of this work has appeared (11).
Enhancement of lamina cribrosa visibility in optical coherence tomography images using adaptive compensation.

PURPOSE We improved the visibility of the lamina cribrosa (LC), including its posterior boundary, in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the human optic nerve head (ONH). METHODS An adaptive compensation algorithm was developed to overcome a limitation of our standard compensation algorithm, that is the overamplification of noise at high depth. Such limitation currently hampers our ability to distinguish the posterior LC boundary. In adaptive compensation, standard compensation operations are performed until an energy threshold is reached, at which stage the compensation process is stopped to limit noise overamplification in the deeper portion of the OCT image. The performance of adaptive compensation was compared to that of standard compensation using OCT images of 5 human ONHs. RESULTS Adaptive compensation significantly reduced the intralayer contrast (a measure of pixel intensity uniformity) in the deeper portion of the OCT images (from 0.62 ± 0.11-0.30 ± 0.03, P < 0.001), indicating successful removal of noise overamplification. Furthermore, adaptive compensation significantly increased the interlayer contrast (a measure of boundary visibility) across the posterior LC boundary (from 0.29 ± 0.13-0.61 ± 0.21, P < 0.001), indicating improved posterior LC boundary visibility. CONCLUSIONS Adaptive compensation provided significant improvement compared to standard compensation by eliminating noise overamplification at high depth and improving the visibility of the posterior LC boundary. These improvements were performed while maintaining all other benefits of compensation, such as shadow removal and contrast enhancement. Adaptive compensation will help further our efforts to characterize in vivo ONH biomechanics for the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma.
Glucose abnormalities in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic hepatitis C virus infection: the role of iron overload

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are major causes of liver disease frequently described in outpatient patients with glucose abnormalities. Hyperferritinemia, which suggests that iron overload plays a decisive role in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, is a common finding in both disorders. However, the role of the hepatic iron deposition differs from one to the other. In NAFLD, a moderate liver iron accumulation has been observed and molecular mechanisms, including the downregulation of the liver iron exporter ferroportin‐1, have been described. Iron overload will enhance intrahepatic oxidative stress that promotes hepatic fibrosis, interfere with insulin signalling at various levels and may hamper hepatic insulin extraction. Therefore, liver fibrosis, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia will lead to increased levels of insulin resistance and the development of glucose abnormalities. Furthermore, iron depletion by phlebotomy removes liver iron content and reduces serum glucose and insulin resistance in NAFLD patients. Therefore, it seems that iron overload participates in those glucose abnormalities associated with NAFLD. Concerning chronic HCV infection, it has been classically assumed that iron overload contributes to insulin resistance associated with virus infection. However, recent evidence argues against the presence of iron overload in these patients and points to inflammation associated with diabetes as the main contributor to the elevated ferritin levels. Therefore, glucose abnormalities, and specially type 2 diabetes, should be taken into account when evaluating serum ferritin levels in patients with HCV infection. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding the Atheist College Student: A Qualitative Examination

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine and understand atheist college students’ views on faith and how they experience the college campus as a result. I conducted interviews with 16 undergraduate and graduate self-identified atheist college students. Students discussed losing faith and transitioning to atheism; making meaning of life, death, and morality; and experiencing campus life as an atheist. Theoretical considerations as well as implications for practice and research are presented.
Development of an upper limb rehabilitation robot system for bilateral training

The paper deals with tracking control in both sides of an upper limb rehabilitation robot system. A Rehabilitation Intelligent Training System (RITS) for the recovery of motion function of upper limbs is introduced. The system has a lot of advantages for its special applications such as small size, less weight and good human-computer interaction interface during the rehabilitation process. Besides, this system consists of the Upper Limb Exoskeleton Rehabilitation Device (ULERD), a haptic device called PHANTOM Premium 1.5, an MTx sensor, a computer and so on. The system is a master-slave rehabilitation system. The master side is ULERD and the slave said is the PHANTOM Premium. Tracking control in two sides means the slave side follows the motion of the master side through tracking control with force feedback. In the bilateral training process, the impaired hand of the patient wears the ULERD and the intact hand grips the stylus of the PHANTOM Premium. When the ULERD is moved by the patient, the stylus of PHANTOM Premium will track it within very short time. Experiment has been performed to prove that the bilateral training in two sides of the robot system has a good following performance. The development of this method can be a promising approach for further research in more effective rehabilitation to the upper limb.
Accounts and Models for Spatial Demographic Analysis 3: Rates and Life Tables

The paper begins by distinguishing, with the aid of the Lexis diagram that plots age against time, three kinds of demographic rate: age-group rates, period rates, and life-table rates. There are single-region and multiregion versions of those rates. In order to measure multiregional life-table rates, life-table accounts are developed together with an accounts based model that estimates the full accounts matrix from available data. These multiregional rates are then used to construct multiregional life tables akin to those recently proposed by Rogers. It is shown that the calculations involved in measuring the survivorship probabilities of the life table can be succinctly summarized in Stone's fundamental matrix. The detailed connections between life-table accounts and age-group accounts are explored, and the possibility of age-group life tables raised. The conclusion is reached that the age-group accounts are the appropriate ones for generating rates for use in population projection models, and that the life-table accounts are the appropriate ones for generating rates for use in actuarial calculations.
Centrosomal Localization of the Psoriasis Candidate Gene Product, CCHCR1, Supports a Role in Cytoskeletal Organization

CCHCR1 (Coiled-Coil α-Helical Rod protein 1), within the major psoriasis susceptibility locus PSORS1, is a plausible candidate gene with the psoriasis associated risk allele CCHCR1*WWCC. Although its expression pattern in psoriatic skin differs from healthy skin and its overexpression influences cell proliferation in transgenic mice, its role as a psoriasis effector gene has remained unsettled. The 5′-region of the gene contains a SNP (rs3130453) that controls a 5′-extended open reading frame and thus the translation of alternative isoforms. We have now compared the function of two CCHCR1 isoforms: the novel longer isoform 1 and the previously studied isoform 3. In samples of Finnish and Swedish families, the allele generating only isoform 3 shows association with psoriasis (P<10−7). Both isoforms localize at the centrosome, a cell organelle playing a role in cell division. In stably transfected cells the isoform 3 affects cell proliferation and with the CCHCR1*WWCC allele, also apoptosis. Furthermore, cells overexpressing CCHCR1 show isoform- and haplotype-specific influences in the cell size and shape and alterations in the organization and expression of the cytoskeletal proteins actin, vimentin, and cytokeratins. The isoform 1 with the non-risk allele induces the expression of keratin 17, a hallmark for psoriasis; the silencing of CCHCR1 reduces its expression in HEK293 cells. CCHCR1 also regulates EGF-induced STAT3 activation in an isoform-specific manner: the tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 is disturbed in isoform 3-transfected cells. The centrosomal localization of CCHCR1 provides a connection to the abnormal cell proliferation and offers a link to possible cellular pathways altered in psoriasis.