Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Latex Agglutination Test for Anaerobic Diphtheroids

Summary A technic for using latex (polystyrene) particles in a serological test with anaerobic diphtheroids is described. Optimum conditions under which latex particles may be used with this bacterial antigen-antibody system are reported. Evidence is presented to indicate a possible immunological relationship between various anaerobic diphtheroids. The authors wish to acknowledge with thanks the capable assistance of Leona Caroline, Helen Lyons, and Dr. Liborio Garcia.
Graphs on Surfaces

Contents: Chapter 1. Introduction Basic Definition Trees and bipartite graphs Blocks ConnectivityChapter 2. Planar Graphs Planar graphs and the Jordan Curve Theorem The Jordan-Schonflies Theorem The Theorem of Kuratowski Characterizations of planar graphs 3-connected planar graphs Dual graphs Planarity algorithms Circle packing representations The Riemann Mapping Theorem The Jordan Curve Theorem and Kuratowski's Theorem in general topological spacesChapter 3. Surfaces Classification of surfacesRotation systemsEmbedding schemesThe genus of a graphClassification of noncompact surfacesChapter 4. Embeddings Combinatorially, Contractibility, of Cycles, and the Genus Problem Embeddings combinatoriallyCycles of embedded graphsThe 3-path-conditionThe genus of a graphThe maximum genus of a graphChapter 5. The Width of Embeddings Edge-width 2-flippings and uniqueness of LEW-embeddings Triangulations Minimal triangulations of a given edge-width Face-width Minimal embeddings of a given face-width Embeddings of planar graphs The genus of a graph with a given nonorientable embedding Face-width and surface minors Face-width and embedding flexibility Combinatorial properties of embedded graphs of large widthChapter 6. Embedding Extensions and Obstructions Forbidden subgraphs and forbidden minors Bridges Obstruction in a bridge 2-restricted embedding extensions The forbidden subgraphs for the projective plane The minimal forbidden subgraphs for general surfacesChapter 7. Tree-Width and the Excluded Minor Theorem Tree-width and the excluded grid theoremThe excluded minor theorem for any fixed surfaceChapter 8. Colorings of Graphs on Surfaces Planar graphs are 5-choosable The Four Color Theorem Color critical graphs and the Heawood formula Coloring in a few colors Graphs without short cycles Appendix A. The minmal forbidden subgraphs for the projective plane Appendix B. The unavoidable configurations in planar triangulations Bibliography Index
Computing higher order exclusion relations in propositional planning

This article presents a systematic and complete algorithm to compute all higher order exclusion relations for a propositional planning problem, that is, sets of propositions that cannot hold simultaneously at specific time points, without any bound on the order of the exclusion relations. This algorithm is proved to allow for backtrack-free plan extraction, provided that all goals have to be achieved simultaneously. In particular, levelled global consistency is achieved, i.e. all exclusion relations between propositions within each time step are computed. However, achieving levelled global consistency is impractical for most non-trivial planning problems. Indeed, as our empirical evaluation over a variety of planning problems suggests, best performance is achieved when setting a bound on the order of the computed exclusion relations and using search to extract a plan. Additional statistics extracted from our experiments shed light on the internal dynamics of Graphplan-style planners.
Super-exponential algorithms for multichannel blind deconvolution

Multichannel blind deconvolution has been receiving increasing attention. Shalvi and Weinstein proposed an attractive approach to single-channel blind deconvolution called the super-exponential methods. The objective of this correspondence is to extend the Shalvi and Weinstein (1993, 1994) approach to the multichannel case and present super-exponential algorithms for multichannel blind deconvolution. We propose three approaches to multichannel blind deconvolution. In the first one, we present a multichannel super-exponential algorithm. In the second one, we present a super-exponential deflation algorithm. In the third one, we present a two-stage super-exponential algorithm.
Non-Exhaustive, Overlapping Co-Clustering

The goal of co-clustering is to simultaneously identify a clustering of the rows as well as the columns of a two dimensional data matrix. Most existing co-clustering algorithms are designed to find pairwise disjoint and exhaustive co-clusters. However, many real-world datasets might contain not only a large overlap between co-clusters but also outliers which should not belong to any co-cluster. We formulate the problem of Non-Exhaustive, Overlapping Co-Clustering where both of the row and column clusters are allowed to overlap with each other and the outliers for each dimension of the data matrix are not assigned to any cluster. To solve this problem, we propose an intuitive objective function, and develop an efficient iterative algorithm which we call the NEO-CC algorithm. We theoretically show that the NEO-CC algorithm monotonically decreases the proposed objective function. Experimental results show that the NEO-CC algorithm is able to effectively capture the underlying co-clustering structure of real-world data, and thus outperforms state-of-the-art clustering and co-clustering methods.
A translational neuroscience perspective on the importance of reducing placement instability among foster children.

Placement instability is a common occurrence among foster children and others involved with child welfare system services, and is associated with negative psychiatric and mental health outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to review and synthesize research in this area and to consider this information in terms of child welfare practice and policy. Evidence from 59 sources is reviewed, including research on (a) the connection between placement instability and poor outcomes; (b) sources of information that can be employed to reliably predict risk for placement instability; and (c) interventions designed to mitigate the effects of placement instability. The available empirical evidence suggests that placement instability and other family chaos is associated with disrupted development of the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is involved in executive functioning. Poor executive functioning is implicated in elevated risk for ADHD, disruptive behavior disorders, substance abuse, and other forms of disinhibitory psychopathology. This might help to explain the high rates of psychiatric medication prescriptions for foster children. Notably, however, recent research findings have shown that placement instability is both predictable and preventable and that interventions to address placement instability have the potential to mitigate neurobiological and psychiatric effects of prior adversity.
Osmotic regulation of biosynthesis of membrane-derived oligosaccharides in Escherichia coli

The osmotic regulation of the biosynthesis of membrane-derived oligosaccharides (MDO) in strains UB1005 and DC2 of Escherichia coli K-12 was examined; this regulation was previously reported by Clark (J. Bacteriol. 161:1049-1053, 1985) to be different from that observed by Kennedy for other strains of E. coli (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79:1092-1095, 1982). Osmotic regulation of the synthesis of MDO in UB1005 and DC2 is in fact indistinguishable from that previously reported for other strains of E. coli, with maximum production of MDO occurring in the medium of lowest osmolarity. The report of Clark to the contrary was apparently based on the inadequate methods for the measurement of MDO employed in that study. MDO are localized in the periplasm of wild-type E. coli cells. However, strain DC2, selected for hypersensitivity to a range of antibiotics, released most of its MDO into the medium, apparently as a result of greater outer membrane permeability.
Simulation of combined photovoltaic , Thermal & Biogas Hybrid System

The main problem today is the shortage of energy and environmental pollution. These problems can be avoided by employing renewable energy schemes. The most common renewable energy resources include Wind Energy, Tide Energy, Solar Energy, Hydrogen Energy, Bio Energy, Terrestrial Heat Energy and Thermal Energy and so on. Pakistan is affluent in almost all these resources especially in Thermal Energy and Solar Energy. The areas in Pakistan like Sindh, Baluchistan and South Punjab possess the weather conditions to be very friendly for these utilities of Renewable Energy resources. Thermal Panels along with Solar Panels can be used to utilize Solar Energy in these areas. The electrical energy can be extracted from solar energy directly by means of Photovoltaic cells but thermal energy is first converted to heat energy and this heat energy in turn is used to drive Turbine to get the electrical energy. If both these technologies are combined to work together, the solar energy can be absorbed by solar panel more efficiently. The research work demonstrates how these schemes can be combined together to achieve the desired goal. Furthermore, working of photovoltaic/thermal panels depend solely on weather conditions, so a biogas generator is used along with photovoltaic/thermal panels in order to maintain constant power. Index Term-Renewable Energy, Distributed Power system, Biogas Generator, Modeling and Simulation
Characterizing Polarization-MIMO Antennas in Random-LOS Propagation Channels

In the 5G system, we foresee the use of LOS-dominated mm-wave radio links to moving users being subject to slow fading resulting from the users’ random locations and orientations. We refer to this as a random-LOS channel. MIMO processing algorithms will be used in 5G to improve performance in slow fading, similar to how they are used in Rayleigh fading. To this end, we study the probability of detection in the random-LOS channel when there are dual-polarized antennas on both sides of the link. We introduce two polarization deficiencies: the polarization non-orthogonality and the amplitude imbalance between the ports of a two-port antenna. The MIMO efficiency is evaluated as a function of these deficiencies. In the analysis, we consider the MRC algorithm for one bitstream, and the ZF and SVD algorithms for two bitstreams. We also present two analytical formulas for the MIMO efficiency that can be used to determine performance. We use the formulas on two ideally orthogonal dipoles, and show by means of coverage plots how much the 1- and 2-bitstream performances degrade due to the polarization deficiencies in off-boresight directions.
Biometrie authentication platform-based multisensor fusion

The system proposed in this paper is an innovative biometrie authentication platform for access control applications based face recognition. The vision system is based multisensor fusion combining catadioptric sensor (calibrated with a field of view of 360°) and a Pan Tilt Zoom camera (PTZ). It is able to detect and track moving objects with a high zoom level. The recognition process is based on detection of the moving person and detection of a region of interest representing the face. Face Recognition is based on the modified Eigenface algorithm. The entire development was validated using an heterogeneous database combining ORL database (Olivetti Research Laboratories) and our own Nomad Biometric Authentication database.
Symbolic Representation of Models Improves Model Understanding and Tendency to Use Models

I have been teaching Object-Oriented (OO) Modeling [1] for a few years, then I taught an advanced course on Foundations of Software Engineering (SE) [2] for several years, and recently, I lead a workshop on developing a software engineering application [3]. In the Object-Oriented Modeling course we teach UML using a pragmatic view-point, i.e., emphasize how and when to use various features, based on their semantics and properties. In addition we teach a process of project development, using the taught models. In the Foundations of SE course we teach selected chapters including testing, project development methods, design patterns, refactoring, design by contract, and more. The workshop on project development consists of 5-student groups that collectively develop an application construction, guided by a staff member. Following such an extensive education, my expectations were that students will recognize the value of early modeling, and will get used to analyze and design software with models, as a standard practice. I was rather surprised to find out that once out of the OO Modeling course, most students do not use models unless enforced. Moreover, somehow, most students live under the impression that models are kind of “annoying documents” that accompany software, and can be written as an afterthought, when software is submitted. This is, for example, the way that most students use models in their final, year long project. In extreme cases students use automatic model creation procedures, available in advanced integrated development environments. This poor situation of actually using models as documentation rather than for analysis, design and development of software, can be explained by multiple factors, some essential to model nature, and others more pragmatic, based on available tools. On the pragmatic reasons we suggest four reasons:
Cholera toxin adjuvant promotes long-term immunological memory in the gut mucosa to unrelated immunogens after oral immunization.

This study was conducted to investigate whether cholera toxin (CT), used as a mucosal adjuvant, would promote the development in mice of immunological memory to unrelated antigens administered by the oral route. We found that oral priming immunizations with keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) in combination with CT adjuvant induced long-term, at least 22 months and perhaps lifelong, immunological memory in the intestinal lamina propria (LP). In contrast, oral priming immunizations with KLH alone failed to stimulate immunological memory. Moreover, memory responses in the KLH plus CT-immunized mice were elicited by antigen alone, i.e. without CT adjuvant, suggesting that once immunological memory is established in the intestinal mucosa, e.g. by oral vaccination, elicitation of secondary-type responses does not require the presence of CT and thus could result from re-encounter with specific bacterial or viral antigens in the intestine. We also found that a single priming-dose of KLH plus CT adjuvant was sufficient to stimulate long-term, antigen-specific memory in the intestinal mucosa. Finally, the ability of CT to induce immunological memory in the gut mucosa required the whole toxin and could not be achieved by using the toxoid, the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), which lacks the adenylate cyclase/cAMP-activating property of the whole molecule. The results support the view that mucosal adjuvants, incorporated into oral vaccines, might be an effective means to achieve long-term immunological memory and protection against pathogenic micro-organisms at mucosal surfaces.
Compressive Sensing for Multibaseline Polarimetric SAR Tomography of Forested Areas

The structure of forests is an important indicator of ecosystem dynamics and enables the modeling and monitoring of ecological change. Synthetic aperture radar tomography (TomoSAR) provides scene reflectivity estimation of vegetation along elevation coordinates. Due to the advantages of superresolution imaging and a small number of measurements, compressive sensing (CS) inversion techniques for SAR tomography were successfully developed and applied. This paper addresses the 3-D imaging of forested areas based on the framework of CS using fully polarimetric (FP) multibaseline SAR interferometric (MB-InSAR) tomography at P-band. A new CS-based FP MB-InSAR tomography method is proposed: a sum of Kronecker product (SKP) decomposition-based CS FP MB-InSAR tomography method (FP-SKPCS TomoSAR method). The method, based on an assumption that the reflectivity signal of a single scattering mechanism (SM) is more sparse than that of a composite of SMs, recovers the reflectivity profile of different SMs by using the CS technique. This method not only allows superresolution imaging with a low number of acquisitions but also can estimate the polarimetric SM of the vertical structure of forested areas. The effectiveness of these novel techniques for polarimetric SAR tomography is demonstrated using FP P-band airborne data sets acquired by the ONERA SETHI airborne system over a test site in Paracou, French Guiana, and the results of the vertical structure of forested areas derived by the method are verified by in situ test data.
Atlas-based mosaicing of 3D transesophageal echocardiography images of the left atrium

3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is routinely used for planning and guidance of cardiac interventions. However, the limited field-of-view dictates the compounding of multiple images for visualization of large structures, e.g. the left atrium (LA). Previously, we developed a TEE image acquisition protocol to capture the LA in six views. This paper proposes the use of fused TEE data of other patients as atlases to guide the registration of these views in a novel method, denoted atlas-based mosaicing (ABM). In this method, each TEE view is rigidly registered to a fused TEE atlas image of another patient, followed by pairwise registration of neighboring TEE views. Experiments on ten patient data sets and five atlas sets reveal the superior performance of ABM compared to regular pairwise registration. Similar to atlas-based segmentation approaches, ABM has the power of combining the outcome of multiple atlases resulting in accurate registration of images with little overlap.
ACECLOFENAC FLOATING TABLETS - A PROMISING SUSTAINEDRELEASE DOSAGE FORM

The purpose of the present study was to develop an optimized gastric floating drug delivery system (GFDDS) containing Aceclofenac as a model drug by using various proportion of polymers such as HPMC E5M and Eudragit RS 100. This was employed to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of the drug. The sustained release formulations of aceclofenac using hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymers were prepared by direct compression method. Optimization of formulation was done by studying effect of drug to polymer ratio on drug release. FT- IR studies indicated absence of any interaction between aceclofenac, polymer (Eudragit RS 100, HPMCE5M) and excipients. Five formulations were prepared and formulation A5 possessed good floating property with total floating time between 8-10 hours. The tablets were also evaluated for its hardness, friability and other In- vitro evaluation tests. All parameters complied with IP limits. Results of this study indicated that the combinations of hydrophilic polymers with hydrophobic polymers are suitable to optimize sustained release formulation of aceclofenac.
Using differential adhesion to control self-assembly and self-repair of collections of modular mobile robots

This thesis presents a novel distributed control method whi ch allows a collection of independently mobile robotic units, with two or three dim ensional movement, to self-assemble into self-repairing hierarchical structur es. The proposed method utilises a simple model of the cellular adhesion mechanisms observed in biological cells, allowing the robotic units to form virtually bonded aggregate s which behave as predicted by Steinberg’s differential adhesion hypothesis. Simulated robotic units based on the design of the subaquati c HYDRON module are introduced as a possible platform on which the model can b e implemented. The units are used to carry out a detailed investigation of the mo del behaviour and parameter space focusing on the two main tasks of rounding and sort ing in both two and three dimensions. These tasks assess the model’s ability to reach a thermodynamically stable configuration when the aggregates consist of either a single population of units or multiple populations of units with differing adhesive pr o erties. The results are analysed in detail with particular attention given to the ro le f random movements in determining the overall performance, and demonstrate that this model provides a very robust solution to these complex tasks. Finally, a possible extension of this work is presented in wh ich the original model is combined with a genetic regulatory network controller. T he performance of this composite is evaluated, and the benefits of this hybrid appro ach, in which a powerful control system manipulates a robust self-organising behav iour, are discussed.
Long-acting progestin-only contraceptives impair endometrial vasculature by inhibiting uterine vascular smooth muscle cell survival

Significance Over a million unintended pregnancies occur in the United States each year because of either discontinuation or misuse of contraceptives. The major reason for discontinuation of long-acting progestin-only contraceptives (LAPCs) is the occurrence of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Uncovering the mechanisms underlying LAPC-induced AUB is essential to prevent their discontinuation. We found that LAPCs reduce proliferation of human and guinea pig endometrial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), resulting in production of thin-walled hyperdilated fragile microvessels. In cultured VSMCs, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 reverses LAPC-mediated inhibition of VSMC proliferation, suggesting that LAPCs impair endometrial vascular integrity and that chemokine ligand 2 administration may prevent LAPC-induced AUB. Molecular mechanisms responsible for abnormal endometrial vasculature in women receiving long-acting progestin-only contraceptives (LAPCs) are unknown. We hypothesize that LAPCs impair vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and pericyte proliferation and migration producing thin-walled hyperdilated fragile microvessels prone to bleeding. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) double-immunostaining assessed VSMC differentiation and proliferation in endometria from women before and after DepoProvera (Depo) treatment and from oophorectomized guinea pigs (OVX-GPs) treated with vehicle, estradiol (E2), medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), or E2+MPA. Whole-genome profiling, proliferation, and migration assays were performed on cultured VSMCs treated with MPA or etonogestrel (ETO). Endometrial vessels of Depo-administered women displayed reduced αSMA immunoreactivity and fewer PCNA (+) nuclei among αSMA (+) cells (P < 0.008). Microarray analysis of VSMCs identified several MPA- and ETO-altered transcripts regulated by STAT1 signaling (P < 2.22 × 10−6), including chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2). Both MPA and ETO reduce VSMC proliferation and migration (P < 0.001). Recombinant CCL2 reversed this progestin-mediated inhibition, whereas a STAT1 inhibitor abolished the CCL2 effect. Similarly, the endometria of MPA treated OVX-GPs displayed decreased αSMA staining and fewer PCNA (+) nuclei in VSMC (P < 0.005). In conclusion, LAPCs promote abnormal endometrial vessel formation by inhibiting VSMC proliferation and migration.