Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust mixed H 2 /H ∞ control of time-varying delay systems

This paper describes the mixed H 2 /H X controller design method of linear systems with time-varying delays in both state and control input. More specifically, the proposed mixed H 2 /H X controller minimizes the H 2 performance measure when satisfying a prescribed H X norm bound on the closed loop system. The sufficient conditions for the existence of controller, the mixed H 2 /H X controller design method and the upper bound of performance measure are presented using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique. Also, all solutions including controller gain and the upper bound of performance measure are obtained simultaneously. Furthermore, the proposed controller design method can be easily extended into the problem of robust mixed H 2 /H X controller design method for parameter uncertain systems with time-varying delays in both state and control input.
“She Finally Smiles … for Real”: Reducing Depressive Symptoms and Bolstering Resilience Through a Camp Intervention for LGBTQ Youth

ABSTRACT While summer camps are a recognized evidence-based strategy for building social and emotional skills among youth (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009), no known studies have evaluated the effects of camp programming for LGBTQ youth in the United States. This pilot study evaluates a novel program (Brave Trails) for LGBTQ youth ages 12 to 20, using a pre-post camper survey (N = 56) and a post-camp parent survey (N = 54). Results show campers experienced increases in identity affirmation and hope and a reduction in depressive symptoms. Regression analyses found changes in identity affirmation predicted reductions in depressive symptoms and increases in resilience. Additionally, campers’ experience of key camp programming features predicted changes in depressive symptoms. Findings from the parent survey were consistent with camper survey results. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Development of Class IIa Bacteriocins as Therapeutic Agents

Class IIa bacteriocins have been primarily explored as natural food preservatives, but there is much interest in exploring the application of these peptides as therapeutic antimicrobial agents. Bacteriocins of this class possess antimicrobial activity against several important human pathogens. Therefore, the therapeutic development of these bacteriocins will be reviewed. Biological and chemical modifications to both stabilize and increase the potency of bacteriocins are discussed, as well as the optimization of their production and purification. The suitability of bacteriocins as pharmaceuticals is explored through determinations of cytotoxicity, effects on the natural microbiota, and in vivo efficacy in mouse models. Recent results suggest that class IIa bacteriocins show promise as a class of therapeutic agents.
Improved prediction of the number of residue contacts in proteins by recurrent neural networks

Knowing the number of residue contacts in a protein is crucial for deriving constraints useful in modeling protein folding, protein structure, and/or scoring remote homology searches. Here we use an ensemble of bi-directional recurrent neural network architectures and evolutionary information to improve the state-of-the-art in contact prediction using a large corpus of curated data. The ensemble is used to discriminate between two different states of residue contacts, characterized by a contact number higher or lower than the average value of the residue distribution. The ensemble achieves performances ranging from 70.1% to 73.1% depending on the radius adopted to discriminate contacts (6Ato 12A). These performances represent gains of 15% to 20% over the base line statistical predictors always assigning an aminoacid to the most numerous state, 3% to 7% better than any previous method. Combination of different radius predictors further improves the performance. SERVER: http://promoter.ics. uci.edu/BRNN-PRED/.
Make-Take Structure and Market Quality: Evidence from the U.S. Options Markets

We examine the make-take structure, which compensates liquidity suppliers and charges liquidity demanders, in the options markets where it competes with a traditional structure that uses payments for order flow. Using the introduction of the make-take structure as an event, we find that execution costs (including fees) for liquidity demanders decline after the event for the affected options, that the make-take structure encourages market makers to improve quoted prices, and that brokers change their routing behavior to include fees in the routing decision. The decline in execution costs is consistent with the benefits of the increased quote competition from the make-take structure prevailing over the fees the structure charges to liquidity demanders. This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Context‐dependent effects of Y chromosome and mitochondrial haplotype on male locomotive activity in Drosophila melanogaster

Some regions of the genome exhibit sexual asymmetries in inheritance and are thus subjected to sex‐biased evolutionary forces. Maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) enables mtDNA mutations harmful to males, but not females, to accumulate. In the face of male‐harmful mtDNA mutation accumulation, selection will favour the evolution of compensatory modifiers in the nuclear genome that offset fitness losses to males. The Y chromosome is a candidate to host these modifiers, because it is paternally inherited, known to harbour an abundance of genetic variation for male fertility, and therefore likely to be under strong selection to uphold male viability. Here, we test for intergenomic interactions involving mtDNA and Y chromosomes in male Drosophila melanogaster. Specifically, we examine effects of each of these genomic regions, and their interaction, on locomotive activity, across different environmental contexts – both dietary and social. We found that both the mtDNA haplotype and Y chromosome haplotype affected activity in males assayed in an environment perceived as social. These effects, however, were not evident in males assayed in perceived solitary environments, and neither social nor solitary treatments revealed evidence for intergenomic interactions. Finally, the magnitude and direction of these genetic effects was further contingent on the diet treatment of the males. Thus, genes within the mtDNA and Y chromosome are involved in genotype‐by‐environment interactions. These interactions might contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation within these asymmetrically inherited gene regions and complicate the dynamics of genetic interactions between the mtDNA and the Y chromosome.
Validity and reliability of the de Morton Mobility Index in the subacute hospital setting in a geriatric evaluation and management population.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinimetric properties of the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) in a Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) population. DESIGN A longitudinal validation study (n = 100) and inter-rater reliability study (n = 29) in a GEM population. PATIENTS Consecutive patients admitted to a GEM rehabilitation ward were eligible for inclusion. METHODS At hospital admission and discharge, a physical therapist assessed patients with physical performance instruments that included the 6-metre walk test, step test, Clinical Test of Sensory Organization and Balance, Timed Up and Go test, 6-minute walk test and the DEMMI. Consecutively eligible patients were included in an inter-rater reliability study between physical therapists. RESULTS DEMMI admission scores were normally distributed (mean 30.2, standard deviation 16.7) and other activity limitation instruments had either a floor or a ceiling effect. Evidence of convergent, discriminant and known groups validity for the DEMMI were obtained. The minimal detectable change with 90% confidence was 10.5 (95% confidence interval 6.1-17.9) points and the minimally clinically important difference was 8.4 points on the 100-point interval DEMMI scale. CONCLUSION The DEMMI provides clinicians with an accurate and valid method of measuring mobility for geriatric patients in the subacute hospital setting.
Costs of colposcopy services and their impact on the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Canada.

OBJECTIVE Organized cervical cancer screening services consisting of conventional Papanicolaou cervical smears, colposcopy, and related treatment modalities are readily available in all provinces. The purpose of this report was to study the impact of colposcopy usage and costs on cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in several Canadian provinces. Knowledge of such information is essential before newer technology such as liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus testing is introduced or replaces the traditional systems used. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Ministries of Health of five provinces were contacted and asked to furnish information on the number of colposcopic services and fee-for-service costs for these and for cryosurgery, carbon dioxide laser vaporization, loop electrosurgical excisions, and cold-knife conizations for the year 2000. Canadian Cancer Society estimates of incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer were also obtained. RESULTS All provinces had similar incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer; however, the number of colposcopic services on a per-capita basis varied substantially, with Manitoba and Ontario having rates that were approximately two or three times higher. Fee-for-service payments for colposcopy were similar in the Provinces studied but unit costs for surgical treatment services were highest in Ontario and British Columbia. CONCLUSIONS Although both the incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer in Canada fell dramatically after the Walton Report in 1976, these rates have plateaued over the past decade despite widespread availability of colposcopy and related ambulatory treatment services. Higher rates of colposcopy usage do not seem to result in lower incidence rates for this disease. Unit costs for colposcopy are similar among the provinces reviewed, but substantial difference exists for certain treatment services. Additional studies are recommended before the widespread introduction or replacement of existing methods with newer, more costly techniques.
Blind channel identification: subspace tracking method without rank estimation

Subspace (SS) methods are an effective approach for blind channel identification. However, these methods also have two major disadvantages: 1) They require accurate channel length estimation and/or rank estimation of the correlation matrix, which is difficult with noisy channels, and 2) they require a large amount of computation for the singular value decomposition (SVD), which makes it inconvenient for adaptive implementation. Although many adaptive subspace tracking algorithms can be applied, the computational complexity is still O(m/sup 3/), where m is the data vector length. In this paper, we introduce new recursive subspace algorithms using ULV updating and successive cancellation techniques. The new algorithms do not need to estimate the rank of the correlation matrix. Furthermore, the channel length can be overestimated initially and be recovered at the end by a successive cancellation procedure, which leads to more convenient implementations. The adaptive algorithm has computations of O(m/sup 2/) in each recursion. The new methods can be applied to either the single user or the multiuser cases. Simulations demonstrate their good performance.
DNA barcoding of the ichthyofauna of Pánuco–Tamesí complex: Evidence for taxonomic conflicts in some groups

The Pánuco–Tamesí complex in eastern Mexico is globally recognized as an important ecoregion due to its high level of endemism. In this study, DNA barcodes were generated for 152 individuals of 31 species. Additionally, 170 DNA barcodes for the related species available in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) system were included to test the ability of barcoding technique to discriminate between the closely related species. DNA barcoding allowed the discrimination of 79.2% of the analyzed species; poor resolution was observed in four genera in which the levels of resolution ranged from 16.6% in the genus Herichthys to 77.7% in the genus Xiphophorus. The results of this study demonstrate that DNA barcoding is a useful exploratory tool but fails to discriminate between closely related species.
Thickness of the subchondral mineralised tissue zone (SMZ) in normal male and female and pathological human patellae

The objective of this paper was to analyse sex differences of the thickness of the subchondral mineralised tissue zone (SMZ), and to find out whether systematic changes of SMZ thickness are associated with naturally occurring, non‐full‐thickness cartilage lesions of human patellae. In 32 methyl‐methacrylate‐embedded specimens (16 normal, 8 with focal medial, and 8 with lateral lesions) the SMZ thickness was determined, using a binocular macroscope and an image analysing system. In each case, the thickness distribution was reconstructed throughout the entire joint surface. The maximal and mean SMZ thicknesses were significantly higher in males than in females (P<0.01). In normal patellae and those with lateral lesions, the thickness was significantly thicker laterally than medially (P<0.05), but it was not in specimens with medial damage. Patellae with medial damage exhibited a significantly lower total mean and lateral mean (P<0.05). A lower SMZ thickness was found directly beneath medial lesions than beneath lateral ones, but the local thickness was always in the range of that observed in normal specimens. We conclude that differences of patellar SMZ thickness exist between males and females. Naturally occurring cartilage lesions appear, however, not to be associated with local changes of SMZ thickness, but they may be associated with an altered regional distribution pattern within the joint surface.
Alexithymia and Its Relationship to Dissociation in Patients With Panic Disorder

Conditions that impede the regulation of emotional arousal, such as alexithymia and dissociation, may underlie panic attacks. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between alexithymia and dissociation in patients with panic disorder (PD). We assessed 95 PD outpatients with regard to alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale), dissociation (Dissociation Experience Scale), and overall psychological distress (Symptom Checklist 90-Revised, Global Severity Index). Regression analyses revealed a positive correlation between alexithymia and dissociation, even when the Global Severity Index was controlled for. A specific link was observed between "difficulty in identifying feelings" and "depersonalization/derealization. " Patients who showed the pathological form of dissociation had higher levels of alexithymia, with particular regard to "difficulty in identifying feelings" and, to a smaller extent, "difficulty in describing feelings. " These results support a strong relationship between alexithymia and dissociation in patients with PD. Assessing alexithymia and dissociation at the outset of therapy may be helpful for individualized therapy planning.
Are Feedforward and Recurrent Networks Systematic? Analysis and Implications for a Connectionist Cognitive Architecture

Human cognition is said to be systematic: cognitive ability generalizes to structurally related behaviours. The connectionist approach to cognitive theorizing has been strongly criticized for its failure to explain systematicity. Demonstrations of generalization notwithstanding, I show that two widely used networks (feedforward and recurrent) do not support systematicity under the condition of local input/output representations. For a connectionist explanation of systematicity, these results leave two choices: either (1) develop models capable of systematicity under local input/output representations or (2) justify the choice of similarity-based (non-local) component representations sufficient for systematicity.
Are all trauma centers created equally? A statewide analysis.

OBJECTIVES Prior work has shown differences in mortality at different levels of trauma centers (TCs). There are limited data comparing mortality of equivalently verified TCs. This study sought to assess the potential differences in mortality as well as discharge destination (discharge to home vs. to a rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility) across Level I TCs in the state of Ohio. METHODS This was a retrospective, multicenter, statewide analysis of a state trauma registry of American College of Surgeons (ACS)-verified Level I TCs from 2003 to 2006. All adult (>15 years) patients transferred from the scene to one of the 10 Level I TCs throughout the state were included (n = 16,849). Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess for differences in mortality, keeping each TC as a fixed-effect term and adjusting for patient demographics, injury severity, mechanism of injury, and emergency medical services and emergency department procedures. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality and discharge destination (home vs. rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility). Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for each TC were also calculated. RESULTS Considerable variability existed in unadjusted mortality between the centers, from 3.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.7% to 3.9%) to 24.2% (95% CI = 24.1% to 24.3%), despite similar patient characteristics and injury severity. Adjusted mortality had similar variability as well, ranging from an OR of 0.93 (95% CI = 0.47 to 1.84) to an OR of 6.02 (95% CI= 3.70 to 9.79). Similar results were seen with the secondary outcomes (discharge destination). CONCLUSIONS There is considerable variability in the mortality of injured patients at Level I TCs in the state of Ohio. The patient differences or care processes responsible for this variation should be explored.
Dual-Antenna Terrestrial Laser Scanner Georeferencing Using Auxiliary Photogrammetric Observations

Terrestrial laser scanning typically requires the use of artificial targets for registration and georeferencing the data. This equipment can be burdensome to transport and set up, representing expense in both time and labor. Environmental factors such as terrain can sometimes make target placement dangerous or impossible, or lead to weak network geometry and therefore degraded product accuracy. The use of additional sensors can help reduce the required number of artificial targets and, in some cases, eliminate the need for them altogether. The research presented here extends methods for direct georeferencing of terrestrial laser scanner data using a dual GNSS antenna apparatus with additional photogrammetric observations from a scanner-mounted camera. Novel combinations of observations and processing methods were tested on data collected at two disparate sites in order to find the best method in terms of processing efficiency and product quality. In addition, a general model for the scanner and auxiliary data is given which can be used for least-squares adjustment and uncertainty estimation in similar systems with varied and diverse configurations. We found that the dual-antenna system resulted in cm-level accuracy practical for many applications and superior to conventional one-antenna systems, and that auxiliary photogrammetric observation significantly increased accuracy of the dual-antenna solution.
POMDPs.jl: A Framework for Sequential Decision Making under Uncertainty

POMDPs.jl is an open-source framework for solving Markov decision processes (MDPs) and partially observable MDPs (POMDPs). POMDPs.jl allows users to specify sequential decision making problems with minimal effort without sacrificing the expressive nature of POMDPs, making this framework viable for both educational and research purposes. It is written in the Julia language to allow flexible prototyping and large-scale computation that leverages the high-performance nature of the language. The associated JuliaPOMDP community also provides a number of state-of-the-art MDP and POMDP solvers and a rich library of support tools to help with implementing new solvers and evaluating the solution results. The most recent version of POMDPs.jl, the related packages, and documentation can be found at https://github.com/JuliaPOMDP/POMDPs.jl.
Comparison of three approaches to model grapevine organogenesis in conditions of fluctuating temperature, solar radiation and soil water content.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS There is increasing interest in the development of plant growth models representing the complex system of interactions between the different determinants of plant development. These approaches are particularly relevant for grapevine organogenesis, which is a highly plastic process dependent on temperature, solar radiation, soil water deficit and trophic competition. METHODS The extent to which three plant growth models were able to deal with the observed plasticity of axis organogenesis was assessed. In the first model, axis organogenesis was dependent solely on temperature, through thermal time. In the second model, axis organogenesis was modelled through functional relationships linking meristem activity and trophic competition. In the last model, the rate of phytomer appearence on each axis was modelled as a function of both the trophic status of the plant and the direct effect of soil water content on potential meristem activity. KEY RESULTS The model including relationships between trophic competition and meristem behaviour involved a decrease in the root mean squared error (RMSE) for the simulations of organogenesis by a factor nine compared with the thermal time-based model. Compared with the model in which axis organogenesis was driven only by trophic competition, the implementation of relationships between water deficit and meristem behaviour improved organogenesis simulation results, resulting in a three times divided RMSE. The resulting model can be seen as a first attempt to build a comprehensive complete plant growth model simulating the development of the whole plant in fluctuating conditions of temperature, solar radiation and soil water content. CONCLUSIONS We propose a new hypothesis concerning the effects of the different determinants of axis organogenesis. The rate of phytomer appearance according to thermal time was strongly affected by the plant trophic status and soil water deficit. Furthermore, the decrease in meristem activity when soil water is depleted does not result from source/sink imbalances.
Incremental SampleBoost for Efficient Learning from Multi-Class Data Sets

Ensemble methods have been used for incremental learning. Yet, there are several issues that require attention, including elongated training time and smooth integration of new examples. In this article, we introduce an incremental SampleBoost method that learns efficiently from new data by employing a class-based down sampling strategy with an error parameter. Our novel weight initialization scheme integrates new information effectively with the retained important examples. Experimental results shows the superiority of our method compared to state-of-the-art incremental and batch methods including AdaBoost, AdaBoost.M1, SAMME, and Learn++.