Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A variable structure observer for unknown input estimation in sampled systems

This paper considers the design of a variable structure observer for unknown input estimation and/or fault reconstruction in systems where the process measurements are sampled. It is well known that the principle of the equivalent injection signal from the sliding mode domain can be used for reconstruction of unknown inputs but much of the associated theory is predicated on output sampling of infinite frequency. Sample rate may be a physical constraint of the process and the reconstruction properties of such continuous time sliding mode observers degrade under this constraint. This paper explores how a recently developed ultimately bounded stable variable structure discrete time observer can be used for unknown input estimation. The main novelty of the approach is that the design of the observer is written as an optimization problem with linear constraints with the output sampling incorporated explicitly in the model used for observer design. The design methodology is shown to have advantages in terms of reconstruction accuracy when the performance is compared to that of a classical sliding mode observer on a case study.
Uncertainty-Weighted Time Averaging of Mercury Vapour Concentrations in Ambient Air: Application to Measurements in the United Kingdom

Uncertainty-weighted time averaging of total gaseous mercury concentrations in ambient air, with associated robust uncertainties, has been performed for concentrations measured by the U.K. Heavy Metals Monitoring Network between 2007 and 2009. The results have been compared with averages produced using standard time-averaging methods with a view to investigating the properties of the new method and whether it represents an improvement over current practice.
Kinin B1 and B2 receptor deficiency protects against obesity induced by a high-fat diet and improves glucose tolerance in mice

The kallikrein-kinin system is well known for its role in pain and inflammation, and has been shown recently by our group to have a role also in the regulation of energy expenditure. We have demonstrated that B1 receptor knockout (B1KO) mice are resistant to obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and that B1 receptor expression in adipocytes regulates glucose tolerance and predisposition to obesity. However, it is also known that in the absence of B1 receptor, the B2 receptor is overexpressed and can take over the function of its B1 counterpart, rendering uncertain the role of each kinin receptor in these metabolic effects. Therefore, we investigated the impact of ablation of each kinin receptor on energy metabolism using double kinin receptor knockout (B1B2KO) mice. Our data show that B1B2KO mice were resistant to HFD-induced obesity, with lower food intake and feed efficiency when compared with wild-type mice. They also had lower blood insulin and leptin levels and higher glucose tolerance after treatment with an HFD. Gene expression for tumor necrosis factor-alpha and C-reactive protein, which are important genes for insulin resistance, was reduced in white adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and the liver in B1B2KO mice after the HFD. In summary, our data show that disruption of kinin B1 and B2 receptors has a profound impact on metabolic homeostasis in mice, by improving glucose tolerance and preventing HFD-induced obesity. These novel findings could pave the way for development of new pharmacological strategies to treat metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and obesity.
Backbone Dynamics of Plastocyanin in Both Oxidation States

A model-free analysis based on15N R 1, 15NR 2, and 15N-1H nuclear Overhauser effects was performed on reduced (diamagnetic) and oxidized (paramagnetic) forms of plastocyanin from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The protein backbone is rigid, displaying a small degree of mobility in the sub-nanosecond time scale. The loops surrounding the copper ion, involved in physiological electron transfer, feature a higher extent of flexibility in the longer time scale in both redox states, as measured from D2O exchange of amide protons and from NH-H2O saturation transfer experiments. In contrast to the situation for other electron transfer proteins, no significant difference in the dynamic properties is found between the two redox forms. A solution structure was also determined for the reduced plastocyanin and compared with the solution structure of the oxidized form in order to assess possible structural changes related to the copper ion redox state. Within the attained resolution, the structure of the reduced plastocyanin is indistinguishable from that of the oxidized form, even though small chemical shift differences are observed. The present characterization provides information on both the structural and dynamic behavior of blue copper proteins in solution that is useful to understand further the role(s) of protein dynamics in electron transfer processes.
Correspondence to Gripp et al. nephroblastomatosis or Wilms tumor in a fourth patient with a somatic PIK3CA mutation

1Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children’s Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands 3Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 4Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children’s Hospital, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Uncertainties of Knowledge

Introduction: The Uncertainties of Time Part I. The Structures of Knowledge 1. For Science, Against Scientism: The Dilemmas of Contemporary Knowledge Production 2. Social Sciences in the Twenty-first Century 3. The End of Certainties in the Social Sciences 4. Braudel and Interscience: A Preacher to Empty Pews? 5. Time and Duration: The Unexcluded Middle, or Reflections on Braudel and Prigogine 6. The Itinerary of World-Systems Analysis, or How to Resist Becoming a Theory Part II. Dilemmas of the Disciplines 7. History in Search of Science 8. Writing History 9. Global Culture(s): Salvation, Menace, or Myth? 10. From Sociology to Historical Social Science: Prospects and Obstacles 11. Anthropology, Sociology, and Other Dubious Disciplines Acknowledgments Notes References Index
Chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp40 Suppress Aggregate Formation and Apoptosis in Cultured Neuronal Cells Expressing Truncated Androgen Receptor Protein with Expanded Polyglutamine Tract*

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is one of a group of human inherited neurodegenerative diseases caused by polyglutamine expansion. We have previously demonstrated that the SBMA gene product, the androgen receptor protein, is toxic and aggregates when truncated. Heat shock proteins function as molecular chaperones, which recognize and renaturate misfolded protein (aggregate). We thus assessed the effect of a variety of chaperones in a cultured neuronal cell model of SBMA. Overexpression of chaperones reduces aggregate formation and suppresses apoptosis in a cultured neuronal cell model of SBMA to differing degrees depending on the chaperones and their combinations. Combination of Hsp70 and Hsp40 was the most effective among the chaperones in reducing aggregate formation and providing cellular protection, reflecting that Hsp70 and Hsp40 act together in chaperoning mutant and disabled proteins. Although Hdj2/Hsdj chaperone has been previously reported to suppress expanded polyglutamine tract-formed aggregate, Hsdj/Hdj2 showed little effect in our system. These findings indicate that chaperones may be one of the key factors in the developing of CAG repeat disease and suggested that increasing expression level or enhancing the function of chaperones will provide an avenue for the treatment of CAG repeat disease.
A comparison of sodium phosphosoda purgative to polyethylene glycol bowel preparations prior to colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Successful colonoscopy is contingent upon adequate bowel preparation, which is often achieved using either an oral sodium phosphate preparation or a polyethylene glycol-based preparation. Comparison of the relative performance of these two classes of agents has been assessed only in the context of clinical trials (and with mixed findings). However, efficacy measured in clinical trials often is not reflective of effectiveness in clinical practice. We undertook this analysis to determine the relative clinical effectiveness of oral sodium phosphosoda versus polyethylene glycol in clinical practice. METHODS Subjects (n=343) were selected from among patients receiving outpatient colonoscopy at our institution between January 2004 and February 2006. Demographic, biochemical, and comorbid disease data were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Colonoscopy preparation, indication, and preparation quality were abstracted from colonoscopy reports. RESULTS As compared to subjects receiving polyethylene glycol, those receiving oral sodium phosphosoda had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for adequate/good/excellent bowel preparation quality of 2.23 (1.18--4.22) and an adjusted OR (95% CIs) for good/excellent bowel preparation of 2.24 (1.26--3.97). There was no interaction on the basis of colonoscopy indication. CONCLUSIONS Oral sodium phosphate-based purgatives were associated with significantly better bowel preparation quality among outpatients at our center.
USTAT: a real-time intrusion detection system for UNIX

The author presents the design and implementation of a real-time intrusion detection tool, called USTAT, a state transition analysis tool for UNIX. This is a UNIX-specific implementation of a generic design developed by A. Porras and R.A. Kemmerer (1992) as STAT, a state transition analysis tool. State transition analysis is a new approach to representing computer penetrations. In STAT, a penetration is identified as a sequence of state changes that take the computer system from some initial state to a target compromised state. The development of the first USTAT prototype, which is for SunOS 4.1. 1, is discussed. USTAT makes use of the audit trails that are collected by the C2 basic security module of SunOS, and it keeps track of only those critical actions that must occur for the successful completion of the penetration. This approach differs from other rule-based penetration identification tools that pattern match sequences of audit records. <<ETX>>
Efficient, adaptive estimation of two-dimensional firing rate surfaces via Gaussian process methods

Estimating two-dimensional firing rate maps is a common problem, arising in a number of contexts: the estimation of place fields in hippocampus, the analysis of temporally nonstationary tuning curves in sensory and motor areas, the estimation of firing rates following spike-triggered covariance analyses, etc. Here we introduce methods based on Gaussian process nonparametric Bayesian techniques for estimating these two-dimensional rate maps. These techniques offer a number of advantages: the estimates may be computed efficiently, come equipped with natural errorbars, adapt their smoothness automatically to the local density and informativeness of the observed data, and permit direct fitting of the model hyperparameters (e.g., the prior smoothness of the rate map) via maximum marginal likelihood. We illustrate the method's flexibility and performance on a variety of simulated and real data.
Confocal imaging for 3-D digital microscopy.

Optical serial sectioning based on the depth-discriminating ability of confocal laser scanning can be combined with digital image processing to realize fast and easy-to-use 3-D microscopy. A great advantage as compared with traditional methods, e.g., using a microtome, is that the specimen is left undamaged. An account is given of an instrument designed for this purpose and of feasibility studies that have been carried out to assess the usefulness of the method in fluorescence microscopy.
Identification of a novel ubiquitin conjugation motif, required for ligand‐induced internalization of the growth hormone receptor

In addition to its role in selective protein degradation, the conjugation of ubiquitin to proteins has also been implicated in the internalization of plasma membrane proteins, including the α‐factor receptor Ste2p, uracil permease Fur4p, epithelial sodium channel ENaC and the growth hormone receptor (GHR). Binding of GH to its receptor induces receptor dimerization, resulting in the activation of signal transduction pathways and an increase of GHR ubiquitination. Previously, we have shown that the ubiquitin conjugation system mediates GH‐induced GHR internalization. Here, we present evidence that a specific domain of the GHR regulates receptor endocytosis via the ubiquitin conjugation system. This ubiquitin‐dependent endocytosis (UbE) motif consists of the amino acid sequence DSWVEFIELD and is homologous to sequences in other proteins, several of which are known to be ubiquitinated. In addition, we show that GH internalization by a truncated GHR is independent of the presence of lysine residues in the cytosolic domain of this receptor, while internalization still depends on an intact ubiquitin conjugation system. Thus, GHR internalization requires the recruitment of the ubiquitin conjugation system to the GHR UbE motif rather than the conjugation of ubiquitin to the GHR itself.
Brief Definitive Report Identifi Cation of Antigen-presenting Dendritic Cells in Mouse Aorta and Cardiac Valves

Infl ammation is a component of many vascular disorders such as aortic aneurysm, giant cell ar-teritis, Takayasu ' s disease, and atherosclerosis (1 – 4). DCs carry out many innate responses and orchestrate adaptive immunity (5). It is therefore important to assess the presence and properties of DCs in major blood vessels. Initially, electron microscopy and labeling for several intracellular markers were used to demonstrate DCs in human aorta, primarily in a subendothelial location (6 – 9). Ma-Krupa et al. (10) and Pryshchep et al. (11) then used more cell-restricted markers to identify DCs in increased numbers in human arteries, whereas Bobryshev (12) reported increased numbers of cells expressing S100, CD1a, and p55 markers in the intima and adventitia during atheroscle-rosis. Cells bearing the CD11c integrin, which is characteristically expressed at high levels on DCs, were also identifi ed in the normal aortic intima and in atherosclerosis-prone areas in mice (13, 14). The numbers of aortic CD11c + cells increased with aging and atherosclero-sis through a recruitment process involving CX3CR1 chemokine receptor and VCAM-1 (13, 15, 16). Although abundant CD11c expression is a well-known marker for DCs, other cell types can express moderate levels of CD11c, including activated NK cells, some macrophages, and even some T cells (17 – 21). Therefore, additional criteria are required to identify DCs in the vascular wall in the steady state and ultimately disease, particularly the capacity of DCs to express MHC class II and present antigens to T lymphocytes. In this study, we found that the CD11c promoter – enhanced yellow fl uorescent protein (EYFP) transgenic mouse developed by Lindquist et al. (22) is valuable to identify and study CD11c + cells from the normal mouse aorta. We will report on the location, cell surface markers, and antigen-presenting functions of DCs and also describe their abundance in all of the cardiac valves. Presumptive dendritic cells (DCs) bearing the CD11c integrin and other markers have previously been identifi ed in normal mouse and human aorta. We used CD11c promoter – enhanced yellow fl uorescent protein (EYFP) transgenic mice to visualize aortic DCs and study their antigen-presenting capacity. Stellate EYFP + cells were readily identifi ed in the aorta and could be double labeled with antibodies to CD11c and antigen-presenting major histo-compatability complex (MHC) II products. The DCs proved to be particularly abundant in the cardiac valves and aortic sinus. In all aortic locations, the CD11c …
Levels of Oxidative Metabolites, Antioxi- dants and Neopterin in Nigerian Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Aim: Several products of cellular (macrophage) activation (i.e. free radicals and cytokines) are potential causes of metabolic disorders in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. There is a dearth of information on the levels of neopterin and oxidative metabolites in Nigerian PTB patients. This study therefore assessed the levels of markers of oxidative stress and neopterin in Nigerian PTB patients. Method: Thirty-eight (17 males and 21 females) newly diagnosed PTB-patients and 40 (22 males and 18 females) apparently healthy non-PTB controls volunteered to participate in this study. Diagnostic criteria included sputum acid fast bacilli, chest X-ray and Mantoux test. The levels of superoxide dismutase, plasma albumin, total antioxidant potential, nitric oxide, reduced glutathione, catalase, total plasma peroxide, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde and neopterin (marker of cellular activation) were determined in them using spectrophotometric methods and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique respectively. Result: In PTB-patients, significantly (p<0.05) lower levels of albumin, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, catalase, nitric oxide and total antioxidant potential with significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of total plasma peroxide, malondialdehyde, oxidative stress index and neopterin were observed when compared with the non-PTB controls. The result indicates significantly higher levels of cellular activation, free radical load and oxidative stress with associated antioxidants depletion in PTB patients. Conclusion: Oxidative stress and increased level of neopterin are features of pulmonary tuberculosis. Since most of the antioxidants regulating the free radical load and oxidative stress are micronutrient dependent, micronutrient supplementation may be required as adjuvant therapy in the management of PTB patients.
An automated framework for structural test-data generation

Structural testing criteria are mandated in many software development standards and guidelines. The process of generating test data to achieve 100% coverage of a given structural coverage metric is labour-intensive and expensive. This paper presents an approach to automate the generation of such test data. The test-data generation is based on the application of a dynamic optimisation-based search for the required test data. The same approach can be generalised to solve other test-data generation problems. Three such applications are discussed-boundary value analysis, assertion/run-time exception testing, and component re-use testing. A prototype tool-set has been developed to facilitate the automatic generation of test data for these structural testing problems. The results of preliminary experiments using this technique and the prototype tool-set are presented and show the efficiency and effectiveness of this approach.
Spatial Queries with Two kNN Predicates

The widespread use of location-aware devices has led to countless location-based services in which a user query can be arbitrarily complex, i.e., one that embeds multiple spatial selection and join predicates. Amongst these predicates, the k-Nearest-Neighbor (kNN) predicate stands as one of the most important and widely used predicates. Unlike related research, this paper goes beyond the optimization of queries with single kNN predicates, and shows how queries with two kNN predicates can be optimized. In particular, the paper addresses the optimization of queries with: (i) two kNN-select predicates, (ii) two kNN-join predicates, and (iii) one kNN-join predicate and one kNN-select predicate. For each type of queries, conceptually correct query evaluation plans (QEPs) and new algorithms that optimize the query execution time are presented. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithms outperform the conceptually correct QEPs by orders of magnitude.
¿Cómo hacer eficaces los mapas conceptuales en la instrucción?

Resumen Para conocer bajo qué condiciones son más efectivos los mapas conceptuales, se realizó el presente estudio con 270 alumnos de bachillerato, que, antes de la exposición didáctica, elaboraban un mapa o era el profesor quien lo presentaba. En el primer caso, los contenidos podían ser académicos o experienciales (cotidianos). A su vez, estas modalidades fueron combinadas con distintas estrategias instruccionales (por ejemplo: confrontación y conexión). Los principales resultados resaltan el valor de los mapas conceptuales como organizadores previos, especialmente, cuando son presentados por el profesor acompañados de una actividad de confrontación con el tema por los alumnos, o cuando éstos elaboran los mapas y es el profesor el que los conecta con el tema objeto de enseñanza.
Flexible information management strategies in machine learning and data mining

In recent times, a number of data rnining and machine learning techniques have been applied successfully to discover useful knowledge from data. Of the available techniques, rule induction and data clustering are two of the most useful and popular. Knowledge discovered from rule induction techniques in the form of If-Then rules is easy for users to understand and verify, and can be employed as classification or prediction models. Data clustering techniques are used to explore irregularities in the data distribution. Although rule induction and data clustering techniques are applied successfully in several applications, assumptions and constraints in their approaches have limited their capabilities. The main aim of this work is to develop flexible management strategies for these techniques to improve their performance. The first part of the thesis introduces a new covering algorithm, called Rule Extraction System with Adaptivity, which forms the whole rule set simultaneously instead of a single rule at a time. The rule set in the proposed algorithm is managed flexibly during the learning phase. Rules can be added to or omitted from the rule set depending on knowledge at the time. In addition, facilities to process continuous attributes directly and to prune the rule set automatically are implemented in the Rule Extraction System with Adaptivity algorithm The second part introduces improvements to the K-means algorithm in data clustering. Flexible management of clusters is applied during the learning process to help the algorithm to find the optimal solution. Another flexible management strategy is used to facilitate the processing of very large data sets. Finally, an effective method to determine the most suitable number of clusters for the K-means algorithm is proposed. The method has overcome all deficiencies of K-means.
Rosmarinic acid down‐regulates NO and PGE 2 expression via MAPK pathway in rat chondrocytes

Rosmarinic acid (RosA) is a water‐soluble polyphenol, which can be isolated from many herbs such as orthosiphon diffuses and rosmarinus officinalis. Previous studies have shown that RosA possesses various biological properties. In this study, we investigate the anti‐osteoarthritic effects of RosA in rat articular chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were pre‐treated with RosA, followed by the stimulation of IL‐1β. Real‐time PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1, MMP‐3 and MMP‐13. Nitric oxide and PGE2 production were measured by Griess reagent and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) was also investigated by Western blot analysis. We found that RosA down‐regulated the MMPs expression as well as nitric oxide and PGE2 production in IL‐1β‐induced chondrocytes. In addition, RosA inhibited p38 and JNK phosphorylation as well as p65 translocation. The results suggest that RosA may be considered a possible agent in the treatment of OA.