Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Target-tracking control design for a robotic fish with caudal fin

In this paper we propose a novel target-tracking control scheme for a carangiform robotic fish based on a faithful dynamic model that combines rigid-body dynamics with Lighthill's large-amplitude elongated-body theory. We first average the dynamic model under periodic tail-actuation, which results in an average model with tail-beat patterns (bias, frequency, and amplitude) as new control inputs that are nonlinearly coupled. By introducing two new state variables, the orientation angle error and the distance between the robotic fish body and the target location, we derived the dynamic equations for these variables, which are then used in backstepping-based controller design. A hybrid controller is proposed, where the switching is determined by whether the orientation error is above a threshold value. Using Lyapunov analysis, we show that the trajectory of the robotic fish will converge to the target point if the given condition is satisfied. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is demonstrated through simulation results.
Psychological and school functioning of Latino siblings of children with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND Siblings of children with disabilities are at risk for internalizing psychological disorders; however, little is known about how culture influences this effect. This study examined the psychological and school functioning of Latino siblings of children with intellectual disability (ID). METHODS Participants were 100 Latino (L) and nonLatino (NL) siblings (8-15 years) of children with ID (50 LID, 50 NLID) and 100 Latino and nonLatino control siblings (50 LC, 50 NLC). Siblings, parents, and teachers completed standard questionnaires regarding sibling emotional and behavioral functioning; sibling school report cards were obtained. Analyses of variance were conducted, controlling for parent age and family income; planned contrasts compared LID siblings to the other sibling groups. RESULTS LID siblings reported significantly more internalizing (t(1) = 2.41, p < . 05) and emotional t(1) = 3.06, p < . 05) symptoms, poorer awareness of (t(1) = 2.26, p < . 01) and greater reluctance to express (t(1) = 3.12, p < . 01) their emotions, and more problems in personal adjustment and relationships with parents (t(1) = -2.50, p < . 05). Significantly higher percentages of LID siblings scored in the at-risk or clinical range for internalizing and emotional symptoms, and were more likely to score above the clinical cut-off for separation anxiety disorder and to endorse global impairment. LID siblings experienced more school absences and lower academic performance. There were no group differences in externalizing behavior problems, somatic symptoms, or teacher-reported internalizing symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Latino siblings of children with ID are at greater risk for internalizing psychological disorders and greater impairment in personal and school functioning. Results are discussed in terms of their sociocultural significance and clinical implications.
Improved External Base Resistance Extraction for Submicrometer InP/InGaAs DHBT Models

An improved direct parameter extraction method is proposed for III-V heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) external base resistance <i>R</i><sub>bx</sub> extraction from forward active <i>S</i>-parameters. The method is formulated taking into account the current dependence of the intrinsic base-collector capacitance found in III-V HBTs with a fully depleted collector. It is shown that the real part of <i>Z</i><sub>11</sub> - <i>Z</i><sub>12</sub> reduces to the external base resistance at the collector current <i>Ic</i> = <i>Ip</i>/(1 - <i>X</i><sub>0</sub>), where <i>Ip</i> is a characteristic current and <i>X</i><sub>0</sub> is the zero-current distribution factor given as the ratio of the emitter to the collector area. The determination of the parameters <i>Ip</i> and <i>X</i><sub>0</sub> from experimental <i>S</i>-parameters is described. The method is applied to high-speed submicrometer InP/InGaAs DHBT devices and leads to small-signal equivalent circuit models, which accurately predicts the measured <i>S</i>-parameters as well as the maximum stable power gain/maximum available power gain in the frequency range from 40 MHz to 110 GHz.
Control of expression of an integrated Rous sarcoma provirus in rat cells: role of 5' genomic duplications reveals unexpected patterns of gene transcription and its regulation

Rat cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus frequently contain duplications of viral (and sometimes cellular) DNA 5' to the integrated provirus, suggesting that such rearrangements favor provirus expression. In one cell line, A11, the duplication includes the viral src gene and proviral sequences that flank it. We examined three possible roles for this structure. Since the proviral v-src gene transformed recipient cells upon DNA transfer and was the major template for v-src transcription in A11 cells, the presence of v-src in the duplication is presumably not necessary for transformation. Since the size and structure of transcripts from the proviral v-src gene in A11 cells were conventional, the duplication does not facilitate transformation by providing a novel transcriptional strategy. Thus, we favor the concept that the duplication either attenuates a negative effect of flanking elements at the host chromosome integration site or augments the positive regulation of conventional provirus expression or both. Gene transfer and transcription analyses with both genomic and cloned DNA showed that the mechanisms of such regulatory phenomena are complex. Identical sequences in the provirus and the 5' duplication displayed different patterns of expression in A11 cells that could be disrupted in segments of cloned DNA. Among the elements that influenced such expression were sequences from the gag-pol region of the provirus.
Performance of individuals with left hemisphere stroke and aphasia and individuals with right brain damage on forward and backward digit span tasks

Background: Working memory (WM) limitations have been suggested as a significant source of the linguistic processing deficits observed in individuals with aphasia (IWA). Digits forward (DF) and digits backward (DB) span tasks are frequently used to study WM in both healthy and clinical populations. Unfortunately only a handful of studies have explored digit span in IWA. Aims: The purpose of the current study is to measure the DF and DB spans of IWA and compare their digit spans to a group with right brain damage, but no aphasia (RBD). Additionally, DF and DB span is compared within each group to determine if there is indeed a performance differential that may support the idea that DB is a more difficult WM task in these populations. Methods & Procedures: A total of 17 IWA and 14 individuals with RBD participated in a DF and DB span task. Modifications to the span tasks were implemented to accommodate language deficits. A series of two digits were orally presented to each participant continuing to a maximum of eight digits. There were seven trials per digit series. Participants were asked to point to the correct order of digits on a written one- to nine-digit list provided on individual note cards or to verbally repeat the numbers if the participant was able to do so. Outcomes & Results: IWA demonstrated shorter digit spans than the RBD group. Both groups performed worse on the DB span tasks than the DF span tasks. Conclusions: The results are consistent with previous studies suggesting that DB span is shorter than DF span in other populations and that there are differences in performance on digit span tasks between the two groups. The differences between RBD group and IWA may be explained by decreased attentional capacity or inefficient resource allocation in IWA, or alternatively, a deficient phonological loop. Future studies should explore these possibilities.
Visual discomfort while watching stereoscopic three‐dimensional movies at the cinema

This study investigates discomfort symptoms while watching Stereoscopic three‐dimensional (S3D) movies in the ‘real’ condition of a cinema. In particular, it had two main objectives: to evaluate the presence and nature of visual discomfort while watching S3D movies, and to compare visual symptoms during S3D and 2D viewing.
Compact CNT Mode-Locked Ho3+-Doped Fluoride Fiber Laser at 1.2 μm

A diode laser pumped carbon nanotube mode-locked Ho3+-doped fluoride fiber laser at 1.2 μm was demonstrated for the first time. Stable mode-locked pulses with an average power of 1 mW at a repetition rate of 18.47 MHz were obtained at a pump power of 348 mW. The pulse energy and peak power of this mode-locked laser oscillator were about 54 pJ and 12.6 W, and were increased to 2.41 nJ and 0.54 kW, respectively, by using a 15-cm Ho 3+-doped fluoride fiber amplifier. The pulse duration was measured to be 4.3 ps by an autocorrelator. Because the operation wavelength is close to the zero-dispersion wavelength of 1.3 μm, this mode-locked fiber laser exhibits unique features.
Enhancing the connections between institutions and organizations to advance postdoctoral training

Postdoctoral scholars are no longer the “invisible” population they once were. While they are considered independent researchers, they still require a considerable amount of training and career preparation. Recently, there have been numerous efforts from a variety of stakeholders to enhance professional development for postdoctoral scholars. While these enhancements are valuable, there is a need to ensure that these efforts are coordinated across stakeholders to maximize investment and minimize duplication. The workshop described here, held at the 2017 National Postdoctoral Association meeting, was designed with this goal in mind. Representatives with various perspectives on postdoctoral training discussed the strengths and challenges they faced in training postdoctoral scholars. This conversation included discussions of career preparedness, methods for collection and dissemination of training and career outcomes data, specific roles that these stakeholders play in enhancing postdoctoral training, and potential partnership models for collaboration to enhance postdoctoral training.
Good volatility, bad volatility, and the cross-section of stock returns at different investment horizons

Starting with the assumption that different investors have different investment time preferences and different risk tolerances within their given investment time-frames, this paper investigates the value of employing multiresolution analysis to model volatility and risk-pricing. In terms of estimation and forecasting performance we were able to reduce by at least half the volatility forecasting errors, with even better results at longer horizons. In regards to risk pricing we learn that extreme aggregate volatility (i.e. tail risk) is priced but regular volatility is not. Additionally we find that whilst aggregate volatility is generally more important over the long-horizon, during periods of market turmoil it is much more significant over the short-horizon. Finally we show that stocks with high sensitivity to aggregate volatility have lower subsequent returns supporting the idea that they become attractive as a hedge against market volatility. JEL Classification C12, C13, C21, C22, C31, C32, C51, C52, C53
Survey of data association of moving objects tracking in video sensors network

Object tracking is a crucial task in computer vision systems for surveillance, traffic monitoring or intelligent homes. In all these cases, tracking is based on association of observations. Conventional tracking approaches assume similarity in space, time and appearance of objects in successive observations. However, Observations of objects are often widely separated in time and space when viewed from multiple non overlapping cameras. Moreover, appearance of one object is dramatically different among cameras due to the differences in illumination, pose and camera parameters. On the other hand, real world's time-space constraint (motion path information)on moving object and sensors position are always available in advance. Thus, this paper presents a survey of data association method across visual sensors network for moving objects tracking. In particular, previous research on various data association methods of non overlapping cameras is reviewed.
Association of the AURKA and AURKC gene polymorphisms with an increased risk of gastric cancer

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mitotic checkpoint genes can contribute to susceptibility of human cancer, including gastric cancer (GC). We aimed to investigate the effects of Aurora kinase A (AURKA), Aurora kinase B (AURKB), and Aurora kinase C (AURKC) gene polymorphisms on GC risk in Slovenian population. We genotyped four SNPs in AURKA (rs2273535 and rs1047972), AURKB (rs2241909), and AURKC (rs758099) in a total of 128 GC patients and 372 healthy controls using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays to evaluate their effects on GC risk. Our results showed that genotype frequencies between cases and controls were significantly different for rs1047972 and rs758099 (P < 0.05). Our study demonstrated that AURKA rs1047972 TT and (CC + CT) genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Our results additionally revealed that AURKC rs758099 TT and (CC + CT) genotypes were also associated with increased GC risk. In stratified analysis, genotypes TT and (CC + CT) of AURKA rs1047972 SNP were associated with increased risk of both, intestinal and diffuse, types of GC. In addition, AURKC rs758099 TT and (CC + CT) genotypes were positively associated with increased intestinal type GC risk, but not with an increased diffuse type GC risk. Based on these results, we can conclude that AURKA rs1047972 and AURKC rs758099 polymorphisms could affect the risk of GC development. Further larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(8):634–644, 2016
Mice lacking Asic3 show reduced anxiety‐like behavior on the elevated plus maze and reduced aggression

Sensing external stimulation is crucial for central processing in the brain and subsequent behavioral expression. Although sensory alteration or deprivation may result in behavioral changes, most studies related to the control of behavior have focused on central mechanisms. Here we created a sensory deficit model of mice lacking acid‐sensing ion channel 3 (Asic3−/−) to probe behavioral alterations. ASIC3 is predominately distributed in the peripheral nervous system. RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry used to examine the expression of Asic3 in the mouse brain showed near‐background mRNA and protein levels of ASIC3 throughout the whole brain, except for the sensory mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus. Consistent with the expression results, Asic3 knockout had no effect on synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus and the behavioral tasks of motor function, learning and memory. In anxiety behavior tasks, Asic3−/− mice spent more time in the open arms of an elevated plus maze than did their wild‐type littermates. Asic3−/− mice also displayed less aggressiveness toward intruders but more stereotypic repetitive behaviors during resident–intruder testing than did wild‐type littermates. Therefore, loss of ASIC3 produced behavioral changes in anxiety and aggression in mice, which suggests that ASIC3‐dependent sensory activities might relate to the central process of emotion modulation.
Cerebrovascular occlusive disease: quantitative cerebral blood flow using dynamic susceptibility contrast mr imaging correlates with quantitative H2[15O] PET.

PURPOSE To compare quantitative values of cerebral blood flow (CBF) derived from dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with reference standard positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with confirmed cerebrovascular occlusive disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Local institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained for a prospective study of 18 patients (six men, 12 women; age range, 28-71 years; mean age, 45 years ± 10.4 [standard deviation]) with angiographically confirmed Moyamoya (n = 8) or internal carotid artery occlusions (n = 10). DSC MR images and oxygen 15-labeled water (H(2)[(15)O]) PET images were acquired on the same day. DSC images were postprocessed to yield parametric images of CBF (in mL/100 g/min), coregistered, and analyzed using grid-based regions of interest. Mean values of CBF in each region of interest from MR imaging and PET data sets were compared. Correlations for each patient were determined and overall agreement between pooled MR imaging and PET CBF was reported using linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS Strong correlations (r(2) ≥ 0.55) were found between MR imaging and PET CBF values in all patients. Use of the bookend approach was found to underestimate CBF predictably across the patient cohort (mean slope, 0.82; standard deviation, 0.18; slope of aggregated data, 0.75). This allowed for a simple rescaling of MR imaging values producing strong agreement with PET values in the aggregated data (r(2) = 0.66; slope = 1.00; intercept = 0.00). CONCLUSION The data show that the bookend MR imaging technique produces similar results for quantitative CBF between DSC MR imaging and H(2)[(15)O] PET. Although MR-derived CBF underestimated PET-derived CBF, the patient-to-patient variability in the slopes of the linear MR and PET relationships was significantly smaller than a competing quantitation technique. As a result, the bookend technique appears to more predictably measure quantitative CBF in a clinical setting.
Homeownership and high-cost alternative borrowing

ABSTRACT Homeowners are generally less likely to use short-term alternative loans such as payday loans, car title loans, and tax refund anticipation loans but this association has not been fully explored across all income groups and in the context of other homeownership characteristics. Using the 2009 U.S. National Financial Capability Study, this study shows that homeownership generally reduces the propensity for high-cost alternative borrowing across all income quintiles. However, home purchases made within the 5 years prior to 2009 increased the probability of alternative borrowing in the bottom two quintiles. Also, apart from the bottom quintile, homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages are more likely to resort to alternate loans compared to those without such mortgages. Surprisingly, those with home equity loans in the lower quintile are more likely to have used AFS loans as well.
A Small Number of Candidate Gene SNPs Reveal Continental Ancestry in African Americans

Using genetic data from an obesity candidate gene study of self‐reported African Americans and European Americans, we investigated the number of Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) and candidate gene SNPs necessary to infer continental ancestry. Proportions of African and European ancestry were assessed with STRUCTURE (K = 2), using 276 AIMs. These reference values were compared to estimates derived using 120, 60, 30, and 15 SNP subsets randomly chosen from the 276 AIMs and from 1144 SNPs in 44 candidate genes. All subsets generated estimates of ancestry consistent with the reference estimates, with mean correlations greater than 0.99 for all subsets of AIMs, and mean correlations of 0.99 ± 0.003; 0.98 ± 0.01; 0.93 ± 0.03; and 0.81 ± 0.11 for subsets of 120, 60, 30, and 15 candidate gene SNPs, respectively. Among African Americans, the median absolute difference from reference African ancestry values ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 for the four AIMs subsets and from 0.03 to 0.09 for the four candidate gene SNP subsets. Furthermore, YRI/CEU Fst values provided a metric to predict the performance of candidate gene SNPs. Our results demonstrate that a small number of SNPs randomly selected from candidate genes can be used to estimate admixture proportions in African Americans reliably.
Performance analysis of full duplex self-backhauling cellular network

Recent successful demonstrations of radios for in-band full-duplex (IBFD) wireless systems offer interesting network-level case studies. The impact of such a capability on a cellular network as a whole is an open research area. IBFD self-backhauling for small cells is one interesting use case of such a capability proposed in this paper. It refers to the use of same frequency band for backhaul and access links, simultaneously. The advantage of IBFD self-backhauling is twofold - efficient reuse of channel resources along with convenient wireless back-hauling of dense small-cells without having to lay down fiber links every hundred meters. This work considers the case of a two-tier cellular network with IBFD-enabled small cells, wirelessly self-backhauling themselves with conventional macro cells. Analytical expressions for coverage and average downlink (DL) rate in such a network are derived using tools from the field of stochastic geometry. It is shown that DL rate in such networks could be close to double that of conventional time-division/frequency-division duplexed self-backhauling networks, at the expense of lower coverage due to increased interference. The interplay between increased interference on one side and high spectral efficiency on the other is captured through a mathematical model. Moreover, the proposed analysis is done jointly for backhaul (or fronthaul) and access links, in contrast to the largely available access-centric analyses.
Genetic diversity of chikungunya virus, India 2006–2010: Evolutionary dynamics and serotype analyses

The genetic diversity of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causing recurring outbreaks in India since 2006 was studied. The 2006 epidemic was caused by a virus strain of the East, Central and South African (ECSA) genotype with 226A in the E1 glycoprotein. The variant strain with E1‐A226V mutation caused outbreaks since 2007 in the state of Kerala where Aedes albopictus is the abundant mosquito vector. Molecular epidemiology data since 2007 is scarce from other regions of the country. RT‐PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of CHIKV isolates from the 2009 to 2010 epidemics in the States of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh placed them in a separate clade within the ECSA lineage. The isolates of the study had 226A in the E1 glycoprotein. The isolates had a novel E1‐K211E mutation that was under significant positive selection. E1‐211E is highly conserved in the Asian genotype of the virus circulated by Aedes aegypti. Unique mutations in E2 glycoprotein were identified. The two sub‐lineages of ECSA genotype circulating in India parallel the abundance of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti. Novel mutations in the envelope glycoproteins suggest adaptive evolution of the virus to local vector abundance. Cross neutralization of the virus isolates from recurring Indian epidemics indicated that no distinct serotypes had evolved. The study has provided insights into the origin, distribution and evolutionary adaptation of the virus to local vector abundance in the region that has reportedly, the highest incidence of CHIKV infection in the world. J. Med. Virol. 84:462–470, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.