Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Blind separation of non-stationary and non-Gaussian independent sources

In this paper, the problem of blind separation of an instantaneous mixture of independent sources by exploiting their nonstationarity and/or nonGaussianity is addressed. We show that nonstationarity and nonGaussianity can be exploited by modeling the distribution of the sources using Gaussian mixture model. The maximum likelihood estimator is utilized in order to derive two novel source separation techniques. Both methods are based on estimation of the sensor distribution parameters via the expectation-maximization algorithm for GMM parameter estimation. In the first method, the separation matrix is estimated by applying simultaneous joint diagonalization of the estimated GMM covariance matrices. In the second proposed method the separation matrix is estimated by applying singular value decomposition of a weighted sum of the estimated GMM covariance matrices. The performance of the two proposed methods is evaluated and compared to existing blind source separation techniques. The results show the superior performance of the proposed methods in terms of interference-to-signal ratio.
A linearised PV maximum power tracking controller for AC network integration analysis

The maximum power available from a photovoltaic (PV) generator in many grid connected systems is extracted using a dc-dc step up converter that implements a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm. Traditional MPPT algorithms are iterative, continuously searching for the maximum power point (MPP) under varying weather conditions. Due to the nonlinear time-varying nature of commonly used MPPT methods such as perturb and observe (P&O) it is not easily integrated into state-space models for AC network analysis. In this paper a linearised PV MPPT controller for AC network integration analysis is presented. The non-linear step up converter and PV array are transformed into a time invariant system by using the state space sliding averaging technique, over a single switching cycle. This allows for linear controller design and provides a computationally inexpensive model suitable for AC network integration analysis. The linearised controller robustness was assessed over the expected operating irradiance range, at a constant temperature, using the detailed switching model in MATLAB/Simulink which produced increased performance and stability when compared to P&O MPPT. The computational time using a standard operating system for a 2s simulation of the detailed switching model was 263s while the reduced small signal model was 0.4s.
The Development and Testing of an Instrument for Perceived Self-efficacy for Fatigue Self-management

Background: Persons with chronic illness commonly report fatigue. Measurement of perceived self-efficacy for fatigue self-management (PSEFSM) is essential if fatigue is to be monitored and enhanced to improve physical functional status. Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the development and testing of the PSEFSM instrument. Methods: The PSEFSM instrument was incorporated into 2 randomized controlled trials for secondary analysis (N = 298): 63 persons with lung cancer and 235 persons with other cancer diagnoses undergoing a course of chemotherapy. Results: Evidence for construct validity and generalizability was supported through hypotheses testing of the mediation pathway from fatigue to physical functional status through PSEFSM, with results indicating support for partial mediation. Structural modeling indicated a good model fit that further supported the construct validity of the PSEFSM instrument. Conclusions: The instrument provides a reliable and valid measure of PSEFSM that could be used in research to facilitate the development of interventions to increase perceived self-efficacy to achieve optimal symptom self-management. Implications for Practice: The PSEFSM instrument is brief and easy to complete, which results in a low response burden for persons who are already fatigued, providing for regular use in transdisciplinary research and practice settings. This is important because the use of this instrument can impact how we partner with our patients to better understand how to manage this troublesome symptom, fatigue.
Clarifying the Conundrum: Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement, or Research? The Clinical Scholarship Continuum

Nurses’ active involvement in clinical scholarship is necessary to advance the nursing profession and improve patient outcomes. Yet, definitional confusion and numerous barriers exist to clinical scholarship in and across academic and patient care settings. We discuss factors that pose barriers to the continuum of clinical scholarship and suggest opportunities for clinician-researcher collaborations that promote nurses’ engagement in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research.
A Randomized Algorithm for Closest-Point Queries

An algorithm for closest-point queries is given. The problem is this: given a set S of n points in d-dimensional space, build a data structure so that given an arbitrary query point p, a closest point in S to p can be found quickly. The measure of distance is the Euclidean norm. This is sometimes called the post-office problem. The new data structure will be termed an RPO tree, from Randomized Post Office. The expected time required to build an RPO tree is $O(n^{\lceil {{d / 2}} \rceil (1 + \epsilon )} )$, for any fixed $\epsilon > 0$, and a query can be answered in $O(\log n)$ worst-case time. An RPO tree requires $O(n^{\lceil {{d / 2}} \rceil (1 + \epsilon )} )$ space in the worst case. The constant factors in these bounds depend on d and $\epsilon $. The bounds are average-case due to the randomization employed by the algorithm, and hold for any set of input points. This result approaches the $\Omega (n^{\lceil {{d / 2}} \rceil } )$ worst-case time required for any algorithm that constructs the Voronoi.
Optimal potentials for predicting inter‐helical packing in transmembrane proteins

A set of pairwise contact potentials between amino acid residues in transmembrane helices was determined from the known native structure of the transmembrane protein (TMP) bacteriorhodopsin by the method of perceptron learning, using Monte Carlo dynamics to generate suitable “decoy” structures. The procedure of finding these decoys is simpler than for globular proteins, since it is reasonable to assume that helices behave as independent, stable objects and, therefore, the search in the conformational space is greatly reduced. With the learnt potentials, the association of the helices in bacteriorhodopsin was successfully simulated. The folding of a second TMP (the helix‐dimer glycophorin A) was then accomplished with only a refinement of the potentials from a small number of decoys. Proteins 2002;49:342–349. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Amino acid incorporation by preparations from the developing rat brain.

1. A study has been made of the ability of cerebral microsome-cell sap systems, taken from rats at various ages, to incorporate [(14)C]valine. 2. The systems appear to follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics when cell sap is considered as substrate, microsomes as enzyme and total counts/mg. of microsomal protein as a measure of reaction velocity. 3. Reproducible ;affinity constant' values are obtained, and the system from 4-day-old rats has a higher V(max.) and affinity constant than the system from adult rats. 4. It is suggested the the amino acid-incorporating ability of different systems may be compared by this means.
The effects of salinity and other factors on nitrite reduction by Ochrobactrum anthropi 49187

The nitrite reductase (NIR) gene was cloned from Ochrobactrum anthropi 49187 and found to contain an open reading frame of 1131 nucleotides, encoding a polypeptide of 376 amino acids. The O. anthropi NIR gene encodes a copper‐type dissimilatory reductase based on sequence homology with other genes. The polypeptide product is predicted to form a trimeric holoenzyme of 37 kDa subunits based on molecular weight estimates of extracts in activity gels. Expression of the enzyme is up‐regulated by nitrate, presumably through the intermediate nitrite, and its activity is influenced by inhibitors. Salinity enhances the activity of existing NIR enzyme, but appears to decrease the expression of new enzyme. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effect of glutamine limitation on the death of attached Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The effect of glutamine depletion on the death of attached Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was investigated. Experiments were performed using an anchorage dependent CHO cell line expressing gamma-IFN and a second cell line obtained by transfection of that cell line with the human bcl-2 (hbcl-2). Either cell line could grow in media devoid of glutamine with minimal cell death due to endogenous glutamine synthetase activity that allowed cells to synthesize glutamine from glutamic acid in the medium. However, compared to control cultures in glutamine-containing media, the cell growth rate in glutamine-free media was slower with an increased fraction of cells distributed in the G0/G1 phase. The slower rate of cell cycling apparently protected the cells from entering apoptosis when they were stimulated to proliferate in an environment devoid of other protective factors, such as serum or over-expressed hbcl-2. The depletion of both glutamine and glutamic acid did cause cell death, which could be mitigated by hbcl-2 over-expression.
Distribution of the glycine transporter glyt-1 in mammalian and nonmammalian retinae

We have examined the distribution of the glycine transporter glyt-1 in retinae of macaques, cats, rabbits, rats, and chickens. In all species, all glycine-containing amacrine cells expressed immunoreactivity for glyt-1, though the intensity of immunoreactivity for glyt-1 did not appear to directly correlate with the intensity of immunoreactivity for glycine in individual cells. A small subpopulation of glycine-immunoreactive displaced amacrine cells or ganglion cells also expressed glyt-1 in retinae from macaques, cats, chickens, and rats but not in retinae from rabbits. In addition, in all species examined, some displaced amacrine cells also contained glycine but did not express glyt-1. In monkeys, cats, and rats, populations of cells which we interpret as being glycine-containing interplexiform cells expressed glyt-1; these cells lacked a content of glutamate, suggesting they are not bipolar cells. The glycine-containing bipolar cells did not express glyt-1, suggesting that these cells probably acquired their content of glycine by other means such as via gap junctional connections with glycine-containing amacrine cells.
New model for a variant of pick up and delivery problem

In pickup and delivery problems with time windows (PDPTW), vehicles have to transport loads from pickup locations to delivery locations while respecting capacity and time constraints. When global capacity is not sufficient, the choice of locations to be served is an additional problem (selective variant). This paper presents an exact algorithm which solves the Selective PDPTW, where precedence constraints must be considered (paired demands). The objective is to minimize the total transportation cost or to maximize the profit. We tested our proposed algorithm on benchmark instances from the literature and on our instances. The computational results obtained show the efficiency of our approach.
Purification and characterization of nitric oxide synthase (NOSNoc) from a Nocardia species

We previously reported on the occurrence, partial purification, and preliminary characterization of the first reported bacterial nitric oxide synthase. The soluble Nocardia enzyme, designated NOSNoc, has now been purified 1,353-fold by a combination of 2',5'-ADP-agarose affinity chromatography and hydroxylapatite chromatography. NOSNoc runs as a band of M(r) 51,900 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular mass was estimated to be 110.6 +/- 0.5 kDa by gel filtration, indicating that the native enzyme exists as a homodimer in solution. An N-terminal 15-amino-acid sequence was determined for NOSNoc, showing it to be different from known mammalian NOSs. NG-Hydroxy-L-arginine was confirmed to be an intermediate in the enzymatic reaction by stoichiometric determinations of oxygen uptake, NADPH oxidation, NO formation as measured by nitrite determinations, citrulline formation, and kinetic studies. NOSNoc was competitively inhibited by NG-methyl- and NG-nitro-L-arginine with either L-arginine or NG-hydroxyl-L-arginine as the substrate. Furthermore, the stability and pH and temperature optima of NOSNoc have been established.
Thompson Sampling for Monte Carlo Tree Search and Maximin Action Identification

The Multi-Armed Bandit(MAB) problem is named after slot machine games. When playing slot machines, one player has to decide which machine to play, in which order to play them and how many times to play each machine. After the choice, that specific machine will offer a random reward from a probability distribution, and the player’s target is to maximize the sum of rewards earned through a sequence of lever pulls. In order to figure out the distribution of each machine as soon as possible and to get as much profit as possible, we will consider the popular Thompson Sampling (TS) method, which is based on Bayesian ideas. TS is a heuristic for choosing actions that maximize the expected reward with respect to a randomly drawn belief. [9] In this thesis, for the first half part, we test the performance of TS and also compare a variation called Top-two Thompson Sampling(TTTS) method to the normal TS, based on uniform sampling. Computationally, TTTS is a slow algorithm, so we also try to improve its performance and create another algorithm: Top-two Gibbs Thompson sampling, which combines TTTS and Gibbs Sampling methods and improves the computation speed of the TTTS method. In the second half of the thesis, we try to take a step forward in the application of TS, so we combine TS with the Maximin Action Identification(MAI) problem. Maximin is a concept from two-player zero-sum games in game theory. The main idea behind maximin action selection is a constant alternation of minimizing and maximizing the value of moves to account for an adversarial opponent in the game. Existing methods of maximin are related to games such as Checkers, Chess and Go. We try to broaden its application area and apply it to our new algorithms created in the first half part. First of all, the time budget is limited and we use different divisions to test the performance; Afterwards, we create a new algorithm to pick out the right arm with one step for two layers. The results show that there is not any significant difference between the time division method, which consists of even time budgets for he child layer and no budget for parent layer, and the Maximin Thompson Sampling method.
The effect of prior BCG vaccination on the clinical and radiographic presentation of tuberculosis meningitis in children in Istanbul, Turkey.

SETTING Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, between January 1984 and December 1996. OBJECTIVE To explore whether neonatal BCG vaccination offers any protective effect on clinical and laboratory profiles of central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis in children. DESIGN A retrospective review of cases of CNS tuberculosis diagnosed and treated in one institution. RESULTS Of the 145 patients identified with CNS tuberculosis, 9.6% were vaccinated during the neonatal period. The rate of close contact with contagious pulmonary tuberculosis in family, age distribution, clinical findings and laboratory investigations on admission were not significantly different in vaccinated and non-vaccinated children. Although mortality rate in the vaccinated patients (8.3%) was found to be nearly half of that in the non-vaccinated group (15.1%), severe sequelae were significantly more frequent (P < 0.02) among the vaccinated patients; CONCLUSION This study shows that neonatal BCG vaccine has little effect on the clinical findings of subsequent CNS tuberculosis, and that these children have typical presentations of tuberculosis disease.
Suppressing thoughts of evaluation while being evaluated

Thought suppression can cause ironic increases in the occurrence of intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts of evaluation could be especially disruptive while undergoing evaluation. Such a context, however, could help suppression efforts as the context provides an external source for which to attribute suppression failures. When suppressing thoughts of evaluation in a non-evaluative context (a contextcontent mismatch), typical ironic effects of thought suppression occurred. There was no increased accessibility of evaluation, however, when suppressing evaluation in an evaluative context (a context-content match), which allowed for attributing intrusive thoughts to the context, rather than the self, making suppression easier. Suppressing thoughts of evaluation may be beneficial in an evaluative context,suggesting that the consequences of willful suppression are moderated by context. Beingevaluatedbyothersisaubiquitousoccurrenceineveryday life.Concern with the evaluation of one’s performance is a key component in performance anxiety, anxiety experienced prior to or during performance in a number of domains, including public speaking, sexual performance, sports, the performance arts, and test taking (Baumeister, 1984; Beilock & Carr, 2001; Hardy, Mullen, & Jones, 1996; Kenny, 2005). One potential way of coping with this concern about evaluation is to simply suppress thoughts of evaluation. Trying to suppress thoughts of evaluation, however, mightleadtomorethoughtsof evaluationandpreoccupation with performance. Indeed, thought suppression, the willful attempt to control one’s thoughts, has been shown to have ironic effects,namely a paradoxical increase in the occurrence of the target thought (Wegner, Schneider, Carter, & White, 1987).
SeSCG: Selective sequential clock gating for ultra-low-power multimedia mobile processor design

For ultra-low-power multimedia mobile processor (MMP) design, clock-power reduction is critical because the largest portion of the total power (more than 60% in the processor designs used in this paper) is consumed in the sequential logic. Currently, for the clock-power reduction, traditional combinational clock gating scheme has been used in industry and recently, sequential clock gating method is introduced by a few advanced CAD vendors. In order to maximize the power reduction of the MMP design, we propose a novel selective sequential clock gating (SeSCG) technique in this paper. The SeSCG scheme can choose optimal sequential clock gating style selectively for ultra-low-power design based on the proposed toggle rate analysis at RT level. We have tested the proposed technique on two real industrial MMP designs using 65 nanometer technology. The experimental results show that the conventional sequential clock gating scheme even increases average 4.77% of total power while the proposed SeSCG technique decreases average 23.71% total power with reasonably very small area overhead (no more than 0.63%) when we use real industrial testbenches for the two industrial MMP designs.
Mbd4 inactivation increases C→T transition mutations and promotes gastrointestinal tumor formation

Mbd4 (methyl-CpG binding domain 4) is a novel mammalian repair enzyme that has been implicated biochemically in the repair of mismatched G-T residues at methylated CpG sites. In addition, the human protein has been shown to interact with the DNA mismatch repair protein MLH1. To clarify the role of Mbd4 in DNA repair in vivo and to examine the impact of Mbd4 inactivation on gastrointestinal (GI) tumorigenesis, we introduced a null mutation into the murine Mbd4 gene by gene targeting. Heterozygous and homozygous Mbd4 mutant mice develop normally and do not show increased cancer susceptibility or reduced survival. Although Mbd4 inactivation did not increase microsatellite instability (MSI) in the mouse genome, it did result in a 2- to 3-fold increase in C→T transition mutations at CpG sequences in splenocytes and epithelial cells of the small intestinal mucosa. The combination of Mbd4 deficiency with a germ line mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) gene increased the tumor number in the GI tract and accelerated tumor progression. The change in the GI cancer phenotype was associated with an increase in somatic C→T mutations at CpG sites within the coding region of the wild-type Apc allele. These studies indicate that, although inactivation of Mbd4 does not by itself cause cancer predisposition in mice, it can alter the mutation spectrum in cancer cells and modify the cancer predisposition phenotype.
6‐Hydroxydopamine‐induced alterations in blood–brain barrier permeability

Vascular inflammation is well known for its ability to compromise the function of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Whether inflammation on the parenchymal side of the barrier, such as that associated with Parkinson's‐like dopamine (DA) neuron lesions, similarly disrupts BBB function, is unknown. We assessed BBB integrity by examining the leakage of FITC‐labeled albumin or horseradish peroxidase from the vasculature into parenchyma in animals exposed to the DA neurotoxin 6‐hydroxydopamine (6OHDA). Unilateral injections of 6OHDA into the striatum or the medial forebrain bundle produced increased leakage in the ipsilateral substantia nigra and striatum 10 and 34 days following 6OHDA. Microglia were markedly activated and DA neurons were reduced by the lesions. The areas of BBB leakage were associated with increased expression of P‐glycoprotein and β3‐integrin expression suggesting, respectively, a compensatory response to inflammation and possible angiogenesis. Behavioural studies revealed that domperidone, a DA antagonist that normally does not cross the BBB, attenuated apomorphine‐induced stereotypic behaviour in animals with 6OHDA lesions. This suggests that drugs which normally have no effect in brain can enter following Parkinson‐like lesions. These data suggest that the events associated with DA neuron loss compromise BBB function.
Stress-induced changes of methylglyoxal level and glyoxalase I activity in pumpkin seedlings and cDNA cloning of glyoxalase I gene.

Abstract Abiotic stresses cause extensive losses to agricultural production worldwide. In this study, the effects of various abiotic stresses on the upregulation of methylglyoxal levels and glyoxalase I activities in pumpkin seedlings ( Cucurbita maxima Duch.) were investigated. Most of the stresses caused significant increases in methylglyoxal level and glyoxalase I activity, white light causing the highest induction followed by salinity, chemical, drought, and heavy metal stresses. We showed that accumulation of methylglyoxal in plants under various stressful conditions is a common phenomenon, and methylglyoxal could therefore act as a signal for plants to respond to stress. The stress-induced increases in methylglyoxal level, glyoxalase I activity and Gly I transcript found in the present study suggest an important role of glyoxalase I in conferring tolerance to plants under stress conditions and showed that the glyoxalase pathway is the main detoxification pathway of methylglyoxal in plants. The multistress response of glyoxalase I gene indicates its future utility in developing tolerance to various stresses in crop plants. A cDNA encoding glyoxalase I has been isolated, subcloned and nucleotide sequence was determined. The pumpkin glyoxalase I cDNA consists of 975-bp nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 185 amino acids having a predicted molecular weight of 20,772.14 Da. Based on the number of amino acids, it is categorized as short-type glyoxalase I and the nucleotide sequence of pumpkin glyoxalase I showed significant homology with other known glyoxalase I sequences of plants.