Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A performance-dependent PSO based optimization of PID controller for DC motor

This paper proposed a new approach to control speed of linear brushless DC motor. This paper provides an overview of performance dependant particle swarm optimization (PDPSO) and presenting it as an alternative to evolutionary algorithm. Performance Dependent Particle swarm optimization is used to determine optimal gains of proportional-derivative-integral controller (PID). To obtain optimal solutions, PDPSO introduced the relationship between particle selection and particles performance. The proposed method shows its robustness under critical conditions when conventional optimization methods fail.
Effect of Memantine on Serum Levels of Neuron‐Specific Enolase and on the Glasgow Coma Scale in Patients With Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability and death globally. Despite significant progress in neuromonitoring and neuroprotection, pharmacological interventions have failed to generate favorable results. We examined the effect of memantine on serum levels of neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), a marker of neuronal damage, and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in patients with moderate TBI. Patients were randomly assigned to the control group (who received standard TBI management) and the treatment group (who, alongside their standard management, received enteral memantine 30 mg twice daily for 7 days). Patients’ clinical data, GCS, findings of head computed tomography, and serum NSE levels were collected during the study. Forty‐one patients were randomized into the control and treatment groups, 19 and 22 patients respectively. Baseline characteristics and serum NSE levels were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The mean serum NSE levels for the memantine and the control groups on day 3 were 7.95 ± 2.86 and 12.33 ± 7.09 ng/mL, respectively (P = .05), and on day 7 were 5.03 ± 3.25 and 10.04 ± 5.72 ng/mL, respectively (P = .003). The mean GCS on day 3 was 12.3 ± 2.0 and 10.9 ± 1.9 in the memantine and control groups, respectively (P = .03). Serum NSE levels and GCS changes were negatively correlated (r = −0.368, P = .02). Patients with moderate TBI who received memantine had significantly reduced serum NSE levels by day 7 and marked improvement in their GCS scores on day 3 of the study.
MR Detection of Degenerating Uterine Leiomyomas

Objective Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues have been advocated for the conservative management of uterine leiomyoma. These drugs induce a hypoestrogenic state and affect undegenerated myoma cells. Therefore, we evaluated the usefulness of MRI for distinguishing undegenerated and degenerated leiomyomas. Materials and Methods Twenty lesions were studied in 16 patients with surgically resected leiomyoma. A 1.5 T unit was used to obtain T1− and T2-weighted images and Gd-DTPA-enhanced T1-weighted images. Signal intensity maps were made for each pulse sequence, and detailed histological maps were also made in the same plane as the MR images. Then the MR maps were compared with the histological maps of the resected specimens. Results Interstitial edema, the initial sign of degeneration, was detected as a high signal intensity region on T2-weighted images and showed enhancement with Gd-DTPA. Hyaline degeneration could not be distinguished from smooth muscle whorls on T1− and T2-weighted images. However, undegenerated leiomyoma could be distinguished from hyaline degeneration, because the former was slightly enhanced by Gd-DTPA but the latter was not. Conclusion These findings showed that Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI can distinguish undegenerated leiomyomas from degenerated leiomyomas and suggest that MRI may be useful for predicting the response of this tumor to GnRH analogue therapy.
Purification and characterization of four proteases from a clinical isolate of Serratia marcescens kums 3958

Four distinct proteases were purified to homogeneity from culture filtrates of Serratia marcescens kums 3958, a fresh isolate from a patient with a severe corneal ulcer. Purification was achieved by ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, and Sephadex gel filtration chromatography. The proteases were differentiated from each other by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with or without sodium dodecyl sulfate and by immunodiffusion in agarose gels. The molecular weights of these purified proteases were estimated to be 56 X 10(3), 60 X 10(3), and 73 X 10(3) (hereafter designated 56K, 60K, and 73K proteases, respectively). The 73K protease was separated into 73Ka and 73Kb upon isoelectricfocusing. The isoelectric points of the 56K (major) and 60K, 73Ka, and 73Kb proteases (minors) were approximately 5.3, 4.4, 5.8, and 7.3, respectively. Both 56K and 60K enzymes were completely inactivated by EDTA at pH 5.0 and were reactivated by zinc ion; thus, they are metalloenzymes, whereas 73K (73Ka and 73Kb) enzymes appear to be thiol proteases. Carbohydrate, cysteine, and cystine were not detected in the 56K and 60K proteases. Amino acid compositions, partial amino acid sequence, and enzymological and immunological properties revealed that these four enzymes are distinct from each other.
Screening for Pain in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors Using the Pain Thermometer

Numerous instruments have been developed to measure pain within various populations; however, there remains limited understanding of how these tools are applicable to childhood cancer survivors. This study compared a single-item screening measure, the Pain Thermometer (PT), with a more in-depth measure, the Brief Pain Survey (BPS), in a cohort of childhood brain tumor survivors. Ninety-nine survivors (aged 13-32 years) with a median time from diagnosis of 9.9 years (range = 2-18 years) completed the 2 instruments. Thirty-seven survivors (37.4%) were identified on the BPS as having clinically significant pain, but the PT was not found to be an accurate tool for identifying these pain cases. Application of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of PT ratings against BPS criterion indicated overall concordance between measures. No cutoff score on the PT were identified that resulted in acceptable sensitivity, meaning pain cases identified on the BPS would be missed on the PT. Findings suggest that a multi-item screening measure may better identify clinically significant pain in childhood brain tumor survivors compared with a 1-item screening measure alone.
Target enhancement and distractor inhibition affect transitory surround suppression in dual tasks using multiple rapid serial visual presentation streams

Few studies have investigated the interaction between temporal and spatial dimensions on selective attention using dual tasks in the multiple rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm. A phenomenon that the surround suppression in space changes over time (termed transitory surround suppression, TSS, in the present study) has been observed, suggesting the existence of this time–space interaction. However, it is still unclear whether target enhancement or distractor inhibition modulates TSS. Four behavioural experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanism of TSS by manipulating the temporal lag and spatial distance factors between two targets embedded in six RSVP streams. The TSS effect was replicated in a study that eliminated confounds of perceptual effects and attentional switch (Experiment 1). However, the TSS disappeared when two targets shared the same colour in a between-subjects design (Experiment 2a) and a within-subject design (Experiment 2b), suggesting the impact of target enhancement on TSS. Moreover, the TSS was larger for within-category than for between-category distractors (Experiment 3), indicating the impact of distractor inhibition on TSS. These two influences on TSS under different processing demands of target and distractor processing were further confirmed in a skeletal design (Experiment 4). Overall, combinative effects of target enhancement and distractor suppression contribute to the mechanisms of time–space interaction in selective attention during visual search.
Muscle mass predicts outcomes following liver transplantation

For patients with end‐stage liver disease, commonly used indices of nutritional status (ie, body weight and body mass index) are often inflated because of fluid overload (ie, ascites and peripheral edema), and this results in an underdiagnosis of malnutrition. Because muscle is the largest protein reservoir in the body, an estimate of the muscle mass may be a more reliable and valid estimate of nutritional status. Therefore, we used pretransplant computed tomography data for 338 liver transplantation (LT) candidates to identify muscle and fat mass on the basis of a specific abdominal transverse section commonly used in body composition analyses, and we investigated the contribution of this measure to specific post‐LT outcomes. We found that the majority of our patients (68%) could be defined as cachectic. For men, muscle mass predicted many important posttransplant outcomes, including intensive care unit (ICU) stay, total length of stay (LOS), and days of intubation. Muscle mass was a significant predictor of survival and also predicted disposition to home versus another facility. For women, muscle mass predicted ICU stay, total LOS, and days of intubation, but the effect was modest. Muscle mass did not predict survival or disposition for women. In conclusion, because pretransplant muscle mass is associated with many important postoperative outcomes, we discuss these findings in the context of possible pretransplant interventions for either improving or sustaining muscle mass before surgery. Liver Transpl 19:1172‐1180, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.
Effects of Calcium Plus Vitamin D Supplementation on Anthropometric Measurements and Blood Pressure in Vitamin D Insufficient People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Up to 75% of the risk of type 2 diabetes is attributable to obesity. Therefore, finding a way to control obesity can be useful for management of diabetes. Objective: This study was performed to assess the effects of vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation on anthropometric measurements and blood pressure in vitamin D insufficient people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: One hundred eighteen patients with diabetes were enrolled in this randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. All subjects were randomly assigned into 4 groups receiving (1) 50,000 IU/wk vitamin D3 plus (equal to 7143 IU/d) calcium placebo; (2) 1000 mg/d calcium plus vitamin D3 placebo; (3) 50,000 IU/wk vitamin D3 (equal to 7143 IU/d) plus 1000 mg/d calcium; or (4) vitamin D3 placebo plus calcium placebo for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were assessed at study baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. Results: A greater reduction in body mass index was observed in calcium plus vitamin D group than other groups (p = 0.03). Comparison of changes in waist circumference among 4 groups revealed no significant difference in crude model (p = 0.21) and when the effect of confounders was taken into account (p = 0.08). Calcium supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in hip circumference compared to other groups (p <0.001). Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the calcium plus vitamin D group compared to placebo (−7.3 ± 8.7 mmHg vs 0.5 ± 8.2 mmHg; p = 0.001). However, calcium and vitamin D supplementation had no significant effects on diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Calcium–vitamin D3 cosupplementation can have beneficial effect on body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, and systolic blood pressure in vitamin D–insufficient type 2 diabetics.
Analysis of an Artifact Oriented Test Process Model and of Testing Aspects of ISO/IEC 15504

ISO/IEC 15504 defines base practices for software processes and presents a set of generic practices that characterize the quality with which base practices are performed. The Artifact Oriented Process Model for Testing ⎯ ArtProTest ⎯ is a generic software testing model defined at CenPRA by selecting software testing “best practices”; it evolved over the last years and has been published in specific forums. The ArtProTest, which defines a set of partially ordered activities and test artifacts, has been validated and improved based on the experience of its application at software development companies in Brazil. In this work we carried out an evaluation of ArtProTest under the perspective of ISO/IEC 15504 process improvement model. We evaluated essentially which aspects of ISO/IEC 15504 are taken into account by ArtProTest. We also evaluate how ArtProTest can be used to supplement software testing related aspects of ISO/IEC 15504 model. Our analysis results pointed to improvements in ArtProTest, and also identify testing task and artifacts not considered by ISO/IEC 15504, which can significantly improve an organization testing practices. Keywods: Software Process; Software Testing; ISO/IEC 15504; Process Improvement, ArtProTest
The cellular YY1 transcription factor binds a cis-acting, negatively regulating element in the Epstein-Barr virus BRLF1 promoter

Disruption of Epstein-Barr virus latency is induced by expression of either the BZLF1 (in B cells and epithelial cells) or BRLF1 (in epithelial cells only) immediate-early protein. Regulation of BZLF1 and BRLF1 transcription may therefore modulate the stringency of viral latency. The cellular transcription factor YY1 negatively regulates BZLF1 transcription. Here we show that the BRLF1 promoter (Rp) sequences from -206 to -227 (relative to the mRNA start site) and from -7 to +6 are directly bound by YY1. Mutation of the upstream YY1 binding site increases constitutive Rp activity in epithelial cells and B cells, while mutation of the downstream YY1 binding site does not significantly affect Rp activity. Negative regulation of BZLF1 and BRLF1 transcription by YY1 may act to maintain viral latency.
A fast and effective method for static video summarization on compressed domain

Current advances in information technologies have led to the creation of huge video databases. Efficient and effective video summarization methods are needed to quickly browse and locate required video content. In this paper, we present a fast and effective video summarization method that is implemented in the compressed domain. Our four-step proposed method relies on a simple yet powerful descriptor and a scene-detection method, to detect gradual and abrupt transitions with great precision. A saliency-based refinement strategy is used to avoid redundancy and represent video content with as few key-frames as possible. Several experiments were done to assess the proposed method's performance, concluding that it is superior to current solutions.
Differential expression of CD14‐dependent and independent pathways for chemokine induction regulates neutrophil trafficking in infection

Previous studies have shown that CD14−/− mice are resistant to peritoneal infection with some clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and that this resistance is accompanied by an enhanced ability to clear the bacteria; in contrast, normal mice expressing CD14 fail to clear the bacteria, causing severe sepsis and death. The enhanced clearance in CD14−/− mice is dependent on early neutrophil recruitment to the local foci of infection in the PC. The studies described show that neutrophil recruitment in CD14−/− mice occurs as a result of the local induction of the CXCL1 and CXCL2 chemokines, KC and MIP‐2. Although local induction of these chemokines also occurs in normal mice, their effects on neutrophil recruitment to the PC appear to be counterbalanced by very high levels of these chemokines in the blood of normal, but not CD14−/−, mice. Neutrophil recruitment to the PC is also inhibited in normal mice in response to LPS, which also induces high chemokine levels in the blood of normal, but not CD14−/−, mice. However, MPLA, a monophosphorylated derivative of LPS, is able to induce early neutrophil recruitment in normal mice; this is because MPLA, unlike LPS or E. coli, induces MIP‐2 and KC in the PC but not in the blood of normal mice. The pretreatment of normal mice with MPLA is able to protect them from a lethal E. coli infection. Thus, stimulation of a local CD14‐independent chemokine induction pathway without triggering a systemic CD14‐dependent chemokine pathway can protect against severe E. coli infections.
State of the art and future of OSS for power systems

This paper presents the main concepts of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) that are relevant for power system analysis, research and education. The main FOSS projects for power system analysis are briefly introduced and discussed. The paper also provides some outlines about the future of FOSS for power systems and the activities of the IEEE Task force on Open Source Software.
The farAB‐encoded efflux pump mediates resistance of gonococci to long‐chained antibacterial fatty acids

Gonococci often infect mucosal surfaces bathed in antibacterial fatty acids (FAs). Resistance of gonococci to FAs and other antibacterial hydrophobic agents has been attributed to the mtrCDE‐encoded efflux pump system and a heretofore undefined mechanism. This alternative resistance mechanism has been suggested to mediate gonococcal resistance to long‐chained FAs independently of the mtr efflux pump. We have now identified this alternative FA resistance system in gonococci and report that it bears significant similarity to the emrAB‐encoded efflux pump possessed by Escherichia coli and the vceAB‐encoded pump of Vibrio cholerae. We termed the gonococcal version of this efflux pump farAB (fatty acid resistance) to signify its involvement in FA resistance expressed by gonococci and to distinguish it from the emrAB‐ or vceAB‐encoded pumps that modulate bacterial susceptibility to uncoupling agents and certain antibiotics. Although the farAB system in gonococci was found to provide resistance to FAs independently of the mtrCDE‐encoded efflux pump, its function was dependent on the MtrE outer membrane protein. Moreover, expression of the tandemly linked farA and farB genes was positively associated with the presence of the MtrR transcriptional regulatory protein that normally downregulates the expression of mtrCDE. Thus, the data presented herein suggest that, while the mtrCDE‐ and farAB‐encoded systems act independently to mediate resistance of gonococci to host‐derived, hydrophobic antimicrobial agents, their capacity to export these agents is dependent on the same outer membrane protein (MtrE), and their expression may be differentially controlled by the same transcriptional regulatory protein (MtrR).
Cationic Proteins of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Lysosomes I. Resolution of Antibacterial and Enzymatic Activities

Zeya, H. I. (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill), and J. K. Spitznagel. Cationic proteins of polymorphonuclear leukocyte lysosomes. I. Resolution of antibacterial and enzymatic activities. J. Bacteriol. 91:750–754. 1966. —A lysosomal fraction from polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes of guinea pig peritoneal exudate was subjected directly to electrophoresis on cellulose acetate paper treated with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. The Iysosomal components resolved into seven bands moving towards the cathode. Assay of the eluted bands showed that the antibacterial activity was distinct from lysosomal enzymes and was associated with three cationic components (bands I, II, and III) which migrated most rapidly towards the cathode, ahead of lysozyme ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease. Qualitatively, the antibacterial components appeared to be rich in arginine. The antibacterial components were absent in the pherograms of nuclear fractions of PMN leukocytes and in supernatant fractions that remained after lysosomes were removed from cell homogenates by centrifugation at 8,000 × g.
Application of data mining in fault diagnosis of induction motor

Data driven approaches are gaining popularity in the field of condition monitoring due to their knowledge based fault identification capability for wide range of motor operation. Particularly the method, based on mining the data can encompass the wide behavioral operation of induction motor drive system in industries. Therefore, appropriate low cost instrumentation embedding an efficient algorithm becomes the industrial demand for fault diagnosis of induction motor drive. A hardware friendly algorithm for multi-class fault diagnosis by applying data mining technique is proposed in this paper. Most frequently associated faults like bearing fault, stator inter-turn fault, broken rotor bar fault are investigated for a drive fed induction motor. Discrete wavelet transform-Inverse discrete wavelet transform (DWT-IDWT) algorithm is used to obtain the unique characteristics from each synthesized sub-band and these filtered signals are exploited for feature extraction. A feature selection technique based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) is utilized to identify the potential features for reducing the dimensionality of the feature space. The use of smallest length filter of 2 coefficients (db1) for DWT-IDWT algorithm and 6 relevant features has made the proposed algorithm computationally efficient. The classification accuracy for the investigated multiple faults are found to be quite appreciable. Further, a comparative study is also done using different classifiers: k-NN, MLP and RBF.
Vitamin C and E supplementation alters protein signalling after a strength training session, but not muscle growth during 10 weeks of training

Although antioxidant supplements are generally believed to give health benefits, recent experiments show that they may adversely affect adaptations to endurance exercise. This study is the first to investigate the effects of high dosages of vitamins C and E on the cellular and physiological adaptations to strength training in humans. Here we report that vitamin C and E supplementation interfered with exercise‐induced signalling in muscle cells after a session of strength training, by reducing the phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase and mitogen‐activated protein kinases p38 and ERK1/2. The vitamin C and E supplement did not significantly blunt muscle hypertrophy during 10 weeks of training; however, some measurements of muscle strength revealed lower increases in the supplemented group than the placebo group. Even though the cellular events are not clearly reflected in physiological and performance measurements, this study implies that redox signalling is important for inducing skeletal muscle adaptations to strength training and that vitamin C and E supplements in high dosages should be avoided by healthy, young individuals engaged in strength training.
Good Mothers Never Wane: Mothering at Menopause

ABSTRACT Due to recent feminist scholarship, we know a considerable amount about women's mothering identities and activities, as well as the impact of mothering ideology on individual women. Nonetheless there are gaps in our knowledge about motherhood. For instance, we know mostly about experiences of mothers with young children, and an implicit assumption is that mothers are also fairly young themselves. Yet, what about mothers at midlife and beyond? What about menopausal mothers? This paper represents an initial attempt to explore motherhood experiences of middle-aged menopausal women. Findings presented in this article are based on 45 in-depth interviews with middle-class, heterosexual menopausal women in a midwestern state in 2001. Findings suggest that motherwork and the maintenance of “good” mothering ideology are still primary activities of women at menopause despite assumptions that menopausal women have completed mothering experiences and are now grandmothers (if caregivers at all). In analyzing menopausal mothers, I encourage broader explorations of women's experiences of both motherhood and menopause.