Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determining the closest stable polynomial to an unstable one

The following problem is considered: given a polynomial with zeros that do not lie on or inside the unit circle, find the closest polynomial with zeros that are all on or inside the unit circle. The measure of closeness used is the Euclidean distance in coefficient space. The direct formulation of this problem leads to a minimization problem with nonlinear constraints, and direct solution is difficult. The problem is approached by considering a related minimization problem with linear constraints. It is then hypothesized that only a finite number of solutions to the linear problem are candidate solutions to the given nonlinear problem. While a general proof of the hypothesis has not been found, numerical examples indicate that it may hold for a large number of cases. <<ETX>>
Pan-Arctic land–atmospheric fluxes of methane and carbon dioxide in response to climate change over the 21st century

Future changes of pan-Arctic land–atmospheric methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) depend on how terrestrial ecosystems respond to warming climate. Here, we used a coupled hydrology–biogeochemistry model to make our estimates of these carbon exchanges with two contrasting climate change scenarios (no-policy versus policy) over the 21st century, by considering (1) a detailed water table dynamics and (2) a permafrost-thawing effect. Our simulations indicate that, under present climate conditions, pan-Arctic terrestrial ecosystems act as a net greenhouse gas (GHG) sink of −0.2 Pg CO2-eq. yr−1, as a result of a CH4 source (53 Tg CH4 yr−1) and a CO2 sink (−0.4 Pg C yr−1). In response to warming climate, both CH4 emissions and CO2 uptakes are projected to increase over the century, but the increasing rates largely depend on the climate change scenario. Under the non-policy scenario, the CH4 source and CO2 sink are projected to increase by 60% and 75% by 2100, respectively, while the GHG sink does not show a significant trend. Thawing permafrost has a small effect on GHG sink under the policy scenario; however, under the no-policy scenario, about two thirds of the accumulated GHG sink over the 21st century has been offset by the carbon losses as CH4 and CO2 from thawing permafrost. Over the century, nearly all CO2-induced GHG sink through photosynthesis has been undone by CH4-induced GHG source. This study indicates that increasing active layer depth significantly affects soil carbon decomposition in response to future climate change. The methane emissions considering more detailed water table dynamics continuously play an important role in affecting regional radiative forcing in the pan-Arctic.
Sildenafil treatment of women with antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction is a common adverse effect that frequently results in premature medication treatment discontinuation and for which no treatment has demonstrated efficacy in women. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of sildenafil for sexual dysfunction associated with selective and nonselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) in women. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS An 8-week prospective, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted between September 1, 2003, and January 1, 2007, at 7 US research centers that included 98 previously sexually functioning, premenopausal women (mean [SD] age 37.1 [6] years) whose major depression was remitted by SRIs but who were also experiencing sexual dysfunction. INTERVENTION Forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to take sildenafil or placebo at a flexible dose starting at 50 mg adjustable to 100 mg before sexual activity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was the mean difference in change from baseline to study end (ie, lower ordinal score) on the Clinical Global Impression sexual function scale. Secondary measures included the Female Sexual Function Questionnaire, the Arizona Sexual Experience scale-female version, the University of New Mexico Sexual Function Inventory-female version, a sexual activity event log, and the Hamilton Depression Rating scale. Hormone levels were also assessed. RESULTS In an intention-to-treat analysis, women treated with sildenafil had a mean Clinical Global Impression-sexual function score of 1.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-2.3) compared with those taking placebo (1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.5), with a mean end point difference of 0.8 (95% CI, 0.6-1.0; P = .001). Assigning baseline values carried forward to the 22% of patients who prematurely discontinued resulted in a mean end point in the sexual function score of 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1-1.9) among women taking sildenafil compared with 0.9 (95% CI, 0.6-1.3) among women taking placebo with a mean end point difference of 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3-0.8; P = .03). Baseline endocrine levels were within normal limits and did not differ between groups. The mean (SD) Hamilton scores for depression remained consistent with remission in both groups (4.0 [3.6]; P = .90). Headache, flushing, and dyspepsia were reported frequently during treatment, but no patients withdrew because of serious adverse effects. CONCLUSION In this study population, sildenafil treatment of sexual dysfunction in women taking SRIs was associated with a reduction in adverse sexual effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00375297.
Marine ecotourism in the Gulf of California and the Baja California Peninsula: Research trends and information gaps

Achieving equitable and sustainable ecotourism requires a wide range of multidisciplinary and cross-scale information, particularly given the growing scale of ecotourism operations and continuing governance and climate challenges. Ecosystems in Mexico’s Gulf of California and Baja California Peninsula support a thriving ecotourism industry that has quickly expanded over the last few decades, potentially outpacing research into current performance and future sustainable development opportunities. We develop and apply a formal literature review approach to characterize academic marine ecotourism literature, highlight key insights and identify research strengths and gaps, and thus analyse almost 50 publications for the region from 1994 to 2014. There has been a significant increase in the number of various types of publications; most (68%) focus on ecological themes, 25% on economics, and 7% on social aspects of human wellbeing. There are also trends towards research on specific species (e.g. mammals, fish and sharks) and in specific areas. A common theme in publication conclusions is the need for collaboration from all stakeholder groups. We discuss these findings, and address potential limitations of our method, with a view to informing sound policies to ensure that ecotourism can provide equitable benefits to local communities while incentivizing sustainable practices and nature conservation.
Influence of diet on the structure and function of the bacterial hindgut community of crickets

The effect of diets varying in carbohydrate and protein content on the structure and function of the hindgut microbiota of crickets was evaluated by determining bacterial densities, fermentation activity, and guanine plus cytosine (G + C) profiles of the DNA extracted from the microbial hindgut community. DNA isolated from the gut community was fractionated and quantified according to G + C content as a comprehensive, coarse‐level measure of the composition and structure of the community. The bacterial densities measured by direct counts were not significantly different among the four diets. The crickets were initially reared in the laboratory on cricket chow, which resulted in a hindgut community dominated by bacteria with a G + C content between 32% and 57%. Crickets shifted to an alfalfa diet showed a similar hindgut community G + C profile, although microbial populations with DNA between 35% and 45% G + C were more abundant in alfalfa‐ than chow‐fed crickets. The apparent complexity of the gut community was reduced in crickets fed beet‐pulp and protein‐based diets compared to those fed chow and alfalfa, and was dominated by populations with a low percentage G + C content. Hindgut communities in crickets fed pulp and protein diets also showed a decrease in hydrogen and carbon dioxide production, suggesting that these diets affected the biochemical activity of the hindgut community. The protein‐based diet resulted in a decrease in the rate of evolution of volatile fatty acids, while the ratio of butyrate production to acetate and propionate production was significantly higher in these crickets. Our results show the emergence of a new microbial community structure concomitant with changes in microbial biochemical activity due to shifts in the cricket’s dietary regime.
Down expression of LRP1B promotes cell migration via RhoA/Cdc42 pathway and actin cytoskeleton remodeling in renal cell cancer

The low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 1B (LRP1B) is known as a putative tumor suppressor. The decreased expression of LRP1B has been involved in multiple primary cancers in several studies. However, its expression and function in the carcinogenesis of renal cell cancer (RCC) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of LRP1B in RCC by in situ hybridization (ISH) and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Our results indicated that LRP1B was frequently downexpressed in human RCC tissue and cell lines, which involved both epigenetic events (DNA methylation and histone deacetylation) and N‐terminal deletion of LRP1B. Moreover, we testified that knockdown of LRP1B by shRNA significantly promoted anchorage‐independent growth, cell migration and invasion in HEK293 cells and renal cancer cells 127 in vitro. We further found that silencing of LRP1B altered the expression of focal adhesion complex‐associated proteins, and Cdc42/RhoA activities, which regulate the cytoskeleton dynamics. Taken together, these results strongly support that LRP1B may function as a tumor suppressor against renal cell cancer, and may regulate cell motility via RhoA/Cdc42 pathway and actin cytoskeleton reorganization in RCC.
On-line Malayalam handwritten character recognition using wavelet transform and SFAM

The aim of this paper is to present a new practically implementable method, based on wavelet transform, for the on-line recognition of Malayalam handwritten characters. Wavelet transform of the input coordinates and the angle features is used to form the feature vector in compressed form. The classifier used is Simplified Fuzzy ARTMAP network, which requires comparatively very less time for training also supports incremental learning making it ideal for practical implementation. We have analyzed the recognition accuracy of the system using ‘dbl’ and ‘haar’ wavelets. The system, when tested on 1279 character samples gives a maximum accuracy of 97.81%. The training time required is less than five minuites and the recognition time is about 0.5sec/symbol.
Altitudinal variation in behavioural thermoregulation: local adaptation vs. plasticity in California grasshoppers

We investigated the adaptive significance of behavioural thermoregulation in univoltine populations of the grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes along an altitudinal gradient in California using laboratory tests of animals raised under different temperatures. Trials consisted of continuous body temperature measurements with semi‐implanted microprobes in a test arena, and observation and simultaneous recording of behavioural responses. These responses included mobility, basking and orientation of the body axes (aspect angle) towards a radiation source. Mobility and basking are determined by the altitudinal origin of the parental generation and not by the temperature treatments. With increasing altitude, individuals tend increasingly to raise body temperatures via mobility and increased basking. In contrast, body orientation towards the radiation source is influenced by the temperature treatments but not by the altitude of origin. Individuals experiencing higher temperatures during rearing show a lower tendency to lateral flanking. We conclude that body orientation responses are not adapted locally. In contrast other components of the behavioural syndrome that increase body temperature, such as mobility and basking, are adaptive in response to local selection pressure. The thermoregulatory syndrome of these grasshoppers is an important contribution to life‐history adaptations that appropriately match season lengths.
Antioxidant Assessment of Schizochytrium Meal Protein Enzymatic Hydrolysate and Its Potential Application

ABSTRACT Schizochytrium meal protein (SMP) extracted from Schizochytrium meal was hydrolyzed by flavourzyme. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction conditions for the protein extraction yield from Schizochytrium meal. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (DRSA) was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of hydrolysates. The orthogonal test was used to investigate the effects of three independent variables, namely protease dosage, hydrolysis time, and pH. The optimum conditions obtained were as follows: protease dosage of 7%, hydrolysis time of 1.5 h, pH of 6, under which, DRSA at the concentration of 2 mg/mL was 89.38%. Aspartic and glutamic acid constituted approximately 26.32% of the total amino acids, and glutamic acid was the most abundant amino acid of Schizochytrium meal protein hydrolysate (SMPH) by amino acid composition analysis, which may have contributed to the scavenging activity of SMPH. Moreover, SMPH was made into chewable tablets with suitable formula and high humidity stability. These findings indicate that Schizochytrium meal can be reused as a raw material for preparation of antioxidant peptides.
18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) for assessment of enteropathy-type T cell lymphoma

Background and aims: Enteropathy-type T cell lymphoma (ETCL) represents a relatively rare disease, accounting for less than 1% of non-Hodgkin‘s lymphomas. ETCL is an aggressive lymphoma which may either present de novo or arise in the context of longstanding or untreated coeliac disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) for imaging of ETCL. Furthermore, we wished to evaluate whether the presence of CD might provide a potential diagnostic obstacle to imaging of lymphoma due to unspecific 18F-FDG uptake and whether accumulation of 18F-FDG within the gut correlates with activity of CD. Patients and methods: We retrospectively analysed patients with ETCL and individuals suffering from CD undergoing 18F-FDG-imaging at our PET unit. Material for histological reassessment by a reference pathologist had to be available for inclusion of patients in the analysis. Whole body 18F-FDG-PET scans were performed 40 minutes following injection of 300–380 MBq of 18F-FDG. Images were reconstructed iteratively. In areas with focally elevated FDG uptake and in case of diffusely elevated intestinal 18F-FDG accumulation, standard uptake values (SUVs) were calculated. Results: During a period of two years, five patients (one male, four female) with a mean age of 56.4 years (range 44–62) with a diagnosis of ETCL underwent 18F-FDG-PET. Four of these patients were imaged before application of cytotoxic treatment while one patient had regular PET scans for follow up. All four patients undergoing pre-therapeutic imaging showed markedly elevated intestinal 18F-FDG uptake, with a maximal SUV of 6.4–8.0 (mean 7.15 (SD 0.82)). The patient imaged following surgery and cytotoxic therapy had no pathologic 18F-FDG uptake which was found to correlate with normal duodenal mucosa, as evidenced by repeated biopsies and conventional imaging methods. During the same time span, 12 patients (five male, seven female) with a mean age of 63.8 years (range 42–82) suffering from CD were imaged. Four of these patients showed no elevated intestinal 18F-FDG uptake while five had minor diffuse intestinal 18F-FDG accumulation with SUVs ranging between 2.2 and 4.6 (mean 3.4 (SD 0.89)). In the remaining three patients with diffuse intestinal 18F-FDG uptake, no SUV could be calculated. SUVs in patients with ETCL were remarkably higher than in patients suffering from CD (p=0.011), irrespective of the activity of CD at the time of imaging. Conclusion: In spite of the relatively small number of patients, our results clearly indicate the potential value of 18F-FDG-PET for diagnosing and imaging ETCL. In addition, the data also suggest that 18F-FDG-PET may lead to early diagnosis in individuals developing ETCL in the context of longstanding CD. This is due to the fact that 18F-FDG does not appear to significantly accumulate in the gut of patients with CD, irrespective of disease activity.
Collective Cell Motion in an Epithelial Sheet Can Be Quantitatively Described by a Stochastic Interacting Particle Model

Modelling the displacement of thousands of cells that move in a collective way is required for the simulation and the theoretical analysis of various biological processes. Here, we tackle this question in the controlled setting where the motion of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells in a confluent epithelium is triggered by the unmasking of free surface. We develop a simple model in which cells are described as point particles with a dynamic based on the two premises that, first, cells move in a stochastic manner and, second, tend to adapt their motion to that of their neighbors. Detailed comparison to experimental data show that the model provides a quantitatively accurate description of cell motion in the epithelium bulk at early times. In addition, inclusion of model “leader” cells with modified characteristics, accounts for the digitated shape of the interface which develops over the subsequent hours, providing that leader cells invade free surface more easily than other cells and coordinate their motion with their followers. The previously-described progression of the epithelium border is reproduced by the model and quantitatively explained.
Dynamics of the Force of Infection: Insights from Echinococcus multilocularis Infection in Foxes

Characterizing the force of infection (FOI) is an essential part of planning cost effective control strategies for zoonotic diseases. Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis in humans, a serious disease with a high fatality rate and an increasing global spread. Red foxes are high prevalence hosts of E. multilocularis. Through a mathematical modelling approach, using field data collected from in and around the city of Zurich, Switzerland, we find compelling evidence that the FOI is periodic with highly variable amplitude, and, while this amplitude is similar across habitat types, the mean FOI differs markedly between urban and periurban habitats suggesting a considerable risk differential. The FOI, during an annual cycle, ranges from (0.1,0.8) insults (95% CI) in urban habitat in the summer to (9.4, 9.7) (95% CI) in periurban (rural) habitat in winter. Such large temporal and spatial variations in FOI suggest that control strategies are optimal when tailored to local FOI dynamics.
Influence of Phasor Measurement Error on Parameter Identification for a Synchronous Generator

Abstract In this article, a method is presented to analyze the influence of phasor measurement errors on the parameter identification of synchronous generators. The equations describing the relationship between parameter deviation and phasor error are derived as based on the six-order model of a synchronous generator and the step-identification algorithm. Because parameter precision is important for the simulation and security operation of the power system, measurement errors, including those of current and voltage magnitudes and phase angles, are discussed to determine their influence on the identified parameters. In addition, through implementation of a practical example, the values of parameter errors directly resulting from phasor measurement errors are calculated via equations, and a simulation method is used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed equations. The results indicate that this method can be applied to identify any synchronous generator parameter, in addition to functioning as a reference to evaluate the identification algorithm and phasor measurement unit data quality.
Recommendation : A Study in Combining Multiple Information Sources

The growing need to manage and exploit the proliferation of online data sources is opening up new opportunities for bringing people closer to the resources they need. For instance, consider a recommendation service through which researchers can receive daily pointers to journal papers in their elds of interest. We survey some of the known approaches to the problem of technical paper recommendation and ask how they can be extended to deal with multiple information sources. More speci cally, we focus on a variant of this problem { recommending conference paper submissions to reviewing committee members { which o ers us a testbed to try di erent approaches. Using WHIRL { an information integration system { we are able to implement di erent recommendation algorithms derived from information retrieval principles. We also use a novel autonomous procedure for gathering reviewer interest information from the Web. We evaluate our approach and compare it to other methods using preference data provided by members of the AAAI-98 conference reviewing committee along with data about the actual submissions.
Characteristic Estimation of Partial Discharge from Its Radiating Signal

In this paper, a new method for obtaining partial discharge (PD) characteristic based on ultra-high frequency (UHF) measurements is presented. According to electromagnetic theory, PD electromagnetic radiation can be regarded as the dipoles radiation. The PD pulse current waveform can be deduced from its radiating UHF signal, based on which, PD characters such as the apparent discharge quantity, waveform parameter and PD defect geometry dimension are estimated effectively. The result of experiment shows that the method will be contributed to the PD pattern recognition and insulation defect diagnoses
A system for 3D localization of gamma sources using Timepix3-based Compton cameras

Compton cameras localize γ-ray sources in 3D space by observing evidence of Compton scattering with detectors sensitive to ionizing radiation. This thesis proposes a software system for operating a novel Compton camera device comprised of Timepix3 detectors and Katherine readouts. To communicate with readouts using UDP-based protocol, a dedicated hardware library was developed. The presented software can successfully control the acquisition of multiple Timepix3 detectors and simultaneously process their measurements in a real-time setting. To recognize instances of Compton scattering among observed interactions, a chain of algorithms is applied with explicit consideration for a possibly high volume of measured information. Unlike alternate approaches, the presented work uses a recently published charge drift time model to improve its spatial resolution. In order to achieve localization of γ-ray sources, the software performs conical back projection into a discretized cuboid volume. Results of randomized evaluation with simulated data indicate that the presented implementation is correct and constitutes a viable method of γ-ray source localization in 3D space. Experimental verification with a prototype model is in progress.