Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On The Design of a Novel Finite-Time Nonlinear Extended State Observer for Class of Nonlinear Systems with Mismatch Disturbances and Uncertainties

In this paper, a novel finite-time Nonlinear Extended State Observer (NLESO) is proposed and employed in Active Disturbance rejection Control (ADRC) to stabilize a nonlinear system against system's uncertainties and discontinuous disturbances using output feedback technique. The first task was to aggregate the uncertainties, disturbances, and any other undesired nonlinearities in the system into a single term called the "generalized disturbance". Consequently, the ESO estimates the generalized disturbance and cancel it from the input channel in an online fashion. Moreover, in some nonlinear systems, the disturbances might not enter through the same channel of the control signal, thus leading to mismatched uncertainties and/or disturbances. Accordingly, a new procedure is proposed in this paper to transform the mismatched disturbance and uncertainties into the same input channel and converting the nonlinear uncertain system into a chain of integrals up to the relative degree of the system with the total disturbance relocated into the control input channel. Peaking phenomenon that existed in Linear ESO (LESO) has been reduced significantly by adopting a saturation-like nonlinear function in the proposed Nonlinear ESO (NLESO). Stability analysis of the NLEO is studied using finite-time Lyapunov principles and the comparisons are given through simulations on Permanent Magnet DC (PMDC) motor to show the effectiveness of the proposed observer with respect to LESO.
Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology Bayesian Sparsity-path-analysis of Genetic Association Signal Using Generalized T Priors Bayesian Sparsity-path-analysis of Genetic Association Signal Using Generalized T Priors

We explore the use of generalized t priors on regression coefficients to help understand the nature of association signal within " hit regions " of genome-wide association studies. The particular generalized t distribution we adopt is a Student distribution on the absolute value of its argument. For low degrees of freedom, we show that the generalized t exhibits " sparsity-prior " properties with some attractive features over other common forms of sparse priors and includes the well known double-exponential distribution as the degrees of freedom tends to infinity. We pay particular attention to graphical representations of posterior statistics obtained from sparsity-path-analysis (SPA) where we sweep over the setting of the scale (shrinkage/precision) parameter in the prior to explore the space of posterior models obtained over a range of complexities, from very sparse models with all coefficient distributions heavily concentrated around zero, to models with diffuse priors and coefficients distributed around their maximum likelihood estimates. The SPA plots are akin to LASSO plots of maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimates but they characterise the complete marginal posterior distributions of the coefficients plotted as a function of the precision of the prior. Generating posterior distributions over a range of prior precisions is computationally challenging but naturally amenable to sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) algorithms indexed on the scale parameter. We show how SMC simulation on graphic-processing-units (GPUs) provides very efficient inference for SPA. We also present a scale-mixture representation of the generalized t prior that leads to an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm to obtain MAP estimates should only these be required. like to thank the organizers of the recent meeting on "Computational statistical methods for genomics and system biology" held at the Centre de Recherches Mathématiques, Montreal.
Harnessing parallelism in multicore clusters with the all-pairs and wavefront abstractions

Both distributed systems and multicore computers are difficult programming environments. Although the expert programmer may be able to tune distributed and multicore computers to achieve high performance, the non-expert may struggle to achieve a program that even functions correctly. We argue that high level abstractions are an effective way of making parallel computing accessible to the non-expert. An abstraction is a regularly structured framework into which a user may plug in simple sequential programs to create very large parallel programs. By virtue of a regular structure and declarative specification, abstractions may be materialized on distributed, multicore, and distributed multicore systems with robust performance across a wide range of problem sizes. In previous work, we presented the All-Pairs abstraction for computing on distributed systems of single CPUs. In this paper, we extend All-Pairs to multicore systems, and introduce Wavefront, which represents a number of problems in economics and bioinformatics. We demonstrate good scaling of both abstractions up to 32-cores on one machine and hundreds of cores in a distributed system.
User Interfaces and Scheduling and Planning: Workshop Summary and Proposed Challenges

The User Interfaces and Scheduling and Planning (UISP) Workshop had its inaugural meeting at the 2017 International Conference on Automated Scheduling and Planning (ICAPS). The UISP community focuses on bridging the gap between automated planning and scheduling technologies and user interface (UI) technologies. Planning and scheduling systems need UIs, and UIs can be designed and built using planning and scheduling systems. The workshop participants included representatives from government organizations, industry, and academia with various insights and novel challenges. We summarize the discussions from the workshop as well as outline challenges related to this area of research, introducing the now formally established field to the broader user experience and artificial intelligence communities.
Methoprene modifies adipokinetic hormone characteristics in the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

In the present study the hypothesis that there is a feedback between juvenile hormone and adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) was investigated by topical application of the juvenoid methoprene on 9-day-old adult males of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus. This juvenoid (2 µg) induced a significant reduction of haemolymph lipids 24 h after treatment; however, it did not significantly reduce the ability of Pyrap-AKH (10 pmol/bug) to mobilize fat body lipids 6-72 h after the methoprene application. The same methoprene treatment elicited a significant increase of AKH content in the CNS (central nervous system: brain + corpora cardiaca + corpora allata) of experimental males 24 and 48 h after the juvenoid application. A significant decrease in the AKH level in the haemolymph was recorded at the same times and under the same experimental conditions. Similar results were observed when production of the AKHs from the CNS of topically treated males was measured under in vitro conditions. It is suggested that methoprene may reduce AKH release from the CNS resulting in an increase in the AKH content of the CNS due to accumulation rather than stimulation of AKH synthesis. Possible consequences of this phenomenon on the physiology of P. apterus are discussed.
Should E-government be Transformational and Participatory? An Essay on E-government in the Utilitarian Mode of Information Technology Use

This paper asserts that e-government works, in principle, in the utilitarian mode of information technology use rather than solidary and participatory modes. Each e-government stakeholder actually uses government Web sites to pursue his/her own material incentives and rarely expects government reform and e-democracy. Senior and executive managers tout transformational and participatory e-government symbolically and ostensibly for their managerial and/or political gain. The notion of transformational e-government is almost rhetoric since e-government simply reflects real government and transformation in government often involves complicate business process reengineering. Technological transformation is neither efficient nor desirable. Given utilitarian stakeholders who are less engaged, e-democracy is almost an illusion. E-participation in the policy processes is limited largely due to the lack of qualified stakeholders who have proper ability, willingness, and resources to use the application effectively. E-government is not transformational, revolutionary, and participatory, but rather instrumental and evolutionary to deliver government information and services online in the utilitarian mode or stakeholders' focal point.
The effect of community and family interventions on young people's physical activity levels: a review of reviews and updated systematic review

Background Next to the school environment, the family and community environment are key for young people's behaviour and for promoting physical activity (PA). Methods A review of reviews was conducted, after which a literature search was conducted (in PubMed, Scopus and PsychInfo) from August 2007 (search date of the most recent review) to October 2010. Inclusion criteria were study population aged 18 years or younger, controlled trial, no PA control condition, PA promotion intervention and reported analyses of a PA-related outcome. Methodological quality was assessed, and data on intervention details, methods and effects on primary and secondary outcomes (PA, body composition and fitness) were extracted. Results Three previous reviews were reviewed, including 13 family-based and three community-based interventions. Study inclusion differed for each review, but all concluded that the evidence was limited, although the potential of family-based interventions delivered in the home and including self-monitoring was highlighted. A further six family-based and four community-based interventions were included in the updated review, with a methodological quality score ranging from 2 to 10 and five studies scoring 6 or higher. Significant positive effects on PA were observed for one community-based and three family-based studies. No distinctive characteristics of the effective interventions compared with those that were ineffective were identified. Conclusions The effect of family- and community-based interventions remains uncertain despite improvements in study quality. Of the little evidence of effectiveness, most comes from those targeted at families and set in the home. Further detailed research is needed to identify key approaches for increasing young people's PA levels in family and community settings.
Bmc Medical Informatics and Decision Making Classifying the Precancers: a Metadata Approach Classifying the Precancers: a Metadata Approach

This Provisional PDF corresponds to the article as it appeared upon acceptance. The fully-formatted PDF version will become available in approximately two weeks after the date of publication, from the URL listed below. Like all articles in BMC journals, this peer-reviewed article was published immediately upon acceptance. It can be downloaded, printed and distributed freely for any purposes (see copyright notice below). Abstract Background
Addressing perceptual aliasing in topological map-building : economical use of metric information in a cognitive framework

Two or more different entities that appear identical when observed in isolation are perc ptually aliased. While the nature of perceptual aliasing is clearly general and its occurrence depends on the kind of entities and perceptual skills assumed, it originates a very practical problem when it comes to acquiring purposeful spatial representations, e.g., maps, of an unknown environment under exploration. If perceptual aliasing is taken into account, whenever a place is perceived as identical to one or more encountered earlier in the exploration, the following question must be addressed: “Is this place one of those visited earlier, or a totally new place (Was this a loop)? ”. Different approaches to map-building handle (if that) this issue in a variety of ways. Our work takes place in the framework of the Spatial Semantic Hierarchy, which has proved relevant to a diverse body of research in AI, robotics and cognitive sciences. It represents spatial knowledge over different overlaying ontological levels, and allows topological map-building. In its current computational implementations, the complete set of topological hypotheses originated by perceptual aliasing is pruned by further exploration, and enforcing topological and common sense properties. Many such hypotheses, however, may survive due to symmetry in the environment or while the exploration is not complete, yielding a combinatorial explosion of possible maps. We believe that taming this proliferation is possible without giving up the complete account of all the possible hypotheses, by ranking them according to their inherent metrical plausibility. We propose to evaluate such a parameter from local metrical annotations, in a computationally economical fashion, and without building a single global metrical frame of reference, that would introduce the hard problem of enforcing global metrical consistency. The main contribution here is the novel perspective, purpose and way mathematical methods and spatial ontologies are employed and integrated.
Moving Object Detection in Video Using Saliency Map and Subspace Learning

Moving object detection is a key to intelligent video analysis. On the one hand, what moves is not only interesting objects but also noise and cluttered background. On the other hand, moving objects without rich texture are prone not to be detected. So there are undesirable false alarms and missed alarms in many algorithms of moving object detection. To reduce the false alarms and missed alarms, in this paper, we propose to incorporate a saliency map into an incremental subspace analysis framework where the saliency map makes estimated background has less chance than foreground (i.e., moving objects) to contain salient objects. The proposed objective function systematically takes account into the properties of sparsity, low-rank, connectivity, and saliency. An alternative minimization algorithm is proposed to seek the optimal solutions. Experimental results on the Perception Test Images Sequences demonstrate that the proposed method is effective in reducing false alarms and missed alarms.
A grid forming target allocation strategy for multi robot systems.

In this paper we investigate a class of algorithms for solving a target allocation problem for a team of mobile robots. The problem solved concerns the concurrent solution of the target allocation problem and the motion planning problem, and it is solved for a specific class of targets. Specifically we are studying the solution of the target allocation problem when the targets are structured on a full grid structure. The problem is solved decentralized, with each agent having information regarding its position and its immediate vicinity. The main idea is to transform the problem from a 2D problem in a 1D problem. Time bounds for convergence are also given.
Habitat selection according to the ability of animals to eat, digest and detoxify foods

Large herbivores play a major role in shaping vegetation community dynamics through selective consumption of particular plants and plant communities. An understanding of the factors influencing diet selection at the level of individual bites (‘bite scale’) is important for prediction of the impact of herbivores on vegetation at the habitat scale. Bite-scale diet selection represents an integration of the twin goals of maximizing nutrient intake and minimizing toxin intake. Recent research with ruminants in pen-fed situations has shown that animals are able to make choices between artificial foods that maximize growth and other production variables. The role of post-ingestive feedback as an important mechanism for allowing animals to assess the nutritional quality of particular foods, and so select optimal diets, has been recognized in a number of recent experiments. Our understanding of the role of toxin intake minimization in diet selection decisions is more rudimentary. An important advance in the last decade has been the acknowledgement of the role of post-ingestive feedback and learning as a mechanism for avoidance of dietary toxicity. Further research is required to assess the importance of these processes in relation to free-grazing animals. The extent to which an understanding of bite-scale diet selection can be used to predict habitat utilization is not well understood. At the habitat scale additional factors such as predator avoidance, social constraints, avoidance of parasitism and microclimatic effects have an important influence on foraging decisions. Future research needs to focus on developing a quantitative understanding of such decisions at the habitat scale.
Targeting Notch to overcome radiation resistance

Radiotherapy represents an important therapeutic strategy in the treatment of cancer cells. However, it often fails to eliminate all tumor cells because of the intrinsic or acquired treatment resistance, which is the most common cause of tumor recurrence. Emerging evidences suggest that the Notch signaling pathway is an important pathway mediating radiation resistance in tumor cells. Successful targeting of Notch signaling requires a thorough understanding of Notch regulation and the context-dependent interactions between Notch and other therapeutically relevant pathways. Understanding these interactions will increase our ability to design rational combination regimens that are more likely to be safe and effective. Here we summarize the role of Notch in mediating resistance to radiotherapy, the different strategies to block Notch in cancer cells and how treatment scheduling can improve tumor response. Finally, we discuss a need for reliable Notch related biomarkers in specific tumors to measure pathway activity and to allow identification of a subset of patients who are likely to benefit from Notch targeted therapies.
C3 glomerulopathy: clinicopathologic features and predictors of outcome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The term C3 glomerulopathy describes renal disorders characterized by the presence of glomerular deposits composed of C3 in the absence of significant amounts of Ig. On the basis of electron microscopy appearance, subsets of C3 glomerulopathy include dense deposit disease (DDD) and C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN). The full spectrum of histologic change observed in C3 glomerulopathy has yet to be defined and pathologic predictors of renal outcome within this patient population remain largely unknown. This study thus characterized a large C3 glomerulopathy cohort and identified clinicopathologic predictors of renal outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS All patients with kidney biopsies fulfilling criteria for C3 glomerulopathy from two quaternary renal centers within the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1992 and 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. We recorded histologic, demographic, and clinical data and determined predictors of ESRD using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS Eighty patients with C3 glomerulopathy were identified: 21 with DDD and 59 with C3GN. Patients with DDD were younger, more likely to have low serum C3 levels, and more likely to have crescentic GN than patients with C3GN. Patients with C3GN were older and had more severe arteriolar sclerosis, glomerular sclerosis, and interstitial scarring than patients with DDD. Of 70 patients with available follow-up data, 20 (29%) progressed to ESRD after a median of 28 months. Age >16 years, DDD subtype, and crescentic GN were independent predictors of ESRD within the entire cohort. Renal impairment at presentation predicted ESRD only among patients with DDD. CONCLUSIONS Although detailed serologic and genetic data are lacking, this study nevertheless identifies important clinicopathologic distinctions between patients with DDD and C3GN. These include independent predictors of renal outcome. If replicated in other cohorts, these predictors could be used to stratify patients, enabling application of emerging mechanism-based therapies to patients at high risk for poor renal outcome.
Development and Validity of Western University’s On-Road Assessment

Although used across North America, many on-road studies do not explicitly document the content and metrics of on-road courses and accompanying assessments. This article discusses the development of the University of Western Ontario’s on-road course, and elucidates the validity of its accompanying on-road assessment. We identified main components for developing an on-road course and used measurement theory to establish face, content, and initial construct validity. Five adult volunteer drivers and 30 drivers with multiple sclerosis participated in the study. The road course had face and content validity, representing 100% of roadway components determined through a content validity matrix and index. The known-groups method showed that debilitated drivers (vs. not debilitated), made more driving errors (W = 463.50, p = .03), and failed the on-road course, indicating preliminary construct validity of the on-road assessment. This research guides and empirically supports a process for developing a road course and its assessment.
Ploidy has little effect on timing early embryonic events in the haplo‐diploid wasp Nasonia

The nucleocytoplasmic (N/C) ratio plays a prominent role in the maternal‐to‐zygotic transition (MZT) in many animals. The effect of the N/C ratio on cell‐cycle lengthening and zygotic genome activation (ZGA) has been studied extensively in Drosophila, where haploid embryos experience an additional division prior to completing cellularization and triploid embryos cellularize precociously by one division. In this study, we set out to understand how the obligate difference in ploidy in the haplodiploid wasp, Nasonia, affects the MZT and which aspects of the Drosophila MZT are conserved. While subtle differences in early embryonic development were observed in comparisons among haploid, diploid, and triploid embryos, in all cases embryos cellularize at cell cycle 12. When ZGA was inhibited, both diploid female, and haploid male, embryos went through 12 syncytial divisions and failed to cellularize before dying without further divisions. We also found that key players of the Drosophila MZT are conserved in Nasonia but have novel expression patterns. Our results suggest that zygotically expressed genes have a reduced role in determining the timing of cellularization in Nasonia relative to Drosophila, and that a stronger reliance on a maternal timer is more compatible with species where variations in embryonic ploidy are obligatory.