Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The improved model predictive control based on novel error correction between reference and predicted current

This paper proposes an improved model predictive control based on novel error correction between reference and predicted current. The proposed control strategy introduces novel error correction between reference and predicted current to improve robustness and steady-state performance of the system. The control coefficient is computed by the error between the kth instant and the (k-1)th instant without trial, and its range is limited by the Lyapunov stability theorem. Moreover, it modifies the control law of the conventional finite control set model predictive control to reduce the computational burden. The encouraging performances are tested under a single-phase voltage source rectifier. The simulated and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy not only offers good robustness but also leads to better steady-state performance while retaining fast dynamic response.
Preclinical Evaluation of Radioiodinated Hoechst 33258 for Early Prediction of Tumor Response to Treatment of Vascular-Disrupting Agents

This study aimed to explore the use of 131I-Hoechst 33258 (131I-H33258) for early prediction of tumor response to vascular-disrupting agents (VDAs) with combretastatin-A4 phosphate (CA4P) as a representative. Necrosis avidity of 131I-H33258 was evaluated in mouse models with muscle necrosis and blocking was used to confirm the tracer specificity. Therapy response was evaluated by 131I-H33258 SPECT/CT imaging 24 h after CA4P therapy in W256 tumor-bearing rats. Radiotracer uptake in tumors was validated ex vivo using γ-counting, autoradiography, and histopathological staining. Results showed that 131I-H33258 had predominant necrosis avidity and could specifically bind to necrotic tissue. SPECT/CT imaging demonstrated that an obvious “hot spot” could be observed in the CA4P-treated tumor. Ex vivo γ-counting revealed 131I-H33258 uptake in tumors was increased 2.8-fold in rats treated with CA4P relative to rats treated with vehicle. Autoradiography and corresponding H&E staining suggested that 131I-H33258 was mainly localized in necrotic tumor area and the higher overall uptake in the treated tumors was attributed to the increased necrosis. These results suggest that 131I-H33258 can be used to image induction of cell necrosis 24 h after CA4P therapy, which support further molecular design of probes based on scaffold H33258 for monitoring of tumor response to VDAs treatment.
Synthesis of Polymeric Composites Reinforced with Unidirectional and Bidirectional Bamboo Fibers

Due to environmental problems and exhaustion related to materials provided from non-renewable sources, the development of recycling technologies using residue as raw material has grown increasingly. Polypropylene (PP), a thermoplastic polymer, despite be easily recycled, presents a decrease in their mechanical properties after reprocessing cycles. In order to solve this problem, reinforcements may be added, producing a composite with better properties. The choosing of the dispersed phase aimed to consider, especially, its mechanical properties. Moreover, it was also considered the orientations of the incorporated fibers at the composite mechanical strength. In this scenario, a composite material of polymer matrix from recycled PP reinforced unidirectionally and bidirectionally with bamboo fibers were prepared. The fibers were treated with modifiers in order to increase the adhesion between polymer/fiber. The results showed that the use of reinforcement improves the mechanical properties of the polymer. Also, the superficial treatments were effective, indicating that there was an increase of the compatibility between the materials. It can be also inferred that the orientation of the fibers has directly influence at the final properties of the composite.
ALLENE OXIDE CYCLASE (AOC) gene family members of Arabidopsis thaliana: tissue- and organ-specific promoter activities and in vivo heteromerization*

Jasmonates are important signals in plant stress responses and plant development. An essential step in the biosynthesis of jasmonic acid (JA) is catalysed by ALLENE OXIDE CYCLASE (AOC) which establishes the naturally occurring enantiomeric structure of jasmonates. In Arabidopsis thaliana, four genes encode four functional AOC polypeptides (AOC1, AOC2, AOC3, and AOC4) raising the question of functional redundancy or diversification. Analysis of transcript accumulation revealed an organ-specific expression pattern, whereas detailed inspection of transgenic lines expressing the GUS reporter gene under the control of individual AOC promoters showed partially redundant promoter activities during development: (i) In fully developed leaves, promoter activities of AOC1, AOC2, and AOC3 appeared throughout all leaf tissue, but AOC4 promoter activity was vascular bundle-specific; (ii) only AOC3 and AOC4 showed promoter activities in roots; and (iii) partially specific promoter activities were found for AOC1 and AOC4 in flower development. In situ hybridization of flower stalks confirmed the GUS activity data. Characterization of single and double AOC loss-of-function mutants further corroborates the hypothesis of functional redundancies among individual AOCs due to a lack of phenotypes indicative of JA deficiency (e.g. male sterility). To elucidate whether redundant AOC expression might contribute to regulation on AOC activity level, protein interaction studies using bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) were performed and showed that all AOCs can interact among each other. The data suggest a putative regulatory mechanism of temporal and spatial fine-tuning in JA formation by differential expression and via possible heteromerization of the four AOCs.
An algebraic identification method for the demodulation of QPSK signal through a convolutive channel

We present a straightforward algebraic setting for the demodulation of a QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) signal over a convolutive and additive noise channel. Our method exploits the form of the continuous-time received signal without questioning the digital nature of the communication system. The developments rely on classical deterministic numerical analysis. No assumption is required for the statistical properties of the signals and noises. The proposed method estimates the channel using a very short training sequence (typically 5 symbols) and, afterwards, directly reconstructs the transmitted symbols using a very fast (online) estimation procedure. The simulation results show a good robustness to additive noise disturbance and to channel's order mismatch.
A Non-Parametric and Entropy Based Analysis of the Relationship between the VIX and S&P 500

This paper features an analysis of the relationship between the S&P500 Index and the VIX using daily data obtained from both the CBOE website and SIRCA (The Securities Industry Research Centre of the Asia Pacic). We explore the relationship between the S&P500 daily continuously compounded return series and a similar series for the VIX in terms of a long sample drawn from the CBOE running from 1990 to mid 2011 and a set of returns from SIRCA's TRTH datasets running from March 2005 to-date. We divide this shorter sample, which captures the behaviour of the new VIX, introduced in 2003, into four roughly equivalent sub-samples which permit the exploration of the impact of the Global Financial Crisis. We apply to our data sets a series of non-parametric based tests utilising entropy based metrics. These suggest that the PDFs and CDFs of these two return distributions change shape in various subsample periods. The entropy and MI statistics suggest that the degree of uncertainty attached to these distributions changes through time and using the S&P500 return as the dependent variable, that the amount of information obtained from the VIX also changes with time and reaches a relative maximum in the most recent period from 2011 to 2012. The entropy based non-parametric tests of the equivalence of the two distributions and their symmetry all strongly reject their respective nulls. The results suggest that parametric techniques do not adequately capture the complexities displayed in the behaviour of these series. This has practical implications for hedging utilising derivatives written on the VIX, which will be the focus of a subsequent study.
Black-Box Policy Search with Probabilistic Programs

In this work, we explore how probabilistic programs can be used to represent policies in sequential decision problems. In this formulation, a probabilistic program is a black-box stochastic simulator for both the problem domain and the agent. We relate classic policy gradient techniques to recently introduced black-box variational methods which generalize to probabilistic program inference. We present case studies in the Canadian traveler problem, Rock Sample, and a benchmark for optimal diagnosis inspired by Guess Who. Each study illustrates how programs can efficiently represent policies using moderate numbers of parameters.
Expanding syphilis testing: a scoping review of syphilis testing interventions among key populations

ABSTRACT Introduction: Syphilis is an important sexually transmitted infection (STI). Despite inexpensive and effective treatment, few key populations receive syphilis testing. Innovative strategies are needed to increase syphilis testing among key populations. Areas covered: This scoping review focused on strategies to increase syphilis testing in key populations (men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, people who use drugs, transgender people, and incarcerated individuals). Expert commentary: We identified many promising syphilis testing strategies, particularly among MSM. These innovations are separated into diagnostic, clinic-based, and non-clinic based strategies. In terms of diagnostics, self-testing, dried blood spots, and point-of-care testing can decentralize syphilis testing. Effective syphilis self-testing pilots suggest the need for further attention and research. In terms of clinic-based strategies, modifying default clinical procedures can nudge physicians to more frequently recommend syphilis testing. In terms of non-clinic based strategies, venue-based screening (e.g. in correctional facilities, drug rehabilitation centres) and mobile testing units have been successfully implemented in a variety of settings. Integration of syphilis with HIV testing may facilitate implementation in settings where individuals have increased sexual risk. There is a strong need for further syphilis testing research and programs.
Purdue e-Pubs Purdue e-Pubs

A well-known strength of the parametric representation of a curve or surface is the ease by which a piecewise linear approximation is generated. This is often true in geometric design, where only smooth segments or patches are considered over a well-chosen polynomial basis. Visualizing an arbitrary and possibly discontinuous parametric surface is useful but non-trivial for algebraic surfaces defined by rational parameter functions. Such surfaces have pole curves in their domain, where the denominators of the parameter functions vanish, domain base points that correspond to entire curves on the surface, and other features that cause display algorithms to fail. These are ubiquitous problems occurring even among the natural quadrics. Sophisticated but unsuspecting display techniques (e.g. those implemented in Maple V, Mathematica) produce completely unintelligible results. We provide a general solution and discuss our implementation. First, projective domain transformations are applied that map the entire surface from a finite domain region. Then, domain pole curves are identified and numerically approximated. Using Delaunay triangulation, a special decomposition of the domain is constructed that avoids discontinuities. This is then mapped onto the surface and clipped against a 3D box. The implementation can display very complicated surfaces, as we shall illustrate. Our techniques generalize in a straightforward way to rational varieties of any dimension.
Making Use of Aberrant and Nonsense: Aberrant Splicing and Nonsense-Mediated Decay as Targets for Personalized Medicine

It is estimated that one-third of disease-causing mutations may induce aberrant splicing of pre-messenger RNA transcripts and a partially overlapping third to premature stop codons (PTC) and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). In some diseases, the estimate even goes up to 50% and >70%, respectively. These highly prevalent effects of different mutations on mRNA processing have prompted much effort for the identification of compounds towards the therapy of a substantial number of diseases with mutation-specific, personalized medicine. Here I review the widespread occurrence of aberrant splicing, NMD and their association in human genetic diseases, and discuss the rationales underlying the corresponding therapeutic strategies and challenges. The ability to sequence and analyze the human genome and transcriptomes of various sources at speeds unimaginable more than 20 years ago has had huge impacts on not only basic biological research but also the development of novel therapeutic strategies for human genetic diseases. Particularly this ability allows the screening of mutations in individuals at a genome/transcriptome scale for the design of different therapeutic strategies for mutation-specific, personalized medicine based on how the mutations take their toll. For the genetic information-based disease therapy, RNA has also been targeted besides DNA and protein, with an accelerating speed of research in recent years. This development has mainly benefited from our understanding of different aspects of RNA processing and appreciation of their prevalence, such as the widespread presence of alternative pre-mRNA splicing in human transcriptomes, mRNA quality control by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), as well as microRNA, long noncoding RNA and other non-coding RNAs. Their misregulation due to mutations has been linked to or associated with the development of human genetic diseases. Here I will discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting aberrant splicing and NMD, two widespread and related effects of a large number of genetic mutations that cause human diseases.
Properties of Two Outward-Rectifying Channels in Root Xylem Parenchyma Cells Suggest a Role in K+ Homeostasis and Long-Distance Signaling

Xylem parenchyma cells (XPCs) control the composition of the transpiration stream in plants and are thought to play a role in long-distance signaling as well. We addressed the regulation, selectivity, and dependence on the apoplastic ion concentrations of two types of outward rectifiers in the plasma membrane of XPCs, to assess the physiological role of these conductances. In whole-cell recordings, the membrane conductance at depolarization was under the control of cytosolic Ca2+: at physiological Ca2+ levels (150 nM) the K+ outward-rectifying conductance (KORC) predominated, whereas at elevated Ca2+ levels (5 [mu]M), only the nonselective outward-rectifying conductance (NORC) was active. No such regulatory effect of Ca2+ was observed in inside-out experiments. The voltage dependence of whole-cell KORC currents strongly depended on apoplastic K+ concentration: an increase in apoplastic K+ resulted in a positive shift of the current-voltage curve, roughly following the shift in Nernst potential of K+. KORC is impermeable to Na+, but does translocate Ca2+ in addition to K+. In contrast to KORC, NORC selected poorly among monovalent cations and anions, the relative permeability PC+/PA- being about 1.9. Gating of NORC was largely unaffected by the level of K+ in the bath. Under all ionic conditions tested, NORC tail currents or single-channel currents reversed close to 0 mV. Using an in vivo xylem-perfusion technique, tetraethylammonium (an inhibitor of KORC) was shown to block K+ transport to the shoot. These data support the hypothesis that release of K+ to the xylem sap is mediated by KORC. The molecular properties of these two conductances are discussed in the light of the distinct physiological role of XPCs.
How researchers perceive research misconduct in biomedicine and how they would prevent it: A qualitative study in a small scientific community

ABSTRACT The aim of our study has been to use a qualitative approach to explore the potential motivations and drivers for unethical behaviors in biomedicine and determine the role of institutions regarding those issues in a small scientific community setting. Three focus groups were held---two with doctoral students and one with active senior researchers. Purposive sampling was used to reach participants at different stages of their scientific careers. Participants in all three focus groups were asked the same questions regarding the characteristics and behaviors of ethical/unethical scientists, ethical climate, role, and responsibility of institutions; they were also asked to suggest ways to improve research integrity. The data analysis included coding of the transcripts, categorization of the initial codes, and identification of themes and patterns. Three main topics were derived from the focus groups discussions. The first included different forms of unethical behaviors including increasing research “waste,” non-publication of negative results, authorship manipulation, data manipulation, and repression of collaborators. The second addressed the factors influencing unethical behavior, both external and internal, to the researchers. Two different definitions of ethics in science emerged; one from the categorical perspective and the other from the dimensional perspective. The third topic involved possible routes for improvement, one from within the institution through the research integrity education, research integrity bodies, and quality control, and the other from outside the institution through external supervision of institutions. Based on the results of our study, research misconduct in a small scientific community is perceived to be the consequence of the interaction of several social and psychological factors, both general and specific, for small research communities. Possible improvements should be systematic, aiming both for improvements in work environment and personal awareness in research ethics, and the implementation of those changes should be institutional responsibility.
Inhibition of TRPA1 Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Acute Cardiotoxicity by Suppressing Oxidative Stress, the Inflammatory Response, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channel is expressed in cardiomyocytes and involved in many cardiovascular diseases. However, the expression and function of TRPA1 in doxorubicin- (Dox-) induced acute cardiotoxicity have not been elucidated. This study aimed at investigating whether blocking the TRPA1 channel with the specific inhibitor HC-030031 (HC) attenuates Dox-induced cardiac injury. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: control, HC, Dox, and Dox + HC. Echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac function, and the heart was removed for molecular experiments. The results showed that the expression of TRPA1 was increased in the heart after Dox treatment. Cardiac dysfunction and increased serum CK-MB and LDH levels were induced by Dox, but these effects were attenuated by HC treatment. In addition, HC mitigated Dox-induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by the decreased MDA level and increased GSH level and SOD activity in the Dox + HC group. Meanwhile, HC treatment lowered the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α induced by Dox. Furthermore, HC treatment mitigated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by Dox. These results indicated that inhibition of TRPA1 could prevent Dox-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and ER stress.
Leaf turgor pressure in maize plants under water stress

Maize grown is affected by water stress reducing photosynthetic rate and availability of water in its tissues, decreasing plant yield. Monitoring plant water potential is an important indicator of the degree of water stress. With the new magnetic probe for determining leaf turgidity, it is possible to evaluate the water status of the plant and, in some cases, to indicate the optimal relative tolerance to water stress. The union of new and old approaches gives us a better knowledge of water relations in plats. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the behavior of maize plants subjected to water stress, using novel and conventional approaches. Maize plants were grown in pots in a greenhouse for 45 days. After this period, plants were subjected to water stress, where turgor measurements expressed by the variable Pp (patch pressure) were monitored. In addition, the leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation, transpiration rate, and variable growth (height, leaf area and dry weight) had been monitored for 30 days. Two treatments were conducted, one in which the plant was irrigated and the other one in which irrigation was fully suspended for a period of time and monitored the water status. As the days passed, the plants showed the first visual signs of stress like leaf rolling. During this period, we observed fluctuating Pp values throughout the day, but with a recovery of turgor at night. There were significant differences between treatments for stomatal conductance, water potential, photosynthesis, and Pp, mainly before irrigation. After each irrigation, there has been a rapid recovery in all parameters. There was five periods of stress and it is possible to see a pattern of decreasing and increasing the Pp as the advance of stress, mainly in the last two. Maize plants had a big resilience in water stress conditions, due to mechanisms of water loss mitigation, like leaf rolling and possibly osmotic adjustment. Thus, it was concluded that Pp introduced a new approach to study plants subjected to water stress and it is a complement to other variables as CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and leaf water potential.
Fog Computing and the Internet of Things: A Review

With the rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) applications, the classic centralized cloud computing paradigm faces several challenges such as high latency, low capacity and network failure. To address these challenges, fog computing brings the cloud closer to IoT devices. The fog provides IoT data processing and storage locally at IoT devices instead of sending them to the cloud. In contrast to the cloud, the fog provides services with faster response and greater quality. Therefore, fog computing may be considered the best choice to enable the IoT to provide efficient and secure services for many IoT users. This paper presents the state-of-the-art of fog computing and its integration with the IoT by highlighting the benefits and implementation challenges. This review will also focus on the architecture of the fog and emerging IoT applications that will be improved by using the fog model. Finally, open issues and future research directions regarding fog computing and the IoT are discussed.