Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sliding Mode Control of Constrained Nonlinear Systems

This technical note introduces the design of sliding mode control algorithms for nonlinear systems in the presence of hard inequality constraints on both control and state variables. Relying on general results on minimum-time higher-order sliding mode for unconstrained systems, a general order control law is formulated to robustly steer the state to the origin, while satisfying all the imposed constraints. Results on minimum-time convergence to the sliding manifold, as well as on the maximization of the domain of attraction, are analytically proved for the first-order and second-order sliding mode cases. A general result is presented regarding the domain of attraction in the general order case, while numerical results on the estimation of the domain of attraction and on minimum-time convergence are discussed for the third-order case, following a procedure applicable to a sliding mode of any order.
InSAR Derived Deformation Patterns Related to the Aigion Earthquake (Greece)

The detectability of the deformation pattern produced by the June 15, 1995 Aigion earthquake with DInSAR techniques is ensured by its magnitude (Mw=6.3), shallow depth and dip-slip mechanism. In this paper, stacking procedures are applied to a series of ERS interferograms in order to filter out from the differential phase field the atmospheric signal, and an a posteriori test is used to check the statistical properties of the atmospheric signal both in time and space. Based on the DlnSAR-derived deformation pattern, a new fault model is proposed that takes into account the crustal layering of the western part of the Gulf of Corinth.
Compiler optimisations and relaxed memory consistency models

Les architectures modernes avec des processeurs multicœurs, ainsi que les langages de programmation modernes, ont des memoires faiblement consistantes. Leur comportement est formalise par le modele memoire de l'architecture ou du langage de programmation ; il definit precisement quelle valeur peut etre lue par chaque lecture dans la memoire partagee. Ce n'est pas toujours celle ecrite par la derniere ecriture dans la meme variable, a cause d'optimisation dans les processeurs, telle que l'execution speculative d'instructions, des effets complexes des caches, et des optimisations dans les compilateurs. Dans cette these, nous nous concentrons sur le modele memoire C11 qui est defini par l'edition 2011 du standard C. Nos contributions suivent trois axes. Tout d'abord, nous avons regarde la theorie autour du modele C11, etudiant de facon formelle quelles optimisations il autorise les compilateurs a faire. Nous montrons que de nombreuses optimisations courantes sont permises, mais, surprenamment, d'autres, importantes, sont interdites. Dans un second temps, nous avons developpe une methode a base de tests aleatoires pour detecter quand des compilateurs largement utilises tels que GCC et Clang realisent des optimisations invalides dans le modele memoire C11. Nous avons trouves plusieurs bugs dans GCC, qui furent tous rapidement fixes. Nous avons aussi implemente une nouvelle passez d'optimisation dans LLVM, qui recherchent des instructions des instructions speciales qui limitent les optimisations faites par le processeur - appelees instructions barrieres - et elimine celles qui ne sont pas utiles. Finalement, nous avons developpe un ordonnanceur en mode utilisateur pour des threads legers communicants via des canaux premier entre-premier sorti a un seul producteur et un seul consommateur. Ce modele de programmation est connu sous le nom de reseau de Kahn, et nous montrons comment l'implementer efficacement, via les primitives desynchronisation de C11. Ceci demontre qu'en depit de ses problemes, C11 peut etre utilise en pratique.
North American Oriented Strand Board Markets, Arbitrage Activity, and Market Price Dynamics: A Smooth Transition Approach

Price dynamics for North American oriented strand board markets are examined. The role of transactions costs are explored vis-a-vis the law of one price. Nonlinearities induced by unobservable transactions costs are modeled by estimating time-varying smooth transition autoregressions (TV-STARs). Results indicate that nonlinearity and structural change are important features of these markets; price parity relationships implied by economic theory are generally supported by the estimated models. Implications for the efficiency of spatial market linkages and the dynamics associated with price adjustments are also examined. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Piperacillin, a new penicillin active against many bacteria resistant to other penicillins

The in vitro activity of piperacillin, a new semisynthetic piperazine penicillin derivative, was evaluated against 626 clinical isolates and compared with the activity of other beta-lactam antibiotics. At a concentration of 0.1 microgram/ml, piperacillin inhibited all streptococci except enterococci. Non-beta-lactamase-producing staphylococci were inhibited by 1.6 microgram or less per ml. Both beta-lactamase- and non-beta-lactamase-producing Haemophilus were inhibited by 0.1 microgram/ml. Piperacillin inhibited non-beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella at a concentration of 6.3 micrograms/ml, but 20% of strains of these species containing type III beta-lactamase were not inhibited by 100 micrograms/ml. Piperacillin at 25 micrograms/ml, inhibited 83% of Citrobacter, 58% of Klebsiella, 88% of Enterobacter, and 50% of indole-positive Proteus, Acinetobacter, and Providencia. At 25 micrograms/ml, piperacillin inhibited 95% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 78% of Bacteroides fragilis. The minimal inhibitory concentration of piperacillin against Pseudomonas was affected by increasing the inoculum size and by pH. Minimum bactericidal concentrations against Pseudomonas and Serratia often were eightfold greater than the minimum inhibitory concentrations. Piperacillin was equal in activity to ampicillin against enterococci. It was more active than carbenicillin against E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Bacteroides. It was the most active penicillin against Pseudomonas and inhibited many strains of Pseudomonas for which the MICs of carbenicillin were above 200 micrograms/ml. Piperacillin was hydrolyzed by many different beta-lactamases. Synergistic activity of piperacillin was demonstrated when it was combined with amikacin, gentamicin, and cefazolin against P. aeruginosa and members of the Enterobacteriaceae. No antagonism was observed when piperacillin was combined with aminoglycosides; however, antagonism was observed rarely against E. coli when piperacillin was combined with cefazolin.
Intrusion Detection Based on Improved SOM with Optimized GA

In order to improve the effectiveness of supervised self-organizing map (SSOM) neural network, a kind of genetic algorithm is designed to optimize it. To improve its classification rate, a real number encoding genetic algorithm is provided and used to optimize the learning rate and neighbor radius of SSOM. To speed up the modeling speed, a binary encoding genetic algorithm is provided to optimize input variables of SSOM and reduce its dimension of input sample. Finally, intrusion detection data set KDD Cup 1999 is used to carry out experiment based on the proposed model. The results show that the optimized model has shorter modeling time and higher intrusion detection rate.
Preventing weight gain in adults: the pound of prevention study.

OBJECTIVES This study examined whether weight gain with age could be prevented through the use of a low-intensity intervention. METHODS Participants, 228 men and 998 women recruited from diverse sources, were randomized to one of the following groups: (1) no-contact control, (2) education through monthly newsletters, or (3) education plus incentives for participation. All participants were weighed and completed questionnaires about behaviors and attitudes related to weight at baseline and annually for 3 years thereafter. RESULTS Individuals in intervention groups reported favorable changes over time in frequency of weighting and healthy dieting practices relative to those in the control group. These behavior changes were in turn related to a reduced rate of weight gain over time. However, weight gain over 3 years did not differ significantly by treatment group. CONCLUSIONS This low-intensity educational approach to weight gain prevention sustained interest over a lengthy time period and was associated positively with behavior change, but it was not strong enough to significantly reduce weight gain with age.
Research Brief #9, Meeting Farm and Food Security Needs through Community Supported Agriculture and Farmers’ Markets in California

This research brief examines whether alternative food initiatives (AFIs) such as community supported agriculture (CSA) and farmers’ markets can meet the food security needs of low-income consumers. It is based on interviews with and surveys of farmers' market and CSA managers throughout California. The authors conclude that AFIs are not and cannot be substitutes for state entitlements in meeting the food security needs of low-income people.
Efecto del uso de biofertilizantes en la capacidad antioxidante y contenido fenólico de la cebolla

La cebolla ( Allium cepa L.) es uno de los cultivos horticolas de mas importantes en Mexico y en otros paises. Su consumo la hacen muy atractiva debido a sus propiedades antibacterianas, hipoglucemicas, anticancerigenas y antioxidantes. La produccion de biofertilizantes son una opcion amigable para los cultivos agricolas, ya que evitan el manejo y aplicacion de fertilizantes quimicos que danan el medio ambiente, la salud y el suelo de plantacion para futuras cosechas. Por eso, el objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el efecto del uso de biofertilizantes en la capacidad antioxidante (metodo ABTS+ DPPH y FRAP) y en el contenido fenolico total (metodo Folin-Ciocalteu) de la cebolla. El diseno experimental fue completamente al azar con 3 repeticiones. Todos los analisis se realizaron por triplicado y los resultados se expresaron como valores medios ± desviacion estandar. Se observaron diferencias estadisticamente significativas entre los tratamientos asi como el testigo en cuanto a la actividad antioxidante con el metodo ABTS+ asi como en el contenido fenolico total (Tukey Test, p ≤ 0,05).
Observations of Energetic Ions and Electrons in Saturn's Magnetosphere

The passage of Pioneer 11 by Saturn provided a detailed view of a planetary magnetosphere that is intermediate between those of Jupiter and Earth in both scale and the complexity of its dynamic processes. It appears to have at least three distinct regions: (i) an outer magnetosphere, extending from 17 to 7.5 Saturn radii, that resembles that of Earth in many important aspects; (ii) a slot region, between 7.5 and 4 Saturn radii, where a marked decrease in all protons and low-energy electrons is observed; and (iii) an inner region, extending from 4 Saturn radii to the ring edge, that features a sharp increase in the proton flux extending to energies greater than 20 million electron volts. A cutoff of both proton and electron fluxes occurred just beyond the nominal edge of the A ring.
Broadband dielectric characterization of CHO-K1 cells using miniaturized transmission-line sensor

A miniaturized transmission-line sensor based on a coplanar waveguide with increased sensitivity is used to characterize living and dead CHO-K1 cells in suspension. The biological samples are guided across the sensor in a microfluidic channel which is fabricated using microsystems technology. The broadband sensor is used between 850MHz and 40 GHz to detect the permittivity of liquid samples. The contrast between living and dead cells in suspension is significant despite a very small sampling volume.
Discours repris, discours emprunte, Discours habite chez l'enfant entre 1 et 3 ans

L'enfant entre dans le langage en reprenant des formes entendues dans le langage adulte, en manipulant les mots, les structures, et vajusqu'ajouer avec les places enonciatives afim de s'approprier pleinement toutes les fonctions du langage. Cet article retrace le parcours de l'enfant a travers trois moments des de son appropriation du langage: ses premiers pointages, ses premieres negations et des renversements pronominaux dans le recit. Les formes sont reprises dans le dialogue; mais l'enfant peut aussi les manipuler ensuite dans des jeux monolgiques puis les remettre de nouveau en circulation dans le dialogue. On montre ainsi combine les reprises, la repetitions du discours entendu, les empruntspeuvent &re "internalises" (VYGOTSKY, 1934) et devenir ainsi habitds par l' enfant qui les fait siens.
Analysis of the transient voltage stability of AC/DC system based on numerical energy function method

Transient voltage stability problem has been a hot topic since power systems in many places suffer voltage collapse after large disturbance. In this paper, a numerical energy function, including detailed High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) model, three-order generator model and one-order induction model, is proposed. Besides, a heuristic method is studied to identify the controlling unstable equilibrium point (CUEP) of the power system interconnected by HVDC. Combining the proposed energy function and the identified CUEP, the critical time for a power system to maintain transient voltage stability can be obtained. A three-machine nine-bus system interconnected with HVDC is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
A variant of Smurf2 protects mice against colitis-associated colon cancer by inducing transforming growth factor β signaling.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling, which is down-regulated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smad ubiquitin regulating factor 2 (Smurf2), promotes development of cancer. We identified a splice variant of Smurf2 (ΔE2Smurf2) and investigated its role in colon carcinogenesis in mice. METHODS Colitis-associated colon cancer was induced in mice by administration of azoxymethane, followed by 3 cycles of oral administration of dextran sodium sulfate. Messenger RNA levels of Smurf2 in colon tumors and control tissue were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction; lymphocyte and cytokine levels were measured in tumor and tissue samples. RESULTS Tumor-infiltrating CD4(+) cells expressed higher levels of ΔE2Smurf2 than CD4(+) cells from nontumor tissues of wild-type mice. T cell-specific overexpression of ΔE2Smurf2 increased TGF-β signaling by suppressing protein levels of Smurf2, accompanied by an increase in levels of TGF-β receptor type II. Transgenic mice that overexpress ΔE2Smurf2 were protected against development of colitis-associated tumors and down-regulated proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6. Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease had a significantly lower ratio of Smurf2/ΔE2Smurf2 than control individuals. CONCLUSIONS T cell-specific ΔE2Smurf2 degrades wild-type Smurf2 and controls intestinal tumor growth in mice by up-regulating TGF-β receptor type II, reducing proliferation and production of proinflammatory cytokines.
Photoperiod and Reproductive Condition Are Associated with Changes in RFamide-Related Peptide (RFRP) Expression in Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

To conserve scarce energetic resources during winter, seasonal breeders inhibit reproduction and other nonessential behavioral and physiological processes. Reproductive cessation is initiated in response to declining day lengths, a stimulus represented centrally as a long-duration melatonin signal. The melatonin signal is not decoded by the reproductive axis directly, but by an unidentified neurochemical system upstream of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (DMH) has been implicated in seasonal changes in reproductive function in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), although the specific-cell phenotype decoding photoperiodic information remains unknown. RFamide-related peptide (RFRP; the mammalian homolog of the gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) gene identified in birds) has emerged as a potent inhibitory regulator of the reproductive axis and, significantly, its expression is localized to cell bodies of the DMH in rodents. In the present study, the authors explored the relationship between RFRP expression, photoperiod exposure, and reproductive condition/hormonal status. In male hamsters that respond to short days with reproductive inhibition, RFRP-ir and mRNA expression are markedly reduced relative to long-day animals. Replacement of testosterone in short-day animals did not affect this response, suggesting that alterations in RFRP expression are not a result of changing sex steroid concentrations. A subset of the hamster population that ignores day length cues and remains reproductively competent in short days (nonresponders) exhibits RFRP-ir expression comparable to long-day hamsters. Analysis of cell body and fiber density suggests a potential interplay between peptide production and release rate in differentially regulating the reproductive axis during early and late stages of reproductive regression. Together, the present findings indicate that photoperiod-induced suppression of reproduction is associated with changes in RFRP and mRNA expression, providing opportunity for further exploration on the role that RFRP plays in this process.
The sensitivity to complement of strains of Escherichia coli related to their K antigens.

We have confirmed that K antigens influence the sensitivity to complement of strains of Escherichia coli. Resistant strains bound more polycation and by inference therefore had a higher surface negative charge than sensitive strains. Extracts containing K antigen non-specifically inhibited red cell agglutination and this inhibitory activity was roughly proportional to complement resistance. All of five resistant strains became more sensitive to complement when grown at unusual temperatures and extracts from them then had less inhibitory activity. In four strains of serotype O6 K13 complement resistance was proportional to K antigen content measured by immunodiffusion. However, purified K antigen from a resistant strain (WF82) had much greater agglutination inhibiting activity weight for weight than purified K antigen from a sensitive strain (WF96). In experiments with 125I-labelled haemolysin K antigens decreased the binding of both IgG and IgM antibodies and also directly reduced complement activity. The mechanisms of action of K antigens and their relation to virulence are discussed.
Prostaglandin E2 enhances interleukin 8 (IL-8) and IL-6 but inhibits GMCSF production by IL-1 stimulated human synovial fibroblasts in vitro.

OBJECTIVE To examine in vitro the effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on synovial cell cytokine production. METHODS Human synovial fibroblasts were stimulated with PGE2 alone or PGE2 in combination with interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) (5 ng/ml) and/or indomethacin (10(6) M) and assessed for the production of IL-8, IL-6, and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF) at the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. RESULTS PGE2 alone had little detectable effect on IL-8 or GMCSF; however, a small enhancement of both IL-6 mRNA and protein levels was seen. While all cytokines were markedly stimulated by IL-1 alpha), co-addition of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin enhanced IL-8 and GMCSF levels, but caused a reduction in IL-6 expression. The addition of PGE2 to cultures stimulated with IL-1 alpha and indomethacin resulted increases in IL-6 mRNA and protein expression while causing a concomitant reduction in GMCSF protein and mRNA expression. PGE2 and illoprost (PGI2 analog) enhanced IL-8 production in stimulated cells. CONCLUSION While PGE2 alone has limited effects on synovial cell production of IL-8 and GMCSF, its effects are significant in context of IL-1 alpha stimulation; endogenous PGE2 may alter cytokines secreted by mesenchymally derived cells. PGE2 may be an important modulator of cytokine driven inflammation.
New advances in pancreatic imaging.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review serves to highlight new technology and novel applications of existing techniques and their role in the management of pancreatic diseases, including acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and pancreatic cystic neoplasms. RECENT FINDINGS Contrast-enhanced ultrasound has shown promise in evaluating the severity of acute pancreatitis, staging pancreatic cancer, and predicting malignancy in cystic neoplasms. Optical coherence tomography within the pancreatic duct appears to be able to differentiate malignant and normal pancreatic ducts. Spectroscopy may prove useful in differentiating focal chronic pancreatitis from malignancy. Multidetector-row computed tomography may provide more accurate information regarding cancer respectability and differentiation between ductal type of intraductal papillary mucinous tumors. SUMMARY These new developments will help with the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic diseases.
Protonation Patterns in Tetracycline:Tet Repressor Recognition: Simulations and Experiments

Resistance to the antibiotic tetracycline (Tc) is regulated by its binding as a Tc:Mg2+ complex to the Tet Repressor protein (TetR). Tc:TetR recognition is a complex problem, with the protein and ligand each having several possible conformations and protonation states, which are difficult to elucidate by experiment alone. We used a combination of free‐energy simulations and crystallographic analysis to investigate the electrostatic interactions between protein and ligand and the possible role of induced fit in Tc binding. Tc in solution was described quantum mechanically, while Tc:TetR interactions were described by a recent, high‐quality molecular‐mechanics model. The orientations of the amide and imidazole groups were determined experimentally by a careful analysis of Debye–Waller factors in alternate crystallographic models. The agreement with experiment for these orientations suggested that the simulations and their more detailed, thermodynamic predictions were reliable. We found that the ligand prefers an extended, zwitterionic state both in solution and in complexation with the protein. Tc is thus preorganized for binding, while the protein combines lock‐and‐key behavior for regions close to the ligand's amide, enolate, and ammonium groups, with an induced fit for regions close to the Mg2+ ion. These insights and the modeling techniques employed should be of interest for engineering improved TetR ligands and improved TetR proteins for gene regulation, as well as for drug design.
Precipitating Circumstances of Suicide and Alcohol Intoxication Among U.S. Ethnic Groups.

BACKGROUND Our goal was to assess the prevalence of 9 different types of precipitating circumstances among suicide decedents, and examine the association between circumstances and postmortem blood alcohol concentration (BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dl) across U.S. ethnic groups. METHODS Data come from the restricted 2003 to 2011 National Violent Death Reporting System, with postmortem information on 59,384 male and female suicide decedents for 17 U.S. states. RESULTS Among men, precipitating circumstances statistically associated with a BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dl were physical health and job problems for Blacks, and experiencing a crisis, physical health problems, and intimate partner problem for Hispanics. Among women, the only precipitating circumstance associated with a BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dl was substance abuse problems other than alcohol for Blacks. The number of precipitating circumstances present before the suicide was negatively associated with a BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dl for Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS Selected precipitating circumstances were associated with a BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dl, and the strongest determinant of this level of alcohol intoxication prior to suicide among all ethnic groups was the presence of an alcohol problem.