Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Switched adaptive control with average dwell time for a class of robot manipulators

This paper presents a switched adaptive controller using the average dwell time method to solve the load variation problem of robot manipulators. Considering the parameter jump caused by the load variation, we model the robot manipulator as a switched system. The switched adaptive controller switches synchronously with the system. A sliding mode adaptive control approach is adopted to avoid using joint accelerations and the inverse of time-variant matrices. Uniformly ultimate boundedness of the tracking error is obtained. Simulation is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Identiﬁcation and Characterization of a Brucella abortus ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter Homolog to Rhizobium meliloti ExsA and Its Role in Virulence and Protection in Mice

Brucella abortus is a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes abortion in domestic animals and undulant fever in humans. The mechanism of virulence of Brucella spp. is not fully understood yet. Furthermore, genes that allow Brucella to reach the intracellular niche and to interact with host cells need to be identiﬁed. Using the genomic survey sequence (GSS) approach, we identiﬁed the gene encoding an ATP- binding cassette (ABC) transporter of B. abortus strain S2308. The deduced amino acid sequence encoded by this gene exhibited 69 and 67% identity with the sequences of the ABC transporters encoded by the exsA genes of Rhizobium meliloti and Mesorhizobium loti , respectively. Additionally, B. abortus ExsA, like R. meliloti and M. loti ExsA, possesses ATP-binding motifs and the ABC signature domain features of a typical ABC nodule establishment of the of ExsA in Brucella pathogenesis, an exsA deletion mutant was constructed. Replacement of the wild-type exsA by recombination was demonstrated by Southern blot analysis of Brucella genomic DNA. Decreased survival in mice of the Brucella (cid:1) exsA mutant compared to the survival of parental strain S2308 demonstrated that ExsA is critical for full bacterial virulence. the abortus exsA deletion mutant was used as a live vaccine. Challenge experiments mutant strain induced superior protective immunity in BALB/c mice compared S19
Neonatal neutrophil interaction with P‐selectin: contribution of P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 and sialic acid

Previously we had determined that neonatal neutrophils had decreased interaction with monolayers expressing P‐selectin compared to adult cells. In this study we examined the function of neonatal P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 (PSGL‐1). A rabbit polyclonal antibody directed against the amino terminus of human PSGL‐1 was produced and purified (3RB‐PSGL‐1). Neonatal neutrophils expressed the epitope recognized by 3RB‐PSGL‐1 and expression was decreased compared with adult neutrophils (20%, P < 0.05). In addition neonatal neutrophils had decreased interaction with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)‐P‐selectin under both shear conditions and static adhesion (P < 0.05). Treatment of both neonatal and adult neutrophils with 3RB‐PSGL‐1 similarly inhibited the interaction with P‐selectin monolayers under shear conditions, effects similar to treatment with O‐sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase (OSGE). Neuraminidase treatment of neonatal and adult cells also markedly inhibited the interaction. In a detachment assay marked differences were noted between neonatal and adult cells treated with either 3RB‐PSGL‐1 or neuraminidase. Such treatments had little effect on adult neutrophils until shear stress exceeded 2.8 dynes/cm2. Treated neonatal neutrophils were exquisitely sensitive to shear stress with a marked decrease in interaction noted at a shear stress as low as 0.6 dynes/cm2. Thus the adhesive mechanisms that remain after treatment with neuraminidase or 3RB‐PSGL‐1 have a relatively low avidity and function less well in neonatal neutrophils compared to adult neutrophils. We speculate that this may account for the less efficient adhesion of neonatal neutrophils to P‐selectin under conditions of flow. J. Leukoc. Biol. 67: 73–80; 2000.
Therapy and clinical trials.

DOI:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000116 The beginning of 2014 was punctuated by the publication of the long-awaited ACC/AHA Blood Cholesterol Guidelines [1]. Compared with ATP-III, this document expanded the estimated number of US statin-eligible adults from 43.4 to 56.0 million, with the majority (10.4 million) having no established cardiovascular disease (CVD), but an elevated 10-year atherosclerotic CVD event risk [2]. Each successive guideline has appropriately pushed for earlier and more aggressive implementation of statins. Although immediate medication use undoubtedly improves medical compliance, dietary modification could be becoming a forgotten tool. Diet was once touted as the initial strategy in lipid control, with medications limited to patients not achieving cholesterol targets. Although healthy lifestyle remains an instructional focus for all concerned physicians, how patients view such interventions in light of medications that can overcome their indiscretions remains unclear. A recent crosssectional study examined calorie consumption in statin users from 1999 to 2010 as a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [3 && ]. Initially (1999 to 2000) calorie or fat intake was significantly lower in patients taking statins. Interestingly, the difference became insignificant in 2004 to 2005 and 2005 to 2006, and reversed in 2009 to 2010, when statin users had higher calorie or fat intakes. BMI was also higher in statin users, as was diabetes prevalence. Several clinical trials over the past decade have identified an increased risk of diabetes for statin users [4,5]. In parallel with a previous meta-analysis [6], a large nested case-control observational study by the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies investigators demonstrated an increased incidence of diabetes in patients newly treated with higher potency compared with lower potency statins for secondary prevention [7 && ]. This was the first study to target incident diabetes as the primary outcome. Sensitivity analysis was used to eliminate the possibility of undiagnosed diabetes prior to statin therapy. Among 136 966 participants, 3629 patients developed diabetes within 2 years. Higher potency statins resulted in a 15% increased risk of diabetes, with the number needed to harm being 342. A recent reanalysis of the nateglinide and
Targeting of c-Met and urokinase expressing human glioma cell lines by retrovirus vector displaying single-chain variable fragment antibody

Amphotropic retroviruses with modified envelope displaying single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) directed against the c-Met receptor were recently generated and found to efficiently and selectively deliver genes into hepatocarcinoma cells. A large proportion of human gliomas also frequently overexpresses c-Met. We therefore explored the possibility of infecting glioma cells using such retroviruses bearing an scFv directed against c-Met. In one construct, a urokinase (uPA) cleavage site was inserted between the scFv and the envelope. We assessed the transduction by these chimeric viruses of a panel of seven human glioma cell lines that we characterized for their c-Met and uPA levels. We found that abundance of the c-Met receptor and viral infection were inversely correlated if we used the retrovirus displaying scFv directed against c-Met, suggesting that the chimeric virus binds preferentially to the c-Met receptor, resulting in virus sequestration. Addition of the uPA site between the scFv moiety and the envelope restored the infectivity of the virus, consistent with a “two-step” infection process: (1) virus binding to the c-Met receptor, (2) cleavage of the scFv moiety by uPA, enabling the virus to dissociate from c-Met and entry into the cells via the Pit-2 receptor. Our study has significant implications for the design of targeting strategies for gliomas expressing high levels of c-Met.
Bone and joint changes associated with psoriasis.

A group of cases have been reported in this paper, which, with two exceptions, showed a markedly destructive arthritis of the hands and feet with little porosis of bone. All the patients suffered from psoriasis, and practically all of them had psoriatic pitting of the nails. In all but the exceptional cases, one of which showed a rheumatoid type of arthritis and the second of which had mixed rheumatoid and destructive lesions, the psoriasis preceded the joint changes by a number of years. In several of them the joint exacerbations and the worsening of the skin lesions were concomitant.
Prediction of Nonlinear Distortion in Wideband Active Antenna Arrays

In this paper, we propose a technique for comprehensive analysis of nonlinear and dynamic characteristics of multi-antenna transmitters (TXs). The analysis technique is enabled by the development of a Volterra series-based dual-input model for power amplifiers (PAs), which is capable of considering the joint effects of PA nonlinearity, antenna crosstalk, and mismatch for wideband modulated signals. By combining multiple instances of the PA model with linear dynamic antenna simulations, we develop the analysis technique. The proposed method allows the prediction of the output signal of every antenna in an arbitrarily sized TX array, as well as the total far-field radiated wave of the TX for any input signal with low computational effort. A 2.12-GHz four-element TX demonstrator based on GaAs PAs is implemented to verify simulation results with measurements. The proposed technique is a powerful tool to study hardware characteristics as, for example, the effects of antenna design and element spacing. It can be used in cases where experiments are not feasible, and thus aid the development of next generation wireless systems.
Text compression based on variable-to-fixed codes for Markov sources

An n-state Markov model for symbol occurrences is extended to an equivalent source for variable length strings of symbols in a dictionary at every state i, which are to be encoded with the string index in the dictionary. The algorithm for building the n dictionaries optimizes the rate subject to a given total number of entries in the dictionaries, and it is practical even for Markov sources with thousands of states. The speed of the algorithm stems from encoding by table look-ups of the strings instead of single symbols. For this the n dictionaries need be known both to the encoder and the decoder. A static version of the algorithm is very well suited for creation of compressed files with random access. An adaptive version is shown to be faster than the methods in the PPM class, while providing only slightly lower compression ratios.
GlaxoSmithKline Adjuvant Systems in vaccines: concepts, achievements and perspectives

The need for potentiating immune responses to recombinant or subunit antigens has prompted GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biologicals to develop various Adjuvant Systems for the design of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines. Adjuvant Systems are formulations of classical adjuvants mixed with immunomodulators, specifically adapted to the antigen and the target population. They can activate the appropriate innate immune system and subsequently impact on adaptive immune responses. AS04 is an Adjuvant System that has demonstrated significant achievements in several vaccines against viral diseases. AS02, another Adjuvant System, is being evaluated in various contexts, where a strong T-cell response is needed to afford protection. Likewise, AS01 has been developed for vaccines where the induction of a yet stronger T-cell-mediated immune response is required. Altogether, the promising clinical results strongly support the concept of Adjuvant Systems and allow for further development of new vaccines, best adapted to the target population and the immune mechanisms of protection.
Changes in strength over time among polio survivors.

OBJECTIVE To study changes in the strength of different muscle groups in polio survivors over a period of approximately 9 months. DESIGN Longitudinal study. SETTING Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute. PARTICIPANTS One hundred twenty subjects (57 men, 63 women) were studied on three occasions, each 3 to 5 months apart. Subjects were recruited through the Einstein-Moss Post-Polio Management Program. newspaper advertisements, and polio support groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Isometric strength of 30 muscle groups (16 in upper extremities, 14 in lower extremities) was measured, using a hand-held dynamometer. RESULTS Data were analyzed in two separate groups: upper-extremity muscles and lower-extremity muscles. Results for the upper-extremity muscles revealed evidence of a significant deterioration in strength. The amount of deterioration differed among muscles and increased with age. There was also evidence of deterioration in strength in the flexor muscles in the ankle, hip, and knee. However, the rate of deterioration in these muscles was not strongly related to age, time since polio, gender, symptom status, or history of residual weakness. CONCLUSIONS Strength is deteriorating among polio survivors at a rate higher than that associated with normal aging. This deterioration is not occurring in the extensor, or so-called "weight-bearing" muscles, but is occurring in many of the upper-extremity muscle groups and in the flexor muscles in the lower extremities.
LIVER FUNCTION MARKERS AND ASSOCIATED SERUM ELECTROLYTES CHANGES IN HIV PATIENTS ATTENDING PATIENT SUPPORT CENTRE OF JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL, KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA.

OBJECTIVE To determine the distribution of markers of liver function disorders and their association with co-existing fluids and electrolytes states in ambulatory HIV infected individuals. DESIGN A case-control study. SETTING Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital's Patient Support Centre. INTERVENTION Biochemical analysis were performed for serum alanine-aminotranferase (ALT), aspartate-amino transferase (AST), total protein, albumin, glucose, urea, potassium, sodium, chloride, creatinine phosphate, total and direct bilirubin levels as well as CD4 lymphocyte levels. RESULTS Serum liver function markers were significantly altered in HIV infected individuals compared to uninfected individuals (mean serum aspartate-amino transferase (AST); 45.1 U/l v/s 36.9 U/l; alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), 36.5U/l v/s 30.7 U/l; direct bilirubin, 4.9 micromol/l v/s 4.2 micromol/l; total bilirubin, 6.2 micromol/l v/s 5 micromol/l; albumin32.8 g/l v/s 34.3 g/l and protein 64 g/l vls 67.1 g/l; p <0.0001). The prevalence of pathological levels of serum liver function markers was also higher in HIV-infected patients than HIV-negative participants (ALT, 4.4% v/s 0.7%, p=0.001; AST, 24.5% v/s 6.7%, p<0.0001; direct bilirubin, 43.1% v/s 36.5%, p=0.026; total bilirubin, 2.3% v/s 0%, p=0.002; serum albumin, 60.1% v/s 52.2%, p= 0.009 and serum total protein levels, 52.8% v/s 36%, p<0.0001). Gender, age and anti-retroviral treatment were not predictors of aberrations in levels of liver function markers in HIV infected patients. Marked CD4 depletion was associated with enhanced deterioration of liver function markers. Liver function anomalies did not conduce co-existing electrolyte anomalies as clinically altered ALT states only correlated and co-varied with AST states (r = 0.917); direct biliribun states co-varied with total bilirubin levels (r = 0.958) and serum album states correlated with protein levels (r = 0.917) and vice versa. CONCLUSION Liverfunction disorders are not infrequent in HIV infected individuals and routine review of liver health status is essential in comprehensive care of HIV patients.
Effect of levamisole on active antibody titres and histomorphometric parameters of immune organs in broiler chickens.

Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Alborz, Iran; Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Poultry Disease Diagnostics Section, Center of Iran Veterinary Organization Laboratory, Tehran, Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
The Impact of Revenue Gap on Economic Growth: A Case Study of Pakistan

This study employs auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds approach to cointegration for long run and errorcorrection modeling (ECM) for short run analysis to examine the relationship between revenue gap and economic growth for Pakistan using annual time series data over the period 1980 to 2008. The short and long run results indicate that revenue gap is statistical significant and negatively effect economic growth. The significant and negative coefficient of error correction term in ECM indicates that after a shock, the long rum equilibrium will again converge towards equilibrium about 10.406 percent within a year. Keywords—ARDL cointegration, Economic Growth, Revenue Gap, Pakistan.
Definition of glaucoma: clinical and experimental concepts

Glaucoma is a term describing a group of ocular disorders with multi‐factorial etiology united by a clinically characteristic intraocular pressure‐associated optic neuropathy. It is not a single entity and is sometimes referred to in the plural as the glaucomas. All forms are potentially progressive and can lead to blindness. The diverse conditions that comprise glaucoma are united by a clinically characteristic optic neuropathy: glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON). Evidence suggests that the primary site of neurological injury is at the optic nerve head. This fact enables the conditions to be grouped, irrespective of the causal mechanism(s). The term experimental glaucoma implies model resemblance to the human condition. We propose that ‘experimental glaucoma’ be restricted to animal models with demonstrable features of GON and/or evidence of a primary axonopathy at the optic nerve head. A fundamental inadequacy in this framework is any reference to the pathogenesis of GON, which remains unclear.
Performance improvement of brushless DC machine by zero-sequence current injection

A novel current control strategy for Brushless DC machines (BLDCs) is presented in this paper. It aims to increase BLDC exploitation compared to conventional current commutation (two-phase-on) and three-phase-on control approaches. The proposed current control strategy consists in injecting a suitable zero-sequence current in order to exploit the BLDC zero-sequence back-emfs. Thus, increased torque capability and/or reduced Joule losses can be achieved compared to conventional control approaches. As a result, BLDC competitiveness can be increased, even in comparison with Brushless AC machines (BLACs). The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through both theoretical and finite element analyses, the latter being carried out by means of JMAG. The analyses regard the comparison between BLAC and BLDC driven by different control strategies.
Minimum Instances of Topological Matter in an Optical Plaquette

We propose experimental schemes to create and probe minimum forms of different topologically ordered states in a plaquette of an optical lattice: resonating valence bond, and Laughlin and string-net-condensed states. We show how to create anyonic excitations on top of these liquids and detect their fractional statistics. In addition, we propose a way to design a plaquette ring-exchange interaction, the building block Hamiltonian of a lattice topological theory. Our preparation and detection schemes combine different techniques already demonstrated in experiments with atoms in optical superlattices.
Catecholamine Metabolism Induces Mitochondrial DNA Deletions and Leads to Severe Adrenal Degeneration during Aging

Background: Aging is a multifactorial process characterized by organ loss of function and degeneration, but the mechanisms involved remain elusive. We have shown recently that catecholamine metabolism drives the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions in dopaminergic cells, which likely contribute to their degeneration during aging. Here we investigated whether the well-documented degeneration and altered function of adrenals during aging is linked to catecholamine production in the medulla followed by accumulation of mtDNA deletions. Material and Methods: We analyzed adrenal medullary and cortical samples of both murine and human origin covering a wide range of ages for mtDNA deletion content, mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial and cellular integrity as well as aging-related tissue changes such as fibrosis. Results: Indeed, we demonstrate in mice and humans that the adrenal medulla accumulates a strikingly high amount of mtDNA deletions with age, causing mitochondrial dysfunction in the adrenal medulla, but also in the cortex, accompanied by apoptosis and, more importantly, by severe inflammation and remarkable fibrosis. Additionally, a concomitant and dramatic loss of medullary and cortical cells is observed in old animals. Conclusion: Our results show that accumulation of mtDNA deletions, and the ensuing mitochondrial dysfunction, is a hallmark of adrenal aging, further strengthening the hypothesis that catecholamine metabolism is detrimental to mtDNA integrity, mitochondrial function and cell survival. Moreover, the cell loss potentially induced by mitochondrial dysfunction could explain the decline in adrenal hormonal and steroidal secretion during aging.
Synaptic Integration in Tuft Dendrites of Layer 5 Pyramidal Neurons : A New Unifying Principle

www.sciencemag. org (this information is current as of November 18, 2009 ): The following resources related to this article are available online at http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/325/5941/756 version of this article at: including high-resolution figures, can be found in the online Updated information and services, http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/325/5941/756/DC1 can be found at: Supporting Online Material found at: can be related to this article A list of selected additional articles on the Science Web sites http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/325/5941/756#related-content http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/325/5941/756#otherarticles , 14 of which can be accessed for free: cites 30 articles This article http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/content/full/325/5941/756#otherarticles 1 articles hosted by HighWire Press; see: cited by This article has been http://www.sciencemag. org/cgi/collection/neuroscience Neuroscience : subject collections This article appears in the following http://www.sciencemag. org/about/permissions.dtl in whole or in part can be found at: this article permission to reproduce of this article or about obtaining reprints Information about obtaining