Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Output Feedback Control applied to Car Pursuit problem with lossy network

In the last two decades the car pursuit problem has been heavily studied, mainly because it is a viable solution to minimize the occurrence of accidents on the road. The controller design usually considers that all measured signals are transmitted by a perfect network and that sensors and actuators do not fail. In a real implementation, these equipments may present failure and the network quality of transmission may not be fully reliable. Using Network Control System theory, it is possible to design a controller that takes into account the probabilities of failure in sensors, actuators or interruptions in signal communications. In this paper we compare the classical H∞ output feedback controller with two different types of Markov Jump Linear Systems (MJLS) controllers. We show that, on a network with 25% packet loss rate, the proposed MJLS controllers outperform the classical H∞ controllers by a factor of 10.
The dif fi culty for subducted oceanic crust to accumulate at the Earth ’ s core-mantle boundary

[1] Seismic tomography has revealed two large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) in the lowermost mantle beneath the central Pacific and Africa. The LLSVPs are further shown to be compositionally different from their surroundings. Among several hypotheses put forth in recent years to explain the cause of the LLSVPs, one postulates that they are thermochemical piles caused by accumulation of subducted oceanic crust at the core-mantle boundary (CMB). Mineral physics experiments indicate that oceanic crust becomes denser than the surrounding mantle at lower mantle pressures. In addition, seismic observations provide evidence of subducted slabs arriving at the CMB. However, a major question pertains to whether subducted oceanic crust can survive viscous stirring associated with mantle plumes and accumulate into piles with the same spatial scale as LLSVPs. We perform a set of high-resolution convection calculations to examine this hypothesis by investigating the interaction of thin oceanic crust (6 km) with mantle plumes. Our results show that as subducted oceanic crust is swept toward upwelling plume regions, the majority of it is viscously stirred into the surrounding mantle. Only a small amount of oceanic crust may accumulate at the base of plumes, but it is consistently entrained away into the plume at a rate equal to or greater than it is accumulated.We find that it is difficult for subducted oceanic crust to accumulate into large thermochemical piles at the CMB.
Time-frequency analysis of red-green visual flickers based on steady-state visual evoked potential recording

The study of brain activity can be done by visual stimulus flickering at specific frequencies, Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential or as known as SSVEP. SSVEP is to stimulate the EEG signal to locate the desired goal of the experiment when a visual stimulus flickering with different constant frequencies and same duration. We aim to present a case study of electroencephalogram (EEG) signal by analyzing the frequency response of the red and green light. The stimulation is based on SSVEP by dividing the trial into two trials: single light and two lights. We considered three parameters that are light color, frequency and epoch interval. The optimal experimental results showed the classification accuracy rate of 74% and 75% for single and two color lights, respectively. The results can be considerably applied to the brain-computer interface (BCI) system.
Cellular Manufacturing: A Statistical Review of the Literature (1965-1995)

This paper is both an extension and an expansion of two earlier studies concerned with the direction of OR/MS research as reported in its archival literature (Reisman and Kirschnick [Reisman, A., F. Kirshnick. 1994. The devolution of OR/MS: Implications from a statistical content analysis of papers in flagship journals. Opns. Res. 42(4) 577–588], [Reisman, A. , F. Kirshnick. 1995. Research strategies used by OR/MS workers as shown by an analysis of papers in flagship journals. Opns. Res. 43(5) 731–739. ]). All of these papers provide a content analysis of the OR/MS archival journals. However, this paper focuses on the entire life-cycle literature of Cellular Manufacturing as a module of OR/MS. It addresses the research strategy employed by, and the theory-vs-applied orientation exhibited by, the authors. In all, 235 articles, starting in 1969, were reviewed and classified on a five-point scale, ranging from pure theory to bonafide applications. Secondly, the articles were classified in terms of seven types .
(Teil-)Privatisierung öffentlicher Gemeinwirtschaft im Strombereich und das Beispiel der Energie AG Oberösterreich

Unter dem Eindruck neoliberaler Hegemonie und privatisierter Industrieunternehmen wird Privatisierung auch im Bereich der Gemeinschaft (Daseinsvorsorge) umgesetzt und trotz negativer Erfahrungen weiter verfolgt. Gerade auf den Energie- und speziell Strommarkten sind die Ergebnisse der Privatisierung in Zusammenhang mit der versuchten Belebung des Wettbewerbs wohlfahrtsokonomisch unbefriedigend. Anhand des Kriteriums uberbetrieblicher Leistungen in Form offentlicher Guter, positiver externer Effekte und reduzierter negativer Externalitaten sind Privatisierungsvorhaben in der Gemeinwirtschaft zu beurteilen. Unflankierte Privatisierung ist fur die Gemeinwirtschaft auszuschliesen. Alternativen zu staatlicher Produktion und bedingungsloser Privatisierung, wie staatliche Regulierung, staatliche Auftrage und Wettbewerbspolitik, erweisen sich als wohlfahrtspolitisch schwierig. Gleichwohl wird Privatisierung selbst in der Gemeinwirtschaft propagiert, weil die daraus erhofften Erlose den (ebenfalls zu hinterfragenden) Budgetkonsolidierungskurs nach Ausschopfen aller buchhalterischen "Maastricht-Tricks" erleichtern sollen. Allein, Privatisierung macht den Staat nicht reicher, nur liquider, und mit Privatisierung bezahlt er dafur haufig einen zu hohen Preis. Konsequent treten wir fur eine klare und abgesicherte gemeinwirtschaftliche Zielvorgabe fur die Energie AG Oberosterreich und fur ein abgesichertes Alleineigentum der offentlichen Hande an ihr ein. So forderlich strategische Allianzen fur die Erfullung des gemeinwirtschaftlichen Auftrags sein mogen, so wenig soll dadurch der Moglichkeitsraum, den staatliches Alleineigentum bietet, geschmalert werden. Im Zweifelsfall halten wir lose Kooperationen mit anderen Energieunternehmen, notfalls auch eine stand-alone-Losung, fur die EAG fur zweckmasiger als einen Verlust von wirtschaftspolitischer Kompetenz in der Daseinsvorsorge. Ein solcher durfte namlich weiter reichen, als es uns eine Privatisierung - selbst eine, die blos eine Minderheitsprivatisierung ist - erscheinen lassen mag. Die Finanzpolitik eines Landes soll in ihrer regionalpolitischen Effizienz (d. h. Zweckmasigkeit, Effektivitat und Kosteneffizienz) nicht von Privatisierungserlosen abhangen. Der ohnehin okonomisch nicht sakrosankte Budgetausgleich soll nicht mit den hohen Kosten einer Privatisierung in der Gemeinwirtschaft teuer erkauft werden.
A Rare Complication in Breast Cancer Surgery: Chylous Fistula and its Treatment

Abstract Chylous fistula is a complication related to thoracic duct injury, appearing in upper abdominal, thoracic and neck surgery. Occurrence of chylous fistula is very rare after modified radical mastectomy. We encountered a chylous fistula case after breast cancer surgery and successfully treated it conservatively. It is important that all surgeons dealing with breast surgery should be aware that, altough rarely, a chylous fistula can develop after axillary dissection. Experience related to the occurrence of this complication and its management when it occurs is quite restricted.
Integrating health care for mothers and children in refugee camps and at district leve

Health care for mothers and children is inadequate in most refugee situations and in poorly resourced countries. The authors argue that, as well as providing primary (home based) care for basic health care, there is a need to integrate primary care with adequately functioning hospital based care for a healthcare system to succeed In poorly resourced countries, a failure to link primary (home based) care effectively to that available in the local government run general hospitals is common. Communication between home based care and hospital based care is rare. The extremely poor services available in many district hospitals1 deter families from taking their relatives there for treatment. The patients, supported by their families, would rather die at home than in an ineffective, poorly resourced, and often grossly unhygienic and unwelcoming hospital. There are often no effective links between the primary and hospital care facilities. If the sickest patients detected by primary health workers have nowhere to go, the system fails those most in need. Equally, both home based and hospital based care need to be individually functioning adequately as well as being integrated, and a poverty of services in either sector results in a failing healthcare system. A similar situation exists in camps for refugees, where the prime objective of humanitarian aid during emergencies (often of long standing when caused by armed conflict) is to prevent mortality through the delivery of primary health care and other basic services such as shelter, nutrition, water, sanitation, and protection. The public health doctors who largely control and direct the funds for primary health care, for sound reasons, regard this as the most cost effective approach. However, this form of aid does not address aspects of mortality and morbidity due to acute and serious medical, obstetric, and surgical problems or to chronic diseases …
UNDERPERFORMING POLICY NETWORKS: THE BIOPESTICIDES NETWORK IN THE UK

Loosely integrated and incomplete policy networks have been neglected in the literature. They are important to consider in terms of understanding network underperformance. The effective delivery and formulation of policy requires networks that are not incomplete or underperforming. The biopesticides policy network in the UK is considered and its components identified with an emphasis on the lack of integration of retailers and environmental groups. The nature of the network constrains the actions of its agents and frustrates the achievement of policy goals. A study of this relatively immature policy network also allows for a focus on network formation. The state, via an external central government department, has been a key factor in the development of the network. Therefore, it is important to incorporate such factors more systematically into understandings of network formation. Feedback efforts from policy have increased interactions between productionist actors but the sphere of consumption remains insufficiently articulated.
Molecular characterisation of Victorian Newcastle disease virus isolates from 1976 to 1999.

OBJECTIVE To characterise Newcastle disease virus isolates obtained in Victoria from 1976 to 1999 and identify the diversity of FO cleavage signal. DESIGN RT-PCR using viral RNA extracted from positive NDV allantoic fluid was performed to amplify a segment of the NDV F and HN genes. Molecular characterisation of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences within the FO cleavage site was undertaken. RESULTS All isolates contained 'avirulent FO cleavage signal sequence of varied amino acid composition. CONCLUSIONS Molecular characterisation of past and present NDV FO cleavage signal sequences will provide valuable epidemiological information and assist in understanding the genetic origins and relationships of outbreaks.
Patients' awareness of the surgical risks of smoking: Implications for supporting smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE To describe the smoking patterns of patients receiving elective surgery and their knowledge about the benefits of smoking cessation to inform and strengthen support for patients to quit smoking in order to optimize surgical outcomes. DESIGN Patients who had elective surgery were screened for smoking status, and eligible patients completed a telephone survey. SETTING Two regional hospitals in northern British Columbia. PARTICIPANTS Of 1722 patients screened, 373 reported smoking before surgery. Of these, 161 (59.0% women) completed a telephone survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient smoking cessation, knowledge of the perioperative risks of smoking, use of resources, and health care provider advice and assistance. RESULTS Participants included 66 men and 95 women (mean [SD] age of 51.9 [14.0] years). In total, 7.5% of these patients quit smoking in the 8 weeks before their surgeries, although an additional 38.8% reduced their smoking. Only about half of the patients surveyed were aware that continuing to smoke increased their surgical risks. Further, only half of the patients surveyed reported being advised to quit before their surgeries by a health care professional. Few were using the provincial resources available to support smoking cessation (eg, QuitNow), and 39.6% were unaware of the provincial program to cover the cost of smoking cessation aids (eg, nicotine gum or patches), yet 62.7% of respondents were thinking about quitting smoking. CONCLUSION Many surgical patients in northern British Columbia who smoked were unaware of the perioperative risks of smoking and the cessation support available to them. An opportunity exists for all health care professionals to encourage more patients to quit in order to optimize their surgical outcomes.
Dual Roles of Immunoregulatory Cytokine TGF-β in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmunity-Mediated Organ Damage1

Ample evidence suggests a role of TGF-β in preventing autoimmunity. Multiorgan inflammatory disease, spontaneous activation of self-reactive T cells, and autoantibody production are hallmarks of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus. These features are reminiscent of the immunopathology manifest in TGF-β1-deficient mice. In this study, we show that lupus-prone (New Zealand Black and White)F1 mice have reduced expression of TGF-β1 in lymphoid tissues, and TGF-β1 or TGF-β1-producing T cells suppress autoantibody production. In contrast, the expression of TGF-β1 protein and mRNA and TGF-β signaling proteins (TGF-β receptor type II and phosphorylated SMAD3) increases in the target organs, i.e., kidneys, of these mice as they age and develop progressive organ damage. In fact, the levels of TGF-β1 in kidney tissue and urine correlate with the extent of chronic lesions that represent local tissue fibrosis. In vivo TGF-β blockade by treatment of these mice with an anti-TGF-β Ab selectively inhibits chronic fibrotic lesions without affecting autoantibody production and the inflammatory component of tissue injury. Thus, TGF-β plays a dual, seemingly paradoxical, role in the development of organ damage in multiorgan autoimmune diseases. According to our working model, reduced TGF-β in immune cells predisposes to immune dysregulation and autoantibody production, which causes tissue inflammation that triggers the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β in target organs to counter inflammation. Enhanced TGF-β in target organs, in turn, can lead to dysregulated tissue repair, progressive fibrogenesis, and eventual end-organ damage.
Effects of Methoxsalen from Poncirus trifoliata on Acetylcholinesterase and Trimethyltin-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment

Previously, we identified methoxsalen (8-methoxy-2′,3′,6,7-furocoumarin) as the bioactive compound probably responsible for acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibition achieved by feeding crude extract of Poncirus trifoliate. To confirm the activity of methoxsalen, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were fed a control or a methoxsalen-supplemented diet for 4 weeks, and then learning and memory enhancing effects with respect to trimethyltin (TMT)-induced neurotoxicity were evaluated. The brain tissues of ICR mice were dissected after completion of the behavioral tests for biochemical analysis. Methoxsalen effectively reversed TMT-induced memory impairment on both Y-maze and passive avoidance tests. Brain AchE activity was inhibited by the oral consumption of all concentrations of methoxsalen. Moreover, the level of oxidative stress was significantly ameliorated in the groups on methodsalen containing diets. This is the first in vivo study conducted with methoxsalen in the field of AD research, and it indicates that further investigation of methoxsalen is warranted.
Expression of receptors for advanced glycation end‐products (RAGE) is closely associated with the invasive and metastatic activity of gastric cancer

The receptor for advanced glycation end‐products (RAGE) is a newly recognized factor regulating cancer cell invasion and metastasis. This study investigated the expression of RAGE in gastric carcinomas and its association with invasion and metastasis. Of eight gastric cancer cell lines examined, seven constitutively expressed RAGE messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), MKN45 being the exception. RAGE protein expression of MKN28 cells treated with RAGE antisense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide was nine times less than that of sense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide‐treated cells. Growth of cells under RAGE antisense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide treatment was not different from that seen under sense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide treatment in MKN28 (a cell line producing high levels of RAGE) and MKN45 (a non‐RAGE‐expressing cell line). RAGE antisense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide treatment suppressed the invasive activity of RAGE‐positive MKN28 cells, as estimated by in vitro invasion assay. The number of MKN28 cells invading the type IV collagen‐coated membrane under RAGE antisense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide treatment was significantly lower than under RAGE sense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide treatment (p<0.0001). In contrast, antisense and sense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide‐treated RAGE‐negative MKN45 cells showed no difference. A wound‐healing assay showed that no RAGE antisense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide‐treated MKN28 cells migrated into the scraped area, whereas sense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide‐treated cells showed many budding nests in the scraped area. Immunohistochemistry of gastric carcinoma tissue showed that 62 (65%) of the 96 cases examined were RAGE‐positive and that poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas preferentially expressed RAGE protein (38/42, 90%) (p<0.0001). Strong RAGE immunoreactivity was also correlated with depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis (p<0.0001). RAGE‐positive cancer cells tended to be distributed at the invasive front of primary tumours and were detected in all metastatic foci in lymph nodes. In contrast, a major RAGE ligand, amphoterin, was expressed in 82 (85%) of the 96 cases, regardless of histological type and disease progression. RAGE expression appears to be closely associated with invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of breastfeeding rates in Scotland in 1990-1 and 1997-8

In 1994 the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy recommended that mothers should be encouraged and supported to breast feed for at least four months.1 This has been adopted as policy in Scotland, and a target was set by the Scottish Office in 1994: “50% still breastfeeding at 6 weeks postnatal age by 2005. ”2 Breastfeeding rates in Scotland reported for 1990-1 used information gathered on inborn errors screening (Guthrie) cards at 7 days' postnatal age and covered 99.8% of babies.3 This paper considers the increase in breastfeeding rates over an eight year period in Scotland to 1997-8, with correction for demographic changes in maternal age, as older women are more likely to choose to breast feed.4 View this table: Numbers (percentages) of babies born in each postcode area of Scotland in …
Nanofiber forests as a humidity-sensitive material

Nanofiber forests with high hydrophilicity and humidity-sensitivity are reported in this work. They are fabricated from polyimide (PI) by a plasma-stripping technique, and are utilized as a humidity-sensitive material in humidity sensors. In a relative humidity range of 50%-80%, nanofiber forest-based devices have capacitance ~50% larger than that of PI-based sensors. Meanwhile, as the nanofibers construct a non-closed layer, the internal nanostructures are fully exposed to external environment, thus the absorption and desorption of moisture consume only a short time. Since the fabrication processes for both nanofiber forests and the devices are simple and fast, thus such a method may provide possibility for development of novel humidity sensors with high sensitivity and short response time.
CXCL 1 / GRO α increases cell migration and invasion of prostate cancer by decreasing fibulin-1 expression through NF-κ B / HDAC 1 epigenetic regulation

1Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, 2Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, 3Cancer center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, 4Department of Urology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 717, Taiwan and 5Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
High Al-content AlGaN/GaN MODFETs for ultrahigh performance

The use of an AlGaN layer with high Al mole-fraction is proposed to increase the equivalent figures of merit of the AlGaN/GaN MODFET structure. It is shown that the room temperature mobility has little degradation with increasing Al mole-fraction up to 50%. 0.7-/spl mu/m gate-length Al/sub 0.5/Ga/sub 0.5/N/GaN MODFETs by optical lithography exhibit a current density of 1 A/mm and three-terminal breakdown voltages up to 200 V. These devices on sapphire substrates without thermal management also show CW power densities of 2.84 and 2.57 W/mm at 8 and 10 GHz, respectively, representing a marked performance improvement for GaN-based FETs.
A evolução do código florestal brasileiro

O presente estudo traz a pauta as principais alteracoes do Codigo Florestal Brasileiro atraves do tempo, suas diretrizes e principais aspectos modificados, bem como a discussao do ultimo diploma promulgado em 2012. O primeiro Codigo Florestal foi criado em 1934 e editado em 15 de setembro de 1965 atraves da Lei no. 4.771, definindo de forma minuciosa os principios necessarios para proteger o meio ambiente e garantir o bem estar da populacao do pais. Traz para o vocabulario ambiental expressoes como “Areas de Protecao Permanente” (APPs) e “Reserva Legal” (RL). A partir da decada de 1980, a legislacao passou por importantes ajustes, desde a regulamentacao das Areas de Preservacao Ambiental (APA), em 1981, ate a garantia de preservacao da biodiversidade florestal do pais, por meio do art. 225 da Constituicao Federal, promulgada em 1988. A Câmara dos Deputados vinha discutindo, atraves de audiencias publicas no Congresso e em varias cidades do pais com forte producao agropecuaria, a atualizacao do Codigo Florestal desde 1999, porem, foi em setembro de 2009 que foi criada uma Comissao Especial para analisar os seus diversos Projetos de Lei, sendo nomeado o deputado Aldo Rebelo (PCdoB-SP) como relator do projeto. O relatorio foi emitido em junho de 2010 e apresentou o parecer do deputado sobre o projeto de lei 1.876, de 1999, e outras onze iniciativas de parlamentares para alterar a legislacao florestal vigente. No dia 25 de abril de 2012, o Projeto de Lei 1876/99 foi aprovado pelo plenario da Câmara Federal com 274 votos a favor, 184 contrarios e duas abstencoes. O texto foi encaminhado a sancao da presidenta Dilma Rousseff que no dia 25 de maio de 2012 apresentou os vetos e suas alteracoes sobre o Codigo Florestal.