Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust control for nonlinear systems with uncertain time-varying parameters coupled with non-triangular terms

ABSTRACT In this paper, a robust control scheme is proposed for a class of nonlinear systems which consist of uncertain time-varying parameters that are coupled with non-triangular terms, perturbed nonlinearity, and external disturbance. In order to deal with time-varying parameters, we provide determination process of allowed time-varying parameters utilising a Lyapunov equation. With system analysis associated with perturbed nonlinearity, we show that all states of the controlled system remain bounded by a gain-scaling feedback controller in the presence of external disturbance. Moreover, the ultimate bounds of some system states can be made (arbitrarily) small by adjusting a gain-scaling factor depending on the system nonlinearity. The effectiveness of our control scheme is shown via an application example, with comparison of the existing result.
Model-based event-triggered dynamic output predictive control of networked uncertain systems with random delay

ABSTRACT This paper explores a dynamic output predictive control issue for networked systems with random delays and uncertainties. Based on the networked predictive control systems, an adaptive event-triggered dynamic output predictive control strategy is presented. And a networked delay compensator method is employed to compensate the communication delay actively. Furthermore, the problem we addressed can be transformed into the delay-dependent stability and stabilisation problem of networked control systems. Finally, the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional approach and linear matrix inequality method are introduced to solve the expected solution. Both the results of numerical simulations and experiment are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Event-triggered control for switched systems with both continuous-time and discrete-time subsystems

ABSTRACT In this paper, we consider the event-triggered control for a class of switched systems which are composed of one continuous-time subsystem and one discrete-time subsystem. The proposed event-triggered mechanism adopts the form of periodic triggering, which combines the advantages of periodic control and event-triggered control. Consequently, Zeno behaviour can be essentially eliminated. A criterion is presented to ensure the exponential stability of the closed-loop switched systems. In addition, we extend the above result to the case of the switched system with multiple continuous-time and discrete-time subsystems and the case of observer-based control. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the theoretical results.
Query Optimization for Large Scale Clustered RDF Data

The popularity of the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and SPARQL has thrust the development of high-performance systems to manage data represented with this model. Former approaches adapted the well-established relational model applying its storage, query processing, and optimization strategies. However, the borrowed techniques from the relational model are not universally applicable in the RDF context. First, the schema-free nature of RDF induces intensive joins overheads. Also, optimization strategies trying to find the optimal join order rely on error-prone statistics unable to capture all the correlations among triples. Graph-based approaches keep the graph structure of RDF representing the data directly as a graph. Their execution model leans on graph exploration operators to find subgraph matches to a query. Even if they have shown to outperform relational-based systems in complex queries, they are barely scalable and optimization techniques are completely system dependent. In this paper, we propose optimization strategies for graph-based RDF management systems. We intend to take the strengths of relational databases and propose logical structures generically depicting graph-based query execution. First, we define novel statistics collected for clusters of triples to better capture the dependencies found in the original graph. Second, we redefine an execution plan based on these logical structures. Finally, we introduce an algorithm for selecting the optimal execution plan based on a customized cost model.
Neuromodulation Techniques in Phantom Limb Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of neuromodulation techniques in adults with phantom limb pain (PLP). METHODS A systematic search was performed, comprising randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental (QE) studies that were published from database inception to February 2019 and that measured the effects of neuromodulation in adults with PLP. Hedge's g effect size (ES) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and random-effects meta-analyses were performed. RESULTS Fourteen studies (nine RCTs and five QE noncontrolled studies) were included. The meta-analysis of RCTs showed significant effects for i) excitatory primary motor cortex (M1) stimulation in reducing pain after stimulation (ES = -1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.26 to -0.45); ii) anodal M1 transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in lowering pain after stimulation (ES = -1.50, 95% CI = -2.05 to 0.95), and one-week follow-up (ES = -1.04, 95% CI = -1.64 to 0.45). The meta-analysis of noncontrolled QE studies demonstrated a high rate of pain reduction after stimulation with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (rate = 67%, 95% CI = 60% to 73%) and at one-year follow-up with deep brain stimulation (rate = 73%, 95% CI = 63% to 82%). CONCLUSIONS The evidence from RCTs suggests that excitatory M1 stimulation-specifically, anodal M1 tDCS-has a significant short-term effect in reducing pain scale scores in PLP. Various neuromodulation techniques appear to have a significant and positive impact on PLP, but due to the limited amount of data, it is not possible to draw more definite conclusions.
The safety of baricitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Despite improvement in disease outcomes and prognosis, a substantial number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) still require a novel agent for effective treatment. Baricitinib is a targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (tsDMARDs) that selectively inhibits Janus kinase (JAK1/JAK2), an important enzyme in the pathogenesis of RA. Areas covered: This paper aimed to evaluate the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of baricitinib while reviewing its safety and efficacy in the treatment of RA. Expert opinion: Randomized controlled trials of baricitinib showed its efficacy and safety in patients with active RA who were methotrexate (MTX)-naïve or were not adequately responsive to MTX, conventional synthetic DMARDs, or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. Baricitinib may be suitable in patients who prefer oral therapy and do not have a history of severe renal impairment, recent history of malignancy, or risk factors for adverse events (AEs) such as venous thromboembolism, opportunistic infection, and diverticulitis. Dose adjustment of baricitinib, based on the assessment of patient conditions including their renal function and disease activity, is an important strategy for successful and safe treatment. However, long-term post-marketing surveillance studies with a larger sample size are required to evaluate the overall safety and AEs with low incidence rates in clinical settings.
Proteome responses to individual pathogens and abiotic conditions in rice seedlings.

Rice plants under field conditions experience various biotic and abiotic stresses and are adapted to survive using a molecular cross-talk of genes and their protein products based on the severity of a given stress. Seedlings of cultivated variety ASD16 (resistant to fungal disease - blast; tolerant to abiotic stress - salinity) were subjected to salt, drought, high temperature, and low temperature stress as well as infection by Rhizoctonia solani and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (causing re-emerging diseases such as sheath blight and leaf blight), respectively the sheath blight and bacterial leaf blight pathogens. Leaf proteome was analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and differentially expressed proteins were identified using Mass Spectrometry. In addition to many other differentially expressed proteins, acidic endochitinase was found to be up-regulated during fungal infection and drought treatment, and a germin-like protein up-regulated during fungal infection and high temperature stress. These two proteins were further validated at the gene expression level using RT-PCR in dual-stress experiments. Pot culture plants were subjected to fungal infection followed by drought and drought followed by fungal infection to validate chitinase gene expression. Similarly, plants subjected to fungal infections followed by high temperature stress and vice versa were used to validate the expression of germin-like protein-coding gene. The results of the present study indicate that chitinase and germin-like protein are potential targets for further exploration to develop rice plants resistant or tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Core vocabulary lists for young children and considerations for early language development: a narrative review

Abstract For early symbolic communicators, acquisition of an initial vocabulary is a critically important achievement that sets the stage for future language development. Children who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) rely on others to select and provide these important first words for them. One resource to help guide this process includes published lists of words that may contribute to a core vocabulary for individuals who require AAC. Although some clinicians report that they consider or prioritize core words during the vocabulary selection process, it is not known whether an emphasis on core words will best meet the expressive vocabulary needs of early symbolic communicators. The purposes of this narrative review were to (a) review studies that have developed word lists to inform selection of a core vocabulary for young children who require AAC, (b) compare the words on these lists to the early words used by children with typical development, and (c) consider the implications for vocabulary selection and language development for early symbolic communicators who require AAC. Results suggest that core word lists may under-emphasize many of the types of words that predominate in early expressive vocabulary; these lists may not be the most appropriate resources to guide AAC system design and instruction for early symbolic communicators.
Measurable residual disease assessment by qPCR in peripheral blood is an informative tool for disease surveillance in childhood acute myeloid leukaemia

Serial assessments of measurable (or minimal) residual disease (MRD) by qPCR may identify nascent relapse in children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and enable pre‐emptive therapy. We investigated the kinetics and prognostic impact of recurrent fusion transcripts (RUNX1‐RUNX1T1, CBFB‐MYH11, KMT2A‐MLLT3 or KMT2A‐ELL) in 774 post‐induction samples from bone marrow (BM, 347) and peripheral blood (PB, 427) from 75 children with AML. BM MRD persistence during consolidation did not increase the risk of relapse, and MRD at therapy completion did not correlate to outcome (HR = 0·64/MRD log reduction (CI: 0·32–1·26), P = 0·19). In contrast, 8/8 patients with detectable MRD in PB after first consolidation relapsed. Persistence (n = 4) and shifting from negative to positive (n = 10) in PB during follow‐up predicted relapse in 14/14 patients. All 253 PB samples collected during follow‐up from 36 patients in continuous complete remission were MRD negative. In core‐binding factor AML, persistent low‐level MRD positivity in BM during follow‐up was frequent but an increment to above 5 × 10−4 heralded subsequent haematological relapse in 12/12 patients. We demonstrate that MRD monitoring in PB after induction therapy is highly informative and propose an MRD increment above 5 × 10−4 in PB and BM as a definition of molecular relapse since it always leads to haematological relapse.
Emerging role of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in cancer progression

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels comprise a diverse family of ion channels, the majority of which are calcium permeable and show sophisticated regulatory patterns in response to various environmental cues. Early studies led to the recognition of TRP channels as environmental and chemical sensors. Later studies revealed that TRP channels mediated the regulation of intracellular calcium. Mutations in TRP channel genes result in abnormal regulation of TRP channel function or expression, and interfere with normal spatial and temporal patterns of intracellular local Ca2+ distribution. The resulting dysregulation of multiple downstream effectors, depending on Ca2+ homeostasis, is associated with hallmarks of cancer pathophysiology, including enhanced proliferation, survival and invasion of cancer cells. These findings indicate that TRP channels affect multiple events that control cellular fate and play a key role in cancer progression. This review discusses the accumulating evidence supporting the role of TRP channels in tumorigenesis, with emphasis on prostate cancer.
Prevalence of molar-incisor-hypomineralization amongchildren attending pedodontic clinic of college of dentistryat Baghdad University

Background: Molar Incisor Hypomineralization is a developmentally derived dental defect that involves hypomineralization of one to four permanent first molars frequently associated with similarly affected permanent incisors. The purpose of this study was to find the prevalence and severity of MIH among Iraqi children attending the teaching hospital of the College of Dentistry, Baghdad University. Materials and method: Two hundred and twenty seven children of ages ranging from 4-15 years participated and were examined for enamel hypomineralization defects. Enamel Defect Index (EDI) as well as evaluation criteria for MIH diagnosis were used in order to detect the defects. When MIH was detected, further examinations were carried out to evaluate the severity of the defect. Other types of hypoplasia such as localized or generalized hypoplasia were also recorded and undergone the same examination. Results: It was found that of the two hundred and twenty seven children examined; one or more hypoplasias were detected in 21 children (compromising 9.25% of the sample). Fifteen children of these 21 children had hypoplasia of MIH type (6.61% of the total sample and 71.43% of the affected ones). Females were more affected with enamel defects than males although both showed similar susceptibility to have MIH type of defects. Most of the children who had MIH were in the sixth year of age (n=6) and at this age the number of teeth affected was 36 (34.6%). The incisors were found to be affected in a severe (29, 47.54%), mild (21, 34.43%) and the least moderate degrees (11, 18.03%) while the molars were more mildly affected (23, 48.94%). Conclusion: Molar incisor hypomineralization is prevalent in Iraqi children. It was not gender dependant and was mostly detected in six year old children. The severity of the defects differed in different age groups and on different teeth.
Stenoocclusive Carotid Artery Disease As A Facilitating Factor Of Neurogenic Lung Edema: An Experimental Study.

Aim : Steno-occlusive carotid artery disease and their treatment strategies may be cause various cardiopulmonary pathologies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if there is effects of bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCAL) on the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE). Material and Methods: Study included 25 adult rabbits (3.5 ± 0.5 kg). Five animals (Control Group, n = 5) were used to evaluate normal lung tissue. Remaining animals were randomly divided into two groups as the SHAM group (n = 5) and the experimental group (n = 15). In the SHAM group, longitudinal neck dissection was performed and carotid sheathes were incised, but BCCAL was not performed. In the experimental group both common carotid arteries were exposed; separated from their sheaths and nerves, and ligated by 3 / 0 silk sutures. 6 rabbit dead in first weeks and other rabbit were followed three months and then sacrificed. Their brains, lungs and carotid arteries were examined histopathologically. Results were analysed by using Mann Whitney U test.Results: Six of the rabbits in study group dead within first weeks. Macroscopic examination of the dead animals revealed subpleural petechial hemorrhage, intratracheal hemorrhagic fluid collection, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was noticed five of the dead animals . In the lungs, there were perivascular and subintimal edema and hemorrhage, intra-alveolar hemorrhage and alveolar wall destruction. SAH developed animals have more severe lung injuries.Conclusion: Steno-occlusive carotid artery disease and/or their treatment strategies may be considered as predisposing and aggravating factors on the occurrence of NPE, SAH and sudden death.
Consumer Acceptance and Willingness to Pay for Instant Cereal Products With Food-to-Food Fortification in Eldoret, Kenya

Background: Maize is the major food staple in East and Southern Africa, where food-processing industries are emerging fast. New low-cost extrusion cookers allow small enterprises to enter the market for processed cereals, including instant, fortified, and flavored products. Objective: Assess consumers’ interest and preferences for the new products. Methods: Consumers (n = 220) in Eldoret, Kenya, were invited to evaluate 4 new cereal products: (1) sifted maize flour mixed with sorghum, (2) instant sifted mixed flour, (3) instant whole flour, and (4) instant whole flour fortified with natural ingredients and to compare them to conventional sifted maize flour, using 2 preparations: stiff porridge (ugali) and soft porridge (uji). These were followed by economic experiments to estimate consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for the new products and traits. Results: For ugali, consumers preferred conventional sifted maize flour, while for uji, they appreciated the new products, especially sifted mixed flour (with sorghum) and instant whole mixed flour. Fortification with food-to-food sources was not appreciated, especially for ugali. Comparing WTP for the traits with their production cost showed that mixed, whole, and instant flours were economical, but not fortification. Maize/sorghum mixtures realized a benefit of 24% over conventional maize flour, whole meal 11%, and instant mixtures 5%. Conclusions: There is a potential market for improved cereal products in Kenya, but more for uji than for ugali, especially with instant, mixed, and whole flour. Acceptable and affordable products, fortified with other foods that are locally available, however, still need to be developed, especially for ugali.
Non-classical role of Galectin-3 in cancer progression: translocation to nucleus by carbohydrate-recognition independent manner

Galectin-3 is a carbohydrate-binding protein and regulates diverse functions, including cell proliferation and differentiation, mRNA splicing, apoptosis induction, immune surveillance and inflammation, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and cancer-cell metastasis. Galectin-3 is also recommended as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker of various diseases, including heart disease, kidney disease, and cancer. Galectin-3 exists as a cytosol, is secreted in extracellular spaces on cells, and is also detected in nuclei. It has been found that galectin-3 has different functions in cellular localization: (i) Extracellular galectin-3 mediates cell attachment and detachment. (ii) cytosolic galectin-3 regulates cell survival by blocking the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and (iii) nuclear galectin-3 supports the ability of the transcriptional factor for target gene expression. In this review, we focused on the role of galectin-3 on translocation from cytosol to nucleus, because it happens in a way independent of carbohydrate recognition and accelerates cancer progression. We also suggested here that intracellular galecin-3 could be a potent therapeutic target in cancer therapy.
The importance of differences; On environment and its interactions with genes and immunity in the causation of rheumatoid arthritis

The current review uses rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a prominent example for how studies on the interplay between environmental and genetic factors in defined subsets of a disease can be used to formulate aetiological hypotheses that subsequently can be tested for causality using molecular and functional studies. Major discussed findings are that exposures to airways from many different noxious agents including cigarette smoke, silica dust and more interact with major susceptibility genes, mainly HLA‐DR genetic variants in triggering antigen‐specific immune reactions specific for RA. We also discuss how several other environmental and lifestyle factors, including microbial, neural and metabolic factors, can influence risk for RA in ways that are different in different subsets of RA.The description of these processes in RA provides the best example so far in any immune‐mediated disease of how triggering of immunity at one anatomical site in the context of known environmental and genetic factors subsequently can lead to symptoms that precede the classical inflammatory disease symptoms and later contribute also to the classical RA joint inflammation. The findings referred to in the review have led to a change of paradigms for very early therapy and prevention of RA and to efforts towards what we have named ‘personalized prevention’. We believe that the progress described here for RA will be of relevance for research and practice also in other immune‐mediated diseases.
Intracoronary application of nicorandil regulates the inflammatory response induced by percutaneous coronary intervention

Intracoronary application of nicorandil can effectively reduce the myocardial no‐reflow (MNR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to investigate the mechanisms of nicorandil in preventing MNR, besides that of dilating the coronary microvasculature. A total of 60 patients undergoing PCI were enrolled and randomly divided into a nicorandil group and a control group. Before PCI, 2 mg of nicorandil or an equal volume of normal saline was injected into the coronary artery. Blood samples were collected before, 24 hours and 1 week after PCI and inflammatory cytokines were tested. In the control group, the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines was significantly increased, while the anti‐inflammatory cytokines were decreased 24 hours after PCI. In contrast, these changes were reversed in the nicorandil group, indicating that nicorandil regulated the inflammatory response induced by PCI. Then, proteomic analysis was performed to further elucidate the potential mechanisms. A total of 53 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were found 24 hours after PCI in the control group, and the changes of these relevant genes were reversed in the nicorandil group. These DEPs were significantly enriched in the inflammatory pathways. In conclusion, the intracoronary application of nicorandil before PCI can regulate the inflammatory responses induced by PCI, which might be an important mechanism of nicorandil in preventing MNR.