Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning control for robot motion under geometric end-point constraint

SUMMARY Learning control is a new approach to the probelm of skill refinement for robotic manipulators. It is considered to be a mathematical model of motor program learning for skilled motions in the central nervous system. This paper proposes a class of learning control algorithms for improving operations of the robot arm under a geometrical end-point constraint at the next trial on the basis of the previous operation data. The command input torque is updated by a linear modification of present joint velocity errors deviated from the desired velocity trajectory in addition to the previous input. It is shown that motion trajectories approach an e-neighborhood of the desired one in the sense of squared integral norm provided the local feedback loop consists of both position and velocity feedbacks plus a feedback term of the error force vector between the reactive force and desired force on the end-point constrained surface. It is explored that various passivity properties of residual error dynamics of the manipulator play a crucial role in the proof of uniform boundedness and convergence of position and velocity trajectories.
Cloud-Based Mobile Testing as a Service

With the rapid advance of mobile computing, cloud computing and wireless network, there is a significant increase of mobile subscriptions. This brings new business requirements and demands in mobile testing service, and causes new issues and challenges. In this paper, informative discussions about cloud-based mobile testing-as-a-service (mobile TaaS) are offered, including the essential concepts, focuses, test process, and the expected testing infrastructures. Moreover, the paper presents a comparison among cloud-based mobile TaaS approaches and several best practices in industry are discussed. Futhermore, the primary issues, challenges, and needs are analyzed.
Ventilation-Perfusion Distribution Related to Different Inspiratory Flow Patterns in Experimental Lung Injury

In acute lung injury (ALI), controlled mechanical ventilation with decelerating inspiratory flow (&OV0312;dec) has been suggested to improve oxygenation when compared with constant flow (&OV0312;con) by improving the distribution of ventilation and perfusion (&OV0312;A/&OV0422;). We performed the present study to test this hypothesis in an animal model of ALI. Furthermore, the effects of combined decelerating and constant flow (&OV0312;deco) were evaluated. Thus, 18 pigs with experimental ALI were randomized to receive mechanical ventilation with either &OV0312;con, &OV0312;dec or a fixed combination of both flow wave forms (&OV0312;deco) at the same tidal volume and positive end-expiratory pressure level for 6 h. Hemodynamics, gas exchange, and &OV0312;A/&OV0422; distribution were determined. The results revealed an improvement of oxygenation resulting from a decrease of pulmonary shunt within each group (P < 0.05). However, blood flow to lung areas with a normal &OV0312;A/&OV0422; distribution increased only during ventilation with &OV0312;con (P < 0.05). Accordingly, Pao2 was higher with &OV0312;con than with &OV0312;dec and &OV0312;deco (P < 0.05). We conclude that contrary to the hypothesis, &OV0312;con provides a more favorable &OV0312;A/&OV0422; distribution, and hence better oxygenation, when compared with &OV0312;dec and &OV0312;deco in this model of ALI.
Selective Value Coupling Learning for Detecting Outliers in High-Dimensional Categorical Data

This paper introduces a novel framework, namely SelectVC and its instance POP, for learning selective value couplings (i.e., interactions between the full value set and a set of outlying values) to identify outliers in high-dimensional categorical data. Existing outlier detection methods work on a full data space or feature subspaces that are identified independently from subsequent outlier scoring. As a result, they are significantly challenged by overwhelming irrelevant features in high-dimensional data due to the noise brought by the irrelevant features and its huge search space. In contrast, SelectVC works on a clean and condensed data space spanned by selective value couplings by jointly optimizing outlying value selection and value outlierness scoring. Its instance POP defines a value outlierness scoring function by modeling a partial outlierness propagation process to capture the selective value couplings. POP further defines a top-k outlying value selection method to ensure its scalability to the huge search space. We show that POP (i) significantly outperforms five state-of-the-art full space- or subspace-based outlier detectors and their combinations with three feature selection methods on 12 real-world high-dimensional data sets with different levels of irrelevant features; and (ii) obtains good scalability, stable performance w.r. t. k, and fast convergence rate.
Ethanol’s Molecular Targets

Ethanol produces a wide variety of behavioral and physiological effects in the body, but exactly how it acts to produce these effects is still poorly understood. Although ethanol was long believed to act nonspecifically through the disordering of lipids in cell membranes, proteins are at the core of most current theories of its mechanisms of action. Although ethanol affects various biochemical processes such as neurotransmitter release, enzyme function, and ion channel kinetics, we are only beginning to understand the specific molecular sites to which ethanol molecules bind to produce these myriad effects. For most effects of ethanol characterized thus far, it is unknown whether the protein whose function is being studied actually binds ethanol, or if alcohol is instead binding to another protein that then indirectly affects the functioning of the protein being studied. In this Review, we describe criteria that should be considered when identifying alcohol binding sites and highlight a number of proteins for which there exists considerable molecular-level evidence for distinct ethanol binding sites. For much of the 20th century, it was widely believed that ethanol exerts its effects on neuronal function in a nonspecific manner—perhaps through the disordering of membrane lipids. However, over the past two decades, evidence has mounted that ethanol instead produces its effects by altering the functioning of specific proteins through its interaction with a select few amino acids in those proteins. In this Review with 2 figures and 60 citations, we focus on proteins for which evidence for specific alcohol binding sites has been obtained, and we briefly describe and compare these ethanol receptors.
Quantitative analyses of 18F-FEDAA1106 binding to peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in living human brain.

UNLABELLED N-(5-Fluoro-2-phenoxyphenyl)-N-(2-(18)F-fluoroethyl-5-methoxybenzyl)acetamide ((18)F-FEDAA1106) is a potential PET ligand with highly selective and specific binding to peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR). It has been reported that the regional density of PBR in the brain is increased in several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Thus, a reliable tracer method for evaluating PBR would be of use clinically and for research. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the (18)F-FEDAA1106 binding to PBR in living human brain by PET. We also aimed to evaluate various analytic methods to quantify the density of PBR. METHODS PET studies with (18)F-FEDAA1106 were performed on 7 healthy men. Volumes of interest (VOIs) were drawn on PET images. In each VOI, binding potential (BP) was calculated by nonlinear least-squares (NLS) fitting based on the 2-tissue compartment model, and the distribution volume (DV) was also estimated by NLS, Logan plot, and multilinear analysis (MA) methods. To estimate errors in calculation of BP and DV, simulation studies were also performed. RESULTS The DVs estimated with each of the methods were significantly correlated. There was also significant correlation between BP with NLS and DV with NLS, Logan plot, or MA. But the interindividual differences in the distribution volume of the free and nonspecific binding compartment (K(1)/k(2)) were relatively large. In a simulation study, variation of the DV estimated by Logan plot was relatively small, but it was underestimated as the noise increased. By MA, the bias of DV was smaller, but the variation of DV was larger than by Logan plot. Within a 3% noise level, there was almost no difference between Logan plot and MA in both bias and variation. DVs estimated by both Logan plot and MA were underestimated by 10%-20%. Although the variation of DV was larger by NLS than by Logan plot, it was small enough in the noise level of VOI analysis, and the bias of DV was 0%-2%. CONCLUSION The simulation studies indicated that NLS is a suitable method for the estimation of (18)F-FEDAA1106 binding to PBRs.
Incremental direct and indirect costs of untreated vasomotor symptoms

ObjectiveMost women with moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are untreated. This retrospective matched-cohort study aims to evaluate the healthcare resource utilization, work loss, and cost burden associated with untreated VMS. MethodsHealth insurance claims (1999-2011) were used to match (1:1) women with untreated VMS with control women using propensity score. Healthcare resource utilization, work productivity loss (disability + medically related absenteeism), and associated costs were compared between cohorts. ResultsDuring the 12-month follow-up, women with untreated VMS (n = 252,273; mean age, 56 y) had significantly higher healthcare resource utilization than women in the control cohort: 82% higher for all-cause outpatient visits (95% CI, 81-83; P < 0.001) and 121% higher (95% CI, 118-124; P < 0.001) for VMS-related outpatient visits. Mean direct costs per patient per year were significantly higher for VMS women (direct cost difference, US$1,346; 95% CI, 1,249-1,449; P < 0.001). VMS women had 57% (95% CI, 51-63; P < 0.001) more indirect work productivity loss days than controls, corresponding to an incremental indirect cost per patient per year associated with untreated VMS of US$770 (95% CI, 726-816; P < 0.001). ConclusionsThis study shows that untreated VMS are associated with significantly higher frequency of outpatient visits and incremental direct and indirect costs.
HPLC analysis of nonvolatile analytes using charged aerosol detection

A new detection method based upon aerosol charging was examined for its applicability and performance with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our results demonstrate universal detection of nonvolatile analytes with response magnitude that is independent of analyte chemical properties, four orders of magnitude dynamic range, low nanogram, lower limits of detection, and < 2% relative standard deviation response variability. Broad applicability was demonstrated for a range of methods including those using gradient elution, reversed phase, hydrophilic interaction, and ion chromatography; normal and narrow bore column formats; and in combination with other detectors (for example, UV detectors, evaporative light-scattering detectors, and mass spectrometers).
Administration of wine and grape juice inhibits in vivo platelet activity and thrombosis in stenosed canine coronary arteries.

BACKGROUND Moderate daily consumption of alcoholic beverages is a negative risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD), especially in France and other Mediterranean areas where red wine is regularly consumed with meals. Platelets contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, CAD, and acute arterial thrombus formation. METHODS AND RESULTS Anesthetized dogs were prepared with the Folts model of mechanically stenosed coronary arteries and intimal damage. Periodic acute platelet-mediated thrombus formation occurred, causing cyclic flow reductions (CFRs) in coronary blood flow. The CFRs were eliminated by the administration of 1.62 +/- 1.12 mL/kg red wine intravenously (IV) and 4.0 mL/kg intragastrically (IG). The CFRs were abolished by 2.04 +/- 1.42 mL/kg of grape juice IV and 10 mL/kg IG. White wine did not have significant results in eliminating the CFRs, either IV (2.0 mL/kg) or IG (4.0 mL/kg), decreasing the slopes of the CFRs only slightly. CONCLUSIONS Pure ethanol has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo, although a blood alcohol content (BAC) of > or = 0.2 g/dL is usually required. The BAC of dogs administered the red wine-saline solution intravenously was 0.028 g/dL, much less than is usually necessary for platelet inhibition with pure ethanol. Because red wine and grape juice, but not white wine, abolished the CFRs, this suggests there are compounds present in red wine and grape juice that are not present or are present in a lower concentration in white wine. Wine and grape juice contain a wide variety of naturally occurring compounds, including fungicides, tannins, anthocyanins, and phenolic flavonoids (including flavonols and flavones). These compounds have shown platelet inhibition in vitro by a variety of proposed mechanisms. Perhaps the biological activity of these compounds can explain the platelet-inhibitory properties of red wine and grape juice that are observed without high levels of ethanol.
Performance & Evaluation of PropagationModels for Sub-Urban Areas

Radio wave propagation models are extremely important in radio network planning, design as well as in interference planning. Radio propagation is essential for emerging technologies with appropriate design, deployment and management strategies for any wireless network. It is heavily site specific and can vary significantly depending on terrain, frequency of operation, velocity of mobile terminal, interface sources and other dynamic factor. Accurate characterization of radio channel through key parameters and a mathematical model is important for predicting signal coverage, achievable data rates, BER and Antenna gain. Path loss models for macro cells such as Okumura, Hata and COST 231 models are analyzed and compared their parameters.
Condensation of DNA by multivalent cations: Considerations on mechanism

DNA is generally found within viruses and cells in a tightly packaged state, typically occupying only 10−4–10−6 of the volume of the uncondensed DNA wormlike coil. Condensation can be induced in vitro at low salt by the naturally occurring polyamines spermidine3+ and spermine4+, by hexammine cobalt (III), and even by Mg2+ in methanol–water mixtures. These condensates generally have an orderly, toroidal, or rodlike shape and size similar to that of DNA gently lysed from phage heads. It is also striking that the condensate size distribution is independent of DNA molecular length from 400 to 40,000 base pairs (bp), but that shorter DNA molecules (e.g., 150‐bp mononucleosomal DNA) cannot condense in this fashion. We have constructed a successive association equilibrium theory to attempt to explain these results, using an equation devised by Tanford for micelle formation. Most of the obvious attractive and repulsive free energy contributions (mixing, bending, hydration, and other nearest‐neighbor interactions) are linear in the amount of DNA incorporated, but the net attractive ΔG° grows nonlinearly because of the increasing average number of nearest neighbors of each duplex as the particle grows. In order that the size distribution have a maximum, a quadratic repulsive free energy is also required, arising from the electrostatic self‐energy of the incompletely neutralized particles. The net attractive free energy per base pair interaction is tiny, on the order of 10−3 kT. Despite the apparent generally correct order of magnitude of the various free energy terms, the calculated size distribution is smaller and narrower than observed experimentally. It appears that the size distribution of condensed particles is determined kinetically rather than thermodynamically. Very short DNA molecules cannot nucleate stable aggregates because they cannot develop adequate overlap, either internally or intermolecularly. A substantial fraction of rodlike condensates is observed in aqueous solutions only with a rather inefficient condensing agent, permethylated spermidine. This suggests that slow condensation kinetics may be required to overcome the high activation energy of highly distorted DNA bends or kinks at the turning points of rods. Evidence is reviewed that condensation may be associated with localized helix structure distortion provoked by condensing agents.
Aggressive pruning strategy for time series retrieval using a multi‐resolution representation based on vector quantization coupled with discrete wavelet transform

Time series representation methods are widely used to handle time series data by projecting them onto low‐dimensional spaces where queries are processed. Multi‐resolution representation methods speed up the similarity search process by using pre‐computed distances, which are calculated and stored at the indexing stage and then used at the query stage, together with filters in the form of exclusion conditions. In this paper, we present a new multi‐resolution representation method that combines the Haar wavelet‐based multi‐resolution method with vector quantization to maximize the pruning power of the similarity search algorithm. The new method is validated through extensive experiments on different datasets from several time series repositories. The results obtained prove the efficiency of the new method.
On the Tonelli method for the degenerate parabolic Cauchy problem with functional argument

The degenerate parabolic Cauchy problem is considered. A functional argument in the equation is of the Hale type. As a limit of piecewise classical solutions we obtain a viscosity solution of the main problem. Presented method is an adaptation of Tonelli's constructive method to the partial dierential-funct ional equation. It is also shown that this approach can be improved by the vanishing viscosity method and regularization process.
Chapter 12 Eco – Evolutionary Dynamics on Deformable Fitness Landscapes

Conventional approaches to modelling ecological dynamics often do not include evolutionary changes in the genetic makeup of component species and, conversely, conventional approaches to modelling evolutionary changes in the genetic makeup of a population often do not include ecological dynamics. But recently there has been considerable interest in understanding the interaction of evolutionary and ecological dynamics as coupled processes. However, in the context of complex multi-species ecosytems, especially where ecological and evolutionary timescales are similar, it is difficult to identify general organising principles that help us understand the structure and behaviour of complex ecosystems. Here we introduce a simple abstraction of coevolutionary interactions in a multi-species ecosystem. We model non-trophic ecological interactions based on a continuous but low-dimensional trait/niche space, where the location of each species in trait space affects the overlap of its resource utilisation with that of other species. The local depletion of available resources creates, in effect, a deformable fitness landscape that governs how the evolution of one species affects the selective pressures on other species. This enables us to study the coevolution of ecological interactions in an intuitive and easily visualisable manner. We observe that this model can exhibit either of the two behavioural modes discussed in the literature; namely, evolutionary stasis or Red Queen dynamics, i.e., continued evolutionary change. We find that which of these modes is observed depends on the lag or latency between the movement of a Richard A. Watson University of Southampton, School of Electronics and Computer Science, Institute for Life Sciences, Institute for Complex Systems Simulation, Agents Interaction and Complexity, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK e-mail: raw@ecs.soton. ac.uk
Postoperative Hydrocortisone Infusion Reduces the Prevalence of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Bypass*

Objective: Neonatal cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is often complicated by morbidity associated with inflammation and low cardiac output syndrome. Hydrocortisone “stress dosing” is reported to provide hemodynamic benefits in some patients with refractory shock. Development of cardiopulmonary bypass-induced adrenal insufficiency may provide further rationale for postoperative hydrocortisone administration. We sought to determine whether prophylactic, postoperative hydrocortisone infusion could decrease prevalence of low cardiac output syndrome after neonatal cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Design: Double-blind, randomized control trial. Setting: Pediatric cardiac ICU and operating room in tertiary care center. Patients: Forty neonates undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized (19 hydrocortisone and 21 placebo). Demographics and known risk factors were similar between groups. Interventions: After cardiopulmonary bypass separation, bolus hydrocortisone (50 mg/m2) or placebo was administered, followed by continuous hydrocortisone infusion (50 mg/m2/d) or placebo tapered over 5 days. Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation testing (1 &mgr;g) was performed before and after cardiopulmonary bypass, prior to steroid administration. Blood was collected for cytokine analysis before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Measurements and Main Results: Subjects receiving hydrocortisone were less likely to develop low cardiac output syndrome (5/19, 26% vs 12/21, 57%; p = 0.049). Hydrocortisone group had more negative net fluid balance at 48 hours (–114 vs –64 mL/kg; p = 0.01) and greater urine output at 0–24 hours (2.7 vs 1.2 mL/kg/hr; p = 0.03). Hydrocortisone group weaned off catecholamines and vasopressin sooner than placebo, with a difference in inotrope-free subjects apparent after 48 hours (p = 0.033). Five placebo subjects (24%) compared with no hydrocortisone subjects required rescue steroids (p = 0.02). Thirteen (32.5%) had adrenal insufficiency after cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients with adrenal insufficiency randomized to receive hydrocortisone had lower prevalence of low cardiac output syndrome compared with patients with adrenal insufficiency randomized to placebo (1/6 vs 6/7, respectively; p = 0.02). Hydrocortisone significantly reduced proinflammatory cytokines. Ventilator-free days, hospital length of stay, and kidney injury were similar. Conclusions: Prophylactic, postoperative hydrocortisone reduces low cardiac output syndrome, improves fluid balance and urine output, and attenuates inflammation after neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Further studies are necessary to show if these benefits lead to improvements in more important clinical outcomes.