Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Least squares ARMA modeling of linear time-varying systems: Lattice filter structures and fast RLS algorithms

The problem of modeling linear time-varying systems is one of considerable importance in many varied and diverse applications. This paper looks at AR, MA, and ARMA modeling of linear time-varying systems with lattice filters. There are two parts to this paper. The first part develops the lattice filter structures. In particular, a new ARMA(N, M) lattice filter structure is presented (N: AR order, M: MA order) which is fully consistent with the geometric characteristics of the AR and MA lattice filter structures in that it evaluates all optimal ARMA (i, j) filters of order lower than (N, M), and each such filter is realized in terms of a fully orthogonal set of realization vectors. For uncorrelated input, this ARMA lattice filter simplifies greatly, resulting in the white input ARMA lattice filter. The second part of the paper develops new fast RLS algorithms for the evaluation of the lattice filter coefficients. There are two classes of algorithms presented. One class is based on projection error sample averaging, while the other uses input-output sample averaging and some orthogonality relations. This latter approach is equivalent to the exact RLS formulation. The algorithms of the former class are the most efficient modeling algorithms known to the authors, and the algorithms of the latter class are of comparable or better efficiency than other algorithms in the same class.
A Wideband Circularly Polarized Omnidirectional Antenna Based on Excitation of Two Orthogonal Circular TE21 Modes

A novel wideband circularly polarized (CP) omnidirectional antenna operating at L-band is presented. The antenna operates based on excitation of a field distribution similar to circular waveguide TE21 mode over a wide bandwidth. It is shown that the circular TE21 mode generates a linearly polarized far-field electric field over the horizontal plane with its polarization tilt angle varying as a function of azimuth angle. It is also shown that the tilt angle varies by 90° for an azimuthal angle increase of 45°. To obtain circular polarization, two circular TE21 modes are excited such that one mode is spatially rotated by 45° with respect to the other mode. The phase difference between two modes is 90°. The modes are excited by an array of 16 monopole sectorial loop antennas to achieve a wide axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth. A right-handed CP antenna based on the proposed structure is fabricated and tested against simulation results. A feed network including Wilkinson power dividers and low-pass/high-pass phase shifters is also designed and fabricated to feed the antenna elements. The measurement results show 58% of 3-dB AR and 10-dB impedance bandwidth with the center frequency at 1.565 GHz. The total height of the antenna is 47 mm.
Dynamic Interaction Between Soluble Tubulin and C‐Terminal Domains of N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate Receptor Subu

Abstract : The cytoplasmic C‐terminal domains (CTs) of the NR1 and NR2 subunits of the NMDA receptor have been implicated in its anchoring to the subsynaptic cytoskeleton. Here, we used affinity chromatography with glutathione S‐transferase‐NR1‐CT and ‐NR2B‐CT fusion proteins to identify novel binding partner(s) of these NMDA receptor subunits. Upon incubation with rat brain cytosolic protein fraction, both NR1‐CT and NR2B‐CT, but not glutathione S‐transferase, specifically bound tubulin. The respective fusion proteins also bound tubulin purified from brain, suggesting a direct interaction between the two binding partners. In tubulin polymerization assays, NR1‐CT and NR2B‐CT significantly decreased the rate of microtubule formation without destabilizing preformed microtubules. Moreover, only minor fractions of either fusion protein coprecipitated with the newly formed microtubules. Consistent with these findings, ultrastructural analysis of the newly formed microtubules revealed a limited association only with the CTs of the NR1 and NR2B. These data suggest a direct interaction of the NMDA receptor channel subunit CTs and tubulin dimers or soluble forms of tubulin. The efficient modulation of microtubule dynamics by the NR1 and NR2 cytoplasmic domains suggests a functional interaction of the receptor and the subsynaptic cytoskeletal network that may play a role during morphological adaptations, as observed during synaptogenesis and in adult CNS plasticity.
Effect of photoperiod and melatonin on testicular development in the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus.

At autopsy the absolute and relative testicular weights of 6-week-old white-footed mice were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in animals exposed to a short photoperiod (8L : 16D) or exposed to a long photoperiod (16L : 8D) and treated with a 1 mg melatonin s.c. implant than in those kept only in a long photoperiod. The long photoperiod animals had tests of normal appearance and complete spermatogenesis, but there had been little development in the testes of the other animals and seminiferous tubule diameters were reduced.
The Influence of Meloidogyne incognita Density on Susceptible Tomato

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of increasing initial population density (Pi) of Meloidogyne incognita on nematode reproduction and growth of susceptible tomato (Lycopersicom esculentum cv. Round-41) at 25°C± 2 in growth chamber. 21-days-old tomato seedlings transplanted in13-cm dia. earthen pot was inoculated with Pi including 250, 500, 1000, 1500 eggs of M. incognita. Nematode reproduction was assessed by determining the number of galls, eggs masses, eggs per root system, and reproduction rate values per root system at 60 days after inoculations. Egg-masses on Phloxine B- stained roots were quantified and root systems were rated for galling and egg mass presence on a 0 to 5 scale where 0 = no gall or egg masses, 1 = 1-2, 2 = 3-10, 3 = 11-30, 4 = 31- 100, and 5 = >100 galls or egg masses per root system. Nematode reproduction was directly proportional to Pi. Reproduction rate (Pf/Pi, where Pf = final number of eggs / initial egg density) for Pi's of 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 eggs/plant was lowest when Pi = 250 (2.23) but similar when Pi = 500, 1000 or 1500. Shoot and root growth were inversely related to Pi. Strong liner relationship exited between root length, root galling index and foliage growth but very poor between root weight and foliage growth. High Pf = final eggs per root system than at all Pi suggests that Round-41 is a good host for M. incognita
Probability model for discharge activities in bearings of converter-fed electric motors

Voltage source inverters in electrical drive systems are the main sources of possible mechanical degeneration inside the anti-friction bearings of downstream drive train components. In order to find the right countermeasures to avoid these parasitic effects, knowledge of the switching conditions of the converter and the subsequent effects are an important issue. This paper focuses on the converter's inherent common-mode voltage and its impact on the mechanical drive train elements. Using an electrical bearing model, a method will be presented and discussed to approximate the probability for discharges in the bearings of converter-fed electric motors.
Segmental and laminar organization of the spinal neurons projecting to the periaqueductal gray (PAG) in the cat suggests the existence of at least five separate clusters of spino‐PAG neurons

The present retrograde tracing study in the cat describes the spinal cord projections to the periaqueductal gray (PAG), taking into account different regions of the PAG and all spinal segments. Results show that injecting different parts of the PAG leads to different laminar and segmental distributions of labeled spinal neurons. The impression was gained that at least five separate clusters of spinal neurons exist. Cluster I neurons are found in laminae I and V throughout the length of the cord and are probably involved in relaying nociceptive information to the PAG. Cluster II neurons lie in the ventrolateral part of laminae VI–VII of the C1–C4 spinal cord and were labeled by injecting the ventrolateral or lateral part of the rostrocaudal PAG or the deep tectum. Cluster III neurons are located in lamina X of the thoracic and upper lumbar cord and seem to target the PAG and the deep tectum. Cluster IV neurons are located in the medial part of laminae VI–VII of the lumbosacral cord and seem to project predominantly to the lateral and ventrolateral caudal PAG. These neurons may play a role in conveying tactile stimuli to the PAG during mating behavior. Neurons of cluster V are located in the lateral part of lamina I of L6–S2 and in laminae V–VII and X of S1–S3. They are labeled only after injections into the central portion of the lateral and ventrolateral caudal PAG and probably relay information concerning micturition and mating behavior. J. Comp. Neurol. 428:389–410, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effects of a novel lateral extracapsular suture system on the kinematics of the cranial cruciate deficient canine stifle

Summary Objective To evaluate the relative position of the femur and tibia in cranial cruciate ligament- intact stifles, cranial cruciate ligamentdeficient stifles, and cruciate-deficient stifles following lateral extracapsular suture system (LESS) stabilization under load at specific joint angles. Study design In vitro biomechanical study. Methods Twenty pelvic limbs from 11 dogs were used to evaluate the relative position of the femur and tibia between three stifle conditions (cranial cruciate ligament-intact, cranial cruciate ligament-deficient, and LESSstabilized) at a load of 30% of body weight and stifle angles of 125°, 135°, and 145° using electromagnetic tracking sensors. Results Cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifles had significantly greater (p <0.0001) cranial displacement and internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur than cranial cruciate ligament-intact or LESS stifles at all stifle angles. Cranial displacement of the tibia relative to the femur for cranial cruciate ligament-intact and LESS stifles were not significantly different from one another at a stifle angle of 125°, but were significantly different at stifle angles of 135° (p = 0.0182) and 145° (p = 0.0012). There was no significant difference in internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur between the cranial cruciate ligament-intact and LESS stifles at any of the stifle angles. Clinical significance The LESS procedure effectively decreased cranial tibial displacement and eliminated internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur in the cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifles at stifle angles of 125°, 135°, and 145° in vitro.
Economic burden of chronic pain

Pain represents a major clinical, social and economic problem, with estimates of its prevalence ranging from 8 to over 60%. The impact of pain on economies is enormous, with the cost of back pain alone equivalent to more than a fifth of one country's total health expenditure and 1.5% of its annual gross domestic product, while in another, it represents three-times the total cost of all types of cancer. However, decision makers have tended to concentrate their attention on a very minor component of the cost burden, namely prescription costs, which, in the case of back pain, represent 1% of the total cost burden. In addition to its economic impact, chronic pain is probably one of the diseases with the greatest negative impact on quality of life. For example, the quality of life for those with migraine has been shown to be at best equal to that for people with arthritis, asthma, diabetes mellitus or depression. The burden that pain imposes on individuals and the enormous costs that society has to bear as a result clearly demonstrate the need for collective thinking in the decision-making process. A broad, strategic perspective – based on evidence relating to effectiveness (including tolerability), efficiency and equity – is required in determining issues relating to the provision of services and resource allocation.
Prior robust optimization

The focus of this thesis is optimization in the presence of uncertain inputs. In a broad class of algorithmic problems, uncertainty is modeled as input being drawn from one among a large known universe of distributions, however the specific distribution is unknown to the algorithm. The goal then is to develop a single algorithm that for every distribution in this universe, performs approximately as well as the optimal algorithm tailored for that specific distribution. Such algorithms are robust to assumptions on prior distributions. Prior robust optimization retains the robustness of worst-case analysis while going beyond the pessimistic impossibility results of worst-case analysis. Apart from this theoretical appeal, the ability to use the same algorithm for every prior distribution makes prior robust algorithms well-suited for deployment in real systems. Indeed, most prior robust algorithms in literature are simple to implement and some of them have been observed to perform well in large-scale systems. In this thesis, we design and analyze prior robust algorithms in two distinct areas of research: online algorithms and mechanism design. In online algorithms, we use a hybrid argument to develop near optimal online algorithms for a general framework of problems, called the resource allocation framework, with several well motivated applications to Internet ad serving. In mechanism design, we use sampling and supply limitation techniques to develop prior robust truthful approximately revenue optimal auctions, and the first prior robust truthful mechanisms for approximate makespan minimization in machine scheduling.
Site of Human Rhinovirus RNA Uncoating Revealed by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization

ABSTRACT By using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), we visualized viral RNA of human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV2) during its entry into HeLa cells. RNA uncoating of HRV2 is entirely dependent on low endosomal pH (≤5.6). When internalized into cells treated with bafilomycin, which results in neutralization of the endosomal pH, no FISH signal was recorded, whereas in the absence of the drug, fluorescent dots were seen. Therefore, FISH detects the genomic viral RNA only upon its release from the capsid. Free viral RNA was first seen at 10 min postinfection (p.i.) in the perinuclear area of the cell, which is indicative of RNA release in/from late endosomal compartments. Pulse-chase experiments and observation of HRV2 RNA and capsid proteins via microscopy, Western blotting, and reverse transcription-PCR revealed that the RNA signal persisted whereas the protein signal disappeared. This demonstrates transport of capsids to lysosomes and degradation. In contrast, viral RNA that had already been transferred into the cytoplasm escaped lysosomal breakdown as indicated by a persistent FISH signal. Taken together, our results demonstrate by direct means RNA arrival in the cytosol within 10 min p.i. Based on persistence of the FISH signal and productive infection in the presence of the microtubule-depolymerizing drug nocodazole, we localized this process to endosomal carrier vesicles/late endosomes.
A dynamic learning neural network for remote sensing applications

The neural network learning process is to adjust the network weights to the selected training data. Based on the multilayer feedforward perceptron neural network, a dynamic learning algorithm (DL) is proposed. The presented learning algorithm makes use of Kalman filtering technique to update the network weights, in the sense that the stochastic characteristics of incoming data sets are implicitly incorporated into the network. The Kalman gains which represent the learning rates of the network weights are updated and calculated through the U-D factorization. By concatenating all of the network weights at each layer to form a long vector such that it can be updated without propagating back, the proposed algorithm improves in convergence substantially over the backpropagation (BP) learning algorithm. Numerical illustrations are carried out using two types of problems: multispectral image classification and surface parameter retrieval. Results indicate that the use of the Kalman filtering algorithm not only substantially improves the convergence rate in the learning stage, but also enhances the separability for problems with highly nonlinear boundaries, as compared to BP algorithm, suggesting that the proposed DL neural network provides a practical and efficient tool for remote sensing applications. <<ETX>>
Factors controlling tropospheric O3, OH, NO x and SO2 over the tropical Pacific during PEM-Tropics B

Observations over the tropical Pacific during the Pacific Exploratory Mission (PEM)-Tropics B experiment (March-April 1999) are analyzed. Concentrations of CO and long-lived nonmethane hydrocarbons in the region are significantly enhanced due to transport of pollutants from northern industrial continents. This pollutant import also enhances moderately O3 concentrations but not NOx concentrations. It therefore tends to depress OH concentrations over the tropical Pacific. These effects contrast to the large enhancements of O3 and NOx concentrations and the moderate increase of OH concentrations due to biomass burning outflow during the PEM-Tropics A experiment (September-October 1996). Observed CH3I concentrations, as in PEM-Tropics A, indicate that convective mass outflux in the middle and upper troposphere is largely independent of altitude over the tropical Pacific. Constraining a one-dimensional model with CH3I observations yields a 10-day timescale for convective turnover of the free troposphere, a factor of 2 faster than during PEM-Tropics A. Model simulated HO2, CH2O, H2O2, and CH3OOH concentrations are generally in agreement with observations. However, simulated OH concentrations are lower (∼25%) than observations above 6 km. Whereas models tend to overestimate previous field measurements, simulated HNO3 concentrations during PEM-Tropics B are too low (a factor of 2–4 below 6 km) compared to observations. Budget analyses indicate that chemical production of O3 accounts for only 50% of chemical loss; significant transport of O3 into the region appears to take place within the tropics. Convective transport Of CH3OOH enhances the production of HOx and O3 in the upper troposphere, but this effect is offset by HOx loss due to the scavenging of H2O2. Convective transport and scavenging of reactive nitrogen species imply a necessary source of 0.4–1 Tg yr−1 of NOx in the free troposphere (above 4 km) over the tropics. A large fraction of the source could be from marine lightning. Oxidation of DMS transported by convection from the boundary layer could explain the observed free tropospheric SO2 concentrations over the tropical Pacific. This source of DMS due to convection, however, would imply in the model free tropospheric concentrations much higher than observed. The model overestimate cannot be reconciled using recent kinetics measurements of the DMS-OH adduct reaction at low pressures and temperatures and may reflect enhanced OH oxidation of DMS during convection.
Noncausal image modeling with applications to image restoration

The problem of noncausal image modeling and estimation with applications to image restoration is considered. The noncausal vector autoregressive model for the image process is arranged into a descriptor system. This system is then decomposed into forward and backward stable subsystems which capture the dynamic behavior of the original descriptor system. The design of a time-varying filter is considered. The forward state is estimated, with the backward state considered as a colored output noise. The backward state is estimated, with the forward state regarded as colored output noise. Simulation results for noncausal image modeling are presented. <<ETX>>
Changes in quadriceps muscle thickness in acute non-ambulatory stroke survivors

Background:Loss of skeletal muscle mass is one of the main reasons for disability in patients with stroke. However, lower leg muscle wasting has not been studied in acute stroke patients. Objective:To investigate the changes in quadriceps muscle thickness in acute non-ambulatory stroke survivors. Methods:A total of 16 consecutive acute non-ambulatory stroke survivors who were in acute inpatient rehabilitation, with a mean age of 72.1 years, were included in the study. Quadriceps muscle thickness was examined in their paretic and non-paretic limbs within the first week from admission (first week), 1 week after the first examination (second week), and 1 week after the second week examination (third week) using ultrasonography. Results:Quadriceps muscle thickness in the paretic limb decreased every week (mean% difference between the first and second weeks, 12.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3–20.2%; mean% difference between the second and third weeks, 10.1, 95% CI 5.2–14.9%). Quadriceps muscle thickness in the non-paretic limb was lower in the second and third weeks than the first week, but there was no difference between the second and third weeks (mean% difference between the first and second weeks, 9.3, 95% CI 2.5–16.1%; mean% difference between the second and third weeks, 5.3, 95% CI − 1.6 to 12.1%). Conclusion:Quadriceps muscle thickness decreased in acute non-ambulatory stroke survivors not only in the paretic limb but also in the non-paretic limb, particularly during the period from admission to the second week.
Characterization of the on-body channel in an outdoor environment at 2.45 GHz

A characterization of the fading observed in an 8-node wireless body area network in an outdoor environment is presented. When the user was stationary the degree of fading for on-body links was found to be low, with estimated Nakagami m parameters ≫ 1. However, when the user was mobile, depending on the body dynamics in the vicinity of the node location and transmission path length, fading significantly increased, characterized by lower m values. Level crossing rates are also presented and used to estimate the maximum Doppler frequency for each individual on-body channel.