Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Subspace identification for commensurate fractional order systems using instrumental variables

This paper focuses on the identification of commensurate fractional order systems in time domain. A novel identification method is proposed to determine the coefficient matrixes and fractional differential order. The proposed method is based on principle component analysis (PCA) in subspace family, which has been successfully applied in identifying traditional integer order systems. Utilizing the cost function, the problem of estimating the fractional differential order is transformed into parameter optimization process. An instrumental variable (IV) is used to eliminate the bias of identification results. Numerical simulation validates the proposed method.
Gross Versus Microscopic Pancolitis and the Occurrence of Neoplasia in Ulcerative Colitis

ObjectiveThe gross extent of ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recognized risk factor for the development of colitis-related dysplasia and colorectal cancer (CRC). The risk of neoplasia associated with the microscopic extent of colitis is unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the gross and microscopic extent of colitis in patients with UC–related dysplasia/CRC. MethodsAll patients who underwent colectomy at our institution between 1992-2001 with colitis-related dysplasia/CRC were identified. Histological sections from each colectomy specimen were reviewed for the microscopic extent of colitis and the location of all lesions with dysplasia/CRC. ResultsThirty-six patients with colitis-related dysplasia/CRC were identified of whom 30 had slides available for review. Gross pancolitis was identified in 19 patients, though microscopic pancolitis was evident in all 30 patients. Among the 11 patients with only distal gross colitis, 4/15 neoplastic lesions were proximal to the area of gross involvement. ConclusionsUC-related neoplasia can occur in areas of the colon not grossly involved with colitis, though it did not occur in any patients without microscopic pancolitis. To devise rational cancer surveillance guidelines, further studies are needed to determine the risk of colitis-related neoplasia in patients with microscopic pancolitis but limited gross disease.
Diffuse Acute Pustular Eruption After Streptococcal Infection—A New Instance of Pustulosis Acuta Generalisata

Abstract: We report a 6‐year‐old boy with a diffuse acute pustular eruption which appeared after an erysipela. On the basis of the history and clinical features we made a diagnosis of pustulosis acuta generalisata. An 8‐day antibiotic course with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was instituted. After 1 week the erysipela and the pustular eruption had healed and no relapse of the rash occurred in the following month.
Causation and Prediction Challenge: Challenges in Machine Learning, volume 2

This volume gathers the material of the first causality challenge organized by the Causality Workbench Team for the World Congress on Computational Intelligence (WCCI), June 3, 2008 in Hong Kong, including a collection of papers first published in the Journal of Machine Learning Research and a paper summarizing the results of the challenge and contributions of the top ranking entrants. An appendix describes the methods used by participants and a technical report with details on the datasets. The book is complemented by a web site from which the datasets can be downloaded and post-challenge submissions can be made to benchmark new algorithms.
Analysis and design of single-bit sigma-delta Modulators using the theory of sliding modes

The existence and stability conditions for a single-bit sigma-delta modulator operated in sliding mode are derived. Based on these conditions, a stable single-bit modulator of arbitrary order is synthesized. Also, an alternative interpretation on the modulator's noise-shaping mechanism is presented. From the sliding mode aspect, the modulator is regarded as a device that performs frequency-weighted minimization of the modulation error, and the modulator's loop filter as the weighting function. The noise-shaping equation derived from this aspect helps precisely predict the modulator performance. A fifth-order 2.2-MHz wide-band modulator with an effective resolution of 17 bits is designed as an illustrative example. The simulation result conforms the accuracy of the analysis. In the end, this paper presents a possible extension of single-bit to multibit modulation while still maintaining the sliding-mode operation.
Learning to teach elementary mathematics and science: a global learning dimension

Research and experience suggest that structured reflections and metacognitive thinking positively influence prospective teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and beliefs and attitudes (dispositions) about mathematics and science learning and teaching. To provide a motivating learning environment for such activities, prospective teachers from different educational cultures will be paired in a global learning project. They will (1) engage in interactive (online) reflective journaling based on experiences that combine content and pedagogy, and (2) have an opportunity to design a sequence of activities to teach a mathematics and science concept that will be displayed on joint web pages. The project is guided by a series of questions about the effects of cross-cultural shared experiences on the development of specific PCK and on prospective teachers' dispositions?
Health-related quality of life, depressive symptoms, anemia, and malnutrition at hemodialysis initiation.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS We administered the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) short form and a three-item depression screening measure derived from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule to 422 new patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD; incident cohort) who began maintenance hemodialysis (HD) therapy at 151 outpatient dialysis facilities across the United States. RESULTS At HD therapy initiation, 56% of patients had hemoglobin levels less than 10 g/dL (100 g/L), and 52% had albumin levels of 3.5 g/dL (35 g/L) or less. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) scores (part of the KDQOL) for this incident cohort were significantly lower than those of a prevalent HD cohort and a severe chronic disease cohort (P < 0.01 to 0.001), and physical health scores were among the lowest ever reported. SF-36 summary scores were 2 SDs below those of an age- and sex-adjusted US general population in physical health and half an SD below those in mental health. Patients who screened positive for depression (45% of sample) scored even lower on all eight SF-36 scale scores and 9 of 12 of the KDQOL kidney disease-targeted scales (P < 0.05 to 0.01), but did not differ from nondepressed patients on demographic, clinical, or laboratory study variables. CONCLUSION The extent to which the profound impairment documented in this study can be improved by more timely high-quality predialysis care requires further investigation. Nevertheless, the high prevalence of anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and depressive symptoms at dialysis therapy initiation suggests the need for more aggressive and broader spectrum pre-ESRD care.
Anju Dhiman et al : Antimicrobial and In vitro Antioxidant zest of Datura fastuosa L

The antimicrobial zest of hydro-alcoholic and methanolic seed extracts of Datura fastuosa L. was evaluated against three clinical bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two clinical fungal strains (Candida allbicans and Aspergillus niger) by tube dilution method. Both the plant extracts were found to be active against the tested micro-organisms. The methanolic extract of D. fastuosa was found to inhibit bacterial strain, E.coli effectively with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 25μg/ml. The hydroalcoholic extract of D. fastuosa seeds was found to be more potent in terms of its bactericidal concentration for B. subtilis with both minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and MBC values as 25 μg/ml. Also, methanolic extract was found to be more efficient in inhibiting S. aureus having MIC 12.5 μg/ml. Hydro alcoholic and methanolic seed extracts of D. fastuosa were also evaluated for antioxidant potential using 1,1-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant capacity, total amount of phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total flavonols and total proanthocyanidines content. The IC50 value using DPPH model for methanolic extract of D. fastuosa was found to be 28.34 μg/ml & for hydroalcoholic extract, 25.78 μg/ml. The observed values for total antioxidant capacity, total amount of phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total flavonols and total proanthocyanidines content for methanolic extract of D. fastuosa were found to be 6.83 mg/g, 9.97 mg/g, 6.34 mg/g, 5.37 mg/g and 1.42 mg/g of plant extract respectively and for hydroalcoholic extract, the values for the same parameters were 7.44 mg/g, 6.88 mg/g, 9.35 mg/g, 5.36 mg/g and 0.88 mg/g respectively.
Interrater reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for schizophrenia

The Swedish version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for schizophrenia (PANSS) has been tested and construct validity, internal reliability and interrater reliability have been demonstrated to be quite satisfactory. However, the interrater reliability of the negative symptoms was unsatisfactory low. In this study, the Swedish version of the Structured Clinical Interview for the PANSS has been tested. The interrater reliability is increased as compared with the inter‐rater reliability achieved by means of the PANSS. As concerns the positive scale, the intraclass coefficients increased to 0.98–0.99 with the SCID‐PANSS. For the negative scale, the intraclass coefficients increased to 0.83–0.90 with the SCID‐PANSS, and for the general scale the increase was to 0.95–0.98 with the SCID‐PANSS. It was also demonstrated that the interrater reliability is higher for the positive and the negative factors derived from the PANSS than for the positive and the negative scales.
Control of locomotion and head configuration of 3D snake robot (SMA)

In this paper, we propose a winding control technique using a physical index of horizontal constraint force for a 3D snake-like robot, and it is shown that a winding motion of the robot can be realized with small joint torque. If it approaches a target point, it is necessary to raise the head and to work like a manipulator. Therefore, a control method of the head configuration using a criterion function, which can be used in both redundant and insufficient number of link cases is proposed. In order to show the validity of the proposed methods, we constructed a snake like robot called SMA. Using the experimental system, we show that the winding pattern with which the robot can avoid singular postures is generated automatically, and head position and head orientation can be controlled properly.
Repeated onabotulinumtoxin-a injections provide better results than single injection in treatment of painful bladder syndrome.

BACKGROUND Onabotulinumtoxin-A (BoNT-A) is effective for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). However, long-term follow-up does not show successful outcome after a single injection. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and safety of repeated intravesical BoNT-A injections for treatment of IC/PBS and compare the success rates among patient groups receiving different injection numbers. STUDY DESIGN Prospective interventional study. SETTING Tertiary medical center. METHODS Intravesical injection of 100 U of BoNT-A was performed in 81 patients every 6 months for up to 4 times or until patients' symptoms significantly improved. Patients who received a single injection served as active controls. Measured parameters included O'Leary-Sant symptom indexes (ICSI) and problem indexes (ICPI), visual analogue score (VAS) for pain, voiding diary variables, urodynamic parameters, maximal bladder capacity under anesthesia, glomerulation grade, and global response assessment. Multiple measurements and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used for comparison of consecutive data and success rates among groups. RESULTS Among 81 patients, 20 received single injections, 19 received 2 injections, 12 received 3 injections, and 30 received 4 injections. The mean (± standard deviation) of ICSI, ICPI, total scores, VAS, functional bladder capacity, and daytime frequency all showed significant improvement after repeated BoNT-A treatment with different injections. Significantly better success rates were noted in patients who received 4 repeated injections (P = 0.0242) and 3 injections (P = 0.050), compared to those who received a single injection. However, there was no significant difference of long-term success rates among patients who received 2, 3, and 4 injections. LIMITATIONS Lack of placebo control group is the main limitation. CONCLUSION Repeated intravesical BoNT-A injections were safe and effective for pain relief and they increased bladder capacity and provided a better long-term success rate than a single injection did for treatment of IC/PBS.
Author Proof A Attention During Looking and Reaching as Assessed by Heart Rate in 7 1⁄2-Month-Old Infants

Attention mediates the acquisition and encoding of information about the world and is central to motor action. Heart rate deceleration and behavioral inhibition are sensitive indices of the attentional process, but it is unknown whether these indices are valid in the context of overt action. The current study investigated the relationship between visual attention, action, and heart rate during reaching in 7.5-month-old infants. We found that infants showed prolonged looking and large heart rate decelerations on reaching and looking trials. We conclude that overt action itself does not prevent the autonomic and behavioral changes that are also seen in attention to simple visual displays and that attention is maintained throughout the act of reaching. ß 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 42: 1–9, 2003.
Tofacitinib

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety, dosage administration, and adverse effects of tofacitinib for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Data Sources: Primary sources of information were obtained from clinical studies, which were identified through PubMed (1966 to June 2013) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to March 2013) using terms: tofacitinib, tasocitinib, CP-690550, and CP-690,550. Information was used from tofacitinib package insert, guidelines, and published abstracts from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Data search was limited to include publications in English language and from human subjects. Data Synthesis: Tofacitinib is the first oral Janus kinase inhibitor indicated for treatment of moderate to severe RA. Tofacitinib demonstrated efficacy and safety comparable to other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Tofacitinib was efficacious in RA patients, indicated by achievements of ACR20, ACR50, and ACR70 criteria. Similar improvements were observed in patients who met remission criteria based on the Disease Activity Scores 28 criteria and quality of life as measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). Tofacitinib was associated with infections and malignancies; and elevations in serum creatinine and lipids were observed. Drug interactions with inducers and inhibitors of the cytochrome P-450 3A4 and 2C9 isoenzymes were reported. Conclusions: Tofacitinib is an oral treatment option for RA patients who have inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate. Postmarket surveillance will provide further insight to tofacitinib’s role in RA therapy, especially in patients who may require different types of combination therapy with DMARDS.
Fabrication of Quantum Dot-Conjugated Collagen/Hyaluronic Acid Porous Scaffold

AbstractA quantum dot (QD)-conjugated collagen-hyaluronic acid (HA) porous scaffold was combined with our previously reported animal model of mice inferior epigastric flaps and QD infusion to study scaffold angiogenesis. A CdSe/ZnS QD-labeled collagen/HA scaffold was fabricated and examined with a confocal microscope. The degradation rate of the scaffold was inversely related to 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide concentration used in cross-linking. There was no cytotoxicity of the QDs as determined by MTT colorimetric assay. Results of the animal implantation study revealed no difference in acute tissue inflammation between scaffolds with or without QD labeling. To study scaffold angiogenesis, we infused the implanted QD-conjugated collagen/HA scaffold with QD of different fluorescence, which can be simultaneously identified by confocal microscope. By these evaluations, we conclude that QD-conjugated collagen/HA porous scaffold is not different from that without conjugation and can be used in our animal model of scaffold angiogenesis without compromising results.
Females have a greater incidence of stress fractures than males in both military and athletic populations: a systemic review.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to review incidence of stress fractures in military and athlete populations and identify factors explaining causes and differences in the incidence among genders. METHODS Searches were conducted using several major databases. The studies were included if they were original studies including both male and female subjects and their aim was to identify incidence rates and risk factors contributing to the development of stress fractures. Of several thousand studies, 11 focusing on military populations and 10 on athletes are discussed. RESULTS In both populations, females had higher incidence of stress fractures, with incidence of approximately 3% and approximately 9.2% for males and females, respectively, in military populations and approximately 6.5% and approximately 9.7%, respectively, in athletes. CONCLUSIONS Factors possibly explaining why females are more susceptible to stress fractures include bone anatomy, lower aerobic capacity, smaller muscle, and poor diet. However, both female recruits and athletes with normal weight and bone health are less likely to develop stress fractures, showing that gender is less important than the overall physical shape/condition.
STRAIN VARIATION IN REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY AND RADIATION RESPONSE OF FEMALE MICE.

Large species differences in the sterilizing effects of radiation on females have been reported. For example, in female beagles exposed at puberty, a dose of 300 r of acute X-irradiation appears to have no effect on the number of pups whelped by 4 years of age (1). On the other hand, female mice (F1 from the cross of 101 X C3H) after acute exposure of 300 r of X-rays have an average of only 1.4 litters. Even with a dose as low as 50 r only an average of 4 litters is produced before sterility occurs. Comparable controls have 14 to 15 litters (2). The possible cause for the obvious species differences in the sterilizing effects of ionizing radiation on females were discussed recently (3-5). The evaluation of the species differences has been difficult because of the lack of information about the intraspecific variation. The present experiment was designed to explore the intraspecific variation in the mouse, the most fully studied species. A preliminary report of some of the results has been published (6). The radiation induction of permanent sterility in female mice is caused by the extremely rapid destruction of o6cytes in immature follicles. As the development of the follicle progresses, the resistance of the contained oocyte increases. Oocytes in follicles with an antrum show no killing by radiation (accounting for the litter born shortly after irradiation) but are depleted through ovulation and failure of replacement from younger stages (7, 8). A similar response has been observed in female rats (9). The general pattern of radiation effects on productivity in males, in contrast to females, is the same in a wide variety of species. Male mammals given an acute X-ray dose ranging from a few hundred to a thousand or more roentgens are initially fertile, then become temporarily sterile for a certain period depending on magnitude of dose, and finally regain fertility (10). Although this common response
Automatized Large Diameter Lamellar Keratoplasty and Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases with Limbal Insufficiency

Purpose To report a new surgical procedure for the treatment of ocular surface diseases associated with severe limbal insufficiency. Methods A retrospective review of four patients with severe ocular surface disease who required stem cell transplantation and keratoplasty for the correction of limbal insufficiencies. They underwent large diameter lamellar keratoplasty with microkeratome. When limbal dysfunction was associated with limited alteration of the ocular surface and transparent deep corneal stroma only the anterior corneal stroma was transplanted. When the entire corneal thickness was compromised, both anterior and deep donor buttons were transplanted. Results Patients remained stable and improved their visual acuity after surgery. Best-corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/200 to 20/30. No corneal graft rejections were found. The main complication found in one of our patients was a central stromal opacity which required a secondary penetrating keratoplasty. Conclusions Automatized large diameter lamellar keratoplasty provides a safe and successful alternative to limbal transplantation for limbal insufficiency associated with corneal opacity. This technique enables a single-stage surgical procedure and the use of a single donor which reduces the risk of rejection. In addition, better refractive results are achieved due to the quality of the interface and the absence of corneal sutures.
Mosquito-borne infections in Fiji V. The 1971–73 dengue epidemic

SUMMARY A dengue epidemic due to type 2 virus involving some 3,400 cases began in Fiji early in 1971, had a peak during May, June and July, and cases have continued to occur with a low incidence during 1972 and 1973. Many of the notified cases showed classical dengue fever symptoms and there were no confirmed cases of haemorrhagic fever. A serological survey indicated that there had been at least 20,000 subclinical infections. It is probable that the virus was introduced to Fiji either through the port of Lautoka or Nadi international airport in February 1971. The normal travel patterns of residents must have spread the virus to all the more accessible localities but, with the exception of Rotuma, it caused infections only in areas where Aedes aegypti was available as a vector. There was no evidence that pre-existing dengue type 1 serum antibody gave any protection during this epidemic.
Improvement in Channel Estimation and Error Rate Performance in Mobile Cooperative OFDM Systems with Intercarrier Interference

In mobile cooperative orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems with amplify-and-forward (AF) relays, in which the source and relay terminals are moving, Doppler frequency might become very large due to the formation of double-hop channels, possibly causing very large intercarrier interference (ICI). Therefore, ICI mitigation technique capable of reducing the impact of high Doppler frequency is required. This paper reports the study of ICI mitigation technique that uses frequency domain equalizer (FDE) with improvements in three aspects, namely, better channel estimation using cubic-spline approximation, use of selection combining to utilize cooperative diversity in order to suppress ICI, and simple error correcting code with double interleaving to suppress errors due to residual ICI. By using the proposed ICI mitigation technique, error rate performance of mobile cooperative OFDM systems can be improved significantly. Even at high Doppler frequencies, error floors due to residual ICI can be decreased by up to two decades.