Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensors based on nonlinear dynamic systems — A survey

Nonlinear systems able to develop chaotic dynamics have a tremendous potential in a large class of applications, because of the complexity of the behavior they exhibit and of the sensitivity of their operation to the process parameters. While these properties have been seen as disadvantages, the increased technical capabilities of mastering the operation of these systems and of analyzing their behavior have recently set free their potential. We survey the literature of sensors based on nonlinear dynamic systems and add to these sensors analysis. Theoretical foundations of the dynamics characterization are introduced and several tools for employing these fundamentals to the design of sensors are presented. Examples of sensors previously reported are reviewed and design considerations exposed.
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging for metabolic characterization of demyelinating plaques

We used proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic imaging to determine the serial changes in MR signals from choline, creatine, lactate, and N‐acetylaspartate in and around a large demyelinating lesion followed over a period of 8 months. Elevated lactate and choline signals were observed at the first examination 3 days after the onset of symptoms. Reduced N‐acetylaspartate signals were observed a few days afterward. The abnormals metabolite signals varied in different regions of the lesions and extended beyound the borders of abnormal signal intensity seen on conventional MR imaging (MRI). On the last examination at 8 months when the lesion appeared much smaller on MRI, choline signals from the center of the lesions were still high, but were falling. Choline signals outside the lesions on MRI had returned to normal as had lactate signals everywhere. Importantly, there was no recovery of N‐acetylasparatate signals in or adjaccent to the lesion on MRI. This serial study demonstrates the potential of MR spectroscopic imaging for characterizing the chemical pathological evolution of demyelinating lesions in ways that conventional MRI cannot. We propose that abnormal signals from choline can indicate recent regional demyelination, while persistent abnormal signals from N‐acetylaspartate can provide an index of irreversible damage in the nervous system.
System Identification Based on Stepwise Regression for Dynamic Market Representation

A system for market identification (SMI) is presented. The resulting representations are multivariable dynamic demand models. The market specifics are analyzed. Appropriate models and identification techniques are chosen. Multivariate static and dynamic models are used to represent the market behavior. The steps of the first stage of SMI, named data preprocessing, are mentioned. Next, the second stage, which is the model estimation, is considered in more details. Stepwise linear regression (SWR) is used to determine the significant cross-effects and the orders of the model polynomials. The estimates of the model parameters are obtained by a numerically stable estimator. Real market data is used to analyze SMI performance. The main conclusion is related to the applicability of multivariate dynamic models for representation of market systems. Keywords—market identification, dynamic models, stepwise regression.
A New Architecture for Games and Simulations Using GPUs

Multi-thread architectures are the current trends for both PCs (multi-core CPUs and GPUs) and game consoles such as the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3. GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) have evolved into extremely powerful and flexible processors, allowing its use for processing different data. This advantage can be used in game development to optimize the game loop. As reported in the literature, GPGPUs have been used in processing some steps of the game loop, while most of the game logic is still processed by the CPU. This proposal differs by presenting an architecture designed to process practically the entire game loop using the GPU. Two test cases, a crowd simulation and a 2D game shooter prototype called GpuWars, are presented to illustrate the proposed architecture.
High‐performance direct algorithms for computing the sign function of triangular matrices

Algorithms and implementations for computing the sign function of a triangular matrix are fundamental building blocks for computing the sign of arbitrary square real or complex matrices. We present novel recursive and cache‐efficient algorithms that are based on Higham's stabilized specialization of Parlett's substitution algorithm for computing the sign of a triangular matrix. We show that the new recursive algorithms are asymptotically optimal in terms of the number of cache misses that they generate. One algorithm that we present performs more arithmetic than the nonrecursive version, but this allows it to benefit from calling highly optimized matrix multiplication routines; the other performs the same number of operations as the nonrecursive version, suing custom computational kernels instead. We present implementations of both, as well as a cache‐efficient implementation of a block version of Parlett's algorithm. Our experiments demonstrate that the blocked and recursive versions are much faster than the previous algorithms and that the inertia strongly influences their relative performance, as predicted by our analysis.
Dynamic multichannel interval adjustment for WAVE architecture

The current Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol of the Wireless Access in Vehicular Environments (WAVE) system does not consider time utilization of Control Channel (CCH) and Service Channel (SCH). In this paper, we present a novel mechanism to extend MAC protocol, which dynamically adjusts the length of CCH and SCH intervals according to vehicle density and load conditions of network. In the proposed mechanism, each vehicle makes use of the beacons to evaluate reception probability in CCH then adjusts duration of CCH interval accordingly. This enables vehicles to handle traffic load conditions and provides reliable and efficient data transmission for safety applications to ensure human safety while maintaining time for non-safety applications.
Sex-Specific Life Course Changes in the Neuro-Metabolic Phenotype of Glut3 Null Heterozygous Mice: Ketogenic Diet Ameliorates Electroencephalographic Seizures and Improves Sociability

We tested the hypothesis that exposure of glut3+/- mice to a ketogenic diet ameliorates autism-like features, which include aberrant behavior and electrographic seizures. We first investigated the life course sex-specific changes in basal plasma-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-brain metabolic profile, brain glucose transport/uptake, glucose and monocarboxylate transporter proteins, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the presence or absence of systemic insulin administration. Glut3+/- male but not female mice (5 months of age) displayed reduced CSF glucose/lactate concentrations with no change in brain Glut1, Mct2, glucose uptake or ATP. Exogenous insulin-induced hypoglycemia increased brain glucose uptake in glut3+/- males alone. Higher plasma-CSF ketones (β-hydroxybutyrate) and lower brain Glut3 in females vs males proved protective in the former while enhancing vulnerability in the latter. As a consequence, increased synaptic proteins (neuroligin4 and SAPAP1) with spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic activity subsequently reduced hippocampal glucose content and increased brain amyloid β1-40 deposition in an age-dependent manner in glut3+/- males but not females (4 to 24 months of age). We then explored the protective effect of a ketogenic diet on ultrasonic vocalization, sociability, spatial learning and memory, and electroencephalogram seizures in male mice (7 days to 6 to 8 months of age) alone. A ketogenic diet partially restored sociability without affecting perturbed vocalization, spatial learning and memory, and reduced seizure events. We conclude that (1) sex-specific and age-dependent perturbations underlie the phenotype of glut3+/- mice, and (2) a ketogenic diet ameliorates seizures caused by increased cortical excitation and improves sociability, but fails to rescue vocalization and cognitive deficits in glut3+/- male mice.
A Comparison of Minimum Risk Portfolios under the Credit Crunch Crisis

In this paper the behaviour of various popular risk portfolios measures used for portfolio construction are compared using data from the recent financial crisis. Results are revealing the way optimal portfolios should be constructed. Despite the conventional wisdom, short selling gives only a marginal improvement to portfolio performance during the crisis period. Optimal semivariance portfolio produces better results than the portfolio constructed with the more advanced expected short fall method. Additional historical information has added to performance up to a point and long dated history seems not to be commensurate with additional benefits. Rebalancing frequency seems to have an optimal point that favours neither overtrading nor the conventional buy and hold strategy.
IgG-anticardiolipin-antibodies are markers for cerebral and peripheral artery disease.

Anticardiolipin-antibodies are antibodies to phospholipids which were first detected in patients with arterial thrombosis and lupus erythematosus. In this prospective study, IgG- and IgM-anticardiolipin-antibodies were determined in patients with cerebral and/or peripheral artery disease but without autoimmune disorders. 123 randomly selected patients (88 males, 35 females; mean: 65 +/- 10, range: 41-85 years) were included and divided into four groups: 18 patients with isolated cerebrovascular disease (group A), 35 patients with peripheral artery disease only (group B), 35 patients suffering from cerebral and peripheral artery disease (group C) and 35 patients as controls (group D). In family history, cholesterol, blood sugar and prothrombin time the four patient groups did not differ significantly, whereas patients of group B and C were more often smokers than those in groups A and D. However, IgG-anticardiolipin-antibody-levels were significantly elevated in patients with cerebral and peripheral artery disease compared to controls (p less than 0.01). The highest values were seen in group C where patients suffered from cerebral and peripheral artery disease (n.s.). On the other hand, IgM-anticardiolipin-antibody-levels did not show any differences in the four groups. Furthermore, there was no correlation between vascular risk factors and/or laboratory findings with IgG- and IgM-antibody-levels. Thus, elevated IgG-anticardiolipin-antibodies appear to be independent markers for severe cerebral and peripheral artery disease and should be determined in patients at increased risk.
Measurement of HRQL using EQ-5D in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japan.

OBJECTIVES We measured the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of diabetes mellitus patients using the Japanese version of EQ-5D, and examined the relationship between clinical condition and health status. METHODS A study was conducted on 220 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a hospital in Saitama Prefecture on the day of their visit from November 17 to December 24, 1998. Patients evaluated their health status using five dimensions (5D) and a visual analog scale (VAS). The EQ-5D score was calculated based on the 5D responses using the Japanese version of the value set. RESULTS There were no responses of "extreme problem. " The frequency of "some problem" was significantly higher in patients with complications than in those without for mobility (27.4% and 14.4%) and anxiety/depression (25.7% and 13.5%). The mean EQ-5D score was 0.846 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.817-0.874) in patients with complications versus 0.884 (95% CI 0.855-0.914) in those without complications. There was no statistically significant difference between VAS scores according to the presence or absence of diabetic complications, but a significant difference in VAS scores was seen according to the presence or absence of retinopathy. CONCLUSION These findings suggest the value of measuring health status in diabetes mellitus patients, because it is able to comprehensively evaluate the patient's health condition, and add another dimension to the subjective symptoms and laboratory data.
Static expansion planning of transmission line using Mixed Integer Linear Programming method

The task of this research work is to determine an optimal network configuration according to load growth. It determines where, when and how many new transmission lines should be installed. This study presents a methodology for transmission expansion planning using DC power flow model. The objectives are to minimize the transmission investment cost, minimize the transmission line operation and maintenance cost and minimizes the generation investment cost. Mixed Integer Linear Programming method is used to solve the Transmission Line Expansion problem. Firstly Garver's Test System and then Attariya - Butwal Grid Division of Integrated Nepal Power System has been simulated for Transmission Line Expansion Planning (TLEP) in General Algebraic Modeling system (GAMS) using CPLEX solver tool. Load and generation of Kathmandu, Hetauda and Duhabi Grid Division has been lumped into Bharatpur Sub Station, whereas load and generation of Pokhara Grid Division has been lumped into Syangja Sub Station. Three different scenarios with varying load and generation for the case of Attariya - Butwal Grid Division of Integrated Nepal Power System were modeled for analysis of the model.
An RpoB Mutation Confers Dual Heteroresistance to Daptomycin and Vancomycin in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT We have previously reported the establishment of a Staphylococcus aureus laboratory strain, 10*3d1, having reduced susceptibility to daptomycin and heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) phenotype. The strain was generated in vitro by serial daptomycin selection (Camargo, I. L., H. M. Neoh, L. Cui, and K. Hiramatsu, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52:4289-4299, 2008). Here we explored the genetic mechanism of resistance in the strain by whole-genome sequencing and by producing gene-replaced strains. By genome comparison between 10*3d1 and its parent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain N315ΔIP, we identified five nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). One of the five mutations was found in the rpoB gene encoding the RNA polymerase β subunit. The mutation at nucleotide position 1862 substituted the 621st alanine by glutamic acid. The replacement of the intact rpoB with the mutated rpoB, designated rpoB(A621E), conferred N315ΔIP with the phenotypes of reduced susceptibility to daptomycin and hetero-VISA. The rpoB(A621E)-mediated resistance conversion was accompanied by a thickened cell wall and reduction of the cell surface negative charge. Being consistent with these phenotypic changes, microarray data showed that the expression of the dlt operon, which increases the cell surface positive charge, was enhanced in the rpoB(A621E) mutant. Other remarkable findings of microarray analysis of the rpoB(A621E) mutant included repression of metabolic pathways of purine, pyrimidine, arginine, the urea cycle, and the lac operon, enhancement of the biosynthetic pathway of vitamin B2, K1, and K2, and cell wall metabolism. Finally, mutations identified in rplV and rplC, encoding 50S ribosomal proteins L22 and L3, respectively, were found to be associated with the slow growth, but not with the phenotype of decreased susceptibility to vancomycin and daptomycin, of 10*3d1.
Comparison between running performance in time trials on track and treadmill

Few studies have investigated the influence of test environment (field vs. laboratory) on pacing strategy and on physiological variables measured during endurance running performance tests. The objective of this study was therefore to compare the behavior of mean velocity (MV), pacing strategy, heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) during one-hour running time trials conducted on an athletics track with the behavior of the same variables during one-hour running time trials conducted on a treadmill. Eighteen male recreational runners (25.4 ± 3.3 years) performed two one-hour time trials; the first running on a treadmill and the second on a 400 m athletics track. Rating of perceived exertion and HR were recorded every 10 minutes and MV was calculated every 15 minutes for analysis of pacing strategy (0-15min; 15-30min; 30-45min; and 45-60min). These performance variables were compared using Student's t test for paired samples. Figures for MV, HR and RPE measured at different points during the trials were compared using two-factor ANOVA for repeated measures, followed by Bonferroni's post hoc test. A significance level of P < 0.05 was adopted for all analyses. Mean velocity was higher for the trials on the running track (12.2 ± 0.8 km·h-1) than for the trials on the treadmill (11.8 ± 0.8 km·h-1). Additionally, there were also differences between the two test environments for mean and maximum heart rate, and in terms of pacing strategy. On the basis of these differences, it can be concluded that performance was influenced by the environment in which the one-hour time trials were conducted.
Herramienta informática para la estimación del tiempo de protrombina

Introduccion: el calculo de la relacion internacional normalizada permite estimar el tiempo de protrombina como metodo de control de la terapeutica anticoagulante. Objetivo: desarrollar un programa informatico para la estimacion del tiempo de protrombina en funcion de la relacion internacional normalizada. Metodo: se utilizo como lenguaje informatico el programa Microsoft Office Excel 2007, con una interfaz de usuario orientada a los resultados para analizar, compartir y administrar datos con facilidad. Resultados: el sistema informatico resolvio una funcion de tipo potencial que estimo la relacion internacional normalizada en funcion del tiempo de protrombina del paciente, el tiempo de protrombina estandar y el indice de sensibilidad internacional de la tromboplastina utilizada. Se aplico en el Hospital “Dr. Antonio Luaces Iraola” de la provincia Ciego de Avila, en el Hospital “Roberto Rodriguez Fernandez” de Moron y en el Hospital "Manuel Ascunce Domenech" de Camaguey. Conclusiones: la herramienta computacional propuesta permite realizar de forma rapida y sencilla el calculo de la relacion internacional normalizada sin necesidad de utilizar equipos como los analizadores de la linea STA basados en la utilizacion de las baterias STA®-Neoplastine® CI Plus que contienen reactivos para determinar el tiempo de protrombina en plasma. En los laboratorios clinicos en que se empleo, se logro optimizar y facilitar el trabajo
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of Dairy Products in Chinese Urban Population and the Effects on Dairy Intake Quality

Insufficient intake of dairy products is a nutritional problem of concern in China. However, the knowledge, attitude, and practice of consuming dairy products in the Chinese population remain unknown. A total of 1739 subjects from eight cities in China participated in this study. A questionnaire was used to measure knowledge of and attitude toward dairy. A semi-food intake frequency questionnaire was used to obtain the frequencies and amount of different kinds of dairy product intake. Calcium and protein intake were investigated within one 24-hour period of dietary recall. The results showed that questions related to lactose intolerance had the highest unknown rate and the lowest accuracy. Males, subjects with a lower education level, lower monthly family income (<3000 yuan), lower monthly family food expenditure (<1000 yuan), and lower personal monthly expenditure on dairy products (<10 yuan) had a significantly lower knowledge score. For attitude, 42.7 percent of subjects had self-perceived insufficient intake of dairy. While 15.2 percent of subjects reported experiencing lactose intolerance symptoms, 29.5 percent did not know the reasons. In practice, the median (25th, 75th) intake of dairy products was 71.4 (0.0, 200.0) g/day. A significantly lower intake of dairy and low-fat or fat-free dairy products was shown in subjects with poor dairy knowledge. For the perception of lactose intolerance, the lowest intake was shown in the “unsure” group. In conclusion, knowledge gaps and self-perception bias regarding dairy products exist in Chinese urban adults and these are associated with the quantity and quality of dairy intake.
Chryseobacterium culicis sp. nov., isolated from the midgut of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus.

A yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, R4-1A(T), isolated from the midgut of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (a vector of lymphatic filariasis), was studied using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the isolate were rod-shaped and stained Gram-negative. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of this organism with sequences of type strains of the most closely related species clearly showed an allocation to the genus Chryseobacterium, with the highest sequence similarities (all 97.9 %) to Chryseobacterium jejuense JS17-8(T), C. indologenes ATCC 29897(T), C. arthrosphaerae CC-VM-7(T) and C. aquifrigidense CW9(T). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to type strains of other Chryseobacterium species were below 97.5 %. The fatty acid profile of strain R4-1A(T) included the major fatty acids iso-15 : 0, summed feature 4 (comprising iso-15 : 0 2-OH and/or 16 : 1ω7c), iso-17 : 1ω9c and iso-17 : 0 3-OH. DNA-DNA hybridizations with C. jejuense KACC 12501(T), C. indologenes CCUG 14556(T), C. arthrosphaerae CC-VM-7(T) and C. aquifrigidense KCTC 12894(T) resulted in relatedness values of 38.3 % (reciprocal 30.5 %), 29.4 % (32.1 %), 23.2 % (37.2 %) and 29.5 % (47.1 %), respectively. These results and the differentiating biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties show that strain R4-1A(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Chryseobacterium culicis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R4-1A(T) (=LMG 25442(T) =CCM 7716(T)).
ESL flows are enabled by high-level synthesis with universality

Due to their size and complexity, SoCs today require a “whole-system” approach to validation and verification, using real data traffic, throughout the design cycle. Instead of isolated IP verification with custom testbenches, followed by system integration, designers need to start with whole-system models in which subsystems can be independently substituted by refined models and IP blocks, so that there is a continuous system-level validation. Design languages need to be universal to express configurations that are so heterogeneous, both in the functionality and in level of abstraction. Further, they need to be universally synthesizable so that any such configuration can be run on hardware-assisted verification platforms (such as FPGAs) to achieve the speeds needed for meaningful validation and verification.
Successful achievement in a variable speed pumped storage power system at Yagisawa power plant

The world's-first power converter-fed variable speed pumped storage power system (VSPS) was commissioned in 1990. The VSPS has been monitored to verify the operating characteristics when a fault occurs in the electric power system. A one-line fault occurred in the transmission line in 1992. The over voltage protection system operated normally and the VSPS continued as normal. The authors simulated the fault with the EMTP and obtained a satisfying simulation result which was almost the same as the practical record. <<ETX>>