Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Excluding Zeno Behaviour in Event-Triggered Time-Delay Systems by Impulsive Controls

In this paper, we study the problem of event-triggered control for stabilization of general nonlinear time-delay systems. Based on a Razumikhin-type input-to-state stability result for time-delay systems, we propose an event-triggered control algorithm to stabilize nonlinear time-delay systems. In order to exclude the Zeno behaviors, we combine a novel impulsive control mechanism with the proposed event-triggered strategy; in this sense, our proposed algorithm is a hybrid impulsive and event-triggered strategy. We then obtain sufficient conditions for the stabilization of the nonlinear control systems with time-delay by using the Lyapunov method and Razumikhin technique. Numerical simulations are provided to show the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
Learning to Predict Explainable Plots for Neural Story Generation

Story generation is an important natural language processing task that aims to generate coherent stories automatically. While the use of neural networks has proven effective in improving story generation, how to learn to generate an explainable high-level plot still remains a major challenge. In this work, we propose a latent variable model for neural story generation. The model treats an outline, which is a natural language sentence explainable to humans, as a latent variable to represent a high-level plot that bridges the input and output. We adopt an external summarization model to guide the latent variable model to learn how to generate outlines from training data. Experiments show that our approach achieves significant improvements over state-of-the-art methods in both automatic and human evaluations.
Leveraging RB status to define therapy for castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

96 Background: Loss of retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor is overrepresented in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) compared to primary PCa. We previously showed using analyses of human tissue and in vitro and in vivo modeling that RB constrains androgen receptor (AR) function, and that loss of RB is sufficient promote resistance to castration and AR antagonists. Thus, novel strategies are needed to treat RB-deficient tumor. By contrast, in tumors retaining RB, suppressing enhancing RB activity would be of therapeutic advantage, and may be accomplished through next-generation Cdk4/6 inhibitors. Methods: Stable isogenic pairs of prostate cancer cell lines either retaining RB or RB depleted (by shRNA) were assessed in vitro and in xenografts for response to Cdk4/6 kinase inhibitors or the cabazitaxel. In addition, using an ex vivo explant assay, fresh tumor tissue samples from radical prostatectomy were exposed to the Cdk4/6 inhibitor or cabazitaxel for up to 7 days, and evaluated by IHC for Ki67, C.
Nonlinear Convergence of Solar-like Stars Chromospheres Using Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Infrared Observations

In this work, we present a new methodology to fit the observed and synthetic spectrum of solar-like stars at millimeter, submillimeter, and infrared wavelengths through semiempirical models of the solar chromosphere. We use the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm as a Nonlinear method, PakalMPI as the semiempirical model of the solar chromosphere, and recent observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array of Alpha Centauri A as a test case. Our results show that we can use solar chromospheric semiempirical models as an input model to reproduce the observed spectrum of solar-like stars. The new profiles show similarities to the solar chromosphere as a minimum of temperature (without the restriction from CO emission) and a plateau in the high chromosphere. Our method provides a new fast numerical tool to estimate the physical conditions of solar-like stars.
An Adaptive Remote Stochastic Gradient Method for Training Neural Networks

We introduce ARSG, an adaptive first-order algorithm for training neural networks. The method computes the gradients at configurable remote observation points, in order to expedite the convergence by adjusting the step size for directions with different curvatures in the stochastic setting. It also scales the updating increment elementwise by a nonincreasing preconditioner to incorporate the avdantage of adaptive methods. The method is efficient in computation and memory, and is straightforward to implement. We analyze the convergence properties for both convex and nonconvex problems by modeling the training process as a dynamic system, that provides a guideline to select the configurable observation factor without grid search. A data-dependent regret bound is proposed to guarantee the convergence in the convex setting, which can be further improved to $O(log(T))$ for strongly convex functions. Numerical experiments demonstrate that ARSG converges faster than popular adaptive methods, such as ADAM, NADAM, AMSGRAD, and RANGER for the tested problems.
Investigating Deep Neural Transformations for Spectrogram-based Musical Source Separation

Musical Source Separation (MSS) is a signal processing task that tries to separate the mixed musical signal into each acoustic sound source, such as singing voice or drums. Recently many machine learning-based methods have been proposed for the MSS task, but there were no existing works that evaluate and directly compare various types of networks. In this paper, we aim to design a variety of neural transformation methods, including time-invariant methods, time-frequency methods, and mixtures of two different transformations. Our experiments provide abundant material for future works by comparing several transformation methods. We train our models on raw complex-valued STFT outputs and achieve state-of-the-art SDR performance on the MUSDB singing voice separation task by a large margin of 1.0 dB.
Antioxidantes y aterosclerosis

Data associating free radicals with oxidation of low density lipoproteins, enhancing their uptake by macrophages in the arterial wall, are indisputable: lipid peroxidation is an initiating factor in the formation of the atheromatous plaque. Antioxidants can prevent peroxidation and subsequently reduce cardiovascular risk. Although observational studies show that populations consuming high contents of antioxidant vitamins in their diets (fruits and vegetables) have a lower incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke, controlled clinical trials, where antioxidants are given as vitamin supplements, have not been able to show benefits in primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, and even some trials have shown adverse effects. Following current evidence, the recommended intake should be through a balanced diet and not through supplement use.
Lysosomal neutral red retention time as a biomarker of organophosphate exposure in the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa: laboratory and semi-field experiments

Aporrectodea caliginosa is the most common endogeic (topsoil) earthworm in New Zealand and, because of its habitat, is potentially vulnerable to surface-applied pesticides. Lysosomal damage to earthworms, which can be visualized by the use of the neutral red retention assay (NRRA) has been evaluated in this species as a biomarker of organophosphate exposure. Earthworms were exposed in the laboratory to sub-lethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos and diazinon. In a semi-field experiment, earthworms were placed in mesocosms in a field sprayed with these pesticides at the rate recommended for a vegetable crop. In the laboratory, the neutral red retention time (NRRT) was significantly reduced following exposure to both pesticides compared with controls. In the semi-field experiment, earthworm NRRT was significantly reduced by both pesticides. These experiments have shown that the NRRA is very sensitive to exposure to chlorpyrifos and diazinon even at field rates. It therefore shows promise as a potential biomarker of contamination of soil by organophosphates.
The relationship between hemodialysis adequacy and quality of life and spiritual wellbeing in hemodialysis patients

زمینه و هدف: همودیالیز از عوامل تأثیرگذار بر کیفیت زندگی و سلامت معنوی بیماران کلیوی محسوب می شود. از طرفی بهبود کفایت دیالیز مهمترین عامل کاهش عوارض و مرگ و میر بیماران دیالیزی به شمار می آید. این پژوهش با هدف بررسی رابطه کفایت دیالیز با کیفیت زندگی و سلامت معنوی بیماران تحت درمان با همودیالیز طراحی و اجرا شد. روش بررسی: این مطالعه از نوع تحلیلی- همبستگی بود که در بیماران تحت درمان با همودیالیز بیمارستان امام حسین (ع) شاهرود در سال 1391 انجام گرفت. روش نمونه گیری از نوع در دسترس و حجم نمونه 72 نفر بود. اطلاعات با استفاده از پرسشنامه کیفیت زندگی و سلامت معنوی جمع ‌آوری شد. برای بررسی کفایت دیالیز از شاخص ‌های آزمایشگاهی استفاده گردید. یافته ها: سطح سلامت معنوی (1/68 درصد) و کیفیت زندگی (86 درصد) اکثر بیماران در محدوده متوسط قرار داشت. شاخص های کفایت دیالیز در اکثر بیماران در حد قابل قبول بودند. در بین ابعاد کیفیت زندگی، عملکرد جسمانی (05/0P
Antioxidant potential of oregano (Oreganum vulgare L.), basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.): application of oleoresins in vegetable oil

Por razoes economicas e de protecao a saude, pesquisas tem sido dirigidas para ampliar a estabilidade dos oleos vegetais. Existe uma tendencia para a adicao de antioxidantes naturais, em particular, um crescente interesse em ervas e especiarias. Desta forma, os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o potencial antioxidante das oleorresinas de oregano, manjericao e tomilho e seu comportamento ao serem aplicadas ao oleo de soja em diferentes concentracoes. Numa primeira etapa foi determinada a atividade antioxidante pelo sistema β-caroteno/acido linoleico e a quantificacao de compostos fenolicos totais. Posteriormente, foram adicionadas ao oleo de soja diferentes concentracoes das oleorresinas (500 a 3000 mg.kg-1) e analisado seu potencial antioxidante por meio da estabilidade oxidativa utilizando o Rancimat. A concentracao de 3000 mg.kg-1das oleorresinas de oregano e tomilho foi a que apresentou melhor estabilidade oxidativa ao oleo de soja, o que as tornam alternativa natural na conservacao de oleos vegetais.
Degradabilidade in situ da matéria seca, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro, de diferentes gramíneas, em novilhos suplementados com misturas múltiplas

The experiment was conducted with the purpose of evaluating the effect of different mineral supplements on the degradability of dry matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber in cattle on pasture, at Escola Agrotecnica Federal de Cuiaba - MT, from July to November, 2001. It was utilized 12 steers. Twelve steers aged 18 months and average weight of 240 kilograms, from several breedings and rumen fistulated, were utilized. From the differing management of the pasture, the area was divided into six padlocks, provided with covered drinker and feeder. The rotated grazing with 14 days occupation and the stocking rate of 1 animal/ha was utilized. The treatments were: T0 - pasture without minerals (control); T1 - pasture with mineralized salt; T2 - Pasture with mineralized salt plus urea; T3 - Pasture with mineralized salt plus urea plus corn; T4 - pasture with mineralized salt plus urea plus soybean meal; T5 - pasture with mineralized salt plus urea plus soybean meal plus corn. The sample of forage was obtained by the technique of simulated grazing and homogenized. The forage used in the degradability trial showed a mean of 8.4% of CP and 77.2% of NDF on the DM basis and was incubated in natura with 37.2% DM. The in situ ruminal degradability was obteined with the nylon bag technique. Each nylon bag contained 20 mg DM/cm2 of surface and incubated in rumen for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The potential and effective degradability and the undegradable fraction of DM, CP and NDF were analyzed utilizing the Randomized Block Design with six treatments and six replicates and means compared by the Scott Knott test. The blocks were arranged by considering each fistulated animal. The results obtained showed that, for the effective degradability of DM, there was difference (P 0.05) by the treatments. Feeding nitrogen and/or energy source in supplement provided efficient and effective degradability of DM, on average, 6.8% bigger than the others without these sources.
Methane and carbon dioxide #uxes in soils evaluated by 222Rn #ux and soil air concentration pro"les

Measurements of methane and carbon dioxide #uxes from diverse soils in the surroundings of MaH laga (Spain) were made. Methane and carbon dioxide #uxes were carried out by an indirect method from simultaneous measurements of 222Rn #ux from the soil surface in parallel with concentration pro"le measurements of 222Rn, methane and carbon dioxide in the air of soil. Correlations found between #uxes and soil permeability are better than correlations between #uxes and soil temperature. The permeability is daily evaluated from soil parameters as tortuosity and soil moisture content and the molecular di! usion coe$cient in air. Atmospheric methane is consumed by soils and mean #ux to atmosphere evaluated by this method was ! 1.3 lmol m~2 h~1. Carbon dioxide emitted by soils showed a mean #ux to the atmosphere of 4.6 mmol m~2 h~1. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Changes and significance of oxygen-metabolism and SHH signal pathway in soldiers trained in high altitude after returning to plains

Objective To observe the changes in oxygen metabolism and sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway in soldiers returning to plains after being stationed and trained for 6 months in a plateau. Methods Eighty male officers and soldiers, aged 20-30 (22.3±2.9) years, after being stationed and trained on plateau (altitude 3960m) for 6 months and returned to plain region (altitude 200m), were selected as subjects. Before their returning to plateau, 6 months after their station and training in plateau, and 2 days after their returning to plain, fasting venous blood samples were collected, the serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) were determined by ELISA, the transcription of SHH mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR, and the expressions of SMO and nucleoprotein GLI2 were detected by Western blotting. All the data mentioned above were collected for statistical analysis. Results As the subjects entered and garrisoned in plateau for 6 months, the activity of SOD decreased and the content of MDA increased significantly (P < 0.05). Both the protein expression and mRNA transcription of SHH were significantly higher after staying in plateau than in plain. When they returned to plain, both parameters decreased significantly, but were still higher than that when they lived in plain (P < 0.01). The expressions of SMO and nucleoprotein GLI2 showed a same tendency of changes. Conclusion High altitude environment may have a great influence on oxygen metabolism of organism and SHH signal pathway, and the hypoxic environment of high altitude region is one of the conditions in activating the SHH signal pathway.
Tomodensitométrie hélicoïdale de l'aorte et de ses branches.

L'exploration de l'aorte a largement beneficie du progres realise ces dernieres annees par la tomodensitometrie helicoidale. Cette technique, non invasive et rapide, est amenee a une tres large diffusion. Elle constitue une alternative viable aux explorations invasives de l'aorte en particulier dans la pathologie aigue. Le radiologue doit se familiariser avec cette technique, ses applications et les aspects semiologiques qu'elle apporte. Cet article developpe les particularites techniques et semiologiques de la tomodensitometrie helicoidale dans differentes pathologies aortiques acquises incluant les dissections, les traumatismes aortiques, les anevrismes, les affections atheromateuses non anevrismales et les maladies inflammatoires, precise et discute la place de la tomodensitometrie dans ces differentes situations par rapport aux autres modalites d'imagerie.
An Institutional Based Descriptive and Experimental Study of Smoking Cessation Services in United Arab Emirates (UAE) In 2012.

Introduction: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, and is estimated to kill more than 5 million people each year worldwide – more than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined (WHO 2008). Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemical compounds including tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine, hydrogen cyanide, acetone, ammonia, arsenic, phenol, naphthalene, cadmium and polyvinyl chloride. Many of these agents are toxic and at least 43 can cause cancer (CDC 2007). Objective: To observe the characteristics, attitudes and various trends among subjects who attended to the smoking cessation clinic during the study period as well as the efficacy of the services provided to them. Material and Methods: This is an institutional based descriptive and experimental study was carried out to cover the services provided by the smoking cessation clinic in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates in 2012. Data was collected by using pretested questionnaire that include socio-demographic and other quantitative and qualitative variables related to smoking. All subjects had received treatment in accordance with evidence based guidelines delivered by certified healthcare professionals; data was obtained from 417 clients who fit the selection criteria and analyzed by SPSS -18. Results: The main findings of the study were that most of the subjects had started smoking at a young age; less than 20 years old (77.9%) and did not seek assistance to quit smoking until they had been smoking for more than ten years (60.2%). The study also observed that most of the subjects had started smoking because they were influenced by the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry (44.1%), peer influence (36%) and parental smoking influence (17.8%). The study found that the success rate of quitting smoking was increased by attending more than three treatment sessions and by combining counseling with the use of nicotine replacement therapy (P value 0.001). Conclusion: This study emphasized the fact that smoking is a chronic relapsing condition that should be dealt with accordingly. Based on these findings, it is recommended that smoking cessation services should be incorporated within all government healthcare services; clients who are attempting to quit smoking should be offered counseling and medication; healthcare providers should be trained and provided with the necessary resources to enable them to deliver smoking cessation services in accordance with evidence based guidelines.
The mgtCBR mRNA Leader Secures Growth of Salmonella in Both Host and Non-host Environments

Upon intracellular cues, bacterial mRNA leaders often form secondary structures that determine expression of a downstream protein-coding region(s), thereby providing bacteria with a mechanism to control the amounts of necessary proteins in the right locales. Here we describe a polycistronic mRNA leader that secures bacterial growth by preventing dysregulated expression of the protein-coding regions. In Salmonella, the mgtCBR mRNA encodes the virulence protein MgtC and the Mg2+ transporter MgtB. A mutant designed to produce leaderless mgtCBR mRNA induced MgtC and MgtB in conditions that promote mgtC transcription. The dysregulated expression of MgtC and MgtB impaired bacterial growth under all such non-host environments. While MgtC, but not MgtB, normally reduces ATP levels in a process requiring the F1F0 ATP synthase, dysregulated MgtC and MgtB reduced ATP levels independently of the F1F0 ATP synthase, which correlated with the mutant’s growth defect. The mutant showed dysregulated MgtC expression and attenuated survival inside macrophages. While MgtB normally does not affect the phenotype, MgtB impaired intramacrophage survival of the mutant in the presence of MgtC. We provide an example showing that a polycistronic mRNA leader prevents the dysregulated function of protein-coding regions to allow bacteria to proliferate across complex niches.
Development of Small-Molecule Inhibitors Against Zika Virus Infection

In recent years, the outbreak of infectious disease caused by Zika virus (ZIKV) has posed a major threat to global public health, calling for the development of therapeutics to treat ZIKV disease. Here, we have described the different stages of the ZIKV life cycle and summarized the latest progress in the development of small-molecule inhibitors against ZIKV infection. We have also discussed some general strategies for the discovery of small-molecule ZIKV inhibitors.
Adult Muscle Stem Cells: Exploring the Links Between Systemic and Cellular Metabolism

Emerging evidence suggests that metabolites are important regulators of skeletal muscle stem cell (MuSC) function and fate. While highly proliferative in early life, MuSCs reside in adult skeletal muscle tissue in a quiescent and metabolically depressed state, but are critical for the homeostatic maintenance and regenerative response of the tissue to damage. It is well established that metabolic activity in MuSC changes with their functional activation, but the spatiotemporal links between physiological metabolism and stem cell metabolism require explicit delineation. The quiescent MuSC is defined by a specific metabolic state, which is controlled by intrinsic and extrinsic factors during physiological and pathological tissue dynamics. However, the extent of tissue and organismal level changes driven by alteration in metabolic state of quiescent MuSC is currently not well defined. In addition to their role as biosynthetic precursors and signaling molecules, metabolites are key regulators of epigenetic mechanisms. Emerging evidence points to metabolic control of epigenetic mechanisms in MuSC and their impact on muscle regenerative capacity. In this review, we explore the links between cell-intrinsic, tissue level, and systemic metabolic state in the context of MuSC metabolic state, quiescence, and tissue homeostasis to highlight unanswered questions.
Emerging Trends in the Epidemiology of West Nile and Usutu Virus Infections in Southern Europe

The epidemiology of West Nile (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Since 1999, there have been regular reports of WNV outbreaks and the virus has expanded its area of circulation in many Southern European countries. After emerging in Italy in 1996, USUV has spread to other countries causing mortality in several bird species. In 2009, USUV seroconversion in horses was reported in Italy. Co-circulation of both viruses was detected in humans, horses and birds. The main vector of WNV and USUV in Europe is Culex pipiens, however, both viruses were found in native Culex mosquito species (Cx. modestus, Cx. perexiguus). Experimental competence to transmit the WNV was also proven for native and invasive mosquitoes of Aedes and Culex genera (Ae. albopictus, Ae. detritus, Cx. torrentium). Recently, Ae. albopictus and Ae. japonicus naturally-infected with USUV were reported. While neuroinvasive human WNV infections are well-documented, USUV infections are sporadically detected. However, there is increasing evidence of a role of USUV in human disease. Seroepidemiological studies showed that USUV circulation is more common than WNV in some endemic regions. Recent data showed that WNV strains detected in humans, horses, birds, and mosquitoes mainly belong to lineage 2. In addition to European USUV lineages, some reports indicate the presence of African USUV lineages as well. The trends in WNV/USUV range and vector expansion are likely to continue in future years. This mini-review provides an update on the epidemiology of WNV and USUV infections in Southern Europe within a multidisciplinary “One Health” context.