Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maneuvering target tracking using q-learning based Kalman filter

In this paper, we propose a new algorithm based on the combination of the well-known Kalman Filter (KF) and a Temporal Differencing (TD) method named the Q-learning technique. The purpose is to solve a single maneuvering target tracking problem. The algorithm consists of adapting the noise process of the Kalman filter when the target changes its mode using Q-learning based decision. After a comparison with an ideal Kalman filter and the IMM filter, the approach has shown interesting behavior. Monte-Carlo simulation results are provided to assess these outcomes.
The reliabiliTy of projecTive Techniques as Tools of psychological assessmenT . parT 1 : Why iT is unjusTified To describe some of Them as projecTive ? *

the aim of this paper is to review and discuss the scientific status of the projective methods used in personality assessment. projective techniques cannot be exempted from the fundamental requirements of any measuring instrument and especially from those required of psychological tests. Yet if they are modified to meet the criterion of objectivity, their reliability can be compared to that of other tests. Some psychologists wrongly assume that all “projective behaviour” bypasses a person’s defences and so manifests their unconscious needs, motives, and conflicts. it is in this way that some projective techniques have been incorrectly regarded as “projective”, while others satisfy the criteria of the “projective hypothesis”. Rather than being based on empirical findings, some projective techniques are in fact based on speculation alone.
Prepregnancy weight and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

BACKGROUND Obesity before pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of several adverse outcomes of pregnancy. The risk profiles among lean, normal, or mildly overweight women are not, however, well established. METHODS We studied the associations between prepregnancy body-mass index (defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) and the frequency of late fetal death, early neonatal death, preterm delivery, and delivery of a small-for-gestational-age infant in a population-based cohort of 167,750 women in Sweden in 1992 and 1993. The women were categorized as follows, according to body-mass index: lean, less than 20.0; normal, 20.0 through 24.9; overweight, 25.0 through 29.9; and obese, 30.0 or more. The estimates were adjusted for maternal age, parity, smoking, education, whether the mother was living with the father, and maternal height. RESULTS Among nulliparous women, the odds ratios for late fetal death were increased among women with higher body-mass-index values as compared with lean women, as follows: normal women, 2.2 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 4.1); overweight women, 3.2 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.6 to 6.2); and obese women, 4.3 (95 percent confidence interval, 2.0 to 9.3). Among parous women, only obese women had a significant increase in the risk of late fetal death (odds ratio, 2.0; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 3.3). Among nulliparous women, the risk of very preterm delivery (at < or =32 weeks' gestation) was significantly increased among obese as compared with lean women (odds ratio, 1.6; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 2.3), whereas among parous women, the risk was highest among those who were lean. The risk of delivering a small-for-gestational-age infant decreased more with increasing body-mass index among parous than among nulliparous women. CONCLUSIONS Higher maternal weight before pregnancy increases the risk of late fetal death, although it protects against the delivery of a small-for-gestational-age infant.
Cyber secure synchrophasor platform

Phasor measurement units (PMUs) are rapidly being installed across the USA as part of the DOE Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) programs. Within three years there are expected to be over 1000 PMUs installed by nine SGIG grantees. However, there will be many more installed in distribution networks to help accommodate intermittent power from rooftop solar and electric vehicles. Additionally, PMUs will begin appearing at the terminals of generation equipment, transformers, and large motors. We predict they will be used in large commercial and residential facilities. Several of the SGIG grantees intend to install highly available redundant measurement systems. One of the key reasons for redundancy is to support the requirements to be able to make security patches to the software without losing data. These software patches must be made with no loss of data. The Entergy company experience during the Hurricane Gustav power island event is a clear example of the value of PMUs for real time operations of the grid. We show in this paper how fully redundant cyber secure systems can be assembled using standard PMUs and standard commercial software.
Kinetics of chromosome rejoining in normal human fibroblasts after exposure to low- and high-LET radiations.

To determine whether chromosome breaks produced by alpha particles are processed differently from those produced by X rays, the premature chromosome condensation technique was used to follow chromosome rejoining after irradiation. Doses of 90 and 200 keV/microns alpha particles (2.7 Gy) and 250 kVp X rays (6 Gy) were chosen to produce approximately the same number of initial chromosome breaks (about 30 excess fragments per cell). Frequencies of excess fragments were assessed at eight times to 24 h after irradiation with the final yields being about 2, 4 and 8 excess fragments per cell for 250 kVp X rays and 200 and 90 keV/microns alpha particles, respectively. For each radiation the time for the initial measured fragment frequency per cell to be halved (i.e. to about 15) was the same (about 100 min). The results were fitted to three models of kinetics of the rejoining, and the initial and residual number of excess chromosome fragments as well as the rate of rejoining were determined. Even with eight times, discrimination between the models of the kinetics was not possible, such that a single-component first-order reaction could not be rejected for either X-ray- or alpha-particle-induced breaks. Although rejoining proceeds at similar rates, the probability of "correct" rejoining is apparently reduced for alpha-particle-irradiated cells.
O Papel da Fronteira no Processo de Construção Socio-espacial da Amazônia

A Amazonia e foco de inumeras discussoes na atualidade, associadas sobretudo, a sua condicao de desenvolvimento. Muitas sao as perspectivas que permeiam as causas da condicao atual da Amazonia no quadro social e economico brasileiro, porem, grande parte destas, nao conseguem apreender a realidade na sua totalidade, apresentando falhas quando utilizadas na construcao de medidas para solucao dos problemas apresentados. A complexidade da construcao do espaco amazonico, requer uma leitura mais completa, envolvendo os diferentes elementos; economicos, politicos, sociais e ideologicos. Sendo assim, este trabalho se propoe a realizar uma leitura da formacao socio-espacial da Amazonia a partir do processo de incorporacao da fronteira, na tentativa de permitir que se compreenda o porque da condicao atual de desenvolvimento amazonico.
Fumonisins and fungi in dry soybeans (Glycine Max L.) for human consumption

ABSTRACT This survey reports the occurrence of fumonisins (FBs) and fungi in dry soybeans sold for human consumption. The variation levels were 138–1495 µg kg−1 and 178–552 µg kg−1 for FB1 and FB2, respectively. In addition, potentially toxigenic fungi as Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium genera were isolated in the samples. These can be considered as indicator-toxin and can produce considerable amounts of mycotoxins. Despite FB presence in the soybeans for human consumption, there is no legal regulation. Therefore, it is important to emphasise the need for frequent monitoring of these contaminants in soybeans.
Effects of MICs and sub-MICs of antibiotics on production of capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae

In the present study, we examined whether MICs and sub-MICs of antimicrobial agents belonging to two different classes, ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime, were able to influence the production and release of cell-associated and soluble (extracellular) capsular polysaccharide (CPS), respectively, in a heavily encapsulated strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae (B5055). Using a CPS-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we found that the amount of cell-associated CPS increased in a dose-dependent manner by more than 10-fold under the influence of the MIC of ceftazidime and by more than 100-fold under the influence of the MIC of ciprofloxacin. The largest amounts of CPS were measured by using the MIC of either antibiotic substance. Electron microscopic studies showed that the diameter of the capsule was significantly increased compared with the diameter for untreated controls. Thus, both antimicrobial agents genuinely stimulated CPS production.
Lithium Tantalate Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors for Bio-Analytical Applications

A novel chip-based measurement system for marker-free detection of affinity and molecular interaction kinetics has been developed. Lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) based Love-wave sensors are utilized as an alternative to quartz as substrate material in order to improve both the sensitivity and the limit-of-detection (LOD). Monitoring the coupling of thrombin to its antibody at low concentrations 1 nM and 10 nM showed phase changes of Deltaphi = 0.10deg and 0.35deg, respectively, for an active sensor area of 5.6 mm2. We have found that the estimated detection limit for thrombin is on the order of 0.18 nM for our LiTaO3 sensors.
Mechanism of Endotoxin Interaction with Human Leucocytes

An investigation to define the mechanism of the interaction between endotoxin and human leucocytes is reported. Endotoxin produces the following changes in human leucocytes suspended in vitro in normal plasma or serum: leak of kininase and lysozyme from the cell into the medium, decreased cellular α‐glucosidase and phosphorylase activity, increased production of lactate and of 14CO2 from glucose‐1‐14C and increased incorporation of tritiated uridine into RNA and acid‐soluble nucleotide. The metabolic changes induced by endotoxin and the uptake of radioactive endotoxin by granulocytes are diminished if the suspending medium is depleted of complement components.
A Phase II Trial with Pharmacodynamic Endpoints of the Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib on tumor growth in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, and to explore the relationship between correlative studies and clinical outcome. Design: Bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2) was administered i.v. on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle. Tumor response was assessed after every two cycles. Tumor biopsies were done prior to treatment and on day 9 of the first treatment cycle. Biopsies were examined for Ser32/36-IκB, Ser276-nuclear factor κB (NFκB), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), p53, and microvessel density using immunohistochemistry. Results: Nineteen patients received 42 cycles (range 1-4) of bortezomib. No objective response was seen; three patients had stable disease at cycle 2, two patients had progressive disease after cycle 1, and 11 patients had progressive disease at cycle 2. Of the three patients with stable disease, one had progressive disease after cycle 4, and two were withdrawn due to toxicity. The median time to progression was 5.1 weeks (95% confidence interval, 5.1-11.1 weeks). There was a significant increase in the expression of HIF-1α relative to its transcriptional target CAIX following bortezomib, and a similar effect was also observed in a companion study using a human tumor xenograft model. Expression of p53, Ser276-NFκB, and Ser32/36-IκB was unchanged. Conclusion: Single agent bortezomib is inactive in metastatic colorectal cancer. Using this regimen, there was no detectable effect on NFκB, but a significant accumulation of HIF-1α was seen relative to CAIX. This suggests that proteasome inhibition alters the response to tumor hypoxia, and further investigation of this effect is indicated.
Crohn's disease clinical course and severity in obese patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Obesity is unusual in Crohn's disease and the particularities of the disease in obese patients have not been studied. METHODS 2065 patients were studied retrospectively. Obesity was defined by a BMI value >25.0 at disease onset and >30.0 at any time during the course of the disease. Disease characteristics, therapeutic needs, and year-by-year disease activity were determined in patients with and without obesity. RESULTS 62 patients (3%) were obese. When compared with non-obese patients, obese patients did not show differences regarding sex, intestinal disease location, and disease behavior, but at diagnosis they were older (32 vs 28 years, P = 0.01) and a larger proportion had anoperineal disease (35 vs 24%, P = 0.03). When the 62 obese patients were paired for sex, location of disease at onset, date of birth, and date of diagnosis with 124 non-obese patients, the disease severity assessed by the importance of medical therapy and excisional surgery did not differ in the two groups but time to development of anoperineal abscess or fistula was shorter in obese patients, and obese patients were more prone to develop an active disease (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.07-2.11) and to require hospitalization (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.56-3.52) CONCLUSION Obesity in Crohn's disease is associated with more frequent anoperineal complications and a more marked year-by-year disease activity, but does not alter significantly the long-term course of the disease.
Physiopathologie des infarctus cérébraux jonctionnels: une étude clinico-radiologique en IRM 3DTOF

INTRODUCTION : Les infarctus cerebraux jonctionnels (ICJ) sont souvent dus a une stenose de l’axe carotido-sylvien. Leur physiopathologie est discutee selon leur pattern radiologique entre mecanisme embolique ou hemodynamique. Dans la litterature, les ICJ corticaux (ICJc) seraient preferentiellement emboliques. Les ICJ profonds (ICJp) seraient, quant a eux, d’origine purement hemodynamique. Nous nous proposons d’etudier cette hypothese en imagerie par IRM 3DTOF. MATERIELS ET METHODES: Quarante-cinq ICJ consecutifs sur stenose carotidienne bulbaire unilaterale documentes par IRM en phase aigue ont ete inclus. Les donnees cliniques et radiologiques ont ete recueillies retrospectivement. L’analyse de la sequence de flux en 3DTOF a fait l’objet d’une analyse qualitative et quantitative (mesure du flux sur les arteres carotides internes, cerebrales anterieures, moyennes et posterieures). Deux groupes ont ete definis en fonction du pattern radiologique: ICJ avec ou sans atteinte profonde. Les facteurs clinico-radiologiques associes a un pattern d’ICJ profond ont ete determines en analyse statistique par regression logistique. RESULTATS: Sur 45 ICJ inclus dans l’etude, 32 (71%) avait un pattern profond isole ou mixte, contre 13 (29%) avec un pattern cortical isole. Il n’a pas ete decrit de difference significative pour les donnees demographiques, facteurs de risque cardio-vasculaire ou pour les donnees de l’imagerie vasculaire cervicale entre les deux groupes. Des differences cliniques sur le plan moteur ont ete decrites. Aucun parametre en 3DTOF ne s’est avere significativement associe au pattern cortical isole. En revanche, que ce soit en mesures qualitative ou quantitative, l’alteration du flux en 3DTOF de l’artere cerebrale moyenne ipsilaterale a l’ICJ etait significativement associee aux ICJp. CONCLUSIONS : Ces resultats argumentent pour un mecanisme hemodynamique des ICJp. Le pattern profond des ICJ est donc predictif d’un retentissement de la stenose carotidienne sur le flux d’aval, non retrouve pour les ICJc. Il s’agit d’une demonstration originale renforcant l’interet du 3DTOF, methode accessible en phase aigue pour decrire une situation hemodynamique intracrânienne.
Nanometer-scale pattern registration and alignment by directed diblock copolymer self-assembly

We describe a fabrication method that combines the alignment capabilities of optical lithography with the sub-lithographic dimensions achievable using self-assembled diblock copolymer films. We use surface topography to direct the assembly of in-plane cylindrical copolymer domains so as to subdivide larger patterns defined using optical lithography, in the process registering the location of each 20-nm polymer domain to the lithographic pattern. Our approach provides an application for self-assembly in the fabrication of complex microelectronic circuits entailing alignment of multiple patterned layers. We detail the influence of such process parameters as lithographic pattern dimensions and density, copolymer film thickness, and anneal time on the quality of the resulting nanometer-scale-domain registration.
Minocycline and doxycycline kinetics in chronic renal failure

Half‐lives and urinary excretion rates of minocycline (MINO) and doxycycline (DOXY) were compared in 8 normal volunteers and in 8 patients with chronic renal failure. Each drug was given as a single, 200‐mg intravenous infusion with a 7‐day period between doses. Blood sampies for serum levels were taken just prior to and at the completion of infusion (0 hr) and then I, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hr later. Urine sampies were collected every 6 hr on day 1, every 12 hr on day 2, and every 24 hr on day 3. Peak serum levels occurred at 0 hr immediately upon completion of the infusion with both drugs. Mean serum levels for MINO were consistently lower than those for DOXY in both groups. Mean serum half‐lives (t½) increased from 14.6 hr (MINO) and 13.8 hr (DOXY) in normal subjects to 17.3 hr (MINO) and 20.6 hr (DOXY) in renal failure patients. Although there was not a statistically significant difference between the mean areas under the serum level curves (AUC) of the normal and the renal failure groups for either drug, the AUC was identical for both groups receiving minocycline and 37% higher than normal for the renal failure group receiving doxycycline. At 72 hr, the normal group had excreted 11% (MINO) and 57% (DOXY) of the dose whereas the renal failure group excreted 0.7% (MINO) and 2.0% (DOXY). These differences between normal and renal failure groups were significant (p < 0.01). Overall, excretion of minocycline was virtually independent of renal function, whereas doxycycline appeared to accumulate to some degree in the renal failure patients.
Vitamin K and the prevention of fractures: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND Observational and some experimental data suggest that low intake of vitamin K may be associated with an increased risk of fracture. OBJECTIVE To assess whether oral vitamin K (phytonadione and menaquinone) supplementation can reduce bone loss and prevent fractures. DATA SOURCES The search included the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (1966 to June 2005), EMBASE (1980 to June 2005), the Cochrane Library (issue 2, 2005), the ISI Web of Science (1945 to June 2005), the National Research Register (inception to the present), Current Controlled Trials, and the Medical Research Council Research Register. STUDY SELECTION Randomized controlled trials that gave adult participants oral phytonadione and menaquinone supplements for longer than 6 months were included in this review. DATA EXTRACTION Four authors extracted data on changes in bone density and type of fracture. All articles were double screened and double data extracted. DATA SYNTHESIS Thirteen trials were identified with data on bone loss, and 7 reported fracture data. All studies but 1 showed an advantage of phytonadione and menaquinone in reducing bone loss. All 7 trials that reported fracture effects were Japanese and used menaquinone. Pooling the 7 trials with fracture data in a meta-analysis, we found an odds ratio (OR) favoring menaquinone of 0.40 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.65) for vertebral fractures, an OR of 0.23 (95% CI, 0.12-0.47) for hip fractures, and an OR of 0.19 (95% CI, 0.11-0.35) for all nonvertebral fractures. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review suggests that supplementation with phytonadione and menaquinone-4 reduces bone loss. In the case of the latter, there is a strong effect on incident fractures among Japanese patients.
IGF‐1‐stimulated protein synthesis in oligodendrocyte progenitors requires PI3K/mTOR/Akt and MEK/ERK pathways

Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) interacts with the Type I receptor to activate two main signaling pathways, the mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)‐extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)‐Akt cascades, which mediate proliferation or survival of oligodendrocyte (OL) progenitors (OLPs). In other cellular systems, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and the p70 S6 kinase are downstream effectors that phosphorylate translation initiation factors (e.g. eIF‐4E), their regulators (e.g. 4E‐binding protein 1, 4E‐BP1) and ribosomal protein S6 (S6). The aim of this study was to determine whether these pathways are involved in IGF‐1‐stimulated protein synthesis, important for growth and differentiation of OLs. Rat cultured OLPs were treated with IGF‐1 with or without inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002 or Wortmannin), mTOR (rapamycin), MEK (PD98059), and Akt (III or IV), as well as an adenovirus encoding a dominant negative form of Akt. Protein synthesis, as assessed by [35S]‐methionine incorporation, was stimulated by IGF‐1 and required the upstream activation of PI3K, Akt, mTOR and MEK/ERK. Concordant with the experiments using protein kinase inhibitors, western blotting revealed that IGF‐1 stimulates phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, ERK, S6 and 4E‐BP1. Activation of S6 and inactivation of 4E‐BP1, necessary for protein synthesis to take place, were dependent on the upstream activation of PI3K and mTOR. Finally, IGF‐1 consistently stimulated protein synthesis through mTOR in differentiating OLPs but mRNA transcription was not required at day 4, indicating a differential role of IGF‐1 throughout OL development.
Systems biology of the 2-cell mouse embryo

The transcriptome of the 2-cell mouse embryo was analyzed to provide insight into the molecular networks at play during nuclear reprogramming and embryonic genome activation. Analysis of ESTs from a 2-cell cDNA library identified nearly 4,000 genes, over half of which have not been previously studied. Transcripts of mobile elements, especially those of LTR retrotransposons, are abundantly represented in 2-cell embryos, suggesting their possible role in introducing genomic variation, and epigenetic restructuring of the embryonic genome. Analysis of Gene Ontology of the 2-cell-stage expressed genes outlines the major biological processes that guide the oocyte-to-embryo transition. These results provide a foundation for understanding molecular control at the onset of mammalian development.