Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DNA genetic algorithm for design of the generalized membership-type Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy control system

We propose a new DNA-based genetic algorithm (DNA-GA) to optimize the design parameters of a generalized membership-type Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller (GTSFC). The GTSFC employs TS fuzzy rules with linear consequent, e/sup -|ax+b|(c)/-type input fuzzy sets containing almost arbitrary continuous input fuzzy sets, Zadeh fuzzy logic AND operation, and the widely-used centroid defuzzier. The GTSFC is proved to be a nonlinear PI controller with variable gains. The optimized design parameters are the input fuzzy sets and the linear consequent of the rules. The DNA-GA uses a DNA encoding method stemmed from the structure of the biological DNA to encode the design parameters of the GTSFC. The genetic operators of the method are based on the DNA genetic operations. The encoding method can significantly shorten the code length of DNA chromosomes and is suitable for complex knowledge representation. As a demonstration, we show how to implement the new method to optimize the design parameters of the GTSFC to control a nonlinear system. Computer simulation results indicate that the performance of the designed fuzzy controller is satisfactory.
A 3D porous media liver lobule model: the importance of vascular septa and anisotropic permeability for homogeneous perfusion

The hepatic blood circulation is complex, particularly at the microcirculatory level. Previously, 2D liver lobule models using porous media and a 3D model using real sinusoidal geometries have been developed. We extended these models to investigate the role of vascular septa (VS) and anisotropic permeability. The lobule was modelled as a hexagonal prism (with or without VS) and the tissue was treated as a porous medium (isotropic or anisotropic permeability). Models were solved using computational fluid dynamics. VS inclusion resulted in more spatially homogeneous perfusion. Anisotropic permeability resulted in a larger axial velocity component than isotropic permeability. A parameter study revealed that results are most sensitive to the lobule size and radial pressure drop. Our model provides insight into hepatic microhaemodynamics, and suggests that inclusion of VS in the model leads to perfusion patterns that are likely to reflect physiological reality. The model has potential for applications to unphysiological and pathological conditions.
Knowledge Management From A Paradox Perspective - Siemens Healthcare’s Approach To Organizational Tensions In The Field Of Knowledge Management

: Knowledge management is increasingly confronted with contradictory demands as corporate environments become more global, unpredictable, and complex. In the recent past, more and more academic researchers have adopted a paradoxical lens when dealing with organizational contradictions. This article, therefore, aims at combining Siemens Healthcare’s knowledge management approach with the current paradox literature. To facilitate a full understanding of this matter, it is at first defined what paradox is and is not. Paradoxes of learning, belonging, and organizing are then introduced and specified on a general level. Based on the presented theoretical foundations, Siemens Healthcare’s knowledge management strategy is evaluated from the perspective of the three paradoxes discussed here. It becomes apparent that the simultaneous organizational pursuit of divergent contradictions enables more comprehensive knowledge management efforts that can benefit firm’s overall business activities and competitiveness.
Iron Loss Under Practical Working Conditions Of A PWM Powered Induction Motor

A study of additional loss in an induction motor supplied by a PWM inverter is presented in this paper. The magnetic material used in the motor is characterized, thanks to a suitable Epstein measurement equipment, under several excitation conditions: sine and ideal PWM waveforms similar to the voltage delivered by the inverter and practical working conditions of the material, measured in the different parts of the machine stator. Compared to sine, PWM signals induce much higher loss. Moreover, the distortion of the flux increases the additional loss. Those results are used to estimate the loss in the stator of the machine. By considering the real working conditions of the magnetic material, the discrepancy between the estimated value and experiment is less than 25% for the motor studied, whereas it can reach 120% in the case of a conventional prediction with a sinusoidal waveform.
The biology of Plasmodium falciparum transmission stages

Summary The most important function of any parasite is to secure transmission to new hosts. The gametocyte, the stage which has become developmentally committed to the sexual cycle, provides a critical link in the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum from the human host to the anopheline mosquito vector. It is therefore imperative that our determination to understand the biology of the gametocyte is greater than the technical obstacles which have resulted in the gametocyte being left very much out of the limelight by the intensive investigation of the asexual bloodstream parasite. Here we explore the areas of gametocyte biology which by nature of their relevance to control and pathology as well as basic biology, are the subjects of investigation in our laboratory. We also point out areas in need of particular attention.
jAudio: Additions and Improvements

jAudio is an application designed to extract features for use in a variety of MIR tasks. It eliminates the need for reimplementing existing feature extraction algorithms and provides a framework that greatly facilitates the development and deployment of new features. Three classes of features are presented and explained—features, metafeatures, and aggregators. A detailed description of jAudio’s dependency resolution algorithm is also discussed. Finally, ways in which jAudio can be embedded in and integrated with new systems are discussed, along with a description of jAudio’s ability to add new features or aggregators, potentially at runtime.
Several options for antiviral treatment trials in multiple sclerosis - but which targets should be selected?

Involvement of viruses in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lived hypothesis, which is has not yet been proven nor refuted. This is partly due to difficulties in the evaluation of diagnostic findings on persistent infections by common viruses such as herpesviruses and endogenous retroviruses. Progress in antiviral treatment of central nervous system (CNS) herpesvirus infections has stimulated controlled trials of long-term therapy with acyclovir and valacyclovir in MS, but conclusive results are not yet available. Other treatment possibilities might include anti-retroviral therapy, as well as attempts to counteract the effects of viruses in triggering attacks of MS following upper respiratory tract infections. Before such trials are initiated, however, further diagnostic evidence of the involvement of target viruses seems warranted.
Potential impact of thermal effects during ultrasonic neurostimulation: retrospective numerical estimation of temperature elevation in seven rodent setups

In the past decade, a handful but growing number of groups have reported worldwide successful low intensity focused ultrasound induced neurostimulation trials on rodents. Its effects range from movement elicitations to reduction of anesthesia time or reduction of the duration of drug induced seizures. The mechanisms underlying ultrasonic neuromodulation are still not fully understood. Given the low intensities used in most of the studies, a mechanical effect is more likely to be responsible for the neuromodulation effect, but a clear description of the thermal and mechanical effects is necessary to optimize clinical applications. Based on five studies settings, we calculated the temperature rise and thermal doses in order to evaluate its implication in the neuromodulation phenomenon. Our retrospective analysis shows thermal rise ranging from 0.002 °C to 0.8 °C in the brain for all setups, except for one setup for which the temperature increase is estimated to be as high as 7 °C. We estimate that in the latter case, temperature rise cannot be neglected as a possible cause of neuromodulation. Simulations results were supported by temperature measurements on a mouse with two different sets of parameters. Although the calculated temperature is compatible with the absence of visible thermal lesions on the skin, it is high enough to impact brain circuits. Our study highlights the usefulness of performing thermal simulations prior to experiment in order to fully take into account not only the impact of the peak intensity but also pulse duration and pulse repetition.
Geometrically Non-Linear Axisymmetric Free Vibrations of Thin Isotropic Annular Plates

— The effects of large vibration amplitudes on the first axisymetric mode shape of thin isotropic annular plates having both edges clamped are examined in this paper. The theoretical model based on Hamilton’s principle and spectral analysis by using a basis of Bessel’s functions is adapted ا here to the case of annular plates. The model effectively reduces the large amplitude free vibration problem to the solution of a set of non-linear algebraic equations. The governing non-linear eigenvalue problem has been linearised in the neighborhood of each resonance and a new one-step iterative technique has been proposed as a simple alternative method of solution to determine the basic function contributions to the non-linear mode shape considered. Numerical results are given for the first non-linear mode shape for a wide range of vibration amplitudes. For each value of the vibration amplitude considered, the corresponding contributions of the basic functions defining the non-linear transverse displacement function and the associated non-linear frequency, the membrane and bending stress distributions are given. By comparison with the iterative method of solution, it was found that the present procedure is efficient for a wide range of vibration amplitudes, up to at least 1.8 times the plate thickness,
Factors Predicting Recurrence of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Hospitalized Patients

Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in incidence and severity worldwide, causing direct costs estimated to range from US $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify factors that predict recurrence of CDI. Methods This was a retrospective case-control study between 2007 and 2013 on patients admitted with CDI. Recurrent CDI is defined as a new episode of diarrhea within 90 days confirmed by a positive stool C. difficile toxin assay or polymerase chain reaction, after resolution of the initial CDI episode for at least 10 days and after discontinuation of the CDI therapy. Results Three thousand twenty patients were diagnosed with CDI between January 2007 and December 2013. Two hundred nine of 2019 patients in the study had a recurrence of CDI within 90 days of the end of the initial CDI episode (10.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that most of the recurrences occurred in patients with comorbidities, particularly chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–2.4; P = 0.039). In addition, a higher percentage of patients in the recurrence group were prescribed proton-pump inhibitors (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.0–1.7; P = 0.002) and steroids (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.0–1.5; P = 0.047). Conclusions Our data suggest that the use of glucocorticoids, use of proton-pump inhibitors, and having end-stage renal disease are significant risk factors associated with recurrent CDI.
Regulation of Homeostatic Chemokine Expression and Cell Trafficking During Immune Responses

The chemokines CCL21 and CXCL13 are immune factors that dictate homing and motility of lymphocytes and dendritic cells in lymphoid tissues. However, the means by which these chemokines are regulated and how they influence cell trafficking during immune responses remain unclear. We show that CCL21 and CXCL13 are transiently down-regulated within lymphoid tissues during immune responses by a mechanism controlled by the cytokine interferon-γ. This modulation was found to alter the localization of lymphocytes and dendritic cells within responding lymphoid tissues. As a consequence, priming of T cell responses to a second distinct pathogen after chemokine modulation became impaired. We propose that this transient chemokine modulation may help orchestrate local cellularity, thus minimizing competition for space and resources in activated lymphoid tissues.
Identification of a putative RNAse III (dicer homolog) gene in silkworm Bombyx mori

Like other invertebrates, silkworms also encounter a problem from microbial infection includingfrom RNA viruses. In insects, RNA interference acts as a natural anitiviral response to RNA virusinfection. Especially in Drosophila, it is proved that dicer mediated RNA interference directs innateimmunity against RNA viruses. This information prompted us to identify similar RNAse III (dicer) genein mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori. The Drosophila dicer gene was BLAST-searched with B. morigenome and single contig (GenBank accession n° AADK01001038) showed maximum homology withdicer gene, through which the RNAse III gene sequence was identified in the genome of silkworm B.mori. The RNAse III domain was present in the three regions with the length of 278 bp, 277 bp and185 bp in the contig, possibly these three regions form exons. The primers were designed for three B.mori RNAse III regions and amplified through PCR. The region I was amplified only in pure Mysoresilkworm strain whereas all three regions were amplified in Daizo strain. The PCR product sequenceswere translated and showed RNAse III domain with in the amplified product. The predicted B. moriRNAse III domain had phylogenetic relationship with other insect dicer genes. We presume that thisRNAse III (dicer) would protect B. mori larvae from invading RNA viruses, which exists in the otherinsects.
Glaucoma induced by application of corticosteroids to the periorbital region.

Reports of ocular complications from local and systemic corticosteroid therapy have been published 1 ; two reports 2,3 document glaucoma provoked from the application of corticosteroid ointment to the periorbital region. This serious complication, which develops insidiously, has been noted in a recent article in theArchives. 4 We report two more such cases. Report of Cases Case 1. — A 68-year-old woman had her intraocular pressure (IOP) routinely measured in 1972 because of mild diabetes mellitus. Her IOP was 30 mm Hg in the right and 32 mm Hg in the left eye by Goldmann's applanation tonometry. For two years she had applied prednisolone ointment, 5 mg/g of ointment on both eyelids several times daily for a periorbital eczema. She had no history of glaucoma, and her IOP in 1969 was 20 mm Hg in the right and 18 mm Hg in the left eye. The corrected visual acuity was 20/20
[Gestational diabetes mellitus and congenital malformations].

INTRODUCTION Maternal diabetes mellitus affects approximately 5% of all pregnancies. Pregestational diabetes mellitus has been associated with a high risk of spontaneous abortions and congenital malformations during the first trimester of pregnancy then is considered teratogenic. This frequency of birth defects is three to fivefold increased compared with general population. Although an association of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with an increase of congenital malformations has not been demonstrated, some clinical and epidemiological studies of this possible association have reported the presence of GDM in mothers of children with congenital malformations. THE OBJECTIVE Of this study was to compare the prevalence of congenital malformations associated with GDM in relation to pregestational diabetes mellitus and general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the present study 3 groups were compared: the group I was integrated by 112 new born of mothers with GDM; in the group 2, there were 30 new born from women with gestational diabetes mellitus. 103 new born from healthy women integrated the group 3. All patients were recruited consecutively during a period of 18 months. RESULTS A total of 24 cases with congenital malformations were detected. The group with the higher prevalence was the group 2 (30%). We found a tendency to a higher risk of congenital malformations on the cases exposed to GDM (group 1) compared with the group not exposed (group 3). The analysis of the mothers background of the children from group 2 with congenital malformations showed a significant difference in the antecedent of previous macrosomic product in comparison with the antecedents of the mothers of the same group that bear healthy babies. COMMENT The results of the analysis in the studied population did not show an association between GDM and congenital malformations, although there is a tendency to a higher prevalence in comparison with not exposed population. This could be due to the heterogeneity of the GDM; an entity usually detected late in pregnancy, but probably present since the first weeks of gestation when the teratogenic effect could occur. CONCLUSION In the present study we found that the antecedent of previous macrosomic products is an important risk factor, therefore, such women require a close vigilance of the glucose levels before and during the first weeks of pregnancy in order to prevent congenital malformations, one of the principal causes of death in the new born.
A data-driven analysis of lightning-initiated contingencies at a distribution grid with a PV farm using Micro-PMU data

In this paper, we conduct a data-driven experimental analysis of lightening-induced contingencies at a distribution grid in Riverside, CA, using data from three distribution level phasor measurement units, a.k. a, Micro-PMUs. The data was collected during four hours of a rainy day with several lightening strikes on October 24, 2016. Of particular interest was to analyze the impact and the response of a 7.5 MW PV farm. Due to the use of three Micro-PMUs, including one in an outlying area, we are able to distinguish system-wide events across the sub-transmission network against local events at the PV farm and its associated substation. Multiple interesting observations are made and the related causes are discussed. For example, based on the analysis of phase angle difference data, we observe that during at least one of the lightening events, there was a reverse power flow from the PV site to the substation due to a transient short-circuit caused by the surge arresters. This paper takes a first step in using Micro-PMU data to conduct a detailed analysis of how distributed energy resources (DERs) could be affected and and/or respond to the lightening-induced contingencies in distribution systems.
Women’s Early Warning Symptoms of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background—Data remain sparse on women’s prodromal symptoms before acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study describes prodromal and AMI symptoms in women. Methods and Results—Participants were 515 women diagnosed with AMI from 5 sites. Using the McSweeney Acute and Prodromal Myocardial Infarction Symptom Survey, we surveyed them 4 to 6 months after discharge, asking about symptoms, comorbidities, and demographic characteristics. Women were predominantly white (93%), high school educated (54.8%), and older (mean age, 66±12), with 95% (n=489) reporting prodromal symptoms. The most frequent prodromal symptoms experienced more than 1 month before AMI were unusual fatigue (70.7%), sleep disturbance (47.8%), and shortness of breath (42.1%). Only 29.7% reported chest discomfort, a hallmark symptom in men. The most frequent acute symptoms were shortness of breath (57.9%), weakness (54.8%), and fatigue (42.9%). Acute chest pain was absent in 43%. Women had more acute (mean, 7.3±4.8; range, 0 to 29) than prodromal (mean, 5.71±4.36; range, 0 to 25) symptoms. The average prodromal score, symptom weighted by frequency and intensity, was 58.5±52.7, whereas the average acute score, symptom weighted by intensity, was 16.5±12.1. These 2 scores were correlated (r =0.61, P <0.001). Women with more prodromal symptoms experienced more acute symptoms. After controlling for risk factors, prodromal scores accounted for 33.2% of acute symptomatology. Conclusions—Most women have prodromal symptoms before AMI. It remains unknown whether prodromal symptoms are predictive of future events.
The theta‐logistic is unreliable for modelling most census data

1. The theta‐logistic is a simple and flexible model for describing how the growth rate of a population slows as abundance increases. Starting at rm (taken as the maximum population growth rate), the growth response decreases in a convex or concave way (according to the shape parameter θ) to zero when the population reaches carrying capacity.
Personality pathology in purging disorder and bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE To compare levels of personality pathology in women with purging disorder (PD), bulimia nervosa (BN), and controls and to compare women with PD and BN on associations between personality pathology and shared eating disorder features. METHOD Women with BN (n = 73), PD (n = 48), and controls (n = 64) completed interviews and self-report questionnaires. RESULTS BN and PD were associated with significantly greater personality pathology compared to controls. Cluster C symptoms and trait anxiety were greater in BN compared to PD, but groups did not differ on Cluster B symptoms or impulsivity. Subjective binge episodes were associated with anxious and impulsive personality traits in PD but not BN. Purging in PD was associated with trait anxiety, while purging in BN was associated with impulsivity. DISCUSSION Although BN and PD share eating disorder features and personality disturbance, some of the underlying associations between these eating disorder and personality features differ between groups.
The Right to the Beach? Urban Renewal, Public Space Policing and the Definition of a Beach Public in Postwar Los Angeles, 1940s-1960s

Cet article montre d’abord comment, apres la Seconde Guerre mondiale, une coalition informelle rassemblant des promoteurs immobiliers et l’elite politique locale utilise des strategies de l’ordre de la planification urbaine et du controle policier afin de faire des plages de la ville de Los Angeles un terrain de jeux reserve a la classe moyenne blanche. La premiere partie de l’article decrit les efforts des urbanistes, des ingenieurs et de l’elite politique et economique afin de mener a bien une campagne de modernisation du littoral qui entraine notamment la destruction de lieux de loisirs juges delabres. Vastes, propres, et dotees d’equipements neufs, ces plages « modernes » doivent attirer touristes, residents aises et investisseurs. Ensuite, l’article met en evidence la maniere dont la modernisation urbaine sert de justification pour mener des campagnes de harcelement policier a l’egard des « indesirables », en particulier les homosexuels, nombreux alors a frequenter des etablissements de bains et bars de la cote, et les athletes de « Muscle Beach », lieu d’entrainement et de performances sportives. La notion de « droit a la ville », telle que developpee par Don Mitchell, est utilisee afin de montrer que cette tentative de « sauver » les plages du declin a pour principale consequence de restreindre le « droit a la plage » aux seuls baigneurs blancs de la classe moyenne.
Synthesis and human RBC membrane stabilization activity of substituted 3-benzoyl flavone

configuration exhibiting two aromatic rings (A and B) linked by a three carbon unit which may or may not form a third ring (C) (Markham, 1982). Flavonoids other than chalcones form γpyrone moiety in the form of C-ring. Rings (A and C) are chromane ring bearing a second aromatic ring B in position 2, 3 or 4 (phenylchromone). Based on different functional groups and their relative positions on C –C –C carbon skeleton, 6 3 6