Linear reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms like least-squares temporal difference learning (LSTD) require basis functions that span approximation spaces of potential value functions. This article investigates methods to construct these bases from samples. We hypothesize that an ideal approximation spaces should encode diffusion distances and that slow feature analysis (SFA) constructs such s...

BACKGROUND The reduction of saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake has been the basis of long-standing dietary recommendations. However, recent epidemiologic studies have reported conflicting evidence in the relation between SFA consumption and risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) mortality. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association of SFA intake with serum lipid profiles and ASVD morta...

In this paper, utilization of clustering algorithms for data fusion in decision level is proposed. The results of automatic isolated word recognition, which are derived from speech spectrograph and Linear Predictive Coding (LPC) analysis, are combined with each other by using fuzzy clustering algorithms, especially fuzzy k-means and fuzzy vector quantization. Experimental results show that the ...

1) In univariate analyses of population-based observational data, are there direct relations of dietary SFAs to CHD? 2) In multivariate analyses controlled for possible confounders, are there independent direct relations of dietary SFAs to CHD? 3) Is the SFA-CHD relation similar for ‘‘hard’’ fatal CHD and ‘‘soft’’ total CHD? 4) Do limitations in quality of dietary data in epidemiologic studies ...

A novel cellular gene termed SFA-1 was isolated by differential hybridization of a cDNA library, using probes obtained from an adult T-cell leukemia cell line in comparison with probes obtained from normal CD4+ T cells and the MOLT-4 cell line. The mRNA of the SFA-1 gene is approximately 1.6 kb in size and encodes a protein of 253 amino acids, containing four putative transmembrane domains, a n...

The endovascular management of obstructive disease of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) is challenging due to unique anatomical and biomechanical forces. Obstructive lesions of the SFA make up the largest proportion of lesions leading to symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. Accordingly, endovascular treatment of SFA disease is becoming increasingly common and, in many cases, is the prefe...

Hyperlipidemia and marrow fat are associated with lowering bone density in vivo, suggesting that lipid contributes to bone loss. Using bone marrow-derived macrophages, we investigated the effect of saturated fatty acids (SFA) on osteoclastogenesis. The level of free fatty acids and adiposity in bone marrow was significantly elevated in obese mice. SFA increased osteoclast (OC) survival by preve...

Background: To evaluate the patients with stroke by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale, at the times of admission to hospital, discharge, and six-month poststroke, and to determine the level of improvement in patients after rehabilitative procedures. Methods: A total number of 108 patients with stroke entered the study who were admitted to neurology ward. They all received rehabilitati...

Type I fimbriae in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium are surface appendages that facilitate binding to eukaryotic cells. Expression of the fim gene cluster is known to be regulated by three proteins--FimW, FimY, and FimZ--and a tRNA encoded by fimU. In this work, we investigated how these proteins and tRNA coordinately regulate fim gene expression. Our results indicate that FimY and FimZ ...

A factor increasing monocytopoiesis (FIM) has been demonstrated during the onset of an acute inflammatory reaction caused by an intraperitoneal injection of polystyrene latex particles. It is protein in nature, does not contain a carbohydrate moiety essential for its function, and is very probably not a glycoprotein. The molecular weight of FIM lies between 18,000 and 24,000 daltons (determined...