Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactive project review of deformable parts through haptic interfaces in Virtual Reality

Physical prototypes are increasingly replaced by virtual prototypes in the industrial implementation of Product Lifecycle Management. The design evaluation of an industrial deformable mechanical part plays a crucial role in term of validating its functional properties. From the industrial point of view, a deformable model formu- lated by the Finite Element Method is normally employed. However, the employment of the model is not straightforward for real-time interactions, especially when haptic interfaces are introduced into these deformation evaluation applications. Recently, a pre-computation approach based on the model reduction method was commonly used to reduce the real-time computational loads. The main goal of this thesis is to extend the pre-computation approach toward the design validation of deformable mechanical parts to investigate the trade-off issue between the deformation accuracy and the interaction performance. The key idea is to conceive techniques treating the off-line pre-computations and the on-line haptic interactions. Particularly, we develop a real-time deformation simulation framework by proposing a two-stage method combining an off-line phase and an on-line phase. During the off-line phase, we compute deformation spaces based on the modal analy- sis. The off-line pre-computations contribute to the modelling of a costless real-time deformation model which is suitable for haptic interactions. Furthermore, we propose an off-line mesh analysis method to pre-compute modal deformation spaces regard- ing the anticipated deformation evaluation scenarios. A real-time switch among these different spaces is developed so that the on-line deformation computations can focus on degrees of freedom where are necessary. During the on-line phase, we divide the real-time deformation computation process into two separate modules which are im- plemented on different threads to ensure the real-time haptic interaction performance. One module is dedicated to the haptic update task, which is implemented by extracting a sub-matrix from the pre-computed modal matrix, while the other module is dedicated to the deformation computation and visualization task. To verify the proposed method in the thesis, we carry out interaction experiments by interacting with different models with an increasing complexity. Experimental re- sults show that our method can efficiently handle the trade-off issue, as the deformation modelling is formulated by the finite element method which guarantees the deformation accuracy. And moreover, the heavy computations of large elastic systems are occurred off-line which assure a costless deformation response model in real-time
An insect-inspired omnidirectional vision system including UV-sensitivity and polarisation

A major difference between insect vision and that of humans or standard computer vision systems is that insects are sensitive to the polarisation pattern of skylight, and also to the near-UV range of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this paper, we describe a bio-inspired imaging system that allows us to assess to what extent these features could potentially be used for autonomous robot navigation. We first establish that a low-resolution omnidirectional system incorporating a near-UV camera and a linear polariser - a simulacrum of the dorsal rim area of the insect compound eye - can resolve the clear sky natural polarisation pattern with sufficient accuracy to allow its use as a navigational tool. We then extend the bio-mimicry by incorporating an additional RGB camera, allowing us to utilise the full range of the insect's visual spectrum. This enables us to capture and investigate the visual cues insects are employing for flight control and navigation, and paves the way for incorporating a similar system in an autonomous mobile robot. Additionally, we present a robust method for estimating sun position based on the polarisation pattern and thus confirm the utility of the system as a sky compass.
Dielectric elastomer composites: Macroscopic behavior and instabilities

Dielectric Elastomers (DEs) are an interesting class of active materials that can exhibit coupled electrical and mechanical behaviors, for example they can respond to an external electric field by changing their shape or size. This unique property is known as electrostriction, and makes such materials promising candidates for a wide range of practical applications, and therefore there is a need for the design of DEs with enhanced electromechanical couplings. In this work we investigate the possibility of enhancing the electrostriction by making composites consisting of one or more family of filler phases in a soft dielectric host. We use homogenization techniques to obtain estimates for the effective response of such DECs under general electrical and mechanical loading conditions. Next, we use the homogenization estimates developed in this work to investigate the effect of various microstructural parameters on the overall response of DECs. We also study failure of DECs as characterized by dielectric breakdown and/or the onset of material instabilities. Two types of material instabilities will be considered: Loss of Positive Definiteness (LPD) and Loss of Ellipticity (LE). Finally, we attempt an optimal design for the microstructure of DECs with enhanced electromechanical couplings, which are capable of achieving large electrostrictive strains before the failure. Our results show that composites consisting of a very small concentration of rigid circular fibers with vanishing contrast in the dielectric properties can achieve the largest electrostrictive strains before failure. Finally, we attempt to study DECs in the post-bifurcated deformation regime. This is important since after the composite loses strong ellipticity, the solution of the homogenization problem may bifurcate into a lower energy (with generally softer mechanical response) solution, which is different from the pre-bifurcated solutions. This raises the interesting possibility of operating DECs in their softer post-bifurcated deformation regimes to further increase the maximum achievable electrostrictive strains. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics First Advisor Pedro Ponte Castañeda
Perceptual organization and visual immediate memory in children with specific language impairment

Children with specific language impairment (LI) have deficits on some nonverbal tasks, but it is not clear if these are related to specific visuospatial deficits or to more general deficits in processing strategies. Children with LI were given two visuospatial tasks that we have shown to be sensitive to strategy use as well as specific processing deficits. In Study 1, children with LI (N = 29, ages 6 to 12 years) performed significantly worse than typically developing children (N = 26) on the Hierarchical Forms Memory task. In Study 2, children with LI (N = 15; ages 9 to 12 years) performed significantly worse than typically developing children (N = 40) on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure task. Children with LI were less accurate and tended to use a fairly piecemeal (immature) strategy when copying the figure and were less likely to draw the core rectangle in a more integrated fashion during the immediate memory condition. These results suggest children with LI have subtle deficits on visuospatial tasks that may be more indicative of limitations associated with processing load and planning than of specific visuospatial processing deficits (JINS, 2006, 12, 465–474.)
Altered apoptosis and proliferation in endometrial stromal cells of women with adenomyosis.

BACKGROUND The eutopic endometrium in a woman suffering from adenomyosis is known to be biologically different from that of healthy women. The aim of this study was to examine the apoptosis and proliferation of eutopic endometrium from women with adenomyosis. METHODS We enrolled 23 women with adenomyosis (study group) and 21 without (control group). Eutopic endometrium was obtained and separated into single endometrial stromal cells (ESCs). ESCs were treated in vitro with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) to examine their apoptosis using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Cells were also treated with estradiol (E(2)), medroxyprogesterone acetate, interleukin (IL)-6, lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to test their proliferation using a non-radioactive cell proliferation assay. RESULTS The percentage of annexin V ( + )/7-amino-actinomycin D ( + ) ESCs was much lower in women with adenomyosis after 24 h culture with and without H(2)O(2) treatment when compared with the control group. ESCs of adenomyosis proliferated more rapidly than those of the control group, whether they were cultured alone or were treated with E(2), MPA, IL-6 or IFN-gamma. The immunocytochemical Ki-67 labelling index was much more prominent in adenomyotic ESCs than that of the control group (7.7% versus 1.1%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Altered apoptosis and proliferation of eutopic endometrium possibly elucidate some aspects of the pathophysiology of adenomyosis. A high Ki-67 labelling index in immunocytochemistry might be a potential indicator in predicting the occurrence of adenomyosis.
Maternal Glycemic Control and Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetic Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE—To assess the safety and efficacy of insulin aspart (IAsp) versus regular human insulin (HI) in basal-bolus therapy with NPH insulin in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Subjects (n = 322) who were pregnant or planning pregnancy were randomized to IAsp or HI as meal-time insulin in an open-label, parallel-group, multicenter study. Subjects had A1C ≤8% at confirmation of pregnancy. Insulin doses were titrated toward predefined glucose targets and A1C <6.5%. Outcomes assessed included risk of major maternal hypoglycemia, A1C, plasma glucose profiles, and maternal safety outcomes. RESULTS—Major hypoglycemia occurred at a rate of 1.4 vs. 2.1 episodes/year exposure with IAsp and HI, respectively (relative risk 0.720 [95% CI 0.36–1.46]). Risk of major/major nocturnal hypoglycemia was 52% (RR 0.48 [0.20–1.143]; P = NS) lower with IAsp compared with HI. A1C was comparable with human insulin in second (IAsp-HI −0.04 [−0.18 to 0.11]) and third (−0.08 [−0.23 to 0.06]) trimesters. A total of 80% of subjects achieved an A1C ≤6.5%. At the end of first and third trimesters, average postprandial plasma glucose increments were significantly lower with IAsp than HI (P = 0.003 and P = 0.044, respectively), as were mean plasma glucose levels 90 min after breakfast (P = 0.044 and P = 0.001, respectively). Maternal safety profiles and pregnancy outcomes were similar between treatments. CONCLUSIONS—IAsp is at least as safe and effective as HI when used in basal-bolus therapy with NPH insulin in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and may potentially offer some benefits in terms of postprandial glucose control and preventing severe hypoglycemia.
An Examination of the Topology and Measurement of the Alexithymia Construct Using Network Analysis

ABSTRACT There is some ongoing controversy surrounding the definition and measurement of the alexithymia construct. Whereas most researchers describe 4 components comprising the construct (difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, restricted fantasizing, and externally oriented thinking), some include a 5th component, which is defined as “reduced experiencing of emotional feelings. ” This study examined the topology and measurement of alexithymia using the method of network analysis with data from a heterogeneous multilanguage sample (N = 1,696) that had completed the Bermond–Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ; Vorst & Bermond, 2001). The BVAQ includes an Emotionalizing subscale for assessing the purported 5th component; we compared the network analyses conducted both with and without the Emotionalizing items. The results revealed strong associations between Emotionalizing and Analyzing (externally oriented thinking) items, but Emotionalizing items had almost as many negative as positive connections with items assessing the other components of the construct. A comparison of communities identified by modularity analyses of the 2 networks failed to support emotionalizing as a distinct component of the construct. In addition, network metrics revealed that Fantasizing items were particularly weak within both networks, suggesting that reduced fantasizing might be a peripheral component of the alexithymia construct. Implications for the measurement and treatment of alexithymia are discussed.
Wide-field mid-infrared and millimetre imaging of the high-redshift radio galaxy, 4C 41.17

We present deep 350- and 1200-μm imaging of the region around 4C 41.17 – one of the most-distant (z=3.792) and luminous known radio galaxies – obtained with the Submillimeter High Angular Resolution Camera (SHARC-II) and the Max Planck Millimeter Bolometer Array (MAMBO). The radio galaxy is robustly detected at 350 and 1200 μm, as are two nearby 850-μm-selected galaxies; a third 850-μm source is detected at 350 μm and coincides with a ∼2σ feature in the 1200-μm map. Farther away from the radio galaxy additional nine sources are detected at 1200 μm, bringing the total number of detected (sub)millimetre-selected galaxies (SMGs) in this field to 14. Using radio images from the Very Large Array and Spitzer midinfrared data, we find statistically robust radio and/or 24-μm counterparts to eight out of the 14 SMGs in the field around 4C 41.17. Follow-up spectroscopy with Keck/Low-Resolution and Imaging Spectrograph (LRIS) has yielded redshifts for three out of the eight robustly identified SMGs, placing them in the redshift range 0.5 ≾ z ≾ 2.7 that is well below that of 4C 41.17. We infer photometric redshifts for a further four sources using their 1.6-μm (rest-frame) stellar feature as probed by the IRAC bands; only one of them is likely to be at the same redshift as 4C 41.17. Thus at least four, and as many as seven, of the SMGs within the 4C 41.17 field are physically unrelated to the radio galaxy. With the redshift information at hand, we are able to constrain the observed overdensities of SMGs within radial bins stretching to R = 50 and 100 arcsec (∼0.4 and ∼0.8 Mpc at z ≃ 3.8) from the radio galaxy to approximately five times and two times that of the field, dropping off to the background value at R = 150 arcsec. We thus confirm that 4C 41.17 resides in an overdense region of the Universe, but we have only been able to identify SMGs along the line of sight to the radio galaxy, typical of the blank-field SMG population. Finally, we report on the discovery of an extremely extended (∼110 kpc) Lyα blob at z = 2.672 associated with the brightest 1200-μm source in the field.
Dental Implants – Perceiving Patients’ Satisfaction in Relation to Clinical and Electromyography Study on Implant Patients

The aim of this study is to evaluate the satisfaction of patients with posterior implants in relation to the clinical success criteria and surface electromyography (sEMG) findings of the masseter and temporalis muscles. Total 42 subjects were investigated. Twenty one subjects with posterior dental implants were interviewed using a questionnaire and the clinical success criteria were determined based on The International Congress of Oral Implantologists. The myofunction of the masticatory muscles were assessed using sEMG (21 subjects) and compared to the control group of subjects without implants (21 subjects). Out of 21 subjects, all were satisfied with the aesthetics of their implant. Twenty of them (95.2%) were satisfied with its function and stability. As for clinical criteria, 100% (50) of the implants were successful with no pain, mobility or exudates. sEMG findings showed that patients have significantly lower (p<0.01) basal or resting median power frequency but with muscle burst. During chewing, control subjects showed faster chewing action. There was no difference in reaction and recovery time of clenching for both groups. In conclusion, the satisfaction of implant patients was high, and which was in relation to the successful clinical success criteria and sEMG findings.
Satellite Angular Velocity Estimation Based on Star Images and Optical Flow Techniques

An optical flow-based technique is proposed to estimate spacecraft angular velocity based on sequences of star-field images. It does not require star identification and can be thus used to also deliver angular rate information when attitude determination is not possible, as during platform de tumbling or slewing. Region-based optical flow calculation is carried out on successive star images preprocessed to remove background. Sensor calibration parameters, Poisson equation, and a least-squares method are then used to estimate the angular velocity vector components in the sensor rotating frame. A theoretical error budget is developed to estimate the expected angular rate accuracy as a function of camera parameters and star distribution in the field of view. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is tested by using star field scenes generated by a hardware-in-the-loop testing facility and acquired by a commercial-off-the shelf camera sensor. Simulated cases comprise rotations at different rates. Experimental results are presented which are consistent with theoretical estimates. In particular, very accurate angular velocity estimates are generated at lower slew rates, while in all cases the achievable accuracy in the estimation of the angular velocity component along boresight is about one order of magnitude worse than the other two components.
Stimulation by glucose and carbamylcholine of phospholipase C in pancreatic islets

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis in intact pancreatic islet cells was investigated in an indirect but dynamic manner by monitoring the efflux of radioactivity from islets prelabelled with [3H]inositol. A rise in glucose concentration provoked a rapid, modest but sustained increase in effluent radioactivity, this phenomenon being abolished in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or presence of verapamil. The release of [3H]inositol was also stimulated at high extracellular K+ concentration, but not by gliclazide. Whether in the presence or absence of glucose, carbamylcholine provoked a marked increase in effluent radioactivity. The response to the cholinergic agent was decreased in the presence of verapamil or absence of extracellular Ca2+ and abolished in the presence of atropine or LiCl. These results suggest that an increase in cytosolic Ca activity, as caused by glucose or membrane depolarization, may cause activation of phospholipase C. In response to cholinergic agents, however, the enzymic activation, although modulated by Ca2+ availability, may result directly from the occupation of muscarinic receptors.
Normal conjunctival flora and their antibiotic sensitivity in Omanis undergoing cataract surgery

Purpose: To evaluate the normal conjunctival flora and to ascertain their sensitivity to antibiotics. Materials and Methods: Prospective study was undertaken with 56 patients scheduled for cataract surgery. In each of these patients, conjunctival swab was taken from both eyes before instilling any antibiotic drops or local anesthetics and were sent for culture sensitivity by inoculating the samples in blood agar plates. The un-operated eyes served as controls for the study. The results were tabulated and analyzed by applying confidence intervals at 95% confidence limits. Results: Of the 112 eyes studied, positive cultures were obtained from 54 eyes (48.3%) preoperatively, and included both operated and control eyes. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus was isolated in 44 eyes (81.5%). Maximum sensitivity was found with vancomycin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin and maximum resistance with fusidic acid, penicillin, and oxacillin. Conclusion: We conclude that coagulase-negative staphylococcus are the most common bacteria isolated from the conjunctival sac, and vancomycin followed by gentamycin and ciprofloxacin are most effective against normal conjunctiva l flora, and fusidic acid the most ineffective of all the antibiotics tested.
The optical-near-infrared colour of the host galaxies of BL Lacertae objects

We present H-band (1.65 µm) imaging of 23 low redshift (z ≤ 0.3) BL Lac objects that were previously investigated by us in the optical R-band. For all the observed objects, the host galaxy is clearly detected and well represented by an elliptical model, with average scale length R(e) = 7.2 ± 3.6 kpc and average absolute magnitude M(H) = −25.9 ± 0.6. BL Lac hosts are therefore luminous (massive) elliptical galaxies indistinguishable from those of low redshift radio galaxies and inactive ellipticals. The best-fit H-band Kormendy relation of µe = 3.7 log re (kpc) + 14.8 mag arcsec −2 is in agreement with that obtained for normal ellipticals and radio galaxies. This structural and dynamical similarity indicates that all massive elliptical galaxies can experience nuclear activity without significant perturbation of their global structure.
Working toward a synthesis of archaeological, linguistic, and genetic data for inferring African population history

Although Africa is the origin of modern humans, the pattern and distribution of genetic variation and correlations with cultural and linguistic diversity in Africa have been understudied. Recent advances in genomic technology, however, have led to genomewide studies of African samples. In this article, we discuss genetic variation in African populations contextualized with what is known about archaeological and linguistic variation. What emerges from this review is the importance of using independent lines of evidence in the interpretation of genetic and genomic data in the reconstruction of past population histories.
Latent Gaussian Process Regression

We introduce Latent Gaussian Process Regression which is a latent variable extension allowing modelling of non-stationary multi-modal processes using GPs. The approach is built on extending the input space of a regression problem with a latent variable that is used to modulate the covariance function over the training data. We show how our approach can be used to model multi-modal and non-stationary processes. We exemplify the approach on a set of synthetic data and provide results on real data from motion capture and geostatistics.
801 Expression in brain of Amyloid Precursor Protein mutated in the α-secretase site, causes disturbed behavior, neuronal degeneration and premature death in transgenic mice

A double mutation in the alpha‐secretase site in the betaA4 region of mouse amyloid precursor protein (APP) reduced its secretion from COS cells, polarized MDCK cells and rat primary neurons. Expression of this mutant in the brain of mice, using the neuron‐specific elements of the mouse Thy‐1 gene promoter, resulted in transgenic mice that became progressively hyperactive, displayed seizures and died prematurely. In three different transgenic lines the severity of the phenotype was related directly to the expression levels of the transgene, estimated by both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, homozygous mice derived from each transgenic strain showed more severe symptoms which also occurred earlier in life than in heterozygotes. The observed symptoms were, however, not essentially different in the different lines. Increased aggressiveness, disturbed responses to kainic acid and N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate, neophobia and deficiency in exploratory behavior were demonstrated in these mice. In the brain, the observed neuropathological changes included necrosis, apoptosis and astrogliosis in the hippocampus, cortex and other areas. The data demonstrate that incomplete or incorrect alpha‐secretase processing of APP results in severe neurotoxicity and that this effect is expressed in a dominant manner.