Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aerial Hose Type Robot by Water Jet for Fire Fighting

Disaster response, especially fire-fighting and rescue, is highly risky for firefighters engaged in action. As a result, many robots intended for fire-fighting have been proposed. However, it is difficult for them to directly access fire sources because their mobility is limited. Specifically, existing robots are large and heavy. Therefore, we propose a novel hose-type robot, which can fly directly into the fire source via a water jet. First, to control the reaction force for stable flying, we developed a nozzle module. By combining two nozzles whose outlet direction can be controlled, the resultant reaction force can be controlled. Finally, we developed a robot with a nozzle module and conducted an experiment. The experiment demonstrates that a robot with a length of approximately 2 m can fly stably in the air by leveraging the water jet. In addition, the head direction can also be controlled.
Parent and Clinician Preferences for an Asthma App to Promote Adolescent Self-Management: A Formative Study

Background Most youth asthma apps are not designed with parent and clinician use in mind, and rarely is the app development process informed by parent or clinician input. Objective This study was conducted to generate formative data on the use, attitudes, and preferences for asthma mHealth app features among parents and clinicians, the important stakeholders who support adolescents with asthma and promote adolescent self-management skills. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods study from 2013 to 2014 employing a user-centered design philosophy to acquire feedback from a convenience sample of 20 parents and 6 clinicians. Participants were given an iPod Touch and asked to evaluate 10 features on 2 existing asthma apps. Participant experiences using the apps were collected from questionnaires and a thematic analysis of audio-recorded and transcribed (verbatim) interviews using MAXQDA. Descriptive statistics were calculated to characterize the study sample and app feature feedback. Independent samples t tests were performed to compare parent and clinician ratings of app feature usefulness (ratings: 1=not at all useful to 5=very useful). Results All parents were female (n=20), 45% were black, 20% had an income ≥US $50,000, and 45% had a bachelor’s degree or higher education. The clinician sample included 2 nurses and 4 physicians with a mean practice time of 13 years. Three main themes provided an understanding of how participants perceived their roles and use of asthma app features to support adolescent asthma self-management: monitoring and supervision, education, and communication/information sharing. Parents rated the doctor report feature highest, and clinicians rated the doctor appointment reminder highest of all evaluated app features on usefulness. The peak flow monitoring feature was the lowest ranked feature by both parents and clinicians. Parents reported higher usefulness for the doctor report (t(10)=2.7, P<. 02), diary (t(10)=2.7, P<. 03), and self-check quiz (t(14)=2.5, P<. 02) features than clinicians. Specific participant suggestions for app enhancements (eg, a tutorial showing correct inhaler use, refill reminders, pop-up messages tied to a medication log, evidence-based management steps) were also provided. Conclusions Parent and clinician evaluations and recommendations can play an important role in the development of an asthma app designed to help support youth asthma management. Two-way asthma care communication between families and clinicians and components involving families and clinicians that support adolescent self-management should be incorporated into adolescent asthma apps.
Complete stability of feedback CNNs with dynamic memristors and second‐order cells

The paper considers a feedback cellular neural network (CNN) obtained by interconnecting elementary cells with an ideal capacitor and an ideal flux‐controlled memristor. It is supposed that during the analogue computation of the CNN the memristors behave as dynamic elements, so that each dynamic memristor (DM)‐CNN cell is described by a second‐order differential system in the state variables given by the capacitor voltage and the memristor flux. The proposed networks are called DM‐CNNs, that is CNNs using a dynamic (D) memristor (M). After giving a foundation to the DM‐CNN model, the paper establishes a fundamental result on complete stability, that is convergence of solutions toward equilibrium points, when the DM‐CNN has symmetric interconnections. Because of the presence of dynamic memristors, a DM‐CNN displays peculiar and basically different dynamic properties with respect to standard CNNs. First of all a DM‐CNN computes during the time evolution of the memristor fluxes, instead of the capacitor voltages as for a standard CNN. Furthermore, when a steady state is reached, the memristors keep in memory the result of the computation, that is the limiting values of the fluxes, while all memristor currents and voltages, as well as all currents, voltages, and power in the DM‐CNN vanish. Instead, for standard CNNs, currents, voltages, and power do not drop off when a steady state is reached. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PREPARATION OF NANO-CRYSTALLINE TIO2 BY SOL-GEL METHOD USING TITANIUM TETRAISOPROPOXIDE (TTIP) AS A PRECURSOR

A sol-gel procedure for producing nano-sized TiO 2 from organometallic precursor –titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP), is presented. The characteristic processes and transformations were determined by means of TGA/DTA method. The crystalline structure of the prepared TiO 2 samples was analyzed by means of Raman spectroscopy and XRD method. The size of the crystallites was determined by means of XRD analysis using the Scherrer’s equation. In the temperature interval from 250 to 650 о C the anatase crystalline structure is stable, while at 650 о C the presence of anatase and rutile crystal structures was detected. Increasing the temperature influences the increase of the size of the crystalline particles from 6 nm at 250 о C, to more than 100 nm at 800 о C.
Optimization of extraction parameters for recovery of alpha-amylase from the fermented bran of Bacillus circulans GRS313

The extraction of a-amylase in the solid state fermentation of wheat bran by Bacillus circulans GRS313 was optimized. Among various solvents tested, maximum extraction was achieved when 2.5% (v/v) glycerol was added. The optimum conditions for extraction were 2.5 hrs soaking time at 30° C under recirculation and agitated condition, which yielded 590 U/g bran of enzyme activity. Whereas under stationary soaking condition the activity of the enzyme was 439.58U/g bran. With repeated wash under the above optimum conditions showed that 600 U/g and 184.2 U/g of enzyme extracted in the 1st and 2nd washes respectively and only 36.84 U/g was recovered in the 3rd wash
ERIM R EPORT S ERIES R ESEARCH IN M ANAGEMENT

Partly due to a growing interest in direct marketing, it has become an important application field for data mining. Many techniques have been applied to select the targets in commercial applications, such as statistical regression, regression trees, neural computing, fuzzy clustering and association rules. Modeling of charity donations has also recently been considered. The availability of a large number of techniques for analyzing the data may look overwhelming and ultimately unnecessary at first. However, the amount of data used in direct marketing is tremendous. Further, there are different types of data and likely strong nonlinear relations amongst different groups within the data. Therefore, it is unlikely that there will be a single method that can be used under all circumstances. For that reason, it is important to have access to a range of different target selection methods that can be used in a complementary fashion. In this respect, learning systems such as neural networks have the advantage that they can adapt to the nonlinearity in the data to capture the complex relations. This is an important motivation for applying neural networks for target selection. In this report, neural networks are applied to target selection in modeling of charity donations. Various stages of model building are described by using data from a large Dutch charity organization as a case. The results are compared with the results of more traditional methods for target selection such as logistic regression and CHAID
Applications of Biomembranes in Drug Discovery

Molecules in the cell membrane are key targets for therapeutic intervention. Technologies that enable the preservation of membrane-bound targets in their biomimetic and pharmacologically active states for screening of potential drug compounds are of great interest to bio-pharmaceutical companies. This review discusses emerging biomembrane technologies with a focus on biomembrane microarrays that enable the parallel analysis of multiple membrane-bound targets.
Gate‐level body biasing for subthreshold logic circuits: analytical modeling and design guidelines

Gate‐level body biasing provides an attractive solution to increase speed and robustness against process and temperature variations while maintaining energy efficiency. In this paper, the behavior of basic logic gates, designed according to the proposed design technique, is analytically examined with the main purpose of furnishing important guidelines to design efficient subthreshold digital circuits. Our modeling has been fully validated by comparing the predicted results with SPICE simulations performed for a commercial 45‐nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology. Considering process, temperature and loading capacitance variations, the delay of an inverter is predicted with a maximum error lower than 16.5%. Even better results are obtained when our modeling is applied to more complex logic gates. Under process, loading capacitance and temperature variations, the delay of NAND2 and NOR2 logic gates is always predicted with an error below 10%. Good agreement between the predicted and simulated results makes our modeling a valuable support during the circuit design phase. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
8-O-Acetyl Shanzhiside Methylester From Lamiophlomis Rotata Reduces Neuropathic Pain by Inhibiting the ERK/TNF-α Pathway in Spinal Astrocytes

Lamiophlomis rotata (L. rotata; Benth.) Kudo is an effective traditional herb in the clinical treatment of chronic pain syndromes in China. 8-O-acetyl shanzhiside methylester (8-OaS), a chief component in L. rotata, possesses potent immunosuppressive activities and favorable analgesic effects. This study was proposed to compare the analgesic effects of 8-OaS with those of lidocaine and ketamine in a spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model by behavioral tests, and then investigated its effects upon the expression of spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (pERK) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) via immunofluorescence staining and western blot analyses. The data showed consecutive intrathecal injection of 8-OaS for 2 weeks brought about remarkable palliation of neuropathic pain (NP), possessing similar anti-allodynia effects with those of lidocaine and ketamine. Two weeks after surgery, pERK within the spinal dorsal horn was mainly expressed in astrocytes more than neurons and microglia, and 8-OaS inhibited spinal astrocytic activation and TNF-α expression. Finally, co-treatment of 8-OaS and PD98059 (an Extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK inhibitor) did not lead to remarkable increase in pain relief or TNF-α expression comparing to rats treated with 8-OaS or PD98059 alone. In conclusion, the anti-nociceptive effects of 8-OaS in the condition of NP relied on the inhibition of SNL-induced astrocyte activation, probably via the down-regulation of the ERK/TNF-α pathway.
CMV70-3P miRNA contributes to the CMV mediated glioma stemness and represents a target for glioma experimental therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rapidly progressive brain tumor with a median survival of 15–19 months. Therapeutic resistance and recurrence of the disease is attributed to cancer stem cells (CSC). Here, we report that CMV70-3P miRNA encoded by CMV increases GBM CSC stemness. Inhibition of CMV70-3P expression using oligo inhibitors significantly attenuated the ability of primary glioma cells to proliferate and form neurospheres. At the molecular level, we show that CM70-3P increases expression of cellular SOX2. Collectively, these findings indicate that CMV70-3P is a potential regulator of CMV- mediated glioma progression and cancer stemness.
Surgical treatment of postinfarction ventricular septal defect: risk factors and outcome analysis.

OBJECTIVES Postinfarction ventricular septal defect is a serious mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction associated with high postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to review our experience with surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect and to identify predictors of early and late outcomes. METHODS Thirty-nine patients (19 men and 20 women, mean age 68.4 ± 9.9 years) with postinfarction ventricular septal defect who underwent surgical repair at our institution between 1996 and 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. Risk factors were assessed by univariate analysis, with those found significant included in multivariate analysis. RESULTS The ventricular septal defect was anterior in 21 (54%) patients and posterior in 18 (46%) patients. Mean aortic cross-clamp time was 91.8 ± 26.8 min, and mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 146.3 ± 49.7 min. Twelve (31%) patients underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. The 30-day mortality rate was 36% (n = 14). The 30-day survival rate was higher with than without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (83% vs 56%), but concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting did not influence late survival (P = 0.098). Univariate analysis identified age, emergency surgery, inotropic support, Killip class, preoperative aspartate aminotransferase concentration, renal replacement therapy and ventricular septal defect diagnosis to operation interval as predictors of 30-day mortality. However, multivariate analysis showed that age and renal replacement therapy were the only independent risk factors of 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS Surgical repair of postinfarction ventricular septal defect has a high 30-day mortality rate. Higher age at presentation and postoperative renal replacement therapy are independent predictors of early mortality.
End-to-End Delay Modeling in Buffer-Limited MANETs: A General Theoretical Framework

This paper focuses on a class of important two-hop relay mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) with limited-buffer constraint and any mobility model that leads to the uniform distribution of the locations of nodes in steady state, and develops a general theoretical framework for the end-to-end (E2E) delay modeling there. We first combine the theories of fixed-point (FP), quasi-birth-and-death process, and embedded Markov chain to model the limiting distribution of the occupancy states of a relay buffer, and then apply the absorbing Markov chain theory to characterize the packet delivery process, such that a complete theoretical framework is developed for the E2E delay analysis. With the help of this framework, we derive a general and exact expression for the E2E delay based on the modeling of both packet queuing delay and delivery delay. To demonstrate the application of our framework, case studies are further provided under two network scenarios with different MAC protocols to show how the E2E delay can be analytically determined for a given network scenario. Finally, we present extensive simulation and numerical results to illustrate the efficiency of our delay analysis as well as the impacts of network parameters on delay performance.
The Medial Orbitofrontal Cortex Regulates Sensitivity to Outcome Value

An essential component of goal-directed decision-making is the ability to maintain flexible responding based on the value of a given reward, or “reinforcer. ” The medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC), a subregion of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, is uniquely positioned to regulate this process. We trained mice to nose poke for food reinforcers and then stimulated this region using CaMKII-driven Gs-coupled designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). In other mice, we silenced the neuroplasticity-associated neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Activation of Gs-DREADDs increased behavioral sensitivity to reinforcer devaluation, whereas Bdnf knockdown blocked sensitivity. These changes were accompanied by modifications in breakpoint ratios in a progressive ratio task, and they were recapitulated in Bdnf+/− mice. Replacement of BDNF selectively in the mOFC in Bdnf+/− mice rescued behavioral deficiencies, as well as phosphorylation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Thus, BDNF expression in the mOFC is both necessary and sufficient for the expression of typical effort allocation relative to an anticipated reinforcer. Additional experiments indicated that expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos was aberrantly elevated in the Bdnf+/− dorsal striatum, and BDNF replacement in the mOFC normalized expression. Also, systemic administration of an MAP kinase kinase inhibitor increased breakpoint ratios, whereas the addition of discrete cues bridging the response–outcome contingency rescued breakpoints in Bdnf+/− mice. We argue that BDNF–ERK1/2 in the mOFC is a key regulator of “online” goal-directed action selection. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Goal-directed response selection often involves predicting the consequences of one's actions and the value of potential payoffs. Lesions or chemogenetic inactivation of the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) in rats induces failures in retrieving outcome identity memories (Bradfield et al., 2015), suggesting that the healthy mOFC serves to access outcome value information when it is not immediately observable and thereby guide goal-directed decision-making. Our findings suggest that the mOFC also bidirectionally regulates effort allocation for a given reward and that expression of the neurotrophin BDNF in the mOFC is both necessary and sufficient for mice to sustain stable representations of reinforcer value.
Association between vitamin D, oestradiol and interferon-gamma in female patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus: A cross-sectional study

Objectives To investigate possible associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), oestradiol (E2) and IFN-gamma (IFNγ) in female patients with inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Female patients with inactive SLE and age-matched healthy controls were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D3, E2 and IFNγ were measured by radioimmunoassay with gamma-counters and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results 36 patients and 37 controls were enrolled. In patients with SLE, the concentration of 25(OH)D3 was lower and E2 was higher compared with controls. In vitamin D deficient (i.e., 25(OH)D3≤20 ng/ml) patients, IFNγ was 150% higher compared with patients with 25(OH)D3>20 ng/ml and controls. The concentration of E2 was higher in all patients compared with controls independently of the vitamin D level. A difference was found between patients and controls in the correlation of 25(OH)D3 with E2 and a positive correlation was found between E2 and IFNγ in all participants. Conclusions Our results suggest that E2 may have a strong modulating effect on vitamin D function which is significant only at low concentration of E2.
Robust transmission of rate coding in the inhibitory Purkinje cell to cerebellar nuclei pathway in awake mice

Neural coding through inhibitory projection pathways remains poorly understood. We analyze the transmission properties of the Purkinje cell (PC) to cerebellar nucleus (CN) pathway in a modeling study using a data set recorded in awake mice containing respiratory rate modulation. We find that inhibitory transmission from tonically active PCs can transmit a behavioral rate code with high fidelity. We parameterized the required population code in PC activity and determined that 20% of PC inputs to a full compartmental CN neuron model need to be rate-comodulated for transmission of a rate code. Rate covariance in PC inputs also accounts for the high coefficient of variation in CN spike trains, while the balance between excitation and inhibition determines spike rate and local spike train variability. Overall, our modeling study can fully account for observed spike train properties of cerebellar output in awake mice, and strongly supports rate coding in the cerebellum.
Risk factors for the recurrence of an intracranial saccular aneurysm following endovascular treatment

Background This study was aimed to determine risk factors for the recurrence of an intracranial saccular aneurysm (ISA) following endovascular treatment. The findings will help medical professionals to identify patients having a high risk of ISA recurrence and assist them in developing appropriate follow-up plans. Results During the follow-up period, 12.6% of the patients (83/658) experienced recurrent ISAs. An analysis of related factors, including gender, age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, tumor size, width of the aneurysm neck, the presence or absence of a rupture, the volume embolization ratio (VER), the application or nonapplication of a stent, and follow-up time, revealed that a tumor size > 10 mm in diameter, wide-necked aneurysms, an anterior communicating or middle cerebral artery aneurysm, an aneurysm rupture, a VER < 20%, the absence of stent assistance, and follow-up time were high-risk factors for the recurrence of ISAs. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 658 patients who underwent endovascular treatment for ISAs from January 2010 through December 2014. Multivariable logistic regression was performed on the candidates’ risk factors, which were identified via univariable screening analysis. Conclusions Smoking, a large tumor size, a wide-necked aneurysm, an anterior communicating or middle cerebral artery aneurysm, an aneurysm rupture, a VER < 20%, and an absence of stent assistance are significant risk factors for the postoperative recurrence of an aneurysm. Strict follow-up plans should be created for ISA patients having these high-risk factors.
Experimental Correlation between Nonlinear Optical and Magnetotransport Properties Observed in Au-Co Thin Films

Magnetic materials where at least one dimension is in the nanometer scale typically exhibit different magnetic, magnetotransport, and magnetooptical properties compared to bulk materials. Composite magnetic thin films where the matrix composition, magnetic cluster size, and overall composite film thickness can be experimentally tailored via adequate processing or growth parameters offer a viable nanoscale platform to investigate possible correlations between nonlinear magnetooptical and magnetotransport properties, since both types of properties are sensitive to the local magnetization landscape. It has been shown that the local magnetization contrast affects the nonlinear magnetooptical properties as well as the magnetotransport properties in magnetic-metal/nonmagnetic metal multilayers; thus, nanocomposite films showcase another path to investigate possible correlations between these distinct properties which may prove useful for sensing applications.