Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radio channel characterizations at 2.4 GHz in mine shaft environment

In this paper, narrowband and wideband radio channel measurements at 2.4 GHz have been carried out in a real mine shaft. Important parameters such as path loss and delay spread are presented and compared with that in underground tunnels. The waveguide effect has been observed in path loss. The distribution of Root-Mean-Square (RMS) delay spread and the relationship between RMS delay spread and Tx-Rx distance has been investigated. The number of multipath has also been studied. The results are helpful for designing shaft communication systems.
Nonlinear platoon control of Arduino cars with range-limited sensors

This paper investigates the problem of platoon control with sensor range limitation. A nonlinear vehicular platoon model is established, in which the sensing range constraint described by a piecewise nonlinear function is involved. Then a robust nonlinear control design method is proposed based on a disturbance observer and the backstepping technique. The results are obtained in the context of both individual vehicle stability and platoon string stability analysis, which can lead to substantially enhanced platoon control performance with a guaranteed level of attenuation of the disturbance caused by lead vehicle acceleration and wind gust. The effectiveness of the method has been shown by numerical simulations and experiments carried out with Arduino cars.
Adaptive Task-Space Synchronization Control of Bilateral Teleoperation Systems With Uncertain Parameters and Communication Delays

This paper proposes a novel adaptive control framework for nonlinear teleoperation systems with dynamic and kinematic uncertainties and time-varying time delays. Master–slave synchronization in the task space is achieved. Compared with the previous work, the developed method can simultaneously handle the unknown kinematics/dynamics and the asymmetric varying time delays in a unified framework, and the inverses of the robots’ Jacobians are not needed in the control design, and thus the master and slave robots can be redundant and the control law will be implemented more efficiently. Based on Lyapunov–Krasovskii methods, the stability criteria are established by linear matrix inequalities. It is shown by simulation studies that the developed control law can guarantee the task-space synchronization between the master and the slave.
Selective Ablation of Tumor Suppressors in Parafollicular C Cells Elicits Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma*

Among the four different types of thyroid cancer, treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma poses a major challenge because of its propensity of early metastasis. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms of medullary thyroid carcinoma and discover candidates for targeted therapies, we developed a new mouse model of medullary thyroid carcinoma based on our CGRPCreER mouse line. This system enables gene manipulation in parafollicular C cells in the thyroid, the purported cells of origin of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Selective inactivation of tumor suppressors, such as p53, Rb, and Pten, in mature parafollicular C cells via an inducible Cre recombinase from CGRPCreER led to development of murine medullary thyroid carcinoma. Loss of Pten accelerated p53/Rb-induced medullary thyroid carcinoma, indicating interactions between pathways controlled by tumor suppressors. Moreover, labeling differentiated parafollicular C cells by CGRPCreER allows us to follow their fate during malignant transformation to medullary thyroid tumor. Our findings support a model in which mutational events in differentiated parafollicular C cells result in medullary thyroid carcinoma. Through expression analysis including RNA-Seq, we uncovered major signaling pathways and networks that are perturbed following the removal of tumor suppressors. Taken together, these studies not only increase our molecular understanding of medullary thyroid carcinoma but also offer new candidates for designing targeted therapies or other treatment modalities.
Uncalibrated 3D stereo image-based dynamic visual servoing for robot manipulators

This paper introduces a new comprehensive solution for the open problem of uncalibrated 3D image-based stereo visual servoing for robot manipulators. One of the main contributions of this article is a novel 3D stereo camera model to map positions in the task space to positions in a new 3D Visual Cartesian Space (a visual feature space where 3D positions are measured in pixel). This model is used to compute a full-rank Image Jacobian Matrix (Jimg), which solves several common problems presented on the classical image Jacobians, e.g., image space singularities and local minima. This Jacobian is a fundamental key for the image-based control design, where uncalibrated stereo camera systems can be used to drive a robot manipulator. Furthermore, an adaptive second order sliding mode visual servo control is designed to track 3D visual motions using the 3D trajectory errors defined in the Visual Cartesian Space. The stability of the control in closed loop with a dynamic robot system is formally analyzed and proved, where exponential convergence of errors in the Visual Cartesian Space and task space without local minima are demonstrated. The complete control system is evaluated both in simulation and on a real industrial robot. The robustness of the control scheme is evaluated for cases where the extrinsic parameters of the stereo camera system change on-line and the kinematic/dynamic robot parameters are considered as unknown. This approach offers a proper solution for the common problem of visual occlusion, since the stereo system can be moved to obtain a clear view of the task at any time.
Cortical and subcortical mechanisms of brain‐machine interfaces

Technical advances in the field of Brain‐Machine Interfaces (BMIs) enable users to control a variety of external devices such as robotic arms, wheelchairs, virtual entities and communication systems through the decoding of brain signals in real time. Most BMI systems sample activity from restricted brain regions, typically the motor and premotor cortex, with limited spatial resolution. Despite the growing number of applications, the cortical and subcortical systems involved in BMI control are currently unknown at the whole‐brain level. Here, we provide a comprehensive and detailed report of the areas active during on‐line BMI control. We recorded functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data while participants controlled an EEG‐based BMI inside the scanner. We identified the regions activated during BMI control and how they overlap with those involved in motor imagery (without any BMI control). In addition, we investigated which regions reflect the subjective sense of controlling a BMI, the sense of agency for BMI‐actions. Our data revealed an extended cortical‐subcortical network involved in operating a motor‐imagery BMI. This includes not only sensorimotor regions but also the posterior parietal cortex, the insula and the lateral occipital cortex. Interestingly, the basal ganglia and the anterior cingulate cortex were involved in the subjective sense of controlling the BMI. These results inform basic neuroscience by showing that the mechanisms of BMI control extend beyond sensorimotor cortices. This knowledge may be useful for the development of BMIs that offer a more natural and embodied feeling of control for the user. Hum Brain Mapp 38:2971–2989, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
α-Tubulin Acetyltransferase Is a Novel Target Mediating Neurite Growth Inhibitory Effects of Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans and Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein

Visual Abstract Damage to the CNS results in neuronal and axonal degeneration, and subsequent neurological dysfunction. Endogenous repair in the CNS is impeded by inhibitory chemical and physical barriers, such as chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), which prevent axon regeneration. Previously, it has been demonstrated that the inhibition of axonal histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6) can promote microtubule α-tubulin acetylation and restore the growth of CSPGs- and MAG-inhibited axons. Since the acetylation of α-tubulin is regulated by two opposing enzymes, HDAC6 (deacetylation) and α-tubulin acetyltransferase-1 (αTAT1; acetylation), we have investigated the regulation of these enzymes downstream of a growth inhibitory signal. Our findings show that exposure of primary mouse cortical neurons to soluble CSPGs and MAG substrates cause an acute and RhoA-kinase-dependent reduction in α-tubulin acetylation and αTAT1 protein levels, without changes to either HDAC6 levels or HDAC6 activity. The CSPGs- and MAG-induced reduction in αTAT1 occurs primarily in the distal and middle regions of neurites and reconstitution of αTAT1, either by Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibition or lentiviral-mediated αTAT1 overexpression, can restore neurite growth. Lastly, we demonstrate that CSPGs and MAG signaling decreases αTAT1 levels posttranscriptionally via a ROCK-dependent increase in αTAT1 protein turnover. Together, these findings define αTAT1 as a novel potential therapeutic target for ameliorating CNS injury characterized by growth inhibitory substrates that are prohibitive to axonal regeneration.
Self-Improvement for Team-Players: The Effects of Individual Effort on Aggregated Group Information

By putting effort into behaviours like foraging or scanning for predators, an animal can improve the correctness of its personal information about the environment. For animals living in groups, the individual can gain further information if it is able to assess public information about the environment from other group members. Earlier work has shown that consensus group decisions based upon the public information available within the group are more likely to be correct than decisions based upon personal information alone, given that each individual in a group has a fixed probability of being correct. This study develops a model where group members are able to improve their personal likelihood of making a correct decision by conducting some level of (costly) effort. I demonstrate that there is an evolutionarily stable level of effort for all the individuals within the group, and the effort made by an individual should decrease with increasing group size. The relevance of these results to social decision making is discussed: in particular, these results are similar to standard theoretical predictions about the amount of vigilance shown by individuals decreasing with increasing group size. However, this model suggests that these results could come about where individuals are coordinating their effort within the group (unlike standard models, which assume that all individual effort is independent of the actions of others). This ties in with experimental findings where individuals have been shown to monitor the efforts of others.
Red-Enhanced Photon Detection Module Featuring a $32 \times 1$ Single-Photon Avalanche Diode Array

In this letter, the development and the experimental characterization of a new photon detection module, based on a <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$32 \times 1$ </tex-math></inline-formula> red-enhanced single-photon avalanche diode (RE-SPAD) array, are presented. A custom-developed technology has been exploited to design a detector having large-area pixels (50-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> diameter) with optimized performance. With an excess bias voltage <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$V_{ov} = 15$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V, a photon detection efficiency as high as 57% at 600 nm (33% at 800 nm) is achieved, along with a dark count rate in the kHz range and optical crosstalk probability as low as 0.29%. The remarkable detection efficiency of the RE-SPAD array makes the module particularly suitable for all applications where high-detection efficiency in the red/near-infrared range is mandatory. As an example, the performance of the array module is demonstrated to match the demanding requirements of multispot single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy.
Diagnosis of hypertension and high blood pressure levels negatively affect cognitive function in older adults

AbstractbdBackground: Hypertension is associated with diminished performance on tests of cognitive function. The degree to which those diagnosed with hypertension have controlled blood pressure (BP) levels may be a critical determinant of cognitive outcomes. Persons with hypertension and poorly controlled BP are likely to display the worst performance on cognitive tests.Purpose: The purpose is to examine potential interactive relations of hypertension diagnostic status and current BP levels to cognitive function.Methods: Participants were 101 healthy older adults (ages 53–84, 62% male, 90% White, 29% diagnosed with hypertension) who engaged in biomedical and neuropsychological assessment.Results: After statistical adjustment for age and education, persons with high BP performed more poorly than those with normal BP on the Visual Reproductions—Immediate and Delayed Recall and the Grooved Pegboard tests. Diagnosed hypertension was related to poorer performance on the Grooved Pegboard tests. An interaction of diagnosed hypertension and BP level revealed that those diagnosed with hypertension and also having poorly controlled BP levels performed least well on the Grooved Pegboard tests and the Trail Making Test-Part A.Conclusion: Irrespective of prior diagnostic status, individuals with high BP displayed compromised performance on tests of nonverbal memory, motor speed, and manual dexterity. However, as compared to the other groups, those diagnosed with hypertension and also having poorly controlled BP elevation were most vulnerable to difficulties on tests of perceptuo-motor speed, motor speed, and manual dexterity. These findings suggest the need for increased attention to preventative efforts with respect to BP assessment and control in older adults to help preserve cognitive function.
Synthesis and Characterisation of Silver Nanoparticles in Different Medium

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized in different alcoholic medium such as ethylene glycol and n-butyl alcohol by solvothermal method. The nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by reducing silver nitrate with the above solvents in the presence of trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) as the capping agent at room temperature for 1 h. Electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and absorption spectra have been used to investigate the products, and the mechanism is proposed to interpret the controlled synthesis of the products. The results indicate that this approach provides a versatile route to prepare silver nanowires and nanoparticles with controllable diameters. The formation of nano products by this method is rapid, simple and stable.
Technological Progress in Service Life Prolonging of High Strength Steel

The national fundamental research program on improving qualities and service life of steel has been carried out in the past five years by a multi-discipline-associated research team.In order to improve the service life of structural steel,high-strength low-cost weathering steels have been developed,and the effects of synergy action of Mn-Cu-refined grain,of synergy action of P-RE-refined grain,and of ultralow carbon bainite on their corrosion resistance were revealed.The mechanism of ultra high cycles fatigue fracture of high strength steel,especially the effect of inclusion size on fatigue life,were investigated.For the sake of improving fatigue life of steel for machine,the formation theory and controlling technology of inclusions of micron-grade have also been developed.
Analysis and Design of a Small, Two-Bar Creep Test Specimen

In this paper, a new small-sized (two-bar) specimen type, which is suitable for use in obtaining both uniaxial creep strain and creep rupture life data, is described. The specimen has a simple geometry and can be conveniently machined and loaded (through pin-connections) for testing. Conversion relationships between the applied load and the corresponding uniaxial stress, and between the measured load-line deformations and the corresponding uniaxial minimum creep strain rate, have been obtained, based on the reference stress method (RSM), in conjunction with finite element analyses. Using finite element analyses the effects of the specimen dimensions on reference stress parameters have been investigated. On this basis, specimen dimension ratio ranges are recommended. The effects of friction, between the loading pins and the specimen surfaces, on the specimen failure time, are also investigated. Test results obtained from two-bar specimen tests and from corresponding uniaxial specimen tests, for a P91 steel at 600 °C, are used to validate the test method. These results demonstrated that the specimen type is capable of producing full uniaxial creep strain curves. The advantages of this new, small, creep test specimen, for determining uniaxial creep data, are discussed and recommendations for future research are given.
Efficiency and hospital effectiveness in improving Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems ratings.

BACKGROUND Efficiency has emerged as a central goal to the operations of health care organizations. There are two competing perspectives on the relationship between efficiency and organizational performance. Some argue that organizational slack is a waste and that efficiency contributes to organizational performance, whereas others maintain that slack acts as a buffer, allowing organizations to adapt to environmental demands and contributing to organizational performance. PURPOSES As value-based purchasing becomes more prevalent, health care organizations are incented to become more efficient and, at the same time, improve their patients' experiences and outcomes. Unused slack resources might facilitate the timely implementation of these improvements. Building on previous research on organizational slack and inertia, we test whether efficiency and other organizational factors predict organizational effectiveness in improving Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) ratings. METHODOLOGY We rely on data from the American Hospital Association and HCAHPS. We estimate hospital cost-efficiency by Stochastic Frontier Analysis and use regression analysis to determine whether efficiency, competition, hospital size, and other organizational factors are significant predictors of hospital effectiveness. FINDINGS Our findings indicate that efficiency and hospital size have a significant negative association with organizational ability to improve HCAHPS ratings. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Although achieving organizational efficiency is necessary for health care organizations, given the changes that are currently occurring in the U.S. health care system, it is important for health care managers to maintain a certain level of slack to respond to environmental demands and have the resources needed to improve their performance.
Carbon Monoxide Toxicity

Inhalation injury consists of a multitude of insults, the first of which is the toxic gases inhaled during the combustion of organic and inorganic substances. Significant morbidity and mortality in patients with burn injury occur due to the varying effects of these gases. This section of the compendium initially addresses two classically described inhaled gases: carbon monoxide and cyanide, followed by a discussion of a gas associated with illicit drug use: metamphetamine. Understanding the varying effects of the toxic gases at the scene of injury may facilitate the development of specific treatment regimens for inhalation injury.
Patient‐Centered Medical Home Recognition and Clinical Performance in U.S. Community Health Centers

INTRODUCTION America's community health centers (HCs) are uniquely poised to implement the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model, as they are effective in providing comprehensive, accessible, and continuous primary care. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between PCMH recognition in HCs and clinical performance. METHODS Data for this study came from the 2012 Uniform Data System (UDS) as well as a survey of HCs' PCMH recognition achievement. The dependent variables included all 16 measures of clinical performance collected through UDS. Control measures included HC patient, provider, and practice characteristics. Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regressions were conducted to compare clinical performance between HCs with and without PCMH recognition. FINDINGS Health centers that receive PCMH recognition generally performed better on clinical measures than HCs without PCMH recognition. After controlling for HC patient, provider, and practice characteristics, HCs with PCMH recognition reported significantly better performance on asthma-related pharmacologic therapy, diabetes control, pap testing, prenatal care, and tobacco cessation intervention. CONCLUSION This study establishes a positive association between PCMH recognition and clinical performance in HCs. If borne out in future longitudinal studies, policy makers and practices should advance the PCMH model as a strategy to further enhance the quality of primary care.
“We Boil at Different Degrees”: Factors Associated With Severity of Attack in Sexual Killing

Degree of injury, as measured by the Homicide Injury Scale (HIS), was examined to advance understanding of the dynamics of sexual killing. A total of 350 nonserial, male sexual killers were included, and the different ways that the sexual element of their offenses and the act of killing were connected was accounted for by determining that cases were either directly sexual (the sexual element and killing were closely bound), or indirectly sexual (killing was not a source of sexual stimulation). The two groups, direct and indirect sexual killers, were each subjected to multiple linear regression analyses to examine the group-specific relationship between level of injury and predictor variables previously found to be associated with increased severity of attack. No differences in the mean total HIS scores between the indirect and the direct cases were found, suggesting a comparable emotional intensity between the groups. However, given that the groups differed in terms of the functional role of fatal violence, severity of attack could not be sufficiently explained as driven by anger. In line with this hypothesis, different predictors appeared to be associated with increased degree of injury sustained by victims of indirect compared with direct sexual killers. As such, situational components appear to play a role in the behavior of indirect sexual killers, whereas the behavior of direct perpetrators tends to be linked with the enactment of existing deviant fantasies. The role of anger in sexual homicide is discussed further, and overall, it is argued that irrespective of whether violence was initially driven by anger, evidence of sexual arousal to severe violence must be scrutinized within sexual homicide research as well as in psycholegal contexts.
Nudging Energy Efficiency Audits: Evidence from A Field Experiment

This paper uses a randomized field experiment to test how information provision leveraging social norms, salience, and a personal touch can serve as a nudge to influence the uptake of residential energy audits. Our results show that a low-cost carefully-crafted notecard can increase the probability of a household to follow through with an already scheduled audit by 1.1 percentage points on a given day. The effect is very similar across individuals with different political views, but households in rural areas display a substantially greater effect than those in urban areas. Our findings have important managerial and policy implications, as they suggest a cost-effective nudge for increasing energy audit uptake and voluntary energy efficiency adoption.