Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rapid Prototyping Framework for real-time control of power electronic converters using simulink

This paper presents a Rapid Prototyping Framework (RPF) based on MATLAB/Simulink and the next steps towards developing an interactive control architecture based on the TI TMS320F28335 DSP. Firstly, the rapid prototyping framework is described comprising the details of the tools and hardware. Secondly, the experiments towards the realization of a real-time control application for the experimental setup are revealed. Finally, a controller for managing the DC link control of EVs with multiple energy sources was implemented by the RPF to demonstrate the performance of the developed system.
Postoperative analgesia in children when using clonidine in addition to fentanyl with bupivacaine given caudally

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of clonidine in association with fentanyl as an additive to bupivacaine 0.25% given via single shot caudal epidural in pediatric patients for postoperative pain relief. In the present prospective randomized double blind study, 40 children of ASA-I-II aged 1-5 years scheduled for infraumblical surgical procedures were randomly allocated to two groups to receive either bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) with fentanyl 1 μg/kg and clonidine 1μg/kg (group I) or bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) with fentanyl 1 μg/kg (group II). Caudal block was performed after the induction of general anesthesia. Postoperatively patients were observed for analgesia, sedation, hemodynamic parameters, and side effects or complications. Both the groups were similar with respect to patient and various block characteristics. Heart rate and blood pressure were not different in 2 groups. Significantly prolonged duration of post-operative analgesia was observed in group I (P<0.05). Side effects such as respiratory depression, vomiting and bradycardia were similar in both groups. The adjunction of clonidine to fentanyl as additives to bupivacaine in single shot caudal epidural in children may provide better and longer analgesia after infraumblical surgical procedures.
Postnatal Maturation of Cytochrome Oxidase and Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity and Age-Dependent Consequences of Lithium-Pilocarpine Status Epilepticus in the Rat: A Regional Histoenzymology Study

The lithium-pilocarpine (Li-Pilo) model of epilepsy reproduces some pathophysiological, temporal, and developmental features of human temporal lobe epilepsy. In this model, rates of cerebral glucose utilization measured by the [14C]2-deoxyglucose technique increased during the initial status epilepticus (SE) and decreased during the latent or chronic periods. To correlate these metabolic changes with the activities of the enzymes of the glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways, we measured by histoenzymology the regional activity of two key enzymes of glucose metabolism, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for the anaerobic pathway and cytochrome oxidase (CO) for the aerobic pathway coupled to oxidative phosphorylation, at various times after SE induced by Li-Pilo in 10- (P10), 21-d-old (P21) and adult rats for CO and in adult rats only for LDH. CO activity was slightly affected in P10 and P21 rats only at 4 and 24 h and normalized by 14 d after SE. In adult rats, CO activity decreased at 4 and 24 h in damaged areas, like entorhinal cortex, hippocampal CA3 area, amygdala, and thalamus. At 14 d after SE, CO activity was decreased only in entorhinal cortex and increased in brainstem regions involved in the remote control of seizures. In adult rats, LDH activity decreased at 24 h and 14 d after SE in sensorimotor and entorhinal cortex. These data show that the enzymatic equipment underlying the metabolism of glucose is not severely affected by Li-Pilo SE and confirm our previous observations concerning the relative metabolic hyperactivity of brain regions involved in the seizure circuit despite marked neuronal loss.
Novel phosphate-grafted ePTFE copolymers for optimum in vitro mineralization

Surface modification via graft copolymerization is an attractive method for optimizing polymers used in biomedical applications. We developed a novel method using a mixed solvent system (either water and dichloromethane (DCM) or water, methanol and DCM) consisting of two solvent phases for grafting 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphate onto expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). This new method resulted in the fabrication of grafted membranes with greater grafting extents (GEs) (as evaluated from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)) in the organic phase than those obtained when grafting was carried out in a single phase. It also made it possible to graft in the aqueous phase, a process that is otherwise inhibited by the concomitant formation of large amounts of highly crystalline homopolymer. Thorough characterization of the grafted membranes using gravimetric, XPS and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) not only permitted evaluation of the grafting outcomes but also made it possible to analyze their dependence on monomer concentration and solvent composition. A selection of membranes was tested for their in vitro mineralization capacity using simulated body fluid. It was found that an ‘ideal’ mineralization outcome, i.e. a uniform coating of carbonated hydroxyapatite (cHAP) formed on the sample grafted in the aqueous phase of the water/DCM two-phase solvent system. A detailed discussion bringing together these results, as well as results from a series of earlier studies, allows conclusions regarding polymer chemistry and the topology necessary for cHAP mineralization.
AT1 Blockade Prevents Glucose-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction in Ventricular Myocytes: Role of the AT1 Receptor and NADPH Oxidase

Abstract—Enhanced tissue angiotensin (Ang) II levels have been reported in diabetes and might lead to cardiac dysfunction through oxidative stress. This study examined the effect of blocking the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor on high glucose–induced cardiac contractile dysfunction. Rat ventricular myocytes were maintained in normal- (NG, 5.5 mmol/L) or high- (HG, 25.5 mmol/L) glucose medium for 24 hours. Mechanical and intracellular Ca2+ properties were assessed as peak shortening (PS), time to PS (TPS), time to 90% relengthening (TR90), maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (±dL/ dt), and intracellular Ca2+ decay (&tgr;). HG myocytes exhibited normal PS; decreased ±dL/ dt; and prolonged TPS, TR90, and &tgr;. Interestingly, the HG-induced abnormalities were prevented with the AT1 blocker L-158,809 (10 to 1000 nmol/L) but not the Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) inhibitor AG-490 (10 to 100 &mgr;mol/L). The only effect of AT1 blockade on NG myocytes was enhanced PS at 1000 nmol/L. AT1 antagonist-elicited cardiac protection against HG was nullified by the NADPH oxidase activator sodium dodecyl sulfate (80 &mgr;mol/L) and mimicked by the NADPH oxidase inhibitors diphenyleneiodonium (10 &mgr;mol/L) or apocynin (100 &mgr;mol/L). Western blot analysis confirmed that the protein abundance of NADPH oxidase subunit p47phox and the AT1 but not the AT2 receptor was enhanced in HG myocytes. In addition, the HG-induced increase of p47phox was prevented by L-158,809. Enhanced reactive oxygen species production observed in HG myocytes was prevented by AT1 blockade or NADPH oxidase inhibition. Collectively, our data suggest that local Ang II, acting via AT1 receptor–mediated NADPH oxidase activation, is involved in hyperglycemia-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction, which might play a role in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Comparing the Effects of Usability on Customer Conversion and Retention at E-Commerce Websites

To succeed in the highly competitive e-commerce environment, it is vital to understand what customers want in a website to enhance conversion and retention rates of websites. Numerous contingent usability attributes have been the result of past usability studies and there are no unified framework or model to classify these attributes. This study adopted the most prominent model of IS success to provide a parsimonious and unified view of usability. Past usability studies have also focused on measuring the outcomes of usability and neglected the relationship between the actual usability dimensions and the intention to purchase. When examining the relationship between usability and the intention of purchase, this study compares the impact of usability on conversion and retention. In the comparison between conversion and retention, the empirical results demonstrate that the system quality is more important for customer conversion whereas service quality is more important for customer retention.
Reactions to Combat Stress in Israeli Veterans Twenty Years After the 1982 Lebanon War

During the war or shortly thereafter, the most common manifestation of combat induced psychopathology is combat stress reaction (CSR). The long-term consequences of CSR have so far received little scientific attention. The aim of this study was to examine whether CSR is a marker for long-term PTSD and other psychiatric comorbidities. Two groups of veterans from the 1982 Lebanon war were assessed 20 years after the war: one comprised 286 CSR casualties and the other comprised 218 matched non-CSR soldiers. Participants were assessed for PTSD, psychiatric symptomatology, social functioning, physical health, and postwar life events. Twenty years after the war, veterans with antecedent CSR reported more PTSD, psychiatric symptomatology and distress, social dysfunction, and health problems than did non-CSR veterans. We conclude that CSR should be seen as a marker for long-term psychiatric distress and impairment. In addition, the implications of combat-related trauma are broad and varied, and go beyond the narrow scope of PTSD.
Detecting distance-based outliers in streams of data

In this work a method for detecting distance-based outliers in data streams is presented. We deal with the sliding window model, where outlier queries are performed in order to detect anomalies in the current window. Two algorithms are presented. The first one exactly answers outlier queries, but has larger space requirements. The second algorithm is directly derived from the exact one, has limited memory requirements and returns an approximate answer based on accurate estimations with a statistical guarantee. Several experiments have been accomplished, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed approach and the high quality of approximate solutions.
Somatic and visceral inputs to the thoracic spinal cord of the cat: effects of noxious stimulation of the biliary system

1. Single unit electrical activity has been recorded extracellularly from 133 neurones in the grey matter of the 8th and 9th thoracic segments of the spinal cord in chloralose anaesthetized cats. The responses of these neurones to electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral splanchnic nerve, to natural stimulation of the skin and to distension of the biliary system have been studied.
Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) fruit: hidden phytochemicals and health claims

Currently, nutrition and health linkages focused on emerging strategy of diet based regimen to combat various physiological threats including cardiovascular disorders, oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, etc. In this context, consumption of fruits and vegetables is gaining considerable importance as safeguard to maintain human health. Likewise, their phytochemicals and bioactive molecules are also becoming popular as promising demulcent against various ailments. The current review is an effort to sum up information regarding persimmon fruit with special reference to its phytochemistry and associated health claims. Accordingly, the role of its certain bioactive molecules like proanthocyanidin, carotenoids, tannins, ﬂavonoids, anthocyanidin, catechin, etc. is highlighted. Owing to rich phytochemistry, persimmon and its products are considered effective in mitigating oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antioxidant potential is too responsible for anti-malignant and anti-melanogenic perspectives of persimmon functional ingredients. Additionally, they are effectual in soothing lifestyle related disparities e.g. cardiovascular disorders and diabetes mellitus. There are proven facts that pharmacological application of persimmon or its functional ingredients like proanthocyanidin may helps against hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, astringent taste and diospyrobezoars formation are creating lacuna to prop up its vitality. In toto, persimmon and its components hold potential as one of effective modules in diet based therapy; however, integrated research and meta-analysis are still required to enhance meticulousness.
Using personality traits to construct linear growth models of mental health in family members of individuals with severe brain injury.

OBJECTIVE No studies have examined the impact of personality traits on mental health among caregivers of individuals with severe brain injury. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to construct linear growth models to examine whether the personality traits of family members of individuals with severe brain injury could predict the trajectories of their own mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety, and depression beginning in a neurointensive care unit through 1 year after injury. METHOD Danish family members of individuals with severe brain injury (n = 52) completed the Short Form-36 assessing mental HRQoL (vitality, social functioning, role limitations-emotional, mental health), anxiety, and depression across 5 time points during the 1st year after injury. The measure of personality was administered 3 months after the patients' discharge. RESULTS All mental HRQoL, anxiety, and depression variables improved significantly over time. Caregivers who were less neurotic and less conscientious had higher vitality, social functioning, and mental health over time, whereas caregivers who were more agreeable had higher social functioning over time. Caregivers with lower neuroticism had lower anxiety and depression over time, as well as a more accelerated decrease in anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS Caregivers' personality traits were strongly associated over time with mental HRQoL, anxiety, and depression, with neuroticism being especially important for trajectories of anxiety and depression. These results suggest that personality assessments for caregivers of individuals with severe brain injury could help identify those most at risk for poor mental health over the course of rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record
P-selectin, a granule membrane protein of platelets and endothelial cells, follows the regulated secretory pathway in AtT-20 cells

P-selectin (PADGEM, GMP-140, CD62) is a transmembrane protein specific to alpha granules of platelets and Weibel-Palade bodies of endotheial cells. Upon stimulation of these cells, P-selectin is translocated to the plasma membrane where it functions as a receptor for monocytes and neutrophils. To investigate whether the mechanism of targeting of P- selectin to granules is specific for megakaryocytes and endothelial cells and/or dependent on von Willebrand factor, a soluble adhesive protein that is stored in the same granules, we have expressed the cDNA for P-selectin in AtT-20 cells. AtT-20 cells are a mouse pituitary cell line that can store proteins in a regulated fashion. By double-label immunofluorescence, P-selectin was visible as a punctate pattern at the tips of cell processes. This pattern closely resembled the localization of ACTH, the endogenous hormone produced and stored by the AtT-20 cells. Fractionation of the transfected cells resulted in the codistribution of P-selectin and ACTH in cellular compartments of the same density. Immunoelectron microscopy using a polyclonal anti-P- selectin antibody demonstrated immunogold localization in dense granules, morphologically indistinguishable from the ACTH granules. Binding experiments with radiolabeled monoclonal antibody to P-selectin indicated that there was also surface expression of P-selectin on the AtT-20 cells. After stimulation with the secretagogue 8-Bromo-cAMP the surface expression increased twofold, concomitant with the release of ACTH. In contrast, the surface expression of P-selectin transfected into CHO cells, which do not have a regulated pathway of secretion, did not change with 8-Br-cAMP treatment. In conclusion, we provide evidence for the regulated secretion of a transmembrane protein (P-selectin) in a heterologous cell line, which indicates that P-selectin contains an independent sorting signal directing it to storage granules.
Acanthamoeba keratitis and contact lens wear

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but serious complication of contact lens wear that may cause severe visual loss. The clinical picture is usually characterised by severe pain, sometimes disproportionate to the signs, with an early superficial keratitis that is often misdiagnosed as herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis. Advanced stages of the infection are usually characterised by central corneal epithelial loss and marked stromal opacification with subsequent loss of vision. In this paper, six cases of contact lens‐related Acanthamoeba keratitis that occurred in Australia and New Zealand over a three‐year period are described. Three of the patients were disposable soft lens wearers, two were hybrid lens wearers and one was a rigid gas permeable lens wearer. For all six cases, the risk factors for Acanthamoeba keratitis were contact lens wear with inappropriate or ineffective lens maintenance and exposure of the contact lenses to tap or other sources of water. All six patients responded well to medical therapy that involved topical use of appropriate therapeutic agents, most commonly polyhexamethylene biguanide and propamidine isethionate, although two of the patients also subsequently underwent deep lamellar keratoplasty due to residual corneal surface irregularity and stromal scarring. Despite the significant advances that have been made in the medical therapy of Acanthamoeba keratitis over the past 10 years, prevention remains the best treatment and patients who wear contact lenses must be thoroughly educated about the proper use and care of the lenses. In particular, exposure of the contact lenses to tap water or other sources of water should be avoided.
Types of social participation and psychological distress in Japanese older adults: A five-year cohort study

Introduction The most effective type of social participation against psychological distress in older adults is not well documented. The aim of this study was to examine whether different types of social participation are associated with changes in psychological distress level in older men and women in Japan. Methods Two thousand seven hundred community-dwelling older adults (aged 65–74 years, 50% women) were randomly selected from the resident registry of three cities. Of these, participants who reported social participation and psychological distress level in the baseline survey in 2010 were followed up. Psychological distress was evaluated based on K6 scales at baseline and follow-up (in 2015). Social participation level was examined using question items from the National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan. Exploratory factor analysis was used to derive the underlying factor structure. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between social participation and changes in psychological distress level after adjusting for covariates stratified by both gender and age group or living arrangement. Results Data from 825 community-dwelling older adults (45.3% women) were analyzed. Social participation was categorized into two types using factor analysis: community involvement (volunteer activities, community events, clubs for the elderly) and individual relationship (friendship, communication with family and friends, hobbies). During the 5-year follow-up, 29.5% of participants reported a deterioration in psychological distress. Higher community involvement was independently associated with lower risk of psychological distress for older women (β = 0.099, p = 0.047), whereas there were no associations with individual relationship for either gender. Furthermore, in older women living with others, higher community involvement was also associated with lower risk of psychological distress (β = 0.110, p = 0.048). Conclusion Community involvement provides older women with mental health benefits regardless of individual relationship level. Promoting community involvement may be an effective strategy for healthy mental aging.
Finite element analysis of a concrete slab under various non-uniform support conditions

A two-dimensional finite element program was utilised to study the effects of a non-uniform subgrade support on the tensile stresses in a concrete slab. A total of 12 subgrade support conditions were created including uniform and non-uniform support. The modulus of subgrade reaction (k-value) for different support areas was arbitrarily assigned either a soft (50 psi/in., 13.5 MPa/m) or stiff (500 psi/in., 135 MPa/m) value. Three axle types (single, tandem and steer-drive), three linear temperature differentials (none, negative and positive), two loading paths (edge and wheel path) and multiple longitudinal wheel positions were considered in the analysis. The theoretical analyses showed that several non-uniform subgrade support cases had a profound impact on the peak tensile stresses in a slab. In particular, a stiff subgrade with soft edges and a subgrade with randomly assigned soft and stiff locations significantly increased the peak tensile stresses relative to a uniformly soft support condition by at least 30%.
Control of a rigid-flexible two-link robot using Passivity-based and Strain-feedback approaches

In the present work, the modeling of a rigid-flexible two link robot via the Euler-Lagrange formalism, is outlined. The flexible-link is considered to be an Euler-Bernoulli beam with a mass attached at its free end simulating a payload. Two control schemes which are known to yield acceptable results for single flexible-link robots are extended and applied to achieve regulation for the joints of the system and for the tip of the flexible-link. These control schemes are the so-called Passivity-based velocity feedback and Strain-feedback schemes. Finally, some simulation results are presented for both control schemes in which it can be seen that the system has a better performance when the Strain-feedback control scheme is used.
HoliBraille: multipoint vibrotactile feedback on mobile devices

We propose HoliBraille, a system that enables Braille input and output on current mobile devices. We use vibrotactile motors combined with dampening materials in order to actuate directly on users' fingers. The prototype can be attached to current capacitive touchscreen devices enabling multipoint and localized feedback. HoliBraille can be leveraged in several applications including educational tools for learning Braille, as a communication device for deaf-blind people, and as a tactile feedback system for multitouch Braille input. We conducted a user study with 12 blind participants on Braille character discrimination. Results show that HoliBraille is effective in providing localized feedback; however, character discrimination performance is strongly related with number of simultaneous stimuli. We finish by discussing the obtained results and propose future research avenues to improve multipoint vibrotactile perception.