Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simulating Haptic Feedback Using Vision: A Survey of Research and Applications of Pseudo-Haptic Feedback

This paper presents a survey of the main results obtained in the field of pseudo-haptic feedback: a technique meant to simulate haptic sensations in virtual environments using visual feedback and properties of human visuo-haptic perception. Pseudo-haptic feedback uses vision to distort haptic perception and verges on haptic illusions. Pseudo-haptic feedback has been used to simulate various haptic properties such as the stiffness of a virtual spring, the texture of an image, or the mass of a virtual object. This paper describes the several experiments in which these haptic properties were simulated. It assesses the definition and the properties of pseudo-haptic feedback. It also describes several virtual reality applications in which pseudo-haptic feedback has been successfully implemented, such as a virtual environment for vocational training of milling machine operations, or a medical simulator for training in regional anesthesia procedures.
MHC-mediated mate choice increases parasite resistance in salmon

Natural (parasite-driven) and sexual selection are thought to maintain high polymorphism in the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), but support for a link between mate choice, MHC variation and increased parasite resistance is circumstantial. We compared MHC diversity and Anisakis loads among anadromous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) returning to four rivers to spawn, which had originated from natural spawning (parents allowed to mate freely) or artificial crosses (parents deprived from the potential benefits of mate choice). We found that the offspring of artificially bred salmon had higher parasite loads and were almost four times more likely to be infected than free-mating salmon, despite having similar levels of MHC diversity. Moreover, the offspring of wild salmon were more MHC dissimilar than the offspring of artificially crossed salmon, and uninfected fish were more dissimilar for MHC than infected fish. Thus, our results suggest a link between disassortative mating and offspring benefits and indicate that MHC-mediated mate choice and natural (parasite-driven) selection act in combination to maintain MHC diversity, and hence fitness. Therefore, artificial breeding programmes that negate the potential genetic benefits of mate choice may result in inherently inferior offspring, regardless of population size, rearing conditions or genetic diversity.
Scalable processing of read-only transactions in broadcast push

Recently, push-based delivery has attracted considerable attention as a means of disseminating information to large client populations in both wired and wireless settings. We address the problem of ensuring the consistency and currency of client read-only transactions in the presence of updates. To this end, additional control information is broadcast. A suite of methods is proposed that vary in the complexity and volume of the control information transmitted and subsequently differ in response times, degrees of concurrency, and space and processing overheads. The proposed methods are combined with caching to improve query latency. The relative advantages of each method are demonstrated through both simulation results and qualitative arguments. Read-only transactions are processed locally at the client without contacting the server and thus the proposed approaches are scalable, i.e., their performance is independent of the number of clients.
The effects of self-mobilization techniques for the sciatic nerves on physical functions and health of low back pain patients with lower limb radiating pain

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the effects of self-mobilization techniques for the sciatic nerves on the quality of life in patients with chronic low back pain in the lower limbs accompanied by radiating pain. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were divided into two groups: a group receiving of lumbar segmental stabilization exercise training including sciatic nerve mobilization techniques, which included 8 males and 7 females, and a group receiving lumbar segmental stabilization exercise training, which included 8 males and 7 females. [Results] There were statistically significant differences in comparison of measurement results between the groups before and after the intervention. [Conclusion] Application of mobilization techniques for the sciatic nerves may promote healing of the soft tissues by stimulating the functions of the nervous system to improve nervous system adaptability and decrease sensitivity, helping to alleviate the symptoms.
Presentation and survival of patients with severe acute kidney injury and multiple myeloma: a 20-year experience from a single centre.

BACKGROUND Myeloma is the second most common haematological malignancy and is a cause of severe acute kidney injury (serum creatinine >or=500 micromol/L) that has long been associated with a poor prognosis, although previous series have been small. METHODS We have therefore documented the natural history of all 107 patients referred to a large regional renal unit over a 20-year period and investigated factors associated with survival over a long period of time using Cox regression methods. RESULTS Three factors were found to be significantly and independently associated with survival: use of chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) 0.21, 95% CI: 0.08-0.46, P < 0.001], serum albumin (HR 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29-0.82, P = 0.02 for >or=35 g/L versus <35 g/L) and dialysis independence (HR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.24-0.76, P = 0.005). However, survival was not found to be better for patients presenting in the second decade compared to the first (HR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.52-1.50, P = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS This analysis highlights the need for clinical trials of novel chemotherapy regimens in this complicated group of patients. Furthermore, whether strategies to restore or preserve dialysis-independent renal function provide additional benefit to effective chemotherapy also requires further investigation. The advent of efficacious low toxicity chemotherapy (such as thalidomide and bortezomib) and new dialysis techniques to remove free light chains may radically alter the outcome of this group of patients.
Molecular phylogenetic relationships of family Haemulidae (Perciformes: Percoidei) and the related species based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes

Haemulidae species are morphologically diversified fishes with wondrous and changeable coloration. These species are prevalent in global tropical, subtropical, and temperate inshore reef areas. Previous morphological classification within Haemulidae and some related families was problematic, and no comprehensive molecular evaluation was conducted on these groups. In this study, we revealed the first molecular phylogenetic analysis involving representative species within Haemulidae and the relevant families (Nemipteridae and Teraponidae). The analysis was performed using both mitochondrial DNA (16S rRNA) and nuclear DNA (TMO-4c4) genes to construct maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analysis tree topologies. The molecular phylogeny recovered well-resolved relationships within Haemulidae species and the problematic taxa. In the trees, the Haemulidae species (except for genus Hapalogenys) were divided into two distinct sister lineages, including grunts (Haemulinae) and sweetlips (Plectorhynchinae). Hapalogenys was positioned outside the major Haemulidae tribe and formed an independent group, which challenged the traditional taxonomy that Hapalogenys was classified into Haemulidae. The results did agree with most current studies that Hapalogenys was only distantly related to Haemulidae and could potentially be removed from this family. Additionally, the genus Diagramma was observed to be tightly grouped inside the clade Plectorhinchus, indicating its highly close affinity within Plectorhinchus. Regarding interfamily relationships, the phylogenetic constructions suggested distant relationships within two pairs: between Scolopsis and Haemulidae and between Teraponidae and Haemulidae. Scolopsis was revealed to be highly close with Nemipteridae, and Teraponidae was clustered in an independent group, which was in accordance with most current taxonomic studies.
Sustainable maize (Zea mays L.) production under drought stress by understanding its adverse effect, survival mechanism and drought tolerance indices.

Maize is an essential dietary component in human food and in animal feed formulation. With the rising trend of global climate change, grain yield and quality losses of maize are expected to increase, because of various biotic and abiotic stress in all over the world. Among these, drought is most considerable one; it remarkably influences growth and yield traits of maize. Hence, the improvement of drought tolerant maize genotypes has potential to stabilize and even though increases the grain yield of maize. Therefore, developing cultivars tolerant to drought stress is a challenge for breeders. There are two ways to mitigate drought stress in maize production, either by developing and practicing improved drought * Corresponding author KEYWORDS
Model predictive control of constrained LPV systems

This article considers robust model predictive control (MPC) schemes for linear parameter varying (LPV) systems in which the time-varying parameter is assumed to be measured online and exploited for feedback. A closed-loop MPC with a parameter-dependent control law is proposed first. The parameter-dependent control law reduces conservativeness of the existing results with a static control law at the cost of higher computational burden. Furthermore, an MPC scheme with prediction horizon ‘1’ is proposed to deal with the case of asymmetric constraints. Both approaches guarantee recursive feasibility and closed-loop stability if the considered optimisation problem is feasible at the initial time instant.
An analytical model to estimate path duration in MANETs

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) are strongly impacted by the mobility of the ad hoc nodes. Mobility models help engineers to abstract the changes of position in network users. Different mobility models have already been proposed to characterize the behaviors of mobile devices that are greatly correlated to the conditions of the possible scenarios where networks can be deployed. In the context of mobile ad hoc networks, the Random WayPoint model has received significant attention and it has become one of the most employed mobility patterns. However, a formal description of the time during which a generic N-hop path is valid has not been proposed yet for this model. In this paper, the authors provide an analytical model for link duration as well as an analytical study of path duration in multi-hop wireless networks. The predicted results are compared with measured data and good agreement is reported.
mreps: efficient and flexible detection of tandem repeats in DNA

The presence of repeated sequences is a fundamental feature of genomes. Tandemly repeated DNA appears in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes, it is associated with various regulatory mechanisms and plays an important role in genomic fingerprinting. In this paper, we describe mreps, a powerful software tool for a fast identification of tandemly repeated structures in DNA sequences. mreps is able to identify all types of tandem repeats within a single run on a whole genomic sequence. It has a resolution parameter that allows the program to identify 'fuzzy' repeats. We introduce main algorithmic solutions behind mreps, describe its usage, give some execution time benchmarks and present several case studies to illustrate its capabilities. The mreps web interface is accessible through http://www.loria. fr/mreps/.
Dengue Fever Occurrence and Vector Detection by Larval Survey, Ovitrap and MosquiTRAP: A Space-Time Clusters Analysis

The use of vector surveillance tools for preventing dengue disease requires fine assessment of risk, in order to improve vector control activities. Nevertheless, the thresholds between vector detection and dengue fever occurrence are currently not well established. In Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil), dengue has been endemic for several years. From January 2007 to June 2008, the dengue vector Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti was monitored by ovitrap, the sticky-trap MosquiTRAP™ and larval surveys in an study area in Belo Horizonte. Using a space-time scan for clusters detection implemented in SaTScan software, the vector presence recorded by the different monitoring methods was evaluated. Clusters of vectors and dengue fever were detected. It was verified that ovitrap and MosquiTRAP vector detection methods predicted dengue occurrence better than larval survey, both spatially and temporally. MosquiTRAP and ovitrap presented similar results of space-time intersections to dengue fever clusters. Nevertheless ovitrap clusters presented longer duration periods than MosquiTRAP ones, less acuratelly signalizing the dengue risk areas, since the detection of vector clusters during most of the study period was not necessarily correlated to dengue fever occurrence. It was verified that ovitrap clusters occurred more than 200 days (values ranged from 97.0±35.35 to 283.0±168.4 days) before dengue fever clusters, whereas MosquiTRAP clusters preceded dengue fever clusters by approximately 80 days (values ranged from 65.5±58.7 to 94.0±14. 3 days), the former showing to be more temporally precise. Thus, in the present cluster analysis study MosquiTRAP presented superior results for signaling dengue transmission risks both geographically and temporally. Since early detection is crucial for planning and deploying effective preventions, MosquiTRAP showed to be a reliable tool and this method provides groundwork for the development of even more precise tools.
Highest natural bed forms

[1] Fluid flow interacts with sedimentary beds forming waves of different kinds, which are of considerable practical importance since they influence significantly the near-bed flow, both over and below the bed, sediment transport, and wave height attenuation. We focus here on steep bed forms capable of producing flow separation. In this case, the large-scale vorticity generated in the phenomenon of separation rules the process of friction, which appears to be practically unaffected by sediment motion. Under the crests of the bed forms, the mean shear force due to friction is balanced by the force that bed forms exert on the flow via pressure, which can be calculated from the work of Gimenez-Curto and Corniero [2002]. Bed forms grow until they have a height such that friction at their troughs is negligible, thus ceasing the motion of fluid and sediment. This condition leads to a very simple expression for the limiting steepness, which compares favorably with existing observations on bed form geometry under steady open channel flow as well as under oscillatory flow.
Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome: An Often Unrecognized Cause of Dyspareunia

Summary: Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) is an easily identifiable cause of entry dyspareunia. The aetiology is unknown although there is a strong association with Candida infection. The condition represents a focal area of hyperaesthesia within the vulvar vestibule. A management protocol for patients with this condition is presented; 230 patients with VVS were managed and followed‐up over a 5‐year period. Spontaneous resolution or improvement occurred in 21% of patients following initial explanation and use of simple local measures. In 21%, there were positive Candida cultures and long‐term antifungal therapy resulted in a 71% cure. In Candida‐negative patients, low‐dose amitriptyline was used (up to 75 mg daily) with a 60% positive response rate. Carbamazepine was of little benefit (13% response). Surgical vestibulectomy was offered when conservative measures failed and this was performed in 22 patients (10%) with a beneficial result in 20 patients (91%).
Caveolin-1 Influences Vascular Protease Activity and Is a Potential Stabilizing Factor in Human Atherosclerotic Disease

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is a regulatory protein of the arterial wall, but its role in human atherosclerosis remains unknown. We have studied the relationships between Cav-1 abundance, atherosclerotic plaque characteristics and clinical manisfestations of atherosclerotic disease.We determined Cav-1 expression by western blotting in atherosclerotic plaques harvested from 378 subjects that underwent carotid endarterectomy. Cav-1 levels were significantly lower in carotid plaques than non-atherosclerotic vascular specimens. Low Cav-1 expression was associated with features of plaque instability such as large lipid core, thrombus formation, macrophage infiltration, high IL-6, IL-8 levels and elevated MMP-9 activity. Clinically, a down-regulation of Cav-1 was observed in plaques obtained from men, patients with a history of myocardial infarction and restenotic lesions. Cav-1 levels above the median were associated with absence of new vascular events within 30 days after surgery [0% vs. 4%] and a trend towards lower incidence of new cardiovascular events during longer follow-up. Consistent with these clinical data, Cav-1 null mice revealed elevated intimal hyperplasia response following arterial injury that was significantly attenuated after MMP inhibition. Recombinant peptides mimicking Cav-1 scaffolding domain (Cavtratin) reduced gelatinase activity in cultured porcine arteries and impaired MMP-9 activity and COX-2 in LPS-challenged macrophages. Administration of Cavtratin strongly impaired flow-induced expansive remodeling in mice.This is the first study that identifies Cav-1 as a novel potential stabilizing factor in human atherosclerosis. Our findings support the hypothesis that local down-regulation of Cav-1 in atherosclerotic lesions contributes to plaque formation and/or instability accelerating the occurrence of adverse clinical outcomes. Therefore, given the large number of patients studied, we believe that Cav-1 may be considered as a novel target in the prevention of human atherosclerotic disease and the loss of Cav-1 may be a novel biomarker of vulnerable plaque with prognostic value.
Importance of Translocon Subunit Tic56 for rRNA Processing and Chloroplast Ribosome Assembly1

A defect in Arabidopsis chloroplast translation causes an albino phenotype of the plastid protein import mutants tic56-1 and ppi2 (toc159). Toc159-containing complexes at the outer chloroplast envelope membrane form stable supercomplexes with a 1-MD translocon at the inner chloroplast envelope membrane of which Tic56 is one essential subunit. While the single mutants tic56-1 and ppi2 (toc159) have an albino phenotype and are able to grow heterotrophically, we find the double mutant to be embryo lethal. Comprehensive quantitative proteome profiling with both single mutants in combination with GeneChip analyses identified a posttranscriptional defect in the accumulation of plastid ribosomal proteins and diminished expression of plastid encoded proteins. In the tic56-1 mutant, the assembly of functional ribosomes is furthermore hampered by a processing defect of the plastid 23S rRNA. Spectinomycin-treatment of wild-type plants phenocopies the molecular phenotype of plastid proteome accumulation in tic56-1 and to a smaller degree also ppi2 plastids, suggesting that a defect in plastid translation is largely responsible for the phenotype of both import mutants. Import experiments with the tic56-3 mutant revealed no significant defect in the import of small ribosomal protein 16 in the absence of full-length Tic56, suggesting that the defect in ribosome assembly in tic56-1 may be independent of a function of Tic56 in protein import. Our data establish a previously unknown link between plastid protein import, the processing of plastid rRNAs, and the assembly of plastid ribosomes and provide further knowledge on the function of the translocon components and the molecular basis for their albino phenotype.
Faunal elements from the Deccan volcano‐sedimentary sequences of India: A reappraisal of biostratigraphic, palaeoecologic, and palaeobiogeographic aspects

The sedimentary sequences associated with the Deccan Flood Basalts, i.e., infratrappean and intertrappean deposits, are known to yield a diverse assemblage of fauna that includes foraminiferans, ostracods, molluscs, fishes, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodiles, dinosaurs, and mammals. The existing literature debates the exact nature of origin, age, and duration of the Deccan volcanic activity; however, there is a general accord within the geosciences community that the Deccan Flood Basalts bestrode the Cretaceous–Palaeogene Boundary. Within the past few decades, the record of the biotic component (particularly faunal elements) reported from the Deccan‐volcano sedimentary sequences have grown both numerically and taxonomically. Constraining the age of the Deccan‐volcano sedimentary sequences has a direct bearing on the studies that discuss the origin, evolution of the biota in a palaeobiogeographic framework, and also in the context of changes in the palaeoenvironment and palaeoecology. Thus, it becomes important to reinforce the age, environment of the Deccan‐volcano sedimentary sequences, and the origin/affinity of the faunal elements recovered from within these sedimentary deposits. We here reappraise the biotic (with an emphasis on the fauna) evidence in a biostratigraphic, palaeoecologic, and palaeobiogeographic aspect.
A Comparison of the Effects of Random and Selective Mass Extinctions on Erosion of Evolutionary History in Communities of Digital Organisms

The effect of mass extinctions on phylogenetic diversity and branching history of clades remains poorly understood in paleobiology. We examined the phylogenies of communities of digital organisms undergoing open-ended evolution as we subjected them to instantaneous “pulse” extinctions, choosing survivors at random, and to prolonged “press” extinctions involving a period of low resource availability. We measured age of the phylogenetic root and tree stemminess, and evaluated how branching history of the phylogenetic trees was affected by the extinction treatments. We found that strong random (pulse) and strong selective extinction (press) both left clear long-term signatures in root age distribution and tree stemminess, and eroded deep branching history to a greater degree than did weak extinction and control treatments. The widely-used Pybus-Harvey gamma statistic showed a clear short-term response to extinction and recovery, but differences between treatments diminished over time and did not show a long-term signature. The characteristics of post-extinction phylogenies were often affected as much by the recovery interval as by the extinction episode itself.
Phase diagram of Yukawa systems near the one-component-plasma limit revisited

Transition inverse temperatures ~or G values! at the fluid‐solid phase boundary of Yukawa systems near the one-component-plasma ~OCP! limit have been evaluated by molecular dynamics simulations. These values are systematically smaller than those obtained in an earlier study by Farouki and Hamaguchi @J. Chem. Phys. 101, 9885 ~1994! #. The discrepancy is attributed to the fact that, in the earlier study, the harmonic entropy constants were approximated by that of the OCP, whereas the new results are based on more accurate harmonic entropy constants obtained from lattice-dynamics calculations. The new molecular dynamics simulations also confirm that the bcc‐ fcc phase transition curve is in good agreement with that of the quasiharmonic theory in the regime k<1.4, where k is the ratio of the Wigner‐Seitz radius to the Debye length. Examples of Yukawa systems include dusty plasmas and colloidal suspensions. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. @S0021-9606~96! 51541-2#