Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motion Planning for Dynamic Variable Inertia Mechanical Systems with Non-holonomic Constraints

In this paper, we address a particular flavor of the motion planning problem, that is, the gait generation problem for underactuated variable inertia mechanical systems. Additionally, we analyze a rather general type of mechanical systems which we refer to as mixed systems. What is unique about this type of mechanical system is that both non-holonomic velocity constraints as well as instantaneous conservation of the generalized momentum variables defined along the allowable motion direction completely specify the systems velocity. By analyzing this general type of mechanical systems, we lay the grounds for a general and intuitive analysis of the gait generation problem. Through our approach, we provide a novel framework not only for classifying different types of mechanical systems, but also for identifying a partition on the space of allowable gaits. By applying our techniques to mixed systems which according to our classification are the most general type of mechanical systems, we verify the generality and applicability of our approach. Moreover, mixed systems yield the richest family of allowable gaits, hence, superseding the gait generation problem for other simpler types of mechanical systems. Finally, we apply our analysis to a novel mechanical system, the variable inertia snakeboard, which is a generalization of the original snakeboard that was previously studied in the literature.
Targeted Nucleotide Exchange in Bovine Myostatin Gene

The myostatin gene, known as Growth Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF8), located at chromosome 2 (BTA2) in cattle, is specifically expressed during embryo development and in the adult skeletal muscle. Molecular analysis of this gene reveals the presence of three exons and two introns. Several cattle breeds, such as Piedmontese, Belgian Blue, Blond'Aquitaine, among others, show polymorphisms in this gene, which are directly related to double muscling phenotype. Piedmontese cattle shows a nucleotide transition G → A (G938A) at exon 3, resulting in the substitution of cysteine to tyrosine, leading to a protein structure change, which determines myostatin inactivation and consequent muscular hypertrophy. The objective of this work was to implant the polymorphism G938A, naturally existent in Piedmontese breed, into in vitro propagated foetal myoblasts, from Nellore cattle. Single strand DNA (ssDNA) oligonucleotides were used to direct the same nucleotidic transition (G938A) to exon 3. Two transfection protocols (cationic lipid solution and electroporation) were tested and, 48 hours after transfection, RNA and DNA were extracted from myoblasts. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed, using primers flanking the mutation region. The PCR products were cloned and analyzed by DNA sequencing, and it was possible to detect the nucleotidic C→T transition at position 938, in the electroporated myoblasts. The existence of a positive signal in the transfection indicates that ssDNA oligonucleotides can be used to introduce this point mutation in specific functional gene sites.
Cost–utility of different treatment strategies after the failure of tumour necrosis factor inhibitor in rheumatoid arthritis in the Finnish setting

Objective. To evaluate the cost–utility of different treatment strategies in severe RA after TNF-inhibitor failure. Methods. The cost-effectiveness of treatment strategies was compared in a group of hypothetical Finnish RA patients. Initially, the patients received either best supportive care (BSC) or one of the following treatments before BSC: adalimumab (ADAL), abatacept (ABAT), etanercept (ETAN), infliximab (INFL) or rituximab (RTX). Further treatments were added to the most cost-effective strategy in a stepwise manner. The analysis was performed on an Excel-based Markov state transition model using the probabilistic approach. The clinical outcomes related to treatments were estimated from published clinical trials. The gained quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated based on Health Utilities Index (HUI-3) and disease severity scores (HAQ). The resource use and costs were obtained from the Finnish treatment practice, one published study, the Finnish Unit Cost list and Finnish Medicine Tariffs. Results. Treatment with RTX was more effective and less costly than treatment with ADAL, ABAT or ETAN after TNF-inhibitor failure. An additional QALY gained with RTX costs 30 248 euros compared with BSC. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) are 50 941, 50 372, 36 121 and 67 003 euros per QALY gained for adding ADAL, ETAN, INFL and ABAT to the RTX strategy, respectively. According to the cost-effectiveness acceptability frontier (CEAF), only BSC or treatments with RTX or RTX followed by INFL should be considered after TNF-inhibitor failure, if willingness to pay is between 0 and 50 000 euros per QALY gained. Conclusions. Treatment with RTX is a cost-effective treatment strategy in RA patients in Finland.
Positive end-expiratory pressure and response to inhaled nitric oxide: changing nonresponders to responders.

BACKGROUND Inhaled nitric oxide (INO) has been shown to improve oxygenation in two thirds of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Failure to respond to INO is multifactorial. We hypothesized that the addition of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) might modify the response to INO in patients who had previously failed to respond to INO. METHODS Patients with ARDS who failed to respond to INO at 1 ppm (PaO2 increase of < 20%) were selected. Each patient underwent a PEEP trial using an improvement in static lung compliance as the end point. One hour after the new PEEP level was reached, hemodynamic and blood gas values were obtained. INO was then reinstituted at 1 ppm, and hemodynamic and blood gas variables were obtained 1 hour later. RESULTS Six of nine patients demonstrated an increase in PaO2/FIO2 (161 +/- 27 to 186 +/- 29) with a mean increase in PEEP of 3.7 cm H2O. Each patient responding to PEEP further improved PaO2/FIO2 (186 +/- 29 to 223 +/- 36) with INO at 1 ppm. The three patients who failed to improve after the PEEP increase also failed to respond to a second trial of INO. There were no changes in cardiac output or systemic vascular resistance. Pulmonary artery pressures decreased slightly (39 +/- 5 vs 38 +/- 7 vs 35 +/- 9 mm Hg). Pulmonary vascular resistance decreased significantly after reintroduction of INO (298 +/- 131 vs 310 +/- 122 vs 249 +/- 105 dynes/sec/cm-5) in patients who responded positively. CONCLUSIONS The response of ARDS patients to INO can be improved if optimum alveolar recruitment is achieved by the addition of PEEP. PEEP and INO have a synergistic effect on PaO2/FIO2. Patients who fail to respond to INO may benefit from an optimum PEEP trial.
Introduction to Domination Polynomial of a Graph

We introduce a domination polynomial of a graph G. The domination polynomial of a graph G of order n is the polynomial D(G, x) =\sum_{i=1}^n d(G, i)x^i, where d(G, i) is the number of dominating sets of G of size i. We obtain some properties of D(G, x) and its coefficients. Also we compute this polynomial for some specific graphs.
A novel curvilinear approach for prostate seed implantation.

PURPOSE A new technique called "curvilinear approach" for prostate seed implantation has been proposed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dosimetric benefit of curvilinear distribution of seeds for low-dose-rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy. METHODS Twenty LDR prostate brachytherapy cases planned intraoperatively with VariSeed planning system and I-125 seeds were randomly selected as reference rectilinear cases. All the cases were replanned by using curved-needle approach keeping the same individual source strength and the volume receiving 100% of prescribed dose 145 Gy (V(100)). Parameters such as number of needles, seeds, and the dose coverage of the prostate (D(90), V(150), V(200)), urethra (D(30), D(10)) and rectum (D(5), V(100)) were compared for the rectilinear and the curvilinear methods. Statistical significance was assessed using two-tailed student's t-test. RESULTS Reduction of the required number of needles and seeds in curvilinear method were 30.5% (p < 0.001) and 11.8% (p < 0.49), respectively. Dose to the urethra was reduced significantly; D(30) reduced by 10.1% (p < 0.01) and D(10) reduced by 9.9% (p < 0.02). Reduction in rectum dose D(5) was 18.5% (p < 0.03) and V(100) was also reduced from 0.93 cc in rectilinear to 0.21 cc in curvilinear (p < 0.001). Also the V(150) and V(200) coverage of prostate reduced by 18.8% (p < 0.01) and 33.9% (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Significant improvement in the relevant dosimetric parameters was observed in curvilinear needle approach. Prostate dose homogeneity (V(150), V(200)) improved while urethral dose was reduced, which might potentially result in better treatment outcome. Reduction in rectal dose could potentially reduce rectal toxicity and complications. Reduction in number of needles would minimize edema and thereby could improve postimplant urinary incontinence. This study indicates that the curvilinear implantation approach is dosimetrically superior to conventional rectilinear implantation technique.
Glucagon deficiency induced by extirpation of alpha islets of the fowl pancreas.

The endocrine-morphologic relationship between the pancreatic islet cells of the fowl was investigated by morphologic observation of the architecture and distribution of the islets and physiologic examination of fowls deprived of the alpha-islet-containing portion of the pancreas. There were 2 types of islets in the fowl pancreas: one was an “alpha” islet composed of alpha and delta cells and the other -was a “beta” islet made of beta and delta cells. Beta islets were scattered throughout the gland, while alpha islets were confined to the 3rd and splenic lobes. It was suggested that carbohydrate metabolism was essentially the same in the fowl as in the mammal, because they exhibited the same sensitive hyperglycemic response to glucagon and hypoglycemic response to insulin. A physiologic investigation of changes in fowls deprived of alpha islets was accomplished by means of selective removal of the alpha-islet-containing portion, or the 3rd and splenic lobes, from the pancreas. The birds having received su.
Built-In Self-Repair Scheme for the TSVs in 3-D ICs

3-D integration using through-silicon-via (TSV) has been widely acknowledged as one future integrated-circuit (IC) technology. Test and yield are two big issues for volume production of 3-D ICs. In this paper, we propose a built-in self-repair (BISR) scheme to test and repair TSVs in 3-D ICs. The BISR scheme, arranging the TSVs into arrays similar to memories, can effectively enhance the yield of TSVs in a 3-D IC such that the yield of the 3-D IC is boosted. Furthermore, a global fusing methodology is proposed to reduce the requirement of fuses. Simulation and analysis results show that the proposed BISR scheme can drastically reduce the area cost and test time in comparison with an existing TSV repair scheme for the same final yield of TSVs under repair. For a 3-D wide-IO DRAM with 512 TSVs, for example, the proposed repair scheme can achieve 32.4% area reduction and 73.4% test time reduction.
Frequent attenders in general practice: quality of life, patient satisfaction, use of medical services and GP characteristics

Objective - To determine the predictors of frequent attendance in general practice. Design - A postal survey using a questionnaire including instruments for measuring patient satisfaction (EUROPEP), quality of life (EUROQOL), anxiety and depression (DUKE-AD). Setting - Primary health care in Slovenia. Patients - A representative sample of 2160 adult patients. Main outcome measures - Number of contacts with the health care services, levels of self-care, patient satisfaction scores, quality of life scores, well-being scores, presence of chronic condition. Results - Frequent attenders were more likely to have lower educational status, were more satisfied with their GP, had higher scores of anxiety and depression, and lower perceived quality of life. They were more likely to have a chronic disease. Frequent attenders were less likely to try self-care and more likely to use health services. They were more likely to visit more experienced GPs, GPs working a greater distance from other GPs and GPs who did not use the appointment system. The multivariable modelling explained 19.7% of the variation; 16.9% was attributed to patient characteristics and 3.1% to GP characteristics. Conclusions ? The study confirmed that lower education levels, chronicity and higher use of other health services are predictors of higher attendance.
Enabling efficient analog synthesis by coupling sparse regression and polynomial optimization

The challenge of equation-based analog synthesis comes from its dual nature: functions producing good least-square fits to SPICE-generated data are non-convex, hence not amenable to efficient optimization. In this paper, we leverage recent progress on Semidefinite Programming (SDP) relaxations of polynomial (non-convex) optimization. Using a general polynomial allows for much more accurate fitting of SPICE data compared to the more restricted functional forms. Recent SDP techniques for convex relaxations of polynomial optimizations are powerful but alone still insufficient: even for small problems, the resulting relaxations are prohibitively high dimensional.
Equine plasma beta-endorphin concentrations are affected by exercise intensity and time of day.

Eight mature mares were exercised for 20 min at 60% VO2max and to fatigue at 95% VO2max. Plasma beta-endorphin (EN) concentrations were determined before exercise, after a 10 min warm-up, and at the end of each exercise test. Mean +/- s.e. beta-endorphin concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher following work at 95% VO2max when compared to that at 60% VO2max (420.0 +/- 102.7 vs. 269.9 +/- 30.69 pg/ml). Pre-exercise samples were collected between 1000 and 1500 h. In order to evaluate whether any cyclic changes in EN secretion effects may have influenced results, a subsequent study was completed using 12 horses to assess diurnal fluctuations in EN concentrations, by measuring EN concentration every 2 h for a 24 h period. There was no statistical difference in mean values at any time between 0800 and 2000 h. Whether individual differences in EN concentrations reflected varying degrees of stress associated with the exercise could not be determined. Any possible link between EN concentration and exercise stress in exercising horses awaits clarification.
Oncogenic MAGEA-TRIM28 ubiquitin ligase downregulates autophagy by ubiquitinating and degrading AMPK in cancer

Autophagy is commonly altered in cancer and has a complicated, but important role in regulation of tumor growth. Autophagy is often tumor suppressive in the early stages of cancer development, but contributes to the late stages of tumor growth. Because of this, putative oncogenes that modulate autophagy signaling are especially interesting. Here we discuss our recent work detailing the function of the MAGEA-TRIM28 ubiquitin ligase as an oncogene product that targets PRKAA1/AMPKα1 for ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. Degradation of AMPK, a master cellular energy sensor and regulator, by MAGEA-TRIM28 results in significantly reduced autophagy and changes in cellular metabolism, including upregulation of MTOR signaling. Overall, expression of MAGEA3 (or MAGEA6) and degradation of AMPK is sufficient to induce transformation of normal cells and promote multiple hallmarks of cancer.
Radiation effects in optoelectronic devices

Active optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes (LDs), photodiodes (PDs), and optocouplers (OCs) were evaluated for degradation under gamma, 14 MeV neutron, and flash X-ray irradiation. Dose rates, total dose values, and neutron fluences were chosen such that we get estimates of the behavior especially in space environments and nuclear engineering. The devices are designed for wavelengths from 660 to 1550 nm. LEDs showed a decrease of output power between 0.1 and 28 dB after a total gamma does of 106 Gy or neutron fluences of 4 X 1014 cm-2 (1 MeV), respectively. The threshold current of LDs shifted to higher values with increasing dose (60Co) and neutron fluence. Irradiations of PDs with 60Co gammas up to a total dose of 106 Gy as well as irradiations with neutrons up to fluences of 4 X 1014 cm-2 (1 MeV) lead to a strong increase of dark current. OCs show a significant reduction of the current transfer ratio at dose values between 103 and 104 Gy. Except two types, the optocouplers did not survive neutron fluences >= 8 X 1011 cm-2 (1 MeV).
I Should Listen More

Video telehealth is growing to allow more clinicians to see patients from afar. As a result, clinicians, typically trained for in-person visits, must learn to communicate both health information and non-verbal affective signals to patients through a digital medium. We introduce a system called ReflectLive that senses and provides real-time feedback about non-verbal communication behaviors to clinicians so they can improve their communication behaviors. A user evaluation with 10 clinicians showed that the real-time feedback helped clinicians maintain better eye contact with patients and was not overly distracting. Clinicians reported being more aware of their non-verbal communication behaviors and reacted positively to summaries of their conversational metrics, motivating them to want to improve. Using ReflectLive as a probe, we also discuss the benefits and concerns around automatically quantifying the "soft skills" and complexities of clinician-patient communication, the controllability of behaviors, and the design considerations for how to present real-time and summative feedback to clinicians.
The Arabidopsis Callose Synthase Gene GSL8 Is Required for Cytokinesis and Cell Patterning1[C][W]

Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm and its separation into two daughter cells. Cell plate growth and cytokinesis appear to require callose, but direct functional evidence is still lacking. To determine the role of callose and its synthesis during cytokinesis, we identified and characterized mutants in many members of the GLUCAN SYNTHASE-LIKE (GSL; or CALLOSE SYNTHASE) gene family in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Most gsl mutants (gsl1–gsl7, gsl9, gsl11, and gsl12) exhibited roughly normal seedling growth and development. However, mutations in GSL8, which were previously reported to be gametophytic lethal, were found to produce seedlings with pleiotropic defects during embryogenesis and early vegetative growth. We found cell wall stubs, two nuclei in one cell, and other defects in cell division in homozygous gsl8 insertional alleles. In addition, gsl8 mutants and inducible RNA interference lines of GSL8 showed reduced callose deposition at cell plates and/or new cell walls. Together, these data show that the GSL8 gene encodes a putative callose synthase required for cytokinesis and seedling maturation. In addition, gsl8 mutants disrupt cellular and tissue-level patterning, as shown by the presence of clusters of stomata in direct contact and by islands of excessive cell proliferation in the developing epidermis. Thus, GSL8 is required for patterning as well as cytokinesis during Arabidopsis development.
Predictive risk modelling for forecasting high-cost patients: a real-world application using Medicaid data

Approximately two-thirds of healthcare costs are accounted for by 10% of the patients. Identifying such high-cost patients early can help improve their health and reduce costs. Data from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System provides a unique opportunity to exploit state-of-the-art data analysis algorithms to mine data and provide actionable findings that can aid cost containment. A novel data mining approach is proposed for this challenging healthcare problem of predicting patients who are likely to be high-risk in the future. This study indicates that the proposed approach is highly effective and can benefit further research on cost containment. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Moturu, S.T. , Johnson, W.G. and Liu, H. (2010) 'Predictive risk modelling for forecasting high-cost patients: a real-world application using Medicaid data', Int. J. Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Vol. 3, Nos. 1/2, pp.114-132.
Abortion Care Services Provided by Registered Midwives in South Africa

South Africas Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act which took effect in 1997 legalized abortion and stipulated that registered midwives can perform abortions for women with pregnancies of no more than 12 weeks gestation. A program was initiated to train registered midwives throughout South Africa to provide abortion services at primary care facilities. From October 1999 through January 2000 an evaluation was conducted at 27 public health care facilities in South Africas nine provinces to assess the quality of care provided by midwives who had been trained and certified to provide abortion services. Data were collected by observing abortion procedures and counseling sessions reviewing facility records and patients charts and interviewing patients and certified midwives. Of 96 abortion procedures performed by 40 midwives 85 involved manual vacuum aspiration. Midwives clinical practice was rated "good" in 75% of the procedures. No complications occurred during abortion procedures or as a result of the procedures and no abortion clients died. Midwives consistently provided women with contraceptive counseling after the abortion and most clients (89%) received a contraceptive method before leaving the facility. The injectable was the only method that was available at all facilities; of the 90 clients who were interviewed about the contraceptive method they reviewed after their abortion 75% had received this method. Few had received condoms (1%). Midwives can provide high-quality abortion services in the absence of physicians. Training in abortion care should be systematically integrated into midwives basic training. This training should use postabortion counseling as an opportunity to inform women about dual protection from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. (authors)
Alcohol, smoking and papillomavirus infection as risk factors for esophageal squamous‐cell papilloma and esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma in Italy

Esophageal papilloma, an infrequent benign tumor, and esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma sometimes appear to be associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HPV being implicated in anogenital carcinogenesis. Our aim was to assess whether there is any epidemiological difference in terms of risk factors for papilloma and cancer. From 1989 to 1996, a total of 12,011 patients (53% male, median age 52.7 years) were submitted to esophagogastroduodenoscopy by our Digestive Endoscopy Service. The genome of HPV was sought by PCR using 2 different primer sets. Of the total, 42 subjects (0.35%), 50% male with a mean age of 45.1 years, were suffering from esophageal squamous‐cell papilloma and 45 (0.37%), 91% male with a mean age of 63.0 years, from esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma. Of these patients, only 2 with papilloma were HPV+. Compared with the general endoscopic population, patients with papilloma do not present significantly different characteristics (even in terms of frequency of esophagitis and hiatal hernia). Those with carcinoma differ significantly both from the general endoscopic population and from those with papilloma in that they are more often male (p < 0.0001), older (p < 0.0001) and drinkers (p < 0.0001); they differ significantly only from the general population, but not from the papilloma patients, in smoking habits. Papilloma appears to be neither a lesion involving a risk of development into a malignancy nor a marker for any such risk. Environmental factors, such as alcohol and smoking, appear to play a decisive role in esophageal carcinogenesis in northern Italy. Int. J. Cancer 86:874–878, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.