Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Robotic Swarm for Spill Finding and Perimeter Formation

Abstract : This paper addresses issues surrounding deployment and tasking of a real-world collective of cost-effective, small mobile robots. To escape the limitations of centralized control, this project distributes control using an innovative, multi-modal communication architecture including acoustical chirping, infrared, and radio frequency transmissions. This paper reports on the use of social potential fields - attractive and repulsive fields emitted by each robot -- as a means to coordinate group behavior and promote the emergence of swarm intelligence as seen in a colony of ants or swarm of bees. A suite of C2 tools, AgentTools, has been developed to enable an operator to inject high-level domain knowledge and guidance into the behavior of the otherwise autonomous robots. The resulting system permits the user to interact with functional groups, rather than issuing commands to each individual robot. Using the realworld robot collective and C2 system, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory has performed experiments to empirically analyze the benefits and limitations associated with the use of many small-scale robots. Experimental results point to fundamental advantages of distributed systems and indicate that our real-world implementation of social potential fields scales well to varying numbers of robots and improves performance in terms of time and reliability.
Uncoupling of neuroinflammation from axonal degeneration in mice lacking the myelin protein tetraspanin‐2

Deficiency of the major constituent of central nervous system (CNS) myelin, proteolipid protein (PLP), causes axonal pathology in spastic paraplegia type‐2 patients and in Plp1null‐mice but is compatible with almost normal myelination. These observations led us to speculate that PLP's role in myelination may be partly compensated for by other tetraspan proteins. Here, we demonstrate that the abundance of the structurally related tetraspanin‐2 (TSPAN2) is highly increased in CNS myelin of Plp1null‐mice. Unexpectedly, Tspan2null‐mutant mice generated by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells displayed low‐grade activation of astrocytes and microglia in white matter tracts while they were fully myelinated and showed no signs of axonal degeneration. To determine overlapping functions of TSPAN2 and PLP, Tspan2null*Plp1null double‐mutant mice were generated. Strikingly, the activation of astrocytes and microglia was strongly enhanced in Tspan2null*Plp1null double‐mutants compared with either single‐mutant, but the levels of dysmyelination and axonal degeneration were not increased. In this model, glial activation is thus unlikely to be caused by axonal pathology, and vice versa does not potentiate axonal degeneration. Our results support the concept that multiple myelin proteins have distinct roles in the long‐term preservation of a healthy CNS, rather than in myelination per se. GLIA 2013;61:1832–1847
Impact of Joint Laxity and Hypermobility on the Musculoskeletal System

Abstract Excessive joint laxity, or hypermobility, is a common finding of clinical importance in the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Hypermobility is common in young patients and in general is associated with an increased incidence of musculoskeletal injury. Hypermobility has been implicated in ankle sprains, anterior cruciate ligament injury, shoulder instability, and osteoarthritis of the hand. Patients with hypermobility and musculoskeletal injuries often seek care for diffuse musculoskeletal pain and injuries with no specific inciting event. Orthopaedic surgeons and other healthcare providers should be aware of the underlying relationship between hypermobility and musculoskeletal injury to avoid unnecessary diagnostic tests and inappropriate management. Prolonged therapy and general conditioning are typically required, with special emphasis on improving strength and proprioception to address symptoms and prevent future injury. Orthopaedic surgeons must recognize the implications of joint mobility syndromes in the management and rehabilitation of several musculoskeletal injuries and orthopaedic disorders.
Bronchoalveolar coagulation and fibrinolysis in endotoxemia and pneumonia

ObjectivesTo review the involvement of coagulation and fibrinolysis in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury during severe infection. To review the cross-talk between coagulation and inflammation that may affect this response. Data SourcesPublished articles on experimental and clinical studies of coagulation and fibrinolysis during infection, inflammation, acute lung injury, and evolving acute respiratory distress syndrome. ConclusionsFibrin deposition is an important feature of pulmonary infection or severe inflammation. The mechanisms that contribute to this fibrin deposition are bronchoalveolar tissue factor-mediated thrombin generation and localized depression of urokinase plasminogen activator-mediated fibrinolysis, caused by the increase of plasminogen activator inhibitors. These effects on pulmonary coagulation and fibrinolysis are regulated by various proinflammatory cytokines. Rather than being a unidirectional relationship, the interaction between inflammation and coagulation involves significant cross-talk. Coagulation and fibrinolytic proteins may have an additional role beyond fibrin turnover and inflammation, e.g., in mechanisms mediating cell recruitment and migration.
THE PARALLEL DIFFUSION COEFFICIENT AND ADIABATIC FOCUSING OF COSMIC-RAY PARTICLES

In this paper, the problem of focused particle transport is revisited. A description in terms of a system of stochastic differential equations, completely equivalent to the Fokker–Planck equation, is suggested. The coefficient for spatial diffusion parallel to the mean magnetic field is calculated. The case of isotropic pitch angle scattering and weak focusing is analyzed in detail. The disagreement between a recent analysis by Shalchi and other treatments of the same problem is discussed.
Hydrocarbon Nephropathy in Male Rats: Identification of the Nephrotoxic Components of Unleaded Gasoline

Previous subchronic and/or chronic inhalation studies of unleaded gasoline and a variety of petroleum naphthas, solvents, and distillates have shown that these complex materials are capable of inducing a distinctive nephropathy which appears limited to male rats. Therefore a series of gavage screening studies using male F-344 rats was conducted on components of gasoline to more clearly identify the major contributors to this nephrotoxicity. The dosing regimen consisted of 20 doses administered once daily, 5 days per wk for 4 wk. Tested were 15 pure hydrocarbon compounds typically found in unleaded gasoline boiling range, 4 naphtha streams representative of those commonly used to blend gasolines and 3 distillation fractions covering the less volatile portions of gasoline. The results revealed that the alkane (paraffin) components were primarily responsible for the nephrotoxic activity seen in unleaded gasoline, with a positive structure-activity response relating the degree of alkane branching to the potency of the nephrotoxic response. In addition, the nephrotoxic activity observed with the naphtha streams and distillation fraction correlated well with the proportion of branched alkanes contained in each.
User Participation, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution: The Mediating Roles of Influence

User participation has long been considered a key ingredient in information system development ISD. However, research has generally failed to clearly demonstrate the benefits of user participation. A better description of interpersonal processes which occur during system development could be used to help explain the weak results. The present study builds upon the work of Robey and his colleagues Robey and Farrow 1982, Robey et al. 1989, Robey et al. 1993, who examined user participation, influence, conflict, and conflict resolution during ISD. Results obtained in a field study of 74 IS projects suggest the following four conclusions: i conflict is best represented and measured as a multidimensional construct; ii the relationship between user participation and conflict is more complex than previously believed; iii influence has a dual role in the emergence of conflict; and iv influence plays a key role in the satisfactory resolution of conflict.
Trex-1 deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE To explore whether the increased expression of long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1; L1) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) is associated with decreased expression of Trex-1, an exonuclease involved in the metabolization of L1 DNA:RNA hybrids. METHODS Chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to detect L1-related p40 protein (L1-ORF1p) binding sequences in RASFs. Luciferase activity was measured in the synovial fibroblasts following cotransfection of the episomal plasmid with pJM105 expressing L1-ORF1p and pGL3-TS3 carrying the target sequence for L1-ORF1p. This luciferase reporter assay was used to compare the activity between RASFs and osteoarthritis synovial fibroblasts (OASFs) and to assess correlations of luciferase activity with the expression of Trex-1 measured by flow cytometry. The expression of Trex-1 mRNA and protein was also compared using real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analyses. The role of Trex-1 in the L1-ORF1p-mediated luciferase activity assay was studied using interfering RNAs (iRNA) and a Trex-1 expression vector. RESULTS Increased luciferase activity occurred after cotransfection of synovial fibroblasts with pJM105 and pGL3-TS3. L1-ORF1p activity was increased in RASFs as compared with OASFs, and this was correlated inversely with the expression of Trex-1. Levels of Trex-1 mRNA and protein were lower in RASFs than in OASFs. After transfection of the L1 expression plasmid, Trex-1 mRNA levels increased in OASFs, but not in RASFs. The addition of iRNA against Trex-1, however, resulted in an enhancement of L1-ORF1p activity in OASFs to the levels measured in RASFs. Overexpression of Trex-1 inhibited 5-azacytidine-induced expression of p38δ MAPK, a gene carrying the TS3 sequence. CONCLUSION The deficiency of Trex-1 in RASFs allows a longer half-life of gene products encoded by active endogenous L1 retrotransposons. This pathway may play a role in diseases in which the cells exhibit a "spontaneous" aggressive behavior.
Business model framework applications in health care: A systematic review

It has proven to be a challenge for health care organizations to achieve the Triple Aim. In the business literature, business model frameworks have been used to understand how organizations are aligned to achieve their goals. We conducted a systematic literature review with an explanatory synthesis approach to understand how business model frameworks have been applied in health care. We found a large increase in applications of business model frameworks during the last decade. E-health was the most common context of application. We identified six applications of business model frameworks: business model description, financial assessment, classification based on pre-defined typologies, business model analysis, development, and evaluation. Our synthesis suggests that the choice of business model framework and constituent elements should be informed by the intent and context of application. We see a need for harmonization in the choice of elements in order to increase generalizability, simplify application, and help organizations realize the Triple Aim.
Superenhancer reprogramming drives a B-cell–epithelial transition and high-risk leukemia

Here, Hu et al. investigated the mechanisms by which IKAROS promotes B-cell differentiation and prevents leukemogenesis. By using chromatin, transcription, and gene inactivation studies in primary wild-type and IKAROS-deficient B-cell precursors, they show that a dual mechanism of IKAROS regulation promotes differentiation while safeguarding against a hybrid stem–epithelial–B-cell phenotype that underlies high-risk B-ALL.
Risk factors for intrapair birth weight discordance in twins

Objectives: To determine the risk factors for birth weight discordance in twins. Methods: We used the United States (1995-97) Matched Multiple Birth File (n = 294 568) to assess the association between birth weight discordance and maternal sociodemographic, pregnancy and infant characteristics. Results: Eighty-four per cent of the twins were 0-19% discordant, 11.1% were 20-29% discordant, 3.4% were 30-39% discordant, and 1.8% were ≥ 40% discordant. The risk factors for birth weight discordance for same-sex twins were eclampsia (odds ratio (OR) 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20, 1.61), pre-eclampsia (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.24, 1.38), pre-existing hypertension (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.12, 1.56), diabetes (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04, 1.24) and certain congenital anomalies. For opposite-sex twins, the risk factors for birth weight discordance were pre-eclampsia (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.09, 1.27), pre-existing hypertension (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.32, 1.91), and certain congenital anomalies. Also, smoking and increased maternal age were associated with birth weight discordance in both same-sex and opposite-sex twins. Conclusions: Maternal hypertensive disorders, smoking and delayed childbearing were associated with intrapair birth weight discordance. The mechanisms of these associations deserve further investigation.
Electrical conduction properties of several biodegradable polymers

Electrical conduction properties of Ave biodegradable polymers, polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate adipate, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate terephthalate, and poly-L-lactic acid, are discussed in relation to their measured values of glass transition temperature, complex permittivity, and breakdown strength. Conductivity is high in the polymers with low glass transition temperatures, and is in good proportion to the dielectric loss factor of each sample. Breakdown strength is low in such polymers. These results are reasonable, since molecular motion is active, and dipolar orientation and carrier transport are activated, when the polymer is in the rubber state.
Rapid degradation of the mycotoxin patulin in man quantified by stable isotope dilution assays

The absorption and degradation of the mycotoxin patulin in man was quantified by using a recently developed stable isotope dilution assay. Application of this currently most sensitive method revealed a patulin content less than 200 ng l−1 in the blood serum of five consumers of apple juice. Likewise, no patulin was found in the serum of a volunteer, whose blood was drawn shortly after consumption of a juice containing a maximum tolerable amount of patulin. In further in vitro experiments, the degradation of patulin by reacting it with whole blood was investigated. After addition of 100 µg patulin to 9 ml blood, only 6.1% of the mycotoxin was detected after 2 min. It was concluded, therefore, that even high naturally occurring concentrations of patulin in foods are quickly degraded before reaching other tissues than the gastrointestinal tract.
Patterns of antenatal corticosteroid prescribing 1998–2004

Background: The administration of antenatal corticosteroids to women at risk of preterm birth is an important component of care for such women. However, inevitably, attempts to maximise the number of women who receive corticosteroids ahead of preterm birth will also expose women perceived at risk who subsequently deliver at term. These women have not been previously quantified.
Virologic and immunologic response to regimens containing nevirapine or efavirenz in combination with 2 nucleoside analogues in the Italian Cohort Naive Antiretrovirals (I.Co.N.A.) study.

This nonrandomized study compared the virologic and immunologic responses to potent regimens containing either efavirenz or nevirapine after considering potential systematic differences between patients receiving these drugs. Virologic failure was defined as the first of 2 consecutive measurements of virus load >500 human immunodeficiency virus RNA copies/mL. Of the 694 patients included in the analysis, 460 (66.3%) started nevirapine and 234 (33.7%) started efavirenz. The adjusted relative hazard of virologic failure for patients who started nevirapine, compared with those who started efavirenz, was 2.08 (95% confidence interval, 1.37-3.15; P=.0006). In addition, patients receiving efavirenz tended to recover 5 CD4 cells/microL more per quarter (P=.05). Although comparisons of drug efficacy in nonrandomized studies should be viewed with caution, no results from randomized controlled comparisons of these drugs are thought to be available. The findings of this study are in agreement with those of other observational studies.
Comparison of Topical Itraconazole 1% With Topical Natamycin 5% for the Treatment of Filamentous Fungal Keratitis

Purpose: To compare the clinical efficacy of itraconazole 1% eyedrops with a standard therapy regimen (natamycin 5% eyedrops) for topical monotherapy of fungal keratitis. Methods: Patients presenting with suspected uniocular microbial keratitis over a period of 12 months (January to December 2002) underwent detailed clinical examination and microbiological investigation. One hundred consecutive patients with direct smear- and/or culture-proven fungal keratitis were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent. The ulcers were categorized as severe or nonsevere. The first 50 consecutive patients received primary therapy with topical natamycin hourly, and the next 50 consecutive patients received topical itraconazole hourly. The primary efficacy criteria were the physician's judgment of clinical success, cure rate, and the rate of treatment failure. Results: The diagnosis of fungal keratitis was established by positive microscopy and culture findings in 88 patients and by positive microscopy alone in 12 patients. Species of Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Curvularia were the principal isolates. Thirty-six (72%) of 50 patients (28 of 37 with nonsevere keratitis and 8 of 13 with severe keratitis) showed a favorable response to primary natamycin therapy (mean duration, 20.5 days), while 30 (60%) of 150 patients (25 of 38 with nonsevere keratitis and 5 of 12 with severe keratitis) exhibited a favorable response to primary itraconazole therapy (mean duration, 23.1 days). In keratitis due to Fusarium spp, 19 (79%) of 24 patients showed a favorable response to natamycin, which was significantly greater than the 8 (44%) of 18 patients who showed a favorable response to itraconazole (P < 0.02). However, no such difference was evident in keratitis due to Aspergillus spp or Curvularia spp; in keratitis due to Aspergillus spp, favorable responses were noted in 6 (54.5%) of 11 patients receiving natamycin and 5 (50%) of 10 patients receiving itraconazole, while in keratitis due to Curvurlaria spp, such responses occurred in both patients receiving natamycin and in 8 (89%) of 9 patients receiving itraconazole. Both antifungal formulations were generally well tolerated with no obvious adverse effects. Conclusions: Topical natamycin should continue to be considered as the treatment of choice for filamentous fungal keratitis; when natamycin is unavailable, topical itraconazole therapy could be used, particularly if the infections are due to Aspergillus or Curvularia spp.
Selective effects of interference on implicit and explicit memory

On standard memory tests, such as recall and recognition, subjects are required to recollect where, when, and under what specific circumstances a target item was acquired; on priming tests, such as word completion and word identification, no reference is made to the specific circumstances accompanying an item's acquisition. We have used the labels explicit and implicit to describe the forms of memory that are indexed by these two types of tests. Recent research has shown performance dissociations between explicit and implicit memory for newly acquired associations. To learn more about the nature of these dissociations, the present study examined the etfects of an AB, AC interference manipulation on explicit and implicit memory for pairs of normatively unrelated words. Interference affected explicit memory, as indexed by performance on cued recall, pair matching, and modified modified free-recall tests, but did not affect implicit memory, as indexed by performance on a word-completion test. This pattern of results complements previous findings of performance dissociations between explicit and implicit memory for new associations. Standard memory tests, such as free recall, cued recall, and recognition, explicitly require subjects to retrieve items that were studied in a specific learning episode. In contrast, priming tests, such as word completion, word identification, and lexical decision, do not require subjects to retrieve items from a specific episode. In view of this difference in requirements, it has been suggested that the retrieval of a recently studied item on a standard memory test, and the retrieval of the same item on a priming test, reflect distinct forms of memory. For descriptive purposes, we have labeled these explicit and implicit memory, respectively (cf. Graf & Schacter, 1985). Explicit memory is revealed by intentional recollection from a specific previous episode, whereas implicit memory is revealed when performance on a task is facilitated without deliberate recollection from a specific learning episode.
Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus–infected Immature Metaplastic Cells and Cervical Neoplasia

Persistent cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection results in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2/3) and cervical carcinoma. The susceptibility of the cervix to HPV carcinogenesis and the importance of HPV18 in cervical carcinoma despite relative infrequency in CIN2/3 could be linked to HR-HPV infection of immature metaplasia (IM) at the squamocolumnar junction. Atypical IM (AIM) is an equivocal category used to describe changes in IM suggestive of high-grade neoplasia, which causes diagnostic and management problems. We used laser capture microscopy combined with polymerase chain reaction in 24 women with HPV18, HPV16, or other HPV infections on cytologic analysis and a cervical loop electrosurgical excision procedure to locate HR-HPV in cervical tissue. HPV18-positive AIM and CIN2/3 were present in 7/12 cases with HPV18 on cytologic analysis. In 2 cases with HPV18 and other HPV types, HPV18 was only present in AIM and not in CIN2/3. HPV16-positive AIM was present in 3/7 and HPV16-positive CIN2/3 in 5/7 cases with HPV16. No cases had HPV16 AIM without CIN2/3. Other HR-HPV-positive AIM and CIN2/3 cases were present, respectively, in 1/6 and 5/6 cases positive for HR-HPV types other than HPV16/18. In a subset, 94% HPV18 AIM regions showed CK17 and p16 positivity, and 41% were CK7 positive. CIN2/3 and AIM with other HR-HPVs showed similar patterns. AIM was a particular feature of HPV18 infection in women with CIN2/3. HR-HPV infection of CK7/17-positive AIM expressing p16 was particularly seen for HPV18 with and without classical CIN2/3 and should be regarded as a high-grade precancer.
Effects of low‐level laser therapy on proliferation and differentiation of murine bone marrow cells into osteoblasts and osteoclasts

Low‐Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been suggested to improve bone tissue healing. The cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in this effect are still unclear but bone cell proliferation and differentiation alteration have been proposed. The aim of the present study was to investigate, in vitro, the effect of LLLT on bone cell proliferation, osteoblastic and osteoclastic differentiation, both involved in bone remodeling and regeneration.