Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimum architecture design of platform manipulators

The kinetostatic accuracy of a manipulator depends not only on its configuration but also on its architecture. The focus of this paper is on the study of the relation between the aforementioned accuracy and the architecture of platform manipulators. It has been shown that some architectures can cause the associated Jacobian matrix to be either singular or very ill-conditioned in some regions of the workspace. These singular or ill-conditioned architectures can never be used in practice and hence, must be eliminated at the design stage. This is done using a design optimization approach. A design example is included to illustrate this approach. <<ETX>>
Two Basic Residues of the h-VPAC1 Receptor Second Transmembrane Helix Are Essential for Ligand Binding and Signal Transduction*

We mutated the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) Asp3 residue and two VPAC1receptor second transmembrane helix basic residues (Arg188and Lys195). VIP had a lower affinity for R188Q, R188L, K195Q, and K195I VPAC1 receptors than for VPAC1 receptors. [Asn3] VIP and [Gln3] VIP had lower affinities than VIP for VPAC1 receptors but higher affinities for the mutant receptors; the two basic amino acids facilitated the introduction of the negatively charged aspartate inside the transmembrane domain. The resulting interaction was necessary for receptor activation. 1/[Asn3] VIP and [Gln3] VIP were partial agonists at VPAC1 receptors; 2/VIP did not fully activate the K195Q, K195I, R188Q, and R188L VPAC1 receptors; a VIP analogue ([Arg16] VIP) was more efficient than VIP at the four mutated receptors; and [Asn3] VIP and [Gln3] VIP were more efficient than VIP at the R188Q and R188L VPAC1 receptors; 3/the [Asp3] negative charge did not contribute to the recognition of the VIP1antagonist, [AcHis1,D-Phe2,Lys15,Arg16,Leu27] VIP (1-7)/growth hormone releasing factor (8–27). This is the first demonstration that, to activate the VPAC1 receptor, the Asp3 side chain of VIP must penetrate within the transmembrane domain, in close proximity to two highly conserved basic amino acids from transmembrane 2.
Expression of Transporter Associated With Antigen Processing–1 in the Endocrine Cells of Human Pancreatic Islets: Effect of Cytokines and Evidence of Hyperexpression in IDDM

A possible role of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)-l in the pathogenesis of IDDM has been investigated by examining the level of TAP-1 expression in the islets of IDDM pancreas and by studying in vitro the effect of interferon (IFN)-γ, IFN-α, and tumor necrosis factor-α in TAP-1 expression by cultured islet cells. A remarkable hyperexpression of TAP-1 has been found in the endocrine cells (β and non-β) of IDDM islets, which constitutes first evidence of hyperexpression of this molecule in the target organ of an autoimmune disease. TAP-1 hyperexpression correlated clearly with HLA class I hyperexpression but only very partially with HLA class II ectopic expression. IFN-γ and IFN-α, both cytokines putatively implicated in IDDM pathogenesis, were capable of inducing TAP-1 protein (as assessed by immunofluorescence flow cytometry) and message (by Northern blot analysis and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction). These findings suggest that under the influence of cytokines (most probably IFN-α) β-cells may express in their surface a high density of HLA class I–peptide complexes that may facilitate their recognition and lysis by low-affinity CD8+ T-cells.
Functional Significance and Cortisol Dependence of the Gross Morphology of Ovine Placentomes During Late Gestation1

Abstract The gross morphological appearance of ovine placentomes is known to alter in response to adverse intrauterine conditions that increase fetal cortisol exposure. The direct effects of fetal cortisol on the placentome morphology, however, remain unknown, nor is the functional significance of the different placentome types clear. The present study investigated the gross morphology of ovine placentomes in relation to placental nutrient delivery to sheep fetuses during late gestation and after experimental manipulation of the fetal cortisol concentration. As fetal cortisol levels rose naturally toward term, a significant decrease was observed in the proportion of the D-type placentomes that had the hemophagous zone everted over the bulk of the placentomal tissue. When the prepartum cortisol surge was prevented by fetal adrenalectomy, there were proportionately more everted C- and D-type placentomes and fewer A-type placentomes with the hemophagous zone inverted into the placentome compared with those of intact fetuses at term. Raising cortisol concentrations by infusion before term reduced the incidence of D-type placentomes and lowered the proportion of individually tagged placentomes that became more everted during the 10- to 15-day period between tagging and delivery. Cortisol, therefore, appears to prevent hemophagous zone eversion in ovine placentomes during late gestation. The distribution of placentome types appeared to have no effect on the net rates of placental delivery of glucose and oxygen to the fetus under normal conditions. When fetal cortisol levels were raised by exogenous infusion, however, placental delivery of glucose, but not oxygen, to the fetus, measured as umbilical uptake, was reduced to a greater extent in fetuses with a higher proportion of C- and D-type placentomes. The gross morphology of the ovine placentomes is, therefore, determined, at least in part, by the fetal cortisol concentration and may influence placental nutrient transfer when fetal cortisol concentrations are high during late gestation. These findings have important implications for the placental control of fetal growth and development, particularly during adverse intrauterine conditions.
Correspondence Among Observer Ratings of Rorschach, Big Five Model, and DSM-IV Personality Disorder Constructs

Observer ratings were collected using instruments designed to measure the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) personality disorders (Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+ [PDQ-4+]; Hyler, 1994), the Big Five model (B5M; Goldberg's [1999] International Personality Item Pool), and Rorschach-derived constructs. For the latter, we revised the Rorschach Rating Scale (Meyer, Bates, & Gacono, 1999) to lower its reading level and renamed it the Rorschach Construct Scale (RCS) to emphasize its reliance on rated constructs. The RCS consists of 6 factors. Joint factor analysis of RCS, PDQ-4+, and B5M items also resulted in 6 factors: Self-Centeredly Exploitative, Poor Ego Resiliency, Extraversion, Task Conscientiousness, Openness to Ideas, and Emotional and Expressive Constriction. The first 2 factors received high loadings from RCS, PDQ-4+, and B5M variables. The sixth factor received high loadings from just RCS variables.
Changes in mitral annular geometry after aortic valve replacement: a three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Intraoperative real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (RT-3D TEE) was used to examine the geometric changes that occur in the mitral annulus immediately after aortic valve replacement (AVR). METHODS A total of 35 patients undergoing elective surgical AVR under cardiopulmonary bypass was enrolled in the study. Intraoperative RT-3D TEE was used prospectively to acquire volumetric echocardiographic datasets immediately before and after AVR. The 3D echocardiographic data were analyzed offline using TomTec Mitral Valve Assessment software to assess changes in specific mitral annular geometric parameters. RESULTS Datasets were successfully acquired and analyzed for all patients. A significant reduction was noted in the mitral annular area (-16.3%, p < 0.001), circumference (-8.9%, p < 0.001) and the anteroposterior (-6.3%, p = 0.019) and anterolateral-posteromedial (-10.5%, p < 0.001) diameters. A greater reduction was noted in the anterior annulus length compared to the posterior annulus length (10.5% versus 6.2%, p < 0.05) after AVR. No significant change was seen in the non-planarity angle, coaptation depth, and closure line length. During the period of data acquisition before and after AVR, no significant change was noted in the central venous pressure or left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. CONCLUSION The mitral annulus undergoes significant geometric changes immediately after AVR. Notably, a 16.3% reduction was observed in the mitral annular area. The anterior annulus underwent a greater reduction in length compared to the posterior annulus, which suggested the existence of a mechanical compression by the prosthetic valve.
Supplemental Material: Hierarchical Kinematic Human Mesh Recovery

– Encoder: We use the standard ResNet50, giving a 2048-dimensional feature vector. – Chains Qc: Each Qc is implemented with a set of fully connected layers. The ψ embedding module Ec comprises two fully connected units (with ReLU activations and dropout in training) with 32-dimensional outputs each. The input dimensionality of Ec varies according to the chain. This is 2070 for the root chain, 2085 for the arm chains, 2082 for the leg chains, and 2076 for the head chain. Finally, each ∆θi is realized with one single fully connected layer with a 3-dimensional output. – Number of inner iterations: 4 (so 2 forward-backward cycles). – Number of outer iterations T = 3. – Shape estimating neural network: Three fully connected units (with ReLU activations and dropout during training) with output units of 512, 128, and 10 respectively. – Camera estimating neural network: Three fully connected units (with ReLU activations and dropout during training) with output units of 512, 128, and 3 respectively. – VAE encoder: Input dimensionality of 69 (23 joint pose parameters); two fully connected units (with Leaky ReLU activation, batch normalization, and dropout in training) with output units of 512 and 32 each, so the latent space dimensionality is 32. – VAE decoder: Input dimensionality of 32 (latent space vector); two fully connected units (with Leaky ReLU activation, batch normalization, and dropout in training) with output units of 512 and 69 each, so the output dimensionality is 69. – HKMR training parameters. We set the loss weights λsmpl = 1, λ2D = 1, λ3D = 1, and λKL = 0.001. We use a batch size of 128, a learning rate of 3e − 4 and the Adam optimizer in training. In each batch, half of the
Overview and Recommendations for Medical Screening and Diagnostic Evaluation for Postdeployment Lung Disease in Returning US Warfighters

Objective: To review inhalational exposures and respiratory disease risks in US military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and to develop consensus recommendations for medical screening and diagnostic referral. Methods: A Working Group of physicians and exposure scientists from academia and from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs was convened in February 2010. Results: Despite uncertainty about the number of people affected and risk factors for adverse pulmonary outcomes in this occupational setting, the Working Group recommended: (1) standardized approaches to pre- and postdeployment medical surveillance; (2) criteria for medical referral and diagnosis; and (3) case definitions for major deployment-related lung diseases. Conclusions: There is a need for targeted, practical medical surveillance for lung diseases and for a standardized diagnostic approach for all symptomatic deployed personnel.
Consumer Learning and Brand Equity

A series of experiments illustrates a learning process that enhances brand equity at the expense of quality-determining attributes. When the relationship between brand name and product quality is learned prior to the relationship between product attributes and quality, inhibition of the latter may occur. The phenomenon is shown to be robust, but its influence appears sensitive to contextual variations in the learning environment. Tests of process are inconsistent with attentional explanations and popular models of causal reasoning, but they are supportive of associative learning models that portray learners as inherently forward looking. Copyright 2000 by the University of Chicago.
Cut Throat Injuries—A Retrospective Study at a Tertiary Referral Hospital

Objective: To analyze the socio demographic pattern, sex and age ratio, common causes, the most common site and extent of the injury in the patients with cut throat injury at our hospital. To compare the same with previous similar studies conducted at other centers in different parts of the world. Setting: Department of ENT, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, India from January 2013 to June 2014. Methods: A total of 51 cases of cut throat injury were included in the study. Separate proforma was prepared to collect the patients’ data. Structured questionnaire was offered. Results: 51 cases of cut throat injury patients were included in the study. Age varied from 4 years to 80 years. Out of 51 cases, there were 43 males, 7 females and one male child. Male to female ratio was 6.2:1. All the patients were belonging to lower socioeconomic status (Kuppusamy class 5). Amongst them 26 cases (50.98%) were due to homicidal attack; 13 cases (25.49%) due to suicidal attempt; 7 cases (13.72%) due to road traffic accident; 4 cases (7.84%) due to bull gore injury; 1 case (1.96%) due to accidental fall. Emergency tracheostomy was done in 16 cases (33.33%). An average hospital stay for most of the patients was less than 3 weeks. 2 victims (3.92%) died due to haemorhage, aspiration pnuemonia and septicemia. Conclusions: Our study found that the majority of the victims were males of age between 20 years to 40 years from poor socioeconomic status. Social commitment and political motivation, decrease in the poverty, individual awareness, increase in economic growth, and literacy rate will prevent the cut throat injuries. Early and improved management will reduce the mortality and morbidity.
Effect of a Low-Dose Contraceptive Patch on Efficacy, Bleeding Pattern, and Safety

This Phase III, uncontrolled, open-label, multicenter study was conducted to investigate the contraceptive efficacy, bleeding pattern, and cycle control of a novel once-a-week contraceptive patch, delivering low-dose ethinyl estradiol (EE) and gestodene (GSD) at the same systemic exposure seen after oral administration of a combined oral contraceptive containing 0.02 mg EE/0.06 mg GSD. Participants were women aged 18 to 35 years, all of whom received the EE/GSD patch for 13 cycles each of 21 treatment days (one patch per week for 3 weeks) followed by a 7-day, patch-free interval. The primary efficacy variable was the occurrence of unintended pregnancies during the study period as assessed by life table analysis and the Pearl Index. Secondary efficacy variables were days with bleeding during four 90-day reference periods and during 1 treatment year, bleeding pattern, and cycle control. The Kaplan-Meier probability of contraceptive protection after 364 treatment days was 98.8% and the adjusted Pearl Index was 0.81. The percentage of participants with intracyclic bleeding/spotting decreased over time, from 11.4% to 6.8% in cycles 1 and 12, respectively. Almost all participants (range: 90.8%-97.6%) experienced withdrawal bleeding across the study period. Compliance was very high (mean: 97.9%; median: 100%). The most frequent adverse events were headache (9.5%) and application site reaction (8.5%); no clinically significant safety concerns were observed. Results suggest the EE/GSD patch is highly effective in preventing pregnancy. Menstrual bleeding pattern was favorable and within the ranges expected of a healthy female population. The patch was well tolerated and treatment compliance was high.
Effect of intermittent pneumatic soft-tissue compression on fracture-healing in an animal model.

BACKGROUND The fracture-healing process is closely related to blood supply. Intermittent pneumatic compression of the surrounding soft tissue may alter blood flow and, therefore, modify the healing process. The object of the present study was to evaluate the effect of intermittent pneumatic compression on fracture-healing in an animal model. METHODS Unilateral, transverse, mid-tibial osteotomies with a 3-mm gap were performed in thirty rabbits. The osteotomy site was stabilized with a double-bar external fixator. The femoral vein was ligated to induce venous stasis. Beginning on the fourth postoperative day, fifteen rabbits were treated with intermittent pneumatic compression with use of four rubber balloons, two around the distal part of the calf and two around the midpart of the calf, for one hour daily for four weeks (the study group) and fifteen rabbits were not treated with intermittent pneumatic compression (the control group). Peripheral computerized tomographic examination was performed biweekly to measure callus area and mineral content at the fracture gap. At eight weeks, the rabbits were killed, and the biomechanical properties of the healing fractures were evaluated with a torsional test. RESULTS An increase in callus area and mineral content at the osteotomy gap was observed in the study group, compared with the values in the control group, starting four weeks after the index procedure. At six weeks, the rabbits treated with intermittent pneumatic compression exhibited, on the average, a 32.2% larger callus area (p = 0.035) and a 49.7% higher mineral content (p = 0.01) at the osteotomy site compared with the values in the control group. The torsional stiffness, maximum torque, angular displacement at maximum torque, and energy required to failure of specimens in the study group were an average of 27.0% (p = 0.05), 61.5% (p = 0.0001), 35.4% (p = 0.0003), and 110.8% (p = 0.0001) higher, respectively, than those in the control group at eight weeks. CONCLUSIONS Intermittent pneumatic compression enhanced callus mineralization and development and it improved the biomechanical properties of a healing osteotomy site in the rabbit tibia.
Studies on genetic variability among yield attributing traits of fenugreek genotypes

The present study was conducted at Horticultural Complex, Vegetable Research Farm, Maharajpur, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Jabalpur (M.P.) during Rabi season 2016-17. The investigations revealed that the presence of considerable amount of genetic variability and mean values for all the characters have showed wide range of variability for all the morphological, phenological and qualitative traits studied. The values of phenotypic variance and phenotypic coefficient of variance were of higher magnitude than that of genotypic variance and genotypic coefficient of variance. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation was high for the characters seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant, number of branches at 90 DAS, test weight, number of leaves per plant at 30 DAS, number of branches at 60 DAS. High heritability was observed for number of leaves at 90 DAS, number of leaves at 30 DAS, number of pods per plant, shelling % and length of pods, plant height at 90 DAS, seed yield per plot and seed yield per hectare, number of branches per plant at 90 DAS, plant height at 60 DAS and plant height at 30 DAS. High estimates of GA as per cent of mean was recorded for seed yield per plant, number of pods per plant, test weight, number of leaves at 30 DAS, number of branches per plant at 90 DAS, number of leaves at 90 DAS, number of leaves at 60 DAS, and number of branches per plant at 60 DAS. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for traits like test weight, seed yield per plant, number of leaves at 30 DAS, number of pods per plant, number of leaves per plant at 30, 60, and 90 DAS.
Generalized Memory Element and Chaotic Memory System

The concept of memory element or memory system is generalized to any device or system with memory effect in this paper. With the general definition of memory element, a new memory element model is proposed and its properties are studied. Based on the memory element, a simple chaotic memory system is constructed and its complex dynamics is depicted. These results verified by circuit experimental observations and PSIM simulations indicate that the proposed memory element has a pinched hysteresis loop characteristics for a periodic input, which depends on the initial state of memory element, and the amplitude and frequency of the applied input; the proposed chaotic memory system presents complex dynamics depending on system parameters and the initial state of memory element.
Proteinuria After Kidney Transplantation, Relationship to Allograft Histology and Survival

Proteinuria is associated with reduced kidney allograft survival. Herein we assessed the association between proteinuria, graft histology and survival. The cohort included 613 kidney allograft recipients who had proteinuria (measured) and surveillance biopsies at 1‐year posttransplant. Proteinuria >150 mg/day was detected in 276 patients (45%) and in 182 of these, proteinuria was below 500. In >84% of patients even low levels of proteinuria were associated with albuminuria. Proteinuria was associated with the presence of graft glomerular pathology and the use of sirolimus. Eighty percent of patients with proteinuria >1500 mg/day had glomerular pathology on biopsy. However, lower levels of proteinuria were not associated with specific pathologies at 1 year. Compared to no sirolimus, sirolimus use was associated with higher prevalence of proteinuria (40% vs. 76%, p < 0.0001) and higher protein excretion (378 + 997 vs. 955 + 1986 mg/day, p < 0.0001). Proteinuria was associated with reduced graft survival (HR = 1.40, p = 0.001) independent of other risk factors including, glomerular pathology, graft function, recipient age and acute rejection. The predominant pathology in lost allografts (n = 57) was glomerular, particularly in patients with 1‐year proteinuria >500. Thus, proteinuria, usually at low levels (<500 mg/day), is present in 45% of recipients at 1 year. However, and even low levels of proteinuria relate to poor graft survival. Proteinuria and glomerular pathology relate independently to survival.
Factors associated with perceived sleep quality of nurses working on rotating shifts.

AIMS To explore nurses' perceived sleep quality and examine factors that contribute to insufficient sleep quality. BACKGROUND Shift work is an important source of disturbances in the health and well-being of nurses. However, nursing services must be available on a 24-hour basis, making shift work a necessity. Sleep disorders tend to occur among nurses typically working on a rotating schedule. Although many studies related to nurses' sleep quality have been carried out in the West, few have investigated factors linked to nurses' sleep quality in Hong Kong. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. METHOD The study was conducted during the period November 2005-June 2006 in two local hospitals in Hong Kong. Nurses (n = 163) completed a self-reported questionnaire. Demographic data and information on health status, strain and symptom levels and perceived sleep quality were collected. RESULTS More than 70% of the nurses reported having insufficient sleep and strain and symptom levels were higher in this group. Older age, perceived poor sleep status, gastrointestinal symptoms and higher strain and symptom levels were risk factors that contributed to insufficient sleep. CONCLUSIONS Evaluation of internal stressors and modification of shift work schedules are important areas of future research; these should aim at finding the best compromise between productivity and employees' sleep quality, health and performance. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Healthcare workers' job task analysis, the evaluation of internal stressors and the modification of shift work schedules are important areas of future research and should result in the best compromise between productivity and employees' sleep quality, health and performance.