Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stereo-Vision-Aided Inertial Navigation

Das Wissen um Position und Lage spielt fur viele Anwendungen eine entscheidende Rolle. Diese Arbeit zeigt die enge Verknupfung von inertialer Navigation und optischen Informationen, um dieses Wissen zu gewinnen. Die vorgestellte Methode basiert auf rein passiven Messungen und ist unabhangig von externen Referenzen. Damit eignet sie sich fur die Navigation in unbekannten Umgebungen sowohl in Innen- als auch in Ausenbereichen. Ein Hauptaugenmerk liegt auf der Gewinnung von Bewegungsinformationen aus optischen Systemen. Unterstutzt durch inertiale Bewegungsdaten werden naturliche Merkmale einer Umgebung verfolgt, um daraus die Eigenbewegung einer Stereokamera abzuleiten, die dazu beitragt, die inertiale Sensordrift zu kompensieren. Die Nutzung der inertialen Messungen liefert eine signifikanten Beitrag zur Vermeidung von Fehlzuordnungen und zur Reduzierung von Rechenleistung. Die gemessene Erdbeschleunigung dient als vertikale Referenz, welche die Navigationslosung zusatzlich stabilisiert. Die inertiale Navigation, ein Koppelnavigationsverfahren, hat eine grose Bedeutung und ist Gegenstand vieler Forschungsarbeiten. Bei der Koppelnavigation wird aus der zuletzt bekannten Position sowie der gemessenen Geschwindigkeit und Zeit die aktuelle Position bestimmt. Zusatzliche langzeitstabile externe Messungen, wie z.B. GPS, erganzen die guten Kurzzeiteigenschaften der inertialen Navigation und begrenzen aufsummierte Fehler. Obwohl das Verfahren fur viele Anwendungen sehr gut funktioniert, zeigt es Schwachen, wenn die stutzende Messung fehlerhaft oder nicht verfugbar ist. Der Einsatz unabhangiger Systeme wie z.B. optischer Sensoren, Barometer oder Odometer stellt daher eine sinnvolle Erganzung dar. Zunachst stelle ich einen allgemeinen Ansatz fur ein Multisensor-System zur Positions- und Lagemessung vor. Hierbei beleuchte ich die gesamte Systemkette, beginnend mit der Auslegung der Hardware-Komponenten uber die Datenerfassung und die Kalibrierung bis zur Ableitung hoherwertiger Informationen aus fusionierten Sensordaten. Insbesondere die detaillierte Betrachtung moglicher Fehlerquellen liefert ein wichtigen Beitrag zum Systemverstandnis. Anhand einiger Navigationsaufgaben im Innen- und Ausenbereich stelle ich beispielhaft das Ergebnis einer Integration von optischen- und inertialen Messdaten dar.
Shape, F‐actin, and surface morphology changes during chemotactic peptide‐induced polarity in human neutrophils

Background: The exposure of human neutrophils to uniform concentrations of chemoattractants, such as N‐formyl peptides, induces morphological cell polarization. In this study we report the temporal sequence of changes in cell shape, F‐actin, and cell surface morphology during cellular polarization induced by N‐formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenyl‐alanine (fMLP) in human neutrophils in suspension.
In vivo effects of interferon beta-1a on immunosuppressive cytokines in multiple sclerosis

Recombinant interferon beta (IFNβ) benefits patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), but the mechanisms of action are unknown. We studied in vivo immunologic effects of IFNβ treatment and their relationship to clinical efficacy. Cytokines were measured in blood and CSF from MS patients participating in a placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial and an open-label phase intravenous (IV) tolerability study of IFNβ-1a. Additionally, immunologic studies were conducted in animals with proteolipid protein (PLP)-induced chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Single intramuscular (IM) injections of IFNβ-1a (6 MIU, 30 µg) were associated with significant in vivo upregulation of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-4 but not IFNγ mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Forty-eight hours after each IFNβ-1a injection, serum IL-10 levels increased and remained elevated for 1 week. IFNβ-1a recipients in the placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial showed significantly increased concentrations of CSF IL-10 after 2 years of treatment. This response correlated with a favorable therapeutic response. Exposure of PLP-reactive murine T-cell lines to IFNβ resulted in increased antigen-driven expression of IL-4 and IL-10 and reduced encephalitogenicity. IFNβ-1a injections induce systemic and intrathecal immunosuppressive cytokines. Myelin-specific T cells treated with IFNβ-1a demonstrate increased immunosuppressive cytokine expression and reduced encephalitogenicity. The relationship between increased CSF IL-10 and response to therapy suggests that induction of IL-10 is a mechanism underlying IFNβ-1a effects in MS patients.
Origins of minigene‐dependent growth inhibition in bacterial cells

The expression of very short open reading frames in Escherichia coli can lead to the inhibition of translation and an arrest in cell growth. Inhibition occurs because peptidyl‐tRNA hydrolase fails to recycle sufficiently rapidly peptidyl‐tRNA released from ribosomes at the stop signal in competition with normal termination, causing starvation for essential species of tRNA. Previous studies have shown that the last sense codon, the strength of the Shine–Dalgarno sequence and the nature and context of the stop codon affect the toxicity associated with mini‐gene expression. Here, several important parameters are studied as a function of the length of the mini‐gene coding sequence. The rate of peptidyl‐tRNA drop‐off catalysed by translation factors decreases dramatically for peptides longer than a hexamer. The probability that ribosomes recycle without dissociation of the mini‐gene mRNA varies strongly with the length of the coding sequence. The peptidyl‐tRNA hydrolase rap mutant, unlike the wild‐type enzyme, is highly sensitive to the length and sequence of the peptide. Together, these parameters explain the length dependence of mini‐gene toxicity.
Optimization and evaluation of the signal intensity change in multisection oxygen‐enhanced MR lung imaging

The behavior of the signal intensity in MRI of human lungs was investigated during inhalation of pure oxygen. Nine volunteers were examined, five using a breath‐hold and four using a non‐breath‐hold technique. Four coronal slices were acquired in each volunteer using an inversion recovery turbo spin‐echo sequence. The inversion time of the sequence was optimized for maximum contrast. Breathing of pure oxygen and room air was alternated in the volunteers. Breath‐hold and non‐breath‐hold cases were compared. Breathing pure oxygen lead to a statistically significant signal intensity increase (up to 18%) compared to breathing room air. In addition, T1 maps were acquired during breathing 100% oxygen and room air. Inhalation of pure oxygen reduced the mean T1 time of the lungs from 1280 (±85) msec to 1224 (±139) msec without breath‐hold and from 1219 (±176) to 1074 (±92) msec with breath‐hold. Therefore, an optimized sequence and measurement protocol provided significant signal intensity changes utilizing 100% oxygen. Magn Reson Med 43:860–866, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The strategic use of estradiol to enhance fertility and submission rates of progestin-based estrus synchronization programs in dairy herds.

Two experiments were performed to evaluate the efficacy of a progestin-based estrus synchronization program that incorporated the use of estradiol at the initiation of progestin treatment and at 48 h after progestin withdrawal (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, cyclic, lactating dairy cows (n = 112) were assigned to receive either 1 (1mg) or 2 (2mg) mg of estradiol benzoate via an i.m. injection on d -9 (d 0 = initiation of the breeding season). All cows received an intravaginal progesterone-releasing insert (IPI; CIDR-B) on d -9. On d -2, the IPI was withdrawn and all cows were administered 500 microg of cloprostenol sodium. Beginning on d 0, cows were bred by AI upon detection of estrus. Estrus was observed in similar proportions of cows in each treatment during the first 6 d of AI (90% across treatments), but the interval to estrus was shorter (P < .05) in 1mg (1.26 +/- .18 d) than in 2mg (1.77 +/- .18 d). Conception and pregnancy rates did not vary among treatments; however, cows in estrus on d 0 tended to be less fertile (P = .11) than those in estrus on d 1. In Exp. 2, 408 cyclic cows from three herds were assigned to receive either no synchrony treatment (Control, n = 214) or the treatments described in Exp. 1 (1mg, n = 100; 2mg, n = 94). Anestrous cows from all herds received an IPI from d -9 to -2 (n = 143; Anestrus). All cows in the 1mg, 2mg, and Anestrus groups, with the exception of those detected in estrus between d -1 and 0, also received 1 mg of estradiol benzoate on d 0. Greater than 90% of cows that received an IPI were in estrus between d -1 and 3, and 92.1% of cows in the Control group were in estrus by d 21. Conception rate to first service in 2mg (61.7%) was similar to Control (57.0%), tended to be higher (P = .06) than 1mg (49.0%), and was greater (P < .05) than Anestrus (39.9%). The mean day of conception was earlier (P < .05) in the 2mg (d 13.1 +/- 2.0) than the Control (d 23.2 +/- 1.6) and Anestrus (d 22.4 +/- 1.9) groups. Conception occurred earlier in 1mg (d 17.4 +/- 2.1) than in Control. The proportion of cows that were pregnant at the end of the breeding season tended (P = .09) to be greater in the 2mg and Anestrus groups. This regimen of estrus synchronization improved reproductive competence in cyclic cows and resulted in similar reproductive performance in anestrous cows and untreated cyclic cows inseminated at a spontaneous estrus.
Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a mouse phospholipase C-delta1.

We describe here the molecular cloning and expression analysis of mouse PLC-delta1 (mPLC-delta1), a key enzyme in cell signal transduction. A mouse brain cDNA library was screened in order to isolate the mPLC-delta1 cDNA. The mPLC-delta1 cDNA was 2660 bp in length. The predicted open reading frame encodes a protein of 756 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 85 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 96.9% and 92.7% identity with the sequence of rat and human PLC-delta1, respectively. The mPLC-delta1 mRNA was highly expressed in brain, heart, lung, and testis. We found that transcripts of mPLC-delta1 are present in almost all regions of mouse brain examined, implying that the enzyme may play a role in some fundamental cellular process in brain. In male reproductive tract, mPLC-delta1 mRNA was widely expressed in the epididymis as well as in the testis. In situ hybridization studies indicate that distribution of mPLC-delta1 mRNA in mouse testis is discrete and unique. The expression of mPLC-delta1 mRNA was defined in the periphery of each seminiferous tubule, especially in spermatogonia, which might imply that mPLC-delta1 plays a role in proliferation of spermatogonia. To the best our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the high expression of mPLC-delta1 mRNA in spermatogonia of testis. Taken together, these results suggest that mPLC-delta1 may carry out fundamental roles in almost all of mouse tissues, especially in brain and specific roles in testis.
Behavior modeling procedure of wideband RF transmitters exhibiting memory effects

This paper proposes a new identification technique of Wiener or Hammerstein models applied to model the behavior of wideband RF transmitters. A dynamic exponential weighted moving average (DEWMA) algorithm was firstly applied to the raw signals sampled at the transmitter input and output to deduce the static AM/AM and AM/PM curves that are attributed to the memoryless nonlinear behavior. These memoryless curves were then utilized to deduce an intermediate set of data used in the identification of the dynamic linear sub-model. To model the frequency response and/or the memory effects, a finite impulse response (FIR) filter topology could be employed. The validation of the modeling approach was carried out using a 60-Watt GaAs FET push pull amplifier operating between 1930 MHz to 1990 MHz, which was applied by a two-carrier WCDMA.
Diagnostic ultrasound: a primary care-led service?

BACKGROUND A training programme has been proposed for general practitioners (GPs) to perform ultrasound in primary care. This has generated considerable concern among radiologists as to the adequacy and appropriateness of such training. AIM To assess the current provision of ultrasound services to primary care in the former Northern health region of England, the level of interest among GPs in undertaking recommended training, and the willingness or ability of radiology departments to provide it. METHOD Postal questionnaires were sent to GPs (n = 334), their practice managers (n = 281) and all clinical directors/heads of radiology departments (n = 19) in the region. RESULTS Altogether, 67% of GPs, 59% of practice managers, and 68% of radiologists returned questionnaires. Overall, 48% of GPs have open access to obstetric/gynaecological ultrasound compared with 77% for general diagnostic requests. A total of 73% of GPs would prefer an open access service and 15% a practice-based service. Some 48% of GPs were not interested, 36% moderately interested, and 16% very interested in participating in the training programme. Only two out of 13 radiology, departments were willing to provide such training. CONCLUSION Despite recommendations from the Royal College of General Practitioners, around half the respondents in this survey do not have direct access to ultrasound for obstetric referrals, and a quarter for non-obstetric referrals. Interest shown by GPs in a primary care-led service is not mirrored by their radiology colleagues. Open access to ultrasound was considered the optimum service, suggesting that resources be targeted at improving hospital services rather than transferring facilities to primary care.
Adverse Reactions to Cotrimoxazole in HIV-infected Patients: Predictive Factors and Subsequent HIV Disease Progression

The relationship between the onset of adverse events to cotrimoxazole in HIV-infected patients and the subsequent development of toxoplasmosis, other AIDS-defining events and survival was studied in 592 French patients who first received cotrimoxazole during the Delta trial. Low CD4 + cell count at cotrimoxazole introduction was the only factor associated with the onset of adverse reactions. The occurrence of toxoplasmosis and first AIDS-defining events were significantly and independently linked to a low CD4 + cell count at cotrimoxazole introduction (p < 0.0001) and to previous cotrimoxazole withdrawal for adverse events (p = 0.004 and p < 0.0001, respectively), but not to previous cotrimoxazole withdrawal for reasons other than adverse events, as compared to patients who did not discontinue taking cotrimoxazole during this survey. The survival rate was significantly shorter among both patients who stopped taking cotrimoxazole for adverse events and for other reasons (p =0.03 and p =0.0001, respectively), as compared to patients who continued to take cotrimoxazole.
Just in Time—Dreamless Sleep Experience as Pure Subjective Temporality

In this commentary, I propose a strategy for extending Evan Thompson’s argument on the existence of dreamless sleep experience. My first aim is to show that the Indian debate on reports of having slept peacefully is importantly similar to debates in scientific dream research and contemporary Western philosophy on the trustworthiness of dream reports. This analogy leads to a surprising conclusion: the default view of conscious experience as that which disappears in dreamless sleep, though widely accepted in cognitive neuroscience, is in fact inconsistent with the methodological background assumptions of scientific dream research. Importantly, the methods already used in scientific dream research, as well as the theoretical justification on which they are based, can be extended to the investigation of dreamless sleep experience. Second, I sketch the outlines of a conceptual model of dreamless sleep experience as involving pure subjective temporality, or phenomenal experience characterized only by the phenomenal now and the sense of duration, but devoid of any further intentional content. I suggest that understood in this manner, dreamless sleep experience is a candidate for minimal phenomenal experience, or the simplest form in which a state can be phenomenally conscious. This model also extends existing work on minimal phenomenal selfhood in dreams. Third, I discuss three empirical examples that I take to be particularly promising candidates of dreamless sleep experience. These are certain forms of minimal or imageless lucid dreams, white dreams, and sleep-state misperception of the type most dramatically seen in subjective insomnia.
Whole Blood Reveals More Metabolic Detail of the Human Metabolome than Serum as Measured by 1H-NMR Spectroscopy: Implications for Sepsis Metabolomics

ABSTRACT Serum is a common sample of convenience for metabolomics studies. Its processing time can be lengthy and may result in the loss of metabolites including those of red blood cells (RBCs). Unlike serum, whole blood (WB) is quickly processed, minimizing the influence of variable hemolysis while including RBC metabolites. To determine differences between serum and WB metabolomes, both sample types, collected from healthy volunteers, were assayed by 1H-NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy. A total of 34 and 50 aqueous metabolites were quantified from serum and WB, respectively. Free hemoglobin (Hgb) levels in serum were measured, and the correlation between Hgb and metabolite concentrations was determined. Most metabolites detected in serum were at higher concentrations in WB with the exception of acetoacetate and propylene glycol. The 18 unique metabolites of WB included adenosine, AMP, ADP, and ATP, which are associated with RBC metabolism. The use of serum results in the underrepresentation of a number of metabolic pathways including branched-chain amino acid degradation and glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. The range of free Hgb in serum was 0.03 to 0.01 g/dL, and eight metabolites were associated (P ⩽ 0.05) with free Hgb. The range of free Hgb in serum samples from 18 sepsis patients was 0.02 to 0.46 g/dL. Whole blood and serum have unique aqueous metabolite profiles, but the use of serum may introduce potential pathway bias. Use of WB for metabolomics may be particularly important for studies in diseases such as sepsis in which RBC metabolism is altered, and mechanical and sepsis-induced hemolysis contributes to variance in the metabolome.
Barriers and Promoters to Participation in the Era of Shared Treatment Decision-Making

This study aimed to identify the barriers and promoters for participation in cancer treatment decision in the era of shared decision-making (SDM) process. A qualitative design was utilized. Nineteen nurses and 11 nurse practitioners from oncology inpatient and outpatient settings participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. The findings include practice barrier, patient barrier, institutional policy barrier, professional barrier, scope of practice barrier, insurance coverage barrier, and administrative barrier. Multidisciplinary team approach, having a nursing voice during SDM, high level of knowledge of the disease and treatment, and personal valuation of SDM participation were perceived as promoters. Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners face many barriers to their participation during SDM. Organizational support and system-wide culture of SDM are essential to achieve better cancer treatment decisions outcome. Additional studies are needed to determine the factors that can promote more participation among nurses and nurse practitioners.
Impact of the treating institution on survival of patients with "poor-prognosis" metastatic nonseminoma. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Collaborative Group and the Medical Research Council Testicular Cancer Working Party.

BACKGROUND Because metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell cancer is a rare but treatable cancer, we have explored whether there is an association between the experience of the treating institution with this disease and the long-term clinical outcome of the patients, particularly patients with a poor prognosis. METHODS We analyzed data on 380 patients treated in one of 49 institutions participating in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/ Medical Research Council randomized trial of four cycles of bleomycin-etoposide-cisplatin followed by two cycles of etoposide-cisplatin versus three cycles of bleomycin-vincristine-cisplatin followed by three cycles of etoposide-ifosfamide-cisplatin-bleomycin, both treatment regimens given with or without filgrastim (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor). Institutions were divided into four groups based on the total number of patients entered in the trial. The groups were compared by use of the Cox proportional hazards model stratified for treatment with filgrastim and for patient prognosis as defined by the International Germ Cell Consensus Classification Group. With the use of this classification, only 65 % of the patients had a poor prognosis. RESULTS Patients treated in the 26 institutions that entered fewer than five patients into the trial had an overall survival that was statistically significantly worse (two-sided P = .010; hazard ratio = 1.85; 95% confidence interval = 1.16-3.03) than that of patients treated in the 23 institutions that entered five patients or more. Overall survival and failure-free survival were similar among institutions that entered at least five patients. The observed effect may be related to differences in adherence to the chemotherapy protocol and in the frequency and extent of surgery for residual masses, although only the differences in dose intensity achieved statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS Patients treated in institutions that entered fewer than five patients into the trial appeared to have poorer survival than those treated in institutions that entered a larger number of patients with "poor-prognosis" nonseminoma.
Alcohol consumption patterns among American Indian and white college students.

College students in Oklahoma completed a self-administered questionnaire to compare the drinking behaviors of culturally active American Indians (N = 34 men and 24 women) an Whites (N = 181 men and 250 women). Significantly more Indians were classified as drinkers, but they had begun drinking at a somewhat later age. Both groups indicated a preference for beer, and they were quite similar in quantity and frequency of beer consumption. White students reported drinking significantly more wine and distilled spirits, and drinking more often in public places, such as bars, pubs, restaurants and parked cars; Indians drank more in their own homes and in the homes of friends. White students tended to cite hedonistic reasons for drinking whereas Indians reported escapist or social reasons and drinking to "get high. " Drinking-related problems were reported somewhat more often by Indian students, notably so by Indian women. Indians were more inclined to report the more serious drinking problems of being arrested, blacking out, interference with school or work, an difficulties in human relationships. White students more often cited problems of nausea or vomiting, drinking and driving, doing something that was later regretted and damaging property. It was suggested that the higher Indian arrest rate could be indicative of police bias and that the reports of problem drinking among Indian women be investigated further.