Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence for the Flexible Sensorimotor Strategies Predicted by Optimal Feedback Control

Everyday movements pursue diverse and often conflicting mixtures of task goals, requiring sensorimotor strategies customized for the task at hand. Such customization is mostly ignored by traditional theories emphasizing movement geometry and servo control. In contrast, the relationship between the task and the strategy most suitable for accomplishing it lies at the core of our optimal feedback control theory of coordination. Here, we show that the predicted sensitivity to task goals affords natural explanations to a number of novel psychophysical findings. Our point of departure is the little-known fact that corrections for target perturbations introduced late in a reaching movement are incomplete. We show that this is not simply attributable to lack of time, in contradiction with alternative models and, somewhat paradoxically, in agreement with our model. Analysis of optimal feedback gains reveals that the effect is partly attributable to a previously unknown trade-off between stability and accuracy. This yields a testable prediction: if stability requirements are decreased, then accuracy should increase. We confirm the prediction experimentally in three-dimensional obstacle avoidance and interception tasks in which subjects hit a robotic target with programmable impedance. In additional agreement with the theory, we find that subjects do not rely on rigid control strategies but instead exploit every opportunity for increased performance. The modeling methodology needed to capture this extra flexibility is more general than the linear-quadratic methods we used previously. The results suggest that the remarkable flexibility of motor behavior arises from sensorimotor control laws optimized for composite cost functions.
Urinary Incontinence, Functional Status, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Medicare Beneficiaries Enrolled in the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and Dual Eligible Demonstration Special Needs Plans

The Health Outcomes Survey–Modified is a brief annual survey completed by enrollees in the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and selected special needs plans to collect functional status information used to adjust Medicare payments to these plans. We examined the relationship between urinary incontinence, functional limitations, and health-related quality of life among 16 387 respondents to the 2009 Health Outcomes Survey–Modified. Measures were the physical and mental components scores and self-rated general health derived from the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12). Urinary incontinence is prevalent among frail community-dwelling adults and has substantial impact on quality of life.
Combinatorics: The Rota Way

Written by two of Gian-Carlo Rota's former students, this book is based on notes from his courses and on personal discussions with him. Topics include sets and valuations, partially ordered sets, distributive lattices, partitions and entropy, matching theory, free matrices, doubly stochastic matrices, Moebius functions, chains and antichains, Sperner theory, commuting equivalence relations and linear lattices, modular and geometric lattices, valuation rings, generating functions, umbral calculus, symmetric functions, Baxter algebras, unimodality of sequences, and location of zeros of polynomials. Many exercises and research problems are included, and unexplored areas of possible research are discussed. This book should be on the shelf of all students and researchers in combinatorics and related areas.
Systematic Review of the Empirical Evidence of Study Publication Bias and Outcome Reporting Bias

Background The increased use of meta-analysis in systematic reviews of healthcare interventions has highlighted several types of bias that can arise during the completion of a randomised controlled trial. Study publication bias has been recognised as a potential threat to the validity of meta-analysis and can make the readily available evidence unreliable for decision making. Until recently, outcome reporting bias has received less attention. Methodology/Principal Findings We review and summarise the evidence from a series of cohort studies that have assessed study publication bias and outcome reporting bias in randomised controlled trials. Sixteen studies were eligible of which only two followed the cohort all the way through from protocol approval to information regarding publication of outcomes. Eleven of the studies investigated study publication bias and five investigated outcome reporting bias. Three studies have found that statistically significant outcomes had a higher odds of being fully reported compared to non-significant outcomes (range of odds ratios: 2.2 to 4.7). In comparing trial publications to protocols, we found that 40–62% of studies had at least one primary outcome that was changed, introduced, or omitted. We decided not to undertake meta-analysis due to the differences between studies. Conclusions Recent work provides direct empirical evidence for the existence of study publication bias and outcome reporting bias. There is strong evidence of an association between significant results and publication; studies that report positive or significant results are more likely to be published and outcomes that are statistically significant have higher odds of being fully reported. Publications have been found to be inconsistent with their protocols. Researchers need to be aware of the problems of both types of bias and efforts should be concentrated on improving the reporting of trials.
Pathogenesis of Congestive State in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Studies of Body Water and Sodium, Renal Function, Hemodynamics, and Plasma Hormones During Edema and After Recovery

BackgroundThe pathogenesis of salt and water accumulation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is unclear and may differ from that in patients with congestive heart failure due to myocardial disease. This study was undertaken to investigate some of the mechanisms involved. Methods and ResultsHemodynamics, water and electrolyte spaces, renal function, and plasma hormone concentrations were measured in nine patients with edema due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in six patients after recovery. Mean cardiac output (3.8±0.26 I/min·m2) was normal, but right atrial (11±1 mm Hg) and mean pulmonary arterial (41±3 mm Hg) pressures were increased. Mean pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (11±1 mm Hg) was normal. Pulmonary vascular resistance (8.6±1.3 mm Hg · min · m2/l) was increased, but systemic vascular resistance (19.3±1.3 mm Hg · min · m2/l) and mean arterial pressure (83±4 mm Hg) were low. All patients were hypoxemic (Pao2, 40±2 mm Hg) and hypercapnic (Paco2, 60±2 mmHg). There was a significant increase in total body water (+21%), extracellular volume (+45%), plasma volume (+45%), blood volume (+88%), and exchangeable sodium (+38.2%). Renal plasma flow was severely reduced (−63.2%), but glomerular filtration rate was only mildly decreased (−32%). Significant increases were seen in plasma norepinephrine (3.5-fold normal), renin activity (7.6-fold normal), vasopressin (twice normal), atrial natriuretic peptide (9.4-fold normal), growth hormone (10.7-fold normal), and cortisol (1.9-fold normal). After recovery, the Pao2 increased (50±3 mm Hg) and Paco2 fell (45±4 mm Hg), and the patients became free from edema. All the body compartments returned toward normal, although they did not entirely reach normal values. Renal plasma flow increased significantly, and glomerular filtration became normal. Right atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased (p<0.01). Cardiac output decreased but not significantly. Blood pressure increased but not significantly. However, systemic vascular resistance increased significantly to a normal value. ConclusionsWe conclude that patients with edema due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have severe retention of salt and water, reduction in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration, and neurohormonal activation similar to that seen in patients with edema due to myocardial disease. However, unlike the latter, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cardiac output is normal, and systemic vascular resistance and arterial blood pressure are low. This probably is due to the vasodilator properties of hypercapnia. The consequent low arterial blood pressure may be the stimulus for the neurohormonal activation and retention of salt and water.
Therapeutic effects of hypertonic saline on peritonitis-induced septic shock with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in rats*

Objective:Significant mortality in patients with sepsis results from the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Small-volume resuscitation with 7.5% NaCl hypertonic saline has been proposed to restore physiologic hemodynamics in hemorrhagic shock. Therefore, we hypothesized that hypertonic saline resuscitation could alleviate the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Design:Randomized, prospective animal experiment. Setting:Academic research laboratory. Subjects:Male Wistar rats. Interventions:The animals were randomly allocated to one of four groups: 1) sham operation (0.9% NaCl, 4 mL/kg intravenously, at 3 hrs after laparotomy); 2) sham operation plus hypertonic saline (7.5% NaCl, 4 mL/kg intravenously, at 3 hrs after laparotomy); 3) cecal ligation and puncture (0.9% NaCl, 4 mL/kg intravenously, at 3 hrs after cecal ligation and puncture); and 4) cecal ligation and puncture plus hypertonic saline (7.5% NaCl, 4 mL/kg intravenously, at 3 hrs after cecal ligation and puncture). Measurements and Main Results:Cecal ligation and puncture for 18 hrs was associated with circulatory failure (i.e., hypotension and vascular hyporeactivity to norepinephrine), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (examined by biochemical variables and histologic studies), and 18-hr mortality. Hypertonic saline not only ameliorated the deterioration of hemodynamic changes but also attenuated neutrophil infiltration in the lung and the liver of septic animals. Hypertonic saline increased the survival rate at 9 and 18 hrs compared with the cecal ligation and puncture group. Moreover, hypertonic saline reduced plasma nitric oxide and interleukin-1&bgr; and organ O2−· levels in rats that underwent cecal ligation and puncture. Conclusions:Hypertonic saline prevented circulatory failure, alleviated multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and decreased the mortality rate in animals receiving cecal ligation and puncture. These beneficial effects of hypertonic saline may be attributed to reducing the plasma concentration of nitric oxide and interleukin-1&bgr; as well as the organ O2−· level and decreasing lung neutrophil infiltration and liver necrosis. Our study suggests that hypertonic saline could be a potential and inexpensive therapeutic agent in the early sepsis of animals or patients.
Predictive Direct Torque Control of the Doubly Fed Induction Machine with Reduced Torque and Flux Ripples at Low Constant Switching Frequency

In this paper, a new direct torque control (DTC) strategy of the doubly fed induction machine (DFIM) is presented. It is especially designed to operate at a considerably low constant switching frequency, reducing the electromagnetic torque and rotor flux ripples, in order to provide good steady-state and fast dynamic performances, for high power drive and generator applications, with restricted switching frequency. The DFIM is connected to the grid by the stator and the rotor is fed by a two level voltage source converter. In addition, this control method allows to implement a technique that reduces the switching power losses of the converter. Finally, simulation results show that the proposed DTC method, effectively reduces the torque and flux ripples at low switching frequency, even under variable speed operation conditions
Role of sympathetic responses on the hemodynamic consequences of rapid changes in posture in humans.

Tolerance to +G(z) gravitational stress is reduced when +G(z) stress is preceded by exposure to hypogravity (fractional, 0, or negative G(z)). For example, there is an exaggerated fall in eye-level arterial pressure (ELAP) early on during +G(z) stress (head-up tilt; HUT) when this stress is immediately preceded by -G(z) stress (head-down tilt; HDT), termed the "push-pull effect. " The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that sympathetic responses contribute to the push-pull effect. Young, healthy subjects (n = 7 males and 3 females) were subjected to 30 s of 30 degrees HUT from a horizontal position and to 30 s of 30 degrees HUT when HUT was immediately preceded by 20 s of -15 degrees HDT. Four bouts of HDT-HUT were alternated between five bouts of HUT in a counterbalanced design, and 1 min was allowed for recovery between tilts. This protocol was repeated during clonidine administration (2.5 microg/kg bolus over 30 min and then continuously at 0.36 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1)). Clonidine blunted the vasomotor responses to tilting, and this led to exaggerated changes in arterial pressure. Clonidine exerted little specific influence on the push-pull effect. Thus sympathetic responses appear neither to contribute to, nor protect against, the push-pull effect for the rate and duration of tilting imposed in the present study.
Do Student Teachers Attend to Mathematics Specific Phenomena when Observing Mathematics Teaching on Video

This article describes the results of an investigation into pre-service teachers’ ability to notice mathematics specific phenomena in a lesson observed on a video recording. Thirty mathematics education students’ written analyses of a viewed lesson were subjected to a selective content analysis. The results of both qualitative and quantitative nature conform with earlier research on pre-service teachers’ lesson analyses and, in addition, bring detailed report not only on the participants’ ability to notice but also on categories of content-related observable aspects of teaching. The discussion focuses on situating the findings within the framework of pedagogical content knowledge and indicates ways to further link the ability to notice to both teacher development design and effective teaching practice.
Management of Helicobacter pylori infection—the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus Report

Important progress has been made in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection and in this fifth edition of the Maastricht Consensus Report, key aspects related to the clinical role of H. pylori were re-evaluated in 2015. In the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus Conference, 43 experts from 24 countries examined new data related to H. pylori in five subdivided workshops: (1) Indications/Associations, (2) Diagnosis, (3) Treatment, (4) Prevention/Public Health, (5) H. pylori and the Gastric Microbiota. The results of the individual workshops were presented to a final consensus voting that included all participants. Recommendations are provided on the basis of the best available evidence and relevance to the management of H. pylori infection in the various clinical scenarios.
47 Involvement of Human Histamine N-Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility to Atopic Dermatitis in Korean Children

Background Histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) catalyzes one of 2 major metabolic pathways for histamine. Histamine is one of the mediators for pruritus of atopic dermatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of HNMT polymorphisms in children with atopic dermatitis. Methods We genotyped 763 children for allelic determinants at 4 polymorphic sites, which were −465T>C, −413C>T, 314C>T and 939A>G in the HNMT gene, and the functional effect of the 939A>G polymorphism was analyzed. The genotyping was screened using the TaqMan fluorogenic 5' nuclease assay (ABI, Foster City, CA, USA). Results Among these 763 children, 520 had eczema and 542 had atopy. Distributions of the genotype and allele frequencies of HNMT 314C>T polymorphism were significantly associated with non-atopic eczema (P = 0.004) and those of HNMT 939A>G polymorphism were significantly associated with eczema in atopy groups (P = 0.048). However, those of HNMT 654T>C and 413C>T polymorphisms were not. In addition, subjects with the homozygous AA or heterozygous AG of the 939A>G polymorphism showed significantly higher IgE levels than those with the homozygous GG genotype (P = 0.009). In U937 cells, the variant genotype reporter construct showed significantly higher mRNA stability (P < 0.001) and HNMT enzyme activity (P < 0.001) than the common genotype. Conclusions Polymorphisms in the HNMT gene appear to confer susceptibility to atopic dermatitis in Korean children.
Righting the Wrongs: Structural Insights into Replicating Damaged DNA

There is compelling evidence that proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a DNA sliding clamp, co-ordinates the processing and joining of Okazaki fragments during eukaryotic DNA replication. However, a detailed mechanistic understanding of functional PCNA:ligase I interactions has been incomplete. Here we present the co-crystal structure of yeast PCNA with a peptide encompassing the conserved PCNA interaction motif of Cdc9, yeast DNA ligase I. The Cdc9 peptide contacts both the inter-domain connector loop (IDCL) and residues near the C-terminus of PCNA. Complementary mutational and biochemical results demonstrate that these two interaction interfaces are required for complex formation both in the absence of DNA and when PCNA is topologically linked to DNA. Similar to the functionally homologous human proteins, yeast RFC interacts with and inhibits Cdc9 DNA ligase whereas the addition of PCNA alleviates inhibition by RFC. Here we show that the ability of PCNA to overcome RFC-mediated inhibition of Cdc9 is dependent upon both the IDCL and the C-terminal interaction interfaces of PCNA. Together these results demonstrate the functional significance of the b-zipper structure formed between the C-terminal domain of PCNA and Cdc9 and reveal differences in the interactions of FEN-1 and Cdc9 with the two PCNA interfaces that may contribute to the co-ordinated, sequential action of
Correction of the overexposed region in digital color image

The overexposed region (OR) usually appears in the image due to the limited dynamic range of digital camera and low dynamic range display. In this paper, we present a novel overexposure correction method composed of the lightness correction and the chrominance restoration. In proposed method, the corrected lightness of the OR is obtained by minimizing a proposed energy functional with two terms; one for retaining the lightness modeled by a twodimensional Gaussian function and the other for preserving the gradients of the original lightness. In chrominance restoration, color stretching is first performed to compensate a faded color around the OR. Then, the color of the OR is recovered by propagating the stretched color of the neighboring non-overexposed region (non-OR). Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method more effectively improves the visual quality of the overexposed image compared with the state-of-the-art methods.
Electron microscopy study of different stages of oxidation of Ti‐47Al‐2Nb‐2Cr‐0.15B and Ti‐45Al‐15Nb at 900°C

The initial stage of oxidation of Ti‐47Al‐2Nb‐2Cr‐0.15B and Ti‐45Al‐15Nb alloys was studied. Studies reveal that the X and NbCr2 phases will form in advance in the transition layer of the 2Nb2Cr alloy compared with the 15Nb alloy. The adherence between the nitride layer and underling layer is good. However, an obvious boundary exists between the mixed layer and the inner layer. The recrystallizing of the base alloy leads to an increase of the volume fraction of grain boundaries that can increase the oxidation rate at the initial oxidation stage. An Nb‐based compound forms in the transition layer, which can prevent the formation of X phase.
Hydroxyurea in children with sickle cell disease: Practice patterns and barriers to utilization

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) therapy is commonly used for the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (A-Flutter). Weight based heparin nomogram is widely used to determine the dosage of continuous intravenous infusion. Frequent monitoring is required due to the variable responses to its anticoagulant effects. We investigated factors that may influence the dose of UFH. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients who received continuous UFH for ACS, AF, or A-Flutter from January 2008 to December 2008 and reached maintenance dose of UFH within 48 hr. A total of 199 patients were included in this study: 42.7% were females and mean age was 66.6 ± 2.0 years. Univariate analysis revealed that age, gender, weight, serum albumin, and serum protein level were significantly associated with maintenance of UFH dose. After adjustment with multivariate analysis, age (R = ―0.27, P ≤ 0.001), gender (R = -0.14, P ≤ 0.044), and weight (R = 0.54, P ≤ 0.001) remained to have significant association with maintenance UFH dose. In conclusion, we have identified not only weight but also age and gender as significant factors that may affect the maintenance of heparin dose in clinical setting.
Integrity Codes: Message Integrity Protection and Authentication over Insecure Channels

Inspired by unidirectional error detecting codes that are used in situations where only one kind of bit errors are possible (e.g., it is possible to change a bit "0" into a bit "1", but not the contrary), we propose integrity codes (I-codes) for a radio communication channel, which enable integrity protection of messages exchanged between entities that do not hold any mutual authentication material (i.e. public keys or shared secret keys). The construction of I-codes enables a sender to encode any message such that if its integrity is violated in transmission over a radio channel, the receiver is able to detect it. In order to achieve this, we rely on the physical properties of the radio channel and on unidirectional error detecting codes. We analyze in detail the use of I-codes on a radio communication channel and we present their implementation on a wireless platform as a "proof of concept". We further introduce a novel concept called "authentication through presence", whose broad applications include broadcast authentication, key establishment and navigation signal protection. We perform a detailed analysis of the security of our coding scheme and we show that it is secure within a realistic attacker model.
Robust and efficient location of T-wave ends in electrocardiogram

A new algorithm is proposed in this paper for T-wave end location in electrocardiogram (ECG). It mainly consists of the computation of an indicator related to the area covered by the T-wave curve and delimited in a special manner. Based on simple assumptions, essentially on the concavity of the T-wave form, it is proved that the maximum of the computed indicator inside each cardiac cycle coincides with the T-wave end. The algorithm is robust to measurement noise, to wave form morphological variations and to baseline wander. It is also computationally very simple: the main computation can be implemented as a simple finite impulse response (FIR) filter