Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real time Localization System based on iBeacon Technology in Indoor Environment

___ Abstract - Indoor asset tracking is a unique specialty of many types of RTLS, as Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have difficulty providing asset locations within buildings. RTLS deployments generally address the problems of determining the location of equipment and products in a warehouse or even tracking employees and files in an office. The most common RTLS uses a WiFi infrastructure to determine the location of tagged assets. These systems employ Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) techniques to wirelessly determine asset location. This presents a new method for providing an accurate, low cost estimate of sub-room indoor Asset location. Recently proposed indoor localization solutions have required anywhere from zero additional infrastructure to customized RF hardware and have provided room-level to centimeter-level accuracy, typically in that respective order. An iBeacon based Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology used to track and manage assets. Each asset to be tracked is tagged with an iBeacon tag, and tracked using BLE enabled device located throughout a facility. Based on the tracking information, the system allows users to manage assets and generate reports regarding the various tagged assets.
Detecting errors in instructions with bloom filters

Bit flips on instructions may affect the execution of the processor depending on the Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) and the location of the flipped bits. Intrinsically, ISAs may detect bit upsets if the errors on the instructions produce exceptions that halt the execution. Previous works exploit this fact to improve the error detection capabilities of ISAs with an addition of simple encoding/decoding scheme to propagate any single bit error to the “most vulnerable bit” of the instructions in order to detect the error by crashing the system. Although it was proven that this approach significantly reduces the Silent Data Corruptions (SDC), as an error detection scheme, it is not practical since detection causes system crash. In this paper, we propose using a Bloom Filter (BF) along with the encode/decode scheme to detect soft errors without executing the erroneous instruction and thus avoiding system crash. The contents of the BF are those obtained by inserting the valid program instructions and can be computed at compile time. Then prior to execution, the contents are loaded into the BF. During execution, instructions are first checked on the BF and on a negative an error is detected as the instruction is not any of the ones in the program. A small number of false positives can occur for erroneous instructions (due to the nature of the BF) and may still be detected with the system crash as in previous works. Our approach has two main benefits. The first one is an increase in the error detection rate as the set of valid instructions is restricted to those used in the program allowing the detection of invalid instructions even if they do not lead to a system crash. The second one is that errors are detected before the crash. This is done at the cost of adding a small memory for the BF and some control logic that requires a low overhead. We evaluated this approach on binary files of the ARM Cortex M0 core. According to our findings, the BF is able to significantly improve the error detection rate.
Child Physical Abuse

The present study examined the prevalence, characteristics, beliefs, and demographic predictors of parent-child physical violence among South Asian, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Latina women in the United States. Two hundred fifty-one college-educated women from a middle to high SES (South Asian/Middle Eastern, n = 93; East Asian,n = 72; Latina,n = 86) completed a self-report survey on childhood experiences and beliefs regarding physical abuse. Seventy-three percent of the South Asian and Middle Eastern sample, 65% of the East Asian sample, and 78% of the Latina sample reported experiencing at least one type of physical abuse. Significant differences in characteristics and perpetrators of abuse were found across groups. Demographic factors did not predict physical abuse. Experiencing physical abuse was the only predictor for acceptance of physical discipline and as a parental privilege or right across groups. Implications of alternate cultural models of family violence based on beliefs and exposure to violence are discussed.
Expression of the cathelicidin LL-37 is modulated by short chain fatty acids in colonocytes: relevance of signalling pathways

Background and aims: Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) exert profound effects on the colonic mucosa. In particular, SCFA modulate mucosal immune functions. The antimicrobial cathelicidin LL-37 is expressed by colon epithelial cells. In the present study the effect of SCFA on LL-37 expression was investigated. Methods: LL-37 expression in vivo was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine LL-37 expression in colonocytes in vitro after treatment with various cytokines, SCFA, or flavone. LL-37 levels were correlated to cell differentiation which was determined by alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity. In addition, intracellular signalling pathways such as MEK-ERK (mitogen/extracellular signal protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (ERK)) and p38/mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase were explored. Results: In vivo, LL-37 expression in healthy mucosa was restricted to differentiated epithelial cells in human colon and ileum. In colonocytes, increased LL-37 expression associated with cell differentiation was detected in vitro following treatment with butyrate, isobutyrate, propionate, and trichostatin A. Flavone induced LL-37 transcription but did not affect AP activity while cytokines had no effect. To dissect pathways mediating differentiation and LL-37 expression, specific inhibitors were applied. Inhibition of the protein kinase MEK enhanced butyrate induced AP activity while LL-37 expression in colon epithelial cells was blocked. In contrast, inhibition of p38/MAP kinase blocked cell differentiation without inhibiting LL-37 expression. Conclusions: Expression of the cathelicidin LL-37 in colonocytes and cellular differentiation are separately modulated by SCFA via distinct signalling pathways. These data may provide a rationale for dietary modulation of mucosal defence mechanisms.
Pancreatic Steatosis: What Should Gastroenterologists Know?

When hyperechoic pancreatic parenchyma is observed on endoscopic or transabdominal ultrasound, fat infiltration of the pancreas is suspected. This condition was first reported by Ogilvie in 1993 and is termed fatty pancreas, pancreatic lipomatosis, non-alcoholic fatty pancreas, or pancreatic steatosis. Diagnosis of this condition mostly relies on imaging tools such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or ultrasonography rather than histology. Although the condition is rare, it has clinical significance. There are multiple hypotheses regarded the etiology of this condition, listing factors such as viral infections, toxins, and congenital syndromes as possible causes. Metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus correlated with this condition. However, other etiologies should also be considered to aid specific treatment. In addition to a correlation between pancreatic steatosis and metabolic syndrome, relationships between pancreatic steatosis and worsened severity and prognosis of pancreatic cancer, increased complications after pancreatic surgery, and acute pancreatitis were reported. Gastroenterologists should be well informed about this condition for better care of these patients. Image: Siriraj Hospital. Bangkok, Thailand.
The 3',5'-Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) Is Functionally Reduced in Human Toxic Thyroid Adenomas1.

In human normal thyrocytes, the cAMP-responsive signaling pathway plays a central role in gene regulation, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Constitutive activation of the cAMP signal transduction system has been documented in thyroid autonomously hyperfunctioning adenomas in which activating mutations in either the TSH receptor gene or the Gsa protein gene (gsp oncogene) have been described. The molecular mechanism whereby cAMP induces thyrocyte proliferation is unknown, but recent evidence suggests that the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) may serve as an important biochemical intermediate in this proliferative response. Herein we have investigated the expression of CREB in normal and tumoral thyroid tissues from a series of ten unrelated patients with autonomously hyperfunctioning adenomas, previously screened for mutations in the TSH receptor and Gsa genes. In all tumors examined, the expression of the activated, phosphorylated form of CREB was markedly reduced compared with that of the corresponding paired normal thyroid tissue, and this reduction was independent of the presence of mutations in the TSH receptor gene and Gsa gene. Moreover, no correlation was observed in these tissues between CREB phosphorylation and either protein kinase A activity or protein phosphatase expression. Thus, these data suggest that in human hyperfunctioning thyroid adenomas, the PKA/CREB system does not play a role in cell proliferation. (Endocrinology 141: 722‐730, 2000)
The selection of marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) in pharmaceutical toxicology

Prior to controlled clinical trials in human volunteers or patients it is required that novel pharmaceuticals are evaluated for pre-clinical safety in a rodent and a non-rodent ('second') species. In most cases the rodent species used has been the rat and the second species has been the dog or macaque (usually cynomolgus or rhesus) monkey. However, there is an increasing trend within the United Kingdom (UK) pharmaceutical industry to use the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) for pre-clinical toxicology programmes. This paper examines the practicality of using the common marmoset (henceforth referred to as 'the marmoset') in toxicological testing and reviews metabolic and pharmacodynamic similarities between this species and humans. It then discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of this species when compared with two other alternatives to the dog and macaque, namely the ferret and minipig. In particular, the marmoset has clear advantages over the macaque in terms of animal welfare and practicality. There is regulatory acceptance of this species for Investigational New Drug (IND), Clinical Trial Exemption (CTX), New Drug Application (NDA) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) registrations. Whilst the dog is likely to be maintained as the primary non-rodent species in toxicology, the marmoset has been, and will likely continue to be, adopted as an additional non-rodent species in pre-clinical toxicology programmes where appropriate.
Endophthalmitis Following Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Endophthalmitis following intravitreal injections of therapeutic medications is a rare but potentially vision-threatening problem. Infectious agents associated with endophthalmitis following injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors are typically Gram positive organisms with a predominance of Streptococcal and Staphylococcal microbiologic isolates. Patients with infectious endophthalmitis generally present within the first 72 hours following an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection with complaints of pain, redness, and decreased vision. Prompt treatment with a conventional endophthalmitis management approach may mitigate irreversible vision loss; however, poorer outcomes have been reported with more virulent organisms such as those associated with Streptococcal species. As the number of intravitreal injections performed each year continues to increase, ophthalmologists must maintain a rigorous approach to their injection technique and remain vigilant for the signs and symptoms of endophthalmitis.
Cortical Processing of Complex Auditory Stimuli during Alterations of Consciousness with the General Anesthetic Propofol

Background: The extent to which complex auditory stimuli are processed and differentiated during general anesthesia is unknown. The authors used blood oxygenation level–dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the processing words (10 per period; compared with scrambled words) and nonspeech human vocal sounds (10 per period; compared with environmental sounds) during propofol anesthesia. Methods: Seven healthy subjects were tested. Propofol was given by a computer-controlled pump to obtain stable plasma concentrations. Data were acquired during awake baseline, sedation (propofol concentration in arterial plasma: 0.64 ± 0.13 &mgr;g/ml; mean ± SD), general anesthesia (4.62 ± 0.57 &mgr;g/ml), and recovery. Subjects were asked to memorize the words. Results: During all periods including anesthesia, the sounds conditions combined elicited significantly greater activations than silence bilaterally in primary auditory cortices (Heschl gyrus) and adjacent regions within the planum temporale. During sedation and anesthesia, however, the magnitude of the activations was reduced by 40–50% (P < 0.05). Furthermore, anesthesia abolished voice-specific activations seen bilaterally in the superior temporal sulcus during the other periods as well as word-specific activations bilaterally in the Heschl gyrus, planum temporale, and superior temporal gyrus. However, scrambled words paradoxically elicited significantly more activation than normal words bilaterally in planum temporale during anesthesia. Recognition the next day occurred only for words presented during baseline plus recovery and was correlated (P < 0.01) with activity in right and left planum temporale. Conclusions: The authors conclude that during anesthesia, the primary and association auditory cortices remain responsive to complex auditory stimuli, but in a nonspecific way such that the ability for higher-level analysis is lost.
Cytosolic ionized calcium concentration in isolated chondrocytes from each zone of the growth plate

In isolated chondrocytes from the growth plate, there is an increase in both the cytosolic ionized calcium concentration and in total cell calcium content as the cells approach the mineralization front. The reserve zone chondrocytes have a cytosolic ionized calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, of 124 ± 23 nM and a total cell calcium content, CaT, of 12.8 ± 6.8 nmol/mg cell protein. Proliferative zone chondrocytes have a [Ca2+]i of 172 ± 29 nM and a CaT of 16.1 ± 11.8 nmol/mg cell protein. Hypertrophic zone chondrocytes have a [Ca2+]i of 273 ± 49 nM and a CaT of 35.8 ± 16 nmol/mg protein. Chondrocytes isolated from the entire growth plate have a [Ca2+]i of 132 ± 29 nM and a CaT of 13.2 ± 2.5 nmol/mg cell protein. Chondrocytes isolated from noncalcifying hyaline cartilage have a [Ca2+]i of 85 ± 10 nM and a CaT of 11.5 ± 1.4 nmol/mg cell protein. There appears to be a correlation between intracellular calcium accumulation, an increase in the intracellular ionized calcium concentration, and the process of cartilage matrix mineralization.
Vowel placement during operatic singing: 'come si parla' or 'aggiustamento'?

This study explored two tenets of the Italian Bel Canto operatic singing technique “Come si parla” and “aggiustamento. ” Articulatory changes in the lower formant vowel space of 11 spoken and sung vowels were systematically examined in six male singers. Results showed that singers influence the placement of the lowest formant frequencies in the sung vowel space using both a lowered larynx and modified vowel articulation (aggiustamento) with rising pitch, especially above 220Hz.
A sequential path extension method for mobile robot

This paper describes a path planning method for mobile robots/vehicles be extending the path sequentially. Considering practical use and applications of the mobile robot/vehicles, additional via-points for future path are given sequentially from sensor processing and environment recognition process. Thus, the path should be calculated sequentially with such additional conditions during mission execution. In this paper, we described a key idea of our method to extend the path iteratively. Polynomial-based time curve is utilized as the basis of the method and it describes path extension segment for certain period. The coefficients of such path extension segment are renewed by additional via-points. Computer simulations with proposed method were conducted and reported for fundamental confirmations. The results shows sequential path extension can be done by our proposed method.
Prolyl Isomerases as New Therapeutic Targets

Prolyl isomerases comprise three main protein families totalling over thirty mammalian genes, and several hundred orthologues across the biological domains, with a very broad spectrum of physiological functions and disease implications. Potent small molecule inhibitors exist for members of the three main mammalian families (cyclophilins, FKBPs and parvulins),. but, until recently, these proteins have not received the attention of the pharmaceutical industry that they merit. Perceptions and experimental difficulties of lead finding and functional screens made the whole class unattractive for drug discovery. Over the last ten years however, interest in prolyl isomerase-directed drug discovery has started to increase. This article discusses the history of prolyl isomerases, their physiological functions in health and disease, the therapeutic potential of inhibitors and drug discovery challenges.
Pathologic quantification of connective tissue disease-associated versus idiopathic usual interstitial pneumonia.

CONTEXT Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is a common chronic interstitial pneumonitis. It can occur idiopathically (I-UIP) or in the setting of systemic connective tissue disease (CTD-UIP). Some studies suggest that CTD-UIP has a better prognosis than I-UIP. The histologic differences between CTD-UIP and I-UIP are not clearly defined. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate histologic criteria that may differentiate CTD-UIP from I-UIP, including fibroblastic foci (FFs), lymphoid aggregates (LAs), and the presence of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern. DESIGN Thirty-five patients with histologic diagnoses of UIP were identified (27 biopsies [77%]; 8 explants [23%]). Biopsy slides were scanned and analyzed quantitatively for FF size, FF area, LA size, and LA area. Biopsy and explant slides were examined qualitatively for the presence of a nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern in areas away from UIP fibrosis. Results. -Of 27 biopsies, the number and size of FFs in CTD-UIP were smaller than they were in I-UIP. The number and size of LAs were larger in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than they were in patients with I-UIP. There was no interobserver variability among 3 pathologists using this quantitative system. Of 35 biopsies and explants, there was a higher prevalence of the nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern among patients with CTD-UIP than there was among patients with I-UIP (P = .005). CONCLUSIONS Patients with CTD-UIP had fewer, smaller FFs than did patients with I-UIP, and patients with rheumatoid arthritis-UIP had more, larger LAs than did patients with I-UIP. Of importance, the coexistence of UIP and the nonspecific interstitial pneumonia patterns was one of the most salient features in distinguishing CTD-UIP from I-UIP because CTD-UIP demonstrated an increased prevalence of multilobar, cellular, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia patterns in areas away from the UIP fibrosis.
Functional Recovery Induced by Satellite Cell Grafts in Irreversibly Injured Muscles

Grafting autologous cultured satellite cells in irreversibly injured rat extensor digitorum longus EDL muscle leads to myofiber regeneration at the grafting site. In this study, we investigated whether cell grafts induced functional improvement and correlated mechanophysiological findings with histological observations. In cell grafted muscles, the number of myofibers did not differ significantly between 2 wk and 3 mo, whereas no regenerating myofibers were observed in ungrafted controls. During this period, the total number of myofibers in the cell grafted muscles represented 48.2-51.9% of that in normal muscles. The mean diameter of regenerated myofibers increased with time, reaching a maximum (32 μm) at the second mo and remained smaller than that of normal myofibers (47 μm). Muscle function was measured by mechanophysiological recordings of muscle response to supramaximal electrical stimulation of the nerve in situ. Cell grafted muscles exhibited a progressive improvement of all contractile parameters. After 3 mo, a 4-fold increase in absolute values of twitch and tetanic tension outputs was measured in cell grafted muscles when compared to ungrafted controls. However, these parameters remained much lower than in normal muscles (23.4% and 22.3% of control, respectively). This study showed that myogenic cell grafts replace degenerated myofibers and form functional myofibers. Functional improvement observed, between 2 wk and 3 mo after cell grafting, correlated with the development, differentiation, and maturation of the regenerated myofibers rather than with an increase in the number of regenerated myofibers.
Flame-retardant polyvinyl alcohol membrane with high transparency based on a reactive phosphorus-containing compound

Flame-retardant polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membranes with high transparency and flexibility were prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of a phosphorus-containing acrylic acid (AOPA) with PVA. The reaction between AOPA and PVA, the transparency, the crystallinity and the flexibility of the membrane were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), UV–vis light transmittance, X-ray diffraction and tensile tests, respectively. The limited oxygen index (LOI) and vertical flame (UL 94 VTM), microscale combustion calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and TGA-FTIR were employed to evaluate the flame retardancy as well as to reveal the corresponding mechanisms. Results showed that PVA containing 30 wt% of AOPA can reach the UL 94 VTM V0 rating with an LOI of 27.3% and retain 95% of the original transparency of pure PVA. Adding AOPA reduces crystallinity of PVA, while the flexibility is increased. AOPA depresses the thermal degradation of PVA and promotes char formation during combustion. The proposed decomposition mechanism indicates that AOPA acts mainly in the condensed phase.
Neural network based dynamic modeling of flexible-link manipulators with application to the SSRMS

This paper presents an approach for dynamic modeling of flexible-link manipulators using artificial neural networks. A state-space representation is considered for a neural identifier. A recurrent network configuration is obtained by a combination of feedforward network architectures with dynamical elements in the form of stable filters. To guarantee the boundedness of the states, a joint PD control is introduced in the system. The method can be considered both as an online identifier that can be used as a basis for designing neural network controllers as well as an offline learning scheme to compute deflections due to link flexibility for evaluating forward dynamics. Unlike many other methods, the proposed approach does not assume knowledge of the nonlinearities of the system nor that the nonlinear system is linear in parameters. The performance of the proposed neural identifier is evaluated by identifying the dynamics of different flexible-link manipulators. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm, simulation results for a single-link manipulator, a two-link planar manipulator, and the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) are presented. ©2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.