Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organization of Drinking: Postural Characteristics of Arm-Head Coordination

Abstract Postural characteristics of components of a natural movement—taking a sip from a mug filled with water—were studied. The authors hypothesized that important postural characteristics of each of the components involved in natural drinking can be described with a single or a few significant parameters. Seated participants (N = 7) took a small sip from a mug (selected from a set of 4) placed in front of them on the table. Movement components selected for analysis were transporting the mug, tilting the mug, moving and tilting the head, and opening the mouth. The ratio of mug diameter to the distance from the level of water to the rim of the mug was introduced as an index of difficulty (ID). ID showed significant logarithmic relationships to a number of parameters that described different components of the movement, including movement time (MT). Significant logarithmic relationships between ID and MT were observed during movements performed under visual control and with eyes closed. The authors tentatively suggest that those relationships are consequences of Fitts' law and that Fitts' law be expanded to tasks that are characterized by permissible error margin, not necessarily related to the size of a spatial target, and that are not constrained by the typical instruction “as fast and accurate as possible. ” A possible interpretation of the present observations is that the task constraints imposed on a number of movement parameters during the task of drinking can be described with a single parameter.
Toward clinical islet xenotransplantation – are revisions to the IXA guidelines warranted?

The health problems related to diabetes – both to the individual patient and to the population – are immense, with an estimated 20% of all deaths occurring in people between the ages of 50 and 60 being the consequence of the complications of diabetes [1,2]. Glycemia can be controlled in many patients by intensive insulin therapy, including insulin pumps, but over a prolonged period of time this approach is often not completely successful [1]. In many countries, the healthcare costs are also considerable, with > 10% of annual expenditure on healthcare devoted to patients with diabetic complications. The high costs of treating patients with diabetes must be taken into consideration when providing the resources to develop pancreatic islet transplantation as a potential cure. The results of clinical islet allotransplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are steadily improving, suggesting that eventually this form of therapy will become routine [3–6]. The success of islet autotransplantation in patients with chronic pancreatitis who undergo total pancreatectomy suggests that failure of allotransplantation is related to the requirement for a strong immunosuppressive regimen to protect the graft, rather than from islet loss associated with the isolation procedure or from transplantation into an ‘unphysiological’ site [7]. However, there will never be sufficient deceased human donors to provide islets to impact the immense problem of diabetes mellitus, not only in the Western world, but also in the populous countries of Asia where the problem of diabetes is steadily increasing, as elsewhere (Table 1). For numerous reasons that have been discussed previously [8,9], the pig may prove a source of islets for transplantation in patients with diabetes. Progress in this experimental field is also advancing.
FPGA based fuzzy control technique for obstacle avoidance

This paper provides a novel approach for design of an intelligent multilayer controller for autonomous mobile robot which enables the robot to navigate in a real world dynamic environment. It deals with the design of fuzzy controller and modules with HDL approach and the synthesis of the same for the obstacle avoidance and parking of vehicle. The two layer fuzzy controller has been proposed for finding collision possibility and obstacle avoidance by controlling the translational and rotational velocity. Also a multilayer fuzzy controller has been proposed for parking of vehicle by controlling the speed and angular deviation. The fuzzy logic controller has been designed and implemented using Verilog HDL in Altera Quartus-II Software.
The Role of Antileukotrienes in the Treatment of Asthma

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) are mediators released in asthma and are both direct bronchoconstrictors and proinflammatory substances that mediated several steps in the pathophysiology of chronic asthma, including inflammatory cells recruitment, vascular leakage, and possibly airway remodelling. Available evidence from clinical trials and real-word experience derived from managing patients with asthma justifies a broader role for anti-LTRAs in asthma management than that recommended in the National Asthma Education and Prevention Programm (NAEPP) and National Health Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) treatment guidelines. Leukotriene-receptor antagonists drugs (LTRAs) seem to be effective alternatives to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) either as monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy that reduces the need for higher doses of ICS in patients with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma. LTRAs may be used as adjunctive therapy for al levels of disease severity because they are effective in combination with ICS during long-term maintenance therapy. The agents seem especially effective in preventing aspirin-induced asthma, exercise-induced asthma (EIA) and they may provide an additional advantage of reducing nasal congestion in patients with both asthma and rhinitis.
Antiseptic Resistance in Methicillin Sensitive and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Some Major Hospitals, Iran.

BACKGROUND Extensive use of antibiotics and biocide in treatment of patients and cleaning of surfaces and medical equipment has led to the emergence of resistant microorganisms. The current research goals to determine the antiseptics Minimum Inhibitory Concentration value in Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin -resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) isolates from some major hospitals in Iran and to detect qacA/B, norA , smr and blaZ genes. METHODS Two hundred isolates of S. aureus including 100 MRSA and 100 MSSA clinical isolates were collected from 4 hospitals in the west of Iran during period 2012 to 2013. Detection of disinfectant resistant genes (qac A/B, smr and norA), antimicrobial resistance genes (mecA and blaZ) and SCCmec typing of MRSA isolates was performed by PCR. RESULTS MIC of chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) in 70% of MRSA and 30% of MSSA strains was 8-16 µg/ml. High level of MIC of citrimide (>2 µg/ml) in MRSA and MSSA isolates was 20% and 5% , respectively. MIC of benzalkonium chloride (BC) in 80% of MRSA and 83% of MSSA isolates was less than 2 µg/ml; only 9% of MRSA had MIC higher than 2 µg/ml. Frequency of antiseptic and antibiotic resistance genes norA, blaZ and qacA/B in MRSA isolates were 83%, 98% and 9%, respectively; while this value for MSSA isolates were 62%, 8% and 0%, respectively. The smr gene was not detected in both MRSA and MSSA isolates. In all biocides high MIC were observed in SCCmec type III and IVc. High frequency of qacA/B gene was found in SCCmec type III,Vc and IVb, which were 66.6% ,22% and 11.1% respectively. CONCLUSION We found SCCmec types III, Vc was related to high MIC of biocide in MRSA isolates.
Coherent synthesis sparse aperture radar with grating lobes suppressed using frequency MIMO technique

Coherent synthesis sparse aperture array radar can provide a long baseline with narrower beamwidth at the cost of grating lobes. In this paper, we propose a method to suppress grating lobes based on frequency MIMO technique. By transmitting M orthogonal waveforms with diverse frequencies from subaperture-to-subaperture, M beams can be formed with the same mainlobe direction. However, grating lobes would move to different locations relative to the frequency offset Deltaf. Coherent combining the M beams would suppress grating lobes to a certain level. It is shown that the combined beam using frequency MIMO array is periodically scanning in range and angle. We further analyze the relationship of scanning period with frequency offset Deltaf and sparse distance L .
Influences of drizzle on stratocumulus cloudiness and organization

Large‐eddy simulations are used to study the influence of drizzle on stratocumulus organization, based on measurements made as part of the Second Dynamics and Chemistry of the Marine Stratocumulus field study‐II. Cloud droplet number concentration (Nc) is prescribed and considered as the proxy for different aerosol loadings. Our study shows that the amount of cloudiness does not decrease linearly with precipitation rate. An Nc threshold is observed below which the removal of cloud water via precipitation efficiently reduces cloud depth, allowing evaporation to become efficient and quickly remove the remaining thin clouds, facilitating a fast transition from closed cells to open cells. Using Fourier analysis, stratocumulus length scales are found to increase with drizzle rates. Raindrop evaporation below 300 m lowers the cloud bases and amplifies moisture variances in the subcloud layer, while it does not alter the horizontal scales in the cloud layer, suggesting that moist cold pool dynamic forcings are not essential for mesoscale organization of stratocumulus. The cloud scales are greatly increased when the boundary layer is too deep to maintain well mixed.
Sum-Rate Analysis for High Altitude Platform (HAP) Drones With Tethered Balloon Relay

High altitude platform (HAP) drones can provide broadband wireless connectivity to ground users in rural areas by establishing line-of-sight links and exploiting effective beamforming techniques. However, at high altitudes, acquiring the channel state information (CSI) for HAPs, which is a key requirement to perform beamforming, is challenging. In this paper, by exploiting an interference alignment (IA) technique, a novel method for achieving the maximum sum-rate in HAP-based communications without CSI is proposed. In particular, to realize IA, a multiple-antenna tethered balloon is used as a relay between multiple HAP drones and ground stations (GSs). Here, a multiple-input multiple-output X network system is considered. The capacity of the considered $M \times N$ X network with a tethered balloon relay is derived in closed-form. Simulation results corroborate the theoretical findings and show that the proposed approach yields the maximum sum-rate in multiple HAPs-GSs communications in absence of CSI. The results also show the existence of an optimal balloon’s altitude for which the sum-rate is maximized.
Intrapulmonary response to Histoplasma capsulatum in gamma interferon knockout mice

We examined the immunobiological responses to Histoplasma capsulatum in lungs of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) knockout mice (GKO mice). Naive GKO mice succumbed by day 9 to intranasal challenge with 2.5 x 10(6) yeasts, whereas all wild-type (WT) mice survived for 45 days. Compared to lungs of WT mice, the lungs of acutely infected GKO mice exhibited dramatically elevated numbers of CFU in lungs and significantly higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) but not interleukin-12 (IL-12) or IL-4. To determine if IFN-gamma is necessary in reexposure histoplasmosis, GKO and WT mice were inoculated with 10(4) yeasts intranasally and given amphotericin B for 3 weeks. Six weeks later, mice were rechallenged with 2.5 x 10(6) yeasts. All GKO mice died by day 6, whereas all WT mice survived for 45 days. Lungs of GKO mice contained substantially elevated numbers of CFU and higher TNF-alpha and GM-CSF levels but not IL-12 or IL-4. Thus, IFN-gamma is requisite for control of pulmonary histoplasmosis in naive and reexposed mice.
Weak convection, liquid inclusions and the formation of chimneys in mushy layers

We present a numerical study of steady convection in a two-dimensional mushy layer during solidification of a binary mixture at a constant speed V. The mushy layer is modelled as a reactive porous medium whose permeability is a function of the local solid fraction. The flow in the liquid region above the mushy layer is modelled using the Stokes equations (i.e. the Prandtl number is taken to be infinite). The calculations follow the development of buoyancy-driven convection as the flow amplitude is increased to the level where the solid fraction is driven to zero at some point within the mushy region. We show that this event cannot occur before the local buoyancy-driven volume flux exceeds the solidification rate V. Further increases in the flow amplitude lead to the formation of a region with negative solid fraction, indicating the need to switch from the Darcy approximation to the Stokes flow approximation. These regions ultimately become what are known as chimneys. We exhibit solutions which give the detailed structure of the temperature, solute, flow and solid fraction fields within the mushy layer. A key finding of the numerics is that these fledgling chimneys emerge from the interior of the mushy layer, rather than eating their way down from the top of the layer, as the amplitude of the steady convection is increased. We discuss some qualitative features of the resulting liquid inclusions and, in the light of these, reassess the interfacial conditions between mushy and liquid regions.
Desensitization of AMPA receptors and AMPA‐NMDA receptor interaction: an in vivo cyclic GMP microdialysis study in rat cerebellum

1 Desensitization is an important characteristic of glutamate receptors of the α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionate (AMPA) type. 2 Stimulation of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) or AMPA receptors in cerebellum results in increased production of cyclic GMP. We have investigated AMPA receptor desensitization in vivo by monitoring extracellular cyclic GMP during intracerebellar microdialysis in conscious unrestrained adult rats. 3 Local infusion of AMPA (10 to 100 μm) caused dose‐related elevations of cyclic GMP levels. The effect of AMPA was prevented by the non‐NMDA receptor antagonist, 6,7‐dinitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (DNQX) and by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine (L‐NOARG). 4 In the absence of AMPA, DNQX lowered the basal levels of cyclic GMP whereas the NMDA receptor channel antagonist dizocilpine (MK‐801) was ineffective. 5 Cyclothiazide, a blocker of AMPA receptor desensitization, potentiated the cyclic GMP response to exogenous AMPA. Moreover, cyclothiazide (100–300 μm) produced on its own dose‐dependent elevations of extracellular cyclic GMP. The cyclothiazide‐induced response was prevented not only by DNQX but also by MK‐801. 6 While the cyclic GMP response elicited by AMPA was totally insensitive to MK‐801, the response produced by AMPA (10 μm) plus cyclothiazide (30 μm) was strongly attenuated by the NMDA receptor antagonist (30 μm). 7 The results suggest that (a) AMPA receptors linked to the NO‐cyclic GMP pathway in the cerebellum can undergo desensitization in vivo during exposure to exogenous AMPA; cyclothiazide inhibits such desensitization; (b) AMPA receptors (but not NMDA receptors) are ‘tonically’ activated and kept in a partly desensitized state by endogenous glutamate; (c) if cyclothiazide is present, activation of AMPA receptors may permit endogenous activation of NMDA receptors.
Gliadin-Specific Type 1 Regulatory T Cells from the Intestinal Mucosa of Treated Celiac Patients Inhibit Pathogenic T Cells

Celiac disease (CD) results from a permanent intolerance to dietary gluten and is due to a massive T cell-mediated immune response to gliadin, the main component of gluten. In this disease, the regulation of immune responses to dietary gliadin is altered. Herein, we investigated whether IL-10 could modulate anti-gliadin immune responses and whether gliadin-specific type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells could be isolated from the intestinal mucosa of CD patients in remission. Short-term T cell lines were generated from jejunal biopsies, either freshly processed or cultured ex vivo with gliadin in the presence or absence of IL-10. Ex vivo stimulation of CD biopsies with gliadin in the presence of IL-10 resulted in suppression of Ag-specific proliferation and cytokine production, indicating that pathogenic T cells are susceptible to IL-10-mediated immune regulation. T cell clones generated from intestinal T cell lines were tested for gliadin specificity by cytokine production and proliferative responses. The majority of gliadin-specific T cell clones had a Th0 cytokine production profile with secretion of IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-10 and proliferated in response to gliadin. Tr1 cell clones were also isolated. These Tr1 cells were anergic, restricted by DQ2 (a CD-associated HLA), and produced IL-10 and IFN-γ, but little or no IL-2 or IL-4 upon activation with gliadin or polyclonal stimuli. Importantly, gliadin-specific Tr1 cell clones suppressed proliferation of pathogenic Th0 cells. In conclusion, dietary Ag-specific Tr1 cells are present in the human intestinal mucosa, and strategies to boost their numbers and/or function may offer new therapeutic opportunities to restore gut homeostasis.
Intratympanic Treatment of Intractable Unilateral Ménière Disease

Objective. To determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose intratympanic gentamicin (ITG) compared with intratympanic dexamethasone (ITD) in patients with intractable unilateral Ménière disease (MD). Study Design. Open prospective randomized controlled study. Setting. Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods. Sixty patients affected by definite unilateral MD were enrolled between January 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008. Thirty-two patients were treated with a buffered gentamicin solution injected in the middle ear (maximum of 2 injections); 28 patients were treated with ITD (4 mg/mL, 3 injections at intervals of 1 every 3 days). Mean outcome measurements consisted of control of vertigo attacks, pure tone average (PTA), speech discrimination score, functional disability score, and statistical analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results. In the ITG group at 2-year follow-up, complete control of vertigo (class A) was achieved in 26 patients (81%) and substantial control of vertigo (class B) in 4 patients (12.5%). In the ITD group, class A was achieved in 12 (43%), and class B in 5 (18%) patients. In the gentamicin group, 4 patients showed a reduction in PTA of ≥10 dB. In the ITD group, PTA was unchanged or slightly improved in 16 patients (belonging to class A-B) and worse in 12. Conclusions. Low-dose ITG achieved better outcome than ITD in the control of vertigo attacks in patients suffering from unilateral MD, with a very low incidence of hearing deterioration. ITD offers poorer vertigo control rate, and hearing preservation is achieved only in cases with no vertigo recurrences.
Localization of antigen on lymph node dendritic cells after exposure to the contact sensitizer fluorescein isothiocyanate. Functional and morphological studies

We have examined the cells involved in the development of contact sensitivity to FITC in CBA mice. After skin painting with antigen, the number of dendritic cells (DC) in the draining lymph nodes increased by 30 min, was maximal at 48 h, and returned to normal by 6 d. Derivation of some DC from Langerhans' cells of the skin was indicated from the presence of Birbeck granules observed in some DC isolated 24 h after skin painting. The DC acquired FITC and by 8 h there were two populations, one highly fluorescent and the other less fluorescent. The highly fluorescent cells were present between 8 h and 3 d after sensitization, and during this period the DC were potent at initiating primary proliferative responses of normal syngeneic T lymphocytes in vitro. Between days 3 and 5 the numbers of lymphocytes in the draining lymph node increased. During this period purified T lymphocytes did not express detectable levels of antigen, but enriched B cell populations expressed antigen transiently on day 1, 2, or 3 after exposure to antigen. The results showed that, during a 3-d period after exposure to antigen, DC expressed antigen and stimulated T cell proliferation. We speculate that low amounts of FITC binding selectively to veiled cells or lymph node DC in the first hours after exposure to antigen are not immunogenic but that Langerhans' cells acquire high levels of antigen, enter the nodes, and initiate immune responses.
Maternal Exposure to Ethanol During Pregnancy and Lactation Affects Glutamatergic System and Induces Oxidative Stress in Offspring Hippocampus.

BACKGROUND Alcohol abuse during pregnancy leads to intellectual disability and morphological defects in the offspring. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chronic maternal ethanol (EtOH) consumption during pregnancy and lactation on glutamatergic transmission regulation, energy deficit, and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of the offspring. METHODS EtOH was administered to dams in drinking water at increasing doses (2 to 20%) from the gestation day 5 to lactation day 21. EtOH and tap water intake by treated and control groups, respectively, were measured daily. RESULTS Results showed that EtOH exposure does not affect fluid intake over the course of pregnancy and lactation. The toxicity of maternal exposure to EtOH was demonstrated by decreased offspring body weight at experimental age, on postnatal day 21. Moreover, maternal EtOH exposure decreased (45) Ca(2+) influx in the offspring's hippocampus. Corroborating this finding, EtOH increased both Na(+) -dependent and Na(+) -independent glial [(14) C]-glutamate uptake in hippocampus of immature rats. Also, maternal EtOH exposure decreased glutamine synthetase activity and induced aspartate aminotransferase enzymatic activity, suggesting that in EtOH-exposed offspring hippocampus, glutamate is preferentially used as a fuel in tricarboxylic acid cycle instead of being converted into glutamine. In addition, EtOH exposure decreased [U-14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake in offspring hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS The decline in glucose transport coincided with increased lactate dehydrogenase activity, suggesting an adaptative response in EtOH-exposed offspring hippocampus, using lactate as an alternative fuel. These events were associated with oxidative damage, as demonstrated by changes in the enzymatic antioxidant defense system and lipid peroxidation. Taken together, the results demonstrate that maternal exposure to EtOH during pregnancy and lactation impairs glutamatergic transmission, as well as inducing oxidative stress and energy deficit in immature rat hippocampus.