Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual servoing of planar robots via velocity fields

A novel approach to visual servoing of robot is proposed in this paper. Specifically, the paper addresses the application of the velocity field control philosophy to visual servoing of robot manipulator under fixed-camera configuration. The analysis and experimental evaluation is carried out on a planar direct-drive robot to illustrate the basic concepts and performance. The main feature of the proposed approach is that a better performance can be achieved than under regulation approach. The control structure is based on a hierarchical scheme utilizing a joint velocity inner loop and a kinematic outer loop. Taking into account the nonlinear robot dynamics, it is shown that the closed-loop system is stable.
Nurses' leaving intentions: antecedents and mediating factors.

AIM This paper is a report of a study to investigate how nurses' work values, perceptions of environmental characteristics, and organizational commitment are related to their leaving intentions. BACKGROUND Nurse leaving is a serious international problem as it contributes to the nursing shortage that threatens the welfare of society. The characteristics of nurses, the work environment and nurses' feelings towards their jobs (or organizations) have an impact on their leaving intentions. METHOD A convenience sample of 849 Registered Nurses was recruited from three public hospitals in the central-west region of Japan during 2006 and 319 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate 39%). Data were analysed using regression analysis. FINDINGS Nurses' work values and their perceptions of their workplace environment interacted to influence leaving intentions. When there was a match between the importance nurses placed on being able to challenge current clinical practices and the number of the actual opportunities to do so, leaving intentions were low. When there was a mismatch, intention to quit the job became stronger. In addition, organizational commitment intervened between nurses' perceptions of the match in clinical challenges and leaving intention. CONCLUSION Nurses' leaving intentions, deserve extensive exploration of their causes. Such exploration should include attending to both nurses' needs and organizational characteristics, investigating how the match between them could affect nurses' leaving intention, and exploring factors that intervene between nurses' perceptions of the match and leaving intention.
Human Eosinophil Peroxidase Induces Surface Alteration, Killing, and Lysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT The antimycobacterial role of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), one of the most abundant granule proteins in human eosinophils, was investigated. Our data indicate that purified EPO shows significant inhibitory activity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. On a molar basis, this activity was similar to that exhibited by neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) and was both dose and time dependent. In contrast to the activity of MPO, which requires H2O2, EPO also exhibited anti-M. tuberculosis activity in the absence of exogenously added peroxide. Morphological evidence confirmed that the mechanism of action of EPO against mycobacteria differs from that of MPO. While MPO kills M. tuberculosis H37Rv exclusively in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, it does not induce morphological changes in the pathogen. In contrast, EPO-treated bacteria frequently had cell wall lesions and eventually underwent lysis, either in the presence or in the absence of H2O2.
Differential release of substance P and somatostatin in the rat spinal cord in response to noxious cold and heat; effect of dynorphin A(1-17).

Dynorphin A(1-17), the proposed endogenous ligand for the kappa receptor, has been reported to demonstrate no antinociceptive activity when tested in analgesic assays involving noxious (heat (e.g., tail-flick and hot-plate assays). By using a rat tail-flick analgesic assay that utilizes extreme cold as its noxious stimulus (an ethylene glycol-water mixture maintained at -10 degrees C), we have recently reported a dose-related and naloxone-reversible antinociceptive effect for i.c. v. administered dynorphin A(1-17). To elucidate the biochemical mechanism of this antinociception, we designed a push-pull perfusion system which would allow us to measure changes in neuropeptide release in the spinal cord during exposure to noxious heat or cold. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted surgically with two lengths of PE-10 tubing inserted into the spinal subarachnoid space via the cisterna magna, with the push cannula at the level of T-1, and the pull cannula at the rostral edge of the lumbar enlargement. At the time of testing, samples of cerebrospinal fluid were collected both in the presence and absence of a noxious stimulus. Substance P (SP) and somatostatin (SST) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Exposing the animal's tail to the noxious cold (30 sec/min for 20 min) resulted in a significant elevation in SP release (69% above base-line levels), but no change in the level of SST release. Conversely, exposure to noxious heat (50 degrees C, 20 sec/min for 20 min) produced a significant increase in SST release (56% above base line), but no change in the level of SP release. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Influence of the pesticides glyphosate, chlorpyrifos and atrazine on growth parameters of nonochratoxigenic Aspergillus section Nigri strains isolated from agricultural soils

This investigation was undertake to determine the effect of glyphosate, chlorpyrifos and atrazine on the lag phase and growth rate of nonochratoxigenic A. niger aggregate strains growing on soil extract medium at −0.70, −2.78 and −7.06 MPa. Under certain conditions, the glyphosate concentrations used significantly increased micelial growth as compared to control. An increase of about 30% was observed for strain AN 251 using 5 and 20 mg L−1 of glyphosate at −2.78 MPa. The strains behaved differently in the presence of the insecticide chlorpyrifos. A significant decrease in growth rate, compared to control, was observed for all strains except AN 251 at −2.78 MPa with 5 mg L−1. This strain showed a significant increase in growth rate. With regard to atrazine, significant differences were observed only under some conditions compared to control. An increase in growth rate was observed for strain AN 251 at −2.78 MPa with 5 and 10 mg L−1 of atrazine. By comparison, a reduction of 25% in growth rate was observed at −7.06 MPa and higher atrazine concentrations. This study shows that glyphosate, chlorpyrifos and atrazine affect the growth parameters of nonochratoxigenic A. niger aggregate strains under in vitro conditions.
VSV-EBOV rapidly protects macaques against infection with the 2014/15 Ebola virus outbreak strain

Shortening the time to protection Although Ebola vaccine candidates have entered clinical trials in West Africa, there is little information available on the mechanism of protection. A single dose of the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus–Ebola vaccine protects nonhuman primates, acting primarily through antibody responses. Marzi et al. found that this vaccine generates a robust immune response in macaques to a West African strain of Ebola virus within days of immunization (see the Perspective by Klenk and Becker). Innate immune responses developed in as little as 3 days and increased the chances of survival, with complete antibody protection acquired 7 days after immunization. Science, this issue p. 739; see also p. 693 A recombinant vaccine stimulates protective immunity against West African Ebola virus within days. [Also see Perspective by Klenk and Becker] The latest Ebola virus (EBOV) epidemic spread rapidly through Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, creating a global public health crisis and accelerating the assessment of experimental therapeutics and vaccines in clinical trials. One of those vaccines is based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing the EBOV glycoprotein (VSV-EBOV), a live-attenuated vector with marked preclinical efficacy. Here, we provide the preclinical proof that VSV-EBOV completely protects macaques against lethal challenge with the West African EBOV-Makona strain. Complete and partial protection was achieved with a single dose given as late as 7 and 3 days before challenge, respectively. This indicates that VSV-EBOV may protect humans against EBOV infections in West Africa with relatively short time to immunity, promoting its use for immediate public health responses.
Synthesis and structural characterization of a mimetic membrane‐anchored prion protein

During pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) an abnormal form (PrPSc) of the host encoded prion protein (PrPC) accumulates in insoluble fibrils and plaques. The two forms of PrP appear to have identical covalent structures, but differ in secondary and tertiary structure. Both PrPC and PrPSc have glycosylphospatidylinositol (GPI) anchors through which the protein is tethered to cell membranes. Membrane attachment has been suggested to play a role in the conversion of PrPC to PrPSc, but the majority of in vitro studies of the function, structure, folding and stability of PrP use recombinant protein lacking the GPI anchor. In order to study the effects of membranes on the structure of PrP, we synthesized a GPI anchor mimetic (GPIm), which we have covalently coupled to a genetically engineered cysteine residue at the C‐terminus of recombinant PrP. The lipid anchor places the protein at the same distance from the membrane as does the naturally occurring GPI anchor. We demonstrate that PrP coupled to GPIm (PrP–GPIm) inserts into model lipid membranes and that structural information can be obtained from this membrane‐anchored PrP. We show that the structure of PrP–GPIm reconstituted in phosphatidylcholine and raft membranes resembles that of PrP, without a GPI anchor, in solution. The results provide experimental evidence in support of previous suggestions that NMR structures of soluble, anchor‐free forms of PrP represent the structure of cellular, membrane‐anchored PrP. The availability of a lipid‐anchored construct of PrP provides a unique model to investigate the effects of different lipid environments on the structure and conversion mechanisms of PrP.
Expression of snail, twist, and Zeb1 in malignant mesothelioma

We examined 56 malignant mesotheliomas, 117 lung adenocarcinomas, and 34 metastatic lung adenocarcinomas with antibodies to transcription factors involved in epitheliomesenchymal transition. The tumors were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies zeb1, twist, and snail. Malignant mesotheliomas exhibited a stronger expression of zeb1 and twist than lung adenocarcinomas (p < 0.001 for both). Metastatic adenocarcinomas displayed a more frequent expression of zeb1 and twist (p < 0.001 for both) than lung adenocarcinomas. Patients with snail positive mesotheliomas experienced a better survival (p = 0.046), whereas in lung adenocarcinomas, this trait predicted worse survival (p = 0.024). Biphasic mesotheliomas had a more frequent expression of snail or zeb1 than epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesotheliomas as a group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.005, respectively). E‐cadherin was more commonly present in epithelioid mesotheliomas (p = 0.002). Cases with snail positivity showed a significantly lower apoptotic index (p = 0.039). Malignant mesotheliomas display strong twist and zeb1 expression, which may be an indication of transdifferentiation between the epithelioid and sarcomatoid cell types with biphasic mesotheliomas representing tumors in active transition. Metastatic adenocarcinomas show a higher expression of zeb1 and twist than primary lung tumors, confirming our previous findings and highlighting their significance in the metastatic process. Snail expression is associated with poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinomas, but an opposite effect was seen in mesothelioma, a fact which may be related to the different cellular origin of epithelial and mesothelial cells.
Reproductive performance after transabdominal metroplasty: a review of 157 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of conventional transabdominal metroplasty on the reproductive outcome of symmetric uterine anomalies and to determine the complications of this procedure. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective clinical analysis of 157 consecutive women who underwent surgery during a 25-year period. One hundred fifty-seven patients with a subseptate, septate or bicornuate uterus and history of recurrent abortions (124 cases) or infertility (33 cases) were included in this study. Operative technique was similar to the procedure first described by Bret and Guillet and by Tompkins. RESULTS The fetal survival rate increased from 0.0% before surgery to 81.9% postoperatively in the recurrent abortion group and to 92.8% in the infertility group. Among women having undergone surgery, 63.8% gave birth to at least 1 healthy child, the proportion of previous habitually miscarrying and infertile women was 70.2% and 32.0%, respectively. No uterine rupture or any other complication was observed. CONCLUSION Conventional transabdominal metroplasty seems to be a safe procedure in women with symmetric uterine anomalies and a history of recurrent miscarriages or otherwise unexplained primary infertility. No perioperative or subsequent peripartum complications were observed. Even in the era of operative hysteroscopy, transabdominal metroplasty remains the only approach in cases of bicornuate uterus.
The Changing Spatial Distribution of Montreal Seniors at the Neighbourhood Level: A Trajectory Analysis

Abstract Numerous studies in the 1970s and 1980s examined the changing residential geography of seniors in North American metropolises but recent studies are scarce. The goal of this paper is to identify and model neighbourhood ageing trajectories in Montreal over six consecutive census years (1981–2006). To identify these trajectories, we use a statistical method, Latent Class Growth Modelling, applied to location quotients calculated at the census tracts level (neighbourhoods). The 614 neighbourhoods are classified according to eight ageing trajectories. Next, we examine the predictors of these trajectories by introducing two types of variables: variables characterizing residents and the built environment at the beginning of the study period, and variables that consider the evolution of these characteristics over the 25-year time frame. The most important predictors are the proportions in 1981 of persons 45–64-years old, of one-person households and of low-income families, and the variation from 1981 to 2006 in proportions of persons 0–14-years old and of one-person households.
DIFFERENTIALLY EXPRESSED MicroRNAs IN SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is characteristically altered in cancer, and they may play a role in cancer development and progression. The authors performed microarray and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses to determine the miRNA expression profile of primary small cell lung cancer. Here we show that at least 24 miRNAs are differentially expressed between normal lung and primary small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors. These include miR-301, miR-183/96/182, miR-126, and miR-223, which are microRNAs deregulated in other tumor types as well; and other miRNAs, such as miR-374 and miR-210, not previously reported in association with lung cancer. The aberrant miRNA profile of SCLC may offer new insights in the biology of this aggressive tumor, and could potentially provide novel diagnostic markers.
Roundabout 4 Regulates Blood–Tumor Barrier Permeability Through the Modulation of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5 Expression

Abstract The blood–tumor barrier (BTB) restricts the delivery of chemotherapeutic drug molecules to tumor tissues. We found that the endothelial cell (EC) receptor molecule Roundabout 4 (Robo4) is endogenously expressed in human brain microvascular ECs and that it is upregulated in a BTB model of glioma cocultured ECs. Knockdown of Robo4 in this BTB model increased permeability; short hairpin RNA targeting Robo4 (shRobo4) led to decreased transendothelial electric resistance values, increased BTB permeability, and downregulated expression of the EC tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5. Roundabout 4 influenced BTB permeability via binding with its ligand, Slit2. Short hairpin RNA targeting Robo4 also increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity and expression in glioma cocultured ECs; pretreatment with the MMP inhibitor GM6001 partially blocked the effects of shRobo4 on the transendothelial electric resistance values and ZO-1 and occludin expression. Short hairpin RNA targeting Robo4 also upregulated the phosphorylation of Src and Erk1/2; the Src inhibitor PP2 and the Erk1/2 inhibitor PD98059 blocked shRobo4-mediated alteration in ZO-1 and occludin expression. Together, our results indicate that knockdown of Robo4 increased BTB permeability by reducing EC tight junction protein expression, and that the Src–Erk1/2–MMP-9 signal pathways are involved in this process. Thus, Robo4 may represent a useful future therapeutic target for enhancing BTB permeability.
Cognitive aspects in a Multiple Access Channel

This paper is eligible for the student paper award. This paper is classified under Information Theory. In this paper, we investigate a three-user cognitive communication network where a primary two-user Multiple Access Channel (MAC) suffers interference from a secondary point-to-point channel, sharing the same medium. While the secondary channel transmitter causes an interference at the primary MAC receiver, we assume that the primary channel transmitters do not cause any interference at the secondary receiver. It is assumed that one of the primary transmitters has cognitive capabilities and cribs causally from the other MAC transmitter. Furthermore, we assume that the cognitive transmitter knows the message of the secondary transmitter in a non-causal manner and we introduce three-user Multiple Access Cognitive Z-Interference Channel (MA-CZIC). We obtain inner and outer bounds on the capacity region of the three-user MA-CZIC for both strictly and non-strictly causal cribbing cognitive encoders.
Priapism Associated With Antipsychotics: Role of &agr;1 Adrenoceptor Affinity

Case reports indicate that antipsychotics can cause priapism, a persistent penile erection possibly leading to erectile dysfunction. The mechanism of antipsychotic-induced priapism is thought to be related to blockade of &agr;1 adrenergic receptors, but clinical data supporting this hypothesis are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate if the presence of safety signals for antipsychotics and priapism is associated with their &agr;1 affinity. Spontaneous reports of adverse drug reactions contained in the US Adverse Event Reporting System database were used to calculate reporting odds ratios (RORs) of priapism for antipsychotics. In total, 426 cases of priapism with 144 of them attributed to antipsychotics were identified. For antipsychotics with high &agr;1 affinity, the adjusted ROR was markedly elevated (ROR = 9.9; 95% CI, 7.9-12.4), whereas a weaker signal was observed for antipsychotics with low/medium &agr;1 affinity (ROR = 3.6; 95% CI, 2.4-5.2). Signals were present for chlorpromazine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole. After restricting the analysis to cases with medical intervention or disability, the safety signal remained evident only for antipsychotics with high but not for those with low/medium affinity. The observed pattern of signals indicates a relationship between &agr;1 affinities of antipsychotics and the occurrence of priapism.
Exercise‐Induced Pulse Wave Velocity Changes in Untreated Patients With Essential Hypertension: The Effect of an Angiotensin Receptor Antagonist

This study investigates arterial stiffness changes after acute exercise in young patients with untreated, recently diagnosed grade I essential hypertension (UH) compared with normotensive (NT) individuals and the effect of antihypertensive treatment on this phenomenon. Study 1 consisted of 25 UH and 15 NT patients. UH patients who received treatment were included in study 2 and were followed‐up after a 3‐month treatment period with an angiotensin II receptor blocker. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was assessed at baseline, at maximal exercise, and at 10, 30, and 60 minutes later. In UH patients, PWV increased significantly at maximal exercise and 10 and 30 minutes of recovery, despite blood pressure fall to baseline levels. No significant PWV changes were observed in NT patients. Post‐treatment PWV levels were significantly decreased and similar to those of NT patients. Arterial stiffness is impaired following high‐intensity acute exercise even in the early stages of hypertension. Antihypertensive treatment ameliorates these effects.
Testing momentum and simple moving average strategies in precious metal's, equity indices and currency markets

This study examines whether technical analysis using the time-series momentum (MOM) and simple moving average (SMA) rules can be implemented in 4 precious metal's, 4 equity indices and 12 currency markets, to outperform a passive buy and hold strategy. The results show that technical analysis and the strategies tested, performed very well on in-sample data for the total period from 1970 to 2012, and out-performed the buy and hold strategy with both higher return's and lower risk. Of the assets tested, the strategies worked best on precious metal's and equity indices, with good but poorer results for the currency pairs. The performance of testing the precious metal's in three sub sets, revealed that the extraordinary performance of the metal's in the 70's and in the last decade, would have been less impressive had a portfolio been actively traded in the time period from 1980-2000. However, note that palladium was the exception and delivered extraordinary results also in this time period.
Herpes Simplex 1 and Periopathogen Role in Peri-implantitis.

INTRODUCTION The objectives of this study were to compare the qualitative and quantitative profiles of herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) in implant surfaces between participants with peri-implantitis (PI) and Healthy peri-implant tissues and to quantitatively assess the relation between HSV-1 and periopathogens inside the microbiological profile associated with PI. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 40 patients with PI and 40 with healthy peri-implant tissues (HI) were recruited. Plaque samples from peri-implant sulcus and internal implant connections were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect and quantify HSV-1 and periodonto-pathogens. Frequencies of detection and levels of microorganisms were compared between PI and HI; the frequencies and levels of periodontopathogens were compared between HSV-1+ and HSV-1- PI to assess qualitative relations between HSV-1 and bacteria. Correlation between HSV-1 and periodontopatho-gens levels was assessed in PI and HI. RESULTS A total of 77 dental implants affected by PI, and 113 HIs were included. The HSV-1 prevalence was slightly higher in PI compared with controls (33.3 vs 23.8%; p > 0.05); HSV-1 was detected in external samples more frequently compared with internal samples. The HSV-1-positive patients revealed higher median loads of Prevotella intermedia (Pi) and Campylobacter rectus (Cr) compared with HSV-1-negative patients. In the PI group, a significant positive correlation was evidenced between HSV-1 and Tannerella forsythia, Parvimonas micra (Pm), Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Cr levels, while in the HI, positive correlation between HSV-1 and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Pi, and Pm was established. CONCLUSION The HSV-1 prevalence cannot be used to identify PI. The HSV-1 was found in similar levels of PI and HI patients after an average of 6 years of loaded implants. The HSV-1 prevalence cannot be used to identify implants with or without the presence of PI. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Although HSV-1 is detected in PI site, HSV-1 may represent an unspecific indicator for the host response to the bacterial challenge observed in PI.