Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the role of small-bowel endoscopy in clinical practice: the largest single-centre experience

Objective There are few centres that offer all forms of small-bowel endoscopic modalities [capsule endoscopy (CE), push enteroscopy (PE), double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) or single-balloon enteroscopy and intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE)]. Previous investigators have suggested that DBE may be more cost-effective as the first-line investigation. We evaluated the relationship among four modalities of small-bowel endoscopy in terms of demand, diagnostic yield, patient management and tolerability. Methods Data were collected on patients who underwent PE and IOE since January 2002, CE since June 2002 and DBE since July 2006. These included age, sex, indication of referral, comorbidity, previous investigations and diagnosis obtained, including subsequent management change. Results Demand for CE and DBE increased every year. A total of 1431 CEs, 247 PEs, 102 DBEs and 17 IOEs were performed over 93 months. The diagnostic yield was 88% for IOE compared with 34.6% for CE, 34.5% for PE and 43% for DBE (P<0.001). Management was altered by CE in 25%, by PE in 19% and by DBE in 33% of patients. However, 44% of patients who underwent DBE found the procedure difficult to tolerate. In 2009, for every 17 CEs performed, one patient underwent DBE locally. Conclusion This is the first series to report the clinical experience of four modalities of small-bowel endoscopy from a single centre. The use of CE as first-line investigation, followed by PE/DBE or IOE, is potentially both less invasive and tolerable.
Analysis of parametric models of MR linear damper

This work deals with the analysis of parametric models of a MR linear damper, which suit various rheological structures of the MR fluid. The MR fluid structure and properties, damper description and parametric damper models which are connected in various ways with the actual behaviour of the MR fluid are presented. Based on computer simulations, the effectiveness of the models under predicted MR linear damper behaviour is shown. The values of the parametric models used in the simulations were determined in an identification experiment.
Understanding the utility of geospatial information in social media

Crisis situations generate tens of millions of social media reports, many of which contain references to geographic features and locations. Contemporary systems are now capable of mining and visualizing these location references in social media reports, but we have yet to develop a deep understanding of what end-users will expect to do with this information when attempting to achieve situational awareness. To explore this problem, we have conducted a utility and usability analysis of SensePlace2, a geovisual analytics tool designed to explore geospatial information found in Tweets. Eight users completed a task analysis and survey study using SensePlace2. Our findings reveal user expectations and key paths for solving usability and utility issues to inform the design of future visual analytics systems that incorporate geographic information from social media.
Chemical gas sensors based on nanowires

Chemical gas sensors based on nanowires can find a wide range of applications in clinical assaying, environmental emission control, explosive detection, agricultural storage and shipping, and workplace hazard monitoring. Sensors in the forms of nanowires are expected to have significantly enhanced performance due to high surface-volume ratio and quasi-one-dimensional confinement in nanowires. Indeed, chemical gas sensors based on nanowires with a ppb level sensitivity have been demonstrated. In this review, the fundamental aspects on (i) methods of nanowire synthesis (ii) performance of nanowire sensors, (iii) chemiresistors, transistor sensors, and their sensing mechanism, and (iv) assembly technologies will be summarized and discussed. The prospects of the future research on chemical gas sensors based on nanowires will be also addressed.
Synchrosqueezing to investigate cardio-respiratory interactions within simulated volumetric signals

The interest of volumetric signals measured by respiratory inductive plethysmography is twofold: (1) clinical as their measurement is non-invasive and (2) physiological as they reveal the interactions between the cardiac and respiratory systems. Interestingly these signals may be seen as the addition of non-stationary cardiac and respiratory modes ordered in frequency. This feature makes them particularly suitable for time-frequency representation based on the pursuit of modes like Synchrosqueezing (SQ). As a preliminary to an application to real cardio-respiratory (CR) signals, a simulated approach has been chosen because of the availability of a reference signal which allows both the validation of the approach and the fine-tuning of the parameters of the algorithm used. Notably, the number of modes necessary to reconstruct the cardiac component from the decomposition of the whole CR signal was analyzed and might be limited to 6. So, this paper aims at investigating the functioning of SQ on one simulated CR signal and comparing its performance with the one of an already tried and tested approach: Empirical Mode Decomposition. In the present set-up, it turns out that the two approaches provide equivalent results.
Exploiting Problem Symmetries in State-Based Planners

Previous research in Artificial Intelligence has identified the possibility of simplifying planning problems via the identification and exploitation of symmetries. We advance the state of the art in algorithms that exploit symmetry in planning problems by generalizing previous approaches, and applying symmetry reductions to state-based planners. We suggest several algorithms for symmetry exploitation in state-based search, but also provide a comprehensive view through which additional algorithms can be developed and fine-tuned. We evaluate our approach to symmetry exploitation on instances from previous planning competitions, and demonstrate that our algorithms significantly improve the solution time of instances with symmetries.
Individual Muscle Control Using an Exoskeleton Robot for Muscle Function Testing

Healthy individuals modulate muscle activation patterns according to their intended movement and external environment. Persons with neurological disorders (e.g., stroke and spinal cord injury), however, have problems in movement control due primarily to their inability to modulate their muscle activation pattern in an appropriate manner. A functionality test at the level of individual muscles that investigates the activity of a muscle of interest on various motor tasks may enable muscle-level force grading. To date there is no extant work that focuses on the application of exoskeleton robots to induce specific muscle activation in a systematic manner. This paper proposes a new method, named “individual muscle-force control” using a wearable robot (an exoskeleton robot, or a power-assisting device) to obtain a wider variety of muscle activity data than standard motor tasks, e.g., pushing a handle by hand. A computational algorithm systematically computes control commands to a wearable robot so that a desired muscle activation pattern for target muscle forces is induced. It also computes an adequate amount and direction of a force that a subject needs to exert against a handle by his/her hand. This individual muscle control method enables users (e.g., therapists) to efficiently conduct neuromuscular function tests on target muscles by arbitrarily inducing muscle activation patterns. This paper presents a basic concept, mathematical formulation, and solution of the individual muscle-force control and its implementation to a muscle control system with an exoskeleton-type robot for upper extremity. Simulation and experimental results in healthy individuals justify the use of an exoskeleton robot for future muscle function testing in terms of the variety of muscle activity data.
Default Representation in Constraint-based Frameworks

Default unification has been used in several linguistic applications. Most of them have utilized defaults at a metalevel, as part of an extended description language. We propose that allowing default unification to be a fully integrated part of a typed feature structure system requires default unification to be a binary, order independent function, so that it acquires the perspicuity and declarativity familiar from normal unification-based frameworks. Furthermore, in order to respect the behaviour of defaults, default unification should allow default reentrancies and values on more general types to be overridden by conflicting default information on more specific types. We define what we believe is the first version of default unification to fully satisfy these criteria, and argue that it can improve the representation of a range of phenomena in syntax, semantics and the lexico-pragmatic interface.
Interaction of Sulfate Assimilation with Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism in Lemna minor 1

Cysteine synthesis from sulfide andO-acetyl-l-serine (OAS) is a reaction interconnecting sulfate, nitrogen, and carbon assimilation. UsingLemna minor, we analyzed the effects of omission of CO2 from the atmosphere and simultaneous application of alternative carbon sources on adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase (APR) and nitrate reductase (NR), the key enzymes of sulfate and nitrate assimilation, respectively. Incubation in air without CO2 led to severe decrease in APR and NR activities and mRNA levels, but ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase was not considerably affected. Simultaneous addition of sucrose (Suc) prevented the reduction in enzyme activities, but not in mRNA levels. OAS, a known regulator of sulfate assimilation, could also attenuate the effect of missing CO2 on APR, but did not affect NR. When the plants were subjected to normal air after a 24-h pretreatment in air without CO2, APR and NR activities and mRNA levels recovered within the next 24 h. The addition of Suc and glucose in air without CO2 also recovered both enzyme activities, with OAS again influenced only APR.35SO4 2− feeding showed that treatment in air without CO2 severely inhibited sulfate uptake and the flux through sulfate assimilation. After a resupply of normal air or the addition of Suc, incorporation of 35S into proteins and glutathione greatly increased. OAS treatment resulted in high labeling of cysteine; the incorporation of 35S in proteins and glutathione was much less increased compared with treatment with normal air or Suc. These results corroborate the tight interconnection of sulfate, nitrate, and carbon assimilation.
The influence on the interferometry due to the instability of ground-based synthetic aperture radar work platform

There has been increased interest over several decades for applying ground-based synthetic aperture radar (GB-SAR) for monitoring terrain displacement. GB-SAR can achieve multitemporal surface deformation maps of the entire terrain with high spatial resolution and submilimetric accuracy due to the ability of continuous monitoring a certain area day and night regardless of the weather condition. The accuracy of the interferometric measurement result is very important. In this paper, the basic principle of InSAR is expounded, the influence of the platform’s instability on the interferometric measurement results are analyzed. The error sources of deformation detection estimation are analyzed using precise geometry of imaging model. Finally, simulation results demonstrates the validity of our analysis.
Multiplex Real-Time PCR Method To Identify Shiga Toxin Genes stx 1 and stx 2 and Escherichia coli O 157 : H 7 / H Serotype

A multiplex real-time PCR method to simultaneously detect the stx1 and stx2 genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and a unique conserved single-nucleotide polymorphism in the E. coli O157:H7/H uidA gene has been developed. There is more than 98.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity for all three gene targets based on a panel of 138 isolates. The PCR efficiencies were >1.89, and as few as 6 CFU/reaction could be detected.
Dynamic battery operational cost modeling for energy dispatch

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) have gained extensive application in both grid and microgrid applications. One major type of BESS are electrochemical batteries such as Lead-Acid and Lithium-Ion batteries which have limited number of lifecycles. The common way of considering their operation cost is using a constant value such as LCOE (levelized cost of energy). However, as shown herein, given the same amount of energy output, the battery lifecycle degradation, and thus the degradation cost, can vary at different operation conditions (voltage, current, power, state of charge (SOC)) by up to 6 times. Herein a model for the dynamic battery operation cost as a function of its dispatch power and SOC is developed. The model also considers the dependency of battery voltage on its current and SOC, which equivalently takes into account the dependency of its conversion efficiency on its power and SOC. Preliminary simulations demonstrate that using the proposed model, instead of the LCOE, for Microgrid operation optimization microgrid operation cost is lower by up to 12%.
Endothelial Progenitor Cells Bind and Inhibit Platelet Function and Thrombus Formation

Background— Interactions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) with vascular and blood cells contribute to vascular homeostasis. Although platelets promote the homing of EPCs to sites of vascular injury and their differentiation into endothelial cells, the functional consequences of such interactions on platelets remain unknown. Herein, we addressed the interactions between EPCs and platelets and their impact on platelet function and thrombus formation. Methods and Results— Cultured on fibronectin in conditioned media, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells differentiated, within 10 days of culture, into EPCs, which uptake acetylated low-density lipoprotein, bind ulex-lectin, lack monocyte/leukocyte markers (CD14, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1, L-selectin), express progenitor/endothelial markers (CD34, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, von Willebrand factor, and vascular endothelial cadherin), and proliferate in culture. These EPCs bound activated platelets via CD62P and inhibited its translocation, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa activation, aggregation, and adhesion to collagen, mainly via prostacyclin secretion. Indeed, this was associated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. However, the effects on platelets in vitro were reversed by cyclooxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition but not by nitric oxide or inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibition. Moreover, in a ferric chloride-induced murine arterial thrombosis model, injection of EPCs led to their incorporation into sites of injury and impaired thrombus formation, leading to an incomplete occlusion with 50% residual flow. Conclusions— Peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived EPCs bind platelets via CD62P and inhibit platelet activation, aggregation, adhesion to collagen, and thrombus formation, predominantly via upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and secretion of prostacyclin. These findings add new insights into the biology of EPCs and define their potential roles in regulating platelet function and thrombosis.
Assessment of respiration‐induced vertebral motion in prone‐positioned patients during general anaesthesia

Robotic techniques are beginning to be applied to spine surgery, but safety is always a concern. Respiration‐induced motion during surgery could lead to inaccurate robot‐assisted pedicle screw placement. Accurate positional information for vertebral movement is needed to develop new techniques to eliminate or adjust respiration‐induced motion and improve the accuracy of robotic spine surgery.
Utilização de sensores de dossel para adubação nitrogenada no algodoeiro

Use canopy sensors for nitrogen fertilization in cotton Most tropical and subtropical soils has insufficient availability of nitrogen (N) to meet the demand of the cotton crop in order to obtain high yields. The N plants may be evaluated using active optical spectroscopy sensors as the one used in this investigation (N-SensorTM ALS). The equipment is capable of determining in real time the amount of N to be applied spread in the field. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of an active optical sensor, sonar and chlorophyll sensor to predict plant parameters and test nitrogen fertilization strategies based on the optical sensor readings in order to increase cotton yield in narrow and conventional farming systems. The experiments were conducted in three years: a) in Chapadão do Céu GO 2012/13 and 2013/14; b) in Campo Verde, MT 2014/15. The evaluated parameters were plant height, dry weight, fresh and accumulated nitrogen in the biomass. These parameters were analyzed in the areas corresponding to fertilization in fixed rate and correlated with the vegetation index generated by the sensors. The results showed that the active sensor used is highly efficient in estimating plant height, fresh weight, dry weight and accumulated nitrogen on cotton crop. The use of chlorophyll sensor to monitor the leaf nitrogen content in cotton was not effective. The use of ultrasonic sensor (sonar) to estimate plant height parameters, dry pasta, fresh pasta and accumulated nitrogen on cotton plant is a promising strategy. Although it has not the same efficiency as canopy sensors, it showed good results in the detection of variability in crops. The different nitrogen fertilization strategies in cotton-driven asset canopy sensor resulted in no clear effects on productivity. The productivity of each treatment was more dependent on the location of the repetitions within the area than the adopted fertilization strategy.
Homopolar Magnetic Bearing Saturation Effects on Rotating Machinery Vibration

An objective in the design of high performance machinery is to minimize weight so magnetic bearings are often designed to operate slightly lower than their magnetic material saturation. Further weight reduction in the bearings requires operation in the nonlinear portion of the - curve. This necessitates a more sophisticated analysis at the bearing and rotordynamic system levels during the design stage. This paper addresses this problem in a unique manner by developing a fully nonlinear homopolar magnetic bearing model. The nonlinear dynamics of a permanent magnet-biased homopolar magnetic bearing (PMB HoMB) system with a flexible rotor is analyzed. Nonlinear effects due to power amplifier voltage and current saturation and position dependent reluctances are also included in the model. A new curve fit model of the - curve is shown to have significantly better agreement with the measured counterpart than conventional piecewise linear. The modified Langmuir method, with a novel correction terms for the weak flux region, is used to form an analytical model of the experimental magnetization curve of Hiperco 50. High static and dynamic loads applied to the rotor force the magnetic bearing to operate in a flux saturated state. The response of the heavily loaded 4-DOF rotor-bearing system shows that limit cycle stability can be achieved due to the magnetic flux saturation or current saturation in the amplifier. The stable limit cycle prevents the linear model instability, creating what is experimentally observed as a “virtual catcher bearing. ” To the authors' knowledge this is the first explanation of this commonly observed phenomenon.
Incorporating Nanotechnology into Undergraduate Education

A new course in nanoscale mechanics for engineering students was recently taught at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Mechanics enters a new regime at the nanoscale, where the effects of surfaces, interfaces, defects, material property variations, and quantum effects are accentuated. This course provided an introduction to nanoscale engineering with a direct focus on the critical role that mechanics needs to play in this developing area. The limits of continuum mechanics were presented, as well as newly developed mechanics theories and experiments tailored to describe microand nano-scale phenomena. Numerous demonstrations and experiments were used throughout the course, including synthesis and fabrication techniques for creating nanostructured materials, bubble raft models to demonstrate size-scale effects in thin film structures, a hands-on laboratory utilizing the atomic force microscope, and a laboratory construction of a nanofilter devices using microfluidic technology.
Comparative Evaluation of Left and Right Ventricular Endomyocardial Biopsy: Differences in Complication Rate and Diagnostic Performance

Background— Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) represents the gold standard for diagnosing myocarditis and nonischemic cardiomyopathies. This study focuses on the risk of complications and the respective diagnostic performance of left ventricular (LV), right ventricular (RV), or biventricular EMB in patients with suspected myocarditis and/or cardiomyopathy of unknown origin. Methods and Results— In this 2-center study, 755 patients with clinically suspected myocarditis (n=481) and/or cardiomyopathy of nonischemic origin including those with infiltrative or connective tissue disease (n=274) underwent either selective LV-EMB (n=265; 35.1%), selective RV-EMB (n=133; 17.6%), or biventricular EMB (n=357; 47.3%) after coronary angiography and exclusion of significant coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance, including late gadolinium enhancement, imaging was performed in 540 patients (71.5%). The major complication rate for LV-EMB was 0.64% and for RV-EMB, 0.82%. Considering postprocedural pericardial effusion that occurred after biventricular EMB, the minor complication rate for LV-EMB varied between 0.64% to 2.89% and for RV-EMB, between 2.24% and 5.10%. Diagnostic EMB results were achieved significantly more often in those patients who underwent biventricular EMBs (79.3%) compared to those who underwent either selective LV-EMB or selective RV-EMB (67.3%; P<0.001). In patients with biventricular EMB, myocarditis was diagnosed in LV-EMB samples in 18.7% and in RV-EMB samples in 7.9% (P=0.002), and it was diagnosed in both ventricles in 73.4%. There were no differences in the number of positive LV-EMB, RV-EMB, or LV- and RV-EMB findings when related to the site of cardiovascular magnetic resonance–based late gadolinium enhancement. Conclusions— Both LV-EMB and RV-EMB are safe procedures if performed by experienced interventionalists. The diagnostic yield of EMB may be optimized when samples from both ventricles are available. Preferential biopsy in regions showing late gadolinium enhancement on cardiovascular magnetic resonance does not increase the number of positive diagnoses of myocarditis.
Three-Dimensional Modelling of Honeybee Venom Allergenic Proteases: Relation to Allergenicity

Api SI and Api SII are serine proteases of the honeybee venom containing allergenic determinants. Each protease consists of two structural modules: an N-terminal CUB (Api SI) or a clip domain (Api SII) and a C-terminal serine protease-like (SPL) domain. Both domains are connected with a linker peptide. The knowledge about the structure and function of Api SI and Api SII is limited mainly to their amino acid sequences. We constructed 3-D models of the two proteases using their amino acid sequences and crystallographic coordinates of related proteins. The models of the SPL domains were built using the structure of the prophenoloxidase-activating factor (PPAF)-II as a template. For modelling of the Api SI CUB domain the coordinates of porcine spermadhesin PSP-I were used. The models revealed the catalytic and substrate-binding sites and the negatively charged residue responsible for the trypsin-like activity. IgE-binding and antigenic sites in the two allergens were predicted using the models and programs based on the structure of known epitopes. Api SI and Api SII show structural and functional similarity to the members of the PPAF-II family. Most probably, they are part of the defence system of Apis mellifera