Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new - 4th order cybernetics and sustainable future

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report a further step in the authors' research and suggest a new – 4th order cybernetics, applying it to the issue of a sustainable future, that must unavoidably result from the current socio‐economic crisis surfacing in 2008 as the top of an iceberg, or humankind of the current civilization has poor chances to survive. One‐sided solutions do not prove to work; they make us think of systems and cybernetics.Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative research with application to real‐life cases.Findings – While cybernetics is about steering, i.e. influencing, cybernetics of the 1st and 2nd order might be insufficient for solving the problem, and cybernetics of the 3rd order might serve us better, but not enough either. The authors' thesis reads: they might better be put in a new synergy with the (Universal) Dialectical Systems Theory and Cybernetics of Conceptual Systems to make a new kind of systems theory/cybernetics called cybernetics of the 4th order. It should h.
[Microsurgical treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms via keyhole approaches].

OBJECTIVE To explore the feasibility and effect of microsurgical treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms via keyhole approaches. METHODS Operation via keyhole approach was performed on thirty-one patients with 42 complex intracranial aneurysms were operated on, including 2 internal carotid artery bifurcation aneurysms, 1 anterior cerebral artery aneurysm, 12 posterior communicating artery aneurysms, 2 anterior choroids artery aneurysms, 7 middle cerebral artery aneurysms, 6 anterior communicating artery aneurysms, 2 basilar artery aneurysms, 2 vertebral artery aneurysms, 4 posterior cerebral artery aneurysms and 4 ophthalmic artery aneurysms, among which were 10 cases with multiple intracranial aneurysms, 14 with giant aneurysms, and 7 with posterior circulation aneurysms, and 4 aneurysms clipped by drilling off anterior clinoid process. Six of the 31 patients who had giant aneurysms came to hospital because of the symptoms, such as dizziness, headache, oculomotor paralysis, loss of vision, etc, and the other 25 patients were grouped according to the subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) Grade: 5 in grade I, 12 in grade II, 7 in grade III and 1 in grade IV. Eight patients were operated on after SAH in the early-phase, while 8 in the middle-phase and 9 in the late-phase. The supraorbital subfrontal keyhole approach was used 25 times, the pterional approach 5 times, the subtemporal approach 3 times, and both the suboccipital lateral approach and the retromastoid approach once. RESULTS 31 of the 42 aneurysms were clipped, 2 mini-aneurysms wrapped, 5 giant aneurysms clipped and resected, 2 aneurysms trapped with thrombotic aneurysm partially resected, 1 aneurysm trapped, while 1 ruptured before operation and untreated. Short-term Glasgow outcome scoring showed good recovery in 27 patients, moderate disability in 2, and death in 2. CONCLUSION Operation via keyhole approaches effectively controls the immature rupture of intracranial aneurysm, removes anterior clinoid process, respects giant aneurysm, and reconstructs the parent artery of wide-neck aneurysm. Based on individualized surgical approaches and excellent microsurgical skills, the complex intracranial aneurysms can be treated safely, directly and effectively via minimally invasive keyhole approaches.
Coverage control for mobile sensing networks

This paper describes decentralized control laws for the coordination of multiple vehicles performing spatially distributed tasks. The control laws are based on a gradient descent scheme applied to a class of decentralized utility functions that encode optimal coverage and sensing policies. These utility functions are studied in geographical optimization problems and they arise naturally in vector quantization and in sensor allocation tasks. The approach exploits the computational geometry of spatial structures such as Voronoi diagrams.
Comparison of tibial plateau angle between clinically normal Greyhounds and Labrador Retrievers with and without rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament.

OBJECTIVE To compare tibial plateau angle (TPA) between Greyhounds without damage to the cranial cruciate ligaments and Labrador Retrievers with and without damage to the cranial cruciate ligaments. DESIGN Clinical study. ANIMALS 87 client-owned dogs and 15 research colony Greyhounds. PROCEDURE Standing position, horizontal-beam radiography was performed on Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers to determine standing TPA. Lateral radiography of the stifle joint was performed on all dogs to determine traditional TPA. Age and body weight were recorded for unaffected and affected Labrador Retrievers. RESULTS Greyhounds had mean standing TPA of 1.56 degrees and mean traditional TPA of 22.50 degrees. Unaffected Labrador Retrievers had mean standing TPA of 3.52 degrees and traditional TPA of 27.97 degrees. Affected Labrador Retrievers had mean traditional TPA of 25.55 degrees. No significant difference was found in mean standing TPA between Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers. Standing TPAs in Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers were not significantly different from a plane drawn parallel to the ground. Significant differences in traditional TPAs were detected among all 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Greyhounds had mean traditional TPA of 22.50 degrees; similar angles should be considered normal for dogs. Although affected Labrador Retrievers had mean traditional TPA that was significantly greater than that of Greyhounds, the steepest TPA was found in unaffected Labrador Retrievers. Because Greyhounds and unaffected Labrador Retrievers had similar standing TPAs, we conclude that although TPA may be associated with damage to the cruciate ligaments, many dogs with a steep TPA do not develop cruciate ligament disease.
RBPF-based map generation for an indoor mobile robot

In this paper, an effective RBPF-based map generation approach for an indoor mobile robot based on Laser Range Finder is introduced in detail. We use Particle Filter (PF) for sake of its advantage of not being subject to linearity and Gaussianity constraints on the system model. Compared with the other SLAM approach, RBPF framework requires less demanding and its computation complex can be reduced. The experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness of the designed method.
The clinicopathological features associated with skip N2 metastases in patients with clinical stage IA non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES Understanding the clinicopathological features of patients with skip N2 metastases (SN2) in clinical early stage lung cancer is important for surgical planning and other treatment considerations; however, the factors associated with SN2 are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features associated with SN2 in patients with clinical stage IA (cIA) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS We retrospectively studied patients with cIA NSCLC who underwent pulmonary resection (at least lobectomy) and extensive lymphadenectomy (more than ND2a-1) at our institution between January 2004 and December 2010. We investigated the following factors for their association with SN2: age; sex; tumour marker (carcinoembryonic antigen); tumour size on computed tomography (CT), evaluated with a lung-window (LW) and a mediastinal-window (MW) setting; pathology, with or without adenocarcinoma; differentiation; visceral pleural invasion (VPI) and vascular/lymphatic invasion. RESULTS In total, 422 patients were enrolled, with the following pathological node (pN) statuses: 331 pN0 (78.4%), 39 pN1 (9.3%) and 52 pN2 (12.3%). There were 21 (23.1%) SN2 cases among the patients with nodal metastases. When the cut-off level was defined as a receiver operating characteristic curve with MW (11.5 mm), the sensitivity and specificity of SN2 was 95.2% and 42.9%, respectively. VPI was a statistically independent relevant factor for SN2 in both the patients with cIA and in those with nodal involvement. The VPI classification comprised 59 PL-0 (64.8%), 12 PL-1 (13.2%) and 20 PL-2 (22.0%) with nodal metastases, and there was a significant difference between the three groups (P = 0.03) according to SN2 frequency. There was no difference between VPI 1 and 2 (P = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our study suggests that the incidence of SN2 is significantly associated with VPI in patients with cIA NSCLC. Although MW (>11.5 mm) had a low specificity in the assessment of SN2, it had a high sensitivity, suggesting the possibility of a superior benefit compared with LW. Standard hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection should be required in patients with suspicious VPI and MW (>11.5 mm) on preoperative CT.
Structural implications of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 polymorphisms.

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) is important in leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and transmigration, and also has regulatory roles in angiogenesis, apoptosis, and cell signaling (1). PECAM-1 mediates adhesive interactions between adjacent cells by direct homophilic binding, whereby membrane distal domains of PECAM-1 molecules bind in an antiparallel manner to facilitate firm leukocyte adherence to vascular endothelium and their subsequent transmigration into the interstitial tissue. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of PECAM-1 are associated with graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and with the development of cardiovascular disease (2, 3). We recently showed that PECAM-1 genotype has a marked influence on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells in vitro, demonstrating for the first time a functional effect of PECAM-1 polymorphism (4). In an attempt to understand how PECAM-1 polymorphisms influence its molecular structure and hence function, we have modeled the stereochemical protein structure of PECAM-1 and predicted the effect of genetic polymorphisms on the resulting structure. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of PECAM-1 encoding amino acid substitutions at positions 125 (leucine/valine), 563 (serine/asparagine), and 670 (arginine/glycine) occur in strong genetic linkage and form two common haplotypes denoted LSR and VNG. The amino acid polymorphism at position 125 (125L/V) is located within domain 1, which is involved in PECAM-1/ PECAM-1 homophilic interactions and most likely influences leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesion. Because the crystallographic structure of human PECAM-1 has not been elucidated, we generated homology models based on the crystal structure of the three N-terminal domains of rat neural cell adhesion molecule (Protein Data Bank accession
Personality and differential susceptibility to hypnosis: further replication and sex differences.

Following the study of Gibson & Curran (1974), a further sample of 45 subjects were tested on the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) and a slightly modified form of the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS) in precisely the same way. The results in this second sample were broadly the same as those obtained in the earlier study. Combining the two samples, it was found that the sex variable provided some interesting contrasts. The power of the lie scale of the EPI to predict hypnotic susceptibility observed earlier was found to be a significant effect only for males. While there was no significant difference between the sexes in terms of the means and S.D. S. of the extraversion (E) and neuroticism (N) scales, when the interaction of these scales was studied males and females differed significantly. The population from the two studies (n = 88) was analysed by means of polar coordinates in the manner suggested by Eysenck (1966) with regard to the E nad N scales. Esyenck's prediction as to hypnotic susceptibility was strikingly confirmed. These data are briefly discussed in terms of alternative approaches to hypnosis from the 'state' and the 'non-state' viewpoints.
Outdoor/Indoor Vision-Based Localization for Blind Pedestrian Navigation Assistance

The most challenging issue facing the navigation assistive systems for the visually impaired is the instantaneous and accurate spatial localization of the user. Most of the previously proposed systems are based on global positioning system (GPS) sensors. However, the accuracy of low-cost versions is insufficient for pedestrian use. Furthermore, GPS-based systems are confined to outdoor navigation and experience severe signal losts in urban areas. This paper presents a new approach for localizing a person by using a single-body-mounted camera and computer vision techniques. Instantaneous accurate localization and heading estimates of the person are computed from images as the user progresses along a memorized path. A portable prototype has been tested for outdoor as well as indoor pedestrian use. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the vision-based localization: the accuracy is sufficient for making it possible to guide and maintain the blind person within a navigation corridor less than 1 m wide along the intended path. In combination with a suitable guiding interface, such a localization system will be convenient to assist the visually impaired in their everyday movements outdoors as well as indoors.
Lattice Boltzmann model of immiscible fluids.

We introduce a lattice Boltzmann model for simulating immiscible binary fluids in two dimensions. The model, based on the Boltzmann equation of lattice-gas hydrodynamics, incorporates features of a previously introduced discrete immiscible lattice-gas model. A theoretical value of the surface-tension coefficient is derived and found to be in excellent agreement with values obtained from simulations. The model serves as a numerical method for the simulation of immiscible twophase flow; a preliminary application illustrates a simulation of flow in a two-dimensional microscopic model of a porous medium. Extension of the model to three dimensions appears straightforward.
Identifying Stable Variants of Callous-Unemotional Traits: A Longitudinal Study of At-Risk Girls

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits have proven important for designating children and adolescents showing a pattern of particularly severe, stable, and aggressive antisocial behaviors (Frick, Ray, Thornton, & Kahn, 2014). Individuals with secondary CU traits represent a subpopulation that are distinguished from those with primary CU traits by their high anxiety levels and marked histories of social/environmental adversity; however, evidence is largely based on cross-sectional male samples and this study is the first to examine stable trajectories of CU variants among an all-girl population. Using longitudinal data from the Pittsburgh Girls Study (N = 1,829), we examined whether valid, stable primary and secondary variants of CU traits can be identified among girls using CU traits and anxiety scores, and whether they predict poor adolescent mental health outcomes. Separate trajectory analyses conducted from ages 7 to 15 years indicated an optimal 4-class solution for CU traits (high, moderately high, moderately low, low) and 3 classes for anxiety (high, moderate, low). Classes of interest were combined; those girls with high-anxious secondary CU traits (n = 139) reported significantly greater harsh parental punishment, depression, and less self-control at age 7, and at age 16 were distinguished by greater symptoms of depression, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and conduct disorder (CD), compared with those with primary CU traits (n = 59) and low CU girls (n = 326). Findings improve current understanding of female CU traits by supporting the possibility of multiple developmental pathways, and extend it by identifying possible factors for targeted intervention among this understudied population.
The Viterbi Algorithm

The Viterbi algorithm (VA) is a recursive optimal solution to the problem of estimating the state sequence of a discrete-time finite-state Markov process observed in memoryless noise. Many problems in areas such as digital communications can be cast in this form. This paper gives a tutorial exposition of the algorithm and of how it is implemented and analyzed. Applications to date are reviewed. Increasing use of the algorithm in a widening variety of areas is foreseen.
In-line Mach-Zehnder interferometric refractive index sensor based on concatenating two single-mode fiber half-tapers

An in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometric refractive index (RI) sensor is demonstrated by concatenating two single-mode fiber (SMF) half-tapers separated by one section of SMF. The cladding modes excited at the first half-taper interferes with the core mode at the second half-taper to generate the interference fringe. Theoretical and experimental results consistently show that the interference fringe shifts toward shorter wavelengths with the external RI sensitivity of 102.3 nm/RIU in the monitoring RI range from 1.333 to 1.413. In addition, the sensing device may endure the axial stress more than 3200 με with the strain sensitivity of 1.72 pm/με.
The ESCRT machinery: From the plasma membrane to endosomes and back again

Abstract The manipulation and reorganization of lipid bilayers are required for diverse cellular processes, ranging from organelle biogenesis to cytokinetic abscission, and often involves transient membrane disruption. A set of membrane-associated proteins collectively known as the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) machinery has been implicated in membrane scission steps, which transform a single, continuous bilayer into two distinct bilayers, while simultaneously segregating cargo throughout the process. Components of the ESCRT pathway, which include 5 distinct protein complexes and an array of accessory factors, each serve discrete functions. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which the ESCRT proteins facilitate cargo sequestration and membrane remodeling and highlights their unique roles in cellular homeostasis.
Primary mucinous carcinoma of the periocular region: successful management with local resections over 30 years

Primary mucinous carcinoma of the skin is a rare malignant neoplasm, often with periocular involvement, believed to originate from eccrine sweat glands. It is slow growing and locally destructive, at times forming tumour satellites. We present a case with six local recurrences treated with surgical resections over a period of 30 years. We have not been able to find longer follow-up in the literature, and believe this case may offer insight into the management of these uniquely indolent malignancies.
Classification study on eye movement data: Towards a new approach in depression detection

Depression is a common mental disorder with growing prevalence, however current diagnoses of depression face the problem of patient denial, clinical experience and subjective biases from self-report. Our study aims to develop an objective approach to depression detection that supports the process of diagnosis and assists the monitoring of risk factors. By classifying eye movement features during free viewing tasks, an accuracy of 80.1% was achieved using Random Forest to discriminate depressed and nondepressed subjects. Results indicate that eye movement features hold the potential to form a complimentary method of detection, having a relatively low computation overhead. Furthermore, given the proliferation of cheap internet eye movement detection technologies, the method offers the possibility of cost effective remote sensing of the patient mental state.
Dose Selection Based on Modeling and Simulation for Rivipansel in Pediatric Patients Aged 6 to 11 Years With Sickle Cell Disease

This modeling and simulation exercise aimed to provide dosing recommendations for rivipansel phase III studies in children aged 6–11 years with sickle cell disease (SCD). Pharmacokinetic data from 109 patients aged 12–51 years who received rivipansel (2–40 mg/kg) in previous studies (three phase I and one phase II) were integrated to build a three‐compartmental simulation model. Renal clearance simulations across the age range accounted for renal function development and postulated hyperfiltration in SCD. Simulated demographic distributions for the pediatric SCD population were used to predict concentration‐time profiles from three dosing regimens, which were then compared against efficacious average steady‐state concentrations observed in phase II. A dosing regimen comprising a 40‐mg/kg loading dose followed by a 20‐mg/kg maintenance dose every 12 hours was selected, as it will likely provide an efficacious concentration range. Its validity will be confirmed in the ongoing phase III study.
The Putative Pocket Protein Binding Site of Autographa californica Nucleopolyhedrovirus BV/ODV-C42 Is Required for Virus-Induced Nuclear Actin Polymerization

ABSTRACT Nuclear filamentous actin (F-actin) is essential for nucleocapsid morphogenesis of lepidopteran nucleopolyhedroviruses. Previously, we had demonstrated that Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) BV/ODV-C42 (C42) is involved in nuclear actin polymerization by recruiting P78/83, an AcMNPV orf9-encoded N-WASP homology protein that is capable of activating an actin-related-protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex to initiate actin polymerization, to the nucleus. To further investigate the role of C42 in virus-induced actin polymerization, the recombinant bacmid vAcp78/83nls-gfp, with a c42 knockout, p78/83 tagged with a nuclear localization signal coding sequence, and egfp as a reporter gene under the control of the Pp10 promoter, was constructed and transfected to Sf9 cells. In the nuclei of vAcp78/83nls-gfp-transfected cells, polymerized F-actin filaments were absent, whereas other actin polymerization elements (i.e., P78/83, G-actin, and Arp2/3 complex) were present. This in vivo evidence indicated that C42 actively participates in the nuclear actin polymerization process as a key element, besides its role in recruiting P78/83 to the nucleus. In order to collect in vitro evidence for the participation of C42 in actin polymerization, an anti-C42 antibody was used to neutralize the viral nucleocapsid, which is capable of initiating actin polymerization in vitro. Both the kinetics of pyrene-actin polymerization and F-actin-specific staining by phalloidin indicated that anti-C42 can significantly attenuate the efficiency of F-actin formation compared to that with control antibodies. Furthermore, we have identified the putative pocket protein binding sequence (PPBS) on C42 that is essential for C42 to exert its function in nuclear actin polymerization.
Image masking using quantum-dot cellular automata

This paper explores the design of a novel low power encoder circuit for image masking in quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA). The proposed encoder can also function as decoder. Using this mask image, steganalysis is performed to show how an encoded image can be retrieved without knowing the secret key. To establish the low power dissipative nature of the circuit, the power dissipation by the proposed encoder/decoder circuit is estimated. The design accuracy is shown by comparing with the theoretical values of the circuit. Further, operational capabilities are tested under thermal randomness. Implementation is performed through QCA Designer tool and to provide the inputs to the proposed circuit, MATLAB is utilized.