Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Linear Matrix Inequalities for Rigid-Body Inertia Parameter Identification: A Statistical Perspective

With the increased application of model-based whole-body control methods in legged robots, there has been an resurgen ce of interest in whole-body system identification strategies an d adaptive control. An important class of methods relates to the identi fication of inertial parameters for rigid-body systems. That is, the mass, first mass moment (related to center of mass location), and 3D rota tional inertia tensor for each link. It is known that the standard manipulator equations of a rigid-body system are linear in these inertia l parameters, enabling many methods for offline model identification and online adaptive control. Recent work has shown that previous metho ds can lead to parameter estimates that are non-physical (i.e. canot possibly represent any physical rigid-body system), due to the viola tion of certain triangle inequalities on the principal moments of inertia. The main contribution of this paper is to formulate these added const raints as Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). Matrix inequalities ar e developed not in terms of the inertia tensor, but in terms of the density-weighted covariance of each body, suggesting a statistical interpre tation of the rigid body for inertia identification problems. Enforcing t hese extra conditions on physical realizability surprisingly results in an LMI of lower dimension in comparison to previous work. Through this insight, semi-definite programming approaches can be used to solve in ertia parameter identification problems to global optimality.
Modifications of most expressive feature reordering criteria for supervised kernel Principal Component Analysis

The following paper proposes a set of novel feature selection criteria that can be applied to kernel Principal Component Analysis (kPCA) outcome to derive discriminative feature spaces for complex classification problems, such as biometric recognition tasks. The proposed class-separation criteria that are used to evaluate distributions of samples, which are projected onto nonlinear most discriminative directions, are modifications of Fisher Linear Discriminant (FLD). The modifications include reformulation of a basic class separation index that addresses the case of multi-modal class distributions and introduction of information regarding sample distribution skewness into the corresponding feature assessment criterion. It has been shown that class discrimination performance of the proposed scheme is better than in case of an application of a basic FLD scheme.
Identification and characterization of ovary development-related protein EJO1 (Eri s 2) from the ovary of Eriocheir sinensis as a new food allergen.

SCOPE Crab is a major source of shellfish allergens. Most studies have focused on allergens in crab muscle (CM) rather than on allergens in crab ovary (CO). This study aimed to identify potential allergens in CO from Eriocheir sinensis. METHODS AND RESULTS Dot blot and immunoblotting results revealed the differential reactivity of CM and CO extracts to positive sera from patients allergic to crabs. Four CO proteins showed good specific IgE-binding activities in 2-DE/immunoblotting analysis; mass spectrometry identified the proteins as hemocyanin, vitellogenin, ovary development-related protein EJO1and EJO2. The recently identified allergen EJO1 is named 'Eri s 2' in the World Health Organization and International Union of Immunological Societies (WHO/IUIS) allergen nomenclature database. Recombinant Eri s 2 exhibited good reactivity to positive sera, and pre-incubation with recombinant Eri s 2 abrogated the reactivity of positive sera from two patients to CO in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, co-incubation of recombinant Eri s 2 with patient basophils dose-dependently promoted basophil activation, confirming the biological activity of Eri s 2. CONCLUSION CO tissue is an important allergen source, and Eri s 2 is a new crab allergen. This study provides insights that will be useful for component-resolved diagnostics for crab allergy.
Indexation libre et contrôlée d’articles scientifiques. Présentation et résultats du défi fouille de textes DEFT2012 (Controlled and free indexing of scientific papers. Presentation and results of the DEFT2012 text-mining challenge) [in French]

Controlled and free indexing of scientific papers Presentation and results of the DEFT2012 text-mining challenge In this paper, we present the 2012 edition of the DEFT text-mining challenge. This edition addresses the automatic, keyword-based indexing of scientific papers through two tracks. The first gives to the participants the terminology of keywords used to index the documents, while the second does not provide this terminology. The corpus is composed of scientific papers published in humanities journals, indexed by their authors. This indexing is used as a reference for the evaluation. The results have been evaluated in terms of micro-measures on the recall, precision and F-measure computed after keyword lemmatization. In the track giving the terminology of used keywords, the mean F-measure is 0.3575, the median is 0.3321 and the standard deviation is 0.2985 ; in the second track, the mean F-measure is 0.2055, the median is 0.1901 and the standard deviation is 0.1516.
Intensive oral methotrexate protects against lymphoid marrow relapse in childhood B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE To describe the use of combination chemotherapy, including divided-dose oral methotrexate (dMTX), for children with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). dMTX produced prolonged MTX exposure on an outpatient basis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred forty-three patients were treated from January 1986 to May 1992. dMTX was given weekly during consolidation and biweekly for the first 16 months of continuation therapy with mercaptopurine (6-MP) and asparaginase (L-ASP). Initially, etoposide (VP-16) and cytarabine (Ara-C) pulses were included. Treatment continued for 30 months with single-dose weekly MTX replacing dMTX during continuation, part 2. Unexpected acute neurotoxicity was eliminated by the addition of leucovorin. VP-16 and Ara-C were omitted in the face of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). RESULTS Two hundred thirty-nine patients entered remission: 16 had a lymphoid marrow relapse, two each with testicular or CNS relapse; 19 a CNS relapse; 16 secondary AML; three other second malignancies; two withdrew for transplant; three died in remission; 16 withdrew because of noncompliance, and nine withdrew with toxicity. Event-free survival (EFS) at 4 years was 73 +/- 4%; 81 +/- 4% for 150 patients with better risk features and 60 +/- 7% for 93 with high-risk features. Lymphoid marrow relapse-free survival in the standard- and high-risk patients was 94 +/- 3% and 86% +/- 6%, respectively. The most common adverse event was secondary AML in the standard-risk group and isolated CNS relapse in the high-risk group. CONCLUSION This therapy produced an overall EFS similar to other published regimens, but the pattern of failures is very different, with few patients having a lymphoid marrow relapse. These data suggest that highly effective therapy for children with ALL can be delivered on an outpatient basis using a regimen featuring repetitive dMTX.
A Finite Element Model to Simulate Defect Formation during Friction Stir Welding

In this study, a 3D coupled thermo-mechanical finite element model is developed to predict and analyze the defect formation during friction stir welding based on coupled Eulerian Lagrangian method. The model is validated by comparing the estimated welding temperature, processed zone shape and void size with those obtained experimentally. The results compared indicate that the simulated temperature and the data measured are in good agreement with each other. In addition, the model can predict the plasticized zone shape and the presence of a void in the weld quite accurately. However, the void size is overestimated. The effects of welding parameters and tool pin profile are also analyzed. The results reveal that welding at low welding speed or high tool rotational speed could produce a smaller void. Moreover, compared to a smooth tool pin, a featured tool pin can enhance plastic flow in the weld and achieve defect-free weldment. The results are helpful for the optimization of the welding process and the design of welding tools.
Probiotic supplementation prevents high-fat, overfeeding-induced insulin resistance in human subjects

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS)) prevents diet-induced insulin resistance in human subjects. A total of seventeen healthy subjects were randomised to either a probiotic (n 8) or a control (n 9) group. The probiotic group consumed a LcS-fermented milk drink twice daily for 4 weeks, whereas the control group received no supplementation. Subjects maintained their normal diet for the first 3 weeks of the study, after which they consumed a high-fat (65 % of energy), high-energy (50 % increase in energy intake) diet for 7 d. Whole-body insulin sensitivity was assessed by an oral glucose tolerance test conducted before and after overfeeding. Body mass increased by 0·6 (se 0·2) kg in the control group (P< 0·05) and by 0·3 (se 0·2) kg in the probiotic group (P>0·05). Fasting plasma glucose concentrations increased following 7 d of overeating (control group: 5·3 (se 0·1) v. 5·6 (se 0·2) mmol/l before and after overfeeding, respectively, P< 0·05), whereas fasting serum insulin concentrations were maintained in both groups. Glucose AUC values increased by 10 % (from 817 (se 45) to 899 (se 39) mmol/l per 120 min, P< 0·05) and whole-body insulin sensitivity decreased by 27 % (from 5·3 (se 1·4) to 3·9 (se 0·9), P< 0·05) in the control group, whereas normal insulin sensitivity was maintained in the probiotic group (4·4 (se 0·8) and 4·5 (se 0·9) before and after overeating, respectively (P>0·05). These results suggest that probiotic supplementation may be useful in the prevention of diet-induced metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
Automated lung sound analysis in patients with pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether objectively detected lung sounds were significantly different in patients with pneumonia than those in asymptomatic subjects, and to quantify the pneumonia findings for teaching purposes. METHODS At a community teaching hospital we used a multi-channel lung sound analyzer to examine a learning sample of 50 patients diagnosed with pneumonia and 50 control subjects. Automated quantification and characterization of the lung sounds commonly recognized to be associated with pneumonia were used to generate an "acoustic pneumonia score. " These were examined in the learning sample and then prospectively tested in 50 patients and 50 controls. RESULTS The acoustic pneumonia score averaged 13 in the learning sample and 11 in the test sample of pneumonia patients. The scores were 2 and 3 in the controls. The positive predictive value of a score higher than 6 was 0.94 in the learning sample and 0.87 in the test sample. The sensitivities in the 2 groups were 0.90 and 0.78, and the specificities were 0.94 and 0.88, respectively. Adventitious sounds were more common in pneumonia patients (inspiratory crackles 81% vs 28%, expiratory crackles 65% vs 9%, rhonchi 19% vs 0%). CONCLUSION Our lung sound analyzer found significant differences between lung sounds in patients with pneumonia and in asymptomatic controls. Computerized lung sound analysis can provide objective evidence supporting the diagnosis of pneumonia. We believe that the lung-sound data produced by our device will help to teach physical diagnosis.
3-way associative collision warning system

Technology has received a new dimension altogether with the advent of GPS units. Various products have been launched in order to make navigation an easy and user friendly experience. However, they still lack various features that would not only enhance the application of such devices but also make them highly efficient and reliable. With this view in mind, we discuss about a system that would help the vehicle users identify any possible collision likely to happen. Warning levels are to be generated each time there is a likelihood of any collision which can thus be avoided. This system is implemented with the help of inputs received from a tracking device placed on the vehicle.
Effect of PEEP and suction via chest drain on functional residual capacity and lung compliance after surgical repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: preliminary observations in 5 patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia that limits survival. The authors' knowledge on lung mechanics and lung volumes in these patients with hypoplastic lungs is still limited. Therefore, the authors performed measurements of functional residual capacity (FRC), compliance of the respiratory system (CRS), and tidal volume in 5 full-term infants (gestational age, 38 to 40 weeks; birth weight, 2,800 to 3,530 g) before and after surgical repair of neonatal CDH. METHODS The authors studied the influence of different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and suction via inserted ipsilateral chest tube connected to a water seal on lung volume and lung mechanics. A computerized tracer gas (SF6) washout method was used for serial measurements of FRC. Compliance of the respiratory system was determined according to insufflatory method. RESULTS The authors found a preoperative compliance between 1.5 and 3.9 mL/kPa/kg and a preoperative FRC between 9.1 and 12.9 mL/kg indicating severe hypoplasia of the lungs in all patients. Immediately after surgical repair of CDH, compliance decreased to 85% (78% to 91%) of preoperative value, and FRC increased to 132% (110% to 150%) of preoperative value under mechanical ventilation while at 4 cm of water of PEEP and at -10 cm of water of suction via chest drain with the need of high fraction of inspired oxygen. After reduction of PEEP from 4 to 2 or 1 cm of water and lowering suction from -10 cm of water to -2 or 0 cm of water FRC decreased to 103% (80% to 122%) of preoperative value and compliance, and tidal volume improved to 135% (110% to 147%) of preoperative value resulting in increased alveolar ventilation, correction of acidosis and improvement in oxygenation. During the first days after surgery inadequate high PEEP or strong suction via chest tube drainage resulted in increase in FRC paralleled by decrease in compliance indicating overdistension of these hypoplastic lungs. CONCLUSIONS The data show that overdistension of hypoplastic lungs in infants with CDH can be detected and excluded by repeated measurements of FRC and compliance in these critical ill infants. These data might help setting appropriate ventilator parameters, adequate suction via chest drain, and thereby improve gas exchange and outcome.
National Culture, Corporate Governance Practices, and Firm Performance *

In this paper, we examine the universality of “good” corporate governance practices as exemplified by the Anglo-American governance paradigm. Using a new database from Governance Metrics International featuring highly granular measures of corporate governance practices across a large number of countries for the period 2006-2011, we first find that the national cultural dimension of individualism is positively associated with transparent disclosure and explicit corporate policy, and uncertainty avoidance is negatively associated with transparent disclosure and minority shareholder protection. In addition, the stock market-based (versus bank-based) financial system of a country is negatively associated with transparent disclosure and minority shareholder protection. We further find that firm-level corporate governance practices are positively associated with firm performance. The relation between firm-level corporate governance practices and firm performance is stronger in countries with a well-developed stock market. We conclude that national culture matters in firms’ adoption of “good” corporate governance practices, and that the effect of firm-level corporate governance practices on firm performance depends on whether firms are compared within a country or across countries.
A Data Cleansing Method for Clustering Large-scale Transaction Databases

In this paper, we emphasize the need for data cleansing when clustering large-scale transaction databases and propose a new data cleansing method that improves clustering quality and performance. We evaluate our data cleansing method through a series of experiments. As a result, the clustering quality and performance were significantly improved by up to 165% and 330%, respectively.
Verification and feedback for medical students: an observational study during general practice rotations

Purpose of the study A general practice and family medicine rotation is mandatory as part of undergraduate medical education. However, little is known about the student-teacher interaction in this specific setting of ambulatory teaching. In this study we analysed how frequently preceptors verified students' history taking and clinical examination skills and how often they gave feedback. The type of feedback given was also categorised. Methods From April to December 2012, 410 individual patient consultations were observed in 12 teaching practices associated with the Philipps University Marburg, Germany. Material was collected using structured field-note forms and videotaping. Descriptive data analysis was performed. Informed, written consent was provided by all participants. Results We analysed 410 consultations which lasted 14.8 min on average. In 130 (31.7%) consultations students took the patient's medical history; 124 (95.4%) of these were verified by the general practitioner (GP). Physical examination was performed by students in 202 (49.3%) of consultations; 169 (81.9%) of these were verified by the GP. Feedback occurred in 132 (32.2%) of the 410 patient consultations. Feedback was mostly non-specific and positive (68.9%), and occurred during consultation with the patient present. Specific, negative feedback also occurred relatively frequently (29.5%). Specific, positive and non-specific, negative responses were rarely given. Conclusions GPs should give feedback more frequently and when doing so, focus on specific feedback. GPs should be further instructed in different feedback techniques.
EFFECT OF POLYAMINES ON OXYGEN AND METABOLITE TRANSPORT ACROSS MITOCHONDRIAL AND SYMBIOTIC MEMBRANES OF GALEGA ORIENTALIS NODULES

Summary. The effect of various polyamines (PA) on O2 and succinate uptake by mitochondria, bacteroids and symbiosomes isolated from Galega orientalis nodules was investigated. Bacteroid respiration was characterized by a low endogenous rate of O 2 uptake which was stimulated by addition of succinate. Maximum O2 uptake occurred when Galega bacteroids and symbiosomes were incubated with various PA at concentration of 50 µM and mitochondria at concentration of 10 –50 µM. Diamines, putrescine (Put) and cadaverine (Cad) markedly increased permeability of the mitochondrial and symbiotic membranes to succinate and to O 2 , while spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) showed a lower stimulating effect. Addition of 400 µM Ca 2+ which usually exerted an inhibitory effect on Put and Cad uptake by mitochondria, reduced O 2 uptake to the control level. Oxygen consumption was also inhibited by 100 mM K + which decreased Spd and Spm transport. It might be suggested that the physiological role of PA in nitrogen fixation may be to a large extent associated with their effect on metabolite and O2 transport across mitochondrial and symbiotic membranes.
Synchronization and matched filtering in time-frequency using the sunflower spiral

Synchronization and matched filtering of signals in time dispersive, frequency dispersive and time-frequency dispersive channels are addressed in this paper. The ‘eigenfunctions’ of these channels form the signal sets under investigation. While using channel-eigenfunctions is a first requirement for undistorted data transmission, a second necessity is to achieve good synchronization over the domains of time and frequency. The synchronization problem in time-frequency for non-stationary signals is discussed. A spiral correlation method is proposed to achieve synchronization and matched filtering in time-frequency. Spiral correlation, using the pattern of a sunflower, is simulated and evaluated. It is argued that partial spiral correlation can lead to a significant reduction in computational complexity necessary for synchronization. Generalizations and identities based on the fractional Fourier transform are provided which omit the need for fractional delay filters.
Intradermal air pouch leukocytosis as an in vivo test for nanoparticles

The need for test systems for nanoparticle biocompatibility, toxicity, and inflammatory or adaptive immunological responses is paramount. Nanoparticles should be free of microbiological and chemical contaminants, and devoid of toxicity. Nevertheless, in the absence of contamination, these particles may still induce undesired immunological effects in vivo, such as enhanced autoimmunity, hypersensitivity reactions, and fibrosis. Here we show that artificial particles of specific sizes affect immune cell recruitment as tested in a dermal air pouch model in mice. In addition, we demonstrate that the composition of nanoparticles may influence immune cell recruitment in vivo. Aside from biophysical characterizations in terms of hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, concentration, and atomic concentration of metals, we show that – after first-line in vitro assays – characterization of cellular and molecular effects by dermal air pouch analysis is straightforward and should be included in the quality control of nanoparticles. We demonstrate this for innate immunological effects such as neutrophil recruitment and the production of immune-modulating matrix metalloproteases such as MMP-9; we propose the use of air pouch leukocytosis analysis as a future standard assay.
The effect of pregnancy on orthodontic tooth movement in rats

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pregnancy on orthodontic tooth movement in Wistar rats. Material and Methods: Forty eight female three-month old Wistar rats with an average weight of 250±25 gr were selected and randomly divided into two experimental (pregnant) and control groups (non-pregnant). Maxillary central incisors were tipped distally by insertion of springs exerting 30g force. Two, seven and fourteen days after spring insertion animals were sacrificed. Then the mesioincisal distance between maxillary incisors were measured. Subsequently, histological sections were prepared to count osteoclasts under a light microscope. The data on the extent of orthodontic tooth movement, and the number of osteoclasts were analyzed by independent sample t-test. Results: The results indicated that 2,7 and 14 days after force application there was no significant difference in orthodontic tooth movement between experimental and control groups (p>0.05). The number of osteoclasts were significantly lower in the experimental group 7 and 14 days after spring insertion (p<0.05). Conclusion: Pregnancy may decrease the amount of tooth movement in the linear phase but it is not statistically significant. The number of osteoclasts is significantly decreased during pregnancy. Key words:Pregnancy, rat, orthodontic tooth movement, osteoclast.