Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pontomedullary distribution of 5‐HT2A receptor‐like protein in the rat

Serotonin (5‐HT) exerts excitatory effects in many brainstem regions involved in autonomic, somatic, motor, and sensory functions, and in control of vigilance. To determine the potential role of 5‐HT2A receptors in these effects, we immunohistochemically mapped the distribution of 5‐HT2A receptor‐like protein in the rat pontomedullary brainstem. Areas containing the densest labeling included the trigeminal, facial, hypoglossal, dorsal vagal motor nuclei, medullary linear nucleus, and the inferior olive. In the nucleus ambiguus, labeled cells were located in the areas containing pharyngeal and laryngeal motoneurons. Intensely labeled cells were loosely scattered in the reticular formation adjacent to the raphe magnus and obscurus nuclei, in the gigantocellular region, in the caudal pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei, dorsomedial pontine reticular formation, and nucleus subcoeruleus. In the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, all vestibular, abducens, cuneate, and lateral reticular nuclei, labeled neurons commingled with unlabeled ones. Few labeled neurons were located in the rostral and caudal ventrolateral medulla and parvicellular reticular formation. In the nucleus of the solitary tract, two patches of diffuse labeling not associated with cellular profiles were present: one in the medial, and the other in the interstitial subnucleus. Similar diffuse labeling was present in the lateral parabrachial region and the lateral rim of the caudal spinal trigeminal sensory nucleus. No labeled cells were found in the locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe, superior olive, or area postrema. The distinct pontomedullary distribution of 5‐HT2A receptors, combined with the known arousal‐dependent activity of serotonergic neurons, show that these receptors may mediate post‐ and presynaptic effects in the motor, selected somatic and visceral sensory, oculo‐vestibulo‐precerebellar, and sleep‐related regions. J. Comp. Neurol. 418:323–345, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improving Transparency in Teleoperation by Means of Cutaneous Tactile Force Feedback

A study on the role of cutaneous and kinesthetic force feedback in teleoperation is presented. Cutaneous cues provide less transparency than kinesthetic force, but they do not affect the stability of the teleoperation system. On the other hand, kinesthesia provides a compelling illusion of telepresence but affects the stability of the haptic loop. However, when employing common grounded haptic interfaces, it is not possible to independently control the cutaneous and kinesthetic components of the interaction. For this reason, many control techniques ensure a stable interaction by scaling down both kinesthetic and cutaneous force feedback, even though acting on the cutaneous channel is not necessary. We discuss here the feasibility of a novel approach. It aims at improving the realism of the haptic rendering, while preserving its stability, by modulating cutaneous force to compensate for a lack of kinesthesia. We carried out two teleoperation experiments, evaluating (1) the role of cutaneous stimuli when reducing kinesthesia and (2) the extent to which an overactuation of the cutaneous channel can fully compensate for a lack of kinesthetic force feedback. Results showed that, to some extent, it is possible to compensate for a lack of kinesthesia with the aforementioned technique, without significant performance degradation. Moreover, users showed a high comfort level in using the proposed system.
Occlusions in obstacle detection for safe navigation

Obstacles detection is essential to safe autonomous platform navigation. The obstacle detection methods proposed in the literature do not pay sufficient attention to the occlusion-problem caused by the existence of regions along the trajectory of a vehicle that are hidden by other objects and where potential obstacles might be located. Our approach takes occlusions into account to prevent the possibility of collision. Experimental results with a robotic platform demonstrating the effectiveness of the developed algorithm are presented.
TOWARDS A ROBUST COGNITIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTS

TOWARDS A ROBUST COGNITIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTS In this thesis, it is aimed to design a robust cognitive architecture for autonomous mobile robots, which gives the robot the capability to navigate freely in complex environments, with object avoidance. It should be modular, and enable the researchers to add more complex behaviors, like path planning and map construction, in the future, and work in real world as well as in the simulated environment. A solution based on Generalized Voronoi Graph (GVG) technique is used for navigation. Generalized Voronoi Graph is a method to explore, map and localize a robot in an unknown environment, based only on sensor readings. Besides, Fuzzy Logic is used to refine the sensor data, which is noisy and inadequate, and detects the direction of next move. Usage of Fuzzy Logic brings a real success into the architecture. By means of Fuzzy Logic, most of the problems were solved in a hardware and environment free manner. This fact enables the generalization of the architecture. The architecture is designed as flexible and modular as possible, so more behaviors could be added, in the future. The results were successful, and acceptable when compared to similar controllers based on Braitenberg principle.
Alveolar ridge reconstruction with titanium meshes: A systematic review of the literature

Alveolar bone regeneration by means of titanium meshes is a widespread procedure, however to date, only few relevant studies were reported in literature concerning this technique. Consequently, the aim of the present systematic review was to analyze the reliability of the titanium mesh as a barrier, in conjunction with horizontal and vertical ridge reconstruction for implant placement purposes. A total of 17 articles complying with the inclusion and exclusion criteria were reviewed. Three outcome variables were defined: a) horizontal and vertical bone regeneration obtained, b) complication rate, defined as the percentage of membrane exposures and c) evaluation of implant survival, success and failure rate.In regards to the vertical regeneration the mean was 4.91 mm (range: 2.56 - 8.6), while a mean of 4.36 mm (range: 3.75 - 5.65) was calculated for horizontal reconstruction. Considering the exposure rate, a mean of 16.1% was found, nevertheless, implant placement were placed in almost all of the sites. A mean success rate of 89,9%, a mean survival rate of 100% and a failure rate of 0% emerged from the data evaluation. A meta-analysis could not be performed due to the heterogeneity of the data, however the final results were comparable with those reported in case of bone regeneration obtained through other types of non-resorbable membranes. An advantage in favour of the titanium mesh was found in terms of bone loss after exposure, as implant placement was not jeopardized in almost all of the cases. It could be deduced that titanium meshes represented a reliable solution for alveolar ridge reconstruction. The clinical studies currently available in literature have shown the predictability of this technique in both lateral and vertical bone regeneration. Key words:Alveolar ridge reconstruction, bone atrophy, bone regeneration, dental implants, titanium mesh.
Information Hiding, Anonymity and Privacy: a Modular Approach

We propose a new specification framework for information hiding properties such as anonymity and privacy. The framework is based on the concept of a function view, which is a concise representation of the attacker's partial knowledge about a function. We describe system behavior as a set of functions, and formalize different information hiding properties in terms of views of these functions. We present an extensive case study, in which we use the function view framework to systematically classify and rigorously define a rich domain of identity-related properties, and to demonstrate that privacy and anonymity are independent. The key feature of our approach is its modularity. It yields precise, formal specifications of information hiding properties for any protocol formalism and any choice of the attacker model as long as the latter induce an observational equivalence relation on protocol instances. In particular, specifications based on function views are suitable for any cryptographic process calculus that defines some form of indistinguishability between processes. Our definitions of information hiding properties take into account any feature of the security model, including probabilities, random number generation, timing, etc., to the extent that it is accounted for by the formalism in which the system is specified. Partially supported by ONR grants N00014-02-1-0109 and N00014-01-1-0837 and DARPA contract N66001-00-C-8015.
Computational Fluid Dynamics of Intracranial and Extracranal Arteries using 3-Dimensional Angiography: Technical Considerations with Physician's Point of View

We investigate the potentials and limitations of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of patient specific models from 3D angiographies. There are many technical problems in acquisition of proper vascular models, in pre-processing for making 2D surface and 3D volume meshes and also in post-processing steps for display the CFD analysis. We hope that our study could serves as a technical reference to validating other tools and CFD results.
Multiscale visualization of small world networks

Many networks under study in information visualization are "small world" networks. These networks first appeared in the study of social networks and were shown to be relevant models in other application domains such as software reverse engineering and biology. Furthermore, many of these networks actually have a multiscale nature: they can be viewed as a network of groups that are themselves small world networks. We describe a metric that has been designed in order to identify the weakest edges in a small world network leading to an easy and low cost filtering procedure that breaks up a graph into smaller and highly connected components. We show how this metric can be exploited through an interactive navigation of the network based on semantic zooming. Once the network is decomposed into a hierarchy of sub-networks, a user can easily find groups and subgroups of actors and understand their dynamics.
Architecture of central executive functions in the human prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex subserves executive control, i.e. the ability to select actions and to organize behavior in relation to internal drives and subjective preferences, ranging from the simplest behaviors, like choosing an apple or a pear in a fruit basket, to the most complex ones like deciding the next move in a game of chess. Whether simple or complex, decisions to act emerge from the combination of preferences (e.g. I prefer apples), drives (e.g. I want an apple) and choices (e.g. I choose the apple). Empirical studies suggests that broadly speaking, preferences, drives and choices are respectively processed in the ventral, medial and lateral sector of the frontal lobes [1]. The lateral sector, and especially the portion lying anterior to the premotor cortex, the so-called lateral prefrontal cortex, is the brain region that evolved the most recently in hominids and is involved in action selection, when action choices are context-dependent, a function usually referred to as cognitive control [2] .
Subspace Detection from Structured Union of Subspaces via Linear Sampling

Lower dimensional signal representation schemes frequently assume that the signal of interest lies in a single vector space. In the context of the recently developed theory of compressive sensing (CS), it is often assumed that the signal of interest is sparse in an orthonormal basis. However, in many practical applications, this requirement may be too restrictive. A generalization of the standard sparsity assumption is that the signal lies in a union of subspaces. Recovery of such signals from a small number of samples has been studied recently in several works. Here, we consider the problem of subspace detection in which our goal is to identify the subspace (from the union) in which the signal lies from a small number of samples, in the presence of noise. More specifically, we derive performance bounds and conditions under which reliable subspace detection is guaranteed using maximum likelihood (ML) detection. We begin by treating general unions and then specify the results to the special case in which the subspaces have structure leading to block sparsity. In our analysis, we treat both general sampling operators and random sampling matrices. With general unions, we show that under certain conditions, the number of measurements required for reliable subspace detection in the presence of noise via ML is less than that implied using the restricted isometry property which guarantees signal recovery. In the special case of block sparse signals, we quantify the gain achievable over standard sparsity in subspace detection. Our results also strengthen existing results on sparsity pattern recovery in the presence of noise under the standard sparsity model.
Bayesian variable selection in regression with networked predictors

We consider Bayesian variable selection in linear regression when the relationships among a possibly large number of predictors are described by a network given a priori. A class of motivating examples is to predict some clinical outcomes with high-dimensional gene expression profiles and a gene network, for which it is assumed that the genes neighboring to each other in the network are more likely to participate together in relevant biological processes and thus more likely to be simultaneously included in (or excluded from) the regression model. To account for spatial correlations induced by a predictor network, rather than using an independent (and identical) prior distribution for each predictor’s being included in the model as implemented in the standard approach of stochastic search variable selection (SSVS), we propose a Gaussian Markov random field (MRF) and a binary MRF as priors. We evaluate and compare the performance of the new methods against the standard SSVS using both simulated and real data.
Towards evaluation of DNS server selection with geodesic distance

The DNS (Domain Name Service) is the most fundamental service in the current Internet. Investigating macroscopic performance of DNS server selection algorithm is not an easy task while microscopic software implementations are known. This is mainly because of lack of available performance information (e.g., delay) from authoritative server side. In this paper we estimate the global performance of DNS server selection with passively collected DNS query data at authoritative server. A key idea towards the estimation is to use geodesic path length between authoritative server and cache resolver based on their geolocation information as an approximation of end-to-end delay. We introduce two performance metrics to quantify the efficiency of the server selection: RML (the ratio to the minimum path length) and RBL (the ratio to the best path length). The former corresponds to an additional cost of cache resolver deviating from the minimum path length to the server where the resolver actually accessed, and the latter indicates an extra cost deviating from the best path length to the closest (ideal) server ignoring the complexity of the intra and inter AS level topology. We analyze 1-day long DNS queries from over 700 K cache resolvers all over the world to “. jp” TLD servers (JP DNS servers) and demonstrate that 75% of cache resolvers in Japan and 40-60% of cache resolvers in other regions selected the closest server found by their probe, as the most accessed server. Thus, 25% or 60% of cache resolvers could have found a more appropriate authoritative server with a more adaptive selection algorithm. Similarly, 15-35% of resolvers in other regions efficiently accessed the best cost servers as the most accessed server. This means that there is still a room for improvement to reduce the potential delay by change of the infrastructure (i.e., new peering links and deployment of new servers).
Implementation of multilayer ferrite radar absorbing coating with genetic algorithm for radar cross-section reduction at X-band

Genetic algorithm (GA) approach has been analyzed to optimize the thickness of various layers as well as selection of suitable ferrite material for better absorption and reduction of radar cross-section (RCS) at X-band frequency. For this purpose, the available ferrite materials with frequency-dependent permittivities e(f) and permeabilities μ(ƒ) have been used as data base. An empirical relationship has been developed between μ and f as well as e and f for application of GA to select the proper ferrite material at particular frequency range for minimum reflection or maximum absorption and reduction of RCS. The GA has advantage that, with fitness function, it places an upper bound on the total thickness of the coating as well as on the number of layers contained in the coating. This greatly simplifies manufacturing of absorber in the form of sheet by coating ferrite material. Four-layer coating with different thickness and different ferrite materials has been simulated by GA and the results obtained with GA have been synthesized on aluminum plate. The paint for coating over aluminum sheet has been prepared by mixing the known ferrite powders (used in data base) with glass epoxy resin with suitable amount of hardener. The absorption has been measured by absorber testing device (ATD) method and RCS has been measured by monostatic radar measurements at X-band (8-12 GHz) in anechoic chamber. The absorption and RCS were measured after each layer of coating. A considerable amount of reduction of RCS and absorption is observed as compared to the plain aluminum sheet at X-band.
MafA is a Key Molecule in Glucose and Energy Balance in the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Organs

MafA is a strong transactivator of insulin in pancreatic β cells. Elucidating the profile of MafA action in organs other than the pancreas is essential. We established an mRNA interference technique that modifies the level of target mRNAs in mice in vivo. After rapidly injecting MafA-siRNA, the resulting changes in the gene profile were analyzed using a microarray system. Significant suppression of the MafA mRNA levels was observed in the pancreas, liver, adipose tissue, and brain of siRNA-injected mice. As we reported previously, the down-regulation of insulin mRNA and adipocytokines was observed in the pancreas, and MafA siRNA caused alterations in the expressions of genes related to lipid metabolism and cell growth in the liver, and the attenuation of cell differentiation in cultured adipocytes. In addition to the effects on these organs, MafA expression was immunohistochemically detected in the brain in our preliminary data, and the expression level in siRNA-treated mice was significantly suppressed. The expressions of the affected genes were distinct, including growth hormone, vasopressin, hypocretin, and pro-melanin-concentrating hormone, were almost completely down-regulated (to ~1/100). These results suggested that MafA is likely involved in the regulation of hormonal systems related to glucose metabolism, and MafA is likely positioned near the beginning of the cascade or may influence the expressions of the above-mentioned genes in coordination with other factors in brain tissue. Taken together, the findings in this study suggested that MafA functions as a transcription factor with distinct activities in each organ and is cross-linked in several organs.
Altitude estimation for 3-D tracking with two 2-D radars

This paper first proposes a method to estimate the altitude of an aircraft using two 2-D radars for Air Traffic Control (ATC) applications. Assuming that the aircraft flies with a nearly constant velocity and nearly constant height, we first estimate its velocity, initial position in 3-D coordinates from the measurements of two 2-D radars using a maximum likelihood estimator. Next, we incorporate the estimates as initial values for 3-D flight tracking that uses an extended Kalman filter (EKF). Furthermore, a multiple model approach is adopted to further improve the tracking performance. The simulation results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Araldite as an Embedding Medium for Electron Microscopy

Epoxy resins are suitable media for embedding for electron microscopy, as they set uniformly with virtually no shrinkage. A mixture of araldite epoxy resins has been developed which is soluble in ethanol, and which yields a block of the required hardness for thin sectioning. The critical modifications to the conventional mixtures are the choice of a plasticized resin in conjunction with an aliphatic anhydride as the hardener. The hardness of the final block can be varied by incorporating additional plasticizer, and the rate of setting can be controlled by the use of an amine accelerator. The properties of the araldite mixture can be varied quite widely by adjusting the proportions of the various constituents. The procedure for embedding biological specimens is similar to that employed with methacrylates, although longer soaking times are recommended to ensure the complete penetration of the more viscous epoxy resin. An improvement in the preservation of the fine structure of a variety of specimens has already been reported, and a typical electron microgram illustrates the present paper.
MAOA, abuse exposure and antisocial behaviour: 30-year longitudinal study

Background Recent studies have raised issues concerning the replicability of gene × environment (G × E) interactions involving the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene in moderating the associations between abuse or maltreatment exposure and antisocial behaviour. This study attempted to replicate the findings in this area using a 30-year longitudinal study that has strong resemblance to the original research cohort. Aims To test the hypothesis that the presence of the low-activity MAOA genotype was associated with an increased response to abuse exposure. Method Participants were 398 males from the Christchurch Health and Development Study who had complete data on: MAOA promoter region variable number tandem repeat genotype; antisocial behaviour to age 30; and exposure to childhood sexual and physical abuse. Results Regression models were fitted to five antisocial behaviour outcomes (self-reported property offending; self-reported violent offending; convictions for property/violent offending; conduct problems; hostility) observed from age 16 to 30, using measures of childhood exposure to sexual and physical abuse. The analyses revealed consistent evidence of G × E interactions, with those having the low-activity MAOA variant and who were exposed to abuse in childhood being significantly more likely to report later offending, conduct problems and hostility. These interactions remained statistically significant after control for a range of potentially confounding factors. Findings for convictions data were somewhat weaker. Conclusions The present findings add to the evidence suggesting that there is a stable G × E interaction involving MAOA, abuse exposure and antisocial behaviour across the life course.