Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Releasing manipulation with learning control

The properties of releasing manipulation are given. To improve the precision of object posture and decrease trial numbers, two iterative learning control schemes, learning control based on convergent condition (LCBCC), and learning control based on optimal principle (LCBOP) are designed in an experiment-oriented way. These two methods are based on a linearized model. The experimental results show that these methods are effective. After discussing the characteristics of these control methods, we postulate that in the case of where the system does not have enough knowledge, LCBCC is the only choice and to learn system knowledge, after enough experience has been acquired, LCBOP is better than LCBCC, form the view point of convergence rate and precision.
Investigations of free anthraquinones from rhubarb against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestatic liver injury in rats.

The protective effects of anthraquinones from Rhubarb, a Chinese herbal medicine, consisting of the root and rhizome of Rheum palmatum L. , R. tanguticum Maxim. Ex Balf. , or R. officinale Baill. (family Polygonaceae) were investigated and compared in rats with liver injury induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate. alpha-Naphthylisothiocyanate was given intragastrically in rats, liver injury with cholestasis developed within 36 hrs, as indicated by characteristic serum levels of glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and total bile acid. The intragastrical administration of rhein, aloe-emodin and physione to alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-treated rats reduced significantly the serum level of both glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and the serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and total bile acid. For all hepatic biochemical markers and cholestasis index, rhein was most efficient. By comparison, the administration of emodin and chrysophanol did not reduce the serum levels of hepatic enzymes glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase but decreased the levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and total bile acid, showing their partial protective effects on cholestatic liver injury. The liver in alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-treated rats showed cholangiolitic hepatitis characterized by intrahepatic cholestasis, necrosis of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells and bile obstruction. The concurrent intragastrical administration of rhein reduced the severity of all morphological alteration, especially the neutrophil infiltration and sinusoid congestion. Rhein, aloe-emodin, and physione all exhibited protective effects on hepatocytes and cholangiocytes against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced damage, whereas emodin and chrystophanol provided partial protection.
nti-tumor potential of ethanol extract of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton against reast cancer cells

Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton is a commonly prescribed Chinese medical herb for tumor therapy. In this study, an extract of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton referred as Cpv was prepared and its anti-tumor effect was evaluated with MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton power was extracted with ethanol and the main components of the extract (Cpv) were analyzed with HPLC. The effect of Cpv on MCF-7 cells proliferation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, mitochondrial membrane potential ( m), apoptosis, apoptotic related proteins, MDA-MB-231 cell migration, and integrins expression were determined. Furthermore, the effect of Cpv on some key signal transduction molecules was also investigated. Furanodienone, germacrone and furanodiene were identified as the main components of Cpv. Cpv treatment significantly inhibited cell proliferation, increased LDH release, induced intracellular ROS formation, and decreased m in a dose-dependent manner in MCF-7 cells. Cpv induced apoptosis without affecting cell migration. Cpv increased protein expression of Bax, PARP, cleaved PARP, caspase-3, 7, JNK1, p-p42/44MAPK, NFB, IKK , IKK , decreased protein expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bim, Bik, Bad, integrin 5, p42/44MAPK without affecting integrin 5, 1, and p38MAPK protein expression. We concluded that Cpv inhibited MCF-7 cells proliferation by inducing apoptosis mediated by increasing ROS formation, decreasing m, regulating Bcl-2 family proteins expression, and activating caspases. Cpv treatment also modulated several signaling transduction pathways. These results might provide some molecular basis for the anti-tumor activity of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton.
An Improved Lookup Algorithm for Chord

The critical issue that confronts peer-to-peer networks is the efficient location of the node that stores a desired data item. Chord is a successful resource location protocol based on Distributed Hash Table. However, if the desired data item is stored on a node that is count-clockwise close to the query node on the chord ring, the lookup latency might be high because of its clockwise lookup strategy. We optimize the lookup algorithm to reduce routing latency and present a bidirectional parallel lookup strategy for Chord (BP-Chord). Simulation results show that BP-Chord can improve lookup performance.
MAP Kinase Pathways in the YeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae

SUMMARY A cascade of three protein kinases known as a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is commonly found as part of the signaling pathways in eukaryotic cells. Almost two decades of genetic and biochemical experimentation plus the recently completed DNA sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome have revealed just five functionally distinct MAPK cascades in this yeast. Sexual conjugation, cell growth, and adaptation to stress, for example, all require MAPK-mediated cellular responses. A primary function of these cascades appears to be the regulation of gene expression in response to extracellular signals or as part of specific developmental processes. In addition, the MAPK cascades often appear to regulate the cell cycle and vice versa. Despite the success of the gene hunter era in revealing these pathways, there are still many significant gaps in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms for activation of these cascades and how the cascades regulate cell function. For example, comparison of different yeast signaling pathways reveals a surprising variety of different types of upstream signaling proteins that function to activate a MAPK cascade, yet how the upstream proteins actually activate the cascade remains unclear. We also know that the yeast MAPK pathways regulate each other and interact with other signaling pathways to produce a coordinated pattern of gene expression, but the molecular mechanisms of this cross talk are poorly understood. This review is therefore an attempt to present the current knowledge of MAPK pathways in yeast and some directions for future research in this area.
Signing on for dirty work: Taking stock of a public psychiatry project from the inside

As applied anthropologists used to working at arm's length from public psychiatry, we step out of the daily grind to take stock of the challenges of taking on ethnography entrained–harnessed to the implementation of a new program. These include the loss of critical distance, the struggles to negotiate locally viable forms of authority and relevance, the necessity of sustaining a Janus-faced relation with principal players, the urgency of seeing time-sensitive information converted into corrective feedback, and the undeniable attraction of being part of “committed work” with game-changing potential. In so doing, we rework the terms of witnessing and revive an old alternative: that documentary dirty work be reclaimed as a variant of public anthropology, one that transforms the work of application from mere afterthought to integral part of the original inquiry.
Stature at Tikal, Guatemala: Implications for Ancient Maya Demography and Social Organization

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of stature of the prehistoric population from the Maya site of Tikal, Guatemala. From this analysis, based on 55 skeletons from the Tikal burial series, three important conclusions emerge with respect to ancient Maya demography and social organization. (1) Tikal was settled by people of moderate stature, and this remained relatively stable over several centuries. A marked reduction in male stature in Late Classic times may be indicative of a situation of nutritional stress, which may have had something to do with the collapse of Classic Maya civilization. (2) Stature differences between those buried in tombs and others at Tikal suggest that, in the last century B.C., a distinct ruling class developed at Tikal. This simple class division of rulers and commoners may have become more complex in Late Classic times. (3) There was a marked sexual dimorphism in stature between males and females at Tikal. This is probably partially genetic and partially a reflection of relatively lower status for women as opposed to men in Maya society.
Identifiable nitrergic neurons in the central nervous system of the nudibranch Melibe leonina localized with NADPH‐diaphorase histochemistry and nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous intercellular messenger produced by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In this study, we used two different techniques—nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate‐diaphorase (NADPH‐d) histochemistry and NOS immunocytochemistry—to demonstrate that NOS is present in a pair of identifiable cells in the central nervous system of the nudibranch Melibe leonina. In the Melibe brain, NADPH‐d histochemistry revealed only a single pair of bilaterally symmetrical cells in the cerebropleural ganglia. NOS activity also was found in the neuropil of the cerebral, pedal, and buccal ganglia; in the tentacles of the oral hood; in the sensory end of the rhinophores; and in the epithelial tissue of the mouth, preputium, and glans penis. Immunocytochemistry using NOS antisera corroborated the results of the NADPH‐d histochemistry by staining the same two cells in the cerebropleural ganglia. Each of these identifiable nitrergic neurons projects into the ipsilateral pedal ganglion. Because the pedal ganglia play a critical role in the control of locomotion, our results provide morphological evidence suggesting that NO may influence swimming or crawling in Melibe leonina. J. Comp. Neurol. 437:70–78, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An efficient approach to computation of rain attenuation with consideration of multiple scattering

The present paper numerically clarifies the degree of multiple scattering effects, which has been believed to become significant at high frequencies more than several hundred gigahertz. The specific rain attenuation is evaluated directly from an extinction cross section of dielectric spheres. A set of small dielectric spheres are randomly allocated inside a big fictitious sphere by using Weibull raindrop size distribution model. In order to take account of the multiple scattering among raindrops, we employ the mode matching method based on vector spherical wave functions and its addition theorem. Numerical results are demonstrated for the root mean square deviation of the specific attenuation between the cases with and without multiple scattering terms. Contrary to general belief, the deviation is the highest at around the boundary between microwave and millimeter wave bands.
Joint modelling of repeated measurements and time‐to‐event outcomes: The fourth Armitage lecture

In many longitudinal studies, the outcomes recorded on each subject include both a sequence of repeated measurements at pre‐specified times and the time at which an event of particular interest occurs: for example, death, recurrence of symptoms or drop out from the study. The event time for each subject may be recorded exactly, interval censored or right censored. The term joint modelling refers to the statistical analysis of the resulting data while taking account of any association between the repeated measurement and time‐to‐event outcomes. In this paper, we first discuss different approaches to joint modelling and argue that the analysis strategy should depend on the scientific focus of the study. We then describe in detail a particularly simple, fully parametric approach. Finally, we use this approach to re‐analyse data from a clinical trial of drug therapies for schizophrenic patients, in which the event time is an interval‐censored or right‐censored time to withdrawal from the study due to adverse side effects. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phytase-induced changes in mineral utilization in zinc-supplemented diets for pigs.

Forty-eight pigs (barrows:gilts, 1:1) with an average initial weight of 9.4 kg were used in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment to determine the influence of dietary phytase (0 or 1,500 phytase units/kg) and zinc (0 or 100 mg/kg) supplementation of a corn-soybean meal diet on the utilization of P, Ca, Cu, Mg, Mn, and Zn. After a 21-d growth experiment, feed was withheld for 24 h and blood was collected from the anterior vena cava of all pigs for plasma mineral analyses. Twenty-four barrows from the growth experiment were then placed in metabolism cages and used in an 8-d mineral balance study. All pigs were maintained on their previous diet. Growth rate was fastest (P < .05) and feed efficiency was highest (P < .05) for pigs fed phytase-supplemented diets. Feed intake was unaffected (P > .05) by dietary treatment. Plasma P (P < .01) and Mg (P < .05) concentrations increased with phytase addition. Plasma Zn concentration increased (P < .05) when phytase was added to the diet containing no supplemental Zn, but plasma Zn concentration was not affected (P > .05) by phytase when the diet was supplemented with 100 mg of Zn/kg. Apparent Ca, P, and Cu balance were improved (P < .05) with phytase addition; however, Cu balance was reduced (P < .05) by Zn supplementation. Zinc balance was increased (P < .05) with supplemental zinc and phytase in the diet. These results indicate that the growth-promoting effect of phytase may be due to an overall increase in the availability of minerals.
Chemoprotective effects of curcumin on doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in wistar rats: by modulating inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis, oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage

Abstract Doxorubicin (DXR) is one of the most important chemotherapeutic agent. However, nephrotoxicity reduces its clinical utility in humans. The aim of the study was to investigate protective effects of curcumin (CMN) against DXR-induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were subjected to oral treatment of CMN (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days. Nephrotoxicity was induced by single intra peritoneal injection of DXR (40 mg/kg body weight) on the fifth day and then the experiment was terminated on the eighth day. Nephroprotective effects of CMN were associated with decrease in serum toxicity markers and increase in antioxidant enzyme activities. CMN was able to reduced the levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, NF-κB, IL-1β, iNOS and COX-2 in the rats. It also reduced the expressions of apoptotic marker including caspase-3, and oxidative DNA damage marker including 8-OHdG. Collectively, these findings indicated that CMN protect against DXR-induced nephrotoxicity.
HPLC Analysis of Isoflavonoids and Other Phenolic Agents from Foods and from Human Fluids

Abstract A fast, precise and selective diode array HPLC method is presented for the extraction and analysis of soy isoflavonoids from foods and from human urine, plasma, and breast milk in support of mechanistic and epidemiologic studies assessing the potential cancer protective role of soya or isoflavones. Solid phase or solvent extraction was chosen for isolation, and enzymatic or acid hydrolysis procedures were used for aglycone production depending on the matrix to be analyzed. C-18 reversed-phase HPLC was applied to selectively separate and quantitate daidzein (1), 2 glycitein (3), 2 and genistein (4), 2 including their malonyl (a) 2 and acetyl (b) 2 esters, and their mammalian metabolites equol (6) 2 and Odesmethylangolensin (7), 2 as well as formononetin (2), 2 biochanin-A (5), 2 and coumestrol (8) 2 using a gradient elution system. UV absorbance scans and authentic standards were applied for identification purposes, additional to fluorometric monitoring, electrochemical detection, and GC/MS analysis after trimethyl silylation. Detection limits of 20-μl injections were found to be 1.09, 0.53, 3.28, and 1.00 pmoles for daidzein, genistein, equol, and Odesmethylangolensin (DMA), respectively, by monitoring at the individual compound's absorption maximum. The proposed method was applied to monitor isoflavone levels in soy foods and in human plasma, urine and breast milk after challenge with roasted soybeans. Implications of the presented results on the potential activity of isoflavones to prevent cancer by exposing newborn infants to these agents are discussed.
Electronic Communication With Patients for Breastfeeding Support

The Internet has become an important tool for patients seeking to expand their knowledge of health conditions and medications. Breastfeeding initiation and duration increase because of physician encouragement. Therefore, electronic communication potentially provides additional opportunities for physicians to inform, reassure, encourage, and support breastfeeding families. An e-mail from a breastfeeding mother may deal with a topic well-suited to e-mail communication, such as information on the safety of specific medications during breastfeeding, or may deal with a concern that would make observation of breastfeeding necessary. Physicians have expressed qualms about electronic communication with patients due to privacy, malpractice liability, time, and reimbursement issues. Strategies to optimize e-mail communication include establishing a turnaround time for responses, informing patients of privacy issues, establishing what types of messages are appropriate over e-mail, and setting limits for when an e-mailed concern escalates to a need for an office visit. J Hum Lact. 23(3):275-279.
Patient preference and adherence: comparative US studies between two bisphosphonates, weekly risedronate and monthly ibandronate*

ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine how patients' preferences for weekly versus monthly bisphosphonate therapy is influenced by their knowledge of the medication's proven fracture efficacy. An additional objective is to determine whether patient adherence to therapy with weekly risedronate versus monthly ibandronate is related to patient preferences. Methods: Preference data were collected for weekly versus monthly bisphosphonate therapy among women currently using bisphosphonates. In addition, the IMS longitudinal prescription database was used to evaluate adherence among patients currently taking weekly risedronate or monthly ibandronate, using three cohorts: overall sample; new to osteoporosis therapy; and 6 months after initial market availability. Results: More patients preferred weekly over monthly therapy (82% vs. 18% respectively, p < 0.0001) after receiving information about fracture efficacy differences. Mean compliance was significantly higher for the overall sample and the post-market group. Mean persistence for risedronate versus ibandronate patients was significantly different ( p < 0.0001) for the overall sample (144.3 ± 55.5 days vs. 100.1 ± 67.4 days), new to therapy (103.5 ± 66.4 days vs. 92.1 ± 65.9 days), and post-market (104.8 ± 67.3 days vs. 92.1 ± 65.9 days). Adherence was significantly higher ( p < 0.0001) in patients taking risedronate versus ibandronate in all groups (72.7 ± 26.4% vs. 52.8 ± 31.5%, overall sample; 51.7 ± 31.3% vs. 46.6 ± 30.7%, new to therapy; 53.0 ± 32.2% vs. 46.6 ± 30.7%, post-market). In the persistence analyses, biases might have occurred due to the methodology of breaking down the dose of the bisphosphonate the patient received during the index month, as well as due to the selected refill gap length. Conclusions: Patients preferred a weekly dosing regimen with proven vertebral and non-vertebral fracture efficacy. A monthly dosing regimen did not increase patient compliance and persistence with bisphosphonate therapy in this study. However, patient compliance, persistence and adherence are complex, and methods to increase adherence beyond dosing schedules should be further investigated.
A comprehensive mechanotransduction model for tactile feedback based on multi-axial stresses at the fingertip-contact interface

This paper presents a mechanotransduction model designed to convert the multi-axial mechanical loads at the fingertip-contact interface into neural-spike trains, the MultiAxial Stress Mechanotransduction (MASM) model. Seeking a comprehensive solution and more direct integration with sensor systems in tactile applications, the model accounts for the conversion of multi-axial (pressure and shear) stresses at the fingertip-contact interface into spike trains with artificial slow adapting (SA) and rapidly adapting (RA) afferents type I (SAI, RAI) and II (SAII, RAII). These have been modelled based on the properties of those in human fingertips. To illustrate how the model works, artificial data mimicking typical stress stimuli profiles used to evaluate the response of biological afferents were fed to the model and results examined. Subsequently, the suitability of the model for real tactile applications was preliminary tested by inputting to the model real life, measured pressure and shear data in a fingertip ‘press-push-lift’ action. The response of the modelled afferents was analyzed and qualitatively compared to typical responses of biological units. Initial results show that it is possible to codify the mechanical contact tactile information measured by multi-axial sensor systems in a bio-inspired fashion, reproducing relevant features similar to those produced by biological mechanoreceptors.
Transient Inactivation of Perirhinal Cortex Disrupts Encoding, Retrieval, and Consolidation of Object Recognition Memory

Damage to perirhinal cortex (PRh) impairs object recognition memory in humans, monkeys, and rats when tested in tasks such as delayed nonmatching to sample, visual paired comparison, and its rodent analog, the spontaneous object recognition task. In the present study, we have capitalized on the discrete one-trial nature of the spontaneous object recognition task to investigate the role of PRh in several distinct stages of object recognition memory. In a series of experiments, transient inactivation of PRh was accomplished with bilateral infusions of lidocaine directly into PRh immediately before the sample phase (encoding), immediately before the choice phase (retrieval), or within the retention delay after the sample phase (storage-consolidation). Compared with performance on trials in which they received saline infusions, rats were significantly impaired when lidocaine was infused before the sample phase, regardless of the length of the retention delay. Similarly, delay-independent deficits were observed after immediate pre-choice infusions of lidocaine. Finally, PRh inactivation immediately and 20 min after the sample phase, but not 40, 60, or 80 min after, also disrupted subsequent object recognition when the retention delay was sufficiently long to ensure the dissipation of the actions of lidocaine during the choice phase. The effects of pre-sample and pre-choice inactivation indicate involvement of PRh in encoding and retrieval stages of object recognition, and the time course of post-sample inactivation effects suggests a role for PRh in the maintenance of the object trace during memory consolidation.