Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural-Learning-Based Telerobot Control With Guaranteed Performance

In this paper, a neural networks (NNs) enhanced telerobot control system is designed and tested on a Baxter robot. Guaranteed performance of the telerobot control system is achieved at both kinematic and dynamic levels. At kinematic level, automatic collision avoidance is achieved by the control design at the kinematic level exploiting the joint space redundancy, thus the human operator would be able to only concentrate on motion of robot’s end-effector without concern on possible collision. A posture restoration scheme is also integrated based on a simulated parallel system to enable the manipulator restore back to the natural posture in the absence of obstacles. At dynamic level, adaptive control using radial basis function NNs is developed to compensate for the effect caused by the internal and external uncertainties, e.g., unknown payload. Both the steady state and the transient performance are guaranteed to satisfy a prescribed performance requirement. Comparative experiments have been performed to test the effectiveness and to demonstrate the guaranteed performance of the proposed methods.
Lack of inverse dose‐rate effect and binding of the retinoblastoma gene product in the nucleus of human cancer T‐47D cells arrested in G2 by ionizing radiation

Purpose: To investigate the radiosensitivity of human breast cancer cells, T‐47D, irradiated with low dose‐rates and to study activation of the retinoblastoma gene product in the G1 and G2 phases during irradiation. Materials and methods: Cells were irradiated with 60Co γ‐rays with dose‐rates of 0.37 and 0.94 Gy h−1. Cell survival was measured as the ability of cells to form colonies. Cells were extracted, fixed and stained for simultaneous measurements of nuclear‐bound pRB content and DNA content. Cell nuclei were stained with monoclonal antibody PMG3‐245 and Hoechst 33258 was used for additional staining of DNA. Two‐parametric flow cytometry measurements of pRB and DNA content were performed using a FACSTARPLUS flow cytometer. Results: It was observed that irradiated cells were arrested in G2. No increase in radiation sensitivity was observed when the cells accumulated in G2. Irradiation of cells at both 0.37 and 0.94 Gy h−1 resulted in exponential dose–survival curves with nearly equal α values, i.e. the same radiosensitivity. However, the retinoblastoma gene product was bound in the nucleus, i.e. hypophosphorylated, in about 15% of the cells arrested in G2. Conclusions: T47‐D cells accumulate in G2 during low dose irradiation, but no inverse dose‐rate effect, i.e. a more efficient inactivation of cells at lower than at higher dose‐rates, was observed. A population of arrested G2 cells has pRB protein bound in the nucleus, and pRB therefore could play a role in protecting cells against radiation‐induced cell death in G2.
Corrosion and mechanical properties of atomic layer deposited TiO2 coatings on NiTi implants

In the case of biomedical NiTi implants staying in the human body not only for a short time, a release of Ni ions from NiTi surface should be prevented because of the poisonous character of Ni. We modified the surface of NiTi plate samples by depositing TiO2 oxide using atomic layer deposition (ALD). We found excellent corrosion properties of the coated NiTi samples, implying that ALD has great potential in depositing protection or biocompatible layer for 3D printing. Additionally, using a mechanical tester installed in the sample chamber of a scanning electron microscope, we were not able to see any tensile-load-induced microcracks in the thin atomic layer deposited TiO2 coating. Whereas the TiO2 layers grown thermally by oxidizing NiTi at temperature around 450 °C contained densely distributed microcracks during loading.
Transforming growth factor-β1 level in tears and corneal haze formation following flap-on or flap-off epi-LASIK.

OBJECTIVE To observe the influence of flap-on or flap-off Epipolis laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK) on the release of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in tear fluid and corneal haze formation. METHODS Thirty patients (60 eyes) with myopia underwent epi-LASIK surgery with epithelial flap repositioning (flap-on) in the right eyes and epithelial flap removal (flap-off) in the left eyes. The level of TGF-β1 in tears was measured preoperatively and on days 1, 3, and 7 postoperatively. Corneal haze was graded at 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -4.98∓2.28 D (-2.50 to -7.25 D) in flap-on group and -5.20∓4.02 D (-1.75 to -7.00 D) in flap-off group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.80). TGF-β1 levels in the tear fluid were similar in the two groups preoperatively (P=0.11) and at 1, 3, and 7 days postoperatively (P=0.55, 0.45, 0.19, respectively). TGF-β1 levels in tears gradually decreased after the first postoperative day in both groups, but were still higher than the preoperative value till the 7th postoperative day. Corneal haze scores in the two groups were similar at 1 month (P=0.98), 3 months (P=0.52), and 6 months (P=0.72) after the operation. CONCLUSION Flap-on and flap-off epi-LASIK surgeries do not differ significantly in postoperative TGF-β1 levels in the tear fluid or in the postoperative haze scores. TGF-β1 may play a role in corneal wound healing.
The Orphan G Protein-coupled Receptor GPR40 Is Activated by Medium and Long Chain Fatty Acids*

GPR40 is a member of a subfamily of homologous G protein-coupled receptors that include GPR41 and GPR43 and that have no current function or ligand ascribed. Ligand fishing experiments in HEK293 cells expressing human GPR40 revealed that a range of saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids with carbon chain lengths greater than six were able to induce an elevation of [Ca2+] i , measured using a fluorometric imaging plate reader. 5,8,11-Eicosatriynoic acid was the most potent fatty acid tested, with a pEC50 of 5.7. G protein coupling of GPR40 was examined in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the Gαq/i-responsive Gal4-Elk1 reporter system. Expression of human GPR40 led to a constitutive induction of luciferase activity, which was further increased by exposure of the cells to eicosatriynoic acid. Neither the constitutive nor ligand-mediated luciferase induction was inhibited by pertussis toxin treatment, suggesting that GPR40 was coupled to Gαq/11. Expression analysis by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed that GPR40 was specifically expressed in brain and pancreas, with expression in rodent pancreas being localized to insulin-producing β-cells. These data suggest that some of the physiological effects of fatty acids in pancreatic islets and brain may be mediated through a cell-surface receptor.
Translation and validation of the dizziness handicap inventory in Greek language

Abstract Objective: The aim of the study was to test the reliability and validity of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory in the Greek language (DHI). Design: This study was performed in a university tertiary centre. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha for the DHI, physical (DHI-P), functional (DHI-F) and emotional (DHI-E) subscale scores. Correlation between DHI (total and subscales) and the SOT (sensory organisation test) as well as correlation between the DHI and FGA (functional gait assessment) was tested using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Test–retest reliability was tested using ICC (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient). Sample size: Ninety (90) patients were included in the study. Results: Internal consistency was excellent for the total score and very good for the physical functional and emotional subscale scores. No statistically significant correlation was found between SOT and DHI. There was a moderate correlation between FGA and total DHI scores (r = −0.472; p < 0.0001) and poor to moderate between FGA and DHI subscale scores (DHI-E r1 = −0.342; p1 = 0.001, DHI-F r2 = −0.448 p2 < 0.0001, DHI-P r3 = −0.472 p3 < 0.0001). Test–retest reliability was excellent. Conclusion: Greek version of DHI is recommended as a valid measure for patients with vestibular disorders.
Critical Casimir forces for colloidal assembly

Critical Casimir forces attract increasing interest due to their opportunities for reversible particle assembly in soft matter and nano science. These forces provide a thermodynamic analogue of the celebrated quantum mechanical Casimir force that arises from the confinement of vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. In its thermodynamic analogue, solvent fluctuations, confined between suspended particles, give rise to an attractive or repulsive force between the particles. Due to its unique temperature dependence, this effect allows in situ control of reversible assembly. Both the force magnitude and range vary with the solvent correlation length in a universal manner, adjusting with temperature from fractions of the thermal energy, kBT, and nanometre range to several ten kT and micrometer length scale. Combined with recent breakthroughs in the synthesis of complex particles, critical Casimir forces promise the design and assembly of complex colloidal structures, for fundamental studies of equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium phase behaviour. This review highlights recent developments in this evolving field, with special emphasis on the dynamic interaction control to assemble colloidal structures, in and out of equilibrium.
Outcome at Adulthood of the Continuous Spike–waves During Slow Sleep and Landau–Kleffner Syndromes

Summary: Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical, social, and/or professional and cognitive outcomes in adulthood of the continuous spike–waves during slow sleep (CSWS) and Landau–Kleffner syndromes, which are two rare epileptic syndromes occurring in children.
The reaction of stock market returns to unemployment

Abstract We empirically investigate the short-run impact of anticipated and unanticipated unemployment rates on stock prices. We particularly examine the nonlinearity in the stock market’s reaction to the unemployment rate and study the effect at each individual point (quantile) of the stock return distribution. Using nonparametric Granger causality and quantile regression-based tests, we find that only anticipated unemployment rate has a strong impact on stock prices. Quantile regression analysis shows that the causal effects of anticipated unemployment rate on stock returns are usually heterogeneous across quantiles. For the quantile range 0.35, 0.80, an increase in the anticipated unemployment rate leads to an increase in stock market prices. For other quantiles, the impact is generally statistically insignificant. Thus, an increase in the anticipated unemployment rate is, in general, good news for stock prices. Finally, we offer a reasonable explanation for the reason, and manner in which, the unemployment rate affects stock market prices. Using the Fisher and Phillips curve equations, we show that a high unemployment rate is followed by monetary policy action of the Federal Reserve (Fed). When the unemployment rate is high, the Fed decreases the interest rate, which in turn increases the stock market prices.
PHYLOGENIES, SPATIAL AUTOREGRESSION, AND THE COMPARATIVE METHOD: A COMPUTER SIMULATION TEST

Brownian motion computer simulation was used to test the statistical properties of a spatial autoregressive method in estimating evolutionary correlations between two traits using interspecific comparative data. When applied with a phylogeny of 42 species, the method exhibited reasonable Type I and II error rates. Estimation abilities were comparable to those of independent contrasts and minimum evolution (parsimony) methods, and generally superior to a traditional nonphylogenetic approach (not taking phylogenies into account at all). However, the autoregressive method performed extremely poorly with a smaller phylogeny (15 species) and with nearly independent (“star”) phylogenies. In both of these situations, any phylogenetic autocorrelation present in the data was not detected by the method. Results show how diagnostic techniques (e.g., Moran's I) can be useful in detecting and avoiding such situations, but that such techniques should not be used as definitive evidence that phylogenetic correlation is not present in a set of comparative data. The correction factor (α) proposed by Gittleman and Kot (1990) for use in weighting phylogenetic information had little effect in most analyses of 15 or 42 species with incorrect phylogenetic information, and may require much larger sample sizes before significant improvement is shown. With the sample sizes tested in this study, however, the autoregressive method implemented with this correction factor and correct phylogenetic information led to downwardly biased estimates of the absolute magnitude of the evolutionary correlation between two traits. Cautions and recommendations for implemention of the spatial autoregressive method are given; computer programs to conduct the analyses are available on request.
The performance of sample selection estimators to control for attrition bias.

Sample attrition is a potential source of selection bias in experimental, as well as non-experimental programme evaluation. For labour market outcomes, such as employment status and earnings, missing data problems caused by attrition can be circumvented by the collection of follow-up data from administrative registers. For most non-labour market outcomes, however, investigators must rely on participants' willingness to co-operate in keeping detailed follow-up records and statistical correction procedures to identify and adjust for attrition bias. This paper combines survey and register data from a Norwegian randomized field trial to evaluate the performance of parametric and semi-parametric sample selection estimators commonly used to correct for attrition bias. The considered estimators work well in terms of producing point estimates of treatment effects close to the experimental benchmark estimates. Results are sensitive to exclusion restrictions. The analysis also demonstrates an inherent paradox in the 'common support' approach, which prescribes exclusion from the analysis of observations outside of common support for the selection probability. The more important treatment status is as a determinant of attrition, the larger is the proportion of treated with support for the selection probability outside the range, for which comparison with untreated counterparts is possible.
Regulatory focus theory and sustainable entrepreneurship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of regulatory focus in sustainable entrepreneurship processes to answer questions on how sustainable entrepreneurs pursue their goals and what motivates them. Knowledge about an entrepreneur’s motivational attribute is essential when trying to understand new venture creation processes. To determine an entrepreneur’s affiliation with one of the two self-regulatory systems, promotion focus and prevention focus, it is helpful to establish whether he or she is motivated by growth and development goals (promotion) or rather by responsibility and security goals (prevention). Design/methodology/approach In a qualitative study of seven sustainable ventures, two semi-structured interview rounds with 14 founders were conducted. Archival data from internal and external sources were gathered, resulting in more than 80 text documents. Findings Findings reveal that the self-regulatory focus of sustainable entrepreneurs changes during the entrepreneurial process with regard to the temporal dynamics of motivation. While conceiving ideas, sustainable entrepreneurs engage in a prevention-focused self-regulatory process because social or ecological problems induce them to direct their attention toward sustainable development goals. During rollout, in contrast, they increasingly engage in a promotion-focused self-regulatory process and concentrate more on venture growth goals. Practical implications The results highlight the important role of a regulatory fit between key self-regulatory entrepreneurial behaviors and entrepreneurs’ regulatory orientation toward increased motivation and enjoyment when pursuing goals. Originality/value This study’s contributions extend and combine the theories of regulatory focus, entrepreneurial motivation, and entrepreneurial processes in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship. They are valuable for understanding the determinants of sustainable entrepreneurial action.
Real-time time-consistent 2D-to-3D video conversion based on color histogram

In this paper we propose an algorithm for real-time 2D-to-3D conversion. Saliency based on color histogram is used to build depth map. To eliminate instability problem of color saliency, we presented a low-complexity and low-latency scene detection method taking advantage of color histogram produced before. The experiment results show that our algorithm is able to eliminate depth flickering effectively and create depth maps of good equality in various scenes in real-time.
Predicting transmission of avian influenza A viruses from avian to human by using informative physicochemical properties

Some strains of avian influenza A virus (AIV) can directly transmit from their natural hosts to humans. These avian-to-human transmissions have continuously been reported to cause human deaths worldwide since 1997. Predicting whether AIV strains can transmit from avian to human is valuable for early warning of AIV strains with human pandemic potential. In this study, we constructed a computational model to predict avian-to-human transmission of AIV based on physicochemical properties. Initially, ninety signature positions in the inner protein sequences were extracted with the entropy method. These positions were then encoded with 531 physicochemical features. Subsequently, the optimal subset of these physicochemical features was mined with several feature selection methods. Finally, a support vector machine (SVM) model named A2H was established to integrate the selected optimal features. The experimental results of cross-validation and an independent test show that A2H has the capability of predicting transmission of AIV from avian to human.
Centering Social Justice in EdD Programs

During the past three decades, scholars dedicated to eliminating power differentials and oppression in society have pinpointed three major trends that have influenced the current educational context in the U.S. First, an increasingly neoliberal, or “corporate,” reform movement has applied market-driven principles to educational systems and structures to privatize, standardize, and deregulate them (Ford, Porfilio, Goldstein, 2015; Henderson & Hursh, 2014; Martin & Strom, 2015). Second, school curriculum has been heavily influenced by an economically-motivated push for “twenty-first century skills” (Silva, 2009) to meet job demands of the knowledge economy (Cochran-Smith & Villegas, 2014). Third, due to a dramatic diversification of U.S. demographics, the number of foreign-language speakers in the last three decades has nearly tripled (Migration Policy Institute, 2015). A parallel increase in English learners has occurred in classrooms (Valdés & Castellón, 2011), which has precipitated challenges for providing linguistically and culturally relevant and responsive schooling (Lucas & Villegas, 2013).
DFNB1 Non-syndromic Hearing Impairment: Diversity of Mutations and Associated Phenotypes

The inner ear is a very complex sensory organ whose development and function depend on finely balanced interactions among diverse cell types. The many different kinds of inner ear supporting cells play the essential roles of providing physical and physiological support to sensory hair cells and of maintaining cochlear homeostasis. Appropriately enough, the gene most commonly mutated among subjects with hereditary hearing impairment (HI), GJB2, encodes the connexin-26 (Cx26) gap-junction channel protein that underlies both intercellular communication among supporting cells and homeostasis of the cochlear fluids, endolymph and perilymph. GJB2 lies at the DFNB1 locus on 13q12. The specific kind of HI associated with this locus is caused by recessively-inherited mutations that inactivate the two alleles of the GJB2 gene, either in homozygous or compound heterozygous states. We describe the many diverse classes of genetic alterations that result in DFNB1 HI, such as large deletions that either destroy the GJB2 gene or remove a regulatory element essential for GJB2 expression, point mutations that interfere with promoter function or splicing, and small insertions or deletions and nucleotide substitutions that target the GJB2 coding sequence. We focus on how these alterations disrupt GJB2 and Cx26 functions and on their different effects on cochlear development and physiology. We finally discuss the diversity of clinical features of DFNB1 HI as regards severity, age of onset, inner ear malformations and vestibular dysfunction, highlighting the areas where future research should be concentrated.
The Effect of Defense Expenditure on Economic Growth in the Sub-Saharan African Countries: Panel Data Evidence

This paper is a contribution to the debate on the nexus between defense burden and economic growth in less-developed countries. It also aims to identify the determinants of defense burden. The study is based on 38 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 1983-2002. Based on the Hausman (1978) test, random effect estimator model is selected and employed in the analysis. The empirical result shows that defense burden is destructive to real GDP growth. At sectoral level, its marginal effect on the value added growth of manufacturing and agriculture is significant and negative. These negative effects are especially high in the low income countries. Thus it is necessary to reduce the excessive and unproductive defense expenditure in the region to promote sustainable economic growth and to reduce the persistent poverty.
Divorce and child socialization: the case of Garissa County, North Eastern Kenya

This study investigated the effects divorce has on child socialization, in Garissa, North Eastern Kenya. The research had 3 specific objectives. First, it sought to establish the high divorce rate in Garissa. Secondly, it sought to investigate the social effects of divorce on children, and thirdly, to establish the link between divorce, child socialization, and academic performance in Garissa. The study found out that, divorce affects the socialization of the child in the study area in several ways. These include: Drug and substance abuse, AIDS and STI’s due to lack of parental guidance, stigmatization of children, mostly without fathers, feeling unloved by the absent parent, lack of trust in people due to the lies given by custodial parent when asked about the absent parent, school chop-out due to lack of fee and other basic needs, low grades due to absence from school or low concentration span in class, and child labor to make ends meet. The recommendations made include: Government and stakeholders strengthening existing divorce laws on children, parents being devoted to their marriages, parents agreeing on divorce terms to avoid custody tussles, and empowering pastoralists by reinforcing local conflict resolution experts.