Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-time Simultaneous Localization and Mapping for UAV : A Survey

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) refers to the problem of using various sensors like laser scanner, RGB cameras, RGB-D cameras, etc, to estimate the position of the robot, and concurrently construct the 2D/3D map of the environment. The SLAM community has made great progress in the past few decades. So far the 2D SLAM problem with range finders is considered as solved, while the real-time 3D SLAM, especially robust and high quality visual SLAM on UAVs, remains an open problem. This article aims to give a picture of the evolution and very recent development of SLAM algorithms, and emphasis is given on real-time SLAM methods that are suitable for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
The development of clinical reasoning and interprofessional behaviors: service-learning at a student-run free clinic

Abstract This article examines the benefits of a student run free clinic (SRFC) as a service learning experience for students in medicine, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and physician assistant programs. We hypothesized that students who participate in an interprofessional service learning course and volunteer at a SRFC would demonstrate significant increases in perceptions and attitudes for working in interprofessional health care teams and clinical reasoning skills compared to students who did not participate. Three assessments were administered to an experimental and control group of pre-clinical students from medical, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy and physician assistant programs before and after participation in an interprofessional service-learning course and volunteering at the SRFC. The tools were the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS), Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and the Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning (SACRR). Students who completed the course had improvements in interprofessional perceptions and attitudes (p = 0.03) and perceptions of clinical reasoning skills when compared to the control group (p = 0.002). This study is novel as it examined students’ perceptions of interprofessional attitudes and clinical reasoning following participation in an interprofessional service-learning course and participation in a SRFC.
What Does the Best is Research Look like? An Analysis of the AIS Basket of Top journals

In 2007 the Association for Information Systems announced that “a basket” of six journals should be considered as the top journals in the IS field. This list of journals was adopted based on a recommendation from the IS Senior Scholars Forum. One notable feature of the AIS list of journals is that it recognizes the topical, methodological, and geographic diversity of the IS field. For example, the list includes two European journals. Using bibliographic analysis, we classified all the research articles that have been published in the AIS basket of journals over a ten-year period, from 1998 to 2007. Using the classification framework and criteria of Chen and Hirschheim (2004), all articles were classified based on their paradigmatic and methodological approach. Our study thus provides a comprehensive overview of the research that has been published in the top six IS journals over the past decade. It also shows how the US-based journals differ from their European counterparts. Hence, the contribution of this article is that it is one of the first to analyze the AIS basket of top journals. It provides some insight into what kind of research has been published in these outlets. As this list is now being used in tenure and promotion cases in research-oriented universities around the world, we believe our findings will be of wide interest to the IS research community.
All-Trans Retinoic Acid-Induced Craniofacial Malformation Model: A Prenatal and Postnatal Morphological Analysis

Objective To characterize the prenatal and postnatal craniofacial bone development in mouse model of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) exposure at different ages by a quantitative and morphological analysis of skull morphology. Methods Pregnant mice were exposed to ATRA at embryonic day 10 (E10) and 13 (E13) by oral gavage. Skulls of mice embryos at E19.5 and adult mice at postnatal day 35 (P35) were collected for high-resolution microcomputed tomography (microCT) imaging scanning and section HE staining. Reconstruction and measurement of mouse skulls were performed for prenatal and postnatal analysis of the control and ATRA-exposed mice. Results Craniofacial malformations in mouse models caused by ATRA exposure were age dependent. ATRA exposure at E10 induced cleft palate in 81.8% of the fetuses, whereas the palatine bone of E13-exposed mice was intact. Inhibitions of maxilla and mandible development with craniofacial asymmetry induced were observed at E19.5 and P35. Compared with control and E13-exposed mice, the palatine bones of E10-exposed mice were not elevated and were smaller in dimension. Some E10-exposed mice exhibited other craniofacial abnormalities, including premature fusion of mandibular symphysis with a missing mandibular incisor and a smaller mandible. Severe deviated snouts and amorphous craniofacial suture were detected in E13-exposed mice at P35. Conclusion These morphological variations in E10- and E13-exposed mice suggested that ATRA was teratogenic in craniofacial bone development in mice and the effect was age dependent.
siRNA‐targeted COL8A1 inhibits proliferation, reduces invasion and enhances sensitivity to D‐limonence treatment in hepatocarcinoma cells

The COL8A1 (collagen type VIII, alpha‐1) gene, which encodes the alpha 1 chain of collagen, type VIII, may modulate migration, proliferation and adherence of various cells. Only very sparse information exists on COL8A1 expression in hepatocarcinoma. To investigate the possible role of COL8A1 in the mouse hepatocarcinoma cell line Hca‐F with highly metastatic potential in the lymph nodes, we used an RNA interference (RNAi) approach to silence COL8A1 expression. The results showed that a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted against COL8A1 significantly impeded Hca‐F cells proliferation and colony formation in soft agar. This reduction of COL8A1 expression also led to the decreased invasion of Hca‐F cells dramatically in vitro. Furthermore, the downregulation of COL8A1 expression also sensitized cells to the action of D‐limonene. These data together provide insights into the function of COL8A1 and suggest that COL8A1 might represent a new potential target for gene therapy in hepatocarcinoma. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(1): 74–79, 2009
Sélection de variables dans les modèles additifs avec des estimateurs en plusieurs étapes

Dans ce document, nous presentons des methodes d'estimation non parametrique en plusieurs etapes de modeles additifs dont les composantes sont approchees par leurs developpements dans des bases de B-splines. Nous nous placons dans un contexte asymptotique dans lequel le nombre d'observations tend vers l'infini et le nombre de covariables candidates pour expliquer le modele peut eventuellement etre plus eleve que le nombre d'observations disponibles, mais pour lequel on suppose qu'il y a moins de covariables "influentes" que d'observations. Pour notre travail, la notion d'effet significatif d'une variable ne se traduit pas, comme il est habituel dans ce contexte, par une norme de la variable bornee inferieurement par une constante strictement positive, car nous supposons que la norme de chaque composante significative est minoree par une suite decroissante dependant du nombre d'observations et pouvant tendre vers 0 asymptotiquement. Nous etudions ainsi les problemes de selection et d'estimation de modeles additifs creux. Nous combinons les techniques des moindres carres ordinaires (MCO) ou les P-Splines avec le Group LASSO. Nous discutons aussi du choix du critere de selection de modele (AIC, GCV ou BIC). Nous etablissons la la consistance en selection et en estimation d'un de nos estimateurs, puis illustrons le bien fonde des methodes developpees par des simulations.
Anthropometric and metabolic parameters to distinguish metabolically healthy obese children from children with metabolic syndrome

Background: Obesity plays a central role in the Metabolic Syndrome (MS), which is defined as a clustering of cardio-metabolic risk factors, including central obesity, abnormalities in glucose metabolism, hypertension and dyslipidaemia; so, with the increasing of obesity we also witnessed the increase of MS cases. As well as in adults, even in children has been described the metabolically healthy obese that identify all obese subjects without metabolic disorders. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate one or more parameters able to distinguish obese children metabolically healthy and those potentially at risk of metabolic and cardio-vascular complications. Methods: We evaluated anthropometric and metabolic parameters in 125 overweight and obese children and adolescents (64 M and 61 F) aged 10-16 years (mean age 12.09) with Body Mass Index>85th percentile. According IDF consensus, we divided our children in three groups: obese with metabolic syndrome (MS), obese with alteration of one metabolic parameter (Metabolic Unhealthy obese or MUO) and obese metabolically healthy (MHO). We performed a statistical analysis by a "post hoc" Fisher's LSD analysis, in order to highlight significant differences between means and Standard Deviations of the parameters analyzed among the three groups. Results: 15 children (12%), were diagnosed as suffering from Metabolic Syndrome; 45 (36%) could be considered metabolically unhealthy obese and 65 children (52%) could be considered metabolically healthy obese. systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and tryglicerides values was statistically significant between all the three groups faced each other.
INFLUENCE OF THE PARTIAL SUBSTITUTION OF WHEAT FLOUR FOR QUINOA AND POTATO FLOUR ON THE THERMOMECHANICAL AND BREADMAKING PROPERTIES OF DOUGH

RESUMEN Las importaciones de trigo para panificacion se podrian disminuir utilizando harinas de otros recursos amilaceos, como la papa y la quinoa. En este trabajo, se evaluaron las propiedades termomecanicas de la masa y las caracteristicas fisicas del pan elaborado con harina compuesta de quinoa-trigo y papa-trigo. Los porcentajes de sustitucion aplicados fueron de 10 y 20%, tanto para la harina de papa como para la de quinoa. Las propiedades funcionales de las harinas, se midieron mediante el indice de absorcion de agua (IAA), indice de solubilidad de agua (ISA) y poder de hinchamiento (PH). Las propiedades termomecanicas de las harinas compuestas, se estimaron empleando un Mixolab y las caracteristicas fisicas evaluadas en el producto final fueron peso, altura, ancho y volumen. Los resultados arrojaron que los mayores valores de IAA (4,48), ISA (7,45%) y PH (4,84) fueron para la harina de papa. La harina compuesta con quinoa presento los menores valores de asentamiento y estabilidad de la coccion, lo cual, es un buen indicador de conservacion del pan. Por el contrario, la harina compuesta de papa-trigo mostro los menores valores de estabilidad, torque minimo y torque de pico y el mayor porcentaje de absorcion de agua. La harina compuesta de papa-trigo, con un grado de sustitucion de 10%, presento los resultados de peso (133,86 g), ancho (6,01 cm) y volumen (491,67 g/cm
Functional significance of an unusual chela dimorphism in a marine decapod: specialization as a weapon?

The squat lobster Munida rugosa has an unusual chela dimorphism exhibited mainly by large males. Some individuals have ‘arched’ chelae in which there is a gap between the dactylus and the pollex when closed, and others have a ‘straight’ morphology in which the dactylus and pollex oppose along most of their length. Geometric morphometric analysis indicated that, compared with males, the arched morphology does not develop fully in females, so further investigation was confined to males. In males, the distal part of the chela was similar in both the forms and seemed to be adapted to hold and shred prey items. Both morphologies had a major cylindrical tooth on the inner proximal part of the dactylus, but the arched morphology had a higher and wider propodus, a greater major tooth–pollex distance and a greater force generation than the straight morphology. The findings suggest that the arched chela morphology in M. rugosa is a sexually selected trait adapted to inflict puncture wounds on opponents during agonistic interactions. The arched morphology, therefore, appears to have evolved in males by means of sexual selection because it enhanced the function of the chela as a weapon, while retaining functionality for feeding.
Offensive Technologies project Weak key cracking of Android applications

Graduate School of Informatics Master System and Network Engineering Weak key cracking of Android applications by C. Van Bockhaven S.A. Gieske The Google Play store serves more than 800,000 applications. Currently, no statistics are available on the certificate landscape. An inventory is made of 75,000 certificates of which most of the applications use SHA1 with RSA as signature algorithm. These certificates are tested for weak moduli in the case of RSA, and for reuse of signature parameters in the case of DSA. No weak moduli have been found that indicate a weak random number generator. However, two 512-bit RSA certificates were factored in a clustered effort for which the technology is publicly available.
Preoperative caudal block prevents emergence agitation in children following sevoflurane anesthesia

Background: The frequency of emergence agitation in children is increased following sevoflurane anesthesia. However, controversies still exist concerning the exact etiology of this postanesthetic problem. Although this phenomenon is present with adequate pain relief or even following pain‐free procedures, pain is still regarded as a major contributing factor.
The efficacy and hyperthermic release of doxorubicin from liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride in rabbit VX2 tumours

Abstract Purpose: To establish optimum conditions for anti-tumour therapy, we evaluated the efficacy of doxorubicin using liposomal doxorubicin and local hyperthermia to improve the anti-tumour efficacy over liposomal doxorubicin alone in rabbit VX2 tumours. Materials and methods: A VX2 tumour model was established in New Zealand white rabbits, which were randomly divided into five groups: 1) control, 2) free doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox), 3) liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride (L-Dox), 4) L-Dox plus 41 °C thermotherapy (L-Dox + 41 °C TT); and 5) L-Dox plus 43 °C thermotherapy (L-Dox + 43 °C TT). To achieve complete tumour remission, multiple high-dose administrations (5 mg/kg, once per week for a total of 3 weeks) were given. An ultrasound hyperthermia instrument was used to induce local hyperthermia and the systemic toxicity of Dox was evaluated by changes in weight, blood count and serum lactic dehydrogenase. The anti-tumour effect of Dox was evaluated by observing the gross tumour volume, weight and rabbit survival. Results: The white blood cell count following administration of Dox or L-Dox was lower than for control animals and those treated with L-Dox + 41 °C TT. There was no difference between the groups with regard to the red blood cell count. Compared with the control and Dox groups, tumour proliferation was significantly inhibited following administration of L-Dox, L-Dox + 41 °C TT and L-Dox + 43 °C TT, as evidenced by the difference in tumour volume, weight and survival time. Differences in tumour proliferation were also found between the L-Dox and thermotherapy groups. Conclusion: Local hyperthermia combined with L-Dox can significantly improve anti-tumour efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity.
On k-connectivity for a geometric random graph

For n points uniformly randomly distributed on the unit cube in d dimensions, with d≥2, let ρn (respectively, σn) denote the minimum r at which the graph, obtained by adding an edge between each pair of points distant at most r apart, is k-connected (respectively, has minimum degree k). Then P[ρn=σn]1 as n∞. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Random Struct. Alg. , 15, 145–164, 1999
Motion equations for a nonlinear plate and a nonlinear shell

We consider modeling of a nonlinear thin plate and a nonlinear thin shell under the following assumptions: (a) the materials are nonlinear; (b) the deflections are small (linear strain displacement relations). For a plate with a planar middle surface, we consider the bending of the plate to establish the strain energy and the motion equations. For a shell with a curved middle surface in ℝ3, we derive a nonlinear model where a deformation in three-dimensions is concerned.
Enhancing Change-of-Direction Speed in Soccer Players by Functional Inertial Eccentric Overload and Vibration Training.

PURPOSE To examine the effects of a novel isoinertial eccentric-overload and vibration training (EVT) paradigm on change-of-direction (COD) speed and multiple performance tests applicable to soccer. METHODS Twenty-four young male players were assigned to an EVT (n = 12) or conventional combined (CONV, n = 12) group, once weekly for 11 wk. EVT consisted of 2 sets of 6-10 repetitions in 5 specific and 3 complementary exercises. CONV used comparable volume (2 sets of 6-10 reps in 3 sequences of 3 exercises) of conventional combined weight, plyometric, and linear speed exercises. Pre- and postintervention tests included 25-m sprint with 4 × 45° COD every 5th m (V-cut test), 10- and 30-m sprints, repeat-sprint ability, countermovement jump, and hopping (RJ5). RESULTS Group comparison showed very likely to likely better performance for EVT in the COD (effect size [ES] = 1.42), 30-m (ES = 0.98), 10-m (ES = 1.17), and average power (ES = 0.69) and jump height (ES = 0.69) during RJ5. There was a large (r = -.55) relationship between the increase in average hopping power and the reduced V-cut time. CONCLUSIONS As EVT, not CONV, improved not only COD ability but also linear speed and reactive jumping, this "proof-of-principle" study suggests that this novel exercise paradigm performed once weekly could serve as a viable adjunct to improve performance tasks specific to soccer.
Hierarchical Assembly of RNA Three-Dimensional Structures Based on Loop Templates.

The current RNA structure prediction methods cannot keep up the pace of the rapidly increasing number of sequences and the emerging new functions of RNAs. Template-based RNA three-dimensional structure prediction methods are restricted by the limited number of known RNA structures, and traditional motif-based search for the templates does not always lead to successful results. Here we report a new template search and assembly algorithm, the hierarchical loop template-assembly method (VfoldLA). The method searches for templates for single strand loop/junctions instead of the whole motifs, which often renders no available templates, or short fragments (several nucleotides), which requires a long computational time to assemble and refine. The VfoldLA method has the advantage of accounting for local and nonlocal interloop interactions. Benchmark tests indicate that this new method can provide low-resolution predictions for RNA conformations at different levels of structural complexities. Furthermore, the VfoldLA-predicted conformations may also serve as reliable putative models for further structure prediction and refinements. VfoldLA is accessible at http://rna.physics. missouri.edu/vfoldLA .
A pilot study on quantification of training load: The use of HRV in training practice

Abstract Recent laboratory studies have suggested that heart rate variability (HRV) may be an appropriate criterion for training load (TL) quantification. The aim of this study was to validate a novel HRV index that may be used to assess TL in field conditions. Eleven well-trained long-distance male runners performed four exercises of different duration and intensity. TL was evaluated using Foster and Banister methods. In addition, HRV measurements were performed 5 minutes before exercise and 5 and 30 minutes after exercise. We calculated HRV index (TLHRV) based on the ratio between HRV decrease during exercise and HRV increase during recovery. HRV decrease during exercise was strongly correlated with exercise intensity (R = −0.70; p < 0.01) but not with exercise duration or training volume. TLHRV index was correlated with Foster (R = 0.61; p = 0.01) and Banister (R = 0.57; p = 0.01) methods. This study confirms that HRV changes during exercise and recovery phase are affected by both intensity and physiological impact of the exercise. Since the TLHRV formula takes into account the disturbance and the return to homeostatic balance induced by exercise, this new method provides an objective and rational TL index. However, some simplification of the protocol measurement could be envisaged for field use.
Mammalian bombesin receptors are coupled to multiple signal transduction pathways in pancreatic acini

Nishino, Hirokazu, Yasuhiro Tsunoda, and Chung Owyang. Mammalian bombesin receptors are coupled to multiple signal transduction pathways in pancreatic acini. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 37): G525– G534, 1998. —We investigated the structural requirements for bombesin (BB)-like peptides to stimulate amylase secretion in rat pancreatic acini and examined the responsible intracellular signal transduction pathways. The tetradecapeptide BB-(1—14) was a full agonist, whereas the heptapeptide BB-(8—14) did not evoke amylase secretion. The mammalian BB analog neuromedin C decapeptide [NMC-(5—14)] was as potent as BB-(1—14) in stimulating amylase secretion, suggesting that Gly5-Asn6-His7 (or Gln7) of the COOH-terminal decapeptide are essential amino acids for full biological activity. BB and NMC equipotently stimulated D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production, which was inhibited by the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U-73122. BB and NMC also stimulated protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activities. The half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) for NMC-activated PTK was 2 log units less than the EC50 for BB-activated PTK. NMC was 10–34 times more potent than BB in increasing leukotriene C4 (an index of arachidonic acid production). The production of leukotriene C4 was inhibited by the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor ONO-RS-082. NMC is structurally homologous to BB-(5—14) except that Gln7 in BB is replaced by His7 in NMC. Therefore, substitution of Gln7 for His7 may alter the signal transduction systems to include the PTK and PLA2 pathways. U-73122 inhibited Ca21 spiking and amylase secretion induced by NMC and BB. However, the PTK inhibitor genistein and the PLA2 inhibitor ONO-RS-082 inhibited secretion induced by NMC but not that induced by BB. In contrast to nonmammalian BB receptors, which primarily use the PLC pathway, the rat BB receptor is linked to three different signal transduction systems: PLC, PTK, and PLA2 pathways.
Conversational Sales Assistant for Online Shopping

Websites of businesses should accommodate both customer needs and business requirements. Traditional menu-driven navigation and key word search do not allow users to describe their intentions precisely. We have developed a conversational interface to online shopping that provides convenient, personalized access to information using natural language dialog. User studies show significantly reduced length of interactions in terms of time and number of clicks in finding products. The core dialog engine is easily adaptable to other domains.