Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceiving what you intend to do from what you do: evidence for embodiment in social interactions

Although action and perception are central components of our interactions with the external world, the most recent experimental investigations also support their implications in the emotional, decision-making, and goal ascription processes in social context. In this article, we review the existing literature supporting this view and highlighting a link between reach-to-grasp motor actions and social communicative processes. First, we discuss the most recent experimental findings showing how the social context subtly influences the execution of object-oriented motor actions. Then, we show that the kinematic characteristics of object-oriented motor actions are modulated by the actor's social intention. Finally, we demonstrate that naïve observers can implicitly take advantage of these kinematic effects for their own motor productions. Considered together, these data are compatible with the embodied cognition framework stating that cognition, and in our case social cognition, is grounded in knowledge associated with past sensory and motor experiences.
Matrix analysis of discontinuities in nonreciprocal waveguides: analytical description for magnetooptical slab waveguides

A new analytical formalism to study the effect of discontinuities in a nonreciprocal waveguide has been developed. The analysis is based on 1) the general orthogonality relation obtained from the reciprocity theorem, 2) the modal expansion of the transverse electromagnetic fields within the waveguide, and 3) the continuity of the tangential components of such electromagnetic fields at both sides of the discontinuity. The formalism is presented in a matrix form, which allows the treatment of several discontinuities as a simple summation and product of coupling and propagation matrices. The matrix formalism is developed for magnetooptic waveguides in the three different orientations of the magnetization, and, within this context, two practical applications of magnetooptic isolators are studied.
Development of a cancer-marker activated enzymatic switch from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase

Discovery of new cancer biomarkers and advances in targeted gene delivery mechanisms have made gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) an attractive method for treating cancer. Recent focus has been placed on increasing target specificity of gene delivery systems and reducing toxicity in non-cancer cells in order to make GDEPT viable. To help address this challenge, we have developed an enzymatic switch that confers higher prodrug toxicity in the presence of a cancer marker. The enzymatic switch was derived from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) fused to the CH1 domain of the p300 protein. The CH1 domain binds to the C-terminal transactivation domain (C-TAD) of the cancer marker hypoxia inducible factor 1&agr;. The switch was developed using a directed evolution approach that evaluated a large library of HSV-TK/CH1 fusions using a negative selection for azidothymidine (AZT) toxicity and a positive selection for dT phosphorylation. The identified switch, dubbed TICKLE (Trigger-Induced Cell-Killing Lethal-Enzyme), confers a 4-fold increase in AZT toxicity in the presence of C-TAD. The broad substrate specificity exhibited by HSV-TK makes TICKLE an appealing prospect for testing in medical imaging and cancer therapy, while establishing a foundation for further engineering of nucleoside kinase protein switches.
Results of the MXM Digisonic Auditory Brainstem Implant Clinical Trials in Europe

Objective To assess the potential benefit of the MXM auditory brainstem implant for patients with neurofibromatosis type 2. Study Design Retrospective case review. Setting Tertiary referral centers. Patients Fourteen patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 and bilateral acoustic neuromas underwent implantation with the MXM auditory brainstem implant during surgery to remove the second-side tumor. Results There were no complications related to the auditory brainstem implantation. Auditory sensations were present for 12 of 14 patients (86%). Global results indicated an improved quality of life for the patients receiving auditory sensations, in part because of their auditory orientation within the environment. Eighty-nine percent of patients tested with an open-set sentence test demonstrated enhancement of speech understanding as a result of lip-reading improvement when auditory brainstem implant sound was combined with lip-reading. A few patients (36%) had some speech understanding in sound-only mode. One patient was able to have limited phone conversations. Conclusion These results indicate that significant auditory benefit can be derived from the MXM auditory brainstem implant.
Cyclophilin‐D is dispensable for atrophy and mitochondrial apoptotic signalling in denervated muscle

Non‐technical summary Activation of apoptotic cell death signalling by mitochondria is involved in mediating skeletal muscle atrophy following denervation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear, in particular the role of the permeability transition pore (PTP), a high conductance non specific channel of the mitochondrial inner membrane involved in cell death. Using Ppif−/− mice, which are devoid of the PTP sensitizing protein cyclophilin‐D and thus more resistant to pore opening, we directly tested the hypothesis that this pore is involved in atrophy and activation of apoptotic proteolytic signalling following denervation. Our results demonstrate that cyclophilin‐D, and by extension opening of the PTP, is dispensable for atrophy and activation of apoptotic proteolytic signalling induced by denervation.
Multi-port multi-cell DC/DC converter topology for electric vehicle's power distribution networks

In today's electric vehicles (EV), power density is a key criterion for electrical systems, due to the strongly limited available space. Thereby, a high integration level of the electric distribution network is inevitable. In this paper, a novel multi-port multi-cell (MPMC) topology is proposed, which combines the features of two independent two-port converter systems, which are commonly used in state-of-the-art EVs. Consequently, this results in a higher overall power-density of the overall electric distribution system. The proposed converter comprises multiple identical subconverters (cells), where each cell processes the same share of the total converter power. Furthermore, as will be shown in this paper, the multi-cell approach mitigates several technological design challenges arising in single-cell solutions, where, in contrast to the multi-port multi-cell approach, extremely high output currents and high step-down ratios are required. Finally, a MPMC control strategy is introduced, which guarantees stable operation and balanced cell powers in the converter for all operating points.
The effects of selection on linkage analysis for quantitative traits.

The effects of within-sample selection on the outcome of analyses detecting linkage between genetic markers and quantitative traits were studied. It was found that selection by truncation for the trait of interest significantly reduces the differences between marker genotype means thus reducing the power to detect linked quantitative trait loci (QTL). The size of this reduction is a function of proportion selected, the magnitude of the QTL effect, recombination rate between the marker locus and the QTL, and the allele frequency of the QTL. Proportion selected was the most influential of these factors on bias, e.g., for an allele substitution effect of one standard deviation unit, selecting the top 80%, 50% or 20% of the population required 2, 6 or 24 times the number of progeny, respectively, to offset the loss of power caused by this selection. The effect on power was approximately linear with respect to the size of gene effect, almost invariant to recombination rate, and a complex function of QTL allele frequency. It was concluded that experimental samples from animal populations which have been subjected to even minor amounts of selection will be inefficient in yielding information on linkage between markers and loci influencing the quantitative trait under selection.
Recent trends in control architectures for autonomous underwater vehicles

This article describes therecenttrends in controlarchitectures for autonomous vehicles. The study has been carried out on 22 architectures, most of which relate to the field of underwater robotics. The main aim of this article is to show the relationships between these various architectures and to show how developments in architectures for autonomous land vehicles have been extended for use in autonomous underwater vehicles. A summary of important features of the 22 architectures is presented and a new hybrid architecture is proposed for the underwater vehicle GARBI.
Formation of mechanical strains in the component board of a high-end handheld product during shock impact

The effect of mechanical shock impacts on electronic component boards is a key factor in the reliability of modern handheld products. Due to differences in product enclosures, impact orientations, strike surfaces and mountings of component boards, the loading conditions induced by a drop of a complete product differ from those encountered in standardized board level tests. In order to better understand the correlation between the board level drop tests and an actual drop of a complete device, the component board of a high-end handheld product has been studied under both board level and product level test conditions.
Semantic priming effects with and without perceptual awareness

The present research was aimed to reply and extend several recent findings showing qualitatively different behavioral effects produced by words perceived with vs. without awareness. Participants made a semantic categorization task on a target that was preceded by a prime word belonging either to the same (20% of trials) or to a different category (80%). The prime was always presented briefly and followed either immediately or after a delay by a pattern mask. In contrast to prior studies, the masking type varied randomly from trial to trial. For trials with an immediate mask (which avoided conscious identification of the prime), a significant facilitatory semantic priming was found. For trials with a delayed mask (on which participants were able to identify the prime), a significant “reversed” semantic priming was observed. The present findings provide further evidence that perceiving a stimulus with or without awareness can lead to qualitatively different behavioral consequences, which reflect the contribution of strategy-based (controlled) and automatic components, respectively.
Clinics in neurology and neurosurgery of sport: lumbar spine. Sequestrated disc prolapse and disc bulge

Focal degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine is broadly categorized into three clinical types: (1) asymptomatic disc degeneration, (2) degenerative disc disease resulting in low back pain (LBP) and (3) focal disc prolapse resulting in compression of the spinal nerve root producing the clinical picture of radiculopathy or sciatica. Whenever possible, non-surgical management is the favoured option, but when persistent nerve root compression does not respond to conservative measures, surgical decompression of the nerve root is required. A variety of operative procedures and approaches exists to deal with focal disc prolapse. Such procedures include open discectomy, microdiscectomy and endoscopic percutaneous discectomy. In some situations, in addition to discectomy, a vertebral fusion procedure is also required. Although the fine details of surgical technique are beyond the scope of this paper, two cases have been selected for discussion because they represent common clinical scenarios encountered by the spinal surgeon, but there is limited published information specific to the athlete with such an injury. We have therefore addressed the issues specific to return to sport rather than focus on the myriad surgical procedures that can be performed on the lumbar spine. A 29-year-old American footballer was tackled to the ground and instantly felt a “twinge” in his lower back. He got up from his fall, and over the next few hours the pain intensified and then radiated into his right thigh, calf and foot. Treatment over the following 4 weeks included physiotherapy, acupuncture, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and hydrotherapy. The leg pain intensified and MRI of the lumbar spine showed a right L5–S1 sequestrated disc prolapse (figs 1 and 2). A microdiscectomy was performed, with complete resolution of pain. He was discharged from hospital the day after surgery and has remained free of pain. You review him 6 weeks postoperatively and he is …
Serotonin innervation of human basal ganglia

This study aimed to provide a first detailed description of the serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine, 5‐HT) innervation of the human basal ganglia under nonpathological conditions. We applied an immunohistochemical approach to postmortem human brain material with antibodies directed against the 5‐HT transporter and the 5‐HT‐synthesizing enzyme (tryptophane hydroxylase) to visualize 5‐HT axons and cell bodies, respectively. Adjacent sections were immunostained for tyrosine hydroxylase to compare the distribution of 5‐HT axons with that of dopamine axons. Human basal ganglia are innervated by 5‐HT axons that emerge chiefly from the dorsal and, less abundantly, from the median raphe nuclei. These axons form thick ascending fascicles that fragment themselves as they penetrate the decussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle. They regroup within the ventral tegmental area and ascend along the medial forebrain bundle, immediately beneath the dopamine ascending fibers. At regular intervals along their course, 5‐HT axons detach themselves from the medial forebrain bundle and sweep laterally to arborize within all basal ganglia components, where they display highly variable densities and patterns of innervation. The substantia nigra is the most densely innervated component of the basal ganglia, whereas the caudate nucleus is more heterogeneously innervated than the putamen and pallidum. The subthalamic nucleus harbors 5‐HT‐immunoreactive fibers that display a mediolateral‐decreasing gradient. The fact that all components of human basal ganglia receive a dense 5‐HT input indicates that, in concert with dopamine, 5‐HT plays a crucial role in the functional organization of these motor‐related structures, which are often targeted in neurodegenerative diseases.
Affinity maturation of a broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody that prevents acute hepatitis C virus infection in mice

Direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) have led to a high cure rate in treated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but this still leaves a large number of treatment failures secondary to the emergence of resistance‐associated variants (RAVs). To increase the barrier to resistance, a complementary strategy is to use neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (HMAbs) to prevent acute infection. However, earlier efforts with the selected antibodies led to RAVs in animal and clinical studies. Therefore, we identified an HMAb that is less likely to elicit RAVs for affinity maturation to increase potency and, more important, breadth of protection. Selected matured antibodies show improved affinity and neutralization against a panel of diverse HCV isolates. Structural and modeling studies reveal that the affinity‐matured HMAb mediates virus neutralization, in part, by inducing conformational change to the targeted epitope, and that the maturated light chain is responsible for the improved affinity and breadth of protection. A matured HMAb protected humanized mice when challenged with an infectious HCV human serum inoculum for a prolonged period. However, a single mouse experienced breakthrough infection after 63 days when the serum HMAb concentration dropped by several logs; sequence analysis revealed no viral escape mutation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a single broadly neutralizing antibody can prevent acute HCV infection without inducing RAVs and may complement DAAs to reduce the emergence of RAVs. (Hepatology 2016;64:1922‐1933).
Damage Localization at Wind Turbine Support Structures Using Sequential Quadratic Programming for Model Updating

In this paper a method for damage localization using finite element model updating is introduced as a subsequent step to a three tier SHM scheme for damage detection. Modal parameters are used for the formulation of an objective function of an optimization problem. This problem is solved using sequential quadratic programming. The proposed approach is applied to two examples. The first is a purely numerical benchmark that proves the functionality of the algorithm for damage localization. The second example is a scaled model of a wind energy converter on a tripile structure with real damage. The algorithm is able to locate damages with a small disturbance of the initial parameters, but it reveals a poor convergence behaviour. This is assumed to be caused by the Maratos effect.
RDMA over Commodity Ethernet at Scale Chuanxiong

Over the past one and half years, we have been using RDMA over commodity Ethernet (RoCEv2) to support some of Microsoft’s highly-reliable, latency-sensitive services. This paper describes the challenges we encountered during the process and the solutions we devised to address them. In order to scale RoCEv2 beyond VLAN, we have designed a DSCP-based priority flow-control (PFC) mechanism to ensure large-scale deployment. We have addressed the safety challenges brought by PFCinduced deadlock (yes, it happened! ), RDMA transport livelock, and the NIC PFC pause frame storm problem. We have also built the monitoring and management systems to make sure RDMA works as expected. Our experiences show that the safety and scalability issues of running RoCEv2 at scale can all be addressed, and RDMA can replace TCP for intra data center communications and achieve low latency, low CPU overhead, and high throughput. CCS Concepts •Networks→ Network protocol design; Network experimentation; Data center networks;
Implementation of the new public transport management system in Belgrade

The public transport system in Belgrade is a complex organizational and technological system by its structure, operation and management. Managing such a complex system cannot be efficiently done without the computerization of all processes in the system and data collection in order to create a reliable database. The issue of integrated management is one of the basic and most complex pre-conditions for effective and efficient public transport. The paper deals with the new public transport management system in Belgrade. Description of the system's architecture is presented. Emphasis is placed on the description of the communication system and data structure necessary for the effective and efficient public transport management.
Title Design and multiplierless realization of digital synthesis filtersfor hybrid-filter-bank A / D converters

This paper studies the optimal least squares and minimax design and realization of digital synthesis filters for hybrid-filter-bank analog-to-digital converters (HFB ADCs) to meet a given spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR). The problem for designing finite-impulse-response synthesis filters is formulated as a second-order cone-programming problem, which is convex and allows linear and quadratic constraints such as peak aliasing error to be incorporated. The fixed coefficients of the designed synthesis filters are efficiently implemented using sum-of-power-of-two (SOPOT) coefficients, while the internal word length used for each intermediate data is minimized using geometric programming. The main sources of error are analyzed, and a new formula of SFDR in terms of these errors is derived. The effects of component variations of analog analysis filters on the HFB ADC are also addressed by means of two new robust HFB ADC design algorithms based on stochastic uncertainty and worst case uncertainty models. Design results show that the proposed approach offers more flexibility and better performance than conventional methods in achieving a given SFDR and that the robust design algorithms are more robust to parameter uncertainties than the nominal design in which the uncertainties are not taken into account.
Does auditory rhythmical cueing improve gait in people with Parkinson's disease and cognitive impairment? A Feasibility study

Gait and balance problems resulting from Parkinson's disease (PD) are more common in people with PD and dementia (PDD), yet, it is unknown whether the benefits of cueing therapy for mobility generalize to them. We aimed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of auditory cues to improve gait in PD and cognitive impairment (PD‐CI). Nine participants with PD‐CI walked with and without auditory cues using two different strategies: (1) Cue with temporal instruction to “step in time to the beat,” (2) Cue with spatiotemporal instruction to “take a big step in time to the beat. ” Cues were delivered with a metronome at preferred stepping frequency while on medication during single and dual‐task gait. Gait was assessed using GAITRite and walking speed, stride amplitude, step frequency, and variability (CV%) of step and double limb support time were measured. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 16 using fixed‐effect linear mixed models. An adjusted, P value of 0.01 was considered significant. Participants were men, aged 74.89 (±6.45) years with median MMSE of 22 (range 20.5–25) and UPDRS III score of 44 (35.5–47.0). Participants complied with testing and instructions. The cue that focused attention on both temporal and spatial parameters of gait significantly improved single and dual‐task walking speed and stride amplitude. This study provides evidence for the potential of cueing to improve gait in PD‐CI. Only individuals with mild CI were included, and the effect with increased CI and different types of dementia requires further evaluation. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Strength and structural phase transitions of gadolinium at high pressure from radial X- ray diffraction

Lattice strength and structural phase transitions of gadolinium (Gd) were determined under nonhydrostatic compression up to 55 GPa using an angle-dispersive radial x-ray diffraction technique in a diamond-anvil cell at room temperature. Three new phases of fcc structure, dfcc structure, and new monoclinic structure were observed at 25 GPa, 34 GPa, and 53 GPa, respectively. The radial x-ray diffraction data yield a bulk modulus K0 = 36(1) GPa with its pressure derivate K0′ = 3.8(1) at the azimuthal angle between the diamond cell loading axis and the diffraction plane normal and diffraction plane ψ = 54.7°. With K0′ fixed at 4, the derived K0 is 34(1) GPa. In addition, analysis of diffraction data with lattice strain theory indicates that the ratio of differential stress to shear modulus (t/G) ranges from 0.011 to 0.014 at pressures of 12–55 GPa. Together with estimated high-pressure shear moduli, our results show that Gd can support a maximum differential stress of 0.41 GPa, while it starts to yield to pla.