Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fully convolutional neural networks for dynamic object detection in grid maps

Grid maps are widely used in robotics to represent obstacles in the environment and differentiating dynamic objects from static infrastructure is essential for many practical applications. In this work, we present a methods that uses a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) to infer whether grid cells are covering a moving object or not. Compared to tracking approaches, that use e.g. a particle filter to estimate grid cell velocities and then make a decision for individual grid cells based on this estimate, our approach uses the entire grid map as input image for a CNN that inspects a larger area around each cell and thus takes the structural appearance in the grid map into account to make a decision. Compared to our reference method, our concept yields a performance increase from 83.9% to 97.2%. A runtime optimized version of our approach yields similar improvements with an execution time of just 10 milliseconds.
Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction: Clinical Implications and Treatment

Heart failure is a frequent complication of myocardial infarction. Several factors, such as recurrent myocardial ischemia, infarct size, ventricular remodeling, stunned myocardium, mechanical complications, and hibernating myocardium influence the appearance of left ventricular systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Importantly, its presence increases the risk of death by at least 3‐ to 4‐fold. The knowledge of the mechanisms and clinical features are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure after myocardial infarction. Therefore, this review will focus on the clinical implications and treatment of heart failure after myocardial infarction. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Increase of GPC Levels in Cultured Mammalian Cells during Acidosis. A 31P MR Spectroscopy Study Using a Continuous Bioreactor System

The purpose of this study was to study the metabolic events during a slow acidosis in three different cell lines by combining 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy and hollow fiber bioreactor technology. The rate of change in intracellular pH, glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), phophorylcholine (PCho), and nucleoside‐triphosphate (NTP) levels were measured during 8 h of acidosis and 16 h of recovery in EPO, EAT, and RN1a cells, three cultured mammalians cell lines. Our results show a significant increase in GPC levels to 330 ± 21, 540 ± 25, and 220 ± 21% of their initial value correlated to a decrease of PCho levels to 57 ± 14, 58 ± 17 and 45 ± 15% of their initial value in EAT, RN1a, and EPO cells, respectively. These changes are discussed in terms of perturbation of energetic metabolism in cells undergoing a slow acidosis.
Macronuclear DNA molecules of Tetrahymena thermophila

The physical organization of the DNA in the macronuclei of Tetrahymena thermophila was investigated by using alternating-orthogonal-field gel electrophoresis. The genome consisted of a spectrum of molecules with lengths ranging from less than 100 to in excess of 1,500 kilobase pairs. There were about 270 different macronuclear DNA molecules, with an average size of about 800 kilobase pairs. Specific genes were mapped and were generally found on macronuclear DNA molecules of the same size in different strains of T. thermophila. This indicates that the molecular mechanisms giving rise to the macronuclear DNA molecules were precise. The fragmentation process that gave rise to macronuclear DNA molecules occurred between 11 and 19 h after the initiation of conjugation.
Concentration and Distribution of Cadmium in Coals of China

Cadmium is considered an important toxicant of major environmental and occupational concern. It can contaminate water, soil, and the atmosphere through coal mining, beneficiation, combustion, etc. This paper is based on the published literature, especially those data reported during the recent 10 years, including 2999 individual samples from 116 coalfields or mines in 26 provinces in China. The arithmetic mean of cadmium in Chinese coals is 0.43 μg/g. Taking the coal reserves into consideration, the average value of cadmium in coal is estimated as 0.28 μg/g. Cadmium is mostly enriched in the Southern coal-distribution area during the Late Permian. Furthermore, cadmium is highly enriched in Hunan and Chongqing. The modes of occurrence of cadmium in Chinese coals are quite complex. Cadmium in Chinese coals has been found in sulfides, organic matter, silicate minerals, and other minerals. A marine environment may be the most significant factor that influences the cadmium accumulation in coal from the Southern coal-distribution area during the Late Permian. In addition, hydrothermal fluids, source rocks, and volcanic ash have also influenced the content of cadmium in some coalfields in China.
Chronoamperometry Using Integrated Potentiostat Consisting of Poly-Si Thin-Film Transistors

We have conducted chronoamperometry using an integrated potentiostat consisting of poly-Si thin-film transistors. An electrochemical measurement of enzymatic redox reaction using glucose oxidase and ferrocene mediator is attempted as a practical example. It is found that the chronoamperogram depends on the glucose concentration, and a glucose concentration as low as 2 mM can be detected by comparing the chronoamperogram without glucose. The glucose sensitivity of the chronoamperometry is similar to that of the cyclic voltammetry and sufficient for diabetic diagnosis.
A novel angiopoietin‐derived peptide displays anti‐angiogenic activity and inhibits tumour‐induced and retinal neovascularization

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Pathological angiogenesis is associated with various human diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune diseases and retinopathy. The angiopoietin (Ang)–Tie2 system plays critical roles in several steps of angiogenic remodelling. Here, we have investigated the anti‐angiogenic effect of a novel angiopoietin‐derived peptide.
Studies on New Schemes for ECG Forward Problem Simulations

Quantificationally, from cardiac bioelectric process, working out body surface potential distributing, often called ECG forward problem, is an important aspect of electrocardiogram simulation. Here we explore some new schemes to carry it out, give a new method for modeling torso and ventricles, and propose an actual action potential model and myocardial excitation vector propagation algorithm. Results show that the new simulation model reaches the present level of electrocardiogram model; that it serves as a way to carry out electrocardiogram simulation
Effects of Training Status on Fibers of the Musculus Vastus Lateralis in Professional Road Cyclists

Rodríguez LP, López-Rego J, Calbet JAL, Valero R, Varela E, Ponce J: Effects of training status on fibers of the musculus vastus lateralis in professional road cyclists. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2002;81:651–660. Objective To evaluate possible changes occurring in muscle fibers related to the training status of professional road cyclists. Design A comparative study was performed on two groups of male road cyclists: ten 21-yr-old cyclists with a history of 3 yr of sport competition (RC21) and ten 25-yr-old cyclists with a history of 7 yr of competition (RC25). The control group was formed by two subgroups of five nontrained, sedentary volunteers who were matched for age with the study subjects (NT21 and NT25). Biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle were obtained to determine the fiber variables: percentage, cross-sectional area, mitochondrial volume, and capillary density. Results Control group variables were within the normal range. According to their training status, cyclists showed an increased percentage of type I and IIC fibers (RC25 > RC21 > NT) and decreased percentage of type IIA (RC25 < RC21 < NT) and IIB fibers (RC25 = RC21 < NT), an increased cross-sectional area of all fiber types after 3 yr of training (RC25 = RC21 > NT) except IIB fibers (RC25 > RC21), an increased mitochondrial volume in all fiber types (RC25 > RC21 > NT) except type IIA fibers (RC25 > RC21 = NT21), and an increased capillary density (RC25 > RC21 > NT). Conclusions Findings indicate a progressive increase in the muscle fiber types that are mostly implicated in endurance sports, accompanied by phenotypic changes in the fiber population of lesser participation.
Competencies in subsidiaries of multinational companies

In order to better understand the competitiveness of companies and with this their surrounding regions, economic geographers focus on competencies in manufacturing companies. This paper discusses the major and minor driving forces, preconditions and constraints for transferring tasks from headquarters to the foreign plant. Subsidiaries of international automotive supply companies in Poland are used as case studies, offering insights into different types of competencies assigned from headquarters to the subsidiary
Quantized feedback control for Markov jump linear systems with incomplete transition probabilities

This paper considers the quantized feedback control for Markov jump linear systems with incomplete transition probabilities where the effect of current mode observation logarithmic quantizer is counted for. A sufficient condition is proposed in the framework of linear matrix inequalities. Therefore, the coarsest quantization density can be obtained using an optimization problem with convex constraints. A numerical example illustrates the effectiveness of proposed scheme.
Dual Conserved Periplasmic Loops Possess Essential Charge Characteristics That Support a Catch-and-Release Mechanism of O-antigen Polymerization by Wzy in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1*

Heteropolymeric B-band lipopolysaccharide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is synthesized via the so-called Wzy-dependent pathway, requiring a functional Wzy for polymerization of O-antigen repeat units in the periplasm. Wzy is an integral inner membrane protein for which the detailed topology has been mapped in a recent investigation (Islam, S. T., Taylor, V. L., Qi, M., and Lam, J. S. (2010) mBio 1, e00189-10), revealing two principal periplasmic loops (PL), PL3 and PL5, each containing an RX10G motif. Despite considerable sequence conservation between the two loops, the isoelectric point for each peptide displayed marked differences, with PL3 exhibiting a net-positive charge and PL5 showing a net-negative charge. Data from site-directed mutagenesis of amino acids in each PL have led to the identification of several key Arg residues within the two RX10G motifs that are important for Wzy function, of which Arg176, Arg290, and Arg291 could not be functionally substituted with Lys. These observations support the proposed role of each PL in a catch-and-release mechanism for Wzy-mediated O-antigen polymerization.
eIF4E association with 4E-BP decreases rapidly following fertilization in sea urchin.

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 4F facilitates the recruitment of ribosomes to the mRNA 5' end. The 4E-BPs are small proteins with hypophosphorylated forms that interact with the cap binding protein eIF4E, preventing its interaction with eIF4G, thereby preventing ribosome interaction with mRNA. In sea urchin, fertilization triggers a rapid rise in protein synthesis. Here, we demonstrate that a 4E-BP homologue exists and is associated with eIF4E in unfertilized eggs. We also show that 4E-BP/eIF4E association diminishes a few minutes following fertilization. This decrease is correlated with a decrease in the total amount of 4E-BP in combination with an increase in the phosphorylation of the protein. We propose that 4E-BP acts as a repressor of protein synthesis in unfertilized sea urchin eggs and that 4E-BP/eIF4E dissociation plays an important role in the rise in protein synthesis that occurs shortly following fertilization.
Effect of Prosody Modification on Children's ASR

Transcribing children's speech using acoustic models trained on adults’ speech is very challenging. In such conditions, a highly degraded recognition performance is reported due to large mismatch in the acoustic/linguistic attributes of the training and test data. The differences in pitch (or fundamental frequency) between the two groups of speakers is one among several mismatch factors. Another important mismatch factor is the difference in speaking rates. To overcome these two sources of mismatch, prosody modification is explored in this letter. Prosody modification is done by using glottal closure instants (GCIs) as anchoring points. The GCIs, in turn, are determined using zero-frequency filtering (ZFF). The ZFF-GCI-based prosody modification is fast and results in highly accurate scaling of pitch and speaking rate. The experimental evaluations studying the effect of prosody modification resulted in a relative improvement of $50\%$ over the baseline.
Analysis of an Escherichia coli mutant TyrR protein with impaired capacity for tyrosine‐mediated repression, but still able to activate atσ70 promoters

In Escherichia coli, TyrR represses and activates transcription of operons required for tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan biosynthesis and uptake. The TyrR central domain is homologous with NtrC and some other bacterial regulatory proteins, although TyrR regulates σ70, not σ54, promoters. We isolated a central domain TyrR mutant (TyrR E274Q) by substitution of a normally conserved amino acid. The mutant was unable to bring about tyrosine‐mediated repression of aroF, aroL, tyrB, and tyrP and had diminished capability for tyrosine‐ and phenylalanine‐mediated repression of aroP. In contrast, it was able to effect wild‐type levels of phenylalanine‐mediated repression of aroG, tryptophan‐mediated repression of aroP and transcriptional activation of mtr and tyrP. The binding of purified TyrR E274Q to ATP (a requirement for tyrosine binding) and to the strong TyrR box of tyrP operator DNA were normal, but tyrosine binding and tyrosine‐dependent hexamerization were significantly impaired. These properties are consistent with the proposal that self association is essential for tyrosine‐mediated repression by TyrR but not for tyrosine‐ or phenylalanine‐mediated activation. E274 of TyrR must participate in either the binding of tyrosine, or the coupling of ATP binding with a conformational change that alters the affinity of the ATP‐dependent aromatic amino acid‐binding site.
Cloning of a novel C-terminal kinesin (KIFC3) that maps to human chromosome 16q13-q21 and thus is a candidate gene for Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Kinesins are a large superfamily of microtubule motors that mediate specific motile processes. In a previous study, we identified 11 kinesin family members in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the striped bass, Morone saxatilus. We have now identified, cloned, and sequenced the human homologue (KIFC3) of the most abundantly expressed retinal kinesin from that study, the C-terminal kinesin FKIF2. An antibody raised against an FKIF2 peptide cross-reacted with an approximately 80-kDa protein in human retina, RPE, kidney, and lung. Since microtubule-dependent processes are critical to the function and morphogenesis of the photoreceptors and RPE, the abundantly expressed KIFC3 was considered to be a potential candidate gene for causing human retinal degeneration. Chromosomal localization of the KIFC3 gene revealed that it maps to chromosome 16q13-q21, within the critical region for a Bardet-Biedl syndrome locus (BBS2). Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by retinal dystrophy, polydactyly, obesity, hypogonadism, renal abnormalities, and mental retardation. The chromosomal localization and expression pattern of KIFC3 suggest that it may be an excellent candidate for families linked to BBS2.
A review on therapeutic contact lenses for ocular drug delivery

Abstract Contact lenses for ophthalmic drug delivery have become very popular, due to their unique advantages like extended wear and more than 50% bioavailability. To achieve controlled and sustained drug delivery from contact lenses, researchers are working on various systems like polymeric nanoparticles, microemulsion, micelle, liposomes, use of vitamin E, etc. Numerous scientists are working on different areas of therapeutic contact lenses to treat ocular diseases by implementing techniques like soaking method, molecular imprinting, entrapment of drug-laden colloidal nanoparticles, drug plate/film, ion ligand polymeric systems, supercritical fluid technology, etc. Though sustained drug delivery was achieved using contact lens, the critical properties such as water content, tensile strength (mechanical properties), ion permeability, transparency and oxygen permeability were altered, which limit the commercialization of therapeutic contact lenses. Also issues like drug stability during processing/fabrication (drug integrity test), zero order release kinetics (prevent burst release), drug release during monomer extraction step after fabrication (to remove un-reacted monomers), protein adherence, drug release during storage in packaging solution, shelf life study, cost-benefit analysis, etc. are still to be addressed. This review provides an expert opinion on different methodology to develop therapeutic contact lenses with special remark of their advantages and limitations.
A perceptually motivated approach via sparse and low-rank model for speech enhancement

A perceptually motivated speech enhancement approach is proposed in this paper. Different from the conventional sparse and low-rank model based approaches, this new approach takes into account the perceptual differences in different frequency bands of the human auditory system, and separates speech from background noises in the Mel spectral domain. After two propositions for the Mel frequency weighted spectrogram are proved, speech enhancement can be modeled as a sparse and low-rank constrained optimization problem, which is solved efficiently by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). The proposed approach is totally unsupervised, neither the speech nor the noise dictionary needs to be trained beforehand. The experimental results have shown its promising performance under strong background noises. The performance can be further improved by information fusion technique at high input SNRs.
The Increasing Burden of Mortality From Viral Hepatitis in the United States Between 1999 and 2007

BACKGROUND The increasing health burden and mortality from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States are underappreciated. OBJECTIVE To examine mortality from HBV; HCV; and, for comparison, HIV. DESIGN Analysis of U.S. multiple-cause mortality data from 1999 to 2007 from the National Center for Health Statistics. SETTING All U.S. states and the District of Columbia. PARTICIPANTS Approximately 22 million decedents. MEASUREMENTS Age-adjusted mortality rates from HBV, HCV, and HIV. Logistic regression analyses of 2007 data generated 4 independent models per outcome (HCV- or HBV-related deaths) that each included 1 of 4 comorbid conditions and all sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS Between 1999 and 2007, recorded deaths from HCV [corrected] increased significantly to 15,106, whereas deaths from HIV declined to 12,734 by 2007. Factors associated with HCV-related deaths included chronic liver disease, HBV co-infection, alcohol-related conditions, minority status, and HIV co-infection. Factors that increased odds of HBV-related death included chronic liver disease, HCV co-infection, Asian or Pacific Islander descent, HIV co-infection, and alcohol-related conditions. Most deaths from HBV and HCV occurred in middle-aged persons. LIMITATION A person other than the primary physician of the decedent frequently completed the death certificate, and HCV and HBV often were not detected and thus not reported as causes of death. CONCLUSION By 2007, HCV had superseded HIV as a cause of death in the United States, and deaths from HCV and HBV disproportionately occurred in middle-aged persons. To achieve decreases in mortality similar to those seen with HIV requires new policy initiatives to detect patients with chronic hepatitis and link them to care and treatment. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Criteria classification Intelligent Decision Support Systems

The paper presents the classification of Intelligent Decision Support Systems (IDSS) generated and realizing decision making tasks with the use of artificial intelligence. The classification with regard to their functional decision making complexity has been conducted on the basis of the proposed method of Decision Support Systems gradation - The Method of Decision Support Systems Gradation (MDSSG). The authors have introduced a sample IDDS structure and stages of its implementation in the management processes of small scale power plant operation.
Acetylcholine Controls GABA-, Glutamate-, and Glycine-Dependent Giant Depolarizing Potentials that Govern Spontaneous Motoneuron Activity at the Onset of Synaptogenesis in the Mouse Embryonic Spinal Cord

A remarkable feature of early neuronal networks is their endogenous ability to generate spontaneous rhythmic electrical activity independently of any external stimuli. In the mouse embryonic SC, this activity starts at an embryonic age of ∼12 d and is characterized by bursts of action potentials recurring every 2–3 min. Although these bursts have been extensively studied using extracellular recordings and are known to play an important role in motoneuron (MN) maturation, the mechanisms driving MN activity at the onset of synaptogenesis are still poorly understood. Because only cholinergic antagonists are known to abolish early spontaneous activity, it has long been assumed that spinal cord (SC) activity relies on a core network of MNs synchronized via direct cholinergic collaterals. Using a combination of whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and extracellular recordings in E12.5 isolated mouse SC preparations, we found that spontaneous MN activity is driven by recurrent giant depolarizing potentials. Our analysis reveals that these giant depolarizing potentials are mediated by the activation of GABA, glutamate, and glycine receptors. We did not detect direct nAChR activation evoked by ACh application on MNs, indicating that cholinergic inputs between MNs are not functional at this age. However, we obtained evidence that the cholinergic dependency of early SC activity reflects a presynaptic facilitation of GABA and glutamate synaptic release via nicotinic AChRs. Our study demonstrates that, even in its earliest form, the activity of spinal MNs relies on a refined poly-synaptic network and involves a tight presynaptic cholinergic regulation of both GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs.
Reanalysis of Clause Boundaries in Japanese as a Constraint-Driven Process

When processing the initial segment of a sentence, readers may favor an interpretation that will turn out to be incorrect as more words are read. In these cases, a reanalysis process is necessary in order to correct the mental representation built up to that point. It has been previously proposed that readers obey a minimum change restriction, as they prefer to change the mental representation as little as possible. The present paper reports two experiments in Japanese suggesting that a minimal change restriction is unnecessary to characterize reanalysis. It is proposed instead that the present data and previous observations are more naturally explained by a constraint-driven model in which revisions are performed only when required by parsing constraints.