Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of a tele-home-care for hand-telerehabilitation

The hand rehabilitation process needs a continuous and frequent monitoring of the patient's functionality in order to test the delivered therapy and/or adapt it to the patient's progress. In order to contain costs for the rehabilitation program, a tele-homecare rehabilitation system is suitable. We have proposed a tele-home-care allowing the assessment of the hand fingers' dynamics and kinematics by integrating with a dedicated software two particular devices: the first was a commercial glove, the HumanGlove by Humanware (Pisa, Italy) and the second was a set of instruments for the measurement of the hand fingers' force comprehending an Instrumented Keyboard (IK) and an Instrumented Mouse-Like (IML) device. The platform has been successfully tested at Istituto Superiore di Sanita (ISS),.
A database perspective on knowledge discovery

DATABASE MINING IS NOT SIMPLY ANOTHER buzzword for statistical data analysis or inductive learning. Database mining sets new challenges to database technology: new concepts and methods are needed for query languages, basic operations, and query processing strategies. The most important new component is the ad hoc nature of knowledge and data discovery (KDD) queries and the need for efficient query compilation into a multitude of existing and new data analysis methods. Hence, database mining builds upon the existing body of work in statistics and machine learning but provides completely new functionalities. The current generation of database systems are designed mainly to support business applications. The success of Structured Query Language (SQL) has capitalized on a small number of primitives sufficient to support a vast majority of such applications. Unfortunately, these primitives are not sufficient to capture the emerging family of new applications dealing with knowledge discovery. Most current KDD systems offer isolated discovery features using tree inducers, neural nets, and rule discovery algorithms. Such systems cannot be embedded into a large application and typically offer just one knowledge dis-The concept of data mining as a querying process and the first steps toward efficient development of knowledge discovery applications are discussed.
Tetanus Toxin Blocks the Exocytosis of Synaptic Vesicles Clustered at Synapses But Not of Synaptic Vesicles in Isolated Axons

Recycling synaptic vesicles are already present in isolated axons of developing neurons (Matteoli et al., 1992; Zakharenko et al., 1999). This vesicle recycling is distinct from the vesicular traffic implicated in axon outgrowth. Formation of synaptic contacts coincides with a clustering of synaptic vesicles at the contact site and with a downregulation of their basal rate of exo-endocytosis (Kraszewski et al., 1995; Coco et al., 1998) We report here that tetanus toxin-mediated cleavage of synaptobrevin/vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP2), previously shown not to affect axon outgrowth, also does not inhibit synaptic vesicle exocytosis in isolated axons, despite its potent blocking effect on their exocytosis at synapses. This differential effect of tetanus toxin could be seen even on different branches of a same neuron. In contrast, botulinum toxins A and E [which cleave synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa. (SNAP-25)] and F (which cleaves synaptobrevin/VAMP1 and 2) blocked synaptic vesicle exocytosis both in isolated axons and at synapses, strongly suggesting that this process is dependent on “classical” synaptic SNAP receptor (SNARE) complexes both before and after synaptogenesis. A tetanus toxin-resistant form of synaptic vesicle recycling, which proceeds in the absence of external stimuli and is sensitive to botulinum toxin F, E, and A, persists at mature synapses. These data suggest the involvement of a tetanus toxin-resistant, but botulinum F-sensitive, isoform of synaptobrevin/VAMP in synaptic vesicle exocytosis before synapse formation and the partial persistence of this form of exocytosis at mature synaptic contacts.
Using Path Planning Techniques to Improve Airway Tree Segmentation from CT Images

Virtual Bronchoscopy (VB) permits the preplanning of operations concerning the airways and provides the necessary guidance to reach the pulmonary lesions. Fundamental for a good VB is the reconstruction of a 3D model of the airways from the CT images. Airway segmentation algorithms usually return the biggest detected volume connected to the trachea (the root tree), but many of them also reconstruct during the segmentation process, small parts not connected to the root tree. To overcome this problem this paper proposes a method, based on path planning techniques, that is able to connect the small isolated pieces of bronchi to the terminal points of the root airway tree, taking into account the growing direction of the branches and the gray values of the CT images. As a result, a more complete 3D model of the airways is obtained.
The importance of diazotrophic cyanobacteria as primary producers during Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2

Abstract. In Livello Bonarelli black shale deposited during Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE-2, ca. 94 Ma), nitrogen isotopic compositions of bulk sediments are mostly in a narrow range from –2.7 to –0.7‰. We also determined molecular distribution and nitrogen isotopic compositions of geoporphyrins extracted from the black shale. The nitrogen isotopic compositions of C32 Ni deoxophylloerythroetioporphyrin (DPEP) and total Ni porphyrins are –3.5 and –3.3‰, respectively, leading us to the estimation that the mean nitrogen isotopic composition of photoautotrophic cells were around +1‰ during the formation of Bonarelli black shale. This value is suggestive of N2-fixation, a dominant process for these photoautotrophs when assimilating nitrogen. Furthermore, Ni-chelated C32 DPEP, derived mainly from chlorophyll a had the highest concentration. Based on this evidence, we conclude that diazotrophic cyanobacteria were major primary producers during that time. Cyanobacteria may be key photoautotrophs during the formation of black shale type sediments intermittently observed throughout the later half of the Earth's history, and hence may have played a crucial role in the evolution of geochemical cycles even in the later half of the Earth's history.
PT-AMC: Integrating Preemption Thresholds into Mixed-Criticality Scheduling

Mixed-Criticality Scheduling (MCS) is an effective approach to addressing diverse certification requirements of safety-critical systems that integrate multiple subsystems with different levels of criticality. Preemption Threshold Scheduling (PTS) is a well-known technique for controlling the degree of preemption, ranging from fully-preemptive to fully-non-preemptive scheduling. We present schedulability analysis algorithms to enable integration of PTS with MCS, in order to bring the rich benefits of PTS into MCS, including minimizing the application stack space requirement, reducing the number of runtime task preemptions, and improving schedulability.
Zuonin B Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation via Downregulation of the ERK1/2 and JNK Pathways in RAW264.7 Macrophages

We investigated whether Zuonin B exerts immunological effects on RAW264.7 cells. Zuonin B, isolated from flower buds of Daphne genkwa, suppressed the levels of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, as well as proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-(IL-) 6, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Moreover, the compound inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. Zuonin B attenuated NF-kappaB (NF-κB) activation via suppressing proteolysis of inhibitor kappa B-alpha (IκB-α) and p65 nuclear translocation as well as phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Additionally, IL-4 and IL-13 production in ConA-induced splenocytes was inhibited by Zuonin B. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory effects of Zuonin B are attributable to the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators via blockage of NF-κB and AP-1 activation. Based on these findings, we propose that Zuonin B is potentially an effective functional chemical candidate for the prevention of inflammatory diseases.
Unearthing the Fossorial Tadpoles of the Indian Dancing Frog Family Micrixalidae

Tadpoles of the monotypic Indian dancing frog family Micrixalidae have remained obscure for over 125 years. Here we report the discovery of the elusive tadpoles of Micrixalus herrei from the sand beds of a forested stream in southern Western Ghats, and confirm their identity through DNA barcoding. These actively burrowing tadpoles lead an entirely fossorial life from eggs to late metamorphic stages. We describe their internal and external morphological characters while highlighting the following features: eel-like appearance, extensively muscularized body and tail, reduced tail fins, skin-covered eyes, delayed development of eye pigmentation in early pre-metamorphic stages (Gosner stages 25–29), prominent tubular sinistral spiracle, large transverse processes on vertebrae II and III, ankylosed ribs on transverse processes of vertebra II, notochord terminating before the atlantal cotyle-occipital condyle junction, absence of keratodonts, serrated well-formed jaw sheaths, and extensive calcified endolymphatic sacs reaching sacrum posteriorly. The tadpole gut contains mostly fine sediments and sand. We discuss the eel-like morphology and feeding habits of M. herrei in the context of convergence with other well-known fossorial tadpoles. This discovery builds the knowledge base for further comparative analyses and conservation of Micrixalus, an ancient and endemic lineage of Indian frogs.
Exposing Side Effects in Execution Traces

We need to understand the impact of side effects whenever changing complex object-oriented software systems. This can be difficult as side effects are at best implicit in static views of the software, and typically execution traces do not capture data flow between parts of the system. To solve this problem, we complement execution traces with dynamic object flow information. In our previous work we analyzed object flows between features and classes. In this paper, we use object flow information to analyze side effects in execution traces and to detect how future behavior in the trace is affected by it. Using a visualization, the developer can study how a selected part of the program accessed program state and what side effect its execution produced. Like this, the developer can investigate how a particular part of the program works without needing to understand the source code in detail. To illustrate our approach, we use a running example of writing unit tests for a legacy system.
Educating Globally Minded Physical Therapist Students: Curriculum Strategies to Equip the Next Generation

Background and Purpose. Technological advances in communication and ease of travel have contributed to an increasing connectedness of world societies, and a new era of globalization. Health professions are recognizing the potential benefits of globalization and are pursuing global partnerships that allow for international collaboration to advance their professions, and the health of diverse communities at home and abroad. Physical therapist education programs are responding to the need to educate physical therapist students in light of this changing global environment and have begun to implement coursework, experiences, and exchanges that broaden and equip the current generation of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. This paper describes existing curricular strategies for equipping physical therapist students to effectively advance the profession and the health of diverse clients and communities in a global society. Position and Rationale. The curriculum strategies include: (1) an emphasis on reflective practice; (2) public/global health content and courses; (3) experiential learning including service‐learning domestically and internationally, and international clinical education; and (4) international educational partnerships/exchanges including Web‐based video conferencing. Discussion and Conclusion. The physical therapist profession must determine how to best position the profession and physical therapist practice to effectively participate in the global arena. The current generation of physical therapist students is poised to embrace the challenge. A curriculum replete with content and experiences to broaden DPT student perspectives and increase their interactions with international counterparts will best equip them for the task.
Représentation dynamique dans le cortex préfrontal : comparaison entre reservoir computing et neurophysiologie du primate

Les primates doivent pouvoir reconnaitre de nouvelles situations pour pouvoir s'y adapter. La representation de ces situations dans l'activite du cortex est le sujet de cette these. Les situations complexes s'expliquent souvent par l'interaction entre des informations sensorielles, internes et motrices. Des activites unitaires denommees selectivite mixte, qui sont tres presentes dans le cortex prefrontal (CPF), sont un mecanisme possible pour representer n'importe quelle interaction entre des informations. En parallele, le Reservoir Computing a demontre que des reseaux recurrents ont la propriete de recombiner des entrees actuelles et passees dans un espace de plus haute dimension, fournissant ainsi un pre-codage potentiellement universel de combinaisons pouvant etre ensuite selectionnees et utilisees en fonction de leur pertinence pour la tâche courante. En combinant ces deux approches, nous soutenons que la nature fortement recurrente de la connectivite locale du CPF est a l'origine d'une forme dynamique de selectivite mixte. De plus, nous tentons de demontrer qu'une simple regression lineaire, implementable par un neurone seul, peut extraire n'importe qu'elle information/contingence encodee dans ces combinaisons complexes et dynamiques. Finalement, les entrees precedentes, qu'elles soient sensorielles ou motrices, a ces reseaux du CPF doivent etre maintenues pour pouvoir influencer les traitements courants. Nous soutenons que les representations de ces contextes definis par ces entrees precedentes doivent etre exprimees explicitement et retournees aux reseaux locaux du CPF pour influencer les combinaisons courantes a l'origine de la representation des contingences
Exploiting Domain Symmetries in Reinforcement Learning with Continuous State and Action Spaces

A central problem in Reinforcement Learning is how to deal with large state and action spaces. When the problem domain presents intrinsic symmetries, exploiting them can be key to achieve good performance. We analyze the gains that can be effectively achieved by exploiting different kinds of symmetries, and the effect of combining them, in a test case: the stand-up and stabilization of an inverted pendulum.
Both Apolipoprotein E and Immune Deficiency Exacerbate Neointimal Hyperplasia After Vascular Injury in Mice

In this study, we investigated the role of T and B lymphocytes in neointimal hyperplasia after endothelial denudation. Catheter-induced endothelial denudation of wild-type mice resulted in rapid infiltration of lymphocytes to the site of injury. Mice defective in recombination-activating gene 2 (RAG2−/−) showed increased neointimal formation 14 days after vascular injury in comparison to their wild-type immune-competent littermates. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the preponderance of smooth muscle cells and a significantly higher number of proliferating cells in the neointima of the RAG2−/− mice. The neointima size and the number of proliferating smooth muscle cells in the injured vessel of RAG2−/− mice were similar to those observed in the injured arteries of apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient (apoE−/−) mice. Interestingly, mice with double apoE and RAG2 gene mutations (apoE−/−RAG2−/−) displayed similar neointimal characteristics as mice with a single gene defect, suggesting a similar mechanism for apoE and lymphocyte protection against injury-induced neointimal formation. The protective role of lymphocytes against neointimal formation after vascular injury directly contrasts to their reported role in the promotion of atherosclerosis, which was observed in both apoE+/+ and apoE−/− mice. Thus, these results support the hypothesis of different etiology between hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis and injury-induced vascular occlusion.
Practical considerations for the design of cascade multi-bit high-frequency /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators

Recommendations are given for efficient design of high-frequency /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ modulators using multi-stage (cascade) multi-bit quantization architectures. These cover from pure architectural aspects to cell design with special emphasis on the impact of circuit imperfections. Conclusions are validated by measurements on a 13-bit 2.2 MS/s prototype fabricated in a 0.7 /spl mu/m CMOS technology.
IMPACT OF INTEGRATED URBAN HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM ON HOUSEHOLD POVERTY ALLEVIATION: ADAMA CITY,

In this paper, we investigate the impact of the integrated urban housing development program on poverty alleviation using household’s consumption expenditure as a proxy. For this, primary household level data were collected from 240 randomly selected households, 120 from participants while 120 from non-participants, during the 2011 fiscal year, in Adama city of the Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Using a propensity score matching model, the difference in total consumption expenditure between households who participate and those who do not were evaluated. Besides, the poverty incidence curve and rank in distribution differences was also tested using poverty incidence curve by stochastic dominance. Accordingly, the poverty incidence curve of participant households, at every point, lie below the curve of the non-participants indicating participants were less poor than non-participants. The empirical result of the matching showed that participant households in the integrated urban housing development program have significantly higher consumption expenditure per adult equivalent than the non-participant households. Among the factors assumed to affect the participation of the households in the program, formal years of schooling, work status, birth place and asset ownership have a positive and significant effect. While, sex of the household and prior job, being student and self-employed, have a negative and significant effect. This implies that, empowering women and giving more technical training will induce their participation in the housing development program and hence on household poverty alleviation.
Realization of buck converter with adaptive variable-frequency control

A monolithic CMOS DC-DC converter with integrated power switches and a novel variable-frequency boundary conduction mode for feedback control is presented in this paper. Implemented in a 0.18-um CMOS technology, the operating frequency is from 90 kHz to 500 kHz and the power efficiency can achieve 92.6%. The total area including I/O pads is 1.1mm × 1.15mm.
Axitinib blocks Wnt/β-catenin signaling and directs asymmetric cell division in cancer

Significance The Wnt (wingless)/β-catenin signaling pathway is an attractive target for cancer therapy. However, known Wnt inhibitors are still far from clinical use. Here we report that the clinically approved drug axitinib strongly inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vitro and in vivo. In particular, a phenotype of Wnt inhibition called “Wnt asymmetry” was revealed in axitinib-treated cancer cells. The identification of E3 ubiquitin ligase SHPRH (SNF2, histone-linker, PHD and RING finger domain-containing helicase) as the functional target implies that axitinib blocking of Wnt signaling is independent of genetic mutations that are frequently observed in cancer patients. Collectively, our results suggest a mechanism of nuclear β-catenin regulation and highlight axitinib as a promising therapeutic agent for cancer patients with aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Oncogenic mutations of the Wnt (wingless)/β-catenin pathway are frequently observed in major cancer types. Thus far, however, no therapeutic agent targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling is available for clinical use. Here we demonstrate that axitinib, a clinically approved drug, strikingly blocks Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer cells, zebrafish, and Apcmin/+ mice. Notably, axitinib dramatically induces Wnt asymmetry and nonrandom DNA segregation in cancer cells by promoting nuclear β-catenin degradation independent of the GSK3β (glycogen synthase kinase3β)/APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) complex. Using a DARTS (drug affinity-responsive target stability) assay coupled to 2D-DIGE (2D difference in gel electrophoresis) and mass spectrometry, we have identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase SHPRH (SNF2, histone-linker, PHD and RING finger domain-containing helicase) as the direct target of axitinib in blocking Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Treatment with axitinib stabilizes SHPRH and thereby increases the ubiquitination and degradation of β-catenin. Our findings suggest a previously unreported mechanism of nuclear β-catenin regulation and indicate that axitinib, a clinically approved drug, would provide therapeutic benefits for cancer patients with aberrant nuclear β-catenin activation.
Molecular Modeling and Physicochemical Properties of Supramolecular Complexes of Limonene with α- and β-Cyclodextrins

This study evaluated three different methods for the formation of an inclusion complex between alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin (α- and β-CD) and limonene (LIM) with the goal of improving the physicochemical properties of limonene. The study samples were prepared through physical mixing (PM), paste complexation (PC), and slurry complexation (SC) methods in the molar ratio of 1:1 (cyclodextrin:limonene). The complexes prepared were evaluated with thermogravimetry/derivate thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, complexation efficiency through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses, molecular modeling, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results showed that the physical mixing procedure did not produce complexation, but the paste and slurry methods produced inclusion complexes, which demonstrated interactions outside of the cavity of the CDs. However, the paste obtained with β-cyclodextrin did not demonstrate complexation in the gas chromatographic technique because, after extraction, most of the limonene was either surface-adsorbed by β-cyclodextrin or volatilized during the procedure. We conclude that paste complexation and slurry complexation are effective and economic methods to improve the physicochemical character of limonene and could have important applications in pharmacological activities in terms of an increase in solubility.
Design constraints in an operon circuit for engineered control of metabolic networks

We consider a synthetic gene circuit aimed at regulating the flux through an unbranched metabolic network. The control circuit has an operon architecture whereby the expression of all pathway enzymes is transcriptionally repressed by the metabolic product. We parameterize the gene regulatory model in terms of the promoter characteristic and ribosome binding site (RBS) strengths, both of which are common tuneable knobs in Synthetic Biology. We show that enzymatic saturation imposes bounds on the RBS strength design space. These bounds must be satisfied to prevent metabolite accumulation and guarantee the stability of the network. Simulation results also suggest that the control circuit can effectively upregulate enzyme production to compensate flux perturbations.