Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cooperative driving for collision avoidance based on cognitive agents

Les vehicules equipes peuvent percevoir leur environnement via senseurs a bord ; de plus, ceux qui ont des capacites de communication incorporees peuvent partager les informations recues avec leurs voisins. Ces derniers, connus comme vehicules connectes, sont la base pour la conduite cooperative, un sujet d’interet dans le domaine des Systemes de Transport Intelligents (Intelligent Transportation Systems, ITS) ; la conduite cooperative utilise les technologies de communication vehiculaire pour transmettre et recevoir des informations d’interet, telles que : le trafic, la securite, le routage. Cette recherche est axee sur la securite routiere, plus specifiquement nous sommes interesses a la reduction du risque de collision des vehicules autonomes. Il y a des innombrables situations ou les informations livrees par les senseurs des vehicules autonomes ou semi-autonomes ne sont pas suffisantes pour eviter une collision ; surtout, dans scenarios ou le temps pour collision (Time to Collision, TTC) est minimal, et une manoeuvre d’evitement doit etre fournie sans delai pour possiblement sauver les vies des occupants ou des pietons. Grace a l’incorporation de dispositifs de divers types, tels que : senseurs de mouvement, senseurs de proximite, GPS, LIDAR ou cameras de video, les vehicules autonomes ont la capacite de reduire la distance inter-vehiculaire pour, entre autres, minimiser la resistance au vent et maximiser l’utilisation de l’espace sur les routes. Cependant, la reduction de cette distance implique que le temps de reaction pour un evenement imprevu est aussi reduit ; par consequent, il faut implementer des mesures pour anticiper la possibilite de danger et agir opportunement. Actuellement, la technologie d’evitement de collisions est basee principalement sur des informations recues des senseurs a bord ; nous considerons qu’en profitant les capacites de communication, les vehicules sur la route peuvent cooperer pour executer des manoeuvres d’evitement de collision en situations ou le temps de reaction est minimal a cause de l’occurrence d’un evenement inattendu. Dans cet etude, nous proposons un nouveau modele d’agent cognitif pour l’evitement de collisions qui utilise une structure hierarchique de systemes diffuses en integrant des informations fournies par un environnement de conduite cooperative. La connaissance que le vehicule a reliee a son environnement, et aussi son intention sur la route, sont cruciales pour ce modele ; donc, nous presentons une structure d’ontologie pour le stocker. Nous pretendons demontrer que, en face d’un evenement soudain sur la route, ce modele surpasse les capacites de reaction d’un humain qui conduit un vehicule et, de plus, les capacites des vehicules autonomes qui executent des manoeuvres d’evitement de facon isolee. Pour le faire, comme une contribution additionnelle, nous avons developpe un simulateur de trafic qui permet de visualiser en 3D les vehicules cooperatifs lorsqu’ils realisent les manoeuvres mentionnees.
Impact of Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 on T Helper Cell-Mediated Allergic Rhinitis

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Ezh2) has been shown to play a role in the differentiation of T helper (Th) 1 and 2 cells in mice studies using Ezh2-deficient T cells. However, the results have been inconsistent, and the function of Ezh2 in human Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation and its association with disease remains controversial. We measured the expression of Ezh2 in Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after acute challenge with house dust mite using flow cytometry in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and controls. The role of Ezh2 was further explored by adding the p38 inhibitor to see if this affected allergen-induced Th1 and Th2 differentiation. The expression of Ezh2 in the Th1 and Th2 cells was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls and was negatively correlated with serum IL-17A levels in the patients. Ex vivo allergen challenge resulted in rapid Th2 cell differentiation, which was negatively associated with the Ezh2 expression in Th2 cells. Inhibiting p38 activity increased the expression of Ezh2 in Th2 cells and reduced the number of differentiated Th2 cells. Our findings suggest that Ezh2 expression is potentially associated with AR development.
When Does 2 Plus 2 Equal 5? A Review of Antimicrobial Synergy Testing

ABSTRACT In this age of emerging antibiotic resistance, limited therapeutic options exist for treating multidrug-resistant organisms. Combination therapy is commonly employed to manage these infections despite little laboratory guidance as to the efficacy of this approach. Synergy testing methods have been used to assess the interaction of antibiotic combinations in vitro. This review will discuss the four primary methods used to assess synergy, as well as the data that exist for testing of cystic fibrosis. In the final analysis, this review concludes that there is not enough evidence to endorse synergy testing for routine clinical use.
HLA-F and MHC Class I Open Conformers Are Ligands for NK Cell Ig-like Receptors

Killer Ig-like receptors (KIRs) are innate immune receptors expressed by NK and T cells classically associated with the detection of missing self through loss of their respective MHC ligand. Some KIR specificities for allelic classical class I MHC (MHC-I) have been described, whereas other KIR receptor–ligand relationships, including those associated with nonclassical MHC-I, have yet to be clearly defined. We report in this article that KIR3DL2 and KIR2DS4 and the nonclassical Ag HLA-F, expressed as a free form devoid of peptide, physically and functionally interact. These interactions extend to include classical MHC-I open conformers as ligands, defining new relationships between KIR receptors and MHC-I. The data collectively suggest a broader, previously unrecognized interaction between MHC-I open conformers—including prototypical HLA-F—and KIR receptors, acting in an immunoregulatory capacity centered on the inflammatory response.
Allergic cross‐reactivity: from gene to the clinic

A large number of allergenic proteins have now their complete cDNA sequences determined and in some cases also the 3D structures. It turned out that most allergens could be grouped into a small number of structural protein families, regardless of their biological source. Structural similarity among proteins from diverse sources is the molecular basis of allergic cross‐reactivity. The clinical relevance of immunoglobulin E (IgE) cross‐reactivity seems to be influenced by a number of factors including the immune response against the allergen, exposure and the allergen. As individuals are exposed to a variable number of allergenic sources bearing homologous molecules, the exact nature of the antigenic structure inducing the primary IgE immune response cannot be easily defined. In general, the ‘cross‐reactivity’ term should be limited to defined clinical manifestations showing reactivity to a source without previous exposure. ‘Co‐recognition’, including by definition ‘cross‐reactivity’, could be used to describe the large majority of the IgE reactivity where co‐exposure to a number of sources bearing homologous molecules do not allow unequivocal identification of the sensitizing molecule. The analysis of reactivity clusters in diagnosis allows the interpretation of the patient's reactivity profile as a result of the sensitization process, which often begins with exposure to a single allergenic molecule.
Fabrication of microfluidic chip and its application

Design and fabrication of microfluidic chip on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrates for analytical chemistry and biomedical-related application using novel microfabrication methods based on automatic fabrication system are described. The image of microchannels is transferred from nickel mold possessing the inverse image of the microfluidic chip to plastic plates by using hot embossing methods. The microstructure on nickel mold is formed based on UV-LIGA technology. In this study, the nickel mold has been made from nickel micro electroforming based on the epoxy-based negative ultra-thick SU-8 photoresist. The micro nickel mold can be used repeatedly to replicate cheap and disposable microfluidic chip. The reproducibility of the hot embossing method is evaluated using 6 channels on different PMMA plastics. The relative standard deviation of the channel profile (depth and width direction) on the plastic chips is less than 2%. In this study, the PMMA microfluidic chips have been demonstrated as a microcapillary electrophoresis device for pharmaceutical separation and detection.
Associação entre o polimorfismo inserção/deleção no gene ACE com força muscular, massa livre de gordura e adaptações ao treinamento resistido em idosas brasileiras

Objetivos: O presente estudo teve o proposito de examinar a associacao entre o polimorfismo insercao/delecao (ID) no gene da ECA e Massa Livre de Gordura (MLG), forca muscular e adaptacoes ao treinamento resistido (TR), em mulheres idosas. Metodos: Apos aplicacao dos criterios de exclusao, 246 voluntarias (idade 66,7 ± 5,5 anos) foram submetidas a avaliacao do pico de torque dos extensores do joelho utilizando o dinamometro isocinetico (Biodex System 3) e mensuracao da MLG por meio da Absortometria por Raios-X de Dupla Energia. Desta amostra inicial, 79 voluntarias realizaram 24 semanas de um programa de TR e 75 foram estudadas como grupo controle. Os individuos submetidos ao treinamento e o grupo controle tiveram a MLG e forca do quadriceps reavaliados ao final da intervencao. A genotipagem foi conduzida em toda a amostra por meio da Reacao em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) Resultatos: A distribuicao do genotipo ID da ECA (DD: 30,1%; ID: 47,6%; II: 22,3%) se apresentou de acordo com o esperado pelo equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg. Nenhuma associacao foi observada com a forca do quadriceps; entretanto, as idosas portadoras do genotipo D/D demonstraram uma tendencia em possuir maiores valores de MLG apendicular quando comparadas as portadoras do genotipo I/I (6,34 ± 0,08 vs. 6,01 ± 0,09 kg/m2; P = 0,063). Essa diferenca foi estatisticamente significativa quando o genotipo D/D foi comparado com as portadoras do alelo - I (i.e., I/D + I/I) (6,34 ± 0,08 vs. 6,15 ± 0,05 kg/m2; P = 0,044) e a MLG total tambem apresentou uma tendencia a miores valores no genotipo D/D (P = 0,08). Apenas os portadores do alelo - I aumentaram significativamente a MLG e uma significativa interacao treinamento x genotipo foi notada (P = 0,048). Conclusoes: Os achados do presente estudo nao suportam um papel importante do polimorfismo ID no gene da ECA na determinacao da forca muscular de mulheres idosas; entretanto, sugerem que o plimorfismo sob investigacao pode apresentar algum papel na determinacao da MLG, tanto em analise trasnversal como em resposta ao TR.
Red blood cell distribution width as an effective tool for detecting fatal heart failure in super-elderly patients.

OBJECTIVE Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a numerical measure of erythrocyte size variation. It has been recently reported to be an independent prognostic marker of heart failure (HF). Previous studies on RDW were mostly designed for middle-aged and elderly patients (60-79 years old), therefore, there is no established limit for super-elderly patients (≥ 80 years old). The purpose of this study was to evaluate RDW as an effective tool to detect fatal HF in super-elderly patients. METHODS The medical records and death certificates of 160 consecutive patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology in Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center and who died from June 2002 to October 2010 were reviewed. The causes of death were reviewed, and the factors, including RDW, that might have been related to the fatal HF were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS HF was the major cause of death [52 patients (32.5%), 29 females, age 84.0 ± 7.5 years], followed by pneumonia (18.8%, 30/160), and acute myocardial infarction (16.3%, 26/160). The most common cause of HF was atrial fibrillation (36.6%, 19/52), followed by hypertensive heart disease (19.2%, 10/52) and valvular disorders (17.3%, 9/52). The multivariate logistic regression analysis found that a high RDW (≥ 16.5%) was an independent factor related to fatal HF (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.10, 5.04, p=0.03). CONCLUSION HF was the major cause of death, and RDW ≥ 6.5 was significantly associated with fatal HF in super-elderly patients.
Supporting abstraction processes in problem solving through pattern-oriented instruction

Abstraction is a major concept in computer science and serves as a powerful tool in software development. Pattern-oriented instruction (POI) is a pedagogical approach that incorporates patterns in an introductory computer science course in order to structure the learning of algorithmic problem solving. This paper examines abstraction processes in the course of solving an algorithmic problem and highlights three distinct, although interrelated, facets of abstraction: pattern recognition, black-boxing, and structure identification. A study that examined the influence of the POI approach on students' abstraction skills is described; students who learned according to the POI approach were compared with students who learned in a traditional manner with regard to analogical reasoning and problem decomposition and solution, as well as verbal expression. The three facets of abstraction were used to analyze students' abstraction skills and their competency in algorithmic problem solving.
Scientific and social significance of assessing individual differences: "sinking shafts at a few critical points".

This chapter reviews empirical findings on the importance of assessing individual differences in human behavior. Traditional dimensions of human abilities, personality, and vocational interests play critical roles in structuring a variety of important behaviors and outcomes (e.g. achieved socioeconomic status, educational choices, work performance, delinquency, health risk behaviors, and income). In the review of their importance, the construct of general intelligence is featured, but attributes that routinely add incremental validity to cognitive assessments are also discussed. Recent experimental and methodological advances for better understanding how these dimensions may contribute to other psychological frameworks are reviewed, as are ways for determining their scientific significance within domains where they are not routinely assessed. Finally, some noteworthy models are outlined that highlight the importance of assessing relatively distinct classes of individual-differences attributes simultaneously. For understanding fully complex human phenomena such as crime, eminence, and educational-vocational development, such a multifaceted approach is likely to be the most productive.
Combinatorial materials research applied to the development of new surface coatings V. Application of a spinning water-jet for the semi-high throughput assessment of the attachment strength of marine fouling algae

Abstract In order to facilitate a semi-high throughput approach to the evaluation of novel fouling-release coatings, a ‘spinjet’ apparatus has been constructed. The apparatus delivers a jet of water of controlled, variable pressure into the wells of 24-well plates in order to facilitate measurement of the strength of adhesion of algae growing on the base of the wells. Two algae, namely, sporelings (young plants) of the green macroalga Ulva and a diatom (Navicula), were selected as test organisms because of their opposing responses to silicone fouling-release coatings. The percentage removal of algal biofilm was positively correlated with the impact pressure for both organisms growing on all the coating types. Ulva sporelings were removed from silicone elastomers at low impact pressures in contrast to Navicula cells which were strongly attached to this type of coating. The data obtained for the 24-well plates correlated with those obtained for the same coatings applied to microscope slides. The data show that the 24-well plate format is suitable for semi-high throughput screening of the adhesion strength of algae.
Preprocessing and Golomb–Rice Encoding for Lossless Compression of Phasor Angle Data

Phasor measurement units (PMUs) are being increasingly deployed to improve monitoring and control of the power grid due to their improved data synchronization and reporting rates in comparison with legacy metering devices. However, one drawback of their higher data rates is the associated increase in bandwidth (for transmission) and storage requirements (for data archives). Fortunately, typical grid behavior can lead to significant compression opportunities for phasor angle measurements. For example, operation of the grid at near-nominal frequency results in small changes in phase angles between frames, and the similarity in frequencies throughout the system results in a high level of correlation between phasor angles of different PMUs. This paper presents several methods for preprocessing of phasor angles that take advantage of these system characteristics, including a new method-frequency compensated difference encoding-that is able to significantly reduce angle data entropy. After the preprocessor stage, the signal is input to an entropy encoder, based on Golomb-Rice codes, that is ideal for high-throughput signal compression. The ability of the proposed methods to compress phase angles is demonstrated using a large corpus of data-over 1 billion phasor angles from 25 data sets-captured during typical and atypical grid conditions.
Association of FTO rs9939609 SNP with Obesity and Obesity- Associated Phenotypes in a North Indian Population.

OBJECTIVES Obesity is a common disorder that has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Twin and adoption studies support the genetic influence on variation of obesity, and the estimates of the heritability of body mass index (BMI) is significantly high (30 to 70%). Variants in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene have been associated with obesity and obesity-related phenotypes in different populations. The aim of this study was to examine the association of FTO rs9939609 with obesity and related phenotypes in North Indian subjects. METHODS Gene variants were investigated for association with obesity in 309 obese and 333 non-obese patients. Genotyping of the FTO rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was analyzed using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of PCR-Amplified Fragments. We also measured participants fasting glucose and insulin levels, lipid profile, percentage body fat, fat mass and fat free mass. RESULTS Waist to hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, percentage body fat, fat mass, insulin concentration, and homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA-Index) showed a significant difference between the study groups. Significant associations were found for FTO rs9939609 SNP with obesity and obesity-related phenotypes. The significant associations were observed between the rs9939609 SNP and blood pressure, fat mass, insulin, and HOMA-index under a different model. CONCLUSION This study presents significant association between FTO rs9939609 and obesity defined by BMI and also established the strong association with several measures of obesity in North Indian population.
Detection of point targets in high resolution synthetic aperture radar images

Traditional constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection algorithms produce a lot of false targets when applied to single-look, high-resolution, fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, due to the presence of speckle. We propose a two stage CFAR detector followed by conditional dilation to improve CFAR detection algorithms. Good results are obtained when our method is applied to single-look, high-resolution, fully polarimetric SAR images acquired from MIT Lincoln Laboratory. <<ETX>>
Validação do protocolo de acolhimento com classificação de risco em pediatria

Dentre as tecnologias destinadas ao cuidado de Enfermagem destacam-se os protocolos, os quais podem estabelecer criterios favoraveis ao julgamento clinico e a tomada de decisao em situacoes de urgencia e emergencia. O Protocolo de Acolhimento com Classificacao de Risco (ACCR) em Pediatria visa classificar a prioridade de atendimento de criancas e adolescentes a partir do risco de complicacoes e morte nas unidades de emergencia. Teve-se como objetivo geral: validar o Protocolo de ACCR em Pediatria para classificar a prioridade de atendimento de criancas e adolescentes em situacoes de urgencia e emergencia. Estudo metodologico desenvolvido a partir da validacao de aparencia e conteudo do referido protocolo, com a participacao de nove juizes. A coleta de dados foi realizada de marco a julho de 2012, sendo emitidas aos juizes uma carta-convite e um instrumento contendo os dados de identificacao, os aspectos relativos a aparencia do protocolo com 6 itens e os aspectos relacionados a validade de conteudo dividida em 14 itens gerais do protocolo e a lista de 72 atributos (sinais de alerta com indicadores clinicos), os quais foram avaliados quanto os criterios de simplicidade, clareza e relevância. Os conceitos dos sinais de alerta, seus antecedentes e consequentes foram estabelecidos a partir da revisao de literatura. Os dados foram organizados em tabelas, quadros e figuras, sendo analisados estatisticamente pelo indice de validade de conteudo (IVC). O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comite de Etica e Pesquisa sob protocolo no 325/11. Como resultados, foi possivel definir os conceitos, atributos e consequentes dos 30 itens inseridos no protocolo. Quanto a validacao por juizes, a aparencia foi tida como adequada quanto a simplicidade, clareza e relevância, ja que houve IVC acima de 80% em 5 dos 6 itens em analise. Quanto ao conteudo, constatou-se que a avaliacao de aspectos gerais e estruturais do protocolo, obteve uma media de 0,837 de IVC. No que se refere a validade de conteudo, para a avaliacao dos sinais de alerta, indicadores clinicos, bem como a apropriacao e correspondente classificacao de risco determinada pelo juiz e a do protocolo em estudo; compreendeu-se de atendimento, os quais foram considerados apropriados aqueles que compreenderem mais de 80,0% de concordância dos juizes, considerando simplicidade, clareza e relevância. Conclui-se, que tal protocolo foi considerado valido quanto a aparencia e ao conteudo para determinar a prioridade de atendimento de criancas e/ou adolescentes nas unidades de urgencia e emergencia.