Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From 3D to VR and further to telexistence

The history of 3D elucidates that it has a thirty year cycle of evolution. Further, it was discovered that VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) evolved almost a decade after the 3D crazes occurred. This leads to the conjecture that the next VR and AR craze will be in the 2020s. AR augments the sense and intellect of a human. Human augmentation or augmented human (AH) augments humans not only in their senses and intellect but also in their motions and abilities to transcend time and space. Human augmentation in time and space is termed as telexistence. In addition, the evolution of telexistence is reviewed along with a glance at its future prospects.
Retraction: Vα24-Invariant NKT Cells from Patients with Allergic Asthma Express CCR9 at High Frequency and Induce Th2 Bias of CD3+ T Cells upon CD226 Engagement

We have demonstrated that Vα24+Vβ11+ invariant (Vα24+i) NKT cells from patients with allergic asthma express CCR9 at high frequency. CCR9 ligand CCL25 induces chemotaxis of asthmatic Vα24+i NKT cells but not the normal cells. A large number of CCR9-positive Vα24+i NKT cells are found in asthmatic bronchi mucosa, where high levels of Th2 cytokines are detected. Asthmatic Vα24+i NKT cells, themselves Th1 biased, induce CD3+ T cells into an expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) in cell-cell contact manner in vitro. CD226 are overexpressed on asthmatic Vα24+i NKT cells. CCL25/CCR9 ligation causes directly phosphorylation of CD226, indicating that CCL25/CCR9 signals can cross-talk with CD226 signals to activate Vα24+i NKT cells. Prestimulation with immobilized CD226 mAb does not change ability of asthmatic Vα24+i NKT cells to induce Th2-cytokine production, whereas soluble CD226 mAb or short hairpin RNA of CD226 inhibits Vα24+i NKT cells to induce Th2-cytokine production by CD3+ T cells, indicating that CD226 engagement is necessary for Vα24+i NKT cells to induce Th2 bias of CD3+ T cells. Our results are providing with direct evidence that aberration of CCR9 expression on asthmatic Vα24+i NKT cells. CCL25 is first time shown promoting the recruitment of CCR9-expressing Vα24+i NKT cells into the lung to promote other T cells to produce Th2 cytokines to establish and develop allergic asthma. Our findings provide evidence that abnormal asthmatic Vα24+i NKT cells induce systemically and locally a Th2 bias in T cells that is at least partially critical for the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.
Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV)/Immunoglobulin G Immune Complexes in SIV-Infected Macaques Block Detection of CD16 but Not Cytolytic Activity of Natural Killer Cells

ABSTRACT Natural killer cells are components of the innate immune system that play an important role in eliminating viruses and malignant cells. Using simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of macaques as a model, flow cytometry revealed a gradual loss of CD16+ NK cell numbers that was associated with disease progression. Of note, the apparent loss of NK cells was detected in whole-blood samples but not in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), suggesting that an inhibitor(s) of the antibody used to detect CD16, the low-affinity immunoglobulin G (IgG) receptor, was present in blood but was removed during PBMC isolation. (Actual decreases in CD16+ cell numbers in PBMC generally were not detected until animals became lymphopenic.) The putative decrease in CD16+ cell numbers in whole blood correlated with increasing SIV-specific antibody titers and levels of plasma virion RNA. With the addition of increasing amounts of plasma from progressor, but not nonprogressor, macaques to PBMC from an uninfected animal, the apparent percentage of CD16+ cells and the mean fluorescence intensity of antibodies binding to CD16 declined proportionately. A similar decrease was observed with the addition of monomeric IgG (mIgG) and IgG immune complexes (IgG-ICs) purified from the inhibitory plasma samples; some of the ICs contained SIV p27gag antigen and/or virions. Of interest, addition of purified IgG/IgG-ICs to NK cell lytic assays did not inhibit killing of K562 cells. These results indicate that during progressive SIV and, by inference, human immunodeficiency virus disease, CD16+ NK cell numbers can be underestimated, or the cells not detected at all, when one is using a whole-blood fluorescence-activated cell sorter assay and a fluorochrome-labeled antibody that can be blocked by mIgG or IgG-ICs. Although this blocking had no apparent effect on NK cell activity in vitro, the in vivo effects are unknown.
Trajectory-tracking controller design with constraints in the control signals: a case study in mobile robots

SUMMARY This paper is a continuation of a previous work of authors, Scaglia et al. [G. J. E. Scaglia, L. M. Quintero, V. Mut and F. Di Sciascio, “Numerical methods based controller design for mobile robots,” Robotica 27(2), 269–279 (2009)]. A method is presented to choose the controller parameters such that, the values of the control actions do not exceed the maximum allowable and the tracking errors tend to zero. In addition, the analysis of the controller design parameters is included. The experimental results (laboratory experiments and a real world application) demonstrate the efficiency of the controller.
Sure I'm Sure: Prefrontal Oscillations Support Metacognitive Monitoring of Decision Making

Successful decision making critically involves metacognitive processes such as monitoring and control of our decision process. Metacognition enables agents to modify ongoing behavior adaptively and determine what to do next in situations in which external feedback is not (immediately) available. Despite the importance of metacognition for many aspects of life, little is known about how our metacognitive system operates or about what kind of information is used for metacognitive (second-order) judgments. In particular, it remains an open question whether metacognitive judgments are based on the same information as first-order decisions. Here, we investigated the relationship between metacognitive performance and first-order task performance by recording EEG signals while participants were asked to make a “diagnosis” after seeing a sample of fictitious patient data (a complex pattern of colored moving dots of different sizes). To assess metacognitive performance, participants provided an estimate about the quality of their diagnosis on each trial. Results demonstrate that the information that contributes to first-order decisions differs from the information that supports metacognitive judgments. Further, time–frequency analyses of EEG signals reveal that metacognitive performance is associated specifically with prefrontal theta-band activity. Together, our findings are consistent with a hierarchical model of metacognition and suggest a crucial role for prefrontal oscillations in metacognitive performance. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Monitoring and control of our decision process (metacognition) is a crucial aspect of adaptive decision making. Crucially, metacognitive skills enable us to adjust ongoing behavior and determine future decision making when immediate feedback is not available. In the present study, we constructed a “diagnosis task” that allowed us to assess in what way first-order task performance and metacognition are related to each other. Results demonstrate that the contribution of sensory evidence (size, color, and motion direction) differs between first- and second-order decision making. Further, our results indicate that metacognitive performance specifically is orchestrated by means of prefrontal theta oscillations. Together, our findings suggest a hierarchical model of metacognition.
Chemotherapy-related hospitalization among community cancer center patients.

PURPOSE To describe the frequency, nature, trends, predictors, and outcomes of chemotherapy-related hospitalizations (CRHs) among a nonselected population of cancer patients treated at a community cancer center, and to explore the feasibility of implementing continuous quality improvement methodologies in routine oncology practice. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of consecutive adult cancer patients who received chemotherapy at a community cancer center January 2003 to December 2006. Demographic, comorbidity, diagnosis, treatment, and laboratory data were collected via medical record abstraction. Hospitalizations were classified as chemotherapy related or unrelated by a multidisciplinary panel. Patients who experienced CRHs were compared with those who did not. Using a randomly sampled subset of cases and controls, we built a logistic regression model to identify independent predictors of CRH. RESULTS Of 2,068 chemotherapy recipients, 179 (8.7%) experienced 262 CRHs. Most hospitalizations were not chemotherapy related (73.7%). The mean monthly rate of CRH was 1.5%, the median length of stay was 5 days, the most common type of CRH was gastrointestinal (46.1%) followed by infectious (31.4%), and 0.9% of chemotherapy recipients had a fatal CRH. Significant predictors of CRH included having a comorbidity score of 3-4 versus 0 and having a higher creatinine level. CONCLUSIONS Although the vast majority of chemotherapy recipients did not experience a CRH, these events were, unfortunately, not without serious consequences. Care should be taken when offering chemotherapy to patients with multiple comorbid conditions. Systematic efforts to monitor toxicity can lead directly to improvements in quality of care.
CD44 binds to the Shigella IpaB protein and participates in bacterial invasion of epithelial cells

Shigella entry into epithelial cells is characterized by a transient reorganization of the host cell cytoskeleton at the site of bacterial interaction with the cell membrane, which leads to bacterial engulfment in a macropinocytic process. Using affinity chromatography on HeLa cell extracts, we show here that the hyaluronan receptor CD44 associates with IpaB, a Shigella protein that is secreted upon cell contact. Overlay and solid‐phase assays indicated that IpaB binds directly to the extracellular domain of CD44; binding is saturable and inhibitable, with a half‐ maximal inhibitory concentration of 175 nM. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that IpaB associates with CD44 during Shigella entry. CD44 is recruited at bacterial entry sites and localizes at the plasma membrane of cellular extensions induced by Shigella. Pretreatment of cells with an anti‐CD44 monoclonal antibody resulted in inhibition of Shigella‐induced cytoskeletal reorganization, as well as inhibition of bacterial entry, whereas transfection of CD44 in cells that are deficient for CD44 results in increased bacterial binding to cells and internalization. The IpaB–CD44 interaction appears to be required for Shigella invasion by initiating the early steps of the entry process.
Application of sentinel node biopsy to gastric cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND Sentinel node (SN) biopsy has been tried in the management of a variety of cancers with the hope that it would eliminate many unnecessary lymph node dissections, resulting in less morbidity. This important technique, however, has not been tried in gastric cancer surgery. The feasibility of SN biopsy and its accuracy in predicting the lymph node status in patients with gastric cancer were examined in the current study. PATIENTS AND METHODS SN biopsy was performed in patients with T1 (n = 44) or T2 (n = 30) gastric cancers (ie, immediately after laparotomy, indocyanine green was injected around the primary tumor, and the green-stained nodes [SNs: 2.6 +/- 1.7 nodes per patient] were removed). Then, gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy was performed. The unstained nodes (non-SNs: 39 +/- 18 nodes per patient) were obtained from the resected specimens. Both SNs and non-SNs were subjected to histologic examination with hematoxylin-eosin. RESULTS SNs could be identified in 73 of 74 patients (success rate, 99%). Of these 73 patients, 10 had lymph node metastases in SNs or non-SNs, or both; 6 in both SNs and non-SNs; 3 in SNs alone; and 1 in non-SNs alone. The sensitivity of the SN status in the diagnosis of the lymph node status of the patient was 90% (9/10) and specificity was 100% (63/63). Sensitivity was 100% in the T1 group (n = 44) and 88% in the T2 group (n = 29). CONCLUSIONS SN biopsy using indocyanine green can be performed with a high success rate, and the SN status can predict the lymph node status with a high degree of accuracy, especially in patients with T1 gastric cancer.
GP-ILQG: Data-driven Robust Optimal Control for Uncertain Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

As we aim to control complex systems, use of a simulator in model-based reinforcement learning is becoming more common. However, it has been challenging to overcome the Reality Gap, which comes from nonlinear model bias and susceptibility to disturbance. To address these problems, we propose a novel algorithm that combines data-driven system identification approach (Gaussian Process) with a Differential-Dynamic-Programming-based robust optimal control method (Iterative Linear Quadratic Control). Our algorithm uses the simulator's model as the mean function for a Gaussian Process and learns only the difference between the simulator's prediction and actual observations, making it a natural hybrid of simulation and real-world observation. We show that our approach quickly corrects incorrect models, comes up with robust optimal controllers, and transfers its acquired model knowledge to new tasks efficiently.
Nitric oxide and passive limb movement: a new approach to assess vascular function

• Passive limb movement elicits a robust increase in limb blood flow (LBF) and limb vascular conductance (LVC) without a concomitant increase in skeletal muscle metabolism. • The peripheral vascular mechanisms associated with the increase in LBF and LVC are unknown. • Using an intra‐arterial infusion of NG‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine (l‐NMMA) to inhibit nitric oxide synthase (NOS) the hyperaemic and vasodilatory response to passive limb movement was attenuated by nearly 80%. • This finding demonstrates that the increases in LBF and LVC during passive limb movement are primarily NO dependent. • Passive limb movement appears to have significant promise as a new approach to assess NO‐mediated vascular function, an important predictor of cardiovascular disease risk.
Environmental Emergency: Why Did the False Mussel Mytilopsis sallei Not Invade Darwin Harbour, Australia?

ABSTRACT No introduced marine pests, also known as invasive marine species, were detected in a dry season survey in August 1998 in Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia. A postwet-season survey in March 1999 found extensive populations of the false mussel Mytilopsis sallei (Récluz, 1849) in the Cullen Bay Marina. An environmental emergency was declared and M. sallei were eliminated. The present paper examines possible reasons for the failure of M. sallei to establish outside Cullen Bay. Mytilopsis sallei is a fresh/brackish water species that naturally lives in low salinities. It is hypothesized that the osmotic shock of rapid movement from low salinity water in Cullen Bay to much higher salinities outside the marina killed the veligers when they were discharged through the entrance lock when it was opened to allow vessel movements. If it entered the harbour, M. sallei could possibly have established in low salinity water in the arms leading into the harbour and possibly have spread in northern Australia.
Producing linked open data to describe scientific activity from researchers of Ecuadorian universities

Semantic interoperability can be reached using universal languages of knowledge representation and adopting open standards practices (such as URIs, RDF, OWL, and LOD) advantaging the content interchange. In this work, we present a life cycle process with the following stages: data collection, processing, transformation, enrichment, and publishing, of Linked Data into the domain of research activity produced by the university teaching staff in Ecuador. This article describes the processes for collecting data from repositories, creating a semantic data model, cleaning data, transforming, linking and publishing linked data. Special attention has been given to ontological design patterns, as well as tools to ensure the semantic interoperability of the converted data. Special attention has been given to ontological design patterns, as well as tools to ensure the semantic interoperability of the converted data. The model shows these heterogeneous data into an evenly and abstract way, which is crucial in the matter of providing “intelligent” applications for research activity.
Diffusion Weighting by the Trace of the Diffusion Tensor within a Single Scan

The anisotropy of the water diffusion tensor inside brain causes contrast in diffusion images, which depends on the relative orientation of the diffusion gradients and the subject. Because the trace of a tensor is invariant upon rotation, measurement of this trace can reduce the orientation effect. A family of imaging pulse sequences is presented in which the signal intensity is weighted by the trace of the diffusion tensor in a single scan. The methods are demonstrated for chicken gizzard in several orientations with respect to the gradient frame of reference, and for ischemic injury in cat brain after middle cerebral artery occlusion. The sensitivity of the techniques to the presence of background gradients is measured and discussed in detail. As a result, pulse sequences are suggested that provide reliable diffusion constants in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous magnetic fields. The efficiency of the techniques for clinical application is also evaluated.
Pricing Multi-play Offers under Uncertainty and Competition

In a mature market, telecommunication operators try to differentiate themselves by marketing bundles offers. In this highly competitive context, operators should anticipate the strategies of their adversaries and guess the consumers' tastes, to maximize their benefits. To price their offers, operators have to deal with deep uncertainties on the other operators' cost structures, strategies, and on the consumers' preferences. We segment the market and estimate the consumers' subjective prices, on each segment. Using Game theory, we define a pricing strategy to maximize the operators' payoff, under competition. Then, introducing dynamicity, we determine a strategy of line evlution for the operator, in order to learn the consumers' preferences, while minimizing regrets resulting from frequent line changes. Finally, to market bundles, numerous operators have to establish alliances. Focusing on Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), we determine bargaining mechanisms, which might lead the various players to earn efficient and equitable guaranteed benefits.
Femoral Head Lag Screw Position for Cephalomedullary Nails: A Biomechanical Analysis

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if lag screw position affects the biomechanical properties of a cephalomedullary nail used to fix an unstable peritrochanteric fracture. Methods: Unstable peritrochanteric fractures were created in 30 synthetic femurs and repaired with Long Gamma 3 Nails using one of 5 lag screw positions: superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, or central. Radiographic measurements including tip-apex distance and a calcar referenced tip-apex distance were calculated from anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Specimens were tested for axial, lateral bending, and torsional stiffness and then loaded to failure in the axial position. Analysis of variance and linear regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: The inferior lag screw position had significantly greater mean axial stiffness than superior (P < 0.01), anterior (P = 0.02), and posterior (P = 0.04) positions. Analysis revealed significantly less mean torsional stiffness for the superior lag screw position compared with other lag screw positions (P < 0.01 all 4 pairings). No statistical differences were noted for lateral bending stiffness. Superior and central lag screw positions had significantly greater mean load-to-failure than anterior (P < 0.01 and P = 0.02) and posterior (P < 0.01 and P = 0.05) positions. There were significant negative linear correlations between stiffness with distance from the calcar on anteroposterior radiographs and load-to-failure with distance from the center of femoral neck on the lateral radiographs. Conclusions: The inferior lag screw position produced the highest axial and torsional stiffness. Anterior and posterior lag screw positions produced the lowest stiffnesses and load-to-failure. Inferior placement of the lag screw on the anteroposterior radiograph and central placement on the lateral radiographs is recommended.
Analytical Drain Current Model of 1-D Ballistic Schottky-Barrier Transistors

A new analytical model based on the Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation for MOSFET-like 1-D ballistic transistors with Schottky-Barrier contacts has been developed for the drain current. By using a proper approximation of both the Fermi–Dirac distribution function and transmission probability, an analytical solution for the Landauer integral was obtained, which overcomes the limitations of existing models and extends their applicability toward high bias voltages needed for analog applications. The simulations of transfer and output characteristics are found to be in agreement with the experimental data for sub-10-nm carbon-nanotube FETs.
Macroeconomic Reform and Technical Efficiency in Australian Manufacturing - A Stochastic Production Frontier Analysis

The paper reports the empirical results of the validation of the Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) Model to an unbalanced panel comprising a cross-section of 8 manufacturing industries over a time span of 26 years The results provide insights on the repercussions of the micro-economic reform policy agenda during the study period plagued by a productivity slowdown and the productivity resurgence due to the emergence of the ‘new economy’ and now the challenges to sharpen the manufacturing industries competitive edge to combat deindustrializtion threats posed by globalization. The parametric SPF model facilitates the testing of hypotheses relating to the significance of firm-specific and industry-wide inefficiency effects, inequality constraints, and presence of technical change, x-efficiency or heterogeneity effects. Therefore, it is deemed to provide superior testable insights on productivity and technical inefficiency than the rival non-parametric Development (DEA) approach.
NEXTLEAP: Decentralizing Identity with Privacy for Secure Messaging

Identity systems today link users to all of their actions and serve as centralized points of control and data collection. NEXTLEAP proposes an alternative decentralized and privacy-enhanced architecture. First, NEXTLEAP is building privacy-enhanced federated identity systems, using blind signatures based on Algebraic MACs to improve OpenID Connect. Second, secure messaging applications ranging from Signal to WhatsApp may deliver the content in an encrypted form, but they do not protect the metadata of the message and they rely on centralized servers. The EC Project NEXTLEAP is focussed on fixing these two problems by decentralizing traditional identities onto a privacy-enhanced based blockchain that can then be used to build access control lists in a decentralized manner, similar to SDSI. Furthermore, we improve on secure messaging by then using this notion of decentralized identity to build in group messaging, allowing messaging between different servers. NEXTLEAP is also working with the PANORAMIX EC project to use a generic mix networking infrastructure to hide the metadata of the messages themselves and plans to add privacy-enhanced data analytics that work in a decentralized manner.