Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physically realistic simulation of large deformations using LEM for interactive applications

This paper presents the modification to LEM - Long Element Method to simulate large deformations. We are interested us deformable objects filled with some incompressible fluid By large deformations, we mean deformations such as stretching, bending and twisting which involves the entire body, in contrast to poking or pinching which relatively covers a small region of the deformable object. We make use of Pascals's Principle and volume conservation as boundary conditions to obtain a static solution due to an externally applied pressure. We believe that the state of such an object is a result from effects of the surface tension (generally in any direction) and the pressure of the internal fluid (normal to the surface). By allowing such liberty, large deformations such as stretching, bending and twisting can be simulated without much change to the initial formulation of the physical model. This approach is particularly interesting for real time quasi-dynamic simulation of well damped soft tissue. This paper presents the modification to LEM-Long Element Method to simulate large deformations. We are interested us deformable objects filled with some incompressible fluid By large deformations, we mean deformations such as stretching, bending and twisting which involves the entire body, in contrast to poking or pinching which relatively covers a small region of the deformable object. We make use of Pascid's Principle and volume conservation as boundary conditions to obtain a static solution due to an externally applied pressure. We believe that the state of such an object is a result from effects of the surface tension (generally in any direction) and the pressure of the internal fluid (normal to the surface). By allowing such liberty, large deformations such as stretching, bending and twisting can be simulated without much change to the initial formulation of the physical model. This approach is particularly interesting for real time quasi-dynamic simulation of well damped soft tissue.
Maternal age influences risk for HLA-B27 associated ankylosing enthesopathy in transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVE--To study further the temporal clustering of ankylosing enthesopathy (AE) noted originally during a study of the influence of mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) H-2 and transgenic HLA-B27 on the frequency of AE. METHODS--The relationship between maternal age at littering and frequency of AE was analysed. RESULTS--Mice born to mothers aged eight months or older had a significantly lower disease frequency of AE than mice born to mothers younger than eight months of age. This phenomenon was observed in three independent cohorts evaluated to date (p < 0.01, 0.025, and 0.05). CONCLUSION--Maternal age is a novel, non-genetic risk factor as defined in relation to an MHC associated enthesopathy. Its mode of action and relevance to human disease require further investigation.
Automating Visual Language Generation

A system to generate and interpret customized visual languages in given application areas is presented. The generation is highly automated. The user presents a set of sample visual sentences to the generator. The generator uses inference grammar techniques to produce a grammar that generalizes the initial set of sample sentences, and exploits general semantic information about the application area to determine the meaning of the visual sentences in the inferred language. The interpreter is modeled on an attribute grammar. A knowledge base, constructed during the generation of the system, is then consulted to construct the meaning of the visual sentence. The architecture of the system and its use in the application environment of visual text editing (inspired by the Heidelberg icon set) enhanced with file management features are reported. >
Estimativa do perfil da concentração de clorofila em águas naturais através de um perceptron de múltiplas camadas

Estimativa do perfil de concentracao de clorofila, em aguas naturais, a partir da radiacao emergente na superficie de um corpo d'agua, com o uso de rede neural artificial do tipo Perceptron de Multiplas Camadas. A concentracao de clorofila esta relacionada com os coeficientes de absorcao e espalhamento via modelos bio-opticos. O treinamento da rede e formulado como um problema de otimizacao, no qual a atualizacao das variaveis livres da rede (pesos, vies e parâmetros de cada funcao de ativacao) e feita atraves do metodo quasi-Newton.
Analysis of the energetic state of heart cells after adenovirus‐mediated expression of hALC‐1

Expression of the human atrial myosin light chain 1 (hALC‐1) in the cardiac ventricle in vivo as well as in primary cultivated adult cardiomyocytes caused a pronounced positive inotropic effect. Therefore, it is one of the most promising candidate gene to treat congestive heart failure (CHF). In this work, we investigated, whether hALC‐1 expression also modifies the energetic state of cardiomyocytes. Primary cultivated neonatal rat hearts cells (NRHC) were infected with adenoviral vectors (Ad vectors) containing a hALC‐1 cDNA (AdCMV.hALC‐1) or a control Ad vector. Infection efficiency of NRHC reached 100% at 50 multiplicity of infection (MOI). Interestingly and in contrast to primary cultures of liver cells, there were no cytotoxic side effects or induction of apoptosis up to MOI 50 in Ad vector infected NRHC. NRHC expressed large amounts of hALC‐1 upon infection with AdCMV.hALC‐1 which could easily been detected by protein staining and Western blot analysis. Analysis of intracellular hALC‐1 localization by double‐labeling immunofluorescence of AdCMV.hALC‐1 infected cardiomyocytes revealed the typical myofibrillar striation pattern, as well as co‐localization of hALC‐1 with myosin heavy chains. There was no difference in the oxygen consumption between controls and AdCMV.hALC‐1 infected NRHC. These data suggest that first: adenoviral vectors could be used as a safe and effective tool for gene transfer to cardiomyocytes, and second: that a positive inotropic effect of hALC‐1 is not associated with enhanced oxygen consumption. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Powder-Free Surgical Glove Bag for Retraction of the Gallbladder During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

To test the use of a simple and cheap powder-free glove bag to extract the gallbladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The medical records of 142 consecutive patients who had their gallbladder removed using a powder-free glove bag were reviewed. No complications in the form of bile or stone spillage during extraction were observed. The absence of complications and the low cost make routine use of the glove bag a wise option for extracting the gallbladder during LC. The use of the glove bag seems to reduce the risk of contamination with bacteria, bile, and gallstones and may reduce contamination by malignant cells in case of unexpected gallbladder carcinoma.
Méthodologie de conception de magnétomètre dans une approche mécatronique

L'ingenierie des systemes mecatroniques necessite la conception simultanee et pluri-disciplinaire des differents sous-systemes mecanique, electronique et informatique. Dans ce contexte, ces travaux de these s'inscrivent dans le cadre d'un projet plus general portant sur la ``Conception Integree en Mecatronique Sure de Fonctionnement''. Il s'agissait de developper des methodes devant permettre et faciliter la collaboration entre personnes de specialites differentes dans le but d'aboutir a un systeme sur de fonctionnement sans fixer a priori de contraintes sur un element du systeme en particulier. Dans la premiere partie, nous presentons donc un modele de vieillissement du transistor MOSFET induit par le mecanisme des porteurs chauds. Nous detaillons ensuite l'etude du vieillissement de structures de bases de l'electronique analogique. Nous proposons une methodologie de conception permettant de maximiser la duree de vie d'un circuit, donc des micro-capteurs, grâce a l'utilisation du modele de vieillissement. Dans la deuxieme partie, en prenant comme exemple un OTA Miller, nous montrons comment notre methode permet de concevoir des structures complexes sures de fonctionnement. Pour clore le manuscrit nous proposons une application originale de notre methode de conception : un capteur de vieillissement de circuit integre analogique CMOS.
Selective Capping of Packet Payloads at Multi-Gb/s Rates

Network managers and analysts are well aware of the importance of network traces to understand traffic behavior, detect anomalies, and evaluate performance forensically, among others. However, the storage required for traffic traces has greatly expanded due to increasing network speeds. In this paper, we selectively cap the packet payload to reduce write speed and storage requirements on hard drives and further reduce the computational burden of packet analysis. The proposed techniques take advantage of most packet payloads being useless for analysis purposes, because they are either encrypted or in a proprietary application non-readable format. Conversely, non-ASCII packets from well-known protocols and protocols with some ASCII data are fully captured as they may be potentially useful for network analysis. We have named this approach as selective capping, and we have implemented and integrated it into a high-speed network driver and a software module at user level, to make its operation more transparent and faster to upper layer applications. The results are promising, and selective capping achieves multi-Gb/s rates by exploiting low-level hardware and software techniques to meet the fastest network rates.
Information Overload, Similarity, and Redundancy: Unsubscribing Information Sources on Twitter

The emergence of social media has changed individuals' information consumption patterns. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of information overload, similarity, and redundancy in unsubscribing information sources from users' information repertoires. In doing so, we randomly selected nearly 7,500 ego networks on Twitter and tracked their activities in 2 waves. A multilevel logistic regression model was deployed to test our hypotheses. Results revealed that individuals egos obtain information by following a group of stable users alters. An ego's likelihood of unfollowing alters is negatively associated with their information similarity, but is positively associated with both information overload and redundancy. Furthermore, relational factors can modify the impact of information redundancy on unfollowing.
Characterizations of Enhancement-Mode Double Heterostructure GaN HEMTs With Gate Field Plates

With the purpose to increase the threshold voltage of the enhancement mode GaN high-electron mobility transistors, we fabricated devices with gate field plates on the p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN/AlGaN double heterostructures. We observed an existence of a subthreshold region from the current–voltage transfer curves. The threshold voltage of the device extracted based on linear extrapolation method is much higher than that of a typical device without a gate field plate. We investigated electrical properties based on carrier distributions with the influence of gate electric field at different channel regions.
USP5 Is Dispensable for Monoubiquitin Maintenance in Drosophila*

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification that regulates most cellular pathways and processes, including degradation of proteins by the proteasome. Substrate ubiquitination is controlled at various stages, including through its reversal by deubiquitinases (DUBs). A critical outcome of this process is the recycling of monoubiquitin. One DUB whose function has been proposed to include monoubiquitin recycling is USP5. Here, we investigated whether Drosophila USP5 is important for maintaining monoubiquitin in vivo. We found that the fruit fly orthologue of USP5 has catalytic preferences similar to its human counterpart and that this DUB is necessary during fly development. Our biochemical and genetic experiments indicate that reduction of USP5 does not lead to monoubiquitin depletion in developing flies. Also, introduction of exogenous ubiquitin does not suppress developmental lethality caused by loss of endogenous USP5. Our work indicates that a primary physiological role of USP5 is not to recycle monoubiquitin for reutilization, but that it may involve disassembly of conjugated ubiquitin to maintain proteasome function.
Simulation of grain boundary effects on electronic transport in metals, and detailed causes of scattering

We present first‐principles simulations of single grain boundary reflectivity of electrons in noble metals, Cu and Ag. We examine twin and non‐twin grain boundaries using non‐equilibrium Green's function and first principles methods. We also investigate the determinants of reflectivity in grain boundaries by modeling atomic vacancies, disorder, and orientation and find that both the change in grain orientation and disorder in the boundary itself contribute significantly to reflectivity. We find that grain boundary reflectivity may vary widely depending on the grain boundary structure, consistent with published experimental results. Finally, we examine the reflectivity from multiple grain boundaries and find that grain boundary reflectivity may depend on neighboring grain boundaries. This study raises some potential limitations in the independent grain boundary assumptions of the Mayadas–Shatzkes (MS) model.
On the Validity of the Shortened Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) Scale as a Measure of Health Literacy

Originally developed to measure the literacy level of patients, the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) scale is one of the most widely used instruments to measure the construct of health literacy. This article critically examines the validity of the REALM as a measure of health literacy. Logical analysis of content coverage led to the conclusion that scores on the REALM should not be used to make inferences about a person's level of health literacy. Rather, the REALM should be used to make inferences about the ability of a person to read and pronounce health related terms. Evidence from an analysis of a sample of 1,037 respondents to the REALM with a cancer diagnosis supports the quality of the REALM as a measure of reading and pronunciation ability. Other uses of the REALM in health literacy research are discussed.
Design of non-uniform antenna arrays using genetic algorithm

The performance of a single-element antenna is somewhat limited. To obtain high directivity, narrow beamwidth, low side-lobes, point-to-point and preferred-coverage pattern characteristics, etc., antenna arrays are used. An antenna array is an assembly of individual radiating antennas in an electrical and geometrical configuration. Nowadays, antenna arrays appear in wireless terminals and smart antennas, so robust and efficient array design is increasingly becoming necessary. In antenna array design, it is frequently desirable to achieve both a narrow beamwidth and a low side-lobe level. In linear antenna arrays, a uniform array (having uniform inter-element spacing and uniform amplitude excitation) yields the smallest beamwidth and hence the highest directivity. It is followed, in order, by the Dolph-Chebyshev and Binomial arrays. In contrast, Binomial arrays usually possess the smallest side-lobes followed, in order, by the Dolph-Chebyshev and uniform arrays. Binomial and Dolph-Chebyshev arrays are typical examples of non-uniform arrays. Non-uniform linear antenna arrays have uniform inter-element spacing and non-uniform amplitude distributions. In this paper we deal only with linear arrays and it is shown that using genetic algorithm it is possible to design a non-uniform array that approximates the beamwidth of a uniform array and having smaller side-lobe level than the Dolph-Chebyshev array. The result is that the designed antenna array exhibits the largest directivity as compared to the uniform, Binomial and Dolph-Chebyshev arrays. In the design, the genetic algorithm is employed to generate the excitation amplitudes of the antenna array.
Integration of visual feedback system and motor current based gait rehabilitation robot for motor recovery

This paper presents a visual feedback available robotic gait training system for motor recovery of hemiplegic stroke survivors. The system is composed of a treadmill consisting of two split belts, a pelvic support manipulator assisting patient's pelvic movement, and a visual interface feedbacking patient's gait phase. The split-belt treadmill allow patient to walk in different velocities between sound side and affected side legs, and detect patient's gait phase by current value of DC motor. The pelvic support manipulator provides three active actuations to assist patient's leg swinging during walk training. The virtual walking scenario gives visual feedback for patient while providing patient's gait phase calculated from motor current of the treadmill. One subject with simulated stroke participated in this study. Experiment results indicate gait phase of the virtual model can well track that of patient's walking, verify the feasibility of the proposed system to improve gait recovery during rehabilitation.
CONCEITUALIZAÇÃO E ANÁLISE CRÍTICA DOS DINAMÔMETROS ISOCINÉTICOS

Os dinamometros isocineticos tem uma grande importância na area esportiva e da fisioterapia. Estes equipamentos permitem a avaliacao, reabilitacao e treinamento muscular mediante o monitoramento continuo do esforco realizado pelo paciente ou esportista para varios tipos de contracoes musculares. O exercicio e avaliacao isocinetica se destaca pela qualidade e quantidade de informacoes que fornece. Estas informacoes permitem ao fisioterapeuta diagnosticar com exatidao lesoes musculares e determinar o plano de recuperacao do paciente. Mediante uma pesquisa bibliografica e consulta com especialistas, este trabalho se preocupa em demonstrar as utilidades e funcoes do dinamometro isocinetico, apresentando em forma comparativa as caracteristicas dinâmicas de cada exercicio e avaliacao fornecida. Apresentam-se tambem quais destes exercicios e avaliacoes podem ser obtidos alternativamente por outros meios ou equipamentos. Realiza-se um resumo da evolucao no tempo dos dinamometros isocineticos, apresentando alguns dos modelos comercializados. Levantam-se entao criticas aos atuais dinamometros isocineticos com a finalidade de propor alteracoes projetivas que poderiam melhorar o desempenho atual.
Expression of delta-aminolevulinate synthase in avian cells: separate genes encode erythroid-specific and nonspecific isozymes.

A controversy has existed in the literature for the past several years regarding the number of vertebrate genes encoding the mitochondrial protein that initiates the first step in heme biosynthesis, delta-aminolevulinate synthase [ALAS; succinyl-CoA: glycine C-succinyltransferase (decarboxylating), EC 2.3. 1.37]. By analysis of chicken ALAS cDNA clones isolated from both liver and erythroid cells, we show that at least two separate genes encode ALAS mRNAs. These experiments show that (i) two different genes encode the ALAS isozymes found in erythroid and in liver tissues, and (ii) while the product of the erythroid gene (ALASE) is expressed exclusively in erythroid cells, the hepatic form of the enzyme is expressed ubiquitously, suggesting that this is the nonspecific form (ALASN) found in all chicken tissues.
The maedi-visna virus Tat protein induces multiorgan lymphoid hyperplasia in transgenic mice

Sheep infected with maedi-visna virus experience immunological disorders leading to progressive chronic diseases involving the brain, lung, spleen, and lymph nodes. To study the biological activity of the viral transactivating Tat protein, we generated transgenic mice carrying the tat gene. Analysis of the transgenic mouse tissues for tat mRNA revealed that while low at the messenger level, the expression of the transgene correlated with dramatic follicular lymphoproliferative disorders involving the lung, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin. This finding suggests that the viral protein possesses a high pathological potency. Our findings show that the maedi-visna virus tat gene product contributes to the pathogenesis of multiorgan proliferative disorders associated with maedi-visna virus infection.
Signal pathway profiling of ovarian cancer from human tissue specimens using reverse‐phase protein microarrays

Defects in cell signaling pathways play a central role in cancer cell growth, survival, invasion and metastasis. An important goal of proteomics is to characterize and develop “circuit maps” of these signaling pathways in normal and diseased cells. We have used reverse‐phase protein array technology coupled with laser capture microdissection and phospho‐specific antibodies to examine the activation status of several key molecular “gates” involved in cell survival and proliferation signaling in human ovarian tumor tissue. The levels of activated extracellular‐regulated kinase (ERK1/2) varied considerably in tumors of the same histotype, but no significant differences between histotypes were observed. Advanced stage tumors had slightly higher levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 compared to early stage tumors. The activation status of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3β, key proteins and indicators of the state of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/Akt pro‐survival pathway also showed more variation within each histotype than between the histoypes studied. Our results demonstrate the utility of reverse phase protein microarrays for the multiplexed analysis of signal transduction from discreet cell populations of cells procured directly from human ovarian tumor specimens and suggest that patterns in signal pathway activation in ovarian tumors may be patient‐specific rather than type or stage specific.
A Schmid-Leiman based transformation resulting in perfect inter-correlations of three types of factor score predictors

Factor score predictors are to be computed when the individual scores on the factors are of interest. Conditions for a perfect inter-correlation of the regression/best linear factor score predictor, the best linear conditionally unbiased predictor, and the determinant best linear correlation-preserving predictor are presented. When these three types of factor score predictors are perfectly correlated for corresponding factors, the factor score predictors computed from one method will have the virtues of the factor score predictors computed from the other methods. A Schmid-Leiman based transformation for which the three types of factor score predictors are perfectly correlated for corresponding orthogonal factors is proposed.
A fast maximum likelihood algorithm for frequency estimation of a sinusoid based on Newton's method

A fast algorithm to estimate the frequency of a sinusoid is presented here. It is based on Newton's method for finding the root of an equation, and it is shown that under easily met conditions, the root mean-square error (RMSE) of the estimator is practically equal to the Cramer-Rao bound after only two iterations of Newton's method for all signal-to-noise ratios (SNR's) above threshold. The estimator's probability density function is computed analytically, and the RMSE is calculated for one and two iterations of Newton's method. Its computational load is shown to be significantly less than other conventional algorithms.