Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Virtual restraint of hand position and posture for cooperative virtual object manipulation with ungrounded force display device

In cooperative object manipulation in shared virtual environments with ungrounded force display devices, a holding object is involuntarily released when the remote users move apart. That is caused by excessive virtual force generated by an uninhibited increase in distance between the users and virtual coupling. This study proposes an object manipulation assistance method that virtually restrains remote users' hand positions and postures. Hand positions and postures are adjusted to partially match the virtual hands. To assist the recognition of restraint between users' hands, a method of enhancing the restraint force is also proposed. The results of the evaluation experiments indicated the feasibility for improving task performance in cooperative object manipulation.
On the mobility management performance of NEMO-based nested wireless body area networks

Given the currently fast evolution of wireless access technologies, high-performance mobile devices and wide variety of wearable medical sensors, electronic and mobile healthcare (eHealth and mHealth) services are receiving particular attention nowadays. Several mHealth application scenarios strongly rely on mobile or embedded devices interconnected with medical sensors via Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). The vast majority of these services require strict medical level Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) provision. Emergency use-cases like remote patient monitoring, tele-consultation and guided surgical intervention demand real-time communication and appropriate connection quality during any mobility event. In many cases the mHealth WBANs are nested into other overlay access networks around the patient. To fulfil the quality requirements of such applications, during the various mobility scenarios not only a single mobile entity has to be considered, but also entire nested WBANs (moving between different networks) have to be taken into account. If network layer mobility management is required (like in case of inter-technology handovers under heterogeneous radio coverages), still NEMO Basic Support (RFC 3963) is the most common standardized approach to be implemented. Motivated by this, the paper investigates mobility management performance issues of NEMO-based nested WBANs. The evaluation is based on INET/OMNeT++ simulations and transport layer characteristics.
Genetic Relatedness among Environmental, Clinical, and Diseased-Eel Vibrio vulnificus Isolates from Different Geographic Regions by Ribotyping and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA PCR

ABSTRACT Genetic relationships among 132 strains of Vibrio vulnificus (clinical, environmental, and diseased-eel isolates from different geographic origins, as well as seawater and shellfish isolates from the western Mediterranean coast, including reference strains) were analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR. Results were validated by ribotyping. For ribotyping, DNAs were digested with KpnI and hybridized with an oligonucleotide probe complementary to a highly conserved sequence in the 23S rRNA gene. Random amplification of DNA was performed with M13 and T3 universal primers. The comparison between ribotyping and RAPD PCR revealed an overall agreement regarding the high level of homogeneity of diseased-eel isolates in contrast to the genetic heterogeneity of Mediterranean isolates. The latter suggests the existence of autochthonous clones present in Mediterranean coastal waters. Both techniques have revealed a genetic proximity among Spanish fish farm isolates and a close relationship between four Spanish eel farm isolates and some Mediterranean isolates. Whereas the differentiation within diseased-eel isolates was only possible by ribotyping, RAPD PCR was able to differentiate phenotypically atypical isolates of V. vulnificus. On the basis of our results, RAPD PCR is proposed as a better technique than ribotyping for rapid typing in the routine analysis of new V. vulnificusisolates.
ProCeeD: A Framework for Continuous Prototyping

Prototypes are used in software engineering to close the gap between an abstract idea and the actual software solution. Prototypes facilitate a shared mental model between the stakeholders of a software project. Several techniques have been proposed to develop and deliver prototypes, but the continuous delivery of early prototypes to stakeholders during requirements elicitation has not yet been addressed. This is an obstacle especially in projects with unclear and vague requirements where early feedback from users is of great importance. This dissertation introduces the ProCeeD Framework and the Prototyper tool for delivering prototypes and obtaining feedback from stakeholders. ProCeeD allows the exploration of requirements by automating the delivery of these prototypes and provides a common feedback process for revolutionary as well as evolutionary prototypes. Prototyper is a software delivery tool based on ProCeeD and allows the delivery of executable prototypes to the target environment. Prototyper has been realized for the domain of mobile application engineering and has been successfully applied in projects in both academia and industry. ProCeeD and Prototyper have been empirically evaluated in four case studies involving 25 projects with more than 200 developers. The results show that teams who adopt ProCeeD reduce the duration of a prototyping iteration compared to teams not adopting the framework. In addition, projects using ProCeeD exhibited a 2-fold increase in prototype deliveries to the target environment compared to projects not applying the framework.
Risk Perceptions and Worry About Cancer: Does Gender Make a Difference?

Risk perceptions and worry are important constructs in many theoretical frameworks used to develop cancer screening interventions. Because most cancers for which we have early detection or prevention strategies are gender specific, few investigations have examined gender differences. We examined gender differences in the magnitude of, and associations with, perceived risk and worry by cancer type. Our sample included 939 men and 1,580 women ≥ 50 years old with no history of relevant cancers from the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Dependent variables included absolute and comparative perceived risk and worry for gender-specific (breast/prostate) and colon cancers. We examined demographics, health status, health behaviors, cancer beliefs, and cancer communication variables as correlates. Linear regression analyses and pairwise contrasts were conducted with SUDAAN. Men reported greater comparative perceived risk for developing cancers, whereas women reported more frequent cancer worry. For both genders, perceived risk and worry were lowest for colon cancer. Correlates of perceived risk and worry varied, and several associations were moderated by gender. Different risk messages and intervention strategies may be needed to influence males' and females' perceived cancer risk and worry. All effect sizes were small, and future prospective research is needed to confirm our findings.
Genetic factors in preterm birth—the future

The genetic regulation of common biological functions has redundant control mechanisms, and it is unlikely that a single marker will ever be identified that will be both highly sensitive and specific. It is more likely that combinations of gene and/or protein markers, perhaps also combined with obstetric family histories, will be required to achieve the goal of a truly sensitive and specific screening profile for spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth. The rapidly evolving disciplines of genomics and proteomics are now beginning to be applied to the study of spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth. These techniques are able to measure multiple markers (in the thousands) in a biological sample and, given the likely presence of biological changes that precede by weeks or even months the clinical manifestations of the disease, are ideally suited to the evaluation of spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth. Over the next few years, these technologies will hasten a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of spontaneous preterm labour, discover novel target molecules and diagnostic biomarkers and ultimately aid in formulating more effective interventions to prevent preterm birth. Pharmacogenomics is another rapidly evolving discipline that holds great promise for the treatment and prevention of spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth. Because spontaneous preterm labour is a final common pathway for multiple aetiologies, there remains no reason why any single therapy will work optimally for all women. As patient‐specific pharmacogenomic profiles are developed, it will be possible to develop patient‐specific treatment regimens. Beyond that, it may become possible to identify those women who are, or are not, destined to labour spontaneously and give birth remote from term and to institute patient‐specific preventive measures. Spontaneous preterm labour and preterm birth remains a syndrome, with a final common pathway for multiple aetiologies. As a result, no single explanation, marker or treatment is likely to be 100% sensitive, specific or successful. It is also clear, however, that there is a genetic predisposition in many cases of spontaneous preterm labour. Over the next few years, several recently developed diagnostic mechanisms, and others that have yet to evolve, will hold a greater potential than ever before to unlock the secrets of the genetic predisposition to spontaneous preterm labour and its underlying causes. An improved understanding of these mechanisms will allow clinicians to employ therapies that will be optimally effective for individual women and their unborn babies. Eventually, these advances could be applied to the presymptomatic prevention of spontaneous preterm labour. It is the intent of this manuscript to review the current status of these new technologies and disciplines and to speculate on their applications in the intermediate future.
Risk factors for child mortality in northern Ghana: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND A population-based case-control study was carried out to investigate potential risk factors for post-neonatal and child mortality in northern Ghana were child survival rates are among the lowest in Africa. METHOD Cases were post-neonatal infant and child deaths identified within a large population under continuous demographic surveillance. For each case, one living control, matched for age, sex and locality, was selected from the demographic database. Mothers of each case and control were interviewed to obtain information on social, enconomic, demographic, environmental and other possible risk factors. Matched analyses of the 317 cases and their controls were performed using discordant pairs analysis and conditional logistic regression. RESULTS The mortality rate for children aged 6 months to 4 years was estimated as 23.9/1000 children/year. An increased risk of death was observed where the delivery was not performed by a trained person (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0-3.2), if the preceding birth interval was < 24 months (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-3.9), if the father beat the child's mother (OR = 4.3, 95% CI: 1.2-15.6) or if the water source was unprotected (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.7). No association was found between weaning practices, parental education, or any of the socioeconomic or hygiene variables considered. CONCLUSIONS Few strong risk factors for mortality were identified, perhaps because living conditions within the study population are relatively homogeneous. While mortality rates may be reduced by targeted interventions, such as increasing deliveries by trained people, more general improvements in the socioeconomic status in the region are essential.
A case of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) revealed an outbreak of Shiga toxin‐2‐producing Escherichia coli O26:H11 infection in a nursery, with long‐lasting shedders and person‐to‐person transmission, Italy 2015

Purpose. Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) represents a major issue for public health because of the severity of the associated illnesses, including haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). In 2015, investigation of a case of HUS revealed an outbreak of Shiga toxin‐2‐producing E. coli O26: H11 infection in a nursery in Italy. The investigation showed that the infection was transmitted to cases’ contacts via person to person. Methods. The case finding was performed by testing for STEC stool samples of the HUS case's contacts within the family and the nursery. STEC O26 isolates were characterized by whole genome sequencing. Confirmed cases were repeatedly tested to monitor the duration of STEC shedding. Results. Eleven STEC O26 cases were identified, including adults and asymptomatic patients. Clinical illness was only observed in children. Strain characterization revealed that a single clone harbouring the stx2a and eae genes and the complete array of STEC‐associated virulence genes, belonging to ST(21), was implicated in the outbreak. To reduce bacterial shedding, patients were treated with cefixime following clinical recovery. This antibiotic was well tolerated and did not induce any apparent consequences on patients’ health. Conclusions. This study confirms that Stx2‐producing E. coli O26 represents an emerging public health problem. The occurrence of outbreaks of infection by Stx2‐producing E. coli O26 in nurseries is of particular concern, given the high probability of infection progressing in severity and resulting in secondary cases.
Combined family trio and case‐control analysis of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism in European patients with anorexia nervosa

The high activity Val158 (H) allele of the dopamine‐metabolizing enzyme catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) was associated with anorexia nervosa (AN) in a recent family trio‐based study of patients from Israel. In an attempt to replicate this finding, we performed a combined family trio and case‐control study in an European population from seven centers in six different countries (Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Italy [Milan], Italy [Florence], Slovenia, and Spain), together contributing a total of 372 family trios, 684 controls and 266 cases. TDT analyses of high (H) and low (L) alleles in family trios showed that H allele and L allele were each transmitted 101 times (χ2 = 0, ns). Allele‐wise case‐control analysis using separate samples simply combined from the centers was also not significant, with the frequencies of the H allele 50% in cases and same in controls. Stratified analysis of data from all centers gave an odds ratio of 0.98 (Cornfield 95% confidence limits 0.78–1.24). Analysis by genotype was likewise not significant (overall χ2 = 0.42). Because we were not able to support the primary hypothesis that Val158Met is a risk factor for AN, we did not perform secondary analysis of minimum body mass index (mBMI), age at onset or illness subtype (restricting or binge purging anorexia). Overall we found no support for the hypothesis that the Val158 allele of COMT gene is associated with AN in our combined European sample. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Colonoscopy video quality assessment using hidden Markov random fields

With colonoscopy becoming a common procedure for individuals aged 50 or more who are at risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), colon video data is being accumulated at an ever increasing rate. However, the clinically valuable information contained in these videos is not being maximally exploited to improve patient care and accelerate the development of new screening methods. One of the well-known difficulties in colonoscopy video analysis is the abundance of frames with no diagnostic information. Approximately 40% - 50% of the frames in a colonoscopy video are contaminated by noise, acquisition errors, glare, blur, and uneven illumination. Therefore, filtering out low quality frames containing no diagnostic information can significantly improve the efficiency of colonoscopy video analysis. To address this challenge, we present a quality assessment algorithm to detect and remove low quality, uninformative frames. The goal of our algorithm is to discard low quality frames while retaining all diagnostically relevant information. Our algorithm is based on a hidden Markov model (HMM) in combination with two measures of data quality to filter out uninformative frames. Furthermore, we present a two-level framework based on an embedded hidden Markov model (EHHM) to incorporate the proposed quality assessment algorithm into a complete, automated diagnostic image analysis system for colonoscopy video.
Preparation and evaluation of nanoparticles loaded ophthalmic in situ gel

Abstract Context: Conventional ophthalmic solutions often eliminate rapidly after administration and cannot provide and maintain an adequate concentration of drug in the pre-corneal area. Objectives: Above problem can be overcome by the use of in situ gel forming systems that are instilled as drops in to the eye and undergo a sol–gel transition in the cul-de-sac. Methods: An ion sensitive polymer gellan gum was used as gelling agent which formed immediate gel and remained for extended time period. Nanoparticles of moxifloxacin, prepared by solvent evaporation, were separated by freeze drying. The rheological properties and in vitro drug release test of in situ gel loaded with nanoparticles were evaluated and compared with marketed preparation. In vitro release study demonstrated diffusion controlled release for moxifloxacin from formulations over a period of 12 h. Results: The developed formulation was stable and showed enhanced contact time minimizing the frequency of administration. Confocal microscopy showed clear permeation of drug loaded nanoparticles across L/S of cornea. Conclusion: The formulation of moxifloxacin was found liquid at the formulated pH and formed gel in the presence of mono or divalent cations. The gel formed in situ showed sustained drug release over a period of 10–12 h. The formulations were less viscous before instillation and formed strong gel after instilling it into cul-de-sac. It is thus concluded that by adopting a systematic formulation approach, an optimum point can be reached in the shortest time with minimum efforts to achieve desirable rheological and in vitro release property for in situ gel forming system.
Disentangling the influence of socioeconomic status on differences between African American and white women in unmet medical needs.

OBJECTIVES We sought to disentangle the relationships between race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and unmet medical care needs. METHODS Data from the 2003-2004 Community Tracking Study Household Survey were used to examine associations between unmet medical needs and SES among African American and White women. RESULTS No significant racial/ethnic differences in unmet medical needs (24.8% of Whites, 25.9% of African Americans; P = .59) were detected in bivariate analyses. However, among women with 12 years of education or less, African Americans were less likely than were Whites to report unmet needs (odds ratio [OR] = 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42, 0.79). Relative to African American women with 12 years of education or less, the odds of unmet needs were 1.69 (95% CI = 1.24, 2.31) and 2.18 (95% CI = 1.25, 3.82) among African American women with 13 to 15 years of education and 16 years of education or more, respectively. In contrast, the relationship between educational level and unmet needs was nonsignificant among White women. CONCLUSIONS Among African American women, the failure to recognize unmet medical needs is related to educational attainment and may be an important driver of health disparities, representing a fruitful area for future interventions.
Genetic localization and characterization of a pKM101-coded endonuclease

The genetic and biochemical properties of an endonuclease mediated by the mutagenesis-enhancing plasmid pKM101 have been investigated. Taking advantage of the observation that this endonuclease, unlike host-coded DNases, is active in the presence of EDTA, we have developed an assay with nondenaturing acrylamide gels containing DNA. We have localized the plasmid DNA sufficient for nuclease expression to a 0.8-kilobase sequence that is near regions of DNA necessary for conjugal transfer, and we have determined that this gene is transcribed clockwise on the pKM101 map. The pKM101 gene mediating this activity codes for a 16,000-dalton protein, which is the same molecular mass as the nuclease monomer, leading us to conclude that this gene codes for the nuclease itself rather than for an activator of some host-coded enzyme. Cellular fractionation experiments have shown that the enzyme is localized in the periplasm. We have not been able to demonstrate any physiological role for the enzyme, but we have ruled out a direct involvement of the nuclease in any of the following known plasmid-associated phenotypes: (i) mutagenesis enhancement, (ii) conjugal transfer, (iii) entry exclusion, (iv) fertility inhibition of coresident P-group plasmids, (v) killing of Klebsiella pneumoniae used as conjugal recipients, and (vi) plasmid curing induced by treatment of cells with fluorodeoxyuridine. In addition, we have shown that the enzyme does not restrict bacteriophage or affect the ability of the host to utilize DNA as a source of thymine. Finally, we have shown that 11 of the 26 other plasmids tested also elaborated EDTA-resistant DNases.
Characterization of the allosteric binding pocket of human liver fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase by protein crystallography and inhibitor activity studies

The structures of three complexes of human fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase (FB) with the allosteric inhibitor AMP and two AMP analogues have been determined and all fully refined. The data used for structure determination were collected at cryogenic temperature (110 K), and with the use of synchrotron radiation. The structures reveal a common mode of binding for AMP and formycine monophosphate (FMP). 5‐Amino‐4‐carboxamido‐1β‐D‐5‐phosphate‐ribofuranosyl‐1H‐imidazole (AICAR‐P) shows an unexpected mode of binding to FB, different from that of the other two ligands. The imidazole ring of AICAR‐P is rotated 180° compared to the AMP and FMP bases. This rotation results in a slightly different hydrogen bonding pattern and minor changes in the water structure in the binding pocket. Common features of binding are seen for the ribose and phosphate moieties of all three compounds. Although binding in a different mode, AICAR‐P is still capable of making all the important interactions with the residues building the allosteric binding pocket. The IC50 values of AMP, FMP, and AICAR‐P were determined to be 1.7, 1.4, and 20.9 μ, respectively. Thus, the approximately 10 times lower potency of AICAR‐P is difficult to explain solely from the variations observed in the binding pocket.
Acid, weakly acidic and non-acid gastro-oesophageal reflux: differences, prevalence and clinical relevance

In patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), oesophageal symptoms and mucosal damage traditionally are related to acid-reflux episodes with pH lower than 4. Oesophageal or extra-oesophageal symptoms of GORD may also be associated with less acidic reflux (pH 4–7). New methodologies have evolved to complement pH monitoring for characterisation of less acidic gastro-oesophageal reflux. This review will focus on definition, detection, pathophysiology and symptom association of weakly acidic and non-acid reflux, in both adult and paediatric populations.