Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MEMS Actuators for Optical Microendoscopy

Growing demands for affordable, portable, and reliable optical microendoscopic imaging devices are attracting research institutes and industries to find new manufacturing methods. However, the integration of microscopic components into these subsystems is one of today’s challenges in manufacturing and packaging. Together with this kind of miniaturization more and more functional parts have to be accommodated in ever smaller spaces. Therefore, solving this challenge with the use of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication technology has opened the promising opportunities in enabling a wide variety of novel optical microendoscopy to be miniaturized. MEMS fabrication technology enables abilities to apply batch fabrication methods with high-precision and to include a wide variety of optical functionalities to the optical components. As a result, MEMS technology has enabled greater accessibility to advance optical microendoscopy technology to provide high-resolution and high-performance imaging matching with traditional table-top microscopy. In this review the latest advancements of MEMS actuators for optical microendoscopy will be discussed in detail.
Developing a Mobile App (LYNX) to Support Linkage to HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in the United States have among the highest incidence of HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) and the lowest uptake of HIV and STI testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Nearly universal mobile phone ownership among youth provides an opportunity to leverage mobile health apps to increase HIV/STI testing and PrEP uptake among YMSM. Objective The goals of this project are to develop and refine LYNX, a novel mobile app to support linkage to HIV/STIs testing and PrEP services among YMSM in the United States, and to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of LYNX in a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). Methods This research protocol will be conducted in 3 phases: an iterative development phase with a series of 3 focus groups among 20 YMSM to refine the LYNX app; an open technical pilot among 15 YMSM to optimize usability of the app; and then a 6-month pilot RCT among 60 HIV-uninfected YMSM at risk for HIV acquisition. Developed using the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral skills theoretical model, the LYNX app includes an electronic diary to track sexual behaviors (information), a personalized risk score to promote accurate risk perception (information/motivation), testing reminders (motivation/behavioral skills), and access to home-based HIV/STI testing options and geospatial-based HIV/STI testing care sites (behavioral skills). Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed through app analytics of usage patterns and acceptability scales administered via computer-assisted self-interview at 3 and 6 months. We will also evaluate preliminary efficacy by comparing the proportion of YMSM who test at least once during the 6-month pilot and the proportion who successfully link to a PrEP provider in the intervention versus control groups. Results Formative work is currently underway. The LYNX pilot RCT will begin enrollment in October 2018, with study results available in 2019. Conclusions The LYNX app is one of the first mobile apps designed to increase HIV/STI testing and PrEP uptake among YMSM. As low-perceived risk is a barrier to HIV/STI testing and PrEP use among youth, the personalized risk assessment and interactive sexual diary in LYNX could assist YMSM in better understanding their HIV risk and providing motivation to test for HIV/STIs and initiate PrEP. Coupled with community-based recruitment, this novel mobile app has great potential to reach and engage YMSM not currently involved in care and increase rates of HIV/STI testing and PrEP uptake in this vulnerable population. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03177512; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03177512 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73c917wAw) International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/10659
A microRNA signature for the differential diagnosis of salivary gland tumors

Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) are rare tumors of the head and neck with different clinical behavior. Preoperative diagnosis, based on instrumental and cytologic examinations, is crucial for their correct management. The identification of molecular markers might improve the accuracy of pre-surgical diagnosis helping to plan the proper treatment especially when a definitive diagnosis based only on cytomorphology cannot be achieved. miRNAs appear to be new promising biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. Studies concerning the useful of miRNA expression in clinical decision-making regarding SGTs remain limited and controversial.The expression of a panel of 798 miRNAs was investigated using Nanostring technology in 14 patients with malignant SGTs (6 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 4 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 1 acinic cell carcinoma, 1 ductal carcinoma, 1 cystadenocarcinoma and 1 adenocarcinoma) and in 10 patients with benign SGTs (pleomorphic adenomas). The DNA Intelligent Analysis (DIANA)-miRPath v3.0 software was used to determinate the miRNA regulatory roles and to identify the controlled significant Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) molecular pathways. Forty six miRNAs were differentially expressed (False Discovery Rate—FDR<0.05) between malignant and benign SGTs. DIANA miRPath software revealed enriched pathways involved in cancer processes as well as tumorigenesis, cell proliferation, cell growth and survival, tumor suppressor expression, angiogenesis and tumor progression. Interestingly, clustering analysis showed that this signature of 46 miRNAs is able to differentiate the two analyzed groups. We found a correlation between histological diagnosis (benign or malignant) and miRNA expression profile.The molecular signature identified in this study might become an important preoperative diagnostic tool.
Effects of heparin and derivatives on podocytes: An in vitro functional and morphological evaluation

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular heparin derivatives (LMWH) display numerous biological properties in addition to their anticoagulant effects. However, due to the physicochemical heterogeneity of these drugs, a better understanding concerning their effects on human cells is clearly needed. Considering that heparins are mainly excreted by the kidney, we focused our attention on the effect of UFH and LMWH on human podocytes by functional and morphological/phenotypic in vitro analyses. We demonstrated that these products differentially modulate the permeability of podocyte monolayer to albumin. The functional perturbations observed were correlated to significant cellular morphological and cytoskeletal changes, as well as a decrease in the expression of proteins involved in podocyte adherence to the extracellular matrix or intercellular interactions. This point confirms that UFH and the different LMWHs exert specific effects on podocyte permeability and underlines the need of in vitro tests to evaluate new biological nonanticoagulant properties of LMWH.
Morphogenesis of neurons and glia within an epithelium

ABSTRACT To sense the outside world, some neurons protrude across epithelia, the cellular barriers that line every surface of our bodies. To study the morphogenesis of such neurons, we examined the C. elegans amphid, in which dendrites protrude through a glial channel at the nose. During development, amphid dendrites extend by attaching to the nose via DYF-7, a type of protein typically found in epithelial apical ECM. Here, we show that amphid neurons and glia exhibit epithelial properties, including tight junctions and apical-basal polarity, and develop in a manner resembling other epithelia. We find that DYF-7 is a fibril-forming apical ECM component that promotes formation of the tube-shaped glial channel, reminiscent of roles for apical ECM in other narrow epithelial tubes. We also identify a requirement for FRM-2, a homolog of EPBL15/moe/Yurt that promotes epithelial integrity in other systems. Finally, we show that other environmentally exposed neurons share a requirement for DYF-7. Together, our results suggest that these neurons and glia can be viewed as part of an epithelium continuous with the skin, and are shaped by mechanisms shared with other epithelia. Summary: Sensory neurons and glia, which breach the epithelial barrier between an organism and its environment, exhibit epithelial properties themselves and develop through mechanisms shared with other epithelia.
Disease modeling of cardiac arrhythmias using human induced pluripotent stem cells

ABSTRACT Introduction: Inherited arrhythmias are an uncommon, but malignant family of cardiac diseases that result from genetic abnormalities in the ion channels and/or structural proteins within cardiomyocytes. Given the inherent differences between species and the limited reproducibility of in vitro heterologous cell models, progress in understanding the mechanisms underlying these malignant diseases has always languished far behind the clinical science and need. The ability to study human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived cardiomyocytes promises to change this paradigm as patient cells have the potential to become testing platforms for disease phenotyping or therapeutic discovery. Areas covered: This review will outline methods developed to genetically reprogram adult cells into iPSCs, differentiate iPSCs into ex vivo models of adult cardiac tissue and iPSCs-based progress in exploring the mechanisms underlying pro-arrhythmic disease phenotypes. Expert opinion: Despite being discovered less than 15 years ago, several studies have successfully leveraged iPSCs-derived cardiomyocytes to study malignant arrhythmogenic diseases. These models promise to increase our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying these complex diseases and may identify personalized approaches to treatment.
Bacteriological Profile of Burn Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India

Burn wound infection is one of the most co mmon causes of mortality and morbidity in burn patients (Sedat et al., 2005). It has been estimated that 75% of all deaths following thermal injuries are related to infections (Vindenes et al., 1995). The rate of nosocomial infections are higher in burn patients due to various factors like nature of burn injury itself, immunocompromised status of the patient, invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and prolonged ICU stay (Pruitt et al., 1998).
A fast-lock mixed-mode DLL using a 2-b SAR algorithm

In this paper, a fast-lock mixed-mode DLL (MMDLL) is presented. The digital part of the MMDLL utilizes a 2-b SAR algorithm to achieve short lock time compared to the conventional RDLL, CDLL and SARDLL, while the analog part helps to reduce the static phase error and improve the output clock jitter. The measured output clock rms, peak-to-peak jitter and static phase error are 6.6 ps, 47 ps and 12.4 ps, respectively at 100 MHz and the power consumption is 15.8 mW in the locked state at 2.7 V supply voltage. The maximum lock time is 13.5 clock cycles when the static phase error is within 1 LSB (156 ps).
A Frame-Based Extended MIDI-Pitch Detection Algorithm Based on Variable Sampling Technology

This paper proposes a framed-based extended MIDI-pitch detection algorithm based on variable sampling technology. Symbols P--, P-, P+ and P++ are used to present four different logarithmic frequencies around the MIDI pitch P (integer) within 100 cents interval and called as extended MIDI-pitch to enhance the expression resolution of MIDI pitch of a signal frame. Experiment shows that the algorithm has a good raw pitch accuracy rate and less computation complexity o(nlog2n). Keywords—extended MIDI pitch; singing transcription; singing signal processing
Environnements d'apprentissage basés sur la simulation: Outils auteur et expérimentations

Cet article presente les travaux de l'equipe ARCADE sur le theme des simulations a but. Nous discutons les avantages des simulations dans la formation et diverses approches d'integration pedagogiques. Nous analysons differentes solutions de production existantes. Nous montrons comment des contacts industriels nous ont conduits a proposer un modele conceptuel, MARS, puis a developper deux environnements auteur generalistes, Melisa et OASIS, et un environnement auteur specialise, GeneSimu. Nous abordons ensuite une typologie des controles pedagogiques, puis nous decrivons l'approche mise en œuvre pour une definition facile d'exercices. Nous presentons finalement plusieurs experimentations industrielles et academiques de nos outils, et leurs conclusions.
Influencia de la moralidad en la apreciación, percepción de realismo y disfrute de las narrativas sobre lesbianas

El objetivo general de la presente investigacion es verificar si la moralidad de la audiencia y de los personajes afecta a las respuestas psicologicas del publico frente a narrativas cuyos personajes protagonistas son lesbianas, especialmente respecto al disfrute, la apreciacion y el realismo percibido. Este estudio aplica una metodologia cuantitativa que proporciona evidencias de que las personas menos homofobicas y con actitudes mas positivas sobre la moralidad de las mujeres homosexuales evalua de manera favorable a la protagonista lesbiana y disfruta mas de las narrativas. Asimismo, anade informacion sobre como los conceptos psicologicos de disfrute, apreciacion y realismo percibido se relacionan. Por otra parte, validan las siete diferentes escalas utilizadas en el cuasi-experimento que fueron sometidas a dos tipos de analisis factorial: exploratorio y confirmatorio. Finalmente, se reflexiona como los resultados de este trabajo pueden ayudar a comprender los fenomenos citados, propuestas futuras y los limites de esta investigacion.
Lexiparse: A Lexicon-based Parser for Lisp Applications ** DRAFT 0.93 ***

This manual describes a deterministic, recursive-descent, lexicon-based parser (called “Lexiparse”). 1 Lexiparse works on a grammar organized around lexemes, to which are attached syntactic and “semantic” processing instructions. Grammars also include specifications of how to construct lexemes from streams of characters. The parser uses the lexical and syntactic specifications to turn strings into sequences of parsetrees. The “semantics” is expressed using internalizers that then turn parse trees into whatever data structures the syntactic structures are intended to correspond to. The parser and lexer are built on an abstraction called the generator, which represents a lazy list. At the highest level the parser can be thought of as a generator of internalized objects from a stream of characters, which is decomposed thus:
Molecular Characterization of Trimellitic Anhydride–induced Respiratory Allergy in Brown Norway Rats

To contribute to the hazard identification of low molecular weight (LMW) respiratory allergens, respiratory allergy induced by trimellitic anhydride (TMA) was characterized by whole genome analysis of lung tissue and blood proteomics in Brown Norway rats. Dermal sensitization (50% and 25% w/v) with TMA and an inhalation challenge of 15 mg/m3 TMA-induced apneas, laryngeal inflammation, increased numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and increased immunoglobulin E levels in serum and lung tissue. Whole genome analysis of lung, sampled 24 hours after challenge, showed expression changes of not only genes belonging to several Gene Ontology groups with up-regulation of inflammatory-associated genes and those associated with lung remodeling but also genes involved in downsizing these processes. Blood proteomics reflected activation of inflammation-inhibiting pathways. Unsensitized animals challenged with TMA exhibited also an increased number of macrophages in BAL, but gene expression in the above-mentioned gene pathways was unchanged or down-regulated. The authors conclude that parameters for lung remodeling can be a valuable tool in hazard identification of LMW respiratory allergens.
Active Learning in Digital Electronics: Preview, Exercise, Teaching and Learning

Through multimedia delivery of new materials, web-based warm-up exercises and interactive classroom teaching/learning, this paper presents a new teaching approach PETL (Preview, Exercise, Teaching and Learning) in teaching and learning digital electronics. The proposed pedagogy is a teaching and learning strategy based on the active participation of learners at each stage of the learning process, namely, preview of new topics, web-based warm-up assignments, and interactive classroom teaching and learning. Students briefly preview the new materials delivered through web-based multimedia, and then respond electronically to carefully constructed warm-up exercises which are due before class. The instructor reviews students' responses and adjusts the classroom lesson based on students' concerns and questions. The preview materials, with the instructor's explanations added, are produced using Flash multimedia authoring tool. This provides an on-line learning tool to prepare the students for the warm-up exercises. Anonymous surveys, questionnaires before, in the middle and after the implementation of the project are conducted to assess the effectiveness and outcomes of this project.
Wind Energy Forecasting with Neural Networks: A Literature Review

Renewable energy is intermittent by nature and to integrate this energy into the Grid while assuring safety and stability the accurate forecasting of there newable energy generation is critical. Wind Energy prediction is based on the ability to forecast wind. There are many methods for wind forecasting based on the statistical properties of the wind time series and in the integration of meteorological information, these methods are being used commercially around the world. But one family of new methods for wind power fore castingis surging based on Machine Learning Deep Learning techniques. This paper analyses the characteristics of the Wind Speed time series data and performs a literature review of recently published works of wind power forecasting using Machine Learning approaches (neural and deep learning networks), which have been published in the last few years.
The Formal Specification of an Abstract Machine: Design and Implementation.

Abstract : The high cost of porting software from one machine to another stems from the ad hoc way in which the programmer's problem solving abstraction interacts with the machine's physical resource abstraction. If this interaction could be formalized, the well known semantic gap would at least be better understood, if not narrowed significantly. This thesis applies techniques borrowed from contemporary research in abstract data type specification to design, specify and implement the physical resources of an abstract machine called AM. Additional keywords: Algebraic semantics; Software portability problem; high level languages. (Author)
Optimization of tillage and sowing operations using discrete event simulation 

A simulation model was developed for secondary tillage and sowing operations in autumn, using discrete event simulation technique in Arena® simulation software (Version 14). Eight machinery sets were evaluated on a 50-hectare farm. Total costs including fixed-costs, variable costs and timeliness costs were calculated for each machinery set. Timeliness costs were estimated for 21-years period on daily basis (Daily Work method) and compared with another method (Average Work method) based on the equation proposed by ASAE Standards, EP 496.3FEB2006. The Inputs of the model were machinery sets, field size, machines performances and daily soil workability state. The optimization criteria were the lowest costs and lowest standard deviation in daily work method plus the lowest costs based on average work method. The validity of the model was evaluated by comparing the output of the model with field observed data collected from various farms. Results revealed that there was no significant difference (P > 0.01) between the observed and predicted finish day.
Learning from routinely produced clinical data and Big Data technology in Radiation Oncology

Healthcare is becoming more expensive, more complex and more personalised. Efficient and faster research is necessary to in order to continue to develop scalable innovations. The studies in this dissertation focus on the meaningful reuse of clinical data in radiation oncology. Information must be stored more intelligently so that big data technology can be used to solve concrete problems in practice. Not only is this possible, the results prove that this method is a valuable addition to traditional research through clinical trials.
Learning Machine Learning as an Architect, How to? - Presenting and evaluating a Grasshopper based platform to teach architecture students machine learning

Machine learning algorithms have become widely embedded in many aspects of modern society. They have come to enhance systems, such as individualised marketing, social media services, and search engines. However, contrasting its growing ubiquity, the architectural industry has been comparatively resistant in its adoption; objectively one of the slowest industries to integrate with machine learning. Machine learning expertise can be separate from professionals in other fields; however, this separation can be a major hinderance in architecture, where interaction between the designer and the design facilitates the production of favourable outcomes. To bridge this knowledge gap, this research suggests that the solution lies with architectural education. Through the development of a novel educative framework, the research aims to teach architecture students how to implement machine learning. Exploration of student-centred pedagogical strategies was used to inform the conceptualisation of the educative module, which was subsequently implemented into an undergraduate computational design studio, and finally evaluated on its ability to effectively teach designers machine learning. The developed educative module represents a step towards greater technological adoption in the architecture industry.
Research on comment target extracting in Chinese online shopping platform

Purpose This paper aims to extract the comment targets in Chinese online shopping platform. Design/methodology/approach The authors first collect the comment texts, word segmentation, part-of-speech (POS) tagging and extracted feature words twice. Then they cluster the evaluation sentence and find the association rules between the evaluation words and the evaluation object. At the same time, they establish the association rule table. Finally, the authors can mine the evaluation object of comment sentence according to the evaluation word and the association rule table. At last, they obtain comment data from Taobao and demonstrate that the method proposed in this paper is effective by experiment. Findings The extracting comment target method the authors proposed in this paper is effective. Research limitations/implications First, the study object of extracting implicit features is review clauses, and not considering the context information, which may affect the accuracy of the feature excavation to a certain degree. Second, when extracting feature words, the low-frequency feature words are not considered, but some low-frequency feature words also contain effective information. Practical implications Because of the mass online reviews data, reading every comment one by one is impossible. Therefore, it is important that research on handling product comments and present useful or interest comments for clients. Originality/value The extracting comment target method the authors proposed in this paper is effective.