Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Locomotion approach of bipedal robot utilizing passive wheel without swing leg based on stability margin maximization and fall prevention functions

This paper proposes a locomotion approach of leg-wheel robot utilizing passive wheel attached to the foot of bipedal robot. The key feature of this approach is bipedal mobility without swing leg. This mobility contributes the stability based on expansion of support polygon during locomotion, the robustness for obstacles and stopping to prevent fall, and the adaptability by prevention of body swing sideways. To achieve these, we propose the stability margin maximization to optimize center of gravity projection for support polygon and the fall prevention functions for real environment that is a difficult situation to prevent unexpected fall by the only planning. Finally, we apply the proposed methods to leg-wheel phases through locomotion and verify the contribution by experiments using real bipedal robot.
Lack of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition induction in two bronchial epithelial cell lines after alpha and gamma irradiation

The induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human lung epithelial cell lines was investigated after α-particle and γ-radiation exposures. We applied TGF-β treatment of cells as positive EMT-controls and tested in parallel if radiation has a potentiating effect on the EMT induction. BEAS-2B and HBEC-3KT cells were irradiated with 5.4 MeV α-particles or γ-rays (60Co, 1.13-1.15 Gy/min) with or without of TGF-β. The cells were harvested three days post treatment and the EMT markers vimentin, fibronectin and E-cadherin were analysed by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. The TGF-β treatment-induced EMT in both cell lines in the applied concentrations. We could not prove any clear EMT induction with low or moderate doses of α-particles and γ-rays. No significant additive effect with radiation and TGF-β was observed. We suggest that there might be a different mechanism induced by radiation in bronchial cells after radon and medical exposures that does not involve direct EMT changes.
Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis - from neuropathology to definition and effective treatment.

INTRODUCTION There is no single, commonly accepted, standard definition of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), an absence that poses a challenge for clinicians. STATE OF THE ART SPMS is characterised by inflammation, neurodegeneration and disease progression with the presence or absence of relapses. No biochemical or radiological biomarkers are currently available to indicate the precise secondary progressive course in individual patients. The retrospective approach to identifying SPMS patients raises many difficulties, especially in terms of determining the time point of progression. Currently, the most precise diagnosis of SPMS is based on the definition proposed by Lorscheider et al., where SPMS is defined as a disability progression by 1 step on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in patients with EDSS ≤ 5.5 or of 0.5 EDSS steps in patients with EDSS ≥ 6 in the absence of a relapse, a minimum EDSS score of 4 and pyramidal functional system (FS) score of 2, and confirmed progression over ≥ 3 months, including confirmation within the leading FS. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The need to establish criteria for the diagnosis of SPMS is currently of crucial importance due to emerging treatment opportunities including siponimod, a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator selective for S1P1 and S1P5 receptors. It is reasonable to introduce drugs at the earliest possible stage of lesion progression to reduce inflammation a nd t o p rotect t he c entral n ervous s ystem ( CNS) a gainst i rreversible n eurodegeneration. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Further studies with prospective, multicentre and long term follow-up design are needed to provide better insights into SP course in MS patients. This should be supported by radiological, biochemical and pathological evaluations to help establish reliable and sensitive biomarkers to guide clinical practice.
Formation of global self-beliefs in the human brain

Significance Momentary feelings of confidence accompany many of our actions and decisions. In addition to such “local” feelings of confidence, we also construct “global” confidence estimates about our skills and abilities (global self-performance estimates or SPEs). Distorted SPEs may have a pervasive impact on motivation and self-evaluation, for instance affecting estimates of our competitiveness at work or in a sports team. Here, we found that components of a brain network previously implicated in the tracking of local confidence was additionally modulated by SPE level, whereas ventral striatum tracked SPEs irrespective of confidence. Our findings of a neurocognitive basis for global SPEs lay the groundwork for understanding how distorted SPEs arise in educational and clinical settings. Humans create metacognitive beliefs about their performance across many levels of abstraction—from local confidence in individual decisions to global estimates of our skills and abilities. Despite a rich literature on the neural basis of local confidence judgements, how global self-performance estimates (SPEs) are constructed remains unknown. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we scanned human subjects while they performed several short blocks of tasks and reported on which task they think they performed best, providing a behavioral proxy for global SPEs. In a frontoparietal network sensitive to fluctuations in local confidence, we found that activity within ventromedial prefrontal cortex and precuneus was additionally modulated by global SPEs. In contrast, activity in ventral striatum was associated with subjects’ global SPEs irrespective of fluctuations in local confidence, and predicted the extent to which global SPEs tracked objective task difficulty across individuals. Our findings reveal neural representations of global SPEs that go beyond the tracking of local confidence, and lay the groundwork for understanding how a formation of global self-beliefs may go awry in conditions characterized by distorted self-evaluation.
Experience of Bakri balloon tamponade at a single tertiary centre: a retrospective case series

Abstract Intrauterine balloon tamponade (IUBT) is an established fertility-sparing and life-saving treatment for postpartum haemorrhage. However, high-level evidence is lacking for specific aspects of its use. Our aim was to evaluate a large case series of IUBT to inform evidence-based clinical practice. 296 cases of IUBT over a three-year period at a tertiary obstetric referral centre were identified and reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and procedural outcome measures were collected; including rates of success and failure of IUBT, duration of tamponade, and complications. IUBT was successful in 265 (90%) of women and failed in 18 (6%). All failures occurred within six hours of balloon insertion. Once deemed stable and successful at six hours, no women required return to theatre or further intervention. The mean duration of intrauterine balloon tamponade was 18.5 hours. A large variance in clinical practice exists including duration of intrauterine balloon tamponade, and method and timing of removal. A number of changes informed by the results will be introduced and prospectively audited to improve IUBT use. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Intrauterine balloon tamponade (IUBT) is an important second-line treatment option in severe postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). IUBT is easy to use, is effective especially in the setting of uterine atony, and is associated with minimal complications. What the results of this study add? This study confirms the high rate of success for IUBT in controlling PPH. We found that after six hours, if deemed successful, it is rare that further intervention is required. In addition, tamponade beyond 12 hours, gradual or incremental deflation of the balloon, and antibiotic cover beyond the duration of tamponade are unlikely to yield any further safety benefit. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our findings suggest that women should not be required to fast for balloon removal; removal of the balloon should occur by 12 hours if deemed stable and adequately resuscitated; deflation and removal of the balloon can occur at once; and antibiotics should be ceased after balloon removal. These will allow women to mobilise and recover sooner, and improve flow and throughput in our high-acuity care areas.
A New Settling-time Estimation Protocol to Finite-time Synchronization of Impulsive Memristor-Based Neural Networks

In this article, the issues of finite-time synchronization and finite-time adaptive synchronization for the impulsive memristive neural networks (IMNNs) with discontinuous activation functions (DAFs) and hybrid impulsive effects are probed into and elaborated on, where the stabilizing impulses (SIs), inactive impulses (IIs), and destabilizing impulses (DIs) are taken into account, respectively. Not resembling several earlier works, a more extensive range of impulses in the context of impulsive effects has been analyzed without using the known average impulsive interval strategy (AIIS). In light of the theories of differential inclusions and set-valued map, as well as impulsive control, new sufficient criteria with respect to the estimated settling time for synchronization of the related IMNNs are established using two types of switching control approaches, which sufficiently utilize information from not only the SIs, DIs, and DAFs but also the impulse sequences. Two simulation experiments are presented to the efficiency of the proposed results.
The Influence of Tobacco Smoke/Nicotine on CYP2A Expression in Human and African Green Monkey Lungs

CYP2A enzymes metabolically inactivate nicotine and activate tobacco-derived procarcinogens [e.g., 4-[methylnitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone]. Smoking decreases nicotine clearance, and chronic nicotine reduces hepatic CYP2A activity. However, little is known about the impact of smoking or nicotine on the expression of CYP2A in the lung. We investigated 1) the levels of human lung CYP2A mRNA in smokers versus nonsmokers and 2) the impact of daily nicotine treatment on lung CYP2A protein levels in African green monkeys (AGMs). Lung CYP2A13, CYP2A6, and CYP2A7 (and CYP1A2) mRNA levels in smokers and nonsmokers were assessed in Gene Expression Omnibus data sets (GSE30063, GSE108134, and GSE11784). The impact of chronic, twice-daily, subcutaneous nicotine at two doses (0.3 and 0.5 mg/kg) versus vehicle on lung CYP2A protein levels was assessed. The impact of ethanol self-administration was also investigated, with and without nicotine treatment. Smokers versus nonsmokers (from GSE30063 and GSE108134) had lower (1.04- to 1.12-fold) levels of lung CYP2A13, CYP2A6, and CYP2A7 (and higher CYP1A2) mRNA. Both doses of nicotine tested decreased AGM lung CYP2A protein (3- to 7-fold). Ethanol self-administration had no effect on AGM lung CYP2A protein, and there was no interaction between ethanol and nicotine. Our results suggest that smoking was associated with a reduction in human lung CYP2A13, CYP2A6, and CYP2A7 mRNA, consistent with the role of nicotine treatment in reducing AGM lung CYP2A protein. This regulation by smoking/nicotine will increase interindividual variation in lung CYP2A levels, which may impact the localized metabolism of inhaled drugs and tobacco smoke procarcinogens. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT CYP2A13 and CYP2A6 are expressed in the lung and may contribute to local procarcinogen activation. Smokers had lower lung CYP2A mRNA levels compared with nonsmokers. Lung CYP2A protein expression was decreased by systemic treatment with nicotine. Decreased lung CYP2A expression may alter smoking-related lung cancer risk and tissue damage from other inhaled toxins. This novel regulatory impact of nicotine, including nicotine found in smoking-cessation nicotine-replacement therapies, may have potential benefits on smoking-related lung cancer risk.
ZnGa2-yAlyO4:Mn2+,Mn4+ Thermochromic Phosphors: Valence State Control and Optical Temperature Sensing.

Dual-emitting and thermochromic manganese ion single doped ZnGa2-yAlyO4 phosphors were prepared by solid-state reaction. The regulation of the valence state and the luminescent properties, especially the luminescent thermal stability of manganese ions in ZnGa2-yAlyO4, are discussed in detail. When excited by ultraviolet (UV) light, the emission spectra of ZnGa2O4:Mn2+,Mn4+ present an ultranarrow green emission band at 503 nm with a fwhm of 22 nm, which derives from the Mn2+ ions formed by the self-reduction of doped Mn4+, and a red emission band of the Mn4+ ions at 669 nm. In addition, a ZnGa2-yAlyO4:Mn2+,Mn4+ solid solution was designed and synthesized by Al3+ replacing Ga3+. The doping of Al3+ effectively inhibited the degree of Mn4+ self-reduction to Mn2+, thus realizing the regulation of valence state of manganese ions. Interestingly, the thermal stability of luminescence shows that the response of Mn2+ and Mn4+ to temperature is obviously different in ZnGa2-yAlyO4, implying the potential of the prepared phosphors as optical thermometers. Subsequently, three kinds of optical thermometers with superior color discrimination and high relative sensitivity (Sr) based on the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique were realized in 100-475 K. The Sr value of ZGO:0.005Mn/ZGA0.5O:0.005Mn/ZGAO:0.005Mn phosphors can be as high as 4.345%/4.001%/3.488% K-1 (at 350/325/400 K), reflecting the great potential of ZnGa2O4:Mn2+,Mn4+ for optical thermometry applications.
Large-scale evaluation of ion mobility spectrometry for the rapid detection of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in infused papers in prisons.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), colloquially known as "spice," are commonly used in prisons and enter establishments via the mail in the form of infused papers. Many prisons use benchtop Ion Mobility Spectroscopy (IMS) instruments to screen mail and seized materials for the presence of SCRAs and other controlled substances. The selectivity and sensitivity of Rapiscan Itemiser® 3E and Itemiser® 4DN ion trap mobility spectrometerTM (ITMSTM ) systems were evaluated using 21 different SCRA reference standards. Some differences in the SCRA reduced mobility (K0 ) values were observed between this study and those reported previously using IMS detection systems, particularly for cumyl and quinolinyl SCRAs (e.g. 5F-PB-22, Cumyl-4CN-BINACA, and 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE) although this was found to have little effect at an operational level. Operational reliability of the systems was evaluated by analyzing 392 paper and card samples with known drug content. ITMSTM system results (e.g. detect or non-detect) were in agreement with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis in up to 95% of samples tested. Overall, this study found the ITMSTM systems tested to be effective instruments when deployed for the rapid detection of SCRA infused papers. Used effectively and with up to date substance libraries, they will help reduce the supply of SCRAs into prisons and identify emerging threats as they arise. Several emerging SCRAs (5F-MPP-PICA, 5F-EMB-PICA, and 4F-MDMB-BICA) were detected for the first time in Scottish prisons between May and August 2020 as a result of routine monitoring and all were detected using the ITMSTM systems tested.
Targeting the gut-liver-immune axis to treat cirrhosis

Cirrhotic portal hypertension is characterised by development of the decompensating events of ascites, encephalopathy, portal hypertensive bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome, which arise in a setting of cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID) and define morbidity and prognosis. CAID describes the dichotomous observations that systemic immune cells are primed and display an inflammatory phenotype, while failing to mount robust responses to pathogen challenge. Bacterial infections including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis are common complications of advanced chronic liver disease and can precipitate variceal haemorrhage, hepatorenal syndrome and acute-on-chronic liver failure; they frequently arise from gut-derived organisms and are closely linked with dysbiosis of the commensal intestinal microbiota in advanced chronic liver disease. Here, we review the links between cirrhotic dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction and deficits of host-microbiome compartmentalisation and mucosal immune homoeostasis that occur in settings of advanced chronic liver disease. We discuss established and emerging therapeutic strategies targeted at restoring intestinal eubiosis, augmenting gut barrier function and ameliorating the mucosal and systemic immune deficits that characterise and define the course of decompensated cirrhosis.
Irregular daily energy intake and diet quality in Iranian adults

Abstract The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association of daily irregularity in energy intake and diet quality among apparently healthy adults in Iran. The research was conducted on 850 adult men and women (age range: 20–59 years) who attended health care centres in Tehran. Dietary intake was assessed by three, 24-h dietary recalls. Diet quality was assessed using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet score and Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015). An irregularity score of daily energy intake was calculated based on the deviation from the 3-d mean energy intake, with a higher score indicating more fluctuations in daily energy intake. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the association of irregularity score of daily energy intake with food group intakes and DASH diet score and HEI-2015, controlling for age, sex, BMI, physical activity, education level and occupation status. The range of irregularity score was 0·55–133·3 (22·4 (sd 19·0)). Higher irregularity score of daily energy intake was significantly associated with a lower consumption of fruit, vegetables, legumes, low-fat dairy products and poultry, higher consumption of soft drinks, processed meat and nuts, and lower overall DASH diet score and HEI-2015. Overall, our findings showed that more day-to-day variations in energy intake may be correlated with a lower diet quality. More research is needed to confirm the associations observed in the present study and to clarify potential mechanisms explaining these associations.
Cephalopods of the Sargasso Sea - Distribution patterns in relation to hydrographic conditions

A comprehensive collection of mainly early life cephalopods that were sampled during two research cruises to the Sargasso Sea with the FRV Walther Herwig III in April 2014, and the RV Maria S Merian in April 2015, is analysed in this work. In 2014, 714 specimens were collected by a pelagic midwater trawl, and further 1,349 specimens by an Isaacs-Kidd Midwater Trawl (IKMT). A total of 2,487 cephalopods were caught during the cruise in 2015. They belonged to 36 species (20 families). The most abundant family was represented by the Flying squids (Ommastrephidae). Identification of cephalopods was supported by DNA barcoding based on partial COI sequences. The subtropical convergence zone (STCZ) was found at approximately 27°N. This frontal system is characterised by a sharp near-surface temperature gradient and divides the Sargasso Sea into a northern and a southern area. This distinction was also reflected in the cephalopod community composition. For example, the cranchiid Leachia lemur prevailed in the northern part, while the cirrate octopod, Japetella diaphana was mainly distributed in the southern part of the study area. PCA and RDA analyses detected a significant correlation between species occurrence and sea surface temperature. Ordination analysis (MDS) showed significant differences in the cephalopod assemblages between day and night with midwater species (Enoploteuthidae, Pyroteuthidae) dominating the night catches, probably due to their upward migration into the top 200 m during the night.
Effect of rates and sources of nitrogen on rice yield, nitrogen efficiency, and methane emission from irrigated rice cultivation

ABSTRACT The agronomic benefits of manure application to increase rice production have been recognized, but the impact on global change has always been a controversial topic. This study was designed to determine the separate and combined effects of cattle manure (CM) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on rice yield, N efficiency, and methane (CH4) emissions from rice cultivation. A pot-scale experiment was conducted with four levels (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha−1) of N from urea and two levels (120 and 180 kg ha−1) of N from combination of urea and CM (Urea:CM = 60:60 and 60:120). Rice yield and physiological N efficiency were obtained using agronomic measurements. To determine the global warming potential (GWP) of each treatment, CH4 emissions were measured throughout the rice-growing period. Grain yield (GY) was not significantly different between the treatments of 120 and 180 kg ha−1 regardless of N source. However, both rates of CM treatments enhanced CH4 emission and differences in GWP were significant. In conclusion, urea applied at 120 kg N ha−1 was optimal for rice productivity and environmental impact (EI) despite CM played a crucial role in improving the N efficiency and total N in the soil after harvest.
Expression of cholera toxin B subunit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cholera toxin, secreted by Vibrio cholerae, consists of A and B subunits. Cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) is used in many sci- entific researches. It has already been expressed in several bacterial and plant systems. In order to express CTB protein in Saccha- romyces cerevisiae, the expression plasmid pCTB83 was constructed by inserting ctxB gene in pYES2 shuttle vector. The new construct was transferred into S. cerevisiae cells and the ctxB gene was induced with 2% galactose. SDS-PAGE analysis showed the presence of CTB in yeast lysate and immunoblotting analysis of yeast total soluble protein indicated that the yeast-derived CTB protein was anti- genically indistinguishable from bacterial CTB protein. Quantitative ELISA showed that the maximum amount of CTB protein expressed in yeast was approximately 1.8% of total soluble protein. CTB is a subunit vaccine candidate against cholera. Since the whole recom- binant yeast has been introduced as a new vaccine formulation, expression of ctxB in S. cerevisiae may offer an effective and inex- pensive strategy to protect people against cholera in high-risk areas.
Sequence diversity of BoLA-DRB3 gene in Pakistani dromedary camel.

BoLA-DRB3 gene is responsible for the differences in the susceptibility to infectious disease in mammals and is considered more-appropriate for comparative evolutionary studies. Here we present 247 bp sequence of BoLA-DRB3 gene exon 2 in 20 individuals of Mareecha camel breed and non-descript camels of Pakistan. We identified this gene highly polymorphic as 10 different polymorphic sites (3 singleton and 7 Parsimony informative sites) were detected that may be related to the variability in the immune responsiveness of different individuals to particular pathogens. Ten identified haplotypes showed haplotype diversity 0.879 and nucleotide diversity 0.01445. The phylogenetic tree was also constructed using MEGA ver. 5.05 which indicated close relationship between camel and Ovis aries. This is the preliminary report on MHC genes in Pakistani camel that may be useful for the association of polymorphisms with the disease resistance and tolerance to various infectious agents in different breeds of camel in future.