Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Steering car-like systems with trailers using sinusoids

Methods for steering car-like robots with trailers are investigated. A connection is demonstrated between Murray and Sastry's (1990, 1991) work of steering with integrally related sinusoids and Sussmann and Liu's (1991) recent work on asymptotic behavior of systems with high-frequency sinusoids as inputs. The merits of coordinate transformations, relative to the convergence properties, are discussed. Simulation results for a car-like robot with two trailers are presented. <<ETX>>
Prevalence of Veraguth's Eyelid Folds During Depression in Different Ethnic Groups

A common physical sign associated with depression, Veraguth's eyelid folds, was found considerably more often in white than in African American patients with depressive illness. Moreover, the folds are more strongly correlated with severity of depression in patients of European descent when they occur. The reported high rate of misdiagnosis of depressive illness in Americans of African descent may thus be related in part to differences in the facial expression of affect. The implications of this finding are discussed in regard to the importance of careful gathering of history for diagnostic purposes.
Thymic atrophy and fungal virulence during experimental paracoccidioidomycosis

The immunosuppression observed in systemic mycosis can be related to primary lymphoid organs damage. Thus, our laboratory has studied the effects of the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection on the thymus of mice. Here, thymuses of susceptible and resistant mice were evaluated after inoculation with highly and slightly virulent isolates of the fungus. All groups presented thymic atrophy, loss of corticomedullary delimitation and increase of apoptotic index. However, mice inoculated with high virulent strain showed earlier and stronger alterations suggesting that thymic atrophy can be directly related to the fungal virulence and to the immunosuppression.
IL-21 Deficiency Influences CD8 T Cell Quality and Recall Responses following an Acute Viral Infection

CD4 T cells are principal producers of IL-21 and are often required for optimal CD8 T cell responses. Therefore, we investigated the importance of IL-21 in determining the phenotypic attributes, functional quality, and maintenance of antiviral CD8 T cells following acute infection with the prototypic mouse pathogen lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Previous reports have documented an obligatory role for IL-21 in sustaining CD8 T cell responses during chronic infections. Here we show that the requirements for IL-21 are less stringent following acute infections; however, in the absence of IL-21, the capacity of CD8 T cells to attain the polyfunctional trait of IL-2 production is consistently reduced during both the effector and memory phases. This is further supported by in vitro studies showing that the addition of IL-21 promotes the differentiation of IL-2–producing CD8 T cells. Although the generation of memory CD8 T cells, which are capable of mounting protective recall responses, proceeds independently of IL-21, we demonstrate that IL-21 does function to support secondary responses, especially under competitive conditions. Collectively, these studies highlight the potential roles of IL-21 in determining the quality of CD8 T cell responses postinfection.
Multiple Decisive Phosphorylation Sites for the Negative Feedback Regulation of SOS1 via ERK*

EGF-induced activation of ERK has been extensively studied by both experimental and theoretical approaches. Here, we used a simulation model based mostly on experimentally determined parameters to study the ERK-mediated negative feedback regulation of the Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor, son of sevenless (SOS). Because SOS1 is phosphorylated at multiple serine residues upon stimulation, we evaluated the role of the multiplicity by building two simulation models, which we termed the decisive and cooperative phosphorylation models. The two models were constrained by the duration of Ras activation and basal phosphorylation level of SOS1. Possible solutions were found only in the decisive model wherein at least three, and probably more than four, phosphorylation sites decisively suppress the SOS activity. Thus, the combination of experimental approaches and the model analysis has suggested an unexpected role of multiple phosphorylations of SOS1 in the negative regulation.
Object-oriented design pattern approach for modeling and simulating open distributed control system

An open distributed control system (DCS), which consists of a large number of devices and a single open network interconnecting those devices, is now used in many automation areas. One critical problem of the DCS, however, is that because there is massive traffic on the network, the system integrator must carefully tune the network traffic after the construction of the system to assure its control performance. Hence, a DCS simulator is strongly needed. In our study, we propose an object-oriented design pattern approach as a uniform, rapid and accurate method of modeling and simulating a DCS. Two special design patterns are proposed: the Statechart pattern which defines classes and the state-transition execution mechanism for realizing the dynamic behavior of devices; and the device-constructor pattern which defines classes and their instantiation mechanism for realizing the structure of devices composed of many kinds of sensors and actuators. The systematic procedures from those patterns to the executable Java code of the simulation model are also discussed. Furthermore, the effectiveness of our approach was investigated through actually developing an in-house Java-based DCS simulator.
CLINICAL STUDY: The influence of blood alcohol concentrations of around 0.03% on neuropsychological functions—a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled investigation

There is a general agreement that blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of about 0.05% result in impairment of the ability to drive. This fact has been supported by means of experiments. In addition, there are only a few studies to date investigating low BACs. The present study aims to investigate the extent and quality of cognitive changes in low BACs of around 0.03%. Sixteen healthy male subjects were examined in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. During the trials the BAC was regulated to about 0.03%. As part of the study a record was made of the general level of intelligence, subjective impairments, possible depressive symptoms, general ability to perform, vigilance, divided attention, response times and performance of memory. Statistical analysis took place using the two‐period crossover design. Verbal intelligence, general performance, vigilance (optical stimuli), divided attention, vigilance towards acoustic stimuli and the general response time to acoustic and visual–acoustic sequential stimuli, and memory were not impaired significantly by a BAC of around 0.03%. The total response and motor response time to optical stimuli as well as decision time about sequential optical stimuli were, however, significantly changed for BACs of around 0.03%. In conclusion, the present results show that already in BACs of around 0.03%, particular cognitive functions which rely on perception and processing of visual information, are significantly impaired. This was evident in the more complex and urgent tasks.
Evolving a Character in a First-person Shooter

This paper presents an effective strategy of evolving a character in the Quake III Arena, a first-person shooter. A genetic algorithm (GA) is used to evolve a character's capabilities and behaviors. In order to increase a character’s ability, the GA is used to determine the constrained weights for the behavior control. In the experiments, the GA is implemented to design a non-player character (NPC) which is shown to be superior to the other characters originally created in the Quake III game. This evolving strategy decreases the amount of effort required by game designers to design an intelligent character’s behaviors.
Lymphoproliferative disorder and imbalanced T‐helper response in C/EBP beta‐deficient mice.

C/EBP beta is considered a key element of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) signalling as well as an important transcriptional regulator of the IL‐6 gene itself. We describe here how mice lacking C/EBP beta develop a pathology similar to mice overexpressing IL‐6 and nearly identical to multicentric Castleman's disease in human patients, with marked splenomegaly, peripheral lymphadenopathy and enhanced haemopoiesis. Humoral, innate and cellular immunity are also profoundly distorted, as shown by the defective activation of splenic macrophages, the strong impairement of IL‐12 production, the increased susceptibility to Candida albicans infection and the altered T‐helper function. Our data show that C/EBP beta is crucial for the correct functional regulation and homeostatic control of haemopoietic and lymphoid compartments.
Facial Expression Recognition Using Model-Based Feature Extraction and Action Parameters Classification

This paper introduces an automatic facial expression recognition system which consists of two parts: facial feature extraction and facial expression recognition. The system applies the point distribution model and the gray-level model to find the facial features. Then the position variations of certain designated points on the facial feature are described by 10 action parameters (APs). There are two phases in the recognition process: the training phase and the recognition phase. In the training phase, given 90 different expressions, the system classifies the principal components of the APs of all training expressions into six different clusters. In the recognition phase, given a facial image sequence, it identifies the facial expressions by extracting the 10 APs, analyzes the principal components, and finally calculates the AP profile correlation for a higher recognition rate. In the experiments, our system has demonstrated that it can recognize the facial expression effectively.
Analysis of a Shared Pancreatic Cancer Antigen Recognized by an HLA-A*2601-Restricted Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Clone

Introduction We have generated HLA-A*2601-restricted CD8+ CTL clones against an autologous pancreatic cancer cell line. Aims To characterize the antigen expressed on the cancer cells. Methodology We assessed cytotoxic activities and cytokine production of these CTL clones reacting against cancer cell lines that stably or transiently expressed the HLA-A*2601 gene. Results These CTL clones recognized 4 of 10 allogeneic pancreatic cancer cell lines and a gallbladder cancer cell line in the context of HLA-A*2601. However, the CTL clones did not recognize three hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, two esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, or a lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Conclusions Thus, the CTL clones may recognize a shared, but not ubiquitously expressed, tumor antigen on pancreatic and gallbladder cancer cells.
Oxidative Stress in Chronic Liver Disease: Relationship Between Peripheral and Hepatic Measurements

Introduction:Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many liver diseases. Investigators often measure markers of oxidative stress in peripheral veins as a reflection of hepatic oxidative stress as it is not always feasible to measure oxidative stress in liver tissue. However, it is unknown whether markers of oxidative stress measured from peripheral sites accurately reflect hepatic tissue oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship of oxidative stress marker among hepatic tissue, hepatic and peripheral veins and urine. Methods:Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress was measured in hepatic vein, peripheral vein and urine samples from 26 consecutive patients undergoing transjugular liver procedures. In 19 patients undergoing liver biopsies, we measured MDA by immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded liver tissue. Results:Peripheral venous MDA levels showed significant correlation with hepatic venous MDA levels (r = 0.62, P = 0.02), but they did not correlate with hepatic tissue MDA content (r = 0.22, P = 0.4). Hepatic venous MDA levels did not correlate with hepatic tissue MDA content (r = −0.01, P = 0.9). Subgroup analysis of patients without portal hypertension showed a positive correlation between hepatic venous and hepatic tissue MDA levels, but this was not statistically significant (r = 0.45, P = 0.22). Urinary MDA did not correlate with MDA from any other sampling location. Conclusion:Oxidative stress measured from the peripheral venous samples is poorly reflective of hepatic tissue oxidative stress. Hepatic venous sampling might be suitable for assessing hepatic tissue oxidative stress in patients without portal hypertension, but a larger study is needed to examine this possibility.
Rotavirus infection of MA104 cells is inhibited by Ricinus lectin and separately expressed single binding domains.

Various lectins were tested for blocking rotavirus infection of MA104 cells and it was observed that galactose-specific lectins were the most inhibitory. Of these Ricinus agglutinin was able to inhibit infection (by human and animal strains) at concentrations as low as 10(-9) M. In addition, in a virus overlay protein blot assay Ricinus agglutinin competed with simian rotavirus SA11 for binding to solubilized MA104 proteins. Amino acid sequence comparisons revealed similarity between the ricin toxin B subunit (which contains two separate carbohydrate-binding motifs: single binding domains (SBD) 1 and 2) and rotavirus spike protein VP4. A filamentous phage display system was used to independently express the two binding domains and while SBD1 inhibited infection of MA104 cells by CRW8, NCDV, and to a lesser extent Wa, SBD2 blocked only CRW8 and NCDV infection. Furthermore inhibition of CRW8 infection was a direct result of phage inhibiting virus attachment to cells. When amino acid 248 within SBD2 was mutated from the ricin toxin to the Ricinus agglutinin sequence this phage clone showed reduced binding to galactose and was no longer able to inhibit virus infection. Thus, rotavirus recognizes galactose as an important component of the receptor on MA104 cells.
Decrease of Glomerular Filtration Rate may be Attributed to the Microcirculation Damage in Renal Artery Stenosis

Background:The decrease of glomerular filtration rate has been theoretically supposed to be the result of low perfusion in renal artery stenosis (RAS). But the gap between artery stenosis and the glomerular filtration ability is still unclear. Methods:Patients with selective renal artery angiogram were divided by the degree of renal artery narrowing, level of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), respectively. The different levels of eGFR, renal microcirculation markers, and RAS severity were compared with each other, to determine the relationships among them. Results:A total of 215 consecutive patients were enrolled in the prospective cohort study. Concentrations of microcirculation markers had no significant difference between RAS group (RAS ≥ 50%) and no RAS group (RAS < 50%) or did not change correspondingly to RAS severity. The value of eGFR in RAS group was lower than that in the no RAS group, but it did not decline parallel to the progressive severity of RAS. The microcirculation markers presented integral difference if grouped by different eGFR level with negative tendency, especially that plasma cystatin C (cysC) and urinary microalbumin to creatinine ratio (mACR) increased with the deterioration of eGFR, with strong (r = −0.713, P < 0.001) and moderate (r = −0.580, P < 0.001) correlations. In the subgroup analysis of severe RAS (RAS ≥ 80%), the levels of plasma cysC and urinary mACR demonstrated stronger negative associations with eGFR, (r = −0.827, P < 0.001) and (r = −0.672, P < 0.001) correlations, respectively. Conclusions:Severity of RAS could not accurately predict the value of eGFR, whereas microcirculation impairment may substantially contribute to the glomerular filtration loss in patients with RAS.
Experimental study on cooling air flow in a thin electronics casing model

This study has been conducted by aiming at acquisition of benchmark test data for CFD simulations for thin electronic equipment. Flow in the model of a thin electronic equipment was measured using a PIV. Dummy components were placed in the model and those configurations were altered. The temperature rise of a heat source in the model was also measured and the cooling performance was examined. PIV measurement results clarified the change of flow depending on the configuration. The comparison of experimental results with numerical results shows a reasonable agreement.
Fiber Optic Magnetic Field Sensor Based on Magnetic Nanoparticle Assembly in Microcapillary Ring Resonator

A magnetic field sensor based on the magnetic-field-induced nanoparticle assembly effect in microcapillary whispering gallery mode (WGM) ring resonator is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The chemical characteristics of nanoparticles and the silica microcapillary are used to link up the surface density of the resonator and the magnetic field intensity. The magnetic field variation changes the surface density of nanoparticles adsorbed on the sensor surface and respond to the WGM transmission spectra shift. Because of the powerful surface sensing capability of WGM, the maximum sensing sensitivity reaches 57.59 nm/mT and the detection limit reaches 1.39 × 10 –4, respectively. The magnetic field response characteristic of the sensor is studied as well. This provides the potential to fiber-based magnetic field sensing applications.
A Case Study of Missouri’s Deferred Retirement Incentive for State Employees

Delayed retirement incentives can promote employee retention. Survey data results (N = 261) were used to explore factors associated with retirement and participation in Missouri’s Deferred Retirement Option Provision (BackDROP), using a social stratification framework. Logistic regression analyses found that older age for full-retirement benefit eligibility increased the odds of delayed retirement, as did working more years for the state of Missouri. Longer length of work for Missouri increased the likelihood of being aware of one’s eligibility for BackDROP and of taking the BackDROP option, while working for pay in a non-state position decreased the odds of awareness and selection. Those who retired to do other things (rather than for health reasons or disliking the work) were also more likely to be knowledgeable of their BackDROP eligibility status. Race, sex, education, and marital status were not significant predictors. These findings inform design and implementation of delayed retirement policies in other states.
Clinical death and the measurement of stressed vascular volume.

OBJECTIVES To measure stressed vascular volume in humans and to review the concepts of stressed and unstressed vascular volume. DESIGN Observational study during surgical procedure. SETTING Operating room at a university hospital. PATIENTS Five patients undergoing hypothermic circulatory arrest for surgery on major vessels. INTERVENTION We measured the volume that drained from the patient to the reservoir of the pump when the pump was turned off. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Stressed volume was 20.2+/-1.0 mL/kg, which is 30% of the predicted blood volume of these patients. CONCLUSION The amount of blood volume that determines vascular filling pressure is only about a quarter of the total predicted volume, which means that there is a large reserve of unstressed volume that can be recruited to maintain vascular filling pressure.
The "bedrock" of masculinity and femininity: bisexuality.

From his first psychoanalytic writings to his last, Freud was concerned about the relationship of biological forces, which he called the "bedrock," to human psychology. No such theme was more constant than constitutional bisexuality, which he always believed influenced object choice and the degree of a person's masculinity and femininity. In analysis, one could not penetrate the wish for a penis in females or the repudiation (fear of) femininity in males, because they are the "bedrock," ultimately determined by consitutional bisexuality. This paper suggests that, recent work showing how biological forces can change gender behavior in animals notwithstanding, these fundamental qualities in men and women can be caused by quite nonbiological forces-the family psychodynamics that help shape gender identity in infancy.
A study on half-vehicle active suspension control using sampled-data control

This paper is concerned with the problem of sampled-data H∞ control for a half-car active suspension system. First of all, by regarding the heave and the pitch accelerations, and the suspension deflection as the optimization objectives, the vehicle suspension system will be established. Then, an input delay approach is employed to transform the resulting active vehicle suspension system with sampling measurements into a continuous-time system with a delay in the state. Thirdly, by constructing a novel Lyapunov functional, a sufficient condition for the existence of sampled-data H∞ controller is given to ensure asymptotical stability of the closed-loop system and also satisfy the constraint performance. The corresponding condition can be converted into a convex optimization problem and verified easily by means of standard software. Finally, a design example is exploited to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.
PLASMID PROFILE AND CURING, BIOFILM DETECTION AMONG ESBL PRODUCING ISOLATES OF ACINETOBACTER SPECIES

Objective : The aim of the present study is to evaluate the plasmid profile and curing in extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) producers and know the association of biofilm formation among ESBLs. Methods: Standard disk diffusion method (Kirby Bauer’s method) was performed to know the sensitivity and resistance patterns for commonly used antibiotics and clinical laboratory standard institute (CLSI) recommended confirmatory phenotypic method was used to confirming ESBL producers. 56 ESBL producers were subjected to plasmid profiling and curing. The tube (qualitative) and microtitre (quantitative) methods were performed to detect the biofilm formation. Results: In all ESBL producers, a single plasmid was found with approximately 21, 226 bp. After plasmid curing, the resistance patterns against the third generation cephalosporin group of antibiotics were transformed into susceptible for all bacterial isolates. In tube method, 11 (19.64%) isolates were strong adherent, 08 (14.28%) were either weakly adherent or non-biofilm producers. In the microtitre plate method, 09 (16.07%) were considered as positive, and 47 (83.92%) were considered as negative for biofilm formation. Conclusion: We found a single resistant plasmid in all isolates and after curing of plasmids, the transformation of resistance to susceptibility against third generation drugs were observed. So, we concluded that ESBL mediated antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in Acinetobacter spp. is maybe plasmid-mediated in the tested isolates. However, there was no association found between biofilm producers and ESBLs, this baseline information will be helpful to study more in this area. Keywords: Acinetobacter spp, Biofilm detection, ESBL, Plasmid profile and curing