Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Off-road machine controls: investigating the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome

Occupationally induced hand and wrist repetitive strain injuries (RSI) such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are a growing problem in North America. The purpose of this investigation was to apply a modification of the wrist flexion/extension models of Armstrong and Chaffin (1978, 1979) to determine if joystick controller use in oV-road machines could contribute to the development of CTS. A construction equipment cab in the laboratory was instrumented to allow force, displacement and angle measurements from 10 operators while they completed an ˜ 30-min joystick motion protocol. The investigation revealed that both the external fingertip and predicted internal wrist forces resulting from the use of these joysticks were very low, indicating that the CTS risk associated with this factor was slight. However, the results also indicated that, particularly for the ‘forward’ and ‘left’ right side motions and for all left side motions, force was exerted by other portions of the fingers and hand, thereby under-predicting the tendon tension and internal wrist forces. Wrist angles observed were highest for motions that moved the joysticks to the sides rather than front to back. Thus, the ‘right’ and ‘left’ motions for both hands posed a higher risk for CTS development. When the right hand moved into the ‘right’ position and the left hand moved into the ‘left’ position, the wrist went into extension in both cases. Results indicate that neither learning nor fatigue aVected the results.
Layer-2 retransmission and combining for network coding-based forwarding in wireless networks

Network coding is an effective method to improve channel efficiency by reducing the number of transmissions. However, most existing network coding schemes are based on network layer broadcast. As a result packets become vulnerable to channel errors due to lack of retransmissions. In this paper we present a cross-layer signal processing technique and show that network coded signal mixed from different flows can be separated in the physical layer by exploiting a priori knowledge. Then we propose the soft network coding framework for multi-hop forwarding. This framework enables layer-2 retransmission and further reduces packet errors by combining retransmitted copies. It supports both conventional unicast and the proposed network coding based bi-cast. Simulation results show that compared with plain Decode-and-Forward (DF), the proposed scheme can reduce air-time by about 30% for Poisson arrival traffic while retaining almost the same packet error rate as DF with frame combining.
Functional Recovery in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes Through Hyaluronic Acid and Platelet-Rich Plasma–Inhibited Infrapatellar Fat Pad Adipocytes

Background: Recent studies have shown evidence that higher adiposity in the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) induces inflammatory phenotypes in the knee joint and thereby contributes to the development and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). In particular, IFP adipocyte–derived inflammatory cytokines participate in pathological events. Our previous research has already addressed the therapeutic efficacy of hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma (HA+PRP), including the promotion of cartilage regeneration and the inhibition of inflammation. The current study aimed to explore the remedial action of coadministered HA+PRP in OA recovery via IFP adipocyte inhibition. Hypothesis: HA+PRP repairs OA articular cartilage by inhibiting the release of adipokines from IFP adipocytes. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: IFP adipocytes and articular chondrocytes were obtained from 10 patients with OA, and the effects of releasates containing cytokines and adipokines in IFP adipocyte–derived conditioned medium (IACM) on articular chondrocytes and IFP adipocytes themselves were evaluated. The therapeutic efficacy of exogenous HA+PRP was determined through its administration to cocultured IFP adipocytes and articular chondrocytes and further demonstrated in a 3-dimensional (3D) arthritic neocartilage model. Results: The IACM and IFP adipocyte–induced microenvironment could induce dedifferentiated and inflammatory phenotypes in articular chondrocytes. HA+PRP decreased the inflammatory potential of IFP adipocytes through the profound inhibition of cytokines and adipokines. The IACM-mediated and -reduced cartilaginous extracellular matrix could also be recovered through HA+PRP in the 3D arthritic neocartilage model. Conclusion: IFP adipocyte–derived releasates mediated inflammatory response dedifferentiation in chondrocytes, which was recovered through HA+PRP administration. Clinical Relevance: Our findings demonstrated that HA+PRP effectively diminished IFP adipocyte–promoted inflammation in articular chondrocytes, indicating that the IFP could be a potential therapeutic target for OA therapy.
Dynamics of antibodies from cryo-electron tomography

The issue of protein dynamics and its implications in the biological function of proteins are arousing greater and greater interest in molecular biology. In cryo-electron tomography experiments one takes several snapshots of a given biological macromolecule. In principle, a large enough collection of snapshots may then be used to calculate its equilibrium configuration in terms of the experimentally accessible degrees of freedom, and hence estimate its potential energy. Consequently, one could analyze the biological functions of biomolecules by directly accessing their dynamics. In this work, we analyze the results of cryo-electron tomography experiments on monoclonal murine IgG2a antibodies. With the aid of a novel software for image processing, we measure the equilibrium distribution of the angles which describe the configuration of the molecule. This helps us shed some critical light on recent results from X-ray crystallography. We then build a model of the antibody dynamics, which enables us to use the measured angular distribution in order to derive an explicit expression of the IgG potential energy. Finally, as a preliminary application of our results, we investigate the dynamical effects in the rate of formation of the antigen–antibody encounter complex. In particular, we suggest that the dynamics of antibodies operates in the direction of decreasing anticooperativity of the two antigen binding arms. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 87,15.He; 87.15. Vv; 82.39. -k 1
Novel Hybrid Radial and Axial Flux Permanent-Magnet Machine Using Integrated Windings for High-Power Density

This paper presents a design and analysis method for a novel hybrid flux permanent-magnet (PM) machine for a high-power density. By combining radial and axial flux machines with integrated windings, the air-gap flux density is increased, and an overhang structure of the PM and additional magnetic cores are applied to increase the power density. For the analysis and design of the proposed motor, a time-consuming 3-D finite-element analysis (FEA) is required owing to its unique structure. To address this problem, a correct and rapid novel analysis method is proposed using an equivalent 2-D conversion method. The accuracy of the proposed analysis method and the usefulness of the proposed motor are confirmed via the 3-D FEA and experimental results.
Phosphorylation at Thr167 is required for Schizosaccharomyces pombe p34cdc2 function.

Eukaryotic cell cycle progression requires the periodic activation and inactivation of a protein‐serine/threonine kinase which in fission yeast is encoded by the cdc2+ gene. The activity of this gene product, p34cdc2, is controlled by numerous interactions with other proteins and by its phosphorylation state. In fission yeast, p34cdc2 is phosphorylated on two sites, one of which has been identified as Tyr15. Dephosphorylation of Tyr15 regulates the initiation of mitosis. To understand more completely the regulation of p34cdc2 kinase activity, we have identified the second site of phosphorylation as Thr167, a residue conserved amongst all p34cdc2 homologues. By analysing the phenotypes of cells expressing various position 167 mutations and performing in vitro experiments, we establish that Thr167 phosphorylation is required for p34cdc2 kinase activity at mitosis and is involved in the association of p34cdc2 with cyclin B. Dephosphorylation of Thr167 might also play a role in the exit from mitosis.
Age‐related changes in polymorphonuclear neutrophil characteristics in infants born to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 seropositive mothers

In infants, the major components of the innate immune system appear weakened, and it has been shown that both polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) production and function are immature. This study was conducted to assess the expression of a number of receptors important to normal PMN function and the integrity of PMN degranulation in cord blood and in uninfected children of varying ages born to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) seropositive mothers. Although the expression of l‐selectin (CD62L) on PMN did not differ between the infants aged 12, 15 and 18 months, the expression of the interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2, and the complement 5a (C5a) receptor CD88 displayed a similar pattern, with the highest levels expressed on PMN from infants in the 12 month old age group, and declining with age. It was also observed that PMN from a substantial proportion of the younger infants were unresponsive to a variety of stimuli including IL‐8, C5a, stromal cell‐derived factor (SDF)‐1α, SDF‐1β, and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA), with the proportions of children showing positive (adult‐like) PMN degranulation responses increasing with age. Exposure to HIV‐1 did not appear to be the cause of impaired degranulation responses, since a similar proportion of cord blood PMN from uninfected infants born to HIV‐1 infected and HIV‐1 uninfected mothers were unresponsive. The altered expression of these important receptors and inefficient agonist‐induced degranulation in early life may contribute to the increased susceptibility of infants to secondary microbial infections.
Chronic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni: magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography findings

Purpose: To evaluate the hepatosplenic manifestations and the portal venous system in patients with chronic infection by Schistosoma mansoni. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed in 28 patients with chronic hepatosplenic schistosomiasis submitted to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the abdomen. Images were interpreted independently by two radiologists to determine the reproducibility of image interpretation and who evaluated the presence of morphological alterations in the liver and spleen, such as hepatosplenomegaly, hepatic fissure widening, periportal fibrosis, and the presence of siderotic nodules. Interobserver and intra-observer agreement were measured with the kappa and intraclass correlation tests. Evaluation of venous collateral pathways and portal and splenic veins was done in consensus by both examiners. Results: Observers identified enlargement of the left lobe (78.5–92.8%) and caudate-to-right-lobe ratio (78.5–92.8%), irregularity of hepatic contours (89.2–96.4%), fissure widening (89.2–100%), and splenic siderotic nodules (84.2%). Splenomegaly, heterogeneity of hepatic parenchyma, peripheral hepatic vessels, and periportal fibrosis were observed in 100% of patients. MRI findings presented almost perfect interobserver (κ = 0.65–1) and intra-observer (κ = 0.73–1 for observer 1, and κ = 0.65–1 for observer 2) agreement for the variables analyzed. MRA showed the presence of collateral pathways in the majority of patients (71.4%) along with widening of portal and splenic veins. Conclusion: Using MRI, hepatosplenic alterations in schistosomiasis are characterized by heterogeneity of hepatic parenchyma, presence of peripheral perihepatic vessels, periportal fibrosis, splenomegaly, siderotic nodules, and the presence of venous collateral pathways.
Practical Guide to Establishing Palm Carotenoids Profiles by HPLC with Three Dimensional Diode Array Detector

rude palm oil is one of the richest plant source of carotenoids in terms of retinol (pro-vitamin A) equivalents. Carotenoids are naturally occurring C-40 plant pigments. Their conjugated polyenic chromophore is responsible for the characteristic light absorbing properties. Hydrocarbon and oxygenated carotenoids are termed carotene and xanthophyll respectively. Carotene, in particular α-carotene and β-carotene have long been associated with pro-vitamin A activity. Other minor carotene such as γ-carotene and β-zeacarotene also possess vitamin A activity (Choo, 1995).
What Contributes to the Success of IT Projects? An Empirical Study of IT Projects in the Norwegian Public Sector

Each year the public sector invests large amounts of money in the development and modification of their software systems. These investments are not always successful and many public sector software projects fail to deliver the expected benefits. Goal. This study aims at reducing the waste of resources on failed software projects through better understanding of the success factors and challenges. Method. We collected information about project characteristics, project outcome, perceived success factors, challenges and lessons learned from 35 software projects in 11 organizations in the public sector of Norway. Results. The respondents experienced that extensive involvement and competence of the client, high priority of the project, good dialogue between the clients and the external supplier and application of agile practices were main success factors. The main challenges were related to the involvement and competence of the client, project planning and management, software architecture and integration issues, transition of the product to the user organization and benefit management. Small and large software projects reported different challenges, especially related to project priority and access to skilled personnel. Projects with time and materials contracts with suppliers and that involved clients during project execution were more successful than other projects. Conclusions. Success factors are usually human factors, e.g., involvement, competence and collaboration. Challenges tend to be due to human factors as well as issues of a technical nature. Both aspects need to be addressed to enable successful software projects and avoid failures.
Towards finer-grained interaction with a Poetry Generator

PoeTryMe is a poetry generation system that produces poems autonomously, from a set of initial parameters. After using a simplified version of this system, creative writers and other interested people identified some issues and expressed their wish to make changes in the resulting poems or to interact with the system and take part in the creative process. This paper illustrates some of the issues on generated poems and reports on a recent e↵ort towards providing alternative ways of using PoeTryMe and to meet the previous suggestions. Some functionalities were made available via a web API, which can now be exploited by other systems. Those include the generation of single lines, or the retrieval of related words, where additional constrains can be made on the number of syllables, sentiment or rhyme. On the top of this API, a co-creative interface has been developed. It enables users to start from scratch, from an existing poem, or to generate a new draft.
Attenuation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis by glycine, vitamin E and vitamin C -

Objective: Mounting clinical and experimental evidence has demonstrated that even advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis are reversible. Thus, there is a considerable imperative to develop antifibrotic strategies that are applicable to liver fibrosis. In the present study, the attenuation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats through the co-treatment with antioxidant vitamins C and E or glycine alone was investigated. Materials and Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley were divided randomly into control, CCl 4 , vitamin E+C, and glycine groups. Except for the control group, all rats in the other groups received orally 2 ml/kg CCl 4 dissolved in olive oil (1:1, v/v) twice a week; antioxidant vitamins were supplemented orally (p.o.) at a dose of 200 IU/kg/day vitamin E and 50 mg/kg/day vitamin C. Glycine dose was 0.6 g/Kg/day (p.o.). After 9 weeks, all rats were sacrificed for biochemical and histopathological investigations. Results: Serum levels of hepatic transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and β-glucuronidase strikingly increased in CCl 4 group. As a biomarker of fibrinogenesis, hyaluronic acid was significantly elevated. These were associated with drastic significant decline in serum albumin concentration level, blood glutathione (GSH) content, GSH peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase enzymatic activities, as well as a striking significant increase in the concentration of serum malondialdehyde. A significant increase in the mean serum concentration levels of tumor necrosis factor-a and transforming growth factor-b1 has been observed in CCl 4 -treated rats. Histopathological examination highlighted and confirmed the biochemical results. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the ameliorative effects of vitamin E plus C combination and glycine supplements against liver fibrosis in rats induced by CCl 4 .
Regulating sex work: subjectivity and stigma in Senegal

Abstract Senegal provides a unique example of a sub-Saharan African country with a legal framework for the regulation of commercial sex work. While registering as a legal sex worker affords women access to valuable social and medical resources, sex work is condemned by Senegalese society. Women who engage in sex work occupy a socially marginal status and confront a variety of stigmatising discourses and practices that legitimate their marginality. This paper examines two institutions that provide social and medical services to registered sex workers in Dakar: a medical clinic and a non-governmental organisation. It highlights the discourses about sex work that women encounter within these institutions and in their everyday lives. Women’s accounts reveal a variety of strategies for managing stigma, from discretion and deception to asserting self-worth. As registered sex workers negotiate their precarious social position, their strategies both reproduce and challenge stigmatising representations of sex work. Their experiences demonstrate the contradictory outcomes of the Senegalese approach to regulating sex work.
Balancing efficiency and effectiveness for fusion-based search engines in the 'big data' environment

Introduction. In the big data age, we have to deal with a tremendous amount of information, which can be collected from various types of sources. For information search systems such as Web search engines or online digital libraries, the collection of documents becomes larger and larger. For some queries, an information search system needs to retrieve a large number of documents. On the other hand, very often people are only willing to visit no more than a few top-ranked documents. Therefore, how to develop an information search system with desirable efficiency and effectiveness is a research problem. Method. In this paper, we focus on the data fusion approach to information search, in which each component search model contributes a result and all the results are combined by a fusion algorithm. Through empirical study, we are able to find a feasible combination method that balances effectiveness and efficiency in the context of data fusion. Analysis. It is a multi-optimisation problem that aims to balance effectiveness and efficiency. To support this, we need to understand how these two factors affect each other and to what extent. Results. Using some groups of historical runs from TREC to carry out the experiment, we find that using much less information (e.g., less than 10% of the documents in the experiment), good efficiency is achievable with marginal loss on effectiveness. Conclusions. We consider that the findings from our experiment are informative and this can be used as a guideline for providing more efficient search service in the big data environment.
Using drift scans to improve astrometry with Spitzer

The Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) is the only space-based instrument currently capable of continuous long duration monitoring of brown dwarfs to detect variability and characterize their atmospheres. Any such studies are limited, however, by the accuracy to which we know the positions and distances to these targets (most of which are newly discovered and therefore do not yet have multiple epochs of astrometric data). To that end, we have begun a new initiative to adapt the astrometric drift scanning technique employed by the Hubble Space Telescope to enhance Spitzer measurements of parallaxes and proper motions of brown dwarfs and other targets. A suite of images are taken with a set of sources scanned across the array. This technique reduces random noise by coaddition, and because each target covers multiple pixels we are able to average over residual instrumental distortion and intra-pixel variations. Although these benefits can be realized with appropriate dithering, scanning is much more effcient because we can take data concurrently with the spacecraft motion, covering many pixels without waiting to reposition and settle. In this contribution we demonstrate that the observing mode works and describe our software for analyzing the observations. We outline ongoing efforts towards simultaneously solving for source position and residual distortion. Initial testing shows a factor of more than 2 improvement in the astrometric precision can be obtained with Spitzer. We anticipate being able to measure parallaxes for sources out to about 50 pc, increasing the volume surveyed by a factor of 100 and enabling luminosity measurements of the young population of brown dwarfs in the β Pictoris moving group. This observing mode will be ready for public use around Winter of 2015.
Establishing the (extra)ordinary in chronic widespread pain

Sufferers of chronic illness face delegitimation of their condition and threats to their identities. One way of establishing the legitimacy of their position is for sufferers of chronic illness to emphasize the ‘ordinary’ in their accounts. Sufferers of conditions which are chronic, invisible and contested, such as chronic widespread pain, have the same, and possibly greater, need to legitimize their condition and refute allegations of ‘malingering’ or psychological instability. The article uses interviews with women with chronic widespread pain to illustrate the ways in which the invisible, subjective and everyday nature of chronic pain leads to sufferers experiencing delegitimation of their condition. It suggests that the accounts of women suffering from chronic widespread pain are constructed to portray a positive identity in the face of this experience, particularly through the emphasis on the ‘extraordinary’.
Transmission Line Loss Minimization in Power System Network Using TCSC and UPFC

This paper presents a method to reduce the transmission line losses in the power system network using FACTS devices.The FACTS devices TCSC and UPFC only are used to minimize transmission line losses in the system. Identification of suitable location of these FACTS devices is proposed in this paper. This not only reduces the losses in the system but also maintains the power system network stability. In addition, it increases the loadability of the transmission line. The effectiveness of the proposed work is analyzed using IEEE 14-bus test system. The proposed method identifies suitable devices, on suitable lines at suitable location. The simulation confirms the proposal.