Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aspects relevant to psychostimulant drugs of abuse

Dopaminergic signaling in the brain is primarily modulated by dopamine transporters (DATs), which actively translocate extraneuronal dopamine back into dopaminergic neurons. Transporter proteins are highly dynamic, continuously trafficking between plasmalemmal and endosomal membranes. Changes in DAT membrane trafficking kinetics can rapidly regulate dopaminergic tone by altering the number of transporters present at the cell surface. Various psychostimulant DAT ligands—acting either as amphetamine-like substrates or cocaine-like nontranslocated inhibitors—affect transporter trafficking, triggering rapid insertion or removal of plasmalemmal DATs. In this review, we focus on the effects of psychostimulants of addiction (particularly d-methamphetamine and cocaine) on DAT regulation and membrane trafficking, with an emphasis on how these drugs may influence intracellular signaling cascades and transporter-associated scaffolding proteins to affect DAT regulation. In addition, we consider involvement of presynaptic receptors for dopamine and other ligands in DAT regulation. Finally, we discuss possible implications of transporter regulation to the putative toxicity of several substituted amphetamine derivatives commonly used as recreational drugs, as well as to the design of therapeutics for cocaine addiction.
Anesthetic Preconditioning: Effects on Latency to Ischemic Injury in Isolated Hearts

Background Anesthetic preconditioning (APC) is protective for several aspects of cardiac function and structure, including left ventricular pressure, coronary flow, and infarction. APC may be protective, however, only if the duration of ischemia is within a certain, as yet undefined range. Brief ischemia causes minimal injury, and APC would be expected to provide little benefit. Conversely, very prolonged ischemia would ultimately cause serious injury with or without APC. Previous investigations used a constant ischemic time as the independent variable to assess ischemia-induced changes in dependent functional and structural variables. The purpose of the study was to define the critical limits of efficacy of APC by varying ischemic time. Methods Guinea pig hearts (Langendorff preparation; n = 96) underwent pretreatment with sevoflurane (APC) or no treatment (control), before global ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. Ischemia durations were 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 min. Results At 120 min reperfusion, developed (systolic–diastolic) left ventricular pressure was increased by APC compared with control for ischemia durations of 25–40 min. Infarction was decreased by APC for ischemia durations of 25–40 min, but not 20 or 45 min. APC improved coronary flow and vasodilator responses for all ischemia durations longer than 25 min, and decreased ventricular fibrillation on reperfusion for ischemia durations longer than 30 min. Conclusions Although APC protects against vascular dysfunction and dysrhythmias after prolonged ischemia, protection against contractile dysfunction and infarction in this model is restricted to a range of ischemia durations of 25–40 min. These results suggest that APC may be effective in a subset of patients who have cardiac ischemia of intermediate duration.
An Online Spectral Learning Algorithm for Partially Observable Nonlinear Dynamical Systems

Recently, a number of researchers have proposed spectral algorithms for learning models of dynamical systems — for example, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs), and Transformed Predictive State Representations (TPSRs). These algorithms are attractive since they are statistically consistent and not subject to local optima. However, they are batch methods: they need to store their entire training data set in memory at once and operate on it as a large matrix, and so they cannot scale to extremely large data sets (either many examples or many features per example). In turn, this restriction limits their ability to learn accurate models of complex systems. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new online spectral algorithm, which uses tricks such as incremental Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and random projections to scale to much larger data sets and more complex systems than previous methods. We demonstrate the new method on an inertial measurement prediction task and a high-bandwidth video mapping task and we illustrate desirable behaviors such as "closing the loop," where the latent state representation changes suddenly as the learner recognizes that it has returned to a previously known place.
Diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis Infection by PCR Using Vaginal Swab Samples

Trichomonas vaginalis infection is the most prevalent nonviral sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. A PCR test using vaginal swab samples for the detection of T. vaginalis was developed to add T. vaginalis infection to the growing list of STDs that can be detected by DNA amplification techniques. A primer set, BTUB 9/2, was designed to target a well-conserved region in the beta-tubulin genes of T. vaginalis. All strains (15 of 15) of T. vaginalis tested were successfully detected by PCR giving a single predicted product of 112 bp in gel electrophoresis. No such targeted product was amplified with DNA from Trichomonas tenax, Trichomonas gallinae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Giardia lamblia, Chilomastix sulcatus, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Entamoeba histolytica. An optimal analytical sensitivity of one T. vaginalis organism per PCR was achieved. Culture, performed with the Inpouch TV culture system, was examined daily with a light microscope to identify T. vaginalis. Twenty-three of 350 (6.6%) vaginal swab samples from women attending an army medical clinic were culture positive for T. vaginalis. Of these culture positive specimens, PCR detected 22 of 23 (96%) with primer set BTUB 9/2, and wet preparation detected only 12 of 23 (52%). Seventeen specimens were BTUB 9/2-PCR positive and culture negative. Ten of these discordant specimens were determined to be as true positive by PCR using primer sets TVA 5-1/6 and/or AP65 A/B, which target different regions in the T. vaginalis genome, and seven were determined to be false positive. The sensitivity of BTUB 9/2-PCR was 97% and the specificity was 98%. The sensitivities of culture and wet preparation were 70 and 36%, respectively. The diagnosis of T. vaginalis infection by PCR is a sensitive and specific method that could be incorporated into a joint strategy for the screening of multiple STDs by using molecular amplification methods.
A RSSI-Based DV-Hop Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor network (WSN) are widely used in many different scenarios. The localization information is crucial for the operation of WSN. There are mainly two types of localization algorithms. The Range-based localization algorithm has strict requirements on hardware, thus is expensive to be implemented in practice. The Range-free localization algorithm reduces the hardware cost. However, it can only achieve high accuracy in ideal scenarios. In this paper, we locate unknown nodes by incorporating the advantages of these two types of methods and propose a new algorithm named the RSSI-based DV-hop algorithm (RDV-hop). Our algorithm improves the localization accuracy compared with previous algorithms, which has been demonstrated by the simulating results.
Robust trajectory tracking control for an ultra lightweight tendon driven series elastic robot arm

Trajectory tracking control for a tendon driven series elastically actuated robotic arm is considered. This bio-inspired actuation concept enables an ultra lightweight and highly safe robot design that is very well suited for physical human-robot interaction. However, the high elasticity in the joint actuation imposes challenges on robot control, especially for the usual case that no joint torque measurements are available. In this paper, a trajectory tracking controller for this highly compliant robot is presented which does not need explicit joint torque measurements as required by related approaches for robots with elastic joints. A control concept is proposed which aims to be robust against inaccuracies in various model parameters (like robot dynamics, position initialization, drive train stiffness, transmission ratio and friction). It compensates for changes in robot dynamics by equilibrium controlled stiffness. The proposed controller is successfully applied and evaluated in simulated and physical experiments with the robot.
Automated Grading of Rough Hardwood Lumber

Any automatic hardwood grading system must have two components. The first of these is a computer vision system for locating and identifying defects on rough lumher. The second is a system for automatically grading boards based on the output of the computer vision system. This paper presents research results aimed at developing the first of these components. The challenge is to create robust methods that are species indepenedent and that are computationally simple enough to allow real-time processing. This paper will describe the necessary components for such a vision system and will present research results showing the progress that has been made o n each of these components. In troduc t ion Any automatic grading system must have two components. The first of these is a computer vision system for locating and identifying defects on rough lumber. The second is a system for automatically grading lumber based on the output of the vision system. Significant progress has already been made on creating the second of these components [1,2]. The component that is the most difficult to design and is taking the longest to develop is the computer vision system. There are a number of reasons for this. First, for a grading system to be truly robust it must be able to handle a variety of species. But hardwood species vary significantly in their appearance and in the way undesirable features manifest themselves. Further, for an automatic system to be industrially useful would seemingly require that it be able to process lumber at least as fast as a skilled human grader. This means that the vision system must be able to analyze image data at a rate of at least two linear feet per second, i.e., so it can grade a 16 foot board in 8 seconds. Lastly, since grading depends on detecting small grading defects, the vision system must be able to process high spatial resolution image data. Hence off-the-shell computer vision systems cannot be used to solve this problem. Special purpose methods must be used instead. This paper reports research aimed at developing these special purpose methods. It will show some of the processing results that have been obtained thus far and will discuss the future directions for this research activity. The Rough Lumber Problem The computer analysis of images of rough lumber is arguably more complex than the computer analysis of images of surfaced lumber. First there is the problem of sur-
Data Management for Heterogeneous Genomic Datasets

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), a family of technologies for reading DNA and RNA, is changing biological research, and will soon change medical practice, by quickly providing sequencing data and high-level features of numerous individual genomes in different biological and clinical conditions. The availability of millions of whole genome sequences may soon become the biggest and most important ”big data” problem of mankind. In this exciting framework, we recently proposed a new paradigm to raise the level of abstraction in NGS data management, by introducing a GenoMetric Query Language (GMQL) and demonstrating its usefulness through several biological query examples. Leveraging on that effort, here we motivate and formalize GMQL operations, especially focusing on the most characteristic and domain-specific ones. Furthermore, we address their efficient implementation and illustrate the architecture of the new software system that we have developed for their execution on big genomic data in a cloud computing environment, providing the evaluation of its performance. The new system implementation is available for download at the GMQL website (http://www.bioinformatics.deib.polimi.it/GMQL/); GMQL can also be tested through a set of predefined queries on ENCODE and Roadmap Epigenomics data at http://www.bioinformatics. deib.polimi. it/GMQL/queries/.
PRIMARY SCLERAL BUCKLING FOR PEDIATRIC RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT

Purpose: To evaluate the anatomical outcomes of primary scleral buckling (SB) procedures for pediatric rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Methods: Retrospective consecutive case series. One hundred and four eyes of 99 consecutive nonselected pediatric patients undergoing primary SB were identified. Baseline factors recorded were demographics, presenting clinical examination findings, previous ocular surgery, predisposing factors. Intraoperative factors recorded were the type of buckle, number and distribution of retinal breaks, number of retinal quadrants detached, macular status (involved vs. uninvolved), the use of subretinal fluid drainage, and surgical complications. Anatomical reattachment rate at last follow-up. Subgroup analysis was carried out to identify any predisposing factors for failure of primary surgery, effect of age on outcome, intraoperative pathology, effect of posterior versus anterior SB, and redetachment and secondary-procedure complications specific to SB. Results: The initial surgery was segmental SB alone in 87 eyes (83.6%). Retinal reattachment was achieved with 1 operation in 73% (76 of 104 eyes). Of the 28 cases that redetached, 14 eyes underwent a repeat SB procedure (success rate of this second operation: 85.7% [12 of 14 eyes]), 13 eyes underwent vitrectomy (success rate of this second operation: 38.4% [5 of 13 eyes]), and 1 case was not reoperated. Overall, the final success rate was 94% (98 of 104 eyes). Factors associated with a statistically significant increased risk of failure included more than one break; three or more quadrants of detachment; horseshoe tears; no breaks seen on preoperative examination; Stickler syndrome. Conclusion: In selected cases, primary SB is an effective treatment for pediatric, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
Concordance of functional in vitro data and epidemiological associations in complex disease genetics

Purpose: We aimed to assess whether epidemiological evidence on genetic associations for complex diseases concord with in vitro functional data.Methods: We examined 36 studies on bi-allelic markers and 23 studies on haplotypes where investigators had addressed both epidemiological associations and the functional effect of the same gene variants in luciferase reporter systems in vitro.Results: There was no correlation between epidemiological odds ratios and luciferase activity ratios (−0.09, P = 0.60). Luciferase activity ratios could not tell whether a probed epidemiologic association would be significant or not (area under receiver operating characteristics curve, 0.52). Luciferase results usually were qualitatively similar across cell lines and experimental conditions, with some exceptions. A luciferase activity ratio of 1.44 adequately separated statistically significant from non-significant functional differences (area under receiver operating characteristics curve, 0.95). Binary and continuous disease outcomes usually gave concordant results; other in vitro methods, in particular EMSA, agreed with luciferase results. Selective reporting and use of different variants and contrasts between functional and epidemiological analyses were common in these studies.Conclusions: In vitro biological data and epidemiology provide independent lines of evidence on complex diseases. We provide suggestions for improving the design and reporting of studies addressing both in vitro and epidemiological effects.
A Distributed Problem Solving Approach to Cooperative Information Gathering

Introduction: The complexity of the modern information carrying landscape requires a sophisticated view in which information is acquired rather than simply retrieved; where the process must be dynamic, incremental, and constrained by resource limitations. Information Gathering (IG) is an activity involving pro-active acquisition of information, from possibly heterogeneous ources, in response to a complex query that may require the system to possess capabilities such as reasoning, representation and inferencing. In this paper, we present a model of information gathering designed specifically for such complex environments, a model of Cooperative Information Gathering (CIG). addition to the complexity of query specification, control of the acquisition process may itself be complex and dynamic in IG systems. Traditional Information Retrieval (IR) is a limited sub-case of such information gathering systems in which queries generally map onto static, pre-specified retrieval plans. In this paper, we propose a cooperative agent-based solution for information gathering. Top level queries drive the creation of partially elaborated information gathering plans, resulting in the employment of multiple semi-autonomous, cooperative agents for the purpose of achieving goals and subgoeds within those plans. Cooperation between agents implies management of interdependencies between their activities so as to integrate and evolve consistent clusters of high quality information from distributed heterogeneous ources. This paper draws upon a long history of thought in Distributed Problem Solving (DPS) to present model of this type of cooperative information acquisition. Distributed Processing vs. Distributed
Object Tracking with Bayesian Estimation of Dynamic Layer Representations

Decomposing video frames into coherent 2D motion layers is a powerful method for representing videos. Such a representation provides an intermediate description that enables applications such as object tracking, video summarization and visualization, video insertion, and sprite-based video compression. Previous work on motion layer analysis has largely concentrated on two-frame or multi-frame batch formulations. The temporal coherency of motion layers and the domain constraints on shapes have not been exploited. This paper introduces a complete dynamic motion layer representation in which spatial and temporal constraints on shape, motion and layer appearance are modeled and estimated in a maximum a-posteriori (MAP) framework using the generalized expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. In order to limit the computational complexity of tracking arbitrarily shaped layer ownership, we propose a shape prior that parameterizes the representation of shape and prevents motion layers from evolving into arbitrary shapes. In this work, a Gaussian shape prior is chosen to specifically develop a near-real-time tracker for vehicle tracking in aerial videos. However, the general idea of using a parametric shape representation as part of the state of a tracker is a powerful one that can be extended to other domains as well. Based on the dynamic layer representation, an iterative algorithm is developed for continuous object tracking over time. The proposed method has been successfully applied in an airborne vehicle tracking system. Its performance is compared with that of a correlation-based tracker and a motion change-based tracker to demonstrate the advantages of the new method. Examples of tracking when the backgrounds are cluttered and the vehicles undergo various rigid motions and complex interactions such as passing, turning, and stop-and-go demonstrate the strength of the complete dynamic layer representation.
Dispersal, Eviction, and Conflict in Meerkats (Suricata suricatta): An Evolutionarily Stable Strategy Model

Decisions regarding immigration and emigration are crucial to understanding group dynamics in social animals, but dispersal is rarely treated in models of optimal behavior. We developed a model of evolutionarily stable dispersal and eviction strategies for a cooperative mammal, the meerkat Suricata suricatta. Using rank and group size as state variables, we determined state‐specific probabilities that subordinate females would disperse and contrasted these with probabilities of eviction by the dominant female, based on the long‐term fitness consequences of these behaviors but incorporating the potential for error. We examined whether long‐term fitness considerations explain group size regulation in meerkats; whether long‐term fitness considerations can lead to conflict between dominant and subordinate female group members; and under what circumstances those conflicts were likely to lead to stability, dispersal, or eviction. Our results indicated that long‐term fitness considerations can explain group size regulation in meerkats. Group size distributions expected from predicted dispersal and eviction strategies matched empirical distributions most closely when emigrant survival was approximately that determined from the field study. Long‐term fitness considerations may lead to conflicts between dominant and subordinate female meerkats, and eviction is the most likely result of these conflicts. Our model is computationally intensive but provides a general framework for incorporating future changes in the size of multimember cooperative breeding groups.
Plan2See: discovering events through web 1.0

In this poster we propose a new software that could determine relevance in events description to its final users. We are not proposing new techniques or advances in the state of the art. What we propose is a new prototype that applies well-known algorithms for what could be a commercial and new use of Text Mining and Natural Language Processing techniques in nowadays market.
Digital Control of Actual Grid-Connected Converters for Ground Leakage Current Reduction in PV Transformerless Systems

The design of a photovoltaic (PV) grid-connected converter usually comprehends a galvanic isolation between the grid and the photovoltaic panels. Recently, in low power systems, the galvanic isolation has been removed with the aim to increase efficiency and reduce the cost of the converter. Due to the presence of a parasitic capacitance between the photovoltaic cells and the metal frame of the PV panel, usually connected to earth, a high value of common mode current (i.e., ground leakage current) can arise. In order to limit the ground leakage current (which deteriorates the power quality and generates EMI), new converter topologies have been proposed. Their effectiveness is based on the symmetrical (ideal) commutations of the power switches and some of them adopt a further voltage level derived from a capacitive divider of the DC bus voltage. Unfortunately, in actual implementations, asymmetrical power switches transients and variations of this added voltage lead to higher ground leakage current with respect to the ideal case. After a review of the state of the art this paper investigates these two issues and presents a particular solution (based on digital control and PWM strategy) that, in conjunction with a compensation strategy of power switches actual commutations, guarantees low ground leakage current regardless the parameters tolerance of the power circuit. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed solution.