Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensors Fusion Technique for Mobile Robot Navigation Using Fuzzy Logic Control System

The mobile robot navigation with complex environment needs more input space to match the environmental data into robot outputs in order to perform a realistic task. At the same time, the number of rules at the rule base needs to be optimized to reduce the computing time and to provide the possibilities for real time operation. In this paper, the optimization of fuzzy rules using a Modified Fuzzy Associative Memory (MFAM) is designed and implemented. MFAM provides good flexibility to use multiple input space and reduction of rule base for robot navigation. This paper presents the MFAM model to generate the rule base for robot navigation. The behavior rules obtained from MFAM model are tested using simulation and real world experiments, and the results are discussed in the paper and compared with the existing methods.
Chemical engineering approach to regenerative medicine

The intrinsically multi-factorial pathological trend of spinal cord injury is probably the most important reason behind the absence of efficient therapeutic strategies. Therefore, recent studies suggest the use of new tools combining the delivery of both cells and drugs. Systems which are able to perform multiple controlled delivery of different therapeutic agents have gained particularly strong interest. Hence, in order to avoid trial and error approaches, several studies were performed following the classic chemical engineering multiscale approach: tuning microchemistry to manipulate macro properties in order to satisfy specific medical needs as injectability, low stress on target tissues, ability to retain liquids, capability of carrying living cells, and possibility to control the delivery of drugs. In this framework we focused on injectable agarose-carbomer based hydrogels applying he results of our studies performed in the past two years: in vitro biocompatibility, physical chemical studies, drug delivery transport phenomena investigation, and in vivo biocompatibility in uninjured Brainbow mice.
Î»/4 Resonance of an Optical Monopole Antenna Probed by Single Molecule Fluorescence

We present a resonant optical nanoantenna positioned at the end of a metal-coated glass fiber near-field probe. Antenna resonances, excitation conditions, and field localization are directly probed in the near field by single fluorescent molecules and compared to finite integration technique simulations. It is shown that the antenna is equivalent to its radio frequency analogue, the monopole antenna. For the right antenna length and local excitation conditions, antenna resonances occur that lead to an enhanced localized field near the antenna apex. Direct mapping of this field with single fluorescent molecules reveals a spatial localization of 25 nm, demonstrating the importance of such antennas for nanometer resolution optical microscopy.
Sharpened carbon nanotube probes

Carbon nanotube tips (CNT) offer many advantages over the standard SFM probes, namely high aspect ratio, high resolution, durability, minimal tip or sample damage and, perhaps most important, tailoring. We demonstrate here the value of CNT as probes for surface metrology. Their high- aspect ratio enables profiling morphologies that are inaccessible to conventional probes. We report method for controlling the end-form of a nanotube bundle (mounted on a Si tip) so that a single nanotube protrudes from it. We did not observe any tip or sample wear over time with CNT probes, contrary to results with conventional probes. We also demonstrate that a combination of tuning forks and nanotubes can be used as probes for SPM.
On the Use of Scan Chain to Improve Physical Attacks (Extended Abstract)

An unprotected scan-chain makes a perfect back-door in a secure chip. Therefore, many secure chips disable the access to the scan-chains once the testing is completed. In this paper, we consider an attack that is carried out on a blank chip. The scan-chain is still accessible, yet there is no key to be attacked. We show that the attacker can use the scan chain to reveal information that can be used to improve other physical attacks, such side-channel analysis, fault analysis and probing analysis.
Adenovirus serotype 5 E1A sensitizes tumor cells to NKG2D-dependent NK cell lysis and tumor rejection

The expression of the Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) E1A oncogene sensitizes tumor cells to natural killer (NK) cell–mediated killing and tumor rejection in vivo. These effects are dependent on the ability of E1A to bind the transcriptional coadaptor protein p300. To test the hypothesis that E1A up-regulates ligands recognized by the NKG2D-activating receptor, we stably transfected the highly tumorigenic mouse fibrosarcoma cell line MCA-205 with Ad5-E1A or a mutant form of E1A that does not interact with p300 (E1A-Δp300). Ad5-E1A, but not E1A-Δp300, up-regulated the expression of the NKG2D ligand retinoic acid early inducible (RAE)-1, but not murine ULBP-like transcript 1, another NKG2D ligand, in four independently derived MCA-205 transfectants. The up-regulation of RAE-1 by E1A targeted MCA-205 tumor cells to lysis by NK cells, resulting in NKG2D-dependent tumor rejection in vivo. Moreover, the up-regulation of NKG2D ligands by E1A was not limited to mouse tumor cells, as E1A also increased the expression of NKG2D ligands on primary baby mouse kidney cells, human MB435S breast cancer cells, and human H4 fibrosarcoma cells.
Myelographic demonstration of "nodular radiculopathy" in acute myelogenous leukemia.

Documented central nervous system (CNS) involvement in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), unlike acute lymphocytic leukemia, is relatively uncommon [1 , 2] . CNS involvement in AML is reported to occur in 6%-17% of cases [1-4]. It is expected that improvements in therapy with increased frequency of remission and prolonged survival will lead to further increases in clinical CNS involvement in AML [1 , 2] . A patient with documented acute myelomonocytic leukemia complained of symmetric, bilateral radicular symptoms while considered to be in clinical remission . A Pantopaque myelogram revealed bilaterally symmetric nodular masses involving the C8 nerve-root sleeves. Follow-up study after local radiation therapy demonstrated complete resolution of these findings by both computed tomography (CT) and repeat myelography.
Bag-of-Tasks Scheduling under Budget Constraints

Commercial cloud offerings, such as Amazon’s EC2, let users allocate compute resources on demand, charging based on reserved time intervals. While this gives great¿exibility to elastic applications, users lack guidance for choosing between multiple offerings, in order to complete their computations within given budget constraints. In this work, we present BaTS, our budget-constrained scheduler. BaTS can schedule large bags of tasks onto multiple clouds with different CPU performance and cost, minimizing completion time while respecting an upper bound for the budget to be spent. BaTS requires no a-priori information about task completion times, and learns to estimate them at runtime. We evaluate BaTS by emulating different cloud environments on the DAS-3 multi-cluster system. Our results show that BaTS is able to schedule within a user-definedbudget (if such a schedule is possible at all.) At the expense of extra compute time, significant cost savings can be achieved when comparing to a cost-oblivious round-robin scheduler.
Reliability of Transcutaneous Bilirubin Devices in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) devices are widely used for the estimation of serum bilirubin levels in term and near-term infants. Our objective was to review the diagnostic accuracy of TcB devices in preterm infants. METHODS: Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus were searched (from database inception date until December 2012). Additional citations were identified by using the bibliographies of selected articles and from conference proceedings. The studies were included if they compared TcB with total serum bilirubin in preterm infants before phototherapy and presented data as correlation coefficients or as Bland-Altman difference plots. Data were extracted by 1 reviewer and checked for accuracy by the second reviewer. An assessment tool (quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies) was used for risk of bias assessments. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria; 21 studies reported results as correlation coefficients, with pooled estimates of r = 0.83 for each site of measurement. Pooled estimates in infants <32 weeks’ gestation were similar to the overall preterm population (r = 0.89 [95% confidence interval: 0.82–0.93]). For the 2 commonly used TcB devices (ie, JM103 and BiliCheck), the results were comparable at the forehead site, although the JM103 device exhibited better correlation at the sternum. Analysis of the Bland-Altman plots (13 studies) revealed negligible bias in measurement at the forehead or sternum site by using either the JM-103 or BiliCheck device; however, the JM-103 device exhibited better precision than the BiliCheck (SD for TcB – total serum bilirubin differences: 24.3 and 31.98 µmol/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The TcB devices reliably estimated bilirubin levels in preterm infants and could be used in clinical practice to reduce blood sampling.
Pharmacist-provided diabetes management and education via a telemonitoring program.

OBJECTIVE To assess clinical outcomes (glycosylated hemoglobin [A1C], blood pressure, and lipids) and other measurements (disease state knowledge, adherence, and self-efficacy) associated with the use of approved telemonitoring devices to expand and improve chronic disease management of patients with diabetes, with or without hypertension. SETTING Four community health centers (CHCs) in Utah. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION Federally qualified safety net clinics that provide medical care to underserved patients. PRACTICE INNOVATION Pharmacist-led diabetes management using telemonitoring was compared with a group of patients receiving usual care (without telemonitoring). INTERVENTIONS Daily blood glucose (BG) and blood pressure (BP) values were reviewed and the pharmacist provided phone follow-up to assess and manage out-of-range BG and BP values. EVALUATION Changes in A1C, BP, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) at approximately 6 months were compared between the telemonitoring group and the usual care group. Patient activation, diabetes/hypertension knowledge, and medication adherence were measured in the telemonitoring group. RESULTS Of 150 patients, 75 received pharmacist-provided diabetes management and education via telemonitoring, and 75 received usual medical care. Change in A1C was significantly greater in the telemonitoring group compared with the usual care group (2.07% decrease vs. 0.66% decrease; P <0.001). Although BP and LDL levels also declined, differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. Patient activation measure, diabetes/hypertension knowledge, and medication adherence with antihypertensives (but not diabetes medications) improved in the telemonitoring group. CONCLUSION Pharmacist-provided diabetes management via telemonitoring resulted in a significant improvement in A1C in federally qualified CHCs in Utah compared with usual medical care. Telemonitoring may be considered a model for providing clinical pharmacy services to patients with diabetes.
A critical role for the loop region of the basic helix–loop–helix/leucine zipper protein Mlx in DNA binding and glucose-regulated transcription

The carbohydrate response element (ChoRE) is a cis-acting sequence found in the promoters of genes induced transcriptionally by glucose. The ChoRE is composed of two E box-like motifs that are separated by 5 bp and is recognized by two basic helix–loop–helix/leucine zipper (bHLH/LZ) proteins, ChREBP and Mlx, which heterodimerize to bind DNA. In this study, we demonstrate that two ChREBP/Mlx heterodimers interact to stabilize binding to the tandem E box-like motifs in the ChoRE. Based on a model structure that we generated of ChREBP/Mlx bound to the ChoRE, we hypothesized that intermolecular interactions between residues within the Mlx loop regions of adjacent heterodimers are responsible for stabilizing the complex. We tested this hypothesis by preparing Mlx variants in which the loop region was replaced with that of another family member or mutated at several key residues. These Mlx variants retained their ability to bind to a single perfect E-box motif as a heterodimer with ChREBP, but no longer bound to the ChoRE nor supported glucose responsive activity. In summary, our results support a model in which the loop regions of Mlx play an important functional role in mediating the coordinate binding of ChREBP/Mlx heterodimers to the ChoRE.
Truncations of titin causing dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND Dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy arise from mutations in many genes. TTN, the gene encoding the sarcomere protein titin, has been insufficiently analyzed for cardiomyopathy mutations because of its enormous size. METHODS We analyzed TTN in 312 subjects with dilated cardiomyopathy, 231 subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and 249 controls by using next-generation or dideoxy sequencing. We evaluated deleterious variants for cosegregation in families and assessed clinical characteristics. RESULTS We identified 72 unique mutations (25 nonsense, 23 frameshift, 23 splicing, and 1 large tandem insertion) that altered full-length titin. Among subjects studied by means of next-generation sequencing, the frequency of TTN mutations was significantly higher among subjects with dilated cardiomyopathy (54 of 203 [27%]) than among subjects with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (3 of 231 [1%], P=3×10(-16)) or controls (7 of 249 [3%], P=9×10(-14)). TTN mutations cosegregated with dilated cardiomyopathy in families (combined lod score, 11.1) with high (>95%) observed penetrance after the age of 40 years. Mutations associated with dilated cardiomyopathy were overrepresented in the titin A-band but were absent from the Z-disk and M-band regions of titin (P≤0.01 for all comparisons). Overall, the rates of cardiac outcomes were similar in subjects with and those without TTN mutations, but adverse events occurred earlier in male mutation carriers than in female carriers (P=4×10(-5)). CONCLUSIONS TTN truncating mutations are a common cause of dilated cardiomyopathy, occurring in approximately 25% of familial cases of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and in 18% of sporadic cases. Incorporation of sequencing approaches that detect TTN truncations into genetic testing for dilated cardiomyopathy should substantially increase test sensitivity, thereby allowing earlier diagnosis and therapeutic intervention for many patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Defining the functional effects of TTN truncating mutations should improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy. (Funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and others.).
Price Versus Production Postponement: Capacity and Competition

This article presents a comparative analysis of possible postponement strategies in a two-stage decision model where firms make three decisions: capacity investment, production (inventory) quantity, and price. Typically, investments are made while the demand curve is uncertain. The strategies differ in the timing of the operational decisions relative to the realization of uncertainty. We show how competition, uncertainty, and the timing of operational decisions influence the strategic investment decision of the firm and its value. In contrast to production postponement, price postponement makes the investment and production (inventory) decisions relatively insensitive to uncertainty. This suggests that managers can make optimal capacity decisions by deterministic reasoning if they have some price flexibility. Under price postponement, additional postponement of production has relatively small incremental value. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to consider flexible ex-post pricing before production postponement reengineering. While more postponement increases firm value, it is counterintuitive that this also makes the optimal capacity decision more sensitive to uncertainty. We highlight the different impact of more timely information, which leads to higher investment and inventories, and of reduced demand uncertainty, which decreases investment and inventories. Our analysis suggests appropriateness conditions for simple make-to-stock and make-to-order strategies. We also present technical sufficiency and uniqueness conditions. Under price postponement, these results extend to oligopolistic and perfect competition for which pure equilibria are derived. Interestingly, the relative value of operational postponement techniques seems to increase as the industry becomes more competitive.
2012 International Conference on Information Management, Innovation Management and Industrial Engineering Research on a Vsm-based E-homework Anti-plagiarism System

Plagiarism in e-homework becomes increasingly severe. Based on the study of the research on e-homework plagiarism detection system and the key issues on e-homework plagiarism, an e-homework anti-plagiarism system is designed and implemented. Similarity of text, which is the plagiarism standard of an e-homework, is calculated based on TF-IDF and Vector Space Model (VSM) theory. It can detect the checking e-homework copied from one or more other e­ homework, thus prevent most of the plagiarism. Most of the time, e-homework are uploaded in the last few minutes of the class, and Microsoft Message Queue is used to relieve the stress of the system by setting up an E-homework Upload Queue. Time preference tragedy is used, and it greatly reduces the plagiarism.
The Rise of Global Warming Skepticism: Exploring Affective Image Associations in the United States Over Time

This article explores how affective image associations to global warming have changed over time. Four nationally representative surveys of the American public were conducted between 2002 and 2010 to assess public global warming risk perceptions, policy preferences, and behavior. Affective images (positive or negative feelings and cognitive representations) were collected and content analyzed. The results demonstrate a large increase in “naysayer” associations, indicating extreme skepticism about the issue of climate change. Multiple regression analyses found that holistic affect and “naysayer” associations were more significant predictors of global warming risk perceptions than cultural worldviews or sociodemographic variables, including political party and ideology. The results demonstrate the important role affective imagery plays in judgment and decision‐making processes, how these variables change over time, and how global warming is currently perceived by the American public.
After all those fat years: renal consequences of obesity.

Bigger is not better Our genetic background and physiological homeo-stasis, orchestrated through endocrine and neuronal networks, are optimized for a world with intermittent food supply and permit us to survive periods of starvation [1]. However, these systems are counterpro-ductive in our current industrial society with fast-food restaurants, an abundance of high energy food and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. The consequence is an alarming increase in obese adults and, even more disturbing, of overweight children [1]. The consequences of obesity such as the metabolic syndrome with its ultimate development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, an increased incidence of certain types of cancer, musculoskeletal disorders and pulmonary diseases are well known. What about renal diseases? Almost 30 years ago, Weisinger et al. [2] described focal-segmental glomer-ulosclerosis with nephrotic syndrome in four extremely obese patients. Only two of them exhibited hyperten-sion by office blood pressure measurements [2]. In the following years, several case reports describing glomerulosclerosis in very obese patients have been published, but this entity was considered as rare and rather bizarre. However, a recent study showed a dramatic increase of histologically proven renal disease in obese patients in the absence of diabetes [3]. The patients had rapidly progressive renal disease [4]. Furthermore, obesity is an important risk factor for the progression of renal disease in IgA nephropathy [5], and is also associated with an enhanced risk of chronic graft dysfunction after renal transplantation [6]. On the other hand, overweight patients with a body mass index (BMI) >27 kg/m 2 with various chronic renal diseases experienced a significant reduction in proteinuria after only moderate weight loss [7]. A problem with all these studies is the fact that confounding factors such as hypertension were not totally ruled out. Adipose tissue as a source of hormones and cytokines Fat cells are much more than a passive store of excess energy. Adipose tissue is a source of various hormones that may very well influence renal function [8,9]. An incomplete list of these factors is shown in Table 1. Some of these hormones and growth factors could reach the kidney and exert their pathophysiolog-ical effects [8]. For example, transgenic mice with angiotensinogen expression restricted to adipose tissue have increased circulating angiotensinogen, and the angiotensin II thus generated has renal effects [10]. Overexpression of angiotensinogen in adipocytes leads to hypertension [10]. Thus, the adipose tissue renin–angiotensinogen system could exert direct effects on the kidney. The …
Towards automated task planning for service robots using semantic knowledge representation

Automated task planning for service robots faces great challenges in handling dynamic domestic environments. Classical methods in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) area mostly focus on relatively structured environments with fewer uncertainties. This work proposes a method to combine semantic knowledge representation with classical approaches in AI to build a flexible framework that can assist service robots in task planning at the high symbolic level. A semantic knowledge ontology is constructed for representing two main types of information: environmental description and robot primitive actions. Environmental knowledge is used to handle spatial uncertainties of particular objects. Primitive actions, which the robot can execute, are constructed based on a STRIPS-style structure, allowing a feasible solution (an action sequence) for a particular task to be created. With the Care-O-Bot (CoB) robot as the platform, we explain this work with a simple, but still challenging, scenario named “get a milk box”. A recursive back-trace search algorithm is introduced for task planning, where three main components are involved, namely primitive actions, world states, and mental actions. The feasibility of the work is demonstrated with the CoB in a simulated environment.
Energy-efficient Traffic-aware Detour Trees for Geographical Routing

Tree routing is one of the detouring strategies employed in geographic routing to help find a detour for a packet to leave a local minimum. The effectiveness of tree routing depends on the quality of the pre-constructed routing trees. Existing tree construction methods build trees in a top-down and centralized fashion and do not consider the traffic pattern and residual energy of the network. Therefore is likely to create trees with poor routing performance. In this paper, we propose a novel routing tree, namely Energy-Efficient Traffic-Aware Detour Tree, which is constructed completely in a bottom-up fashion, with the consideration of both traffic load and residual energy. The simulation shows that our detour tree rarely encounters the problem of conflicting hulls, has much higher average path residual energy and throughput than other detour trees, leading to a better routing performance.