Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Robotic Assistance-System For Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided (CT-Guided) Facet Joint Injection: A Phantom Study

Background The aim of this study was to compare robotic assisted and freehand facet joint puncture on a phantom model in regards to time requirements and puncture accuracy. Material/Methods Forty facet joints were punctured, 20 using a robotic guidance system and 20 using a freehand procedure. Side and height of the facet joints were randomized and identical for both groups. Procedural accuracy, defined as axial and sagittal deviation, as well as the number of corrections were assessed. Procedure times for each step were documented and time requirements for pre-positioning, reconstruction, planning, and total intervention were calculated. Results Total procedure time for robotic guidance was 259±111 seconds versus 119±77 seconds for freehand procedure (p=1.0). Procedural accuracy for robotic guidance was significantly higher with 0 corrections versus 1.3 corrections for freehand procedure (p=0.02). Needle deviation in the robotics arm was 0.35±1.1 mm in the axial and 2.15±1.2 mm in the sagittal reconstruction. Conclusions Robotic assisted puncture of the facet joint allowed accurate positioning of the needle with a lower number of needle readjustments. Higher procedural accuracy was marginally offset by a slightly longer intervention time.
Poster: A virtual walkthrough system with a wide field-of-view stereo head mounted projective display

A virtual walkthrough system is built to demonstrate the unique capability of our wide field-of-view (FOV) head mounted projective display, which can theoretically achieve more than 180 degrees of horizontal FOV by utilizing a half-silvered hyperbolic curved mirror. A fast rendering algorithm developed for image distortion correction and performance analysis on the rendering speed and precision of distortion correction are described. The developed virtual walkthrough system has successfully provided the observer the sense of presence at an interactive frame rate.
A knowledge processing middleware framework and its relation to the JDL data fusion model

Any autonomous system embedded in a dynamic and changing environment must be able to create qualitative knowledge and object structures representing aspects of its environment on the fly from raw or preprocessed sensor data in order to reason qualitatively about the environment and to supply such state information to other nodes in the distributed network in which it is embedded. These structures must be managed and made accessible to deliberative and reactive functionalities whose successful operation is dependent on being situationally aware of the changes in both the robotic agent's embedding and internal environments. DyKnow is a knowledge processing middleware framework which provides a set of functionalities for contextually creating, storing, accessing and processing such structures. The framework is implemented and has been deployed as part of a deliberative/reactive architecture for an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle. The architecture itself is distributed and uses real-time CORBA as a communications infrastructure. We describe the system and show how it can be used to create more abstract entity and state representations of the world which can then be used for situation awareness by an unmanned aerial vehicle in achieving mission goals. We also show that the framework is a working instantiation of many aspects of the revised JDL data fusion model.
H2A.Z Acidic Patch Couples Chromatin Dynamics to Regulation of Gene Expression Programs during ESC Differentiation

The histone H2A variant H2A.Z is essential for embryonic development and for proper control of developmental gene expression programs in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Divergent regions of amino acid sequence of H2A.Z likely determine its functional specialization compared to core histone H2A. For example, H2A.Z contains three divergent residues in the essential C-terminal acidic patch that reside on the surface of the histone octamer as an uninterrupted acidic patch domain; however, we know little about how these residues contribute to chromatin structure and function. Here, we show that the divergent amino acids Gly92, Asp97, and Ser98 in the H2A.Z C-terminal acidic patch (H2A.ZAP3) are critical for lineage commitment during ESC differentiation. H2A.Z is enriched at most H3K4me3 promoters in ESCs including poised, bivalent promoters that harbor both activating and repressive marks, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 respectively. We found that while H2A.ZAP3 interacted with its deposition complex and displayed a highly similar distribution pattern compared to wild-type H2A.Z, its enrichment levels were reduced at target promoters. Further analysis revealed that H2A.ZAP3 was less tightly associated with chromatin, suggesting that the mutant is more dynamic. Notably, bivalent genes in H2A.ZAP3 ESCs displayed significant changes in expression compared to active genes. Moreover, bivalent genes in H2A.ZAP3 ESCs gained H3.3, a variant associated with higher nucleosome turnover, compared to wild-type H2A.Z. We next performed single cell imaging to measure H2A.Z dynamics. We found that H2A.ZAP3 displayed higher mobility in chromatin compared to wild-type H2A.Z by fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Moreover, ESCs treated with the transcriptional inhibitor flavopiridol resulted in a decrease in the H2A.ZAP3 mobile fraction and an increase in its occupancy at target genes indicating that the mutant can be properly incorporated into chromatin. Collectively, our work suggests that the divergent residues in the H2A.Z acidic patch comprise a unique domain that couples control of chromatin dynamics to the regulation of developmental gene expression patterns during lineage commitment.
SAWA experiment – properties of mineral dust aerosol as seen by synergic lidar and sun-photometer measurements

Abstract. We propose a method of retrieving basic information on mineral dust aerosol particles from synergic sun-photometer and multi-wavelength lidar measurements as well as from the observations of lidar light depolarisation. We use this method in a case study of mineral dust episode in Central Europe. Lidar signals are inversed with a modified Klett-Fernald algorithm. Aerosol optical depth measured with the sun-photometer allows to reduce uncertainties in the inversion procedure through which we estimate vertical profile of aerosol extinction. Next we assume that aerosol particles may be represented by ensemble of randomly oriented, identical spheroids. Having calculated vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients for lidar wavelengths, we compute the profiles of local Angstrom exponent. We use laser beam depolarisation together with the calculated Angstrom exponents to estimate the shapes (aspect ratios) and sizes of the spheroids. Numerical calculations are performed with the transition matrix (T-matrix) algorithm by M. Mishchenko. The proposed method was first used during SAWA measurement campaign in Warsaw, spring 2005, to characterise the particles of desert dust, drifting over Poland with a southern-eastern wind (13–14 April). Observations and T-matrix calculations show that mode radii of spheroids representative for desert aerosols' particles are in the range of 0.15–0.3 μm, while their aspect ratios are lower than 0.7 or larger than 1.7.
Intravitreal Injection of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Patients with Advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa; a Safety Study

Purpose: To examine the safety of a single intravitreal injection of autologous bone Marrow Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods: A prospective, phase I, nonrandomized, open-label study was conducted on 3 eyes of 3 volunteers with advanced RP. Visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, fundus examination, optical coherence tomography, fundus auto-fluorescence, fluorescein angiography and multifocal electroretinography were performed before and after an intravitreal injection of approximately one-million MSCs. The patients were followed for one year. Further evaluation of MSCs was performed by injection of these cells into the mouse vitreous cavity. Results: No, adverse events were observed in eyes of 2 out of 3 patients after transplantation of MSCs. These patients reported improvements in perception of the light after two weeks, which lasted for 3 months. However, severe fibrous tissue proliferation was observed in the vitreous cavity and retrolental space of the third patient's eye, which led to tractional retinal detachment (TRD), iris neovascularization and formation of mature cataract. Injection of this patient's MSCs into the vitreous cavity of mice also resulted in fibrosis; however, intravitreal injections of the two other patients' cells into the mouse vitreous did not generate any fibrous tissue. Conclusion: Intravitreal injection of autologous bone marrow MSCs into patients' eyes with advanced RP does not meet safety standards. Major side effects of this therapy can include fibrosis and TRD. We propose thorough evaluation of MSCs prior to transplantation by intravitreal injection in the laboratory animals. \
Sample Proceedings

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Oxytocin promotes group-serving dishonesty

Significance Very little is known about the biological foundations of immoral behavior. We report here the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment showing that the hormone oxytocin promotes group-serving dishonesty. Compared with participants receiving placebo, participants receiving oxytocin lied more to benefit their groups, did so quicker, and did so without expectation of reciprocal dishonesty from their group members. A control setting ruled out that oxytocin drives self-serving dishonesty. These findings support the functional approach to morality and reveal the underlying biological circuitries associated with group-serving dishonesty. To protect and promote the well-being of others, humans may bend the truth and behave unethically. Here we link such tendencies to oxytocin, a neuropeptide known to promote affiliation and cooperation with others. Using a simple coin-toss prediction task in which participants could dishonestly report their performance levels to benefit their group’s outcome, we tested the prediction that oxytocin increases group-serving dishonesty. A double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment allowing individuals to lie privately and anonymously to benefit themselves and fellow group members showed that healthy males (n = 60) receiving intranasal oxytocin, rather than placebo, lied more to benefit their group, and did so faster, yet did not necessarily do so because they expected reciprocal dishonesty from fellow group members. Treatment effects emerged when lying had financial consequences and money could be gained; when losses were at stake, individuals in placebo and oxytocin conditions lied to similar degrees. In a control condition (n = 60) in which dishonesty only benefited participants themselves, but not fellow group members, oxytocin did not influence lying. Together, these findings fit a functional perspective on morality revealing dishonesty to be plastic and rooted in evolved neurobiological circuitries, and align with work showing that oxytocin shifts the decision-maker’s focus from self to group interests. These findings highlight the role of bonding and cooperation in shaping dishonesty, providing insight into when and why collaboration turns into corruption.
Decrystallization of Lignocellulosic Biomass using Ionic Liquids

This thesis is written in fulfilment of the requirements for a Master in Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Chemical Engineering. The work investigates the effectiveness of pretreatment of norway spruce and sugarcane bagasse with the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][OAc]). The effect of pretreatment temperature and reaction time was evaluated. Enzymatic hydrolysis yield was used as the main evaluation parameter. Norway spruce was pretreated at 80, 100, and 120 °C for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours. The sugarcane bagasse raw material was pretreated at the same temperatures for 1 and 3 hours. UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis was used to determine the amount of lignin removed during the pretreatment. The regenerated solids from the pretreatment was hydrolysed enzymaticly and the digestibility was determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The pretreatment caused an increase in the enzymatic digestibility for both spruce and bagasse. This effect is believed to arise from a decrease in the crystallinity of the cellulose and an increase in the accessible surface area caused by the increased porosity of the pretreated material. The digestibility results for spruce shows that, at shorter pretreatment times, higher temperatures are favourable. However, at longer reaction times, too high temperatures can give a reduction in the digestibility. The optimal reaction condition for spruce was in this work found to be 100 °C for 12 hours, giving a digestibility close to 90 wt% of the added glucan. For sugarcane bagasse the optimum was not found, and experiments using harsher conditions was proposed. When comparing the results for pretreatment of spruce with that of bagasse it appear that spruce needs harsher conditions to achieve the same glucan yield as bagasse. The results of the analysis of the enzymatic digestibility of hemicelluloses (mannan for spruce and zylan for bagasse) concurs very well with the results for glucan presented above. Regarding the removal of lignin from the biomass, it was found that the degree of delignification in these pretreatment experiments was so low it could be neglected. The low degree of lignin removal was also evident in the darkening of the regenerated biomass from pretreatments using relatively harsh reaction conditions. This darkening was put down to the lignin undergoing condensation reactions. Suggestions for further work on this area include a thorough investigation into the thermal stability of different ionic liquids at prolonged reaction times and high temperatures, as well as an investigation of the delignification effect of different ionic liquids. As mentioned earlier, pretreatment experiments with bagasse using harsher conditions can also be useful.
Chava: reverse engineering and tracking of Java applets

Java applets have been used increasingly on Web sites to perform client-side processing and provide dynamic content. While many Web site analysis tools are available, their focus has been on static HTML content and most ignore applet code completely. The paper presents Chava, a system that analyzes and tracks changes in Java applets. The tool extracts information from applet code about classes, methods, fields and their relationships into a relational database. Supplementary checksum information in the database is used to detect changes in two versions of a Java applet. Given our Java data model, a suite of programs that query, visualize, and analyze the structural information were generated automatically from CIAO, a retargetable reverse engineering system. Chava is able to process either Java source files or compiled class files, making it possible to analyze remote applets, whose source code is unavailable. The information can be combined with HTML analysis tools to track both the static and dynamic content of many Web sites. The paper presents our data model for Java and describes the implementation of Chava. Advanced reverse engineering tasks such as reachability analysis, clustering, and program differencing can be built on top of Chava to support design recovery and selective regression testing. In particular, we show how Chava is used to compare several Java Development Kit (JDK) versions to help spot changes that might impact Java developers. Performance numbers indicate that the tool scales well.
lis-1 is required for dynein-dependent cell division processes in C. elegans embryos

We investigated the role of the evolutionarily conserved protein Lis1 in cell division processes of Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. We identified apparent null alleles of lis-1, which result in defects identical to those observed after inactivation of the dynein heavy chain dhc-1, including defects in centrosome separation and spindle assembly. We raised antibodies against LIS-1 and generated transgenic animals expressing functional GFP–LIS-1. Using indirect immunofluorescence and spinning-disk confocal microscopy, we found that LIS-1 is present throughout the cytoplasm and is enriched in discrete subcellular locations, including the cell cortex, the vicinity of microtubule asters, the nuclear periphery and kinetochores. We established that lis-1 contributes to, but is not essential for, DHC-1 enrichment at specific subcellular locations. Conversely, we found that dhc-1, as well as the dynactin components dnc-1 (p150Glued) and dnc-2 (p50/dynamitin), are essential for LIS-1 targeting to the nuclear periphery, but not to the cell cortex nor to kinetochores. These results suggest that dynein and Lis1, albeit functioning in identical processes, are targeted partially independently of one another.
The phase evolution, creep and tensile behavior of two-phase orthorhombic titanium alloys

Abstract : The phase evolution, creep, and tensile behavior were studied for near Ti2AlNb and Ti12Al-38Nb O+BCC alloys. Monolithic materials were produced through conventional thermomechanical processing techniques. Heat treatment and TEM studies estimated the temperature ranges for the respective phase fields and a pseudobinary diagram based on Ti=50at. % was constructed. The aging-transformation behavior was studied in detail. O-phase precipitation within BCC-dominated microstructures resulted in significant room temperature (RT) strengthening. The BCC phase was vital for imparting RT ductility. The deformation observations and calculated creep exponents and activation energies suggested that three creep mechanisms are dominating the secondary creep behavior. For low applied stress, Coble creep characteristics were exhibited. For intermediate stresses, the minimum creep rates were proportional to square delta/GS and fiducial-line experiments revealed grain boundary sliding and grain boundary cavitation. For high stresses, the stress exponents were greater than or equal to 3.5 and a high density of dislocations were observed, indicative of a dislocation climb mechanism. Overall, the sub-transus processed and heat-treated microstructures contained much smaller grain sizes than super-transus microstructures and this resulted in worse creep resistance. For targeted low-to-intermediate stress and intermediate temperature applications, grain size is the dominant microstructural feature influencing the creep behavior of O+BCC alloys.
Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) Reinforced in New Unsaturated Polyester Composites

The mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact properties) and water absorption of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) reinforced in new unsaturated polyester composites were studied. New OPEFB reinforced polyester composite derived from new unsaturated polyester resin containing bis-(2-hydroxylethyl) fumarate (monomer I) which was synthesized from ethylene glycol with fumaric acid in the presence of P-toluene sulfonic acid as catalyst was prepared. The chemical structure was confirmed by CHN analysis, FT-IR, and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. New unsaturated polyester was carried out by the condensation reaction between terepthaloyl chloride and monomer I. The chemical structure of this polymer was confirmed by CHN analyses, FT-IR, 1H-NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
Permanent and biodegradable polymer coatings in the absence of antiproliferative drugs in a porcine model of coronary artery stenting.

AIMS The purpose of the present study was to examine the comparative vascular healing response to stents coated with permanent or biodegradable polymer and uncoated stents in a porcine model of coronary artery stenting. METHODS AND RESULTS Juvenile pigs were randomly allocated to implantation of stents coated with permanent polymer (PP, methacrylate-based, n=10), biodegradable polymer (BP, poly-lactic acid-based, n=10) or bare metal control stents (n=10), in the absence of antiproliferative drugs. At 28 days, animals were sacrificed and specimens prepared for histopathologic assessment. Endothelialisation was complete in all treatment groups. Vascular injury at 28 days was greater in PP stents as compared with uncoated stents (p=0.05) though not as compared with BP-coated stents (p=ns). PP stents showed increased inflammatory scores compared with BP-coated (p=0.03) and uncoated stents (p=0.02). There was also greater neointimal growth with PP-coated stents compared with uncoated stents (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS In the absence of antiproliferative drugs, stents coated with methacrylate-based PP, but not with poly-lactic acid-based BP, provoked significant vessel wall inflammatory reactions resulting in greater vascular injury and increased neointimal growth compared with uncoated stents. Biodegradable polymer coatings may be considered preferable to facilitate drug elution with minimal vessel wall toxicity.
MICRO-EDM FOR MICRO-CHANNEL FABRICATION ON NONCONDUCTIVE ZrO2 CERAMIC

In this study, microelectro-discharge (micro-ED) milling of nonconductive ZrO2ceramicsis investigated using a Cu tool electrode in kerosene dielectric. An adhesive Cu foil is firmly attached on the workpiece to initiate the sparks. After the machining of Cu foil, an electrically conductive carbonic layer is formed on the ceramic workpiece disassociating the kerosene dielectric, which allows micro-ED milling to be continued on ZrO2.A micro-channel of 1500 µm length, 920 µm width and 150 µm depth is created. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed evidence of higher C precedence on the workpiece surface, which is the main element of the carbonic layer. It is shown that material removal rate increases with the increase of capacitance and voltage initially but it decreases at higher values. MRR and average surface roughness of the micro-channel are found to be 1.29×10-5 mm3/s and 0.25 µm, respectively, when machined with a capacitance of 0.1 nF and voltage of 80 V. This study shows that micro-ED milling is applicable for creating micro-channels on nonconductive ZrO2 ceramic with the assisting electrode technique. Keywords: Micro-electro discharge milling; nonconductive ceramics; assisting electrode; pyrolytic carbon; surface roughness.