Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new “grasping by caging” solution by using eigen-shapes and space mapping

“Grasping by caging” has been considered as a powerful tool to deal with uncertainty. In this paper, we continue to explore into “grasping by caging” and propose a new solution by using eigen-shapes and space mapping. For one thing, eigen-shapes fix dexterous hands into a series of finger formations and help to reduce dimensionality and computational complexity. For the other, space mapping builds a mapping between rasterized grids in 2-D Work space (W space) and rasterized voxels in 3-D Configuration space (C space) and helps to rapidly reconstruct C space so that we can efficiently measure the robustness of caging and find an optimal caging configuration for grasping. Our algorithm can work rapidly and squeezingly cage any 2-D shapes, including objects with either convex boundaries, concave boundaries, 1-order or high-order boundaries and even objects with inner holes. We implement the algorithm with MATLAB and carry out experiments with WEBOTS simulation to test its robustness to uncertainties. The results show that our algorithm can work well with various object shapes and can be robust to noisy control and noisy perception. It is promising in the power grasping tasks of dexterous hands.
How Shall We Play a Game?: A Game-theoretical Model for Cyber-warfare Games

Automated techniques and tools for finding, exploiting and patching vulnerabilities are maturing. In order to achieve an end goal such as winning a cyber-battle, these techniques and tools must be wielded strategically. Currently, strategy development in cyber - even with automated tools - is done manually, and is a bottleneck in practice. In this paper, we apply game theory toward the augmentation of the human decision-making process. ,,Our work makes two novel contributions. First, previous work is limited by strong assumptions regarding the number of actors, actions, and choices in cyber-warfare. We develop a novel model of cyber-warfare that is more comprehensive than previous work, removing these limitations in the process. Second, we present an algorithm for calculating the optimal strategy of the players in our model. We show that our model is capable of finding better solutions than previous work within seconds, making computer-time strategic reasoning a reality. We also provide new insights, compared to previous models, on the impact of optimal strategies.
Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1: A pairwise meta‐analysis

Ledipasvir with sofosbuvir (LED/SOF) for the treatment of patients infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus can be used with or without ribavirin (RBV). RBV is well known to promote significant adverse events (AE). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of treatment with LED/SOF, with or without RBV, in patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1.
Prevalence and Determinants of Troponin T Elevation in the General Population

Background— The prevalence and determinants of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevation in the general population are unknown, and the significance of minimally increased cTnT remains controversial. Our objective was to determine the prevalence and determinants of cTnT elevation in a large, representative sample of the general population. Methods and Results— cTnT was measured from stored plasma samples in 3557 subjects of the Dallas Heart Study, a population-based sample. cTnT elevation (≥0.01 &mgr;g/L) was correlated with clinical variables and cardiac MRI findings. The sample weight-adjusted prevalence of cTnT elevation in the general population was 0.7%. In univariable analyses, cTnT elevation was associated with older age, black race, male sex, coronary artery calcium by electron beam CT, a composite marker of congestive heart failure (CHF), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), diabetes mellitus (DM), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (P<0.001 for each). Subjects with minimally increased (0.01 to 0.029 &mgr;g/L) and increased (≥0.03 &mgr;g/L) cTnT had a similar prevalence of these characteristics. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, LVH, CHF, DM, and CKD were independently associated with cTnT elevation. Conclusions— In the general population, cTnT elevation is rare in subjects without CHF, LVH, CKD, or DM, suggesting that the upper limit of normal for the immunoassay should be <0.01 &mgr;g/L. Even minimally increased cTnT may represent subclinical cardiac injury and have important clinical implications, a hypothesis that should be tested in longitudinal outcome studies.
Seismic azimuthal anisotropy beneath the eastern United States and its geodynamic implications

Systematic spatial variations of anisotropic characteristics are revealed beneath the eastern U.S. using seismic data recorded between 1988 and 2016 by 785 stations. The resulting fast polarization orientations of the 5613 measurements are generally subparallel to the absolute plate motion (APM) and are inconsistent with the strike of major tectonic features. This inconsistency, together with the results of depth estimation using the spatial coherency of the splitting parameters, suggests a mostly asthenospheric origin of the observed azimuthal anisotropy. The observations can be explained by a combined effect of APM‐induced mantle fabric and a flow system deflected horizontally around the edges of the keel of the North American continent. Beneath the southern and northeastern portions of the study area, the E‐W keel‐deflected flow enhances APM‐induced fabric and produces mostly E‐W fast orientations with large splitting times, while beneath the southeastern U.S., anisotropy from the N‐S oriented flow is weakened by the APM.
Metrological Scanning Probe Microscopes ‐ Instruments for Dimensional Nanometrology

An overview of PTB’s activities in the field of dimensional nanometrology using scanning probe microscopes (SPMs) is presented. The chapter is divided into two parts: the development of (1) high-resolution probing systems and (2) complete SPM metrology systems. The subject of SPM-probing system design comprises, among other things, the concept of the “sensor objective” to combine conventional microscopy with scanning probe techniques. In the field of complete metrological SPM systems, the measuring properties of one of the existing SPM metrology systems have been significantly improved by including laser interferometers directly into the position control loop and by a clear reduction of the nonlinearity of the interference signals. In addition, the application spectrum of metrological SPM has been considerably extended by the establishment of an SPM system with a measuring volume of 25 mm q 25 mm q 5 mm.
Authenticity, Relatability and Collaborative Approaches to Sharing Knowledge about Assistive Living Technology

Health and care providers are increasingly looking to online and peer-to-peer services to supplement existing channels of assistive living technology (ALTs) provision and assessment. We describe the findings from 12 co-design workshops with 28 people from the UK representing a range of older people with and without health conditions, users of ALT and carers for people using such devices. The workshops were conducted to explore issues related to finding reliable information about ALT with the goal of gathering requirements for the design of a peer-to-peer knowledge sharing platform. Our analysis highlights how a current reliance on peers and informal networks relates to a desire to establish the authenticity and relatability of another person's experience to one's own circumstances. This connects to a perceived mistrust in information where provenance and authenticity is not clear. We use these to critique the wisdom of taking an e-marketplace and recommendation service approach to ALT provision and assessment, and offer alternatives based on our findings.
EGCG decreases the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF and cell growth in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the expression of HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cell growth in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. METHODS MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were pretreated with different concentrations of EGCG (25, 50, 100 mg/L) for 48 h. The growth and proliferation of cells were analyzed by trypan blue staining in the pretreated MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, mRNA expression of HIF-1α and VEGF was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in the pretreated MCF-7 cells. Protein expression of HIF-1α was detected by Western blot, and the secreted protein level of VEGF in the supernatant of the culture medium was analyzed by enzyme linked immuno- sorbent assay (ELISA) in the MCF-7 cells pretreated with different concentrations of EGCG. RESULTS Cell growth decreased dramatically in MCF-7 cells treated with different concentrations of EGCG, compared with untreated (control) cells. Moreover, protein expression of HIF-1α and VEGF declined in a dose-dependent manner in MCF-7 cells pretreated with increasing concentrations of EGCG. CONCLUSIONS EGCG inhibits cell growth and proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, possibly by inhibiting the protein expression of HIF-1α and VEGF.
A 6th order Butterworth SC low pass filter for cryogenic applications from −180°c to 120°c

This paper presents a sixth order Butterworth switched capacitor (SC) low pass filter with radiation-hardened-by-design (RHBD) for cryogenic applications. Implemented in a 0. 5μm SiGe BiCMOS technology, this cryogenic SC filter is capable of operating over an ultra-wide temperature (UWT) range from −180°C to 120°C and under high-energy particle radiation environment on the lunar surface. This is the first SC filter, operating over 300#x00B0;C temperature range with RHBD, reported so far. The measured results show that the filter approximates a sixth order Butterworth filter response in range of −180°C to 120°C. The clock-to-cutoff frequency ratio is 100:1. The clock feedthrough is less than 10uVRMS with single 3.3V supply. It consumes only 640uA at 200 kHz clock frequency current and occupies only 0.4×1.4 mm2.
Depending on Antigenic Load or Fas-Mediated Apoptosis of T Cells CD70-Driven Costimulation Induces Survival

Apoptosis plays an essential role in the removal of activated CD8 T cells that are no longer required during or postinfection. The Bim-dependent intrinsic pathway of apoptosis removes effector CD8 T cells upon clearance of viral infection, which is driven by withdrawal of growth factors. Binding of Fas ligand to Fas mediates activation-induced T cell death invitro and cooperates with Bim to eliminate CD8 T cells during chronic infection invivo, but it is less clear how this pathwayof apoptosis is initiated. In this study, we show that the costimulatory TNFR CD27 provides a dual trigger that can enhance survival of CD8 T cells, but also removal of activated CD8 T cells through Fas-driven apoptosis. Using in vitro stimulation assays of murine T cells with cognate peptide, we show that CD27 increases T cell survival after stimulation with low doses of Ag, whereas CD27 induces Fas-driven T cell apoptosis after stimulation with high doses of Ag. In vivo, the impact of constitutive CD70-driven stimulation on the accumulation of memory and effector CD8 T cells is limited by Fas-driven apoptosis. Furthermore, introduction of CD70 signaling during acute infection with inﬂuenza virus induces Fas-dependent elimination of inﬂuenza-speciﬁc CD8 T cells. These ﬁndings suggest that CD27 suppresses its costimulatory effects on T cell survival through activation of Fas-driven T cell apoptosis to maintain T cell homeostasis during infection. The Journal of Immunology , 2012, 188: 000–000. this study, we addressed whether signaling through CD70 and CD27 directly impairs CD8 T cell differentiation. We found that costimulation through CD70 and CD27 enhances T cell survival after low antigenic stimulation, but increases T cell apoptosis upon high antigenic stimulation. Using in vitro and in vivo settings, we show that CD70-driven costimulation engages the Fas pathway of apoptosis to induce T cell death.
A NOVEL APPROACH OF HYBRID METHOD OF MACHINE LEARNING AND STATISTICAL PROPERTIES IN PATTERN RECOGNITION

In this article, we present new method of hybrid intelligent systems. Intelligent systems are very useful for prediction in any situation and are a new wave of embedded and real-time systems that are highly connected, with massive processing power and performing complex process. Here, we present a method of hybrid systems for prediction of the roughness of robot laser hardened specimens, if we cannot measure or calculate one of parameters in existing models of intelligent systems. Also, we have a model of intelligent systems for prediction of the roughness of hardened specimens, but we cannot calculate one parameter in this model. Thus, we develop a new method of hybrid intelligent systems to solve this problem. We develop a hybrid of genetic programming, neural network and multiple regression. In this article, we present new method for statistical pattern recognition. Statistical pattern recognition relates to the use of statistical techniques for analyzing data measurements in order to extract information and make justified decisions. This solution to the presented problem has applications for metallurgy and mechanical engineering. With the hybrid system intelligent system, we increase production of the process of laser hardening, because we decrease the time of the process and increase the topographical property of the materials. This paper explores the use of an intelligent system with a new hybrid method of intelligent systems to predict the mechanical properties of robot laser hardened specimens, if we do not know one parameter of the existing model.
Initial-Condition Sensitivities and the Predictability of Downslope Winds

The sensitivity of downslope wind forecasts to small changes in initial conditions is explored by using 70-memberensemblesimulationsoftwoprototypicalwindstormsobservedduringtheTerrain-InducedRotor Experiment (T-REX). The10 weakestand 10 strongest ensemblemembersare compositedand compared for each event. In the first case, the 6-h ensemble-mean forecast shows a large-amplitude breaking mountain wave and severe downslope winds. Nevertheless, the forecasts are very sensitive to the initial conditions because the difference in the downslope wind speeds predicted by the strong- and weak-member composites grows to larger than 28 m s 21 over the 6-h forecast. The structure of the synoptic-scale flow one hour prior to the windstorm and during the windstorm is very similar in both the weak- and strong-member composites. Wave breaking is not a significant factor in the second case, in which the strong winds are generated by a layer of high static stability flowing beneath a layer of weaker mid- and upper-tropospheric stability. In this case,thesensitivitytoinitialconditionsisweakerbutstillsignificant.Thedifferenceindownslopewindspeeds between the weak- and strong-member composites grows to 22 m s 21 over 12 h. During and one hour before the windstorm, the synoptic-scale flow exhibits appreciable differences between the strong- and weakmember composites. Although this case appears to be more predictable than the wave-breaking event, neither case suggests that much confidence should be placed in the intensity of downslope winds forecast 12 or more hours in advance.
Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Cellular Networks: Use Cases, Challenges and Approaches

Fifth-generation cellular mobile networks are expected to support mission critical URLLC services in addition to enhanced mobile broadband applications. This article first introduces three emerging mission critical applications of URLLC and identifies their requirements on end-to-end latency and reliability. We then investigate the various sources of end-to-end delay of current wireless networks by taking 4G LTE as an example. Then we propose and evaluate several techniques to reduce the end-to-end latency from the perspectives of error control coding, signal processing, and radio resource management. We also briefly discuss other network design approaches with the potential for further latency reduction.
The role of sequence context, nucleotide pool balance and stress in 2′-deoxynucleotide misincorporation in viral, bacterial and mammalian RNA

The misincorporation of 2′-deoxyribonucleotides (dNs) into RNA has important implications for the function of non-coding RNAs, the translational fidelity of coding RNAs and the mutagenic evolution of viral RNA genomes. However, quantitative appreciation for the degree to which dN misincorporation occurs is limited by the lack of analytical tools. Here, we report a method to hydrolyze RNA to release 2′-deoxyribonucleotide-ribonucleotide pairs (dNrN) that are then quantified by chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Using this platform, we found misincorporated dNs occurring at 1 per 103 to 105 ribonucleotide (nt) in mRNA, rRNAs and tRNA in human cells, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and, most abundantly, in the RNA genome of dengue virus. The frequency of dNs varied widely among organisms and sequence contexts, and partly reflected the in vitro discrimination efficiencies of different RNA polymerases against 2′-deoxyribonucleoside 5′-triphosphates (dNTPs). Further, we demonstrate a strong link between dN frequencies in RNA and the balance of dNTPs and ribonucleoside 5′-triphosphates (rNTPs) in the cellular pool, with significant stress-induced variation of dN incorporation. Potential implications of dNs in RNA are discussed, including the possibilities of dN incorporation in RNA as a contributing factor in viral evolution and human disease, and as a host immune defense mechanism against viral infections.
Contribution of Double-Stranded RNA and CPSF30 Binding Domains of Influenza Virus NS1 to the Inhibition of Type I Interferon Production and Activation of Human Dendritic Cells

ABSTRACT The influenza virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) inhibits innate immunity by multiple mechanisms. We previously reported that NS1 is able to inhibit the production of type I interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines in human primary dendritic cells (DCs). Here, we used recombinant viruses expressing mutant NS1 from the A/Texas/36/91 and A/Puerto Rico/08/34 strains in order to analyze the contribution of different NS1 domains to its antagonist functions. We show that the polyadenylation stimulating factor 30 (CPSF30) binding function of the NS1 protein from A/Texas/36/91 influenza virus, which is absent in the A/Puerto Rico/08/34 strain, is essential for counteracting these innate immune events in DCs. However, the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) binding domain, present in both strains, specifically inhibits the induction of type I IFN genes in infected DCs, while it is essential only for inhibition of type I IFN proteins and proinflammatory cytokine production in cells infected with influenza viruses lacking a functional CPSF30 binding domain, such as A/Puerto Rico/08/34.
Design and principles of a fault tolerant system

Inside a Toulousian project on “Fault tolerant computing system”, we are interested by error confinement and error recovery at the operating system and software application levels. This paper will discuss the determination of a global system architecture by a top-down approach and the principles of protection by capability. We will detail management of synchronization and object sharing between processes, by generalized monitors and path expression in this hierarchized system. Then we will present error recovery mechanisms (rollback).
Visceral afferent and efferent columns in the spinal cord of the teleost, Ictalurus punctatus

In tetrapod vertebrates, neural circuitries subserving visceral and somatic reflexes are each represented in distinct columns of cells within the gray area of the spinal cord. To determine the location of visceral elements of the spinal cord of a teleost fish, crystals of the carbocyanine dye 1,1′dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI), were placed on either the abdominal sympathetic (mesenteric) nerves, the coeliac ganglia, or on the rostral three somatic spinal nerves, in fixed specimens of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. In fish in which DiI had been placed on the mesenteric nerves, labeled fibers coursed along the lateral margin of the dorsal horn within the first and second spinal segments, and appeared to terminate in a region at the base of the dorsal horn. In contrast, when DiI crystals were placed on the somatic spinal nerves, labeled primary afferents terminated in the dorsalmost two thirds of the dorsal horn, as well as in ventral and ventromedial areas of the medial funicular nuclear complex. Labeled somata (motor neurons) were situated in the ventral horn. When DiI crystals were placed bilaterally on the coeliac ganglia, labeled piriform and fusiform preganglionic neurons occurred in intermediate positions adjacent to the central canal, corresponding to the paracentral nucleus of Herrick, and in the lateral funiculus. These results demonstrate that somatic and visceral afferent and efferent functional columns are distinct in a teleost fish as they are in amniote vertebrates. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
THE ACTION OF HYALURONIDASES ON HYALURONIC ACID

Hyaluronidases act on hyaluronic acid in four different ways: (1) they prevent the formation of the mucin clot which separates on acidification of solutions containing protein and native hyaluronic acid; (2) they abolish the ability of hyaluronic acid to form insoluble protein salts on acidification (these salts are stabilized as colloidal solutions in the turbidimetric method) ; ( 3 ) they decrease the viscosity of solutions containing purified or native hyaluronate; and (4) they cause opening of the glucosidic linkages as measured by the increase in reducing sugar and the increase in the color produced by Ehrlich's reagent. The methods based upon these reactions depend not only on the source and purity of the enzymes, and the purity and method of preparation of the substrates, but also on extraneous factors such as pH and the presence of salts and heavy metal impurities. It was pointed out as early as 1941' that hyaluronidases are mixtures of enzymes, as is evident from a comparison of the reductometric and viscosimetric methods with two different sources of enzyme, one from pneumococcus, the other from bovine testis. An understanding of the mechanisms of the different tests seems essential not only for purely academic reasons but for applied problems as well. The spreading reaction, capsule loss and the prevention of its formation in streptococci, and the loss of fiber formation in the diluted synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients? are such problems. The mechanism of the mucin clot prevention test has been most puzzling. This method shows no correlation with the viscosimetric or turbidimetric methods. Furthermore, the mechanism of mucin clot formation itself is not well understood. Recently, we proposed that acid anhydride linkages might be essential for the mucin clot. $ If this is correct, then mucin clot prevention would be due to the opening of these labile linkages. As far as is known, hyaluronidases from all sources cause the loss of ability to form mucin clots. The question is still to be answered whether a specific enzyme is responsible for this action. The dependence of clot formation on the anhydride or any other labile linkage does not require the question to be answered affirmatively, inasmuch as the stability of such a linkage might be dependent on the degree of polymerization, while the enzymic action would be the expected one of depdymerization aiu splitting of the glucosaminidic bonds. The most dependable method for the determination of hyaluronidase appears to be the turbidimetric method, since it is nearly independent of the source and viscosity of the hyaluronate. The differences between the varying modifications of the original Kass and Seastone method* probably are not very important. The method is, however, highly sensitive to certain