Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy spatial map representation for mobile robot navigation

An aim of intelligent robotics research is to develop mobile robots capable of navigation in ustructured environments. Research is being pursued in industry and government organizations towards a variety of applications of such vehicles. Examples include planetary rovers, mobile security robots, military surveillance vehicles, and robotic vehicles for use in factories, hazardous environments, and on smart highways. The practicality of such vehicles is a function of their ability to utilize spatial representations of the physical environment for goal-directed navigation throughout. In many of these applications the ultimate goal is autonomous navigation in environments that are uncertain, unpredictable, and possibly unstructured and dynamic. As such, robots deployed in these environments must be capable of handling unexpected events and complex situations. Autonomous navigation in such real world environments requires access to information about locations of obstructions and/or landmarks. This spatial information is typically represented in the form of a map. The particular form of map representation employed by mobile robot control systems is an important issue as i t directly affects real-time map-based navigation.
Durable clinical benefit to trastuzumab and chemotherapy in a patient with metastatic colon adenocarcinoma harboring ERBB2 amplification

Somatic ERBB2 amplification or activating mutations occur in approximately 2–5% of metastatic colorectal adenocarcinomas and are presumed to be oncogenic drivers, but limited evidence exists to suggest these lesions are sensitive to targeted monotherapy in patients. Here we present the case of a patient with advanced CRC with pulmonary metastases, who had progressed on both standard of care cytotoxic chemotherapy and anti-EGFR targeted therapy. Comprehensive genomic profiling (FoundationOne®) identified amplification of ERBB2 and a TP53 mutation in the metastatic lesion. Treatment with trastuzumab with a chemotherapy backbone elicited stable disease/minor response in the patient over a one year course of therapy, reducing tumor burden and significantly improving quality of life. This report demonstrates the application of personalized targeted therapy guided by comprehensive genomic profiling in metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Detection of CYP2C19 Genetic Variants in Malaysian Orang Asli from Massively Parallel Sequencing Data

The human cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a superfamily of enzymes that have been a focus in research for decades due to their prominent role in drug metabolism. CYP2C is one of the major subfamilies which metabolize more than 10% of all clinically used drugs. In the context of CYP2C19, several key genetic variations that alter the enzyme’s activity have been identified and catalogued in the CYP allele nomenclature database. In this study, we investigated the presence of well-established variants as well as novel polymorphisms in the CYP2C19 gene of 62 Orang Asli from the Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 449 genetic variants were detected including 70 novel polymorphisms; 417 SNPs were located in introns, 23 in upstream, 7 in exons, and 2 in downstream regions. Five alleles and seven genotypes were inferred based on the polymorphisms that were found. Null alleles that were observed include CYP2C19*3 (6.5%), *2 (5.7%) and *35 (2.4%) whereas allele with increased function *17 was detected at a frequency of 4.8%. The normal metabolizer genotype was the most predominant (66.1%), followed by intermediate metabolizer (19.4%), rapid metabolizer (9.7%) and poor metabolizer (4.8%) genotypes. Findings from this study provide further insights into the CYP2C19 genetic profile of the Orang Asli as previously unreported variant alleles were detected through the use of massively parallel sequencing technology platform. The systematic and comprehensive analysis of CYP2C19 will allow uncharacterized variants that are present in the Orang Asli to be included in the genotyping panel in the future.
Effects of subchronic exposure to lead acetate and cadmium chloride on rat's bone: Ca and Pi contents, bone density, and histopathological evaluation.

This study aims to investigate the effects of low-dose subchronic exposure to lead acetate (Pb(NO₃)₂) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂·2.5H₂O) on bone in rats. The rats were assigned randomly to a control group and three experimental groups that were given the mixture of Pb(NO₃)₂ and CdCl₂·2. 5H₂O by gastric gavage at doses of 0 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) (Group I, to serve as a control), 29.96 mg/kg b.w. (Group II, 29.25+0.71), 89.88 mg/kg b.w. (Group III, 87.74+2.14), and 269.65 mg/kg b.w. (Group IV, 263.23+6.42) for at least 90 consecutive days. Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (Pi) contents in the bone were determined. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the tibia and femur region by dual-energy X-ray absorbsiometry. The histopathology of bone was evaluated by light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The BMD of rats in the experimental group was significantly lower and the contents of Ca and Pi were decreased than those in the control group. The histopathological evaluation showed that co-induction of Pb and Cd results in bone microstructure damage, especially to trabecular bone, marrow cavity, collagen fiber, and osteoblast. In general, results indicate that combining Pb with Cd induces bone damage and increases the risk of osteoporosis.
Expression of p95HER2, a truncated form of the HER2 receptor, and response to anti-HER2 therapies in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Women with HER2-overexpressing breast cancers have poor prognosis, and many are resistant to the HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab. A subgroup of HER2-overexpressing tumors also express p95HER2, an amino terminally truncated receptor that has kinase activity. Because p95HER2 cannot bind to trastuzumab but should be responsive to the HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib, we compared the sensitivity of tumors expressing p95HER2 and tumors expressing the full-length HER2 receptor to these agents. METHODS MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells were stably transfected with either full-length HER2 or p95HER2. We studied the effects of trastuzumab and lapatinib on receptor signaling, cell proliferation, and the growth of xenograft tumors. A paraffin-based immunofluorescence assay was developed to study the association between p95HER2 expression and sensitivity to trastuzumab in patients with advanced breast cancer. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Treatment of p95HER2-expressing cells with lapatinib inhibited p95HER2 phosphorylation, reduced downstream phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases, inhibited cell growth (MCF-7p95HER2 clones, lapatinib versus control, mean growth inhibition = 57.6% versus 22.6%, difference = 35%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 22.5% to 47.3%; P<.001; T47Dp95HER2 clones, lapatinib versus control, mean growth inhibition = 36.8% versus 20%, difference = 16.8%, 95% CI = 11.3% to 22.3%, P<.001), and inhibited growth of MCF-7p95HER2 xenograft tumors (lapatinib versus control, mean = 288.8 versus 435 mm3, difference = 146.2 mm3, CI = 73.8 to 218.5 mm3, P = .002). By contrast, treatment with trastuzumab had no effect on any of these parameters. Of 46 patients with metastatic breast cancer who were treated with trastuzumab, only one of nine patients (11.1%) expressing p95HER2 responded to trastuzumab (with a partial response), whereas 19 of the 37 patients (51.4%) with tumors expressing full-length HER2 achieved either a complete (five patients) or a partial (14 patients) response (P = .029). CONCLUSIONS Breast tumors that express p95HER2 are resistant to trastuzumab and may require alternative or additional anti-HER2-targeting strategies.
All-Clear Image Based Synthesis using Clarity Degree

Image based rendering (IBR) usually produces severe artifacts, typically blur and ghost, for objects not located on the focal plane. To obtain an all clear result, previous works either endeavor to recover scene depth or rest on iterations. These methods are difficult and time-consuming, not suitable for real-time IBR applications. In this paper, we propose a novel all-clear synthesis scheme bypassing tedious depth estimation. Our algorithm directly measures the clarity degree of local regions in pre-rendered images and then optimal blocks are combined. This measurement is motivated by the observation that mean change energies (MCE) are well consistent with the human vision system's feeling of "clarity". Furthermore, an efficient pseudo-depth filtering is proposed to alleviate the block effect during combination. Our algorithm gives outstanding performances on both synthetic and real world data. It is also proved to be fast enough for real-time implementation.
Wise women: mentoring as relational learning in perinatal nursing practice.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The focus of this paper is on one of four themes from a study exploring mentoring relationships between nurses in the intrapartum setting. The theme, relational learning, highlights how perinatal nurses engage with each other and engage with birthing women on a journey of learning in perinatal nursing practice. BACKGROUND Few studies have explored the contextual, lived experiences of informal mentoring relationships within nursing, particularly within perinatal nursing. DESIGN A qualitative feminist phenomenological study that considered a gender-centred, embodied exploration of human lived experiences was conducted. METHOD Five registered nurses practicing on a tertiary level labour and delivery unit in eastern Canada were purposefully recruited. Data were collected by phenomenological interviews, practice observations in the clinical setting and reflective journaling. RESULTS Four themes emerged through thematic analysis and researcher interpretation: the meaning of nurse-to-nurse mentoring, mentoring as relational learning, mentoring as embodied learning and a contextual understanding of nurse-to-nurse mentoring. Relational learning came to be understood through feminist phenomenological analysis, which revealed that expert perinatal nursing knowledge develops within positive mentoring relationships between perinatal nurses practicing with birthing women. This learning extends beyond tasks to a holistic understanding of clinical situations within specific health and social contexts. The mentor models positive perinatal nursing practices and creates a sense of enthusiasm that harnesses the raw passion new nurses often have for practice. CONCLUSION The findings in this study aim to promote the understanding of the importance of relational, experiential learning for perinatal nurses' professional development. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The results from this study will encourage nurses and nurse leaders to support mentoring by providing adequate resources and positive feedback for mentoring relationships. This will foster and sustain expert nurses to support novice nurses in perinatal practice. The findings also offer insight for perinatal practices beyond nursing, including midwifery.
[Effects of cofilin phosphorylation on the actin cytoskeleton reorganization induced by shear stress].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of cofilin on the actin cytoskeleton reorganization in osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress. METHODS Fluid shear stress (1.2 Pa) was applied to osteoblasts for 0 (control group), 15, 30, 45, 60, 120 min in vitro. Cells were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-phalloidin for fiber-actin, and confocal laser scanning microscope(CLSM) was used to observe the fluorescence of fiber-actin. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the cofilin and the phospho-cofilin. RESULTS Actin filaments became organized into stress fibers that were thicker and more abundant than those in non-flowed cells. The fluorescence intensity (38.00 ± 6.88) of fiber-actin after 120 min (42.93 ± 6.41) loading it was 2.8 times as much as that in control group (15.41 ± 3.60, P < 0.05). Additionally, the level of phospho-cofilin protein was dramatically elevated after loading. Fluid shear stress induced an initial decrease of cofilin at 60 min. However, at 120 min cofilin (0.254 ± 0.026) increased to 1.5 times as much as that at 60 min (0.162 ± 0.004). CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that cofilin phosphorylation mediates fiber-actin reorganization in the osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress.
Environmental Variation Generates Environmental Opportunist Pathogen Outbreaks

Many socio-economically important pathogens persist and grow in the outside host environment and opportunistically invade host individuals. The environmental growth and opportunistic nature of these pathogens has received only little attention in epidemiology. Environmental reservoirs are, however, an important source of novel diseases. Thus, attempts to control these diseases require different approaches than in traditional epidemiology focusing on obligatory parasites. Conditions in the outside-host environment are prone to fluctuate over time. This variation is a potentially important driver of epidemiological dynamics and affect the evolution of novel diseases. Using a modelling approach combining the traditional SIRS models to environmental opportunist pathogens and environmental variability, we show that epidemiological dynamics of opportunist diseases are profoundly driven by the quality of environmental variability, such as the long-term predictability and magnitude of fluctuations. When comparing periodic and stochastic environmental factors, for a given variance, stochastic variation is more likely to cause outbreaks than periodic variation. This is due to the extreme values being further away from the mean. Moreover, the effects of variability depend on the underlying biology of the epidemiological system, and which part of the system is being affected. Variation in host susceptibility leads to more severe pathogen outbreaks than variation in pathogen growth rate in the environment. Positive correlation in variation on both targets can cancel the effect of variation altogether. Moreover, the severity of outbreaks is significantly reduced by increase in the duration of immunity. Uncovering these issues helps in understanding and controlling diseases caused by environmental pathogens.
Spatial filtering and neocortical dynamics: estimates of EEG coherence

The spatial statistics of scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) are usually presented as coherence in individual frequency bands. These coherences result both from correlations among neocortical sources and volume conduction through the tissues of the head. The scalp EEG is spatially low-pass filtered by the poorly conducting skull, introducing artificial correlation between the electrodes. A four concentric spheres (brain, CSF, skull, and scalp) model of the head and stochastic field theory are used here to derive an analytic estimate of the coherence at scalp electrodes due to volume conduction of uncorrelated source activity, predicting that electrodes within 10-12 cm can appear correlated. The surface Laplacian estimate of cortical surface potentials spatially bandpass filters the scalp potentials reducing this artificial coherence due to volume conduction. Examination of EEG data confirms that the coherence estimates from raw scalp potentials and Laplacians are sensitive to different spatial bandwidths and should be used in parallel in studies of neocortical dynamic function.
Sensing-Throughput Tradeoff in Cognitive Radio With Random Arrivals and Departures of Multiple Primary Users

This letter analyzes the sensing-throughput tradeoff for a secondary user (SU) under random arrivals and departures of multiple primary users (PUs). We first study the case where PUs change their status only during SU's sensing period. We then generalize to a case where PUs change status anytime during SU frame, and compare the latter case with the former in terms of the optimal sensing time and SU throughput. We also investigate the effects of PU traffic parameters and the number of PUs on the sensing-throughput tradeoff for SU. Results show that, though the increase in the number of PUs reduces the optimal sensing time for SU, the opportunity to find a vacant PU channel reduces simultaneously, in turn, reducing SU throughput. Finally, we validate the analysis by Monte Carlo simulations.
A Publication of the Association of Management IS DEPLOYMENT OF DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING FOR BUSINESS APPLICATIONS A SOUND MANAGEMENT DECISION : PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION

Like network connectivity, the volume of data that must be stored and transferred across a network has increased dramatically. This trend has necessitated splitting databases and distributing them across multiple network nodes with potential impact on network performance. There are many ways to predict performance in computer networking applications, but one of the most popular is through simulation because it provides fairly accurate results and does not require the massive hardware resources of a network test-bed. This paper uses simulation to predict the performance gain that might be realized by employing this methodology. The results indicate that distributing a database among multiple nodes can significantly reduce network response delay to client requests, and that having adequate network bandwidth is imperative. It is suggested that further research should focus on the efficiency of the algorithm used to distribute the inquiries among the database nodes.
Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight: What to Do If You Are Sensory Defensive in an Overstimulating World

In the publishing tradition of Driven to Distraction or The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing, this prescriptive book by a developmental psychologist and sufferer of Sensory Defensive Disorder (SD) sheds light on a little known but common affliction in which sufferers react to harmless stimuli as irritating, distracting or dangerous. We all know what it feels like to be irritated by loud music, accosted by lights that are too bright, or overwhelmed by a world that moves too quickly. But millions of people suffer from Sensory Defensive Disorder (SD), a common affliction in which people react to harmless stimuli not just as a distracting hindrance, but a potentially dangerous threat.Sharon Heller, Ph.D. is not only a trained psychologist, she is sensory defensive herself. Bringing both personal and professional perspectives, Dr. Heller is the ideal person to tell the world about this problem that will only increase as technology and processed environments take over our lives. In addition to heightening public awareness of this prevalent issue, Dr. Heller provides tools and therapies for alleviating and, in some cases, even eliminating defensiveness altogether. Until now, the treatment for sensory defensiveness has been successfully implemented in Learning Disabled children in whom defensiveness tends to be extreme. However, the disorder has generally been unidentified in adults who think they are either overstimulated, stressed, weird, or crazy. These sensory defensive sufferers live out their lives stressed and unhappy, never knowing why or what they can do about it. Now, with Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight, they have a compassionate spokesperson and a solution-oriented book of advice.
Changes in the DNA structure of the lac UV5 promoter during formation of an open complex with Escherichia coli RNA polymerase.

By chemical and enzymatic methods, two stable complexes between Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and a linear DNA fragment carrying the lac UV5 promoter have been identified. In these binary complexes, DNA can adopt two alternate conformations as a function of temperature. Contacts between RNA polymerase and the DNA phosphate backbone are indistinguishable in these two forms, as revealed by probing with pancreatic DNase I. Protection of enhancement of the reactivity of the bases toward (CH3)2SO4 occurs, however, only in the form that predominates above 22 degrees C, RPo. The form stable at low temperature, RPi, is a "closed" complex since no single-stranded region is detectable in the DNA. The strong temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant, the midpoint value of the transition, and the rate of conversion between these two forms are in close agreement with a series of measurements performed by using a transcriptional assay and reported in the preceding paper [Buc, H. , & McClure, W. R. (1985) Biochemistry (preceding paper in this issue)]. These data further support the postulated mechanism of open complex formation involving three sequential steps: R + P in equilibrium RPc in equilibrium RPi in equilibrium RPo. The binary complex RPc, which accumulates transiently at 37 degrees C before the isomerization leading to open complex formation, is not significantly protected against enzymatic cleavage or chemical modification and is therefore distinct from RPi and RPo. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ethnicity Toward Multiculturalism: Socio-Spatial Relations of the Korean Community in Honolulu, 1903-1940.

This research deals with the dynamic ethnic socio-spatial relations and the transformation of ethnic identities in the early-twentieth-century Honolulu, mainly focusing on the Korean community. Against the widely spread notion that the ethnic relations of Honolulu in those days were little associated with the racist ideology which was prevalent in the contemporary mainland cities, this research shows that white-supremacy ideology had exerted strong influence on the minority groups in Honolulu all the way through their immigration and settling-down process. Although Honolulu included a balanced population among several ethnic groups and thus had no ethnic division of "majority" and "minority" in numerical sense, it witnessed an unequal power distribution along ethnic lines and an application of mainland-style racialization or ethnicization to its social structure. Clear occupational stratification and residential segregation by ethnic groups in the earlytwentieth-century Honolulu were nearly equal to situation in the mainland cities. On the basis of socio-spatial segregation, the dichotomized identity, "Local" versus "Haole," evolved. Non-white minorities not only had to compete with each other for limited urban resources or employment opportunities, but also they had to negotiate a collective strategy to cope with an unfair social structure controlled by white supremacy. The coalescence of several ethnic groups into a "Local" identity was fostered by spatial propinquity of their residential neighborhood. Mixed concentration of non-white ethnic groups in a particular place contributed to the formation of a new pan-ethnic identity. The Korean community in Honolulu, most of whose members had been firstly imported to Hawai'ian sugar plantations within the context of colonial capitalism, went through the change of identity in adjusting to the ethnically divided social structure. When the community was incorporated into the Hawai'ian version of multi-ethnic identification process, "Local" versus "Haole," its members' identity as Koreans was also transformed into the identity as Korean-Americans, within the larger construct of "Local" identity. The transformed identity was a product of on-going inter-ethnic negotiation process embedded in the non-white multi-ethnic neighborhood. CHAPTER