Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indirect Object Search based on Qualitative Spatial Relations

Accomplishing object search tasks in human environments requires autonomous mobile robots to reason about potential object locations and to plan for the next best view accordingly. By using information about the 3D structure of the environment, knowledge about landmark objects and their spatial relationship to the sought object, the search can be improved by directing the robot towards the most likely object locations. In this paper we have designed, implemented and evaluated an approach for searching for objects on the basis of Qualitative Spatial Relations (QSRs) such as left-of and close-to. On the basis of QSRs between a landmark and the sought object we generate a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) for representing metric poses of potential object locations using a ternary point calculus. The GMM is employed within object search for planning the next best view. Preliminary results show that search methods based on QSRs are faster and more reliably than methods not considering them.
Development and plasticity of local intracortical projections within the vibrissae representation of the rat primary somatosensory cortex

Labelling with 1,1′‐dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (Di‐A) was used to assess the development of projections within the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of rats aged between postnatal day 2 and 8 (P‐2 and P‐8). 1,1′‐Dioctadecyl‐3,3,3′,3′‐tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (Di‐I) was used in these same animals to label thalamocortical afferents. Particular attention was paid to the emergence of lamina IV intracortical projections that form a pattern complementary to vibrissae‐related thalamocortical afferents. A vibrissae‐related pattern of Di‐A‐labelled cells and fibers that was restricted largely to the septa regions was not apparent in rats killed on P‐2, but it was visible in animals killed on P‐4 and later ages. Tracing with biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was used to assess intra‐SI projections of adult rats that sustained transection of the infraorbital nerve (ION) on P‐0 or P‐7 or implantation of a tetrodotoxin (TTX)‐impregnated polymer chip over the cortex on P‐0. Rats that sustained ION transection on P‐7 or that had TTX implants demonstrated normal patterns of projections within SI. The patterns of labelling in the supra‐ and infragranular layers of the cortices of the rats that sustained ION transection on P‐0 were generally similar to those in the other groups evaluated. However, in lamina IV, there was no organization that could be related to the distribution of the vibrissae. These results indicate that the vibrissae‐related pattern of intracortical projections within SI develops shortly after birth and that two manipulations that alter cortical activity, but not the patterning of thalamocortical afferents (application of TTX and transection of the ION after thalamocortical afferent patterns are established), have no significant effect on it. However, a manipulation that alters thalamocortical development (transection of the ION on P‐0) profoundly affects the patterning of intracortical connections. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Vitamin D and rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes mellitus type 1 and multiple sclerosis. Reduced vitamin D intake has been linked to increased susceptibility to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and vitamin D deficiency has been found to be associated with disease activity in patients with RA. The objective was to evaluate vitamin D status in patients with RA and to assess the relationship between vitamin D levels and disease activity. Methods: In a cohort of 44 patients with RA, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] levels, parathyroid hormone levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured. Disease activity was evaluated by calculating the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). A control group (n = 44), matched for age and sex, was evaluated as well. Results: In the cohort of 44 patients with RA 25(OH)D3 levels were found to be low compared with the control group, 25(OH)D3 being 15.26 ± 1.07 ng/ml [mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM)] and 25.8 ± 1.6 ng/ml in the patient and control group respectively (Student’s t test, p < 0.001). Parathyroid hormone levels were 71.08 ± 7.02 pg/ml (mean ± SEM) (normal values 10.0–65.0 pg/ml), CRP 7.6 ± 1.57 mg/litre (mean ± SEM) (normal values < 3 mg/litre) and ESR was 38.0 ± 4.6 mm/h (mean ± SEM) in the group of patients with RA. Levels of 25(OH)D3 were found to be negatively correlated to the DAS28, the correlation coefficient being −0.084. Levels of 25(OH)D3 were also found to be negatively correlated to CRP and ESR, the correlation coefficient being –0.115 and −0.18, respectively. Conclusion: It appears that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with RA, and that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to disease severity in RA. As vitamin D deficiency has been linked to diffuse musculoskeletal pain, these results have therapeutic implications. Vitamin D supplementation may be needed both for the prevention of osteoporosis as well as for pain relief in patients with RA.
Optimizing Sedative Dose in Preterm Infants Undergoing Treatment for Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The intubation-surfactant-extubation (INSURE) procedure is used worldwide to treat preterm newborn infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome, which is caused by an insufficient amount of the chemical surfactant in the lungs. With INSURE, the infant is intubated, surfactant is administered via the tube to the trachea, and at completion the infant is extubated. This improves the infant’s ability to breathe and thus decreases the risk of long-term neurological or motor disabilities. To perform the intubation safely, the newborn infant first must be sedated. Despite extensive experience with INSURE, there is no consensus on what sedative dose is best. This article describes a Bayesian sequentially adaptive design for a multi-institution clinical trial to optimize the sedative dose given to preterm infants undergoing the INSURE procedure. The design is based on three clinical outcomes, two efficacy and one adverse, using elicited numerical utilities of the eight possible elementary outcomes. A flexible Bayesian parametric trivariate dose-outcome model is assumed, with the prior derived from elicited mean outcome probabilities. Doses are chosen adaptively for successive cohorts of infants using posterior mean utilities, subject to safety and efficacy constraints. A computer simulation study of the design is presented. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Histologic and Histomorphometric Comparison between Sintered Nanohydroxyapatite and Anorganic Bovine Xenograft in Maxillary Sinus Grafting: A Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

The presence of vital bone after maxillary sinus augmentation is crucial to enhance the quality of bone-implant interface, ensuring predictable long-term results. The aims of this RCT with split-mouth design were the histologic and histomorphometric comparison of two different biomaterials in sinus elevation after 6 months of healing and the evaluation of the clinical outcomes of implants inserted in the augmented areas after 12 months of prosthetic loading. Twenty-eight patients (10 females, 18 males) were treated with bilateral sinus floor elevation with lateral approach. Pure sintered nanohydroxyapatite (NHA) and anorganic bovine bone (ABB) were used as test and active control, respectively. After six months, 52 bone biopsies were harvested from 26 patients, and 107 implants were inserted in the augmented areas. Histomorphometry showed that, in the two groups, vital bone percentages were 34.9 ± 15% (NHA) and 38.5 ± 17% (ABB) (p = 0.428), marrow spaces percentages were 44.5 ± 18% (NHA) and 43.5 ± 23% (ABB) (p = 0.866), and residual graft percentages were 20.6 ± 13% (NHA) and 22.3 ± 12% (ABB) (p = 0.638). After 6 months of healing, no statistically significant difference was present in histomorphometric outcomes between NHA and ABB groups. Implant survival rate in NHA group after 12 months of loading was 96.4%, showing no statistically significant differences with ABB group.
Cross-polarization and sidelobe suppression in dual linear polarization antenna arrays

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in dual linear polarization antennas for various purposes, e.g. polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. A key design goal for dual polarization antennas is to obtain a high cross-polarization suppression. When using standard techniques for improving the cross-polarization suppression in dual linear polarization antenna arrays undesired sidelobes appear. This paper describes the properties of some known cross-polarization suppression methods and presents a new method for obtaining high cross-polarization suppression and simultaneously avoiding undesired sidelobes.
Abdominal fat quantity and distribution in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and extent of its relation to insulin resistance.

CONTEXT Increased abdominal fat has been linked to insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk. Because many patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) present abdominal obesity, it may be the cause of insulin resistance in this disorder. SETTING Fat quantity and distribution were evaluated by dual x-ray absorptiometry at the Departments of Clinical Medicine at the University of Palermo and the University of Naples, Italy. PATIENTS A total of 110 patients with PCOS and 112 weight-matched controls were studied. Anthropometric data, blood glucose, serum insulin, and testosterone were evaluated. Total, trunk, and central abdominal fat quantity were measured by total-body dual x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS Compared with weight-matched controls, patients with PCOS had similar quantity of total and trunk fat but higher quantity of central abdominal fat. This difference was not observed when comparing obese PCOS and obese controls but depended on differences between overweight and normoweight patients and controls. All obese subjects, independently of having PCOS or not, had increased central abdominal fat. The same parameter was increased in 71% of overweight PCOS, 50% of overweight controls, and 30% of normoweight PCOS patients. PCOS patients with increased central abdominal fat had significantly higher (P < 0.01) insulin levels and significantly reduced (P < 0.01) insulin sensitivity than controls with similar quantities of central abdominal fat. Overweight PCOS patients with normal abdominal fat had significantly higher (P < 0.05) insulin levels and significantly reduced (P < 0.05) insulin sensitivity than overweight controls with normal abdominal fat. CONCLUSIONS Most obese subjects, independent of being affected by PCOS, have an abdominal form of obesity. However, abdominal fat excess may not be the only determinant of insulin resistance in PCOS.
Insight intoOrganometallic Intermediate and Its Evolution to Covalent Bonding in Surface-Con fi ned Ullmann Polymerization

Marco Di Giovannantonio, Mohamed El Garah, Josh Lipton-Duffin, Vincent Meunier, Luis Cardenas, Yannick Fagot Revurat, Albano Cossaro, ) Alberto Verdini, ) Dmitrii F. Perepichka,* Federico Rosei,* and Giorgio Contini†,r,* Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CNR, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, Italy, Centre Energie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1650 Boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, QC J3X 1S2, Canada, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York 12180, United States , Institut Jean Lamour, UMR 7198, Université Lorraine/CNRS, B.P. 239 FE-54506, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France, IOM-CNR, Laboratorio TASC, 34149 Trieste, Italy, Department of Chemistry and Centre for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 2K6, Canada, and rDepartment of Physics and Centro Interdipartimentale Nanoscienze & Nanotecnologie & Strumentazione (NAST), University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Roma, Italy
Assessment of Two Different Sources of Durable Resistance and Susceptible Cultivar of Wheat to Stripe Rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici)

A study was conducted to assess the durable resistance in a near isogenic line of spring wheat (Triticum aestivalis L.), possessing resistance gene Yr-18 to some isolates (race specific resistance) of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), namely Thatcher Yr-18 and durable resistance of an cultivar of spring wheat to all isolates of stripe rust (race non- specific resistance), namely Hybrid de Berse'e. In this investigation fresh urediniospores of two isolates namely SRC 99 (race 70E 128) and SRC 89 (race 14E 14), were collected from a susceptible cultivar of spring wheat, Avocet, as inoculums. Then suspension of spore in mineral oil [Soltrol 170 (5 mg/ml)] were sprayed on third and flag leaves of the booth genotypes mentioned above and on the Thatcher cultivar which was susceptible to booth isolates. The Percentage of urediniospore germination, latent period and infection types of all susceptible and resistant genotypes to booth isolates were determined in four replicates at seedling and adult plant stages. Mean percentage of spore germination and the value of latent period were analyzed separately in each replicate, and then compared using analysis of variance and the Student- Newman Keuls test. The results indicated that urediniospoe germination in all genotypes / isolates/ leaf stage combination was high and neither resistance type affected spore germination significantly. In both types of resistance, latent period increased with advancing plant age. In general cultivars possessing resistant gene had longer latent periods. Assessment of the infection type showed that, the durable resistance of Hybrid de Bersee is detected at an earlier stage than the adult-plant resistance of near isogenic line containing the gene Yr18.
Multimethod Approach to the Early Postnatal Growth of the Mandible in Mice from a Zone of Robertsonian Polymorphism

The western European house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) shows high karyotypic diversity owing to Robertsonian translocations. Morphometric studies conducted with adult mice suggest that karyotype evolution due to these chromosomal reorganizations entails variation in the form and the patterns of morphological covariation of the mandible. However, information is much scarcer regarding the effect of these rearrangements on the growth pattern of the mouse mandible over early postnatal ontogeny. Here we compare mandible growth from the second to the eighth week of postnatal life between two ontogenetic series of mice from wild populations, with the standard karyotype and with Robertsonian translocations respectively, reared under the same conditions. A multi‐method approach is used, including bone histology analyses of mandible surfaces and cross‐sections, as well as geometric morphometric analyses of mandible form. The mandibles of both standard and Robertsonian mice display growth acceleration around weaning, anteroposterior direction of bone maturation, a predominance of bone deposition fields over ontogeny, and relatively greater expansion of the posterior mandible region correlated with the ontogenetic increase in mandible size. Nevertheless, differences exist between the two mouse groups regarding the timing of histological maturation of the mandible, the localization of certain bone remodeling fields, the temporospatial patterns of morphological variation, and the organization into two main modules. The dissimilarities in the process of mandible growth between the two groups of mice become more evident around sexual maturity, and could arise from alterations that Robertsonian translocations may exert on genes involved in the bone remodeling mechanism. Anat Rec, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Direct-Current Electric Field Distribution in the Brain for Tumor Treating Field Applications: A Simulation Study

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy have been clinically reported to provide prolonged overall survival in glioblastoma patients. Alternating electric fields with frequencies of 100~300 kHz and magnitudes of 1~3 V/cm are shown to suppress the growth of cancer cells via interactions with polar molecules within dividing cells. Since it is difficult to directly measure the electric fields inside the brain, simulation models of the human head provide a useful tool for predicting the electric field distribution. In the present study, a three-dimensional finite element head model consisting of the scalp, the skull, the dura, the cerebrospinal fluid, and the brain was built to study the electric field distribution under various applied potentials and electrode configurations. For simplicity, a direct-current electric field was used in the simulation. The total power dissipation and temperature elevation due to Joule heating in different head tissues were also evaluated. Based on the results, some guidelines are obtained in designing the electrode configuration for personalized glioblastoma electrotherapy.
Increased expression of IL-6 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines correlates with biological characteristics.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS IL-6 has been implicated in both virus-associated and diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Generally it is produced by immune cells such as Kupffer cells in the liver. To understand mechanisms by which IL-6 might participate in the genesis of HCCs, the production of IL-6 by cell lines under different conditions was examined to determine inducing factors. METHODS Expression of IL-6 mRNA in both hepatoma cell lines and a normal liver cell line L-02 was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Biological molecules including liposome, dsRNA and cell debris were used to stimulate IL-6 mRNA expression in HepG2 cells and inhibition was effected by RNAi. Proliferation was assessed by MTT and clone formation and migration was determined by scratch assay. RESULTS All of the HCC cell lines observed expressed IL-6 mRNA, including HepG2, Bel-7402(7402), MHCC-97H and SMMC-7721.Normal liver cell line L-02 also expressed IL-6 mRNA. SiRNA to IL-6 specifically knockdowned IL-6 mRNA expression in HepG2, and liposome, dsRNA and cell debris increased it. Both proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells were related to the level of IL-6 HepG2 expressed. CONCLUSION Both normal liver cell line and HCC cell lines can produce IL-6 so that Kupffer cells are noit the only source of the cytokine in the liver well as other immune cells. That the fact that HCC cells reacted to stimulation of biological molecules such as liposome, dsRNA or cell debris with increasing production of IL-6 indicates that the cytokine might play an important role not only in the period of tumor initiation but progression and recurrence as well.
Serum uric acid as an index of impaired oxidative metabolism in chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND Elevated serum uric acid concentrations have been observed in clinical conditions associated with hypoxia. Since chronic heart failure is a state of impaired oxidative metabolism, we sought to determine whether serum uric acid concentrations correlate with measures of functional capacity and disease severity. METHODS Fifty nine patients with a diagnosis of chronic heart failure due to coronary heart disease (n = 34) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 25) and 20 healthy controls underwent assessment of functional capacity. Maximal oxygen uptake (MVO2) and regression slope relating to minute ventilation to carbon dioxide output (VE-VCO2) were measured during a maximal treadmill exercise test. Metabolic assessment consisted of measuring serum uric acid and fasting lipids, and insulin sensitivity, obtained by minimal modelling analysis of glucose and insulin responses during an intravenous glucose tolerance test. Clustering of indices of functional disease capacity and metabolic factors was explored using factor analysis and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS Compared to 20 healthy controls, patients with chronic heart failure had a 52% lower MVO2 (P < 0.001), 56.8% higher serum uric acid concentrations (P < 0.001) as well as a 60.5% lower insulin sensitivity (P < 0.001). Salient univariate correlations in the chronic heart failure group included serum uric acid concentrations with exercise time during the exercise test (r = -0.53), MVO2 (r = -0.50) (both P < 0.001), VE-VCO2 slope (r = 0.45), and NYHA functional class (r = 0.36) (both P < 0.01). In factor analysis of the chronic heart failure group, serum uric acid formed part of a principal cluster of metabolic variables which included MVO2 and VE-VCO2 slope. In multivariate regression analysis, serum uric acid concentrations emerged as a significant predictor of MVO2, exercise time (both P < 0.001,) VE-VCO2 slope and NYHA functional class (both P < 0.02), independent of diuretic dose, age, body mass index, serum creatinine, alcohol intake, plasma insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity index. CONCLUSIONS There is an inverse relationship between serum uric acid concentrations and measures of functional capacity in patients with cardiac failure. The strong correlation between serum uric acid and MVO2 suggests that in chronic heart failure, serum uric acid concentrations reflect an impairment of oxidative metabolism.
Effect of Fortification with Fish (Pseudophycis bachus) Powder on Nutritional Quality of Durum Wheat Pasta

This paper investigates the nutraceutical (phenolic content and antioxidant activity) and nutritional potential (protein and starch digestibility) of supplementation of durum wheat semolina with 5–20% fish powder (Pseudophycis bachus). In general, all enriched pasta with fish powder showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in reducing sugar released during an in vitro digestion, and reductions in standardized area under the curve (AUC) values, compared to control pasta. The potentially bioaccessible fraction of pasta enriched with 20% fish powder (FP) was characterized as having a 177–191% increase in phenolic content and a 145–556% higher antiradical activity. Elevation of these parameters in fortified pasta was accompanied by interaction of wheat starch, protein, and fish powder protein. Supplementation of fish powder also influenced protein digestibility (a reduction from 84.60% for control pasta to 80.80% for pasta with 20% fish powder). Fortification improved the nutraceutical and nutritional potential of the studied pasta with the effects depending on factors including protein-starch-phenolic interactions.
Recent advances in flower color variation and patterning of Japanese morning glory and petunia

The Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil) and petunia (Petunia hybrida), locally called “Asagao” and “Tsukubane-asagao”, respectively, are popular garden plants. They have been utilized as model plants for studying the genetic basis of floricultural traits, especially anthocyanin pigmentation in flower petals. In their long history of genetic studies, many mutations affecting flower pigmentation have been characterized, and both structural and regulatory genes for the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway have been identified. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in the understanding of flower pigmentation in the two species with respect to flower hue and color patterning. Regarding flower hue, we will describe a novel enhancer of flavonoid production that controls the intensity of flower pigmentation, new aspects related to a flavonoid glucosyltransferase that has been known for a long time, and the regulatory mechanisms of vacuolar pH being a key determinant of red and blue coloration. On color patterning, we describe particular flower patterns regulated by epigenetic and RNA-silencing mechanisms. As high-quality whole genome sequences of the Japanese morning glory and petunia wild parents (P. axillaris and P. inflata, respectively) were published in 2016, further study on flower pigmentation will be accelerated.