Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
17 Reconfigurable Control Scheme for Guiding Telerobotics

In telerobotics two control modes are usually implemented for guiding: position control and rate control. Numerous works have been carried out comparing them. This chapter introduces a new re-configurable system for guiding robots. It is based on the fact that guiding performance depends directly on the task requirement. The system presented is able to change its control scheme during task execution in order to accommodate itself to the task requirement at all times. An architecture for the re-configurable system is proposed. It has been experimentally implemented and tested. Its performance is compared to conventional force-position and force-rate bilateral control schemes. Findings show that the re-configurable system obtains the best results in all analysed variables.
Local minimum squared error for face and handwritten character recognition

Abstract. The minimum squared error (MSE) for classification is a linear discriminant function-based method that has been used in many applications such as face and handwritten character recognition. Nevertheless, MSE may not deal well with nonlinearly separable data sets. To address this problem, we improve the MSE and propose a new MSE-based algorithm, local MSE (LMSE), which is a local learning algorithm. For a test sample, we first determine its nearest neighbors from the training set. By using the determined neighbors, we construct a local MSE model to predict the class label of the test sample. LMSE can effectively capture the nonlinear structure of the data. It generally outperforms MSE, particularly when the data distribution is nonlinearly separable. Extensive experiments on many nonlinearly separable data sets show that LMSE achieves desirable recognition results.
Enterprise Social Networking: Opportunities, Adoption, and Risk Mitigation

Social networks on the Internet are becoming extremely popular and have begun to change the way we live and work. Many enterprises are assessing the potential of exploiting the commercial opportunities of this technology. Although social networking commercial activities may be the next big productivity booster for firms, some consider such activities to be time wasters and security traps. Therefore, it is useful to develop a framework to consolidate the issues in adopting this technology. This article reviews the opportunities provided by enterprise social networking and proposes using the fit-viability model to evaluate concerns related to the successful implementation of enterprise social networking. We also examine the major potential risks and the mechanisms for their management.
Coordinated Regulation of Lymph Node Vascular–Stromal Growth First by CD11c+ Cells and Then by T and B Cells

Lymph node blood vessels play important roles in the support and trafficking of immune cells. The blood vasculature is a component of the vascular–stromal compartment that also includes the lymphatic vasculature and fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs). During immune responses as lymph nodes swell, the blood vasculature undergoes a rapid proliferative growth that is initially dependent on CD11c+ cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) but is independent of lymphocytes. The lymphatic vasculature grows with similar kinetics and VEGF dependence, suggesting coregulation of blood and lymphatic vascular growth, but lymphatic growth has been shown to be B cell dependent. In this article, we show that blood vascular, lymphatic, and FRC growth are coordinately regulated and identify two distinct phases of vascular–stromal growth—an initiation phase, characterized by upregulated vascular–stromal proliferation, and a subsequent expansion phase. The initiation phase is CD11c+ cell dependent and T/B cell independent, whereas the expansion phase is dependent on B and T cells together. Using CCR7−/− mice and selective depletion of migratory skin dendritic cells, we show that endogenous skin-derived dendritic cells are not important during the initiation phase and uncover a modest regulatory role for CCR7. Finally, we show that FRC VEGF expression is upregulated during initiation and that dendritic cells can stimulate increased fibroblastic VEGF, suggesting the scenario that lymph node-resident CD11c+ cells orchestrate the initiation of blood and lymphatic vascular growth in part by stimulating FRCs to upregulate VEGF. These results illustrate how the lymph node microenvironment is shaped by the cells it supports.
JSI-124 inhibits glioblastoma multiforme cell proliferation through G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis augmentation

JSI-124(cucurbitacin I) is a selective inhibitor of Janus kinase /Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(JAK/STAT3) and has been shown to exert anti-proliferative and anti-tumor properties both in vitro and in vivo. As STAT3 activation has been implicated in the development of glioma, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of JSI-124 on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by interfering with STAT3 pathway. In present study, two GBM cell lines, U251 and A172 cells, were treated with JSI-124. The results showed that the cell growth was inhibited significantly in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Further investigation illustrated that the levels of phosphorylated-STAT3 were decreased in GBM cells treated by JSI-124, concomitant with apoptosis augment and cell cycle arrest. Specially, JSI-124 induced G2/M accumulation via down-regulation of cyclin B1 and cdc2 expression. Together these results suggested that inhibition of STAT3 by JSI-124 is a potential strategy for the development of the new glioblastoma multiforme theraputics.
C‐terminal β‐strand swapping in a consensus‐derived fibronectin Type III scaffold

The crystal structures of six different fibronectin Type III consensus‐derived Tencon domains, whose solution properties exhibit no, to various degrees of, aggregation according to SEC, have been determined. The structures of the five variants showing aggregation reveal 3D domain swapped dimers. In all five cases, the swapping involves the C‐terminal β‐strand resulting in the formation of Tencon dimers in which the target‐binding surface is blocked. All of the variants differ in sequence in the FG loop, which is the hinge loop in the β‐strand‐swapped dimers. The six tencon variants have between 0 and 5 residues inserted between positions 77 and 78 in the FG loop. Analysis of the structures suggests that a non‐glycine residue at position 77 and insertions of <4 residues may destabilize the β‐turn in the FG loop promoting β‐strand swapping. Swapped dimers with an odd number of inserted residues may be less stable, particularly if they contain proline residues, because they cannot form perfect β‐bridges in the FG regions that link the swapped dimers. The Tencon β‐swapped variants with the longest FG sequences are observed to form higher order hexameric or helical oligomeric structures in the crystal correlating well with the aggregation properties of these domains observed in solution. Understanding the structural basis for domain‐swapped dimerization and oligomerization will support engineering efforts of the Tencon domain to produce variants with desired biophysical properties. Proteins 2014; 82:1359–1369. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effects of canal preparation and filling on the incidence of dentinal defects.

AIM To evaluate ex vivo the incidence of defects in root dentine before and after root canal preparation and filling. METHODOLOGY Eighty extracted mandibular premolars were divided equally in four groups. Group 1 was left unprepared. All other root canals were prepared using Gates Glidden drills and System GT files up to size-40, 0.06 taper at the working length. Group 2 was not filled while the canals of the other groups were filled with gutta-percha and AH26, either with a master cone and passive insertion of secondary gutta percha points (group 3) or lateral compaction (group 4). Roots were then sectioned horizontally 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex and observed under a microscope. The presence of dentinal defects (fractures, craze lines or incomplete cracks) was noted and the differences between the groups were analysed with the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS No defects were observed in the roots with unprepared canals. The overall difference between the groups was significant (P < 0.05). Canal preparation alone created significantly more defects than unprepared canals (P < 0.05). The total number of defects after lateral compaction was significantly larger than after noncompaction canal filling. CONCLUSION Root canal preparation and filling of extracted teeth created dentine defects such as fractures, craze lines and incomplete cracks.
Suppression of bile acid synthesis by thyroid hormone in primary human hepatocytes.

AIM It is known that thyroid hormones alter the bile acid metabolism in humans, however the effect on individual enzymes has been difficult to elucidate. This is mainly due to the lack of human liver cell lines producing bile acids. We used cultures of primary human hepatocytes to study the effects of triiodothyronine (T(3)) on bile acid synthesis. METHODS Primary hepatocytes were isolated from liver tissue obtained from three different patients undergoing liver resection due to underlying malignancy. The hepatocytes were cultured under serum-free conditions and treated from d 1 to d 5 with culture containing 0.1 - 1000 nmol/L of T(3). Bile acid formation and mRNA levels of key enzymes were analysed. RESULTS The lowest concentration of T(3) decreased cholic acid (CA) formation to 43%-53% of controls and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) to 52%-75% of controls on d 5. The highest dose further decreased CA formation to 16%-48% of controls while CDCA formation remained at 50%-117% of controls. Expression of mRNA levels of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and sterol 12alpha-hydroxylase (CYP8B1) dose-dependently decreased. Sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) levels also decreased, but not to the same extent. CONCLUSION T(3) dose-dependently decreased total bile acid formation in parallel with decreased expression of CYP7A1 and CYP8B1. CA formation is inhibited to a higher degree than CDCA, resulting in a marked decrease in the CA /CDCA ratio.
Homoarginine in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Background:Low levels of the amino acid homoarginine and parathyroid hormone (PTH) excess are both independently related to an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Accumulating evidence points to a mutual interplay between homoarginine and PTH. The authors therefore aimed to investigate circulating homoarginine levels in patients with and without primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Methods:The authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of serum homoarginine levels in 59 patients with mild and severe PHPT and in 92 control persons matched for age, sex and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results:Median PTH and serum homoarginine concentrations were 99.1 (79.7–120.2) pg/mL and 1.16 (0.95–1.66) µmol/L in patients with PHPT (79.7% female; 42.4% with normocalcemia) as compared with 45.8 (36.4–53.9) pg/mL and 1.62 (1.33–2.04) µmol/L in the control group (P < 0.001 for both), respectively. The authors observed no statistically differences between cases and controls for 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], serum albumin, hemoglobin, waist-to-hip ratio, C-reactive protein and NT-pBNP values. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that patients with PHPT had significantly lower homoarginine levels than controls (P < 0.001). This difference remained significant after adjusting for multiple confounders such as 25(OH)D, body mass index, LDL cholesterol, albumin, calcium, hemoglobin, smoking status and current antihypertensive medication. The differences of homoarginine levels persisted even after exclusion of patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min (P = 0.003) and 25(OH)D levels <30 ng/mL (P = 0.001), respectively. Conclusions:Patients with PHPT have lower homoarginine levels compared with matched controls irrespective of age, sex, kidney function and 25(OH)D status. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether low homoarginine accounts for higher cardiovascular risk conferred by PTH excess.
Morphological and cytoskeletal changes in epithelial cells occur immediately upon interaction with Salmonella typhimurium grown under low‐oxygen conditions

Salmonella typhimurium grown under oxygen‐limiting conditions were found to enter into, elicit actin filament rearrangement in, and effect morphological changes upon HEp‐2 cells within 15 min after infection. Video microscopy revealed that host cell morphological changes associated with entry began within 1 min of productive adherence. Polarized Caco‐2 cell morphology was affected 40 s after infection with low‐oxygen‐grown S. typhimurium. Stationary‐phase S. typhimurium did not elicit these phenomena within this time‐period even when adherence was enhanced with the afimbrial adhesin, AFA‐I. Thus, environmental cues regulate S. typhimurium invasion factors, allowing for immediate entry into host cells. Additionally, actin filament rearrangement and morphological changes in the eukaryotic host cell are essential for entry and occur within minutes of infection.
Influence of Grit-Blasting and Hydrofluoric Acid Etching Treatment on Surface Characteristics and Biofilm Formation on Zirconia

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hydrofluoric acid etching treatment on the surface characteristics of zirconia and Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) biofilm formation on zirconia. Zirconia specimens were prepared with different treatments, including being polished with 1000-grit SiC abrasive paper as the control group (Group C), grit-blasted with 110 μm silica-coated alumina particles (Group GB), etched with 40% hydrofluoric acid for 25 min at 100 °C (Group HF), and grit-blasted with 110 μm silica-coated alumina particles and then etched with 40% hydrofluoric acid for 25 min at 100 °C (Group GBHF). The highest surface roughness values and hydrophilicity were shown in Group HF and Group GBHF. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that hydrofluoric acid can create a crater-like appearance on the zirconia surface. An energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis demonstrated similar element concentration (wt %) in Group C, Group HF, and Group GBHF, but not for Group GB with higher concentrations of Al and Si element. Colony forming unit (CFU) counts showed that a similar amount of S. sanguinis biofilm and significantly lower P. gingivalis biofilm were formed on zirconia surfaces in Group HF and Group GBHF compared to that in Group C after three days of bacteria culture (p < 0.05). These results indicate that hydrofluoric acid etching on zirconia may not increase S. sanguinis and P. gingivalis mature biofilm formation on zirconia.
Variable Span disfluency detection in ASR transcripts

Natural conversations often involve disfluencies in the form of revisions, repetitions, interjections, filled pauses and such. This paper focuses on word/phrase repetitions and revisions that are lexically well formed. These are generally captured by an ASR but pose problems to downstream processing such as spoken language translation (SLT). We describe a system to identify such word level disfluencies with a goal towards removing them in real time from the automatic recognition (ASR) system output. We use a span based training system to utilize the contextual information while tagging disfluencies. We design our system on the oracle transcripts and test them on both reference and ASR transcripts. We achieve an area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for word level disfluency detection of . 93 and . 87 for the reference and the ASR transcripts respectively.
Age-Related Changes in Viscoelasticity of Rabbit Knee Articular Chondrocytes

Articular chondrocytes undergoes age-related changes that increase the risk of joint degeneration. The goal of this study was to characterize the changes of viscoelastic properties of rabbit chondrocytes in nature degeneration of knee articular cartilage. The micropipette aspiration combined with a standard linear viscoelastic solid model was used to quantify changes in viscoelastic properties of chondrocytes isolated from different age groups. Results have shown that the viscoelastic properties of chondrocytes in old group exhibited a significantly lower instantaneous modulus, equilibrium modulus, and apparent viscosity compared with young group (p 0.1). These findings may be relevant for chondrocyte-based cartilage tissue engineering.
Reactivation of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in asymptomatic seropositive persons.

BACKGROUND Most persons who have serologic evidence of infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 (HSV-2) are asymptomatic. Historically, it has been assumed that these persons have less frequent viral reactivation than those with symptomatic infection. METHODS We conducted a prospective study to investigate genital shedding of HSV among 53 subjects who had antibodies to HSV-2 but who reported having no history of genital herpes, and we compared their patterns of viral shedding with those in a similar cohort of 90 subjects with symptomatic HSV-2 infection. Genital secretions of the subjects in both groups were sampled daily and cultured for HSV for a median of 94 days. RESULTS HSV was isolated from the genital mucosa in 38 of the 53 HSV-2-seropositive subjects (72 percent) who reported no history of genital herpes, and HSV DNA was detected by the polymerase-chain-reaction assay in cultures prepared from genital mucosal swabs in 6 additional subjects. The rate of subclinical shedding of HSV in the subjects with no reported history of genital herpes was similar to that in the subjects with such a history (3.0 percent vs. 2.7 percent). Of the 53 subjects who had no reported history of genital herpes, 33 (62 percent) subsequently reported having typical herpetic lesions; the duration of their recurrences in these subjects was shorter (median, three days vs. five days; P<0.001) and the frequency lower (median, 3.0 per year vs. 8.2 per year; P<0.001) than in the 90 subjects with previously diagnosed symptomatic infection. Only 1 of these 53 subjects had no clinical or virologic evidence of HSV infection. CONCLUSIONS Seropositivity for HSV-2 is associated with viral shedding in the genital tract, even in subjects with no reported history of genital herpes.
Fifteen-year results of breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation for the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

PURPOSE To determine the 15-year outcome for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, intraductal carcinoma) of the breast treated with breast-conserving surgery followed by definitive breast irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS An analysis was performed of 270 intraductal breast carcinomas in 268 women from 10 institutions in Europe and the United States. In all patients, breast-conserving surgery included complete gross excision of the primary tumor followed by definitive breast irradiation. When performed, pathologic axillary lymph node staging was node-negative (n=86). The median follow-up time was 10.3 years (range, 0.9 to 26.8). RESULTS The 15-year actuarial overall survival rate was 87%, and the 15-year actuarial cause-specific survival rate was 96%. The 15-year actuarial rate of freedom from distant metastases was 96%. There were 45 local recurrences in the treated breast, and the 15-year actuarial rate of local failure was 19%. The median time to local failure was 5.2 years (range, 1.4 to 16.8). A number of clinical and pathologic parameters were evaluated for correlation with local failure, and none were predictive for local failure (all P > or = .15). CONCLUSION The results from the present study demonstrate high rates of overall survival, cause-specific survival, and freedom from distant metastases following the treatment of DCIS of the breast using breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation. These results support the use of breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation for the treatment of DCIS of the breast.
HDL particle subpopulations: Focus on biological function

Low levels of high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C) constitute an independent biomarker of cardiovascular morbi‐mortality. However, recent advances have drastically modified the classical and limited view of HDL as a carrier of ‘good cholesterol’, and have revealed unexpected levels of complexity in the circulating HDL particle pool. HDL particles are indeed highly heterogeneous in structure, intravascular metabolism and biological activity. This review describes recent progress in our understanding of HDL subpopulations and their biological activities, and focuses on relationships between the structural, compositional and functional heterogeneity of HDL particles. © 2015 BioFactors, 41(2):67–77, 2015
Magnetic Spherules in Deep-sea Deposits

FEW OF THE COMPONENTS entering into the sediments covering the ocean floor have attracted so much attention as the magnetic spherules first described in 1876 by Sir J ohn Murray. Struck by the resemblance of their surface structure to that of iron meteorites, Murray called them "cosmic spheru les. " The number he was able to extract from one quart of the deposit , by means of a small magnet, varied from 20 to 30 in samples of Red Clay, whereas in the same quantity of Globigerina Ooze only one or two were found (M urray, 1876). Together with A. F. Renard, Murray later published (1897) a more detailed description of the spherules in volume 4 of the "Challenger" Reports , Deep Sea Deposits. The higher numbers found in the Red Clay are ascribed to its much lower rate of sedimentation.
Bioterrorism and the Role of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

SUMMARY Regular review of the management of bioterrorism is essential for maintaining readiness for these sporadically occurring events. This review provides an overview of the history of biological disasters and bioterrorism. I also discuss the recent recategorization of tier 1 agents by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), and specific training and readiness processes and programs, such as the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Preparedness Exercise (LPX). LPX examined the management of cultivable bacterial vaccine and attenuated strains of tier 1 agents or close mimics. In the LPX program, participating laboratories showed improvement in the level of diagnosis required and referral of isolates to an appropriate reference laboratory. Agents which proved difficult to manage in sentinel laboratories included the more fastidious Gram-negative organisms, especially Francisella tularensis and Burkholderia spp. The recent Ebola hemorrhagic fever epidemic provided a check on LRN safety processes. Specific guidelines and recommendations for laboratory safety and risk assessment in the clinical microbiology are explored so that sentinel laboratories can better prepare for the next biological disaster.