Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Finite-Time Fuzzy Control of Nonlinear Active Suspension Systems With Input Delay

This paper presents a new adaptive fuzzy control scheme for active suspension systems subject to control input time delay and unknown nonlinear dynamics. First, a predictor-based compensation scheme is constructed to address the effect of input delay in the closed-loop system. Then, a fuzzy logic system (FLS) is employed as the function approximator to address the unknown nonlinearities. Finally, to enhance the transient suspension response, a novel parameter estimation error-based finite-time (FT) adaptive algorithm is developed to online update the unknown FLS weights, which differs from traditional estimation methods, for example, gradient algorithm with <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${e}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-modification or <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\sigma }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-modification. In this framework, both the suspension and estimation errors can achieve convergence in FT. A Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is constructed to prove the closed-loop system stability. Comparative simulation results based on a dynamic simulator built in a professional vehicle simulation software, Carsim, are provided to demonstrate the validity of the proposed control approach, and show its effectiveness to operate active suspension systems safely and reliably in various road conditions.
Newly qualified doctors’ perceived effects of assistantship alignment with first post: a longitudinal questionnaire study

Purpose Growing evidence supports the role of student assistantships in enhancing graduates’ preparedness for practice. However, there is limited evidence concerning the impact of aligning assistantships with graduates’ first doctor post. The aims of our study were to determine newly-qualified doctors’ views on the value their assistantship experience, effects on anxiety levels, confidence and preparedness for increased responsibilities, exploring change over time and whether effects differ according to assistantship alignment. Design We conducted a longitudinal cross-sectional online questionnaire study examining experiences of aligned and non-aligned assistantships across the transition from medical student to newly-qualified doctor. The questionnaire was distributed to final year medical students within Wales, UK (n=351) and those commencing their first post in Wales, UK (n=150) in June 2015 at Time 1 (T1), and repeated in September 2015 (1 month following transition, T2) and January 2016 (T3). Results Response rates at T1 were 50% (n=251, aligned=139, non-aligned=112), T2 36% (n=179, aligned=83, non-aligned=96) and T3 28% (n=141, aligned=69, non-aligned=72): 15% (n=73, aligned=36, non-aligned=37) completed all questionnaires. Paired longitudinal analysis was undertaken where possible. Significant differences were observed between participants on aligned and non-aligned assistantships in terms of the value they place on their assistantship experiences, their anxiety, confidence levels and preparedness for responsibility. Conclusion Although not sustained, aligned assistantships seem to provide graduates with additional benefits during the August transition. Further work is required to establish what it is about the aligned assistantship programme that works and why.
Pharmacomechanical Thrombectomy Versus Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Early catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can reduce postthrombotic morbidity. Pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) is a new therapy that can be selected for the treatment of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (IFDVT). We performed a meta-analysis of clinical trials comparing PMT versus CDT for treatment of acute IFDVT. Literature on this topic published between January 1, 1990, and June 1, 2018, was identified using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Six trials were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to CDT, PMT significantly reduced the Villalta score (P = .007; I 2 = 0%), thrombus score (P = .01; I 2 = 0%), the duration in the hospital (P = .03; I 2 = 64%), and thrombolysis time (P < .00001, I 2 = 0%). There was no significant difference in valvular incompetence events (P = .21; I 2 = 0%), minor bleeding events (P = .59; I 2 = 0%), stent events (P = .09; I 2 = 24%), and clot reduction grade I events (P = .16; I 2 = 43%) between PMT and CDT. Subgroup analysis was performed by dividing the clot reduction grade I events group into PMT plus CDT versus CDT group and significant differences were found (P = .03, I 2 = 0%) as well as for PMT alone versus CDT group (P = .88, I 2 = 37%). This meta-analysis shows that PMT reduces the severity of postthrombotic syndrome (PTS), thrombus score, duration in hospital, and thrombolysis time compared to CDT. More specifically, PMT plus CDT reduces clot reduction grade I events. No significant difference in valvular incompetence events, stent events, and minor bleeding events were found when PMT was compared to CDT.
Mulberry juice freeze-dried powder attenuates the disease severity by the maintaining of colon mucosa in mice with DSS-induced acute colitis

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the microbial compositions and gene expression related to inflammation in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis and the effect of mulberry supplementation. Male BALB/c mice received a diet supplemented with mulberry juice freeze-dried powder (MFP) or not for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, the mice received water containing 5% (w/v) DSS or not for 1 week. The disease activity index score in mice fed MFP was significantly decreased. A significant decrease in Bifidobacterium spp. and the Clostridium perfringens subgroup was observed in mice not fed MFP. The number of goblet cell and NLRP6 expression were observed in mice fed a diet supplemented with MFP compared with mice not fed MFP. These results may indicate that mulberry mitigates DSS-induced acute colitis by a changing the gut microbial flora and by improving mucosal conditions. Graphical abstract Mulberry fruit freeze-dried powder maintains the colonic microenvironment including bacterial balance in mice with DSS-induced acute colitis.
Hypoperfusion Intensity Ratio Is Correlated With Patient Eligibility for Thrombectomy

Background and Purpose— Hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) is associated with collateral status in acute ischemic stroke patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. We assessed whether HIR was correlated to patient eligibility for mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Methods— We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients with a proximal middle cerebral artery or internal carotid artery occlusion who underwent MT triage with computed tomography or magnetic resonance perfusion imaging. Clinical data, ischemic core (mL), HIR (defined as time-to-maximum [TMax] >10 seconds/TMax >6 seconds), mismatch volume between core and penumbra, and MT details were assessed. Primary outcome was favorable HIR collateral score (HIR <0.4) between patients who underwent MT (MT+) and those who did not (MT−) according to American Heart Association guidelines both in the <6 hours and 6 to 24 hours windows. Secondary outcomes were favorable HIR score in MT− subgroups (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale <6 versus core >70 mL) and core-penumbra mismatch volumes. Patients who did not meet guidelines were not included. Results— We included 197 patients (145 MT+ and 52 MT−). MT+ patients had a significantly lower median HIR compared with MT− patients (0.4 [interquartile range, 0.2–0.5] versus 0.6 [interquartile range, 0.5–0.8]; P<0.001) and a higher mismatch volume (96 versus 27 mL, P<0.001). Among MT− patients, 43 had a core >70 mL, and 9 had a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale <6. MT− patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale <6 had a lower HIR than MT− patients with core >70 mL (0.2 [interquartile range, 0.2–0.3] versus 0.7 [interquartile range, 0.6–0.8], P<0.001) but their HIR was not significantly different that MT+ patients. Conclusions— Patients who meet American Heart Association guidelines for thrombectomy are more likely to have favorable collaterals (low HIR). HIR may be used as a marker of eligibility for MT triage.
EED and EZH2 constitutive variants: A study to expand the Cohen‐Gibson syndrome phenotype and contrast it with Weaver syndrome

Overgrowth‐intellectual disability (OGID) syndromes are characterized by increased growth (height and/or head circumference ≥+2 SD) in association with an intellectual disability. Constitutive EED variants have previously been reported in five individuals with an OGID syndrome, eponymously designated Cohen‐Gibson syndrome and resembling Weaver syndrome. Here, we report three additional individuals with constitutive EED variants, identified through exome sequencing of an OGID patient series. We compare the EED phenotype with that of Weaver syndrome (56 individuals), caused by constitutive EZH2 variants. We conclude that while there is considerable overlap between the EED and EZH2 phenotypes with both characteristically associated with increased growth and an intellectual disability, individuals with EED variants more frequently have cardiac problems and cervical spine abnormalities, boys have cryptorchidism and the facial gestalts can usually be distinguished.
Phase Ib Study of Safety and Pharmacokinetics of the PI3K Inhibitor SAR245408 with the HER3-Neutralizing Human Antibody SAR256212 in Patients with Solid Tumors

Purpose: This phase Ib study was designed to determine the MTD, safety, preliminary efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of the HER3 (ErbB3) mAb SAR256212 in combination with the oral PI3K inhibitor SAR245408 for patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors. Experimental Design: Patients received the combination of intravenous SAR256212 and oral SAR245408 in a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design until occurrence of disease progression or dose-limiting toxicity. Objective response rate, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and PIK3CA mutational status were also evaluated. Results: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled. Thirteen of 20 patients tested (65%) had a hotspot-activating mutation in PIK3CA in their tumor. The MTD was determined to be SAR256212 at 40 mg/kg loading dose followed by 20 mg/kg weekly, plus SAR245408 200 mg daily. Dose-limiting toxicities included rash and hypotension; the most frequent treatment-related side effect was diarrhea (66.7%). Twenty-three patients were evaluable for efficacy, of which 12 patients (52.2%) had stable disease and 11 patients (47.8%) had progression of disease as best response. In this study with a limited sample size, there was no difference in best response between patients with PI3KCA-mutant versus PIK3CA wild-type tumors (P = 0.07). The concurrent administration of SAR245408 and SAR256212 did not appear to have an effect on the pharmacokinetics of either drug. Conclusions: The combination of SAR256212 and SAR245408 resulted in stable disease as the best response. Side effects seen in combination were similar to the profiles of each individual drug. Patient outcome was the same regardless of tumor PI3KCA mutation status. Clin Cancer Res; 23(14); 3520–8. ©2016 AACR.
Designing Three Fluorooxoborates with a Wide Transmittance Window by Anionic Group Substitution.

Three fluorooxoborates, K0.42Rb2. 58B3O3F6 and M3B2PO5F4 (M = K, Cs), were designed and synthesized under the open system. One of the common features is that the title compounds consist of six-membered oxofluoride anions. The oxofluoride anions [B3O3F6]3- and [B2PO5F4]3- display structures similar to the boroxine [B3O6]3-. Anionic group substitution using the [BO2F2]3- and [PO4]3- units can improve the optical property of the [B3O6]3- anion and help to generate a wide transmittance window.
Impact of Group Size on Female Reproductive Success of Free-Ranging Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains, China

Group size influences female reproductive success through scramble/contest feeding competition, predation pressures and infanticide risks in primates. The Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is an endangered folivorous colobine species living in a multilevel society. From 2002 to 2008, we studied a free-ranging band of R. roxellana in the Qinling Mountains of China to examine the effect of group size on female reproductive success. During our observation period, the number of monkeys in the study band fluctuated from 61 to 108, and the number of one-male/multi-female groups within it varied from 7 to 10. A significant negative linear relationship was found between group size and birth rate, but group size was not significantly correlated with infant survival rate or interbirth interval. These results suggest that group size influences female reproductive success via within-group scramble competition in this folivorous species.
Evidence for dynamic resource partitioning between two sympatric reef shark species within the British Indian Ocean Territory

Stable‐isotope analyses (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S) of multiple tissues (fin, muscle, red blood cells and plasma), revealed ontogenetic shifts in resource use by grey reef sharks Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos and resource partitioning with silvertip sharks Carcharhinus albimarginatus within the British Indian Ocean Territory marine protected area (MPA). Resource partitioning varied temporally, with C. albimarginatus feeding on more pelagic prey during October to January, potentially attributable to an influx of pelagic prey from outside the MPA at that time. Reef sharks may therefore be affected by processes outside an MPA, even if the sharks do not leave the MPA.
Diarrhea in peripheral stem cell transplant recipients: a developing country's experience.

INTRODUCTION We aimed to determine the frequency and microbiological causes of diarrhea occurring during the first 100 days in allogeneic (allo-) and autologous (auto-) stem cell transplantation (SCT) patients. METHODOLOGY A total of 452 patients who underwent transplantation due to hematological or solid organ malignancy were included. From the administration of the conditioning regimen up to day 100 post-transplant, diarrhea cases lasting at least three days with a minimum of three episodes per day were evaluated. RESULTS Cases of diarrhea were observed in 94 patients out of 227 subjects who received allo-SCT and in 107 patients out of 225 who received auto-SCT. The incidence rate of diarrhea in both patients undergoing autologous and allogeneic transplant was 47.5% and 41.4%, respectively. The cause of the diarrhea could be detected in 20.5% of auto-SCT patients and in 30.8% of allo-SCT patients. Parasitic infections were frequently observed in both autologous and allogeneic transplant patients in the first 20 days. In the late period, significantly more patients developed diarrhea in the allo-SCT recipient group than in the auto-SCT recipients due to graft versus host disease (GVHD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the causes of diarrhea and the prevalence and factors of parasitic infections in transplant patients in Turkey. All causative factors of diarrhea should be considered in detail, feces analyses should be evaluated for each patient, and endoscopic biopsy samples should be obtained when required in immunosuppressive patients undergoing stem cell transplantation.
Haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and myocardial infarction

Abstract The incidence of investigator diagnosed myocardial infarction (MI) is greater in patients treated with haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) than controls. Clinical trials and literature pertaining to possible HBOC toxicity mechanisms have been analyzed in order to identify possible reasons for this imbalance. MI diagnosis is hampered by potential interference of troponin assays by haemoglobin, haemolysis and bilirubin. Nevertheless, insofar as the reported incidence correlates with actual occurrence, there is a positive relationship between MI and HBOC dose and size. Preclinical and clinical data suggest that direct cardiac toxicity and coronary vasoconstriction are unlikely. More probable are detrimental intravascular interactions between HBOCs and components of the coagulation cascade, particularly dysfunctional endothelium. Elucidation of mechanisms is impeded by a lack of clinical data. Measurement of relevant biomarkers would be extremely useful in this regard and in improving patient selection criteria. Conduct of clinical trials in carefully selected patient populations after the development of improved protocols for MI diagnosis, along with concomitant biomarker data collection, is recommended.
Alternative Splicing Modulates Stem Cell Differentiation

Stem cells have the surprising potential to develop into many different cell types. Therefore, major research efforts have focused on transplantation of stem cells and/or derived progenitors for restoring depleted diseased cells in degenerative disorders. Understanding the molecular controls, including alternative splicing, that arise during lineage differentiation of stem cells is crucial for developing stem cell therapeutic approaches in regeneration medicine. Alternative splicing to allow a single gene to encode multiple transcripts with different protein coding sequences and RNA regulatory elements increases genomic complexities. Utilizing differences in alternative splicing as a molecular marker may be more sensitive than simply gene expression in various degrees of stem cell differentiation. Moreover, alternative splicing maybe provide a new concept to acquire induced pluripotent stem cells or promote cell–cell transdifferentiation for restorative therapies and basic medicine researches. In this review, we highlight the recent advances of alternative splicing regulation in stem cells and their progenitors. It will hopefully provide much needed knowledge into realizing stem cell biology and related applications.
Effects of Winter Flounder Antifreeze Protein on the Growth of Ice Particles in an Ice Slurry Flow in Mini-Channels

The control of ice growth in ice slurry is important for many fields, including (a) the cooling of the brain during cardiac arrest, (b) the storage and transportation of fresh fish and fruits, and (c) the development of distributed air-conditioning systems. One of the promising methods for the control is to use a substance such as antifreeze protein. We have observed and report here growth states of ice particles in both quiescent and flowing aqueous solutions of winter flounder antifreeze proteins in mini-channels with a microscope. We also measured ice growth rates. Our aim was to improve the levels of ice growth inhibition by subjecting the antifreeze protein solution both to preheating and to concentrating by ultrafiltration. We have found that the ice growth inhibition by the antifreeze protein decreased in flowing solutions compared with that in quiescent solutions. In addition, unlike unidirectional freezing experiments, the preheating of the antifreeze protein solution reduced the ice growth inhibition properties. This is because the direction of flow, containing HPLC6 and its aggregates, to the ice particle surfaces can change as the ice particle grows, and thus the probability of interaction between HPLC6 and ice surfaces does not increase. In contrast to this, ultrafiltration after preheating the solution improved the ice growth inhibition. This may be due to the interaction between ice surfaces and many aggregates in the concentrates.
An Approach to Share Self-Taught Knowledge between Home IoT Devices at the Edge †

The traditional Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm has evolved towards intelligent IoT applications which exploit knowledge produced by IoT devices using artificial intelligence techniques. Knowledge sharing between IoT devices is a challenging issue in this trend. In this paper, we propose a Knowledge of Things (KoT) framework which enables sharing self-taught knowledge between IoT devices which require similar or identical knowledge without help from the cloud. The proposed KoT framework allows an IoT device to effectively produce, cumulate, and share its self-taught knowledge with other devices at the edge in the vicinity. This framework can alleviate behavioral repetition in users and computational redundancy in systems in intelligent IoT applications. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept, we examine a smart home case study and build a prototype of the KoT framework-based smart home system. Experimental results show that the proposed KoT framework reduces the response time to use intelligent IoT devices from a user’s perspective and the power consumption for compuation from a system’s perspective.
Robot‐assisted Percutaneous Transfacet Screw Fixation Supplementing Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion Procedure: Accuracy and Safety Evaluation of This Novel Minimally Invasive Technique

Percutaneous transfacet screw fixation (pTSF) is a minimally invasive posterior fixation technique supplementing oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) for lumbar spinal disorders. Accurate screw insertion is difficult to achieve and technically demanding under 2‐D fluoroscopy. Recently developed robot‐assisted spinal surgery demonstrated a high level of accuracy of pedicle screw insertion and a low complication rate. No published study has reported this combination technique. The aim of our study was to evaluate the accuracy and safety properties of the combination of both minimally invasive techniques: robot‐assisted pTSF supplementing the OLIF procedure.
Chemotherapy combined with Endostar as salvage treatment for EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor primary resistance in an advanced non‐small cell lung cancer patient with EGFR L858R mutation and ROS1 fusion: A case report

EGFR‐activating mutations have been recognized as the most important predictor of response to EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs); however, 20–30% of patients harboring EGFR‐activating mutations show poor responses. The mechanisms of such EGFR‐TKI primary resistance are still poorly understood. In our case, a non‐small cell lung cancer patient developed intrinsic EGFR‐TKI resistance and was then confirmed to simultaneously harbor an L858R mutation and ROS1 rearrangement. Salvage chemotherapy plus Endostar showed enduring therapeutic effects, achieving a disease‐free survival period of 24 months and overall survival of 30 months. This suggests that co‐activation of different oncogenic signal pathways might be a potential mechanism of EGFR‐TKI primary resistance. Chemotherapy combined with anti‐angiogenesis should be considered an important salvage strategy. Further studies are warranted to verify these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms involved.