Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural calibration and Kalman filter position estimation for touch panels

This paper develops methodologies and techniques for calibration and dynamic touching position estimation of touch panels using adaptive linear neural networks (ALNN) and Kalman filter. A neural-based calibration method is proposed to determine nonlinear mapping relationships of measured and known touch points, thereby calibrating their positions in a real-time manner. In order to obtain position estimation of fast moving points in the drawing mode, a Kalman filtering scheme is proposed to achieve satisfactory precision. Numerous simulation results are provided to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed ALNN method and the Kalman filter estimation algorithm. Experimental results are described which have been conducted to show that the proposed calibration and estimation approaches perform well for electronic consumer products, such as notebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and etc.
Registered Report: COT drives resistance to RAF inhibition through MAP kinase pathway reactivation

The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from “COT drives resistance to RAF inhibition through MAPK pathway reactivation” by Johannessen and colleagues, published in Nature in 2010 (Johannessen et al., 2010). The key experiments to be replicated are those reported in Figures 3B, 3D-E, 3I, and 4E-F. In Figures 3B, D-E, RPMI-7951 and OUMS023 cells were reported to exhibit robust ERK/MEK activity concomitant with reduced growth sensitivity in the presence of the BRAF inhibitor PLX4720. MAP3K8 (COT/TPL2) directly regulated MEK/ERK phosphorylation, as the treatment of RPMI-7951 cells with a MAP3K8 kinase inhibitor resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of MEK/ERK activity (Figure 3I). In contrast, MAP3K8-deficient A375 cells remained sensitive to BRAF inhibition, exhibiting reduced growth and MEK/ERK activity during inhibitor treatment. To determine if RAF and MEK inhibitors together can overcome single-agent resistance, MAP3K8-expressing A375 cells treated with PLX4720 along with MEK inhibitors significantly inhibited both cell viability and ERK activation compared to treatment with PLX4720 alone, as reported in Figures 4E-F. The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology is collaboration between the Center for Open Science and Science Exchange and the results of the replications will be published in eLife. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.11414. 001
Distributed control of leader-follower systems under adversarial inputs using reinforcement learning

In this paper, a model-free reinforcement learning (RL) based distributed control protocol for leader-follower multi-agent systems is presented. Despite successful utilization of RL for learning optimal control protocols in multi-agent systems, the effects of the adversarial inputs are neglected in existing results. The susceptibility of the standard synchronization control protocol against adversarial inputs is shown. Then, a RL-based distributed control framework is developed for multi-agent systems to stop corrupted data of a compromised agent from propagating across the network. To this end, only the leader communicates its actual sensory information and other agents estimate the leader state using a distributed observer and communicate this estimation to their neighbors to reach consensus on the leader state. The observer cannot be physically changed by any adversarial input. Therefore, it guarantees that all intact agents synchronize to the leader trajectory except compromised agent. A distributed control protocol is used to further enhance the resiliency by attenuating the effect of the adversarial inputs on the compromised agent itself. An off-policy RL algorithm is developed to solve the output synchronization control problem online and using only measured data along the system trajectories.
Preliminary Findings from a Prospective, Randomized Trial of Two Palatal Operations for Sleep-Disordered Breathing

OBJECTIVES: We compared the efficacy of 2 palatal surgical procedures in the treatment of patients with mild sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a prospective, randomized, crossover surgical trial at a university hospital. METHODS: Twenty patients with mild SDB for whom conservative treatment failed were identified and consecutively enrolled into an institutional review board-approved surgical protocol. They were randomly assigned to undergo either radiofrequency ablation of the palate (RFAP) for a planned 3-stage treatment or laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP), also for 3 stages of treatment, using a CO2 laser. Parameters assessed included severity of SDB (polysomnography), subjective and objective loudness of snoring (visual analog scale and SNAP recording), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), and anatomic changes (upper airway endoscopy), as well as demographic factors. Patients not achieving satisfactory improvement in their condition were crossed over to the alternative surgical therapy for attempted salvage. RESULTS: Seventeen of the enrolled patients have completed the protocol. Ten of these were randomized to the RFAP group, and 7 to the LAUP group. Six of the RFAP patients (60%) achieved a satisfactory resolution of their snoring, and 4 failed and were salvaged with LAUP. Six of the LAUP patients (86%) achieved a satisfactory resolution of their snoring, and 1 patient failed and was salvaged with nasal surgery. One patient who was initially cured had a relapse after 9 months and was successfully salvaged with RFA. CONCLUSION: Prospective, randomized trials of surgery for SDB are possible. Preliminary findings from the current protocol reveal a slight advantage of LAUP over RFAP but with a greater degree of discomfort postoperatively.
Financial sector development and the poor in developing countries: revisiting the access to finance channel

With the help of thorough literature survey, the present study proposes that formal financial services by commercial banks in the developing countries are primarily suitable for the non-poor population and hence acts as a medium-direct channel of financial development to affect the poor whereas the semi-formal financial services by microfinance institutions specifically target the poor in developing countries and thus act as a direct channel. The paper also documents the divergent outcomes of lending through MFIs on the poor in rural areas and explains the coexistence of formal/semi-formal and informal financial markets. The paper further suggests that the future research in the area of finance-poor nexus may focus on providing comparative empirical evidence with respect to the effect of formal, semi-formal and informal finance on the poor in developing countries including the South Asian region. The result of such comparative studies would be of interest to all the key stakeholders in the development finance arena.
Do Low-shrink Composites Reduce Polymerization Shrinkage Effects?

Progress in polymer science has led to continuous reduction of polymerization shrinkage, exemplified by a new generation of “low-shrink composites”. The common inference that shrinkage stress effects will be reduced in teeth restored with such restoratives with lower shrinkage was tested in extracted human premolars. Mesio-occluso-distal slot-shaped cavities were cut and restored with a conventional (SupremePlus) or low-shrink (RefleXions, Premise, Kalore, and LS) composite (N = 5). We digitized the coronal surfaces before and 10 min after restoration to determine cuspal deflection from the buccal and lingual volume change/area. We also determined the main properties involved (total shrinkage, post-gel shrinkage, degree of conversion, and elastic modulus), as well as microleakage, to verify adequate bonding. It was shown that, due to shrinkage stresses, buccal and lingual surfaces pulled inward after restoration (9-14 microns). Only Kalore and LS resulted in significantly lower tooth deformation (ANOVA/Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc, p = 0.05). The other two low-shrink composites, despite having the lowest and highest total shrinkage values, did not cause significant differences in cuspal deflection. Deflection seemed most related to the combination of post-gel shrinkage and elastic modulus. Therefore, even for significantly lower total shrinkage values, shrinkage stress is not necessarily reduced.
Identifying Variables Responsible for Clustering in Discriminant Analysis of Data from Infrared Microspectroscopy of a Biological Sample

In the biomedical field, infrared (IR) spectroscopic studies can involve the processing of data derived from many samples, divided into classes such as category of tissue (e.g., normal or cancerous) or patient identity. We require reliable methods to identify the class-specific information on which of the wavenumbers, representing various molecular groups, are responsible for observed class groupings. Employing a prostate tissue sample divided into three regions (transition zone, peripheral zone, and adjacent adenocarcinoma), and interrogated using synchrotron Fourier-transform IR microspectroscopy, we compared two statistical methods: (a) a new "cluster vector" version of principal component analysis (PCA) in which the dimensions of the dataset are reduced, followed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to reveal clusters, through each of which a vector is constructed that identifies the contributory wavenumbers; and (b) stepwise LDA, which exploits the fact that spectral peaks which identify certain chemical bonds extend over several wavenumbers, and which following classification via either one or two wavenumbers, checks whether the resulting predictions are stable across a range of nearby wavenumbers. Stepwise LDA is the simpler of the two methods; the cluster vector approach can indicate which of the different classes of spectra exhibit the significant differences in signal seen at the "prominent" wavenumbers identified. In situations where IR spectra are found to separate into classes, the excellent agreement between the two quite different methods points to what will prove to be a new and reliable approach to establishing which molecular groups are responsible for such separation.
The Use of Streptolysin O for the Treatment of Scars, Adhesions and Fibrosis: Initial Investigations Using Murine Models of Scleroderma

Diseases and conditions involving the deposition of excessive amounts of collagen include scleroderma, fibrosis, and scar and surgical adhesion formation. Diseases such as scleroderma may result from acute and chronic inflammation, disturbances in the normal parenchymal area, and activation of fibroblasts. ML-05, a modified form of the hemolytic and cytotoxic bacterial toxin, streptolysin O, is being developed for the treatment of such collagen-related disorders. At sublytic concentrations in vitro, ML-05 was shown to activate CD44 expression. This may modulate production of collagen, hyaluronate, and their associated enzymes to allow a restoration of normal extracellular matrices within tissues. More importantly, ML-05 appeared to decrease skin collagen levels in two in vivo models of collagen disorders, the tight skin mouse (Tsk) model of scleroderma, and the bleomycin-induced mouse skin fibrosis model. In the Tsk model, levels of hydroxyproline (a measure of total collagen) decreased by 25% in the Tsk+ML-05 treatment group relative to the Tsk+saline control group over a 3-month period. In the bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis study, hydroxyproline levels decreased from 15–22% over a 6-week period in a bleomycin-induced ML-05 treatment group (relative to levels in a bleomycin-induced, untreated control group). Hydroxyproline levels in samples from this treatment group were only slightly greater than levels in an uninduced control group at 8 weeks. Thus, ML-05 treatment appeared to reduce collagen levels in two separate mouse skin fibrosis models, one genetically based and the other chemically induced.
A Randomized Crossover Study of Sulphonylurea and Insulin Treatment in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Poorly Controlled on Dietary Therapy

In 13 non‐obese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who failed to achieve adequate blood glucose control on dietary treatment (fasting blood glucose 13.4 ± 2.7 (±SD) mmol I−1, glycosylated haemoglobin 13.0 ± 1.7 %), the effects of 6 months insulin or sulphonylurea therapy on blood glucose control and lipid metabolism were compared in a randomized crossover study. Three patients, who showed a clear improvement on insulin (median glycosylated haemoglobin fell from 14.7 to 8.6 %), withdrew from the study prematurely because of subjective and objective signs of hyperglycaemia after crossover from insulin to sulphonylurea. Daily dose after 6 months was 2000 mg tolbutamide (n=3), 18 ± 1 mg glibenclamide (n=7), or 34 ± 3 U insulin. On insulin, fasting (8.0 ± 1.9 mmol I−1) and postprandial blood glucose (10.4 ± 2.7 mmol I−1), and glycosylated haemoglobin (9.5 ± 1.1 %) were lower than on sulphonylurea (11.0 ± 3.4 mmol I−1, 14.4 ± 4.8 mmol I−1 and 11.0 ± 2.5 %, respectively, p < 0.05 in each case). Median increase in body weight was greater on insulin (4.2 vs 1.1 kg, p < 0.05). Six patients experienced improved well‐being on insulin compared with sulphonylurea. Median plasma non‐esterified fatty acids decreased from 825 μmol I−1 to 476 μmol I−1 (sulphonylurea) and 642 μmol I−1 (insulin, both p < 0.05). HDL cholesterol was higher after insulin (1.12 ± 0.40 mmol I−1) than after sulphonylurea (0.94 ± 0.25 mmol I−1, p < 0.05), and the LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio (3.27 ± 1.07 vs 3.90 ± 1.08) and VLDL triglycerides (0.67 ± 0.22 vs 1.13 ± 0.40 mmol I−1) were lower (both p < 0.05). A C‐peptide response after intravenous glucagon of below 5.0 nmol I−1 15 min identified those patients who had better blood glucose control with insulin.
Midterm results using a medial pivot total knee replacement compared with the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry data

In order to emulate normal knee kinematics more closely, and thereby potentially improve wear characteristics and implant longevity, the medial pivot‐type knee replacement geometry was designed. In the current study the outcome of 50 consecutive knee replacements using a medial pivot‐type knee replacement was compared with the results in the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry.
Perceptions of prostate cancer in Black African and Black Caribbean men: a systematic review of the literature

Prostate cancer (PC) is common and affects Black African and Caribbean men disproportionately more than White men. It is known that PC awareness is low in these groups, but knowledge is lacking about other factors that may deter Black men from seeking information about, or getting tested for, PC. The aim of this review was to appraise research on knowledge and perceptions of PC among Black men.
Mouse models for the analysis of myopia: an analysis of variation in eye size of adult mice.

PURPOSE To assess the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors that modulate eye growth, eyes, lenses, and retinas of 507 mice belonging to 50 strains were measured. METHODS Mice of both sexes and a wide range of ages (27 to 526 days) were perfused for electron microscopy and eyes, lenses, and retinas were dissected and measured. Our uniform fixation protocol was shown to cause a weight loss of 4 to 6%. Multiple linear regression methods were used to explore relations between eye and lens weight, retinal area, age, sex, body and brain weight, and retinal ganglion cell number. RESULTS The eye and lens of mice continue to grow long after sexual maturity is reached at 40 to 60 days of age. The pace of growth matches the logarithm of age. Despite their smaller bodies, females have eyes as large as those of males. The correlation of eye weight to brain weight is remarkably low (r = 0.19), whereas that to retinal area is high (r = 0.86). Surprisingly, the correlation between lens weight and the size of the posterior segment (eye minus lens weight) is only 0.5 to 0.6, and ratios of these parameters are highly variable. Heritability of all traits is between 25 to 50%. CONCLUSIONS The continued growth of eyes in adult mice provides an excellent system to test effects of genetic and molecular manipulations on the development and treatment of myopia. Heritability is sufficiently high to map genes that specifically modulate growth of different parts of the eye.
Brain Network Activity During Face Perception: The Impact of Perceptual Familiarity and Individual Differences in Childhood Experience

An extended distributed network of brain regions supports face perception. Face familiarity influences activity in brain regions involved in this network, but the impact of perceptual familiarity on this network has never been directly assessed with the use of partial least squares analysis. In the present work, we use this multivariate statistical analysis to examine how face-processing systems are differentially recruited by characteristics of the targets (i.e. perceptual familiarity and race) and of the perceivers (i.e. childhood interracial contact). Novel faces were found to preferentially recruit a large distributed face-processing network compared with perceptually familiar faces. Additionally, increased interracial contact during childhood led to decreased recruitment of distributed brain networks previously implicated in face perception, salience detection, and social cognition. Current results provide a novel perspective on the impact of cross-race exposure, suggesting that interracial contact early in life may dramatically shape the neural substrates of face perception generally.
Prognostic Significance of Nodal Disease following Preoperative Radiation for Rectal Adenocarcinoma

The administration of preoperative radiation (Pre-Op) therapy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum is evolving. The prognostic value of nodal disease found after preoperative therapy is unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of Pre-Op therapy on nodal staging and thus prognosis in patients with operable cancer of the rectum. Retrospective review of 292 cases revealed that 20% (N = 58) received Pre-Op radiation and 33% (N = 97) received Post-Op radiation. Of the Pre-Op group 66% received 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy concomitantly (vs 48% Post-Op). Radiation dose averaged 50 Gy for both groups. Node-positive disease was found after Pre-Op therapy at a similar rate to that of Post-Op or surgery-only patients (45% vs 46%, P = 0.95). Fewer nodes were found in Pre-Op resection specimens (6.8 vs 10.0 nodes/specimen, P = 0.003), which altered the fraction of positive nodes (27% Pre-Op vs 18% Post-Op, P = 0.003). The N0 cases had better survival than N+ in both Pre-Op (80% vs 34%, P = 0.0001) and Post-Op (70% vs 40%, P = 0.02) groups. There was no significant difference in survival between Pre-Op versus Post-Op. Pre-Op chemoradiation improved patient survival over radiation alone and should be considered routinely with radiation therapy for rectal cancer. Pre-Op radiotherapy decreases the number of nodes recovered but does not influence the presence of nodal metastasis. Nodal disease remains a strong prognostic indicator of survival after Pre-Op radiation therapy.
The cathepsin K inhibitor odanacatib suppresses bone resorption in women with breast cancer and established bone metastases: results of a 4-week, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Metastatic bone disease (MBD) is a frequent complication in patients with breast cancer and is associated with significant morbidity. This study assessed the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of odanacatib, a selective Cat K inhibitor, in reducing markers of bone resorption in women with breast cancer and MBD. PATIENTS AND METHODS Women with breast cancer and MBD were randomized 2:1 (double-blind) to oral odanacatib 5 mg daily for 4 weeks or intravenous (I.V.) zoledronic acid (ZA) 4 mg given once at study initiation. Plasma samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analysis. Bone resorption was assessed by measuring urinary N-telopeptide of type I collagen corrected for creatinine (uNTx; primary objective, pmol BCE/µmol creatinine). Adverse events (AEs) were monitored throughout the 4-week study and up to 14 days after last dose. RESULTS A total of 43 patients (mean age, 60 years) received odanacatib (n = 29) or ZA (n = 14); 40 patients completed 4 weeks of treatment. The mean percent change in uNTx values at week 4 was -77% (95% CI, -82 to -71; odanacatib) and -73% (95% CI, -80 to -62; ZA). Mean (standard deviation) plasma concentration of odanacatib was 511.7 (202.9) nM; the range was 63.7-844.8 nM. The most common AEs were nausea, vomiting, headache, and bone pain, which were generally not attributed to study drug. CONCLUSION Odanacatib suppressed uNTx similarly to ZA after 4 weeks of treatment in women with breast cancer and MBD. Odanacatib was generally safe and well tolerated. These results suggest that Cat K inhibition is a potentially important, novel therapeutic approach for treating MBD.
Ringo/Cyclin-dependent Kinase and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways Regulate the Activity of the Cell Fate Determinant Musashi to Promote Cell Cycle Re-entry in Xenopus Oocytes*

Background: The mechanisms that regulate the activity of the mRNA translational regulator, Musashi, are unknown. Results: Musashi is activated by Ringo/cyclin-dependent kinase and MAP kinase signaling. Conclusion: Musashi-directed mRNA translation induces MAP kinase signaling and establishes a positive feedback loop to amplify Musashi activity. Significance: Musashi activation to promote translation of target mRNAs presents a potential target for the control of pathological cell cycle progression. Cell cycle re-entry during vertebrate oocyte maturation is mediated through translational activation of select target mRNAs, culminating in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and cyclin B/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) signaling. The temporal order of targeted mRNA translation is crucial for cell cycle progression and is determined by the timing of activation of distinct mRNA-binding proteins. We have previously shown in oocytes from Xenopus laevis that the mRNA-binding protein Musashi targets translational activation of early class mRNAs including the mRNA encoding the Mos proto-oncogene. However, the molecular mechanism by which Musashi function is activated is unknown. We report here that activation of Musashi1 is mediated by Ringo/CDK signaling, revealing a novel role for early Ringo/CDK function. Interestingly, Musashi1 activation is subsequently sustained through mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, the downstream effector of Mos mRNA translation, thus establishing a positive feedback loop to amplify Musashi function. The identified regulatory sites are present in mammalian Musashi proteins, and our data suggest that phosphorylation may represent an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to control Musashi-dependent target mRNA translation.