Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of an educational environment for online control of a biped robot using MATLAB and Arduino

This paper describes the development of innovative low-cost educational platform to study and control a biped robot in real-time using MATLAB and Arduino board. MATLAB was used as a control and visualization environment, while the Arduino board was utilized as a final controller for the servo motors as well as a Data Acquisition Card (DAC). However, it is important to recognize that there is much more knowledge to learn to control a robot, such as hardware (sensors, actuators) knowledge, software knowledge and control theory. But, it is important to emphasize that this paper is merely focused on the hardware and software development which can be utilized to accomplish many tasks like controlling the walking motion. Here the platform set up and the algorithm adopted in controlling the servos as well as reading from the sensors are described such that any student can reconstruct and start using it to understand his/her subject.
Uterine sarcoma: prognostic factors and treatment evaluation.

BACKGROUND Uterine sarcoma constitutes a highly malignant group of uterine tumors. It accounts for 2-6% of uterine malignancies and its incidence is 1.7 in 100,000 women. The three most common variants of uterine sarcoma are endometrial stromal sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma and carcinosarcoma. Based on relatively small case series, the literature provides little information on the risk factors, the natural course of the disease and the preferred treatment. OBJECTIVES To evaluate uterine sarcoma patients treated in a tertiary referral center in Israel over a 20 year period (1980-2005). METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of the charts of 40 uterine sarcoma patients, including their tumor characteristics, stage at diagnosis, treatment modalities, follow-up and survival. RESULTS The patients' mean age was 53 years (range 32-76); 30% of the patients had carcinosarcoma, 55% had leiomyosarcoma and 15% had ESS. Half of the patients presented with stage I disease, 23% stage II, 10% stage III and 15% stage IV. Thirty-nine patients were treated with surgery. Adjuvant radiotherapy was administered to 39% of the patients, adjuvant chemotherapy to 21% and combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy to 9%. The mean follow-up period was 44 months, at which time disease had recurred in 44% of the patients. The disease stage was correlated with the 5-year survival rate, which was 73.1% for stages I-II and 22.2% for stages III- IV. CONCLUSIONS In accordance with other larger studies our data show that the only prognostic factor that was significantly correlated with prognosis was the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, survival has not improved over the last 25 years.
Ozone as a bioregulator. Pharmacology and toxicology of ozonetherapy today.

The disinfectant activity of ozone is well recognized and ozone is used worldwide for sterilization of water. The use of ozone as a complementary medical approach is less known, because it has mostly been used in an empirical fashion without a rational basis and appropriate controls. In spite of this drawback, the use of judicious and standardized ozone dosages can elicit the formation of ROS acting as natural physiological activators of several biological functions. There is now a reasonable understanding of a few mechanisms of action and, using classical pharmacological concepts, it appears possible to formulate a rationale for optimizing clinical applications. A further exciting development is that ozone, being an oxidizer, can upregulate the intracellular anti-oxidant enzymes eventually inhibiting the constant, life-long oxidative stress responsible for degenerative diseases and aging. Among various routes for the administration of ozone, the autohemotransfusion procedure, consisting in exposing blood to ozone, i.e. to a calculated and brief oxidative stress, appears safe, simple, inexpensive and amenable to be adjusted to different pathological states It is hoped that this review will help to dispel prejudices, to clarify that ozone toxicity can be tamed, to show that ozone can act as a bioregulator and to encourage controlled clinical investigations to evaluate definitely the validity of ozonetherapy.
A study on the channel and BER-SNR performance of ultra wide band systems applied in commercial vehicles

The applications of ultra wideband (UWB) systems in commercial vehicles are increasingly attracting attention recently. This paper aims to lay a solid foundation for the use of UWB radio in vehicular environments by measuring both intra-vehicle and inter-vehicle UWB channels. At first, a comprehensive measurement campaign was conducted to gather a set of channel impulse responses of UWB channels under several typical scenarios. The UWB vehicular channel is analyzed and compared with the IEEE 802.15. 3a indoor model. Next, the bit error rate (BER) against signal to noise ratio (SNR) curves of UWB systems applied in commercial vehicles are presented, analyzed and compared to the performance of indoor UWB systems based on the IEEE 802.15. 3a model.
Effect of Age on Systemic Delivery of Oral Glucose in Men

This study examined the effect of age on the posthepatic delivery of oral glucose (PHDG) during steady-state conditions. We used an intravenous-oral modification of the euglycemic insulin-clamp technique to assess PHDG in six men aged 24–39 yr (young) and eight men aged 65–83 yr (old). Each subject underwent two studies in which insulin was infused at 120 mU.m−2 · min−1 for 3 h, and either oral glucose (45 g) or water was given 60 min after initiating insulin. This level of insulin infusion is known to fully suppress hepatic glucose output. For each subject, PHDG was calculated as the difference between the whole-body glucose disposal rates in the paired studies. The time course of PHDG differed in the two groups (P < .0001), with an overall delay in PHDG in the older men. During the 1st h, younger men showed a greater PHDG (58.6 ± 3.8% of the oral load vs. 45.1 ± 4.2%) than the older group (P = .04). During the 2nd h, PHDG was less in the younger group (20.7 ± 4.9%) than the older group (36.6 ± 3.9%, P = .02). Over the 2-h period, total PHDG was comparable in younger (79.3 ± 7.4%) and older (81.7 ± 7.9%) men. These results indicate that normal aging is associated with significantly delayed but overall equal PHDG in men, consistent with the greater effect of age on 2-h rather than earlier postprandial glucose levels. It reinforces the role of impaired peripheral utilization as the primary mechanism of the glucose intolerance of aging.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy susceptibility in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a crucial enzyme that regulates nucleotide synthesis and DNA methylation. The MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism (rs1801133), a C → T transition at nucleotide 677 in exon 4, is a common gene variant of MTHFR and has been implicated in diabetic nephropathy, albeit with inconsistent results. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the common effect size of this polymorphism on DN susceptibility. Case–control studies on the association of the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism with DN risk were retrieved from databases up to August 1, 2013, and eligible studies were recruited into the meta-analysis and further analyzed. Of 132 studies, 33 were identified as suitable for this analysis. The results showed that T allele and TT genotype were distinctly associated with DN susceptibility in the overall population and Asians, and might be a risk factor in Caucasians and Africans (T allele: Overall population: p < 0.00001, Asians: p = 0.0002, Caucasians: p = 0.02, Africans: p < 0.00001; TT genotype: Overall population: p < 0.00001, Asians: p = 0.0003, Caucasians: p = 0.008, Africans: p = 0.0003). Furthermore, the analysis suggested that the CC genotype might play a protective role against DN onset in patients with type 2 diabetes for the overall population, Asians, Caucasian and Africans. However, due to the limited sample size in the African population, these results should be interpreted with care. In conclusion, the MTHFR C677T T allele or TT genotype might be a significant genetic molecular marker to determine the risk of DN in patients with type 2 diabetes and help to develop suitable disease prevention and management strategies.
Alcohol expectancies, conduct disorder and early-onset alcoholism: negative alcohol expectancies are associated with less drinking in non-impulsive versus impulsive subjects.

AIMS Research suggests that positive alcohol expectancies promote excessive alcohol use while negative alcohol expectancies discourage excessive alcohol use. Evidence suggests that disinhibitory characteristics, such as conduct disorder and impulsivity, are associated with a general neglect of long-term negative outcomes. This study assessed whether negative expectancies would be associated more strongly with lower levels of alcohol use for low- compared with high-impulsive individuals. DESIGN Positive and negative alcohol expectancies, alcohol use and impulsivity were assessed in a sample of 99 young adults with alcohol dependence (AD) and conduct disorder (CD), 77 with AD and no CD and 124 controls. FINDINGS AD/CD subjects had higher proximal (same day) and distal (next day) negative alcohol expectancies, even though they drank more alcohol, compared with AD-alone and control subjects. Distal negative expectancies were associated more strongly with lower levels of drinking for low-impulsive compared with high-impulsive subjects. Proximal negative expectancies were associated more strongly with higher alcohol consumption for high- versus low-impulsive subjects. CONCLUSIONS Impulsivity and conduct disorder may be important factors in determining how much distal negative alcohol expectancies may discourage excessive alcohol consumption.
Edema index established by a segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis provides prognostic value in acute heart failure

Objectives A segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SMBIA) is a noninvasive and reproducible modality for estimating the fluid state. The aim of this study was to test whether the SMBIA-derived edema index provides prognostic value in patients hospitalized due to acute heart failure (AHF). Methods To estimate the 6-month prognostic value of the predischarge edema index in patients hospitalized due to AHF, 112 patients were consecutively enrolled. Both predischarge edema index and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured. Outcome follow-up focused on heart failure-related and all-cause re-hospitalizations and all events. Results On the basis of a cutoff value of edema index of 0.390, patients were separated into two groups: edema index more than 0.390 (n = 44) and edema index of 0.390 or less (n = 68). Compared with patients with edema index 0.390 or less, those with edema index of more than 0.390 were older, had lower blood albumin and hemoglobin levels, and had higher predischarge BNP levels, functional class, incidence of diabetes mellitus, valvular cause, and diuretic use. Although edema indexes were correlated with BNP levels (r = 0.47, P < 0.0001), a mismatch was noted in 33 (29%) patients. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that an edema index of more than 0.390 predicted a higher incidence of heart failure-related re-hospitalization [odds ratio (OR) = 4.14, confidence interval (CI) = 1.05–15.28, P = 0.04] and all events (OR = 3.97, CI = 1.4–11.25, P = 0.01). The edema index provided a prognostic value superior to that of BNP. Reducing the edema index in high-risk patients resulted in fewer heart failure-related re-hospitalizations (OR = 0.81, CI = 0.77–0.84, P < 0.001) and all events (OR = 0.8, CI = 0.76–0.85, P < 0.001). Conclusion Edema index provides 6-month prognostic values in patients hospitalized due to AHF. Reducing the edema index in high-risk patients results in better outcomes.
Lack of Standardization in Exception Points for Patients With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and Bacterial Cholangitis

For conditions that the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score does not accurately predict waitlist mortality, transplant centers may apply to regional review boards for exception points. For patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) suffering from bacterial cholangitis, consensus recommendations published in December 2006 are to grant exception points for recurrent cholangitis with ≥2 episodes of bacteremia or ≥1 episode septic complications. Using data provided by the United Network for Organ Sharing, we evaluated PSC patients who applied for exception points due to bacterial cholangitis from February 27, 2002 to March 14, 2011. Before publication of the recommendations, 66.0% of applications were accepted, compared with 80.1% after (p < 0.001). Focusing on applications after publication of the recommendations, 311 (74.6%) did not meet the recommended criteria, and 250 (80.4%) of these were approved. Of patients with approved applications, those not meeting consensus criteria were more likely to be transplanted, (77.4% vs. 62.8%, p = 0.043), whereas those with denied applications for approved indications were more liked to die/be removed (44.4% vs. 9.5%, p = 0.49). Although data are needed to properly identify those patients at highest risk for waitlist mortality, standardized criteria or a centralized review board should be adopted to ensure consistency in the granting of exception points.
Ternary Complex Factor-Serum Response Factor Complex-Regulated Gene Activity Is Required for Cellular Proliferation and Inhibition of Apoptotic Cell Death

ABSTRACT Members of the ternary complex factor (TCF) subfamily of the ETS-domain transcription factors are activated through phosphorylation by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in response to a variety of mitogenic and stress stimuli. The TCFs bind and activate serum response elements (SREs) in the promoters of target genes in a ternary complex with a second transcription factor, serum response factor (SRF). The association of TCFs with SREs within immediate-early gene promoters is suggestive of a role for the ternary TCF-SRF complex in promoting cell cycle entry and proliferation in response to mitogenic signaling. Here we have investigated the downstream gene regulatory and phenotypic effects of inhibiting the activity of genes regulated by TCFs by expressing a dominantly acting repressive form of the TCF, Elk-1. Inhibition of ternary complex activity leads to the downregulation of several immediate-early genes. Furthermore, blocking TCF-mediated gene expression leads to growth arrest and triggers apoptosis. By using mutant Elk-1 alleles, we demonstrated that these effects are via an SRF-dependent mechanism. The antiapoptotic gene Mcl-1 is identified as a key target for the TCF-SRF complex in this system. Thus, our data confirm a role for TCF-SRF-regulated gene activity in regulating proliferation and provide further evidence to indicate a role in protecting cells from apoptotic cell death.
A Switching Sequence for Linear Gradient Error Compensation in the DAC Design

A switching sequence is proposed to compensate for the linear gradient error in the current source array of current-steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC). A systematic method is established to obtain a switching sequence for both 1-D and 2-D current source arrays. The proposed switching sequence is also validated by the mathematical induction and exhibits a minimum variance of error. The proposed switching sequence is implemented into a 10-bit DAC. Simulation results show that the proposed switching sequence performs with a better integral nonlinearity (INL) and differential nonlinearity (DNL) compared to those of other switching sequences. The DAC is fabricated in a 1P6M 0.18-μm 1.8-V CMOS process and consumes less than 25 mW of power. The measured INL and DNL of the fabricated 10-b DAC are less than 0.62 and 0.41 LSB, respectively.
Political Foundations of the Lender of Last Resort: A Global Historical Narrative

This paper offers a historical perspective on the evolution of central banks as lenders of last resort (LOLR). Countries differ in the statutory powers of the LOLR, which is the outcome of a political bargain. Collateralized LOLR lending as envisioned by Bagehot (1873) requires five key legal and institutional preconditions, all of which required political agreement. LOLR mechanisms evolved to include more than collateralized lending. LOLRs established prior to World War II, with few exceptions, followed policies that can be broadly characterized as implementing “Bagehot's Principles”: seeking to preserve systemic financial stability rather than preventing the failure of particular banks, and limiting the amount of risk absorbed by the LOLR as much as possible when providing financial assistance. After World War II, and especially after the 1970s, generous deposit insurance and ad hoc bank bailouts became the norm. The focus of bank safety net policy changed from targeting systemic stability to preventing depositor loss and the failure of banks. Statutory powers of central banks do not change much over time, or correlate with country characteristics, instead reflecting idiosyncratic political histories.
Proximity of the invariant loop of U5 snRNA to the second intron residue during pre‐mRNA splicing

A photoactivatable azidophenacyl group has been introduced into seven positions in the backbone of the 11 nucleotide invariant loop of U5 snRNA. By reconstituting depleted splicing extracts with reassembled U5 snRNP particles, molecular neighbors were assessed as a function of splicing. All cross‐links to the pre‐mRNA mapped to the second nucleotide downstream of the 5′ splice site, and formed most readily when the reactive group was at the phosphate between U5 positions 42 and 43 or 43 and 44. Both their kinetics of appearance and sensitivity to oligonucleotide inhibition suggest that these cross‐links capture a late state in spliceosome assembly occurring immediately prior to the first step. A later forming, second cross‐linked species is a splicing product of the first cross‐link, suggesting that the U5 loop backbone maintains this position through the first step. The proximity of the U5 loop backbone to the intron's 5′ end provides sufficient restrictions to develop a three‐dimensional model for the arrangement of RNA components in the spliceosome during the first step of pre‐mRNA splicing.
Dynamic control of Cajal body number during zebrafish embryogenesis

The Cajal body (CB) is an evolutionarily conserved nuclear subcompartment, enriched in components of the RNA processing machinery. The composition and dynamics of CBs in cells of living organisms is not well understood. Here we establish the zebrafish embryo as a model system to investigate the properties of CBs during rapid growth and cell division, taking advantage of the ease of live-cell imaging. We show that zebrafish embryo CBs contain coilin and multiple components of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery. Histone mRNA 3’ end processing factors, present in CBs in some systems, were instead concentrated in a distinct nuclear body. CBs were present in embryos before and after activation of zygotic gene expression, indicating a maternal contribution of CB components. During the first 24 hours of development, embryonic cells displayed up to 30 CBs per nucleus; these dispersed prior to mitosis and reassembled within minutes upon daughter cell nucleus formation. Following zygotic genome activation, snRNP biogenesis was required for CB assembly and maintenance, suggesting a self-assembly process that determines CB numbers in embryos. Differentiation into muscle, neurons and epidermis was associated with the achievement of a steady state number of 2 CBs per nucleus. We propose that CB number is regulated during development to respond to the demands of gene expression in a rapidly growing embryo.
Lidocaine for pain relief in burn injured patients.

BACKGROUND Pain is a major issue for patients suffering from many different types of wounds in particular those with burn injuries. Prompt, aggressive use of opioid analgesics such as morphine has been suggested as critical to avert the cycle of pain and anxiety, but side effects are encountered. It is proposed that newer agents such as lidocaine could be effective in reducing pain and alleviating the escalating opioid dosage requirements in patients with burn injury. OBJECTIVES To assess the safety and effectiveness of intravenous lidocaine as a means of pain relief versus no therapy, placebo, other drugs or two or more of the above therapies in combination in patients exposed to burn injury. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2007), MEDLINE (1966 to March 2007), EMBASE (1980 to 2007), CINAHL (1982 to March 2007). SELECTION CRITERIA Those trials that were considered were: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs), both published and unpublished studies, which assessed the efficacy of intravenous lidocaine varying doses as a single-agent therapy with no therapy, placebo, other analgesics such as opioids, lidocaine plus another drug, or two or more of the above therapies as a means of pain relief in patients exposed to burn injury. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS The two review authors applied the entry criteria to identified studies. MAIN RESULTS No clinically relevant RCTs or CCTs were identified through the above searches. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS No information is available from the published RCTs or CCTs on clinically relevant primary outcome measures which can influence current burns care practice and management. Therefore, since current clinical evidence is subject to the inherent weaknesses of case series or reports, intravenous lidocaine must be considered a pharmacological agent under investigation in burns care whose effectiveness is yet to be determined in well-designed and conducted clinical trials.
A New Rapid On-Line Imaging Method to Determine Particle Size Distribution of Granules

The purpose of this research was to study the feasibility of the new image analysis method in the particle size determination of the granules. The method is capable of forming a three-dimensional topographic image of a sample surface from a digital picture. In the method, a flat granule bed surface was illuminated from three different directions, using the three primary colors (red, green, and blue). One color picture was taken by a digital camera, after which a topographic image of the object surface was constructed. The particle size distribution was then calculated from the image data. The particle size analysis method was tested both off-line and on-line. Off-line particle size measurement results determined by the image analysis method corresponded quite well to those of sieve analysis in the size fraction range 250–1,000 μm. In on-line application, images were successfully retrieved and median granule size trend could be calculated and followed during fluid bed granulations.