Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic calibration and registration of lidar and stereo camera without calibration objects

Perception of the environment is an important task for intelligent vehicles, and to effectively perceive the environment, multiple sensors are often employed. In this paper, we propose to integrate the perceived data from 3D LIDAR and stereo camera using particle swarm optimization algorithm, without the aid of any external calibration aids. The proposed optimisation algorithm automatically calibrates and registers the LIDAR range image and stereo depth image, as a precursor to the sensor fusion. Multiple parameters are optimised by adopting a model-based approach during the parameter estimation phase. The evaluation of the parameters is performed using a novel depth-based cost function. During the sensor fusion phase, the optimised parameters are used to generate the LIDAR range image, which functions as the disparity range image for the Viterbi-based stereo disparity estimation. The disparity range image constrains the Viterbi search during the stereo disparity estimation. To evaluate our proposed algorithm, the calibration and registration algorithm is compared with baseline algorithms on multiple datasets acquired with varying illuminations. Compared to the baseline algorithms, we show that our proposed algorithm demonstrates better accuracy. We also demonstrate that integrating the LIDAR range image within the stereo's disparity estimation results in an improved disparity map with significant reduction in the computational complexity.
Carotid Endarterectomy: Is It Still a Gold Standard?

Extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis accounts for 15–20% of ischemic strokes. Carotid endarterectomy has high efficacy in stroke prevention in selected patients with symptomatic (age <80 years) and asymptomatic carotid stenosis (age <75 years). Randomized clinical trials demonstrated that carotid endarterectomy reduces the stroke risk, compared to medical therapy alone, for patients with 70–99% symptomatic stenosis with 16% absolute risk reduction at 5 years. The benefit for patients with 50–69% symptomatic stenosis is lower i.e. absolute risk reduction 4.6% at 5 years. Endarterectomy is not indicated for symptomatic patients with <50% stenosis. There is no need for time-delay for surgery in patients after transient ischemic attack or minor stroke. Patients with more extensive strokes or hemorrhage should undergo surgery after 4–6 weeks following initial symptoms. Carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic stenosis reduces the risk of ipsilateral stroke, and any stroke, by approximately 30% over 3 years. However, the absolute risk reduction is small over the first few years and decision should be based on individual institutional experience. In all situations, the best medical therapy should accompany surgery. In the recent years, appearance of angioplasty, stenting, and distal protection procedures provides competitive alternatives to classical endarterectomy. However, long-term benefits of carotid angioplasty should be confirmed by bigger, randomized, comparative clinical trials.
Human islet amyloid polypeptide at the air–aqueous interface: a Langmuir monolayer approach

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) is the source of the major component of the amyloid deposits found in the islets of Langerhans of around 95 per cent type 2 diabetic patients. The formation of aggregates and mature fibrils is thought to be responsible for the dysfunction and death of the insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. Investigation on the conformation, orientation and self-assembly of the hIAPP at time zero could be beneficial for our understanding of its stability and aggregation process. To obtain these insights, the hIAPP at time zero was studied at the air–aqueous interface using the Langmuir monolayer technique. The properties of the hIAPP Langmuir monolayer at the air–aqueous interface on a NaCl subphase with pH 2.0, 5.6 and 9.0 were examined by surface pressure- and potential-area isotherms, UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy and Brewster angle microscopy. The conformational and orientational changes of the hIAPP Langmuir monolayer under different surface pressures were characterized by p-polarized infrared-reflection absorption spectroscopy, and the results did not show any prominent changes of conformation or orientation. The predominant secondary structure of the hIAPP at the air–aqueous interface was α-helix conformation, with a parallel orientation to the interface during compression. These results showed that the hIAPP Langmuir monolayer at the air–aqueous interface was stable, and no aggregate or domain of the hIAPP at the air–aqueous interface was observed during the time of experiments.
Cooperative fluctuations of unliganded and substrate‐bound HIV‐1 protease: A structure‐based analysis on a variety of conformations from crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations

The dynamics of HIV‐1 protease, both in unliganded and substrate‐bound forms have been analyzed by using an analytical method, Gaussian network model (GNM). The method is applied to different conformations accessible to the protein backbone in the native state, observed in crystal structures and snapshots from fully atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation trajectories. The modes of motion obtained from GNM on different conformations of HIV‐1 protease are conserved throughout the MD simulations. The flaps and 40's loop of the unliganded HIV‐1 protease structure are identified as the most mobile regions. However, in the liganded structure these flaps lose mobility, and terminal regions of the monomers become more flexible. Analysis of the fast modes shows that residues important for stability are in the same regions of all the structures examined. Among these, Gly86 appears to be a key residue for stability. The contribution of residues in the active site region and flaps to the stability is more pronounced in the substrate‐bound form than in the unliganded form. The convergence of modes in GNM to similar regions of HIV‐1 protease, regardless of the conformation of the protein, supports the robustness of GNM as a potentially useful and predictive tool. Proteins 2003;51:409–422. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Monoclonal and Oligoclonal Immunoglobulins Localized in Human Dental Periapical Lesion

The gamma‐globulin fractions of extracts obtained from 70 periapical lesions were studied by agarose gel electrophoresis and immunofixation. In agarose gel electrophoresis, homogeneous bands in the gamma‐globulin region were found in 25 of 70 specimens (36%). Among the 25 specimens showing homogeneous bands, these bands in six specimens were identified as monoclonal or oligoclonal immunoglobulins. Local production of oligoclonal immunoglobulins was suggested since the corresponding homogeneous bands were not detected in the serum of the same patient. These immunoglobulins may be produced as a result of local immunogenic response against infecting bacteria in periapical inflammation.
Imaging the hierarchical Ca2+ signalling system in HeLa cells.

1. Confocal microscopy was used to investigate hormone‐induced subcellular Ca2+ release signals from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in a prototype non‐excitable cell line (HeLa cells). 2. Histamine application evoked two types of elementary Ca2+ signals: (i) Ca2+ blips arising from single ER Ca2+ release channels (amplitude, 30 nM; lateral spreading, 1.3 microns); (ii) Ca2+ puffs resulting from the concerted activation of several Ca2+ blips (amplitude, 170 nM; spreading, 4 microns). 3. Ca2+ waves in the HeLa cells arose from a variable number of initiation sites, but for individual cells, the number and subcellular location of the initiation sites were constant. The kinetics and amplitude of global Ca2+ signals were directly proportional to the number of initiation sites recruited. 4. Reduction of the feedback inherent in intracellular Ca2+ release caused saltatoric Ca2+ waves, revealing the two principal steps underlying wave propagation: diffusion and regeneration. Threshold stimulation evoked abortive Ca2+ waves, caused by the limited recruitment of Ca2+ puffs. 5. The hierarchy of Ca2+ signalling events, from fundamental levels (blips) to intermediate levels (puffs) to Ca2+ waves, is a prototype for Ca2+ signal transduction for non‐excitable cells, and is also analogous to the Ca2+ quarks, Ca2+ sparks and Ca2+ waves in cardiac muscle cells.
Epithelial markers and differentiation in adnexal neoplasms of the skin: an immunohistochemical study including individual cytokeratins

Applying immunohistochemical procedures for the detection of eight different cytokeratin (CK) polypeptides and other differentiation markers, we compared the staining patterns of normal cutaneous structures with those of benign adnexal tumors (n=65). Syringomas exhibited a marker pattern highly reminiscent of that seen in normal dermal eccrine ducts (EMA in peripheral cells, CK 10 in intermediate cells, and CK 6, CK 19, and CEA in luminal cells). Nodular hidradenomas exhibited complex patterns suggesting relationship between tumor cells, including clear cells, and normal secretory coil cells (CK 7, CK 8, CK 19, and EMA); however, dermal‐duct and epidermoid differentiation were also detectable. In both cylindromas and spiradenomas, zonal staining patterns were apparent: modified myoepithelial cells were positive for smooth‐muscle‐type actin, while the luminal cells mainly expressed cluctal markers (CK 6 and CK 19) and, less prominently, secretory‐coil markers including CK 7. Eccrine poromas exhibited a widespread reaction for CK5/6 and EMA, analogous to peripheral dermal duct cells, but focal maturation toward inner‐ductal and secretory‐coil cells was also demonstrable. The staining pattern observed in trichoepitheliomas resembled that of the outer but not the inner root sheath. In conclusion, the detailed marker profiles obtained in the present study have broadened our understanding of the differentiation and nature of these highly singular tumor types.
The economic cost of musculoskeletal disorders in Canada.

OBJECTIVE This study estimated the total cost of musculoskeletal disorders for Canadians in 1994 and assessed the sensitivity of these cost estimates to variations in the definition of musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS Disease-related costs, from a societal perspective, were measured using a prevalence-based analysis. First, direct treatment costs, including expenditures on hospitals and other institutions, physicians and other health professionals, drugs, research, and other items were assessed. Second, indirect costs associated with lost (or foregone) productivity due to disability and premature mortality were evaluated using the human capital approach. RESULTS The total cost of musculoskeletal disorders in Canada was $25.6 billion (in 1994 Canadian dollars, $1.00 CDN approximately $0.75 US) or 3.4% of the gross domestic product. Direct and indirect costs were estimated at $7.5 billion and $18.1 billion, respectively. Lower and upper bound estimates of the total cost of musculoskeletal disorders, derived from the sensitivity analysis, were $19.9 billion and $30.8 billion, respectively. Wide variations were reported in the total cost of various musculoskeletal disorder subcategories, with the highest costs reported for injuries ($10.7 billion), back and spine disorders ($8.1 billion), and arthritis and rheumatism ($5.9 billion). CONCLUSIONS The economic cost of musculoskeletal disorders was substantial and was sensitive to the definition of musculoskeletal disorders and other underlying assumptions. The hallmark of this study was the variation between subcategories in their cost, pattern of health resource use, and sequelae. The cost estimates may provide guidance in setting priorities for research and prevention activities.
Evaluating the Quality of Learning-Team Processes in Medical Education: Development and Validation of a New Measure

Background Measurement of the quality of team processes in medical education, particularly in classroom-based teaching settings, has been limited by a lack of measurement instruments. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop and test an instrument to measure the quality of team interactions. Method The authors created 30 items and reduced these to 18 items using factor analysis. They distributed the scale to 309 second-year medical students (RR = 95%) in a course that used teams and measured internal consistency, validity, and differences in scores between teams. Results Cronbach’s alpha for the scale was 0.97. Team ratings were variable, with a mean score of 95.7 (SD 8.5) out of 108. Team Performance Scale (TPS) scores correlated inversely with the spread of peer evaluation scores (r = −0.38, P = .003). Differences between teams were statistically significant (P < .001, &eegr;2 = 0.33). Conclusions The TPS was short, had evidence of reliability and validity, and exhibited the capacity to distinguish between teams. This instrument can provide a measure of the quality of team interactions. More work is needed to provide further evidence of validity and generalizability.
Sensitivity of conventional memory tests in multiple sclerosis: comparing the Rao Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery and the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS

Background Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) affecting roughly 45–60% of patients. Because memory deficits have significant impact on employment, caregiver burden, and social functioning, neuropsychological (NP) assessment is often recommended. Two widely used and validated NP batteries for MS are the Rao Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery (BRNB) and the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS). Although similar, these batteries differ in the specific auditory/verbal and visual/spatial memory tests employed. The relative sensitivity of these memory tests is unknown. Methods The BRNB and MACFIMS have considerable overlap but different memory tests: the former includes the Selective Reminding Test (SRT) and the 10/36 Spatial Recall Test (10/36) and the latter the California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (CVLT2) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test, Revised (BVMTR). In 65 patients with MS and 46 demographically matched controls, we compared the sensitivity of these tests, and secondarily their respective batteries. Results The BRNB and MACFIMS were comparable in their overall sensitivity to disease status. Although the BVMTR showed greater discriminative validity than the 10/36, the CVLT2 and SRT were comparable in sensitivity. The SDMT was the most sensitive NP test across both batteries. Conclusions We conclude that the BRNB and MACFIMS have comparable sensitivity among patients with MS. The sensitivity of the auditory/verbal memory tests from these batteries is similar, but the BVMTR appears to be more sensitive than the 10/36. Clinical implications are discussed.
Dilemma of behavioral uncertainty of R&D alliance in taiwan machinery industry

In view of global business competition, industries in Taiwan can no longer made use of its manufacturing advantage to create future businesses without constant research, development (R&D) and innovation as it could survive on the market in the past. As industries confronted with fast changing and ever increasingly competitive environment, the industries can make use of R&D alliance of project to swiftly obtain complementary resources and assets so that they can create knowledge assets for the organization internally and effective transfer of technology. However, the impact of hidden social resources is most significant in the formation and operation of R&D alliance. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to examine the three aspects of industrial environment, trust relationship among working partners and formation motif of R&D alliance and to investigate the current situation and dilemma of the R&D alliance in the Taiwan machinery industry (TMI). This study has employed expert interviews, questionnaires, and their rough sets analysis to clarify influential factors the TMI should confronts.
Francisella philomiragia comb. nov. (formerly Yersinia philomiragia) and Francisella tularensis biogroup novicida (formerly Francisella novicida) associated with human disease

Over a 12-year period, 16 human strains of a gram-negative, catalase-positive, halophilic, aerobic, nonmotile, small coccoid bacterium were received for identification. On the bases of biochemical characteristics and cellular fatty acid profiles, 14 of these strains were similar to the "Philomiragia" bacterium (Yersinia philomiragia, species incertae sedis). Additional characteristics were growth on Thayer-Martin agar but no growth or sparse, delayed growth on MacConkey agar; oxidase positive; acid production, often weak and delayed, from D-glucose, sucrose, and maltose; urease negative; no reduction of nitrates; and H2S produced but often delayed in triple sugar iron agar. Both the human isolates and the "Philomiragia" bacterium contained C10:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:1 omega 9c, C18:0, 3-OH C18:0, C22:0, and C24:1 as major cellular fatty acids and ubiquinone eight (Q8) as the major isoprenoid quinone. These cellular acids in these relative amounts have been found previously only in Francisella tularensis and Francisella novicida, suggesting a relationship between the "Philomiragia" bacterium and Francisella species. Of the 14 human "Philomiragia"-like isolates, 9 were from blood, 3 were from lung biopsies or pleural fluid, and one each was from peritoneal fluid and cerebrospinal fluid. DNA relatedness studies (hydroxyapatite method, 50 and 65 degrees C) showed that these 14 strains were a single group that was the same species as the "Philomiragia" bacterium. Two other human strains were oxidase negative and H2S negative. They formed a single DNA relatedness group that was indistinguishable from the type strains of both F. tularensis and F. novicida. DNA relatedness of "Philomiragia" bacterium type and other strains to strains of F. novicida and F. tularensis, including the type strains, was 35 to 46%. One of the two F. novicida- and F. tularensis-like strains was isolated from blood, and the other was isolated from a cervical lymph node. On the basis of these findings, we propose transferring Y. philomiragia from the genus Yersinia to the genus Francisella as Francisella philomiragia comb. nov. Having confirmed that F novicida and F. tularensis are the same species and having shown that F. novicida is pathogenic for humans, we further propose eliminating the species F. novicida and demoting it to a biogroup of F. tularensis.
The Efficacy of Communicative Fairness and Rhetorical Aesthetics in Contributions to Argumentation

This paper deals with the effects of aesthetic quality and argumentational integrity or fairness on the persuasiveness of contributions to argumentation. Contemporary discussions of aesthetics and morality distinguish three possible relationships: (a) superiority of aesthetics in making contributions persuasive, (b) integrity as a necessary precondition for the efficacy of aesthetics, and (c) a compensatory relationship between aesthetics and integrity. Basic argumentative dialogs were varied in aesthetic quality via the use of figurative language and in fairness via the additionof faulty, insincere, or unjustarguments. Materials were presented in a written (Study I) or spoken form (Study *II), and followed with questions exploringcognitive, emotional, and conativeaspects of persuasive efficacy. Results of both studies strongly support case (b): Only in arguments perceived as fair can persuasive impact be enhanced by aesthetic means.
Marine fungi as a potential source of enzymes and antibiotics

The present work was undertaken to study the potential of marine fungi as a source of enzymes and antibiotics. Marine fungi (181 numbers) isolated from the continental slope sediments of Arabian Sea during FORV Sagar Sampada cruises were used for the study. These isolates were screened for the production of protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, chitinase and antibiotics. Among the 181 cultures 60.2% of fungi showed lipase activity, 67.22% amylase, 61.11% gelatinase, 40.22% chitinase and 43.33% showed cellulase activity. Of the 181 isolates, 76% showed antibacterial activity in primary screening. Among the isolates Penicillium sp.S36 showed potential antibiotic activity and it was found to inhibit all the pathogens tested. The results of the present investigation revealed that, the marine fungi are a potential source of enzymes and antibiotics. © 2013 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Altered expression of triadin 95 causes parallel changes in localized Ca2+ release events and global Ca2+ signals in skeletal muscle cells in culture

The 95 kDa triadin (Trisk 95), an integral protein of the sarcoplasmic reticular membrane in skeletal muscle, interacts with both the ryanodine receptor (RyR) and calsequestrin. While its role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis has been extensively studied, data are not available on whether the overexpression or the interference with the expression of Trisk 95 would affect calcium sparks the localized events of calcium release (LCRE). In the present study LCRE and calcium transients were studied using laser scanning confocal microscopy on C2C12 cells and on primary cultures of skeletal muscle. Liposome‐ or adenovirus‐mediated Trisk 95 overexpression and shRNA interference with triadin translation were used to modify the level of the protein. Stable overexpression in C2C12 cells significantly decreased the amplitude and frequency of calcium sparks, and the frequency of embers. In line with these observations, depolarization‐evoked calcium transients were also suppressed. Similarly, adenoviral transfection of Trisk 95 into cultured mouse skeletal muscle cells significantly decreased both the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous global calcium transients. Inhibition of endogenous triadin expression by RNA interference caused opposite effects. Primary cultures of rat skeletal muscle cells expressing endogenous Trisk 95 readily generated spontaneous calcium transients but rarely produced calcium sparks. Their transfection with specific shRNA sequence significantly reduced the triadin‐specific immunoreactivity. Functional experiments on these cells revealed that while caffeine‐evoked calcium transients were reduced, LCRE appeared with higher frequency. These results suggest that Trisk 95 negatively regulates RyR function by suppressing localized calcium release events and global calcium signals in cultured muscle cells.