Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The advancement of an obstacle avoidance bayesian neural network for an intelligent wheelchair

In this paper, an advanced obstacle avoidance system is developed for an intelligent wheelchair designed to support people with mobility impairments who also have visual, upper limb, or cognitive impairment. To avoid obstacles, immediate environment information is continuously updated with range data sampled by an on-board laser range finder URG-04LX. Then, the data is transformed to find the relevant information to the navigating process before being presented to a trained obstacle avoidance neural network which is optimized under the supervision of a Bayesian framework to find its structure and weight values. The experiment results showed that this method allows the wheelchair to avoid collisions while simultaneously navigating through an unknown environment in real-time. More importantly, this new approach significantly enhances the performance of the system to pass narrow openings such as door passing.
ARRANJOS PRODUTIVOS LOCAIS: DA CONCEITUAÇÃO À APRESENTAÇÃO DAS CARACTERÍSTICAS E DAS VANTAGENS

The formation of local productive arrangements (LPAs) is a competitive growing trend, as the main strategy in the search for competitive advantage. A fad in the use of the term LPA has proliferated, and with it the fact that they are in the same city or region is a sufficient condition for the denomination. Thus, the objective of this theory was established in order to identify the concept, characteristics and advantages and disadvantages associated with APLs. We conclude that LPAs are clusters, mostly micro, small and medium enterprises, featuring the following characteristics: same geographical space, cooperation and interdependence, dissemination of knowledge and trust, competition and innovation taking place under the positive influence of competition. Its direct agents are the various actors, those responsible for governance mechanisms. These characteristics are interrelated, working systemically, through the union of the various efforts. The result of these processes is the competitive advantages and gain in competitiveness to LPA and businesses within it.
Activation of a C-terminal Transcriptional Activation Domain of ERK5 by Autophosphorylation*

ERK5 plays a crucial role in many biological processes by regulating transcription. ERK5 has a large C-terminal-half that contains a transcriptional activation domain. However, it has remained unclear how its transcriptional activation activity is regulated. Here, we show that the activated kinase activity of ERK5 is required for the C-terminal-half to enhance the AP-1 activity, and that the activated ERK5 undergoes autophosphorylation on its most C-terminal region. Changing these phosphorylatable threonine and serine residues to unphosphorylatable alanines significantly reduces the transcriptional activation activity of ERK5. Moreover, phosphomimetic mutants of the C-terminal-half of ERK5 without an N-terminal kinase domain are shown to be able to enhance the AP-1 activity in fibroblastic cells. These results reveal the role of the stimulus-induced ERK5 autophosphorylation in regulation of gene expression.
Effect of inclusion of different forms of dietary fatty acid on the yield and composition of cow's milk

Summary In addition to a control diet, lactating cows were offered saturated fatty acid mixtures in three forms, free acids, free triglycerides and protected triglycerides, i.e. triglyceride encapsulated within a protein matrix which was cross linked by exposure to formaldehyde. Relative to the control diet, all three supplements increased milk yield. However, only the free fatty acids gave rise to increased yields of the three major milk components. The free fat and the protected fat caused significant increases only in the lactose yield. The different effects of the supplements on the yield of milk fat are suggested to be due to the types of long chain acid reaching the mammary gland rather than to any change in rumen activity. Changes in the concentrations of the soluble multivalent ionic constituents of the milks were consistent with this conclusion.
20-nm optical wavelength conversion using nondegenerate four-wave mixing

Wavelength conversion of optical signals over 20 nm is demonstrated using highly nondegenerate four-wave mixing in a semiconductor traveling-wave optical amplifier. This technique has the potential for extremely-high-speed operation and allows continuous tuning of both input and output wavelengths over the amplifier gain bandwidth. It is demonstrated that, even for such a large wavelength conversion range, it is possible to obtain conversion efficiencies in excess of -10 dB and high extinction ratios. The feasibility of the technique is demonstrated by system measurements at 622 Mb/s, showing a 1.1-dB power penalty at 10/sup -9/ bit error rate (BER). <<ETX>>
Using technology to achieve ease of use

The user interface is a critical determiner of the success of AT&T's products and services. Customers demand interfaces that are attractive, entertaining, and easy to use. New technologies promise significant improvements in the interfaces between people and systems. However, care is needed to ensure that these technologies produce results that are in fact easy to use. The articles in this issue describe ways to achieve high quality user interfaces in AT&T products and services. These include a user-centered approach to design and development, the use of standard interfaces to provide a common look and feel across products, and the use of software tools that promote good design principles.
Effect of adenosine on contractile state and oxygen consumption in isolated rat hearts.

We studied the effects of adenosine on oxygen consumption and contractile state in 17 isolated, crystalloid-perfused, isovolumically contracting rat heart preparations at constant coronary flow. In 10 experiments we determined adenosine-contractile state dose-response relationships in three groups of hearts using two different perfusates and in the presence and absence of adrenergic blockade. Adenosine consistently reduced contractile state in a dose-dependent fashion, reducing the ventricular pressure developed at a constant ventricular volume by 24% on average at its maximal effect. An adenosine concentration of 111 microM on average produced 50% of the maximal effect. In seven experiments we determined the end-systolic pressure-volume and oxygen consumption-pressure-volume area (MVO2-PVA) relationships at two calcium concentrations (1.5 and 0.75 mM) and with adenosine 400 microM (1.5 mM Ca2+). Contractile state was indexed by the developed pressure at a ventricular volume of 0.3 ml (P0.3). Compared with 1.5 mM Ca2+, mean P0.3 was reduced by 38% with 0.75 mM Ca2+ and by 18% with adenosine. Whereas the MVO2-PVA slopes did not change, the mean MVO2 intercept was reduced by 22% with 0.75 mM Ca2+ and by 13% with adenosine. The MVO2 intercept, which represents the oxygen consumed by the unloaded heart, was directly related to P0.3. This relationship, which represents the oxygen cost of contractility, was not affected by adenosine. We conclude that at constant coronary flow and perfusion pressure adenosine reduces myocardial contractility and the oxygen consumed for excitation-contraction coupling. However, adenosine does not affect the slope of the MVO2-PVA relation or the oxygen cost of contractility. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The history of genetics in infl ammatory bowel disease

Th e infl uence of genetics in the etiology of infl ammatory bowel disease (IBD) was initially demonstrated by epidemiological data, including diff erences in prevalence among diff erent ethnic groups, familial aggregation of IBD, concordance in twins, and association with genetic syndromes. Th ese early observations paved the way to molecular genetics in IBD, and culminated in the identifi cation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2 (NOD2) gene as an IBD risk gene in 2001. As in other complex diseases, the advent of Genome Wide Association studies has dramatically improved the resolution of the IBD genome and our understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD. However, the complexity of the genetic puzzle in IBD seems more pronounced today than ever previously. In total, 163 risk genes/loci have been identifi ed, and the corresponding number of possible causal variants is challenging. Th e great majority of these loci are associated with both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, suggesting that nearly all of the biological mechanisms involved in one disease play some role in the other. Interestingly, a large proportion of the IBD risk loci are also shared with other immune-mediated diseases, primary immunodefi ciencies and mycobacterial diseases.
Do Mutual Funds Outperform During Recessions? International (Counter-) Evidence

Glode (2011) shows, both theoretically and empirically, that U.S. equity mutual funds have a systematically better performance during periods of economic downturn and that investors are willing to pay higher fund fees for this recession insurance. In this paper, we test these hypotheses out-of-sample using international mutual fund data from 16 different countries. Surprisingly, we cannot confirm that mutual funds outperform during recessions and do not find that funds with high recession alphas can charge higher fees to Investors. Hence, our study raises doubts about the validity of Glode (2011)'s model and looks for alternative explanations of mutual fund's state-specific performance and optimal fee-setting.
Dual segment video watermarking using energy efficient technique

Digital watermarking is a technique to employ copyright protection and ensure the authenticity of the owner using a proof of ownership embedded in a multimedia file. The objective of this paper is to present a novel digital video watermarking scheme using dual watermark. The binary watermark image is distributed over audio samples in which first four samples of each frame are watermarked with 4 bits of the image using multiple bit plane scheme. For the gray scale watermark, the FFT is taken and the samples are embedded in the FFT samples of video frames using Energy Efficient scheme. The watermarked video is subjected to different attacks and the efficiency of the technique is measured using Correlation Factor and PSNR. The algorithm presented is robust, secure and is energy efficient with decreased payload on the host signal.
High suicidal ideation in persons testing for Huntington's disease

This study examined the first participants who registered for the Huntington's disease predictive testing program 1990–1995 in Stockholm, Sweden. A psychosocial investigation was performed to evaluate potential effects of the presymptomatic testing. The results showed no significant differences between 13 genecarriers and 21 noncarriers in pretest attitudes, expectations, general well‐being, life satisfaction and lifestyle, the need for support, estimated sense of well‐being or degree of health. However, both groups showed high suicidal ideation and self‐injurious behavior. Noncarriers had a very high frequency of attempted suicide, and both groups had similarly pronounced psychiatric dysfunction. Their relatives also had high frequencies of psychiatric diseases, suicide or suicidal attempts. Most of the participants had a desire to meet a psychologist or a social worker. The need for counseling, using a well designed protocol, and the importance of focusing on suicide risk of participants in predictive testing programs is emphasized.
The Relationship of Level of Positive Mental Health With Current Mental Disorders in Predicting Suicidal Behavior and Academic Impairment in College Students

Abstract Objective: To investigate whether level of positive mental health complements mental illness in predicting students at risk for suicidal behavior and impaired academic performance. Participants: A sample of 5,689 college students participated in the 2007 Healthy Minds Study and completed an Internet survey that included the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form and the Patient Health Questionnaire screening scales for depression and anxiety disorders, questions about suicide ideation, plans, and attempts, and academic impairment. Results: Just under half (49.3%) of students were flourishing and did not screen positive for a mental disorder. Among students who did, and those who did not, screen for a mental disorder, suicidal behavior and impaired academic performance were lowest in those with flourishing, higher among those with moderate, and highest in those with languishing mental health. Conclusions: Positive mental health complements mental disorder screening in mental health surveillance and prediction of suicidal behavior and impairment of academic performance.
Left Atrial Sphericity: A New Method to Assess Atrial Remodeling. Impact on the Outcome of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation outcome is mainly determined by atrial remodeling that, nowadays, is only estimated through clinical presentation (persistent vs. paroxysmal) and left atrial (LA) dimension. The aim of the study was to stage the atrial remodeling process using the Left Atrial Sphericity (LASP) and determine whether this technique may help to predict AF ablation outcome.
Optimal sensing period for the cognitive radio networks

The PHY-layer sensing, as a key component of spectrum sensing in cognitive radio, concerns the sensing mechanism to determine when to sense channel for detection and which channel to access. One of the important issues in the PHY-layer sensing control is to find an available sensing period and trade-off between spectrum sensing and data transmission. The larger sensing time leads to higher sensing accuracy, less interference but shorter transmission time. Oppositely if we want hold much more transmission time, the sensing time should be decreased, and the interference to primary user will increase. In this paper, we show the relationship between spectrum sensing and data transmission according to the sensing period. We analyze and propose the new scheme to evaluate optimal sensing period.
The Impact of Carsharing on Household Vehicle Ownership

The Impact of Carsharing on Household Vehicle Ownership ELLIOT MARTIN AND SUSAN SHAHEEN C ARSHARING IN N OR TH A MERICA IS CHANGING the transportation landscape of metropolitan regions across the continent. Carsharing systems give members access to an automobile for short-term use. The shared cars are distributed across a network of locations within a metropolitan area. Members can access the vehicles at any time with a reservation and are charged by time or by mile. Carsharing thus provides some of the benefits of personal automobility without the costs of owning a private vehicle. A C C E S S
THE ATACAMA COSMOLOGY TELESCOPE: EXTRAGALACTIC SOURCES AT 148 GHz IN THE 2008 SURVEY

We report on extragalactic sources detected in a 455 deg2 map of the southern sky made with data at a frequency of 148 GHz from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) 2008 observing season. We provide a catalog of 157 sources with flux densities spanning two orders of magnitude: from 15 mJy to 1500 mJy. Comparison to other catalogs shows that 98% of the ACT detections correspond to sources detected at lower radio frequencies. Three of the sources appear to be associated with the brightest cluster galaxies of low-redshift X-ray-selected galaxy clusters. Estimates of the radio to millimeter-wave spectral indices and differential counts of the sources further bolster the hypothesis that they are nearly all radio sources, and that their emission is not dominated by re-emission from warm dust. In a bright (>50 mJy) 148 GHz selected sample with complete cross-identifications from the Australia Telescope 20 GHz survey, we observe an average steepening of the spectra between 5, 20, and 148 GHz with median spectral indices of α5-20 = −0.07 ± 0.06, α20-148 = −0.39 ± 0.04, and α5-148 = −0.20 ± 0.03. When the measured spectral indices are taken into account, the 148 GHz differential source counts are consistent with previous measurements at 30 GHz in the context of a source count model dominated by radio sources. Extrapolating with an appropriately rescaled model for the radio source counts, the Poisson contribution to the spatial power spectrum from synchrotron-dominated sources with flux density less than 20 mJy is CSync = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10−6μK2.
Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure in Bangladesh

This study looks into the association between corporate characteristics and corporate social esponsibility disclosure (CSRD) in annual reports of listed companies in Bangladesh. Seventy annual reports of nonfinancial companies for the year 2010 have been taken as sample to find the empirical result of this study. The study reports that the mean score of CSRD is five and 75 percent companies disclose 7 items voluntarily which is 20 percent of total disclose-able items. So, companies in general have not responded enough to disclose CSR items in the annual reports. The explanatory ariables total assets, profitability, MNC affiliation and listing age are insignificant factors for CSRD while market capitalization has statistically significant effect on CSRD. It is expected that the usefulness of this research work will be acknowledged by potential and present investors, stakeholders, policy makers, and regulatory bodies of the country.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Eight European Countries from 2001 to 2003

ABSTRACT Susceptibility testing results for Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates (n = 2,279) from eight European countries, examined in the PneumoWorld Study from 2001 to 2003, are presented. Overall, 24.6% of S. pneumoniae isolates were nonsusceptible to penicillin G and 28.0% were resistant to macrolides. The prevalence of resistance varied widely between European countries, with the highest rates of penicillin G and macrolide resistance reported from Spain and France. Serotype 14 was the leading serotype among penicillin G- and macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae isolates. One strain (PW 158) showed a combination of an efflux type of resistance with a 23S rRNA mutation (A2061G, pneumococcal numbering; A2059G, Escherichia coli numbering). Six strains which showed negative results for mef(A) and erm(B) in repeated PCR assays had mutations in 23S rRNA or alterations in the L4 ribosomal protein (two strains). Fluoroquinolone resistance rates (levofloxacin MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml) were low (Austria, 0%; Belgium, 0.7%; France, 0.9%; Germany, 0.4%; Italy, 1.3%; Portugal, 1.2%; Spain, 1.0%; and Switzerland, 0%). Analysis of quinolone resistance-determining regions showed eight strains with a Ser81 alteration in gyrA; 13 of 18 strains showed a Ser79 alteration in parC. The clonal profile, as analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), showed that the 18 fluoroquinolone-resistant strains were genetically heterogeneous. Seven of the 18 strains belonged to new sequence types not hitherto described in the MLST database. Europe-wide surveillance for monitoring of the further spread of these antibiotic-resistant S. pneumoniae clones is warranted.
Using Pediatric Advanced Life Support in pediatric residency training: Does the curriculum need resuscitation?*

Objective: The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course is used throughout North American pediatric residency programs to provide a core pediatric resuscitation curriculum. Despite this widespread use, its effectiveness has not been formally assessed in pediatric residents. This study aimed to evaluate the PALS curriculum's effectiveness in providing pediatric residents with knowledge, skill and confidence in pediatric resuscitation. Design: Course evaluation. Setting: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Subjects: Pediatric residents. Interventions: Subjects were followed prospectively for 1 yr following completion of an annual PALS course. Multiple choice and short answer questionnaires were used to evaluate residents' knowledge immediately before and after completion of the course and throughout the following year. Confidence in ten aspects of pediatric resuscitation was assessed. Scores were compared before and after the PALS course to evaluate acquisition of knowledge and confidence. Scores at 12 months were compared with the immediate post-PALS course scores to evaluate maintenance of knowledge and confidence over time. Technical skills were evaluated by staff anesthetists using a 3-point scale. Measurements and Main Results: Knowledge questionnaire scores were significantly higher post-PALS compared with pre-PALS, but knowledge of the details of PALS algorithms decreased significantly over the following 12 months. Confidence ratings improved post-PALS on only two of ten measures and remained very low overall. Residents could complete the four core technical skills but required assistance or multiple attempts. Conclusions: PALS is successful in providing basic resuscitation knowledge to pediatric residents, but knowledge of critical algorithm details is not sustained. The course does not provide for the expected level of competency in relevant technical skills. Residents do not achieve the confidence to feel well prepared to provide comprehensive care to pediatric patients in cardiopulmonary arrest. These findings support the hypothesis that the PALS course alone is insufficient to provide pediatric residents with competency in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Vascular toxicity associated with chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy: what should a radiologist know?

OBJECTIVE Venous and arterial thromboembolic events and rarely hemorrhage are complications of chemotherapy and, more recently, of molecular targeted therapy in patients with solid and hematologic malignancies. This article will use a drug-based approach to illustrate, with examples, vessel damage and end-organ damage induced by molecular targeted therapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients and will provide a clinical perspective. CONCLUSION Imaging plays a key role in the detection of complications of cancer therapies. A high index of suspicion and an awareness of modern-day drug toxicities are key to the early diagnosis and management of these complications.
Female preference for complex/novel signals in a spider

Identifying the various factors that influence complex signal evolution is a difficult task, yet it is fundamental to understanding the evolution of animal communication. Here we explore the evolution of complex courtship signaling by taking advantage of a system in which sexual selection on male courtship traits has driven the diversification of geographically isolated populations of the jumping spider Habronattus pugillis Griswold. Using 2 populations (Santa Rita [SR] and Atascosa [AT]) in which SR females show xenophilic mating preferences for foreign (AT) over local males (SR), we examine the mechanisms driving this preference. Both AT and SR males produce multimodal signals (visual p seismic), and while SR and AT signals share certain seismic components, AT seismic signals are more complex and contain novel components. We conducted mate choice trials where SR females were presented with AT or SR males that were either muted or nonmuted. SR females preferred to mate and mated more quickly with foreign AT males over local SR males only if AT males could produce seismic signals (nonmuted treatment). In addition, we found that SR females spent a higher proportion of time attentive to foreign AT males only if they could produce seismic signals. This evidence suggests that SR females have a bias for complex and/or novel forms of seismic signals. Copyright 2006.