Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Intelligent System for Traffic Control in Smart Cities: A Case Study

Current traffic light systems use a fixed time delay for different traffic directions and do follow a particular cycle while switching from one signal to another. This creates unwanted congestion during peak hours, loss of man-hours and eventually decline in productivity. In addition to this, the current traffic light systems encourage extortion by corrupt traffic officials as commuters often violate traffic rules because of the insufficient time allocated to their lanes or may want to avoid a long waiting period for their lanes to come up. This research is aimed at tackling the afore-mentioned problems by adopting a density based traffic control approach using Jakpa Junction, one of the busiest junctions in Delta State, Nigeria as a case study. The developed system uses a microcontroller of PIC89C51 microcontroller duly interfaced with sensors. The signal timing changes automatically based on the traffic density at the junction, thereby, avoiding unnecessary waiting time at the junction. The sensors used in this project were infra-red (IR) sensors and photodiodes which were placed in a Line of Sight configuration across the loads to detect the density of the traffic signal. The density of the vehicles is measured in three zones i.e., low, medium and high based on which timings were allotted accordingly. The developed system has proven to be smart and intelligent and capable of curbing incidences of traffic malpractices and inefficiencies that have been the bane of current traffic congestion control systems in emerging cities of the third world.
Efficacy of botulinum toxin in treating myofascial pain and occlusal force characteristics of masticatory muscles in bruxism

Aim and Objective: The present study was conducted in patients with bruxism to evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) (Botox, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) in the treatment of myofascial pain and the occlusal force characteristics of masticatory muscles. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four diagnosed with bruxism were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8) and treated by bilateral intramuscular injection of BTX-A and placebo-treated with saline placebo injections and control group where no injections were given. The clinical parameters such as pain at rest and during chewing were assessed and occlusal force analysis system to measure the distribution of occlusal force in bruxism patients. All the three groups were assessed at baseline time and at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months follow-up appointments. Descriptive analysis showed that improvements in parameters such as pain at rest; pain during chewing clinical outcome variables were higher in the botox treated group than in the placebo-treated subjects. Results: The pain at rest and at chewing decreased in the BTX-A group while remaining constant in the placebo group and control group. There was a significant change in maximum occlusal force in the BTX-A group compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05, post hoc Bonferroni test, no exact P value), and there was no significant difference between the placebo and control groups (post hoc Bonferroni test, no exact P value). Conclusion: Results from the present study supported the efficacy of BTX-A to reduce myofascial pain symptoms in bruxers, and effective in reducing the occlusal force.
Real time spectrum analyzer

A real time spectrum analyzer (RTSA) has been designed for the 50-MeV RF linac (linear accelerator) of the free electron laser. It displays in real time the beam distribution in 2 dimensions: energy and time with a resolution of 0.3% and 64 sampled times, respectively, during the macropulse. The RTSA is based on an optical transition radiation converter and linear diode array. It allows measurement of the beam energy distribution along the macropulse with and without laser oscillation. RTSA includes in the same frame a 32-channel transient recorder and a digital oscilloscope with 8-b amplitude resolution. It offers multiple presentation: 1 to 128 curves can be displayed simultaneously in three dimensions. Preliminary tests on a 20-MeV linac facility are reported. The results show the unique abilities of the device to identify and correct the various inst ilities that may appear in the operation of an RF linac. <<ETX>>
Localization for Legged Robot with Single Low-Resolution Camera using Genetic Algorithm

Localization is an important area in autonomous robotics. Recently, many researchers focus on legged robot due to its ability to navigate on undulating terrain. Localization of legged robot is more difficult than that of wheeled robot in the following senses: 1) leg slippages are common during walking motion, which degrade the motion accuracy and 2) due to the oscillated walking motion of robot, sensor data are fluctuating that the degree of freedom (DOF) of legged robot is higher than that of wheeled robot. Among different kinds of sensors, single camera equipped on a legged robot is considered in this paper as camera is a low-cost and small sensor that is suitable for small-sized robot. The challenges of vision-based localization for legged robot include real-time processing, high dimensional movement, limited field of view and the lack of depth information in images. In this paper, a robust and flexible vision-based localization algorithm for legged robot using genetic algorithm (GA) is presented. The localization problem is modeled as a high dimensional optimization problem. Given a set of feature coordinates and their corresponding image points extracted from an image, position and orientation of the robot can be estimated from a single image by the proposed localization algorithm.
Hypercalcemia in metastatic breast cancer unrelated to skeletal metastasis

A 48-year-old woman was given a diagnosis of infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma (T2N1M0; grade I; positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal receptor-2 [HER2] status; with 3/31 positive nodes). Treatment at that time involved left lumpectomy with axillary node
The role of the actin cytoskeleton in regulating Drosophila behavior

Abstract Over the past decade, the function of the cytoskeleton has been studied extensively in developing and mature neurons. Actin, a major cytoskeletal protein, is indispensable for the structural integrity and plasticity of neurons and their synapses. Disruption of actin dynamics has significant consequence for neurons, neuronal circuits, and the functions they govern. In particular, cell adhesion molecules, members of the Rho family of GTPases, and actin-binding proteins are important modulators of actin dynamics and neuronal as well as behavioral plasticity. In this review, we discuss recent advances in Drosophila that highlight the importance of actin regulatory proteins in mediating fly behaviors such as circadian rhythm, courtship behavior, learning and memory, and the development of drug addiction.
Synchronization of stochastic delayed neural networks via aperiodically intermittent control

In this paper, the global exponential synchronization was researched for recurrent neural networks(RNN) with stochastic perturbation and time-varying delayed under inter-mittent control, which were aperiodically and adaptive control. By using the intermittent control theory, the average Lyapunov function, and some comparison properties, some sufficient condition ensuring synchronization of stochastic delayed recurrent neural networks were studied. Numerical results are presented to verify the main contributions.
Periodontal Disease and Incident Diabetes

Diabetes is associated with a high prevalence of periodontal disease, but little is known about the effects of periodontal disease on incident diabetes. In total, 5848 non-diabetic individuals aged 30-59 yrs who completed a health examination were analyzed in this study. They were divided into three categories: no pathological pockets, moderate periodontitis, or severe periodontitis. Incident diabetes was defined as newly diagnosed cases with fasting plasma glucose > 125 mg/dL. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the effect of periodontitis on incident diabetes during a seven-year follow-up period. Moderate and severe periodontitis was significantly associated with an increased risk of diabetes in unadjusted analyses, but the magnitude of the association decreased after full adjustment [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.00, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.77-1.30 and HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 0.89-1.86, respectively]. Our findings do not indicate an apparent association between periodontitis and incident diabetes, although there was a tendency for increased risk.
Long-term effects of surgical angiogenic therapy with fibroblast growth factor 2 protein.

OBJECTIVE The long-term effects of surgical fibroblast growth factor 2 therapy are examined. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind study, fibroblast growth factor 2 (10 microg or 100 microg) or placebo (n = 8 each) was delivered in the ungraftable myocardial territory of patients concomitantly undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Patients were followed up to 32.2 +/- 6.8 months postoperatively with clinical assessment and nuclear perfusion imaging. RESULTS Baseline patient characteristics were similar between the 3 groups. There were 2 late deaths, one of pancreatic cancer and one of undetermined cause (both in the 100-microg fibroblast growth factor 2 group). Two patients (both in the control group) underwent a total of 6 repeat cardiac catheterizations for recurrent coronary events. Mean Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class improved at late follow-up from baseline in all groups (P < or = .02); however, patients treated with either dose of fibroblast growth factor 2 had significantly more freedom from angina recurrence than those treated with placebo (P =.03). Late nuclear perfusion scans revealed a persistent reversible or a new, fixed perfusion defect in the ungraftable territory of 4 of 5 patients who received placebo versus only 1 of 9 patients treated with fibroblast growth factor 2 (P =.02). The overall sum of left ventricular stress perfusion defect scores was also lower in fibroblast growth factor 2-treated patients than in control subjects (1.3 +/- 1.4 vs 3.9 +/- 2.1, respectively; P =.04). A trend toward a higher late left ventricular ejection fraction was noted in fibroblast growth factor 2-treated patients (55.1% +/- 14.6% vs 44.3% +/- 6.5%, fibroblast growth factor 2-treated patients versus control subjects; P =.12). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that surgical angiogenic therapy with sustained-release fibroblast growth factor 2 may result in a prolonged myocardial revascularization effect that could translate into clinical benefit.
Windowed Spectral Regularization of Inverse Problems

Regularization is used in order to obtain a reasonable estimate of the solution to an ill-posed inverse problem. One common form of regularization is to use a filter to reduce the influence of components corresponding to small singular values, perhaps using a Tikhonov least squares formulation. In this work, we break the problem into subproblems with narrower bands of singular values using spectrally defined windows, and we regularize each subproblem individually. We show how to use standard parameter-choice methods, such as the discrepancy principle and generalized cross-validation, in a windowed regularization framework. A perturbation analysis gives sensitivity estimates. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithms on deblurring images and on the backward heat equation.
Non-invasive assessment of shunt and ventilation/perfusion ratio in neonates with pulmonary failure

AIMS To make non-invasive measurements of right to left (R-L) shunt and reduced ventilation/perfusion ratio (VA/Q) in neonates with pulmonary failure and to examine sequential changes in these variables after treatment. METHODS Twelve neonates with pulmonary failure were studied. They ranged in gestational age from 24 to 37 (median 27) weeks and were 1–39 (median 4) days old. Shunt and reduced VA/Q were derived from their effects on the relation between inspired oxygen pressure (Pio2 ) and arterial oxygen saturation measured with a pulse oximeter (Spo 2). Pairs of Pio2 vSpo 2 data points were obtained by varying Pio2 in a stepwise fashion. A computer algorithm based on a model of pulmonary gas exchange fitted a curve to these data. With Pio2 on the abscissa, an increase in shunt produced a downward movement of the curve, whereas reducing VA/Q to < 0.8 shifted the curve to the right. The right shift gives a variable that is inversely related to VA/Q, the Pio2 − Pc̄ o 2difference, where Pc̄ o 2 is mixed capillary oxygen pressure. RESULTS Ten of the 12 infants on the first study day had large shunts (range 5.9–31.0%, median 19.9%, normal < 8%) and large Pio2 − Pc̄ o 2differences (range 9.7–64.4 kPa, median 19.8 kPa, normal < 7 kPa) equivalent to a median VA/Q of 0.2 (normal median VA/Q = 0.8). Sequential improvement in shunt and VA/Q were shown in most infants after treatment. Sudden large changes in these variables were shown in two infants. CONCLUSION This simple non-invasive method distinguishes between shunt and reduced VA/Q in neonates with pulmonary failure.
On Some Spectral Properties of TanDEM-X Interferograms Over Forested Areas

This letter reports about some observations over rainforests (in Brazil and Indonesia), where the spectra of TanDEM-X interferograms show distinct features, almost a signature, which is explained and modeled in terms of the scattering properties. Supported by comparisons with simulations, the observations exclude any homogeneous horizontally layered forest; instead, they are compatible with a model with point scatterers clustered in clouds. Such a model, with high extinction and large gaps that allow significant penetration, is able to explain to a good degree the observations.
cdt1 is an essential target of the Cdc10/Sct1 transcription factor: requirement for DNA replication and inhibition of mitosis.

We have used an immunoprecipitation‐PCR cycle to isolate physically genomic DNA sequences that are bound by the fission yeast cdc10 gene product in an attempt to identify novel target genes. An essential gene, cdt1, has been isolated whose expression is cell cycle regulated in a cdc10 dependent manner. The cdt1 promoter contains a recognition site for a sequence specific DNA binding factor. The cdc10 gene product is a component of this factor. Ectopic expression of cdt1 can complement a temperature sensitive mutation of cdc10 at semipermissive temperature. Cells carrying a null allele of cdt1 are defective in DNA replication but initiate mitotic events, suggesting that cdt1 is essential for the normal dependency relationship of S‐phase and mitosis.
Comunicação e Sociabilidade na Cibercultura a partir do Consumo, Apropriação, Produção e Recirculação de Notícias Locais nas Redes Sociais Online

A informacao e um bem simbolico e as pessoas agora tem a disponibilidade de acessa-la em varios formatos, plataformas e dispositivos inumeraveis. A antiga lealdade de adquirir informacao por uma determinada plataforma, atraves de uma especifica organizacao de noticia ou de uma forma particular nao e mais o usual. Existem varios tipos de dispositivos e midias para se receber noticias sobre o cotidiano. Pensar nesta nova ecologia de trocas comunicacionais e buscar compreender a sociedade e cultura contemporânea das redes digitais e seus novos atributos. Neste sistema se destaca a comunicacao local na forma de noticias que circulam pelas redes sociais na internet onde se estabeleceu uma nova relacao entre producao, consumo e disseminacao de informacao local. A argumentacao geral deste artigo tem por objetivo buscar refletir sobre como essas novas possibilidades de apropriacoes e recirculacao de noticias locais vem impactando na relacao entre informacao e sociedade/comunidade no que tange ao engajamento publico, pois parte deste contributo e associado as praticas jornalisticas no tratamento da informacao.
Generating Functions For Two-Variable Polynomials Related To a Family of Fibonacci Type Polynomials and Numbers

The purpose of this paper is to construct generating functions for the family of the Fibonacci and Jacobsthal polynomials. Using these generating functions and their functional equations, we investigate some properties of these polynomials. We also give relationships between the Fibonacci, Jacobsthal, Chebyshev polynomials and the other well known polynomials. Finally, we give some infinite series applications related to these polynomials and their generating functions.
Endocrine disrupters and pubertal timing

Purpose of review The current review summarizes recent epidemiologic data demonstrating the effects of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) on the timing of puberty and highlights the complexity of understanding the interplay of environmental and genetic factors on pubertal timing. Recent findings In girls, there have been mixed results, with some exposures being associated with earlier timing of puberty, and some with later puberty. In boys, prepubertal exposures to nondioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls accelerate puberty, whereas levels of insecticides, dioxin-like compounds, organochlorine pesticides, and lead delay puberty. Summary The effects of EDCs on pubertal timing are sexually dimorphic, compound specific, and varies according to the window of exposure. These studies confirm that low-level exposures to a mix of environmental compounds may mask the effects of individual compounds and complicate our ability to translate data from animal studies to human health and to fully understand the clinical implications of environmental epidemiology studies.
Invariant Valpha14 NKT lymphocytes: a double-edged immuno-regulatory T cell population.

Auteur(s) : Mariette Lisbonne and Maria C. Leite-de-Moraes CNRS FRE 2444, Paris V, Hopital Necker, 161 rue de Sevres, 75743 Paris Cedex 15, France Introduction The term “natural killer T (NKT)” cells has initially been coined to designate T lymphocytes expressing NK markers, such as NK1.1 (NKR-P1A or CD161). Later on, this population turned out to be quite heterogeneous and it is now well established that it comprises several subsets with distinct functional capacities. The first [. ]
Successful rescue therapy with Raltegravir (MK-0518) and Etravirine (TMC125) in an hiv-infected patient failing all four classes of antiretroviral drugs.

It is mandatory to find antiretroviral therapies that offer increased efficacy in treatmentexperienced patients with HIV-1 infection, a population whose extensive drug resistance restricts treatment options and has a severe effect on infection management.1 The aim in salvage therapy in patients who were highly treatmentexperienced and in whom multiple regimens had failed was so far limited to the new protease inhibitors (PI) and combination with enfuvirtide.2,3 The new antiretrovirals currently in expanded access programs, such as raltegravir and etravirine, show unprecedented level of virologic efficacy. Raltegravir, formerly MK0518, the first integrase inhibitor under clinical development, showed high potency in multidrug-resistant HIV patients including those resistant to currently available antiretroviral drugs.4 Etravirine, formerly TMC-125, a second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) appears to be effective against a variety of HIV viruses that are resistant to efavirenz and nevirapine.5 Few data are available regarding the performance of these drugs combinations in heavily PI-experienced patients, including those for whom tipranavir, darunavir, and enfuvirtide have failed. Hereby, we describe the outcome of salvage therapy based on raltegravir and etravirine in a heavily antiretroviral-experienced patient. A 37-year-old Caucasian male, CDC status C3, had experienced multiple failures to all current classes of antiretroviral agents. Specifically, he had failed eight ritonavir-boosted PI combinations, including tenofovir-lamivudine-enfuvirtide-tipranavir/ritonavir, given in May 2004 with replacement of the latest with darunavir/ritonavir in December 2006. Plasma HIV-RNA levels were measured at baseline and during therapy using a commercial assay, the Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 Assay (bDNA; Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics, Malvern, PA), with a dynamic range of 50–500,000 HIV-1 RNA copies per milliliter. CD4 cell count was determined by direct immunofluorescence in flow cytometry (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA). Genetic analysis of the pol gene including both HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (codons 4-99) and protease (codons 35-247) regions was performed using the Trugene HIV-1 Genotyping Kit (Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics).
Validation of [13C]urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori using a simple gas chromatograph‐mass selective detector

Objective Isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is the accepted method for accurately measuring the 13CO2:12CO2 ratio in the non-invasive and non-radioactive [13C]urea breath test (13C-UBT) for Helicobactor pylori. The IRMS instrument, an expensive and highly specialized analyser, is rarely available. The objective of this project was to modify and validate the use of a simple bench-top gas chromatograph-mass selective detector (GC-MSD) for 13C-UBT. Methods Breath samples from 71 patients were taken at baseline and 30 min after ingestion of 100 mg [13C]urea. The breath samples were analysed using GC-MSD in the selected ion monitoring mode. The reference 13CO2:12CO2 ratio was from NBS19 obtained from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. 13CO2:12CO2 ratios of the breath samples were determined. Excess delta per thousand (per mil, δ%) of the 30 min sample over the baseline (Δσ%) of ≥6Δσ% was considered H. pylori positive. Results from 13C-UBT and histology determined blind to each other were compared. Results The coefficient of variation of the reference 13CO2:12CO2 ratio was 0.06%. Using histology as the ‘gold standard’, the sensitivity (97.9%) and specificity (95.8%) of the GC-MSD 13C-UBT were comparable to those of other methods of H. pylori diagnosis. Conclusion A gas chromatograph coupled to a mass selective detector that is available in many analytical and biomedical laboratories can be used for the 13C-UBT. This method will increase the availability and reduce the cost of this non-invasive, non-radioactive diagnostic test.
Game engine for creating e-learning assessments

Over time, methods of evaluation in the education process has been exhausting and not very attractive for students. Currently there are different ways of assess knowledge through activities that promote the interests of the learners, so they find entertainment in these processes. This article describes the implementation of Game Engine project, which involves the creation of assessments through playful elements within a virtual learning environment. The objective of this project is to improve assessment methods in courses taught in the Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC) through the platform. LRN implemented by the tecDigital (TEC project, which aims to promote and facilitate the use of information and communication technologies in the educational process).