Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eye-in-Hand Tracking Control of a Free-Floating Space Manipulator

This paper studies the visual-tracking (visual-servo) control problem for a free-floating space manipulator using an eye-in-hand camera for the capturing process, where the motion of the target spacecraft is unknown and the dynamics of the system are uncertain. A depth-independent matrix is developed to help design an observer for estimating the unknown positions of target points on the spacecraft in the inertial frame. The target points are used to estimate depth information for visual servo control. An adaptive controller is used to force the feature points on the target to converge onto the desired positions on the image plane as well as estimate the uncertain dynamic parameters. The Lyapunov approach is used to show asymptotic stability of the system and convergence of image errors. Finally, simulation results are presented to validate the performance of the proposed control algorithm.
Kinetics of both synchronous and asynchronous quantal release during trains of action potential‐evoked EPSCs at the rat calyx of Held

We studied the kinetics of transmitter release during trains of action potential (AP)‐evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) at the calyx of Held synapse of juvenile rats. Using a new quantitative method based on a combination of ensemble fluctuation analysis and deconvolution, we were able to analyse mean quantal size (q) and release rate (ξ) continuously in a time‐resolved manner. Estimates derived this way agreed well with values of q and quantal content (M) calculated for each EPSC within the train from ensemble means of peak amplitudes and their variances. Separate analysis of synchronous and asynchronous quantal release during long stimulus trains (200 ms, 100 Hz) revealed that the latter component was highly variable among different synapses but it was unequivocally identified in 18 out of 37 synapses analysed. Peak rates of asynchronous release ranged from 0.2 to 15.2 vesicles ms−1 (ves ms−1) with a mean of 2.3 ± 0.6 ves ms−1. On average, asynchronous release accounted for less than 14% of the total number of about 3670 ± 350 vesicles released during 200 ms trains. Following such trains, asynchronous release decayed with several time constants, the fastest one being in the order of 15 ms. The short duration of asynchronous release at the calyx of Held synapse may aid in generating brief postsynaptic depolarizations, avoiding temporal summation and preserving action potential timing during high frequency bursts.
Distributed Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation for Space Robot on CAN Bus

Using HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) simulation technology during the development of control module for space robot, we can test the software and hardware of the control system, decrease development time and costs. In the paper, the functions and the features of HIL are analyzed, and the structures of HIL are designed. A space robot control system simulation test bed has been developed as a distribute control system. Microprocessor units are adopted to be in charge of the joints and grip running simulation respectively. Central control and dynamics functions are developed on OBC (on-board computer) and an industrial computer. Each modules can exchange data via CAN bus. This test bed can be exploited as a platform for group control strategy research and analysis tools to be used for verifying the kinematics (clearance, interface reach, degrees of freedom), dynamics (computed torque, flexibility), visual accessibility (ability to see the work site) and computation power (control period)
Effect of i.v. tenoxicam during caesarean delivery on platelet activity

Background: Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time in healthy subjects. We have studied the effect of i.v. tenoxicam during caesarean delivery on skin bleeding time, operative, and postoperative blood loss, and beta‐thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 as specific molecular markers for platelet activity.
Utilizing acceleration measurements to improve TDOA based localization

In this paper localization using UWB positioning system and an inertial unit containing a single accelerometer is considered. The main part of the paper describes a novel algorithm for person localization. The algorithm is based on modified Extended Kalman Filter and utilizes TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival) results obtained from UWB system and results of acceleration measurement performed by the localized tag device. The proposed algorithm has been experimentally investigated through simulation and experiments. The results are included in the paper.
Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering Software Product Lines in Value Based Software Engineering

Objective: Evaluate the value of a product line in terms of maintainability, extensibility and configurability with refer to the interested stakeholders: customers, maintainers, producers. Rationale: There are values that customers constantly require in a modern software application. Some of these values are supported by product lines. Nevertheless, in the industrial and scientific communities the conjecture that customer values clash with those of producers/maintainers is diffused. Design of Study: we have designed and carried out a case study in an industrial context on an ongoing project to verify the validity of a product line in creating value for stakeholders. So data was collected as the project was being executed along a nine month period. Then, descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were carried out. Results: experience acquired during the execution of an industrial project has allowed the authors to point out the differences between program families and software product lines. Also, the case study has shown how product lines contribute to stakeholder value proposition elicitation and reconciliation. Conclusions: This study has represented a first step towards analyzing the value that product lines represent for various stakeholders.
Noxiustoxin, a short-chain toxin from the Mexican scorpion Centruroides noxius, induces transmitter release by blocking K+ permeability

Noxiustoxin (NTX), a 39 amino acid peptide purified from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Centruroides noxius, has been shown to block voltage-dependent K+ currents in the squid giant axon (Possani et al., 1982; Carbone et al., 1982). Although several other drugs known as K+ channel blockers in the squid axon also act on isolated nerve terminals to produce an increase in transmitter release, these releasing effects have not been shown to be related to a decrease of K+ permeability in synaptosomes (Vizi et al., 1977; Tapia and Sitges, 1982). In this work we show that NTX increases 3H-GABA release from perfused mouse brain synaptosomes. This effect was not blocked by TTX. Ca2+ channel blockers (verapamil or Co2+) or the absence of external Ca2+ prevents the releasing effect of this toxin. NTX does not seem to induce transmitter release by directly increasing Ca2+ permeability: The K+ ionophore valinomycin completely inhibits the release induced by NTX, as well as that evoked by the K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine; in contrast, the release evoked by a Ca2+ ionophore is not blocked by valinomycin. These findings strongly suggest that the releasing effect of NTX is mediated by a decrease in K+ permeability. External Ca2+ is needed only in order to couple this stimulus with the release process. Consistent with this hypothesis, we present evidence that NTX blocks the efflux of 86Rb+ from synaptosomes. An extended comparison of the effect of 4- aminopyridine with that of NTX is also reported.
Film assisted technology for the advanced encapsulation of MEMS/sensors and LEDs

To meet the needs of ambient intelligence and the miniaturization of electronics, a MEMS/sensor package with exposed windows needs access to the environment. This presents a challenge for MEMS or sensor packaging/encapsulation. The exposed die and MEMS/sensor are brittle and can not withstand large stresses. By clamping the film around the chip's functional area, the surface of the chip is protected by film and the MEMS/Sensors exposed window will be bleed and flash free. Relative to steel clamping force, the clamping force when using soft film is dramatically decreased. Film Assisted Molding (FAM) technology can meet the packaging demands of the MEMS and sensor functional opening area. FAM technology can fulfill the requirement of encapsulation of the advanced MEMS microsystems with low cost and excellent performance. Tiny exposed windows can be directly realized in the mold cap with film assisted transfer molding technology. This technology can be adopted to thru-mold vias for Package on Package (PoP) applications. Film assisted technology also opens the opportunity of wafer level transfer molding with an exposed window. The increasing demand for light emitting diodes (LEDs) has been driven by many applications, including communications, signage and large power solid state lighting (SSL). The LED encapsulation can be implemented by film assisted molding technology in die, package and module level. High power Solid state lighting (SSL) is a new promising lighting technology based the brightness light emetting diode (LED), which is promising to replace the conventional light sources for its economic and environmental saving. The encapsulation of SSL in die and module leve is challenge with low cost and high efficiency thermal management.
Transcriptome analysis and gene expression profiles of early apoptosis‐related genes in Streptococcus pyogenes‐infected epithelial cells

Epithelial cells are the initial sites of host invasion by group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), and GAS infection of epithelial cells has been suggested to induce apoptosis. We previously reported that the induction of apoptosis is strongly associated with the protein F1‐mediated invasion. We present here the gene expression profiles of the human epithelial HEp‐2 cells during GAS‐induced apoptosis, using serial gene analysis of expression (SAGE) analysis and macroarray analysis of apoptosis‐related genes. Serial gene analysis of expression revealed the downregulation of voltage‐dependent anion channels 1 and 2 genes and the upregulation of the cytochrome c oxidase and calcium binding protein genes (calpactin, calgizzarin and programmed cell death 6). Macroarray analysis and quantitative RT‐PCR analysis also revealed that the genes for IL‐1β, IL‐12 p35, IL12 p40, and GM‐CSF are also markedly induced by GAS invasion. Furthermore, caspase‐1, ‐9, and ‐14 genes are significantly upregulated during GAS invasion. These observations indicated that apoptosis associated with GAS invasion is mainly induced by mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium regulation as well as by stress, and that these transcriptional controls may regulate the cellular response to GAS invasion.
Neuronal Replacement in Adulthood

My colleagues and I are interested in brain events that control learning. Our work, using canaries, has shown that brain cells can be replaced in adulthood. We suspect that neuronal replacement in adulthood is related to some kinds of learning; it is also a form of brain repair, though it happens in the absence of an external lesion. I will present the background to this work and our most recent findings.
Expression of MXI1, a Myc Antagonist, Is Regulated by Sp1 and AP2*

MXI1, a member of the MADfamily of Myc antagonists, encodes a transcription factor whose expression must be tightly regulated to maintain normal cell growth and differentiation. To more closely investigate the transcriptional regulation of the human MXI1 gene, we have cloned and characterized the MXI1 promoter. After clarification of the 5′- and 3′-untranslated regions of the cDNA (indicating that the true length of the MXI1 transcript is 2643 base pairs), we identified two transcription initiation sites. We subsequently isolated the MXI1 promoter, which is GC-rich and lacks a TATA box. Although it contains at least six potential initiator sequences, functional studies indicate the proximal two initiator sequences in combination with nearby Sp1 and MED-1 sites together account for virtually all promoter activity. We also demonstrate thatMXI1 promoter activity is repressed by high levels of AP2. These studies provide further insight into the complex regulatory mechanisms governing MXI1 gene expression and its role in cellular differentiation and tumor suppression.
A remark concerning random walks with random potentials

We consider random walks where each path is equipped with a random weight which is stationary and independent in space and time. We show that under some assumptions the arising probability distributions are in a sense uniformly absolutely continuous with respect to the usual probability distribution for symmetric random walks. We consider random walks on the d-dimensional lattice Z with each path having a random statistical weight. Paths starting at (x, k) and ending at (y, n) will be denoted by ω x,k , i.e. ω y,n x,k = {ω(t) ∈ Z, k ≤ t ≤ n , ω(k) = x, ω(n) = y, ‖ω(t + 1) − ω(t)‖ = 1}. To define a random weight introduce a sequence of iid rv F = {F (x, t)}, x ∈ Z, t ∈ Z. Without any loss of generality we may assume that the F (x, t) are given for all x ∈ Z, t ∈ Z. The space of all possible realizations of F is denoted by Φ. The measure corresponding to F is denoted by Q, the expectation with respect to Q is denoted by M . We do not use any special notation for the natural σ-algebra in Φ. Our main assumption concerning the distribution of F (x, t) is M exp(2F (x, t)) <∞. The natural group of space-time translations acting in Φ is denoted by {T x,t}. It preserves the measure Q. We shall consider the statistical weight of ω x,k equal to π(ω x,k ) = exp { n ∑ t=k F (t, ω(t)) } 1 (2d)n−k . Introduce partition functions Z x,k = ∑ ω x,k π(ω x,k ), Z n x,k = ∑
Solution structure of the second PDZ domain of Zonula Occludens 1

Tight junctions (TJs) are generally present at the apical end of the lateral membrane of epithelial and endothelial cells.1 TJs form continuous belt-like strands sealing two adjacent cells1,2 and have been thought to have two major functions: regulating the passage of small molecules through the paracellular pathway and maintaining cell polarity by separating apical and lateral membrane proteins.3–10 More than 40 proteins locate at TJs including many scaffold proteins such as zonula occludens proteins (ZOs), that is ZO1/2/3.11 Each of ZOs consists of three PDZ (PSD-95, DlgA, and ZO1 homology) domains, one SH3 (Src homology 3) domain, one GuK (Guanylate kinase-like) domain, one acidic domain and one proline-rich region.12–14 In this study, we determined the solution structure of the second PDZ domain of human ZO1 (ZO1 PDZ2) which exhibited a domain-swapped homodimer. Insertion mutations were introduced to investigate the mechanism of dimerization. As expected, elongating the b2 strand interrupted the dimer interface of the ZO1 PDZ2 domain such that the homodimer was converted to a monomer.
Mast Cell Activation by Conidia of Sporothrix schenckii: Role in the Severity of Infection

Mast cells are abundant in the skin and other peripheral tissues, where they are one of the first immune cells to make contact with invading pathogens. As a result of pathogen recognition, mast cells can be activated and release different preformed and de novo‐synthesized mediators. Sporothrix schenckii is the fungus that causes sporotrichosis, a worldwide‐distributed subcutaneous mycosis considered as an important emerging health problem. It remains unknown whether or not mast cells are activated by S. schenckii. Here, we investigated the in vitro response of mast cells to conidia of S. schenckii and their in vivo involvement in sporotrichosis. Mast cells became activated after interaction with conidia, releasing early response cytokines as TNF‐α and IL‐6. Although histamine release was not significantly stimulated by S. schenckii, we determined that conidia potentiate histamine secretion induced by compound 48/80. Furthermore, functional depletion of peritoneal mast cells before S. schenckii infection significantly reduced the severity of cutaneous lesions of the sporotrichosis. These data demonstrate that mast cells are important contributors in the host response to S. schenckii infection, suggesting a role of these cells in the progress of clinical manifestations in sporotrichosis.
An embedded system vehicle tracking system application

In this study, an embedded system vehicle tracking applications have been realized. GSM modules and GPS modules which allows to track the vehicle operation are used in the system. Linux operating system is used in the design of the system. Device applications have been written using tools of Linux operating system. Developed applications take the geographical location information from the GPS module and transmits the information to a central server using the GSM module. In the study, vehicle tracking, power management, GPS control and radio interface layer applications have been developed.
Antimicrobial peptides: Past, present, future? A literature study to investigate the feasibility of using antimicrobial peptides in clinical applications

The emerging resistance to current antibiotics urges the need to find alternatives. The evolutionary conserved antimicrobial peptides (AMP) seem to avoid resistance formation. Specific studies have showed AMPs to be less vulnerable to resistance formation, but not entirely. HIV-1 even required an AMP to properly function again after mutation. AMPs function by direct microbicidal activity, but in recent years immunomodulatory functions have also been described. Biological activity was shown to be dependent on physiological conditions. Receptors for AMPs are largely unknown, except for CCR6 for β-defensins and FPRL1 for cathelicidin. The in vivo function for a single AMP is difficult to determine due to overlapping functions of several AMPs. Some illnesses display reduced expression of certain AMPs corresponding to clinical symptoms, but this association has not been proven yet. A number of clinical trials with AMPs have failed to achieve significant better results than controls. These trials have been focussing mainly on the bactericidal properties of AMPs. Harnessing AMPs for clinical applications has been more difficult than predicted, but still attempts are made.
Geoengineering the climate: an overview and update

The climate change that we are experiencing now is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases due to human activities, including burning fossil fuels, agriculture and deforestation. There is now widespread belief that a global warming of greater than 2°C above pre-industrial levels would be dangerous and should therefore be avoided. However, despite growing concerns over climate change and numerous international attempts to agree on reductions of global CO2 emissions, these have continued to climb. This has led some commentators to suggest more radical ‘geoengineering’ alternatives to conventional mitigation by reductions in CO2 emissions. Geoengineering is deliberate intervention in the climate system to counteract man-made global warming. There are two main classes of geoengineering: direct carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management that aims to cool the planet by reflecting more sunlight back to space. The findings of the review of geoengineering carried out by the UK Royal Society in 2009 are summarized here, including the climate effects, costs, risks and research and governance needs for various approaches. The possible role of geoengineering in a portfolio of responses to climate change is discussed, and various recent initiatives to establish good governance of research activity are reviewed. Key findings include the following. — Geoengineering is not a magic bullet and not an alternative to emissions reductions. — Cutting global greenhouse gas emissions must remain our highest priority. (i) But this is proving to be difficult, and geoengineering may be useful to support it. — Geoengineering is very likely to be technically possible. (i) However, there are major uncertainties and potential risks concerning effectiveness, costs and social and environmental impacts. — Much more research is needed, as well as public engagement and a system of regulation (for both deployment and for possible large-scale field tests). — The acceptability of geoengineering will be determined as much by social, legal and political issues as by scientific and technical factors. Some methods of both types would involve release of materials to the environment, either to the atmosphere or to the oceans, in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The intended impacts on climate would in any case affect many or all countries, possibly to a variable extent. There are therefore inherent international implications for deployment of such geoengineering methods (and possibly also for some forms of research), which need early and collaborative consideration, before any deployment or large-scale experiments could be undertaken responsibly.
Deep Learning for Recommender Systems

Deep Learning is one of the next big things in Recommendation Systems technology. The past few years have seen the tremendous success of deep neural networks in a number of complex machine learning tasks such as computer vision, natural language processing and speech recognition. After its relatively slow uptake by the recommender systems community, deep learning for recommender systems became widely popular in 2016. We believe that a tutorial on the topic of deep learning will do its share to further popularize the topic. Notable recent application areas are music recommendation, news recommendation, and session-based recommendation. The aim of the tutorial is to encourage the application of Deep Learning techniques in Recommender Systems, to further promote research in deep learning methods for Recommender Systems.
Accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide for laryngeal cancer: results of a phase III randomized trial.

PURPOSE To report the results from a randomized trial comparing accelerated radiotherapy (AR) with accelerated radiotherapy plus carbogen inhalation and nicotinamide (ARCON) in laryngeal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with cT2-4 squamous cell laryngeal cancer were randomly assigned to AR (68 Gy within 36 to 38 days) or ARCON. To limit the risk of laryngeal necrosis, ARCON patients received 64 Gy on the laryngeal cartilage. The primary end point was local control. Secondary end points were regional control, larynx preservation, toxicity, disease-free survival, and overall survival. In a translational side study, the hypoxia marker pimonidazole was used to assess the oxygenation status in tumor biopsies. RESULTS From April 2001 to February 2008, 345 patients were accrued. After a median follow-up of 44 months, local tumor control rate at 5 years was 78% for AR versus 79% for ARCON (P = .80), with larynx preservation rates of 84% and 87%, respectively (P = .48). The 5-year regional control was significantly better with ARCON (93%) compared with AR (86%, P = .04). The improvement in regional control was specifically observed in patients with hypoxic tumors and not in patients with well-oxygenated tumors (100% v 55%, respectively; P = .01). AR and ARCON produced equal levels of toxicity. CONCLUSION Despite lack of benefit in local tumor control for advanced laryngeal cancers, a significant gain in regional control rate, with equal levels of toxicity, was observed in favor of ARCON. The poor regional control of patients with hypoxic tumors is specifically countered by ARCON treatment.