Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel upper limb training system based on UR5 using sEMG and IMU sensors

This paper intends to design a system which acquires the trainer's motion and force information in order to manipulate a robot arm applied for rehabilitations. Patients who suffering physical disability also can receive the professorial guiding and cheirapsis even excellent trainers are very busy and insufficient. The key point of this article is data acquisition and reconstruction of the movement of the upper limb by controlling the UR5 robot arm. Upper limb's postures are sensed by Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and transferred to STM32 microcontroller using I2C communication protocol. We employed the STM32 microcontroller to calculate attitude angles of both the upper arm and the forearm. And the method with using quaternions to calculate attitude angles is detailedly expounded in this paper. Besides, we employed the MYO armband to acquire upper limb's surface electromyography (sEMG) signals for estimating the muscle force of the upper limb. To verify the feasibility of the proposed system, we make three experiments including analyzing fluctuation range of the attitude angles from IMU signals, classifying muscle force using sEMG signals, and evaluating the effect of motion reconstruction. And the results show that the fluctuation range of acquired data are less than 1 degree, 4 typical motions of upper limb can be reconstructed. The proposed system can be used to reconstruct some upper limb's movement.
Care Management of Work Injuries: Results of a 1-Year Pilot Outcome Assurance Program

A 1-year pilot study was conducted, linking the efforts of a workers’ compensation managed care organization with those of an occupational health clinic and emergency department to manage work-related injuries and associated work disability. Sustained (>90 day), injury-specific return-to-work outcomes, modified by job title, were compared with loosely managed and well-managed benchmarks. The mean return-to-work outcome, measured as lost workdays (LWDs), was 5.11 ± 21.0 LWDs for 418 workers. These results exceeded benchmarks for both loosely managed care, 14.0 ± 17.2 LWDs, P < 0.001 (8.9 fewer LWDs/case), and optimally case-managed care, 6.99 ± 7.64 LWDs, P = 0.044 (1.9 fewer LWDs/case). An estimate of the value of these saved LWDs to the employers at $200 per workday was $740,400 for the loosely managed benchmarks and $157,000 for the well-managed benchmarks. The Outcome Assurance Program virtually eliminated typical delays in the diagnosis and medical management of these injured workers.
Phenotypic and Genetic Correlations of Feed Efficiency Traits with Growth and Carcass Traits in Nellore Cattle Selected for Postweaning Weight

This study evaluated phenotypic (rph) and genetic correlations (rg) between 8 feed efficiency traits and other traits of economic interest including weight at selection (WS), loin-eye area (LEA), backfat thickness (BF), and rump fat thickness (RF) in Nellore cattle. Feed efficiency traits were gain:feed, residual feed intake (RFI), residual feed intake adjusted for backfat thickness (RFIb) and for backfat and rump fat thickness (RFIsf), residual body weight gain (RG), residual intake and body weight gain (RIG), and residual intake and body weight gain using RFIb (RIGb) and RFIsf (RIGsf). The variance components were estimated by the restricted maximum likelihood method using a two-trait animal model. The heritability estimates (h2) were 0.14, 0.24, 0.20, 0.22, 0.19, 0.15, 0.11 and 0.11 for gain:feed, RFI, RFIb, RFIsf, RG, RIG, RIGb and RIGsf, respectively. All rph values between traits were close to zero, except for the correlation of feed efficiency traits with dry matter intake and average daily gain. High rg values were observed for the correlation of dry matter intake, average daily gain and metabolic weight with WS and hip height (>0.61) and low to medium values (0.15 to 0.48) with the carcass traits (LEA, BF, RF). Among the feed efficiency traits, RG showed the highest rg with WS and hip height (0.34 and 0.25) and the lowest rg with subcutaneous fat thickness (-0.17 to 0.18). The rg values of RFI, RFIb and RFIsf with WS (0.17, 0.23 and 0.22), BF (0.37, 0.33 and 0.33) and RF (0.30, 0.31 and 0.32) were unfavorable. The rg values of gain:feed, RIG, RIGb and RIGsf with WS were low and favorable (0.07 to 0.22), while medium and unfavorable (-0.22 to -0.45) correlations were observed with fat thickness. The inclusion of subcutaneous fat thickness in the models used to calculate RFI did not reduce the rg between these traits. Selecting animals for higher feed efficiency will result in little or no genetic change in growth and will decrease subcutaneous fat thickness in the carcass.
A remotely sensed pigment index reveals photosynthetic phenology in evergreen conifers

Significance Evergreen photosynthetic activity has been difficult to determine from remote sensing, causing errors in terrestrial photosynthetic carbon uptake models. Using a reflectance chlorophyll/carotenoid index (CCI) sensitive to seasonally changing chlorophyll/carotenoid pigment ratios, we demonstrate a method of tracking photosynthetic phenology in evergreen conifers. The CCI reveals seasonally changing photosynthetic rates and detects the onset of the growing season in evergreen foliage. This method could improve our understanding of changing photosynthetic activity in a warming climate, and could improve assessment of the evergreen component of the terrestrial carbon budget, which has been elusive. In evergreen conifers, where the foliage amount changes little with season, accurate detection of the underlying “photosynthetic phenology” from satellite remote sensing has been difficult, presenting challenges for global models of ecosystem carbon uptake. Here, we report a close correspondence between seasonally changing foliar pigment levels, expressed as chlorophyll/carotenoid ratios, and evergreen photosynthetic activity, leading to a “chlorophyll/carotenoid index” (CCI) that tracks evergreen photosynthesis at multiple spatial scales. When calculated from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite sensor, the CCI closely follows the seasonal patterns of daily gross primary productivity of evergreen conifer stands measured by eddy covariance. This discovery provides a way of monitoring evergreen photosynthetic activity from optical remote sensing, and indicates an important regulatory role for carotenoid pigments in evergreen photosynthesis. Improved methods of monitoring photosynthesis from space can improve our understanding of the global carbon budget in a warming world of changing vegetation phenology.
No Need to Hide: Protecting Safe Regions on Commodity Hardware

As modern 64-bit x86 processors no longer support the segmentation capabilities of their 32-bit predecessors, most research projects assume that strong in-process memory isolation is no longer an affordable option. Instead of strong, deterministic isolation, new defense systems therefore rely on the probabilistic pseudo-isolation provided by randomization to "hide" sensitive (or safe) regions. However, recent attacks have shown that such protection is insufficient; attackers can leak these safe regions in a variety of ways. In this paper, we revisit isolation for x86-64 and argue that hardware features enabling efficient deterministic isolation do exist. We first present a comprehensive study on commodity hardware features that can be repurposed to isolate safe regions in the same address space (e.g., Intel MPX and MPK). We then introduce MemSentry, a framework to harden modern defense systems with commodity hardware features instead of information hiding. Our results show that some hardware features are more effective than others in hardening such defenses in each scenario and that features originally conceived for other purposes (e.g., Intel MPX for bounds checking) are surprisingly efficient at isolating safe regions compared to their software equivalent (i.e., SFI).
A hydrogen peroxide-generating agent, 6-formylpterin, enhances heat-induced apoptosis

The enhancement of heat-induced apoptosis by 6-formylpterin, an intra-cellular generator of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was examined in human myelomonocytic lymphoma U937 cells. The cells were treated with either 6-formylpterin alone at a nontoxic concentration of 300 µM (37°C), heat shock (44°C per 20 min) alone or a combination of the two, then incubated at 37°C for 6 h. Assessments of apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activation were performed by flow cytometry. Moreover, caspase-8 activation and changes in the intra-cellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were examined. Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bid, cytochrome c and PKCδ were detected by Western blotting. The induction of heat-induced apoptosis evaluated by morphological observation and DNA fragmentation were promoted by the addition of 6-formylpterin. Mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased and the activation of caspase-3 and -8 was enhanced in the cells treated with the combination. A decreased-expression of Bid was noted, although no significant changes in Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression were observed after the combined treatment. Furthermore, both the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol and the translocation of PKCδ from cytosol to mitochondria, which were induced by heat shock, were enhanced by the addition of 6-formylpterin. The number of cells with a higher [Ca2+]i was also increased by the addition of 6-formylpterin. These findings suggest that the increase in [Ca2+]i, the activation of the mitochondria–caspase dependent pathway and the translocation of PKCδ to mitochondria play principal roles in the enhancement of heat-induced apoptosis by 6-FP.
Comparison of erbium:YAG and carbon dioxide lasers in resurfacing of facial rhytides.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy, adverse effects, and histological findings of erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) and carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment in removing facial rhytides. DESIGN An intervention study of 21 subjects with facial rhytides. All participants were followed up for 6 months. The end points of the study were wrinkle improvement and duration of adverse effects. SETTING Academic referral center. SUBJECTS Nineteen female and 2 male volunteers with skin type I to III and wrinkle class I to III participated in the study. INTERVENTION In all subjects, 1 side of the face was treated with a CO2 laser and other side with an Er:YAG laser. Skin biopsies were performed in 6 subjects before treatment and immediately, 1 day, 2 days, and 6 months after treatment. Observations were recorded by subjects, investigators, and a blinded panel of experts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Improvement in wrinkles and severity and duration of adverse effects. RESULTS The CO2 laser-treated side had relatively better wrinkle improvement when evaluating all subjects (P<.03). However, in subjects receiving more than 5 passes of Er:YAG laser, improvement scores were not significantly different from those for 2 to 3 passes of CO2 laser treatment. Posttreatment erythema was noted at 2 weeks in 14 subjects (67%) on the Er:YAG laser-treated side and 20 subjects (95%) on the CO2 laser-treated side. The frequency of erythema was significantly less after Er:YAG laser treatment at 2 (P=.001) and 8 (P=.03) weeks. Hypopigmentation was seen in 1 Er:YAG-treated (5%) and 9 CO2-treated (43%) sides (chi2, P<.05). Histological evaluation showed residual thermal damage of up to 50 microm on the Er:YAG-treated side and up to 200 microm on the CO2-treated side. CONCLUSIONS Erbium:YAG laser is safe and effective in removing facial rhytides. Subjects treated with Er:YAG laser recover more quickly from the procedure than those receiving CO2 laser treatment.
RLS epidemiology—Frequencies, risk factors and methods in population studies

Since the introduction of the four minimal criteria for restless legs syndrome (RLS) in 1995 by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group, the number of published studies in RLS during the past 10 years has substantially increased. These studies improved our knowledge about prevalences, risk factors or outcomes of the disease at the population level and provided hypothesis about potential biological mechanism. This article reviews the existing studies on the prevalence and risk factors of RLS and critically describes existing methodological problems in the assessment of the disease in epidemiologic studies. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
"The Collecting Itself Feels Good": Towards Collection Interfaces for Digital Game Objects

Digital games offer a variety of collectible objects. We investigate players' collecting behaviors in digital games to determine what digital game objects players enjoyed collecting and why they valued these objects. Using this information, we seek to inform the design of future digital game object collection interfaces. We discuss the types of objects that players prefer, the reasons that players value digital game objects, and how collection behaviors may guide play. Through our findings, we identify design implications for digital game object collection interfaces: enable object curation, preserve rules and mechanics, preserve context of play, and allow players to share their collections with others. Digital game object collection interfaces are applicable to the design of digital games, gamified applications, and educational software.
Resource-aware self-adaptive security provisioning in mobile ad hoc networks

Providing satisfactory security services in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET) is indispensable for mission critical applications; however, often a highly secure mechanism inevitably consumes a rather large amount of system resources, which in turn may unintentionally cause a security provisioning denial of service (SPDoS) attack. The scheme proposed in this paper sets out a framework to solve this problem by designing a resource-aware self-adaptive network security provisioning scheme. With the support of the offline optimal secure protocol selection module and the online self-adaptive security control module, the framework is capable of deploying different combinations of secure protocols to satisfy different security needs in different conditions for different applications. Consequently, the proposed self-adaptive security provisioning achieves the maximum overall network security services and network performance services, without causing an SPDoS attack. Moreover, it provides additional security capability via security service hopping.
TOWARDS EFFECTIVE GANS

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), when trained on large datasets with diverse modes, are known to produce conflated images which do not distinctly belong to any of the modes. We hypothesize that this problem occurs due to the interaction between two facts: (1) For datasets with large variety, it is likely that the modes lie on separate manifolds. (2) The generator (G) is formulated as a continuous function, and the input noise is derived from a connected set, due to which G’s output is a connected set. If G covers all modes, then there must be some portion of G’s output which connects them. This corresponds to undesirable, conflated images. We develop theoretical arguments to support these intuitions. We propose a novel method to break the second assumption via learnable discontinuities in the latent noise space. Equivalently, it can be viewed as training several generators, thus creating discontinuities in the G function. We also augment the GAN formulation with a classifier C that predicts which noise partition/generator produced the output images, encouraging diversity between each partition/generator. We experiment on MNIST, celebA, STL-10, and a difficult dataset with clearly distinct modes, and show that the noise partitions correspond to different modes of the data distribution, and produce images of superior quality.
Amodiaquine-Artesunate versus Artemether-Lumefantrine against Uncomplicated Malaria in Children Less Than 14 Years in Ngaoundere, North Cameroon: Efficacy, Safety, and Baseline Drug Resistant Mutations in pfcrt, pfmdr1, and pfdhfr Genes

Background. In Cameroon, both Artesunate-amodiaquine (AS/AQ) and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) are used as first-line treatment against uncomplicated malaria in line with the WHO recommendations. We compared the efficacy and safety of both therapeutic combinations and determined the prevalence of drug resistance conferring mutations in three parasite genes. Methods. One hundred and fifty acute malaria patients between six months and 14 years of age were randomized to receive standard doses of either AS/AQ (73) or AL (77) and followedup for 28 days. Outcome of treatment was according to the standard WHO classification. DNA samples from pretreatment parasite isolates were used to determine the prevalence of resistant mutations in the pfcrt, pfmdr1, and dhfr genes. Results. Both drug combinations induced rapid clearance of parasites and malaria symptoms. PCR-corrected cure rates were 100% and 96.4% for AL. The combinations were well tolerated. Major haplotypes included CVIET (71%), CVMNT (25%) for the pfcrt; SND (100%) for the pfmdr1; IRN (79, 8%), NCS (8.8%), and mixed haplotype (11, 8%) for the dhfr. Conclusion. Both AS/AQ and AL were highly effective and well tolerated for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Ngaoundere, Cameroon. High prevalence of mutant pfcrt alleles confirms earlier observations. Long-term monitoring of safety and efficacy and molecular markers is highly solicited.
Study of creep cavitation in a stainless steel weldment

A study of creep cavities near reheat cracking in AISI Type 316H austenitic stainless steel headers, removed from long-time high temperature operation in nuclear power plants, is reported. It is shown how application of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cryogenic fractography and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) can be applied, in a complementary way, to observe and quantify creep cavitation damage. Creep cavities in the vicinity of the crack are found to be mainly surrounding inter-granular carbides. Trends in the size and area fraction of creep cavities relative to the crack path are quantified based on an optimised metallographic and image analysis procedure. Brittle fracture, with clear facets, of material remote from crack is achieved using a cryogenic procedure, and is compared with fractured facets of material within 8 mm of the crack which show evidence of large numbers of cavities. The SANS technique is found to be a very suitable method of quantifying creep cavitation averaged over a larger gauge volume. The distribution of cavities within the size range of 100 to 400 nm is quantified using SANS from positions normal to the crack line. It is shown that the cavity size distribution peaks at about 200 nm and this correlates closely with the quantitative SEM observations.
TrkA activation in the rat visual cortex by antirat trkA IgG prevents the effect of monocular deprivation

It has been recently shown that intraventricular injections of nerve growth factor (NGF) prevent the effects of monocular deprivation in the rat. We have tested the localization and the molecular nature of the NGF receptor(s) responsible for this effect by activating cortical trkA receptors in monocularly deprived rats by cortical infusion of a specific agonist of NGF on trkA, the bivalent antirat trkA IgG (RTA‐IgG). TrkA protein was detected by immunoblot in the rat visual cortex during the critical period. Rats were monocularly deprived for 1 week (P21–28) and RTA‐IgG or control rabbit IgG were delivered by osmotic minipumps. The effects of monocular deprivation on the ocular dominance of visual cortical neurons were assessed by extracellular single cell recordings. We found that the shift towards the ipsilateral, non‐deprived eye was largely prevented by RTA‐IgG. Infusion of RTA‐IgG combined with antibody that blocks p75NTR (REX), slightly reduced RTA‐IgG effectiveness in preventing monocular deprivation effects. These results suggest that NGF action in visual cortical plasticity is mediated by cortical TrkA receptors with p75NTR exerting a facilitatory role.
Analysis and algorithms for restart

We analyse and optimise the completion time for a class of jobs whose conditional completion time is not always decreasing with the time invested in the job. For such jobs, restarts may speed up the completion. Examples of such jobs include download of Web pages, randomised algorithms, distributed queries and jobs subject to network or other failures. This paper derives computationally attractive expressions for the moments of the completion time of jobs under restarts and provides algorithms that optimise the restart policy. We also identify characteristics of optimal restart times as well as of probability distributions amenable to restarts.
From Affective Experience to Motivated Action: Tracking Reward-Seeking and Punishment-Avoidant Behaviour in Real-Life

Many of the decisions and actions in everyday life result from implicit learning processes. Important to psychopathology are, for example, implicit reward-seeking and punishment-avoidant learning processes. It is known that when specific actions get associated with a rewarding experience, such as positive emotions, that this will increase the likelihood that an organism will engage in similar actions in the future. Similarly, when actions get associated with punishing experiences, such as negative emotions, this may reduce the likelihood that the organism will engage in similar actions in the future. This study examines whether we can observe these implicit processes prospectively in the flow of daily life. If such processes take place then we expect that current behaviour can be predicted by how similar behaviour was experienced (in terms of positive and negative affect) at previous measurement moments. This was examined in a sample of 621 female individuals that had participated in an Experience Sampling data collection. Measures of affect and behaviour were collected at 10 semi-random moments of the day for 5 consecutive days. It was examined whether affective experience that was paired with certain behaviours (physical activity and social context) at previous measurements modified the likelihood to show similar behaviours at next measurement moments. Analyses were performed both at the level of observations (a time scale with units of ± 90 min) and at day level (a time scale with units of 24 h). As expected, we found that affect indeed moderated the extent to which previous behaviour predicted similar behaviour later in time, at both beep- and day-level. This study showed that it is feasible to track reward-seeking and punishment-avoidant behaviour prospectively in humans in the flow of daily life. This opens up a new toolbox to examine processes determining goal-oriented behaviour in relation to psychopathology in humans.