Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonintrusive Vital Signs Monitoring for Sleep Apnea Patients: A Preliminary Study

Sleep is a fundamental and vital physiological function. Getting enough quality sleep is necessary to a person’s mental health, physiological well-being, quality of life, and safety. Sleep-disordered breathing, specifically obstructive sleep apnea can result in serious health issues, including hypertension and stroke. The current approaches for diagnosing sleep disorders are burdensome, intrusive, and can affect the patient’s sleep quality. As a result, there is a crucial need for less cumbersome systems to diagnose sleep-related problems. In this paper, we evaluated the capacity of the microbend fiber optic sensor to monitor heart rate and respiration in a nonintrusive manner. In addition, we tested the capacity of the sensor in discriminating between shallow breathing and no breathing. The proposed sensor was compared with the three-channel portable monitoring device (ApneaLink) in a clinical setting during a drug-induced sleep endoscopy. Across all ten patients recruited for our study, the system achieved satisfactory results in the mean heart rate and the mean respiratory rate with an error of 0.55 ± 0.59 beats/minute and 0.38 ± 0.32 breaths/minute, respectively. Besides, the Pearson correlation coefficient between the proposed sensor and the reference device was 0.96 and 0.78 for heart rate and respiration, respectively. On the contrary, the proposed sensor provided a very low sensitivity (24.24 ± 12.81%) and a relatively high specificity (85.88 ± 6.01%) for sleep apnea detection. It is expected that this preliminary research will pave the way toward unobtrusive detection of vital signs in real time.
The Sway of Agile Processes over Software Maintainability

engineering is escalating in different dimensions at precipitous speed and coercing the developers and researchers to find new ways for easy and swift software development. The induction of agile methodologies is one such step towards achieving these goals. Today the agile processes and techniques are very extensively accepted and fostered in the software construction by the software industry and considered as the valuable tools for hasty software development. This paper throws light on different agile software development methodologies and their sway over the software maintainability. It emphasizes on the impact as perceived by the agile fans and foes. The paper also aims to provide an insight into the effect of agile methods when used as maintenance processes to enhance the software maintainability. Keywordsmethodologies, agile software development, sway of agile processes, software maintainability, maintenance
Glutamate is associated with a higher risk of seizures in patients with gliomas

Objective: To investigate the relationship of glutamate and glutamate transporter expression in human gliomas and surrounding peritumoral brain to the presence of tumor-associated seizures (TAS). Methods: We studied a retrospective (group 1: 190 patients) and then a prospective (group 2: 98 patients) cohort of patients who underwent a craniotomy for a supratentorial glioma. Tumor and peritumor tissue specimens were assayed for glutamate concentration and expression of glial glutamate transporters. Differences between the seizure (TAS) and seizure-free (non-TAS) groups were compared. Results: A total of 42% of patients had TAS, with 95% of seizures first occurring preoperatively. Clinical factors independently associated with risk of TAS were younger age, temporal lobe location, and tumors with oligodendroglial components. Molecular features in tumor specimens associated with TAS were higher glutamate concentrations, reduced EAAT2 expression, and increased system Xc− expression. In group 2, these results were also replicated in the peritumor tissue. Logistic regression analysis identified raised glutamate concentrations in tumor and peritumor tissue, increased expression of peritumor system Xc−, younger age, temporal lobe location, and tumors with oligodendroglial components as independently predictive of preoperative seizures. Conclusion: Relative increased glutamate concentration in gliomas, and altered glutamate transporter expression, are associated with the presence of TAS and may play a mechanistic role in their pathogenesis.
A General Approach Toward Green Resource Allocation in Relay-Assisted Multiuser Communication Networks

The rapid growth of energy consumption due to the strong demands of wireless multimedia services, has become a major concern from the environmental perspective. In this paper, we investigate a novel energy-efficient resource allocation scheme for relay-assisted multiuser networks to maximize the energy efficiency (EE) of the network by jointly optimizing the subcarrier pairing permutation formed in one-to-many/many-to-one manner, subcarrier allocation, as well as the power allocation altogether. By analyzing the properties of the complex mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem, which is generally very difficult to solve in its original form, we transform the problem into an equivalent convex problem by relaxing the integer variables using the concept of subcarrier time sharing, and by applying a successive convex approximation approach. Based on the dual decomposition method, we derive an optimal solution to the joint optimization problem. The impact of different network parameters, namely number of subcarriers and number of users, on the attainable EE and spectral efficiency (SE) performance of the proposed design framework is also investigated. The numerical results are provided to validate the theoretical findings and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for achieving higher EE and SE than the existing schemes.
Radiochemical Characterization of Algae Products Commercialized for Human Consumption

AbstractNatural radionuclides and 137Cs were determined by alpha (238U, 234U, 230Th,210Po,232Th, and 228Th) and gamma spectrometry (137Cs, 40K, 226Ra, 210Pb, and 228Ra via 228Ac) in 14 dried seaweeds commercialized for human nutrition in Italy. The study was carried out in order to provide information on the concentrations of natural and artificial radionuclides. Cesium-137 (137Cs) concentrations in all analyzed samples were always <2.0 Bq kg−1 (dry weight), while the naturally occurring radionuclide concentrations were detectable in all the samples and significantly different in the analyzed seaweeds. Potassium-40 (40K) showed a mean activity of 894 Bq kg−1 with a range of 14.1–3,256 Bq kg−1. The mean of activity for 210Po was 5.1 Bq kg−1 with a range of 1.5–13.6 Bq kg−1. The mean of activity for 210Pb was 8.9 Bq kg−1 with a range of 2.9–25.7 Bq kg−1. The mean of 238U and 226Ra activity concentration was 4.7 and 8.4 Bq kg−1 with a range of 0.1–27.7 and 3.2–24.6 Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean activity concentrations for 232Th, 228Th, and 228Ra were 0.69, 3.0, and 6.6 Bq kg−1 with ranges of 0.05–3.39, 0.24–15.7, and 0.5–35.6 Bq kg−1, respectively. Radionuclide activity concentrations were within ranges reported in the scientific literature. The committed effective dose due to all the radionuclides analyzed, from ingestion of 1 kg y−1 of seaweeds, accounts for 0.66% of the natural radiation exposure in Italy.
The view of pulmonologists on palliative care for patients with COPD: a survey study

Introduction Early palliative care is not a common practice for patients with COPD. Important barriers are the identification of patients for palliative care and the organization of such care in this patient group. Objective Pulmonologists have a central role in providing good quality palliative care for patients with COPD. To guide future research and develop services, their view on palliative care for these patients was explored. Methods A survey study was performed by the members of the Netherlands Association of Physicians for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis. Results The 256 respondents (31.8%) covered 85.9% of the hospital organizations in the Netherlands. Most pulmonologists (92.2%) indicated to distinguish a palliative phase in the COPD trajectory, but there was no consensus about the different criteria used for its identification. Aspects of palliative care in COPD considered important were advance care planning conversation (82%), communication between pulmonologist and general practitioner (77%), and identification of the palliative phase (75.8%), while the latter was considered the most important aspect for improvement (67.6%). Pulmonologists indicated to prefer organizing palliative care for hospitalized patients with COPD themselves (55.5%), while 30.9% indicated to prefer cooperation with a specialized palliative care team (SPCT). In the ambulatory setting, a multidisciplinary cooperation between pulmonologist, general practitioner, and a respiratory nurse specialist was preferred (71.1%). Conclusion To encourage pulmonologists to timely initiate palliative care in COPD, we recommend to conduct further research into more specific identification criteria. Furthermore, pulmonologists should improve their skills of palliative care, and the members of the SPCT should be better informed about the management of COPD to improve care during hospitalization. Communication between pulmonologist and general practitioner should be emphasized in training to improve palliative care in the ambulatory setting.
An Adjusted Probability Method for the Identification of Sociometric Status in Classrooms

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the performance of an adjusted probability method for sociometric classification proposed by García Bacete (GB) in comparison with two previous methods. Specific goals were to examine the overall agreement between methods, the behavioral correlates of each sociometric group, the sources for discrepant classifications between methods, the behavioral profiles of discrepant and consistent cases between methods, and age differences. Method: We compared the GB adjusted probability method with the standard score model proposed by Coie and Dodge (CD) and the probability score model proposed by Newcomb and Bukowski (NB). The GB method is an adaptation of the NB method, cutoff scores are derived from the distribution of raw liked most and liked least scores in each classroom instead of using fixed and absolute scores as does NB method. The criteria for neglected status are also modified by the GB method. Participants were 569 children (45% girls) from 23 elementary school classrooms (13 Grades 1–2, 10 Grades 5–6). Results: We found agreement as well as differences between the three methods. The CD method yielded discrepancies in the classifications because of its dependence on z-scores and composite dimensions. The NB method was less optimal in the validation of the behavioral characteristics of the sociometric groups, because of its fixed cutoffs for identifying preferred, rejected, and controversial children, and not differentiating between positive and negative nominations for neglected children. The GB method addressed some of the limitations of the other two methods. It improved the classified of neglected students, as well as discrepant cases of the preferred, rejected, and controversial groups. Agreement between methods was higher with the oldest children. Conclusion: GB is a valid sociometric method as evidences by the behavior profiles of the sociometric status groups identified with this method.
On the Restricted Isometry of the Columnwise Khatri–Rao Product

The columnwise Khatri–Rao product of two matrices is an important matrix type, reprising its role as a structured sensing matrix in many fundamental linear inverse problems. Robust signal recovery in such inverse problems is often contingent on proving the restricted isometry property (RIP) of a certain system matrix expressible as a Khatri–Rao product of two matrices. In this paper, we analyze the RIP of a generic columnwise Khatri–Rao product matrix by deriving two upper bounds for its <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$</tex-math> </inline-formula>th order restricted isometry constant (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$</tex-math> </inline-formula>-RIC) for different values of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$</tex-math> </inline-formula>. The first RIC bound is computed in terms of the individual RICs of the real-valued input matrices participating in the Khatri–Rao product. The second RIC bound is probabilistic and is specified in terms of the input matrix dimensions. We show that the Khatri–Rao product of a pair of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$m \times n$</tex-math></inline-formula> sized random matrices comprising independent and identically distributed sub-Gaussian entries satisfies <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$</tex-math> </inline-formula>-RIP with arbitrarily high probability, provided <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$m$ </tex-math></inline-formula> exceeds <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathcal {O}(\sqrt{k}\log ^{3/2}{n})$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. This is a substantially milder condition compared to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathcal {O}(k\log {n})$</tex-math></inline-formula> rows needed to guarantee <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$k$</tex-math></inline-formula>-RIP of the input sub-Gaussian random matrices participating in the Khatri–Rao product. Our RIC bounds confirm that the Khatri–Rao product exhibits stronger restricted isometry compared to its constituent matrices for the same RIP order. The proposed RIC bounds are potentially useful in obtaining improved performance guarantees in several sparse signal recovery and tensor decomposition problems.
Predictors of Long-Term Survival Following Resection for Ampullary Carcinoma: A Large Retrospective French Multicentric Study

Objectives Ampullary carcinoma is a rare tumor. There are neither sufficient available data related to management after resection of the neoplasm of the ampulla of Vater, nor any international recommendations. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with recurrence and survival after curative resection. Methods A retrospective follow-up study was conducted including patients with ampullary carcinoma who underwent resection with curative intent in 12 French surgical centers between January 1990 and November 2011. Results In this study, 319 patients underwent surgical resection for an ampullary neoplasm. Disease recurred in 120 patients (37.6%), and the 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 48.9% and 40.4%, respectively. In multivariable Cox regression, preoperative bilirubin, T stage, pancreaticobiliary histology subtype, and lymph node involvement were each significantly associated with the risk of recurrence. Conclusions Ampullary carcinomas are a heterogeneous group that can be classified as intestinal and pancreaticobiliary subtypes. Our findings indicate that pancreaticobiliary differentiation, advanced stage, and lymph node involvement are predictors of both poor disease-free and poor overall survival. It is still unclear what adjuvant treatment after curative resection of ampullary carcinoma is optimal. It would be informative to evaluate adjuvant therapy according to histological subtype.
Mating system transitions in Solanum habrochaites impact interactions between populations and species.

In plants, transitions in mating system from outcrossing to self-fertilization are common; however, the impact of these transitions on interspecific and interpopulation reproductive barriers is not fully understood. We examined the consequences of mating system transition for reproductive barriers in 19 populations of the wild tomato species Solanum habrochaites. We identified S. habrochaites populations with self-incompatible (SI), self-compatible (SC) and mixed population (MP) mating systems, and characterized pollen-pistil interactions among S. habrochaites populations and between S. habrochaites and other tomato species. We examined the relationship between mating system, floral morphology, interspecific and interpopulation compatibility and pistil SI factors. We documented five distinct phenotypic groups by combining reproductive behavior with molecular data. Transitions from SI to MP were not associated with weakened interspecific reproductive barriers or loss of known pistil SI factors. However, transitions to SC at the northern range margin were accompanied by loss of S-RNase, smaller flowers, and weakened (or absent) interspecific pollen-pistil barriers. Finally, we identified a subset of SC populations that exhibited a partial interpopulation reproductive barrier with central SI populations. Our results support the hypothesis that shifts in mating system, followed by additional loss-of-function mutations, impact reproductive barriers within and between species.
Oligomerization of the influenza virus nucleoprotein: identification of positive and negative sequence elements.

The RNA genome of influenza virus is encapsidated by the virus nucleoprotein (NP) to form ribonucleoprotein (RNP) structures of defined morphology. These structures result from the ability of NP to oligomerise and to bind single-strand RNA. To characterise NP oligomerization, we developed a binding assay using immobilised NP fusion proteins and in vitro translated NP. This system was used to estimate a dissociation constant for NP-NP contacts of 2 x 10 (-7)M. Analysis of NP deletion mutants identified three sequence elements important for oligomerization. Two regions corresponding to the middle and C-terminal thirds of the polypeptide were identified as the minimal sequences capable of promoting NP-NP contacts. However, the C-terminal 23 amino-acids of NP inhibited oligomerization, as their removal increased self-association 10-fold. Single codon changes identified amino acids important for the function of these regions. Alanine substitution of R199 decreased binding affinity threefold, whereas alteration of R416 had a more drastic effect, reducing binding >10-fold. In contrast, mutation of F479 increased self-association fivefold. Mutations altering NP oligomerization affected the ability of the polypeptides to support influenza virus gene expression in an in vivo assay. Decreased oligomerization activity correlated with decreased transcriptional function. However, mutations that increased self-association also decreased transcription competence. This indicates that NP contains both positive and negative sequence elements involved in oligomerization and is consistent with the importance of NP-NP contacts for the formation of a transcriptionally active RNP.
Atomic structures of low-complexity protein segments reveal kinked β sheets that assemble networks

Interactions of LARKS protein domains More than 1500 human proteins contain long, disordered stretches of “low complexity”—strings of just a few of the 20 common amino acids. The functions of these low-complexity domains have been unclear. Hughes et al. present atomic-resolution structures that suggest that short segments of two such domains can bind weakly to each other by forming a pair of kinked β-sheets. Because aromatic amino acid side chains stabilize these interactions, the interacting motifs are termed LARKS, for low-complexity, aromatic-rich, kinked segments. Numerous proteins associated with membraneless organelles of biological cells contain low-complexity domains housing multiple LARKS. Science, this issue p. 698 Labile motifs found in low-complexity domains of a protein contribute to its ability to form networked protein assemblies. Subcellular membraneless assemblies are a reinvigorated area of study in biology, with spirited scientific discussions on the forces between the low-complexity protein domains within these assemblies. To illuminate these forces, we determined the atomic structures of five segments from protein low-complexity domains associated with membraneless assemblies. Their common structural feature is the stacking of segments into kinked β sheets that pair into protofilaments. Unlike steric zippers of amyloid fibrils, the kinked sheets interact weakly through polar atoms and aromatic side chains. By computationally threading the human proteome on our kinked structures, we identified hundreds of low-complexity segments potentially capable of forming such interactions. These segments are found in proteins as diverse as RNA binders, nuclear pore proteins, and keratins, which are known to form networks and localize to membraneless assemblies.
Acute hypoxia increases the cerebral metabolic rate – a magnetic resonance imaging study

The aim of the present study was to examine changes in cerebral metabolism by magnetic resonance imaging of healthy subjects during inhalation of 10% O2 hypoxic air. Hypoxic exposure elevates cerebral perfusion, but its effect on energy metabolism has been less investigated. Magnetic resonance imaging techniques were used to measure global cerebral blood flow and the venous oxygen saturation in the sagittal sinus. Global cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen was quantified from cerebral blood flow and arteriovenous oxygen saturation difference. Concentrations of lactate, glutamate, N-acetylaspartate, creatine and phosphocreatine were measured in the visual cortex by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Twenty-three young healthy males were scanned for 60 min during normoxia, followed by 40 min of breathing hypoxic air. Inhalation of hypoxic air resulted in an increase in cerebral blood flow of 15.5% (p = 0.058), and an increase in cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen of 8.5% (p = 0.035). Cerebral lactate concentration increased by 180.3% ( p < 10 - 6 ), glutamate increased by 4.7% ( p < 10 - 4 ) and creatine and phosphocreatine decreased by 15.2% (p < 10 - 3 ). The N-acetylaspartate concentration was unchanged (p = 0.36). In conclusion, acute hypoxia in healthy subjects increased perfusion and metabolic rate, which could represent an increase in neuronal activity. We conclude that marked changes in brain homeostasis occur in the healthy human brain during exposure to acute hypoxia.
The chemical modification of tropical wood polymer composites

Wood polymer composites were manufactured from several types of tropical wood species by impregnating the woods with acrylonitrile monomer solution. The physical and mechanical properties of wood polymer composites were then investigated in this study. The vacuum-pressure method was employed to impregnate wood samples with monomer and in situ polymerization. Acrylonitrile reacted and incorporated with wood, which was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy test analysis. The mechanical properties of wood samples in terms of modulus of elasticity and compressive modulus were found to be improved on acrylonitrile treatment. Besides, the fabricated wood polymer composite samples had lower water absorption and higher surface hardness (Shore D) value as compared to their corresponding raw one. For wood polymer composites, a significant improvement was found in physical and mechanical properties compared to the raw woods.