Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spectrally Efficient 4-PAM Ambient FM Backscattering for Wireless Sensing and RFID Applications

Ahstract- This work presents a novel wireless tag operating solely with ambient backscatter signals while featuring high-order modulation capabilities. Specifically, the proposed tag communicates with a low-cost software defined radio reader using backscatter radio principles on ambient commercial FM station signals, while sensing information from sensors can be modulated on the analog signals using 4-pulse amplitude modulation (4-PAM). The tag transceiver implementation is based on an ultra-low-power microcontroller for data processing and an RF frontend for wireless communication. A proof-of-concept prototype was demonstrated indoors over a 2 m tag-reader distance for a low bit rate of 328 bps with a Power consumotion under 20 μA.
Technical Note: A benchtop cone‐beam x‐ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) system with a high‐power x‐ray source and transmission CT imaging capability

PURPOSE This report describes upgrades and performance characterization of an experimental benchtop cone-beam x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) system capable of determining the spatial distribution and concentration of metal probes such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Specifically, a high-power (~3 kW) industrial x-ray source and transmission CT capability were deployed in the same platform under the cone-beam geometry. METHODS All components of the system are described in detail, including the x-ray source, imaging stage, cadmium-telluride detector for XFCT, and flat-panel detector for transmission CT imaging. The general data acquisition scheme for XFCT and transmission CT is also explicated. The detection limit of the system was determined using calibration samples containing water and GNPs at various concentrations. Samples were then embedded in a small-animal-sized phantom and imaged with XFCT and CT. The reconstructed XFCT and CT images were compared and analyzed using the contrast-to-noise ratio for each GNP-containing region of interest. Also, measurements of the incident beam spectra used for XFCT and CT imaging were made and the corresponding x-ray dose rates were estimated, along with the imaging dose. RESULTS The present configuration produced a GNP detection limit of 0.03 wt. % with the delivery of an effective dose of 1.87 cGy per projection. XFCT scan of an animal-sized phantom containing low concentrations (down to 0.03 wt. %) of GNP-loaded inserts can be performed within an hour. CONCLUSIONS The high performance of the system combined with the ability to perform transmission CT in tandem with XFCT suggests that the currently developed benchtop cone-beam XFCT/CT system, in conjunction with GNPs, can be used for routine multimodal preclinical imaging tasks with less stringent dose constraints such as ex vivo imaging. With further effort to minimize XFCT imaging dose as discussed in this report, it may also be used for in vivo imaging.
Molecular characterization of whole genome sequence of infectious bronchitis virus 624I genotype confirms the close relationship with Q1 genotype

Abstract Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) genotype Q1 was detected for the first time in China in 1996, and then spread worldwide. The first report of Q1 genotype in Italy occurred in 2011 and a deep molecular investigation of a Q1 isolated in Italy in 2013 has led to speculation regarding the origin of this genotype. Phylogenetic analysis of the S1 sequence of a Q1 Italian strain revealed a close relationship with sequences of the 624I strains circulating in Italy in the early 1990s and this led to the idea that 624I was an ancestor of the Q1 genotype. Despite the fact that most heterogeneity of IBVs occurs in the S1 gene, the sequence analysis of this gene alone was not sufficient to confirm or deny this hypothesis. In the present study, an Italian 624I (gammaCoV/AvCov/Ck/Italy/IP14425/96) was fully sequenced for the first time and compared to all available complete Q1 genome sequences. This analysis confirmed the genetic correlation between GammaCoV/AvCov/Ck/Italy/IP14425/96 and Q1 strains, suggesting a common origin between 624I and Q1 genotypes.
TGF-β Signaling in Lung Health and Disease

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is an evolutionarily conserved pleiotropic factor that regulates a myriad of biological processes including development, tissue regeneration, immune responses, and tumorigenesis. TGF-β is necessary for lung organogenesis and homeostasis as evidenced by genetically engineered mouse models. TGF-β is crucial for epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during lung branching morphogenesis and alveolarization. Expression and activation of the three TGF-β ligand isoforms in the lungs are temporally and spatially regulated by multiple mechanisms. The lungs are structurally exposed to extrinsic stimuli and pathogens, and are susceptible to inflammation, allergic reactions, and carcinogenesis. Upregulation of TGF-β ligands is observed in major pulmonary diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, and lung cancer. TGF-β regulates multiple cellular processes such as growth suppression of epithelial cells, alveolar epithelial cell differentiation, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix organization. These effects are closely associated with tissue remodeling in pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. TGF-β is also central to T cell homeostasis and is deeply involved in asthmatic airway inflammation. TGF-β is the most potent inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer cells and is pivotal to the development of tumor-promoting microenvironment in the lung cancer tissue. This review summarizes and integrates the current knowledge of TGF-β signaling relevant to lung health and disease.
Measuring age-related differences in kinematic postural strategies under yaw perturbation

The assessment of age-related postural strategies under external perturbation is of great interest for a better evaluation of the risk of falls in healthy humans. In the large majority of the studies, subjects have been perturbed with antero/posterior translations or rotations in the pitch and roll angles in order to investigate the postural strategies adopted for balance control. However, physiological mechanisms involved in the response to continuous yaw perturbation to maintain stable balance in healthy subjects are still unclear. Ten younger subjects (age: 28±3 years) and ten older adults (age: 61±4 years) were asked to stand on the RotoBiT1D under two visual conditions: (a) eyes opened looking at a fixation point, and (b) eyes closed. The platform, driven by an ad-hoc control software, provided two sinusoidal rotations on the horizontal plane with fixed amplitude (±55°) and two different frequencies (0.2 Hz and 0.3 Hz). Kinematics of head, trunk, pelvis, arms, forearms, thighs and shanks body-segments was gathered using eleven inertial measurement units. Body-segment absolute rotations in the transverse plane were compared to platform absolute rotation after fast Fourier transform. The gain (G) and phase lag (φ) of all body-segments were computed and analyzed as a function of age, visual and frequency conditions. G values were statistically lower in older subjects than in younger subjects for all body-segments attesting prominent stiffness and limited ranges of movement. Regarding φ, our results demonstrated that in older subjects, lower limbs, trunk and pelvis anticipated platform movement probably compensating for postural perturbations. In both groups, G decreased and φ delayed progressively by increasing the frequency of the perturbation while similar results were obtained comparing the two visual conditions. In conclusion, to maintain balance under sinusoidal yaw perturbation, older subjects adopted a different motor control strategy compared with younger subjects mainly implying reduced body-movements and the anticipation of the movement.
General Transformations of Object Representations in Human Visual Cortex

The brain actively represents incoming information, but these representations are only useful to the extent that they flexibly reflect changes in the environment. How does the brain transform representations across changes, such as in size or viewing angle? We conducted a fMRI experiment and a magnetoencephalography experiment in humans (both sexes) in which participants viewed objects before and after affine viewpoint changes (rotation, translation, enlargement). We used a novel approach, representational transformation analysis, to derive transformation functions that linked the distributed patterns of brain activity evoked by an object before and after an affine change. Crucially, transformations derived from one object could predict a postchange representation for novel objects. These results provide evidence of general operations in the brain that are distinct from neural representations evoked by particular objects and scenes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The dominant focus in cognitive neuroscience has been on how the brain represents information, but these representations are only useful to the extent that they flexibly reflect changes in the environment. How does the brain transform representations, such as linking two states of an object, for example, before and after an object undergoes a physical change? We used a novel method to derive transformations between the brain activity evoked by an object before and after an affine viewpoint change. We show that transformations derived from one object undergoing a change generalized to a novel object undergoing the same change. This result shows that there are general perceptual operations that transform object representations from one state to another.
Venom of prey‐specialized spiders is more toxic to their preferred prey: A result of prey‐specific toxins

In specialized predators, a variety of adaptations have evolved to such a level of specificity that they allow very effective exploitation of focal prey. Venom is an essential adaptive trait of predatory venomous species, such as spiders, yet our knowledge of spider venom is incomplete. In agreement with the prey preference hypothesis, we expected that the venom of spider specialists should be more toxic to focal than to alternative prey, because it is composed of prey-specific toxins. Here we used spiders with three types of trophic specializations: specialists that were ant-eating, termite-eating and spider-eating. We compared the efficacy of prey capture of preferred and alternative prey (measured as paralysis latency) with that of related generalists and profiled the venom of the studied species using proteomic methods. We used 22 spider species: six myrmecophagous, two termitophagous, three araneophagous and 11 euryphagous generalist species belonging to different families. We found that ten of the eleven specialist species induced significantly shorter paralysis latency in preferred prey than in alternative prey. Generalists exhibited either similar efficiency on both prey types or slightly higher efficiency on preferred prey. Multivariate analysis of proteomic profiles (peptides and proteins) revealed significant differences between trophic specializations, particularly in peptides. Specialists appear to have venom composed of unique specific compounds as revealed by the multivariate ordination and indicator analysis. These components are likely prey-specific toxins.
A PCB-Embedding Scheme for LCP Ribbon Waveguide at D-band

This paper reports on a D-band polymer waveguide PCB integration concept whereby the waveguide and wave launcher are embedded in the flex layer(s) of a rigid-flex PCB buildup. We here report on the design, fabrication and measurement of a first prototype that launches the $\pmb{E}_{\mathbf{11}}^{\pmb{x}}$ mode in a ribbon waveguide using a Vivaldi-type differential structure. Measurements were done using GSG on-wafer probes via an intermediate planar balun. At 140 GHz, the attenuation of two back-to-back launchers with an 8.5cm section of waveguide was measured to be 10 dB, to which the waveguide itself contributed 2 dB.
Reduced pharyngeal constriction is associated with impaired swallowing efficiency in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Swallowing inefficiency is a prevalent but understudied problem in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Although reduced pharyngeal constriction has been identified as a mechanism contributing to swallowing inefficiency following stroke, this relationship has not been empirically tested in the ALS population. This study sought to characterize profiles of swallowing efficiency in a sample of ALS patients and investigate relationships between pharyngeal constriction and swallowing efficiency.
The outcome of patients with high‐risk MDS achieving stable disease after treatment with 5‐azacytidine: A retrospective analysis of the Hellenic (Greek) MDS Study Group

The demethylating factor 5‐azacytidine (5‐AZA) improves survival in intermediate‐2 and high‐risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients [according to the International Prognostic Score System (IPSS)] responding to treatment. However, the outcome of patients achieving stable disease (SD) is unclear. This retrospective study of the Hellenic MDS Study Group included 353 intermediate‐2 or high IPSS risk patients treated with 5‐AZA. Forty‐four out of 86 (51.6%) patients achieving SD and continuing treatment with 5‐AZA showed a lower risk of transformation of MDS to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and increased overall survival (OS), compared to SD patients who discontinued the treatment (estimated median AML‐free survival = 38 months, 95% CI = 10.7‐65.3 vs 15 months, 95% CI = 10.4‐19.6, P < .001; estimated median OS = 20 months, 95% CI = 5.5‐34.5 vs 11 months, 95% CI = 5.8‐16.2, P < .001). Moreover, SD patients continuing treatment with 5‐AZA had no differences in AML‐free survival compared to patients showing response to 5‐AZA (estimated median AML‐free survival = 38 months, 95% CI = 10.7‐65.3 vs 31 months, 95% CI = 23.6‐38.4, P = .45; estimated median OS 20 months, 95% CI = 5.5‐34.5 vs 25 months, 95% CI = 21.3‐28.7, P = .50). In conclusion, MDS patients achieving SD in the first 6 months of treatment with 5‐AZA as best response should continue receiving 5‐AZA as they may benefit from prolonged treatment.
Repeatability of ARK-30 in a pediatric population

Purpose: To determine repeatability and agreement of the ARK-30 handheld autorefractor with retinoscopy under cycloplegic and noncycloplegic conditions in children. Methods: Three consecutive autorefractor measurements (with and without cycloplegia) and retinoscopy were performed and compared in 30 randomized eyes of 30 children (mean age of 6.7 ± 2.7 years with spherical equivalent [SE] refraction from ‒4.01 to +7.38 D) in a cross-section and masked study. Bland–Altman analysis of autorefractor measurements (with and without cycloplegia) and agreement with retinoscopy were calculated with conventional notation (sphere [Sph] and cylinder [Cyl]) and vector notation (SE, J0, and J45coefficients). Results: ARK-30 measurements without cycloplegia were lower than under cycloplegic conditions (Sph: ‒0.52 ± 2.37 D vs + 0.86 ± 2.60 D, P < 0.01; Cyl: ‒0.83 ± 0.80 D versus ‒0.78 ± 0.77 D, P = 0.37; and SE: ‒0.94 ± 2.19 D vs + 0.47 ± 2.44 D, P < 0.01, respectively) and statistically different (P < 0.03) from retinoscopy (Shp: +0.83 ± 2.66 D; Cyl: ‒0.71 ± 0.87 D; SE: +0.51 ± 2.49 D). Without statistical differences were in J0and J45coefficients. Cyloplegic autorefraction measures were not found to be statistically significantly different to retinoscopy measures. ARK-30 under cycloplegia shows better repeatability with lower limits of agreement (LoA) in Sph (LoA: ‒0.66 to +0.69 D), and SE (LoA: ‒0.66 to +0.65 D) than without cycloplegia (LoA: ‒1.45 to +1.77 D, and ‒1.38 to +1.74 D, respectively). Conclusion: Under noncycloplegic conditions, ARK-30 autorefractor has low repeatability and a tendency toward minus over correction in children. However, repeatability and agreement with retinoscopy under cycloplegic conditions allow use of ARK-30 in children to estimate refraction but not to substitute gold standard retinoscopic refraction.
Determinants of food insecurity among rural households of South Western Ethiopia

This study seeks to determine households’ determinants of food insecurity among rural households in Woliso district, South Western Ethiopia. The main objective of this study is to identify factors influencing food insecurity in the study area. The study used household-level survey data collected from 122 sample households in Woliso district, and systematic random sampling technique was employed to select the sample households. Calorie acquisition by households was used to categorize the sample households into food secure and food insecure. Accordingly, results of descriptive analysis show that about 25.4 % and 74.6 % of the sample households were found to be food insecure and food secure, respectively. Comparison of percentage of food insecurity was also conducted between two-groups for some discrete variables, and results revealed that food insecurity significantly varies between the two groups. Results of the logit model showed that household’s education level, dependency ratio, amount of amount of land and amount of fertilize have significantly influenced the level of food insecurity in the study area. Policy interventions aimed to change food security situation in the study area need to be diversified by focusing on enhancing family planning programs, promoting access to basic education to rural households and efficient functioning of land markets. Key words: Food insecurity, calorie acquisition, logit model, Woliso district.
Temperature Monitoring during Radio Frequency Thermal Ablation Treatment on Ex Vivo perfused organ by Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors

In this work, we report on the integration of fiber Bragg gratings sensors in a commercial radio frequency probe for real-time temperature monitoring during thermal ablation of biological tissues. The experiments were conducted on ex-vivo pig liver and bovine kidney tissues and the results confirm that the proposed setup is able to conduct a multi-point real-time temperature monitoring during the RF discharges with a temperature resolution of 0.1 °C and a minimum spatial resolution of 1 mm. During these experiments the blood perfusion was implemented by injecting water at a temperature of 37 °C inside the organ under examination. This solution aimed at simulating the Radio Frequency Thermal Ablation (RFTA) treatments made in clinical practice.
Heart rate variability analysis as a possible predictor of perioperative risk in patients undergoing general surgery

In spite of all advances made in medicine, the perioperative environment remains a high-risk environment for patients. Perioperative organ injury, including mainly cardiovascular complications, is a major threat and often only detected at a later stage. Cardiovascular risk assessment, executed before surgery, translates into the need for advanced monitoring in high-risk patients. Evidence reveals that a comprised autonomic nervous system (ANS) has a strong correlation with cardiovascular events. Therefore it could be useful to assess ANS activity in the perioperative period as a risk indicator. The purpose of the present study was to observe if patients in high-risk groups (with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score above 1) show different patterns in their perioperative ANS activity, accessed by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis, than patients with low risk (ASA score of 1). Results show that the general course was the same for all risk groups, with a HRV decrease during anesthesia followed by an increase in the recovery period. However, the high frequency power of patients with ASA=1 seemed to be elevated in the post-anesthesia care unit, suggesting a higher parasympathetic activity during recovery than in patients with ASA > 1. Although a difference in HRV could be observed between low-risk and high-risk patients, the HRV was not sufficient as input for a classification algorithm. For a more detailed evaluation in the future, more patients need to be studied with the aim to identify if ANS monitoring may suit a novel surrogate marker for risk-assessment inthe perioperative period.
NEMESYS: Network Message Syntax Reverse Engineering by Analysis of the Intrinsic Structure of Individual Messages

Protocol reverse engineering based on traffic traces allows to analyze observable network messages. Thereby, message formats of unknown protocols can be inferred. We present a novel method to infer structure from network messages of binary protocols. The method derives field boundaries from the distribution of value changes throughout individual messages. None of many previous approaches exploits features of structure which are contained within each single message. Our method exploits this intrinsic structure instead of comparing multiple messages with each other. We implement our approach in the tool NEMESYS: NEtwork Message SYntax analysiS. Additionally, we introduce the Format Match Score: the first quantitative measure of the quality of a message format inference. We apply the Format Match Score to NEMESYS and a previous approach and compare the results to mutually validate our new format inference method and the measure of its quality.
Placebo‐controlled Phase 2 Trial of Drisapersen for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled Phase 2 study (NCT01462292) assessed the 24‐week efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of two different subcutaneous drisapersen doses, and the 24‐week off‐dose persistent effect, in ambulant Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients.
Three-dimensional time-domain scattering of waves in the marginal ice zone

Three-dimensional scattering of ocean surface waves in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) is determined in the time domain. The solution is found using spectral analysis of the linear operator for the Boltzmann equation. The method to calculate the scattering kernel that arises in the Boltzmann model from the single-floe solution is also presented along with new identities for the far-field scattering, which can be used to validate the single-floe solution. The spectrum of the operator is computed, and it is shown to have a universal structure under a special non-dimensionalization. This universal structure implies that under a scaling wave scattering in the MIZ has similar properties for a large range of ice types and wave periods. A scattering theory solution using fast Fourier transforms is given to find the solution for directional incident wave packets. A numerical solution method is also given using the split-step method and this is used to validate the spectral solution. Numerical calculations of the evolution of a typical wave field are presented. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling of sea-ice phenomena’.