Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Access to medicines for acute illness and antibiotic use in residents: A medicines household survey in Sichuan Province, western China

Objective To investigate medicine accessibility and antibiotic use in households in western China using World Health Organization (WHO) methodology as well as to identify the influencing factor of care-seeking outside the home and primary determinant factors that influence the use of antibiotics in Chinese residents. Methods A cross-sectional household survey was conducted from March to July 2015, and 1200 households from six cities in Sichuan China were selected for a questionnaire survey using stratified multistage random cluster sampling. We used logistic regression models to identify the determinants of care-seeking outside the home and subsequent antibiotic use among the surveyed residents. Results Overall, 1103 valid questionnaires were collected, and 458 households reported that they had had experienced at least one acute illness in the previous 2 weeks. Of these households, 97.2% of individuals with acute conditions sought care outside their homes and 40.1% of individuals who took medicine received antibiotics. Only 15.9% of the individuals with acute conditions reported that the medical insurance reimbursement covered at least one medicine. According to the multivariate analyses, women were less likely to seek care outside the home compared to men. Among those who sought outside care, fever and upper respiratory symptoms increased the odds of taking antibiotics, and visiting a private hospital also increased antibiotic use. Low-income households were less likely to receive antibiotics. Symptoms were strong determinants of antibiotic use when patients sought outside care. Conclusion The accessibility of medicine for acute illness among households in western China was favorable; however, medical insurance reimbursement must be improved. The nature of the symptoms and patterns of care-seeking had the greatest influence on the decision to take antibiotics among residents with acute conditions. The percentage of antibiotic use in patients with acute illness has declined, but the indications for using antibiotics must be standardized.
Unified Visual Servoing Tracking and Regulation of Wheeled Mobile Robots With an Uncalibrated Camera

In this paper, a vision-based strategy is proposed for the unified tracking and regulation control of a wheeled mobile robot (WMR) equipped with an uncalibrated monocular camera. Specifically, an online implementable method based on the projection homography technique is first proposed to estimate the partial camera intrinsic parameters. By exploiting the obtained camera intrinsic parameters, the orientation and scaled position information of the WMR is extracted from the current, the reference, and the desired images to construct the error system. Then, an adaptive continuous controller is designed to address both the trajectory tracking and regulation problems with input saturation for the WMR. The system uncertainties regarding the distance information and the camera intrinsic parameters are fully taken into consideration as well as the nonholonomic constraint. Moreover, the Lyapunov-based stability analysis is utilized to prove that the proposed controller can achieve asymptotic tracking and regulation in the presence of system uncertainties. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Gestational chronodisruption leads to persistent changes in the rat fetal and adult adrenal clock and function

Light at night is essential to a 24/7 society, but it has negative consequences on health. Basically, light at night induces an alteration of our biological clocks, known as chronodisruption, with effects even when this occurs during pregnancy. Here we explored the developmental impact of gestational chronodisruption (chronic photoperiod shift, CPS) on adult and fetal adrenal biorhythms and function. We found that gestational chronodisruption altered fetal and adult adrenal function, at the molecular, morphological and physiological levels. The differences between control and CPS offspring suggest desynchronization of the adrenal circadian clock and steroidogenic pathway, leading to abnormal stress responses and metabolic adaptation, potentially increasing the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Toward a Blind Quality Predictor for Screen Content Images

Blind quality assessment of screen content images (SCIs) is much challenging than traditional natural images. In this paper, we propose a blind quality predictor for SCIs to explore the issue from the perspective of sparse representation. Specifically, we conduct local sparse representation for the textual and pictorial regions, respectively, and conduct global sparse representation for the global SCIs. Subsequently, the underlying relationship between the feature and quality vectors is bridged in a universal sparse representation framework. The quality pooling is comparatively simply that only need to estimate the local and global quality scores and combine them to a total one. Our experimental results show that the proposed predictor can achieve better prediction performance to be in line with subjective assessment.
Towards a model of nonverbal leadership in unstructured joint physical activity

In this paper, we propose a set of algorithms to compute the cues of the nonverbal leadership in an unstructured joint full-body physical activity, i.e., the joint activity of two or more interacting persons who perform some movements without a predefined sequence and without a predefined leader. An example of such activity can be a contact dance improvisation. The paper is composed of three parts: cue set, dataset and algorithms. First, we propose a cue set of nonverbal leadership which is grounded on existing literature and studies. It is composed of eight cues that characterize the nonverbal behaviors of the leader in a joint full-body physical activity. In this paper we also introduce a new dataset. It consists of multimodal data (video, MoCap) of contact dance improvisations. Additionally, sensory deprivation conditions (vision and/or touch restraint) were introduced to collect the evidences of the various strategies used by leaders and followers during improvisation. The dataset was annotated by twenty-seven persons who carried out continuous annotation of leadership in the recorded material. In the last part of the paper, we propose a set of algorithms that works on positional 3D data (i.e., joints' positions obtained from motion capture data of dancers). Each algorithm models one among the discussed cues of the nonverbal leadership.
Control Barrier Functions for Constrained Control of Linear Systems with Input Delay

The concept of Control Lyapunov Functions (CLF) has been used to design control laws robust to disturbances and modeling errors, while Control Barrier Functions (CBF) have been used to adhere to state constraints in the operating space. The two can be combined and methods that employ Quadratic Programming (QP) have recently gained popularity. In this paper we consider a CLF-CBF QP design for linear systems with input delay. One obstacle is that input delays prevent the CLF concept from being extended to either Razumikhin or Krasovsky version. Instead, this paper starts with the CLF $V$ for the zero-delay system and employs its value predicted by the delay time $\tau$. While this predicted $V$ is not positive definite, when used with the QP-based design it produces a controller that renders the origin globally asymptotically stable. A similar approach is followed with the barrier function – a predicted value of the CBF for the zero-delay system is used to form a QP constraint for the delay system. The controller combining the two provides essentially the same benefits as its non-delay counterpart. The results are illustrated on an example by simulations.
Cell cycle pacemaker keeps adhesion in step with division

Adherent cells round up before division but it is unclear how detachment is regulated by the cell cycle. In this issue, Jones et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201802088) find the kinase CDK1 maintains adhesion during interphase by phosphorylating integrin adhesome proteins, including the formin FMNL2, and loss of this function of CDK1 activity in G2 triggers adhesion disassembly.
Studies on NiO-PVA Composite Films for Opto-Electronics and Optical Limiters

We report optical, excited-state lifetime, and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of nickel oxide (NiO)/poly vinylalcohol (PVA) polymer free-standing films for opto-electronics and optical limiting applications. Optical absorption studies of NiO-loaded PVA films show that the exciton peaks are centered at 330 nm. Fluorescence studies reveal that the emission is due to exciton recombination and defects in NiO. Time-resolved fluorescence studies show that the recombination in PVA happens through NiO, where NiO has a faster decay time than the pure PVA. NLO measurements carried out using a 532 nm, 10-ns Nd: YAG laser, show that for a given energy, NiO/PVA shows good optical limiting, and the obtained NLO behavior is due to effective two-photon absorption.
Biochemical and physiological characterization of a halotolerant Dunaliella salina isolated from hypersaline Sambhar Lake, India

The objective of the present study was to characterize intrinsic physiological and biochemical properties of the wall‐less unicellular cholorophyte Dunaliella salina isolated from a hypersaline Sambhar Lake. The strain grew optimally at 0.5 M NaCl and 16:8 h L:D photoperiod along with maintaining low level of intracellular Na+ even at higher salinity, emphasizing special features of its cell membranes. It was observed that the cells experienced stress beyond 2 M NaCl as evidenced by increased intracellular reactive oxygen species and antioxidative enzymes, nevertheless proline and malondialdehyde content declined sharply accompanied by higher neutral lipid accumulation. Salinity exceeding 2 M resulted decrease in photosynthetic quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and enhanced glycerol synthesis accompanied by leakage. Super oxide dismutase seemed to play a pivotal role in antioxidative defense as eight isoforms were expressed differentially while catalase and glutathione peroxidase showing no significant change in their expression at higher salinity. The ability of D. salina to grow in range of salinities by sustaining healthy photosynthetic apparatus along with accumulation of valuable products made this alga an ideal organism that can be exploited as resource for biofuel and commercial products.
Comparison of cyanoacrylate embolization and radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of varicose veins

Objective To review clinical outcomes of varicose vein patients treated with cyanoacrylate embolization and radiofrequency ablation at our institution. Methods A retrospective review of patients who underwent cyanoacrylate embolization and radiofrequency ablation during a three-year period. Patient records were reviewed to assess demographics, location and severity of disease, treatment details and outcome at short- and mid-term follow-ups. Outcome parameters included treatment success and complications. Results Between January 2014 and December 2016, 335 patients with 476 veins were treated with either cyanoacrylate embolization (n = 148) or radiofrequency ablation (n = 328) at the Vancouver General Hospital Vascular Surgery Vein Clinic. The average age of patients were 57 ± 1 years with the majority being female (78%) and an average BMI of 24.8 ± 0.5. CEAP classes were 2 (49%), 3 (26%), 4a (22%) and >4b (3%). Of the veins treated with cyanoacrylate embolization, the vein types were as follows: 76% were great saphenous vein, 16% were small saphenous vein, 5% were anterior accessory great saphenous vein and 1.4% were perforator veins. The vein types for radiofrequency ablation were 88%, 9%, 3% and 0%, respectively. The average amount of cyanoacrylate embolization delivered for great saphenous vein treatment was 1.8 ± 0.1 ml with a treatment length of 43 ± 1 cm. Subgroup comparison was done for great saphenous vein segments. Treatment success was 100% in cyanoacrylate embolization and 99% in radiofrequency ablation. Superficial phlebitis was the most common complication noted at mid-term follow-up in 5% of cyanoacrylate embolization and 16% of radiofrequency ablation treatments (P < 0.05). One patient in each group had asymptomatic proximal thrombus extension treated with anticoagulation for 2–3 weeks. Three superficial infections from glue clumps were noted in the cyanoacrylate embolization group requiring excision and drainage. Five patients in the radiofrequency ablation group had persistent numbness and one wound complications at the access site. Conclusion Cyanoacrylate embolization offers equivalent success rates with lower mid-term complication rates as radiofrequency ablation.
Analysis of the Technological Parameters Influence on the Reproducibility of the Active Dielectrics Properties

An analytical description of the process parameters and various industry sorts of external factors influence (heat, electrical, magnetic, mechanical) on active dielectrics properties (relative permittivity, polarization) that govern the materials use in functional electronics elements is presented. The article proves expediency of x-rays use to improve the reproducibility of dielectric properties of hydrogen-containing ferroelectrics (for example, triglycine sulfate). Higher reproducibility of parameters is due to the presence of flat areas in dependence of the relative permittivity on the electric field ε(E) during γ-radiation exposure, and therefore the additional errors of dialectic properties measurement are reduced significantly due to the impossibility of fixing the exact values of process parameters. For example, when the radiation dose D = 50 kR extra measurement error ε is reduced not less than 2.5 times.
An addiction model‐based mobile health weight loss intervention in adolescents with obesity

Clinical approaches to treating childhood obesity can be expensive and poorly reimbursed, and often produce suboptimal results. It has been theorized that overeating may have addictive qualities, and a sizable number of adolescents with obesity endorse addictive habits. Interestingly, few weight management interventions have tested techniques founded in addiction medicine principles. We therefore performed a pilot study of an addiction model based mHealth weight loss intervention in adolescents.
"How much change do you get from 40$?" - Analyzing and addressing failed questions on social Q&A

Online question-answering (Q&A) services are becoming increasingly popular among information seekers. While online Q&A services encompass both virtual reference service (VRS) and social Q&A (SQA), SQA services, such as Yahoo! Answers and WikiAnswers, have experienced more success in reaching out to the masses and leveraging subsequent participation. However, the large volume of content on some of the more popular SQA sites renders participants unable to answer some posted questions adequately or even at all. To reduce this latter category of questions that do not receive an answer, the current paper explores reasons for why fact-based questions fail on a specific Q&A service. For this exploration and analyses, thousands of failed questions were collected from Yahoo! Answers extracting only those that were fact-based, information-seeking questions, while opinion/advice-seeking questions were discarded. A typology was then created to code reasons of failures for these questions using a grounded theory approach. Using this typology, suggestions are proposed for how the questions could be restructured or redirected to another Q&A service (possibly a VRS), so users would have a better chance of receiving an answer.
Reconsolidation blockade for the treatment of addiction: challenges, new targets, and opportunities

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder. The progression to pathological drug-seeking is thought to be driven by maladaptive learning processes which store and maintain associative memory, linking drug highs with cues and actions in the environment. These memories can encode Pavlovian associations which link predictive stimuli (e.g., people, places, and paraphernalia) with a hedonic drug high, as well as instrumental learning about the actions required to obtain drug-associated incentives. Learned memories are not permanent however, and much recent interest has been generated in exploiting the process of reconsolidation to erase or significantly weaken maladaptive memories to treat several mental health disorders, including addictions. Normally reconsolidation serves to update and maintain the adaptive relevance of memories, however administration of amnestic agents within the critical “reconsolidation window” can weaken or even erase maladaptive memories. Here we discuss recent advances in the field, including ongoing efforts to translate preclinical reconsolidation research in animal models into clinical practice.
A Strategy to Maintain Short-Term Stability and Long-Term Profitability of Renewable Energy Aggregation

In this paper, we develop a strategy to enhance cooperation among a group of renewable energy producers (REP). The REPs form a coalition that is managed by an aggregator. In the coalition, the REPs desire an allocation of the realized profit at each time that keeps them in the coalition (i.e., a stabilizing allocation). We first compute a necessary and sufficient condition of developing the joint contract under this scenario. Though the REPs get a stable allocation under our scheme, they lose some overall profit in the long-term. So next, we develop a strategy that can be used by the aggregator to improve the long-term profit of this coalition. The proposed method will support coalition formation and thus promote market integration of renewable energy. We also develop a numerical example to illustrate our results.
Concussion in Motorsport? Experience, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Priorities of Medical Personnel and Drivers.

OBJECTIVE To assess concussion experiences, knowledge, and attitudes of motorsport medical personnel and drivers and to determine priority areas regarding concussion within the sport. DESIGN Sequential mixed-method design. Part 1: stakeholder interviews; part 2: cross-sectional online survey. SETTING United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS Part 1: key motorsport stakeholders (N = 8); part 2: motorsport medical personnel and drivers (N = 209) representing amateur and/or professional 4-wheeled motorsport. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Concussion experience, knowledge, attitudes, and perceived priority areas. RESULTS Thirty-one percent of surveyed drivers (age = 37.91 ± 13.49 years: 89% male) reported suffering from concussion in motorsport. Eighty-seven percent of surveyed medical personnel (age = 48.60 ± 10.68 years: 74% male) reported experience with concussed drivers, and 34% reported feeling pressured to clear a driver with concussion. Gaps in knowledge and misperceptions about concussion were reported in both groups, and disparity between concussion attitudes emerged between drivers and medical personnel. Application of assessment and management procedures varied between medical personnel and there was evidence motorsport policy and concussion guidelines may not be directly followed. According to both medical personnel (77%) and drivers (85%), "education and training" is the top priority area for the sport. CONCLUSIONS There is clear evidence of concussions in motorsport, but accurate knowledge about this injury is missing. Concussion education and training for all drivers and medical personnel is required. Additional investigations into concussion attitudes are advised to complement and advance simple educational initiatives. Further investigation is also required to determine how to best support motorsport medical personnel, and general practitioners, who hold significant responsibility in guiding drivers from diagnosis to return to racing, and to support the effective implementation of policy.
Intrathecal Injection of Dual Zipper Kinase shRNA Alleviating the Neuropathic Pain in a Chronic Constrictive Nerve Injury Model

Dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK) is a member of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family mainly involved in neuronal degeneration. However, the role of DLK signaling in the neuropathic pain has not yet been fully determined. Chronic constrictive injury (CCI) was conducted by four 3-0 chromic gut ligatures loosely ligated around the sciatic nerve. Escalated DLK expression over the dorsal root ganglion was observed from one to four rings of CCI. Remarkable expression of DLK was observed in primary dorsal root ganglion cells culture subjected to electrical stimulation and attenuated by DLK short hairpin RNA (shRNA) treatment. Intrathecal injection of DLK shRNA attenuates the expression of DLK over the dorsal root ganglion and hippocampus neurons and increased the threshold of mechanical allodynia and decreased thermal hyperalgesia. In CatWalk gait analysis, significant decreases of print area, maximum contact maximum intensity, stand phase, single stance, and regular index by CCI were alleviated by the DLK shRNA administration. In conclusion, the expression of DLK was up-regulated in chronic constrictive injury and attenuated by the administration of DLK shRNA, which paralleled the improvement of neurobehavior of neuropathic pain. The modulation of DLK expression is a potential clinic treatment option for neuropathic pain.
On stability for state-lattice trajectory tracking control

In order to guarantee that a self-driving vehicle is behaving as expected, stability of the closed-loop system needs to be rigorously analyzed. The key components for the lowest levels of control in self-driving vehicles are the controlled vehicle, the low-level controller and the local planner. The local planner that is considered in this work constructs a feasible trajectory by combining a finite number of precomputed motions. When this local planner is considered, we show that the closed-loop system can be modeled as a nonlinear hybrid system. Based on this, we propose a novel method for analyzing the behavior of the tracking error, how to design the low-level controller and how to potentially impose constraints on the local planner, in order to guarantee that the tracking error is bounded and decays towards zero. The proposed method is applied on a truck and trailer system and the results are illustrated in two simulation examples.
Real-Time Monitoring of Road Traffic Using Data Stream Mining

The development of applications for advanced Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), is a growing research area, pushed especially by the need to mitigate problems related to transportation inefficiency, overuse and pollution, mainly caused by the increasing of traffic congestions in big cities. Nowadays, traffic related data coming from the road infrastructure, user's cars or mobile phones, is generated in unprecedent volume and speed. Therefore, ITS face new challenges, with respect to growing demand to process large volumes of traffic data in real-time, and extract value that can be immediately used for decision making. The work presented here, proposes a scalable architecture supported by Big Data technologies, capable of processing real-time traffic data captured from 349 inductive loop counters, placed in Slovenian road network. The main goal is to propose an approach which can be adopted by national road operators, capable of monitoring, in real-time, the current status of the road network. Traffic events need to be detected in real-time and require the collection of data from several fixed sensors. To deal with data volume and velocity challenges, a data stream management system was used, able to collect traffic data that arrives and process it on a continuous (24×7) basis. Results achieved, suggest that there's a great advantage in the adoption of a data stream management system, with respect to traditional database management systems, illustrated by practical examples, providing quantitative metrics about data processing performance.