Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finger Gesture Spotting from Long Sequences Based on Multi-Stream Recurrent Neural Networks

Gesture spotting is an essential task for recognizing finger gestures used to control in-car touchless interfaces. Automated methods to achieve this task require to detect video segments where gestures are observed, to discard natural behaviors of users’ hands that may look as target gestures, and be able to work online. In this paper, we address these challenges with a recurrent neural architecture for online finger gesture spotting. We propose a multi-stream network merging hand and hand-location features, which help to discriminate target gestures from natural movements of the hand, since these may not happen in the same 3D spatial location. Our multi-stream recurrent neural network (RNN) recurrently learns semantic information, allowing to spot gestures online in long untrimmed video sequences. In order to validate our method, we collect a finger gesture dataset in an in-vehicle scenario of an autonomous car. 226 videos with more than 2100 continuous instances were captured with a depth sensor. On this dataset, our gesture spotting approach outperforms state-of-the-art methods with an improvement of about 10% and 15% of recall and precision, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated that by combining with an existing gesture classifier (a 3D Convolutional Neural Network), our proposal achieves better performance than previous hand gesture recognition methods.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 Paralyzes the Function of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells

Herpes simplex viruses not only infect a variety of different cell types, including dendritic cells (DCs), but also modulate important cellular functions in benefit of the virus. Given the relevance of directed immune cell migration during the initiation of potent antiviral immune responses, interference with DC migration constitutes a sophisticated strategy to hamper antiviral immunity. Notably, recent reports revealed that HSV-1 significantly inhibits DC migration in vitro. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether HSV-2 also modulates distinct hallmarks of DC biology. Here, we demonstrate that HSV-2 negatively interferes with chemokine-dependent in vitro migration capacity of mature DCs (mDCs). Interestingly, rather than mediating the reduction of the cognate chemokine receptor expression early during infection, HSV-2 rapidly induces β2 integrin (LFA-1)-mediated mDC adhesion and thereby blocks mDC migration. Mechanistically, HSV-2 triggers the proteasomal degradation of the negative regulator of β2 integrin activity, CYTIP, which causes the constitutive activation of LFA-1 and thus mDC adhesion. In conclusion, our data extend and strengthen recent findings reporting the reduction of mDC migration in the context of a herpesviral infection. We thus hypothesize that hampering antigen delivery to secondary lymphoid organs by inhibition of mDC migration is an evolutionary conserved strategy among distinct members of Herpesviridae.
Pathological features of mammary analogue secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland.

The present study aimed to investigate the histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma (MASC) of the Salivary Gland. METHODS Four cases of MASC were diagnosed after microscope images review, immunohistochemsitry (IHC) for Mammaglobin protein, Gata3 protein, S-100 protein, DOG1 protein, and break-apart ETV6 fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in forty salivary gland tumors. RESULTS We have shown a t(12;15)(p13;q25) ETV6-NTRK3 translocation in all but one case of MASC suitable for analysis. This translocation was not found in any other salivary gland tumor types including acinic cell carcinoma (AciCC, 30 cases) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC, 6 cases). In IHC, all MASC showed diffuse positivity for Mammaglobin protein, Gata3 protein and S100 protein, as the DOG1 was negative. CONCLUSIONS MASC is rare tumor and often misdiagnosed as other salivary tumors, but whose specific histopathological, IHC and molecular genetic characteristics can help to identify it. ETV6-NTRK3 gene translocation is easily found in MASC, but may not occur in every case.
UHI Research Database pdf download summary Significance of climate indices to benthic conditions across the northern North Atlantic and adjacent shelf seas

13 The northern North Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent shelf seas, are influenced by several 14 large-scale physical processes which can be described by various climate indices. Although 15 the signal of these indices on the upper ocean has been investigated, the potential effects on 16 vulnerable benthic ecosystems remains unknown. In this study, we examine the relationship 17 between pertinent climate indices and bottom conditions across the northern North Atlantic 18 region for the first time. Changes are assessed using a composite approach over a 50 year 19 period. We use an objectively-analysed observational dataset to investigate changes in bottom 20 salinity and potential temperature, and output from a high-resolution ocean model to examine 21 changes in bottom kinetic energy. Statistically significant, and spatially coherent, changes in 22 bottom potential temperature and salinity are seen for the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), 23 Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation 24 (AMO) and Subpolar Gyre (SPG); with statistically significant changes in bottom kinetic 25 energy seen in the subpolar boundary currents for the NAO and AMOC. As the climate 26 indices have multi-annual timescales, changes in bottom conditions may persist for several 27 years exposing sessile benthic ecosystems to sustained changes. Variations in baseline 28 conditions will also alter the likelihood of extreme events such as marine heatwaves, and will 29 modify any longer-term trends. A thorough understanding of natural variability and its effect 30 on benthic conditions is thus essential for the evaluation of future scenarios and management 31
TBX1 and Basal Cell Carcinoma: Expression and Interactions with Gli2 and Dvl2 Signaling

Early events of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumorigenesis are triggered by inappropriate activation of SHH signaling, via the loss of Patched1 (Ptch1) or by activating mutations of Smoothened (Smo). TBX1 is a key regulator of pharyngeal development, mainly through expression in multipotent progenitor cells of the cardiopharyngeal lineage. This transcription factor is connected to several major signaling systems, such as FGF, WNT, and SHH, and it has been linked to cell proliferation and to the regulation of cell shape and cell dynamics. Here, we show that TBX1 was expressed in all of the 51 BCC samples that we have tested, while in healthy human skin it was only expressed in the hair follicle. Signal intensity and distribution was heterogeneous among tumor samples. Experiments performed on a cellular model of mouse BCC showed that Tbx1 is downstream to GLI2, a factor in the SHH signaling, and that, in turn, it regulates the expression of Dvl2, which encodes an adaptor protein that is necessary for the transduction of WNT signaling. Consistently, Tbx1 depletion in the cellular model significantly reduced cell migration. These results suggest that TBX1 is part of a core transcription network that promotes BCC tumorigenesis.
Donor glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency decreases blood quality for transfusion.

BACKGROUND Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency decreases the ability of red blood cells (RBCs) to withstand oxidative stress. Refrigerated storage of RBCs induces oxidative stress. We hypothesized that G6PD-deficient donor RBCs would have inferior storage quality for transfusion as compared to G6PD-normal RBCs. METHODS Male volunteers were screened for G6PD deficiency; 27 control and 10 G6PD-deficient volunteers each donated one RBC unit. After 42 days of refrigerated storage, autologous 51-Chromium 24-hour post-transfusion RBC recovery (PTR) studies were performed. Metabolomics analyses of these RBC units were also performed. RESULTS The mean 24-hour PTR for G6PD-deficient subjects was 78.5 ± 8.4% (mean ± SD), which was significantly lower than that for G6PD-normal RBCs (85.3 ± 3.2%; P = 0.0009). None of the G6PD-normal volunteers (0/27) and three G6PD-deficient volunteers (3/10) had PTR results below 75%, a key FDA acceptability criterion for stored donor RBCs. As expected, fresh G6PD-deficient RBCs demonstrated defects in the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway. During refrigerated storage, G6PD-deficient RBCs demonstrated increased glycolysis, impaired glutathione homeostasis, and increased purine oxidation, as compared with G6PD-normal RBCs. In addition, there were significant correlations between PTR and specific metabolites in these pathways. CONCLUSIONS Based on current FDA criteria, RBCs from G6PD-deficient donors would not meet the requirements for storage quality. Metabolomics assessment identified markers of PTR and G6PD deficiency (e.g., pyruvate/lactate ratios), along with potential compensatory pathways that could be leveraged to ameliorate the metabolic needs of G6PD-deficient RBCs.REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04081272. FUNDING The Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant 71590, the National Blood Foundation, NIH grant UL1 TR000040, the Webb-Waring Early Career Award 2017 by the Boettcher Foundation and the NHLBI grant R01HL14644 and R01HL148151.
High-intensity interval training is effective and superior to moderate continuous training in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A randomized clinical trial

Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent syndrome, with exercise intolerance being one of its hallmarks, contributing to worse quality of life and mortality. High-intensity interval training is an emerging training option, but its efficacy in HFpEF patients is still unknown. Design Single-blinded randomized clinical trial. Methods Single-blinded randomized clinical trial with exercise training 3 days per week for 12 weeks. HFpEF patients were randomly assigned to high-intensity interval training or moderate continuous training. At baseline and after 12 week follow-up, patients underwent clinical assessment, echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Results Mean age was 60 ± 9 years and 63% were women. Both groups (N = 19) showed improved peak oxygen consumption (VO2), but high-intensity interval training patients (n = 10) had a significantly higher increase, of 22%, compared with 11% in the moderate continuous training (n = 9) individuals (3.5 (3.1 to 4.0) vs. 1.9 (1.2 to 2.5) mL·kg−1·min−1, p < 0.001). Ventilatory efficiency and other CPET measures, as well as quality of life score, increased equally in the two groups. Left ventricular diastolic function also improved with training, reflected by a significant reduction in E/e′ ratio by echocardiography (−2.6 (−4.3 to −1.0) vs. −2.2 (−3.6 to −0.9) for high-intensity interval training and moderate continuous training, respectively; p < 0.01). There were no exercise-related adverse events. Conclusions This randomized clinical trial provided evidence that high-intensity interval training is a potential exercise modality for HFpEF patients, being more effective than moderate continuous training in improving peak VO2. However, the two strategies were equally effective in improving ventilatory efficiency and other CPET parameters, quality of life score and diastolic function after 3 months of training.
Biomarkers for the Assessment of Fluoride Exposure in Children

Due to practical difficulties in quantifying fluoride exposure, the ability of various biomarkers to predict exposure has been investigated previously. However, the results are inadequate for validation of their application and usefulness. This study aimed to investigate the association between contemporary/recent biomarkers of fluoride exposure and total daily fluoride intake (TDFI) of children with large differences in fluoride exposure through drinking water. TDFI was assessed in 61 healthy 4- to 5-year-old children who provided at least 1 biomarker sample; 32 lived in a low-fluoride area (0.04 mg F/L) and 29 lived in a high-fluoride area (3.05 mg F/L). Validated questionnaires were administered to evaluate fluoride intake from diets (including water) and toothpaste ingestion. Daily urinary fluoride excretion (UFE) and fluoride concentrations in plasma, fasting whole saliva, hair, and nails (toenails/fingernails) were evaluated and related to total fluoride exposure. TDFI, UFE, and fluoride concentrations of biomarkers were statistically significantly higher in the high-fluoride area than in the low-fluoride area. There was a strong statistically significant positive correlation between TDFI and UFE (ρ = 0.756, p < 0.001); plasma fluoride concentration (ρ = 0.770, p < 0.001); and toenail fluoride concentration (ρ = 0.604, p < 0.001). The statistically significant positive correlation between TDFI and fingernail fluoride concentration (ρ = 470, p < 0.001) as well as between TDFI and fasting whole saliva fluoride concentration (ρ = 0.453, p = 0.001) was moderate, whereas it was weak between TDFI and hair fluoride concentration (ρ = 0.306, p = 0.027). In conclusion, the current study confirmed the suitability of 24-h urine samples for estimating fluoride exposure in children. The strong correlations between TDFI and fluoride in plasma and toenails also suggest these biomarkers may be considered for health risk assessments of fluoride in children who are susceptible to development of dental fluorosis.
Evaluation of the Technical Performance of Football Players in the UEFA Champions League

This study aimed to assess the technical match performance of top-class football players in a long-term perspective. Technical performance profiles of players according to five playing positions (central defender, full back, wide midfielder, central midfielder, forward) and five situational variables (competition stage, match location, quality of team, quality of opponent, match outcome) were established. Technical match data of players in the UEFA Champions League from season 2009–2010 to 2016–2017 were analyzed. The true effects of positional and situational variables on players’ technical performance were evaluated by the non-clinical magnitude-based inference. Results showed that the effect of competition stage on player’s performance was negligible. Quality of team, quality of opponent and match outcome revealed the strongest effects on player’s performance (ES: −0.42 ± 0.10–0.59 ± 0.10) while the effect of match location was relatively lower (ES: −0.32 ± 0.10–0.23 ± 0.07). The number of variables that showed statistical differences under five competing contexts for wide midfielders and forwards were higher than those of central defenders, full backs, and central midfielders. Differences of players’ match performance could mainly be identified in variables related to goal scoring, passing, and organizing, these findings may provide important insights for coaches and analysts during the match preparation and training session.
A role for triglyceride lipase brummer in the regulation of sex differences in Drosophila fat storage and breakdown

Triglycerides are the major form of stored fat in all animals. One important determinant of whole-body fat storage is whether an animal is male or female. Here, we use Drosophila, an established model for studies on triglyceride metabolism, to gain insight into the genes and physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in fat storage. Our analysis of triglyceride storage and breakdown in both sexes identified a role for triglyceride lipase brummer (bmm) in the regulation of sex differences in triglyceride homeostasis. Normally, male flies have higher levels of bmm mRNA both under normal culture conditions and in response to starvation, a lipolytic stimulus. We find that loss of bmm largely eliminates the sex difference in triglyceride storage and abolishes the sex difference in triglyceride breakdown via strongly male-biased effects. Although we show that bmm function in the fat body affects whole-body triglyceride levels in both sexes, in males, we identify an additional role for bmm function in the somatic cells of the gonad and in neurons in the regulation of whole-body triglyceride homeostasis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that lipid droplets are normally present in both the somatic cells of the male gonad and in neurons, revealing a previously unrecognized role for bmm function, and possibly lipid droplets, in these cell types in the regulation of whole-body triglyceride homeostasis. Taken together, our data reveal a role for bmm function in the somatic cells of the gonad and in neurons in the regulation of male–female differences in fat storage and breakdown and identify bmm as a link between the regulation of triglyceride homeostasis and biological sex.
Provision of professional doctorates in English HE institutions

HEFCE commissioned new research into the provision of professional doctorate (PD) programmes. The key objective was to depict the current landscape of PD provision by English higher education institutions (HEIs). More specific aims were to: Examine existing PD provision and understand models used in PD programme delivery to contribute to the development of a more robust typology; Consider HEIs’ strategies for PD provision and how this might change in future amidst an evolving postgraduate research context; Explore the skills and attributes that PD programmes seek to develop in response to employers’ and professional demands, and how these are delivered; Explore the impacts of PD programmes on graduates, their employers and professions, and provider institutions.
Proton functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy in rodents

Proton functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H‐fMRS) in the human brain is able to assess and quantify the metabolic response due to localized brain activity. Currently, 1H‐fMRS of the human brain is complementary to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a recommended technique at high field strengths (>7 T) for the investigation of neurometabolic couplings, thereby providing insight into the mechanisms underlying brain activity and brain connectivity. Understanding typical healthy brain metabolism during a task is expected to provide a baseline from which to detect and characterize neurochemical alterations associated with various neurological or psychiatric disorders and diseases. It is of paramount importance to resolve fundamental questions related to the regulation of neurometabolic processes. New techniques such as optogenetics may be coupled to fMRI and fMRS to bring more specificity to investigations of brain cell populations during cerebral activation thus enabling a higher link to molecular changes and therapeutic advances. These rather novel techniques are mainly available for rodent applications and trigger renewed interest in animal fMRS. However, rodent fMRS remains fairly confidential due to its inherent low signal‐to‐noise ratio and its dependence on anesthesia. For instance, the accurate determination of metabolic concentration changes during stimulation requires robust knowledge of the physiological environment of the measured region of interest linked to anesthesia in most cases. These factors may also have a strong influence on B0 homogeneity. Therefore, a degree of calibration of the stimulus strength and duration may be needed for increased knowledge of the underpinnings of cerebral activity. Here, we propose an early review of the current status of 1H‐fMRS in rodents and summarize current difficulties and future perspectives.
Upper bound on angular momentum transport in Taylor-Couette flow.

We investigate the upper bound on angular momentum transport in Taylor-Couette flow theoretically and numerically by a one-dimensional background field method. The flow is bounded between a rotating inner cylinder of radius R_{i} and a fixed outer cylinder of radius R_{o}. A variational problem is formulated and solved by a pseudo-time-stepping method up to a Taylor number Ta=10^{9}. The angular momentum transport, characterized by a Nusselt number Nu, is bounded by Nu≤cTa^{1/2}, where the prefactor c depends on the radius ratio η=R_{i}/R_{o}. Three typical radius ratios are investigatedi.e. , η=0.5,0.714,and0.909, and the corresponding prefactors c=0.0049,0.0075,and0.0086 are found to improve (lower) the rigorous upper bounds by Doering and Constantin [C. Doering and P. Constantin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 69, 1648 (1992)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.69. 1648] and Constantin [P. Constantin, SIAM Rev. 36, 73 (1994)SIREAD0036-144510.1137/1036004] by at least one order of magnitude. Furthermore, we show, via an inductive bifurcation analysis, that considering a three-dimensional background velocity field is unable to lower the bound.
Impacts of Environmental Changes on Well-Being in Indigenous Communities in Eastern Canada

Climate change and natural resource exploitation can affect Indigenous people’s well-being by reducing access to ecosystem services, in turn impeding transmission of traditional knowledge and causing mental health problems. We used a questionnaire based on the Environmental Distress Scale (EDS) and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) to examine the impacts of environmental changes on 251 members of four Indigenous communities in the eastern Canadian boreal forest. We also considered the potential mitigating effects of sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., age, gender, parenthood, and time spent on the land) and protective factors (i.e., health, quality of life, resilience, life on the land, life in the community, and support from family and friends). Using linear regression, model selection, and multi-model inference, we show that the felt impacts of environmental changes increased with age but were lower for participants with higher quality of life. The effect of resilience was opposite to expectations: more resilient participants felt more impacts. This could be because less resilient individuals ceased to go on the land when environmental changes exceeded a given threshold; thus, only the most resilient participants could testify to the impacts of acute changes. Further research will be needed to test this hypothesis.
Experience adds up! Questionnaire study: attitudes of medical students towards a career in general practice

ABSTRACT Insufficient young doctors choose careers in general practice – this may relate to cultural, personal and educational influences during medical school. University of East Anglia (UEA) medical school historically produces more GPs than most but no previous studies have aimed to quantify factors which may be leading to this. This study’s aim was to improve understanding of the attitudes of students towards general practice (GP) at UEA. A questionnaire study compared views of three different years of students. GP was the most popular choice for male and female students, with women expressing higher levels of commitment. Students saw GP as intellectually stimulating and making key contributions to the NHS. The main reason for the choice of GP was interest in the speciality, with positive influences attributed to contact with GPs and general practice as a setting during their course. These results suggest course design and presence of GP faculty in core teaching have crucial influences on career choices. GP can be a popular career choice, but the perceptions which lead to that choice are course-and experience – dependent. Reforms towards community-based learning and the involvement of GPs in training are crucial levers for change if workforce needs are to be achieved.