Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Deep Learning Architecture for Place Classification in Indoor Environment via 2D Laser Data

Mobile robots must be able to perceive their semantic location to perform the given tasks in the indoor environment. This problem is defined in the literature as place classification in which robot locations are classified semantically as room, corridor, and doorway. Deep learning techniques have been used for the semantic classification of the 2D laser data acquired by mobile robots. In this paper, a simple deep learning architecture consisting of only fully connected layers is proposed. The proposed architecture accepts 2D laser data without any pre-processing. The Freiburg79 dataset is used to test the proposed method. Since the dataset has data imbalance, the classification accuracy of the door is low in previous studies. The pose rotation was applied to overcome this problem. Intra-class variety was reduced and the classification accuracy of the door class is increased. In addition, the pre-processing and cost-sensitive learning techniques were applied to overcome the negative effects of the data imbalance on the Freiburg79 dataset. The proposed method was trained and tested using Freiburg79 laser data. Moreover, Freiburg52 test data was used to evaluate the success of architecture in different environments.
Optimum Design of PID Controller in AVR System Using Harris Hawks Optimization

Automatic voltage regulator (AVR) is an important device that regulates and controls the terminal voltage of the synchronous generator in power systems. Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers are generally preferred to improve the stability performance and robustness profile of the AVR system. This paper presents a new parameter tuning approach based on Harris hawks optimization (HHO) to determine PID controller gains in the AVR system. The effectiveness of the proposed HHO tuned PID controller has been confirmed by extensive simulation studies. Compared to bio-geography-based optimization (BBO), the new HHO tuning method has better control system performance and robustness.
Automatic Path Planning for Navigated Pedicle Screw Surgery Based on Deep Neural Network

In this paper, we aim to achieve intelligently automatic planning for navigated pedicle screw surgery. To this end, deep neural network is introduced into the procedure of path planning. First, the surgical path (line) is represented as two control points: the entry point and the direction indication point. Then, features on CT image of spine are extracted utilizing a designed multi-layer 3D convolutional neural network, a 3D U-Net-liked segmentation network is designed to rebuild vertebral body (VB) of spine and a fully connection network is connected to learn two control points on the segmented VB. Extensive experimental results show that our network can perform a pixel-wise multi-class segmentation and quickly locate the landmarks on surgical path in the navigated spine surgery with accepted accuracy. This work provides a reference for robot-assisted surgical path planning.
Predicting Tailpipe NOx Emission using Supervised Learning Algorithms

The dynamics underlying the tailpipe NOx emissions in vehicles is in a complex relationship with multiple engine components in a temporal manner. Physical models constructed to explain the relationship are too complex and solutions require high computational power. Additional uncontrollable environmental effects are also unable to incorporate these models. We present novel data-driven methods to predict tailpipe NOx emissions using machine learning and deep learning methods. As an ensemble methods representor eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), as regularized linear models Elastic Net and as a deep learning method Long-Short-Term-Memory (LSTM) were chosen and their capability of handling time-series sensor data were assessed. We use engine speed, engine torque, pedal position and vehicle speed obtained from real-world driving data to deduce high NOx emission amount during real world driving. We reveal that satisfactory results can be achieved even if we have small data both in terms volume and variety by using weighted objective functions.
Secular changes in total steps and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among fourth-grade students in Japan in 2003/2004 and 2016/2017

ABSTRACT No study has investigated secular changes in both total steps and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among Japanese children. This study examined the secular changes of total steps and MVPA among fourth-grade students in Japan in 2003/2004 and 2016/2017. It was performed at a school in Okayama Prefecture in Japan. A total of 452 participants (226 boys and 226 girls; mean age, 9.6 ± 0.5 years) participated in the study. We measured total steps and MVPA of the participants by using the same methods in 2003/2004 and 2016/2017. An uniaxial accelerometer was used to measure total steps and MVPA. On weekdays and weekends, the total steps and MVPA were lowered by approximately 1,000–3,000 steps/day and 10 min/day, respectively, in boys and by 1,000 steps/day and 5 min/day, respectively, in girls in 2016/2017 in comparison to 2003/2004. In both boys and girls, the percentage of children meeting 60 minutes/day of MVPA decreased in 2016/2017(weekdays: boys 21.8%, girls 6.0%; weekends: boys 3.8%, girls 4.1%) compared with 2003/2004 (weekdays: boys 48.2%, girls 11.6%; weekends: boys 7.8%, girls 7.6%). In conclusion, the results demonstrated that total steps and MVPA of fourth-grade students in Japan were lower in 2016/2017 than in 2003/2004.
At-home sperm testing for epidemiologic studies: Evaluation of the Trak male fertility testing system in an internet-based preconception cohort.

BACKGROUND Semen quality assessment in population-based epidemiologic studies presents logistical and financial challenges due to reliance on centralised laboratory semen analysis. The Trak Male Fertility Testing System is an FDA-cleared and validated at-home test for sperm concentration and semen volume, with a research use only sperm motility test. Here we evaluate the Trak System's overall utility among men participating in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a web-based study of North American couples planning pregnancy. METHODS US male participants aged ≥21 years with ≤6 months of pregnancy attempt time at study enrolment were invited to participate in the semen testing substudy after completing their baseline questionnaire. Consenting participants received a Trak Engine (battery-powered centrifuge) and two test kits. Participants shared their test results via smartphone images uploaded to online questionnaires. Data were then linked with covariate data from the baseline questionnaire. RESULTS Of the 688 men invited to participate, 373 (54%) provided consent and 271 (73%) completed at least one semen test result. The distributions of semen volume, sperm concentration, motile sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total motile sperm count were similar to 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) semen parameter data of men in the general population. The overall usability score for the Trak System was 1.4 on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Very Easy, 5 = Difficult), and 92% of participants believed they performed the test correctly and received an accurate result. Lastly, men with higher motile sperm count were more likely to report feeling "at ease" or "excited" following testing, while men with low motile sperm count were more likely to report feeling "concerned" or "frustrated. " Overall, 91% of men reported they would like to test again. CONCLUSIONS The Trak System provides a simple and potentially cost-effective means of measuring important semen parameters and may be useful in population-based epidemiologic fertility studies.
Minimally-invasive surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis: transforaminal or oblique lumbar interbody fusion.

Aim: To compare the outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for degenerative spondylolisthesis transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF). Materials & methods: The clinical and surgical characteristics and outcomes of 38 patients with MIS-OLIF and 55 with MIS-TLIF were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Procedures and hospital stay were shorter and blood loss was less, with MIS-OLIF than with MIS-OLIF. The clinical and radiographic outcomes were similar. Postoperative changes in disk height and foraminal dimension were greater and patient satisfaction was better with MIS-OLIF than with MIS-TLIF. Conclusion: The clinical findings associated with the two procedures were similar; but patients preferred MIS-OLIF, which is less invasive, to MIS-TLIF. Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1800019443.
CAN LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS BE USED TO IDENTIFY WHETHER ADOLESCENTS WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS ARE DEPRESSED?

Comorbid depression is common in adolescents with chronic illness. We aimed to design and test a linguistic coding scheme for identifying depression in adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), by exploring features of e-consultations within online cognitive behavioural therapy treatment. E-consultations of 16 adolescents (aged 11 - 17) receiving FITNET-NHS treatment in a national randomised controlled trial were examined. A theoretically-driven linguistic coding scheme was developed and used to categorise comorbid depression in e-consultations using computerised content analysis. Linguistic coding scheme categorisation was subsequently compared to classification of depression using the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) published cut-offs (t-scores ≥ 65, ≥ 70). Extra linguistic elements identified deductively and inductively were compared with self-reported depressive symptoms after unblinding. The linguistic coding scheme categorised three (19%) of our sample consistently with self-report assessment. Of all 12 identified linguistic features, differences in language use by categorisation of self-report assessment were found for 'past-focus' words (mean rank frequencies: 1.50 for no depression, 5.50 for possible depression, and 10.70 for probable depression; p < .05) and 'discrepancy' words (mean rank frequencies: 16.00 for no depression, 11.20 for possible depression, and 6.40 for probable depression; p < .05). The linguistic coding profile developed as a potential tool to support clinicians in identifying comorbid depression in e-consultations showed poor value in this sample of adolescents with CFS/ME. Some promising linguistic features were identified, warranting further research with larger samples.
Dipeptidyl peptidase 3, a biomarker in cardiogenic shock and hopefully much more

Cardiogenic shock is a low-cardiac output condition due to primary cardiac dysfunction, resulting in inadequate peripheral tissue oxygen delivery.1 Despite efforts to improve cardiogenic shock interventions, including mechanical circulatory support and reperfusion therapy for myocardial infarction, outcomes still remain poor.2 The haemodynamic profile of cardiogenic shock is characterized by low cardiac output, low blood pressure, high filling pressures (central venous pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure) and elevated systemic vascular resistance.3 The oxygen demand–delivery imbalance of cardiogenic shock results in reduced mixed venous oxygen saturation and increased lactate levels, together with worsening of renal and liver function, and altered mental status. Cardiogenic shock triggers a plethora of endogenous responses, including activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) in the attempt to increase cardiac output by increasing heart rate and cardiac contractility. At the same time, counter-regulatory systems, such as the natriuretic peptide system, are activated to reduce high filling pressures and ventricular loading and to counteract peripheral vasoconstriction to increase forward blood. Accordingly, circulating levels of most cardiovascular biomarkers are markedly increased in cardiogenic shock,4 but most are considered epiphenomena and not causal factors in the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock. The observation made by Deniau et al.5 in this issue of the Journal that the cytosolic enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (DPP3) not only represents a novel prognostic biomarker but also may be a potential candidate as a bio-target in cardiogenic shock is therefore intriguing. DPP3, like other members of the dipeptidyl peptidase family, is devoted to the cleavage of vasoactive peptides including angiotensin II and enkephalins (Table 1). The limited experimental data that have
Bioequivalence of two tacrolimus 1-mg formulations under fasting conditions in healthy subjects: A randomized, two-period crossover trial

Objective: The present study compared the pharmacokinetics of two (1 mg) tacrolimus formulations (test (generic from Panacea) and reference (innovator from Astellas)) after a single-dose administration as per the European Medicine Agency (EMA) guidelines to grant marketing authorization. Materials and methods: This study was a randomized, open-label, balanced, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequences, single-dose, truncated-area, crossover design with a washout period of 19 days between the phases. Healthy subjects aged 18 – 45 years (both inclusive) were included. Eligible subjects received a single oral dose of 5 × 1-mg capsule of tacrolimus either test or reference formulation. Blood samples were collected until 72.00 hours postdose, and peak concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve (AUC0–72) were evaluated in whole blood using validated LC-MS/MS. Safety was also assessed in each period. Results: Of 56 subjects enrolled, 52 completed both study periods. The arithmetic mean (SD) Cmax for the reference and test formulations was 40.62 (11.30) and 46.20 (10.73) ng/mL, and AUC0–72 was 348.34 (156.41) and 361.04 (158.71) ng×h/mL, respectively. The geometric least square mean ratio (90% confidence interval (CI)) was 115.07% (90% CI: 109.81, 120.59) for Cmax and 103.78 (90% CI: 97.40, 110.58) for AUC0–72, which fell within the acceptance range as per EMA guidelines for narrow therapeutic index drugs (Cmax: 80.00 – 125.00%; AUC: 90.00 – 111.11%). No serious adverse event was observed. Conclusion: The generic tacrolimus was bioequivalent to the reference formulation, was well tolerated, and provides a well-acceptable alternative to the reference drug. Switching treatment to generic tacrolimus medication may reduce the cost and economic burden of treating transplanted patients.
Thermal niche diversity and trophic redundancy drive neutral effects of warming on energy flux through a stream food web.

Climate warming is predicted to alter routing and flows of energy through food webs due to the critical and varied effects of temperature on physiological rates, community structure, and trophic dynamics. Few studies, however, have experimentally assessed the net effect of warming on energy flux and food web dynamics in natural intact communities. Here, we test how warming affects energy flux and the trophic basis of production in a natural invertebrate food web by experimentally heating a stream reach in southwest Iceland by ~4°C for two years and comparing its response to an unheated reference stream. Previous results from this experiment showed that warming led to shifts in the structure of the invertebrate assemblage, with estimated increases in total metabolic demand but no change in annual secondary production. We hypothesized that elevated metabolic demand and invariant secondary production would combine to increase total consumption of organic matter in the food web, if diet composition did not change appreciably with warming. Dietary composition of primary consumers indeed varied little between streams and among years, with gut contents primarily consisting of diatoms (72.9%) and amorphous detritus (19.5%). Diatoms dominated the trophic basis of production of primary consumers in both study streams, contributing 79 - 86% to secondary production. Although warming increased the flux of filamentous algae within the food web, total resource consumption did not increase as predicted. The neutral net effect of warming on total energy flow through the food web was a result of taxon-level variation in responses to warming, a neutral effect on total invertebrate production, and strong trophic redundancy within the invertebrate assemblage. Thus, food webs characterized by a high degree of trophic redundancy may be more resistant to the effects of climate warming than those with more diverse and specialized consumers.
Probing Compositional Order in Atomic Columns: STEM Simulations Beyond the Virtual Crystal Approximation

Abstract Taking advantage of recent advances in parallel computing, we studied compositional disorder along metal–oxygen atomic columns in a complex Mo,V-oxide bronze using multislice frozen-phonon calculations. Commonly, the virtual crystal approximation (VCA) is used to model compositional disorder at crystallographic sites in a unit cell for a number of different theoretical and experimental techniques. In the VCA, a weighted linear sum of atomic properties is used to approximate the model structure. When using the VCA, the extracted V content of Mo,V–O columns from experimental high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) images will be about half the V content estimated from simulations, considering the distinct cation ordering. This discrepancy is larger than the spread of HAADF signals of different configurational orders at a given V concentration, which can be up to 20%. Certain “isophilic” atomic arrangements along the column can be distinguished from more random ones using HAADF-STEM imaging. The trends and ratios of the simulated intensity spreads due to different compositional ordering along 11 M–O columns along the c-axis of the Mo,V oxide bronze qualitatively match those observed in experimental HAADF-STEM data. Instrumental and sample-based noise adds to the variability but does not significantly distort the relative ratios of column intensity variation. We observed that we only required seven random configurations to represent the intensity variations along columns.
Intraperitoneal Administration of Monoclonal Antibody Against Pathologic Aβ42 Aggregates Alleviated Cognitive Deficits and Synaptic Lesions in APP/PS1 Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized by amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) aggregates, phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau), and progressive neurodegeneration. Amyloid-β peptide 42 (Aβ42) is considered an early trigger of AD pathogenesis. We have previously reported that Aβ N-terminus monoclonal antibody (mAb) A8 alleviated cognitive dysfunction and reduced the abundance of soluble Aβ in brain of the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mouse model. To confirm the efficacy of mAb A8 in the double-transgenic APPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) mice, here we reported the related findings. The Morris water maze (MWM) data showed that the A8 treatment group had a shorter escape latency than the control groups in the place navigation test and the probe trial (p < 0.05). Moreover, immunohistochemistry showed decreased levels of both Aβ and p-tau in the brains of APP/PS1 mice. Regarding Aβ levels, western blot results showed that Aβ42 oligomer (p < 0.01) but not Aβ40 levels were diminished in brains of A8-treated APP/PS1 mice. Western blot results showed that phospho-tau (pSer231) (p < 0.01) but not tau levels were reduced in A8-treated mouse brains. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy images indicated ultrastructural improvements, including an increased (p < 0.01) density of synapses and a reduction of abnormally enlarged mitochondria (p < 0.01), in the brains of A8-treated mice. Taken together, our data showed that mAb A8 is highly efficacious in APP/PS1 mice as a treatment for AD, and the underlying mechanism may target synaptic pathology by inhibiting the amyloid cascade.
Imaging features and classification of peritumoral edema in vestibular schwannoma

Background Peritumoral edema (PTE) is rarely present in patients with vestibular schwannomas (VS). We studied the correlation between radiological tumor characteristics and the presence of edema, describe its magnetic resonance imaging features and classify the different edema patterns. Methods We analysed 605 consecutive patients treated for VS at our Institute. PTE was found in 30 patients, studied on fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequences and categorised as involving the brachium pontis, cerebellum and/or brainstem. Tumor volume, shape, surface, internal structure and axis of growth were evaluated and compared to a matched series of 30 patients without PTE. Results In our population of patients, 5% showed PTE. Edema involved the brachium pontis in 22 cases (88%), cerebellum in 15 (60%) and brainstem in 3 (12%). PTE was classified as mild (one region involved), moderate (two regions) and severe (three regions). Edema was present not only perpendicular to the major tumor growth axis but also parallel to it (91%). The difference between the two groups in regards to tumor shape and surface was not significant. We found no correlation between tumor and edema volumes. Conclusions VS can cause PTE, but its incidence is less frequent than in skull base meningiomas. PTE involves most frequently the brachium pontis, followed by the cerebellum and brainstem. Its occurrence correlates with tumor size but not with other radiological VS features. PTE is not always located perpendicular to the major axis of tumor growth, which indicated that the compressive theory proposed for meningiomas is not plausible explanation for its manifestation.
The effect of web-based pediatric palliative care education on the palliative care knowledge level and practices of nursing students.

PURPOSE This study is aimed to investigate the effect of web-based pediatric palliative care education on nursing students' knowledge level and practices related to palliative care. METHODS The study was conducted with 265 nursing students including an intervention and a control group. The intervention group was given web-based pediatric palliative care education. FINDINGS A statistically significant difference was found between the total and subscale pretest and posttest scores of the students in the intervention and control groups regarding the palliative care knowledge level and self-reported palliative care practices. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The web-based pediatric palliative care education is an effective training model for nursing students to improve palliative care knowledge level and practices of the students.