Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased cranio-caudal spinal cord oscillations are the cardinal pathophysiological change in degenerative cervical myelopathy

Introduction Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of non-traumatic incomplete spinal cord injury, but its pathophysiology is poorly understood. As spinal cord compression observed in standard MRI often fails to explain a patient's status, new diagnostic techniques to assess DCM are one of the research priorities. Minor cardiac-related cranio-caudal oscillations of the cervical spinal cord are observed by phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) in healthy controls (HCs), while they become pathologically increased in patients suffering from degenerative cervical myelopathy. Whether transversal oscillations (i.e., anterior–posterior and right–left) also change in DCM patients is not known. Methods We assessed spinal cord motion simultaneously in all three spatial directions (i.e., cranio-caudal, anterior–posterior, and right–left) using sagittal PC-MRI and compared physiological oscillations in 18 HCs to pathological changes in 72 DCM patients with spinal canal stenosis. The parameter of interest was the amplitude of the velocity signal (i.e., maximum positive to maximum negative peak) during the cardiac cycle. Results Most patients suffered from mild DCM (mJOA score 16 (14–18) points), and the majority (68.1%) presented with multisegmental stenosis. The spinal canal was considerably constricted in DCM patients in all segments compared to HCs. Under physiological conditions in HCs, the cervical spinal cord oscillates in the cranio-caudal and anterior–posterior directions, while right–left motion was marginal [e.g., segment C5 amplitudes: cranio-caudal: 0.40 (0.27–0.48) cm/s; anterior–posterior: 0.18 (0.16–0.29) cm/s; right–left: 0.10 (0.08–0.13) cm/s]. Compared to HCs, DCM patients presented with considerably increased cranio-caudal oscillations due to the cardinal pathophysiologic change in non-stenotic [e.g., segment C5 amplitudes: 0.79 (0.49–1.32) cm/s] and stenotic segments [. g. , segment C5 amplitudes: 0.99 (0.69–1.42) cm/s]). In contrast, right–left [e.g., segment C5 amplitudes: non-stenotic segment: 0.20 (0.13–0.32) cm/s; stenotic segment: 0.11 (0.09–0.18) cm/s] and anterior–posterior oscillations [e.g., segment C5 amplitudes: non-stenotic segment: 0.26 (0.15–0.45) cm/s; stenotic segment: 0.11 (0.09–0.18) cm/s] remained on low magnitudes comparable to HCs. Conclusion Increased cranio-caudal oscillations of the cervical cord are the cardinal pathophysiologic change and can be quantified using PC-MRI in DCM patients. This study addresses spinal cord oscillations as a relevant biomarker reflecting dynamic mechanical cord stress in DCM patients, potentially contributing to a loss of function.
Machine Learning Based Recognition of Elements in Lower-Limb Movement Sequence for Proactive Control of Exoskeletons to Assist Lifting

Exoskeleton robots that provide physical assistance to workers at industrial sites have recently been advanced by utilizing various bio-signal measurement sensors and artificial intelligence. However, their commercialization speed is slow compared to the pace of technological development. One of the reasons for this is the motion mismatch that occurs between the control of the exoskeleton and the worker’s response. To solve this issue, the worker’s intended motion could be predicted, and proactive control of the exoskeleton robot could be implemented. An experiment was conducted with 35 subjects, with the data of 30 subjects used for unsupervised learning and the data of the remaining 5 subjects used for supervised learning. To predict the intended motion of the subjects, the data from IMU sensors were used to segment the motion elements through a k-means clustering algorithm, employing a motion segmentation technique. The lower extremity motion was understood as a sequence composed of motion elements. The potential for predicting motion intention and sequence was demonstrated by comparing the results from unsupervised learning with those of an MLP model that predicted motion sequences from new, unused data. Additionally, it was confirmed that proactive control of the exoskeleton robot using the motion segmentation technique was possible when the duration of the element motion constituting the lower extremity motion sequence exceeded 200ms. Therefore, this study conducted preliminary research to develop a system for predicting a worker’s intended motion and motion sequence for proactive control of an exoskeleton robot.
Over-the-Air Computation with Quantized CSI and Discrete Power Control Levels

In this paper, an Over-the-Air Computation (AirComp) scheme for fast data aggregation is considered. Multisource data are simultaneously transmitted by single-antenna mobile devices to a single-antenna fusion center (FC) through a wireless multiple-access channel. The optimal power levels at the devices and a postprocessing scaling function at the FC are jointly derived such that mean square error of the computation is minimized. Different than the existing approaches that rely on perfect channel state information (CSI) at the FC and assume that the devices’ optimal power levels can be selected from an infinite solution set, in the present paper, it is assumed that only quantized CSI is available at the FC and that the aforementioned optimal power levels lie in a finite discrete set of solutions. To derive the optimal power levels and FC’s scaling factor, a difficult nonconvex constrained optimization problem is formulated. An efficient and robust solution to quantization errors is developed via the deep reinforcement learning framework. Numerical results verify the good performance of the proposed approach while it exhibits a significant reduction in the required feedback.
Multi‐decadal changes in the North American monsoon anticyclone

The purpose of this study was to assess trends in the intensity of the North American monsoon anticyclone over multiple decades from 1948 to 2010 during July and August, with a focus on the Lower Colorado River Basin (LCRB). The methodology included a 500 hPa geopotential‐height regionalization of the monsoon‐anticyclone domain (i.e. a large portion of the western United States and northern Mexico), a typing of 500 hPa circulation patterns over the LCRB, and an examination of multi‐decadal trends as well as inter‐epochal differences in geopotential heights and frequencies of synoptic types. Three regions (i.e. Northwest, Northeast, and South) were revealed that differed based on inter‐annual variations in 500 hPa geopotential heights. The Northwest and South regions had significant increases in geopotential heights from 1948–1978 to 1980–2010. The synoptic types reflected the location of the monsoon anticyclone over the LCRB. The monsoon anticyclone intensified primarily over the northwestern region, which includes the LCRB, since the mid‐ to late 1970s. The anticyclone has thus been expanding over the LCRB. The anticyclone has been in a northern position, specifically a north‐central position, over the basin more frequently over the past 30 years; conversely, the anticyclone has been in southern and eastern positions over the basin less frequently.
Putting the F into FBD analysis: tree constraints or morphological data?

The fossilized birth–death (FBD) process provides an ideal model for inferring phylogenies from both extant and fossil taxa. Using this approach, fossils are directly integrated into the tree, leading to a statistically coherent prior on divergence times. Since fossils are typically not associated with molecular sequences, additional information is required to place fossils in the tree. We use simulations to evaluate two different approaches to handling fossil placement in FBD analyses: using topological constraints, where the user specifies monophyletic clades based on established taxonomy, or using total‐evidence analyses, which use a morphological data matrix in addition to the molecular alignment. We also explore how rate variation in fossil recovery or diversification rates impacts these approaches. We find that the extant topology is well recovered under all methods of fossil placement. Divergence times are similarly well recovered across all methods, with the exception of constraints which contain errors. We see similar patterns in datasets which include rate variation, however, relative errors in extant divergence times increase when more variation is included in the dataset, for all approaches using topological constraints, and particularly for constraints with errors. Finally, we show that trees recovered under the FBD model are more accurate than those estimated using non‐time calibrated inference. Overall, we show that both fossil placement approaches are reliable even when including uncertainty. Our results underscore the importance of core taxonomic research, including morphological data collection and species descriptions, irrespective of the approach to handling phylogenetic uncertainty using the FBD process.
Linagliptin and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside attenuate hyperlipidemia and cardiac hypertrophy induced by a high-methionine diet in rats via suppression of hyperhomocysteinemia-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

Background: Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is one of the contributing causes of morbidity and mortality. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is one of the diseases which may predispose hyperlipidemia and CH. Linagliptin (Lina) and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) are known to alleviate a variety of illnesses by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Aim: This study aimed to study the effect of HHcy on cardiac tissues, with a special focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as a mainstay pathophysiological pathway. In addition, our study examined the protective effect of Lina, SDG, and their combination against HHcy-induced hyperlipidemia and CH in rats. Methods: Seventy-five male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, and for 60 days, the following regimen was administered: Group I: rats received distilled water; Group II: rats received methionine (MET) (2 g/kg/day, p.o.); groups III and IV: rats received Lina (3 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and SDG (20 mg/kg/day, p.o.), respectively, followed by MET (2 g/kg/day, p.o.); Group V: rats received Lina and SDG, followed by MET (2 g/kg/day, p.o.). Results: Pretreatment with Lina, SDG, and their combination showed a significant decrease in serum levels of HHcy and an improved lipid profile compared to the MET group. Moreover, both drugs improved cardiac injury, as evidenced by the substantial improvement in ECG parameters, morphological features of the cardiac muscle, and reduced serum levels of cardiac markers. Additionally, Lina and SDG significantly attenuated cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Furthermore, Lina, SDG, and their combination remarkably downregulated the enhanced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, GRP78, PERK, ATF-4, CHOP, NF-κB, and SREBP1c compared to the MET-group. Conclusion: Lina and SDG showed cardioprotective effects against HHcy-induced heart hypertrophy and hyperlipidemia in rats.
The Impact of Social Norm Violations on Participants’ Perception of and Trust in a Robot during a Competitive Game Scenario

This study aimed to investigate the effects of norm-violating behaviour on human perception and attitudes towards robots. Specifically, we examined the impact of a robot performing social norm violations in the context of a competitive scavenger hunt game. During the game, the robot was programmed to engage in predefined behaviours considered as social norm violations, including both injunctive and descriptive norm violations (e.g., cheating, and making loud noises). The study used an experimental and control group, with participants either exposed to norm-violating behaviour or not, respectively. The results indicated that participants in the experimental group had a strong awareness of the norm-violating behaviour according to self-reported assessments. Additionally, post-questionnaire results revealed a significant difference in trust, overall enjoyment, and discomfort between the two groups. These findings show that in our study, participants expected robots to abide by both types of social norms (i.e., injunctive and descriptive) and that violations of them negatively impacted participants’ perceptions and attitudes towards robots. This further emphasizes the importance of considering social norms in the design and programming of robots for human-robot interactions.
Ostracoda of the Brasso Formation of Trinidad

Sixty-two species of Ostracoda have been recordedfrom the Brasso formation of central Trinidad. One genus, ten species, and one subspecies are described as new. The upper part of the Brasso formation is tentatively correlated with beds of the Choctawhatchee stage in Florida. Ostracoda of the Brasso formation of Trinidad W. A. VAN DEN BOLD Louisiana State University Baton Rouge
Modulation of executive functioning by social stress: a behavioural study (Modulación del funcionamiento ejecutivo por estrés social: un estudio conductual)

ABSTRACT Executive Functions (EFs) correspond to a general construct of cognitive abilities aimed at optimizing problem-solving and regulating behaviour effectively and efficiently. The current consensus model of EFs comprises three components: working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. The present study sought to evaluate differences in task performance assessing EFs when subjects are confronted with a social stress paradigm related to the ‘white coat phenomenon’. It involved 40 Chilean university students, mean age 21.8 years, who were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: in the presence of social stress (treatment) or in the absence of social stress (control). The results showed a partial impact of the white coat phenomenon, with statistically significant differences at p ≤ . 05, when comparing both conditions in relation to the tasks that evaluated inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, with both tasks presenting a higher speed of response in the experimental condition of social stress, with the accuracy of the responses being unaffected.
Partial Substitution of Wheat Flour with Palm Flour in Pasta Preparation

Pasta, a globally cherished staple food, is consumed on a wide scale. However, conventional wheat-based pasta often lacks nutrients that can be incorporated to add value to the new product. To address this nutritional deficiency and enhance the health benefits for consumers, a promising approach is to incorporate Opuntia ficus-indica flour as a partial substitute for wheat flour. The primary objective of this study was to craft enriched tagliatelle pasta using Opuntia ficus-indica flour. The evaluation encompassed an assessment of physical-chemical attributes, color quality, cooking properties, texture profile analysis (TPA), and the analysis of bioactive compounds within the pasta products. Upon conclusion of the experiments, the F10 formulation, comprising 10% Opuntia ficus-indica flour, emerged as the most favorable pasta option. It exhibited an acceptable acidity level of 3.71% and demonstrated remarkable nutritional characteristics. These findings suggest that this formulation could serve as a promising alternative for the production of health-conscious pasta.
Subsidence-driven environmental change in three Holocene embayments of Ahuriri Inlet, Hikurangi Subduction Margin, New Zealand

Three paleo-embayments on the southwest side of the uplifted Ahuriri Inlet, Hawkes Bay, contain complex interfingering sequences of Holocene terrestrial and saltmarsh peat and intertidal shelly sand and mud. We use 295 foraminiferal samples from 45 short cores (up to 8 m deep) to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental history of the bays. We infer that the strongest influence on their paleoenvironmental history was 8–10 m of net tectonic subsidence since 7.3 ka, which provided the accommodation space for sediment deposition prior to the c. 1.5 m of uplift in the AD 1931 Hawkes Bay Earthquake. Much of the subsidence appears to have occurred in eight large co-seismic events (0.4–2 kyr recurrence time) which caused marine transgressions of varying amounts into each bay. Sea-level changes (eustatic and isostatic) have been a secondary driver over the middle–late Holocene with an interval (c. 2.6–1.7 ka) of widespread erosion or slow sedimentation, caused by a sea-level fall of c. 1 m following the middle Holocene highstand. The interval of fastest sedimentation and maximum marine transgression occurred within the last 1 kyr and was driven by increased tectonic subsidence, rising sea level and enhanced compaction of thicker sequences of Holocene sediment, particularly peat. The supply of fluvial mud and cliff-eroded sand was the main, relatively constant source of clastic sediment. Airfall and reworking of three pumiceous tephras had a minimal impact on the paleoenvironments of the bays.
Modeling a Community of Practice for Global Competence : A Collaborative Autoethnography of College EFL Learners

In our increasingly interconnected contemporary society, the imperative of nurturing global citizenship and competence is evident when it comes to addressing the multifaceted challenges stemming from globalization. This study explores strategies for bridging the gap between in-class and out-of-class learning while expanding the reach of global competence into out-of-class learning settings. Building upon the General English course model by Oh (2021), which focuses on fostering global citizenship and competence, this research investigates the feasibility of implementing a supportive Community of Practice (CoP) model tailored for out-of-class learning environments. This study specifically assesses the potential of an online CoP model as a platform for the continuous cultivation and application of global citizenship and competence. Employing a collaborative autoethnographic approach, the research delves into the experiences of five university-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners actively participating in this CoP. The research scrutinizes various dimensions of their engagement, encompassing their experiences within the CoP, prospective enhancements to the model, and the impact of digital tools on their learning journey, such as machine translation and ChatGPT on their learning journeys. The findings of this study illuminate the transformative effects of CoP activities on learners' attitudes, learning strategies, and the development of global citizenship and competence. Furthermore, it underscores the pivotal role of learners proactively harnessing technology, such as the ones mentioned above, in advancing both their level of global citizenship and their language proficiency. Additionally, the research underscores learners' comprehension of the rationale behind learning activities as a critical factor in fostering meaningful engagement. Ultimately, this research offers a blueprint for nurturing the essential skills and perspectives necessary for learners to evolve as engaged global citizens in an interconnected and interdependent world. It aligns with the imperative of fostering global competence in response to the pressi ng demands of our globali zed era.
Natural Born Explainees: how users’ personality traits shape the human-robot interaction with explainable robots

In this work, we performed a user study in which participants had to solve a human-robot teaming decision-making task (the Connect 4 game) with an explainable vs non-explainable robot. During the task, the robot provided suggestions and, depending on the experimental condition, explanations to justify those suggestions. We compared participants’ behaviours in interacting with both types of robots. In particular, we investigated how participants’ personality dimensions and previous experiences with the iCub robot impacted participants’ decision-making. We also studied how participants aligned with iCub’s playing style as the interaction continued. Our results show that participants’ negative agency and agreeableness substantially impacted how they accepted the robot’s suggestions when it provided example-based counterfactual explanations. We also observed a learning effect: participants tended to align with the robot’s playing style during the interaction. However, the participants’ learning depended not only on the presence of the explanations, but also on the time spent with the robot. Moreover, the human-robot team’s victories were mainly attributable to the robot’s persuasiveness rather than the participants’ skills in the game.
Seasonal changes in pore water pressure in a grass covered cut slope in London clay

In temperate European climates, the season of peak water demand by vegetation (summer) is out of phase with the season of greatest rainfall (winter). This results in seasonal fluctuations in soil water content and, in clay soils, associated problems of shrinking and swelling that can in turn contribute to strain-softening and progressive slope failure. This paper presents field measurements of seasonal moisture content and pore water pressure changes within the surface drying zone of a cut slope in the London Clay at Newbury, Berkshire, UK. A climate station was installed at the site to measure the parameters needed to determine specific plant evapotranspiration. This information was used to carry out a water balance calculation to estimate the year-round soil moisture deficit caused by the vegetation. The calculated soil moisture deficit matches reasonably closely the field measurements of soil drying. The field measurements of seasonal changes in pore water pressure and suction are linked quantitatively.
The Value of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) for Predicting the Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) in Breast Cancer according to the Molecular Subtypes

Introduction: The antitumor host immune response is an important factor in breast cancer, but its role is not fully established. The role of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as an immunological biomarker in breast cancer has been significantly explored in recent years. The number of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has increased and the identification of a biomarker to predict the probability of pCR (pathological complete response) is a high priority. Materials and methods: We evaluated 334 cases of BC treated with NAC followed by surgical resection from 2020–2022 at the Ist Clinic of Oncological Surgery, Oncological Institute “Prof Dr I Chiricuta” Cluj Napoca. Of the above, 122 cases were available for histological evaluation both in pre-NAC biopsy and post-NAC resection tissue. Evaluation of biopsy fragments and resection parts were performed using hematoxylin eosin (H&E). The TIL evaluation took place according to the recommendations of the International TIL Working Group (ITILWG). Results: There was a strong association between elevated levels of pre-NAC TIL. At the same time, there is a statistically significant correlation between stromal TIL and tumor grade, the number of lymph node metastases, the molecular subtype and the number of mitoses (p < 0.005). Intratumoral TIL showed a significant correlation with tumor size, distant metastasis, molecular subtype, number of mitosis, stage and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.005). We also demonstrated that high pre-NAC STIL represents a strong predictive marker for pCR. Conclusion: This study reveals the role of TIL as a predictive biomarker in breast cancer not only for the well-established TNBC (triple negative breast cancer) and HER2+ (Her2 overexpressed) subtypes but also in Luminal A and B molecular subtypes. In this scenario, the evaluation of sTIL as a novel predictive and therapy-predicting factor should become a routinely performed analysis that could guide clinicians when choosing the most appropriate therapy.