Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sakari Stenudd Using machine learning in the adaptive control of a smart environment

The purpose of this thesis is to study the possibilities and need for utilising machine learning in a smart environment. The most important goal of smart environments is to improve the experience of their inhabitants. This requires adaptation to the behaviour of the users and the other changing conditions in the environment. Hence, the achievement of functional adaptation requires finding a way to change the behaviour of the environment according to the changed user behaviour and other conditions. Machine learning is a research area that studies the techniques which make it possible for software agents to improve their operation over time. The research method chosen in this thesis was to review existing smart environment projects and to analyse the usages of machine learning within them. Based upon these uses, a model for using machine learning in a smart environment was created. As a result, four different categories of machine learning in smart environments were identified: prediction, recognition, detection and optimisation. When deployed to the environment, these categories form a clear loop structure in which the outputs of previous learning agents serve as inputs for the next agents, which ultimately enables the making of changes to the environment according to its current state. This kind of loop is called a control loop in adaptive systems. To evaluate the suitability of the model for using machine learning in a smart environment, two demonstrations were carried out in an environment using a Smart-M3 inter-operability platform, both utilising machine learning in one of the above-discussed categories. In the first experiment neural networks were used to predict query latencies in different situations in the environment. The predictions of the network were compared to the outputs of two simpler models. The results showed that the neural network approach was capable of adapting to rapid changes more quickly. However, it also made more false assumptions about the impact of the different parameters.
A Method Combining Active Stereo with Global Matching Algorithm for Accurate Depth Extraction

In the field of computer vision, stereo is one of the most popular approaches for depth acquisition. In order to reduce mismatching caused by less-textured scene, active stereo vision has been frequently employed. To the best of our knowledge, active method is usually used in local stereo matching, but it is rarely available in the global matching. As for the stereo, global matching possesses many advantages compared with local matching, such as high quality results, strong resistance of interference and occlusion. This paper proposes a new method for extracting depth images with higher accuracy and better quality by combining active stereo vision with graph-cuts-based global matching algorithm. We demonstrate the theoretical basis of the combination and present the strengths of our method. An improved algorithm based on projection features of active stereo vision for the coefficients of smooth item is also proposed in this paper. We experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
MASSCLEAN—MASSIVE CLUSTER EVOLUTION AND ANALYSIS PACKAGE: DESCRIPTION AND TESTS

We present MASSCLEAN, a new, sophisticated and robust stellar cluster image and photometry simulation package. This visualization tool is able to create color–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and standard FITS images in any of the traditional optical and near-infrared bands based on cluster characteristics input by the user, including but not limited to distance, age, mass, radius, and extinction. At the limit of very distant, unresolved clusters, we have checked the integrated colors created in MASSCLEAN against those from other simple stellar population models with consistent results. We have also tested models that provide a reasonable estimate of the field star contamination in images and CMDs. We demonstrate the package by simulating images and CMDs of well-known massive Milky Way clusters and compare their appearance to real data. Because the algorithm populates the cluster with a discrete number of tenable stars, it can be used as part of a Monte Carlo Method to derive the probabilistic range of characteristics (integrated colors, for example) consistent with a given cluster mass and age. Our simulation package is available for download and will run on any standard desktop running UNIX/Linux. Full documentation on installation and its use is also available. Finally, a Web-based version of MASSCLEAN, which can be immediately used and is sufficiently adaptable for most applications, is available through a Web interface.
Using the immediate blood pressure benefits of exercise to improve exercise adherence among adults with hypertension: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND A single exercise session evokes immediate blood pressure (BP) reductions that persist for at least 24 h, termed postexercise hypotension (PEH). Self-monitoring of PEH may foster positive outcome expectations of exercise, and thus, enhance exercise adherence among adults with hypertension. PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of self-monitoring of exercise (EXERCISE) versus exercise and PEH (EXERCISE + PEH) to improve exercise adherence and BP control among adults with hypertension. METHODS Adults with high BP were randomized to EXERCISE (n = 12) or EXERCISE + PEH (n = 12). Participants underwent supervised, moderate intensity aerobic exercise training for 40-50 min/session, 3 days/week for 12 weeks and encouraged to exercise unsupervised at home at least 30 min/day, 1-2 days/week. EXERCISE + PEH also self-monitored BP before and after exercise. Adherence was calculated as [(no. of exercise sessions performed/no. of possible exercise sessions) × 100%]. BP was measured pre and posttraining. RESULTS Healthy, middle-aged (52.3 ± 10.8 years) men (n = 11) and women (n = 13) with hypertension (136.2 ± 10.7/85.2 ± 8.9 mmHg) completed exercise training with 87.9 ± 12.1% adherence. EXERCISE + PEH demonstrated greater adherence to supervised training (94.3 ± 6.6%) than EXERCISE (81.6 ± 13.2%; P = 0.007). EXERCISE + PEH performed 32.6 ± 22.5 min/week more unsupervised home exercise than EXERCISE (P = 0.004), resulting in greater exercise adherence (107.3 ± 18.7%) than EXERCISE (82.7 ± 12.2%; P = 0.002). Post versus pretraining BP was reduced -7.4 ± 11.3/-4.9 ± 9.9 mmHg (P < 0.025) with no statistical difference between EXERCISE (-5.2 ± 13.3/-3.6 ± 6.1 mmHg) and EXERCISE + PEH (-9.9 ± 11.3/-6.1 ± 6.9 mmHg; P > 0.344). CONCLUSION The current study is the first to demonstrate that PEH self-monitoring is an efficacious tool to improve exercise adherence among a small sample of adults with hypertension. Future research among a larger, more diverse sample is needed to confirm these novel findings and determine whether EXERCISE + PEH translates to better BP control relative to EXERCISE self-monitoring alone.
Chronic stress augments esophageal inflammation, and alters the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 and protease‑activated receptor 2 in a murine model.

Stress is a pivotal factor for inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and formation of visceral hypersensitivity (VH) in the process of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In the present study, the effects of stress on esophageal inflammation, oxidative stress and VH were investigated in a chronic restraint stress mouse model. C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to 2 weeks of intermittent restraint stress, and histopathological analysis revealed that stress induced esophageal inflammation and fibrosis, while no distinct changes were detected in non‑stressed control mice. In addition, increased NADPH oxidase 4 expression was observed in the plasma and esophagus of stressed mice, indicating accumulation of ROS. The expression levels of antioxidants, including Mn‑superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), Cu/Zn‑SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, were also analyzed using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). In addition, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV‑1) and protease‑activated receptor 2 (PAR‑2), which are crucial receptors for VH, were measured by immunohistochemistry and RT‑qPCR. The results demonstrated that stress markedly reduced antioxidant expression, while it significantly upregulated TRPV‑1 and PAR‑2 expression levels in the mouse esophagus. Finally, 2 weeks of restraint stress significantly increased the esophageal and plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑8, interferon‑γ and tumor necrosis factor‑α. Taken together, the present study results indicated that stress‑induced esophageal inflammation and ROS generation involves VH.
Qualitative and quantitative ultrastructural analysis of the membrane rearrangements induced by coronavirus

Coronaviruses (CoV) are enveloped positive‐strand RNA viruses that induce different membrane rearrangements in infected cells in order to efficiently replicate and assemble. The origin, the protein composition and the function of these structures are not well established. To shed further light on these structures, we have performed a time‐course experiment in which the mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)‐induced membrane rearrangements were examined qualitatively and quantitatively by (immuno)‐electron microscopy. With our approach we were able to confirm the appearance of 6, previously reported, membranous structures during the course of a complete infection cycle. These structures include the well‐characterized double‐membrane vesicles (DMVs), convoluted membranes (CMs) and virions but also the more enigmatic large virion‐containing vacuoles (LVCVs), tubular bodies (TBs) and cubic membrane structures (CMSs). We have characterized the LVCVs, TBs and CMSs, and found that the CoV‐induced structures appear in a strict order. By combining these data with quantitative analyses on viral RNA, protein synthesis and virion release, this study generates an integrated molecular and ultrastructural overview of CoV infection. In particular, it provides insights in the role of each CoV‐induced structure and reveals that LVCVs are ERGIC/Golgi compartments that expand to accommodate an increasing production of viral particles.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Various Topical Fluorides on Enamel Demineralization Adjacent to Orthodontic Brackets: An In Vitro Study.

AIM White spot lesions (WSLs) occur frequently after fixed orthodontic treatment. This in vitro study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of 2.26% fluoride varnish, 1.23% APF gel, 0.21% fluoride toothpaste and 0.04% sodium fluoride mouthwashes in preventing enamel demineralization around orthodontic brackets in extracted premolars. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample for this study included 100 premolars free of caries and enamel cracks. They were divided into five groups of 20 samples each. Group 1 (FV): light-curable Fluoride varnish (Clinpro™ XT 3M ESPE, Pymble, New South Wales, Australia), group 2 (FG): 1.23% APF gel (Patterson NE. International, USA), group 3 (FTP): 0.21% w/w sodium fluoride toothpaste with tri-calcium phosphate (Clinpro™ Tooth Crème, 3M ESPE, Australia), group 4 (FMW): sodium fluoride 0.044% (w/v) mouthwash (Colgate® Phos-Flur® Ortho Defense Rinse, Colgate-Palmolive, NY) and group 5 (C): control. The samples were subjected to laboratory pH cycling. The demineralization changes in the enamel were assessed before the start of the experiment and after 14 days. RESULTS There was a significant change in the mean Diagnodent score value (p <0.001) in all groups from day 1-day 14. The mean values were significantly different among groups at day 1 (p = 0.002), day 14 (p = 0.001) and also the change from Day 1 to Day 14 was significantly different among Groups (p = 0.001). The least change in the mean value from baseline to 14 days was seen in group 1 (FV) followed by group 3 (FTP), group 2 (FG), and group 4 (FMW) and then the group 5 (C). CONCLUSION All the topical fluorides tested were able to reduce the demineralization when compared to the control group under similar testing conditions, but to varying degrees. light-curable fluoride varnish outperformed all the topical fluorides followed by 0.21% w/w dodium fluoride toothpaste with tri-calcium phosphate, 1.23% Acidulated phosphate fluoride gel and sodium fluoride 0.044% (w/v) mouthwash. The control group where no topical fluoride was applied showed the least resistance to demineralization. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Within the limitations of this study, routine application of light cured fluoride varnish (Clinpro) can be recommended to prevent enamel demineralization to prevent white spot lesions in patients receiving orthodontic treatment.
Regulating Anger under Stress via Cognitive Reappraisal and Sadness

Previous studies have reported the failure of cognitive emotion regulation (CER), especially in regulating unpleasant emotions under stress. The underlying reason for this failure was the application of CER depends heavily on the executive function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), but this function can be impaired by stress-related neuroendocrine hormones. This observation highlights the necessity of developing self-regulatory strategies that require less top-down cognitive control. Based on traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine, which examine how different types of emotions promote or counteract one another, we have developed a novel emotion regulation strategy whereby one emotion is used to alter another. For example, our previous experiment showed that sadness induction (after watching a sad film) could reduce aggressive behavior associated with anger [i.e., “sadness counteracts anger” (SCA)] (Zhan et al., 2015). Relative to the CER strategy requiring someone to think about certain cognitive reappraisals to reinterpret the meaning of an unpleasant situation, watching a film or listening to music and experiencing the emotion contained therein seemingly requires less cognitive effort and control; therefore, this SCA strategy may be an alternative strategy that compensates for the limitations of cognitive regulation strategies, especially in stressful situations. The present study was designed to directly compare the effects of the CER and SCA strategy in regulating anger and anger-related aggression in stressful and non-stressful conditions. Participants’ subjective feeling of anger, anger-related aggressive behavior, skin conductance, and salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels were measured. Our findings revealed that acute stress impaired one’s ability to use CR to control angry responses provoked by others, whereas stress did not influence the efficiency of the SCA strategy. Compared with sadness or neutral emotion induction, CER induction was found to reduce the level of subjective anger more, but this difference only existed in non-stressful conditions. By contrast, irrespective of stress, the levels of aggressive behavior and related skin conductance after sadness induction were both significantly lower than those after CER induction or neutral emotion induction, thus suggesting the immunity of the regulatory effect of SCA strategy to the stress factor.
Influence of the Graphical Levels of Detail of a Virtual Thrower on the Perception of the Movement

Virtual reality has a number of advantages for analyzing sports interactions such as the standardization of experimental conditions, stereoscopic vision, and complete control of animated humanoid movement. Nevertheless, in order to be useful for sports applications, accurate perception of simulated movement in the virtual sports environment is essential. This perception depends on parameters of the synthetic character such as the number of degrees of freedom of its skeleton or the levels of detail (LOD) of its graphical representation. This study focuses on the influence of this latter parameter on the perception of the movement. In order to evaluate it, this study analyzes the judgments of immersed handball goalkeepers that play against a graphically modified virtual thrower. Five graphical representations of the throwing action were defined: a textured reference level (L0), a nontextured level (L1), a wire-frame level (L2), a moving point light display (MLD) level with a normal-sized ball (L3), and a MLD level where the ball is represented by a point of light (L4). The results show that judgments made by goalkeepers in the L4 condition are significantly less accurate than in all the other conditions (p < .001). This finding means that the goalkeepers' perception of the movement is influenced more by the size of the ball during the judgment task than the graphical LOD of the throwing action. The MLD representation of the movement thus appears to be sufficient for a sports duel analysis in virtual environments.
Fast Capture of Fluoride by Anion-Exchange Zirconium-Graphene Hybrid Adsorbent.

Fluoride contamination is a severe problem affecting the safety of drinking water around the world. High-rate adsorbent materials are particularly desirable for potable water defluoridation. Current research on fluoride adsorbent materials is primarily focused on metal-based adsorbents with high capacities. However, they generally suffer from slow adsorption kinetics due to the adsorption mechanism of a sluggish exchange between coordinated hydroxyl groups and fluoride ions. Designing metal-based adsorbents to mimic the rapid ion-exchange behavior of anion-exchange resins is a promising approach to integrate fast adsorption and high capacity for fluoride removal. Herein, a ZrO(OH)1.33Cl0. 66-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid adsorbent containing exchangeable chloride ions was synthesized with the assistance of cation-π interactions. Unlike most adsorbents requiring a high surface area, this composite has a negligible surface area (1.45 m2 g-1), but can deliver a fast fluoride capture performance (reaching equilibrium in 5 min) with high adsorption rate constants of 1.05 min-1 and 0.171 mg g-1 min-1, around 10 times faster than the best result reported in the literature. Besides, ZrO(OH)1.33Cl0. 66-rGO can also demonstrate a high fluoride uptake (44.14 mg g-1) and high removal efficiency (94.4%) in 35 mg L-1 fluoride solution, both among the highest performances for fluoride adsorption.
Characterization of the KRN cell transfer model of rheumatoid arthritis (KRN-CTM), a chronic yet synchronized version of the K/BxN mouse.

In this study, a chronic yet synchronized version of the K/BxN mouse, the KRN-cell transfer model (KRN-CTM), was developed and extensively characterized. The transfer of purified splenic KRN T cells into T cell-deficient B6.TCR. Calpha(-/-)H-2(b/g7) mice induced anti-glucose 6-phosphate isomerase antibody-dependent chronic arthritis in 100% of the mice with uniform onset of disease 7 days after T cell transfer. Cellular infiltrations were assessed by whole-ankle transcript microarray, cytokine and chemokine levels, and microscopic and immunohistochemical analyses 7 through 42 days after T cell transfer. Transcripts identified an influx of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils into the ankles and identified temporal progression of cartilage damage and bone resorption. In both serum and ankle tissue there was a significant elevation in interleukin-6, whereas macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were only elevated in tissue. Microscopic and immunohistochemical analyses revealed a time course for edema, synovial hypertrophy and hyperplasia, infiltration of F4/80-positive monocytes/macrophages and myeloperoxidase-positive neutrophils, destruction of articular cartilage, pannus invasion, bone resorption, extra-articular fibroplasia, and joint ankylosis. The KRN cell transfer model replicates many features of chronic rheumatoid arthritis in humans in a synchronized manner and lends itself to manipulation of adoptively transferred T cells and characterizing specific genes and T cell subsets responsible for rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis and progression.
Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas: Management of the Central Lymph Node Compartment and Emerging Biochemical Markers

Well-differentiated thyroid cancers (WDTCs) are generally indolent cancers that are associated with a low mortality. Although the incidence of these tumors is increasing, there has not been an associated increase in the mortality rates. As we gain a greater understanding and more experience with these good prognosis cancers, the way in which we treat these tumors is evolving. The definition of persistent or recurrent disease has seen a shift from being a clinical and/or radiological diagnosis to now one based on a biochemical blood marker, thyroglobulin. Central lymph node metastases are a very common problem in WDTC, being present in up to 90% of patients. The optimal surgical management of the central lymph node compartment remains a hotly debated topic. This paper identifies these controversies and presents available data surrounding these issues. Biochemical tumor markers are gaining wider use in practice and in time hopefully provide more specific information with which surgical decision-making can be based. A summary of the clinically available markers is presented.
Chord6: IPv6 Based Topology-Aware Chord

Chord, in its original design, does not take into account physical network topology, thus resulting in high routing latency and low efficiency. As the entire Internet is being currently upgraded from IPv4 to IPv6 worldwide, we devise a smart scheme to exploit the IPv6 address hierarchical feature, so as to construct an efficient version of Chord dubbed Chord6. Simulation results have shown that our method can significantly reduce inter-domain traffic that causes the long routing latency. Another advantage of our scheme is that it is very simple and barely modifies the original Chord
Fractures and Subsequent Graft Loss and Mortality among Older Kidney Transplant Recipients

Older adults who undergo kidney transplantation (KT) are living longer with a functioning graft and are at risk for age‐related adverse events including fractures. Understanding recipient, transplant, and donor factors and the outcomes associated with fractures may help identify older KT recipients at increased risk. We determined incidence of hip, vertebral, and extremity fractures; assessed factors associated with incident fractures; and estimated associations between fractures and subsequent death‐censored graft loss (DCGL) and mortality.
A glimpse of the prokaryotic diversity of the Large Aral Sea reveals novel extremophilic bacterial and archaeal groups

During the last five decades, the Aral Sea has gradually changed from a saline water body to a hypersaline lake. Microbial community inhabiting the Aral Sea has been through a succession and continuous adaptation during the last 50 years of increasing salinization, but so far, the microbial diversity has not been explored. Prokaryotic diversity of the Large Aral Sea using cultivation‐independent methods based on determination of environmental 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a microbial community related to typical marine or (hyper) saline‐adapted Bacteria and Archaea. The archaeal sequences were phylogenetically affiliated with the order Halobacteriales, with a large number of operational taxonomic units constituting a novel cluster in the Haloferacaceae family. Bacterial community analysis indicated a higher diversity with representatives belonging to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Many members of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were affiliated with genera like Roseovarius, Idiomarina and Spiribacter which have previously been found in marine or hypersaline waters. The majority of the phylotypes was most closely related to uncultivated organisms and shared less than 97% identity with their closest match in GenBank, indicating a unique community structure in the Large Aral Sea with mostly novel species or genera.