Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Macvicaria obovata (Digenea: Opecoelidae), a parasite of Sparus aurata (Pisces: Teleostei) from the Gulf of Gabès, Mediterranean Sea

The ultrastructural organization of the spermatozoon of the digenean Macvicaria obovata (Opecoelidae) is described by transmission electron microscopy. Alive digeneans were collected from the digestive tract of Sparus aurata (Teleostei, Sparidae), caught from the Gulf of Gabès in Chebba, Tunisia (Eastern Mediterranean Sea). The male gamete of M. obovata is a filiform cell, tapered at both extremities and exhibits typical characters such as two axonemes of different lengths showing the 9+‘1’ trepaxonematan pattern, a nucleus, mitochondria, two bundles of parallel cortical microtubules, external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, spine-like bodies and granules of glycogen. Cortical microtubules are absent in the anterior spermatozoon extremity and appear after the disappearance of the electron-dense material. The first mitochondrion is of moniliform type and it is associated with the external ornamentation of the plasma membrane and spine-like bodies. The second mitochondrion is more posteriorly located, reaching the nuclear region. The present study provides new data on the mature male gamete of M. obovata that may be useful for the understanding of digenean relationships and phylogenetic studies.
The Cardiometabolic Health Nurse: Physical Health Behaviour Outcomes from a Randomised Controlled Trial

To combat the increasingly poor physical health of people with serious mental illness, the position of a cardiometabolic health nurse has been proposed. We recently conducted a 26-week trial in a regional mental health service. This paper describes the background and rationale for the position, presents the outcomes on health behaviours and health behaviour knowledge and attitudes, and offers recommendations for the future direction of the role. We show that a cardiometabolic health nurse can improve the physical health behaviours in people with mental illness, however much needs to be done to further develop and implement the role.
Characterization of boron surface doping effects on PECVD silicon nitride passivation

In this paper, we investigate the dependence of surface recombination of B diffused and undiffused PECVD SiNx passivated emitters on the net electrostatic charge density. We show that the application of positive surface charge results in a significant increase in the surface recombination of PECVD SiNx passivated B diffused emitters, even for high B surface concentrations. On the other hand, negative charge causes a substantial reduction in surface recombination. Under accumulation conditions, the significant difference observed in J0e between B diffused and undiffused samples implies that the B diffusion has resulted in some degradation of the Si-PECVD SiNx interface. The results of J0e under accumulation for samples with different B surface concentrations and sheet resistances suggest that the interface degradation is not a strong function of the B surface concentration or the surface orientation.
Design of Linear Feedback Controllers for Dynamic Systems With Hysteresis

This paper proposes an approach to deal with the control of a class of dynamical systems affected by hysteresis, which is particularly common in applications of smart materials to motion control. The controlled plant is assumed to be a combination of a linear system with a hysteretic operator that can appear either in series or in a feedback path with respect to the linear component, while the controller is defined as a linear combination of the tracking error, its integral and derivatives. This paper mainly focuses on tracking behavior with constant references, and formulates the output regulation as a problem of stability of a polytopic linear differential inclusion, which does not require the identification of an accurate (direct or inverse) model of the hysteresis. The resulting conditions allow the user to seek for controller parameters that guarantee the achievement of a predefined control goal by solving a linear matrix inequality problem. Beside validation through numerical simulation, the method is successfully applied to control a challenging and innovative system, which uses two bars of magnetic shape memory alloy as the active elements of a multistable precise positioning device.
A Spectral Graph Kernel and Its Application to Collective Activities Classification

In this work we consider a machine learning setting where data are represented as graphs. First, we derive a kernel function which evaluates the similarity between graphs, while capturing pair-wise constraints between graph nodes. Second, we apply it to the problem of classifying collective activities: on this respect we first represent groups of people located in a spatial neighborhood as graphs, and then train a multi-class classifier able to capture the behavior of the groups. We evaluate our approach on a benchmark dataset and report a comparative analysis with other state-of-art methods which highlights the benefits of our approach.
DNA polymorphism in strains of the genus Brucella

Preparations of DNA from 23 Brucella strains including 19 reference strains were compared by restriction endonuclease analysis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis resulted in optimal resolution of fragments generated by digestion with low-cleavage-frequency restriction enzymes such as XbaI. By this technique, five electrophoretypes were distinguished in five reference strains of the different species, i.e., B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, and B. ovis. Minor profile differences allowed us to discriminate between most biovars within a species. However, the differences in the DNA patterns of different field strains of biovar 2 of B. melitensis were not sufficient to serve as markers for epidemiological studies. From the XbaI fragments, we were able to estimate the size of the genomes of B. abortus 544T and B. melitensis 16 MT. This method revealed a relationship between DNA fingerprints, species, and pathovars which could shed light on problems concerning the classification and evolution of members of the genus Brucella.
Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplantation for Osteopetrosis

HLA-matched bone marrow transplantation is an effective form of treatment for some patients with malignant osteopetrosis, a defect of osteoclast function. Following transplant, normal osteoclasts differentiate from donor-derived marrow stem cells and can function normally in some of these patients. For patients without an HLA-matched marrow donor, pharmacologic treatments have not yet proved effective. This article demonstrates that normal osteoclast function can be obtained following the transplantation of HLA-nonidentical marrow that has been purged of T lymphocytes in vitro.
An alternative method for significance testing of waveform difference potentials.

Guthrie and Buchwald (1991) proposed an ad hoc procedure for assessing the statistical significance of waveform difference potentials that may arise in a variety of psychophysiology research contexts. In our paper, an alternative method is presented and demonstrated that has fewer underlying assumptions than does the Guthrie-Buchwald test and may, therefore, produce better results in some situations. In particular, the test proposed here (a) is distribution free, (b) requires no assumption of an underlying correlation structure (e.g., first-order autoregressive), (c) requires no estimate of the population autocorrelation coefficient, (d) is exact, (e) produces p values for any number of subjects and time points, and (f) is highly intuitive as well as theoretically justifiable. This procedure may be used to carry out multiple comparisons with exact specification of experiment-wise error, however, this test is based on permutation principles and may require large amounts of computer time for its implementation.
Relaxed stabilization conditions for discrete-time 2-D T-S fuzzy systems

This paper focuses on the problem of further relaxing stabilization conditions for the Roesser type discrete-time 2-D T-S fuzzy system. A novel kind of non-PDC control scheme is proposed to stabilize the closed-loop 2-D T-S fuzzy system, and then less conservative stabilization conditions are developed by using a new non-quadratic Lyapunov function for the underlying 2-D T-S fuzzy system. For one fixed degree of the homogeneous polynomially parameter-dependent matrix, the conservatism could be further reduced by exploiting the algebraic property of fuzzy membership functions and the obtained stabilization conditions may asymptotically approach to exactness in a convergent sense. Moreover, there are no slack matrix variables introduced in the control synthesis, and hence the computational burden is less than the existing ones while the same or less conservative results could be obtained. A numerical example is also provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
The Next Frontier

High-intensity lasers are opening up a new realm of light-matter interactions. In his Perspective, Yamanouchi reviews recent progress in this field, focusing on two intensity regimes: the Coulombic regime, which mostly deforms molecular structures and causes tunneling ionization, and the relativistic regime, where high-intensity lasers produce x-rays and high-energy particles and may cause nuclear fusion reactions. Efforts are under way to increase laser intensity further for accessing the next frontier.
Tractable Optimization in Machine Learning

Machine Learning (ML) broadly encompasses a variety of adaptive, autonomous, and intelligent tasks where one must “learn” to predict from observations and feedback. Throughout its evolution, ML has drawn heavily and successfully on optimization algorithms. This relation to optimization is not surprising as “learning” and “adapting” usually lead to problems where some quality function must be optimized. But the interaction between ML and optimization is now undergoing rapid change. The increased size, complexity, and variety seen in ML problems, not only prompt a refinement of existing optimization techniques but also spur development of new methods tuned to the specific needs of ML applications. In particular, ML applications must usually cope with large-scale data, which forces us to prefer “simpler,” perhaps less accurate but more scalable algorithms. Such methods can also crunch through more data, and may actually be better suited for learning—for a more precise characterization see [Bottou and Bousquet, 2011]. The use of possibly less accurate methods is also grounded in pragmatic realities: modeling limitations, observational noise, uncertainty, and computational errors are pervasive in real data. Hence, trusting more than a few digits of numerical accuracy would be unrealistic. From an engineering perspective, simpler algorithms translate into more reliable software that is easier to implement, debug, and deploy. Before we get carried away by these benefits, we must recall a sobering statement of Nesterov [2004]: “in general, optimization problems are unsolvable. ” In other words, obtaining globally optimal solutions is in general intractable. Fortunately, nature makes a generous exception for convex optimization, which is not only tractable [Nemirovsky and Yudin, 1983] but also widely applicable [Boyd and Vandenberghe, 2004]. We, therefore, limit our attention to convex optimization, and therein we focus on algorithms that are simple, scalable, and amenable to theoretical analysis that qualifies their tractability. The superficiality of a summary such as the one attempted herein is ineluctable. Nevertheless, we hope that it still provides a quick entry into large-scale convex optimization for non-experts, while offering pointers to literature that even more experienced readers might find useful.
Gamification through the Application of Motivational Affordances for Physical Activity Technology

Motivational affordances are attributes of interactive technologies or game elements that promote participation in physical activity (PA) routines. Although these affordances have been previously integrated into technologies in non-tailored approaches, the motivations of adults for PA are specific (e.g., to improve one's health, wellness, or fitness). There are no previous comparisons of either the motivation to participate in PA or motivational affordances that facilitate PA in different age groups. Therefore, we conducted an online survey with 150 participants using the Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 scale (EMI-2) together with long-form questions to explore motivational affordances and PA technology preferences in four age groups. Our results suggest health-related pressures are significant motivations for PA in different age groups. Additionally, a content analysis of preferences allowed us to distinguish between gamified motivational affordances and feedback elements. These results provide age-group-specific gamification design guidelines for incorporating motivational elements in PA technology.
Efficient exploration in reinforcement learning-based cognitive radio spectrum sharing

This study introduces two novel approaches, pre-partitioning and weight-driven exploration, to enable an efficient learning process in the context of cognitive radio. Learning efficiency is crucial when applying reinforcement learning to cognitive radio since cognitive radio users will cause a higher level of disturbance in the exploration phase. Careful control of the tradeoff between exploration and exploitation for a learning-enabled cognitive radio in order to efficiently learn from the interactions with a dynamic radio environment is investigated. In the pre-partitioning scheme, the potential action space of cognitive radios is reduced by initially randomly partitioning the spectrum in each cognitive radio. Cognitive radios are therefore able to finish their exploration stage faster than more basic reinforcement learning-based schemes. In the weight-driven exploration scheme, exploitation is merged into exploration by taking into account the knowledge gained in exploration to influence action selection, thereby achieving a more efficient exploration phase. The learning efficiency in a cognitive radio scenario is defined and the learning efficiency of the proposed schemes is investigated. The simulation results show that the exploration of cognitive radio is more efficient by using pre-partitioning and weight-driven exploration and the system performance is improved accordingly.
Weather Forecasting using Soft Computingand Statistical Techniques

Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time at a given location. It is carried out by collecting quantitative data about the current state of the atmosphere and past and/or present experiences. In this study Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and Multiple linear regression model were used to analyze metrological data sets obtained from the metrological station. The Multiple linear regression model is simple due to the fact that it uses simple mathematical equation using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) equations that can be easily understood by a medium educated farmer. Adaptive Neuro- Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) combines the capabilities of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Fuzzy Inference Systems (FIS) to solve different kinds of problems.The data covers a five year period (2008-2012) were for the monthly means of minimum and maximum temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity and mean sea level pressure (MSLP). The results showed that both models could be applied to weather prediction problems. The performance evaluation of the two models that was carried out on the basis of root mean square error (RMSE) showed that the ANFIS model yielded better results than the multiple linear regression (MLR) model with a lower prediction error.
The Critical Role of O2 Provision in the Dynamic Adjustment of Oxidative Phosphorylation

It has been proposed that the adjustment of oxygen uptake (V˙O2) during the exercise on-transient is controlled intracellularly in young healthy individuals and that insufficient local O2 delivery plays a rate-limiting role in aging and disease only. This review shows that adequate O2 provision to the active tissues is critical in the dynamic adjustment of oxidative phosphorylation even in young healthy individuals.
Antimicrobial activities of essential oil and methanol extract of Coriaria nepalensis

Plant extracts and products have been used for centuries in traditional medicine; for most of them, in addition to the scant scientific credibility, the chemical composition and spectrum of activity are yet to be explored. To put forward this effort and to identify novel antimicrobial agents, the inhibitory activities of methanolic extract and essential oil from Coriaria nepalensis against various microorganisms including pathogenic yeast, and Gram-positive and negative bacteria were evaluated. Chemical compositions of C. nepalensis methanolic extract and essential oil were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In vitro susceptibility tests against all the tested isolates were performed in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and well diffusion assay using standard protocols. All microorganisms tested were profoundly found susceptible to both the C. nepalensis extract and oil with MIC values of 1.3–2.1 mg mL−1 (Gram-positive bacteria), 1.4–2.2 mg mL−1 (Gram-negative bacteria) and 0.9–1.6 mg mL−1 (yeasts). The extent of inhibition was shown more by methanolic extract than by essential oil. This study is the first to report the antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from the C. nepalensis. It can be concluded that the observed antimicrobial characteristics of C. nepalensis indicate that it might be a promising antimicrobial agent.
Frailty Is a Major Related Factor for at Risk of Malnutrition in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults

PURPOSE We investigated the relationships among geriatric syndrome, physiological functions, and body composition in community-dwelling older people with varying nutritional statuses. Other factors correlated with nutritional status in community-dwelling older people were also explored. BACKGROUND The World Health Organization has initiated preventive programs for addressing malnutrition. However, few studies have focused on the correlations among geriatric syndrome, physiological functions, and body composition in older people at risk of malnutrition. DESIGN We conducted a cross-sectional study. METHODS Older people who lived in an urban Taiwanese community were recruited for this research study. The inclusion criteria were age 65 years or older, ability to communicate in Taiwanese, clear consciousness, and ability to communicate independently. The nutritional status of participants was evaluated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form. The frailty status was assessed with the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) index. The SOF index included the following three items: body weight loss of >5% within 1 year, difficulty in standing from a sitting position in a chair without an armrest five times, and feeling deprived of energy. Participants over 65 years of age, living in a community and without mental illness or acute disease were included in the study. FINDINGS Compared with well-nourished older adults, those at risk of malnutrition were predominantly male; presented with lower body weight, lower body mass index values, lower skeletal mass indices, and poorer muscle strength; and were unable to rise from a seated position in a chair without using the armrest five times. Subjects at risk of malnutrition were less energetic, were more commonly characterized as being sarcopenia, and demonstrated frailty. Body composition analysis demonstrated that a skeletal muscle index of approximately 9.93 and a body fat mass of less than 12.25 kg were related to an increased risk of malnutrition. Older people who were frail exhibited a particularly high risk of malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that the evaluation of malnutrition risk should be conducted in older persons living in the community. Frailty in particular was identified as a major risk factor for malnutrition in community-dwelling elderly persons. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Community nurses should pay attention to the nutritional conditions of community-dwelling elderly persons. Community nurses should assess the at-risk population and provide effective preventive strategies and programs to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition and frailty.
2D interpolation and extrapolation of discrete magnetic measurements with toroidal harmonics for equilibrium reconstruction in a tokamak

We present a method based on the use of toroidal harmonics and on a modelization of the poloidal field coils and divertor coils for the 2D interpolation and extrapolation of discrete magnetic measurements in a tokamak. The method is generic and can be used to provide the Cauchy boundary conditions needed as input by a fixed domain equilibrium reconstruction code like Equinox (Blum et al 2012 J. Comput. Phys. 231 960–80). It can also be used to extrapolate the magnetic measurements in order to compute the plasma boundary itself. The proposed method and algorithm are detailed in this paper and results from numerous numerical experiments are presented. The method is foreseen to be used in the real-time plasma control loop on the WEST tokamak (Bucalossi et al 2011 Fusion Eng. Des. 86 684–8).
Experimental Study of Nano-Hydroxyapatite/Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Composite Artificial Bone

Abstract Objective: To investigate the repairing ability of nano-hydroxyapatite/recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (Nano-HA/rhBMP-2) composite artificial bone for bone defect and to provide evidence for its application in clinical repair of bone defect. Methods: The animal model of bone defect was made on unilateral radius of 90 New Zealand white rabbits, which were randomly divided into experimental group (group A, bone defect was repaired with Nano-HA/rhBMP-2 composite artificial bone), control group (group B, bone defect was repaired with Nano-HA artificial bone), and blank group (group C, bone defect was unrepaired). The repairing ability for bone defect was evaluated by gross observation, X-ray examination, scanning electron microscope, radionuclide bone imaging and biomechanical analysis at 4th, 8th, and 12th week postoperatively. Results: Both Nano-HA/rhBMP-2 composite artificial bone and Nano-HA artificial bone could stimulate new bone formation, but the former could stimulate more new bone formation and had better repairing ability for bone defect than that of the latter, with statistically significant difference (P <0.05). Conclusion: Nano-HA/rhBMP-2 composite artificial bone has good repairing ability for bone defect and it is hopeful to become an ideal repairing material for bone defect.