Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motion artifact reduction in ambulatory ECG monitoring: an integrated system approach

Recent advances in low-power micro-electronics are revolutionizing ECG monitoring. Wearable patches now allow comfortable monitoring over several days. Achieving reliable and high integrity recording however remains a challenge, especially under daily-life activities. In this paper we present a system approach to motion artifact reduction in ambulatory recordings. A custom ultra-low-power ECG analog front-end read-out for simultaneous measurement of ECG and electrode-tissue impedance, from the same electrode, is reported. Integrating this front-end, we describe a wireless patch for the monitoring of 3-lead ECG, electrode electrical artifact and 3D-acceleration. Beyond ECG monitoring, this wireless patch provides the additional necessary data to filter out motion artifact. Two algorithm methods are tested. The first method applies ICA for de-noising multi-lead ECG recordings. The second method is an adaptive filter that uses skin/electrode impedance as the measurement of noise. Algorithms, circuits and system provide a platform for reliable ECG monitoring on-the-move.
Differential regulation of NMDAR and NMDAR‐mediated metaplasticity by anandamide and 2‐AG in the hippocampus

Endocannabinoids (eCBs), including AEA and 2‐AG, are endogenous signaling mediators involved in many physiological and pathological events. The G protein‐coupled cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) is an important target for eCBs, however, additional non‐CB1 receptor targets have also been identified. Although recent evidence suggests that NMDA receptor function may be regulated by eCBs, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly characterized. Using acutely isolated CA1 neurons and slices from the hippocampus, we found that both AEA and 2‐AG potentiate NMDAR‐mediated currents independently of CB1 receptors (CB1Rs) and via distinct signaling pathways. Potentiation by AEA requires the activation of TRPV1 channels. In contrast, potentiation by 2‐AG requires the sequential activation of PKC and Src. Additionally, in hippocampal slices, we found that both AEA and 2‐AG induce NMDAR‐mediated metaplasticity and facilitate the induction of subsequent LTD independently of CB1Rs. Enhanced LTD by AEA, but not 2‐AG, was dependent on TRPV1 channels. Our findings reveal previously unrecognized non‐CB1R‐dependent signaling cascades through which the two major eCBs regulate NMDA receptor function and consequently synaptic plasticity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of a Korean Diet Score (KDS) and its application assessing adherence to Korean healthy diet based on the Korean Food Guide Wheels

The most critical point in the assessment of adherence to dietary guidelines is the development of a practical definition for adherence, such as a dietary pattern score. The purpose of this study was to develop the Korean Diet Score (KDS) based on the Korean Food Balance Wheel and to examine the association of KDS with various lifestyle characteristics and biochemical factors. The dietary data of 5,320 subjects from the 4th Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey were used for the final analysis. The food guide was composed of six food group categories; 'grain dishes', 'fish and meat dishes', 'vegetable dishes', 'fruits', 'milk' and 'oils and sugars'. Based on the recommended serving numbers for each group, the scores measuring adherence to this food guide were calculated from the dietary information from the 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire, and then its correlation with various characteristics was assessed. KDS was significantly associated with several clinical, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors as well as diagnosed disease history. The higher quintile group of KDS showed a significantly lower level in fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, current smoking and drinking as well as higher leisure time activity, house income and education. Furthermore, the KDS quintile group of women was inversely associated with hypertension, osteoporosis and diabetes. A higher KDS quintile was characterized with a higher intake of several critical nutrients, such as Ca, Fe and vitamins as well as a desirable nutrition balance such as the ratio of macronutrients. Our results demonstrate that KDS is a beneficial tool in assessing the adherence to a healthy diet based on the Korean dietary guidelines. We suggest that KDS could be a useful indicator for evaluating the dietary balance of the Korean population.
CP metasurfaced antennas excited by LP sources

A metasurface which is considered as a polarizer for microwave antennas is proposed in this paper. Preliminary results have shown that circularly polarized (CP) radiation can be obtained from linearly polarized (LP) source antennas with the use of metasurface, antenna performance such as realized gain, efficiency and bandwidth are improved simultaneously. The metasurfaced antennas have a succinct non-resonant cavity in sub-wavelength (1/13 λ0) format.
Using XMorph to transform XML data

XMorph is a new, shape polymorphic, domain-specific XML query language. A query in a shape polymorphic language adapts to the shape of the input, freeing the user from having to know the input's shape and making the query applicable to a wide variety of differently shaped inputs. An XMorph query specifies the shape of the output. The XMorph query engine transforms the input to the desired shape by shredding an XML document to a graph of closest relationships, and performing a closeness preserving transformation. We plan to demonstrate XMorph using a Java applet, which can also be used by the audience during the demonstration, to evaluate various XMorph queries. The applet will show the output, the shapes generated by the query, and report on potential data loss in a transformation.
Optimization Techniques for "Scaling Down" Hadoop on Multi-Core, Shared-Memory Systems

The underlying assumption behind Hadoop and, more generally, the need for distributed processing is that the data to be analyzed cannot be held in memory on a single machine. Today, this assumption needs to be re-evaluated. Although petabyte-scale datastores are increasingly common, it is unclear whether “typical” analytics tasks require more than a single high-end server. Additionally, we are seeing increased sophistication in analytics, e.g., machine learning, where we process smaller and more refined datasets. To address these trends, we propose “scaling down” Hadoop to run on multi-core, shared-memory machines. This paper presents a prototype runtime called Hone (“Hadoop One”) that is API compatible with Hadoop. With Hone, we can take an existing Hadoop application and run it efficiently on a single server. This allows us to take existing MapReduce algorithms and find the most suitable runtime environment for execution on datasets of varying sizes. For dataset sizes that fit into memory on a single machine, our experiments show that Hone is substantially faster than Hadoop running in pseudo-distributed mode. In some cases, Hone running on a single machine outperforms a 16-node Hadoop cluster.
Pre-existing Lumbar Spine Diagnosis as a Predictor of Outcomes in National Football League Athletes

Background: It is currently unknown how pre-existing lumbar spine conditions may affect the medical evaluation, draft status, and subsequent career performance of National Football League (NFL) players. Purpose: To determine if a pre-existing lumbar diagnosis affects a player’s draft status or his performance and longevity in the NFL. Study Design: Cohort study; Level 3. Methods: The investigators evaluated the written medical evaluations and imaging reports of prospective NFL players from a single franchise during the NFL Scouting Combine from 2003 to 2011. Players with a reported lumbar spine diagnosis and with appropriate imaging were included in this study. Athletes were then matched to control draftees without a lumbar spine diagnosis by age, position, year, and round drafted. Career statistics and performance scores were calculated. Results: Of a total of 2965 athletes evaluated, 414 were identified as having a pre-existing lumbar spine diagnosis. Players without a lumbar spine diagnosis were more likely to be drafted than were those with a diagnosis (80.2% vs 61.1%, respectively, P < .001). Drafted athletes with pre-existing lumbar spine injuries had a decrease in the number of years played compared with the matched control group (4.0 vs 4.3 years, respectively, P = .001), games played (46.5 vs 50.8, respectively, P = .0001), and games started (28.1 vs 30.6, respectively, P = .02) but not performance score (1.4 vs 1.8, respectively, P = .13). Compared with controls, players were less likely to be drafted if they had been diagnosed with spondylosis (62.37% vs 78.55%), a lumbar herniated disc (60.27% vs 78.43%), or spondylolysis with or without spondylolisthesis (64.44% vs 78.15%) (P < .001 for all), but there was no appreciable effect on career performance; however, the diagnosis of spondylolysis was associated with a decrease in career longevity (P < .05). Notably, 2 athletes who had undergone posterior lateral lumbar fusion were drafted. One played in 125 games, and the other is still active and has played in 108 games. Conclusion: The data in this study suggest that athletes with pre-existing lumbar spine conditions were less likely to be drafted and that the diagnosis is associated with a decrease in career longevity but not performance. Players with lumbar fusion have achieved successful careers in the NFL.
GLOGER'S RULE, FEATHER-DEGRADING BACTERIA, AND COLOR VARIATION AMONG SONG SPARROWS

Abstract Feathers tend to be darkly colored in habitats where relative humidity is high and pale where it is low. We suggest that this correlation, known as Gloger's rule, results, in part, from selection for dark feathers that are more resistant than light feathers to bacterial degradation, which is a severe problem in humid habitats where bacteria thrive and a lesser problem in arid habitats. In May and June 2000–2002 we sampled feather-degrading bacteria (Bacillus licheniformis) from the plumage of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) in southeastern Arizona and northwestern Washington. Under standardized laboratory conditions, feather-degrading bacteria from the plumage of sparrows in the humid Northwest degraded feathers more rapidly and more completely than feather-degrading bacteria from sparrows of the arid Southwest. The differences in feather-degrading bacteria and in relative humidity produce a difference in the intensity of selection, which in turn produces the difference in color described in Gloger's rule. La Regla de Gloger, Bacterias Degradantes de Plumas y Variación de Color en Melospiza melodia Resumen. Las plumas tienden a ser de tonos obscuros en hábitats donde la humedad relativa es alta y más pálidas en hábitats donde la humedad relativa es baja. Esta correlación, conocida como la regla de Gloger, se aplica a muchas especies de aves a través del mundo. Sugerimos que la regla de Gloger es, en parte, un producto evolutivo de la selección por plumas obscuras, que son más resistentes a la degradación bacteriana que las plumas claras. La degradación bacteriana es un problema severo en hábitats húmedos donde prosperan las bacterias y un problema menor en hábitats áridos. En mayo y junio de 2000 a 2002 tomamos muestras de bacterias degradantes de plumas (Bacillus licheniformis) del Melospiza melodia fallax, que tiene plumaje pálido y reside en la parte sureste del estado de Arizona, y comparamos la incidencia y actividad de estas bacterias con las de aquellas encontradas en el plumaje obscuro de M. m. morphna, que reside de los bosques húmedos del noroeste del estado de Washington. Sin embargo, bajo condiciones estandarizadas de laboratorio, las bacterias obtenidas de M. m. morphna, degradaron las plumas más rápida y completamente que las bacterias de M. m. fallax. Las diferencias sugieren que las plumas obscuras de M. m. morphna del noroeste húmedo están sujetas a selección más intensa para resistir la degradación bacteriana que las plumas claras del gorrión del suroeste árido. La diferencia en humedad relativa produce una diferencia en la intensidad de selección, que a su vez produce la diferencia en color descrita en la regla de Gloger.
Genomic determinants of the efficiency of internal ribosomal entry sites of viral and cellular origin

Variation in cellular gene expression levels has been shown to be inherited. Expression is controlled at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) are used by viruses to bypass inhibition of cap-dependent translation, and by eukaryotic cells to control translation under conditions when protein synthesis is inhibited. We aimed at identifying genomic determinants of variability in IRES-mediated translation of viral [Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)] and cellular IRES [X-linked inhibitor-of-apoptosis (XIAP) and c-myc]. Bicistronic lentiviral constructs expressing two fluorescent reporters were used to transduce laboratory and B lymphoblastoid cell lines [15 CEPH pedigrees (n = 205) and 50 unrelated individuals]. IRES efficiency varied according to cell type and among individuals. Control of IRES activity has a significant genetic component (h2 of 0.47 and 0.36 for EMCV and XIAP, respectively). Quantitative linkage analysis identified a suggestive locus (LOD 2.35) on chromosome 18q21.2, and genome-wide association analysis revealed of a cluster of SNPs on chromosome 3, intronic to the FHIT gene, marginally associated (P = 5.9E-7) with XIAP IRES function. This study illustrates the in vitro generation of intermediate phenotypes by using cell lines for the evaluation of genetic determinants of control of elements such as IRES.
A critical review on the utilization of various reinforcement modifiers in filled rubber composites

Presently, the development of high-performance filled rubber composites offers a new era in the industrial field of polymer research. This article reviews the utilization of various reinforcement modifiers on the successive property enhancement of rubber composites containing different commonly used fillers like silica, nanoclay, carbon nanotube, natural fibers, and so on. The practical importance of reinforcement modifiers in rubber technology is systematically described in the light of filler dispersion, processing, and mechanical properties of filled rubber compounds. A special emphasis is given on the mechanism of interaction between reinforcement modifiers and filler surface in filled rubber composites. Filler dispersion in the rubber matrix is the key parameter that controls the ultimate performance and rubber–filler interaction of filled rubber system. The use of some fixed reinforcement modifiers is an innovative way not only to solve the dispersion problem of filler particles but also to increase the reinforcing ability of most of the fillers in filled rubber products. Thus, the concept of reinforcement modifiers has the potential to facilitate further development of filler reinforcement technology for rubber-based composite materials.
Helicobacter pylori infection and polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescent and young adult patients

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of infertility among women of reproductive age. Chronic systemic inflammation has been considered to play a role in the development of PCOS. Helicobacter pylori has been shown to lead to both local gastric and chronic systemic inflammation. In the light of this, the aim of the present study was to investigate a possible link between H. pylori and PCOS.
Plant Species Discrimination in a Tropical Wetland Using In Situ Hyperspectral Data

We investigated the use of full-range (400–2,500 nm) hyperspectral data obtained by sampling foliar reflectances to discriminate 46 plant species in a tropical wetland in Jamaica. A total of 47 spectral variables, including derivative spectra, spectral vegetation indices, spectral position variables, normalized spectra and spectral absorption features, were used for classifying the 46 species. The Mann–Whitney U-test, paired one-way ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA), random forest (RF) and a wrapper approach with a support vector machine were used as feature selection methods. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), an artificial neural network (ANN) and a generalized linear model fitted with elastic net penalties (GLMnet) were then used for species separation. For comparison, the RF classifier (denoted as RFa) was also used to separate the species by using all reflectance spectra and spectral indices, respectively, without applying any feature selection. The RFa classifier was able to achieve 91.8% and 84.8% accuracy with importance-ranked spectral indices and reflectance spectra, respectively. The GLMnet classifier produced the lowest overall accuracies for feature-selected reflectance spectra data (52–77%) when compared with the LDA and ANN methods. However, when feature-selected spectral indices were used, the GLMnet produced overall accuracies ranging from 79 to 88%, which were the highest among the three classifiers that used feature-selected data. A total of 12 species recorded a 100% producer accuracy, but with spectral indices, and an additional 8 species had perfect producer accuracies, regardless of the input features. The results of this study suggest that the GLMnet classifier can be used, particularly on feature-selected spectral indices, to discern vegetation in wetlands. However, it might be more efficient to use RFa without feature-selected variables, especially for spectral indices.
Petri Nets and Regular Processes

We consider the following problems: (a) Given a labelled Petri net and a finite automaton, are they equivalent? ; (b) Given a labelled Petri net, is it equivalent to some (unspecified) finite automaton? These questions are studied within the framework of trace and bisimulation equivalences, in both their strong and weak versions. (In the weak version a special ? action? likened to an ? -move in automata theory? is considered to be nonobservable.) We demonstrate that (a) is decidable for strong and weak trace equivalence and for strong bisimulation equivalence, but undecidable for weak bisimulation equivalence. On the other hand, we show that (b) is decidable for strong bisimulation equivalence, and undecidable for strong and weak trace equivalence, as well as for weak bisimulation equivalence.
Peer-to-Peer Refueling for Circular Satellite Constellations

The scheduling problem arising from refueling multiple satellites in a circular constellation is studied. It is assumed that no fuel is delivered to the constellation from an external source. Instead, all satellites in the constellation are assumed to be capable of refueling each other [peer-to-peer (P2P) refueling]. The total time to complete the rendezvous maneuvers including the refueling itself is specified. During the refueling period, each satellite may conduct a fuel exchange with at most one other satellite. Whenever two satellites perform a fuel transfer, only one is active; that is, only one of the two satellites initiates an orbital transfer to rendezvous with the inactive satellite. After the transfer of fuel is completed, the active satellite returns to its original orbital slot. The goal is to equalize the fuel among the satellites in the constellation after one refueling period while minimizing the total fuel consumed during the orbital transfers. It is shown that this problem can be formulated as a maximum-weight-matching problem on the reduced constellation graph, which can be solved using standard numerical methods. Numerical results indicate the benefits of a P2P strategy over a single-spacecraft refueling strategy for constellations with a large number of satellites.
Multiple sound sources tracking method based on Subspace Tracking

In this paper, we propose a novel method for tracking two talkers. The tracking is performed using a microphone array and is based on algorithms implemented successively, namely, the PAST (Projection Approximation Subspace Tracking) and IPLS (Interior Point Least Square) algorithms. When multiple sound sources exist, the order of eigenvectors estimated by the PAST might change at each point in the time-frequency domain. This prevents us from separating and localizing each source. In addition, the appropriate initial values for the IPLS algorithm are required even for the silent-speech sections or in the low-energy domain because of the sparseness of speech signals. To overcome such difficulties, we propose a new method for assigning eigenvectors in the appropriate order and a method for setting the suitable initial value in the IPLS. Several results of experiments performed in an actual room environment show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Ultra-fast detector for wide range spectral measurements

KALYPSO is a novel detector operating at line rates above 10 Mfps. The detector board holds a silicon or InGaAs linear array sensor with spectral sensitivity ranging from 400 nm to 2600 nm. The sensor is connected to a cutting-edge, custom designed, ASIC readout chip, which is responsible for the remarkable frame rate. The FPGA readout architecture enables continuous data acquisition and processing in real time. This detector is currently employed in many synchrotron facilities for beam diagnostics and for the characterization of self-built Ytterbium-doped fiber laser emitting around 1050 nm with a bandwidth of 40 nm.