Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coping and caring: support resources integral to perioperative nurses during the process of organ procurement surgery

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To discuss and explore the levels of support provided to perioperative nurses when participating in multi-organ procurement surgery and the impact to their overall well-being. BACKGROUND Assisting within multi-organ procurement surgical procedures has been recognised to impact on the well-being of perioperative nurses leaving little opportunity for them to recover from their participation or to seek available support resources. To date, this area has remained largely unexplored with limited evidence of how nurses manage and cope with these procedures, in addition to the support received in the workplace. DESIGN A qualitative grounded theory method. METHODS The study was informed by perioperative nurses (n = 35) who had previous participatory experience in these surgical procedures from two Australian states. Theoretical sampling directed the collection of data via semistructured in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method. RESULTS Three components of levels of support were identified from the data: lacking support within the operating room organisation; surgical team support and access to external professional support. CONCLUSION These findings offer new insights into how nurses manage and cope with their participation in organ procurement surgical procedures and what types of support resources can be seen as barriers or enablers to their overall experiences. The need for timely and adequate support is vital to their overall well-being and future participation in organ procurement surgery. These findings have the potential to guide further research with implications for clinical initiatives and practices, looking at new ways of supporting perioperative nurses within the clinical environment both locally and internationally. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Healthcare organisations need to acknowledge the emotional, psychosocial and psychological health and well-being of nurses impacted by these surgical procedures and provide appropriate and timely clinical support within the work environment.
PIRT: A Runtime Framework to Enable Energy-Efficient Real-Time Robotic Applications on Heterogeneous Architectures

Enabling full robotic workloads with diverse behaviors on mobile systems with stringent resource and energy constraints remains a challenge. In recent years, attempts have been made to deploy single-accelerator-based computing platforms (such as GPU, DSP, or FPGA) to address this challenge, but with little success. The core problem is two-fold: firstly, different robotic tasks require different accelerators, and secondly, managing multiple accelerators simultaneously is overwhelming for developers. In this paper, we propose PIRT, the first robotic runtime framework to efficiently manage dynamic task executions on mobile systems with multiple accelerators as well as on the cloud to achieve better performance and energy savings. With PIRT, we enable a robot to simultaneously perform autonomous navigation with 25 FPS of localization, obstacle detection with 3 FPS, route planning, large map generation, and scene understanding, traveling at a max speed of 5 miles per hour, all within an 11W computing power envelope.
Discovery and characterization of Isofistularin-3, a marine brominated alkaloid, as a new DNA demethylating agent inducing cell cycle arrest and sensitization to TRAIL in cancer cells

We characterized the brominated alkaloid Isofistularin-3 (Iso-3), from the marine sponge Aplysina aerophoba, as a new DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)1 inhibitor. Docking analysis confirmed our in vitro DNMT inhibition data and revealed binding of Iso-3 within the DNA binding site of DNMT1. Subsequent increased expression of tumor suppressor gene aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) could be correlated to decreased methylation of CpG sites within the essential Sp1 regulatory region of its promoter. Iso-3 induced growth arrest of cancer cells in G0/G1 concomitant with increased p21 and p27 expression and reduced cyclin E1, PCNA and c-myc levels. Reduced proliferation was accompanied by morphological changes typical of autophagy revealed by fluorescent and transmission electron microscopy and validated by LC3I-II conversion. Furthermore, Iso-3 strongly synergized with tumor-necrosis-factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in RAJI [combination index (CI) = 0.22] and U-937 cells (CI = 0.21) and increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis via a mechanism involving reduction of survivin expression but not of Bcl-2 family proteins nor X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). Iso-3 treatment decreased FLIPL expression and triggered activation of endoplasmatic reticulum (ER) stress with increased GRP78 expression, eventually inducing TRAIL receptor death receptor (DR)5 surface expression. Importantly, as a potential candidate for further anticancer drug development, Iso-3 reduced the viability, colony and in vivo tumor forming potential without affecting the viability of PBMCs from healthy donors or zebrafish development.
Computer-assisted auto coloring by region matching

Computer-assisted auto coloring (CAAC) has great potential in terms of lowering production cost and saving time in cel animation production. In this paper, a novel approach to automatically color the animation character of line drawings based on region matching and master frames is proposed. Firstly, some important attributes of a region such as curve length, character points, area etc. are investigated. Then, based on these attributes, a detailed process of region matching is presented followed by the coloring process. The results show that our approach can straightforwardly handle most cases, hence the aim of saving time and labor is realized.
IPMSM torque control strategies based on LUTs and VCT feedback for robust control under machine parameter variations

In recent years, Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (IPMSMs) have attracted a considerable attention in the scientific community and industry for Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) propulsion systems. Look-up Table (LUT) based Field Oriented Control (FOC) strategies are widely used for IPMSM torque control. However, LUTs strongly depend on machine parameters. Deviations of these parameters due to machine ageing, temperature or manufacturing inaccuracies can lead to control instabilities in the field weakening region. In this paper, two novel hybrid IPMSM control strategies combining the usage of LUTs and Voltage Constraint Tracking (VCT) feedbacks are proposed in order to overcome the aforementioned controllability issues. Simulation results that demonstrate the validity of the proposed approaches are presented.
Beyond Pixels: Leveraging Geometry and Shape Cues for Online Multi-Object Tracking

This paper introduces geometry and object shape and pose costs for multi-object tracking in urban driving scenarios. Using images from a monocular camera alone, we devise pairwise costs for object tracks, based on several 3D cues such as object pose, shape, and motion. The proposed costs are agnostic to the data association method and can be incorporated into any optimization framework to output the pairwise data associations. These costs are easy to implement, can be computed in real-time, and complement each other to account for possible errors in a tracking-by-detection framework. We perform an extensive analysis of the designed costs and empirically demonstrate consistent improvement over the state-of-the-art under varying conditions that employ a range of object detectors, exhibit a variety in camera and object motions, and, more importantly, are not reliant on the choice of the association framework. We also show that, by using the simplest of associations frameworks (two-frame Hungarian assignment), we surpass the state-of-the-art in multi-object-tracking on road scenes. More qualitative and quantitative results can be found at https://junaidcs032.github. io/Geometry_ObjectShape_MOT/.
Mapping face categorization in the human ventral occipitotemporal cortex with direct neural intracranial recordings

The neural basis of face categorization has been widely investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), identifying a set of face‐selective local regions in the ventral occipitotemporal cortex (VOTC). However, indirect recording of neural activity with fMRI is associated with large fluctuations of signal across regions, often underestimating face‐selective responses in the anterior VOTC. While direct recording of neural activity with subdural grids of electrodes (electrocorticography, ECoG) or depth electrodes (stereotactic electroencephalography, SEEG) offers a unique opportunity to fill this gap in knowledge, these studies rather reveal widely distributed face‐selective responses. Moreover, intracranial recordings are complicated by interindividual variability in neuroanatomy, ambiguity in definition, and quantification of responses of interest, as well as limited access to sulci with ECoG. Here, we propose to combine SEEG in large samples of individuals with fast periodic visual stimulation to objectively define, quantify, and characterize face categorization across the whole VOTC. This approach reconciles the wide distribution of neural face categorization responses with their (right) hemispheric and regional specialization, and reveals several face‐selective regions in anterior VOTC sulci. We outline the challenges of this research program to understand the neural basis of face categorization and high‐level visual recognition in general.
A Generalized Discrete-Time Altafini Model

A discrete-time modulus consensus model is considered in which the interactions between the members of a networked family of n agents is described by a time-dependent gain graph whose vertices correspond to agents and whose arcs are assigned complex numbers from a prescribed cyclic group. Limiting behavior of the model's state is studied using a graphical approach. It is shown that a certain type of clustering of agents' “opinions” or states will be reached exponentially fast for almost all initial conditions if and only if the sequence of gain graphs is “repeatedly jointly structurally balanced” corresponding to the type of clustering being reached, where the number of clusters is at most the order of the prescribed cyclic group. It is also shown that the agents' states will all converge to zero asymptotically if the sequence of gain graphs is repeatedly jointly strongly connected and structurally unbalanced. In the special case when the cyclic group is of order two, the model simplifies to the so-called Altafini model whose gain graph is simply a signed graph.
AIS Electronic

Social network game (SNG) is attracting more and more players and becoming a promising market for game providers. Competing game providers are also constantly providing substitutes to attract SNG players to switch among SNGs. In prior IS literature few studies have tried to investigate the switching behaviour. In order to explore IS user’s switching behaviour in SNGs, we examine the determinants of individuals’ switching intention to alternative SNGs and their discontinuing use of the current SNG. We propose and test a research model with 541 responses from Chinese SNG gamers collected via an online survey. The research model suggests that satisfaction, subjective norm, alternative attractiveness and variety-seeking behaviour have significant effects on individuals’ switching intention. Finally, we made a discussion on these findings as well as limitations and future study.
First Deployment and Validation of in Situ Silicate Electrochemical Sensor in Seawater

An electrochemical sensor is proposed to measure silicate concentration, in situ, in the ocean without any addition of liquid reagent. From the analytical principle to the laboratory prototype toward the first in situ, immersible sensor, the evolution of the mechanical design is presented and discussed. The developed in situ electronics were compared to the commercial potentiostat and gave promising results to detect low silicate signals with a limit of quantification of 1 µmol L-1.The flow rate of the pump appeared to be a crucial parameter in order to transfer the silicomolybdic complex formed from the ‘complexation cell’ to the ‘detection cell’ without dilution as well as to fill and rinse the whole circuit. The study of temperature effect revealed no influence on the electrochemical signal between ~7°C and ~21°C. Finally the sensor was successfully deployed for the very first time on a mooring off Coquimbo, Chile and also integrated onto a PROVOR profiling float in the Mediterranean Sea off Villefranche-sur-Mer, France. The data collected and/or sent through satellite were in good agreement with the 2 reference samples and previously published values illustrating the great potential of this electrochemical sensor. A 7 days silicate time series from the mooring deployment off Chile is also presented.
Max-Mahalanobis Linear Discriminant Analysis Networks

A deep neural network (DNN) consists of a nonlinear transformation from an input to a feature representation, followed by a common softmax linear classifier. Though many efforts have been devoted to designing a proper architecture for nonlinear transformation, little investigation has been done on the classifier part. In this paper, we show that a properly designed classifier can improve robustness to adversarial attacks and lead to better prediction results. Specifically, we define a Max-Mahalanobis distribution (MMD) and theoretically show that if the input distributes as a MMD, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier will have the best robustness to adversarial examples. We further propose a novel Max-Mahalanobis linear discriminant analysis (MM-LDA) network, which explicitly maps a complicated data distribution in the input space to a MMD in the latent feature space and then applies LDA to make predictions. Our results demonstrate that the MM-LDA networks are significantly more robust to adversarial attacks, and have better performance in class-biased classification.
Genetic and Neutralization Properties of HIV-1 env Clones From Subtype B/BC/AE Infections in China

Background:As HIV vaccines move into preclinical and clinical trials in China, pseudovirion-based neutralization assays, especially those using env genes of Chinese origin, are widely required to evaluate the ability of HIV vaccines to induce neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses. Materials and Methods:Functional gp160 genes from plasma samples from Chinese HIV-infected patients were cloned and sequenced and then used to establish a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay. The neutralization phenotypes of the Env-pseudotyped viruses were characterized with known nAbs (4E10, 2F5, IgG1b12, and 2G12) and 43 plasma samples from patients infected with different HIV subtypes. Results:Overall, 27 functional gp160 genes (18 subtype BC, 3 subtype AE, and 6 subtype B) of HIV-1 were obtained, and their full-length nucleotide sequences were analyzed. The results confirmed the presence of significant genetic diversity among the clones. 4E10 neutralized all 27 Env-pseudotyped viruses, whereas IgG1b12 neutralized 44% of them. 2F5 neutralized 67% and 100% of subtype B and AE clones, respectively, but not subtype BC clones, whereas 2G12 neutralized 33% of subtype B viruses but not subtype BC and AE viruses. There were significant differences in the cross-neutralization activities when the neutralization phenotypes of the 27 Env-pseudotyped viruses were characterized using 43 HIV-positive plasma samples. Conclusions:These characterized functional HIV-1 env clones should be useful for standardizing neutralization assays in China.
Vowel Contrast and Speech Intelligibility in Dysarthria

Background/Aims: This study examined the spectral characteristics of American English vowels in dysarthria associated with cerebral palsy (CP), and investigated the relationship between a speaker’s overall speech intelligibility and vowel contrast. Methods: The data were collected from 12 American English native speakers (9 speakers with a diagnosis of CP and 3 controls). Primary measures were F1 and F2 frequencies of 3 corner vowels /i, a, u/ and 3 noncorner vowels /I, 3, */. Six acoustic variables were derived from the formant measures, and were regressed against intelligibility: corner vowel space, noncorner vowel space, mean distance between vowels, F1 and F2 variability, and overlap degree among vowels. Results: First, the effect of vowel was significant for both F1 and F2 measures for all speakers, but post hoc analysis revealed a reduced distinction at lower intelligibility. Second, regression functions relating intelligibility and acoustic variables were significant for overlap degree among vowels, F1 variability, corner vowel space and mean distance between vowels. Overlap degree among vowels accounted for the greatest amount of variance in intelligibility scores. Conclusion: A speaker’s overall intelligibility in dysarthric speech is better represented by the overlap degree among vowels than by the vowel space.
Musashi and Plasticity of Xenopus and Axolotl Spinal Cord Ependymal Cells

The differentiated state of spinal cord ependymal cells in regeneration-competent amphibians varies between a constitutively active state in what is essentially a developing organism, the tadpole of the frog Xenopus laevis, and a quiescent, activatable state in a slowly growing adult salamander Ambystoma mexicanum, the Axolotl. Ependymal cells are epithelial in intact spinal cord of all vertebrates. After transection, body region ependymal epithelium in both Xenopus and the Axolotl disorganizes for regenerative outgrowth (gap replacement). Injury-reactive ependymal cells serve as a stem/progenitor cell population in regeneration and reconstruct the central canal. Expression patterns of mRNA and protein for the stem/progenitor cell-maintenance Notch signaling pathway mRNA-binding protein Musashi (msi) change with life stage and regeneration competence. Msi-1 is missing (immunohistochemistry), or at very low levels (polymerase chain reaction, PCR), in both intact regeneration-competent adult Axolotl cord and intact non-regeneration-competent Xenopus tadpole (Nieuwkoop and Faber stage 62+, NF 62+). The critical correlation for successful regeneration is msi-1 expression/upregulation after injury in the ependymal outgrowth and stump-region ependymal cells. msi-1 and msi-2 isoforms were cloned for the Axolotl as well as previously unknown isoforms of Xenopus msi-2. Intact Xenopus spinal cord ependymal cells show a loss of msi-1 expression between regeneration-competent (NF 50–53) and non-regenerating stages (NF 62+) and in post-metamorphosis froglets, while msi-2 displays a lower molecular weight isoform in non-regenerating cord. In the Axolotl, embryos and juveniles maintain Msi-1 expression in the intact cord. In the adult Axolotl, Msi-1 is absent, but upregulates after injury. Msi-2 levels are more variable among Axolotl life stages: rising between late tailbud embryos and juveniles and decreasing in adult cord. Cultures of regeneration-competent Xenopus tadpole cord and injury-responsive adult Axolotl cord ependymal cells showed an identical growth factor response. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) maintains mesenchymal outgrowth in vitro, the cells are proliferative and maintain msi-1 expression. Non-regeneration competent Xenopus ependymal cells, NF 62+, failed to attach or grow well in EGF+ medium. Ependymal Msi-1 expression in vivo and in vitro is a strong indicator of regeneration competence in the amphibian spinal cord.
Lifestyle and emotional well-being in men and women with type 2 diabetes (e-VitaDM-4; ZODIAC-48)

Abstract Background: Whether lifestyle is associated with well-being in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is largely unknown. Uncovering and clarifying associations between these constructs may lead to new strategies for improving both. Objectives: The aim was to investigate the relationship between lifestyle and well-being, focussing on gender differences. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1085 patients with T2D that participated in the e-Vita part of the Zwolle outpatient diabetes project integrating available care (ZODIAC) study. Patients were included from May 2012 until September 2014 from 52 general practices. Emotional well-being was assessed with the World Health Organization-5 well-being index (WHO-5). Lifestyle information on body mass index, smoking, physical activity and alcohol use was extracted from self-reported questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analyses were used. Results: After adjustment for other lifestyle factors, physical activity, smoking and drinking 22–35 alcohol consumptions per week were associated with the WHO-5 score in men and physical activity and smoking were associated with the WHO-5 score in women. In the fully adjusted analyses for the total study population, physical activity and smoking were still associated with the WHO-5 score (b = 1.1, P < .001 and b =-3.1, P = .018, respectively). In the fully adjusted analyses stratified to gender only physical activity was associated with the WHO-5 score (in men: b =0.8, P = .006, in women: b = 1.4, P = .001). Conclusion: This study shows a negative, non-clinically relevant association between smoking and emotional well-being in the total population with T2D and a positive, non-clinically relevant association between physical activity and emotional well-being in both men and women with T2D.
Influence of high-power electric motor on an FPGA used in the drive system of electric car

This paper presents an empirical method to model the impact of industrial harsh electromagnetic environment on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The methodology focuses principally on the magnetic field effects and is based on three phases: first, an assessment of the radiated magnetic field of the considered source is performed by measurements or by simulations based on Finite Element Method (FEM). Then, the sensitivity of the FPGA to radiated magnetic field is experimentally evaluated. Finally, by combining these results, a parametric model characterizing the effects of a magnetic field on an FPGA is established. This model can then be integrated into a CAD tool in order to take these effects into account at the design stage of the FPGA-based system. This method is applied to investigate the effects of an electric car's high-power electric motor on its control system implemented in FPGA.
Local Suppression and Splitting Techniques for Privacy Preserving Publication of Trajectories

We study the problem of preserving user privacy in the publication of location sequences. Consider a database of trajectories, corresponding to movements of people, captured by their transactions when they use credit cards, RFID debit cards, or NFC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_field_communication) compliant devices. We show that, if such trajectories are published exactly (by only hiding the identities of persons that followed them), one can use partial trajectory knowledge as a quasi-identifier for the remaining locations in the sequence. We devise four intuitive techniques, based on combinations of locations suppression and trajectories splitting, and we show that they can prevent privacy breaches while keeping published data accurate for aggregate query answering and frequent subsets data mining.