Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predicting electromyographic signals under realistic conditions using a multiscale chemo–electro–mechanical finite element model

This paper presents a novel multiscale finite element-based framework for modelling electromyographic (EMG) signals. The framework combines (i) a biophysical description of the excitation–contraction coupling at the half-sarcomere level, (ii) a model of the action potential (AP) propagation along muscle fibres, (iii) a continuum-mechanical formulation of force generation and deformation of the muscle, and (iv) a model for predicting the intramuscular and surface EMG. Owing to the biophysical description of the half-sarcomere, the model inherently accounts for physiological properties of skeletal muscle. To demonstrate this, the influence of membrane fatigue on the EMG signal during sustained contractions is investigated. During a stimulation period of 500 ms at 100 Hz, the predicted EMG amplitude decreases by 40% and the AP propagation velocity decreases by 15%. Further, the model can take into account contraction-induced deformations of the muscle. This is demonstrated by simulating fixed-length contractions of an idealized geometry and a model of the human tibialis anterior muscle (TA). The model of the TA furthermore demonstrates that the proposed finite element model is capable of simulating realistic geometries, complex fibre architectures, and can include different types of heterogeneities. In addition, the TA model accounts for a distributed innervation zone, different fibre types and appeals to motor unit discharge times that are based on a biophysical description of the α motor neurons.
Expression and Neural Control of Myogenic Regulatory Factor Genes During Regeneration of Mouse Soleus

Given the importance of the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) for myoblast differentiation during development, the aims of this work were to clarify the spatial and temporal expression pattern of the four MRF mRNAs during soleus regeneration in mouse after cardiotoxin injury, using in situ hybridization, and to investigate the influence of innervation on the expression of each MRF during a complete degeneration/regeneration process. For this, we performed cardiotoxin injury-induced regeneration experiments on denervated soleus muscle. Myf-5, MyoD, and MRF4 mRNAs were detected in satellite cell-derived myoblasts in the first stages of muscle regeneration analyzed (2–3 days P-I). The Myf-5 transcript level dramatically decreased in young multinucleated myotubes, whereas MyoD and MRF4 transcripts were expressed persistently throughout the regeneration process. Myogenin mRNA was transiently expressed in forming myotubes. These results are discussed with regard to the potential relationships between MyoD and MRF4 in the satellite cell differentiation pathway. Muscle denervation precociously (at 8 days P-I) upregulated both the Myf-5 and the MRF4 mRNA levels, whereas the increase of both MyoD and myogenin mRNA levels was observed later, in the late stages of regeneration (30 days P-I). This significant accumulation of each differentially upregulated MRF during soleus regeneration after denervation suggests that each myogenic factor might have a distinct role in the regulatory control of muscle gene expression. This role is discussed in relation to the expression of the nerve-regulated genes, such as the nAChR subunit gene family.
A layered architecture for Vehicular Delay-Tolerant Networks

Vehicular Delay-Tolerant Network (VDTN) is a new network architecture based on the concept of Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN). It aims to be an architecture that handles non-real time applications at low cost, under unreliable conditions, enabling connectivity in diverse scenarios, using vehicles to carry data between terminal nodes. For example, it can be applied in rural and remote areas, or in emergency scenarios. This paper proposes a layered architecture for VDTNs, using out-of-band signaling, based on the separation of the control plane and data plane. It presents the layers interactions and the envisioned protocols required at each layer. The paper provides a deep understanding of the characteristics of VDTN and reveal some design issues in its modeling, leading to insights for future theoretic study and protocol design.
An X/K-band Class-E High-Efficiency Frequency Doubler

A class-E frequency doubler is presented at 20.8 GHz, the highest frequency reported to date. The circuit has 42.7% drain efficiency and 31.6% overall efficiency for an output power of 7.1dBm and 0.83 dB conversion gain. A maximum gain of 7.18 dB is achievable with 3.4dBm output power and 13.5% overall efficiency. The trade-off between efficiency and conversion gain is optimized by proper biasing and driving to obtain a 5.23 dB gain with an overall efficiency of 23.5%. The rejection of unwanted harmonics is greater than 26 dBm. The MESFET doubler is designed using a simple switching mode theory based on small signal device parameters.
An Orchestrated Survey on Automated Software Test Case Generation I

Test case generation is among the most labour-intensive tasks in software testing and also one that has a strong impact on the e ectiveness and e ciency of software testing. For these reasons, it has also been one of the most active topics in the research on software testing for several decades, resulting in many di erent approaches and tools. This paper presents an orchestrated survey of the most prominent techniques for automatic generation of software test cases, reviewed in self-standing sections. The techniques presented include: (a) structural testing using symbolic execution, (b) model-based testing, (c) combinatorial testing, (d) random testing and its variant of adaptive random testing, and (e) search-based testing. Each section is contributed by worldrenowned active researchers on the technique, and briefly covers the basic ideas underlying the technique, the current state of art, a discussion of the open research problems, and a perspective of the future development in the approach. As a whole, the paper aims at giving an introductory, up-to-date and (relatively) short overview of research in automatic test case generation, while ensuring comprehensiveness and authoritativeness.
Modulation and vectorial summation of the spinalized frog's hindlimb end-point force produced by intraspinal electrical stimulation of the cord

The ability to produce various force patterns at the ankle by microstimulation of the gray matter of the spinal cord was investigated in spinalized frogs. We evaluated the recruitment properties of individual spinal sites and found that forces increase linearly with activation level in the low-force range studied, while the structure of the force pattern remains invariant. We also measured the responses produced by coactivation of two spinal sites activated at two pairs of stimulation levels. Responses were measured at the mechanical level by recording forces at the ankle; and, at the muscular level by recording the electromyographic (EMG) activity of 11 hindlimb muscles. We found that for both pairs of activation, the forces under coactivation were the scaled vectorial summation of the individual responses. At the muscular level, rectified and integrated EMGs also summated during coactivation. Numerous force patterns could, thus, be created by the activation of a few individual sites. These results suggest that microstimulation of the circuitry of the spinal cord (higher order neurons than the motoneurons) holds promise as a new functional neuromuscular stimulation technique for the restoration of multi-joint movements.
Preventing symptom progression in women at risk for AN: results of a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE Despite the need, no targeted (indicated) prevention programs for women at risk for anorexia nervosa (AN) or with restrictive eating and normal body weight are available. Therefore, our aim was to develop a prevention program specific for these risk groups and to assess its feasibility and effectiveness in a pilot study. METHODS Thirty-six women selected by high weight and shape concerns, low BMI and/or high restrained eating participated in a 10-week Internet-based cognitive-behavioural prevention program for AN. RESULTS Feasibility, adherence and acceptance were assessed at post-intervention; symptoms of disordered eating and associated psychopathology were assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 6-month follow-up. The 32 women who finished the study completed 88% of the sessions. Satisfaction with the program was also high. AN-specific eating and associated psychopathology improved significantly and differentially in the three weight-related subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results of this pilot study are promising. The efficacy of this indicated preventive intervention should be tested in a larger randomized controlled trial.
SMALL INTESTINAL MUCOSAL pH AND LACTATE PRODUCTION DURING EXPERIMENTAL ISCHEMIA‐REPERFUSION AND FECAL PERITONITIS IN PIGS

The aim of this study was to investigate mucosal pH and iactate production in a porcine model of ischemia/reperfusion and sepsis using both tonometry and a technique for segmental intestinal perfusion. Eighteen pigs (17–23 kg) were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. They were divided into three groups and followed for 4 h. Group C (n = 6) served as controls. In the ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R; n = 6), the superior mesenteric artery was totally occluded for 60 min. In group P (n = 6), sepsis was induced by fecal peritonitis. Cardiac index (CI) was determined by thermodilution and blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery (QSMA), using a Transonic flow probe. Intramucosal pH (pH;) was calculated using tonometry. A special balloon tube for segmental perfusion was introduced in the midileum for Iactate measurement. Lactate and oxygen saturation were measured in arterial blood and in the superior mesenteric vein. Cl, QSMA, pHi, and lactate in blood and perfusate remained unchanged in controls. Occlusion of intestinal blood flow induced a fall in pHi from 7.28 ± . 02 to 6.76 ± . 04, a marked rise in lactate in the perfusate, and an increased arteriovenous lactate difference. During reperfusion, pHi tended to return to baseline values. Lactate in the perfusate and the arteriovenous lactate difference decreased. In sepsis there was a continuous reduction in CI and QSMA to 45 ± 13% and 40 ± 20% of baseline, respectively. pHi decreased moderately from 7.22 ± . 09 to 6.98 ± . 25. Lactate remained unchanged in blood and perfusate. Microscopic mucosal injury was observed in all animals subjected to ischemia/reperfusion and in three of six pigs in group P. A good association between pHi and lactate production was seen in ischemia/ reperfusion. However, in sepsis, lactate in superior mesenteric venous blood or in intestinal perfusate did not increase, despite the fall in pHi. The mechanism causing ischemic mucosal injury has different characteristics in sepsis and in ischemia caused by arterial occlusion.
Optimizing Design and Performance of Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks with 3D Topology

This study aims to optimize the design and performance of three-dimensional (3D) underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs). First, we develop an analytical model to quantify network performances in terms of the packet queueing delay and packet error probability for sensors in a 3D UASN. The model considers the retransmission delay due to packet transmission errors and packet collisions when calculating the packet queueing delay. The packet queueing delay depends on the choice of medium access control (MAC) protocol. We consider two different MAC protocols: slotted ALOHA and Request-to-Send and Clear-to-Send (RTS/CTS)-based MAC, which are the representative random access-based and handshake-based MAC protocols for UASNs, respectively. Based on the model, we further determine the smallest data sink density required to meet the desired packet error probability requirement for underwater sensor density, which can help network operators to design and build UASNs in a cost-effective way. To do this, we formulate a simple optimization problem that aims to minimize the data sink density while guaranteeing an upper bound for packet error probability. Using extensive numerical evaluations, network operation strategies are then presented to achieve the desired performance requirements in 3D UASNs.
Modified technique for efficient detection of microsporidia

Changes in temperature (from room temperature to 50 degrees C) and staining time (from 90 to 10 min) were evaluated as a means of improving the detection of microsporidia from stool specimens. A blinded and independent comparison of 50 known positive matched-specimen pairs by three technologists resulted in consistently easier microscopic detection. The background is clearer, and spores stain more intensely. Staining time is reduced by 80 min.
A review of statistical methods for prediction of proteolytic cleavage

A fundamental component of systems biology, proteolytic cleavage is involved in nearly all aspects of cellular activities: from gene regulation to cell lifecycle regulation. Current sequencing technologies have made it possible to compile large amount of cleavage data and brought greater understanding of the underlying protein interactions. However, the practical impossibility to exhaustively retrieve substrate sequences through experimentation alone has long highlighted the need for efficient computational prediction methods. Such methods must be able to quickly mark substrate candidates and putative cleavage sites for further analysis. Available methods and expected reliability depend heavily on the type and complexity of proteolytic action, as well as the availability of well-labelled experimental data sets: factors varying greatly across enzyme families. For this review, we chose to give a quick overview of the general issues and challenges in cleavage prediction methods followed by a more in-depth presentation of major techniques and implementations, with a focus on two particular families of cysteine proteases: caspases and calpains. Through their respective differences in proteolytic specificity (high for caspases, broader for calpains) and data availability (much lower for calpains), we aimed to illustrate the strengths and limitations of techniques ranging from position-based matrices and decision trees to more flexible machine-learning methods such as hidden Markov models and Support Vector Machines. In addition to a technical overview for each family of algorithms, we tried to provide elements of evaluation and performance comparison across methods.
Human Analogue Safe Haven Effect of the Owner: Behavioural and Heart Rate Response to Stressful Social Stimuli in Dogs

The secure base and safe haven effects of the attachment figure are central features of the human attachment theory. Recently, conclusive evidence for human analogue attachment behaviours in dogs has been provided, however, the owner’s security-providing role in danger has not been directly supported. We investigated the relationship between the behavioural and cardiac response in dogs (N = 30) while being approached by a threatening stranger in separation vs. in the presence of the owner, presented in a balanced order. Non-invasive telemetric measures of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) data during the threatening approaches was compared to periods before and after the encounters. Dogs that showed distress vocalisation during separation (N = 18) and that growled or barked at the stranger during the threatening approach (N = 17) were defined as behaviourally reactive in the given situation. While characteristic stress vocalisations were emitted during separations, the absence of the owner did not have an effect on dogs’ mean HR, but significantly increased the HRV. The threatening approach increased dogs’ mean HR, with a parallel decrease in the HRV, particularly in dogs that were behaviourally reactive to the encounter. Importantly, the HR increase was significantly less pronounced when dogs faced the stranger in the presence of the owner. Moreover, the test order, whether the dog encountered the stranger first with or without its owner, also proved important: HR increase associated with the encounter in separation seemed to be attenuated in dogs that faced the stranger first in the presence of their owner. We provided evidence for human analogue safe haven effect of the owner in a potentially dangerous situation. Similarly to parents of infants, owners can provide a buffer against stress in dogs, which can even reduce the effect of a subsequent encounter with the same threatening stimuli later when the owner is not present.
Smoking, Cardiac Symptoms, and an Emergency Care Visit: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Cognitive and Emotional Reactions

Emergency departments and hospitals are being urged to implement onsite interventions to promote smoking cessation, yet little is known about the theoretical underpinnings of behavior change after a healthcare visit. This observational pilot study evaluated three factors that may predict smoking cessation after an acute health emergency: perceived illness severity, event-related emotions, and causal attribution. Fifty smokers who presented to a hospital because of suspected cardiac symptoms were interviewed, either in the emergency department (ED) or, for those who were admitted, on the cardiac inpatient units. Their data were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to capture the individual, first-hand experience and to evaluate trends over the illness chronology. Reported perceptions of the event during semistructured interview varied widely and related to the individual's intentions regarding smoking cessation. No significant differences were found between those interviewed in the ED versus the inpatient unit. Although the typical profile was characterized by a peak in perceived illness severity and negative emotions at the time the patient presented in the ED, considerable pattern variation occurred. Our results suggest that future studies of event-related perceptions and emotional reactions should consider using multi-item and multidimensional assessment methods rated serially over the event chronology.
Domain Ontology Learning for Question Answering System in Network Education

The BITQAP question answering platform is ontology-based semantic question answering system. In ldquoComputer Organization and Architecturerdquo course, we apply the platform as CAI tools to answer questions. In the paper, we proposed methods to extract the concepts and relations from course corpus. Term extraction is the first step of ontology learning. The Chinese domain terms have three features: Coupling, Domain Relevancy and Domain Consensus. In the paper, these features be modeled and integrated to evaluate the terms. In concept learning process, the CBC (Clustering by Committee) is adopted to learn concepts. In relation learning process, snow ball technique to be used to acquire hyponymy relation, and HowNet-based method to be used to extract general relation. Experimental results show that the methods of ontology learning in the paper is efficient and is helpful to solving of semantic problems in question answering system.
Thymocytes can become mature T cells without passing through the CD4+ CD8+, double-positive stage

T cells bearing the class II-restricted, DO-T cell receptor (TCR) are CD4+ if their thymocyte precursors are positively selected on the class II protein, IAd, but they are almost all CD4- after positive selection on a class II for which they have higher avidity, IAb. DO-TCR+ T cells mature in H-2b mice lacking CD4. CD4- DO-TCR+ T cells appear in H-2b mice at the same rate as their CD4+ counterparts appear in H-2d animals, suggesting that the CD4- cells are not the product of some minor pathway of thymocyte development and selection. In H-2b CD4 knock out mice expressing human CD2 under the control of the mouse CD4 promoter, mature DO-TCR+ cells did not express human CD2. These results suggest that the CD4-CD8-, DO-TCR+ mature T cells have developed without ever passing through the equivalent of a CD4+,CD8+ stage. The early expression of alpha/beta receptors (TCRs) on thymocytes in TCR transgenic mice may allow maturation of this type. Passage through the equivalent of the CD4+ CD8+, double-positive stage is not essential for differentiation of thymocytes into mature T cells.
Gen-Meta: Generating metaphors by combining AI and corpus-based modeling

Metaphor is important in all sorts of mundane discourse: ordinary conversation, news articles, popular novels, ad- vertisements, etc. Issues of prime human interest - such as relationships, money, disease, states of mind, passage of time - are often most economically and understandably conveyed through metaphor. This ubiquity of metaphor presents a challenge to how Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems not only understand inter-human discourse (e.g. newspaper articles), but also produce more natural-seeming language; however, most AI research on metaphor has been about its understanding rather than its generation. To redress the balance, we directly tackle the role of AI systems in communication, uniquely combining this with corpus-based results to guide output toward more natural forms of expression.
Model-Based Mean Arterial Pressure Estimation Using Simultaneous Electrocardiogram and Oscillometric Blood Pressure Measurements

An accurate noninvasive estimation of mean arterial pressure (MAP) is of great importance in the evaluation of circulatory function and prognosis of some cardiovascular diseases. This paper proposes a novel oscillometric MAP estimation method based on the dependence of pulse transit time (PTT) on cuff pressure (CP). The PTT computed as the time interval between the electrocardiogram (ECG) R-peaks and the maximum slope points on the oscillometric pulses is mathematically modeled by considering the cuff-arm-artery system and the blood flow dynamics. It is then analytically shown that MAP can be approximated as the CP at which the PTT is maximum. Based on our theoretical findings, a new method of MAP estimation from simultaneous ECG and oscillometric blood pressure measurements is proposed. Our proposed method is validated with a pilot study in which 150 recordings from 10 subjects are analyzed. The reference MAP is computed from the systolic and diastolic pressures measured by the Food and Drug Administration-approved Omron HEM-790IT monitor using three different formulas given in the literature. The performance of our proposed method is compared with the maximum amplitude and zero-crossing methods in terms of mean error (ME), mean absolute error, and standard deviation of error (SDE). It is found that our proposed method achieves improvements of more than 20% in SDE compared with the maximum amplitude method and more than 50% in ME compared with the zero-crossing method.
1 On Benchmarking Popular File Systems

In recent years, Windows, Linux and BSD have become dominant operating systems in personal computers [1]. An essential component of the operating system is its file system. Although there are reports [2, 3] on evaluation of file systems under the same operating system, it is necessary to assess the performance of different file systems under their associated operating systems to help selecting the operating system for different application requirements. In this paper, we evaluate six most commonly used file systems, NTFS, FAT32, Ext2, Ext3, ReiserFS, and UFS, in their respective operating systems. We compare their I/O performance under different workloads. Our results show that file system performance is largely tied to the cache and memory buffer management of the underlying operating system. Windows seems to support better buffering for random access of large files than Linux, but Linux based file systems offer faster sequential read/write performance. Journaling file systems trade some write speed for improved reliability. UFS performs consistently well for all I/O operations under any file sizes.