Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant phenology recognition using deep learning: Deep-Pheno

Monitoring phenology of agricultural plants is a critical understanding in precision agriculture. Vital improvements can be achieved with precise detection of phenological change of plants which would henceforth improve the timing for the harvest, pest control, yield prediction, farm monitoring, disaster warning etc. Many countries across the world have been developing initiatives to build national agriculture monitoring network systems, since inferring the phenological information contributes to a better understanding of relationships between productivity, vegetation health and environmental conditions. In this paper, we utilize a deep learning architecture to recognize and classify phenological stages of several types of plants purely based on the visual data captured every half an hour by cameras mounted on the ground agro-stations that have been planted all over Turkey as part of an agriculture monitoring network system. A pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network architecture (CNN) is employed to automatically extract the features of images. In order to evaluate the performance of the approach proposed in this paper, the results obtained through CNN model are compared with those obtained by employing hand crafted feature descriptors. Experimental results suggest that CNN architecture outperforms the machine learning algorithms based on hand crafted features for the discrimination of phenological stages.
An MDP-Based Handover Decision Algorithm in Hierarchical LTE Networks

Hierarchical macrocell and femtocell networks aim to provide seamless roaming and improve network capacity. UEs moving in such networks may experience frequent handovers. In this paper, a handover decision algorithm considering data arrival, handover delay and signaling cost is proposed based on Markov decision processes. The expected total reward seeks a balance between transmission latency and handover signaling overhead, under dynamic traffic arrivals. A typical scenario is simulated, where a UE roams in a macrocell, passing through an array of femtocells with different connection capacities, and the simulation experiment indicates the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Level of activities associated with mobility during everyday life in patients with chronic congestive heart failure as measured with an "activity monitor".

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Because of dyspnea and fatigue, patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) may be restricted in the performance of normal everyday activities. The aim of this study was to obtain a preliminary indication of the level of activities associated with mobility during everyday life and between-day variance in activities in patients with mild to moderate CHF as measured with an "Activity Monitor. " SUBJECTS AND METHODS The "Activity Monitor" is based on long-term (>24 hours) ambulatory monitoring of signals from accelerometers fixed to the subject's body during everyday activities with the aim of assessing the level of activities associated with mobility. Measurements were obtained over 3 days from 5 male subjects with CHF (mean age=64 years, SD=5, range=59-72) and over 2 days from 5 matched comparison subjects (mean age=65 years, SD=4, range=61-71). RESULTS Mean duration of movement-related activities (walking, cycling, or general movement) (expressed as a percentage of the duration of the measurement day) was lower in the subjects with CHF (X=3.9, SD=1.5, range=2.2-6.7) than in the comparison subjects (X=11.3, SD=3.0, range=6.6-14.1). In the patients, between-day variance was smaller for different weekdays (eg, Monday versus Tuesday) than for similar weekdays (eg, 2 Mondays) (1.11% and 7.28%, respectively). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The results show how activities associated with mobility during everyday life may be restricted in people with CHF.
Findings of a U.S. national cardiometabolic screening program among 10,084 psychiatric outpatients.

OBJECTIVE A national cardiometabolic screening program for patients in a variety of public mental health facilities, group practices, and community behavioral health clinics was funded by Pfizer Inc. between 2005 and 2008. METHODS A one-day, voluntary metabolic health fair in the United States offered patients attending public mental health clinics free cardiometabolic screening and same-day feedback to physicians from a biometrics testing third party that was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. RESULTS This analysis included 10,084 patients at 219 sites; 2,739 patients (27%) reported having fasted for over eight hours. Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder was self-reported by 6,233 (62%) study participants. In the overall sample, the mean waist circumference was 41.1 inches for men and 40.4 inches for women; 27% were overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)), 52% were obese (BMI >or=30.0 kg/m(2)), 51% had elevated triglycerides (>or=150 mg/dl), and 51% were hypertensive (>or=130/85 mm Hg). In the fasting sample, 52% had metabolic syndrome, 35% had elevated total cholesterol (>or=200 mg/dl), 59% had low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (<40 mg/dl for men or <50 mg/dl for women), 45% had elevated triglycerides (>or=150 mg/dl), and 33% had elevated fasting glucose (>or=100 mg/dl). Among the 1,359 fasting patients with metabolic syndrome, 60% were not receiving any treatment. Among fasting patients who reported treatment for specific metabolic syndrome components, 33%, 65%, 71%, and 69% continued to have elevated total cholesterol, low levels of high-density lipoprotein, high blood pressure, and elevated glucose levels, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cardiometabolic risk factors, such as overweight, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose abnormalities, was substantial and frequently untreated in this U.S. national mental health clinic screening program.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cells Bind and Present the Erythrocyte Protein Band 3: Possible Role as Initiators of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia1

The mechanisms underlying the frequent association between chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia are currently unclear. The erythrocyte protein band 3 (B3) is one of the most frequently targeted Ags in autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In this study, we show that CLL cells specifically recognize B3 through a still unidentified receptor. B3 interaction with CLL cells involves the recognition of its N-terminal domain and leads to its internalization. Interestingly, when binding of erythrocyte-derived vesicles as found physiologically in blood was assessed, we observed that CLL cells could only interact with inside-out vesicles, being this interaction strongly dependent on the recognition of the N-terminal portion of B3. We then examined T cell responses to B3 using circulating CLL cells as APCs. Resting B3-pulsed CLL cells were unable to induce T cell proliferation. However, when deficient costimulation was overcome by CD40 engagement, B3-pulsed CLL cells were capable of activating CD4+ T cells in a HLA-DR-dependent fashion. Therefore, our work shows that CLL cells can specifically bind, capture, and present B3 to T cells when in an activated state, an ability that could allow the neoplastic clone to trigger the autoaggressive process against erythrocytes.
Recessive congenital methaemoglobinaemia: functional characterization of the novel D239G mutation in the NADH‐binding lobe of cytochrome b5 reductase

Type I recessive congenital methaemoglobinaemia (RCM), caused by the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)‐cytochrome b5 reductase (cytb5r) deficiency, manifests clinically as cyanosis without neurological dysfunction. Two mutations, E255‐ and G291D, have been identified in the NADH‐binding lobe of cytb5r in previously reported patients, and we have detected a further novel mutation, D239G, in this lobe in two unrelated Irish families. Although one family belongs to the genetically isolated Traveller Community, which separated from the general Irish population during the 1845–48 famine, the D239G mutation was present on the same haplotype in both families. Three known cytb5r mutations were also identified, including the R159‐ mutation, which causes loss of the entire NADH‐binding lobe and had previously been reported in an individual with type II RCM. Characterization of the three NADH‐binding lobe mutants using a heterologous expression system revealed that all three variants retained stoichiometric levels of flavin adenine dinucleotide with spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties comparable with those of native cytb5r. In contrast to the E255‐ and G291D variants, the novel D239G mutation had no adverse impact on protein thermostability. The D239G mutation perturbed substrate binding, causing both decreased specificity for NADH and increased specificity for NADPH. Thus cytb5r deficient patients who are heterozygous for an NADH‐binding lobe mutation can exhibit the clinically less severe type I phenotype, even in association with heterozygous deletion of the NADH‐binding lobe.
Formation of chlorophyll B, and the fluorescence properties and photochemical activities of isolated plastids from greening pea seedlings.

Chlorophyll b was first detectable after 10 minutes of illumination of etiolated pea seedlings (Pisum sativum L. var Greenfeast) with continuous white light. The chlorophyll a/b ratio decreased from 300 at 10 minutes to 15 after 1 hour. There was little change in the chlorophyll a/b ratio between 1 and 2 hours, and it declined to 3 between 2 and 5 hours of illumination. In red light, the time courses of total chlorophyll synthesis and chlorophyll a/b ratio were similar to those in white light for the first 5 hours of illumination. But with increasing time of illumination with red light, there was an increase in the chlorophyll a/b ratio to 7 after 30 hours. Illumination with white light of very low intensity also gave high chlorophyll a/b ratios. Seedlings which had been illuminated for varying periods and then returned to darkness always showed an increase in chlorophyll a/b ratio during the dark period. It is concluded that the synthesis of chlorophyll b is controlled by light.The onset of the transfer of excitation energy from carotenoids to chlorophyll a correlated with the appearance of chlorophyll b. The detection of chlorophyll b and the onset of energy transfer from carotenoids to chlorophyll a preceded by several hours the appearance of Hill activity in the isolated pea plastids. The detection of the large fluorescence emission band at 735 nm at 77 K also preceded the observation of Hill activity, but it correlated with the phase of rapid chlorophyll synthesis. There was a good correlation between Hill activity and the formation of grana. The fluorescence kinetics which are characteristic of mature chloroplasts appeared considerably later than grana or the observation of Hill activity.It is concluded that the formation of photosynthetic membranes and the assembly of the photosystems is not a single step process, at least in the initial stages of chloroplast development from the etioplast.
Retrieving true images through fine grid steps for enhancing the resolution beyond the classical limits: theory and simulations

We developed the theory of, and tested by extended simulations, a novel method for retrieving true images in a grid step much finer than both the acquisition and the optical microscope limits. We believe that the method is promising in view of avoiding the limitations on the resolution improvement in direct imaging mode systems. Two basic concepts are involved: (i) random (up to 3D) relative displacements of objects with respect to the receiving matrix and (ii) the use of a reference object firmly fixed to small signal objects for avoiding the displacement measurements. The retrieved images are created by rearranging a set of true images acquired with a lower resolution equal to the matrix pixel size. We demonstrate the good quality of the retrieved images and the possibility to visualize and detect small (convolved) objects not observed into the captured images. The method provides good opportunities for effective applications of different inverse algorithms for improving the resolution requiring, as a rule, more precisely sampled images, but at arbitrary relations between the pixel size and the optical diffraction limit. We further demonstrated the application of some deconvolution procedures for extracting highly resolved images in the object and image planes in the presence of noise. The possibility to resolve small objects beyond the two classical limits is shown by means of simulations. The estimates for the method's limiting resolution, combined with proper deconvolution processing, show that resolution in the lower nano‐dimension scale (below 10 nm) could be achieved. The requirements to the implementation of the novel method are commented as well.
A thixotropic effect in contracting rabbit psoas muscle: prior movement reduces the initial tension response to stretch

1 Paired ramp stretches and releases (‘triangular length changes’, typically 0.04 ± 0.09L0 s−1; mean ±s.e.m.) were imposed on permeabilised rabbit psoas fibre segments under sarcomere length control. In actively contracting fibres, the tension response to stretch was biphasic; tension rose more rapidly during the first 0.005L0 of the imposed stretch than thereafter. Tension also dropped in a biphasic manner during shortening, and at the end of the length change was reduced below the steady state. 2 If a second triangular length change was imposed shortly after the first, tension rose less sharply during the initial phase of lengthening, i.e. the stiffness of the muscle during the initial phase of the response was reduced in the second stretch. This is a thixotropic effect. If a third triangular length change was imposed on the muscle, the response was the same as that to the second. 3 The time required to recover the original tension response was measured by varying the interval between triangular length changes. Recovery to steady state occurred at a rate of ∼1 s−1. 4 The stiffness of the muscle during the initial phase of the response scaled with the developed tension in pCa (=−log10[Ca2+]) solutions ranging from 6.3 (minimal activation) to 4.5 (saturating effect). The relative thixotropic reduction in stiffness measured using paired length changes was independent of the pCa of the activating solution. 5 The thixotropic behaviour of contracting skeletal muscle can be explained by a cross‐bridge model of muscle contraction in which the number of attached cross‐bridges is temporarily reduced following an imposed movement.
Early detection of oleic acid-induced lung injury in rats using (111)In-labeled anti-rat intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

UNLABELLED Previous study of the bleomycin-induced lung injury model suggested that (111)In-labeled antirat intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (aICAM-1) might be a useful acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) diagnostic agent. We further investigated the ability of (111)In-aICAM-1 to detect inflammation in another ARDS lung injury model. METHODS (111)In-labeled rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), (111)In-aICAM-1, (111)In-labeled normal mouse IgG (nmIgG), and (111)In-labeled rat serum albumin (RSA) were injected into rats 18-24 h before kill. Biodistributions, scintigraphic images, and lung ICAM-1 upregulation were obtained in uninjured rats and in rats after injury with oleic acid. RESULTS (111)In-RSA and (111)In-nmIgG localized in inflamed lung at 5 min postinjury (PI). (111)In-PMN uptake increased significantly only at 24 h PI. (111)In-aICAM-1 localization increased significantly (30%-60%) at 1 h PI and remained elevated up to 24 h PI. Lung/blood ratios (L/B) at 1 and 4 h PI were very low (<0.6) for (111)In-nmIgG and (111)In-PMN rats; however, for (111)In-aICAM-1 rats, they were >1 and 25%-60% higher than those for the control samples. A low L/B suggests poor inflammation detection on the images. Images and region-of-interest analysis confirmed that only (111)In-aICAM-1 could distinguish inflamed lungs at 4 h PI. ICAM-1 was upregulated at 4 and 24 h PI. CONCLUSION In this model, (111)In-aICAM-1 detected lung inflammation very early in the course of the disease. These results support the suggestion that (111)In-aICAM-1 could be a very early, highly specific ARDS diagnostic agent and may be useful to detect a wide range of inflammations.
High-resolution CT of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

OBJECTIVE High-resolution CT is an important tool in the detection and management of bronchiectasis, but there is little information about high-resolution CT findings in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). We analyzed all high-resolution CT studies of the chest available for a cohort of PCD patients to identify an associated pattern of high-resolution CT changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS High-resolution CT studies were available for 45 PCD patients from 42 families with ranges of age and disease severity. The images were assessed for severity and distribution of bronchiectasis, peribronchial thickening, mucous plugging, and other findings. A bronchiectasis severity score was calculated. CT findings were correlated with phenotypic findings, including situs type, ciliary ultrastructural defect, nasal level of nitric oxide, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and microbiologic findings in the airways. RESULTS Twenty-nine adults (mean age, 42 +/- 15 years; age range, 21-73 years) and 16 children (mean age, 8 +/- 4 years; age range, 1-14 years) were included; 26 (58%) of the patients were women or girls. Situs inversus totalis (38%) or heterotaxy (18%) was identified in 56% of the patients. A high (9%) prevalence of pectus excavatum was identified. High-resolution CT of all of the adult and 56% of the pediatric patients showed bronchiectasis in a predominantly middle and lower lobe distribution. The right middle lobe was most commonly involved. Bronchiectasis severity score correlated with older age and worse pulmonary function. CONCLUSION High-resolution CT shows that pulmonary disease related to PCD predominantly involves the middle and lower lobes of the lungs. In adults, high-resolution CT findings negative for bronchiectasis may have a role in excluding the diagnosis of PCD. Correlation of severity of disease on high-resolution CT with patient phenotype gives further insight into the diversity and natural history of PCD.
An evolutionary approach to pattern-based time series segmentation

Time series data, due to their numerical and continuous nature, are difficult to process, analyze, and mine. However, these tasks become easier when the data can be transformed into meaningful symbols. Most recent works on time series only address how to identify a given pattern from a time series and do not consider the problem of identifying a suitable set of time points for segmenting the time series in accordance with a given set of pattern templates (e.g., a set of technical patterns for stock analysis). However, the use of fixed-length segmentation is an oversimplified approach to this problem; hence, a dynamic approach (with high controllability) is preferable so that the time series can be segmented flexibly and effectively according to the needs of the users and the applications. In view of the fact that this segmentation problem is an optimization problem and evolutionary computation is an appropriate tool to solve it, we propose an evolutionary time series segmentation algorithm. This approach allows a sizeable set of pattern templates to be generated for mining or query. In addition, defining similarity between time series (or time series segments) is of fundamental importance in fitness computation. By identifying the perceptually important points directly from the time domain, time series segments and templates of different lengths can be compared and intuitive pattern matching can be carried out in an effective and efficient manner. Encouraging experimental results are reported from tests that segment both artificial time series generated from the combinations of pattern templates and the time series of selected Hong Kong stocks.
Image segmentation with a novel regularized composite shape prior based on surrogate study.

PURPOSE Incorporating training into image segmentation is a good approach to achieve additional robustness. This work aims to develop an effective strategy to utilize shape prior knowledge, so that the segmentation label evolution can be driven toward the desired global optimum. METHODS In the variational image segmentation framework, a regularization for the composite shape prior is designed to incorporate the geometric relevance of individual training data to the target, which is inferred by an image-based surrogate relevance metric. Specifically, this regularization is imposed on the linear weights of composite shapes and serves as a hyperprior. The overall problem is formulated in a unified optimization setting and a variational block-descent algorithm is derived. RESULTS The performance of the proposed scheme is assessed in both corpus callosum segmentation from an MR image set and clavicle segmentation based on CT images. The resulted shape composition provides a proper preference for the geometrically relevant training data. A paired Wilcoxon signed rank test demonstrates statistically significant improvement of image segmentation accuracy, when compared to multiatlas label fusion method and three other benchmark active contour schemes. CONCLUSIONS This work has developed a novel composite shape prior regularization, which achieves superior segmentation performance than typical benchmark schemes.
Structure of Lifestyle Disruptions in Chronic Disease: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale

Background.The Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale (IIRS) measures the extent to which disease or its treatment or both interfere with activities in important life domains. Before comparing IIRS scores within or across groups it is crucial to determine whether a common underlying factor structure exists across patient populations. Objective.To investigate the factor structure underlying the IIRS and evaluate its stability across diagnoses. Methods.IIRS responses from 5,671 respondents were pooled from 15 separate studies concerning quality of life in eight patient groups: rheumatoid arthritis; osteoarthritis; systemic lupus erythematosus; multiple sclerosis; end-stage renal disease (maintenance dialysis); renal transplantation; heart, liver, and lung transplantation; and insomnia. Data were gathered by different methods (eg, interview, self-administered, mail survey) and in diverse contexts (eg, individual vs. group). Results.Exploratory maximum-likelihood factor analysis identified three underlying factors in a randomly selected subset of respondents (n = 400), corresponding to “Relationships and Personal Development,” “Intimacy,” and “Instrumental” life domains. Confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the stability of this structure in an independent subsample (n = 2100). Complementary goodness-of-fit indices confirmed the consistency of the three-factor solution, corroborating that IIRS scores are uniquely defined across patient populations. Coefficient alpha was high for total and subscale scores. Conclusions.IIRS scores can be compared meaningfully within and across patient groups. Both total and subscale scores can be used depending on research objectives.