Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paroxetine-mediated GRK2 inhibition is a disease-modifying treatment for osteoarthritis

G protein–coupled receptor kinase 2 is increased in OA, and inhibition by the antidepressant paroxetine prevents disease progression. An antidepressant for arthritis? Pathological chondrocyte hypertrophy contributes to osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative disease of the cartilage and bone. Carlson et al. studied the role of G protein–coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), which is linked to cardiac hypertrophy, in OA. GRK2 was elevated in chondrocytes in mouse models of OA and in injured human cartilage, and genetic deletion of GRK2 decreased OA progression in mice. Treating chondrocytes with the antidepressant paroxetine, which inhibits GRK2, blunted disease progression and chondrocyte hypertrophy in mice in vivo and human OA cartilage ex vivo. Results show how repurposing paroxetine could have therapeutic effects for joint degeneration. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration, with no available disease-modifying therapy. OA is driven by pathological chondrocyte hypertrophy (CH), the cellular regulators of which are unknown. We have recently reported the therapeutic efficacy of G protein–coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) inhibition in other diseases by recovering protective G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. However, the role of GPCR-GRK2 pathway in OA is unknown. Thus, in a surgical OA mouse model, we performed genetic GRK2 deletion in chondrocytes or pharmacological inhibition with the repurposed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved antidepressant paroxetine. Both GRK2 deletion and inhibition prevented CH, abated OA progression, and promoted cartilage regeneration. Supporting experiments with cultured human OA cartilage confirmed the ability of paroxetine to mitigate CH and cartilage degradation. Our findings present elevated GRK2 signaling in chondrocytes as a driver of CH in OA and identify paroxetine as a disease-modifying drug for OA treatment.
Smart Device Assisted Method for Rod Length and Rod Radius Measurement in Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Surgery

In a percutaneous pedicle screw surgery the surgeon is faced with huge challenges because he has no direct view on the operating field. The screw positions and the required rod dimensions for the stabilizing connection are hard to define. In this paper a new method for a percutaneous pedicle screw surgery is described to record the positions of three pedicle screws with help of a mobile localizing system with passive markers and a tablet computer. The presented system calculates the required rod length and rod radius. The procedure is more convenient than mechanical measuring systems and it works without radiation load of the patient. The system is tested with an in-vitro test arrangement and first results are very promising with an accuracy of ±2 mm for the rod length. Streszczenie. Duzym problemem dla chirurgow w zabiegach nieinwazyjnej chirurgii śrub pedikularnych jest brak oglądu na pole operacyjne. Z tego powodu określenie pozycji poszczegolnych śrub oraz wymaganej dlugośc pretu stabilizacyjnego moze nastreczac trudności. W niniejszym artykule zaprezentowano nową metode rejestracji pozycji śrub pedikularnych z wykorzystaniem pasywnych markerow optycznych, mobilnego systemu nawigacyjnego, oraz tabletu. Zaprezentowane rozwiązanie pozwala na obliczenie wymaganej dlugości oraz krzywizny preta pedikularnego. Opisywana metoda jest wygodniejsza niz pomiar z wykorzystaniem systemow mechanicznych oraz nie wymaga naświetlenia pacjenta promieniowaniem rentgenowskim. Testy metody przeprowadzone w środowisku in-vitro wykazaly dokladnośc pomiaru dlugości preta stabilizacyjnego na poziomie ±2 mm co wydaje sie byc bardzo obiecującym rezultatem. (Metoda pomiaru dlugości oraz krzywizny preta stabilizacyjnego z wykorzystaniem urządzen mobilnych w nieinwazyjnej chirurgii śrub pedikularnych)
Application of an Experimental Design to the Detection of Foreign Substances in Milk

NIRA was used in order to study interactions between temperature (T) and soluble substances and to detect solutes added to milk. A two-level factorial design was planned to estimate the effects of the main factors and of the most interesting interactions on spectral data. Water (W), NaCl (N), reconstituted skim milk powder (P) and W with N were alternately added to milk. The plan was repeated on eight different milks. The interactions studied were W × N, W × T, N × T, P × T, W × N × T. The values assigned to the experimental design model were 1 and —1 for active and non-active factors, respectively. This model and the corresponding analysis of variance were assessed independently at each wavelength, making it possible to plot results versus wavelengths as a spectrum. Thus, absorbance (predicted variable) was considered as the response to experimental design variations (predictors). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the overall data collection to identify the main variation factors. The ability of principal components to predict the presence of foreign substances was assessed by Principal Component Regression. Several PCRs were calculated on two sub-collections (HIGH and LOW temperature), obtained from the overall collection (TOTAL), in order to assess whether recording spectra at two temperatures was useful to predict the presence of foreign substances. PCA on the overall data collection identified T as the most important factor affecting the total spectra variation; N and P groups were also separated according to the third and the fourth principal components. The parameters of the analysis of variance confirmed that the main factors N, P and T and the T interactions were more significant. T and N induced a shift of water absorption bands around 1450 and 1940 nm. There was no prediction improvement in recording milk spectra at two temperatures. PCA on the LOW sub-collection identified W and P according to the first factor and N according to the second one.
Facilitating the Practice of Biofeedback Via Mobile Applications and Wearable Devices for Self-Management of Mental Health

Mental health is a rising concern among college students, with recent studies reporting a sharp increase in various conditions including anxiety, depression, and general stress levels (Gallagher, 2008; Duffy, Twenge, and Joiner 2019). Mental illness can affect students’ motivation, concentration, and social interactions—crucial factors for students to succeed in higher education (Markoulakis & Kirsh, 2013). Mental health is also a significant concern among veterans, among whom an increased prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression has been observed (Seal et al. 2009). The advent of mobile wearable technology offers the potential for data-driven self-management of health using techniques for relaxation and self-monitoring. One such technique is biofeedback, which involves self-regulation of one’s own involuntary physiological functions, such as heart rate variability (HRV), through real-time feedback. Recent studies have demonstrated the use of smartphone applications to facilitate stress recovery through biofeedback (e.g. Hunter, Olah, Williams, Parks, and Pressman, 2019). However, there is a lack of evidence of technology-supported longitudinal practice of biofeedback and its effect on self-reported as well as physiological markers of stress, particularly in naturalistic settings. To address this gap, our research aims at evaluating the effect of practicing biofeedback using a mobile application longitudinally, on the mental health of student veterans. A mobile application for smartphones and watches was developed with features for self-management of PTSD through biofeedback with real-time heart rate display, and self-reports of stress moments (see figures 1 and 2). In this ongoing study, participants were recruited from the Texas A&M University’s large student veteran population, and provided training in breathing as a relaxation practice, and as a biofeedback technique. Participants in the intervention group are given smartwatches with the app installed and reminded to use the biofeedback features regularly for a duration of four months. The participant’s heart rate is recorded automatically by the watch when they are wearing it. All participants are asked to submit self-reports on their mental health and psychosocial factors during the four-month period of study. Specifically, they were asked to submit biweekly responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7), which are standardized tools to assess depression and anxiety, respectively (Kroenke et al. 2001; Lowe et al., 2008). Additionally, participants are asked to submit monthly responses on their beliefs and attitudes towards technology. They are also asked to report on their quality of life at the beginning and end of the study using the short form health survey (SF-36 (Monica and California 90401-3208, n.d.-b, p. 36) A B
The social value of Participatory Ergonomics from a practitioner’s perspective

Ergonomics applies a set of ambitious frameworks and robust body of evidence for integrating different practices to optimize worker health and well-being. One recognized framework is the participatory approach, which delves into sociotechnical workplace actions – developed from the ground up – to achieve improved human performance outcomes and acceptability across the organization. Much of what is known about the value of participatory ergonomics centers on return-on-investment analyses related to injury prevention. Outside this spectrum, little has been discussed. This paper imparts how a participatory approach can lead to various positive impacts beyond financial gains, mainly by focusing on continuous improvements at the management systems level and on proactively motivating people and organizations to embrace healthy working conditions and behaviors. Issues such as the social-ethical value of involving workers in work design and return-to-work solutions are discussed to illustrate the holistic value of participatory ergonomics in the context of Total Worker Health.
A Model of Monitoring as Sensemaking: Application to Flight Path Management and Pilot Training

Monitoring is a critical part of supervisory control and plays a critical role on the flight deck. Monitoring the flight path is critical to aviation safety. Recently, there has been interest in improving training of monitoring. We propose a model of expert monitoring that can serve as the basis for training. We claim that effective monitoring is much more than a scan pattern or where eyes point. In aviation, monitoring is centered around the pilot’s Situation Model, which integrates and represents the pilot’s knowledge from mental models in memory with observations about the current state. Effective monitoring is a cycle of posing a monitoring question, identifying how to gather the evidence needed to answer the question, and assessing implications for action. These processes may be fluent or effortful but depend on strategic regulation. We step through implications of our model for training.
Attentional Control in Young Drivers: Does Training Impact Hazard Anticipation in Dynamic Environments?

The interaction between top-down and bottom-up processing is a way to characterize control of visual attention, but it has not been extensively applied to the driving domain. The Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT) has been effective in improving drivers’ latent hazard anticipation, a top-down process. However, it is unclear whether RAPT protects drivers from being distracted by salient items on the roadway, diminishing latent hazard anticipation. The current driving simulator study examines the potential interaction between bottom-up and top-down processes by having RAPT-and Placebo-trained drivers navigate simulated environments with latent hazards and a stationary or dynamically moving pedestrian. While RAPT-trained drivers were better able to anticipate latent hazards than Placebo-trained drivers, presence of salient, bottom-up stimuli did not negatively impact hazard anticipation performance in either group. This implies RAPT-trained drivers were able to successfully divide their attention, anticipating latent hazards even in the presence of dynamic, driving-relevant objects.
A Mirror-in-the-Sky Navigation Aid: Summary of Qualitative Feedback from Soldier and Civilian Users

We tested the efficacy of a novel augmented reality navigation aid, called SkyMap, which presents survey navigation information in the sky, above the user. Soldier and civilian users completed a route following task using Mirror-in-the-Sky (a virtual reality prototype of the SkyMap concept), a north-up map, and a track-up map. In this paper, we analyzed and presented a summary of qualitative user feedback and compare feedback from soldier and civilian users. Specifically we used affinity diagrams to categorize verbal qualitative feedback, which led us to identify six themes: 1) an interest in MitS as an innovative navigation display, 2) challenges with identifying turns and orienting, 3) learning MitS over time, 4) the position of MitS in the field of view, 5) customizability and flexibility and 6) ) use in the context of a military operation. We discuss these themes and highlight areas for design improvements.
Blue Light Exposure Effects on Sleep Attributes in a 72-Hour Military Exercise

In the digital age, the military is developing cutting edge technologies (e.g., heads-up and mixed reality displays, night vision devices, etc.) to maximize situational awareness and effectiveness. Effects of light exposure from screen-based systems on our Soldier-operators has not been fully considered. Some literature concludes that evening blue light exposure preceding bedtime can result in increased alertness and may negatively impact sleep, producing negative moodstates and sleepiness upon wakening. The current study looks at blue light exposure and subsequent sleep of forty-six Soldiers during a company-wide field exercise utilizing wrist-worn actigraphy and light sensors. Observations indicate periods of blue light exposure during evening field operations were followed by sleep intervals with significant decrements in sleep quality. Future studies will isolate the effects of military-specific blue light emitting device exposure in high contrast, low ambient light environments on sleep quality, providing specific guidance and interventions to reduce negative impacts on operations.
Human-Centered and Psychological Concepts in Undergraduate Engineering Project Documentation

The success of engineering and design is facilitated by a working understanding of human thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In this study, we explored how undergraduate engineering students included such human-centered and psychological concepts in their project documentation. Although, we observed a range of concepts related to design processes, teams, cognition, and motivation, these concepts appeared infrequently and superficially. We discuss how this analysis and approach may help to identify topics that could be leveraged for future human-centered engineering instruction.
Changes in the range of head flexion rotation and neck muscle activity after prolonged use of a smartphone

Text-neck has been the main health concern among smartphone users. The current study explored a potential association between the duration of static head flexion posture during smartphone use and the viscoelastic changes of the cervical spine passive tissues. Ten participants conducted a smartphone task for 30 minutes, and their full head flexion angle and the neck muscle activity during a head extension motion were quantified before, in the middle, and after the 30-min task. Participants reported higher neck discomfort ratings after smartphone use, and the neck muscle activity showed an increasing trend over time. However, no significant difference was found in the muscle activity level between the three time levels. Full head flexion angle also did not vary significantly over time (p > 0.05). Study results imply the reduction of tissue stiffness during smartphone use, but warrant further research with a more sensitive evaluation method.
Publicly Accessible Wearable Motion Databases for Human Gait Studies

As emerging areas of interest in gait analysis research, gait authentication and activity recognition have drawn significant attention recently, facilitated by microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and smart devices. Machine learning models have been developed to reduce human effort and improve model accuracy in these areas. Sufficient amounts of data become critical for these applications. Unlike other fields such as image processing, in which massive data are easy to collect, human gait data is difficult to collect in large amounts, which makes publicly accessible databases in this area even more valuable. This paper aimed to summarize publicly accessible IMU-based gait databases by surveying the recent literature in human gait analysis. 199 papers were manually evaluated with sixteen data sets included (seven for gait authentication and nine for activity recognition). The detailed technical contents were described and compared in the survey to assist the audience on how to better utilize the data sets.
Gamification Theory: Implications for General Aviation Weather Training

Weather-related accidents have one of the highest accident and fatality rates in General Aviation. Weather training is highly variable depending on the source of instruction, and it is essential to emphasize the importance of weather training and identify strategies to engage GA pilots in improving their weather knowledge. Gamification, the use of game elements in a non-gaming context, exists as a tool that could aid in the improvement of aviation weather training. This paper provides background on gamification theory including the motivations, user types, and specific gamification elements used in training. It also emphasizes the relevance of the theories in the realm of aviation weather training. Furthermore, this paper recommends aspects of gamification most relevant to GA pilot training. With further testing, the implementation of gamification in aviation weather instruction may yield improved outcomes in training.
Understanding Veteran Attitudes, Interests, and Needs around Virtual Care Applications

Given the substantial increase in interest and activity in the virtual care space, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is making a concerted effort to increase opportunities for Veterans to adopt virtual care applications. We investigated Veteran attitudes, interests, and needs for virtual care applications, including privacy considerations and specific types of data they would be comfortable sharing with their providers through various Veteran-facing tools. We administered a 28-item questionnaire to 40 Veterans and performed follow-up interviews with a subset of nine Veterans. Study results revealed broad support by Veterans for using virtual care applications, including wearable devices, for sharing all types of health information with their providers. Further, Veterans expressed a desire for consolidation across VA-provided virtual care tools. Our findings will inform a strategy for Veteran-facing tools. Other health care systems may be interested in exploring these topics, based on our study results.
Development of Human-Out-of-the-Loop Participant Recruitment, Data Collection, Data Handling, and Participant Management System

Most human subjects, research requires data collection by contacting local participants who visit a research site. This is costly, time-consuming, and decreases subject retention with each required visit. Additionally, studies require increasingly large troves of data collected continuously during their typical daily lives using sensors (e.g., fitness trackers). Long-term, continuous collection is becoming more feasible as smartphones become ubiquitous. However, data is highly detailed, and identifiable even when de-identified according to typical practice (e.g., keeping names separate from study data). To enable remote collection of these rich data sets while ensuring privacy, we built a system to allow secure and fully human-out-of-the-loop participant recruitment, screening, onboarding, data collection on smartphones, data transmission to the cloud, data security in the cloud, and data access by analysis and modeling teams. We believe this approach is applicable to a large number of researchers, both within universities and in industry.
Human factors and aging: A 20-year retrospective and prospective from CREATE researchers

The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) was founded in 1999 and is funded by the National Institute on Aging (National Institutes of Health; PO1 AG017211). This interdisciplinary team of psychologists and engineers focuses on design and deployment of technology with aging adults. In this panel session, we will provide an overview of CREATE research in the domains of health, leisure, work, and social engagement. We will discuss current and emerging technologies. CREATE research has provided insights about the needs and preferences of older adults; design requirements for successful technology support; the necessity of proper instruction and training; and the value of technology tools for all facets of life. This interdisciplinary collaboration has generated evidence-based guidelines for designing, training, and deploying technology to enhance quality of life. Time will be provided for general audience discussion regarding future directions and challenges for design of emerging technologies.
Effect of Gesture Interface Mapping on Controlling a Multi-degree-of-freedom Robotic Arm in a Complex Environment

There are many robotic scenarios that require real-time function in large or unconstrained environments, for example, the robotic arm on the International Space Station (ISS). Use of fully-wearable gesture control systems are well-suited to human-robot interaction scenarios where users are mobile and must have hands free. A human study examined operation of a simulated ISS robotic arm using three different gesture input mappings compared to the traditional joystick interface. Two gesture mappings permitted multiple simultaneous inputs (multi-input), while the third was a single-input method. Experimental results support performance advantages of multi-input gesture methods over single input. Differences between the two multi-input methods in task completion and workload display an effect of user-directed attention on interface success. Mappings based on natural human arm movement are promising for gesture interfaces in mobile robotic applications. This study also highlights challenges in gesture mapping, including how users align gestures with their body and environment.
Attention and Threat Detection: Warnings and How They Affect Takeover Performance

Vehicle automation is becoming more advanced in helping drivers understand and react to the environment around them. Many newer vehicle models come standard with backup cameras, blind spot detection, and warning signals. It’s important to identify if such features significantly improve driver performance. The current study investigated the relationship between the presentation of a warning indicating a threat and whether or not that signal helped the participants detect the threat. Findings suggested that participants asked to detect when an automated braking system engaged were significantly more accurate at noticing the system engaged than those asked to manually take-over the vehicle when a threat emerged. In both groups, those given visual warnings that a threat was about to occur were faster in taking over the vehicle when needed than those who did not receive a warning. However, accuracy was low across all conditions groups.