Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A CSI-Based Multi-Environment Human Activity Recognition Framework

Passive human activity recognition (HAR) systems, in which no sensors are attached to the subject, provide great potentials compared to conventional systems. One of the recently used techniques showing tremendous potential is channel state information (CSI)-based HAR systems. In this work, we present a multi-environment human activity recognition system based on observing the changes in the CSI values of the exchanged wireless packets carried by OFDM subcarriers. In essence, we introduce a five-stage CSI-based human activity recognition approach. First, the acquired CSI values associated with each recorded activity instance are processed to remove the existing noise from the recorded data. A novel segmentation algorithm is then presented to identify and extract the portion of the signal that contains the activity. Next, the extracted activity segment is processed using the procedure proposed in the first stage. After that, the relevant features are extracted, and the important features are selected. Finally, the selected features are used to train a support vector machine (SVM) classifier to identify the different performed activities. To validate the performance of the proposed approach, we collected data in two different environments. In each of the environments, several activities were performed by multiple subjects. The performed experiments showed that our proposed approach achieved an average activity recognition accuracy of 91.27%.
Stable minimal surfaces of finite total curvature

It is well known that holomorphic submanifolds of Kahler manifolds minimize volume in their homology class. As pointed out in [1], the converse can be expected to hold only when the ambient manifold satisfies some extra conditions, usually in the form of a non negativity assumption on the curvature. The special situation of area minimizing surfaces in the Euclidean space E of dimension n is particularly worth studying because of its connections with the Bernstein Theorem (see, for example, [8]) and, possibly, with regularity theory. This is the problem mentioned in Yau's Open Problems list (see [14]), and it is the one we want to study in this paper. We start by recalling two of the main theorems in [8]:
Isopentenyl Phosphate Kinases are Ubiquitous and Copy Numbers are Conserved in Plant Genomes

Key message: Isopentenyl phosphate kinase (IPK) is a key enzyme in mevalonate pathway in isoprenoid biosynthesis. We analyzed 37 presumptive IPK sequences from 35 plants. An specific evolution model was found in plant IPKs, which can be used as an new target in studying the plant isoprenoids metabilte. Abstract: Isopentenyl phosphate kinase (IPK) is a recently discovered enzyme played key role in mevalonate pathway in isoprenoid biosynthesis. Here, we showed that IPKs are ubiquitously present in plant genomes. All IPKs previously identified had AAK domain. From 35 plant species with genome assembly data available, we extracted all AAK family members. Using OrthoMCL, we identified a group of 37 sequences in which Arabidopsis IPK was included. Further analysis showed that each peptide sequence in this group has a His residue which is a signature of IPK enzyme, indicating that the genes in this group were IPKs. Not like these in other domains of life which showed spotty distribution over the tree of life, virtually all plant genomes we analyzed here had IPK genes. Further, copy numbers of IPKs were very conserved in that no higher than 2 copies remained in each plant genome. Plant IPKs formed a distinctive clade in phylogenetic tree of plant AAK gene family, and had a phylogenetic topology conformed to that of plant species. The IPKs we identified here would provide new molecular targets for characterization of plant mevalonate pathway, and shed light on biochemistry of plant isoprenoids biosynthesis.
A Comparative Experiment in Classifying Jewelry Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks

A machine learning approach has been used in this work to categorize jewelry images into five different classes. This classification was achieved by using the convolutional neural network (CNN). The objective was to find different approaches that can be competent for the image classification and recognition. The images used in this work are drawn directly from the jewelry industries and companies. The first technique uses support vector machine along with the features that were extracted from the input images using AlexNet. The second method involves the use of Inception-v3 model for performing the same. Upon experimenting, it was derived that both the approaches performed well, however, Inception-v3 was found to be more successful by 0.9%. The Inception-v3 was then further taken to train the dataset from scratch which resulted in better consistency.
A Systematic Literature Review on Utilization of Gamification in Nursing

This paper was investigated the nursing research related to gamification and analyze the contents and effects of the experimental research to examine its effect. A systematic literature review was conducted. The articles were searched electronically using the data base with the key words of “gamification” or “gamified” and “nursing”. Finally, six studies were selected among 80 studies. The study was conducted mostly by health care professionals including nursing students (n=4) and education subjects (n=5). ‘Reward’ was the most common gamification mechanism used in the study, and all studies were combined with various gamification mechanisms. In nursing education where participation and motivation of the subject is important, gamification can play an important role in educational effect. Nursing researchers' interest in gamification is needed in the future, and it is necessary to develop scenarios suitable for educational situations and to check their effectiveness.
Regulation of telomere length in mammalian cells

Mammalian telomere length is regulated in a dynamic manner through multi-factorial elements. This project focuses on specific aspects of both extrinsic and intrinsic factors that govern telomere length. Expression of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene in sheep fibroblasts reconstitutes telomerase activity and extends their lifespan. Although stabilization of telomere length is directly correlated to hTERT expression level, this was not reflected in telomerase activity. Data presented here shows that overexpression of non-catalytic domains decreased telomerase activity, compromised senescence bypass status and did not enhance telomere maintenance, which may result from competitive binding to sheep TR molecules and/or disruption of hTERT homodimeric structure. These results are consistent with the notion that telomere maintenance requires a functional telomerase complex which contains an inter-dependent hTERT homodimeric structure. The single-stranded 3' G-rich overhang has been implicated as a key feature with a telomeric end-protection configuration. Data presented here show that the 3' overhang is eroded during culture of sheep fibroblasts, indicating that the 3' overhang length shortens prior to replicative senescence in cultured sheep fibroblasts. Furthermore, a correlation between hTERT expression level, karyotypic stability and 3' overhang length is observed. This project also demonstrated the first application of the Quantitative-FISH (Q-FISH) and Telomere-Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay (T-OLA) techniques in the sheep model system.
Interval Estimation of the Overlapping Coefficient of Two Normal Distributions: One Way ANOVA with Random Effects

We consider the problem of deriving confidence interval for the Overlapping Coefficient (OVL) between one way random model with balanced and unbalanced data. The confidence intervals are derived using the concept of a Generalized Pivotal Quantity (GPQ). The accuracy of the proposed solutions are assessed using estimated coverage probabilities, and are also compared with other approximate solutions. The numerical results show that the GPQ method performs well in the estimation of OVL of two normal distributions under one way random model set-up. The results are illustrated with simulated examples. ______________________________
A miniaturized broadband monopulse comparator with all DELTA channels nulling in Ku band

Abstract A compact monopulse comparator with complete nulling in all DELTA channels is designed and fabricated. The proposed comparator has small dimension and consists of interconnections of four broadband branch-line couplers and several 90° phase shifters with multistage Schiffman coupled-lines. This comparator has been characterized by its eight-port S-parameters to generate the SUM and DELTA channel frequency responses. Over 30-dB null depth was achieved in DELTA channels across the SUM channels in pass band from 14.8 to 18.2 GHz frequency range.
Incidence and Risk Factors for New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus After Surgical Resection of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions

Objectives There is a paucity of literature evaluating new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) after resection of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs). We sought to characterize the incidence and risk factors associated with NODM after partial pancreatectomy for PCLs. Methods We utilized the IBM MarketScan Database (2012–2018) to identify all nondiabetic adults who underwent partial pancreatectomy for PCLs. Patients with any other pancreatic disease were excluded. We performed Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to define the incidence and risk factors of postoperative NODM. Results Among 311 patients, the overall risk (95% confidence interval) of NODM was 9.1% (6.3–12.9%), 15.1% (11.3–20.2%), and 20.2% (15.3–26.4%) at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively. Multivariable analysis (adjusted hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval) revealed that older age (1.97; 1.04–3.72; 55–64 vs 18–54 years), obesity (2.63; 1.35–5.12), hypertension (1.79; 1.01–3.17), and cardiovascular disease (2.54; 1.02–6.28) were independent predictors of NODM. Rates of NODM were similar after distal pancreatectomy versus pancreaticoduodenectomy. Conclusions Within 2 years, 1 in 5 patients without any other pancreatic disease will develop NODM after partial pancreatectomy for PCLs. Those with advanced age, metabolic syndrome features, and/or cardiovascular disease may benefit from preoperative counseling and intensive postoperative monitoring, education, and treatment for diabetes mellitus.
Thyroid Function in 509 Premature Newborns Below 31 Weeks of Gestational Age: Evaluation and Follow-up

Objective: Preterm and low birth weight (LBW) neonates may present with thyroid dysfunction during a critical period for neurodevelopment. These alterations can be missed on routine congenital hypothyroidism (CH) screening which only measures thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The objective of this study was to evaluate a protocol for thyroid function screening (TFS) six years after national implementation. Methods: Serum TSH and free thyroxine (fT4) were measured during the second week of life in neonates below 31 weeks. Patients with abnormal TFS (fT4 <0.8 ng/dL and/or TSH >5 mU/L) were followed up with repeated tests until normal levels were reported. Patients who were still on levothyroxine (LT4) at three years of age were re-evaluated. Results: Five-hundred and nine neonates were included. Thyroid dysfunction was detected in 170 neonates (33%); CH n=20 (3.9%) including typical CH n=1; delayed TSH elevation CH n=19; hypothyroxinemia of prematurity (HOP) n=15 (2.9%); and transient hyperthyrotropinemia n=135 (26.5%). Twenty-one neonates (4.1%) were treated (20 for CH and 1 for HOP). At 3-year follow-up only three patients were diagnosed with permanent CH and still need treatment. LBW infants tended to have TSH levels higher than those with adequate weight. Conclusion: This protocol was able to detect thyroid dysfunction in preterm neonates who were not identified by the current program based on TSH determination in whole-blood. This thyroid dysfunction seems to resolve spontaneously in a few months in the great majority of neonates, but in some cases LT4 could be needed. There is a critical need for specific guidelines regarding the follow-up and re-evaluation of transient CH in preterm neonates.
Opposite roles of Kindlin orthologs in cell survival and proliferation

It is unclear why adhesion‐dependent cells such as epithelium undergo anoikis without anchorage, while adhesion‐independent blood cells thrive in suspension. The adhesive machinery of these cells is similar, with the exception of Kindlin orthologs, Kindlin 2 (K2) and Kindlin 3 (K3). Here we address how Kindlins control cell survival and proliferation in anchorage‐dependent and independent cells.
‘COVID-Somnia’ in healthcare workers during the pandemic

ABSTRACT Objectives Sleep disorders associated with COVID-19 pandemic are termed as ‘COVID-somnia. ’ In this study, we sought to assess the prevalence of COVID-somnia in healthcare workers, establish the factors that trigger this condition, and to investigate its relationship with anxiety and depression symptoms. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2021 and June 2021, and it included healthcare workers who served during the pandemic. Participants’ demographic data, Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were used, and the results were statistically analyzed. Multiple analyses of factors affecting ESS and ISI scores were evaluated using binary logistic regression model and PSQI score were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model. Results A total of 1,111 healthcare workers who served during the pandemic voluntarily enrolled to the study. The mean age was 37.3 ± 8.48 years, and 63.5% were females. Our study showed that the healthcare workers, evaluated with the PSQI, experienced a deterioration of sleep quality. Primary factors affecting this are working on the front line, the presence of chronic diseases, depression, and anxiety. Regression analyses identified depression and anxiety as the common factors affecting ESS, ISI, and PSQI scores. Conclusion Raising awareness regarding COVID-somnia among healthcare workers, who play a leading role in curbing the pandemic, would reduce sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. It would also contribute to the planning and implementation of preventive and therapeutic mental health programs with a multidisciplinary approach.
The effect of flaxseed oil consumtion on blood pressure among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials

We systematically reviewed randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to elucidate the overall effects of flaxseed oil consumption on blood pressure (BP) in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science databases were systematically searched until March 31, 2020, to find RCTs that examined the effect of flaxseed oil consumption on BP. Weighed mean difference (WMD) was pooled using a random‐effects model. Standard methods were used for the assessment of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias. Meta‐analysis of five trials (6 arms) showed significant reductions in systolic (WMD: −3.86 mmHg, 95% CI: −7.59 to −0.13, p = .04) BP (SBP) after flaxseed oil consumption. However, the overall effect illustrated no significant change in diastolic (WMD: −1.71 mmHg, 95% CI: −3.67 to 0.26, p = .09) BP (DBP) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Our findings revealed that flaxseed oil consumption has favorable effects on SBP in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders. However, further investigations are needed to provide more reliable evidence.
Antibiotics-Induced Disruption of Gut Microbiota Increases Systemic Exposure of Clopidogrel Active Metabolite in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Gut microbiota play an important role in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) and biodisposition of drugs. Our previous study demonstrated that T2DM rats had the decreased plasma exposure of clopidogrel active metabolite (Clop-AM) due to upregulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). However, whether the change to clopidogrel (Clop) disposition under T2DM conditions is associated with gut microbiota needs to be elucidated. In the study, we used an antibiotic cocktail consisting of ampicillin, vancomycin, metronidazole, and neomycin to disrupt gut microbiota and observed its influence on pharmacokinetic profiles of Clop-AM. Antibiotic administration markedly alleviated T2DM rats’ phenotype, including hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, hyperlipidemia, and liver dysfunction. Meanwhile, treatment with antibiotics significantly reversed the reduced systemic exposure of Clop-AM in T2DM rats relative to control rats, which was associated with the decreased intestinal P-gp level that might promote Clop absorption, resulting in more Clop transformation to Clop-AM. Fecal microbiome analysis exhibited a serious disruption of gut microbiota after antibiotic treatment with the sharply reduced microbial load and the altered microbial composition. Interestingly, an in vitro study showed that antibiotics had no influence on P-gp mRNA levels in SW480 cells, suggesting that the microbiome disruption, not the direct role of antibiotics on P-gp expression, contributes to the altered P-gp level and Clop disposition in T2DM rats. The findings add new insights into the potential impact of gut microbiota on Clop biodisposition. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Antibiotics increase systemic exposure of Clop-AM in T2DM rats, which is associated with the downregulation of P-gp levels. Antibiotics-induced disruption of gut microbiota, not the direct effect of antibiotics on P-gp and cytochrome P450 expression, contributes to the altered Clop disposition. Antibiotics also alleviate the T2DM phenotype, including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, liver dysfunction, and inflammation.
Geometric trade-off between contractile force and viscous drag determines the actomyosin-based motility of a cell-sized droplet

Significance Micrometer-scale small active systems, ranging from cells migrating through viscoelastic tissues to self-propelled droplets in microfluidic platforms, are often subject to environmental confinement. Growing evidence suggests that such confined environments are an essential factor to generate propulsive force, but its physical basis is still poorly understood. Here, by creating a simplified model of cell migration with active cytoskeleton enclosed in cell-sized droplets under confinement, we demonstrate that a propulsive force can be generated by the physical interaction between contracting active cytoskeleton and inner droplet surface. Furthermore, we show experimentally and theoretically that the force balance between propulsive force and confinement-induced viscous drag determines the migration speed, revealing a physical mechanism of the active cytoskeleton-based motility that utilizes environmental mechanical constraints.
NIR fluorescence imaging and treatment for cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as one of the most powerful anticancer therapies. However, the details on the interaction between tumors and the immune system are complicated and still poorly understood. Optical fluorescence imaging is a technique that allows for the visualization of fluorescence-labeled immune cells and monitoring of the immune response during immunotherapy. To this end, near-infrared (NIR) light has been adapted for optical fluorescence imaging because it is relatively safe and simple without hazardous ionizing radiation and has relatively deeper tissue penetration into living organisms than visible fluorescence light. In this review, we discuss state-of-the-art NIR optical imaging techniques in cancer immunotherapy to observe the dynamics, efficacy, and responses of the immune components in living organisms. The use of bioimaging labeling techniques will give us an understanding of how the immune system is primed and ultimately developed.
Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasts Using Sky Images and Radiative Transfer Model

In this paper, we propose a novel forecast method which addresses the difficulty in short-term solar irradiance forecasting that arises due to rapidly evolving environmental factors over short time periods. This involves the forecasting of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) that combines prediction sky images with a Radiative Transfer Model (RTM). The prediction images (up to 10 min ahead) are produced by a non-local optical flow method, which is used to calculate the cloud motion for each pixel, with consecutive sky images at 1 min intervals. The Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) and the diffuse radiation intensity field under clear sky and overcast conditions obtained from the RTM are then mapped to the sky images. Through combining the cloud locations on the prediction image with the corresponding instance of image-based DNI and diffuse radiation intensity fields, the GHI can be quantitatively forecasted for time horizons of 1–10 min ahead. The solar forecasts are evaluated in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) in relation to in-situ measurements and compared to the performance of the persistence model. The results of our experiment show that GHI forecasts using the proposed method perform better than the persistence model.
Molecular determinants underlying volume‐regulated anion channel subunit‐dependent oxidation sensitivity

The volume‐regulated anion channel (VRAC) is formed by LRRC8 subunits. Besides their role in the maintenance of cell homeostasis, VRACs are critically involved in oxidative stress mechanisms: reactive oxygen species directly modulate VRACs in a subunit‐dependent manner. It was reported that LRRC8A–LRRC8E heteromeric channels are activated by oxidation, whereas LRRC8A–LRRC8C heteromers are inhibited. Here we adopted chimeric‐ as well as concatemeric‐based strategies to identify residues responsible for the divergent effect of oxidants. We identified two cysteines in the first two leucine rich repeats of LRRC8E, C424 and C448, as the targets of oxidation. Oxidation likely results in the formation of a disulfide bond between the two cysteines, which in turn induces a conformational change leading to channel activation. Additionally, we found that LRRC8C inhibition is caused by oxidation of the first methionine. We thus identified crucial molecular elements involved in channel activation, which are conceivably relevant in determining physiological ROS effects.