Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vision-based game design and assessment for physical exercise in a robot-assisted rehabilitation system

Engagement is a key factor in gaming. Especially, in gamification applications, users’ engagement levels have to be assessed in order to determine the usability of the developed games. The authors first present computer vision-based game design for physical exercise. All games are played with gesture controls. The authors conduct user studies in order to evaluate the perception of the games using a game engagement questionnaire. Participants state that the games are interesting and they want to play them again. Next, as a use case, the authors integrate one of these games into a robot-assisted rehabilitation system. The authors perform additional user studies by employing self-assessment manikin to assess the difficulty levels that can range from boredom to excitement. The authors observe that with the increasing difficulty level, users’ arousal increases. Additionally, the authors perform psychophysiological signal analysis of the participants during the execution of the game under two distinctive difficulty levels. The authors derive features from the signals obtained from blood volume pulse (BVP), skin conductance, and skin temperature sensors. As a result of analysis of variance and sequential forward selection, the authors find that changes in the temperature and frequency content of BVP provide useful information to estimate the players’ engagement.
Improving Human Performance in a Real Operating Environment through Real-Time Mental Workload Detection

The ability to directly detect mental over- and under-load in human operators is an essential feature of complex monitoring and control processes. Such processes can be found, for example, in industrial production lines, in aviation, as well as in common everyday tasks such as driving. In this chapter, we present an EEG-based system that is able to detect high mental workload in drivers operating under real traffic conditions. This information is used immediately to mitigate the workload typically induced by the influx of information that is generated by the car's electronic systems. Two experimental paradigms were tested: an auditory workload scheme and a mental calculation task. The result is twofold. The system's performance is strongly subject-dependent; however, the results are good to excellent for the majority of subjects.We show that in these cases an induced mitigation of a reaction time experiment leads to an increase of the driver's overall task performance.
Basic Psychological Needs in Predicting Exercise Participation

This study examined propositions stemming from self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), which contends that motivational consequences and positive outcomes are predicted by the needs for competence, relatedness, and autonomy. Participants completed the Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise (Wilson, Rogers, Rodgers, & Wild, 2006) scale and had their gym access activity monitored for six weeks. Regression analyses revealed that only competence emerged as a statistically significant predictor of exercise participation, and that this prediction was true for women only (p = .04). These findings suggest that exercise and health professionals must take care to ensure that this need is met, particularly in their female clients who may be impacted by traditional gender roles in sport contexts.
Influence of Selected Saccharomyces and Schizosaccharomyces Strains and Their Mixed Cultures on Chemical Composition of Apple Wines.

Currently in apple winemaking, pure cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. bayanus strains are mainly used. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Johannisberg Riesling - LOCK 105), S. bayanus (DSMZ 3774), S. paradoxus (CBS 7302), and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (DSMZ 70576) applied in pure and mixed cultures on the chemical composition and sensory profile of apple wines. Pasteurized Gloster apple musts with addition of sucrose (up to 22°Blg) were inoculated with specific volume (0.6 g dry weight per liter) of yeast pure or mixed cultures (in a ratio of 1:1, 1:1:1, or 1:1:1:1) and fermented for 28 d at 22 °C. The influence of pure/mixed culture on the chemical composition, volatile profile, and sensory properties of apple wines was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) methods. All pure culture of yeasts used for the apple wines production are characterized by good enological profiles. S. bayanus and Sch. pombe are the most distinct to S. cerevisiae. S. bayanus strain increases the level of malic acid and carbonyl compounds in apple wines, whereas Sch. pombe highly deacidifies it and produces the most of glycerol, esters, and acetic acid. The wines obtained with these 2 species gained also, respectively, the best and the worse notes during sensory analysis. Mixed cultures (in most cases) produce greater amounts of ethanol, methanol, and volatile esters compared to pure cultures. The presence of S. bayanus in the mixed culture is beneficial for the quality of apple wines. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Good understanding of the properties of yeasts and the procedures for their selection will make it easier to find strains that could improve the quality of wine. Since wine is formed by the action of a number of species and strains of yeasts, many authors have studied the effect of mixed cultures on the final quality of the product. Most of this research was focused on the effect of the inoculation of Saccharomyces yeast with other species on the aroma of wine. However, there is a little data on the fermentation using simultaneous inoculation of different strains of S. cerevisiae.
Quality of meta-analyses for randomized trials in the field of hypertension: a systematic review

Objectives: Doubling on average every 6 years, hypertension-related meta-analyses are now published twice weekly and are often considered the highest level of evidence for clinical practice. However, some hypertension specialists and guideline authors view meta-analyses with skepticism. This article evaluates the quality of hypertension-related meta-analyses of clinical trials. Methods: A systematic search was conducted for meta-analyses of clinical trials recently published over 3.3 years. Specific criteria reproducibly assessed 26 features in the four domains of meta-analysis quality, domains justified by fundamental analytics and extensive research: analyzing trial quality, analyzing heterogeneity, analyzing publication bias, and providing transparency. Results: A total of 143 meta-analyses were identified. A total of 44% had 8+ deficient features with no relation to journal impact factor: odds ratio relating 8+ deficient features to the upper third versus lower third of impact factor = 1.3 (95% confidence limit 0.6–2.9). A total of 56% had all four domains deficient. Quality did not improve over time. Thirty articles (21%) reported statistically significant results (P < 0.05) from inappropriate DerSimonian–Laird models, whereas unreported, appropriate, Knapp–Hartung models gave statistical nonsignificance; 88% of these 30 articles reported the incorrect results in their abstracts. A total of 60% of all meta-analyses failed to conduct analyses in subgroups of quality when indicated, 63% failed to report Tau and Tau2, 57% omitted testing for publication bias, none conducted a cumulative analysis for publication bias, and 71–77% omitted mentioning in their abstracts problems of trial quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias. Conclusion: Although widespread, deficiencies in hypertension-related meta-analyses are readily corrected and do not represent flaws inherent in the meta-analytic method.
Family-Related Stress versus External Stressors: Differential Impacts on Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use in Young Men

Intense stress increases substance use (SU). However, little is known about the extent to which distinctive forms of stress should be weighted with regard to their effects on SU. This study aimed to determine whether family-related stress factors (FSF) influenced SU in a different way than external stress factors (ESF). Data was drawn from a Swiss cohort study on SU risk factors (C-SURF), involving 5,308 young adult men. Twelve month use of alcohol and of illicit substances was assessed. FSF and ESF for the time period preceding SU were measured. FSF and ESF were both significantly associated with SU. FSF had a greater impact on the use of most substances than did ESF. The FSF with the strongest association with SU was lack of parental monitoring. Regarding ESF, the cumulative number of stressful external events had a higher impact on SU than previous physical or sexual assault by a stranger. In contrast, physical or sexual assault by a family member was not found to be associated with subsequent SU. These findings have important implications for SU prevention programmes focusing on male teenagers, as it is difficult to screen and intervene in subtle forms of maltreatment in families.
Intra-articular application of pulsed radiofrequency combined with viscosupplementation for improvement of knee osteoarthritis symptoms: a single centre prospective study

Abstract Objectives: To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of intra-articular application of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) combined with viscosupplementation in patients with knee osteoarthritis suffering from chronic pain refractory to conservative therapies. Methods: During a 30-month period, PRF combined with viscosupplementation was performed on 53 cases of knee osteoarthritis (45 patients, 8/45 with bilateral knee osteoarthritis). Pre-operational imaging included standard knee X-rays on anterior–posterior and lateral views used to evaluate patients according to the Kellgren–Lawrence classification. Pain, prior, one week/one, 6 and 12 months post were compared by means of a numeric visual scale (NVS) questionnaire. Results: Mean pain score prior to PRF was 8.19 ± 1.4 NVS units. This score was reduced to a mean value of 2.47 ± 2.5 NVS units at 1 week after, 2.55 ± 2.6 at 1 month, 3.1 ± 2.8 at 6 months and 5.02 ± 3.09 at 12 months of follow-up (p < 0.01). Overall mobility improved in 47/53 (88.6%) patients. No complication was observed. Conclusions: Combining PRF with viscous supplementation is an effective and safe technique for palliative management of chronic pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Results seem to be reproducible and long lasting. There seems to be a need of repeating the session at 1 year.
The structure of subtidal food webs in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, as revealed by the analysis of stable isotopes

We analyzed stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to investigate the trophic structure of the subtidal food web around the Mingan Islands, northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, eastern Canada. All benthic consumers were enriched in 13 C (mean δ 13 C of -17.1%� ) compared to particulate organic matter (POM: -23.3%� ). Nitrogen stable isotope ratios ranged from 6%� to 14%� and the organisms studied fell into three distinct trophic groups, primary producers, primary consumers (herbivores), and predators. The sea star Crossaster papposus and the sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpius, known to be top level predators, had slightly higher δ 15 N than other predators. Although the average isotope signature of the sea star Solaster endeca placed it among regular predators, the δ 15 N increased with sea star size and large individuals could be considered as top predators. The relatively small number of organisms located at intermediate trophic levels suggests a low level of omnivory in the Mingan Islands' system, which contrasts with previously described benthic systems that exhibit a continuum between herbivores and predators. Low omnivory, in addition to low diversity, suggests that this ecosystem may be relatively unstable if exposed to natural and/or anthropogenic disturbances such as exploitation and climate change.
Approaches for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Authors

Introduction: Retrograde transfemoral and antegrade transapical approaches are mostly used for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This meta-analysis is designed to assess the performance of the transfemoral and transapical approach. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Current
Low T3 syndrome is a strong prognostic predictor in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic effect of low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome on patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A hundred and eighty‐eight patients with detailed thyroid hormone levels at diagnosis of DLBCL were enrolled. Low T3 syndrome was defined as a low serum free T3 (FT3) level with low or normal serum free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone levels. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to screen prognostic factors associated with progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Receiver‐operator characteristic curves and the corresponding areas under the curve were calculated to assess the predictive accuracy of International Prognostic Index (IPI) and low T3 syndrome. Twenty‐four patients were diagnosed with low T3 syndrome, which was associated with worse PFS and OS in the rituximab era. It was an independent prognostic factor for PFS and OS, especially for those with IPI 0−2, extranodal sites ≤1 and stage III−IV. Synchronously low FT3 and FT4 had poorer survival outcome compared to only low FT3 and adding criterion of low T3 syndrome improved the prognostic capacity of IPI for predicting PFS and OS in DLBCL. Low T3 syndrome was found to be a strong prognostic predictor in DLBCL.
Characterization of metformin by-products under photolysis, photocatalysis, ozonation and chlorination by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE Metformin (MTF) is the most widely prescribed drug for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies involving the removal of MTF from aqueous solutions and detailed information regarding the overall degradation process are scarce. METHODS The degradation of MTF in aqueous solution induced by direct photolysis, photocatalysis, ozonation and chlorination was evaluated. The process was continuously monitored focusing on the identification and monitoring of the by-products formed by applying high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry in positive ion mode. The cytotoxicity of metformin by-products was evaluated with an MTT assay. RESULTS The results from the chlorination and ozonation tests indicate metformin removal efficiencies of 60% after 30 min of exposure. On the other hand, direct photolysis (UV-C) and heterogeneous photocatalysis (TiO2 /UV-C) led to a lower degree of metformin degradation, with removal efficiencies of 9.2% and 31%, respectively, after 30 min of exposure. The mineralization rates varied from 20% for ozonation to 0.72% for photolysis, thereby indicating there was accumulation of degradation by-products in all experiments. Mass spectrometric analysis indicated the presence of five metformin by-products. It was not possible to identify any by-product generated in the photolysis, and, in all oxidative assays, the treated samples were nontoxic to HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS It is also observed that all systems exhibited low mineralization rates, with the chlorination process being slightly more efficient in promoting the degradation, whereas the ozonation was more efficient in promoting the mineralization of metformin. Based on these results a route for the chlorination, photodegradation and ozonation of MTF, which comprised of its successive oxidation in the aqueous medium, could be proposed. It could also be concluded that the treated samples were not cytotoxic to HepG2 cells in a MTT assay. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of a Hypnotic Induction and an Unpleasantness-Focused Analgesia Suggestion on Pain Catastrophizing to an Experimental Heat Stimulus: A Preliminary Study

Abstract Pain catastrophizing is associated with greater levels of pain. While many studies support the efficacy of hypnosis for pain, the effect on pain catastrophizing remains unclear. The present study evaluated the effect of hypnosis on pain catastrophizing using experimental heat stimulation. Twenty-two pain patients engaged in 3 conditions: baseline (no suggestion), hypnotic induction, and hypnotic induction plus analgesia suggestion. Participants with higher baseline pain showed a significant reduction in rumination following hypnotic induction plus analgesia suggestion and significant reductions in pain due to both the hypnotic induction alone and the hypnotic induction plus analgesia suggestion. The findings suggest that unpleasantness-focused hypnotic analgesia reduces pain via its effect on the rumination component of pain catastrophizing.
In Vivo Imaging of Pro- and Antitumoral Cellular Components of the Tumor Microenvironment

Tumor development and growth, as well as metastatic spread, are strongly influenced by various, mostly innate, immune cells, which are recruited to the tumor site and driven to establish a specific tumor-supportive microenvironment. The contents of this microenvironment, such as myeloid cells, are a major factor in the overall prognosis of malignant disease, addressed by a constantly growing armament of therapeutic interventions targeting tumor-supportive immune cells. Current clinical imaging has long ignored the growing need for diagnostic approaches addressing these microenvironmental contents—approaches enabling a sensitive and specific classification of tumor immune crosstalk and the resulting tumor-associated immune cell activity. In this focus article we review the present status of, and promising developments in, the in vivo molecular imaging of tumor immune components designed to allow for inferences to be made on the cross-talk between tumor cells and the immune system. Current imaging modalities based on the infiltrating cell types are briefly discussed.
ROS-Unity3D based system for monitoring of an industrial robotic process

Planning and monitoring the manufacturing of high quality one-of-a-kind products are challenging tasks. In the implementation of an industrial system, the commissioning phase is typically comprised of a programming phase and an optimization phase. Most of the resources are commonly invested in the optimization of the process. The time and cost of the implementation can be reduced if the monitoring system is not embedded in the industrial process, but kept instead as a decoupled task. In this paper we present a framework to simulate and execute the monitoring task of an industrial process in Unity3D, without interfering with the original system. The monitoring system is made of external additional equipment and is decoupled from the industrial task. The monitoring robot's path is subject to multiple constraints to track the original process without affecting its execution. Moreover, the framework is flexible thanks to the Unity-ROS communication so that the monitoring task can be carried on by any ROS-compatible device. The monitoring system has been applied to a robotic system for heavy, multi-pass TIG welding of voluminous work-pieces. The results of the implementation show that the constraints for monitoring were satisfactory in the 3D environment and capable for real robot application.
The Phonetic Interpretation of Tone in Igbo

Abstract This article presents a preliminary study of the phonetic interpretation of tone in Igbo, a Kwa language of southeastern Nigeria. The experimental method varies the speaker’s pitch range orthogonally with variation in tonal material, and fits a model to measurements of maxima and minima in the resulting Fo contour. A new interpretation of downstep is proposed as a result.
Directional communication during movement execution interferes with tremor in Parkinson's disease

Background: Both the cerebello‐thalamo‐cortical circuit and the basal ganglia/cortical motor loop have been postulated to be generators of tremor in PD. The recent suggestion that the basal ganglia trigger tremor episodes and the cerebello‐thalamo‐cortical circuitry modulates tremor amplitude combines both competing hypotheses. However, the role of the STN in tremor generation and the impact of proprioceptive feedback on tremor suppression during voluntary movements have not been considered in this model yet.
Stereotypical Relationship Patterns and Psychopathology

Background: We explored the relationship between the consistency of relationship patterns and the severity of psychopathology. Method: Relationship patterns were assessed by means of Relationship Anecdote Paradigm interviews rated according to the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT) method. The repetition of the same type of CCRT components across relationship narratives indicated stereotypical patterns. Results: Subjects treated in an inpatient setting (n = 25) told narratives with more consistent patterns than subjects in an outpatient setting (n = 32). Relationship episodes of normal adults (n = 23) were more flexible compared with the two clinical groups. Especially repetitions of the wish component were closely associated with the severity of psychopathology assessed by SCL-90R. Conclusions: The consistency of relationship patterns seems to be connected with the severity of psychopathology.
The Meaning and Predictive Value of Self-rated Mental Health among Persons with a Mental Health Problem

Self-rated health is a valid measure of health that predicts quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Its predictive value reflects a conceptualization of health that goes beyond a traditional medical model. However, less is known about self-rated mental health (SRMH). Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (N = 2,547), we examine how rating your mental health as good—despite meeting criteria for a mental health problem—predicts outcomes. We found that 62% of people with a mental health problem rated their mental health positively. Persons who rated their mental health as good (compared to poor) had 30% lower odds of having a mental health problem at follow-up. Even without treatment, persons with a mental health problem did better if they perceived their mental health positively. SRMH might comprise information beyond the experience of symptoms. Understanding the unobserved information individuals incorporate into SRMH will help us improve screening and treatment interventions.