Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of “My Wheelchair Guide” app: a qualitative study

Abstract Background: The smartphone app “My Wheelchair Guide” is designed to provide essential information about wheelchair use and service delivery for new wheelchair users. It aims to empower wheelchair users in taking ownership in acquiring appropriate wheelchairs, and guiding them to use their wheelchairs in a safe and effective manner. Objective: This paper describes the development of the “My Wheelchair Guide” app and the usability evaluation of one of the app sections “Use a Wheelchair”. Method: Ten manual wheelchair users and four seating/mobility professionals completed a survey on the ease of use and perceived usefulness of the app, and a semi-structured interview. Wheelchair users used checklists in the app to self-assess their wheelchairs’ fit and set-up, and their wheelchair skills. Two investigators independently conducted content analysis of the interview transcripts and identified salient themes. Results: All participants perceived the app to be easy to use. Both wheelchair users and wheelchair seating professionals recognized that the “Use a Wheelchair” section would be very beneficial for new wheelchair users. Self-assessment checklists facilitated participants to review their wheelchair set-up and skills. Participants also provided several suggestions and recommendations to revise and refine the app section. Conclusion: The app section was perceived to be a useful and easy-to-use educational tool by most of the study participants. Participants’ feedback will be used to guide the app revision for a better user experience. Further studies could be conducted to assess the app effectiveness on improving wheelchair users’ knowledge and facilitating self-advocacy for appropriate wheelchairs. Implications for rehabilitation Smartphone apps designed to support patient education and self-management regarding wheelchair use are perceived beneficial by both wheelchair users and clinical professionals. Smartphone apps support multimedia information presentation and user interaction, and can potentially create an effective learning environment for wheelchair users and their families to learn about their everyday devices. Users of educational apps prefer reduced text-based content and care about app aesthetics.
Secrecy Analysis on Half-Duplex Two-Way Relay Transmission Using Various Transmission Channels and Jamming Strategies

The open nature of the wireless networks makes them vulnerable to the eavesdropper attacks. Cooperative relay transmission is a popular method to prevent the attacks of the illegal nodes. This research proposes a cooperative jamming protocol to enhance the physical layer in wireless cooperative networks, where the destination sends a jamming signal to the eavesdropper node to degrade its channel capacity. Simulations of the secrecy performance metrics in terms of the secrecy capacity and secrecy outage probability are presented and discussed to measure the security level of the proposed jamming protocol. In this paper, different channels namely Rician fading, Rayleigh fading, and Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channels are investigated in the half-duplex two-way relaying system to obtain the maximum secrecy performance. Based on the results, the highest secrecy capacity is achieved by using the Rician fading channel for transmission from the source to the destination and using the Rayleigh channel as the jamming link to degrade the eavesdropper capacity.
Oxidative muscles have better mitochondrial homeostasis than glycolytic muscles throughout life and maintain mitochondrial function during aging

Preservation of mitochondrial function, which is dependent on mitochondrial homeostasis (biogenesis, dynamics, disposal/recycling), is critical for maintenance of skeletal muscle function. Skeletal muscle performance declines upon aging (sarcopenia) and is accompanied by decreased mitochondrial function in fast-glycolytic muscles. Oxidative metabolism promotes mitochondrial homeostasis, so we investigated whether mitochondrial function is preserved in oxidative muscles. We compared tibialis anterior (predominantly glycolytic) and soleus (oxidative) muscles from young (3 mo) and old (28-29 mo) C57BL/6J mice. Throughout life, the soleus remained more oxidative than the tibialis anterior and expressed higher levels of markers of mitochondrial biogenesis, fission/fusion and autophagy. The respiratory capacity of mitochondria isolated from the tibialis anterior, but not the soleus, declined upon aging. The soleus and tibialis anterior exhibited similar aging-associated changes in mitochondrial biogenesis, fission/fusion, disposal and autophagy marker expression, but opposite changes in fiber composition: the most oxidative fibers declined in the tibialis anterior, while the more glycolytic fibers declined in the soleus. In conclusion, oxidative muscles are protected from mitochondrial aging, probably due to better mitochondrial homeostasis ab initio and aging-associated changes in fiber composition. Exercise training aimed at enriching oxidative fibers may be valuable in preventing mitochondria-related aging and its contribution to sarcopenia.
Self-releasing of a titanium clamp (CranioFix) in cranioplasty

Abstract The CranioFix® titanium clamp was developed for fixing bone flaps after craniotomy. In this case, to prevent cosmetic problems, the bone flaps were trimmed with a beveled edge, and a CranioFix clamp was used for bone flap fixation. As the brain swelled, the CranioFix clamp became loosened. If brain swelling is anticipated and bone margins have been trimmed, it may be better to consider other fixation methods.
Derivation and Validation of the Echo Waveform for the Chinese Tiangong-2 Interferometric Imaging Radar Altimeter

We introduce the derivation and validation of the echo waveform model (EWM) for the ChineseTiangong-2 interferometric imaging radar altimeter (TG2-InIRA), which was launched on Sept. 152016. The TG2-InIRA adopts small incident angles from 1 to 8 degree and short interferometric baseline of 2.3m so as to realize high coherency measurement of radar scattering from sea surface aiming to retrieve three- dimensional ocean topography with centimeter-level accuracy. We derived the EWM by multiplication of the antenna pattern in range direction, the backscattering coefficient model and the system response function. Real in-orbit observation data has been used to validate the developed EWM and an initial wind speed retrieval algorithm is proposed.
TE-polarized Wave Diffraction by a Cylinder Covered with Nonlinear Dielectric Layer

The problem of diffraction of TE polarized EM waves by an open dielectric waveguide with a nonlinear inhomogeneous filling is under consideration. In such problems a nonlinear eigenvalue problem for a system of differential equations is arised. For the numerical solution a method based on the solution of the auxillary Cauchy problem is proposed. Numerical results are presented.
Target Tracking Based on Collaborative Learning Kernelized Correlation Filter

In this paper, a tracking algorithm based on collaborative learning Kernelized Correlation Filter is proposed. According to the framework of KCF, two trackers based on HoG and CN are cooperatively trained, and independent scale adaptive algorithm is used at the same time, and we call it collaborative learning Kernelized Correlation Filter (CL-KCF) algorithm. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has higher tracking accuracy and robustness than other trackers, and can automatically adapt to the target's scale change.
Coding with transient trajectories in recurrent neural networks

Following a stimulus, the neural response typically strongly varies in time and across neurons before settling to a steady-state. While classical population coding theory disregards the temporal dimension, recent works have argued that trajectories of transient activity can be particularly informative about stimulus identity and may form the basis of computations through dynamics. Yet the dynamical mechanisms needed to generate a population code based on transient trajectories have not been fully elucidated. Here we examine transient coding in a broad class of high-dimensional linear networks of recurrently connected units. We start by reviewing a well-known result that leads to a distinction between two classes of networks: networks in which all inputs lead to weak, decaying transients, and networks in which specific inputs elicit amplified transient responses and are mapped onto output states during the dynamics. Theses two classes are simply distinguished based on the spectrum of the symmetric part of the connectivity matrix. For the second class of networks, which is a sub-class of non-normal networks, we provide a procedure to identify transiently amplified inputs and the corresponding readouts. We first apply these results to standard randomly-connected and two-population networks. We then build minimal, low-rank networks that robustly implement trajectories mapping a specific input onto a specific orthogonal output state. Finally, we demonstrate that the capacity of the obtained networks increases proportionally with their size.
Novel Algorithm for Hand Gesture Recognition Utilizing a Wrist-Worn Inertial Sensor

In this paper, we propose a dynamic time warping (DTW)-based template matching method with a novel template generation algorithm for hand gesture recognition utilizing a wrist-worn inertial sensor. Hand orientation measurements are utilized to reconstruct gesture trajectories. The DTW technique with the Riemannian distance is employed to perform similarity measurements between gesture orientation trajectories. The proposed gesture recognition algorithm comprises three stages: a data preprocessing stage, a training stage, and a recognition stage. First, a moving intrinsic average filter is introduced to suppress the effects of measurement noise and unconscious hand shaking. Next, a double-threshold segmentation scheme is applied to extract individual gesture segments. In the training stage, to cope with temporal and spatial variations in gestures, an adaptive DTW barycenter averaging algorithm combined with an intrinsic averaging method is developed to generate gesture templates. A suitable rejection threshold is determined according to intra-class DTW distances. In the recognition stage, the rejection percentage between the input gesture and each gesture template is calculated. Finally, the nearest neighbor decision rule is applied to determine the recognition result. Experiments performed on a database of 3600 gesture samples illustrate that the proposed DTW-based gesture template generation and classification algorithm outperforms existing methods.
Single-Ended Branch PA Characterisation for Outphasing Amplifiers

Back-off efficiency is a key requirement for load modulated power amplifier (PA) architectures such as Chireix outphasing. This paper studies the impact of second and third harmonic impedance tuning (Z2fo,Z3fo) on the performance of a 10 Watt GaN HEMT branch PA subject to outphasing-like load modulation, operating at 900 MHz. Performance variation of up to 3 dB output power (POUT) and 50% points drain efficiency (DE) with phase manipulation alone of Z2fo is recorded. Optimal Z2fo is revealed to vary - throughout a fixed and for different - outphasing trajectories. A simple technique is presented, using continuous class F−1closed form equations, which predicts the intrinsic optimal Z2fo for multiple points from five outphasing load trajectories, de-embedded to the current generator (CG) plane of the device.
F2FS Aware Mapping Cache Design on Solid State Drives

During the past decades, NAND flash memory based SSDs have been widely deployed in personal computers, mobile devices, and cloud systems. In order to maintain the mappings between logical addresses and physical addresses, a built-in RAM called as mapping cache is always implemented within SSDs. However, due to the cost and space limitations of RAM, only limited number of address mappings are supposed to be stored in the mapping cache. The mapping cache has been designed to exploit the access characteristics of traditional file systems, such as EXT4. Recently, flash friendly file system (F2FS) has been widely used and optimized for SSDs, which exhibits completely different access pattern and has not been taken into consideration during the design of mapping cache. In this paper, we are the first in proposing an efficient F2FS aware design for optimizing the efficiency of mapping cache. The basic idea of the work is to exploit the specific access characteristics of F2FS and propose to improve the hit ratio of the mapping cache. Experimental results show that this approach is able to significantly improve the performance of SSDs.
Enhanced Electric Breakdown Strength in an Electron-Optical System

We describe the results of our work on enhanced electric breakdown strength observed in the plasma-anode bipolar optical system of a plasma-cathode electron gun. This kind of optical system uses a plasma-filled diode in which the acceleration and formation of the electron beam occurs in the double layer between the emission surface of the plasma cathode, stabilized by a fine-grained mesh, and the open surface of the anode plasma. The anode plasma is created by self-contained gas-discharge plasma sources whose original design was based on a plasma thruster with anode layer. The parameters of the plasma source are almost independent of the electron beam parameters, and its use in an electron gun enhances the breakdown strength of the acceleration gap and nearly doubles the electron beam current. The thruster-based plasma optical system (POS) resolves the anode grid problem and opens the way to controllable plasma-filled wide-aperture POS. We show that the POS can be effectively used for large-area electron beam formation.
Long non‐coding RNAs influence the transcriptome in pulmonary arterial hypertension: the role of PAXIP1‐AS1

In idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), global transcriptional changes induce a smooth muscle cell phenotype characterised by excessive proliferation, migration, and apoptosis resistance. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of cellular function. Using a compartment‐specific transcriptional profiling approach, we sought to investigate the link between transcriptional reprogramming by lncRNAs and the maladaptive smooth muscle cell phenotype in IPAH. Transcriptional profiling of small remodelled arteries from 18 IPAH patients and 17 controls revealed global perturbations in metabolic, neuronal, proliferative, and immunological processes. We demonstrated an IPAH‐specific lncRNA expression profile and identified the lncRNA PAXIP1‐AS1 as highly abundant. Comparative transcriptomic analysis and functional assays revealed an intrinsic role for PAXIP1‐AS1 in orchestrating the hyperproliferative and migratory actions of IPAH smooth muscle cells. Further, we showed that PAXIP1‐AS1 mechanistically interferes with the focal adhesion axis via regulation of expression and phosphorylation of its downstream target paxillin. Overall, we show that changes in the lncRNA transcriptome contribute to the disease‐specific transcriptional landscape in IPAH. Our results suggest that lncRNAs, such as PAXIP1‐AS1, can modulate smooth muscle cell function by affecting multiple IPAH‐specific transcriptional programmes. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Results of a RCT on a Transition Support Program for Adults with ASD: Effects on Self‐Determination and Quality of Life

Few evidence‐based services exist for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they transition into adulthood, particularly those that foster appreciation of one's own goals and strengths. We developed a transition service for adults with ASD (without Intellectual Disability), and conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) focusing on self‐report of Quality of Life and Self‐Determination outcomes. Thirty participants aged 18–29 were randomized to immediate or delayed intervention, with 26 participants analyzed after 4 were lost to follow‐up. Curriculum was tailored to participants' self‐expressed needs in three areas: social communication, self‐determination, and working with others. Groups of four‐to‐six participants with ASD and two facilitators met weekly for 10 weeks. Positive intervention effects were observed on self‐report of Quality of Life; the intervention group scored on average 2 points higher than the control group, 95% CI [−0.2, 3.9]. Positive effects were also observed on the Self Determination Scale (Interpersonal Cognitive Problem‐Solving subdomain), where the intervention group scored 2 points higher than control group 95% CI [0.082, 3.4]. In addition, participants rated skills targeted by the curriculum 6 points higher after versus before intervention, 95% CI [3.7, 8.6]. This was echoed by a subset of parents rating their child's skills as seven points higher after versus before intervention, 95% CI [1, 14]. Autism Research 2018, 11: 1712–1728. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Little evidence for Fast Mapping (FM) in adults: A review and discussion

ABSTRACT Conventional memory theory proposes that the hippocampus is initially responsible for encoding new information, before this responsibility is gradually transferred to the neocortex. Therefore, a report in 2011 by Sharon et al. of hippocampal-independent learning in humans was notable. These authors reported normal learning of new object-name associations under a Fast Mapping (FM) procedure in adults with hippocampal damage, who were amnesic according to more conventional explicit memorisation procedures. FM is an incidental learning paradigm, inspired by vocabulary acquisition in children, which is hypothesised to allow rapid, cortical-based memory formation. In the years since the original report, there has been, understandably, a growing interest in adult FM, not only because of its theoretical importance, but also because of its potential to help rehabilitate individuals with memory problems. We review the FM literature in individuals with amnesia and in healthy adults, using both explicit and implicit memory measures. Contrary to other recent reviews, we conclude that the evidence for FM in adults is weak, and restraint is needed before assuming the phenomenon exists.
Extracting the Main Routes and Speed Profiles Between Two Locations from Massive Uncertain Historical Trajectories

Increasing penetration of intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) makes it possible to track locations in real time. Capturing the spatiotemporal patterns of a group of mobile objects from their GPS trajectories is a challenging task but crucial to many related applications. This study investigated the trajectories of mobile objects between two locations and developed a methodology to figure out the main routes and their associated speed profiles from massive historical trajectories. DTW (Dynamic Time Warping) and HDBSCAN (Hierarchical Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise) were employed to calculate the similarity of trip trajectories and automatically cluster trajectories. A break-merge approach was employed to develop the main route and speed profile of each cluster which could be further used to reconstruct trajectories with big uncertainty. Experiments on the real AIS (Automatic Identification Systems) trajectories of container ships between the terminals of Shanghai and Ningbo port indicates the effectiveness of this work.
DAMP-Inducing Adjuvant and PAMP Adjuvants Parallelly Enhance Protective Type-2 and Type-1 Immune Responses to Influenza Split Vaccination

Recently, it was reported that 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CyD), a common pharmaceutical additive, can act as a vaccine adjuvant to enhance protective type-2 immunogenicity to co-administered seasonal influenza split vaccine by inducing host-derived damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, like most other DAMP-inducing adjuvants such as aluminum hydroxide (Alum), HP-β-CyD may not be sufficient for the induction of protective type-1 (cellular) immune responses, thereby leaving room for improvement. Here, we demonstrate that a combination of HP-β-CyD with a humanized TLR9 agonist, K3 CpG-ODN, a potent pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), enhanced the protective efficacy of the co-administered influenza split vaccine by inducing antigen-specific type-2 and type-1 immune responses, respectively. Moreover, substantial antigen-specific IgE induction by HP-β-CyD, which can cause an allergic response to immunized antigen was completely suppressed by the addition of K3 CpG-ODN. Furthermore, HP-β-CyD- and K3 CpG-ODN-adjuvanted influenza split vaccination protected the mice against lethal challenge with high doses of heterologous influenza virus, which could not be protected against by single adjuvant vaccines. Further experiments using gene deficient mice revealed the unique immunological mechanism of action in vivo, where type-2 and type-1 immune responses enhanced by the combined adjuvants were dependent on TBK1 and TLR9, respectively, indicating their parallel signaling pathways. Finally, the analysis of immune responses in the draining lymph node suggested that HP-β-CyD promotes the uptake of K3 CpG-ODN by plasmacytoid dendritic cells and B cells, which may contributes to the activation of these cells and enhanced production of IgG2c. Taken together, the results above may offer potential clinical applications for the combination of DAMP-inducing adjuvant and PAMP adjuvant to improve vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy by enhancing both type-2 and type-1 immune responses in a parallel manner.
Work-in-Progress: Design of Security-Critical Distributed Real-Time Applications with Fault-Tolerant Constraint

We approach the design of security-critical distributed applications with task-level fault-tolerant techniques. We focus on the impact of fault tolerance on secure message communication, which was seriously overlooked before. Fault-tolerant techniques, e.g., task re-execution and active replica, are leveraged to tolerate faults in task executions, while cryptography is deployed to protect the confidentiality of messages delivered over the communication media. The design problem is to minimize the schedule length and security vulnerability of the application, subject to given fault-tolerant constraints. We then propose a multi-objective optimization method to find the best solutions. Initial experiments indicated the efficiency.
Secrecy Analysis on Half-Duplex Two-Way Relay Transmission UsingVarious Transmission Channels and Jamming Strategies

The open nature of the wireless networks makes them vulnerable to the eavesdropper attacks. Cooperative relay transmission is a popular method to prevent the attacks of the illegal nodes. This research proposes a cooperative jamming protocol to enhance the physical layer in wireless cooperative networks, where the destination sends a jamming signal to the eavesdropper node to degrade its channel capacity. Simulations of the secrecy performance metrics in terms of the secrecy capacity and secrecy outage probability are presented and discussed to measure the security level of the proposed jamming protocol. In this paper, different channels namely Rician fading, Rayleigh fading, and Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channels are investigated in the half-duplex two-way relaying system to obtain the maximum secrecy performance. Based on the results, the highest secrecy capacity is achieved by using the Rician fading channel for transmission from the source to the destination and using the Rayleigh channel as the jamming link to degrade the eavesdropper capacity.