Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beneficial effects of electromagnetic fields

Selective control of cell function by applying specifically configured, weak, time‐varying magnetic fields has added a new, exciting dimension to biology and medicine. Field parameters for therapeutic, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMFs) were designed to induce voltages similar to those produced, normally, during dynamic mechanical deformation of connective tissues. As a result, a wide variety of challenging musculoskeletal disorders have been treated successfully over the past two decades. More than a quarter million patients with chronically ununited fractures have benefitted, worldwide, from this surgically non‐invasive method, without risk, discomfort, or the high costs of operative repair. Many of the athermal bioresponses, at the cellular and subcellular levels, have been identified and found appropriate to correct or modify the pathologic processes for which PEMFs have been used. Not only is efficacy supported by these basic studies but by a number of double‐blind trials. As understanding of mechanisms expands, specific requirements for field energetics are being defined and the range of treatable ills broadened. These include nerve regeneration, wound healing, graft behavior, diabetes, and myocardial and cerebral ischemia (heart attack and stroke), among other conditions. Preliminary data even suggest possible benefits in controlling malignancy.
An online algorithm for distributed dictionary learning

This paper proposes a novel algorithm for online distributed dictionary learning, where a set of nodes is requested to collectively estimate a common dictionary via sequentially received data vectors. At each time instance, in which a new datum becomes available, the sparse representation of the data with respect to the estimated dictionary is computed locally at each node by employing a sparsity promoting algorithm. In the sequel, the nodes cooperate in order to collaboratively update the dictionary via the distributed Recursive Least Squares (RLS) algorithm. Numerical examples, both with synthetic and real data, validate that the performance of the proposed algorithm is comparable to that of centralized state of the art algorithms.
A straight line detection method based on edge following and line segments integration

We proposed a novel straight line detection method that can exclude line segments belonging to curved lines and integrates line segments of the same straight line. The proposed method links the edge pixels into strips and segments each strip into a series of line segments. Then the line segments are exploited to split the strips into strip fragments without turning points and then identify candidate straight lines from the strip fragments. Finally, model selection method is applied to integrate candidate straight lines into straight lines and extract the parameters of straight lines. Our method is proved to be effective.
Insomnia: prevalence, consequences and effective treatment

Insomnia is common and can have serious consequences, such as increased risk of depression and hypertension. Acute and chronic insomnia require different management approaches. Chronic insomnia is unlikely to spontaneously remit, and over time will be characterised by cycles of relapse and remission or persistent symptoms. Chronic insomnia is best managed using non‐drug strategies such as cognitive behaviour therapy. For patients with ongoing symptoms, there may be a role for adjunctive use of medications such as hypnotics.
Recent Developments in Yield Increasing Theory Focusing on Nitrogen Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT Increasing the yield potential of rice in response to global population increases and arable land decreases is a crucial research target. The approaches to meeting this goal are new varieties development together with innovative crop managements. Particularly, water scarcity is a challenge for the future in rice-growing regions, and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) rice cultivation and aerobic rice cultivation have been developed to address this issue (Bouman et al. 2007). To innovate the rice production system adapted to low fertilizer input is another approach for the future of our resource limited globe. For this purpose, we have been trying to clarify the genetic factor(s) of root N uptake characteristics and root system development. Obara et al. (2011) mapped and verified the quantitative trait locus/loci (QTL) for root elongation in response to exogenous NH 4 +
Probabilistic graphical model based approach for water mapping using GaoFen-2 (GF-2) high resolution imagery and Landsat 8 time series

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential of Gaofen-2 (GF-2) high resolution multispectral sensor (MS) and panchromatic (PAN) imagery on water mapping. Difficulties of water mapping on high resolution data includes: 1) misclassification between water and shadows or other low-reflectance ground objects, which is mostly caused by the spectral similarity within the given band range; 2) small water bodies with size smaller than the spatial resolution of MS image. To solve the confusion between water and low-reflectance objects, the Landsat 8 time series with two shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands is added because water has extremely strong absorption in SWIR. In order to integrate the three multi-sensor, multi-resolution data sets, the probabilistic graphical model (PGM) is utilized here with conditional probability distribution defined mainly based on the size of each object. For comparison, results from the SVM classifier on the PCA fused and MS data, thresholding method on the PAN image, and water index method on the Landsat data are computed. The confusion matrices are calculated for all the methods. The results demonstrate that the PGM method can achieve the best performance with the highest overall accuracy. Moreover, small rivers can also be extracted by adding weight on the PAN result in PGM. Finally, the post-classification procedure is applied on the PGM result to further exclude misclassification in shadow and water-land boundary regions. Accordingly, the producer's, user's and overall accuracy are all increased, indicating the effectiveness of our method.
The social impact of mobile phones on teenagers

Mobile infrastructure has changed during the past decade and this increase has become so apparent that you hardly ever come in contact with someone who does not possess a mobile phone or other mobile device. It is becoming increasingly easy and inexpensive for teenagers to contact friends and access information via their mobile phones (Reid and Reid 2007, p. 424). Therefore, the study on the social implications of mobile phones is extremely important when it comes to the future of our teenagers. A questionnaire was handed out to high school students in Cape Town to find out how mobile phones have affected their lifestyles. The social implications that mobile phones, and its applications have on teenagers were identified. The paper concludes with findings, divided into demographics, sexually explicit material and mobile instant messaging, that could prove useful to those directly involved in guiding teenagers to lead a more balanced lifestyle.
Walker : A refined model of sleep and the time course of memory formation

settles the debate about the exclusiveness of memory consolidation during sleep. In describing the findings regarding procedural memory and sleep in humans, Walker states that the evidence is " incredibly robust. " Reviewing the literature, however, one must say that the number of studies is quite small, and direct replication studies carried out in different laboratories are scarce. Often different tasks (e.g., a visual discrimination task [Stickgold et al. 2000b], motor skills like finger tapping [Walker et al. 2003b], acquisition of probabilistic rules [Peigneux et al. 2003], and priming [Plihal & Born 1999a]) as well as different manipulation techniques (e.g., early versus late sleep [Plihal & Born 1997], REM sleep deprivation [Karni et al. 1994], and correlations between sleep parameters and improvement [Stickgold et al. 2000b]) have been used. In our laboratory, we are currently conducting a correlation study applying the mirror trace task used by Plihal and Born (1997). The preliminary findings (N ϭ 12) are promising: a significant correlation (r ϭ .430, p Ͻ .05, one-tailed) between percentage of REM sleep and improvement in speed from the evening session to the morning session was found. This is not completely consistent with the finding of Stickgold et al. (2000b) for the visual discrimination task; they reported a much higher correlation (r ϭ .74; N ϭ 14). and I utilized a modified version of the mirror-tracing task in a study of memory in elderly, healthy persons and were also able to demonstrate a correlation between the percentage of REM sleep and performance (this is a preliminary result; the study is still in progress). On the other hand, the insignificant finding regarding non-REM Stage 2 sleep and performance is not in line with the findings of Walker et al. (2003b). In addition to these conflicting results, other inconsistencies between the different studies in the field can be pointed out. Karni et al. (1994), for example, found an effect of REM sleep deprivation on the improvement in the visual discrimination task but not for slow wave sleep deprivation, whereas Stickgold et al. (2000b) reported correlations for slow wave sleep and REM sleep. To summarize, although the amount of evidence supporting a close relationship of procedural memory and sleep is growing, many inconsistencies have to be clarified by futures studies. If sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, one of the next steps will be to study patients with primary sleep disorders. …
Application of a Web-Enabled Leg Training System for the Objective Monitoring and Quantitative Analysis of Exercise-Induced Fatigue

Background Sustained cardiac rehabilitation is the key intervention in the prevention and treatment of many human diseases. However, implementation of exercise programs can be challenging because of early fatigability in patients with chronic diseases, overweight individuals, and aged people. Current methods of fatigability assessment are based on subjective self-reporting such as rating of perceived exertion or require specialized laboratory conditions and sophisticated equipment. A practical approach allowing objective measurement of exercise-induced fatigue would be useful for the optimization of sustained delivery of cardiac rehabilitation to improve patient outcomes. Objectives The objective of this study is to develop and validate an innovative approach, allowing for the objective assessment of exercise-induced fatigue using the Web-enabled leg rehabilitation system. Methods MedExercise training devices were equipped with wireless temperature sensors in order to monitor their usage by temperature rise in the resistance unit (Δt°). Since Δt° correlated with the intensity and duration of exercise, this parameter was used to characterize participants’ leg work output (LWO). Personal smart devices such as laptop computers with wireless gateways and relevant software were used for monitoring of self-control training. Connection of smart devices to the Internet and cloud-based software allowed remote monitoring of LWO in participants training at home. Heart rates (HRs) were measured by fingertip pulse oximeters simultaneously with Δt° in 7 healthy volunteers. Results Exercise-induced fatigue manifested as the decline of LWO and/or rising HR, which could be observed in real-time. Conversely, training at the steady-state LWO and HR for the entire duration of exercise bout was considered as fatigue-free. The amounts of recommended daily physical activity were expressed as the individual Δt° values reached during 30-minute fatigue-free exercise of moderate intensity resulting in a mean of 8.1°C (SD 1.5°C, N=7). These Δt° values were applied as the thresholds for sending automatic notifications upon taking the personalized LWO doses by self-control training at home. While the mean time of taking LWO doses was 30.3 (SD 4.1) minutes (n=25), analysis of times required to reach the same Δt° by the same participant revealed that longer durations were due to fatigability, manifesting as reduced LWO at the later stages of training bouts. Typically, exercising in the afternoons associated with no fatigue, although longer durations of evening sessions suggested a diurnal fatigability pattern. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of objective monitoring of fatigue development in real-time and online as well as retrospective fatigability quantification by the duration of training bouts to reach the same exercise dose. This simple method of leg training at home accompanied by routine fatigue monitoring might be useful for the optimization of exercise interventions in primary care and special populations.
Improved MUSIC Algorithm for Multiple Noncoherent Subarrays

This work addresses the direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation issue with multiple noncoherent subarrays. We use a maximum likelihood approach to derive a weighted MUSIC (w-MUSIC) algorithm for such arrays, which obtains the overall spatial spectrum via combining the weighted MUSIC spectrum of the subarrays. Theoretical analysis and numerical examples demonstrate that the w-MUSIC algorithm has a better performance compared to a previously introduced MUSIC algorithm for noncoherent subarrays.
Optimization of PbTiO 3 seed layers and Pt metallization for PZT-based piezoMEMS actuators

This work attempts to optimize past research results on lead zirconate titanate (PZT) using the fabrication processes at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory so as to achieve a high degree of {001} texture and improved piezoelectric properties. A comparative study was performed between Ti/Pt and TiO2/Pt bottom electrodes. The results indicate that the use of a highly oriented {100} rutile phase TiO2 led to highly textured {111} Pt which in turn improved both the PTO and PZT orientations. PZT (52/48) and (45/55) thin films with and without PTO seed layers were deposited and examined via x-ray diffraction (XRD) methods as a function of annealing temperature. The seed layer provides significant improvement in the {100} orientation generally, and in the {001} subset of planes specifically, while suppressing the {111} orientation of the PZT. Improvements in the Lotgering factor (f) were observed from an existing Ti/Pt/PZT process (f5 0.66) to samples using the PTO seed layer deposited onto the improved Pt electrodes, TiO2/Pt/PTO/PZT (f 5 0.96).
Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of the p24/p22 subunit, DNC-3, is essential for the formation of the dynactin complex by bridging DNC-1/p150Glued and DNC-2/dynamitin

Dynactin is a multisubunit protein complex required for the activity of cytoplasmic dynein. In Caenorhabditis elegans, although 10 of the 11 dynactin subunits were identified based on the sequence similarities to their orthologs, the p24/p22 subunit has not been detected in the genome. Here, we demonstrate that DNC‐3 (W10G11.20) is the functional counterpart of the p24/p22 subunit in C. elegans. RNAi phenotypes and subcellular localization of DNC‐3 in early C. elegans embryos were nearly identical to those of the known dynactin components. All other dynactin subunits were co‐immunoprecipitated with DNC‐3, indicating that DNC‐3 is a core component of dynactin. Furthermore, the overall secondary structure of DNC‐3 resembles to those of the mammalian and yeast p24/p22. We found that DNC‐3 is required for the localization of the DNC‐1/p150Glued and DNC‐2/dynamitin, the two components of the projection arm of dynactin, to the nuclear envelope of meiotic nuclei in the adult gonad. Moreover, DNC‐3 physically interacted with DNC‐1 and DNC‐2 and significantly enhanced the binding ability between DNC‐1 and DNC‐2 in vitro. These results suggest that DNC‐3 is essential for the formation of the projection arm subcomplex of dynactin.
On Timing Model Extraction and Hierarchical Statistical Timing Analysis

In this paper, we investigate the challenges of applying statistical static timing analysis in hierarchical design flow, where modules supplied by IP vendors are used to hide design details for IP protection and to reduce the complexity of design and verification. For the three basic circuit types, combinational, flip-flop-based, and latch-controlled, we propose methods for extracting timing models that contain interfacing and compressed internal constraints. Using these compact timing models, the runtime of full-chip timing analysis can be reduced, while circuit details from IP vendors are not exposed. We also propose a method for reconstructing correlation between modules during full-chip timing analysis. This correlation cannot be incorporated into timing models because it depends on the layout of the corresponding modules in the chip. In addition, we investigate how to apply the extracted timing models with the reconstructed correlation to evaluate the performance of the complete design. Experiments demonstrate that using the extracted timing models and reconstructed correlation full-chip timing analysis can be several times faster than applying the flattened circuit directly, while the accuracy of statistical timing analysis is still well maintained.
Economies of Information Consumer Commodities - An Introduction to Conceptualising Forms of Information Capitalism by Two Cases

Change from tangible and place bound production to more flexible production of intangible information goods has challenged traditional ways of organising production. Innovative operating models have brought up also new logics of doing business, therefore one might suggest that it is not always clear which is the cause and which is the effect. The attention on general discussion is often on the nature of the product, yet at least as interesting is the meta-level, i.e. how the value is created. The aim of the paper is to examine different operating models, i.e. ways to define operating environment. The focus is on the different models of competitiveness or how end-users are served and functionality of media service is maintained. The paper contributes to discussion on sufficient and sound ways to organise knowledge intensive value creating activities. Reflections to practice are made by examining two cases of content provisioning in digital media.
Urban Heat Island Simulations in Guangzhou, China, Using the Coupled WRF/UCM Model with a Land Use Map Extracted from Remote Sensing Data

The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model coupled with an Urban Canopy Model (UCM) was used for studying urban environmental issues. Because land use data employed in the WRF model do not agree with the current situation around Guangzhou, China, the performance of WRF/UCM with new land-use data extracted from Remote Sensing (RS) data was evaluated in early August 2012. Results from simulations reveal that experiments with the extracted data are capable of reasonable reproductions of the majority of the observed temporal characteristics of the 2-m temperature, and can capture the characteristics of Urban Heat Island (UHI). The “UCM_12” simulation, which employed the extracted land-use data with the WRF/UCM model, provided the best reproduction of the 2-m temperature data evolution and the smallest minimum absolute average error when compared with the other two experiments without coupled UCM. The contributions of various factors to the UHI effect were analyzed by comparing the energy equilibrium processes of “UCM_12” in urban and suburban areas. Analysis revealed that energy equilibrium processes with new land use data can explain the diurnal character of the UHI intensity variation. Furthermore, land use data extracted from RS can be used to simulate the UHI.
Microglia Play a Major Role in Direct Viral-Induced Demyelination

Microglia are the resident macrophage-like populations in the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia remain quiescent, unable to perform effector and antigen presentation (APC) functions until activated by injury or infection, and have been suggested to represent the first line of defence for the CNS. Previous studies demonstrated that microglia can be persistently infected by neurotropic mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) which causes meningoencephalitis, myelitis with subsequent axonal loss, and demyelination and serve as a virus-induced model of human neurological disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Current studies revealed that MHV infection is associated with the pronounced activation of microglia during acute inflammation, as evidenced by characteristic changes in cellular morphology and increased expression of microglia-specific proteins, Iba1 (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1), which is a macrophage/microglia-specific novel calcium-binding protein and involved in membrane ruffling and phagocytosis. During chronic inflammation (day 30 postinfection), microglia were still present within areas of demyelination. Experiments performed in ex vivo spinal cord slice culture and in vitro neonatal microglial culture confirmed direct microglial infection. Our results suggest that MHV can directly infect and activate microglia during acute inflammation, which in turn during chronic inflammation stage causes phagocytosis of myelin sheath leading to chronic inflammatory demyelination.
Design for robust component synthesis vibration suppression of flexible structures with on-off actuators

This paper presents a development of component synthesis vibration suppression (CSVS) method for control of flexible structures. The proposed method eliminates unwanted flexible modes of vibration while achieving the desired rigid body motion. The robustness to uncertainties of dynamic modeling parameters is analyzed. Unlike traditional input shaping, in which a numerical optimization is used, design for CSVS commands is based on analytic methodology and is relatively easy to implement. A case study is performed on a time-fuel optimal control strategy using constant amplitude reaction jet thrusters. Both simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Integrated supply chain design models: a survey and future research directions

Optimization models, especially nonlinear optimization models, have been widely used to solve integrated supply chain design problems. In integrated supply chain design, the decision maker needs to take into consideration inventory costs and distribution costs when the number and locations of the facilities are determined. The objective is to minimize the total cost that includes location costs and inventory costs at the facilities, and distribution costs in the supply chain. We provide a survey of recent developments in this research area.
From Path to Individual: A Distributed Reputation Detection Model for Information Diffusion

In previous computational reputation models, the reputations rely heavily on the direct interaction experiences. However, in some cases lacking of direct interactions (e.g. information diffusion), the interaction reputations can be hardly obtained in a distributed manner. To solve such problem, a novel distributed reputation detection model following the pattern "From Path to Individual" is proposed in this paper. The proposed model can produce individual reputations by evidences of path reputations which are actually the perception of concatenation of agents' actions. The obtained individual reputations can be considered as an alternative for the interaction reputations in the cases lacking of direct interactions due to their same information source (perception of agents' actions). This model consists of two components, one for the transformation from obtained path reputations to individual reputations of agents and the other one for the detection of path reputations in information diffusion scenario. Through experiments, our model can be validated to be efficient and reliable for agent's reputation detection in terms of detection coverage and accuracy.