Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1—A Novel Marker of Cellular Fitness and Exercise Capacity?

ATPase inhibitory factor 1 is a myokine inhibiting the hydrolytic activity of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase and ecto-F1-ATPase on the surface of many cells. IF1 affects ATP metabolism in mitochondria and the extracellular space and upregulates glucose uptake in myocytes; these processes are essential in physical activity. It is unknown whether the IF1 serum concentration is associated with exercise capacity. This study explored the association between resting IF1 serum concentration and exercise capacity indices in healthy people. IF1 serum concentration was measured in samples collected at rest in 97 healthy amateur cyclists. Exercise capacity was assessed on a bike ergometer at the successive stages of the progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). IF1 serum concentration was negatively and significantly correlated with oxygen consumption, oxygen pulse, and load at various CPET stages. A better exercise capacity was associated with lower circulating IF1. IF1 may reflect better cellular/mitochondrial energetic fitness, but there is uncertainty regarding how IF1 is released into the intravascular space. We speculate that lower IF1 concentration may reflect a better cellular/mitochondrial integrity, as this protein is bound more strongly with ATPases in mitochondria and cellular surfaces in people with higher exercise capacity.
Numerical Analysis of Convective Motions over a Mountain Ridge

Abstract The convection associated with a valley wind regime was analyzed by numerical techniques. The Boussinesq equations and their energy properties were used to define the terms computed from observed data. The numerical results are based on a 1-km horizontal and 100-m vertical mesh. Results from the numerical analysis of the observed data were compared with numerical simulations of valley winds and convection published in the meteorological literature. In general, agreement was found between the data and the numerical simulations. The simulations have reproduced most of the features and processes of the valley wind system. The perturbation motion field was partially recovered from the total wind field. The perturbation stream functions, the solenoid fields, and to a certain extent, the energy properties provide the best evidence of the agreement. The valley wind reaches a quasi-steady state in the afternoon. This steady state results from an apparent maximum rate of conversion of potential to kinetic.
A STATISTICAL METHOD FOR DETECTING CYCLES IN DISCRETE DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS

This paper introduces a statistical method for detecting cycles in discrete time dynamical systems. The continuous state space is replaced by a discrete one consisting of cells. Hashing is used to represent the cells in the computer’s memory. An algorithm for a two-parameter bifurcation analysis is presented which uses the statistical method to detect cycles in the discrete state space. The output of this analysis is a colored cartogram where parameter regions are marked according to the long-term behavior of the system. Moreover, the algorithm allows the computation of basins of attraction of cycles.
Strength of lithium fluoride under shockless compression to 114 GPa

A magnetic loading technique was used to ramp load single-crystal [100] lithium fluoride specimens to peak stresses of 5–114 GPa. Waveanalysis of in situparticle velocity profiles was used to estimate the compressive strength of LiF at peak stress. It was found that the strength increased with peak stress and showed two distinct regions of hardening; the first is believed to be governed by strain hardening and the second by pressure hardening. The quasielastic strain obtained from the initial part of the unloading was shown to saturate at about 1.3% for peak stresses greater than approximately 30 GPa. Over the studied pressure range, the measured strength of LiF varied from its initial value of 0.08 to about 1.1 GPa at the highest compressed state of 114 GPa. Comparison of the measured strength to results from two strength models showed good agreement. It was demonstrated that the strength of LiF introduces systematic error of about 10% when used as an interferometer window for measurements of material strength in isentropic compression experiments.
Development of a Rice Plant Disease Classification Model in Big Data Environment

More than the half of the global population consume rice as their primary energy source. Therefore, this work focused on the development of a prediction model to minimize agricultural loss in the paddy field. Initially, rice plant diseases, along with their images, were captured. Then, a big data framework was used to encounter a large dataset. In this work, at first, feature extraction process is applied on the data and after that feature selection is also applied to obtain the reduced data with important features which is used as the input to the classification model. For the rice disease datasets, features based on color, shape, position, and texture are extracted from the infected rice plant images and a rough set theory-based feature selection method is used for the feature selection job. For the classification task, ensemble classification methods have been implemented in a map reduce framework for the development of the efficient disease prediction model. The results on the collected disease data show the efficiency of the proposed model.
Fall Feature Enhancement and Fusion Using the Stockwell Transform With Dual mmWave Radars

Fall detection based on radar technology has recently attracted increasing attention. Human motions are often multidirectional and have complex trajectories. Numerous time–frequency representation methods have been used to extract micro-Doppler fall features. Peak-to-peak Doppler frequency measurements are limited due to the relatively weak energy in the high-Doppler-frequency area. Fall features are not obvious when using a single millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar if human motions are nearly perpendicular to the radar. A fall feature enhancement and fusion method using the Stockwell transform with dual mmWave radars is proposed in this article. Two mmWave radars synchronously collect human motions in different directions, and the micro-Doppler features of these human motions are obtained by using the Stockwell transform. To enhance the features obtained for recognition, the ridgelines extracted from the two radars are fused in the time–frequency domain. In addition, a model trained by a convolutional neural network (CNN) is used for fall recognition; 960 fall motions and 720 nonfall motions are collected from 60 volunteers. The experimental results show that the proposed method can produce a recognition accuracy of up to 94.14%, which is beneficial for the realization of an indoor fall detection system.
Analyzing the impact of police mugshots in face verification for crime investigations

During photo-signaling procedures, national police forces routinely collect two pictures (commonly known as mugshots), i.e., the frontal picture and the right profile picture, together with fingerprints and personal information of a subject, for various purposes, ranging from releasing documents to registering criminals. Thus, there is a clear connection between face recognition and this data collection procedure. Despite Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFISs) are being extended by integrating face recognition techniques to provide image analysis capabilities, there is a lack of research in understanding to which extent such techniques are effective in identifying a known subject when only the two standard images of police databases are available as reference samples. This paper makes a step in such direction by comparing the performance of two different Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), pretrained on the VGGFace2 dataset, in a face verification task using the Surveillance Cameras Face (SCFace) database. Specifically, we organized subsets of mugshots taken from different angles in the range [-90°, 90°], where -90° is an image showing the left profile of a subject, 0° is the frontal picture, and 90° is the right profile. We used each subset in a face verification task with images taken from security cameras, trying to understand if the use of more than two mugshot pictures, taken from different points of view, has a positive impact in the identification of suspected subjects during crime investigations. This study might be a first step to assess if a revision of the mugshot collection procedure during photo-signaling is worth the necessary investments, in terms of picture acquisition and storage.
Factors That “Nudge People towards the Healthier” Snacks—A Qualitative Study with Student, Faculty, and Staff Leaders and Decision Makers

(1) College campuses pose numerous public health challenges for students, faculty and staff. The healthfulness of the snacks available on campuses is lacking, and there is a desire for change among the students and staff. The objective of this study is to understand the perspectives of the students, staff, and decision makers regarding the college campus food environment and the perceived facilitators and barriers to improving it. (2) In-depth interviews were conducted (n = 15) with decision makers in food, policy development, wellness, and nutrition at a large Hispanic-Serving University in South Florida. (3) The key stakeholders shared that educational campaigns, student buy-in, raising awareness around obesity and chronic disease, and the university’s position within the community would all help to facilitate improvements to the snack food environment. However, the participants noted that the complex nature of what is considered to be healthy and what divergent consumers want are significant barriers to improving the snack food environment along with concerns over lost revenue and the corporate structure. (4) These results inform potential focal points for multi-level interventions and inform policy discussions focused on improving the snack food environment at minority-serving universities. Taking strategic actions to improve the snack food environment may aid the students and staff of the university to enhance their diet quality.
Investigating the Probiotic Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from an Iranian Fermented Dairy Product, Kashk

In the present study, kashk samples were collected from two regions of Iran, the Fars (Abadeh) and Razavi Khorasan (Kalat) provinces. Fifteen bacteria were isolated and physiological and biochemical assays were performed. After identification to the genus level, eight isolates were identified as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and subjected to molecular identification and probiotic properties assays. The results revealed that the isolates were Enterococcus faecium KKP 3772 (KF1), Enterococcus faecium C1 (KF2), Pediococcus pentosaceus H11 (KF3), Pediococcus pentosaceus VNK-1 (KK4), Lactococcus lactis RSg (KK1), Enterococcus faecalis P190052 (KK2), Enterococcus mundtii CECT972T (KK3), and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PM411 (KK5). Only the numbers of L. lactis RSg (KK1) and Lpb. Plantarum PM411 (KK5) decreased to below 9 Log CFU/mL after acidic conditions (pH = 3) and showed weak antibacterial activity. Enterococcus mundtii CECT972T (KK3) and E. faecium C1(KF2) were highly susceptible to bile salts, while P. pentosaceus VNK-1 (KK4) and P. pentosaceus H11 (KF3) showed the highest resistance. All of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline and sensitive to chloramphenicol and gentamicin. The antimicrobial activity of P. pentosaceus VNK-1 (KK4) and P. pentosaceus H11 (KF3) was higher than other isolates and consequently, their inhibition zones were larger. The adhesion capabilities of LAB isolates to intestinal epithelial cells were evaluated by examining the auto-aggregation factor and cell surface hydrophobicity. The highest and lowest cell surface hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation were obtained from P. pentosaceus VNK-1 (KK4) and E. mundtii CECT972T (KK3), respectively. In general, P. pentosaceus VNK-1 (KK4) and P. pentosaceus H11 (KF3) have shown better probiotic properties as compared to other isolates.
Wide-angle microwave lens for line source applications

A new "time-delay" scanner consists of a constrained wide-angle two-dimensional microwave lens with a straight front face in which lens elements connect arbitrary points on the inner and outer contours. The lens can operate at very short pulse lengths and can scan more beamwidths than any previously known device of its type. A phase analysis shows that this design has very small coma aberrations and that the lens can generate fractional degree beams. Criteria developed for selecting optimum lens parameters are given. The radiation patterns of an experimental model in which the lens elements consist of coaxial cables show the expected wide-angle characteristics. In further tests incremental scanning was obtained through the use of phase shifters in the coaxial lens elements. The design of symmetrical three-dimensional lenses is briefly discussed. A table of lens contour parameters is given for an optimum lens design with scan angle \alpha of 30\deg .
MODULAR CLIMBING ROBOT DESIGN WITH AUTOMATED VISION-BASED DEFECT CLASSIFICATION

In the examination of critical infrastructure for failure, common problems faced are restricted access to the inspection site, size and geometry constraints, cost, and extended inspection period. Facilities such as marine vessels, petrochemical pressure vessels, rail lines, and airplane fuselage, are regularly inspected. Mostly manual techniques with sensors like cameras and non-destructive testing kits are usually employed in detecting structural defects such as cracks and corrosion which constitute the central part of the cost and time spent. This paper, therefore, describes the design of a modular climbing robot for industrial inspection of structures. The main aim of improving and automating defect classification and identification is achieved by applying computer vision with an embedded wireless camera. YOLOv4 machine learning algorithm is implemented to identify and classify surface cracks and corrosion. The robot design combines a set of 6-DOF modular arm and tracked locomotion system. Embedded magnets are integrated into the design to aid navigation on vertical ferromagnetic structures and uneven surfaces. The final design shows that the robot can successfully navigate ferromagnetic structures, detect defects, and climb over moderately sized obstacles without loss of adhesion. This ensures performance in unfriendly and inaccessible environments, reducing costs and inspection time considerably.
Construction of face databases for tasks to recognize facial expressions of basic emotions: a systematic review

ABSTRACT. Recognizing the other's emotions is an important skill for the social context that can be modulated by variables such as gender, age, and race. A number of studies seek to elaborate specific face databases to assess the recognition of basic emotions in different contexts. Objectives: This systematic review sought to gather these studies, describing and comparing the methodologies used in their elaboration. Methods: The databases used to select the articles were the following: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Scopus. The following word crossing was used: “Facial expression database OR Stimulus set AND development OR Validation. ” Results: A total of 36 articles showed that most of the studies used actors to express the emotions that were elicited from specific situations to generate the most spontaneous emotion possible. The databases were mainly composed of colorful and static stimuli. In addition, most of the studies sought to establish and describe patterns to record the stimuli, such as color of the garments used and background. The psychometric properties of the databases are also described. Conclusions: The data presented in this review point to the methodological heterogeneity among the studies. Nevertheless, we describe their patterns, contributing to the planning of new research studies that seek to create databases for new contexts.
Elastic-plated gravity currents

We consider a nonlinear diffusion equation describing the planar spreading of a viscous fluid injected between an elastic sheet and an underlying rigid plane. The dynamics depends sensitively on the physical conditions at the contact line where the sheet is lifted off the plane by the fluid. We explore two possibilities for these conditions (or “regularisations”): a pre-wetted film and a constant-pressure fluid lag (a gas-filled gap between the fluid edge and the contact line). For both flat and inclined planes, we compare numerical and asymptotic solutions, identifying the distinct stages of evolution and the corresponding characteristic rates of spreading.
Precipitation observed in Oklahoma mesoscale convective systems with a polarimetric radar

Abstract In this paper, the fields of three radar polarimetric variables-differential reflectivity ZDR, specific differential phase KDP, and correlation coefficient between horizontally (H) and vertically (V) polarized echoes ρhv-along with radar reflectivity Zh, are examined within two Oklahoma mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). The analysis of the whole set of polarimetric variables reveals at least three types of hydrometeor populations in the precipitation within thew MCSs. It seems to be possible to discriminate between pure liquid raindrops, drops with ice cores inside them, and mixed-phase precipitation containing rain and hail using joint analysis of all the polarimetric measurands available. Hail-bearing zones are characterized by significant reduction of ZDR and ρhv, as well as large values of Zh. Specific differential phase KDP is usually high in these zones, and sometimes a pronounced differential phase shift upon scattering is evident. Experimental data show that the differential phase ΦDP .
SbMYB3 transcription factor promotes root-specific flavone biosynthesis in Scutellaria baicalensis

Abstract Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi produces abundant root-specific flavones (RSFs), which provide various benefits to human health. We have elucidated the complete biosynthetic pathways of baicalein and wogonin. However, the transcriptional regulation of flavone biosynthesis in S. baicalensis remains unclear. We show that the SbMYB3 transcription factor functions as a transcriptional activator involved in the biosynthesis of RSFs in S. baicalensis. Yeast one-hybrid and transcriptional activation assays showed that SbMYB3 binds to the promoter of flavone synthase II-2 (SbFNSII-2) and enhances its transcription. In S. baicalensis hairy roots, RNAi of SbMYB3 reduced the accumulation of baicalin and wogonoside, and SbMYB3 knockout decreased the biosynthesis of baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, and wogonoside, whereas SbMYB3 overexpression enhanced the contents of baicalein, baicalin, wogonin, and wogonoside. Transcript profiling by qRT–PCR demonstrated that SbMYB3 activates SbFNSII-2 expression directly, thus leading to more abundant accumulation of RSFs. This study provides a potential target for metabolic engineering of RSFs.
Resonant Inertial Mass Sensing for VOCs—CMOS-Compatible SoC Integration Advantages and Challenges: A Review

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have gained the biomedical community’s attention given their relevance in exhaled human breath analysis for noninvasive disease diagnosis. Today, only bulky, expensive, and high-skill bench-top equipment is commercially available to reach the outstanding resolution and selectivity required for their detection. However, these solutions fail to meet the society demands of portable and low-cost devices required for point-of-care diagnosis and e-health. In this line, resonant inertial mass sensing has emerged as a promising technique to achieve high-resolution VOCs’ identification, fulfilling the portability requirements. Their excellent distributed mass sensitivity and integration capabilities within standard CMOS microfabrication techniques constitute excellent candidates for building lab-on-chip applications in line with current technological trends. The capability of operating as self-sustained oscillators provides an inherent real-time tracking system with quasi-digital output. Resonator coating using novel sensing films for specific analyte caption is required to boost the mass loading effect and improve sensing selectivity. This article reviews and analyzes the resonator topologies proposed in the literature together with the techniques used for electromechanical transduction, as well as coating materials and procedures. The ultimate goal is to discuss the advantages achieved for CMOS fully integrated solutions, analyzing the state of the art in the field and providing specific design guidelines while foreseeing upcoming trends.
Molecular and phenometric characterization of Bhakarwali goat breed of India

Bhakarwali is recently registered as 34th goat breed of India. It is distributed in the hilly tracts of Jammu and Kashmir. The breed is distinct with superior qualities such as high temperature resistance and milk, meat and fiber productivity under the low input system. It’s characterization at phenotypic level was carried out by surveying the breeding tract and at genotypic level by microsatellite markers. Information on body traits, performance traits and managemental practices were collected by interviewing the goat keepers. All the microsatellite loci selected for diversity analysis were polymorphic and a total of 190 alleles were identified across the 23 microsatellite loci. OMHC1 depicted the highest number of alleles (15) while ILSTS065 had the lowest (2) with 8.26±0.663 mean number of alleles per locus. Expected number of alleles ranged from 1.065 (ILSTS044) to 6.755 (OMHC1) with a mean value of 3.613±0.367 alleles per locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.063 (ILSTS044) to 0.915 (OMHC1) with a mean of 0.629±0.045. Corresponding values of expected heterozygosity varied between 0.061 (ILSTS044) to 0.852 (OMHC1) with a mean of 0.639±0.043. Heterozygote deficiency was negligible as average FIS value was only 0.002±0.033. Bottleneck was examined using all the three mutations models and was found to be absent. Normal L-shaped curve indicated lack of mode shift in the population. This is the first-hand report on current diversity status of Bhakarwali goat and is expected to be useful in planning conservation and in facilitating their effective use in future breeding programs.