Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of the Order of Movement on the Median Nerve Root Function: A Neurophysiological Study with Implications for Neurodynamic Exercise Sequencing

Background: Neurodynamic exercise is a common clinical practice used to restore neural dynamic balance. The order in which movements are performed during these exercises is believed to play a crucial role in their effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different sequences of neurodynamic exercise on nerve root function, with a specific focus on the median nerve. Methods: Participants were assigned randomly to three experimental groups, each undergoing a different test sequence: standard, proximal-to-distal, and distal-to-proximal. Dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSSEPs) were recorded at key levels (C6, C7, C8, and T1). Results: The findings revealed a significant influence of the movement sequence on DSSEP amplitudes. The execution of neurodynamic exercise in the proximal-to-distal sequence was associated with a notable reduction in amplitudes (p < 0.05). Conversely, the distal-to-proximal sequence resulted in increased amplitudes compared to the standard sequence (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of carefully considering the order of movements during neurodynamic exercising, particularly when evaluating nerve roots that lack the protective perineurium. The choice of sequence appears to have a substantial impact on nerve function, with implications for optimizing clinical neurodynamic exercise techniques.
Visual Background Music: Creativity Support Systems with Priming

Abstract Developing creative solutions to problems is often a key element of organizational decision making. Much research has been done on systems to support individual creativity, called Creativity Support Systems (CSS). Commercially available CSS and past CSS research have offered either a structured approach to the problem or provided stimuli to help the user think about the problem in a different way. We conducted two experiments testing an approach that builds on priming research by providing stimuli related to achievement on the screen as users worked, as what we call visual background music. Our findings show that this approach increased an individual’s creative output by 10–40% depending upon the experiment and outcome measure. Under the conditions of our studies, the priming stimuli we used had the strongest effect on the flexibility pathway by broadening the user’s consideration of the solution space, rather than the persistence pathway of encouraging more ideas within a topic category. A key implication of this study for CSS design is to add a banner that has rotating pictures about achievement to existing CSS.
Digital Nanoelectromechanical Non-Volatile Memory Cell

Nanoelectromechanical relays are inherently radiation hard and can operate at high temperatures. Thus, they have potential to serve as the building blocks in non-volatile memory that can be used in harsh environments with zero standby power. However, a reprogrammable memory cell built entirely from relays that can be operated with a digital protocol has not yet been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate a fully mechanical digital non-volatile memory cell built from in-plane silicon nanoelectromechanical relays; a 7-terminal bistable relay utilizes surface adhesion forces to store binary data without consuming any energy, while 3-terminal relays are used for read and write access without the need for CMOS. We have optimized the designs to prevent collapse to the substrate under actuation and recorded voltages of 13, 13.2 and 27V for programming, read and reprogramming operations. This non-volatile memory cell can potentially be used to build embedded memories for edge applications that have stringent temperature, radiation and energy constraints.
Road Transport Infrastructure and Manufacturing Location: An Empirical Evidence and Comparative Study between Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

espanolLa infraestructura de transporte influye en la localizacion de empresas manufactureras, por ello el presente trabajo compara la influencia de la accesibilidad al puerto fronterizo y la localizacion de empresas manufactureras en dos municipios de la frontera norte de Mexico. Las herramientas utilizadas incluyen el manejo de un sistema de informacion geografica y datos a nivel micro de empresas. El analisis estadistico se basa en modelos de Poisson, estimando los conjuntos de opciones de ubicacion. Los resultados muestran que la accesibilidad y el tamano del mercado presentan mayor significacion en la localizacion de las empresas en ambas ciudades. EnglishTransport infrastructure influences the location of manufacturing firms in that sense, this paper compares the influence of accessibility to ports for export and the location of manufacturing firms in two municipalities in the northern Mexico border. The tools used include the management of a geographic information system and micro-level data of the industrial parks of each municipality. Statistical analysis was based on the application of Poisson models to estimate the sets placement options. The results show that accessibility and market size have greater significance in the location of firms in both cities.
Study on Spatial-temporal Pattern of Songnen Sandy Land Use/Cover based on RS and GIS Technology

A quantitative research on spatial\|temporal pattern of land use/cover during 1986\_2000 of Songnen Sandy Land has been conducted based on the Spatial Cartographic Database System. Results showed that the land use/cover in Songnen Sandy Land had undergone dramatic changes. The area of farmland and salinized land increased rapidly while that of grassland, woodland, and water area decreased significantly in the 15 years. The arable land and salinized land patches congregated and expanded, while the landscape of grassland and forestland were becoming more fragmented. The spatial neighboring properties of the land use/cover types were quite different. In the 15 years, the neighboring length between grassland and arable land, grassland and salinized land increased, which showed that the over reclamation on limited grassland resource were severe. The dominant land use change types were the conversion of grassland and woodland into farmland, unused land into paddy and dryland, grassland into salinized land and dryland into paddy field.
Multi-Target Location and Doppler Estimation in Multistatic Automotive Radar Applications

In this paper, we develop a multistatic automotive radar scheme for enhanced localization and Doppler estimation of multiple targets exploiting cooperative roadside sensors. As the range between a target and a sensing vehicle cannot be directly measured, intermediate calculations are required to convert the measured bistatic range to the radial range of the targets of interest. Using the Fourier transform, the range resolution is thereby limited by the Rayleigh criterion applied to the total bistatic range. Developing a sparse representation for the bistatic automotive scenario can not only bypass the intermediate calculation step, but also add super-resolution sensing capability beyond the Rayleigh limit. As this application can benefit from the communication capabilities of the fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR), multiple cooperative roadside transmitters are employed along a smart highway, forming a multistatic configuration. In order to process multiple realisations of the reflected signals simultaneously, we propose a solution employing the concept of group sparsity. Then, we show through computer simulations that, for some added complexity, better positioning performance can be achieved when compared to the state-of-art.
Determination of reliability indices for congestion on urban arterial streets

Determination of Reliability Indices for Congestion on Urban Arterial Streets by Venn Parimi Shashi S. Nambisan, Ph.D., P.E. , Examination Committee Chair Professor, Department of C ivil & Environmental Engineering University of Nevada, Las Vegas Motorists tend to accept certain levels of delay during peak traffic conditions, but become increasingly agitated when the travel times increase unpredictably due to incidents on roadways. The objective of this thesis is to develop a reliability index quantising the spatial and temporal distribution of traBic congestion on urban arterial streets. Delays caused due to recurrent and non-recurrent congestion need to be differentiated. Two approaches for estimating road network reliability are proposed to quantî delays due to recurrent and non-recurrent congestion. These indices are expressed as functions of operating speed and travel time respectively. A case study using urban arterial streets in the Las Vegas Metropolitan area is presented to illustrate the methodology and applications of the proposed reliability indices. These indices are valuable for transportation managers for system management and for travelers for making decisions related to, trip choices such as route, mode and travel time. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
The Analysis of Chinese and Japanese Traditional Opera Tunes With Artificial Intelligence Technology Based on Deep Learning

This study aims to propose a comparison model of Chinese and Japanese traditional opera tunes based on deep learning (DL) and artificial intelligence technology, which can be used to effectively analyze and classify the tune characteristics of Chinese and Japanese traditional opera. To achieve this aim, a multi-layered DL model, including Convolutional Neural Network, Long Short-Term Memory, Recurrent Neural Network, and Gated Recurrent Unit, is constructed based on the tune characteristics of Chinese and Japanese traditional opera. In the extensive experimental verification, the proposed model has achieved remarkable results in the task of classifying Chinese and Japanese traditional opera tunes. Specifically, the proposed model achieves an accuracy of 89% and 88%, recall of 88% and 87%, and F1-score of 88% and 87% in the tune classification task of the Chinese and Japanese traditional opera, respectively. Compared with similar models, the proposed model performs better in classification.
Phosphorus requirements for cereals: what role does crop rotation play?

Cereals are the main broadacre crops grown in Australia. When grown in rotation with other crops, phosphorus (P) requirements for cereals may be impacted by the previous crop, similar to being impacted by Colwell P values. Current literature suggests different P requirements for wheat following cereals compared with wheat following canola. This study investigated P requirements in different cereal rotations using more than 100 field trials. The data contained recent field research data supplied by CSBP and Incitec Pivot (IPF), as well as trial data obtained from the “Making Better Fertiliser Decisions for Cropping System in Australia” (BFDC) project. Unlike lupins, cereals crops or pasture, which fitted along the same Colwell P yield response curve, canola increased the critical Colwell P value for near maximum cereal production, especially on PBI+ColP soils > 70. Cereal yields after canola tended to linearly decrease with higher PBI+ColP and organic carbon (OC). Principal component analysis confirmed this trend, indicating PBI+ColP and/or OC, being a measure for the capacity to immobilise P in the soil, is equally important as Colwell P, which is thought to represent the plant available P. Soil pHCaCl2, texture and gravel was found to be of lower importance. Thus, critical soil test values for Colwell P can be refined on the basis of the interaction between previous crop and PBI+ColP or OC to account for higher P requirements in cereals after a canola crop, but multifactorial crop modelling may be preferred to further improve P recommendation in decision support tools.
Integrative Omics Analysis Reveals Metabolic Features of Ground-Glass Opacity-Associated Lung Cancer

Background: Ground-glass opacity (GGO)-associated cancers are increasingly prevalent, exhibiting unique clinical and molecular features that suggest the need for a distinct treatment strategy. However, the metabolic characteristics and vulnerabilities of GGO-associated lung cancers remain unexplored. Methods: We conducted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses on 40 pairs of GGO-associated lung cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues. By integrating data from TCGA database and single-cell RNA sequencing, we aimed to identify aberrant metabolic pathways, establish a metabolite-associated gene signature, and pinpoint key metabolic genes. The physiological effect of key genes was detected in vitro and vivo assays. Results: We identified a 30-gene metabolite-associated signature and discovered aberrant metabolic pathways for GGO-associated lung cancer at both metabolic and transcriptional levels. Patients with this signature displayed specific prognostic and molecular features. Cox regression analysis, based on the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) data, further narrowed down the metabolite-related gene signature, resulting in a 5-gene signature. Confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE203360), the 5-gene signature was mainly expressed in cancer cells of GGO tissue. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) further validated the differential expression of these genes between GGO and adjacent normal tissue obtained from pulmonary surgery. Finally, our integrative analysis unveiled aberrant histidine metabolism at both the multi-omics and single-cell levels. Moreover, we identified MAOB as a key metabolic gene, demonstrating its ability to suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in LUAD cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: We identified a specific metabolite-associated gene signature and identified aberrant histidine metabolism in GGO-associated lung cancer from multiple perspectives. Notably, MAOB, a crucial component in histidine metabolism, demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD, indicating its potential significance in pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.
Sirtuin 4 (Sirt4) downregulation contributes to chondrocyte senescence and osteoarthritis via mediating mitochondrial dysfunction

Chondrocyte senescence has recently been proposed as a key pathogenic mechanism in the etiology of osteoarthritis (OA). Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying chondrocyte senescence remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted an investigation into the involvement of Sirtuin 4 (Sirt4) in chondrocyte senescence. Our experimental findings revealed a downregulation of Sirt4 expression in TBHP-induced senescent chondrocytes in vitro, as well as in mouse OA cartilage. Additionally, we observed that the knockdown of Sirt4 in chondrocytes promoted cellular senescence and cartilage degradation, while the overexpression of Sirt4 protected the cells against TBHP-mediated senescence of chondrocytes and cartilage degradation. Moreover, our findings revealed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), abnormal mitochondrial morphology, compromised mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced ATP production in Sirt4 knockdown chondrocytes, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. Conversely, Sirt4 overexpression successfully mitigated TBHP-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Further analysis revealed that Sirt4 downregulation impaired the cellular capacity to eliminate damaged mitochondria by inhibiting Pink1 in chondrocytes, thereby enhancing the accumulation of ROS and facilitating chondrocyte senescence. Notably, the overexpression of Pink1 counteracted the effects of Sirt4 knockdown on mitochondrial dysfunction. Importantly, our study demonstrated the promise of gene therapy employing a lentiviral vector encoding mouse Sirt4, as it successfully preserved the integrity of articular cartilage in mouse models of OA. In conclusion, our findings provide compelling evidence that the overexpression of Sirt4 enhances mitophagy, restores mitochondrial function, and protects against chondrocyte senescence, thereby offering a novel therapeutic target and potential strategy for the treatment of OA.
Further Considerations on the Application of De- Bonded Cables

De-bonding of the central portion of long tendons has been suggested if they are installed in low strength rock prior to a significant stress change, be that either at the maingate corner or in installation roadways. The purpose of the de-bonded section is to allow a reduction of the strains applied to the cables during failure of the rock mass and so increase the chance of them surviving large shear movements. A recent application of de-bonded cables in a longwall installation roadway resulted in a major reduction in roof deformations from in excess of 100 mm to less than 3 mm. Assuming similar rock strengths and ground stresses, the de-bonded cables apparently prevented the onset of vertical dilation in the roof. Compared to an installed shear resistance of 183 kPa, shear stresses of up to 1.5 MPa are predicted in the roof immediately above the bolted horizon. A mechanism is proposed that involves the onset of brittle failure followed immediately by a large amount of sub-horizontal shear displacement. Because of the free length of the de-bonded cables the induced strains were insufficient to cause the cable to rupture. The de-bonded cable was post-tensioned and this led to the closure of some of the dilated bedding induced on the first pass.
Exploring gene signatures and regulatory networks in a rat model of sciatica: implications and validation in neuropathic pain

Background Sciatica (neuropathic pain [NP]) is a common disease characterized by pain from radiation along the sciatic nerve. The aim of this study was to study the genes associated with chronic systolic injury of sciatic nerve (SCN-CCI) in rats by RNA-Seq technique, and to explore their potential as therapeutic targets. Methods Sciatic nerve rat model was obtained by ligation of sciatic nerve and divided into two groups: SCN-CCI group and Sham group. Behavioral assessments were performed to evaluate pain sensitivity, following which their spinal cord dorsal horn were resected and RNA sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Bioinformatics and functional enrichment analysis was performed to identify promising DEGs and their related biological processes and pathways associated with SCN-CCI. PPI network analysis and hub gene identification were conducted. QRT-PCR, western blot, ELISA, and immunofluorescence staining were performed on rat models to validate the expression of these hub genes and investigate related proteins and inflammatory markers. Results The SCN-CCI rat model was successfully obtained, exhibiting increased pain sensitivity compared to the Sham group, as indicated by decreased mechanical allodynia thresholds, thermal latencies, and increased paw withdrawals. RNA-Seq analysis identified 117 DEGs in the SCN-CCI rat model, involved in various biological processes and pathways related to sciatica. PPI network analysis revealed hub genes, including Ly6g6e, which exhibited significant differential expression. QRT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed the expression patterns of these hub genes. Pain behavior assessment demonstrated reduced pain thresholds and increased paw flinching responses in the SCN-CCI group. Furthermore, the SCN-CCI group showed upregulated expression of Ly6g6e, increased protein levels of Ly6g6e, CGRP, and NGF, as well as elevated levels of IL-1β, MCP-1, and IL-6, and microglial cell activation in the spinal dorsal horn. ELISA results confirmed the increased levels of IL-1β, MCP-1, and IL-6 in the spinal dorsal horn. Conclusion These comprehensive findings provide valuable insights into the SCN-CCI rat model, DEGs associated with sciatica, hub genes (Ly6g6e as promising targets), pain behavior changes and molecular alterations.
An observational cohort study of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid galactomannan and Aspergillus culture positivity in patients requiring mechanical ventilation

Rationale: Critically ill patients who develop invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) have high mortality rates despite antifungal therapy. Diagnosis is difficult in these patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid galactomannan (GM) is a helpful marker of infection, although the optimal cutoff for IPA is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the BAL fluid GM and fungal culture results, demographics, and outcomes among a large cohort of mechanically ventilated patients with suspected pneumonia. Methods: A single-center cohort study of patients enrolled in the Successful Clinical Response in Pneumonia Therapy (SCRIPT) study from June 2018 to March 2023. Demographics, BAL results, and outcomes data were extracted from the electronic health record and compared between groups of patients who grew Aspergillus on a BAL fluid culture, those who had elevated BAL fluid GM levels (defined as >0.5 or >0.8) but did not grow Aspergillus on BAL fluid culture, and those with neither. Results: Of over 1700 BAL samples from 688 patients, only 18 BAL samples grew Aspergillus. Patients who had a BAL sample grow Aspergillus (n=15) were older (median 71 vs 62 years, p=0.023), had more days intubated (29 vs 11, p=0.002), and more ICU days (34 vs 15, p=0.002) than patients whose BAL fluid culture was negative for Aspergillus (n=672). The BAL fluid galactomannan level was higher from samples that grew Aspergillus on culture than those that did not (median ODI 7.08 vs 0.11, p<0.001), though the elevation of BAL fluid GM varied across BAL samples for patients who had serial sampling. Patients who grew Aspergillus had a similar proportion of underlying immunocompromise compared with the patients who did not, and while no statistically significant difference in overall unfavorable outcome, had longer duration of ventilation and longer ICU stays. Conclusions: In this large cohort of critically ill patients with a high number of BAL samples with GM levels, we found a relatively low rate of Aspergillus growth. Patients who eventually grew Aspergillus had inconsistently elevated BAL fluid GM, and many patients with elevated BAL fluid GM did not grow Aspergillus. These data suggest that the pre-test probability of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis should be considered low in a general ICU population undergoing BAL evaluation to define the etiology of pneumonia. Improved scoring systems are needed to enhance pre-test probability for diagnostic test stewardship purposes.
The clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

After more than 200 years since its initial description, the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains an often-challenging endeavor, with broad implications that are fundamental for clinical management. Despite major developments in understanding it's pathogenesis, pathological landmarks, non-motor features and potential paraclinical clues, the most accepted diagnostic criteria remain solidly based on a combination of clinical signs. Here, we review this process, discussing its history, clinical criteria, differential diagnoses, ancillary diagnostic testing, and the role of non-motor and pre-motor signs and symptoms.