Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heart Rate Extraction in a Headphone Using Infrared Thermometry

The heart rate is a vital indicator of the health state of an individual. By continuously monitoring it, the fitness and health of the cardiovascular system of a user can be analyzed and impending problematic health episodes could be addressed better. Existing techniques to measure heart rate, such as electrocardiogram or photoplethysmography, are either uncomfortable for the user, or are not low-power or sensitive to motion artifacts. Infrared thermography is a non-contact technique with improved user comfort and low power consumption. In this paper, we have analyzed, built, and tested a novel system that uses infrared differential thermometry to detect the heart rate in the auricle. The sensor system was fitted into a commercial headphone since this paper is a first step into integration of the system in a Bluetooth headset. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previous work on the detection of the heart rate signal in the ear using infrared thermometry. Positive results have been obtained after extraction of the frequency features of the bioheat transfer signal on test persons in rest.
Getting Your Hands Dirty Outside the Lab: A Practical Primer for Conducting Wearable Vibrotactile Haptics Research

As haptics have become an ingrained part of our wearable experience, particularly through phones, smartwatches, and fitness trackers, significant research effort has been conducted to find new ways of using wearable haptics to convey information, especially while we are on-the-go. In this paper, instead of focusing on aspects of haptic information design, such as tacton encoding methods, actuators, and technical fabrication of devices, we address the more general recurring issues and “gotchas” that arise when moving from core haptic perceptual studies and in-lab wearable experiments to real world testing of wearable vibrotactile haptic systems. We summarize key issues for practitioners to take into account when designing and carrying out in-the-wild wearable haptic user studies, as well as for user studies in a lab environment that seek to simulate real-world conditions. We include not only examples from published work and commercial sources, but also hard-won illustrative examples derived from issues and failures from our own haptic studies. By providing a broad-based, accessible overview of recurring issues, we expect that both novice and experienced haptic researchers will find suggestions that will improve their own mobile wearable haptic studies.
Modulation of μ‐opioid receptor activation by acidic pH is dependent on ligand structure and an ionizable amino acid residue

Adverse side effects of conventional opioids can be avoided if ligands selectively activate peripheral opioid receptors in injured tissue. Injury and inflammation are typically accompanied by acidification. In this study, we examined influences of low pH and mutation of the ionizable amino acid residue H2976.52 on μ‐opioid receptor binding and signalling induced by the μ‐opioid receptor ligands fentanyl, DAMGO, and naloxone.
High-charge-capacity sputtered iridium oxide neural stimulation electrodes deposited using water vapor as a reactive plasma constituent.

The deposition and properties of sputtered iridium oxide films (SIROFs) using water vapor as a reactive gas constituent are investigated for their potential as high-charge-capacity neural stimulation electrodes. Systematic investigation through a series of optical and electrochemical measurements reveals that the incorporation of water vapor as a reactive gas constituent, along with oxygen, alters the reduction-oxidation (redox) state of the plasma as well as its morphology and the electrochemical characteristics, including the cathodal charge-storage capacity (CSCc ) and charge-injection capacity (CIC), of the SIROF. An apparent optimal O2 :H2 O gas ratio of 1:3 produced SIROF with a CSCc of 182.0 mC cm-2 μm-1 (median, Q1 = 172.5, Q3 = 193.4, n = 15) and a CIC of 3.57 mC cm-2 (median, Q1 = 2.97, Q3 = 4.58, n = 12) for 300-nm-thick films. These values are higher than those obtained with SIROFs deposited using no water vapor by a factor of 2.3 and 1.7 for the CSCc and CIC, respectively. Additionally, the SIROF showed minimal changes in electrochemical characteristics over 109 pulses of constant current stimulation and showed no indication of cytotoxicity toward primary cortical neurons in a cell viability assay. These results warrant investigation of the chronic recording and stimulation capabilities of the SIROF for implantable microelectrode arrays.
A Unified Event-Triggered Control Approach for Uncertain Pure-Feedback Systems With or Without State Constraints

Existing schemes for systems with state constraints require the bounds of the constraints for controller design and may result in conservativeness or even become invalid when they are applied to systems without such constraints. In this paper, we study the problem of event-triggered control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems by considering the cases with or without state constraints in a unified manner. By introducing a new universal-constrained function and using certain transformation techniques, the original-constrained system is converted into an equivalent totally unconstrained one. Then, an event-triggered adaptive neural-network (NN) controller is designed to stabilize the unconstrained system and compensate for the control sampling errors caused by event-triggered transmission of control signals. Unlike some existing control schemes developed for systems with state constraints, which need to check whether each virtual control meets certain feasibility conditions at every design step, our proposed unified method enables such feasibility conditions to be relaxed. In addition, a suitable event-triggering rule is designed to determine when to transmit control signals. It is theoretically shown that the designed controller can achieve the desired tracking ability and reduce the communication burden from the controller to the actuator at the same time. Simulation verification also confirms the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
The molecular epidemiology of hyperphenylalaninemia in Uygur population: incidence from newborn screening and mutational spectra.

Background Neonatal hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) screening did not begin until 2009 in the Uygur population because of poor medical and economic conditions. This study intended to investigate HPA incidence rate and characterize mutation spectrum of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene within the Uygur population. Methods Cross-sectional data of National Direct Reporting System database from 2009 to 2016 were used to calculate incidence rate. All HPA positive newborns were diagnosed and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. A low Phe diet was implemented. Results A total of 580,608 Uygur neonates were screened, 111 were diagnosed with HPA with an incidence rate of 1:5,230, 58 different mutations in PAH gene were detected. Eight novel variants were found, including two nonsense mutations (L11*, L197*), two splicing mutations (IVS12-2A > C, IVS13-1G > A), one frameshift mutation (K115 > Hfs) and three missense mutations (E368K, E370G, D435V), distributing in twenty patients. A104D was the most frequent mutation in this study, and the other hot spot of R413P was found in 4 patients in a same Uygur village with a carrier rate of 1:2.1. Conclusions This is the first study to investigate HPA incidence rate in the Uygur population. Our study highlights regional differences in PAH genotypes and mutation rates.
Airplane Capabilities: Translating Non-Normal Information for Operational Decision-Making

We consider how a jet transport airplane interface supports the flight crew in managing airplane system failures (or non-normals) for continued safe flight and landing. The existing state of the art starts with a list of airplane system component failures and asks the flight crew to determine, with the help of non-normal procedures, the operational consequences of those failures. As airplane systems become more complex and interconnected, the flight crew’s ability to determine operational consequences will become inadequate. We describe an approach that attempts to translate airplane system failures directly into airplane “capabilities,” which is a set of basic airplane functions, such as the ability to stop after landing. This paper describes the overall framework for supporting flight crews in operational decision making and the initial efforts to develop a language and display concepts.
Cognitive Dysfunction in Persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Concept Analysis

Although cognitive dysfunction is related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the concept has not yet been well defined. The purpose of this study was to define the concept of cognitive dysfunction in persons with T2DM and examine its defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences. Literature was retrieved from 2008 to 2018 by systematically searching the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. Based on 37 included studies, three defining attributes were identified: cognitive dysfunction is a recognized or unrecognized symptom, is characterized by a subtle decline in one or more cognitive domains, and is accompanied by pronounced structural changes observed in brain imaging. One major antecedent was diabetes-related or diabetes-specific pathological changes. Consequences included interference with diabetes self-management, nonadherence to recommended self-management behaviors, and a higher risk of having hypoglycemic events. The concept analysis provides a theoretical foundation that can be used to guide evaluations and interventions related to cognitive dysfunction in individuals with T2DM.
BRIEF SURVEY OF ANALYTICS IN K12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Use of computers in education is now ubiquitous. Students have access to course media through a variety of devices including PCs, tablets, and smart phones. The data generated by online learning platforms have the potential to change the way we teach and learn. In this brief survey paper, we explore the role of analytics in teaching and learning. In particular, how learning analytics can lead to educational process innovation. We will explore history, current state, tools, privacy issues, case studies, and future potential for analytics­based education.
Comparison of diclofenac gel, ibuprofen gel, and ibuprofen gel with levomenthol for the topical treatment of pain associated with musculoskeletal injuries

Objective To determine whether 3% w/w levomenthol added to ibuprofen gel (5% w/w) improves its efficacy compared with ibuprofen gel alone or diclofenac gel (1.16%) for the treatment of soft-tissue injuries. Methods A total of 182 patients with acute soft-tissue injuries participated in a randomised, single-blind, single-dose study to assess the efficacy and safety of three topical analgesic gels. Efficacy was assessed as the score change in a numeric rating scale for pain. Results The median time to significant pain relief was 20 minutes for the ibuprofen/levomenthol and diclofenac gels but 25 minutes for ibuprofen gel. At 2 hours, significantly more patients treated with ibuprofen/levomenthol gel reported a cooling sensation (45.8%) compared with diclofenac (16.4%) or ibuprofen (14.7%) gels, and both ibuprofen/levomenthol and diclofenac gels provided significantly more effective global pain relief compared with ibuprofen gel. Few adverse events and no serious adverse events related to study medication were recorded. Conclusions Although all gels effectively relieved pain, both ibuprofen/levomenthol and diclofenac gels provided superior global pain relief compared with ibuprofen gel, with a shorter median time to significant pain relief. Only ibuprofen/levomenthol gel provided cooling for up to 2 hours. None of the gels were associated with serious safety concerns. EudraCT No 2015-005240-33 EU Clinical Trials Register URL: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister. eu/ctr-search/search
Inhibition of ubiquitin‐specific protease 2 causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondria dysfunction, and intracellular ATP decrement in C2C12 myoblasts

Ubiquitin‐specific protease 2 (USP2) is considered to participate in the differentiation of myoblasts to myotubes, however, its functions in myoblasts under growth conditions remain elusive. In this study, we analyzed the physiological roles of USP2 in myoblasts using Usp2 knockout (KO) C2C12 cells as well as a USP2 specific inhibitor. In addition to the disruption of differentiation, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9‐generated Usp2KO cells exhibited inhibition of proliferation compared to parental C2C12 cells. Usp2KO cells reduced the accumulation of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and oxygen consumption. Moreover, Usp2KO cells had fragmented mitochondria, suggesting that mitochondrial respiration was inactive. The deficiency of Usp2 did not affect the enzymatic activities of respiratory chain complexes I, III, IV, and V. However, mitochondrial membrane permeability—evaluated using calcein AM‐cobalt staining—was increased in Usp2KO cells. The membrane potential of Usp2KO cells was clearly decreased. Usp2KO cells accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mitochondria. The USP2‐selective inhibitor ML364 also increased the levels of mitochondrial ROS, and modulated the membrane potential and morphology of the mitochondria. These effects were followed by a decrement in the intracellular content of ATP. Based on these findings, we speculate that USP2 may be involved in maintaining the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane. This process ensures the supply of ATP in myoblasts, presumably leading to proliferation and differentiation.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Smart Grid

Introduction of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) could potentially trigger a stepwise electrification of the whole transportation sector. But the impact on the electric grid by electrical vehicle charging is still not fully known. This paper investigates several PHEV charging schemes, including smart charging, using a novel iterative approach. An agent based traffic demand model is used for modeling the electrical demand of PHEVs over the day. For modeling the different parts of the electric grid, an approach based on interconnected multiple energy carrier systems is used. For a given charging scheme the power system simulation gives back a price signal indicating whether grid constraints, such as maximum power output at hub transformators, have been violated. This leads to a corrective step in the iterative process, until a charging pattern is found, which does not violate grid constraints. The proposed system allows to investigate existing electric grids, whether they are capable of meeting increased electricity demand by certain future PHEV penetration. Furthermore, in the future, different types of smart charging schemes can be added into the system for comparison.
Trends in the food and sports nutrition industry: A review

Abstract This revision intends to provide an overview on the major and emerging trends in food and nutrition. Food scientists and dietitians should keep an eye on the trends shaping the food industry in order to understand consumer changes in preferences, expectations and dietary patterns; and to identify those areas that should be added to the research agenda. In addition, to comprehend the major drivers of change in the food industry, global consumer trends are also reviewed in this article. Global concerns are shaping consumer attitudes, and with an easier access to information and an unprecedented consumer power through social media, the food industry should quickly adapt to meet consumer needs. In order to meet these objectives, this review is organized in three different but interrelated sections: global consumer trends, food and nutrition trends, and trends in sports foods and nutrition. This last one is also included due to its influence over food trends, and its significant relevance as a category and food trend.
Tracking Dye‐Independent Approach to Identify and Isolate In Vitro Expanded T Cells

T cell proliferation is routinely identified in vitro using tracking dyes or through detecting intracellular upregulation of the nuclear protein, Ki‐67. However, labeling with tracking dyes is cumbersome, associated with cellular toxicity, while Ki‐67 cannot be used to identify and isolate viable T cells, and both techniques are incompatible with MACS technology. Here, we introduce a simple tool to identify and isolate in vitro T cell expansion that is tracking dye‐independent and allows for sorting of viable T cells. We show that CD71, a transferrin receptor, and CD98, a heterodimer glycoprotein involved in both integrin signaling and amino‐acid transport, are both highly upregulated on proliferating T cells upon in vitro stimulation, and that CD71 expression is maximal on the more recent progeny T cells, while CD98 upregulation remains stable across different generations of progeny T cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that the upregulation of CD71 and CD98 identifies CFSElow T cells and provides further proof of the antigen‐specificity of T cells identified by CD71 and CD98 dual upregulation based on tetramer staining. We further show that CD71 can be used to enrich for in vitro expanding T cells using MACS technology. In conclusion, we show that CD71 and CD98 can be used to identify and isolate expanded T cells following in vitro stimulation and that CD71 is an MACS‐compatible alternative to tracking dyes or Ki‐67 detection. © 2019 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Parental Age at Conception and the Relationship with Severity of Autism Symptoms

ABSTRACT Background Previous research has examined the relationship between advanced parental age at conception and the incidence of autism, and has noted strong relationships between advanced parental age and other developmental disabilities. Aim The purpose of this study was to confirm that and extend that knowledge to the association between advanced parental age and severity of autism symptoms as measured by a parental report of ASD symptom severity. Methods The current study included 252 participants between the ages of 2–17 years and their parents. Results Child’s gender and paternal age were found to be significant predictors of autism severity with males and children with older fathers at conception showing the highest severity. Interestingly, maternal age was not found to be a significant predictor of autism risk or severity of symptoms in this sample. Conclusion Possible explanations for these findings are discussed, as well as future directions for research in this area.
Understanding the Modularity of Socio-technical Production Systems

This paper seeks to contribute to the development of Configurational Theory by offering a reinterpretation of the modularity concept from a socio-technical perspective in general and Actor Network Theory (ANT) in particular. By formulating modularity from an ANT perspective covering social, material and process aspects, the modularity of a socio-technical system can be understood as an entanglement of product, process, organizational and institutional modularity dimension. The developed theoretical framework is used for analyzing the modularity of three different production systems the pre-modern, modern and post-modern construction practices.
Neural Repair in Stroke

This article reviews the progress that has been made in the development of cell therapies for the repair of nervous system damage caused by strokes, since the first report on the use of cell transplants in animal models of ischemic brain injury in 1988. At that time neural progenitor cells derived from fetal brain tissue were used as sources of cells to replace specific subsets of neuronal cells that were lost in various regions of the brain following experimentally induced strokes. Since 1988, cells from other sources, such as embryonic stem cells and inducible pluripotent stem cells, have been investigated for their ability to replace neuronal cells and repair the damaged brain. Most recently, mesenchymal stem cells and cord blood stem cells have been studied for the ability to modulate the immune system and ameliorate the neuropathology and neurological deficits associated with experimental stroke. The preclinical investigation of different cell therapy approaches for treating stroke during the past three decades has now led to many ongoing clinical trials, with the clinical evaluation of stem cell therapies for stroke now involving global participants.
Equine chorionic gonadotropin increases estradiol levels in the bovine oviduct and drives the transcription of genes related to fertilization in superstimulated cows

In the bovine oviduct, estradiol (E2) stimulates secretion and cell proliferation, whereas progesterone (P4) suppresses them. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of two superstimulatory protocols (follicle‐stimulating hormone [FSH] or FSH combined with equine chorionic gonadotropin [eCG]) on the oviductal levels of E2 and P4 and its outcome on oviductal cells. Compared with the control group (a single pre‐ovulatory follicle), we have observed that the cows submitted to FSH/eCG treatment showed a higher concentration of E2 in the oviduct tissue, together with a higher abundance of messenger RNA encoding steroid receptors (ESR1 and progesterone receptor), and genes linked to gamete interactions and regulation of polyspermy (oviduct‐specific glycoprotein 1, heat‐shock protein family A member 5, α‐l‐fucosidase 1 [FUCA1], and FUCA2) in the infundibulum and ampulla segments of the oviduct. However, we did not observe any modulation of gene expression in the isthmus segment. Even though the FSH protocol upregulated some of the genes analyzed, we may infer that the steady effect of FSH combined with eCG on oviduct regulation might benefit fertilization and may potentially increase pregnancy rates.
New Technologies for Outcome Measures in Retinal Disease: Review from the European Vision Institute Special Interest Focus Group

Novel diagnostic tools to measure retinal function and structure are rapidly being developed and introduced into clinical use. Opportunities exist to use these informative and robust measures as endpoints for clinical trials to determine efficacy and to monitor safety of therapeutic interventions. In order to inform researchers and clinician-scientists about these new diagnostic tools, a workshop was organized by the European Vision Institute. Invited speakers highlighted the recent advances in state-of-the-art technologies for outcome measures in the field of retina. This review highlights the workshop’s presentations in the context of published literature.