Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wearable multichannel haptic device for encoding proprioception in the upper limb

Objective. We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of a wearable multichannel haptic system. The device is a wireless closed-loop armband driven by surface electromyography (EMG) and provides sensory feedback encoding proprioception. The study is motivated by restoring proprioception information in upper limb prostheses. Approach. The armband comprises eight vibrotactile actuators that generate distributed patterns of mechanical waves around the limb to stimulate perception and to transfer proportional information on the arm motion. An experimental study was conducted to assess: the sensory threshold in eight locations around the forearm, the user adaptation to the sensation provided by the device, the user performance in discriminating multiple stimulation levels, and the device performance in coding proprioception using four spatial patterns of stimulation. Eight able-bodied individuals performed reaching tasks by controlling a cursor with an EMG interface in a virtual environment. Vibrotactile patterns were tested with and without visual information on the cursor position with the addition of a random rotation of the reference control system to disturb the natural control and proprioception. Main results. The sensation threshold depended on the actuator position and increased over time. The maximum resolution for stimuli discrimination was four. Using this resolution, four patterns of vibrotactile activation with different spatial and magnitude properties were generated to evaluate their performance in enhancing proprioception. The optimal vibration pattern varied among the participants. When the feedback was used in closed-loop control with the EMG interface, the task success rate, completion time, execution efficiency, and average target-cursor distance improved for the optimal stimulation pattern compared to the condition without visual or haptic information on the cursor position. Significance. The results indicate that the vibrotactile device enhanced the participants’ perceptual ability, suggesting that the proposed closed-loop system has the potential to code proprioception and enhance user performance in the presence of perceptual perturbation.
Nonlinear control of power coefficients in wind turbines

Wind speed above rated value causes high power and generator over speed. This leads to overloading and breakdown of the generator. As a result, control is required to maintain the desired generated electrical power. Many papers use the blade pitch angle, which is highly non-linear as control input to achieve this goal. In this paper, the power coefficient is used for the first time as the control input due to its simplicity, noting that power coefficient is a linear coefficient of the rotor power. A non-linear controller called Sliding mode is used to command the power coefficient to regulate the rotor speed to the desired value. The actual pitch angle for every wind speed is determined by designing some algorithms which are used with the power coefficient from the controller. The simulation results show that this control strategy is able to regulate the generator power by setting the rotor speed to its desired value. Another non-linear controller called feedback linearization is also used to compare its results to the sliding mode controller. This is to show that other controllers can also be used. The simulation results of the two controllers are indistinguishable.
Age-Related Risk Factors at the First Stroke Event

(1) Background: Stroke is a multifactorial disease, which can affect individuals at any age. Risk factors (RFs) associated with the first stroke event have been well identified; however, the influence of these RFs on the patient’s age needs to be studied. (2) Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of modifiable RFs on the age at which a stroke occurs. (3) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients admitted consecutively with a first-ever acute stroke at the Burgos University Hospital (Spain). Data on sociodemographic and clinical parameters were collected (high blood pressure (HBP), smoking habit, diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipemia, abdominal obesity, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption, and cardiovascular diseases). The possible associations between RFs and age were studied using univariate and multivariate regression analyses and a decision tree. (4) Results: A total of 436 patients with a mean age of 75.39 years (standard deviation (SD) ± 12.67) were included. HBP and overweight/obesity were the most prevalent stroke RFs. Being an active smoker (OR 21.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.80–52.41), having a sedentary lifestyle (OR 3.24; 95% CI 1.97–5.31), being an excessive alcohol drinker (OR 2.36; 95% CI 1.45–3.84), or being overweight or obese (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.14–3.34) increased the risk of having an acute cerebrovascular event in individuals aged 75 years or below. However, a personal history of HBP (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.24–0.67) was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of having an acute stroke in individuals aged more than 75 years. (5) Conclusions: This study showed that the modifiable RFs strongly influence the first stroke event in patients aged below 75 years, which will be useful in guiding different prevention strategies.
Nicotine Self-Administration Induces Plastic Changes to Nicotinic Receptors in Medial Habenula

Abstract Chronic nicotine upregulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) throughout the brain, and reducing their activity may promote somatic and affective states that lead to nicotine seeking. nAChRs are functionally upregulated in animal models using passive nicotine administration, but whether/how it occurs in response to volitional nicotine intake is unknown. The distinction is critical, as drug self-administration (SA) can induce neurotransmission and cellular excitability changes that passive drug administration does not. In this study, we probed the question of whether medial habenula (MHb) nAChRs are functionally augmented by nicotine SA. Male rats were implanted with an indwelling jugular catheter and trained to nose poke for nicotine infusions. A saline SA group controlled for non-specific responding and nicotine-associated visual cues. Using patch-clamp whole-cell recordings and local application of acetylcholine, we observed robust functional enhancement of nAChRs in MHb neurons from rats with a history of nicotine SA. To determine whether upregulated receptors are generally enhanced or directed to specific cellular compartments, we imaged neurons during recordings using two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM). nAChR activity at the cell soma and on proximal and distal dendrites was examined by local nicotine uncaging using a photoactivatable nicotine (PA-Nic) probe and focal laser flash photolysis. Results from this experiment revealed strong nAChR enhancement at all examined cellular locations. Our study demonstrates nAChR functional enhancement by nicotine SA, confirming that volitional nicotine intake sensitizes cholinergic systems in the brain. This may be a critical plasticity change supporting nicotine addiction.
Provider perspectives on the integration of patient-reported outcomes in an electronic health record

Abstract Objective Integrating patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into electronic health records (EHRs) can improve patient-provider communication and delivery of care. However, new system implementation in health-care institutions is often accompanied by a change in clinical workflow and organizational culture. This study examines how well an EHR-integrated PRO system fits clinical workflows and individual needs of different provider groups within 2 clinics. Materials and Methods Northwestern Medicine developed and implemented an EHR-integrated PRO system within the orthopedics and oncology departments. We conducted interviews with 11 providers who had interacted with the system. Through thematic analysis, we synthesized themes regarding provider perspectives on clinical workflow, individual needs, and system features. Results Our findings show that EHR-integrated PROs facilitate targeted conversation with patients and automated triage for psychosocial care. However, physicians, psychosocial providers, and medical assistants faced different challenges in their use of the PRO system. Barriers mainly stemmed from a lack of actionable data, workflow disruption, technical issues, and a lack of incentives. Discussion This study sheds light on the ecosystem around EHR-integrated PRO systems (such as user needs and organizational factors). We present recommendations to address challenges facing PRO implementation, such as optimizing data collection and auto-referral processes, improving data visualizations, designing effective educational materials, and prioritizing the primary user group. Conclusion PRO integration into routine care can be beneficial but also require effective technology design and workflow configuration to reach full potential use. This study provides insights into how patient-generated health data can be better integrated into clinical practice and care delivery processes.
Link Between Dietary Sodium Intake, Cognitive Function, and Dementia Risk in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Background: A key focus for dementia risk-reduction is the prevention of socio-demographic, lifestyle, and nutritional risk factors. High sodium intake is associated with hypertension and cardiovascular disease (both are linked to dementia), generating numerous recommendations for salt reduction to improve cardiovascular health. Objective: This systematic review aimed to assess, in middle- and older-aged people, the relationship between dietary sodium intake and cognitive outcomes including cognitive function, risk of cognitive decline, or dementia. Methods: Six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Psych info, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) were searched from inception to 1 March 2020. Data extraction included information on study design, population characteristics, sodium reduction strategy (trials) or assessment of dietary sodium intake (observational studies), measurement of cognitive function or dementia, and summary of main results. Risk-of-bias assessments were performed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) assessment tool. Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria including one clinical trial, six cohorts, and eight cross-sectional studies. Studies reported mixed associations between sodium levels and cognition. Results from the only clinical trial showed that a lower sodium intake was associated with improved cognition over six months. In analysis restricted to only high-quality studies, three out of four studies found that higher sodium intake was associated with impaired cognitive function. Conclusion: There is some evidence that high salt intake is associated with poor cognition. However, findings are mixed, likely due to poor methodological quality, and heterogeneous dietary, analytical, and cognitive assessment methods and design of the studies. Reduced sodium intake may be a potential target for intervention. High quality prospective studies and clinical trials are needed.
The effects of wound site and blood collection method on biochemical measures obtained from wild, free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus) shot by rifle.

Three groups of factors which might affect the blood biochemistry of red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) were examined. These were the wounding site (head/neck versus chest), the stalker who collected the blood (coupled with the geographical area where each deer was shot), and the sex and nutritional status of the deer. The activities of muscle enzymes, creatine kinase, aspartate amino transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, were markedly higher in the plasma of deer shot in the chest as compared with those shot in the head or neck; the plasma also looked different, being deep cherry red in colour in the chest-shot deer. Other biochemical measures were unaffected by the wounding site. Blood collected by one stalker from the chest cavity had higher activity of the liver enzyme, glutamate dehydrogenase, higher concentration of potassium and lower concentrations of sodium and chloride than blood collected by another stalker from a knife wound in the base of the neck. Otherwise the method of collecting blood had very little effect on blood biochemistry. Cortisol was unaffected by the wound site nor, probably, by the method of collecting blood, but was highest in the stags living in a more mountainous region and in those deer that had to be shot twice before they died. Stags, which were shot in the rutting season and were probably fasting, had significantly higher concentrations of free fatty acids than hinds. Lactating hinds had significantly less fat on their kidneys than non-lactating hinds and stags. All hinds, which were shot in winter, had lower concentrations of urea than stags, which were shot in the autumn.
Etude fonctionnelle du génome de Bacillus subtilis : de nouvelles régulations transcriptionnelles du métabolisme central du carbone.

In Bacillus subtilis, the transcription of the gapA operon, including the genes of the central part of glycolysis, is stimulated during growth on glycolytic carbon sources. Our in vivo and in vitro studies of CggR, the repressor that controls this stimulation, have demonstrated on one hand that it is able to bind a long single DNA sequence made of two directly repeated motifs (CGGGACN6TGTCN4CGGGACN6TGTC) and located between the promoter and the translation codon of the cggr-gapA operon and on the other hand that its activity is modulated by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. Sequence analysis and array hybridization indicated that CggR, which is highly conserved in Gram positive bacteria and defines a subfamily of the SorC/DeoR family of transcriptional regulators, is dedicated to the control of the glycolytic genes. A collaboration with structural biologists (CBS, Montpellier) has been engaged to further study this prototype of a not well known sub-family of transcriptional regulators. Two groups of paralogous genes have been detected on Bacillus subtilis chromosome (ywkA et malS, ytsJ and mleA) which products are homologous to malic enzymes. Global transcriptome analysis of a wild-type strain in response to growth in the presence of glucose or malate as sole carbon source has revealed that ywkA expression is induced in the presence of malate. Our experiments have demonstrated that ywkA encodes a NAD-dependent malic enzyme and that its expression is specifically induced by malate and is not subjected to carbon catabolite repression. Moreover, the YufL/YufM two component system has been demonstrated to directly activate ywkA transcription in response to the presence of malate. However, YwkA is not required for efficient growth on malate as sole carbon source. Actually, transcriptome study using macroarray technique is available for our laboratory. Hence, we have started the global comparison of genes expression profile in response to different carbon sources.
Pathogenic implication of epidermal scratch injury in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

Mechanical scratching, a common external stress affecting the skin, is induced by various causes, such as pruritus. Scratch injury to epidermal keratinocytes upregulates the production and release of chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in vitro, which selectively chemoattracts interleukin (IL)‐17A‐producing immune cells that express chemokine (C‐C motif) receptor 6 (CCR6). In IL‐17A‐dominant psoriasis, scratch‐induced CCL20 upregulation and subsequent accumulation of IL‐17A‐producing immune cells and CCR6+ mature dendritic cells may trigger the development of psoriatic lesions, a process known as the Koebner phenomenon. In IL‐4/IL‐13‐dominant atopic dermatitis, pruritus and subsequent scratching are the primary symptoms. Scratch‐induced CCL20 production from keratinocytes may explain why IL‐17A levels are also elevated in atopic dermatitis. In contrast, mechanical scratching is likely to negatively regulate IL‐13 signaling by upregulating the expression of IL‐13 receptor α2, which serves as a decoy receptor for IL‐13 in keratinocytes. In this review, we summarize current reports on topics related to the pathogenic role of epidermal scratch injury in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
RESPONSE OF BROILER CHICKEN TO DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF ORGANIC ACIDS

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of organic acids on the performance, gut health and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken. Results indicated that the birds fed diets supplemented with organic acids showed significantly (p 0.05) among all the treatment groups. Addition of organic acids in broiler diets increased the villus height in all the segments of small intestines but the differences were non-significant (p>0.05) in case of ileum. No effect (p>0.05) on carcass characteristics was observed among all treatments except for length and weight of small intestines which were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the groups fed supplemental organic acids.
Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access With Improper Gaussian Signaling

Improper Gaussian signaling (IGS) helps to improve the throughput of a wireless communication network by taking advantage of the additional degrees of freedom in signal processing at the transmitter. This paper exploits IGS in a general multiuser multi-cell network, which is subject to both intra-cell and inter-cell interference. With IGS under orthogonal multiple access (OMA) or non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), designs of transmit beamforming to maximize the users’ minimum throughput subject to transmit power constraints are addressed. Such designs are mathematically formulated as nonconvex optimization problems of structured matrix variables, which cannot be solved by popular techniques such as weighted minimum mean square error or convex relaxation. By exploiting the lowest computational complexity of $2\times 2$ linear matrix inequalities, lower concave approximations are developed for throughput functions, which are the main ingredients for devising efficient algorithms for finding solution of these difficult optimization problems. Numerical results obtained under practical scenarios reveal that there is an almost two-fold gain in the throughput by employing IGS instead of the conventional proper Gaussian signaling under both OMA and NOMA; and NOMA-IGS offers better throughput compared to that achieved by OMA-IGS.
Immunological therapeutics in acute aortic syndrome

Acute aortic syndrome is a group of interlinked conditions with common presenting symptoms, including aortic dissection, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, and intramural hematoma. Pharmacological management of acute aortic syndrome is a growing area, with key themes to address the underlying inflammatory pathways believed to be the cause. Research into interleukins, matrix metalloproteinases, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor are just some of the many immunological properties being investigated and translated into medical therapies. Stem cell experiments may indicate further advances in the pathologies of acute aortic syndrome. The study of pharmacogenomics to improve treatment across different genomes is also a novel area outlined in this paper.
Territoriality and breeding success in Gurney’s sugarbird, Promerops gurneyi

Territory size and quality were determined for Gurney’s sugarbirds in Qwaqwa National Park, northeastern Free State, South Africa. Changes in territory size of Gurney’s sugarbirds during the six-month season reflect increases in numbers of territorial birds and inflorescences at mid breeding season, and declines in both at the end of the breeding season. Only 25 % of pairs laid eggs, and mating appears to have been constrained by low nectar and arthropod energy availability, and the costs associated with the defence of large territories. Reproductive success was directly related to arthropod availability on territories, with pairs not even appearing to attempt breeding if this is low. Males with longer tails and wider sixth primary feather bulges defended larger territories, indicating that ornament size and displays of Gurney’s sugarbirds may be important in territory maintenance.
Physiological and Pathophysiological Aspects of Primary Cilia—A Literature Review with View on Functional and Structural Relationships in Cartilage

Cilia are cellular organelles that project from the cell. They occur in nearly all non-hematopoietic tissues and have different functions in different tissues. In mesenchymal tissues primary cilia play a crucial role in the adequate morphogenesis during embryological development. In mature articular cartilage, primary cilia fulfil chemo- and mechanosensitive functions to adapt the cellular mechanisms on extracellular changes and thus, maintain tissue homeostasis and morphometry. Ciliary abnormalities in osteoarthritic cartilage could represent pathophysiological relationships between ciliary dysfunction and tissue deformation. Nevertheless, the molecular and pathophysiological relationships of ‘Primary Cilia’ (PC) in the context of osteoarthritis is not yet fully understood. The present review focuses on the current knowledge about PC and provide a short but not exhaustive overview of their role in cartilage.
Microbial Etiology and Prevention of Dental Caries: Exploiting Natural Products to Inhibit Cariogenic Biofilms

Dental caries is one of the most common microbe-mediated oral diseases in human beings. At present, the accepted etiology of caries is based on a four-factor theory that includes oral microorganisms, oral environment, host, and time. Excessive exposure to dietary carbohydrates leads to the accumulation of acid-producing and acid-resistant microorganisms in the mouth. Dental caries is driven by dysbiosis of the dental biofilm adherent to the enamel surface. Effective preventive methods include inhibiting the cariogenic microorganisms, treatment with an anti-biofilm agent, and sugar intake control. The goal is to reduce the total amount of biofilm or the levels of specific pathogens. Natural products could be recommended for preventing dental caries, since they may possess fewer side effects in comparison with synthetic antimicrobials. Herein, the mechanisms of oral microbial community development and functional specialization are discussed. We highlight the application of widely explored natural products in the last five years for their ability to inhibit cariogenic microorganisms.