Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain Computer Interfacing Using the Neural Impulse Actuator : A Usability and Statistical Evaluation by Braydn Reynolds and

Every physical move we make is triggered by neural processes in the brain. With the right equipment and recent developments in both brain imaging technologies and cognitive neuroscience, it is possible to read and record these processes. This has led to the rapidly growing field of brain computer interfaces (BCI). BCI systems attempt to make direct communication between external devices and the brain. These devices can be used to control many things, such as a computer. BCI's are classified according to the method used in the placement of electrodes for use with the brain; the electrodes are what actually find and measure the neurons firing in the brain. This project will explore the usability of the Neuro Impulse Actuator (NIA) for controlling applications. The NIA will be evaluated based on its ease of use, design, implementation problems, its accuracy in selected applications, and time from plug in to getting the device working. Tests will include trial runs on specific tasks by both our team and randomly selected individuals from various majors around the Cal Poly campus. We will utilize our findings to explain what we discovered, make conclusions about the NIA, and conclude with our thoughts on how the BCI field needs to be improved.
Tissue-specific cell sorting from Drosophila embryos: Application to gene expression analysis

Comprehensive understanding of tissues and organs development requires a detailed description of tissues specific developmental programs. In particular, Gene Regulatory Networks need to be analyzed at the tissue level, requiring organ specific transcriptional landscapes to be established. Here, we describe an efficient and stringent strategy for cell purification of differentiating cells from Drosophila embryos by flow cytometry. This, combined to mRNA amplification, can be used for transcriptomic analysis of small, tissue-specific cell populations. We present an application to the Drosophila cardiac system, whose cell population represents 0.5 to 1% of total cells within the whole embryo. Based on widely available fluorescent reporter transgenes, this method should be applicable to a number of tissues and organs.
Guideline recommendations for post-acute postoperative physiotherapy in total hip and knee arthroplasty: are they used in daily clinical practice?

BACKGROUND In a Dutch guideline on physiotherapy (PT) in hip and knee osteoarthritis, a number of recommendations on post-acute (i.e. after discharge from hospital) PT following total hip (THA) and total knee (TKA) arthroplasty were included. Little is known about the uptake of these recommendations in daily clinical practice. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to determine the extent to which the guideline recommendations regarding post-acute PT after THA and TKA are followed in daily clinical practice. METHODS An online pilot survey on the delivery of post-acute, postoperative PT was sent to a random sample of 957 Dutch physiotherapists. The survey included questions on the application of recommended, neither recommended nor advised against, and advised against treatment modalities and various treatment modalities for which there were no formulated recommendations. RESULTS A total of 219 physiotherapists completed the questionnaire, with a mean age of 40 years (standard deviation 12.6), 55% female and 95% working in primary care. The vast majority reported the use of the recommended exercise modalities (muscle strengthening exercises (96%), and functional exercises (99%). Continuous passive motion, which was neither recommended nor advised against, and electrical muscle stimulation, which was not recommended, were provided by 1%. Reported treatment modalities for which there were no formulated recommendations included patient education (99%), gait training (95%), active range of motion (ROM) exercises (93%), balance exercises (86%), passive ROM exercises (58%), aerobic exercises (50%), massage (18%) and cold therapy (11%). CONCLUSIONS The vast majority of physiotherapists reported adhering to recommendations on post-acute postoperative PT in THA and TKA patients after discharge from hospital. Although yet to be confirmed in a larger nationwide survey, the relatively high frequency of use of many other treatment modalities, for which there were no formulated recommendations, suggests the need to extend the current set of recommendations to include evidence-based statements on additional treatment modalities.
A structured approach to identifying European critical infrastructures

Our increasingly complex and interconnected societies are continuously exposed to a wide range of risks. Infrastructure systems are subject to functional impairments associated with technological failure, natural threats and malicious acts. The adequate functioning of infrastructures is crucially sustaining our societal and economic activities. Therefore, the protection of infrastructures becomes more and more an important issue for policy makers. This paper reports the experience gained during the preparatory studies carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to support the European Commission and its member states on the definition of criteria for identifying critical infrastructures. The existing methods for identifying critical infrastructures are mainly based on risk analysis techniques. These approaches were found to be insufficient and need to be complemented with socioeconomic evaluations of potential impacts. This paper highlights the contribution of stakeholders and decision makers in the process of definition and identification of critical infrastructures because the concept of criticality is deeply rooted in sociopolitical acceptance.
Robot System of DRC‐HUBO+ and Control Strategy of Team KAIST in DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals

This paper summarizes how Team KAIST prepared for the DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) Finals, especially in terms of the robot system and control strategy. To imitate the Fukushima nuclear disaster situation, the DRC performed eight tasks and degraded communication conditions. This competition demanded various robotic technologies, such as manipulation, mobility, telemetry, autonomy, and localization. Their systematic integration and the overall system robustness were also important issues in completing the challenge. In this sense, this paper presents a hardware and software system for the DRC‐HUBO+, a humanoid robot that was used for the DRC; it also presents control methods, such as inverse kinematics, compliance control, a walking algorithm, and a vision algorithm, all of which were implemented to accomplish the tasks. The strategies and operations for each task are briefly explained with vision algorithms. This paper summarizes what we learned from the DRC before the conclusion. In the competition, 25 international teams participated with their various robot platforms. We competed in this challenge using the DRC‐HUBO+ and won first place in the competition.
Risk Factors for Kidney Cancer in a Japanese Population: Findings from the JACC Study

BACKGROUND: The incidence of kidney cancer is high in Western and Northern Europe and North America, and low in Asia. Although the incidence of kidney cancer in Japan is lower than the rates in the other industrialized countries, there is no doubt that it is increasing. METHODS: We evaluated the risk factors for kidney cancer death using the database of the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study (i.e., medical history, anthropometry, and lifestyle including dietary habits). The analytic cohort included 47,997 males and 66,520 females aged 40 years and older. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine adjusted relative risks. RESULTS: A total of 36 males and 12 females died from kidney cancer during the follow-up of 9.6 ± 2.6 years and 9.9 ± 2.2 years, respectively. A medical history of hypertension, a fondness for fatty food, and consumption of black tea were associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer death while an intake of taro, sweet potato and potato was associated with a decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed four factors to be related to kidney cancer death. However, further studies may be needed to evaluate risk factors for kidney cancer death in Japan because the number of kidney cancer death in the present study was small.
Twenty-five years of research on the effects of exercise training in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review of the literature.

AIM To investigate the role of exercise training the past 25 years on major physiological-psychological outcomes studied thus far in this patient population. METHODS PubMed, MedlinePlus, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SportDiscus, Embase, Scorpus, and Google Scholar were searched from September to November 2013 to identify exercise training studies that used objective measurements of fitness and/or patient reported outcomes assessed pre and post-exercise training with statistical analyses performed in at least one of the following outcome measurements: Cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, fatigue, depression, and overall quality of life. Five reviewers independently identified the studies that met the criteria for the review and discrepancies were resolved by consensus among all authors. RESULTS Fifty-one studies were included in this review with 5 from the period between 1989-1999, 11 from 2000-2006, and 35 from 2007-2013. The evolution of study designs changed from aerobic only exercise training interventions (1989-1999), to a combination of aerobic and resistance training (2000-2006), to studies including an arm of resistance training or examining the effects of resistance training as the main mode of exercise (2007-2013). Overall, the benefits of exercise showed improvements in cardiorespiratory function, body composition, strength, and patient reported outcomes including fatigue, depression, and quality of life. CONCLUSION Exercise training appears to be safe for most breast cancer patients and improvements in physiological, psychological, and functional parameters can be attained with regular participation in moderate intensity exercise.
Aggressive esthesioneuroblastoma with divergent differentiation: A taxonomic dilemma

ABSTRACT The authors describe an esthesioneuroblastoma (olfactory neuroblastoma) that occurred within the nasal cavity and brain in a 31-year-old man. Following excision, the tumor recurred in the left orbit and in mediastinal lymph nodes. Treatment included orbital excision and systemic chemotherapy. Histopathology showed a high-grade neuroepithelial tumor with positive immunohistochemical markers for neuroendocrine and epithelial components, an unusual combination raising issues concerning taxonomy.
Multiresistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 infections of humans and domestic animals in the Pacific Northwest of the United States

Salmonella Typhimurium definitive type 104 with chromosomally encoded resistance to five or more antimicrobial drugs (R-type ACSSuT+) has been reported increasingly frequently as the cause of human and animal salmonellosis since 1990. Among animal isolates from the northwestern United States (NWUS), R-type ACSSuT+ Typhimurium isolates increased through the early 1990s to comprise 73% of Typhimurium isolates by 1995, but subsequently decreased to comprise only 30% of isolates during 1998. NWUS S. Typhimurium R-type ACSSuT+ were consistently (99%) phage typed as DT104 or the closely related DTu302. S. Typhimurium isolates from cattle with primary salmonellosis, randomly selected from a national repository, from NWUS were more likely to exhibit R-type ACSSuT+ (19/24, 79%) compared to isolates from other quadrants (17/71, 24%; P < 0.01). Human patients infected with R-type ACSSuT+ resided in postal zip code polygons of above average cattle farm density (P < 0.05), while patients infected with other R-types showed no similar tendency. Furthermore, humans infected with R-type ACSSuT+ Typhimurium were more likely to report direct contact with livestock (P < 0.01) than humans infected with other R-types.
CMUT-in-CMOS 2D arrays with advanced multiplexing and time-gain control

Technology for producing practical and affordable 2D ultrasound arrays is crucial for expanding the clinical deployment of 3D/4D ultrasound imaging. In addition, low-cost planar arrays may enable revolutionary health monitoring devices that employ 3D data for real-time quantitative measurements of parameters such as such as blood volume flow or tissue motion. CMUT-in-CMOS technology allows high-volume production of ultrasound arrays using a standard integrated-circuit foundry, driving down cost and enabling integration of readout circuits directly on the transducer substrate. The 960-element 5 MHz 2D array reported here demonstrates the advanced capabilities of this approach by integrating capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) with per-element low-noise amplifiers, digitally-controlled time-gain control, and IQ-sampled analog multiplexing to output all signals in real-time while reducing the output lead-count by over 90%. The on-chip circuits come with no added cost or size, showing the benefit of CMUT-in-CMOS for affordable dense 2D arrays, especially for applications that demand high-speed output from many elements.
B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia occurring in two pediatric patients with a history of prior Wilms tumors

Therapy-related acute leukemia (t-AL) is an observed carcinogenesis due to the toxic side effects of ionizing radiation and/or conventional chemotherapy for primary tumors. To our knowledge, therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) accounts for a large proportion in t-AL. While B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-All) has never been reported following the treatment of pediatric Wilms’ tumor (WT). This condition is also not well understood. Here we report B-All occurring in two pediatric patients with a historyof prior WTs. The pre-operative chemotherapy, surgery, and postoperative chemotherapy were all timely implemented in these two children. Unfortunately, B-ALL both occurred in them after treatment. Thus, they were then treated for leukemia. Thankfully, six months after the treatment of leukemia, case 1 underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). She is currently in remission. Nevertheless, thrombosis on precava and right atrial occurred in case 2. It was a pity that this child died from pulmonary embolism and disseminated intravascular coagulation six months after the diagnosis of leukemia. Conclusion: It is noted that some t-AL secondary to prior pediatric WTs, which attention should be paid by the clinician, especially for the surgeon. It can not only obviously reduce the mortality rate but also notedly prolong the disease-free survival attribute to the early diagnosis of secondary leukemia and timely HSCT. What is Known: It is noted that some t-AL secondary to prior pediatric WTs. HSCT can notedly prolong the disease-free survival of secondary leukemia. What is New: No data on B-All secondary to pediatric WT.
Treatment of follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma is one of the most common neoplastic lymphoproliferative diseases encountered in the western world. Intensive scientific scrutiny has led to detailed understanding of the nature of the malignant cell and the specific genetic abnormalities which are frequently encountered and likely to be etiologic. Clinical research focusing on the treatment of follicular lymphoma continues to reveal new insights into the natural history of the disease. Investigations reported during the past year have focused on a number of important issues with regard to the management of patients with the diseases.
Exploring the Impact of Food Craving and Pleasure Technologies on Aesthetic Experience in Digital Media

Humans are known to be good in creating pleasure technologies. In fact, some evolutionary psychologists believe that aesthetic experiences are biologically hardwired. This article reviews how the pleasure stimulus concept can be explored to enhance human experience in digital media. It is argued that the individual's consumption motivation is more than the by-products of the biological pleasure circuits. For instance, in daily life, one experiences various information processing, some of which does not emerge into one's explicit consciousness but relevantly contributes to one's experience. Although craving or desiring is mostly an explicit process, it can also manifest as an unconscious aspect of experience leading to an irrational or intrusive thoughts that can in turn alter or contribute to the aesthetic character of an experience. Using Quality of Experience assessment methodologies and extensive literature from a multidisciplinary standpoint, this article shows that intrusive mental concepts on food craving saliently affect the user's aesthetic experience and perception of quality in digital media.
Human T helper type 1 dichotomy: origin, phenotype and biological activities

The great variety of pathogens present in the environment has obliged the immune system to evolve different mechanisms for tailored and maximally protective responses. Initially, two major types of CD4+ T helper (Th) effector cells were identified, and named as type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) cells because of the different cytokines they produce. More recently, a third type of CD4+ Th effectors has been identified and named as Th17 cells. Th17 cells, however, have been found to exhibit high plasticity because they rapidly shift into the Th1 phenotype in the inflammatory sites. Therefore, in these sites there is usually a dichotomous mixture of classic and non‐classic (Th17‐derived) Th1 cells. In humans, non‐classic Th1 cells express CD161, as well as the retinoic acid orphan receptor C, interleukin‐17 receptor E (IL‐17RE), IL‐1RI, CCR6, and IL‐4‐induced gene 1 and Tob‐1, which are all virtually absent from classic Th1 cells. The possibility to distinguish between these two cell subsets may allow the opportunity to better establish their respective pathogenic role in different chronic inflammatory disorders. In this review, we discuss the different origin, the distinctive phenotypic features and the major biological activities of classic and non‐classic Th1 cells.
Tissue Distribution and Quantification of the Expression of mRNAs of Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptors and Liver X Receptor-α in Humans: No Alteration in Adipose Tissue of Obese and NIDDM Patients

Members of the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) family might be involved in pathologies with altered lipid metabolism. They participate in the control of the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation. In addition, thiazolidinediones improve insulin resistance in vivo by activating PPARγ. However, little is known regarding their tissue distribution and relative expression in humans. Using a quantitative and sensitive reverse transcription (RT)-competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, we determined the distribution and relative mRNA expression of the four PPARs (α, β, γ1, and γ2) and liver X receptor-α (LXRα) in the main tissues implicated in lipid metabolism. PPARα and LXRα were mainly expressed in liver, while PPARγ1 predominated in adipose tissue and large intestine. We found that PPARγ2 mRNA was a minor isoform, even in adipose tissue, thus causing question of its role in humans. PPARβ mRNA was present in all the tissues tested at low levels. In addition, PPARγ mRNA was barely detectable in skeletal muscle, suggesting that improvement of insulin resistance with thiazolidinediones may not result from a direct effect of these agents on PPARγ in muscle. Obesity and NIDDM were not associated with change in PPARs and LXRα expression in adipose tissue. The mRNA levels of PPARγ1, the predominant form in adipocytes, did not correlate with BMI, leptin mRNA levels, or fasting insulinemia in 29 subjects with various degrees of obesity. These results indicated that obesity is not associated with alteration in PPAR gene expression in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue in humans.
Long-term impact of renal transplantation on carotid artery properties and on ventricular hypertrophy in end-stage renal failure patients.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to examine prospectively the impact of renal transplantation on the morphological and functional characteristics of the carotid arteries and heart in a group of end-stage renal failure patients without overt cardiovascular disease, followed up for >3 years. METHODS Twenty-two patients were evaluated 2-3 weeks after renal transplantation, and again 12 and 40 months post-transplant, using high resolution ultrasound imaging and echocardiography. RESULTS Kidney and patient survival were 100% at the end of follow-up without any major cardiovascular events. After 40+/-1.2 months, carotid morphological parameters were normalized: carotid intima-media thickness fell from 788+/-24 to 676+/-32 microm (P<0.01) and the carotid wall/lumen ratio fell from 118+/-3 to 103+/-3 microm (P<0.01). Significant reduction of left ventricular (LV) posterior wall thickness (11.5+/-0.2 to 11.3+/-0.2 mm, P<0.05) and LV mass index (172+/-9 to 158+/-8 g/m(2), P<0.01) was already observed after 12+/-0.2 months. Further reduction of LV posterior wall thickness (10.4+/-0.3 mm, P<0.01) and of LV mass index (136+/-7 g/m(2), P<0.01) also occurred after 40+/-1.2 months. However, carotid distensibility (19.5+/-2.1 vs 22+/-2.4, not significant (NS)) and LV compliance (early to atrial flow ratio: 1.2+/-0.1 vs 1.3+/-0.1, NS) remained abnormal, and normalization of the LV mass was attained by only 25% of the patients with LV hypertrophy on baseline. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the rate of change of reduction of the intima-media thickness was influenced by age (negative association, P<0.001) and was positively related to white race (P<0.05), female sex (P<0.01) and to the parallel reduction of maximum carotid diameter (P<0.001). Reduction of LV mass index over time was negatively related to the duration of dialysis treatment and to the parallel increase observed in body mass index and haematocrit, and was positively related to the simultaneous reduction of diastolic blood pressure (P<0.01 for all variables). CONCLUSIONS Successful renal transplantation improves but does not cause complete regression of the cardiovascular alterations of end-stage renal disease. Only intima-media thickness was normalized by transplantation, whereas LVMI and carotid and ventricular distensibility remained abnormal. The results suggest that extended duration of dialysis, weight gain, high blood pressure and high haematocrit may adversely affect the rate of change of post-transplant cardiovascular hypertrophy.
Nähe auf Distanz - sensible Gestaltung von Kommunikationstechnik

Wir beschreiben an einem Beispiel, wie mit Hilfe von Technik Verbundenheitspraktiken unterstützt, erweitert oder neue Praktiken etabliert werden können. Dafür werden fünf Familien, jeweils bestehend aus drei Generationen, umfassend betrachtet und mögliche Veränderungspotentiale identifiziert. Diese werden dann in Konzepte übersetzt und als funktionale Prototypen mindestens zehn Tage im Alltag der Familien erprobt. Am Beispiel von Familie Maier und ihrem Fenster zeigen wir, wie Konzepte basierend auf dem detaillierten Verständnis der Familienstruktur erarbeitet werden und welche Wirkung diese Konzepte auf die entsprechenden Familien haben können.