Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Who’s There?”: Designing Sensor-Aided Wearable Assistive Technology for the Visually-Impaired

Approximately 4% of the world’s population is visually impaired, with 65% of them over age 50; and an estimate of 90% of them living in low and middle-income countries. While these numbers are shocking, the bigger challenge is the reduced confidence and life satisfaction that the visually impaired experience as a result of loss in independence and diminished sociability. This project tries to mitigate the problem of dependence using low-cost, intuitive, sensor-aided assistive technology. Interacting with visually-impaired users, we identified 3 specific problems: difficulty recognizing those in their surroundings; inability to proactively greet persons entering their social space; and not knowing if the person they are interacting with is within hearing range as they move around. While previous research in assistive technology for the blind has largely focused on enabling smoother navigation, there has been less focus on improving their social interactions. We employ a user-centered design approach and think-aloud protocol to gain insight into the user’s cognitive processes, comfort level and feelings while they are interacting with the device and performing various structured social interaction tasks. Furthermore, we use standard psychological instruments to measure changes in sociability, independence and technological comfort as the users use the device. We developed two distinct prototypes with several iterations of the design-thinking process. The first relied on a smart-phone to notify the user. While it performed the tasks, it was too cognitively overwhelming, frustrating and exhausting for a blind user because of the phone’s many notifications. Therefore, it was an ineffective way of augmenting their perception. Our second prototype, and current solution, is threefold: building a smart environment; designing a single-purpose, wearable bracelet with sonifications and vibro-tactile communication; and creating a novel audio-haptic user interface. We evaluated this device and chose it as our current solution because it is a low-cost, low-energy, easy-to-use, intuitive device that was successfully used by potential users to identify and place potential interactors in their surroundings during usability testing and user feedback sessions. This project presents a foundation for designing more intuitive audio-haptic interfaces and devices for not only visually-impaired, but also for aging populations and sighted individuals. It proposes future research avenues overcoming current limitations, exploring long-term effects of the assistive device on the user’s well-being, and enabling customization to an individual user’s needs.
Light-induced absorbance changes associated with photoinhibition and pigments in nitrifying bacteria

Spectroscopic analysis of nitrifying bacteria revealed the presence of a porphyrin-like pigment with an absorption maximum at 408 nm. The photoresponsive pigment accumulated during the late exponential phase of growth. The photoreceptor was found at higher concentrations in NH4+ oxidizers than in NO2oxldizers. When absorbance scans and action spectra of the nitrifiers were compared, it was found that the regression between the degree of photoinhibition and higher absorbances at 408 nm was significant (r2 = 0.7). Reversible light-induced absorbance changes were observed in vivo and in vitro. Absorbance changes were maximally elicited by light in the 400 nm region for both types of nitrifiers, but the change was only significant (p < 0.05) for NH,' oxldizers. This spectral sensitivity of the NH,' oxidizing process suggests that the absorbance change observed is related to the blue light sensitivity of NH,+ oxidizers.
Lipid-Modulating Effects of Aqueous Extract of Rubus Occidentalis in Hepatocarcinoma HepG2 Cells

Little knowledge exists on the lipid-modulating effect of Rubus occidentalis (RO). The present study investigated the molecular mechanisms of lipid-modulating effects of aqueous extract of RO (ROW) in hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. ROW decreased apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB100)/apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) ratio. ROW increased the expression of LDL-receptor (LDL-R). ROW decreased the gene expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) as well as fatty acid synthase in a concentration-dependent manner. ROW not only down-regulated gene expression of SREBP-2 and HMG-CoA synthase mRNA expression, but also inhibited HMG-CoA reductase activity in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 240.6 μg/ml). These results indicate that ROW decreases the level of bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol levels by lowering the gene expression of transcription factors, SREBP-1c and SREBP-2, and by inhibiting the expression and/or activity of their downstream enzymes such as fatty acid synthase and HMG-CoA synthase and reductase.
Knee Compression Loading When Lying Supine : Effects of Foot Position on Mattress

Purpose: Knee loading from standing for long periods has been shown to cause degenerative effects in knee cartilage, and this has been linked to the onset and progression of osteoarthritis. When lying supine because the heel protrudes ‘outwards’ from the back of the leg, contact forces are concentrated at the heel and act to ‘push’ the knee into full extension. The resulting knee-moment (compression loading) can be experienced for prolonged periods. The current study determined the magnitude of the knee-extension moment when lying supine and whether the moment was effected by how the feet were supported. Methods: Ten healthy participants laid supine on a flat surface with feet on surface or hung over the end of it. A motion capture system and force platform was used to determine knee-moments. Results: Knee-moments (extension) were comparable to those previously reported for standing but when the feet were hung over the end of the support the extension moment was all but eliminated (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings suggests that for those who sleep supine, a change in sleeping position so that the feet hang over the end of the mattress will eliminate knee compression loading, and this simple intervention may provide temporary pain relief in those with knee-osteoarthritis.
Overview on Unsupervised Mining Feebly Named Web Facial Pictures for Hunt Based Face Comment

Auto confront explanation is assuming a vital part in some certifiable learning administration frameworks and mixed media data. Auto confront explanation is essential and helpful to much genuine application. Confront comment related face location and acknowledgment as of late research interests in mining pitifully named pictures on the enthusiasm to determine explore challenge in PC vision and picture handling. This paper gives different procedures or techniques that are accustomed to clarifying facial pictures.
Summer Nonconvective Severe Wind Frequency over Ontario and Its Correlation with Tropical Pacific Sea Surface Temperature

AbstractThe summer nonconvective severe surface wind (NCSSW) frequency over Ontario, Canada, in relation to regional climate conditions and tropical Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures (SSTs) during the period of 1979–2006 is examined using surface wind reports and large-scale analysis data. A statistically robust positive trend in Ontario summer NCSSW frequency is identified using three independent statistical approaches, which include the conventional linear regression that has little disturbance to the original time series, the Mann–Kendall test without a lag-1 autoregressive process, and the Monte Carlo simulation. A composite analysis of the large-scale monthly mean data reveals that the high- (low-) NCSSW occurrence years are linked to stronger (weaker) large-scale horizontal pressure gradients and more (less) intensive vector wind anomalies in the upper troposphere. Unlike the low-event years, anomalous anticyclonic circulations are found at 500 and 250 hPa in the high-event years, which are con.
Embryonic Neural Stem Cell Differentiation to Aldynoglia Induced by Olfactory Bulb Ensheathing Cell-Conditioned Medium

Daniel Ortuno-Sahagun,1 Argelia E. Rojas-Mayorquin,2 Antoni Camins3 and Merce Pallas,3 1Laboratorio de Desarrollo y Regeneracion Neural, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Departamento de Biologia Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, 2Instituto de Geriatria, Institutos Nacionales de Salud, Mexico City, 3Unitat de Farmacologia i Farmacognosia Facultat de Farmacia, Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Centros de Investigacion Biomedica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Universitat de Barcelona, Nucli Universitari de Pedralbes, Barcelona, 1,2Mexico 3Spain
Array thinning by using antennas in a Fabry-Perot cavity for gain enhancement

A Fabry–Perot cavity (FPC) between a ground plane and a partially reflective surface (PRS) is used here to design array antennas with large distance between the radiating elements. This configuration provides some advantages: i) a reduction of the number of array elements to achieve high directivity; ii) large space between contiguous elements that may host a bulky feeding network as required for dual polarization or active antennas; iii) small coupling and easy feeding network designs because of the smaller number of elements with larger inter-element distance. We show that when designing the FPC antenna a frequency shift of the gain maximum may occur, especially in this sparse array configuration. We also show the existence of preferred distances between elements that controls both the directivity and the side lobe level, and how the presence of the FPC and the relaxed requirement of the interelement distance result in a lower interelement coupling. The presented dual polarized antenna comprises two interleaved 2 x 2 arrays placed in a 2-layer FPC, and exhibits a 19 dBi gain and 30 dB of isolation between the two ports over an operating bandwidth of approximately 5.7%, i.e., typical for patch antennas.
Motivational functionalism and urban conservation stewardship: implications for volunteer involvement

Conservation in urban areas faces growing financial challenges and inadequate stakeholder involvement. Conservation psychology can mitigate these challenges in many ways. One way is through conservation volunteerism, if we attend to and capitalize on volunteers’ motivations. Conservation volunteerism significantly contributes to ecological knowledge acquisition, and public education and awareness of conservation issues. In this study, we explored volunteers’ motivations and how those motivations influence frequency of participation in urban conservation activities. We found that volunteers’ frequency of participation is most motivated by personal and social benefits rather than by environment‐related reasons. Environmental motivations, otherwise marginally significant, were more salient predictors of participation to the extent that personal and social motivations were met. We discuss how ecologically focused strategies are likely to be less effective for motivating more frequent participation than motivationally based appeals to personal and social motivations of urban conservation. We discuss implications for urban conservation stewardship initiatives and suggest ways that decision makers can harness volunteers’ personal and social motivations to meet urban conservation practice and policy goals.
Interaction of neuropeptide Y receptors (NPY1, NPY2 and NPY5) with somatostatin on somatostatin-induced feeding behaviour in neonatal chicken

ABSTRACT 1. The present study was conducted to investigate whether brain somatostatin increases feed intake in neonatal chickens. The mediating role of neuropeptide Y receptors on feed intake induced by somatostatin was investigated. 2. In this study, seven experiments were designed, each with four treatment groups (n = 44 in each experiment). In Experiment 1, chicks received control solution and 0.5, 1 and 2 nmol of somatostatin through intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. In experiments 2, 3 and 4, chickens were ICV injected with control solution and 1.25, 2.5 and 5 μg of B5063 (NPY1 receptor antagonist), SF22 (NPY2 receptor antagonist) and SML0891 (NPY5 receptor antagonist), respectively. In experiment 5, 6 and 7 chickens received ICV injection of B5063, SF22, SML0891, with a co-injection of + somatostatin, control solution and somatostatin. The cumulative feed intake was measured until 120 min post injection. 3. Somatostatin significantly increased feed intake in FD3 chicks. Both B5063 and SML0891 dose-dependently decreased feed intake compared with the control group, while SF22 led to a dose-dependent increase in feed intake. In addition, the hyperphagic effect of somatostatin significantly decreased with co-injection of B560 plus somatostatin (p < 0.05), but SF22 and SML0891 had no effect on feed intake induced by somatostatin in chicks (p > 0.05). 4. Based on the results of this study, it is likely that somatostatin increased feed intake and NPY1 receptor acts as a mediator in hyperphagic effect of somatostatin in neonatal chicks.
Polarimetry enabled by nanophotonics

Nanoantenna and plasmonic structures can be used to measure light polarization Light beams consist of oscillatory electric (and magnetic) fields having a certain amplitude, phase, and frequency. In transverse waves, the state of polarization (SoP) characterizes how the electric field oscillates in the plane perpendicular to the propagation direction. Light-matter interactions strongly depend on the SoP, so its complete measurement is of paramount importance in a wide array of disciplines including chemistry, imaging, optical communications, and astronomy. However, measuring the SoP of a light beam, the main goal of polarimetry, is much trickier than knowing its intensity or frequency, because it involves the simultaneous measurement of the four Stokes parameters, which even account for the case of unpolarized light.
Predicting Responses to Psychedelics: A Prospective Study

Responses to psychedelics are notoriously difficult to predict, yet significant work is currently underway to assess their therapeutic potential and the level of interest in psychedelics among the general public appears to be increasing. We aimed to collect prospective data in order to improve our ability to predict acute- and longer-term responses to psychedelics. Individuals who planned to take a psychedelic through their own initiative participated in an online survey (www.psychedelicsurvey.com). Traits and variables relating to set, setting and the acute psychedelic experience were measured at five different time points before and after the experience. Principle component and regression methods were used to analyse the data. Sample sizes for the five time points were N = 654, N = 535, N = 379, N = 315, and N = 212 respectively. Psychological well-being was increased 2 weeks after a psychedelic experience and remained at this level after 4 weeks. Higher ratings of a “mystical-type experience” had a positive effect on the change in well-being after a psychedelic experience, whereas the other acute psychedelic experience measures, i.e., “challenging experience” and “visual effects”, did not influence the change in well-being after the psychedelic experience. Having “clear intentions” for the experience was conducive to mystical-type experiences. Having a positive “set” as well as having the experience with intentions related to “recreation” were both found to decrease the likelihood of having a challenging experience. The baseline trait “absorption” and higher drug doses promoted all aspects of the acute experience, i.e., mystical-type and challenging experiences, as well as visual effects. When comparing the relative contribution of different types of variables in explaining the variance in the change in well-being, it seemed that baseline trait variables had the strongest effect on the change in well-being after a psychedelic experience. These results confirm the importance of extra-pharmacological factors in determining responses to a psychedelic. We view this study as an early step towards the development of empirical guidelines that can evolve and improve iteratively with the ultimate purpose of guiding crucial clinical decisions about whether, when, where and how to dose with a psychedelic, thus helping to mitigate risks while maximizing potential benefits in an evidence-based manner.
Changing virulence factors among vaginal non-albicans Candida species

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is caused by overgrowth of Candida species in the female lower genital tract and most commonly caused by Candida albicans. The production of various virulence factors may attribute to their pathogenicity. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the production of various virulence factors of Candida spp. causing VVC. Materials and Methods: A total of 51 Candida spp. were isolated prospectively from 50 patients among 211 clinically suspected cases of VVC. The haemolytic activity, biofilm production, proteinase activity, phospholipase activity and esterase activity were detected by standard methods. Statistical analysis was performed using OpenEpi version 3.01. Results: Haemolytic activity was observed in 42 Candida isolates (82.4%), biofilm activity in 21 Candida isolates (41.2%), proteinase and esterase activity in 19 Candida isolates (37.3%) each and phospholipase activity in 15 Candida isolates (29.4%). Phospholipase activity was observed in all of the C. albicans strains, whereas all strains of Candida krusei were able to produce biofilm. All strains of Candida parapsilosis and 87% strains of Candida glabrata were haemolytic. Five of the eight C. glabrata strains were found to produce strong proteinase (Prz score ≤0.63). About 30.4% strains of C. glabrata and 20% strains of C. krusei were found to be positive for esterase activity. This is one of the few studies which revealed esterase activity among C. glabrata and C. krusei strains. Conclusions: This study highlighted that there is a change in the virulence factors among the non-albicans Candida species, especially C. glabrata strains which were haemolytic and produce strong proteinase activity and esterase activity. It may be one of the explanation of the most common causative agent of VVC in our study. Multicentric studies from this area might be required to get a more generalised conclusion.
Differential use of medical versus surgical androgen deprivation therapy for patients with metastatic prostate cancer

Surgical and medical androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) strategies are comparable in their ability to suppress serum testosterone levels as treatment in patients with metastatic prostate cancer but differ with regard to cost and impact on quality of life. Medical ADT is associated with better long‐term quality of life due to the flexibility of possible therapy interruption but comes with a higher cumulative cost. In the current study, the authors examined whether surgical ADT (ie, bilateral orchiectomy) was used differentially by race/ethnicity and other social factors.
Near‐future forest vulnerability to drought and fire varies across the western United States

Recent prolonged droughts and catastrophic wildfires in the western United States have raised concerns about the potential for forest mortality to impact forest structure, forest ecosystem services, and the economic vitality of communities in the coming decades. We used the Community Land Model (CLM) to determine forest vulnerability to mortality from drought and fire by the year 2049. We modified CLM to represent 13 major forest types in the western United States and ran simulations at a 4‐km grid resolution, driven with climate projections from two general circulation models under one emissions scenario (RCP 8.5). We developed metrics of vulnerability to short‐term extreme and prolonged drought based on annual allocation to stem growth and net primary productivity. We calculated fire vulnerability based on changes in simulated future area burned relative to historical area burned. Simulated historical drought vulnerability was medium to high in areas with observations of recent drought‐related mortality. Comparisons of observed and simulated historical area burned indicate simulated future fire vulnerability could be underestimated by 3% in the Sierra Nevada and overestimated by 3% in the Rocky Mountains. Projections show that water‐limited forests in the Rocky Mountains, Southwest, and Great Basin regions will be the most vulnerable to future drought‐related mortality, and vulnerability to future fire will be highest in the Sierra Nevada and portions of the Rocky Mountains. High carbon‐density forests in the Pacific coast and western Cascades regions are projected to be the least vulnerable to either drought or fire. Importantly, differences in climate projections lead to only 1% of the domain with conflicting low and high vulnerability to fire and no area with conflicting drought vulnerability. Our drought vulnerability metrics could be incorporated as probabilistic mortality rates in earth system models, enabling more robust estimates of the feedbacks between the land and atmosphere over the 21st century.
Templated nanofiber synthesis via chemical vapor polymerization into liquid crystalline films

Patterned fiber formation The ability of liquid crystalline materials to order spontaneously has driven many innovations, from display technologies to extremely tough polymer fibers. Cheng et al. exploited this preponderance toward long-range ordering to direct the growth of nonliquid crystalline polymers into sheets of highly ordered fibers. Small changes to the processing conditions could be used to tweak the arrangement of the liquid crystals to generate a wide range of polymer mats or sheets for potential use in sensing or filtration applications. Science, this issue p. 804 Chemical vapor deposition into thin films of liquid crystals creates organized arrays of shape-controlled nanofibers. Extrusion, electrospinning, and microdrawing are widely used to create fibrous polymer mats, but these approaches offer limited access to oriented arrays of nanometer-scale fibers with controlled size, shape, and lateral organization. We show that chemical vapor polymerization can be performed on surfaces coated with thin films of liquid crystals to synthesize organized assemblies of end-attached polymer nanofibers. The process uses low concentrations of radical monomers formed initially in the vapor phase and then diffused into the liquid-crystal template. This minimizes monomer-induced changes to the liquid-crystal phase and enables access to nanofiber arrays with complex yet precisely defined structures and compositions. The nanofiber arrays permit tailoring of a wide range of functional properties, including adhesion that depends on nanofiber chirality.
The st-bond polytope on series-parallel graphs

The st-bond polytope of a graph is the convex hull of the incidence vectors of its st-bonds, where an st-bond is a minimal st-cut. In this paper, we provide a linear description of the st-bond polytope on series-parallel graphs. We also show that the st-bond polytope is the intersection of the st-cut dominant and the bond polytope.