Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of gut, lung, and upper airways microbiota in patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma

Background: Several studies have confirmed the important role of the gut microbiota in the regulation of immune functions and its correlation with different diseases, including cancer. While brain-gut and liver-gut axes have already been demonstrated, the existence of a lung-gut axis has been suggested more recently, with the idea that changes in the gut microbiota could affect the lung microbiota, and vice versa. Likewise, the close connection between gut microbiota and cancer of proximal sites (intestines, kidneys, liver, etc.) is already well established. However, little is known whether there is a similar relation when looking at world's number one cause of death from cancer—lung cancer. Objective: Firstly, this study aims to characterise the gut, lung, and upper airways (UAs) microbiota in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery. Secondly, it aims to evaluate a chemotherapy effect on site-specific microbiota and its influence on immune profile. To our knowledge, this is the 1st study that will analyse multi-site microbiota in NSCLC patients along with site-specific immune response. Methods: The study is a case-controlled observational trial. Forty NSCLC patients will be divided into 2 groups depending on their anamnesis: Pchir, patients eligible for surgery, or Pct-chir, patients eligible for neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery. Composition of the UAs (saliva), gut (faeces), and lung microbiota (from broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and 3 lung pieces: “healthy” tissue distal to tumour, peritumoural tissue and tumour itself) will be analysed in both groups. Immune properties will be evaluated on the local (evaluation of the tumour immune cell infiltrate, tumour classification and properties, immune cell phenotyping in BALF; human neutrophil protein (HNP) 1–3, &bgr;-defensin 2, and calprotectin in faeces) and systemic level (blood cytokine and immune cell profile). Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (major products of bacterial fermentation with an effect on immune system) will be dosed in faecal samples. Other factors such as nutrition and smoking status will be recorded for each patient. We hypothesise that smoking status and tumour type/grade will be major factors influencing both microbiota and immune/inflammatory profile of all sampling sites. Furthermore, due to non-selectivity, the same effect is expected from chemotherapy.
A 190 GHz Inset-Fed Patch Antenna in SiGe BEOL for On-Chip Integration

This paper presents the design and characterization of an integrated rectangular patch antenna implemented in the back end of line (BEOL) of a 130 nm silicon germanium (SiGe) technology. The inset-fed antenna has a patch area of 0.19 mm2. To the knowledge of the authors, this is one of the smallest radiating element areas reported in literature for on-chip antennas at comparable frequencies. Electromagnetic simulations show a maximum antenna gain of 2.6 dBi and a directivity of 9.3 dBi. The measured resonance frequency of 192.3 GHz is in agreement with post-layout simulation results. Design challenges including impact of density fillers in integrated technologies are also discussed.
Design of a New Balanced-to-Balanced Filtering Power Divider Based on Square Patch Resonator

A new balanced-to-balanced filtering power divider based on the square patch resonator is proposed in this paper. Originating from the field distributions of degenerate modes on the square patch resonator, a prototype of the balanced-to-balanced power divider is successfully developed with only one square patch resonator. Its working principle can be fully explained by the field distribution of the relevant resonant modes. Afterwards, to achieve the sharp skirt selectivity outside the passband, a compact second-order circuit is constructed based on the original prototype. With this new structure, both good bandpass filtering response and power division characteristics are well obtained. Moreover, to suppress the differential-mode (DM) harmonic response in the upper stopband, an improved structure is built up by modifying the feeding scheme. Ultimately, to validate the design concept, both the two types of second-order balanced-to-balanced filtering power dividers operating at 1.8 GHz are designed and fabricated. The measured results of the two fabricated circuits well agree with the simulated ones, manifest equal power division, high performances in terms of DM response, in-band common-mode (CM) suppression, port-to-port isolation, and expected harmonic suppression.
Performance Comparison of Routing Protocols for Vital Data Monitoring from a Large Number of Exercisers

In this work, we focus on vital data monitoring of people playing various types of sports. We assume a system configuration in which sensor nodes attached to exercisers with their back-waist positions sense vital data and send them to a sink node. The communication range of each sensor node is limited in this environment, therefore, the sensed data needs to be delivered to the sink node through multi-hop transmissions. In this paper, we present simulation results of RPL (IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low power and Lossy Networks) that is a widely-used routing protocol in wireless sensor networks. We evaluate data collection rate of RPL, and compare its performance with that of conventional flooding when these schemes are applied to vital data monitoring of people playing various types of exercises. With obtained numerical results, we discuss challenges in multi-hop transmissions for vital data monitoring of a large number of exercisers.
Dynamic Control Plane for SDN at Scale

As SDN migrates to wide area networks and 5G core networks, a scalable, highly reliable, low latency distributed control plane becomes a key factor that differentiates operator solutions for network control and management. In order to meet the high reliability and low latency requirements under time-varying volume of control traffic, the distributed control plane, consisting of multiple controllers and a combination of out-of-band and in-band control channels, needs to be managed dynamically. To this effect, we propose a novel programmable distributed control plane architecture with a dynamically managed in-band control network, where in-band mode switches communicate with their controllers over a virtual overlay to the data plane with dynamic topology. We dynamically manage the number of controllers, switches, and control flows assigned to each controller as well as traffic over control channels achieving both controller and control traffic load-balancing. We introduce “control flow table” (rules embedded in the flow table of a switch to manage in-band control flows) in order to implement the proposed distributed dynamic control plane. We propose methods for off-loading congested controllers and congested in-band control channels using control flow tables. A validation test-bed and experimental results over multiple topologies are presented to demonstrate the scalability and performance improvements achieved by the proposed dynamic control plane management procedures when the controller CPU and/or availability or throughput of in-band control channels becomes bottlenecks.
Multi-PLC Control System Based on Wireless Bridge/Base Stations for Work-in-Process Movements in Corrugated Box Manufacturer

This paper presents a practical technique to design and implement a cooperative control of two groups with three conveyors and two rail guided vehicles (RGVs) by using two master and two slave programmable logic controllers (PLCs), respectively. The controlled conveyors and RGVs are utilized for work-in-process (WIP) movements between a corrugator and six printing machines in a manufacturer of corrugated paper boxes. The proposed technique is based on the use of wireless bridge/base stations modeled Ubiquiti Rocket M5 and Loco M5 for interconnections of two master PLCs modeled Omron CJ2M-CPU31, two slave PLCs modeled Omron CP1L-M40DT-D and connected with Omron CP1W-EIP61 module, and a host application over a control network to communicate with each other through EtherNet/IP technology. Input and output devices of each controlled subsystem are hardwired to each PLC. The transmission and reception schemes to enable real-time input/output data exchanges between the PLCs are specified with tag names for cyclic communications on data links. The proposed multi-PLC control system for WIP movements can operate in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements.
The conundrum of patients with obesity, exercise intolerance, elevated ventricular filling pressures and a measured ejection fraction in the normal range

Patients with obesity, a reduced exercise capacity, increased cardiac filling pressures and a measured left ventricular ejection fraction in the normal range do not have a homogeneous disorder, but instead, exhibit one of three phenotypes. First, many obese people exhibit sodium retention, plasma volume expansion and cardiac enlargement, and some are likely to have heart failure that is related to hypervolaemia, even though cardiac index and circulating levels of natriuretic peptides are not meaningfully increased. Second, in some middle‐aged men and women (particularly those with minimal co‐morbidities), levels of natriuretic peptides increase markedly and can lower systemic vascular resistance, thus leading to high‐output heart failure (HOHF) and glomerular hyperfiltration. Third, older obese people, particularly women with multiple co‐morbidities, exhibit the syndrome of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Despite degrees of plasma volume expansion similar to HOHF, these patients exhibit only modestly increased ventricular dimensions and circulating levels of natriuretic peptides (despite a high prevalence of atrial fibrillation), and glomerular function is characteristically impaired. A conceptual framework is proposed to distinguish among the three phenotypes seen in obese patients with exercise intolerance, increased ventricular filling pressures and a measured left ventricular ejection fraction in the normal range, since they may respond differently to therapeutic interventions. Efforts are needed to enhance the recognition of heart failure in obese people and to ensure that clinical trials that are designed to study patients with HFpEF actually enrol those who have the disease.
Incorporating Recognition and Management of Perinatal Depression Into Pediatric Practice

Perinatal depression (PND) is the most common obstetric complication in the United States. Even when screening results are positive, mothers often do not receive further evaluation, and even when PND is diagnosed, mothers do not receive evidence-based treatments. Studies reveal that postpartum depression (PPD), a subset of PND, leads to increased costs of medical care, inappropriate medical treatment of the infant, discontinuation of breastfeeding, family dysfunction, and an increased risk of abuse and neglect. PPD, specifically, adversely affects this critical early period of infant brain development. PND is an example of an adverse childhood experience that has potential long-term adverse health complications for the mother, her partner, the infant, and the mother-infant dyad. However, PND can be treated effectively, and the stress on the infant can be buffered. Pediatric medical homes should coordinate care more effectively with prenatal providers for women with prenatally diagnosed maternal depression; establish a system to implement PPD screening at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month well-child visits; use community resources for the treatment and referral of the mother with depression; and provide support for the maternal-child (dyad) relationship, including breastfeeding support. State chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, working with state departments of public health, public and private payers, and maternal and child health programs, should advocate for payment and for increased training for PND screening and treatment. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends advocacy for workforce development for mental health professionals who care for young children and mother-infant dyads, and for promotion of evidence-based interventions focused on healthy attachment and parent-child relationships.
Traditional Japanese Haiku Generator using RNN Language Model

Recent progress in deep learning demonstrated that machines can do well in regularized tasks. However, artistic activities such as poetry generation are still widely regarded as human special abilities. We pay special attention to the traditional Japanese Haiku and show that the machine can be as good as many contemporary poets. This paper proposes a Japanese Haiku model based on recurrent neural network language model. It accepts a set of keywords as topics, generating poetry in each generation by looking at each keyword. Experimental results show that our system can produce Haiku like humans.
Resolution Mechanism Model for Heterogeneous Systems in Smart Home Environment

Emerging growth of heterogeneous devices can be seen in smart home environment. These devices are diversified and highly heterogeneous in nature. Hence, there is a need of multiple devices in the same environment are orchestrating with one another in harmonic way. However, this thing becoming complicated whenever more heterogeneous systems are introducing into the same environment from time to time. This condition leads to system dependencies with each other and eventually leading towards conflict occurrences among them. In this work, we present a conflict resolution mechanism for heterogeneous devices in home environment using Resolution Mechanism model. The performance of the proposed model verified and justified within the need of smart home context.
Music Therapy and Dance as Gait Rehabilitation in Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Review of Evidence

Parkinson disease causes several changes in gait, such as postural stability, which consequently induces fall risk factors and loss of quality of life. Alternative forms of treatment through rhythmic and dance stimuli have been used to minimize the Parkinson disease effects, which have been shown to be effective in improving gait and providing social well-being and quality of life in the patient. Aim: This review aims to demonstrate the efficiency of music and dance for gait improvement and symptom alleviation in Parkinson disease. Methodology: Studies that analyzed sound stimuli and dance in gait improvement in Parkinson disease were searched through PubMed, Scopus, Doaj, MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect databases from November 2017 to April 2018 and repeated in September 2018. Results and Discussion: Forty-five studies met the inclusion criteria to synthesize the findings on dance and music performance as a treatment for classical symptoms of Parkinson disease. Five reviews and 40 experimental papers have shown that rhythmic stimulation and dance provide the motor, cognitive, and quality of life benefits for participants with Parkinson disease. Thus, sound stimuli and dance offer satisfactory effects for gait, improving cognitive abilities such as motor control and adjustment and spatial memory. In addition, these new treatment modalities stimulate the elderly population to practice physical exercise, generating well-being and helping self-esteem. Conclusion: Dance and music therapy interventions are noninvasive, simple treatment options, which promote gait and cognition.
Multi-modal Geometry Tutoring System Using Speech and Touchscreen Figure Tracing

People sometimes use gestures with speech to exchange information. As such an example, people explain to someone a solution of a geometric problem of mathematics. In this paper, we introduce an application system, on which a user can explain a solution of a geometric problem displayed on a screen by speech and pointing. Then, the system understands these inputs, adds the explanations to the figure, and an explanation is translated to formulas. In addition, we aim to construct the system that can be provided as a learning application for the general public, which does not require special knowledge, technology, or device for introduction into ICT education.
Association of urinary activity of MMP-9 with renal impairment in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Diabetic kidney disease is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). An early event in diabetic kidney disease is alteration of the glomerular basement membrane and the mesangial expansion. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a family of endopeptidases responsible for controlling the pathophysiological remodeling of tissues, including renal tissues. MMP-9 in human urine has been proposed as a marker of diabetic nephropathy and urinary tract infections (UTI). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients who receive first level medical attention in Mexico. We used ELISA to measure MMP-9 levels in the urine of subjects with T2DM ≥ 18 years of age, who fulfilled the clinical requirements for calculation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), according to the K/DOQI guide, in an attempt to identify whether MMP-9 levels in T2DM differ in patients with and without renal impairment. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed in order to identify the association between MMP-9 and renal impairment. Results Included in the study were 34 (45%) subjects with renal impairment and 42 (55%) without. In the group with renal impairment, 10 subjects corresponded to stages 1–2 and 24 subjects corresponded to stage 3, according to their values of GFR and urinary albumin, following that proposed by the K/DOQI. No differences were found relating to sex, age, having or not having a partner, education, being able to read and write a message and duration of T2DM. Moreover, no differences were found between the groups in terms of weight, height, body mass index, waist size in general and frequency of UTI. In contrast, serum creatinine and urinary albumin were higher in the group with renal impairment, while GFR was greater in the group without renal impairment. Levels of MMP-9 were greater in women compared to men. Through univariate analysis in the general population, the presence of MMP-9 and that of its percentile 90 (P90) P90 were associated with the renal impairment group; however, in patients without UTI, only the presence of MMP-9 was associated with the renal impairment group, and no association was found with its P90. Multivariate analysis revealed an association between MMP-9 and its P90 with renal impairment. Discussion It is necessary to validate sensitive and non-invasive biological markers of CKD. We demonstrate that the presence and P90 of urinary MMP-9 are associated with renal impairment in Mexican patients with T2DM. While high levels of MMP-9 were associated to females and UTI, the presence of UTI was not associated with the incidence of renal impairment.
Antenna and Package Design for 61- and 122-GHz Radar Sensors in Embedded Wafer-Level Ball Grid Array Technology

This paper suggests the usage of an optimized structure of the embedded wafer-level ball grid array technology for millimeter-wave antennas-in-package. Multiple antenna arrays in a second redistribution layer have been designed, evaluated, and integrated with different transceivers to form very compact sensor packages for 61- and 122-GHz radar applications. The resulting packages contain a complete radar front end while featuring dimensions of $8\,\,\text {mm}\times 8~\text{mm}$ . The packages are easy to assemble and replaceable. Theoretical considerations, numerical results, and measurements have been carried out for the single components. For the verification of the sensor packages, a system demonstrator was developed, and measurements have been performed in continuous-wave mode. At both frequencies, promising system performance regarding range and distance errors could be confirmed without the usage of complex processing and calibration algorithms.
Effects of catalpol on the activity of human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes

Abstract 1. Catalpol possesses numerous pharmacological activities, and however, little data available for the effects of catalpol on the activity of human liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. 2. This study investigates the inhibitory effects of catalpol on the main human liver CYP isoforms. In this study, the inhibitory effects of catalpol on the eight human liver CYP isoforms 1A2, 2A6, 2E1, 2D6, 2C9, 2C19, 2C8 and 3A4 were investigated in human liver microsomes. 3. The results indicated that catalpol could inhibit the activity of CYP3A4, CYP2E1 and CYP2C9, with IC50 values of 14.27, 22.4 and 14.69 μM, respectively, but those other CYP isoforms were not affected. Enzyme kinetic studies showed that catalpol was not only a noncompetitive inhibitor of CYP3A4, but also a competitive inhibitor of CYP2E1 and CYP2C9, with Ki values of 7.40, 10.75 and 7.37 μM, respectively. In addition, catalpol is a time-dependent inhibitor for CYP3A4, with maximum inactivation (kinact) and 50% maximum inactivation (KI) values of 0.02 min−1 and 1.86 μM, respectively. 4. The in vitro studies of catalpol with CYP isoforms suggest that catalpol has the potential to cause pharmacokinetic drug interactions with other co-administered drugs metabolized by CYP3A4, CYP2E1 and CYP2C9. Further in vivo studies are needed in order to evaluate the significance of this interaction.
User Evaluation of the Smartphone Screen Reader VoiceOver with Visually Disabled Participants

Touchscreen assistive technology is designed to support speech interaction between visually disabled people and mobile devices, allowing hand gestures to interact with a touch user interface. In a global perspective, the World Health Organization estimates that around 285 million people are visually disabled with 2/3 of them over 50 years old. This paper presents the user evaluation of VoiceOver, a built-in screen reader in Apple Inc. products, with a detailed analysis of the gesture interaction, familiarity and training by visually disabled users, and the system response. Six participants with prescribed visual disability took part in the tests in a usability laboratory under controlled conditions. Data were collected and analysed using a mixed methods approach, with quantitative and qualitative measures. The results showed that the participants found most of the hand gestures easy to perform, although they reported inconsistent responses and lack of information associated with several functionalities. User training on each gesture was reported as key to allow the participants to perform certain difficult or unknown gestures. This paper also reports on how to perform mobile device user evaluations in a laboratory environment and provides recommendations on technical and physical infrastructure.