Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stochastic Modeling Based Nonlinear Bayesian Filtering for Photoplethysmography Denoising in Wearable Devices

Photoplethysmography (PPG) has shown its great potential for noninvasive health monitoring, but its application in wearable devices is largely impeded due to its extreme vulnerability to motion artifacts. In this article, we proposed a new stochastic modeling based nonlinear Bayesian filtering framework for the recovery of corrupted PPG waveform under strenuous physical exercise in wearable health-monitoring devices. A deep recurrent neural network was first recruited for accurate cardiac-period segmentation of corrupted PPG signals. Then, a stochastic model was applied to extract waveform details from clean PPG pulses, and was further derived into a system-state space. Following this was an extended Kalman filter using the state-space structured by modeling. The covariance of measurement noise was estimated by motion-related information to adjust it into the real physical environment adaptively. Comparison results with state-of-the-art methods on a wearable-device-based 48-subject data set showed the outstanding performance of the proposed denoising framework, with period-segmentation sensitivity and precision higher than 99.1%, instantaneous heart rate (HR) error lower than 2 beats/min, average HR error down to 1.14 beats/min, and recovery accuracy of waveform details significantly improved (p < 0.05). This framework is the first PPG denoising strategy that introduces waveform-modeling methods to ensure detail recovery, and a great example of algorithm fusion between stochastic signal processing and emerging deep learning methods for time-sequential biomedical signal processing.
Genetic variation among wild and cultivated Agropyron desertorum populations based on total protein profiles and phenotypic traits

Abstract Genetic differentiation between co-occurring crops and their wild relatives will be greatly modified by crop-to-weed gene flow and variation between human and natural selective pressures. In this paper, the pattern of population differentiation within and among the wild and cultivated populations of Agropyron desertorum in Iran, with respect to both total protein profiles and phenotypic traits, is measured and compared. A total of 180 A. desertorum individuals from 14 wild and four cultivated populations were included in the study. The levels of genetic diversity in cultivated populations were similar to those in wild populations (mean percentage of polymorphic loci [PPL] = 53.26% versus PPL=51.66%, and mean expected heterozygosity [He] = 0.154 versus He=0.165). Neighbour-joining cluster analysis showed that wild populations and cultivated populations were not separated into two groups. The coefficient of genetic differentiation (Fst) between a cultivar and its wild progenitor was 0.060. For the 14 wild populations, a significant genetic differentiation among populations was found using AMOVA analysis (30% of total genetic variation resided among populations).
Fast Nonsingular Terminal Sliding Mode Flight Control for Multirotor Aerial Vehicles

This article is concerned with the robust flight control of multirotor aerial vehicles (MAVs) subject to bounded force and torque disturbances. The focus is on the entire class of MAVs containing an arbitrary even number (${\geq}4$) of fixed (not vectoring) rotors. To deal with this problem, first, a ubiquitous hierarchical control architecture in which the attitude control loop is nested inside the position control loop is adopted and augmented with a control allocator which makes the design of the control laws themselves independent of the rotor arrangement. Specially, the control allocation problem is formulated as a quadratic program that minimizes the thrust commands and accounts for the thrust range and rate bounds. Second, geometric attitude and position control laws are designed separately using a multi-input fast nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (FNTSMC) strategy, which guarantees singularity-free finite-time stability and robustness. The main contributions are, first, the augmentation of the hierarchical control scheme for extending its applicability to any fixed-rotor MAV and, second, a detailed geometric design and finite-time stability analysis of the position and attitude control loops using the FNTSMC theory. The system is evaluated on computational simulations as well as on a hardware-in-the-loop experiment, showing that it is effective, simple to implement and adjust, and reliable to operate in nonlinear regimes as well as under bounded disturbances.
Deep Learning for Signal Detection in Uplink and Downlink Rate-Splitting Multiple Access Systems

In this paper, we propose a long short-term memory- based deep learning (DL) architecture for signal detection in uplink and downlink rate-splitting multiple access systems with multi-carrier modulation. The proposed DL detector eliminates the need for the use of successive interference cancellation, which suffers from disadvantages such as error propagation. In an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing setting, we show that the proposed DL detector outperforms the standard least squares detector and the minimum mean-squared error receiver and attains the performance of the optimal maximum likelihood detector, in terms of the symbol error rate.
Embryonic Fibroblast-Conditioned Medium Enhances Viability and Proliferation of Chick Circulating Primordial Germ Cells (cPGCs) in Suspension Culture

Primordial germ cells circulating in the embryonic vascular system (cPGCs) were isolated from 2.5-day-old chick embryos and cultured individually in suspension for 5 days in embryonic stem-cell medium (ESM) adjusted to pH 8.0 supplemented with fetal bovine serum. Most cells died within 5 days, during which time only a few cells (16-23%) underwent mitosis once, and only a very few cells (less than 3%) twice. The use of conditioned medium (CM) derived from embryonic fibroblasts enhanced the viability and proliferation of the cPGCs, resulting in survival of up to one-third of the cells for 5 days. A fraction of the cells (3-5%) even divided 3 times. The in vitro cultured cPGCs maintain the capacity to migrate into the gonadal area. The chick cPGCs cultured in vitro for up to 5 days in the CM produced germ-line chimeras upon injection into the bloodstream of 2-day-old quail embryos.
Effects of lithium ions on the circumnutations of Helianthus hypocotyls

The influence of Li+ on the circumnutations of hypocotyls of Helianthus annuus L. cv. Californicus was investigated. LiCl at concentration levels from 0 to 40 mM (lethal) was added to intact hypocotyls grown in liquid nutrient medium. The Li+ concentration in the hypocotyls was measured by flame photometry. The growth of the hypocotyls was not affected by the LiCl. Amplitude and frequency of the circumnutations were determined by correlation analysis. The oscillatory pattern of the movements became less regular at concentrations above 10 mM LiCl. The amplitude of the movements was reduced for concentrations above 7 mM LiCl. The frequency of the movements was reduced when LiCl was increased from 0 to 10 mM. Above 10 mM LiCl the frequency of the circumnutations was higher than for control plants. The results showed that circumnutations of sunflower hypocotyls can be added to the group of oscillators in biological organisms that are affected by Li+.
Ecology of mosquitoes inhabiting a park in urban Tokyo, Japan: density of biting Aedes albopictus and laboratory estimations of the residual longevity.

e seasonal prevalence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and the temporal and spatial variation of biting density were studied in an urban park in Tokyo, Japan. Human landing collections were conducted monthly at 16 collection sites in Rinshino-mori Park from May/June to November during 2003 to 2005. Biting females appeared in May/June and the density peaked in July/August and decreased rapidly therea er. e peak density was 12.5, 8.6 and 15.6/5 min in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. ere was a signi cant withinpark variation in biting density among the 16 collection sites, ranging between 0.6 and 13.8/5 min. During June to October/November 2005 and 2006 cohorts of biting females were collected from the eld, reared with a 3% sugar solution and their residual longevities were examined under laboratory conditions. Signi cant di erences in mean residual longevity were found among cohorts collected from Rinshino-mori Park in di erent months in 2005. Signi cant di erences were also found in mean residual longevity between cohorts collected from Rinshino-mori Park and an additional study park, Yacho Park, in 2006. Aedes albopictus-related risk for transmission of mosquito-borne virus in urban parks was discussed based on the product of mean biting density and mean residual longevity of biting females.
Enemy-mediated apparent competition: empirical patterns and the evidence

Apparent competition arises when two victim species negatively affect each other (−, −) by enhancing the equilibrium density or changing the foraging behaviour of a shared natural enemy. Shared enemies can also mediate non-reciprocal (−, 0) indirect effects, i.e. indirect amensalism, whenever one prey species is not affected by the presence of alternative prey. We review 34 studies on terrestrial and freshwater systems to evaluate the extent to which apparent competition has been perceived as a reciprocal (−, −) or non-reciprocal (−, 0) interaction. We found only three studies showing reciprocal effects between apparent competitors. Indirect amensalism was documented in 10 studies and could be inferred for 16 other cases (76% in total). The remaining five studies provided insufficient data to determine the form of indirect interaction. The apparent prevalence of non-reciprocal enemy-mediated interactions resembles that observed for resource-based interspecific competition. Amensal indirect effects via shared predation may result from differences in population size, nutritional value, susceptibility to attack, or asynchronous dynamics of alternative prey, or the predator's feeding preferences. Moreover, experimental protocols may confound the actual form of apparent competition through short-term observations, incomplete designs, or biased consideration of conspicuous interactions, leading to reciprocal effects being overlooked. We conclude that, at present, it is still difficult to determine the relative role of apparent competition vs indirect amensalism in natural food webs because most published studies have failed to document in full interactions via shared enemies.
Progress in lead-free piezoelectric nanofiller materials and related composite nanogenerator devices

Current piezoelectric device systems need a significant reduction in size and weight so that electronic modules of increasing capacity and functionality can be incorporated into a great range of applications, particularly in energy device platforms. The key question for most applications is whether they can compete in the race of down-scaling and an easy integration with highly adaptable properties into various system technologies such as nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS). Piezoelectric NEMS have potential to offer access to a parameter space for sensing, actuating, and powering, which is inflential and intriguing. Fortunately, recent advances in modelling, synthesis, and characterization techniques are spurring unprecedented developments in a new field of piezoelectric nano-materials and devices. While the need for looking more closely at the piezoelectric nano-materials is driven by the relentless drive of miniaturization, there is an additional motivation: the piezoelectric materials, which are showing the largest electromechanical responses, are currently toxic lead (Pb)-based perovskite materials (such as the ubiquitous Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, PZT). This is important, as there is strong legislative and moral push to remove toxic lead compounds from commercial products. By far, the lack of viable alternatives has led to continuing exemptions to allow their temporary use in piezoelectric applications. However, the present exemption will expire soon, and the concurrent improvement of lead-free piezoelectric materials has led to the possibility that no new exemption will be granted. In this paper, the universal approaches and recent progresses in the field of lead-free piezoelectric nano-materials, initially focusing on hybrid composite materials as well as individual nanoparticles, and related energy harvesting devices are systematically elaborated. The paper begins with a short introduction to the properties of interest in various piezoelectric nanomaterials and a brief description of the current state-of-the-art for lead-free piezoelectric nanostructured materials. We then describe several key methodologies for the synthesis of nanostructure materials including nanoparticles, followed by the discussion on the critical current and emerging applications in detail.
Selected Topics on Socio-technical Perspective in Information Systems: Editorial Introduction to Issue 22 of CSIMQ

This thematic issue of the Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly (CSIMQ) journal is dedicated to fostering a socio-technical perspective in the Information Systems (IS) field. The contemporary perspective has developed a lot over the years and the socio-technical agenda continues to be relevant. The issue contains a selection of extended papers presented at STPIS’19 – 5th International Workshop on Socio-Technical Perspective in IS Development held on June 10, 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden in conjunction with the 27th European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS). The workshop featured presentations of 13 papers and 3 posters and was attended by more than 30 participants from 8 different countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland, UK, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the US). Four of the presented papers were extended for publication in this special issue. The articles presented in this thematic issue contain at least 30% new material compared to the papers initially submitted for the workshop. The last included article was submitted as a regular contribution to the CSIMQ journal and was selected to be included into this thematic issue because of its close connection to the topic of socio-technical systems.
On using integral projection models to generate demographically driven predictions of species' distributions: development and validation using sparse data

Knowledge of species' geographic distributions is critical for understanding and forecasting population dynamics, responses to environmental change, biodiversity patterns, and conservation planning. While many suggestive correlative occurrence models have been used to these ends, progress lies in understanding the underlying population biology that generates patterns of range dynamics. Here, we show how to use a limited quantity of demographic data to produce demographic distribution models (DDMs) using integral projection models for size-structured populations. By modeling survival, growth, and fecundity using regression, integral projection models can interpolate across missing size data and environmental conditions to compensate for limited data. To accommodate the uncertainty associated with limited data and model assumptions, we use Bayesian models to propagate uncertainty through all stages of model development to predictions. DDMs have a number of strengths: 1) DDMs allow a mechanistic understanding of spatial occurrence patterns; 2) DDMs can predict spatial and temporal variation in local population dynamics; 3) DDMs can facilitate extrapolation under altered environmental conditions because one can evaluate the consequences for individual vital rates. To illustrate these features, we construct DDMs for an overstory perennial shrub in the Proteaceae family in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. We find that the species' population growth rate is limited most strongly by adult survival throughout the range and by individual growth in higher rainfall regions. While the models predict higher population growth rates in the core of the range under projected climates for 2050, they also suggest that the species faces a threat along arid range margins from the interaction of more frequent fire and drying climate. The results (and uncertainties) are helpful for prioritizing additional sampling of particular demographic parameters along these gradients to iteratively refine projections. In the appendices, we provide fully functional R code to perform all analyses.
Mechanism of whorl feeding resistance to fall armyworm among converted sorghum accessions

Field studies were conducted in 1989 to evaluate selected converted sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) accessions for resistance to whorl‐stage feeding by larvae of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith) and to determine the mechanism of resistance. The sorghum was infested in the whorl 26 days after planting (DAP) in experiment 1 and 33 DAP in experiment 2. In experiment 1, the plant accessions ‘IS7273C,’ ‘IS7444C,’ ‘IS12573C,’ ‘IS12678C,’ and ‘IS12679C’ were more resistant (rating < 3) to damage by S. frugiperda larvae than the resistant check CIMMYT (CM) 1821 (rating 6.2) at 14 days after infestation (DAI). These genotypes were also more resistant (ratings ≤ 4 at 7 DAI and < 3 at 14 DAI) than the resistant check CM1821 (ratings 5.6 at 7 DAI and 8 at 14 DAI) in experiment 2. The number of larvae that established/plant on IS7273C, IS7444C, IS12573C, or IS12679C was significantly less compared with establishment on the resistant check CM1821 at 14 DAI in experiment 1 and at 7 and 14 DAI in experiment 2. Resistance in IS7273C, IS7444C, IS12573C, and IS12679C was mainly due to their rapid rate of growth which induced a quick change in the plant morphology from the whorl‐ to the panicle‐stage and did not permit a sustained colonization of larvae. This new type of resistance could be referred to as ‘morphological non‐preference’ as apposed to chemical non‐preference where non‐preference is due to plant chemical factors. These genotypes had a significantly shorter cycle than the other sorghum genotypes. Host evasion, a type of pseudoresistance, was the basis for resistance in ‘IS7794C’ and ‘IS7947C’. Tolerance was the major mechanism of resistance in the resistant check CM 1821.
Perubahan Perilaku Dormansi selama Proses Desikasi pada Benih Kacang Bambara (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.)

Bambara groundnut seeds often show unsynchronized and slow germination even though on newly harvested seeds. This might be due to the presence of seed dormancy. Therefore, the objective of this research was to obtain the information on seed dormancy and germination behaviour of bambara groundnut seeds during desiccation. The experiment was arranged in a nested design. Dormancy breaking treatments (untreated, mechanical scarification, soaking in 1% KNO3 for 2 hours, mechanical scarification followed by KNO3 soaking) were nested in each of the desiccation levels (fresh seeds with 54.7% moisture content (mc), desiccated seeds with 44.4%, 18.0%, 15.4%, and 12.1% mc). The results showed that newly harvested seeds were in dormant state. Seed desiccation did not increase the intensity of seed dormancy, even resulted in an increase in field emergence (at 30 days after planting) from 43.9% in fresh seeds to around 70% in dry seed (12-15% mc). Seed desiccation (from 44.4% mc to 12.1% mc) increased the field emergence, although it was inadequate to break the dormancy completely. Meanwhile, seed desiccation tended to increase the GA/ABA ratio, but the seed permeability was decreased. The fact showed that seed desiccation reduced the intensity of dormancy of bambara groundnut seed, therefore, it is suggested to modify the drying method in order to accelerate the increasing of GA/ABA ratio while keeping the testa permeable. Keywords: after-ripening, GA/ABA ratio, hard seed, kacang bogor, permeability
Regulatory T cells for immunotherapy of autoimmune diseases: from the bench to the bedside

The induction of antigen-specific unresponsiveness or tolerance is critical for the prevention of autoimmunity and maintenance of immune homeostasis. The presence of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) has been recently demonstrated in animals and in humans. Interestingly, Treg cells may be either quantitatively or qualitatively altered in human autoimmune diseases, for example, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, Type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), suggesting a role in disease pathophysiology. The present review summarises the emerging literature on the developmental origin and function of human Treg cells. The potential clinical application of Treg cells to human autoimmune diseases and to post-transplantation graft-versus-host disease is discussed.
Beneficial Effects of Biochar and Chitosan on Antioxidative Capacity, Osmolytes Accumulation, and Anatomical Characters of Water-Stressed Barley Plants

The impact of biochar and chitosan on barley plants under drought stress conditions was investigated during two field experiments. Our results confirmed that drought stress negatively affected morphological and physiological growth traits of barley plants such as plant height, number of leaves, chlorophyll concentrations, and relative water content. However, electrolyte leakage (EL%), lipid peroxidation (MDA), soluble sugars, sucrose and starch contents significantly increased as a response to drought stress. Additionally, 1000 grain weight, grains yield ha−1 and biological yield significantly decreased in stressed barley plants, also anatomical traits such as upper epidermis, lower epidermis, lamina, and mesophyll tissue thickness as well as vascular bundle diameter of flag leaves significantly decreased compared with control. The use of biochar and chitosan led to significant increases in plant height, number of leaves, and chlorophyll concentrations as well as relative water content; nevertheless these treatments led to significant decreases in electrolyte leakage (EL%) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the stressed plants. Moreover, anatomical and yield characters of stressed barley plants were improved with application of biochar and chitosan. The results proved the significance of biochar and chitosan in alleviating the damaging impacts of drought on barley plants.
Effect of Kaolin Consumption on Serum Heavy Metal Levels of Pregnant Women

Geophagy is the consumption of earth materials across several cultures in many continents. For various reasons, consumption of kaolin is common among pregnant women in Nigeria. This earth material is known to contain heavy metals. This study was carried out to determine the effect of kaolin consumption on some heavy metal levels in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Teaching Hospital in the south east Nigeria. A total of eighty pregnant women recruited for this study were grouped as follows; Group 1, (30 geophagic pregnant women within the first trimester). Group 2 (30 geophagic pregnant women within the second trimester) and Group 3 (20 non-geophagic pregnant women that served as control) Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 were subdivided into three based on the quantity of kaolin consumed per week, Group A (100 g/week), group B (150 g/week) and group C (200 g/week). Preliminary analysis of the heavy metal contents of kaolin was carried out. After two weeks of kaolin consumption, the serum levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury of the subjects were determined. The mean concentrations of lead (0.347 ± 0.12), arsenic (0.354 ± 0.15), cadmium (0.209 ± 0.11) and mercury (0.029 ± 0.02) in the kaolin exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations in food. The concentration of lead increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the first and second trimester pregnant women on 150 and 200 g of kaolin per week. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the concentration of arsenic and cadmium in the second trimester women who consumed 200 g of kaolin per week. These results indicate that unregulated consumption of kaolin in pregnancy increases the serum level of the heavy metals and may be a risk factor for lead toxicity with its attendant complications in the infants.