Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Design Approach for Compact Wearable Antennas Based on Metasurfaces

This paper presents a novel approach to design compact wearable antennas based on metasurfaces. The behavior of compact metasurfaces is modeled with a composite right-left handed transmission line (CRLH TL). By controlling the dispersion curve, the resonant modes of the compact metasurface can be tuned efficiently. A printed coplanar waveguide (CPW) monopole antenna is used as the feed structure to excite the compact metasurface, which will result in a low profile antenna with low backward radiation. Following this approach, two compact antennas are designed for wearable applications. The first antenna is designed to operate at its first negative mode (−1 mode), which can realize miniaturization, but maintain the broadside radiation as for a normal microstrip antenna. The proposed prototype resonates around 2.65 GHz, with a matching bandwidth of 300 MHz. The total dimensions of the antenna are 39.4 × 33.4 mm2 (0.1 λ02), and its maximum gain is 2.99 dBi. The second antenna targets dual-band operation at 2.45 and 3.65 GHz. A pair of symmetric modes (±1 modes) are used to generate similar radiation patterns in these two bands. The size of the antenna is 55.79 × 52.25 mm2 (0.2 λ02), and the maximum gains are 4.25 and 7.35 dBi in the two bands, respectively. Furthermore, the performance of the antennas is analyzed on the human body. The results show that the proposed antennas are promising candidates for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN).
Machine (Deep) Learning Methods for Image Processing and Radiomics

Methods from the field of machine (deep) learning have been successful in tackling a number of tasks in medical imaging, from image reconstruction or processing to predictive modeling, clinical planning and decision-aid systems. The ever growing availability of data and the improving ability of algorithms to learn from them has led to the rise of methods based on neural networks to address most of these tasks with higher efficiency and often superior performance than previous, “shallow” machine learning methods. The present editorial aims at contextualizing within this framework the recent developments of these techniques, including these described in the papers published in the present special issue on machine (deep) learning for image processing and radiomics in radiation-based medical sciences.
Foraging behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera first instar larvae on crop plants of different developmental stages

Abstract: Understanding how insect pests forage on their food plants can help optimize management strategies. Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lep., Noctuidae) is a major polyphagous pest of agricultural crops worldwide. The immature stages feed and forage on crops at all stages of plant development, damaging fruiting and non‐fruiting structures, yet very little is known about the influence of host type or stage on the location and behaviour of larvae. Through semi‐continuous observation, we evaluated the foraging (movement and feeding) behaviours of H. armigera first instar larvae as well as the proportion of time spent at key locations on mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] and pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] of differing developmental stages: seedling‐ and mature (flowering/pod fill)‐stage plants. Both host type and age affected the behaviour of larvae. Larvae spent more time in the upper parts of mature plants than on seedlings and tended to stay at the top of mature plants if they moved there. This difference was greater in pigeon pea than in mungbean. The proportion of time allocated to feeding on different parts of a plant differed with host and age. More feeding occurred in the top of mature pigeon pea plants but did not differ between mature and seedling mungbean plants. The duration of key behaviours did not differ between plant ages in either crop type and was similar between hosts although resting bouts were substantially longer on mungbeans. Thus a polyphagous species such as H. armigera does not forage in equivalent ways on different hosts in the first instar stage.
Occurrence of the white soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera sojae, and the soybean cyst nematode, H. glycines, in Korea.

Soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines, SCN) is the most harmful pathogen of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) worldwide. In 2016, a new soybean-parasitic cyst nematode, Heterodera sojae (the white soybean cyst nematode) was found parasitizing the roots of soybean plants in Korea. To investigate the distribution and population density of H. sojae, 943 soil samples were collected from soybean fields in all 9 provinces in Korea in 2017-2018. Cyst nematodes were detected in 343 samples (36.4%) from 8 of the 9 provinces, except the island of Jeju province. Among the 343 samples, H. glycines was found in 227 samples (66.2%), H. sojae in 95 samples (27.7%) and 21 samples (6.1%) were infested with both H. sojae and H. glycines. Wide distribution of H. sojae in soybean fields indicates that H. sojae is an important cyst nematode species parasitizing soybean together with H. glycines.
Whole‐genome de novo assemblies reveal extensive structural variations and dynamic organelle‐to‐nucleus DNA transfers in African and Asian rice

SUMMARY Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) and African cultivated rice (Oryza glaberrima) originated from the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon and Oryza barthii, respectively. The genomes of both cultivated species have undergone profound changes during domestication. Whole‐genome de novo assemblies of O. barthii, O. glaberrima, O. rufipogon and Oryza nivara, produced using PacBio single‐molecule real‐time (SMRT) and next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, showed that Gypsy‐like retrotransposons are the major contributors to genome size variation in African and Asian rice. Through the detection of genome‐wide structural variations (SVs), we observed that besides 28 shared SV hot spots, another 67 hot spots existed in either the Asian or African rice genomes. Based on gene annotation information of the SVs, we established that organelle‐to‐nucleus DNA transfers resulted in numerous SVs that participated in the nuclear genome divergence of rice species and subspecies. We detected 52 giant nuclear integrants of organelle DNA (NORGs, defined as >10 kb) in six Oryza AA genomes. In addition, we developed an effective method to genotype giant NORGs, based on genome assembly, and first showed the dynamic change in the distribution of giant NORGs in rice natural population. Interestingly, 16 highly differentiated giant NORGs tended to accumulate in natural populations of Asian rice from higher latitude regions, grown at lower temperatures and light intensities. Our study provides new insight into the genome divergence of African and Asian rice, and establishes that organelle‐to‐nucleus DNA transfers, as potentially powerful contributors to environmental adaptation during rice evolution, play a major role in producing SVs in rice genomes.
Dynamic Proof of Storage in Cloud for Multiple User Environments

Dynamic Proof of Storage (DeyPoS) is a utility authority primitive that authorizes the files integrity and systematically modernizes the files in a cloud server. A sensible multi-user cloud storage system holds the solid client-side crossuser deduplication technique, which authorizes a user to hop the uploading process and secure ownership of the file instantly and when variant owner of the same file have to upload them to the same cloud server. The concept of DeyPos and secure cross-user deduplication concurrently is introduced in this paper. Regarding the problem of structure diversity and private tag generation, we utilize a novel tool named Homomorphic
Classification of problem detection for incomplete software requirements using the development standard process

Abstract Software faults in spacecraft software leads to mission failures. To identify software faults, we focus on the incomplete software requirement, on reprehensive reason for the software faults. Based on two perspectives of software fault and development software process, we present a classification method for software faults which are extracted from actual spacecraft project (e.g., artificial satellite and rockets). We expect that this approach can help to identify the tendency of faults and reveal which certain kind of process leads to more faults.
A deterministic model to evaluate and improve the strategy of insect resistance management (IRM) to genetically modified plants synthesizing a Cry toxin.

The recommended IRM strategy is to use High Dose and Refuge Strategy to slow down the development of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis modified plants in the target insect. We developed a model to determine the optimal values of the parameters characterizing this strategy of how to best slow down the development of resistance. With the aid of our simulations, we determined that the resistance development accelerates in relation to the increase of the resistance allele dominance, the larval speed and the mortality of the susceptible insect on the plants synthesizing Cry toxin. Each parameter was varied independently. However, the development of resistance is inversely proportional to the size of the refuge proportion. These conclusions can contribute to improve the IRM strategy but it is necessary to keep in mind the feasibility of using this approach on the field.
Lytic Induction Therapy against Epstein–Barr Virus-Associated Malignancies: Past, Present, and Future

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) lytic induction therapy is an emerging virus-targeted therapeutic approach that exploits the presence of EBV in tumor cells to confer specific killing effects against EBV-associated malignancies. Efforts have been made in the past years to uncover the mechanisms of EBV latent-lytic switch and discover different classes of chemical compounds that can reactivate the EBV lytic cycle. Despite the growing list of compounds showing potential to be used in the lytic induction therapy, only a few are being tested in clinical trials, with varying degrees of success. This review will summarize the current knowledge on EBV lytic reactivation, the major hurdles of translating the lytic induction therapy into clinical settings, and highlight some potential strategies in the future development of this therapy for EBV-related lymphoid and epithelial malignancies.
Proteasome inhibition for the treatment of glioblastoma

ABSTRACT Introduction Glioblastoma is a primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis despite multimodal therapy including surgery, radiotherapy and alkylating chemotherapy. Novel therapeutic options are therefore urgently needed; however, there have been various drug failures in late-stage clinical development. The proteasome represents a key target for anti-cancer therapy as successfully shown in multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies. Areas covered This review article summarizes the preclinical and clinical development of proteasome inhibitors in the context of glioblastoma. Expert opinion Early clinical trials with bortezomib ended with disappointing results, possibly because this agent does not cross the blood-brain barrier. In contrast to bortezomib and other proteasome inhibitors, marizomib is a novel drug that displays strong inhibitory properties on all enzymatic subunits of the proteasome and, most importantly, crosses the blood-brain barrier, making it a potentially very active novel agent against intrinsic brain tumors. While preclinical studies have demonstrated significant anti-glioma activity, its clinical benefit has yet to be proven. Exploiting the biological effects of proteasome inhibitors in combination with other therapeutic strategies may represent a key next step in their clinical development.
Vaccination Guidelines for Patients with Immune-Mediated Disorders on Immunosuppressive Therapies—Executive Summary

Abstract The use of immunosuppressive therapies for immune-mediated disease (IMD) is associated with an elevated risk of infections and related comorbidities. While many infectious diseases can generally be prevented by vaccines, immunization rates in this specific patient population remain suboptimal, due in part to uncertainty about their efficacy or safety under these clinical situations. To address this concern, a multidisciplinary group of Canadian physicians with expertise in dermatology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases and rheumatology developed evidence-based clinical guidelines on vaccinations featuring 13 statements that are aimed at reducing the risk of preventable infections in individuals exposed to immunosuppressive agents.
Effect of dietary supplementation of Pulvis curcuma longa on the voluntary feed intake, nutrient digestibility and growth performance of broiler rabbits under summer stress.

Eighteen four weeks’ old weaned Broiler rabbits of comparable body weights were allotted to three dietary treatment groups of six rabbits in each group namely T0 (basal control diet, T1 (basal diet added with Turmeric (Curcuma longa) Rhizoid Powder, TRP, at the ratio of 150mg) and T2 ( basal diet added with TRP at the ratio of 300mg/100g diet). Feeding cum growth trial and digestion trial were during summer months of April, May and June to study voluntary feed intake, growth rate and nutrient utilization by the experimental animals. TRP included in the diets of experimental groups consisting 6.72 % CP, 5.04% ether extract, 3.96% crude fibre, 7.85% total ash. Depression in voluntary feed intake due to summer stress did not alter due to the inclusion of turmeric powder. The weekly mean body weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and digestibility of nutrients did not show significant difference by the supplementation of turmeric rhizome powder in the diets of rabbit in present study.
Power Efficiency Comparison of Event-Driven and Fixed-Rate Signal Conversion and Compression for Biomedical Applications

Energy-constrained biomedical recording systems need power-efficient data converters and good signal compression in order to meet the stringent power consumption requirements of many applications. In literature today, typically a SAR ADC in combination with digital compression is used. Recently, alternative event-driven sampling techniques have been proposed that incorporate compression in the ADC, such as level-crossing A/D conversion. This paper describes the power efficiency analysis of such level-crossing ADC (LCADC) and the traditional fixed-rate SAR ADC with simple compression. A model for the power consumption of the LCADC is derived, which is then compared to the power consumption of the SAR ADC with zero-order hold (ZOH) compression for multiple biosignals (ECG, EMG, EEG, and EAP). The LCADC is more power efficient than the SAR ADC up to a cross-over point in quantizer resolution (for example 8 bits for an EEG signal). This cross-over point decreases with the ratio of the maximum to average slope in the signal of the application. It also changes with the technology and design techniques used. The LCADC is thus suited for low to medium resolution applications. In addition, the event-driven operation of an LCADC results in fewer data to be transmitted in a system application. The event-driven LCADC without timer and with single-bit quantizer achieves a reduction in power consumption at system level of two orders of magnitude, an order of magnitude better than the SAR ADC with ZOH compression. At system level, the LCADC thus offers a big advantage over the SAR ADC.
Longevity, Reproductive Condition and Growth of the Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus cygnus George, Reared in Aquaria

Rock lobsters have been reared in the laboratory from the puerulus stage up to 13 years of age, under conditions of a constant temperature of 25oC or ambient temperatures (mean 20oC, range 15-26oC). The natural death of a male held at ambient temperatures occurred at 6 years of age, and at 25oC natural deaths occurred at 6 years. However, two males, both 12 years of age, one held at 25oC and the other at ambient temperatures, are still alive. Natural deaths of females occurred at 7 and 12 years of age at 25oC and 7 years at ambient temperatures. After reaching maturity, females held at 25oC spawned repetitively. The female that survived to 12 years of age spawned 47 times and produced an estimated 22 × 106 eggs during her lifetime. A fresh mating was not required for the fertilization of each batch of eggs spawned. The two surviving males both showed a change in growth pattern at approximately 8 years of age. This event was correlated with a behavioural change: they attacked and usually killed all moulting females held in the same aquarium. A new method of representing growth data for rock lobsters by fitting empirical stochastic differential equation models to each of a series of growth phases is described.
Progress in Realization of Magnetic Induction Tomography

Abstract: The method enabling one to obtain tomographic images of an electrically conductive or dielectric object by the excitation of the variable magnetic field inside it and by measuring the resulting field around the object is described. The main equations and theoretical estimations are given. It is shown that phasesensitive measurements should be used in magnetic induction tomography. The measuring system providing the data set necessary for the image reconstruction is discussed. Under the conditions of the measurements discussed in this paper, image reconstruction is possible with the use of a simple method of convolution and back‐projection along magnetic lines. Computer simulation demonstrates the visualization of the conductivity distribution by the method of magnetic induction tomography with phase measurements.
Promoting health-related cardiorespiratory fitness in physical education: A systematic review

Background This article aimed to systematically review the contribution of physical education (PE) classes to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children and adolescents; and to define potentially relevant factors for promoting CRF in PE classes. Methods Studies were identified from searches in ERIC, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases. Primary source articles, relating PE classes and CRF, published up to July 2019 in peer-reviewed journals were eligible for inclusion. Specific inclusion criteria were: (a) having cross-sectional or longitudinal and observational or interventional study designs; (b) targeting school-aged children or adolescents; (c) measuring CRF, heart rate or CRF test results as an outcome; (d) having statistical analyses of the CRF, heart rate or CRF test results outcomes reported; (e) focusing on PE classes or PE interventions that did not extended time or frequency of the classes; and (f) published in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. Results A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 10 studies have found a neutral effect of PE classes in students’ CRF, eight studies found that PE indeed contributed to the improvement of CRF and six studies revealed mixed findings, when PE classes where controlled for others variables (e.g. body mass index, intensity). Higher intensity PE classes consistently demonstrated contributions to improving students’ CRF. Conclusion Review findings suggest that PE classes can contribute to the improvement of students’ CRF. Intensity, age and weight status were identified as potentially relevant factors for promoting CRF in PE classes. To improve CRF, higher intensity classes should be provided.
Effects of Fertilization and Irrigation on the Seasonal Changes of Carbohydrate Reserves in Different Age‐Classes of Needle on 20‐Year‐Old Scots Pine Trees (Pinus silvestris)

The effects of fertilization, irrigation or both on the seasonal changes of starch and soluble carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, myo-inositol, pinitol and sucrose) in needles of 20-year-old Scots pine trees (Pinus silvestris L.) were studied during three consecutive years. The starch content of the mature needles increased during spring and early summer to about 25% of dry weight. Neither fertilization nor irrigation affected the general pattern of starch accumulation during the spring. The starch reserves were mobilized when the shoot started to grow. Starch content decreased more rapidly in needles from fertilized than in those from unfertilized trees. The current needles from the control trees accumulated starch while they were still growing. The current needles of the fertilized trees did so to a lesser extent. The amount of starch was closely correlated to the air temperature and to the growth rate. Large amounts were found at low temperatures and low growth rates. The concentrations of soluble carbohydrates showed the well-known seasonal variation, with the highest value during the winter. The levels of sugars were nearly similar, irrespective of fertilization. An exception was sucrose, which was found in small quantities in needles from fertilized plots. Small amounts of sucrose were also found in growing current needles. The results are discussed in relation to growth limitation by assimilate availability and indicate that the ‘sink demand’ is the limiting factor.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ORF8b Accessory Protein Suppresses Type I IFN Expression by Impeding HSP70-Dependent Activation of IRF3 Kinase IKKε

Key Points MERS-CoV ORF8b protein functions as a type I IFN antagonist. ORF8b-deficient MERS-CoV induces IFN and ISG expression more robustly. ORF8b interacts with HSP70 chaperone to suppress its activation of IRF3 kinase IKKε. Visual Abstract Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a highly pathogenic human coronavirus causing severe disease and mortality. MERS-CoV infection failed to elicit robust IFN response, suggesting that the virus might have evolved strategies to evade host innate immune surveillance. In this study, we identified and characterized type I IFN antagonism of MERS-CoV open reading frame (ORF) 8b accessory protein. ORF8b was abundantly expressed in MERS-CoV–infected Huh-7 cells. When ectopically expressed, ORF8b inhibited IRF3-mediated IFN-β expression induced by Sendai virus and poly(I:C). ORF8b was found to act at a step upstream of IRF3 to impede the interaction between IRF3 kinase IKKε and chaperone protein HSP70, which is required for the activation of IKKε and IRF3. An infection study using recombinant wild-type and ORF8b-deficient MERS-CoV further confirmed the suppressive role of ORF8b in type I IFN induction and its disruption of the colocalization of HSP70 with IKKε. Ectopic expression of HSP70 relieved suppression of IFN-β expression by ORF8b in an IKKε-dependent manner. Enhancement of IFN-β induction in cells infected with ORF8b-deficient virus was erased when HSP70 was depleted. Taken together, HSP70 chaperone is important for IKKε activation, and MERS-CoV ORF8b suppresses type I IFN expression by competing with IKKε for interaction with HSP70.