Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a web-based system for interfacing a portable Bluetooth vital sign monitor

Nowadays telemedicine has become increasingly pervasive with the use of wearable sensors and miniaturized devices to monitor vital signs in patients at home and in non-structured places. Various telemedicine system architectures for remote monitoring of vital parameters have been proposed, also given the increase in population aging. In this paper the implementation of a web-based telemedicine solution with an Android app for a medical device, Checkme Pro, is presented. The proposed solution permits to download data to the developed Android app exploiting the Bluetooth connectivity of the medical device, that is a certified multi-parametric vital sign monitor, and to manage their presentation to users. The Android app permits to view data and measurements and store them in the database, while the developed web app, in addition to data visualization, permits to visualize graphic trends of different vital signs by querying the database. The functionality that allows visualization of the time trends of vital parameters is of enormous interest for telemedicine applications ensuring greater patient safety and a better understanding of the patient's health situation. Then a validation of the telemedicine system has been done to test the correctness and consistency of the data stored in the Android app, saved in the database, and displayed in both apps.
Automated Segmentation of the Systolic and Diastolic Phases in Wrist Pulse Signal Using Long Short-Term Memory Network

Purpose Single-period segmentation is one of the important steps in time-domain analysis of pulse signals, which is the basis of time-domain feature extraction. The existing single-period segmentation methods have the disadvantages of generalization, reliability, and robustness. Method This paper proposed a period segmentation method of pulse signals based on long short-term memory (LSTM) network. The preprocessing was performed to remove noises and baseline drift of pulse signals. Thus, LabelMe was used to label each period of the pulse signals into two parts according to the location of the starting point of main wave and the dicrotic notch, and the dataset of the pulse signal period segmentation was established. Consequently, the labeled dataset was input into the LSTM for training and testing, and the results were compared with sum slope function method. Result The remarkable result with the whole period segmentation accuracy of 92.8% was achieved for the segmentation of seven types of pulse signals. And the segmentation accuracies of the systolic phase, diastolic phase, and whole period using this method were higher than those of the sum slope function method. Conclusion LSTM-based pulse signal segmentation method can achieve outstanding, robust, and reliable segmentation effects of the systolic phase, diastolic phase, and whole period of pulse signals. The research provides a new idea and method for the segmentation of pulse signals.
Antioxidant and Antiviral Activity of Sulfated Polysaccharides Derived from Two Sargassum Species of Red Sea Egypt

Abstract Brown seaweeds are known natural antioxidants and antiviral candidates. This study aimed to extract and characterize polysaccharides from Sargassum euryphyllum and Sargassum aquifolium brown macroalgal species and investigate their antiviral potential against avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The chemical composition of the polysaccharides was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activity was also determined as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH) radical, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging, and total antioxidant activity. Data revealed that S. aquifolium polysaccharides encompass significant ash (17.84% ± 0.69%), carbohydrates (57.43% ± 0.40%), sulfates (18.26% ± 0.52%), and uronic acids (45.40% ± 0.39%) content compared to S. euryphyllum polysaccharides. The molecular weight (MW) recorded 557 kDa for S. aquifolium polysaccharide with neutral sugars of mannose, galactose, and fructose, which constituted bulk molar ratios. A lower MW of 317 kDa was recorded for S. euryphyllum polysaccharide with mannose and xylose as the dominant neutral sugars. Both polysaccharides showed no cytotoxicity on chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells. Potent antioxidant activity, measured as DPPH assay, for S. euryphyllum (59.15% ± 2.75%) and S. aquifolium (65.25% ± 2.89%) polysaccharides was established compared to ascorbic acid (67.33% ± 2.24%). The IBV titer on CEK cells in vitro showed a decreasing pattern from 5.4 to 4 log10 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50)/ml with S. euryphyllum polysaccharide and from 4.5 to 2.2 log10 TCID50/ml with S. aquifolium polysaccharide within 6 days post incubation time. A similar significant anti-IBV activity was estimated in vivo for both polysaccharides with a chorioallantoic membrane inoculation assay. Decreasing IBV titer suggested blocking of the virus entry, probably through disturbing its binding to the host cell receptors. The study recommended sulfated polysaccharides of S. aquifolium and S. euryphyllum seaweeds as potential antioxidants and antiviral natural resources. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Polyphasic Systematics of the Fungicolous Genus Cladobotryum Based on Morphological, Molecular and Metabolomics Data

(1) Background: Species of the anamorphic genus Cladobotryum, are known for their fungicolous lifestyle, making them important mycopathogens in fungiculture. Many morphological, ecological, and molecular phylogenetic studies of the genus have been done to date, but taxonomic uncertainties and challenges still remain. Fungal secondary metabolites, being vastly diverse, are utilised as an extra tool in fungal systematics. Despite being studied for their potentially bioactive compounds, Cladobotryum species are insufficiently investigated regarding metabolomics. (2) Methods: The aim of this study is the identification of Greek strains of Cladobotryum by integrating morphological data, ITS-based phylogeny, and 1H NMR-based metabolomics into a polyphasic approach. (3) Results: Twenty-three strains, isolated from sporophores of macromycetes inhabiting diverse Greek ecosystems, were morphologically identified as Cladobotryum apiculatum, C. fungicola, C. mycophilum, C. varium, C. verticillatum, and Hypomyces rosellus (anamorph C. dendroides), whereas seven strains, which produced red-pigmented metabolites, presented an ambiguous taxonomic position at the species level. Molecular phylogenetics and metabolomics corroborated the morphological findings. (4) Conclusions: Thorough morphological study, ITS region-based phylogeny, and NMR-based metabolomics contribute complementarily to resolving the genus Cladobotryum systematics.
Warp-Aware Adaptive Energy Efficiency Calibration for Multi-GPU Systems

Massive GPU acceleration processors have been used in high-performance computing systems. The Dennard scaling has led to power and thermal constraints limiting the performance of such systems. The demand for both increased performance and energy efficiency is highly desired. This article presents a multilayer low-power optimization method for warps and tasks parallelisms. We present a dynamic frequency regulation scheme for performance parameters in terms of load balance and load imbalance. The method monitors the energy parameters in runtime and adjusts adaptively the voltage level to ensure performance efficiency with energy reduction. The experimental results show that the multilayer low-power optimization with dynamic frequency regulation can achieve 40% energy consumption reduction with only 1.6% performance degradation, thus reducing 59% maximum energy consumption. It can further save about 30% energy consumption in comparison with the single-layer energy optimization.
Artifacts Removal From Epileptic EEG Signal Based on Independent Components Analysis Method

Electroencephalography (EEG) signal recording cannot be secluded from noise, affecting the measured signal for such critical application as epilepsy diagnosis. Often, EEG signal corrupt with unintended artefacts, including physiological (Electromyography (EMG), Electrocardiography (ECG), and Electrooculography (EOG)) and non-physiological ones (electrode skin contact and cable movement). During epilepsy diagnosis, the neurologist fails to determine the seizure type adequately or to expect seizure phases duration due to the existence of the contaminated EEG signal during the seizure. The main challenge in this paper is to decline the wrong decisions handled by the specialist, prove high-quality measurement of the EEG signal, and extract only relevant information from the EEG signal. Independent Component Analysis (ICA) method for a real epileptic EEG dataset will be investigated for artefact identification and removal. Thirteen epileptic patients were included in this analysis with diverse gender, generations, time measurements, seizure types, and artefacts. Moreover, to prove the efficiency of the developed approach and the quality measurement of acquired EEG signal, an accentuated validation step in terms of Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) demonstrates the impact of the ICA on the recorded epileptic EEG signals, mainly for the channels Fp1 and Fp2 with an SNR value achieved equal to 14.7 dB and 15.5 dB respectively.
Time series change detection using reservoir computing networks for remote sensing data

In this study, a multivariate time series forecasting model applicable to high‐dimensional short‐term forecasting is proposed. The Reservoir Computing Network (RCN) state reduction method is investigated to address the dimensionality arising from high‐dimensional data. To enable the states to express very distant dependencies in time so that the RCN satisfies the echo state property, a bidirectional RCN model is investigated to capture the dependencies of the data forward and backward in time. To solve the short‐term data prediction, the spatiotemporal transformation theory is combined with the RCN to exploit the conjugate property between delayed and nondelayed embeddings of dynamical systems, and the correlation between variables in high‐dimensional systems is used to compensate for the shortcomings of short‐term series, design the method of the RCN training, and complete the prediction of future states. In the experiments, four existing models based on two different data sets were used for comparison, and the results showed that our method has better prediction performance.
Dimension Theory in Dense Regular Groups

Brett J. Townsend A dense regular group is a densely ordered group elementarily equivalent to a subgroup of R. If a dense regular group is divisible then it is o-minimal. In this thesis we examine the structure of the definable sets in dense regular groups which may not be divisible, but have only finitely many congruence classes mod n for every positive integer n. We define an appropriate notion of “cell”, prove a cell-decomposition theorem similar to that which is known for o-minimal structures, and use cells to develop a dimension theory for the definable sets. In 2009 Zilber proposed a set of axioms which a dimension theory on a topological structure might satisfy, and he can show that these axioms lead to a quantifier elimination result. These axioms apply to R, Qp, and every o-minimal structure with their standard topologies. We define a natural topology for the groups under investigation here — one in which the definable closed sets have positive quantifier-free definitions — and show that the dimension theory defined here satisfies all of Zilber’s axioms.
High-Efficiency 2-D Multibeam Rectenna Based on Gain Enhanced Patch Array

Wireless power transfer (WPT) is a promising technique used in many applications, like smart terminals, IoT equipment, etc. For WPT systems based on RF rectifying, working in very low power density situation, high-gain rectenna system is of great essential. According to the antenna theory, for the same physical size, higher gain means higher aperture efficiency, which means more power will be received by the antenna instead of being scattered. However, high-gain rectenna usually means narrow beam width and high directivity, which is contradictory to a power harvesting system that need to have wide spatial coverage. In order to realize high aperture efficiency and wide spatial coverage at the same time, a two-dimensional (2-D) multibeam rectenna based on gain enhanced patches and hybrid coupler is proposed, which can improve the 2-D spatial coverage and achieve the maximum 81.5% power receiving efficiency. Simulation and experimental results indicate that the power receiving efficiency is more than 50% with 100° coverage in main beam cutting plane, 70° in H-plane, and 90° in E-plane. The practicality of this letter is fully verified, which can help to provide a guidance for the design of rectenna.
Vasorelaxant Effect of Trachelospermi caulis Extract on Rat Mesenteric Resistance Arteries

Background: Trachelospermi caulis (T. caulis) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries. Although it is well known that T. caulis has beneficial effects, no sufficient research data are available on the cardiovascular effect of T. caulis. We investigated whether T. caulis extract has vascular effects in rat resistance arteries in this study. Methods: To examine whether T. caulis extract affects vascular reactivity, we measured isometric tension of rat mesenteric resistance arteries using a multi-wire myograph system. T. caulis extract was administered after arteries were pre-contracted with high K+ (70 mM) or phenylephrine (5 µM). Vanillin, a single active component of T. caulis, was used to treat mesenteric arteries. Results: T. caulis extract caused vascular relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner, which was endothelium-independent. To further identify the mechanism, we incubated the arteries in Ca2+-free solution containing high K+, followed by a cumulative administration of CaCl2 (0.01–2.0 mM) with or without T. caulis extract (250 µg/mL). The treatment of T. caulis extract decreased contractile responses induced by the addition of Ca2+, which suggested that the extracellular Ca2+ influx was inhibited by the T. caulis extract. Moreover, an active compound of T. caulis extract, vanillin, also induced vasodilation in mesenteric resistance arteries. Conclusion: T. caulis extract and its active compound, vanillin, concentration-dependently induced vascular relaxation in mesenteric resistance arteries. These results suggest that the administration of T. caulis extract could help decrease blood pressure.
Pityriasis Versicolor Resistant to Antifungal Drugs in a Patient in Lomé (Togo)

Background Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a ubiquitous superficial skin mycosis that often affects young adults. It is often effectively treated with local or oral antifungal agents. Cases of PV resistance to antifungal agents have been reported rarely. We report a case of antifungal resistant PV. Observation. A 22-year-old patient was followed since the age of 17 years in a dermatology outpatient clinic for hyperpigmented scaly macular lesions of the trunk and upper limbs. The clinical diagnosis of PV was retained. The patient was treated by fluconazole 300 mg/week before being lost to follow-up. He was seen again in 2019 (about 2 years later) for the same symptomatology and treated again by fluconazole and ciclopirox olamine cream without improvement. He was again lost to follow-up and seen again six months later. A mycological sample was taken and Aspergillus niger was isolated. The patient was treated by itraconazole for 6 weeks. The evolution was marked by a clinical status quo. The patient was again put on salicylated petroleum jelly 10% associated with terbinafine cream and then lost to follow-up. Conclusion The emergence of fungal resistance to antifungal drugs does not spare PV. It can therefore be resistant to several antifungal drugs, leaving clinicians and patients in despair.
Hormesis and Oxidative Distress: Pathophysiology of Reactive Oxygen Species and the Open Question of Antioxidant Modulation and Supplementation

Alterations of redox homeostasis leads to a condition of resilience known as hormesis that is due to the activation of redox-sensitive pathways stimulating cell proliferation, growth, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Instead, supraphysiological production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds antioxidant defence and leads to oxidative distress. This condition induces damage to biomolecules and is responsible or co-responsible for the onset of several chronic pathologies. Thus, a dietary antioxidant supplementation has been proposed in order to prevent aging, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases as well as carcinogenesis. However, this approach has failed to demonstrate efficacy, often leading to harmful side effects, in particular in patients affected by cancer. In this latter case, an approach based on endogenous antioxidant depletion, leading to ROS overproduction, has shown an interesting potential for enhancing susceptibility of patients to anticancer therapies. Therefore, a deep investigation of molecular pathways involved in redox balance is crucial in order to identify new molecular targets useful for the development of more effective therapeutic approaches. The review herein provides an overview of the pathophysiological role of ROS and focuses the attention on positive and negative aspects of antioxidant modulation with the intent to find new insights for a successful clinical application.
Sex Differences in Adiposity and Cardiovascular Diseases

Body fat distribution is a well-established predictor of adverse medical outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. Studying body fat distribution sheds insights into the causes of obesity and provides valuable information about the development of various comorbidities. Compared to total adiposity, body fat distribution is more closely associated with risks of cardiovascular diseases. The present review specifically focuses on the sexual dimorphism in body fat distribution, the biological clues, as well as the genetic traits that are distinct from overall obesity. Understanding the sex determinations on body fat distribution and adiposity will aid in the improvement of the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
Proteomics of serum exosomes identified fibulin-1 as a novel biomarker for mild cognitive impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodrome of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Cognitive impairment patients often have a delayed diagnosis because there are no early symptoms or conventional diagnostic methods. Exosomes play a vital role in cell-to-cell communications and can act as promising biomarkers in diagnosing diseases. This study was designed to identify serum exosomal candidate proteins that may play roles in diagnosing MCI. Mass spectrometry coupled with tandem mass tag approach-based non-targeted proteomics was used to show the differentially expressed proteins in exosomes between MCI patients and healthy controls, and these differential proteins were validated using immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Correlation of cognitive performance with the serum exosomal protein level was determined. Nanoparticle tracking analysis suggested that there was a higher serum exosome concentration and smaller exosome diameter in individuals with MCI compared with healthy controls. We identified 69 exosomal proteins that were differentially expressed between MCI patients and healthy controls using mass spectrometry analysis. Thirty-nine exosomal proteins were upregulated in MCI patients compared with those in control patients. Exosomal fibulin-1, with an area under the curve value of 0.81, may be a biomarker for an MCI diagnosis. The exosomal protein signature from MCI patients reflected the cell adhesion molecule category. In particular, higher exosomal fibulin-1 levels correlated with lower cognitive performance. Thus, this study revealed that exosomal fibulin-1 is a promising biomarker for diagnosing MCI.
Effects of the Ball Milling Process on the Particle Size of Graphene Oxide and Its Application in Enhancing the Thermal Conductivity of Wood

To improve the dispersion of graphene oxide particles in wood for better thermal conductivity, this paper proposes the feasibility of obtaining graphene oxide with a smaller particle size using ball milling and its application in melamine resin-modified poplar veneer. The median diameter of multilayer graphene oxide was measured to learn the effects of different ball milling conditions on the particle size of graphene oxide, and the optimum ball milling process was chosen. In addition, the microscopic characterization of graphene oxide under the optimum ball milling process was carried out to investigate the microstructural changes in multilayer graphene after ball milling. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the graphene oxide/melamine resin-impregnated mixture modified veneer with the optimum ball milling process was also tested. The results show that, under the optimum ball milling process conditions of SDS wet ball milling with a vibration frequency of 30 Hz for 60 min, the particle size of the multilayer graphene was the smallest, and the median diameter could be reduced to 124 nm. Simultaneously, the thermal conductivity of the melamine resin-modified poplar veneer enhanced by the ball-milled graphene reached 0.405 W·m−1·K−1. In addition, it revealed that the number of graphene oxide layers was reduced to four after ball milling. However, the multilayer graphene was partially oxidized, the lamellar structure was destroyed and the crystallinity was reduced.
Dark chocolate – a temptation harmful to health or a valuable component of diet?

Introduction and Objective. Chocolate is one of the most popular food products worldwide. Sometimes the smell or consistency alone evokes a feeling of happiness among consumers. Although dark chocolate appears to be a well-known product, there is a lot of misinformation about it, based on incomplete or outdated data which should be updated due to its growing popularity. The aim of this study was to summarize the available scientific reports and on their basis to formulate clear conclusions. negative
Dynamics of Starter and Non-Starter Lactic Acid Bacteria Populations in Long-Ripened Cheddar Cheese Using Propidium Monoazide (PMA) Treatment

The microbial community of industrially produced Canadian Cheddar cheese was examined from curd to ripened cheese at 30–32 months using a combination of viable plate counts of SLAB (GM17) and NSLAB (MRSv), qPCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Cell treatment with propidium monoazide excluded DNA of permeable cells from amplification. The proportion of permeable cells of both Lactococcus spp. and Lacticaseibacillus spp. was highest at 3–6 months. While most remaining Lacticaseibacillus spp. cells were intact during later ripening stages, a consistent population of permeable Lactococcus spp. cells was maintained over the 32-month period. While Lactococcus sequence variants were significant biomarkers for viable cheese curd communities at 0–1 m, Lacticaseibacillus was identified as a distinctive biomarker for cheeses from 7 to 20 months. From 24 to 32 months, Lacticaseibacillus was replaced in significance by four genera (Pediococcus and Latilactobacillus at 24 m and at 30–32 m, Secundilactobacillus and Paucilactobacillus). These results underscore the importance of monitoring potential defects in cheeses aged over 24 months, which could be diagnosed early through microbial DNA profiling to minimize potential waste of product. Future perspectives include correlating volatile flavor compounds with microbial community composition as well as the investigation of intra-species diversity.