Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motion Detectors as Additional Monitoring Devices in the Intensive Care Unit—A Proof-of-Concept Study

Background: Monitoring the vital signs of delirious patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) is challenging, as they might (un-)intentionally remove devices attached to their bodies. In mock-up scenarios, we systematically assessed whether a motion detector (MD) attached to the bed may help in identifying emergencies. Methods: We recruited 15 employees of the ICU and equipped an ICU bed with an MD (IRON Software GmbH, Grünwald, Germany). Participants were asked to replay 22 mock-up scenes of one-minute duration each: 12 scenes with movements and 10 without movements, of which 5 were emergency scenes (“lying dead-still, with no or very shallow breathing”). Blinded recordings were presented to an evaluation panel consisting of an experienced ICU nurse and a physician, who was asked to assess and rate the presence of motions. Results: Fifteen participants (nine women; 173 ± 7.0 cm; 78 ± 19 kg) joined the study. In total, 286 out of 330 scenes (86.7%) were rated correctly. Ratings were false negative (FN: “no movements detected, but recorded”) in 7 out of 180 motion scenes (3.9%). Ratings were false positive (FP: “movements detected, but not recorded”) in 37 out of 150 scenes (24.7%), more often in men than women (26 out of 60 vs. 11 out of 90, respectively; p < 0.001). Of note, in 16 of these 37 FP-rated scenes, a vibrating mobile phone was identified as a potential confounder. The emergency scenes were correctly rated in 64 of the 75 runs (85.3%); 10 of the 11 FP-rated scenes occurred in male subjects. Conclusions: The MD allowed for identifying motions of test subjects with high sensitivity (96%) and acceptable specificity (75%). Accuracy might increase further if activities are recorded continuously under real-world conditions.
Effective Schoolwide Practices in Support of Students With Extensive Support Needs in an Inclusive Elementary School

While federal law requires public schools to provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, students with extensive support needs are excluded from general education at alarming rates, raising concerns about equity of access to education. Purposeful school systems in which students’ needs can be met are critical to establish for schools working towards inclusion. The current study used qualitative case study methods to identify schoolwide practices contributing to the successful inclusion of students with extensive support needs in an urban elementary school. Eight interviews with school stakeholders – teachers, parents, a paraprofessional, and an administrator – were conducted. Results revealed formal collaboration structures were embedded within the school’s program, offering teachers and staff consistent opportunities to work together. Four school systems were also found to be critical for the school’s inclusion model, including the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support framework, instructional coaching practices, hiring, and scheduling. The study adds to the literature by detailing inclusive practices, intended to provide administrators with an example of how common systems are operationalized within an effective inclusion model. Future research to support the implementation of systems and practices is discussed.
Silencing Glypican-1 enhances the antitumor effects of Pictilisib via downregulating PI3K/Akt/ERK signaling in chemo-resistant esophageal adenocarcinoma

ABSTRACT Poorly differentiated esophageal adenocarcinoma (PDEAC) has a dismal prognosis. Glypican-1(GPC-1) is known to be upregulated in several cancer types in contrast to healthy tissues, rendering it as a biomarker. Nevertheless, the potential therapeutic targeting of GPC-1 has not been explored in PDEAC. There is accumulating evidence that GPC-1, via upregulation of PI3K/Akt/ERK signaling, plays a crucial role in the progression and chemoresistance in cancer. Pictilisib, a class I pan PI3K inhibitor, has shown promising antitumor results in clinical trials, however, has not gained widespread success due to acquired drug resistance. This study investigated the role of GPC-1 in chemo-resistant PDEAC and appraises the impact of targeted silencing of GPC-1 on the antitumor effects of Pictilisib in PDEAC cell lines. Immunohistochemistry assays in PDEAC tissue specimens demonstrated a pronounced intensity of staining with GPC-1. Upregulation of GPC-1 was found to be correlated with advanced stage and poor prognosis. In-vitro studies examined the influence of GPC-1 knockdown and Pictilisib, both as individual agents and in combination, on cytotoxicity, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, and gene expression profiles. Silencing GPC-1 alone showed significantly reduced cell viability, migration, colony formation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and stemness in PDEAC cells. Significantly, knockdown of GPC-1 combined with low-dose Pictilisib led to enhancement of cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in ESO-26 and OE-33 cells. In the xenograft mouse model, the combination of Pictilisib and GPC-1 knockdown exhibited synergy. These findings suggest that GPC-1 represents a promising target to augment chemosensitivity in esophageal adenocarcinoma. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Evaluation of Polymer Gel Electrolytes for Use in MnO2 Symmetric Flexible Electrochemical Supercapacitors

Flexible electrochemical supercapacitors (FESCs) are emerging as innovative energy storage systems, characterized by their stable performance, long cycle life, and portability/foldability. Crucial components of FESCs, such as electrodes and efficient electrolytes, have become the focus of extensive research. Herein, we examine deep eutectic solvent (DES)–based polymer gel systems for their cost-effective accessibility, simple synthesis, excellent biocompatibility, and exceptional thermal and electrochemical stability. We used a mixture a DES, LiClO4–2-Oxazolidinone as the electroactive species, and a polymer, either polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyacrylamide (PAAM) as a redox additive/plasticizer. This combination facilitates a unique ion-transport process, enhancing the overall electrochemical performance of the polymer gel electrolyte. We manufactured and used LiClO4–2-Oxazolidinone (LO), polyvinyl alcohol–LiClO4–2-Oxazolidinone (PVA–LO), and polyacrylamide–LiClO4–2-Oxazolidinone (PAAM–LO) electrolytes to synthesize an MnO2 symmetric FESC. To evaluate their performance, we analyzed the MnO2 symmetric FESC using various electrolytes with cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The FESC featuring the PVA–LO electrolyte demonstrated superior electrochemical and mechanical performances. This solid-state MnO2 symmetric FESC exhibited a specific capacitance of 121.6 F/g within a potential window of 2.4 V. Due to the excellent ionic conductivity and the wide electrochemical operating voltage range of the PVA–LO electrolyte, a high energy density of 97.3 Wh/kg at 1200 W/kg, and a long-lasting energy storage system (89.7% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles of GCD at 2 A/g) are feasibly achieved. For practical applications, we employed the MnO2 symmetric FESCs with the PVA–LO electrolyte to power a digital watch and a light-emitting diode, further demonstrating their real-world utility.
Quantitative evaluation of the subsequent hemorrhage with arteriography-derived hemodynamic features in patients with untreated cerebral arteriovenous malformation

Background Patients with untreated cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are at risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. However, treatment to prevent AVM hemorrhage carries risks. Objective This study aimed to analyze the AVM nidus-related hemodynamic features and identify the risk factors for subsequent hemorrhage. Methods We retrospectively identified patients with untreated AVMs who were assessed at our institution between March 2010 and March 2021. Patients with ≥6 months of treatment-free and hemorrhage-free follow-up after diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography were included in subsequent examinations. The hemodynamic features were extracted from five contrast flow-related parameter maps. The Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to find the potential risk factors for subsequent hemorrhage. Results Overall, 104 patients with a mean follow-up duration of 3.37 years (median, 2.42 years; range, 6–117 months) were included in study, and the annual risk of rupture was 3.7%. Previous rupture (hazard ratio [HR], 4.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–20.72), deep AVM location (HR, 4.02; 95% CI, 1.01–15.99), higher cerebral blood volume (HR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.15–9.74) in the nidus, and higher stasis index (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.06–2.24) in the nidus were associated with subsequent hemorrhage in untreated AVMs. Conclusion Higher cerebral blood volume and stasis index in the nidus suggest increased blood inflow and stagnant blood drainage. The combination of these factors may cause subsequent hemorrhage of AVMs.
Generation of daily flows using the GR4j model and the ERA5 gridded climatic product in the Crisnejas basin up to the Puente Crisnejas hydrometric station

– Given the lack of hydrometeorological records in the Crisnejas basin, the present study aims to generate the flows on a daily scale in the main channel of the river up to the Crisnejas bridge station based on the ERA5 satellite-based climate grid data and the French precipitation model. GR4j runoff. This will serve as the basis for future hydrological studies in the Crisnejas River. For this work, it has been planned to carry out a calibration, validation and extension of the hydrometric records on a daily basis between the years 1979-2020.
An 1 V Supply, 740 nW, 8.7 ppm/°C Bandgap Voltage Reference With Segmented Curvature Compensation

This paper presents a segmented curvature-compensated bandgap voltage reference (BGR) with low temperature coefficient (TC) and power consumption across a wide temperature range. In this work, we achieve temperature segmentation by comparing voltage instead of current, as in the conventional method, significantly reducing power consumption. Furthermore, we examine the trade-off between TC and power consumption, focusing on optimizing the number of temperature segments. In the core circuit, we utilize a regulated cascode current mirror to minimize channel length modulation induced error existing in the current-based BGR topology. We also introduce a replica structure to prevent oscillation and design comparators with the hysteresis characteristic to address noise influence. The proposed BGR, implemented in 65 nm CMOS, occupies an active area of 0.058 mm2. Measurement results of 6 chips show that the achieved reference voltage of 431.3 mV under 1 V supply has the best TC of 8.7 ppm/°C over a temperature range of −40 °C to 90 °C, consuming 740 nW at 20 °C.
Adaptive Data Placement in Multi-Cloud Storage: A Non-Stationary Combinatorial Bandit Approach

Multi-cloud storage is recently a viable approach to solve the vendor lock-in, reliability, and security issues in cloud storage systems. As a key concern, data placement influences the cost and performance of storage services. Yet, in practice it remains challenging to address the huge solution space. Previous studies typically focus on constructing efficient data placement schemes based on the predicted pattern of workloads or assuming fully a-priori known network conditions. They cannot be easily applied in multi-cloud storage scenarios, which typically involve dynamic network conditions and time-varying workloads. To this end, we formulate the data placement optimization in a combinatorial multi-arm bandit (CMAB) perspective and solve it by learning placement strategy online. In contrast to a stationary setting where reward distributions are unknown but identical over time, we consider a realistic multi-cloud environment with non-stationary conditions, i.e., reward distributions change over time. To swiftly accommodate this, we propose an adaptive window combinatorial upper confidence bound based data placement (AW-CUCB-DP) scheme to reduce latency and cost. In AW-CUCB-DP, a simple and efficient change detector, i.e., Page-Hinkley test with forgetting mechanism (FM-PHT), is employed to enable variable-size sliding windows to handle both gradual and abrupt variations in network conditions or workloads. We establish that AW-CUCB-DP is asymptotically optimal in the non-stationary multi-cloud environment. Trace-driven experiments further verify that our scheme outperforms alternatives, especially in highly dynamic environments.
Roles of Oxidative Stress in Synaptic Dysfunction and Neuronal Cell Death in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a brain disorder that progressively undermines memory and thinking skills by affecting the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. The main histopathological hallmarks of AD are the presence of abnormal protein aggregates (Aβ and tau), synaptic dysfunction, aberrant proteostasis, cytoskeletal abnormalities, altered energy homeostasis, DNA and RNA defects, inflammation, and neuronal cell death. However, oxidative stress or oxidative damage is also evident and commonly overlooked or considered a consequence of the advancement of dementia symptoms. The control or onset of oxidative stress is linked to the activity of the amyloid-β peptide, which may serve as both antioxidant and pro-oxidant molecules. Furthermore, oxidative stress is correlated with oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids in vulnerable cell populations, which ultimately lead to neuronal death through different molecular mechanisms. By recognizing oxidative stress as an integral feature of AD, alternative therapeutic or preventive interventions are developed and tested as potential or complementary therapies for this devastating neurodegenerative disease.
Phytochemical Quality and Antibacterial Activity of Triclisia patens Oliv. Root Extract

The resistance to drugs by microorganisms has been on the increase despite the production of new antibiotics. Thus, it is necessary to further explore natural products to solve the problem of lingering treatment failures. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical quality and antibacterial efficacy of Triclisia patens Oliv. root extract. Cold maceration method was used to obtain the ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts. Standard methods were applied to assay for the phytochemical constituents who include; alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids and phenols using the ethyl acetate extract. The antibacterial activity and the minimum inhibition concentration were determined using agar well diffusion and agar dilution method respectively. The test organisms used were Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter sp. Following phytochemical screening, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids were discovered to be present. The inhibition zone diameters of the ethyl acetate extracts were 13.00 mm, 13.70 mm, and 20.00 mm against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus respectively, while no inhibition zones were reported for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter sp. The aqueous extract revealed inhibition zone of 24.00 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, but no inhibition against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter sp. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethyl acetate extract was 50.00 mg/mL, 3.12 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. The MIC for the aqueous extract was greater than 100 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus. The ethyl acetate extract showed better antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens compared to the aqueous extract. The outcome of the study has validated the ethnomedicinal uses of Triclisia patens Oliv. and shown that it can be used as a source of pharmacological compounds.
Design and Analysis of MMSE Precoder for Dual-Polarized Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems

We consider the downlink of a cell-free (CF) massive multiple-input-multiple-output (mMIMO) system, where each access point (AP) has multiple dual-polarized antennas, while a user equipment has a single dual-polarized antenna. The APs use minimum mean squared error (MMSE) precoder to precode the transmit signals. We derive the deterministic equivalent (DE) of achievable spectral efficiency (SE) for the above system, by using large-dimensional random matrix theory. The DE expression is used to analytically show that the SE gain of a dual-polarized CF mMIMO system over its single-polarized counterpart increases with increase in the number of APs, and its antennas. Crucially, the dual-polarized antennas are shown to further enhance the inherent uniform coverage provided by a CF mMIMO system.
Future Trends of Building Energy Management Systems: A Scientific Mapping Approach

– This review aimed to establish a scientific map to identify future trends for the application of building energy management systems (BEMSs) in energy control. The Scopus database was used to collect data that were used for analyzing the bibliometric reviews, whereas SciMAT was used to conduct the complete bibliometric process, from data processing to analysis. The results indicate that the most challenging issue of using BEMSs is to maximize energy efficiency while minimizing losses and energy consumption. This has been adequately addressed with the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the trend points to the thematic concept of the Internet of Energy (IoE) in energy monitoring and control in buildings via two-way communication between the smart grid and BEMSs. Therefore, this review highlights IoT-and IoE-based energy management as key technologies to support the advanced implementation of BEMSs in the future.
Pulse Electrodeposition of Polycrystalline Si Film in Molten CaCl2 Containing SiO2 Nanoparticles

The high cost of Si-based solar cells remains a substantial challenge to their widespread adoption. To address this issue, it is essential to reduce the production cost of solar-grade Si, which is used as raw material. One approach to achieve this is Si electrodeposition in molten salts containing Si sources, such as SiO 2 . In this study, we present the pulse electrode-position of Si in molten CaCl 2 containing SiO 2 nanoparticles. Theoretically, SiO 2 nanoparticles with a diameter of less than 20 nm in molten CaCl 2 at 850°C have a comparable diffusion coefficient with that of ions in aqueous solutions at room temperature. However, we observed a slower-than-expected diffusion of the SiO 2 nanoparticles, probably because of their tendency to aggregate in the molten CaCl 2 . This led to the formation of a non-uniform Si film with low current efficiency during direct current electrodeposition. We overcome this issue using pulse electrodeposition, which enabled the facile supplementation of SiO 2 nanoparticles to the substrate. This approach produced a uniform and thick electrodeposited Si film. Our results demonstrate an efficient method for Si electrodeposition in molten CaCl 2 containing SiO 2 nanoparticles, which can contribute to a reduction in production cost of solar-grade Si.
Computational Analysis of Cardiovascular Effects of COVID-19 Infection in Children

Background: The COVID-19 disease can involve any body part; nevertheless, the most serious consequences affect respiratory and cardiocirculatory systems with variable symptoms. Although the effects of COVID-19 are not fully understood yet, clinical evidence has shown that the virus may cause acute myocardial injury and chronic damages to heart and blood vessels. There is no or limited experience on pathophysiological effects of COVID-19 infection in children’s cardiovascular system. The aim of this work is to assess the effects of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system in children, in terms, e.g., of increased pulmonary resistances, reduced cardiac contraction capacity. Methods: We used a computational model based on lumped parameters to describe the whole blood circulation. The model was calibrated to account for data coming from pediatric patients. Results: There were total of 17 pediatric patients diagnosed to have COVID-19 infection based on laboratory and clinical findings. The median age was 15 years (range 7 to 17 years), median weight 61 kg (range 25 to 153 kg), median height 165 cm (range 132 to 191 cm) and median body surface area 1.7 (range 0.95 to 2.8). Our results highlighted that the effect of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system in all children was characterized by the reduction in cardiac blood pressures and volumes. We analyzed in detail two patients showing a correlation between myocardial compromise and severity of the infection. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that COVID-19 infection causes a complex pathophysiological state to the cardiovascular system, both in asymptomatic and symptomatic pediatric patients. This information is very helpful to prevent long term cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 infection in children. A prospective study with regular cardiology follow-up is recommended.
Editorial: Hybrid brain-robot interfaces for enhancing mobility

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Tortora, Artoni, Micera, Tonin and Shokur. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Hybrid brain-robot interfaces for enhancing mobility
Universities and student values across nations

Over the past decade universities have become increasingly global. International contacts, cooperation, exchange and communication is used for benchmarking research and teaching. English-speaking universities,in particular, are actively recruiting huge numbers of foreign students to increase the pool of paying and qualified students. At Copenhagen Business School, a significant number of students (5-10%) are on exchange - in and out -every year.Many foreign students find that they encounter a different world when signing up for classes at CBS - a world of different values and norms, expressed in discourses and practices in and around the university. This study investigates, through focus groups and a survey of 800 students, the character of this experience of contrast. What values do foreigners from different nations arrive with, how do they experience the difference and what do they feel about it? We relate our findings to broader notions of nationally different values in order to discuss both a general value problematic and issues of comparative and intercultural higher education.