Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperbolic discounting rates and risk for problematic alcohol use in youth enrolled in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study

Adolescence is the peak period for the emergence of substance use, which can lead to long‐term psychosocial, occupational and interpersonal complications. Ongoing large‐scale, longitudinal, consortium initiatives, such as the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, offer unprecedented opportunities to elucidate key risk factors for problematic substance use in a well‐powered sample and to examine how changes in risk factors relate to symptoms across time. Delay discounting has been proposed as a putative risk marker for early substance‐use initiation and other forms of psychopathology. However, the extent to which other factors (e.g., socio‐economic status and cognitive ability) influence discounting behaviour in young adolescents is not well established. The present study leverages data from the ABCD study (n = 11 045) to assess associations between core demographic and familial variables and delay discounting in youth—operationalized using hyperbolic discounting rates (k)—before the onset of significant psychopathology. Model estimates revealed significant effects of individual difference factors (e.g., sex and socio‐economic status) and alcohol risk status (based on family history) on delay discounting. No significant differences were observed in the primary sample when comparing the presence of parent drug problems or prenatal drug exposures. These effects will require replication in later waves of ABCD. Nonetheless, these results provide support for delay discounting as a potential risk marker for problematic alcohol use and demonstrate a relationship between key demographic variables and adolescent discounting behaviour. Further, these results provide an empirical baseline from which developmental trajectories of delay discounting and substance use may be tracked throughout future waves of ABCD.
Application of the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle for Managing Immune-Related Adverse Events

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) sometimes cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), the timing of occurrence of which is difficult to predict. We created a system to safely manage the patients treated with ICIs who visit hospital during an emergency. Methods: We utilized the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle method to improve the quality of countermeasures for irAEs in the emergency room. First, an icon showing the patients treated with ICIs was developed for inclusion in electronic medical records. Second, ICI-specified urgent sets of clinical laboratory tests were prepared to cover the spectrum of irAEs. Third, a direct call system to either the attending physician or the chemotherapy team was established. A flow chart for managing irAEs has been prepared since September 2018. We retrospectively analyzed the electronic medical records from September 2018 to December 2020 to determine the effectiveness of the developed system. Results: In the first cycle of PDCA, 24 patients administered ICIs were retrospectively surveyed and seven visited the emergency room. Six cases were examined according to the flow chart, whereas the other patient complaining of grade 2 diarrhea were not examined because of incomplete knowledge regarding ICIs and irAEs. As part of the “Act” step, we reminded the doctors of the flow chart and gave a lecture to the residents on how to manage irAEs. During the second and seventh cycle, no cases were observed without consulting the flow chart. Conclusions: Quality improvement activities for the management of irAEs were conducted using the PDCA cycle methodology. Patients on ICIs are now being continuously monitored to further improve management quality.
A Practical Wearable Sensor-based Human Activity Recognition Research Pipeline

: Many researchers devote themselves to studying various aspects of Human Activity Recognition (HAR), such as data analysis, signal processing, feature extraction, and machine learning models. In response to the fact that few documents summarize and form intuitive paradigms for the entire HAR research pipeline, based on the purpose of sharing our years of research experience, we propose a practical, comprehensive HAR research pipeline, called HAR-Pipeline, composed of nine research aspects, aiming to reﬂect the overall perspective of HAR research topics to the greatest extent and indicate the sequence and relationship between the tasks. Supplemented by the outcomes of our actual series of studies as examples, we demonstrate the proposed pipeline’s rationality and feasibility.
Detecting Groups and Estimating F-Formations for Social Human-Robot Interactions

The ability of a robot to detect and join groups of people is of increasing importance in social contexts, and for the collaboration between teams of humans and robots. In this paper, we propose a framework, autonomous group interactions for robots (AGIR), that endows a robot with the ability to detect such groups while following the principles of F-formations. Using on-board sensors, this method accounts for a wide spectrum of different robot systems, ranging from autonomous service robots to telepresence robots. The presented framework detects individuals, estimates their position and orientation, detects groups, determines their F-formations, and is able to suggest a position for the robot to enter the social group. For evaluation, two simulation scenes were developed based on the standard real-world datasets. The 1st scene is built with 20 virtual agents (VAs) interacting in 7 different groups of varying sizes and 3 different formations. The 2nd scene is built with 36 VAs, positioned in 13 different groups of varying sizes and 6 different formations. A model of a Pepper robot is used in both simulated scenes in randomly generated different positions. The ability for the robot to estimate orientation, detect groups, and estimate F-formations at various locations is used to determine the validation of the approaches. The obtained results show a high accuracy within each of the simulated scenarios and demonstrates that the framework is able to work from an egocentric view with a robot in real time.
Grid Fault Current Injection Using Virtual Synchronous Machines Featuring Active Junction Temperature Limitation of Power Devices

The recent years have seen exponential growth in electric generation from renewable energy sources (RESs), such as wind and sun. This scenario represents an opportunity to decarbonize part of the energy sector and phase out fossil fuels. However, particular care must be taken to ensure the correct operation of the electric grid. With a large penetration of power electronics-based generation, special care must be taken in the case of grid faults, due to limited short-circuit current capabilities of static converters, supporting the grid in the case of faults. For this reason, static converters have to be transiently overloaded to inject fault currents larger than their nominal limit, mimicking the behavior of synchronous generators (SGs). Therefore, this article proposes the combined solution of a transiently overloadable virtual synchronous machine (VSM) converter equipped with real-time semiconductor junction temperature limitation. The VSM provides the necessary short-circuit current references and the inverter can be overloaded with an active thermal control strategy, avoiding the oversizing of the power semiconductors, by properly exploiting their thermal limits. This represents a possible path for further power electronics integration into the grid.
Multi-ancestry GWAS reveals excitotoxicity associated with outcome after ischaemic stroke.

During the first hours after stroke onset neurological deficits can be highly unstable: some patients rapidly improve, while others deteriorate. This early neurological instability has a major impact on long-term outcome. Here, we aimed to determine the genetic architecture of early neurological instability measured by the difference between NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) within six hours of stroke onset and NIHSS at 24 h (ΔNIHSS). A total of 5,876 individuals from seven countries (Spain, Finland, Poland, United States, Costa Rica, Mexico and Korea) were studied using a multi-ancestry meta-analyses. We found that 8.7% of ΔNIHSS variance was explained by common genetic variations, and also that early neurological instability has a different genetic architecture than that of stroke risk. Eight loci (1p21.1, 1q42.2, 2p25.1, 2q31.2, 2q33.3, 5q33.2, 7p21.2,and 13q31.1) were genome-wide significant and explained 1.8% of the variability suggesting that additional variants influence early change in neurological deficits. We used functional genomics and bioinformatic annotation to identify the genes driving the association from each loci. eQTL mapping and SMR indicate that ADAM23 (log Bayes Factor (LBF) = 5.41) was driving the association for 2q33.3. Gene based analyses suggested that GRIA1 (LBF = 5.19), which is predominantly expressed in brain, is the gene driving the association for the 5q33.2 locus. These analyses also nominated GNPAT (LBF = 7.64)ABCB5 (LBF = 5.97) for the 1p21.1 and 7p21.1 loci. Human brain single nuclei RNA-seq indicates that the gene expression of ADAM23 and GRIA1 is enriched in neurons. ADAM23, a pre-synaptic protein, and GRIA1, a protein subunit of the AMPA receptor, are part of a synaptic protein complex that modulates neuronal excitability. These data provides the first genetic evidence in humans that excitotoxicity may contribute to early neurological instability after acute ischemic stroke.
Interacting with music mediation technology for hearing impaired - first tests with normal hearing subjects

Interaction with embodied mediation technology for musical activities is a fairly young but intriguing research domain that requires building and testing of paradigms. In this paper an experimental framework is presented that has been used to test subject’s sense of embodiment in sound identification and creation. A preliminary experiment is described that is part of an ongoing series of studies set up to evaluate embodied mediation technology, test methodologies and interfaces for user-oriented approaches to embodied music cognition. Thirty-three users interacted with the embodied music interaction (EMI) tool that is prototype software implemented in-house for a real-time interactive music system. The ultimate goal of this system under development is to open new doors to music creativity, for example for musical interaction between normal-hearing people and hearing-impaired individuals with cochlear implant (CI). Being a device that is easy to handle and that provides an experience of embodiment makes the EMI tool a powerful instrument. However, several challenges still have to be overcome for achieving such goal, both technically and methodologically. The presented experimental framework supplies support for the investigation of user’s sense of embodiment and definition of issues that need to be improved. Results show that the sense of flow and presence points out the importance of the possibility of corporeal activity in an embodied music environment.
Insulation Performance and Simulation Analysis of SiO2-Aramid Paper under High-Voltage Bushing

The long-term safe and stable operation of oil-impregnated paper (OIP) bushings is of great significance to the operation of power systems. With the growth of OIP bushing, its internal insulation will gradually decay. Aramid insulation paper has excellent thermal aging characteristics and its insulation performance can be improved by using nano-modification technology. In this paper, the nano-SiO2 particles were used as the modified additives, and the modified aramid insulation paper was prepared through four steps: ultrasonic stirring, fiber dissociation, paper sample copying and superheated calendering. The microscopic physical morphology and chemical components of the insulation specimens before and after modification were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and an OIP bushing model based on the modified aramid insulation paper was constructed and its electric field distribution was analyzed. The simulation results show that the use of SiO2-modified aramid insulation paper can improve the electric field distribution of OIP bushings and increase the operating life of power transformers.
Myostatin is involved in skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease via Drp-1 mediated abnormal mitochondrial division

Background Skeletal muscle dysfunction (SMD) is one of the most prominent extrapulmonary effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Myostatin negatively regulates the growth of skeletal muscle. We confirmed that myostatin expression is significantly increased in the quadriceps femoris muscle tissue of rats with COPD and is involved in the development of SMD in COPD, but the mechanism by which this occurs has yet to be uncovered. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp-1) has been shown to promote apoptosis and affect cellular energy metabolism by mediating enhanced mitochondrial division. Preliminary findings from our group illustrated that mitochondrial division and Drp-1 expression were increased in COPD quadriceps femoris cells. However, it is not yet clear whether mitochondrial dynamics are affected by myostatin in COPD quadriceps myocytes. Methods The study sought to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of myostatin on skeletal muscle atrophy, mitochondrial dynamics, apoptosis, and the links between related processes in COPD. Results Our findings showed that cigarette smoke exposure stimulated an increase in myostatin, increased superoxide production, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, significantly promoted Drp-1-mediated mitochondrial fission, and promoted apoptosis. Conclusions In summary, our study demonstrated that cigarette smoke led to increased Drp-1 expression and enhanced mitochondrial division by upregulating myostatin, which in turn promoted apoptosis and affected cellular energy metabolism, leading to the development of SMD in COPD. This study extends understandings of skeletal muscle function in COPD and provides a basis for the use of myostatin and Drp-1 as novel therapeutic targets for SMD in COPD.
The Perception of “Intelligent” Design in Visual Structure

Many objects in our visual environment will appear to us either as a consequence of “intelligent” design—the purposeful action of an animal mind—or as a consequence of self-organization in response to nature's forces—for example, wind or gravity. Here, the origin of this distinction is studied by collecting human judgements about skeletal representations of objects, that reduce objects to their basic visual structure. The results suggest that humans attribute an animate origin to visual objects with basic structures exhibiting straight lines and right angles.
Self-Control and Problematic Internet Use in College Students: The Chain Mediating Effect of Rejection Sensitivity and Loneliness

Purpose To explore the relationship between self-control, rejection sensitivity, loneliness, and problematic internet use in college students. Patients and Methods A total of 725 college students were investigated using Self-control Scale, Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, Loneliness Scale, and Internet Addiction Scale. Results ① Correlation analysis showed that self-control was negatively related to rejection sensitivity, loneliness, and problematic internet use; rejection sensitivity was positively related to loneliness and problematic internet use; loneliness was positively related to problematic internet use. ② Chain mediating effect analysis showed that self-control can not only affect problematic internet use in college students, but also through three indirect paths, as follows: the mediating role of rejection sensitivity and loneliness, the chain mediating roles of rejection sensitivity and loneliness, and the mediating effect size, accounting for 9.76%, 20.73%, and 4.88% of the total effect, respectively. Conclusion Rejection sensitivity and loneliness played a chain mediating role in the relationship between self-control and problematic internet use in college students.
Symptoms of Nocturnal Masticatory Muscle Activity among Women of Different Age Groups and Their Association to Obstructive Sleep Apnea—A Cross Sectional Study

Sleep bruxism (SB), snoring, and excessive daytime sleepiness are often associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA, which is characterized by a repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep, can cause oxygen desaturation and lead to adverse medical conditions, such as cardiovascular events, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. In the present study, 112 Arab women aged 20–40 years (Early Adulthood/Adulthood–EarlyA) and 116 Arab women aged 50 and above (Middle Age–MiddleA), were requested to complete questionnaires regarding demographic variables, symptoms of nocturnal masticatory muscle activity (possible SB, headache, and stiffness of the oral and/or neck musculature upon awakening), risk of OSA (STOP-BANG questionnaire), and daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale—ESS). Women, who reported snoring, experienced more SB (35.8% vs. 20.6%, chi-square, p < 0.05), more headaches (33.3% vs. 19.3%, p < 0.05), and more muscle stiffness upon awakening (34.3% vs. 16.3%, p < 0.005), than their non-snoring counterparts. Out of the women who snore, 11% showed high risk for OSA, as compared to only 1% among the non-snoring participants (p < 0.000). Symptoms of nocturnal masticatory muscle activity and/or snoring can serve as initial indicators of OSA. Higher awareness of dentists to such symptoms, particularly among their middle-aged female patients, can prevent a development of harmful conditions associated with OSA.
Validation of a Light EEG-Based Measure for Real-Time Stress Monitoring during Realistic Driving

Driver’s stress affects decision-making and the probability of risk occurrence, and it is therefore a key factor in road safety. This suggests the need for continuous stress monitoring. This work aims at validating a stress neurophysiological measure—a Neurometric—for out-of-the-lab use obtained from lightweight EEG relying on two wet sensors, in real-time, and without calibration. The Neurometric was tested during a multitasking experiment and validated with a realistic driving simulator. Twenty subjects participated in the experiment, and the resulting stress Neurometric was compared with the Random Forest (RF) model, calibrated by using EEG features and both intra-subject and cross-task approaches. The Neurometric was also compared with a measure based on skin conductance level (SCL), representing one of the physiological parameters investigated in the literature mostly correlated with stress variations. We found that during both multitasking and realistic driving experiments, the Neurometric was able to discriminate between low and high levels of stress with an average Area Under Curve (AUC) value higher than 0.9. Furthermore, the stress Neurometric showed higher AUC and stability than both the SCL measure and the RF calibrated with a cross-task approach. In conclusion, the Neurometric proposed in this work proved to be suitable for out-of-the-lab monitoring of stress levels.
License Plate Detection Using Convolutional Neural Network–Back to the Basic With Design of Experiments

Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) is one of the applications that hugely benefited from Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) processing which has become the mainstream processing method for complex data. Many ALPR research proposed new CNN model designs and post-processing methods with various levels of performances in ALPR. However, good performing models such as YOLOv3 and SSD in more general object detection and recognition tasks could be effectively transferred to the license plate detection application with a small effort in model tuning. This paper focuses on the design of experiment (DOE) of training parameters in transferring YOLOv3 model design and optimising the training specifically for license plate detection tasks. The parameters are categorised to reduce the DOE run requirements while gaining insights on the YOLOv3 parameter interactions other than seeking optimised train settings. The result shows that the DOE effectively improve the YOLOv3 model to fit the vehicle license plate detection task.
A Spotlight on T Lymphocytes in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy—Not Just a Muscle Defect

The lack of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) results in membrane fragility resulting in contraction-induced muscle damage and subsequent inflammation. The impact of inflammation is profound, resulting in fibrosis of skeletal muscle, the diaphragm and heart, which contributes to muscle weakness, reduced quality of life and premature death. To date, the innate immune system has been the major focus in individuals with DMD, and our understanding of the adaptive immune system, specifically T cells, is limited. Targeting the immune system has been the focus of multiple clinical trials for DMD and is considered a vital step in the development of better treatments. However, we must first have a complete picture of the involvement of the immune systems in dystrophic muscle disease to better understand how inflammation influences disease progression and severity. This review focuses on the role of T cells in DMD, highlighting the importance of looking beyond skeletal muscle when considering how the loss of dystrophin impacts disease progression. Finally, we propose that targeting T cells is a potential novel therapeutic in the treatment of DMD.
Forceful Valve Manipulation with Arbitrary Direction by Articulated Aerial Robot Equipped with Thrust Vectoring Apparatus

Aerial manipulation is a growing field of research, and multirotors with attached arm manipulator have shown practical utility in contact-based inspection. However, theses coupled platforms limit the pose reachability of the end-effector, which then motivates the development of omni-directional designs for aerial robots. Although the full pose tracking can be achieved by these omni-directional models, the large amount of internal thrust force constraints wrench exertion for forceful manipulation such as valve operation. Thus, in this work, we harness an articulated aerial robot equipped with thrust vectoring apparatus, which enables not only the omni-directional pose of end-effector, but also the sufficient 6 degree-of-freedom wrench for valve operation. First, we develop a joint configuration strategy for this articulated model to ensure sufficient torque to turn valves. Then, we present control and motion planning methods for exerting appropriate wrench while following a manipulation trajectory. Comprehensive experiments that involves various valve directions are evaluated in this work, demonstrating the feasibility of our methods to exert forceful wrench. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to achieve the operation of real industrial valve with real torque scale.