Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and evaluation of passenger assistance system concepts to reduce passenger discomfort

The front seat passenger is often neglected when developing support systems for cars. There exist few examples of systems that provide information or interaction possibilities specifically to those passengers. Previous research indicated that the passive role of the passenger can frequently lead to a feeling of discomfort, potentially caused by missing information and missing control with respect to the driving situation. This paper investigates if and how different aspects of cognitive processes as defined in a previously published model can be approached with a technical system to reduce discomfort in passengers. Five prototypical passenger assistance systems are created which provide missing information (for example about the attentiveness of the driver) or the possibility to have more influence as a passenger. In a static simulator study with N = 40 participants, these systems were investigated with respect to their influence on measures of discomfort. Participants experienced in a counterbalanced order car following and braking scenarios on the highway with different time headways (within-subjects), with and without one of the passenger assistance systems (between-subjects). Based on the subjective measures for each experienced situation, three systems were identified as particularly useful in reducing discomfort. These displayed the attentiveness of the driver, the safety distance to a vehicle in front or provided the possibility to signal the driver that the recent safety distance is too small. These best proposals significantly reduced passenger discomfort in the tested Following and Braking scenarios for different time headways. In the post inquiry, more than 64% of the passengers confirmed the helpfulness of the rated system in reducing their discomfort in each case and about 75% of the passengers reported an interest in using it in their vehicle. This demonstrates opportunities to improve the everyday driving experience beyond classical assistance systems by explicitly considering the needs of passengers.
Biomechanical evaluation of custom-made short implants with wing retention applied in severe atrophic maxillary posterior region restoration: A three-dimensional finite element analysis

Severe bone atrophy in the maxillary posterior region poses a big challenge to implant restoration. Digitally designed and customized short implants with wing retention provide a safer and minimally invasive implant restoration scheme in such circumstances. Small titanium wings are integrated with the short implant supporting the prosthesis. Using digital designing and processing technology, the wings fixed by titanium screws can be flexibly designed, providing the main fixation. The design of the wings will influence the stress distribution and implant stability. This study analyzes the position, structure, and spread area of the wings fixture scientifically by means of three-dimensional finite element analysis. The design of the wings is set to linear, triangular, and planar styles. Under the simulated vertical and oblique occlusal forces, the implant displacement and stress between the implant and the bone surface are analyzed at different bone heights of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm. The finite element results show that the planar form can better disperse the stress. By adjusting the cusp slope to reduce the influence of lateral force, short implants with planar wing fixtures can be used safely even if the residual bone height is only 1 mm. The results of the study provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of this new customized implant.
Abnormal vibration perception threshold alters the gait features in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Objective It is generally believed that gait characteristics of diabetic neuropathic patients differ from those of non-diabetic ones. However, it is still unclear how the abnormal foot sensation influences the gait during walking in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). For the purpose of gaining a better insight into the alterations of detailed gait parameters and figuring out important aspects in the gait indexes by peripheral neuropathy in elder T2DM patients, we compared the gait features in participants with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) controls and diabetic individuals complicated by peripheral neuropathy or not. Subjects and methods Gait parameters were observed during the 10-m walk on flat land among different conditions of diabetes in 1,741 participants from three clinical centers. Subjects were divided into four groups: persons with NGT were taken as the control group; patients with T2DM included three subgroups: DM control (no chronic complications), DM-DPN (DM complicated by only peripheral neuropathy), and DM-DPN+LEAD (DM complicated by both neuropathy and artery disease). The clinical characteristics and gait parameters were assessed and compared among these four groups. Analyses of variance were employed to verify possible differences of gait parameters between groups and conditions. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was performed to reveal possible predictors of gait deficits. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to find any discriminatory power of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) for the step time. Results In participants burdened with DPN, whether complicated by lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) or not, step time increased sharply (p < 0.05). Stepwise multivariate regression models showed that independent variables of gait abnormality were sex, age, leg length, vibration perception threshold (VPT), and ankle-brachial index (ABI) (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, VPT was a significant independent predictor of step time, spatiotemporal variability (SDA), and temporal variability (SDB) (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis was explored to find the discriminatory power of DPN for the occurrence of increased step time. The area under the curve (AUC) value was 0.608 (95% CI: 0.562–0.654, p < 0.01), and the cutoff point was 538.41 ms accompanied by a higher VPT. A significant positive association was observed between increased step time and the highest VPT group [odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.32–2.55, p< 0.01]. In female patients, this OR value elevated to 2.16 (95% CI: 1.25–3.73, p< 0.01). Conclusions In addition to sex, age, and leg length, VPT was a distinct factor that associated with altered gait parameters. DPN is associated with increased step time, and the step time increases with worsening VPT in type 2 diabetes.
Comprehensive AI-assisted tool for ankylosing spondylitis based on multicenter research outperforms human experts

Introduction The diagnosis and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a difficult task, especially in less developed countries without access to experts. To address this issue, a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) tool was created to help diagnose and predict the course of AS. Methods In this retrospective study, a dataset of 5389 pelvic radiographs (PXRs) from patients treated at a single medical center between March 2014 and April 2022 was used to create an ensemble deep learning (DL) model for diagnosing AS. The model was then tested on an additional 583 images from three other medical centers, and its performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores. Furthermore, clinical prediction models for identifying high-risk patients and triaging patients were developed and validated using clinical data from 356 patients. Results The ensemble DL model demonstrated impressive performance in a multicenter external test set, with precision, recall, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.90, 0.89, and 0.96, respectively. This performance surpassed that of human experts, and the model also significantly improved the experts' diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, the model's diagnosis results based on smartphone-captured images were comparable to those of human experts. Additionally, a clinical prediction model was established that accurately categorizes patients with AS into high-and low-risk groups with distinct clinical trajectories. This provides a strong foundation for individualized care. Discussion In this study, an exceptionally comprehensive AI tool was developed for the diagnosis and management of AS in complex clinical scenarios, especially in underdeveloped or rural areas that lack access to experts. This tool is highly beneficial in providing an efficient and effective system of diagnosis and management.
Associations between theory of mind and clinical symptoms in recent onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Introduction People with schizophrenia often present with Theory of mind (ToM) deficits, and the link between these deficits and clinical symptoms remains to be refined, for instance through the use of more recent assessment methods. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between a psychometrically sound ToM task and the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia as measured with the five dimensions of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) namely positive, negative, cognitive/disorganization, depression/anxiety and excitability/hostility, while controlling for non-social cognitive abilities. Methods Seventy participants with recent-onset schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) were assessed for ToM using the Combined stories task (COST) and for clinical symptoms using the PANSS. Results The results revealed significant correlations between ToM and the positive (r = −0.292, p = 0.015) and cognitive/disorganization (r = −0.480, p < 0.001) dimensions when controlling for non-social cognitive abilities. In contrast, the negative symptoms dimension was only significantly correlated with ToM when non-social cognitive abilities were not controlled for (r = −0.278, p = 0.020). Discussion Very few prior studies used the five-dimensions of the PANSS to examine the link with ToM and this study is the first to rely on the COST, which includes a non-social control condition. This study highlights the importance of taking non-social cognitive abilities into account when considering the relationship between ToM and symptoms.
Editorial: Updates on RIG-I-like receptor-mediated innate immune responses

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Kishore and Kufer. This is an openaccess 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. TYPE Editorial PUBLISHED 08 February 2023 DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2023. 1153410
Engineering a conduction-consistent cardiac patch with rGO/PLCL electrospun nanofibrous membranes and human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes

The healthy human heart has special directional arrangement of cardiomyocytes and a unique electrical conduction system, which is critical for the maintenance of effective contractions. The precise arrangement of cardiomyocytes (CMs) along with conduction consistency between CMs is essential for enhancing the physiological accuracy of in vitro cardiac model systems. Here, we prepared aligned electrospun rGO/PLCL membranes using electrospinning technology to mimic the natural heart structure. The physical, chemical and biocompatible properties of the membranes were rigorously tested. We next assembled human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) on electrospun rGO/PLCL membranes in order to construct a myocardial muscle patch. The conduction consistency of cardiomyocytes on the patches were carefully recorded. We found that cells cultivated on the electrospun rGO/PLCL fibers presented with an ordered and arranged structure, excellent mechanical properties, oxidation resistance and effective guidance. The addition of rGO was found to be beneficial for the maturation and synchronous electrical conductivity of hiPSC-CMs within the cardiac patch. This study verified the possibility of using conduction-consistent cardiac patches to enhance drug screening and disease modeling applications. Implementation of such a system could one day lead to in vivo cardiac repair applications.
Effects of whole-body vibration training on cognitive function: A systematic review

Background Whole-body vibration (WBV) training is a novel training method that stimulates the human neuromuscular system by the use of vibration, the frequency and amplitude of which are controlled, thereby inducing adaptive changes in the body. WBV training is widely used as a clinical prevention and rehabilitation tool in physical medicine and neuro-rehabilitation as a clinical prevention and rehabilitation tool. Objectives The aim of the present study was to review the effects of WBV on cognitive function, provide an evidence-based foundation for future research on WBV training, and promote additional popularization and use of the methodology in clinical practice. Methods A systematic review of articles extracted from the following six databases was conducted: PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus. A literature search was performed on articles in which the effects of WBV on cognitive function were evaluated. Results Initially, a total of 340 studies were initially identified, among which 18 articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected for inclusion in the systematic review. Participants were allocated into two groups: patients with cognitive impairment and healthy individuals. The results demonstrated that WBV was both positive and ineffective in its influence on cognitive function. Conclusion The majority of studies suggested that WBV may be a useful strategy for the management of cognitive impairment and should be considered for inclusion in rehabilitation programs. However, the impact of WBV on cognition requires additional, larger, and adequately powered studies. Systematic review registration https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/PROSPERO/display_record. php? RecordID=376821, identifier CRD42022376821.
Case report: Catecholamine cardiomyopathy in children with neuroblastoma

Introduction Many endocrine diseases, such as neuroblastoma (NB), can be linked with acquired cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Neuroblastoma’s cardiovascular manifestations are typically hypertension, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, and conduction disturbances. Case Presentation A 5-year-old 8-month-old girl was admitted to the hospital with ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension (HT) and heart failure. She had no previous history of HT. On color doppler echocardiography, the left atrium and left ventricle were enlarged. The left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was as low as 40%, and the ventricular septum and left ventricular free wall were thickened. The internal diameters of both coronary arteries were widened. Abdominal computed tomography scan (CT) demonstrated an 8.7 cm × 7.1 cm × 9.5 cm tumor behind the left peritoneum. In urine catecholamines analysis, free-norepinephrine (f-NE), free-dopamine (f-DA), free-normetanephrine (f-NMN), free-3-methoxytyramine (f-3MT), vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were all greater than the normal range for 24 h except free-metanephrine (f-MN) and free-epinephrine (f-E). Based on these findings, we diagnosed her as NB complicated by catecholamine cardiomyopathy manifested by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Oral metoprolol, spironolactone, captopril and amlodipine furosemide, and intravenously injected sodium nitroprusside and phentolamine were employed for treating HT. After the tumor resection, the blood pressure (BP) and urinary catecholamine levels were all restored. After a follow-up of 7 months, echocardiography indicated normalization of ventricular hypertrophy and function. Conclusion This is a rare report showing catecholamine cardiomyopathy in NB children. Tumor resection leads to a return to normal of the catecholamine cardiomyopathy manifested as HCM.
Safety and efficacy of 650 nm invasive laser acupuncture on non-specific chronic low back pain: A protocol for a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background We aim to obtain clinical trial data regarding the safety, efficacy, and usefulness of invasive laser acupuncture (ILA) for non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) through a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Methods Our clinical trial will be an assessor- and patient-blinded, prospective, parallel-arm, multi-center, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. One hundred and six participants with NSCLBP will be allocated evenly to the 650 ILA or control group. All participants will receive education on exercise and self-management. The 650 ILA group will undergo 650 nm ILA for 10 min, and the control group will undergo sham ILA for 10 min per visit, twice a week for 4 weeks, at bilateral GB30, BL23, BL24, and BL25. The primary outcome will be the proportion of responders (≥30% reduction in pain visual analogue scale [VAS] without increased use of painkillers) at 3 days after the intervention ends. The secondary outcomes will include changes in the scores of the VAS, European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five Level scale, and Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index at 3 days after the intervention ends and 8 weeks after the intervention ends. Discussions The results of our study will provide clinical evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of 650 nm ILA for the management of NSCLBP. Clinical trial registration https://cris.nih. go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do? search_lang=E&focus=reset_12&search_page=M&pageSize=10&page=undefined&seq=21591&status=5&seq_group=21591, identifier KCT0007167.
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus imbalance input on rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial community of Suaeda salsa in the Yellow River Delta

Introduction The effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition on soil microbial diversity have been widely studied, however, the response of bacterial community to N and P imbalance input remains unclear. Methods Using a high-throughput Illumina Miseq sequencing platform, N and P imbalance addition experiment was conducted to characterize the rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial community of Suaeda salsa (S. salsa) in the Yellow River Delta. Results The results showed that the rhizosphere soil bacterial community α-diversity was significantly higher than bulk soil. The rhizosphere soil Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were higher and lower than bulk soil, respectively. N and P imbalance input had small effects on the composition and α -bacterial diversity of the rhizosphere soil, while significantly increasing the bulk soil bacterial diversity and remarkably changing the community composition. Differences in the response of rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial community to N and P imbalance input were caused by soil organic matter (SOM) content. The N and P imbalance input increased the relative abundance of bulk soil Eutrophic bacteria and decreased the relative abundance of the predicted oligotrophic bacteria (Acidobacteria,Chorolflexi). Rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial community α-diversity was significantly correlated with SOM, salt, total carbon (TC) and total N (TN) content, with SOM and salt having the greatest effect on bulk soil bacterial community composition. Discussion There may be a threshold N-P input ratio between 15:1 and 45:1. This threshold is the optimal ratio for increasing the diversity of bacterial community.
Decision-making support systems on extended hospital length of stay: Validation and recalibration of a model for patients with AMI

Background Cardiovascular diseases are still a significant cause of death and hospitalization. In 2019, circulatory diseases were responsible for 29.9% of deaths in Portugal. These diseases have a significant impact on the hospital length of stay. Length of stay predictive models is an efficient way to aid decision-making in health. This study aimed to validate a predictive model on the extended length of stay in patients with acute myocardial infarction at the time of admission. Methods An analysis was conducted to test and recalibrate a previously developed model in the prediction of prolonged length of stay, for a new set of population. The study was conducted based on administrative and laboratory data of patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction events from a public hospital in Portugal from 2013 to 2015. Results Comparable performance measures were observed upon the validation and recalibration of the predictive model of extended length of stay. Comorbidities such as shock, diabetes with complications, dysrhythmia, pulmonary edema, and respiratory infections were the common variables found between the previous model and the validated and recalibrated model for acute myocardial infarction. Conclusion Predictive models for the extended length of stay can be applied in clinical practice since they are recalibrated and modeled to the relevant population characteristics.
Fabrication and dc, microwave characteristics of submicron Schottky‐collector AlAs/In0.53Ga0.47As/InP resonant tunneling diodes

We report the fabrication and dc, microwave characteristics of 0.1 μm, Schottky‐collector resonant tunnel diodes (SRTDs) in the AlAs/In0.53Ga0. 47As/InP material system. Devices with contact areas as small as 0.05 μm2 have been fabricated using electron beam lithography with an interrupted footprint T‐gate process. SRTD’s fabricated with 1.4 nm AlAs barriers exhibited a 5×105 A/cm2 peak current density at 0.95 V and a −19 mS/μm2 peak negative conductance. The devices incorporate fully depleted P‐doped cap layers to suppress surface leakage currents. From the measured dc and microwave characteristics, a maximum frequency of oscillation fmax=2.2 THz is estimated.
Connecting foreign language enjoyment and English proficiency levels: The mediating role of L2 motivation

To further understand the connections between positive emotions, in particular foreign language enjoyment, second language (L2) motivation, and English achievement, the present study investigated how foreign language enjoyment and L2 motivation contribute to learners’ English achievement and the mediating role of motivation in the pathway. A questionnaire was employed to collect quantitative data from 512 university students learning English as a foreign language (EFL) in China. The results showed that the higher the language proficiency level, the higher the foreign language enjoyment level and the stronger the L2 motivation. Participants reported a significant difference in the private factor of foreign language enjoyment, the ideal L2 self, and the L2 learning experience among different language proficiency groups. Overall, foreign language enjoyment has a positive predictive effect on L2 motivation; however, the influence of different dimensions varies among language proficiency groups. Foreign language enjoyment is a positive predictor of English achievement, and motivation partially mediates this pathway. These findings provided an in-depth profile of foreign language enjoyment and L2 motivation of Chinese EFL learners at different language proficiency levels, highlighting the connections between positive emotion, motivation, and English achievement, and the contribution of foreign language enjoyment and L2 motivation in English learning. Based on these findings, pedagogical implications are suggested for English teaching and learning in Chinese tertiary education.