Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulse Energy as a Reliable Reference for Twitch Forces Induced by Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

Voltage-controlled neuromuscular electrical stimulation has been considered to be safer in noninvasive applications notwithstanding the fact that voltage-controlled devices purportedly generate forces less predictable than their current-controlled equivalents. This prompted us to evaluate relevant electrical parameters to determine whether forces induced by voltage-controlled stimuli were able to match to those induced by current-controlled ones, which tend to evoke forces that were more predictable. Force magnitudes corresponding to current- and voltage-controlled stimuli were aligned with respect to electric charge (equivalent to average current intensity) and electrical energy (equivalent to average power) of the same stimulation pulse to determine which provided a better coherence. Consistency of forces evaluated with energy was significantly (p <; 0.001) better than that evaluated with electric charges, suggesting that electrically stimulated forces can be reliably predicted by monitoring the energy parameter of stimulation pulses. The above results appear to show that electrode-tissue impedance, a factor that makes charge and energy evaluations different, redefined the actual effects of current intensities in generating favorable results. Accordingly, novel schemes that track the energy (or average power) of a stimulation pulse may be used as a reliable benchmark to associate mechanical (force) and electrical (stimulation pulse) characteristics in transcutaneous applications of electrical stimulation.
Anthocyanins and Their Variation in Red Wines II. Anthocyanin Derived Pigments and Their Color Evolution

Originating in the grapes, anthocyanins and their derivatives are the crucial pigments responsible for the red wine color. During wine maturation and aging, the concentration of monomeric anthocyanins declines constantly, while numerous more complex and stable anthocyanin derived pigments are formed, mainly including pyranoanthocyanins, polymeric anthocyanins produced from condensation between anthocyanin and/or flavan-3-ols directly or mediated by aldehydes. Correspondingly, their structural modifications result in a characteristic variation of color, from purple-red color in young red wines to brick-red hue of the aged. Because of the extreme complexity of chemical compounds involved, many investigations have been made using model solutions of know composition rather than wine. Thus, there is a large amount of research still required to obtain an overall perspective of the anthocyanin composition and its change with time in red wines. Future findings may well greatly revise our current interpretation of the color in red wines. This paper summarizes the most recent advances in the studies of the anthocyanins derived pigments in red wines, as well as their color evolution.
Regression analysis for current status data using the EM algorithm

We propose new expectation–maximization algorithms to analyze current status data under two popular semiparametric regression models: the proportional hazards (PH) model and the proportional odds (PO) model. Monotone splines are used to model the baseline cumulative hazard function in the PH model and the baseline odds function in the PO model. The proposed algorithms are derived by exploiting a data augmentation based on Poisson latent variables. Unlike previous regression work with current status data, our PH and PO model fitting methods are fast, flexible, easy to implement, and provide variance estimates in closed form. These techniques are evaluated using simulation and are illustrated using uterine fibroid data from a prospective cohort study on early pregnancy. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Strength and Workability Characteristics of Waste Plastic Fibre Reinforced Concrete Produced From Recycled Aggregates

The fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) is relatively a new construction material developed through extensive research during the last two decades. It has already found a wide range of practical applications and has proved reliable in construction and is a material having superior performance characteristic. The addition of fibres into the concrete has been found to improve several of its properties like tensile strength, cracking resistance, impact, wear and tear, ductility, fatigue resistance etc. Many types of fibres like steel fibres, carbon fibres, GI fibres, glass fibres, asbestos fibres etc. can be used in fibre reinforced concrete. Waste plastics can also be used as fibres. The disposing of waste plastic is causing environmental pollution. The plastic is a non-biodegradable material, neither decays nor degenerate it either in water or in soil. In turn it pollutes the water and soil. The plastic if burnt releases many toxic gases, which are very dangerous for the health. Such plastic, which is non-biodegradable material, can be used in concrete in the form of fibres to impact some additional desirable qualities to the concrete. This paper presents the Strength and workability results of waste plastic fibre reinforced concrete (WPFRC) produced from recycled aggregates. The different percentages of waste plastic fibre reinforced concrete used in the experimentation are 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3% (by volume fraction) with an aspect ratio of 50. The results are compared with the plastic fibre reinforced concrete produced from conventional aggregates.
Periacetabular osteotomy for the treatment of severe acetabular dysplasia.

BACKGROUND The optimal treatment of severe acetabular dysplasia with subluxation of the femoral head or the presence of a secondary acetabulum remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to analyze the extent of surgical correction and the early clinical results obtained with the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy for the treatment of severely dysplastic hips in adolescent and young adult patients. METHODS Sixteen hips in thirteen patients with an average age of 17.6 years (range, 13.0 to 31.8 years) were classified as having severe acetabular dysplasia (Group IV or V according to the Severin classification). Eight hips were classified as subluxated, and eight had a secondary acetabulum. Preoperatively, all patients had hip pain and sufficient hip joint congruency on radiographs to be considered candidates for the osteotomy. All sixteen hips underwent a Bernese periacetabular osteotomy, and six of them underwent a concomitant proximal femoral osteotomy. Postoperatively, the hips were assessed radiographically to evaluate correction of deformity, healing of the osteotomy site, and progression of osteoarthritis. Clinical results and hip function were measured with the Harris hip score at an average of 4.2 years postoperatively. RESULTS Comparison of preoperative and follow-up radiographs demonstrated an average improvement of 44.6 degrees (from -20.5 degrees to 24.1 degrees ) in the lateral center-edge angle of Wiberg, an average improvement of 51.0 degrees (from -25.4 degrees to 25.6 degrees ) in the anterior center-edge angle of Lequesne and de Seze, and an average improvement of 25.9 degrees (from 37.3 degrees to 11.4 degrees ) in acetabular roof obliquity. The hip center was translated medially an average of 10 mm (range, 0 to 31 mm). All iliac osteotomy sites healed. The average Harris hip score improved from 73.4 points preoperatively to 91.3 points at the time of the latest follow-up. Eleven of the thirteen patients (fourteen of the sixteen hips) were satisfied with the result of the surgery, and fourteen hips had a good or excellent clinical result. Major complications included loss of acetabular fixation, which required an additional surgical procedure, in one patient and overcorrection of the acetabulum and an associated ischial nonunion in another patient. Both patients had a good clinical result at the time of the latest follow-up. There were no major neurovascular injuries or intra-articular fractures. CONCLUSIONS The periacetabular osteotomy is an effective technique for surgical correction of a severely dysplastic acetabulum in adolescents and young adults. In this series, the early clinical results were very good at an average of 4.2 years postoperatively; the two major complications did not compromise the good clinical results.
Generalization of Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Controller and its Application to Control of MMA Batch Polymerization Reactor

ABSTRACT In this research a generalization of Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controllers is presented. In this generalization all or some of the inputs of the fuzzy controllers are fuzzy numbers. Also, it is proved that this generalization is well defined, which means that if the inputs of a generalized Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller are singleton fuzzy sets, then the generalized Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller will be reduced to a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controller. This controller was applied to temperature control of a methyl methacrylate (MMA) batch polymerization reactor, which uses jacket temperature error in addition to reactor temperature error. But the desired jacket temperature is affected by noise and disturbance. Therefore, there is uncertainty in the desired value of this variable. Fuzzy numbers are applied to model this uncertainty and a fuzzy trajectory was achieved for jacket desired temperature. After that an adaptation mechanism was designed. Experimental results present the fine performance of this controller in temperature control of solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate.
A narrative hermeneutical adventure : seafarers and their complex relationship with their families : original research

This research project is an attempt to develop a rich understanding about the relationship between seafarers and their families by means of a conversational construction between a number of co-researchers. In order to do this, the question that is explored is: How can there be a better understanding of the lives, the circumstances and the problems that seafarers are experiencing in the relationship with their families? The answer put forward in this research is that this can be accomplished through a narrative approach guided by the ABDCE formula which applies the metaphor of story writing to research. The research was motivated by pastoral and missionary concerns. The epistemologies that informed this research were social constructionism, the narrative approach and postfoundationalism with its emphasis on the interdisciplinary approach. In this article the main character for this research was a seafarer called John1 from Nigeria who was brought into conversation with a number of other co-researchers. The understanding that was developed found that the career choice of seafarers creates problems in their relationship with their family because they become in a sense strangers and outsiders to their loved ones. On the other hand seafarers are empowered, many times through their faith, to handle the challenges of their career, in addition to which this profession offers opportunities that would otherwise not have been possible. The relationship between a seafarer and his or her family was described as a complex one and thin, superficial and stereotypical conclusions were hopefully in the process deconstructed.
Decoding Upper Limb Movement Attempt From EEG Measurements of the Contralesional Motor Cortex in Chronic Stroke Patients

Goal: Stroke survivors usually require motor rehabilitation therapy as, due to the lesion, they completely or partially loss mobility in the limbs. Brain-computer interface technology offers the possibility of decoding the attempt to move paretic limbs in real time to improve existing motor rehabilitation. However, a major difficulty for the practical application of the BCI to stroke survivors is that the brain rhythms that encode the motor states might be diminished due to the lesion. This study investigates the continuous decoding of natural attempt to move the paralyzed upper limb in stroke survivors from electroencephalographic signals of the unaffected contralesional motor cortex. Results: Experiments were carried out with the aid of six severely affected chronic stroke patients performing/attempting self-selected reaching movements of the unaffected/affected upper limb. The electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis showed significant cortical activation on the uninjured motor cortex when moving the contralateral unaffected arm and in the attempt to move the ipsilateral affected arm. Using this activity, significant continuous decoding of movement was obtained in six out of six participants in movements of the unaffected limb, and in four out of six participants in the attempt to move the affected limb. Conclusion: This study showed that it is possible to construct a decoder of the attempt to move the paretic arm for chronic stroke patients using the EEG activity of the healthy contralesional motor cortex. Significance: This decoding model could provide to stroke survivors with a natural, easy, and intuitive way to achieve control of BCIs or robot-assisted rehabilitation devices.
The Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect Signature of Excess Entropy in Distant, Massive Clusters

Studies of cluster X-ray scaling relations have led to suggestions that nongravitational processes, e.g., radiative cooling and/or "preheating," have significantly modified the entropy of the intracluster medium (ICM). For the first time, we test this hypothesis through a comparison of predicted thermal Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect scaling relations with available data from the literature. One of the relations that we explore, in principle, depends solely on SZ effect observations, thus offering an X-ray-independent probe of the ICM. A detailed comparison of the theoretical relations with the largest compilation of high-z SZ effect data to date indicates that the presence of an entropy floor is favored by the data. Furthermore, the inferred level of that floor, K0 ≳ 300 keV cm2, is comparable to that found in studies of X-ray scaling relations of nearby massive clusters. Thus, we find no evidence for significant evolution of the entropy floor out to z ~ 0.7. We further demonstrate that the high-quality data to be obtained from the upcoming Sunyaev-Zeldovich Array (SZA) and the (soon to be) upgraded Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) array will open powerful new windows into the properties of the ICM. Specifically, the new measurements will allow for accurate measurements of the ICM entropy for even the most distant galaxy clusters.
OLED panel defect detection using local inlier-outlier ratios and modified LBP

We present an automated system for detecting surface defects on OLED panels. These panels exhibit varying textures and patterns which complicates the defect detection process. These detection systems have to be highly accurate and reliable as even a small error in detection can cause huge losses. In this paper, we present a method for detection of OLED panel surface defects using a novel and simple set of features based on local inlier-outlier ratios and modified LBP. The proposed inlier-outlier vector is easy to compute and provides robust discrimination between defect and non-defect samples of micro defects such as scratches and spots which are missed by modified LBP, thus proving to be a good complement to the modified LBP vector. Next, we train a SVM classifier using the concatenation of inlier-outlier ratios and modified LBP features. In the experiments, we have evaluated our method on several defects like scratch, spot, stain and pit, and the results show that our method significantly outperforms methods which use only modified LBP approach with minimal increase in computational complexity.
Sublinear-Time Maintenance of Breadth-First Spanning Trees in Partially Dynamic Networks

We study the problem of maintaining a breadth-first spanning tree (BFS tree) in partially dynamic distributed networks modeling a sequence of either failures or additions of communication links (but not both). We present deterministic (1+ε)-approximation algorithms whose amortized time (over some number of link changes) is sublinear in D, the maximum diameter of the network. Our technique also leads to a deterministic (1+ε)-approximate incremental algorithm for single-source shortest paths in the sequential (usual RAM) model. Prior to our work, the state of the art was the classic exact algorithm of Even and Shiloach (1981), which is optimal under some assumptions (Roditty and Zwick 2011; Henzinger et al. 2015). Our result is the first to show that, in the incremental setting, this bound can be beaten in certain cases if some approximation is allowed.
The Expression of Personality in Virtual Worlds

To examine the expression of personality in virtual worlds (VWs), the authors tracked the behavioral and linguistic output of 76 students continuously over a 6-week period in the VW Second Life (SL). Behavioral metrics in SL were consistent over time, but low stabilities were observed for linguistic metrics. To examine the ways in which personality manifested in SL, participant’s Big Five scores were correlated with their virtual behavioral and linguistic metrics. For example, Conscientiousness was correlated with many metrics related to geographical movement; however, there was low overlap with findings from previous studies. The authors provide some reasons for this low concordance. Their study hints at the potential of leveraging VWs to understand the link not only between personality and behavior but also among other social and psychological phenomena as well.
Validation de la version française de l’échelle d’auto-évaluation de la dépression de Montgomery-Asberg MADRS-S

Le but de la presente etude a ete de traduire, de valider la version anglaise de l’echelle auto-evaluation MADRS-S (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale Self-assessment) et d’etudier si elle conserve ses proprietes psychometriques dans sa version francaise en les comparants notamment a celles de l’echelle d’hetero-evaluation de Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Nous avons inclus 63 patients adultes suivis en ambulatoire pour un episode depressif d'intensite moyenne a severe. Ils ont utilise le MADRS-S pour auto-evaluer leur humeur et parallelement ont ete hetero-evalues par un clinicien base sur MADRS, a deux reprises et a un mois d’intervalle. Les resultats de cette etude montrent que la version francaise du MADRS-S possede des proprietes psychometriques favorables, et qu’il peut etre un complement fiable au MADRS, sur une population similaire a celle de l’echantillon inclus. Un complement d’etude est souhaitable pour evaluer si le MADRS-S peut mesurer les changements engendres par un traitement antidepresseur.
Joint Arc-factored Parsing of Syntactic and Semantic Dependencies

In this paper we introduce a joint arc-factored model for syntactic and semantic dependency parsing. The semantic role labeler predicts the full syntactic paths that connect predicates with their arguments. This process is framed as a linear assignment task, which allows to control some well-formedness constraints. For the syntactic part, we define a standard arc-factored dependency model that predicts the full syntactic tree. Finally, we employ dual decomposition techniques to produce consistent syntactic and predicate-argument structures while searching over a large space of syntactic configurations. In experiments on the CoNLL-2009 English benchmark we observe very competitive results.
The future of epidemiology: methods or matter?

In our first editorial after taking over responsibility for the content of the IJE in 2001, we illustrated some of the successes and failures of epidemiology, and asked the question whether epidemiology would progress or decay in the 21st century? 1 Embracing new opportunities for aetiological understanding provided by the human genome project was one strand of our strategy for making the IJE relevant – but viewed through the Geoffrey Rose lens that determinants of disease rates in a population and influences on individual susceptibility need not be the same. 2,3 We were concerned that the ‘big picture’ – health and disease are as much social as biological phenomena – should remain in view. Indeed, the role for genetic discovery seemed to be much more attuned to the discovery of mechanisms of disease and resulting pharmacological advances. We questioned methodological developments in modern epidemiology which seemed to lack appetite for engaging with the wider uses of epidemiology proposed by Jerry Morris in the and 50s. A formal evaluation of the impact, positive and of the increased methodological refinement of epidemiology, requested in our 2001 editorial, to be submitted to IJE . However, in the final issue of the journal under our editorship, there are major on thinking in epidemiology which illuminate what modern epidemiology
A framework to monitor clusters evolution applied to economy and finance problems

The study of evolution has become an important research issue, especially in the last decade, due to our ability to collect and store high detailed and time-stamped data. The need for describing and understanding the behavior of a given phenomena over time led to the emergence of new frameworks and methods focused on the temporal evolution of data and models. In this paper we address the problem of monitoring the evolution of clusters over time and propose the MEC framework. MEC traces evolution through the detection and categorization of clusters transitions, such as births, deaths and merges, and enables their visualization through bipartite graphs. It includes a taxonomy of transitions, a tracking method based in the computation of conditional probabilities, and a transition detection algorithm. We use MEC with two main goals: to determine the general evolution trends and to detect abnormal behavior or rare events. To demonstrate the applicability of our framework we present real world economic and financial case studies, using datasets extracted from Banco de Portugal Central Balance-Sheet Database and the The Data Page of New York University --Leonard N. Stern School of Business. The results allow us to draw interesting conclusions about the evolution of activity sectors and European companies.
Opioid peptide receptor studies. 15. Relative efficacy of 4‐[(N‐allyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐piperidinyl)phenylamino]‐N,N‐diethylbenzamide and related compounds at the cloned human δ‐opioid receptor

Previous data obtained from both binding and functional assays demonstrated that (−)‐4‐[(N‐allyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐piperidinyl)phenylamino]‐N,N‐diethylbenzamide [(−)‐RTI5989‐54] displays selective binding and full agonist activity relative to (±)‐RTI5989‐54 for the δ opioid receptor. The present study was conducted to evaluate the activities of structurally diverse opioid receptor δ ligands in the [35S]GTP‐γ‐S binding assay, comparing the relationship between receptor binding, activation, efficacy, and intrinsic efficacy. The data, obtained with cloned human δ receptors, demonstrated that (−)‐RTI5989‐54 behaves like the highly selective δ agonist SNC80. Addition of the hydroxyl group to RTI5989‐54 (RTI5989‐61) or replacement of the allyl group with the trans‐crotyl group on the piperidine nitrogen of RTI‐5989‐61 (RTI5989‐62) increased binding affinity, produced full agonist activity, and decreased intrinsic efficacy at the δ opioid receptor. The order of potency for the EC50 (GTP‐γ‐S) was RTI5989‐62 (0.20 nM) > RTI5989‐61 (0.43 nM) > SNC80 (1.92 nM) > DPDPE (3.50 nM) > (−)‐RTI5989‐54 (17.6 nM) > (±)‐RTI5989‐54 (65.6 nM) > (+)‐RTI5989‐54 (483 nM). RTI5989‐61 and RTI5989‐62 were fully efficacious, but had intrinsic efficacy values that were 2.2–3.1 times lower than that of DPDPE and SNC80. Comparison of the binding Ki in competitively inhibiting [125I]IOXY binding to the functional Ki for δ antagonists [Ki (IOXY)/Ki (GTP‐γ‐S)] shows that antagonists might antagonize agonist‐evoked neurochemical effects with equal magnitude while occupying different proportions of target receptors. Synapse 40:269–274, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.