Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wearable sensors for monitoring epilepsy and Parkinson´s disease

Introduction: Epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are conditions where management would benefit greatly from monitoring symptoms over longer time periods in natural everyday environments instead of only intermittent assessments at clinics. Wearable technology with built-in sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, could allow continuous and objective long-term monitoring of movement patterns. Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to explore and evaluate how wearable sensors can be used in clinical applications with continuously monitored movement related variables in epilepsy and PD. Methods: The studies in the thesis involved both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Perceptions regarding the use of wearable technology in disease monitoring and management as reported by individuals with epilepsy and PD as well as health professionals working with these patient groups were explored using focus group discussions (Paper I). Wrist-worn sensors were used to detect tonicclonic seizures in epilepsy (Paper II) and to quantify motor levodopa responses in PD (Paper III). The effects of individual dose adjustment based on information derived from wearable sensors were further investigated (Paper IV). The performance of sensor-based algorithms for seizure detection and motor state recognition was evaluated against clinical standard evaluations including video-EEG in epilepsy and clinical assessment scales for PD motor and non-motor symptoms. Adherence and missing data were examined to explore feasibility of using wearables (Paper II-IV). D O N G N I J O H A N S S O N B U V A R P 6 Results: End users saw possible benefits for improved treatment effects with the use of wearable sensors and valued this benefit more than the possible inconvenience of wearing the sensors (Paper I). However, they were concerned about unclear information and inconclusive recordings and some fears about personal integrity were at odds with the expectations on interactivity (Paper I). Wearable sensors showed a high sensitivity and a low false positive rate in detecting tonic-clonic seizures in epilepsy (Paper II). Wearable sensors are useful for automated quantification of PD motor states using instrumental testing as well as passive monitoring (Paper III-IV). The PD motor and non-motor symptoms, disease-specific quality of life and wearing-off symptoms improved after dose titration based on the information provided by a wrist-worn sensor (Paper IV). Adherence to using wearables was high across the studies and missing data was mainly attributed to sensor malfunction. Conclusions and clinical implications: The use of wearable sensors for detecting seizures or quantifying PD motor states showed clinical utility as tools for ascertaining tonic-clonic seizure frequency and monitoring treatment effects in PD outside of hospital. The information provided by sensor monitoring was effective for supporting clinical decision making in PD, indicating that treatment individualization based on wearable sensors is feasible.
Towards Automated GIS-based Analysis of Scoring Attempt Patterns in Association Football

This article is about GIS-based football game analysis in general and focusses on an approach towards an automated spatiotemporal analysis of scoring attempt patterns based on football-specific geo data, which were kindly provided by Prozone Sports. The main objective of this paper is to present our developed Analyse Scoring Attempts tool, which corresponds to a Python script but is designated for the execution as a custom tool for ArcGIS for Desktop 10.x. In this context we attempt to portray the functionality of that tool in as much detail as possible. We also demonstrate that by the application of that tool it is possible to gain the following information automatically: First, the number of players involved in a scoring attempt sequence. Second, the length of that sequence. Furthermore, the duration between the capture of the ball and the final shot. Moreover, both the initial as well as the finishing position of each sequence are intersected with special pitch zones. In addition to that the developed Spatial Scoring Probability Index (SSPI) is determined for the shooting position. This pure theoretical index indicates the probability of scoring a goal and is composed of weighted values for distance and angle of the shooting position in relation to the goal. Besides, the tool’s textual and graphical outcome are presented. Finally, this paper is concluded with a brief discussion about upcoming challenges.
The correlation between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and composition of the aortic media in CAD patients with or without hypertension.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the influence of hypertension on large artery elasticity and the microstructure of the ascending aortic media in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), and the association between arterial compliance and composition of the ascending aorta. METHODS 60 patients with CAD who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery were divided into two groups: 30 patients in a hypertension group and 30 patients in a non-hypertension group. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured by an automatic device (Complior, Artech, France). The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed after selective coronary angiography using the Gensini score system. A quantitative study was conducted on ascending aorta specimens by histological and computer image analysis. RESULTS cfPWV of the hypertension group was higher than that of the non-hypertension group. The relative content of collagen in the ascending aortic media of the hypertension group was higher than that of the non-hypertension group, while the relative content of elastin in the ascending aortic media of the hypertension group was lower than that of the non-hypertension group. cfPWV showed a positive correlation with relative contents of collagen in the ascending aorta and a negative correlation with relative contents of elastin in the ascending aorta in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Hypertension may raise the contents of collagen and decrease the contents of elastin in the ascending aortic media of patients with CAD, which in turn may decrease the patients' large artery compliance. cfPWV may reflect the quantitative changes of collagen and elastin in the ascending aortic media in CAD patients independently of hypertension.
Object Scene Flow with Temporal Consistency

In this paper, we propose several improvements of the Object Scene Flow (OSF) algorithm [14]. The OSF does not use the scene flow estimated in previous frame nor the object labels and their corresponding object motion information. The goal of this paper is to use this information in order to produce temporarily consistent output throughout the whole video sequence. We evaluate the progress on the KITTI’15 multiframe dataset. We show that propagating the labels and the corresponding motion information using the estimated flow reduces the false negative rate (missed cars). Together with two further proposed improvements the overall reduction of false negative is 42%. The proposed improvements also reduce EPE on the KITTI’15 scene flow from
Electrical Contact Resistance Degradation of a Hot-Switched Simulated Metal MEMS Contact

Electrical contact resistance testing was performed by hot-switching a simulated gold-platinum metal microelectromechanical systems contact. The experimental objective was to determine the sensitivity of the contact resistance degradation to current level and environment. The contact resistance increased sharply after 100hot-switched cycles in air. Hot-switching at a reduced current and in nitrogen atmosphere curtailed contact resistance degradation by several orders of magnitude. The mechanism responsible for the resistance degradation was found to be arc-induced decomposition of adsorbed surface contaminants
Theory of Integral Nursing

Anchored in one of the most dramatic social shifts in healthcare history, a Theory of Integral Nursing can inform and shape nursing practice, education, research and policy—local to global—to achieve a healthy world. A Theory of Integral Nursing, informed by integral theory, presents the philosophical foundation and application of an integral worldview and process. This theory also recognizes Florence Nightingale's philosophical foundation and legacy, healing and healing research, the meta-paradigm in a nursing theory (nurse, person(s), health and environment [society]), 6 patterns of knowing (personal, empirics, aesthetics, ethics, not knowing, sociopolitical), and other nonnursing theories.
Intercellular Adhesion Molecular-5 as Marker in HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorder

Despite the use of antiretroviral drugs HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are still common in HIV-seropositive patients. Identification of HIV patients with cognitive impairment in early-stage might benefit a great deal from disease progression monitoring and treatment adjustment. Intercellular adhesion molecule-5 (ICAM5), characteristically expressed on neuron, may suppress immune functions by inhibition of T cell activation in central nervous system. Previous studies have shown that ICAM5 could be detected in patients with brain injury. To investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and ICAM5 in HIV patients, we compared soluble ICAM5 levels in paired CSF and plasma specimens from HIV-infected individuals with or without neurocognitive impairment. sICAM5 concentrations were measured by ICAM5 ELISA kit. A total of 41 Patients were classified into HIV infected with normal cognition (HIV-NC) and impaired cognition groups (HIV-CI) based on Memorial Sloan-Kettering Scale. CSF and plasma levels of sICAM5 in HIV-CI patients were significantly higher than HIV-NC group (p<0.0001, p=0.0054 respectively). sICAM5 concentrations in plasma strongly correlated with sICAM5 in CSF (r=0.7250, p<0.0001) and S100B in CSF (r=0.3812, p<0.0139). Among 6 follow-up patients we found that sICAM5 levels in CSF and plasma might change consistently with HAND progression. In summary, we have shown that the expressions of sICAM5 in CSF and plasma may correlate with neurocognitive impairment in HIV infected patients. The elevation of sICAM5 in plasma were correspond with that in CSF as a consequence of blood-brain barrier permeability changes. ICAM5 can serve as a potential and readily accessible biomarker to predict HIV associated neurocognitive disorder.
Late Holocene extinction of Puerto Rican native land mammals

West Indian land mammals have suffered the most severe extinctions of any Holocene mammal faunas. However, ‘last-occurrence’ dates based on radiometric or robust stratigraphic data remain unavailable for most West Indian species, making it impossible to identify factors responsible for these extinctions. Here, we present new radiometric dates from archaeological and palaeontological sites on Puerto Rico, the only Greater Antillean island to have lost all native land mammals. Although it has been suggested that these species died out earlier than other West Indian mammals, we demonstrate that Puerto Rican mammal last-occurrence dates are in close agreement with those from other Antillean islands, as several species in fact persisted for millennia following Amerindian arrival. Echimyid rodents and nesophontid ‘island-shrews’ were still present on Puerto Rico approximately 1000 years BP, and probably became extinct following European arrival. The large (13 kg) heptaxodontid rodent Elasmodontomys obliquus also appears to have survived for over 2000 years after Amerindian colonization, suggesting that at least some large West Indian mammals became extinct in protracted pre-European ‘sitzkrieg’-style events rather than ‘blitzkrieg’-style overkill.
Complications of the canalith repositioning procedure.

OBJECTIVE To describe the conversion of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the posterior canal into benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the anterior or horizontal canals after treatment using the canalith repositioning maneuver. DESIGN Retrospective study of outcome. SETTING Outpatient clinic. PATIENTS Consecutive sample of 85 patients diagnosed as having benign paroxysmal positional vertigo affecting the posterior canal. Identification of posterior canal involvement was based on the observation of the direction of the vertical component of nystagmus after the Hallpike-Dix maneuver. INTERVENTION Canalith repositioning maneuver. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Eye movements were observed about 1 week after the treatment. The direction of nystagmus elicited after movement of the patient into the Hallpike-Dix position indicated which canal was involved in the patients who had not responded to treatment. RESULTS Of the 85 patients studied who originally had posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, five (6%) had anterior canal (n=2) or horizontal canal (n=3) positional vertigo after undergoing this maneuver. CONCLUSION Careful observation of the direction of the nystagmus is necessary for correct identification of which canal is involved in patients who do not respond to the initial treatment using the canalith repositioning maneuver.
G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 Ablation in Cardiac Myocytes Before or After Myocardial Infarction Prevents Heart Failure

Myocardial G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)2 is a critical regulator of cardiac &bgr;-adrenergic receptor (&bgr;AR) signaling and cardiac function. Its upregulation in heart failure may further depress cardiac function and contribute to mortality in this syndrome. Preventing GRK2 translocation to activated &bgr;AR with a GRK2-derived peptide that binds G&bgr;&ggr; (&bgr;ARKct) has benefited some models of heart failure, but the precise mechanism is uncertain, because GRK2 is still present and &bgr;ARKct has other potential effects. We generated mice in which cardiac myocyte GRK2 expression was normal during embryonic development but was ablated after birth (&agr;MHC-Cre×GRK2 fl/fl) or only after administration of tamoxifen (&agr;MHC-MerCreMer×GRK2 fl/fl) and examined the consequences of GRK2 ablation before and after surgical coronary artery ligation on cardiac adaptation after myocardial infarction. Absence of GRK2 before coronary artery ligation prevented maladaptive postinfarction remodeling and preserved &bgr;AR responsiveness. Strikingly, GRK2 ablation initiated 10 days after infarction increased survival, enhanced cardiac contractile performance, and halted ventricular remodeling. These results demonstrate a specific causal role for GRK2 in postinfarction cardiac remodeling and heart failure and support therapeutic approaches of targeting GRK2 or restoring &bgr;AR signaling by other means to improve outcomes in heart failure.
Interrogating the Mediterranean ‘Migration Crisis’

Abstract This Forum aims to uncover the socio-politics of the ‘migration crisis’ in the Mediterranean. The contributions explore the idea of the ‘migration crisis’ or ‘refugee crisis’ in the Mediterranean from the starting point that as scholars of the Mediterranean we can do two things: one, we can look at the way crisis introduces processes of bordering to our analysis, limiting our gaze and analytical curiosity to a specific space and a specific time; or two, we can take these limits as an opportunity to explore the wider socio-politics, geographies and economies that contribute to producing this so-called ‘crisis’ and in turn what socio-politics, geographies and economies are produced and their implications.
Smaller low‐density lipoprotein size as a possible risk factor for the prevalence of coronary artery diseases in haemodialysis patients: Associations of cholesteryl ester transfer protein and the hepatic lipase gene polymorphism with low‐density lipoprotein size

Aim: Smaller low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) size has recently been reported as a non‐traditional lipid risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and the C/T hepatic lipase (HL) gene polymorphism may promote LDL size reduction via the CETP‐mediated exchange of CE for triglyceride (TG) and subsequent HL‐mediated TG hydrolysis in LDL. However, little is known about LDL size status and its relationship with CAD prevalence in haemodialysis (HD) patients who are at high risk for atherosclerosis.
The Information Perspective and Usefulness of Accounting Information

Relevance of earnings for explaining equity prices is investigated by many value relevance studies. This study investigates whether fiscal year end earnings as a proxy for next period’s earnings have additional information, beyond the information incorporated in contemporaneous equity price, for explaining next fiscal period’s end equity price. Results show that earnings have statistically significant additional information for explaining next fiscal year end equity price, even though the explanatory power of earnings is very low as not considerably supported for model utility. As Ohlson (1995) explores informativeness of fiscal year end earnings as a proxy for next period’s earnings, two alternative models are suggested, where next fiscal year end equity price and price change are considered as the dependent variable and fiscal year end (current) equity price is accommodated as an additional explanatory variable. However, using stationary price change as the dependent variable would be much useful in value relevance studies for econometric reasons. In this context, fiscal year end equity price provides a benchmark to assess additional informativeness of earnings and facilitate the estimated coefficients of earnings to capture and represent the information incorporated in the earnings data.
ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDINGS, SKILLS, AND TRAITS: A DISCREPENCY ANALYSIS OF THOSE WHO PREPARE AND HIRE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS IN OHIO

ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDINGS, SKILLS, AND TRAITS: A DISCREPENCY ANALYSIS OF THOSE WHO PREPARE AND HIRE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS IN OHIO By Thomas L. Goodney A purported discrepancy exists in Ohio between what knowledge, understandings, skills, and traits are most important for preparing secondary principals compared to those valued in selecting and hiring secondary administrators. The purpose of this study was to determine the areas and the degree of discrepancy, if any, in perceptions among educational leadership faculty and superintendents in the value and utility of Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards (ISLLC) and Ohio Standards for Principals (OSP) as well as the specific knowledge, understandings, skills, and traits contained in them. The design of this primarily quantitative study used simple descriptive statistics and basic tests to identify significant statistical variances between educational leadership faculty and superintendents and assistant superintendents. Additionally, this study uses limited qualitative data gathered from a one-time facilitated discussion that further illustrate and support the findings. As expected, some statistical analyses of knowledge, understandings, traits, and/or skills revealed distinct differences in the perceptions of superintendents and educational leadership professors. However, comparison of means of the two groups generally showed more agreement than variation, a finding that surprised participants in a facilitated discussion among a small group of superintendents, assistant superintendents, and educational leadership faculty. Other findings yielded statistically significant correlations between rankings of certain ISLLC and OSP standards and specific demographics of educational faculty. In effect, adjunct professors and full professors seem to differ on the importance of preparing secondary principals in relationship to developing, articulating, and implementing a shared vision, in addition to engaging parents and community members in the educational process. Clearly this new line of inquiry exposes the inherent discrepancies among the realities of standards, accountability, and structures that define the parameters of the secondary principalship as seen by superintendents and assistant superintendents and by theories of leadership, teaching, and learning that frame the scope of principal preparation programs. Further, this study raises new and important questions for future investigation that could serve to bridge the gap and better prepare secondary principals for what is expected of them in the field. ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDINGS, SKILLS, AND TRAITS: A DISCREPENCY ANALYSIS OF THOSE WHO PREPARE AND HIRE SECONDARY PRINCIPALS IN OHIO
Influence of Pulse-Delay Curing on Softening of Polymer Structures

Resin composites may be polymerized according to one of several light-curing modes. These modes include variations in intensity of the curing lights and time delay before final cure. The so-called pulse-delay method has earlier been found to reduce the formation of gaps due to polymerization contraction, without mechanical properties of the resin composite being compromised. It was hypothesized that the slow pre-cure of this method would give rise to a different polymer structure than results when the polymer is cured in one step at high intensity. It was found that although the quantity of remaining double bonds was unaffected, the pulse-delay technique led to polymers of increased susceptibility to softening in ethanol. The softness increased with the intensity of the pre-cure and with the waiting time before final cure. The increased softening may be interpreted as the manifestation of a polymer structure having fewer crosslinks.
Heavy metal doping of CdTe crystals

CdTe crystals doped with several heavy metals (Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi) in the concentration range of 10/sup 17/ - 10/sup 18/ at/cm/sup 3/ have been grown by the vertical Bridgman method. The structural quality and uniformity of the crystals was verified by chemical determination of etch pits density and by X-ray rocking curves. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was employed for evaluating the dopant concentration. Low temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements of the crystals were performed in the 1.2 - 1.6 eV energy range. The crystal electrical properties were studied by Hall and I-V measurements. The obtained PL data show a domination of (D-X) and (DAP) lines in CdTe crystals, suggesting n-type conductivity and the presence of a compensation mechanism due to the heavy dopant incorporation. Investigating the 1.4 eV band, we obtained the Huang-Rhys parameter, the principal energy of zero phonon line and the energy of longitudinal optical phonon for each dopant. Impurities were measured by ICP-MS. A particular PL line at 1.473 eV, correlated to M/sub Te/ (M = heavy metal) defect centers, was found. It was found that the heavy metal doped CdTe crystals have resistivity values in the range 10/sup 7/ - 10/sup 10/ /spl Omega//spl middot/cm, with maximum values for Bi and Hg doped materials. Also these materials show a higher dark current stability than the ones doped with the other heavy metals. Detectors made from Hg doped crystals gave response to X and /spl gamma/ radiation.