Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Height Constitutes an Important Predictor of Mortality in End-Stage Renal Disease

Aim. Height is an important determinant of augmentation index (AI) that anticipates cardiovascular prognosis. There is a scanty of the data whether short height predicts survival in patients with end-stage renal diseases, a high risk population. Methods. Fifty two hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy receiving hemodialysis and 52 patients with nondiabetic nephropathy were enrolled. In addition to AI estimated with radial artery tonometry, classical cardiovascular risk factors were considered. Patients were followed for 2 years to assess cardiovascular prognosis. Results. Cox hazards regression revealed that both smoking and shortness in height independently contributed to total mortality and indicated that smoking as well as the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy predicted cardiovascular mortality. Our findings implicated that high AI, the presence of diabetes, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significant contributors to cardiovascular events. Conclusions. Our findings provide new evidence that shortness in height independently contributes to total mortality in hemodialysis patients.
Zonisamide Decreases Current-Source Density of High Beta Frequency of Electroencephalogram

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in brain current-source density (CSD) of the high frequency band (22–30 Hz) induced by zonisamide (ZNS) in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy and to correlate with the cognitive performances. Methods: We conducted a 24-week, open-labeled, prospective study in 19 patients. Eelectroencephalography (EEG) and neuropsychological tests (NPs) were conducted at baseline and 24 weeks after starting the medication. Six patients were excluded due to artifacts in EEG. One patient did not attend follow-up studies. Twelve patients who completed follow-up EEG and NPs were included. We used low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography to determine CSD, and we obtained statistical nonparametric maps for the high beta frequency band (22–30 Hz) between pretreatment EEGs and post-treatment EEGs. Results: The CSD in the 22–30 Hz band decreased in the superior frontal, middle frontal, anterior cingulate, precentral, postcentral, and inferior parietal gyri of the left hemisphere, and the middle frontal, inferior frontal and anterior cingulate gyri of the right hemisphere. Among the NPs items, the performance of verbal fluency was significantly impaired after the 24-week ZNS trial. Conclusions: The CSD changes suggest ZNS may diminish the activity of cerebral networks related to verbal fluency.
A Domain Specific Transformation Language to Support the Interactive Definition of Model Transformation Rules

Model-driven engineering (MDE) is a new software development paradigm that intends to improve software construction by raising the abstraction level through the use of models and transformations. Recently, MDE has also been used for automatic change evolution and in particular for tailoring software processes. Even though there are some proposals for automatically generating part of the transformation models, they are not easily applicable in the software industry because the potential users usually do not have the capabilities of developing or maintaining transformations. Proposals trying to address this problem should balance the formality required by MDE and the usability needed by the users. This research applies higher-order transformations (HOTs) and decision models for generating transformations to tailor software process models with no direct user interaction with the code. To that end, a graphical interface was defined with such a purpose, so that transformation rules are interactively defined using a domain specific languaje (DSL), and the tailoring transformation is automatically generated and applied using a domain specific transformation language (DSTL).
Pacman Using Genetic Algorithms and Neural Networks (project Report for Enee 459n: Neural Network Design and Implementation)

Pacman is an arcade game where a group of "ghosts" try to catch a Pacman as he attempts to eat all the dots in a maze in order to progress to the next level. The standard Pacman game uses traditional AI search techniques for the ghosts and does not utilize the concept of machine learning. We propose to use an evolutionary computational method instead that implements a combination of genetic algorithms and neural networks in order to improve the level of play for the ghosts. We use a unique genetic structure for each ghost, a metric for determining the fittest ghosts of the current generation, and define parameters such as crossover probability and mutation percentage in order to create genetic offspring for the new population. Furthermore, we use a backprop neural network to optimize the crossover probability and mutation percentage values in order to minimize search time. The final test simulation successfully demonstrates the combined application of GA and NN in Pacman and its potential for machine learning in similar games.
Cytogenetic and Molecular Localization of ti $ . d % A Gene Affecting Sodium Channels in Drosophila melanogastm

Voltage-sensitive sodium channels play a key role in nerve cells where they are responsible for the increase in sodium permeability during the rising phase of action potentials. In Drosophila melanogaster a subset of temperature-sensitive paralytic mutations affect sodium channel function. One such mutation is temperature-induced paralysis locus E (t ipE), which has been shown by electrophysiology and ligand binding studies to reduce sodium channel numbers. Three new y-ray-induced tipE alleles associated with either visible deletions in 64AF3 or a translocation breakpoint within 64B2 provide landmarks for positional cloning of tipE. Beginning with the flanking cloned gene RasZ, a 140-kb walk across the translocation breakpoint was completed. Germline transformation using a 42-kb cosmid clone and successively smaller subclones localized the tipE gene within a 7.4kb genomic DNA segment. Although this chromosome region is rich in transcripts, only three overlapping mRNAs (5.4, 4.4, and 1.7 kb) lie completely within the smallest rescuing construct. The small sizes of the rescuing construct and transcripts suggest that tipE does not encode a standard sodium channel a-subunit with four homologous repeats. Sequencing these transcripts will elucidate the role of the tipEgene product in sodium channel functional regulation. B IOCHEMICAL and gene cloning studies of sodium channels (reviewed by CATTERALL 1992) from a variety of species have shown that these channels are comprised of a large a-subunit with a molecular mass of -260 kD that forms a voltage-sensitive, ion selectivity pore in membranes. Within a species there are multiple genes encoding these a-subunits. In addition, in mammalian brain two smaller auxiliary subunits (pl and p2) of -36 and -33 kD, respectively, copurify with the asubunit. These smaller subunits play important functional roles in sodium channel expression (reviewed by ISOM et al. 1994). Use of a genetic approach in the study of sodium channels provides a way to analyze the interactions of these molecular components in the organism, to identify additional channel components and subtypes, and to identify molecules involved in channel
Observational Equivalences forLogic Programs 1

We rst introduce a general semantic scheme for logic programs which provides a uniform framework for deening diierent compositional semantics parametrically wrt a given notion of observable. The equivalence of the operational (top-down) and xpoint (bottom-up) costruction of the semantics is ensured by the scheme (provided a congruence property is veriied). We then deene several observational equivalences on logic programs and investigate how they are related. The equivalences are based on various observables (successful derivations, computed answers, partial computed answers and call patterns) and on a notion of program composition. For each observational equivalence we study the relation with a suitable formal semantics, by investigating correctness and full abstraction properties. All the semantics we consider are obtained as instances of the general scheme.
Molecular Characterization of HBV Strains Circulating among the Treatment-Naive HIV/HBV Co-Infected Patients of Eastern India

Previously we reported that the exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection serves as a major threat among the treatment naive HIV infected population of eastern India. Hence, molecular characterization of these strains is of utmost importance in order to identify clinically significant HBV mutations. A total of 85 treatment naive HIV/HBV co-infected participants were included of whom the complete basal core promoter/precore region, the core and the whole envelope gene could be successfully sequenced for 59, 57 and 39 isolates respectively. Following phylogenetic analysis, it was found that HBV/D was the predominant genotype with HBV/D2 (38.5%) being the most prevalent subgenotype followed by HBV/A1. The major mutations affecting HBeAg expression includes the A1762T/G1764A (13.6%), G1896A (22%) and G1862T mutation (33.9%) which was predominantly associated with HBV/A1. Moreover, the prevalence of G1896A was considerably high among the HBeAg negative HIV/HBV co-infected subjects compared to HBV mono-infection. The main amino acid substitutions within the MHC class II restricted T-cell epitope of HBcAg includes the T12S (15.8%) and T67N (12.3%) mutation and the V27I (10.5%) mutation in the MHC class I restricted T-cell epitope. PreS1/S2 deletion was detected in 3 isolates with all harboring the BCP double mutation. Furthermore, the frequently occurring mutations in the major hydrophilic loop of the S gene include the T125M, A128V and M133I/L. Therefore, this study is the first from India to report useful information on the molecular heterogeneity of the HBV strains circulating among the treatment naive HIV/HBV co-infected population and is thus clinically relevant.
Using the master-slave parallel architecture for genetic-fuzzy data mining

Data mining is most commonly used in attempts to induce association rules from transaction data. In the past, we used the fuzzy and GA concepts to discover both useful fuzzy association rules and suitable membership functions from quantitative values. The evaluation for fitness values was, however, quite time-consuming. In this paper, we thus propose a parallel genetic-fuzzy mining algorithm based on the master-slave architecture to extract both association rules and membership functions from quantitative transactions. The master processor uses a single population as a simple genetic algorithm does, and distributes the tasks of fitness evaluation to slave processors. The evolutionary processes, such as crossover, mutation and production are performed by the master processor. Both the theoretic analysis and the experimental results show that the speed-up of the proposed parallel algorithm can increase nearly linear along with the number of individuals to be evaluated.
Effects of Language Experience and Stimulus Complexity on the Categorical Perception of Pitch Direction

Whether or not categorical perception results from the operation of a special, language-specific, speech mode remains controversial. In this cross-language ͑Mandarin Chinese, English͒ study of the categorical nature of tone perception, we compared native Mandarin and English speakers' perception of a physical continuum of fundamental frequency contours ranging from a level to rising tone in both Mandarin speech and a homologous ͑nonspeech͒ harmonic tone. This design permits us to evaluate the effect of language experience by comparing Chinese and English groups; to determine whether categorical perception is speech-specific or domain-general by comparing speech to nonspeech stimuli for both groups; and to examine whether categorical perception involves a separate categorical process, distinct from regions of sensory discontinuity, by comparing speech to nonspeech stimuli for English listeners. Results show evidence of strong categorical perception of speech stimuli for Chinese but not English listeners. Categorical perception of nonspeech stimuli was comparable to that for speech stimuli for Chinese but weaker for English listeners, and perception of nonspeech stimuli was more categorical for English listeners than was perception of speech stimuli. These findings lead us to adopt a memory-based, multistore model of perception in which categorization is domain-general but influenced by long-term categorical representations.
Use of Traditional Korean Medicine by Patients with Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background South Korea has maintained a dual healthcare delivery system that incorporates both traditional Korean and Western medicine. In this research, we identified the determinants of the frequency of using traditional Korean medicine among musculoskeletal patients, who are known to be the most frequent users of complementary and alternative medicine. Methods In this research, we reviewed 2 consecutive years of nationally representative survey data from the 2008 and 2009 Korea Health Panel Survey. We analyzed the utilization of outpatient services by musculoskeletal patients within 12 months of the 2009 survey date. A two-part model was used because some patients did not use traditional Korean medicine and skewness was present in the data on traditional Korean medicine use. In the first part, logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the use of traditional Korean medicine. In the second part, multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the frequency of traditional Korean medicine usage among the subjects who visited traditional Korean medical institutions. Results The frequency of traditional Korean medicine usage was positively associated with ages of 40–49 years and over 60, restrictions on daily life, a greater number of chronic diseases, not being hospitalized, and more frequent visits (more than five times) to conventional hospitals or clinics for musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusions The important determinants of the frequency of traditional Korean medicine usage were age, activity restrictions, the number of chronic diseases, hospitalization history, and the number of visits to conventional hospitals for musculoskeletal disorders. The results contribute to our understanding of the characteristics of traditional Korean medicine users and may be used as a basic resource for related policymaking by government officials and medical professionals.
Implementação de uma classe de códigos produto com decodificação turbo em FPGA

Resumo Este trabalho, patrocinado pela empresa LINEAR Equipamentos Eletronicos S/A, descreve um projeto de implementacao de um esquema de correcao de erro com codigo turbo de bloco de baixa complexidade elaborado em um FPGA de baixo custo. A decodificacao turbo e baseada na combinacao dos algoritmos de Pyndiah e Wagner. Taxas uteis de dados ate 60 Mbps foram atingidas utilizando 60% da logica disponivel no FPGA EP1C6T144C8 da fabricado pela Altera. Como resultado complementar, o uso de conhecidas ferramentas de simulacao didaticas sao exploradas, permitindo a compreensao de uma classe especifica de codigos produto e seu adequado processo de implementacao. O codec foi criado com grande flexibilidade usando modelos estruturais e comportamentais, traduzidos posteriormente com simplicidade para linguagem VHDL.
A Cognitive Reference based Model for Learning Compositional Hierarchies with Whole-composite Tags

A compositional hierarchy is the default organization of knowledge acquired for the purpose of specifying the design requirements of a service. Existing methods for learning compositional hierarchies from natural language text, interpret composition as an exclusively propositional form of part-whole relations. Nevertheless, the lexico-syntactic patterns used to identify the occurrence of part-whole relations fail to decode the experientially grounded information, which is very often embedded in various acts of natural language expression, e.g. construction and delivery. The basic idea is to take a situated view of conceptualization and model composition as the cognitive act of invoking one category to refer to another. Mutually interdependent set of categories are considered conceptually inseparable and assigned an independent level of abstraction in the hierarchy. Presence of such levels in the compositional hierarchy highlight the need to model these categories as a unified-whole wherein they can only be characterized in the context of the behavior of the set as a whole. We adopt an object-oriented representation approach that models categories as entities and relations as cognitive references inferred from syntactic dependencies. The resulting digraph is then analyzed for cyclic references, which are resolved by introducing an additional level of abstraction for each cycle.
On invariant asymptotic observers

For dynamics x/spl dot/=f(x) with output y=h(x) invariant with respect to a transformation group G, we define invariant asymptotic observer of the form x/spl circ//spl dot/=f/spl circ/(x/spl circ/,y) where y=h(x) is the measured output and x/spl circ/an estimation of the unmeasured state x. Such a definition is motivated by a class of chemical reactors and treated in details, when the transformation group corresponds to unit changes and the output V to ratio of concentrations. We propose a constructive method that guarantees automatically the observer invariance x/spl circ//spl dot/=f/spl circ/(x/spl circ/,y): it is based on invariant vector fields and scalar functions, called invariant estimation errors, that can be computed via the Cartan moving frame method. The observer convergence remains, in the general case, an open problem. But for the class of chemical reactors considered here, the invariant observer convergence is proved by showing that, in a Killing metric associated to the action of G, the symmetric part of the Jacobian matrix of/spl circ///spl part/x/spl circ/is definite negative (contraction).
Efficient way of searching data in MapReduce paradigm

Cloud computing has emerged as an effective solution in the computing world. When the cloud is used for large amounts of data storage, searching for any required data takes lots of time. A framework is required to distribute the work of searching and fetching from thousands of computers. The data in Hadoop Distributed File System is scattered and needs lots of time to retrieve. MapReduce function on data sets of key & value pair is the programming paradigm of large distributed operation. The proposed work aims to minimize the data retrieval time taken by the MapReduce program in the cloud. The major idea is to design a web server in the map phase using the jetty web server which shall give a fast and efficient way of searching data in MapReduce paradigm. For real time processing on Hadoop, a search mechanism is implemented in HDFS. The load balancer is used to balance the workload across servers to improve its availability, performance and scalability.
QoS Assurance for Service-Based Applications Using Discrete-Event Simulation

The new paradigm for distributed computing over the Internet is that of Web services. The goal of Web services is to achieve universal interoperability between applications by using standardized protocols and languages. One of the key ideas of the Web service paradigm is the ability of building complex and value-added service-based applications by composing preexisting services. For a service-based application, in addition to its functional requirements, Quality of service (QoS) requirements are important and deserve a special attention. In this paper, we introduce a discrete-event modeling approach for service-based application. This approach is oriented towards QoS assurance through discrete-event simulation.
Gait segmentation using bipedal foot pressure patterns

We present an automated gait segmentation method based on the analysis of foot plantar pressure patterns elaborated from two wireless pressure-sensitive insoles. The 64 pressure signals recorded by each device are elaborated to extract 10 feature variables which are used to segment the gait cycle into 6 sub-phases following a simplified version of Perry's gait model. The method is based on a Hidden Markov Model with a minimum phase length constraint and a univariate Gaussian emission model, which is decoded using a classic Viterbi algorithm. The method is tested on a pool of 5 healthy young subjects walking at two different speeds, through a leave-one-out cross-subject validation. The results show that the method is highly effective, yielding to an average performance of about 95% of correct phase classification, and 85 to 90% of phase transitions detected inside an acceptance window of 50ms.
The Importance of Cultural Factors in R&D Intensity

Research and development (R&D) investments are a key issue for companies. In an increasingly competitive economy, R&D can be a source of competitive advantage. Therefore, a profuse research line on the reasons that can motivate firms for R&D investment has emerged. Theoretical frameworks include the resource-based theory, the creative destruction model, the domestic competitive pressure model, and the exposure to international competition model, among others. However, the culture of the country is not widely used as an explanatory variable. Therefore, in this article we will test the extent to which R&D intensity in European countries may be explained by cultural dimensions. Our study included observations from 6,919 firm-year data from 1,517 firms in a sample of 13 European countries. The results support the idea that culture influences R&D intensity.
A Travel Cost Analysis of the Recreational Value of Nature Based Tourism in Zambia

This paper estimates the demand for nature based tourist visits to Zambia and the willingness of international tourists to pay to visit Zambia using a single site individual travel cost model. The model estimated is corrected for both truncation of the dependent variable and endogenous stratification that arises due to on-site sampling. We find a negative binomial specification provides stable estimates of consumer surplus under alternative definitions of travel cost. International visitors to Zambia enjoy a sizable consumer surplus. These results provide information about the economic value of nature based tourism in Zambia and can form the basis of tourism development policies that attempt to capture those values. JEL Classification: C24, C25, I31, Q26.
A matter of presence: A qualitative study on teaching individual and collective music classes

In the current study, 11 expert music teachers were asked to reflect on their own practice and compare their experience of individual and collective teaching settings. Adopting an approach based on grounded theory, two interrelated themes were identified in the raw data: teaching issues and professional development. In both categories, the notion of ‘presence’ emerged as a defining feature of the comparison. Teachers reported to be less present in collective settings, whereas one would expect that the higher (cognitive, teaching, etc.) demands associated with more learners would result in teachers being instead more involved in the unfolding dynamics of the lesson. Inspired by the conceptual tools offered by the Extended Mind (ExM) approach, we suggest that in collective settings teachers feel less present because they can offload the cognitive role of ‘teacher’ onto the learners, giving rise to a hybrid extended system that fosters a shared sense of responsibility, where pedagogical dynamics are functionally distributed across the whole group. In reporting excepts from music teachers, and adopting a novel perspective to frame our discussion, our research may contribute to existing literature in (collective) music pedagogy.