Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of a home exercise video programme in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE This pilot study investigated whether a home exercise video programme could improve exercise tolerance and breathlessness in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS Twenty subjects completed the study after being randomized to intervention or control. The intervention group (n=10), watched a 19-min video on the benefits of exercise for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and were given a 30-min exercise video, an illustrated exercise diary and an educational booklet about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for use at home. They were advised to follow the exercise video programme 4 times a week for 6 weeks. The control group (n=10) received the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease educational booklet only. Exercise tolerance was measured using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test and breathlessness by the self-reported Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire. RESULTS The median change in the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test and breathlessness score significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control (+45 m vs -15 m, p=0.013 and +0.5 vs -0.1 Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire units, p=0.042). The other findings for the self-reported Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire showed significant improvements in the intervention group for emotion (p<0.001) and fatigue (p=0.012), but not mastery (p=0.253). CONCLUSION This pilot study suggests that participation in a home exercise video programme may benefit people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Calcium Homeostasis and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Cells Transformed by Mitochondria from Individuals with Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with defects in mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial-based disturbances in calcium homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and amyloid metabolism have been implicated in the pathophysiology of sporadic AD. The cellular consequences of mitochondrial dysfunction, however, are not known. To examine these consequences, mitochondrially transformed cells (cybrids) were created from AD patients or disease-free controls. Mitochondria from platelets were fused to ρ0 cells created by depleting the human neuroblastoma line SH-SY5Y of its mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). AD cybrids demonstrated a 52% decrease in electron transport chain (ETC) complex IV activity but no difference in complex I activity compared with control cybrids or SH-SY5Y cells. This mitochondrial dysfunction suggests a transferable mtDNA defect associated with AD. ROS generation was elevated in the AD cybrids. AD cybrids also displayed an increased basal cytosolic calcium concentration and enhanced sensitivity to inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3)-mediated release. Furthermore, they recovered more slowly from an elevation in cytosolic calcium induced by the InsP3 agonist carbachol. Mitochondrial calcium buffering plays a major role after this type of perturbation. β-amyloid (25–35) peptide delayed the initiation of calcium recovery to a carbachol challenge and slowed the recovery rate. Nerve growth factor reduced the carbachol-induced maximum and moderated the recovery kinetics. Succinate increased ETC activity and partially restored the AD cybrid recovery rate. These subtle alterations in calcium homeostasis and ROS generation might lead to increased susceptibility to cell death under circumstances not ordinarily toxic.
Cooperative Relative Localization for Mobile Robot Teams: An Ego-Centric Approach

Abstract : This paper describes a cooperative relative localization method for mobile robot teams. That is, it describes a method whereby each robot may determine the pose of every other robot in the team, relative to itself. This method does not require GPS, landmarks, or any kind of environment model. Instead, robots make direct measurements of the relative pose of nearby robots, and broadcast this information to the team as a whole; each robot processes this information to generate ego-centric estimates of the pose of other robots, including those robots that they cannot observe directly. The method makes use of a Bayesian formalism and particle filter implementation, and is, as a result, very robust. The system described in this paper will both self-initialize (i.e., it does not require a priori pose estimates) and self-correct (it can recover from tracking failures). The method is well suited to applications involving unstructured, unknown, or nonstationary environments.
Adaptive coded modulation in spatial and multiuser diversity systems

This thesis consists of five included papers plus an introduction. The majority of the papers are devoted to performance analysis of an adaptive coded modulation (ACM) scheme based on multidimensional trellis codes. Primarily, single-user systems exploiting spatial diversity are analysed, but results are also presented for a multiuser system exploiting multiuser diversity.The performance of the ACMscheme is evaluated for slowly flat-fading channels. When spatial diversity is exploited at the receiver end only, the analysis is focused on two different combining techniques: maximum ratio combining (MRC) and switched combining. Amultiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO) diversity system is also considered, in which case the combined effect of both transmit and receive diversity is realized by using space-time block coding at the transmitter.For wireless systems using spatial diversity, it is of interest to employ measures which can capture and quantify the performance improvement related to a reduced fading level. In this thesis, ameasure called the amount of fading (AF) is used to characterize the behavior of the error rate curve at a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In particular, closed-form expressions for the AF at the output of a MIMO diversity system are provided, and it is shown that for a constant correlation model, the average symbol error probability at high SNRs may be expressed in terms of the AF.Finally, a set of switched multiuser access schemes are proposed based on switched diversity algorithms originally devised to select between antennas in a spatial diversity system. ACM is used on each selected link to ensure a high spectral efficiency of the system.
Evaluation of the Impact of Human Papillomavirus DNA Self-sampling on the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening

Background: The rate of uptake of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is generally low. Its causal relationship with human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA allows HPV DNA self-sampling to be used as an alternative screening tool for cervical cancer. Objectives: This study explored the acceptability of HPV DNA self-sampling and its impact on the rate of compliance with cervical cancer screening. Methods: A crossover randomized clinical trial was conducted in community-based clinics. Participants were allocated to 1 of the following 2 arms: arm 1: self-sampling before a Pap smear; and arm 2: a Pap smear before self-sampling. After completing the 2 screening methods, participants in each arm took part in face-to-face interviews using standardized, structured questionnaire. Results: The participants accepted both self-sampling (7.7/10) and a Pap smear (7.8/10) for cervical cancer screening. However, participants without previous experience of Pap smears or who had more than 2 sexual partners preferred self-sampling (P < .05). The participants expressed overall positive feelings toward self-sampling, and there was good agreement in HPV detection between the 2 screening methods (&kgr; = 0.65). We estimate that the introduction of HPV DNA self-sampling could increase the future rate of uptake of cervical cancer screening by 6.5% and would entail lower costs. Conclusion: Human papillomavirus DNA self-sampling could be an alternative screening method to increase the coverage of cervical cancer screening. Implications for Practice: Human papillomavirus DNA self-sampling could overcome the barriers raised by Pap smears and enhance the coverage of cervical cancer screening. Promotional publicity and education are essential.
Increment Threshold Functions in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Purpose To assess scotopic background adaptation in subjects with a history of preterm birth and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Retinopathy of prematurity is known to have long-term effects on rod photoreceptor and rod mediated postreceptor retinal function. Methods Rod-mediated thresholds for detection of 3° diameter, 50 ms stimuli presented 20° from fixation were measured using a spatial forced choice method in 36 subjects (aged 9–17 years) with a history of preterm birth and 11 age similar term-born subjects. Thresholds were measured first in the dark-adapted condition and then in the presence of 6 steady background lights (−2.8 to +2.0 log scot td). A model of the increment threshold function was fit to each subject's thresholds to estimate the dark-adapted threshold (TDA) and the Eigengrau (A0, the background that elevates threshold 0.3 log unit above TDA). Results In subjects with a history of severe ROP, both TDA and A0 were significantly elevated relative to those in former preterms who never had ROP and term-born control subjects. Subjects who had mild ROP had normal TDA but elevated A0. Neither TDA nor A0 differed significantly between former preterms who never had ROP and term-born controls. Conclusions The results suggest that in severe ROP, threshold is affected at a preadaptation site, possibly the rod outer segment. In mild ROP, changes in the Eigengrau may reflect increased intrinsic noise in the photoreceptor or postreceptor circuitry or both.
Novel method for failure prognostics of power MOSFET

Switched mode power supplies have become ubiquitous in electronic modules and systems. From converting power types, power levels, or driving actuators, these power converters embody varying topologies but usually have high switching rates of up to 500 kHz, power devices such as MOSFETs, microelectronic components and a mix of passive components that store and release energy. They are complex modules that have an unfortunate history of observed high failure rates, yet they may be required to support critical systems. MOSFET plays an increasingly important role in energy conversion and application, it is also the weakest link in the SMPS systems, so that power MOSFET could be used for prognostics of the SMPS. In this paper, a novel method for prognosis of power MOSFET is introduced with the measurement of the timing delay between the Gate-Source and Drain-Source, the time delay will increase with the usage of power MOSFET, as the threshold voltage shifts, also the capacitor of the gate-source increase, which could be measured with the proposed method, the prognostics of MOSFET could be easily implemented.
Accurate eye localization in low and standard definition content

In this paper we address the problem of eye localization in low and standard definition content, such as webcam-generated and TV images. We present a probabilistic eye localization method based on well-known multiscale local binary patterns (LBPs), which provide a simple and powerful spatial description of texture, and are robust to the noise typical to low and standard definition content. Our primary contribution is in the proposed method of combining the LBPs that is targeted towards achieving spatial accuracy under mentioned conditions. Evaluation performed on a standard dataset of webcam-quality images shows that our approach has superior performance with respect to the state of the art, while having a reasonable complexity and a low memory footprint.
A high-speed adaptive multi-module structured light scanner

Motion capturing systems that are based on 3D models require high-speed scanning methods. One-shot structured light techniques aim at a good balance between speed and accuracy. Due to pattern interference, currently available setups capture 3D only from one single viewpoint. We propose work to enable oppositely positioned scanning modules to acquire 3D data simultaneously and thereby to speed up the acquisition even further. Key is the application of dynamic projection masks, that limit the structured light projection to the relevant part of the scene, i.e. the person. This requires tracking of the person’s outline.
International Journal of Advances in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Performance Analysis of Fine Grain Pipelined Fixed Width Multiplier Architecture for Fir Filter Application

This paper is based on architectural manipulation of fixed width multiplier (FWM), designed for FIR filter to lower down the dynamic power consumption. The speed and power consumption of DSP algorithms like FIR filter which uses multiplier as a core computationally complex design is governed by the critical path of the multiplier used. To lower down the power consumption or increase the speed, the cut set theory of taking a feed forward cut set is used in this work. The paper presents the comparative analysis of performance parameters of FWM taken with a feed forward cut set internally (fine grained). The state of art work on fixed width multiplier and the row column bypassing to reduce the power consumption of the multiplier is discussed and a fine grain pipelined designed for the FWM in FIR design is analyzed. The pipelined design shows the improvement in delay by 34% and dynamic power consumption by 36%.
Mothers and fathers in treatment for methamphetamine addiction—Parenting, parental stress, and children at risk

German Institute of Addiction and Prevention Research, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Koln, Germany Ruhr‐University Bochum, Bochum, Germany Correspondence Janina Dyba, German Institute of Addiction and Prevention Research, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Woerthstr. 10, Koeln D‐50668, Germany. Email: j.dyba@katho‐nrw.de Funding information German Federal Ministry of Health, Grant/ Award Number: ZMVI1‐2516DSM202
Car relocation for carsharing service: Comparison of CPLEX and greedy search

In this paper, we present two approaches to solve the relocation problem in one-way carsharing system. We start by formulating the problem as an Integer Linear Programming Model. Then using mobility data collected from an operational carsharing system, we built demands matrices that will be used as input data for our solver. We notice that the time needed to solve the ILP using an exact solver increases dramatically when we increase the number of employees involved in the relocation process and when the system gets bigger. To cope with this problem, we develop a greedy algorithm in order to solve the relocation problem in a faster time. Our algorithm takes one second to solve the relocation problem in worst cases; also, we evaluated the robustness of the two approaches with stochastic input data using different numbers of employees.
Caffeine impairs resection during DNA break repair by reducing the levels of nucleases Sae2 and Dna2

In response to chromosomal double-strand breaks (DSBs), eukaryotic cells activate the DNA damage checkpoint, which is orchestrated by the PI3 kinase-like protein kinases ATR and ATM (Mec1 and Tel1 in budding yeast). Following DSB formation, Mec1 and Tel1 phosphorylate histone H2A on serine 129 (known as γ-H2AX). We used caffeine to inhibit the checkpoint kinases after DSB induction. We show that prolonged phosphorylation of H2A-S129 does not require continuous Mec1 and Tel1 activity. Unexpectedly, caffeine treatment impaired homologous recombination by inhibiting 5′ to 3′ end resection, independent of Mec1 and Tel1 inhibition. Caffeine treatment led to the rapid loss, by proteasomal degradation, of both Sae2, a nuclease that plays a role in early steps of resection, and Dna2, a nuclease that facilitates one of two extensive resection pathways. Sae2's instability is evident in the absence of DNA damage. A similar loss is seen when protein synthesis is inhibited by cycloheximide. Caffeine treatment had similar effects on irradiated HeLa cells, blocking the formation of RPA and Rad51 foci that depend on 5′ to 3′ resection of broken chromosome ends. Our findings provide insight toward the use of caffeine as a DNA damage-sensitizing agent in cancer cells.
Matching Matchings

This paper presents the first steps toward a graph comparison method based on matching matchings, or in other words, comparison of independent edge sets in graphs. The novelty of our approach is to use matchings for calculating distance of graphs in case of edge-colored graphs. This idea can be used as a preprocessing step of graph querying applications, to speed up exact and inexact graph matching methods. We introduce the notion of colored matchings and prove some properties of them in edge colored complete graphs and complete bipartite graphs in case of two colors.
Visual Recognition to Access and Analyze People Density and Flow Patterns in Indoor Environments

This work describes our experience developing a system to access density and flow of people in large indoor spaces using a network of RGB cameras. The proposed system is based on a set of overlapped and calibrated cameras. This facilitates the use of geometric constraints that help to reduce visual ambiguities. These constraints are combined with classifiers based on visual appearance to produce an efficient and robust method to detect and track humans. In this work, we argue that flow and density of people are low level measurements that need to be complemented with suitable analytic tools to bridge semantic gaps and become useful information for a target application. Consequently, we also propose a set of analytic tools that help a human user to effectively take advantage of the measurements provided by the system. Finally, we report results that demonstrate the relevance of the proposed ideas.
Thematic uncertainty visualization usability – comparison of basic methods

The uncertainty of geographic data and visualization can be viewed from different angles. While the conceptual and theoretical base is quite wide, visualization tools and pilot projects are rare, and there exist only a few studies dealing with the user's ability to cope with uncertainty visualization efficiency. This article introduces two widely used uncertainty visualization methods – maps compared and maps combined – and focuses on the usability issues of these methods. A combination of the regular kriging interpolation method and interpolation uncertainty values was used for maps compared, while the whitening approach was applied for maps combined. During this study, we electronically interviewed and tested more than 100 participants with backgrounds in geography or computer science. Both the above-mentioned methods were tested on three different levels. On the first level, the intuitiveness of the whitening method was questioned. On the second level, both methods were compared taking into account the simple decoding of predicted values (interpolation results), uncertainty decoding and the decoding of both variables (uncertainty and interpolation results) at the same time. Finally, the ability to compare two or more values was tested for the same combinations. Both correctness and processing time were recorded in order to enable further statistical processing. The overall testing was performed within the web-interactive environment developed specifically for interdisciplinary (cartographic–psychology) purposes.
POSITION-BASED VISUAL SERVOING IN INDUSTRIAL MULTI-ARM ROBOTIC CELLS USING MULTIPLE CAMERAS

Abstract This paper deals with position-based visual servoing in a multi-arm robotic cell equipped with a hybrid eye-in-hand/eye-to-hand multi-camera system. The proposed approach is based on the real-time estimation of the pose of a target object using the extended Kalman filter. The data provided by all the cameras are selected by a suitable algorithm on the basis of the prediction of the object self occlusions and of the mutual occlusions caused by the robot links and tools. Only an optimal subset of image features is considered for feature extraction, thus ensuring high estimation accuracy with a computational cost independent of the number of cameras. An experimental case study is presented for the case of two industrial robots performing a vision-guided grasping task.
Sampling rate impact on the performance of a head-related impulse response decomposition method

In order to achieve highly accurate 3D audio spatialization, an intended listener must undergo measurements in a specialized instrumentation system to obtain "individual" Head-Related Impulse Responses (HRIRs). Our goal is to create a customizable sound spatialization system that would not require complex individual measurements. Our approach is based on the reliable decomposition of measured HRIRs into damped sinusoidals. A previously developed method showed good performance in decomposing HRIRs collected by us at a sampling frequency of 96 kHz, but other HRIR databases comprise HRIRs recorded at lower rates. This paper compares the performance of our automated decomposition method with sampling rates of 96 kHz and 48 kHz.
Synthesis and Assembly of the Box C+D Small Nucleolar RNPs

ABSTRACT Two core small nucleolar RNP (snoRNP) proteins, Nop1p (fibrillarin in vertebrates) and Nop58p (also known as Nop5p) have previously been reported to be specifically associated with the box C+D class of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Here we report that Nop56p, a protein related in sequence to Nop58p, is a bona fide box C+D snoRNP component; all tested box C+D snoRNAs were coprecipitated with protein A-tagged Nop56p. Analysis of in vivo snoRNP assembly indicated that Nop56p was stably associated with the snoRNAs only in the presence of Nop1p. In contrast, Nop58p and Nop1p associate independently with the snoRNAs. Genetic depletion of Nop56p resulted in inhibition of early pre-rRNA processing events at sites A0, A1, and A2 and mild depletion of 18S rRNA. However, Nop56p depletion did not lead to codepletion of the box C+D snoRNAs. This is in contrast to Nop58p, which was required for the accumulation of all tested box C+D snoRNAs. Unexpectedly, we found that Nop1p was specifically required for the synthesis and accumulation of box C+D snoRNAs processed from pre-mRNA introns and polycistronic transcripts.
Measuring the Algorithmic Convergence of Random Forests via Bootstrap Extrapolation

When making predictions with a voting rule, a basic question arises: “What is the smallest number of votes needed to make a good prediction? ” In the context of ensemble classifiers, such as Random Forests or Bagging, this question represents a tradeoff between computational cost and statistical performance. Namely, by paying a larger computational price for more classifiers, the prediction error of the ensemble tends to improve and become more stable. Conversely, by using fewer classifiers and tolerating some variability in accuracy, it is possible to speed up the tasks of training the ensemble and making new predictions. In this paper, we propose a bootstrap method to quantify this tradeoff for the methods of Bagging and Random Forests. To be specific, suppose the training dataset is fixed, and let the random variable Errt denote the prediction error of a randomly generated ensemble of t = 1, 2, . classifiers. (The randomness of Errt comes only from the algorithmic randomness of the ensemble.) Working under a “first order model” of Random Forests, we prove that the centered law of Errt can be consistently estimated via our proposed method as t→∞. As a consequence, this result offers practitioners a guideline for choosing the smallest number of base classifiers needed to ensure that the algorithmic fluctuations are negligible, e.g. var(Errt) less than a given threshold.