Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter by ultrasound: a means of detecting acute raised intracranial pressure in hydrocephalus

Aim: To evaluate the utility of measuring the optic nerve sheath diameter in children with shunted hydrocephalus, suspected of having raised intracranial pressure. Methods: 23 children with shunted hydrocephalus were examined, six had well controlled ICP, 17 however manifested symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension. A clinical history was taken from all patients and their parents or carers. The shunt valve was examined clinically, and signs of raised intracranial pressure were sought. Ultrasound examination was performed in both eyes to measure the optic nerve sheath diameters 3 mm behind the globe. These measurements were compared with control data obtained from 102 children who attended the radiology department for unrelated renal ultrasound examination. Results: Control data suggested that the upper limit of normal for optic nerve sheath diameter is 4.5 mm (measured 3 mm behind the globe) in patients over 1 year of age, and 4.0 mm in children less than 1 year of age. Those patients with functioning ventriculoperitoneal shunts had a mean optic nerve sheath diameter of 2.9 (SD 0.5) mm; those with raised intracranial pressure had a mean optic nerve sheath diameter of 5.6 (0.6) mm (p<0.0001). These results confirm that optic nerve sheath diameters in excess of the control data are strongly suggestive of raised intracranial pressure. Conclusion: The evaluation of the optic nerve sheath diameter is a simple non-invasive procedure, which is a potentially useful tool in the assessment and monitoring of children with hydrocephalus suspected of having raised intracranial pressure.
Time-Behavior Models : A Conceptual Tool for Analyzing Decision-Making Options When Multiple Timescales and Network Effects Come into Play

Numerous studies in behavioral economics show that human decision-making tends to overweight short-term benefit over longer-term opportunity. The inability to pay proper attention to effects that emerge slowly over extended periods of time poses challenges to addressing problems in widely varying domains, including savings behavior, climate change, and health behaviors. The paper presents an approach to modeling individual human and organizational behaviors which are periodic and which extend over a range of timescales. Within this "time-behavior" framework, the determinants for shifting from short-response to longer-term regularized behaviors are examined from a cognitive and information theoretic perspective. A model is developed which differentiates short-term behaviors (called tØ) from behaviors which are characterized by repeated events with cumulative impact over time. These " t1-behaviors " reflect a type of Fourier decomposition of behaviors with multiple periodicities. T2 and t3-behaviors are introduced which account different network effects as t1-behaviors are replicated across populations. The model can be used as both a descriptive tool which accounts for powerful growth effects and a decision making tool to identify critical behaviors that act as control points for influencing change in a particular environmental domain. The paper suggests ways to understand the infrastructure that supports the transition from short-term tØ time-behaviors to regularized t1 and higher-order behaviors. The model is structurally stable when applied to varying domains in financial services, healthcare, environment, and organizational change. Examples are provided.
ADAPTAÇÃO E VALIDAÇÃO DA ESCALA DE COMPETÊNCIAS DE ESTUDO PARA ALUNOS DE ENGENHARIA E TECNOLOGIAS: UMA ANÁLISE EM ALUNOS DE ENGENHARIA COM DESEMPENHO EXCELENTE

RESUMO: Diversas caracteristicas pessoais tem sido relacionadas com um desempenho excelente no rendimento dos alunos do ensino superior, nomeadamente no que diz respeito a forma como os alunos se envolvem e procedem nas suas tarefas de estudo. Nesta comunicacao, iremos apresentar uma analise das propriedades metricas da Escala de Competencias de Estudo (ECE-Sup), aplicada em alunos de engenharia da Universidade do Minho. Nesta versao da escala, a analise factorial sugere a presenca de quatro factores, mais concretamente: Motivacao para a aprendizagem/Abordagem profunda, Comportamentos de estudo, Planeamento e gestao do tempo e Avaliacao. As sub-escalas referentes a estes quatro factores apresentam indices de consistencia interna entre . 82 e . 56, sendo mais elevados os indices de alpha nas subescalas com maior numero de itens. Complementarmente, procedeu-se a uma analise de eventuais diferencas nas quatro dimensoes tomando um grupo de alunos excelentes e um grupo de alunos nao excelentes. Os resultados apontam para uma diferenca estatisticamente significativa a favor dos alunos excelentes na sub-escala da Motivacao para a aprendizagem (F(1,223)= 11.149; p < 0.005) e a favor dos alunos nao excelentes na sub-escala Planeamento e gestao do tempo (F(1,223)= 9.333; p < 0.005).
Measuring credibility of users in an E-learning social network

Learning Villages (LV) is an E-learning platform for people's online discussions and frequently citing postings of one another. It will greatly improve learning efficiency if credible users can be accurately identified in the E-learnning community. In this paper, we propose a novel method to rank credibility of users in the LV system. We first propose a k-EACM graph to describe the article citation structure in the LV system. The k-EACM graph not only describes the citation attitude between articles but also takes into account indirect citation links. We further build a weighted graph model k-UCM graph to reveal the implicit relationships between users hidden behind the citations among their articles. Finally, we design a graph based ranking algorithm, called Credible Author Ranking (CAR) algorithm, which can be applied to rank nodes in a graph with negative edges. We perform experiments on three simulated data sets. The experimental results show that our proposed method works well to rank credibility of users in the LV system. The comparison of results on average credibility of users in each set and composition of users in top N of three cases demonstrates that the CAR algorithm ranks users credibility in consistent with the predefined ground truth.
Zombie memory: Extending memory lifetime by reviving dead blocks

Zombie is an endurance management framework that enables a variety of error correction mechanisms to extend the lifetimes of memories that suffer from bit failures caused by wearout, such as phase-change memory (PCM). Zombie supports both single-level cell (SLC) and multi-level cell (MLC) variants. It extends the lifetime of blocks in working memory pages (primary blocks) by pairing them with spare blocks, i.e., working blocks in pages that have been disabled due to exhaustion of a single block's error correction resources, which would be 'dead' otherwise. Spare blocks adaptively provide error correction resources to primary blocks as failures accumulate over time. This reduces the waste caused by early block failures, making working blocks in discarded pages a useful resource. Even though we use PCM as the target technology, Zombie applies to any memory technology that suffers stuck-at cell failures. This paper describes the Zombie framework, a combination of two new error correction mechanisms (ZombieXOR for SLC and ZombieMLC for MLC) and the extension of two previously proposed SLC mechanisms (ZombieECP and ZombieERC). The result is a 58% to 92% improvement in endurance for Zombie SLC memory and an even more impressive 11x to 17x improvement for ZombieMLC, both with performance overheads of only 0.1% when memories using prior error correction mechanisms reach end of life.
Human Action Recognition Using Multi-Velocity STIPs and Motion Energy Orientation Histogram

Local image features in space-time or spatio-temporal interest points provide compact and abstract representations of patterns in a video sequence. In this paper, we present a novel human action recognition method based on multi-velocity spatio-temporal interest points (MVSTIPs) and a novel local descriptor called motion energy (ME) orientation histogram (MEOH). The MVSTIP detection includes three steps: first, filtering video frames with multi-direction ME filters at different speeds to detect significant changes at the pixel level; thereafter, a surround suppression model is employed to rectify the ME deviation caused by the camera motion and complicated backgrounds (e.g., dynamic texture); finally, MVSTIPs are obtained with local maximum filters at multi-speeds. After detection, we develop MEOH descriptor to capture the motion features in local regions around interest points. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated on KTH, Weizmann, and UCF sports human action datasets. Results show that our method is robust to both simple and complex backgrounds and the method is superior to other methods that are based on local features.
Volatile Anesthetics Block Intercellular Communication Between Neonatal Rat Myocardial Cells

The effects of halothane and ethrane on gap junction-mediated intercellular communication and on membrane excitability were examined in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes using whole-cell voltage-clamp and current-clamp techniques. Excitability was maintained at doses of both anesthetics that reversibly abolished current flow through junctional membranes. The degree of reduction of junctional conductance was a steep function of the dose of anesthetic; complete block occurred at lower aqueous concentrations of halothane than ethrane. The time course for loss of communication was rapid; 90% reduction of initial junctional conductance occurred in less than 15 seconds after exposure to 2 mM halothane or 4 mM ethrane. Recovery of junctional conductance and junctional permeability to intracellularly injected Lucifer yellow was rapid and complete on washout of the anesthetics. As junctional conductance was reduced by halothane or ethrane exposure, unitary conductance of the gap junctional channels remained constant at about 50 pS. Uncoupling by these anesthetics is thus attributable to a decrease in the number of conducting channels rather than to reduction of the channel's unitary conductance. The data are discussed with regard to the possible role of this intercellular communication pathway in the arrhythmias and alterations of conduction velocity and contractility produced by volatile anesthetics.
Assessment of the content validity of Functional Skills Measure after Paralysis with nominal group discussion and revision of its content

Miyasaka H, Kondo I, Kato H, Takahashi C, Uematsu H, Yasui C, Tani A, Miyata M, Wada N, Teranishi T, Wada Y, Sonoda S. Assessment of the content validity of Functional Skills Measure after Paralysis with nominal group discussion and revision of its content. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2011; 2: 24�30 Purpose: The purposes of this study were to assess the content validity of Functional Skills Measure after Paralysis (FSMAP) and to revise its content to make it appropriate for use in the clinical setting. Methods: Eight occupational therapists (OTs) participated in the questionnaire study. Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to measure the content validity. Before using the NGT, we set an 80% agreement as the criterion for consent. If the agreement for an item did not reach this level and the item’s content validity was not high enough, we revised its content. We repeated the same assessment for the revised FSMAP by using a questionnaire. Results: In the fi rst assessment, 8 out of 15 items (including the subitems and descriptions) did not reach the predetermined agreement level. In the second assessment, 1 out of 15 items did not reach the agreement level. We fi nished the assessment process because we judged that the content validity of FSMAP reached a satisfactory level after the revision of this item. Discussion: We think that FSMAP should be revised to make it appropriate for use in the clinical setting after assessing its content validity.
Automatic Acquisition of Expressions Representing Preparation and Utilization of an Object Kentaro Torisawa Japan

This paper proposes an automatic acquisition method for preparation roles (PRs) and utilization roles (URs), which are analogues of agentive and telic roles in Generative Lexicon Theory. URs roughly express the purpose and function of a given object, and are defined as paraphrases of expressions such as “using an object” or “enjoying an object. ” A PR of an object is defined as an expression referring to a part of the preparation process to achieve the URs of an object. We regard “reading a book” as a UR of the book, and regard “buying a book” or “opening a book” as PRs. We expect that the acquired roles are useful in various inferences, such as plan recognition, by intelligent agents.
Spatiotemporal Controls on Observed Daytime Ozone Deposition Velocity Over Northeastern U.S. Forests During Summer

Spatiotemporal variability in ozone dry deposition is often overlooked despite its implications for interpreting and modeling tropospheric ozone concentrations accurately. Understanding the influences of stomatal versus nonstomatal deposition processes on ozone deposition velocity is important for attributing observed changes in the ozone depositional sink and associated damage to ecosystems. Here, we aim to identify the stomatal versus nonstomatal deposition processes driving observed variability in ozone deposition velocity over the northeastern United States during June–September. We use ozone eddy covariance measurements from Harvard Forest in Massachusetts, which span a decade, and from Kane Experimental Forest in Pennsylvania and Sand Flats State Forest in New York, which span one growing season each, along with observation‐driven modeling. Using a cumulative precipitation indicator of soil wetness, we infer that high soil uptake during dry years and low soil uptake during wet years may contribute to the twofold interannual variability in ozone deposition velocity at Harvard Forest. We link stomatal deposition and humidity to variability in ozone deposition velocity on daily timescales. The humidity dependence may reflect higher uptake by leaf cuticles under humid conditions, noted in previous work. Previous work also suggests that uptake by leaf cuticles may be enhanced after rain, but we find that increases in ozone deposition velocity on rainy days are instead mostly associated with increases in stomatal conductance. Our analysis highlights a need for constraints on subseasonal variability in ozone dry deposition to soil and fast in‐canopy chemistry during ecosystem stress.
System-Oriented Harmonic-Balance Algorithms for Circuit-Level Simulation

This paper discusses a self-consistent set of modern computational concepts providing an effective approach to the circuit-level harmonic-balance (HB) simulation of nonlinear microwave systems of complex topology. The system is automatically split into the interconnection of a near-optimal number of nonlinear blocks at run time. The resulting structure is then exploited by the domain-partitioning concept. A block-wise constant spectrum is used rather than a common spectrum by considering for each block only the set of spectral lines that are relevant to its electrical function, which leads to a very significant reduction in the number of problem unknowns. System simulation under digitally modulated RF drive is reduced to a sequence of modified multitone HB analyses that are backward coupled through the envelope dynamics. Besides providing high numerical efficiency, this set of techniques opens the way to an effective co-simulation of RF and baseband transceiver sections.
Parametric Design Method Based on Grasshopper and Shoe Last Bottom Pattern Moulding Characteristics

To adapt to the user’s need for flexible and custom design of shoes, a more efficient customization method is explored. Combined with the formation characteristics of the shoe last bottom map, each characteristic parameter and related algorithm are analysed. Based on the importance of the shape control, the feature parameters are graded. The parametric design plug-in Grasshopper of Rhino software is used to construct the automatic moulding program of the shoe last bottom to form a professional and feasible design method. Through the time consumption comparison between the traditional method and the parametric design method, the efficiency advantage is analysed, so as to truly improve the design and production efficiency of the customized shoe last bottom.
Scan-Along Polygonal Approximation for Data Compression of Electrocardiograms

Three fast and efficient "scan-along" algorithms for compressing digitized electrocardiographic data are described. These algorithms are "scan-along" in the sense that they produce the compressed data in real time as the electrocardiogram is generated. The algorithms are based on the minimum perimeter polygonal approximation for digitized curves. The approximation restricts the maximum error to be no greater than a specified value. Our algorithms achieve a compression ratio of ten on a database of 8000 5-beat abnormal electrocardiograms sampled at 250 Hz and a compression ratio of eleven on a database of 600 3-beat normal electrocardiograms (different from the preceding database) sampled at 500 Hz.
High-Pitch Dual-Source Computed Tomography Renal Angiography Comparison With Conventional Low-Pitch Computed Tomography Angiography: Image Quality, Contrast Medium Volume, and Radiation Dose

Objective The objective of this study was to compare the image quality (IQ), contrast medium (CM) volume, and radiation dose of the high-pitch renal computed tomography angiography (CTA) with low-pitch protocol. Methods Fifty patients underwent renal CTA on a dual-source 128-slice scanner via a high-pitch mode (pitch = 2.05) with 0.5-mL/kg CM injection, whereas 50 patients were also scanned on the same scanner with low-pitch (pitch = 0.6) and 1.0 mL/kg CM injection. Subjective IQ was evaluated. Objective IQ was determined by the signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio. Effective radiation dose was also evaluated. Results The contrast-to-noise ratio and signal-to-noise ratio values as well as the IQ scores between the 2 groups had no significant differences (P > 0.05). The effective radiation dose of the high-pitch group was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Conclusions High-pitch scan can provide similar subjective and objective IQ compared with low-pitch protocol for renal CTA, whereas CM volume and radiation exposure were significantly reduced.
Bit allocation for multi-source multi-path P2P video streaming in VoD systems over wireless mesh networks

In this paper, we aim at maximizing quality playback of received video streaming perceived by users in video on-demand systems (VoDs) over wireless mesh networks (WMNs). To do so, we exploit the benefits of both multi-source multi-path (MSMP) delivery scheme and broadcast nature of wireless media in WMNs. In this way, a new user can efficiently receive the descriptions of a video streaming from different peers (i.e., the available users who have cached the video) via the best parallel selected paths between each peer-user pair. Based on MSMP delivery scheme, we propose an optimization problem and solve it for optimal encoding rate (i.e., optimal bit allocation) of the video streaming encoded by multiple description coding (MDC) in order to provide the user with maximum reconstructed quality playback. In this technique, the optimal bit allocation is found in connection with not only the skewed lossy characteristic of multi-path but also the skewed intra popularity of the video streaming modeled by Zipf-like distribution. Furthermore, we apply MDC embedded forward error correction (MDC-FEC) for more robust in video transmission. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method efficiently improves the quality playback of MSMP P2P video streaming in VoDs over WMNs.
Carotid Sinus Syndrome: a review of the literature and our experience using carotid sinus denervation.

BACKGROUND The Carotid Sinus Syndrome (CSS) is a rare condition causing spontaneous syncopal attacks or marked dizziness. METHODS We studied 28 patients affected by CSS from January 1991 to October 1996. Eleven patients affected by cardioinhibitory type were treated by pace-maker (PM) implant. Seventeen patients had mixed type and all, but one who refused any treatment, entered this study. Carotid Sinus Denervation (CSD) was first performed in 2 of 10 patients who remained symptomatic after PM and in 6 patients as first choice therapy. RESULTS At a mean follow-up of 30 months no patient submitted to CSD had recurrent syncopal attacks or dizziness. CONCLUSIONS CSD is a safe and simple technique to abolish either the cardioinhibitory or the vasodepressor response in CSS.
A Hidden Markov Model Based System for Entity Extraction from Social Media English Text at FIRE 2015

This paper presents the experiments carried out by us at Jadavpur University as part of the participation in FIRE 2015 task: Entity Extraction from Social Media Text - Indian Languages (ESM-IL). The tool that we have developed for the task is based on Trigram Hidden Markov Model that utilizes information like gazetteer list, POS tag and some other word level features to enhance the observation probabilities of the known tokens as well as unknown tokens. We submitted runs for English only. A statistical HMM (Hidden Markov Models) based model has been used to implement our system. The system has been trained and tested on the datasets released for FIRE 2015 task: Entity Extraction from Social Media Text - Indian Languages (ESM-IL). Our system is the best performer for English language and it obtains precision, recall and F-measures of 61.96, 39.46 and 48.21 respectively.
Microbial Insight into a Pilot-Scale Enhanced Two-Stage High-Solid Anaerobic Digestion System Treating Waste Activated Sludge

High solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD) is a rapidly developed anaerobic digestion technique for treating municipal sludge, and has been widely used in Europe and Asia. Recently, the enhanced HSAD process with thermal treatment showed its advantages in both methane production and VS reduction. However, the understanding of the microbial community is still poor. This study investigated microbial communities in a pilot enhanced two-stage HSAD system that degraded waste activated sludge at 9% solid content. The system employed process “thermal pre-treatment (TPT) at 70 °C, thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD), and mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD)”. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens Methanothermobacter spp. dominated the system with relative abundance up to about 100% in both TAD and MAD. Syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO) bacteria were discovered in TAD, and they converted acetate into H2 and CO2 to support hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. The microbial composition and conversion route of this system are derived from the high solid content and protein content in raw sludge, as well as the operational conditions. This study could facilitate the understanding of the enhanced HSAD process, and is of academic and industrial importance.