Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Early Exercise Engagement on Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health in Stroke and TIA Patients: Clinical Trial Protocol

Objective: This study will investigate the efficacy of implementing either an early or delayed exercise intervention on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health for newly diagnosed stroke and high-risk Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) patients. Methods: The study is a randomized, parallel group clinical trial. Patients will be recruited from a local hospital based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Participants will attend a baseline assessment within 2 to 7 days of stroke or TIA diagnosis. The assessment will consist of a series of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular primary and secondary outcome measures which will be assessed during some or all of the following; at rest, during a postural challenge, during a cerebral autoregulation and CO2 reactivity test and/or during an incremental exercise test. Primary outcome measures include vascular risk factors (resting blood pressure, blood lipid profile etc), arterial stiffness of the carotid artery and blood velocity of the carotid artery and middle cerebral artery. Secondary outcome measures include cerebral autoregulation, physical fitness, and central and peripheral blood pressure. Following the baseline assessment, participants will be randomized to either a 12-week exercise programme which will commence within 7 days (early) or 28 days (delayed) of stroke/TIA diagnosis, or to a usual care control group. The exercise programme will consist of twice weekly, 60 minute, prescribed aerobic exercise sessions, and one 30 minute home-based aerobic exercise session. An identical assessment will be implemented post-intervention. Given the practical implications of the study, the clinical significance of early or delayed exercise engagement will be assessed for each outcome variable. Conclusion: This study will advance our knowledge concerning the timing, importance and viability of exercise as a secondary prevention strategy for improving health outcomes for stroke and TIA patients. The study will provide much needed objective data for stroke and high-risk TIA patients concerning the physiological effect of regular exercise participation.
Evaluation of pretreatment methods for the anaerobic digestion of bean straw

Purpose Agriculture residues such as bean straw are worldwide sources of biomass that hold large potential as feedstock for bioenergy production in the form of biogas via anaerobic digestion (AD). Methods Bean straw was subjected to a biological (fungi fermentation), thermal (121°C) and chemical (2.8% HCl, 132.2 °C) pretreatment to determine the hydrolysis of the lignocellulosic compounds (lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose). Then, the hydrolysates from each pretreatment were used as substrate in three UASB labscale bioreactors for biogas production. Methane yield, cost of reagents, energy consumption/production associated to each pretreatment were compared. Results The chemical pretreatment displayed higher lignin and hemicellulose degradation (66.91 and 67.93%, respectively) as well as a higher amount of cellulose release (68.12%). The biological, chemical and thermal hydrolysates contained 7.28, 14.58 and 10.61 g/L of total sugars, respectively, which correspond to a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 7.91, 18.87 and 12.45 g/L, respectively. Similar biogas production (646811 mL of biogas and 0.23-0.27 L CH4/gCOD) as well as total sugars and COD degradation (above 80%) were encountered in the three bioreactors. Biological pretreatment displayed higher energy consumption during the pretreatment in comparison with the thermal and chemical pretreatment, however the chemical pretreatment resulted more expensive due to the costs of reagents. Conclusions The results demonstrated that the COD biodegradability and total sugars characteristics are similar regardless the pretreatment. The total energy consumption and costs associated to each pretreatment surpass the total energy production on the three pretreatments, thus demonstrating the need for process improvement.
Dissertation corner: Handling constrained optimization problems and using constructive induction to improve representation spaces in learnable evolution model

This dissertation investigates two closely related problems in the learnable evolution model: the automatic improvement of the representation space using constructive induction, and the handling of constraints in optimization tasks. The former includes an investigation of the theoretical and implementational aspects of representation space transformations in the context of complex optimization problems, the development of algorithms that perform these transformations, and algorithms for creating new candidate solutions (via instantiation) in the improved representation spaces. Handling specific types of constraints is closely related to the equation instantiation task in the modified representation spaces; therefore, the same methods can be used for solving both problems. Moreover, transformations of representation spaces may help in handling constraints of other types, that is, constraints that cannot be handled directly during the instantiation process. The developed algorithms are implemented in the LEM3 and AQ21 systems and tested on a set of constrained and non-constrained benchmark optimization problems. Two exemplary applications to optimization of complex systems in the context of selected medical datasets are also presented. These applications are the optimization of AQ21 parameters, and automatic discretization of numeric attributes.
The influence of melodic and rhythmic redundancies on recognition memory for unknown musical themes

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the influence of melodic and rhythmic redundancies, and their interaction with tonality, on recognition memory for music. Forty-four non-musicians performed a recognition task with unknown musical material. Stimuli created for experimental purposes were made up of 48 short melodies (half tonal and half non-tonal) and were characterized by the presence of three kinds of musical redundancy: melodic only, rhythmic only, or both melodicrhythmic. In a first phase, subjects listened to a study list of 24 stimuli. After 20 minutes, a test list containing 48 stimuli (24 previously heard and 24 novel ones) was administered, and subjects were asked to indicate for each item whether the melody: was recognized from the study list (R response); evoked a sense of familiarity (K response); or was not recognized at all (X response). Major results showed that tonality influences semantic, but not episodic memory, and that the two systems are differentially affected by the type of redundancy (especially melodic-rhythmic, which has a large effect on episodic memory but is ineffective for semantic memory). Moreover, tonality and the type of redundancy systematically interact only in the episodic memory system. Thus, evidence supports disassociation of the two memory systems. Furthermore, R and X responses showed a symmetry in their trend, suggesting a role for X responses as counterparts of the R responses within the episodic memory system. Melodic-rhythmic redundancy demonstrated the most prominent effects on the episodic system, whereas the assessment comparing melodic versus rhythmic only as the pre-eminent type of redundancy was more ambiguous. Finally, non-tonal stimuli were found to be more sensitive than tonal stimuli, whereby they showed differential effectiveness regarding redundancy type, a result which suggests that they could prove serviceable in future studies concerning recognition memory for music.
A Configurable and Low-Power Mixed Signal SoC for Portable ECG Monitoring Applications

This paper describes a mixed-signal ECG System-on-Chip (SoC) that is capable of implementing configurable functionality with low-power consumption for portable ECG monitoring applications. A low-voltage and high performance analog front-end extracts 3-channel ECG signals and single channel electrode-tissue-impedance (ETI) measurement with high signal quality. This can be used to evaluate the quality of the ECG measurement and to filter motion artifacts. A custom digital signal processor consisting of 4-way SIMD processor provides the configurability and advanced functionality like motion artifact removal and R peak detection. A built-in 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is capable of adaptive sampling achieving a compression ratio of up to 7, and loop buffer integration reduces the power consumption for on-chip memory access. The SoC is implemented in 0.18 μm CMOS process and consumes 32 μW from a 1.2 V while heart beat detection application is running, and integrated in a wireless ECG monitoring system with Bluetooth protocol. Thanks to the ECG SoC, the overall system power consumption can be reduced significantly.
Social representations of the wolf

Restoring species to their former range has become a major goal in official environmental policy. Under strict protection, the expansion of a new wolf population has been taking place on the Scandinavian Peninsula since the late 1980s, leading to much controvery in rural areas. Most research on conflicts concerning wolves has taken antagonistic attitudes as a point of departure. In this article we question such an approach. Taking social representations as our framework for analysis, our aim has been to find out how wolves are perceived and whether an analysis of such cultural meanings could contribute to a better understanding of the conflicts accompanying wolf recovery. Focus group interviews in two areas in Eastern Norway suggest that it is not antagonistic interpretations of the carnivores’ nature that fuel the conflicts over wolves, but different views as to whether they belong in the areas where they are now found. Yet, at the same time, it is against the undisputed background of the wolf’s perceived character that the negotiations over their belonging to Norwegian nature make sense. We so argue that the theory of social representations provides a comprehensive framework for studying the complex relationship between consensus and diverging opinions, and between culturally embedded representations and conflict, that appears to lie at the heart of such issues.
Theoretical Performance Analysis of the IEEE 802.15.3a UWB Channel Model

In wireless communication systems, it is well known that the moments of the instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) determine various performance measures. In the case of the IEEE 802.15. 3a ultra-wideband (UWB) channel model, these performance measures have usually been estimated via simulation. However, there has recently been considerable progress in the theoretical analysis of this model by treating it as a two-dimensional Poisson cluster process. This theoretical framework is exploited in this paper to obtain formulas for the characteristic function of the SNR for both maximum-likelihood receivers and maximal ratio combining receivers. It is shown that several performance measures can be computed either in closed form or numerically. Closed-form expressions for the average SNR, amount of fading (AF), and higher-order statistics of the SNR are derived, and the outage probability is computed numerically without simulation.
Exploring inner source as a form of intraorganisational open innovation

Open Innovation, of which open source software (OSS) is a well-cited example, can be analysed at a number of levels, including the inter- and intra-organisational networking level. However, most research to date on open innovation has focussed on inter-firm level and inter-organisational networking, hence neglecting the implications that open innovation has ‘within’ the organisation. Inner source leverages key open source practices in order to decouple platform and products groups with respect to their release timing. Similar to open source development, inner source applies an open, concurrent model of collaboration and thus could be seen as a good exemplar of open innovation at the intra-organisational level. However there is a paucity of research exploring inner source as a form of open innovation within organisations. Additionally, there is limited research that has examined the influence of inner source development on the creation and management of internal networks. Using a case study approach, we seek to address this gap. The findings are analysed using a theoretical framework of three core open innovation processes as a lens to examine inner source as a form of open innovation inside a company.
Numerical solution of fractional partial differential equations using cubic B-spline wavelet collocation method

Physical processes with memory and hereditary properties can be best described by fractional differential equations based on the memory effect of fractional derivatives. For that reason reliable and efficient techniques for the solution of fractional differential equations are needed. Our aim is to generalize the wavelet collocation method to fractional partial differential equations using cubic B-spline wavelet. Analytical expressions of fractional derivatives in Caputo sense for cubic spline functions are presented. The main characteristic of the approach is that it converts such problems into those of solving a system of algebraic equations, which is suitable for numerical calculation. Numerical results demonstrate the validity and applicability of the method in solving fractional differential equation. The results from this method are good in terms of accuracy if the exact solution to fractional differential equation is in sufficient smooth.
The Causes of Human Behavior: Implications for Theory and Method in the Social Sciences

Acknowledging that though the disciplines are supposed to be cumulative, there is little in the way of accumulated, general theory, this work opens a dialogue about the appropriate means and ends of social research based in analysis of fundamental issues.This book examines two root issues in the methodology of explanatory social research--the meaning of the idea of causation in social science and the question of the physiological mechanism that generates intentional behavior. Conclusions on these as well as on several derived problems emerge through the analysis. Among the latter, the analysis shows that neither universal nor probabilistic laws governing human behavior are possible, even within the positivist or empiricist traditions in which laws are a central feature. Instead, the analysis reveals a more modest view of what an explanatory social theory can be and do. In this view, the kind of theory that can be produced is basically the same in form and content across quantitative and qualitative research approaches, and similarly across different disciplines. The two streams of analysis are combined with resulting implications for large-sample, small-sample, and case study research design as well as for laws and theory.Written for the practicing empirical researcher in political science and organization theory, whether quantitative or qualitative, the major issuesand findings are meant to hold identically, however, for history, sociology, and other social science disciplines.Lawrence B. Mohr is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Michigan.
The role and impact of social relationships upon well-being reported by mental health service users: A qualitative study

A number of quantitative studies of people with severe mental illness show that, as with the general population, supportive social relationships are associated with well-being but the nature and causation of this association are unclear. To enhance services' contribution to the social support needs of their clients, this study explores the association qualitatively from the perspective of the lived experience of 27 mental health service users. Social contacts were reported to be both protective and damaging to mental health and it was common for close social relationships in particular to be both supportive and harmful. Loneliness was reported to be a problem, and almost all social contact was valued and perceived as better than none at all. Mental health problems led to changes in network composition and lack of balance in relationships, and this was sometimes difficult to reverse. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.
Alcoholics Anonymous Sponsorship: Characteristics of Sponsored and Sponsoring Members

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) sponsorship is associated with better recovery outcomes, but little is known about the types of people who assume sponsorship roles. An anonymous online survey of AA members (N = 264) recorded demographic data, substance use experience, and status as a sponsor and/or sponsee. Compared to the unsponsored, the sponsored were younger and more likely childless and religious/spiritual. Compared to those who were not sponsors, sponsors were older and more likely married, parents, and religious/spiritual. None of the substance use experience variables was associated with sponsee or sponsor status.
Mycobacteria in Water Used for Personal Hygiene in Heavy Industry and Collieries: A Potential Risk for Employees

Environmental mycobacteria (EM) constitute a health risk, particularly for immunocompromised people. Workers in heavy industry and in collieries represent an at-risk group of people as their immunity is often weakened by long-term employment in dusty environments, frequent smoking and an increased occurrence of pulmonary diseases. This study was concerned with the presence of EM in non-drinking water used for the hygiene of employees in six large industrial companies and collieries. Over a period of ten years, 1096 samples of surface water treated for hygiene purposes (treated surface water) and treated surface water diluted with mining water were examined. EM were detected in 63.4 and 41.5% samples of treated surface water and treated surface water diluted with mining water, respectively. Mycobacterium gordonae, M. avium-intracellulare and M. kansasii were the most frequently detected species. Adoption of suitable precautions should be enforced to reduce the incidence of mycobacteria in shower water and to decrease the infectious pressure on employees belonging to an at-risk group of people.
Modular Checking of C Programs Using SAT-Based Bounded Model Checker

Static program analysis is promising as a complement to conventional testing methods relying on program executions. This paper introduces VARVEL, a SAT-based bounded model-checker for C programs. It has a notion of Design by Contract (DbC) explicitly and therefore modular checking of large C programs is achieved to resolve the scalability problem that model-checkers are usually faced with. Further, VARVEL provides advanced DbC features in that we can handle C programs having pointers to functions, re-entrancy problems, and defensive programming style. We also report some results of using VARVEL for the analysis of industrial C programs.
Kernel Measures of Independence for non-iid Data

Many machine learning algorithms can be formulated in the framework of statistical independence such as the Hilbert Schmidt Independence Criterion. In this paper, we extend this criterion to deal with structured and interdependent observations. This is achieved by modeling the structures using undirected graphical models and comparing the Hilbert space embeddings of distributions. We apply this new criterion to independent component analysis and sequence clustering.
Diagnosis of Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis by Detection of Circulating Antigen and Antibody in Cerebrospinal Fluid

ABSTRACT Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis (neuroPCM) is the central nervous system infection by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Its diagnosis is a difficult task that depends on neuroimaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, the detection of circulating P. brasiliensis antigens in body fluids by inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (inh-ELISA) has provided encouraging results. In this study, 14 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 11 serum samples of patients with neuroPCM were analyzed by inh-ELISA for detection of circulating glycoprotein antigens of 43 kDa (gp43) and 70 kDa (gp70). Circulating gp43 and gp70 antigens were detected in all CSF samples from patients with neuroPCM at mean concentrations of 19.3 and 6.8 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, both gp43 and gp70 antigens were detected in 10 of 11 serum samples analyzed at mean concentrations of 4.6 and 4.0 μg/ml, respectively. By immunodiffusion test, CSF samples were determined to be negative in 13 of 14 samples. The detection of anti-gp43 and anti-gp70 antibodies by conventional ELISA showed positive results for all CSF samples, with titers ranging from 1:50 to 1:51,200. Therefore, the high sensitivity of the inh-ELISA technique in detecting gp43 and gp70 antigens in the CSF of neuroPCM patients strongly indicates that this assay can be considered as a powerful diagnostic tool. In addition, the finding of anti-gp43 and anti-gp70 antibodies in CSF samples by conventional ELISA also seems to be a promising diagnostic method for this special modality of PCM.
Strings From N = 4 Super Yang Mills

Exploiting insights on strings moving in pp-wave backgrounds, we show how open strings emerge from N = 4 SU(N) Yang-Mills theory as fluctuations around certain states carrying R-charge of order N . These states are dual to spherical D3-branes of AdS5 × S5 and we reproduce the spectrum of small fluctuations of these states from Yang-Mills theory. When G such D3branes coincide, the expected G2 light degrees of freedom emerge. The open strings running between the branes can be quantized easily in a Penrose limit of the spacetime. Taking the corresponding large charge limit of the Yang-Mills theory, we reproduce the open string worldsheets and their spectra from field theory degrees of freedom.
Ultimate linewidth reduction of a semiconductor laser frequency-stabilized to a Fabry-Perot interferometer

We report a theoretical dynamical analysis on effect of semiconductor laser phase noise on the achievable linewidth when locked to a Fabry-Perot cavity fringe using a modulation-demodulation frequency stabilization technique such as the commonly used Pound-Drever-Hall frequency locking scheme. We show that, in the optical domain, the modulation-demodulation operation produces, in the presence of semiconductor laser phase noise, two kinds of excess noise, which could be much above the shot noise limit, namely, conversion noise (PM-to-AM) and intermodulation noise. We show that, in typical stabilization conditions, the ultimate semiconductor laser linewidth reduction can be severely limited by the intermodulation excess noise. The modulation-demodulation operation produces the undesirable nonlinear intermodulation effect through which the phase noise spectral components of the semiconductor laser, in the vicinity of even multiples of the modulation frequency, are downconverted into the bandpass of the frequency control loop. This adds a spurious signal, at the modulation frequency, to the error signal and limits the performance of the locked semiconductor laser. This effect, reported initially in the microwave domain using the quasistatic approximation, can be considerably reduced by a convenient choice of the modulation frequency.
When MTTDLs Are Not Good Enough : Providing Better Estimates of Disk Array Reliability

While mean time to data loss (MTTDL) provides an easy way to estimate the reliability of redundant disk arrays, it fails to take into account the relatively short lifetime of these arrays. We analyzed five different disk array organizations and compared the reliability estimates obtained using their mean times to data loss with the more exact values obtained by directly solving their corresponding Markov model. We observed that the conventional MTTDL approach generally provided a good estimate of the long-term reliability of arrays— with the exception of non-repairable arrays—while significantly underestimating the short-term reliability of these arrays. 12