Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular disease risk assessment innovative approaches developed in HeartCycle project

Two innovative CVD event risk assessment strategies were developed in the scope of HeartCycle project: i) combination of individual risk assessment tools; ii) personalization of risk assessment based on grouping of patients. These approaches aimed to defeat some of the major limitations of the tools currently applied in the daily clinical practice, namely to: i) improve the risk prediction performance when comparing it to the one achieved by the individual current risk assessment tools; ii) consider the available knowledge provided by other risk assessment tools; iii) cope with missing risk factors; iv) incorporate additional clinical knowledge. Two different real patients' datasets were applied to validate the developed strategies: i) Santa Cruz Hospital, Portugal, N=460 ACS-NSTEMI1 patients; ii) Leiria Pombal Hospital Centre, Portugal, N=99 ACS-NSTEMI. Based on the gathered results, we propose a new strategy in order to improve patients' stratification.
A 0.36 pJ/bit, 12.5 Gb/s forwarded-clock receiver with a sample swapping scheme and a half-bit delay line

A 12.5Gb/s forwarded clock receiver based on a DLL with a bang-bang PD is presented. The stuck locking is detected and averted by swapping edge and data samples at the output of the PD. Moreover, required delay range of the VCDL is reduced by half with the proposed sample swapping scheme. The prototype chip exhibits the power efficiency of 0.36pJ/bit and occupies 0.025mm2. Due to the wide jitter tracking bandwidth of DLL and the inherent jitter correlation between data and forwarded clock, the proposed receiver exhibits outstanding jitter tolerance whose corner frequency is higher than 300 MHz.
An Optical Flow Odometry Sensor Based on the Raspberry Pi Computer

The thesis describes the design and implementation of an odometry sensor suitable for micro aerial vehicles. The sensor is based on a ground-facing camera and a single-board Linux-based embedded computer with a multimedia SoC. The SoC features a hardware video encoder which is used to estimate optical flow in a real-time. The optical flow is then used in combination with a distance sensor to estimate vehicle’s velocity. The proposed sensor is compared to a similar existing solution and evaluated in both indoor and outdoor environments. Moreover, alternative software approaches, independent of the selected board’s specific hardware and firmware implementation, are also proposed.
Chinese word segmentation and statistical machine translation

Chinese word segmentation (CWS) is a necessary step in Chinese-English statistical machine translation (SMT) and its performance has an impact on the results of SMT. However, there are many choices involved in creating a CWS system such as various specifications and CWS methods. The choices made will create a new CWS scheme, but whether it will produce a superior or inferior translation has remained unknown to date. This article examines the relationship between CWS and SMT. The effects of CWS on SMT were investigated using different specifications and CWS methods. Four specifications were selected for investigation: Beijing University (PKU), Hong Kong City University (CITYU), Microsoft Research (MSR), and Academia SINICA (AS). We created 16 CWS schemes under different settings to examine the relationship between CWS and SMT. Our experimental results showed that the MSR's specifications produced the lowest quality translations. In examining the effects of CWS methods, we tested dictionary-based and CRF-based approaches and found there was no significant difference between the two in the quality of the resulting translations. We also found the correlation between the CWS F-score and SMT BLEU score was very weak. We analyzed CWS errors and their effect on SMT by evaluating systems trained with and without these errors. This article also proposes two methods for combining advantages of different specifications: a simple concatenation of training data and a feature interpolation approach in which the same types of features of translation models from various CWS schemes are linearly interpolated. We found these approaches were very effective in improving the quality of translations.
Real time nonlinear model predictive control induced by local linear controller

In this paper, a new nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) algorithm guided by local linear controller is presented so that it is possible to be implemented in real time and obtain good performance. Firstly, in order to ensure the closed loop stability, a generalized pointwise min-norm (GPMN) controller formulation based on control Lyapunov functions (CLF) are given and parameterized. And then, the parameterized GPMN scheme is combined with the traditional NMPC algorithm. And the optimization variables in traditional NMPC are replaced by the parameters in GPMN, so that the computational burden of original NMPC algorithm can be reduced greatly. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to verify the feasibility and validity of the new algorithms.
Steric Limitations in the Interaction of the ATP Binding Domains of the ArsA ATPase*

ArsA, the catalytic subunit of an anion-translocating ATPase, has two consensus nucleotide binding sites, one N-terminal and one C-terminal. A mutation producing a G15C substitution in the N-terminal domain resulted in substantial reductions in arsenite resistance, transport, and ATPase activity. A second site revertant (A344V) adjacent to the C-terminal nucleotide binding site was previously shown to restore arsenite resistance, suggesting the interaction of the nucleotide binding sites in ArsA (Li, J., Liu, S., and Rosen, B. P. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 25247–25252). In this study, it is shown that alteration of Ala-344 to bulkier residues, including Cys, Thr, Pro, Asp, Leu, Phe, Tyr, or Arg, also suppressed the G15C substitution. However, A344G or A344S substitutions only marginally suppressed the primary mutation. Alteration of Gly-15 to Ala, Cys, Asp, Tyr, or Arg each resulted in decreased arsenite resistance. The larger the residue volume of the substitution, the lower the resistance, with a G15R substitution producing the least resistance. Resistance in a strain expressing an arsA gene encoding the G15R substitution could be rescued by A344S, A344T, A344D, A344R, or A344V second site suppressors. The larger the residue is then the greater the suppression is. The in vitro ArsA ATPase activities from purified wild type, G15A, G15C, and G15R exhibits an inverse relationship between activity and residue volume. Purified G15A and G15C exhibited both an increase in the K m for ATP and a decrease inV max. The results are consistent with a physical interaction of the two nucleotide binding domains and indicate that the geometry at the interface between the N- and C-terminal nucleotide binding sites places spatial constraints on allowable residues in that interface.
Cryptic preference for MHC-dissimilar females in male red junglefowl, Gallus gallus

An increasing number of studies test the idea that females increase offspring fitness by biasing fertilization in favour of genetically compatible partners; however, few have investigated or controlled for corresponding preferences in males. Here, we experimentally test whether male red junglefowl, Gallus gallus, prefer genetically compatible females, measured by similarity at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a key gene complex in vertebrate immune function. Theory predicts that because some degree of MHC heterozygosity favours viability, individuals should prefer partners that carry MHC alleles different from their own. While male fowl showed no preference when simultaneously presented with an MHC-similar and an MHC-dissimilar female, they showed a ‘cryptic’ preference, by allocating more sperm to the most MHC-dissimilar of two sequentially presented females. These results provide the first experimental evidence that males might respond to the MHC similarity of a female through differential ejaculate expenditure. By revealing that cryptic male behaviours may bias fertilization success in favour of genetically compatible partners, this study demonstrates the need to experimentally disentangle male and female effects when studying preferences for genetically compatible partners.
Estimating Species Trees Using Multiple-Allele DNA Sequence Data

Abstract Several techniques, such as concatenation and consensus methods, are available for combining data from multiple loci to produce a single statement of phylogenetic relationships. However, when multiple alleles are sampled from individual species, it becomes more challenging to estimate relationships at the level of species, either because concatenation becomes inappropriate due to conflicts among individual gene trees, or because the species from which multiple alleles have been sampled may not form monophyletic groups in the estimated tree. We propose a Bayesian hierarchical model to reconstruct species trees from multipleallele, multilocus sequence data, building on a recently proposed method for estimating species trees from single allele multilocus data. A two-step Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm is adopted to estimate the posterior distribution of the species tree. The model is applied to estimate the posterior distribution of species trees for two multiple-allele datasets—yeast (Saccharomyces) and birds (Manacus—manakins). The estimates of the species trees using our method are consistent with those inferred from other methods and genetic markers, but in contrast to other species tree methods, it provides credible regions for the species tree. The Bayesian approach described here provides a powerful framework for statistical testing and integration of population genetics and phylogenetics.
The incidence of eating disorders in the UK in 2000–2009: findings from the General Practice Research Database

Objectives Few studies have investigated the incidence of eating disorders (EDs). Important questions about changes in the incidence of diagnosed disorders in recent years, disorder and gender-specific onset and case detection remain unanswered. Understanding changes in incidence is important for public health, clinical practice and service provision. The aim of this study was to estimate the annual (age-specific, gender-specific and subtype-specific) incidence of diagnosed ED: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) in primary care over a 10-year period in the UK (2000–2009); to examine the changes within the study period; and to describe peak age at diagnosis. Design Register-based study. Setting Primary care. Data were obtained from a primary care register, the General Practice Research Database, which contains anonymised records representing about 5% of the UK population. Participants All patients with a first-time diagnosis of AN, BN and EDNOS were identified. Primary outcome Annual crude and age-standardised incidence rates were calculated. Results A total of 9072 patients with a first-time diagnosis of an ED were identified. The age-standardised annual incidence rate of all diagnosed ED for ages 10–49 increased from 32.3 (95% CI 31.7 to 32.9) to 37.2 (95% CI 36.6 to 37.9) per 100 000 between 2000 and 2009. The incidence of AN and BN was stable; however, the incidence of EDNOS increased. The incidence of the diagnosed ED was highest for girls aged 15–19 and for boys aged 10–14. Conclusions The age-standardised incidence of ED increased in primary care between 2000 and 2009. New diagnoses of EDNOS increased, and EDNOS is the most common ED in primary care.
Reversible logic and quantum computers.

This article is concerned with the construction of a quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian describing a computer. This Hamiltonian generates a dynamical evolution which mimics a sequence of elementary logical steps. This can be achieved if each logical step is locally reversible (global reversibility is insufficient). Computational errors due to noise can be corrected by means of redundancy. In particular, reversible error-correcting codes can be embedded in the Hamiltonian itself. An estimate is given for the minimum amount of entropy which must be dissipated at a given noise level and tolerated error rate.
In Situ Determination of the Elastic Modulus of Concrete by Means of Ultrasonic Pulse Method

The paper deals with the in-situ determination of the modulus of elasticity on the bridge elements using ultrasonic pulse method. This non-destructive test method was chosen for the measurement because of its undisputed advantages that allow the measurement of relatively thick layers of material. For the purpose of the elastic modulus verification the direct measurement was used, in which a pair of transducers (transmitter and receiver) were placed directly opposite to each other. The results of performed in-situ measurements as well as the results of verification tests performed in the laboratory are presented in the paper. The article also discusses the issue of evaluation and interpretation of the results obtained by in-situ measurements using non-destructive test method.
Al2O3:Nd3+ waveguide amplifiers for Use in optical backplanes

Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf>:Nd<sup>3+</sup> channel waveguide amplifiers with various lengths and Nd<sup>3+</sup> concentrations were fabricated. Internal net gain at 845–940 nm was investigated and a maximum 3 dB gain at 880 nm was obtained.
Automatic Learning of Proof Methods in Proof Planning

In this paper we present an approach to automated learning within mathematical reasoning systems. In particular, the approach enables proof planning systems to automatically learn new proof methods from well-chosen examples of proofs which use a similar reasoning pattern to prove related theorems. Our approach consists of an abstract representation for methods and a machine learning technique which can learn methods using this representation formalism. We present an implementation of the approach within the mega proof planning system, which we call Learnma tic. We also present the results of the experiments that we ran on this implementation in order to evaluate if and how it improves the power of proof planning systems.
Measuring key parameters of intense pulsed light (IPL) devices

Background: Unlike medical lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL) devices are largely unregulated and unclassified as to degree of safety hazard. With the exception of most of the USA, the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, the Far East and Australia, the sale of IPLs is generally unrestricted, with the majority being sold into the beauty therapy and spa markets. Standards are only imposed on manufacturers for technical performance data and operating tolerances determined by CE‐compliance under electrical safety standards or the EU Medical Device Directive. Currently, there is no requirement for measurement of key IPL performance characteristics. Objective: To identify the key IPL parameters, emphasize their importance in terms of safe and effective treatment and provide examples of preliminary measurement methods. These measurements can highlight changes in an IPL device's performance, improving patient safety and treatment efficacy. Methods: Five key parameters were identified as having an important role to play in the way light interacts with the skin, and therefore an important role in patient safety and effective treatment. Simple methods were devised to measure the parameters, which include fluence, pulse duration, pulse profile, spectral output and time‐resolved spectral output. Results: The measurement methods permitted consistent and comparable measurements to be made by two of the authors at working clinic locations on 18 popular IPL devices and allowed assessment of output variations. Results showed discrepancies between the measured IPL device outputs and those values displayed on the system or claimed by the manufacturers. The importance of these discrepancies and their impact is discussed. Conclusions: This study, of 18 popular devices in regular daily use in England and Wales, provides example methods for measuring key IPL device parameters and highlights the need for regular measurement of at least those five key parameters measured in this study. These methods can help service technicians to check performance and eliminate device malfunction.
Tracking and robustness analysis for UAVs with bounded feedbacks

We study an important class of tracking problems for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) with input constraints whose controls are the commanded heading angle and velocity. We design controllers that give global tracking control. Two key features are the bounds on our controllers and our proof that the tracking is input-to-state stable with respect to additive uncertainty on the velocity controller, under a restriction on the perturbation that respects the constraints. We allow a wide class of reference trajectories that satisfy a nondegeneracy condition on the reference velocity. We illustrate our work in simulations.
Assessing the Likelihood of an Important Clinical Outcome: New Insights from a Comparison of Clinical and Actuarial Judgment

Purpose . To assess and rank the performance of different methods of predicting the probability of death following a specified surgical procedure. Method . Actuarial estimates of the probability of early mortality for 40 patients were derived from 2 sources: a large published surgical series and a smaller series from the center where surgery was performed. Surgeons and cardiologists also provided probability estimates for these patients. Results . Estimates derived from the published literature were too optimistic and did not differentiate between patients more, or less, likely to die (i.e., failed to discriminate). Doctors’ judgments were unbiased but failed to discriminate. Local actuarial estimates (influenced by only 1 or 2 variables) were unbiased, did discriminate, but exhibited more random variation. Conclusions . The preferred source of estimates depends upon which aspect of accuracy is of greatest importance. Differences in patient selection and error in the identification of risk factors mean that published results will not always appropriately predict surgical risk at other institutions. Risk stratification may be more robust when based on a small set of cross-validated predictors rather than a larger set of predictors that includes some whose reliability has not been confirmed.
Evaluation of acoustic feedback cancellation methods with multiple feedback paths

Acoustic feedback limits the maximum stable gain of a public address system and may cause the system to become unstable. Acoustic feedback cancellation methods use an adaptive filter to identify the impulse response of the acoustic feedback path and then remove its influence from the system. However, if the traditional adaptive filtering algorithms are used, a bias is introduced in the estimate of the acoustic feedback path obtained by the adaptive filter. Several methods have been proposed to overcome the bias problem but they are generally evaluated considering a public address system with only one microphone and one loudspeaker. This work evaluates some of the state-of-art methods considering a public address system with one microphone and four loudspeakers that results in multiple feedback paths and corresponds to a more realistic scenario of a typical system. Simulation results demonstrated that, with multiple feedback paths, the acoustic feedback cancellation methods are able to increase in 12 dB the maximum stable gain of the public address system when the source signal is speech.
Event Pattern Detection for Embedded Systems

Events play an important role in many computer systems, from small reactive embedded applications to large distributed systems. Many applications react to events generated by a graphical user interface or by external sensors that monitor the system environment, and other systems use events for communication and synchronisation between independent subsystems. In some applications, however, individual event occurrences are not the main point of concern. Instead, the system should respond to certain event patterns, such as "the start button being pushed, followed by a temperature alarm within two seconds". One way to specify such event patterns is by means of an event algebra with operators for combining the simple events of a system into specifications of complex patterns.This thesis presents an event algebra with two important characteristics. First, it complies with a number of algebraic laws, which shows that the algebra operators behave as expected. Second, any pattern represented by an expression in this algebra can be efficiently detected with bounded resources in terms of memory and time, which is particularly important when event pattern detection is used in embedded systems, where resource efficiency and predictability are crucial.In addition to the formal algebra semantics and an efficient detection algorithm, the thesis describes how event pattern detection can be used in real-time systems without support from the underlying operating system, and presents schedulability theory for such systems. It also describes how the event algebra can be combined with a component model for embedded system, to support high level design of systems that react to event patterns.
Micropatterning in BioMEMS for Separation of Cells/Bioparticles

Biofluids remain a difficult issue in some drug delivery processes for separation of biopar - ticles through microchannels. This chapter reviews the techniques which have been sub stantiated and proven helpful for the separation of particles depending on mass and size with some constraints of high throughput. In this study, a key focus will be on separation criterion by patterning of a microchannel and utilize sieve type channels based on spheri - cal bioparticles. The first part focuses on the designing of the pattern for issues of the net work like clogging and theoretical experiments by both hydrodynamic and other passive methods for sorting/separation. The second part focuses on the simulations for separa tion for small and larger bio particles depending on mass and size, samples of blood and other Klebsiella infected fluidic samples for the experiment. The theme provided for mass and size-based separation is simple and can accomplish operations in microfluidics for several biological experiments, diagnosis approaches and zoological researches.
Peeking at A/B Tests: Why it matters, and what to do about it

This paper reports on novel statistical methodology, which has been deployed by the commercial A/B testing platform Optimizely to communicate experimental results to their customers. Our methodology addresses the issue that traditional p-values and confidence intervals give unreliable inference. This is because users of A/B testing software are known to continuously monitor these measures as the experiment is running. We provide always valid p-values and confidence intervals that are provably robust to this effect. Not only does this make it safe for a user to continuously monitor, but it empowers her to detect true effects more efficiently. This paper provides simulations and numerical studies on Optimizely's data, demonstrating an improvement in detection performance over traditional methods.