Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards Solving Decision Making Problems Using Probabilistic Model Checking

Decision making seeks the optimal choice for maximum rewards or minimal costs under certain conditions, requirements and constraints. Decision making problems in practice are usually complicated as they may be partially observable, stochastic, and dynamic. Such complexities make the traditional decision making methods like mathematical programming difficult to find the optimal choices effectively and efficiently. In this work, we conduct a case study with the 4-player Kuhn Poker game by combining machine learning with probabilistic model checking to generate optimal decisions. Experimental results show that the agent employing our method outperforms the conservative and bluffing players regardless of the positions of players.
Preparation of photocured azidophenyl‐fish gelatin and its capturing of human epidermal growth factor on titanium plate

Protein immobilization is important in various medical fields that involve the use of metal. Titanium has been often utilized in various medical fields based on its biocompatibility and noncytotoxicity. However, as an unmodified titanium surface is not suitable, dopamine must be coated on the titanium surface. Among gelatin sources, fish gelatin is more suitable in the human body and does not pose serious side effects compared to porcine gelatin. Therefore, a photoreactive azidophenyl group was introduced to fish gelatin to create azidophenyl-fish gelatin (azidophenyl-f.gel). The azidophenyl group was analyzed by 1H-NMR, UV spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The curing ratio of azidophenyl-f.gel was measured using a micropatterning plate. Epidermal growth factor immobilization ability, cytotoxicity, and cell attachment tests were performed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Flexural vibrations of microcantilevers coupled with a nanofiber

In this study, the flexural vibrations of a microcantilever system coupled with a nanofiber offset from the free ends of the cantilevers are explored. Here, for this system, we derive the general expressions for the characteristic equation and sensitivity of vibration modes of a microcantilever system with a nanofiber wrapped offset from the free ends of the cantilevers. It is shown that each mode has a different sensitivity that depends on the nanofiber stiffness relative to the beam stiffness. We also show how the characteristic equation can be exploited with the knowledge of the resonant frequencies to determine the nanofiber stiffness and its attachment position on the microcantilevers. Plots of nanofiber position on the cantilevers versus wavenumber are used to show the effect of the position of the nanofiber on frequency measurements. The results are anticipated to provide a basic understanding between the vibration modes and the properties of the electrospun nanofibers, that may be used to optimize the experiments.
Thermomechanical Analysis of Wood/Aminoplastic Adhesives Joints Cross-Linking - UF, MUF, PMUF

Non-isothermal and isothermal thermomechanical analysis (TMA) of the cross-linking and hardening of wood joints bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF), melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF), and phenol-melamine-urea-formaldehyde (PMUF) resins was carried out, allowing the determination of the variation of physical properties of these thermosetting adhesives in situ in the wood joint. Gelling temperature, hardening and vitrification temperature and temperature at which relative elastic moduli reach their maximum were also determined for wood joints obtained with the three resins. Deductions as regards rates of hardening, influence of amount of hardener and of curing temperature are reported on the basis of the measured TMA variation of the relative elastic moduli of the joints assemblies.
Relay selection strategies for SWIPT-enabled cooperative wireless systems

In this paper, we study a problem of relay selection in a two-hop relaying network where the destination is equipped with Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transmission (SWIPT) capabilities. In contrast to conventional cooperative networks, the destination node is considered to be capable of simultaneously decoding information and harvesting energy from both the source and the relay transmissions. In this context, we formulate two optimization problems for both time switching (TS) and power splitting (PS) based SWIPT schemes. The first problem is the maximization of the overall user data rate while ensuring a minimum harvested power. The second problem focuses on the maximization of the overall harvested power at the user under the constraint on the minimum achievable rate. Assuming an amplify-and-forward (AF) relay protocol, closed-form solutions are obtained for the selection of an optimal relay, relay amplification coefficient and the optimal time or power splitting factor. The performance of the proposed relay selection strategies with the aforementioned objectives is evaluated and compared with the case of random relay selection. Furthermore, the Rate-Energy (R-E) tradeoff performance of the scenario with both the direct and indirect relay-assisted links is compared to the case where only a relay-assisted link is available. Our simulation results demonstrate the significant benefits of combining direct and indirect links in SWIPT-enabled cooperative networks in terms of the R-E tradeoff.
Automatic detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in an ECG signal

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of the most common deadly heart diseases. In this paper, several CAD diagnosis methodologies and their limitations are discussed. Moreover, a full system for automated CAD diagnoses is built and evaluated. A linear feature extraction method for Electrocardiography (ECG) signals classification is proposed. Simulation results show that the proposed method achieves an accuracy above 90%.
A Stochastic Home Energy Management System Considering Satisfaction Cost and Response Fatigue

Home energy management (HEM) systems enable residential consumers to participate in demand response programs (DRPs) more actively. However, HEM systems confront some practical difficulties due to the uncertainty related to renewable energies as well as the uncertainty of consumers’ behavior. Moreover, the consumers aim for the highest level of comfort and satisfaction in operating their electrical appliances. In addition, technical limits of the appliances must be considered. Furthermore, DR providers aim at keeping the participation of consumers in DRPs and minimize the “response fatigue” phenomenon in the long-term period. In this paper, a stochastic model of an HEM system is proposed by considering uncertainties of electric vehicles availability and small-scale renewable energy generation. The model optimizes the customer's cost in different DRPs, while guarantees the inhabitants’ satisfaction by introducing a response fatigue index. Different case studies indicate that the implementation of the proposed stochastic HEM system can considerably decrease both the customers’ cost and response fatigue.
Resource Allocation for Content Delivery in Cache-Enabled OFDMA Small Cell Networks

To deal with explosively growing demands for multimedia contents from mobile users, content caching in base stations has been considered as an effective solution to improve the network performance by, e.g., offloading network traffic and improving users' Quality of Service (QoS). Moreover, the proactive caching policy in a cache- enabled system needs to be optimized taking into account of content delivery by wireless transmissions. Thus, in this paper, we investigate and propose an efficient resource allocation scheme for min-rate guaranteed content delivery in the downlink multiuser cache-enabled orthogonal frequency division multiple access small cell networks (OFDMA-SCNs). Our aim is to maximize the weighted sum of data rates in an OFDMA-SCN based on the constraints of the caching method, users' QoS, subcarrier reuse and small base stations' transmit power. We employ the alternating direction multiplier method to decompose the formulated complex nonconvex optimization problem into a series of simpler subproblems for which optimal solutions can be easily obtained, and propose corresponding low-complexity methods to solve the subproblems and then the whole problem. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed resource allocation scheme.
Differential Probe Fed Liquid Crystal-Based Frequency Tunable Circular Ring Patch Antenna

A differential probe-fed liquid crystal (LC)-based frequency tunable circular-ring patch antenna is presented. Besides, cavity model is extended to analyze the LC-based antenna for the differential operation. According to the cavity model, the permittivity and loss tangent of the LC are extracted from the measured differential reflection coefficients. Acceptable agreements among the measurement, simulation, and calculation for differential impedances, reflection coefficients, and radiation patterns are obtained and also validate the extraction method and model. More importantly, the extended cavity model can provide a deep physical insight into the LC-based antenna.
Effects of Pathogenic Variations in the Human Rhodopsin Gene (hRHO) on the Predicted Accessibility for a Lead Candidate Ribozyme

Purpose The mutation-independent strategy for hammerhead ribozyme (hhRz) or RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene therapeutics to treat autosomal dominant diseases is predicated on the hypothesis that a single therapeutic would equivalently suppress all/most of the diverse mutant mRNAs in patients with the disease phenotype. However, the hypothesis has not been formally tested. We address this through a comprehensive bioinformatics study of how mutations affect target mRNA structure accessibility for a single lead hhRz therapeutic (725GUC↓), designed against human rod rhodopsin mRNA (hRHO), for patients with hRHO mutations that cause autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Methods A total of 199 in silico coding region mutations (missense, nonsense, insert, deletion, indel) were made in hRHO mRNA based on Human Gene Mutation Database and Database of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Each mRNA was folded with MFold, SFold, and OligoWalk algorithms and subjected to a bioinformatics model called multiparameter prediction of RNA accessibility. Predicted accessibility of each mutant over both a broad local region and the explicit lead ribozyme annealing site were compared quantitatively to wild-type hRHO mRNA. Results Accessibility of the 725GUC↓ site is sensitive to some mutations. For single nucleotide missense mutations, proximity of the mutation to the hhRz annealing site increases the impact on predicted accessibility, but some distant mutations also influence accessibility. Conclusions A mutation-independent strategy appears viable in this specific context but certain mutations could significantly influence ribozyme or RNAi efficacy through impact on accessibility at the target annealing site/region. This possibility must be considered in applications of this gene therapy strategy.
Qualitative Analysis of Infant Safe Sleep Public Campaign Messaging

The 1994 Back to Sleep public education campaign resulted in dramatic reductions in sleep-related infant deaths, but comparable progress in recent years has been elusive. We conducted qualitative analyses of recent safe sleep campaigns from 13 U.S. cities. Goals were to (a) determine whether the campaigns reflect the full range of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2011 safe sleep recommendations, (b) describe tone and framing of the messages (e.g., use of fear appeals), (c) describe targeting/tailoring of messages to priority populations, and (d) ascertain whether the campaigns have been evaluated for reach and/or effectiveness. Methods included computer-assisted analyses of campaign materials and key informant interviews. All campaigns included “ABC” (Alone, Back, Crib) messaging; many ignored other AAP recommendations such as breastfeeding, room-sharing, immunizations, and avoiding smoke exposure. Campaigns frequently targeted priority populations such as African Americans. Fear appeals were used in three quarters of the campaigns, and 60% of the fear-based campaigns used guilt/blame messaging. We did not find published evaluation data for any of the campaigns. More attention is needed in public education campaigns to the full range of AAP recommendations, and evaluations are needed to determine the impact of these interventions on knowledge, behavior, and health outcomes.
Physiological Responses Evoked by Fabric Sounds and Related Mechanical and Acoustical Properties

This study is performed to determine the characteristics of fabric sounds and the mechanical properties to predict their auditory comfort. In order to obtain quantitative information about emotional changes evoked by fabric sounds, physiological signals are acquired and analyzed when each fabric sound is presented to participants. Physiological parameters employed in this study are electroencephalogram and autonomic nervous system activities, including photoplethysmogram (PPG), skin conductance level (SCL), and the ratio of low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF) from the power spectrum of heart rate variability. As sound parameters, the pressure level of total sound (LPT), loudness(z), and sharpness(z) are calculated. Mechanical properties of the fabrics are measured with the KES-FB system. Bending hysteresis and weight. reflect negative sensations, influencing slow alpha, LF/HF, and SCL. Among sound parameters, LPT, loudness(z), and sharpness(z) influence negative sensations, causing the increment of SCL and LF/HF with the decrement of slow alpha and PPG.
Prevalence of low vision in elderly patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit in Liverpool: elderly people who fall are more likely to have low vision.

The prevalence of visual impairment among elderly patients admitted to hospital is unknown. This group of patients may be particularly at risk from poor vision which could jeopardise their independence. A prospective study of visual imapairment and its aetiology in acute geriatric admissions assessed after the acute illness had settled was performed. Subjects were all patients aged 65 years or over, excluding those chronically confused, admitted to the Department of Geriatric Medicine at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital with an acute medical illness. After the acute illness had settled visual impairment, as defined by the American criteria (best acuity 6/18), was assessed on the ward with a Snellen chart read at 6 m using binocular vision and current glasses. Those patients identified with impaired vision on initial screening were formally assessed in the ophthalmology department to identify the cause. 200 patients were examined. 101 patients (50.5%) had impaired vision. In these patients, correctable refractive errors were present in 40%, cataract in 37% and senile macular degeneration in 14%. Of the 101 patients with impaired vision 79% had a reversible cause. Comparing these results with a recent study in the community showed a much higher incidence for patients admitted to hospital. There was a particularly high prevalence in those elderly patients who were admitted with falls (76%, p = 0.0003). In conclusion, elderly patients, especially those presenting with falls, admitted to hospital have a high prevalence of visual impairment. Visual impairment may be compounding or causing falls. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Efficient energy beamforming for multi-device microwave wireless power transfer under Tx/Rx power constraints

This paper proposes an efficient energy beamforming technique for microwave wireless power transfer (WPT) feeding multiple devices simultaneously. The key feature of the proposed technique is the utilization of an optimal weight generated by synthesizing orthogonal bases of a channel matrix that are effective for power transfer, so that total power transfer efficiency in the system is maximized satisfying both transmitting (Tx) power limit and required receiving (Rx) power. This algorithm is beneficial in terms of both efficiencies of (i) power transfer for the whole system and (ii) computation for weight generation. By numerical simulation using a geometry-based channel model, the mechanism of the proposed technique is elucidated by a qualitative analysis of radiation patterns. Furthermore, its effectiveness is verified by a quantitative evaluation from the viewpoints of constraint satisfaction and power transfer efficiency.
Contribution to Improve the Direct Torque Control in the Photovoltaic Pumping System

The paper is intended to present a method to achieve better control and optimization between the different functions of the elements of a photovoltaic pumping system. The photovoltaic panel can provide a maximum power only for defined output voltage and current. In addition, the operation to get the maximum power depends on the terminals of load, mostly a non-linear load like induction motor. We inserted an intelligent control method in the photovoltaic system. It can be used to maintain the operation of the photovoltaic panel at maximum power under variable temperature and irradiance conditions. This can be done by means of the Maximum Power Point tracking by controlling the voltage or current generator independently of the load. Firstly, the system was tested with the use of Scalar-Based methods, as the Voltage/frequency control, calculated PWM technique. However, we cannot maintain the speed optimal. Finally, we used Vector-Based methods. We have chosen the Direct Torque Control using a Controlled Space Vector Modulation. This method allows reducing ripple of the electromagnetic torque and the stator flux, it improves the stator current signal.
Investigation of precipitation hardening by dislocation dynamics simulations

Dislocation dynamics (DD) simulations are used to investigate precipitation-induced strengthening in a Zr–1% Nb alloy. A method is proposed to carry out simulations under dynamical conditions in connection with the microstructure of the investigated alloy. First, a sensitivity study of simulation parameters, suspected of altering simulation results, is presented. It allows setting up simulation conditions ensuring statistical representativeness. The effect of the strain rate is then investigated and analyzed in connection with the random distribution adopted to describe precipitation distribution. The strengthening induced by two different families of Nb precipitates is estimated from simulations whose simulation box is reduced to the volume of a single grain. It is shown that the obtained strengthening values are smaller than those predicted by most published models. Determination of total strengthening shows that usual superposition rules do not apply. A mixture law, fitting DD results well, is proposed in this paper.
An Enhanced Distributed Trust Computing Protocol for VANETs

Trust establishment in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) is a challenging task due essentially to the high speed of vehicles, the long distances, and the network topology dynamics. Furthermore, applications context evolves quickly at the same time that the lifetime validity of data messages is short. In this paper, we set up a new distributed trust computing framework tailored to VANETs characteristics and aiming to solve the aforementioned challenges. The proposed framework is based on the investigation of the direct experience between neighboring vehicles without using any recommendation system. We also propose a tier-based messages dissemination technique in order to efficiently detect eavesdropped messages and fake events. Each vehicle checks the authenticity of the received data messages and maintains a trust value for each of its neighbors. We analytically model the trust metrics evolution of malicious vehicles. Extensive simulations are conducted to show the validity of the proposed model and evaluate the efficiency of the proposed trust computing framework.
Pyramid Person Matching Network for Person Re-identification

In this work, we present a deep convolutional pyramid person matching network (PPMN) with specially designed Pyramid Matching Module to address the problem of person re-identification. The architecture takes a pair of RGB images as input, and outputs a similiarity value indicating whether the two input images represent the same person or not. Based on deep convolutional neural networks, our approach first learns the discriminative semantic representation with the semantic-component-aware features for persons and then employs the Pyramid Matching Module to match the common semantic-components of persons, which is robust to the variation of spatial scales and misalignment of locations posed by viewpoint changes. The above two processes are jointly optimized via a unified end-to-end deep learning scheme. Extensive experiments on several benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach against the state-of-the-art approaches, especially on the rank-1 recognition rate.
[Total compliance of lungs and thorax in healthy men (author's transl)].

The total compliance of lungs andthorax was determined in 27 men without pulmo-and thorax nary or cardiovascular disease by means of static positive pressure with weighted spirometry technique. The results were correlated to static lung volumes, body size and body surface area. mean value of Ctot of 101 ml/cm H2O corresponds with values obtained by other authors with different methods. A significant correlation was found between Ctot and TLC, VC, body size, and body surface area. The correlation to body weight and age was not significant. The results are discussed with respect to normal and pathologic conditions
NADPH oxidase mediates microtubule alterations and diaphragm dysfunction in dystrophic mice

Skeletal muscle from mdx mice is characterized by increased Nox2 ROS, altered microtubule network, increased muscle stiffness, and decreased muscle/respiratory function. While microtubule de-tyrosination has been suggested to increase stiffness and Nox2 ROS production in isolated single myofibers, its role in altering tissue stiffness and muscle function has not been established. Because Nox2 ROS production is upregulated prior to microtubule network alterations and ROS affect microtubule formation, we investigated the role of Nox2 ROS in diaphragm tissue microtubule organization, stiffness and muscle/respiratory function. Eliminating Nox2 ROS prevents microtubule disorganization and reduces fibrosis and muscle stiffness in mdx diaphragm. Fibrosis accounts for the majority of variance in diaphragm stiffness and decreased function, implicating altered extracellular matrix and not microtubule de-tyrosination as a modulator of diaphragm tissue function. Ultimately, inhibiting Nox2 ROS production increased force and respiratory function in dystrophic diaphragm, establishing Nox2 as a potential therapeutic target in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.