Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced Leakage CPW Interconnect and Schottky Diodes on SiO2-High Resistivity Silicon Substrate

In this paper a novel implanted Schottky diode is designed. The diode and it's CPW interconnect have localized SiO2 insulation barriers included. These are shown to help reduce the substrate leakage current that acts in parallel with the diode. Also, the SiO2 barriers reduce diode shot noise hence improve detection performance. Experimental evidence is given in order to justify these claims.
Nurses' recognition of delirium and its symptoms: comparison of nurse and researcher ratings.

BACKGROUND Nurses play a key role in recognition of delirium, yet delirium is often unrecognized by nurses. Our goals were to compare nurse ratings for delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method based on routine clinical observations with researcher ratings based on cognitive testing and to identify factors associated with underrecognition by nurses. METHODS In a prospective study, 797 patients 70 years and older underwent 2721 paired delirium ratings by nurses and researchers. Patient-related factors associated with underrecognition of delirium by nurses were examined. RESULTS Delirium occurred in 239 (9%) of 2721 observations or 131 (16%) of 797 patients. Nurses identified delirium in only 19% of observations and 31% of patients compared with researchers. Sensitivities of nurses' ratings for delirium and its key features were generally low (15%-31%); however, specificities were high (91%-99%). Nearly all disagreements between nurse and researcher ratings were because of underrecognition of delirium by the nurses. Four independent risk factors for underrecognition by nurses were identified: hypoactive delirium (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2-12.9), age 80 years and older (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7-4.7), vision impairment (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.0), and dementia (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.7). The risk for underrecognition by nurses increased with the number of risk factors present from 2% (0 risk factors) to 6% (1 risk factor), 15% (2 risk factors), and 44% (3 or 4 risk factors; P(trend)<. 001). Patients with 3 or 4 risk factors had a 20-fold risk for underrecognition of delirium by nurses. CONCLUSIONS Nurses often missed delirium when present, but rarely identified delirium when absent. Recognition of delirium can be enhanced with education of nurses in delirium features, cognitive assessment, and factors associated with poor recognition.
Theoretical criterion for image matching using GPT correlation

GAT (Global Affine Transformation) and GPT (Global Projection Transformation) correlation matchings were successively proposed by Wakahara and Yamashita which use affine transformation (AT) and 2D projection transformation (PT), respectively, to maximize the normalized cross-correlation value between a template and a GAT/GPT-superimposed input image. In theory, to maximize the degree of matching via normalized cross-correlation, the L2 norm of both images should be normalized. However, the criteria of conventional GAT/GPT correlation techniques did not take account of the conservation of the L2 norm. This research solves the above-mentioned problem which might impair the matching ability of GAT/GPT correlations. In particular, we focus on the enhanced GPT correlation recently proposed by Wakahara et al. to calculate optimal PT parameters simultaneously. Then, we propose an improved criterion satisfying the requirement of the L2 norm conservation together with the enhanced GPT correlation algorithm with norm normalization. Experimental results using artificially deformed images of chess board and handwritten digits from MNIST database by 2D projection transformation show that the proposed method clearly outperforms those conventional GPT correlation techniques with or without norm normalization in terms of both convergence speed and matching ability.
New approach to gridding using regularization and estimation theory

When sampling under time‐varying gradients, data is acquired over a non‐equally spaced grid in k‐space. The most computationally efficient method of reconstruction is first to interpolate the data onto a Cartesian grid, enabling the subsequent use of the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). The most commonly used interpolation technique is called gridding, and is comprised of four steps: precompensation, convolution with a Kaiser‐Bessel window, IFFT, and postcompensation. Recently, the author introduced a new gridding method called Block Uniform ReSampling (BURS), which is both optimal and efficient. The interpolation coefficients are computed by solving a set of linear equations using singular value decomposition (SVD). BURS requires neither the pre‐ nor the postcompensation steps, and resamples onto an n × n grid rather than the 2n × 2n matrix required by conventional gridding. This significantly decreases the computational complexity. Several authors have reported that although the BURS algorithm is very accurate, it is also sensitive to noise. As a consequence, even in the presence of a low level of measurement noise, the resulting image is often highly contaminated with noise. In this work, the origin of the noise sensitivity is traced back to the potentially ill‐posed matrix inversion performed by BURS. Two approaches to the solution are presented. The first uses regularization theory to stabilize the inversion process. The second formulates the interpolation as an estimation problem, and employs estimation theory for the solution. The new algorithm, called rBURS, contains a regularization parameter, which is used to trade off the accuracy of the result against the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). The results of the new method are compared with those obtained using conventional gridding via simulations. For the SNR performance of conventional gridding, it is shown that the rBURS algorithm exhibits equal or better accuracy. This is achieved at a decreased computational cost compared to conventional gridding. Magn Reson Med 48:193–202, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Control plane delay minimization based SDN controller placement scheme

Software defined networking (SDN) has been proposed as a novel centralized architecture which is capable of offering flexible network management and user quality-of-service (QoS) guaranteed applications. The problem of controller placement in SDN, i.e., determining the locations of the controllers has received considerable attention in recent years. In this paper, we jointly consider the control plane delay between switches and controllers and between controllers and formulate the controller placement problem as a control plane delay minimization problem subject to switches and controllers association constraints. As the optimization problem formulated is an NP-hard problem, which cannot be solved easily, we propose a heuristic method based on the K-means algorithm and the Dijkstra algorithm. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm offers better performance than previously proposed algorithm.
Correlation of transient adenosine release and oxygen changes in the caudate‐putamen

Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside that modulates important physiological processes, such as vasodilation, in the central nervous system. A rapid, 2–4 s, mode of adenosine signaling has been recently discovered, but the relationship between this type of adenosine and blood flow change has not been characterized. In this study, adenosine and oxygen changes were simultaneously measured using fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry. Oxygen changes occur when there is an increase in local cerebral blood flow and thus are a measure of vasodilation. About 34% of adenosine transients in the rat caudate‐putamen are correlated with a subsequent transient change in oxygen. The amount of oxygen was correlated with the concentration of adenosine release and larger adenosine transients (over 0.4 μM) always had subsequent oxygen changes. The average duration of adenosine and oxygen transients was 3.2 and 3.5 s, respectively. On average, the adenosine release starts and peaks 0.2 s prior to the oxygen. The A2a antagonist, SCH442416, decreased the number of both adenosine and oxygen transient events by about 32%. However, the A1 antagonist, DPCPX, did not significantly affect simultaneous adenosine and oxygen release. The nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor l‐NAME also did not affect the concentration or number of adenosine and oxygen release events. These results demonstrate that both adenosine and oxygen release are modulated via A2a receptors. The correlation of transient concentrations, time delay between adenosine and oxygen peaks, and effect of A2a receptors suggests that adenosine modulates blood flow on a rapid, sub‐second time scale.
Multifocal topographic visual evoked potential: improving objective detection of local visual field defects.

PURPOSE To investigate the relationships between the pattern stimulation of different parts of the visual field (up to 25 degrees of eccentricity), the electrode position, and the cortical response to improve objective detection of local visual field defects. METHODS The human visual evoked potential (VEP) was assessed using multifocal pseudorandomly alternated pattern stimuli that were cortically scaled in size. Monopolar and bipolar electrode positions were used. The visual field was investigated up to 26 degrees of eccentricity. Twelve normal subjects and seven subjects with visual field defects of different nature were studied. RESULTS Although the monopolar response is heavily biased toward the lower hemifield, bipolar leads overlying the active occipital cortex (straddling the inion) demonstrate good signals from all areas of the visual field tested. The amplitude is almost equal for the averaged upper and lower hemifields, but the polarity is opposite, causing partial cancellation of the full-field VEP. The degree of cancellation depends mainly on latency differences between the vertical hemifields. The bipolar VEP corresponded well with Humphrey visual field defects, and it showed a loss of signal in the scotoma area. CONCLUSIONS The multifocal VEP demonstrates good correspondence with the topography of the visual field. Recording with occipital bipolar electrode placement is superior to standard monopolar recording. To avoid a full-field cancellation effect, a separate evaluation of upper and lower hemifields should be used for the best assessment of retinocortical pathways. This technique represents a significant step toward the possible application of the multifocal VEP to objective detection of local defects in the visual field.
Conserved and specific functions of axoneme components in trypanosome motility

The Trypanosoma brucei flagellum is unusual as it is attached along the cell body and contains, in addition to an apparently conventional axoneme, a structure called the paraflagellar rod, which is essential for cell motility. Here, we investigated flagellum behaviour in normal and mutant trypanosome cell lines where expression of genes encoding various axoneme proteins (PF16, PF20, DNAI1, LC2) had been silenced by RNAi. First, we show that the propulsive wave (normally used for forward motility) is abolished in the absence of outer dynein arms, whereas the reverse wave (normally used for changing direction) still occurs. Second, in contrast to Chlamydomonas - but like metazoa, the central pair adopts a fixed orientation during flagellum beating. This orientation becomes highly variable in central-pair- and outer-dynein-arm-mutants. Third, the paraflagellar rod contributes to motility by facilitating three-dimensional wave propagation and controlling cell shape. Fourth, motility is required to complete the last stage of cell division in both insect and bloodstream stages of the parasite. Finally, our study also reveals the conservation of molecular components of the trypanosome flagellum. Coupled to the ease of reverse genetics, it raises the interest of trypanosomes as model organisms to study cilia and flagella.
An alphabetic contour-based descriptor for shape-based image retrieval

Content-based image retrieval methods use color, texture and shape of an object for indexing and retrieval. Among these features, shape is a basic visual feature that holds significant information of the object. In this paper an alphabetic contour-based shape description method is proposed to facilitate shape classification and retrieval. The proposed method breaks down shape's contour into small segments and assigns unique alphabetic symbol for each segment based on its geometrical features. These symbols are used to create feature string which we call it, an alphabet string. The alphabet strings are compared together using dynamic programming during classification. The proposed method was tested on BROWN dataset that consists of occluded, articulated and missing part shapes. Results show the feasibility of the method and highlight its advantages over some state-of-the art methods.
Defining and Measuring Investment in Organisational Capital: Using US Microdata to Develop a Task-based Approach

This work seeks to quantify investment in Organisational Capital (OC) by looking at the task content of occupations. It relies on the literature suggesting OC to be embodied in a firm’s workforce and defines OC as those tasks performed by employees – irrespective of their occupational titles – likely to affect a firm’s medium to long-term functioning. Using US Occupational Information Network (O*NET) data, it operationalises the task-based definition and identifies 84 occupations, including 22 managerial occupations, performing OC related tasks. Employment and earnings data from the US are used to calculate investment in OC at macro and 2-digit sectoral levels. Estimates suggest that previous measures seemingly underestimated investment in OC at the macro level, and that large sectoral differences exist. Manufacturing shows significant own-account investment in OC relative to the value added it generates. Services appear as larger purchasers of OC from external sources, relative to own-account investment. Building on the insights of the labour mobility literature about the disruptive effect of (voluntary) job separations, this work uses employee tenure and turnover data for the US to obtain sector specific depreciation rates. Estimates mainly range between 10% and 25% and suggest that OC depreciates more slowly than previously assumed.
Framework for Consumer Related Trust Issues in E-Commerce

A torsional damper device comprises at least two coaxial parts disposed to rotate relative to one another within defined limits of relative angular displacement. Circumferentially acting elastic means operative between these parts over at least part of this relative angular displacement resist same. A first coaxial part comprises a hub and an annular hub flange around the hub, constrained to rotate with the hub for one circumferential direction. A second coaxial part comprises at least one annular guide ring around the hub free to rotate relative to it in both circumferential directions. The device further comprises an annular hub counter-flange around the hub constrained to rotate with the hub for one circumferential direction. The hub flange and the hub counter-flange are each free to rotate relative to the hub in the circumferential direction opposite that in which it is constrained to rotate with it. The result is that for one circumferential direction the hub flange is free to rotate relative to the hub and the hub counter-flange is constrained to rotate with it, whereas for the opposite circumferential direction the hub flange is constrained to rotate with the hub and the hub counter-flange is free to rotate relative to it.
Supporting People in Finding Information: Hybrid Recommender Systems and Goal-Based Structuring

The Internet has provided people with the possibility to easily publish and search for information. This resulted in an enormous amount of online available information, products and services that made it a challenge for people to find what is really interesting to them. This thesis addresses three solutions that can be used to support people in finding interesting items, based on the three main processes of a personalized information system: selecting, structuring and presenting information. For the selection of information, a framework is described for the development of hybrid recommender systems that switches between prediction techniques based on the most up-to-date knowledge about the user, other users, the item and other items. Experiments with the framework show that this increases the accuracy of interest predictions. To structure information, a method is investigated that makes it easier for people to find interesting information by structuring items according to the possible goals people have. Experiments with this goal-based structuring method show that goal-based structuring supports people in finding interesting information even more than recommendations. However, it takes people time to get used to goal-based structuring. Finally, it addresses those user interface aspects that are specific to recommender systems, namely presenting predictions, presenting explanations and providing feedback. A user-centered design approach shows that people prefer traditional ways of presenting predictions, that they believe explanations about predictions are important and that they prefer to not give explicit feedback but have a system derive their interests implicitly. However, if explicit feedback is required, it should be acquired in a manner similar to how predictions are presented.
Recent advances in the development of nucleic acid diagnostics

Since the early 1970s, the use of nucleic acid sequences for specific diagnostic applications has followed a somewhat linear pattern of development. Early methods for restriction enzyme digestion, as well as reverse transcription, were followed in the late 1970s by Southern, northern and dot blotting, as well as DNA sequencing. In 1985, the description of PCR and the routine laboratory manipulation of sufficient quantities of DNA for diagnostics, resulted in the exponential growth of molecular biology. Subsequently, alternative DNA and RNA amplification protocols followed. The last 10 years have seen the second explosion in molecular biology with the development of real-time quantitative PCR and oligonucleotide microarrays. This advancement continues with the development of methods for ‘direct’ nucleic acid target detection from samples without in vitro amplification, and enhanced transduction elements for improved sensitivity of nucleic acid detection. In this article, we will describe the current state of the art in nucleic acid diagnostics, the use of nucleic acid-based diagnostics in clinical practice and the emerging technologies in the field. Finally, we will describe future trends and expected advances in the field.
Cost-effectiveness of coronary CT angiography in evaluation of patients without symptoms who have positive stress test results.

OBJECTIVE Patients without symptoms who have positive stress test results are often referred for diagnostic catheter angiography in an evaluation for coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to use decision tree analysis to determine the cost-effectiveness and radiation dose that would result from performing coronary CT angiography (CTA) before catheterization. MATERIALS AND METHODS A decision tree was constructed to compare the false-negative rates, false-positive rates, costs, and radiation exposure of direct referral of patients for cardiac catheterization with the values associated with performing coronary CTA before catheterization. We assumed that patients referred for coronary CTA proceed to catheterization only when significant disease is identified. Costs for coronary CTA and diagnostic catheterization were obtained from the 2009 physician Medicare fee schedule. Sensitivity, specificity, and radiation dose were obtained by literature review. RESULTS Cost reduction with coronary CTA depends on the prevalence of coronary artery disease, but overall costs are reduced as long as the prevalence is less than 85%. At a 50% prevalence of coronary artery disease, performing coronary CTA before cardiac catheterization results in an average cost saving of $789 per patient with a false-negative rate of 2.5% and average additional radiation exposure of 1-2 mSv. CONCLUSION Performing coronary CTA before cardiac catheterization is a cost-effective strategy in the care of patients without symptoms who have positive stress test results when the probability that the patient has significant coronary artery disease is less than 50%. The false-negative rate with this strategy compares favorably with the false-negative rate of stress testing. The use of coronary CTA in this role can avoid many unnecessary cardiac catheterization procedures.
Decarboxylation of Exogenous l‐3,4‐Dihydroxyphenylalanine in Rat Striatum as Studied by In Vivo Voltammetry

Abstract: An in vivo voltammetric technique was used to determine whether striatal nondopaminergic neurons take up and decarboxylate exogenous l‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (L‐DOPA) and release it as dopamine. After the striatal serotonergic neurons of the rat had been destroyed by intraventricular injection of 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine, l‐DOPA was administered intraperitoneally. It was found that changes in the dopamine concentration in the striatal extracellular fluid of the rat were the same as those in the nonlesioned rat. l‐DOPA was also administered to the rat after the striatal perikarya had been destroyed by the intrastriatal injection of kainate. The striatal dopamine concentrations of the lesioned rat changed in parallel with 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine‐lesioned rats, as well as the nonlesioned rats. Moreover, when normal rats were administered l‐DOPA, the dopamine concentration was not increased in the cerebellum, where dopamine neurons do not exist. From these observations, it is concluded that exogenous l‐DOPA is taken up, decarboxylated to dopamine, and released only in the striatal dopamine neurons.
Categorising Social Media Business Risks

The aim of this paper is to identify and understand the risks and issues companies are experiencing from the business use of social media and to develop a framework for describing and categorising those social media risks. The goal is to contribute to the evolving theorisation of social media risk and to provide a foundation for the further development of social media risk management strategies and processes. The study findings identify thirty risk types organised into five categories (technical, human, content, compliance and reputational). A risk-chain is used to illustrate the complex interrelated, multi-stakeholder nature of these risks and directions for future work are identified.