Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Respiratory Isolation of Tuberculosis Patients Using Clinical Guidelines and an Automated Clinical Decision Support System

Abstract Objective: To evaluate a clinical guideline and an automated computer protocol for detection and respiratory isolation of tuberculosis (TB) patients. Design: An automated computer protocol was tested on a retrospective cohort of adult culture-positive TB patients admitted from 1992 to 1993 to Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and evaluated prospectively from July 1995 until July 1996. Setting: A large teaching hospital in New York City. Patients: 171 adult patients admitted from 1992 to 1993 and 43 patients admitted between July 1995 and July 1996. Interventions: The 1990 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for preventing transmission of TB were adapted to formulate clinical guidelines to ensure early isolation of TB patients at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Results: Implementation of a clinical respiratory isolation protocol resulted in a significant improvement in TB patient isolation rates, from 45 (51%) of 88 in 1992 to 62 (75%) of 83 in 1993 (P<.001). In testing automated protocols, the theoretical improvement would have identified an additional 27 patients not isolated by clinicians, making the overall isolation rate 134 (78%) of 171. For the prospective evaluation, 30 (70%) of 43 TB patients were isolated by clinicians adhering to the clinical protocol. Four additional patients were identified by the automated TB protocol, making the combined isolation rate 34 (79%) of 43. Conclusions: A clinical policy to isolate TB patients and suspected human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with cough, fever, or radiographic abnormalities improved isolation of culture-documented TB patients from 1992 to 1993. Automated computer protocols were successful in identifying additional potentially infectious patients that clinicians failed to place on respiratory isolation. Clinical and automated protocols combined resulted in better isolation rates than a clinical protocol alone.
Continuous Assessment of Gait Velocity in Parkinson's Disease from Unobtrusive Measurements

The ability to assess the neurological state of patients with neurodegenerative diseases on a continuous basis is an important component of future care for these chronically ill patients. In this paper we describe a set of algorithms to infer gait velocity and its variability using data from an unobtrusive sensor network by incorporating a simple dynamic description of a patient's movements within his or her residence. The sensors include a combination of passive motion detectors and active radio frequency identification tags. The dynamic model is a simple 4 state hidden Markov model. We investigated the ability of this model to assess gait velocity and its variability using data from a six month pilot study of several patients with early stage Parkinson's disease
Experimental study on body-biasing layout style-- negligible area overhead enables sufficient speed controllability --

Body-biasing is expected to be a common design technique, then area efficient implementation in layout has been demanded. Body-biasing outside standard cells is one of possible layouts. However in this case body-bias controllability, especially when forward bias is applied, is a concern. To investigate the controllability, we fabricated a ring oscillator in a 90nm technology, and measured the controllability. Our measurement result and evaluation of area efficiency reveal that body-biased circuits can be implemented with area overhead of less than 1% yet with sufficient speed controllability.
Lightweight multicore virtualization architecture exploiting ARM TrustZone

Virtualization technology is well established in the server and desktop spaces, and has been spreading across embedded system market. This technology allows for the coexistence and execution of multiples operating systems on top of the same hardware platform, with proven technological and economic benefits. Hardware extensions for easing virtualization have been added into several commercial off-the-shelf processors. Among existing technologies, ARM TrustZone is gaining particular attention due to its broadly availability into ARM processors. However, existent TrustZone-assisted virtualization solutions are limited to a dual-guest and single-core configuration, which can lead to the starvation of the non-secure side when the secure world does not yield the processor. This work presents the extension of a TrustZone-assisted hypervisor to an asymmetric multi-processing configuration. We describe and demonstrate how to run a general-purpose operating system side-by-side with an real-time operating system in a Xilinx Zynq-based platform, enhanced with a dual ARM Cortex-A9. The achieved results demonstrate that the implemented multicore approach not only completely eliminates starvation, but also increases the general-purpose operating system's performance, especially when the real-time workload is demanding.
The nature of the faint galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field

We present a study of the galaxies found in the Hubble Deep Field. A high proportion of HDF galaxies are undergoing a strong episode of star formation, as evidenced by their very blue colours. A wide range of morphological types is found, with a high proportion of peculiar and merger morphologies. Fitting the multiband spectra with redshifted SEDs of galaxy types E to HII, we predict the spectral types and redshifts of galaxies detected in the HDF. We find a median redshift of 1.6, with $68\%$ having $z > 1$ and $31\%$ with $z >2$. The I-band absolute magnitude distributions as a function of galaxy types show a plausible trend of decreasing luminosity towards later types. The derived I-band luminosity function agrees well with that from the Canada-France survey (Lilly et al 1996) for $z < 1$ and shows strong luminosity evolution at $M_I < -21$ for $1 < z < 3$, comparable to the rate seen in quasars and starburst galaxies. We have predicted infrared and submillimetre fluxes assuming most of the galaxies are undergoing a strong starburst. Several planned space-borne and ground-based deep surveys are capable of detecting interesting numbers of HDF galaxies.
Framework of Software Testing Based on Cloud Computing

For the problem that efficiency is low and cost is high existing in the traditional software testing method, this paper tested software using cloud testing technology. It introduced related technologies including cloud testing, and described the design of overall architecture for the system in details, designed and implemented the scheduling module using a high priority first scheduling based on dynamic priority. The MATLAB simulation results are that the total turnaround time of the scheduling algorithm in this paper is short when the same tasks are scheduled and increase slowly when the number of tasks is increased than traditional FCFS. This shows that this scheduling algorithm could reduce test cost and realize the automation of software testing under the condition of significantly improving test efficiency and resource utilization.
The importance of managing cultural diversity for modern business environment

The employees of multinational companies of various nations around the globe are working together to fulfil the task entrusted to them. Together with the new millennium, the global economy that is "world without borders" has become an everyday way of modern business. Given the large number of contacts with various people, the successful usage of cultural diversity has become an important area of management. Although the area of managing cultural diversity is still emerging, it is an area of vital importance for management in the modern economy. Understanding and accepting national culture with its values, beliefs, attitudes and forms of behaviour is a prerequisite for the comparison of national and international business practice, expansion on foreign markets, acquisition of knowledge and skills on which the success of an individual or organization is based. Modern business does not recognise the boundaries between the countries, and expects us to embrace and utilize all types of competitive advantages that the modern environment brings. Culture is for sure potential advantage, but it has to be managed properly.
A phosphorylation–deubiquitination cascade regulates the BRCA2–RAD51 axis in homologous recombination

In this study, Luo et al. investigated the regulation of the BRCA2–RAD51 axis in homologous recombination (HR) during DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. The authors identify UCHL3 as a novel regulator of DNA repair and propose a model in which a phosphorylation–deubiquitination cascade dynamically regulates the BRCA2–RAD51 pathway.
House energy demand optimization in single and multi-user scenarios

With the Smart Grid revolution and the increasing interest in renewable distributed sources, house energy consumption will play a significant role in the energy system: the whole energy generation and distribution system performance can be improved by optimizing the house energy management. Beside the energy bill reduction for single users, another advantage can be obtained for the overall system by jointly managing the energy consumption of a set of users, thus reducing their peak absorption. In this paper we propose optimization models which allow to manage every day energy load for both single and multi-users cases, taking into account distributed energy sources and batteries. Computational results, obtained applying models on real life data, are provided and discussed.
Controlling free flight of a robotic fly using an onboard vision sensor inspired by insect ocelli

Scaling a flying robot down to the size of a fly or bee requires advances in manufacturing, sensing and control, and will provide insights into mechanisms used by their biological counterparts. Controlled flight at this scale has previously required external cameras to provide the feedback to regulate the continuous corrective manoeuvres necessary to keep the unstable robot from tumbling. One stabilization mechanism used by flying insects may be to sense the horizon or Sun using the ocelli, a set of three light sensors distinct from the compound eyes. Here, we present an ocelli-inspired visual sensor and use it to stabilize a fly-sized robot. We propose a feedback controller that applies torque in proportion to the angular velocity of the source of light estimated by the ocelli. We demonstrate theoretically and empirically that this is sufficient to stabilize the robot's upright orientation. This constitutes the first known use of onboard sensors at this scale. Dipteran flies use halteres to provide gyroscopic velocity feedback, but it is unknown how other insects such as honeybees stabilize flight without these sensory organs. Our results, using a vehicle of similar size and dynamics to the honeybee, suggest how the ocelli could serve this role.
Isolation of Enterobacter sakazakii from Midgut of Stomoxys calcitrans

Hamilton, J. V. , Lehane, M. J., Braig, H. R. (2003). Letter. Isolation of Enterobacter sakazakii from midgut of Stomoxys calcitrans. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 9, (10), 1355-1356.
Believable Social and Emotional Agents.

Abstract : One of the key steps in creating quality interactive drama is the ability to create quality interactive characters (or believable agents). Two important aspects of such characters will be that they appear emotional and that they can engage in social interactions. My basic approach to these problems has been to use a broad agent architecture and minimal amounts of modeling of other agent in the environment. This approach is based on an understanding of the artistic nature of the problem. To enable agent-builders (artists) to create emotional agents, I provide a general framework for building emotional agents, default emotion-processing rules, and discussion about how to create quality, emotional characters. My framework gets a lot of its power from being part of a broad agent architecture. The concept is simple: the agent will be emotionally richer if there are more things to have emotions about and more ways to express them. This reliance on breadth has also meant that I have been able to create simple emotion models that rely on perception and motivation instead of deep modeling of other agents and complex cognitive processing. To enable agent builders to create social behaviors for believable agents, I have designed a methodology that provides heuristics for incorporating personality into social behaviors and suggests how to model other agents in the environment. I propose an approach to modeling other agents that calls for limiting the amount of modeling of other agents to that which is sufficient to create the desired behavior. Using this technique, I have been able to build robust social behaviors that use surprisingly little representation. I have used this methodology to build a number of social behaviors, like negotiation and making friends. I have built three simulations containing seven agents to drive and test this work.
Improvement of sensorimotor functions in old age by passive sensory stimulation

Sensorimotor functions decrease in old age. The well-documented loss of tactile acuity in elderly is accompanied by deterioration of haptic performance and fine manipulative movements. Physical training and exercise can maintain sensorimotor fitness into high age. However, regular schedules of training require discipline and physical fitness. We here present an alternative interventional paradigm to enhance tactile, haptic, and fine motor performance based on passive, sensory stimulation by means of tactile coactivation. This approach is based on patterned, synchronous tactile stimulation applied to the fingertips for 3 hours. The stimulation drives plastic reorganizational changes in somatosensory cortex that affect perception and behavior: We demonstrate that following 3 hours of coactivation tactile acuity as well as haptic object exploration and fine motor performance are improved for at least 96 hours. Because this kind of intervention does not require active participation or attention of the subjects, we anticipate that coactivation is a prime candidate for future therapeutic interventions in patients with impaired sensorimotor abilities. It can be assumed that the maintenance and restoration of sensorimotor functions can ensure and preserve independence of daily living. Further optimizing of the stimulation protocol can be assumed to strengthen both the range and durability of its efficacy.
Persistence of a single clone of Streptococcus agalactiae causing disease in tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) cultured in Colombia over 8 years.

Streptococcosis is a disease with major health and economic impacts on the tilapia industry worldwide (Mian et al. 2009). In 1997, more than US $150 million of annual losses representing treatment, morbidity and mortality were recorded and this value increased to US$250 million by 2008 (Klesius, Shoemaker & Evans 2008). In Colombia, Streptococcus agalactiae (Lancefield group B streptococci; GBS) is the main bacterial pathogen of tilapia (Jim enez et al. 2007), causing heavy but not yet quantified losses. Classical capsular serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing have been extensively used for characterizing GBS. More recently, DNAbased typing methods including pulsed-field gel electrophoretic profiling (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) have been increasingly used for typing GBS isolates. These techniques have been helpful in discriminating GBS populations into genetic lineages, with specific clones recognized by their enhanced virulence potential, specific disease syndromes or tropism for particular hosts (Jones et al. 2003; Martins et al. 2007). Streptococcus agalactiae affects a large range of hosts which include humans, cows, dogs, cats, sea mammals, crocodiles, bullfrogs and fish (Delannoy et al. 2013). While three capsular types (Ia, Ib and III) and a particular clonal complex (CC552) have been associated with strains isolated from fish species, other sequence types have been found in strains recovered from fish, marine mammals and humans (Evans et al. 2008; Delannoy et al. 2013; Godoy et al. 2013). Some S. agalactiae strains from Kuwait share the same sequence type (ST7) and capsular type (Ia) of human isolates from Japan (Evans et al. 2008). Both ST283 and ST491 were detected in fish from South-East Asia and were found to share the three-set genotype of the emerging ST283 clone associated with invasive disease in human adults in Asia (Delannoy et al. 2013). ST103 was isolated from a pregnant woman from Canada in 1999 (Springman et al. 2009), and recently associated with diseased tilapia in Brazil (Godoy et al. 2013). It has been proposed that fish consumption may increase the risk of acquiring GBS expressing capsular types Ia and Ib but not of other capsular types (Foxman et al. 2007). In addition, Pereira et al. (2010) demonstrated that some S. agalactiae strains of human and bovine origin can infect fish and that genetic similarity between strains is not a prerequisite for this to occur. These studies have raised the possibility that limited interspecies exchange may occur between Correspondence M Ramirez, Instituto de Microbiologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal, Tel:+351 217 999 460 (e-mail: ramirez@fm.ul.pt)
Music information seeking via social Q&A: An analysis of questions in Music StackExchange community

In this paper we report preliminary findings based on a quantitative analysis of data from a music social Q&A site, Music StackExchange, focusing on real-life music information needs, uses, and seeking. Eight major topic categories and a two-level taxonomy for question type/intent and the characteristics of questions in each category are presented. Our findings suggest that Q&A sites are a fruitful resource for identifying users' music information needs, how these needs are expressed, and intended uses for the information. On Music StackExchange, users' questioning behaviors were motivated by the recognition of knowledge gaps, lack of resources, need for others' opinions, or interest in research issues, spanning different topics. This study is explorative in nature and the results could improve the understanding of everyday life music information seeking. The findings can inform music librarians and general-purpose music information systems designers of the needs, requirements, and approaches to enhance music related controlled vocabularies, and improve search engines and online knowledge sharing communities to categorize and provide users with more relevant music information.
Performance evaluation of a large capacity VSD system for Oil and Gas industry

Reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions are recognized as important environmental issues in today's world. In addition, Oil and Gas companies are striving for ways to increase their capacity and maximize system uptime in order to meet the global energy demand. To realize these goals, Oil and Gas utilities are looking for electrical solutions as prime movers on their compressor trains. These solutions make use of large scale Variable Speed Drive (VSD) system such as Voltage Source Inverter (VSI) with high power AC motor drive systems. Since large electrical drive systems are a relatively new technology with limited field data, the full load test of 30MVA 5-level VSI system was carried out on a test stand to measure critical data necessary to evaluate system performances. This paper reports the results of motor combined test which illustrate the principle and mechanism of 5-level inverter system.
Asymptotically Optimal Planning by Feasible Kinodynamic Planning in a State–Cost Space

This paper presents an equivalence between feasible kinodynamic planning and optimal kinodynamic planning, in that any optimal planning problem can be transformed into a series of feasible planning problems in a state-cost space, whose solutions approach the optimum. This transformation yields a meta-algorithm that produces an asymptotically optimal planner, given any feasible kinodynamic planner as a subroutine. The meta-algorithm is proven to be asymptotically optimal and a formula is derived relating expected running time and solution suboptimality. It is directly applicable to a wide range of optimal planning problems because it does not resort to the use of steering functions or numerical boundary-value problem solvers. On a set of benchmark problems, it is demonstrated to perform, using the expansive space tree (EST) and rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) algorithms as subroutines, at a level that is superior or comparable to related planners.
HandMark Menus: Rapid Command Selection and Large Command Sets on Multi-Touch Displays

Command selection on large multi-touch surfaces can be difficult, because the large surface means that there are few landmarks to help users build up familiarity with controls. However, people's hands and fingers are landmarks that are always present when interacting with a touch display. To explore the use of hands as landmarks, we designed two hand-centric techniques for multi-touch displays -- one allowing 42 commands, and one allowing 160 -- and tested them in an empirical comparison against standard tab widgets. We found that the small version (HandMark-Fingers) was significantly faster at all stages of use, and that the large version (HandMark-Multi) was slower at the start but equivalent to tabs after people gained experience with the technique. There was no difference in error rates, and participants strongly preferred both of the HandMark menus over tabs. We demonstrate that people's intimate knowledge of their hands can be the basis for fast and feasible interaction techniques that can improve the performance and usability of interactive tables and other multi-touch systems.
Slicing obfuscations: design, correctness, and evaluation

The goal of obfuscation is to transform a program, without affecting its functionality, such that some secret information within the program can be hidden for as long as possible from an adversary armed with reverse engineering tools. Slicing is a form of reverse engineering which aims to abstract away a subset of program code based on a particular program point and is considered to be a potent program comprehension technique. Thus, slicing could be used as a way of attacking obfuscated programs. It is challenging to manufacture obfuscating transforms that are provably resilient to slicing attacks.We show in this paper how we can utilise the information gained from slicing a program to aid us in designing obfuscations that are more resistant to slicing. We extend a previously proposed technique and provide proofs of correctness for our transforms. Finally, we illustrate our approach with a number of obfuscating transforms and provide empirical results using software engineering metrics.