Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and assessment of a tool to support pattern-based code generation of time-triggered (TT) embedded systems

This thesis is concerned with embedded systems which employ time-triggered software architectures and for which there are both severe resource constraints and a requirement for highly-predictable behaviour. The thesis discusses design patterns and their benefits to software development and reviews a pattern language (the PTTES collection) previously assembled to support the development of time-triggered embedded systems. As embedded systems become ever more complex and in many cases take on an increasing role in safety, it is widely recognised that developers require tools and techniques that support the ‘automatic’ generation of such designs. This thesis makes a novel contribution to the field of pattern-based automated code generation and illustrates the capabilities of this approach in the development of reliable time-triggered embedded systems. Specifically, the approach described in this thesis addresses a key limitation of previous work in this area, namely the challenge of implementing the ‘one pattern, many implementations’ relationship. Furthermore, unlike previous pattern tools, the approach described in this thesis is based on a substantial pattern language: this paves the way for the generation of coherent application code from groups of related patterns. To test the above ideas, the thesis describes PTTES Builder, a pattern-based code generation tool based on the PTTES collection. In an empirical study, the effectiveness of the PTTES Builder approach is compared with an equivalent ‘manual’ approach. The results obtained demonstrate that time-triggered embedded systems can be created using this approach. There is also some evidence that the use of the tool is likely to lead to improved code reliability and quality. In a second study discussed in the thesis, there are indications that the approach implemented by PTTES Builder is robust enough to support the evolution of its underlying pattern collection. The thesis concludes by making a number of suggestions for future extensions to this work.
Structural Separation and Prospects for Welfare-Enhancing Price Discrimination in a New 'Natural Monopoly' Network: comparing fibre broadband proposals in Australia and New Zealand

The Australian and New Zealand governments have both decided that substantial government investment is required to accelerate the deployment of new nationwide fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks. This paper examines the two proposals in light of the crucial role of price discrimination in enabling rapid and early uptake of a new technology with a natural monopoly cost structure given the assumptions that both networks will be subject to provisions that separate elements of network ownership from retail operations and both will face competition from other (vertically integrated) network technologies. Whilst price discrimination enables a monopolist to maximise profits by extracting surplus from consumers when the firm has a natural monopoly cost structure it also enables the firm to increase welfare by accessing scale economies (static efficiency gains) and to introduce the technology earlier than under the counterfactual of a single price (dynamic efficiency gains). However vertical separation of network and retail functions and regulated 'open access' and 'equivalence' requirements used as regulatory tools to increase retail competition and constrain price and non-price discrimination by monopoly network operators restricts the ability of a new network operator to use its price structure to introduce the technology in a timely manner and to gain access to welfare-enhancing scale economies. In a competitive environment when the new (frontier) network must build its customer base principally from the substitution of customers from the existing (legacy) natural monopoly networks (which may be vertically integrated and engaging in price discrimination themselves) the non-discriminatory provisions of structural separation impose substantial limitations upon the regulated firm's business case. Both the Australian and New Zealand FTTH proposal impose separation and non-discrimination requirements as a precondition for government financing although they differ in their approaches in respect of both the point at which the separation must be enforced and the extent of competition anticipated from existing network operators. Whilst neither proposal enables the full efficiency gains available from producing at maximum efficient scale to be realised the Australian proposal with integration of layer 1 and 2 operators and acquisition of the competing copper access networks appears to offer efficiency and substitution advantages over the New Zealand proposal which requires separation between layer 1 and 2 operators and provides no clear view of the competitive positioning of the FTTH network relative to the legacy copper access rival.
The European Security Research Programme: a challenge for existing police cooperation networks in the EU

The European Security Research Programme (ESRP) takes the Europeanization of security into the new area of internal security scientific and technical cooperation. This raises important issues in the respect of public procurement that have parallels in the area of EU initiatives in defence procurement cooperation. A policy network analysis investigates research sharing in this new area for police major event security issue networks. The variable net work structures are found to be a factor in determining their responses. This is especially so because police services, in general, have only recently needed to address policy issues related to new technologies and scientific advances. Consequently the expertise in police or internal security science and technology is more narrowly based in police services than in the military and rarely reflected, at present, in the main EU police cooperation networks. Three particular challenges need to be tackled, firstly, too many Commission initiatives and ESRP projects have networking aims and these need to be rationalized, secondly, the EU police and internal security public sector agencies need to be aware of and capable of managing the growing commercial pressures and, thirdly, the EU police services need to become, in UK Ministry of Defence terms, “smart” customers to achieve value for money for the citizens of the EU.
Pressure-induced phase transition in LaCo 5 studied by x-ray emission spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and density functional theory

The pressure dependences of the electronic and crystal structures of ${\mathrm{LaCo}}_{5}$ have been studied with high-resolution x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray diffraction comprehensively. The lattice constant ratio of $a/c$ shows an anomaly around 12\char21{}18 GPa without change in the lattice symmetry. In the XAS spectra with partial fluorescence mode as well as in the integrated absolute difference values of the Co $K\ensuremath{\beta}$ emission spectra, a change in the electronic structure was found at around a similar pressure range as the lattice constant anomaly. Density functional theory calculations confirm the presence of a magnetic anomaly around the same pressure region. No temperature dependence of the electronic structure for ${\mathrm{LaCo}}_{5}$ and ${\mathrm{YCo}}_{5}$ was observed.
Cross-sectional epidemiology of hearing loss in Australian children aged 11–12 years old and 25-year secular trends

Objective In a national study of Australian children aged 11–12 years old, we examined the (1) prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss, (2) its demographic risk factors and (3) evidence for secular increases since 1990. Methods This is a cross-sectional CheckPoint wave within the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. 1485 children (49.8% retention; 49.7% boys) underwent air-conduction audiometry. Aim 1: hearing loss (≥16 decibels hearing level (dB HL)) was defined in four ways to enable prior/future comparisons: high Fletcher Index (mean of 1, 2 and 4 kHz; primary outcome relevant to speech perception), four-frequency (1, 2, 4 and 8 kHz), lower frequency (1 and 2 kHz) and higher frequency (4 and 8 kHz); aim 2: logistic regression of hearing loss by age, gender and disadvantage index; and aim 3: P for trend examining CheckPoint and reported prevalence in studies arranged by date since 1990. Results For high Fletcher Index, the prevalence of bilateral and unilateral hearing loss ≥16 dB HL was 9.3% and 13.3%, respectively. Slight losses (16–25 dB HL) were more prevalent than mild or greater (≥26 dB HL) losses (bilateral 8.5% vs 0.8%; unilateral 12.5% vs 0.9%), and lower frequency more prevalent than higher frequency losses (bilateral 11.0% vs 6.9%; unilateral 15.4% vs 11.5%). Demographic characteristics did not convincingly predict hearing loss. Prevalence of bilateral/unilateral lower and higher frequency losses ≥16 dB HL has risen since 1990 (all P for trend <0.001). Conclusions and relevance Childhood hearing loss is prevalent and has risen since 1990. Future research should investigate the causes, course and impact of these changes.
Prophylactic Dosing of Vitamin K to Prevent Bleeding

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Based on a high incidence of Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in breastfed infants with thus far unrecognized cholestasis, such as biliary atresia (BA), the Dutch regimen to prevent VKDB in breastfed infants was changed from a daily oral dosage of 25 µg to 150 µg vitamin K. Infants continued to receive 1 mg of vitamin K orally at birth. We compared the efficacy of the 150-µg regimen with the 25-µg regimen and with the Danish regimen of a single intramuscular (IM) dose of 2 mg vitamin K at birth. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the national BA registries: 25 µg group (Netherlands, January 1991 to February 2011); 150 µg group (Netherlands, March 2011 to January 2015); and IM 2 mg group (Denmark, July 2000 to November 2014). We compared the incidence of VKDB in the groups. RESULTS: VKDB occurred in 45 of 55 (82%) infants of the 25 µg group, in 9 of 11 (82%) of the 150 µg group, but in only 1 of 25 (4%) of the IM 2 mg group (P < .001). Forty percent of all infants of the 25 µg group had an intracranial hemorrhage as presenting symptom, compared with 27% of the infants of the 150 µg group (P = .43). Intracranial hemorrhage was not observed in the IM 2 mg group (0%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A vitamin K prophylactic regimen of 1 mg of vitamin K orally at birth followed by a daily oral dosage of either 25 or 150 µg fails to prevent VKDB in breastfed infants with still unrecognized BA. The data support 2 mg vitamin K IM at birth as prophylaxis against VKDB.
Noninvasive Assessment of Advanced Fibrosis Based on Hepatic Volume in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background/Aims Noninvasive liver fibrosis evaluation was performed in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We used a quantitative method based on the hepatic volume acquired from gadoxetate disodium-enhanced (Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for diagnosing advanced fibrosis in patients with NAFLD. Methods A total of 130 patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD and underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were retrospectively included. Histological data were available for 118 patients. Hepatic volumetric parameters, including the left hepatic lobe to right hepatic lobe volume ratio (L/R ratio), were measured. The usefulness of the L/R ratio for diagnosing fibrosis ≥F3–4 and F4 was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify variables (age, body mass index, serum fibrosis markers, and histological features) that were associated with the L/R ratio. Results The L/R ratio demonstrated good performance in differentiating advanced fibrosis (AUROC, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.88) from cirrhosis (AUROC, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.75 to 0.99). Multiple regression analysis showed that only fibrosis was significantly associated with the L/R ratio (coefficient, 0.121; p<0.0001). Conclusions The L/R ratio, which is not influenced by pathological parameters other than fibrosis, is useful for diagnosing cirrhosis in patients with NAFLD.
Contribution of limbs’ actions to the four competitive swimming strokes: a nonlinear approach

ABSTRACT The aim of our study was to assess the effect of the limbs’ actions on the nonlinear properties of the four competitive swimming strokes. Forty-nine swimmers performed all-out sprints at front-crawl, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, each one at full stroke (FS), only the arms’ stroke (AS), and only leg kicking (LK), in a total of 12 bouts, 6 per day. A speedo-meter cable was attached to the swimmer’s hip, to collect the speed-time raw data (f = 50Hz). Velocity, speed fluctuation, sample entropy and fractal dimension were derived from the speed-time series. Significant and moderate-strong effects were noted for both stroke and condition in all variables in the study (p ≤ 0.001; 0,560<η2 < 0,952). The four competitive strokes and their three conditions exhibited nonlinear properties. The swimming pattern was less complex and more predictable for LK in comparison to AS and FS. Breaststroke and butterfly have more complex but more predictable patterns than backstroke and front-crawl.
Premorbid Activity Limitation Stages Are Associated With Posthospitalization Discharge Disposition

Objective Activity of daily living stages and instrumental activity of daily living stage have demonstrated associations with mortality and health service use among older adults. This cohort study aims to assess the associations of premorbid activity limitation stages with acute hospital discharge disposition among community-dwelling older adults. Design Study participants were Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 yrs or older who enrolled in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey between 2001 and 2009. Associations of premorbid stages with discharge dispositions were estimated with multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for covariates. Results The proportions of elderly Medicare patients discharged to home with self-care, home with services, postacute care facilities, and other dispositions were 59%, 15%, 19%, and 7%, respectively. The following adjusted relative risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals of postacute care facilities versus home with self-care discharge increased with higher premorbid activity limitation stages (except nonfitting stage III): 1.7 (1.5–2.0), 2.4 (2.0–2.9), 2.4 (1.9–3.0), and 2.5 (1.6–4.1) for activity of daily living stages I–IV; a similar pattern was found for instrumental activity of daily living stages. The adjusted relative risk ratios of discharge to home with services also increased with higher premorbid activity limitation stages compared with no limitation. Conclusions Routinely assessed activity limitation stages predict posthospitalization discharge disposition among older adults and may be used to anticipate postacute care and services use by elderly Medicare beneficiaries.
Assessing the feasibility of the Healthy Life in Suriname Study: using advanced hemodynamics to evaluate cardiovascular risk.

Objectives To determine the feasibility of assessing population cardiovascular risk with advanced hemodynamics in the Healthy Life in Suriname (HELISUR) study. Methods This was a preliminary study conducted in May - June 2012 using the Technical-Economic-Legal-Operational-Scheduling (TELOS) method to assess the feasibility of the HELISUR-a large-scale, cross-sectional population study of cardiovascular risk factors and disease in Suriname. Suriname, a middle-income country in South America with a population of mostly African and Asian ethnicity, has a high risk of cardiovascular disease. A total of 135 volunteers 18 - 70 years of age participated. A health questionnaire was tested in a primary health care center, and non-invasive cardiovascular evaluations were performed in an academic health center. The cardiovascular evaluation included sitting, supine, and standing blood pressure, and intermediate endpoints, such as cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, pulse wave velocity, and augmentation index. Results The TELOS testing found that communicating by cellular phone was most effective for appointment adherence, and that completion of the questionnaire often required assistance from a trained interviewer; modifications to improve the clarity of the questions are recommended. Regarding the extended cardiovascular assessments of peripheral and central hemodynamics, the findings showed these to be technically and operationally feasible and well tolerated by participants, in terms of burden and duration. Conclusions Findings of this feasibility assessment indicate that large-scale, detailed evaluations of cardiovascular risk, including a questionnaire and advanced central and peripheral hemodynamics, are feasible in a high-risk population in a middle-income setting.
Histologic and histomorphometric evaluation of peri-implant bone of immediate or delayed occlusal-loaded non-splinted implants in the posterior mandible--an experimental study in monkeys.

OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this study was to compare the bone reaction around immediate-loaded non-splinted single implants vs. delayed loaded non-splinted single implants placed in healed ridges in the posterior mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS Six adult Macaca Fascicularis monkeys were used in this study. The first and second premolars and the first molar were extracted in both sides of the mandible. After 3 months of healing, four implants (Replace Select Tapered; Nobel Biocare, Gothenburg, Sweden) with a moderately rough surface (TiUnite, Nobel Biocare) were placed in the edentulous areas of each monkey, two in each side. The implants had a length of 10 mm and a diameter of 3.5 mm. Four groups of varying time and occlusal loading aspects were created: (i) control group: implant placed non-loaded for 3 months; (ii) immediate loaded: implant placed and loaded immediately for 3 months; (iii) immediate loaded: implant placed and loaded immediately for 6 months; and (iv) delayed loaded: implant placed submerged for 3 months and then loaded for 3 months. At the loaded implants, after a second stage surgery, a composite crown was made directly on an abutment mounted on the implant reinsuring simultaneous occlusal contact on the implant crown and the neighboring teeth. After euthanization of the animals, histologic specimens were quantified in the light microscope. RESULTS All implants were clinically, radiographically, and histologically osseointegrated at the time of euthanization and with only mild signs of inflammation in the peri-implant mucosa. The histologic marginal bone level was located on average 1.14-1.74 mm apical to the margin of the implants in the various groups. The average bone-to-implant contact (BIC) varied between 55% and 65% and the average bone density (i.e., the proportion of mineralized bone tissue from the implant surface and to a distance of 1 mm lateral to the implant) varied between 30.6% and 34.2%. No statistical significant differences between groups were observed in the above-stated histomorphometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS Similar histologic and histomorphometric findings were observed in immediately and delayed loaded non-splinted implants placed in the posterior mandible of macaque monkeys.
The effect of daily zinc and/or multivitamin supplements on early childhood development in Tanzania: results from a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Impaired childhood development has lifelong consequences for educational attainment and wage‐earning potential. Micronutrient supplements have the potential to improve development. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of daily zinc and/or multivitamin (vitamins C, E and B‐complex) supplements on development among Tanzanian infants. In this randomized, 2 × 2 factorial, double‐blind trial, 2400 infants were randomized to zinc (Zn), multivitamins (MV), zinc and multivitamins (Zn + MV) or placebo at 6 weeks of age. At approximately 15 months, a sub‐sample of 247 children underwent developmental assessment using the cognitive, language (receptive and expressive) and motor (fine and gross) scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third Edition (BSID‐III). Mean BSID‐III scores were compared using univariate and multivariate linear regression models adjusted for child's sex, post‐conceptual age and test administrator. Logistic regressions were used to assess odds of low developmental scores. We did not detect a significant difference in mean BSID‐III scores in any of the five domains in univariate or multivariate models comparing each of the four treatment groups. We also did not detect a significant difference in mean BSID‐III scores when comparing children who received zinc supplements versus those who did not, or in comparisons of children who received multivitamin supplements versus those who did not. There was no significant difference in odds of a low BSID‐III score in any of the five domains in treatment arms either. Because neither daily zinc nor multivitamin (vitamins B‐complex, C and E) supplementation led to improvements in any of the developmental domains assessed using the BSID‐III, we recommend pursuing alternative interventions to promote early childhood development in vulnerable populations. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Improving Health Care Quality and Patient Safety Through Peer-to-Peer Assessment: Demonstration Project in Two Academic Medical Centers

Despite decades of investment in patient safety, unintentional patient harm remains a major challenge in the health care industry. Peer-to-peer assessment in the nuclear industry has been shown to reduce harm. The study team’s goal was to pilot and assess the feasibility of this approach in health care. The team developed tools and piloted a peer-to-peer assessment at 2 academic hospitals: Massachusetts General Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital. The assessment evaluated both the institutions’ organizational approach to quality and safety as well as their approach to reducing 2 specific areas of patient harm. Site visits were completed and consisted of semistructured interviews with institutional leaders and clinical staff as well as direct patient observations using audit tools. Reports with recommendations were well received and each institution has developed improvement plans. The study team believes that peer-to-peer assessment in health care has promise and warrants consideration for wider adoption.