Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The CNES Real-time PPP with Undifferenced Integer Ambiguity Resolution Demonstrator

Integer ambiguity resolution on undifferenced GPS phase data has made a lot of progress in recent years. By combining pseudo-range and phase information, it is possible to fix integer ambiguities on zero-difference phase measurements, for dual-frequency problems, without any atmospheric models. Phase measurements then become pseudo-range-like measurements with millimeter noise level. Using these measurements, and precise satellite ephemerides, it is possible to perform the synchronization of a regional network, to compute satellite clocks. These clocks have an interesting property: they allow the positioning of independent receivers using a PPP-like method, with integer ambiguity fixing. The achieved positioning accuracy is at the centimeter level. This method can also be applied to real-time positioning [ION NTM 2008, ION ITM 2009 and ION GNSS 2010 meetings]. The core of the real-time implementation is a Kalman Filter working with both real- and integer-valued phase ambiguities. The filter produces satellite orbits and clocks compatible with integer ambiguity fixing. These products are then ingested by algorithms developed for user receivers to perform real-time positioning with accuracy comparable to standard RTK. To demonstrate that this processing strategy is compatible with the latency constraints imposed by real-time applications, and with the level of performance typical of common personal computers, CNES has developed a complete real-time ‘integer PPP’ demonstrator. The paper presents the architecture of the demonstrator. It also presents results obtained within the framework of the Real-Time IGS Pilot project, as well as results from a stand-alone experiment. In order for users to assess the potential offered by this new approach to real-time positioning, CNES provides a free user test package containing all the tools needed to perform PPP with ambiguity resolution. This test package includes an access to the CNES caster, documentation to understand the nature of the ambiguity resolution parameters, and a modified version of the BNC software which handles ambiguity fixing. This material is available on a dedicated web site (www.ppp-wizard.net).
Using discretization and Bayesian inference network learning for automatic filtering profile generation

We develop a new approach for text document filtering based on automatic construction of filtering profiles using Bayesian inference network learning. Bayesian inference networks, based on probability theory, offer a suitable framework to harness the uncertainty found in the nature of the filtering problem. In order to learn the networks effectively, we explore three different techniques for discretization. Good features of high predictive power are automatically obtained from the training document content. Our approach does not need to know in advance the subject or content of documents as well as the information needs expressed as topics. A series of experiments on a set of topics were conducted on two large-scale real-world document corpora. The empirical results demonstrate that our Bayesian inference network learning with advanced discretization achieves better performance over the simple naive Bayesian approach.
Persistent homology in multivariate data visualization

Technological advances of recent years have changed the way research is done. When describing complex phenomena, it is now possible to measure and model a myriad of different aspects pertaining to them. This increasing number of variables, however, poses significant challenges for the visual analysis and interpretation of such multivariate data. Yet, the effective visualization of structures in multivariate data is of paramount importance for building models, forming hypotheses, and understanding intrinsic properties of the underlying phenomena. This thesis provides novel visualization techniques that advance the field of multivariate visual data analysis by helping represent and comprehend the structure of high-dimensional data. In contrast to approaches that focus on visualizing multivariate data directly or by means of their geometrical features, the methods developed in this thesis focus on their topological properties. More precisely, these methods provide structural descriptions that are driven by persistent homology, a technique from the emerging field of computational topology. Such descriptions are developed in two separate parts of this thesis. The first part deals with the qualitative visualization of topological features in multivariate data. It presents novel visualization methods that directly depict topological information, thus permitting the comparison of structural features in a qualitative manner. The techniques described in this part serve as low-dimensional representations that make the otherwise high-dimensional topological features accessible. We show how to integrate them into data analysis workflows based on clustering in order to obtain more information about the underlying data. The efficacy of such combined workflows is demonstrated by analysing complex multivariate data sets from cultural heritage and political science, for example, whose structures are hidden to common visualization techniques. The second part of this thesis is concerned with the quantitative visualization of topological features. It describes novel methods that measure different aspects of multivariate data in order to provide quantifiable information about them. Here, the topological characteristics serve as a feature descriptor. Using these descriptors, the visualization techniques in this part focus on augmenting and improving existing data analysis processes. Among others, they deal with the visualization of high-dimensional regression models, the visualization of errors in embeddings of multivariate data, as well as the assessment and visualization of the results of different clustering algorithms. All the methods presented in this thesis are evaluated and analysed on different data sets in order to show their robustness. This thesis demonstrates that the combination of geometrical and topological methods may support, complement, and surpass existing approaches for multivariate visual data analysis.
Coping Skills Training for Parents of Children With Type 1 Diabetes: 12-Month Outcomes

Background:Although it is recognized that caring for a child with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is stressful for parents, few interventions have been developed and tested for this population. Objectives:The aim of this study was to compare a group educational intervention for parents of children with T1D to a coping skills training intervention. Methods:Parents of children with T1D were randomized to the group educational (n = 106) or coping skills training (n = 75) conditions. Parents completed measures of family conflict, responsibility for treatment, coping, and quality of life at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months postintervention. Clinical data (i.e., HbA1c) were collected from children's medical records preintervention and postintervention. Results:There were no significant treatment effects 12 months postintervention, but parents in both groups reported improved coping (p < .001), less responsibility for treatment management (p < .001), and improved quality of life (p = .005). While children's metabolic control worsened over time, mean values at 12 months were still within the recommended levels in this well-controlled sample (HbA1c <8%). Discussion:Group-based interventions for parents of children with T1D may lessen the impact of treatment management, improving coping and quality of life.
The Calibration and Data Products of GALEX

We describe the calibration status and data products pertaining to the GR2 and GR3 data releases of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). These releases have identical pipeline calibrations that are significantly improved over the GR1 data release. GALEX continues to survey the sky in the far-ultraviolet (FUV, ~154 nm) and near-ultraviolet (NUV, ~232 nm) bands, providing simultaneous imaging with a pair of photon-counting, microchannel plate, delay line readout detectors. These 1.25° field of view detectors are well suited to ultraviolet observations because of their excellent red rejection and negligible background. A dithered mode of observing and photon list output pose complex requirements on the data processing pipeline, entangling detector calibrations, and aspect reconstruction algorithms. Recent improvements have achieved photometric repeatability of 0.05 and 0.03 mAB in the FUV and NUV, respectively. We have detected a long-term drift of order 1% FUV and 6% NUV over the mission. Astrometric precision is of order 0.5″ rms in both bands. In this paper we provide the GALEX user with a broad overview of the calibration issues likely to be confronted in the current release. Improvements are likely as the GALEX mission continues into an extended phase with a healthy instrument, no consumables, and increased opportunities for guest investigations.
A Novel Fault Diagnosis Framework Based on Reliability Analysis and Arithmetic Circuit

To meet the real-time diagnosis requirements of complex systems, this paper presents a novel fault diagnosis framework based on dynamic fault tree and arithmetic circuit. It pays attention to meeting two challenges: model development and real-time reasoning. Specifically, we use a dynamic fault tree to model dynamic fault modes and calculate some quantitative parameters using algebraic technique and Bayesian network (BN) in order to avoid the state space explosion problem. Furthermore, we compile a BN into an arithmetic circuit to obtain answers to probabilistic queries by evaluating and differentiating the arithmetic circuit. In addition, we incorporate sensors information into diagnosis process and propose the schemes on how to update the diagnostic importance factor and the minimal cut sequences. Finally, the example of a train-ground communication system is used to demonstrate the proposed method.
Distributed Generation Allocation on Radial Distribution Networks Under Uncertainties of Load and Generation Using Genetic Algorithm

This paper presents a distribution generation (DG) allocation strategy for radial distribution networks under uncertainties of load and generation using adaptive genetic algorithm (GA). The uncertainties of load and generation are modeled using fuzzy-based approach. The optimal locations for DG integration and the optimal amount of generation for these locations are determined by minimizing the network power loss and maximum node voltage deviation. Since GA is a metaheuristic algorithm, the results of multiple runs are taken and the statistical variations for locations and generations for DG units are shown. The locations and sizes for DG units obtained with fuzzy-based approach are found to be different than those obtained with deterministic approach. The results obtained with fuzzy-based approach are found to be comparatively efficient in working with future load growth. The proposed approach is demonstrated on the IEEE 33-node test network and a 52-node Indian practical distribution network.
Physical activity and ischaemic heart disease in middle-aged British men.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the relation between reported physical activity and the risk of heart attacks in middle aged British men. DESIGN--Prospective study of middle-aged men followed for a period of eight years (The British Regional Heart Study). SETTING--One general practice in each of 24 British towns. PARTICIPANTS--7735 men aged 40-59 years at initial examination. END POINT--Heart attacks (non-fatal and fatal). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--During the follow up period of eight years 488 men suffered at least one major heart attack. A physical activity score used was developed and validated against heart rate and lung function (FEV1) in men without evidence of ischaemic heart disease. Risk of heart attack decreased significantly with increasing physical activity; the groups reporting moderate and moderately vigorous activity experienced less than half the rate seen in inactive men. The benefits of physical activity were seen most consistently in men without preexisting ischaemic heart disease and up to levels of moderately vigorous activity. Vigorously active men had higher rates of heart attack than men with moderate or moderately vigorous activity. The relation between physical activity and the risk of heart attack seemed to be independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. Men with symptomatic ischaemic heart disease showed a reduction in the rate of heart attack at light or moderate levels of physical activity, beyond which the risk of heart attack increased. Men with asymptomatic ischaemic heart disease showed an increasing risk of heart attack with increasing levels of physical activity, but with a progressive decrease in case fatality. Overall, men who engaged in vigorous (sporting) activity of any frequency had significantly lower rates of heart attack than men who reported no sporting activity. However, when all men reporting regular sporting activity at least once a month were excluded from analysis, there remained a strong inverse relation between physical activity and the risk of heart attack in men without pre-existing ischaemic heart disease. CONCLUSION--This study suggests that the overall level of physical activity is an important independent protective factor in ischaemic heart disease and that vigorous (sporting) exercise, although beneficial in its own right, is not essential in order to obtain such an effect.
Higher risk of incident ankylosing spondylitis in patients with uveitis: a secondary cohort analysis of a nationwide, population-based health claims database

Objectives: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive, systemic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that typically affects young adults. Uveitis is a common extra-articular manifestation of AS. Nevertheless, the magnitude of the risk of AS among patients with uveitis is not clear. The aim of this secondary retrospective cohort study was to investigate the risk of incident AS in patients with uveitis using data from a nationwide, population-based health claims research database. Method: Using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 6637 patients with uveitis between 2000 and 2012. A comparison cohort was assembled, which consisted of five patients without uveitis, based on frequency matching for gender, 10 year age interval, and index year, for each patient with uveitis. Both groups were followed until diagnosis of AS or the end of the follow-up period. A Poisson regression model was used to calculate the incidence rate ratio for AS between the uveitis cohort and the comparison cohort. Results: Patients with uveitis exhibited a significantly higher incidence of AS than the comparison cohort (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 2.57, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis with stratification by the interval between the diagnosis of uveitis and AS indicated that the adjusted incidence rates were significantly higher in the uveitis cohort with an interval of up to 7.9 years. Conclusion: A significant increased risk in AS among patients with uveitis was observed, with a time lag of up to 7.9 years between the diagnosis of uveitis and subsequent diagnosis of AS.
Transplantation of Preconditioned Schwann Cells Following Hemisection Spinal Cord Injury

Study Design. Chronically compressed sciatic nerve segments were transplanted to hemisected spinal cord injured rats. Histologic evaluation and behavior functional outcomes were tested after 6 weeks following surgery. Objective. To evaluate the outcome of preconditioned peripheral nerves as a permissive environment in axonal regeneration of the injured spinal cord. Summary of Background Data. Schwann cells have been used to facilitate a permissive environment for the injured spinal cord to regenerate. Previous experiments have shown compressive mechanical stress to be important in stimulating the regenerative behavior of Schwann cells. Transplantation of highly permissive Schwann cell-enriched peripheral nerve grafts may enhance regeneration in spinal cord injury. Methods. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were used to create a hemisection injury of the spinal cord. At 1-week postinjury creation, the spinal cords were reexposed for all animals. Peripheral nerve grafts were obtained from rat sciatic nerve, either untreated or subjected to mechanical compression for 2 weeks with nonconstrictive tubing. Transplantation of grafts was performed after a resection of the glial scar. Functional outcome was measured using the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Score and footprint analysis. Tract tracing of descending and ascending spinal cord tracts was performed at 6 weeks after surgery for histologic evaluation of axonal regeneration. Results. Preconditioned transplants had significantly higher Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan Scores versus hemisection alone in the late postoperative period (P < 0.05). They also had significantly less foot exorotation and base of support when compared to nonconditioned transplants. Histologic analysis showed increased regeneration at lesional sites for preconditioned transplants versus control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Functional recovery after hemisection injury improved significantly in the late postoperative period with transplantation of preconditioned peripheral nerve. Preconditioned grafts also exhibit sustained axonal regeneration at and past the lesional site in histologic analysis. Further investigation with later time points is warranted.
Power-Reductive Precoding for the Transmission of Correlated Information Sequences

In communication theory, the conventional role of precoding is to reshape a spectrally flat sequence of data symbols in favor of a particular inter-symbol interference (ISI) channel such that signal-to-noise power ratio (SNR) is maximized. In contrast, in this paper a novel precoding technique is devised to exploit a particular property of the information source rather than the channel. Specifically, we focus on the scenario where the source sequence has an inherent correlation that is known a priori, and design a precoding filter that attempts to reduce the average power of the resulting transmit symbol sequences. The proposed precoding technique is thus termed power-reductive precoding (PRP). This reduction of average transmit power accrues without changing the amplitude of the original sequence and thus can be treated as a system gain. An apparent drawback of this approach is the intentional ISI introduced by the precoding filter, which may lessen the minimum distance among legitimate sequences. Nevertheless, we show that even if the loss associated with the minimum distance penalty is properly taken into account, the achievable error rate versus SNR can be made superior to the case without precoding.
Response of type-II superconductors subjected to parallel rotating magnetic fields.

A general critical-state model including the effects of both flux-line cutting and flux pinning is used for calculating B-, J-, and E-field distributions during the approach to the quasisteady state of a type-II superconducting slab subjected to a parallel rotating magnetic field. Three initial magnetic configurations (diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and nonmagnetic) are considered. It is shown that, depending upon sample parameters and magnetic history, multiple-zone structures develop inside the superconductor. It is also shown that, regardless of the specimen's magnetic history, flux-line-cutting B consumption leads to a final state in which B has a diamagnetic profile near the surface of the specimen. The relation of these calculations to the pioneering experiments of LeBlanc and co-workers is discussed.
Graft Resorption With the Use of Bone Morphogenetic Protein: Lessons From Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Femoral Ring Allografts and Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2

Study Design. This is a prospective cohort study examining the results and radiographic characteristics of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) using femoral ring allografts (FRAs) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). This was compared to a historical control ALIF using FRAs with autologous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG). Objective. To determine whether the use of rhBMP-2 can enhance fusion ALIF with stand-alone FRAs. Summary of Background Data. ALIF is a well-accepted procedure in reconstructive spine surgery. Advances in spinal surgery have produced a multitude of anterior interbody implants. The rhBMP-2 has promoted fusion in patients undergoing ALIF with cages and threaded allograft dowels. The FRA still remains a traditional alternative for anterior support. However, as a stand-alone device, the FRA has fallen into disfavor because of high rates of pseudarthrosis. With the advent of rhBMP-2, the FRA may be more attractive because of its simplicity and remodeling potential. It is important to understand the implications when rhBMP-2 is used with such structural allografts. Methods. A total of 36 consecutive patients who underwent ALIF with stand-alone FRAs by a single surgeon (E.G.D.) at 1 institute were included. A cohort of 9 consecutive patients who received FRAs filled with rhBMP-2 was followed prospectively. After noticing suboptimal results, the senior author terminated this method of lumbar fusion. A total of 27 prior consecutive patients who received FRAs filled with autogenous ICBG were used for comparison. Analyzing sequential radiographs, flexion-extension radiographs, and computerized tomography with multiplanar reconstructions determined nonunions. Minimum follow-up was 24 months. Results. Pseudarthrosis was identified in 10 of 27 (36%) patients who underwent stand-alone ALIF with FRAs and ICBG. Nonunion rate was higher among patients who received FRAs with rhBMP-2 (i.e., 5 of 9 [56%]). Statistical significance was not established because of the early termination of the treatment group (P > 0.3). Of interest, radiographs and computerized tomography revealed early and aggressive resorption of the FRAs when used with rhBMP-2. This preceded graft fracture and even disintegration, resulting in instability and eventual nonunion. Conclusion. The use of rhBMP-2 did not enhance the fusion rate in stand-alone ALIF with FRAs. In fact, the trend was toward a higher nonunion rate with rhBMP-2, although this was not significant with the numbers available. This result appears to be caused by the aggressive resorptive phase of allograft incorporation, which occurs before the osteoinduction phase.