Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
D IFFERENTIAL P RIVACY A PPROACHES IN A C LINICAL T RIAL

Clinical trials are essential for advancements in the medical field. The study subjects of clinical trials agree that the data may be used within the scope of the clinical trial and they trust the study center to not misuse the data. Limiting access and anonymizing the data is usually the only way of offering privacy to the subjects. Currently, the collected data may only be used within the scope of the respective study, and in the case of external entities evaluating the data, potential privacy risks occur. To improve the situation, we investigated the applicability of Differential Privacy approaches for clinical trials by looking into differentially private queries as well as differentially private Machine-Learning approaches. Different configurations have been tested for two Differential Privacy mechanisms. The Laplacian Mechanism is much more influenced by the chosen epsilon compared to the Functional Mechanism implemented in this study. However, both mechanisms trade accuracy for privacy. In summary, both queries and Machine Learning can be made secure by applying differential privacy approaches, but the implementation and configuration overhead is still likely to exceed the capacity of clinical trials, especially the smaller ones. Keywords-Differential Privacy; Clinical Trial; Sensor Data; Machine Learning; Privacy Preservation; Data Security.
Stay in your Lane: A NoC with Low-overhead Multi-packet Bypassing

NoCs are over-provisioned with large virtual channels to provide deadlock freedom and performance improvement. This use of virtual channels leads to considerable power and area overhead. In this paper, we introduce a novel flow control, called FastFlow, to enhance performance and avoid both protocol- and network-level deadlocks with an impressive reduction in number of virtual channels compared to the state-of-the-art NoCs. FastPass promotes a packet to traverse the network bufferlessly; the packet bypasses the routers to reach its destination. During the traversals, the packet is guaranteed to make forward progress every cycle. As a result, such a packet cannot be blocked by congestion nor deadlock. Promoting more packets to FastPass will provide higher throughput. To this end, FastPass allows multiple packets to be upgraded as FastPass packets simultaneously. To avoid any collision between these packets, FastPass provides multiple pre-defined non-overlapping lanes. Each lane is allowed to propagate only one FastPass packet. In a time-division multiplexed way, each router gets a chance to upgrade its packets to the FastPass packets and then transfer them via the pre-defined non-overlapping lanes. FastPass not only provides high throughput but also resolves both protocol-and network-level deadlocks. Compared to the state-of-the-art, FastPass presents a 1.8 × increase in throughput for synthetic traffic, 46% improvement in average packet latency for real applications, and 40% reduction in power and area consumption.
Aerogel: Lightweight Access Control Framework for WebAssembly-Based Bare-Metal IoT Devices

Application latency requirements, privacy, and security concerns have naturally pushed computing onto smartphone and IoT devices in a decentralized manner. In response to these demands, researchers have developed micro-runtimes for WebAssembly (Wasm) on IoT devices to enable streaming applications to a runtime that can run the target binaries that are independent of the device. However, the migration of Wasm and the associated security research has neglected the urgent needs of access control on bare-metal, memory management unit (MMU)-less IoT devices that are sensing and actuating upon the physical environment. This paper presents Aerogel, an access control framework that addresses security gaps between the bare-metal IoT devices and the Wasm execution environment concerning access control for sensors, actuators, processor energy usage, and memory usage. In particular, we treat the runtime as a multi-tenant environment, where each Wasm-based application is a tenant. We leverage the inherent sandboxing mechanisms of Wasm to enforce the access control policies to sensors and actuators without trusting the bare-metal operating system. We evaluate our approach on a representative IoT development board: a cortexM4 based development board (nRF52840). Our results show that Aerogel can effectively enforce compute resource and peripheral access control policies while introducing as little as 0.19% to 1.04% runtime overhead and consuming only 18.8% to 45.9% extra energy.
Video Education About Spiritual Needs for Attached Medical Devices Patients

WHO has mentioned spiritual care for decades as well as the United States. Spiritual care in hospitals is heightened concern for not only terminal illnesses people but also patients that attached medical devices. Because of the overloaded workload, nurses did not provide adequate spiritual care. Video, as the latest tools that believe in enhancing patients’ knowledge been assumed to lack evidence, especially to achieve their spiritual needs. The purpose of this study was described how brief video information: “Hospitalized patients could comply their spiritual needs” can improve patients’ knowledge? The study using a quasi-experimental design: pre-posttest without control. Sixty-five respondents were included after written and verbally informed consent. It was using a questionnaire and video as an instrument designed by researchers. There are statistically significant (α= 0.001), which means respondents gained new knowledge after watching a brief video about praying in exceptional condition. It suggests that clear and precise intervention in education at the time of admission to the hospital might lead to a higher acceptance of the spiritual treatment of video education. Even there is statistically significant, but nurses need to facilitate patients' spiritual needs with visits and remind them each praying time begins frequently.
DB110413 261..272

Retinal vascular leakage, inflammation, and neovascularization (NV) are features of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor a (PPARa) agonist, has shown robust protective effects against DR in type 2 diabetic patients, but its effects on DR in type 1 diabetes have not been reported. This study evaluated the efficacy of fenofibrate on DR in type 1 diabetes models and determined if the effect is PPARa dependent. Oral administration of fenofibrate significantly ameliorated retinal vascular leakage and leukostasis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in Akita mice. Favorable effects on DR were also achieved by intravitreal injection of fenofibrate or another specific PPARa agonist. Fenofibrate also ameliorated retinal NV in the oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model and inhibited tube formation and migration in cultured endothelial cells. Fenofibrate also attenuated overexpression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and blocked activation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and nuclear factor-kB in the retinas of OIR and diabetic models. Fenofibrate’s beneficial effects were blocked by a specific PPARa antagonist. Furthermore, Ppara knockout abolished the fenofibrate-induced downregulation of VEGF and reduction of retinal vascular leakage in DR models. These results demonstrate therapeutic effects of fenofibrate on DR in type 1 diabetes and support the existence of the drug target in ocular tissues and via a PPARa-dependent mechanism. Diabetes 62:261–272, 2013
Advanced unified decentralised control method with voltage restoration for DC microgrids

This study introduces an advanced decentralised control method for DC microgrids which can be adopted both in the grid-connected mode and the islanded mode with a small change. Compared with the conventional droop control methods, there are three improvements in this proposed control method. First, in the grid-connected mode, the proposed control method can output the specified current, which is useful for the economic dispatch of the microgrid. Second, in the islanded mode, the proposed control method can realise accurate current sharing among distributed generations (DGs). Third, in the islanded mode, the proposed control method can directly restore the average voltage of the bus without the extra secondary control, which can ensure the power quality and reduce the complexity of the control system. The high reliability of the proposed control method is illustrated by the analysis of the stability. Also, the time-delay effect caused by the finite bandwidth of the communication network is analysed and the limited bandwidth of the communication network can be calculated out. All the conclusions are verified by the corresponding simulation tests based on MATLAB/Simulink, also the real-time hardware-in-loop tests are conducted to evaluate the performance of the control method when applied practically.
A Case Study on Service Design in an Egyptian Professional Consulting Firm

Organizational change and transformation traditionally attracts many researchers to dedicate their times and energy to research, because it is one of the important research topics. However there does not seem to be enough research especially in Arab world such as Egypt, although the area is one of the significant regions now. In this paper, author discusses three topics based upon a case study at a professional consulting firm in Egypt which is specialized in Kaizen –continuous improvement. (1) How did the firm acquire the know-how knowledge about Kaizen? , (2) How did the customer of the consulting firm succeed in the QC Circle activities with the support of the firm? , (3) What are the key factors for success both in of the firm and their customers? At the result, it is supposed that the learning process at the firm could be interpreted with SECI model, and the innovative transformation process in their customers could be interpreted by applying five Stages model (Liu, Nagayoshi and Iijima; 2012). Also the key success factors for Kaizen could be localization of Kaizen activities. The generalizability of these findings can be ascertained with more studies in future.
A preliminary investigation of yoga as an intervention approach for improving long-term weight loss: A randomized trial

Objective Yoga targets psychological processes which may be important for long-term weight loss (WL). This study is the first to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of yoga within a weight management program following WL treatment. Methods 60 women with overweight or obesity (34.3±3.9 kg/m2, 48.1±10.1 years) were randomized to receive a 12-week yoga intervention (2x/week; YOGA) or a structurally equivalent control (cooking/nutrition classes; CON), following a 3-month behavioral WL program. Feasibility (attendance, adherence, retention) and acceptability (program satisfaction ratings) were assessed. Treatment groups were compared on weight change, mindfulness, distress tolerance, stress, affect, and self-compassion at 6 months. Initial WL (3-mo WL) was evaluated as a potential moderator. Results Attendance, retention, and program satisfaction ratings of yoga were high. Treatment groups did not differ on WL or psychological constructs (with exception of one mindfulness subscale) at 6 months. However, among those with high initial WL (≥5%), YOGA lost significantly more weight (-9.0kg vs. -6.7kg) at 6 months and resulted in greater distress tolerance, mindfulness, and self-compassion and lower negative affect, compared to CON. Conclusions Study findings provide preliminary support for yoga as a potential strategy for improving long-term WL among those losing ≥5% in standard behavioral treatment.
A novel dual-labeled small peptide as a multimodal imaging agent for targeting wild-type EGFR in tumors

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is over-expressed in various human cancer. The over-expression of EGFR in tumors is an excellent target for the development of cancer imaging agents. In the present study, we developed Tc-99m SYPIPDT-GHEG-ECG-K-tetramethylrhodamine (SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA) as a molecular imaging agent targeting wild-type EFGR (wtEGFR)-positive tumor cells, and verified its feasibility as molecular imaging agent. SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA was synthesized using Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis. The radiolabeling of SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA with Tc-99m was accomplished using ligand exchange via tartrate. Cellular uptake and binding affinity studies were performed. In vivo gamma camera imaging, ex vivo imaging and biodistribution studies were performed using NCI-H460 and SW620 tumor-bearing murine models. After radiolabeling procedures with Tc-99m, Tc-99m SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA complexes were prepared at high yield (> 95%). The binding affinity value (Kd) of Tc-99m SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA for NCI-H460 cells was estimated to be 76.5 ± 15.8 nM. In gamma camera imaging, the tumor to normal muscle uptake ratios of Tc-99m SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA increased with time (2.7 ± 0.6, 4.0 ± 0.9, and 6.2 ± 1.0 at 1, 2, and 3 h, respectively). The percentage injected dose per gram of wet tissue for the NCI-H460 tumor was 1.91 ± 0.11 and 1.70 ± 0.22 at 1 and 3 h, respectively. We developed Tc-99m SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA, which is dual-labeled with both radioisotope and fluorescence. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated specific uptake of Tc-99m SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA into wtEGFR-positive NCI-H460 cells and tumors. Thus, the results of the present study suggest that Tc-99m SYPIPDT-ECG-TAMRA is a potential dual-modality imaging agent targeting wtEGFR.
Effects of age, gender, and hemisphere on cerebrovascular hemodynamics in children and young adults: Developmental scores and machine learning classifiers

A constant blood supply to the brain is required for mental function. Research with Doppler ultrasonography has important clinical value and burgeoning potential with machine learning applications in studies predicting gestational age and vascular aging. Critically, studies on ultrasound metrics in school-age children are sparse and no machine learning study to date has used color duplex ultrasonography to predict age and classify age-group. The purpose of our study is two-fold: first to document cerebrovascular hemodynamics considering age, gender, and hemisphere in three arteries; and second to construct machine learning models that can predict and classify the age and age-group of a participant using ultrasonography metrics. We record peak systolic, end-diastolic, and time-averaged maximum velocities bilaterally in internal carotid, vertebral, and middle cerebral arteries from 821 participants. Results confirm that ultrasonography values decrease with age and reveal that gender and hemispheres show more similarities than differences, which depend on age, artery, and metric. Machine learning algorithms predict age and classifier models distinguish cerebrovascular hemodynamics between children and adults. Blood velocities, rather than blood vessel diameters, are more important for classifier models, and common and distinct variables contribute to age classification models for males and females.
Merged swing-muscle synergies and their relation to walking characteristics in subacute post-stroke patients: An observational study

In post-stroke patients, muscle synergy (the coordination of motor modules during walking) is impaired. In some patients, the muscle synergy termed module 1 (hip/knee extensors) is merged with module 2 (ankle plantar flexors), and in other cases, module 1 is merged with module 4 (knee flexors). However, post-stroke individuals with a merging pattern of module 3 (hip flexor and ankle dorsiflexor) and module 4, which is the swing-muscle synergy, have not been reported. This study aimed to determine the muscle-synergy merging subtypes of post-stroke during comfortable walking speed (cws). We also examined the effect of experimental lower-limb angle modulation on the muscle synergy patterns of walking in each subtype. Forty-one participants were assessed under three conditions: cws, long stepping on the paretic side (p-long), and long stepping on the non-paretic side (np-long). Lower-limb flexion and extension angles and the electromyogram were measured during walking. Subtype classification was based on the merging pattern of the muscle synergies, and we examined the effect of different lower-limb angles on the muscle synergies. We identified three merging subtypes: module 1 with module 2 (subtype 1), module 1 with module 4 (subtype 2), and module 3 with module 4 (subtype 3). In the cws condition, the lower-limb flexion angle was reduced in subtype 3, and the lower-limb extension angle was decreased in subtype 1. A more complex muscle synergy was observed only in subtype 3 in the p-long condition versus cws (p = 0.036). This subtype classification of walking impairments based on the merging pattern of the muscle synergies could be useful for the selection of a rehabilitation strategy according to the individual’s particular neurological condition. Rehabilitation with increased lower-limb flexion may be effective for the training of patients with merging of modules 3 and 4 in comfortable walking.
Nonlinear dynamic analysis of coupled gear-rotor-bearing system with the effect of internal and external excitations

Extensive studies on nonlinear dynamics of gear systems with internal excitation or external excitation respectively have been carried out. However, the nonlinear characteristics of gear systems under combined internal and external excitations are scarcely investigated. An eight-degree-of-freedom(8-DOF) nonlinear spur gear-rotor-bearing model, which contains backlash, transmission error, eccentricity, gravity and input/output torque, is established, and the coupled lateral-torsional vibration characteristics are studied. Based on the equations of motion, the coupled spur gear-rotor-bearing system(SGRBS) is investigated using the Runge-Kutta numerical method, and the effects of rotational speed, error fluctuation and load fluctuation on the dynamic responses are explored. The results show that a diverse range of nonlinear dynamic characteristics such as periodic motion, quasi-periodic motion, chaotic behaviors and impacts exhibited in the system are strongly attributed to the interaction between internal and external excitations. Significantly, the changing rotational speed could effectively control the vibration of the system. Vibration level increases with the increasing error fluctuation. Whereas the load fluctuation has an influence on the nonlinear dynamic characteristics and the increasing excitation force amplitude makes the vibration amplitude increase, the chaotic motion may be restricted. The proposed model and numerical results can be used for diagnosis of faults and vibration control of practical SGRBS.
A Survey of Side-Channel Sensing in Wireless Networked Systems

In recent years, Side-Channel Sensing (SCS) became hotter and hotter in wireless network (a type of computer network that uses wireless data connection to connect network nodes) and mobile computing (a computer is transported during usage) systems. People found that sensors, RF radios, or even daily used lamps potentially can have more and stronger functionalities than their original purposes. Usually, the SCS can enable new application, save energy, perform novel communication or provide special data. Because of SCS, the fields such as Human-Computer Interaction, Indoor Localization and Device-to-Device Communication got further improved. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive survey on Side-Channel Sensing and analyze the concerns on energy, communication, and data. To do this, we firstly classify the recent studies by original purposes and extensional purposes. Later, we analyze the energy, communication, and data concerns on the technical layer. Eventually, we provide a summary on related works. Our survey covers more than 60 studies in recent three years from relative high ranked conferences. 96 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} In recent years, Side-Channel Sensing (SCS) became hotter and hotter in wireless network (a type of computer network that uses wireless data connection to connect network nodes) and mobile computing (a computer is transported during usage) systems. People found that sensors, RF radios, or even daily used lamps potentially can have more and stronger functionalities than their original purposes. Usually, the SCS can enable new application, save energy, perform novel communication or provide special data. Because of SCS, the fields such as Human-Computer Interaction, Indoor Localization and Device-to-Device Communication got further improved. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive survey on Side-Channel Sensing and analyze the concerns on energy, communication, and data. To do this, we firstly classify the recent studies by original purposes and extensional purposes. Later, we analyze the energy, communication, and data concerns on the technical layer. Eventually, we provide a summary on related works. Our survey covers more than 60 studies in recent three years from relative high ranked conferences.
The Effect of Clusters of Double Triggering and Ineffective Efforts in Critically Ill Patients

OBJECTIVES: To characterize clusters of double triggering and ineffective inspiratory efforts throughout mechanical ventilation and investigate their associations with mortality and duration of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Registry-based, real-world study. Background: Asynchronies during invasive mechanical ventilation can occur as isolated events or in clusters and might be related to clinical outcomes. Subjects: Adults requiring mechanical ventilation greater than 24 hours for whom greater than or equal to 70% of ventilator waveforms were available. INTERVENTIONS: We identified clusters of double triggering and ineffective inspiratory efforts and determined their power and duration. We used Fine-Gray’s competing risk model to analyze their effects on mortality and generalized linear models to analyze their effects on duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We analyzed 58,625,796 breaths from 180 patients. All patients had clusters (mean/d, 8.2 [5.4–10.6]; mean power, 54.5 [29.6–111.4]; mean duration, 20.3 min [12.2–34.9 min]). Clusters were less frequent during the first 48 hours (5.5 [2.5–10] vs 7.6 [4.4–9.9] in the remaining period [p = 0.027]). Total number of clusters/d was positively associated with the probability of being discharged alive considering the total period of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.001). Power and duration were similar in the two periods. Power was associated with the probability of being discharged dead (p = 0.03), longer mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001), and longer ICU stay (p = 0.035); cluster duration was associated with longer ICU stay (p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Clusters of double triggering and ineffective inspiratory efforts are common. Although higher numbers of clusters might indicate better chances of survival, clusters with greater power and duration indicate a risk of worse clinical outcomes.