Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sedative hypnotics in older people with insomnia: meta-analysis of risks and benefits

Abstract Objectives To quantify and compare potential benefits (subjective reports of sleep variables) and risks (adverse events and morning-after psychomotor impairment) of short term treatment with sedative hypnotics in older people with insomnia. Data sources Medline, Embase, the Cochrane clinical trials database, PubMed, and PsychLit, 1966 to 2003; bibliographies of published reviews and meta-analyses; manufacturers of newer sedative hypnotics (zaleplon, zolpidem, zopiclone) regarding unpublished studies. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials of any pharmacological treatment for insomnia for at least five consecutive nights in people aged 60 or over with insomnia and otherwise free of psychiatric or psychological disorders. Results 24 studies (involving 2417 participants) with extractable data met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sleep quality improved (effect size 0.14, P < 0.05), total sleep time increased (mean 25.2 minutes, P < 0.001), and the number of night time awakenings decreased (0.63, P < 0.001) with sedative use compared with placebo. Adverse events were more common with sedatives than with placebo: adverse cognitive events were 4.78 times more common (95% confidence interval 1.47 to 15.47, P < 0.01); adverse psychomotor events were 2.61 times more common (1.12 to 6.09, P > 0.05), and reports of daytime fatigue were 3.82 times more common (1.88 to 7.80, P < 0.001) in people using any sedative compared with placebo. Conclusions Improvements in sleep with sedative use are statistically significant, but the magnitude of effect is small. The increased risk of adverse events is statistically significant and potentially clinically relevant in older people at risk of falls and cognitive impairment. In people over 60, the benefits of these drugs may not justify the increased risk, particularly if the patient has additional risk factors for cognitive or psychomotor adverse events.
Results on lattice vector quantization with dithering

The statistical properties of the error in uniform scalar quantization have been analyzed by a number of authors in the past, and is a well-understood topic today. The analysis has also been extended to the case of dithered quantizers, and the advantages and limitations of dithering have been studied and well documented in the literature. Lattice vector quantization is a natural extension into multiple dimensions of the uniform scalar quantization. Accordingly, there is a natural extension of the analysis of the quantization error. It is the purpose of this paper to present this extension and to elaborate on some of the new aspects that come with multiple dimensions. We show that, analogous to the one-dimensional case, the quantization error vector can be rendered independent of the input in subtractive vector-dithering. In this case, the total mean square error is a function of only the underlying lattice and there are lattices that minimize this error. We give a necessary condition on such lattices. In nonsubtractive vector dithering, we show how to render moments of the error vector independent of the input by using appropriate dither random vectors. These results can readily be applied for the case of wide sense stationary (WSS) vector random processes, by use of iid dither sequences. We consider the problem of pre- and post-filtering around a dithered lattice quantifier, and show how these filters should be designed in order to minimize the overall quantization error in the mean square sense. For the special case where the WSS vector process is obtained by blocking a WSS scalar process, the optimum prefilter matrix reduces to the blocked version of the well-known scalar half-whitening filter.
Online environmental activism in Turkey: The case study of “The Right to Water”

ABSTRACT This article intends to contribute to research of environmental media activism in two ways: First, by discussing ways to frame research on this topic conceptually and historically. Second, by considering the specific strategies and experiences of environmental activist groups concerning activist medias and participatory actions. We will discuss what can be done when using Internet platforms. “The Right to Water” website has been selected as a case study, which is essentially a democratic platform against capitalist ecology policies. In this study, we examined Internet usage by environmentalist activist groups, by collecting and analyzing data on the usage and results of web-based activism, and discuss the impact of online activism within civil society.
Modeling surfaces of arbitrary topology with dynamic particles

A new approach to surface modeling and reconstruction is developed which overcomes some important limitations of existing surface representations methods. The approach features two components. The first is a dynamic self-organizing oriented particle system which discovers topological and geometric surface structure implicit in visual data. The oriented particles evolve according to Newtonian mechanics and interact through long-range attraction forces, short-range repulsion forces, and coplanarity, conormality, and cocircularity forces. The second component is an efficient triangulation scheme that connects the particles into a continuous global surface model that is consistent with the inferred structure. A flexible surface reconstruction algorithm is developed that can compute complete, detailed, viewpoint-invariant geometric surface descriptions of objects with arbitrary topology. The algorithms are applied to 3-D medical image segmentation and to surface reconstruction from object silhouettes. <<ETX>>
Optimization of Anodized-Aluminum Pressure-Sensitive Paint by Controlling Luminophore Concentration

Anodized-aluminum pressure-sensitive paint (AA-PSP) has been used as a global pressure sensor for unsteady flow measurements. We use a dipping deposition method to apply a luminophore on a porous anodized-aluminum surface, controlling the luminophore concentration of the dipping method to optimize AA-PSP characteristics. The concentration is varied from 0.001 to 10 mM. Characterizations include the pressure sensitivity, the temperature dependency, and the signal level. The pressure sensitivity shows around 60 % at a lower concentration up to 0.1 mM. Above this concentration, the sensitivity reduces to a half. The temperature dependency becomes more than a half by setting the luminophore concentration from 0.001 to 10 mM. There is 3.6-fold change in the signal level by varying the concentration. To discuss an optimum concentration, a weight coefficient is introduced. We can arbitrarily change the coefficients to create an optimized AA-PSP for our sensing purposes.
Does the complexity of coronary artery disease affect outcomes after complete revascularization with long segmental reconstruction of the left anterior descending artery using the left internal thoracic artery?

OBJECTIVES We evaluated the influence of the complexity of coronary artery disease stratified by the Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score on early or late outcomes after complete revascularization with long segmental reconstruction of the left anterior descending artery using the left internal thoracic artery. METHODS From March 1995 to December 2003, a total of 102 patients with triple-vessel and/or left main disease underwent complete revascularization with long segmental left anterior descending artery reconstruction (≥2 cm) with or without endarterectomy using the left internal thoracic artery. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median SYNTAX score: the low group (SYNTAX score of <32, n = 50) and the high group (SYNTAX score of ≥32, n = 52). Outcomes were compared between the two groups, and predictors of follow-up death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were determined. RESULTS The mean number of distal anastomoses was 4.2 ± 1.1, and complete revascularization was achieved in 96% of patients. The early mortality rate was 2.9%, and no significant differences in the perioperative results were observed between groups. There were no significant differences in overall survival or major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event-free survival between the two groups. The hazard ratio of SYNTAX score for early mortality was 0.94 (95% confidence interval: 0.88-1.01) and for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92-1.02). CONCLUSIONS The complexity of coronary artery disease had no impact on early or late outcomes after complete revascularization with long segmental left anterior descending artery reconstruction using the left internal thoracic artery.
Design of Adaptive Modulation and Coding Scheme for Truncated HARQ

In this paper, a new design approach for an adaptive modulation and coding scheme, combined with the truncated hybrid ARQ (HARQ) in the emerging broadband mobile Internet access systems, is proposed. The progressive combining gain can be obtained by the number of retransmissions in HARQ schemes, as the target packet error rate can vary with each retransmission. In other words, higher bandwidth efficiency can be achieved by selecting a more aggressive modulation and coding rate set (MCS) at the expense of packet error rate of earlier transmissions, which can be compensated by the progressive retransmission gain in HARQ. Based on extensive simulation for predicting the combining gain in each retransmission, it has been demonstrated that bandwidth efficiency can be improved as much as 5.8dB and 3.3dB, compared with the conservative AMC design approach with truncated HARQ and aggressive AMC design approach with truncated ARQ, respectively
An Analytical Evaluation of BPMN Using a Semiotic Quality Framework

Evaluation of modelling languages is important both to be able to select the most suitable languages according to the needs, and to improve existing languages. In this paper Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) is presented and analytically evaluated according to the Semiotic Quality Framework. BPMN is a functionally oriented language well suited for modeling within the domain of business processes, but probably also general processes not only within the business domain. The evaluation indicates that BPMN is easily learned for simple use, and Business Process Diagrams (BPDs) are relatively easy to understand. Tools may fairly easily map BPDs into the BPEL4WS format, but executable systems then require creation of Web Services representing the Activities in BPDs. An evaluation according to the BWW ontology is useful for finding ontological discrepancies, and the semiotic framework is useful for evaluating quality on a relatively general level. These methods thus complement each other.
0/1 space hopping technique using backward training method with pre-compensation

0/1 space hopping technique is a multi-antenna secure wireless transmission scheme which exploits the space spectrum at both the transmitter side and the receiver side. However, 0/1 space hopping using the forward training method (FTM) may lead to interception when the training method and the space hopping pattern are both known to an eavesdropper. The backward training method with weight-feedback (BTM-WF), which can solve the above security problem, however, suffers from low efficiency and the feedback process. In this paper, backward training method with pre-compensation (BTM-PC) is proposed. The new method achieves higher efficiency by transmitting only one training symbol with all the antennas of the target receiver. Channel knowledge is acquired at the transmitter through training and used in pre-compensation. Thus the receiver can correctly receive information without any feedback, and then, through further adjustment, achieve the same performance as FTM and BTM-WF, while the eavesdropper always cannot intercept the information. The security of BTM-PC, as well as the influence of noise on the proposed method and the corresponding countermeasure, is also discussed in detail. Simulation results are presented to show the validity of the BTM-PC.
Evaluating recommended applications

Large open source software repositories are polluted with incomplete or inadequately functioning projects having scarce or poor descriptions. Developers often search these repositories to find sample applications containing implementations of relevant features. While relying on software search engines that retrieve germane applications based on direct matches between user queries and words in the descriptions (or source code files), it is difficult to warrant that retrieved applications contain functionality described by their authors in project summaries. We propose a novel approach called K9 that helps users evaluate if recommended applications implement functionality, which is described by the authors in project summaries. Using programmers' queries describing high-level concepts (e.g., sql server, floating toolbar, or smart card), K9 uses information retrieval and program analysis techniques to evaluate recommended applications based on how they implement these high-level concepts. We conjecture that K9 will effectively support developers in evaluating functionality of the retrieved applications.
Spectrum of large random reversible Markov chains

In this work, we adopt a Random Matrix Theory point of view to study the spectrum of large reversible Markov chains in random environment. As the number of states tends to infinity, we consider both the almost sure global behavior of the spectrum, and the local behavior at the edge including the so called spectral gap. We study presently two simple models. The first one is on the complete graph while the second is on the chain graph (birth-and-death dynamics). These two models exhibit different scalings and limiting objects. The first model is related to the semi--circle law and Wigner's theorem. It contains as a special case a natural reversible Dirichlet Markov Ensemble. The second model is related to homogenization and also to asymptotics for the roots of random orthogonal polynomials. A special case gives rise to the arc--sine law as in a theorem by Erdos & Turan. This work raises several open problems.
Design Trade-offs for Switch-Mode Battery Chargers

The design of switching converters as a standalone block is a well-known topic. However, very specific challenges arise when a DC/DC converter is used to charge a battery pack. Understanding the impact of using a battery as a load, and other charger-related system-level details up-front, is a requirement when designing a DC/DC converter targeted at battery-pack charging. Up-front consideration of those issues will enable the designer to incorporate features and functions during the design phase that are not present in common DC/DC converters but that should be included in DC/DC converters targeted at battery charging. This article discusses the most common benefits and challenges faced when using switching converter topologies to charge battery packs, including specific challenges and design tradeoffs faced when using the battery pack as a load.
Management de la formation dans les entreprises marocaines entre contingence et convergence : Etude empirique

Nous allons tenter dans ce papier de decrire et d’expliquer les pratiques de formation de l’entreprise au Maroc. Dans cette perspective, nous allons dresser, dans un premier point, un etat des lieux des pratiques de formations en mettant l’accent sur la demarche, outils et structures, et dans un deuxieme point, l’analyse des resultats de notre test causal sur le lien pouvant exister entre certaines variables contextuelles et les pratiques mises en evidences.
On A Software Architecture Description supporting Component Deployment and System Runtime Reconfiguration

Architecture description languages (ADLs) can be used for describing architectures of component-based software systems. Typical ADLs provide explicit support for specifying components, connectors and configurations as well as for building hierarchical system configurations. All of them allow to specify structural dependencies among components, thus describing static configurations. This may be sufficient for an initial system composition, but does not provide enough information for post-deployment and runtime reconfiguration. Only a few ADLs provide some support for dynamics, usually without a clear differentiation between a possible behaviour of component descriptions and a runtime behaviour of component instances. Even XML-based ADLs such as xADL 2.0, which clearly distinguishes between the design-time and run-time, only defines structural instance schemata. In our approach, we observe the ”use” dependencies among instances of components (called ”live components”) of an already deployed and running system. The life components are constrained by specified structural dependencies (defined in ”component descriptions”). Live components are hosted in containers. The ”Service- Connector-Container” view of our model provides a way to describe the runtime behaviour of a system. Thus, it supports dynamic reconfiguration of component-based software systems. We use ”service effect automata” for runtime behaviour specification and intend to extend them using the timing and liveness concepts of ”live sequence charts”.
What you should know about queueing models to set staffing requirements in service systems

One traditional application of queueing models is to help set staffing requirements in service systems, but the way to do so is not entirely straightforward, largely because demand in service systems typically varies greatly by the time of day. This article discusses ways—old and new—to cope with that time‐varying demand. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007
Findings and Conclusions of ISE Case Studies on Public Technology Procurement

The paper analyses and develops conclusions from the case studies of public technology procurement that were conducted in the second phase of the ISE sub-project for empirical research on that topic. After presenting an initial overview of the cases in relation to analytic categories employed in the sub-project, the paper reviews the findings of the case studies in relation to several key aspects of the organisation of government technology procurement. The main emphasis of the paper is on developing analytical generalisations, relevant for public policy. The parameters addressed include the dimension of time, competence and interaction between user and producer organisations, political influence and levels of intervention, and the interaction environment. All are addressed within a Systems of Innovation perspective. The paper concentrates on identifying problems and solutions in the practice of public technology procurement, developing more general conclusions on this basis. Key-words: Case Studies; Comparative Analysis; Industrial Policy; Innovation Policy; Public Technology Procurement.
Designing Physical Interaction with Sensor Drawbacks in Mind

Physical interaction often relies on information stemming from sensors perceiving the real world. Sensors however, have imperfections resulting in drawbacks such as uncertainty and latency. Consequently, the improvement of sensors and perception methods is important. In this paper we argue however that imperfections of sensing will remain and that the key to better physical interaction lies in taking into account those sensor drawbacks explicitly during the design of the interaction. In order to take a first step in this direction we analyze sensor drawbacks and their effects on physical interaction. Based on this discussion we propose example solutions to the arising problems.
Initial MAC Exploration for Graphene-enabled Wireless Networks-on-Chip

In the upcoming many-core era, chip multiprocessor architectures will be composed of hundreds or even thousands of processor cores, which interact among them through an on-chip communication platform for synchronization and data coherency/consistency purposes. As the traffic generated within the chip becomes more multicast-intensive, it is necessary to conceive novel communication platforms that go beyond conventional schemes and guarantee multicast support with high throughput, low latency, and low power. Nanotechnology provides an opportunity within this context by virtue of terahertz graphene antennas, which could allow the integration of one antenna per core in a Graphene-enabled Wireless Network-on-Chip (GWNoC). However, it is essential to design an appropriate MAC protocol in order to fully benefit from this novel approach. To provide a first contribution in this direction, in this paper we design two baseline MAC protocols based on the well-known ALOHA and carrier sensing techniques. Their functionalities have been properly conceived by taking into account characteristics and requirements of future chip multiprocessors systems. Moreover, their performances have been evaluated by means of computer simulations under different chip configurations. Obtained results demonstrate the pros and cons of these simple contention-based MAC protocols and pave the way for the future exploration of the MAC design space.
Finding Appropriate Semantic Web Ontology Terms from Words

The Semantic Web was designed to unambiguously deﬁne and use ontologies to encode data and knowledge on the Web. Many people ﬁnd it difficult, however, to write complex RDF statements and queries because doing so requires familiarity with the appropriate ontologies and the terms they deﬁne. We describe a system that automatically maps a set of ordinary English words to a set of appropriate ontology terms on the Semantic Web. We use the Swoogle Semantic Web search engine to provide ontology terms and ontology correlation statistics, the WordNet lexical database to resolve synonyms, and a practical three step approach to ﬁnd the most suitable ontology context as well as appropriate ontology terms.
Post-Newtonian Treatment of Bar Mode Instability in Rigidly Rotating Equilibrium Configurations for Polytropic Stars

In this paper we determine the onset point of secular instability for the nonaxisymmetric bar mode in rigidly rotating equilibrium configurations in the post-Newtonian approximation, in order to apply it to neutron stars. The treatment is based on a precedent Newtonian analytic energy variational method that we have extended to the post-Newtonian case. This method, based on Landau's theory of second-order phase transitions, provides the critical value of the ellipsoid polar eccentricity e at the onset of instability, i.e., at the bifurcation point from the axisymmetric Maclaurin to the triaxial Jacobi ellipsoids, and it is valid for any equation of state. The extension of this method to post-Newtonian fluid configurations has been accomplished by combining two earlier orthogonal works, specialized, respectively, to slow rotating configurations but with arbitrary density profile and to constant mass density but arbitrarily fast rotating ellipsoids. We also determine the explicit expressions for the density functionals that allow the generalization of the physical quantities involved in our treatment from the constant mass density to an arbitrary density profile form. We find that, considering homogeneous ellipsoids, the value of the critical eccentricity increases as the stars become more relativistic, in qualitative agreement with previous investigations but with a less marked amount of such an increase. Then we have studied the dependence of this critical value on the configuration equation of state. Considering polytropic matter distributions, we find that the increase in the eccentricity at the onset of instability with the star compactness is confirmed for softer equations of state (with respect to the incompressible case). The amount of this stabilizing effect is nearly independent of the polytropic index.