Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Approaches for the 2D 0-1 knapsack problem with conflict graphs

This work deals with the 0-1 knapsack problem in its two-dimensional variant, when there is a conflict graph related to pairs of conflicting items. Conflicting items must not be packed together in a same bin. This problem also arises as a subproblem in the bin packing problem and in supply chain scenarios. We propose a heuristic that generates iteratively a solution using a so called greedy randomized procedure. In order to avoid local optima solutions, a penalization memory list is used, and several packing strategies under a two-dimensional grid of points are considered. The heuristic solutions are compared with those ones computed by means of an integer programming model, also proposed in this work and solved with CPLEX solver. The heuristic got optimal solutions for 75% of the instances in a lower CPU time compared with that to solve the integer model.
Positive Pressure for Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome

Obesity is increasing world-wide; obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), formerly Pickwickian syndrome, has increased in parallel. Despite its prevalence, OHS has not been studied well, but there is abundant evidence that it is tightly linked with sleep-disordered breathing, most commonly obstructive sleep apnea. This article reviews the pathophysiology of OHS as well as the literature regarding the benefits of treating this disorder with positive airway pressure. We also emphasize that while positive pressure treatments may temporize cardiopulmonary disease progression, simultaneous pursuit of weight reduction is central to long-term management of this condition.
Cardiotonic Steroids as Modulators of Neuroinflammation

Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) are a class of specific ligands of the Na+, K+- ATPase (NKA). NKA is a P-type ATPase that is ubiquitously expressed and although well known to be responsible for the maintenance of the cell electrochemical gradient through active transport, NKA can also act as a signal transducer in the presence of CTS. Inflammation, in addition to importantly driving organism defense and survival mechanisms, can also modulate NKA activity and memory formation, as well as being relevant to many chronic illnesses, neurodegenerative diseases, and mood disorders. The aim of the current review is to highlight the recent advances as to the role of CTS and NKA in inflammatory process, with a particular focus in the central nervous system.
Block-Matching Based Image Compression

In this paper, the motion estimation technique used in video compression is extended to still image compression, for which we called it the Block-Matching based imagecompression. Using a small amount of sampled data in thespatial domain, an approximate image of the original image is reconstructed. Then each block of the original image isobtained by searching the approximate image. The best matchis selected with the minimal prediction error. This gives motion vector and the residual coefficients are obtained. Finally the sampled data, residual coefficients and block position are coded as the output bit-stream. Experimental work has been done and compared with JPEG,JPEG2000 and H.264 to show the validity of proposed algorithm.
New Signature Derivation using Existing Signatures

In banks, as part of normal procedure, receipts for deposits, statements of the bank account or credit card account are regularly issued to customers. This whole procedure is time consuming. Also, officials often find it difficult to sign for all the documents required by a customer though the related sub-processes are completed and corresponding documents are digitally signed. We consider the scenario of e-receipt generation during e- cheque processing, where the subprocess like e-cheque verification and receiving acknowledgement from cheque clearing bank are completed and digitally signed. But there is need for e-receipt to be generated by the bank for the customer. When the number of e-cheques increase, it is a burden for the bank to issue e-receipts. In this scenarios, we observe that, it would be interesting if customers themselves are capable of generating signed receipts based on the signatures available on already completed transactions. This calls for signature of a document to be derived from existing signatures of related documents. By this a customer can derive signatures on his own without the intervention of the bank which inturn reduces the work load on the bank. In all the signature derivations we make, we take care that a new signature derived is similar to the one that the signer would have generated if he had signed himself and also all signatures either existing or derived are verified using the same verification equation.
A novel FPGA-based wireless vision sensor node

Recent advances in wireless communication, semiconductor, embedded system and sensor technology have made it possible to build low cost, low power consumption, reconfigurable wireless vision sensor nodes. Wireless vision sensor networks, which consist of wirelessly connected embedded systems with vision capabilities, provide wide a variety of applications that are impossible to be realized with the vision systems with wired connection or the scalar-data based wireless sensor networks. In this paper, a novel wireless vision sensor node with the FPGA+microcontroller system on programmable chip (SOPC) architecture is presented. Especially, image compression problem of the wireless vision sensor node is discussed in detail. The experimental results show that the proposed technique is feasible.
Validity concerns in software engineering research

Empirical studies that use software repository artifacts have become popular in the last decade due to the ready availability of open source project archives. In this paper, we survey empirical studies in the last three years of ICSE and FSE proceedings, and categorize these studies in terms of open source projects vs. proprietary source projects and the diversity of subject programs used in these studies. Our survey has shown that almost half (49%) of recent empirical studies used solely open source projects. Existing studies either draw general conclusions from these results or explicitly disclaim any conclusions that can extend beyond specific subject software. We conclude that researchers in empirical software engineering must consider the external validity concerns that arise from using only several well-known open source software projects, and that discussion of data source selection is an important discussion topic in software engineering research. Furthermore, we propose a community research infrastructure for software repository benchmarks and sharing the empirical analysis results, in order to address external validity concerns and to raise the bar for empirical software engineering research that analyzes software artifacts.
Co-occurrence of reduced word forms in natural speech

This paper presents a corpus study that investigates the co-occurrence of reduced word forms in natural speech. We extracted Dutch past participles from three different speech registers and investigated the influence of several predictor variables on the presence and duration of schwas in prefixes and /t/s in suffixes. Our results suggest that reduced word forms tend to co-occur even if we partial out the effect of speech rate. The implications of our findings for episodic and abstractionist models of lexical representation are discussed.
Single-layer multiband infrared metallodielectric photonic crystals designed by genetic algorithm optimization

Metallodielectric photonic crystals (MDPCs) consisting of a planar periodic array of metallic patch elements designed by genetic algorithm (GA) optimization were patterned on flexible dielectric substrates and exhibit strong mid- and far-infrared (IR) dual-band response. The GA uses biological principles of natural selection to evolve nonintuitive geometries by optimizing the MDPC scattering response based on a user-defined fitness function. The transmission spectra measured on two different MDPCs optimized for optically thin and thick substrates have two strong stop bands with attenuation greater than 10dB, which agree well with those predicted by full-wave periodic method of moments (PMM) modeling. This versatile GA optimization approach will facilitate design of scaled mid- and near-IR MDPCs with user-defined scattering response.
Randomized trial of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for insomnia in breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for treating insomnia in breast cancer survivors. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING University and medical center settings. SAMPLE 72 women at least three months after primary treatment for breast cancer with sleep-onset or sleep maintenance insomnia at least three nights per week for at least three months as determined through daily sleep diaries. METHODS Random assignment to a multicomponent intervention (stimulus control instructions, sleep restriction, and sleep education and hygiene) or a single-component control group (sleep education and hygiene). MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Sleep-onset latency, wake after sleep onset, total sleep time, time in bed, sleep efficiency, and sleep quality. FINDINGS After the intervention, both groups improved on sleep-onset latency, wake after sleep onset, total sleep time, time in bed, sleep efficiency, and sleep quality based on daily sleep diaries. A between-group difference existed for time in bed. Wrist actigraph data showed significant pre- to postintervention changes for sleep-onset latency, wake after sleep onset, total sleep time, and time in bed. When compared to the control group, the multicomponent intervention group rated overall sleep as more improved. CONCLUSIONS A nonpharmacologic intervention is effective in the treatment of insomnia in breast cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Breast cancer survivors can benefit from a cognitive-behavioral intervention for chronic insomnia. Sleep education and hygiene, a less complex treatment than a multicomponent intervention, also is effective in treating insomnia.
Centralized Versus Distributed Index Management in a Page Server OODBMS

Recent work on client-server data-shipping OODBs has demonstrated the usefulness of local data caching at client sites. However, none of the studies has investigated index-related performance issues in particular. References to index pages arise from associative queries and from updates on indexed attributes, often making indexes the most heavily used hot spots in a database. System performance is therefore quite sensitive to the index management scheme. This paper examines the effects of index caching, and investigates two schemes, one centralized and the other distributed, for index page management. In the centralized scheme, index pages are not allowed to be cached at client sites; thus, communication with the central server is required for all index-based queries and index updates. The distributed index management scheme supports inter-transaction caching of index pages at client sites, and enforces a distributed index consistency control protocol similar to that of data pages. We study via simulation the behavior of these two index management schemes under several different workloads and contention profiles, and identify scenarios where each of the two schemes performs better than the other. For more information please write to ark@cs.stanford. edu. 1
Multiple authors Detection: a Quantitative Analysis of Dream of the Red Chamber

Inspired by the authorship controversy of Dream of the Red Chamber and the application of machine learning in the study of literary stylometry, we develop a rigorous new method for the mathematical analysis of authorship by testing for a so-called chrono-divide in writing styles. Our method incorporates some of the latest advances in the study of authorship attribution, particularly techniques from support vector machines. By introducing the notion of relative frequency as a feature ranking metric our method proves to be highly effective and robust. Applying our method to the Cheng-Gao version of Dream of the Red Chamber has led to convincing if not irrefutable evidence that the first $80$ chapters and the last $40$ chapters of the book were written by two different authors. Furthermore, our analysis has unexpectedly provided strong support to the hypothesis that Chapter 67 was not the work of Cao Xueqin either. We have also tested our method to the other three Great Classical Novels in Chinese. As expected no chrono-divides have been found. This provides further evidence of the robustness of our method.
Human++: Emerging Technology for Body Area Networks

This paper gives an overview of results of the Human++ research program. This research aims to achieve highly miniaturized and autonomous transducer systems that assist our health and comfort. It combines expertise in wireless ultra-low power communications, 3D integration technologies, MEMS energy scavenging techniques and low-power design techniques
The Parents Plus Children’s Programme—a qualitative study exploring parents’ experiences of participation and cognitive factors mediating outcome

ABSTRACT This article presents the findings of a qualitative study of parents’ perceptions of a video-modelling assisted group-based parent training programme, the Parents Plus Children’s Programme (PPCP). PPCP was developed in Ireland and is culturally sensitive to the Irish context. PPCP aims to reduce emotional and behavioural difficulties in children aged 6–11 years. Twenty-one caregivers of children attending a child and adolescent mental health service in Dublin with significant behavioural problems were interviewed five months following completion of PPCP. Thematic analysis was used to explore caregivers’ perceptions of changes in their children, benefits of participation and effective programme strategies, with a view to identifying cognitive factors mediating outcome. Improvements observed included children being calmer, being better able to communicate feelings and needs, and having better emotional regulation. “Tuning in” to children, engaging in play, explaining rules, communicating calmly and planned sanctions were identified as effective programme strategies. Group support emerged as the main benefit of participation. Perceived parental control, ability to reframe children’s misbehaviour, consistency with discipline and hopefulness differentiated participants who observed improvements and those who did not. The findings were interpreted within a social-cognitive theoretical framework with reference to self-efficacy beliefs. Implications for clinical practice are also discussed.
A physiology based inverse dynamic analysis of human gait: potential and perspectives

One approach to compute the musculotendon forces that underlie human motion is to combine an inverse dynamic analysis with a static optimisation procedure. Although computationally efficient, this classical inverse approach fails to incorporate constraints imposed by muscle physiology. The present paper reports on a physiological inverse approach (PIA) that combines an inverse dynamic analysis with a dynamic optimisation procedure. This allows the incorporation of a full description of muscle activation and contraction dynamics, without loss of computational efficiency. A comparison of muscle excitations and MT-forces predicted by the classical and the PIA is presented for normal and pathological gait. Inclusion of muscle physiology primarily affects the rate of active muscle force build-up and decay and allows the estimation of passive muscle force. Consequently, it influences the onset and cessation of the predicted muscle excitations as well as the level of co-contraction.
Online The Open University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs A multidimensional evaluation framework for personal learning environments

Evaluating highly dynamic and heterogeneous Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) is extremely challenging. Components of PLEs are selected and configured by individual users based on their personal preferences, needs, and goals. Moreover, the systems usually evolve over time based on contextual opportunities and constraints. As such dynamic systems have no predefined configurations and user interfaces, traditional evaluation methods often fall short or are even inappropriate. Obviously, a host of factors influence the extent to which a PLE successfully supports a learner to achieve specific learning outcomes. We categorize such factors along four major dimensions: technological, organizational, psycho-pedagogical, and social. Each dimension is informed by relevant theoretical models (e.g., Information System Success Model, Community of Practice, selfregulated learning) and subsumes a set of metrics that can be assessed with a range of approaches. Among others, usability and user experience play an indispensable role in acceptance and diffusion of the innovative technologies exemplified by PLEs. Traditional quantitative and qualitative methods such as questionnaire and interview should be deployed alongside emergent ones such as learning analytics (e.g., context-aware metadata) and narrative-based methods. Crucial for maximal validity of the evaluation is the triangulation of empirical findings with multiperspective (end-users, developers, and researchers), mixed-method (qualitative, quantitative) data sources. The framework utilizes a cyclic process to integrate findings across cases with a cross-case analysis in order to gain deeper insights into the intriguing questions of how and why PLEs work.
Alterations of body representations associated with passivity symptoms in schizophrenia

The projected hand illusion (PHI) is a variant of the rubber hand illusion (RHI), and both are commonly used to study mechanisms of self-perception. A questionnaire was developed by Longo et al. (2008) to measure qualitative changes in the RHI. Such psychometric analyses have not yet been conducted on the questionnaire for the PHI. The present study is an attempt to validate minor modifications of Longo et al.'s questionnaire to assess the PHI in a community sample (n=48), and determine the association with selected demographic (age, sex, years of education), cognitive (Digit Span) and clinical (psychotic-like experiences) variables. Principal components analysis on the questionnaire data extracted four components: “Embodiment of ‘Other’ Hand”, “Disembodiment of Own Hand”, “Deafference” and “Agency”, in both synchronous and asynchronous PHI conditions. Questions assessing ‘Embodiment’ and ‘Agency’ loaded onto orthogonal components. Greater illusion ratings were positively associated with being female, being younger, and having higher scores on psychotic-like experiences. There was no association with cognitive performance. Overall, this study confirmed that self-perception as measured with PHI is a multi-component construct, similar in many respects to the RHI. The main difference lies in the separation of Embodiment and Agency into separate constructs, and this likely reflects the fact that the ‘live’ image of the PHI presents a more realistic picture of the hand and of the stroking movements of the experimenter as compared to the RHI.
Cascade control of uncertain manipulator systems through immersion and invariance adaptive visual servoing

A control-theoretical solution is presented for the direct adaptive visual control of planar manipulators using a fixed camera, when both camera calibration and robot dynamics are uncertain. The proposed scheme is developed for image-based look-and-move visual systems to allow tracking of a moving target. In order to solve the multivariable parameter adaptive problem, the proposed immersion and invariance (I&I) method is used. The scheme is then combined with the adaptive controller for the manipulator, taking into account its nonlinear dynamics and leading to an overall stable adaptive visual system. Simulations and experimental results are also presented for the proposed strategy.
Effects of a bacterial probiotic on ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids during subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in cattle

Effects of a bacterial probiotic (BP) on ruminal fermentation and plasma metabolites were evaluated in four Holstein cattle (body weight, 645 ± 62 kg; mean ± SD) with induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). SARA was induced by feeding a SARA-inducing diet, and thereafter, 20, 50 or 100 g per head of a commercial BP was administered for 7 consecutive days during the morning feeding. Cattle without BP served as the control. The 24-hr mean ruminal pH in the control was lower, whereas those in the BP groups administered 20 or 50 g were significantly higher compared to the control from days 2 to 7. Circadian patterns of the 1-hr mean ruminal pH were identical (6.4–6.8) among all cattle receiving BP. Although the mean minimum pH in the control on day –7 and day 0 was <5.8, the pH in the treatment groups on day 7 was >5.8 and significantly higher than that of the control group ( >5.2). Ruminal volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were not affected by BP treatment; however, the BP groups had lower lactic acid levels compared with the control group at 20:00 on day 7. Additionally, non-esterified fatty acid levels decreased from 8:00 to 20:00 in all BP groups on day 7. These results suggest that administration of 20 to 50 g of a multi-strain BP for 7 days might improve the low pH and high lactic acid level of the ruminal fluid in SARA cattle.
Beta-Catenin Accelerates Human Papilloma Virus Type-16 Mediated Cervical Carcinogenesis in Transgenic Mice

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the principal etiological agent of cervical cancer in women, and its DNA is present in virtually all of these tumors. However, exposure to the high-risk HPV types alone is insufficient for tumor development. Identifying specific collaborating factors that will lead to cervical cancer remains an unanswered question, especially because millions of women are exposed to HPV. Our earlier work using an in vitro model indicated that activation of the canonical Wnt pathway in HPV-positive epithelial cells was sufficient to induce anchorage independent growth. We therefore hypothesized that constitutive activation of this pathway might function as the “second hit. ” To address this possibility, we developed two double-transgenic (DT) mouse models, K14-E7/ΔN87βcat and K14-HPV16/ΔN87βcat that express either the proteins encoded by the E7 oncogene or the HPV16 early region along with constitutively active β-catenin, which was expressed by linking it to the keratin-14 (K14) promoter. We initiated tumor formation by treating all groups with estrogen for six months. Invasive cervical cancer was observed in 11% of the K14-ΔN87βcat mice, expressing activated β-catenin and in 50% of the animals expressing the HPV16 E7 oncogene. In double-transgenic mice, coexpression of β-catenin and HPV16 E7 induced invasive cervical cancer at about 7 months in 94% of the cases. We did not observe cervical cancer in any group unless the mice were treated with estrogen. In the second model, K14-HPV16 mice suffered cervical dysplasias, but this phenotype was not augmented in HPV16/ΔN87βcat mice. In summary, the phenotypes of the K14-E7/ΔN87βcat mice support the hypothesis that activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HPV-associated premalignant lesions plays a functional role in accelerating cervical carcinogenesis.