Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are metabolic equivalents (METS) an accurate method for estimating change in peak oxygen consumption after cardiac rehabilitation

Background: Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the “gold standard” method of determining Vo2peak. When CPET is unavailable, VO2peak and metabolic equivalents (METs) are estimated from treadmill or cycle ergometer workloads. UK cardiac rehabilitation programmes (CR) use estimated METs to report changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). However, the accuracy of determining changes in VO2peak based on changes in estimated METs is not known. Methods: 27 patients with coronary heart disease (88.9% male; age 59.5 ± 10.0 years, body mass index 29.6 ± 3.8 kg.m-2) performed maximal CPET before and after an exercise based CR intervention. VO2peak was directly determined using ventilatory gas exchange data and was also estimated using the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) leg cycling equation for METs. Agreement between changes in directly determined VO2peak and VO2peak estimated from METs was tested using Bland-Altman limits of agreement (LoA), and intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: Directly determined VO2peak did not increase significantly following CR (0.5 ml.kg-1.min-1 (2.7%); p=0.332). In contrast, estimated VO2peak increased significantly (0.4 METs; 1.4 ml.kg-1.min-1; 6.7%; p=0.006). The mean bias for estimated VO2peak versus directly-determined VO2peak was 0.7 ml.kg-1.min-1 (LoA -4.7 to 5.9 ml.kg-1.min-1). Aerobic efficiency, (ΔVO2/ΔWR slope) was significantly associated with estimated VO2peak measurement error. Conclusion: Changes in estimated VO2peak determined using the ACSM equation for leg cycling are not accurate surrogates for directly determined changes in VO2peak. Reporting mean CRF changes using estimated METs may over-estimate the efficacy of CR and lead to a different interpretation of study findings compared to directly determined VO2peak.
Joint Sparse Form of Window Three for Koblitz Curve

The joint sparse form (JSF) for the non-adjacent form (NAF) representation of two large integers a and b, was proposed by Solinas. Then Ciet extended it to the φ-JSF for the φ-NAF representations of a and b using the endomorphism φ when computing aP+bQ , where P andQ are two points on the elliptic curve, in elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). It can be observed that τ -JSF is a special case of φ-JSF. In this paper, we will extend the τ -JSF idea to window 3 (RTNAF3), referred to as window three τ joint sparse form (WTT-JSF). Mathematical analysis shows that a number of additions can be eliminated with this representation. Moreover, a detail derivation of the length and density of this form is given. The density is 11/27 which is lower than 7/16 when RTNAF3 is applied directly.
Pricing multi-asset American options on Graphics Processing Units using a PDE approach

We develop highly efficient parallel pricing methods on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for multi-asset American options via a Partial Differential Equation (PDE) approach. The linear complementarity problem arising due to the free boundary is handled by a penalty method. Finite difference methods on uniform grids are considered for the space discretization of the PDE, while classical finite differences, such as Crank-Nicolson, are used for the time discretization. The discrete nonlinear penalized equations at each timestep are solved using a penalty iteration. A GPU-based parallel Alternating Direction Implicit Approximate Factorization technique is employed for the solution of the linear algebraic system arising from each penalty iteration. We demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the parallel numerical methods by pricing American options written on three assets.
Design of constant delay logic style for high speed adder

Low power microelectronics has become more intense and low power VLSI systems having emerged as greatly in demand. For increasing number of portable applications require small area low power high throughput. High speed high throughput, small silicon area and at the same time low power consumption is the motivation behind this. This paper presents an effective approach of constant delay (CD) logic style targeting at high-speed applications. Characteristic of this CD logic style without concern of the logic type makes it suitable in implementing complicated logic expressions such as addition. A “timing window” technique is also proposed to reduce the amount of excessive power dissipation in the CD approach. The concept is validated through the simulation of 32-bit Carry look ahead adder with Constant delay logic style using Tanner EDA v13.0.
Dynamics model and adaptive backstepping control on the 7-DOF manipulators of a humanoid robot

This paper the adaptive backstepping control algorithm (ABCA) is proposed for dual-arm cooperative manipulators to achieve a precise trajectory tracking in the task space. Firstly the Lagrange function is employed to construct the dynamic mode of the upper part of the humanoid, the modified dynamic mode is obtained through decoupling the each joint. Secondly the modified dynamic is lower computation burden and extends the application the dual-arm manipulators. Moreover the backstepping control algorithm is designed to implement the dual-arm cooperative control. Finally the effectiveness of the proposed control approach and theoretical discussion are proved by the experiences compared with the robust control method (RCM), which show the proposed algorithm could asymptotically converge to zero to show the validity of the simulation results.
Unbiased power prediction of Rayleigh fading channels

Prediction of the rapidly fading envelope of a mobile radio channel enables a number of capacity improving techniques like fast resource allocation or fast adaptive modulation. Some power prediction algorithms are based on linear prediction of the taps of the complex impulse response and then forming the power prediction as the sum of the absolute square of the prediction of the taps in the impulse response. This will render a biased power predictor, that generally underestimates the power. We propose a bias compensated power predictor and derive the optimal prediction coefficients for the Rayleigh fading channel. The importance of efficient noise reduction of channel samples that are used as inputs to the predictor is also emphasized. A performance evaluation of the prediction algorithm is carried out on measured broadband mobile radio channels.
SDL , a graphical language useful to describe social simulation models

Simulation, and specifically social simulation, is a discipline that usually involves professionals with different formation. This implies that the modeling languages, tools and infrastructures used to model can be diverse. This paper has the main objective of show a graphical language, widely used in the engineering field, which allows a complete graphical and no ambiguous description of a simulation model. The language, named SDL (Specification and Description Language) is defined by the ITU-T (on the Z.100 recommendation). Since SDL is a standard different tools understand the language, allowing a simulation or an automatic code generation from the SDL description of the model. This paper has two main sections, first we describe the rudiments of the language, and second we shown an example of a multiagent system description using SDL language.
- 1-Sensor and Actuator Networks in intelligent Automation Systems

Communication technology was in the focus of scientific investigations in the the field of automation from the early days on. Industry quickly identified the enormous market potential of distributing intelligent control units, no matter in which field, being it energy production, energy supply, rail transportation, or aviation and space technology. This article intends to review history in order to better understand the present. Principles will be highlighted, examples given, and finally current research challenges worked out to give prospectives about future paths of automation systems, which significantly will be influenced by bionics.
Behavioral ecology, endocrinology and signal reliability of electric communication

Summary The balance between the costs and benefits of conspicuous animal communication signals ensures that signal expression relates to the quality of the bearer. Signal plasticity enables males to enhance conspicuous signals to impress mates and competitors and to reduce signal expression to lower energetic and predation-related signaling costs when competition is low. While signal plasticity may benefit the signaler, it can compromise the reliability of the information conveyed by the signals. In this paper we review the effect of signal plasticity on the reliability of the electrocommunication signal of the gymnotiform fish Brachyhypopomus gauderio. We (1) summarize the endocrine regulation of signal plasticity, (2) explore the regulation of signal plasticity in females, (3) examine the information conveyed by the signal, (4) show how that information changes when the signal changes, and (5) consider the energetic strategies used to sustain expensive signaling. The electric organ discharge (EOD) of B. gauderio changes in response to social environment on two time scales. Two hormone classes, melanocortins and androgens, underlie the short-term and long-term modulation of signal amplitude and duration observed during social interaction. Population density drives signal amplitude enhancement, unexpectedly improving the reliability with which the signal predicts the signaler's size. The signal's second phase elongation predicts androgen levels and male reproductive condition. Males sustain signal enhancement with dietary intake, but when food is limited, they ‘go for broke’ and put extra energy into electric signals. Cortisol diminishes EOD parameters, but energy-limited males offset cortisol effects by boosting androgen levels. While physiological constraints are sufficient to maintain signal amplitude reliability, phenotypic integration and signaling costs maintain reliability of signal duration, consistent with theory of honest signaling.
Derechos reproductivos y libertad de las mujeres. Observaciones sobre el debate feminista

This article seeks to contribute to the issue of reproductive rights, assuming for the analysis the perspective of the contemporary Western feminist debate. Notwithstanding the variety of approaches and positions that find expression in the scope of such a debate, emphasis is given to the convergent interest of the most recent feminist bioethical discussion in the subject of legal regulation that the States predict, both in relation to the use of certain Reproductive technologies, and the exercise of other reproductive rights, as well as the value premises that underpin these policies and their effects on the lives of women. Finally, in the light of the recent transformations of the modalities of public control over reproductive choices, some challenges will be identified that fall on contemporary feminisms.
Some geometric aspects of graphs and their eigenfunctions

We study three mathematical notions, that of nodal regions for eigenfunctions of the Laplacian, that of covering theory, and that of fiber products, in the context of graph theory and spectral theory for graphs. We formulate analogous notions and theorems for graphs and their eigenpairs. These techniques suggest new ways of studying problems related to spectral theory of graphs. We also perform some numerical experiments suggesting that the fiber product can yield graphs with small second eigenvalue.
The general control nonderepressible-2 kinase mediates stress response and longevity induced by target of rapamycin inactivation in Caenorhabditis elegans

The general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2) kinase is a nutrient‐sensing pathway that responds to amino acids deficiency and induces a genetic program to effectively maintain cellular homeostasis. Here we established the conserved role of Caenorhabditis elegans GCN‐2 under amino acid limitation as a translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) kinase. Using a combination of genetic and molecular approaches, we showed that GCN‐2 kinase activity plays a central role in survival under nutrient stress and mediates lifespan extension conferred by dietary restriction (DR) or inhibition of the major nutrient‐sensing pathway, the target of rapamycin (TOR). We also demonstrated that the GCN‐2 and TOR signaling pathways converge on the PHA‐4/FoxA transcription factor and its downstream target genes to ensure survival of the whole organism under a multitude of stress conditions, such as nutrient scarcity or environmental stresses. This is one step forward in the understanding of evolutionary conserved mechanisms that confer longevity and healthspan.
Developing Uintah ’ s Runtime System For Forthcoming Architectures

The need to solve ever-more complex science and engineering problems on computer architectures that are rapidly evolving poses considerable challenges for modern simulation frameworks and packages. While the decomposition of software into a programming model that generates a task-graph for execution by a runtime system make portability and performance possible, it also imposes considerable demands on that runtime system. The challenge of meeting those demands for near-term and longer term systems in the context of the Uintah framework is considered in key areas such as support for data structures, tasks on heterogeneous architectures, performance portability, power management and designing for resilience by the use of replication based upon adaptive mesh refinement processes is addressed. Examples of techniques in these areas are used to illustrate performance improvements obtained for present large-scale systems and the needs of proposed systems considered.
A novel discriminative method for HMM in automatic speech recognition

A novel discriminative method for estimating the parameters of Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) is described. In this method, the parameter values are chosen to ensure that the characteristics of each sound class can be maximally separated. Compared with the significant method known as the Maximum Mutual Information (MMI) estimation, the novel method represented in this paper adopts a new kind of criteria called MSDI (Maximum Samples Distinction Information). It parries many computational problems in estimating iteration. The experimental results show that the hit rate can be raised by about 6 percent compared with the MLE (Maximum Likelihood Estimation), which is similar to the other experimental results based on MMI training.
Two Level State Machine Architecture for Content Inspection Engines

Content inspection technology is promising to address the growing demands of network security and contentaware networking. The component of a network device responsible for content inspection is called Content Inspection Engine (CIE). In content inspection processing, both headers and payload of packets are parsed to determine their content and classify them based on administrative policies. Due to the inclusion of complex payload processing in content inspection, a large amount of processing is required for each data packet, making content inspection a primary bottleneck in high performance routers that support gigabit link capacities. Therefore, there is a need for solutions that can inspect packets quickly with reasonable amount of storage requirements. We describe an architecture based on high performance state machines which provides an efficient solution to this problem by processing multiple characters per state transition. In this architecture the CIE is implemented on a Two-Level State Machine (TLSM). The TLSM implementation exploits the dependencies of policy rules to compress the policy and reduce memory requirements. Using TCAM units in the TLSM for performing fast multiple-character matching operations, makes a wire-speed content inspection possible. We also propose to use a new criterion called worstcase throughput as an appropriate metric for speed evaluation of CIEs. It is shown that this criterion can be efficiently calculated by applying existing algorithms for the Minimum Weight to Time Ratio problem, to a graph-based model of the functionality of CIEs.
Building distributed, multi-user applications by direct manipulation

This paper describes Visual Obliq, a user interface development environment for constructing distributed, multi-user applications. Applications are created by designing the interface with a GUI-builder and embedding callback code in an interpreted language, in much the same way as one would build a traditional (non-distributed, single-user) application with a modern user interface development environment. The resulting application can be run from within the GUI-builder for rapid turnaround or as a stand-alone executable. The Visual Obliq runtime provides abstractions and support for issues specific to distributed computing, such as replication, sharing, communication, and session management. We believe that the abstractions provided, the simplicity of the programming model, the rapid turnaround time, and the applicability to heterogeneous environments, make Visual Obliq a viable tool for authoring distributed applications and groupware.
Optimizing Search Engine Result using Intelligent Model

Many search engine users face problems while retrieving their required Information. For example, a user may find it is difficult to retrieve sufficient relevant information because he use too few keywords to search or the user is inexperienced and do not search using proper keywords and the search engine is not able to receive the user real meaning through his given keywords. Also, due to the recent improvements of search engines and the rapid growth of the web, the search engines return a huge number of web pages, and then the user may take long time to look at all of these pages to find his needed information. The problem of obtaining relevant results in web searching has been tackled by several approaches. Although very effective techniques are currently used by the most popular search engines, but no a priori knowledge on the user’s desires beside the search keywords is available. In this paper, we present an approach for optimizing the search engine results using artificial intelligence techniques such as document clustering and genetic algorithm to provide the user with the most relevant pages to the search query. The proposed method uses the Meta-data that is coming from the user preferences or the search engine query log files. These data is important to find the most related information to the user while searching the web. Finally, the method implementation and some of the experimental results are presented with the conclusion of this research study.
IAMEM: Interaction-Aware Memory Energy Management

Energy efficiency has become one of the most important factors in the development of computer systems. As applications become more data centric and put more pressure on the memory subsystem, managing energy consumption of main memory is becoming critical. Therefore, it is critical to take advantage of all memory idle times by placing memory in low power modes even during the active process execution. However, current solutions only offer energy optimizations on a perprocess basis and are unable to take advantage of memory idle times when the process is executing. To allow accurate and fine-grained memory management during the process execution, we propose Interaction-Aware Memory Energy Management (IAMEM). IAMEM relies on accurate correlation of user-initiated tasks with the demand placed on the memory subsystem to accurately predict power state transitions for maximal energy savings while minimizing the impact on performance. Through detailed trace-driven simulation, we show that IAMEM reduces the memory energy consumption by as much as 16% as compared to the state-of-the-art approaches, while maintaining the user-perceivable performance comparable to the system without any energy optimizations.
Optimal pheromone distribution for ANCOR

This work investigates the utilization of a new pheromone distribution model for ANCOR. ANCOR is a novel routing algorithm for sensor networks. The main idea behind the algorithm is imitating the real acts of ants for finding new food resources and bringing them to their nests. A new pheromone distribution model for ANCOR, i.e. optimal pheromone distribution model will be presented, and its performance profits over the existing model will be discussed.
Colour constancy under simultaneous changes in surface position and illuminant

Two kinds of constancy underlie the everyday perception of surface colour: constancy under changes in illuminant and constancy under changes in surface position. Classically, these two constancies seem to place conflicting demands on the visual system: to both take into account the region surrounding a surface and also discount it. It is shown here, however, that the ability of observers to make surface–colour matches across simultaneous changes in test–surface position and illuminant in computer–generated ‘Mondrian’ patterns is almost as good as across changes in illuminant alone. Performance was no poorer when the surfaces surrounding the test surface were permuted, or when information from a potential comparison surface, the one with the highest luminance, was suppressed. Computer simulations of cone–photoreceptor activity showed that a reliable cue for making surface–colour matches in all experimental conditions was provided by the ratios of cone excitations between the test surfaces and a spatial average over the whole pattern.
Migrating Sockets for networking with quality of service guarantees

Migrating Sockets is the protocol processing component of an end system architecture designed for networking with QoS guarantees. The architecture provides: (1) adaptive rate-controlled scheduling of protocol threads in Migrating Sockets, (2) rate-based flow control for reserved rate connections in future integrated services networks, and (3) a constant overhead active demultiplexing mechanism. Migrating Sockets achieves its efficiency by allowing user applications to manage a network endpoint with minimal system intervention, providing user level protocols read-only access to routing information in a "well-known" shared memory region, and integrating efficient kernel level support we previously built. It is backward compatible with Unix semantics and Berkeley sockets, and has been used to implement Internet protocols such as TCP, UDP and IP (including IP multicast). We also show that active demultiplexing supported by Migrating Sockets can be transparently enabled in wide-area TCP/IP internetworking (although it is not restricted to TCP/IP). We have an implementation of Migrating Sockets in Solaris 2.5. We discuss our implementation experience, and present performance results of our system running on the Ultra-1, SPARC 10 and SPARC 20 architectures.
Workplace Vaccination and Other Factors Impacting Influenza Vaccination Decision among Employees in Israel

The study examined the factors affecting the decision to be vaccinated against influenza among employees in Israel. The research, conducted in 2007/2008, included 616 employees aged 18−65 at various workplaces in Israel, among them companies that offered their employees influenza vaccination. The research questionnaire included socio-demographic characteristics, and the Health Belief Model principles. The results show that the significant factors affecting vaccination compliance include a vaccination program at workplaces, vaccinations in the past, higher levels of vaccine’s perceived benefits, and lower levels of barriers to getting the vaccine. We conclude that vaccine compliance is larger at companies with workplace vaccination programs providing easier accessibility to vaccination.