Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust estimation of respiratory rate via ECG- and PPG-derived respiratory quality indices

Respiratory rate (RR) is one of the most informative indicators of a patient's health status. However, automated, non-invasive measurements of RR are insufficiently robust for use in clinical practice. A number of methods have been described in the literature to estimate RR from both photo-plethysmography (PPG) and electrocardiography (ECG) based on three physiological modulations of respiration: amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), and baseline wander (BW). However, the quality of the respiratory information acquired is highly patient-dependent and often too noisy to be used. We address this by proposing respiratory quality indices (RQIs) that quantify the quality of the respiratory signal that can be extracted from each modulation from both PPG and ECG waveforms. Signal quality indices (SQIs) detect artefact in the ECG and PPG, which is relatively straight-forward. RQIs have a different role: they quantify if an individual patient's physiology is modulating the sensor waveforms. We have designed four RQIs based on Fourier transform (RQIFFT), autocorrelation (RQIAC), autoregression (RQIAR), and Hjorth complexity (RQIHC). We validated the approach using PPG and ECG data in the CapnoBase and MIMIC II datasets. We conclude that the novel implementation of an RQI-based preprocessing step has the potential to improve substantially the performance of RR estimation algorithms.
De docent als publiek socioloog – kritisch geëngageerd onderwijs voor de democratie

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Business Process Complexity, System Complexity and Perceived Audit Quality: An ERP System Perspective

The turbulent events of the global financial crises have highlighted the importance of audit quality. Auditing in today’s business environment involves navigating through organizational information technology (IT) landscape dominated by ERP systems. Organizations depend on ERP systems for financial reporting which involve dealing with statutory and regulatory provisions. ERP systems thus, have become an integral part of compliance strategy due to their support for internal controls. ERP systems are associated with inherent system and business process complexities capable of carving new auditing landscape for auditors. However, the implications of such ERP-induced process changes and system complexities on audit quality have not been well understood and investigated. This study attempts to bridge this gap. The primary goal of this research is to frame business process complexity, system complexity and audit process as key predictors of audit quality as perceived by external auditors. Using empirical evidence gathered from auditors experienced in post-ERP audit, the research found that auditors’ post-ERP perception in an audit due to ERP implementation influenced the perceived audit quality. Specifically, system complexity, audit process changes and control risk were significant determinants of perceived audit quality. In addition, the findings reveal business process complexity and system complexity as key antecedents of control risk in an ERP audit. Joseph Nwankpa The University of Texas Pan American, USA Yaman Roumani Eastern Michigan University, USA DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4860-9.ch010
Obstructive sleep apnoea and obesity.

2011;24(4) S Afr J Clin Nutr Tintinger GR,a Pretorius L,b Labadarios Dc aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Pretoria, Pretoria bMedical Research Council Unit for Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Immunology Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria cHuman Sciences Research Council, Population Health Health Systems and Innovation (PHHSI), Cape Town Correspondence to: Dr GR Tintinger, e-mail: grtintinger@gmail.com
Proposta de Indicadores de Performance sob a Perspectiva do Balanced Scorecard: o caso de uma cooperativa de crédito

O estudo teve por objetivo propor um conjunto de fatores que podem se constituir em indicadores de desempenho sob a perspectiva do BSC em uma cooperativa de credito. Quanto aos procedimentos metodologicos, a pesquisa classifica-se como descritiva, do tipo levantamento e abordagem quantitativa do problema. A populacao de pesquisa foram os agentes que se relacionam com a cooperativa de credito: gerentes, administradores, contador, controller, clientes e colaboradores. A amostra resultou em 50 respondentes para a perspectiva clientes, 10 para a perspectiva financeira, 40 para aprendizado e crescimento e de processos internos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionario para captar os fatores ligados as quatro perspectivas do BSC e, posteriormente, validados em uma segunda rodada de questionarios. O estudo mostrou que a cooperativa de credito devera desenvolver esforcos para atender aos clientes e incentivar os colaboradores, afim de que a organizacao continue desenvolvendo com sucesso suas atividades. Conclui-se que a organizacao necessita, tambem, avaliar a qualidade dos produtos e servicos financeiros oferecidos, bem como a satisfacao dos clientes, acompanhando nao so os indicadores financeiros, mas tambem os indicadores nao-financeiros.
A Real-Time Face Tracking using the Stereo Active Appearance Model

This paper proposes a real-time 3D face tracking system. This system uses a stereo active appearance model fitting (STAAM) algorithm that uses multiple calibrated perspective cameras to compute the 3D shape and rigid motion parameters. The use of calibration information reduces the number of model parameters, restricts the degree of freedom in the model parameters, and increases the accuracy and speed of fitting. The real-time face tracking system works alternating two different modes: the detection mode detects the face and eyes in an image and the tracking mode tracks the detected face using the STAAM. In addition, it utilizes a histogram matching to make the system robust to lighting conditions, and uses the motion information to compensate the temporal fluctuation of the captured images. The experimental results show that the proposed system operates robustly under varying lighting conditions and fast in the real-time manner at above 8 frames/sec.
The phylogenetic distribution of resupinate forms across the major clades of mushroom‐forming fungi (Homobasidiomycetes)

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships of resupinate Homobasidiomycetes (Corticiaceae s. lat. and others) were studied using ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences from a broad sample of resupinate and nonresupinate taxa. Two datasets were analysed using parsimony, a ‘core’ dataset of 142 species, each of which is represented by four rDNA regions (mitochondrial and nuclear large and small subunits), and a ‘full’ dataset of 656 species, most of which were represented only by nuclear large subunit rDNA sequences. Both datasets were analysed using traditional heuristic methods with bootstrapping, and the full dataset was also analysed with the Parsimony Ratchet, using equal character weights and six‐parameter weighted parsimony. Analyses of both datasets supported monophyly of the eight major clades of Homobasidiomycetes recognised by Hibbett and Thorn, as well as independent lineages corresponding to the Gloeophyllum clade, corticioid clade and Jaapia argillacea. Analyses of the full dataset resolved two additional groups, the athelioid clade and trechisporoid clade (the latter may be nested in the polyporoid clade). Thus, there are at least 12 independent clades of Homobasidiomycetes. Higher‐level relationships among the major clades are not resolved with confidence. Nevertheless, the euagarics clade, bolete clade, athelioid clade and Jaapia argillacea are consistently resolved as a monophyletic group, whereas the cantharelloid clade, gomphoid‐phalloid clade and hymenochaetoid clade are placed at the base of the Homobasidiomycetes, which is consistent with the preponderance of imperforate parenthesomes in those groups. Resupinate forms occur in each of the major clades of Homobasidiomycetes, some of which are composed mostly or exclusively of resupinate forms (athelioid clade, corticioid clade, trechisporoid clade, Jaapia). The largest concentrations of resupinate forms occur in the polyporoid clade, russuloid clade and hymenochaetoid clade. The cantharelloid clade also includes many resupinate forms, including some that have traditionally been regarded as heterobasidiomycetes (Sebacinaceae, Tulasnellales, Ceratobasidiales). The euagarics clade, which is by far the largest clade in the Homobasidiomycetes, has the smallest fraction of resupinate species. Results of the present study are compared with recent phylogenetic analyses, and a table summarising the phylogenetic distribution of resupinate taxa is presented, as well as notes on the ecology of resupinate forms and related Homobasidiomycetes.
Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Two Types of Snack Food Consumption among Midwestern Upper Elementary Children: Implications for Practice

This study examined the extent to which constructs of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) can predict the consumption of two types of snack foods among elementary school children. A 15-item instrument tested for validity and reliability measuring TPB constructs was developed and administered to 167 children. Snack foods were evaluated using a modified 24-hour recall method. On average, children consumed 302 calories from snack foods per day. Stepwise multiple regression found that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control accounted for 44.7% of the variance for intentions. Concurrently, intentions accounted for 11.3% of the variance for caloricallydense snack food consumption and 8.9% of the variance for fruit and vegetable snack consumption. Results suggest that the theory of planned behavior is an efficacious theory for these two behaviors. Future interventions should consider using this theoretical framework and aim to enhance children's attitudes, perceived control, and subjective norms towards snack food consumption.
Structured queries in XML retrieval

Document-centric XML is a mixture of text and structure. With the increased availability of document-centric XML content comes a need for query facilities in which both structural constraints and constraints on the content of the documents can be expressed. How does the expressiveness of languages for querying XML documents help users to express their information needs? We address this question from both an experimental and a theoretical point of view. Our experimental analysis compares a structure-ignorant with a structure-aware retrieval approach using the test-suite of the 2004 edition of the INEX XML retrieval evaluation initiative. Theoretically, we create mathematical models of users' knowledge of a set of documents and define query languages which exactly fit these models. One of these languages corresponds to an XML version of fielded search, the other to the INEX query language. Our main findings are: First, while structure is used in varying degrees of complexity, over half of the queries can be expressed in a fielded-search like format which does not use the hierarchical structure of the documents. Second, structure is used as a search hint, and not a strict requirement, when judged against the underlying information need. Third, the use of structure in queries functions as a precision enhancing device.
Recommendations for donation after circulatory death kidney transplantation in Europe

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors provides an invaluable source for kidneys for transplantation. Over the last decade, we have observed a substantial increase in the number of DCD kidneys, particularly within Europe. We provide an overview of risk factors associated with DCD kidney function and survival and formulate recommendations from the sixth international conference on organ donation in Paris, for best‐practice guidelines. A systematic review of the literature was performed using Ovid Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases. Topics are discussed, including donor selection, organ procurement, organ preservation, recipient selection and transplant management.
TCP Performance Analysis and Improvement in FMIPv6

TCP is a popular Internet protocol for reliable end-to-end data delivery. However, the protocol is designed based on wired link, so it is not suitable for mobile network. The main problem is that the frequent handover of mobile nodes may cause poor TCP performance. In order to eliminate the inefficiency of TCP in mobile environment, a modified TCP scheme for improving its performance, named as MTCP, is proposed in great detail. Experimental evaluation shows that the modified TCP algorithm can improve the throughout and the utilization of network bandwidth with good friendliness.
Monitoring the Quality of Outsourced Software

Outsourcing application development or maintenance, especially offshore, creates a greater need for hard facts to manage by. We have developed a tool-based method for software monitoring which has been deployed over the past few years in a diverse set of outsourcing situations. In this paper we outline the method and underlying tools, and through several case reports we recount our experience with their application.
A progressive approach for cross-browser web data generation

A layout engine combines markup language HTML, etc. with formatting information CSS, etc., and displays the combined contents on the screen. It is commonly used for many existing web development applications and web browsers. Especially, web development applications use layout engine to confirm the impact on the layout of web editing results to achieve what you see is what you get WYSIWYG. At present, different layout engines are adopted by various web development applications and web browsers. As there is not a uniform algorithm adopted by layout engine, the results displayed by web development applications are not necessarily consistent with the display on the web browsers. In addition, the results displayed by web development applications depend on layout engines. Hence, it is difficult to edit the common web contents since it cannot objectively reflect the result on web browsers. In this paper, we propose a progressive WYSIWYG solution, by completely separating web layout design from web data editing to generate cross-browser web data. Our proposed approach does not use layout engine, and thus can avoid the disadvantages mentioned above.
Family Help Patterns and Social Class in Three Countries

The present paper is a report of the help patterns among older people and their adult children in three countries-Denmark, Britain, and the United States. The data come from interviews conducted in mid-1962 with nationwide probability samples of approximately 2,500 persons aged 65 and over in each of the three countries. Family help patterns in old age in Denmark, Britain, and the United States differ by the social class position of the older person. The class position of old people effects primarily the size of their immediate families, their family structure, and their living arrangements. While the social class of the old person effects the magnitude and direction of parent-child help, persons in every social class report that they help their children and that their children help them.
Gene Expression Profiling of the Cellular Transcriptional Network Regulated by Alpha/Beta Interferon and Its Partial Attenuation by the Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural 5A Protein

ABSTRACT Alpha/beta interferons (IFN-α/β) induce potent antiviral and antiproliferative responses and are used to treat a wide range of human diseases, including chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, for reasons that remain poorly understood, many HCV isolates are resistant to IFN therapy. To better understand the nature of the cellular IFN response, we examined the effects of IFN treatment on global gene expression by using several types of human cells, including HeLa cells, liver cell lines, and primary fetal hepatocytes. In response to IFN, 50 of the approximately 4,600 genes examined were consistently induced in each of these cell types and another 60 were induced in a cell type-specific manner. A search for IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs) in genomic DNA located upstream of IFN-stimulated genes revealed both previously identified and novel putative ISREs. To determine whether HCV can alter IFN-regulated gene expression, we performed microarray analyses on IFN-treated HeLa cells expressing the HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein and on IFN-treated Huh7 cells containing an HCV subgenomic replicon. NS5A partially blocked the IFN-mediated induction of 14 IFN-stimulated genes, an effect that may play a role in HCV resistance to IFN. This block may occur through repression of ISRE-mediated transcription, since NS5A also inhibited the IFN-mediated induction of a reporter gene driven from an ISRE-containing promoter. In contrast, the HCV replicon had very little effect on IFN-regulated gene expression. These differences highlight the importance of comparing results from multiple model systems when investigating complex phenomena such as the cellular response to IFN and viral mechanisms of IFN resistance.
HW/SW approaches to accelerate GRAPES in an FU array

In this research, a high performance computing weather forecasting application GRAPES has been tuned onto a functional unit (FU) array based architecture. Software and hardware approaches are specifically employed to increase the data locality and data reuse to accelerate the stencil computation in GRAPES. The simulation results indicate that we can achieve a per-core average IPC of 12.3 within a 20-stage FU array processor, which has a 5.8x power-efficiency boost than the many-core processor (MCP) of a same process technology. This can accordingly slow down the increase of communication by one order in the cluster system, resulting in a 12x power-efficiency boost in all PEs.
Is Education the Panacea for Economic Deprivation of Muslims? Evidence from Wage Earners in India, 1987-2004

Few researchers have examined the nature and determinants of earnings differentials among religious groups, and none has been undertaken in the context of conflict-prone multi-religious societies like the one in India. We address this lacuna in the literature by examining the differences in the average (log) earnings of Hindu and Muslim wage earners in India, during the 1987-2004 period. Our results indicate that education differences between Hindu and Muslim wage earners, especially differences in the proportion of wage earners with tertiary education, are largely responsible for the differences in the average (log) earnings of the two religious groups across the years. By contrast, differences in the returns to education do not explain the aforementioned difference in average (log) earnings. Citing other evidence about persistence of educational achievements across generations, however, we argue that attempts to narrow this gap using quotas for Muslim households at educational institutions might be counterproductive from the point of view of conflict avoidance.
Structure of the Human 26S Proteasome

The 26S proteasome plays an essential role in regulating many cellular processes by the degradation of proteins targeted for breakdown by ubiquitin conjugation. The 26S complex is formed from the 20S core, which contains the proteolytic active sites, and 19S regulatory complexes, which bind to the 20S core to activate it and confer specificity for ubiquitinated protein substrates. We have determined the structure of the human 26S proteasome by electron microscopy and single particle analysis. In our reconstructions the crystallographic structure of each of the subunits of the 20S core can be unambiguously docked by direct recognition of each of their densities. Our results show for the first time that binding of the 19S regulatory particle results in the radial displacement of the adjacent subunits of the 20S core leading to opening of a wide channel into the proteolytic chamber. The analysis of a proteasome complex formed from one 20S core with a single 19S regulatory particle attached serve as control to our observations. We suggest locations for some of the 19S regulatory particle subunits.
Spoken Dialog System for Database Access on Internet

In current spoken dialog systems, the design of user interfaces strongly depends on tasks and domains. We intend to develop a general purpose spoken dialog system. It extends existing Graphical User Interface (GUI) design used on-line database services on the World Wide Web (WWW), so that the design of user interface does not require special knowledge about spoken dialogs. Web documents are written in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) and Common Gateway Interface (CGI), which naturally guide some dialog interactions as intended by the authors and by the browsers. In other words, each document has its own dialog control strategy in itself. Making use of such strategies enables task-oriented spoken dialogs, provided a single set of task-independent client modules. The dialog management information is extracted from mark-up tags, accordingly free from natural languages of text. Therefore, one could even provide a cross-language feature to the system by combining machine translation systems.
Metformin and breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal diabetic women in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

1503 Background: While results are somewhat mixed, emerging evidence suggests metformin may decrease breast cancer risk. However, metformin influence on breast cancer by hormone receptor status has not been reported. We measured associations between metformin use and breast cancer incidence by hormone receptor status in diabetic patients in the WHI cohort. METHODS The study population consisted of 156,229 postmenopausal women in which 9,277 medication-treated cases of diabetes were identified and followed over 11.1 (3.5) years, mean (SD) follow-up. Information on diabetes drug therapy was collected at baseline and after three years of follow-up. Self-reported invasive breast cancers were verified by centralized medical record review. Cox proportional hazard regression, adjusted for breast cancer risk factors including Gail risk score, BMI, physical activity, and hormone therapy was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyses compared the association of diabetes therapies incorporating metformin with those with non-metformin diabetes therapies on breast cancer incidence with women without diabetes as comparator. RESULTS Women with diabetes were older and were more commonly Black, obese and less physically active. Compared to women without diabetes, diabetic subjects receiving therapies without metformin had comparable breast cancer incidence. At baseline, diabetic subjects taking metformin reported a mean (SD) of 1.3 (1.7) years of use, compared to 4.8 (5.6) years for those receiving therapies without metformin. Diabetic subjects taking metformin had 38% fewer ER+/PR+ breast cancers (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS In diabetic women, metformin use was associated with lower ER+/PR+ breast cancer incidence, providing support for testing metformin in chemoprevention. [Table: see text].