Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel feature selection technique for improving wearable activity recognition

Last technological advances in wearable sensors and machine learning are allowing for a new generation of human monitoring techniques, especially devised for the analysis of biomechanics and activity patterns. In this paper, a novel technique to improve the identification of daily physical activity is presented. Taking into account the importance of data featuring and the selection of the most important features for the subsequent pattern recognition stage, a new feature selection methodology based on a filter technique via a couple of two statistical criteria is presented. Satisfactory accuracy rates are achieved by using support vector machines, particularly for preprocessed inertial data from the wrist.
Classification of Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence Images Using Convolutional Neural Network

Images are an important data source for diagnosis of oral diseases. The manual classification of images may lead to suboptimal treatment procedures due to subjective errors. In this paper an image classification algorithm based on Deep Learning framework is applied to Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence (QLF) images [4]. The Convolutional Neural Network [3] (CNN) outperforms other state of the art shallow classification models in predicting labels derived from three different dental plaque assessment scores. Such result is possible because our model directly learns invariant feature representations from raw pixel intensity values without any hand-crafted feature engineering. The model benefits from multi-channel representation of the images resulting in improved performance when, besides the Red colour channel, additional Green and Blue colour channels are used. Previous studies on this topic either focused on only single plaque scoring system without providing detailed analysis of results [1] or used a smaller dataset of non-QLF images and a shallow network architecture [2] to address the problem. We expect that Deep Learning of QLF-images can help dental practitioners to perform efficient plaque assessments and contribute to the improvement of patients’ oral health. An extended version of the manuscript with detailed description of the experimental setup and the obtained results can be found at http://arxiv.org/abs/1705.09193 or http://learning-machines.com/.
Contrast dispersion imaging for cancer localization

Cancer growth is associated with angiogenic processes in many types of cancer. Several imaging strategies have therefore been developed that target angiogenesis as a marker for cancer localization. To this end, intravascular and extravascular tissue perfusion is typically assessed by dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) ultrasound (US) and MRI. All the proposed strategies, however, overlook important changes in the microvascular architecture that result from angiogenic processes. To overcome these limitations, we have recently introduced a new imaging strategy that analyzes the intravascular dispersion kinetics of contrast agents spreading through the microvasculature. Contrast dispersion is mainly determined by microvascular multi-path trajectories, reflecting the underlying microvascular architecture. This paper reviews the results obtained for prostate cancer localization by US and MRI dispersion imaging, also presenting the latest new developments and future perspectives.
Omni Antenna vs . Directional Antenna Document ID : 82068 Contents

An antenna gives the wireless system three fundamental properties: gain, direction and polarization. Gain is a measure of increase in power. Gain is the amount of increase in energy that an antenna adds to a radio frequency (RF) signal. Direction is the shape of the transmission pattern. As the gain of a directional antenna increases, the angle of radiation usually decreases. This provides a greater coverage distance, but with a reduced coverage angle. The coverage area or radiation pattern is measured in degrees. These angles are measured in degrees and are called beamwidths.
TB Incidence in an Adolescent Cohort in South Africa

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem globally. Little is known about TB incidence in adolescents who are a proposed target group for new TB vaccines. We conducted a study to determine the TB incidence rates and risk factors for TB disease in a cohort of school-going adolescents in a high TB burden area in South Africa. Methods We recruited adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from high schools in Worcester, South Africa. Demographic and clinical information was collected, a tuberculin skin test (TST) performed and blood drawn for a QuantiFERON TB Gold assay at baseline. Screening for TB cases occurred at follow up visits and by surveillance of registers at public sector TB clinics over a period of up to 3.8 years after enrolment. Results A total of 6,363 adolescents were enrolled (58% of the school population targeted). During follow up, 67 cases of bacteriologically confirmed TB were detected giving an overall incidence rate of 0.45 per 100 person years (95% confidence interval 0.29–0.72). Black or mixed race, maternal education of primary school or less or unknown, a positive baseline QuantiFERON assay and a positive baseline TST were significant predictors of TB disease on adjusted analysis. Conclusion The adolescent TB incidence found in a high burden setting will help TB vaccine developers plan clinical trials in this population. Latent TB infection and low socio-economic status were predictors of TB disease.
Native and non-native processing of English wh- questions: Parsing strategies and plausibility constraints

The two experiments reported here investigated the processing of English wh- questions by native speakers of English and advanced Chinese, German, and Korean learners of English as a second language. Performance was evaluated in relation to parsing strategies and sensitivity to plausibility constraints. In an on-line plausibility judgment task, both native and non-native speakers behaved in similar ways. All groups postulated a gap at the first position consistent with the grammar, as predicted by the filler-driven strategy and as shown by garden path or filled-gap effects that were induced when the hypothesized gap location turned out to be incorrect. In addition, all subjects interpreted the plausibility of the filler-gap dependency, as shown by a reduction in the garden path effect when the initial analysis was implausible. However, the native speakers' reading profiles showed evidence of a more immediate effect of plausibility than those of the non-native speakers, suggesting that they initiated reanalysis earlier when the first analysis was implausible. Experiment 2 showed that the non-native speakers had difficulty canceling a plausible gap hypothesis even in an off-line (pencil and paper) task, whereas for the native speakers there was no evidence that the sentences caused difficulty in this situation. The results suggest that native and non-native speakers employ similar strategies in immediate on-line processing and hence are garden-pathed in similar ways, but they differ in their ability to recover from misanalysis.
A Critical Response to Kevin Stenson's Governing the Local: Sovereignty, Social Governance and Community Safety

In his compelling case study of local governance and community safety in the UK Thames Valley, Kevin Stenson makes several important contributions to the field of governmentality studies. While the paper’s merits are far-reaching, to this reader’s assessment they can be summarized in the following key areas: 1) Empirically, the article enhances our knowledge of the political economic transformation of a region otherwise overlooked in social science research [ 1 ] ; 2) Conceptually, Stenson offers several theoretical and analytical refrains that, while becoming increasingly commonplace, are nonetheless still germane and rightly oriented to offer push back against otherwise totalizing, reified accounts of roll back/roll out neoliberalism. A welcomed new approach is offered as a corrective, The Realist Governmentality perspective, which emphasizes the interrelated and co-constitutive nature of politics, local culture, and habitus in processes related to the restructuring of social governance; 3) Methodologically, the paper makes a pitch for the ways in which finely grained, nuanced, mixed-method/ethnographic analyses have the potential to further problematize and recast a field of governmentality studies far too often dominated by discursive and textual approaches.
Frame and carrier frequency synchronization algorithm for wireless body area network

A wireless body area network (WBAN) is a radio‐frequency‐based wireless communication technology that consists of a number of different sensor and actuator nodes interconnected with a body gateway. Considering the constrained resources in WBAN devices, simple and noise‐robust synchronization algorithms are required. Frame synchronization and frequency offset estimation are extremely important in the design of a robust WBAN receiver. In this paper, a detection strategy such as frame synchronization and frequency estimation is described in the WBAN system, which can improve the receiver performance. In doing so, algorithms are designed or chosen for the frame detection, carrier frequency offset synchronization, and joint fine‐time and phase‐offset estimation by exploiting the spike‐like property of the physical layer convergence protocol preamble and the frame structure in the WBAN system. The performance of the WBAN synchronization receiver is verified by computer simulation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Perihilar lymph nodes in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis with and without cholangiocellular carcinoma

Objective. Enlarged perihilar lymph nodes have been described in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The aim of the study was to determine the clinical relevance of perihilar lymph nodes in PSC patients with and without cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC). Material and methods. The status of perihilar lymph nodes was investigated in 117 patients with PSC using “high-end” ultrasound. Thirty-five of the 117 PSC patients had histologically proven CCC. Lymph node status was correlated with the presence of CCC and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Results. Seventy-three percent of PSC patients without CCC and 86% of patients with CCC had enlarged perihilar lymph nodes (NS). In CCC patients, the width of lymph nodes was significantly larger (12±6 mm versus 8±4 mm; p=0.0001), and the length:width ratio (2.15±0.7:1 versus 2.5±0.6:1; p=0.004) of the lymph nodes was significantly lower. Thirty-seven percent of PSC patients without CCC and 57% of patients with PSC and CCC had multiple perihilar lymph nodes (p=0.04). In all patients, the presence versus absence of IBD had no influence on the number (84% versus 74%,) and size of perihilar lymph nodes (length: 21±10 mm versus 19±7 mm). Lymph node status did not correlate with the number of episodes of cholangitis. Conclusions. Enlarged perihilar lymph nodes are characteristic of patients with PSC. Since perihilar lymph nodes are not predictive of the presence of complicating CCC, such patients should not be excluded from liver transplantation.
The Histone Demethylase JMJD2C Is Stage-Specifically Expressed in Preimplantation Mouse Embryos and Is Required for Embryonic Development1

Abstract Epigenetic modifications play a pivotal role in embryonic development by dynamically regulating DNA methylation and chromatin modifications. Although recent studies have shown that core histone methylation is reversible, very few studies have investigated the functions of the newly discovered histone demethylases during embryonic development. In the present study, we investigated the expression characteristics and function of JMJD2C, a histone demethylase that belongs to the JmjC-domain-containing histone demethylases, during preimplantation embryonic development of the mouse. We found that JMJD2C is stage-specifically expressed during preimplantation development, with the highest activity being observed from the two-cell to the eight-cell stage. Depletion of JMJD2C in metaphase II oocytes followed by parthenogenetic activation causes a developmental arrest before the blastocyst stage. Moreover, consistent with a previous finding in embryonic stem (ES) cells, depletion of JMJD2C causes a significant down-regulation of the pluripotency gene Nanog in embryos. However, contrary to a previous report in ES cells, we observed that other pluripotency genes, Pou5f1 and Sox2, are also significantly down-regulated in JMJD2C-depleted embryos. Furthermore, the depletion of JMJD2C in early embryos also caused significant down-regulation of the Myc and Klf4 genes, which are associated with cell proliferation. Our data suggest that the deregulation of these critical genes synergistically causes the developmental defects observed in JMJD2C-depleted embryos.
Exploration of Enzyme-Ligand Interactions in CYP2D6 & 3A4 Homology Models and Crystal Structures Using a Novel Computational Approach

New crystal structures of human CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 have recently been reported, and in this study, we wanted to compare them with previously used homology models with respect to predictions of site of metabolism and ligand-enzyme interactions. The data set consisted of a family of synthetic opioid analgesics with the aim to cover both CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, as most of these compounds are metabolized by both isoforms. The program MetaSite was used for the site of metabolism predictions, and the results were validated by experimental assessment of the major metabolites formed with recombinant CYP450s. This was made on a selection of 14 compounds in the data set. The prediction rates for MetaSite were 79-100% except for the CYP3A4 homology model, which picked the correct site in half of the cases. Despite differences in orientation of some important amino acids in the active sites, the MetaSite-predicted sites were the same for the different structures, with the exception of the CYP3A4 homology model. Further exploration of interactions with ligands was done by docking substrates/inhibitors in the different structures with the docking program GLUE. To address the challenge in interpreting patterns of enzyme-ligand interactions for the large number of different docking poses, a new computational tool to handle the results from the dockings was developed, in which the output highlights the relative importance of amino acids in CYP450-substrate/inhibitor interactions. The method is based on calculations of the interaction energies for each pose with the surrounding amino acids. For the CYP3A4 structures, this method was compared with consensus principal component analysis (CPCA), a commonly used method for structural comparison to evaluate the usefulness of the new method. The results from the two methods were comparable with each other, and the highlighted amino acids resemble those that were identified to have a different orientation in the compared structures. The new method has clear advantages over CPCA in that it is far simpler to interpret and there is no need for protein alignment. The methodology enables structural comparison but also gives insights on important amino acid substrate/inhibitor interactions and can therefore be very useful when suggesting modifications of new chemical entities to improve their metabolic profiles.
Validity Issues in Cognitive-Behavioral Case Formulation

Despite considerable interest and growth in methods to develop or generate cognitive behavioral case formulations (CBCFs), relatively little conceptual and empirical work has focused on the validation or testing of these formulations. A case formulation can be regarded as an idiographic theory of the person and his or her life situation. This complex set of clinical judgments consists of a measurement model including the behavior problems or distress constructs and how they are measured; and a causal model involving variables such as thoughts or beliefs hypothesized to trigger and maintain this person’s distress or dysfunction. This article describes four types of validity issues in CBCF and how these validity issues can be evaluated using person-specific, intraindividual data collected daily or multiple times a day. Specific topics include the evaluation of content and construct (convergent and discriminant) validity for the measurement model, and the evaluation of predictive and treatment-related validi.
The open method of co-ordination and new governance patterns in the EU

The aim of this article is to establish an analytical framework for studying the impact of the open method of co-ordination (OMC) on three levels of political action within the EU, namely the policy, politics and polity. First, the article examines the novelties of the OMC vis-à-vis the soft law tradition in the EU, and looks at how the three dominant logics of co-ordination are linked to diverse modes of the OMC. The subsequent sections focus on the potential impact of the OMC on the policy and politics dimensions of the EU. Theoretically inspired assumptions about policy learning and partial delegation of power are the driving forces behind the inquiry. The article then scrutinizes the potential constitutional dimension of the OMC. Finally, it discusses the theoretical challenges that the OMC poses for our understanding of the EU as a polity and the concept of integration.
Design method for asymmetric 3D interconnect architectures with high level models

New 3D production methods enable heterogeneous integration of dies manufactured in different technology nodes. Asymmetric 3D interconnect architectures (A-3D-IAs) are the communication infrastructure targeting these heterogeneous 3D system on chips (3D SoCs), for which design methodologies and design tools are still missing. Here, a design method is proposed following an incremental approach enabled by high level models. Therefore, we present the first simulator and design framework covering the diverse requirements of A-3D-IAs. This includes an abstract model to estimate the application specific energy consumption of 2D metal wires and 3D through silicon vias (TSVs) in an A-3D-IA. It is validated by circuit simulations in combination with an electromagnetic field solver which is used for the extraction of the TSV array equivalent circuit. The model lays on a high abstraction level for fast simulations. Nonetheless, for real data stream scenarios it still shows a small maximum error of less than 8%. Additionally, a mathematical description is presented which enables a fast evaluation of low power coding schemes for A-3D-IA on a high level of abstraction.
Occupationally Related Cancer Risk Among Coke Oven Workers: 30 Years of Follow-Up

This study concerns the update of cause-specific mortality among coke oven workers. Updated information provides 3 decades of work history and vital status follow-up on 15,818 workers. Mortality patterns are summarized by race, cumulative exposure, and period of follow-up. The findings are consistent with those from earlier assessments, indicating that occupational exposure to coke oven emissions is associated with significant excess mortality from cancer of the respiratory system and of the prostate. Depending on the segment of the population considered, the respiratory cancer risk for coke oven workers ranged as high as 4.45 times that for non-oven workers. Relative risk values for cancer of the prostate ranged as high as 1.93. Rates of respiratory cancer across period of follow-up are declining, suggesting that the implementation of emissions control and occupational exposure limits has been beneficial.
e-infrastructure: a roadmap for semantic Web-based project development for civil infrastructure systems

This paper presents a roadmap for establishing a semantic Web-based environment for coordinating infrastructure project development. The proposed roadmap uses semantic knowledge management and Web services concepts to integrate all aspects of infrastructure project development. The roadmap focuses on integrating business, safety and sustainability dimensions in addition to traditional engineering aspects. The roadmap also emphasizes a process-oriented approach to the development of e-infrastructure.
OPTIMAL STATIC–DYNAMIC HEDGES FOR BARRIER OPTIONS

We study optimal hedging of barrier options, using a combination of a static position in vanilla options and dynamic trading of the underlying asset. The problem reduces to computing the Fenchel–Legendre transform of the utility‐indifference price as a function of the number of vanilla options used to hedge. Using the well‐known duality between exponential utility and relative entropy, we provide a new characterization of the indifference price in terms of the minimal entropy measure, and give conditions guaranteeing differentiability and strict convexity in the hedging quantity, and hence a unique solution to the hedging problem. We discuss computational approaches within the context of Markovian stochastic volatility models.
The Crest Phenotype in Chicken Is Associated with Ectopic Expression of HOXC8 in Cranial Skin

The Crest phenotype is characterised by a tuft of elongated feathers atop the head. A similar phenotype is also seen in several wild bird species. Crest shows an autosomal incompletely dominant mode of inheritance and is associated with cerebral hernia. Here we show, using linkage analysis and genome-wide association, that Crest is located on the E22C19W28 linkage group and that it shows complete association to the HOXC-cluster on this chromosome. Expression analysis of tissues from Crested and non-crested chickens, representing 26 different breeds, revealed that HOXC8, but not HOXC12 or HOXC13, showed ectopic expression in cranial skin during embryonic development. We propose that Crest is caused by a cis-acting regulatory mutation underlying the ectopic expression of HOXC8. However, the identification of the causative mutation(s) has to await until a method becomes available for assembling this chromosomal region. Crest is unfortunately located in a genomic region that has so far defied all attempts to establish a contiguous sequence.
Identifying Predictors of College Success Through an Examination of AVID Graduates’ College Preparatory Achievements

This mixed-methods research investigates the high school college preparatory achie vements and college success of 50 high school graduates who participated in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and belonged to groups underrepresented in higher education. High performance on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and acquiring college credits while in high school were found to be significant predictors of college success. In addition, AVID support and strategies contributed to students’ transition into college. Este estudio con métodos mixtos investiga los logros de estudiantes en preparatoria con relación al éxito universitario de 50 estudiantes graduados de preparatoria que participaron en Avance a Través de Determinación Individual (AVID) y que pertenecían a grupos poco representados en preparatoria. Alta ejecución en la Evaluación Texana de Conocimiento y Habilidades (TAKS) y la adquisición de crédito universitario durante la educación preparatoria fueron encontrados predictores significativos de éxito universitario. Adicionalmente, apoyo y estrategias AVID contribuyeron en la transición estudiantil universitaria.