Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of patient satisfaction in public hospitals in Cyprus: a descriptive study

Introduction: Patient satisfaction has become an established outcome indicator of the quality and the efficiency of the health care systems. Patient satisfaction with nursing is considered the most important factor in the moulding of the overall patient satisfaction with hospital services. Aim of the study: To assess medical and surgical patient satisfaction with nursing care in the public hospitals of Cyprus and explore its possible correlation with background factors. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive design, with face-to-face semi-structured interview was employed. Data were collected by using MPSS questionnaire and the sample consisted of a random sample of 324 patients from 5 public hospitals in Cyprus with at least 3 days of hospitalisation. Results: The sample consisted of 159 medical (49.1%) and 165 surgical patients (50.9%), the majority of the sample were male (200 - 61.7%) and the mean age was 57.6 years (SD=17.8 years). Overall, patients showed enthusiasm with the medical care provided (Mean=3.97, SD=0.65, R=1-5). Particularly, patients were more satisfied with the technical aspect of care (Mean=4.20, SD=0.62) and less satisfied with the provision of information (Mean=3.71, SD=0.92) and hospitalisation (Mean=3.84, SD=0.70) and most particularly with food and resting time. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to the department (medical or surgical), sex, age, educational level and residency. Conclusions: Nurses need to show greater amount of interest to the information-giving process and the autonomy of the patients. Additionally, an effort should be made to improve hospitalisation services. Evaluating patients’ satisfaction should be constant so as to reformulate the baseline and to be able to assess interventions and changes in nursing care provision.
A 28nm CMOS ultra-compact thermal sensor in current-mode technique

This paper describes an innovative architecture for temperature sensors, which achieves excellent linearity at minimum complexity. Fabricated in 28nm, the circuit occupies only 0.0038mm2 and draws 16μA from 1.8V, capable also for lower supplies. The 8-bit smart sensor operates from -20 to 130°C and utilizes the benefits of parasitic NPN transistor. Current-mode technique is adopted in a new way, which simplifies digital output and makes common error correction dispensable. Excellent PSRR and a raw accuracy of 1.8°C (3σ) is obtained without calibration, due to the inherent robustness against MOS mismatch. Precision can be increased to ~ +/-0.8°C by convenient single point soft-trimming. (smart thermal sensor, current-mode, NPN bipolar, CMOS)
Drug treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and suicidal behaviour: register based study

Objective To investigate the association between drug treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and risk of concomitant suicidal behaviour among patients with ADHD. Design Register based longitudinal study using within patient design. Setting Linkage of multiple national registers in Sweden. Participants 37 936 patients with ADHD born between 1960 and 1996 and followed from 2006 to 2009 for treatment status by ADHD drug treatment and suicide related events (suicide attempt and completed suicide). Main outcome measure Incidence rate of suicide related events during ADHD drug treatment periods compared with that during non-treatment periods. Results Among 37 936 patients with ADHD, 7019 suicide related events occurred during 150 721 person years of follow-up. At the population level, drug treatment of ADHD was associated with an increased rate of suicide related events (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.19 to 1.44). However, the within patient comparison showed a reverse association between ADHD drug treatment and rate of suicide related events (0.89, 0.79 to 1.00). Among stimulant users, a reduced within patient rate of suicide related events was seen during treatment periods (0.81, 0.70 to 0.94). Among non-stimulant/mixed users, no significantly increased within patient rate of suicide related events during non-stimulant treatment periods was seen (0.96, 0.72 to 1.30). Conclusions This study found no evidence for a positive association between the use of drug treatments for ADHD and the risk of concomitant suicidal behaviour among patients with ADHD. If anything, the results pointed to a potential protective effect of drugs for ADHD on suicidal behaviour, particularly for stimulant drugs. The study highlights the importance of using within patient designs to control for confounding in future pharmacoepidemiological studies.
Quantum algorithms for finding extrema with unary predicates

We study the problem of finding the maximum or the minimum of a given set S = {x0, x1, . xn−1}, each element xi drawn from some finite universe U of real numbers. We assume that the inputs are abstracted within an oracle O where we can only gain information through unary comparisons in the form ”Is xi greater than, equal to, or less than some constant k? ” Classically, this problem is solved optimally with a runtime of Θ(n+ lg |U |). In the setting of Quantum Computing, we show that at least Ω( √ n+lg |U |) queries are required to solve the problem even with bounded error. Combining variants of the Grover’s search [1, 2] algorithm and the optimal classical unary extrema finding algorithm, we have derived a series of new quantum algorithms, some running in time as fast as O( √ n lg∗ n+ lg |U |). This shows that quantum computers can accelerate the speed in the unary comparison model asymptotically. Inspecting our tools, we find convincing arguments that our lower bound is most probably tight, but we may need an entirely new approach to solve the problem optimally. The technique used in our algorithm can also be extended to solve variations of quantum statistics problems. For instance, our result can be directly extended to approximation of extrema of real numbers, similar to that of [3]. Moreover, we can also solve the quantum k-select problem optimally in time O( √ kn) with constant success probability. We hope that our ideas and tools will prove to be useful in other areas.
Effects of Flavonoids on Rumen Fermentation Activity, Methane Production, and Microbial Population

This research was carried out to evaluate the effects of flavone, myricetin, naringin, catechin, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol at the concentration of 4.5% of the substrate (dry matter basis) on the rumen microbial activity in vitro. Mixture of guinea grass and concentrate (60 : 40) was used as the substrate. The results showed that all the flavonoids except naringin and quercetin significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the dry matter degradability. The gas production significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by flavone, myricetin, and kaempferol, whereas naringin, rutin, and quercetin significantly (P < 0.05) increased the gas production. The flavonoids suppressed methane production significantly (P < 0.05). The total VFA concentration significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the presence of flavone, myricetin, and kaempferol. All flavonoids except naringin and quercetin significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the carboxymethyl cellulase, filter paperase, xylanase, and β-glucosidase activities, purine content, and the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. Flavone, myricetin, catechin, rutin, and kaempferol significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the population of rumen microbes. Total populations of protozoa and methanogens were significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed by naringin and quercetin. The results of this research demonstrated that naringin and quercetin at the concentration of 4.5% of the substrate (dry matter basis) were potential metabolites to suppress methane production without any negative effects on rumen microbial fermentation.
Multi-objective memetic algorithm using pattern search filter methods memetic multi-objective algorithm

Solving real world Multi-Objective Optimization Problems (MOOP) often involves the use of complex “black-box ”modeling routines, where the resolution of the process governing equations requires the use of expensive numerical methods [1]. Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEA) is an excellent tool to deal with the multi-objective nature of these problems. They do not need the calculation of derivatives which are not available for this type of problems [2, 3]. Simultaneously, due to the fact that the MOEAs are based on the use of a population of solutions that evolves during successive generations, they are a good global search method and are particularly suitable to solve multi-objective problems [2]. The concept of non-dominance is used in MOEA in order to establish a trade-off between the solutions, i.e., the Pareto frontier [2]. The major difficulty in applying MOEAs to real optimization problems lies on the large number of evaluations of the objective functions necessary to obtain an acceptable solution. Due to the usual high computation times required by the numerical methods used, reducing the number of evaluations necessary to reach an acceptable solution is thus of major importance [4]. Different approaches have been pursued in the literature to solve this problem. One of these methods consists in using approximate objective functions, such as statistical methods or Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), to evaluate the solutions [5]. An alternative consists in coupling MOEAs with local search methods, where in each generation of the MOEA some (good) solutions using an efficient local search algorithm are generated [6].
Dual-band 1.7 GHz / 2.5 GHz class-E power amplifier in 130 nm CMOS technology

The evolution of new mobile communication standards demand highly efficient multiband power amplifiers (PAs) both in mobile equipments and base stations. This paper presents a concept for a compact multiharmonic load transformation network (MHLTN), appropriate for a fully integrated differential dual-band PA design in an RF front-end transmitter. The proposed MHLTN was applied to implement a dual-band class-E PA based on finite DC-feed inductance in a 130 nm CMOS process for GSM1700 and LTE2500 operation. With a dual-band input matching network, simulation results have shown peak power added efficiency (PAE) and peak output power of more than 57% and 27 dBm, respectively, at both bands. The designed PA is also able to cover a wide frequency range. From 1.4 GHz to 2.7 GHz, output power is above 25 dBm and PAE is higher than 50 %.
Towards the reusability of software metric definitions at the meta level

A large number of metrics for evaluating the quality of software have been proposed in the literature. However, there is no standard terminology or formalism for defining metrics and consequently many of the metrics proposed have some ambiguity in their definitions. This hampers the empirical validation of these metrics. To address this problem, we generalise an existing approach to defining metrics that is based on the Object Constraint Language and the Unified Modelling Language metamodel. We have developed a prototype tool called DMML (Defining Metrics at the Meta Level) that supports this approach and we present details of this tool. To illustrate the approach, we present formal definitions for the Chidamber and Kemerer metrics suite.
A 0.4-V Gm-C Proportional-Integrator-Based Continuous-Time ΔΣ Modulator With 50-kHz BW and 74.4-dB SNDR

This paper presents a $G_{m}$ – $C$ -based $\Delta \Sigma $ modulator under 0.4-V supply. A 3rd-order continuous-time $\Delta \Sigma $ modulator is proposed by cascading three $G_{m}$ – $C$ proportional integra- tors (PIs) with a feedforward resistor for the proportional path, which minimizes the output swing of each integrator and ensures that the last two transconductors operate within their linear input range. A nine-tap finite-impulse response (FIR) digital to analog converter (DAC) in front of the first $G_{m}$ – $C$ integrator filters the large out-of-band quantization noise from the feedback signal, generating a quiet input of the first transconductor for better linearity. A feedback bias control technique is proposed to achieve a stable transconductance of the $G_{m}$ cells under low supply voltages. The proposed $\Delta \Sigma $ modulator is fabricated in a 90-nm CMOS and achieves 74.4-dB peak signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR), 85.2-dB peak spurious free dynamic range (SFDR), and 78.5-dB dynamic range (DR) within a 50-kHz bandwidth, which is the first demonstration of $G_{m}$ – $C$ -based modulators under near-threshold supply voltages. The FoM w is 61.2 fJ/conversion-step, and FoM s is 167 dB, outperforming the reported low-voltage $\Delta \Sigma $ modulator designs.
Error tracking of radargrammetric DEM from RADARSAT images

In the 1960s, stereoscopic methods were first applied to radar images to derive ground elevation. Unfortunately, research uncovered contradictions between error propagation theory and practical results. These contradictions combined with the lack of stereo radar pairs led to the decline of radargrammetry. The launch in 1995 of RADARSAT, with its various operating modes and specific geometric characteristics, has turned the tide. The error propagation of the radargrammetric DEM generated from different RADARSAT stereo configurations is then quantitatively evaluated along the full processing chain (stereo model set-up with ground control points (GCPs), image matching and three-dimensional (3-D) intersection). Two matching algorithms are used: 1) automatic and 2) computer-assisted visual matching. The GCP collection method using stereoscopic plotting is a requisite to achieve the best results for the stereo model and DEM. The automatic matching gives slightly better results than the computer-assisted visual matching, except when the radiometric disparities in the stereo images are too large. Since the geometric advantage (not involved in the automatic matching) can compensate for the radiometric disadvantage, visual matching, which combines both aspects, is a better method in these conditions. Consequently, these two algorithms can be used in a two-step method to generate the best DEM whatever the stereo configuration. Since the relief is an important parameter in the final accuracy, geometric versus radiometric disparity tradeoffs and general guidelines are suggested for selecting RADARSAT stereo pairs for DEM generation as a function of terrain relief.
Multiple-request technique for wireless networks

The traditional medium access control (MAC) protocol was designed for a single-input single-output (SISO) antenna system to support the transmission of only one packet at a time. Although multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems, the next generation of antenna technology, can support multiple packet transmissions without collision, the standard MAC protocol does not allow multiple transmissions. Thus, the MAC protocol should be modified to support MIMO antennas and to improve the network performance. In this paper, we propose a new MAC protocol that allows multiple packet transmissions at a time. In the proposed protocol, multiple request-to-send (RTS) frames are sent before data transmissions. With this technique, the network performance can be improved. We have also developed a mathematical model called a Markov chain model to evaluate the network performance. Results obtained from the mathematical model show that the proposed MAC protocol provides a higher probability that wireless users in a network will successfully transmit packets than that for the conventional MAC protocol. Moreover, our protocol gives a lower probability that the wireless channel will be idle; thus, the proposed protocol allows the wireless channel to be utilized more than the conventional MAC protocol.
haracterization of vtg-1 mRNA expression during ontogeny in Oreochromis ossambicus ( PETERS )

The yolk-precursor lipoprotein, vitellogenin (VTG) has been widely recognized as a biomarker for the detection of estrogenic activity in water-borne chemical pollutants. We characterized the expression status of this important constituent of reproduction in the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), a tilapiine freshwater fish species indigenous to Southern Africa, and investigated its utility in detection of exposure to estrogen using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assay. We initially isolated a 3 kb upstream promoter region of the vtg gene and identified putative binding sites for several regulatory factors including estrogen receptor (ESR). Evidence for the expression of several splice-site vtg mRNA variants was found in a number of tissue types. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assay was subsequently developed based upon a specific primer pair (OMV6/9) that selectively amplified the liver-enriched transcript. The level of this transcript in liver tissue was high in females and lower, but detectable, in males and was significantly increased in male fish following laboratory exposure to 17 -estradiol (E2). This study further established that juvenile whole body homogenates (WBHs) contained extremely low levels of liver-specific vtg mRNA between 5 and 110 days post-fertilization (dpf) compared to adult male liver. Subsequent exposure of 20 dpf juveniles to E2 showed a substantial increase in this transcript within hours, and when compared to classic male model under same conditions, the juveniles were remarkably more sensitive. We therefore conclude that the quantification, using QPCR methodology, of vtg mRNA expression in 20 dpf O. mossambicus juveniles has promise for assessing aqua estrogenic EDC activity in
Serum Levels of Cytokines and Biomarkers for Inflammation and Immune Activation, and HIV-Associated Non-Hodgkin B-Cell Lymphoma Risk

Background: HIV infection is associated with a marked increase in risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (AIDS-NHL). However, the mechanisms that promote the development of AIDS-NHL are not fully understood. Methods: In this study, serum levels of several cytokines and other molecules associated with immune activation were measured in specimens collected longitudinally during 1 to 5 years preceding AIDS-NHL diagnosis, in 176 AIDS-NHL cases and 176 HIV+ controls from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Results: Multivariate analyses revealed that serum levels of immunoglobulin free light chains (FLC), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IP-10/CXCL10, neopterin, and TNF-α were elevated in those HIV+ individuals who went on to develop AIDS-NHL. In addition, the fraction of specimens with detectable IL-2 was increased and the fraction with detectable IL-4 was decreased in these subjects. Conclusions: These results suggest that long-term, chronic immune activation, possibly driven by macrophage-produced cytokines, precedes development of NHL in HIV+ individuals. Impact: FLC, IL-6, IL-10, IP-10/CXCL10, neopterin, and TNF-α may serve as biomarkers for AIDS-NHL. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(2); 343–9. ©2013 AACR.
Targeting the platelet‐derived growth factor signalling in cardiovascular disease

Over 40 years of studies on platelet‐derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors, the molecular mechanisms and functional roles of PDGFs in the development of embryos and human diseases, especially in cancer, are gradually being unravelled. PDGF‐BB was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for promoting wound healing, while imatinib, which selectively inhibits tyrosine kinase activity of PDGF receptors (PDGFR), has been prescribed to treat patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor and chronic eosinophilic leukaemia. However, much less often have these drugs been studied in relation to cardiovascular diseases. This brief review mainly describes the role of PDGF signalling in cardiovascular pathogenesis such as atherosclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, diabetes, angiogenesis and inflammation with an emphasis on how PDGFs function in these situations and what components might serve as potential therapeutic targets against cardio‐metabolic dysfunction.
Processes and unfoldings: concurrent computations in adhesive categories

We generalise both the notion of a non-sequential process and the unfolding construction (which was previously developed for concrete formalisms such as Petri nets and graph grammars) to the abstract setting of (single pushout) rewriting of objects in adhesive categories. The main results show that processes are in one-to-one correspondence with switch-equivalent classes of derivations, and that the unfolding construction can be characterised as a coreflection, that is, the unfolding functor arises as the right adjoint to the embedding of the category of occurrence grammars into the category of grammars. As the unfolding represents potentially infinite computations, we need to work in adhesive categories with ‘well-behaved’ colimits of ω-chains of monos. Compared with previous work on the unfolding of Petri nets and graph grammars, our results apply to a wider class of systems, which is due to the use of a refined notion of grammar morphism.
Do Quiet Areas Afford Greater Health-Related Quality of Life than Noisy Areas?

People typically choose to live in quiet areas in order to safeguard their health and wellbeing. However, the benefits of living in quiet areas are relatively understudied compared to the burdens associated with living in noisy areas. Additionally, research is increasingly focusing on the relationship between the human response to noise and measures of health and wellbeing, complementing traditional dose-response approaches, and further elucidating the impact of noise and health by incorporating human factors as mediators and moderators. To further explore the benefits of living in quiet areas, we compared the results of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire datasets collected from households in localities differentiated by their soundscapes and population density: noisy city, quiet city, quiet rural, and noisy rural. The dose-response relationships between noise annoyance and HRQOL measures indicated an inverse relationship between the two. Additionally, quiet areas were found to have higher mean HRQOL domain scores than noisy areas. This research further supports the protection of quiet locales and ongoing noise abatement in noisy areas.
Development of Metal-Ceramic Coaxial Cable Fabry-Pérot Interferometric Sensors for High Temperature Monitoring

Metal-ceramic coaxial cable Fabry-Pérot interferometric (MCCC-FPI) sensors have been developed using a stainless steel tube and a stainless steel wire as the outer and inner conductors, respectively; a tubular α-alumina insulator; and a pair of air gaps created in the insulator along the cable to serve as weak reflectors for the transmitting microwave (MW) signal. The MCCC-FPI sensors have been demonstrated for high temperature measurements using MW signals in a frequency range of 2–8 GHz. The temperature measurement is achieved by monitoring the frequency shift (Δƒ) of the MW interferogram reflected from the pair of weak reflectors. The MW sensor exhibited excellent linear dependence of Δƒ on temperature; small measurement deviations (±2.7%); and fast response in a tested range of 200–500 °C. The MCCC has the potential for further developing multipoint FPI sensors in a single-cable to achieve in situ and continuous measurement of spatially distributed temperature in harsh environments.
The challenge of dry eye diagnosis

The currently available methods for the diagnosis of dry eye are still far from being perfect for a variety of reasons. This review attempts to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of both traditional tests (such as Schirmer’s test, break-up time and ocular surface staining) and innovative noninvasive procedures, including tear meniscus height measurement, corneal topography, functional visual acuity, tear interferometry, tear evaporimetry and tear osmolarity assessment.