Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ontology Mapping for Web-Based Educational Systems Interoperability

In order to deal with the need of sharing learning objects within and across learning object repositories most of the recent work argue for the use of ontologies as a means for providing a shared understanding of common domains. But with the proliferation of a great number of different ontologies even for the same domain, it becomes necessary to provide a mapping process to perform interoperability. Although many efforts in ontology mapping have already been carried out, few of them use resources properties to generate relations between local concepts. Our approach exploits these properties and uses inference rules to produce correspondences between concepts from source and target ontology.
Pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis-related pain

Joint pain due to osteoarthritis (OA) is often severe and disabling and affects a large proportion of the aging population impairing daily living and quality of life. Numerous pharmacological treatment approaches are available. Including major OA guidelines this review presents the current evidence of pharmacological therapies in OA-related pain and covers topical, oral and intraarticular treatment approaches. In patients with mild OA topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be recommended. Topical capsaicin can be used when other treatments are ineffective or contraindicated. In patients with moderate to severe OA oral NSAIDs are suggested at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible duration to control symptoms. Importantly, drug-related side effects and gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal comorbidities need to be taken into account. In patients with multiple-joint OA and high risk of NSAID-induced adverse events duloxetine can be considered. The evidence of metamizole, symptomatic slow-acting drugs in osteoarthritis and other nutritional supplements in the treatment of OA pain is uncertain and the use of opioids is not routinely recommended. In patients suffering from severe OA-relatedpain intraarticular injections with glucocorticoids can be suggested to achieve short-term pain relief. Evidence for interventional approaches using hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma is uncertain. Yet, the efficacy of pharmacological therapies in OA-related pain is often inconsistent and severe adverse events might occur. Thus, critical use of the different treatment options considering patient-related comorbidities and nonpharmacological therapies is of major importance.
Topic Analysis and Influential Paper Discovery on Scientific Publications

With the development of scientific research, scientific publications are valuable resources for new-comers in the research field. But massive scientific publications make it a challenge for researchers diving into a new research field. As a good practice to this problem, topics are put forward to organize publications. In this paper, we propose two modified LDA topic models as solutions to topic analysis and influential paper discovery on scientific publications, cc-LDA and cp-LDA. Compared to state-of-the-art researches on LDA, we incorporate citation information including its occurrence times and occurrence position into our models. Model cc-LDA integrates paper content and citation occurrence into LDA model, while cp-LDA considers both occurrence and position of citations. Both models can not only find topics in the form of citation distribution, but also help discover influential papers under certain topics. Furthermore, both models can extract more representative vectors for papers, which achieve good performance in subsequent clustering.
Electro-mechanical modeling of the myocardium: coupling and feedback mechanisms

Computer-aided simulations of the heart provide knowledge for cardiological diagnosis and therapy. A model of the myocardium is presented which allows the reconstruction of electrical and mechanical processes with the inclusion of feedback mechanisms. The model combines detailed models of cellular electrophysiology and force development with models of the electrical current flow and the mechanical behavior of the myocardium. The results of simulations show the connection between the electrical excitation process and the following mechanical deformation in a 3D anisotropic area of the myocardium.
Nutritional habits and bladder cancer

It is now universally acknowledged that nutrition has a paramount importance in health and disease (1). Cancer is probably one of the most paradigmatic example of a human pathology whose risk of development and progression may be strongly influenced by different dietary habits, through intricate and multifaceted mechanisms entailing a kaleidoscope of still partially enigmatic interplays among genetic, epigenetic, biochemical and also gut-microbial factors (2).
Socioeconomic multi-domain health inequalities in Dutch primary school children

Background This study assesses socio-economic health inequalities (SEHI) over primary school-age (4- to 12-years old) across 13 outcomes (i.e. body-mass index [BMI], handgrip strength, cardiovascular fitness, current physical conditions, moderate to vigorous physical activity, sleep duration, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, daily breakfast, exposure to smoking, mental strengths and difficulties, self-efficacy, school absenteeism and learning disabilities), covering four health domains (i.e. physical health, health behaviour, mental health and academic health). Methods Multilevel mixed effect (linear and logistic) regression analyses were applied to cross-sectional data of a Dutch quasi-experimental study that included 1403 pupils from nine primary schools. Socioeconomic background (high-middle-low) was indicated by maternal education (n = 976) and parental material deprivation (n = 784). Results Pupils with higher educated mothers had lower BMIs, higher handgrip strength and higher cardiovascular fitness; their parents reported more daily fruit and vegetable consumption, daily breakfast and less exposure to smoking. Furthermore these pupils showed less mental difficulties and less school absenteeism compared with pupils whose mothers had a lower education level. When using parental material deprivation as socio-economic indicator, similar results were found for BMI, cardiovascular fitness, sleep duration, exposure to smoking and mental strengths and difficulties. Socio-economic differences in handgrip strength, cardiovascular fitness and sleep duration were larger in older than in younger pupils. Conclusions Childhood SEHI are clearly found across multiple domains, and some are larger in older than in younger pupils. Interventions aiming to tackle SEHI may therefore need a comprehensive and perhaps more fundamental approach.
Qualitative analysis of twin‐screw extruder performance in stabilization pelletizing of HDPE resins

Two twin-screw extruders of different size and centerline distance C L were compared. To understand better the performance of the extruders, the operation points were optimized for an HDPE (high-density polyethylene) film product, and the performance of screw configuration was qualitatively analyzed with some numerical methods at the operation points. The machinery with narrower C L was found to have lower average shear rate, higher conveying capacity, and more channeling in the conveying flow. That means also a need for severe processing in the kneading zone. The extruder with narrow C L had a narrow operation window, and that made it more difficult to combine homogenization and degradation of the product.
Bootstrapping High-Frequency Jump Tests

ABSTRACT The main contribution of this article is to propose a bootstrap test for jumps based on functions of realized volatility and bipower variation. Bootstrap intraday returns are randomly generated from a mean zero Gaussian distribution with a variance given by a local measure of integrated volatility (which we denote by ). We first discuss a set of high-level conditions on such that any bootstrap test of this form has the correct asymptotic size and is alternative-consistent. We then provide a set of primitive conditions that justify the choice of a thresholding-based estimator for . Our cumulant expansions show that the bootstrap is unable to mimic the higher-order bias of the test statistic. We propose a modification of the original bootstrap test which contains an appropriate bias correction term and for which second-order asymptotic refinements are obtained.
A comparison of two intensities of psychosocial intervention for alcohol dependent patients treated with acamprosate.

AIMS To compare two levels of psychosocial intervention in combination with acamprosate medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence. METHODS Patients (n = 70) were prescribed acamprosate and randomized to Minimal Psychosocial Intervention (MPI) or Extended Psychosocial Intervention (EPI). MPI patients met a psychiatrist for 20-30 min sessions on four occasions during a 6 month period. EPI patients were offered 10-15 sessions with a psychiatric nurse in addition to the visits to the psychiatrist. EPI patients were trained to use behavioural and cognitive coping skills to deal with high-risk situations in line with a manual developed for relapse prevention. Patients were assessed four times during the 24-week study by self-report and laboratory tests. RESULTS Patients on average reported a decline in days with heavy drinking and in cumulative number of drinking days. No significant differences between patients in MPI and EPI were found with respect to heavy drinking, cumulative number of drinking days, number of days to first drink, or biomarkers of alcohol consumption. Higher age and lower level of education were significant predictors of treatment success. CONCLUSIONS Adding more intensive individual treatments appears to add no extra improvement beyond that obtained by prescribing acamprosate and offering an infrequent consultation with a physician.
Two-dimensional movement control using electrocorticographic signals in humans

We show here that a brain–computer interface (BCI) using electrocorticographic activity (ECoG) and imagined or overt motor tasks enables humans to control a computer cursor in two dimensions. Over a brief training period of 12–36 min, each of five human subjects acquired substantial control of particular ECoG features recorded from several locations over the same hemisphere, and achieved average success rates of 53–73% in a two-dimensional four-target center-out task in which chance accuracy was 25%. Our results support the expectation that ECoG-based BCIs can combine high performance with technical and clinical practicality, and also indicate promising directions for further research.
Computational Testing for Automated Preprocessing 2: Practical Demonstration of a System for Scientific Data-Processing Workflow Management for High-Volume EEG

Existing tools for the preprocessing of EEG data provide a large choice of methods to suitably prepare and analyse a given dataset. Yet it remains a challenge for the average user to integrate methods for batch processing of the increasingly large datasets of modern research, and compare methods to choose an optimal approach across the many possible parameter configurations. Additionally, many tools still require a high degree of manual decision making for, e.g., the classification of artifacts in channels, epochs or segments. This introduces extra subjectivity, is slow, and is not reproducible. Batching and well-designed automation can help to regularize EEG preprocessing, and thus reduce human effort, subjectivity, and consequent error. The Computational Testing for Automated Preprocessing (CTAP) toolbox facilitates: (i) batch processing that is easy for experts and novices alike; (ii) testing and comparison of preprocessing methods. Here we demonstrate the application of CTAP to high-resolution EEG data in three modes of use. First, a linear processing pipeline with mostly default parameters illustrates ease-of-use for naive users. Second, a branching pipeline illustrates CTAP's support for comparison of competing methods. Third, a pipeline with built-in parameter-sweeping illustrates CTAP's capability to support data-driven method parameterization. CTAP extends the existing functions and data structure from the well-known EEGLAB toolbox, based on Matlab, and produces extensive quality control outputs. CTAP is available under MIT open-source licence from https://github.com/bwrc/ctap.
AECID: A Self-learning Anomaly Detection Approach based on Light-weight Log Parser Models

In recent years, new forms of cyber attacks with an unprecedented sophistication level have emerged. Additionally, systems have grown to a size and complexity so that their mode of operation is barely understandable any more, especially for chronically understaffed security teams. The combination of ever increasing exploitation of zero day vulnerabilities, malware auto-generated from tool kits with varying signatures, and the still problematic lack of user awareness is alarming. As a consequence signature-based intrusion detection systems, which look for signatures of known malware or malicious behavior studied in labs, do not seem fit for future challenges. New, flexibly adaptable forms of intrusion detection systems (IDS), which require just minimal maintenance and human intervention, and rather learn themselves what is considered normal in an infrastructure, are a promising means to tackle today’s serious security situation. This paper introduces ÆCID, a new anomaly-based IDS approach, that incorporates many features motivated by recent research results, including the automatic classification of events in a network, their correlation, evaluation, and interpretation up to a dynamically-configurable alerting system. Eventually, we foresee ÆCID to be a smart sensor for established SIEM solutions. Parts of ÆCID are open source and already included in Debian Linux and Ubuntu. This paper provides vital information on its basic design, deployment scenarios and application cases to support the research community as well as early adopters of the software package.
Sperm DNA Links from Sperm to Ovum to Implant Genetic Changeability: an Overview

Sperm DNA disintegration is known to cooperate male fertility. The data bring about that sperm DNA cleavage can be competently treated with orally administered antioxidant during a relatively short moment period. It is an accepting thought that the two types of DNA become visible to be distinctive and autonomously packaged molecules; though, investigation has established the symbiotic nature of these structures in contributing to male infertility. Data should continue to be gathered to ascertain strong correlation between conventional semen examination parameters and sperm DNA integrity; this information remains contentious and inadequate in clinical practice until certain novel techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of sperm DNA can be established. Rather more modern technology should be employed to associate such information into practical clinical awareness. This overview compiles certain specific reports pertaining to studies on sperm DNA physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology to provide further new insights into establishing hypothesis that sperm DNA integrity is both enormously fragile and remarkably significant for male fertility. Keywords: Apoptosis; Male infertility; Sperm DNA
Association of “Elevated Blood Pressure” and “Stage 1 Hypertension” With Cardiovascular Mortality Among an Asian Population

Background The new American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association high blood pressure (BP) guidelines in the United States have lowered definition of hypertension by defining normal as systolic/diastolic BP <120/80 mm Hg; elevated BP as systolic between 120 and 129 mm Hg and diastolic <80 mm Hg; and stage 1 hypertension as systolic between 130 and 139 mm Hg or diastolic between 80 and 89 mm Hg. Methods and Results We investigated the association between the new hypertension definition and cardiovascular disease mortality among Chinese in Singapore. We used data from 30 636 participants of a population‐based cohort, the SCHS (Singapore Chinese Health Study), who had BPs measured using a standard protocol at ages 46 to 85 years between 1994 and 2005. Information on lifestyle factors was collected at recruitment (1993–1998) and follow‐up 1 interviews (1999 and 2004). Mortality was identified via nationwide registry linkage up to December 31, 2016. Neither elevated BP (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.74–1.07) nor stage 1 hypertension (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.81–1.11) was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality compared with normal BP in the whole cohort. Stage 1 hypertension was associated with increased cardiovascular risk only in those <65 years of age and without a history of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.94), but not in those ≥65 years of age or with a history of cardiovascular disease. Conclusions Our data suggest that the newly defined stage 1 hypertension may not be associated with increased cardiovascular mortality across all ages among Chinese in Singapore, but that the at‐risk subpopulation is limited to those <65 years of age and without a prior cardiovascular disease.
Topic for a Bachelor/Master’s Thesis: Solving label ranking problems via error-correcting output codes

Label ranking is a specific problem in the realm of preference learning [1]. It can be seen as a generalization of multi-class classification, in which the problem is to learn a mapping from instances to rankings (permutations) over a finite number of alternatives (class labels). Ranking by pairwise comparison (RPC) is a state-of-the-art approach to label ranking [2]. RPC constructs one binary classifier for each pair of labels, and trains it to decide which of the two is preferred to the other one; thus, RPC effectively reduces a label ranking problem to a set of binary classification problems. At prediction time, a ranking is assembled from the predictions of the binary classifiers.
Cyclophosphamide or Rituximab Treatment of Scleritis and Uveitis for Patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Purpose: Vision-threatening ocular inflammation can be a devastating complication of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Here we performed a retrospective observational study to describe the safety and efficacy of treating scleritis and uveitis with either cyclophosphamide or rituximab in GPA. Methods: A chart review of patients diagnosed with GPA-associated scleritis or uveitis, treated with either cyclophosphamide or rituximab as the final therapy at our clinic, was conducted. A total of 1 year of follow-up visits was required for inclusion in the study. Results: Thirteen patients (19 eyes) suffering from GPA-associated scleritis and/or uveitis were identified. As the final therapy, rituximab was administered to 9 patients and cyclophosphamide to 4. Mean duration of follow-up was 55 months (range 16–23 months). Remission was observed in all patients. Three patients had a flare of scleritis after the completion of therapy, and they were restarted on their respective agents. One patient had a flare of retinal vasculitis during rituximab therapy. One patient on cyclophosphamide experienced transient leukopenia. No adverse side effects of rituximab were noted throughout the course of treatment. Conclusions: Cyclophosphamide and rituximab are safe and effective agents for controlling scleritis and uveitis associated with GPA, with eventual progression towards steroid-sparing remission.
An investigation of the psychological experiences of patients under mechanical ventilation following open heart surgery

BACKGROUND Breathing and living on mechanical ventilation develops a different feeling in patients. Most of such feelings and experiences are not pleasant and can lead to psychiatric disorders in the patients after they are detached from the ventilator. The aim of this study is to explore the psychological experiences of patients under mechanical ventilation. METHODS This qualitative study was conducted according to an interpretive epistemological approach in 2016. Fifteen participants were selected according to purposive sampling. Data were drawn from the transcripts of in-depth, semi-structured interview that were not discontinued until data saturation was ensured. The participants were asked to share what they experienced when they were under mechanical ventilation and intubation. Data analysis was conducted according to Diekelmann method. RESULTS Altogether, 2 themes, 7 subthemes, and 27 sub-subthemes were drawn from the data. Two themes were dread (a horrible experience) and hope (an inspiring experience). Dread consisted of anxiety, hopelessness, and dependency. Hope consisted of spiritual connection as the only possible effort, the presence of health team the source of comfort, the family looking forward, and overcoming the illness (a step to life). CONCLUSION The psychological experiences of patients under mechanical ventilation are specific, and nurses can play an important role in decreasing tension and increasing hope among them through gaining knowledge about their experiences.
An advanced control concept for modular multilevel converter using capacitor voltage estimation

An advanced control concept for a Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) is presented in this paper. By using a Notch Filter and a Kalman Filter it is possible to reduce unwanted AC components within circulating currents in the MMC significantly. Subsequently the current stress and the conduction and switching losses in the semiconductors can be minimized. In the second part of this paper, approaches to estimate the capacitor voltages are presented. The observability is inverstigated theoretically and via simulations. A disadvantage of the MMC topology is the need of a complex and expensive communication system. While the submodule voltages are being estimated, the communication effort between the submodules and the main controller hardware is significantly reduced.
Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of Traumatic Brain Injury

The prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasing, particularly in the population of veterans. Many times, the motor and sensory consequences of TBI are addressed, but the post-TBI neuropsychiatric sequelae, which may be as, or even more devastating than the motor and sensory deficits, are left unattended. Cognitive, mood, anxiety, thought, impulse, and substance disorders, and a variety of personality disorders can be seen following TBI. The neuropsychiatric sequelae of TBI not only interfere with day-to-day function, but can severely impede rehabilitation efforts. To date, there have been few large-scale studies looking at the effectiveness of the various treatment modalities, including psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions.
Data Collection and Network Architecture Analysis in Internet of Vehicles Based on NB-IoT

Existing traffic data collection methods was expounded, advantages and disadvantages of each methods was compared and analyzed. Classification of IoT communication technology was introduced. Narrow - Band Internet of Things(NB-IoT) as one of the Low Power Wide Area Network(LPWAN), with mess device access, low cost module, low power consumption, wide coverage, time delay was not sensitive and other business characteristics. The car networking data acquisition scheme based on NB-IoT transformation was put forward, the network architecture was deployed and analyzed. Finally, applications of Internet of Vehicles(IoV) was put, as well as the prospects in the future.