Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The fragile spirituality of parents whose children died in the pediatric intensive care unit

Abstract Spiritual care is recognized as a relevant dimension of health care. In the context of pediatric palliative end-of-life care, spirituality entails more than adhering to a spiritual worldview or religion. Interviews with parents whose critically ill child died in the pediatric intensive care unit revealed features of a spirituality that is fragmentary and full of contradictions. This type of spirituality, which we refer to as fragile, speaks of parents’ connectedness with the deceased child and the hope of some kind of reuniting after one’s own death. Acknowledging that fragments of spirituality can be part of parents’ experiences in their child’s end-of-life stage can be a meaningful contribution to compassionate care.
Safety of using direct oral anticoagulants in the diagnostic workup of outpatients with suspicion of acute venous thromboembolism

In patients with a clinical suspicion of venous thromboembolism (VTE), guidelines suggest treatment with parenteral anticoagulants during the diagnostic workup, as opposed to no treatment, if diagnostic tests are expected to be delayed. Many patients can be safely managed as outpatients, if they meet particular criteria. Although low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has been a standard of care for the management of these patients, direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are becoming increasingly used in the treatment of patients with suspected VTE. To date, no study has analysed the safety of DOAC during the diagnostic workup period. The Ottawa Hospital Thrombosis Program provides assessment of outpatients suspected of VTE 363 days of the year. Patients presenting to any emergency room in the Ottawa area with symptoms suggestive of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), or to a walk-in clinic or primary care practice with symptoms of DVT, can be urgently referred and seen within 24 hours for diagnostic management, provided that they are initiated on full-dose anticoagulation with LMWH or DOAC while awaiting testing. Our criteria for outpatient management includes absence of cardiopulmonary compromise, absence of contraindications to LMWH or DOAC, creatinine clearance >30 mL/min, platelets >50 g/L, no unexplained severe anemia, no recent or active bleeding, and logistical feasibility (accessibility to hospital, no need for parenteral medication). Treatment with a DOAC is contraindicated in both pregnancy and patients weighing above 120-140 kg. In this study, our objective was to assess the rate of major bleeding in outpatients treated with DOAC during the diagnostic workup of VTE. This was a retrospective chart review evaluation of outpatients with suspicion of VTE, referred to The Ottawa Hospital Thrombosis Program between January 1, and March 31, 2018. Patients were referred from either the emergency department, or a general practitioner. Suspected VTE included either lower or upper extremity deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. Data was collected by reviewing the medical records of patients referred to the thrombosis clinic. Adult patients seen in the thrombosis clinic and treated with anticoagulation while awaiting results of diagnostic workup were included. The medical records of patients who did not attend their appointment at the thrombosis clinic were analyzed to ensure no adverse events. Patients, who already had a confirmed diagnosis of VTE before attending the clinic, or were not given anticoagulants during the workup period, were not included. The following data was collected for each patient: 1) Patient demographics (age, sex, body weight), 2) VTE risk factors (recent surgery, cancer, immobilization, pregnancy), 3) date/time of suspicion of VTE and date/time of
Structural basis for distinct roles of SMAD2 and SMAD3 in FOXH1 pioneer-directed TGF-β signaling

In this study, Aragon et al. set out to address how signal-driven SMAD transcription factors activate differentiation genes. Their results support a model in which signal-independent binding of SMAD3 and FOXH1 prime mesendoderm differentiation gene promoters for activation, and signal-driven SMAD2:SMAD4 binds to promoters that are preloaded with SMAD3:FOXH1 to activate transcription.
Thioredoxin-1 maintains mitochondrial function via mTOR signaling in the heart.

AIMS Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1) is an evolutionarily conserved oxidoreductase that cleaves disulfide bonds in oxidized substrate proteins such as mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and maintains nuclear-encoded mitochondrial gene expression. The cardioprotective effect of Trx1 has been demonstrated via cardiac-specific overexpression of Trx1 and dominant negative Trx1. However, the pathophysiological role of endogenous Trx1 has not been defined with a loss-of-function model. To address this, we have generated cardiac-specific Trx1 knockout (Trx1cKO) mice. METHODS AND RESULTS Trx1cKO mice were viable but died with a median survival age of 25.5 days. They developed heart failure, evidenced by contractile dysfunction, hypertrophy, and increased fibrosis and apoptotic cell death. Multiple markers consistently indicated increased oxidative stress and RNA-sequencing revealed downregulation of genes involved in energy production in Trx1cKO mice. Mitochondrial morphological abnormality was evident in these mice. Although heterozygous Trx1cKO mice did not show any significant baseline phenotype, pressure-overload-induced cardiac dysfunction and downregulation of metabolic genes were exacerbated in these mice. mTOR was more oxidized and phosphorylation of mTOR substrates such as S6K and 4EBP1 was impaired in Trx1cKO mice. In cultured cardiomyocytes, Trx1 knockdown inhibited mitochondrial respiration and metabolic gene promoter activity, suggesting that Trx1 maintains mitochondrial function in a cell autonomous manner. Importantly, mTOR-C1483F, an oxidation resistant mutation, prevented Trx1 knockdown-induced mTOR oxidation and inhibition and attenuated suppression of metabolic gene promoter activity. CONCLUSION(S) Endogenous Trx1 is essential for maintaining cardiac function and metabolism, partly through mTOR regulation via Cys1483. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Although cell protective effects of Trx1 have been demonstrated previously, the in vivo function and the direct target of endogenous Trx1 remain to be elucidated. Using cardiac-specific Trx1 KO mice, this study demonstrates that endogenous Trx1 plays an essential role in maintaining cardiac function and redox homeostasis and confers stress resistance to the heart. The salutary effect of Trx1 in the heart is primarily mediated through reduction of mTOR in vivo.
Loading Photochromic Molecule into Luminescent Metal-Organic Framework for Potential Information Anti-counterfeiting.

Stimuli-responsive photoluminescent materials have attracted particular attention due to their potential applications in security protection field, because the data or information recorded directly in materials with static luminescent outputs are usually visible under either ambient or UV light. Especially the ones with remote control over reversible luminescence ON-OFF switch behavior are extremely expected, as reversible visible/invisible information transformation can be achieved in a noninvasive manner. Herein, we realize reversible confidential information encryption and decryption via encapsulating photoswitchable diarylethene derivative into lanthanide metal-organic framework (MOF). The light triggers open and close isomerization of the diarylethene unit, which respectively regulates the inactivation and activation of the photochromic FRET process between diarylethene acceptor and lanthanide donor, resulting in reversible luminescence ON-OFF of lanthanide emitting center in MOF host. This photoresponsive host-guest system allows for reversible multiple information encryption and decryption by simply alternating the exposure to UV and visible lights.
Coordinated removal of repressive epigenetic modifications during induced reversal of cell identity

Epigenetic modifications operate in concert to maintain cell identity, yet how these interconnected networks suppress alternative cell fates remains unknown. Here, we uncover a link between the removal of repressive histone H3K9 methylation and DNA methylation during the reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency. The H3K9me2 demethylase, Kdm3b, transcriptionally controls DNA hydroxymethylase Tet1 expression. Unexpectedly, in the absence of Kdm3b, loci that must be DNA demethylated are trapped in an intermediate hydroxymethylated (5hmC) state and do not resolve to unmethylated cytosine. Ectopic 5hmC trapping precludes the chromatin association of master pluripotency factor, POU5F1, and pluripotent gene activation. Increased Tet1 expression is important for the later intermediates of the reprogramming process. Taken together, coordinated removal of distinct chromatin modifications appears to be an important mechanism for altering cell identity.
Real-time Communication over Cluster-tree Wireless Sensor Networks

Modelling and simulation of the fundamental performance limits of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is of paramount importance to understand their behaviour under the worst-case conditions and to make the appropriate design choices. This is particular relevant for time-sensitive WSN applications, where the timing behaviour of the network protocols impacts on the correct operation of these applications. Furthermore, energy efficiency is a key requirement to be fulfilled in these applications since the wireless nodes are usually battery-powered. In that direction this thesis contributes with an accurate simulation model of the IEEE 802.15. 4/ZigBee protocols and an analytical methodology for the worst-case analysis and dimensioning of a static or even dynamically changing cluster-tree WSN where the data sink can either be static or mobile. The thesis is focused on the study of WSNs with cluster-tree topology because it supports predictable and energy efficient behaviour, which is suited for time-sensitive applications using battery-powered nodes. On the other side, in contrast with the star and mesh topologies, the cluster-tree topology expresses several challenging and open research issues such as a precise cluster scheduling to avoid intercluster collisions (messages/beacons transmitted from nodes in different overlapping clusters). Hence, the next objective is to find the collision-free periodic schedule of clusters’ active portions, called Time Division Cluster Schedule (TDCS), while minimizing the energy consumption of the nodes and meeting all data flows’ parameters. The thesis also shows how to apply the proposed methodologies to the specific case of IEEE 802.15. 4/ZigBee beaconenabled cluster-tree WSNs, as an illustrative example that confirms the applicability of general approach for specific protocols. Finally, the validity and accuracy of the simulation model and methodologies are demonstrated through the comprehensive experimental and simulation studies. Using the proposed analytical methodologies and simulation model, system designers are able to easily configure the IEEE 802.15. 4/ZigBee cluster-tree WSN for a given application-specific Quality of Service (QoS) requirements prior to the network deployment.
Visual Analytics of Traffic Congestion Propagation Path with Large Scale Camera Data

Congestion analysis is essential to traffic control, especially in crowded urban road network. The recent traffic forecasting methods can provide travelers and traffic managers with early congestion warning, yet unable to reveal the relationship of congestion roads. This paper presented a congestion propagation path estimation method based on greedy algorithm to quickly extract these congestion relationships for visual analytics. The data from traffic cameras are applied to build the propagation network based on a directed weighted graph. It describes the process of congestion spreading among different segments. According to this network, congestion propagation path predicts the process of congestion spreading between different segments. In our visual design, it is applied to demonstrate the segments that will be influenced by the congested road. This is helpful for traffic managers to make effective and efficient decisions. The experimental result shows that our method achieves high accuracy thus prove the effective for the congestion propagation method.
On confidentiality and algorithms: programming under the constraints of noninterference

Recent interest in methods for certifying programs for secure information flow (noninterference) have failed to raise a key question: can efficient algorithms be written so as to satisfy the requirements of secure information flow? We discuss how algorithms for searching and sorting can be adapted to work on collections of secret data without leaking any confidential information, either directly, indirectly, or through timing behaviour. We pay particular attention to the issue of timing channels caused by cache behaviour and argue that it is necessary to disable the affect of the cache in order to construct algorithms manipulating pointers to objects in such a way that they satisfy the conditions of noninterference. We also discuss how randomisation can be used to implement secure algorithms, and discuss how randomised hash tables might be made practically secure.
Performance analysis of MC‐CDMA by employing the MMSE‐PIC scheme in wireless communications

From the past decade, the multicarrier code division multiple access (MC‐CDMA) transmission schemes have placed major role in wireless communications. It is providing a secured wireless communication to the users with guaranteed performance. In many situations, the performance of the MC‐CDMA is restricted due to the interference caused by multiple access interference (MAI), which also influences the frameworks of CDMA. To overcome this issue, we concentrated on developing the efficient technique for data transmission with interference cancellation for downlink MC‐CDMA. In the proposed method, the interference cancellation procedure is done by using the regeneration and subtraction of MAI from the signal. The simulation results are evaluated using the MC‐CDMA system with different decision functions. Results proved that the proposed system is efficient in reducing the MAI along with an improved bit error rate (BER).
Design for Variability in DSM Technologies

Process-induced parameter variations cause performance actuations and are an important consideration in the design of high performance digital ICs. Until recently, it was sufficient to model die-to-die shifts in device (active) and wire (passive) parameters, leading to a natural worst-case design methodology [1, 2]. In the deep-submicron era, however, within-die variations in these same device and wire parameters become just as important. In fact, current integrated circuits are large enough that variations within the die are as large as variations from die-to-die. Furthermore, while die-to-die shifts are substantially independent of the design, within-die variations are profoundly influenced by the detailed physical implementation of the IC.This changes the fundamental view of process variability from something that is imposed on the design by the fabrication process to something that is co-generated between the design and the process. This paper starts by examining the sources and historical trends in device and wire variability, distinguishing between inter-die and intra-die variations, and proposes techniques for design for variability (DOV) in the presence of both types of variations.
유전 알고리즘을 이용한 무인항공기 로터 블레이드 공력 최적설계 = Aerodynamic design optimization of UAV rotor blades using a genetic algorithm

In the present study, an aerodynamic design optimization of UAV rotor blades was conducted using a genetic algorithm (GA) coupled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). To reduce computational cost in finding optimum value using a genetic algorithm, a function approximation was applied using artificial neural networks (ANN) based on a radial basis function. Three dimensional and compressible ReynoldsAveraged Navier-Stokes (RANS) flow solver was used to analyze the flow around UAV rotor blades. Design variables such as pitch angle, chord length and thickness were adopted to perform aerodynamic design optimization. The objective functions were specified to maximize thrust coefficient maintaining torque coefficient and minimize torque coefficient maintaining thrust coefficient In case of optimization minimizing torque coefficient, torque coefficient was decreased 5.5% comparing with baseline configuration. As a result of optimization regarding to maximizing thrust coefficient, thrust coefficient was increased 2.8% than that of baseline configuration.
Gamification for software process improvement: a practical approach

Gamification is a research field that is intended to increase motivation, so it is especially indicated in human capital intensive environments such as the software industry. Within Software Engineering, one of the main issues regarding software process improvement (SPI) is personnel motivation in specific SPI initiatives. These issues are stronger in small and medium software development companies where employees have to deal with the pressure of deadlines and occasional work overload. To address the adoption of SPI initiatives, the researchers implemented a defined gamification framework for deployment in SPI efforts in order to increase motivation among software workers and to enhance SPI results. The framework was rolled out in a small Spanish software development organisation, which is conducting internal SPI initiatives. To validate the effectiveness of the implemented framework, a controlled experiment was carried out in which an experimental group adopted SPI improvements using a gamification approach. The implementation results show that the application of the framework does not increase personnel motivation in SPI tasks although it contributes to enhancing the SPI tasks performance. This study discusses the limitations and recommendations to implement appropriately the SPI-gamification framework in the scope of small and medium software development companies.
Genetic algorithm based fuzzy logic power system stabilizers in multimachine power system

This paper presents an approach for the design of fuzzy logic power system stabilizers using genetic algorithms. In the proposed fuzzy expert system, speed deviation and its derivative have been selected as fuzzy inputs. In this approach the parameters of the fuzzy logic controllers have been tuned using genetic algorithm. Incorporation of GA in the design of fuzzy logic power system stabilizer will add an intelligent dimension to the stabilizer and significantly reduces computational time in the design process. It is shown in this paper that the system dynamic performance can be improved significantly by incorporating a genetic-based searching mechanism. To demonstrate the robustness of the genetic based fuzzy logic power system stabilizer (GFLPSS), simulation studies on multimachine system subjected to small perturbation and three-phase fault have been carried out. Simulation results show the superiority and robustness of GA based power system stabilizer as compare to conventionally tuned controller to enhance system dynamic performance over a wide range of operating conditions.
Power Aware Multiprocessor System on Chip (MPSOC) Based on Dynamic Frequency Scaling of Soft Core Processors

Today’s portable Embedded systems need less power consumption to satisfy today’s applications needs, like smart phones, laptops, tablets etc. An option for implementing the power aware multi processor system is to introduce the concept of on demand clock scaling of multi processor system. The proposed work presents an implementation of on demand clock scaling of a multiprocessor system on a chip. The proposed architecture uses the Digital Clock Manager (DCM) of the FPGA to change the clock of the soft-core processor. Each soft-core processor in the architecture is allowed to scale the frequency through clock control unit. The clock control unit is responsible for tuning or scaling the clock frequency of processors on demand or according to the application requirements. The entire system is implemented using MicroBlaze soft core from Xilinx and tested on Vertex-5(XUPV5-LX110T) FPGA development board with Xilinx EDK.
Control System Design Guide: Using Your Computer to Understand and Diagnose Feedback Controllers

From the Publisher: Learn to apply control theory to practical systems with a personalcomputer! Control System Design Guide offers more than thirty computer programs that circuit designers can use to design control systems. Electrical and mechanical engineers who integrate controllers in systems design will find practical and convenientapproaches to analog controllers, digital controllers, filters, and modeling and loop analysis in this application-oriented guide.
Real-Time Procedural Animation of Trees

Creating models of living flora, such as trees and grass, has been a challenge in computer graphics for many years. Animating these objects to move realistically in reaction to natural phenomena, such as wind and rain, presents an even greater challenge. In this project, we explore the combination of particle systems with the Lindenmayer model for representing trees to create a realistic simulation of tree movement in response to wind. Our approach, however, is general enough to handle tree animation in response to a variety of other world forces, such as rain, snow, or seismic activity.
A Context-Aware Infrastructure with Reasoning Mechanism and Aggregating Mechanism for Pervasive Computing Application

This paper presents a context-aware infrastructure for the easy creation and flexible deployment of the context aware application. We introduce the concept of plane in this infrastructure to manage the sensors which are distributed in the communication environment and used to collect the specific context information. A layered structure of the context information is designed based on this infrastructure. Especially, the Demspter-Shafer evidence theory is applied in the design of the reasoning mechanism in this infrastructure for its superiority over Bayesian method in handling the uncertainty problem, and the inferencer is constructed based on the combination rule of this theory. We also choose the rough set theory and genetic algorithm to design the aggregating mechanism and construct the aggregator.
Role based privacy applied to context-aware mobile applications

Sharing of personal information in context aware applications challenges the application design since users wish to restrict and control the information access according to in which situation and with whom the information is shared. We introduce a mobile application, privacy studio, which enables the user to define different information sharing levels for distinct user groups. This is done by defining privacy profiles, which are applied in certain usage situations to define information sharing access rights to different target groups. We have demonstrated privacy studio mobile application with a mobile phone, and evaluated and assessed the users' perceptions in relation to information sharing and privacy with user tests. Positive feedback related to the efficient and easy way of information sharing was gained, whereas potential privacy risks were seen as a major concern with the application.