Engineering Fused Lasso Solvers on Trees

The graph fused lasso optimization problem seeks, for a given input signal y=(y_i) on nodes i? V of a graph G=(V,E), a reconstructed signal x=(x_i) that is both element-wise close to y in quadratic error and also has bounded total variation (sum of absolute differences across edges), thereby favoring regionally constant solutions. An important application is denoising of spatially correlated data, especially for medical images. Currently, fused lasso solvers for general graph input reduce the problem to an iteration over a series of "one-dimensional" problems (on paths or line graphs), which can be solved in linear time. Recently, a direct fused lasso algorithm for tree graphs has been presented, but no implementation of it appears to be available. We here present a simplified exact algorithm and additionally a fast approximation scheme for trees, together with engineered implementations for both. We empirically evaluate their performance on different kinds of trees with distinct degree distributions (simulated trees; spanning trees of road networks, grid graphs of images, social networks). The exact algorithm is very efficient on trees with low node degrees, which covers many naturally arising graphs, while the approximation scheme can perform better on trees with several higher-degree nodes when limiting the desired accuracy to values that are useful in practice

SSFSCE: Design of a Sleep Scheduling based Fan Shaped Clustering Model to enhance working Energy Efficiency of WSN

To enhance energy level in WSN is a research requirement, which assists in improving their lifetime over a series of communications. To achieve this target, a various variety of clustering & sleep scheduling models are discussed by researchers. Most of these models deploy static clustering & sleep scheduling operations, which limits their applicability & scalability levels. Moreover, dynamic clustering & scheduling models are highly complex, which reduces temporal QoS performance under real-time use cases. In order to reduce the probability of these issues, this text discusses design of the proposed Sleep Scheduling based Fan Shaped Clustering Model to enhance working Energy Efficiency of WSN. The proposed model initially deploys a Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) Method for dynamic sleep scheduling via temporal performance analysis. The GWO Method models a fitness function that combines temporal usage levels, temporal Quality of Service (QoS), and temporal energy levels. Based on this modelling process, nodes were categorized into wake & sleep nodes, which were further clustered via destination-aware Fan Shaped Clustering (FSC), that assisted in improving QoS performance under multiple scenarios. The FSC Model was combined with a QoS-aware routing model, that assisted in selection of routing paths that can achieve low delay, high throughput, and high packet delivery with higher energy efficiency levels. Efficiency of the model was tested on node & network conditions, and its QoS performance was checked in terms of communication delay, consumption of energy, level of throughput, and Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) levels. On the basis of these comparative evaluations, it is observed that the new proposed model is able to enhance end-to-end delay by 8.5%, reduce level of energy by 15.5%, while increasing throughput by 8.3%, and PDR by 1.5%, thus making it useful for a different real-time conditions

Instability in Rice Production in Gujarat: A Decomposition Analysis

Rice is the most important and extensively grown food crop in India and is the staple food for more than half of the world population. In India, Gujarat ranks 15th in terms of area and production and 9th in productivity (2011). The scope for expanding rice production lies in enhancing productivity. The growth rates of rice area, production and productivity during 1982-83 to 2011-12 were 0.41, 1.25 and 0.83 percent per annum respectively. The growth estimate from last 30 years data shows that negligible increase was recorded in area and production of rice. Presently the yield level of rice in the state is comparatively low from national average need to be increased substantially. The magnitude of instability in area and production of rice has been higher in all the selected districts compared to state. Variability in production has been at a higher rate compared to area and productivity variability in this crop. The area-yield co-variance had a stabilizing effect on reduction of instability in rice production It can be inferred that the wide fluctuation in production of rice crop have been due to the high variability in its productivity. The future development programmes should envisage on increase of yield for bringing stabilization in production of the crop. The area instability also needs to be reduced. This could be reduced by more investment on research for rice production technology in the state

Volumetric accuracy of different imaging modalities in acute intracerebral hemorrhage

Background: Follow-up imaging in intracerebral hemorrhage is not standardized and radiologists rely on different imaging modalities to determine hematoma growth. This study assesses the volumetric accuracy of different imaging modalities (MRI, CT angiography, postcontrast CT) to measure hematoma size. Methods: 28 patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage referred to a tertiary stroke center were retrospectively included between 2018 and 2019. Inclusion criteria were (1) spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (supra- or infratentorial), (2) noncontrast CT imaging performed on admission, (3) follow-up imaging (CT angiography, postcontrast CT, MRI), and (4) absence of hematoma expansion confirmed by a third cranial image within 6 days. Two independent raters manually measured hematoma volume by drawing a region of interest on axial slices of admission noncontrast CT scans as well as on follow-up imaging (CT angiography, postcontrast CT, MRI) using a semi-automated segmentation tool (Visage image viewer; version 7.1.10). Results were compared using Bland-Altman plots. Results: Mean admission hematoma volume was 18.79 +/- 19.86 cc. All interrater and intrarater intraclass correlation coefficients were excellent (1; IQR 0.98-1.00). In comparison to hematoma volume on admission noncontrast CT volumetric measurements were most accurate in patients who received postcontrast CT (bias of - 2.47%, SD 4.67: n = 10), while CT angiography often underestimated hemorrhage volumes (bias of 31.91%, SD 45.54; n = 20). In MRI sequences intracerebral hemorrhage volumes were overestimated in T2* (bias of - 64.37%, SD 21.65; n = 10). FLAIR (bias of 6.05%, SD 35.45; n = 13) and DWI (bias of-14.6%, SD 31.93; n = 12) over- and underestimated hemorrhagic volumes. Conclusions: Volumetric measurements were most accurate in postcontrast CT while CT angiography and MRI sequences often substantially over- or underestimated hemorrhage volumes

Influence of distance, area, and cultural context in active commuting: Continental and insular children

Additionally, this study takes place thanks to funding from the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES). To PACO project (Pedalea y Anda al Cole), from PROFITH group, University of Granada. To CONICYT PAI-MEC program, from Education Ministry of Chile and to Carmen Sainz Quinn of Granada University for English revision and correction of the document. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Commuting by walking or cycling is a way to increase physical activity levels. The objective of this article was to determine the modes of commuting to school and the distance and time of the way to school among children from Easter Island and from the mainland (Valparaíso), in Chile. A total of 666 children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years old (208 from Easter Island and 458 from Valparaíso) participated and completed a valid questionnaire including data about age, gender, usual commuting mode to and from school, distance, and travel time. There are important differences in the mode of commuting between students of Valparaíso and Easter Island. Private transport is more commonly used in Valparaíso than in Easter Island (p<0.001). Furthermore, it was observed that cycling and public transportation are not used as mode of commuting in Valparaíso and Easter Island respectively. Students from Easter Island, who travel more distance and during more time, are more active than students from Valparaíso (going 24.8% and 17.6%; from: 61% and 28.8% respectively). This situation is influenced by the geographic context of the island, the distances from home to school, and the type of commuting, which fosters the level of active commuting. On the other hand, the passive modes of commuting to school are higher in the mainland urban setting of Valparaíso. It is necessary to study the diverse contexts of the Easter Island population, but, for now, the rural setting of Easter Island seems to be associated with a greater level of active commuting to school.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund (DEP2016-75598-R, MINECO/FEDER, UE)

Instability in Rice Production in Gujarat: A Decomposition Analysis

Rice is the most important and extensively grown food crop in India and is the staple food for more than half of the world population. In India, Gujarat ranks 15th in terms of area and production and 9th in productivity (2011). The scope for expanding rice production lies in enhancing productivity. The growth rates of rice area, production and productivity during 1982-83 to 2011-12 were 0.41, 1.25 and 0.83 percent per annum respectively. The growth estimate from last 30 years data shows that negligible increase was recorded in area and production of rice. Presently the yield level of rice in the state is comparatively low from national average need to be increased substantially. The magnitude of instability in area and production of rice has been higher in all the selected districts compared to state. Variability in production has been at a higher rate compared to area and productivity variability in this crop. The area-yield co-variance had a stabilizing effect on reduction of instability in rice production It can be inferred that the wide fluctuation in production of rice crop have been due to the high variability in its productivity. The future development programmes should envisage on increase of yield for bringing stabilization in production of the crop. The area instability also needs to be reduced. This could be reduced by more investment on research for rice production technology in the state

Spreading of droplets under various gravitational accelerations

We describe a setup to perform systematic studies on the spreading of droplets of complex fluids under microgravity conditions. Tweaking the gravitational acceleration under which droplets are deposited provides access to different regimes of the spreading dynamics, as quantified through the Bond number. In particular, microgravity allows us to form large droplets while remaining in the regime where surface tension 2effects and internal driving stresses are predominant over hydrostatic forces. The VIP-DROP (VIsco-Plastic DROPlets on the DROP tower) experimental module provides a versatile platform to study a wide range of complex fluids through the deposition of axisymmetric droplets. The module offers the possibility to deposit droplets on a precursor layer, which can be composed of the same or a different fluid. Furthermore, it allows us to deposit four droplets simultaneously while conducting shadowgraphy on all of them and observing either the flow field (through particle image velocimetry) or the stress distribution inside the droplet in the case of stress birefringent fluids. It was developed for a drop tower catapult system, is designed to withstand a vertical acceleration of up to 30 times the Earth's gravitational acceleration in the downward direction, and is capable of operating remotely under microgravity conditions. We provide a detailed description of the module and an exemplary data analysis for droplets spreading on-ground and in microgravity

Conducta motriz según índice de masa corporal en niños y niñas de 6 a 10 años de la comuna de Viña del Mar, Chile

The objective of the study was to compare and re-late motor behavior in relation to body mass index (BMI) and sex in children aged 6 to 10 years in Viña del Mar, Chile. 221 students participated (girls, n=102; boys, n=119) with an average age of 7.55 ± 1.31 years. Motor behavior was determined and classified with the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2). The body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on the ratio between weight and height (expressed in W/H2). The nutritional status was determined using the indicators of the Ministry of Health of Chile, which are based on international standards for nutritional evaluation of children and adolescents from 5 to 19 years of age. For result analyses, the sample was divided into two groups (low-normal-weight and overweight-obese) with a confidence interval of 95% (p < 0.05) for comparison between the groups. It was shown that low and normal body mass index boys had better locomotion (p = 0.026) and object control (p = 0.045) in relation to overweight and obese boys. The female sex presented no differen-ces between groups. Amongst boys, BMI is negatively related to motor quotient (p = 0.001), while in girls, no relationship was observed. In terms of gross motor development, low-weight and normal-weight boys are more likely to have a better gross motor development than overweight and obese boys, though not the case in girls. It is concluded that overweight and obese boys have a lower motor skill than normal and low boys.El objetivo del estudio fue comparar y relacionar la conducta motriz según estado nutricional y sexo en niños y niñas de 6 a 10 años de la comuna de Viña del Mar, Chile. Participaron 221 estudiantes (niñas, n= 102 y niños, n=119) con edad promedio de 7,55 ± 1,31 años. La conducta motriz se determinó y clasificó con el Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2), el índice de masa corporal (IMC) se calculó de acuerdo a la relación entre el peso y la talla, expresados en kg/m2. El estado nutricional se clasificó a partir de las indicaciones internacionales y del Ministerio de Salud de Chile según las normas para la evaluación nutricional de niños y niñas y adolescentes de 5 a 19 años de edad. Para el análisis de los resultados la muestra se dividió en dos grupos (bajopeso-normopeso y sobrepeso-obeso) considerando un intervalo de confianza del 95% (p < 0.05) para la comparación entre los grupos. Se evidenció que los niños bajopeso y normopeso presentaron una mejor locomoción (p = 0.026) y manipulación (p = 0.045) en relación a los niños con sobrepeso y obesidad. El sexo femenino no presentó diferencias entre los grupos. Entre los niños, el IMC está relacionado negativamente con el cociente motor (p = 0.001), mientras que en las niñas no se observó relación. En términos de desarrollo motor grueso, los niños con bajo peso y peso normal tienen más probabilidades de tener un mejor desarrollo motor grueso que los niños con sobrepeso y obesidad, aunque no es el caso en las niñas. Se concluye que los niños con sobrepeso y obesidad presentan una conducta motriz más descendida que los niños normopeso y bajo pesoActividad Física y Deport