Reducing the complexity of decoding algorithms for LDPC codes is an important prerequisite for their practical implementation. In this work we propose a reduction of computational complexity targeting the highly reliable codeword bits and show that this approach can be seamlessly merged with the forced convergence scheme. We also show how the minimum achievable complexity of the resulting scheme f

In this paper, the vascular sounds of the arteriovenous fistula at the anastomosis and five centimeters downstream the anastomosis were analyzed. The analysis of the sounds was based on features extracted from the power spectral density (PSD) and wavelet decomposition. The database consists of 15 recordings at the anastomosis and 15 reference recordings obtained from 15 patients. The results showe

Vaccination to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a promising measure to overcome the negative consequences of the pandemic. Since university students could be considered a knowledgeable group, this study aimed to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among this group in Jordan. Additionally, we aimed to examine the association between vaccine conspiracy beliefs and vaccine hesi

Drought and heat events, such as the 2018 European drought, interact with the exchange of energy between the land surface and the atmosphere, potentially affecting albedo, sensible and latent heat fluxes, as well as CO 2 exchange. Each of these quantities may aggravate or mitigate the drought, heat, their side effects on productivity, water scarcity and global warming. We used measurements of 56 e

Computational problems of large-scale data are gaining attention recently due to better hardware and hence, higher dimensionality of images and data sets acquired in applications. In the last couple of years non-smooth minimization problems such as total variation minimization became increasingly important for the solution of these tasks. While being favorable due to the improved enhancement of im

Objectives: This study determined: 1) the interobserver agreement; 2) valvular flow variation; and 3) which variables independently predicted the variation of valvular flow quantification from 4-dimensional (4D) flow cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with automated retrospective valve tracking at multiple sites. Background: Automated retrospective valve tracking in 4D flow CMR allows consistent ass

Resilience is a concept that is both foundational and, at the same time, relentlessly controversial in sustainability science. It is supposed to both provide a fundamental insight into how complex adaptive systems behave—an insight with substantial normative consequences—and serve as an interdisciplinary bridge linking the disparate worlds of the natural and the social sciences. Yet the concept of

Weber's notion of value spheres is famous but underdeveloped as a theory framework. Prominent sociologists have shown that it can be used as a unifying force in functionalist differentiation theory, and as a tool in the analysis of modernity. One of the theorists in this tradition is Hans L. Zetterberg, who throughout his varied career remained attached to the idea of society as composed of six va

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) according to diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorders, or forensic psychiatric conditions. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted in June 2017 and repeated in December 2020. The systematic review included 13 studies. Analyses of pooled original data were

Diminished lymphatic function and abnormal morphology are common in chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent studies are investigating whether it is possible to target chronic inflammation by promoting resolution of inflammation, in order to enhance lymphatic function and attenuate disease. Resolution of inflammation is an active process regulated by bioactive lipids known as specialized pro-resolvin

The left must confront the politics of removing carbon from the atmosphere – a topic rapidly making its way to the top of the climate agenda. We here examine the technology of direct air capture, tracing its intellectual origins and laying bare the political economy of its current manifestations. We find a space crowded with ideology-laden metaphors, ample fossil-capital entanglements and bold vis

This paper argues that intelligence can be approximated by the ability to produce accurate predictions. It is further argued that general intelligence can be approximated by context dependent predictive abilities combined with the ability to use working memory to abstract away contextual information. The flexibility associated with general intelligence can be understood as the ability to use selec

Despite continued efforts by educators, UN declarations and numerous international agreements, progress is still limited in handling major global challenges such as ecosystem collapse, accelerating climate change, poverty, and inequity. The capacity to collaborate globally on addressing these issues remains weak. This historical review of research on global learning for sustainable development (GL

Feedback controllers are typically applied to computing systems by acting on some quantities ("tunable parameters" in the computer science lexicon, e.g., a packet drop rate) to attain some goal (e.g., a required bandwidth allocation). In other words, control loops are closed around the computing system. In the authors' opinion, this is definitely a partial use of control. Many critical parts of co