Natural Language Generation and Understanding of Big Code for AI-Assisted Programming: A Review.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature concerning the utilization of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, with a particular focus on transformer-based large language models (LLMs) trained using Big Code, within the domain of AI-assisted programming tasks. LLMs, augmented with software naturalness, have played a crucial role in facilitating AI-assisted programming applications, including code generation, code completion, code translation, code refinement, code summarization, defect detection, and clone detection. Notable examples of such applications include the GitHub Copilot powered by OpenAI's Codex and DeepMind AlphaCode. This paper presents an overview of the major LLMs and their applications in downstream tasks related to AI-assisted programming. Furthermore, it explores the challenges and opportunities associated with incorporating NLP techniques with software naturalness in these applications, with a discussion on extending AI-assisted programming capabilities to Apple's Xcode for mobile software development. This paper also presents the challenges of and opportunities for incorporating NLP techniques with software naturalness, empowering developers with advanced coding assistance and streamlining the software development process.

Interventions that improve adherence to antihypertensive medications in coronary heart disease patients: a systematic review.

A systematic review is conducted to identify effective interventions that improved adherence to antihypertensive drugs among patients with coronary heart diseases (CHDs). Primary studies designed to measure interventions to improve adherence on antihypertensive drugs in patients with CHD were included. Three online databases, COCHRANE, EMBASE and MEDLINE, were searched for primary studies published in English from 2005 to 2019. Studies were screened independently for eligibility. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used for quality assessment of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies, respectively. Of the 2000 entries identified, seven articles, including one cross-sectional study and six RCTs, met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. One of the articles evaluated two interventions, so eight interventions were evaluated in total. Quality of the included studies was generally high, with the cross-sectional study rated as having good quality under Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, while four and two RCTs were rated as having low and some risk of bias under Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, respectively. Six of the intervention programmes were considered effective. An intervention was considered effective if it is associated with a significant (p≤0.05) and non-trivial (Cohen's d≥0.2) improvement in compliance-related outcomes such as in terms of the Morisky 8-item Medication Adherence Scale. Medication education, disease education, health education, constant reminders and medications dispensed using blister packs were identified to be effective in improving patients' compliance to medications. The importance of the continuity of interventions was also established. It is recommended that health service institutions should provide continuous education programmes, daily reminders and regular follow-ups for their patients who have CHD. It is recommended that further research ought to be carried out by using only one intervention in each trial with a standardised outcome measure, or using factorial designs, so that further cost-effectiveness evaluation of each intervention can be carried out independently, leading to the formulation of a comprehensive, optimised intervention programme for patients with CHD taking antihypertensives.

Influence of traffic variations on exposure to wireless signals in realistic environments.

In this article, the general public daily exposure to broadcast signals and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile telephone signals in indoor areas is investigated. Temporal variations and traffic distributions during a day at different indoor sites in urban and rural zones are presented. The goal is to analyze the real exposure compared to the maximum assessment imposed by radio protection standards and to characterize the ratio between daily and maximum theoretical values. Hence, a realistic maximum is proposed based on the statistical analysis performed using measurements. Broadcast signals remain constant over the day so they are best fitted with a Normal distribution while the mobile telephone signals depend on the traffic demand during the day so they fit a three-Gaussian distribution model. A general mask is also constructed for underlining the maximum equivalent active traffic for different periods in the day. Also, relations between the mean values over 24 h, the realistic maximal values (at 99%) and the maximal theoretical values are presented. The realistic maximum is also presented with a sliding time average of 6 min applied to the measurements in accordance with international standards. An extrapolation factor is given for the different systems to easily assess the maximum values starting from an instantaneous measurement. The extrapolation factor is also given for a broadband measurement to estimate the maximum potential exposure during the day.

Whole-body new-born and young rats' exposure assessment in a reverberating chamber operating at 2.4 GHz.

This paper presents the whole-body specific absorption rate (WBSAR) assessment of embryos and new-born rats' exposure in a reverberating chamber (RC) operating at 2.4 GHz (WiFi). The finite difference in time domain (FDTD) method often used in bio-electromagnetism is facing very slow convergence. A new simulation-measurement hybrid approach has been proposed to characterize the incident power related to the RC and the WBSAR in rats, which are linked by the mean squared electric field strength in the working volume. Peak localized SAR in the rat under exposure is not included in the content of the study. Detailed parameters of this approach are determined by simulations. Evolutions for the physical and physiological parameters of the small rats at different ages are discussed. Simulations have been made to analyse all the variability factors contributing to the global results. WBSAR information and the variability for rats at different ages are also discussed in the paper.

Risk of cellular phone interference with an implantable loop recorder.

This study examined the risk of cellular phone ringing interference with implantable loop recorders (ILR). The technical manual of ILR warns of potential interference by cellular phone in close proximity to the implanted device, corrupting the data stored in memory or causing inappropriate device operation. The ringing phase of a digital Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) or Personal Communication Services (PCS) cellular phone includes a brief burst of peak emitted power. To obviate the risk of dysfunction in recipients of implanted ILRs, the testing was performed with externally applied devices. The ILR was positioned in the left parasternal region and the telemetry wand removed after regular programming. Digital cellular telephones were placed over the device at a 1-cm distance and calls were placed. The phone systems tested were single- or dual-band receivers. The GSM used a maximal power output of 2 W, operating on a 900 MHz carrier frequency, and the PCS a maximal output of 1 W, operating on a 1800 MHz carrier frequency. The device activator was used to store the episodes encompassing the tests. Sixty nine tests were performed in 45 patients. In 61 tests, high-frequency polymorphic artifacts were visible on manually activated recordings, beginning a few seconds before the first audible ringing tone and persisting throughout the ringing phase. Cellular phone ringing in close proximity to an externally applied ILR caused bursts of high-frequency signals during electrocardiogram monitoring, without causing permanent device dysfunction or reprogramming. Cellular telephones are a potential source of electrocardiographic artifacts on ILR recordings.

Clinical testing of cellular phone ringing interference with automated external defibrillators.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined cellular phone ringing interference with automated external defibrillators (AED). METHODS: The phone systems tested were two single band handheld telephones: (1) a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) receiver; and (2) a Personal Communication Services (PCS) receiver. The ringing phase of a digital cellular phone includes a brief burst of peak-emitted power. The GSM had a maximum power output of 2 W, operating on a 900 MHz carrier frequency, and the PCS had a maximum output of 1 W, operating on a 1800 MHz carrier frequency. During AED monitoring, the digital cellular telephone was placed successively in three positions: (1) on the AED; (2) on the patient's chest between the electrodes; and (3) on the connector between the electrodes and the AED cable. After positioning the cellular phone, calls were placed during the AED analyzing phase. RESULTS: Three AED models were tested using their original electrodes: (1) LifePak 20 monitor/defibrillator device; (2) Lifepak 20 P monitor/defibrillator/stimulator (Medtronic Emergency Response Systems, Redmond, WA, USA); and (3) HeartStart XL M4735A monitor/defibrillator (Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA). The first two devices had Quik-Combo electrodes and the third device had Adults Plus multifunction electrodes. Ninety-one tests were performed on 13 patients. The only disturbance provoked by testing was noise emitted by the AED speaker when the receiver was close to the device. The noise began 2-4 s before the first audible ringing tone and persisted throughout the ringing phase. The distance at which this effect could be prevented was 15 cm. CONCLUSION: Clinical testing during ECG monitoring by an AED during call from a cellular phone did not show any analysis dysfunction during unshockable rhythms and provoked only transient dysfunction of the speaker device.

Reliability of electromagnetic filters of cardiac pacemakers tested by cellular telephone ringing.

BACKGROUND: State-of-the art cardiac pacemakers are protected against radiofrequency signals. Although there have been earlier clinical and in vitro reports of cellular phone interference with implantable devices, only a few studies have been performed in recent years. The ringing phase of digital GSM or PCS cellular phones includes a brief period of peak radiated power. OBJECTIVES: This study tested the protection offered by electromagnetic filters of cardiac pacemakers against cellular phone ringing. METHODS: We performed 330 consecutive tests in 158 patients at the time of routine examination in our pacemaker follow-up clinic. The programmed parameters remained unchanged before testing. During electrocardiographic monitoring, 2 single-band digital cellular phones consecutively placed over the pacemaker pocket each received a call. The phone systems tested were 1) GSM at a maximal power output of 2 W, operating on a 900 MHz carrier frequency, and 2) PCS at a maximal output of 1 W, operating on a 1800 MHz carrier frequency. RESULTS: Interference was noted in only 5 tests, due to interaction by the GSM system with 4 unprotected pacemaker models. The GSM test was negative in 12 other tests of identical pulse generator models. The overall incidence of interference was 1.5% of tests. CONCLUSIONS: Interference by cellular phone ringing occurred only with unprotected pacemaker models. Standard programming of these unprotected models was associated with a low incidence of interference.