Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scattering Coefficients of Mice Organs Categorized Pathologically by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Differences in tissue density cause a variety of scattering coefficients. To quantify optical coherence tomography (OCT) images for diagnosis, the tissue's scattering coefficient is estimated by curve fitting the OCT signals to a confocal single backscattering mode. The results from a group of 30 mice show that the scattering coefficients of bone, skin, liver, brain, testis, and spleen can be categorized into three groups: a scattering coefficient between 1.947 and 2.134 mm−1: bone and skin; a scattering coefficient between 1.303 and 1.461 mm−1: liver and brain; a scattering coefficient between 0.523 and 0.634 mm−1: testis and spleen. The results indicate that the scattering coefficient is tissue specific and could be used in tissue diagnosis.
Magnetic Actuator with Multiple Vibration Components Arranged at Eccentric Positions for Use in Complex Piping

This paper proposes a magnetic actuator using multiple vibration components to perform locomotion in a complex pipe with a 25 mm inner diameter. Due to the desire to increase the turning moment in a T-junction pipe, two vibration components were attached off-center to an acrylic plate with an eccentricity of 2 mm. The experimental results show that the magnetic actuator was able to move at 40.6 mm/s while pulling a load mass of 20 g in a pipe with an inner diameter of 25 mm. In addition, this magnetic actuator was able to move stably in U-junction and T-junction pipes. If a micro-camera is implemented in the future, the inspection of small complex pipes can be enabled. The possibility of inspection in pipes with a 25 mm inner diameter was shown by equipping the pipe with a micro-camera.
Follow me! mobile team coordination in wireless sensor and actuator networks

Autonomous vehicles are used in areas hazardous to humans, with significantly greater utility than the equivalent, manned vehicles. This paper explores the idea of a coordinated team of autonomous vehicles, with applications in cooperative surveillance, mapping unknown areas, disaster management or space exploration. Each vehicle is augmented with a wireless sensor node with movement sensing capabilities. One of the vehicles is the leader and is manually controlled by a remote controller. The rest of the vehicles are autonomous followers controlled by wireless actuator nodes. Speed and orientation are computed by the sensor nodes in real time using inertial navigation techniques. The leader periodically transmits these measures to the followers, which implement a lightweight fuzzy logic controller for imitating the leader's movement pattern. The solution is not restricted to vehicles on wheels, but supports any moving entities capable of determining their velocity and heading, thus opening promising perspectives for machine-to-machine and human-to-machine spontaneous interactions in the field. Visit [1] to see a video demonstration of the system.
The directional effects on cursor dragging kinematics

Summary There has been no study to substantiate the kinematical characteristics of cursor dragging movement. In this present study, we developed a computerized measuring program and used the quantitative experimental research method to explore the effect of moving direction on the kinematics of cursor dragging in 24 normal participants. The results of multiple one way repeated measures ANOVAs and post hoc LSD tests demonstrated that the dragging direction had effects on movement time and movement unit. Dragging leftward showed better efficiency than dragging upward and downward. These directional effects partially clarify how the dragging performances were influenced by the moving direction. Moreover, it can guide us to re-arrange the toolbars and icons under window interfaces, especially for individuals with physical disabilities, whose performances can be easily interrupted while controlling the cursor in specific directions.
Developing a model for participation by children in research on decision making

This paper outlines a three-year collaborative research project which aims to involve children and young people, as well as other stakeholders, in exploring strategies to meet the needs of children in care. In this paper we identify some research findings which indicate the importance of children participating in the defining of their needs in care, if these needs are to be responded to more effectively than has been the case in the past. We describe the aims of our three-year project and identify some of the methodological issues of implementing stage one of the project in terms of children’s participation. A conceptual framework is developed to clarify issues related to children’s participation in research and decision making and as a basis for deciding on appropriate research methods to employ in the first stage. Rather than merely outlining the work we have so far undertaken, we have insteadfocussed on reflecting on and analysing the theoretical and methodological challenges to researchers in implementing collaborative and participatory research in decision making with children.
Financial Literacy and the Financial Crisis: Evidence from Russia

The current financial crisis has generated interest in better understanding how to promote more responsible and prudent individual saving and borrowing behavior. The ability of consumers to make informed financial decisions is critical to developing sound personal finance, which can contribute to increased saving rates, more efficient allocation of financial resources, and greater financial stability. In this paper we use a unique panel dataset (2008 and 2009) from Russia, an economy where consumer loans grew at an astounding rate – from about US$ 10 billion in 2003 to over US$ 170 billion in 2008. The survey contains financial literacy questions, as well as questions on consumer borrowing (formal and informal), savings, and spending behavior. We use this dataset to study both the financial consequences and the real consequences of lower financial literacy. For instance, even though consumer borrowing is increasing very rapidly in Russia, only 41% of respondents in our sample know about the working of interest compounding and only 46% can answer a simple question about inflation. We find that financial literacy is significantly related to participation in financial markets and negatively related to the use of informal sources of borrowing, using the number of regional newspapers and universities as valid instrumental variables. Individuals with higher financial literacy are also significantly more likely to report greater unspent income and levels of spending. In addition, the relationship between financial literacy and unspent income is stronger during the financial crisis.
Discrete Time Sliding Mode Controller for a Single Connection ATM Network

This paper presents a novel discrete-time sliding mode flow control algorithm for single connection ATM networks. The algorithm is designed in such a way that the closed-loop system stability and finite-time error convergence are ensured. Moreover, the presented algorithm guarantees no bottleneck node buffer overflow and full utilization of the available bandwidth. Performance of the control algorithm is verified by means of computer simulations.
Respectful leadership and followers’ knowledge sharing: A social mindfulness lens

Knowledge sharing is a discretionary act of employees who might see benefits in keeping their knowledge to themselves. We focus on the other-oriented nature of knowledge sharing to outline how respectful leadership as an other-oriented leadership style can enhance followers’ knowledge sharing through its effect on followers’ other-orientedness. Specifically, we propose that respectful leaders increase followers’ social mindfulness—defined as the cognitive (i.e. perspective taking) and affective (i.e. empathic concern) willingness to behave in a way that increases others’ opportunities—which facilitates knowledge sharing. To test our conceptual model, we conducted a three-wave field study with 275 followers, and a multi-source field study with 83 leader-follower dyads. In line with our hypotheses, followers’ perspective taking (Study 1 and 2) and empathic concern (Study 1) mediated the positive effect of respectful leadership on followers’ knowledge sharing. Moreover, perspective taking and empathic concern possessed interactive effects in Study 1, suggesting that the relationship between respectful leadership and followers’ knowledge sharing was strongest when both components of social mindfulness were high. We discuss theoretical implications of the identified motivational pathway and elaborate on implications for practitioners who aim to facilitate knowledge sharing at work.
Interleukin 1-α: A Modulator of Melanocyte Homeostasis in Vitiligo

Background: Vitiligo is a hypomelanotic autoimmune skin disorder arising from a breakdown in immunological self-tolerance, which leads to aberrant immune responses against melanocytes leading to selective destruction of melanocytes. High levels of Interleukin 1(IL1) have been reported in various autoimmune disorders including vitiligo. The aim of present study was to explore the effect of IL1-α on melanocyte biology by monitoring the melanocyte viability, IL1R1 membrane expression, melanogenesis (TYR, TYRP1 and MITF-M) and other immuno modulatory molecules (IL1A, IL1B, IL1RN,IL1R1 IL8, TNFA, IL6, and ICAM1) upon exogenous stimulation of IL1- α on primary cultured normal human melanocytes (NHM). Materials and methods: Melanocytes were isolated from normal c skin biopsies and cultured in vitro. The NHMs were treated with IL1-α (0-100 ng/ml) and cell viability was monitored by MTT assay, IL1R1 membrane expression was monitored using flow cytometry and relative gene expression was performed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results: The dose dependent effect of IL1-α on melanocytes showed ~12% melanocyte death and ~22% increase in IL1R1 membrane expression upon 100 ng/ml IL1-α treatment for 48 hrs. Further, IL1RN, IL1A, IL1B, IL6, TNFA, ICAM1 showed significantly increased expression (p<0.05) and MITF-M showed significantly decreased expression (p<0.05) upon IL1-α (10 and 100 ng/ml, 48 hrs) stimulation on NHM; while TYR, TYRP1, IL8 and IL1R1 showed no difference. Conclusion: Overall, the present study suggests the crucial role of IL1-α in melanocyte destruction in vitiligo by regulating MITF-M and other immunomodulatory molecules.
Unsupervised Authorial Clustering Based on Syntactic Structure

This paper proposes a new unsupervised technique for clustering a collection of documents written by distinct individuals into authorial components. We high-light the importance of utilizing syntactic structure to cluster documents by author, and demonstrate experimental results that show the method we outline performs on par with state-of-the-art techniques. Additionally, we argue that this feature set out-performs previous methods in cases where authors consciously emulate each other’s style or are otherwise rhetorically similar.
Learning to Search Better than Your Teacher

Methods for learning to search for structured prediction typically imitate a reference policy, with existing theoretical guarantees demonstrating low regret compared to that reference. This is unsatisfactory in many applications where the reference policy is suboptimal and the goal of learning is to improve upon it. Can learning to search work even when the reference is poor? We provide a new learning to search algorithm, LOLS, which does well relative to the reference policy, but additionally guarantees low regret compared to deviations from the learned policy: a local-optimality guarantee. Consequently, LOLS can improve upon the reference policy, unlike previous algorithms. This enables us to develop structured contextual bandits, a partial information structured prediction setting with many potential applications.
Different Types of Door-Opening Motions as Contributing Factors to Containment Failures in Hospital Isolation Rooms

Hospital isolation rooms are vital for the containment (when under negative pressure) of patients with, or the protection (when under positive pressure) of patients, from airborne infectious agents. Such facilities were essential for the management of highly contagious patients during the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks and the more recent 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic. Many different types of door designs are used in the construction of such isolation rooms, which may be related to the space available and affordability. Using colored food dye as a tracer, the qualitative effects of door-opening motions on the dissemination of potentially contaminated air into and out of a single isolation room were visualized and filmed using Reynolds-number-equivalent, small-scale, water-tank models fitted with programmable door-opening and moving human figure motions. Careful scaling considerations involved in the design and construction of these water-tank models enabled these results to be accurately extrapolated to the full-scale situation. Four simple types of door design were tested: variable speed single and double, sliding and hinged doors, in combination with the moving human figure. The resulting video footage was edited, synchronized and presented in a series of split-screen formats. From these experiments, it is clear that double-hinged doors pose the greatest risk of leakage into or out of the room, followed by (in order of decreasing risk) single-hinged, double-sliding and single-sliding doors. The relative effect of the moving human figure on spreading any potential contamination was greatest with the sliding doors, as the bulk airflows induced were large relative to those resulting from these door-opening motions. However, with the hinged doors, the airflows induced by these door-opening motions were significantly greater. Further experiments involving a simulated ventilated environment are required, but from these findings alone, it appears that sliding-doors are far more effective for hospital isolation room containment.
CARDIOVASCULAR AUTONOMIC DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSONIAN SYNDROMES

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) disturbances are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but also in other Parkinsonian syndromes, especially in multiple system atrophy (MSA). The differentiation between various Parkinsonian syndromes may be difficult, but it is important for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to determine the ability of different analysis methods to reveal cardiovascular regulation disturbances in PD and to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of autonomic tests to differentiate between various Parkinsonian syndromes. Furthermore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationships between ANS disturbances and the clinical characteristics of PD. In addition, the cardiac autonomic function was evaluated during various sleep stages for the first time in untreated PD patients by using spectral heart rate variability (HRV) measures to determine possible sleep stage specific cardiovascular regulation disturbances. Cardiovascular autonomic reflexes were evaluated in 62 untreated and newly diagnosed PD patients, 34 PD patients under antiparkinsonian medication, 47 MSA patients and 15 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The usefulness of different analysis methods was evaluated in a subgroup of 32 untreated PD patients. A further 21 untreated PD patients underwent one-night polysomnography for nocturnal heart rate variability analysis. PD patients with hypokinesia/rigidity as their initial onset sign had a significantly lower max-min ratio in the deep breathing test than those patients with tremor as the initial sign. MSA patients showed significant reductions in both HRV and blood pressure responses during orthostatic provocation, whereas PSP patients had normal results. Absolute spectral measures yielded the clearest indicators separating the PD patients from the controls, while the cardiovascular reflexes proved more useful than the normalised spectral HRV measures in revealing the differences between the two groups. HRV was abnormally decreased during non-REM sleep in PD patients but not during REM sleep or the S1 sleep stage. The normalized high frequency power was significantly decreased in PD patients during sleep stages S2-4, while the standard deviation of the R-R intervals was increased during the same sleep stages, possibly corresponding to the increased motility of PD patients during these sleep stages. The clinical characteristics of PD deserve particular attention in connection with ANS disturbances, since autonomic failure seems to be more pronounced in PD patients with hypokinesia/ rigidity as their initial sign. The evaluation of the autonomic function may also be helpful in the differential diagnosis of Parkinsonian syndromes. Spectral analysis methods should be implemented in the evaluation of ANS dysfunction to achieve the best possible efficacy in the differentiation of pathological responses from normal ones. Nocturnal analysis of cardiovascular regulation revealed new and interesting features of pathologic HRV in PD patients, thus when HRV is evaluated, the different sleep stages should be analysed separately.
Carotid Intima Media Thickness as a Marker of Atherosclerosis in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Aim. Increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been observed in ankylosing spondylitis because of accelerated atherosclerosis. We measured carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis in this study. Methods. In this study 37 cases of AS and the same number of matched individuals were recruited. CIMT measurements were done using B-mode ultrasound. Disease activity was assessed using Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), and Bath ankylosing spondylitis metrological index (BASMI) scores and C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels. Results. Mean age of the study groups was 29.43 ± 9.00 years. Average disease duration was 65.62 ± 54.92 months. Twenty-eight (75.68%) of cases were HLA B-27 positive. A significantly increased CIMT was observed in cases as compared to control group (0.62 ± 0.12 versus 0.54 ± 0.04; P < 0.001). CIMT in the cases group positively correlated with age (r = 0.357; P < 0.05), duration of disease (r = 0.549; P < 0.01), and BASMI (r = 0.337; P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with ESR (r = −0.295; P < 0.05). Conclusions. Patients of AS had a higher CIMT than those of the control group. CIMT correlated with disease chronicity.
Global dust model intercomparison in AeroCom phase I

Abstract. This study presents the results of a broad intercomparison of a total of 15 global aerosol models within the AeroCom project. Each model is compared to observations related to desert dust aerosols, their direct radiative effect, and their impact on the biogeochemical cycle, i.e., aerosol optical depth (AOD) and dust deposition. Additional comparisons to Angstrom exponent (AE), coarse mode AOD and dust surface concentrations are included to extend the assessment of model performance and to identify common biases present in models. These data comprise a benchmark dataset that is proposed for model inspection and future dust model development. There are large differences among the global models that simulate the dust cycle and its impact on climate. In general, models simulate the climatology of vertically integrated parameters (AOD and AE) within a factor of two whereas the total deposition and surface concentration are reproduced within a factor of 10. In addition, smaller mean normalized bias and root mean square errors are obtained for the climatology of AOD and AE than for total deposition and surface concentration. Characteristics of the datasets used and their uncertainties may influence these differences. Large uncertainties still exist with respect to the deposition fluxes in the southern oceans. Further measurements and model studies are necessary to assess the general model performance to reproduce dust deposition in ocean regions sensible to iron contributions. Models overestimate the wet deposition in regions dominated by dry deposition. They generally simulate more realistic surface concentration at stations downwind of the main sources than at remote ones. Most models simulate the gradient in AOD and AE between the different dusty regions. However the seasonality and magnitude of both variables is better simulated at African stations than Middle East ones. The models simulate the offshore transport of West Africa throughout the year but they overestimate the AOD and they transport too fine particles. The models also reproduce the dust transport across the Atlantic in the summer in terms of both AOD and AE but not so well in winter-spring nor the southward displacement of the dust cloud that is responsible of the dust transport into South America. Based on the dependency of AOD on aerosol burden and size distribution we use model bias with respect to AOD and AE to infer the bias of the dust emissions in Africa and the Middle East. According to this analysis we suggest that a range of possible emissions for North Africa is 400 to 2200 Tg yr−1 and in the Middle East 26 to 526 Tg yr−1.
On the Effect of Translation on Promoting Reading Comprehension in ESP

According to some studies done during the research, ESP courses are mainly reading oriented, but in spite of these, it seems that Iranian graduated students after studying ESP courses for at least two semesters are not efficient readers and have a lot of problems related to their fields of study. In order to promote the effectiveness of such courses, the present research introduces a set of inter-lingual, intra-lingual, inter-semiotic translation tasks to be used in ESP classes, and further intends to check the effectiveness of the translation tasks in an experimental research. Since the research is an experimental one, an experiment has been done to seek support for our claim. The experiment has been done in many groups and at the end; students reading ability in experimental groups have been compared with that of control groups using t-test method of case II type. The results indicated that translation tasks were so effective in promoting ESP
The Fox News Effect: Media Bias and Voting

Does media bias affect voting? We analyze the entry of Fox News in cable markets and its impact on voting. Between October 1996 and November 2000, the conservative Fox News Channel was introduced in the cable programming of 20 percent of US towns. Fox News availability in 2000 appears to be largely idiosyncratic, conditional on a set of controls. Using a data set of voting data for 9,256 towns, we investigate if republicans gained vote share in towns where Fox News entered the cable market by the year 2000. We find a significant effect of the introduction of Fox News on the vote share in Presidential elections between 1996 and 2000. Republicans gained 0.4 to 0.7 percentage points in the towns which broadcast Fox News. Fox News also a􀀎ected the Republican vote share in the Senate and voter turnout. Our estimates imply that Fox News convinced 3 to 28 percent of its viewers to vote Republican, depending on the audience measure. The Fox News effect could be a temporary learning effect for rational voters, or a permanent effect for non-rational voters subject to persuasion.
Volumetric center method for stochastic convex programs using sampling

We develop an algorithm for solving the stochastic convex program SCP by combining Vaidya s volumetric center interior point method VCM for solv ing non smooth convex programming problems with the Monte Carlo sampling technique to compute a subgradient A near central cut variant of VCM is developed and for this method an approach to perform bulk cut translation and adding multiple cuts is given We show that by using near central VCM the SCP can be solved to a desirable accuracy with any given probability For the two stage SCP the solution time is independent of the number of scenarios