Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The characteristic of image quality perception of elderly group: according to the comparison with adult group

ABSTRACT This study examined the image quality preference of the elderly group. The subjects were divided into adult group and elderly group based on their age, and subjective image quality evaluation was performed. In result, two significant differences were found according to the age group. First, the elderly group evaluates image quality based on sensory stimulation (sharp, clean), which involves less complicated cognitive processes compared with the adult group. Next, the degree of image quality preference of the elderly group was not significantly influenced by decrease and increase of brightness and saturation compared to adult group. Notably, when brightness increased significantly, the tendency of image quality preference of elderly group remained high unlike the adult group. This confirmed that it is necessary to increase the brightness of the image in order to satisfy the elderly group's image quality preference at a high level compared with the adult group.
The TFOS International Workshop on Contact Lens Discomfort: report of the contact lens materials, design, and care subcommittee.

Jones, L. , Brennan, N. A. , Gonzalez-Meijome, J., Lally, J., Maldonado-Codina, C. , Schmidt, T. A. , … Nichols, J. J. (2013). The TFOS International Workshop on Contact Lens Discomfort: Report of the Contact Lens Materials, Design, and Care Subcommittee. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 54(11), TFOS37. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.13-13215
Random Roughness of Boundary Increases the Turbulent Convection Scaling Exponent

The influence of the boundary layer properties on the heat transport in turbulent thermal convection is experimentally investigated in a cell with a rough bottom plate.It is shown that the standard 2/7 exponent of the convective heat flow dependence on the Rayleigh number, usually observed in cell with smooth boundaries, increases if the roughness has power law distributed asperity heights and the thermal boundary layer thickness is smaller than the maximum asperity size. In contrast a periodic roughness does not influence the heat transportlaw exponent.
Writing for synthesis of evidence in empirical software engineering

Context: Systematic literature reviews have become common in software engineering in the last decade, but challenges remain. Goal: Given the challenges, the objective is to describe improvement areas in writing primary studies, and hence provide a good basis for researchers aiming at synthesizing research evidence in a specific area. Method: The results presented are based on a literature review with respect to synthesis of research results in software engineering with a particular focus on empirical software engineering. The literature review is complemented and exemplified with experiences from conducting systematic literature reviews and working with research methodologies in empirical software engineering. Results: The paper presents three areas where improvements are needed to become more successful in synthesizing empirical evidence. These three areas are: terminology, paper content and reviewing. Conclusion: It is concluded that it must be possible to improve the primary studies, but it requires that researchers start having synthesis in mind when writing their research papers.
The Role of Leishmania Proteophosphoglycans in Sand Fly Transmission and Infection of the Mammalian Host

Leishmania are transmitted by the bite of their sand fly vector and this has a significant influence on the virulence of the resulting infection. From our studies into the interaction between parasite, vector, and host we have uncovered an important missing ingredient during Leishmania transmission. Leishmania actively adapt their sand fly hosts into efficient vectors by secreting Promastigote Secretory Gel (PSG), a proteophosphoglycan (PPG)-rich, mucin-like gel which accumulates in sand fly gut and mouthparts. This has the effect of blocking the fly, such that during bloodfeeding both parasites and gel are co-transmitted in an act of regurgitation. We are discovering that this has further implications for the mammalian infection, again, in favor of the parasite. Experimentally, PSG exacerbates cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis and can promote the chronicity of Leishmania infection, even in mouse strains normally capable of controlling leishmaniasis. The underlying mechanism of PSG’s action is a major focus of our ongoing work. This review aims to synthesize what is known about the role and action of PSG and its constituent proteophosphoglycans, for parasite colonization of the sand fly, transmission, and mammalian infection. Lastly, we discuss potential exploitation of this important vector-transmitted product and future avenues of research.
A Brain-Computer Interface Based Attention Training Program for Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms can be difficult to treat. We previously reported that a 20-session brain-computer interface (BCI) attention training programme improved ADHD symptoms. Here, we investigated a new more intensive BCI-based attention training game system on 20 unmedicated ADHD children (16 males, 4 females) with significant inattentive symptoms (combined and inattentive ADHD subtypes). This new system monitored attention through a head band with dry EEG sensors, which was used to drive a feed forward game. The system was calibrated for each user by measuring the EEG parameters during a Stroop task. Treatment consisted of an 8-week training comprising 24 sessions followed by 3 once-monthly booster training sessions. Following intervention, both parent-rated inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms on the ADHD Rating Scale showed significant improvement. At week 8, the mean improvement was −4.6 (5.9) and −4.7 (5.6) respectively for inattentive symptoms and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms (both p<0.01). Cohen’s d effect size for inattentive symptoms was large at 0.78 at week 8 and 0.84 at week 24 (post-boosters). Further analysis showed that the change in the EEG based BCI ADHD severity measure correlated with the change ADHD Rating Scale scores. The BCI-based attention training game system is a potential new treatment for ADHD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01344044
Hubungan antara Amanah dan Dukungan Sosial dengan Kesejahteraan Subjektif Mahasiswa Perantau

Abstract: The purpose of this study to find out the correlation between amanah and social support with subjective wellbeing in overseas students. Amanah was measured using Amanah Scale based on theory Ash-Shiddieqy. Social Support was measured using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and to measured subjective well being using SWLS Scale and PANAS Scale. The population of this study were 230 students and the sample obtained 144 students by using quota sampling technique. The methods for data analysis were multiple regression. The results showed significant relationship between amanah and social support with subjective wellbeing in overseas students. Amanah and social support contributed 12.6% to subjective well being.Abstrak: Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan antara amanah dan dukungan sosial dengan kesejahteraan subjektif pada mahasiswa perantau. Pengukuran amanah menggunakan skala amanah yang dibuat oleh peneliti berdasarkan teori dari Ash-Shiddieqy (1971). Pengukuran dukungan sosial menggunakan Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) dan pengukuran kesejahteraan subjektif menggunakan SWLS dan skala PANAS. Populasi dari penelitian ini berjumlah 230 dan sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 144 mahasiswa dengan menggunakan teknik quota sampling. Proses analisis data menggunakan metode analisis regresi berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan ada hubungan antara amanah dan dukungan sosial terhadap kesejahteraan subjektif pada mahasiswa perantau. Amanah dan dukungan sosial secara bersama-sama memberikan sumbangan efektif sebesar 12.6 % terhadap kesejahteraan subjektif.
Thickening of galactic discs through clustered star formation

The building blocks of galaxies are star clusters. These form with low star formation efficiencies and, consequently, lose a large part of their stars that expand outwards once the residual gas is expelled by the action of the massive stars. Massive star clusters may thus add kinematically hot components to galactic field populations. This kinematical imprint on the stellar distribution function is estimated here by calculating the velocity distribution function for ensembles of star clusters distributed as power-law or log-normal initial cluster mass functions (ICMFs). The resulting stellar velocity distribution function is non-Gaussian and may be interpreted as being composed of multiple kinematical subpopulations. The velocity dispersion of solar-neighbourhood stars increases more rapidly with stellar age than theoretical calculations of orbital diffusion predict. Interpreting this difference to arise from star formation characterized by larger cluster masses, rather than as yet unknown stellar-dynamical heating mechanisms, suggests that the star formation rate in the Milky Way disc has been quietening down, or at least shifting towards less massive star-forming units. Thin-disc stars with ages 3–7 Gyr may have formed from an ICMF extending to very rich Galactic clusters. Stars appear to be forming preferentially in modest embedded clusters during the past 3 Gyr. Applying this approach to the ancient thick disc of the Milky Way, it follows that its large velocity dispersion may have been produced through a high star formation rate and thus an ICMF extending to massive embedded clusters (≈105–6 M⊙), even under the extreme assumption that early star formation occurred in a thin gas-rich disc. This enhanced star formation episode in an early thin Galactic disc could have been triggered by passing satellite galaxies, but direct satellite infall into the disc may not be required for disc heating.
Slow port scanning detection

Port scanning is the most popular reconnaissance technique attackers use to discover services they can break into. Port scanning detection has received a lot of attention by researchers. However a slow port scan attack can deceive most of the existing Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS). In this paper, we present a new, simple, and efficient method for detecting slow port scans. Our proposed method is mainly composed of two phases: (1) a feature collection phase that analyzes network traffic and extracts the features needed to classify a certain IP as malicious or not. (2) A classification phase that divides the IPs, based on the collected features, into three groups: normal IPs, suspicious IPs and scanner IPs. The IPs our approach classify as suspicious are kept for the next (K) time windows for further examination to decide whether they represent scanners or legitimate users. Hence, this approach is different than the traditional approach used by IDSs that classifies IPs as either legitimate or scanners, and thus producing a high number of false positives and false negatives. A small Local Area Network was put together to test our proposed method. The experiments show the effectiveness of our proposed method in correctly identifying malicious scanners when both normal and slow port scan were performed using the three most common TCP port scanning techniques. Moreover, our method detects malicious scanners that are otherwise not detected using well known IDSs such as Snort.
A broadband cavity ringdown spectrometer for in-situ measurements of atmospheric trace gases

Abstract. This paper describes a broadband cavity ringdown spectrometer and its deployment during the 2002 North Atlantic Marine Boundary Layer Experiment (NAMBLEX) to measure ambient concentrations of NO3, N2O5, I2 and OIO at the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, Co. Galway, Ireland. The effective absorption path lengths accessible with the spectrometer generally exceeded 10 km, enabling sensitive localised ``point" measurements of atmospheric absorbers to be made adjacent to the other instruments monitoring chemically related species at the same site. For the majority of observations, the spectrometer was used in an open path configuration thereby avoiding surface losses of reactive species. A subset of observations targeted the N2O5 molecule by detecting the additional NO3 formed by the thermal dissociation of N2O5. In all cases the concentrations of the atmospheric absorbers were retrieved by fitting the differential structure in the broadband cavity ringdown spectra using a methodology adapted from long path differential optical absorption spectroscopy. The uncertainty of the retrieval depends crucially on the correct treatment and fitting of the absorption bands due to water vapour, a topic that is discussed in the context of analysing broadband cavity ringdown spectra. The quality of the measurements and the retrieval method are illustrated with representative spectra acquired during NAMBLEX in spectral regions around 660 nm (NO3 and N2O5) and 570 nm (I2 and OIO). Typical detection limits were 1 pptv for NO3 in an integration time of 100 s, 4 pptv for OIO and 20 pptv for I2 in an integration time of 10 min. Additionally, the concentrations of atmospheric water vapour and the aerosol optical extinction were retrieved in both spectral regions. A companion paper in this issue presents the time series of the measurements and discusses their significance for understanding the variability of short lived nitrogen and iodine compounds in the marine boundary layer.
Author's response to reviews Title:Population awareness of risks related to medicinal product use in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR: a cross-sectional study for public health improvement in low and middle income countries Authors:

Céline Caillet (celine.caillet@univ-tlse3.fr) Chanvilay Sichanh (singsing_chanvilay@yahoo.fr) Lamphone Syhakhang (syhakhangl@yahoo.com) Cyrille Delpierre (cyrildelpierre@yahoo.fr) Chanthanom Manithip (manithipchanthanom@gmail.com) Mayfong Mayxay (mayfong@tropmedres.ac) Maryse Lapeyre-Mestre (maryse.lapeyre-mestre@univ-tlse3.fr) Paul N Newton (paul@tropmedres.ac) Anne Roussin (anne.roussin@univ-tlse3.fr)
Teachers Teaching Mindfulness with Children: Being a Mindful Role Model

: Mindfulness is taking a preeminent role in today’s education system. In the current study the author explored how experienced MindBody Wellness instructors make sense of teaching children mindfulness. The methodology of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis combined with autoethnography was used to interview eight teachers from the United States and Australia teaching children mindfulness. In this article, the author discusses findings related to the theme of Being a Mindful Role Model. Participants, on the whole, felt that someone looking to teach children mindfulness needs first to connect deeply with the practices. They felt this connection was an elemental foundation in becoming a mindful role model and teaching children mindfulness. The experienced mindfulness instructors also found that cultivating mindfulness with children is enhanced by the creation of a mindful school culture. A number of recommendations are suggested, including the establishment of MindBody Wellness and mindfulness teacher training courses at the university level.
Transit network sensitivity analysis

Transit network conditions change every day. While those changes should be considered for modifying a transit network, formulating and optimizing the whole transit network may be a costly and difficult task. This article uses a developed transit network design model to examine how optimal transit networks should be developed based on changes in input elements of the transit network. Three major inputs -- demand, travel speed, and transfer penalty -- are chosen for sensitivity analysis. Different optimal transit networks and their characteristics are generated, and the relationship between inputs and outputs is discussed. Using the sensitivity analysis, three typical transit networks -- transfer-oriented transit, transfer-avoidance transit, and directly-connected transit -- are introduced. Optimal types of transit networks are suggested based on transit network situations.
Modeling the Evacuation of Large-Scale Crowded Pedestrian Facilities

This paper presents a simulation modeling framework for evaluating the performance of large-scale crowded pedestrian facilities during emergency evacuation. The framework adopts a microsimulation assignment approach implemented in a cellular automata platform. It captures the different behavioral rules that govern the dynamics of evacuees' decisions, including exit gate choice, path choice, frequency of path updating, and the evacuees' tolerance of congestion. The framework is first used to investigate the sensitivity of evacuation performance to the behavioral rules that were introduced. Next, it is used to evaluate evacuation performance in a large pedestrian facility, with a capacity of about 50,000 pedestrians, that frequently operates at extreme congestion levels. Several experiments are designed to investigate the impact of different model parameters on evacuation performance. The results illustrate the impact that the evacuees' behavior can have on the performance of the evacuation process. In particular, overall performance of the evacuation process can be improved if evacuees are trained to make a better choice of gate, so that they weigh both the proximity of a gate and the level of congestion around that gate. Furthermore, when evacuees have the opportunity to learn about better exit opportunities, either on their own or through a guidance system, they can frequently update their exit decisions and the overall evacuation performance improves. In addition, the evacuation throughput generally improves as evacuees become less tolerant of congestion.
A Brief History of the Mosaic Display

This article provides an illustrated history of the visual and conceptual ideas leading to the development of mosaic displays. We trace the origins of the use of rectangles and area to depict data quantities and their relations, of early forms of mosaic displays including subdivided bar-like charts and various cartograms, to the modern forms used in log-linear analysis and in space-filling tree maps.
Effects of application type on the choice of interaction modality in IVR systems

This paper addresses the feasibility of using the telephone as a tool for information access in the technology challenged and illiterate communities of Southern Africa. We did two case studies of disparate Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems, i.e., OpenPhone system being a disagreeable health information system for information on a stigmatized illness issue and Beautiful Game Results (BGR) system being a pleasurable application for soccer fans to access the results of recently played soccer games. The research compared the users' choice of interaction modality between DTMF and speech-enabled IVR modalities. The targeted users were oral users of Southern Africa with diverse literacy levels ranging from functionally illiterate to literate adults but who are nevertheless numerically literate. We found that the type of application presented to the users instigated their choice between DTMF and the speech-enabled IVR modalities.
What is educational technology and how is it being used to support teaching and learning in the early years?

ABSTRACT There are many digital technologies available to support teaching and learning. Historically the focus has tended to be on computers, but this has extended to include interactive whiteboards and tablets. As well as these technologies, which were originally designed for adults, there are devices specifically designed to support teaching and learning in the early years. These tend to be overlooked in the literature. This project aimed to find out if this reflected practice in early years settings. Participants from 20 early years settings in the North East of England were asked about ‘educational technologies’. This term was deliberately not defined, the aim was to find out what they thought it meant. They were asked about the technology they had, and how it was being used. This provided an opportunity to explore whether their use of technology fit with their beliefs about teaching and learning. Findings suggest that technology is seen as more than computers and that technology is being used to support a broad range of activities in line with practitioners’ pedagogical beliefs.
Host Range Testing of Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) Sourced from the Punjab of Pakistan for Classical Biological Control of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae: Euphyllurinae: Diaphorinini) in California

ABSTRACT Tests evaluating the host range of Tamarixia radiata (Waterson) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a parasitoid of the pestiferous Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), sourced from the Punjab of Pakistan, were conducted in quarantine at the University of California, Riverside, CA. Seven nontarget psyllid species (five native and two self-introduced species) representing five families were exposed to T. radiata under the following three different exposure scenarios: 1) sequential no-choice tests, 2) static no-choice tests, and 3) choice tests. Nontarget species were selected for testing based on the following criteria: 1) taxonomic relatedness to the target, D. citri; 2) native psyllids inhabiting native host plants related to citrus that could release volatiles attractive to T. radiata; 3) native psyllids with a high probability of occurrence in native vegetation surrounding commercial citrus groves that could be encountered by T. radiata emigrating from D. citr-infested citrus orchards; 4) a common native pest psyllid species; and 5) a beneficial psyllid attacking a noxious weed. The results of host range testing were unambiguous; T. radiata exhibited a narrow host range and high host specificity, with just one species of nontarget psyllid, the abundant native pest Bactericera cockerelli Sulc, being parasitized at low levels (<5%). These results suggest that the likelihood of significant nontarget impacts is low, and the establishment of T. radiata in southern California for the classical biological control of D. citri poses negligible environmental risk.
Induction of Nramp2 in activated mouse macrophages is dissociated from regulation of the Nramp1, classical inflammatory genes, and genes involved in iron metabolism

Nramp2 is a widely expressed metal‐ion transporter that is involved in dietary iron absorption in the duodenum and iron uptake from transferrin in peripheral tissues. Nramp1 is a related gene involved in regulation of host pathogen interaction. Nramp2 has at least two alternatively spliced isoforms, one of which contains an iron‐responsive element in its 3′‐untranslated region. In this study, we investigated the regulation of both isoforms of Nramp2 in activated primary macrophages from mouse strains with wild‐type (Bcgr) or mutant (Bcgs) alleles. The Nramp2‐IRE and/or ‐nonIRE transcripts were up‐regulated in all mouse strains analyzed after treatment with interferon‐γ and lipopolysaccharide. cDNA microarray analysis revealed that Nramp2 regulation is controlled discordantly from other iron‐regulated genes and classical macrophage‐activation genes in different mouse strains. We suggest that Nramp2 is regulated independently of known iron‐responsive genes in macrophages, and its function in host defense is unrelated to Nramp1.