Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving one-handed interaction with touchscreen smartphones

One-handed operation of touchscreen smartphones presents challenges such as hard-to-reach targets and the thumb occluding the interface. There are two main approaches to address these challenges: Modification of the graphical user interface (GUI) and extension of the device's input modalities using its sensors. Previous work has presented techniques addressing a specific problem in isolation, but has failed to provide one solution which tackles all main challenges of thumb interaction together. This thesis examines whether this can be done. To establish the background, the thesis finds that users prefer convenience over efficiency and confirms that they predominantly use one hand. To detect mode of operation, the thesis presents an approach to classify a user's finger with a high degree of accuracy using a single touch. Following the first research avenue, the thesis presents a thumb-optimised GUI that increases usability and efficiency of one-handed website operation. Following the second avenue of research, the thesis presents a novel one-handed input technique for smartphones, using a set of three off-screen gestures. Both approaches address the most common problems of one-handed smartphone operation via the thumb largely successfully, but fail to completely solve the problem of interface occlusion. The thesis adds to the literature in the field of visual perception, input classification, GUI optimisation, and input techniques. Readers learn that visual search strategies of the desktop world may also apply to the mobile world and that eye gaze position may have a greater impact on target acquisition time than Fitts's law. The one-touch finger classification technique provides an additional layer of context and new opportunities for improving the human-machine dialogue. The thumb-optimised GUI presents practitioners with a potential blueprint for translating classical WIMP UI elements into thumb-friendly touch interfaces while the novel input technique provides a new layer of complexity for off-screen interaction.
Losing Our Humanity

People not only dehumanize others, they also dehumanize the self in response to their own harmful behavior. We examine this self-dehumanization effect across four studies. Studies 1 and 2 show that when participants are perpetrators of social ostracism, they view themselves as less human compared with when they engage in nonaversive interpersonal interactions. Perceived immorality of their behavior mediated this effect. Studies 3 and 4 highlight the behavioral consequences of self-dehumanization. The extent to which participants saw themselves as less human after perpetrating social ostracism predicted subsequent prosocial behavior. Studies 2 to 4 also demonstrate that consequences of self-dehumanization occur independently of any effects of self-esteem or mood. The findings are discussed in relation to previous work on dehumanization and self-perception. We conclude that in the context of immoral actions (self) dehumanization may be functional.
Calculating pKa values in enzyme active sites

The ionization properties of the active‐site residues in enzymes are of considerable interest in the study of the catalytic mechanisms of enzymes. Knowledge of these ionization constants (pKa values) often allows the researcher to identify the proton donor and the catalytic nucleophile in the reaction mechanism of the enzyme. Estimates of protein residue pKa values can be obtained by applying pKa calculation algorithms to protein X‐ray structures. We show that pKa values accurate enough for identifying the proton donor in an enzyme active site can be calculated by considering in detail only the active‐site residues and their immediate electrostatic interaction partners, thus allowing for a large decrease in calculation time. More specifically we omit the calculation of site‐site interaction energies, and the calculation of desolvation and background interaction energies for a large number of pairs of titratable groups. The method presented here is well suited to be applied on a genomic scale, and can be implemented in most pKa calculation algorithms to give significant reductions in calculation time with little or no impact on the accuracy of the results. The work presented here has implications for the understanding of enzymes in general and for the design of novel biocatalysts.
An analytical comparison between the nonsingular quadratic performance of robust and adaptive backstepping designs

Robust and adaptive backstepping designs for an uncertain strict feedback system are compared with respect to a cost functional which is based on an instantaneous quadratic penalty measuring both the output transient and the control effort. It is shown that the adaptive design outperforms the robust design when the actual uncertainty level is sufficiently high and the a-priori known uncertainty level is sufficiently conservative.
Imbalance of sex chromosomes, with gain of early‐replicating X, in human solid tumors

An imbalance of sex chromosomes was observed in several cases of solid tumors: colorectal, anal canal and breast carcinomas. Replication studies, using BUdR incorporation, show that in males there is a tendency towards a gain of early‐replicating X and a deficiency of Y chromosomes. In females, there is a tendency towards a gain of early‐replicating X and a loss of late‐replicating X chromosomes. Although almost no replication studies have been published in the literature, making it impossible to distinguish between late‐and early‐replicating Xs, it is likely that a similar situation exists for several solid tumors other than those we have studied. A possible consequence of this imbalance is briefly discussed.
Information and Competency for Consent to Pharmacologic Clinical Trials in Alzheimer Disease: An Empirical Analysis in Patients and Family Caregivers

This study was undertaken to evaluate (1) what information normal and Alzheimer disease (AD) participants are able to manage; (2) the correlation between the degree of competency and age, education and dementia scores, and the ability of dementia scores to predict incompetence; and (3) the capacity to retain consent-related information. To fulfil these aims, a four-point competency rating scale (1 = incompetent, 2 = marginally competent, 3 = sufficiently competent, and 4 = completely competent) was used in 70 patients (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score >9; Global Deterioration Scale score <6) and in 40 cognitively normal caregivers. Patients were divided into two subgroups (competency ratings 1 and 2 versus 3 and 4) to calculate positive and negative predictive values of MMSE and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale–cognitive (ADAScog) for absent/marginal competence. Main results were as follows: (1) 32.9% of AD patients were “incompetent” (no caregivers), 37.1% were “marginally competent” (20% caregivers), 18.6% were “sufficiently competent” (50% caregivers), and 11.4% were “completely competent” (30% caregiverss). (2) Competency ratings and age did not correlate in AD, whereas a negative correlation was significant in caregivers; competency ratings positively correlated to education in caregivers. (3) ADAScog and MMSE were the tests most significantly correlated to competency; MMSE score below 18 had a positive predictive value of 95% and a negative predictive value of 63.3%. The fact that 95% of patients with MMSE scores below 18 are incompetent or marginally competent points to an urgent need for ethical procedures capable of creating a balance between difficulties in obtaining valid consent and a patient's right to benefit from advances in clinical research.
Pengaruh Laverage Maturity dan Size Perusahaan Terhadap Yield Obligasi Dengan Peringkat Obligasi Sebagai Variabel Intervening

This study aims to get empirical evidence on the effect of leverage, maturity, and size of the company against the results with intervening variables. The population in this study is all companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI) during 2011-2015 which has bonds inperiod 2012-2016.These bonds were assessed by rating agents of PT. Pefindo. Testing is done by using the path analysis, to determine the effect of leverage, maturity, and size of the company to the bond rating. Second path is for leverage, maturity, size, and ranking of results. Sobel test to process the mediation / intervening. The results show that leverage does not affect the rank, maturity and size of the company signed to the rating of bonds. The results of the road trials show that leverage and size have no effect on yield, maturity and assessment have a significant effect on results. From the Sobel, Results to test the test capable of mediating leverage variables, and the size of the bond yield, while the maturity of the results cannot be mediated by the bond rating.
Efficacy of 28-day and 40-day regimens of sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) in the treatment of mucosal leishmaniasis.

The efficacy and toxicity of two regimens of antimony, 28 and 40 days of 20 mg of antimony/kg/day, were compared in the treatment of culture-positive mucosal leishmaniasis involving more than one anatomic site. Forty consecutive eligible Peruvians with infiltrative or ulcerative mucosal disease of the lips, nose, palate-uvula-pharynx, or larynx-epiglottis were randomized to receive either 28 days (P28) or 40 days (P40) of sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam). Treatment was prematurely terminated due to thrombocytopenia in three patients and two patients did not complete six months of follow-up. At one month post-treatment, 13% (2 of 16) of the P28 patients and 16% (3 of 19) of the P40 patients no longer had infiltrates or ulcers and were initially considered cured. During a further 11 months of follow-up, infiltrated lesions healed in eight more P28 patients and in 10 more P40 patients. The cure rate after 12 months of follow-up was therefore 63% for both groups (10 of 16 in the P28 group and 12 of 19 in the P40 group). The total of 13 patients who had infiltrates or ulcers at the 9-12-month follow-up were considered failures. All seven patients (three in the P28 group and four in the P40 group) whose lesions were culture-positive for Leishmania at some point in the 12 months after treatment, and who were thereby parasitologic failures, were also clinical failures. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The impact of two Chaoborus species on a zooplankton community

The responses of a zooplankton community to Chaoborus predation were studied in large in situ mesocosms in Peter Lake. Chaoborus flavicans, the native chaoborid, significantly reduced the density of the dominant grazer, Daphnia pulex, in relation to controls that lacked Chaoborus. Chaoborus americanus, a species found only in fishless bogs, reduced Da. pulex densities far more than the chaoborid found in Peter Lake, C. flavicans. Chaoborus americanus also significantly reduced the dominant copepod, Diaptomus oregonensis, in relation to both the control and the C. flavicans treatment. Chlorophyll a concentration did not differ among treatments, indicating that herbivore responses could not be explained by changes in food levels. Our results show that Chaoborus predation can greatly affect a zooplankton community, especially daphnids.
Transporting STEMI patients for primary PCI: a long and winding road paved with good intentions?

This editorial refers to ‘Early ST elevation myocardial infarction in non-capable percutaneous coronary intervention centres: in situ fibrinolysis vs. percutaneous coronary intervention transfer’[†][1], by X. Carrillo et al . , on page 1034. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is the preferred reperfusion therapy for patients presenting with an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). 1 However, as the majority of hospitals worldwide do not have catheterization facilities, the performance of a pPCI within the appropriate time frames by an experienced interventional team is often far from straightforward. Indeed, pPCI comes with several logistic challenges: one needs a well-oiled pre-hospital network with a commonly agreed protocol, trained medical or paramedical transport personnel, and 24/7 expedite services. In contrast to pPCI, fibrinolytic therapy is universally available, does not require additional technical expertise, and can be administered via a bolus to eligible patients by (para)medical personnel in the pre-hospital setting. Especially in patients presenting early (i.e. <3 h) after symptom onset, pre-hospital fibrinolysis is an excellent alternative for patients who cannot undergo a pPCI within 1 h.2,3 Contemporary guidelines therefore explicitly list maximal tolerated transfer delays of 90 min, or even a maximal 60 min treatment delay in cases where the patient first presents directly to a PCI-capable hospital or when presenting within 2 h after symptom onset ( Figure 1 ). 1 On aggregate, guidelines recommend using fibrinolysis given in the ambulance or on-site when the expected time from first medical contact (FMC) to start of PCI exceeds 120 min. Achieving these goals consistently in the majority of patients is challenging: recent real-world registries clearly show that both reperfusion strategies are not optimally used at … [1]: #fn-2
The importance of betaine and some attractive substances as fish feed additives

Betaine, L-alanine, L-glutamic acid, L-arginine, glycine and inosine are known as dietary feeding attractants for many fish species. However, these additives also have very important physiological functions within the animal body. For example, betaine given singly or mixed with other attractants has been found to have a positive effect on fish growth and survival rate. Betaine is also a very important substance for methyl donation and osmoregulation during the transfer of salmon and trout from freshwater to seawater. Similarly, L-alanine and L-glutamic acid can readily enter the citric acid cycle and be used for energy supply in fish and fish larvae. Moreover, L-arginine is an essential amino acid for fish, glycine is an important constituent of collagen and elastin, and inosine is a nucleoside and has vitamin activity in many fish species.
Evidence for the continuous recruitment and activation of T cells into the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fluid (SF) T cells express the activation markers CD69, HLA‐DR and very late antigen (VLA)‐1, but surprisingly few bear interleukin‐2 receptors (CD25). This unusual activation state is commonly assumed to be due to stimulation by local antigen, yet T cells activated in vitro express activation antigens in the clearly defined sequence: CD69, CD25, HLA‐DR and finally VLA‐1. Two possible explanations for the activation state of SF cells are: first, they comprise several subpopulations each expressing different activation antigens or, second, activation markers are up‐regulated by mechanisms other than antigen stimulation. To examine these hypotheses, double‐ and triple‐color immunofluorescence techniques were applied to four T cell populations: normal peripheral blood T cells activated in vitro, RA SF T cells, T cells from an in vivo model of migration [tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD)‐induced skin blisters] and T cells co‐cultured with endothelial cells (EC). The results confirmed that in vitro activated T cells expressed activation markers in the sequence described above, with significant CD25 expression and few cells co‐expressing CD69 with HLA‐DR or VLA‐1. In contrast, almost half the SF T cells were CD69+HLA‐DR+ but CD25−; a significant minority were CD69+VLA−l+, T cells from PPD‐induced skin blisters were already HLA‐DR+ and VLA‐1+ at 24 h, although, in vitro, PPD‐activated T cells up‐regulated HLA‐DR and VLA‐1 only after 1 week, suggesting that pre‐activated T cells were preferentially recruited into the blisters. Finally, T cells were found to up‐regulate CD69 and, to a lesser extent, HLA‐DR after adhering to EC in vitro. In summary, the paradoxical activation state of SF T cells cannot be explained solely by single or multiple rounds of activation in situ. At least two other mechanisms, the preferential recruitment of pre‐activated T cells and the induction of HLA‐DR and especially CD69 by endothelial contact during migration, may also play a role.
A REVIEW ON IMAGE SEGMENTATION TECHNIQUES

Digital image processing plays a vital role in many applications to retrieve required information from the given image in a way that it has not affect the other features of the image. Image segmentation is one of the most important tasks in image processing which is used to partition an image into several disjoint subsets such that each subset corresponds to a meaningful part of the image. The goal of image segmentation is to cluster pixels into salient image regions corresponding to individual surfaces, objects, or natural parts of objects. With the growing research on image segmentation many segmentation methods have been developed and interpreted differently towards content analysis and image understanding for different applications. Thus an organized review on image segmentation methods is essential and this paper provides a review on the various image segmentation techniques proposed in the literature.
A Qualitative Study

Background and Research Objective: The health benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for women living with heart disease are well documented, yet women remain underrepresented in traditionally structured CR programs. This health service delivery gap has been attributed to a number of sex-related factors experienced by women, including lower rates of physician referral, travel-related barriers, competing work and caregiving responsibilities, greater cardiovascular disease severity, and number of comorbid health conditions. Whether a program specifically designed for women is able to address these barriers and facilitate women’s participation is a question that has seldom been explored in the CR literature. As part of a larger study exploring whether 6 predefined principles of women’s health (empowerment of women, accessible programs, broad definition of health care, high-quality of care, collaborative planning, and innovative and creative approaches) are reflected in the practices of the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative (WCHI) (a comprehensive CR and primary prevention program designed for women), the objective of this analysis was to explore how the principle of ‘‘accessible programs’’ is experienced by women participating in the WCHI. Participants and Method: Fourteen women previously enrolled in the WCHI program participated in a single, in-person qualitative interview. Transcripts were analyzed using a constant-comparative approach to identify relevant themes related to program accessibility. Results: Key themes identified included participants’ experiences with acquiring physician referral, negotiating transportation issues, and navigating program schedules. Women discussed how peer support and staff members’ willingness to address their health-related concerns facilitated their participation. Conclusion: While a women-centered CR/primary prevention program may facilitate and encourage women’s participation by providing flexible program schedules as well as peer and professional support, efforts are still required to address persistent barriers for women related to physician referral and transportation to programs.
PULMONARY DEAD SPACE IN FREE-RANGING IMMOBILIZED BLACK RHINOCEROSES (DICEROS BICORNIS) IN NAMIBIA

Abstract: It was observed previously that end-expired carbon dioxide (PÉCO2) decreased when immobilized black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) were moved from sternal to lateral recumbency. These experiments were designed to test whether greater alveolar ventilation or greater pulmonary dead space in lateral recumbency explains this postural difference in PÉCO2. Twenty-one (9 male, 12 female; 15 [3.5–26] yr old) wild black rhinoceroses were immobilized with etorphine and azaperone and positioned in either sternal or lateral recumbency. All rhinoceroses were hypoxemic and had lactic and respiratory acidemia. The animals in lateral recumbency were more acidemic, had higher lactate, and lower arterial oxygen that those in sternal recumbency; however, arterial carbon dioxide was similar between groups. Both PÉCO2 and mixed expired carbon dioxide pressure were lower in lateral than sternal recumbency. Although there was no difference in tidal volume or arterial carbon dioxide, both the breathing rate and minute ventilation were greater in lateral recumbency. The physiologic dead space ratio and dead space volume were approximately two times larger in lateral recumbency; hence, the decrease in PÉCO2 in lateral recumbency can be attributed to increased dead space ventilation not increased alveolar ventilation. Positioning immobilized rhinoceroses in lateral recumbency does not confer any advantage over sternal in terms of ventilation, and the increase in minute ventilation in lateral recumbency can be considered an energetic waste. Although arterial oxygen was superior in sternal recumbency, further studies that measure oxygen delivery (e.g., to the muscles of locomotion) are warranted before advice regarding the optimal position for immobilized rhinoceroses can be given with confidence.
Clinic-based Point of Care Transabdominal Ultrasound for Monitoring Crohn's Disease: Impact on Clinical Decision Making.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The use of cross-sectional imaging is important to characterise inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] activity, extent, and location and to exclude complications, regardless of symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of routine use of sonography in the management of inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS A total of 49 patients with Crohn's disease were prospectively evaluated. Clinical symptoms (Harvey-Bradshaw Index [HBI]), disease character, serological markers of inflammation [C-reactive protein], and endoscopic evaluation were collected and reviewed by two independent IBD-specialty physicians. Clinical decisions regarding management were recorded. A separate, blinded physician then performed bowel ultrasound [US] and graded disease activity:] as inactive, mild, or active. A second blinded physician read and graded a sub-set of the US images. Clinical decisions of both IBD-physicians after US were independently recorded. Changes in clinical management following US information and inter-rater agreement on US disease activity parameters were evaluated. The concordance between US, CRP and clinical symptoms [HBI] were analysed. Follow-up data after US evaluation were collected. RESULTS Clinical decisions were changed after ultrasound assessment in 30/49 [60%] and 28/48 [58%] of cases, for each physician respectively [p < 0.0001 for each]. Many [59%] of the patients seen in clinic were asymptomatic with an HBI of 3 or less [n = 29]; however, 52% [n = 15] of these had active disease found on US, resulting in alterations in clinical management. The agreement in overall score between the US reviewers was good, ĸ = 0.749 [0.5814, 0.9180], p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS Clinic-based point of care US can play a significant role in guiding therapeutic management and is an important adjunct to routine clinical and laboratory assessment.