Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Autonomous Vehicles That Interact With Pedestrians: A Survey of Theory and Practice

One of the major challenges that autonomous cars are facing today is driving in urban environments. To make it a reality, autonomous vehicles require the ability to communicate with other road users and understand their intentions. Such interactions are essential between vehicles and pedestrians, the most vulnerable road users. Understanding pedestrian behavior, however, is not intuitive and depends on various factors, such as demographics of the pedestrians, traffic dynamics, environmental conditions, and so on. In this paper, we identify these factors by surveying pedestrian behavior studies, both the classical works on pedestrian–driver interaction and the modern ones that involve autonomous vehicles. To this end, we will discuss various methods of studying pedestrian behavior and analyze how the factors identified in the literature are interrelated. We will also review the practical applications aimed at solving the interaction problem, including design approaches for autonomous vehicles that communicate with pedestrians and visual perception and reasoning algorithms tailored to understanding pedestrian intention. Based on our findings, we will discuss the open problems and propose future research directions.
Effect of soil-test-based long-term fertilization on soil health and performance of rice crop in Vertisols of central India

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of soil-test-based long-term fertilization on soil health and performance of rice crop in Vertisols of Central India. The experiment was started in 2007–08 consisting six treatments viz. Control (No fertilizers), General Recommended Dose (GRD) (12060-40), STCR based for 4 t ha−1 target, STCR based for 5.5 t ha−1 target, STCR based for 4 t ha−1 target + 5 t FYM ha−1 and STCR based for 5.5 t ha−1 target + 5t FYM ha−1 and with four replications. The crop cultivar of rice MR-219 was grown with different treatments and performance in terms of grain yield and straw yield were recorded at harvest of the crop. The soil chemical and biological properties were assessed by analyzing the soil samples after harvest of the crop collected from 0–15 cm depth. Experimental data was statistically analyzed by the standard analysis of variance technique appropriate to randomized block design to test the significance of treatment effects. The results of the study revealed that, balanced fertilization based on soil test recorded higher yield of rice over general recommended dose of fertilizers.
Relationship Between Marginality and Minority Status in Undergraduate Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between marginality and minority status in undergraduate nursing students enrolled in one of the four universities in Wisconsin that offer a baccalaureate nursing program. METHOD A nonexperimental, descriptive correlational design was used for data collection. Participants (N = 331) completed a demographic survey, and marginality was measured using the Koci Marginality Index-70. The demographic variables of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and age were investigated in relation to marginality. RESULTS A statistically significant difference was found in mean scores for minority (M = 177.5, SD = 29.3) versus nonminority undergraduate nursing students (M = 166.4, SD = 18.1); t(329) = 4.3, p ⩽ . 001. CONCLUSION The findings from this research study suggest that marginalization remains a significant issue for minority undergraduate nursing students. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(6):339-346. ].
dA"nın İşlevleri

Turkce'deki d/l1 parcaciginin belirtec ve baglac olarak kullanimi dilbilim calismalarinda iyi islendigi halde, dA"nin daha bircok kullaniminin ve islevinin incelenmedigi gorulmustur (Lewis, 1967; Underhill, 1980; EdiSkun, 1988; Ergin, 1990). Sozkonusu islevler arasinda yetenek, olasilik, uyum bildirme, amac lumceciklerinin baglaci, kosullu ve yardimci tumcecik baglaci, ve odaklama bulunmaktadir. Bu calisma, dA bicimbiriminin adi gecen islevlerini soylem icinde inceleyerek, dilbilgisi acisindan anlamsal obeklendirmeyi amaclamaktadir. Bunun yanisira, dilbilim calismalarinda deginildigi halde, tatmin edici bir aciklama getirilemeyen ve tumce dusumleriyle ortaya cikan dA kullanimlarina bir aciklama getirilmeye calisilmistir. Degerlendirmeler ve incelemelerde, konuya daha iyi isik tutmak amaciyla, Ingilizce dilbilgisi kurallarina oldugu gibi, Turkce ifadelerin Ingilizce olasi karsiliklarina da gondermeler yapilmistir.
Nouns slow down speech across structurally and culturally diverse languages

Significance When we speak, we unconsciously pronounce some words more slowly than others and sometimes pause. Such slowdown effects provide key evidence for human cognitive processes, reflecting increased planning load in speech production. Here, we study naturalistic speech from linguistically and culturally diverse populations from around the world. We show a robust tendency for slower speech before nouns as compared with verbs. Even though verbs may be more complex than nouns, nouns thus appear to require more planning, probably due to the new information they usually represent. This finding points to strong universals in how humans process language and manage referential information when communicating linguistically. By force of nature, every bit of spoken language is produced at a particular speed. However, this speed is not constant—speakers regularly speed up and slow down. Variation in speech rate is influenced by a complex combination of factors, including the frequency and predictability of words, their information status, and their position within an utterance. Here, we use speech rate as an index of word-planning effort and focus on the time window during which speakers prepare the production of words from the two major lexical classes, nouns and verbs. We show that, when naturalistic speech is sampled from languages all over the world, there is a robust cross-linguistic tendency for slower speech before nouns compared with verbs, both in terms of slower articulation and more pauses. We attribute this slowdown effect to the increased amount of planning that nouns require compared with verbs. Unlike verbs, nouns can typically only be used when they represent new or unexpected information; otherwise, they have to be replaced by pronouns or be omitted. These conditions on noun use appear to outweigh potential advantages stemming from differences in internal complexity between nouns and verbs. Our findings suggest that, beneath the staggering diversity of grammatical structures and cultural settings, there are robust universals of language processing that are intimately tied to how speakers manage referential information when they communicate with one another.
The effects of neighbor familiarity and size on cooperative defense of fiddler crab territories

Cooperation between neighbors in territory defense is expected when the cost of helping a neighbor is less than that of establishing new boundaries with a successful usurper of a neighboring territory. Cooperation has been documented in 3 species of fiddler crab and is understood to depend strongly on the relative sizes of participants—large residents will help smaller neighbors repel intermediate-sized intruders. Simply meeting these criteria does not, however, guarantee that helping occurs, and additional factors are likely to affect the benefits of providing help. We tested whether the likelihood that a large resident would help his smaller neighbor was affected by neighbor familiarity or the relative size of the smaller neighbor, by replacing neighbors with smaller, larger, or size-matched individuals and then simulating intrusions onto their territories. The likelihood of helping did not differ between familiar and unfamiliar neighbors of the same size, but it decreased when the replacement resident differed in size from the original resident. These results suggest that although residents do not recognize their neighbors individually, size acts as a cue to neighbor identity.
Revisiting Dilated Convolution: A Simple Approach for Weakly- and Semi-Supervised Semantic Segmentation

Despite the remarkable progress, weakly supervised segmentation approaches are still inferior to their fully supervised counterparts. We obverse the performance gap mainly comes from their limitation on learning to produce high-quality dense object localization maps from image-level supervision. To mitigate such a gap, we revisit the dilated convolution [1] and reveal how it can be utilized in a novel way to effectively overcome this critical limitation of weakly supervised segmentation approaches. Specifically, we find that varying dilation rates can effectively enlarge the receptive fields of convolutional kernels and more importantly transfer the surrounding discriminative information to non-discriminative object regions, promoting the emergence of these regions in the object localization maps. Then, we design a generic classification network equipped with convolutional blocks of different dilated rates. It can produce dense and reliable object localization maps and effectively benefit both weakly- and semi- supervised semantic segmentation. Despite the apparent simplicity, our proposed approach obtains superior performance over state-of-the-arts. In particular, it achieves 60.8% and 67.6% mIoU scores on Pascal VOC 2012 test set in weakly- (only image-level labels are available) and semi- (1,464 segmentation masks are available) supervised settings, which are the new state-of-the-arts.
An investigation of the effects of curcumin on iron overload, hepcidin level, and liver function in β‐thalassemia major patients: A double‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial

This study investigated the effects of curcumin, the active polyphenol in turmeric, on iron overload, hepcidin level, and liver function in β‐thalassemia major patients. This double‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 68 β‐thalassemia major patients. The subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive either 500 mg curcumin capsules (total: 1,000 mg) twice daily or placebo for 12 weeks. Dietary intakes and biochemical variables including hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity, nontransferrin bound iron (NTBI), ferritin, hepcidin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were assessed at the beginning and end of the trial. Curcumin significantly reduced serum levels of NTBI (2.83 ± 1.08 compared with 2.22 ± 0.97 μmol/L, p = .001), ALT (42.86 ± 11.15 compared with 40.60 ± 9.89 U/L, p = .018), and AST (49.45 ± 12.39 compared with 46.30 ± 10.85 U/L, p = .002) at the end of the study. Based on analysis of covariance, a significant decrease was also observed in levels of NTBI (2.22 ± 0.97 vs. 2.55 ± 0.94 μmol/L, p = .026), ALT (40.60 ± 9.89 vs. 45.01 ± 10.42 U/L, p = .004), and AST (46.30 ± 10.85 vs. 50.99 ± 9.36 U/L, p = .009) in curcumin group in comparison with placebo group. There were no significant changes in hepcidin and other variables in any of the 2 groups. Curcumin administration alleviated iron burden and liver dysfunction by reducing NTBI, ALT, and AST levels in patients with β‐thalassemia major.
Reduction in Peyronie's‐like plaque size using a vacuum erection device in a rat model of Peyronie's disease via the TGF‐β/SMAD signalling pathway

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a fibrotic disorder of the tunica albuginea (TA). This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of a vacuum erection device (VED) in an animal model of PD and explore the possible mechanisms. Twenty‐seven male Sprague‐Dawley rats were used. The sham group (group A) (N = 9) received a 50‐μl‐saline vehicle injection into the TA, while the remaining 18 rats (groups B and C) received a TGF‐β1 injection into the TA. The treatment group (group C) underwent VED therapy for 10 days after the TGF‐β1 injection. Erectile function was then assessed at day 42. Rats injected with TGF‐β1 showed significantly lower intracavernous pressures than those in the sham group (p < 0.0001). After VED therapy, erectile function was significantly better in the treatment group than in the PD group (group B) (p < 0.0147). Masson's trichrome staining confirmed Peyronie's‐like plaques at the TGF‐β1 injection site in the PD group. Furthermore, the treatment group showed markedly smaller fibrotic plaque sizes than the PD group. A significant increase in TGF‐β1, SMAD2, SMAD3 and p‐SMAD2/3 protein expression was observed 6 weeks after the TGF‐β1 injection. However, the expression of the same proteins decreased after VED therapy. Protein expression trends were confirmed using immunohistochemistry analysis. The findings of this study demonstrate that VED therapy can reduce Peyronie's‐like plaque size in a rat model of PD while simultaneously improving erectile function.
The schizophrenia spectrum anhedonia paradox

reliability, with much research being performed by for-thepurpose-trained lay interviewers. The disappointment with the slow progress of pathogenetic research encourages critical voices advocating abandonment of phenotypic categories altogether. However, the story of self-disorder research may inspire us to reconsider the phenotypic classification with a more refined psychopathological approach.
Development and validation of the Medication Regimen Simplification Guide for Residential Aged CarE (MRS GRACE)

Background Residents of aged care facilities use increasingly complex medication regimens. Reducing unnecessary medication regimen complexity (eg, by consolidating the number of administration times or using alternative formulations) may benefit residents and staff. Objective To develop and validate an implicit tool to facilitate medication regimen simplification in aged care facilities. Method A purposively selected multidisciplinary expert panel used modified nominal group technique to identify and prioritize factors important in determining whether a medication regimen can be simplified. The five prioritized factors were formulated as questions, pilot-tested using non-identifiable medication charts and refined by panel members. The final tool was validated by two clinical pharmacists who independently applied the tool to a random sample of 50 residents of aged care facilities to identify opportunities for medication regimen simplification. Inter-rater agreement was calculated using Cohen’s kappa. Results The Medication Regimen Simplification Guide for Residential Aged CarE (MRS GRACE) was developed as an implicit tool comprising of five questions about 1) the resident; 2) regulatory and safety requirements; 3) drug interactions; 4) formulation; and 5) facility and follow-up considerations. Using MRS GRACE, two pharmacists independently simplified medication regimens for 29/50 and 30/50 residents (Cohen’s kappa=0.38, 95% CI 0.12–0.64), respectively. Simplification was possible for all residents with five or more administration times. Changing an administration time comprised 75% of the two pharmacists’ recommendations. Conclusions Using MRS GRACE, two clinical pharmacists independently simplified over half of residents’ medication regimens with fair agreement. MRS GRACE is a promising new tool to guide medication regimen simplification in aged care.
How can mindfulness be promoted? Workload and recovery experiences as antecedents of daily fluctuations in mindfulness

While previous work on mindfulness has focused predominantly on the benefits of mindfulness and of mindfulness interventions, the present article addresses the question of how natural experiences of mindfulness can be promoted in the context of work. Accordingly, this article sheds light on day‐to‐day fluctuations in workload and recovery experiences (psychological detachment and sleep quality) as antecedents of state mindfulness. Furthermore, this study extends extant research that has documented beneficial effects of mindfulness on subsequent recovery experiences by arguing that the relationship between mindfulness and recovery experiences is reciprocal rather than unidirectional. Using an experience‐sampling design across five workdays and involving three daily measurement occasions, we found that sleep quality and workload were related to subsequent levels of mindfulness. While not displaying a significant direct relationship with mindfulness, psychological detachment was indirectly related to mindfulness via sleep quality. Fatigue was identified as an important mechanism explaining these relationships. Furthermore, findings confirmed that the relationship between mindfulness and recovery experiences is reciprocal rather than unidirectional. Taken together, this study contributes to an enriched understanding of the role of mindfulness in organizations by shedding light on factors that precede the experience of mindfulness and by pointing to the existence of gain spirals associated with recovery experiences and mindfulness. Practitioner points Organizations seeking to promote mindfulness among their workforce should try to keep workload to a manageable degree. Organizations may also pay attention to care for employees' day‐to‐day recovery as it has been shown to facilitate mindfulness.
Plasma Emission Characteristics from a High Current Hollow Cathode in an Ion Thruster

The presence of energetic ions produced by a hollow cathodes operating at high emission currents (>10A) has been documented in the literature. In order to further elucidate these findings, an investigation of a high current cathode operating in an ion thruster discharge chamber has been undertaken. Using Langmuir probes, a low energy charged particle analyzer and emission spectroscopy, the behavior of the near -cathode plasma and the emitted ion energy distribution was characterized. The presence of energetic ions was confirmed. It was observed that these ions had energies in excess of the discharge voltage and thus cannot be simply explained by ions falling out of plasma through a potential difference of this order. Additionally, evidence provided by Langmuir probes suggests the existence of a double layer essentially separating the hollow cathode plasma column from the main discharge. The radial potential difference associated with this double layer was measured to be of order 10 V.
Accelerometry-Based Estimation of Respiratory Rate for Post-Intensive Care Patient Monitoring

This paper evaluates the use of accelerometers for continuous monitoring of respiratory rate (RR), which is an important vital sign in post-intensive care patients or those inside the intensive care unit (ICU). The respiratory rate can be estimated from accelerometer and photoplethysmography (PPG) signals for patients following ICU discharge. Due to sensor faults, sensor detachment, and various artifacts arising from motion, RR estimates derived from accelerometry and PPG may not be sufficiently reliable for use with existing algorithms. This paper described a case study of 10 selected patients, for which fewer RR estimates have been obtained from PPG signals in comparison to those from accelerometry. We describe an algorithm for which we show a maximum mean absolute error between estimates derived from PPG and accelerometer of 2.56 breaths/min. Our results obtained using the 10 selected patients are highly promising for estimation of RR from accelerometers, where significant agreements have been observed with the PPG-based RR estimates in many segments and across various patients. We present this research as a step towards producing reliable RR monitoring systems using low-cost mobile accelerometers for monitoring patients inside the ICU or on the ward (post-ICU).
Epidemiological trends of infective endocarditis in a single center in Italy between 2003–2015

Abstract Objective: Changes in the incidence, clinical features and microbiology of infective endocarditis (IE) observed in a single center in Italy were compared between the period 2003–2010 and 2011–2015. Methods: All cases of IE, defined as definite or possible according to the modified Duke criteria, observed at the ‘L. Sacco’ Hospital in Milan, Italy between 2003 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: 366 episodes of IE were identified in 325 patients. The mean number of incident IE over the period 2003–2015 was 1.43 (range: 0.6–2.1) cases per 1000 admissions, with a significantly increasing trend from a mean of 1.28–1.72 cases per 1000 admissions/year in 2003–2010 and 2011–2015, respectively (+34%; p = .04). Staphylococci remain the leading pathogens causing IE (29%) with a relative increase of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between the two periods. Streptococci and enterococci account for 26% and 18% of IE, respectively. We found an increase in the proportion of cases due to enterococci (from 14% in 2003–2010 to 22% in 2011–2015). The rate of in-hospital mortality was 19%, similar in the two periods studied. Conclusion: The incidence of IE continuously increased in our cohort over the past decade and, along with the aging of the population, a raise in the incidence of health care-associated infections and a change in the distribution of prevalent pathogens were observed. Surgery was independently associated with higher in-hospital survival (AOR, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.19–0.74; p = .005). A constant surveillance is required to guide the optimal management of the changing epidemiology of IE.
Theory of Planned Behaviour : the Intention-Behaviour Relationship and the Perceived Behavioural Control ( PBC ) Relationship with Intention and Behaviour

The present paper is a presentation of the Theory of Planned Behaviour Ajzen [1], a model widely applied in a wide range of behavioural applications in social psychology. According to the model people behave according with their intentions and perceptions of control over the behaviour. Intentions are formulated by attitude towards the behaviour, a personal factor, and a social factor, subjective norm, perceived social pressures from significant others to perform the behaviour and the actors’ motivation to comply with the referents. Attitude and subjective norm are in turn determined by the salient beliefs people hold about the behaviour. The TPB extends the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) by including a third determinant of intention and behaviour, perceived behavioural control (PBC). PBC is assumed to reflect past experience with the performance of the behaviour and anticipated obstacles that could inhibit behaviour. However in terms of explanatory value, predictive accuracy and practical utility of the model it is significant when and under which conditions the intention-behaviour relationship demonstrates stability, an issue discussed in the current paper. In the same line an issue further discussed is about the moderators of the relationship of perceived behavioural control (PBC) with intention and behaviour, again with implications about the explanatory value, the predictive accuracy and the practical utility of the model.