Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fashion Shopping in Multichannel Retail: The Role of Technology in Enhancing the Customer Experience

The difficulty of translating the in-store experience to the online environment is one of the main reasons why the fashion industry has been slower than other sectors to adopt e-commerce. Recently, however, new information technologies (ITs) have enabled consumers to evaluate fashion online, creating an interactive and exciting shopping experience. As a result, clothing has become the fastest-growing online category of goods bought in the United Kingdom. This trend could have serious consequences for brick-and-mortar stores. The aim of this quantitative research is to gain a better understanding of multichannel fashion-shopping experiences, focusing on the role of IT and the crossover effects between channels. In particular, I explore the influence of the level of online experience on the perceptions and motivations of fashion consumers when they buy across multiple channels. The theoretical framework of hedonic and utilitarian shopping values is applied to measure consumers' shopping experiences and shopping motivations to buy in different channels. The results from a quantitative survey of 439 consumers in the United Kingdom suggest the need to redefine the in-store shopping experience, promoting the use of technology as a way to create an engaging and integrated experience among channels. Retailers must think in all channels holistically, boosting interactive and new technologies for the Internet and taking advantage of all touchpoints with the consumer, including mobile devices and social networks.
Attitudes Toward Marital Violence

This article examines wife abuse attitudes among a sample of 507 Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Cambodian adults living in the United States. The findings show that 24% to 36% of the sample agreed that violence is justified in certain situations such as a wife's sexual infidelity, her nagging, or her refusal to cook or clean. Southeast Asian respondents were more supportive of attitudes supporting male privilege and of the use of violence in specific situations in comparison with the East Asian respondents. Korean respondents were unique in their relatively weak endorsements of violence in contrast to the remaining three groups studied.
A critical review of the effectiveness of ‘teach-back’ technique in teaching COPD patients self-management using respiratory inhalers

Objective: To examine and discuss the evidence base behind the effectiveness of the ‘teach-back’ technique as an educational intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient self-management using respiratory inhalers. Design: A systematic literature review Method: A search was conducted through Medline, CINAHL Embase, Cochrane Library Databases and reference lists to obtain publications reporting on the ‘teach-back’ technique as an educational intervention for teaching COPD patients to use a respiratory inhaler. Results: There were nine studies selected that met the criteria for inclusion in this review. The articles provided strong and valid evidence in the conversion of incorrect to correct inhaler use after using the ‘teach-back’ technique among COPD patients. Most of the studies showed a statistically significant increase in the proportion of correct inhaler use. Conclusion: The result of this review has research and routine clinical practice implications. Further research examining the long-term benefits of the ‘teach-back’ technique and correct use of inhalers is recommended. In clinical practice, it provides an alternative and effective patient education strategy for COPD patient self-management using respiratory inhalers.
Thermal and electrical simulation of high voltage ceramic cap and pin disc type insulator assembly

In this paper, an attempt is made to study accurately, the temperature, potential and electrical field distribution for the 11 kV single cap and pin ceramic disc type insulator assembly. The FE coupled field thermo-electrical computer simulation is carried out by using a commercially available software Ansys-11. The simulation results obtained are analysed and compared with individual FE thermal and FE electrical simulations. It is observed that the thermal and electrical loads are coupled like observed in other thermo-electrical machines/systems. However, this coupling effect of a thermal and electrical load was not those of prominent to either change the thermal or electrical characteristics of an insulator assembly. This indicates that the coupled field simulation can provide considerable accurate information of temperature, potential and field distribution in insulator assembly and its effects by considering the actual working field condition, i.e., thermal and electric loads acting simultaneously as compared to individual FE thermal and FE electrical simulations.
Cost of care in Iranian hemophilic patients

Background: Lifetime treatment of persons with hemophilia entails a heavy financial burden. The main goal of this study was to determine the factors influencing care cost of hemophilia A in southern Iran. Methods: The present study comprised 88 of 170 hemophilia A patients who had been registered and virtually treated in Fars Hemophilia Treatment Center in southern Iran. The data concerning patients’ characteristics and medication schedules were collected from their past medical records and staff interviews. The scale utilized by the Hemophilia Utilization Group Study (HUGS) was used to assess the status of patients’ functional health. Results: The severe, moderate and mild deficiencies of factor VIII were found in 43.2%, 21.6% and 35.2% of 88 patients respectively. The mean age in the study group was 21.8 years (±12.2) and 58 (65.9%) enjoyed high health status. In regard to laboratory records, 25 (28.4%) patients were HCV-positive, 2 (2.3%) HBS-positive and all were HIV negative. The average cost of care for a patient with Hemophilia A was $8,510 (±8,066) and the total annual costs were significantly (p< 0.05) associated with: severity of arthropathy, presence of factor VIII inhibitor and its titer, severity of factor VIII deficiency, positive HCV infection and functional health status. Costs unrelated to foregoing factors included only 1% of the total. Conclusion: The total cost of patient care was correlated with severity of factor deficiency, arthropathy, positive HCV infection and functional health status. Financial resources to meet factorunrelated costs should increase, in order to provide patients with improved quality of medical care.
Favorable Response of Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma to Targeted 177Lu-DOTATATE Therapy: Will PRRT Evolve to Become an Important Approach in Receptor-Positive Cases?

This report illustrates an excellent partial response of Merkel cell carcinoma with multiple bilobar hepatic metastases to a single cycle of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 177Lu-DOTATATE. This response, coupled with minimal side effects, warrants consideration of this therapy early in the disease course (rather than at an advanced stage after failure of other therapies) if the metastatic lesions exhibit adequate tracer avidity on somatostatin receptor–based imaging. Our patient showed progression of systemic disease after having undergone a second surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy to the head and neck, as well as chemotherapy, and hence was considered a candidate for PRRT. In a pretreatment study, the metastatic lesions demonstrated avidity to both somatostatin receptors and 18F-FDG. Three months after the first cycle of treatment, when the patient was being evaluated for a second cycle, both imaging parameters showed evidence of a partial response that included nearly complete resolution of the two previously seen lesions. In view of the relatively good tolerability, minimal side effects, and targeted nature of the treatment, PRRT may evolve to become the first-line therapy for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma and should be examined further in a larger number of patients.
Evaluating the Role of Routine Prone Acquisition on Visual Evaluation of SPECT Images

Attenuation artifacts reduce our ability to evaluate perfusion of affected myocardial segments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of routine prone-position image evaluation within a stepwise visual interpretation of myocardial perfusion studies. Methods: We have included 279 consecutive patients who were referred for evaluation of myocardial ischemia. All patients underwent routine electrocardiogram-gated supine SPECT imaging and non–electrocardiogram-gated prone-position SPECT imaging. Three nuclear medicine physicians interpreted the images in the following order: polar maps, supine images, raw images, motion-frozen gated images, and prone images, using a scale of 0–4. Segments with perfusion abnormalities were noted. Results: All physicians reported lower proportions of equivocal evaluations after evaluating prone images (18.3% vs. 4.7%, 19% vs. 11.1%, and 12.2% vs. 6.1%, P < 0.0001, P = 0.0077, and P = 0.0125, respectively). At the prone stage, normalcy rates were 89%, 87%, and 91%. Two physicians had significantly increased normalcy rates at the prone stage (72%–89%, P = 0.039, and 66%–87%, P = 0.006). At the prone stage, a decision reversal to normal or probably normal was observed in 40% (29/72), 33% (17/51), and 43% (21/48). In men, apical, mid, and basal inferior walls and in women apical and mid parts of anterior walls were more likely to be attributed to attenuation. The 2 steps that increased normalcy rates for interpreters were the review of raw images and of prone images. Conclusion: Routine prone imaging increases interpretive certainty and interobserver agreement and changes the final evaluation in a substantial number of patients and significantly decreases the number of equivocal evaluations.
Early Marriage Among Women In Developing Countries

This study examines trends in first marriage consensual unions and cohabiting unions among adolescents. Data were obtained for 40 countries from Demographic and Health Surveys. Marriage timing was grouped for the proportion of all women aged 20-24 years who married by ages 15 18 and 20 years. Women were most likely to marry at young ages in sub-Saharan Africa. 60-92% of women aged 20-24 years married by age 20. High proportions of early marriage were found in Bangladesh Guatemala India and Yemen. In developing countries other than sub-Saharan African countries marriages before the age of 18 years ranged between 20% and 33%. Marriages before the age of 20 years ranged between 33% and 50%. In developed countries such as France or the US first marriage by the age of 18 years among 20-24 years olds represented 11% of all first marriages. Japan was one of the few countries with a very low proportion of early marriages: 2% of 20-24 year olds married before the age of 20 years. Marriage before the age of 18 years was uncommon in Botswana Namibia the Philippines Sri Lanka and Tunisia and comparable to US and French proportions. Marriage before the age of 15 years was common only in Bangladesh and Niger (50%). Very early marriage ranged between 10% and 27% in Cameroon Liberia Mali Nigeria Senegal Togo Uganda Guatemala India Indonesia Pakistan Sudan and Yemen. The median age at first marriage ranged widely within and across regions. Over time the proportion married before the age of 20 years declined for cohorts aged 20-24 years 30-34 years and 40-44 years. The magnitude of decline in the proportion married before age 20 varied substantially across regions. Increases were larger and more widespread in North Africa the Middle East and Asia. Later age at marriage was more prevalent among urban women in countries with greater urbanization and among women with at least a secondary education in urban areas.
A new approach to the preparation of models for FE analyses

Most of the time, preparing a model for an FE analysis from a CAD model requires tedious tasks of geometric modelling to generate the component shape suited for that analysis. Detail removal and shape idealisation treatments are among the operations required to obtain the component shape for a given analysis. Here, it is intended to describe how an appropriate geometric model and a set of geometric operators may significantly improve the efficiency of the FE model preparation phase. The geometric model proposed is based on a polyhedral representation of a component associated to a set of three categories of operators enabling: skin detail removal, topological changes, manifold changes (dimension reduction). These operators are associated to mechanical data to control the component shape changes. The above sets of treatments also accept a large variety of data as input: tessellated models produced by CAD systems, digitised models or pre-existing finite element models.
Technical Advances in Image Guidance of Radionuclide Therapy

Internal radiation therapy with radionuclides (i.e., radionuclide therapy) owes its success to the many advantages over other, more conventional, treatment options. One distinct advantage of radionuclide therapies is the potential to use (part of) the emitted radiation for imaging of the radionuclide distribution. The combination of diagnostic and therapeutic properties in a set of matched radiopharmaceuticals (sometimes combined in a single radiopharmaceutical) is often referred to as theranostics and allows accurate diagnostic imaging before therapy. The use of imaging benefits treatment planning, dosimetry, and assessment of treatment response. This paper focuses on a selection of advances in imaging technology relevant for image guidance of radionuclide therapy. This involves developments in nuclear imaging modalities, as well as other anatomic and functional imaging modalities. The quality and quantitative accuracy of images used for guidance of radionuclide therapy is continuously being improved, which in turn may improve the therapeutic outcome and efficiency of radionuclide therapies.
Antigenicity and allergenicity of cow milk hydrolysates intended for infant feeding

Allergenicity and antigenicity of various commercially available cow milk hydrolysates intended for infant feeding were analysed in 45 children with cow milk allergy. The hydrolysates included the whey hydrolysates Beba HA® (Good Start HA®) and Profylac®, and the casein hydrolysates Alimentum® and Nutramigen®. Positive skin prick tests were recorded against Beba HA in 10 of 41 tested children (24%), against Profylac® in 5/34 (15%) and in one each (2.5%) against Alimentum and Nutramigen. Double‐blind placebo‐controlled oral challenge tests were performed in 11 children with cow milk allergy using Alimentum, cow milk (positive control) and their regular well‐tolerated formula (Nutramigen or soy) used as negative control. One child reacted to Alimentum. This patient was the only one with circulating antibodies against the product, as indicated by a positive RAST. High density SDS‐PAGE electrophoresis showed that Beba HA contained a number of unresolved proteins, and non‐degraded or partially degraded whey proteins in the range of 5–20 kD. Profylac contained strongly stained protein material in the low molecular weight region 1–10 kD. No protein bands could be identified in the casein‐based hydrolysates. Residual antigenicity was tested by measuring the content of betalactoglobulin in the hydrolysates. Three of the hydrolysates contained < 0.06 μg/g dry weight, while the concentration in Beba HA was 200 μg/g dry weight. Positive RAST against Beba HA was detected in 11/45 sera (24%) compared to 7–13% against the other hydrolysates. RAST inhibition with the hydrolysates using cow milk discs was very low for all of them. Using dot immuno‐binding assay a weak IgE binding with Alimentum was detected in 4 sera, Beba HA and Profylac in each 2 sera and with Nutramigen in one. The data taken together show that all 4 tested hydrolysates retain some allergenicity. There were differences between the products, one of the whey hydrolysates being substantially more allergenic and antigenic than the other tested formulas. The casein hydrolysate Alimentum showed few reactions in vivo and in vitro in this selected group of children but one child reacted when challenged with Alimentum, indicating that there is a risk for general reactions when using any hydrolysed product in subjects allergic to cow milk.
Medial and Lateral Quadriceps Muscle Activity during Weight-Bearing Knee Extension Exercise

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of weight-bearing terminal knee extension (WBKE) on normalized mean electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) and the VMO/VL ratio. Sixteen subjects with no history of knee dysfunction participated. Surface EMG data were recorded from the VMO and VL of subjects' test legs as they performed the WBKE exercise under four conditions, three involving elastic resistance and one involving no elastic resistance. EMG data were normalized relative to a maximal isometric quadriceps contraction, and overall mean VMO and VL activity and the VMO/VL ratio were determined for all conditions. The three conditions utilizing elastic resistance showed higher mean VMO and VL activity than the no-resistance condition. The VMO/ VL ratio was not significantly altered during any exercise condition as compared to maximal, quadriceps setting exercise. WBKE against elastic resistance was superior to the same exercise without r.
Factors associated with different responses to combination antiretroviral therapy in an observational cohort study of HIV-1 infected patients

The introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) into clinical practice for the treatment of HIV in 1995-1996 has led to dramatic reductions in mortality and morbidity. Factors linked to a positive response to therapy include a potent and tolerable regimen, good adherence and low levels of HIV drug resistance. The aims of this thesis were to investigate factors potentially associated with different responses to cART measured using virological and immunological predictive markers, and also to look at the development of toxicities to a specific regimen. The analyses were based on data from the EuroSIDA study, which is an observational cohort of 14,310 HIV-1 infected patients from Europe, Israel and Argentina. Data collected includes demographic history, CD4 cell counts, viral loads and details of all drugs taken. EuroSIDA also collects viral sequence data for its resistance database. Investigation into virological response to first-line cART across geographical regions found evidence of variation, which was most apparent in early-cART years. Virological response improved over calendar time in all regions, especially in East Europe. Neither HIV-1 subtype nor transmitted drug resistance (TDR) were found to be associated with virological response to cART, however statistical power was limited. A significantly decreased risk of virological failure was found in patients starting efavirenz compared with nevirapine, which did not appear to be explained by baseline drug resistance. Finally, incidence of abacavir discontinuation due to a hypersensitivity reaction side effect of the drug appeared to be higher in patients starting abacavir as part of first-line therapy but decreased in recent years. In conclusion, this thesis has compared a variety of different responses to antiretroviral therapy across subsets of a large heterogeneous population. It is hoped that these findings will contribute to research in monitoring trends in response to therapy and provide insight into association with the genetic variability of the virus.
Consideration of Optimal Time Window for Pittsburgh Compound B PET Summed Uptake Measurements

The standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR, or summed tissue ratio) has been used effectively in Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET studies to distinguish subjects who have significant amyloid-β deposition in their brain from those who do not. Relative to quantitative measurements, advantages of the SUVR are improved study feasibility and low test–retest variation; disadvantages include inherent bias (PiB retention overestimation) and potential for time-varying outcomes. The PiB SUVR has proven to be highly correlated with quantitative outcomes and to allow reliable detection of significant group differences (or effective contrasts). In this work, regional PiB SUVRs were examined across 9 time windows to select the window that provided the best trade-offs between bias, correlation, and effective contrast. Methods: A total of 40 dynamic PiB PET studies were performed on controls (n = 16), patients with Alzheimer disease (AD; n = 11), and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 13) (555 MBq [15 mCi], 90-min scan, and arterial blood sampling). The SUVR was computed for five 20-min and four 30-min windows that spanned the 30- to 90-min postinjection period. The SUVRs were compared with Logan graphical distribution volume ratio (DVR) measurements (35–90 min), determined with arterial blood as input and without arterial blood as input (cerebellum as reference). Results: Greater correlation and more bias were generally observed for the SUVR measurement at later times than at earlier times (relative to DVR). The effective contrast between the control and AD PiB SUVRs was slightly better for earlier data than for later data. The temporal dynamics of the SUVR measurement indicated greater stability in the measurement at 40 min after injection. Conclusion: The 50- to 70-min time window provided a good compromise between physiologic validity, stability, sensitivity, and clinical feasibility across the control, MCI, and AD subject data examined in this study. The 40- to 60-min period demonstrated many advantages and should be used in studies limited by low injected dose. Although more biased than the 40- to 60-min SUVR, the 50- to 70-min SUVR was thought to be optimal because of greater measurement stability, which may prove to be important for longitudinal multisite studies performed in control, MCI, and AD subjects that are not dose-limited.
An adaptive segmentation method using MRF model for suburban aerial images

An adaptive image segmentation method using Markov random field model for suburban aerial images is presented in this paper. The image is modelled as a collection of regions characterised by slowly moving averages and standard deviation. Decreasing sized windows are used to calculate the moving averages during the iteration process. A function based weighting parameter between the two components in the energy function is also used to improve the performance of unsupervised segmentation. A hierarchical implementation scheme is also introduced to reduce the computation load and increase the segmentation speed.