Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using force control for fidelity in low-force medical haptic simulators

In this paper the effect of force control in the fidelity of a low-force five degree-of-freedom (dof) haptic mechanism is investigated. Strict conditions that guarantee stability are presented. Our effort focuses on haptic devices, able to reproduce accurate low forces in a soft virtual environment, rather than large forces in stiff virtual environments. Open and closed loop controllers are applied to a haptic mechanism, which is a part of a training medical simulator for urological operations, and consists of a two-dof, five bar linkage and a three-dof spherical joint. The force control algorithm is described and discussed. Open and closed loop schemes are compared. Simulation and experimental results of the force control law applied to the five-dof mechanism are presented and discussed. It is shown that the use of closed loop force control law increases the haptic device fidelity and the realism of the simulation. It is also shown that in case of haptic devices used in soft virtual environments, issues like signal noise and device stiffness are more critical than maintaining system stability
On the use of opening phase slopes of the glottal signal to characterize unilateral vocal folds paralysis

This paper deals with vocal folds paralysis and the way to identify the pathology by voice analysis. More precisely, it first aims to discriminate between healthy voice and the one produced with unilateral paralyzed vocal folds and secondly to differentiate between different position of “immobile” vocal fold. For such purposes, adequate features are proposed. They are the slopes of the first and the second opening phases. Simulation results validate the features and show that slopes are higher for pathological voices than those of healthy voices. Besides, we remark a decrease in slopes values from median paralyzed (adducted) voice to totally abducted one.
Organizational learning and knowledge management: the relationship

To many in the fields of organizational learning (OL) and knowledge management (KM), the relationship between the two is something of a small mystery. The authors are practitioners coming from the KM side, who in the course of their work developed a process framework to delimit the scope of KM. They believe this framework also provides a context for viewing OL and for relating it to both social knowledge processing and KM
Blind Watermarking Scheme Based on the Sign of Wavelet Coefficients

According to the distribution property of discrete wavelet transform (DWT) subband coefficients of an image, this paper proposes a novel blind watermarking scheme based on the sign of wavelet coefficients. The positive DWT coefficients are used to represent the watermarking bit 1, and negative ones are used to denote watermarking bit 0 in this method. Experimental results show that the scheme is effective and robust to common image processing operation, such as JPEG, JPEG 2000 lossy compression, salt and pepper noise
Engaging Interventions of Vocational Rehabilitation

Taylor and Francis CIJD_A_387036. gm 10.1080/10349120902868640 International Journal of Disability, Development and Education 34-912X (print)/1465-346X (onlin ) Original Article 2 09 & Francis 56 0 00020 9 Siph Rutsa eRutsate srutsate@y hoo.com Vocational rehabilitation, edited by Jain Holmes, 2007, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing, 238 pp. + references and index, £29.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-4051-3364-7
Towards architectural knowledge management practices for global software development

In the past few years, an increasing interest in architectural knowledge is recognized in the software architecture community. Architectural knowledge is generally regarded as important to guide the development of software systems. With the trend of Global Software Development (GSD), the management of architectural knowledge becomes even more important due to the geographical, temporal, and socio-cultural distance innate to GSD. In this paper we build on the requirements engineering discipline to identify practices that can aid in overcoming GSD challenges and assess their applicability for management of architectural knowledge in a GSD setting. We provide a light-weight pattern language that we use to describe architectural knowledge management practices and provide a first validation of these practices from an ongoing case study.
Market Reaction to Stock Splits in Large and Liquid Stocks : Evidence from the Indian Stock Market

This study investigates market reaction to stock splits using the standard event study methodology. The study uses stock splits in large and liquid stocks in the Indian markets during the years 2001 to 2012. According to a semi-strong form of efficient market hypothesis, any information content associated with corporate announcements must be reflected fully on announcement day itself resulting in an abnormal return. However, several studies report abnormal returns surrounding announcement as well as effective day of stock split, and many competing hypotheses are presented to explain such abnormal returns. Studies from India on market reaction to stock splits offer mixed results. (Gupta & Gupta, 2007) find significant abnormal returns surrounding ex-split day and not surrounding announcement day. (Joshipura, 2009) and (Ray, 2011) find abnormal returns surrounding announcement day. This study reports reaction to stock split in large and liquid stocks that are constituents of NIFTY or NIFTY Junior. JEL Classification: G14 Market Reaction to Stock Splits in Large and Liquid Stocks: Evidence from the Indian Stock Market ISSN: 0971-1023 | NMIMS Management Review Double Issue: Volume XXIII October-November 2013 University Day Special Issue January 2014
Approach to infected skin ulcers.

OBJECTIVE To review the diagnosis and management of infected chronic skin ulcers. SOURCES OF INFORMATION Cochrane database, MEDLINE, and Google were searched for clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for wound care. Most recommendations found in the CPGs had level II or III evidence. Expert and consensus opinion from the Canadian Chronic Wound Advisory Board and the International Wound Bed Preparation Advisory Board were also used. MAIN MESSAGE Bacteria in skin ulcers act along a continuum from contamination through colonization and critical colonization to infection. Critical colonization is not always associated with overt signs of infection but can result in failure to heal, poor-quality granulation tissue, increased wound friability, and increased drainage. Good-quality swab samples should be an adjunct to clinical acumen, not a primary strategy for diagnosis. Iodine and silver-based dressings, topical antibiotics, and systemic antibiotics can be helpful. CONCLUSION Diagnosis of chronic wound infection is based on clinical signs and a holistic approach to patients. More research into assessment and treatment of skin ulcer infection is needed.
Quantification of the Transmural Dynamics of Atrial Fibrillation by Simultaneous Endocardial and Epicardial Optical Mapping in an Acute Sheep Model

Background—Therapy strategies for atrial fibrillation based on electric characterization are becoming viable personalized medicine approaches to treat a notoriously difficult disease. In light of these approaches that rely on high-density surface mapping, this study aims to evaluate the presence of 3-dimensional electric substrate variations within the transmural wall during acute episodes of atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results—Optical signals were simultaneously acquired from the epicardial and endocardial tissue during acute fibrillation in ovine isolated left atria. Dominant frequency, regularity index, propagation angles, and phase dynamics were assessed and correlated across imaging planes to gauge the synchrony of the activation patterns compared with paced rhythms. Static frequency parameters were well correlated spatially between the endocardium and the epicardium (dominant frequency, 0.79±0.06 and regularity index, 0.93±0.009). However, dynamic tracking of propagation vectors and phase singularity trajectories revealed discordant activity across the transmural wall. The absolute value of the difference in the number, spatial stability, and temporal stability of phase singularities between the epicardial and the endocardial planes was significantly >0 with a median difference of 1.0, 9.27%, and 19.75%, respectively. The number of wavefronts with respect to time was significantly less correlated and the difference in propagation angle was significantly larger in fibrillation compared with paced rhythms. Conclusions—Atrial fibrillation substrates are dynamic 3-dimensional structures with a range of discordance between the epicardial and the endocardial tissue. The results of this study suggest that transmural propagation may play a role in atrial fibrillation maintenance mechanisms.
An adaptive block management scheme using on-line detection of block reference patterns

Recent research has shown that near-optimal performance can be achieved by adaptive block replacement policies that use user-level hints regarding the block reference pattern. However, obtaining user-level hints requires considerable effort from users, making it difficult to apply adaptive replacement policies to diverse kinds of applications. We propose a new adaptive block management scheme that we call DEAR (DEtection-based Adaptive Replacement) which makes online detections of block reference patterns of applications using decision trees without user intervention. Based on the detected reference pattern, DEAR applies an appropriate replacement policy to each application. This scheme is suitable for buffer management in systems such as multimedia servers where data reference patterns of applications may be diverse. Results from trace-driven simulations show that the DEAR scheme can detect the reference patterns of applications and reduce the miss ratio by up to 15% compared to the LRU (least recently used) policy.
Clinical Interventions in Aging Dovepress Respiratory Training as Strategy to Prevent Cognitive Decline in Aging: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Inadequate oxygenation may cause lesions and brain atrophy during aging. Studies show a positive association between pulmonary function and the cognitive performance of individuals from middle age on. Objective: To investigate the effect of aerobic physical exercises and respiratory training on the blood oxygenation, pulmonary functions, and cognition of the elderly. Design: This was a randomized and controlled trial with three parallel groups. A total of 195 community-dwelling elderly were assessed for eligibility; only n=102 were included and allocated into the three groups, but after 6 months, n=68 were analyzed in the final sample. Participants were randomized into a social interaction group (the control group), an aerobic exercise group (the " walking " group), or a respiratory training group (the " breathing " group). The main outcome measures were the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Wechsler Memory Scale, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, respiratory muscular strength, cirtometry (thoracic– abdominal circumference); oxygen saturation in arterial blood (SpO 2), and hemogram. Results: No differences were observed for any of the blood parameters. Aerobic exercise and respiratory training were effective in improving the pulmonary parameters. Better cognitive performance was observed for the breathing group as regards abstraction and mental flexibility. The walking group remained stable in the cognitive performance of most of the tests, except attention. The control group presented worst performance in mental manipulation of information , abstraction, mental flexibility, and attention. Conclusion: Our results showed that both the walking and breathing groups presented improvement of pulmonary function. However, only the breathing group showed improved cognitive function (abstraction, mental flexibility). The improvement in cognitive functions cannot be explained by blood parameters, such as SpO 2 , erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.
The Mature Entrepreneur: A Narrative Approach to Entrepreneurial Goals

The majority of existing research on entrepreneurial goals is individualistically oriented and tends to begin with the assumption that entrepreneurs are animated solely by the pursuit of independence, freedom and profit-making. In this study, we employ Kant’s concept of maturity to develop insight into entrepreneurial goals as socially embedded. Drawing on a narrative orientation we explore how entrepreneurs articulate their goals and the images they use to metaphorically express these goals. We find that entrepreneurs articulate goals that evoke public, social and moral concerns alongside the more commonly accepted entrepreneurial goals of independence and challenging existing orthodoxies.
Modal Gating of Human CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) Calcium Channels

The single channel gating properties of human CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) calcium channels and their modulation by the auxiliary β1b, β2e, β3a, and β4a subunits were investigated with cell-attached patch-clamp recordings on HEK293 cells stably expressing human CaV2.1 channels. These calcium channels showed a complex modal gating, which is described in this and the following paper (Fellin, T., S. Luvisetto, M. Spagnolo, and D. Pietrobon. 2004. J. Gen. Physiol. 124:463–474). Here, we report the characterization of two modes of gating of human CaV2.1 channels, the slow mode and the fast mode. A channel in the two gating modes differs in mean closed times and latency to first opening (both longer in the slow mode), in voltage dependence of the open probability (larger depolarizations are necessary to open the channel in the slow mode), in kinetics of inactivation (slower in the slow mode), and voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation (occurring at less negative voltages in the slow mode). CaV2.1 channels containing any of the four β subtypes can gate in either the slow or the fast mode, with only minor differences in the rate constants of the transitions between closed and open states within each mode. In both modes, CaV2.1 channels display different rates of inactivation and different steady-state inactivation depending on the β subtype. The type of β subunit also modulates the relative occurrence of the slow and the fast gating mode of CaV2.1 channels; β3a promotes the fast mode, whereas β4a promotes the slow mode. The prevailing mode of gating of CaV2.1 channels lacking a β subunit is a gating mode in which the channel shows shorter mean open times, longer mean closed times, longer first latency, a much larger fraction of nulls, and activates at more positive voltages than in either the fast or slow mode.
Selbsterhaltungstherapie: Konzept, klinische Praxis und bisherige Ergebnisse

Zusammenfassung: Mit der Selbsterhaltungstherapie (SET) wurde ein (neuro)psychologisch fundiertes Rehabilitationsprogramm fur Demenzkranke, insbesondere fur Personen mit einer Alzheimer Demenz, konzipiert und in dieser Zeitschrift zum ersten Mal veroffentlicht (Romero & Eder, 1992). Als ubergeordnetes Rehabilitationsziel wurde die Erhaltung des Selbst in seiner Koharenz und Funktionsfahigkeit eingefuhrt. Die SET fand Anwendung in der klinischen Praxis, sowohl im ambulanten und stationaren Bereich wie in Heimen. Die meisten Erfahrungen liegen aus dem Alzheimer Therapiezentrum (ATZ) Bad Aibling vor. Das ATZ bietet stationar medikamentose Behandlung in Verbindung mit einem Rehabilitationsprogramm fur Demenzkranke und einem psychoedukativen Programm fur betreuende Angehorige an. Die Ergebnisse der bisherigen begleitenden empirischen Studien zeigen eine Verbesserung des Wohlbefindens (z. B. der Depressivitat) nach der Behandlung, sowohl bei Kranken als auch bei Angehorigen. Mogliche Wirkmechanismen des therape.
Accounting textbooks: Exploring the production of a cultural and political artifact

Abstract This paper explores the production of introductory financial accounting textbooks in the UK. Despite being a pervasive pedagogical device (see Brown and Guilding, 1993, Accounting Education: an international journal, 4(2) pp. 211–218), there has been little research carried out which examines the role or contents of textbooks in accounting education. This is a surprising gap in the literature when one considers the numerous concerns that have been expressed regarding the content of accounting education, the values which it projects and the type of student which it produces. Drawing on contemporary research into textbooks, this paper considers accounting textbooks to be ‘cultural artifacts’ which may reflect the cultural, ideological, and political interests of particular groups in society. In this regard, introductory financial textbooks have the potential to reinforce cultural homogeneity through the advancement of shared attitudes. This study is based upon 12 semi-structured interviews with both textbook authors and commissioning editors. Results indicate that the contents of textbooks are the product of complex social and cultural relations. Whilst conflicts and negotiations may characterize the production process, the knowledge that is considered most ‘legitimate’ tends to be mandated, either directly or indirectly, by professional accounting bodies through course accreditation requirements. Furthermore, this knowledge reflects wider cultural issues and assumptions regarding the structure of society and of how it should be organized.
Scalable mobile video question-answering system with locally aggregated descriptors and random projection

We present a scalable mobile video Question-Answering system with locally aggregated descriptors and random projection using user-generated videos all around the world for ACM Multimedia 2011 Technicolor challenge: "precise event recognition and description from video excerpts. " Our proposed system takes a video excerpt as a query and explores its canonical semantics of that. We collect a public events video dataset containing 7 topics with 1963 YouTube videos to evaluate our proposed system. The experiment results show that our proposed video feature representation outperforms a state-of-the-art near-duplicate retrieval based on color histogram. The signature generated by random projection not only ensures real-time efficiency but also achieves a competitive MAP performance with original feature.
Coupled Congestion Control for WebRTC

Congestion occurs at a bottleneck along an Internet path. Multiple flows between the same sender and receiver pairs can benefit from using only a single congestion control instance when they share the same bottleneck. These benefits include the ability to control the rate allocation between flows and reduced overall delay (multiple congestion control instances cause more queuing delay than one since each has no knowledge of the congestion episodes experienced by the others). We present a mechanism for coupling congestion control for real-time media and show its benefits by coupling multiple congestion controlled flows that share the same bottleneck.
International Journal of Computational Fluid Dynamics a Von Neumann–smagorinsky Turbulent Transport Model for Stratified Shear Flows a Von Neumann–smagorinsky Turbulent Transport Model for Stratified Shear Flows

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. A simple subgrid turbulent diffusion model based on an analogy to the von Neumann–Richtmyer artificial viscosity is explored for use in modelling mixing in turbulent stratified shear flow. The model may be more generally applicable to multicomponent turbulent hydrodynamics and to subgrid turbulent transport of momentum, composition and energy. As in the case of the von Neumann artificial viscosity and many subgrid-scale models for large-eddy simulation, the turbulent diffusivity explicitly depends on the grid size and is not based on a quantitative model of the unresolved turbulence. In order to address the issue that it is often not known a priori when and where a flow will become turbulent, the turbulent diffusivity is set to zero when the flow is expected to be stable on the basis of a Richardson/Rayleigh–Taylor stability criterion, in analogy to setting the von Neumann artificial viscosity to zero in expanding flows. One-dimensional predictions of this model applied to a simple shear flow configuration are compared to those obtained using a K–e model. The density and velocity profiles predicted by both models are shown to be very similar. 1. Introduction Turbulent diffusion in heterogeneous or multicompo-nent flows and turbulent heat transport in general is nearly ubiquitous and of great importance. Direct numerical simulation of these flows that resolves all spatiotemporal scales present is likely to long remain infeasible. The finer scales of heterogeneity are still large enough that microscopic transport processes (diffusion, viscosity and conductivity) do not smooth out the variations in the corresponding physical variables. It is then important to have a phenomen-ological, efficient and computationally robust algorithm that well describes the onset and effects of turbulence on the resolved flow. When the composition of the fluid is heterogeneous the most important questions …
Fluent Identification of Repeated

We propose that fluent identification of a repeated word is based on a form of episodic memory for the context-specific interpretation applied during the word's initial processing episode. In a lexical decision paradigm, fluent responses to repeated words were associated with a change in decision bias rather than perceptual sensitivity. Repetition effects were reduced or eliminated when the context word accompanying a repeated homograph was changed so that a different meaning was implied. A context-sensitive repetition effect was also obtained when repeated homographs served as context words for nonrepeated targets, suggesting a role for integral processing of context and target. In a word naming paradigm, repetition effects showed a weaker and different form of context sensitivity and were obtained even when the initial presentation was auditory, did not require articulation, or involved a visually dissimilar letter string (e.g., krooze for cruise). These results are taken as support for an account of long-term repetition effects that emphasizes episodic memory for context-specific interpretations of a word.