Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating Posture-Recognition Performance in Sensing Garments Using Geometric Wrinkle Modeling

A fundamental challenge limiting information quality obtained from smart sensing garments is the influence of textile movement relative to limbs. We present and validate a comprehensive modeling and simulation framework to predict recognition performance in casual loose-fitting garments. A statistical posture and wrinkle-modeling approach is introduced to simulate sensor orientation errors pertained to local garment wrinkles. A metric was derived to assess fitting, the body-garment mobility. We validated our approach by analyzing simulations of shoulder and elbow rehabilitation postures with respect to experimental data using actual casual garments. Results confirmed congruent performance trends with estimation errors below 4% for all study participants. Our approach allows to estimate the impact of fitting before implementing a garment and performing evaluation studies with it. These simulations revealed critical design parameters for garment prototyping, related to performed body posture, utilized sensing modalities, and garment fitting. We concluded that our modeling approach can substantially expedite design and development of smart garments through early-stage performance analysis.
ReTool: Interactive Microtask and Workflow Design through Demonstration

In addition to simple form filling, there is an increasing need for crowdsourcing workers to perform freeform interactions directly on content in microtask crowdsourcing (e.g. proofreading articles or specifying object boundary in an image). Such microtasks are often organized within well-designed workflows to optimize task quality and workload distribution. However, designing and implementing the interface and workflow for such microtasks is challenging because it typically requires programming knowledge and tedious manual effort. We present ReTool, a web-based tool for requesters to design and publish interactive microtasks and workflows by demonstrating the microtasks for text and image content. We evaluated ReTool against a task-design tool from a popular crowdsourcing platform and showed the advantages of ReTool over the existing approach.
Using background colors to support program comprehension in software product lines

Background: Software product line engineering provides an effective mechanism to implement variable software. However, the usage of preprocessors, which is typical in industry, is heavily criticized, because it often leads to obfuscated code. Using background colors to support comprehensibility has shown effective, however, scalability to large software product lines (SPLs) is questionable. Aim: Our goal is to implement and evaluate scalable usage of background colors for industrial-sized SPLs. Method: We designed and implemented scalable concepts in a tool called FeatureCommander. To evaluate its effectiveness, we conducted a controlled experiment with a large real-world SPL with over 160,000 lines of code and 340 features. We used a within-subjects design with treatments colors and no colors. We compared correctness and response time of tasks for both treatments. Results: For certain kinds of tasks, background colors improve program comprehension. Furthermore, subjects generally favor background colors. Conclusion: We show that background colors can improve program comprehension in large SPLs. Based on these encouraging results, we will continue our work improving program comprehension in large SPLs.
Probe and Sensors Development for Level Measurement of Fats, Oils and Grease in Grease Boxes

The wide spread of food outlets has become an environmental and sanitation infrastructure problem, due to Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG). A grease box is used at the industrials facilities to collect the FOG, in a specific time window, while its quality is good for recycling (e.g., biodiesel) and it is economically valuable. After this period, it will be disposed at a cost. For the proper management of the grease boxes, it is necessary to know the quantity of FOG inside the boxes, which is a major problem, as the boxes are sealed and permanently filled with water. The lack of homogeneity of the FOG renders it not detectable by current probes for level detection in liquids. In this article, the design, development and testing of a set of probes for FOG level measurement, based on the principles used in sensors for the detection of liquids inside containers, is described. The most suitable probe, based on the capacitance principle, together with the necessary hardware and software modules for data acquisition and transmission, was developed and tested. After the development phase, the probe was integrated on a metropolitan system for FOG collection and grease box management in partnership with a grease box management company.
Radial effect in stochastic diagonal approximate greatest descent

Stochastic Diagonal Approximate Greatest Descent (SDAGD) is proposed to manage the optimization in two stages, (a) apply a radial boundary to estimate step length when the weights are far from solution, (b) apply Newton method when the weights are within the solution level set. This is inspired by a multi-stage decision control system where different strategies is used at different conditions. In numerical optimization context, larger steps should be taken at the beginning of optimization and gradually reduced when it is near to the minimum point. Nevertheless, the intuition of determining the radial boundary when the optimized parameters are far from the solution is yet to be investigated for high dimensional data. Radial step length in SDAGD manipulates the relative step length for iteration construction. SDAGD is implemented in a two layer Multilayer Perceptron to evaluate the effects of R on artificial neural networks. It is concluded that the greater the value of R, the higher the learning rate of SDAGD algorithm when the value of R is constrained in between 100 to 10,000.
The propensity of e‐commerce usage: the influencing variables

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address online consumer behavior in purchase decision making. Research – in the form of various psychological and sociological studies – has recently provided many theoretical models to explain how consumers utilize new technologies.Design/methodology/approach – The intention of this study is to utilize these existing theories, not simply adapt them to the phenomenon of e‐commerce, but to question and, therefore, change fundamental variables. The main variables have been tested together using a statistical methodology not previously applied to this type of problem: the classification and regression trees (CART) procedure.Findings – The survey results confirm that, in addition to utilitarian aspects of online use, the perception of the usefulness of the system, very important seem to be the hedonistic aspects related to the higher or lower emotional commitment. In the first instance, the online purchase intention is influenced by the construct of playfulness, follo.
Constructing Structural Equation Model Rule-Based Fuzzy System with Genetic Algorithm

The present study uses the structural equation model SEM to analyze the correlations between various economic indices pertaining to latent variables, such as the New Taiwan Dollar NTD value, the United States Dollar USD value, and USD index. In addition, a risk factor of volatility of currency returns is considered to develop a risk-controllable fuzzy inference system. The rational and linguistic knowledge-based fuzzy rules are established based on the SEM model and then optimized using the genetic algorithm. The empirical results reveal that the fuzzy logic trading system using the SEM indeed outperforms the buy-and-hold strategy. Moreover, when considering the risk factor of currency volatility, the performance appears significantly better. Remarkably, the trading strategy is apparently affected when the USD value or the volatility of currency returns shifts into either a higher or lower state.
ProtoPeer: Distributed systems prototyping toolkit

Simulators are an excellent tool for quick systems prototyping and large-scale parameter sweeps, but they cannot match the accuracy of live network evaluations. Switching from the simulation to the actual implementation often requires a considerable development effort. Network I/O implementation, measurement instrumentation, deployment automation and distributed debugging are among the most time consuming tasks that the developers face. Moreover, large parts of the ap plication code existing in the simulator are not reused in the actual system. Bridging the gap between the simulation and the actual system deployment was the primary motivation for developing ProtoPeer [1], the framework presented in this talk.
HPV vaccination with Gardasil®: a breakthrough in women’s health

Human papillomavirus (HPV) represents one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Although infection is often self-limited, a percentage of women with HPV infection will go on to develop cervical precancerous or cancerous lesions. It is estimated that HPV16 is responsible for approximately half of all cervical cancers worldwide. Several studies have tested vaccines directed against specific HPV types, namely types 6, 11, 16 and 18. This paper reviews these studies, particularly focusing on a quadrivalent (type 6, 11, 16 and 18) HPV L1 virus-like particle vaccine under investigation in Phase III trials at present. Data indicate that this vaccine, referred to as Gardasil®, can prevent precancerous cervical lesions and early in situ cervical cancers with few adverse effects, and the vaccine has been approved by the FDA for this indication. Another vaccine, HPV16 L1, directed solely against HPV16, has also been demonstrated to be effective (at present, follow-up has been for up to 48 months) in providing protection against persistent infection with this viral strain and preventing HPV16-related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3, while producing minimal adverse effects in recipients. Given the lack of a pharmacological intervention that can eradicate HPV in infected individuals and the prevalence of cervical cancer secondary to HPV infection across the world, the HPV vaccine represents a significant breakthrough in women’s health.
Bad news from an aberrant city: a critical analysis of the British press's portrayal of organised crime and the refuse crisis in Naples

This article examines the coverage of Naples since 2000 in the Guardian and the Independent, paying particular attention to their portrayal of the Camorra and the refuse crisis. It argues that this coverage was not simply riddled with stereotypes but was also characterised by significant inaccuracies and omissions. Analysts in Italy have detailed how the trash emergency in 2008 was the outcome of corporate malpractice and institutional complicity and that organised crime, although intent on exploiting the situation, was not a determining factor. The British press, instead, tended to conflate the breakdown of the urban waste cycle with the dumping of toxic waste and, by inverting cause and effect, to point the blame at the Camorra. These accounts, it is argued, are partially explained by the very nature of foreign news that seeks out dramatic and clearcut stories for an otherwise disinterested audience. They also reflect the heightened interest in the Camorra following the Secondigliano War and the English translation of Roberto Saviano's Gomorrah. However, the article suggests that it is the press's assumption that Naples is already an ‘out of the ordinary’ urban setting that ultimately precludes the possibility of an informed coverage of the city and its predicaments.
In Vivo Cytogenotoxicity and Oxidative Stress Induced by Electronic Waste Leachate and Contaminated Well Water

Environmental, plant and animal exposure to hazardous substances from electronic wastes (e-wastes) in Nigeria is increasing. In this study, the potential cytogenotoxicity of e-wastes leachate and contaminated well water samples obtained from Alaba International Electronic Market in Lagos, Nigeria, using induction of chromosome and root growth anomalies in Allium cepa , and micronucleus (MN) in peripheral erythrocytes of Clarias gariepinus, was evaluated. The possible cause of DNA damage via the assessments of liver malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as indicators of oxidative stress in mice was also investigated. There was significant ( p < 0.05) inhibition of root growth and mitosis in A. cepa. Cytological aberrations such as spindle disturbance, C-mitosis and binucleated cells, and morphological alterations like tumor and twisting roots were also induced. There was concentration-dependent, significant ( p < 0.05) induction of micronucleated erythrocytes and nuclear abnormalities such as blebbed nuclei and binucleated erythrocytes in C. gariepinus. A significant increase ( p < 0.001) in CAT, GSH and MDA with concomitant decrease in SOD concentrations were observed in the treated mice. Pb, As, Cu, Cr, and Cd analyzed in the tested samples contributed significantly to these observations. This shows that the well water samples and leachate contained substances capable of inducing somatic mutation and oxidative stress in living cells; and this is of health importance in countries with risk of e-wastes exposure.
Redefining Learning Disabilities as Inadequate Response to Instruction: The Promise and Potential Problems

In this introduction to the special issue, a response–to–instruction approach to learning disabilities (LD) identification is discussed. Then, an overview of the promise and the potential pitfalls of such an approach is provided. The potential benefits include identification of students based on risk rather than deficit, early identification and instruction, reduction of identification bias, and linkage of identification assessment with instructional planning. Questions concern the integrity of the LD concept, the need for validated interventions and assessment methods, the adequacy of response to instruction as the endpoint in identification, the appropriate instruction intensity, the need for adequately trained personnel, and due process. Finally, an overview of the articles constituting the special issue is provided.
Making sense of the glass ceiling in schools: an exploration of women teachers’ discourses

There is extensive evidence of a ‘glass ceiling’ for women across the labour market. Though schools have widely been described as ‘feminized’ work environments, the under‐representation of women at school management level is well established. Based on a study of women teachers’ careers and promotion in the English school sector (in early years, primary and secondary schools), this paper draws on a critical discourse analysis of 44 individual interviews conducted with women teachers to explore their views of the ‘glass ceiling’. Despite significant evidence of the barriers to management positions faced by women teachers, interpretative frameworks drawing on discourses of individualization and personal choice are most prominent among these to make sense of the low proportion of women in school management. However, the paper also identifies the existence of alternative discourses recognizing the existence of gender inequalities.
Results from a Survey of Medical Residents' Attitudes about Unions

A study was conducted to evaluate medical residents' attitudes toward unionization and to measure issues a residency union might pursue. Medical residents are in a transitory state between graduate student and working professional, giving them little voice in the workplace. It is possible that medical residents could be the next “niche” area for unions seeking to grow their membership. A Web-based survey was e-mailed to residents throughout the country. There were 578 responses, with residents strongly desiring health and malpractice insurance as well as free parking. The results also showed that although 82 percent would consider joining a union, only a third would help organize and form that union. Given these conflicting results, the unionization of medical residents would require new organizing techniques geared specifically for these employees.
Fluoxetine and imipramine: are there differences in cost-utility for depression in primary care?

RATIONALE Depressive disorders generate severe personal burden and high economic costs. Cost-utility analyses of the different therapeutical options are crucial to policy-makers and clinicians. Previous cost-utility studies, comparing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, have used modelling techniques or have not included indirect costs in the economic analyses. OBJECTIVE To determine the cost-utility of fluoxetine compared with imipramine for treating depressive disorders in primary care. METHODS A 6-month randomized prospective naturalistic study comparing fluoxetine with imipramine was conducted in three primary care centres in Spain. One hundred and three patients requiring antidepressant treatment for a DSM-IV depressive disorder were included in the study. Patients were randomized either to fluoxetine (53 patients) or to imipramine (50 patients) treatment. Patients were treated with antidepressants according to their general practitioner's usual clinical practice. Outcome measures were the quality of life tariff of the European Quality of Life Questionnaire: EuroQoL-5D (five domains), direct costs, indirect costs and total costs. Subjects were evaluated at the beginning of treatment and after 1, 3 and 6 months. Incremental cost-utility ratios (ICUR) were obtained. To address uncertainty in the ICUR's sampling distribution, non-parametric bootstrapping was carried out. RESULTS Taking into account adjusted total costs and incremental quality of life gained, imipramine dominated fluoxetine with 81.5% of the bootstrap replications in the dominance quadrant. CONCLUSION Imipramine seems to be a better cost-utility antidepressant option for treating depressive disorders in primary care.
Specifying Long-Term Care Provider Responsiveness to LGBT Older Adults

In-depth interviews and focus groups with lesbian, gay, and transgender older adults addressed the question “What does it mean for long-term care providers to be responsive to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults? ” Sixteen domains of long-term care provider responsiveness to LGBT older adults were identified, including awareness of centrality of partners, knowledge of importance of preferred gender expression, openness to welcoming LGBT older adults, and ability to create LGBT-safe environments. Future research should include LGBT elders who belong to ethnic minority groups, bisexual elders, and LGBT older adults who do not identify with LGBT labels.
Research dissemination in creative arts, humanities and the social sciences

An ethnographic case study of issues related to research performance and promotion of research was conducted within the Creative and Performing Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) disciplines of a regional university. The purpose of the study was to explore a variety of ways in which the research work of those disciplines could be made more visible to others, both within and outside the university. In reviewing the research performance, concerns and orientation of academics in AHSS disciplines, this paper addresses the issue of disciplinary variations in research activity and research focus, with implications both for future programs of research performance assessment, and for the promotion of research activity among currently disenfranchised AHSS academics. In the context of current Australian debates about a research quality framework, the data considered address issues of impact, rather than quality.
“Under the Weather”: The Weather Effects on U.S. Newspaper Coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics

By using computer-aided content analysis, this study examined how Beijing's weather, which was measured by the Air Pollution Index (API), temperature, and cloudiness (sunny or cloudy), might influence the coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by 4 U.S. newspapers. The results demonstrated that the API and temperature were significantly related to the negativity of the news reports that were filed from Beijing. Specifically, as Beijing's temperature rose or air pollution level increased, U.S. journalists used more negative words in reporting on the Olympics. The temperature was also correlated with the negativity of China-related reports. The findings provided evidence that journalists’ news decision making might be influenced by a greater variety of factors than we previously thought. To better understand how journalists make news decisions, it is necessary to explore not only known patterns of journalistic practices but also some exogenous factors, such as weather.
The Possible Neuronal Mechanism of Acupuncture: Morphological Evidence of the Neuronal Connection between Groin A-Shi Point and Uterus

Somatovisceral reflex suggested that the somatic stimulation could affect visceral function like acupuncture which treats diseases by stimulating acupoints. The neuronal connection between somatic point and visceral organ was not clear. Uterine pain referred to the groin region has long been recognized clinically. Wesselmann, using neurogenic plasma extravasation method, showed that uterine pain was referred to the groin region through a neuronal mechanism (Wesselmann and Lai 1997). This connection could be considered through the somatovisceral reflex pathway. However, the relay center of this pathway is still not clearly identified. In the present study, bee venom was injected in the groin region to induce central Fos expression to map the sensory innervation of groin region. Pseudorabies virus (PrV), a transneuronal tracer, was injected in the uterus to identify the higher motor control of the uterus. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed the Fos expression and PrV-infected double-labeled neurons in the nucleus of solitary tract (NTS), the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMX), and the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN). These results suggest a somatoparasympathetic neuronal connection (groin-spinal dorsal horn-NTS/DMX-uterus) and a somatosympathetic neuronal connection (groin-spinal dorsal horn-NTS-PVN-uterus). These two neuronal connections could be the prerequisites to the neuronal basis of the somatovisceral reflex and also the neuronal mechanism of acupuncture.
Whiteness in/and education

This article discusses my interactions with the teacher in whose classroom I conducted my doctoral research. That project was concerned with using transformative Drama pedagogy to reconceptualise cultural identity in multicultural curricular policy. The participants in my study comprised of 15 Grade Nine Drama students and their teacher at ‘May Valley High School’, located just outside of Toronto, Canada. During the Fall semester of the 2004–2005 academic year, I observed the students’ performances (both in and out of dramatic role) of their gender, sexuality, racial and ethnic identities. Using a performative lens to analyse the connections between their ‘fictional’ identity performances, and their ‘actual’ ones, I showed how, in this particular classroom, those connections often served to reinforce rather than challenge hegemonic constructions of social identity and identification. I suspected that this had much to do with their teacher’s pedagogical orientations and practices, with respect to multiculturalism and ethno‐cultural difference. In this article, I tease out how the ‘Whiteness’ embedded in his pedagogy served to perpetuate institutional racism at the school.