Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ensembles of Generative Adversarial Networks for Disconnected Data

Most current computer vision datasets are composed of disconnected sets, such as images from different classes. We prove that distributions of this type of data cannot be represented with a continuous generative network without error. They can be represented in two ways: With an ensemble of networks or with a single network with truncated latent space. We show that ensembles are more desirable than truncated distributions in practice. We construct a regularized optimization problem that establishes the relationship between a single continuous GAN, an ensemble of GANs, conditional GANs, and Gaussian Mixture GANs. This regularization can be computed efficiently, and we show empirically that our framework has a performance sweet spot which can be found with hyperparameter tuning. This ensemble framework allows better performance than a single continuous GAN or cGAN while maintaining fewer total parameters.
Nursing Protocol for Telephonic Supervision of Clients

&NA; Access to care, client vulnerabilities, technology, and health costs affect not only the delivery of health care but also the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for nurses. Patients a re often managed in the home or discharged from hospitals before they or their families a re ready. To address some of these needs, nurses a re utilizing telehealth opportunities. For many nurses, telehealth translates to telephonic nursing. This article provides an algorithm that nurses can utilize in order to safely monitor patients in their homes. This can be a cost‐effective program, particularly for those who are homebound or for persons, such as the elderly or those with chronic illness, who have long‐term needs that vary between relative health and acute illness. This algorithm serves as a guide in our nursing practice for the telephonic supervision of patients in the home environment.
Effects of TV Advertising on Keyword Search

This paper investigates the possibility that television advertising influences online search using the AOL search dataset. It uses a novel keyword mining technique to classify keywords as brand related, category related (generic), or unrelated, distinguishing between category search and consumers' tendency to search a branded keyword. A three-level conditional choice model is estimated to determine whether hourly changes in brands' television advertising expenditures are related to deviations from baseline trends in search behaviors. The results indicate a statistically significant relationship between TV advertising and consumers' tendency to search branded keywords (e.g. “Fidelity”) rather than generic category-related keywords (e.g. “stocks”) in the dataset. The effect is largest for relatively young brands during standard business hours with an elasticity, . 07, comparable to extant measurements of advertising's impact on sales. However, television advertising is not found to influence category search incidence and has limited effects on click-through rates.
Financing Infrastructure in India: Macroeconomic Lessons and Emerging Market Case Studies

Driving infrastructure development, notably mobilizing financial resources for infrastructure projects, has been challenging in many countries. This study includes two parts: an empirical analysis of macroeconomic risks associated with infrastructure booms, and a case study of four emerging economies about their practice of funding infrastructure development. The study shows that (i) there is no empirical evidence that rapid infrastructure growth would undermine contemporary macroeconomic performance, implying that room is created to accommodate infrastructure booms without compromising fiscal and external sustainability; (ii) banks may play an important role in financing infrastructure, but caution is needed to avoid directed lending and regulatory forbearance that the authorities may use to promote financing; (iii) capital market development is important to accommodate the usually high financing needs, and encouraging private investors to move into infrastructure would require regulatory and institutional improvements; and (iv) public support, including credit guarantees, may help bolster investors’ confidence, but the authorities should carefully monitor and manage fiscal risks.
Parsip : An Implicit Surfaces Polygonizer for Multi-Core Architectures

Implicit surfaces are a mathematical representation of objects in computer graphics which are able to create smooth surfaces that can blend with each other automatically. They provide the foundation for models that can be used in games, animation, scientific simulation and visualization. Interactive design systems that use polygonization methods for visualization of implicit surfaces have difficulty in matching up interactive frame rates required for fast response to user changes. This is one of the reasons that implicit surfaces are not widely adapted by design artists. In this work we propose a multi-core accelerated algorithm for high performance rendering of skeletal implicit primitives that combine blend, constructive solid geometry, warp and affine transformations in a tree data structure known as Blobtree. Our method provides interactive frame rates for highly complex models.
Dimensions of Social Impairment and Their Effect on Depression and Recovery Following Stroke

Prior studies have identified that quality of social functioning is strongly associated with both physical and cognitive recovery from stroke as well as with the existence of depression. This study was undertaken to identify the specific elements of social functioning that are related to depression and impaired recovery and to determine whether these elements are different between acute and chronic periods following stroke. There were 50 patients with acute stroke who were assessed in the hospital and at short-term (3- or 6-month) and long-term (12- or 24-month) follow-up. An impaired relationship with the patient's “closest other” prior to the stroke and limited social activities were both associated with depression immediately after the stroke as well as with depression at long-term follow-up. An impaired relationship with the closest other prior to the stroke was also associated with impaired recovery in activities of daily living and cognitive recovery at long-term follow-up. Fears of economic stability and limited social activity were associated with depression at short-term follow-up whereas loss of job or job satisfaction was associated with depression at long-term follow-up. These findings suggest that during the first few weeks following stroke, social supports and contact are essential needs for patients, whereas during the chronic period, other factors such as financial security, adequacy of living arrangements, and loss of job satisfaction also become important. Future research should examine the effect of enhanced social support on poststroke depression and physical and cognitive recovery.
Substrate Specificity of Human Collagenase 3 Assessed Using a Phage-displayed Peptide Library*

The substrate specificity of human collagenase 3 (MMP-13), a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family, is investigated using a phage-displayed random hexapeptide library containing 2 × 108 independent recombinants. A total of 35 phage clones that express a peptide sequence that can be hydrolyzed by the recombinant catalytic domain of human collagenase 3 are identified. The translated DNA sequence of these clones reveals highly conserved putative P1, P2, P3 and P1′, P2′, and P3′ subsites of the peptide substrates. Kinetic analysis of synthetic peptide substrates made from human collagenase 3 selected phage clones reveals that some of the substrates are highly active and selective. The most active substrate, 2,4-dinitrophenyl-GPLGMRGL-NH2 (CP), has a k cat/K m value of 4.22 × 106 m − 1s− 1 for hydrolysis by collagenase 3. CP was synthesized as a consensus sequence deduced from the preferred subsites of the aligned 35 phage clones. Peptide substrate CP is 1300-, 11-, and 820-fold selective for human collagenase 3 over the MMPs stromelysin-1, gelatinase B, and collagenase 1, respectively. In addition, cleavage of CP is 37-fold faster than peptide NF derived from the major MMP-processing site in aggrecan. Phage display screening also selected five substrate sequences that share sequence homology with a major MMP cleavage sequence in aggrecan and seven substrate sequences that share sequence homology with the primary collagenase cleavage site of human type II collagen. In addition, putative cleavage sites similar to the consensus sequence are found in human type IV collagen. These findings support previous observations that human collagenase 3 can degrade aggrecan, type II and type IV collagens.
An Investigation Of Perceived Service Quality In Online Shopping: A Hierarchical Approach

Online retailing is a new but fast growing phenomenon in many countries around the world. The fast pace at which it is growing is resulting in stiff competition on the online market space. Many firms now realise that they cannot only rely on low prices as a source of competitive advantage and are looking for other effective ways of differentiating themselves so as to attract more customers and enhance their satisfaction with their online stores. This paper investigates online store service quality as a source of competitive advantage for online stores. Data was collected from a total of 201 online shoppers from Gauteng South Africa using a structured questionnaire. The findings show that online store service quality as reflected by platform quality, interaction quality and outcome quality has significant influence on customers’ attitude towards online stores as well as their behavioural response in terms of engagement in positive word of mouth. The findings also show that attitude is not a significant mediator of the relationship between online store service quality and customers behavioural response of positive word of mouth. The findings have wide implications of management of online retail stores and these have been highlighted in the paper.
New animal model of Meniere ’ s disease 1 A new animal model for Ménière ’ s disease

Conclusion. A new mouse model for Ménière’s disease has been developed by the treatment with both LPS and aldosterone. The induction of vestibular dysfunction in the hydropic animals model may require additional stress such as reduced inner ear blood flow, acute changes of endolymph volume and/or pressure, etc. Objective. The aim of this study is to develop a more suitable animal model, which shows more resemblance to the pathophysiological process in Ménière’s disease. Materials and methods. Adult CBA/J mice were treated with intratympanic injection of LPS, intraperitoneal injection of aldosterone or injection of both LPS and aldosterone. Morphological analysis was performed in the cochlea and endolymphatic sac. Results. All experimental animals showed mild to moderate endolymphatic hydrops. The animals treated with both LPS and aldosterone showed reversible vestibular dysfunction after the intratympanic injection of epinephrine.
Relationship marketing in consumer markets

The ideas of relationship marketing have so far mainly been applied to industrial and services marketing, but may also have some relevance for consumer marketing. This paper suggests that marketing relationships will be easier to form in some types of consumer market than others, and that this inherent “relationship‐friendliness” will depend upon certain characteristics of both the market segment and the product field in question. A simple typology of consumer markets is proposed as a basis for further research in this field: it is suggested that suppliers can take action, including offering incentives, to increase the natural relationship potential of a particular product market, but that care should be taken to distinguish between actions that aim to develop marketing relationships and actions that are more appropriately interpreted and evaluated as sales promotions.
Deep learning for action recognition in augmented reality assistance systems

Recent advances in the development of optical head-mounted displays (HMDs), such as the Microsoft HoloLens, Google Glass, or Epson Moverio, which overlay visual information directly in the user's field of vision, have opened up new possibilities for augmented reality (AR) applications. We propose a system that uses such an optical HMD to assist the user during goal-oriented activities (e.g. manufacturing work) in an intuitive and unobtrusive way (Essig et al. 2016). To this end, our system observes and recognizes the user's actions and generates context-sensitive feedback. Figure 1 shows an overview of our approach, exemplified with the task of assembling a bird house.
Uses of facial expressions of android head system according to gender and age

This paper analyzes emotional expressions of an android head system according to gender and age. We use an EveR-4 H33 controlled by thirty-three motors for facial expression. EveR-4 H33 is a head system for an android face consists of three layers: a mechanical layer, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. Facial expressions of robots are different from the purposes of robots. In addition, feeling of emotional expressions is also different from humans depending on age, gender, etc. Therefore, we find the appropriate uses of EveR-4 H33 in this paper. EveR-4 H33 shows her facial expressions about some emotions. Then, audiences of exhibition evaluate her facial expressions by enjoying a game of emotional correction. We analyze the results of the game according to gender and age, and decide appropriate uses of EveR-4 H33.
Bank Risk and Business Models During the Great Recession

We analyze the determinants of bank risk during the recent financial crisis for a large international panel of listed institutions. With a comprehensive dataset manually assembled from a variety of sources, we relate several measures of ex-post banks’ distress – including the likelihood of a bank rescue, systematic risk and the intensity of recourse to central bank liquidity – to different business models. We find that distress was mainly driven by the funding structure, size and excessive credit expansion in the years preceding the crisis. Using regression quantile techniques, we show that the impact of business models characteristics on risk is non-linear. The level of distress of the riskier banks is relatively more sensitive to market funding and customer deposits. Our results therefore suggest that the more effective measures to contain the distress of the riskiest banks during crises are those aimed at regulating their funding structure, supporting some of the recommendations of Basel III.
Breast cancer: prediction with artificial neural network based on BI-RADS standardized lexicon.

PURPOSE To determine if an artificial neural network (ANN) to categorize benign and malignant breast lesions can be standardized for use by all radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS An ANN was constructed based on the standardized lexicon of the Breast Imaging Recording and Data System (BI-RADS) of the American College of Radiology. Eighteen inputs to the network included 10 BI-RADS lesion descriptors and eight input values from the patient's medical history. The network was trained and tested on 206 cases (133 benign, 73 malignant cases). Receiver operating characteristic curves for the network and radiologists were compared. RESULTS At a specified output threshold, the ANN would have improved the positive predictive value (PPV) of biopsy from 35% to 61% with a relative sensitivity of 100%. At a fixed sensitivity of 95%, the specificity of the ANN (62%) was significantly greater than the specificity of radiologists (30%) (P < .01). CONCLUSION The BI-RADS lexicon provides a standardized language between mammographers and an ANN that can improve the PPV of breast biopsy.
The role of mystery shopping in the measurement of service performance

This paper reports on a programme of research in the UK aimed at examining the role of mystery shopping in the measurement and management of service quality. The research focused on the views of the senior managers responsible for commissioning mystery shopping research and the directors of market research agencies responsible for the provision of such research. The research findings identify the main uses of mystery shopping in the UK and the methods used to maximise the reliability of the technique. The study also discovers that organisations rarely integrate mystery shopping results with other measures of service delivery performance.
Persuasion and the Online Consumers: Investigating Copywriting Strategies in Native Advertisements

This study aims at analysing the copywriting strategies of slimming product advertisements in determining consumers’ information seeking action. The study was conducted qualitatively via a focus group. Women who actively seek for slimming products in Facebook were selected through the purposive sampling technique. The findings indicated that most of the informants were attracted to read the body copy of the advertisements because of the unique headlines as well as the use of striking, contrasting colours for fonts and the background. Testimonials, the word ‘repeat order’ and language usage on the other hand were elements that enhanced the informants’ interest towards the native advertisements. Most importantly, the desire to own the advertised products came after the informants saw the believable comparative pictures and weight reduced text which then stimulates them to click on the advertisements’ Facebook pages to look for more details about the products. Nevertheless, some of the informants ignored some of the advertisements shown to them because they doubted the product’s unique selling proposition (USP). Provocation statements in the advertisements, on the other hand were perceived as unfavourable among the informants, thus led them not to click on its’ Facebook page.
Caecal-inoculation of entamoeba histolytica in the immunodepressed swiss albino mice treated with Cyclophosphamide

A total of 72 mice were used for an experimental model of intestinal amoebiasis developed in the Swiss albino mice dividing into three groups, experimental immunocompetent mice group (Group-A), experimental immunodepressed mice group (Group-B) and control group (Group-C). The inoculum (10 6 cells of Entamoeba histolytica/0.2 ml of medium) was used to inoculate into the caecum of the experimental groups of mice in the ICDDR,B laboratory, Dhaka. The mice were sacrificed at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 th days after inoculation for observation of caecal lesions and gross pathologic changes and histopathological analysis. The animals in the experimental two groups and control did not develop any caecal amoebiasis. The culture results of the stool of the mice which were inoculated with the inoculum of E. histolytica were found to be positive on the first 10 days after post caecal inoculation. After 10 days, the culture results were negative and the antiamoebic antibody levels of all animals were also found negative. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jbas.v38i2. 21341 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 38, No. 2, 167-175, 2014
IIT Gandhinagar at SemEval-2020 Task 9: Code-Mixed Sentiment Classification Using Candidate Sentence Generation and Selection

Code-mixing is the phenomenon of using multiple languages in the same utterance. It is a frequently used pattern of communication on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Sentiment analysis of the monolingual text is a well-studied task. Code-mixing adds to the challenge of analyzing the sentiment of the text on various platforms such as social media, online gaming, forums, product reviews, etc. We present a candidate sentence generation and selection based approach on top of the Bi-LSTM based neural classifier to classify the Hinglish code-mixed text into one of the three sentiment classes positive, negative, or neutral. The proposed candidate sentence generation and selection based approach show an improvement in the system performance as compared to the Bi-LSTM based neural classifier. We can extend the proposed method to solve other problems with code-mixing in the textual data, such as humor-detection, intent classification, etc.
Determinants and Equity Evaluation for Health Expenditure Among Patients with Rare Diseases in China

Background:China has not established social security system for rare diseases. Rare diseases could easily impoverish patients and their families. Little research has studied the equity and accessibility of health services for patients with rare diseases in China. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence health expenditure of rare diseases and evaluate its equity. Methods:Questionnaire survey about living conditions and cost burden of patients with rare diseases was conducted. Individual and family information, health expenditure and reimbursement in 2014 of 982 patients were collected. The impact of medical insurance, individual sociodemographic characteristics, family characteristics, and healthcare need on total and out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditures was analyzed through the generalized linear model. Equity of health expenditure was evaluated by both concentration index and Lorenz curve. Results:Of all the surveyed patients, 11.41% had no medical insurance and 92.10% spent money to seek medical treatment in 2014. It was suggested female (P = 0.048), over 50 years of age (P = 0.062), high-income group (P = 0.021), hospitalization (P = 0.000), and reimbursement ratio (RR) (P = 0.000) were positively correlated with total health expenditure. Diseases not needing long-term treatment (P = 0.000) was negatively correlated with total health expenditure. Over 50 years of age (P = 0.065), high-income group (P = 0.018), hospitalization (P = 0.000) and having Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) (P = 0.022) were positively correlated with OOP health expenditure. Patient or the head of the household having received higher education (P = 0.044 and P = 0.081) and reimbursement ratio (P = 0.078) were negatively correlated with OOP health expenditure. The equity evaluation found concentration indexes of health expenditure before and after reimbursement were 0.0550 and 0.0539, respectively. Conclusions:OOP health expenditure of patients with UEBMI was significantly more than that of patients without medical insurance. However, for any other medical insurance, there was no difference between OOP health expenditure of the insured patients and patients without insurance. The current reimbursement policies have increased the equity of health expenditure, but are biased toward high-income people.
Measuring and Managing a Salesperson's Future Value to the Firm

Research on sales force evaluation has mostly relied on reflective metrics such as sales volume, revenue, and manager evaluations to assess and manage a sales force. However, businesses are moving from a product-centric to a customer-centric view and from a backward-looking to a forward-looking strategic perspective, so sales organizations must adapt to the ever-changing marketplace to maximize performance. The authors propose a forward-looking and profit-oriented metric to evaluate and demonstrate the effects of training type and incentive type on a salesperson's future value. Using a latent class modeling approach, they identify two distinct segments in the sales force that exhibit different responses to varying levels of training and incentives. This suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach to sales force management may be suboptimal. Finally, the authors also evaluate the magnitude of the proposed effects in the short run as well as the long run and show that the magnitudes of the effects could vary depending on the time horizon being considered. The authors close with a discussion of the implications for research and practice, including sales force evaluation through customer relationship management–based heuristics and optimal training and incentive management.