Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating care from a care ethical perspective:: A pilot study

Background: Care ethical theories provide an excellent opening for evaluation of healthcare practices since searching for (moments of) good care from a moral perspective is central to care ethics. However, a fruitful way to translate care ethical insights into measurable criteria and how to measure these criteria has as yet been unexplored: this study describes one of the first attempts. Objective: To investigate whether the emotional touchpoint method is suitable for evaluating care from a care ethical perspective. Research design: An adapted version of the emotional touchpoint interview method was used. Touchpoints represent the key moments to the experience of receiving care, where the patient recalls being touched emotionally or cognitively. Participants and research context: Interviews were conducted at three different care settings: a hospital, mental healthcare institution and care facility for older people. A total of 31 participants (29 patients and 2 relatives) took part in the study. Ethical considerations: The research was found not to be subject to the (Dutch) Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act. Findings: A three-step care ethical evaluation model was developed and described using two touchpoints as examples. A focus group meeting showed that the method was considered of great value for partaking institutions in comparison with existing methods. Reflection and discussion: Considering existing methods to evaluate quality of care, the touchpoint method belongs to the category of instruments which evaluate the patient experience. The touchpoint method distinguishes itself because no pre-defined categories are used but the values of patients are followed, which is an essential issue from a care ethical perspective. The method portrays the insider perspective of patients and thereby contributes to humanizing care. Conclusion: The touchpoint method is a valuable instrument for evaluating care; it generates evaluation data about the core care ethical principle of responsiveness.
Green Base Station Assignment for NOMA-Enabled HCNs

In this paper, for the heterogeneous cellular networks (HCNs) with non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), we mainly concentrate on the design of green base station (BS) assignment integrating with power allocation. Note that the power allocation is mainly used for mitigating network interference and reducing energy consumption. To attain the goal of green communications, we take account of an optimization problem with maximizing the whole energy efficiency under users’ signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) constraints, where such efficiency represents the ratio of the total throughput of users to the total power consumption of BSs selected by them. To solve the finally formulated problem in a nonconvex and nonlinear form, we first introduce an auxiliary parameter to convert it into a tractable one whose optimal solution can be found by employing an effective iterative algorithm. After that, the whole problem, being in a coupling form, can be broken into the BS assignment and power allocation subproblems that can be optimized alternately. To solve the former, a type of highly effective algorithm is designed according to a coalitional game. In addition, an approach based on a two-sided scalable (2.s.s.) function is developed for the latter. Then, we reveal the properties of these proposed algorithms, including computation complexity and convergence. In the simulation, we mainly investigate the impacts of densities of small BSs and users on the different performance indices of the designed and existing algorithms.
Image retargeting quality assessment using structural similarity and information preservation rate

In order to display images appropriately in various devices with heterogeneous aspect ratios and sizes, there are different retargeting methods. These methods can be evaluated by objective measures more quickly and economically in comparison with subjective tests. Moreover, retargeting methods can utilize objective quality assessment algorithms to automatically adjust the image size considering its visual quality. In this paper, a new objective method is proposed to evaluate the visual quality of a retargeted image. The proposed scheme considers local structural similarity in conjunction with global information preserved after retargeting. The agreement of the proposed method with human visual system is analyzed over a publicly available CUHK retargeting dataset that contains subjective scores for each retargeted image. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms lots of the current methods and also have comparable accuracy in comparison with current methods which are remarkably more complex.
A self-adaptive Bayesian network classifier by means of genetic optimization

In the design of conventional Bayes network classifiers (e.g. Naive Bayes Classifier, Tree Augment Naive Bayes classifier), the network classifier structures are always fixed. Such network structures are very difficult to reflect the relationships among nodes (attributes). In this paper, we propose a self-adaptive Bayesian Network classifier based on genetic optimization. Genetic optimization is exploited here to realize the Self-adaptiveness, which means the network structure can be gradually optimized when constructing Bayesian network classifier. Experimental results show that the proposed method leads to a high classification accuracy than Naive Bayes classifier, Tree Augment Naive Bayes classifier, and KNN classifier on some benchmarks.
Arabidopsis thaliana ggt1 photorespiratory mutants maintain leaf carbon/nitrogen balance by reducing RuBisCO content and plant growth.

Metabolic and physiological analyses of glutamate:glyoxylate aminotransferase 1 (GGT1) mutants were performed at the global leaf scale to elucidate the mechanisms involved in their photorespiratory growth phenotype. Air-grown ggt1 mutants showed retarded growth and development, that was not observed at high CO2 (3000 μL L(-1) ). When compared to wild-type (WT) plants, air-grown ggt1 plants exhibited glyoxylate accumulation, global changes in amino acid amounts including a decrease in serine content, lower organic acid levels, and modified ATP/ADP and NADP(+) /NADPH ratios. When compared to WT plants, their net CO2 assimilation rates (An ) were 50% lower and this mirrored decreases in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) contents. High CO2 -grown ggt1 plants transferred to air revealed a rapid decrease of An and photosynthetic electron transfer rate while maintaining a high energetic state. Short-term (a night period and 4 h of light) transferred ggt1 leaves accumulated glyoxylate and exhibited low serine contents, while other amino acid levels were not modified. RuBisCO content, activity and activation state were not altered after a short-term transfer while the ATP/ADP ratio was lowered in ggt1 rosettes. However, plant growth and RuBisCO levels were both reduced in ggt1 leaves after a long-term (12 days) acclimation to air from high CO2 when compared to WT plants. The data are discussed with respect to a reduced photorespiratory carbon recycling in the mutants. It is proposed that the low An limits nitrogen-assimilation, this decreases leaf RuBisCO content until plants attain a new homeostatic state that maintains a constant C/N balance and leads to smaller, slower growing plants.
Amniotic Fluid INSL3 Measured During the Critical Time Window in Human Pregnancy Relates to Cryptorchidism, Hypospadias, and Phthalate Load: A Large Case–Control Study

The period of the first to second trimester transition in human pregnancy represents a sensitive window for fetal organogenesis, particularly in regard to the development of the male reproductive system. This is a time of relative analytical inaccessibility. We have used a large national biobank of amniotic fluid samples collected at routine amniocentesis to determine the impacts of exogenous endocrine disruptor load on specific fetal biomarkers at this critical time. While adrenal and testicular steroids are highly correlated, they are also mostly positively influenced by increasing phthalate load, represented by the metabolites 7cx-MMeHP and 5cx-MEPP, by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure, and by smoking, suggesting an adrenal stress response. In contrast, the testis specific biomarkers insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) and androstenedione are negatively impacted by the phthalate endocrine disruptors. Using a case–control design, we show that cryptorchidism and hypospadias are both significantly associated with increased amniotic concentration of INSL3 during gestational weeks 13–16, and some, though not all steroid biomarkers. Cases are also linked to a specifically increased variance in the Leydig cell biomarker INSL3 compared to controls, an effect exacerbated by maternal smoking. No influence of phthalate metabolites or PFOS was evident on the distribution of cases and controls. Considering that several animal and human studies have shown a negative impact of phthalate load on fetal and cord blood INSL3, respectively, the present results suggest that such endocrine disruptors may rather be altering the relative dynamics of testicular development and consequent hormone production, leading to a desynchronization of tissue organization during fetal development. Being born small for gestational age appears not to impact on the testicular biomarker INSL3 in second trimester amniotic fluid.
Constraining movement imitation with reflexive behavior: Robot squatting

Direct imitation of human movement with a humanoid robot, which has a similar kinematic structure, does not guarantee a successful completion of the task because of different dynamical properties. Our research starts by showing how to apply a generalization algorithm to extract the desired movement primitives from multiple human demonstrations. The emphasis of the paper is on a method that constrains the extracted movement primitives when mapping them to a robot, taking into account a critical criterion of the task. As a practical example we study the stability of a robot, which is determined through a normalized zero-moment-point. Our approach is based on prioritized task control and allows direct movement transfer as long as the selected criterion is met. It only constrains the movement when the criterion approaches a critical condition. The critical condition thus triggers a reflexive, subconscious behavior, which has higher priority than the desired, conscious movement. We demonstrate the properties of the algorithm on a real, human-inspired leg robot developed in our laboratory.
Flammability of Polymer/Clay Aerogel Composites: An Overview

ABSTRACT Polymer/clay aerogel composites fabricated using the freeze-drying method and water as solvent has drawn extensive attentions during the past decade. Such aerogels possess layered or network microstructures, low thermal conductivities, and good thermal stabilities; of special interest, they generally have very low flammability, which could be influenced by the composition and microstructure of the aerogel composites. The fire performance of the aerogels can be further improved with flame retardant modifications. Polymer/clay aerogel composites can also serve as effective flame retardant coatings. The mechanisms of the flame retardancy of polymer/clay aerogel composites are also discussed herein. The thorough survey of the current literatures offers useful information to realize potential of polymer/clay aerogels and help guidance to design novel high-performance polymer/clay aerogel composites.
Panic disorder with agoraphobia from a behavioral neuroscience perspective: Applying the research principles formulated by the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative.

In the current review, we reconceptualize a categorical diagnosis-panic disorder and agoraphobia-in terms of two constructs within the domain "negative valence systems" suggested by the Research Domain Criteria initiative. Panic attacks are considered as abrupt and intense fear responses to acute threat arising from inside the body, while anxious apprehension refers to anxiety responses to potential harm and more distant or uncertain threat. Taking a dimensional view, panic disorder with agoraphobia is defined with the threat-imminence model stating that defensive responses are dynamically organized along the dimension of the proximity of the threat. We tested this model within a large group of patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia (N = 369 and N = 124 in a replication sample) and found evidence that panic attacks are indeed instances of circa strike defense. This component of the defensive reactivity was related to genetic modulators within the serotonergic system. In contrast, anxious apprehension-characterized by attentive freezing during postencounter defense-was related to general distress and depressive mood, as well as to genetic modulations within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Patients with a strong behavioral tendency for active and passive avoidance responded better to exposure treatment if the therapist guides the patient through the exposure exercises.
Optimizing native analysis with android container

Demystifying an Android shared library is always a challenging task. In order to inspect a native shared library, analyzers have to execute the application that will load the target library on runtime. Executing the whole application code for the purpose of debugging only a single native library is a waste of computing resource. To solve that problem, we consider deploying Java virtual machine only for hosting the target library a promising approach. Java virtual machine is designed to support both Dalvik and ART runtime. Other contribution is the design of a suitable environment for hosting Java virtual machine. Since the deployment of an Android environment, from either by using virtualized or real devices, is either too costly for virtualization approach or waste of resources in real device. For optimizing computing and hardware resources, the authors have proposed a lightweight environment that suitable for native analysis that based on container technology. Compare to virtualization technology, containerization has the performance advantage. Container technology also a better option than the use of real device since it could provide more than one Android containers at the same time with the same device. The implementation results have shown results from running native analysis on multiple runtime and in different Android version. Because a full Android environment is too heavy for a lightweight sandbox like Java virtual machine, we have stripped most of the components and provide only components that are related to analysis work. The result provided from our experiment shows that stripped Android container has a significant improvement in performance compared with other solutions.
Monitoring of Hemodynamics in Human Skin Using Pulsed Photothermal Radiometry and Optical Spectroscopy

We present a test of our novel methodology for noninvasive quantitative characterization of human skin in vivo involving a customary pressure-cuff test in healthy volunteers at different cuff pressures. Our experimental approach combines time-resolved measurements of mid-infrared emission from sample surface after exposure to a short light pulse and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in visible part of the spectrum. Both data sets are fitted simultaneously with predictions of a dedicated numerical model of light transport in a four-layer skin model (i.e., inverse Monte Carlo). This approach allows assessment of, e.g., blood contents and oxygenation levels in papillary and reticular dermis.
High Definition Real-Time Decoding

This paper presents an efficient VLSI architecture for H.264/AVC Content-Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Code (CABAC) decoding. We introduce several new techniques to maximize the parallelism of the decoding process, including variable-bin-rate strategy, multiple-bin arithmetic decoding and efficient probability propagation scheme. The CABAC engine can ensure the real-time decoding for H.264/AVC main profile HD level 4.0. Synthesis results show that the multi-bin decoder can be operated up to 45MHz, and the total logic area is only 42K gates when targeted at TSMC’s 0.18um process.
Protein Structure Prediction using an enhanced Genetic Algorithm for the 2D HP model

This paper presents an enhanced genetic algorithm for the protein structure prediction problem. A new fitness function, that uses the concept of radius of gyration, is proposed. Also, a novel operator called partial optimization, together with different strategies for performance improvement, are described. Tests were done with five different amino acid chains from 20 to 85 residues long and better results were obtained, when compared with those in the current literature. Results are promising and suggest the suitability of the proposed method for protein structure prediction using the 2D HP model.
Wake-up schedule modification for shorter-delay intermittent wireless sensor networks

Intermittent wireless communication is well know and widely available method to reduce the battery power consumption in wireless sensor nodes in wireless sensor networks for achieving longer lifetime of the system and reduction the maintenance overheard. However, it usually results in longer transmission delay of data messages, especially longer end-to-end transmission delay in wireless multihop transmissions of data messages. Better tradeoffs are required to be realized and IRDT-GEDIR has been proposed. It is combination of IRDT intermittent wireless communication protocol and GEDIR location based hop-by-hop ad-hoc routing protocol with one of the solutions of the secretary problem for achieving shorter end-to-end transmission delay. However, the wide distribution transmission delay affects the performance of applications constructed on the wireless networks which depends on the wake-up schedules of all the neighbor wireless sensor nodes. For achieving predictable performance of the system, i.e., to provide the predictable end-to-end transmission delay of data messages in such wireless sensor networks, this paper proposes extensions of IRDT-GEDIR based on the control message overhearing and forwarding. Candidates of a next-hop wireless sensor node overhear a control message for a previous-hop data message transmission and change their wake-up schedule. We design a data message transmission protocol and evaluate the performance in comparison with the conventional IRDT-GEDIR.
Interpresing Noisy Prose using Heterogeneous Multi-cores

Currently, verbally dictating commands and programs to a computer is not practical because in our experiments, 10% to 15% of the words and 30% to 80% of the commands and statements were misrecognized by the Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems. Interpreting Noisy Prose (INP) is a post ASR algorithm designed to execute on and utilize the extensive computing power of heterogeneous multi-core chips. The algorithm generates several variations of an ASR’s output based on common and user defined homonyms, misunderstandings and “near homonyms. ” The variations are compared against domain specific grammars and lexicons. To achieve acceptable speeds and accuracy, INP uses parallel computation to follow the branches of a search tree and data parallel matching at nodes of the tree to evaluate the sets of alternatives and select the “best” interpretation of the ASR’s output. The initial INP results were 99% correct recognition for words and 94% correct recognition for commands. The heterogeneous approach reduces the number of parallel tasks by about a factor of 150.
Nanoindentation Investigation of FIB-Milled Microstructures to Assess Failure Properties of Cement Paste at Microscale.

SHAHRIN, RAHNUMA. Nanoindentation Investigation of FIB-Milled Microstructures to Assess Failure Properties of Cement Paste at Microscale. (Under the direction of Dr. Christopher Bobko and Dr. Mohammad Pour-Ghaz). A mechanical test methodology using Focused Ion Beam (FIB) milled micropillars and nanoindentation is developed to investigate the failure mechanism of cement paste at the level of calcium-silicate-hydrates (C-S-H), the primary binding phase of concrete. Cement paste is a hierarchical material with different levels spanning the range from nanometers to hundreds of micrometers. C-S-H is primarily responsible for strength and other mechanical properties of cement based materials. Therefore, a fundamental understanding and quantification of the failure behavior of C-S-H at microscale is critical for understanding failure at larger scales. Current experimental techniques, however, are unable to reveal how compressive failure is initiated within the cement paste microstructure. Therefore, a need exists for the development of a robust experimental method that can characterize compressive strength and failure modes
Strategies for Effective Paraphrasing

In this paper we present a new dimension to paraphrasing text in which characteristics of the original text motivate strategies for effective paraphrasing. Our system combines two existing robust components: the IRUS-II natural language understanding system and the SPOKESMAN generation system. We describe the architecture of the system and enhancements made to these components to facilitate paraphrasing. We particularly look at how levels of representation in these two systems are used by specialists in the paraphraser which define potential problems and paraphrasing strategies. Finally, we look at the role of paraphrasing in a cooperative dialog system. We will focus here on paraphrasing in the context of natural language interfaces and particularly on how multiple interpretations introduced by various kinds of ambiguity can be conbasted in paraphrases using both sentence structure and highlighting and formating the text itself.
Towards an 'Integral' View of Entrepreneurship *

A scan was undertaken seeking published work which has made use of foresight thinking, theory and/or concepts in entrepreneurship theory or research. It was found that there are several areas where these two fields could fruitfully interact and generate many new research directions. The connection between entrepreneurship and foresight represents an opportunity for a collaborative investigative program involving researchers in both foresight and entrepreneurship.
Durable superhydrophobic-superoleophilic copper mesh fabricated by pulsed laser ablation for oil/water separation

Superhydrophobic surface has been widely studied on its theories and applications. Oil/water separation as one of its various applications shows great potential and attracts attention of researchers. In this paper, a round copper piece was used to fabricate an oil/water separation mesh by pulsed laser ablation and one-step simple chemical treatment. Based on the mechanism of hydrophobicity/lipophilicity, the fabricated copper mesh shows tunable excellent oil/water separation ability. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was taken to study the surface morphology. Energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX) shows the changes in surface chemical elements. Furthermore, by immersing in aqueous solutions with different PH values and the mechanical abrasion testing, the mesh still exhibits good superhydrophobicity, showing excellent stability in both harsh chemical environments and physical conditions. The fabrication approach can be flexibly scaled up to large-scale production, which has great potential applications in solving the problems of oil pollution.