Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tc-HMPAO rat brain scan role in the diagnosis of early diabetes: a preliminary study. First and Corresponding Author:

Background: 99m Tc-HMPAO brain scan is well-known nuclear medicine test for the detection of regional brain blood flow. As we know that diabetes can affect the blood flow in certain organs such as heart, kidneys and eyes. Brain also can be affected. Therefore, our objective of this study was to investigate the role of 99m Tc-HMPAO brain scan in detecting the early vascular changes in brain in early diabetes. Methods: There were two groups of male Wistar rats (one control and one streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic group). Each group contained 6 rats. Rat brain imaging using gamma camera was performed for each group after 0.5 (control), 2, 4, and 24 h post 129.5 MBq injection of 99m Tc-HMPAO. Data processing for brain scan was done by drawing a region of interest (ROI) circulating the brain (B) and a ROI around the soft tissues around the neck of each rat as background (BKG). Brain 99m Tc-HMPAO uptake minus background (net brain counts; NBC) in control rats were studied first and expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (mean±SD). Then NBC in diabetic-STZ rats were studied. Results: The NBC in control group (mean±SD) was: 67766.83±10405.19, 49439.67±6960.06, 37080.83±5459.16, 2017.00±302.72 counts per sec (cps) at 0.5, 2, 4 and 24 h respectively. The NBC in STZ group was: 241296.83±3548.81, 148215.17±2316.45, 111254.17±1682.65, 6817.83±76.36 cps at 0.5, 2, 4 and 24 h respectively. A statistical comparison (Student's t-test) between the NBC controls and the
Screening and management of asymptomatic popliteal aneurysms

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of popliteal aneurysms in men to enable the case for screening and elective surgery to be assessed. SETTING: Scott Research Unit, St Richards Hospital, Chichester. METHODS: The popliteal arteries of 1074 men aged between 65 and 80 were scanned with ultrasound, aneurysmal vessels >1.5 cm diameter were rescanned 5 years later to assess their rate of expansion. RESULTS: 11 of 1074 patients screened had a popliteal aneurysm between 15 and 26 mm, a prevalence of 1.0%. Five years later no increase in aneurysm size had occurred and no related complications were reported. CONCLUSION: In men the low prevalence and complication rate of popliteal aneurysms in conjunction with the effective treatment of acutely thrombosed aneurysms provides evidence for conservative management but against screening asymptomatic popliteal aneurysms.
Haptically Assisting Breast Tumor Detection by Augmenting Abnormal Lump

SUMMARY This paper reports the use of haptic augmented reality in breast tumor palpation. In general, lumps in the breast are sti ﬀ er than surrounding tissues, allowing us to haptically detect them through self-palpation. The goal of the study is to assist self-palpation of lumps by haptically augmenting sti ﬀ ness around lumps. The key steps are to estimate non-linear sti ﬀ ness of normal tissues in the o ﬄ ine preprocessing step, detect areas that show abnormally sti ﬀ er responses, and amplify the difference in sti ﬀ ness through a haptic augmented reality interface. The performance of the system was evaluated in a user-study, demonstrating the potential of the system.
A Priori Approach Of Real-Time Ridesharing Problem With Intermediate Meeting Locations

Abstract Ridesharing is a mobility concept in which a trip is shared by a vehicle’s driver and one or more passengers called riders. Ridesharing is considered as a more environmentally friendly alternative to single driver commutes in pollution-creating vehicles on overcrowded streets. In this paper, we present the core of a new strategy of the ridesharing system, making it more flexible and competitive than the recurring system. More precisely, we allow the driver and the rider to meet each other at an intermediate starting location and to separate at another intermediate ending location not necessarily their origins and destinations, respectively. This allows to reduce both the driver’s detour and the total travel cost. The term “A priori approach” means that the driver sets the sharing cost rate on the common path with rider in advance. An exact and heuristic approaches to identify meeting locations, while minimizing the total travel cost of both driver and rider are proposed. Finally, we analyze their empirical performance on a set of real road networks consisting of up to 3,5 million nodes and 8,7 million edges. Our experimental results show that our heuristics provide efficient performances within short CPU times and improves the recurring ridesharing approach in terms of cost-savings.
Correlated-response-to-selection experiments designed to test for a genetic correlation between female preferences and male traits yield biased results

Correspondence: D. A. Gray, Biological Sciences, Brock University, St Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada (email: dgray@spartan.ac.brocku.ca). The genetic correlation between mating preferences and sexually selected (epigamic) traits is a central issue in both Fisherian and good genes models of mate choice (Fisher 1930; O’Donald 1980; Lande 1981; Pomiankowski 1988). One method of demonstrating the existence of a genetic correlation is to select on one trait, and observe if a second trait shows a correlated response to selection (Lande & Arnold 1983; Falconer 1989). This has become the most commonly adopted method of testing for a genetic correlation between mating preferences and epigamic traits: eight of 12 studies reviewed by Bakker & Pomiankowski (1995) used this method. In this commentary, we extend and clarify methodological issues first raised by Butlin (1993), and argue that correlated-response (CR) methods will overestimate the genetic correlation, and may even incorrectly identify a genetic correlation when none in fact exists. The logic behind applying the CR method is fairly straightforward: if a genetic correlation between traits X and Y exists, then individuals selected for X should harbour genes for Y different from the population mean of Y. Thus selection on X produces a response not only in trait X (given that X is heritable), but also a response in trait Y (also given heritability of Y). One can then determine the extent to which an XY phenotypic correlation reflects an XY genetic correlation. In the special case of mate choice, individuals do not express both X (preference) and Y (epigamic trait), thus no phenotypic correlation exists. If a genetic correlation exists, then selection on the male trait should produce a CR in the female preference (and vice versa). The genetic correlation is specifically due to the selected males (or females) harbouring unexpressed preference (trait) genes. For example, high trait-selected males possess highpreference genes, and low trait-selected males possess low-preference genes. These unexpressed genes (in whichever sex) are the proximate cause of the genetic correlation.
Smart Workbench: A multimodal and bidirectional assistance system for industrial application

Manual tasks in industrial production are often monotonous, leading to a decrease in concentration and motivation of the worker and thus to deficiencies in the products. With quality as well as performance requirements getting more and more stringent, workers need additional support by their work environment. We developed a novel approach providing worker assistance and inline quality assurance for manual workplaces. The prototypical system Smart Workbench (SWoB) uses a multimodal sensor interface consisting of a 3D depth sensor in combination with a 2D camera to control quality aspects of the product and track the work progress. The bidirectional flow of information is handled via an image processing driven gestural interface and the displaying of advice directly on the work surface. In this paper the developed system is introduced and the current state of evaluating its industrial usage with a manual quality control and packaging task reported.
Cessation-related information, motivation, and behavioral skills in smokers living with HIV

ABSTRACT There is a need for new, targeted smoking cessation interventions for smokers living with HIV. The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model has been applied effectively to HIV-related health behaviors and was used in this qualitative study to elicit factors that could lead to the development of innovative and successful cessation interventions for this population. Twenty individuals who smoked from two clinics providing care to people living with HIV participated in open-ended interviews, responding to questions covering the domains of the IMB model, as applied to smokers living with HIV. Participants were enrolled from a larger survey cohort to recruit into groups based on the impact of HIV diagnosis on smoking as well as attempting to enroll a mix of demographics characteristics. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed using a grounded theory qualitative approach. Interviews continued until thematic saturation was reached. Major themes included: Presence of knowledge deficits regarding HIV-specific health risks of smoking; use of smoking for emotional regulation, where many reported close contacts who smoke and concern with the effect of cessation on their social networks; Use of smoking cessation aids or a telephone-based wellness intervention were acceptable to most. Providing HIV-specific information in cessation advice is of the utmost importance for clinicians caring for smokers living with HIV, as this theme was noted consistently as a potential motivator to quit. Innovative and effective interventions must account for the social aspect of smoking and address other methods of emotional regulation in this population.
Identification of a DNA Methyltransferase Gene Carried on a Pathogenicity Island-Like Element (VPAI) in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Its Prevalence among Clinical and Environmental Isolates

ABSTRACT In this study we identified a putative virulence-associated DNA methyltransferase (MTase) gene carried on a novel 22.79-kb pathogenicity island-like element (VPAI) in V. parahaemolyticus. The V. parahaemolyticus MTase gene was shown by PCR to be prevalent (>98%) in pandemic thermostable direct hemolysin gene-positive isolates, which suggests that VPAI may confer unique virulence traits to pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus.
Clinical Features of Patients With Negative Results From Traditional Diagnostic Work-up and Crohn's Disease Findings From Capsule Endoscopy

Introduction Capsule endoscopy (CE) can detect Crohn's disease in patients with suggestive symptoms but with negative results from the traditional diagnostic work-up (ileocolonoscopy and small bowel follow-through). The objective of this study was to determine which clinical features predict the diagnosis of Crohn's disease by CE in this subgroup of patients. Material and Methods Twenty-three patients (7 men, 16 women; mean age: 40±15 y) with negative results from conventional imaging techniques were prospectively included in the study because of suspicion of Crohn's disease (long-standing abdominal pain and/or diarrhea and at least one of the following symptoms: anemia, weight loss, long-standing fever, perianal disease, extraintestinal manifestations typical of inflammatory bowel disease, elevated inflammatory parameters, or family history of inflammatory bowel disease). Results CE diagnosed Crohn's disease in 6 patients (26%). Crohn's disease diagnosis was more frequent in patients with a combination of anemia and elevated inflammatory parameters than in patients without this combination (57% vs. 12.5%; P=0.04). The only statistically significant association between an inflammatory parameter and Crohn's disease was an increased platelet count. Conclusions CE is a useful tool for the diagnosis of subtle small bowel Crohn's disease. The diagnostic yield of CE in patients with suspicion of Crohn's disease but negative results from the traditional diagnostic work-up is significantly higher in patients with anemia and increased platelet count than in patients without this combination of clinical features.
Biotechnological potentialities and valorization of mango peel waste: a review.

In recent years, by-products of fruit processing have received a great deal of attention, which is primarily due to their nutritional and economic exploitation through utilization of emerging technologies. Mango peel waste, a by-product from pulp processing units, is an important source of high quality antioxidant dietary fibre, pectin, polyphenols and carotenoids. It also possess significant biotechnological potential since it has been found suitable for several bioprocesses including ethanol, biogas, lactic acid, enzymes and single cell production. Valorization of mango peel through different routes not only can increase the profitability of fruit processing industries, but also help reduce environmental pollution. This review intends to provide a broad view on available technologies for mango peel waste utilization, with an emphasis on its biotechnological conversion into added value products beside other ways of utilization.
Cross Correlation based Inter-Transaction Association Rule Mining Technique

Several algorithms have been proposed to solve the problem of mining frequent inter-transaction item set. However, the low efficiency of support calculation for inter-transaction itemsets is still a challenging problem that eliminates the performance of mining algorithms. This paper provides inter-transaction association rule mining algorithm using effective technique for support calculations. The proposed technique is based on cross correlation and bitwise operations. The experimental results show a significant improvement of performance up to several orders of magnitude compared to First Intra Then Inter (FITI) algorithm.
Energy efficiency and packet error rate in wireless sensor networks with cooperative relay

Most existing studies on cooperative relay in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) concentrate on link capacity or symbol error rate (SER) constrained power allocation. We advance the study in two aspects. First, we adopt the packet error rate (PER) constraint instead of SER or link capacity constraint. Assuming non-coherent frequency shift keying (NC-FSK) modulation (used in Mica2 motes) and selection combining diversity, we derive an exact closed-form expression of PER for cooperative relay. The advantage of using the PER constraint is that it can be directly utilized by the routing protocols for end-to-end packet loss rate control. Secondly, realizing the transmission distance is usually kept short for power conservation in WSNs, instead of considering only the transmit power, we adopt a more accurate power model that also takes into account the circuit power and power amplifier efficiency, to provide more realistic results. Numerical results reveal that cooperative relay exhibits a reduction in power cost with a specified PER objective. It is also shown that there exists an optimal number of relays that achieves minimum energy consumption under a specified PER constraint.
The differentiation of activity in infants' exploration of objects

If an activity during manipulative play is exploratory, it should, in contrast to other activity, be used differentially for objects that vary in novelty. In a study of 5-month-olds, different definitions of exploratory mouthing were tested, and results suggested that mouthing followed immediately by a look fulfilled some criteria for an exploratory activity. In the next study of 5- to 11-month-olds, mouthing with looks after and examining, a measure of visual-manipulative inspection, met the criteria for exploratory activity; other kinds of mouthing and visual-manipulatory activity did not. Exploratory mouthing decreased with age and examining increased. The exploratory function of mouthing apparently was not due to concurrent manual activity providing haptic information. The conclusion is that some activities are exploratory and information-gathering and other activities are nonexploratory and serve other functions.
Efficient algorithms for detection of face, eye and eye state

Eye state analysis (open or closed) is an important step in fatigue detection. In this study, an efficient algorithm for eye state detection is proposed. At first, a new face detection method is presented for noisy images that finds the face area in the input image well. Then, novel algorithms for detection of eye region and eye state are introduced. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated on four different databases namely FERET, Aberdeen, IMM and CVL which contain more than 5700 images with different descents, positions, light conditions and glasses. The results show that the new method achieves more accuracy rate than the previously presented algorithms, while it does not need training data and is also computationally efficient.
The Associations of Asthma Symptoms With Active and Passive Smoking in Hong Kong Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoke has detrimental effects on the respiratory system. This study investigated the associations of active and passive smoking with asthma symptoms in Hong Kong adolescents. METHODS: A total of 6,494 Hong Kong secondary school students, with a mean ± SD age of 15.0 ± 1.21 years, participated in the Health Related Behavior General Survey in 2000–2001. They reported their demographic factors (sex, age, housing type, district of living), lifestyles (smoking, drinking, extracurricular sports, eating), and asthma symptoms (exercise-induced bronchospasm [EIB] and nocturnal cough) in the questionnaire. In addition, number of smoking parents (none/one/both) and presence of a smoking best friend (yes/no) were assessed. Logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratios (OR) of frequently having the asthma symptoms for different smoking status of students, parents, and best friend, with adjustment for demographic factors and lifestyles. RESULTS: The prevalence of former, light, and heavy smokers was 17.5%, 7.7%, and 1.0%, respectively. Moreover, 35.1% of the participants had one and 3.8% had 2 parents who smoked. Heavy smokers were more likely to experience EIB with OR (95% CI) of 2.27 (1.30–3.97) and nocturnal cough with OR (95% CI) of 3.45 (1.52–7.81), as well as both symptoms with OR (95% CI) = 4.69 (1.88–11.73) when compared to those who never smoked. The corresponding OR (95% CI) for having at least one smoking parent and a smoking best friend was 1.45 (1.17–1.81), 1.61 (1.06–2.42), and 2.43 (1.37–4.31), when compared with those without a parent or best friend who smoked. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who are heavy smokers and having parents and a best friend who smoke are more likely than others to have asthma symptoms. Both active and passive smoking are related to asthma symptoms in adolescents.
Interface issues and interaction strategies for information retrieval systems

The need for effective information retrieval systems becomes increasingly important as computer-based information repositories grow larger and more diverse. In this tutorial, we will present the key issues involved in the use and design of effective interfaces to information retrieval systems. The process of satisfying information needs is analyzed as a problem solving activity in which users learn and refine their needs as they interact with a repository. Current systems are analyzed in terms of key interface and interaction techniques such as querying, browsing, and relevance feedback, We will discuss the impact of information seeking strategies on the search process and what is needed to more effectively support the search process. Retrieval system evaluation techniques will be discussed in terms of their implications for users. We close by outlining some user-centered design strategies for retrieval systems.
The Formula of Romance (A study on Erick Wilson’s Fire Proof )

This study has the purpose to reveal about romance formula in Erick Wilson’s novel Fire Proof . The formula usually existed in the popular literature so because this novel is categorized as a popular novel the writer assumes that in this novel existed the formula of Romance. In analyzing this novel the writer used objective approach which is analyzed the novel only at the body of the novel itself without considered to the external elements. After analyzing the novel, finally the writer found that the formula of Romance is existed in the novel it can be elaborated as follow: Romance is not an easy fact because it has the consequence in people marriage. It can be seen in Caleb and Catherine love relationship, when the first time they fall in love Catherine has a great expectation to have the beautiful marriage life but when they come into marriage their love are examined by many challenges whether from inside and from outside. Through some processes finally they can save their marriage because their loves are still existed in their deepest heart. It is concluded that Romance is the process of two people fall in love and face every challenges together and solve it to save their love relationship. Key Words: Romance, Challenge, Cementing the love
Phénomènes interfaciaux dans la manipulation des gouttes et des bulles

Les phenomenes interfaciaux impliques dans les ecoulements polyphasiques existent dans de nombreux procedes industriels. Des gouttes et des bulles sont des elements typiques pour comprendre les phenomenes interfaciaux. Ainsi, cette these etudie les gouttes (bulles) impliquees dans la manipulation d’une interface, y compris la rupture de l'interface, le mouvement d’une goutte sur une surface superhydrophobe et le contact sur un support solide a l’aide d’un systeme d'acquisition pour des signaux electriques. Dans la premiere partie, une camera rapide est utilisee pour etudier la dynamique de pincement des fluides homogenes et des ferrrofluides heterogenes a travers des systemes confines et non-confines liquide-liquide ou liquide-gaz. L'effet de competition entre les differentes forces telles que la poussee d’Archimede, la force magnetique, la gravite et la tension interfaciale sur la rupture finale d’un fluide interne dans un environnement fluide externe est demontre et quantifie. La deuxieme partie est consacree a la manipulation d’une goutte aqueuse a l’aide d’une interface superhydrophobe sous deux angles distincts : saut d’obstacle de la goutte sur une surface solide revetue d’une couche superhydrophobe ; deshabillement d’une goutte enveloppee de particules superhydrophobes dite "marbre liquide" sur un film huileux. Le comportement dynamique du saut d’obstacle et du deshabillement des gouttes est quantifie et compare dans des conditions operatoires tres differentes telles que la viscosite, la tension interfaciale, la geometrie d’obstacle, etc. La troisieme partie est devolue au contact d’une goutte sur un support solide: contact initial, etalement, et pincement final des fluides tant newtoniens que non newtoniens, grâce a une methodologie combinant la camera rapide et un systeme d'acquisition ultra-rapide d’un signal electrique