Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A retrospective look at website accessibility over time

Websites were retrospectively analysed to study the effects that technological advances in web design have had on accessibility for persons with disabilities. A random sample of general websites and a convenience sample of US government websites were studied and compared for the years 1997 – 2002. Web accessibility barrier (WAB) and complexity scores were calculated. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's HSD were used to determine differences among years for general sites. Repeated measures of ANOVA were used to analyse trends in US government sites, and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was computed to evaluate the relationship between accessibility and complexity. Random websites become progressively inaccessible as complexity increases. US government websites remain accessible while increasing in complexity. Increasing complexity, often caused by adding complex components to a Webpage, doesn't have to contribute to increasing barriers to accessibility: US government websites remain accessible despite increasing complexity by limiting the number of scripts used in Webpage design.
Camera Pose Estimation from Lines using Plücker Coordinates

Correspondences between 3D lines and their 2D images captured by a camera are often used to determine position and orientation of the camera in space. In this work, we propose a novel algebraic algorithm to estimate the camera pose. We parameterize 3D lines using Pl\"ucker coordinates that allow linear projection of the lines into the image. A line projection matrix is estimated using Linear Least Squares and the camera pose is then extracted from the matrix. An algebraic approach to handle mismatched line correspondences is also included. The proposed algorithm is an order of magnitude faster yet comparably accurate and robust to the state-of-the-art, it does not require initialization, and it yields only one solution. The described method requires at least 9 lines and is particularly suitable for scenarios with 25 and more lines, as also shown in the results.
Analysis of the application of the optical method to the measurements of the water vapor content in the atmosphere – Part 1: Basic concepts of the measurement technique

Abstract. We retrieved the total content of the atmospheric water vapor (or Integrated Water Vapor, IWV) from extensive sets of photometric data obtained since 1995 at Lindenberg Meteorological Observatory with star and sun photometers. Different methods of determination of the empirical parameters that are necessary for the retrieval are discussed. The instruments were independently calibrated using laboratory measurements made at Pulkovo Observatory with the VKM-100 multi-pass vacuum cell. The empirical parameters were also calculated by the simulation of the atmospheric absorption by water vapor, using the MODRAN-4 program package for different model atmospheres. The results are compared to those presented in the literature, obtained with different instruments and methods of the retrieval. The reliability of the empirical parameters, used for the power approximation that links the water vapor content with the observed absorption, is analyzed. Currently, the total (from measurements, calibration, and calculations) errors yield the standard uncertainty of about 10 % in the total column water vapor. We discuss the possibilities for improving the accuracy of calibration to ~1 % as indispensable condition in order to make it possible to use data obtained by optical photometry as an independent reference for other methods (GPS, MW-radiometers, lidar, etc).
Pathway identification by network pruning in the metabolic network of Escherichia coli

MOTIVATION All metabolic networks contain metabolites, such as ATP and NAD, known as currency metabolites, which take part in many reactions. These are often removed in the study of these networks, but no consensus exists on what actually constitutes a currency metabolite, and it is also unclear how these highly connected nodes contribute to the global structure of the network. RESULTS In this article, we analyse how the Escherichia coli metabolic network responds to pruning in the form of sequential removal of metabolites with highest degree. As expected this leads to network fragmentation, but the process by which it occurs suggests modularity and long-range correlations within the network. We find that the pruned networks contain longer paths than the random expectation, and that the paths that survive the pruning also exhibit a lower cost (number of involved metabolites) compared with random paths in the full metabolic network. Finally we confirm that paths detected by pruning overlap with known metabolic pathways. We conclude that pruning reveals functional pathways in metabolic networks, where currency metabolites may be seen as ingredients in a well-balanced soup in which main metabolic production lines are immersed. CONTACT gerlee@nbi.dk SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Passphrase Authentication Based on Typing Style Through an Art 2 Neural Network

This study proposes the use of an artificial neural network algorithm to perform passphrase authentication based on the typing style of a user. The only hardware required is a keyboard. Prior studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this approach and its limitations, one of which was the need for collection of impostor samples for training the artificial neural network based classifier algorithm. This requirement is rather impractical for most application domains. The proposed study eliminates the need to collect impostor samples by employing an unsupervised and self-organizing artificial neural network algorithm, the Adaptive Resonance Theory 2 neural network, and therefore pushes the passphrase authentication technology one step closer to the realm of practical implementation. The preliminary study performed demonstrates that it is possible to train an Adaptive Resonance Theory 2 neural network using only authentic sample data and still provide a relatively low impostor pass rate. Given the minimal cost and easy in-field trainability of the proposed passphrase authentication system, the developed system can greatly enhance the security of computing environments with wide acceptance.
Supporting home hospice family caregivers: Insights from different perspectives

ABSTRACT Objective: Our intention was to describe and compare the perspectives of national hospice thought leaders, hospice nurses, and former family caregivers on factors that promote or threaten family caregiver perceptions of support. Method: Nationally recognized hospice thought leaders (n = 11), hospice nurses (n = 13), and former family caregivers (n = 14) participated. Interviews and focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed. Data were coded inductively, and codes were hierarchically grouped by topic. Emergent categories were summarized descriptively and compared across groups. Results: Four categories linked responses from the three participant groups (95%, 366/384 codes): (1) essentials of skilled communication (30.6%), (2) importance of building authentic relationships (28%), (3) value of expert teaching (22.4%), and (4) critical role of teamwork (18.3%). The thought leaders emphasized communication (44.6%), caregivers stressed expert teaching (51%), and nurses highlighted teamwork (35.8%). Nurses discussed teamwork significantly more than caregivers (z = 2.2786), thought leaders discussed communication more than caregivers (z = 2.8551), and caregivers discussed expert teaching more than thought leaders (z = 2.1693) and nurses (z = 2.4718; all values of p < 0.05). Significance of Results: Our findings suggest differences in priorities for caregiver support across family caregivers, hospice nurses, and thought leaders. Hospice teams may benefit from further education and training to help cross the schism of family-centered hospice care as a clinical ideal to one where hospice team members can fully support and empower family caregivers as a hospice team member.
Engaging Patients through Mobile Phones: Demonstrator Services, Success Factors, and Future Opportunities in Low and Middle-income Countries

Summary Objectives: Evolving technology and infrastructure can benefit patients even in the poorest countries through mobile health (mHealth). Yet, what makes mobile-phone-based services succeed in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) and what opportunities does the future hold that still need to be studied. We showcase demonstrator services that leverage mobile phones in the hands of patients to promote health and facilitate health care. Methods: We surveyed the recent biomedical literature for demonstrator services that illustrate well-considered examples of mobile phone interventions for consumer health. We draw upon those examples to discuss enabling factors, scalability, reach, and potential of mHealth as well as obstacles in LMIC. Results: Among the 227 articles returned by a PubMed search, we identified 55 articles that describe services targeting health consumers equipped with mobile phones. From those articles, we showcase 19 as demonstrator services across clinical care, prevention, infectious diseases, and population health. Services range from education, reminders, reporting, and peer support, to epidemiologic reporting, and care management with phone communication and messages. Key achievements include timely adherence to treatment and appointments, clinical effectiveness of treatment reminders, increased vaccination coverage and uptake of screening, and capacity for efficient disease surveillance. We discuss methodologies of delivery and evaluation of mobile-phone-based mHealth in LMIC, including service design, social context, and environmental factors to success. Conclusion: Demonstrated promises using mobile phones in the poorest countries encourage a future in which IMIA takes a lead role in leveraging mHealth for citizen empowerment through Consumer Health Informatics.
Assays for Qualification and Quality Stratification of Clinical Biospecimens Used in Research: A Technical Report from the ISBER Biospecimen Science Working Group

This technical report presents quality control (QC) assays that can be performed in order to qualify clinical biospecimens that have been biobanked for use in research. Some QC assays are specific to a disease area. Some QC assays are specific to a particular downstream analytical platform. When such a qualification is not possible, QC assays are presented that can be performed to stratify clinical biospecimens according to their biomolecular quality.
Influence of thermal ageing on void content and shear strength for selected lead free solder die-attach

In flip-chip packaging technology, thermal performance can be improved by attaching heat spreader to the backside of the heat generating silicon die via thermal interface material. Solder thermal interface materials (STIMs) are preferred to their polymer-based counterparts because they relatively offer higher thermal conductivities. Unlike lead-based solders which have had a longer application history, lead-free solders are relatively new; thus, the reliability of these lead-free solders are subject of research interest. In this study, lead-free solder preforms with compositions of 96.5Sn3Ag0. 5Cu, 99.99In, 97In3Ag and 58Bi42Sn were used for silicon die attachment on copper heat spreader. The void content and shear strength of the soldered joints after thermal ageing at 125°C for 50 hours, 100 hours, 200 hours and 300 hours were evaluated. Generally, the four studied solder joints show decrease in voids with thermal ageing though 96.5Sn3Ag0. 5Cu and 58Bi42Sn comparatively manifested more reduction in voids.
Effect of Degassing Process of Squeeze Casting Aluminum Alloy on Tensile Strength Under Different Pressures

Degassing technique currently applied to cast aluminum alloys due to its technological and economic advantages. The present work aimed to study the effect of degassing technique of cast aluminum alloy (LM2) under different pressures using squeeze casting process. Inert argon gas was pumped into the molten aluminum with flow rate (2,5-5-7)l/min. at constant pumped duration (5min.). Different applied pressures were used(17, 35, 52) MPa. The test was performed at room temperature. The physical and mechanical properties of degassed samples were measured and compared with non-degassing (ND) samples. The results showed that the best condition of degassing is found at 2.5 l/min flow rate and 35 MPa applied pressure. It was found that a slight difference is observed for the density and the lowest value of porosity was obtained at 2.5 l/min flow rate and 52 MPa applied pressure.
Colloquy : Should Familywise Alpha Be Adjusted ? Against Familywise Alpha Adjustment

Type I error is a risk undertaken whenever significance tests are conducted, and the chances of committing a Type I error increase as the number of significance tests increases. But adjusting the alpha level because of the number of tests conducted in a given study has no principled basis, commits one to absurd beliefs and practices, and reduces statistical power. The practice of requiring or employing such adjustments should be abandoned.
Tholin Aggregation in Titan's Atmosphere: Developing a Probabalistic Model

Titan’s climate is dominated by a reddish haze in its atmosphere made of the organic aerosol tholin. This haze is known to influence the climate through temperature control, hydrocarbon production and atmospheric circulation. Because of continuing interest in Titan’s tropospheric activity, it is important to understand the production and growth of tholin through the atmospheric layers. The coagulation of tholin is influenced by the cross-sectional area, relative velocity and charge on the aggregates. The aggregates become charged through plasma produced primarily by galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and UV radiation during the nighttime and daytime, respectively. The purpose of this study is to model the formation of tholin molecules in the lower atmosphere of Titan, approximately 100 to 300 km above the surface, using different charging schemes for daytime and nighttime ion production. This is simulated by numerically modeling the growth of three generations of aggregates using different conditions and charging based on the altitude of production for each generation. The preliminary results for the first generation charged by UV radiation are given and compared with measured characteristics of tholin in Titan’s atmosphere.
Single-cell RT-PCR analysis of cerebrospinal fluid B cell clonality and immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable region gene mutation in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Xiaoli Yu, Gregory P. Owens, Alanna M. Ritchie, Mark P. Burgoon, Denise M. Damek, Kathryne M. Keays, and Donald H. Gilden 1 Department of Neurology 2 Department of Microbiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, USA __________________________________________________________________________________ *Correspondence: Xiaoli Yu, PhD, Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E. 9 Avenue, Mail Stop B182, Denver, Colorado, 80262, USA. Telephone: 303-315-2393; fax: 303-315-8760; e-mail: xiaoli.yu@uchsc.edu
Point defects, precipitates and the strength anomaly in ordered Fe–Al alloys

Abstract The strength of B2-ordered Fe60Al40 has been investigated with respect to the influence of vacancies and interstitial impurities. Preconditioned states with different ratios of the concentration of vacancies and interstitial impurities have been established, which then were recovered by subsequent annealing treatments. The evolution of the recovered states with temperature has been monitored by measuring the strength (ultra-microhardness) at room temperature as a function of the annealing temperature. The observed dependencies are discussed on the basis of the resistance of vacancies and impurities to dislocation motion, of vacancy – interstitial interactions and also of the possible formation and dissolution of precipitates (primarily perovskites). The yield stress maximum which, independent of the stoichiometry, appears near 800 K is found to be controlled by vacancy migration in combination with strain ageing by interstitial agglomerates and by the formation of precipitates.
Cardiac-driven Pulsatile Motion of Intracranial Cerebrospinal Fluid Visualized Based on a Correlation Mapping Technique

Purpose: A correlation mapping technique delineating delay time and maximum correlation for characterizing pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) propagation was proposed. After proofing its technical concept, this technique was applied to healthy volunteers and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) patients. Methods: A time-resolved three dimensional-phase contrast (3D-PC) sampled the cardiac-driven CSF velocity at 32 temporal points per cardiac period at each spatial location using retrospective cardiac gating. The proposed technique visualized distributions of propagation delay and correlation coefficient of the PC-based CSF velocity waveform with reference to a waveform at a particular point in the CSF space. The delay time was obtained as the amount of time-shift, giving the maximum correlation for the velocity waveform at an arbitrary location with that at the reference location. The validity and accuracy of the technique were confirmed in a flow phantom equipped with a cardiovascular pump. The technique was then applied to evaluate the intracranial CSF motions in young, healthy (N = 13), and elderly, healthy (N = 13) volunteers and iNPH patients (N = 13). Results: The phantom study demonstrated that root mean square error of the delay time was 2.27%, which was less than the temporal resolution of PC measurement used in this study (3.13% of a cardiac cycle). The human studies showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) in the mean correlation coefficient between the young, healthy group and the other two groups. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was also recognized in standard deviation of the correlation coefficients in intracranial CSF space among all groups. The result suggests that the CSF space compliance of iNPH patients was lower than that of healthy volunteers. Conclusion: The correlation mapping technique allowed us to visualize pulsatile CSF velocity wave propagations as still images. The technique may help to classify diseases related to CSF dynamics, such as iNPH.
The nonlinear downstream development of baroclinic instability

Author Posting. © Sears Foundation for Marine Research, 2011. This article is posted here by permission of Sears Foundation for Marine Research for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Marine Research 69 (2011): 705-722, doi:10.1357/002224011799849363.
Partially crystalline epoxy networks with superior mechanical and adhesion properties

ABSTRACT The mechanical and adhesion behavior of cationically polymerized, partially crystalline epoxy networks is presented. For this, a reactive and a nonreactive poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) were used as the crystalline component for the formation of copolymers and polymer alloys, respectively. The trade-off between toughness on the one hand and glass transition temperature and mechanical strength on the other can be reduced by the presence of nanostructures in combination with small crystalline domains (< 1 μm), as in the case of epoxy/PCL-based polymer alloys. This structure–property relationship reveals that a certain degree of crystallinity leads to enhanced toughness in cationically polymerized epoxy networks.
Predicting Coral Recruitment in Palau’s Complex Reef Archipelago

Reproduction and recruitment are key processes that replenish marine populations. Here we use the Palau archipelago, in the western Pacific Ocean, as a case study to examine scales of connectivity and to determine whether an oceanographic model, incorporating the complex reef architecture, is a useful predictor of coral recruitment. We tested the hypothesis that the reefs with the highest retention also had the highest densities of juvenile coral density from 80 field sites. Field comparisons showed a significant correlation between the densities of juvenile Acropora colonies and total larval recruitment derived from the model (i.e., calculated as the sum of the densities of larvae that self-seeded and recruited from the other reefs in the archipelago). Long-distance larval imports may be too infrequent to sustain coral populations, but are critical for recovery in times of extreme local stress.
Intellectual Disability and Assistive Technology: Opening the GATE Wider

The World Health Organization has launched a program to promote Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE). The objective of the GATE program is to improve access to high quality, affordable assistive technology for people with varying disabilities, diseases, and age-related conditions. As a first step, GATE has developed the assistive products list, a list of priority assistive products based on addressing the greatest need at population level. A specific group of people who can benefit from user appropriate assistive technology are people with intellectual disabilities. However, the use of assistive products by people with intellectual disabilities is a neglected area of research and practice, and offers considerable opportunities for the advancement of population health and the realization of basic human rights. It is unknown how many people with intellectual disabilities globally have access to appropriate assistive products and which factors influence their access. We call for a much greater focus on people with intellectual disabilities within the GATE program. We present a framework for understanding the complex interaction between intellectual disability, health and wellbeing, and assistive technology.
Numerical Assessment of Acoustic Installation Effects Characterizing NASA/LaRC Quiet Flow Facility using Computational AeroAcoustics

This paper presents a numerical assessment of acoustic installation effects characterizing the NASA Langley Quiet Flow Facility (QFF), an open-jet, anechoic wind tunnel. Several Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) calculations based on equivalent simplistic sources are conducted, enabling the estimation of the installation effects possibly induced by the QFF environment on the measured acoustic signatures during typical airframe noise experiments. First, the conclusions that had been previously made by the present author in an earlier assessment of QFF installation effects onto the so-called Tandem Cylinder experiments are reproduced. Then, these conclusions are extended to various situations which are more representative of the usual airframe noise tests that are typically conducted in the QFF. In particular, this provides an opportunity to compare the refraction/convection effects of the QFF jet flow to the reflection/diffraction induced by the experimental apparatus. All this further aids in the identification of acoustic installation effects that may be important in the type of testing typically done in the NASA/LARC QFF facility.