Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Older adults' satisfaction with integrated capitated health and long-term care.

PURPOSE The objective of this study is to develop an instrument to evaluate satisfaction with care for older adults in capitated environments. Although satisfaction with care is now widely accepted as an important outcome measure, there are relatively few satisfaction measures developed or validated on older persons. Because many older persons are unable to respond to surveys, separate instruments were developed for individuals and for their families. DESIGN AND METHODS There were 402 face-to-face interviews conducted at 11 PACE sites with PACE participants or their family members and a non-PACE group. Scales were constructed by use of factor analysis and were evaluated for internal-consistency reliability, validity, and ability to discriminate. RESULTS For the participant survey, three factors were identified, but only two exhibited adequate internal consistency (Perceived Access and Perceived Interpersonal Quality). For the family survey, all four identified factors had adequate internal consistency (Perceived Access, Family Pressure, Ease of Access, and Family Involvement). The participant survey discriminated between the PACE sites and the non-PACE sites, but the family-member survey did not. IMPLICATIONS The PACE Satisfaction Survey appears to have adequate reliability and validity for measuring the satisfaction of older persons and their family members with capitated care. The domains of satisfaction differ between individuals and family members.
Evaluation of Shan-Chen lattice Boltzmann model ability on simulation of multiphase and multicomponent flows

The dynamics of multiphase/component fluids, has drawn many attentions from researches for a long time because of its practical application in engineering such as oil-water flow in porous media, boiling fluids, liquid metal melting and solidification. In the last two decades, Shan-Chen (SC), free-energy and color gradient models are presented based on lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for simulation of multiphase flows. This paper contains a review on the Shan-Chen pseudo-potential approach for the simulation of multiphase and multicomponent fluids. In the present study, the effect of different parameters such as interaction strength and relaxation time on the stability of the model, is discussed and its ability on simulation of a droplet deformation under simple shear flow, Rayleigh-Taylor instability and flow oscillations in a U tube is evaluated. It is shown that this model has the ability to simulate multiphase and multicomponent flows easily, with consideration of stability constrains.
A Novel Biometric Personal Authentication Using Finger Behaviors Supervised by Human Consciousness

- In this paper we present a novel approach for personal authentication using the finger behaviors supervised by brain. When a user put a finger on the scanner surface, a time-series of fingerprints are captured with user’s finger behaviors. Two kinds of behaviors are researched in the paper. One is for the single finger with kinds of rotation, force, distortion, etc. Another is for the multiple fingers with designed order or finger stroke like the piano playing. The personal is authenticated only when both the behaviors and the minutiae features of the fingerprint are matched, which is efficient to avoid fake fingerprint and the amputated finger by the terrorist violence.
Improving the State Space Representation through Association Rules

The adequate representation of states in the construction of intelligent agents is fundamental for allowing them to achieve a satisfactory performance, principally for those that actuate in a competitive environment that possesses a high state space. One particular type of representation that is very appropriate for these situations is the NetFeatureMap, which describes by means of features the relevant aspects that are inherent to the environment where the agent actuates. In renowned intelligent agents, such features are manually selected, which certainly leads to inadequate choices. In this way, the main contribution of this paper is to propose a new approach, based on Association Rules, that automatically selects these features. Under the intent of investigating the efficacy of such a proposal, the authors utilize the domain of Checkers player agents as their study laboratory. The best performance of the Association Rules-based agents proves the efficacy of the present proposal.
ON OPTIMIZATION OF PROBABILITY VECTOR RANDOM FIELDS USED FOR IMAGE SEGMENTATION

In the context of image segmentation, Markov random fields (MRF) are extensively used. However solution of MRF-based models is heavily dependent on how succesfully the MRF energy minimization is performed. In this light two methodologies, complementary to each other, are proposed for optimization of the special class of models comprising of a random field imposed on label priors. This class of segmentation models poses a special optimization problem, as the variables constituting the MRF in this case are continuous and are subject to probability constraints (positivity, sum-to-unity). The proposed methods are evaluated numerically in terms of objective function value and segmentation performance, and compare favorably to existing corresponding optimization schemes.
Trust management for secure information flows

In both the commercial and defence sectors a compelling need is emerging for the rapid, yet secure, dissemination of information across traditional organisational boundaries. In this paper we present a novel trust management paradigm for securing pan-organisational information flows that aims to address the threat of information leakage. Our trust management system is built around an economic model and a trust-based encryption primitive wherein: (i) entities purchase a key from a Trust Authority (TA) which is bound to a voluntarily reported trust score r, (ii) information flows are encrypted such that a flow tagged with a recipient trust score R can be decrypted by the recipient only if it possesses the key corresponding to a voluntarily reported score r < = R, (iii) the economic model (the price of keys) is set such that a dishonest entity wishing to maximise information leakage is incentivised to report an honest trust score r to the TA. This paper makes two important contributions. First, we quantify fundamental tradeoffs on information flow rate, information leakage rate and error in estimating recipient trust score R. Second, we present a suite of encryption schemes that realise our trust-based encryption primitive and identify computation and communication tradeoffs between them.
Expression of RFamide-Related Peptide-3 (RFRP-3) mRNA in Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus and KiSS-1 mRNA in Arcuate Nucleus of Rat during Pregnancy

Background RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) and kisspeptin (KiSS-1) are known to respectively inhibit and stimulate gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and lute- inizing hormone (LH) secretion in rat. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relative mRNA expression of RFRP-3 and KiSS-1 in the hypothalamus of pregnant rats. Materials and Methods In a randomized controlled experimental study, the exact preg- nancy day of 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were confirmed using the vaginal smear method and were equally assigned to three groups of days 7, 14 and 21 of pregnancy. Four non- pregnant female rats were ovariectomized and assigned as the control group. All rats were decapitated, and the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) and the arcuate nucleus (ARC) for detection of KiSS-1 mRNA were separated from their hypothalamus to detect RFRP-3 and KiSS-1 mRNA respectively. Then, their relative expressions were compared between control and pregnant groups using real-time polymerase chain reac- tion (PCR). Results The relative expression of RFRP-3 mRNA in DMH did not change significantly during pregnancy (p>0.01). However, the relative expression of KiSS-1 mRNA in ARC was at its highest in day 7 of pregnancy and decreased until day 21 of pregnancy (p<0.01). Conclusion Decrease in GnRH and LH secretion during the pregnancy of rat may be controlled by constant expression of RFRP-3 mRNA and reduced expression of KiSS-1 mRNA in hypothalamus.
Visual Language Editors based on LR Parsing Techniques

Visual language editors should provide a user-friendly environment where users are supported in an effective way in the construction of visual sentences. In this paper, we propose an approach for the construction of syntax-directed visual language editors by integrating incremental parsers into freehand editors. The approach combines the LR-based techniques for parsing visual languages with the more general incremental Generalized LR parsing techniques developed for string languages.
Vernier ’ s Delay Line Time – to – Digital Converter

Abstract: This paper describes the architecture and performance of a high-resolution time–to– digital converter (TDC) based on a Vernier delay line. The TDC is used as a basic building block for time interval measurement in an ultrasonic liquid flowmeter. Operation of the TDC with 10ps LSB resolution and 1 ms input range has been simulated using library models for 1.2 μm double–metal double–poly CMOS technology. The TDC operates at clock frequency of 200 MHz, and is composed of 500 delay–latch elements. The difference in delay between two chains, one for the start and the other for stop pulse, is controlled by the delay locked loop (DLL).
Proactive detection of distributed denial of service attacks using MIB traffic variables-a feasibility study

We propose a methodology for utilizing network management systems for the early detection of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Although there are quite a large number of events that are prior to an attack (e.g. suspicious log-ons, start of processes, addition of new files, sudden shifts in traffic, etc.), in this work we depend solely on information from MIB (management information base) traffic variables collected from the systems participating in the attack. Three types of DDoS attacks were effected on a research test bed, and MIB variables were recorded. Using these datasets, we show how there are indeed MIB-based precursors of DDoS attacks that render it possible to detect them before the target is shut down. Most importantly, we describe how the relevant MIB variables at the attacker can be extracted automatically using statistical tests for causality. It is shown that statistical tests applied in the time series of MIB traffic at the target and the attacker are effective in extracting the correct variables for monitoring in the attacker machine. Following the extraction of these key variables at the attacker, it is shown that an anomaly detection scheme, based on a simple model of the normal rate of change of the key MIBs can be used to determine statistical signatures of attacking behavior. These observations suggest the possibility of an entirely automated procedure centered on network management systems for detecting precursors of distributed denial of service attacks, and responding to them.
Mutation Bias, rather than Binding Preference, Underlies the Nucleosome-Associated G+C% Variation in Eukaryotes

The effects of genetic content on epigenetic status have been extensively studied, but how epigenetic status affects genetic content is not well understood. As a key epigenetic factor the nucleosome structure is highly correlated with local G+C% in eukaryotic genomes. The prevailing explanation to the pattern is that nucleosome occupancy favors higher G+C% sequences more than lower G+C% sequences. However, recent observation of a biased mutation spectrum caused by nucleosome occupancy suggests that the higher G+C% of nucleosomal DNA might be the evolutionary consequence of nucleosome occupancy. To distinguish the two explanations, we examined data from an in vitro nucleosome reconstitution experiment in which histones are incubated with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli genomic DNA, the former has been shaped by nucleosome structure while the latter has not. There is a strong positive correlation between nucleosome density and G+C% for the yeast DNA, an observation consistent with in vivo data, and such a pattern nearly vanishes for E. coli genomic DNA, suggesting that biased mutation, rather than biased occupancy, explains the most nucleosome-associated G+C% variation in eukaryotic genomes.
Innovative Approaches in Technology Dissemination: Experiences of ATMA Model in Bihar

The move from a policy of food security to a strategy that focuses on agricultural diversification aimed at increasing farm income and rural employment carries with it implicit risks for the small-scale farm households that are expected to benefit from this approach. ATMA model which was introduced to replace T&V to over come some of its weaknesses has been quite successful and for the first time, an attempt for convergence of extension by different service providers has been attempted through a legally-constituted body. In addition, ATMA’s have developed a mechanism for participation of farmers in deciding priorities (through Strategic Research and Extension Plan), identifying and implementation programmes (through Farmer Advisory Committees-FAC’s). This has brought some additional funding for implementing demonstrations, trainings, exposure visits, and forming farmer groups and the groups are now facilitated in developing better links with agro-processors. Further, ATMA’s brought some publicity and goodwill and also generated some success stories for extension at a time when public funding and support for extension has been dwindling. They also provided space for seeding some new ideas such as public-private partnerships and user contribution for extension, though several challenges still remain in mainstreaming these ideasHowever, ATMA director and other agricultural leaders within each district need to continually assess their comparative and competitive advantage in producing different high-value crops and products. The most critical output of this strategy will be that the current generation of farmers will learn new technical, management and organizational skills that will be passed on to the next generation as they seek employment outside of production agriculture.
MicroRNA fingerprints in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) identified miR-150-5p as a tumor suppressor and potential target for treatment

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is an aggressive leukemia of early childhood characterized by aberrant proliferation of myelomonocytic cells and hypersensitivity to GM-CSF stimulation. Mutually exclusive mutations in the RAS/ERK pathway genes such as PTPN11, NRAS, KRAS, CBL, or NF1 are found in ~90% of the cases. These mutations give rise to disease at least in part by activating STAT5 through phosphorylation and by promoting cell growth. MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, which are often deregulated in leukemia. However, little is known about their role in JMML. Here, we report distinctive miR expression signatures associated with the molecular subgroups of JMML. Among the downregulated miRs in JMML, miR-150-5p was found to target STAT5b, a gene which is often over-activated in JMML, and contributes to the characteristic aberrant signaling of this disorder. Moreover, loss of miR-150-5p and upregulation of STAT5b expression were also identified in a murine model of JMML. Ectopic overexpression of miR-150-5p in mononuclear cells from three JMML patients significantly decreased cell proliferation. Altogether, our data indicate that miR expression is deregulated in JMML and may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder by modulating key effectors of cytokine receptor pathways.
Investigating the Effect of Fault Category on Overall Capture Probability during Requirements Inspection

Inspection helps software managers by eliminating faults in early phases of Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Capture-recapture is a technique which provides an estimates of faults remaining in a software artifact. This helps managers to make a decision whether a re-inspection is required or not. At a higher level, software requirements document consists of general faults, faults of omission and faults of comission. A common belief is that the faults that are visible in the artifact are easier to detect by the inspectors. The nature of faults that could be detected by inspectors has not been empirically studied. Using the inspection data from varying number of students, we analyzed the category (general or omission or comission) of faults that are easier to detect by the inspectors. The results from this study shows that faults of comission are significantly easier to detect by the inspectors. Keywords— Inspections, Requirements/Specifications, Review.
Intervehicle communication protocol for emergency situations

Intervehicle communications could be very valuable in emergency situations such as after natural or man made disasters or accidents. The main goal in designing protocols for similar situations is to guarantee lower delay, needed throughput and probably most importantly to enable prioritization of emergency information. Reaching such goals is not easy in presence of emergency situations when the intervehicle traffic increases exponentially. We present a reliable hierarchical routing protocol that uses load balancing to keep low message delay even in presence of high level of traffic. Our protocol is based on geographical routing. The protocol is designed for highway travelers but can be used in any mobile ad-hoc network. The highway is divided in virtual cells, which moves as the vehicles moves. The cell members might choose one or more Cell/spl I.bar/Leaders that will behave for a certain time interval as Base Stations. Every node has its geographical position given by global positioning system (GPS). Cell/spl I.bar/Leaders form a virtual backbone used to forward messages among nodes on different cells. The traffic is distributed among Cell/spl I.bar/Leaders in order to optimize the communication delay. We study the effect of load balancing in minimizing delay. Our simulation results show that our proposed protocol improves the network utilization compared to existing inter-vehicles protocols.
Rights or rituals? Why juries can do more harm than good

Citizens’ juries have been developed in both Europe andthe USA as a means to improving public involvement inpolicy decision-making, particularly in the area of localgovernment. While citizens’ juries are only one of manyinputs into the policy-making process, they may, throughconfidence building, encourage more active citizenship.For some, the great strength of citizens’ juries is theopportunity they provide for informed deliberation.However, a closer look at a citizen jury in action in Wales(UK) suggests that this may be overstating the case.
Some equity and efficiency implications of decentralised decision-making in health care resource allocation : a discussion with reference to England *

Devolution has become a cornerstone of modern public-service management and this tendency is confirmed by several reforms carried out during the 1990s, namely in Europe, in the health sector. In this context, resource allocation decisions depend on multiple budget holders. Our objective is therefore to discuss possible consequences of relaxing the hypothesis of a single budget, which has been widely adopted in the literature about the equity-efficiency trade-off in health care resource allocation. We compare the baseline case of centralisation with decentralisation. In the former scenario, a fixed budget, M, is allocated to all or some of the individuals that benefit from the available health care technologies (t1 and t2), in order to achieve efficiency and equity. In the case of decentralisation, M is allocated to jurisdictions A and B, giving rise to local budgets, Mj, j=A,B. These budgets are in turn allocated by local budget holders to local residents that benefit from existing technologies, assuming a constant set of objectives of health care. We analyse both contexts of perfect information and uncertainty. If the unique objective of health care is health maximisation, then, in the presence of information asymmetry, decentralisation is likely to improve health outcomes. However, when we consider equity objectives as well, there might be a trade-off between the optimal allocation of M and the optimal allocation of local budgets. To illustrate the pertinence of these questions, we discuss our analysis in the light of the English case, where 75% of NHS resources have been devolved to Primary Care Trusts.
The effects of age-of-acquisition and frequency-of-occurrence in visual word recognition: Further evidence from the Dutch language

It has been claimed that the frequency effect in visual word naming is an artefact of age-of-acquisition: Words are named faster not because they are encountered more often in texts, but because they have been acquired earlier. In a series of experiments using immediate naming, lexical decision, and masked priming, we found that frequency had a clear effect in lexical tasks when age-of-acquisition is controlled for. At the same time, age-of-acquisition was a significant variable in all tasks, whereas imageability had no effect. These results corroborate findings previously reported in English and Dutch.
Incremental Learning Algorithm for Dynamic Data Streams

The recent advances in hardware and software have enabled the capture of different measurements of data in a wide range of fields. These measurements are generated continuously and in a very high fluctuating data rates. Examples include sensor networks, web logs, and computer network traffic. The storage, querying and mining of such data sets are highly computationally challenging tasks. Mining data streams is concerned with extracting knowledge structures represented in models and patterns in non stopping streams of information. The research in data stream mining has gained a high attraction due to the importance of its applications and the increasing generation of streaming information. Applications of data stream analysis can vary from critical scientific and astronomical applications to important business and financial ones. Algorithms, systems and frameworks that address streaming challenges have been developed from the past few years. This paper presents a system for induction of forest of functional trees from data streams able to detect concept drift. The Ultra Fast Forest of Trees (UFFT)is an incremental algorithm, which works online, processing each example in constant time, and performing a single scan over the training examples. It uses analytical techniques to choose the splitting criteria, and the information gain to estimate the merit of each possible splitting-test. For multi-class problems the algorithm builds a binary tree for each possible pair of classes, leading to a forest of trees. Decision nodes and leaves contain naive-Bayes classifiers playing different roles during the induction process. Naive-Bayes in leaves are used to classify test examples. Naive-Bayes in inner nodes play two different roles. They can be used as multivariate splitting-tests if chosen by the splitting criteria, and used to detect changes in the classdistribution of the examples that traverse the node. When a change in the class-distribution is detected,all the subtree rooted at that node will be pruned. The use of naiveBayes classifiers at leaves to classify test examples, the use of splitting-tests based on the outcome of naive-Bayes, and the use of naive-Bayes classifiers at decision nodes to detect changes in the distribution of the examples are directly obtained from the sufficient statistics required to compute the splitting criteria, without no additional computations. This aspect is a main advantage in the context of high-speed data streams. This methodology was tested with artificial and real-world data sets. The experimental results show a very good performance in comparison to a batch decision tree learner, and high capacity to detect drift in the distribution of the examples.