Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Motivations and barriers to the prolonged use of clothing

With increased awareness of environmental issues, and of ethical consumption, the fashion has been trying to address ethical issues in its supply chain, and on consumer behaviour. One approach to reducing the environmental impact of garment consumption is to change the way consumers behave. The prevailing strategies for behaviour change utilized within sustainable fashion have fallen into two categories: the provision of information, such as social media campaigns, and the creation of new garments using design strategies such as ‘design for durability’. However, these strategies are based on assumptions, rather than empirical understanding of what motivates consumer garment use, or the mechanics of behaviour change. This article focuses on one particular environmentally desirable behaviour: wearing garments for longer, and the factors influencing this behaviour. The findings provide insights into where improvements could be made. A quantitative wardrobe study was undertaken with female consumers in the United Kingdom. The purpose of the study was to explore the motivations and barriers to a selection of environmentally desirable garment-use behaviours, including wearing garments for longer. From this study, behavioural motivations were compiled. The predominant factors motivating prolonged wear were comfort and good fit of garments. The predominant factor acting as a barrier was change in circumstances, which changed consumer’s perceptions of how appropriate garments were for their perceived identity. The implications of these results are twofold. Changes in personal circumstances are inevitable for all consumers, and something that designers cannot influence. This suggests that alongside promoting prolonged wear, it is critical to guide consumers towards shifting ownership of unworn garments to new users. There is also an opportunity for designers and researchers to further explore comfort and fit of garments, but these factors are highly individualistic, which suggests that mass production may be detrimental to promoting prolonged wear.
Hemispheric processing of categorical/metric properties in object recognition

Participants indicated whether two sequentially presented objects were of the same category (between-task) or were identical (within-task). Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine cortical activation during the tasks. During the between-task, the left inferior parietal lobule was more activated than the right. During the within-task, the right superior occipital gyrus was more activated than the left. These results suggest that a hemispheric asymmetry, corresponding to spatial relation processing, exists for recognition of objects.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the Biosynthesis and Deactivation of Gibberellin-Dioxygenases Gene Family in Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

Gibberellins (GAs), a class of diterpenoid phytohormones, play a key role in regulating diverse processes throughout the life cycle of plants. Bioactive GA levels are rapidly regulated by Gibberellin-dioxygenases (GAox), which are involved in the biosynthesis and deactivation of gibberellin. In this manuscript, a comprehensive genome-wide analysis was carried out to find all GAox in Camellia sinensis. For the first time in a tea plant, 14 CsGAox genes, containing two domains, DIOX_N (PF14226) and 2OG-FeII_Oxy, were identified (PF03171). These genes all belong to 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-ODD), including four CsGA20ox (EC: 1.14.11.12), three CsGA3ox (EC: 1.14.11.15), and seven CsGA2ox (EC: 1.14.11.13). According to the phylogenetic classification as in Arabidopsis, the CsGAox genes spanned five subgroups. Each CsGAox shows tissue-specific expression patterns, although these vary greatly. Some candidate genes, which may play an important role in response to external abiotic stresses, have been identified with regards to patterns, such as CsGA20ox2, CsGA3ox2, CsGA3ox3, CsGA2ox1, CsGA2ox2, and CsGA2ox4. The bioactive GA levels may be closely related to the GA20ox, GA3ox and GA2ox genes. In addition, the candidate genes could be used as marker genes for abiotic stress resistance breeding in tea plants.
Binocular Rivalry and Fusion under Scotopic Luminances

A study is reported of human binocular rivalry and fusion over a range of luminances from scotopic to photopic. At scotopic light levels, rivalry alternations were very slow and complete. Suppression spread over much larger areas of the visual field than at photopic light levels. As luminances decreased from photopic to scotopic levels there was a rod—cone break for binocular rivalry. Mean suppression durations became abruptly greater as light levels dropped below those allowing the cones to be active. Horizontal disparities allowing fusion were 4 to 6 times greater at scotopic than at photopic light levels. Binocular vision at scotopic luminances was sluggish and of low resolution. It is as though connections to, and within, binocular vision are changed when light levels allow only rod input.
Quality Improvement Project to Improve Patient Satisfaction With Pain Management: Using Human-Centered Design

In this quality improvement project, our health system developed a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to improving inpatient pain management and assessed its impact on patient satisfaction across 21 medical centers. Using human-centered design principles, a bundle of 6 individual and team nursing practices was developed. Patient satisfaction with pain management, as measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems pain composite score, increased from the 25th to just under the 75th national percentile.
Lectin Interactions With the Jurkat Leukemic T‐Cell Line: Quantitative Binding Studies and Interleukin‐2 Production

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pea lectin, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) have been used to investigate their binding properties to Jurkat 77 6.8 leukemic human T cells and their ability to induce these cells to produce interieukin‐2 (IL‐2). Binding studies showed that the Jurkat cells fixed 0.82 ± 0.11 μg pea lectin, 2.02 ± 0.17 μg Con A, 1.85 ± 0.07 μg PHA and 8.88 ± 0.61 μg WGA. Scatchard plots were linear, indicating that the binding process was homogeneous with respect to the binding constant. PHA and Con A bound with the highest affinity [K (apparent) ‐ 9 × 109 M−1], followed by pea lectin and WGA [K, (apparent) =3 × 109 M−1]. The number of lectin binding sites was in agreement with the results of saturation experiments. We also evaluated the effect of the presence of 12‐O‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐13‐acetate (TPA) on the binding process. Results show that there were no gross alterations in the value of (apparent) K in the case of PHA and WGA. In contrast, the presence of TPA decreased the affinity of Con A and modified the Scatchard profile for pea lectin, which was curvilinear with a concavity turned upward. In this case, data were (apparent) K1 = 17.7 × 109 M−1 (“high‐affinity” sites) and (apparent) K2 = 2.6 × 109 M−1 (“low‐affinity” sites). The four lectins shared the ability to stimulate Jurkat 77 6.8 cells to secrete IL‐2. Optimal lectin concentrations were 20 μg/ml (PHA) and 50 μg/ml (WGA and Con A). Pea lectin failed to display a dose‐response relationship, and IL‐2 production increased proportionally with lectin concentration. Con A was the most efficient stimulator (250 U/ml), followed by WGA (160 U/ml) and PHA (108 U/ml). Addition of TPA potentiated Jurkat cell response. In this case, Con A and pea lectin were the most efficient stimulators (470 U/ml), followed by PHA (316 U/ml) and WGA (271 U/ml). Here, also, pea lectin failed to show a dose‐response relationship. Our data do not reveal an obvious relationship between the binding parameters and the ability of the lectins to induce IL‐2 production. We suggest that the efficiency of the four lectins to stimulate IL‐2 production in the case of the Jurkat 77 6.8 variant is most likely related to the nature of their specific cell surface receptor(s).
Real-time Hand Tracking Using Hybrid Pose

There has been research on hand tracking for the last several decades. Especially due to the widely spread application possibilities, e. g. in human computer interaction or computer animation, the topic is still of huge interest. In this thesis, new hybrid optimization approaches for hand tracking with a single depth camera are proposed. Hand tracking is a challenging task that usually involves solving a high-dimensional non-convex optimization problem. In this thesis, pose optimization approaches that combine stochastic particle-based and local gradient-based methods in different ways are proposed. These hybrid strategies try to integrate the advantages of the individual general approaches. All these various methods are tested in diverse experiments. Qualitative and quantitative results taking into account accuracy, robustness and real-time performance are presented.
Design of a video feedback SSVEP-BCI system for car control based on improved MUSIC method

Brain computer interface (BCI) based on visual stimulus is widely used, however, subjects have to focus on the stimulus rather than the object they want to control. Therefore, a video feedback car control system based on steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) was designed in this paper. We added a video feedback screen surround by the visual stimulators. As a result, subject could know the location as well as the status of the car. Meanwhile, we studied an improved multiple signal classification (MUSIC) method to classify SSVEP signal to improve the performance of frequency-domain analysis, and compared it with canonical correlation analysis and cyclic convolution method, it showed the highest accuracy. Moreover, we added an online training session to ensure that subject could master the using of the system, and according to the result of training session, the average online accuracy for four directions is 87.5%. Experiment results show that in our video feedback car control system, subjects could control the smart car by adjusting their distribution of the attention and drive the car through an obstacle fluently.
A DTN wireless sensor network for wildlife habitat monitoring

This paper reports on a preliminary study of applying a wireless sensor network using DTN (Delay Tolerant Network) to sample the current status of a certain wildlife mammal with the name of White Tail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the WMU Area 47 Ontario, Canada North of Parry Sound district. System architecture is proposed to obtain the highest monitoring range achievable with the least amount of sensors. With this method we can obtain the status of white tail deer, and detect other kinds of animals as well. The current method for surveying the white tail deer needs to be reviewed in order to obtain a most frequent status report of this important animal. By using DTN we expect to obtain disruption support capabilities in our sensor network. Furthermore, we simulated the wildlife habitat monitoring system on the Planet Lab environment. Our future work will develop sensors, deploy them in the field, and create a DTN network for the monitoring of wildlife habitat.
PEP4 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes proteinase A, a vacuolar enzyme required for processing of vacuolar precursors

The proteinase A structural gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cloned by using an immunological screening procedure that allows detection of yeast cells which are aberrantly secreting vacuolar proteins (J. H. Rothman, C. P. Hunter, L. A. Valls, and T. H. Stevens, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 83:3248-3252, 1986). A second cloned gene was obtained on a multicopy plasmid by complementation of a pep4-3 mutation. The nucleotide sequences of these two genes were determined independently and were found to be identical. The predicted amino acid sequence of the cloned gene suggests that proteinase A is synthesized as a 405-amino-acid precursor which is proteolytically converted to the 329-amino-acid mature enzyme. Proteinase A shows substantial homology to mammalian aspartyl proteases, such as pepsin, renin, and cathepsin D. The similarities may reflect not only analogous functions but also similar processing and intracellular targeting mechanisms for the two proteins. The cloned proteinase A structural gene, even when it is carried on a single-copy plasmid, complements the deficiency in several vacuolar hydrolase activities that is observed in a pep4 mutant. A strain carrying a deletion in the genomic copy of the gene fails to complement a pep4 mutant of the opposite mating type. Genetic linkage data demonstrate that integrated copies of the cloned proteinase A structural gene map to the PEP4 locus. Thus, the PEP4 gene encodes a vacuolar aspartyl protease, proteinase A, that is required for the in vivo processing of a number of vacuolar zymogens.
On statistical identification of a class of linear space-invariant image blurs using non-minimum-phase ARMA models

An optimal statistical parameter estimation technique was previously presented by the authors (ibid., vol.ASSP-34, p.963-72) for the identification of a class of unknown linear systems that can be modeled by a zero-phase finite impulse response filter. This technique is now extended to a more general case using a spectrally equivalent minimum-phase (SEMP) representation of the system. The original zero-phase system parameters are computed from the SEMP model parameters. >
Cohort Profile: The Bern Infant Lung Development Cohort

Childhood asthma resembles a complex syndrome rather than a single disease. Clinical manifestations include cough, shortness of breath and wheeze. Because of its high prevalence, it is of major public health relevance. Presentation and disease course of childhood wheezing disorders vary, and its phenotypes are difficult to distinguish in early childhood despite the demand for diverse therapeutic strategies. Current treatments have no sustained effect on development of lung function and cannot prevent tracking of reduced lung function. Risk factors for childhood wheeze and subsequent asthma include genes, environmental factors and their interaction: all these affect lung development directly or indirectly (Figure 1). Data on the association between lung development and respiratory symptoms in early childhood are mostly derived from small hospital-based studies. Larger epidemiological studies have been based on questionnaires and most studies have been conducted in older children, in high-risk populations or retrospectively. There is a lack of prospectively assessed lung function studies in unselected healthy infants that take into account genetic and environmental factors. However, in order to disentangle the complex interaction of these predisposing factors on lung development and childhood wheeze, relatively large groups of infants need to be studied, with repeated lung function measurements, assessment of environmental and hereditary factors and clinical outcomes. The ‘Bern Infant Lung Development’ (BILD) cohort aims to contribute towards closing this gap. It was set up in 1999 to study physiological properties of the respiratory system and environmental and genetic risk factors affecting lung development in healthy individuals from infancy through childhood in relation to wheeze. How is it funded?
The cµ/theta Rule for Many-Server Queues with Abandonment

We consider a multiclass queueing system with multiple homogeneous servers and customer abandonment. For each customer class i, the holding cost per unit time, the service rate, and the abandonment rate are denoted by ci, μi, and θi, respectively. We prove that under a many-server fluid scaling and overload conditions, a server-scheduling policy that assigns priority to classes according to their index ciμi/θi is asymptotically optimal for minimizing the overall long-run average holding cost. An additional penalty on customer abandonment is easily incorporated into this model and leads to a similar index rule.
Tactical 3D model generation using structure-from-motion on video from unmanned systems

Unmanned systems have been cited as one of the future enablers of all the services to assist the warfighter in dominating the battlespace. The potential benefits of unmanned systems are being closely investigated -- from providing increased and potentially stealthy surveillance, removing the warfighter from harms way, to reducing the manpower required to complete a specific job. In many instances, data obtained from an unmanned system is used sparingly, being applied only to the mission at hand. Other potential benefits to be gained from the data are overlooked and, after completion of the mission, the data is often discarded or lost. However, this data can be further exploited to offer tremendous tactical, operational, and strategic value. To show the potential value of this otherwise lost data, we designed a system that persistently stores the data in its original format from the unmanned vehicle and then generates a new, innovative data medium for further analysis. The system streams imagery and video from an unmanned system (original data format) and then constructs a 3D model (new data medium) using structure-from-motion. The 3D generated model provides warfighters additional situational awareness, tactical and strategic advantages that the original video stream lacks. We present our results using simulated unmanned vehicle data with Google Earth™providing the imagery as well as real-world data, including data captured from an unmanned aerial vehicle flight.
Low Ruminal pH Reduces Dietary Fiber Digestion via Reduced Microbial Attachment

In vitro rumen incubation studies were conducted to determine effects of initial pH on bacterial attachment and fiber digestion. Ruminal fluid pH was adjusted to 5.7, 6.2 and 6.7, and three major fibrolytic bacteria attached to rice straw in the mixed culture were quantified with real-time PCR. The numbers of attached and unattached Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Ruminocococcus albus were lower (p<0.05) at initial pH of 5.7 without significant difference between those at higher initial pH. Lowering incubation media pH to 5.7 also increased bacterial numbers detached from substrate regardless of bacterial species. Dry matter digestibility, gas accumulation and total VFA production were pH-dependent. Unlike bacterial attachment, maintaining an initial pH of 6.7 increased digestion over initial pH of 6.2. After 48 h in vitro rumen fermentation, average increases in DM digestion, gas accumulation, and total VFA production at initial pH of 6.2 and 6.7 were 2.8 and 4.4, 2.0 and 3.0, and 1.2 and 1.6 times those at initial pH of 5.7, respectively. The lag time to reach above 2% DM digestibility at low initial pH was taken more times (8 h) than at high and middle initial pH (4 h). Current data clearly indicate that ruminal pH is one of the important determinants of fiber digestion, which is modulated via the effect on bacterial attachment to fiber substrates.
A study of Financial Accounting Practices of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Ho Municipality, Ghana

This paper examined the financial accounting practices of SMEs drawing on a survey of 225 ownermanagers in Ho Municipality. The results revealed that majority of SMEs failed to keep proper accounting records pertaining to their businesses. Consequently, it was difficult for the owner-managers to determine the profit earned or loss suffered in the business during a particular accounting period in addition to the position of assets and liabilities to be able to strategize and make certain adjustments on their businesses.The major reasons for the entities failure to maintain proper accounting records and prepare a complete set of financial statements included high cost of hiring qualified accountants and lack of accounting knowledge on the part of some owner-managers. It is recommended that the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) in collaboration with the accounting bodies should organize accounting training programmes for owner-managers of SMEs on proper bookkeeping and accounting practices.
Functional Pearls

Abstract The Third Homomorphism Theorem is a folk theorem of the constructive algorithmics community. It states that a function on lists that can be computed both from left to right and from right to left is necessarily a list homomorphism – it can be computed according to any parenthesization of the list. We formalize and prove the theorem, and use it to improve an O(n2) sorting algorithm to O(n log n).
Neurocognitive dysfunctioning and the impact of comorbid depression and anxiety in patients with somatic symptom and related disorders: a cross-sectional clinical study

Background The prevalence and severity of neurocognitive dysfunctioning of patients with somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD) is unknown. Furthermore, the influence of comorbid depression and anxiety has not been evaluated. This study examines neurocognitive dysfunctioning of patients with SSRD and explores if comorbid depression and anxiety is associated with specific neurocognitive dysfunctioning. Methods Cross-sectional study with consecutive patients suffering from SSRD visiting an outpatient specialty mental health care Centre of Excellence for SSRD. Extensive neuropsychological assessment and assessment of depression and anxiety symptom levels using the Patient-Health-Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire-7 were performed at intake. Multivariate analysis was performed. Results The study sample consisted of 201 SSRD patients, with a mean age of 43 years (Standard deviation = 13) years; 37.8% were male. Neurocognitive dysfunction in the domains information processing speed, sustained and divided attention, working memory, verbal and visual memory were reported, compared with normative data. Comorbid depression and anxiety occurred frequently within the sample (75.1% and 65.7%, respectively). Neurocognitive dysfunctioning was worse in patients suffering from comorbid depression [multivariate F (7,161) = 2.839, p = 0.008] but not in patients with comorbid anxiety. Conclusions Poor neurocognitive performance of patients with SSRD is common and worsens in case of comorbid depression. This may explain treatment dropout of patients with SSRD from neurocognitive behavioral therapy. Research on novel interventions is needed targeting neurocognitive functioning of patients with SSRD, particularly those with comorbid depression.
Assessing Customer-Based Brand Equity of E-Commerce Platform Based on Promotion Benefits

The prosperity of e-commerce in China leads to large amount of businesses venturing into this marketplace. Sales promotion has been widely used to improve their advantage, while platform-based sales promotion has been confirmed more successful. This research examines the impacts of the benefits of sales promotions based on electronic commerce platforms on customer-based brand equity (platform brand awareness and platform brand association) and how their relationships are moderated by the promotion type (pre- and post-purchase promotion). Based on the two functions of sales promotions (stimulation vs. maintaining), we propose a five-benefit framework including exploration, convenience, savings, social bonds and structural bonds. We suggested that both the two types of sales promotion could provide the five benefits of sales promotions and the positive effects of the benefits on consumer-based brand equity might be significant, while the differences between pre- and post-purchase sales promotions could be also significant.