Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Feedback Design to Improve Interaction of Person-following Robots for Older Adults

A sequence of user studies with older adults explored user preferences regarding feedback parameters for a socially assistive person-following robot. The preferred level of transparency and the desired content for the feedback was first explored. Then, the preferred mode and timing of feedback were assessed. Preferred parameters were then implemented and evaluated. Results revealed that older adults preferred the robot's feedback to include only basic status information. They also preferred voice feedback over tone, and at a continuous rate to keep them constantly aware of the state and actions of the robot. These results contribute towards preliminary feedback design guidelines that could improve interaction quality for person-following robots for older adults. Keywords—Feedback design, person-following, socially assistive robots, human-robot interaction.
Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics

This study examines the phonetics, phonology and pragmatic function of uptalk, utterance-final rising pitch movements, as used in Southern Californian English. Twelve female and eleven male speakers were recorded in a variety of tasks. Instances of uptalk were coded for discourse function (statement, question, confirmation request, floor holding) based on context. The excursion of the pitch rise and the distance of the rise start from the onset of the utterance's last stressed vowel were also measured. Confirmation requests and floor holding showed variable realization. Questions, on the other hand, showed a rise that typically started within the stressed vowel and had a large pitch excursion, while uptalk used with statements exhibited both a smaller pitch excursion and a later rise that often started after vowel offset. This pattern suggests that statements have a L* L-H% melody while questions have L* H-H%. Gender differences were also found: female speakers used uptalk more often than males, and showed greater pitch excursion and later alignment, all else being equal. Other social parameters, however, such as social class and linguistic and ethnic background did not affect the use of uptalk.
The Importance of Willingness to Communicate and Self-Esteem in Language Learning and Teaching

Several social, cognitive, and affective factors are seemed to be important in the second language acquisition process among which willingness to communicate (WTC) and self-esteem take a high consideration. Learners are different with regard to their attitudes toward the second language, motivation, age, and personality. They bring their personality differences to the social environments such as a classroom, a meeting, or even a family gathering. Since some of these factors such as WTC and self-esteem have much more fundamental role in entering into a communication or for beginning a relation through speech, a review of them sounds to be essential. In regard to second language contexts, WTC is described by MacIntyre, Clement, Dornyei, and Noels (1998) as “a readiness to enter into discourse at a particular time with specific person or persons using an L2” (p. 547), while self-esteem stresses the learners’ beliefs about his/her capabilities and attributes. The purpose of this study is to review the importance of WTC and self-esteem. The study can shed light on the significance of these two factors.
Public health priorities of South Asia: An overview

The challenges faced by the South Asian region are many in the domain of healthcare. Even though the health outcomes have improved in South Asia in the past decade, the distribution of these gains has been unequal. The aim of this review paper was to identify the public health priorities for South Asia using secondary databases. Literature search on electronic databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, GoogleScholar was carried to obtain data addressing public health issues of South Asia. The literature search indicated, the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, environmental health, social determinants of health and strengthening of existing health systems as a public health priority for South Asia. The South Asian region is confronted with a formidable challenge to address its public health problems that are far greater than rest of the world. Provision of universal health care should be the priority for the countries in this region. This paper throws light on the myriad of the challenges faced by the South Asian region at present. It provides an insight in to the major public health priorities to improve healthcare services in the region. Public health professionals can utilize this information to further their research activities in the priority areas of the region.
Google translation: A semantic structure analysis

The inceptions of new technological aids, i.e. machine translation, that are at disposal of individual translators are becoming increasingly important to consolidate different strands in the domain of translation studies. To study the features of translated texts-including biblical, literary, and political-at the semantic level of processing, Google translation that is already functioning among a wide range of disciplines has been overarching such a sustained commitment to the task of translator in this study. Translation studies are therefore entangled with an array of interdisciplinary approaches to introduce the new areas of machine translation to theorists and specify the emerging algorithmic paths to computational linguists. The issues raised and developments outlined in this analytical study give a full rein to human involvement to provide remedial support to machine translation, particularly Google translation, and generate the impression of installing automated semantic level of processing of a variety of texts in line with the future wealth of ideas.
Understanding metal oxide/water interaction from first principles calculations

The project of this fourth, and last continuation proposal for bbc00001 is connected to the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1109 (“Understanding of Metal Oxide/Water Systems at the Molecular Scale”, subproject Campen/Saalfrank), whose funding period finished in December 2018. This proposal is therefore meant to be a summary of research works conducted within the last year(s), and to describe further work which is desirable to conclude our investigation.
Optical, layerwise monitoring of powder bed fusion

In powder bed fusion additive manufacturing, pre-placed layers of powder are successively fused to form three-dimensional components. During part build-up, flaws in the material or part geometry can occur and lead to an unacceptable part quality. Common flaws include porosity, poor surface finish, and thermal deformation. Here, a layer-wise imaging technique is presented for process monitoring. The technique relies on collection and analyses of images taken under oblique illuminations of fused and pre-placed powder layers. Results of three-dimensional reconstruction of image data and identification of potential flaws are presented.
KINEMATIC SIMULATION OF FRACTURE & BONE DEFORMITY CORRECTION UNDER EXTERNAL FIXATION

INTRODUCTION: In the management of extremity trauma, after inserting the pins and applying the external fixator, adjustment of the bone segment is often necessary to reduce the fracture and correct any residual deformities. For a unilateral external fixator, the ability to adjust rotational and translational deformities is limited. Furthermore, the potential malalignment correction paths to achieve the final bone segment reduction at the fracture site can be infinite depending upon the sequences of fixator joint adjustment selected. If favorable local biomechanical conditions can be reliably and conveniently implemented and maintained using an external fixator, fracture or osteotomy union can be greatly enhanced. This paper presents a model and analysis techniques for a unilateral external fixator to achieve fracture reduction and deformity correction in long bones precisely, through fixator joint adjustment. Combining the kinematic analysis with a graphic model of the tibia and the fixator allowed 3D simulation and visualization of the adjustments required to reduce fracture or correct bone deformity after osteotomy. METHODS: The Dynafix (EBI, Parsippany, New Jersey) unilateral external fixator is composed of four pins inserted into the proximal and distal bone segments, two telescoping pin clamps, a central rotary joint, and four sets of revolute joints. A transverse fracture was simulated at the midshaft of the tibia and the bone segments were modeled as rigid bodies. The malalignment of the proximal segment (P) with respect to the distal fragment (D), expressed by the transformation matrix, TP, was determined radiographically using anatomical landmarks. The relative position and the rotation of the "i+1"th link with respect to the previous "i"th link is described using the 4 × 4 homogeneous transformation matrix, (Ti+1) (1, 2). In the mathematical model of the Dynafix fixator, TP is equivalent to the transformation of each link of the fixator from the proximal bone segment to the distal segment by the matrix or loop equation:
Self-Interference Cancelling Receiver for Single Channel Full-Duplex Wireless Communication

A single-channel full-duplex receiver is presented with tunable self-interference (SI) canceling capability. The receiver utilizes the high linearity of passive mixer-first receiver architecture and LO phase shifting to handle and cancel the SI without degrading the receiver sensitivity due to intermodulation distortion. The proposed receiver is implemented in 130nm CMOS process and shows 45 dB cancellation with 7.5 dB DSB noise figure and better than -10 dB matching at the input.
An Integrated Inventory Model for Deteriorating Items under Cash Discount and Permissible Delay in Payments

Numerous studies have been undertaken to explain inventory models with different features. While findings from earlier studies have been conflicting, recent industrial-level studies indicate that multi features inventory models have a positive impact on business scenario. We propose an inventory model with integration of many real features like constant deterioration under cash discount scheme and permissible delay in payments. That is, we want to investigate the buyer’s optimal replenishment policy with quadratic demand under trade credit and cash discount to maximise joint total profit per unit time. Furthermore, numerical example and sensitivity analysis are presented to illustrate the results of the proposed model and to draw managerial insights.
PRO AND CON

OPTIMAL HEPARIN dosing for cardiopulmonary bypass has been debated since its estimation via empirical approach was introduced in the 1960s. The initial heparin dose at most centers ranges between 300 IU/kg and 400 IU/kg, with an acceptable activated clotting time (ACT) of at least 400 seconds needed to initiate bypass. During cardiopulmonary bypass, point-of-care ACT monitoring evaluates heparin’s effect on thrombin inactivation. This technique is effective in preventing visible clot formation while on bypass, but many argue that it is at the expense of increased bleeding complications. Multiple studies have shown that on-pump ACT is greatly affected by 2 factors: hemodilution and hypothermia. Further, ACT is a measurement of whole-blood coagulation and is not a direct endpoint of thrombin suppression. For these reasons, many believe that maintaining a specific heparin concentration would better estimate thrombin suppression. The gold standard for heparin concentration levels is the antiXa assay. However, a plasma sample is needed for the anti-Xa assay, making this test difficult to perform in the operative setting. The Hepcon Hemostasis Management System Plus (Hepcon HMS; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) offers a wholeblood heparin concentration test. The manufacturer reports that use of the Hepcon HMS results in fewer complications associated with excessive blood loss and in preservation of the coagulation system, resulting in fewer transfusions, fewer surgical reoperations, and therefore less cost. After an extensive literature review, the authors found that many of the supporting studies were limited by small sample sizes, outdated practice techniques, and liberal transfusion practices.
In- Vivo Comparison of Anticonvulsant Effects of Gabapentin and Verapamil alone and in Combination with Diazepam on Acute Seizure Model

JBUMDC 2017; 7(2): 96-101 Page-96 Introduction: Status epilepticus is a common neurological and life threatening medical emergency. The patient is labeled as under status epilepticus when the patient has continuous rapidly repeated attacks of seizures without gaining consciousness between them. It must be treated or else it may cause serious damage to the brain and even death in many cases. Despite the improvements made in managing status epilepticus patients, mortality is still very high, thus indicating that there is a substantial need to improve measures for both the prevention and effective management of this syndrome. There are various causes of status epilepticus including sudden withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs, central nervous system infections, high grade fever, hypoglycemia, brain tumors, refractory epilepsy, hypocalcemia, vitamin B deficiency and various metabolic abnormalities. Lorazepam and DZ are the first line drugs, and only benzodiazepines recommended for the acute short term management of status epilepticus. If the seizures are uncontrolled then Phenytoin, Phenobarbitone and Valproate are given intravenously for long term control of status epilepticus. Many anti-epileptic drugs (AED) share potential drug-drug interactions and various harmful short term and long term side effects. GBP has established antiepileptic effects when used as an adjunct or monotherapy for partial as well as for generalized tonic clonic seizures. High doses of GBP are needed for improvement in seizure control, however, the high doses are mostly tolerable and its safety and tolerability is rated as good to excellent. Its major side effects are tremors, headache, ataxia, dizziness and somnolence. Though VP is basically anti-hypertensive and anti-arrhythmia drug but its unique anti-seizure effects have been noted in pharmaco-resistance epilepsy and in patients of refractory epilepsy suffering from severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy. Verapamil when used as adjunctive therapy, controlled seizures including status epilepticus. The present study was aimed to studyin-vivo comparison of anticonvulsant effects of gabapentin and verapamil alone and in combination with diazepam on acute seizure model of mice.
The Rise and Fall of Cash WAQF Crowdfunding: Exploring the Shortcomings

Cash waqf, which is practiced widely in Malaysia, still lacks a contribution to society. In order to tackle such issues, cash waqf based crowdfunding was introduced. However, it also failed to attract a maximum number of people to endow their cash and failed within a year of its commencement. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the concept of waqf based crowdfunding and to understand the reasons that led to its failure. A single, instrumental case study research design is used, which is comprehended by interview with the managing partner of the only waqf-based crowdfunding platform. The findings reveal that the management of the platform lacked an understanding of the problems that would arise from its operations. Therefore, this study proposes a solution which will help the management of the waqf-based crowdfunding platform to improve its operational framework. The study will open the door for the researchers and the audience from this specific industry to propose different models that may assist the waqf-based crowdfunding to grow and reach a maximum following.
A Variational Approach to Structural Growth and Adaptive Material Orientation

Variational techniques have proven to be a powerful tool for material modeling. They have successfully been applied to, e.g. plasticity, damage modeling, and phase transformations. Several different variational techniques originate from Hamilton’s famous extremal principle. In our work, we apply this principle to the “inverse damage problem” and derive a model for structural growth and remodeling [1]. A non-convex underlying Hemlholtz free energy penalizes the so-called gray solution in which a distinct identification of mass is difficult. This non-convexity has the drawback of numerical instabilities which manifest in the checkerboard phenomenon. To resolve this numerical artifact of the ill-posed mathematical problem, we perform a regularization that operates only at the element level and neglects gradients over element boundaries [2]. Finally, the model possesses a structure known from material modeling which can be solved at the Gauß point (or material point) level in a finite element scheme. Introducing a Lagrange parameter allows for the direct control of mass generation yielding even finer structures [3]. In this contribution, we present an additional material non-linearity by accounting for the material orientation. To this end, we make use of the Euler angles describing the local coordinate system and the local material stiffness. The general scheme is adapted from [4] and gives additional evolution equations for the Euler. Finally, the density field and the Euler angles describing the material orientation are no additional field unknowns and can be calculated locally which strongly reduces the calculation effort. We present solutions of structural growth for different boundary problems to show the potential of our model.
Network based credit risk models

Abstract Peer-to-Peer lending platforms may lead to cost reduction, and to an improved user experience. These improvements may come at the price of inaccurate credit risk measurements, which can hamper lenders and endanger the stability of a financial system. In the article, we propose how to improve credit risk accuracy of peer to peer platforms and, specifically, of those who lend to small and medium enterprises. To achieve this goal, we propose to augment traditional credit scoring methods with “alternative data” that consist of centrality measures derived from similarity networks among borrowers, deduced from their financial ratios. Our empirical findings suggest that the proposed approach improves predictive accuracy as well as model explainability.
Evaluation of Space Time Beamforming Algorithm to Realize Maintenance-Free IoT Sensors With Wireless Power Transfer System in 5.7-GHz Band

Smart factories can be realized by effective and flexible placement of IoT sensors in all equipment. Even though many energy-efficient solutions are aimed at enhancing IoT sensor lifetimes, additional maintenance is required to replace batteries after a stipulated amount of time. To overcome this burden and realize maintenance-free IoT sensors, we evaluate a space-time beamforming (STBF) algorithm based on microwave power transfer in a 5.7-GHz band and compare the required transmit power with typical beam-splitting algorithms, namely Max-Sum and Max-Min. We also experimentally evaluate the usability of STBF and verify the required transmit power to realize maintenance-free IoT sensors.
Modeling the impact of fundamental and quantum resistance on the performance of SWCNT‐based RLC interconnects

An analytical interconnect model for single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) interconnects is proposed using Fourier method. Nonapproximated transfer function of the RLC SWCNT interconnect is modeled. The effect of fundamental and quantum resistance of SWCNT is incorporated in the transfer function. The propagation delay and overshoot/undershoot voltages are computed using Fourier series technique for SWCNT interconnects. Further, the effect of inductance that is prominent in CNTs is shown in terms of increased number of harmonics. Comparative analysis is carried out for SWCNT and Cu interconnects using MATLAB and SPICE at 65‐nm technology node for various performance parameters. Good accuracy is observed between the analytical and simulated results.
Iterative Algorithm for Electronic Dispersion Compensation in IM/DD Systems

A novel iterative algorithm for electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) at the transmitter is described and demonstrated for intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) systems. The proposed algorithm is based on the Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm, where the link dispersion performs time-to-frequency mapping, while the unconstrained phase at the direct detection receiver acts as a degree of freedom. Simulation results for a transmitter employing a single drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) operating at 28 Gb/s non-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK), show pre-compensation of upto 100 km of single mode fiber (SMF), with 1 dBQ margin above the forward error correction (FEC) bit error rate (BER) limit of $3.8 \times 10^{-3}$. It is shown that with five iterations of the proposed EDC algorithm in digital-signal processing (DSP) coupled with an 8-bit 56 GSa/s digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the transmission reach is extended by a factor of 5 in unamplified SMF links. Simulations for a 56 Gb/s four-level pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM-4) show the compensation of upto 10 km with five iterations of the EDC algorithm at 1 dBQ above the FEC limit.
A Novel Compact dq-Reference Frame Model for Inverter-Based Microgrids

The development and the experimental validation of a novel dynamic model of an islanded three-phase Inverter-based Microgrid (IMG) is presented in this paper. The proposed model reproduces the relevant system dynamics without excessive complexity and enough accuracy. The dynamics of the IMG are captured with a compact and scalable dynamic model, considering inverter based distributed generators with d-current droop primary and proportional resonant inner controllers. The complete development of the model, the practical assumptions, and the accurate proportional power sharing of the primary control technique are shown. The accuracy performance was verified in experiments performed at the Aalborg Intelligent Microgrids Laboratory for an islanded IMG case.
Nutrient minerals in drinking water: Implications for the nutrition of infants and young children

The WHO Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding emphasizes the importance of infant feeding and promotes exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life. In infants who cannot be breast-fed or should not receive breast milk, substitutes are required. These should be a formula that complies with the appropriate Codex Alimentarius Standards or, alternatively, a home-prepared formula with micronutrient supplements (1). Drinking water is indispensable for the reconstitution of powdered infant formulae and needed for the preparation of other breast-milk substitutes. As a result of the long-term intake of a considerable volume in relation to body weight, the concentrations of nutrient minerals in drinking water may contribute significantly to the total trace element and mineral intake of infants and young children. This is especially applicable to formula-fed infants during the first months of life, who may be the most vulnerable group affected by excessive concentrations of nutrients or contaminants in drinking water.