Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
University of Groningen Feasibility, test-retest reliability, and interrater reliability of the Modified Ashworth Scale and Modified Tardieu Scale in persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities Waninge,

Caregivers of persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) often describe the quality of the daily movements of these persons in terms of flexibility or stiffness. Objective outcome measures for flexibility and stiffness are muscle tone or level of spasticity. Two instruments used to grade muscle tone and spasticity are the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS). To date, however, no research has been performed to determine the psychometric properties of the MAS and MTS in persons with PIMD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility, test–retest reliability, and interrater reliability of the MAS and MTS in persons with PIMD. We assessed 35 participants on the MAS and MTS twice, first for the test and second a week later for the retest. Two observers performed the measurements. Feasibility was assessed based on the percentage of successful measurements. Test–retest and interrater reliability were determined by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Spearman’s correlation, and either limits of agreement (LOA) or quadratically weighted kappa. The feasibility of the measurements was good, because an acceptable percentage of successful measurements were performed. MAS measurements had substantial to almost perfect quadratically weighted kappa (>0.8) and an acceptable ICC (>0.8) for both interand intrarater reliability. However, MTS measurements had insufficient ICCs, Spearman’s correlations, and LOAs for both interand interrater reliability. Our data indicated that the feasibility of the MAS and MTS for measuring muscle tone in persons with PIMD was good. The MAS had sufficient test–retest and interrater reliability; however, the MTS had an insufficient test–retest and interrater reliability in persons with PIMD. Thus, the MAS may be a good method for evaluating the quality of daily movements in persons with PIMD. Providing test administrators with training and clear instructions will improve test reliability. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author at: Royal Dutch Visio De Brink, Veenweg 20, 9481 TJ, Vries, The Netherlands. Tel. : +31 (0)592 393787; fax: +31 (0)592 39 38 89. E-mail addresses: alywaninge@visio.org (A. Waninge), r.a. rook@st.hanze. nl (R.A. Rook), a.dijkhuizen@pl.hanze. nl (A. Dijkhuizen), EGielen@asvz.nl (E. Gielen), c.p.van.der. schans@pl.hanze. nl (C.P. van der Schans). 1 Tel. : +31 (0)50 5953685; fax: +31 (0)50 595 56 78. 2 Tel. : +31 (0)184 49 1200; fax: +31 (0)184 49 1500.
The combinatorial RNA design problem for binary trees

The nucleotides adenine, uracil, guanine, and cytosine are the building blocks of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Certain nucleotides can pair, creating folds in the RNA sequence known as the secondary structure. The stability of the secondary structure increases with the number of pairings, but there are typically many foldings that achieve the maximum number of pairings. The combinatorial RNA design problem is to find a design for a target secondary structure (a sequence which can achieve its maximum number of pairings only by folding into this structure), or else to show that no design exists for this structure. A design is known for a class of secondary structures in which all nucleotides are paired, but a structure in which even one nucleotide is unpaired need not admit a design. We prove constructively that there is an infinite class of secondary structures containing unpaired nucleotides and admitting a design.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Inflows into Ghana: Should the Focus Be on Infrastructure or Natural Resources? Short- Run and Long -Run Analyses

This paper conducts a time series analysis of annual data set from 1980-2010, to study the potential determinants of FDI inflows to Ghana. The paper used modern econometric methodology which includes unit root testing, and co-integration analysis. Both the long-run and short run determinants of FDI were analysed using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The VECM also enabled the researchers predict the speedy with which the short- run and long- run disequilibrium is corrected. The robustness of the estimated coefficients was investigated and found to be robust. The research reveals that infrastructural development and political stability have long-run positive and significant impact on the level of FDI inflows in Ghana. The study further established FDI targeting Ghana to be predominantly resource seeking for now. The short-run estimate for natural resources is positive and significant. However, Ghana cannot continue to rely on its natural resources to attract FDI as the long-run relationship is negative. Factors associated with market and efficiency seeking FDI such as market size, and value of the cedi were either found to be insignificant or unstable coefficients on inflows. Political instability is found to significantly deter inflows implying that strengthening of democratic institutions can bring in economic dividends by serving as a driver of FDI. The state of infrastructure is found to be below the required level necessary and sufficient to serve as a driver of inflows hence the negative short term effect. The policy implication of this finding is that for Ghana to fully realize its potential as far as foreign direct investment inflows is concerned it needs to embark on massive investments in infrastructure.
Dynamic Modeling of a Cubical Robot Balancing on Its Corner

Aiming at the problem of self-balancing control of a cubical robot, this paper makes a research on the dynamic modeling of the cubical robot balancing on its corner. Using the prototype of cubical robot we built as the research object, the dynamic model is derived with Lagrangian method on foundation of analysis of coordinate transformation relation of cubical robot. The correctness of the model is verified in theory by numerical simulation. The controller, designed based on reaction torque characteristic of inertia wheels, is used in balance control of the cubical robot. The effectiveness of the controller is verified again with the obtained expect effect. The dynamic model developed and controller can provide a base for further study of balance control of a cubical robot.
ADAPTIVE CHEBYSHEV FUSION OF VEGETATION IMAGERY BASED ON SVM CLASSIFIER

A novel adaptive image fusion method by using Chebyshev polynomial analysis (CPA), for applications in vegetation satellite imagery, is introduced in this paper. Fusion is a technique that enables the merging of two satellite cameras: panchromatic and multi-spectral, to produce higher quality satellite images to address agricurtural and vegetation issues such as soiling, floods and crop harvesting. Recent studies show Chebyshev polynomials to be effective in image fusion mainly in medium to high noise conditions, as per real-life satellite conditions. However, its application was limited to heuristics. In this research, we have proposed a way to adaptively select the optimal CPA parameters according to user specifications. Support vector machines (SVM) is used as a classifying tool to estimate the noise parameters, from which the appropriate CPA degree is utilised to perform image fusion according to a look-up table. Performance evaluation affirms the approach’s ability in reducing the computational complexity to perform fusion. Overall, adaptive CPA fusion is able to optimize an image fusion system’s resources and processing time. It therefore may be suitably incorporated onto real hardware for use on vegetation satellite imagery.
Postgraduate dissertation assessment: Exploring extant use and potential efficacy of visualisations

In the context of assessment, two specific challenges face South African academics. The first is that their universities have experienced an unprecedented increase in postgraduate students without a concomitant increase in supervision capacity. The second challenge is that many South African students are studying in a second or third language and struggle to express themselves in English. It is notoriously difficult to write text that is easy to read. Examiners are thus finding it challenging to maintain their own existing high standards of consistency, accuracy and fairness. This paper focuses on identifying a way of making the assessment of dissertations more efficient, while retaining rigour and fairness. In so doing, we want to provide students with a tool that will help them to communicate their research more effectively. In seeking an intervention, we noted the emerging use of visualisation as a communication facilitator in other areas of academia. Given the innate human ability to understand and remember visual representations, and the deep level of cognitive processing required to produce such visualisations, the considered inclusion of visualisations could be the means we are seeking. In this paper we report on an investigation into the extant use and potential usefulness of visualisation in a number of dissertations. We also explore supervisor expectations with respect to the use of visualisation in research reporting. Based on our findings, we propose that a discourse be opened into the deliberate use of visualisation in postgraduate research reporting.
Factors affecting biasing of capital budgeting cash flow forecasts: evidence from the hotel industry

This study contributes to a neglected aspect of the capital budgeting process, namely, the proposal development stage, which is primarily concerned with project cash flow estimation. Given that the deployment of sophisticated selection techniques is severely undermined when directed to input data suffering from bias, it is surprising that minimal empirical research has sought to explore for antecedent factors associated with biasing of capital budgeting cash flow forecasts. This paper reports the findings of a survey concerned with determining factors associated with biasing of capital budget cash flow forecasts in hotels that are mediated by a management contract. Statistically significant support is provided for the view that higher levels of biasing of capital budget cash flow forecasts occur in the presence of: high emphasis attached to the payback investment appraisal method; deficient reserve funds for furniture, fittings, and equipment (FF&E); low operator accessibility to reserve funds for FF&E; shorter periods of time to management contract expiry; and high emphasis attached to non-financial factors in capital budgeting appraisal.
Type Synthesis and Typical Application of 1T2R-Type Parallel Robotic Mechanisms

This paper focuses on the 1T2R-type (T: translational DOF; R: rotational DOF) parallel robotic mechanisms (PKMs) and discusses their type synthesis and typical application in five-axis machine tools. Based on Grassmann line geometry and atlas method, a systematic method dealing with the type synthesis of lower mobility PKMs is introduced. The Blanding rules and generalized Blanding rules, which are the criterions in realizing the mutual conversion between the freedom-space atlas and the constraint-space atlas, are summarized and discussed in detail. Thereafter, the entire procedure of the type synthesis is presented, and the type synthesis of 1T2R PKMs is carried out. Based on the synthesis results, a five-axis hybrid mechanism is proposed and a machine tool is developed consequently. The type synthesis method presented in this paper is intuitive and concise and can be used in the type synthesis of other lower mobility PKMs.
Designing Templates Based on a Taxonomy of Innovative Items

The design of high quality innovative item types is a challenging but important measurement task. This paper addresses the use of a taxonomy and item templates as related elements that test developers can consider when designing and developing innovative item types. The taxonomy for innovative types includes the seven dimensions of: assessment structure, complexity, fidelity, interactivity, media inclusion, response action, and scoring model. Item templates are a structured means of collecting and storing item information that can be used to improve the efficiency and security of the innovative item writing process. Specific item types can be evaluated in terms of the impact of their taxonomic levels on test development issues. such as exam program construct, psychometrics, programming needs, examinees' computer skills, and costs. Finally, once innovative item types have been selected and designed, item templates can also be developed to guide and support the item writing process.
Soil fertility status under smallholder farmers fields in malawi

Land degradation continues to contribute to the declining soil fertility especially in the smallholder farms. Thus, soil fertility depletion in the smallholder farms will continue to be the biophysical root cause for reduced food production if farmers do not implement best agricultural practices. It is expected that when farmers understand the current soil fertility status on their farms, they would make informed decisions considering appropriate soil fertility restoration and other conservation technologies. Soil fertility status of selected sites was determined in Northern, Central and Southern regions of Malawi. The overall objective of the study was to document current soil fertility status in smallholder farmers’ fields. And that specifically, this study was meant to provide a basis for the promotion of soil fertility restoration interventions in Malawi. A total of 33 participating farmers’ fields were selected for soil sampling and from each site soil samples were collected at two depths, 0 to 20 cm and 20 to 50 cm, using an auger. Soil chemical and physical analysis was carried out on all the sampled soils. Statistical analysis on the data was done using Genstat 14.1. The statistical analysis revealed that soils in all the selected sites are slightly acidic with most of the sites having pH <5.5. Another important finding is the low %OM (<2%) in most of the sites especially in Dedza and Mzimba. Soil organic matter (SOM) is important for healthy plant growing as it maintains favourable conditions supporting soil moisture retention, temperature, nutrient, pH, and aeration. The low %OM contributes to the low and moderate levels of N (<0.2%) in most of the sites. Sustainable soil management practices are therefore required to rebuild the soil fertility resource base. Key words: Soil fertility, soil organic matter, acidic soils, nitrogen-fixing trees.
Skiers Perception and Knowledge About Avalanche Terrain Practical Implications for Avalanche Education

In Norway, the number of people off-piste skiing in the backcountry is continuously increasing. This is also the case in Sogndal, a small village in Western Norway. On Saturday 31/01/2015, several avalanches occurred in a well-known and popular area. The regional avalanche danger on this day was level 3 and the avalanche problem was a persistent weak layer of buried surface hoar above 1000 m elevation. The aim of this study is to identify how these avalanches affected skiers’ perception of touring in avalanche terrain. This study is based on quantitative data, carried out using the software program Murvey. 206 novice to expert skiers participated (42% women and 58 % men, from 15 years old and above). The data was collected four days after the avalanches occurred. The results showed that 67% of the skiers rated the terrain where the avalanches occurred as simple or challenging, according to the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES). When analyzing this terrain using the ATES, it is clear that this terrain is classified as complex. Further, 53% knew about the avalanche problem this day, whereas 37% did not know. Despite this, 75% currently use the avalanche forecast when generally planning a trip and 63% were more or less surprised about the occurring avalanches. Findings in this study indicate that we should pay greater attention to the terrain and the avalanche problem(s) when planning a trip.
Removing Blurness in Picode using Enhanced Modulation

The appearance of a conventional 2D barcode pattern is often too obtrusive for integrating into an aesthetically designed advertisement. This is because of the fact that they didn’t provide perceptual quality and decoding robustness of the encoded images. Besides, no human readable information is provided before the barcode is successfully decoded. There proposes a new picture-embedding 2D barcode, called PiCode, which mitigates these two limitations by equipping a scannable 2D barcode with a picturesque appearance. PiCode is designed with careful considerations on both the perceptual quality of the embedded image and the decoding robustness of the encoded message. Comparisons with existing beautified 2D barcodes show that PiCode achieves one of the best perceptual quality for the embedded image, and maintains a better trade-off between image quality and decoding robustness in various application conditions. The generation of PiCode thus enhances the customers to scan the code using their mobile phones inorder to retrieve the data that carries behind them.
A multiproxy index of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, A.D. 1525–1982

[1] An understanding of past variability in the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), on interannual, interdecadal, and longer time scales, would be useful in assessing recent observed changes to ENSO and in determining the realism of climate model simulations. Using tree ring, coral, and ice core data, we reconstruct a proxy-based ENSO index between A.D. 1525 and 1982. Unlike most previous studies, which have drawn climate proxies from limited geographic regions, our network is Pacific basin–wide, using ENSO sensitive proxies from the western equatorial Pacific, New Zealand, the central Pacific, and subtropical North America. By considering multiple teleconnection regions, this network provides a more robust proxy ENSO signal. The common signal recorded in the multiproxy network has a high correlation with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), Nino 3.4 sea surface temperature (Nino3.4 SST), and a combined ocean-atmosphere ENSO index (CEI). The proportion of instrumental variance explained is 47% for the SOI, 48% for Nino3.4 SST, and 52% for the CEI. The proxy ENSO index also displays skill in reproducing warm and cold extremes of the SOI. The proxy ENSO index over the last 450 years shows considerable amplitude and frequency modulation in the 3–10 year band on multidecadal time scales. There is a relative reduction in the amplitude of high-frequency variability during the sixteenth, early seventeenth, and mid–eighteenth centuries. In contrast, high-frequency ENSO variability has increased over the last 200 years. Variability during the first half of the twentieth century is similar to that evident in the nineteenth century.
Changes in hepato-renal tissues biomarkers of alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats co-administered monosodium glutamate and ascorbic acid

The present study investigated the capacity of combined administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and ascorbic acid to reverse altered hepatorenal functions in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) Wistar rats. Single intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection of 90 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of alloxan monohydrate in phosphate buffered saline (pH=7.4) was used to induce DM in the rats. Standard spectrophotometric methods were used to measure hepatorenal biomarkers; namely, serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities as well as serum total bilirubin, urea and creatinine concentrations. Serum ratios of ALT to AST activities of the experimental rat groups were greater than 1 unit and within the range of 1.26 - 2.69 units. Serum ALP activities of the experimental rat groups were within the range of 84.08 ± 12.73 - 393.33 ± 35.67 IU/L. Pattern of lowered serum bilirubin concentrations in treated DM rat groups were in a dose dependent manner. Serum urea concentrations of DM rats co-administered MSG and ascorbic acid greater than 200 mg/kg b.w. were significantly lower (p<0.05) than those of other experimental rat groups. The present study showed that co-administration of MSG and ascorbic acid at doses greater than 200 mg/kg b.w. ameliorated hepatorenal dysfunction. However, indications showed that the DM rats did not obtained full therapeutic benefits.
A Modified Generalized Memory Polynomial Model for RF Power Amplifiers

A modifled generalized memory polynomial model (MGMP) is proposed for RF power ampliflers (PAs). The MGMP model is derived by applying complexity-reduced technique to the generalized memory polynomial model (GMP), and the least square (LS) algorithm is used for coe-cient extraction. The proposed MGMP model is assessed using a GaN Class-F PA driven by two modulated signals (a WCDMA 1001 signal and a single carrier 16QAM signal with 20MHz bandwidth). The experimental results demonstrate that the MGMP model outperforms the memory polynomial (MP) model and the generalized memory polynomial (GMP) model. Compared with MP model, the MGMP model shows a normalized mean square error (NMSE) improvement of 2.13dB in forward modeling, average adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) improvement of 2.62/2.11dB in the DPD application with almost identical number of model coe-cients. In contrast with the GMP model, the MGMP model can achieve comparable forward modeling and linearization performance results, but reduces approximately 40% of coe-cients.
Estimation of Baseline Wander Characteristics in ECG Signals Using Adaptive Transversal Filter and Lomb’s Periodogram Analysis

A new technique is proposed to estimate the frequency and amplitude of baseline wander in ECG signals. The estimation has been performed in two stages. In the first stage, a QRS detector detects R peaks and signal samples between consecutive R peaks are passed through a weighted average adaptive filter. The cut-off frequency and order of the filter depends upon the time domain characteristics of the input samples and is automatically updated for each RR interval. In the second stage, Lomb's periodogram is utilized to analyse the frequency response of the resultant unevenly sampled time series for estimating the baseline frequencies. These frequencies are then used to demodulate the signal for estimation of respective amplitudes. Results have been obtained using synthetic ECG signals with artificially introduced baseline wander containing single or multiple frequencies. The performance of the technique is evaluated by extracting baseline wander through three standard techniques and comparing the estimation errors.
Influences of Mg Doping on the Electrochemical Performance of TiO2 Nanodots Based Biosensor Electrodes

Electrochemical biosensors are essential for health monitors to help in diagnosis and detection of diseases. Enzyme adsorptions on biosensor electrodes and direct electron transfer between them have been recognized as key factors to affect biosensor performance. TiO2 has a good protein adsorption ability and facilitates having more enzyme adsorption and better electron transfer. In this work, Mg ions are introduced into TiO2 nanodots in order to further improve electrode performance because Mg ions are considered to have good affinity with proteins or enzymes. Mg doped TiO2 nanodots on Ti substrates were prepared by spin-coating and calcining. The effects of Mg doping on the nanodots morphology and performance of the electrodes were investigated. The density and size of TiO2 nanodots were obviously changed with Mg doping. The sensitivity of 2% Mg doped TiO2 nanodots based biosensor electrode increased to 1377.64 from 897.8 µA mM−1 cm−2 and its decreases to 0.83 from 1.27 mM, implying that the enzyme achieves higher catalytic efficiency due to better affinity of the enzyme with the Mg doped TiO2. The present work could provide an alternative to improve biosensor performances.