Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and reliability of the Korean version of the Feeding Abilities Assessment

Objective The purpose of this study is to introduce a standardised assessment tool by verifying the reliability of the translated Korean version of the Feeding Abilities Assessment (K-FAA), which was developed to suit Korean culture. Methods The research subjects were 65 patients with dementia living in nursing homes. The K-FAA was completed by verifying the suitability of translation and reverse translation. The validity of the K-FAA was established through content validity, while its reliability was analysed based on internal consistency reliability for the items, test–retest reliability and inter-rater reliability. Results The content validity index determined, based on the assessment of professors, occupational therapists, and nurses, was more than . 70. Cronbach’s α was more than . 929, showing good internal consistency. A test–retest reliability of . 884 was derived using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (p < .01), and an inter-rater reliability of . 800 was derived using the kappa coefficients; intraclass correlation coefficient was . 897, which also indicated good reliability. Conclusion The K-FAA was modified to fit the Korean domestic situation, and this assessment had high reliability. Therefore, K-FAA can evaluate the feeding ability of patients with dementia. Future studies should focus on providing evidence-based data to maintain or supplement the feeding ability of patients with dementia in Korea.
Thyronectria abieticola (Hypocreales), a new species from France on Abies alba

A new species of Thyronectria growing on corticated branches and twigs of Abies alba is described from France. It is characterized by morphology of sexual and asexual morphs, by ITS rDNA data and by ecology. Ascomata are stromatic, blackish, not obviously changing colour in 3% KOH, covered by a greenish scurf and they have hyaline to very pale brown, one-septate, smooth ascospores 10n12.3 t 5.2n6. 2 mm, not budding in the ascus to form ascoconidia. Microscopic observation of the ascomatal wall reveals versicoloured regions that change colour in 3% KOH and lactic acid. The phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences sets it within Thyronectria and apart from the morphologically most similar species. It is supposed to be host-specific to Abies alba based on three collections exclusively made on this host
MODELLING PERCEIVED PEDESTRIAN LEVEL OF SERVICE OF SIDEWALKS: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION APPROACH

A disparity between developed and developing countries is not only in the terms of economy and geography, but also on the pedestrians’ perceptions and expectations about the level of service of sidewalks. Therefore, it is paramount to find the effect of various built environment measures, that impact perceived Pedestrian Level Of Service (PLOS) in the context of developing nations. This study investigates the most influential factors of the built environment that affect perceived PLOS of sidewalks in the Indian context. This is one of the first studies in India that utilize Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique to assess pedestrian satisfaction and thereby qualitative PLOS of sidewalks. A total of 502 personal interviews was conducted to extract the pedestrian perception about the quality of sidewalks of Thiruvananthapuram city, a typical Indian city. The results identified four latent exogenous constructs named “Safety”, “Security”, “Mobility and infrastructure” and “Comfort and convenience” that represent the main aspects of the PLOS of sidewalks among which factors of security has exhibited highest loading (λ = 0.60). The study identified that parameters like police patrolling, street lighting, cleaner sidewalks, sidewalk obstructions, sidewalk surface have an evident impact on the level of service of sidewalks. The results of the study provide a significant information for interpreting the aspects of the walking environment that mainly influences the PLOS. This information can help city planners to prepare new strategies, policy interventions that enhance the quality of sidewalks and thus making the city more walkable
Dual polarization inset-fed microstrip patch antenna

This paper present 3 design of array antenna from type of inset-fed microstrip patch antenna located at 45deg and -45deg and capable to generate dual-polarization radiation pattern. Combinations of two patches using quarter-wave impedance matching technique have been used to design the array antenna operate at 2.4 GHz with return loss (RL) less than -10 dB. Those design were simulated using Microwave Office 2006 and were fabricated on FR4 substrate with a dielectric constant epsivr = 4.7, tan sigma = 0.019 and thickness =1.6 mm. Data analysis also has been done to compare the results between simulation and measurement. The result showed that the combination of more patches in array antenna can improve the RL. The prototype of 3 design 1times2 array antenna yields a bandwidth of 5%, HPBW for single element found at 90.07deg-89.75deg and HPBW for array antenna found at 84.68deg-79.05deg.
Power electronics and future marine electrical systems

Tomorrow's marine electrical systems will be profoundly different from today's systems. Power electronics is making major impacts on virtually every marine system including propulsion, power distribution, auxiliaries, sonar, and radar. Newly emerging materials, components, and system concepts (such as wide band-gap materials, silicon-carbide-based power semiconductor devices, power electronics building blocks and integrated power systems) are, and will continue, enabling future marine systems as different from today's systems as steam ships were to sailing ships. However, these enabling technologies and concepts are not well known and have been difficult to understand. This paper introduces these new concepts and technologies, identify potential impacts, and explore new design methods to simplify marine electrical system development.
Towards a just future of Islamic finance: from a new historical comparative east-west perspective

Contemporary increased economic and social pressures have raised concerns among both state regulators and clientele about the ability of banks and others financial institutions to survive. One of the fastest growing and significant parts of the world financial system is Islamic finance, which extends worldwide and exploits a highly sophisticated financial products and procedures based on Shariah. Grounded on unconventional, ethical and religious maxims, Islamic finance seems to be a solution to the current worldwide financial disaster. Conventional and Islamic financial systems present two entirely different concepts. The former aims for the achievement of financial gain on behalf of a single firm, or even a single person, whereas the latter is in the interest of the whole society. Therefore, these two systems differ not only in regard to their philosophical foundations, but also in terms of the end results. Therefore, without taking into account the technical and juridical peculiarities, Islamic finance affords more Justice. This raises the question, what does the word “Justice” mean? The concept of social justice does not have a universal moral or indeed legal interpretation. This study analyses the background of theories of justice in order to explain the phenomenon of justice by putting it in both a social and religious context. This is done so that we can see Justice as a socio-philosophical category associated with religious dissimilarities as well as ethical norms in different societies, undivided from their religious roots. Finally, this thesis compared the Islamic and Conventional financial systems, their ethics and philosophical basis, and different legal systems in combination with various ideas of justice connected with different religions in order to elaborate the potential future of Islamic finance.
Governing ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction : Mangroves in Indonesia and India

This study focuses on the potential for governing coastal disaster risks in developing countries through a mangrove ecosystem-based approach to understand the factors contribute to the success of coastal, mangrove ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction strategies. The interactive governance theory is utilized to understand the relations between the social and natural systems at the multi-levels, but especially at the local level. The research employed a mixed qualitative and quantitative method, including a review of literature and policy documents, field survey, interview and focus group discussion. The case study of Indonesia and India are selected since they have both suffered recently from coastal disasters including the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004 and coastal erosion induced flooding and using mangrove ecosystems as protection against ongoing coastal disaster. The research shows that the interactive governance approach and governability assessment framework is useful for assessing the relevance of Eco-DRR. It produces four potential governing pathways which could increase governability of Eco-DRR, namely 1) coordination; 2) goodness of fit; 3) social mobilization, and 4) learning and adaptiveness. However, the research also revealed that despite government support, both in Indonesia and India, the mangrove Eco-DRR programmes are more projects undertaken primarily by non-governmental and financed by foreign actors. This raises the question whether coastal developing countries have the capacity and resources to undertake programmatic, systematic coastal disaster risk reduction governance in the short and long term, addressing the growing long-term coastal disaster risks as a result of climate variability and change.
Chronic Neurovascular Dysfunction in a Preclinical Model of Repeated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Outcomes associated with repeated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are considerably worse than those of a single mTBI. Despite higher prevalence relative to moderate injuries, the repeated mTBI’s pathological progression has been understudied. For moderate-to-severe TBI, metabolic mismatch has been identified as a key component in pathological progression, and hence amenable to therapeutic targeting. Here, I present a mouse model of repeated mTBI induced via three controlled cortical impacts delivered at three day intervals for purpose of probing the aspects of the neurovascular coupling in chronic repeated mTBI in Thy1-ChR2 mice. Resting cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity were investigated via arterial spin labelling MRI, and intracranial electrophysiological measurements of evoked neuronal responses to optogenetic photostimulation were performed. Immunohistochemistry revealed alterations in vascular organization and astrocyte reactivity. This work provided the first insights into the neurophysiological alterations post repeated mTBI and enables new understanding of the associated cerebrovascular deficits.
Hyperhomocysteinemia effects on histology and lipid content of aorta inmale and female rabbit.

Background: The aim of the study is to compare the effects of hyperhomocysteinemia induced by methionine overload on lipid parameters and structure of the aorta in both male and female rabbits. Materials and methods: Study is carried on 20 male rabbits (control, n=11 and experimented, n=9) and 16 female rabbits, control (n=8) and tested (n=8). Control models are fed standard diet, the Met females and males received standard diet supplemented with Met (500 mg/day) during 3 months. Results obtained from MetM and MetF are compared with those of the respective controls. The body weight is measured, the parameters, Hcy, total cholesterol, total lipids, TG, atherogenicity index ((VLDL+LDL)/ HDL) are determinate by appropriate methods (FPIA, colorimetry). In aorta tissue we assess the total lipids, TC and TG contents and realize a histological study (Masson's staining). Results and discussion: the Met-enriched diet causes a low increase of Hcy (p<0.05) in male, but a significant increase in female (p<0.0001). The TG raise in male (p<0.01) and diminish in female (p<0.01). Atherogenicity index augments from 1,31 to 1,52 in male and from 2,17 to 3,07 in female. At the aortic level, while in male rabbit the total lipid, TC and TG raise significantly (p<0.01), in female TL decrease but TC and TG increase (p<0.01). Aorta of Met female undergoes severe histological changes, such as endothelium hypertrophy, local rupture of the internal elastic lamina, remodelling of media with accumulation of collagens. The observations made in Met male are less important, but the elastic blades present irregular assemblies. Conclusion: Under Met overload, the female aorta tissue presents the most spectacular changes of biochemical as well as histological parameters.
How Much Do Psychological Factors Affect Lack of Return to Play After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction? A Systematic Review

Background: Variables affecting return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are multifactorial. The nonphysical factors germane to successful return to play (RTP) are being increasingly recognized. Purpose: To (1) evaluate the available evidence base for psychological factors relating to RTP after ACLR, (2) identify psychological factors affecting RTP after ACLR, and (3) understand currently available metrics used to assess psychological RTP readiness. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A review of the MEDLINE database was performed for studies reporting RTP after ACLR. Studies reporting on the psychological determinants of RTP were included. Demographic, methodological, and psychometric properties of the included studies were extracted. Weighted analysis was performed after patients were pooled across included studies. Results: Of 999 studies identified in the initial search, 28 (2.8%) studies, comprising 2918 patients, were included; 19 studies (n = 2175 patients) reported RTP rates. The mean time for RTP was 17.2 months. There was a 63.4% rate of RTP, and 36.6% of patients returning to sport were not able to perform at their prior level of play. Of the 795 patients who did not achieve RTP, 514 (64.7%) cited a psychological reason for not returning. Fear of reinjury was the most common reason (n = 394; 76.7%); other psychological factors included lack of confidence in the treated knee (n = 76; 14.8%), depression (n = 29; 5.6%), and lack of interest/motivation (n = 13; 2.5%). The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the ACL–Return to Sport after Injury scale, and the Knee Self-Efficacy Scale were reported measures for assessing the influence of psychology on RTP. Conclusion: Psychological factors play an important role in RTP after ACLR. Among studies evaluating the impact of psychology on RTP, there was a delay in returning as well as lower RTP rates compared with the previously reported normative literature. Fear of reinjury was the most commonly reported impediment to RTP. The psychosocial measures identified in this review may have a role in RTP protocols for assessing mental resiliency; however, their roles need to be further investigated and validated in patients who have undergone ACLR.
Effect of latex coated coconut fibre on cure characteristics and physico mechanical properties of natural rubber-coir composites

A wide variety of natural fibres such as coconut fibre (coir), bagasse, banana fibre, sisal, etc. can be used to reinforce polymers. Natural fibre reinforced, biodegradable composites are eco-friendly. However, the interfacial adhesion between natural fibre and most of the biodegradable polymers is not adequate. The objective of this study was to modify readily available coir by coating with natural rubber (NR) as well as synthetic rubber latices with the aim of improving adhesion between coir and rubber in order to develop a coir filled NR based composite suitable in manufacture of tyre treads. Coir was coated with different compounded latices namely, neoprene, nitrile and NR and with uncompounded NR latex. Thereafter, composites were produced by mixing 15 phr of the latex coated coir fibres with virgin NR according to a tyre tread formulation and properties of the composites were evaluated and compared. Results revealed that processing safety of the compounded NR latex coated coir filled rubber composite is higher than that of the other three composites, whereas uncompounded NR latex coated coir filled rubber composite showed a similar processing safety to that of the two synthetic latex coated coir filled rubber composites. However, the two NR latex coated coir filled rubber composites were faster curing than the synthetic latex coated coir filled rubber composites. Minimum torque results indicated that compounded NR latex coated coir filled rubber composite has a higher processability when compared to the other composites. However, the latter composites indicated a higher state of cure and cross-link density in comparison to the former composite. Tensile strength, elongation at break, resilience and abrasion volume loss of the compounded NR latex coated coir filled rubber vulcanisate are superior to those of the other three vulcanisates. In overall cure characteristics and mechanical properties, especially abrasion resistance of the composite based on compounded NR latex coated coir indicates that it could be used in manufacture of tyre treads.
Does Personality Provide Indicators of Design Thinking Capacity?

Design thinking takes an adaptive and holistic view toward product and user needs. It involves engaging in observation, fast learning, visualization, prototyping, and enhancing customer experience. Personality traits have been widely examined in the education field and at the same time design thinking is the main topic of design education. However, until now, there has been a lack of related studies investigating these two variables. As a result, the purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between design thinking and personalities among Chinese design undergraduates. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 95 first-year Chinese fashion design college students in Taiwan. Two major findings were recorded. Based on zero-order correlations, some variables of personality and of design thinking were positively correlated among our Chinese undergraduates; however, taken as a whole, the structural equation modeling did not support this relationship. Further, age and gender did not play a role in these relationships.
Multicast multigroup beamforming under per-antenna power constraints

Linear precoding exploits the spatial degrees of freedom offered by multi-antenna transmitters to serve multiple users over the same frequency resources. The present work focuses on simultaneously serving multiple groups of users, each with its own channel, by transmitting a stream of common symbols to each group. This scenario is known as physical layer multicasting to multiple co-channel groups. Extending the current state of the art in multigroup multicasting, the practical constraint of a maximum permitted power level radiated by each antenna is tackled herein. The considered per antenna power constrained system is optimized in a maximum fairness sense. In other words, the optimization aims at favoring the worst user by maximizing the minimum rate. This Max-Min Fair criterion is imperative in multicast systems, where the performance of all the receivers listening to the same multicast is dictated by the worst rate in the group. An analytic framework to tackle the Max-Min Fair multigroup multicasting scenario under per antenna power constraints is therefore derived. Numerical results display the accuracy of the proposed solution and provide insights to the performance of a per antenna power constrained system.
Linking Farmers and Businesses in Integrated Organic Rice and Shrimp Farming – The Best Way for Enhancing Farmer’s Income and Sustainable Agriculture Development

Introduction: The model of shrimp-rice rotation in coastal provinces in Mekong Delta (MD), Vietnam, is a special farming system and has become the cultivation practices for decades. Material and Method: This paper taking integrated organic rice and shrimp farming and value change linkage between farmers and companies into consideration for research and development and suggesting suitable solutions in organic agriculture (OA) development. Result: Organic rice production increased profit from 6 to 10 million VND per ha compared to conventional inorganic rice production. Organic products will maintain stable market credibility in the country as well as export, creating mutual benefit for both farmers and business in the value chain linkage. Conclusion: OA is also contributed to protecting the public health and preserving the environment in a clean and sustainable way.
A 2.5 ppm/°C 1.05-MHz Relaxation Oscillator With Dynamic Frequency-Error Compensation and Fast Start-Up Time

This paper presents a 1.05 MHz, on-chip RC relaxation oscillator (ROSC) with a temperature coefficient (TC) of 2.5 ppm/°C and an absolute variation of 100 ppm over the body-compatible range of 0–40°C. The TC increases to 4.3 ppm/°C over the range from −15 °C to 55 °C. The high temperature stability is achieved using a PTAT current reference and a TC-tunable resistor bank for first-order frequency error compensation along with a digital frequency compensation (DFC) block using a single-bit temperature sensor for second-order compensation. A measured RMS period jitter of 160 ps is achieved with a high-speed comparator. The active power consumption of the ROSC is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$69~\mu \text{W}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> with a 1-V supply, and the leakage power consumption is 110 nW, while power gated. The ROSC achieves a fast startup time of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$8~\mu \text{s}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> by employing a voltage buffer to quickly stabilize the voltage reference.
A fingertip detection and tracking system as a virtual mouse, a signature input device and an application selector

The paper presents a vision-based fingertip detection and tracking system on a 2D plane using a camera as an input interface to the computer. An intensity based approach is used to detect the arbitrary shaped, uniform colored 2D area on which the hand operates, and then the fingertip is effectively detected and tracked using the sampled hand contour. Grid sampling approach is used for a fast implementation. The system achieves speeds of up to 30 fps. Tip pointers such as a stylus or a pen can be used in place of the fingertip, making the device user-friendly. The system is used to implement a virtual mouse, a signature input device and an application selector.
RT-SDN: Adaptive Routing and Priority Ordering for Software-Defined Real-Time Networking

In this article, an adaptive real-time communication system is proposed that leverages the software-defined networking (SDN) paradigm to provide end-to-end deadline guarantees. SDN is an emerging networking paradigm that allows control of the network through directly programmable software controllers, offering the flexibility to manage and optimize network resources dynamically. By utilizing these SDN features, a novel networking system, called RT-SDN, is presented that can effectively support real-time communication through cooperative routing and scheduling. To this end, we present a highly efficient routing algorithm that can adaptively reconfigure the routes of existing flows to find bandwidth-guaranteed routes for all flows. We then introduce a new priority assignment scheme that can achieve better deadline guarantees (i.e., better schedulability). In addition, RT-SDN allows routing and scheduling to operate together by employing a feedback loop between them. We implemented a prototype of RT-SDN as an SDN controller and deployed it on a testbed network of 30 BeagleBone devices. Our experiment results show that RT-SDN can be deployed in real-world commodity networks to provide end-to-end deadline guarantees, and the proposed schemes collectively improve the schedulability to a significant degree.