Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Workbench for Learning Enterprise Patterns

design patterns capture proven solutions for recurring problems. However the solution itself is not reusable off-the-self. It must be adapted for each specific problem. Most businesses run enterprise applications with mission critical data and functionality. Developers of these enterprise applications have recognized the value of design patterns in this scenario and detected specific design patterns for Enterprise Application Architectures. This paper presents a learning tool showing several architectural styles currently used in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Illumination Correction for Content Analysis in Uterine Cervix Images

Illumination field inhomogeneity strongly affects the visual appearance of an image. It has a major influence on automatic information extraction within an image and its correction is critical for comparison or model learning across images. In this work a unique medical repository of cervicographic images ("cervigrams") collected by the National Center Institute (NCI), National Institute of Health (NIH) is being addressed. The large diversity of cervix shapes within this database, as well as the acquisition set-up, lead to varying illumination conditions among and within the cervigrams, which hamper their automatic analysis. Illumination correction is therefore one of the first preprocessing steps required prior to the image analysis task. This paper presents a method for illumination correction in cervigrams based on a generalized expectation maximization (GEM) algorithm that interleaves pixels classification with estimation of class distribution and illumination field parameters. For cross-image analysis a normalization of the image dynamic range is conducted, using prior knowledge on cervix tissue intensity distribution. Experimental results are provided and evaluated on a set of 110 cervigrams that were manually labeled by an NCI expert. Unsupervised segmentation as well as initial supervised tissue classification results are presented.
Buddhist preaching: The persistent main undercurrent of Japanese traditional rhetorical communication

This essay is an attempt to investigate and discuss the significance and validity of researching Buddhist preaching as the main undercurrent of Japanese rhetorical communication practices. The argument first points out contemporary rhetoricians' weaknesses in research, and proceeds to discuss the importance of viewing preaching as a form of rhetorical communication. It then describes historical backgrounds of Japanese Buddhist preaching, and finally analyzes the preaching principles in comparison with the five canons of Western rhetoric, stressing the value of studying Buddhist preaching from the rhetorical perspective.
Good practices of innovation: an exploratory case study in the broadcasting sector

The main objective of this research is to contribute to innovation capability understanding. Furthermore, it is mainly focused in the way innovation capability is built and developed. Based on a multiple case study and interviews with managers, who are responsible for the new product development projects, in two innovative technology- based companies (ITBC) in the broadcasting sector, a collection of practices are identified and classified in four dimensions: 1) Innovation strategy, 2) Human capital development, 3) Organizational structure, and 4) Organizational culture. The case analysis revealed that a collection of practices that promote successful results in the new product development projects are critical both to improve and to build innovation capability
A comparative investigation of personality traits between two allied health professions: Occupational therapy and physiotherapy

Background/Aims: In a health care climate that promotes interprofessional collaboration, it is not uncommon for specialists of varying professions to work side by side to provide high-quality patient care. However, it is possible for such working relationships to not always run smoothly, secondary to underlying personality differences. The objective of this study was to explore similarities and differences in targeted personality traits between occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs). Methods: A total of 300 therapists, 150 from each profession, were selected randomly from membership listings in their respective national associations. All participants were sent a multi-page questionnaire focusing on an assessment of personality traits based on the Big Five Inventory, along with rating scales for traits of assertiveness and empathy. Results: Responses from 121 therapists (40.3%) were received. Analyses revealed similarities between OTs and PTs in self-ratings of conscientiousness, extraver.
Sensor node localization via spatial domain quasi-maximum likelihood estimation

A Sensor node localization algorithm for indoor quasi-static sensor environments using spatial domain quasi-maximum likelihood (QML) estimation is presented. A time of arrival (TOA) based algorithm is used to arrive at the “pseudo” range estimates from the base stations to the sensor nodes. The localization algorithm uses spatial domain quasi-maximum likelihood estimation to determine the actual sensor location. The algorithm is preceded by a calibration phase during which statistical characterization of the line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) returns are derived. Using a synthesized bandwidth of 2GHz, a 4-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and 5-10dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), localization with high accuracy is achieved.
Degradation pattern of SnO2 nanowire field effect transistors

The degradation pattern of SnO2 nanowire field effect transistors (FETs) was investigated by using an individual SnO2 nanowire that was passivated in sections by either a PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) or an Al2O3 layer. The PMMA passivated section showed the best mobility performance with a significant positive shift in the threshold voltage. The distinctive two-dimensional Rs–μ diagram based on a serial resistor connected FET model suggested that this would be a useful tool for evaluating the efficiency for post-treatments that would improve the device performance of a single nanowire transistor.
Sparse image restoration using iterated linear expansion of thresholds

We focus on image restoration that consists in regularizing a quadratic data-fidelity term with the standard ℓ1 sparse-enforcing norm. We propose a novel algorithmic approach to solve this optimization problem. Our idea amounts to approximating the result of the restoration as a linear sum of basic thresholds (e.g. soft-thresholds) weighted by unknown coefficients. The few coefficients of this expansion are obtained by minimizing the equivalent low-dimensional ℓ1-norm regularized objective function, which can be solved efficiently with standard convex optimization techniques, e.g. iterative reweighted least square (IRLS). By iterating this process, we claim that we reach the global minimum of the objective function. Experimentally we discover that very few iterations are required before we reach the convergence.
Linguistic diversity in the international workplace: Language ideologies and processes of exclusion

Abstract This article draws on a study of language choice and language ideologies in an international company in Denmark. It focuses on the linguistic and social challenges that are related to the diversity of language competences among employees in the modern workplace. Research on multilingualism at work has shown that employees may be excluded from informal interactions and from access to power structures on the basis of language skills in the company’s language(s). The data discussed here show that in the modern workplace, employees’ linguistic competences are diverse; international employees often have competence in the company’s lingua franca but lack skills in the local language while some ‘local’ employees lack competence in the corporate language (typically English). This can lead to the sociolinguistic exclusion of either group. In conclusion, the article relates these processes of exclusion to two language ideologies: one about an essential connection between language and nation and one about a hierarchy of English users.
Chinese herbs and warfarin potentiation by ‘Danshen’

Drug interactions with warfarin can be dangerous and although common drug interactions are now well recognized those with Chinese herbs are not widely appreciated. ‘Danshen’ is a herbal medicine often used for various complaints, particularly cardiovascular, in the Chinese community. We report a case of danshen‐induced overcoagulation with severe and dangerous abnormalities of clotting in a patient with rheumatic heart disease.
Empirical Studies of the Genetic Algorithm with Noncoding Segments

The genetic algorithm (GA) is a problem-solving method that is modeled after the process of natural selection. We are interested in studying a specific aspect of the GA: the effect of noncoding segments on GA performance. Noncoding segments are segments of bits in an individual that provide no contribution, positive or negative, to the fitness of that individual. Previous research on noncoding segments suggests that including these structures in the GA may improve GA performance. Understanding when and why this improvement occurs will help us to use the GA to its full potential. In this article we discuss our hypotheses on noncoding segments and describe the results of our experiments. The experiments may be separated into two categories: testing our program on problems from previous related studies, and testing new hypotheses on the effect of noncoding segments.
Relationship of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale to 30-Day Mortality in Medicare Beneficiaries With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), a well-validated tool for assessing initial stroke severity, has previously been shown to be associated with mortality in acute ischemic stroke. However, the relationship, optimal categorization, and risk discrimination with the NIHSS for predicting 30-day mortality among Medicare beneficiaries with acute ischemic stroke has not been well studied. Methods and Results We analyzed data from 33102 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries treated at 404 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals between April 2003 and December 2006 with NIHSS documented. The 30-day mortality rate by NIHSS as a continuous variable and by risk-tree determined or prespecified categories were analyzed, with discrimination of risk quantified by the c-statistic. In this cohort, mean age was 79.0 years and 58% were female. The median NIHSS score was 5 (25th to 75th percentile 2 to 12). There were 4496 deaths in the first 30 days (13.6%). There was a strong graded relation between increasing NIHSS score and higher 30-day mortality. The 30-day mortality rates for acute ischemic stroke by NIHSS categories were as follows: 0 to 7, 4.2%; 8 to 13, 13.9%; 14 to 21, 31.6%; 22 to 42, 53.5%. A model with NIHSS alone provided excellent discrimination whether included as a continuous variable (c-statistic 0.82 [0.81 to 0.83]), 4 categories (c-statistic 0.80 [0.79 to 0.80]), or 3 categories (c-statistic 0.79 [0.78 to 0.79]). Conclusions The NIHSS provides substantial prognostic information regarding 30-day mortality risk in Medicare beneficiaries with acute ischemic stroke. This index of stroke severity is a very strong discriminator of mortality risk, even in the absence of other clinical information, whether used as a continuous or categorical risk determinant. (J Am Heart Assoc. 2012;1:42-50.)
OMPUTING E NVIRONMENTS : A S URVEY

Distributed database management systems (DDBMs) have limited capacity to manage overhead of distributed transactions due to certain failures. These types of failures don’t guarantee the enforcement of transactional properties and which reduces the scalability and availability of these systems. Research in this area proved that scaling out while providing consistency of transactions and guaranteeing availability in the presence of different failures in distributed computing environment is not feasible. As a result, the database community have used vertical scaling rather than horizontal scaling. Moreover changes in data access patterns resulting from a new generation of web applications with high scalability and availability guarantees weaker consistency. In this paper we have analyse that how different systems such as ElasTraS, Mstore, Sinfonia, ecStore and Gstore provide scalable transactional data access in cloud computing environment. We have also discussed transaction management (TM) in Gstore in detail and compared with other techniques and protocols used in current cloud based systems.
The pivotal role of adrenomedullin in producing hyperdynamic circulation during the early stage of sepsis.

BACKGROUND Initial cardiovascular responses during sepsis are characterized by hyperdynamic circulation. Although studies have shown that a novel potent vasodilatory peptide, adrenomedullin (ADM), is up-regulated under such conditions, it remains unknown whether ADM is responsible for initiating the hyperdynamic response. OBJECTIVE To determine whether increased ADM release during early sepsis plays any major role in producing hyperdynamic circulation. DESIGN, INTERVENTION, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Synthetic rat ADM (8.5 microg/kg of body weight) was infused intravenously in normal rats for 15 minutes at a constant rate. Cardiac output, stroke volume, and microvascular blood flow in various organs were determined immediately as well as 30 minutes after ADM infusion. At 30 minutes after infusion, plasma ADM level was also measured. In additional groups, rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture. At 1.5 hours after cecal ligation and puncture, specific anti-rat ADM antibodies were infused, which completely neutralized the circulating ADM. Various hemodynamic variables were measured 5 hours after cecal ligation and puncture (ie, the early stage of sepsis). RESULTS Cardiac output, stroke volume, and microvascular blood flow in the liver, small intestine, kidney, and spleen increased, and total peripheral resistance decreased 0 and 30 minutes after ADM infusion. In addition, plasma levels of ADM increased from the preinfusion level of 92.7+/-5.3 to 691.1+/-28.2 pg/mL 30 minutes after ADM infusion, which was similar to ADM levels observed during early sepsis. Moreover, 5 hours after the onset of sepsis, cardiac output, stroke volume, and microvascular blood flow in various organs increased and total peripheral resistance decreased. Administration of anti-ADM antibodies, however, prevented the occurrence of the hyperdynamic response. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that increased ADM production and/or release plays a major role in producing hyperdynamic responses during early sepsis. Since our previous studies have shown that vascular responsiveness to ADM decreases in late sepsis, maintenance of ADM vascular responsiveness by pharmacological agents during the course of sepsis may prevent transition from the hyperdynamic to the hypodynamic state.
SAR Remote Sensing Data for Subsurface Targets Detection and Lop Nur Lake Evolution and Extinction Study

This paper presents the observation from SAR images of the dried Lop Nur Lake in Xinjiang of west China. Lop Nur Lake is one of the driest places in the world and finally lost its last drop of water in 1972. It is well known for its "human ear shape" feature in optical remote sensing images. Likewise, the "ear" feature is shown in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, and is even larger because of the penetration effect. The universal existence of lacustrine deposit with high water content and salinity are undetectable by previous remote sensing images in Lop Nur Lake. We have made some laboratory experiments about subsurface soils and developed an improved dielectric model for moist saline soil at microwave bands. A field trip was conducted from October 25 to November 8, 2006 to validate the image interpretation results. As an important indicator for environment degradation and climate change study in arid region, Lop Nur does need long-term and overall research to answer many scientific questions.
Software Engineers' Perceptions of Factors in Motivation: The Work, People, Obstacles

Recent research suggests that the motivating factors in software engineering are evolving and that our current understanding of motivation in software engineering might be out of date. This paper presents an analysis of semi-structured interviews with 13 professional software engineers. The data suggests that 'the work' continues to be enjoyable and that 'people' are important, but that 'obstacles' really sap the energy of software engineers.
Cognitions in Consonance

A reconceptualization of some of the ideas associated with the aesthetic experience is proposed. The problems that arise in defining the terms ‘beautiful’ and ‘perfect’ may be overcome by substituting the term ‘fittingness. ’ The core of the aesthetic experience is the experience of some degree of fit between the specimen (the aesthetic object or event) and the corresponding standard. The degree of fit determines the intensity of the experience. The essential element of the aesthetic experience is the process of collation between specimen and standard, but the nature of the experience must be sought in the realm of motivation. To every instance of an extrinsive motive that begins with a deficiency, stimulation, or conflict and ends in homeostasis, there corresponds an intrinsic motive that is self-reinforcing. Cognitive conflicts lead to cognitive dissonance, and cognitive equilibrium is achieved by various cognitive means. There is also a state of cognitive consonance, which is sought for its own sake. The aesthetic experience is the experience of cognitive reinforcement that occurs upon the realization that the aesthetic specimen approximates or fits the model of perfection currently held by the individual. This reinforcing experience of cognitive consonance is the core of the aesthetic experience. This view is compared with Berlyne's theory.
A Metalanguage for Structural Operational Semantics

This paper introduces MLSOS, a functional metalanguage for declaring and animating definitions of structural operational semantics. The language provides a general mechanism for resolution-based search that respects the αequivalence of object-language binding structures, based on nominal unification. It combines that with a FreshML-style generative treatment of bound names. We claim that MLSOS allows animation of operational semantics definitions to be prototyped in a natural way, starting from semi-formal specifications. We outline the main design choices behind the language and illustrate its use.
Growth Hormone Dose-Dependent Pubertal Growth: A Randomized Trial in Short Children with Low Growth Hormone Secretion

Background/Aims: Growth hormone (GH) treatment regimens do not account for the pubertal increase in endogenous GH secretion. This study assessed whether increasing the GH dose and/or frequency of administration improves pubertal height gain and adult height (AH) in children with low GH secretion during stimulation tests, i.e. idiopathic isolated GH deficiency. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, clinical trial (No. 88-177) followed 111 children (96 boys) at study start from onset of puberty to AH who had received GH 33 µg/kg/day for ≥1 year. They were randomized to receive 67 µg/kg/day (GH<sup>67</sup>) given as one (GH<sup>67×1</sup>; n = 35) or two daily injections (GH<sup>33×2</sup>; n = 36), or to remain on a single 33 µg/kg/day dose (GH<sup>33×1</sup>; n = 40). Growth was assessed as height<sub>SDS</sub>gain for prepubertal, pubertal and total periods, as well as AH<sub>SDS</sub> versus the population and the midparental height. Results: Pubertal height<sub>SDS</sub>gain was greater for patients receiving a high dose (GH<sup>67</sup>, 0.73) than a low dose (GH<sup>33×1</sup>, 0.41, p < 0.05). AH<sub>SDS</sub> was greater on GH<sup>67</sup> (GH<sup>67×1</sup>, -0.84; GH<sup>33×2</sup>, -0.83) than GH<sup>33</sup> (-1.25, p < 0.05), and height<sub>SDS</sub>gain was greater on GH<sup>67</sup> than GH<sup>33</sup> (2.04 and 1.56, respectively; p < 0.01). All groups reached their target height<sub>SDS</sub>. Conclusion: Pubertal height<sub>SDS</sub>gain and AH<sub>SDS</sub> were dose dependent, with greater growth being observed for the GH<sup>67</sup> than the GH<sup>33</sup> randomization group; however, there were no differences between the once- and twice-daily GH<sup>67</sup> regimens.
X-band sea-clutter nonstationarity: influence of long waves

In this paper, we deal with the problem of modeling the backscattering from sea surface for low-grazing-angle and high-resolution radar systems. Based on the electromagnetic two-scale model, we analyzed both the amplitude and frequency modulations induced on the small-scale Bragg resonant waves by the large-scale surface tilt and advection due to the swell presence. Evidence of sea-clutter nonstationarity has been verified and the relationship between the variations of clutter spectral features, such as texture, Doppler centroid, and bandwidth, have been studied by processing real sea-clutter data recorded by the IPIX radar of McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. An autoregressive nonstationary process is proposed and validated to model the physical phenomenon.
Iodine status among pregnant women after mandatory salt iodisation

Abstract I is essential for thyroid hormone synthesis and neurological development. Various changes occur in thyroid hormone metabolism during pregnancy and I requirements increase significantly. The purpose of this study was to investigate I status among pregnant women in Trabzon, formerly a severely I-deficient area but shown to have become I sufficient following mandatory iodisation of table salt based on monitoring studies among school-age children (SAC) in the area. A total of 864 healthy pregnant women with a median age of 28 (25th–75th percentile 17–47) years participated in the study. None of them were using I-containing supplement. All of them were screened for use of iodised salt, obstetric history, thyroid function tests and urinary I concentrations (UIC), and thyroid ultrasonography was performed. Median UIC was 102 (25th–75th percentile=62–143) μg/l. Median UIC of the patients according to trimesters were 122 µg/l at the 1st, 97 µg/l at the 2nd and 87 µg/l at the 3rd trimester. UIC in the 1st trimester was higher compared with the 2nd and 3rd trimesters (P<0·017). Nodules were present in 17·7 % of women (n 153). The rate of iodised salt usage among pregnant women was 90·7 %. Our study demonstrates that, although the I status among SAC has been rectified, I deficiency (ID) is still prevalent among pregnant women. Current knowledge is in favour of I supplementation in this group. Until the effects of maternal I supplementation in mild ID have been clarified by large-scale prospective controlled trials, pregnant women living in borderline defficient and I-sufficient areas, such as Trabzon city, should receive 100–200 µg/d of I-containing supplements in addition to iodised salt.