Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usability and UX practices in small enterprises: lessons from a survey of the Brazilian context

The role of small and medium enterprises (SME), especially small businesses, has significantly increased in the developing of interactive applications. Given the relevance of these companies in the market, the adoption of usability and user experience (UX) practices in these organizations is fundamental for the improvement of interactive systems. This paper performed a survey with 26 Brazilian small businesses of software about their Usability and UX practices. The results showed that Usability Tests and Heuristic Evaluation were the evaluation methods most frequently reported to be used by the surveyed companies. Although the results suggest an improvement in the adoption of usability and UX practices, they also show the need for significant improvement in training and awareness of the importance of usability and UX and appropriating techniques and practices in the context of small businesses. Our results showed a low use of accessibility evaluation methods, such as tests with disabled users (no mention) or even the use of automated tools to check initial aspects of accessibility (mentioned by only 3.85% of respondents) by the companies surveyed. It also showed that the companies surveyed relies many times on professionals of low experience for the conduction of Usability Tests and Heuristic Evaluation.
Tag Confidence Measure for Semi-Automatically Updating Named Entity Recognition

We present two techniques to reduce machine learning cost, i.e., cost of manually annotating unlabeled data, for adapting existing CRF-based named entity recognition (NER) systems to new texts or domains. We introduce the tag posterior probability as the tag confidence measure of an individual NE tag determined by the base model. Dubious tags are automatically detected as recognition errors, and regarded as targets of manual correction. Compared to entire sentence posterior probability, tag posterior probability has the advantage of minimizing system cost by focusing on those parts of the sentence that require manual correction. Using the tag confidence measure, the first technique, known as active learning, asks the editor to assign correct NE tags only to those parts that the base model could not assign tags confidently. Active learning reduces the learning cost by 66%, compared to the conventional method. As the second technique, we propose bootstrapping NER, which semi-automatically corrects dubious tags and updates its model.
A study on the efficacy of the recombinant Yersinia adhesin A vaccine against yersiniosis in the early phase

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Y. ptb) is a zoonotic pathogenic bacterial species of the family Enterobacteriaceae and causes yersiniosis, an acute intestinal infection in humans and animals. Y. ptb is often implicated in lethal epidemics in zoo animals and reductions in the breeding population, but a valid prevention method has not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a vaccine for yersiniosis control. The immunogenicity of one of the adhesion factors involved in pathogenic mechanisms of Y. ptb, Yersinia adhesin A (YadA), was investigated. BALB/c mice were divided into 3 groups: in group 1, mice received insoluble recombinant YadA (rYadA) produced in genetically engineered Escherichia coli (100 µg/dose); in group 2, mice received inactivated Y. ptb with strong expression of YadA (20 mg/dose);and in group 3, mice received phosphate-buffered saline (0.2 ml/dose). All interventions were administered subcutaneously twice at an interval of 1 week. One week after the second administration, Y. ptb (107 cells/mouse) was inoculated orally. As a result, the survival rate was 100% in group 1, 60% in group 2, and 0% in group 3. The anti-YadA antibody titer increased in a stepwise fashion in groups 1 and 2. The present study results suggest that rYadA shows promise as a protective antigen against yersiniosis. This study concluded that vaccination against Y. ptb may become available as a new method to prevent lethal epidemics in animals.
HIV-1 genome dimerization: kissing-loop hairpin dictates whether nucleotides downstream of the 5' splice junction contribute to loose and tight dimerization of human immunodeficiency virus RNA.

The genome of all retroviruses consists of two identical RNAs noncovalently linked near their 5' end. Adjacent genomic RNAs from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can form loose or tight dimers depending on whether their respective kissing-loop hairpins (nts 248-270 in HIV-1Lai) bond via their autocomplementary sequences (ACS) or via the ACS and stem sequences [Laughrea, M. , & Jetté, L. (1996a) Biochemistry 35, 1589-1598]. Loose dimers from HIV-1Mal, but not HIV-1Lai, are stabilized by a sequence (3'DLS) located downstream of the 5' splice junction [Laughrea, M. , & Jetté, L. (1996b) Biochemistry 35; 9366-9374]. To understand the ACS-3'DLS interplay in the formation and stability of loose and tight HIV-1 RNA dimers, we replaced the ACS of HIV-1Lai (GCGCGC262) by GUGCAC, GUGCGC (two alternative HIV-1 ACS), or GAGCUC (a non-HIV ACS). For each mutant, RNAs truncated immediately upstream or downstream of the 3'DLS were prepared; their ability to dimerize and their thermal stabilities were compared. The results suggest that the ACS determines whether the 3'DLS participates in RNA dimerization: (1) GAGCUC262 led to poorly stable loose dimers due to the inability of the 3'DLS to stabilize them (the 3'DLS stabilized the GUGCAC and GUGCGC RNAs); (2) GAGCUC262 led to poor formation of tight dimers, due to an inhibitory effect of the 3'DLS (the 3'DLS had little effect on the tight dimerization of the GUGCAC, GUGCGC and GCGCGC RNAs). The results indicate that communication exists between HIV-1 RNA sequences respectively located upstream and downstream of the 5' splice junction; they are consistent with the idea that the 3'DLS plays two ACS-dependent roles in the dimerization process: loose dimer stabilization in HIV-1 RNAs bearing an HIV ACS (unless the ACS already conferred a thermostability equal or superior to that offered by the 3'DLS), and inhibition of tight dimer formation in an HIV-1 RNA bearing a non-HIV ACS.
Aminopyrine Breath Test Predicts Surgical Risk for Patients with Liver Disease

To determine whether the [14C] aminopyrine breath test (ABT) predicts surgical risk in patients with liver disease, it was obtained prior to various surgeries in 38 patients with known or suspected liver disease. A modified Child's classification was also determined. Six of the seven operative deaths (three Child's A, two B, two C) had ABTs < 2.3%, while 30 of 31 survivors (24 Child's A, seven B) had ABTs > 2.3% (p < 0.000018). Seven of the 16 patients with normal ABTs had biopsy-proven cirrhosis and had postoperative courses indistinguishable from the remainder of the group. We conclude that surgery in patients with ABTs < 2.3% is associated with extremely high mortality. In addition, cirrhotics with normal ABTs tolerate elective surgery well.
Grouped variable model selection for heterogeneous medical signals

We explore statistical regression techniques for use in medical monitoring and telehealth applications. Medical embedded systems of the present and future are recording vast sets of data related to medical conditions and physiology. In this paper, distributed time-lag linear models are proposed as a means to help explain relationships between two or more medical and physiological measurements. The issues associated with performing multiple regression with heterogeneous medical data are treated as problems in model selection. An automatic method of model selection is proposed to construct models for high sample rate data by grouping sets of predictor variables. The grouped predictor variable model optimization problem is formalized. Once an initial regression is performed on all available variables, our approximate algorithm for finding the grouped variable model with the greatest validity runs in O(n2) time, where n is the number of available predictor variables. This is compared to the all subsets technique which requires O(2n) time for the same predictor set. In our experiments with medical signal data, we find that the method produces models with reasonable goodness of fit scores and high average confidence levels for grouped predictors.
Near Real-time Stereo for Weakly-Textured Scenes

Several real-time/near real-time stereo algorithms can currently provide accurate 3D reconstructions for well-textured scenes. However, most of these fail in sufficiently large regions that are weakly textured. Conversely, other scene reconstruction algorithms assume strong planarity in the environment. Such approaches can handle lack of texture, but tend to force nonplanar objects onto planes. We propose a compromise approach that prefers stereo depth estimates but can replace estimates in textureless regions with planes in a principled manner at near real-time rates. Our approach segments the image via a novel real-time color segmentation algorithm; we subsequently fit planes to textureless segments and refine them using consistency constraints. To further improve the quality of our stereo algorithm, we optionally employ loopy belief propagation to correct local errors.
Predicting content change on the web

Accurate prediction of changing web page content improves a variety of retrieval and web related components. For example, given such a prediction algorithm one can both design a better crawling strategy that only recrawls pages when necessary as well as a proactive mechanism for personalization that pushes content associated with user revisitation directly to the user. While many techniques for modeling change have focused simply on past change frequency, our work goes beyond that by additionally studying the usefulness in page change prediction of: the page's content; the degree and relationship among the prediction page's observed changes; the relatedness to other pages and the similarity in the types of changes they undergo. We present an expert prediction framework that incorporates the information from these other signals more effectively than standard ensemble or basic relational learning techniques. In an empirical analysis, we find that using page content as well as related pages significantly improves prediction accuracy and compare it to common approaches. We present numerous similarity metrics to identify related pages and focus specifically on measures of temporal content similarity. We observe that the different metrics yield related pages that are qualitatively different in nature and have different effects on the prediction performance.
Robot Map Building from Sonar and Laser Information using DSmT with Discounting Theory

In this paper, a new method of information fusion – DSmT (Dezert and Smarandache Theory) is introduced to apply to managing and dealing with the uncertain information from robot map building. Here we build grid map form sonar sensors and laser range finder (LRF). The uncertainty mainly comes from sonar sensors and LRF. Aiming to the uncertainty in static environment, we propose Classic DSm (DSmC) model for sonar sensors and laser range finder, and construct the general basic belief assignment function (gbbaf) respectively. Generally speaking, the evidence sources are unreliable in physical system, so we must consider the discounting theory before we apply DSmT. At last, Pioneer II mobile robot serves as a simulation experimental platform. We build 3D grid map of belief layout, then mainly compare the effect of building map using DSmT and DST. Through this simulation experiment, it proves that DSmT is very successful and valid, especially in dealing with highly conflicting information. In short, this study not only finds a new method for building map under static environment, but also supplies with a theory foundation for us to further apply Hybrid DSmT (DSmH) to dynamic unknown environment and multi-robots’ building map together. Keywords—Map building, DSmT, DST, Uncertainty, Information fusion.
Differentiated microdomains of the luminal plasmalemma of murine muscle capillaries: segmental variations in young and old animals

We investigated the luminal surface of the continuous endothelium of the microvasculature of the murine heart and diaphragm to find out whether it has differentiated microdomains. The probes were ferritin molecules, cationized to pI's 6.8, 7.15, 7.6, 8.0 and 8.4, which were introduced by retrograde or anterograde perfusion through the aorta or vena cava after the blood was removed from the vasculature. The pattern of labeling was analyzed by electron microscopy and assessed quantitatively by morphometry in arterioles, capillaries, and venules identified in bipolar microvascular fields in the diaphragm. The results showed that the plasmalemma proper was heavily but discontinuously labeled by all cationized ferritins (CF) used, the labeling being less extensive on the venular endothelium. CF had access as individual molecules to a fraction of the vesicular population opened on the luminal front of the endothelium. Plasmalemmal vesicle labeling increased from approximately 10 to approximately 25% as the pI decreased from 8.4 to 6.8. Vesicle labeling also increased with CF concentration in the perfusate. All CF binding sites were removed by pronase and papain. Heparinase and heparitinase caused only a slight reduction in CF labeling. Neuraminidase decreased the extent and density of labeling, especially on the plasmalemma proper of the venular endothelium; this decrease was particularly pronounced in old animals.
Intereye Asymmetry in Eyes With Keratoconus and High Ammetropia: Scheimpflug Imaging Analysis

Purpose: To evaluate intereye asymmetry using several parameters obtained from Scheimpflug imaging to discriminate between normal eyes, high-ammetropic eyes with very early keratoconus (VEKC), and keratoconus eyes in all stages. Methods: This prospective comparative study includes 685 patients (1370 eyes), of which 294 patients had bilateral keratoconus, 50 patients had high ammetropia, and 341 patients were normal. These patients were studied from July 2012 to July 2014. Thirty parameters, which were obtained from Scheimpflug imaging (Oculus GmBH) and derived from pachymetry, curvature, anterior and posterior elevation, asphericity, and others, were analyzed. Asymmetry was determined by subtracting the right eye value from the left eye value for each variable and by considering the absolute value of the result. Receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic regression analysis were used. Results: In the hyperopic astigmatism group, the mean intereye asymmetries in maximum keratometry, maximum posterior elevation, and maximum anterior elevation were 0.35 diopters (D), 4.67 &mgr;m, and 2.5 &mgr;m, respectively. In the myopic astigmatism group the asymmetries were 0.33 D, 5.38 &mgr;m, and 2.13 &mgr;m, respectively. In the astigmatism group the asymmetries were 0.18 D, 3.33 &mgr;m, and 1.66 &mgr;m, respectively. In the VEKC group the asymmetries were 0.96 D, 10.76 &mgr;m, and 4.95 &mgr;m, respectively. A mixed model that includes the asymmetry and the nonasymmetry values shows an AUROC value of 0.9957, discriminating between normal and VEKC eyes. Conclusions: Specific asymmetry values derived from the Scheimpflug analysis effectively discriminate between patients with VEKC and normal patients. Patients with VEKC showed higher asymmetry values than those presented in high-ammetropic groups.
Relaying with wireless infrastructure links in cellular networks

In this paper, we consider a cellular network assisted by fixed relay stations (RS), which are used by mobile stations (MS) to access the base station (BS) via a relaying strategy, namely Amplify-and-forward (AF) and Compress-and-forward (CF). We analyze the achievable sum-of-rates for uplink communications. It is assumed that mobile signals and relay signals are emitted on orthogonal bands, with the possibility of having a larger bandwidth (BW) on the relay-to-base links. Our key result is that with a relay bandwidth just twice that of the mobile’s bandwidth, the system capacity approaches that of an ideal distributed antenna system (DAS), while the ideal DAS requires new backhaul links with very high capacity. Moreover, with the successive interference cancellation (SIC) decoder at the BS, it is shown that under certain conditions the fairness performance in terms of minimum user rates achieved by relayassisted cellular systems is the same as that of an ideal DAS.
Hardware implementation and power analysis of HWT for medical imaging

Processing large images requires a large amount of memory, power hungry and computationally intensive which causes a high demand for an efficient algorithm implementation to overcome the problems. This paper discusses an efficient hardware implementation of the Haar wavelet transform (HWT) core on reconfigurable platforms. The proposed HWT implementation can be explored for automatic detection and segmentation of tumour in medical images. The HWT algorithm has been demonstrated for the segmentation of phantom data and its hardware implementation has been carried out using Handel C on different field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) devices. Results obtained for the implementation performance in terms of area and power have been evaluated and compared with other existing systems for HWT computation.
Base Rates of Malingering and Symptom Exeggeration

Base rates of probable malingering and symptom exaggeration are reported from a survey of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology membership. Estimates were based on 33,531 annual cases involved in personal injury, (n = 6,371), disability (n = 3,688), criminal (n = 1,341), or medical (n = 22,131) matters. Base rates did not differ among geographic regions or practice settings, but were related to the proportion of plaintiff versus defense referrals. Reported rates would be 2-4% higher if variance due to referral source was controlled. Twenty-nine percent of personal injury, 30% of disability, 19% of criminal, and 8% of medical cases involved probable malingering and symptom exaggeration. Thirty-nine percent of mild head injury, 35% of fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue, 31% of chronic pain, 27% of neurotoxic, and 22% of electrical injury claims resulted in diagnostic impressions of probable malingering. Diagnosis was supported by multiple sources of evidence, including severity (65% of cases) or pattern (64% of cases) of cognitive impairment that was inconsistent with the condition, scores below empirical cutoffs on forced choice tests (57% of cases), discrepancies among records, self-report, and observed behavior (56%), implausible self-reported symptoms in interview (46%), implausible changes in test scores across repeated examinations (45%), and validity scales on objective personality tests (38% of cases).
The Thought of Governing Country and Employing People in the Period of Emperor Wu of Han

The Han Dynasty is of great significance to the process of the unification of China, and the system of the Han Dynasty also laid the foundation for the political system of China for more than 1,000 years. Among them, Emperor Wu was the key figure in the transition of the Han Dynasty system. Scholars generally summarize the ruling thought of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty as external Confucianism and internal law, which is not accurate. From the analysis of the selection and appointment of the imperial officials in the Emperor Wu's dynasty, we can find that Emperor Wu's governance and employment strategy are based on his own will, which reflects strong functionalism and totalitarianism. Confucianism, as the mainstream thought advertised at that time, was more of a decoration.
Improved dynamic performance of fuzzy based DTC induction motor using bus-clamped SVM

This paper presents bus clamped space vector modulation (BCSVM) technique for direct torque control (DTC) of induction motor drive, In BCSVM any of the three phase pulses is always clamped in each sector at given switching frequency. The BCSVM gives the lower ripples in current and voltage with low torque distortion; further the switching losses are reduced for a given switching frequency at higher line dc voltage. The performance of the induction motor drive with two level and three level BCSVM control is compared using PI-control but the PI-controller doesn't give good dynamic performance of the induction motor. Further to improve dynamic performance in the torque and Flux performance in each case (i.e. two level and three level BCSVM) of induction motor drive is simulated using fuzzy logic control in place of torque and Speed control.
A Fuzzy C-means Clustering Algorithm Based on Pseudo-nearest-neighbor Intervals for Incomplete Data ⋆

Missing data handling is a challenging issue often dealt with in data mining and pattern classification. In this paper, a fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm based on pseudo-nearest-neighbor intervals for incomplete data is given. The data are first completed using the pseudo-nearest-neighbor intervals approach, then the data set can be clustered based on the fuzzy c-means algorithm for interval-valued data. The proposed algorithm estimates the missing attribute values without normalization, thus captures the essence of pattern similarities in the original untouched data set. Additionally, the pseudonearest-neighbor intervals representation takes account of implicit uncertainly of missing attribute values, and considers the angle between incomplete data and other data as well. Results on several incomplete data sets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Antioxidant Activity of Selected Indian Medicinal Plants

: The objective of the current study was to examine the antioxidant capacity of the Madhuca longifolia , Curcuma caesia , Adhatoda vasica , Carica papaya and Piper longum . These plants are present in many nations and continents, including Asia, Mauritius, South Africa, Mexico, China, the West Indies, East Africa, and Brazil. It is also used in traditional medicine for a number of indications. The hydro alcoholic extracts were used for the main phytochemical study and in vitro antioxidant testing. The plant contains phenolic chemicals, fatty acids, flavonoids, tannins
The "Price of Anarchy" Under Nonlinear and Asymmetric Costs

In this paper we characterize the “price of anarchy,” i.e., the inefficiency between user and system optimal solutions, when costs are nonseparable, asymmetric and nonlinear, generalizing earlier work that has addressed “the price of anarchy” under separable costs. The results in this paper apply primarily to nonatomic games such as the traffic equilibrium problem, but also in competitive multiperiod pricing and competitive supply chain settings. The bounds established in this paper are tight and explicitly account for the degree of asymmetry and nonlinearity of the cost function. We first provide a proof method for problems with a positive definite Jacobian matrix. Subsequently, we use ideas from semidefinite optimization in order to account for problems with a positive semidefinite Jacobian matrix (where the first approach does not apply). This latter connection also provides a different application of semidefinite optimization.