Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ageing Playfully: Advancing Research on Games for Older Adults Beyond Accessibility and Health Benefits

Games for older adults have previously been explored with a focus on improving older adults' well-being by fostering social interaction, and providing cognitive and physical stimulation, suggesting that they are a means of encouraging older adults to better themselves and introducing an overly functionalist perspective on play. In this workshop, we aim to shift perspectives on games for older adults on hedonic aspects that extend beyond benefits they provide. We will explore challenges and opportunities in the design and development of games for older adults that primarily focus on entertainment to create empowering and engaging experiences, and we will explore how to consolidate efforts that aim to deliver benefits of games with a purpose beyond entertainment to older adults.
A relaxation time approach for reducing initialization bias in simulation

We introduce a truncation algorithm to reduce the effects of initialization bias on Monte-Carlo simulations of stationary Markovian queueing systems. The heuristic is based on the estimated relaxation time of the underlying model and implementation requires no preliminary test runs or parameter selection. Computational results are presented for M/M/1 systems in which performance of the relaxation time method is compared with other truncation rules.
The relationship between gun ownership and firearm homicide rates in the United States, 1981-2010.

OBJECTIVES We examined the relationship between levels of household firearm ownership, as measured directly and by a proxy-the percentage of suicides committed with a firearm-and age-adjusted firearm homicide rates at the state level. METHODS We conducted a negative binomial regression analysis of panel data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting Systems database on gun ownership and firearm homicide rates across all 50 states during 1981 to 2010. We determined fixed effects for year, accounted for clustering within states with generalized estimating equations, and controlled for potential state-level confounders. RESULTS Gun ownership was a significant predictor of firearm homicide rates (incidence rate ratio = 1.009; 95% confidence interval = 1.004, 1.014). This model indicated that for each percentage point increase in gun ownership, the firearm homicide rate increased by 0.9%. CONCLUSIONS We observed a robust correlation between higher levels of gun ownership and higher firearm homicide rates. Although we could not determine causation, we found that states with higher rates of gun ownership had disproportionately large numbers of deaths from firearm-related homicides.
Production Systems Need Negation as Failure

We study action rule based systems with two forms of negation, namely classical negation and "negation as failure to find a course of actions". We show by several examples that adding negation as failure to such systems increase their expressiveness, in the sense that real life problems can be represented in a natural and simple way. Then, we address the problem of providing a formal declarative semantics to these extended systems, by adopting an argumentation based approach, which has been shown to be a simple unifying framework for understanding the declarative semantics of various nonmonotonic formalisms. In this way, we naturally define the grounded (well-founded), stable and preferred semantics for production systems with negation as failure. Next, we characterize the class of stratified production systems, which enjoy the properties that the above mentioned semantics coincide and that negation as failure can be computed by a simple bottom-up operator.
Computing the Hausdorff Distance between Curved Objects *

The Hausdorff distance between two sets of curves is a measure for the similarity of these objects and therefore an interesting feature in shape recognition. If the curves are algebraic computing the Hausdorff distance involves computing the intersection points of the Voronoi edges of the one set with the curves in the other. Since computing the Voronoi diagram of curves is quite difficult we characterize those points algebraically and compute them using the computer algebra system SYNAPS. This paper describes in detail which points have to be considered, by what algebraic equations they are characterized, and how they actually are computed.
Claudication of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 in Patients With Disabling Intermittent Disease : A Phase II Randomized , Double-Blind , Controlled Study of Adenoviral Delivery Regional Angiogenesis With Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Peripheral Arterial

Saucedo, Corey K. Goldman, John Blebea, Jennifer Macko, Paul D. Kessler, Henrik S. Sanjay Rajagopalan, Emile R. Mohler III, Robert J. Lederman, Farrell O. Mendelsohn, Jorge F. Claudication of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 121 in Patients With Disabling Intermittent Disease : A Phase II Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study of Adenoviral Delivery Regional Angiogenesis With Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Peripheral Arterial Print ISSN: 0009-7322. Online ISSN: 1524-4539 Copyright © 2003 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. is published by the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 Circulation doi: 10.1161/01.CIR. 0000093398.16124. 29 2003;108:1933-1938; originally published online September 22, 2003; Circulation. http://circ.ahajournals. org/content/108/16/1933 World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the
Progressive Tension Sutures in the Prevention of Postabdominoplasty Seroma: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroma reduction capabilities of progressive tension sutures and compare them with the conventional use of drains. Methods: Sixty female patients were randomized into four groups: group 1 (control, no drains, and no progressive tension sutures), group 2 (progressive tension sutures alone), group 3 (drains alone), and group 4 (progressive tension sutures and drains). All patients underwent a classic abdominoplasty and drains were left for 7 days in the corresponding groups. Clinical and ultrasound assessments were performed 2 weeks after the operation by blinded evaluators. Punctures, volumes, nonseroma complications, and aesthetic outcome were also measured. Results: Surgical time was 50 minutes longer in groups 2 and 4. Drain outputs were higher in group 3 than in group 4. The clinical and ultrasound seroma frequency was 35 percent and 90 percent respectively, without significant differences among the groups. The control group was interrupted at 10 patients because of considerably larger seromas and an increased amount of punctures needed for treatment. No differences were found in the other groups. There were no differences with respect to complication rates and aesthetic outcome after follow-up. Conclusions: Progressive tension sutures increase surgical time, reduce drain outputs, and have the same clinical and ultrasound seroma frequency as the use of drains alone. The combination of both methods simultaneously does not add any advantages. However, complications and interventions increase if at least one of them is not used. The mechanism of action of progressive tension sutures could be the compartmentalization of the fluid collection under the flap facilitating absorption.
Towards Real-Time Traffic Sign Recognition by Class-Specific Discriminative Features

Real-time road sign recognition has been of great interest for many years. This problem is often addressed in a two-stage procedure involving detection and classification. In this paper a novel approach to sign representation and classification is proposed. In many previous studies focus was put on deriving a set of discriminative features from a large amount of training data using global feature selection techniques e.g. Principal Component Analysis or AdaBoost. In our method we have chosen a simple yet robust image representation built on top of the Colour Distance Transform (CDT). Based on this representation, we introduce a feature selection algorithm which captures a variable-size set of local image regions ensuring maximum dissimilarity between each individual sign and all other signs. Experiments have shown that the discriminative local features extracted from the template sign images enable minimum-distance classification with error rate not exceeding 7%.
Immunity against Helminths: Interactions with the Host and the Intercurrent Infections

Helminth parasites are of considerable medical and economic importance. Studies of the immune response against helminths are of great interest in understanding interactions between the host immune system and parasites. Effector immune mechanisms against tissue-dwelling helminths and helminths localized in the lumen of organs, and their regulation, are reviewed. Helminth infections are characterized by an association of Th2-like and Treg responses. Worms are able to persist in the host and are mainly responsible for chronic infection despite a strong immune response developed by the parasitized host. Two types of protection against the parasite, namely, premune and partial immunities, have been described. Immune responses against helminths can also participate in pathogenesis. Th2/Treg-like immunomodulation allows the survival of both host and parasite by controlling immunopathologic disorders and parasite persistence. Consequences of the modified Th2-like responses on co-infection, vaccination, and inflammatory diseases are discussed.
An advanced trouble intimation and automatic prior notification system of locomotives and its conditions

In the current situation because of human errors and judgment thousands of lives are lost and this world is plagued by accidents. When the proper mechanism of alerting drivers are done this accidents can be avoided to certain extent. A person when travelling on vehicle has to take lot of security measures. In spite of taking security measures there are many situations where accidents occur. When accident occurs we generally opt for emergency services. In the present scenario when a person has met with an accident then the people in the surrounding areas will call for the emergency services if not the person is left all alone in that drastic situation. If proper measures are taken before only then we can avoid such type of situations. It is well known fact that prevention is better than cure. In the existing system we are trying have the measures only after the accident has occurred but not before itself. In the current system we have sensor to identify whether a person is in the drunken state or not and also a sensor to identify vehicle is met with an accident or not. Proper Monitoring techniques are to be implemented to reduce accidents.
The oedipus trilogy.

When reading the PDF, you can see how the author is very reliable in using the words to create sentences. It will be also the ways how the author creates the diction to influence many people. But, it's not nonsense, it is something. Something that will lead you is thought to be better. Something that will make your feel so better. And something that will give you new things. This is it, the the oedipus trilogy.
Diversity-multiplexing-tradeoff-optimal 2-user scheduling in an M-user Gaussian multiple-access channel

The problem of user scheduling in a Gaussian i.i. d. Rayleigh faded multiple-access channel (MAC) is considered, whereby the receiver uses perfect knowledge of the channels of all the transmitters to select and schedule two-out-of-M users. The transmitters are assumed to have one antenna each and the two selected users are allocated equal rates. The receiver is equipped with Nr antennas. For user selection that is based on minimizing outage probability (say via an exhaustive search over (M over 2)possibilities), the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) of the corresponding outage probability is computed. Moreover, a novel user-selection algorithmis proposed that achieves the same DMT as does the minimum outage probability method, but with only a O(M) complexity instead of O(M2) required for an exhaustive search to minimize outage probability. The DMT optimality of the proposed algorithm is also proved for 2-user scheduling in the dual M-user Gaussian broadcast channel assuming availability of global channel state information. Simulation results are presented which demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves an outage probability close to that of the exhaustive search.
Laparoscopic repair of incarcerated congenital diaphragmatic hernias presenting beyond the newborn period.

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND Congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDHs) diagnosed outside of the newborn period are an uncommon occurrence in developed countries. Incarceration of viscera presenting as bowel obstruction is a rare clinical scenario with only a few cases reported in the literature, all of which have been repaired via laparotomy. We have recently encountered a series of these cases that we approached laparoscopically. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective review to identify patients who underwent laparoscopic repair of CDH with incarceration after the neonatal period. Demographics, presentation characteristics, operative details, and outcomes were reviewed. results: Between 2008 and 2011, three patients underwent laparoscopic repair of left-sided incarcerated CDH presenting with bowel obstruction. The mean age was 60.8 months (range, 2-157 months) with a mean weight of 30.2 kg (range, 11-66.5 kg). All cases were completed laparoscopically using a 5-mm umbilical port with three to four additional 3-mm instruments. The mean operative time was 133 minutes (range, 117-164 minutes). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Mean length of hospital stay was 4 days (range, 1-8 days). Median follow-up was 6.3 months (range, 0.8-42.3 months). One patient suffered a recurrence after a motor vehicle collision and subsequently underwent a successful second laparoscopic repair. CONCLUSIONS The laparoscopic approach for patients presenting with an incarcerated CDH beyond the newborn period appears to be an appropriate approach and should be considered when this diagnosis is encountered.
Integrating teaching in order to increase students' physical activities

The results of the most recent research indicate a tendency of physical activity reduction among children of all ages. With the aim to increase their physical activities the paper theoretically considers the possibility of integrating physical education classes with other teaching subjects. Presented are some examples of integrative, interdisciplinary approaches applied so far and some practically applicable techniques are suggested. It is necessary that in educational practice, within the realization of educational goals and tasks, each teaching subject incorporates activities which will stimulate and increase physical activities of children in Serbia.
Photographic-Based Optical Evaluation of Tissues and Biomaterials Used for Corneal Surface Repair: A New Easy-Applied Method

Purpose Tissues and biomaterials used for corneal surface repair require fulfilling specific optical standards prior to implantation in the patient. However, there is not a feasible evaluation method to be applied in clinical or Good Manufacturing Practice settings. In this study, we describe and assess an innovative easy-applied photographic-based method (PBM) for measuring functional optical blurring and transparency in corneal surface grafts. Methods Plastic compressed collagen scaffolds (PCCS) and multilayered amniotic membranes (AM) samples were optically and histologically evaluated. Transparency and image blurring measures were obtained by PBM, analyzing photographic images of a standardized band pattern taken through the samples. These measures were compared and correlated to those obtained applying the Inverse Adding-Doubling (IAD) technique, which is the gold standard method. Results All the samples used for optical evaluation by PBM or IAD were histological suitable. PCCS samples presented transmittance values higher than 60%, values that increased with increasing wavelength as determined by IAD. The PBM indicated that PCCS had a transparency ratio (TR) value of 80.3±2.8%, with a blurring index (BI) of 50.6±4.2%. TR and BI obtained from the PBM showed a high correlation (ρ>|0.6|) with the diffuse transmittance and the diffuse reflectance, both determined using the IAD (p<0.005). The AM optical properties showed that there was a largely linear relationship between the blurring and the number of amnion layers, with more layers producing greater blurring. Conclusions This innovative proposed method represents an easy-applied technique for evaluating transparency and blurriness of tissues and biomaterials used for corneal surface repair.
The role of inhibitory control in defining typologies of internet sex offenders

Developing a greater understanding of the characteristics of Internet sex offenders is an important area of research for reducing recidivism and working towards prevention strategies for the future, particularly given the risk of individuals committing both online and offline offences. One characteristic that is lacking comprehensive examination for Internet sex offenders is deficient inhibitory control, which has previously been evidenced in offline sexual offenders (e.g., Smith & Waterman, 2004). This may enhance our understanding of risk factors for online offending and the presence of distinct Internet sex offender typologies. This thesis explores the characteristics and typologies of Internet sex offenders with a specific focus on inhibitory control. An introduction is provided for this area of research, followed by a systematic review of the literature. Impulsiveness is then explored through a critique of a psychometric tool which is further utilised in a novel research project. Finally, a comprehensive discussion is provided on the content of this thesis, including implications for research and clinical practice. The thesis appears to highlight a link between self-regulation deficits and sexual offending against children commissioned online. However, this characteristic does not appear to differentiate Internet sex offenders, suggesting important implications for assessing, managing and treating future risk in online-only offenders.
Hybridized KNN and SVM for gene expression data classification

Support vector machine (SVM) is one of the most powerful supervised learning algorithms in gene expression analysis. The samples intermixed in another class or in the overlapped boundary region may cause the decision boundary too complex and may be harmful to improve the precise of SVM. In the present paper, hybridized k-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers and SVM (HKNNSVM) is proposed to deal with the problem of samples in the overlapped boundary region and to improve the performance of SVM. The first KNN is used to prune training samples and the second KNN is combined with SVM to classify the cancer samples. The proposed algorithm was used in binary and multiclass classification of gene expression data. The results were compared to those obtained by single SVM and KNN. It has been demonstrated that the proposed method is a useful tool for classification and the misclassification rate for the prediction set is reduced with samples pruning used. Compared with SVM and KNN, the misclassification rates of HKNNSVM for the datasets containing mislabeled samples were notably lower than that by SVM and KNN, which indicated that the classification performance of HKNNSVM was stable. [Life Science Journal. 2009; 6(1): 61 – 66] (ISSN: 1097 – 8135).
Microscopic study of certain age‐related structural changes of maxillary sinus lining epithelium in albino rats

Mucociliary clearance is essential to maintain the defense function of the maxillary sinus; however, no literatures described the age changes in its lining epithelium. Therefore, the current work sought to describe the morphological postnatal age‐related changes of maxillary sinus lining epithelium in rats using light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopes. Eighteen albino rats were divided into six groups according to their ages: 2‐week‐old, 1‐month‐old, 2‐month‐old, 3‐month‐old, adults, and senile rats. One‐month‐old‐rats' group was the first to have recognizable maxillary sinus cavities that were lined by either single flat cellular layer or two distinct epithelial layers. These cells were devoid of microvilli and cilia, none of them showed evidence of differentiation into identifiable cell types. In 2‐ and 3‐month‐old rats, the mucosa of maxillary sinus started to be lined with pseudostratified epithelium with apparent increase in both microvilli and cilia. The first indication of goblet cell differentiation was observed in 3‐month‐old‐rats. In the adult rats, the sinuses became completely lined by mature respiratory epithelium. However, in senile rats the epithelium exhibited polyps with clumped cilia and some areas of stratification and desquamation. Goblet cells were scanty and degenerating. The impaired mucociliary components (epithelium, cilia, and goblet cells' mucus) found in young and old ages of the current work might be correlated to human to explain predisposition of rhino‐sinusitis in these age groups. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of Toxic Shock by Human Monoclonal Antibodies against Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B

Background Staphylococcus aureus is implicated in many opportunistic bacterial infections around the world. Rising antibiotic resistance and few alternative methods of treatment are just two looming problems associated with clinical management of S. aureus. Among numerous virulence factors produced by S. aureus, staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) B is a secreted protein that binds T-cell receptor and major histocompatibility complex class II, potentially causing toxic shock mediated by pathological activation of T cells. Recombinant monoclonal antibodies that target SEB and block receptor interactions can be of therapeutic value. Methodology/Principal Findings The inhibitory and biophysical properties of ten human monoclonal antibodies, isolated from a recombinant library by panning against SEB vaccine (STEBVax), were examined as bivalent Fabs and native full-length IgG (Mab). The best performing Fabs had binding affinities equal to polyclonal IgG, low nanomolar IC50s against SEB in cell culture assays, and protected mice from SEB-induced toxic shock. The orthologous staphylococcal proteins, SEC1 and SEC2, as well as streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C were recognized by several Fabs. Four Fabs against SEB, with the lowest IC50s, were converted into native full-length Mabs. Although SEB-binding kinetics were identical between each Fab and respective Mab, a 250-fold greater inhibition of SEB-induced T-cell activation was observed with two Mabs. Conclusions/Significance Results suggest that these human monoclonal antibodies possess high affinity, target specificity, and toxin neutralization qualities essential for any therapeutic agent.