Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recognition of Elevation Value in Topographic Maps by Multi-Angled Parallelism

We have proposed the MAP (Multi-Angled Parallel) operation method which extracts geometric features from a topographic map using erosion-dilation operations on a directional feature field. We have also proposed the MAP matching method which recognizes fixed-shaped symbols in the topographic map by using parallel operations on the same directional feature field. We have shown that all kinds of feature extraction and recognition can be effectively performed within the framework of parallel operation. In this paper, we show that elevation values in a topographic map can be recognized by a combination of MAP operation with the MAP matching. Numerals and symbols are recognized by the MAP matching method, while small dots and lines are extracted by the MAP operation method. These results are used together to determine the value, position and attribute of elevations in topographic maps.
On Viscosity, Conduction and Sound Waves in the Intracluster Medium

Recent X-ray and optical observations of the Perseus cluster indicate that the viscous and conductive dissipation of sound waves is the mechanism responsible for heating the intracluster medium and thus balancing radiative cooling of cluster cores. We discuss this mechanism more generally and show how the specific heating and cooling r ates vary with temperature and radius. It appears that the heating mechanism is most effective above 10 7 K, which allows for radiative cooling to proceed within normal galaxy formation but will stifle the growth of very massive galaxies. The scaling of the wavelength of sound waves with cluster temperature and feedback in the system are investigated.
A novel modification for a quadrotor design

Conventional quadrotor UAVs have crucial underactuation limitations. This appears in the coupling between the roll angle and the movement in y-direction, and between the pitch angle and the movement in x-direction. The quadrotor capability of hovering with either roll or pitch angle is restricted due to these limitations. In this paper, a novel design modification is proposed in order to increase the quadrotor degrees of freedom. Four additional rotations for the propellers grant overactuated system. It could be used to make either an oriented hovering without any translational movements or make horizontal movement with zero inclination angle, as followed in this work. A PID controller is used for the quadrotor control. Simulation results show the validity of the proposed control scheme.
Identity, personal projects and happiness: Self construction in everyday action

Abstract This study reviewed archival data from 120 adults ages 19–79 in order to explore the identity‐related dimensions of their personal projects. Influenced by recent findings in action psychology that suggest a key link between the identity dimensions of projects, and both meaning and happiness or subjective‐well being (SWB), it was hypothesized that project ratings on various dimensions would show the central influence of self‐identity within project systems and significantly predict SWB. Analysis of factors extracted from project dimensions revealed that projects influence happiness based on their beneficial impact and their ability to enable self‐expression, demonstrate social significance, and reflect confidence. The challenge offered by a project and the overall effort required completing it also account for variance in measures of well‐being. For the overall sample, the self‐expression factor emerged as a significant predictor of SWB. When individual sub samples grouped by age were analyzed, different patterns emerged. Only the perceived social significance of projects emerged as a predictor of SWB in all three age groups. Additional analyses designed to explore the project dimensions of integrity (being genuine) and efficacy (getting the job done) were also conducted. These also showed differences among the subgroups, which were interpreted in light of developmental theories of adulthood. Overall, the findings supported a constructionist view that goal directed projects provide important opportunities for shaping identity.
Adding Priorities to Total Order Broadcast Protocols

Group communication and total order topics have been studied for more than two decades from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. Most of this work is concerned about the classical definition of total order (informally, all the messages are received in the same order). However, in some cases additional guarantees are needed, like optimistic delivery or priority-based delivery, which allows a user application to prioritise the sending or even the delivery of certain messages. In this paper, we present several techniques to modify an existing total order protocol to take into account message priorities and show how existing total order algorithms can be modified according to these techniques.
Development of an instrument for assessment of mobility-related participation outcomes: The NOMO 1.0

Background: Instruments for assessment of outcomes of mobility device interventions in terms of participation in everyday life and society for persons with walking disability are lacking. Objective: To describe the development process of the 'Nordic mobility-related participation outcome evaluation of assistive device interventions' (NOMO 1.0). Methods: 1) Rasch analysis of a mobility-related participation questionnaire based on data from interviews with 111 powered wheelchair or scooter users. 2) Construction of a new self-report instrument, based on the ICF framework in a Nordic context. The development encompassed consultancy with mobility device users (N = 41), assistive technology professionals (N = 20) and researchers (N = 17), and three rounds of pilot testing among mobility device users (N = 113). 3) Reliability testing of the instrument among 147 mobility device users. Results: The Rasch analysis demonstrated construct validity, but low discriminative ability. The subsequently developed instrument was found to be content valid and feasible, and the test-retest reliability was satisfactory. Conclusions: The NOMO 1.0 is available free of charge in four Nordic languages. Further psychometric testing of the NOMO 1.0 is being planned.
‘Anything is Possible’: The Arts and Social Inclusion

The Tutti Ensemble is an arts organisation, based in Adelaide, South Australia, and with 80 members, both disabled and non-disabled. This article describes how the group was initiated and how it has evolved into a model of effective social inclusion. The features of an environment conducive to genuine social inclusion, and the values which are central to this, are considered. Tutti's success in promoting social inclusion has been accompanied by spectacular artistic accomplishments, attracting the adulation and involvement of high-level performers and it is argued that the two can go hand in hand and that opportunities for creativity can help address some of the effects of fragmentation experienced in society today.
The Good Wife: Struggles over Land and Labour in the Kenyan Horticultural Sector

Focuses on a study which examined how the contracting of French beans has engendered conflict over rights, obligations and resources in Meru District, Kenya. Effect of cultural factors and gender relations on intrahousehold resource allocations; Details on horticultural exports and contract farming; Information on the Meru District of Kenya; Division of labor in horticultural contracting.
Gender Differences Analysis Cross-Culturally in Decision-Making Styles-- Taiwanese and Americans Comparison

The idea that different cultures present different consumer styles (Kotler 2011; De Mooij 2004; De Mooij, & Hofstede, 2011; Hofstede 1980; 1991; Sproles & Kendall 1986) has practical implications for multinational corporations. Gender-based consumer decision-making styles (issues people consider in making purchases) within and across U.S. and Taiwan populations were analyzed using Sproles and Kendall’s (1986) Consumer Styles Inventory (CSI). It was found that Taiwanese men like shopping for new electronics products more than Taiwanese women, that they like shopping for fun for handbags more than U.S. men and that U.S. females like shopping for fun for handbags more than any of the other groups. Practical marketing implications are outlined.
When visual attention is divided in the flash-lag effect

The flash-lag effect (FLE) is the perceived lagging behind of a flash physically aligned to a continuously moving object. The illusion is attributed to a compensatory mechanism of motion extrapolation, which ensures that the perceived position of a moving object aligns with its real- time position despite neural processing delays. While several studies have demonstrated that attention can modulate the FLE, the precise role of attention in the extrapolation process remains elusive. Thus, in the current study, we sought to disentangle the influence of visual attention by manipulating the amount of attention allocated to moving stimuli in different locations. By directing attention to one, two, three, or four stimuli presented in different quadrants across trials, we measured the trial-wise FLE to investigate potential FLE magnitude or variability modulations under different attention conditions. Our results showed that FLE magnitudes were significantly larger when attention was divided among two, three, or four stimuli than when attention was focused on one stimulus. Surprisingly, FLE variability showed no difference across attention conditions. These findings show that the compensatory mechanisms for neural processing delays in dynamic environments are modulated by attention to enable efficient processing of multiple objects simultaneously.
Layout optimization of the secondary coils for wireless power transfer systems

Due to the complexity of wireless power transfer systems, little literature to date has addressed the development of systematic and efficient design framework for determining the optimal layout of coils. In this paper, introducing the concepts of fixed grid-based coil representation and effective turns, a novel layout optimization is proposed to determine the optimal layout of the secondary coils when the primary coils are given. Using the proposed method, the secondary-coil layouts are successfully determined to maximize the induced voltages while satisfying mass constraints. The optimized layouts are then validated through the experiments under the same conditions.
Lithium Protection of Phencyclidine-Induced Neurotoxicity in Developing Brain: The Role of Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase/Akt and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling Pathways

Phencyclidine (PCP) and other N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists have been shown to be neurotoxic to developing brains and to result in schizophrenia-like behaviors later in development. Prevention of both effects by antischizophrenic drugs suggests the validity of PCP neurodevelopmental toxicity as a heuristic model of schizophrenia. Lithium is used for the treatment of bipolar and schizoaffective disorders and has recently been shown to have neuroprotective properties. The present study used organotypic corticostriatal slices taken from postnatal day 2 rat pups to investigate the protective effect of lithium and the role of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) pathways in PCP-induced cell death. Lithium pretreatment dose-dependently reduced PCP-induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation in layers II to IV of the cortex. PCP elicited time-dependent inhibition of the MEK/ERK and PI-3K/Akt pathways, as indicated by dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt. The proapoptotic factor glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β was also dephosphorylated at serine 9 and thus activated. Lithium prevented PCP-induced inhibition of the two pathways and activation of GSK-3β. Furthermore, blocking either PI-3K/Akt or MEK/ERK pathway abolished the protective effect of lithium, whereas inhibiting GSK-3β activity mimicked the protective effect of lithium. However, no cross-talk between the two pathways was found. Finally, specific GSK-3β inhibition did not prevent PCP-induced dephosphorylation of Akt and ERK. These data strongly suggest that the protective effect of lithium against PCP-induced neuroapoptosis is mediated through independent stimulation of the PI-3K/Akt and ERK pathways and suppression of GSK-3β activity.
Faktorer som påverkar vår bedömning av kvinnliga och manliga talares ålder

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An Indian community-based epidemiological study of wounds.

OBJECTIVE To establish the prevalence of wounds in a community, with an emphasis on chronic lower extremity wounds, and to identify the various aetiological factors involved. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted to screen the population of two nearby communities (one urban and one rural) in India for wounds. This involved conducting a door-to-door survey between July 2001 and February 2003. RESULTS The prevalence of wounds in the population studied (n = 6917) was 15.03 per 1000. The prevalences of acute and chronic wounds were 10.55 and 4.48 per 1000 of the population respectively. CONCLUSION The most common site for both acute and chronic wounds was the lower extremity. In contrast to Western studies, the most common aetiology for a chronic lower extremity wound was an untreated acute traumatic wound. This in turn highlights the need to establish community-based wound-care teams in India.
A dinâmica da aprendizagem gerencial em um hospital

Embora incipiente no Brasil, a pesquisa sobre a aprendizagem gerencial tem contribuido para a criacao de sistemas mais efetivos em ajudar executivos a aprender. Este artigo apresenta as descobertas de um estudo de caso realizado com o objetivo de compreender o processo de aprendizagem gerencial dos executivos de uma organizacao hospitalar. Assumindo os pressupostos metodologicos da pesquisa qualitativa, especialmente da Grounded Theory, oito categorias emergiram da pesquisa de campo: contexto de aprendizagem, sentimentos relacionados a aprendizagem, conteudos de aprendizagem, formas de aprendizagem, fatores que facilitam a aprendizagem, fatores que dificultam a aprendizagem, resultados da aprendizagem e recomendacoes. O estudo concluiu que a aprendizagem gerencial: transcende a classificacao formal e informal; nao se restringe ao dominio instrumental de conhecimento; media-se pelo contexto organizacional e social; e pode ocorrer pela mudanca de consciencia.
Women and training: an empirical investigation in the Arab Middle East

Few studies have explored the professional training experiences of Arab women within the contexts of learning organisational cultures and relevant human resource development (HRD) practices. Capitalising on in-depth, face-to-face interviews, this study explores the experiences of women managers in Lebanon with professional training and organisational learning. The findings demonstrate the paucity of professional training and learning opportunities for women and illustrate how organisational discrimination and gender-biased cultures and tension influence women’s learning. To overcome these barriers and alleviate organisational tension, the Lebanese women managers capitalise on their agency and individual capacities to improve their training experiences and increase their access to learning opportunities. By virtue of individual agency and through their agentic process, the careerists shape their training and overall learning by being adaptive and developing structures of action that enable them to advance their learning. The results have important implications for HR managers and HRD scholars. They also extend our understanding of the importance, or lack thereof, of the learning culture within an organisation.
Transmission operator perspective of Sub-Synchronous Interaction

Sub-Synchronous Interaction (SSI), in regard to wind power generation, can result from the interaction of wind power generation control systems and series capacitors. SSI occurred in South Texas in 2009, when wind generation was isolated behind a series capacitor. Three measures should be pursued to avoid SSI. Wind generation should implement control system enhancements, Transmission Service Providers (TSP) should evaluate the cost effectiveness of series compensation SSI mitigation, and both generation and transmission should implement protection systems.
Patient age as a factor of antibiotic resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

PURPOSE Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections. A thorough understanding of the epidemiology and distribution of MRSA allows the development of better preventive measures and helps to control or reduce the rate of infection among the general population. METHODOLOGY A retrospective survey was performed on 511 cases of MRSA infections from inpatient, outpatient and nursing home populations over a 12-month period. To study the relationships between two continuous quantitative variables (patient age vs resistance percentage), a simple linear regression was calculated for each antibiotic to predict the antibiotic resistance percentage with respect to patient age.Results/Key findings. The pattern of antibiotic resistance with respect to the age of patients depended on the antibiotic mode of action. Antibiotics that target DNA synthesis (i.e. fluoroquinolones) display a direct correlation with the age of patients, with higher rates of resistance among the older population, while antibiotics that target ribosomal functions (i.e. aminoglycosides) or cell wall synthesis (i.e. cephalosporin) do not display an age-dependent pattern and have a consistent degree of resistance across all age classes. CONCLUSION Antibiotics that target DNA synthesis result in a progressively higher number of resistant isolates among the older population. The results emphasize the importance of patient age on antibiotic selection as a preventive measure to reduce the rate of resistant infections in each susceptible population. This pattern suggests that physicians should take into consideration patient age as another factor in determining the best antibiotic regiment with the aim of curtailing the emergence of newer resistant phenotypes in the future.
Internet Addiction: Where We Are Now

This paper provides an overview of research on Internet Abuse (IA) and its relationship with other disorders. It suggests that it is important to differentiate between IA and Internet-enabled pathologies such as sexual paraphilias and pathological gambling which are performed online. Those who develop IA are drawn to the socially interactive aspects of the Internet, and find their social interactions are enhanced online compared to offline. A comprehensive model proposed by Caplan suggests that those who lack self-presentational skills develop a preference for online over face-to-face communication which leads them to use online communication compulsively which in turn leads to IA. This may explain the increased vulnerability for IA among those who are chronically lonely and socially anxious. Criticisms of this research are discussed.
Rapid and segmental specific dysregulation of AQP2, S256-pAQP2 and renal sodium transporters in rats with LPS-induced endotoxaemia.

BACKGROUND Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent complication of sepsis. Characteristics of ARF in sepsis are impaired urinary concentration, increased natriuresis and decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), in which inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been revealed to play a role. Aims. We aimed to investigate renal water and sodium excretion and in parallel the segmental regulation of renal AQP2 and major sodium transporters in rats with acute LPS-induced endotoxaemia. Next, we aimed to examine the changes of iNOS expression and activated macrophage infiltration in the kidney and the effects of iNOS inhibition on AQP2 and NKCC2 expression in LPS rats. METHODS Rats were treated with LPS (i.p.) or with LPS + iNOS inhibitor L-NIL, and 6 h later kidneys were subjected to semiquantitative immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Polyuria and increased natriuresis were seen 6 h after LPS injection alongside downregulation of both AQP2 and S256-phosphorylated AQP2 in CTX/OSOM and ISOM but not in inner medulla (IM). Thick ascending limb sodium transporters NHE3 and NKCC2 were downregulated in ISOM and NaPi2 was decreased in CTX/OSOM, whereas NCC and ENaC were not consistently downregulated. Immunolabelling intensity of iNOS was increased in vascular structures and transitional epithelium, and an infiltration of activated macrophages was seen in CTX and ISOM. L-NIL co-treatment prevented the downregulation of NKCC2 but not AQP2 in LPS rats. CONCLUSIONS Early downregulation of AQP2 and sodium transporters takes place segmentally in the kidney after LPS administration. In addition, an infiltration of activated macrophages and increased iNOS expression may play a role in the urinary concentrating defect in acute LPS-induced entotoxaemia.
A Comparative Study Of Korean Food Personality as a Japanese, Chinese, and North American’s View

Abstract Globalized ethnic foods have each unique image like Indian food that would be represented as colorful and exotic image. The purpose of the study tries to identify Korean food personality and knows its awareness gap among Japanese, Chinese, and North American. For achieving the research goal, people who has been Korea at least 6 month is selected. 28 traits of Korean food personality that 25 of traits were from Aaker’s theory, and 3 of them made by brainstorming are chosen. Three of dimensions are derived by factor analysis, named as “exotic”, “sophisticating” and “familiar”. The statistical differences are existed among Japanese, Chinese, and North American. Chinese and North American think that Korean food is more impressive and exotic than Japanese, also Korean food is more familiar for Chinese. The results would be useful for drawing Korean food image.
Social Media Data Analysis and Feedback for Advanced Disaster Risk Management

Social media are more than just a one-way communication channel. Data can be collected, analyzed and contextualized to support disaster risk management. However, disaster management agencies typically use such added-value information to support only their own decisions. A feedback loop between contextualized information and data suppliers would result in various advantages. First, it could facilitate the near real-time communication of early warnings derived from social media, linked to other sources of information. Second, it could support the staff of aid organizations during response operations. Based on the example of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma we show how filtered, geolocated Tweets can be used for rapid damage assessment. We claim that the next generation of big data analyses will have to generate actionable information resulting from the application of advanced analytical techniques. These applications could include the provision of social media-based training data for algorithms designed to forecast actual cyclone impacts or new socio-economic validation metrics for seasonal climate forecasts.