Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elastic hand contour matching in NIR images with a novel shape descriptor parametrization

Detection and tracking of hands from visual information is a key issue for gesture recognition. Based on Near Infrared (NIR) imagery we present a new procedure for hand detection. The sensor we propose is a single NIR camera with an attached NIR light source and a visible light filter, which makes our system invariant under changing environments and uncontrolled lighting conditions. The main contributions are twofold. On the one hand we propose a new shape descriptor composed of inner-angles and inner-distances. On the other hand, our novel parametrization of the extracted descriptor allows for elastic hand contour matching. The proposal is validated experimentally and tested with the standard data set MPEG-7.
A Comparative Evaluation of Accuracy of the Dies Affected by Tray Type, Material Viscosity, and Pouring Sequence of Dual and Single Arch Impressions- An In vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION The clinician's skill, impression techniques, and materials play a very important role in recording fine details in an impression for accuracy of fixed partial denture prosthesis. Impression of prepared teeth and of the opposing arch can be recorded simultaneously by dual-arch trays, while the full arch metal trays are used for impressions of prepared teeth in one arch. AIM To measure and compare the accuracy of working dies made from impressions with metal and plastic dual arch trays and metal full arch trays, for two viscosities of impression material and by changing the sequence of pour of working and non-working sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS A balanced design with independent samples was used to study the three variables (tray type, impression material viscosity, and pouring sequence). An impression made by dual arch trays and single arch trays were divided in to three groups (Group A-plastic dual arch tray, Group B-metal dual arch tray, Group C-full arch metal stock tray). Out of these three groups, two groups (Group A and B) were subdivided in to four subgroups each and one group (Group C) was subdivided in to two subgroups. A sample size of 30 was used in each subgroup yielding a total 300 impressions in three groups or ten subgroups. Impressions were made of a machined circular stainless steel die. All three dimensions (Occlusogingival, Mesiodistal, and Buccolingual) of the working dies as well as stainless steel standard die were measured three times, and the mean was used for the three standard sample values to which all working dies means were compared. Statistical analysis used for this study was a 3-factor analysis of variance with hypothesis testing at α =0.05. RESULTS With respect to the selection of impression material viscosity statistically significant differences were found in the dies for the buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions. Metal dual arch trays were slightly more accurate in the mesiodistal dimension in comparison to the plastic trays in reference of tray selection and in view of pouring sequence no differences were observed in occlusogingival dimension but in buccolingual and mesiodistal dimensions nonworking side was more accurate. CONCLUSION The gypsum dies produced from the dual arch impressions were generally smaller in all three dimensions than the stainless steel standard die. Plastic dual-arch trays were more accurate with rigid impression material and there was not statistically significant difference for sequence of pouring. Metal dual-arch trays were more accurate with monophase impression material and working side was more accurate. Stock metal full arch trays were more accurate for monophase impression material.
Can Performance Studies Create Actionable Knowledge if We Can’t Measure the Performance of the Firm?

The modern conception of the performance of the firm—future cash flows—makes performance difficult to measure and most performance measures inherently flawed. Moreover, the reliability of inferences about the performance of the firm declines as performance measures are used. The balanced scorecard does not improve the quality of performance measurement and can add further complications. Reducing the firm to its activities, their costs, and their revenue consequences may offer a partial solution to endemic problems of measuring performance. Long-term organizational adaptation, however, may require a conception of performance that makes all performance measures problematic and hence avoids lock-in to particular measures.
Critical path analysis for the execution of parallel and distributed programs

The authors present the design, implementation, and testing of the critical path analysis technique using the IPS performance measurement tool for parallel and distributed programs. They create a precedence graph of a program's activities (program activity graph) with the data collected during the execution of a program. The critical path, the longest path in the program activity graph, represents the sequence of the program activities that take the longest time to execute. Various algorithms are developed to track the critical path from this graph. The events in this path are associated with the entities in the source program, and the statistical results are displayed on the basis of the hierarchical structure of the IPS. The test results from the measurement of sample programs show that the knowledge of the critical path in a program's execution helps users identify performance problems and better understand the behavior of a program. <<ETX>>
Transgenic mouse models of self-tolerance and autoreactivity by the immune system.

TOLERANCE AND FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY OF MAJOR fll STOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX ANTIGEN-PRESENTING MOLECULES 498 Transgenic Class I Genes 498 Transgenic Class II I-Erx Genes 498 DEVELOPMENT OF T CELLS SHOWING BOTH MHC RECOGNITION AND SELF-TOLERANCE. 500 Positive Selection for TCR Recognition of MHC and Determination of T Cell Fate 502 Negative Selection Against Thymocytes Recognizing Self-Antigens 507
Ethical Healthiness: A Key Factor in Building Learning Organizations

This chapter proposes that learning improvements in organizations are not just a matter of techniques or aptitudes but are concerned with feelings, attitudes, and, above all, the moral habits of their members. This work suggests complementing currently established conceptions of knowledge management and organizational learning through the explicit inclusion of ethics and ethical learning in organizations. The study describes the explicit need to consider ethics and ethical learning competence among agents in a learning organization context. It then points out the differences between ethically healthy organizations and ethically unhealthy organizations. Finally, the authors argue that the ethical healthiness of an organization is an essential, structural, and necessary condition to achieve a comprehensive learning process in learning organizations on both a technical and human level.
How does taxi driver behavior impact their profit? discerning the real driving from large scale GPS traces

With a trend towards the use of large scale vehicle probe data, the entire urban scale analysis is become possible in order to suggest useful information for taxi drivers and passengers. This study, first, we calculate cost using cost-distance algorithm by obtained fare rate and reconstructed trips. Then, the data were analyzed to understand distance profit and service area in timely basis. The result indicated that the pickup rate of taxi in this area is usually peak according to department store operation hours. The highest chance to get customers is in the weekday rush hours between 7am and 10am and at the midnight for the weekend. The increased profits were mainly based on the distance. Finally, the hotspot of taxicabs destinations can be observed at the interchange of major public transportation. These results uncover taxi driving behavior on one of the densest network in Bangkok and yields great benefit for both taxi drivers and passengers.
High and Low Affinity Heparin-binding Sites in the G Domain of the Mouse Laminin α4 Chain*

G domains of the mouse laminin α1 and α4 chains consisting of its five subdomains LG1–LG5 were overexpressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells and purified by heparin chromatography. α1LG1–LG5 and α4LG1–LG5 eluted at NaCl concentrations of 0.30 and 0.47 m, respectively. In solid phase binding assays with immobilized heparin, half-maximal concentrations of 14 (α1LG1–LG5) and 1.4 nm(α4LG1–LG5) were observed. N-Glycan cleavage of α4LG1–LG5 did not affect affinity to heparin. The affinity of α4LG1–LG5 was significantly reduced upon denaturation with 8m urea but could be recovered by removing urea. Chymotrypsin digestion of α4LG1–LG5 yielded high and low heparin affinity fragments containing either the α4LG4–LG5 or α4LG2–LG3 modules, respectively. Trypsin digestion of heparin-bound α4LG1–LG5 yielded a high affinity fragment of about 190 residues corresponding to the α4LG4 module indicating that the high affinity binding site is contained within α4LG4. Competition for heparin binding of synthetic peptides covering the α4LG4 region with complete α4LG1–LG5 suggests that the sequence AHGRL1521 is crucial for high affinity binding. Introduction of mutation of H1518A or R1520A in glutathioneS-transferase fusion protein of the α4LG4 module produced in Escherichia coli markedly reduced heparin binding activity of the wild type. When compared with the known structure of α2LG5, this sequence corresponds to the turn connecting strands E and F of the 14-stranded β-sheet sandwich, which is opposite to the proposed binding sites for calcium ion, α-dystroglycan, and heparan sulfate.
Corporate culture quantitative measurement based on discrete choquet fuzzy integral

Due to the uncertainty about the corporate culture quantitative measurement caused by the subjectivity of respondents' answers on the corporate culture questionnaires, the paper proposes a new integrated method which aggregates the intermediate variables through the discrete choquet fuzzy integrals and adopts Yager's fuzzy entropies to measure the uncertainties of these intermediate variables in order to avoid the subjectivity and complexity of attribute-weight allocation and improve the accuracy of corporate culture's quantitative measurement. The application of the proposed method in an international hotel culture measurement demonstrates that it is feasible and valid. Generally the method can be used widely in related studies.
Anticipatory Viable Systems

Viable systems are coherent social organisations that are able to survive. Part of their survival process involves anticipation that is embedded in their logical models. The development of viable systems often occurs despite their inability to develop common patterns of knowledge for their world view holders. This has means that new anticipatory processes must be activated, when their viability may be endangered
[MANAGEMENT OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE-ASSOCIATED INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE].

膠原病は多くの肺病変を合併し,中でもCTD-ILD は予後規定因子となることのある重要な合併症であ る. CTD-ILDの合併頻度は報告による差はあるが,関 節リウマチ,全身性強皮症,多発性筋炎/皮膚筋炎,混 合性結合組織病は高率に合併することが明らかとなっ ている . CTD-ILDは予後良好な症例もあるが,呼吸 不全の進行から死に至る予後不良な症例まで幅広くも 存在し,治療適応の判断が困難な疾患群である. 一般 的には,1進展スピード,2重症度,3原因となる膠 原病の状態,4HRCT画像,病理組織パターンから判 断される治療反応予測,5年齢,6治療や経過観察に 対するコンプライアンス,7感染症を主体とした併存 肺病変の有無,などを考慮して治療適応を判定する . CTD-ILDの予後は組織分類にかかわらず IIPs より 良好であり,組織分類別での予後も通常型間質性肺炎 (UIP),非特異性間質性肺炎(NSIP)共に IIPs より良 好とされている(図 1). CTD-UIP が IPF/UIP より予 後良好である理由としては組織学的な相違点が挙げら れており,CTD-UIP は IPF/UIP と比較して,間質のリ ンパ球浸潤ならびにリンパ濾胞が目立つ,蜂巣肺から 正常肺への移行がなだらか,胸膜炎が存在する,Fibroblastic foci が少ない,などの特徴があるとの報告があ り,このような組織学的な相違が予後の差の一因と なっていることが推測される .
Personality, Gender and Medico-Legal Matters in Medical Practice

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to explore the relationship between the personality traits of Australian General Practitioners (GPs) and their gender, work practice arrangements, and history of medico-legal matters. Methods: A cross-sectional self report survey was mailed to 1239 GPs. There were 566 respondents (45.7% response rate to survey). The survey assessed personality traits (using the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire), demographic and practice information, and history of medico-legal matters with any medical defence organization. The number and type of medico-legal matters was also extracted from the UNITED Medical Protection database. Results: Male respondents had significantly higher psychoticism scores than females (p<0.001), and females had significantly higher neuroticism scores than males (p<0.01), as in community samples. However, for GPs who worked more than 48 hours per week, there were no gender differences in personality trait scores. Solo practitioners and non-solo practitioners did not differ on personality scores. Proceduralists and non-proceduralists did not differ on personality scores. However, a higher proportion of proceduralists experienced a medico-legal matter than non-proceduralists (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between extraversion scores and doctors who attended peer review (p<0.001). There was no difference in the numbers of medico-legal matters for doctors who attended peer review. Males who self reported a medico-legal matter had higher neuroticism scores than the males who did not report medico-legal matters. This was not the case for females. For males, this pattern was not replicated when considering data from UNITED. Conclusions: The known demographic and practice factors that differ for doctors having a medico-legal matter are replicated here – being male, a proceduralist and working longer hours. There is not a consistent pattern regarding personality traits and medico-legal matters.
Identity Practices of Multilingual Writers in Social Networking Spaces

Hsin-I Chen, Tunghai University This study examines the literacy practices of two multilingual writers in social networking communities. The findings show that the multilingual writers explored and reappropriated symbolic resources afforded by the social networking site as they aligned themselves with particular collective and personal identities at local and global levels. Through the designs available to them in these online environments, multilingual writers constructed multiple identities that were dynamic and developmental over time. The writers demonstrated that they adopted different strategies and subject positions when participating in onlinenetworked discourses. Analysis and understanding of these digitally mediated multiliterate practices—by researchers, teachers, and learners alike—may provide insight into pedagogies that recognize and even affirm these practices.
Nanosilver loaded GelMA hydrogel for antimicrobial coating of biomedical implants

Bacterial adhesion to the surface of implants in surgical procedures represents a major problem in surgeries, as it incurs high medical costs and could lead to postoperative infections. Different strategies have been developed to decrease the incidence of bacterial infections related medical devices failure. One approach is the modification of the surface of the devices using antibacterial coatings designed to be non-fouling, thus minimizing microbial adhesion. The ability of silver nanoparticles to destroy infectious micro-organisms makes them an attractive candidate for use against “super-bugs” resistant to antibiotics. In this work, we develop a silver nanoparticles loaded methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel for antimicrobial coating of biomedical implants. Silver nanoparticles of different sizes and concentrations were synthesized using citrate and ascorbic acid reduction in glycerol water mixtures which were incorporated in an Ultraviolet (UV)-photocrosslinkable GelMA hydrogel. Analysis and characterization of the obtained hydrogels were performed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The release of silver nanoparticles from the crosslinked hydrogel was quantified using UV spectroscopy. The cell viability was investigated on Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (RASMC) using different concentrations and sizes of silver nanoparticle loaded GelMA hydrogel. The antibacterial activities of the newly developed hydrogel coating was tested on two different types of bacteria, gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative Escherichia coli by analyzing the growth of the bacterial cells following treatment with different concentration and size of silver nanoparticles. Experimental results revealed that incorporation of silver nanoparticles in GelMA hydrogel was successfully performed and the release of silver nanoparticles over time from the developed hydrogel to the pathogenic environment was successfully achieved which reduced bacterial growth without any negative effect on cells.
JOB PORTAL FOR DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY

The study aimed to develop a Job Portal for Don Mar iano Marcos Memorial State University that used the descriptive research method. Data gat hering techniques used were 1) Interview with 21 respondents (DMMMSU Job placement services in-charge, students, alumni); 2) Analysis and review of existing job portals; and 3) Document analysis of job-related documents such as resumes. Findings were known that for every job portal users, relevant information needs to be included in the job portal. For job seekers, information were categorized according to account details, resume an d cover letter details. For employers, information were categorized according to account dcompany details and job posting details. For moderator, information for account det ails only. Findings on the features included in the job portal were categorized according to the features that can be accessed by job seekers and employers. Findings on the moderation m easures implemented include those that will need approval from the moderator. All relevant information requirements should be considered since these serve as the foundation of t he job portal. The features included were centered on job searching and job postings by job sand employers respectively. The moderation measures do away with unauthorized use othe restricted features of the job portal.
Turkish Version of The Amputee Body Image Scale and Relationship with Quality of Life

Objective: To adapt the Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS) into Turkish and to assess the reliability of the original and revised Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS-R) in lower limb amputees. Method: Turkish version of the ABIS (20 items; ratings of 1? 5) was administered to 91 lower-limb amputee patients wearing prosthesis. One month later, retest was applied to 37 patients. SF? 36 was also administered to 37 patients for validity. The scores have been reevaluated for the reliability of the ABIS-R (14 items; ratings of 0? 2). Results: Turkish version of the ABIS and ABIS-R fitted the unidimensional construct that the scale was intended to measure and demonstrated good reliability. Cronbach? s alpha was 0.88 for the ABIS and 0.86 for the ABIS-R. Items-total correlation ranged from 0.25 (item 3) to 0.75 (items 8 and 14) for the ABIS. Items-total correlation ranged from 0.33 (item 3) to 0.76 (items 6 and 8) for the ABIS-R. Test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.78 for the ABIS and 0.74 for the ABIS-R. Negative correlations with SF-36 subscales ranged from 0.33 (mental health) to 0.60 (physical functioning) for the ABIS and ranged from 0.31 (mental health) to 0.60 (physical functioning) for the ABIS-R. Conclusions: We conclude that the Turkish versions of ABIS and ABIS-R demonstrate good reliability for measuring body image disturbances in individuals with lower-limb amputations. Moreover, the two scales displayed significant correlations with SF? 36.
Oscillation Condition and the Uncertainty Principle

A new steady state oscillation condition is proposed in this paper. By applying the uncertainty principle to the process of Kurokawa's derivation, the new oscillation condition is derived for three different cases of real and imaginary parts of resonant load, which is a block of two main circuit blocks, consisting of oscillator. The three different cases are as follows; the first case is that the real part is frequency independent, the second is that the imaginary part is also frequency independent, and the third is that both of the real and imaginary parts are frequency dependent. After analysis for the three different cases, we conclude that the oscillation condition can not be the constant value of unity, but a range for steady state oscillation. Finally, the new condition implies that high characteristic impedance can be a main factor to reduce phase noise characteristic of oscillators.
Joint FEC across Multiple Streams with Different Playout Deadlines

We introduce a new class of streaming codes that span across multiple source streams with different decoding deadlines. The encoder multiplexes two streams of source-packets into a single stream of channel-packets. The decoder must recover the source- packets within each stream sequentially, by their corresponding deadlines. We consider the burst-erasure channel model, and focus on the case when one of the streams is ``urgent" whose recovery must begin immediately after the erasure burst. We characterize the capacity region for this setting for a certain range of delays for the non-urgent stream. On the achievability side, we provide new code constructions which combine the source-packets of the two streams despite their different deadlines. On the converse side we develop rigorous information theoretic outer bounds on the capacity region. Interestingly we find that the capacity region exhibits a ``corner point" where we can transmit the urgent stream at a positive rate, yet attain a sum-rate equal to the capacity of the non- urgent stream.
rTMS of Medial Parieto-occipital Cortex Interferes with Attentional Reorienting during Attention and Reaching Tasks

Unexpected changes in the location of a target for an upcoming action require both attentional reorienting and motor planning update. In both macaque and human brain, the medial posterior parietal cortex is involved in both phenomena but its causal role is still unclear. Here we used on-line rTMS over the putative human V6A (pV6A), a reach-related region in the dorsal part of the anterior bank of the parieto-occipital sulcus, during an attention and a reaching task requiring covert shifts of attention and planning of reaching movements toward cued targets in space. We found that rTMS increased RTs to invalidly cued but not to validly cued targets during both the attention and reaching task. Furthermore, we found that rTMS induced a deviation of reaching endpoints toward visual fixation and that this deviation was larger for invalidly cued targets. The results suggest that reorienting signals are used by human pV6A area to rapidly update the current motor plan or the ongoing action when a behaviorally relevant object unexpectedly occurs in an unattended location. The current findings suggest a direct involvement of the action-related dorso-medial visual stream in attentional reorienting and a more specific role of pV6A area in the dynamic, on-line control of reaching actions.
A Performance Analysis of the 802.11 Wireless Lan Medium Access Control

A method for making a quite finely divided particulate copolymeric perfluorocarbon having pendant cation exchange functional groups, and having an equivalent weight of at least in excess of 900 but not greater than about 1500. In the method, the perfluorocarbon copolymer is solvated in a solvent and then precipitated from solution by addition of a substance miscible in the solvent but having essentially no capability for solvating the perfluorocarbon copolymer. The method is conducted at a temperature generally below about 300 DEG C.