Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of hydrocolloids on rheological, microstructural and quality characteristics of parotta – an unleavened indian flat bread

The effect of hydrocolloids – namely Arabic (AR), guar (GR), xanthan (XN), carrageenan (CG) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) – on the rheological, microstructural and quality characteristics of south Indian parotta was studied separately at the level of 0.5%. Addition of hydrocolloids increased farinograph water absorption. The extensograph resistance to extension at 135 min increased with the addition of hydrocolloids. Addition of XN, GR and CG decreased extensibility, while AR and HPMC increased extensibility. The alveograph maximum over pressure increased, with the exception of AR, and average abscissa at rupture decreased with different hydrocolloids. The amylograph peak viscosity increased with all the hydrocolloids. In the micrographs of dough treated with different hydrocolloids, the starch granules appeared coated with gum, and the coating appeared prominent in the case of dough treated with GR and HPMC. Among the hydrocolloids tried, GR brought about the greatest improvement in the quality of parotta, followed in decreasing order by HPMC, XN, CG and AR. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS In India, demand for the large-scale manufacture of packed parottas is increasing. The beneficial effects of hydrocolloids in parotta-making have not yet been explored. This paper discusses the effect of different hydrocolloids on the rheological characteristics of dough in relation to parotta. The information generated on the use of hydrocolloids that are beneficial for parotta-making will be useful for the large-scale manufacturers of parotta.
Occupational Health and the Performing Arts: An Introduction

Objective: Workplace hazards in the performing arts cause injuries, disabilities, and deaths every year. Occupational health professionals are familiar with most of these hazards and are particularly qualified to contribute to efforts to reduce them. This article reviews current health issues in the performing arts and highlights opportunities for occupational health contributions. Methods: Recognized experts in performing arts medicine were consulted and articles illustrating performing arts health issues were reviewed. Literature sources included medical databases, unindexed art-health publications, and popular press articles. Results: Resources discussing hazards and health issues in theater, dance, voice, and instrumental musicians were located and reviewed. Conclusions: Treatment providers have a history of involvement with segments of the performing arts. The occupational health approach to workplace health issues can effectively complement these efforts. Sources of further information on performing arts health concerns are available.
The CSF Immune Response in HIV-1–Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis: Macrophage Activation, Correlates of Disease Severity, and Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy

Background: Immune modulation may improve outcome in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. Animal studies suggest alternatively activated macrophages are detrimental but human studies are limited. We performed a detailed assessment of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune response and examined immune correlates of disease severity and poor outcome, and the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methodology: We enrolled persons ≥18 years with first episode of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. CSF immune response was assessed using flow cytometry and multiplex cytokine analysis. Principal component analysis was used to examine relationships between immune response, fungal burden, intracranial pressure and mortality, and the effects of recent ART initiation (<12 weeks). Findings: CSF was available from 57 persons (median CD4 34/&mgr;L). CD206 (alternatively activated macrophage marker) was expressed on 54% CD14+ and 35% CD14− monocyte-macrophages. High fungal burden was not associated with CD206 expression but with a paucity of CD4+, CD8+, and CD4−CD8− T cells and lower interleukin-6, G-CSF, and interleukin-5 concentrations. High intracranial pressure (≥30 cm H2O) was associated with fewer T cells, a higher fungal burden, and larger Cryptococcus organisms. Mortality was associated with reduced interferon-gamma concentrations and CD4−CD8− T cells but lost statistical significance when adjusted for multiple comparisons. Recent ART was associated with increased CSF CD4/CD8 ratio and a significantly increased macrophage expression of CD206. Conclusions: Paucity of CSF T cell infiltrate rather than alternative macrophage activation was associated with severe disease in HIV-associated cryptococcosis. ART had a pronounced effect on the immune response at the site of disease.
ERAD‐dependent control of the Wnt secretory factor Evi

Active regulation of protein abundance is an essential strategy to modulate cellular signaling pathways. Within the Wnt signaling cascade, regulated degradation of β‐catenin by the ubiquitin‐proteasome system (UPS) affects the outcome of canonical Wnt signaling. Here, we found that abundance of the Wnt cargo receptor Evi (Wls/GPR177), which is required for Wnt protein secretion, is also regulated by the UPS through endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐associated degradation (ERAD). In the absence of Wnt ligands, Evi is ubiquitinated and targeted for ERAD in a VCP‐dependent manner. Ubiquitination of Evi involves the E2‐conjugating enzyme UBE2J2 and the E3‐ligase CGRRF1. Furthermore, we show that a triaging complex of Porcn and VCP determines whether Evi enters the secretory or the ERAD pathway. In this way, ERAD‐dependent control of Evi availability impacts the scale of Wnt protein secretion by adjusting the amount of Evi to meet the requirement of Wnt protein export. As Wnt and Evi protein levels are often dysregulated in cancer, targeting regulatory ERAD components might be a useful approach for therapeutic interventions.
Foreground segmentation using motion vector for camouflaged surveillance scenario

Detection of moving objects is the first relevant step of information extraction in many computer vision applications. It gains focus of attention in applications such as abnormal event detection, human gait characterization, congestion analysis, person identification and fall detection for elderly people. Foreground segmentation fails due to various reasons such as presence of camouflage, shadows, slow moving objects, illumination changes etc. Detecting moving objects from similarly colored background (known as camouflage problem), has been a long-standing open question in this field. Thus, camouflage is one of the major issues where foreground and background gets occluded or merged when they are of similar color. In case of terrorist attacks, terrorist disguise themselves, by dressing similar to the environment so that they can hide themselves. Foreground segmentation by eliminating camouflage in such cases play a vital role which is one of the major issues being faced nowadays. In order to overcome this issue, the proposed work extracts motion information using optical flow algorithm to detect the moving object and Motion Assisted Matrix Restoration (MAMR) for foreground segmentation in fully camouflaged surveillance scenario. Experimental results have been shown emphasizing that the proposed methodology outperforms other state-of-the-art algorithms.
Modelling multi-rotor UAVs swarm deployment using virtual pheromones

In this work, a swarm behaviour for multi-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) deployment will be presented. The main contribution of this behaviour is the use of a virtual device for quantitative sematectonic stigmergy providing more adaptable behaviours in complex environments. It is a fault tolerant highly robust behaviour that does not require prior information of the area to be covered, or to assume the existence of any kind of information signals (GPS, mobile communication networks …), taking into account the specific features of UAVs. This behaviour will be oriented towards emergency tasks. Their main goal will be to cover an area of the environment for later creating an ad-hoc communication network, that can be used to establish communications inside this zone. Although there are several papers on robotic deployment it is more difficult to find applications with UAV systems, mainly because of the existence of various problems that must be overcome including limitations in available sensory and on-board processing capabilities and low flight endurance. In addition, those behaviours designed for UAVs often have significant limitations on their ability to be used in real tasks, because they assume specific features, not easily applicable in a general way. Firstly, in this article the characteristics of the simulation environment will be presented. Secondly, a microscopic model for deployment and creation of ad-hoc networks, that implicitly includes stigmergy features, will be shown. Then, the overall swarm behaviour will be modeled, providing a macroscopic model of this behaviour. This model can accurately predict the number of agents needed to cover an area as well as the time required for the deployment process. An experimental analysis through simulation will be carried out in order to verify our models. In this analysis the influence of both the complexity of the environment and the stigmergy system will be discussed, given the data obtained in the simulation. In addition, the macroscopic and microscopic models will be compared verifying the number of predicted individuals for each state regarding the simulation.
On social event organization

Online platforms, such as Meetup and Plancast, have recently become popular for planning gatherings and event organization. However, there is a surprising lack of studies on how to effectively and efficiently organize social events for a large group of people through such platforms. In this paper, we study the key computational problem involved in organization of social events, to our best knowledge, for the first time. We propose the Social Event Organization (SEO) problem as one of assigning a set of events for a group of users to attend, where the users are socially connected with each other and have innate levels of interest in those events. As a first step toward Social Event Organization, we introduce a formal definition of a restricted version of the problem and show that it is NP-hard and is hard to approximate. We propose efficient heuristic algorithms that improve upon simple greedy algorithms by incorporating the notion of phantom events and by using look-ahead estimation. Using synthetic datasets and three real datasets including those from the platforms Meetup and Plancast, we experimentally demonstrate that our greedy heuristics are scalable and furthermore outperform the baseline algorithms significantly in terms of achieving superior social welfare.
A Global Clustering Approach Using Hybrid Optimization for Incomplete Data Based on Interval Reconstruction of Missing Value

Incomplete data clustering is often encountered in practice. Here the treatment of missing attribute value and the optimization procedure of clustering are the important factors impacting the clustering performance. In this study, a missing attribute value becomes an information granule and is represented as a certain interval. To avoid intervals determined by different cluster information, we propose a congeneric nearest‐neighbor rule‐based architecture of the preclassification result, which can improve the effectiveness of estimation of missing attribute interval. Furthermore, a global fuzzy clustering approach using particle swarm optimization assisted by the Fuzzy C‐Means is proposed. A novel encoding scheme where particles are composed of the cluster prototypes and the missing attribute values is considered in the optimization procedure. The proposed approach improves the accuracy of clustering results, moreover, the missing attribute imputation can be implemented at the same time. The experimental results of several UCI data sets show the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Index Modulation for 5G: Striving to Do More with Less

5G wireless communications expect to bring both high spectrum efficiency and high energy efficiency. To meet the requirements, various new techniques have been proposed. Among these, the recently emerging index modulation has attracted significant interest. By judiciously activating a subset of certain communication building blocks, such as antenna, subcarrier, and time slot, index modulation is claimed to have the potential to meet the challenging 5G needs. In this article, we discuss index modulation and its general and specific representations, enhancements, and potential applications in various 5G scenarios. The objective is to reveal whether, and how, index modulation may strive for more performance gains with less medium resource occupation.
Influence of orbital forcing and solar activity on water isotopes in precipitation during the mid- and late Holocene

Abstract. In this study we investigate the impact of mid- and late Holocene orbital forcing and solar activity on variations of the oxygen isotopic composition in precipitation. The investigation is motivated by a recently published speleothem δ18O record from the well-monitored Bunker Cave in Germany. The record reveals some high variability on multi-centennial to millennial scales that does not linearly correspond to orbital forcing. Our model study is based on a set of novel climate simulations performed with the atmosphere general circulation model ECHAM5-wiso enhanced by explicit water isotope diagnostics. From the performed model experiments, we derive the following major results: (1) the response of both orbital and solar forcing lead to changes in surface temperatures and δ18O in precipitation with similar magnitudes during the mid- and late Holocene. (2) Past δ18O anomalies correspond to changing temperatures in the orbital driven simulations. This does not hold true if an additional solar forcing is added. (3) Two orbital driven mid-Holocene experiments, simulating the mean climate state approximately 5000 and 6000 yr ago, yield very similar results. However, if an identical additional solar activity-induced forcing is added, the simulated changes of surface temperatures as well as δ18O between both periods differ. We conclude from our simulation results that non-linear effects and feedbacks of the orbital and solar activity forcing substantially alter the δ18O in precipitation pattern and its relation to temperature change.
Privacy preserving two-server Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol

For a secure communication over an insecure channel the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol (DHKEP) is treated as the de facto standard. However, it suffers form server-side compromisation, identity compromisation, man-in-the-middle, replay attacks, etc. Also, there are single point of vulnerability (SOV), single point of failure (SOF) and user privacy preservation issues. This work proposes an identity-based two-server DHKEP to address the aforesaid issues and alleviating the attacks. To preserve user identity from outside intruders, a k-anonymity based identity hiding principle has been adopted. Further, to ensure efficient utilization of channel bandwidth, the proposed scheme employs elliptic curve cryptography. The security analysis substantiate that our scheme is provably secure and successfully addressed the above-mentioned issues. The performance study contemplates that the overhead of the protocol is reasonable and comparable with other schemes.
DISCOUNTING AND SELF-CONTROL

An agent’s intertemporal choices depend on a variety of factors, most prominently, their valuation of future payoffs as encapsulated in a discount function. However, it is also clear that factors such as self-control may also play an important role, and given the similarity of impact, a confounding one. We explore the literature on this issue as well as examining what occurs when those with higher time-preference (whether arising from discounting or self-control) also enjoy their consumption more.
The joint impact on being overweight of self reported behaviours of eating quickly and eating until full : cross sectional survey

Objective To examine whether eating until full or eating quickly or combinations of these eating behaviours are associated with being overweight. Design and participants Cross sectional survey. Setting Two communities in Japan. Participants 3287 adults (1122 men, 2165 women) aged 30-69 who participated in surveys on cardiovascular risk from 2003 to 2006. Main outcome measures Body mass index (overweight ≥25.0) and the dietary habits of eating until full (lifestyle questionnaire) and speed of eating (validated brief self administered questionnaire). Results 571 (50.9%) men and 1265 (58.4%) women self reported eating until full, and 523 (45.6%) men and 785 (36.3%) women self reported eating quickly. For both sexes the highest age adjusted mean values for height, weight, body mass index, and total energy intake were in the eating until full and eating quickly group compared with the not eating until full and not eating quickly group. The multivariable adjusted odds ratio of being overweight for eating until full was 2.00 (95% confidence interval 1.53 to 2.62) for men and 1.92 (1.53 to 2.40) for women and for eating quickly was 1.84 (1.42 to 2.38) for men and 2.09 (1.69 to 2.59) for women. The multivariable odds ratio of being overweight with both eating behaviours compared with neither was 3.13 (2.20 to 4.45) for men and 3.21 (2.41 to 4.29) for women. Conclusion Eating until full and eating quickly are associated with being overweight in Japanese men and women, and these eating behaviours combined may have a substantial impact on being overweight.
Complete genome sequence of Hirschia baltica type strain (IFAM 1418T)

The family Hyphomonadaceae within the Alphaproteobacteria is largely comprised of bacteria isolated from marine environments with striking morphologies and an unusual mode of cell growth. Here, we report the complete genome sequence Hirschia baltica, which is only the second a member of the Hyphomonadaceae with a published genome sequence. H. baltica is of special interest because it has a dimorphic life cycle and is a stalked, budding bacterium. The 3,455,622 bp long chromosome and 84,492 bp plasmid with a total of 3,222 protein-coding and 44 RNA genes were sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute Program CSP 2008.
Suitability of Strain Gage Sensors for Integration into Smart Sport Equipment: A Golf Club Example

Wearable devices and smart sport equipment are being increasingly used in amateur and professional sports. Smart sport equipment employs various sensors for detecting its state and actions. The correct choice of the most appropriate sensor(s) is of paramount importance for efficient and successful operation of sport equipment. When integrated into the sport equipment, ideal sensors are unobstructive, and do not change the functionality of the equipment. The article focuses on experiments for identification and selection of sensors that are suitable for the integration into a golf club with the final goal of their use in real time biofeedback applications. We tested two orthogonally affixed strain gage (SG) sensors, a 3-axis accelerometer, and a 3-axis gyroscope. The strain gage sensors are calibrated and validated in the laboratory environment by a highly accurate Qualisys Track Manager (QTM) optical tracking system. Field test results show that different types of golf swing and improper movement in early phases of golf swing can be detected with strain gage sensors attached to the shaft of the golf club. Thus they are suitable for biofeedback applications to help golfers to learn repetitive golf swings. It is suggested that the use of strain gage sensors can improve the golf swing technical error detection accuracy and that strain gage sensors alone are enough for basic golf swing analysis. Our final goal is to be able to acquire and analyze as many parameters of a smart golf club in real time during the entire duration of the swing. This would give us the ability to design mobile and cloud biofeedback applications with terminal or concurrent feedback that will enable us to speed-up motor skill learning in golf.
Do the Big Five personality traits predict individual differences in the left cheek bias for emotion perception?

ABSTRACT Like language, emotion is a lateralized function. Because the right hemisphere typically dominates emotion processing, people express stronger emotion on the left side of their face. This prompts a left cheek bias: we offer the left cheek to express emotion and rate left cheek portraits more emotionally expressive than right cheek portraits. Though the majority of the population show this left cheek bias (60–70%), individual differences exist but remain largely unexplained. Given that people with higher self-rated emotional expressivity show a stronger left cheek bias, personality variables associated with increased emotional expressivity and emotional intelligence, such as extraversion and openness, may help account for individual differences. The present study thus examined whether the Big Five traits predict left cheek preferences. Participants (M = 58, F = 116) completed the NEO-Five Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) [Costa, P. T. J., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). NEO PI-R professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources] and viewed pairs of left and right cheek images (half mirror-reversed); participants made forced-choice decisions, indicating which image in each pair looked happier. Hierarchical regression indicated that neither trait extraversion nor openness predicted left cheek selections, with NEO-FFI personality subscales accounting for negligible variance in preferences. As the Big Five traits have been discounted, exploration of other potential contributors to individual differences in the left cheek bias is clearly needed.
Risk Factors for Hemodynamic Instability during Surgery for Pheochromocytoma.

BACKGROUND Surgery on pheochromocytoma carries a risk for hemodynamic (HD) instability. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative risk factors for intraoperative HD instability. In addition, efficacy of pretreatment with the alpha-adrenergic receptor (alpha) antagonists phenoxybenzamine (PXB) and doxazosin (DOX) was compared with respect to reduction of intraoperative HD instability. METHODS Seventy-three patients operated in Erasmus Medical Center between 1995 and 2007 were included. Parameters studied were catecholamine type and concentration, tumor diameter, mean arterial pressure (MAP) before and after (MAP(alpha)) pretreatment with alpha-antagonist, postural fall in blood pressure (BP) after pretreatment, type of alpha-blockade, type of operation, and presence of a familial polytumor syndrome. HD instability was assessed by measuring the number and time period MAP was below 60 mm Hg and systolic BP (SBP) was above 160 mm Hg. RESULTS A correlation was found between the intraoperative time periods of SBP above 160 mm Hg and plasma norepinephrine levels (r = 0.23; P < 0.05), tumor diameter (r = 0.36; P < 0.01), and postural BP fall (r = 0.30; P < 0.05). MAP at presentation and after alpha-blockade above 100 mm Hg (BP, 130/85 mm Hg) was related to more and longer episodes with a SBP above 160 mm Hg (P < 0.01). Type of operation or alpha-blockade and presence of a familial polytumor syndrome were not related to intraoperative HD instability. Postoperative MAP was lower in the DOX group than in the PXB group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Risk factors for HD instability during surgery for pheochromocytoma include a high plasma NE concentration, larger tumor size, more profound postural BP fall after alpha-blockade, and a MAP above 100 mm Hg (130/85 mm Hg). Efficacy for preventing HD instability was identical for PXB and DOX.