Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Footwear Matter When Performing Spatiotemporal Gait Analysis Among Older Women?

Background and Purpose:Although shoe type may influence gait performance and is considered to be an extrinsic fall risk factor, little or no attention is paid to it when conducting research in this field. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of various types of footwear under single- and dual-task conditions on spatiotemporal gait characteristics in older women. Methods:Fifty-seven community-dwelling women (68.0 ± 4.6 years) were enrolled in this study. Spatiotemporal gait analysis using the GAITRite walkway was performed under 4 footwear conditions (barefoot, slippers, high heels, and standard shoes) and 3 task conditions (single-task, motor dual-task, and cognitive dual-task). Two-factor repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted. Primary outcomes were velocity, cadence, stride time, stride length, and stride length variability. Results:Irrespective of task condition, walking barefoot resulted in a significantly slower gait pattern with decreased cadence and stride length and increased stride time and stride length variability compared with walking with the standard shoe. These significant gait alterations were also observed when adding a cognitive task to normal walking. The effects of footwear were most obvious during the cognitive dual-task condition and for the spatiotemporal parameters velocity and stride length. Conclusions:Footwear matters when analyzing gait in older women. It should be described in greater detail by gait researchers. Footwear should also be considered by clinicians in light of the study findings and its effects on gait. Older women are strongly discouraged to walk barefoot because barefoot walking adversely affects gait patterns. A well-fitting standard shoe with laces, a low and wide heel, firm heel collar and a grooved, moderately hard sole is recommended in research, rehabilitation, and daily use.
Exchange Rate Directional Forecasting using Sentiment Analysis on Social Media in Indonesia 2015

Exchange rate markets are quite sensitive to unexpected news and events. Over the last few years, investor’s sentiments toward exchange rate have been used to provide early indicators and predict future movements. This research use data mining of investor’s sentiments through social media, news articles, websites, blogs, forums, and group discussion to model and forecast exchange rate. Daily data on the nominal exchange rate of major global currencies— USD, EUR, and JPY against the IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) are collected from the entire year of 2015. The methodologies used in this paper are big data analysis using LWIC (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count) and event analysis.The expected outcome of this research is that the market sentiment can significantly predict the future price of the currency and find out which channel that can strongly predict the future prices. The exchange rate model or trend can also be useful information for institutional investors, individual traders, corporations, or even governments. Aus. Aca. Acc & Fin. Rev Vol 1(2), Oct 2015, P 132-147
European Scenarios of CO2 Infrastructure Investment

Based on a review of the current state of the Carbon Capture, Transport and Storage (CCTS) technology, this paper analyzes the layout and costs of a potential CO2 infrastructure in Europe at the horizon of 2050. We apply the mixed-integer model CCTS-Mod to compute a CCTS infrastructure network for Europe, examining the effects of different CO2 price paths with different regional foci. Scenarios assuming low CO2 certificate prices lead to hardly any CCTS development in Europe. The iron and steel sector starts deployment once the CO2 certificate prices exceed 50 €/tCO2. The cement sector starts investing at a threshold of 75 €/tCO2, followed by the electricity sector when prices exceed 100 €/tCO2. The degree of CCTS deployment is found to be more sensitive to variable costs of CO2 capture than to investment costs. Additional revenues generated from utilizing CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) in the North Sea would lead to an earlier adoption of CCTS, independent of the CO2 certificate price; this case may become especially relevant for the UK, Norway and the Netherlands. However, scattered CCTS deployment increases unit cost of transport and storage infrastructure by 30% or more.
Terahertz CMOS Frequency Generator Using Linear Superposition Technique

A low Terahertz (324 GHz) frequency generator is realized in 90 nm CMOS by linearly superimposing quadruple (N=4) phase shifted fundamental signals at one fourth of the output frequency (81 GHz). The developed technique minimizes the fundamental, second and third order harmonics without extra filtering and results in a high fundamental-to-4 th harmonic signal conversion ratio of 0.17 or -15.4 dB. The demonstrated prototype produces a calibrated -46 dBm output power when biased at 1 V and 12 mA with 4 GHz tuning range and extrapolated phase noise of -91 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz frequency offset. The linear superposition (LS) technique can be generalized for all even number cases (N=2k, where k=1,2,3,4,.,n) with different tradeoffs in output power and frequency. As CMOS continues to scale, we anticipate the LS N=4 VCO to generate signals beyond 2 Terahertz by using 22 nm CMOS and produce output power up to -1.5 dBm with 1.7% power added efficiency with an LS VCO + Class-B Power Amplifier cascaded circuit architecture.
Determinants of the demand for health insurance coverage

The health insurance density in the Netherlands is among the highest in the world. This is shown by the fact that, in 2016, only 12 per cent of the Dutch insured opted for a reduction of health insurance coverage in the form of a voluntary deductible, while, at the same time, 84 per cent of the Dutch insured opted for an extension of health insurance coverage in the form of a supplementary health insurance. This dissertation question whether risk aversion alone can explain the low uptake of voluntary deductibles and the high uptake of supplementary insurance, since the value in terms of reduction of financial uncertainty regarding financial losses is limited in those cases. Therefore, this dissertations aims to identify potential explanations for the demand for high health insurance coverage. The insights provided within this dissertation could be used to optimize the design of health insurance and more specifically the design of voluntary deductibles and the supplementary insurance and to better facilitate the individual’s decision-making process concerning the demand for health insurance coverage.
A mixed scheduling algorithm for thermal process network control systems

Aiming at the characteristics of thermal process network control system, a mixed scheduling algorithm based on Synthetic Scheduling Index (SSI) is presented. Firstly, a network QoS estimator is used to acquire current network states. When network utilization is smaller than set value, taskpsilas residual time and static priority are adopted to schedule task. Otherwise, network QoS scheduler dispatches task dynamically by MEF-TOD algorithm, combined with taskpsilas residual time and priority in the SSI. Both the mechanism analysis and simulation show that this algorithm has great real-time performance to random load thermal process, with high average performance, low network time-delay and packet loss, and strong practicality.
Evidence for Naturally Acquired T Cell-Mediated Mucosal Immunity to Neisseria meningitidis 12

Naturally acquired protective immunity against Neisseria meningitidis is thought to partially explain the disparity between the high levels of carriage in the human nasopharynx and the rare incidence of disease. To investigate this immunity to Neisseria meningitidis at the mucosal level, in vitro cellular responses to outer membrane vesicle preparations derived from this pathogen were examined using mononuclear cells from the palatine tonsils of adults and children. Characterization of these responses was achieved by depletion of CD45RA+, CD45RO+, and CD19+ populations and outer membrane vesicles derived from isogenic mutants expressing different serosubtypes of the major outer membrane protein, porin A (PorA), no PorA and membrane preparations from a mutant with no LPS (LpxA−). The magnitude of cellular proliferative responses against the outer membrane vesicles were strongly associated with age and were largely T cell mediated, involving both CD45RO+ and CD45RA+ T cell phenotypes. Responses were not dependent on LPS but consisted of both PorA cross-specific and non-PorA-dependent responses. Cellular immunity against Neisseria meningitidis was found to be frequently associated with systemic IgG Abs but was not associated with serum bactericidal Abs. For the first time our results demonstrate an age-associated acquisition of mucosal T effector/memory cell responses to Neisseria meningitidis. This mucosal cellular immunity can be present in the absence of serum bactericidal Abs, a classical marker of protective immunity.
Avatar: Enhancing the Personalized Television by Semantic Inference

The generalized arrival of Digital TV will lead to a significant increase in the amount of channels and programs available to end users, making it difficult to find interesting programs among a myriad of irrelevant contents. Thus, in this field, automatic content recommenders should receive special attention in the following years to improve assistance to users. Current approaches of content recommenders have significant well-known deficiencies that hamper their wide acceptance. In this paper, a new approach for automatic content recommendation is presented that considerably reduces those deficiencies. This approach, based on the so-called Semantic Web technologies, has been implemented in the AVATAR tool, a hybrid content recommender that makes extensive use of well-known standards, such as TV-Anytime and OWL. Our proposal has been evaluated experimentally with real users, showing significant increases in the recommendation accuracy with respect to other existing approaches.
Biogeochemistry of Hypersaline Microbial Mats Illustrates the Dynamics of Modern Microbial Ecosystems and the Early Evolution of the Biosphere

Photosynthetic microbial mats are remarkably complete self-sustaining ecosystems at the millimeter scale, yet they have substantially affected environmental processes on a planetary scale. These mats may be direct descendents of the most ancient biological communities in which even oxygenic photosynthesis might have developed. Photosynthetic mats are excellent natural laboratories to help us to learn how microbial populations associate to control dynamic biogeochemical gradients.
Concepts in nuclear architecture

Genomes are defined by their primary sequence. The functional properties of genomes, however, are determined by far more complex mechanisms and depend on multiple layers of regulatory control processes. A key emerging contributor to genome function is the architectural organization of the cell nucleus. The spatial and temporal behavior of genomes and their regulatory proteins are now being recognized as important, yet still poorly understood, control mechanisms in genome function. Combined cell biological, molecular and computational analysis of architectural aspects of genome function has added a further dimension to the investigation of some of the most fundamental cellular processes including transcription and maintenance of genome integrity. The complete elucidation of the contribution that nuclear architecture makes to gene expression will be required to fully understand physiological processes such as differentiation, development and disease at the cellular level. Here I give an overview of some of the emerging concepts in the study of in vivo genome organization and function. BioEssays 27:477–487, 2005. Published 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reassessing the presence of Candida albicans in denture-related stomatitis.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to reevaluate the link between Candida albicans and denture-related stomatitis according to a modified Newton classification, which reflects the classic types of inflammation as well as the extent to which the tissue is affected. STUDY DESIGN Two groups of denture wearers were evaluated for denture-related stomatitis. The presence and number of yeasts on the dentures, the identification of the Candida species present, and the amount of plaque coverage were determined. Putative risk factors were included in the study. Relations between these variables and stomatitis were analyzed statistically. RESULTS According to Newton's classification, the presence of yeast on the denture was not linked to whether subjects had stomatitis. But with our classification, higher prevalence of yeast carriers, yeast colony number, and plaque coverage were found on the dentures of individuals with the most extensive inflammation, regardless of Newton type. Among risk factors evaluated, wearing dentures at night and smoking were associated with the most extensive inflammation. We also demonstrated that the presence of C albicans as well as the cohabitation of different Candida species was more frequent in denture-related stomatitis. The differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Statistical analysis of microbiologic data from different denture-related stomatitis categories according to our modified classification showed that the presence of yeast on dentures was significantly associated with the extent of the inflammation, rather than with the Newton type. Our findings suggest that the inflammatory process of stomatitis favors the colonization of Candida. These results could have new implications for diagnosis and management of the condition.
On the Throughput of Zero-Forcing Beamforming Using Random Vector Quantization Limited Feedback in MIMO Broadcast Channels

In wireless broadcast (downlink) channels, multiple transmit antennas can provide tremendous throughput (i.e., multiplexing) gain, even if each accessed user has only one receive antenna. Recent work has shown that zero-forcing beamforming (ZF-BF) based on random vector quantization (RVQ) limited feedback is a simple and effective transmission technique for broadcast systems. This paper analyzes the long-term average throughput of such systems. We model the throughput of each user as the difference of that between the two "virtual" single user multiple-input single-output (MISO) systems, and the total throughput as that of any user scaled by the number of accessed users. Based on this model, a semi-closed form expression of the system throughput is derived. The near-exact match of the expression is verified by the numerical results and simulations.
Low Dose Oral Combination Chemoprophylaxis with Oseltamivir and Amantadine for Influenza a Virus Infections in Mice

Abstract In the present study, the effect of combining anti-influenza drugs active at different steps of the influenza virus replication cycle, oseltamivir as a neuraminidase (NA) inhibitor and amantadine targeting M2 protein, was investigated in vivo by oral administration in a mouse model of aerosol influenza virus infection and in vitro in MDCK cells. In mice, doses of oseltamivir and amantadine providing 50-60% survival against A/Hongkong/1/68 (H3N2) or A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) were capable of conferring complete protection when used simultaneously, suggesting that increased inhibition of influenza virus replication by combining oseltamivir and amantadine in vitro translates into protection from lethal infection of mice. The combination of amantadine with oseltamivir required 15-fold less oseltamivir than monotherapy to confer complete protection against lethal aerosol influenza virus infection. Remarkably, amantadine-based combination chemoprophylaxis was even effective against amantadine-resistant A/PR/8/34 influenza virus. Thus, combination chemotherapy may be more efficacious than monotherapy against newly emerging Influenza A subtypes.
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act: Spending and Poverty

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) is the latest implementation of the welfare program. Different from Aid to Families with Dependent Children, the new law allows for spending in categories other than the cash assistance traditionally thought of as welfare. With the new program being administered as a block grant to the states, the levels of spending in each category vary not only by year but also by state. In this paper, I summarize PRWORA spending into seven categories. I will test for a correlation between levels of spending on benefits and other categories and changes in the official poverty measure. At the end, I find that spending on childcare assistance, work supports, and tax credits authorized under PRWORA have a moderate effect on a state's poverty rate in the short-term.
Ecosystem for sustainable entrepreneurship: towards smart public procurement review procedures

Although European Union and national regulation have developed public procurement system for many years, different stakeholders (contracting authorities, judiciary, controlling authorities) provide much criticism to these procedures. The article presents results of expertsâ€™ evaluation of currently applied system and investigates the possibilities for online public procurement review procedure. Lithuania is one of EU leading countries in regard of e-procurement. The results showed that the object of the research is poorly studied, but theoretically formulated problems are relevant in practice. Analysis of problematic aspects might be useful to improve national system of public procurement dispute resolution. As well as might be applied in the practise of other EU countries, seeking to apply social technologies to carry on time and money consuming public procurement procedures. Future researches should be oriented towards analysis of e- public procurement platforms used in the EU member states supplementation with specific modules for purchasing authoritiesâ€™ decisionsâ€™ review.
COMPETITIVENESS OF THE LUZNAVA MANOR

Customers become increasingly demanding due to globalization processes. This fact affects competitors to fight for better tourism products. The need for innovations in the market that can attract tourists increases and creates the competitive advantage. The most important elements that can form and develop the competitive advantage by using different skills are efficiency, quality, innovation, and satisfaction of customers' expectations. The paper is the result of the RTA scientific grant "Feasibility study of tourism product development for the Luznava Manor" programme. The aim of the paper is to explore and analyse the theoretical aspects of the competitive advantage and to identify innovations for improving the competitiveness of the Luznava Manor. The most important elements of the competitive advantage in the tourism industry have been studied, information on foods used at the beginning of the 20th century and recipes characteristic of Latvia in the period of time when the Kierbedz family lived in the Luznava Manor have been researched and summarized. It has been offered to supplement the soup assortment at the Luznava Manor with a cold salty soup ‘batvin’ or ‘holodnik’ of the authentic recipe and name, as well as a plan of communication measures to increase competitiveness has been proposed. Monographic, logical construction, scientific induction and deduction methods and a structured interview have been applied.
Financial Integration Analysis Between the Brazilian and the Argentinian Stock Market: A Dynamic Approach

In this article we seek to verify the dynamics of financial integration between the Brazilian and the Argentinian stock index. We estimate a state space model by Kalman filter, which allowed the observation of the dynamics of the financial integration over time. We follow the proposal of Haldane and Hall (1991) and from the estimation of the model we observe the convergence and divergence between the Brazilian and Argentinian stock markets over the years 1987 and 2014. An important evidence was the observation of divergence between regional stock indexes in times of crisis in the international markets. That is, at moments of stress in financial markets, the Brazilian stock index showed greater convergence towards international markets than in relation to the Argentinian market. This evidence is in line with Manning (2002) that found the same effect in Asian equity markets during the 1997 crisis.
Scales of Power in Water Governance in China: Examples From the Yangtze River Basin

ABSTRACT Theories that explain the governance of water, such as integrated river basin management and multilevel water governance, point to scalar configurations of power as critical determinants of success (or failure). This article explains how the scalar configurations of power in water governance mirror those of the Chinese State, and influence water governance in powerful ways. We use the case of the Yangtze River and Shanghai, a megacity in the Yangtze estuary, as examples, showing how a local jurisdiction exercises its regulatory measures against different types of transjurisdictional water pollution and how these regulatory measures mirror the fluidity (or rigidity) of power configurations in hydropolitics in China. China’s evolving water resource management institutions are as yet unable to address the scalar configurations of power in water governance.
[Improvement of 99mTc-pyrophosphate scintigraphy in detection of acute myocardial infarction: combined with 99mTc-tetrofosmin].

BACKGROUND 201Tl and 99mTc-pyrophosphate (PYP) dual scintigraphy is daily used in the detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, 201Tl is not available on emergent situation. We proposed a new method for detection of AMI combined 99mTc-PYP with 99mTc-tetrofosmin (TF). METHODS 99mTc-PYP (740 MBq) was administered to 25 patients with AMI, and 3.5 hours later, planar imaging (PYP planar) and SPECT were performed (PYP-SPECT). Immediately after cessation of PYP-SPECT, 99mTc-TF (370-740 MBq) was injected and 5 minutes later SPECT was performed in the same position (TF-SPECT). PYP-SPECT and TF-SPECT were reconstructed in the same geometric status to permit superimpose of PYP-SPECT and TF-SPECT images. Two experts and 2 beginners of nuclear medicine physician interpreted the images in three ways; PYP planar image only, PYP-SPECT, and PYP-SPECT with TF-SPECT. RESULTS PYP-SPECT combined with TF-SPECT shows 100% detectability of the AMI lesions, which is significantly higher than other two methods in both experts and beginners. CONCLUSION PYP-SPECT combined with TF-SPECT is a powerful method for detection of AMI.
Therapist and relationship factors influencing dropout from individual psychotherapy: A literature review

Abstract Among potential predictors of dropout, client variables are most thoroughly examined. This qualitative literature review examines the current state of knowledge about therapist, relationship and process factors influencing dropout. Databases searches identified 44 relevant studies published January 2000–June 2011. Dropout rates varied widely with a weighted rate of 35%. Fewer than half of the studies directly addressed questions of dropout rates in relation to therapist, relationship or process factors. Therapists' experience, training and skills, together with providing concrete support and being emotionally supportive, had an impact on dropout rates. Furthermore, the quality of therapeutic alliance, client dissatisfaction and pre-therapy preparation influenced dropout. To reduce dropout rates, therapists need enhanced skills in building and repairing the therapeutic relationship.