Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving older adults' experience with interactive voice response systems.

BACKGROUND Interactive voice response (IVR) systems use computer-based voice recognition and software algorithms to conduct human/computer interactions. In recent years, there has been a proliferation of IVR applications in business and healthcare. The available evidence suggests that older people have negative attitudes towards IVR and experience significant difficulties using these systems. OBJECTIVE The goal of this project was to identify areas of difficulties in IVR use by older people and propose strategies for improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS During two focus groups, we examined older people's perceptions of IVR systems and the most common difficulties experienced by seniors in interacting with these systems. We also recorded their suggestions for improvement of IVR. RESULTS Frequency and chi square analyses were performed on the focus groups data. Some of the difficulties reported by participants in this study were congruent with previous findings, but we also uncovered some additional problems, such as frustration for not being able to reach an operator, being asked to wait too long on hold, being unable to recover from mistakes, and an absence of shortcuts in the systems. In addition, significant number of participants indicated that they prefer a system that adjusts to them automatically as opposed to a system that allows for adjustment. CONCLUSION Generally, our findings suggest that the poor acceptability of IVR systems by older people could be improved by designing IVR algorithms that detect difficulties during an ongoing IVR exchange and direct people to different algorithms adapted for each person.
Reliability of a Computer Software Angle Tool for Measuring Spine and Pelvic Flexibility During the Sit-and-Reach Test

Abstract Mier, CM and Shapiro, BS. Reliability of a computer software angle tool for measuring spine and pelvic flexibility during the sit-and-reach test. J Strength Cond Res 27(2): 501–506, 2013. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of a computer software angle tool that measures thoracic (T), lumbar (L), and pelvic (P) angles as a means of evaluating spine and pelvic flexibility during the sit-and-reach (SR) test. Thirty adults performed the SR twice on separate days. The SR test was captured on video and later analyzed for T, L, and P angles using the computer software angle tool. During the test, 3 markers were placed over T1, T12, and L5 vertebrae to identify T, L, and P angles. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indicated a very high internal consistency (between trials) for T, L, and P angles (0.95–0.99); thus, the average of trials was used for test-retest (between days) reliability. Mean (±SD) values did not differ between days for T (51.0 ± 14.3 vs. 52.3 ± 16.2°), L (23.9 ± 7.1 vs. 23.0 ± 6.9°), or P (98.4 ± 15.6 vs. 98.3 ± 14.7°) angles. Test-retest reliability (ICC) was high for T (0.96) and P (0.97) angles and moderate for L angle (0.84). Both intrarater and interrater reliabilities were high for T (0.95, 0.94) and P (0.97, 0.97) angles and moderate for L angle (0.87, 0.82). Thus, the computer software angle tool is a highly objective method for assessing spine and pelvic flexibility during a video-captured SR test.
Surface AFM microscopy of unworn and worn samples of silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

PURPOSE To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative topographic changes in the surface of worn contact lenses (CLs) of different materials using atomic force microscopy (AFM). METHODS The topography of five different CL materials was evaluated with AFM over a surface of 25 microm(2) according to previously published experimental setup. Average roughness (R(a)) and root mean square (Rms) values were obtained for unworn and worn samples. RESULTS The R(a) value increased for balafilcon A (11.62-13.68 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively), lotrafilcon A (3.67-15.01 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively), lotrafilcon B (4.08-8.42 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively), galyfilcon A (2.81-14.6 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively), and comfilcon A (2.87-4.63 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively). Differences were statistically significant for all lenses except Rms and R(a) for comfilcon A, and R(a) parameter for balafilcon A (p > 0.05). The least relative increase was observed for some balafilcon A samples and for some of these samples the roughness decreased after the lenses had been worn. CONCLUSION The changes in surface roughness between unworn and worn lenses are different for different silicone-hydrogel materials. Overall all CLs increased the degree of surface roughness after being worn, even for very short periods of time. However, for samples of balafilcon A, roughness increases at a lower extent or even can decrease as compared to unworn samples of the same material due to filling of the macropores.
Simple Spectacles for Adult Refugees on the Thailand–Burma Border

Purpose. This article describes the development of, and outputs from, a program in which trained refugee health workers provided spherical lenses to adult refugees along the Thailand–Burma border. Methods. Between 1998 and 2001, the International Rescue Committee trained 48 refugee health workers in basic refraction courses. Once trained, these health workers conduct weekly eye clinics in several refugee camps and one migrant community covering a total population of 142,000. We supplied spherical lenses in 11 powers from +1.00 to +4.00 in 0.50-D steps and from –1.00 to –2.50 in 0.50-D steps. We collected output data from these clinics for the year 2001. Results. In 2001, these clinics provided a total of 7219 eyeglasses. Approximately 84% of all lenses given were for presbyopia, approximately 10% for myopia, and approximately 6% for hyperopia. Our spectacle provision rates per 100,000 persons were 4284 for presbyopia, 482 for myopia, and 317 for hyperopia. Our target provision rates, which would allow the average wearer to get a new pair every 3 to 4 years, was met for presbyopia, but not met for myopia or hyperopia. Few corrections for high errors were needed and only 92 people were found to need powers higher than we provided. In 2001, the cost per eyeglass recipient was approximately $7.00. Conclusions. Training refugee health workers has allowed for sustainable, low-cost spectacle provision to a large population over an extensive geographic area in a challenging environment.
Improvement of hill-climbing method by constraining voltage operating point

This paper proposed a modified hill-climbing method which enable fast convergence while maintaining ease of implementation. The hardware controller is constructed using low cost microcontroller to prove the simplicity of algorithm. Experiment result is presented and compared with conventional hill-climbing. Proposed method's convergence time under different irradiances is shown and explained in detail.
Magnetic resonance imaging cerebral abnormalities and neuropsychologic test performance in elderly hypertensive subjects. A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE To search for a morphologic basis of cognitive impairment possibly associated with arterial hypertension using magnetic resonance imaging and a demanding neuropsychologic test battery. DESIGN Case-control comparison with age, length of education, presence of diabetes, and presence of cardiac disease as matching criteria. SETTING Austrian Stroke Prevention Study. SUBJECTS A total of 89 hypertensive subjects and 89 control subjects from a subset of 272 volunteers with no neurologic symptoms undergoing extensive diagnostic workup in a large-scale stroke prevention study among randomly selected elderly community members. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Focal brain abnormalities and size of ventricles and cortical sulci as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological test scores. RESULTS Hypertensive subjects more commonly showed areas of white matter hyperintensity and moderately severe ventricular enlargement compared with controls. While no differences were noted between the investigational groups in test results of memory capacity and conceptualization, hypertensive subjects tended to perform worse when assessed for attentional and visuopractical skills. These differences became significant when comparing the brain-damaged subsets of patients and controls with their counterparts without cerebral changes. The pattern and extent of neuropsychologic deficits was similar in hypertensive and normotensive subjects with abnormal magnetic resonance imaging scans. CONCLUSION Our data strongly suggest the high rate of brain abnormalities among hypertensive subjects as the cause of their subtle neuropsychological dysfunction.
Expression of drug resistance proteins in triple-receptor-negative tumors as the basis of individualized therapy of the breast cancer patients.

AIM To evaluate the efficacy of the application of various chemotherapy schemes based on the immunohistochemical study of expression patterns of proteins associated with the drug resistance P-glycoprotein (P-gp), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), metallothioneins (MT) of breast cancer (BC) patients with the triple-receptor-negative (RE(-), RP(-), HER-2/neu(-)) cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS P-gp, GST and MT expression in BC-biopsy samples from 60 BC patients was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. The results of the clinical observations showed that 3-years relapse-free survival rate of the patients of with P-gp, GST and MT-positive tumors treated with taxoter + adriablastin / taxoter + cyclophosphamide (TA/TC), gemcitabine + carboplatin, or TC + bevacizumab was 61.5%, 78.6% and 81.2% respectively, vs 41.2% in the control group with P-gp, GST and MT-negative tumors treated with adriablastin + cyclophosphamide (p<0.05), while overrall suvival rates were 84.4%, 92.6% and 93.8% respectively vs 70.6% in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The study points on the possibility to elevate the efficiency of polychemotherapy by its individualization based on the expression patterns of P-gp, GST and MT on tumor cells of the patients with the triple-receptor-negative BC.
Tracking an incoming ballistic missile using an extended interval Kalman filter

The important tracking problem by radar of an incoming ballistic missile system, which contains uncertainty in modeling and noise in both dynamics and measurements, is studied. The classical extended Kalman filter (EKF) is no longer applicable to such an uncertain system, and so a new extended interval Kalman filter (EIKF) is developed for tracking the missile system. Computer simulation is presented to show the effectiveness of the EIKF algorithm for this uncertain and nonlinear ballistic missile tracking problem.
Dielectric and optical band gap studies of Cobalt-Manganese oxide nanoparticles at different temperatures

Nanoparticles of Cobalt-Manganese oxides were prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. The samples were heated at 400, 600 and 800ºC. The average particle size was determined from the X-ray line broadening. The diffractogram was compared with JCPDS data to identify the crystallographic phase and cubic structure of the particles. The FTIR studies have been used to confirm the metal oxide formation. The surface morphology and chemical compositions of the sample was verified using SEM and EDAX respectively. From the analysis of the absorption spectra, the direct band gap of the material was calculated. It has been found that with increasing frequency, the dielectric constant decreases. The high value of dielectric constant at low frequencies may mainly be due to the space charge polarization and rotational polarization.
The Mouse Model for Influenza

A major challenge in influenza research is the selection of an appropriate animal model that accurately reflects the disease and protective immune response to influenza infection in humans. Ferrets are exquisitely susceptible to infection with human influenza viruses and are widely believed to be the ideal small animal model for influenza research. Mice have also been used for influenza vaccine research for decades. Although human influenza viruses generally cause disease in mice only if they are first adapted to the species, the ready availability of mice, their relatively low cost, and the variety of genetic backgrounds and targeted defects, and the immunologic reagents available make the mouse an attractive and heavily utilized animal model for studies of influenza. Although they are not discussed in detail in this unit, hamsters, guinea pigs, cotton rats (Sigmodon), and rats (Rattus) have also been used for influenza research. Curr. Protoc. Microbiol. 13:15G.3. 1‐15G.3. 30. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Systematic tuning of the conduction mechanisms in ferroelectric thin films

We have investigated the macroscopic and microscopic properties of large sets of Ba0.7Sr0. 3TiO3 thin films including several substitution rates of manganese. Thanks to a high degree of control of the processing parameters at each stage we have been able to find a link between the dc leakage current and the low and high frequency dielectric permittivity and losses. We supplemented these macroscopic observations with in depth investigations of the defect states through x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We found that both the leakage current and the extrinsic dielectric parameters arise from a large density of charged point defects related to oxygen vacancies. At the outer surfaces of the films, the density of such charged defects is so high that it can raise the Fermi level to close to the conduction band. Such degradation of the films’ performance can be relieved by appropriate manganese substitution for the titanium host ions. Such doping is able to move back the Fermi level to close to the center of the bandgap thus changing the conduction process from interfacial Schottky to bulk Poole Frenkel and decreasing the extrinsic losses. This beneficial effect was already inferred in ceramics and thin films but we have established a clear link between the macroscopic parameters and the microscopic defect state. This model can be transferred to many high permittivity oxides.
Pseudovirion Particles Bearing Native HIV Envelope Trimers Facilitate a Novel Method for Generating Human Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Against HIV

Monomeric HIV envelope vaccines fail to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies or to protect against infection. Neutralizing antibodies against HIV bind to native functionally active Env trimers on the virion surface. Gag-Env pseudovirions recapitulate the native trimer and could serve as an effective epitope presentation platform for study of the neutralizing antibody response in HIV-infected individuals. To address if pseudovirions can recapitulate native HIV virion epitope structures, we carefully characterized these particles, concentrating on the antigenic structure of the coreceptor binding site. By blue native gel shift assays, Gag-Env pseudovirions were shown to contain native trimers that were competent for binding to neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, pseudovirions exhibited increased binding of known CD4-induced antibodies after addition of CD4. Using flow cytometric analysis, fluorescently labeled pseudovirions specifically identified a subset of antigen-specific B cells in HIV-infected subjects. Interestingly, the sequence of one of these novel human antibodies, identified during cloning of single HIV-specific B cells and designated 2C6, exhibited homology to mAb 47e, a known anti-CD4-induced coreceptor binding site antibody. The secreted monoclonal antibody 2C6 did not bind monomeric gp120, but specifically bound envelope on pseudovirions. A recombinant form of the antibody 2C6 acted as a CD4-induced epitope-specific antibody in neutralization assays, yet did not bind monomeric gp120. These findings imply specificity against a quaternary epitope presented on the pseudovirion envelope spike. These data demonstrate that Gag-Env pseudovirions recapitulate CD4 and coreceptor binding pocket antigenic structures and can facilitate identification of B-cell clones that secrete neutralizing antibodies.
Blockade of tachykinin NK3 receptor reverses hypertension through a dopaminergic mechanism in the ventral tegmental area of spontaneously hypertensive rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Intracerebroventricularly injected tachykinin NK3 receptor (R) antagonists normalize mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This study was pursued to define the role played by NK3R located on dopamine neurones of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in the regulation of MAP in SHR.
Acinetobacter in Denmark: II. Molecular studies of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus‐Acinetobacter baumannii complex

The Acinetobacter calcoaceticus‐Acinetobacter baumannii complex consists of four closely related “genospecies” or DNA groups: DNA group 1 (A. calcoaceticus), DNA group 2 (A. baumannii), DNA 3, and Tjernberg & Ursing‘s DNA group 13. Strains in this complex are so similar phenotypically that it is often impossible to identify them to the DNA group level by the use of biochemical tests. Twenty‐three Danish clinical strains from 23 patients phenotypically identified to the A. calcoaceticus‐A. baumannii complex were studied by ribotyping, plasmid profiling, and DNA/DNA hybridization. Multiple isolates were recovered from four patients. These were identical in each patient as judged by phenotype, ribotype and plasmic profile. Seventeen different ribotypes were observed among the 23 strains, and by using this method 19 out of the 23 strains could be identified to the DNA group level. Five strains were allocated to DNA group 2 (A. baumannii), eight to DNA group 3, and six to DNA group 13. These findings were confirmed by DNA/DNA hybridization. Two of the four unidentified strains were genotypically most closely related to but different from DNA groups 1 and 3. The last two strains were most closely related to DNA group 13. These four strains represent two new DNA groups within the A. calcoaceticus‐A. baumannii‐complex. One to four plasmids in the size range 2.1 kb‐ > 100 kb were detected in 13 of the strains. Nine plasmid profiles were seen, indicating the usefulness of this typing method if the strains contain plasmids. The study also indicates that ribotyping is useful both for typing and for identification purposes, and that the genetic relationship in this area are more diverse than hitherto perceived. Taxonomic reconsiderations are warranted.
Climbing With a Head-Mounted Display

Objective: We explored the dual-task costs of climbers performing a visual communication task using a head-mounted display (HMD) while simultaneously climbing along a vertical surface. Background: Climbing is affected by secondary auditory cognitive tasks, and climbing impairs later recall of secondary task information; the effects of visually presented tasks are less clear. Given that HMDs are projected to be adopted into emergency response work, questions are raised about the effects of HMD use during climbing or other physical tasks. Method: Climbers performed five conditions—a climbing-only condition, two dual-task climbing conditions (words presented on the HMD with and without auditory warnings while climbing), and two seated control conditions (words presented on the HMD with and without auditory warnings)—in a repeated-measures design. Motion data were also collected to examine participant motion around word presentation. Results: We found a decrease in both climbing performance and word recall under dual-task conditions, paralleling results found in previous research using auditory tasks. Participants slowed around word presentations on the HMD. Additional comparisons to previous research indicate that physical tasks may be more detrimental to word recall than are seated tasks and that visual stimuli might hinder climbing performance more than do audible stimuli. Conclusion: Complex physical activity, like climbing, is disruptive to memory rehearsal and later recall, and cognitive tasks disrupt physical performance. Application: Avoiding cognitive HMD tasks requiring later recall during complex physical activity is advisable. However, these systems may be developed to provide intelligent assistance, or memory augmentation, in these settings.
Accélérer l’adoption de la planification familiale volontaire et fondée sur les droits dans les pays en développement

La capacité d’une femme à décider si et quand devenir enceinte affecte directement sa santé et son bien-être. La planification familiale volontaire permet de sauver des vies et accélère le développement humain et économique durable (1). Elle mène à la réalisation des droits de l’homme et favorise l’autonomisation des femmes et des adolescentes, leur permettant de terminer leurs études, de saisir de meilleures opportunités économiques et de remplir leurs capacités. Permettre aux femmes et aux adolescentes de prendre des décisions sur leur santé et leur avenir est l’un des moyens rentables de créer des sociétés plus durables et plus prospères dans le monde entier.
Structure and activities of pharmacy and therapeutics committees among public hospitals in South Africa; findings and implications

ABSTRACT Introduction: The WHO identified Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committees (PTCs) as a pivotal model to promote rational medicine use in hospitals. This matches a key South African (SA) government objective to establish PTCs in all hospitals to ensure rational, efficient and cost-effective use of medicines. However, documentation on the functionality of PTCs in public hospitals in SA is limited. Areas covered: This study aimed to address this. A 3-phased mixed methods approach involving questionnaires, observations of PTC meetings and semi-structured interviews was used. The findings were converged during the interpretation phase. Expert commentary: Most professionals were represented in the PTCs, with variations across hospitals. Membership of PTCs included a pharmacist, who in the majority of cases was the secretary. PTC activities included dissemination of decisions (100%) and formulary management (89.5%). However, reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and medication errors was typically poor at all hospital levels. Lack of expertise of pharmacoeconomic analysis and evidence-based decision-making in formulary management was identified as a key challenge in formulary management. In conclusion, future programmes should strengthen PTCs in specialised aspects of formulary management. Further training in the principles of pharmacovigilance is needed to enhance ADR reporting, as well as to ensure compliance with both WHO and provincial guidelines.
Spectral-Spatial Hyperspectral Image Classification via Boundary-Adaptive Deep Learning

Deep learning based hyperspectral image (HSI) classification have recently shown promising performance. However, complex network architecture, tedious training process and effective utilization of spatial/contextual information in deep network limits the application and performance of deep learning. In this paper, for an effective spectral-spatial feature extraction , an improved deep network, spatial adaptive network (SANet) approach is proposed which exploits spatial contextual information and spectral characteristics to construct a more simplified deep network which leads to more powerful feature representation for effective HSI classification. SANet is established from the simple structure of a principal component analysis network. First spatial structural information is extracted and combined with informative spectral channels followed by an object-level classification using SANet based decision fusion approach. It integrates spatial-contextual outcome and spectral characteristics into a SANet framework for robust spectral-spatial HSI classification. Integration of local structural regularity and spectral similarity into simplified deep SANet has significant effect on the classification performance. Experimental results on popular standard HSI datasets reveal that proposed SANet technique produce better classification results than existing well known techniques.