Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Geometric analysis of planar shapes using geodesic paths

We propose a differential geometric representation of planar shapes using "direction" functions of their boundaries. Each shape becomes an element of a constrained function space, an infinite-dimensional manifold, and pairwise differences between are quantified using the lengths of geodesics connecting them on this space. A gradient-based shooting method is used for finding geodesics between any two shapes. Some applications of this shape metric are illustrated including clustering of objects based on their shapes and computation of intrinsic mean shapes.
Effect of employee welfare facilities on employee retention: a study of cabin crew employees in Sri Lankan airlines

The employee welfare facilities are recognized as one of a prominent Human Resource Management section in current world. This study is to discuss the effect of employee welfare facilities on cabin crew employee retention in Sri Lankan Airlines. The main objective of the study was to examine the effect of Employee Welfare Benefits to the Retention of the Employees among Cabin Crew Employees in Sri Lankan Airlines. To achieve this objective two hypotheses were developed and tested. The independent variable and the dependent variable of the study was welfare facilities and employee retention respectively. The validity and reliability of the instruments was tested by using Cronbach’s Alpha and test-retest methods. The type of this study is hypothesis testing and it was conducted in the natural setting with less interference of the researcher. The study is a cross-sectional in time and the primary data was collected by using random sampling technique and sample size was 40 cabin crew employees who are working in Sri Lankan Airlines. The unit analysis was at individual level. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire. The offline method was used to gather the data and the primary data set was used. The correlation and regressions methods were performed to test hypotheses and analyzed data. Findings of the study reveal that employee welfare facilities positively and significantly effect on employee retention and there is a positive strong relationship between employee welfare facilities and employee retention. As a significant factor, welfare facilities should be enriched by the management to get the maximum benefits from the employees.
Managing Self-Scheduling Capacity

Gig-economy platform like Uber, Lyft, Postmates, and Instacart have created markets in which independent service providers provide on-demand service to consumers. A hallmark of this arrangement is that providers decide for themselves when, where, and how much to work. In other words, the platform does not set its capacity's schedule; instead its capacity "self-schedules. " This decentralization of decision making can create value for providers. The platform's challenge is then to devise a contract with its capacity that allows it to capture some of this value. I study the platform's contracting problem in three chapters. In the first, I show that the platform can benefit from allowing its providers to self-schedule. In the second, I study the platform's strategy when coordinating supply and demand across multiple states of the world. I show that the resulting dynamic pricing policy can be beneficial to consumers, despite widespread dislike of the real-world practice. I also show that, in many cases, the platform need not independently vary payments to providers to achieve near-optimal profit. Instead the platform may pay its providers a fixed percent commission on the price paid by consumers per completed service. In the final chapter, I argue that the findings above are distinct from the traditional two-sided markets literature. Though a classic two-sided market model experiences near-optimal performance of the fixed commission in many cases, the market conditions that produce poor fixed commission performance differ between the gig-economy model and the two-sided markets model. Because the two-sided market model does not accurately predict poor gig-economy fixed commission performance, it is important to study a model tailored the gig-economy to understand gig-economy specific applications. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Operations & Information Management First Advisor Gerard P. Cachon
Normal human locomotion∗

A study of normal locomotion requires an understanding of both the movements and the force actions involved. This is equally true in appreciating the problems of pathological gait. The gait cycle is described in terms of the significant events which occur during both the stance and swing phases. The basic principles underlying the analysis of force actions in walking are briefly described. A simple example of force actions in the elbow joint is considered and the analysis extrapolated to provide a general statement regarding locomotion. This relates to the muscle actions required to resist turning actions at joints due to the force effects in walking and the corresponding forces in the joints themselves. The conventional display of information relating to joint actions is considered and compared with the actual situation. “Stick diagrams” of motion in the sagittal plane are used to identify and discuss the actions at the joints of the leg in walking. Comparisons are made between this and pathological gait—in particular that of the above-knee amputee.
Measuring Tactical Behaviour in Football

Abstract The present study explored how football players’ dynamic positional data can be used to assess tactical behaviour by measuring movement patterns and inter-player coordination. A pre post-test design was used to assess the effects of a 13-week constructivist and cognitivist training program by measuring behaviour in a 5×5 football small-sided game, played on a 60×40 m outdoor natural turf pitch. Data was captured at 5 Hz by GPS devices (SPI Pro, GPSports, Canberra, Australia) and analysed with non-linear signal processing methods. Approximate entropy values were lower in post-test situations suggesting that these time series became more regular with increasing expertise in football. Relative phase post-test values showed frequent periods with a clear trend to moving in anti-phase, as measured by players’ distance to the centre of the team. These advances may open new research topics under the tactical scope and allow narrowing the gap between sports sciences and sports coaching.
Trust based communication in unstructured P2P networks using reputation management and self certification mechanism

In unstructured P2P networks there is a possibility of malicious codes and false transactions. It generates the false identities in order to perform false transactions with other identities. The proposed method uses the concept of DHT and reputation management which provides efficient file searching. The self certification (RSA and MD5) is used for ensuring secure and timely availability of the reputation data of a peer to other peers. The reputations of the peers are used to determine whether a peer is a malicious peer or a good peer. Once the malicious peer is detected the transaction is aborted. The reputation of a given peer is attached to its identity. The identity certificates are generated using self-certification and all peers maintain their own (and hence trusted) certificate authority which issues the identity certificate(s) and digital signature to the peer.
S. Typhi Vaccine Strain Ty21a Can Cause a Generalized Infection in Whole Body‐Irradiated But Not in Hydrocortisone‐Treated Mice

Various mutations including gal E in the S. typhi vaccine strain Ty21a are thought to prevent proliferation of these micro‐organisms in the host, and elimination of Ty21a would occur independent of the immune system of the host. To investigate this issue, we determined whether Ty21a can proliferate in immunosuppressed mice, and assessed the role of phagocytes in the eradication of Ty21a from tissues. Mice were rendered lymphocytopenic and monocytopenic by hydrocortisone s.c. , or were made leucocytopenic by whole body irradiation. Bacteria were injected into a tail vene to evaluate eradication from the blood, liver and spleen, and into thigh muscle, i. e. a tissue that lacks resident macrophages. Ty21a were grown overnight in glucose [glu], or galactose and glucose [gal. glu]; only the Ty21a [gal. glu] expressed somatic O‐antigens. After i. v. injection of 104 to 106 micro‐organisms, Ty21a were rapidly eliminated from the liver and spleen of normal and immunosuppressed mice, i. e. within 1 day a 95% reduction of bacterial counts was observed. After i. m. injection of 104 to 106 bacteria, the number of viable Ty21a decreased in normal and hydrocortisone‐treated mice, but in irradiated mice the microorganisms proliferated and caused generalized infection. In all cases, Ty21a [glu] was eliminated more rapidly than Ty21a [gal. glu], confirming reports that killing of bacteria that lack O‐antigens is more rapid than that of smooth bacteria of the same species. These results indicate that elimination of the vaccin strain against typhoid fever, Ty21a, from host tissues is not due to an intrinsic property of the micro‐organisms that prevents proliferation but instead depends on the action of resident macrophages and exudate monocytes and granulocytes.
Study of Retail Electricity Consumers’ Response and Perception Regarding Electricity Consumption

The price of retail electricity is restricted by regulations and have not increased at a same pace with the ever-growing demand of electricity. However, there exists a considerable amount of consumer surplus that can be harnessed by the electricity industry to improve the quality of service. In this paper we make an attempt to understand some characteristics of household electricity consumer demand. We performed an empirical, descriptive research and used inductive reasoning. Quantitative and qualitative primary data was collected through a questionnaire administered in Microsoft Excel format from 173 respondents. We propose a suitable present and future market segmentation of the retail electricity market based on several demographic and perceptual parameters respectively. We also analyze the demand price relationships and the price elasticities of demand for four appliances. We find that the willingness-to-pay is nearly five times the present average price of electricity. We also present perceptual distances for the future market related to adoption of dynamic prices and renewable energy by consumers.
Recommendations for the Use of WBC Growth Factors: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update.

PURPOSE To update the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline on the use of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs). METHODS The American Society of Clinical Oncology convened an Update Committee and conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews from October 2005 through September 2014. Guideline recommendations were based on the review of the evidence by the Update Committee. RESULTS Changes to previous recommendations include the addition of tbo-filgrastim and filgrastim-sndz, moderation of the recommendation regarding routine use of CSFs in older patients with diffuse aggressive lymphoma, and addition of recommendations against routine dose-dense chemotherapy in lymphoma and in favor of high-dose-intensity chemotherapy in urothelial cancer. The Update Committee did not address recommendations regarding use of CSFs in acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes in adults. RECOMMENDATIONS Prophylactic use of CSFs to reduce the risk of febrile neutropenia is warranted when the risk of febrile neutropenia is approximately 20% or higher and no other equally effective and safe regimen that does not require CSFs is available. Primary prophylaxis is recommended for the prevention of febrile neutropenia in patients who are at high risk on the basis of age, medical history, disease characteristics, and myelotoxicity of the chemotherapy regimen. Dose-dense regimens that require CSFs should only be used within an appropriately designed clinical trial or if supported by convincing efficacy data. Current recommendations for the management of patients exposed to lethal doses of total-body radiotherapy, but not doses high enough to lead to certain death as a result of injury to other organs, include the prompt administration of CSFs.
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Organic Extracts from North-West Moroccan Medicinal Plant Myrtus communis (L.)

Aims: This study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract from the leaves of Myrtus communis (L.) growing in North-West of Morocco. Study Design: In vitro evaluating of antibacterial activity and determination of total phenols and flavonoids content of extracts. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biology (Faculty of Sciences), between July 2015 and November 2015. Methodology: The total phenol content and flavonoids content of methanol, ethanol, ethyl-acetate and n-hexane extracts were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method and Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) colorimetric method respectively. The antibacterial activity of extracts was tested against Original Research Article Bouyahya et al.; BJI, 16(4): xxx-xxx, 2016; Article no.BJI. 28500 2 five reference strains, Escherichia coli K12 MBLA, Staphylococcus aureus CECT 976, Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4b CECT 4032 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa IH using the agar well diffusion method and the micro-dilution assays. Results: The amount of the total phenolic content and total flavonoid content ranged between 86,31-137,46 gallic acid equivalents (GAE mg/g) and 14,31±1,09–31,24 quercetin equivalents (QE mg/g) of dry weight of extract, respectively. All extracts had a significant antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains. The biggest zones of inhibition were observed against two positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes, S. aureus). While, Gram negative bacteria (E. coli K12, P. aeruginosa) had showed to be resistant toward extracts. Conclusion: Considering these results, M. communis leaves can be used as a source of novel antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds.
Proving the Correctness of the BTTF Wave Algorithm for Distributed Termination Detection Michel Degenhardt

The BTTF Wave algorithm is an algorithm designed to detect if a computation in a distributed system has terminated. This algorithm adds information to messages of the computation in order to allow the confirmation of the receipt of multiple messages by a single confirmation message. By doing this, the algorithm achieves the optimal message complexity O(N) in the worst case, and significant better message complexity, up to O(1), in the average and best case scenario’s. In this paper, we provide both an informal and a formal description of this algorithm, as well as a proof of its correctness.
The effect of starvation on the concentration and binding of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in serum and on the response to TRH.

ABSTRACT In 9 euthyroid obese volunteers, 4 weeks of total caloric deprivation resulted in striking decreases in both total and free triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations in serum together with a slight increase in free thyroxine (T4) concentration. These changes were not associated with alterations in the basal serum TSH concentration or in the TSH or T3 responses to exogenous TRH. It is suggested that the decrease in serum T3 concentration that occurs during starvation results from decreased peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 and may explain, at least partially, the decreased serum T3 seen in clinical states associated with inanition.
Mobility enhancement in dual-channel P-MOSFETs

Hole mobility is characterized in P-MOSFETs with a layered substrate consisting of tensile strained Si cap on a compressively strained Si/sub 0.4/Ge/sub 0.6/ buried layer grown pseudomorphically to a relaxed Si/sub 0.7/Ge/sub 0.3/ virtual substrate. Besides the expected mobility enhancement in the strained Si cap and in the buried Si/sub 0.4/Ge/sub 0.6/ layer, a second peak in mobility versus total inversion carrier areal density curve was observed under strong inversion conditions in thin Si-cap layer samples. Qualitatively, this reversed mobility trend can be correlated to the transition of inversion conduction from the buried layer to the surface layer, but quantitative analysis reveals that the surface layer mobility in thin Si-cap samples needs to be substantially larger than that in thick-cap samples, if it can be assumed that mobility is a function of transverse field. Further analysis found that, if it is assumed that mobility is a function of inversion carrier density, measured mobility curves can be matched consistently with a single set of mobility-carrier-density relationship.
Availabilty and Utilization of Information Communication Technologies by Special Education Teachers to Enhance Inclusive Education Goals

The study sought to investigate the availability and utilisation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by special education teachers to enhance inclusive education goals in Anambra State, Nigeria. The research design was descriptive design. The total population of ninety-two teachers from special education centres was used; therefore no sampling technique was used because of the manageable size of the entire population. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire administered through direct delivery approach. Research question one was answered using percentage, while research question two was answered using mean and standard deviation. Finding from this study revealed that some of the ICTs were available but not fully utilised. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teachers should be grounded on ICTs skills so as to impart the required knowledge of students with special needs and in turn enhance inclusive Original Research Article Nwokolo et al.; JESBS, 28(1): 1-7, 2018; Article no.JESBS. 45503 2 education goals. Also, the government through the ministry of education should ensure that before commissioning or accrediting any special education centre, required ICT facilities must be put in place to enhance learning in special education centers.
Exendins and exendin analogs for diabetic therapy: a patent review (2012-2015)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Since exendin-4 (exenatide) was approved for diabetes therapy in 2005, several exendin analogs have been developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. As exenatide is a relatively short-acting injectable agent, major approaches have focused on developing long-acting exendin analogs to improve patient compliance and convenience. Areas covered: In this review, the authors report on patents related to exendins and exendin analogs from 2012 to 2015. The patents have been divided into three categories based on the technologies used to develop the new chemical entities: 1) chemical bioconjugate analogs; 2) recombinant fusion protein analogs; and 3) multifunctional peptide analogs. Expert opinion: Recently, research on exendins and their analogs has grown significantly, leading to the development of long-acting analogs and multifunctional peptides. While long-acting injectable agents are still the major products in the pharmaceutical industry, a significant growth is expected in the development of orally available exendins.
Augmenting Supply Chain Practices through Human Resource Management: An Analytical Framework in Indonesian Perspective

The aim of the present study is to empirically investigate the association between the supply chain rehearses and its augmentation with the human resource management practices from the context of Indonesia. For this purpose, a conceptual model is developed based on the various items of HRM and SCM while taking implementation and outcome as subfactors for the SCM augmentation. A sample of 236 respondents has been considered based on the various industry experts, dealing with 50 business firms in the region. Empirical findings explain the fact that both factors of SCM under the title of implementation and outcome have their significant association with the HRM practices in the region of Indonesia. All the HRM practices are significantly associated with the SCM for growth and augmentation and express positive change. The managerial implication of the study can be viewed in a sense that it provides meaningful guidelines to various industry experts and managers. However, the study also has some limitations which are limited respondents which should be covered in the coming time. The value of the study can be viewed in a sense that it is covering the gap in existing literature while integrating HRM and SCM for the growth and augmentation in the region of Indonesia.
Comparison of contact sensor localization abilities during manipulation

This paper presents an experimental comparison of tactile array versus force-torque sensing for localizing contact during manipulation. The manipulation tasks involved rotating and translating objects using a planar two fingered manipulator. A pin and a box were selected as limiting cases of point and line contact against a cylindrical robot finger tip. Force-torque contact sensing results suffered from difficulties in calibration, transient forces, and low grasp force. Tactile array sensing was immune to these problems, and the effect of shear loading was only noticeable for a simple centroid algorithm. The results show that with care, both of these sensing schemes can determine the contact location within a millimeter during real manipulation tasks.
Intermediate-term results after uncemented total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip.

OBJECTIVES We aim to evaluate the restoration of the hip and limb length in patients with osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) using total hip arthroplasty (THA). PATIENTS AND METHODS Between February 1996 and September 2001, 65 hips in 55 patients (2 males, 53 females; mean age 48.6 years; range 37 to 60 years) with advanced osteoarthritis secondary to DDH underwent uncemented THA. According to the Hartofilakidis classification, 20, 27, and 18 hips were evaluated types I (dysplasia), II (subluxation), and III (dislocation), respectively. All of the acetabular cups were reconstructed in the original anatomic location. Structural autografts were used in seven hips to supplement the acetabular coverage. We evaluated all patients clinically and radiographically. RESULTS All of the patients were followed up for 7-12 years. Preoperatively, the Harris score averaged 52.5, 48.41, and 45.28 in types I to III, respectively. At the final follow-up, the Harris score averaged 89.65, 87.44, and 83.28, respectively. The difference between the pre- and postoperative scores was significant (p=0.0001). Preoperatively, 26 patients (47.27%) had slight limps (length difference <1 cm), eight (14.55%) had moderate limps (length difference 1-3 cm), and 21 (38.18%) had severe limps (length difference >3 cm). At their final follow-up, four (7.27%) had severe limps. The limps of all of the patients improved significantly (McNemar's test p=0.0001). We observed aseptic loosening and subsidence in six hips. In seven hips, we used a femoral head autograft for the superior acetabular defect. We performed femoral shortening osteotomies only for two (3.07%) type III hips. CONCLUSION In addition to the standard procedure, structural bone autografting, medialization of the cup, and placing the acetabular component in the true acetabulum are important factors for successful intermediate-term results.