Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-Wheel Vehicle Control using the Hand Gesture Signal Recognition

In this paper, a real-time experimental of Hand Gesture SEMG signal using Spectral Estimation and Linear Vector Quantization for Two-Wheel Vehicle Control is proposed. The raw SEMG signals been captured from SEMG amplifier, up to 4 channels of Auto Regressive (AR) power spectral density (PSD) responses data will be combined and a fine tuning step by using LVQ will then incorporate for pattern classification. The database then been build and use for real-time experimental control classification. Captured data will send through serial port and Two-Wheel Machine will receive and move accordingly. The detail of the experiment and simulation conducted described here to verify the differentiation and effectiveness of combined channels PSD method SEMG pattern classification of hand gesture for real-time control.
Share Repurchases and Firm Innovation

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between share repurchase and firm innovation. Using a sample of 6,889 U.S. firms for the 1996-2006 period, we find a significantly negative effect of share repurchase on current and future firm innovation. Our identification strategy based on the instrumental variables approach suggests this negative effect is causal. The relationship between share repurchase and firm innovation remain valid in all robustness tests.
Committed to Safety: Ten Case Studies on Reducing Harm to Patients

This report presents 10 case studies of health care organizations, clinical teams, and learning collaborations that have designed innovations in five areas that hold great promise for improving patient safety nationally: promoting an organizational culture of safety, improving teamwork and communication, enhancing rapid response to prevent heart attacks and other crises in the hospital, preventing health care–associated infections in the intensive care unit, and preventing adverse drug events throughout the hospital. Participating organizations ranged from large integrated delivery systems to small community hospitals. The cases describe the actions taken, results achieved, and lessons learned by these patient safety leaders, with suggestions for those seeking to replicate their successes. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This and other Fund publications are online at www.cmwf. org. To learn more about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund’s Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 923.
Exercise plus behavioral management in patients with Alzheimer disease: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT Exercise training for patients with Alzheimer disease combined with teaching caregivers how to manage behavioral problems may help decrease the frailty and behavioral impairment that are often prevalent in patients with Alzheimer disease. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a home-based exercise program combined with caregiver training in behavioral management techniques would reduce functional dependence and delay institutionalization among patients with Alzheimer disease. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Randomized controlled trial of 153 community-dwelling patients meeting National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria for Alzheimer disease, conducted between June 1994 and April 1999. INTERVENTIONS Patient-caregiver dyads were randomly assigned to the combined exercise and caregiver training program, Reducing Disability in Alzheimer Disease (RDAD), or to routine medical care (RMC). The RDAD program was conducted in the patients' home over 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Physical health and function (36-item Short-Form Health Survey's [SF-36] physical functioning and physical role functioning subscales and Sickness Impact Profile's Mobility subscale), and affective status (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Cornell Depression Scale for Depression in Dementia). RESULTS At 3 months, in comparison with the routine care patients, more patients in the RDAD group exercised at least 60 min/wk (odds ratio [OR], 2.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-6.39; P =.01) and had fewer days of restricted activity (OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.08-8.95; P<.001). Patients in the RDAD group also had improved scores for physical role functioning compared with worse scores for patients in the RMC group (mean difference, 19.29; 95% CI, 8.75-29.83; P<.001). Patients in the RDAD group had improved Cornell Depression Scale for Depression in Dementia scores while the patients in the RMC group had worse scores (mean difference, -1.03; 95% CI, -0.17 to -1.91; P =.02). At 2 years, the RDAD patients continued to have better physical role functioning scores than the RMC patients (mean difference, 10.89; 95% CI, 3.62-18.16; P =.003) and showed a trend (19% vs 50%) for less institutionalization due to behavioral disturbance. For patients with higher depression scores at baseline, those in the RDAD group improved significantly more at 3 months on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (mean difference, 2.21; 95% CI, 0.22-4.20; P =.04) and maintained that improvement at 24 months (mean difference, 2.14; 95% CI, 0.14-4.17; P =.04). CONCLUSION Exercise training combined with teaching caregivers behavioral management techniques improved physical health and depression in patients with Alzheimer disease.
The role of BRCA 1 AND BRCA 2 in hereditary breast cancer

BRCA1 and BRCA2 account for most cases of hereditary breast cancer in the United States and Europe. These are suppressor genes that are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Several studies showed that the histologic and molecular phenotype of BRCA-associated tumors is different from that of nonhereditary tumors. There is a difference in steroid receptor status between BRCA1 and 2 tumors regard to chemoprevention of breast cancer with antiestrogenes. 93-100% of BRCA2 associated breast cancers are ER/PR. Breast cancers associated with BRCA1 mutations are frequently of a higher grade and are hormone receptor-negative in one third of them. A higher proportion of cancers related to a BRCA1 mutation have atypical or typical medullary histologic features. The lifetime cumulative risk of invasive breast cancer for individuals with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations ranges from 50% to 87%. Familial breast cancer, however, accounts for fewer than 10% of all breast cancers, and BRCA1-related and BRCA2-related familial disease constitutes only two-thirds to three-fourths of these cases. Among women younger than 35 years old with breast cancer, 10% to 15% have a BRCA1 mutation. Woman with BRCA 1/2 mutations already affected by the disease have a risk, to age 70, of contralateral breast cancer that ranges between 50% and 64%. It has been difficult to determine whether germline BRCA 1/2 status has an effect on breast cancer outcome and the results from several studies remain controversial. There are preliminary data that BRCA 1/2 related tumors may have a faster growth rate than sporadic tumors. In these women prophylactic mastectomy, chemoprevention with tamoxifen or prophylactic oophorectony are reasonable options. Genetic testing for BRCA 1/2 mutations should be done in those with a significant family history of breast or ovarian cancer, those with a diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer below 50 years of age and those with a blood relative who is known to have a mutation in BRCA 1 or 2. Ongoing clinical trials will determine who the optimal subjects are for screening, how screening and counseling should be conducted and what type of societal involvement is needed so that genetic screening can be used without exposing the subject to unexpected risks and consequences.
A Conceptual Priority Index for Purchasing Medical Equipment in Hospitals

Many hospitals do not have a well-planned process to prioritize purchasing requests. Obviously, this problem is due to the lack of a fair evaluation of the requirements as well as absence of the cooperation of the hospital management staff. Therefore, it is essential to have a systematic and a comprehensive acquisition program to prevent a number of potential problems. This article presents a solution for the prioritization problem of purchasing requests of medical equipment by adopting a framework that combines Quality Function Deployment with Fuzzy logic system. The validation of the proposed model was carried out on 20 requests for purchasing medical equipment in a public hospital. The results indicate that the Quality Function Deployment-Fuzzy method can efficiently address the priority of requests considering a wide range of criteria. In addition, it can also provide the stability of process assurance.
Intra-ASEAN FDI flows and the role of China and India: Trends and Determinants

The phenomenon of South-South foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, particularly those arising from China and India, has generated significant interest among policymakers, academia and the popular press in recent times. Available data from the Word Bank indicates South-South FDI to have increased almost three-fold (from US$ 14 billion in 1995 to US$ 47 billion in 2003), and accounts for almost 37 percent of total FDI flows to developing countries, up from 15 percent in 1995 (Table 5.1). The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) grouping is not an exception to this phenomenon. FDI from ASEAN economies has expanded rapidly beyond its borders, especially intra-regionally (Hiratsuka, 2006).
PARALLEL AND NONPARALLEL ASPECTS OF ECOLOGICAL, PHENOTYPIC, AND GENETIC DIVERGENCE ACROSS REPLICATE POPULATION PAIRS OF LAKE AND STREAM STICKLEBACK

Parallel (or convergent) evolution provides strong evidence for a deterministic role of natural selection: similar phenotypes evolve when independent populations colonize similar environments. In reality, however, independent populations in similar environments always show some differences: some nonparallel evolution is present. It is therefore important to explicitly quantify the parallel and nonparallel aspects of trait variation, and to investigate the ecological and genetic explanations for each. We performed such an analysis for threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) populations inhabiting lake and stream habitats in six independent watersheds. Morphological traits differed in the degree to which lake–stream divergence was parallel across watersheds. Some aspects of this variation were correlated with ecological variables related to diet, presumably reflecting the strength and specifics of divergent selection. Furthermore, a genetic scan revealed some markers that diverged between lakes and streams in many of the watersheds and some that diverged in only a few watersheds. Moreover, some of the lake–stream divergence in genetic markers was associated within some of the lake–stream divergence in morphological traits. Our results suggest that parallel evolution, and deviations from it, are primarily the result of natural selection, which corresponds in only some respects to the dichotomous habitat classifications frequently used in such studies.
Motion estimation optimization tools for the emerging high efficiency video coding (HEVC)

Recent development in hardware and software allowed a new generation of video quality. However, the development in networking and digital communication is lagging behind. This prompted the establishment of the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC), with an objective to develop a new high-performance video coding standard. A primary reason for developing the HEVC was to enable efficient processing and transmission for HD videos that normally contain large smooth areas; therefore, the HEVC utilizes larger encoding blocks than the previous standard to enable more effective encoding, while smaller blocks are still exploited to encode fast/complex areas of video more efficiently. Hence, the implementation of the encoder investigates all the possible block sizes. This and many added features on the new standard have led to significant increase in the complexity of the encoding process. Furthermore, there is not an automated process to decide on when large blocks or small blocks should be exploited. To overcome this problem, this research proposes a set of optimization tools to reduce the encoding complexity while maintaining the same quality and compression rate. The method automates this process through a set of hierarchical steps yet using the standard refined coding tools.
Myocardial Protection with Simultaneous Antegrade/Vein Graft Cardioplegia Compared to Antegrade Cardioplegia Alone in Elective Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Patients

Objective: Cardioplegia distribution beyond a stenotic coronary artery may not be adequate. This problem can be overcome by direct delivery of cardioplegia via the vein grafts anastomosed during the operation. The aim of this study is to investigate the results of simultaneous antegrade/vein graft cardioplegia versus antegrade cardioplegia alone in elective CABG patients. Material and Methods: Forty consecutive patients were randomized into the study group to whom antegrade/vein cardioplegia and to the control group to whom only antegrade cardioplegia was given. Both groups were similar with respect to demographic characteristics, postoperative ECG changes and arrhythmia in the ICU, as well as in terms of operative and postoperative variables (pagt;0.05). Results: All patients had excellent operative and postoperative periods without any complications or death. Release of total CK, CKMB, cTnI and lactate did not differ in the preoperative and the first 12th hour (pagt;0.05) between the groups, whereas in the study group a peak for total CK, CKMB, cTnI and lactate, consistent with myocardial injury (palt;0.05), was found in the first 24th hour, which returned in the 48th hour (pagt;0.05). Conclusion: The primary finding of this study is the inferiority of myocardial protection with simultaneous antegrade/vein graft cardioplegia compared with antegrade cardioplegia alone.
Two-dimensional analytical modeling of permanent magnet synchronous generator

This paper demonstrates the 2-D modeling analysis of permanent magnet synchronous generator with axial flux topology used in wind turbines. A detailed study is performed based on analytical model in purpose of obtaining the expressions of magnetic field components in various domains of the generator written as Fourier series expansions. This generator has classical slot's shape and surface permanent magnets. The analytical model should be accurate enough to be used in a preliminary machine design, as well as facilitating its design process. This analytical model design that uses the separation of variables techniques depends on the solution of Maxwell's equations. It has been modeled, and implemented in MATLAB.
A Self Calibration Method for Fast, High Resolution A/D and D/A Converters

Monolithic A/D and D/A converters suffer from the limited accuracy of the available circuit components. A new self calibration method allows the correction of the linearity errors of binary weighted current source arrays. This makes it possible to implement A/D and D/A converters with a resolution of 14 bit or more and conversion times under 15¿s.
Are obstetric anal sphincter ruptures preventable?– Large and consistent rupture rate variations between the Nordic countries and between delivery units in Norway

Objective. To study changes in the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter rupture (OASR) during recent years in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway and hospital‐based incidence in recent years in Norway. Design. Retrospective birth register study. Setting. Unselected population of delivering women in four Nordic countries. Sample. All deliveries (574 175) registered in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, 2004–2010. Methods. Parity data, including maternal, obstetrical and fetal characteristics, were obtained. The incidence of OASR was calculated from vaginal deliveries. A chi‐squared test was used to analyse differences between countries and time periods. Main outcome measures. Incidence of OASR. Results. During the study period, the OASR incidence in Finland was notably lower (0.7–1.0%) than in the other three Nordic countries (4.2–2.3%). A significant and constant reduction in OASR incidence was observed in Norway only (from 4.1 to 2.3%, from 2004 to 2010, p < 0.001). This reduction occurred simultaneously with introduction of a national intervention program of improved delivery techniques that aimed to reduce the incidence of OASR. No major alterations in maternal or fetal risk factors for OASR or registration routines could explain this rapid reduction in the rate of OASR. Differences in the incidence of OASR between Norwegian delivery units were significant, with a threefold difference when comparing the units with lowest and highest incidences. Conclusions. Obstetric anal sphincter rupture seems to be preventable to a considerable extent, as indicated by the rapid and lasting reduction of OASR incidence after implementation of perineal protection programs in Norway. Improved delivery techniques should be implemented in all delivery units to prevent OASR as much as possible.
Effect of physical fatigue on learning to perform a novel motor task.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in learning to perform a novel motor task between two equated groups: one group was subjected to learning the task immediately following a heavy physical work bout on a bicycle ergometer; the other group was subjected to learning the task with no imposed physical exercise. It was found that the subjects who practiced the stabilometer exercise in a fatigued state performed significantly better than subjects in the control group except for test 4. The experimental group also performed significantly better than the control group during the 5th test which was performed without any fatiguing task. It appears from this study that the fatigue state of the learner had a favorable influence on both performance and learning of certain novel motor skills.
Real-time many-light management and shadows with clustered shading

classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for third-party components of this work must be honored. For all other uses, contact the Owner/Author. Copyright is held by the owner/author(s). SIGGRAPH 2015 Courses, August 09 – 13, 2015, Los Angeles, CA. ACM 978-1-4503-3634-5/15/08. Real-time many-light management and shadows with clustered shading.
Portfolio Performance Manipulation in Collateralized Loan Obligations

We examine the discretionary activities that CLO managers engage in to pass monthly overcollateralization (OC) tests. These tests require a CLO’s loan portfolio value, scaled by the CLO notes’ principal balance, to be above a certain threshold. Using CLOs’ granular disclosures, we develop model-free estimates for discretionary loan fair valuation and transaction-based proxies for strategic loan trading. We find a positive association between these discretionary activities and the probability of avoiding an OC test violation. This association varies predictably with junior noteholders’ influence and CLO market conditions. Strategic trading—but not discretionary fair valuation—relates to worse future CLO performance.
Quantitative imaging of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-moving towards clinical application.

COPD is characterized by progressive, non-reversible airflow limitation, associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory pulmonary response. It is comprised by a mixture of small airways disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema). In addition, large airways inflammation (chronic bronchitis) is also part of the spectrum of COPD. The relative contributions of these components vary substantially, and may affect clinical presentation, frequency of exacerbations, prognosis, and therapeutic response. COPD is strongly related to smoking. It has emerged as the third leading cause of death in the United States, the only one that has been steadily rising in the past decades. The diagnosis of COPD is based on clinical grounds and spirometric [pulmonary function testing (PFT)] evidence of non-reversible obstruction. Classification of severity relies on spirometric parameters, and worsening obstruction correlates with increasing morbidity and mortality (1,2). According to the GOLD practice guideline, imaging does not play a substantial role in the diagnosis of COPD (1,2).
Modulation of mRNA circadian transcription cycle by microRNAs

MicroRNAs are important modulators of gene expression. There is anecdotal evidence that the abundance of some microRNAs varies in circadian or approximately daily rhythm. In this study, using publicly available data we attempt a systematic analysis of co-expression between microRNAs and their prospective mRNA targets. An advanced analysis of periodicity with the application of digital filters in phase continuum revealed a baseline rhythmic oscillation on over 80% of both mRNA and microRNA populations. This computational observation adds evidence to the theory that microRNAs play an active role in modulation of rhythmic expression as a general rule rather than special exemption. We also explore the immediate implications of inferred oscillatory behavior for modeling of mRNA-miRNA dynamics.
Contributory Factors of Accounting Information Systems Effectiveness in Nigerian Banking Sector

As organizations operate in a highly competitive environment, thus the need for an effective Information System (IS) is inevitable, because IS has the potentials to transform business positively as well as enhancing organizational performance. Many academic researchers have called on the investigation for the role of AIS on the effectiveness of organizations more especially the banking sector. In view of these, this paper attempts to study the influence of system usage and AIS sophistication on AIS effectiveness. Review of existing literature indicated banks in Nigeria are faced with persistent system failure. However, limited attention has been given regarding the issues. Conceptual evidence from the literature reviewed indicated that both system usage and AIS sophistication have a significant relationship with AIS effectiveness. Therefore, this paper develops a conceptual framework for determining AIS effectiveness in Nigerian banking sector with the aim of understanding and providing solutions.
Ontologies and Communities Co-evolution in Information Systems

Communities and ontologies are both concepts that have acquired strong momentum since the coming of age of new media such as Internet and the Web. They have become more relevant in a situation where growing communities and creating information categorizable through ontologies is made much easier and faster compared to what was possible before. In spite of this concomitance, the roles they have played in this information-rich environment have been so far not only different but also largely antithetic. The one played by communities is dynamic, and views information as something which is constantly changed and re-created by the agents that produce it. By contrast, the one played by ontologies views information in terms of its management at the meta-level through categories and concepts hierarchies, and it assumes that the ontology remains static, or changes very slowly as a consequence of decisions taken by the domain experts that control it. Given that information change is generally community-driven and this brings the clear necessity to make communities and ontologies interact. We propose to pursue this goal through a knowledge management approach, where the interaction between communities and ontologies is implemented as a knowledge life-cycle that leads to the creation of new concepts in the ontology as a consequence of the evolution of the information spaces constantly extended and re-created by the