Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections at a tertiary hospital in Tamil Nadu

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) present a huge burden of disease and adversely affect the reproductive health of people. The disease prevalence is about 6% in India. This study is done to determine the prevalence of STIs in women of reproductive age (15-49yrs) attending gynaec outpatient block at Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chennai and to identify the risk factors. Methods: It is a prospective analytical study conducted at IOG from Febraury 2010 to January 2011 where 1000 women of reproductive age attending gynec op were included of which 500 women were asymptomatic and 500 women were symptomatic for STIs. A well-structured proforma was prepared for selection of women, history, examination, investigations and treatment. Asymptomatic women were also screened and treated. Partners were also screened and treated. Depending upon the statistical data, the risk factors were identified and analysed. Results: Overall prevalence of STI was 27.2% of which 22.5% was in symptomatic group and 4.7% in asymptomatic group. Bacterial vaginosis was the commonest STI. The important risk factors identified were age group between 2630 years, high risk sexual behaviours, poor socioeconomic factors, poor menstrual hygiene and lack of contraception. Conclusions: STIs cause major health problem and it is important to diagnose and treat them at the earliest. The importance of STIs has been more widely recognised since the advent of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and there is good evidence that their control can reduce HIV transmission. Women diagnosed with one STI should be screened for other STI due to coexistant infections. Screening and treatment of partners and follow-up tests of cure should be performed wherever possible.
An approach to classification of retinal vessels using neural network pattern recoginition

— Artery/Vein classification of retinal vessels is a key phase in detecting automatic vascular changes. Retina is a layer, found at the back of eye ball which when damaged may leads to severe problems. Retina plays a vital role in visualization. There are two kinds of blood vessels in vascular system. They are Artery and Vein. Analysis of vascular system leads to early detection of diseases like hypertension diabetes retinopathy, cardiovascular condition, etc. Therefore, we proposed an automatic early detection of diseases by classifying Artery/Vein which resides on functionality of graph. We used Neural Network Pattern Recognition from MATLAB for classification. Graph is extracted from segmented retinal images from which the features are extracted. Morphological operations are performed on segmented retinal images. Center lines are identified using graph based approach. Then, feature extraction is performed, which is classified by neural network pattern recognition classifier in order to obtain best accuracy in classifying normal or abnormal Artery/Vein.
Real-Time Storytelling with Events in Virtual Worlds

We present an accessible interactive narrative tool for creating stories among a virtual populace inhabiting a fully-realized 3D virtual world. Our system supports two modalities: assisted authoring where a human storyteller designs stories using a storyboard-like interface called CANVAS, and exploratory authoring where a human author experiences a story as it happens in real-time and makes on-the-fly narrative trajectory changes using a tool called Storycraft. In both cases, our system analyzes the semantic content of the world and the narrative being composed, and provides automated assistance such as completing partially-specified stories with causally complete sequences of intermediate actions. At its core, our system revolves around events -â? pre-authored multi-actor task sequences describing interactions between groups of actors and props. These events integrate complex animation and interaction tasks with precision control and expose them as atoms of narrative significance to the story direction systems. Events are an accessible tool and conceptual metaphor for assembling narrative arcs, providing a tightly-coupled solution to the problem of converting author intent to real-time animation synthesis. Our system allows simple and straightforward macroand microscopic control over large numbers of virtual characters with diverse and sophisticated behavior capabilities, and reduces the complicated action space of an interactive narrative by providing analysis and user assistance in the form of semi-automation and recommendation services. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Computer and Information Science First Advisor Norman I. Badler
Throughput time and time window estimation for business processes using historical data

Disclaimer This document contains a student thesis (bachelor's or master's), as authored by a student at Eindhoven University of Technology. Student theses are made available in the TU/e repository upon obtaining the required degree. The grade received is not published on the document as presented in the repository. The required complexity or quality of research of student theses may vary by program, and the required minimum study period may vary in duration.
Description des tâches avec un système interactif multiutilisateur et multimodal : Etude comparative de notations

De nombreux systemes interactifs, professionnels ou grand public, permettent conjointement l’interaction multiutilisateur et multimodale. Un systeme interactif est multimodal lorsqu’un utilisateur peut interagir avec le systeme par l’usage de plusieurs modalites d’interaction (en entree ou en sortie) de facon parallele ou non. Nous constatons que de plus en plus de systemes multiutilisateurs ou collecticiels sont multimodaux, comme ceux construits autour d’une surface interactive et les consoles de jeu de type Wii ou Xbox. Nous traitons dans cet article de la description des tâches-utilisateur avec de tels systemes interactifs multiutilisateurs et multimodaux. Precisement, nous dressons un panorama des notations existantes permettant la description des tâches mono ou multi-utilisateur avec une attention particuliere pour les notations a base d’arbre de tâches. Nous focalisons aussi sur les tâches elementaires ou actions mono/multi-modales de l’utilisateur en considerant les notations de description de l’interaction multimodale. Pour cela, nous proposons une etude comparative d'un ensemble de notations de description selon une grille d’analyse regroupant des concepts generaux a l’interaction et des concepts propres a l’interaction multiutilisateur et multimodale.
Localización y Mapeo Simultáneo con Imágenes 3D a Color

El presente trabajo pretende solucionar los problemas de localizacion y mapeo del ambiente de navegacion de unrobot a partir de imagenes 3D a color . Se ha realizado la implementacion de un sistema de registro de imagenestridimensionales mediante el algoritmo ICP, el cual toma ventaja de la informacion de color de las imagenes 3D ydetermina la localizacion del robot en un momento determinado. Ademas se ha realizado la alineacion de todas lasimagenes adquiridas por el robot, con lo cual se produce un mapa tridimensional del ambiente por el cual navega.Resultados experimentales usando tres tipos de recorridos con un robot fueron realizados.
MOTHERS’ HEALTH CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOR FOR CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES IN DERRA DISTRICT, NORTHSHOA ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

BACK GROUND: Despite the substantial reductions in the number of deaths observed in recent decades, globally around 10 million children still die every year before reaching their fifth birthday. In Ethiopia, almost half a million children are dying each year from easily preventable diseases which could be partly due to low level of health care seeking for both preventive and curative services. The objective of this study was to assess and compare mothers’ health care seeking behavior and its determinants among urban and rural communities for common childhood illnesses in Derra District. METHOD: A community based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January 20 to February 30, 2007. A total of 612 mothers of index under five children were selected randomly from urban and rural communities. Data were collected by interview and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 12.0. 1. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to show frequency distributions and associations. RESULTS: A total of 563 mothers were involved in the study giving an overall response rate of 92%. Care was sought from health facilities only for less than half of sick rural children 48 (43.2%) as compared to urban 41(87.2%). Mothers’ responses and actions were frequently influenced by their perception of severity or worsening of illness. Lack of money 30 (36%), distances 23 (27.7%) and perception of the illness not being serious 21 (25.3%) were the major reasons for not seeking care. Residence (OR= 5.58 95%CI, 2.05, 15.2) and knowledge (OR=2.27 95% CI, 1.01, 5.17) were identified as the major predictors of health care seeking practices from health facilities. CONCLUSION: There was low health care seeking practices particularly among rural mothers which might have a significant contribution to malnutrition and child mortality. Residence and knowledge appeared to be important variables predicting health care seeking behavior. Therefore, health care services should be strengthened at community level through Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, Information Education Communication/Behavioral Change Communication strategies to improve mothers’ health care seeking behaviors.
Miller-Fischer syndrome after etanercept

The authors describe a case of Miller-Fisher syndrome, a rare demyelinating syndrome, preceded by a viral prodrome and three doses of etanercept, an anti-tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNFα) agent. Anti-TNFα agents are associated with an induction of episodes of demyelination and may unmask multiple sclerosis in those who are immunogenetically predisposed.
Intracoronary Delivery of Injectable Bioabsorbable Scaffold (IK-5001) to Treat Left Ventricular Remodeling After ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background—We aimed to test, for the first time, the feasibility of intracoronary delivery of an innovative, injectable bioabsorbable scaffold (IK-5001), to prevent or reverse adverse left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction in patients after ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Methods and Results—Patients (n=27) with moderate-to-large ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarctions, after successful revascularization, were enrolled. Two milliliters of IK-5001, a solution of 1% sodium alginate plus 0.3% calcium gluconate, was administered by selective injection through the infarct-related coronary artery within 7 days after myocardial infarction. IK-5001 is assumed to permeate the infarcted tissue, cross-linking into a hydrogel and forming a bioabsorbable cardiac scaffold. Coronary angiography, 3 minutes after injection, confirmed that the injection did not impair coronary flow and myocardial perfusion. Furthermore, IK-5001 deployment was not associated with additional myocardial injury or re-eleva.
A Comparative Analysis on Image Quality Assessment for Real Time Satellite Images

Objectives: The objective of this paper is to analyze the different image quality metrics by testing and comparing with different distorted set of satellite images. Methods/Statistical Analysis: In this paper, we propose the methods for analyzing the quality of real time images that are corrupted due to different distortions. The several quality metrics are applied and ultimately the best metrics are derived based on the type of degradation. Different metrics such as metric based on single image and metric based on two images have been tested with different real time satellite images from NASA data sets. Findings: This framework will help to identify the metrics in order to prove the proposed filtering schemes that are applied to the corrupted images. Based on the results, we have concluded the characteristics of different quality metrics and further we successfully identified the quality metric appropriate to various distortions. Application/Improvements: The proposed quality metric analysis is used to estimate the performance of any filtering schemes which are used to enhance the quality of any real time images such as remote sensing field.
Fibromialgia e estresse infeccioso: possíveis associações entre a síndrome de fibromialgia e infecções viróticas crônicas

Chronic viruses are implicated in the etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome. The increasing interest in research is derived from the clinical manifestations shared by both conditions, mainly the musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. However, in spite of intense research no viruses have unequivocally been identified as directly causing fibromyalgia. Exception may be the probable association between fibromyalgia and hepatitis C virus chronic infection. The authors present a literature review in order to approach the presumed associations or lack of associations between fibromyalgia and viral chronic infections. This compilation was done using Medline and Lilacs databases.
Propofol Post-conditioning Protects against COS-7 Cells in Hypoxia/reoxygenation Injury by Induction of Intracellular Autophagy

【Background: Propofol (2.6-diisopropylphenol) is a widely used intravenous anesthetic agent for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia during surgeries and sedation for ICU patients. Propofol has a structural similarity to the endogenous antioxidant vitamin E and exhibits antioxidant activities.13) However, the mechanism of propofol on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury has yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated how P-PostC influences the autophagy and cell death, a cellular damage occurring during the H/R injury. Methods: The groups were randomly divided into the following groups: Control: cells were incubated in normoxia (5% CO2, 21% O2, and 74% N2) without propofol treatment. H/R: cells were exposed to 24 h of hypoxia (5% CO2, 1% O2, and 94% N2) followed by 12 h of reoxygenation (5% CO2, 21% O2, and 74% N2). H/R + P-PostC: cells post-treated with propofol were exposed to 24 h of hypoxia followed by 12 h of reoxygenation. 3-MA + P-PostC: cells pretreated with 3-MA and post-treated propofol were exposed to 24 h of hypoxia followed by 12 h of reoxygenation Results: The results of our present study provides a new direction of research on mechanisms of propofol-mediated cytoprotection. There are three principal findings of these studies. First, the application of P-PostC at the onset of reoxygenation after hypoxia significantly increased COS-7 cell viability. Second, the cellular protective effect of P-PostC in H/R induced COS-7 cells was probably related to activation of intra-cellular autophagy. And third, the autophagy pathway inhibitor 3-MA blocked the protective effect of P-PostC on cell viability, suggesting a key role of autophagy in cellular protective effect of P-PostC. Conclusions: These data provided evidence that P-PostC reduced cell death in H/R model of COS-7 cells, which was in agreement with the protection by P-PostC demonstrated in isolated COS-7 cells exposed to H/R injury. Although the this study could not represent the protection by P-PostC in vivo, the data demonstrate another model in which endogenous mechanisms evoked by P-PostC protected the COS-7 cells exposed to H/R injury from cell death. 】
Empowering Nursing Leaders to Facilitate Healthy Work Environments: First Steps

The purpose of this project was to examine the literature for perspectives on healthy work environments (HWE). HWEs have been identified as important factors in the nursing profession to enhance recruitment, retention, job satisfaction, and accountability. This paper identifies that the front line manager is an essential role within organizations, and directly impacts work environments. Within this paper it has been pointed out that professional organizations have provided some general recommendations for improving work environments which include increasing nurses’ accountability and teamwork, providing opportunities for shared decision making, having supportive leadership, providing recognition, educational support, and adequate staffing. However, enacting them all can be difficult due to front line manager capacity, the impending nursing shortage, organizational resources and barriers. Based on the literature, conclusions have been drawn and recommendations for future research have been identified. HWE strategies have been developed with implementation plans for my practice area.
Escala predictiva de mortalidad en la oclusión intestinal mecánica

Introduccion: la oclusion intestinal mecanica presenta una elevada frecuencia, y constituye un problema cotidiano para el cirujano. En la actualidad, no existen escalas predictivas de la mortalidad que permitan identificar el mayor riesgo de morir en estos pacientes. Objetivo: disenar una escala predictiva en pacientes operados por esta enfermedad a traves de la construccion y validacion de un modelo predictivo de mortalidad. Metodos: estudio explicativo, analitico, de cohorte, realizado en el Servicio de Cirugia General del Hospital Provincial de Santiago de Cuba “Saturnino Lora Torres”, entre enero de 2007 y diciembre de 2013. La muestra fue de 455 pacientes, divididos en un primer grupo, a partir del cual se confecciono el modelo y otro, que aporto los nuevos casos para validarlo. Se diseno la escala predictiva, sobre la base de los resultados obtenidos. Resultados: el modelo de regresion logistica estimo que la edad mayor a 60 anos, el inicio de los sintomas superior a las 48 horas, el estado fisico perianestesico IV y V, la presencia de compromiso vascular, los procedimientos resecativos, el shock y las complicaciones posoperatorias, mostraron relacion independiente con la muerte, obteniendo indicadores altamente significativos. Con estas variables fue posible conformar la escala predictiva, estimandose una sensibilidad global de 89,4, especificidad de 98,5, valor predictivo positivo de 63,8 y negativo de 99,7, considerada como excelente. Conclusiones: fue construido y validado un modelo; ademas, se diseno una escala predictiva de mortalidad en la poblacion de enfermos portadores de oclusion intestinal mecanica.
A Vascular Abnormality in Hypertension

Forearm blood flow measurements have been made at rest and after 8 to 10 minutes arterial occlusion in 50 normal and 131 untreated hypertensive subjects. The latter group comprised 91 with essential hypertension; 11 with chronic renal disease (nephritis or pyelonephritis); 21 with renovascular disease; and eight with primary aldosteronism. The resting blood flow increased with the rising pressure in patients with mild hypertension but there was a significant increase in the resting resistance in the more severe cases. The average minimal resistance obtained during reactive hyperemia was greater in hypertensive (3.1 SE 1.0 units) than in normal subjects (2.0 SE 0.07 units). This abnormality was related to the level of blood pressure but not to the duration of the disease. Patients with renovascular disease or aldosteronism presented the same vascular fault as the more common causes of hypertension. Evidence is presented to show that the reactive hyperemia produced maximal dilatation of the forearm vasculat.
Preventive effect of Zanthoxylum armatum fruit on mitochondrial lipids alteration in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats

Background: Mitochondrial lipids are essential for the mitochondrial architecture, the activity of respiratory proteins, and the transport of proteins into the mitochondria. Aim: In this study, the preventive role of Zanthoxylum armatum fruit on mitochondrial lipids alteration induced by isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISO) was evaluated in myocardial infarcted (MI) rats. Methods: Oral pre-treatment with hydroethanolic extract of Z. armatum fruit to ISO-induced rats was done for 30 days followed by the isolation of mitochondria from the heart tissue. The lipids such as total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids (PL), triglycerides (TG), and free fatty acids (FFA) in the heart mitochondria and lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the heart tissue were evaluated. Results: ISO-induced MI rats showed a significantly (P < 0.05) increased mitochondrial TC, TG, and FFA with a subsequent decrease in PL. Significantly increased levels of lipid hydroperoxides and TBARS were observed in the heart tissue of ISO-treated rats. Oral pre-treatment with hydroethanolic extract of Z. armatum fruit to ISO-induced rats significantly (P < 0.05) reverted these alterations near to normal status. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with Z. armatum fruit favorably restored the biochemical alterations demonstrating that Z. armatum fruit has a significant protective effect on cardiac mitochondrial function against ISO-induced MI in rats.
Mobile Fingerprint Authentication System with Enhanced Security

Although use of fingerprint is highly effective in user authentication of networked services such as electronic payment, there are some problems in conventional systems, including high cost due to need for specialized fingerprint readers and limited usability. To resolve these problems, we propose a new system which incorporates a web-based fingerprint authentication using a smartphone as a fingerprint input device. Additionally, a watermark-based encryption solution is used to enhance system security. With this solution, the system can prevent information interception and replay attack. We demonstrate through prototype implementation and experiments that our solution enhances security of web-based system, and the cost and usability problems in conventional systems can also be resolved. Keywords—fingerprint authentication; watermark; encryption; web security
Circuit Simulation

A Definitive text on developing circuit simulators Circuit Simulation gives a clear description of the numerical techniques and algorithms that are part of modern circuit simulators, with a focus on the most commonly used simulation modes: DC analysis and transient analysis. Tested in a graduate course on circuit simulation at the University of Toronto, this unique text provides the reader with sufficient detail and mathematical rigor to write his/her own basic circuit simulator. There is detailed coverage throughout of the mathematical and numerical techniques that are the basis for the various simulation topics, which facilitates a complete understanding of practical simulation techniques. In addition, Circuit Simulation: Explores a number of modern techniques from numerical analysis that are not synthesized anywhere else Covers network equation formulation in detail, with an emphasis on modified nodal analysis Gives a comprehensive treatment of the most relevant aspects of linear and nonlinear system solution techniques States all theorems without proof in order to maintain the focus on the end-goal of providing coverage of practical simulation methods Provides ample references for further study Enables newcomers to circuit simulation to understand the material in a concrete and holistic manner With problem sets and computer projects at the end of every chapter, Circuit Simulation is ideally suited for a graduate course on this topic. It is also a practical reference for design engineers and computer-aided design practitioners, as well as researchers and developers in both industry and academia.