Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proposal for a New Development Methodology for Assistive Technology Based on a Psychological Model of Elderly People

Developed countries are all witnessing an increase in the aging of their populations and Japan is no exception to this. In fact, Japan is a pioneer in this respect, and as of 2011 the nation's elderly population stood at 29,440,000, or 23.1% of the total population (The Cabinet Office in Japan, 2011). Social aging has thus triggered research into geriatric assistive technology (AT) as well as a supportive societal infrastructure catering to the elderly and to persons with disabilities. The AT industry in Japan, which has great significance for social and industrial users, has been referred to as a growth industry since legislation on AT was enacted in 1992 (M. Watanabe et al., 2006). Some modifications to the social system and care insurance system were enacted in 2000, and the market has been steadily expanding and currently it is said to have reached maturity (K. Masahiro, 2005). In the past decade, emphasis has been given to developing an AT infrastructure that can readily facilitate the adoption of the advances being made in standardizing AT and to further improve the quality of this service in addition to enhancing the safety and operability of the system (S. Hashimoto,.2007).
Fermentation of cocoa beans: influence of microbial activities and polyphenol concentrations on the flavour of chocolate

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous cocoa bean fermentation is characterised by a succession of microbial activities. Cocoa flavour precursors are developed during fermentation and drying of cocoa beans. Polyphenols and alkaloids contribute to astringency and bitterness of cocoa and chocolate. RESULTS: Population dynamics, metabolite target analyses, and chocolate production were performed for seven independent spontaneous cocoa bean heap fermentations in Ghana. Although the same micro-organisms were involved in these heaps, carried out at different farms or in different seasons, heap temperatures and microbial metabolite concentrations were different. This could be due to heterogeneity and size of the heaps, but was mainly ascribed to microbial variability. Indeed, differences in microbial activity could be linked with the flavour of chocolates made from the corresponding dried, fermented cocoa beans. Whereas the polyphenol and alkaloid contents of cocoa beans were crop- and heap-dependent, epicatechin and theobromine levels decreased during fermentation due to diffusion out of the bean cotyledons and polyphenol oxidation and condensation. Residual levels were responsible for the degree of bitterness of the final chocolates. CONCLUSION: Differences in microbial activities between different heap fermentations can result in dried fermented cocoa beans and chocolates with different flavour characteristics. Hence, fermentation control may direct the flavour of chocolate.  2008 Society of Chemical Industry
Shielding effectiveness of an enclosure with apertures

Apertures in an rectangular enclosure can be the coupling path of EMI. An analytical formulation has been employed for the shielding effectiveness. Both the electric and magnetic shielding are calculated as a function of frequency, enclosure dimensions, aperture dimensions and position within the enclosure. The formulation is extended to calculate circular apertures and multiple apertures.
Rhizofiltration of heavy metals from the tannery sludge by the anchored hydrophyte, Hydrocotyle umbellata L.

The anchored hydrophyte, Hydrocotyle umbellata L. , was employed for the removal of toxic metals from tannery sludge concentrations (w/v) from a tanneries wastewater treatment plant. Different concentrations of wet tannery sludge were prepared and plants of H. umbellata showed a good tolerance for all the prepared concentrations. Plants were retrieved after 30, 60 and 90 days and the sludge concentrations showed reduction in sodium chloride, chlorides and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The accumulation of toxic metals in the plants was significantly increased, with increasing exposure time of plants. A higher amount was accumulated in the roots than in the shoots. The bioconcentration factor of Cr was higher than that of Zn and Cu at the same exposure time, indicating a higher accumulation potential of Cr by H. umbellata. The order of uptake efficiency was Cr > Zn > Na > Cu and the maximum metal uptake was observed after 90 days of exposure of H. umbellata, being 18,200 mg kg -1 for chromium, 15,560 mg kg -1 for zinc 7,692 mg kg -1 for sodium and 6,660 mg kg -1 for copper in the roots. These plants not only tolerated up to 60% concentration of tannery sludge but also reduced chromium content of sludge to a considerable extent.
Evaluation of Macro Economic Policies of Pakistan ( 1950-2008 )

The economy of Pakistan performed quite well until the end of 1980s despite the major shift in policy stance by the economic managers, from a private sector led economy in the sixties to a nationalized economy in the 1970s and a shift towards liberalization, deregulation and denationalization in the decade of eighties. It was in the decade of nineties that Pakistan recorded the lowest GDP growth in South Asia and these were also the years when Pakistan experienced a series of adjustment and stabilization reforms. Towards the end of the nineties there were some signs of improvement in macro economic indicators. However, this improvement did not last long. Thus the economy of Pakistan has always remained under stress due to high fiscal and external sector imbalances, high aggregate demand, unsustainable GDP growth, high unemployment and poverty levels.
The Obstacles of Teaching Evidence Based Medicine in Iran, from the View Point of Clinical Academics and Medical Students; a Qualitative Study

Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) is being taught in many medical universities around the world, however many studies have reported obstacles for effective EBM teaching. In this study we aim to evaluate the obstacles of teaching EBM in Iranian Medical Universities which have made slow progress in EBM. A qualitative descriptive study with content analysis was designed to thoroughly and deeply discuss the obstacles of teaching EBM. Interested academics and students from Kerman Medical University participated in focus groups. Data collection was continued until data saturation was achieved. Then was coded and categorized into main themes. Our results showed 6 main obstacles, which were time constraints and the heavy work load, poor infrastructure, EBM not practiced in general, clinical academics not acquainted with EBM, false believes about EBM and assessment based on memorizing the textbook or class notes. To overcome these barriers, our participants suggested compulsory courses or workshops, proper timing, teaching EBM to clinical academics, strengthening the infrastructure and supervision of a credible body over EBM teaching. Although EBM is taught limitedly in some Iranian Universities, due to several obstacles the progress has been slow and unsatisfactory. Some of these obstacles can be locally alleviated by the universities, but others need the cooperation of higher organizations such as the Medical Council or the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis of breast lumps.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to find out the common causes of breast lump and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC of breast lump. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a retrospective study of FNAC of breast done in pathology department of NMCTH from January 2003 to December 2005. FNAC findings were correlated with data from histopathology records to determine the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC. RESULTS FNAC of breast constituted 16% of all the FNACs. Age group of the patients ranged from 17 to 56 years with mean of 32 years. Fibroadenoma was the most common diagnosis. Malignancy was diagnosed in only 6.6% of the cases. Histological correlation was done in 21 cases. Sensitivity and specificity of FNAC of breast was found to be 83.3% and 100% respectively. CONCLUSION FNAC of breast is simple, cost effective and less traumatic method for diagnosis of breast lump. It is highly sensitive and specific also, and can reduce the needs for open biopsies. So FNAC should be used as a routine method for determining the nature of breast lumps.
Generational conflict, consumption and the ageing welfare state in the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT The British welfare state is over 60 years old. Those who were born, grew up and who are now growing old within its ambit are a distinctive generation. They have enjoyed healthier childhoods with better education than previous populations living in Britain. That they have done well under the welfare state is accepted, but some critics have argued that these advantages are at the expense of younger cohorts. The very success of this ‘welfare generation’ is perceived as undermining the future viability of the welfare state, and some argue that the current levels of income and wealth enjoyed by older cohorts can only be sustained by cutbacks in entitlements for younger cohorts. This will lead to a growing ‘generational fracture’ over welfare policy. This paper challenges this position, arguing that both younger and older groups find themselves working out their circumstances in conditions determined more by the contingencies of the market than by social policy.
Solubilization of organic dyes in surfactant micelles

In this study, the solubilization of two organic dyes, Sudan I (1-Phenylazo-2-naphtol) and Quinizarin (1,4-Dihydroxyanthraquinone), was studied in the presence of different types of surfactants (2 polymerics, 2 nonionics, 2 anionic, and one cationic) using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The effects of temperature, pH and addition of different electrolytes (NaCl, Na2CO3, NaI, NaOH, NaSCN) on dye solubilization were investigated mainly for Berol 535 (C11EO5), DTAB (C12 quaternary ammonium bromide) and SDS (C12 sodium sulphate). The effect of mixed micelles of different surfactants (DTAB:Berol 535 and SDS:Berol 535) on dye solubilization at different concentrations of NaCl was also studied. No synergy effect was observed for the solubilization of dyes in the binary mixture of surfactant micelles. The results showed that the solubilization of both dyes in the surfactant micelles increased with the temperature and addition of salt. However, the anionic surfactant (SDS) precipitated in the solution at high salt concentration (>20 g/l) and room temperature due to its high Krafft point and this had an adverse effect on dye solubilization. This was overcome by adding a nonionic surfactant to the solution or increasing the temperature. The absorbance spectrum of both dyes in surfactant micelles was similar to that obtained in ethanol and water/ethanol. This suggested that both dyes are located in rather polar region of the micelles (palisade region) and close to the surfactants head groups.
Numerical analysis of composite finite arrays of Split Ring Resonators and thin strips

Composite finite perfectly conducting (PeC) arrays of thin strips and Split Ring Resonators (SRR) with a Method of Moments integral formulation and triangular patches have been analyzed numerically. This paper presents the effect on the accuracy of the solution due to the type of meshing of the SRRs, the stopping residual error of the iterative algorithm GMRES and the accuracy of the PeC-EFIE operator.
Systematic Comparison of the Performance of Integrated Whole-Body PET/MR Imaging to Conventional PET/CT for 18F-FDG Brain Imaging in Patients Examined for Suspected Dementia

Technologic specifications of recently introduced integrated PET/MR instrumentation, such as MR-based attenuation correction, may particularly affect brain imaging procedures. To evaluate the qualitative performance of PET/MR in clinical neuroimaging, we systematically compared results obtained with integrated PET/MR with conventional PET/CT in the same patients examined for assessment of cognitive impairment. Methods: Thirty patients underwent a single-injection (18F-FDG), dual-imaging protocol including PET/CT and integrated PET/MR imaging in randomized order. Attenuation and scatter correction were performed using low-dose CT for the PET/CT and segmented Dixon MR imaging data for the PET/MR. Differences between PET/MR and PET/CT were assessed via region-of-interest (ROI)–based and voxel-based statistical group comparison. Analyses involved attenuation-corrected (AC) and non–attenuation-corrected (NAC) data. Individual PET/MR and PET/CT datasets were compared versus a predefined independent control population, using 3-dimensional stereotactic surface projections. Results: Generally, lower measured PET signal values were obtained throughout the brain in ROI-based quantification of the PET signal for PET/MR as compared with PET/CT in AC and NAC data, independently of the scan order. After elimination of global effects, voxel-based and ROI-based group comparison still revealed significantly lower relative tracer signal in PET/MR images in frontoparietal portions of the neocortex but significantly higher relative signal in subcortical and basal regions of the brain than the corresponding PET/CT images of the AC data. In the corresponding NAC images, the discrepancies in frontoparietal portions of the neocortex were diminished, but the subcortical overestimation of tracer intensity by PET/MR persisted. Conclusion: Considerable region-dependent differences were observed between brain imaging data acquired on the PET/MR, compared with corresponding PET/CT images, in patients evaluated for neurodegenerative disorders. These findings may only in part be explained by inconsistencies in the attenuation-correction procedures. The observed differences may interfere with semiquantitative evaluation and with individual qualitative clinical assessment and they need to be considered, for example, for clinical trials. Improved attenuation-correction algorithms and a PET/MR-specific healthy control database are recommended for reliable and consistent application of PET/MR for clinical neuroimaging.
The Impact of Psychological Contract on Relationship Quality in Financial Services Market

The theoretical arguments of the psychological contracts arise from the social exchange theory. According to this theory, all the parties involved in any type of relationships want to build a relationship based on mutual respect and fairness. The main goal of this paper is to explore the influence that psychological contracts have on the quality of the business-to-business relationship in the financial services market. The research conducted in this paper continued the pioneer work of Kingshott and Pecotich (2007) and by extending their conceptual model it provided the theoretical and practical insights specific to the business-to-business market. In the empirical part of the paper, the relationship between hotels and financial institutions in the Republic of Croatia is tested using the canonical correlation analysis. The results of the analysis confirm that the psychological contracts have an influence on the relationship quality between the partners in the financial services market.
Comparison of Halbach and Dual-Side Vernier Permanent Magnet Machines

A closed-form analytical model is developed to build the special rules for vernier permanent magnet (VPM) machines comparison. Based on the finite element analysis (FEA), comparisons of some key parameters including power factor are made among three novel VPM topologies, i.e., Halbach, dual-stator (DS), and DS spoke-array (DSSA) structures. The results from both the analytical model and FEA model demonstrate that the DSSA VPM machine exhibits highest power factor, viz., ~0.91, highest torque density and fewest magnet usage.
Is Chitosan a New Panacea? Areas of Application

The development of commercial applications for chitin and chitosan has progressed. The first known use of chitosan was a durable, flexible film used as a component in the varnish applied to Stradivarius violins, however new efforts are changing its vision in the market. The emphasis on environmentally friendly technology has stimulated interest in biopolymers, which are more versatile and far more biodegradable than their synthetic counterpart.
Content Replication Scheme Using Stable Matching in Vehicular Networks

Present researches on content replication in vehicular networks mainly utilize the mobile vehicular nodes to carry contents, while the high mobility, the limited resources and the security risks of vehicular nodes prohibit the performance enhancements. In this paper, we propose a content replication scheme using stable matching, namely RSM, in which the roadside units take the role of content carriers. For an efficient solution in terms of the access ratio and the access delay, the original content replication problem is formulated as a stable matching problem of bipartite graph, whose left vertices stand for the contents and whose right vertices for the storage cells of roadside units. Given a preference ranking of each content based on its response quota and a priority ranking of each storage cell based on its encountering latency quota, the weak-ordering stable matching problem is solved in polynomial time through Gale-Shapley algorithm and the stable improvement cycles algorithm. Besides, a multi-replica preprocessing algorithm is designed to substitute several new contents for a content having more than one replica, and thus to overcome the potential one-to-many mapping in stable matching. Experiments show that the RSM scheme achieves a high access ratio and a small storage cost with an acceptable access delay.
Secure Encryption and Hiding of Intelligence Data.

Abstract : A method for hiding messages in the noise component of digital images in such a way that specific statistical characteristics of the carrier image are not disturbed is presented. The bits are injected in the secret message, taking into account the properties of the carrier image. Adaptive message hiding should be based on local properties of the carrier image. Secure steganographic techniques using digital images require message bits to be spread pseudo-randomly over the carrier image independently of the message lengths and not concentrated in the first rows or columns of the image. For this purpose, a simple but effective message-spreading algorithm based on parameterized chaotic maps was developed. The algorithm uses discretized two-dimensional chaotic maps as universal dispersers for random message scattering within the carrier image. This reports describes several new designs for secure watermarking schemes for digital images. The techniques offer a very high degree of robustness and security with respect to image modifications including noise and lossy compression. A technique is presented for overlaying the carrier image with a key-dependent image whose power is concentrated in the low frequencies. Message extraction is based on a discrete cosine transform. A second technique inserts bits into projections of image blocks onto random, smooth, orthogonal patterns individually generated for each image and user ID. This method avoids using publicly known basis functions, thereby increasing security against malicious attacks. Robustness test results against image distortion and manipulation techniques and security of attacks to removing hidden messages are presented. Patent application serial number PASN 08/986695, 8 Dec 97, Title "Digital Watermark" has been filed for this work.
Characterization and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Clinical Isolates of Enterococci in a Tertiary Care Cancer Hospital, Kerala, India

Enterococci, morphologically resembling Streptococci, are gram positive facultative anaerobic cocci with ability to grow in extreme conditions. They form a part of the normal flora of intestinal tract, oral cavity, and vagina, but they have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens. Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are the most prevalent species in humans accounting for more than 90% of clinical isolates (Sreeja et al., 2012). Enterococci are capable of causing both endogenous and exogenous infections. Infections commonly caused by enterococci include urinary tract infections, bacteremia, endocarditis, catheter-related infections, wound and soft tissue infections, meningitis, respiratory infections, neonatal sepsis and intra-abdominal and pelvic infections. Even though considered as low grade pathogens, they are becoming of great concern because of emergence of drug resistant strains (Intrinsic and acquired drug resistance). They are intrinsically resistant to penicillinasesusceptible penicillin (low level), penicillinase-resistant penicillins, cephalo International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 2 (2017) pp. 618-625 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Modeling and mining the temporal patterns of service in cellular network

Recent emergence of diverse services have led to explosive traffic growth in cellular data networks. Understanding the service dynamics in large cellular networks is important for network design, trouble shooting, quality of service (QoE) support, and resource allocation. In this paper, we present our study to reveal the distributions and temporal patterns of different services in cellular data network from two different perspectives, namely service request times and service duration. Our study is based on big traffic data, which is parsed to readable records by our Hadoop-based packet parsing platform, captured over a week-long period from a tier-1 mobile operator's network in China. We propose a Zipf's ranked model to characterize the distributions of traffic volume, packet, request times and duration of cellular services. Two-stage method (Self-Organizing Map combined with kmeans) is first used to cluster time series of service into four request patterns and three duration patterns. These seven patterns are combined together to better understand the fine-grained temporal patterns of service in cellular network. Results of our distribution models and temporal patterns present cellular network operators with a better understanding of the request and duration characteristics of service, which of great importance in network design, service generation and resource allocation.
Respiratory allergen from house dust mite is present in human milk and primes for allergic sensitization in a mouse model of asthma

There is an urgent need to identify environmental risk and protective factors in early life for the prevention of allergy. Our study demonstrates the presence of respiratory allergen from house dust mite, Der p 1, in human breast milk. Der p 1 in milk is immunoreactive, present in similar amounts as dietary egg antigen, and can be found in breast milk from diverse regions of the world. In a mouse model of asthma, oral exposure to Der p through breast milk strongly promotes sensitization rather than protect the progeny as we reported with egg antigen. These data highlight that antigen administration to the neonate through the oral route may contribute to child allergic sensitization and have important implications for the design of studies assessing early oral antigen exposure for allergic disease prevention. The up‐to‐now unknown worldwide presence of respiratory allergen in maternal milk allows new interpretation and design of environmental control epidemiological studies for allergic disease prevention.