Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling ad-hoc medical imaging workflows with BPEL 4 WS

Web services workflows are increasingly gaining attention. With the advent of emerging standards such as the Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL4WS) medical organizations are investigating the options for modeling ad-hoc workflows. In this paper we analyze a highly relevant ad-hoc workflow in the medical imaging domain: the second opinion workflow. Since this workflow, by its nature, involves other (increasingly ubiquitous) information systems (e.g. imaging equipment), it may serve as a test candidate for the applicability and suitability of BPEL4WS in the medical imaging domain. The workflow model covers implementation relevant aspects of the DICOM and HL7 protocol while maintaining an abstract domain model. The paper provides a separation of a basic workflow and the extended ad-hoc workflow. Further it abstracts the communication protocols by implementing sub-workflows for the service interfaces. The paper also analyzes mapping problems between the workflow and the communication layer and points out further ad-hoc workflow specifications for the medical imaging domain.
The Influence of Rapid Transit Systems on Condominium Prices in Bangkok : A Hedonic price model approach

Rapid transit systems often create city developments and raise the property values. Basically, residential property price is characterised by number of characteristics including the transportations attributes. Empirical studies have drawn impacts of transportation in different ways. This thesis studies the hedonic price model to better understand the influence of mass rapid transit systems on the prices of condominium in Bangkok. The research question is "How the accessibility of rapid transit system affects the price of condominium in Bangkok? " The thesis explains the relationship between condominium prices and accessibility to mass rapid transit systems, as well as other influences, using hedonic price model. The research conducts cross-sectional study approach that uses the data with high level of flexibility at a particular point in time. Five models have been used in this thesis including the entire area model, models of proximity to rapid transit station, and sub-area models. Consequently evidences from the entire area model indicate that proximity to the rapid transit systems has a significant negative effect on condominium prices. Besides, the research also points out number of important characteristics that influence the prices of condominium including distance to main street and public facilities in the area. However, the clustered models show that there is no significant effect of proximity to mass rapid transits on condominium prices. The thesis has raised the knowledge and gained better understanding of the hedonic price model especially its application to the property market. The findings of this thesis can lead to an analysis of property values as well as other price model in other field of study.
CHAPTER 5 Technology and Education : Computers , Software , and the Internet

A substantial amount of money is spent on technology by schools, families, and policymakers with the hope of improving educational outcomes. This chapter explores the theoretical and empirical literature on the impacts of technology on educational outcomes. The literature focuses on two primary contexts in which technology may be used for educational purposes: (i) classroom use in schools and (ii) home use by students. Theoretically, information and communications technology (ICT) investment and computer-aided instruction (CAI) use by schools and the use of computers at home have ambiguous implications for educational achievement: expenditures devoted to technology necessarily offset inputs that may be more or less efficient, and time allocated to using technology may displace traditional classroom instruction and educational activities at home. However, much of the evidence in the schooling literature is based on interventions that provide supplemental funding for technology or additional class time, and thus favor finding positive effects. Nonetheless, studies of ICT and CAI in schools produce mixed evidence with a pattern of null results. Notable exceptions to this pattern occur in studies of developing countries and CAI interventions that target math rather than language. In the context of home use, early studies based onmultivariate and instrumental variables approaches tend to find large positive (and in a few cases negative) effects while recent studies based on randomized control experiments tend to find small or null effects. Early research focused on developed countries while more recently several experiments have been conducted in developing countries.
Building Sustainable Networks: A Study of Public Participation and Social Capital

This chapter takes the Government’s (1998a) White Paper Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People as its starting point and draws on the theoretical literature relating to social capital and public participation. It describes the development and delivery of a public consultation strategy instigated by Brighton and Hove Council as part of the preparation of its pre-deposit draft local development plan. It evaluates the experiences of participants involved in a number of linked participation processes to do with strategic planning issues. The objective is to investigate the links between a number of current themes which contribute to the ‘democratic renewal’ and ‘active citizenship’ debates by focusing on town planning and urban regeneration. The research was prompted by a series of questions:• Are there ways of targeting and encouraging non-joiners to participate? • At the local level, is it just a small proportion of individuals who are actively involved in voluntary and community organisations – the ‘usual suspects’? • Is it possible to encourage and to sustain involvement? • Are members of local organisations likely to widen their interest in community activities and local democracy on the basis of positive experiences of participation? • Is there any evidence that the newer methods of community participation are likely to lead to greater community involvement and democratic renewal?
An empirical test of the infant industry argument: Reply

The basic infant industry argument maintains that: the cost of a new activity is initially high; it does not pay any individual to enter an infant industry at free trade prices; if developed, the industry will permit a reasonable return on initial losses; and a temporary period of protection is required. This paper has attempted two things: to develop an empirical test for the validity of the infant industry argument and to use that test on Turkish data. The test is simple and straightforward: input per unit of output must fall more rapidly in more protected industries if there is to be any rationale for infant industry protection. In the Turkish case there was no such tendency over the period covered. The fact that protected Turkish industries did not experience rapid increases in output per unit of input is sufficient to prove that protection was not warranted. It does not, however, prove that there were no infant industries. The trade regime might have provided the wrong incentives, and, under an alternative structure, output per unit of input might have grown more rapidly in some or possibly all Turkish industries. In conclusion, protection did not elicit the sort of growth in output per unit on which infant industry proponents base their claim for protection.
Modulation of cytokine production by carnitine

The ability of carnitine congeners to modulate cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was investigated. Modulation of cytokine production by PBMC of young (30 years of age or younger) and old (70 years of age or older) normal donors was first compared. The PBMC were collected over Ficoll–Hypaque and incubated in the presence of various concentrations of acetyl L-carnitine for 24 h. Subsequently the supernatants were collected and examined for cytokine production. The presence of cytokines in tissue culture supernatants was examined by ELISA. The cytokines measured included IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNFα, GM–CSF, and IFNγ. The results showed that at 50 μg/ml of acetyl L-carnitine the most significant response was obtained for TNFα. In this regard four of five young donors responded, but only one of five old donors responded. More recently these studies were expanded to examine the ability of L-carnitine to modulate cytokine production at higher doses, 200 and 400 μg/ml, in young donors. The results of these studies showed that in addition to TNFα, significant production of IL-1β and IL-6 was observed. These preliminary studies provide evidence that carnitine may modulate immune functions through the production of selected cytokines.
An Empirical Sectoral Model of Unconventional Monetary Policy: The Impact of QE

type="main"> This paper describes a sectoral empirical model of money and credit in the UK that can be used for analysing unconventional monetary policies that affect banks’ balance sheets. The paper uses the model to assess the impact of QE on the UK economy focussing on the endogenous portfolio response of banks, financial companies and non-financial companies. The baseline results support the quantitative estimates found by other studies, but suggest the impact of QE is sensitive to the assumption about whether and to what extent QE affects bank lending.
Identification of Drosophila type II neuroblast lineages containing transit amplifying ganglion mother cells

Mammalian neural stem cells generate transit amplifying progenitors that expand the neuronal population, but these type of progenitors have not been studied in Drosophila. The Drosophila larval brain contains ∼100 neural stem cells (neuroblasts) per brain lobe, which are thought to bud off smaller ganglion mother cells (GMCs) that each produce two post‐mitotic neurons. Here, we use molecular markers and clonal analysis to identify a novel neuroblast cell lineage containing “transit amplifying GMCs” (TA‐GMCs). TA‐GMCs differ from canonical GMCs in several ways: each TA‐GMC has nuclear Deadpan, cytoplasmic Prospero, forms Prospero crescents at mitosis, and generates up to 10 neurons; canonical GMCs lack Deadpan, have nuclear Prospero, lack Prospero crescents at mitosis, and generate two neurons. We conclude that there are at least two types of neuroblast lineages: a Type I lineage where GMCs generate two neurons, and a type II lineage where TA‐GMCs have longer lineages. Type II lineages allow more neurons to be produced faster than Type I lineages, which may be advantageous in a rapidly developing organism like Drosophila. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2008
Transfer of two motor branches of the anterior obturator nerve to the motor portion of the femoral nerve: An anatomical feasibility study

Femoral nerve lesions are uncommon, but very distressing at the functional level because of the absence of knee locking mechanism by the quadriceps muscle. We propose here a new neurotization procedure of obturator nerve motor branches to the motor portion of the femoral nerve in the thigh. This study was conducted on five cadavers. The motor portion of the femoral nerve and the motor branches of the obturator nerve, supplying the gracilis and adductor longus muscles, were isolated. The distance between nerve endings and diameter were measured to determine if a direct neurorrhaphy was possible between the femoral nerve and the two united branches of the obturator nerve. The overlap between the two nerve endings was 26 mm on average, and the mean diameter of the two nerve endings was 3.6 mm for the united branches of the obturator nerve and 3.7 mm for the femoral nerve. Thus, a direct suture was possible in all cases. In this anatomical study, access to the femoral nerve and two united branches of the obturator nerve was easy, in contrast to transfer in the pelvis. Moreover, direct suture without tension was possible in all cases. Thus, this transfer is simple and perfectly reproducible and may have a clinical application in proximal femoral nerve injuries. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
Motor sequence learning: a study with positron emission tomography

We have used positron emission tomography to study the functional anatomy of motor sequence learning. Subjects learned sequences of keypresses by trial and error using auditory feedback. They were scanned with eyes closed under three conditions: at rest, while performing a sequence that was practiced before scanning until overlearned, and while learning new sequences at the same rate of performance. Compared with rest, both sequence tasks activated the contralateral sensorimotor cortex to the same extent. Comparing new learning with performance of the prelearned sequence, differences in activation were identified in other areas. (1) Prefrontal cortex was only activated during new sequence learning. (2) Lateral premotor cortex was significantly more activated during new learning, whereas the supplementary motor area was more activated during performance of the prelearned sequence. (3) Activation of parietal association cortex was present during both motor tasks, but was significantly greater during new learning. (4) The putamen was equally activated by both conditions. (5) The cerebellum was activated by both conditions, but the activation was more extensive and greater in degree during new learning. There was an extensive decrease in the activity of prestriate cortex, inferotemporal cortex, and the hippocampus in both active conditions, when compared with rest. These decreases were significantly greater during new learning. We draw three main conclusions. (1) The cerebellum is involved in the process by which motor tasks become automatic, whereas the putamen is equally activated by sequence learning and retrieval, and may play a similar role in both. (2) When subjects learn new sequences of motor actions, prefrontal cortex is activated. This may reflect the need to generate new responses. (3) Reduced activity of areas concerned with visual processing, particularly during new learning, suggests that selective attention may involve depressing the activity of cells in modalities that are not engaged by the task.
Western Bean Cutworm Survival and the Development of Economic Injury Levels and Economic Thresholds in Field Corn

ABSTRACT Western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a native pest of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and corn (Zea mays L.). Historically, the western bean cutworm was distributed in the western United States, but since 1999 eastward expansion has been observed. In corn, economic impact is caused by larval ear feeding. Information on western bean cutworm biology, ecology, and economic impact is relatively limited, and the development of economic injury levels (EILs) and economic thresholds (ETs) is required for more effective management. Studies during 2008–2011, across three ecoregions of Nebraska, sought to characterize western bean cutworm survival and development of EILs and ETs. Calculations of EILs and ETs incorporated the dynamics of corn price, management cost, and pest survival. The results from the current study demonstrated low larval survival of this species (1.51–12.82%). The mean yield loss from one western bean cutworm larva per plant was 945.52 kg/ha (15.08 bu/acre), based on 74,100 plants per ha. Economic thresholds are expressed as a percentage of plants with at least one egg mass. This study is the first study that explicitly incorporates variable management costs and crop values into western bean cutworm EIL calculations, and larval survival into ET calculations.
Industry Competition, Agency Problem, and Firm Performance

The study investigates the relationship between industry competition and firm performance in relation to agency problem conditions. At the same time, the literature also stated that different levels of national corporate governance have different impacts on corporate performance. We also investigate whether or not the relation between industry competition and firm performance would be different under different levels of agency problem. Our empirical results show that the positive relation between industry competition and firm performance is relatively significant for firms with higher free cash flows that present severe agency problems. The results do not change under different levels of national corporate governance.
How Beauty Determines Gaze! Facial Attractiveness and Gaze Duration in Images of Real World Scenes

We showed that the looking time spent on faces is a valid covariate of beauty by testing the relation between facial attractiveness and gaze behavior. We presented natural scenes which always pictured two people, encompassing a wide range of facial attractiveness. Employing measurements of eye movements in a free viewing paradigm, we found a linear relation between facial attractiveness and gaze behavior: The more attractive the face, the longer and the more often it was looked at. In line with evolutionary approaches, the positive relation was particularly pronounced when participants viewed other sex faces.
TRANSPORTATION PRICING STRATEGIES FOR CALIFORNIA: AN ASSESSMENT OF CONGESTION, EMISSIONS, ENERGY, AND EQUITY IMPACTS. FINAL REPORT

This study investigated five categories of transportation pricing measures - congestion pricing, parking charges, fuel tax increases, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees, and emissions fees. Advanced travel demand models were used to analyze these measures for the Los Angeles, Bay Area, San Diego, and Sacramento metropolitan areas. The analyses indicate that transportation pricing measures could effectively relieve congestion, lower pollutant emissions, reduce energy use, and raise revenues. For example, a combination of congestion pricing, employee parking charges, a 50 cent gas tax increase, and mileage and emissions fees would reduce VMT and trips by 5-7% and cut fuel use and emissions by 12-20%, varying by region. Because auto use and its impacts are quite inelastic to price, sizable increases in revenue can be obtained with relatively little effect on travel; conversely price increases must be large to obtain sizable reductions in travel and its externalities. Citizen reactions to prototype transportation pricing measures were explored in focus groups, and feedback from public officials and private organizations was obtained through meetings and interviews. First reactions were skeptical, but many were more favorably inclined after considering alternatives to pricing. Public acceptance would be increased by earmarking revenues for transportation improvements and providing independent oversight of revenue collection and expenditure. Federal and state laws govern and in some cases restrict the implementation of pricing strategies, and these and other institutional and administrative issues would have to be resolved before proceeding with specific measures.
ACTIVE PLATELET 5-HT UPTAKE IN DEPRESSIVES TREATED WITH IMPRAMINE AND ECT

Several studies have reported decreased platelet 5-HT uptake in patients of major depression. The present study was undertaken with the aim to study the active platelet 5-HT uptake in depressed patients and effect of treatment with imipramine/ECT on platelet 5-HT uptake in these patients. 30 patients of major depression and equal number of age and sex-matched controls were included in the study. The depressives received imipramine (N=15) or ECT (N=15). Pretreatment active platelet 5-HT uptake was lower in depressives. Treatment with imipramine resulted in significant decrease in 5-HT uptake while with ECT there was significant increase. The serotonergic mechanisms are discussed.
Adaptive continuous-time linear quadratic Gaussian control

The adaptive linear quadratic Gaussian control problem, where the linear transformation of the state A and the linear transformation of the control B are unknown, is solved assuming only that (A, B) is controllable and (A, Q/sub 1//sup 1/2/) is observable, where Q/sub 1/ determines the quadratic form for the state in the integrand of the cost functional. A weighted least squares algorithm is modified by using a random regularization to ensure that the family of estimated models is uniformly controllable and observable. A diminishing excitation is used with the adaptive control to ensure that the family of estimates is strongly consistent. A lagged certainty equivalence control using this family of estimates is shown to be self-optimizing for an ergodic, quadratic cost functional.
Til Debt Do Us Part: the U.S. Capital Market and Foreign Lending, 1920-1955

This paper analyzes U.S. experience with foreign lending in the half-century from 1920. A first question raised by this experience is what ignited the process of U.S. foreign lending. I conclude that lending was restrained at the beginning of the period by the debt overhang associated with reparations and by the post World War I disruption of international trade. Intervention by creditor country governments in the form of the Dawes Loan, League of Nations loans to Central Europe and reconstruction of the gold standard system was needed to initiate long-term capital flows. A second question is how to characterize the operation of the U.S. capital market once lending was again underway. I find that while lenders discriminated among potential borrowers and demanded compensation for default risk, they did so insufficiently. Neither an efficient-markets nor a fads-and-fashions model provides an adequate characterization of the data. A third question is whether default in the 1930s made it more difficult for countries to borrow in the 1940s and 1950s. I find no evidence that countries which interrupted debt service in the 1930s found it more difficult to borrow subsequently than did countries which maintained debt service continuously. Rather, default reduced access to private portfolio capital flows for defaulting and nondefaulting countries alike.
MITRE ’ s Submissions to the EU Pascal RTE Challenge

We describe MITRE’s two submissions to the RTE Challenge, intended to exemplify two different ends of the spectrum of possibilities. The first submission is a traditional system based on linguistic analysis and inference, while the second is inspired by alignment approaches from machine translation. We also describe our efforts to build our own entailment corpus. Finally, we discuss our investigations and reflections on the strengths and weaknesses of the evaluation itself.
Parameter Uncertainty and International Investment in a Multi-Period Setting

We consider: i) a dynamic investor who rebalances over time, treats returns as i.i. d. , and accounts for learning, and ii) a static buy-and-hold investor who is aware of predictability and estimation risk. Both investors are internationally diversified and combine information on long- and short-history markets using cross-inference. For a dynamic investor, cross-inference generates separate hedging demands, and learning may generate positive hedging demands. For a static investor, some risky-asset allocations may decrease when estimation risk is ignored. Ignoring cross-inference, learning, and estimation risk, can generate sizable utility costs. Optimal investment in emerging markets, substantial in 1994, essentially drops to zero in 2000.