Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Record breaking bursts in a fiber bundle model of creep rupture

We investigate the statistics of record breaking events in the time series of cracklingbursts in a fiber bundle model of the creep rupture of heterogeneous materials. In the model fibers break due to two mechanisms: slowly accumulating damage triggers bursts of immediate breakings analogousto acoustic emissions in experiments. The rupture process accelerates such that the size of breaking avalanches increases while the waiting time between consecutive events decreases towards failure.Record events are defined as bursts which have a larger size than all previous events in the time series.We analyze the statistics of records focusing on the limit of equal load sharing (ELS) of the model and compare the results to the record statistics of sequences of independent identically distributed random variables. Computer simulations revealed that the number of records grows with the logarithm of the event number except for the close vicinity of macroscopic failure where an exponential dependence isevidenced. The two regimes can be attributed to the dominance of disorder with small burst sizesand to stress enhancements giving rise efficient triggering of extended bursts, respectively.Both the size of records and the increments between consecutive record eventsare characterized by power law distributions with a common exponent 1.33 significantly differentfrom the usual ELS burst size exponents of fiber bundles. The distribution of waiting times followsthe same behavior, however, with two distinct exponents for low and high loads. Studying the evolution of records we identify a load dependent characteristic scale of the systemwhich separates slow down and acceleration of record breaking as failure is approached.
Color image segmentation based on Decision-Theoretic Rough Set model and Fuzzy C-Means algorithm

This paper proposes an approach which combines the Decision Theoretic Rough Set model (DTRS) and Fuzzy C-Means(FCM) algorithm to perform color image segmentation. The FCM algorithm has the limitation that it requires the initialization of cluster centroids and the number of clusters. In this paper, the DTRS model is applied to color image segmentation for the purpose of clustering validity analysis which could overcome the defect of the FCM algorithm. Firstly, we adopt the Turbopixel algorithm to split the color image into many small regions called superpixels for presegmentation. Based on color image color histogram feature extraction we use Bhattacharyya coefficient to measure the similarity between superpixels, which is in preparation for clustering validity analysis. It is our focus that we will obtain cluster centroids and the number of clusters using FCM. Our approach is according to the hierarchical clustering validity analysis algorithm using DTRS model. Finally, the FCM algorithm is utilized to achieve the result of color image segmentation. Experimental results show that the DTRS-based preprocessing approach can obtain better segmentation results than other improved FCM approaches such as ant colony algorithm or histogram thresholding approach.
Coactive Learning

We propose Coactive Learning as a model of interaction between a learning system and a human user, where both have the common goal of providing results of maximum utility to the user. Interactions in the Coactive Learning model take the following form: at each step, the system (e.g. search engine) receives a context (e.g. query) and predicts an object (e.g. ranking); the user responds by correcting the system if necessary, providing a slightly improved - but not necessarily optimal - object as feedback. We argue that such preference feedback can be inferred in large quantity from observable user behavior (e.g., clicks in web search), unlike the optimal feedback required in the expert model or the cardinal valuations required for bandit learning. Despite the relaxed requirements for the feedback, we show that it is possible to adapt many existing online learning algorithms to the coactive framework. In particular, we provide algorithms that achieve O(1/√T) average regret in terms of cardinal utility, even though the learning algorithm never observes cardinal utility values directly. We also provide an algorithm with O(log(T)/T) average regret in the case of λ-strongly convex loss functions. An extensive empirical study demonstrates the applicability of our model and algorithms on a movie recommendation task, as well as ranking for web search.
Measuring the Nairu: A Complementary Approach

Estimates of the Nairu generally suffer from a large uncertainty, which can be reduced by adopting a bivariate framework and assuming that shifts of the Phillips curve share a common trend with the unemployment rate. We consider in this paper if this common trend assumption is empirically relevant or not for seven economies over the sample 1973-2010. First, it appears that the Nairu can substantially differ from the unemployment trend. Second, relaxing the common trend assumption improves the fit of the inflation equation. Third, this assumption is necessary for getting an important reduction of uncertainty in a bivariate framework.
Brain morphology in older African Americans, Caribbean Hispanics, and whites from northern Manhattan.

BACKGROUND Aging is accompanied by a decrease in brain volume and by an increase in cerebrovascular disease. OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and vascular disease history on measures of brain morphology, including relative brain volume, ventricular volume, hippocampus and entorhinal cortex volumes, and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden, in a large community-based cohort of racially/ethnically diverse older adults without dementia. DESIGN The associations of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and self-reported vascular disease history with brain morphology were examined in a cross-sectional study using multiple linear regression analyses. Sex x race/ethnicity interactions were also considered. SETTING The Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project, a community-based epidemiological study of older adults from 3 racial/ethnic groups (white, Hispanic, and African American) from northern Manhattan. PARTICIPANTS Beginning in 2003, high-resolution quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired in 769 participants without dementia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Relative brain volume (total brain volume/intracranial volume), ventricular volume, and hippocampus and entorhinal cortex volumes were derived manually on high-resolution MR images. White matter hyperintensities were quantified semiautomatically on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-T2-weighted MR images. RESULTS Older age was associated with decreased relative brain volume and with increased ventricular and WMH volumes. Hispanic and African American participants had larger relative brain volumes and more severe WMH burden than white participants, but the associations of these variables with age were similar across racial/ethnic groups. Compared with men, women had larger relative brain volumes. Vascular disease was associated with smaller relative brain volume and with higher WMH burden, particularly among African Americans. CONCLUSIONS Older age and vascular disease, particularly among African Americans, are associated with increased brain atrophy and WMH burden. African American and Hispanic subjects have larger relative brain volumes and more WMH than white subjects. Racial/ethnic group differences in WMH severity seem to be partially attributable to differences in vascular disease. Future work will focus on the determinants and cognitive correlates of these differences.
Impact of Political Environment on Business Performance of Multinational Companies in Nigeria

This study investigated the impact of political environment on business performance of multinational companies in Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, a review of extant literature was made which was supported by hypothesis. The population of this study consists of quoted manufacturing companies in Nigeria. About twenty-seven (27) of such companies were identified and the necessary data were sourced from the Nigerian Stock Exchange Fact Book of 2012 and the World Development Indicators of World Bank Group. Political environment was measured as the degree of political stability and absence of violence while business performance was measured by the profitability of the companies for the period 1999-2013. Our findings showed that political environment has a negative significant impact on business performance of multinational companies in Nigeria. Based on the above, we suggest that the Nigerian government should avoid frequent changes in government policies and programmes, and ensure stability of democratic institutions and political integration. These are necessary to make the political terrain stable and out of violence for business growth and development. Key words: Political environment, business performance, multinational companies.
Functional Rescue of Elastin Insufficiency in Mice by the Human Elastin Gene: Implications for Mouse Models of Human Disease

Diseases linked to the elastin gene arise from loss-of-function mutations leading to protein insufficiency (supravalvular aortic stenosis) or from missense mutations that alter the properties of the elastin protein (dominant cutis laxa). Modeling these diseases in mice is problematic because of structural differences between the human and mouse genes. To address this problem, we developed a humanized elastin mouse with elastin production being controlled by the human elastin gene in a bacterial artificial chromosome. The temporal and spatial expression pattern of the human transgene mirrors the endogenous murine gene, and the human gene accurately recapitulates the alternative-splicing pattern found in humans. Human elastin protein interacts with mouse elastin to form functional elastic fibers and when expressed in the elastin haploinsufficient background reverses the hypertension and cardiovascular changes associated with that phenotype. Elastin from the human transgene also rescues the perinatal lethality associated with the null phenotype. The results of this study confirm that reestablishing normal elastin levels is a logical objective for treating diseases of elastin insufficiency such as supravalvular aortic stenosis. This study also illustrates how differences in gene structure and alternative splicing present unique problems for modeling human diseases in mice.
Prognostic Factors and Complications in Patients With Operational Peptic Ulcer Perforation in Northern Thailand

Background Peptic ulcer perforation (PUP) is a very serious condition that leads to excessive complications and mortality. This study aimed to explore the possible prognostic factors and complications in patients with perforated peptic ulcer operation. Methods A 6-year retrospective cohort study in Nakornping Hospital between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2010 was conducted. The study included 912 patients who underwent PUP surgery. Patient characteristics were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean (standard deviation) and median (range). A comparison between groups was made. The Pearson’s Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables, as appropriate. The Student’s t test was used for continuous variables with normal distribution, and Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed for continuous variables with non-normal distributions. Exponential risk regression analysis was performed to estimate the relative risk (RR) for the prognostic factors with a probability value of < 0.05 as a statistically significant value. Post-operative length of stay was computed graphically based on Kaplan-Meier estimates. Results During the study period, 912 post-operative PUP patients were observed. The median age of patients was 78.5 (15 - 92) years, and 77.74% of the patients were male gender. Multivariate analysis showed that five prognostic indicators: underlying illnesses; liver disease (RR: 5.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36 - 21.56) and kidney disease (RR: 4.72; 95% CI: 1.05 - 21.11); duration of operation > 3 h (RR: 9.83; 95% CI: 1.61-59.66); unplanned admission to ICU (RR: 9.22; 95% CI: 1.55 - 54.68); and prolonged ventilation > 24 h (RR: 9.02; 95% CI: 0.42 - 9.98) were associated with post-operative PUP complications. Post-operative complications developed in 87 (9.54%) patients with 135 complications: 11 (1.21%) patients underwent re-operation, 32 (3.51%) patients suffered with surgical site infection, 74 (8.11%) patients encountered with pneumonia and 18 (1.97%) patients died. Post-operative complications including surgical site infection (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.00; 95% CI: 0.76 - 5.27), re-operation (IRR: 2.65; 95% CI: 0.73 - 9.62) and pneumonia (IRR: 6.97; 95% CI: 6.30 - 7.70) tend to be associated with mortality. The risk ratio showed a trend towards an increased risk for post-operative mortality with smaller values. However, this trend was not statistically significant. Conclusions The findings might have clinical importance as to optimize the surgical management of PUP and to minimize the complications or mortality.
Association of Gene Polymorphism of the Fat Mass and Obesity Associated Gene
with Metabolic Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Japanese Workers

To investigate whether gene polymorphism of the fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), we used two MS criteria, the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) definition in 2003 and the Japanese definition in 2005. Subjects were respectively 859 and 865 Japanese workers at a company in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. They were non-MS individuals in 1998 and had regular health checkups between 1998 and 2006. The Cox proportional hazard regression was used to predict MS. Three SNPs in the FTO, rs9939609, rs1121980 and rs1558902, were genotyped by the TaqMan PCR assay and a retrospective study was performed. The three SNPs in the FTO were significantly associated with body mass index, and rs1121980 and rs1558902 were associated with fasting plasma glucose. MS defined by the NCEP-ATPIII definition was significantly associated with additive and dominant models of rs9939609 and rs1121980, and the dominant model of rs1558902, even after adjusting for confounding factors such as age, sex and lifestyle. MS defined by the Japanese definition was significantly associated with the additive model of rs1121980 and additive and dominant models of rs1558902 in multivariate analysis. These results suggested that FTO gene polymorphisms, rs9939609, rs1121980 and rs1558902, were associated with an increased risk of MS among Japanese workers.
Engaging with sustainability in everyday transitions : an ethnographic study of an international airport operator

The past decade has seen the emergence of the Transitions Management theory rise to fame as the leading approach for dealing with the complex problem of sustainability. Its underlining principle considers sustainability as inherently difficult and requiring radical system changes to the wider society. Defined as a deliberative and prescriptive framework, it sets to influence governance activities through a gradual structured process. However, concerns have been raised which question the scope and practice of Transitions Management, including the criticism of its simplistic and narrow view, focussing primarily on technological innovations and policy influence while having little reflection on the dynamics and social relations involved in transitions. This research thesis aims to develop further insights to understand better the dynamics within the transitional process towards sustainability. By looking at the case of an international airport? s ongoing efforts to become more sustainable, this thesis argues that the social dynamics offer a significant contribution to the shaping of a sustainability agenda, by enabling practices that also seem vital in the framework of Transitions Management.This thesis applied ethnography as the primary approach to this research inquiry. The data collection involved qualitative interviews, documentary analysis, and participant observations spanning over 18 months between the periods of 2010-2012. Drawing on the critical studies of management and organisational theories, the research focus was on addressing the three key questions of what is the sustainability agenda, who decided on the agenda and how has the agenda been decided, within the context of airport operations. While other key issues have emerged from this research study, those aspects have underlined the tensions constituted in the everyday practices of an airports operations, how the conditions of tensions have enabled a positive influence, and how this is seen as significant to contribute to the theoretical understanding for dealing with the sustainability transitions process. Building on this perspective, this thesis further explored the dynamics of the individuals? struggle, and suggests that it is part of a sense making process that also helps to construct the meaning of sustainability. In addition, it has identified how this experience of struggle has facilitated resistance ? for changes? among individuals, and how this permits positive outcomes which are continuously shaping the agenda of sustainability and practices at the Airport.
Authority, Control, and the Distribution of Earnings

The distributions of firm size, span of control, and managerial incomes are modeled as the joint outcome of market assignments of personnel to hierarchical positions. Assigning persons of superior talent to top positions increases productivity by more than the increments of their abilities because greater talent filters through the entire firm by a recursive chain of command technology. These multiplicative effects support enormous rewards for top level management in large organizations. Also, superior managers control more than proportionately larger firms. Consequently, the distributions of reward and firm size are skewed relative to the distribution of abilities.
Liposomes as a Novel Ocular Delivery System for Brinzolamide: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of liposomes as an ophthalmic delivery system for brinzolamide (Brz) to enhance the local glaucomatous therapeutic effect. The liposomes of Brz (Brz-LPs) were produced by the thin-film dispersion method with a particle size of 84.33 ± 2.02 nm and an entrapment efficiency of 98.32 ± 1.61%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis proved that Brz was successfully entrapped into Brz-LPs. Brz-LPs displayed a biphasic release pattern in vitro with burst release initially and sustained release afterwards. The corneal permeability was measured using modified Franz-type diffusion cells, and Brz-LPs showed 6.2-fold increase in the apparent permeability coefficient when compared with the commercial available formulation (Brz-Sus). Moreover, Brz-LPs (1 mg/mL Brz) showed a more sustained and effective intraocular pressure reduction (5–10 mmHg) than Brz-Sus (10 mg/mL Brz) in white New Zealand rabbits. Therefore, Brz-LPs were a hopeful formulation of Brz for glaucoma treatment and worthy of further investigation.
Activation by Serotonin and Noradrenaline of Vasopressin and Oxytocin Expression in the Mouse Paraventricular and Supraoptic Nuclei

Noradrenaline and serotonin are known to control arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) secretion in the systemic circulation. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether these monoamines are also able to influence AVP and OT expression in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON). To test this hypothesis, we used the Tg8 transgenic mice KO for the monoamine oxidase-A gene, which present high levels of noradrenaline and serotonin in the brain. AVP and OT expression were evaluated at peptide and mRNA levels by immunohistochemistry, enzyme immunoassay, and in situ hybridization. Compared with wild type, the amounts of AVP, OT, AVP mRNA, and OT mRNA were increased in the PVN and SON in Tg8 mice. To distinguish the respective contributions of noradrenaline and serotonin to these modifications, we treated Tg8 mice with a synthesis inhibitor of either catecholamines [α-methylparatyrosine (α-MPT)] or serotonin [parachlorophenylalanine (pCPA)]. Administration of α-MPT to Tg8 mice induced a decline in the amounts of AVP, OT, and their mRNA in the PVN and SON. The pCPA treatment in Tg8 mice was also associated with a decrease in OT expression in the PVN and SON and in AVP expression in the PVN, but not in the SON. These results suggest that noradrenaline may activate AVP and OT expression in the PVN and SON. Likewise, serotonin is proposed to stimulate AVP and OT expression in the PVN and only OT expression in the SON.
Coalition Governments in Western Europe

1: Wolfgang C. Muller and Kaare Strom: Coalition Governance in Western Europe: An Introduction 2: Thomas Saalfeld: Germany: Stable Parties, Chancellor Democracy and the Art of Informal Settlement 3: Wolfgang C. M "uller: Austria: Tight Coalitions and Stable Government 4: Paul Mitchell: Ireland: From Single-Party to Coalition Rule 5: Hanne Marthe Narud and Kaare Str /om: Norway: A Fragile Coalitional Order 6: Torbj "orn Bergman: Sweden: When Minority Cabinets Are the Rule and Majority Coalitions the Exception 7: Erik Damgaard: Denmark: The Life and Death of Government Coalitions 8: Jaakko Nousiainen: Finland: The Consolidation of Parliamentary Governance 9: Lieven De Winter, Arco Timmermans, and Patrick Dumont: Belgium: On Government Agreements, Evangelists, Followers and Heretics 10: Rudy B. Andeweg and Arco Timmermans: The Netherlands: Still the Politics of Accommodation? 11: Patrick Dumont and Lieven De Winter: Luxembourg: Stable Coalitions in a Pivotal Party System 12: Luca Verzichelli and Maurizio Cotta: Italy: From "Constrained" Coalitions to Alternating Governments? 13: Jean-Louis Thi 'ebault: France: Forming and Maintaining Government Coalitions in the Fifth Republic 14: Jose M. Magone: Portugal: The Rationale of Democratic Regime-Building 15: Wolfgang C. Muller and Kaare Str /om: Conclusion: Coalition Governance in Western Europe.
Cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibition and intracarotid bradykinin infusion enhances permeability into brain tumors.

Intracarotid infusion of bradykinin selectively increases the delivery of compounds into brain tumors. This study sought to determine the role of cyclic GMP in increased permeability across the blood-tumor barrier (BTB) after infusion of bradykinin. In permeability studies, 186 Wistar rats with RG2 gliomas and C6 gliomas were used. Transport across the BTB was quantified by autoradiography and reported as a unidirectional transport, Ki, for [14C]dextran (Mr 70,000) and [14C]aminoisobutyric acid (Mr 103,000), with or without inhibition of cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase or soluble guanylate cyclase. We also determined cyclic GMP levels in tumors and normal brain, with or without intracarotid bradykinin infusion, using RIA. Intracarotid infusion of bradykinin selectively increased permeability in RG2 tumors and C6 tumors for both tracers. Simultaneous infusion of bradykinin and a cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, zaprinast (20 mg/kg), resulted in significantly increased permeability across the BTB, compared to intracarotid bradykinin infusion alone. Zaprinast also significantly prolonged the permeability effects of bradykinin. Pretreatment using i.v. infusion of the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, LY-83583 (125 microg/kg), significantly attenuated the bradykinin effect of opening the BTB. Cyclic GMP levels in RG2 and C6 tumors were significantly increased after intracarotid bradykinin infusion (2.8- and 2.2-fold, respectively). Cyclic GMP levels in normal brain were not increased by bradykinin infusion. These results show that increasing cyclic GMP in tumor microvessels can increase permeability in response to bradykinin.