Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How can remote sensing data/techniques help us to understand beach hydromorphological behavior?

Be ach morphological classification was mainly established for Australian and American microtidal sandy coasts. Different beach morphologies and classification models were presented by several authors. However, parameters such as Hb (wave breaking height) and tan� (beach slope) are usually unavailable or simply nonexistent for many coastal areas. Therefore, without this information, the morphologic analysis of remotely sensed data from several years is a good approach to identify and to classify beach morphologies. Remote sensing data is an increasingly important component of natural resource monitoring programs and data collection. The aim of this study is to apply different image processing algorithms to different remotely sensed data (aerial photographs and IKONOS image) in order to identify coastal features/patterns. To achieve that, pixel-based, object-based classification algorithms, a hybrid method (called Principal Components Analysis and Histogram), and a pattern recognition approach (using Neural Networks) were applied to remotely sensed data (aerial photographs and IKONOS-2 image). Regarding the results of this work, showing that pixel-based classification (supervised classification algorithms with overall accuracy>99% and Kappa Statistic>0.98) archived better results in comparison with object-based classification; the addition of a NiR band is useful in the classification procedure; and remote sensing data is very useful to identify coastal forms/patterns, helping on the classification of beach morphology, especially in coastal areas where data records are scarce or inexistent.
SUPPORTED BY UNIGESTION “ Externalities as Arbitrage ” Prof

Regulations on financial intermediaries can create apparent arbitrage opportunities. Intermediaries are unable to fully exploit these opportunities due to regulation, and other agents are unable to exploit them at all due to limited participation. Does the existence of arbitrage opportunities imply that regulations are sub-optimal? No. I develop of general equilibrium model, with financial intermediaries and limited participation by other agents, in which a constrained-efficient allocation can be implemented with asset prices featuring arbitrage opportunities. Absent regulation, there would be no arbitrage; however, allocations would be constrained-inefficient, due to pecuniary externalities and limited market participation. Optimal policy creates arbitrage opportunities whose pattern across states of the world reflects these externalities. From financial data alone, we can construct perceived externalities that would rationalize the pattern of arbitrage observed in the data. By examining these perceived externalities, and comparing them to the stated goals of regulators, as embodied in the scenarios of the stress tests, we can ask whether regulations are having their intended effect. The answer, in recent data, is no. Friday, January 12, 2018, 10:30-12:00 Room 126, Extranef building at the University of Lausanne Externalities as Arbitrage∗ Benjamin Hébert (Stanford GSB)
Influence of thyroxine on serum soluble interleukin‐2 receptor alpha levels in thyroid disorders

Background: Activation of cell‐mediated immunity by soluble interleukin‐2 receptor alpha (sIL‐2Rα) release is well documented. The aim of this study was to measure serum concentrations of sIL‐2Rα in patients with autoimmune and non‐autoimmune thyroid disorders in different stages of thyroid function, before and after administration of l‐thyroxine (l‐T4) and its discontinuation as well as before and during methimazole administration.
Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Western Perspective

Since 1983, liver transplantation has been the established gold standard for the treatment of end-stage liver disease of various etiologies and for an ever-broadening group of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 1 Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been and remains a small but increasingly important option for those in need of a liver transplant in the United States. This article reviews the evolution of LDLT in the United States over the past 3 decades, the indications for its use, and the outcomes for both donors and recipients. Also, discussed are the increasing efforts to optimize donor safety while continuing to maintain appropriate recipient outcomes.
Impact of high titre of antiphospholipid antibodies on postoperative outcome following pulmonary endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVES Antiphospholipid (a-PL) antibodies, especially IgG isotype, have been associated with a variety of neurological manifestations related to thrombotic mechanism and reactivity against nervous tissues. Furthermore, high titre of a-PL antibodies has been also correlated to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and, therefore, is frequently reported in patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). The impact of a-PL antibodies in postoperative outcome following PEA, however, has not been clearly evaluated yet. In this paper, we investigated the impact of a high a-PL IgG titre (HAPT) on postoperative outcome following PEA. METHODS From April 1994 to October 2008, out of 204 patients undergoing PEA at our centre, 184 were prospectively screened for a-PL antibodies. According to the preoperative IgG titre, patients were divided into two groups: Group A (high a-PL antibodies titre - HAPT) with a-PL IgG titre >10 U/ml and Group B (low a-PL antibodies titre - LAPT) with a-PL IgG titre <or=10 U/ml. Early outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients (15%) were included in Group A, whereas 156 (85%) patients were included in Group B. HAPT influenced preoperative parameters as patients of Group A were younger compared to those of Group B (42+/-16 and 52+/-16 for Group A and B, respectively, P=0.001) and presented more frequently a previous history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (96% and 62% for Group A and B, respectively, P=0.001). The two groups were homogeneous for all other operative parameters. As far as postoperative outcome, in terms of mortality and major complications, there were no differences between the two groups. Incidence of transient neurological complications, however, was significantly different (32% and 10% for Group A and B, respectively, P=0.023). CONCLUSIONS The presence of high titre of IgG isotype a-PL antibodies significantly influences preoperative characteristics of patients undergoing PEA. Furthermore, despite that no significant differences were shown in major end points, the presence of high titre of a-PL did interfere with postoperative course as caused by an increased rate of minor and transient neurological impairment (TNI). An accurate monitoring especially during hypothermic circulatory arrest (CA) period seems, therefore, mandatory in this subgroup of patients undergoing PEA.
Pansharpening approach using Hilbert vibration decomposition

In this study, a new approach for pansharpening of multispectral and panchromatic (PAN) images is proposed. The proposed technique is based on recently developed signal decomposition technique known as Hilbert vibration decomposition (HVD). In the proposed method, the histogram equalised PAN image is decomposed into many instantaneous amplitude (IA) and frequency components in the decreasing order of energy using the HVD. The IA of the first component (having highest energy) in the decomposition of the PAN image is used to generate the pansharpened image using appropriate pansharpening model. The tuning factor associated with the pansharpening model is optimised by single-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm. This method is also extended for the hyperspectral images. Experimental results of the proposed technique are compared with existing pansharpening methods in terms of both visual perception and objective metrics. It is observed that the proposed pansharpening scheme has improved spectral and spatial qualities as compared with the existing schemes. The effects of aliasing and misregistration errors in the proposed method are also investigated and it is observed that the proposed method is robust against aliasing and misregistration errors as compared with other existing methods.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev-responsive element RNA binds to host cell-specific proteins

RNase protection-gel retention studies show human host cell-specific ribonucleoprotein complexes with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev-responsive element (RRE) RNA. Nuclear proteins from rodent or murine cells appear to lack the ability to form these complexes. Human-mouse somatic cell hybrids retaining a single human chromosome, either 6 or 12, form the RRE-nuclear-protein complexes. One of the complexes requires the entire RRE RNA, while the other needs RRE RNA stem-loops 1 and 2 only. Two major proteins with molecular masses of 120 and 62 kDa specifically bind to RRE RNA. Rodent cells (CHO) either lack or contain small amounts of these RRE-binding proteins.
Analyse des relations réseaux/territoires : restructuration de l'offre ferroviaire de l'axe Lille/Valenciennes/Jeumont

Dans ce rapport, un premier niveau d'interrogation concerne la stagnation constatee de la frequentation du reseau ferre regional : releve-t-elle de facteurs conjoncturels ou est-ce une donnee structurelle ? Un second niveau d'interrogation est oriente sur la capacite du systeme de transports a repondre aux enjeux de l'amenagement regional. C'est a ces interrogations que ce travail cherche a repondre en deux parties. La premiere considere le TER dans son ensemble en tant qu'outil de relation avec Lille. On constate la difficulte du rail a attirer de nouveaux usagers. La seconde est dediee a l'evaluation de l'axe ferroviaire modernise en fonction de ses apports et de ses limites face a des objectifs et enjeux d'amenagement du territoire
Cointegration of International Stock Markets: An Investigation of Diversification Opportunities

Abstract: This paper examines the long-run convergence of the United States and 22 other developed and developing countries. I use daily data and run the Johansen (1988) and the Gregory and Hansen (1996) test to show that stock markets of most countries have become cointegrated by 2010. I also look at short-run diversification opportunities across the countries by comparing their daily returns to the daily returns of the global index (S&P 1200). China, Malaysia and Austria stand out as countries with highly favorable diversification opportunities as they are not cointegrated about with the US and are insensitive to the global index. Finally, I use the relative risk of each country (obtained from the CAPM model) to measure performance of each country over the great recession of the 2000s. I find that the relative risk of a country is a good predictor of country performance in a recession.
Objectives To study Platelet count , Platelet indices in cases of Pregnancy induced hypertension and to correlate and compare the values with Normotensive pregnant subjects

Preeclampsia is a syndrome with both maternal and fetal manifestations. Haematological abnormalities such as thrombocytopenia and decrease in some plasma clotting factors may develop in pre-eclamptic women. The platelet count has an association at prediction of increasing grade of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). There is an inverse relationship between the severity of PIH and platelet count. The platelet indices of Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) too are in consistent relationship with PIH. The greater MPV values suggest the increase grade of PIH of preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. PDW too can suggest the PIH for its severity especially in the groups of preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and eclampsia and the risk of consumptive coagulopathy. Thus, investigations with baseline complete blood cell count including platelet count and platelet indices is necessary in patients with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
Multiple regulation by external ATP of nifedipine‐insensitive, high voltage‐activated Ca2+ current in guinea‐pig mesenteric terminal arteriole

We investigated the receptor‐mediated regulation of nifedipine‐insensitive, high voltage‐activated Ca2+ currents in guinea‐pig terminal mesenteric arterioles (ImVDCC) using the whole‐cell clamp technique. Screening of various vasoactive substances revealed that ATP, histamine and substance P exert modulatory effects on ImVDCC. The effects of ATP on ImVDCC after complete P2X receptor desensitization exhibited a complex concentration dependence. With 5 mm Ba2+, ATP potentiated ImVDCC at low concentrations (∼1–100 μm), but inhibited it at higher concentrations (>100 μm). The potentiating effects of ATP were abolished by suramin (100 μm) and PPADS (10 μm) and by intracellular application of GDPβS (500 μm), whereas a substantial part of ImVDCC inhibition by milimolar concentrations of ATP remained unaffected; due probably to its divalent cation chelating actions. In divalent cation‐free solution, ImVDCC was enlarged and underwent biphasic effects by ATPγS and ADP, while 2‐methylthio ATP (2MeSATP) exerted only inhibition, and pyrimidines such as UTP and UDP were ineffective. ATP‐induced ImVDCC potentiation was selectively inhibited by anti‐Gαs antibodies or protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitory peptides and mimicked by dibutyryl cAMP. In contrast, ATP‐induced inhibition was selectively inhibited by Gαq/11 antibodies or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitory peptides and mimicked by PDBu. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin was ineffective. The apparent efficacy for ImVDCC potentiation with PKC inhibitors was: ATPγS > ATP≥ADP and for inhibition with PKA inhibitors was: 2MeSATP > ATPγS > ATP > ADP. Neither ImVDCC potentiation nor inhibition showed voltage dependence. These results suggest that ImVDCC is multi‐phasically regulated by external ATP via P2Y11‐resembling receptor/Gs/PKA pathway, P2Y1‐like receptor/Gq/11/PKC pathway, and metal chelation.
Use of norethisterone oenanthate and predisposition to thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of progestin-only hormonal contraceptives in our population. DESIGN Cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Pharmacology, Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi from October 2002 to September 2003. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study comprised of 50 women of reproductive age group, divided into two equal and matched groups of 25 each, namely, a group of users of progestin-only injectable hormonal contraceptive Norethisterone oenanthate [NET EN] 200 mg used as a 2-monthly injection and a control group not using any hormonal contraception. Complete blood counts, prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) as well as activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were monitored. RESULTS APTT and prothrombin time were not significantly different in both the groups. Menstrual irregularities were found out by more frequent in users of injectable hormonal contraceptives than in non-users (p= 0.001). Hemoglobin (p= 0.029) and hematocrit were slightly better preserved in the same group. CONCLUSION Use of Norethisterone oenanthate does not predispose to thrombogenesis in current dose for contraception.
Human Olfactory Bulb Neural Stem Cells expressing hNGF Restore Cognitive Deficit in Alzheimer's Disease Rat Model

In this study, we aim to demonstrate the fate of allogenic adult human olfactory bulb neural stem/progenitor cells (OBNSC/NPCs) transplanted into the rat hippocampus treated with ibotenic acid (IBO), a neurotoxicant specific to hippocampal cholinergic neurons that are lost in Alzheimer's disease. We assessed their possible ability to survive, integrate, proliferate, and differentiate into different neuronal and glial elements: we also evaluate their possible therapeutic potential, and the mechanism(s) relevant to neuroprotection following their engraftment into the CNS milieu. OBNSC/NPCs were isolated from adult human olfactory bulb patients, genetically engineered to express GFP and human nerve growth factor (hNGF) by lentivirus‐mediated infection, and stereotaxically transplanted into the hippocampus of IBO‐treated animals and controls. Stereological analysis of engrafted OBNSCs eight weeks post transplantation revealed a 1.89 fold increase with respect to the initial cell population, indicating a marked ability for survival and proliferation. In addition, 54.71 ± 11.38%, 30.18 ± 6.00%, and 15.09 ± 5.38% of engrafted OBNSCs were identified by morphological criteria suggestive of mature neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes respectively. Taken together, this work demonstrated that human OBNSCs expressing NGF ameliorate the cognitive deficiencies associated with IBO‐induced lesions in AD model rats, and the improvement can probably be attributed primarily to neuronal and glial cell replacement as well as the trophic influence exerted by the secreted NGF. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 116–130, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Primary but not metastatic human melanomas expressing dr antigens stimulate autologous lymphocytes

Lymphocytes from melanoma patients were stimulated in mixed culture with autologous tumor cells (MLTC) in order to evaluate lymphocyte proliferation and subsequent cytotoxicity on autologous melanoma cells. It was found that melanoma cells from lymph node metastases were unable to induce autologous tumor‐cytotoxic cells in 21 cases examined, in 15 of which MLTC also failed to induce lymphocyte proliferation. Patients' lymphocytes, however, were significantly stimulated by allogeneic irradiated lymphocytes and by interleukin 2. To investigate whether the lack of autologous stimulation was restricted to metastatic cells, the immune response of patients with only primary lesions of malignant melanoma was evaluated. It was found that primary melanoma cells were able to induce proliferation in 7 out of 9 (77%) patients, whereas positive cytotoxicity was obtained in 2 out of 4 patients tested. In order to see whether the presence of DR molecules was important for the stimulatory activity, melanoma cells were examined for the expression of DR antigens by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies. Positive autologous MLTC was found in all of six DR+ primary melanomas, whereas the two DR‐tumors were unable to stimulate autologous lymphocytes. An anti‐DR but not an anti‐DC monoclonal antibody was able to block the proliferation of lymphocytes induced by an autologous primary melanoma. Neither MLTC nor cell‐mediated killing was obtained with either DR+ or DR‐metastatic melanoma. In 60% of the cases tested, however, DR+ metastatic melanoma cells were able to stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes of normal individuals. Increased expression of DR antigens was induced by in vitro treatment with human gamma‐interferon in metastatic tumor cells; this caused an increase in the proliferation of allogeneic but not autologous lymphocytes. These findings indicate that primary but not metastatic DR+ melanoma cells are able to activate the proliferation and cytotoxicity of autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes, suggesting a potential role of DR antigens in regulating tumor‐host relationships in melanoma patients.
De Lange's Amsterdam Dwarfs Syndrome A Case‐Report

IN 1933, Cornelia de Lange of Amsterdam described a peculiar and distinctive combination of congenital anomalies which she modestly named ‘Typus degenerativus Amstelodamensis’ in deference to the city of its origin. Posterity has given credit where it is due, and the more euphonious title of ‘Cornelia de Lange syndrome’ is generally preferred, but she has also described muscular hypertrophy in the newborn (Ford 1960), so that ‘Cornelia de Lange syndrome’ is not sufficiently specific. It was 30 years before reports of this condition appeared in the English language (Jervis and Stimson 1963, Ptacek et al. 1963, Schlesinger et al. 1963, Not 1964), although there were several Continental reports in the meantime. The causation is unknown, but in some cases a chromosome abnormality has been described. After reviewing the published cases investigated for chromosomal aberrations, Opitz et al. (1964) conclude (a) that the syndrome is most likely to be due to inheritance of an autosomal recessive factor, and (b) that there is no good evidence of a chromosomal abnormality. They found Jervis and Stimson’s results, referred to above, unconvincing, and the report of a single case by Massimo and Vianello (1964), Fig. 1. G.S. at age of 12 weeks.
“It’s Not My Fault; It’s Not Serious”: Athlete Accounts of Moral Disengagement in Competitive Sport

This study was designed to assess athletes’ use of moral disengagement in competitive sport. We conducted semistructured interviews with 24 elite male and female athletes in basketball and taekwondo. Participants described transgressive behaviors in competitive situations and reasons for adopting such behaviors. Content analyses revealed that the eight moral disengagement mechanisms identified in everyday Life (i.e., moral justification, advantageous comparison, euphemistic labeling, minimizing or ignoring consequences, attribution of blame, dehumanization, displacement of responsibility, and diffusion of responsibility; Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara, & Pastorelli, 1996) were germane in sport. However, the most frequently adopted mechanisms in sport (i.e., displacement and diffusion of responsibility, attribution of blame, minimizing or ignoring consequences, and euphemistic labeling) differed somewhat from those considered most salient in everyday life (i.e., moral justification, advantageous comparison.
Single subthalamic nucleus neurons project to both the globus pallidus and substantia nigra in rat

The organization of the major efferents of the rat subthalamic nucleus (STN) was investigated using a fluorescent retrograde double‐labeling technique. Red fluorcrescent Evans Blue was injected into the globus pallidus and blue fluorescent DAPI‐Primuline was injected into the substantia nigra. After retrograde axonal transport many double‐labeled neurons were seen throughout the STN. Occasional double‐labeled cells were seen in the lateral hypothalamus just medial to the STN and in a thin lateral strip of neurons extending laterally from the STN. Evidence for a mediolateral topography in both the STN‐pallidal and STN‐nigral pathways was obtained.
Non-reference Objective Quality Evaluation for Noise-Reduced Speech Using Overall Quality Estimation Model

This paper describes non-reference objective quality evaluation for noise-reduced speech. First, a subjective test is conducted in accordance with ITU-T Rec. P.835 to obtain the speech quality, the noise quality, and the overall quality of noise-reduced speech. Based on the results, we then propose an overall quality estimation model. The unique point of the proposed model is that the estimation of the overall quality is done only using the previously estimated speech quality and noise quality, in contrast to conventional models, which utilize the acoustical features extracted. Finally, we propose a non-reference objective quality evaluation method using the proposed model. The results of an experiment with different noise reduction algorithms and noise types confirmed that the proposed method gives more accurate estimates of the overall quality compared with the method described in ITU-T Rec. P.563.