Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is the Fractal Dimension of the Contour-lines a Reliable Tool for Classification of Medical Images?

When two-dimensional medical images are subject to fractal analysis, one of the methods used is to detect the contour of objects in the binary images and later to estimate the fractal dimension of the extracted contour. This scalar characteristic of the medical image should help in discrimination between normal and abnormal tissues. In this paper we expose the factors that affect the reliability of such examinations and put the fractal dimension in question as a valid criterion for description, classification and recognition in medical diagnosing.
Time stability of the ICRF2 axes

Aims. I assess the astrometric stability of the 295 defining sources of the current best realization of the International Celestial Reference System (ICRS): the second realization of the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF2), constructed and published in 2009 after the analysis of millions of VLBI observations at 2 and 8 GHz between 1979.6 and 2009.2. I also assess the time evolution of the ICRF2 axis stability. Methods. I derived coordinate time series of hundreds of quasars monitored by the regular geodetic VLBI program of the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS). The axis stability was studied by constructing annual reference frames based on the ICRF2 defining sources. The time variable frame stability was obtained by computing the deformation parameters that lead from one frame to the next. Results. I show that, although the astrometric stability of some of the ICRF2 defining sources has slightly degraded since 2009.2, the ensemble still constitutes a very stable reference frame. The current estimation of the axis stability over 1979.6–2013.1 remains at the same level as the one estimated over 1979.6–2009.2, i.e., on the order of 20 μas for each axis.
Introducing Old-look, Soft Handle, Flame Retardant, and Anti-bacterial Properties to Denim Garments Using Nano Clay

In this paper, nano clay as a novel garment finishing technique termed “nano-washing,” was applied to cotton denim garments and compared with conventional washing involving amylase and cellulase. Color changes of the garment samples were investigated by using a reflectance spectrophotometer and the garment surfaces were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Air permeability, crease recovery angle, bending strength, abrasion resistance, thermal properties, and antibacterial activity of the treated samples were investigated and reported. It was found that treatment of denim garment with nano clay produced old look garment with soft handle, enhanced thermal and rubbing or washing fastness properties. Overall, this novel nano-washing process on the denim garment was an easy, economical, and simple method with a great deal of advantages.
DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF TERRESTRIAL GASTROPODS IN VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, MN: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE RISK OF MOOSE BECOMING INFECTED WITH PARELAPHOSTRONGYLUS TENUIS

Voyageurs National Park (VNP) has a stable population of about 40–50 moose ( Alces alces ). Recent declines in moose abundance in adjacent areas in northern Minnesota raise concerns about the long-term viability of moose in VNP. The parasitic nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis has been documented in moose in VNP and has been implicated in moose declines in other populations. Terrestrial gastropods are the intermediate hosts for P. tenuis , and describing spatial and temporal differences in their abundance should increase understanding about the risk of P. tenuis infection for VNP moose at the individual and population levels. We used cardboard sheets to estimate species composition and abundance of terrestrial gastropods in representative vegetation communities in VNP. We collected a total of 6,595 gastropods representing 25 species, 22 terrestrial snails and 3 slugs; 8 are known vectors of P. tenuis , including the slug Deroceras laeve , the most common species found. Gastropods were more abundant in September than July, and in upland forests (maximum = 555 gastropods/m 2 ) more than in wetter lowlands (20 gastropods/m 2 ). We used location data from GPS collared moose in VNP to estimate the relative exposure of moose to gastropods that could be infected with P. tenuis larvae. The boreal hardwood forest and northern spruce-fir forest ecotypes had the highest use by moose and high abundance of P. tenuis vectors in summer, and may pose the greatest risk for infection. Habitat use and the related risk of ingesting gastropod vectors varied by individual moose. Our method can be extended in moose range to estimate the relative risk of P. tenuis infection.
A Maillet Type Theorem for First Order Singular Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations

We shall study the first order singular nonlinear partial differential equation of the form f(x, u(x), ∂xu(x)) = 0 with u(0) = 0, where x ∈ C and f(x, u, ξ) is holomorphic in a neighborhood of the origin. This equation is said to be singular if f(0, 0, ξ) ≡ 0 for all ξ ∈ C. The purpose of this paper is to study the Maillet type theorem which means to determine the Gevrey order of a formal power series solution which may diverge. §
Variation in fine-scale movements of moose in the upper Koyukuk River drainage, northcentral Alaska.

Fine-scale movements form the foundation of local habitat selection by animals. In northern interior Alaska, the Dalton Highway Corridor Management Area and other parts of Game Management Unit 24 are accessible to moose hunters from the Dalton Highway. Concern that these areas may be a population sink for moose ( Alces alces ) inhabiting the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and the Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge prompted this study of movements. We found that migratory bulls and cows traveled about the same distance over the course of a year as non-migratory moose. Although counterintuitive, this may reflect the selective foraging behavior of a low density (∼0.1 moose/km 2 ) moose population in habitat with abundant forage. Maximum movement rates by bulls occurred at the onset of rut at the end of the hunting season. This spike in movement may have given local residents the impression that local moose were migratory and vulnerable to hunting from non-residents. Movement rates were lowest in winter for both bulls and cows, and declined with increasing winter severity, but not temperature specifically. Reduced movement rates by cows during the calving season were not readily evident and annual fidelity to calving sites was minimal.
Reverse time migration using phase crosscorrelation

Additional information regarding the continuity and resolution of selected seismic reflectors in reverse time migration (RTM) images can be beneficial for seismic interpretation. We have developed and evaluated new imaging conditions for RTM based on the phase coherence between the forward- and backward-propagated wavefields. These imaging conditions make use of the instantaneous phase and envelope of the analytical signals of the source and receiver wavefields, in addition to their real parts. Once the analytical wavefields are available, these imaging conditions can be calculated simultaneously with conventional conditions at little or no extra cost. The availability of these fields at each image point enables several alternative ways to define imaging conditions. We explore, in addition to pure phase crosscorrelation (PC), two approaches of amplitude-weighted PC. Our numerical experiments, imaging synthetic and field data sets, indicate that these new imaging conditions provide additional images that can highlight some weak reflectors by locally improving the resolution of RTM images. In our examples, this happens particularly in the deep portions of the seismic images. In addition, reflection events produced at discontinuities are enhanced as sharp signals, suggesting that the proposed imaging conditions can help to delineate stratigraphic and structural features that are harder to see in conventional images. These properties of the PC imaging conditions make them an interesting tool to provide additional information that can aid seismic interpretation in complex structural settings.
Nonfarm Employment and Poverty Reduction in Rural Ghana: A Propensity-Score Matching Analysis

This article investigates the impact of nonfarm employment on farm household income and way out of poverty, using farm household data from Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. A propensity score matching model is used to evaluate the impact participating in both wage and self-employment. Separate estimates are also provided for males and females. The results from the study show that nonfarm employment has a positive and robust effect on farm household income and a negative and significant effect on the likelihood of being poor. Self-employment was found to have much higher impacts than wage employment, reflecting the fact that most employment opportunities in the rural areas are in the former sector.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISCERAL ADIPOSITY AND PLASMA ADIPONECTIN CONCENTRATION: EFFECT OF WEIGHT LOSS

Adiponectin is an anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic protein that has a protective effect against athero- sclerosis and diabetes. It is exclusively secreted by adipose tissue. Serum adiponectin levels are inversely associated with parameters of overall adiposity including body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and percentage of body fat. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 76 women we sought to evaluate if adiponectin is associated primarily with central adiposity rather than overall adiposity. We also assessed adiponectin changes after weight loss in a subgroup of 42 obese subjects. Results: Waist to hip ratio (WHR), an index of central obesity, was the only variable independently associated to adi- ponectin (Beta= 0.25, P< 0.05). A mean increase of 8.2±24.2% in adiponectin concentration was observed in response to the dietary restriction and weight loss (P= 0.03). Our findings provide evidence for association of serum adiponectin level with visceral fat, represented by waist to hip ratio index. Conclusion: Moderate weight loss result in significant improvements in adiponectin concentration and provide another bio- logical explanation for the beneficial effect of body weight loss on reducing cardiovascular and diabetes risks in obese patients.
Storage of ‘Laetitia’ plums ( Prunus salicina ) under controlled atmosphere conditions

The optimum condition for storage of 'Laetitia' plums (Prunus salicina) under controlled atmosphere (CA) is not currently known. This study was aimed at assessing the effects of controlled atmospheric (CA) conditions on the postharvest quality preservation of ‘Laetitia’ plums. Besides regular atmosphere (RA; 21kPa O2 + 0.03 kPa CO2) as condition/treatment control, the following CA conditions (kPa O2 + kPa CO2) were assessed: 1+3; 1+5; 2+5; 2+10; and 11+10. In all cases, the fruit were stored for 60 days at 0.5°C±0.1°C and 96±2% of relative humidity (RH). Upon removal from the cold storage chamber and after four days in ambient conditions (20±2°C/60±5% RH), the fruit were assessed in terms of: respiration and ethylene production rates; flesh firmness; texture; titrable acidity; red color index and hue angle (ho) of the skin; incidence of fruit cracking and internal breakdown (flesh browning). The fruit stored under the different CA conditions presented lower respiration and ethylene production rates, higher values of flesh firmness, texture and titrable acidity, lower development of skin red color, and lower incidence of skin cracking compared to the fruit under RA. CA conditions of 2+5, 1+5, and 1+3 resulted in a more substantial delay of ripening. CA conditions of 2+5 and 1+3 resulted in lower incidence of internal breakdown. Key words: Ripening, physiological disorder, postharvest, Prunus salicina.
Cultural control of banana weevils in Ntungamo, southwestern Uganda

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the Uganda National Banana Research Programme tested and evaluated selected cultural management options for the banana weevil through on-farm farmer participatory research in Ntungamo district, Uganda between 1996 and 003. A farmer adoption study of these cultural practices was also undertaken. Tested technologies included: (1) pseudostem trapping; () soil fertility and water management practices (grass mulch, soil and water conservation bunds and farm yard manure); and (3) crop sanitation (destruction of crop residues that serve as breeding grounds for banana weevils). This paper reports on the efficacy of these controls, as well as farmers' observations on the feasibility of their adoption. The difficulties in carrying out farmer participatory research in highly heterogeneous banana stands are also discussed.
Innovation processes: do they help or hinder new product development outcomes in Irish SMEs?

Abstract Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make a considerable contribution to the development and diffusion of innovation as well as accounting for the bulk of economic activity and employment in Ireland. A formal process for managing the stages of innovation projects is generally cited as a key component of best practice in new product development (NPD). Successfully managing innovation is an important business objective for SMEs, and yet, relatively little is known about how innovation-active firms approach innovation and, specifically, whether firms use formal processes to manage their NPD activities. This study of innovation-active Irish SMEs finds that three quarters of firms report that they do not operate a formal innovation process, yet this is not associated with poorer performance in terms of revenues from new products and services; and there are few differences between firms with formal innovation processes and firms with informal innovation process across each stage of the Innovation Value Chain. Having a more formal innovation process is, however, associated with success at bringing novel products to market. This study contributes to our understanding of the management of innovation in SMEs and to the emerging literature on SMEs that has emphasised both the prevalence and the effectiveness of informal management processes.
Prey size selection, grazing and growth response of the small heterotrophic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium sp. and the ciliate Balanion comatum--a comparative study

Prey selectivity, growth and feeding responses were studied in the cillate Balanion comaturn (17 pm) and the heterotroph~c dinoflagellate Gjmnodinium sp. (7 pm). Almost identical prey size spectra were found for the 2 organisms. Optimum prey size was 8 pm, while the lower and upper hmits of prey capture were -4 and 10 pm, respectively. Maximum growth and ingestion rates of B. comatum were slightly higher than those of Gj~mnodinium sp. Threshold prey concentration for growth of B. comatum and Gymnodinium sp. was 1 1 and 17 pg C I-', respectively. At 15"C, both organisms needed to ingest approx. 1 to 2 % h-' of their cell volume in order to sustain basic metabolic actlvlty. Max~mum specific clearance was 2 to 3 tlmes h ~ g h e r for the ciliate compared to the dinoflagellate. Gymnodlnium sp. survived for a longer time than B. comatum when deprived of prey organisms. Gymnodinium sp. cells were not ingested by B. comatum, although they were of a size which is optimal for B. comatum.
SOLAR AVAILABILITY: A COMPARISON STUDY OF SIX IRRADIATION DISTRIBUTION METHODS

Several approaches have been developed to date to model monthly or annual solar irradiances with different results in terms of time cost and numeric accuracy. This paper presents a comparative study of six irradiation distribution calculation methods of increasing complexity. The study compares the different calculation approaches accounting for solar angles, time series and sensor-grid orientations. Methods are analyzed in terms of their numeric accuracy, reliability and appropriateness for application in architectural practice. Two test scenes were developed. A first simulation case compared methods against unobstructed hourlymeasured data for all cardinal orientations in Freiburg, Germany. The second simulation case characterized a dense urban context in New York City and involved calculations at three different heights (i.e. 2m, 100m, 220m). Significant variation in MBE and RMSE were reported between the two test cases. The design practice applications explored show that these discrepancies may crucially influence the final design recomendations based on the different simulations results.
On $p$-deficiency in groups

Recently, Schlage-Puchta proved super multiplicity of $p$-deficiency for normal subgroups of $p$-power index. We extend this result to all normal subgroups of finite index. We then use the methods of the proof to show that some groups with non-positive $p$-deficiency have virtually positive $p$-deficiency. We also compute the $p$-deficiency in some cases such as Fuchsian groups and study related invariants: the lower and upper absolute $p$-homology gradients and the $p$-Euler characteristic.
Eigenfunction Expansions for the Stokes Flow Operators in the Inverted Oblate Coordinate System

When studying axisymmetric particle fluid flows, a scalar function, , is usually employed, which is called a stream function. It serves as a velocity potential and it can be used for the derivation of significant hydrodynamic quantities. The governing equation is a fourth-order partial differential equation; namely, , where is the Stokes irrotational operator and is the Stokes bistream operator. As it is already known, in some axisymmetric coordinate systems, such as the cylindrical, spherical, and spheroidal ones, separates variables, while in the inverted prolate spheroidal coordinate system, this equation accepts -separable solutions, as it was shown recently by the authors. Notably, the kernel space of the operator does not decompose in a similar way, since it accepts separable solutions in cylindrical and spherical system of coordinates, while semiseparates variables in the spheroidal coordinate systems and it -semiseparates variables in the inverted prolate spheroidal coordinates. In addition to these results, we show in the present work that in the inverted oblate spheroidal coordinates, the equation also -separates variables and we derive the eigenfunctions of the Stokes operator in this particular coordinate system. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the equation -semiseparates variables. Since the generalized eigenfunctions of cannot be obtained in a closed form, we present a methodology through which we can derive the complete set of the generalized eigenfunctions of in the modified inverted oblate spheroidal coordinate system.
Major histocompatibility complex variation associated with juvenile survival and parasite resistance in a large unmanaged ungulate population (Ovis aries L.)

Antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites has been proposed as a mechanism maintaining genetic diversity in both host and parasite populations. In particular, the high levels of genetic diversity widely observed at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of vertebrate hosts are consistent with the hypothesis of parasite-driven balancing selection acting to maintain MHC genetic diversity. To date, however, empirical evidence in support of this hypothesis, especially from natural populations, has been lacking. A large unmanaged population of Soay sheep (Ovis aries L.) is used to investigate associations between MHC variation, juvenile survival, and parasite resistance. We show in an unmanaged, nonhuman population that allelic variation within the MHC is significantly associated with differences in both juvenile survival and resistance to intestinal nematodes. Certain MHC alleles are associated with low survivorship probabilities and high levels of parasitism or vice versa. We conclude that parasites are likely to play a major role in the maintenance of MHC diversity in this population.
Political Communication Culture with a European Touch: A View from Brussels

This article looks into research findings of the “Adequate Information Management (AIM)” project1 in the new light. A principal issue investigated here concerns the political communication culture, or to put it more precisely, the interface between the Brussels correspondents and their political news sources. While focusing on differences that can be detected in the processes of the EU news gathering in Brussels, the article highlights commonalities in reporting as appearing across national communication cultures. Indeed, the communications’ context in Brussels is an interesting research case: for journalists, it creates unique conditions for different journalisms and political communication cultures to meet; for scholars, it requires to address new questions in European communication research. Audrė Balčytienė, Aušra Vinciūnienė Department of Public Communication Vytautas Magnus University E-mail: a.balcytiene@pmdf.vdu. lt, a.vinciuniene@pmdf.vdu. lt 1 Eleven countries took part in the 6th FP project AIM in the period of 2004-2007. Its aim was to disclose specific news production processes (EU information selection, analysis, editing, presentation) resulting in the EU coverage in mass media. Information about the project is available online at http://www.aim-project.net (accessed in March 2008).
The impact of corporate governance on the financial performance of listed companies in the Tehran Stock Exchange Chemical industry

The purpose of the present paper is that of researching the impact of corporate governance on financial performance, on a sample of 3 companies (Tamin Petroleum & Petrochemical Investment Co., Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company and Parsian Oil and Gas Development Group), mainly from the chemical industry area, listed at Tehran Stock Exchange index, during the period 2011-2016. In this study the return on assets (ROA) is the proxy of financial performance. As variables for the corporate governance there have been considered: the characteristics of the board of directors (independence, salary, size, tenure, age and Risk Committees); firm size; the shareholder structure (the shares of institutional investors); the characteristics of CEO (duality) . The estimation techniques used in the empirical analysis have been multivariate regression models based on the method of econometric data based on the relationship between independent and dependent variables using software Eviews8. The results show that the percentage of institutional investors, the salary Board of Directors, the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors size have a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange chemicals industry.
The Links between Accounting and Tax Reporting: The Case of Bad Debt Expense in the Italian Context

This study shows the way tax rules, rather than accounting ones, affect the measurement of receivables for the purpose of preparing the financial statements of Italian private (unlisted) companies according to national accounting standards. Through the distribution approach, it shows that Italian companies are likely to account for bad debt expense that corresponds to the maximum tax-deductible amount. Considering that the impact of tax rules on the preparation of the financial statements may affect the quality of earnings, the main implication of the findings of this study is that the earnings reported by Italian companies are not unconditionally informative regarding the company’s performance. In other words, they may be of poor quality. As a result, they should be interpreted with caution by those who use financial statement information.