Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Join Gabor and scattering transform for urine sediment particle texture analysis

There are many kinds of corporeal ingredients in urinary sediment which must be identified to confirm the diagnosis of an abnormality. In this paper, we refine a method which integrates both Gabor filter and scattering transform for texture analysis in urinary sediment images. The proposed scheme is based on the conventional Gabor filter and the recently developed scattering transform. The Gabor filter bank has the ability to capture the filtering responses according to the scale and orientation of texture. Besides, the scattering transformation provides a distinctive property of robust description, which is invariant to rotations and stable to spatial deformation. The excellent representation of Gabor filter and scattering transform has been severally studied in recent work, yet they have not been used in urinary sediment images. In this work, we propose to use both Gabor filter and scattering transformation to extract the texture feature of urinary sediment images. Coupling with an efficient support vector machine (SVM) classifier, the proposed scheme tends to shown superiority as compared to other single descriptive alternatives in real urinary sediment experiments.
Physicochemical stability of parenteral nutrition supplied as all-in-one for neonates.

BACKGROUND Common clinical practice for the provision of parenteral nutrition of neonates is to administer the nutrients in separate solutions. The aim of this study was to introduce and examine an alternative way of parenteral feeding for neonates, providing all-in-one parenteral regimes. METHODS Stability studies were carried out on 2 all-in-one admixtures. Stability assays consisted of the assessment of the admixture's (1) macroscopic aspect, (2) drop size measurement, (3) pH measurement, (4) peroxide value, and (5) alpha-tocopherol concentration. For the measurements, the admixtures were stored at 2 different temperatures, 4 degrees C (storage) and 25 degrees C (compounding), and then analyzed at a starting time, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days after compounding. RESULTS The 2 all-in-one parenteral admixtures for neonates were shown to be physically stable under analysis conditions, and there were no particles larger than 1 mum. The maximum loss of alpha-tocopherol was approximately 24%. In all-in-one admixtures, lipid peroxide occurred within 24 hours after the addition of the lipid emulsion. CONCLUSIONS The addition of fat emulsion and fat-soluble vitamins did not alter the physical stability of parenteral admixtures for neonates. Moreover, the admixtures examined were relatively chemically stable for 24 hours, as far as vitamin E is concerned. Lipid peroxidation was the limiting factor for application stability of an all-in-one neonatal parenteral regimen.
Aid instability as a measure of uncertainty and the positive impact of aid on growth

This article contributes to the literature on aid and economic growth. We posit that uncertainty, measured as the instability of aid receipts, will influence the relationship between aid and investment, how recipient governments respond to aid, and will capture the fact that some countries are especially vulnerable to shocks. When we account for uncertainty (which is negative and significant), we find that aid has a significant positive effect on growth, largely due to its effect on the volume of investment. The finding that uncertainty of aid receipts reduces the effectiveness of aid is robust. When the regression is estimated for the sub‐sample of African countries these findings hold, although the effectiveness of aid appears weaker than for the full sample.
Does computer use pose an occupational hazard for forearm pain; from the NUDATA study

Aims: To determine the occurrence of pain conditions and disorders in the forearm and to evaluate risk factors for forearm pain in a cohort of computer workers. Methods: A total of 6943 participants with a wide range of computer use and work tasks were studied. At baseline and at one year follow up participants completed a questionnaire. Participants with relevant forearm symptoms were offered a clinical examination. Symptom cases and clinical cases were defined on the basis of self reported pain score and palpation tenderness in the muscles of the forearm. Results: The seven days prevalence of moderate to severe forearm pain was 4.3%. Sixteen of 296 symptom cases met criteria for being a clinical forearm case, and 12 had signs of potential nerve entrapment. One year incidence of reported symptom cases was 1.3%; no subjects developed new signs of nerve entrapment. Increased risk of new forearm pain was associated with use of a mouse device for more than 30 hours per week, and with keyboard use more than 15 hours per week. High job demands and time pressure at baseline were risk factors for onset of forearm pain; women had a twofold increased risk of developing forearm pain. Self reported ergonomic workplace factors at baseline did not predict future forearm pain. Conclusion: Intensive use of a mouse device, and to a lesser extent keyboard usage, were the main risk factors for forearm pain. The occurrence of clinical disorders was low, suggesting that computer use is not commonly associated with any severe occupational hazard to the forearm.
Correlates of anxiety symptoms in physically disabled older women.

OBJECTIVE The authors describe characteristics that are associated with chronic anxiety symptoms and examine the use of anxiolytic and antidepressant medications in physically disabled women with and without symptoms of anxiety. METHODS Participants were 791 physically disabled women age 65+ years who participated in the Women's Health and Aging Study for 2-3 years. Anxiety symptoms were measured with four questions from the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, and women were categorized as having no anxiety, intermittent anxiety, and chronic anxiety symptoms. Health-related characteristics, medications, physical functioning, physical activity, and psychosocial variables were also measured. RESULTS Forty-nine percent of women reported no anxiety symptoms; 41% reported intermittent symptoms; and 10% reported chronic symptoms of anxiety. Depressive symptoms and lack of emotional support were significant correlates of intermittent anxiety symptoms, whereas depressive symptoms, negative life events, and lack of emotional support were significant correlates of chronic anxiety symptoms. Over the course of 3 years, 20.3% of women with no anxiety, 33.0% of women with intermittent anxiety, and 48.7% of women with chronic anxiety symptoms took anxiolytic and/or antidepressant medications. CONCLUSION Anxiety symptoms are common among disabled older women. Psychosocial variables were significantly different in women with intermittent or chronic anxiety symptoms, versus women without anxiety.
A methodology for incorporating fuel price impacts into short-term transit ridership forecasts

Anticipating changes to public transportation ridership demand is important to planning for and meeting service goals and maintaining system viability. These changes may occur in the short- or long-term; extensive academic work has focused on bettering long-term forecasting procedures while improvements to short-term forecasting techniques have not received significant academic attention. This dissertation combines traditional forecasting approaches with multivariate regression to develop a transferable shortterm public transportation ridership forecasting model that incorporates fuel price as a prediction parameter. The research herein addresses 254 US transit systems from bus, light rail, heavy rail, and commuter rail modes, and uses complementary methods to account for seasonal and non-seasonal ridership fluctuations. Models were built and calibrated using monthly data from 2002 to 2007 and validated using a six-month dataset from early 2008. Using variable transformations, classical data decomposition techniques, multivariate regression, and a variety of forecasting model validation measures, this work establishes a benchmark for future research into transferable transit ridership forecasting model improvements that may aid public transportation system planners in an era when, due to fuel price concerns, global warming and green initiatives, and other impetuses, transit use is seeing a resurgence in popularity.
Coverage Analysis of Cloud Radio Networks With Finite Clustering

Cloud radio networks coordinate transmission among base stations (BSs) to reduce the interference effects, particularly for the cell-edge users. In this paper, we analyze the performance of a cloud network with static clustering where geographically close BSs form a cloud network of cooperating BSs. Due to finite cooperation, the interference in a practical cloud radio cannot be removed, and in this paper, the distance-based interference is taken into account in the analysis. In particular, we consider centralized zero forcing equalizer and dirty paper precoding for canceling the interference. Bounds are developed on the signal-to-interference ratio distribution and achievable rate with full and limited channel feedback from the cluster users. The adverse effect of finite clusters on the achievable rate is quantified. We show that the number of cooperating BSs is more crucial than the cluster area when full channel state information from the cluster is available for precoding. Also, we study the impact of limiting the channel state information on the achievable rate. We show that even with a practically feasible feedback of about five to six channel states from each user, significant gain in mean rate and cell edge rate compared with conventional cellular systems can be obtained.
Gap Junction Protein Phenotypes of the Human Heart and Conduction System

Connexin Phenotypes in the Human Heart. Introduction: Gap junction channels are major determinants of intercellular resistance to current flow between cardiac myocytes. Alterations in gap junctions may contribute to development of arrhythmia substrates in patients. However, there is significant interspecies variation in the types and amounts of gap junction subunit proteins (connexins) expressed in disparate regions of mammalian hearts. To elucidate determinants of conduction properties in the human heart, we characterized connexin phenotypes of specific human cardiac tissues with different conduction properties.
Total counts of marine bacteria include a large fraction of non-nucleoid-containing bacteria (ghosts)

Counts of heterotrophic bacteria in marine waters are usually in the order of 5 x 10(sup5) to 3 x 10(sup6) bacteria ml(sup-1). These numbers are derived from unspecific fluorescent staining techniques (J. E. Hobbie, R. J. Daley, and S. Jasper, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 33:1225-1228, 1977; K. G. Porter and Y. S. Feig, Limnol. Oceanogr. 25:943-948, 1980) and are subsequently defined as total counts of bacteria. In samples from the Baltic Sea, the North Sea (Skagerrak), and the northeastern Mediterranean Sea, we found that only a minor fraction (2 to 32%) of total counts can be scored as bacteria with nucleoids. Lack of DNA no doubt means inactive cells; therefore, a much lower number of bacteria that grow at rates higher than those previously estimated must be responsible for the measured bacterial production in these seas. The remaining bacterium-sized and/or -shaped particles included in total counts may be cell residues of virus-lysed bacteria (ghosts) or remains of protozoan grazing.
Performance Based Islamic Performance Index (Study on the Bank Muamalat Indonesia and Bank Syariah Mandiri)

The development of Islamic base banks in Indonesia in recent years show rapid growth. The main challenge for Islamic base banks is how to raise belief from the stakeholders. Stakeholder expectations of the Islamic banks is different from a conventional bank. Since, Islamic banks are built on basic principles of Islamic economics. Therefore, we need a tool to evaluate and measure the performance of Islamic base banks. Islamicity Performance Index is a method which can evaluate the performance of Islamic base banks not only their financial but also justice principles, halal (lawfulness), and tazkiyah (sanctification). There are six financial ratios which are measured from Islamicity Performance Index:profit sharing ratio, zakat performance ratio, equitable distribution ratio, directors-employees welfare ratio, Islamic investment versus non-Islamic investment ratio, Islamic income versus non-Islamic income. This research is intended to figure out the performance of Islamic base Bank in Indonesia based on Islamicity Performance Index. The samples are the Bank Muamalat Indonesia and Bank Syariah Mandiri. Sources of data are the financial reports of Bank Muamalat Indonesia and Bank Syariah Mandiri in 2009–2010 period.The results show that the financial performance of Islamic Base Bank in Indonesia during 2009-2010 period have ”quite satisfactory level of valuation. However, there are two unsatisfactory ratios. They are zakat performance ratio and director-employee welfare contrast ratio. It shows that zakat issued by the Islamic base bank in Indonesia is still low and the contrast of the director-employee welfare is still huge.
Finnish Early Childhood Educators and Sustainable Development

The aim of this study was to find out what Finnish early childhood educators (n = 145) value on sustainability and how they assess the promotion of sustainability in their daily lives. They also wrote 495 comments about barriers to sustainable lifestyle. The data were analyzed with quantitative and qualitative methods. According to the results, the most important elements of sustainability were (a) supporting of communality (including intergenerational link and trust); (b) social responsibility of the consumer; and (c) recycling, composting and taking care of hazardous waste. There was a statistically significant difference between all of the valued elements and the actual implementation of them. The main barriers to sustainable lifestyle were lack of time and information, the higher cost of sustainable choices, and the inconvenience of the sustainable way of life. The tendency to transfer one’s own responsibility to government, to the industry, or to the housing company was identified. A sense of agency is a core skill to be learned on a winding road towards a sustainable society.
Univariate time-series forecasting of monthly peak demand of electricity in northern India

This study forecasts the monthly peak demand of electricity in the northern region of India using univariate time-series techniques namely Multiplicative Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (MSARIMA) and Holt-Winters Multiplicative Exponential Smoothing (ES) for seasonally unadjusted monthly data spanning from April 2000 to February 2007. In-sample forecasting reveals that the MSARIMA model outperforms the ES model in terms of lower root mean square error, mean absolute error and mean absolute percent error criteria. It has been found that ARIMA (2, 0, 0) (0, 1, 1)12 is the best fitted model to explain the monthly peak demand of electricity, which has been used to forecast the monthly peak demand of electricity in northern India, 15 months ahead from February 2007. This will help Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre to make necessary arrangements a priori to meet the future peak demand.
Beliefs dynamics in communication networks

We study the dynamics of individual beliefs and information aggregation when agents communicate via a social network. We provide a general framework of social learning that captures the interactive effects of three main factors on the structure of individual beliefs resulting from such a dynamic process; that is historical factors prior beliefs, learning mechanismsrational and bounded rational learning, and the topology of communication structure governing information exchange. More specifically, we provide conditions under which heterogeneity and consensus prevail. We then establish conditions on the structures of the communication network, prior beliefs and private information for public beliefs to correctly aggregate decentralized information. The speed of learning is also established, but most importantly, its implications on efficient information aggregation.
Hong Kong Firms in the ASEAN Region: Transnational Corporations and Foreign Direct Investment

Economic links between Hong Kong and the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region are historically strong. In this paper, by means of extensive secondary data sources, some facets of these links in relation to the transnational operations of Hong Kong firms and their foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in ASEAN countries are examined. It is found that out of thirty leading Hong Kong transnational corporations (TNCs), nineteen have together more than forty-three operations in ASEAN. Hong Kong TNCs in the tertiary sector are particularly inclined to establish cross-border operations in the ASEAN region. Any explanation of the operations of these TNCs in ASEAN must take into consideration ongoing network relations embedded in peculiar historical contexts and geographical confines. In terms of equity capital inflows, Hong Kong FDI in the ASEAN region regained its momentum after 1985. Indonesia and Thailand are the most favoured destinations for Hong Kong FDI. In these two countries, Hong Kong FDI ranks, respectively, as the second and third largest foreign investment. Future studies need to address the issue of Hong Kong's uncertainty over the ‘1997’ question and of theory-building in international business.
MEMS-based force sensor: Design and applications

Micromachined force detectors are extremely sensitive instruments capable of measuring forces as small as 10−15 N. We describe one such instrument that combines a novel micromachined torsional oscillator with an interferometric position-sensing mechanism that allows fine control of vertical scans. The design, fabrication, and operation of MEMS-based force sensors are described. The sensitivity and unique features of micromachined torsional oscillators allow us to undertake experiments that set new constraints on corrections to Newtonian gravitational forces at separations below 1 μm. Moreover, the measurements provide the most precise characterization of quantum vacuum fluctuation forces to date.
The Political Economy of 'Currency Manipulation' Bashing

In recent years, one of the most frequently debated issues in Congress has been the value of the Chinese renminbi (RMB) relative to the U.S. dollar. Many members of Congress often accuse China of being a “currency manipulator. ” This paper has two objectives. First, it investigates the extent to which PAC contributions from key interest groups as well as constituent interests influence the frequency with which members of Congress criticize China's exchange rate policy, controlling for other factors. The results indicate that the odds that a congressman will call China a “currency manipulator” are 1.35 times higher for every $5000 in PAC contributions from groups that favor legislation against China. In addition, the results show that a one percentage point increase in the share of the congressional district labor force in manufacturing is associated with a 19.6% increase in the likelihood that the district's legislator will label China a “currency manipulator. ” Second, this paper investigates the consequences that “currency manipulation” bashing may have on the rate at which the RMB appreciates against the U.S. dollar. The results for a VAR model indicate that an increase in the incidence of “currency manipulation” bashing appears to temporarily slow down, rather than accelerate, the rate at which the renminbi appreciates against the dollar. This result suggests that bashing China may actually be counterproductive.
Requirement or Promise? An Analysis of the First‐Mover Advantage in Quality Contracting

Quality contracting is critical and challenging due to the many unique issues related to quality. In this study, we analyze the first‐mover right in quality contracting by considering two different strategies for the buyer: the quality requirement strategy (QR) where buyer moves first by posting quality requirement to suppliers and quality promise strategy (QP) where buyer voluntarily gives up the first‐mover right to suppliers to ask them to promise quality. We study which strategy (1) better encourages suppliers' quality improvement efforts and (2) leads to a higher expected profit for the buyer. To analyze the drivers behind the buyer's choice between QR and QP, we start with the basic model where buyer faces only one supplier who has the opportunity to make quality improvements. We then gradually add other business features such as information asymmetry and supplier competition, analyzing how each feature adds/changes the driving forces and how they interact in the buyer's decision between QR and QP. We consider both the case where the wholesale price is fixed (when the buyer has the power to dictate price or price is set by the market) and the case where the wholesale price is included as a variable (when price is part of the negotiation). We find that QP always leads to the first‐best quality efforts from the supplier(s) while QR limits their efforts. However, this does not guarantee higher expected profit for the buyer under QP. We provide insightful guidelines in buyer's choice between QP and QR. This research enriches the limited literature on quality contracting with quality improvement opportunity and asymmetric information.
Salary Dispersion, Location in the Salary Distribution, and Turnover among College Administrators

This paper examines how the amount of dispersion in an organization's salary distribution and an individual's location in that distribution affect turnover. Using data for the years 1978–79 and 1983–84 on more than 10,000 administrators in 821 U.S. colleges and universities, the authors find that salary dispersion negatively affected the turnover of administrators with relatively high salaries and positively affected the turnover of those with relatively low salaries. The joint effect of salary dispersion and relative salary on turnover was strengthened when salary information was publicly available and when a well-developed external labor market was present.
Tuberculosis outbreak in an immigrant reception center in Israel: a clinical and epidemiologic perspective

Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks in congregate settings pose a public health concern and a clinical challenge. We report a TB outbreak involving 6 cases of active TB among 28 recent Ethiopian immigrants (EIs) in an immigrant reception center in Israel. The outbreak erupted several weeks after a meticulous pre-immigration TB screening of this group. All five culture-positive TB patients were infected with the CAS1_DELHI family, SIT 25 strain. Pulmonary involvement manifested as only a persistent cough without systemic symptoms. This outbreak occurred because of miscommunication among healthcare staff and between healthcare staff and the EI index case. It was fuelled by the staff ignorance of the social bonds within the group, and the sluggish once-monthly schedule of the on-site TB clinic operated at the reception center, which further lacked radiography facilities. This outbreak highlights the challenges of screening for active TB among immigrants and hard to reach groups.