Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intra-Articular Injection of 2 Different Dosages of Autologous and Allogeneic Bone Marrow- and Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Triggers a Variable Inflammatory Response of the Fetlock Joint on 12 Sound Experimental Horses

Osteoarthritis is a significant and costly cause of pain for both humans and horses. The horse has been identified as a suitable model for human osteoarthritis. Regenerative therapy with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising treatment, but the safety of this procedure continues to be debated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of intra-articular injections of allogeneic MSCs on healthy joints by comparing two different dosages and two different tissue sources, namely, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, with a placebo treatment on the same individuals. We also assessed the influence of autologous versus allogeneic cells for bone marrow-derived MSC treatment. Twelve clinically sound horses were subjected to injections in their 4 fetlock joints. Each of the three fetlocks was administered a different MSC type, and the remaining fetlock was injected with phosphate-buffered saline as a control. Six horses received 10 million cells per joint, and the 6 other horses received 20 million cells per joint. Clinical and ultrasound monitoring revealed that allogeneic bone marrow-derived MSCs induced significantly more synovial effusion compared to umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs but no significant difference was noted within the synovial fluid parameters. The administration of 10 million cells in horses triggered significantly more inflammatory signs than the administration of 20 million cells. Mesenchymal stem cell injections induced mild to moderate local inflammatory signs compared to the placebo, with individual variability in the sensitivity to the same line of MSCs. Understanding the behavior of stem cells when injected alone is a step towards the safer use of new strategies in stem cell therapy, where the use of either MSC secretome or MSCs combined with biomaterials could enhance their viability and metabolic activity.
Exploring the application of the Ecological Footprint to sustainable consumption policy

The Ecological Footprint is a popular indicator for environmental impacts of consumption amongst local authorities and regional governments in the UK. This paper presents the findings of a survey that investigated the use and perception of the Ecological Footprint by some of these decision-making bodies and demonstrates practical applications of the Ecological Footprint in two case studies, Cardiff and York. The general aim of Footprint studies have been more focused towards that of public awareness and education, with its use as a policy tool taking a more secondary role. Increasingly, confidence is growing in the robustness of the Ecological Footprint so that many local authorities now see the Footprint as more of a policy as well as an educational tool. In summary, the Ecological Footprint can be seen as a tool that will help promote ‘integrated thinking’ and a performance culture, contribute to local strategic policy, provide evidence-based policy decisions and help prioritize the importance of sustainability.
Winners and Losers from Globalization: Why Both European and US Farmers Were Angry in the Grain Invasion Era, 1870-1900

We demonstrate that the agrarian unrest in the United States between 1870 and 1900 can be given an economic explanation, despite its association with increases in the real price of agricultural produce. It was not merely the result of nominal illusions as other scholars have suggested. Falling transportation costs allowed for the extension of the frontier and for more farmers to enter the international grain market. These farmers received, however, the world price minus the transaction costs involved in getting their produce to market. Many considered these costs to be unfairly large, owing to the perceived market power of rail firms and the discriminatory practice of middlemen. Recognizing the gap between what they received and what farmers further east received, frontier farmers protested. Using the shares of the People’s Party (Populist) candidate in the 1892 Presidential elections as a measure of the extent of the protest, we demonstrate that this is negatively related with state wheat prices relative to East Coast prices, even when we control for other factors often also considered relevant.
A Novel Bimodal Identification Approach Based on Hand-Print

A new approach for the personal identification using hand images is presented. This paper attempts to improve the performance of palm-print-based verification system by integrating hand geometry features and finger-print features. Unlike other bimodal biometric systems, the users do not have to undergo the inconvenience of using two diferent sensors since the palm-print, finger-print and hand geometry features can be acquired from the same image. Three kinds of handprint features are extracted for the identification. First the hand geometric feature is used for a coarse matching to select the similar candidates from database. Then the finger print and palm print feature are presented by wavelet zero-crossing. After that both of the two kinds of 1-D features are used in the fine level identification stage. The proposed algorithm has been shown to classify hand-prints with an accuracy of 97%.
Radar cross-section of a generic aircraft at HF frequencies

Coastal HF radar in the ground-wave mode may be useful for monitoring the movement of ships, aircraft and icebergs over vast areas of ocean. At HF frequencies an aircraft is in the `resonance range' of size. The paper studies the radar cross-section (RCS) of a 30-m aircraft-like object for nose-on and broadside incidence, by direct measurement and by wire-grid modelling, with good agreement. The `generic aircraft' RCS is demonstrated to be dominated by the vertical stabilizer at low HF frequencies, but by the fuselage for broadside incidence at higher HF, in level flight. Resonant effects in the RCS are related to resonant-length paths on the airframe. It is shown that a wire antenna carried for HF communication can introduce sharp resonance peaks and troughs into the aircraft RCS. The changes in RCS due to nose-up and nose-down flight attitude, and to steep banking are briefly investigated.
LG ] 5 F eb 2 01 6 Reducing Runtime by Recycling Samples

Contrary to the situation with stochastic gradient descent, we argue that when using stochastic methods with variance reduction, such as SDCA, SAG or SVRG, as well as their variants, it could be beneficial to reuse previously used samples instead of fresh samples, even when fresh samples are available. We demonstrate this empirically for SDCA, SAG and SVRG, studying the optimal sample size one should use, and also uncover behavior that suggests running SDCA for an integer number of epochs could be wasteful.
Isometric efficient and accurate Fourier-SIFT method in iris recognition system

Iris is the Optimum Biometric-trait present in Biometrics Security. Our emphasis on this paper is to obtain efficient, fast and robust algorithm set for iris detection. There are number of algorithms proposed for the efficient result but fails due to limitations. We tried in this paper to make, an efficient combination of the best schemes of normalization, corner detection, feature extraction and best matching algorithm available. We have used Modified-Trajkovic Operator (8-neighbours) to detect the corner, in which, the iris image sample is first optimized by sector based normalization into four sectors, this decreases the iris area but the modified 8-neighbours detect the corner accurately. Fourier-SIFT is then used to determine the keypixels with enhanced threshold cutoff and finally Modified-Hausdorff distance (or Gromov-Hausdorff distance) determines the matching algorithm and measures the distance between keypixels of enrolled and scanned iris during matching. The limitations in the above algorithms are rectified in this paper. This process is rigorously checked on CASIA-V3and MMU iris images.
PHR 1315−6555: a bipolar planetary nebula in the compact Hyades-age open cluster ESO 96-SC04

We present a detailed study of a bipolar, possible Type I planetary nebula (PN), PHR 1315−6555 (PN G305.3−03.1), which was discovered as part of the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg Hα planetary nebula project (MASH), and that we considered at the time was an excellent candidate for membership of the distant, compact, intermediate-age open cluster, ESO 96-SC04. The strong evidence for this association is presented here, making this the only known example of a PN physically associated with a Galactic open cluster. Cluster membership is extremely important as it allows for very precise estimates of the fundamental properties of the PN as the cluster is at a known distance. The PN was discovered by one of us (QAP) during systematic MASH searches for new Galactic PNe of the AAO United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope (UKST) Hα survey and had been missed in earlier broad-band surveys, including specific CCD studies of the host cluster. We present original discovery images and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) 4-m MOSAIC-II camera follow-up narrow-band images that reveal its bipolar morphology. We also present (i) low-resolution optical spectra that spectroscopically confirm the PN, (ii) accurate radial velocities of PN and cluster stars from high-resolution spectroscopy which show they are consistent and (iii) a reliable, independent distance estimate to the PN using a robust PN distance indicator which agrees with the published cluster distance to within the errors. We also provide preliminary estimates of basic PN properties and abundance estimates from deeper spectra that show it to be of possible Type I chemistry. This is also consistent with its estimated turn-off mass. Taken together, these findings present a powerful case for clear physical association between the PN and host cluster. Results for this association will be of considerable interest to specialists across differing astrophysical disciplines, including PNe, white dwarfs and open clusters.
Reasoning with Imprecise Context Using Improved Dempster-Shafer Theory

In pervasive computing environment the contexts are usually imprecise and incomplete due to unreliable connectivity, user mobility, and resource constraints. In this paper we present an approach based on the Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST) for the reasoning with imprecise context. To solve the two fundamental issues of the DST, computation intensiveness and the Zadeh paradox, we filer out excrescent subsets based on their energy to reduce the number of subsets, and employ the concept of evidence loss and approval degree of evidence in the combining process.
Inhaled Nitric Oxide Versus Aerosolized Iloprost in Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension in Children With Congenital Heart Disease: Vasodilator Capacity and Cellular Mechanisms

Background —Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been used to assess the vasodilator capacity of the pulmonary vascular bed in children with congenital heart disease and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. Inhaled iloprost is a pulmonary vasodilator for the long-term treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PHT). Because these 2 vasodilators act through different pathways (release of cGMP or cAMP, respectively), we compared the pulmonary vasodilator capacity of each. Methods and Results —A total of 15 children with congenital heart disease and PHT who had elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (preoperative, n=10; immediately postoperative, n=5) were first given 20 ppm of iNO for 10 minutes; then, after baseline values were reached again, they were given aerosolized iloprost at 25 ng · kg−1 · min−1 for another 10 minutes. Finally, iNO and iloprost were given simultaneously for 10 minutes. With iNO, the pulmonary vascular resistance and systemic vascular resistance ratio decreased from 0.48±0.38 to 0.27±0.16 (P <0.001). Similarly, iloprost decreased the ratio from 0.49±0.38 to 0.26±0.11 (P <0.05). The combination had no additional effect on the resistance ratio. Plasma cGMP increased from 17.6±11.9 to 34.7±21.4 nmol/L during iNO (P <0.01), and plasma cAMP increased from 55.7±22.9 to 65.1±21.2 nmol/L during iloprost inhalation (P <0.05). Conclusions —In children with PHT and congenital heart disease, both iNO and aerosolized iloprost are equally effective in selectively lowering pulmonary vascular resistance through an increase in cGMP or cAMP, respectively. However, the combination of both vasodilators failed to prove more potent than either substance alone. Aerosolized iloprost might be an alternative to iNO for early testing of vascular reactivity and for the postoperative treatment of acute PHT.
Impact of Biotechnology on Plant Breeding

The application of modern biotechnology to plant breeding is considered to be more efficient and quicker than conventional breeding techniques in the development of new and more resilient crop varieties. To test the impact that biotechnology is having on a industrial plant breeding activities, we relate firm level Plant Variety Protection Certificate (PVPC) applications to corresponding expenditure on research and development (R&D), agricultural biotechnology patents applications, field trials of genetically modified crops, firm structure, as well as industry specific characteristics. Regression results indicate agbiotech activities are directly related to PVP applications, hence the creation of new plant varieties.
Incidence of rough and irregular atmospheric ice particles from Small Ice Detector 3 measurements

The knowledge of properties of ice crystals such as size, shape, concavity and roughness is critical in the con- text of radiative properties of ice and mixed-phase clouds. Limitations of current cloud probes to measure these proper- ties can be circumvented by acquiring two-dimensional light- scattering patterns instead of particle images. Such patterns were obtained in situ for the first time using the Small Ice Detector 3 (SID-3) probe during several flights in a variety of mid-latitude mixed-phase and cirrus clouds. The patterns are analysed using several measures of pattern texture, se- lected to reveal the magnitude of particle roughness or com- plexity. The retrieved roughness is compared to values ob- tained from a range of well-characterized test particles in the laboratory. It is found that typical in situ roughness corre- sponds to that found in the rougher subset of the test particles, and sometimes even extends beyond the most extreme values found in the laboratory. In this study we do not differentiate between small-scale, fine surface roughness and large-scale crystal complexity. Instead, we argue that both can have sim- ilar manifestations in terms of light-scattering properties and also similar causes. Overall, the in situ data are consistent, with ice particles with highly irregular or rough surfaces be- ing dominant. Similar magnitudes of roughness were found in growth and sublimation zones of cirrus. The roughness was found to be negatively correlated with the halo ratio, but not with other thermodynamic or microphysical properties found in situ. Slightly higher roughness was observed in cir- rus forming in clean oceanic air masses than in a continental, polluted one. Overall, the roughness and complexity are ex- pected to lead to increased shortwave cloud reflectivity, in comparison with cirrus composed of more regular, smooth ice crystal shapes. These findings put into question sugges- tions that climate could be modified through aerosol seeding to reduce cirrus cover and optical depth, as the seeding may result in decreased shortwave reflectivity.
Upscaling of gross ecosystem production to the landscape scale using multi-temporal Landsat images, eddy covariance measurements and a footprint model

The authors announce an upscaling framework to produce landscape scale flux estimates for GPP. Generally speaking, this subject is relevant and should be interesting for the readers of Biogeosciences, since it would enhance our capabilities to make use of the growing eddy-covariance databases, and at the same time improve validation of remote sensing products, However, what the authors actually do is simply compare eddy-covariance fluxes with spatially distributed flux estimates based on Landsat data, using an Eulerian flux footprint model to connect both data sources. All elements in-
Adaptive Markets Hypothesis for Islamic Stock Portfolios: Evidence from Dow Jones Size and Sector-Indices

This paper analyzes the degree of return predictability (or weak-form informational efficiency) of Dow Jones Islamic and conventional size and sectorindices using the data from 1996 to 2013. Employing the automatic portmanteau and variance ratio tests for the martingale difference hypothesis of asset returns, we find that all Islamic and conventional portfolio returns have been predictable in a number of periods, consistent with the implications of the adaptive markets hypothesis. Overall, Islamic portfolios exhibit a higher degree of informational efficiency than the conventional ones, especially in the Consumer Goods, Consumer Services, Financials and Technology sectors. We also find that Islamic portfolios tend to be more efficient than the conventional ones during crisis periods
Data-Gap Filling to Understand the Dynamic Feedback Pattern of Soil

Detailed and accurate information on the spatial variation of soil over low-relief areas is a critical component of environmental studies and agricultural management. Early studies show that the pattern of soil dynamics provides comprehensive information about soil and can be used as a new environmental covariate to indicate spatial variation in soil in low relief areas. In practice, however, data gaps caused by cloud cover can lead to incomplete patterns over a large area. Missing data reduce the accuracy of soil information and make it hard to compare two patterns from different locations. In this study, we introduced a new method to fill data gaps based on historical data. A strong correlation between MODIS band 7 and cumulated reference evapotranspiration has been confirmed by theoretical derivation and by the real data. Based on this correlation, data gaps in MODIS band 7 can be predicted by daily evaporation data. Furthermore, correlations among bands are used to predict soil reflectance in MODIS bands 1–6 from MODIS band 7. A location in northeastern Illinois with a large area of low relief farmland was selected to examine this idea. The results show a good exponential relationship between MODIS band 7 and CET00.5 in most locations of the study area (with average R2 = 0.55, p < 0.001, and average NRMSE 10.40%). A five-fold cross validation shows that the approach proposed in this study captures the regular pattern of soil surface reflectance change in bands 6 and 7 during the soil drying process, with a Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) of prediction of 13.04% and 10.40%, respectively. Average NRMSE of bands 1–5 is less than 20%. This suggests that the proposed approach is effective for filling the data gaps from cloud cover and that the method reduces the data collection requirement for understanding the dynamic feedback pattern of soil, making it easier to apply to larger areas for soil mapping.
Partitions and Indivisibility Properties of Countable 1 Dimensional Vector Spaces 2

8 We investigate infinite versions of vector and affine space partition 9 results, and thus obtain examples and a counterexample for a parti10 tion problem for relational structures. In particular we provide two 11 (related) examples of an age indivisible relational structure which is 12 not weakly indivisible. 13
Local phase significance estimated with uncertainties to detect fibrotic regions from in vivo pancreatic cancer images

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fifth leading cause of death among cancer cases. One of the most debated questions is whether fibrosis, which is linked to resistance to treatment, is promoted by the so called pancreatic stellate cells (PSC). Pre-clinical research currently uses ultrasound (US) images in an attempt to answer this question. However, such images often have poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and limited resolution, so relying solely upon visual inspection, their target might easily be missed. To further investigation of this question, we are attempting to identify fibrotic regions, currently in ultrasound images, with minimal user interaction. To achieve this, we adopt a multi-scale framework and estimate local phase (LP) significance based on feature uncertainty and LP coherence: (1) images are decomposed into multiple scales using the Mellor-Brady filter, (2) uncertainties from normalised covariance matrices at each scale are estimated, (3) noise variances are calculated using continuous intrinsic dimensionality and non-parametric probability density estimation, and (4) local phase significance is calculated as a normalised weighted sum, with uncertainty weights from (2). Initial results of this method are demonstrated on pre-clinical PDAC images to identify regions that represent fibrosis.
Phase I/II trial of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan in combination with bevacizumab in first line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Phase III studies have demonstrated the efficacy of FOLFOXIRI regimens (5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan) with/without bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Capecitabine is an orally administered fluoropyrimidine that may be used instead of 5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin. We evaluated a triple‐chemotherapy regimen of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, plus bevacizumab in 53 patients with mCRC. A Phase I study identified the maximum tolerated dose of irinotecan as 150 mg/m2. Median follow‐up in a subsequent Phase II study using this dose was 28 months (74% progressed). For all patients, a complete response was achieved in 4% and a partial response in 60%; median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 16 months and median overall survival (OS) was 28 months. Median PFS was longer for patients with an early treatment response (28 vs. 9 months for others; P = 0.024), or early tumor shrinkage (25 vs. 9 months for others; P = 0.006), or for patients suitable for surgical removal of metastases with curative intent (median not reached vs. 9 months for others; P = 0.001). Median OS was longer for patients with early tumor shrinkage (median not reached vs. 22 months for others; P = 0.006) or surgery (median not reached vs. 22 months for others, P = 0.002). K‐ras mutations status did not influence PFS (P = 0.88) or OS (P = 0.82). Considerable Grade 3/4 toxicity was encountered (36% for diarrhea, 21% for vomiting and 17% for fatigue). In conclusion, the 3‐weekly triple‐chemotherapy regimen of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, plus bevacizumab, was active in the first‐line treatment of mCRC, although at the expense of a high level of toxicity.
Robust recursive control of a skid-steering mobile robot

This paper is concerned with the robust control of a skid-steering mobile robot (SSMR). A robust recursive controller for linear state-space systems subject to parametric uncertainties is considered to deal with the SSMR tracking problem. Simulation results of the application of this regulator using the dynamic model equations of a SSMR shows the effectiveness of this approach.