Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Survey on Salient Region Detection Methods

Saliency detection is considered to be a key attention mechanism by enabling organisms to focus their limited perceptual and cognitive resources of available sensory data. In short, saliency detection is nothing but detecting the more attracted regions in an image. Salient region detection can be broadly classified into contrast based method, learning based and rarity based method. Salient region detection is a challenging problem and an important topic in computer vision. It has a wide range of applications, such as object recognition and segmentation. Many approaches have been proposed to detect salient regions using different visual cues, such as compactness, uniqueness, and background. However, each visual cue-based method has its own limitations. This study includes various salient region detection methods. Keywords—Saliency detection, structure, object recognition, compactness, uniqueness.
Loosely‐guided, self‐directed learning versus strictly‐guided, station‐based learning in gross anatomy laboratory sessions

Anatomy students studying dissected anatomical specimens were subjected to either a loosely‐guided, self‐directed learning environment or a strictly‐guided, preformatted gross anatomy laboratory session. The current study's guiding questions were: (1) do strictly‐guided gross anatomy laboratory sessions lead to higher learning gains than loosely‐guided experiences? and (2) are there differences in the recall of anatomical knowledge between students who undergo the two types of laboratory sessions after weeks and months? The design was a randomized controlled trial. The participants were 360 second‐year medical students attending a gross anatomy laboratory course on the anatomy of the hand. Half of the students, the experimental group, were subjected without prior warning to station‐based laboratory sessions; the other half, the control group, to loosely‐guided laboratory sessions, which was the course's prevailing educational method at the time. The recall of anatomical knowledge was measured by written reproduction of 12 anatomical names at four points in time: immediately after the laboratory experience, then one week, five weeks, and eight months later. The strictly‐guided group scored higher than the loosely‐guided group at all time‐points. Repeated ANOVA showed no interaction between the results of the two types of laboratory sessions (P = 0.121) and a significant between‐subject effect (P ≤ 0.001). Therefore, levels of anatomical knowledge retrieved were significantly higher for the strictly‐guided group than for the loosely‐guided group at all times. It was concluded that gross anatomy laboratory sessions with strict instructions resulted in the recall of a larger amount of anatomical knowledge, even after eight months. Anat Sci Educ. © 2012 American Association of Anatomists.
Theoretical polarized channel model and analysis of XPD and polarization correlation under narrowband macrocell environment

A theoretical polarized channel model has been proposed by introducing per path polarization characterization based on geometrical depolarization theory. According to the model, polarization array response vector for narrowband macro-cell environment has been derived through intricate geometrical deduction. Mathematical expressions for polarized channel power imbalance XPD (cross polarization discrimination) and polarization correlation have been developed by using VMF (von Mises-Fisher) distribution which characterizes both azimuth and elevation angle. Numerical integration technique is used to analyze the effect of scatterers' angular characteristics including average azimuth angle, average elevation angle and angular spread on XPD and polarization correlation due to the complexity of geometrical deduction. Our analytical results agree well with previous published XPD and polarization correlation measurements and can be used to predict further XPD and polarization correlation characteristics. Analytical results indicate that both XPD and polarization correlation are highly angle-sensitive.
A Survey on I/O Virtualization and Optimization

This paper surveys virtualization of I/O devices, which is one of the most difficult parts in system virtualization. Current technologies of virtualizing I/O devices include full virtualization, paravirtualization, software emulation and VMM-bypass direct I/O. Optimizations are also done to improve the performance of each technology. Most optimizations used paravirtualization technology for reference. VMM-bypass direct I/O performs the best performance, but the VM direct-access I/O devices is difficult to be migrated, for it is hard to capture the states of the devices without VMM interference. An ideal approach is still required, and all the optimizations to the other approaches can be used for reference. We evaluated I/O performance in KVM and proposed some optimizations to improve KVM.
Treatment of Recurrent Earlobe Keloids with Surgery and High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy

Keloids, from Greek derivation and meaning “crab’s claw,” are abnormal scars resulting from an imbalance between collagen deposition and collagen degradation1–3 in a thick, glassy, hyalinized, and disorganized pattern histologically.4 Keloids are characterized clinically by extension beyond the borders of the original wound, the absence of spontaneous regression, and frequent recurrences. These lesions cause symptoms of pruritus, burning, discomfort, and paresthesias, and a significant aesthetic deformity that is often resistant to most forms of therapy. Earlobes are common sites for keloids following ear piercing, with an incidence of approximately 2.5 percent.5 These tumors have a tendency to recur after surgical excision alone, with rates up to 80 percent.6,7 Among other modalities, surgical excision, corticosteroid injection, pressure earrings, radiation therapy, carbon dioxide laser, and silicone gel have been attempted with varying degrees of success for the remedy of earlobe keloids.8 The literature suggests that the most efficacious results have often been obtained with a combination approach using surgery and radiation therapy.9 High-dose-rate brachytherapy is a form of radiation delivery characterized by implantation of radioactive seeds through a hollow catheter directly into the patient’s tumor site; the dose is calculated and delivered, and the catheter is removed. The present report describes our technique of combined surgery and high-dose-rate brachytherapy for recurrent earlobe keloids, reviews outcomes of our first 25 patients, and offers suggestions as to why high-dose-rate brachytherapy is preferred for the management of these difficult tumors.
Public and private risk sharing in the financing of low- emitting urban infrastructure projects: The case of CDM projects in the waste sector

Low CO2 emitting urban infrastructure projects are expected to play an important role in mitigating climate change. By enabling projects to sell their CO2 emission reductions on the international carbon market, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) turns the positive environmental benefits of such projects into financial cash flows. However, investors and lenders to these projects frequently face significant financial risks relating to the realisation of these cash flows, reducing the attractiveness of such projects for investors. This paper both identifies and proposes ways of mitigating project and partnership risks of CDM projects in the waste sector based on a literature review and several examples of CDM projects. The paper concludes that public-private partnerships and the integration of external financial institutions can be used to mitigate certain exogenous and endogenous project risks by allocating them to that partner (public project sponsor, private operator or external investors and lenders) who has private information on these risks or is most capable of assuming the risks. However, the relationship structures of the projects will become more complex. Partnership risks arise, which concern the distribution of carbon revenues between the partners. These risks differ from one contract type to the other. A concession contract (which allocates the carbon revenues directly to the contracted private operator) can be preferred against a management contract (under which the operator is remunerated by a management fee) as this aligns the incentives between builder and operator of the infrastructure and mitigates partnership risks. Public and private financial institutions can assume project risks. Bank debt may be preferred over external equity as it increases the efforts of the operator in terms of CO2 emission reductions.
Synthesizing remote sensing images by conditional adversarial networks

Automated annotation of urban areas from overhead imagery plays an essential role in many remote sensing applications. Generative Adversarial Nets (GANs) is one of the most effective ways to handle this problem. In this manuscript, two tricks were added in conditional GANs(cGANs) which learn the mapping from input image to output remote sensing image. All the experimental results demonstrated that cGANs was a reliable way to generate high-quality remote sensing images. What's more, when this method be applied to semantic segmentation and accurate classification was made by using ISPRS 2D semantic labelling challenge dataset.
Seven practices for sustaining human resources in small and medium-sized enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)need to develop and sustain their human resources in order to improve their competitiveness.Although human resources are essential to SMEs, the small business literature indicates studies that examined how these firms manage their human resource have not received much attention, particularly in Malaysia.This has resulted in limited knowledge on human resources practices among the local SMEs.The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.Based on the review of the literature and the evidence obtained from the findings of past studies, This paper identifies and seeks to provide owners and managers of SMEs some insights into seven human resource practices that can assist them to not only sustain their human resources but also help them to become more competitive.
A Decision Support Tool for Thrift Savings Plan Investors

Abstract : The Thrift Savings Plan is-the defined contribution retirement plan for federal government employees. It is one of the largest retirement plans in the United States. The plan offers five different investment options: two funds concentrate on government securities and corporate bonds, two funds span the United States stock market, and one fund focuses on international stocks. These funds give investors the opportunity to diversify among a wide range of securities. This thesis examines the funds offered by the plan and creates a portfolio selection tool that uses investor inputs. The tool uses three mathematical models: optimization, based on Markowitz's (1952) Modern Portfolio Theory; simulation, based on the combination of optimization results and investor profiles; and selection, based on the simulation results and investor preferences. Results are presented for four investors. Other investors can use these results to gain insight, but the greatest benefit is derived from individual implementation. The tool requires only a few user inputs, and it can be operated without any external assistance. The research has further found that one investment option should not be part of any portfolio, and some portfolios can be risky to individuals for differing reasons.
Morphological and functional changes in guinea‐pig neurons projecting to the ileal mucosa at early stages after inflammatory damage

Inflammation in the gut causes changes in neurons that control its movement and secretion. This leads to symptoms of pain and functional disorders that may persist long after the resolution of inflammation, which in humans manifests as the irritable bowel syndrome. In this study we demonstrate an association between hyperexcitability of neurons in the gut wall, damage to the nerve terminals in the mucosa and inflammation close to neurons and their terminals. These results increase our understanding of the triggering mechanisms that contribute to post‐inflammatory gut dysfunctions.
A simple non-parametric procedure for rapid estimation of Scatchard parameters.

A simple non-parametric procedure for the calculation of Scatchard parameters from radioligand binding experiments by evaluating total binding curves is described. It is based on the mathematical theory describing any number n of ligands reacting with any number m of binding sites developed by Feldman (1972). Additionally, the level of nonspecific binding is regarded as an unknown parameter taking into account the precisely additive nature of specific and nonspecific binding as reported by Hulme et al. (1978). The numerical solution of the resulting equation for the parameters mentioned was performed as derived by Hart (1965). In this communication the"n by m" model of Feldman (1972) has been applied for the case n = 1 and m = 1, and the calculation procedure proposed has been used for the evaluation of Scatchard analysis of H-dihydroalprenoloI (H-DHA) binding in the cerebral cortex of rat brain.
Why the Lean Start-Up Changes Everything

In the past few years, a new methodology for launching companies, called "the lean start-up," has begun to replace the old regimen. Traditionally, a venture's founders would write a business plan, complete with a five-year forecast, use it to raise money, and then go into "stealth mode" to develop their offerings, all without getting much feedback from the people they intended to sell to. Lean start-ups, in contrast, begin by searching for a business model. They test, revise, and discard hypotheses, continually gathering customer feedback and rapidly iterating on and reengineering their products. This strategy greatly reduces the chances that start-ups will spend a lot of time and money launching products that no one actually will pay for. Blank, a consulting associate professor at Stanford, is one of the architects of the lean start-up movement and has seen this approach help businesses get off the ground quickly and successfully. He believes that if it's widely adopted, it would reduce the incidence of start-up failure. In combination with other trends, such as open source software and the democratization of venture financing, it could ignite a new, more entrepreneurial economy. There are numerous indicators that the approach is catching on: Business schools and universities are incorporating lean start-up principles into their curricula. Even more interesting, large companies like GE are applying them to internal innovation initiatives. INSET: Idea in Brief.
Performance Analysis of Constant Speed Local Abstacle Avoidance Controller Using a MPC Algorithym on Granular Terrain

A Model Predictive Control (MPC) LIDAR-based constant speed local obstacle avoidance algorithm has been implemented on rigid terrain and granular terrain in Chrono to examine the robustness of this control method. Provided LIDAR data as well as a target location, a vehicle can route itself around obstacles as it encounters them and arrive at an end goal via an optimal route. Using Chrono, a multibody physics API, this controller has been tested on a complex multibody physics HMMWV model representing the plant in this study. A penalty-based DEM approach is used to model contacts on both rigid ground and granular terrain. We draw conclusions regarding the MPC algorithm performance based on its ability to navigate the Chrono HMMWV on rigid and granular terrain.
Structural Basis of Lipid Binding for the Membrane-embedded Tetraacyldisaccharide-1-phosphate 4′-Kinase LpxK*

Background: LpxK is an essential membrane-bound kinase in the lipid A biosynthetic pathway. Results: Structural and kinetic studies reveal the molecular basis of lipid binding. Conclusion: The LpxK active site recognizes the lipid's glucosamine/phosphate headgroups and only accommodates disaccharides. Significance: These studies provide a structural template for designing novel antibiotics and a glimpse of catalysis at the membrane interface. The membrane-bound tetraacyldisaccharide-1-phosphate 4′-kinase, LpxK, catalyzes the sixth step of the lipid A (Raetz) biosynthetic pathway and is a viable antibiotic target against emerging Gram-negative pathogens. We report the crystal structure of lipid IVA, the LpxK product, bound to the enzyme, providing a rare glimpse into interfacial catalysis and the surface scanning strategy by which many poorly understood lipid modification enzymes operate. Unlike the few previously structurally characterized proteins that bind lipid A or its precursors, LpxK binds almost exclusively to the glucosamine/phosphate moieties of the lipid molecule. Steady-state kinetic analysis of multiple point mutants of the lipid-binding pocket pinpoints critical residues involved in substrate binding, and characterization of N-terminal helix truncation mutants uncovers the role of this substructure as a hydrophobic membrane anchor. These studies make critical contributions to the limited knowledge surrounding membrane-bound enzymes that act upon lipid substrates and provide a structural template for designing small molecule inhibitors targeting this essential kinase.
A novel approach to model Bifilar Switched Reluctance Machines based on Transformer Equivalent Circuit

This paper presents a new method for modeling the Bifilar Switched Reluctance Machine (BSRM) for both generating and motoring operation. This idea is accomplished by a Transformer Based Equivalent Circuit (TBEC) model. The two separate windings in BSRM stator poles, namely magnetizing and demagnetizing coils persuade the usage of magnetic structure of a transformer to model the nonlinear performance of these machines. The proposed modeling approach provides a precise, fast, simplified and applicable model. This particular model has the features to be a charming choice for evaluation and controlling purposes in operation of BSRMs. To verify the feasibility of suggested method, the model has been established in Matlab/Simulink. Finite-Element-Analysis (FEA) and experimental evaluations of a three phase, 6/4, BSRM is prepared and through comparison authenticity of the new stratagem is demonstrated.
Implementing anti-racist pedagogy in health professional education: a realist review

In response to the greater public awareness of anti-Indigenous racism within Canada’s health care system, the nation’s health education programs are under increasing pressure to incorporate anti-racist approaches in their training of health professionals. But implementation of curricular content about racism has been slow to emerge in these programs and a focus on culture rather than racial oppression persists. Few guidelines currently exist to assist in the application of anti-racist pedagogy in health education, and the published research in this area is relatively limited. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore the peer-reviewed literature using a critical realist framework to identify the factors and processes that influence the implementation of anti-racist teaching in a health context. The findings highlight the role of human actors, contextual factors, and pedagogical processes in either facilitating or impeding the advancement of anti-racist pedagogy in health education. Correspondence to: Linda Diffey, Applied Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Linda Diffey, Tel: 204-975-7752; Fax: 204-975-7783; E-mail: Linda.Diffey@umanitoba.ca
A Model of Antecedents for the Co-Creation of Value in Health Care: An Application of Structural Equation Modeling

There is a lack of empirical studies to understand the creation of value in the context of health services. This research proposes a model with three antecedent variables (flexibility, responsiveness and co-innovation) and an outcome variable (co-creation) to be analyzed by the partial least square method (PLS). Four vignettes were built from the literature review, validated by experts, in order to capture the perceptions of respondents about the actions of the protagonists in scenarios on the value of co-creation in a health service. The assumptions of the model were tested empirically through a survey of 225 health professionals in Sao Paulo (nurses, nursing technicians and physiotherapists). The results support the hypotheses that flexibility is positively associated with the responsiveness and co-innovation. Also there was a positive association with the responsiveness co-innovation and co-creation. There was support for the positive association between co-innovation and co-creation, however, in that context, a direct association between flexibility and co-creation has not been verified. The research contributes to a better understanding of background variables that amplify the value co-creation capacity in health services.
An Evaluation of Public Construction Contracting Methods for the Public Building Sector in Oregon using Data Envelopment Analysis

An abstract ofthe dissertation ofGerald Herman Williams, Jr. for the Doctor ofPhilosophy in Systems Science: Engineering Management presented September 25, 2003. Title: An Evaluation ofPublic Construction Contracting Methods for the Public Building Sector in Oregon using Data Envelopment Analysis Since 1976 public agencies in Oregon have been allowed to select construction contractors using a "qualification" based competition instead of the more typical lowest responsible bid or Design-Bid-Build (DBB) basis. Since 1985, at least 136 such selections, commonly known as CMlGC for Construction Manager/General Contractor, have been made. The results ofthis policy have not previously been analyzed. This research compares these selection methods, seeking to answer the following questions: 1. Does the CMlGC method result in projects that differ from DBB projects regarding cost and schedule control? 2. Are CMlGC projects more efficient than DBB projects, where efficiency is defined as the data envelopment analysis (DEA) technical efficiency score? 3. Does efficiency depend on an interaction between project type and the
The antecedents and market impact of changes in segment disclosure : two essays

This set of two essays addresses questions about the impact of SFAS No. 131, which provides the current GAAP for segment reporting. Many firms enhanced their segment reports in compliance with SFAS No. 131, while some did not. The first essay documents the impact of the new standard on the market for stocks of firms that began reporting disclosure for multiple segments (Change firms) compared to that of firms that did not report multiple business segments (Control firms). Share volume and price increased abruptly following release of the new disclosure while volatility and the adverse selection component of the bid-ask spread decreased. These changes were significant for subsets of Change firms identified as being more likely to face information asymmetry problems (i.e., low capitalization and high bid-ask spread firms). The second essay compares firms' segment disclosures from pre- to post-implementation of the standard. Newly-reported segments tend to be smaller than previously-disclosed segments, and they are often combined with larger segments in a related industry prior to implementation of the standard. Firms providing relatively aggregated segment reports tend to be large, to have international operations, and complex operating structures compared to firms providing more detailed disclosures in the pre-SFAS No. 131 period.