Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temporal sign language analysis based on DTW and incremental model

Sign language data can be expressed as the positional changes of hands over time. Although increasing the number of hand movement sensors increases the recognition rate, the data scales become larger. In addition, each sign language data has a different duration. When large data are generated continuously, lower memory usage and a standardized form of data are necessary to be applied immediately in the recognition system. In this paper, we propose an incremental model that can discover major patterns and summarize entire multivariable time series data. First, Dynamic Time Warping(DTW) is applied to preprocess the data to align the length of the time series data with the same size. The contribution of the proposed incremental model is hidden variable detection and correlations of the data with temporal features. Our experiment exhibits much lower reconstruction error rates compared to Principal Component Analysis(PCA). Low reconstruction error rate can minimize the loss of information arising from feature extraction or the dimensional reduction of data. Then, it can be applied in the field of computer vision to compress an image, for image restoration and intelligent recognition systems.
Methylprednisolone inhibits the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in reactivated astrocytes

Reactive gliosis caused by post‐traumatic injury often results in marked expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), which inhibits neurite outgrowth and regeneration. Methylprednisolone (MP), a synthetic glucocorticoid, has been shown to have neuroprotective and anti‐inflammatory effects for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the effect of MP on CSPG expression in reactive glial cells remains unclear. In our study, we induced astrocyte reactivation using α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionate (AMPA) and cyclothiazide to mimic the excitotoxic stimuli of SCI. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrocyte reactivation, and CSPG neurocan and phosphacan were significantly elevated by AMPA treatment. The conditioned media from AMPA‐treated astrocytes strongly inhibited neurite outgrowth of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons, and this effect was reversed by pretreatment with MP. Furthermore, MP downregulated GFAP and CSPG expression in adult rats with SCI. Additionally, both the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486 and GR siRNA reversed the inhibitory effects of MP on GFAP and neurocan expression. Taken together, these results suggest that MP may improve neuronal repair and promote neurite outgrowth after excitotoxic insult via GR‐mediated downregulation of astrocyte reactivation and inhibition of CSPG expression. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Use of Verbal Autopsy in Attributing Cause of Death from Epilepsy

Summary: Verbal autopsy (VA) is a method used increasingly in low‐income countries to ascertain the likely cause of death. Originally developed for use in pediatrics and infectious disease, it is also useful in situations with poor data on adult mortality. Using information on cause of death ascertained through interviews with relatives or other associates of the deceased, assessment of the likely cause of death is performed by expert clinicians. Methodological issues related to the VA method include robustness when dealing with less‐frequent causes of death; use of open or closed mortality classification; and possible selection bias in assessing cause of death. However, alternatives, including death certification, share many sources of imprecision. The clear advantage of the VA method is that it does not depend on access to clinic services, although clinical experts are used for the classification process. Even this may be challenged by the development of algorithms for the automatic coding of cause of death. VA has not been systematically applied to studies of causes of death in developed countries where physicians are available to complete death certificates. However, in studies of sudden unexplained death in developed countries, techniques similar to VA are used to ascertain circumstances surrounding death to be able to potentially classify it as sudden and unexplained. Thus, family and friends of the deceased are potentially valuable contributors, using the VA methodology: VA is useful in low‐income countries to estimate the burden of epilepsy on all‐cause mortality and, in industrialized nations it offers insights into sudden death from epilepsy.
Comparing apples and oranges: Evaluating model-coverage using acceptance regions

Analog/Mixed-Signal (AMS) design and verification is dominated by modelling tasks. Model validity is crucial for the design's correctness but lacks a more formal criterion. We propose a novel model verification strategy to evaluate the coverage with respect to a given circuit. We define model-coverage based on the individual acceptance regions in parameter space. This imposes a measure that can be formally described and efficiently approximated by an industrial simulation environment. We prove the ability of our approach in a case study: A model of a clock-recovery component used in RFID tags is compared to the realized circuit and layout. Using the novel coverage measure, we match the model to the circuit: By systematically adding new constraints to the model code, the coverage is increased to 99% ensuring the correctness of the overall system verification.
A statistical characterization of shadowed fading in indoor off-body communications channels at 5.8 GHz

This paper investigates the characteristics of the shadowed fading observed in off-body communications channels at 5.8 GHz using the κ-μ / gamma composite fading model. Realistic measurements have been conducted considering four individual scenarios namely line of sight (LOS) and non-LOS (NLOS) walking, rotation and random movements within an indoor laboratory environment. It is shown that the κ-μ / gamma composite fading model provides a better fit to the fading observed in off-body communications channels compared to the conventional Nakagami-m and Rician fading models.
A critical reappraisal of resident participation in China and France: ‘authoritarian deliberation’ goes global?

Abstract This paper, the first step of a project aiming at analysing the establishment of practices of resident participation and consultation in urban renewal in China, proposes a reflection upon these practices through a comparison with similar experiences in France. Identifying some convergences between the practices adopted in the two countries, the paper proposes to reflect upon such puzzling outcomes, provocatively questioning the classic distinction between authoritarian and democratic regimes. It suggests that our analyses and interpretations shall get rid of classical binary categorisations between regime types to embrace a comparative analysis of the policies and practices introduced in various local contexts, and reflect upon their underlying logics. In so doing, the paper engages with He and Warren's concept of ‘authoritarian deliberation’ as well as with the critiques expressed by a number of French scholars on concepts such as ‘participative democracy’ and ‘good governance’. Such a focus on the underlying logics rather than on regime types will show that the concept of ‘authoritarian deliberation’ does not only apply to authoritarian contexts. Rather, it represents a fruitful starting point to analyse and reflect upon instances of participation and deliberation in both democratic and authoritarian countries.
Gemcitabine and cisplatin in locally advanced and metastatic bladder cancer; 3- or 4-week schedule?

Background. Chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) is an active regimen in advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Traditionally, GC has been administered as a 4-week schedule. However, an alternative 3-week schedule may be more feasible. Long-term survival data for the alternative 3-week schedule and comparisons of the feasibility and toxicity between the two schedules have not previously been published. Material and methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with stage IV TCC, treated with GC by a standard 4-week or by an alternative 3-week schedule. Results. A total of 212 patients received GC (3-week; n=151, 4-week; n=61). We found no statistical differences in overall survival between the two schedules (hazard ratio 1.15, 95% CI 0.83–1.59), p=0.40). Five-year survival rates were 14.9% and 11.8% for the 3- and 4-week schedule, respectively (p=0.94). Response rates were 59.7% and 55.6%, respectively (p=0.61). Toxicity was less pronounced in the 3-week schedule with regards to neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and transfusion rates. Hematologic toxicity at day 15 in the 4-week schedule was common, leading to dose omissions in 47% of cycles. Dose intensity for gemcitabine was accordingly lower in the 4 week-schedule. The higher dose intensity of cisplatin in the 3-week schedule, did not lead to increased renal toxicity. In 13 patients with impaired renal function, cisplatin was split into 2 days, which was feasible and efficient. Conclusion. Efficacy parameters for the GC 3-week schedule were comparable to those for the 4-week schedule, whereas toxicity was less pronounced. The 3-week schedule may be an effective and feasible alternative GC-schedule.
Changes in plasma levels of fat-derived hormones adiponectin, leptin, resistin and visfatin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory condition characterised by polyarthritis and severe change in body mass and neuroendocrine environment. Objectives: To investigate plasma levels of adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and resistin) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and to compare them with levels in healthy controls. Methods: Adiponectin, resistin, visfatin and leptin concentrations were measured in 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 18 healthy controls by using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed considerably higher plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin than healthy controls. No marked difference was observed in resistin levels between patients and controls. Conclusion: A marked increase in plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin and visfatin was noted in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas resistin levels were similar to those observed in healthy controls. Coordinated roles for adiponectin, leptin and visfatin are suggested in the modulation of the inflammatory environment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, whereas the lack of modulation in resistin levels is predictive of an irrelevant role for this peptide, suggesting that resistin level is probably not one of the main signals associated with the pathogenesis of this disease.
Mechanisms of Soybean Roots' Tolerances to Salinity Revealed by Proteomic and Phosphoproteomic Comparisons Between Two Cultivars*

Understanding molecular mechanisms underlying plant salinity tolerance provides valuable knowledgebase for effective crop improvement through genetic engineering. Current proteomic technologies, which support reliable and high-throughput analyses, have been broadly used for exploring sophisticated molecular networks in plants. In the current study, we compared phosphoproteomic and proteomic changes in roots of different soybean seedlings of a salt-tolerant cultivar (Wenfeng07) and a salt-sensitive cultivar (Union85140) induced by salt stress. The root samples of Wenfeng07 and Union85140 at three-trifoliate stage were collected at 0 h, 0.5 h, 1 h, 4 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h after been treated with 150 mm NaCl. LC-MS/MS based phosphoproteomic analysis of these samples identified a total of 2692 phosphoproteins and 5509 phosphorylation sites. Of these, 2344 phosphoproteins containing 3744 phosphorylation sites were quantitatively analyzed. Our results showed that 1163 phosphorylation sites were differentially phosphorylated in the two compared cultivars. Among them, 10 MYB/MYB transcription factor like proteins were identified with fluctuating phosphorylation modifications at different time points, indicating that their crucial roles in regulating flavonol accumulation might be mediated by phosphorylated modifications. In addition, the protein expression profiles of these two cultivars were compared using LC MS/MS based shotgun proteomic analysis, and expression pattern of all the 89 differentially expressed proteins were independently confirmed by qRT-PCR. Interestingly, the enzymes involved in chalcone metabolic pathway exhibited positive correlations with salt tolerance. We confirmed the functional relevance of chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase genes using soybean composites and Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, and found that their salt tolerance were positively regulated by chalcone synthase, but was negatively regulated by chalcone isomerase and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase. A novel salt tolerance pathway involving chalcone metabolism, mostly mediated by phosphorylated MYB transcription factors, was proposed based on our findings. (The mass spectrometry raw data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002856).
Reasons and drawbacks of using trivial npm packages: the developers' perspective

Code reuse is traditionally seen as good practice. Recent trends have pushed the idea of code reuse to an extreme, by using packages that implement simple and trivial tasks, which we call ‘trivial packages’. A recent incident where a trivial package led to the breakdown of some of the most popular web applications such as Facebook and Netflix, put the spotlight on whether using trivial packages should be encouraged. Therefore, in this research, we mine more than 230,000 npm packages and 38,000 JavaScript projects in order to study the prevalence of trivial packages. We found that trivial packages are common, making up 16.8% of the studied npm packages. We performed a survey with 88 Node.js developers who use trivial packages to understand the reasons for and drawbacks of their use. We found that trivial packages are used because they are perceived to be well-implemented and tested pieces of code. However, developers are concerned about maintaining and the risks of breakages due to the extra dependencies trivial packages introduce.
Exploring the concept of perceived sustainability at tourist destinations: a market segmentation approach

ABSTRACT The concept of sustainability as perceived by tourists has rarely been studied and much less considered as a basis for segmentation. This article provides a conceptual framework based on tourists’ perception of sustainability policies at destinations and a multidimensional measure for this construct. An empirical analysis at five Mediterranean destinations validated the conceptual proposal and provided empirical evidence for the potential use of perceived sustainability in segmentation studies. Our findings show the discriminating power of the construct, identifying four latent clusters. Perceived sustainability as a tool for segmentation can help analyze the effectiveness of sustainability strategies and action taken.
Knowledge sources affecting decision-making among social and health care managers.

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to investigate how managers in social and health care evaluate the knowledge sources affecting their decision-making, and how the evaluations were associated with the managers' professional background, activity sector, gender, age and management experience. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The study data are gathered from a questionnaire survey to the middle-line doctor, nurse and social managers (n = 404) within the responsibility area of a Finnish university hospital. Assessed the proportions of individual knowledge sources in the complete data set and their associations with the subjects' background data. In addition, grouping of individual knowledge sources variables are made using factor analysis. FINDINGS The findings indicate that social and health care managers attempt to utilize diverse knowledge sources. Overall, professional experience and education, organization budget, and action plans of one's own unit are estimated as knowledge sources with the greatest impact. Manager's professional background and activity sector are associated with the kind of knowledge affecting their decision-making. Some differences are noted between genders, but differences with respect to age or management experience are non-significant. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS Social and health care organizations represent expert organizations where decision-making is steered by professions and management tasks. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This paper suggests that the future decision-makers will be required to identify versatile knowledge areas across cultural barriers, and to be capable of making comprehensive decisions affecting the entire organization.
The role of state ownership on earnings quality: evidence across public and private European firms

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of state ownership on financial reporting quality regarding the characteristics of conservatism and earnings management. ,Using a large sample of public and private European firms during the period 2003-2010, the authors test the hypotheses following Ball and Shivakumar’s (2005) model for conservatism and the modified Jones (1991) model proposed by Dechow and Sloan (1995) for earnings management. To ensure that the results are robust, the authors conduct sensitivity analysis with regard to potential endogeneity and selection bias. ,The authors find that state-owned firms are less conservative than non-state-owned firms, which is consistent with the idea that there is less need for accounting conservatism due to government protection. The authors also show that capital markets play an important role in shaping the relation between state ownership and earnings management. Among public firms, the authors find that state-owned firms have higher abnormal accruals and worse accruals quality than non-state-owned firms, which suggests that state-owned firms are not immune to capital market pressures. ,The study has two limitations. First, as state-owned and non-state-owned firms face quite different incentive structures, management behavior might be determined by factors that have yet to be identified. Second, prior research results suggest an inverted U-shape relation between ownership concentration and earnings management (Ding et al., 2007). It would be interesting to investigate the impact of different levels of state ownership on earnings quality. ,As the paper investigates the role of state ownership on earnings quality using a sample of European firms, it brings new insights regarding the role of state ownership in accounting quality and firm performance. In addition, it considers the role of capital markets in the relation between the quality of financial reporting and ownership by considering a sample with both public and private firms. ,The study contributes to the debate about state intervention in the corporate sector, by extending the knowledge of the effects of government ownership on earnings quality by using a large sample of European firms. Furthermore, the authors also introduce the effect of capital market forces on managers’ behavior in state-owned and non-state-owned companies by analyzing private and publicly listed firms.
High-speed and high-power performances of LTG-GaAs based metal-semiconductor-metal traveling-wave-photodetectors in 1.3-/spl mu/m wavelength regime

In this letter, we demonstrated ultrahigh bandwidth and high output power performances of low-temperature-grown (LTG) GaAs-based metal-semiconductor-metal traveling wave photodetectors (MSM TWPDs) in the long wavelength regime (/spl sim/1300 nm). Ultrahigh bandwidth (1.3-ps pulsewidth with 234 GHz transformed 3-dB electrical bandwidth) was achieved with long-absorption-length (70-/spl mu/m) devices due to the improved microwave property in the MSM TWPDs and their high velocity-mismatch bandwidth. Under high optical power illumination, these 70-/spl mu/m-long MSM TWPD devices also exhibited superior output power-bandwidth-product performance due to their large absorption volumes. To the best of our knowledge, the demonstrated peak-output-voltage-bandwidth product (3.55 V, 160 GHz, 568 GHz-V) is the highest among the reported photodetectors for Icing optical communication wavelength (1.2 /spl mu/m-1.6 /spl mu/m) applications.
Lipidomic Profiling of Sinus Mucosa from Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Sinusitis is a cause of significant morbidity, substantial healthcare costs, and negative effects on quality of life. The primary objective of this study is to characterize the previously unknown lipid profile of sinonasal mucosa from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and from controls. Sinus mucosa samples were analyzed from 9 CRS patients with concomitant nasal polyps, 11 CRS patients without polyps, and 12 controls. Ten lone polyp samples were also analyzed. Samples were subjected to a modified Bligh/Dyer lipid extraction, then high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), combined gas chromatography/electron impact‐mass spectrometry (GC/EI‐MS), and flow‐injection/electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (FI/ESI‐MS/MS). Data was analyzed for identification and profiling of major components. HPTLC revealed an array of species reflecting the lipid complexity of the samples. GC/EI‐MS revealed cholesterol and several fatty acids. FI/ESI‐MSMS revealed numerous lipid species, namely a host of phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, ceramides and cholesteryl esters, but no detectable amounts of phosphatidyinositols or sulfated lipids. These results are a first step to uncover unique molecular biomarkers in CRS.
The new agriculture operational subjects : capital accumulation and agrarian transition in rural China

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DO DATA ENVELOPMENT AND STOCHASTIC FRONTIER ANALYSES PRODUCE SIMILAR EFFICIENCY ESTIMATES? THE CASE OF GHANAIAN MAIZE PRODUCTION

This study applied stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to examine the technical efficiency of maize production in northern Ghana using cross-sectional data from 360 maize farmers for the 2011/2012 cropping season. Farm size, seed, fertiliser and herbicides had a positive effect on maize output. Agricultural mechanisation, extension services, experience and gender influenced technical efficiency. The study recommends that access to tractors be expanded to increase farmers’ production efficiency. Maize production could improve if less-experienced farmers learn from the accumulated knowledge of experienced farmers, including through extension. Agricultural extension services should be strengthened to disseminate improved farming practices to farmers for increased efficiency. Female farmers should be supported by removing socio-cultural barriers by raising awareness in order to correct the wrong traditions and perceptions inimical to women’s full participation in farming so as to bring improvements in technical efficiency.