Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new fuzzy approach to brain tumor segmentation

In this paper we present a fully automatic and unsupervised brain tumor segmentation method which considers human knowledge. The expert knowledge and the features derived from the MR images are coupled to define heuristic rules aimed to the design of the fuzzy approach. To assess the unsupervised and fully automatic segmentation, intensity-based objective measures are defined, and a new method for obtaining membership functions to suit the MRI data is introduced. The proposed approach is quantitatively comparable to the most accurate existing methods, even though the segmentation is done in 2D.
Oligoclonal bands and age at onset correlate with genetic risk score in multiple sclerosis

Background: Many genetic risk variants are now well established in multiple sclerosis (MS), but the impact on clinical phenotypes is unclear. Objective: To investigate the impact of established MS genetic risk variants on MS phenotypes, in well-characterized MS cohorts. Methods: Norwegian MS patients (n = 639) and healthy controls (n = 530) were successfully genotyped for 61 established MS-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Data including and excluding Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) markers were summed to a MS Genetic Burden (MSGB) score. Study replication was performed in a cohort of white American MS patients (n = 1997) and controls (n = 708). Results: The total human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and the non-HLA MSGB scores were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls, in both cohorts (P << 10−22). MS patients, with and without cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oligoclonal bands (OCBs), had a higher MSGB score than the controls; the OCB-positive patients had a slightly higher MSGB than the OCB-negative patients. An early age at symptom onset (AAO) also correlated with a higher MSGB score, in both cohorts. Conclusion: The MSGB score was associated with specific clinical MS characteristics, such as OCBs and AAO. This study underlines the need for well-characterized, large cohorts of MS patients, and the usefulness of summarizing multiple genetic risk factors of modest effect size in genotype-phenotype analyses.
Luminol and lucigenin as detectors for O2.-.

Univalent oxidation of luminol and univalent reduction of lucigenin must precede reaction with O2. - if that reaction is to lead to luminescence. The assumption that luminol or lucigenin, per se, reacts with O2. - in a way leading to luminescence is incorrect, and leads to misinterpretation of results. The chemical reactions leading to the O2(.-)-dependent luminescences of luminol and of lucigenin are discussed.
Electronic Call Market Trading

Despite its power as a transactions network, scant attention has been given to incorporating an electronic call into a major market center such as the NYSE or Nasdaq. An electronic call clears the markets for all assets at predetermined points in time. By bunching many transactions together, a call market increases liquidity, thereby decreasing transaction costs for public participants. After describing alternative call market structures and their attributes, we propose that an open book electronic call be held three times during the trading day: at the open, at 12:00 noon, and at the close. We discuss the impact of this innovation on an array of issues, including order flow and handling, information revelation, and market transparency. We also discuss the proposed changes from the perspectives of investors, listed companies, exchanges, brokers, and regulators.
Modelling waiting times in the Italian National Health Service

Understanding health-care utilization is important to design efficient and effective health-care systems. Towards this end, we propose a relatively simple and intuitively appealing microeconometric framework based on a two-part model to investigate the determinants that increase the probability and the length of waiting for a health-care service provision. This article attempts to accommodate all data features in one model focusing on overdispersion in the data due to unobserved heterogeneity and zero-inflation, with an application to the Italian National Health System.
Opportunistic adaptation in start-up companies

A key success factor for entrepreneurial start-up companies in dynamic industries is opportunistic adaptation, i.e. an entrepreneurial strategy focusing on rapid learning and adaptation to market changes. Important dimensions left out of this process in previous research are the roles played by the resources and capabilities of the firm and the entrepreneurial vision guiding business development. A theoretical framework is developed, combining the dynamic capabilities approach of the resource-based strategy school and the cognitive dimension of the business. In order to explore how the entrepreneurial vision and the firm's capabilities and resources influence the business development process, case studies of the business model evolution in 26 start-up companies in the Swedish mobile internet industry have been performed. In particular, it is found that the industry experience of the founding/management team, interaction with customers and the dependence of external parties are factors that influence the possibilities for a start-up company to succeed.
Evidence of the role of marketing arrangements and valuation methods in improving beef quality

Low and inconsistent beef quality has been blamed by some for the losses of beef's share of total meat consumption. Tighter vertical coordination through use of alternative marketing arrangements and more precise price signaling through use of different cattle valuation methods may help improve beef quality because these mechanisms facilitate information exchange enabling producers to respond better to consumer demand. For the congressionally mandated Livestock and Meat Marketing Study, we modeled differences in levels and variances of cattle quality associated with particular marketing arrangements and valuation methods using fed cattle purchase data from 29 large U.S. beef packing plants for October 2002 through March 2005. Results indicate fed cattle procured through marketing agreements and packer ownership had higher and more consistent quality compared to other types of arrangements. Auction market cattle quality was the most inconsistent. Fed cattle valued using carcass weight with a grid were associated with higher and more consistent quality. lEconLit Citation: Q13r. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Error-Tolerant Iterative Adaptive Dynamic Programming for Optimal Renewable Home Energy Scheduling and Battery Management

In this paper, a novel error-tolerant iterative adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) algorithm is developed to solve optimal battery control and management problems in smart home environments with renewable energy. A main contribution for the iterative ADP algorithm is to implement with the electricity rate, home load demand, and renewable energy as quasi-periodic functions, instead of accurate periodic functions, where the discount factor can adaptively be regulated in each iteration to guarantee the convergence of the iterative value function. A new analysis method is developed to guarantee the iterative value function to converge to a finite neighborhood of the optimal performance index function, in spite of the differences of the electricity rate, the home load demand, and the renewable energy in different periods. Neural networks are employed to approximate the iterative value function and control law, respectively, for facilitating the implementation of the iterative ADP algorithm. Numerical results and comparisons are given to illustrate the performance of the developed algorithm.
Antecedents of Public Service Motivation

The public administration literature has long emphasized the distinctive character of motives associated with public institutions. The recent development of a public service motivation (PSM) construct and an instrument to measure it opens the way for systematic empirical research. This study investigates the relationship of PSM to five sets of correlates: parental socialization, religious socialization, professional identification, political ideology, and individual demographic characteristics. The results generally confirm the hypotheses, but several anomalies were identified. The findings suggest that research using the PSM construct can be fruitful for understanding motivation. Among the directions for further research are studies of the influences of educational and bureaucratic socialization on PSM and the affects of PSM on individual and organizational behavior. Public administration practitioners and educators have long contended that public employees are different from employees in other sectors of American society (Perry and Porter 1982; Wittmer 1991). In fact, an increasing number of empirical studies suggest that public employees differ from their private sector counterparts with respect to work-related values and needs. For example, Wittmer (1991) analyzed differences in the rankings of eight reward categories for a sample of 210 employees in public, private, and hybrid organizations. He found that public and private employees differed significantly with respect to preferences for higher pay, helping others, and status. He concluded that "the public service ethic appears to be alive and well . " and ". extends beyond core public organizations (government) to more hybrid groups" (1991, 380). J-PART 7(1997):2: 18i-197 181/Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory This content downloaded from 157.55. 39.221 on Sun, 06 Nov 2016 05:12:35 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor. org/terms Antecedents of Public Service Motivation Wittmer's findings reinforce the results of earlier empirical research by Rawls, Ulrich, and Nelson (1975), Rainey (1982), and Nalbandian and Edwards (1983). The cumulative pattern of findings is consistent with Perry and Porter's (1982) conclusion that the public motivational context is indeed different from the private. Conventional wisdom and empirical evidence that public employees are different led Perry and Wise (1990) to define a construct, public service motivation (PSM), intended to capture the distinction. They defined PSM as an individual's predisposition to respond to motives grounded primarily or uniquely in public institutions. Four dimensions-attraction to public policy making, commitment to the public interest and civic duty, compassion, and self-sacrifice-are empirically associated with the construct (Perry 1996). The goals of the present study are twofold. First, the research seeks to advance the validation (Schwab 1980) of a measure of public service motivation by reporting correlates of the scale (Perry 1996). A second goal is to investigate several hypotheses about the antecedents of public service motivation.
Contextual Factors Surrounding Anal Intercourse in Women: Implications for Sexually Transmitted Infection/HIV Prevention

Background Our objectives were to describe women's reasons for engaging in anal intercourse (AI), contextual factors surrounding AI, and how these vary by current rectal sexually transmitted infection (STI) status, and to assess women's knowledge and concerns about rectal infections. Methods Between January 2011 and June 2013, we conducted semistructured, qualitative interviews among 40 women attending public sexually transmitted disease clinics in Los Angeles County, California. Women were eligible if they were at least 18 years of age, reported AI in the past 90 days, and were tested for rectal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Interviews, which were guided by the theory of gender and power, were transcribed and coded to explore contextual factors surrounding AI. Results On average, participants reported having 3 AI partners in their lifetime and most (n = 30) reported being in a serious relationship with a main/regular sex partner at the time of the interview. Motivations for engaging in AI and feelings about AI varied by rectal STI status. Women with a rectal STI more prominently conveyed the idea that AI was intended to please their sexual partner, whereas those who did not have a rectal STI reported AI more as a way to increase intimacy and personal sexual gratification. Almost all women (regardless of rectal STI status) reported limited to no knowledge about the risk of rectal STIs. Conclusions Among women, risk of acquiring rectal STIs may vary by reason for engaging in unprotected AI as well as other contextual factors. Providers should consider addressing these contextual factors to reduce risk.
Introducing activity-based financing: a review of experience in Australia, Denmark, Norway and Sweden

We review and evaluate the international literature on activity-based funding of health services, focussing especially on experience in Australia (Victoria), Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In evaluating this literature we summarise the differences and pros and cons of three different funding arrangements, namely cost-based reimbursement, global budgeting and activity-based financing. The institutional structures of the four jurisdictions that are the main focus of the review are described, and an outline is provided about how activity-based funding has been introduced in each. We then turn to the mechanics of activity-based funding and discuss in detail how patients are classified, how prices are set and how other services are funded. Although concentrating on the four jurisdictions, we draw on wider international experience to inform this discussion. We review evidence of the impact of activity-based funding in the four jurisdictions on efficiency, activity rates, waiting times, quality and overall expenditure. Finally we conclude with a brief commentary of some of the challenges that would have to be faced if implementing activity-based funding.
Bringing Recovery Housing to Scale in Ohio: Lessons Learned

ABSTRACT Objective: States across the country are recognizing recovery housing, an abstinence-based living environment promoting recovery from alcohol and other drugs, as an important yet underrepresented choice within their housing and treatment continuums. However, strategies for bringing recovery housing to scale are not well known. Building upon broader quality improvement efforts in Ohio, this paper aims to identify barriers and facilitators to expanding recovery housing in Ohio by understanding the perspectives of relevant stakeholders. Methods: We conducted 6 recovery housing program site visits; 24 semi-structured key informant interviews with state and national researchers, policy makers, and stakeholder groups; and 16 focus groups with administrators and staff, residents, and local stakeholders including housing developers, advocates, and county and city policy makers (n = 113). Focus groups were disaggregated by stakeholder membership and guided by separate interview protocols. Transcripts were coded and analyzed to identify primary themes. Results: Most participants across stakeholder groups expressed a need to increase recovery housing supports within the state. Two facilitators and three barriers emerged as primary themes from the qualitative analysis. Facilitators included (1) the ability of recovery housing programs to identify, connect, and collaborate with other recovery housing programs and service systems, an approach that increased a program's ability to refer, accept new clients, learn about programmatic and financial supports, and advocate for a space within the services continuum, and (2) support from legislators and other local stakeholders to include recovery housing as a viable and necessary option. Barriers included (1) variations in recovery housing definitions, language, and understanding that limited recovery housing providers’ ability to connect with one another and be eligible for different streams of support, (2) availability of funds and ability to access them, and (3) restrictions in federal, state, and local regulations and codes. Conclusions: Although recovery housing is limited and has not been integrated into many housing and treatment continuums, there is growing consensus about its importance for various subpopulations. Developing consistent definitions, program models, funding streams, networks of recovery housing providers, and collaborations among recovery-oriented systems of care will reduce misperceptions and enhance the likelihood that recovery housing will be expanded.
Influence of the poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase inhibitor 3‐aminobenzamide on macrophage and granulocyte differentiation of HL‐60 cells

We investigated the influence of the poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase inhibitor 3‐aminobenzamide (ABA) on induction of phenotypic markers of granulocyte differentiation by retinoic acid and markers of macrophage differentiation by TPA in HL‐60 cells. The differentiation of HL‐60 cells towards the granulocyte lineage was assessed by hexose monophosphate shunt activity, proportion of cells capable of reducing NBT dye, and the appearance of recognizable neutrophils and bands. The effect of ABA and retinoic acid on NBT dye reduction and appearance of mature neutrophils and bands was synergistic, whereas the effects of these agents on hexose monophosphate shunt activity were additive. The differentiation inducing capacity of ABA in the presence of retinoic acid was dose‐related. The influence of ABA on TPA‐induced markers of macrophage differentiation was assessed by determining the proportion of adherent cells produced after treatment and by measuring acid phosphatase activity in the adherent cell fraction. In the presence of ABA, the number of cells adhering to plastic declined after day 2 of exposure to TPA, and acid phosphatase activity in adherent cells was inhibited fourfold (p = 0.01). The influence of ABA on the phenotypic markers of granulocyte and macrophage differentiation was detectable at concentrations that were not cytotoxic. The influence of ABA on HL‐60 differentiation is similar to that previously reported for human bone marrow CFU‐GM. Our data suggest that poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase plays a role in differentiation of HL‐60 cells and that HL‐60 might provide a useful model for evaluating control mechanisms involved in the differentiation of CFU‐GM.
Roles of performance measurement in SMEs' management processes

This paper describes key activities that were undertaken to assist SRC Enterprise, under the so-called Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Revitalization Program. The Department of Industrial Promotion under the Ministry of Industry sponsored this programme. The programme aimed to improve competitiveness and to strengthen the management practices of participating SMEs in Thailand. In this paper, the activities specifically discussed included the assessment of SRC Enterprise's management system, development of performance measurement (to help strengthen the management system), initiating of performance analysis, and addressing of ongoing challenges as a demonstration of information usefulness. Two critical challenges were used to demonstrate the importance of providing quantitative information to the company's management. Improvement decisions to respond to these challenges were the document-control process of customer drawings and the change in the company's procurement policy. Finally, the future work for SRC Enterprise and the research in the area of SMEs are proposed and discussed.
Industrial Concentration, Price-Cost Margins, and Innovation

This paper explores a panel data set matching establishment-based production statistics from Japan’s Census of Manufacturers with wholesale price indices from the Bank of Japan, and Herfindahl indices from the Japan Fair Trade Commission. The data include annual observations over the period 1961-1990, for 74 industries at the 4-digit s.i. c. level. We estimate CobbDouglas production functions and Solow residuals for each industry and then use these estimates to further analyze the determinates of industrial concentration and innovation. The industries having great capital intensity, small employment of labor, and with high price-cost margins tend to be more concentrated. Cross-section estimates reveal a U-shaped mapping from concentration to innovation. JEL classifications L11, L13, L60, O30.
High efficiency coding of light field images based on tiling and pseudo-temporal data arrangement

Digital light fields are obtained by sampling of huge number of light rays, capturing the colour intensity of a whole visual scene from different view angles. The large amount of data that is necessary to represent a light field requires highly efficient compression methods to store and exchange such type of signals. This paper presents a light field coding scheme based on a low-complexity preprocessing approach that generates a pseudo-video sequence suitable for standard compression using HEVC. The efficiency of the proposed scheme is evaluated using a data set of twelve light field images and low-delay B HEVC coding configuration. The R-D performance obtained by the proposed scheme is consistently better than JPEG, revealing significantly higher gains, particularly for higher compression ratios.
Biochemical and Morphological Properties of Hepatitis C Virus Particles and Determination of Their Lipidome*

A hallmark of hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles is their association with host cell lipids, most notably lipoprotein components. It is thought that this property accounts for the low density of virus particles and their large heterogeneity. However, the composition of infectious virions and their biochemical and morphological properties are largely unknown. We developed a system in which the envelope glycoprotein E2 was N-terminally tagged with a FLAG epitope. This virus, designated Jc1E2FLAG, produced infectivity titers to wild type levels and allowed affinity purification of virus particles that were analyzed for their protein and lipid composition. By using mass spectrometry, we found the lipid composition of Jc1E2FLAG particles to resemble the one very low- and low density-lipoprotein with cholesteryl esters accounting for almost half of the total HCV lipids. Thus, HCV particles possess a unique lipid composition that is very distinct from all other viruses analyzed so far and from the human liver cells in which HCV was produced. By electron microscopy (EM), we found purified Jc1E2FLAG particles to be heterogeneous, mostly spherical structures, with an average diameter of about 73 nm. Importantly, the majority of E2-containing particles also contained apoE on their surface as assessed by immuno-EM. Taken together, we describe a rapid and efficient system for the production of large quantities of affinity-purified HCV allowing a comprehensive analysis of the infectious virion, including the determination of its lipid composition.
The Local Determinants of Crime Victimization

This paper explores the determinants of crime victimization at the neighborhood level, using data from the French victimization survey. Its contribution to the economics of crime literature is threefold. First, I provide evidence that neighborhood characteristics explain victimization better than individual characteristics. Second, I find that local unemployment rate is one of the most important factor explaining crime victimization, with a particularly large eect on small crimes such as motorbike theft or vandalism. I then tackle the endogenous location selection issue, by adopting the strategy developed by Bayer et al. (2008), based on the fact that the study is conducted at a very low geographic level. Third, I take advantage of the precise localization of the data to adopt a spatial approach, comparing the eect of unemployment rate in the reference neighborhood and in adjacent neighborhoods. The results support the idea that criminals are mobile across neighborhoods for more serious economic crimes, in line with the Beckerian theory of crime, but that petty crimes and vandalism do not involve any mobility, relating to the social disorganization theory.