Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Automatic modelling of building façade objects via primitive shapes

Abstract. This paper presents a new approach to recognize individual facade objects and to reconstruct such objects in 3D using MLS point clouds. Core of the approach is a primitive shape based algorithm, which introduces building primitives, to identify the facade objects separately from other irrelevant objects and then to model the correct topology. The primitive shape is identified against defined different primitive shapes by using the Douglas-Peucker algorithm. The advantage of this process is that it offers an ability not only to model correct geometric shapes but also to remove occlusion effects from the final model. To evaluate the validity of the proposed approach, experiments have been conducted using two types of street scene point clouds captured by Optech Lynx Mobile Mapper System and Z+F laser scanner. Results of the experiments show that the completeness, correctness, and quality of the reconstructed building facade objects are well over 90 %, proving the proposed method is a promising solution for modelling 3D facade objects with different geometric shapes.
Shedding Light on the Light Bulb Puzzle: The Role of Attitudes and Perceptions in the Adoption of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Despite the potential energy savings and economic benefits associated with compact fluorescent light bulbs, their adoption by the residential sector has been limited to date. In this paper, we present a theoretical model that focuses on the agents' ability to perceive the correct cost of lighting and on the role of environmental attitudes as key determinants of the adoption decision. We use original data from Ireland to test our theoretical predictions. Our results emphasize the importance of education, information and environmental awareness in the adoption decision.
Collaborative filtering using graph kernel and boosting

Based on the users previously given preferences, recommender systems intent to find similar things and give predictions to them. One of the most popular methods for recommendation is Collaborative filtering and it is the workhouse of the recommender engines. A lot of conventional recommender systems result in failure when the data to be used all over the recommendation process is sparse. So inorder to overcome the problem of sparseness of data, graph based methods can be introduced, since they targets situation where labeled data are scarce and unlabeled data are in abundance. In this work graph based methods like graph kernel and boosting are taken as a framework for the collaborative filtering inorder to get promising results. Here as a boosting method, most popular AdaBoost algorithm is chosen and from the graph kernels, regularized Laplacian kernel is used. Both these methods are compared with the normal collaborative filtering algorithm using the same dataset and the results shows that the system is more accurate when using the graph based methods.
Energy Consumption in the GCC Countries: Evidence on Persistence

The last few years have seen a growing commitment worldwide to universal health coverage (UHC). Yet there is a lack of clarity on how to measure progress towards UHC. This paper proposes a ‘mashup’ index that captures both aspects of UHC: that everyone—irrespective of their ability-to-pay—gets the health services they need; and that nobody suffers undue financial hardship as a result of receiving care. Service coverage is broken down into prevention and treatment, and financial protection into impoverishment and catastrophic spending; nationally representative household survey data are used to adjust population averages to capture inequalities between the poor and better off; nonlinear tradeoffs are allowed between and within the two dimensions of the UHC index; and all indicators are expressed such that scores run from 0 to 100, and higher scores are better. In a sample of 24 countries for which there are detailed information on UHC-inspired reforms, a cluster of high-performing countries emerges with UHC scores of between 79 and 84 (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and South Africa) and a cluster of low-performing countries emerges with UHC scores in the range 35–57 (Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia and Vietnam). Countries have mostly improved their UHC scores between the earliest and latest years for which there are data—by about 5 points on average; however, the improvement has come from increases in receipt of key health interventions, not from reductions in the incidence of out-of-pocket payments on welfare.
E6/E7 of HPV Type 16 Promotes Cell Invasion and Metastasis of Human Breast Cancer Cells

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) could be important risk factors for breast carcinogenesis and metastasis, as roughly 50% of breast cancers are positive for high-risk HPVs. To determine the role of high-risk HPVs in human breast carcinogenesis and metastasis, we examined the effect of E6/E7 of HPV type 16 in two non-invasive breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 and BT20. We report that E6/E7 of HPV type 16 induces cell invasive and metastatic abilities of MCF7 and BT20 in vitro and in vivo, respectively, in comparison with the wild type cells. This is accompanied by an up-regulation of Id-1, a family member of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factors, in MCF7 and BT20 cell lines which express E6/E7. Earlier studies have reported that Id-1 regulates cell invasion and metastasis of human breast cancer cells. To gauge the role of Id-1 in cell invasion and metastasis induced by E6/E7 of HPV type 16, we investigated the effect of E6/E7 in mouse normal embryonic fibroblast (NEF) and knockout Id-1 (Id-1-/-) cells. We establish that E6/E7 induces cell invasive ability in NEF but not Id-1-/- cells; moreover, we were able to inhibit the invasion ability of MCF7-E6/E7 and BT20-E6/E7 using Id-1 antisense retroviruses. Furthermore, we report that E6/E7 oncoproteins up-regulate Id-1 promoter activity in MCF7 and BT20 cells. We also found that HPV type 16 is present in all invasive and metastatic breast cancer and less frequently in in-situ breast cancer as opposed to normal mammary tissue. In parallel, we demonstrate that Id-1 over-expression is correlated with the presence of HPV type 16 in human invasive and metastatic breast cancer. These data suggest that high-risk HPV infections can induce cell invasion and metastasis in breast cancer through Id-1 regulation.
Hylan versus hyaluronic acid for osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness and safety of intraarticular high-molecular hylan with standard preparations of hyaluronic acids in osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing hylan with a hyaluronic acid in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Trials were identified by systematic searches of Central, Medline, EMBase, Cinahl, the Food and Drug Administration, and Science Citation Index supplemented by hand searches of conference proceedings and reference lists (last update November 2006). Literature screening and data extraction were performed in duplicate. Effect sizes were calculated from differences in means of pain-related outcomes between treatment and control groups at the end of the trial, divided by the pooled standard deviation. Trials were combined using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS Thirteen trials with a pooled total of 2,085 patients contributed to the meta-analysis. The pooled effect size was -0.27 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] -0.55, 0.01), favoring hylan, but between-trial heterogeneity was high (I(2) = 88%). Trials with blinded patients, adequate concealment of allocation, and an intent-to-treat analysis had pooled effect sizes near null. The meta-analyses on safety revealed an increased risk associated with hylan for any local adverse events (relative risk [RR] 1.91; 95% CI 1.04, 3.49; I(2) = 28%) and for flares (RR 2.04; 95% CI 1.18, 3.53; I(2) = 0%). CONCLUSION Given the likely lack of a superior effectiveness of hylan over hyaluronic acids and the increased risk of local adverse events associated with hylan, we discourage the use of intraarticular hylan in patients with knee osteoarthritis in clinical research or practice.
Human resource management and innovation in the Canary Islands: an ultra-peripheral region of the European Union

This study attempts to answer the question about how firms in an ultra-peripheral region innovate to compete in a global market when they often seem not to have the basic conditions to innovate identified in the literature. On that line, and based on the notion that firms in ultra-peripheral regions must recognise the value of their human capital in order to overcome the limitations typical of their social and geographical context, this research aimed to analyse the relationship between the human resource (HR) policy and innovation in an ultra-peripheral region of the European Union, namely the Canary Islands. The objective of this study is to identify the HR-related internal factors that can affect the innovation capability of firms. In particular, this paper considers the HR management policy, the formalisation of that policy in an HR plan, and job stability. To achieve this goal, an empirical study of 157 Canarian firms was carried out and arrived at the conclusion that high commitment human resource management (HRM) has a positive influence on organisational innovation in processes. The results also show that the formalisation of the HR policy in a plan, and job stability also increases innovation in processes.
Threads of Intersection and Distinction: joining an Ongoing Conversation within Organizational Communication Research

1. Organizing Disciplinary Identity: a Framework A. Identifying organizational communcation B. Organizational communication as difference and sameness 2. Identity in Sameness: organizational Communication's Intersection with Subdisciplines of Communication Studies A. Organizational communication and rhetoric & discourse studies B. Interpersonal communication C. Critical/cultural communication 3. Identity in Distinction: how Organizational Communication Enacts Difference A. Negotiations of meaning B. Interplay of meaning, structure, and process 4. Identity in Action: organizational Communication Scholarship Addressing Current Issues A. New communication technologies B. Organizational knwledge and networks C. Interorganizational relationships D. Organizational communication gone global 5. Organizational Communication: an Evolving Identity in a Changing Society
Physical exercise among participants in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS): correlates and associated outcomes.

BACKGROUND Levels of physical exercise among haemodialysis patients are low. Increased physical activity in this population has been associated with improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and survival. However, results of previous studies may not be applicable to the haemodialysis population as a whole. The present study provides the first description of international patterns of exercise frequency and its association with exercise programmes and clinical outcomes among participants in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). METHODS Data from a cross section of 20,920 DOPPS participants in 12 countries between 1996 and 2004 were analysed. Regular exercise was defined as exercise frequency equal to or more than once/week based on patient self-report. Linear mixed models and logistic regression assessed associations of exercise frequency with HRQoL and other psychosocial variables. Mortality risk was calculated in Cox proportional hazard models using patient-level (patient self-reported exercise frequency) and facility-level (the dialysis facility percentage of regular exercisers) predictors. RESULTS Regular exercise frequency varied widely across countries and across dialysis facilities within a country. Overall, 47.4% of participants were categorized as regular exercisers. The odds of regular exercise was 38% higher for patients from facilities offering exercise programmes (adjusted odds ratio = 1.38 [95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.84]; P = 0.03). Regular exercisers had higher HRQoL, physical functioning and sleep quality scores; reported fewer limitations in physical activities; and were less bothered by bodily pain or lack of appetite (P <or= 0.0001 for all). Regular exercise was also correlated with more positive patient affect and fewer depressive symptoms (P <or= 0.0001). In models extensively adjusted for demographics, comorbidities and socio-economic indicators, mortality risk was lower among regular exercisers (hazard ratio = 0.73 [0.69-0.78]; P < 0.0001) and at facilities with more regular exercisers (0.92 [0.89-0.94]; P < 0.0001 per 10% more regular exercisers). CONCLUSIONS Results from an international study of haemodialysis patients indicate that regular exercise is associated with better outcomes in this population and that patients at facilities offering exercise programmes have higher odds of exercising. Dialysis facility efforts to increase patient physical activity may be beneficial.
Evaluating Collaborative Natural ResourceManagement

In this article, we look at the evolving collaborative natural resource management movement in the United States and discuss current calls to evaluate it. We then explore approaches researchers have used to evaluate both specific efforts and the broader movement. Evaluative criteria developed thus far by several researchers show commonalities as well as differences. We argue that evaluation approaches will necessarily vary with the evaluation's intent, the type of collaborative effort being evaluated, and the values of the evaluator. Evaluators need to consider and make explicit their standards for comparison, criteria, and methods in order to clarify the nature of an evaluation and facilitate the synthesis of findings.
Mitigating Meal-Related Glycemic Excursions in an Insulin-Sparing Manner During Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery: The Beneficial Effects of Adjunctive Pramlintide and Liraglutide

OBJECTIVE Closed-loop (CL) insulin delivery effectively maintains glucose overnight but struggles when challenged with meals. Use of single-day, 30-μg/meal pramlintide lowers meal excursions during CL. We sought to further elucidate the potential benefits of adjunctive agents after 3–4 weeks of outpatient dose titration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Two CL studies were conducted: one evaluating adjunctive pramlintide and the other liraglutide. Ten subjects (age 16–23 years; A1C 7.2 ± 0.6% [55 ± 6.6 mmol/mol]) completed two 24-h sessions: one on CL alone and one on CL plus 60-μg pramlintide (CL + P), after a 3–4-week outpatient dose escalation. Eleven subjects (age 18–27 years; A1C 7.5 ± 0.9% [58 ± 9.8 mmol/mol]) were studied before and after treatment with 1.8 mg liraglutide (CL + L) after a similar 3–4-week dose escalation period. Timing and content of meals during CL were identical within experiments; meals were not announced. RESULTS Pramlintide delayed the time to peak plasma glucose (PG) excursion (CL 1.6 ± 0.5 h vs. CL + P 2.6 ± 0.9 h, P < 0.001) with concomitant blunting of peak postprandial increments in PG (P < 0.0001) and reductions in postmeal incremental PG area under the curve (AUC) (P = 0.0002). CL + L also led to reductions in PG excursions (P = 0.05) and incremental PG AUC (P = 0.004), with a 28% reduction in prandial insulin delivery. Outpatient liraglutide therapy led to a weight loss of 3.2 ± 1.8 kg, with a 26% reduction in total daily insulin dose. CONCLUSIONS Adjunctive pramlintide and liraglutide treatment mitigated postprandial hyperglycemia during CL control; liraglutide demonstrated the additional benefit of weight loss in an insulin-sparing manner. Further investigations of these and other adjunctive agents in long-term outpatient CL studies are needed.
Mechanisms and consequences of salt sensitivity and dietary salt intake

Purpose of reviewInvestigation into the underlying mechanisms of salt sensitivity has made important advances in recent years. This review examines in particular the effects of sodium and potassium on vascular function. Recent findingsSodium chloride (salt) intake promotes cutaneous lymphangiogenesis mediated through tissue macrophages and directly alters endothelial cell function, promoting increased production of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and nitric oxide. In the setting of endothelial dysfunction, such as occurs with aging, diminished nitric oxide production exacerbates the vascular effects of TGF-β, promoting decreased arterial compliance and hypertension. Dietary potassium intake may serve as an important countervailing influence on the effects of salt in the vasculature. SummaryThere is growing appreciation that, independently of alterations in blood pressure, dietary intake of sodium and potassium promotes functional changes in the vasculature and lymphatic system. These changes may protect against development of salt-sensitive hypertension. While salt sensitivity cannot be ascribed exclusively to these factors, perturbation of these processes promotes hypertension during high-salt intake. These studies add to the list of genetic and environmental factors that are associated with salt sensitivity, but in particular provide insight into adaptive mechanisms during high salt intake.
The burden of malaria in Africa.

Malaria remains one of the most serious public health problems in Africa, causing high morbidity and mortality. In highly endemic areas, malaria is responsible for about 30-50% of fever cases, 30% of outpatient consultations, and 10-15% of hospital admissions. Globally, about 1.5-2.7 million persons die from malaria yearly. Children under 5 years and pregnant women are the most vulnerable groups. Anaemia is one of the most serious consequences of malaria in young children in Africa, particularly in the countries where a high level of chloroquine resistance exists. In some zones, the temporary decline in transmissions due to climatic and ecological changes has altered the immunological profile of the population, resulting in serious outbreaks of epidemics accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. The African region has been experiencing malaria epidemics, with an unacceptably high disease burden and high mortality in the epidemic-prone areas in East and Southern Africa. In Botswana, for example, the incidence of malaria increased by 13.5 times in the Nata clinic during the 10th week of 1996, compared with the same period in 1995. WHO provided technical support and antimalarial drugs to the countries affected by these epidemics. This was followed by two workshops on epidemic prevention and control. The problem of drug resistance, which has been present in Africa for over 17 years, is more intense in East Africa. The approach of WHO/AFRO to this problem is to build capacities, within the health ministries of member countries, for antimalarial drug sensitivity testing and rational drug policies. In addition, WHO has developed a simple therapeutic efficacy test. It is proposed that this method be used by all countries of the region. This will make it easy to compare data and create a regional sensitivity picture.
Scale-Only Tomlinson-Harashima Precoding

With the introduction of a dither sequence and scaling factors, dithered Tomlinson-Harashima precoding (THP) has shown to outperform conventional spatial THP in multi-user MIMO systems. Through a careful analysis of dithered THP, this paper exhibits that it is not only possible, but also beneficial, to eliminate the dither sequence and develop efficient scale-only THP, and the key is to resolve the scaling factors. By capturing the dependency of the interference level on the scaling factors through a closed-form piece-wise function, we formulated a new method to optimize the scaling factors. We present that the new scale-only THP is not only simpler, but also performs better. As much as 1 dB of performance gain is observed at the low signal-to-noise region.
Convergence in Policy Outcomes: Social Security Systems in Perspective

ABSTRACT A central question in the welfare state debate has been whether or not social policies in industrialized countries converge. Originally linked to the logic of industrialism perspective, this idea has been criticized by researchers focusing on differences in timing and differences in the institutional set up of social security schemes across countries. Nonetheless, I argue that social security arrangements in European as well as Anglo-American countries may gradually become more similar. Using pension politics as the primary example, the article locates similar social and political mechanisms at work in different countries, pushing toward convergence in policy outcomes, despite persistent variation in institutional arrangements. In the final section of the article, I extract a model from the analysis, aimed at explaining political change while maintaining a connection between the micro and macro level of analysis.
Letting the people decide : dynamics of a Canadian election

The authors have based the book primarily on data derived from the 1988 Canadian Election Study, for which they were co-investigators. The survey was a "rolling cross-section": a daily tracking of the campaign designed explicitly to monitor electoral dynamics. The multivariate techniques commonly involved in the analysis of campaign data are presented here in an accessible way, as graphs rather than tables. Videotapes of prime time news analyses on CBC, CTV, and SRC outlets, as well as some newspaper commentaries, have been integrated into the survey. This information is contrasted with an analysis of electoral dynamics based on one hundred years of census and electoral data. The authors make a variety of significant arguments about the historical and political basis of the parties' eventual positions on the issue of free trade, the overriding importance of that issue to the 1988 election, the roles of the party leaders, and, perhaps most important, the political impact of campaigns, especially of debates and media coverage. Letting the People Decide brings the study of Canadian parties into the analytical mainstream even as it supplies a new interpretation of a century of elections.
A Wave of Mergers and Acquisitions: Are Indian Banks Going Up a Blind Alley?

Mergers and acquisitions are strategic decisions taken for maximization of a company’s growth. But the point of the matter is, how far does the empirical evidence support this notion? An examination of the existing literature suggested no conclusive evidence about the impact of M&A on corporate performance. Therefore, this article investigates the mergers in the Indian Banking industry to find out whether Indian banks have achieved performance efficiency during the post-merger period namely in the areas of profitability, liquidity, shareholders wealth and share price volatility. Basically, two methods are employed to compare pre-post merger performance, of Indian banks from 2000 to 2011. First, paired sample t-test determines the significant differences in financial performance before and after the merger activity, and second, a standard event study approach examines the announcement effect of mergers and acquisitions on share price volatility (event window of 120 days) and the efficiency of the Indian stock market. An overall assessment (accounting performance measures and stock market reaction) of mergers in Indian banking sector indicates absence of any significant impact on their financial performance. The merger in Indian banks only brings significant improvement in EPS and Market value to book value of equity. The study exposed the fact that the stock prices react significantly to merger announcements in the short period (30 days pre- and post-merger announcement) but not in long period which also indicated that Indian stock market is efficient in the long-run.