Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of antiplatelet therapy on inflammatory markers in atherothrombotic patients

Summary Inflammation is central to the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis and thrombosis, the underlying cause of major cardiovascular disease. Platelets, in addition to their role in haemostasis, play a key role in both thrombus formation and inflammation following vascular injury, especially atherosclerotic lesions. An increasing body of evidence suggests that inhibition of platelet function can modulate inflammatory markers, particularly those associated with activated platelets, such as CD40 ligand, P-selectin, and C-reactive protein. The currently available antiplatelet agents aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, abciximab, and eptifibatide have shown varying effects on inflammatory markers. These effects seem to be mostly indirect, i.e. mediated primarily through reduced platelet activation that results in reduced inflammatory marker expression. However, there is some evidence that suggests direct effects (i.e. those independent of platelets) may also play a role in modulating inflammatory markers. Evidence linking inflammation and thrombosis supports the hypothesis that agents with both anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects may reduce vascular inflammation and limit acute and long-term thrombotic events. An assessment of the involvement of inflammatory mediators in atherosclerosis may provide further insight into important predictive markers of cardiovascular outcomes that may also serve as potential therapeutic targets. This review examines the evidence for and potential clinical relevance of the effects of antiplatelet therapy on inflammatory markers.
Macroeconomic Uncertainties, Oil Subsidies, and Fiscal Sustainability in Asia

Global oil prices have subsided relative to the peak reached in mid-2008, but compared to historical levels they remain elevated and volatile as economic uncertainties continue to unfold. The likelihood of these prices rising again soon cannot be ruled out. High oil prices can adversely affect growth, employment, external accounts, and fiscal positions of governments. An overwhelming response across Asia as international oil prices spiked in 2008 was to shield domestic consumers more than before through oil subsidies, which are inequitable, economically inefficient, and environmentally unfriendly. These subsidies add directly to the fiscal deficit and public debt, but are generally hidden, making their measurement difficult. Additionally, in combination with lower growth rates, higher spending to rev up demand across Asia is also worsening the fiscal positions of governments. This paper computes the transmission of recent global oil price movements to domestic markets and estimates oil price subsidies in a diverse group of 32 Asian economies. Using data for 18 of these countries and applying a forward-looking methodology for debt dynamics, the paper then examines the potential impact of responses to macroeconomic shocks and a possible rise in oil prices on public debt and estimates the fiscal correction needed to sustain debt at a steady-state level. Based on the findings from the empirical analysis, the paper extracts some guiding principles for fiscal policy responses to the economic shocks depending on country-specific circumstances.
Cordies: expressive event correlation in distributed systems

Complex Event Processing (CEP) is the method of choice for the observation of system states and situations by means of events. A number of systems have been introduced that provide CEP in selected environments. Some are restricted to centralised systems, or to systems with synchronous communication, or to a limited space of event relations that are defined in advance. Many modern systems, though, are inherently distributed and asynchronous, and require a more powerful CEP. We present Cordies, a distributed system for the detection of correlated events that is designed for the operation in large-scale, heterogeneous networks and adapts dynamically to changing network conditions. With its expressive language to describe event relations, it is suitable for environments where neither the event space nor the situations of interest are predefined but are constantly adapted. In addition, Cordies supports Quality-of-Service (QoS) for communication in distributed event correlation detection.
Spectral ageing in the lobes of cluster-centre FR II radio galaxies

Recent investigations have shown that many parameters and assumptions made in the application of spectral ageing models to FR-II radio galaxies (e.g. injection index, uniform magnetic field, non-negligible cross-lobe age variations) may not be as reliable as previously thought. In this paper we use new VLA observations, which allow spectral curvature at GHz frequencies to be determined in much greater detail than has previously been possible, to investigate two cluster-centre radio galaxies, 3C438 and 3C28. We find that for both sources the injection index is much steeper than the values traditionally assumed, consistent with our previous findings. We suggest that the Tribble model of spectral ageing provides the most convincing description when both goodness-of-fit and physically plausibility are considered, but show that even with greatly improved coverage at GHz frequencies, a disparity exists in cluster-centre FR-IIs when spectral ages are compared to those determined from a dynamical viewpoint. We find for 3C438 that although the observations indicate the lobes are expanding, its energetics suggest that the radiating particles and magnetic field at equipartition cannot provide the necessary pressure to support the lobes, similar to other cluster-centre source such as Cygnus A. We confirm that small scale, cross-lobe age variations are likely to be common in FR-II sources and should be properly accounted for when undertaking spectral ageing studies. Contrary to the assumption of some previous studies, we also show that 3C28 is an FR-II (rather than FR-I) source, and suggest that it is most likely a relic system with the central engine being turned off between 6 and 9 Myrs ago.
Optimal Distribution and Taxation of the Family

Income tax burdens on family units are adjusted to reflect differences in ability to pay attributable to whether the unit consists of a single individual or a married couple and how many dependents are present. Substantial controversy exists over the appropriate forms of adjustment, and existing approaches to taxation of the family vary greatly across jurisdictions. This article derives equitable relative tax burdens for different family configurations from a utilitarian welfare function. The analysis considers how relative burdens should depend on the extent to which resources are shared among family members, the existence of economies of scale, the presence of altruism among family members, whether expenditures on children should be viewed as part of parents' consumption, and the possibility that some family members (children) have different utility functions from others.
CEoptim: Cross-Entropy R Package for Optimization

The cross-entropy (CE) method is simple and versatile technique for optimization, based on Kullback-Leibler (or cross-entropy) minimization. The method can be applied to a wide range of optimization tasks, including continuous, discrete, mixed and constrained optimization problems. The new package CEoptim provides the R implementation of the CE method for optimization. We describe the general CE methodology for optimization and well as some useful modifications. The usage and efficacy of CEoptim is demonstrated through a variety of optimization examples, including model fitting, combinatorial optimization, and maximum likelihood estimation.
Activity Awareness: from Predefined Events to New Pattern Discovery

Applying advanced video technology to understand (human) activity and intent, including the interaction of multiple people and objects, is becoming increasingly important, especially for intelligent video surveillance. Recently, technical interest in video surveillance has moved from lowlevel processing modules, such as motion detection and motion tracking, to activity awareness and more complex scene understanding. This paper presents an integrated video surveillance system at Honeywell labs, which detects predefined activities with improved robustness. Also, we present the ‘new activity’ detection (pattern discovery), which can automatically capture new activities, and present the newly detected activities to the operator who checks for their validity and adds them into the activity models. Moreover, we present a torso angle feature, which represents people posture, to detect activities, such as people falling. We used real world data sets to show the effectiveness of our proposed method.
A Micro-glitch in the Millisecond Pulsar B1821-24 in M28

We report on the observation of a very small glitch observed for the ﬁrst time in a millisecond pulsar, PSR B1821-24 located in the globular cluster M28. Timing observations were mainly conducted with the Nan¸cay radiotelescope (France) and conﬁrmation comes from the 140ft radiotelescope at Green Bank and the new Green Bank Telescope data. This event is characterized by a rotation frequency step of 3 nHz, or 10 − 11 in fractional frequency change along with a short duration limited to a few days or a week. A marginally signiﬁcant frequency derivative step was also found. This glitch follows the main characteristics of those in the slow period pulsars, but is two orders of magnitude smaller than the smallest ever recorded. Such an event must be very rare for millisecond pulsars since no other glitches have been detected when the cumulated number of years of millisecond pulsar timing observations up to 2001 is around 500 for all these objects. However, pulsar PSR B1821-24 is one of the youngest among the old recycled ones and there is likely a correlation between age, or a related parameter, and timing noise. While this event happens on a much smaller scale, the required adjustment of the star to a new equilibrium ﬁgure as it spins down is a likely common cause for all glitches.
Combination of Local Invariants with an Active Shape Model

In this paper, a novel local invariant model based on scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) features is presented to accurately obtain and locate the local features of an image. After the local features of each image in the training set are extracted by the SIFT, we eliminate the unsteady factors in term of statistical results of all the SIFT features to establish the local invariant model. The experiments to evaluate the performance of the model are carried out, which prove that the method has the quality of high-repeatability and accuracy and achieves the power of accurately locating the similar objects in different scenes despite the rigid or non-rigid deformation on them. For further investigation, we combine the local invariant model with an active shape model for automatically initialization. Results show that the combined model achieves satisfactory performance.
Technical Knowledge Dissemination in Industries-Foundation and Practice -

Because the lifetime employment system is disappearing in Japan, “knowledge transfer” is becoming a more significant issue in industry. Knowledge-based systems will support the knowledge transference among workers via knowledge base. A job support system and an employee training system are the core of knowledge transfer. It is important to build a knowledge base that can be reused. Ontology makes a basis for it. We are building a knowledge management system for the electric power industry. The philosophy of building the system and examples of the system are introduced.
Recovery of Spectral Sensitivity Functions from a Colour Chart Image under Unknown Spectrally Smooth Illumination

This paper proposes a method to approximate the camera spectral sensitivity functions from a single colour image of a colour chart under an unknown illumination spectrum. Here we assume that the scene illumination has a smooth spectral variation. Although the original problem is rather ill-posed, we reformulate it as a well-posed optimisation one by introducing several constraints. The first constraint concerns with the smoothness of the illuminant power spectrum. The second one is based on the fact that the spectral sensitivity function of a digital camera should be constrained to a linear subspace according to Luther condition. The third constraint limits the influence of bands with low signal-to-noise ratios. By introducing these constraints, we can solve the problem in a coordinate-descent optimisation manner. We validate our method using data acquired from over 40 commercial camera models and compare with an alternative in the literature. We also demonstrate the utility of the estimated colour matching functions for colour simulation and colour transfer.
Improving attack detection in self-organizing networks: A trust-based approach toward alert satisfaction

Cyber security has become a major challenge when detecting and preventing attacks on any self-organizing network. Defining a trust and reputation mechanism is a required feature in these networks to assess whether the alerts shared by their Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) actually report a true incident. This paper presents a way of measuring the trustworthiness of the alerts issued by the IDSs of a collaborative intrusion detection network, considering the detection skills configured in each IDS to calculate the satisfaction on each interaction (alert sharing) and, consequently, to update the reputation of the alert issuer. Without alert satisfaction, collaborative attack detection cannot be a reality in front of ill-intended IDSs. Conducted experiments demonstrate a better accuracy when detecting attacks.
Spectrum of Ocular Manifestations in CLN2-Associated Batten (Jansky-Bielschowsky) Disease Correlate with Advancing Age and Deteriorating Neurological Function

Background Late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL), one form of Batten’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a CLN2 gene mutation. The spectrum of ophthalmic manifestations of LINCL and the relationship with neurological function has not been previously described. Methods Patients underwent ophthalmic evaluations, including anterior segment and dilated exams, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography. Patients were also assessed with the LINCL Neurological Severity Scale. Ophthalmic findings were categorized into one of five severity scores, and the association of the extent of ocular disease with neurological function was assessed. Results Fifty eyes of 25 patients were included. The mean age at the time of exam was 4.9 years (range 2.5 to 8.1). The mean ophthalmic severity score was 2.6 (range 1 to 5). The mean neurological severity score was 6.1 (range 2 to 11). Significantly more severe ophthalmic manifestations were observed among older patients (p<0.005) and patients with more severe neurological findings (p<0.03). A direct correlation was found between the Ophthalmic Severity Scale and the Weill Cornell Neurological Scale (p<0.002). A direct association was also found between age and the ophthalmic manifestations (p<0.0002), with older children having more severe ophthalmic manifestations. Conclusions Ophthalmic manifestations of LINCL correlate closely with the degree of neurological function and the age of the patient. The newly established LINCL Ophthalmic Scale may serve as an objective marker of LINCL severity and disease progression, and may be valuable in the evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies for LINCL, including gene therapy.
National Treatment in the GATS – Corner-Stone or Pandora’s Box?

This paper is concerned with three problems in the interpretation of the national treatment obligation in GATS. First, the precise domain of Article XVII on national treatment has not been clearly delineated, particularly in relation to Article XVI dealing with market access. Secondly, there is a conflict between the text of Article XVII and the structure of the schedules of commitments, which makes it difficult to interpret the scope of the national treatment obligation even for identical services supplied through different modes. The final, and most complex, problem arises in establishing the definition of like services and like service suppliers. Uncertainty about the precise meaning of the national treatment commitment may undermine the key GATS objective of creating a secure, predictable trading environment. Moreover, the extent of liberalization implied by the commitments under GATS depends on the precise choice of interpretation.
Fine structure of the canine olfactory hairlets.

The additional fine structure of the canine olfactory hairlet is studied with the electron microscopy. The canine olfactory hairlet is unique in structure and it consists of four main portions, namely, 1. the basal body and its apparatuses, 2. the thick portion which is analogous to the mammalian epithelial cilia, 3. the transitional region where the nine peripheral doublets become single tubule and terminate abruptly leaving few single tubules, 4. the thin portion which has an ampullar structure on the midway and the tip where all the remainders of the hairlet tubules terminated finally. Their position in situ and their characteristic structure lead one to speculate upon their functional significance as a chemoreceptor. An atypical giant olfactory hairlet is found but its functional role is not known.
Carbon nanotube based transparent conductive films: progress, challenges, and perspectives

Abstract Developments in the manufacturing technology of low-cost, high-quality carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are leading to increased industrial applications for this remarkable material. One of the most promising applications, CNT based transparent conductive films (TCFs), are an alternative technology in future electronics to replace traditional TCFs, which use indium tin oxide. Despite significant price competition among various TCFs, CNT-based TCFs have good potential for use in emerging flexible, stretchable and wearable optoelectronics. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the fabrication, properties, stability and applications of CNT-based TCFs. The challenges of current CNT-based TCFs for industrial use, in comparison with other TCFs, are considered. We also discuss the potential of CNT-based TCFs, and give some possible strategies to reduce the production cost and improve their conductivity and transparency.
The Human Capital Model of the Demand for Health

This paper contains a detailed treatment of the human capital model of the demand for health. Theoretical predictions are discussed, and theoretical extensions are reviewed. Empirical research that tests the predictions of the model or studies causality between years of formal schooling completed and good health is surveyed. The model views health as a durable capital stock that yields an output of healthy time. Individuals inherit an initial amount of this stock that depreciates with age and can be increased by investment. The household production function model of consumer behavior is employed to account for the gap between health as an output and medical care as one of many inputs into its production. In this framework the shadow price' of health depends on many variables besides the price of medical care. It is shown that the shadow price rises with age if the rate of depreciation on the stock of health rises over the life cycle and falls with education if more educated people are more efficient producers of health. An important result is that, under certain conditions, an increase in the shadow price may simultaneously reduce the quantity of health demanded and increase the quantities of health inputs demanded.
QoS Support for Multimedia Traffic in Wireless/IP Networks Using AIMD Protocols

In this paper, we study how to select the transport layer protocol parameters with considerations of wireless link characteristics and application QoS requirements. In our approach, the inter-layer interactions only exchange protocol parameters between layers. We demonstrate that by appropriately selecting the AIMD protocol parameters, AIMD-controlled flows can efficiently utilize wireless resources and provide satisfactory QoS to time-sensitive multimedia applications. Extensive simulations are performed to validate the analytical results, evaluate the performance, and show that AIMD protocols can outperform the non-responsive UDP protocol when they are used to support multimedia applications over hybrid networks. Since AIMD and TCP protocols share the same congestion control mechanism, AIMD protocols are compatible with the legacy and scalable to be deployed incrementally. In addition, with satisfactory QoS provisioning, end-systems have more incentives to voluntarily regulate multimedia traffic with an AIMD-based congestion controller, which is vital for network stability and integrity.
Rivers as legal structures: the examples of the Jordan and the Nile

As long as there have been communities sharing water, there have been disputes over how the water has been shared. The Middle East, an enormous dry region stretching from Marrakech to Samarkand, has had some of the longest experiences of such controversies. Today many of the river basins within the region illustrate the effectiveness and limitations of both customary international law and treaty law in resolving such problems at the interstate level. This article examines the national communities sharing two highly contested river basins-the Jordan and the Nile-in the region as examplars of those successes and failures. '
Destroying the "Pretending" Equilibria in the Demski–Sappington–Spiller Model

Abstract Demski, Sappington, and Spiller [J. Econ. Theory44 (1988), 156–167] explore the effects of bankruptcy constraints on incentive schemes when two risk-neutral agents operate in correlated environments. For a setting in which the agents receive their private information before contracts are agreed upon they claim that the truth telling equilibrium induced by a pair of optimal direct schemes is necessarily subgame dominated. The present paper shows how the reward functions in the Demski–Sappington–Spiller revelation schemes can costlessly be modified so as to destroy all "pretending" equilibria which dominate the truth-telling one. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C72, D74, D82.
Fault-Tolerant Music Search by New Ranking Order Algorithm

Music information retrieval is an active area of research with high practical relevance. Humming a melody is one natural way to overcome the input restrictions when searching for music. In this presentation we concentrate on a new ranking order algorithm to match melody input to a music database containing polyphonic music as sequences of notes. The new algorithm achieves high melody recognition rates and shows graceful degradation in the presence of errors such as omission/insertion of notes or wrong tone heights/durations. The recognition rate is maximized by applying evolutionary strategies for parameter optimizations. The parallel implementation on a Linux-based PC cluster and the computational effort are discussed. Quantitative results are presented for melody recognition. We compare the method with related work and conclude with an outlook