Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A framework for 3D vessel analysis using whole slide images of liver tissue sections

Three-dimensional (3D) high resolution microscopic images have high potential for improving the understanding of both normal and disease processes where structural changes or spatial relationship of disease features are significant. In this paper, we develop a complete framework applicable to 3D pathology analytical imaging, with an application to whole slide images of sequential liver slices for 3D vessel structure analysis. The analysis workflow consists of image registration, segmentation, vessel cross-section association, interpolation, and volumetric rendering. To identify biologically-meaningful correspondence across adjacent slides, we formulate a similarity function for four association cases. The optimal solution is then obtained by constrained Integer Programming. We quantitatively and qualitatively compare our vessel reconstruction results with human annotations. Validation results indicate a satisfactory concordance as measured both by region-based and distance-based metrics. These results demonstrate a promising 3D vessel analysis framework for whole slide images of liver tissue sections.
An EOQ model with immediate return for imperfect items under an announced price increase

The main purpose of this article is to investigate an economic ordering quantity model with imperfect quality under an announced price increase. It is assumed that a 100% inspection process is conducted to screen out the defectives contained in the received lot, and the defectives thus screened out will be returned to the vendor immediately. In practice, the mechanism of returning defectives to the vendor immediately may result from the increasingly exerted power of retailers, the need of satisfying strict quality requirement of customers, or the limitation of the storage space of retailers. Besides, the mechanism of immediate return usually indicates a promise of the vendor to his/her customers and is used to highlight the vendor's confidence in his/her products. The optimal ordering policies associated with three kinds of effective times of the price increase are obtained. A numerical example is then provided to illustrate the proposed model. The results indicate that the optimal special ordering quantity and the corresponding saving cost for an increase in price are both increasing with the increment of the price. For any price increase, both of the optimal special ordering quantity and the corresponding saving cost are negatively related to the remnant stock level at the time that the price increase is effective.
Iodine deficiency, thyroid function and hearing deficit: a review

Iodine deficiency affects an estimated 241 million school-aged children in the world. Little is known about iodine deficiency in relation to auditory function, except for the fact that deaf–mutism is one of the features of cretinism. In the present review, we documented the scientific knowledge on the role of iodine and hypothyroidism in the auditory system. We found that ear development and hearing function depend on thyroid hormones. Multiple pathways are involved in this, including both inner ear morphology as well as neurological processes. Conductive as well as sensorineural hearing loss is found in studies with animals that were rendered hypothyroidic. In humans, auditory impairment is reported frequently in relation to hypothyroidism, ranging from mild disturbances to severe handicap. Auditory impairment has been related more explicitly to congenital hypothyroidism than to acquired hypothyroidism. The critical period for thyroid function-related hearing maturation is the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Although only a limited number of studies have directly investigated the relationship between iodine deficiency and auditory function, most studies point toward an association. However, evidence from good randomised controlled trials is lacking. Inclusion of auditory outcomes in iodine supplementation studies is therefore to be recommended, especially for trials in pregnancy. Hearing deficit is an invisible abnormality, but has major consequences for educational and social skills if not detected. In view of this, auditory impairment should be mapped in iodine-deficient areas in order to realistically estimate the magnitude of the problem.
IT산업 연구개발 투자의 경제적 효과 분석

This study has conducted the economic effects of R&D investment in the IT industry using multi-regression analysis with three independent variables; capital stock, labor input and R&D stock. In this study, the IT industry has been categorized into three sub-industries; broadcasting communication appliances, information appliances and electronic components industry. Our analysis has found that auto-correlation shows considerable levels whereas figures of t-value and R-square show significant levels among all the IT sub-industries. Meanwhile, the values of R&D stock in the information appliances industry and that of labor input coefficients in the electronic components industry were minus, thus multi-collinearity was suspected. We have solved the problems regarding auto-correlation and multi-collinearity through Cochrane-Orcutt estimation and principal components
Community Perceptions of Tourism: Bruny and Magnetic Islands, Australia

Tourism is increasingly perceived as important for island sustainability, though it also has impacts. Impacts on host communities have negative consequences on desired interactions with visitors, an important visitor appeal of islands. This paper uses social exchange and social representation theories to investigate island community perceptions of tourism development and impacts. The investigations highlight a diversity of island community perspectives, the salient tourism consequences, and importantly the processes that lead to the perceived impacts. On Magnetic Island, the development of resorts, changes to the type of visitor and consequent changes to the social environment were uncovered reasons not to interact with visitors. On Bruny Island, visitors overcrowding island infrastructure was highlighted as a key reason not to interact with visitors. On both islands, the reason not to interact was more due to the process of tourism development decision-making, rather than the consequent impacts of these developments. Overall, the research highlights the need for community inclusion and consultation in sustainable island tourism policy and planning, both to facilitate the process of sustainable development and to educate communities of the likely consequences.
Reduced rank receiver for successive interference cancelation in correlated MIMO channel

We propose a reduced rank linear receiver for spatial multiplexing in the presence of severe correlation. The proposed receiver outperforms its full rank counterpart in the highly correlated channel and can be used as part of each detection stage in successive interference cancellation (SIC) receivers. The proposed detection method is evaluated for different power allocation schemes under the assumption that long term channel state information (LT-CSI) is available at the transmitter
Movie producers and the statistical distribution of achievement

This article investigates De Vany's (2004) application of the Pareto distribution to the careers of actors and directors by considering a sample of movie producers. The results support the Pareto distribution for describing the ‘number of films produced’ and the ‘sum of box office revenue’ earned by a producer. The results suggest that a producer is more likely to produce another film as the number of films which they have already produced increases. Also, although an early career producer faces more chance of securing a further film by pure luck, an established producer greatly benefits from his/her previous success.
Long-Run Equilibrium Relationships in the International Stock Market Factor Systems

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the international linkages among local, country-specific stock market factors in order to better understand the dependence structure of increasingly integrated world financial markets. The seeming discordance between Fama and French (1998) and Griffin (2002) regarding the multi-factor model in the international stock markets motivates us to study the international relationship among local factors. With the individual stock data from the six major developed countries in the international stock market, we compose daily returns to the Fama-French three factors (i.e. market, size, and value) and the momentum factor over the period from January 2000 to June 2010. We investigate the international linkages among local stock market factors, focusing on their equilibrium relationship in the integrated world financial market. The cointegration analysis indicates that local factor indices, constructed from the cumulative factor returns, are cointegrated for each of the four factor classes. Thus, we conclude that local factors are globally bound to each other through a long-run equilibrium relationship and that although stock market factors may be local, rather than global, individual stock returns are driven by common global stochastic trends.
Study of Ferrocene/Silicon hybrid memories: Influence of the chemical linkers and device thermal stability

In this paper we propose an experimental and theoretical analysis of hybrid Ferrocene/Si memory structures. Two main aspects are studied: the influence of the chemical linker length on Ferrocene/Silicon electron transfer rate, and the thermal stability of the hybrid devices. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy was used to analyse the chemical structure of the molecular layers. Cyclic Voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were employed to study the charge transfer dependence on the molecular linker. Impedance tests allowed us to evaluate the thermal stability of the molecular memories. The devices were submitted to different annealing temperatures and annealing times. The degradation of the molecular layer and the parasitic oxidation of the device active areas allowed us to explain results. Finally the main molecular parameters were computed through Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.
Pricing of a reload employee stock option under severance risk

Since employee stock option grants have some features that do not fulfill the Black–Scholes assumptions, we use a severance incorporating model to capture its main properties that specify the price and reload condition. Generally, the employee is exposed to various severance risks such as termination with cause or without cause. Departure from a firm with or without cause means that the option would be forfeited or exercised immediately, respectively, which gives significant influence to the optimal decision of executing the reload. To compute the reload, we determine the boundary constraint as a free boundary condition and reveal the main features of the impact of severance risk on reload.
Integrating Neural Networks for Risk-Adjustment Models

This article demonstrates the possibility of an alternative approach for risk-adjustment models. In the proposed model the risk characteristics of the beneficiary's health within the same cohort classified by Self-Organizing Map network are highly homogeneous, whereas the numbers of individuals within each cohort remain sufficient to allow further investigation of the causal effect from clustered data. A comparison of different models by the 10-fold cross-validation reveals that the performance improvement in the proposed integration model is both significant and stable across the estimation and validation sampling.
Simultaneous onset of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in identical infant twins with enterovirus infection

This report describes classical Type 1 insulin deficient diabetes mellitus (DM) arising in twins aged 14 months, both of whom had evidence of enterovirus infection. The diagnosis of Type 1 DM was made in the second twin within 12 days of the first. Enterovirus infection was detected in each twin at diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Both twins were negative for enterovirus by PCR 5 months following diagnosis, although both were then positive for islet cell antibodies. Sequencing of the amplicons produced by PCR suggested that the viruses from each twin were not the same but that they were both variants related to echovirus 6. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The research and evaluation of serious games: Toward a comprehensive methodology

The authors present the methodological background to and underlying research design of an ongoing research project on the scientific evaluation of serious games and/or computer-based simulation games (SGs) for advanced learning. The main research questions are: (1) what are the requirements and design principles for a comprehensive social scientific methodology for the evaluation of SGs? ; (2) to what extent do SGs contribute to advanced learning? ; (3) what factors contribute to or determine this learning? ; and (4) to what extent and under what conditions can SG-based learning be transferred to the real world? In the Netherlands between 2005 and 2012, several hundred SG sessions with 12 SGs were evaluated systematically, uniformly and quantitatively to create a dataset, which comprises data on 2488 respondents in higher education or work organizations. The authors present the research model, the quasi-experimental design and the evaluation instruments. This focus in this paper is on the methodology and dataset, which form a sound foundation for forthcoming publications on the empirical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Influence of Manufacturing Improvement Programmes on Performance

Today, to improve productivity in manufacturing, one has a large variety of improvement programmes at one′s disposal. Zero defects, value analysis, just‐in‐time, manufacturing lead time reduction are just a few of a long list of potential action programmes. Their real impact is not always clearly described, and manufacturing managers often have to start implementation on a basis of belief. In this article we use the database of the European Manufacturing Futures Survey to explore some of the medium‐term effects of these improvement programmes on manufacturing performance. The conclusions show that there are no simple cause‐effect relationships between single improvement programmes and manufacturing performance. Tenacity in implementation is required since some programmes have negative effects in the short term, but can have positive effects in the long term.
Drug delivery performance of the mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler.

The mometasone furoate dry powder inhaler (MF-DPI) is a multiple-dose, breath-actuated inhaler that uses agglomerates of micronized MF and lactose. In vitro analyses evaluated dose uniformity, variability, and particle size distribution of the MF-DPI. Tests of first, middle, and end doses from 10 inhalers each of the 200-microg MF/inhalation and 400-microg MF/inhalation dose sizes found that delivered doses (doses emitted from the inhaler) ranged from 91% to 112% of claimed doses for all tested DPIs. The mean MF doses delivered at 28.3 L/min were 100% and 94% of the doses delivered at 60 L/min for the 200-microg and 400-microg dose sizes, respectively; the relative standard deviation of doses was < or = 6.1% within this range of inhalation rates. At a flow rate of 60 L/min, the mean delivered doses, compared to claimed doses for inspiration times of 1-3 sec, were 102-104% for the 200-microg dose size and 98.8-102% for the 400-microg dose size. The mean cumulative fraction of dose delivered at 60 L/min for 2 sec which consisted of particles of <6.5 microm in diameter was 39.9% (+/-2.5 SD; n = 9) for the 200-microg dose size and 35.6% (+/-3.4 SD; n = 9) for the 400-microg dose size. All MF-DPI inhalers tested were well within U.S. and European compendial standards and regulatory guidelines for dose uniformity. An appropriate and reproducible fraction of the delivered dose was within the optimal particle size range for therapeutic effectiveness.
Postcommunism and the Theory of Democracy.

CONTRIBUTORS vii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi ONE: Introduction by George W. Breslauer 1 TWO: The Rejection of Authoritarianism by Philip G. Roeder 11 THREE: The Dynamics of Democratic Erosion by M. Steven Fish 54 FOUR: The Discursive Origins of Russian Democratic Politics by Richard D. Anderson, Jr. 96 FIVE: Defining Democratic Consolidation by Stephen E. Hanson 126 SIX: Conclusion: Postcommunism and the Theory of Democracy by Richard D. Anderson, Jr., M. Steven Fish, Stephen E. Hanson, and Philip G. Roeder, 152 NOTES 169 REFERENCES 175 INDEX 197
Emerging drugs for migraine treatment

Introduction: Migraine is a highly prevalent and disabling neurological condition whose personal, social and economic impact is substantial. Abortive and preventative treatments of this condition are still unsatisfactory, with poor control of the acute symptoms of the single attacks in many cases and a frequent progression towards chronicity. Areas covered: The major drug classes recently developed and/or in current development for migraine treatment are discussed. These include: Calcitonin-Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists, mAbs against CGRP or its receptor, selective 5 hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1F receptor agonists, drugs targeting Acid-Sensing Ion Channels, Transient Receptor Potential channels and Nitric Oxide. Expert opinion: The most convincing results appear those obtained with mAbs against CGRP, particularly in migraine preventative treatment, given the absence of serious adverse events, and the good response in terms of pain relief. If these results are confirmed in larger studies, these compounds have the potential to significantly improve the pharmacological control of migraine and also its evolution towards chronicity.
[Preliminary study on appropriate concentration gradient of nerve growth factor in promoting fracture healing].

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of local application of different concentrations of nerve growth factor (NGF) on fracture healing, and to further search for the appropriate concentration gradient of NGF to promote fracture healing. METHODS Seventy-five adult male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing (220.0 +/- 2.5) g, were made the right tibia fracture model at 1 cm distal from the tibial tubercle and randomly divided into 5 groups (groups A, B, C, D, and E, n=15). Fractures were treated with 0.3 mL normal saline containing different concentration of NGF (0.00648 x 10(-2), 0.032 40 x 10(-1), 0.16200 x 10(-2), and 0.81000 x 10(-2) microg/g) in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, and the same amount of normal saline in group E. After 2, 4, and 6 weeks, the specimens were harvested from 5 rats of each group to perform the biochemical test and histological observation. Before the rats were sacrificed, the arteriovenous blood was taken from the eye-ball to test the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. RESULTS After 2, 4, and 6 weeks, the gross observation showed that the size and hardness of bone tissue and callus tissue growth gradually increased in groups A, B, C, and D, and group D was higher than groups A, B, C, and E. The X-ray films showed that the calcified area gradually increased in groups A, B, C, and D, and group D was higher than groups A, B, C, and E. The histological observation showed that the trabecular quality and maturity in group D were better than those in groups A, B, C, and E. Group D was significantly higher than groups A, B, C, and E (P < 0.05) in the gray values of callus tissue and the calcium content of callus tissue at 4 and 6 weeks, in the wet weight of callus tissue at 2 and 4 weeks, and in the ALP content of serum at 2 weeks. The trabecula surface index of osteoblast, the trabecular volume, and the trabecular width decreased as time in the order of groups A, B, C, and D, which were higher than those of group E; group D was the highest, showing significant differences when compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The local application of NGF can promote fracture healing in rats. The high concentration gradient of NGF (0.81000 x 10(-2) microg/g) has an obvious promotion role on fracture healing.
IL-13+ Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Correlate with Asthma Control Status and Treatment Response.

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have been shown to produce large amounts of type 2 cytokines in a non-antigen-specific manner. These cytokines act upstream and downstream of ILC2 and are increasingly common in asthma drug development, thus warranting a closer investigation of the mechanism-related clinical manifestations of ILC2 in the selection of patients with asthma. We hypothesized that IL-13+ILC2s in the circulation might correlate with asthma control status as a result of persistent T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) inflammation in the lung. Furthermore, we aimed to explore ILC2s' responsiveness to glucocorticoid. The percentages of ILC2s and IL-13+ILC2s in different asthma subgroups were checked, and correlation analyses between ILC2s and asthma-related clinical parameters were performed. Dexamethasone treatments in ILC2s and Th2 cells were performed to clarify their response properties. ILC2s were identified as a Lin-CD45hiIL-7Rα+CRTH2+ cell population distinct from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Frequencies of ILC2s were increased dramatically in those with asthma (0.04 ± 0.02%) compared with healthy donors (0.025 ± 0.011%). The percentages of IL-13+ILC2s were significantly higher in patients in the uncontrolled group (49.7 ± 16.9%) and partly controlled groups (30.8 ± 13.1%) than in those in the well-controlled group (16.7 ± 5.9%) and healthy control subjects (18.7 ± 8.7%). Effective treatment of uncontrolled IL-13+ILC2-positive patients with asthma resulted in dynamic modulation of IL-13+ILC2 levels back to baseline. ILC2s were more resistant to glucocorticoid than Th2 cells in vitro. ILC2s are strong responders to IL-25/IL-33 stimulation. IL-13+ILC2s show a positive correlation with patient asthma control status and are more resistant to glucocorticoid than Th2 cells in humans.
Patterns of Development in Work/Family Reconciliation Policies for Parents in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK in the 2000s

Work/family reconciliation policies have increasingly become part of employment-led social policy at both EU and Member State levels. Given this trend, we expected to see more attention to policies that unequivocally promote women's employment: childcare provision and the promotion of flexible working, together with reform of leaves that permit labour market exit in order to care for children. Our examination of the nature of change in policy goals and instruments finds that developments have not been this straightforward, and that they can be related to existing (and differing) patterns of labour market behaviour and attitudes towards parental involvement in work and care.
Lifestyle changes in descendants of parents with diabetes type 2.

UNLABELLED This study aimed to explore the disposition of diabetic parents' descendents in changing eating and physical activity patterns. It was based on the heritability concept and Prochaska's Transtheoretical Model. This is a descriptive-correlational study; participants included 30 parents, randomly selected, and 60 children. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION 68% of the children was classified as obese, 42% with insulin resistance, and 15% with carbohydrate intolerance. None of the risk factors was associated with the stages of change. The heritability factor was 1.37%; more people younger than 40 and women report decreasing in the consumption of fat food (Xi(2)=6.04, p=. 020; and 4.41, p=. 040, respectively). These results suggest a high influence of environmental factors on the participants' unhealthy life styles.