Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Correlation on Determining the Intrinsic Dimension of a Hyperspectral Image

Determining the intrinsic dimension of a hyperspectral image is an important step in the spectral unmixing process and under- or over-estimation of this number may lead to incorrect unmixing for unsupervised methods. Most methods for estimating the intrinsic dimension require an estimate of the noise in the image, and noise estimates are often inaccurate in the presence of spectrally correlated noise. Since hyperspectral images are known to contain such correlated noise, intrinsic dimension estimations may be overestimated. In this paper we discuss the effect of correlation, as well as possible methods for overcoming such limitations. For instance, correlated bands may be removed prior to noise estimation, or spatially-based noise approximation methods may be used in place of statistical methods. These suggestions are implemented on synthetic and real images, including images acquired by AVIRIS, Hyperion and SpecTIR.
Compassion: A Neglected Motivator for Sustainable Tourism

Compassion is defined and identified in this paper as a powerful and universal motivator for actions that could help attain sustainable outcomes and enable aspirational forms of sustainable tourism, including just tourism, hopeful tourism and enlightened mass tourism that have not yet demonstrated real-world traction. Despite its potential, compassion has been neglected in the tourism literature. This paper reviews the 50 year quest for a “better tourism”, and presents a compassion-scape as a comprehensive and systematic framework for facilitating sector engagement with compassion. “Context” factors associated with tourism settings (e.g. level of development, purpose) and agents (e.g. mindset, psychographics, motivations) influence “encounter” elements such as the relationship, type, and distress characteristics. Subsequent “response” factors such as type, recipient, timeframe and intention influence the “implications” for sustainable tourism, which in turn affect the types of “intervention” (e.g. mindful interpretation, social marketing, faith injunction) implemented to achieve sustainable outcomes. The many innate methodological challenges for the researcher in measuring compassion are discussed, along with the issues involved in operationalizing the compassion-scape to engage and reform alternative tourism forms, notably volunteer tourism, pro-poor tourism, religious tourism and fair trade tourism as well as conventional mass tourism. A paper for the thinking reader.
Remarks on the Vitality of the Human Cornea After Organ Culture

The purpose of this study was to obtain further information on the viability of organ-cultured human cornea. We thus used a specific staining method for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), which is located in the membrane system of vital mitochondria. We examined fresh and long-term-cultured human corneas. After an initial incubation period in dextran-free culture medium, corneas were stored in a medium containing dextran. With respect to different appearances of the SDH staining, minimal essential medium without dextran seems to have a positive effect on the condition of epithelial cells. After renewal of the medium, keratocytes showed a brief improvement followed by a delayed deterioration, while the endothelial cells were severely damaged. However, best results for all three cell types were observed on the fourth day in a medium containing dextran. We therefore conclude that these corneas were best suited for transplantation.
Continued expression of HPV‐16 E7 protein is required for maintenance of the transformed phenotype of cells co‐transformed by HPV‐16 plus EJ‐ras.

The close association between HPV‐16 and cervical cancer implies some role for the virus in development of this cancer. Recent studies have shown that the HPV‐16 E7 gene encodes the major transforming activity of the virus in baby rat kidney (BRK) cell transformation assays. To investigate the requirement for continued E7 expression in BRK cells transformed by HPV‐16 E7 plus EJ‐ras, we have developed a system for inducible expression of the E7 gene. The studies reported here show that continued expression of the HPV‐16 E7 gene is required for maintenance of the transformed phenotype in these cells. The implications these observations bear on the role of the E7 gene in cervical carcinoma are discussed.
Evaluation of extrashort 4-mm implants in mandibular edentulous patients with reduced bone height in comparison with standard implants: a 12-month results.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this research was to evaluate the primary stability, the marginal bone loss, the survival, and the success criteria, of 4-mm-length implants compared with implants of conventional length supporting fixed prostheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten patients were selected for treatment of their atrophic edentulous jaws. Each patient received the following treatment: six dental implants were inserted, two anterior implants of conventional length (10-mm) in the interforaminal area and four posterior short implants of 4-mm length (Standard Plus, Roxolid, SLActive, Institut Straumann AG). The implants supported screw-retained fixed complete dentures. Examinations were conducted at day 0, three, six, and twelve months after surgery for the evaluation of the implant primary stability, secondary stability, crestal bone loss and survival by clinical evaluations, insertion torque values, resonance frequency analysis (RFA), and periapical radiography, respectively. RESULTS Sixty implants were inserted in ten patients. Mean insertion torque was slightly lower for 4-mm implants than 10-mm implants (38.1 Ncm vs. 42.2 Ncm) but without statistically significant difference. Implant stability was similar for extrashort and conventional implants. Marginal bone loss was similar for both groups for all the time periods. One short implant was lost before loading. The survival rates twelve months after implant placement were of 97.5% and 100% for short and conventional implants, respectively. Similarly, implant stability as measured by RFA was nonsignificantly lower for the 4-mm implants compared to the 10-mm implants. The marginal bone loss was lower for short implants three, six, and twelve months after the surgery without statistical significant difference. CONCLUSIONS Within the limitations of this study, we conclude that short dental implants (8 mm or less in length) supporting single crowns or fixed bridges are a feasible treatment option with radiographic and clinical success rates similar to longer implants for patients with compromised ridges. Long-term data with larger number of implants and subjects are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
Fabrication of antireflective polymer films with subwavelength structures using Roll to Roll Nanoimprint Lithography

Anti-reflection based on the mimicking of moth eye subwavelength structures (SWSs) has several advantages over conventionally used multilayer thin film antireflective coatings like broad angular and spectral responses, polarization insensitivity and improved stability. In this study, we present the low cost fabrication of moth eye based SWSs on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate using Roll-to-Roll Ultraviolet Nanoimprint Lithography (UV-NIL). We have used a novel method to create a roller mold with embedded nanopores that can be used for easy replication of SWSs without demolding issues. Pure aluminum foil was wrapped around an acrylic cylinder (Ø = 90mm) and a multistep anodizing and pore widening scheme was employed to create well-ordered and periodic anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) nanopores with different aspect ratios. Optical characterization of the antireflective PET film shows a transmittance over 92 %, an increase of 3% as compared to bare PET, while reflectance can be reduced from 5.3% to 0.09% in the range of visible light. It was observed that higher aspect ratio SWSs is more effective in reducing reflections at higher incident angles. Consequently, we have demonstrated an economically feasible method for fabricating large area polymer films that can be used to reduce light reflections which impose severe limitations on the performance of many optoelectronic devices like solar cells, photodetectors and flat display panels.
Effects of discharge area and surface conductivity on partial discharge behavior in voids under square voltages

The transitions of partial discharge (PD) behavior with aging in a void under ac voltages with sine wave and square wave were observed. The transition of the PD magnitude with aging under square wave showed the same tendency as that under sine wave. Moreover, the experimental results also showed some distinctive characteristics of PDs under square voltage (e.g. more than two pulses after the voltage rise time and their transition with aging). These phenomena were explained in terms of the effect of discharge area and the change in surface condition due to PD degradation
Nasal and Sinus Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Epidemiologic studies suggest that as many as 75% of patients with COPD have concomitant nasal symptoms and more than 1/3 of patients with sinusitis also have lower airway symptoms of asthma or COPD. Because the inflammatory response of the upper and lower airways are similar, and both sites have a similar exposure to allergens and irritants, it is not surprising that rhinitis or sinusitis would coexist with COPD. Possible mechanisms of combined upper and lower airway dysfunction include the so-called nasal-bronchial reflex, inflammation caused by smoking, mouth breathing caused by nasal obstruction, and pulmonary aspiration of nasal contents. Patients with chronic sinusitis commonly have nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness, suggesting a neural reflex. Postnasal drainage of nasal inflammatory mediators during sleep also may increase lower airway responsiveness. Therapy of nasal and sinus disease is associated with improved pulmonary function in patients with COPD.
Migrant decision-making in a frontier landscape

Across the tropics, rural farmers and livestock keepers use mobility as an adaptive livelihood strategy. Continued migration to and within frontier areas is widely viewed as a driver of environmental decline and biodiversity loss. Recent scholarship advances our understanding of migration decision-making in the context of changing climate and environments, and in doing so it highlights the variation in migration responses to primarily economic and environmental factors. Building on these insights, this letter investigates past and future migration decisions in a frontier landscape of Tanzania, East Africa. Combining field observations and household data within a multilevel modeling framework, the letter analyzes the explicit importance of social factors relative to economic and environmental factors in driving decisions to migrate or remain. Results indeed suggest that local community ties and non-local social networks drive both immobility and anticipated migration, respectively. In addition, positive interactions with local protected natural resource areas promote longer-term residence. Findings shed new light on how frontier areas transition to human dominated landscapes. This highlights critical links between migration behavior and the conservation of biodiversity and management of natural resources, as well as how migrants evolve to become integrated into communities.
Advertising Participation,Price Discount and the Vertical Cooperative Advertisement in a Supply Chain

The vertical cooperative advertisement in a manufacturer-retailer supply chain is studied in this paper.We investigate the equilibrium results when the manufacturer offers advertising allowance or price deduction to the retailer.When the marginal profit of the manufacturer is smaller than the retailer,neither strategy is applied by the manufacturer.If the marginal profit of the manufacturer is large than the retailer,the advertising allowance is the optimal choice of both sides.However,the price deduction is never satisfactory simultaneously to both sides in any condition.To increases profits for both parties in a supply chain,we recommend that the integrated decision in advertising should be the best solution.The range of feasible optimal solution of system integrating decision and Nash bargaining result are provided in the end.
GeoSymbio: a hybrid, cloud‐based web application of global geospatial bioinformatics and ecoinformatics for Symbiodinium–host symbioses

The genus Symbiodinium encompasses a group of unicellular, photosynthetic dinoflagellates that are found free living or in hospite with a wide range of marine invertebrate hosts including scleractinian corals. We present GeoSymbio, a hybrid web application that provides an online, easy to use and freely accessible interface for users to discover, explore and utilize global geospatial bioinformatic and ecoinformatic data on Symbiodinium–host symbioses. The novelty of this application lies in the combination of a variety of query and visualization tools, including dynamic searchable maps, data tables with filter and grouping functions, and interactive charts that summarize the data. Importantly, this application is hosted remotely or ‘in the cloud’ using Google Apps, and therefore does not require any specialty GIS, web programming or data programming expertise from the user. The current version of the application utilizes Symbiodinium data based on the ITS2 genetic marker from PCR‐based techniques, including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, sequencing and cloning of specimens collected during 1982–2010. All data elements of the application are also downloadable as spatial files, tables and nucleic acid sequence files in common formats for desktop analysis. The application provides a unique tool set to facilitate research on the basic biology of Symbiodinium and expedite new insights into their ecology, biogeography and evolution in the face of a changing global climate. GeoSymbio can be accessed at https://sites.google. com/site/geosymbio/.
Ethanol produces coronary vasospasm: evidence for a direct action of ethanol on vascular muscle

The effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on basal tension of canine small and large coronary arteries were examined in vitro. Ethanol in a concentration as little as 8.5 mm can induce threshold contractions of coronary arteries. High concentrations of ethanol produce concentration‐dependent coronary vasospasms equivalent to those induced by supra‐maximal concentrations of KCl. Acetaldehyde (10−5 to 10−2m) resulted in concentration‐dependent relaxation of basal tone. Use of a variety of pharmacological antagonists (i.e., phentolamine, methysergide, diphenhydramine, metiamide, propranolol and indomethacin) did not attenuate or prevent the spasmogenic actions of ethanol. These findings could help to explain why alcohol can induce cardiac depression, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy and the higher than normal incidence of sudden death observed in ‘binge’ drinkers.
Modified Free Vascularized Fibular Grafting for the Treatment of Femoral Neck Nonunion

Objective: To evaluate a modified free vascularized fibular grafting procedure with an anterior approach to the hip as a treatment for femoral neck nonunions. Design: Retrospective radiographic and clinical review. Setting: Level I trauma center. Patients/Participants: Twenty-six femoral neck nonunions treated between November 2000 and December 2005. Main Outcome Measurements: Harris Hip scoring system and radiographic standard evaluation for bone union. Results: The average follow-up period was 29.3 months (range, 12-63 months). The average duration of the surgery was 2.5 hours (range, 2-4 hours). Average blood loss was 300 mL (range, 200-400 mL). The neck-shaft angle was improved by 2.3° on average. Twenty-four of 26 femoral neck nonunions healed without any severe complications. Average union time was 5.3 months (range, 3-9 months). Twenty-four patients had well-functioning hips with an average Harris hip score of 87.9 as compared with the average preoperative Harris hip score of 57.8. One case developed osteonecrosis of the femoral head requiring total hip arthroplasty 2 years after the index procedure. One case developed an immediate postoperative infection. Conclusion: The clinical result indicates that the anterior approach modification of free vascularized fibular grafting is a valuable procedure in the treatment of femoral neck nonunions.
Inactivation of two mouse alkaline phosphatase genes and establishment of a model of infantile hypophosphatasia

We report the inactivation, via homologous recombination, of two of the three active mouse alkaline phosphatase genes, i.e., embryonic (EAP) and tissue nonspecific (TNAP). Whereas expression of the EAP isozyme was abolished in all tissues that express EAP developmentally (such as the preimplantation embryo, thymus, and testis), the EAP knock‐out mice show no obvious phenotypic abnormalities. They reproduce normally and give birth to live offspring, indicating the nonessential role of EAP during embryonic development. Mice deficient in the TNAP gene mimic a severe form of hypophosphatasia. These TNAP −/− mice are growth impaired, develop epileptic seizures and apnea, and die before weaning. Examination of the tissues indicates abnormal bone mineralization and morphological changes in the osteoblasts, aberrant development of the lumbar nerve roots, disturbances in intestinal physiology, increased apoptosis in the thymus, and abnormal spleens. Our results indicate that, in the mouse, TNAP appears not to be essential for the initial events leading to bone mineral deposition but that TNAP seems to play a role in the maintenance of this process after birth. The other phenotypic manifestations may be a consequence of the lack of TNAP in the developing neural tube between stages E8.5 and E13.5 of embryogenesis. We hypothesize that the autonomic nervous system is compromised in these TNAP −/− mice. Dev. Dyn. 208:432–446, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Temporary Price Discounts Model Considering Time Value of Money for Deteriorating Goods

To investigate retailers' optimal policy when they face temporary price discounts afforded by suppliers for deteriorating items, we build a temporary price discounts model which considering time value of money, for exponentially deteriorating items. We also analyse the different pricing and inventory policy in two different environments when the inventory is zero and not zero. A numerical example is given to illustrate the model.
Valgus extension overload in the pitching elbow

Five baseball pitchers, three college and two profes sional, with an average age of 24 years, exhibited pain between the acceleration phase and follow- through phase of the pitching motion. This caused the players to be unable to continue at the level of com petition necessary to play. A significant osteophyte on the posteromedial aspect of the olecranon process was identified in all pitchers. This caused impingement with the articular wall of the olecranon fossa and often created an area of chondromalacia. The more com monly identified posterior osteophyte was present in all cases. However, if just this posterior osteophyte is removed, the described lesion will be missed, with resultant persistent disability. Surgical excision of the posteromedial osteophyte through a relatively atraumatic posterolateral ap proach allowed early return of function without mor bidity. With an average follow up of 1 year, all of the pitchers returned for one full season at maximum effectiveness.
Developing selective media for quantification of multispecies biofilms following antibiotic treatment

The lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are chronically colonized by a polymicrobial biofilm community, leading to difficult-to-treat infections. To combat these infections, CF patients are commonly treated with a variety of antibiotics. Understanding the dynamics of polymicrobial community composition in response to antibiotic therapy is essential in the search for novel therapies. Culture-dependent quantification of individual bacteria from defined multispecies biofilms is frequently carried out by plating on selective media. However, the influence of the selective agents in these media on quantitative recovery before or after antibiotic treatment is often unknown. In the present study we developed selective media for six bacterial species that are frequently co-isolated from the CF lung, i.e. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus anginosus, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Rothia mucilaginosa, and Gemella haemolysans. We show that certain supplementations to selective media strongly influence quantitative recovery of (un)treated biofilms. Hence, the developed media were optimized for selectivity and quantitative recovery before or after treatment with antibiotics of four major classes, i.e. ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, colistin, or tobramycin. Finally, in a proof of concept experiment the novel selective media were applied to determine the community composition of multispecies biofilms before and after treatment with tobramycin.
Chronic sinusitis: clinical and pathophysiological aspects.

Sinusitis can be defined as inflammation of the paranasal sinus mucosa. However, the definition of chronic sinusitis is not yet fully established. As chronic sinusitis occurs both on an infectious and non-infectious basis there are many symptoms, local as well as general, from the upper respiratory tract. It is generally agreed that the time aspect of the disease is important. Long-term symptoms, i.e. more than 3 months, and objective findings of mucosal inflammation are criteria for chronic sinusitis. In clinical practice it is also important to realize that mucosal changes usually persist for at least 8 weeks after the treatment of an acute infection. Interest has lately been focused on local sinusal inflammation, especially on the inflammatory cells whose immunoactive products seem to keep inflammation ongoing even after the infection is cured. It is not clear to which extent the mucosal damage, with granulation tissue, polyp formation and fibrosis, is reversible. In chronic sinusitis, the ostial function is disturbed, especially in patients with nasal polyposis. This function must be re-established, but it is still uncertain whether obstruction in the osteomeatal complex is primary or secondary to other factors. Further research into local immunological factors and analysis of the development of special local tissue pathology in sinusitis is necessary in order to be able to establish exactly why acute sinusitis does not resolve but turns into a chronic inflammatory disease.