Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Progress report of combined chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in patients with esophageal cancer: an intergroup study.

PURPOSE The present intergroup phase III randomized study compared combined chemotherapy (CT) plus radiotherapy (RT) treatment versus RT only in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two courses of chemotherapy during 50 Gy RT followed by additional two courses of the same CT, versus 64 Gy RT alone were investigated. CT consisted of cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1 [corrected] and fluorouracil (5FU) 1,000 mg/m2/d on days 1 to 4 every 4 weeks with RT and every 3 weeks post-RT. The main objective of the study was to compare overall survival between the two randomized treatment groups. Patients were stratified by tumor size, histology, and degree of weight loss. RESULTS Sixty-two assessable patients were randomized to receive RT alone, and 61 to the combined arm. Patients characteristics were as follows: squamous cell cancer, 90% versus 85%; weight loss greater than 10 lb, 61% versus 69%; and tumor size, > or = 5 cm, 82% versus 80% on the RT and CT-RT arms, respectively. Systemic side effects, which consisted of nausea, vomiting, and renal and myelosuppression, occurred more frequently on the combined arm, while local side effects were similar in both groups. With a minimum follow-up time of 5 years for all patients, the median survival duration was 14.1 months and the 5-year survival rate was 27% in the combined treatment group, while the median survival duration was 9.3 months with no patients alive at 5 years in the RT-alone group (P < .0001). Additional patients (69) were treated with the same combined therapy and were analyzed. The results of the last group confirmed all of the results obtained with combined CT-RT in the randomized trial, with a median survival duration of 17.2 months and 3-year survival rate of 30%. CONCLUSION We conclude that cisplatin and 5FU infusion given during and post-RT of 50 Gy is statistically superior to standard 64-Gy RT alone in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.
Filtering of thin objects : applications to vascular image analysis. (Filtrage d'objets fins : applications à l'analyse d'images vasculaires)

The motivation of this work is filtering of elongated curvilinear objects in digital images. Their narrowness presents difficulties for their detection. In addition, they are prone to disconnections due to noise, image acquisition artefacts and occlusions by other objects. This work is focused on thin objects detection and linkage. For these purposes, a hybrid second-order derivative-based and morphological linear filtering method is proposed within the framework of scale-space theory. The theory of spatially-variant morphological filters is discussed and efficient algorithms are presented. From the application point of view, our work is motivated by the diagnosis, treatment planning and follow-up of vascular diseases. The first application is aimed at the assessment of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) of cerebral vasculature. The small size and the complexity of the vascular structures, coupled to noise, image acquisition artefacts, and blood signal heterogeneity make the analysis of such data a challenging task. This work is focused on cerebral angiographic image enhancement, segmentation and vascular network analysis with the final purpose to further assist the study of cerebral AVM. The second medical application concerns the processing of low dose X-ray images used in interventional radiology therapies observing insertion of guide-wires in the vascular system of patients. Such procedures are used in aneurysm treatment, tumour embolization and other clinical procedures. Due to low signal-to-noise ratio of such data, guide-wire detection is needed for their visualization and reconstruction. Here, we compare the performance of several line detection algorithms. The purpose of this work is to select a few of the most promising line detection methods for this medical application
Video steganography using Flash Video (FLV)

This paper aims to describe our research and software implementation in the field of video steganography. Because of security threats today through modern malevolent technology, confidential information is at risk such as medical records and banking or financial data. The group provided a solution by protecting this sensitive information inside videos. The project focused on using Flash Videos (.flv file extension) because of its simple file structure, its relatively small size compared to other video file formats, and its popularity in video-hosting websites. Intensive experimentation on how the FLV file structure can be manipulated to hold additional data were done. Through these experiments, the characteristics of the FLV provided the group to implement a C++ program that features embedding any type of data in the FLV, extracting that same hidden information, as well as compressing the FLV to compensate for the increase in file size. Very promising results include 100% lossless extraction, perfect original picture and sound quality for the uncompressed FLV embedded with data and uncompromised integrity of hidden data when modified FLVs are transferred through the Internet through e-mail or video-hosting websites. An application dealing with the medical records' privacy is currently ongoing. Lastly, a recent article saying that doing steganography on a file that has been already “steganized” (“double-stegging”) could damage the file and jeopardize the extraction of the hidden file for the sake of making espionage work against itself. This statement have been supported and confirmed possible by the group as successive embedding using the Video Steganography program makes the original message “inextractable” using the same program.
Time series from hyperion to track productivity in pivot agriculture in saudi arabia

The hyperspectral satellite sensing capacity is expected to increase substantially in the near future with the planned deployment of hyperspectral systems by both space agencies and commercial companies. These enhanced observational resources will offer new and improved ways to monitor the dynamics and characteristics of terrestrial ecosystems. This study investigates the utility of time series of hyperspectral imagery, acquired by Hyperion onboard EO-1, for quantifying variations in canopy chlorophyll (Chlc), plant productivity, and yield over an intensive farming area in the desert of Saudi Arabia. Chlc is estimated on the basis of predictive multi-variate empirical models established via a machine learning approach using a training dataset of in-situ measured target variables and explanatory hyperspectral indices. Resulting time series of Chlc are translated into Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Yield based on semi-empirical relationships, and evaluated against ground-based observations. Results indicate significant benefit in utilizing the full suite of hyperspectral indices over multi-spectral indices constructible from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2.
The metabolic syndrome — a neuroendocrine disorder?

Central obesity is a powerful predictor for disease. By utilizing salivary cortisol measurements throughout the day, it has now been possible to show on a population basis that perceived stress-related cortisol secretion frequently is elevated in this condition. This is followed by insulin resistance, central accumulation of body fat, dyslipidaemia and hypertension (the metabolic syndrome). Socio-economic and psychosocial handicaps are probably central inducers of hyperactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Alcohol, smoking and traits of psychiatric disease are also involved. In a minor part of the population a dysregulated, depressed function of the HPA axis is present, associated with low secretion of sex steroid and growth hormones, and increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system. This condition is followed by consistent abnormalities indicating the metabolic syndrome. Such ‘burned-out’ function of the HPA axis has previously been seen in subjects exposed to environmental stress of long duration. The feedback control of the HPA axis by central glucocorticoid receptors (GR) seems inefficient, associated with a polymorphism in the 5′ end of the GR gene locus. Homozygotes constitute about 14 % of Swedish men (women to be examined). Such men have a poorly controlled cortisol secretion, abdominal obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension. Furthermore, polymorphisms have been identified in the regulatory domain of the GR gene that are associated with elevated cortisol secretion; polymorphisms in dopamine and leptin receptor genes are associated with sympathetic nervous system activity, with elevated and low blood pressure, respectively. These results suggest a complex neuroendocrine background to the metabolic syndrome, where the kinetics of the regulation of the HPA axis play a central role.
Consumer Evaluation in the Transit Industry

Over the last few years, the service companies have progressively focused on the service quality and the consumer satisfaction. This strategy is very beneficial for both providers and consumers, especially for transit organizations and passengers. An improvement of the supplied service quality can attract further users. In the service industries, the evaluation of the service quality is challenging primarily because of the intangible nature of the services. We review the consumer satisfaction literature and focus on the examination of the satisfaction in the public transport. This paper examines three specific questions: How is the overall satisfaction level of users in the urban public transport? What are the factors that constitute the passengers’ evaluation with the bus service in the urban public transport? Do these factors effect on the passengers’ overall satisfaction? The public transport service analyzed is the bus service habitually used by the people of one of the western towns in Hungary. The source of a survey was described, and found support for the research questions. The results highlight the medium level of passengers’ average satisfaction with the bus service. This paper applied factorial analysis to reveal three meaningful factors for evaluation of transit users. Additionally, we used multiple regressions to the examination of the connection between the service quality attributes and the overall satisfaction. The results show that travel time, travel comfortableness, and consumer relationship are significant factors affecting riders’ perceptions of the overall satisfaction. According to the findings there can propose the development tasks in the service attributes, the bus service can become attractive, if it is cheap, speed and reliable. The main limitation of our study is the sampling method, in order to the generalisation of the results needs to extend for other Hungarian cities. The summary and conclusions highlight the findings and the future research.
Effect of dietary lysine level and environmental temperature during the finishing phase on the intramuscular fat content of pork.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary lysine level on the intramuscular fat content of the longissimus in finishing pigs reared at two environmental temperatures. Seventy-two hybrid gilts were individually penned and given ad libitum access to either a diet formulated to meet their lysine requirement (6.4 g/kg lysine) or a lysine-deficient diet (4.8 g/kg). Pigs were held at one of two environmental temperatures (thermoneutral [18 degrees C] or hot [32 degrees C]). The study was carried out between approximately 90 and 126 kg live weight; pigs in the thermoneutral and hot environments were on test for 5 and 7 wk, respectively. There were no interactions between dietary lysine level and environmental temperature. Dietary lysine content did not influence feed intake or average daily gain; however, pigs on the lysine-deficient diet had a poorer gain:feed ratio than those fed to requirement (P < .01). High environmental temperature decreased feed intake (P < .001) and average daily gain (P < .01) but improved gain:feed ratio (P < .01). Backfat at the 10th rib was increased and loin eye area and estimated percentage lean in the carcass were decreased for pigs on the lysine-deficient diet. The higher environmental temperature resulted in an increase in carcass length but had no effect on other carcass measurements or intramuscular fat. Feeding the lysine-deficient diet resulted in an increase of . 55 percentage unit in longissimus intramuscular fat content (P < .01); however, there was no difference in subjective marbling scores between the diets. Warner-Bratzler shear force values were not affected by dietary lysine level or environmental temperature. Results from this study suggest that feeding of lysine-deficient diets at the end of the finishing period can increase intramuscular fat deposition under thermoneutral and hot conditions.
Effect of flip-chip package parameters on CDM discharge

CDM peak currents (I<sub>peak</sub>) were studied for the same I/O pin on different dies and flip-chip packages. It is found that I<sub>peak</sub> has strong correlation with linear function of two capacitances: die-to-lid capacitance (C<sub>DUT</sub>) and C<sub>DUT</sub> normalized per die area (C<sub>DUT</sub>/A). The proposed physical model relates CDM current to the two competing discharge paths. The local path is from Si-substrate, where the charge collected from a few millimeters radius. This part of I<sub>peak</sub> is a function of C<sub>DUT</sub>/A. The global path is through a package ground plane, where the charge is collected from Si-substrate via metal routing to the taps. This part of I<sub>peak</sub> is a function of C<sub>DUT</sub>.
Privacy for RFID-enabled Distributed Applications - Design Notes

The concern of this paper is RFID systems coupled with distributed applications. We do not treat known RFID attacks, we rather focus on the best way to protect the identity mapping, i.e. the association of a tag identifier, which can be obtained or deduced from the tags or communications including the tags, and the real identity of its carrier. We rely on a common use case of a distributed application and a modelling approach.
Performance assessment of nonlinear control systems based on fuzzy modeling

This note concerns with performance assessment problem for nonlinear control systems. Because of the difficulty finding a suitable benchmark performance for the nonlinear control systems, this problem is still open by now. With the help of the so called Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model, the benchmark controller and its associated benchmark performance are proposed based on linear time-variant model transformed by the nonlinear system. Final simulation result well shows the effectiveness of the proposed assessment procedure.
A Complex Association of ABCA7 Genotypes With Sporadic Alzheimer Disease in Chinese Han Population

Purpose:Recently, a large genome-wide association study has revealed that polymorphism of alleles and genotypes in rs3,764,650 within ABCA7 gene is associated with Alzheimer disease in whites. We conducted a case-control study to investigate whether these susceptible genetic variants are risk factors for sporadic Alzheimer disease (SAD) in Chinese Han population. Design and Methods:A total of 633 participants consisting of 350 SAD and 283 nondemented elderly controls matched for sex and age were recruited and genetic variants in ABCA7 (rs3,764,650) were genotyped using DNA sequencing. Results:On the basis of allele and genotype frequencies in both groups, we found a significant association (P=0.004) between ABCA7 genotypes and SAD in Chinese Han population, and the results were influenced by age and ApoE&egr;4 status. ApoE&egr;4-carrier and aging are linked to enhancing ABCA7 risk-associated SAD. However, the prevalence of the minor allele G in rs3,764,650 within ABCA7 showed no significant difference between the 2 groups in this study. Conclusions:ABCA7 (rs3,764,650) was associated with SAD in the Chinese population, with both ApoE&egr;4-carrier and aging being factors enhancing its risk.
Analysis of fertiliser use in potato production in Nakuru district, Kenya

This study aimed at estimating the farmers’ demand for fertiliser in the production of potatoes, and analysing the structure, conduct and performance of the fertiliser market in Nakuru district, Kenya. 250 farmers and 36 fertiliser traders selected using systematic and simple random sampling procedures, respectively, were interviewed between February and April 2001. Two models (the Structure-ConductPerformance Model, and the Potato Input Demand Analysis model) were used to assess fertiliser use in potato production in Nakuru district, Kenya. The results indicated that it was mainly the producer price that affected the fertiliser demands. The fertiliser prices were generally high and were mainly influenced by the relatively low usage of fertiliser in potato production. Also, the study revealed that there was formal marketing and distribution channel for fertiliser and that fertiliser trade depicted oligopolistic tendencies. Therefore it is clear that producer price of ware potato is critical in determining fertiliser use in the study area and that there is need to streamline the distribution and marketing of fertiliser.
Sustaining Philippine Advantage in Business Process Outsourcing

This study looked at the sustainability of the growth and development of business process outsourcing (BPO) in the Philippines. It was prompted by the sector`s spectacular growth in several of its subsectors, mainly contact call centers, medical transcription, animation, and software development. Doubts about the sustainability of this hypergrowth situation are increasingly being felt, as the industry experiences difficulties in meeting the demands of the market--specifically, the country`s ability to supply the skilled workforce. In addressing sustainability, the government will have to grapple with several important issues, such as the main drivers of the BPO phenomenon, the size of the global BPO market, and the competitiveness of the Philippines as a BPO location. These questions were directly addressed by the study. Only after these issues have been addressed can policymakers provide broader and longer term directions for the industry, specifically on: (1) whether the present level of priority given to BPOs is appropriate and consistent with national economic goals or should the government instead prioritize other sectors, and (2) whether the country`s educational system should be aligned with the goals of enhancing the competitiveness of the BPO industry, and the consequences of this educational thrust on other strategic sectors of the economy.
Fatty acid profile, tocopherol, squalene and phytosterol content of walnuts, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and the macadamia nut

Nuts are high in fat but have a fatty acid profile that may be beneficial in relation to risk of coronary heart disease. Nuts also contain other potentially cardioprotective constituents including phytosterols, tocopherols and squalene. In the present study, the total oil content, peroxide value, composition of fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols and squalene content were determined in the oil extracted from freshly ground walnuts, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts and the macadamia nut. The total oil content of the nuts ranged from 37.9 to 59.2%, while the peroxide values ranged from 0.19 to 0.43 meq O2/kg oil. The main monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1) with substantial levels of palmitoleic acid (C16:1) present in the macadamia nut. The main polyunsaturated fatty acids present were linoleic acid (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3). α-Tocopherol was the most prevalent tocopherol except in walnuts. The levels of squalene detected ranged from 9.4 to 186.4 μg/g. β-Sitosterol was the most abundant sterol, ranging in concentration from 991.2 to 2071.7 μg/g oil. Campesterol and stigmasterol were also present in significant concentrations. Our data indicate that all five nuts are a good source of monounsaturated fatty acid, tocopherols, squalene and phytosterols.
A feasibility study on human gait monitoring using a wearable K-band radar

Falling is a primary public problem which will cause serious injuries, especially for senior people aged over 65. Therefore, various fall detection systems are designed and developed. However, in existing researches, very few researchers use wearable radio frequency device to monitor the signature of human leg and detect fall event. In this paper, a feasibility study of all-time gait monitoring using wearable K-band Doppler radar is presented. In the experiment, a radar sensor was mounted on the subject's right ankle or right knee to capture the Doppler frequency. Experiment results are compared to show different features of Doppler information in different movements. Measurement results demonstrate the feasibility of fall detection using wearable onboard radar system.
Regional Culture's Characteristics of Entrepreneurial Spirits:An Empirical Research from Zhejiang

Entrepreneurial spirits as the source of entrepreneurs' entrepreneurial activities played important role for development of private economy. But in the current research on entrepreneurial spirits in China,most of the researchers inclined to neglect that entrepreneurial spirit was closely related with cultural environment where the entrepreneurs lived. This paper analyzed the interview data of ninety-eight Zhejiang's entrepreneurs by content analysis methods,summarized ten characteristics of Zhejiang's entrepreneurs' entrepreneurial spirits,then explained based on the Zhejiang's regional culture where the entrepreneurs lived. Lastly,it revealed that entrepreneurial spirits in different areas in Zhejiang had its own special characteristics through further analysis on the data.
Summer temperature variability and long-term survival among elderly people with chronic disease

Time series studies show that hot temperatures are associated with increased death rates in the short term. In light of evidence of adaptation to usual temperature but higher deaths at unusual temperatures, a long-term exposure relevant to mortality might be summertime temperature variability, which is expected to increase with climate change. We investigated whether the standard deviation (SD) of summer (June–August) temperatures was associated with survival in four cohorts of persons over age 65 y with predisposing diseases in 135 US cities. Using Medicare data (1985–2006), we constructed cohorts of persons hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and myocardial infarction. City-specific yearly summer temperature variance was linked to the individuals during follow-up in each city and was treated as a time-varying exposure. We applied a Cox proportional hazard model for each cohort within each city, adjusting for individual risk factors, wintertime temperature variance, yearly ozone levels, and long-term trends, to estimate the chronic effects on mortality of long-term exposure to summer temperature SD, and then pooled results across cities. Mortality hazard ratios ranged from 1.028 (95% confidence interval, 1.013– 1.042) per 1 °C increase in summer temperature SD for persons with congestive heart failure to 1.040 (95% confidence interval, 1.022–1.059) per 1 °C increase for those with diabetes. Associations were higher in elderly persons and lower in cities with a higher percentage of land with green surface. Our data suggest that long-term increases in temperature variability may increase the risk of mortality in different subgroups of susceptible older populations.