Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shadow Detection – Its Pros and Cons

Location Based Service Domain offers various services to applications like Navigation, Traffic Surveillance etc. One of the major services of this domain is the tracking moving objects. This service is implemented as system design approach having inputs as photos or videos. These inputs have many entities like the object of interest and entities of confusion . One such entity of our interest which may lead to major failure of the system is the shadow of the objects of interest which may be mistook as the object itself . This will lead to false detection. Thus shadow detection and its elimination is proposed as a necessary and important step of the system. For this the objects have to be classified as Static and dynamic with shadow regions as umbra and penumbra. For the design of the proposed preprocessing stage, the paper evaluates different types of shadows, Application wise, Model wise, Method wise and Property wise. Finally for the analysis phase of the system, a comparative study of some required parameters for shadow detection is done. The system is then evaluated to conclude the advantages and disadvantages of shadow detection preprocessing module General Terms This paper is in domain of image processing. The sub domain being Tracking in which the shadows of the tracked objects are detected and eliminated.
Employees' willingness to pay to prevent influenza.

OBJECTIVES To quantify employees' preferences, as measured by willingness to pay, to prevent influenza in themselves and in their child and adult household members and to examine factors associated with willingness to pay. STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational cohort study of a convenience sample of employees from 3 large US employers. Participants had at least 1 child (< or = 17 years) living in their household for at least 4 days per week. METHODS Each month from November 2007 to April 2008, employees completed Web-based surveys regarding acute respiratory illness in their household. In the final survey, employees were presented with descriptions of influenza and questions regarding their willingness to pay to prevent influenza. Factors associated with willingness to pay were examined using multivariate ordinary least squares regression analysis of the log of willingness to pay. RESULTS Among 2006 employees, 31.3% were female, the mean age was 41.7 years, 85.3% were of white race/ethnicity, and the mean household size was 4.0. Employees' median (mean) willingness to pay to prevent influenza was $25 ($72) for themselves, $25 ($82) for their adult household members, and $50 ($142) (P <.01) for children. However, influenza vaccination rates were approximately equal for children (27.5%), employees (31.5%), and other adult household members (24.5%). This finding may be explained by barriers such as cost, dislike of vaccinations, and disagreement with national influenza vaccination recommendations, which were significantly associated with lower willingness to pay for prevention of influenza (P <.05). CONCLUSION Employees expressed a stronger preference to prevent influenza in their children than in themselves or other household members; however, modifiable barriers depress vaccination rates.
Report of the Event Tag Review and Recommendation Group

Report of the Event Tag Review and Recommendation Group ATLAS Group This work was supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231. DISCLAIMER This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. While this document is believed to contain correct information, neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor The Regents of the University of California, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by its trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or The Regents of the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof or The Regents of the University of California.
Outcomes of Polydioxanone Knotless Thread Lifting for Facial Rejuvenation

BACKGROUND Thread lifting is a minimally invasive technique for facial rejuvenation. Various devices for thread lifting using polydioxanone (PDO) are popular in aesthetic clinics in Korea, but there have been a few studies regarding its use. OBJECTIVE To describe PDO thread and techniques adopted to counteract the descent and laxity of the face. METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted over a 24-month period. A total of 31 thread lifting procedures were performed. On each side, 5 bidirectional cog threads were used in the procedure for the flabby skin of the nasolabial folds. And, the procedure was performed on the marionette line using 2 twin threads. RESULTS In most patients (87%), the results obtained were considered satisfactory. Consensus ratings by 2 physicians found that objective outcomes were divided among “excellent,” “good,” “fair,” and “poor. ” Texture wise, the outcome ratings were 13 as excellent and 9 as good. Lifting wise, ratings were 11 as excellent and 6 as good. The incidence of complications was low and not serious. CONCLUSION Facial rejuvenation using PDO thread is a safe and effective procedure associated with only minor complications when performed on patients with modest face sagging, fine wrinkles, and marked facial pores.
The Governance of Low-Income Housing

This paper develops a theoretical framework for analyzing the governance of low-income housing in the city. We focus on the provision of local public goods as the central issue for the governance of low-income housing. Governmental intervention in various forms is discussed. Factors that affect the governance structure from the efficiency perspective and the equity perspective, respectively, are explored in our theoretical framework. We then apply it to the case of the Chinese city. In particular, we analyze the governance structures of several major types of low-income housing including public rental housing, affordable housing, private low-income housing, work unit compound and urban village.
Discontinuation of Antipsychotics in Nursing Home Patients With Dementia.

The authors assessed the consequences of stopping antipsychotic medication in nursing home patients with dementia, as mandated by federal regulations (OBRA 87). They studied three patient groups: 1) a group ("clinical judgment") whose antipsychotics were discontinued at the discretion of their physicians; 2) a group ("empirical") with mandated cessation of antipsychotics in the facility; and 3) a comparison group of patients not receiving medication. The primary outcome measure was the necessity to resume antipsychotic or other psychotropic medication ("failure"). Also, assessments of behavior, function, neurologic status, and cognition were performed by blind raters. The failure rate in the empirical withdrawal group was 50%, 10 times that of the clinical judgment group. Among failures, the most striking result was increased verbal and physical aggression. No failures occurred in the comparison group. There were no benefits of antipsychotic withdrawal in terms of neurological performance, functional status, or cognition.
The Economics of Pesticide Use and Regulation

Pesticides enhance agricultural productivity, but the environmental and health side effects of their use justify government regulation, a subject of continuing societal debate. Bans on pesticide use are the principal regulatory device used in the United States. The economic impacts of such bans depend on the availability of substitutes, supply and trade conditions, and research and development. Without substitutes, pesticide bans result in reduced production levels and higher prices, a substantial loss of discretionary income to consumers, and a redistribution of income among agricultural producers. Most food safety concerns can be addressed by establishing standards and markets for pesticide-differentiated products, but worker safety and clean water concerns will require direct controls. Pesticide-use fees are shown to be more efficient than outright pesticide bans as a mechanism to obtain environmental goals.
Effect of "aminopterin" on epithelial tissues.

The folic acid antagonist, 4-aminopteroyl glutamic acid ("aminopterin"), is a potent inhibitor of growth and of connective tissue proliferation. The present study indicates that the suppressive effects of "aminopterin" on epithelial structures are more striking than on connective tissue, as revealed by observation of interference with wound healing and epithelization, atrophy and ulceration of mucosa, alopecia, and prompt suppressive effects in such dermatologic disorders as psoriasis and chronic indurative dermatoses. "Aminopterin" was administered orally in daily doses of 1.5 to 2.0 mg. to thirteen patients with psoriasis (of whom six had associated arthritis) and to five patients with chronic indurative dermatoses. The latter included one patient with chronic atopic eczematoid dermatitis with associated asthma, one with chronic eczematoid seborrheic dermatitis, one with chronic discoid lupus erythematosus involving the face, and two with scleroderma. In all patients there were remissions in cutaneous lesions, which appeared most commonly between the 5th and 10th day of "aminopterin" therapy. Treatment was interrupted in most patients after an initial course of 14 to 28 mg. because of the regular occurrence of shallow ulceration of the buccal mucosa and frequent development of abdominal cramps. Remissions persisted for periods ranging from two weeks to several months, after which lesions returned which responded to further courses of "aminopterin. " The therapeutic response was more complete in the seven patients with psoriatic arthritis than in in six subjects with uncomplicated psoriasis. In four patients with psoriatic arthritis in whom the responses to "aminopterin" and cortisone were compared, arthritic manifestations were considerably more relieved by cortisone, but improvement in psoriasis was consistently more complete and more sustained with "aminopterin. " No evidence of a summative effect of cortisone and "aminopterin" on psoriasis was observed when the two were employed concomitantly, although amelioration of arthritic symptoms was more complete than when cortisone was given alone. Topical application of "aminopterin" in a 1% ointment was found to be ineffective. "Aminopterin" is a toxic drug, and its administration must be carefully supervised. The citrovorum factor has proved useful in overcoming "aminopterin" toxicity but interferes with its therapeutic effects. It is suggested that "aminopterin" may prove useful in other dermatologic disorders and in cutaneous manifestations of some systemic diseases which, in certain instances, have been temporarily benefited by cortisone.
INFANTICIDAL IDEAS AND INFANTICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN INDIAN WOMEN WITH SEVERE POSTPARTUM PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Few studies have investigated maternal aggression toward infants among women with a severe mental illness that emerges in the postpartum period. In this prospective study of 50 Indian women admitted to a psychiatric hospital for severe mental illness occurring in the postpartum period, we examined the prevalence, pattern, and predictors of maternal aggression, infanticidal ideas, and infanticidal behavior. Nearly half (43%) of the mothers reported infanticidal ideas, 36% reported infanticidal behavior, and 34% reported both infanticidal ideas and behavior. Infanticidal ideas and behavior co-occurred frequently (r = .80). Infanticidal ideas were associated with depression in the mother, adverse maternal reaction to separation from the infant, and psychotic ideas toward the infant. Infanticidal behavior was associated with having a female infant, psychotic ideas toward the infant, and adverse maternal reaction to separation from the infant. Logistic regression analyses indicated that presence of depression and of psychotic ideas predicted infanticidal ideas, whereas presence of psychotic ideas toward the infant predicted infanticidal behavior.
Dicer in immune cell development and function

Dicer is an enzyme of the RNase III endoribonuclease family, which is crucial for RNA interference (RNAi) in eukaryotes. Dicer is a component of the protein machinery (the RNA Induced Silencing Complex [RISC]) which is involved in catalyzing the formation of mature microRNAs from their precursors in the process of microRNA biogenesis. RISC-associated microRNAs bind to specific sequences in the 3’ untranslated region of cognate mRNAs largely through complementary base pairing, resulting in either translational inhibition and/or the degradation of a specific mRNA pool. MicroRNAs epigenetically regulate the cellular levels of receptors, transcription factors and signaling proteins that govern the developmental pathways and functions of multiple cellular processes. The pivotal role played by Dicer in microRNA formation has also piqued the interest of molecular immunologists who have sought to understand the biological relevance of microRNAs in the development and function of the immune system. Here, we review the major findings of these studies and provide an overview of the role of Dicer and microRNAs in immune cell development and function. Additionally, we highlight deficiencies in our knowledge and new research areas that may enhance our understanding of the role of Dicer and microRNAs in immunity.
Energy storage systems in distributed generation schemes

An overview is given of the various energy storage technologies which can be used in distributed generation (DG) schemes. Description of the recent photovoltaic DG initiative in Singapore is included, in which several of the storage systems can find ready applications. Schemes pertaining to the use of solid oxide fuel cell for power quality enhancement and battery energy storage system used in conjunction with wind power generation are also described.
Do ultrastable proteins from hyperthermophiles have high or low conformational rigidity?

Life on earth has an unbelievable adaptive capacity. Except for centers of volcanic activity, the entire surface of our planet is a biosphere. In this context, the most surprising discovery in our lifetime was the expansion from the anthropocentrically defined “normal temperature” of mesophiles (<40°C) to the optimum temperature range of hyperthermophiles around and above the boiling point of water. That in this class of microorganisms high temperature is required for growth rather than tolerated implies that the whole repertoire of their biomolecules must be sufficiently stable to allow the cellular microcosm to work. The strategies nature has used to stabilize the inventory of the cell, especially proteins, under extreme conditions are still enigmatic, despite 25 years of active research. What has become clear is that proteins, independent of their mesophilic or extremophilic origin, consist exclusively of the canonical 20 natural amino acids; if other protein constituents are found, they originate from covalent chemical modifications (1). Thus, enhanced stability can come from only improved attractive forces: within the core, between domains and subunits, or from extrinsic protectants such as compatible solutes, conjugating components, and specific metabolites. The second alternative has been explained in terms of preferential solvation or specific ligand binding (2). For the first, a variety of “rules” has been proposed without providing an unambiguous solution to the problem. The reason for this failure is simple: considering the thermodynamic characteristics of proteins from mesophiles and extremophiles, the free energies of stabilization differ only marginally. The adaptive changes in terms of free energy differences (ΔΔGstab) correspond to the equivalent of just a few weak intermolecular interactions (3). Given the large number of small increments from hydrogen bonds, as well as hydrophobic, coulombic, and van der Walls interactions in molecules with hundreds or even thousands of atoms, there may be an astronomical number of combinations yielding ΔΔGstab as a small difference between large numbers (4). Based on the complete genome sequences of hyperthermophiles and systematic comparisons of their protein inventories with those of suitable mesophilic counterparts, a wealth of data has been accumulated that indicated that stabilization involves all levels of the hierarchy of protein structure, i.e., secondary, supersecondary, tertiary, and quaternary interactions. The common conclusion from model studies was that the stability of proteins from extremophiles is optimized to maintain corresponding functional states under a given set of environmental conditions. For the standard state at 25°C, enhanced thermal stability of hyperthermophile proteins would then be the result of enhanced conformational rigidity in their folded native state (5).
Organizational Innovativeness: Review and Synthesis of the Literature

Innovativeness is conceived as one of the avenue to gain a competitive advantage, it has often been shown as one of the most important strategic orientations for firm to achieve longrun success and it has a significant effect on venture performance. This research aims to identify factors that influence the organizational innovativeness by using a literature review and documents analysis. The results of the study indicated that: 1) entrepreneurial orientation had positive effect and relationships with market orientation, learning orientation and organizational innovativeness; 2) market orientation had positive effect and relationships with learning orientation and organizational innovativeness; 3) organizational climate had positive effect and relationships with market orientation and organizational innovativeness; and 4) learning orientation had positive effect and relationships with organizational innovativeness. The finding from the study should therefore be used by administrators as a guidelines for develop organizational innovativeness in the future.
Acute efficacy of divalproex sodium versus placebo in mood stabilizer-naive bipolar I or II depression: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To conduct an exploratory evaluation of the acute efficacy of extended-release divalproex sodium compared to placebo in patients with bipolar I or II depression. METHOD Outpatients aged 18-70 years with mood stabilizer-naive bipolar I or II disorder experiencing a major depressive episode (DSM-IV) were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of divalproex sodium monotherapy or placebo. The primary outcome measure was mean change from baseline to week 6 on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score. Secondary outcomes included rates of response and remission, changes in the Clinical Global Impressions-Bipolar (CGI-BP) Severity of Illness scores, and changes in anxiety symptoms as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The study was conducted between 2003 and 2007. RESULTS Fifty-four subjects with bipolar I (n = 20) or bipolar II (n = 34) disorder were randomly assigned to divalproex or placebo; 67% (36 of 54) met DSM-IV criteria for rapid cycling. Divalproex treatment produced statistically significant improvement in MADRS scores compared with placebo from week 3 onward. The proportions of patients meeting response criteria were 38.5% (10 of 26) in the divalproex group versus 10.7% (3 of 28) for the placebo group (P = .017). The proportions of patients meeting remission criteria were 23.1% (6 of 26) for divalproex versus 10.7% (3 of 28) for placebo (P = .208). Subgroup analysis revealed no separation between divalproex and placebo for those with bipolar II diagnoses. Nausea, increased appetite, diarrhea, dry mouth, and cramps were the most common side effects. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that divalproex sodium is efficacious and reasonably well tolerated in the acute treatment of mood stabilizer-naive patients with bipolar depression, particularly for those with rapid-cycling type I presentations, and that confirmatory large-scale studies are indicated. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00194116.
The aspects of internet-based management, marketing, consumer’s purchasing behavior and social media towards food sustainability

In the present electronic era, all companies tend to adopt in some extend internet- based features aiming to be compatible and viable and support food sustainability. In this paper, SMEs in the Food and Beverage sector were surveyed aiming to study the employ in their websites of contemporary managerial and marketing functions and social media. There was used a sample of 80 Greek SMEs in Macedonia, in Northern Greece. Findings of the research show that strategic planning and the quality control features appear in almost half of the surveyed SMEs, while organizing planning features appear in lower percentages. Concerning marketing, there is not a standard IT adoption rate, which varies from a simple informational, promotional and advertisement SME presence, to the total accomplishment of electronic orders and epayments. Moreover, most of the SMEs appear to adopt a responsible attitude, as far as social responsibility or green marketing is concerned. Furhter, almost half of the SMEs are connected to the Social Media, so as to boost their productivity, innovation and fame. Results of the study aim to contribute to the construction of a new model of organization of SMEs in food and beverage sector and in food chain in general, more respondent to the claims of well being of the consumer using internet- based features towards the food sustainability goal.
Plasticity, robustness, development and evolution.

Preface 1. Setting the scene 2. Clarifications 3. Developmental robustness 4. Plasticity 5. Integration of robustness and plasticity 6. Current functions of integrated developmental processes 7. Evolution of developmental processes 8. Impact of developmental processes on evolution 9. Development and evolution intertwined Acknowledgements References Index.
Multiple regression applications to capital structure modeling for life insurers

Like any other company, life insurance companies maintain a combination of debt and equity for their long-term financing, which forms their capital structure. Many theories have been developed in the literature to focus upon the determinants that are likely to affect leverage decisions of the life insurance firms in the post life Risk-Based Capital (RBC) regulation era. This report documents the application of multiple regression techniques to derive and analyze a Capital Asset Ratio (CAP) model based on the data pertaining to a large number of life insurance companies during 2000 to 2004. The data set is organized as panel data. Model coefficients, together with the error structure, are analyzed using SAS software to develop a valid model that tries to explain the Capital to Asset Ratio (CAP) for life insurers in terms of various variables of interest. The latter include return on capital, total assets, and two measures of risk: asset risk and product risk, etc. A balanced panel dataset was extracted from the given