Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
quality of life and threats in proteCted areas . a first approaCh of the Case of evros delta national park

the protected area of the Evros delta constitutes one of the 27 greek protected areas having a management authority. It has an unique and significant ecological value as it constitutes the habitat for a number of rare and threaten bird species. nowadays, the protection regime of the area does not prohibit the continuation of the human presence and activity and especially outdoor recreation. Various dangers threat the Evros delta protected area such as biotic and abiotic, human activities or management problems. From the other side the management of this area is directly related with the quality of local people life. However, there are several aspects that are related with the threats in natural resources as with the way which the area can contribute to the quality of local people. The precise knowledge of these aspects could lead to a more efficient communication among the management authorities and residents and create a mutual relationship of respect and dependence. this study attempts to outline the opinion of local people on the dangers that threat the natural resources of the protected area and their contribution in the quality of life. In our study we used a structured questionnaire with predetermined answers and face-to-face interview. We choose the sample by using the simple random sampling, descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. our results showed that all respondents consider the problem of pollution and illegal dumps as a very significant threat for the natural environment as also for the development of the greater area. They agree that the Evros Delta National Park offers a series of values that can contribute in a significant degree in the improvement of the quality of local people life.
Multi-camera calibration with pattern rigs, including for non-overlapping cameras: CALICO

This paper describes CALICO, a method for multi-camera calibration suitable for challenging contexts: stationary and mobile multi-camera systems, cameras without overlapping fields of view, and non-synchronized cameras. Recent approaches are roughly divided into infrastructure- and pattern-based. Infrastructure-based approaches use the scene's features to calibrate, while pattern-based approaches use calibration patterns. Infrastructure-based approaches are not suitable for stationary camera systems, and pattern-based approaches may constrain camera placement because shared fields of view or extremely large patterns are required. CALICO is a pattern-based approach, where the multi-calibration problem is formulated using rigidity constraints between patterns and cameras. We use a {\it pattern rig}: several patterns rigidly attached to each other or some structure. We express the calibration problem as that of algebraic and reprojection error minimization problems. Simulated and real experiments demonstrate the method in a variety of settings. CALICO compared favorably to Kalibr. Mean reconstruction accuracy error was $\le 0.71$ mm for real camera rigs, and $\le 1.11$ for simulated camera rigs. Code and data releases are available at \cite{tabb_amy_2019_3520866} and \url{https://github.com/amy-tabb/calico}.
Genetic and gene expression signatures in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibits a well-documented increased incidence in individuals with respective family history, that is, is a heritable disease. In the last decade, genome-wide association studies have enabled the agnostic interrogation of the whole genome at a large scale. To date, over 200 genetic associations have been described at the strict level of genome-wide significance. Our current understanding of MS genetics can explain up to half of the disease’s heritability, raising the important question of whether this is enough information to leverage toward improving diagnosis in MS. Parallel advancements in technologies that allow the characterization of the full transcriptome down to the single-cell level have enabled the generation of an unprecedented wealth of information. Transcriptional changes of putative causal cells could be utilized to identify early signs of disease onset. These recent findings in genetics and genomics, coupled with new technologies and deeply phenotyped cohorts, have the potential to improve the diagnosis of MS.
Developing an Automated Cytogenetic Imaging System for Detection of Dicentric Chromosomes in Biological Dosimetry

Background: High-energy ionizing radiation is harmful and changes the genetic makeup of DNA, which can lead to increased risk of cancer. Thus, the exposure of radiation dose should be under control and limited. Ionizing radiation might lead to some chromosome aberrations like dicentric. There is a strong relation between the frequency of dicentric chromosome in metaphase, and the received dose. Objective: Identifying the frequency of dicentric chromosomes is an important task especially in large-scale radiation accident for making rapid clinical decision. Given this, a large number of metaphases should be investigated for an accurate estimating of dose. It is well known that non-automated (visual) scoring of chromosome aberrations such as dicentrics requires highly trained experts. On the other hand, as thousands of cells should be scored, it is time-consuming and results in fatigue that can lead to poor concentration. Methods: Biological dosimetry technique for assessing radiation dose is based on analyzing chromosome in peripheral blood lymphocyte. Our study describes a technique to speed up this procedure by automatically distinguishing abnormal chromosomes from normal ones. The most important feature of dicentric chromosomes is their two centromeres. Therefore, the main approach in our study is to design an automated system to identify the number and position of centromeres. We presented a method for classifying chromosomes into four groups in accordance with the number of centromeres in each chromosome. Results: The image dataset of 311 chromosomes of normal and dicentric chromosomes is used to test the scheme. The sensitivity about 90% and specificity more than 95% for classification of chromosomes into dicentric and non-dicentric as well as accuracy more than 90% for centromere identification, are obtained. Conclusion: If an automated system with the capability of straightening bent chromosome was applied prior to the proposed algorithm, even more accurate results would be achieved.
SketchDreamer: Interactive Text-Augmented Creative Sketch Ideation

Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) has shown remarkable progress in generating realistic images. However, in this paper, we take a step"backward"and address AIGC for the most rudimentary visual modality of human sketches. Our objective is on the creative nature of sketches, and that creative sketching should take the form of an interactive process. We further enable text to drive the sketch ideation process, allowing creativity to be freely defined, while simultaneously tackling the challenge of"I can't sketch". We present a method to generate controlled sketches using a text-conditioned diffusion model trained on pixel representations of images. Our proposed approach, referred to as SketchDreamer, integrates a differentiable rasteriser of Bezier curves that optimises an initial input to distil abstract semantic knowledge from a pretrained diffusion model. We utilise Score Distillation Sampling to learn a sketch that aligns with a given caption, which importantly enable both text and sketch to interact with the ideation process. Our objective is to empower non-professional users to create sketches and, through a series of optimisation processes, transform a narrative into a storyboard by expanding the text prompt while making minor adjustments to the sketch input. Through this work, we hope to aspire the way we create visual content, democratise the creative process, and inspire further research in enhancing human creativity in AIGC. The code is available at \url{https://github.com/WinKawaks/SketchDreamer}.
Information-Technology-Enabled Services and India ’ s Growth Prospects

During the first three decades (1950–80) of India’s planned insular economic development, real GDP grew at an annual average rate of around 3.75 percent. The 1980s saw a limited opening of the economy and hesitant reforms. The growth rate accelerated to 5.7 percent, fueled by fiscal profligacy financed in part by external borrowing at high interest rates. A severe macroeconomic and balance-of-payments crisis in 1991 following the first Gulf War, the collapse of the Soviet Union (which was not only India’s model for planned economic development but also its arms supplier, a partner for barter trade, and a supporter of India’s interests in the Security Council of the United Nations), and the fear of being left behind by the rapid growth of China since its opening in 1978 led Indian policymakers to break away from its inward-oriented, state-directed, and controlled development strategy and open the economy to external competition and investment. After addressing the crisis with the assistance of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the policymakers launched a process of systemic economic reforms that is still in progress. The economy responded to the reforms and quickly rebounded from the crisis-induced fall in growth of GDP to 1.3 percent in 1991–92. The growth rate accelerated, peaking at 7.8 percent in 1996–97. Subsequently it has fluctuated, falling to a low of 4.0 percent in 2002–03, largely because of a severe drought-induced decline in agricultural output, and rising to a peak of 8.5 percent the very next year, in large part owing to the recovery of agricultural output (MOF 2005, appendix table 1.6). The latest available data show that in the fiscal year of 2004–05, GDP growth was estimated at 6.9 percent,
Significant multi-decadal variability of German wind energy generation

Abstract. Wind energy has seen large deployment and substantial cost reductions over the last decades. Further ambitious upscaling is urgently needed to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach. While the variability of wind power generation poses a challenge to grid integration, much progress in quantifying, understanding and managing it has been made over the last years. Despite this progress, relevant modes of variability in energy generation have been overlooked. Based on long-term reanalyses of the 20th century, we demonstrate that multi-decadal wind variability has significant impact on wind energy generation in Germany. These modes of variability can not be detected in modern reanalyses that are typically used for energy applications due to their short covered timespan of around 40 years. We show that energy generation over a 20 y wind park lifetime varies by around ± 5 % and the summer-to-winter ratio varies by around ± 15 %. Moreover, ERA-interim based annual and winter generations are biased high as the period 1979–2010 overlaps with a maximum of multi-decadal variability. The induced variations of windpark lifetime revenues are at the order of 10 % with direct implications for profitability. Our results require to rethink energy system design, for example the calculation of optimum shares of different renewable technologies, as a perpetual process.
Social Interaction Anxiety and the Discounting of Positive Interpersonal Events

Background: Recent research has indicated that individuals with social interaction anxiety make biased interpretations of positive social interactions, with greater general apprehension in response to such events and more negative predictions about the future. There has also been some preliminary evidence for a second facet of interpretation bias, namely a failure to accept others’ positive reactions at face value, but this has so far not been adequately studied. Method: The present study developed a new measure of this “discounting” dimension and utilized a nonclinical sample of undergraduate students to provide an initial analysis of the scale. Results: Results provide early support for the psychometric properties of our scale, and indicate that discounting mediates the relationship between social interaction anxiety and low positive affect, over and above the previously studied aspect of positive event interpretation bias. Conclusions: The implications for treatment interventions and further research are discussed.
How great white sharks nourish their embryos to a large size: evidence of lipid histotrophy in lamnoid shark reproduction

ABSTRACT The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) exhibits viviparous and oophagous reproduction. A 4950 mm total length (TL) gravid female accidentally caught by fishermen in the Okinawa Prefecture, Southern Japan carried six embryos (543-624 mm TL, three in each uterus). Both uteri contained copious amounts of yellowish viscous uterine fluid (over 79.2 litres in the left uterus), nutrient eggs and broken egg cases. The embryos had yolk stomachs that had ruptured, the mean volume of which was approximately 197.9 ml. Embryos had about 20 rows of potentially functional teeth in the upper and lower jaws. Periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-positive substances were observed on the surface and in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells, and large, secretory, OsO4-oxidized lipid droplets of various sizes were distributed on the surface of the villous string epithelium on the uterine wall. Histological examination of the uterine wall showed it to consist of villi, similar to the trophonemata of Dasyatidae rays, suggesting that the large amount of fluid found in the uterus of the white shark was likely required for embryo nutrition. We conclude that: (1) the lipid-rich fluid is secreted from the uterine epithelium only in early gestation before the onset of oophagy, (2) the embryos probably use the abundant uterine fluid and encased nutrient eggs for nutrition at this stage of their development, and (3) the uterine fluid is the major source of embryonic nutrition before oophagy onset. This is the first record of the lipid histotrophy of reproduction among all shark species. Summary: Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) nourish their embryos with a lipid-rich ‘milk’ secreted by uterine epithelium during the early gestation period, before the onset of oophagy.
Continuous epidural infusion of ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia after major abdominal surgery: comparative study with i.v. PCA morphine.

We have compared the quality of three regimens of postoperative analgesia (continuous epidural administration of ropivacaine (Ropi. group), epidural ropivacaine and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with i.v. morphine (Ropi. + PCA group) and PCA morphine alone (PCA group)) during the first postoperative 24 h in a multicentre, randomized, prospective study. Postoperative analgesia was studied in 130 patients after major abdominal surgery performed under general anaesthesia. The ropivacaine groups received 20 ml of epidural bolus ropivacaine 2 mg ml-1 via the epidural route at the end of surgery, followed by continuous infusion of 10 ml h-1 for 24 h. The Ropi. + PCA group also had access to i.v. PCA morphine 1 mg, with a 5-min lockout. The PCA group received morphine as the sole postoperative pain treatment. The two ropivacaine groups had lower pain scores (P < 0.01) than the PCA group. Morphine consumption was higher in the PCA group (P < 0.05) than in the two ropivacaine groups. The quality of pain relief was rated as good or excellent in 79-85% of patients in the three groups. The percentage of patients without motor block increased between 4 and 24 h from 61% to 89% in the Ropi. group, and from 51% to 71% in the Ropi. + PCA group.
General practitioners’ knowledge, attitude and prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections in Selangor, Malaysia: findings and implications

Background: Antibiotics are widely prescribed especially for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Their irrational use can increase costs and resistance. Aim: Assess knowledge, attitude and prescribing of antibiotics for URTIs in Selangor, Malaysia, using a cross-sectional survey among general practitioners (GPs) working in private clinics in 2011. Results: One hundred and thirty-nine physicians completed the questionnaire (response rate = 34.8%). 49.6% (n = 69) agreed antibiotics are helpful in treating URTIs, with most GPs agreeing antibiotics may reduce URTI duration and complications. The majority of GPs reported they felt patients expected antibiotics, with 36.7% (n = 51) agreeing patients would change doctors if they did not prescribe antibiotics and 21.6% (n = 30) agreeing when requested they prescribe antibiotics even if they believe them to be unnecessary. When assessed against six criteria, most GPs had a moderate level of knowledge of prescribing for URTIs. However, antibiotic prescriptions could be appreciably reduced. Conclusion: Further programs are needed to educate GPs and patients about antibiotics building on current initiatives.
Lessons Learned from Testing the Differential Urbanisation Model

This paper summarises the usefulness of the differential urbanisation model, to characterise regional urban development in terms of a temporal sequence of stages from urbanisation through polarisation reversal to counter–urbanisation, as revealed in nine empirical tests (Britain, Estonia, Finland, Western Germany, India, Italy, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey). First, results of the testing are summarised. Based on the results of these nine empirical tests, we attempt to answer the question ‘Did the differential urbanisation model fit reality? ’ Also discussed are modifications to the model suggested during the course of empirical testing. Then directions for future testing and improvements to the model are suggested.
Periodontal microbial complexes associated with specific cell and tissue responses.

AIMS In this review, we summarize data on the association between specific periodontal bacterial profiles and tissue gene/protein expression, generated from cell culture models and in vivo studies. MATERIAL AND METHODS A PubMed search was conducted to identify publications related to the effects of periodontal microbiota on host cells/tissues. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The data indicate the presence of specific host tissue responses to particular microbial complexes, evident by differential regulation of gene or protein expression, ultimately resulting in distinct clinical phenotypes. Transcriptomic analyses showed that periodontal pathogens induce a small, "common core" of differentially regulated genes encoding for an inflammatory response, and a larger variable set of genes that may reflect pathogen-specific cellular responses. Limitations of available studies include (i) the unclear role of hundreds of subgingival species not yet investigated, (ii) the fact that in vitro studies utilizing single populations of oral cells challenged with mono-infections of planktonic bacteria may not adequately portray human periodontal diseases and (iii) the cross-sectional nature of most human studies that makes them inherently incapable of allowing temporal or causal inferences. Longitudinal studies in humans hold the potential to be superior to any model, but need to be adequately powered and controlled.
Encounter Record Reduction Scheme based on Theoretical Contact Probability for Flooding Attack Mitigation in DTN

Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) is characterized by a lack of end-to-end connectivity. Due to this, detecting flooding attack in DTN is a challenging and important task. Among several schemes against flooding attack in DTN, the scheme using Encounter Record (ER) that consists of past transmission history of each node is gathering attention. Since ER entries are exchanged between nodes, a node can detect an attacker whose transmission rate is too much. Although an attacker may falsify entry to pretend that his/her transmission rate is less than the actual value, it can also be detected through the contradiction between a falsified entry and another entry. However, since a node sends all ER entries in its own buffer regardless of whether an entry is helpful to detect an attacker or not, the energy consumption increases as the number of entries increases. In this paper, we propose an ER reduction scheme based on theoretical contact probability for flooding attack mitigation. We focus on the fact that if the falsified entry does not exist, corresponding entries are not helpful to detect an attacker. Since the falsified entries are propagated over the network with the lapse of time, the probability that there is no contradicting entries over the network gets higher if a node has not received any contradicting entries for a sufficient time. By removing such entries, the energy consumption can be reduced while the effectiveness of ER is kept. By computer simulation, we demonstrate our scheme successfully reduce the energy consumption while the same level of performance is achieved.
Tax Bytes A Primer on the Taxation of Electronic Commerce

the Internet has exploded over the past several years. In 1998 online shopping revenues in the United States alone totaled approximately $13 billion, and they are projected to reach $108 billion by 2003— nearly a tenfold increase. Such potentially astonishing growth has many governments worried that they are not adequately prepared to tax this flood of new commerce. State and local governments in the United States have sensibly begun to examine how electronic commerce will affect their tax systems. Contrary to the claims of those governments, however, the current federal rules do not exempt electronic commerce from taxation; they simply prohibit certain means of collection. The federal government should continue to prohibit states from imposing tax collection duties on out-of-state businesses by establishing a uniform national jurisdictional standard for taxing electronic commerce based on the substantial physical presence test. Such a standard would reaffirm traditional principles of tax fairness, preserve rate competition among states, and avoid years of contentious litigation. If current state tax systems disadvantage local retailers, states already have it within their power to address the problem. Although reform may be difficult, states are in no immediate danger of going broke, nor do they lack alternatives to the current system of sales and use taxes. The role of the federal government should be to ensure that states do not unfairly export their tax collection burden, thereby impeding interstate commerce. At the international level, the United States has a special role to play in designing online tax policy. With more computers than the rest of the world combined, America is unquestionably the home of the Internet. It is therefore natural that other countries look to Washington for leadership on the taxation of electronic commerce. Thus, it is vital that the United States stand up for important principles such as tax competition by rejecting proposals to draft American businesses as tax collectors for foreign governments. In addition, the United States should aggressively pursue an Internet free-trade agreement in the World Trade Organization. Tax Bytes A Primer on the Taxation of Electronic Commerce