SIRIS-Lab/unlabelled-sti-corpus huggingface dataset:
What Is the Optimal Timing for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair?

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a common ocular disorder that occurs in approximately 1 of 170 eyes over a lifetime, often indicating urgent surgical intervention. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments can be divided into fovea-sparing and fovea-involving detachments. In some cases, this distinction can be challenging and in these instances, central visual function, symptoms, and ocular coherence tomography (OCT) are helpful indicators of foveal status. Preoperative visual acuity (VA) is the strongest prognostic indicator of postoperative visual outcome. When central visual function is preserved and subretinal fluid has not extended through the fovea, prognosis for visual recovery is often quite good, with approximately 80% of eyes ultimately achieving a VA of 20/40 or better. In comparison, when central vision is affected, indicating involvement of the foveal photoreceptors, prognosis is less optimistic and more variable with approximately 30% of patients ultimately achieving a VA of 20/40 or better. 1 When patients present with a fovea-involving RRD, they often expect successful anatomic and visual outcomes. From an anatomic perspective, technologic advances have yielded a host of excellent repair techniques including scleral buckling, pars plana vitrectomy, cryotherapy, pneumatic retinopexy, and, rarely, clinical observation. Choice of surgical technique may be influenced by social issues, such as need for air travel in the near future, patient compliance and reliability, and medical conditions, such as sickle-cell disease. In comparison, from a visual recovery perspective, therapies for neural regeneration in
Soil crack morphology analysis using image processing techniques

The present paper demonstrated an image processing technique of surface soil crack analysis. The geometric features of cracks, such as width, length, and surface area are estimated. These parameters are important, because they influence both the soil hydraulics and mechanics. The crack intensity factor was introduced as a descriptor of the extent of surficial cracking. The correlation analysis indicates that area-weighted mean ratio of soil-crack area to perimeter and index r has a much closed positive relationship with cracks intensity and the area weighted mean of crack fractal dimension declines continuously as the degree of development of soil cracks increases, indicating that the degree of complexity of the soil cracks also gradually decreases. However, traditional visual assessment, which is the primary method in use, is slow and expensive. The present works involve image processing technique for the automatic detection and analysis of cracks in the digital image of a concrete surface.
An Evolutionary HMRF Approach to Brain MR Image Segmentation Using Clonal Selection Algorithm

Abstract The Hidden Markov random field (HMRF) model provides the basis for a spatially constrained clustering scheme, and hence has been widely used for image segmentation. In many HMRF-based segmentation approaches, the statistical parameters involved in this model are estimated by using the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm, which, however, is commonly acknowledged to have several drawbacks, such as the over-fitting and local convergence. Recently, the clonal selection algorithm (CSA), a novel immune-inspired evolutionary optimization tool, has been increasingly used to replace local search heuristics in various applications, due to its proven global, parallel and distributed search ability. In this paper, we incorporate the CSA into the HMRF model estimation, and thus propose the evolutionary HMRF (eHMRF) algorithm to delineate the gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid in brain magnetic resonance (MR) images. This segmentation algorithm has been compared to the state-of-the-art GA-EM algorithm and the HMRF-EM segmentation function in the FMRIB Software Library (FSL, Version 2008) package in simulated brain MR images. Our results show that the proposed eHMRF algorithm can differentiate brain structure more effectively and produce more accurate segmentation of brain MR images.
OBJECTIVE LENS ARRANGEMENT

An objective lens arrangement that may include a magnetic lens and an electrostatic lens. The magnetic lens may include one or more coils, an upper polepiece and a lower polepiece. The electrostatic lens may include an upper electrode, an internal lower electrode and an external lower electrode. A majority of the internal lower electrode may be surrounded by a majority of the external lower electrode. The upper electrode, the internal lower electrode, and the external lower electrode are arranged in a coaxial relationship along an optical axis of the objective lens arrangement. An area of a bottom aperture of the external lower electrode may not exceed an area of a bottom aperture of the internal lower electrode.
Model of urban link travel time under ice and snowfall conditions

To predict accurately urban road travel time under ice and snowfall conditions,link travel time model was established for ice and snowfall conditions.Based on link travel time model(BPR,Bureau of Public Roads) of Federal Highway Administration and introduced respectively corrective function of free travel time and road capacity under conditions of ice and snowfall,ISB-BPR(Ice and Snowfall Based Bureau of Public Roads) function was constructed.The correction function and BPR parameter were calibrated through a large number of field data.The results show that the function can predict link travel time at urban streets in conditions of ice and snowfall accurately,which can be used for theory basis on traffic flow characteristics research and traffic management under conditions of ice and snowfall.
Rapid pulse width modulated co2 ejector for small-scale vapour-compression systems

Small-scale Refrigeration, Cooling&Heating (RC&H) sector plays a vital role in modern life promoting health, comfort and economic prosperity. On the other hand, it is also responsible for a considerable contribution to global warming. The urgent need for an eco-friendlier future has forced the European Union (EU) to implement stringent energy and environmental policies, affecting this sector significantly. These have led such a large and ever-growing industry to suffer for the lack of a long-term solution complying with safety and EU’s requirements.
This project aims at filling the aforementioned technological gap by studying an innovative and future-proof small-scale vapour-compression RC&H unit relying on: (1) CO2, being a non-flammable, non-toxic and climate-friendly refrigerant, as the sole working fluid and (2) a two-phase ejector with a novel capacity control technique. The core of the work is to establish the experimental evidence and expertise regarding the innovative capacity control methodology for CO2 two-phase ejectors. At present, two-phase ejectors cannot readily be capacity controlled without penalizing ejector and system efficiency in small-scale RC&H units. As concrete value and impact, this project will lay robust foundations for a significantly more sustainable future and thus pave the way for remarkable enhancements for business and society concerning the RC&H sector.
The fellow is a proficient researcher with a strong background in large-scale CO2 refrigeration systems using two-phase ejectors. The results and the experience that the applicant has obtained make him the ideal candidate for successfully achieving the project objectives. This work is a unique opportunity for the fellow to become an independent scientist, enhancing and developing new skills in a leading research field, such as the eco-friendly RC&H sector. These competences are highly valued in academia and industry in the context of the EU policies and the Paris climate agreement.
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

The two-way communication system comprises a non-invasive and non-implanted system which remains completely invisible to an outside observer when in use by an operator or user and allows for clear two-way communications. This system is generally comprised of a mouthpiece component, relay component, infrastructure communication device, and an optional system control which may interface with the relay component.
Integrated Survey and Route Optimization of Railway Line Passing through Small Goaf

In the region with complex geological condition,it is important to carry out geological route selection for railway engineering.In this paper,a railway line passing through a small goaf was taken as an example.Under the condition that the line was unable to bypass the small goaf,the means of integrated survey was used to survey the goaf.First,on the basis of the initial geological mapping,the geophysical prospecting method was used with targeted prospecting lines,and then the geological drilling was arranged to perfect the information of the goaf prospected.Afterwards,through comprehensive analysis on survey data,the detailed scope and scale of the goaf was mapped out,and the route scheme was adjusted and optimized.Practice of construction shows that the means of integrated survey is useful for optimizing the route.
Support services and learning styles influencing interaction in asynchronous online discussions

This paper reports a case of online classes from the English Language Teaching Programme at Anadolu University, Turkey. The study used an explanatory case oriented research design that assisted to examine relations between students’ learning styles and factors influencing students’ participation in asynchronous interactions in online courses. The study was carried out during the 2006–2007 academic year with a sample of 139 junior and senior students. The converger learners were more involved in discussion boards compared to other learning style groups. The most popular support service was found to be pedagogical and social guidance for all types of learning styles while the least preferred support services were the administrative and technical. Unterstutzungsdienste und Lernstiele zur Beeinflussung von asynchronen Online‐Diskussionen In diesem Papier wird vom English Language Teaching Program der Anadolu Universitat in der Turkei berichtet. Die Studie nutzte ein Erlauterungsprogramm, das zur Unterstutzung...
Electron-Proton Transfer Mechanism of Excited-State Hydrogen Transfer in Phenol-(NH3 ) n (n= 3 and 5)

Excited state hydrogen transfer (ESHT) is responsible to various photochemical processes of aromatics including photoprotection of nuclear basis. Its mechanism is explained by the internal conversion from aromatic $\pi$$\pi$* to $\pi$$\sigma$* states via conical intersection. It means that the electron is transferred to a diffuse Rydberg like $\sigma$* orbital apart from the proton migration. This picture means the electron and the proton are not move together and its dynamics are different in principle. Here, we have applied the picosecond time-resolved near infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies to the phenol--(NH 3) 5 cluster, the bench mark system of ESHT, and monitored the electron transfer and proton motion independently. The electron transfer monitored by the NIR transition rises within 3 ps while the overall H transfer detected by the IR absorption of NH vibration appears with the lifetime of $\approx$20 ps. It clearly proves that the electron motion and proton migration are decoupled. Such the difference of the time-evolutions between the NIR absorption and the IR transition has not been detected in the cluster with three ammonia molecules. We will report full of our observation together with theoretical calculations of potential energy surfaces of $\pi$$\pi$* and $\pi$$\sigma$* states, and will discuss the ESHT mechanism and its cluster size-dependence between n = 3 and 5. It is suggested that the presence and absence of a barrier in the proton transfer coordinate cause the different dynamics. 2
Terapia Ocupacional en educación inclusiva

El artículo presenta un panorama de los trabajos de inclusión realizados en Cali y busca agradecer a muchas terapeutas ocupacionales por la trocha que abrieron en este sector en la ciudad. Inicia con un recorrido histórico por las prácticas de terapeutas ocupacionales en educación en Cali, desde la década de 1970, y enmarca dichas prácticas en tres aspectos: las transformaciones a partir del campo normativo, la incursión en la educación formal y la relación comunidad-educación. La Terapia Ocupacional en educación requiere del trabajo conjunto con profesoras y profesores para afianzar el saber pedagógico que permita la libertad del ser; reflexionar y actuar sobre las condiciones sociales, políticas y económicas que excluyen, de manera que se vuelva costumbre educar reconociendo y valorando la diferencia; así como fortalecer la relación escuela-comunidad, a partir de pedagogías de los pueblos negros e indígenas.
Análisis de incidencia de la sintomatología de trastornos músculo esqueléticos relacionados con el manejo manual de cargas y posturas forzadas adoptadas por los trabajadores del restaurante el Café de la Vaca ubicado en la ciudad de Machachi

The work was carried out in a business dedicated to food services and consists in carrying out an ergonomic evaluation related to the forced positions adopted in the operative work stations to determine the level of ergonomic risk and correlate it with the inconveniences referred by the workers of  Cafe de la Vaca , using the RULA ergonomic method Rapid Upper Limb Assessment and the Nordic questionnaire. The realization of this work arises from observing the surroundings of the premises where it is possible to appreciate an inadequate use of the concepts oriented to the design of the workplace, which has had a negative impact on the adoption of forced postures of the workers. The forced postures are one of the principal causes of acquiring musculoskeletal disorders, making it difficult or incapacitating them to perform work activities. The main conditions that can occur of ergonomic origin are: back pain, back pain and neck soreness. The aim of this document is to propose creative solutions, adjusted to current and feasible standards from the technical, economic and specific design point of view and that the company can adopt preventive and corrective measures to reduce the risks associated with forced postures in the operative jobs of El Cafe de la Vaca.
A Nonsynonymous Variant I248L of the Adenosine A3 Receptor Is Associated with Coronary Heart Disease in a Latvian Population

Adenosine plays an important part in the cardiac response to ischemia and reperfusion. The human adenosine receptor A3 (A3R), along with other adenosine receptors, is involved in mediation of those effects. The aim of the study was to ascertain whether the nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) I248L (reference SNP ID: rs35511654) located in the A3R gene is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). DNA samples from 683 individuals with CHD and from 826 control subjects selected from the Latvian Genome Database were successfully screened for rs35511654 using the TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay. We observed a significantly decreased frequency of the rs35511654 C allele in a group of CHD patients compared with that in controls (p = 0.009). The association remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and other nongenetic factors (p = 0.02). These results suggest that A allele of rs35511654 may predispose to CHD.
Effect of Mixed-Phase TiO<sub>2</sub>/PVA Nanofibers on the Degradation on Methyl Orange

We report on the synthesis of nanostructured TiO 2 for various structural phases and observed the rate of degradation of methyl orange (MO) upon UV irradiation. Mixed phase nanocrystalline TiO 2 at temperature of 800°C shows higher rate of degradation of MO with the rate of 0.0203/min compared to other phases. This rate corresponds to the percentage of MO degradation of 58.85%, 71.69%, 86.25% and 91.82% for duration of 30, 60, 90 and 120 min of UV irradiations, respectively. The TiO 2 powder was prepared using titanium (IV) butoxide as the precursor via sol gel process. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The rate of degradation of MO after UV exposure was measured using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The first order reaction rate constants ( k app ) of anatase; mixed-phase; and rutile phases were 0.0130, 0.0203 and 0.0029, respectively, which shows that mixed-phase TiO 2 has higher k app value indicating higher rate of degradation. The PVA/TiO 2 nanofibers were produced via electrospinning technique and similar tests on the nanofibers were conducted.Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) indicates significant presence of TiO 2 is in nanofibers and the average diameter of the nanofibers was 600 nm.
Desempenho dos maiores bancos brasileiros: um estudo sobre o impacto da crise subprime

Objetivo: Analisar o impacto da crise subprime no desempenho dos maiores bancos brasileiros, utilizando indicadores contábeis que permitem mensurar o comportamento dos índices de inadimplência, a evolução das despesas com Provisão para Devedores Duvidosos (PDD), do volume de ativos totais e dos índices de rentabilidade.&#x0D; Metodologia: Informações dos cinco maiores bancos estabelecidos no Brasil (Banco do Brasil, Caixa Econômica Federal, Itaú Unibanco, Bradesco e Santander), no período entre 2008 e 2016, foram coletadas e analisadas. Os dados foram obtidos através de consultas no site do BCB e nos sites dos bancos. Os resultados obtidos foram sumarizados em gráficos e tabelas.&#x0D; Resultados: O desempenho dos bancos foi afetado pelo aumento no volume de despesas com PDD no período, resultado de uma estratégia conservadora adotada pelas instituições. Identificou-se um aumento no volume de inadimplência, mas os bancos foram cautelosos mantendo níveis de PDD em volumes compatíveis ao crescimento das concessões de crédito. Todos os bancos apresentaram um crescimento no valor dos seus ativos totais. Em termos de rentabilidade, as instituições obtiveram desempenhos distintos. Destaca-se os valores expressivos de lucros auferidos pelos Bancos Bradesco e Itaú Unibanco no ano de 2015.&#x0D; Contribuições do Estudo: A implantação de uma política monetária expansionista influenciou positivamente no desempenho dos bancos, principalmente nas instituições com controle estatal. A pesquisa evidencia que a crise subprime afetou o desempenho dos bancos, como consequência das ações conservadoras adotadas, a fim de proteger o Sistema Financeiro Nacional. A pesquisa contribui com a literatura, primeiramente, ao apresentar dados empíricos sobre os efeitos da crise subprime nas principais instituições bancárias brasileiras, e também por discutir os resultados à luz da teoria e da conjuntura econômica do período, permitindo diferentes interpretações sobre o impacto desse fenômeno.
Fuse structure for integrated circuits

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Schmelzbrückenanordnung in oder auf integrierten Schaltungen, insbesondere hochintegrierten Speicherchips, bei denen jeweils eine Bank (10) von Schmelzbrücken (F 1 , F 2 ...) zusammen mit einer mit den Schmelzbrücken (F 1 , F 2 , ...) elektrisch verbunden Auswertelogik (21), die feststellt, ob eine oder mehrere der Schmelzbrücken (F 1 , F 2 , ...) durchtrennt ist, neben und in Zuordnung zu einem Speicherfeldsegment (20) angeordnet ist, und ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine oder mehrere in kleinere Einheiten (101, ...106) aufgeteilte Bänke (10) der Schmelzbrücken (F 1 , F 2 , ...) unter Einschränkung der Breite(n) (B) der Bank (10) bzw. Bänke so gruppiert sind, dass wenigstens ein Teil der Schmelzbrücken (F 1 , F 2 ,...) quer zur Breitenrichtung der Bank (10) nebeneinander liegt (Figur 4).
Post-crisis Fiscal Policy

Fiscal policy makers have faced an extraordinarily challenging environment over the last few years. At the outset of the global financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the first time advocated a fiscal expansion across all countries able to afford it, a seeming departure from the long-held consensus among economists that monetary policy rather than fiscal policy was the appropriate response to fluctuations in economic activity. Since then, the IMF has emphasized that the speed of fiscal adjustment should be determined by the specific circumstances in each country. Its recommendation that deficit reduction proceed steadily, but gradually, positions the IMF between the fiscal doves (who argue for postponing fiscal adjustment altogether) and the fiscal hawks (who argue for a front-loaded adjustment). This volume brings together the analysis underpinning the IMF's position on the evolving role of fiscal policy. After establishing its analytical foundation, with chapters on such topics as fiscal risk and debt dynamics, the book analyzes the buildup of fiscal vulnerabilities before the crisis, presents the policy response during the crisis, discusses the fiscal outlook and policy challenges ahead, and offers lessons learned from the crisis and its aftermath. Topics discussed include a historical view of debt accumulation; the timing, size, and composition of fiscal stimulus packages in advanced and emerging economies; the heated debate surrounding the size of fiscal multipliers and the effectiveness of fiscal policy as a countercyclical tool; coordination of fiscal and monetary policies; the sovereign debt crisis in Europe; and institutional reform aimed at fostering fiscal discipline. ContributorsAli Abbas, Nate Arnold, Aqib Aslam, Thomas Baunsgaard, Nazim Belhocine, Dora Benedek, Carlo Cottarelli, Petra Dacheva, Mark De Broeck, Xavier Debrun, Asmaa ElGanainy, Julio Escolano, Lorenzo Forni, Philip Gerson, Borja Gracia,, Martine Guerguil, Alejandro Guerson, Laura Jaramillo, Jiri Jonas, Mika Kortelainen, Manmohan Kumar, Suchitra, Kumarapathy, Douglas Laxton, Pablo Lopez-Murphy, Thornton Matheson, Jimmy McHugh, Uffe Mikkelsen, Kyung-Seol Min, Aiko Mineshima, Marialuz Moreno, John Norregaard, Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Iva Petrova, Tigran Poghosyan, Marcos Poplawski-Ribeiro, Anna Shabunina, Andrea Schaechter, Jack Selody, Abdelhak Senhadji, Baoping Shang, Mauricio Soto, Bruno Versailles, Anke Weber, Jaejoon Woo, Li Zeng
La responsabilidad social universitaria en el modelo de apertura de sedes regionales: el caso de la ciudad de Antofagasta

Desde 1981 las universidades chilenas se enfrentan a la creciente necesidad de autofinanciar sus actividades debido a que el Estado ha disminuido los recursos económicos directos que proporcionaba a las universidades, particularmente a las estatales, entregando los aportes fiscales a través de fondos concursables o asignándolos de acuerdo al cumplimiento de ciertos estándares de calidad, lo que ha obligado a algunas universidades a desarrollar un modelo de apertura de sedes regionales a lo largo del país como una estrategia para autofinanciarse. El propósito del presente artículo es analizar los resultados obtenidos en las entrevistas realizadas con carácter exploratorio-descriptivo a los directores de sedes regionales de las universidades actualmente en funcionamiento en la ciudad chilena de Antofagasta, respecto de la percepción y presencia del concepto de responsabilidad social universitaria como uno de los criterios a considerar en el funcionamiento de las sedes regionales en cuanto estrategia de autofinanciamiento.