cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Appraisal of different ultrasonography indices in patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis
Creators: name: Rafati, Mehravar
name: Havaee, Elham
name: Moladoust, Hassan
name: Sehhati, Mohammadreza
Publisher: name: Technische Universität Dortmund
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: carotid intima-media thickness
subject: diagnostics
subject: image processing software
subject: mean wavelet entropy
subject: statistical
subject: ultrasonography
subject: 610

description: In this study a semi-automated image-processing based method was designed in which the parameters such as intima-media thickness (IMT), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), dicrotic notch index (DNI), and mean wavelet entropy (MWE) were evaluated in B-mode and Doppler ultrasound in patients presenting with carotid artery atherosclerosis. In a cross-sectional design, 144 men were divided into four groups of control, mild, moderate and severe stenosis subjects. In all individuals, far wall IMT, RI, PI, DNI, and MWE of the left common carotid artery (CCA) were extracted using the proposed method. Our findings showed that the maximum far wall IMT, RI, PI, DNI in the CCA were significantly different in the patients with mild, moderate, and severe stenosis compared to control group (p-value < 0.05), however, there were no significant differences in MWE among the four groups (p-value > 0.05). The proposed method can help physicians to better identify patients at risk of cardiovascular diseases.
description: EXCLI Journal;Vol. 16 2017
title: Ανάπτυξη ενός web-based συστήματος ενεργούς μάθησης με ενισχυτικά ερωτήματα
title: Development of a web-based audience active learning system with supporting topics
titleType: AlternativeTitle
Creators: name: Μαντάκος, Εμμανουήλ
Publisher: name: Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Audience Response System
subject: Active learning

description: Στη συγκερκιμένη εργασία παρουσιάζεται ένα web-based σύστημα απόκρισης κοινού (ARS) που παρέχει μια εκτεταμένη αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ καθηγητή και μαθητών. Για τη ανάπτυξη του προτεινόμενου συστήματος ARS χρησημοποιήθηκαν αποκλειστικά τεχνολογίες ανοιχτού κώδικα, έτσι ώστε να μπορούν να υιοθετηθούν από οποιοδήποτε εκπαιδευτικό ίδρυμα χωρίς την απαίτηση χρηματικής δαπάνης. Στην εφαρμογή μας ο καθηγητής προβάλει την εκάστοτε ερώτηση με προτζέκτορα στον πίνακα και οι μαθητές χρησιμοποιούν τη δικιά τους συσκεύη (laptop, smartphone, tablet) ως χειρηστήριο για να απαντήσουν. Το προτεινόμενο σύστημα στοχεύει να βελτιώσει την εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία ενισχύοντας τη συμμετοχή των μαθητών μέσω του μοντέλου Active Learning. Το σύστημα εξασφαλίζει την ανωνυμία των συμμετεχόντων και την ακρίβεια των δεδομένων, επιπλέον εμβαθύνει στην πλήρη κατανόηση κάθε ερωτήματος διότι προσφέρεται η λειτουργία απόδοσης παρεμφερής ερώτησης εάν το σύνολο των σωστών απαντήσεων είναι κάτω απο το επιθυμητό όριο στο συγκεκριμένο quiz.
Neural network representation of electronic structure from $ab$ $initio$ molecular dynamics
Creators: name: Gu, Qiangqiang
name: Zhang, Linfeng
name: Feng, Ji
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci)
subject: Disordered Systems and Neural Networks (cond-mat.dis-nn)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Despite their rich information content, electronic structure data amassed at high volumes in $ab$ $initio$ molecular dynamics simulations are generally under-utilized. We introduce a transferable high-fidelity neural network representation of such data in the form of tight-binding Hamiltonians for crystalline materials. This predictive representation of $ab$ $initio$ electronic structure, combined with machine-learning boosted molecular dynamics, enables efficient and accurate electronic evolution and sampling. When applied to a one-dimension charge-density wave material, carbyne, we are able to compute the spectral function and optical conductivity in the canonical ensemble. The spectral functions evaluated during soliton-antisoliton pair annihilation process reveal significant renormalization of low-energy edge modes due to retarded electron-lattice coupling beyond the Born-Oppenheimer limit. The availability of an efficient and reusable surrogate model for the electronic structure dynamical system will enable calculating many interesting physical properties, paving way to previously inaccessible or challenging avenues in materials modeling.
description: 12 pages,11 figures
UHE nuclei propagation and the interpretation of the ankle in the cosmic-ray spectrum
Creators: name: Allard, D.
name: Parizot, E.
name: Khan, E.
name: Goriely, S.
name: Olinto, A. V.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2005
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics (astro-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We consider the stochastic propagation of high-energy protons and nuclei in the cosmological microwave and infrared backgrounds, using revised photonuclear cross-sections and following primary and secondary nuclei in the full 2D nuclear chart. We confirm earlier results showing that the high-energy data can be fit with a pure proton extragalactic cosmic ray (EGCR) component if the source spectrum is \propto E^{-2.6}. In this case the ankle in the CR spectrum may be interpreted as a pair-production dip associated with the propagation. We show that when heavier nuclei are included in the source with a composition similar to that of Galactic cosmic-rays (GCRs), the pair-production dip is not present unless the proton fraction is higher than 85%. In the mixed composition case, the ankle recovers the past interpretation as the transition from GCRs to EGCRs and the highest energy data can be explained by a harder source spectrum \propto E^{-2.2} - E^{-2.3}, reminiscent of relativistic shock acceleration predictions, and in good agreement with the GCR data at low-energy and holistic scenarios.
description: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to A&A Letters (minor changes, two figures replaced, two references added)
FORWARD CONTRACTS AND CROP INSURANCE: SHOULD PREMIUMS BE ADJUSTED FOR RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICE?
Creators: name: Sil, Jayashree
name: Sil, Jayashree
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2002
Subjects: Risk and Uncertainty

description: Current premium rate-making methodology for the government-sponsored Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) program adjusts premiums for farms engaging in certain cropping practices. These practices are production methods such as irrigation, fallow and double-cropping. Actuarial evidence has shown that such practices can separate farms into distinct risk classes. We suggest that risk-management tool is another category of practice which could be considered in setting premium rates. The present analysis shall focus on one risk management tool: cash forward contracts. Making this assessment requires that we use a key actuarial concept called loss cost ratio. Preliminary evidence (from sam ple moments of yield distributions) suggests that indeed the loss cost ratio may be lower in the presence of forward contracts when corn, wheat and soybeans are the insured crops.
Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on PLLA scaffold coated with Wharton's jelly
Creators: name: Ahmadi, Marziehsadat
name: Seyedjafari, Ehsan
name: Zargar, Seyed Jalal
name: Birhanu, Gebremariam
name: Zandi-Karimi, Ali
name: Beiki, Bahareh
name: Tuzlakoglu, Kadriye
Publisher: name: Technische Universität Dortmund
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Wharton’s Jelly
subject: poly-L-lactic acid
subject: coating
subject: electrospinning
subject: 610

description: Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) electrospun nanofiber scaffold is one of the most commonly used synthetic polymer scaffolds for bone tissue engineering application. However, PLLA is hydrophobic in nature, hence does not maintain proper cell adhesion and tissue formation, moreover, it cannot provide the osteo-inductive environment due to inappropriate surface characteristic and the lack of surface motives participating in the first cellular events. To modify these shortcomings different approaches have been used, among those the most commonly used one is coating of the surface of the electrospun nanofiber with natural materials. In this work Wharton’s jelly (WJ), a tissue which surrounds the umbilical cord vessels, reaches in high amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) components mainly; collagen, hyaluronic acid and several sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were used to cover the surface of electrospun PLLA nanofiber scaffolds. The surface morphology of the nanofiber scaffold was evaluated via scanning electron microscope, and the in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential was determined by MTT assay and common osteogenic marker tests such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition tests. Coating of WJ could not change the surface morphology and diameter of the nanofibers. However, WJPLLA scaffolds showed higher proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) than tissue culture plate (TCP) and pristine PLLA scaffolds, moreover, WJ-PPLA scaffold demonstrated significant alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium mineralization than either TCP or PLLA nanofiber scaffolds.
description: EXCLI Journal;Vol. 16 2017
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION UNDER UNCERTAINTY: A MODEL OF OPTIMAL INTRASEASONAL MANAGEMENT
Creators: name: Weninger, Quinn
name: Zhao, Jinhua
name: Weninger, Quinn
name: Zhao, Jinhua
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2002
Subjects: Farm Management

description: This paper develops a dynamic model of crop production under uncertainty with intraseasonal input choices. Crop production involves multiple stages, including at least seeding, post emergence fertilizer/pesticide application and harvesting. If the farmer receives new information about the output and/or price during the stages, he may wish to adjust the input use at each stage in response to the future possible information. Whether future information leads to higher or lower input use at earlier stages depends on the production function, in particular whether inputs at different stages are substitutes or complements in the production function.
Warm Molecular Gas Traced with CO J=7->6 in the Galaxy's Central 2 Parsecs: Dynamical Heating of the Circumnuclear Disk
Creators: name: Bradford, C. M.
name: Stacey, G. J.
name: Nikola, T.
name: Bolatto, A. D.
name: Jackson, J. M.
name: Savage, M. L.
name: Davidson, J. A.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2005
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics (astro-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We present an 11 arcsec resolution map of the central two parsecs of the Galaxy in the CO J =7->6 rotational transition. The CO emission shows rotation about Sgr A*, but also evidence for non-circular turbulent motion and a clumpy morphology. We combine our dataset with available CO measurements to model the physical conditions in the disk. We find that the molecular gas in the region is both warm and dense, with T~200-300 K, n_H2~50,000-70,000 cm^-3. The mass of warm molecular gas we measure in the central two parsecs is at least 2000 M_solar, about 20 times the UV-excited atomic gas mass, ruling out an UV heating scenario for the molecular material. We compare the available spectral tracers with theoretical models and conclude that molecular gas is heated with magneto-hydrodynamic shocks with v~10-20 kms and B~0.3-0.5 mG. Using the conditions derived with the CO analysis, we include the other important coolants--neutral oxygen and molecular hydrogen--to estimate the total cooling budget of the molecular material. We derive a mass to luminosity ratio of 2-3 M_solar/ L_solar, which is consistent with the total power dissipated via turbulent decay in 0.1 pc cells with v_rms~15 kms. These size and velocity scales are comparable to the observed clumping scale and the velocity dispersion. At this rate, the material near Sgr A* its dissipating its orbital energy on an orbital timescale, and cannot last for more than a few orbits. Our conclusions support a scenario in which the features near Sgr A* such as the CND and northern arm are generated by infalling clouds with low specific angular momentum.
description: 31 pages, including 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
Extended stellar systems in the solar neighborhood -- V. Discovery of coronae of nearby star clusters
Creators: name: Meingast, Stefan
name: Alves, João
name: Rottensteiner, Alena
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: In this paper, we present a novel view on the morphology and the dynamical state of 10 prominent, nearby ($\leq$ 500 pc), and young ($\sim$30-300 Myr) open star clusters with Gaia DR2: $α\,$Per, Blanco 1, IC 2602, IC 2391, Messier 39, NGC 2451A, NGC 2516, NGC 2547, Platais 9, and the Pleiades. We introduce a pioneering member identification method that is informed by cluster bulk velocities and deconvolves the spatial distribution with a mixture of Gaussians. Our approach enables inferring the clusters' true spatial distribution by effectively filtering field star contaminants while at the same time mitigating the impact of positional errors along the line of sight. This first application of the method reveals the existence of vast stellar coronae, extending for $\gtrsim\,$100 pc and surrounding the, by comparison tiny and compact, cluster cores. The coronae and cores form intertwined, co-eval, and co-moving extended cluster populations, each encompassing tens of thousands of cubic parsec and stretching across tens of degrees on the sky. Our analysis shows that the coronae are gravitationally unbound but largely comprise the bulk of the populations' stellar mass. Most systems are in a highly dynamic state, showing evidence of expansion and sometimes simultaneous contraction along different spatial axes. The velocity field of the extended populations for the cluster cores appears asymmetric but is aligned along a spatial axis unique to each cluster. The overall spatial distribution and the kinematic signature of the populations are largely consistent with the differential rotation pattern of the Milky Way. This finding underlines the important role of global Galactic dynamics to the fate of stellar systems. Our results highlight the complexity of the Milky Way's open cluster population and call for a new perspective on the characterization and dynamical state of open clusters.
description: published in Astronomy & Astrophysics (update 23.07.21: fixed citation)
title: Apigenin-7-O-glucoside versus apigenin
title: insight into the modes of anticandidal and cytotoxic actions
titleType: AlternativeTitle
Creators: name: Smiljkovic, Marija
name: Stanisavljevic, Danijela
name: Stojkovic, Dejan
name: Petrovic, Isidora
name: Marjanovic Vicentic, Jelena
name: Popovic, Jelena
name: Golic Grdadolnik, Simona
name: Markovic, Dejan
name: Sanković-Babić, Snežana
name: Glamoclija, Jasmina
name: Stevanovic, Milena
name: Sokovic, Marina
Publisher: name: Technische Universität Dortmund
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: apigenin-7-O-glucoside
subject: apigenin
subject: antifungal
subject: Candida spp.
subject: cytotoxic
subject: HCT116
subject: 610

description: Bioactive potential of apigenin derivative apigenin-7-O-glucoside related to its antifungal activity on Candida spp. and cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells was studied and compared with bioactive potential of apigenin. Antifungal activity was tested on 14 different isolates of Candida spp. using membrane permeability assay, measuring inhibition of reactive oxidative species and inhibition of CYP51 C. albicans enzyme. Cytotoxic potential of apigenin-7-O-glucoside was tested on colon cancer HCT116 cells by measuring cell viability, apoptosis rate and apoptosis- and colon cancer-related gene expression. Obtained results indicated considerable antifungal activity of apigenin-7-O-glucoside towards all Candida isolates. Breakdown of C. albicans plasma membrane was achieved upon treatment with apigenin-7-O-glucoside for shorter period of time then with apigenin. Reduction of intra- and extracellular reactive oxidative species was achieved with minimum inhibitory concentrations of both compounds, suggesting that reactive oxidative species inhibition could be a mechanism of antifungal action. None of the compounds exhibited binding affinity to C. albicans CYP51 protein. Besides, apigenin-7-O-glucoside was more effective compared to apigenin in reduction of cell’s viability and induction of cell death of HCT116 cells. Treatment with both compounds resulted in chromatin condensation, apoptotic bodies formation and apoptotic genes expression in HCT116 cells, but the apigenin-7-O-glucoside required a lower concentration to achieve the same effect. Compounds apigenin-7-O-glucoside and apigenin displayed prominent antifungal potential and cytotoxic effect on HCT116 cells. However, our results showed that apigenin-7-O-glucoside has more potent activity compared to apigenin in all assays that we used.
description: EXCLI Journal;Vol. 16 2017
IMPLICATIONS OF TEMPERATURE-ACTIVATED POLYMER SEED COATING FOR CROP PRODUCTION IN THE NORTHERN CORN BELT
Creators: name: Archer, David W.
name: Gesch, Russell W.
name: Archer, David W.
name: Gesch, Russell W.
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2002
Subjects: subject: Crop Production/Industries
subject: mathematical programming
subject: biophysical simulation
subject: corn
subject: soybean

description: The value of an innovative new seed technology is evaluated in a discrete stochastic programming framework for a representative farm in the northern Corn Belt. Temperature-activated polymer coated seed has the potential to increase net returns by reducing yield loss due to delayed planting and by increasing the use of longer season varieties. A biophysical simulation model was used to estimate the impact of polymer coated seed on corn and soybean yields and on field day availability for five planting periods, two crop varieties and two tillage systems on two different soils under varying weather conditions. Results show that polymer coated seed increases net returns in corn by $2.50-$3.65 per acre and in soybeans by $4.50-$9.70 per acre.
Οργάνωση τμήματος αγορών & προμηθειών
Creators: name: Μπασιούρας, Βασίλης
Publisher: name: Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Τμήμα αγορών & προμηθειών
subject: Κλάδος τροφίμων

description: Σκοπός της παρούσας διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να περιγράψει την οργάνωση και τη δομή ενός τμήματος Αγορών – Προμηθειών, μέσα από 5 κεφάλαια. Για να γίνει πιο κατανοητή η οργάνωση του εν λόγω τμήματος, μελετάται η περίπτωση μιας εισαγωγικής εταιρείας τροφίμων, της Global Foods. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο, γίνεται αναφορά στην έννοια της αλυσίδας εφοδιασμού και των Προμηθειών, καθώς και ιστορική αναδρομή από την ίδρυση των όρων αυτών έως σήμερα. Παράλληλα, αναλύονται οι λόγοι που καθιστούν τη λειτουργία των προμηθειών αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της σύγχρονης επιχείρησης. Από το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο προσδοκούμε να κατανοήσουμε την έννοια των αποθεμάτων και τα επιμέρους συστήματα διαχείρισής τους. Γίνεται, επίσης, εκτενή αναφορά στους παράγοντες διατήρησης αποθεμάτων, αναλύοντας τους λόγους, που καθιστούν τόσο σημαντική την ύπαρξή τους, καθώς και τα χαρακτηριστικά της ζήτησης. Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο, αναφέρονται οι στόχοι ενός τμήματος αγορών και προμηθειών και περιγράφονται οι λειτουργίες του, όπως η διαδικασία επιλογής προμηθευτή, η έρευνα αγοράς, η παραγγελία σε προμηθευτή. Στο τέταρτο κεφάλαιο εξετάζεται μία εισαγωγική εταιρεία τροφίμων, μέσω δύο διαφορετικών περιπτώσεων, τόσο από την πλευρά της έρευνας για εισαγωγή νεου προϊόντος, όσο κι από την πλευρά του demand planning και της παραγγελίας σε προμηθευτή.
MODELING THE EU'S EVERYTHING BUT ARMS INITIATIVE FOR THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
Creators: name: Trueblood, Michael A.
name: Somwaru, Agapi
name: Trueblood, Michael A.
name: Somwaru, Agapi
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2002
Subjects: Political Economy

description: This study attempts to answer two key questions: what will be the likely impact of the EU's Everything But Arms (EBA) proposal, and, what would be the impact if the United States also were to implement a similar proposal? Using the GTAP model, the preliminary results in this paper show if only the EU's EBA proposal were implemented, then welfare in the least developed countries (LDCs) would increase by $2.5 billion (0.53 percent of their GDP), exports would grow by 3 percent, and GDP would grow by 2.3 percent. If the United States and the EU both implemented similar programs, then LDC welfare would increase by $3.1 billion (0.66 percent of GDP), exports would increase by 3.7 percent and total GDP growth by 2.9 percent. Another version of this scenario assumes that LDCs lack the supply capacity to exploit the new trade opportunities. In this case, LDC welfare increases by $0.9 billion (0.2 percent of GDP), exports grow by 4.1 percent, and GDP grows at 2.3 percent. The impact of this last scenario still may be overstated, given that trade preferences are not fully accounted for in the GTAP tariff database. Overall, the results suggest that improving market access for the LDCs could help raise per capita incomes above trend projections, but the gains are modest.
MEASURING THE INCOME GENERATING POTENTIAL OF LAND IN RURAL MEXICO
Creators: name: Finan, Frederico
name: De Janvry, Alain
name: Sadoulet, Elisabeth
name: Finan, Frederico
name: De Janvry, Alain
name: Sadoulet, Elisabeth
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2002
Subjects: Land Economics/Use

description: This paper measures the potential of land to generate income and establishes the contexts under which access to land can reduce poverty. Using Mexican household data, we apply nonparametric regression methods to estimate and graphically explore the relationship between land and welfare. Results suggest that the marginal value of land depends on both the complementary and contextual assets of the poor.
Computing Graph Neural Networks: A Survey from Algorithms to Accelerators
Creators: name: Abadal, Sergi
name: Jain, Akshay
name: Guirado, Robert
name: López-Alonso, Jorge
name: Alarcón, Eduard
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Machine Learning (cs.LG)
subject: Distributed, Parallel, and Cluster Computing (cs.DC)
subject: Machine Learning (stat.ML)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have exploded onto the machine learning scene in recent years owing to their capability to model and learn from graph-structured data. Such an ability has strong implications in a wide variety of fields whose data is inherently relational, for which conventional neural networks do not perform well. Indeed, as recent reviews can attest, research in the area of GNNs has grown rapidly and has lead to the development of a variety of GNN algorithm variants as well as to the exploration of groundbreaking applications in chemistry, neurology, electronics, or communication networks, among others. At the current stage of research, however, the efficient processing of GNNs is still an open challenge for several reasons. Besides of their novelty, GNNs are hard to compute due to their dependence on the input graph, their combination of dense and very sparse operations, or the need to scale to huge graphs in some applications. In this context, this paper aims to make two main contributions. On the one hand, a review of the field of GNNs is presented from the perspective of computing. This includes a brief tutorial on the GNN fundamentals, an overview of the evolution of the field in the last decade, and a summary of operations carried out in the multiple phases of different GNN algorithm variants. On the other hand, an in-depth analysis of current software and hardware acceleration schemes is provided, from which a hardware-software, graph-aware, and communication-centric vision for GNN accelerators is distilled.
description: 35 pages, 9 figures, 8 tables, 188 references
REWARDING NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PERSONNEL: ARE CONFECTIONERY MANUFACTURERS STILL IN DARK AGES?
Creators: name: Spaulding, Aslihan D.
name: Woods, Timothy A.
name: Spaulding, Aslihan D.
name: Woods, Timothy A.
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2002
Subjects: Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies

description: Keywords: New product development, compensation, performance measurement, cross-functional team, confectionery manufacturing
The relation between rice consumption, arsenic contamination, and prevalence of diabetes in South Asia
Creators: name: Hassan, Fatima Ismail
name: Niaz, Kamal
name: Khan, Fazlullah
name: Maqbool, Faheem
name: Abdollahi, Mohammad
Publisher: name: Technische Universität Dortmund
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Rice
subject: Arsenic
subject: Diabetes
subject: Review
subject: 610

description: Rice is the major staple food for about two billion people living in Asia. It has been reported to contain considerable amount of inorganic arsenic which is toxic to pancreatic beta cells and disrupt glucose homeostasis. Articles and conference papers published between 1992 and 2017, indexed in Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, Google, and Google scholar were used. Arsenic exposure has been associated with increased blood glucose and insulin levels, or decreased sensitization of insulin cells to glucose uptake. Several studies have shown the association between inorganic arsenic exposure and incidence of diabetes mellitus. Considerable amounts of arsenic have been reported in different types of rice which may be affected by cultivation methods, processing, and country of production. Use of certain microbes, fertilizers, and enzymes may reduce arsenic uptake or accumulation in rice, which may reduce its risk of toxicity. Combined exposure to contaminated rice, other foods and drinking water may increase the risk of diabetes in these countries. Maximum tolerated daily intake of arsenic contaminated rice (2.1 μg/day kg body weight) has been set by WHO, which may be exceeded depending on its content in rice and amount consumed. Hence, increased prevalence of diabetes in South Asia may be related to the consumption of arsenic contaminated rice depending on its content in the rice and daily amount consumed. In this review, we have focused on the possible relation between rice consumption, arsenic contamination, and prevalence of diabetes in South Asia.
description: EXCLI Journal;Vol. 16 2017
Handgun detection using combined human pose and weapon appearance
Creators: name: Ruiz-Santaquiteria, Jesus
name: Velasco-Mata, Alberto
name: Vallez, Noelia
name: Bueno, Gloria
name: Álvarez-García, Juan A.
name: Deniz, Oscar
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (cs.CV)
subject: Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems are essential nowadays to prevent security threats or dangerous situations, in which early detection is crucial. Novel deep learning-based methods have allowed to develop automatic weapon detectors with promising results. However, these approaches are mainly based on visual weapon appearance only. For handguns, body pose may be a useful cue, especially in cases where the gun is barely visible. In this work, a novel method is proposed to combine, in a single architecture, both weapon appearance and human pose information. First, pose keypoints are estimated to extract hand regions and generate binary pose images, which are the model inputs. Then, each input is processed in different subnetworks and combined to produce the handgun bounding box. Results obtained show that the combined model improves the handgun detection state of the art, achieving from 4.23 to 18.9 AP points more than the best previous approach.
description: 17 pages, 18 figures
Bayesian Quantum Multiphase Estimation Algorithm
Creators: name: Gebhart, Valentin
name: Smerzi, Augusto
name: Pezzè, Luca
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Quantum phase estimation (QPE) is the key subroutine of several quantum computing algorithms as well as a central ingredient in quantum computational chemistry and quantum simulation. While QPE strategies have focused on the estimation of a single phase, applications to the simultaneous estimation of several phases may bring substantial advantages; for instance, in the presence of spatial or temporal constraints. In this work, we study a Bayesian algorithm for the parallel (simultaneous) estimation of multiple arbitrary phases. The protocol gives access to correlations in the Bayesian multi-phase distribution resulting in covariance matrix elements scaling inversely proportional to the square of the total number of quantum resources. The parallel estimation allows to surpass the sensitivity of sequential single-phase estimation strategies for optimal linear combinations of phases. Furthermore, the algorithm proves a certain noise resilience and can be implemented using single photons and standard optical elements in currently accessible experiments.
THE ENVIRONMENTALLY OPTIMAL TRADING RATIO
Creators: name: Woodward, Richard T.
name: Woodward, Richard T.
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2001
Subjects: Environmental Economics and Policy

description: In the standard economic model of cap and trade policies, the regulator is assumed to place zero value on pollution reductions below the cap. This paper considers an alternative case, where the policy makers can manipulate the rules of the program to achieve improved environmental performance. This is achieved by manipulating the trading ratio, the units of pollution credits that are obtained for each unit of pollution reduction. Using a parsimonious model of a transferable discharge permits program, we identify the environmentally optimal trading ratio that maximizes the environmental gains of trading. The model suggests an alternative explanation why non-unitary trading ratios are common and is a counterpoint to the cost-minimizing model that predominates in economics. We conclude by recommending that a middle-ground should be sought, where both environmental gains and cost efficiencies are given weight.
Geometric characterization of anomalous Landau levels of isolated flat bands
Creators: name: Hwang, Yoonseok
name: Rhim, Jun-Won
name: Yang, Bohm-Jung
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: According to the Onsager's semiclassical quantization rule, the Landau levels of a band are bounded by its upper and lower band edges at zero magnetic field. However, there are two notable systems where the Landau level spectra violate this expectation, including topological bands and flat bands with singular band crossings, whose wave functions possess some singularities. Here, we introduce a distinct class of flat band systems where anomalous Landau level spreading (LLS) appears outside the zero-field energy bounds, although the relevant wave function is nonsingular. The anomalous LLS of isolated flat bands are governed by the cross-gap Berry connection that measures the wave-function geometry of multi bands. We also find that symmetry puts strong constraints on the LLS of flat bands. Our work demonstrates that an isolated flat band is an ideal system for studying the fundamental role of wave-function geometry in describing magnetic responses of solids.
description: 10+8 pages, 5+3 figures
Anomalous and normal dislocation modes in Floquet topological insulators
Creators: name: Nag, Tanay
name: Roy, Bitan
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
subject: Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Electronic bands featuring nontrivial bulk topological invariant manifest through robust gapless modes at the boundaries, e.g., edges and surfaces. As such this bulk-boundary correspondence is also operative in driven quantum materials. For example, a suitable periodic drive can convert a trivial insulator into a Floquet topological insulator (FTI) that accommodates nondissipative dynamic gapless modes at the interfaces with vacuum. Here we theoretically demonstrate that dislocations, ubiquitous lattice defects in crystals, can probe FTIs as well as unconventional $π$-trivial insulator in the bulk of driven quantum systems by supporting normal and anomalous modes, localized near the defect core. Respectively, normal and anomalous dislocation modes reside at the Floquet zone center and boundaries. We exemplify these outcomes specifically for two-dimensional (2D) Floquet Chern insulator and $p_x+ip_y$ superconductor, where the dislocation modes are respectively constituted by charged and neutral Majorana fermions. Our findings should be therefore instrumental in probing Floquet topological phases in the state-of-the-art experiments in driven quantum crystals, cold atomic setups, and photonic and phononic metamaterials through bulk topological lattice defects.
description: 8 Pages and 5 Figures (Supplementary Information as Ancillary File)
Lensed Quasar Hosts
Creators: name: Peng, Chien Y.
name: Impey, Chris D.
name: Rix, Hans-Walter
name: Keeton, Charles R.
name: Falco, Emilio E.
name: Kochanek, Chris S.
name: Lehar, Joseph
name: McLeod, Brian A.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2006
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics (astro-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Gravitational lensing assists in the detection of quasar hosts by amplifying and distorting the host light away from the unresolved quasar core images. We present the results of HST observations of 30 quasar hosts at redshifts 1 < z < 4.5. The hosts are small in size (r_e 1.7 is a factor of 3--6 higher than the local value. But, depending on the stellar content the ratio may decline at z>4 (if E/S0-like), flatten off to 6--10 times the local value (if Sbc-like), or continue to rise (if Im-like). We infer that galaxy bulge masses must have grown by a factor of 3--6 over the redshift range 3>z>1, and then changed little since z~1. This suggests that the peak epoch of galaxy formation for massive galaxies is above z~1. We also estimate the duty cycle of luminous AGNs at z>1 to be ~1%, or 10^7 yrs, with sizable scatter.
description: 8 pages, 6 figures, review article with C. Impey at the conference on "QSO Host Galaxies: Evolution and Environment", Aug. 29-Sep. 2, 2005, Lorentz Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Ανάλυση της αγοράς του φυσικού αερίου στην Ελλάδα, υπό το πρίσμα της διεθνούς πολιτικής οικονομίας της ενέργειας
Creators: name: Ζαχαρόπουλος, Αντώνης
Publisher: name: Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Economic nationalism
subject: Gas target model
subject: Νοτιοανατολική Μεσόγειος
subject: Αγορά φυσικού αερίου Ελλάδας
subject: Διεθνής πολιτική οικονομία της ενέργειας
subject: Ανακάλυψη ενεργειακών αποθεμάτων
subject: Δίκτυο ενεργειακών υποδομών φυσικού αερίου Ελλάδας
subject: TAP
subject: IGB
subject: ITGI
subject: East Med

description: Ο σκοπός της διπλωματικής εργασίας έγκειται στην ανάλυση της αγοράς του φυσικού αερίου στην Ελλάδα υπό το πρίσμα της διεθνούς πολιτικής οικονομίας της ενεργείας. Κατά τη διάρκεια μελέτης, 2007-2016, σημειώθηκαν σημαντικές ανακαλύψεις κοιτασμάτων υδρογονανθράκων, στην περιοχή της Νοτιοανατολικής Μεσογείου, τα οποία προκάλεσαν αντίστοιχες ανακατατάξεις στην περιφερειακή ισορροπία και τη θέση των κρατών, στο γεωπολιτικό σύστημα. Επιχειρείται ανάλυση της επίδρασης του τομέα της ενέργειας στην οικονομική αναδιοργάνωση των κρατών της Νοτιοανατολικής Μεσογείου και στην περιφερειακή ενσωμάτωσή τους, ενώ η επισκόπηση διεξάγεται υπό το πρίσμα της σχολής σκέψης του οικονομικού εθνικισμού (economic nationalism) της Διεθνούς Πολιτικής Οικονομίας. Τα έθνη – κράτη, ως κύριοι δρώντες αποτυπώνουν στρατηγικές, προς μεγιστοποίηση της επιρροής και της ισχύος τους, συμβάλλοντας στη διαμόρφωση της περιφερειακής ισορροπίας ισχύος και της ενεργειακής αρχιτεκτονικής, στην περιοχή. Τα ανωτέρω, αποτελούν συνιστώσες εξέτασης των παραγόντων επιρροής στη διαμόρφωση και αλλαγή του υφιστάμενου περιβάλλοντος της αγοράς του φυσικού αερίου, στην Ελλάδα. Η εγχώρια αγορά λαμβάνει τη δυνατότητα εναλλαγής σε περιφερειακό κέντρο διακίνησης ποσοτήτων φυσικού αερίου, αλλά και διαμόρφωσης τιμών.
title: The impact of stress on body function
title: a review
titleType: AlternativeTitle
Creators: name: Yaribeygi, Habib
name: Panahi, Yunes
name: Sahraei, Hedayat
name: Johnston, Thomas P.
name: Sahebkar, Amirhossein
Publisher: name: Technische Universität Dortmund
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Stress
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Homeostasis
subject: 610

description: Any intrinsic or extrinsic stimulus that evokes a biological response is known as stress. The compensatory responses to these stresses are known as stress responses. Based on the type, timing and severity of the applied stimulus, stress can exert various actions on the body ranging from alterations in homeostasis to life-threatening effects and death. In many cases, the pathophysiological complications of disease arise from stress and the subjects exposed to stress, e.g. those that work or live in stressful environments, have a higher likelihood of many disorders. Stress can be either a triggering or aggravating factor for many diseases and pathological conditions. In this study, we have reviewed some of the major effects of stress on the primary physiological systems of humans.
description: EXCLI Journal;Vol. 16 2017
A New Efficient Algorithm for Construction of LLS Models
Creators: name: Kovtun, Mikhail
name: Akushevich, Igor
name: Manton, Kenneth G.
name: Tolley, H. Dennis
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2005
Subjects: subject: Probability (math.PR)
subject: Statistics Theory (math.ST)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 62H12; 62J99

description: We present a new efficient algortithm for construction of linear latent structure (LLS) models. This algorithm reduces a problem of estimation of model parameters to a sequence of problems of linear algebra, which assures a low computational complexity and ability to handle on desktop computers data that involve up to thousands of variables.
description: 8 pages
Στρατηγική ανάλυση και διατήρηση ανταγωνιστικού πλεονεκτήματος στον κλάδο διύλισης. Μελέτη περίπτωσης: ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΠΕΤΡΕΛΑΙΑ Α.Ε.
Creators: name: Παπανώτα, Μαγδαληνή
Publisher: name: Πανεπιστήμιο Πειραιώς
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Στρατηγική
subject: Διύλιση
subject: Ανταγωνιστικό πλεονέκτημα
subject: Ανταγωνισμός
subject: Ενεργειακός μετασχηματισμός

description: Ο κλάδος διύλισης πετρελαιοειδών αποτελεί εδώ και χρόνια έναν από τους σημαντικότερους τομείς της Ελληνικής οικονομίας. Ο κλάδος κατέχει στρατηγικό ρόλο τόσο για την Ελλάδα, όσο και την Ευρώπη καθώς η πρώτη αποτελεί σταυροδρόμι ενεργειακών ροών μεταξύ Ανατολής και Δύσης. Παρόλα αυτά, έχει αρκετές ιδιαιτερότητες οι οποίες θα μελετηθούν στη συνέχεια της εργασίας, ενώ τα χαρακτηριστικά του τον καθιστούν μοναδικό, καθώς η φύση του δεν μοιάζει με κανέναν άλλο. Τα τελευταία χρόνια ο κλάδος έχει επιδείξει ιδιαίτερη ευαισθησία στις οικονομικές εξελίξεις και στα διεθνή γεγονότα. Μεγάλη επιρροή στον κλάδο έχουν ασκήσει τα Ευρωπαϊκά Όργανα καθώς η ενεργειακή μετάβαση στις οικονομίες χαμηλού αποτυπώματος άνθρακα είναι προ των πυλών. Ο Όμιλος ΕΛ.ΠΕ. πρωτοπορώντας πάντα στον κλάδο διύλισης και κατέχοντας το μεγαλύτερο μερίδιο, έχει καταγράψει επιτυχή πορεία στην οποία κλειδί αποτέλεσαν οι καινοτόμες επενδύσεις και αναβαθμίσεις στον μηχανολογικό εξοπλισμό του που επέτρεψαν στα διυλιστήρια του να είναι μερικά από τα πιο σύνθετα της Μεσογείου. Τον κρισιμότερο ρόλο στον κλάδο διαδραματίζουν οι προμηθευτές και οι ομάδες ειδικών συμφερόντων. Λόγω του ισχυρού ολιγοπωλίου που έχει σχηματιστεί τα τελευταία χρόνια δεν υπάρχει καμία ένδειξη για είσοδο νέων επιχειρήσεων. Το εσωτερικό περιβάλλον της εταιρείας είναι πολύπλοκο με βασικές θεμελιώδεις αρχές που διέπουν κάθε δραστηριότητα και λειτουργία που συμβαίνει μέσα σε αυτό. Η ισχυρή κουλτούρα του συμβάλλει σημαντικά στην αποτελεσματική υιοθέτηση των νέων τεχνολογιών και των νέων επιχειρηματικών μοντέλων. Ο Όμιλος έχει πραγματοποιήσει σχεδόν κάθε είδους εφικτή εταιρική στρατηγική. Το αποτέλεσμα αυτών των αποφάσεων στηρίζει σε σημαντικό βαθμό την ανταγωνιστικότητά του, καθώς όσο πιο καθετοποιημένο είναι το μοντέλο διύλισης τόσο μεγαλύτερο πλεονέκτημα αντλεί η εταιρεία. Λόγω του δύσκολου επιχειρηματικού καθεστώτος που έχει διαμορφώσει η πανδημία του κορωνοιού δεν είναι εύκολο να προταθούν και να υιοθετηθούν με επιτυχία νέες εταιρικές στρατηγικές, ειδικά σε ότι αφορά το κομμάτι της εξωτερικής ανάπτυξης. Συνεπώς, θεωρείται ωφέλιμο για το μέλλον η εταιρεία να επενδύσει στο εσωτερικό της με νέες τεχνολογίες και αυτοματισμούς, ώστε να ισχυροποιηθεί ακόμα περισσότερο και να αυξήσει την ανταγωνιστικότητά της.
E-Business and Distribution Channel Strategies in Agribusiness Industries
Creators: name: Henderson, Jason R.
name: Dooley, Frank J.
name: Akridge, Jay T.
name: Boehlje, Michael
name: Henderson, Jason R.
name: Dooley, Frank J.
name: Akridge, Jay T.
name: Boehlje, Michael
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2001
Subjects: Agribusiness

description: The explosion of e-business activity presents many challenges to manufacturers, distributors, and dealers as they select a distribution channel for the delivery of products, services, and information. The expected growth in Internet sales by agribusiness firms is analyzed to provide insight into the selection of an e-business distribution channel. Agribusiness firm managers were surveyed regarding the application and perceived impacts of e-business activity on their firm's operations. Firm characteristics and manager perceptions regarding the impact of e-business activity were analyzed descriptively and in regression analysis to understand the drivers of expected Internet sales growth. Expected Internet sales growth was found to vary by the firm's position in the distribution channel. Yet, firms with greater levels of existing e-communication with either customers or suppliers and with managers perceiving greater ability of e-business activity to improve inventory management and logistics issues have higher levels of expected Internet sales.
Natural 2HDMs without FCNCs
Creators: name: Diaz-Cruz, J. L.
name: Saldana-Salazar, U. J.
name: Tame-Narvaez, K. M.
name: Tenorth, V. T.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: High Energy Physics - Experiment (hep-ex)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Motivated by the fermion mass hierarchy we study the phenomenology of two flavorful two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM) scenarios. By virtue of the flavor or singular alignment ansatz it is possible to link the mass of a subset of fermions to the vacuum-expectation-value (VEV) of a unique Higgs doublet and to simultaneously avoid flavor-changing-neutral-currents at tree-level. We explicitly construct two models called Type-A and B. There, either the top quark alone or all third generation fermions couple to the doublet with the larger VEV. The other fermions acquire their masses through the small VEV of the other doublet. Thus, more natural values for the Yukawa couplings can be obtained. The main differences between these models and conventional ones are studied including a discussion of both their structure and phenomenological consequences. In particular, as distinctive deviations for the Yukawa couplings of the light fermions are predicted we discuss possible tests at the LHC based on searches for $h\to J/Ψ+ γ$, $h\toμμ$, and heavy scalar resonances decaying to muon pairs. We find that for a wide region of parameter space this specific set of signatures can be used to distinguish among the new proposed types and the conventional ones.
description: 13 pages, 5 tables, 9 figures; new references added and major improvements; version accepted by Phys. Rev. D
A Joint Framework for Analysis of Agri-Environmental Payment Programs
Creators: name: Cooper, Joseph C.
name: Cooper, Joseph C.
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2001
Subjects: subject: Environmental Economics and Policy
subject: incentive payments
subject: EQIP
subject: simulated multivariate normal
subject: multinomial probit
subject: simulated maximum likelihood estimation
subject: best management practices

description: This paper presents an approach for simultaneously estimating farmers' decisions to accept incentive payments in return for adopting a bundle of environmentally benign management practices. Using the results of a multinomial probit analysis of surveys of over 1,000 farmers facing ten adoption decisions in an EQIP-type program, we show how the farmers' perceptions of the desirability of various bundles changes with the offer amounts and with which practices are offered in the program.
Proposal for a microcosm biofilm model for the study of vulvovaginal candidiasis
Creators: name: Cordeiro, Rossana De Aguiar
name: Andrade, Ana Raquel Colares De
name: Portela, Fernando Victor Monteiro
name: Pereira, Lívia Maria Galdino
name: Moura, Santiago Gonçalves Bezerra
name: Mônica Dantas Sampaio
name: Pereira, Estefania Mota Araripe
name: Gláucia Morgana De Melo Guedes
name: Bandeira, Silviane Praciano
name: Lima-Neto, Reginaldo Gonçalves De
name: Vânia Maria Maciel Melo
name: Brilhante, Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira
name: Castelo-Branco, Débora Souza Collares Maia
name: Rocha, Marcos Fábio Gadelha
name: Sidrim, José Júlio Costa
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cell Biology
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: 110309 Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: This study proposes a microcosm biofilm (MiB) model for the study of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Different conditions that mimic the vaginal environment were tested for MiB formation. The best growth conditions were obtained with samples incubated in vaginal fluid simulator medium pH 4.5 at 35 °C under a microaerophilic atmosphere. MiBs were evaluated for growth kinetics, fluconazole susceptibility and morphology. Samples containing high numbers of bacteria were analyzed for metagenomics. At 48 h, MiBs presented a higher cell density (CFU ml−1), a higher biomass and tolerance to fluconazole than their corresponding monospecies biofilms. Morphological analysis of MiBs revealed blastoconidia preferentially adhered to epithelial cells. Abundant Lactobacillus spp. were detected in two clinical samples; their MiBs showed a lower biomass and a higher fluconazole susceptibility. The proposed model proved to be a useful tool for the study of the complex microbial relationship in the vaginal environment, and may help to find new strategies for VVC control.
QUALITY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE IN THE FRESH PRODUCE SECTOR: A CASE STUDY OF EUROPEAN RETAILERS
Creators: name: Sterns, Patricia Aust
name: Codron, Jean-Marie
name: Reardon, Thomas
name: Sterns, Patricia Aust
name: Codron, Jean-Marie
name: Reardon, Thomas
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2001
Subjects: subject: Marketing
subject: FOS: Economics and business

description: Quality and quality assurance are among the most critical issues facing the fresh produce industry. This paper shows that while quality is widely noted to be an important concept, it is not clearly defined in the literature. Several definitions of quality are presented. The terminology associated with quality assurance is analyzed. An array of quality assurance systems used in the European fresh product sector are presented. Conclusions are drawn that while fresh produce quality will always be a factor retailers use to compete for consumers, there is evidence of industry consensus on some quality attributes, particularly, safety, environmental, and social attributes.