Image processing using the Walsh transform.

This thesis presents a new algorithm which can be used to register images of the same or different modalities e.g images with multiple channels such as X-rays, temperature, or elevation or simply images of different spectral bands. In particular, a correlation-based scheme is used, but instead of grey values, it correlates numbers formulated by different combinations of the extracted local Walsh coefficients of the images. Each image patch is expanded in terms of Walsh basis functions. Each Walsh basis function can be thought of as measuring a different aspect of local structure, eg horizontal edge, corner, etc. The coefficients of the expansion, therefore, can be thought of as dense local features, estimating at each point the degree of presence of, for example, a horizontal edge, a corner with contrast of a certain type, etc. These coefficients are normalised and used as digits in a chosen number system which allows one to create a unique number for each type of local structure. The choice of the basis of the number system allows one to give different emphasis to different types of local feature (e.g. corners versus edges) and thus the method we present forms a unified framework in terms of which several feature matching methods may be interpreted. The algorithm is compared with wavelet based approaches, using simulated and real images. The images used for the registration experiments are assumed to differ from each other by a rotation and a translation only. Additionally, the method was extended to cope with 3D image sets, while as an add-on, it was also tried in performing image segmentation

Τhe South European welfare states at the dawn of the new Millennium: identity and problems

Το παρόν άρθρο εξετάζει τα ιδιαίτερα γνωρίσματατης «νοτιο-ευρωπαϊκής» απόκλισης υπό το πρίσματων κλασικών κατηγοριοποιήσεων των κρατών πρό-νοιας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, επανεξετάζεται το επιχείρη-μα των Katrougalos & Lazaridis (2003) λαμβάνονταςυπόψη μεταγενέστερες θέσεις και τα πρόσφαταδεδομένα. Ακολούθως παρουσιάζονται τα βασικάγνωρίσματα των κρατών της νότιας Ευρώπης. Υπο-στηρίζεται ότι το σύνολο των κρατών αυτών χαρα-κτηρίζεται από τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά του «κρα-τικού-κορπορατιστικού» προνοιακού μοντέλου. Τηνίδια στιγμή εμφανής είναι η ύπαρξη σημαντικώνδιαφορών μεταξύ τους σε σημείο που κάποια απότα κράτη αυτά να εμφανίζουν περισσότερα κοινάχαρακτηριστικά με τη Γαλλία παρά με τα λοιπά μέλητου νοτιο-ευρωπαϊκού μοντέλου. Η ύπαρξη των δι-αφορών αυτών ανάγεται στις διαφορετικές ιστορικέςπαραδόσεις και ειδικότερα στο διαφορετικό ειδικόβάρος των πελατειακών σχέσεων.The present paper examines the identity ofthe “South European” deviation againstclassical typologies. Against this background,the argument presented some yearsearlier by Katrougalos and Lazaridis (2003)is revisited, bearing in mind later contributionsin the field as well as recent data.The article then proceeds by presenting themain traits of Southern European states, arguingthat they all share the basic characteristicsof the “state-corporatist” welfaremodel. Nonetheless, important differencescan be discerned among them, while someseem to share more common features withFrance than with the other members of theSouthern cluster. These differences are inturn attributed to their historic traditions,and in particular the dissimilar weight ofpatronage and clientelism

Τhe South European welfare states at the dawn of the new Millennium: identity and problems

Το παρόν άρθρο εξετάζει τα ιδιαίτερα γνωρίσματατης «νοτιο-ευρωπαϊκής» απόκλισης υπό το πρίσματων κλασικών κατηγοριοποιήσεων των κρατών πρό-νοιας. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, επανεξετάζεται το επιχείρη-μα των Katrougalos & Lazaridis (2003) λαμβάνονταςυπόψη μεταγενέστερες θέσεις και τα πρόσφαταδεδομένα. Ακολούθως παρουσιάζονται τα βασικάγνωρίσματα των κρατών της νότιας Ευρώπης. Υπο-στηρίζεται ότι το σύνολο των κρατών αυτών χαρα-κτηρίζεται από τα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά του «κρα-τικού-κορπορατιστικού» προνοιακού μοντέλου. Τηνίδια στιγμή εμφανής είναι η ύπαρξη σημαντικώνδιαφορών μεταξύ τους σε σημείο που κάποια απότα κράτη αυτά να εμφανίζουν περισσότερα κοινάχαρακτηριστικά με τη Γαλλία παρά με τα λοιπά μέλητου νοτιο-ευρωπαϊκού μοντέλου. Η ύπαρξη των δι-αφορών αυτών ανάγεται στις διαφορετικές ιστορικέςπαραδόσεις και ειδικότερα στο διαφορετικό ειδικόβάρος των πελατειακών σχέσεων.The present paper examines the identity ofthe “South European” deviation againstclassical typologies. Against this background,the argument presented some yearsearlier by Katrougalos and Lazaridis (2003)is revisited, bearing in mind later contributionsin the field as well as recent data.The article then proceeds by presenting themain traits of Southern European states, arguingthat they all share the basic characteristicsof the “state-corporatist” welfaremodel. Nonetheless, important differencescan be discerned among them, while someseem to share more common features withFrance than with the other members of theSouthern cluster. These differences are inturn attributed to their historic traditions,and in particular the dissimilar weight ofpatronage and clientelism

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Eye Metastasis: Disease Relapse or a New Entity?

Lung cancer is still diagnosed during the advanced stage of the disease and most patients do not have the opportunity for surgical treatment, despite the new diagnostic equipment that has been made available in recent years, such as the radial and linear endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and electromagnetic fiberoptic bronchoscopy. However, novel targeted therapies with second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy are available. In this commentary, we will focus on eye metastasis after initiation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors due to epidermal growth factor mutation of lung cancer adenocarcinoma.Â

Targeted Lung Cancer Treatments and Eye Metastasis

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death due to cancer. We do not have effective tools for the early detection of lung cancer, so patients are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. However, novel therapies based on molecular pathways (such as those involving the epidermal growth factor receptor, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase ROS, c-Met proto-oncogene protein, and RET proto-oncogene protein) are now commonly used in the treatment of lung cancer. In particular, these therapies are considered as first-line treatments for non-small-cell lung cancer. This manuscript outlines previous research on these targeted treatments, focusing on whether they are effective against eye metastasis

The Use of Intellectual Property Right Bundles by Firms in Copyright Intensive Industries

This paper contributes to the complementarity theory of Intellectual Property rights (IPRs) and seeks to explain how companies active in copyright industries bundle different types of formal IP protection in order to effectively protect their original works and maximise economic returns from their creative activity. Based on a unique set of data covering IP activity of European companies operating in copyright based industries, a number of regression models have been developed to identify factors explaining the use of the various protection mechanisms. Statistical analysis indicates that 10% of companies in copyright industries use other forms of IP protection. Regression analysis further demonstrates that copyright companies employ other forms of IP protection more frequently than non-copyright companies. However there is an observed strong size effect, with larger copyright companies having larger probability to use other forms of IP more frequently than small companies. The paper provides support for complementarity between copyright and other forms IP given company specific characteristics