Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment Impacts of Weather and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Change on Urban Vegetation Net Primary Productivity (NPP): A Case Study in Guangzhou, China

Net primary productivity (NPP) can indicate vegetation ecosystem services ability and reflect variation response to climate change and human activities. This study applied MODIS-1 km NPP products to investigate the NPP variation from 2001 to 2006, a fast urban expansion and adjustment period in Guangzhou, China, and quantify the impacts of weather and land use/land cover (LULC) changes, respectively. The results showed that the NPP mean value increased at a rate of 11.6 g∙C∙m−2∙yr−1 during the initial three years and decreased at an accelerated rate of 31.0 g∙C∙m−2∙yr−1 during the final three years, resulting in a total NPP loss of approximately 167 × 106 g∙C. The spatiotemporal of NPP varied obviously in the central area, suburb and exurb of Guangzhou driven by three patterns of weather and LULC changes. By the interactive effects and the weather variation dominated effects, NPP of most areas changed slightly with dynamic index less than 5% of NPP mean value in the central area and the suburb. The LULC change dominated effects caused obvious NPP reduction, by more than 15% of the NPP mean value, which occurred in some areas of the suburb and extended to the exurb with the outward urban sprawl. Importantly, conversion from wood grassland, shrublands and even forests to croplands occupied by urban landscapes proved to be a main process in the conversion from high-NPP coverage to low-NPP coverage, thereby leading to the rapid degradation of urban carbon stock capacity in urban fringe areas. It is helpful for government to monitor urban ecological health and safety and make relevant policies.
Immigrant settlement policies and subsequent migration

Many countries consider the residential concentration among immigrants a problem. This paper studies the factors influencing individual location decisions and evaluates a Swedish attempt to change the residential distribution of refugee immigrants in the late 1980's. Despite common perceptions, I find that the evidence on increased secondary migration after the policy shift is very weak. Since people were exogenously distributed over locations, the policy provides a better way to estimate the effects of regional factors on relocation decisions. The results suggest that immigrants are attracted to regions with large populations, high representation from the own country, and large overall immigrant populations. Overall and immigrant-specific labor market opportunities affect location decisions, as does the size of the local public sector.
Characteristic errors of the IMM algorithm under three maneuver models for an accelerating target

As a state-of-the-art algorithm, the interacting multiple model (IMM) estimator is widely used for maneuvering target tracking. However, there still is uncertainty in how to design the multiple models used by an IMM estimator. In this context, this paper compares three maneuver models, namely, variable process noise, variable state dimension, and discrete acceleration inputs via computer simulations. The first two modeling techniques belong to the design approach using multiple bandwidths whereas the latter technique utilizes matched filters. The three models exhibit characteristic errors throughout a maneuver, which are termed n-, L-, and u-shaped, respectively. Compared to total root mean squared (RMS) errors, a time-equalized RMS (eRMS) may be more appropriate for a maneuvering target. The total and equalized RMS values are illustrated for the IMM under the three maneuver models for performance evaluation and filter tuning.
Equilibrium Unemployment With Credit and Labour Market Imperfections

We study the role of labour and credit market imperfections for the determination of equilibrium unemployment. In the credit market loan contracts are negotiated between financiers and firms, both possessing bargaining power, while the firms and organized labour bargain over the base wage. The sequential labour and credit market negotiations are assumed to take place conditional on the firm having committed itself to use performance-related profit sharing in addition to the negotiated base wage. It is shown that in the presence of profit sharing intensified credit market competition will raise equilibrium unemployment, because it induces wage-enhancing effects causing an increase in the outside option available to union members. Equilibrium unemployment is also an increasing function of firms' bankruptcy risks. It is, however, independent of the degree credit market imperfections if the compensation system is unrelated to firms' profits or if there is a monopoly union in the labour market.
A 0-1 law for vertex-reinforced random walks on Z with weight of order k α , α < 1 / 2 ∗

We prove that Vertex Reinforced Random Walk onZwith weight of order k, with α ∈ [0, 1/2), is either almost surely recurrent or almost surely transient. This improves a previous result of Volkov who showed that the set of sites which are visited infinitely often was a.s. either empty or infinite.
Semantic role based sentence compression

In this paper, a new unsupervised sentence compression method is proposed. Sentences are tagged with Part Of Speech tags and semantic role labels. The proposed method relies on the semantic roles of sentences' parts. Moreover, in the process of compression, other sentences in the context are taken into account. The approach is applied in the context of multi-document summarization. Experiments showed better results than other state of the art approaches.
IT governance practices model in IT project approval and implementation in Malaysian public sector

In this global era, IT investment is rapidly increasing. IT governance practices must be emphasized in order to retrieve competitive advantage from IT investment. The aim of this research is to develop IT governance practices model for Malaysian public sector. Interview sessions with IT personnel at management level at Putrajaya were conducted. Based on the interviews, a theoretical model of IT governance which consists of senior management involvement in IT, corporate performance measurement systems, corporate communications systems, risk management, strategic alignment, value delivery, ethics/culture of compliance and resource management was constructed. Thus the structure, process and mechanism involved in each of the entities in the model could assist Malaysian public sector to inculcate IT governance practices in their operations in order to sustain competitive advantage.
Employment outcomes among junior researchers in medicine in Croatia.

AIM To investigate fellowship outcomes among junior researchers in medicine, supported by the Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports of the Republic of Croatia. METHODS We used the data on junior researchers whose fellowships terminated between 1999 and 2005. Employment outcomes and scientific productivity, measured by the number of published articles indexed in the Web of Science database, were analyzed for every junior researcher. The data were analyzed using chi2 test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Breslow test, and logistic regression. RESULTS Only 12% of junior researchers obtained a degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) during fellowship. At the same time, 55% of junior researchers with a Medical Doctor degree terminated the fellowship and got employed in the health system during the same month. Terminating and re-employing in same month was most common among junior researchers who got employed by clinics and hospitals (odds ratio, 7.78; 95% confidence interval, 2.22-27.24). Also, it was less common among female than male junior researchers (odds ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.90). CONCLUSION This study suggests that junior researchers in medicine commonly used their fellowship as a short-term employment option. The direct consequence of this is the low percentage of obtained PhD degrees during the fellowship period. Additionally, this article provides an insight into the current status and future of the fellowship programs in medicine, with special emphasis placed on the potential changes that might occur as a consequence of physician shortage in Croatia.
JAK Kinases in Health and Disease: An Update

Janus kinases (Jaks) are critical signaling elements for a large subset of cytokines. As a consequence they play pivotal roles in the patho-physiology of many diseases including neoplastic and autoimmune diseases. Small molecule Jak inhibitors as therapeutic agents have become a reality and the palette of such inhibitors will likely expand. This review will summarize our current knowledge on these key enzymes and their associated pharmaceutical inhibitors.
Proof of polar ejection from the close-binary core of the planetary nebula Abell 63

We present the first detailed kinematical analysis of the planetary nebula Abell 63, which is known to contain the eclipsing close-binary nucleus UU Sge. Abell 63 provides an important test case in investigating the role of close-binary central stars on the evolution of planetary nebulae. Longslit observations were obtained using the Manchester echelle spectrometer combined with the 2.1-m San Pedro Martir Telescope. The spectra reveal that the central bright rim of Abell 63 has a tube-like structure. A deep image shows collimated lobes extending from the nebula, which are shown to be high-velocity outflows. The kinematic ages of the nebular rim and the extended lobes are calculated to be 8400 ± 500 and 12 900 ± 2800 yr, respectively, which suggests that the lobes were formed at an earlier stage than the nebular rim. This is consistent with expectations that disc-generated jets form immediately after the common envelope phase. A morphological–kinematical model of the central nebula is presented and the best-fitting model is found to have the same inclination as the orbital plane of the central binary system; this is the first proof that a close-binary system directly affects the shaping of its nebula. A Hubble-type flow is well-established in the morphological–kinematical modelling of the observed line profiles and imagery. Two possible formation models for the elongated lobes of Abell 63 are considered, (i) a low-density, pressure-driven jet excavates a cavity in the remnant asymptotic giant branch (AGB) envelope; (ii) high-density bullets form the lobes in a single ballistic ejection event.
Application of the Field Stability Evaluation Methods to the Snow Conditions of the Eastern Pyrenees

Field methods for stability evaluation were recently developed and validated on the basis of skier-triggered slopes data from Switzerland and North America. In this paper, some of these methods (structural stability indexes, shear quality, and extended column test) were tested and adapted when necessary to the snow conditions of the Eastern Pyrenees. This was done by analyzing a dataset of 86 snow profiles and stability tests (from the last 8 winter seasons) observed next to skier-triggered slabs (including remotely triggered slab avalanches and whumpfs) and on skier-tested slopes that did not release a slab avalanche. ECT and shear quality were validated, whereas the profile field analysis methods had to be revised and new thresholds which provide a better adjustment for this part of the Pyrenees were established.
Tumor Product Induction of Muscle Protein Degradation and Weight Loss by a Updated

Spininoli", from mice bearing a cachexia-inducing tumor (MAC 16) have been fused with mouse myeloma cells to produce hybridomas, which have been cloned to produce antibody reactive to a material which copurified with a lipid-mobilizing factor isolated from the same tumor. The monoclonal antibody has been used to investigate factors potentially involved in the development of cachexia. The major protein detectable by immunoprecipitation of a partially purified lipid-mobilizing factor was Mr 69,000, whereas Western blotting showed two bands of Mr 69,000 and U, 24,000. Although the monoclonal antibody did not neutralize lipidmobilizing activity in an in vitro assay, it did neutralize a serum factor capable of protein degradation in isolated gastrocnemius muscle. Affinity purification of MAC 16 tumor homogenates using the monoclonal anti body yielded two immunoreactive bands of Mr 69,000 and Mr 24,000, which were further fractionated on a hydrophobic column (C8). This material was capable of inducing tyrosine release from isolated gastro cnemius muscle, and the effect could be blocked with the monoclonal antibody. The two immunoreactive bands from the hydrophobic column were capable of inducing weight loss in mice, whereas nonimmunoreactive fractions had no effect on body weight. The U, 24,000 species had a unique amino acid sequence, whereas the . I/, 69,000 species gave the same sequence as the . \/,. 24,000 material, together with that for albumin. The \l, 24,000 species contained carbohydrate, and lectin blotting showed a strong reaction with wheat germ and Erythrina crystagalli agglutinins. This suggests that the material is a glycoprotein or proteoglycan that shows strong binding affinity for albumin, possibly through the carbohydrate residues.
The effect of cardiac sympathetic blockade on the relationship between cardiac output and carbon dioxide tension in the anaesthetized dog.

SUMMARY In dogs anaesthetized with either halothane or chloralose cardiac output was measured at three levels of arterial carbon dioxide tension. As the carbon dioxide tension was raised there were significant increases in cardiac output. After the administration of a selective cardiac beta-receptor blocking agent (practolol) there were no significant changes in cardiac output as the carbon dioxide tension was increased. It was concluded that the increased cardiac output seen with a raised arterial carbon dioxide tension was brought about by an increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system.
On OBDDs for CNFs of Bounded Treewidth

In this paper we show that a CNF cannot be compiled into an Ordered Binary Decision Diagram (OBDD) of fixed-parameter size parameterized by the primal graph treewidth of the CNF. Thus we provide a parameterized separation between OBDDs and Sentential Decision Diagrams (SDDs) for which such fixed-parameter compilation is possible. In fact, we demonstrate that the proposed lower bound also yields a classical (non-parameterized) separation of OBDDs and SDDs. We also show that the best existing parameterized upper bound for OBDDs in fact holds for incidence graph treewidth parameterization.
Particle size selection device for use with the Turbohaler.

BACKGROUND: Drug deposited within the upper airways of patients using dry powder inhalers does not contribute to the therapeutic effect but can result in unwanted local side effects and, when swallowed, may contribute to systemic effects. A chamber has been devised which uses the centrifugal force generated by the Turbohaler to remove large "non-respirable" particles with a view to minimising deposition in the upper airway. An in vitro study was performed to determine whether such a chamber could reduce the dose contained in coarse particles without having a significant effect on the "respirable dose". METHODS: The mouthpiece of a 200 micrograms Turbohaler was modified to allow a small volume chamber to be attached. The particle size distribution generated by the Turbohaler was assessed using a multi-stage liquid impinger with a flow rate of 60 l/min. The quantity of drug on each stage was quantified using an ultraviolet spectrophotometric technique. For each experiment 10 actuations were used to ensure adequate quantities of drug on each stage. Particles depositing on stages 3 + 4 have a diameter of < 6.8 microns and are arbitrarily referred to as the "respirable dose". The particle size distribution obtained using the Turbohaler (n = 10) was compared with that from the Turbohaler+ chamber (n = 11). RESULTS: The addition of the chamber resulted in the mean (SD) dose contained in larger "non-respirable" particles depositing on stages 1 + 2 being reduced from 52.2 (12.3) to 29.6 (6.9) micrograms per actuation. However, the chamber did not affect the "respirable" dose. The dose contained in particles with a diameter of < 6.8 microns from the standard Turbohaler was 91.1 (8.9) micrograms compared with 82.4 (18.6) micrograms when used with the chamber. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that it is possible to devise an effective particle size selection device for the Turbohaler. It may be possible to produce such devices for other dry powder inhalers, although the design would need to be tailored to each particular device.
Cultural relevance and informal reading inventory performance: African-American primary and middle school students

ABSTRACT We explore whether (a) teacher ratings of texts’ cultural relevance along various dimensions differ from those of students, (b) these ratings reflect a single construct, and (c) ratings of specific dimensions are related to specific reading outcomes. Fifty African-American students were each administered two text protocols for a total of 100 protocols. Teachers and students rated each text along multiple dimensions of cultural relevance. Factor analyses showed that teachers’ cultural relevance ratings formed a coherent construct, but students’ ratings did not. Multivariate, multilevel, mixed response analyses showed that students who rated places and experiences as culturally relevant had higher critical evaluation and connection scores. When researcher ratings were higher, students’ word recognition meaning-maintenance, rereading at miscues, and literal comprehension scores were higher.
Le Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques Persistent Hemiballismus with Lesions outside the Subthalamic Nucleus

Two patients are reported with hemiballismus due to lesions in the striatum as documented on CT scan. The involuntary movements persisted for one and five years respectively. A third patient with more typical self-limited hemiballismus had no evidence of a causative lesion on CT scan. It is proposed that lesions outside the subthalamic nucleus of Luys may interfere with the compensatory mechanisms which can result in the spontaneous resolution of hemiballistic movements. None of the patients benefited from the use of sodium valproate therapy, however, pimozide reduced the severity of the dyskinesia in the two with longstanding hemiballismus. RESUME: Hemiballisme persistant avec lesion situee hors du noyau sous-thalamique Nous rapportons deux cas d'hemiballisme dont les 16sions identifiers a la tomodensitometrie cerebrale sont situees au niveau du striatum. Les mouvements involontaires furent observes pendant des periodes de une et cinq annees, respectivement. Un troisieme patient presentant un hemiballisme plus typique et de dur6e limitee ne montrait aucune lesion causale a la tomodensitometrie. Nous proposons l'hypothese que des lesions situees hors le noyau sousthalamique de Luys peuvent interf£rer avec des mecanismes compensatoires, resultant en une cessation spontanea des mouvements hemiballiques. L'emploi du valproate de sodium chez les trois patients s'avera inefficace. Cependant le pimozide diminua la sev6rite des mouvements chez les deux patients a longue evolution. Hemiballismus is probably the most uncommon type of dyskinesia (Roller et al., 1979). The violent flinging nature of the involuntary movements is often extremely disabling. However, patients improve with dopamine antagonistic therapy (Roller et al., 1979) and most cases resolve spontaneously over a period of one week to six months (Hy land and Forman, 1957; Muenter, 1984). Two patients with longstanding hemiballismus (1 and 5 years) were found to have CT scan lesions in the contralateral striatum. Similar cases of prolonged hemiballismus are uncommon but well recognized. Review of the literature reveals that most of these also have had lesions outside the region of the subthalamic nucleus. It is proposed that the location of the lesion may be of some importance to the course of hemiballismus. In addition, both of these patients, as well as one case with more typical, self-limited hemiballismus, failed to respond to sodium valproate. Previous reported "responses" could have been due to spontaneous improvement, as exemplified by our third case, since they occurred in patients with a short history of the dyskinesia (Lenton et al., 1981; Chandra et al., 1982). Patient 1 …
Gene Expression Signature-Based Screening Identifies New Broadly Effective Influenza A Antivirals

Classical antiviral therapies target viral proteins and are consequently subject to resistance. To counteract this limitation, alternative strategies have been developed that target cellular factors. We hypothesized that such an approach could also be useful to identify broad-spectrum antivirals. The influenza A virus was used as a model for its viral diversity and because of the need to develop therapies against unpredictable viruses as recently underlined by the H1N1 pandemic. We proposed to identify a gene-expression signature associated with infection by different influenza A virus subtypes which would allow the identification of potential antiviral drugs with a broad anti-influenza spectrum of activity. We analyzed the cellular gene expression response to infection with five different human and avian influenza A virus strains and identified 300 genes as differentially expressed between infected and non-infected samples. The most 20 dysregulated genes were used to screen the connectivity map, a database of drug-associated gene expression profiles. Candidate antivirals were then identified by their inverse correlation to the query signature. We hypothesized that such molecules would induce an unfavorable cellular environment for influenza virus replication. Eight potential antivirals including ribavirin were identified and their effects were tested in vitro on five influenza A strains. Six of the molecules inhibited influenza viral growth. The new pandemic H1N1 virus, which was not used to define the gene expression signature of infection, was inhibited by five out of the eight identified molecules, demonstrating that this strategy could contribute to identifying new broad anti-influenza agents acting on cellular gene expression. The identified infection signature genes, the expression of which are modified upon infection, could encode cellular proteins involved in the viral life cycle. This is the first study showing that gene expression-based screening can be used to identify antivirals. Such an approach could accelerate drug discovery and be extended to other pathogens.