Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Arrivals, Old Places: Demographic Changes and New Planning Challenges in Palermo and Naples

If we look at the demographic changes in the largest cities in Southern Italy, the most significant trend is a balance between population growth and decline, affecting in particular inner urban areas, which is due to the predominance of new ethnic inhabitants. After having described these demographic changes in Naples and Palermo, the paper will include some considerations on the ‘institutional’ landscape of planning and the related policies. How do planning policies and practices face this quick change in such peripheral contexts, which are new to the phenomenon? Can the plural composition of the local society be viewed as an opportunity, and not just as a threat? The paper will use some analyses of the immigrants' distribution and characteristics of housing problems as elements of discussions of the changes in the urban social structure, which can be considered as positive potential for a more equal and culturally mixed context.
A 12-Week Vigorous Exercise Protocol in a Healthy Group of Persons over 65: Study of Physical Function by means of the Senior Fitness Test

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of vigorous exercise on functional abilities by means of a Senior Fitness Test (SFT) in a group of elderly adults. Twenty healthy and inactive people performed vigorous exercise (VE: 12 men and 8 women, aged 69.6 ± 3.9 years). At the beginning of the study (T0) and after 3 months (T1), each subject's functional ability was tested for muscular strength, agility, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and balance. The VE was designed with continuous and interval exercise involving large muscle activities. Functional exercises were performed between 60% and 84% of heart rate reserve (HRR) for a duration of 65 minutes. Five out of the 6 SFTs performed were found significantly improved: Chair Stand (T0 12.4 ± 2.4, T1 13.5 ± 2.6, p < 0.01), Arm Curl (T0 14.2 ± 3.6, T1 16.6 ± 3.6, p < 0.01), 2 min step (T0 98.2 ± 15.7, T1 108.9 ± 16.2, p < 0.01), Chair Sit-and-Reach (T0 −9.9 ± 7.7 cm, T1 1.7 ± 6.3 cm, p < 0.01), and Back Scratch (T0 −15.8 ± 10.9 cm, T1 −8.4 ± 13.1 cm, p < 0.01). Our results suggest that a high intensity protocol and functional exercises can improve functional mobility and muscle endurance in those over 65 years of age. SFTs are an effective method for assessing improvements in the functional capacity of elderly adults.
Free 25(OH)D and Calcium Absorption, PTH, and Markers of Bone Turnover.

CONTEXT It has been proposed that serum free 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] may better reflect vitamin D action than total 25(OH)D. An ELISA for serum free 25(OH)D has recently become available, permitting direct assay. OBJECTIVE To determine whether serum free 25(OH)D provides additional information in relation to calcium absorption and other biomarkers of vitamin D action compared to total serum 25(OH)D. SETTING Ambulatory research setting in a teaching hospital. OUTCOME Serum free 25(OH)D measured in a previously performed study of varied doses of vitamin D3 (placebo and 800, 2000, and 4000 IU) on calcium absorption, PTH, procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide, and C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen. Free 25(OH)D was measured by ELISA. Calcium absorption was measured at baseline and at 10 weeks using stable dual calcium isotopes. RESULTS Seventy-one subjects completed this randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Baseline group mean free and total 25(OH)D varied from 4.7 ± 1.8 to 5.4 ± 1.5 pg/mL, and from 23.7 ± 5.9 to 25.9 ± 6.1 ng/mL, respectively. Participants assigned to the 4000-IU dose arm achieved free 25(OH)D levels of 10.4 pg/mL and total 25(OH)D levels of 40.4 ng/mL. Total and free 25(OH)D were highly correlated at baseline and after increasing vitamin D dosing (r = 0.80 and 0.85, respectively). Free 25(OH)D closely reflected changes in total 25(OH)D. PTH was similarly correlated at baseline and follow-up with total and free 25(OH)D. Serum C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen had a moderate positive correlation with total and free 25(OH)D at follow-up. The serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D change increased significantly with the change in 25(OH)D but not with the change in free 25(OH)D. CONCLUSION There was no advantage from measuring free over total 25(OH)D in assessing the response of calcium absorption, PTH, and markers of bone turnover to vitamin D. Free 25(OH)D responded to increasing doses of vitamin D in a similar fashion to total 25(OH)D.
Full Quadrant Approximations for the Arctangent Function [Tips and Tricks]

This article presents two novel full quadrant approximations for the arctangent function that are specially suitable for real-time applications. The key point of the proposed approximations is that they are valid in a full quadrant. As a result, they can be easily extended to two and four quadrants. The approximations we define are rational functions of second and third order, respectively. This article provides a comparison of the precision and performance of the proposed functions with the best state-of-the-art approximations. Results show that the third-order proposed function outperforms the existing ones in terms of both precision and performance. The second-order proposed function, on the other hand, is the most suitable one for real-time applications, since it has the highest performance. Furthermore, it attains an adequate precision for most applications in the computer vision field.
A topological study of gravity free-surface waves generated by bluff bodies using the method of steepest descents

The standard analytical approach for studying steady gravity free-surface waves generated by a moving body often relies upon a linearization of the physical geometry, where the body is considered asymptotically small in one or several of its dimensions. In this paper, a methodology that avoids any such geometrical simplification is presented for the case of steady-state flows at low speeds. The approach is made possible through a reduction of the water-wave equations to a complex-valued integral equation that can be studied using the method of steepest descents. The main result is a theory that establishes a correspondence between different bluff-bodied free-surface flow configurations, with the topology of the Riemann surface formed by the steepest descent paths. Then, when a geometrical feature of the body is modified, a corresponding change to the Riemann surface is observed, and the resultant effects to the water waves can be derived. This visual procedure is demonstrated for the case of two-dimensional free-surface flow past a surface-piercing ship and over an angled step in a channel.
Effect of muscle glycogen on glucose, lactate and amino acid metabolism during exercise and recovery in human subjects

1 Eight subjects performed two‐legged exercise, one leg with low and the other with normal muscle glycogen content. The purpose was to study the effect of low initial muscle glycogen content on the metabolic response during 1 h of exercise and 2 h of recovery. This model allows direct comparison of net fluxes of substrates and metabolites over the exercising legs receiving the same arterial inflow. 2 Muscle glycogen breakdown during exercise was 60% lower in the leg with a reduced pre‐exercise glycogen concentration and the rate of glucose uptake during exercise was 30% higher. 3 The amount of pyruvate that was oxidized during exercise was calculated to be approximately 450 mmol in the low‐glycogen leg and 750 mmol in the normal‐glycogen leg, which suggests more fat and amino acid oxidation in the low‐glycogen leg. 4 During exercise, there was a significant release of amino acids not metabolized in the muscle, e.g. tyrosine and phenylalanine, only from the low‐glycogen leg, suggesting an increased rate of net protein degradation in this leg. 5 The release of tyrosine and phenylalanine from the low‐glycogen leg during the exercise period and the change in their muscle concentrations yield a net tyrosine and phenylalanine production rate of 1.4 and 1.5 mmol h−1, respectively. The net rate of protein degradation was then calculated to be 7–12 g h−1. 6 The results suggest that the observed differences in metabolism between the low‐glycogen and the normal‐glycogen leg are induced by the glycogen level per se, since the legs received the same arterial supply of hormones and substrates.
Enhancing Recall and Recognition for Brand Names and Body Copy: A Mixed-Language Approach

As the inclusion of foreign languages in advertisements is a growing global trend, this research examines how language choice may influence important advertising outcome measures within a South Korean advertising context. Specifically, the study aims to explore how foreign and local languages influence recall and recognition for brand name and body copy messages. The interaction of using two languages in an advertisement, to convey different elements of the ad may secure varied levels of attention and comprehension. The findings suggest that recall and recognition are significantly affected by the language presented. An ad presenting a brand name in the foreign language (English Roman alphabet) with the body copy message in the local language (Hangul) is an effective strategy to enhance recall and recognition of the brand name and the ad message within the Korean youth market. The results of this study expand linguistic theory within an advertising context while also providing international advertisers with useful tips when operating in a multinational marketplace. Future research avenues are discussed.
Arsenic Exposure, Arsenic Metabolism, and Incident Diabetes in the Strong Heart Study

OBJECTIVE Little is known about arsenic metabolism in diabetes development. We investigated the prospective associations of low-moderate arsenic exposure and arsenic metabolism with diabetes incidence in the Strong Heart Study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 1,694 diabetes-free participants aged 45–75 years were recruited in 1989–1991 and followed through 1998–1999. We used the proportions of urine inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonate (MMA), and dimethylarsinate (DMA) over their sum (expressed as iAs%, MMA%, and DMA%) as the biomarkers of arsenic metabolism. Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-h glucose ≥200 mg/dL, self-reported diabetes history, or self-reported use of antidiabetic medications. RESULTS Over 11,263.2 person-years of follow-up, 396 participants developed diabetes. Using the leave-one-out approach to model the dynamics of arsenic metabolism, we found that lower MMA% was associated with higher diabetes incidence. The hazard ratios (95% CI) of diabetes incidence for a 5% increase in MMA% were 0.77 (0.63–0.93) and 0.82 (0.73–0.92) when iAs% and DMA%, respectively, were left out of the model. DMA% was associated with higher diabetes incidence only when MMA% decreased (left out of the model) but not when iAs% decreased. iAs% was also associated with higher diabetes incidence when MMA% decreased. The association between MMA% and diabetes incidence was similar by age, sex, study site, obesity, and urine iAs concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Arsenic metabolism, particularly lower MMA%, was prospectively associated with increased incidence of diabetes. Research is needed to evaluate whether arsenic metabolism is related to diabetes incidence per se or through its close connections with one-carbon metabolism.
Gift Receipt and the Reformulation of Interpersonal Relationships

Sherry (1983) defines reformulation as the final stage of gift exchange, during which a newly presented gift can impact the relationship between giver and recipient. To date no one has examined exactly how gifts can affect relationships or what aspects of gift exchange contribute to realignment of the giver/recipient relationship. Using depth interviews and critical-incident surveys, our study explores how the recipient's perceptions of the existing relationship, the gift, the ritual context, and his or her emotional reactions converge to affect relationship realignment. We identify six relational effects of gift-receipt experiences. Further, we examine gift-receipt experiences that have a consistent impact in the short and long term, and those where the meanings and relational effects appear to change over time. Implications for future research are also discussed. Copyright 1999 by the University of Chicago.
Depression and suicidal behaviour in children

Abstract Depression is a psychiatric disorder, while suicidal behaviour is a symptom of many different kinds of problem. Depression is very uncommon in pre-adolescent children but the rates increase greatly during adolescence to reach a prevalence of around 1% in boys and 2% in girls. In this contribution, the aetiology, assessment, management and treatment of depression in children and adolescents is covered. Suicide is very uncommon in childhood and early adolescence but the rate increases markedly during middle adolescence: in 1990 the suicide rate in the UK for males aged 15–19 years was 57 per million, 4 times higher than that for females at 14 per million. This contribution covers the aetiology, assessment and management of children and adolescents at risk of suicide and self harm.
Genetic determinants of swimming motility in the squid light-organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri

Bacterial flagellar motility is a complex cellular behavior required for the colonization of the light‐emitting organ of the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, by the beneficial bioluminescent symbiont Vibrio fischeri. We characterized the basis of this behavior by performing (i) a forward genetic screen to identify mutants defective in soft‐agar motility, as well as (ii) a transcriptional analysis to determine the genes that are expressed downstream of the flagellar master regulator FlrA. Mutants with severe defects in soft‐agar motility were identified due to insertions in genes with putative roles in flagellar motility and in genes that were unexpected, including those predicted to encode hypothetical proteins and cell division–related proteins. Analysis of mutants for their ability to enter into a productive symbiosis indicated that flagellar motility mutants are deficient, while chemotaxis mutants are able to colonize a subset of juvenile squid to light‐producing levels. Thirty‐three genes required for normal motility in soft agar were also downregulated in the absence of FlrA, suggesting they belong to the flagellar regulon of V. fischeri. Mutagenesis of putative paralogs of the flagellar motility genes motA, motB, and fliL revealed that motA1, motB1, and both fliL1 and fliL2, but not motA2 and motB2, likely contribute to soft‐agar motility. Using these complementary approaches, we have characterized the genetic basis of flagellar motility in V. fischeri and furthered our understanding of the roles of flagellar motility and chemotaxis in colonization of the juvenile squid, including identifying 11 novel mutants unable to enter into a productive light‐organ symbiosis.
Avoiding Unintended Outcomes from REDD

Tropical forests occur almost exclusively in developing countries and sustain at least half of the world’s species (Wilson 1992). These forests store vast amounts of carbon (IPCC 2007) and provide homes and resources for 60 million people (WCFSD 1999). If they continue to be cleared at current rates of 6–12 million ha/year (Achard et al. 2002; FAO 2006), all economically exploitable tropical forests, and the values they sustain, could disappear before 2100 (TCG 2009).
Capacity Analysis and Optimization of Satellite MIMO System

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology is widely applied in terrestrial wireless communication system, which greatly increases the system capacity. Satellite communication system has many advantages such as wide coverage and strong flexibility. Therefore, how to make a better use of MIMO technology in satellite communication system has become a research hotspot in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to analysis the relationship between satellite MIMO system capacity and parameters of terrestrial antenna such as angle and distance. The parameters of terrestrial antenna were derived and calculated to keep a higher capacity for satellite MIMO system. Numerical analysis of system capacity performance before and after optimization was obtained, which proved the correctness of the theory proposed in this paper.
Double Counting in Supply Chain Carbon Footprinting

Carbon footprinting is a tool for firms to determine the total greenhouse gas GHG emissions associated with their supply chain or with a unit of final product or service. Carbon footprinting typically aims to identify where best to invest in emission reduction efforts, and/or to determine the proportion of total emissions that an individual firm is accountable for, whether financially and/or operationally. A major and underrecognized challenge in determining the appropriate allocation stems from the high degree to which GHG emissions are the result of joint efforts by multiple firms. We introduce a simple but general model of joint production of GHG emissions in general supply chains, decomposing the total footprint into processes, each of which can be influenced by any combination of firms. We analyze two main scenarios. In the first scenario, the social planner allocates emissions to individual firms and imposes a cost on them such as a carbon tax in proportion to the emissions allocated. In the second scenario, a carbon leader voluntarily agrees to offset all emissions in the entire supply chain and then contracts with individual firms to recoup part of the costs of those offsets. In both cases, we find that, to induce the optimal effort levels, the emissions need to be overallocated, even if the carbon tax is the true social cost of carbon. This is in contrast to the usual focus in the life-cycle assessment LCA and carbon footprinting literatures on avoiding double counting. Our work aims to lay the foundation for a framework to integrate the economics-and LCA-based perspectives on supply chain carbon footprinting.
Diagnostic Usefulness of Antibodies against Ribosome Recycling Factor from Brucella melitensis in Human or Canine Brucellosis

ABSTRACT The diagnostic usefulness of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a purified recombinant ribosome recycling factor from Brucella melitensis (CP24 antigen) was tested in human and canine infections caused by smooth and rough Brucella species, respectively. Anti-CP24 antibodies were detected in 9 (43%) of 21 consecutive cases of canine brucellosis and in 8 (53%) of 15 dogs followed for 60 days after the diagnosis of acute brucellosis. Among eight patients with acute brucellosis, anti-CP24 antibodies were detected in four in the 10 weeks following diagnosis, but the remaining four were negative during the whole follow-up (22 weeks). The frequency of anti-CP24 antibodies was also low among 24 patients with subacute brucellosis and 23 patients with chronic illness (29 and 26%, respectively). While all patients positive for anti-CP24 antibodies were also positive for antibodies to total cytoplasmic proteins of Brucella (CP), five were negative for antibodies to another cytoplasmic protein, the Brucella lumazine synthase (BLS). When a larger sample of 35 human sera negative for anti-BLS antibodies was assayed, 85.7% were positive for anti-CP24 antibodies, suggesting that the combined measurement of both reactivities could yield a higher sensitivity than any test alone. To test this hypothesis, an ELISA combining both antigens was designed. The percentage of positive results among chronic cases was higher for this assay than for the individual measurement of anti-CP24 or anti-BLS antibodies (83 versus 26 and 65%, respectively) and was closer to the value obtained for anti-CP antibodies (91%). The frequency of anti-CP24 antibodies is low in both canine and human brucellosis. In the latter case, however, an ELISA combining CP24 and BLS is more sensitive than assays measuring anti-CP24 or anti-BLS antibodies separately and almost as sensitive as the ELISA using CP.
Molecular Genetic Analysis of the ABO Blood Group System: 4. Another Type of O Allele

We have encountered an allele which seems to be another type of O allele at the human histo‐blood group ABO locus. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of this allele over the coding region in the last two coding exons. This allele does not possess the single‐nucleotide deletion found common among all the O alleles previously analyzed. Compared with A1 allele, this allele has three nucleotide substitutions resulting in two amino acid substitutions. The introduction of these amino acid substitutions into the A1 transferase expression construct apparently abolished the enzymatic activity of A1 transferase.
M/sup 3/RT: an Internet end-to-end performance measurement approach for real-time applications with mobile agents

In this paper the M/sup 3/RT (Micro Mean Message Roundtrip Time) IEPM (Internet end-to-end performance measurement) tool is proposed for supporting agent/object mobility in mobile-agent-based real-time applications. If an agent finds that the service roundtrip time (RTT) is too long, then it may try to cut it down by migrating to another idle node. Since migration is an expensive activity, the agent should decide correctly before making the move. One way of achieving sound decision making is to measure the mean RTT of the channel and to ensure that the RTT up-trend is not a transient phenomenon. The M/sup 3/RT works on past history accumulated since the commencement of the channel operation. It never has computation overflow because of it integral nature. In the M/sup 3/RT development process the corresponding time/stochastic Petri net model was built for exhaustive verification. The aim is to ensure that convergence stability exists under all conditions. The input waveforms used in the simulations mimic the dynamic reality of a sizeable network such as the Internet. Preliminary and limited validation tests in a controlled environment indicate that the M/sup 3/RT works equally well as its macro predecessor, namely, the stable M/sup 2/RT (Mean Message Roundtrip Time) package.