Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Sustainability and Cost-Benefit Analysis

Efforts to ‘operationalize’ a concept of sustainability into appraisal methods for practical decisionmaking have been few and generally unpersuasive. In this paper it is argued that this need not be the case if a set of environmentally compensating, or ‘shadow’, projects within an overall portfolio are used to ensure a sustainability objective of setting a constraint on the depletion and degradation of the stock of natural capital. This can be achieved through both a ‘weak’ and a ‘strong’ sustainability criterion. In both cases the resulting optimum differs from the efficient optimum of the conventional cost-benefit criterion, but the basic cost-benefit model remains intact.
Pharmacogenomics in pulmonary arterial hypertension: Toward a mechanistic, target-based approach to therapy

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genetic variations influence the response to drugs, by correlating gene expression with the drug's efficacy and toxicity. This concept has recently been successfully applied in oncology. To test its applicability to PAH, we examined two experimental models of the disease: mice with deletion of the Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide gene (VIP-/-); and rats injected with monocrotaline (MCT). Since the two models express comparable phenotypic features, we analyzed their particular gene alterations, with special reference to genes related to pulmonary vasoconstriction, vascular remodeling, and inflammation. We then compared the phenotypic and genotypic responses in each model to treatment with the same drug, VIP. In untreated VIP-/- mice there was over-expression of almost all genes promoting vasoconstriction/proliferation, as well as inflammation, and under-expression of all vasodilator/anti-proliferative genes. As expected, treatment with VIP fully corrected both the key PAH features, and all gene expression alterations. MCT-treated rats showed two distinct sets of alterations. One, similar to that in VIP-/- mice, i.e., tended to promote vascular remodeling and inflammation, e.g., up-regulation of myosin polypeptides, procollagen, and some inflammatory genes. The other was a set of opposite alterations that suggested an effort to modulate the PAH, e.g., up-regulation of the VIP and NOS3 genes. In this model, VIP treatment failed to correct many of the genotypic abnormalities, and, in parallel, incompletely corrected the phenotypic changes as well. This preliminary proof-of-concept study demonstrates the importance of genomic information in determining therapeutic outcome, and thus in selecting personalized therapy. Full validation of the merits of pharmacogenomics must await studies of lungs from patients with different forms of PAH.
The lateral hypothalamic parvalbumin‐immunoreactive (PV1) nucleus in rodents

In the lateral hypothalamus, groups of functionally related cells tend to be widely scattered rather than confined to discrete, anatomically distinct units. However, by using parvalbumin (PV)‐specific antibodies, a solitary, compact cord of PV‐immunoreactive cells (the PV1‐nucleus) has been identified in the ventrolateral tuberal hypothalamus in various species. Here we describe the topography, the chemo‐, cyto‐, and myeloarchitectonics, and the ultrastructure of this PV1‐nucleus in rodents. The PV1‐nucleus is located within the ventrolateral division of the medial forebrain bundle. In the horizontal plane, it has a length of 1 mm in mice and 2 mm in rats. PV‐immunoreactive perikarya fall into two distinct size categories and number (∼800 in rats and ∼400 in mice). They are intermingled with PV‐negative neurons and coarse axons of the medial forebrain bundle, some of which are PV‐positive. Symmetric and asymmetric synapses, as well as PV‐positive and PV‐negative fiber endings, terminate on the perikarya of both PV‐positive and PV‐negative neurons. PV‐positive neurons of the PV1‐nucleus express glutamate, not γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), the neurotransmitter that is usually associated with PV‐containing nerve cells. Although we could not find evidence that PV1 neurons express either catecholamines or known neuropeptides, they sometimes are interspersed with the fibers and terminals of such cells. From its analogous topographical situation, the PV1‐nucleus could correspond to the lateral tuberal nucleus in humans. We anticipate that the presence of the marker protein PV in the PV1‐nucleus of the rodent hypothalamus will facilitate future studies relating to the connectivity, transcriptomics, and function of this entity. J. Comp. Neurol. , 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Research on evaluation index system of tourist hotels' competitive intelligence ability

With the rapid development of China's tourism industry and investment on hospitality industry, hotels are facing more furious competition. Competitive intelligence (CI) finding and using is playing a more significant role in strategy-making, marketing and daily managing of tourist hotels. This paper analyzes tourist hotels' CI ability by combing it with characteristics of hospitality industry. It defines that CI ability of tourist hotels consists of five sub-abilities. On this base, this paper then uses experts' scoring, factor analysis and AHP software Yaahp 9.1 to construct the CI ability evaluation index system. This system will be helpful for hotels to build up their own CI system, improve their CI abilities, and then gain advantageous position in tough competition.
Producing emotionally sensed knowledge? Reflexivity and emotions in researching responses to death

Abstract This paper reflects on the methodological complexities of producing emotionally-sensed knowledge about responses to family deaths in urban Senegal. Through engaging in ‘uncomfortable reflexivity’, we critically explore the multiple positionings of the research team comprised of UK, Senegalese and Burkinabé researchers and those of participants in Senegal and interrogate our own cultural assumptions. We explore the emotional labour of the research process from an ethic of care perspective and reflect on how our multiple positionings and emotions influence the production and interpretation of the data, particularly exemplified through our differing responses to diverse meanings of ‘family’ and religious refrains. We show how our approach of ‘uncomfortable reflexivity’ helps to reveal the work of emotions in research, thereby producing ‘emotionally sensed knowledge’ about responses to death and contributing to the cross-cultural study of emotions.
The health effects of education: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND There is an abundance of empirical evidence, mainly from the epidemiological and social science literature, on the relation between education and health. Until now a meta-analysis of the relation between education and health was not available. This article presents a meta-analysis of studies that use self- reported health as an outcome variable to quantify the effect of education on health. METHODS Meta-analysis using a random and a fixed-effects model to quantify the marginal effect of education on self-reported health. RESULTS The results of the meta-analysis show that the quality adjusted life years weight (QALYweight) of a year of education is approximately 0.036. Some tentative calculations suggest that the cost-benefit ratio of investments in education on health is highly positive. CONCLUSION For public policy this implies that a more integrated approach to education and health policies should be taken.
NOTE FOR EDITOR: Open Education Students’ Perspectives On Using Virtual Museums Application In Teaching History Subjects

The study was made to determine whether the attitudes of the open education faculty students, will be changed or not by virtual museum application. The pre-test and post-test model of the experimental design was used in the research. A group of 20 was formed as an experimental group. The pre-test was given to the group before the study and the post test was given to the group at the end of the study. Furthermore t-test analysis was made on the data’s to obtain whether the attitude scores of the open education faculty students, will be changed or not according to their computer knowledge. In qualitative section, the students were asked open-ended questions and their answers were given in frequency table. The data’s were analyzed in two phases. In the first phase, the analysis of the pre test and post test was made. T test, arithmetic mean () and standard deviation (Ss) were used to analyse the data’s. Statistical procedures were made in SPSS 11.0 programmes. The significance of the data’s was tested at the 0,05 significance level. A significant difference was determined in the students’ opinions concerning the post test data’s prepared to measure the attitudes towards the history lesson after the application. As a result, the students had a favourable opinion on the virtual museum application in history lessons by observing variable documents and sources.
Evolutionary optimization with data collocation for reverse engineering of biological networks

MOTIVATION Modern experimental biology is moving away from analyses of single elements to whole-organism measurements. Such measured time-course data contain a wealth of information about the structure and dynamic of the pathway or network. The dynamic modeling of the whole systems is formulated as a reverse problem that requires a well-suited mathematical model and a very efficient computational method to identify the model structure and parameters. Numerical integration for differential equations and finding global parameter values are still two major challenges in this field of the parameter estimation of nonlinear dynamic biological systems. RESULTS We compare three techniques of parameter estimation for nonlinear dynamic biological systems. In the proposed scheme, the modified collocation method is applied to convert the differential equations to the system of algebraic equations. The observed time-course data are then substituted into the algebraic system equations to decouple system interactions in order to obtain the approximate model profiles. Hybrid differential evolution (HDE) with population size of five is able to find a global solution. The method is not only suited for parameter estimation but also can be applied for structure identification. The solution obtained by HDE is then used as the starting point for a local search method to yield the refined estimates.
Impact of Delay Variability on LEDBAT Performance

Low Extra Delay Background Transport (LEDBAT) congestion control algorithm is designed to address the unfairness problem of TCP aggravated by applications that use multiple TCP connections for data transfer. LEDBAT operates under the assumption that the queue delay at the access router of the bottleneck link will be the primary varying contributor to end-to-end one-way delay. However this assumption will not hold if a route change occurs, which causes significant variations in the path delay. This paper analyses the impact of route changes on LEDBAT throughput and fairness. In addition to a formal description of the behaviour of LEDBAT congestion window when route changes, we present results from simulations showing the negative impact of route changes on throughput for a LEDBAT source and fairness with other sources. Importantly, our analysis shows that more work is needed to improve LEDBAT performance in the case of route changes before the novel algorithm can be considered as a suitable congestion control algorithm in the Internet.
Ju l 2 00 1 Population Synthesis and the Diagnostics of High-redshift Galaxies

The effect of redshift on the observation of distant galaxies is briefly discussed emphasizing the possible sources of bias in the interpretation of high-z data. A general energetic criterion to assess physical self-consistency of evolutionary population synthesis models is also proposed, for a more appropriate use of this important tool to investigate distinctive properties of primeval galaxies.
In vivo muscle function vs speed II. Muscle function trotting up an incline

SUMMARY Different locomotor tasks, such as moving up or down grades or changing speed, require that muscles adjust the amount of work they perform to raise or lower, accelerate or decelerate the animal's center of mass. During level trotting in the horse, the triceps had shortening strains of around 10.6% while the vastus shortened 8.1% during the stance phase. Because of the 250% increase in metabolic rate in horses trotting up a 10% incline which is, presumably, a result of the increased requirement for mechanical work, we hypothesized that muscle strain during trotting would be increased in both the triceps and the vastus over that observed when trotting on the level. Because times of contact are similar in level and incline trotting, we also hypothesized that strain rates of these muscles would be increased, accompanied by an increase in EMG activity. We examined the lateral head of the triceps and the vastus lateralis while trotting up a 10% incline (5.7°) over a range of speeds. The triceps shortened by 18% compared with 10.6% shortening on the level, and the vastus shortened by 18.5% compared with 8.1% on the level. The increased shortening velocities that were observed in both muscles probably reduced the force that any given set of activated muscle fibers could produce. If this pattern held for other limb muscles that do work to elevate the horse's center of mass on an incline, then a greater volume of muscle would have to be recruited to generate an equivalent force for body support. This was reflected in significant increases in the EMG intensity (IEMG) of both muscles.
Integral equations for shape and impedance reconstruction in corrosion detection

In a simply connected planar domain D a pair of Cauchy data of a harmonic function u is given on an accessible part of the boundary curve, and on the non-accessible part u is supposed to satisfy a homogeneous impedance boundary condition. We consider the inverse problems to recover the non-accessible part of the boundary or the impedance function. Our approach extends the method proposed by Kress and Rundell (2005 Inverse Problems 21 1207–23) for the corresponding problem to recover the interior boundary curve of a doubly connected planar domain and can be considered complementary to the potential approach developed by Cakoni and Kress (2007 Inverse Problems Imaging 1 229–45). It is based on a system of nonlinear and ill-posed integral equations which is solved iteratively by linearization. We present the mathematical foundation of the method and, in particular, establish injectivity for the linearized system at the exact solution when the impedance function is known. Numerical reconstructions will show the feasibility of the method.
Resolving the Shocks in Radio Galaxy Nebulae: Hubble Space Telescope and Radio Imaging of 3C 171, 3C 277.3, and PKS 2250−41

We present the results of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFPC2 medium-band and narrowband imaging and Very Large Array and MERLIN2 radio imaging of three powerful radio galaxies: 3C 171, 3C 277.3, and PKS 2250-41. We obtained images of the rest frame [O III] λ5007 and [O II] λ3727 line emission using the linear ramp filters on WFPC2. The correlations of the emission-line morphology and the [O III]/[O II] line ratios with the radio emission seen in ground-based observations are clarified by the HST imaging. We confirm that the radio lobes and hot spots are preferentially associated with lower ionization gas. The galaxy 3C 171 exhibits high surface brightness emission-line gas mainly along the radio source axis. The lowest ionization gas is seen at the eastern hot spot. In 3C 277.3 there is bright high-ionization gas (and continuum) offset just to the east of the radio knot K1. Our observations are consistent with previous work suggesting that this emission is produced by precursor gas ionized by the shock being driven into the cloud by the deflected radio jet. In PKS 2250-41 we resolve the emission-line arc that wraps around the outer rim of the western lobe. The lower ionization [O II] emission is nested just interior to the higher ionization [O III] emission, suggesting that we have resolved the cooling region behind the bow shock. We also detect possible continuum emission from the secondary hot spot. Thus, our observations support the hypothesis that in these sources the interaction between the expanding radio source and the ambient gas strongly influences the morphology, kinematics, and ionization of the gas.
GABAB Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of Tetrodotoxin-Resistant GABA Release in Rodent Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Cells

Tight-seal whole-cell recordings from CA1 pyramidal cells of rodent hippocampus were performed to study GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant IPSCs. IPSCs were recorded in the presence of TTX and glutamate receptor antagonists. (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs by a presynaptic action. The inhibition by (R)-(−)-baclofen was concentration-dependent, was not mimicked by the less effective enantiomer (S)-(+)-baclofen, and was blocked by the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 55845A, suggesting a specific effect on GABAB receptors. The inhibition persisted in the presence of the Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+. There was no requirement for an activation of K+conductances by (R)-(−)-baclofen, because the inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs persisted in Ba2+ and Cd2+. Because the time courses of TTX-resistant IPSCs were not changed by (R)-(−)-baclofen, there was no evidence for a selective inhibition of quantal release from a subgroup of GABAergic terminals. (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in guinea pigs and Wistar rats, whereas the inhibition was much smaller in Sprague Dawley rats. In Cd2+ and Ba2+, β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and forskolin enhanced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. Only β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate reduced the inhibition by (R)-(−)-baclofen. We conclude that GABABreceptors inhibit TTX-resistant GABA release through a mechanism independent from the well known effects on Ca2+ or K+ channels. The inhibition of quantal GABA release can be reduced by an activator of protein kinase C.
Stress‐induced dynamic adjustments of reproduction differentially affect fitness components of a semi‐arid plant

1 Summer drought stress is considered the primary constraint to plant performance in Mediterranean ecosystems. However, little is known about the implications of summer stress for plant reproduction under real field conditions and, particularly, for the regulatory mechanisms of maternal investment in reproduction. 2 The relationship between plant physiological status at different reproductive stages over the course of the summer drought period and final reproductive output was modelled in the Mediterranean semi‐arid specialist Helianthemum squamatum. 3 Plant physiological status, assessed by the chlorophyll fluorescence‐based parameter Fv/Fm, and soil moisture content beneath each plant, were determined in the field at five key phenological moments in a total of 88 plants. We used Generalized Linear Mixed Models to evaluate the effect of plant physiological status at those different dates on several components of reproduction (number of flowers and seeds per plant, fruit‐set and intra‐fruit seed abortion). We included soil moisture as an additional predictor to statistically control its potential effect on reproduction. 4 F v/Fm measured at midday was a significant predictor of reproductive output, but its significance varied over time and with the specific reproductive response variable. Fv/Fm measured at the onset of flowering was positively related to the number of flowers and seeds per plant, whereas Fv/Fm at the fruiting peak positively affected fruit‐set. Soil moisture content was only significant when measured before flowering, being positively related to total flowers and seeds. The effect of stress on reproductive output acted either at an early stage of the reproductive season, by varying the number of flowers produced and seed primordia initiated, or at a later stage, by adjusting the number or ripe fruits. 5 Synthesis. Our results show a direct relationship between physiological status and reproduction, and highlight the importance of the timing of stress for reproductive success. They also show that small departures from the physiological optimum at specific reproductive stages may cause significant decreases in the reproductive output. We suggest that the dynamic adjustment of reproduction in response to stress is adaptive in fluctuating and unpredictable Mediterranean semi‐arid environments, where an adequate temporal distribution of maternal resources determines the species’ ability to withstand severe environmental conditions.
Towards More Accurate Statistical Profiling of Deployed schema.org Microdata

Being promoted by major search engines such as Google, Yahoo! , Bing, and Yandex, Microdata embedded in web pages, especially using schema.org, has become one of the most important markup languages for the Web. However, deployed Microdata is very often not free from errors, which makes it difficult to estimate the data volume and create an accurate data profile. In addition, as the usage of global identifiers is not common, the real number of entities described by this format in the Web is hard to assess. In this article, we discuss how the subsequent application of data cleaning steps, such as duplicate detection and correction of common schema-based errors, leads to a more realistic view on the data, step by step. The cleaning steps applied include both heuristics for fixing errors as well as means to perform duplicate detection and duplicate elimination. Using the Web Data Commons Microdata corpus, we show that applying such quality improvement methods can essentially change the statistical profile of the dataset and lead to different estimates of both the number of entities as well as the class distribution within the data.
Spatial-Temporal Modeling of Forest Gaps Generated by Colonization From Below- and Above-Ground Bark Beetle Species

Studies of forest declines are important, because they both reduce timber production and affect successional trajectories of landscapes and ecosystems. Of particular interest is the decline of red pines, which is characterized by expanding areas of dead and chlorotic trees in plantations throughout the Great Lakes region. Here we examine the impact of two bark beetle groups, red turpentine beetles and pine engraver bark beetles, on tree mortality and the subsequent gap formation over time in a plantation in Wisconsin. We construct spatial-temporal statistical models that quantify the relations among red turpentine beetle colonization, pine engraver bark beetle colonization, and mortality of red pine trees while accounting for correlation across space and over time. We extend traditional Markov random-field models to include temporal terms and multiple-response variables aimed at developing a suitable set of statistical models for addressing the scientific questions about the forest ecosystem under study. For statistical inference, we adopt a Bayesian hierarchical modeling approach and devise Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms for obtaining the posterior distributions of model parameters as well as posterior predictive distributions. In particular, we implement path sampling combined with perfect simulation for autologistic models while formally addressing the posterior propriety under an improper uniform prior. Our data analysis results suggest that red turpentine beetle colonization is associated with a higher likelihood of pine engraver bark beetle colonization and that pine engraver bark beetle colonization is associated with higher likelihood of red pine tree mortality, whereas there is no direct association between red turpentine beetle colonization and red pine tree mortality. There is strong evidence that red turpentine beetle colonization does not kill a red pine tree directly, but rather predisposes the tree to subsequent colonization by pine engraver bark beetles. The evidence is also strong that pine engraver bark beetles are the ultimate mortality agents of red pine trees.