Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nitrous oxide emission from denitrification in stream and river networks

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and stratospheric ozone destruction. Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) loading to river networks is a potentially important source of N2O via microbial denitrification that converts N to N2O and dinitrogen (N2). The fraction of denitrified N that escapes as N2O rather than N2 (i.e., the N2O yield) is an important determinant of how much N2O is produced by river networks, but little is known about the N2O yield in flowing waters. Here, we present the results of whole-stream 15N-tracer additions conducted in 72 headwater streams draining multiple land-use types across the United States. We found that stream denitrification produces N2O at rates that increase with stream water nitrate (NO3−) concentrations, but that <1% of denitrified N is converted to N2O. Unlike some previous studies, we found no relationship between the N2O yield and stream water NO3−. We suggest that increased stream NO3− loading stimulates denitrification and concomitant N2O production, but does not increase the N2O yield. In our study, most streams were sources of N2O to the atmosphere and the highest emission rates were observed in streams draining urban basins. Using a global river network model, we estimate that microbial N transformations (e.g., denitrification and nitrification) convert at least 0.68 Tg·y−1 of anthropogenic N inputs to N2O in river networks, equivalent to 10% of the global anthropogenic N2O emission rate. This estimate of stream and river N2O emissions is three times greater than estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Essays in political economy: elections, public finance and service delivery in South Africa

Who gets what, when and how? Each of the three papers in this thesis makes a distinct contribution to answering this question in the context of the political economy of South Africa. The first paper examines how South Africa’s public financial management system distributes central government funds to its provinces. Using a unique panel dataset comprising all provinces and three elections over the period 1995-2010, I demonstrate that provinces where the national ruling party has higher vote margins receive higher per capita equitable shares in pre-election years. This result suggests that even in a dominant party framework, electoral competition can function as an incentive to implement political budget cycles. The second paper evaluates how the extension of the franchise affected the delivery of electricity to South African households. The dataset combines nightlight satellite imagery, census data and municipal election results, making it possible to exploit the heterogeneity in the share of newly enfranchised voters across nearly 800 municipalities with a difference-in-differences approach. The analysis demonstrates that enfranchisement has a significant positive effect on household electrification. Moreover, the findings show that political parties have a potential mediating role in accounting for service delivery patterns in new democracies. The third paper addresses the problem of measurement in studying public service delivery by examining a novel methodology for combining census-based data with satellite imagery of the world at night. Using cross-national data and South African census data, the paper provides a roadmap for how to navigate limitations and thus make the most of this technological advance in quantitative social science research.
Distributed category‐specific recognition‐memory signals in human perirhinal cortex

Evidence from a large body of research suggests that perirhinal cortex (PrC), which interfaces the medial temporal lobe with the ventral visual pathway for object identification, plays a critical role in item‐based recognition memory. The precise manner in which PrC codes for the prior occurrence of objects, however, remains poorly understood. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we used multivoxel pattern analyses to examine whether the prior occurrence of faces is coded by distributed patterns of PrC activity that consist of voxels with decreases as well as increases in signal. We also investigated whether pertinent voxels are preferentially tuned to the specific object category to which judged stimuli belong. We found that, when no a priori constraints were imposed on the direction of signal change, activity patterns that allowed for successful classification of recognition‐memory decisions included some voxels with decreases and others with increases in signal in association with perceived prior occurrence. Moreover, successful classification was obtained in the absence of a mean difference in activity across the set of voxels in these patterns. Critically, we observed a positive relationship between classifier accuracy and behavioral performance across participants. Additional analyses revealed that voxels carrying diagnostic information for classification of memory decisions showed category specificity in their tuning for faces when probed with an independent functional localizer in a nonmnemonic task context. These voxels were spatially distributed in PrC, and extended beyond the contiguous voxel clusters previously described as the anterior temporal face patch. Our findings provide support for proposals, recently raised in the neurophysiological literature, that the prior occurrence of objects is coded by distributed PrC representations. They also suggest that the stimulus category to which an item belongs shapes the organization of these distributed representations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
(Ab-)Using DSR Route Information for Node Localization in MANETs

Unlike in conventional networks, nodes in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) usually take part in network maintenance and perform routing and diagnostics functions. Not only do they forward payload data but also send and receive topology information for routing purposes. This information may be used by malicious parties to intrude the location privacy of other participants. In our previous work [1] we analyzed a scenario where an external party obtains complete topology information in a MANET. The results shown that such an attacker could achieve rather good results in localizing every node on the network. In this following work we analyze more realistic scenarios where attackers try to abuse the DSR routing protocol, to obtain topology information and derive position estimations of other nodes from that. We present a localization approach that is based on a ”hop to route length ratio” heuristic and show how these results compare to our previous findings. As a result we conclude that the accuracy that can be gained by only using DSR protocol information is rather restricted and only poses a minimal privacy threat.
Influence of duration of untreated psychosis on the short-term outcome of drug-free schizophrenia patients

Western studies in the recent past have suggested that reducing the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is associated with better control of symptoms of schizophrenia. The present investigation attempts to assess the influence of duration of untreated psychosis and other predictors on the outcome of schizophrenia, six weeks after the treatment. Data of 45 DSM-IV schizophrenia patients (Mean age 31 ± 9.2; 27 males) who were treated for the first time formed the sample. Based on the clinical notes in files two psychiatrists independently rated the outcome at 6-8 weeks of neuroleptic treatment. The inter rater agreement was good. Improved and unimproved groups did not differ on any variables except the duration of untreated psychosis. Duration of untreated psychosis was longer in the unimproved group. In a logistic regression model, only duration of untreated psychosis emerged as a significant predictor (OR= 0.9854. with 95% Cl= 0.9717 - 0.9993; p=0.039). DUP affects acute outcome in schizophrenia.
Patterns and Determinants of Double-Burden of Malnutrition among Rural Children: Evidence from China

Chinese children are facing dual burden of malnutrition—coexistence of under-and over-nutrition. Little systematic evidence exists for explaining the simultaneous presence of under-and over-nutrition. This study aims to explore underlying mechanisms of under-and over-nutrition among children in rural China. This study used a nationwide longitudinal dataset of children (N = 5,017) from 9 provinces across China, with four exclusively categories of nutritional outcomes including under-nutrition (stunting and underweight), over-nutrition (overweight only including obesity), paradox (stunted overweight), with normal nutrition as reference. Multinomial logit models (Level-1: occasions; Level-2: children; Level-3: villages) were fitted which corrected for non-independence of observations due to geographic clustering and repeated observations of individuals. A mixture of risk factors at the individual, household and neighbourhood levels predicted under-and over-nutrition among children in rural China. Improved socioeconomic status and living in more urbanised villages reduced the risk of stunted overweight among rural children in China. Young girls appeared to have higher risk of under-nutrition, and the risk decreased with age more markedly than for boys up to age 5. From age 5 onwards, boys tended to have higher risk of under-nutrition than girls. Girls aged around 12 and older were less likely to suffer from under-nutrition, while boys’ higher risk of under-nutrition persisted throughout adolescence. Children were less likely to suffer from over-nutrition compared to normal nutrition. Boys tended to have an even lower risk of over-nutrition than girls and the gender difference widened with age until adolescence. Our results have important policy implications that improving household economic status, in particular, maternal education and health insurance for children, and living environment are important to enhance rural children’s nutritional status in China. Investments in early years of childhood can be effective to reduce gender inequality in nutritional health in rural China.
Democracy in the Arab world : explaining the deficit

Introduction Part 1: Democracy and Development: Conceptual and Cross Country Perspectives 1. Political Culture and the Crisis of Democracy in the Arab World Abdelwahab El Affendi 2. Explaining the Arab Democracy Deficit: The Role of Oil and Conflicts Ibrahim Elbadawi, Samir Makdisi and Gary Milante Part 2: Case studies - Oil, Conflict and Beyond. Mashreq Countries 3. Jordan: Propellers of Autocracy, the Arab Israeli Conflict and Foreign Power Interventions Taher Kanaan and Joseph Massad 4. Lebanon: The Constrained Democracy and its National Impact Samir Makdisi, Fadia Kiwan and Marcus Marktanner 5. Syria: The Underpinnings of Autocracy: Conflict, Oil and the Curtailment of Economic Freedom Raed Safadi, Laura Munro and Radwan Ziadeh Oil Dependent Countries 6. The Gulf Region: Beyond Oil and Wars: The Role of History and Geopolitics in Explaining Autocracy Sami Atallah 7. Algeria: Democracy and Development under the Aegis of the "Authoritarian Bargain" Belkacem Laabas and Ammar Bouhouche 8. Iraq: Understanding Autocracy: Oil and Conflict in a Historical and Socio-Political Context Eric Davis and Bassam Yousif Nile Valley Countries 9. Egypt: Development, Liberalization and the Persistence of Autocracy Gouda Abdel-Khalek and Mustapha K. Al Sayyid 10. Sudan: The Colonial Heritage, Social Polarization and the Democracy Deficit Ali Abdel Ghadir Ali and Atta El Battahani Part 3: Summing Up 11. The Democracy Deficit in the Arab World: An Interpretive Synthesis Ibrahim Elbadawi and Samir Makdisi
THE TRADE DEFICIT AND BANKING SECTOR RESULTS IN ROMANIA AND BULGARIA

We tested for the significance of macroeconomic variables that condition non-performing loan ratios. Our estimates for Bulgaria and Romania support the hypothesis that the growth of available finance might harm banking performance and deteriorate NPL dynamics, most probably due to the overheating of economies. Since we confirmed that the dynamics of net exports of these economies deteriorated the NPL ratio, the weakening of growth in export-oriented industries could lead to economic contraction with a direct impact on the sustainability of banking-sector results in these countries. Large current account deficits are typical for emerging markets and do not pose a problem as long as they are caused by the importing of capital goods, and, if future export growth is strong enough to reimburse foreign debt. Structural dependence on external financing - which is in part a by-product of the effect of low levels of internal saving - have led to large current account deficits and financial instability.
Money and Inflation Dynamics: A Lag between Change in Money Supply and The Corresponding Inflation Response in Tanzania

The price of money is "the goods and services" it can buy, which means, if money is plenteous will chase fewer or less amount of goods and services than it could actually do. Under normal conditions, money-inflation relationship is not instantaneous and so we should not expect all outcomes of currently implemented monetary policy actions to happen in the same current period. What is not clearly known for Tanzania is the time it takes a change in money supply to start impacting on inflation. The main objective of this paper is therefore to determine this time lag. Seasonally adjusted monthly data for the period 1994-2006 are used in the analysis and a GARCH model is applied in investigating inflation-money relationship. Estimation results indicate that a current change in money supply would affect inflation rate significantly in the seventh month ahead. They show further that the impact of money supply on inflation is not a sort of one-time strike on inflation but a kind of persistent shock. The main policy implication is that if we want to influence inflation in a certain future month, then we should take a policy action seven months before the targeted period. On the other side, if we want to evaluate the effectiveness of a monetary policy action taken in any previous month, we have to assess it in the seventh month ahead.
A random forest classifier for the prediction of energy expenditure and type of physical activity from wrist and hip accelerometers

Wrist accelerometers are being used in population level surveillance of physical activity (PA) but more research is needed to evaluate their validity for correctly classifying types of PA behavior and predicting energy expenditure (EE). In this study we compare accelerometers worn on the wrist and hip, and the added value of heart rate (HR) data, for predicting PA type and EE using machine learning. Forty adults performed locomotion and household activities in a lab setting while wearing three ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers (left hip, right hip, non-dominant wrist) and a HR monitor (Polar RS400). Participants also wore a portable indirect calorimeter (COSMED K4b2), from which EE and metabolic equivalents (METs) were computed for each minute. We developed two predictive models: a random forest classifier to predict activity type and a random forest of regression trees to estimate METs. Predictions were evaluated using leave-one-user-out cross-validation. The hip accelerometer obtained an average accuracy of 92.3% in predicting four activity types (household, stairs, walking, running), while the wrist accelerometer obtained an average accuracy of 87.5%. Across all 8 activities combined (laundry, window washing, dusting, dishes, sweeping, stairs, walking, running), the hip and wrist accelerometers obtained average accuracies of 70.2% and 80.2% respectively. Predicting METs using the hip or wrist devices alone obtained root mean square errors (rMSE) of 1.09 and 1.00 METs per 6 min bout, respectively. Including HR data improved MET estimation, but did not significantly improve activity type classification. These results demonstrate the validity of random forest classification and regression forests for PA type and MET prediction using accelerometers. The wrist accelerometer proved more useful in predicting activities with significant arm movement, while the hip accelerometer was superior for predicting locomotion and estimating EE.
THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF A SPECIAL ISSUE ENTITLED ‘MOLECULAR TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE VEGETATIVELY PROPAGATED BANANA AND CASSAVA’ A platform for efﬁcient genotyping in Musa using microsatellite markers

Background aims Bananas and plantains ( Musa spp.) are one of the major fruit crops worldwide with acknowledged importance as a staple food for millions of people. The rich genetic diversity of this crop is, however, endangered by diseases, adverse environmental conditions and changed farming practices, and the need for its characterization and preservation is urgent. With the aim of providing a simpleandrobustapproachformolecularcharacterizationof Musa species,wedevelopedanopti-mized genotyping platform using 19 published simple sequence repeat markers. Methodology The genotyping system is based on 19 microsatellite loci, which are scored using ﬂuorescently labelled primers and high-throughput capillary electrophoresis separation with high resolution. This genotyping
Ontology-based Modeling of Cloud Services: Challenges and Perspectives

Cloud services (CCS) are a crucial element in the service sector, but there are still challenges left in their design, implementation, operation and dismissal, due to issues such as the integration of physical and technical components, interaction of social and technical aspects, dynamic and elastic reconfiguration. In modelling service systems, ontologies have been recognized as a useful instrument for reducing conceptual ambiguities and inconsistencies. However, none of the general approaches proposed in literature have addressed the specific aspects of CCS. In this perspective, we explore how the UFO-S core ontology can be used to describe IT services and, in particular, CCS. A case study and the challenges deriving by CCS are discussed.
Persistence Results for Chemical Reaction Networks with Time-Dependent Kinetics and No Global Conservation Laws

New checkable criteria for persistence of chemical reaction networks are proposed, which extend and complement existing ones. The new results allow the consideration of reaction rates which are time-varying, thus incorporating the effects of external signals, and also relax the assumption of existence of global conservation laws, thus allowing for inflows (production) and outflows (degradation). For time-invariant networks, parameter-dependent conditions for persistence of certain classes of networks are provided. As an illustration, two networks arising in the systems biology literature are analyzed, namely a hypoxia network and an apoptosis network.
Other Disorders Monoclonal Antibody for the Therapy of Solid Tumors and Humanization of an Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VE(Ã¬F) is a major mediator of angiogenesis associated with tumors and other pathological conditions, including proliferative diahetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. The murine anti-human \ I (.1 monoclonal antibody imiiM \l> \ I.di i A.4.6.1 has heen shown to potently suppress angiogenesis and growth in a variety of human tumor cells lines transplanted in nude mice and also to inhibit neovascularization in a primate model of ischemie retinal disease. In this report, we describe the humanization of muMAb VEGF A.4.6.1. by site-directed mutagenesis of a human framework. Not only the residues involved in the six complementaritydetermining regions but also several framework residues were changed from human to murine. Humanized anti-V'EGF F(ab) and Ig(Ã¬lvari ants bind \ 1 (. 1 with affinity very similar to that of the original murine antibody. Furthermore, recomhinant humanized MAb VEGF inhibits VEGF-induced proliferation of cndothelial cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo with potency and efficacy very similar to those of niiiM Mi VEGF A.4. 6.1. Therefore, recomhinant humanized MAb VEGF is suitable to test the hypothesis that inhibition of VEGFinduced angiogenesis is a valid strategy for the treatment of solid tumors and other disorders in humans.
Do Shining Precious Metals Overshadow Other Assets? Dynamic Spillovers Between Commodity and Currency Markets

In this study, we examine the dynamic link between returns and volatility of commodities and currency markets. In particular, based on weekly data on gold, silver, platinum, palladum, oil and the USD/EUR exchange rate over the period January 6, 1987 to July 22, 2014 we find the following empirical regularities. First, the static spillover analysis reveals that gold, silver and platinum are net transmitters of returns and volatility spillovers, while palladium, crude oil and USD/EUR exchange are net receivers of returns (volatility) spillovers. These results suggest that, the information contents of gold, silver and platinum can help improve forecast accuracy of returns (volatilities) on palladium, crude oil and currency returns (volatilities). Second, returns (volatilities) on gold are interestingly the largest gross transmitters of spillovers to the remaining assets in our model. Third, pairwise return (volatility) spillovers reveal relatively stronger bidirectional interdependences between gold and silver, and platinum and palladium. Fourth, the analysis of dynamic spillovers suggests that gold, silver and, to a lesser extent, platinum act as net transmitters of return (volatility) spillovers to palladium, crude oil and the USD/EUR exchange rate. Interestingly, the observed net transmission shows time- and event-specific patterns. For instance, for gold and silver (platinum) returns and volatility, it intensified (degraded) in the period marked by the global financial crisis. After the global financial crisis, the role of gold and silver (platinum) returns as net transmitters of shocks weakened (strengthened), while the role of gold, silver and platinum volatility as net transmitters of shocks remained relatively high. Overall, our findings reveal that, while the static analysis clearly classifies the aforementioned variables into net transmitters and net receivers, the dynamic analysis denotes episodes wherein the role of transmitters and receivers of return (volatility) spillovers can be interrupted or even reversed. Hence, even if certain commonalities prevail in each identified category of commodities, such commonalities are time- and event-dependent.
Influences of visual and supporting surface conditions on standing postural control and correlation with walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia

[Purpose] To quantify the influence of visual and under-foot-surface conditions on standing balance in patients with post stroke hemiplegia and examine associations of this ordinal score with somatosensory disturbance and walking ability. [Subjects] Sixty-six patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. [Methods] Standing balance was tested in 4 conditions (firm floor or foam rubber surface with eyes open or eyes closed) for 30 s per condition and scored using a 5-category ordinal scale. The accuracy of the standing balance score to distinguish patients above/below cut-offs for the timed up-and-go test (14 s) and functional ambulation category (4) was determined. [Results] Standing balance score was correlated with sensory impairments (tactile and vibration perception) and walking ability (up-and-go and functional ambulation category). The standing balance score distinguished patients with up-and-go times ≤14 and >14 s with moderate sensitivity and specificity, and distinguished patients with functional ambulation category <4 and ≥4 with high sensitivity and specificity. [Conclusion] Patients with post-stroke hemiplegia may be unable to adapt to changing visual or surface conditions. Therapists should perform comprehensive balance tests. The standing balance ordinal scale score was moderately correlate with walking ability, distinguishing patients according to walking ability. This scale’s validity and reliability must be assessed in clinical settings.