Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
City Size, Migration, and Urban Inequality in the People’s Republic of China

This paper examines the relationship between city size, migration, and urban income inequality using the 1% sample of the 2005 Census in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We calculate various measures of within-city income inequality for 252 PRC cities. It is found that city income inequality is significantly and positively correlated with city population size. As rural-to-urban migration is crucial in determining city size distribution in the PRC, we focus on exploring the role of massive migration into big cities on shaping this size-inequality relationship. We find that the share of migrants alone accounts for more than 40% of the city-size inequality premium. This is mainly because migration leads to a higher skill premium in larger cities by changing the skill composition of the labor force in those places. The main findings still hold after we deal with the endogeneity of migration using an instrument variable approach.
An Investigation of Chinese undergraduates' self- esteem: changes and differences

It is hypothesized that self-esteem varies depending on gender, time and situation. The present study examined Chinese university students’ changes and differences in self-esteem over a 16-week long term. A 10-item survey involving 934 first-year undergraduates revealed that: (1) the whole sample, as well as the three university samples and males and females, generally had moderately high self-esteem both at the beginning and toward the end of the term; (2) female students became significantly more self-esteemed over the term; (3) significant difference was observed in negative self-esteem for the TU and BUU students over the term; (4) male students felt significantly more self-esteemed than their female counterparts at the beginning of the term; and (5) complex and significant differences occurred in self-esteem among all the three university samples both at the beginning and toward the end of the term.
HELLP Syndrome, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura or Both: Appraising the Complex Association and Proposing a Stepwise Practical Plan for Differential Diagnosis

Both thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (TMA) are seen in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and HELLP syndrome among other disorders during pregnancy. Although both share backgrounds of endothelial injury and microvascular thrombi and some clinical features, yet, they have different etiologies and courses. In late pregnancy, differentiating between these two pathologies can be extremely difficult due to the immense overlap in clinical and laboratory manifestations and this becomes only possible with the use of specific markers as ADAMTS-13, when available. Hereby, we describe three cases that may exemplify the complex association between PE/HELLP syndrome and TTP. The first case presented with PE/HELLP syndrome and deteriorated postpartum to improve on plasmapheresis. The second case was a known TTP patient who developed superimposed PE/HELLP at 27 weeks gestation which necessitated emergent delivery. The third was a case of preeclampsia that progressed to HELLP syndrome on day 2 postpartum but 3 days later was complicated by TTP. HELLP syndrome and TTP can co-exist, but can also complicate one another. In the absence of instantaneous results of ADAMTS-13 and when diagnosis with clinical judgement alone cannot be done with certainty, a short trial-plasmapheresis could be attempted with close observation of the immediate response. This stepwise approach might prove to be a valuable tool when integrated in the usual workup of clinical and laboratory evaluation both before and after delivery.
Microbial and soil properties in restoration areas in the jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais

O setor florestal no Alto Vale do Jequitinhonha (MG) tem adotado a criacao de faixas com vegetacao nativa entre os seus plantios comerciais, com o objetivo de reduzir os impactos negativos do monocultivo. O metodo utilizado para criacao dessas faixas tem sido a restauracao espontânea da vegetacao nativa em areas anteriormente cultivadas com eucalipto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de coberturas vegetais sobre propriedades microbianas do solo, para melhor caracterizar o processo de restauracao da vegetacao nativa em solos florestais do Vale do Jequitinhonha, MG. Os tratamentos foram: restauracao inicial ( 4 anos) com ou sem remanescentes de eucalipto; e os controles: plantio comercial de eucalipto, vegetacao nativa de Cerrado e de mata. As amostras de solo foram coletadas por tres anos consecutivos, nos meses de agosto e fevereiro, representando, respectivamente, o periodo de estiagem e o de chuvas. As areas em restauracao, independentemente da presenca de eucalipto remanescentes, nao diferiram quanto a atividade microbiana, exceto para quociente metabolico (qCO2) em fevereiro de 2007 - periodo chuvoso. Nessa epoca, a atividade microbiana foi maior na restauracao avancada sem eucalipto do que na restauracao inicial sem eucalipto e restauracao avancada com eucalipto. As areas em restauracao, em geral, tambem nao diferiram dos controles: plantio de eucalipto e Cerrado. Em relacao ao controle mata, as areas em restauracao apresentaram, em geral, menores teores de C orgânico, C microbiano, respiracao basal (Rbasal) e hidrolise do diacetato de fluoresceina (FDA), nao diferindo quanto ao qCO2 e quociente microbiano (qMIC). Em geral, as restauracoes iniciais e avancadas apresentaram qualidade do solo semelhante. A maioria das propriedades do solo e microbianas, nos tres anos avaliados, indicou que as areas em restauracao mostraram maior semelhanca com a area de Cerrado. Nas areas em restauracao avancada sem eucalipto, a menor Rbasal no ano 3 e a menor FDA e qMIC e maior qCO2 no ano 2, em relacao ao Cerrado, indicaram que a remocao do eucalipto remanescente nao promoveu a restauracao.
Identifying competitive customer value propositions in retailing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for identifying competitive customer value propositions in retailing.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on existing literature on customer value and competitive advantage in order to form an understanding of the key dimensions of customer value, developing a hierarchical model of value propositions and establishing a link between customer value and competitive advantage.Findings – The work suggests a framework for identifying competitive customer value propositions (CVPs) where four hierarchical key dimensions of customer value – economic, functional, emotional, and symbolic – are first identified. In the second stage, a CVP is developed on the basis of these value dimensions. In the third stage, the CVP is evaluated for competitive advantage. It is proposed that economic and also functional CVPs are more likely to represent points of parity, whereas emotional and social CVPs represent points of difference for retail companies seekin.
'International-mindedness': a field of struggle, confusion and hope

Typically, educators of today recognise the importance of international-mindedness and realise that it is in some way related to international education. However, it has been particularly hard for educators to pin down exactly what international-mindedness is and what its development actually involves. This paper examines current literature on the topic of international-mindedness. It sets out to illustrate that in the literature on international-mindedness, no single narrative account that clearly defines international-mindedness or explains developmental ways of developing it exists. Rather, many divergent and convergent discourses surround this term creating confusion and unresolved debates related to international- mindedness. The paper concludes by highlighting areas that are silenced and places where there are gaps in research and literature on international-mindedness, from which proposals for future research can then be contemplated.
Workplace Environment and Personal Exposure of PM and PAHs to Workers in Natural Rubber Sheet Factories Contaminated by Wood Burning Smoke

The workplace environment in factories producing ribbed smoked sheet rubber (RSS), the interiors which are heavily contaminated by wood burning smoke, was evaluated with a focus on the concentration of suspended particulates and particle-bound PAHs as well as workers' exposure in the breathing zone during the period January, 2006-February, 2008 in Thailand. Seasonal changes in particulate and PAH concentrations are discussed in relation to the amount of RSS produced, wind direction, ventilation type and the geometry of the factory building. The concentration of particulate matter in the workplace was shown to increase nearly linearly with RSS production while being influenced by the wind direction to the open sides of the building and wind speed. Particulate concentrations in the workplace and in the worker’s breathing zone were lower than those for other common occupational exposure limits. However, rather high PAH concentrations of 97.4 ± 129 ng/m^3 and 142 ± 184 ng/m^3 were found in the workplace and in the breathing zone, respectively. BaPTEQ concentrations in the workplace ranging from 21.4 to 91.0 ng/m^3 were similar to those in a sinter plant. The workers' exposure to PAHs was similar to that in a sinter plant, a metal recycling plant, a paving bitumen manufacturing plant and a carbon black manufacturing plant. The mass fraction of PAHs in particles in the RSS factory was as high as 0.30 BaP(subscript TEQ) ng/μg, much higher than that in a carbon black plant (0.004–0.01 BaP(subscript TEQ) ng/μg). The results reported herein suggest that the workers in the RSS factory have a somewhat high health risk from exposure to PAHs. Natural ventilation by the addition of roof turbines was insufficient in terms of reducing PAHs levels in the workplace although a roof ridge vent was functional and had a positive effect.
Biosynthesis of plant cell walls

The cell wall plays a major role in determining the expansion, growth and shape of plant cells, and thus of the plant itself. Additionally, cell wall breakdown products are used as developmental signals. Moreover, the cell wall is in the front line of defence, forming a significant barrier to penetration by pathogens and pathogen vectors. There is great diversity in the polysaccharides of the cell wall which is composed of cellulose microfibrils, with the matrix polysaccharides, pectins and hemicelluloses binding non-covalently to the cellulose molecules, crosslinking them in an extensive network. Agronomically, a variety of industries are reliant on cell wall polysaccharides, particularly in the processing of foods. However, surprisingly little is known about their precise role(s) in planta. This is even more apparent considering that the polysaccharide composition of different cell types and organs differs, and changes over time, suggesting that the polysaccharides have a variety of specific roles. With the completion of genome sequencing projects in model and commercially-important plant species, significant progress has been made in elucidating the proteins responsible for cell wall synthesis, leading to potential biotechnological applications. La pared celular juega un importante rol en la determinacion de la expansion, crecimiento y forma celular, como tambien de la planta misma. Adicionalmente, los productos de la degradacion de la pared celular son usados como senales de desarrollo. Por otra parte, la pared celular esta en la linea frontal de defensa, constituyendo una importante barrera a la penetracion de patogenos y vectores patogenos. Hay una gran diversidad en los polisacaridos de la pared celular, la que esta compuesta por microfibrillas de celulosa, embebidas en una matriz de pectinas y hemicelulosas unidas en forma no covalente a las moleculas de celulosa, formando una extensa red. Agronomicamente, varias industrias dependen de los polisacaridos de la pared celular, particularmente para el procesamiento de alimentos. Sin embargo, asombrosamente, poco se sabe sobre su rol exacto en la pared celular de la planta. Esto se hace incluso mas evidente si se considera que la composicion de los polisacaridos de diferentes tipos de celulas y organos difieren, y cambian en el tiempo, sugiriendo que los polisacaridos tienen una variedad de funciones especificas. Al completarse los proyectos de secuenciacion genomica de plantas modelo y de importancia economica, se han obtenido progresos significativos en determinar las proteinas responsables de la sintesis de la pared celular, todo lo cual conduce a potenciales aplicaciones biotecnologicas.
Effect of Cu2+ and pH on intracellular calcium content and lipid peroxidation in winter wheat roots

The study investigates the effect of copper ions and pH of external solution on intracellular calcium homeostasis and lipid peroxidation in winter wheat roots. Experiment was carried out with winter wheat. Sterile seeds were germinated in Petri dishes on the filter paper soaked with acetic buffer (pH 4.7 and 6.2) at 20 °Cin the dark for 48 hours. Copper was added as CuSO 4 . It’s concentrations varied from 0 to 50 µM. The Ca 2+ -fluorescent dye Fluo-3/AM ester was loaded on 60 hour. Root fluorescence with Fluo-3 loading was detected using X-Cite Series 120 Q unit attached to microscope Olympus BX53 with camera Olympus DP72. Imaging of root cells was achieved after exciting with 488 nm laser and collection of emission signals above 512 nm. Preliminary analysis of the images was performed using software LabSens; brightness (fluorescence intensity) analysis was carried out by means of ImageJ. Peroxidation of lipids was determined according to Kumar and Knowles method. It was found that pH of solution had effect on release of calcium from intracellular stores. Low pH provokes an increase of [Ca 2+ ]cyt which may be reaction of roots to acidic medium. Copper induces increase in non-selective permeability of plasma membrane and leads to its faster depolarization. This probably initiates Ca-dependent depolarization channels which are responsible for the influx of calcium from apoplast into the cell. Changing of the membrane permeability may occur due to interaction between Cu 2+ ions and Ca-binding sites on plasma membrane or may be due to binding of copper with sulfhydryl groups and increasing of POL. Copper may also damage lipid bilayer and change the activity of some non-selective channels and transporters. Reactive oxygen species which are formed under some types of stress factors, especially the effect of heavy metals, can be activators of Ca-channels. Cu 2+ ions rise MDA content and promote the oxidative stress. Low medium pH also induces its development. Oxidative stress apparently enhances activity of hyperpolarization of Ca-channels and leads to increase of [Ca 2+ ]cyt. These Ca-channels may also be stimulated by calcium, which influxes into the cell, so Ca-signal can be self-enhanced one. Prolonged retention of high calcium concentration may be the evidence of copper toxicity to root cells and the consequence of deactivation of Ca-ATPases which promote Ca efflux from cell. The increase of [Ca 2+ ]cyt may elicit changes in some metabolic processes.
Requirement of juvenile red seabream Pagrus major for eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids.

A feeding experiment was conducted to compare the EFA value between eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in juvenile red seabream, and to determine their requirements for both fatty acids by feeding them defatted fish meal diets containing different levels of EPA and/or DHA ranging from 0 to 1% in diet. Juvenile red seabream fed a diet without supplemental EFA began to show a high mortality and poor appetite after one week feeding. The cumulative mortality of this group was 46% after 24 days. The growth and feed efficiency were effectively improved by elevating EPA or DHA levels to 1% or 0.5% in the diet, respectively. However, further elevation of the DHA level from 0.5 to 1% and addition of both EPA and DHA in diets at levels of 0.25 and 0.5% each did not result in further improvement of these parameters. The hepatosomatic index was high in the fish fed low levels of EPA or DHA and was reduced by elevating EPA levels to 1% in diets, although DHA was more effective than EPA. Thus, the requirement of EPA and DHA was estimated to be around 1% and 0.5% in diet for juvenile red seabream, respectively. The EFA efficiency of DHA was also found to be about twice as high as that of EPA, and there was no additive effect of EPA and DHA on growth and feed efficiency.
Chemical climatology of the southeastern United States, 1999–2013

Abstract. A series of experiments (the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study – SOAS) took place in central Alabama in June–July, 2013 as part of the broader Southern Atmosphere Study (SAS). These projects were aimed at studying oxidant photochemistry and formation and impacts of aerosols at a detailed process level in a location where high biogenic organic vapor emissions interact with anthropogenic emissions, and the atmospheric chemistry occurs in a subtropical climate in North America. The majority of the ground-based experiments were located at the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) Centreville (CTR) site near Brent, Alabama, where extensive, unique aerometric measurements of trace gases and particles and meteorology were made beginning in the early 1990s through 2013. The SEARCH network data permits a characterization of the temporal and spatial context of the SOAS findings. Our earlier analyses of emissions and air quality trends are extended through 2013 to provide a perspective for continued decline in ambient concentrations, and the implications of these changes to regional sulfur oxide, nitrogen–ozone, and carbon chemistry. The narrative supports the SAS program in terms of long-term average chemistry (chemical climatology) and short-term comparisons of early summer average spatial variability across the southeastern US at high temporal (hourly) resolution. The long-term measurements show that the SOAS experiments took place during the second wettest and coolest year in the 2000–2013 period, with lower than average solar radiation. The pollution levels at CTR and other SEARCH sites were the lowest since full measurements began in 1999. Changes in anthropogenic gas and particle emissions between 1999 and 2013 account for the decline in pollutant concentrations at the monitoring sites in the region. The data provide an opportunity to contrast SOAS results with temporally and spatially variable conditions in support of the development of tests for the robustness of SOAS findings.
Regional Input-Output Analysis: A Comparison of Five "Ready-Made" Model Systems

In its second term, the Reagan administration has continued to press Congress for legislation to implement a program of enterprise zones. While the proposed federal program has advocates both within and outside the administration, critical analyses by economists and urban policy specialists have raised questions about the potential impacts of enterprise zones on urban areas. Until recently, such analyses had to proceed on a largely theoretical basis. Reports on early developments in the first 11 British enterprise zones, however, now provide an empirical basis for initiating critical assessments of the concept. In this paper, we review the original concept of enterprise zones and note the major features of the actual program implemented by the British government in 1981. Our attention focuses on the number of firms entering the zones, their origins and motives for locating in the zones, the number of jobs involved and sources, and the public cost involved in developing and promoting the zones.
Everett Interpretation and Quantum Concept of Consciousness

Subjective aspects of quantum mechanics (QM) are most radically expressed in the Everett's interpretation (EI) of QM which suggests coexisting macroscopically distinct configurations of the world in the form of a superposition of the (quasi-)classical state vectors. The components of such a superposition are often verbally denoted as "Everett's worlds", hence the name "Many-Worlds Interpretation" (MWI) for EI. Explicit accounting the correlation of each classical configuration of the world with the corresponding state of an observer's mind yields the so-called "Many-Minds interpretation" (MMI). This is maximum that may be done in the context of EI if the restriction by pure physics is implied. In the author's "Extended Everett Concept" (EEC) the observer's consciousness is defined in the spirit of psycho-physical parallelism, i.e. as going beyond pure physics. As a consequence, according to EEC, an observer, if he/she weakens or turns off his/her consciousness (perception), obtains the ability of super-intuition (obtaining seemingly unavailable information) and even of controlling the subjective reality (a picture of classical reality as it will be subjectively perceived). This may be interpreted as a realization of the Jung's "collective unconscious" as well as an explanation of the mystical elements in Oriental philosophies, world religions and deep psychological practices. NeuroQuantology | March 2013 | Vol 11 | Issue 1 | Suppl 1 | Page 85-96
Short Communication. Using high resolution UAV imagery to estimate tree variables in Pinus pinea plantation in Portugal

Aim of study: The study aims to analyse the potential use of low‑cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery for the estimation of Pinus pinea L. variables at the individual tree level (position, tree height and crown diameter). Area of study: This study was conducted under the PINEA project focused on 16 ha of umbrella pine afforestation (Portugal) subjected to different treatments. Material and methods: The workflow involved: a) image acquisition with consumer‑grade cameras on board an UAV; b) orthomosaic and digital surface model (DSM) generation using structure-from-motion (SfM) image reconstruction; and c) automatic individual tree segmentation by using a mixed pixel‑ and region‑based based algorithm. Main results : The results of individual tree segmentation (position, height and crown diameter) were validated using field measurements from 3 inventory plots in the study area. All the trees of the plots were correctly detected. The RMSE values for the predicted heights and crown widths were 0.45 m and 0.63 m, respectively. Research highlights: The results demonstrate that tree variables can be automatically extracted from high resolution imagery. We highlight the use of UAV systems as a fast, reliable and cost‑effective technique for small scale applications. Keywords : Unmanned aerial systems (UAS); forest inventory; tree crown variables; 3D image modelling; canopy height model (CHM); object‑based image analysis (OBIA), structure‑from‑motion (SfM). ERRATUM PDF