Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A decomposition analysis of CO2 emissions: evidence from Malaysia’s tourism industry

ABSTRACT The most important question raised from issues of environmental degradation is how economic activities bring about changes that will result in pollution. In the pursuit of tourism economy, contrary to popular interest, the travel and tourism (T&T) industry may cause environmental damages through the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from energy consumption in areas such as transportation and delivery of amenities. Given this major concern, this paper attempts to investigate the linkage between tourism and CO2 emissions in Malaysia between 1981 and 2011. In particular, this study fills the knowledge gap by taking a closer look at the impact of international tourist arrivals on CO2 emissions by sector – electricity and heat generation and transport. Results from the bound test method suggest that there exists a long-run relationship among the variables under consideration when CO2 emissions become the dependent variable. The original result is similarly robust to alternatives, which are CO2 emissions from sectors of electricity and heat generation and transport. Furthermore, the vector error correction model causality analysis indicates a causal relationship between tourism and CO2 emissions by transport and electricity and heat generation. Subsequently, several tourism-related policies are drawn from these findings.
CCND1 and FGFR1 coamplification results in the colocalization of 11q13 and 8p12 sequences in breast tumor nuclei

The CCND1 gene, localized to chromosome band 11q13, is amplified in approximately 15% of human primary breast tumors. From 30 to 40% of the tumors presenting this amplification show concomitant amplification at the FGFR1 locus in 8p12. Similarly, MDA‐MB‐134 breast cancer cells bear CCND1 and FGFR1 coamplified, resulting in the formation of a hybrid intrachromosomal amplification assembling 11q13 and 8p12 sequences. To learn whether similar amplified structures arise in breast tumors, we used a two‐color FISH approach on interphase nuclei. A cohort of 225 breast tumors was analyzed by Southern blotting and a subset of 12 tumors presenting the 11q13–8p12 coamplification was selected for further study by interphase FISH. In 6/12 tumors the FISH signals for 11q13 and 8p12 probes formed colocalizing clusters of green and red spots in the nuclei. The FISH patterns were identical to those observed on MDA‐MB‐134 interphase nuclei hybridized with 11q13 and 8p12. These data, suggesting the formation in these tumors of a hybrid amplification domain in which 11q13 and 8p12 sequences are joined, were reinforced by dual‐color FISH on extended chromatin showing that the said were sequentially aligned in these tumors. Furthermore, 3/6 nuclei with colocalized 11q13 and 8p12 amplifications showed fusion of centromeric sequences from chromosomes 8 and 11. Our data strongly suggest the occurrence, in approximately 3% of primary breast tumors, of a recurrent rearrangement involving the proximal portions of 8p and 11q and resulting in the formation of a hybrid amplified structure composed of 11q13 and 8p12 sequences. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 22:268–277, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Hardware-Efficient Post-Processing Algorithm for Motion Compensated Frame Rate Up-Conversion

Post-processing is an important module in motion compensated frame rate up-conversion design, and has a direct impact on the image quality of interpolated frame. However, how to balance between image quality and computational efficiency is still very challenging for post-processing, especially in hardware design. This paper proposes a hardware-efficient post-processing algorithm which leverages the temporal and spatial constraints to locally refine interpolated pixels. Moreover, we employ the quantization and approximation techniques to further reduce the computational intensity of the proposed post-processing algorithm. The quality of interpolated frame has been greatly improved both in objective and subjective aspects. The proposed post-processing algorithm is extensively evaluated by a set of video test sequences. Evaluation results demonstrate that, compared with the reference designs, the proposed algorithm can improve PSNR by at least 1.69 dB with comparable computational complexity.
Vitamin K1 intake and coronary calcification

ObjectivesThe activity of matrix Gla-protein (MGP), a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification, is dependent on carboxylation using vitamin K as a co-factor. In animals, low intake of total vitamin K has been shown to accelerate vascular calcification via the MGP mechanism. This has led to the hypothesis that low levels of dietary vitamin K intake may be a risk factor for accelerated vascular calcification in humans due to decreased MGP activity. Additionally, some authors have suggested that current recommended daily intake values for vitamin K might be insufficient to fully inhibit vascular calcification via the MGP mechanism. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary vitamin K1 (the most prevalent dietary form of vitamin K) intake and premature coronary artery calcification (CAC) in an asymptomatic screening population. MethodsWe conducted a prospective study of 807 consecutive active-duty US Army personnel, 39–45 years of age, without known coronary heart disease. Vitamin K1 intake was measured with the Block Dietary Questionnaire and CAC was identified using electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT). ResultsWe found no significant correlation between CAC score and vitamin K1 intake (r=0.132, P=0.106). Multivariate analysis with adjustment for cardiac risk factors showed no association between dietary vitamin K1 intake and CAC. ConclusionsDietary vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) intake appears to be unrelated to premature coronary calcification in a screening population. Further investigation into the relationship of vascular calcification and other forms of vitamin K1 (menaquinones) is indicated.
Improving Speech Recognition in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users by Listening With the Better Ear

For patients with bilateral cochlear implants (BiCIs), understanding a target talker in a noisy situation can be difficult. Current efforts for improving speech-in-noise understanding have focused on improving signal-to-noise ratio by using multiple microphones or signal processing, with only moderate improvements in speech understanding performance. However, BiCI users typically report having a better ear for listening which can lead to an asymmetry in speech unmasking performance. This work proposes a novel listening strategy for improving speech-in-noise understanding by combining (a) a priori knowledge of a better ear and having a BiCI user selectively attend to a target talker in that ear with (b) signal processing that delivers the target talker to the better ear and the noisy background to the opposite ear. This strategy is different from traditional noise reduction strategies because it maintains situational awareness (background sounds are delivered to the ear contralateral to the better ear) while improving speech understanding. Speech recognition performance was evaluated with and without the better ear strategy in a speech-in-noise listening test using a virtual auditory space created from individualized head-related transfer functions. Listeners showed an average improvement of 4.4 dB signal-to-noise ratio in their speech reception threshold when using the better ear strategy with no listener showing a decrement in performance. This implies that the strategy has the potential to boost speech-in-noise recognition in BiCI users and may be useful in other hearing assistance devices such as hearing aids.
Decay-accelerating factor (DAF/CD55) is a functional active element of the LPS receptor complex

Previously, we identified an 80 kDa membrane protein (LMP80) that is capable of binding to LPS and lipid A in the presence of LBP and sCD14. LMP80 could also be detected after immuno-coprecipitation of cell membranes with LPS and lipid A, indicating a physical contact of LMP80 and LPS/lipid A. Further analysis and peptide sequencing revealed that LMP80 is identical to CD55 (decay accelerating factor, DAF), a regulatory molecule of the complement cascade. Transfection of LPS-hyporesponsive Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with human CD55 resulted in the translocation of NF-κB upon stimulation with LPS or lipid A. Our results demonstrate a new functional role of CD55 as a molecule able to mediate LPS-induced activation of cells that may be part of a multimeric LPS receptor complex.
Pattern of expression of the serotonin2C receptor messenger RNA in the basal ganglia of adult rats

The distribution of the serotonin (5‐HT) receptor 5‐HT2C mRNA was examined at the single‐cell level with in situ hybridization histochemistry and emulsion autoradiography in the basal ganglia and mesolimbic system of adult rats, with focus on the pallidum and the substantia nigra, which receive striatal inputs and play a critical role in basal ganglia function. 5‐HT2C receptor mRNA expression was always restricted to a subpopulation of neurons in the regions examined. In the neostriatum, labeled neurons were more numerous in the rostral nucleus accumbens than in the caudal nucleus accumbens and were more numerous in the ventral and ventrolateral caudate‐putamen than in the dorsal caudate‐putamen, where labeled neurons were restricted to isolated clusters. In striatal target areas, dense labeling in the entopeduncular nucleus (internal pallidum, direct striatal output pathway) contrasted with an absence of labeling in the globus pallidus (external pallidum, indirect striatal output pathway). Double‐label in situ hybridization in the substantia nigra revealed coexpression of 5‐HT2C receptor mRNA with glutamic acid decarboxylase but not with tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA, indicating that it was restricted to γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons. In this region, dense labeling for 5‐HT2C mRNA was found in half of the neurons at middle and caudal levels of both the pars compacta and the pars reticulata, with little labeling rostrally. The data suggest that drugs acting on the 5‐HT2C receptor could selectively affect discrete neuronal populations in the basal ganglia and mesolimbic systems and indicate a new level of neurochemical heterogeneity among GABAergic neurons of the substantia nigra. J. Comp. Neurol. 384:233‐247, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 1,292 isolates of the Bacteroides fragilis group in the United States: comparison of 1981 with 1982

A susceptibility survey of 537 strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group from eight centers in the United States was continued at the Tufts New England Medical Center in 1982. The results were compared with those of 755 organisms analyzed in 1981. Nine antimicrobial agents were tested by an agar dilution method. The respective percentages of resistance for 1981 and 1982 were as follows (%): cefoxitin, 8 and 10; moxalactam, 22 and 12; cefotaxime, 54 and 48; cefoperazone, 57 and 54; piperacillin, 12 and 7; clindamycin, 6 and 3; metronidazole, 0 and 0; chloramphenicol, 0 and 0; and tetracycline, 63 and 59. Regional differences in resistance rates were found. Declines in resistance to moxalactam, piperacillin, and clindamycin were noted at the participating hospitals. An outbreak of cefoxitin resistance was noted at the Tufts New England Medical Center, where the rate increased from 14 to 30%. The various species of the B. fragilis group had differing patterns of resistance; B. fragilis was the most susceptible species. Significant cross resistance among the beta-lactam agents was found. These data indicate the need to determine the susceptibility patterns of the B. fragilis group organisms within each hospital.
Effects of Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) age and different forage: concentrate ratios on methanogenesis

Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de la edad del pasto kikuyo (Pennisetum clandestinum) y de la relacion forraje/suplemento (F/S) sobre la produccion de metano (CH4), la digestibilidad de la materia seca (DMS) y el perfil de fermentacion mediante la tecnica in vitro de produccion de gas. Materiales y metodos. Seis tratamientos, resultantes de la combinacion de los factores edad del pasto (30 y 60 dias) y relacion F/S (100/0, 75/25 y 50/50), fueron evaluados bajo un diseno factorial 2x3. Las variables respuesta se midieron a las 6, 12, 24 y 48 horas de incubacion. Para el analisis de los datos se empleo un diseno de medidas repetidas en el tiempo y las diferencias entre medias se determinaron con el procedimiento LSMEANS de SAS. Resultados. El pasto de menor edad (30 dias) fue mas digestible, produjo menos CH4 por gramo de materia seca digestible (MSd) y mas acidos grasos volatiles totales (AGV) que el pasto de mayor edad (60 dias, p 0.05). Conclusiones. Bajo condiciones in vitro, con pH proximo a la neutralidad, la mayor edad del pasto reduce la DMS y aumenta la produccion de CH4 por gramo de MSd, mientras que la reduccion en la relacion F/S aumenta la DMS y la produccion de CH4 por gramo de MSd, ultimo hallazgo que contrasta con los reportes in vivo.
Additive Complexity and Zeros of Real Polynomials

Let $P \in R[ X ]$ be a polynomial of additive complexity k (the additive complexity is the minimal number of $ \pm $ operations needed to compute P over R). It is shown that there exists a constant C (independent of P) such that the number of distinct real zeros of P is $ \leqq C^{k^2 } $. This is an improvement on a result of Borodin and Cook (SIAM J. Comput., 5 (1970), pp. 146–157). This result is then generalized to polynomials in several variables, the number of zeros being replaced by the number of connected components of the zero set.
Determination of indication for sentinel lymph node biopsy in clinical node-negative breast cancer using preoperative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography fusion imaging.

OBJECTIVE Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is indicated for axillary lymph node metastasis-negative cases (N0), but clarification of the indication may increase treatment efficiency. Fluorine-18-labeled 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) may have a high positive predictive value in diagnosis of axillary lymph node metastasis. METHODS Ninety-two breasts/axillae were analyzed retrospectively in 90 patients (median age 54.6-year old, median primary tumor 1.7 cm). FDG-PET/computed tomography was used to indicate SNB in N0 cases. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed in cases that were axillary lymph node metastasis-positive (PET N+) on FDG-PET/CT. RESULTS Seventy-four (80.4%) and 18 (19.6%) of the 92 axillae were diagnosed as metastasis-negative (PET N0) and PET N+, respectively, by FDG-PET/CT. SNB was performed in 51 of the 74 PET N0 axillae. ALND was performed in 23 PET N0 axillae (at the patients' request) and in all 18 PET N+ axillae. Of the 74 PET N0 axillae, 14 were metastasis-positive (pN+) and 60 were pN0 pathologically, and of the 18 PET N+ axillae, 13 were pN+ and five were pN0. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET/CT for diagnosis of axillary metastasis were 48.1 and 92.3%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 72.2 and 81.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION The positive detection rate on FDG-PET/CT was insufficient for determining an indication of SNB. However, use of an appropriate cut-off for SUV(max) (the positive rate was 90.9% with a cut-off of 2.0) and exclusion of surgically biopsied cases may achieve a clinically applicable positive detection rate.
Earnings Quality As Measured By Predictability of Reported Earnings

The study selected a single normative criterion related to earnings quality, that current and prior years’ earnings per share (eps) should be reasonable predictors of future eps. Correlations between one year’s eps and the following year’s eps were sometimes much higher than expected. A surprise was that the second prior year’s eps was a slightly better predictor of the current year’s eps than the immediate prior year. Performing multivariate regressions with an additional prior year dependent variable provides an improvement in the residual sum of squares (two independent variables predict better than three, etc). But with the addition of each additional prior year the percentage improvement in the residual sum of squares declines. Further, starting with the sixth prior year, adding an additional dependent variable makes no noticeable impact on prediction.
What Teachers Need to Know About Teaching Methods

What Teachers Need to Know about Teaching Methods explains the different theories of teaching and learning, together with their underlying principles and methods. It defines the role of a teacher in the learning process and looks at the latest research on what contributes to effective practice. Teaching Methods deals with important key issues and provides a wealth of references for further study and exploration in the subject.
Helicobacter pylori Expresses an Autolytic Enzyme: Gene Identification, Cloning, and Theoretical Protein Structure

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is an important pathogen of the gastric system. The clinical outcome of infection is thought to be correlated with some genetic features of the bacterium. However, due to the extreme genetic variability of this organism, it is hard to draw definitive conclusions concerning its virulence factors. Here we describe a novel H. pylori gene which expresses an autolytic enzyme that is also capable of degrading the cell walls of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. We designated this gene lys. We found this gene and observed its expression in a number of unrelated clinical strains, a fact that suggests that it is well conserved in the species. A comparison of the nucleotide sequences of lys and the hypothetical gene HP0339 from H. pylori strain ATCC 26695 revealed almost total identity, except for the presence of an insertion consisting of 24 nucleotides in the lys sequence. The coding sequences of lys and HP0339 show a high degree of homology with the coding sequence of bacteriophage T4 lysozyme. Because of this similarity, it was possible to model the three-dimensional structures of both the lys and HP0339 products.
Influencing Patient Satisfaction Scores: Prospective One-Arm Study of a Novel Intravenous Catheter System With Retractable Coiled-Tip Guidewire Compared With Published Literature for Conventional Peripheral Intravenous Catheters

With potential hospital reimbursement centered on patient satisfaction, limiting the number of invasive peripheral venipunctures may increase Press Ganey satisfaction scores. A prospective study compared published outcomes with conventional intravenous (IV) catheters against results using a newly designed IV catheter with a retractable, coiled-tip guidewire. The objectives were to determine whether successful first-attempt and IV complication rates might be altered using the new technology. In a small community hospital-based study of 95 patients, first-attempt success, complications, dwell time, and patient satisfaction results with the new technology scored significantly better, from insertion to removal, than published outcomes with conventional catheters.
OCT-Guided Photodynamic Therapy for Angiographic Occult CNV in Pathologic Myopia

Purpose Pathologic myopia (PM) is frequently complicated by choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Diagnosis is mainly clinical and angiographic but in recent years optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been noted to add important information. The authors report on the successfully OCT-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) of an angiographic occult CNV complicating PM. Methods Observational case report. Fluorescein angiography with a confocal SLO (HRA, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) and OCT Stratus (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) imaging were used for diagnosis and monitoring of the CNV. Standard PDT was performed. Results A highly myopic 17-year-old girl complained of a drop in visual acuity (VA) in left eye (LE), dating back a few weeks. Her best-corrected (BC) VA was 20/40 in the LE, with some metamorphopsia. No hemorrhage or evident signs of CNV were visible either at fundus or at dynamic fluorescein angiography. OCT scans indicated a slight elevation of the RPE-choriocapillary complex with rarefaction of neuroretinal tissue that has been interpreted as CNV. PDT was then performed. LE BCVA had improved to 20/25, metamorphopsias disappeared, and at OCT examination no retinal morphologic modification was evident. Nine months later, BCVA and ophthalmoscopy are still stable. Conclusions In this case, OCT was the fundamental tool for the correct diagnosis and post-therapy monitoring of CNV-complicated PM. The CNV, not clearly detectable using angiographic imaging, was treated with PDT, and results in terms of VA and anatomic resolution were good.
Synthesis of Specific Proteins in Trophic Factor‐Deprived Neurons Undergoing Apoptosis

Abstract: Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is a mechanism used by different tissues to regulate their cell content. In the nervous system, this process is supposed to adjust the final number of neurons to the number of the target cells they are innervating. The demonstration that, in several systems in vitro and in vivo, neuronal apoptosis can be prevented by inhibiting RNA or protein synthesis suggests that an activation of gene expression is required in the cells that are going to die. The genes involved and their products, named “killer proteins”, are not known in the superior vertebrates. In order to identify such proteins, we have used and characterized an in vitro model consisting of neurons derived from 8‐day‐old embryonic chicken ciliary ganglia. RNA and protein synthesis inhibitors can prevent the death of these neurons when they are deprived of trophic support. Comparing the synthesis of proteins in trophic‐supported neurons with that in trophic‐deprived neurons by the use of two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we have observed that several proteins were overexpressed reproducibly in the apoptotic cells. We found that all these proteins are localized in the nucleus, suggesting that they may be transcription regulators.
Combining Printing, Coating, and Vacuum Deposition on the Roll-to-Roll Scale: A Hybrid Organic Photovoltaics Fabrication

The potential for organic electronic technologies to produce low-cost energy at large scales is often cited as the most attractive feature of these materials. Such aspirations depend on the ability of materials to be printed from solution at high speeds across large areas using roll-to-roll (R2R) processing. However, progressing the technology from the laboratory environment into the industrial manufacturing arena is highly challenging. Closing the gap between exciting laboratory scale insights and the industrial scale potential requires a new focus on upscaling existing technology. Some recent progress in this area is discussed, concentrating on the need to pursue research across several different scales simultaneously in order to most effectively optimize large-scale fabrication efforts. These discussions are placed in the context of a design philosophy that combines printing, coating, and vacuum-based procedures. The challenges associated with selecting, and subsequently synthesizing, the optimal materials for device construction at large scales are considered. Case histories that highlight the unique challenges encountered during printing, coating, and sputtering at the R2R scale are presented. Developing testing and characterization procedures that can interrogate organic photovoltaic device (OPV) structures in real time is also discussed, and the opportunity for new tools to probe device photophysics is highlighted. The collection of innovative approaches to R2R fabrication challenges discussed here highlights the exciting progress toward efficient OPV modules becoming a commercial reality.