Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Confronting three revolutions: Western European consumer co-operatives and their divergent development, 1950–2008

This article analyses the divergent development of Western European consumer co-operatives in the period from 1950 to 2008. It asks how some consumer co-ops throughout the post-war years managed to defend and even strengthen their market share and increase their membership while others saw both market shares and membership decline or evaporate. To analyse this question the paper offers a comparative analysis of three selected consumer co-ops; one case where consumer co-ops developed positively (Norway), one case showing consumer co-operative collapse (Germany) and one case where there has been quite substantial decline but no collapse (United Kingdom). The overall argument propounded is that thesuccess or decline of these co-ops was intimately linked to how they confronted three parallel transformations in the post-war food retail market: the ‘supermarket revolution’, the ‘chain store revolution’ and the ‘consumer revolution’. The divergent ability to confront these challenges was related both to external and internal factors.
Individual Differences in The Pharmacokinetics of Clozapine in Healthy Chinese Adults

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Differences in response to clozapine among patients have received considerable attention. Individual pharmacokinetic differences are a major reason.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic variability in the blood levels of clozapine among young, healthy, Chinese male volunteers.Methods: A total of 18 volunteers who received 12.5mg of clozapine participated in the study. Blood samples were measured by using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The major pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the plasma concentration-time curve and individual variability was assessed.Results: The findings indicated that the AUC0-48h, Cmax and t1/2 varied 2.9, 2.6, and 2.0 fold, respectively among the individuals even with similar physiological status.Conclusions: Individual differences were obvious among healthy volunteers and greater differences could have been observed if more subjects had been inc.
Interferon α and zidovudine therapy in adult T‐cell leukaemia lymphoma: response and outcome in 15 patients

Adult T‐cell leukaemia lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive disease caused by the human T‐lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV‐I) with a short survival. Responses to interferon alpha (IFN‐α) and zidovudine (AZT) have been documented but not with long‐term follow‐up. We treated 15 ATLL patients with IFN and AZT. Eleven patients had acute ATLL, two had lymphoma and two smouldering ATLL, with progression. The main features were: organomegaly (14), skin lesions (10), high white blood cell (WBC) count (11) and hypercalcaemia (9). Eleven patients had previously received chemotherapy and one had received an autograft. At the time of the study, seven patients had progressive disease and eight were in partial or complete clinical remission. Responses (PR) lasting 2+ to 44+ months were seen in 67%; 26% did not respond (NR) and one patient was not evaluable. Hypercalcaemia predicted a poor outcome but differences were not significant. Eight of the 15 patients have died 3–41 months from diagnosis. Median survival for the 15 patients was 18 months. Survival of the NR ranged from 4 to 20 months; six PR patients are alive 8–82 months from diagnosis. The differences in survival between NR (median: 6 months) and PR (55% of patients alive at 4 years) were statistically significant (P = 0·002). In conclusion, IFN and AZT improves the outcome of ATLL patients and helps maintain responses.
Projection approximation subspace tracking

Subspace estimation plays an important role in a variety of modern signal processing applications. We present a new approach for tracking the signal subspace recursively. It is based on a novel interpretation of the signal subspace as the solution of a projection like unconstrained minimization problem. We show that recursive least squares techniques can be applied to solve this problem by making an appropriate projection approximation. The resulting algorithms have a computational complexity of O(nr) where n is the input vector dimension and r is the number of desired eigencomponents. Simulation results demonstrate that the tracking capability of these algorithms is similar to and in some cases more robust than the computationally expensive batch eigenvalue decomposition. Relations of the new algorithms to other subspace tracking methods and numerical issues are also discussed. >
OpenSARShip: A Dataset Dedicated to Sentinel-1 Ship Interpretation

With the rapid growth of Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data, how to exploit Sentinel-1 imagery and achieve effective and robust marine surveillance are crucial problems. In this paper, we present the OpenSARShip, a dataset dedicated to Sentinel-1 ship interpretation. The OpenSARShip, providing 11 346 SAR ship chips integrated with automatic identification system messages, owes five essential properties: specificality, large scale, diversity, reliability, and public availability. These properties make sure that the OpenSARShip achieves its objectives. The first is to provide researchers a benchmark dataset to develop applicable and adaptive ship interpretation algorithms and push the performance ceilings of data analysis. The other is to provide a dataset for performing application-oriented quality assessment for Sentinel-1 imagery, which can boost their applications in a targeting way. The construction and the organization of the OpenSARShip are discussed, which show the inside of the dataset and ensure the essential properties. The elaborate geometric and scattering analyses, the benchmark for classification, and the imagery applicability assessment by using the OpenSARShip all demonstrate the applicability and potential of the dataset.
Enhancing the Bayesian network approach to face detection

This work presents some improvements to the Bayesian network approach to face detection. Feature selection is directed towards avoiding the problems caused by considering feature fragments as complete features. More selective criteria for grouping are applied, thus reducing the number of candidate groups that must be considered. Statistical measures dependent on the feature size are used to increase the detection reliability, especially in images of groups of people.
THE ESTIMATION OF MATURITY BY CYTOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE LIQUOR AMNII

IT is not uncommon for foetal maturity to be in doubt late in pregnancy. Doubt about the date of the last menstrual period, menstrual irregularity, late booking and failure to record the date of quickening may all contribute to this situation. Attempts to estimate maturity on the basis of uterine size in late pregnancy, and clinical estimates of the size of the foetus in utero may be grossly misleading. Radiological examination is of value when confirmation of maturity is needed ; however, there is at least a potential hazard, and Murdoch (1957) and Cope (1958) have clearly demonstrated the limitations of this technique. Vaginal cytology has not proved to be of value in the estimation of maturity, although cytological changes at term have been described by Pundel(l959) and Lichtfuss (1959). This communication records our initial experience of a new method for estimating maturity, based on cytological examination of the liquor amnii. MATERIAL
Protein antigen b (Pab) based PCR test in diagnosis of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is largely based on microscopy and culture examination which are either less sensitive, or time consuming. In the present study a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test based on DNA sequence coding for a 38-kilodalton protein antigen b (Pab) ,specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was compared with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained AFB (acid fast bacilli) smear examination, culture based on conventional Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium and radiometric BACTEC 460 system for the diagnosis of TB using clinical samples obtained from pulmonary and extra-pulmonary cases of TB. METHODS Clinical samples obtained from 168 patients of suspected TB (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) were subjected to ZN smear examination, LJ culture, radiometric BACTEC culture and a PCR test by amplifying 419 bp sequence coding for Pab, a glycoprotein of molecular weight 38 kDa. RESULTS A significant difference was seen in the sensitivity of different tests, the figures being 74.2 per cent for PCR test, 53.4 per cent for BACTEC culture, 47.1 per cent for LJ medium based culture and 35.2 per cent for ZN smear examination (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between different tests as far as specificity was concerned. PCR test sensitivity in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary clinical samples were 74.3 and 71.5 per cent respectively, being significantly higher (P<0.05) when compared with sensitivity of other tests. The mean detection time for M. tuberculosis was 24.0 days by LJ media culture, 12.8 days by BACTEC culture and less than 1 day by smear examination and PCR test. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION PCR test is more sensitive than ZN smear examination, LJ medium culture and BACTEC culture for diagnosing TB in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary clinical samples.
Direct inhibition of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase in sympathetic neurones prevents c‐jun promoter activation and NGF withdrawal‐induced death

c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNKs) regulate gene expression by phosphorylating transcription factors, such as c‐Jun. Studies with Jnk knockout mice suggest that JNK activity may be required for excitotoxin‐induced apoptosis in the adult hippocampus and for apoptosis in the developing embryonic neural tube. Here we investigate the role of JNKs in classical neurotrophin‐regulated developmental neuronal death by using nerve growth factor (NGF)‐dependent sympathetic neurones. In this system, NGF withdrawal leads to an increase in JNK activity, an increase in c‐Jun protein levels and c‐Jun N‐terminal phosphorylation before the cell death commitment point, and c‐Jun activity is required for cell death. To inhibit JNK activity in sympathetic neurones we have used two different JNK inhibitors that act by distinct mechanisms: the compound SB 203580 and the JNK binding domain (JBD) of JNK interacting protein 1 (JIP‐1). We demonstrate that JNK activity is required for c‐Jun phosphorylation, c‐jun promoter activation and NGF withdrawal‐induced apoptosis. We also show that ATF‐2, a c‐Jun dimerization partner that can regulate c‐jun gene expression, is activated following NGF deprivation. Finally, by co‐expressing the JBD and a regulatable c‐Jun dominant negative mutant we demonstrate that JNK and AP‐1 function in the same pro‐apoptotic signalling pathway after NGF withdrawal.
Analysis and optimization of a DAR IMPATT diode for millimetric region

The analysis and optimization of the n+pvnp+ avalanche diode structure that includes two avalanche regions have been realized on basis of the nonlinear model and special optimization procedure. The admittance characteristics of the DAR diode were analyzed in very wide frequency band from 30 up to 360 GHz and had been optimized for the third frequency band near the 300 GHz.
Toward an Understanding of Polyglutamine Neurodegeneration

Polyglutamine expansion is now recognized to be a major cause of inherited human neurodegenerative disease. The polyglutamine expansion diseases identified so far are slowly progressive disorders in which distinct yet overlapping brain regions are selectively vulnerable to degeneration. Despite their clinical differences these diseases likely share a common pathogenic mechanism, occurring at the protein level and centered on an abnormal conformation of expanded polyglutamine in the respective disease proteins. Recently there has been remarkable progress in our understanding of polyglutamine disease, but still there are many unanswered questions. In this review, I first outline some of the shared features of polyglutamine diseases and then discuss several issues relevant to an understanding of pathogenesis, paying particular attention to possible mechanisms of neurotoxicity.
‘hotdog’, not ‘hot’ ‘dog’: the phonological planning of compound words

Do we say dog when we say hotdog? In five experiments using the implicit priming paradigm, we assessed whether nominal compounds composed of two free morphemes like sawdust or fishbowl are prepared for production at the segmental level in the same way that two-syllable monomorphemic words (e.g. bandit) are, or instead as sequences of separable words (e.g. full bowl or grey dust). The experiments demonstrated that nominal compounds are planned as a single sequence, not as two sequences. Specifically, the onset of the second component of the compound (e.g. /d/ in sawdust) did not act as a primeable starting point, although comparable onsets did when that component was an independent word (grey dust). We conclude that there may be a dog in hotdog at the morpheme level, but not when phonological segments are prepared for production.
An Empirical Study on the Causality between Economic Growth and Taxation in Nigeria

This study examines the causality between economic growth and taxation in Nigeria for the period 1970-2009. To achieve the objective of the study, data was collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The data collected from the secondary sources were analysed using relevant econometric models such as Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Diagnostic Tests, Granger Causality and Johansen Co-integration. The results from the econometric analysis reveals that taxation as an instrument of fiscal policy affects the economic growth and taxation granger cause economic growth of Nigeria. On the basis of the econometric result, the study concluded that taxation is a very important instrument of fiscal policy that contributes to economic growth of any country. On the basis of the conclusion useful recommendations were provided that will improve the generation of revenue from taxation that would stimulate the economy of Nigeria positively.
Polygenic Scores for Major Depressive Disorder and Risk of Alcohol Dependence

Importance Major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol dependence (AD) are heritable disorders with significant public health burdens, and they are frequently comorbid. Common genetic factors that influence the co-occurrence of MDD and AD have been sought in family, twin, and adoption studies, and results to date have been promising but inconclusive. Objective To examine whether AD and MDD overlap genetically, using a polygenic score approach. Design, Settings, and Participants Association analyses were conducted between MDD polygenic risk score (PRS) and AD case-control status in European ancestry samples from 4 independent genome-wide association study (GWAS) data sets: the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA); the Study of Addiction, Genetics, and Environment (SAGE); the Yale-Penn genetic study of substance dependence; and the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Results from a meta-analysis of MDD (9240 patients with MDD and 9519 controls) from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium were applied to calculate PRS at thresholds from P < . 05 to P ⩽ . 99 in each AD GWAS data set. Main Outcomes and Measures Association between MDD PRS and AD. Results Participants analyzed included 788 cases (548 [69.5%] men; mean [SD] age, 38.2 [10.8] years) and 522 controls (151 [28.9.%] men; age [SD], 43.9 [11.6] years) from COGA; 631 cases (333 [52.8%] men; age [SD], 35.0 [7.7] years) and 756 controls (260 [34.4%] male; age [SD] 36.1 [7.7] years) from SAGE; 2135 cases (1375 [64.4%] men; age [SD], 39.4 [11.5] years) and 350 controls (126 [36.0%] men; age [SD], 43.5 [13.9] years) from Yale-Penn; and 317 cases (295 [93.1%] men; age [SD], 59.1 [13.1] years) and 1719 controls (1545 [89.9%] men; age [SD], 64.5 [13.3] years) from NHRVS. Higher MDD PRS was associated with a significantly increased risk of AD in all samples (COGA: best P = 1.7 × 10−6, R2 = 0.026; SAGE: best P = .001, R2 = 0.01; Yale-Penn: best P = .035, R2 = 0.0018; and NHRVS: best P = .004, R2 = 0.0074), with stronger evidence for association after meta-analysis of the 4 samples (best P = 3.3 × 10−9). In analyses adjusted for MDD status in 3 AD GWAS data sets, similar patterns of association were observed (COGA: best P = 7.6 × 10−6, R2 = 0.023; Yale-Penn: best P = .08, R2 = 0.0013; and NHRVS: best P = .006, R2 = 0.0072). After recalculating MDD PRS using MDD GWAS data sets without comorbid MDD-AD cases, significant evidence was observed for an association between the MDD PRS and AD in the meta-analysis of 3 GWAS AD samples without MDD cases (best P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance These results suggest that shared genetic susceptibility contributes modestly to MDD and AD comorbidity. Individuals with elevated polygenic risk for MDD may also be at risk for AD.
Higher-order nonlinear evolution equation for interfacial waves in a two-layer fluid system.

An alternative type of nonlinear evolution equation is derived that describes interfacial waves in a two-layer fiuid system. The equation presented here is a higher-order version of the Benjamin-Ono (BO) equation. A solitary-wave solution of the equation is obtained by means of a singular perturbation method. The characteristics of the solution are discussed in comparison with those for a higher-order BO equation of the Lax type.
Pathways to work for low-income workers: The effect of work in the temporary help industry

This paper provides new evidence to inform the policy debate about the effect of a newly important industry-the temporary help industry-on the labor market outcomes of low-income workers and those workers who are at risk of being on public assistance. The core issue of whether temporary help work harms the long-term prospects of disadvantaged individuals depends critically on the alternatives available to the worker. Temporary employment results in labor market outcomes that are better than not working at all. For example, while nonemployed public assistance recipients have only a 35 percent chance of being employed a year later, those who were in temporary employment have almost twice the likelihood of being employed in the same period. These findings, if correct, would support the use of temporary agencies by welfare programs. © 2003 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
A convergent actor-critic-based FRL algorithm with application to power management of wireless transmitters

This paper provides the first convergence proof for fuzzy reinforcement learning (FRL) as well as experimental results supporting our analysis. We extend the work of Konda and Tsitsiklis, who presented a convergent actor-critic (AC) algorithm for a general parameterized actor. In our work we prove that a fuzzy rulebase actor satisfies the necessary conditions that guarantee the convergence of its parameters to a local optimum. Our fuzzy rulebase uses Takagi-Sugeno-Kang rules, Gaussian membership functions, and product inference. As an application domain, we chose a difficult task of power control in wireless transmitters, characterized by delayed rewards and a high degree of stochasticity. To the best of our knowledge, no reinforcement learning algorithms have been previously applied to this task. Our simulation results show that the ACFRL algorithm consistently converges in this domain to a locally optimal policy.
Milk Marketing Chains in Bihar: Implications for Dairy Farmers and Traders

The study has addressed the issues associated with the alternative milk market chains and their implications on dairy farmers and traders. It has been conducted in Bihar, where modern milk market chains especially the milk co-operatives have grown significantly. The study has shown that in spite of growing presence of modern milk supply chains, the traditional milk supply chain is still dominant. The empirical evidence does not appear to support the perceptions of exploitative nature of the traditional milk market agents. Traditional milk processing seems to offer good opportunities for the small and resource-poor milk producers and traders to enhance their income. The traditional milk sector should be addressed in a constructive manner and the policies should be evolved which would allow informal players improve their performance including quality control and their integration with the emerging modern milk supply chains.
Poly(ADP‐ribose) and carcinogenesis

Poly(ADP‐ribose) and poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) were discovered about 40 years ago, but their significance was not well elucidated until recently. In the early stage of the history of PARP, the presence of antibodies in the sera of human patients with lupus erythematosus indicated its natural occurrence. PARP, as well as the degrading enzyme, poly(ADP‐ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), are present in most eukaryotes except for yeasts. Studies that used inhibitors of PARP indicated the involvement of PARP and poly(ADP‐ribose) in DNA damage repair, and eventually PARP was purified and the gene was cloned. Molecular analysis then revealed various functional domains, such as the one for binding to strand breaks of DNA. Parp‐1–deficient and Parg‐deficient cells showed, in general, enhanced sensitivity to the lethal effects of ionizing radiation and alkylating agents. Parp‐1 knockout mouse embryonic stem cells developed into teratocarcinoma‐like tumors when injected subcutaneously into nude mice, these tumors featuring giant cells similar to syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells with hyperploidy. Parp‐1 was also found in centrosomes, suggesting that poly(ADP‐ribose) and PARP‐1 are functionally involved in the maintenance of chromatin structure and the equal distribution of chromosomes into daughter cells. Intriguing findings on the real biological significance continue to be generated, with new light shed on mechanisms of carcinogenesis and pointing to novel cancer treatments. Highlights during the last four decades of studies by laboratories focusing on poly(ADP‐ribose)/PARP, including our own, are condensed and summarized in this review. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Particulate Organic Matter in the Sea: The Composition Conundrum

Abstract As organic matter produced in the euphotic zone of the ocean sinks through the mesopelagic zone, its composition changes from one that is easily characterized by standard chromatographic techniques to one that is not. The material not identified at the molecular level is called “uncharacterized”. Several processes account for this transformation of organic matter: aggregation/disaggregation of particles resulting in incorporation of older and more degraded material; recombination of organic compounds into geomacromolecules; and selective preservation of specific biomacromolecules. Furthermore, microbial activities may introduce new cell wall or other biomass material that is not easily characterized, or they may produce such material as a metabolic product. In addition, black carbon produced by combustion processes may compose a fraction of the uncharacterized organic matter, as it is not analyzed in standard biochemical techniques. Despite these poorly-defined compositional changes that hinder chemical identification, the vast majority of organic matter in sinking particles remains accessible to and is ultimately remineralized by marine microbes.