Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The green, blue and grey water footprint of crops and derived crops products

This study quantifies the green, blue and grey water footprint of global crop production in a spatially-explicit way for the period 1996–2005. The assessment improves upon earlier research by taking a high-resolution approach, estimating the water footprint of 126 crops at a 5 by 5 arc minute grid. We have used a grid-based dynamic water balance model to calculate crop water use over time, with a time step of one day. The model takes into account the daily soil water balance and climatic conditions for each grid cell. In addition, the water pollution associated with the use of nitrogen fertilizer in crop production is estimated for each grid cell. The crop evapotranspiration of additional 20 minor crops is calculated with the CROPWAT model. In addition, we have calculated the water footprint of more than two hundred derived crop products, including various flours, beverages, fibres and biofuels. We have used the water footprint assessment framework as in the guideline of the Water Footprint Network. Considering the water footprints of primary crops, we see that the global average water footprint per ton of crop increases from sugar crops (roughly 200 m3 ton−1), vegetables (300 m3 ton−1), roots and tubers (400 m3 ton−1), fruits (1000 m3 ton−1), cereals (1600 m3 ton−1), oil crops (2400 m3 ton−1) to pulses (4000 m3 ton−1). The water footprint varies, however, across different crops per crop category and per production region as well. Besides, if one considers the water footprint per kcal, the picture changes as well. When considered per ton of product, commodities with relatively large water footprints are: coffee, tea, cocoa, tobacco, spices, nuts, rubber and fibres. The analysis of water footprints of different biofuels shows that bio-ethanol has a lower water footprint (in m3 GJ−1) than biodiesel, which supports earlier analyses. The crop used matters significantly as well: the global average water footprint of bio-ethanol based on sugar beet amounts to 51 m3 GJ−1, while this is 121 m3 GJ−1 for maize. The global water footprint related to crop production in the period 1996–2005 was 7404 billion cubic meters per year (78 % green, 12 % blue, 10 % grey). A large total water footprint was calculated for wheat (1087 Gm3 yr−1), rice (992 Gm3 yr−1) and maize (770 Gm3 yr−1). Wheat and rice have the largest blue water footprints, together accounting for 45 % of the global blue water footprint. At country level, the total water footprint was largest for India (1047 Gm3 yr−1), China (967 Gm3 yr−1) and the USA (826 Gm3 yr−1). A relatively large total blue water footprint as a result of crop production is observed in the Indus river basin (117 Gm3 yr−1) and the Ganges river basin (108 Gm3 yr−1). The two basins together account for 25 % of the blue water footprint related to global crop production. Globally, rain-fed agriculture has a water footprint of 5173 Gm3 yr−1 (91 % green, 9 % grey); irrigated agriculture has a water footprint of 2230 Gm3 yr−1 (48 % green, 40 % blue, 12 % grey).
It's Personal

ABSTRACT Digital television technology developments provide the unprecedented opportunity to personalize television advertisements enhanced with interactive features on the basis of viewers' preferences or interests. Existing personalization techniques applied over interactive platforms such as the Web provide the framework for the development of novel personalization approaches that take into account the particular television domain characteristics. In this article, we examine the exploitation of lifestyle as a predictor of consumers' behavior in combination with dynamic behavioral user-driven data for the development of an efficient personalization approach. The focus is on the extraction of a limited set of variables that model membership in lifestyle segments easily collectible in this environment. The lifestyle indicators are then utilized as a key element in a personalization algorithm for digital television advertisements.
A Novel Approach for Effective Emotion Recognition Using Double Truncated Gaussian Mixture Model and EEG

Most of the models projected in the literature on Emotion Recognition aims at recognizing the emotions from the mobilized persons in noise free environment and is subjected to the emotion recognition of an individual using a single word for testing and training. Literature available to identify the emotions in case of immobilized persons is confined to the results available from the machines only. In this process braincomputer interaction is utilized using neuro-scan machines like Encephalography (EEG), to identify the emotions of immobilized individuals. It uses the physiological signals available from EEG data extracted from the brain signals of immobilized persons and tries to determine the emotions, but these results vary from machine to machine, and there exists no standardization process which can identify the feelings of the brain diseased persons accurately. In this paper a novel method is proposed, Doubly Truncated Gaussian Mixture Model (DT-GMM) to have a complete emotion recognition system which can identify emotions exactly in a noisy environment from both the healthy individuals and sick persons. The results of the proposed system surpassed the accuracy rates of traditional systems.
An ATR-FTIR procedure for quantitative analysis of mineral constituents and kerogen in oil shale

Principal component regression (PCR) was used to develop calibration and prediction models for determination of mineral content of complex mineral mixtures by utilizing attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra. The typical constituents of oil shale such as dawsonite, nahcolite, quartz, dolomite, illite, albite, analcime, and kerogen were used to prepare samples to record mid-infrared (IR) spectra. The specified values of dawsonite, nahcolite, quartz, dolomite and kerogen were in good agreement with measured data.
Effective properties of a binary magnonic crystal

In this paper the effective properties of a two-dimensional periodic binary magnetic system are studied. The magnetic system is composed by cobalt cylindrical dots embedded into a permalloy film. The dot diameter is 310 nm and the periodicity of the system is 600 nm. Since the dot diameter is smaller than the characteristic mode wavelength, it is possible to describe the collective excitations through effective quantities. In particular, for each collective mode an effective wavelength and a small effective wave vector not necessarily equal to the corresponding Bloch wavelength and Bloch wave vector can be defined. The introduction of these effective quantities characterizing collective mode dynamics allows us to describe the binary periodic magnetic system as a magnonic metamaterial.
A Use Intention Model for Location-Based Mobile Advertising

The use of location-based mobile advertising to deliver context specific information from businesses to clients has the potential to help them increase revenues, personalize offerings and reduce marketing costs. However, there is a lack of adoption of this emergent mode of advertising among micro-enterprises. This study examined the underlying reasons for this lack of adoption using an exploratory factor analytic study based on an adaptation of the Technology Acceptance Model with the choice of technology as an additional factor. Data was collected in a survey involving 304 micro-enterprises by means of structured questionnaires and interview schedules. The study findings validate the technology acceptance model and also reveal that the choice of technology is an important factor influencing the intention to use location-based mobile advertising by micro-enterprises.
ELECTRONIC CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (ECRM): BENEFITS AND TRENDS

Electronic Customer Relationship Management (ECRM) refers to the marketing activities, tools and techniques delivered via the Internet which includes email, world wide web, chat rooms, e-forums, etc., with a specific aim to locate, build and improve long term customer relationships to enhance their individual potential. The Electronic Customer Relationship Management (ECRM) can include the etechnologies and new e-channels including mobile telephony, customer call and contact centre’s and voice response systems. This implies that electronic relationship management (ECRM) using mobile marketing may indeed offer an effective way to reach, and build relationships with, demanding customers in rapidly changing markets. Another e-technology offering companies opportunities for managing customer interactions is voice response systems.
TaxAbolishes Histone H1 Repression of p300 Acetyltransferase Activity at the Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1Promoter

ABSTRACT Upon infection of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the provirus is integrated into the host cell genome and subsequently packaged into chromatin that contains histone H1. Consequently, transcriptional activation of the virus requires overcoming the environment of chromatin and H1. To efficiently activate transcription, HTLV-1 requires the virally encoded protein Tax and cellular transcription factor CREB. Together Tax and CREB interact with three cis-acting promoter elements called viral cyclic-AMP response elements (vCREs). Binding of Tax and CREB to the vCREs promotes association of p300/CBP into the complex and leads to transcriptional activation. Therefore, to fully understand the mechanism of Tax transactivation, it is necessary to examine transcriptional activation from chromatin assembled with H1. Using a DNA template harboring the complete HTLV-1 promoter sequence and a highly defined recombinant assembly system, we demonstrate proper incorporation of histone H1 into chromatin. Addition of H1 to the chromatin template reduces HTLV-1 transcriptional activation through a novel mechanism. Specifically, H1 does not inhibit CREB or Tax binding to the vCREs or p300 recruitment to the promoter. Rather, H1 directly targets p300 acetyltransferase activity. Interestingly, in determining the mechanism of H1 repression, we have discovered a previously undefined function of Tax, overcoming the repressive effects of H1-chromatin. Tax specifically abrogates the H1 repression of p300 enzymatic activity in a manner independent of p300 recruitment and without displacement of H1 from the promoter.
Evaluation of the radiation pattern of a split aperture linear phased array for high frequency imaging

Developing transducer arrays for high frequency medical imaging is complicated because of the extremely small size and spacing of the array elements. For example, a 50 MHz linear phased array requires a center-to-center spacing of only 15 /spl mu/m (one-half wavelength in water) to avoid the formation of grating lobes in the radiation pattern of the array. Fabricating an array with these dimensions is difficult using conventional technology. A split aperture design that permits much larger element spacing (3 to 4 times) while avoiding the formation of grating lobes is described. The 3-D radiation pattern of a 1.9/spl times/1.4 mm, 50-MHz split aperture linear phased array with 33 transmit elements and 33 receive elements has been evaluated theoretically. The azimuthal beam width is 90 /spl mu/m at a distance of 4.0 mm. Grating lobes are suppressed by at least 60 dB at distances >4.0 mm (/spl sim/f/2). The elevation beam width is 220 /spl mu/m at 4.0 mm, and a useful depth of field over the axial range from 4 to 10 mm is obtained.
Morphology, axonal projection pattern, and responses to optic nerve stimulation of thalamic neurons in the fire‐bellied toad Bombina orientalis

Intracellular recording and biocytin labeling were carried out in the fire‐bellied toad Bombina orientalis to study the morphology and axonal projections of thalamic (TH) neurons and their responses to electrical optic nerve stimulation. Labeled neurons (n = 142) were divided into the following groups: TH1 neurons projecting to the dorsal striatum; TH2 neurons projecting to the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and septal nuclei; TH3 neurons projecting to the medial or dorsal pallium; TH4 neurons with projections ascending to the dorsal striatum or ventral striatum/amygdala and descending to the optic tectum, tegmentum, and rostral medulla oblongata; TH5 neurons with projections to the tegmentum, rostral medulla oblongata, prectectum, or tectum; and TH6 neurons projecting to the hypothalamus. TH1 neurons are found in the central, TH2 neurons in the anterior and central, TH3 neurons in the anterior dorsal nucleus, and TH4 and TH5 neurons in the posterior dorsal or ventral nucleus. Neurons with descending projections arborize in restricted parts of retinal afferents; neurons with ascending projections do not substantially arborize within retinal afferents. At electrical optic nerve stimulation, neurons in the ventral thalamus respond with excitation at latencies of 10.8 msec; one‐third of them follow repetitive stimulation and possibly are monosynaptically driven. Neurons in the dorsal thalamus respond mostly with inhibition at latencies of 42.3 msec and are polysynaptically driven. This corroborates the view that neurons in the dorsal thalamus projecting to the telencephalon receive no substantial direct retinal input and that the thalamopallial pathway of amphibians is not homologous to the mammalian retinogeniculocortical pathway. J. Comp. Neurol. 461:91–110, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A study on query terms proximity embedding for information retrieval

Information retrieval is applied widely to models and algorithms in wireless networks for cyber-physical systems. Query terms proximity has proved that it is a very useful information to improve the performance of information retrieval systems. Query terms proximity cannot retrieve documents independently, and it must be incorporated into original information retrieval models. This article proposes the concept of query term proximity embedding, which is a new method to incorporate query term proximity into original information retrieval models. Moreover, term-field-convolutions frequency framework, which is an implementation of query term proximity embedding, is proposed in this article, and experimental results show that this framework can improve the performance effectively compared with traditional proximity retrieval models.
Macromolecular delivery of 5-aminolaevulinic acid for photodynamic therapy using dendrimer conjugates

Intracellular porphyrin generation following administration of 5-aminolaevulinic acid (5-ALA) has been widely used in photodynamic therapy. However, cellular uptake of 5-ALA is limited by its hydrophilicity, and improved means of delivery are therefore being sought. Highly branched polymeric drug carriers known as dendrimers present a promising new approach to drug delivery because they have a well-defined structure capable of incorporating a high drug payload. In this work, a dendrimer conjugate was investigated, which incorporated 18 aminolaevulinic acid residues attached via ester linkages to a multipodent aromatic core. The ability of the dendrimer to deliver and release 5-ALA intracellularly for metabolism to the photosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX, was studied in the transformed PAM 212 murine keratinocyte and A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell lines. Up to an optimum concentration of 0.1 mmol/L, the dendrimer was significantly more efficient compared with 5-ALA for porphyrin synthesis. The intracellular porphyrin fluorescence levels showed good correlation with cellular phototoxicity following light exposure, together with minimal dark toxicity. Cellular uptake of the dendrimer occurs through endocytic routes predominantly via a macropinocytosis pathway. In conclusion, macromolecular dendritic derivatives are capable of delivering 5-ALA efficiently to cells for sustained porphyrin synthesis. [Mol Cancer Ther 2007;6(3):876–85]
Measuring Student Choice Criteria Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour: The Case of Taiwan, Australia, UK, and USA

ABSTRACT The international marketing of higher education is a global phenomenon in which more than 50 countries compete. USA enjoys the largest market share. However, the market place is highly competitive with many players seeking a place in the international club. Increasing competitive practices calls for increasing market research especially in the area of consumer behaviour and student motivations. In this research area this paper explores the differences in behavioural motivations of international students choosing an overseas university in which to study. The method used in the research is Fishbein's and Ajzen's multi-attribute Theory of Planned Behaviour model. From a sample of Taiwanese students, representing the Chinese Diaspora countries, the intentions of students to study in USA, UK and Australia are examined. Three research questions are explored and the outcome demonstrates the usefulness and the insights that can be gained from the application of the model of Theory of Planned Behaviour in a higher education marketing context.
How to classify the types of inter-organizational relationships in manufacturing firms

This study empirically examined the relationships among types of inter-organizational relationships (IORs), degrees of inter-organizational learning, trust and collaboration, and appropriate forms of IORs control devices in manufacturing firms. Based on the usage levels of inter-organizational information systems (IOSs) and traditional communication media (TCM) as well as the amount of transaction and management information exchanged between trading partners, the four types of IORs that have been suggested in the research of Choe (2008) were identified. The four types were: traditional market relationships, electronic links, strategic alliances, and virtual organizations. The results of cluster analyses represented the forms of IORs that may be similar to the four types of IORs. According to the results of this study, it was found that the levels of inter-organizational learning, trust and cooperation in electronic links are significantly higher than those in traditional market relationships. However, it was incompletely demonstrated that the degrees of inter-organizational learning, trust and collaboration in virtual organizations are significantly higher than those in strategic alliances. The results also showed that the output and behavior control devices are more utilized in electronic links or virtual organizations than in traditional links or strategic alliances. Key words: Inter-organizational relationships (IORs), electronic IORs, control mechanisms, inter-organizational information systems, traditional communication media.
Vascular endothelial responses to altered shear stress: Pathologic implications for atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis preferentially develops at branches and curvatures of the arterial tree, where blood flow is disturbed from a laminar pattern, and wall shear stress is non-uniform and has an irregular distribution. Vascular endothelial cells (ECs), which form an interface between the flowing blood and the vessel wall, are exposed to blood flow-induced shear stress. There is increasing evidence suggesting that laminar blood flow and sustained high shear stress modulate the expression of EC genes and proteins that function to protect against atherosclerosis; in contrast, disturbed blood flow and the associated low and reciprocating shear stress upregulate proatherosclerotic genes and proteins that promote development of atherosclerosis. Understanding of the effects of shear stress on ECs will provide mechanistic insights into its role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this review article is to summarize current findings on the effects of shear stress on ECs, in terms of their signal transduction, gene expression, structure, and function. These endothelial cellular responses have important relevance to understanding the pathophysiological effects of altered shear stress associated with atherosclerosis and thrombosis and their complications.
Organisational career management in the UK retail buying and merchandising community

Purpose – The paper aims to improve knowledge of how organisational career management (OCM) techniques are used within the UK retail buying and merchandising (B&M) community.Design/methodology/approach – Using quantitative research methods via an online survey of B&M managers across 30 UK‐based retailers, this study explores the extent of OCM technique usage, buyers and merchandisers' evaluations of such techniques and the barriers to using them.Findings – Internal job posting, performance appraisal for career development, induction, PDPs and competencies were the most commonly used. The most consistently favoured techniques were training/educational opportunities, career‐planning workshops, PDPs, induction and fast‐track programmes. In comparison to other studies, respondents perceived OCM techniques to be relatively unfair and identified the main barriers to their use as time/budget constraints, unsupportive management, poor technique development/implementation and poor employee attitude/ understanding.
Human Action Recognition Based on Multi-View Regularized Extreme Learning Machine

In this paper, we employ multiple Single-hidden Layer Feedforward Neural Networks for multi-view action recognition. We propose an extension of the Extreme Learning Machine algorithm that is able to exploit multiple action representations and scatter information in the corresponding ELM spaces for the calculation of the networks’ parameters and the determination of optimized network combination weights. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by using two state-of-the-art action video representation approaches on five publicly available action recognition databases designed for different application scenarios. Experimental comparison of the proposed approach with three commonly used video representation combination approaches and relating classification schemes illustrates that ELM networks employing a supervised view combination scheme generally outperform those exploiting unsupervised combination approaches, as well as that the exploitation of scatter information in ELM-based neural network training enhances the network’s performance.
Cross‐cultural competitive benchmarking of fast‐food restaurant services

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to help fast‐food restaurants successfully penetrate foreign markets and then strengthen their foothold in those markets by identifying cross‐cultural differences in the perceived service quality of fast‐food restaurants; and by examining how those differences affect the globalization of fast‐food restaurant franchises based in the USA and Korea.Design/methodology/approach – This paper develops a set of target performance standards that helps fast‐food restaurants monitor their service delivery process, identify relative weaknesses, and take corrective actions for continuous service improvements in cross‐cultural settings using analytic hierarchy process and competitive gap analysis.Findings – This study reveals that a service attribute considered most important to the fast‐food restaurant customers' impressions of service quality differs from one country (USA) to another (Korea). It was found that US customers valued taste of food most whereas Korean customers value.
Triple Helix and the Circle of Innovation

This paper positions the triple-Helix as a meso-level notion, an epicycle in a grander circle of technological change, institutional change, and psychological change. Because of the differing speeds of these several kinds of change, speed is proposed as a high-level system metric. This implies that what we commonly call bridging agencies or facilitators - lawyers, venture capitalists, incubators, etc. - are better called buffering agencies, as they help to engage entities changing at different speeds. They use human judgment as well as information technologies to choose feasible timing for these engagements. The paper highlights implications for thinking about innovation diffusion: The grand cycle of socio-technical change means we should, rather, think in terms of innovation reinforcement, or a circle of innovation.