Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Local dynamics in informal settlement development : a case study of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The purpose of this research is to explain the processes by which communities develop their settlements outside of formal planning and regulatory frameworks in order to recommend ways these processes could be improved. Drawing on empirical evidence from the development processes of four 'kampung' or informal settlements along the Code River in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this research examines how, without formal-legal status over their settlements, kampung people gained the resources and security necessary to develop their settlements. The research found that the success of particular kampung communities in developing their settlements depends on the ability of kampung people to develop informal-reciprocal relations with external agencies. Although kampung people enjoy some forms of autonomy over the development process of their settlements and are able to carry out significant improvements to their settlements, their position continues to be weak. They are still very much dependent upon the assistance of the state and external agencies. The nature of policy formulation and implementation in relation to kampung problems is characterized by a fluid and reciprocal series of interrelations among many individuals and agencies, within and outside government. In this context, formal laws and regulations play a secondary role to informal-personal mechanisms. Patron-client relations exist between government officials and kampung people, and these relationships significantly determine the level of government support to each kampung. Such mechanisms are inherently unfair, because only a few kampung people have the capacity to take advantage of these mechanisms. This study concludes that the Indonesian government needs to treat housing and kampung issues as part of a broader social welfare policy and should create more transparent and fairer mechanisms to guarantee equal opportunities for access to urban resources and decision making processes. This study argues that kampung people and their local institutions, the RT and RW, have a potential for playing more active roles in the dynamic process of urban and housing development. This study suggests ways in which kampung people could be further empowered and calls for more active involvement of intermediary agencies, such as NGOs and other voluntary organizations, to assist kampung people in mobilizing their resources and negotiating with other parties. Finally, this study suggests that the government's approaches to the promotion of more formalized and regulated urban and housing development should be carefully re-examined in accordance with the social, cultural, and political contexts of Indonesian society.
The Added Value of Transvaginal Sonohysterography Over Transvaginal Sonography Alone in Women With Known or Suspected Leiomyoma

To assess whether sonohysterography provides added diagnostic value over transvaginal sonography in patients with suspected or known myomas by comparing diagnostic confidence, interobserver agreement, accuracy, and change in diagnoses when 2 independent observers interpreted transvaginal sonography alone and later interpreted transvaginal sonography and sonohysterography together.
Point-to-hyperplane ICP: fusing different metric measurements for pose estimation

Abstract The objective of this article is to provide a generalized framework of a novel method that investigates the problem of combining and fusing different types of measurements for pose estimation. The proposed method allows to jointly minimize the different metric errors as a single measurement vector in n-dimensions without requiring a scaling factor to tune their importance. This paper is an extended version of previous works that introduced the Point-to-hyperplane Iterative Closest Point (ICP) approach. In this approach, an increased convergence domain and a faster alignment were demonstrated by considering a four-dimensional measurement vector (3D Euclidean points + Intensity). The method has the advantages of the classic point-to-plane ICP method, but extends this to higher dimensions. For demonstration purposes, this paper will focus on a RGB-D sensor that provides colour and depth measurements simultaneously and an optimal error in higher dimensions will be minimized from this. Results on both, simulated and real environments will be provided and the performance of the proposed method will be carried on real-time visual SLAM.
Meta‐management of integration of management systems

Purpose – The realm of standardized management systems (MSs) has expanded greatly over the last two decades. This expansion has highlighted the need for structured approaches to facilitate the integration of these systems. The purpose of this paper is to explore the integration of standardized MSs through a meta‐management approach.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive survey of literature was carried out. Based on the literature review, a comprehensive framework was developed to guide the integration of standardized MSs. The framework is based on the “direction‐consistency‐coherence‐feedback” cycle.Findings – A critical review of existing models and methodologies for the integration of standardized MSs highlighted the need for a systems‐oriented approach to integration based on stakeholder needs. The review further highlighted that the integration of MSs must be carried out at the meta‐level of organisational control. This focuses integration efforts on a higher level of abstraction, logic, and inqu.
Solanum watneyi, a new bush tomato species from the Northern Territory, Australia named for Mark Watney of the book and film “The Martian”

Abstract A new species of andromonoecious Solanum from the Australian “bush tomato clade” of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum is described. Solanum watneyi Martine & Frawley, sp. nov. is closely allied with Solanum eburneum, and is sympatric with it in parts of its range in the Northern Territory. The new species has been recognized as a variant of Solanum eburneum for decades, at times being referred to by local botanists as Solanum sp. “Bullita” because of its relative abundance in the vicinity of the Bullita Station area of Judbarra/Gregory National Park. Morphometric analyses show that Solanum watneyi differs statistically from Solanum eburneum in several key reproductive and vegetative characters and field observations suggest that the two sister species may represent a case of edaphic speciation. We provide morphometric evidence for the novelty of Solanum watneyi, a complete description, and cite specimens for both species.
Characterizing the Co-Movement of the Stock and Bond Markets

This paper documents a negative relation between the volatility of the U.S. stock market and the covariance of the U.S. stock and bond markets when the stock market is highly volatile. Cash-flow effect, compared with risk-premium effect, contributes substantially to this relation. During a volatile period, a decrease in expected future dividend growth rates induces a considerable decline in the covariance and a significant increase in stock market uncertainty. However, this negative relation has been pronounced only in the last two decades, not in the 1960s and 1970s. The fact that the inflation rate is high and volatile during the first subperiod but stays low and stable in the second subperiod causes this different relation.
Why Do UK Accounting and Finance Academics not Publish in top US Journals

In peer reviews of the quality of academic accounting and finance journals, US journals are consistently perceived to be the most prestigious. UK accounting and finance academics share these perceptions, and yet very few of them ever publish in top US journals. A survey of UK accounting and finance academics was undertaken in an attempt to ascertain why this is so. The respondents perceive that the preference of top US journals for a US focus to published articles, reinforced by a strong element of gatekeeping and the need to be able to network with the US academic community, provide major barriers to entry. As a result, there is a strong belief that efforts to publish in top US journals will be unsuccessful and, therefore, publishing in the UK is seen to be easier.
Enhanced Performance of a Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Using Silver Nanoparticles Modified Photoanode

We reported an improved performance of a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) using silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) modified fluorine tin oxide (FTO) electrode through successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). The resulting photoelectrode was successfully incorporated in the DSSC. The photovoltaic performance was evaluated under 100 mWcm -2 light intensity. The performance, especially the photocurrent, and open circuit voltage of the DSSC containing Ag-NPs was significantly affected by the Ag-NPs. The modified Ag-NPs photoanode shows a short circuit current density (JSC) of 0.0316 mAcm -2 , a photovoltage VOC of 0.442 V yielding an overall conversion efficiency of 0.00710%. This represents a 22% improvement in photocurrent over the photocurrent (0.0259 mAcm -2 ) of bare FTO without Ag-NPs.
Tuning of Hemes b Equilibrium Redox Potential Is Not Required for Cross-Membrane Electron Transfer*

In biological energy conversion, cross-membrane electron transfer often involves an assembly of two hemes b. The hemes display a large difference in redox midpoint potentials (ΔEm_b), which in several proteins is assumed to facilitate cross-membrane electron transfer and overcome a barrier of membrane potential. Here we challenge this assumption reporting on heme b ligand mutants of cytochrome bc1 in which, for the first time in transmembrane cytochrome, one natural histidine has been replaced by lysine without loss of the native low spin type of heme iron. With these mutants we show that ΔEm_b can be markedly increased, and the redox potential of one of the hemes can stay above the level of quinone pool, or ΔEm_b can be markedly decreased to the point that two hemes are almost isopotential, yet the enzyme retains catalytically competent electron transfer between quinone binding sites and remains functional in vivo. This reveals that cytochrome bc1 can accommodate large changes in ΔEm_b without hampering catalysis, as long as these changes do not impose overly endergonic steps on downhill electron transfer from substrate to product. We propose that hemes b in this cytochrome and in other membranous cytochromes b act as electronic connectors for the catalytic sites with no fine tuning in ΔEm_b required for efficient cross-membrane electron transfer. We link this concept with a natural flexibility in occurrence of several thermodynamic configurations of the direction of electron flow and the direction of the gradient of potential in relation to the vector of the electric membrane potential.
Insulin sensitivity in patients with primary aldosteronism: a follow-up study.

CONTEXT The relationship between aldosterone and glucose metabolism is poorly understood, and there is substantial disparity among findings of studies that have examined glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in patients with primary aldosteronism. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the outcome of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in patients with primary aldosteronism after treatment. DESIGN This was a prospective study of patients who received a diagnosis of primary aldosteronism and were followed up for an average period of 5.7 yr (range, 3-9 yr). SETTING The study was conducted at a university referral center. PATIENTS A consecutive sample of 47 patients with tumoral or idiopathic aldosteronism was followed up after either surgical or medical treatment. Patients with primary aldosteronism were compared with 247 patients with essential hypertension with the same severity and duration of disease and 102 normotensive subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Short- and long-term changes in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were measured. RESULTS After adjustment for age, gender, and body mass index, patients with primary aldosteronism had greater homeostasis model assessment index (P < 0.05) and plasma insulin response to an oral glucose load (P < 0.05) and lower quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (P < 0.01) than normotensive controls. Changes in insulin sensitivity were significantly greater in essential hypertension than primary aldosteronism, and this difference was confirmed by assessment with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (P < 0.01). Treatment of primary aldosteronism decreased blood pressure significantly, and during the initial 6 months of follow-up, parameters of insulin sensitivity were restored to normal. Analysis of subsequent follow-up showed nonsignificant changes in glucose metabolism parameters in both adrenalectomized and spironolactone-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS Insulin resistance is present in patients with tumoral and idiopathic aldosteronism, but the defect appears less severe than in patients with essential hypertension. Treatment with surgery or aldosterone antagonists restores rapidly and persistently normal sensitivity to insulin.
A geostatistical data fusion technique for merging remote sensing and ground‐based observations of aerosol optical thickness

[1] The Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the NASA Earth Observation System's Terra satellite have been measuring aerosol optical thickness (AOT) since early 2000. These remote-sensing platforms complement the ground-based Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) in better understanding the role of aerosols in climate and atmospheric chemistry. To date, however, there have been only limited attempts to exploit the complementary multiangle (MISR) and multispectral (MODIS) capabilities of these sensors along with the ground-based observations in an integrated analysis. This paper describes a geostatistical data fusion technique that can take advantage of the spatial autocorrelation of the AOT distribution, while making optimal use of all available data sets. Using Level 2.0 AERONET, MISR, and MODIS AOT data for the contiguous United States, we demonstrate that this approach can successfully incorporate information from multiple sensors and provide accurate estimates of AOT with rigorous uncertainty bounds. Cross-validation results show that the resulting AOT product is closer to the ground-based AOT observations than either of the individual satellite measurements.
Formulation and Evaluation of Rapidly Disintegrating Fenoverine Tablets: Effect of Superdisintegrants

The objective of this study was to formulate directly compressible rapidly disintegrating tablets of fenoverine with sufficient mechanical integrity, content uniformity, and acceptable palatability to assist patients of any age group for easy administration. Effect of varying concentrations of different superdisintegrants such as crospovidone, croscarmellose sodium, and sodium starch glycolate on disintegration time was studied. Tablets were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, hardness, friability, taste, drug content, in vitro and in vivo disintegration time, and in vitro drug release. Other parameters such as wetting time, water absorption ratio (‘R’), and drug-excipient compatibility were also evaluated. The disintegration time of the best rapidly disintegrating tablet formulation among those tested was observed to be 15.9 sec in vitro and 37.16 sec in vivo. Good correlation was observed between disintegration time and ‘R’ for each of the three superdisintegrants at the concentrations studied. Considering the ‘R’ values and disintegration time, crospovidone was significantly superior (p < 0.05) compared to the other superdisintegrants tested. Release of drug was faster from formulations containing 6% crospovidone (CP 6) compared to the marketed fenoverine (Spasmopriv®) capsules. Similarity factor ‘f2’ (51.5) between dissolution profiles of the rapidly disintegrating tablet formulation CP 6 and the marketed formulation indicated that the two dissolution profiles were similar. Differential scanning calorimetric studies did not indicate any excipient incompatibility, either during mixing or after compression. In conclusion, directly compressible rapidly disintegrating tablets of fenoverine with lower friability, acceptable taste, and shorter disintegration times were obtained using crospovidone and other excipients at optimum concentrations.
Impediments to consumer adoption of sustainable transportation: Alternative fuel vehicles

There are a number of impediments to consumer adoption of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), including regulatory barriers, resources, infrastructure and vehicle characteristics themselves. These impediments also impact on other stakeholders, such as government, producers (i.e. corporations), suppliers (collaborators), competition (i.e. alternative products) and activist groups. The inter‐relationships amongst all stakeholders are complex, as one group may initiate actions that serve as impediments for others. Developing systems‐based sustainable alternatives to traditional, environmentally‐harmful automobiles requires the network of relationships between stakeholders and impediments to be considered. This paper looks at the various impediments as well as how they can affect various stakeholders. It then posits a broad based integrative approach to provide the most favourable environment for consumers to consider AFVs.
Central Control of Dendritic Spikes Shapes the Responses of Purkinje-Like Cells through Spike Timing-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity

Cerebellum-like structures process peripheral sensory information in combination with parallel fiber inputs that convey information about sensory and motor contexts. Activity-dependent changes in the strength of parallel fiber synapses act as an adaptive filter, removing predictable features of the sensory input. In the electrosensory lobe (ELL) of mormyrid fish, a main cellular site for this adaptive processing is the Purkinje-like medium ganglion (MG) cell. MG cells exhibit two types of spikes: narrow axon spikes (N spikes) and broad dendritic spikes (B spikes). N spikes shape ELL output by inhibiting efferent cells, whereas B spikes drive plasticity at parallel fiber synapses. Despite their critical role in plasticity, little is known about the relative importance of various classes of MG cell inputs in driving B spikes or to what extent B spikes can be controlled independently of N spikes. Using in vivo intracellular recordings, measurements of synaptic conductance, and pharmacological blockade of inhibition, we provide evidence for corollary discharge-evoked inhibition that exerts potent control over the timing and probability of B spikes with little apparent effect on N spikes. The timing of this inhibition corresponds to the period during which repeated occurrence of B spikes causes depression of corollary discharge-evoked synaptic responses and a reduction in N spikes. B spikes occurring before or after the period of inhibition lead to increases in corollary discharge-evoked excitation. Thus, by controlling the timing of B spikes, central inhibition shapes the output of MG cells through spike timing-dependent synaptic plasticity. Our findings are consistent with a model of ELL function in which feedback guides adaptive processing by regulating B spikes.
Role of Viral Infections, Atopy and Antiviral Immunity in the Etiology of Wheezing Exacerbations Among Children and Young Adults

Background: At least 101 serotypes of rhinoviruses have been identified. Rhinoviruses have often been associated with trivial upper respiratory infections but more recent evidence suggests that they play a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma exacerbations. Methods: The impact of rhinoviruses as a cause of respiratory morbidity in infancy and the role of rhinoviruses in causing asthma exacerbations in the children and adult population is discussed. Past and current experimental and epidemiologic evidence was assessed to suggest a causal role rather than just an association. Mechanism of susceptibility to virus infection in asthmatics were discussed, as were data indicating important interactions between allergic sensitization and rhinovirus infections in risk of asthma exacerbations. Results: Asthmatic individuals have increased severity and duration of lower airway symptoms and greater declines in lung function upon infection with rhinovirus, suggesting greater susceptibility to rhinovirus infection because of impaired antiviral immunity. Early virus-induced apoptosis, which aborts virus replication, was impaired in asthmatics. Treating allergic airway inflammation may reduce the frequency and severity of symptoms triggered by rhinoviruses. Conclusions: The evidence in children and young adults suggests that atopy and allergic inflammation in the airways may be critical determinants of an adverse response to rhinovirus. Increased awareness of the spectrum of age groups that are affected by rhinoviruses is needed to encourage the development of new treatments and strategies that may be helpful in reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms triggered by rhinoviruses.
Potential of multispectral synergism for observing ozone pollution by combining IASI-NG and UVNS measurements from EPS-SG satellite

Present and future satellite observations offer a great potential for monitoring air quality on daily and global basis. However, measurements from currently in orbit satellites do not allow using a single sensor to probe accurately surface concentrations of gaseous pollutants such as tropospheric ozone. Combining the information of IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) and GOME-2 (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2) respectively in the TIR and UV spectra, a recent multispectral method (referred to as IASI+GOME-2) has shown enhanced sensitivity for probing ozone in the lowermost troposphere (LMT, below 3 km of altitude) with maximum sensitivity down to 2.20 km a.s. l. over land, while sensitivity for IASI or GOME-2 alone only peaks at 3 to 4 km at lowest. In this work we develop a pseudo-observation simulator and evaluate the potential of future EPS-SG (EUMETSAT Polar System Second Generation) satellite observations, from new-generation sensors IASI-NG (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer New Generation) and UVNS (Ultraviolet Visible Near-infrared Shortwave-infrared), to observe near-surface O3 through IASI-NG+UVNS multispectral method. The pseudo-real state of atmosphere is provided by the MOCAGE (MOdèle de Chimie Atmosphérique à Grande Échelle) chemical transport model. We perform full and accurate forward and inverse radiative transfer calculations for a period of 4 days (8-11 July 2010) over Europe. In the LMT, there is a remarkable agreement in the geographical distribution of O3 partial columns, calculated between the surface and 3 km of altitude, between IASI-NG+UVNS pseudo-observations and the corresponding MOCAGE pseudo-reality. With respect to synthetic IASI+GOME-2 products, IASI-NG+UVNS shows a higher correlation between pseudo-observations and pseudo-reality, enhanced by about 12%. The bias on high ozone retrieval is reduced and the average accuracy increases by 22%. The sensitivity to LMT ozone is enhanced on average with 159% (from 0.29 to 0.75, over land) and 214% (from 1 5