Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A review of the hedonic literatures in environmental amenities from open space: a traditional econometric vs. spatial econometric model

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to provide a thorough review of the hedonic studies that investigate environmental amenity values of urban open spaces. Open space amenities have a unique feature than structural characteristics of residential properties; that is, an individual's preference for them may depend on their location relative to a residential property. Twenty-six empirical hedonic studies that estimate values of environmental amenities from open spaces published between 1995 and 2015 were reviewed. We paid special attention to the spatial hedonic literature that used spatial econometric methods to deal with the spatial effects which are common issues in hedonic studies. To our best knowledge, this study is the first study that devoted special attention to the hedonic studies on urban open space using spatial econometric methods.
Effect of planting methods and intercrops on productivity and economics of castor (Ricinus communis)-based intercropping systems

An experiment was conducted during the rainy season of 2001 and 2002 at Udaipur, to evaluate productivity and economics from intercropping greengram (Vigna radiata L.), blackgram (Vigna mungo L.), clusterbean [Cymopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. ] and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) with castor (Ricinus communis L.) in uniform and paired rows systems of planting. Paired row planting (601120 cm) gave the maximum seed yield (41.84 qlha), castor-equivalent yield (47.50 qlha), land-equivalent ratio (1.52) and monetary advantage, followed by paired row planting at 801160 cm and uniform row planting at 90 cm x 60 cm. Castor intercropped with greengram recorded higher values of yield attributes and yielded maximum castor-equivalent yield, land-equiva- lent ratio, net returns and benefit : cost ratio over sole castor, castor + sesame and castor + clusterbean intercrop- ping systems, but remained at par with castor + blackgram intercropping system.
Synthesis and Anti-Juvenile Hormone Activity of Ethyl 4-(2-Aryloxyhexyloxy)benzoates

A series of ethyl 4-(2-aryloxyhexyloxy)benzoates was prepared and tested for their activity to induce precocious metamorphosis in larvae of the silkworm. Phenyl analog 5 showed activity comparable to that of the 6-methyl-3-pyridyl analog reported as a novel anti-JH agent. The activity of 5 could be fully counteracted by methoprene, a JH agonist. The ethoxycarbonyl group of 5 was essential for its activity.
Environmental perceptions of second home tourism impacts in Finland

ABSTRACT Experiencing nature and enjoying natural amenities have long been identified as key motives for rural second home tourism. However, the more people travel and spend time in the natural environment, the more it is disturbed by their actions and activities. In this paper, we examine how people perceive the environmental impacts of rural second home tourism and how they justify their views. The study focuses on Finland where rural second homes are widespread. Analysis is based on a questionnaire survey conducted among Finns in 2012 (n = 1189). Responses from different groups of respondents (second home owners, regular users of second homes and non-users) are quantitatively and qualitatively analysed. The results indicate that the Finnish respondents generally think that second home tourism poses some degree of harmful environmental impacts. However, it is the second home owners who are least worried about these environmental impacts. They generally justify their opinions using a “place-related” perspective, that is, by referring to their own experiences and actions at the cottage site. In contrast, the non-users see environmental impacts more often from a broader perspective by referring to the wider environmental interconnections with second home tourism. In our discussion, we introduce the notions of place-based (relative) and phenomenon-based (relational) environmental perceptions as a potential framework for future research on this topic. In mitigating the increasing environmental impacts of second home tourism, understanding the environmental perceptions and awareness of second home owners and users is crucial to be successful in mobilising sustainable options and environmental governance.
The Influence of Resistance to Change on Public-Sector Reform Implementation: The Case of Italian Municipalities’ Internal Control System

ABSTRACT The present research tries to contribute to the academic debate on public management reform adoption, focusing on the reasons for the discrepancies between actual and formal changes and using resistance to change as theoretical basis. The study hypothesizes that high levels of individual and organizational resistance to change may be associated to the formal implementation of public management reforms. The research results allow to confirm the hypothesis when large-size municipalities are considered, while when considering medium-size entities a definite evidence of a relation between resistance to change and the formal implementation of the reforms does not emerge.
Strategic management of forest industry transformation

One attractive opportunity for the forest industry is intelligent packaging which is based on the integration of ICT into the capabilities of a manufacturing firm. These new solutions are potential sources of value but unfortunately the industry strategies centering on manufacturing hinder the creation of value for the customer. Generally, the mindset should be changed from a goods-dominant logic to service-dominant logic in value creation. The transformation requires the identification of alternative business model structures and fitting the business models in different contexts. This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. We demonstrate a method for conducting a value offering to a service provision network using a business mapping framework. The main contribution is the construction of business model elements for an intelligent packaging concept in the elderly care. In this, only the intelligent package is a direct contribution of the forest industry. The majority of the resource providers and their resources are based on ICT products and services.
Comparative Effectiveness of Dalteparin and Enoxaparin in a Hospital Setting

Purpose: This study compared the effectiveness of a change from enoxaparin to dalteparin for the prophylaxis of patients at risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Methods: A retrospective cohort study identified hospitalized patients with VTE risk admitted at Wellmont Health System between August 1, 2008 and July 31, 2009. On February 1, 2009, a therapeutic interchange from enoxaparin to dalteparin occurred. All patient records were reviewed from billing data collected 6 months prior and following conversion. Statistical tests of heterogeneity compared distributions of demography between study cohorts and Cochran tests were used to compare pre- versus postchange in the outcomes. Results: A total of 3557 and 3465 patient discharges were analyzed in the 6 months prior and following the interchange, respectively. Of these discharges, 1870 were administered enoxaparin and 1639 dalteparin. VTE rates were similar between the 2 groups. Data showed no significant difference in-hospital length of stay (LOS), readmittance, and bleeding rates in the populations. The system achieved a $40 788 savings over 6 months following the conversion using approved prophylactic dosing per patient indication. Conclusions: Dalteparin is similarly effective as enoxaparin and an alternative for the prophylaxis of VTE in a hospital setting while providing cost savings.
A 0.5/spl mu/A precision CMOS floating-gate analog reference

A precision voltage reference with a TC <1ppm//spl deg/C is implemented using a floating-gate technique in a 1.5/spl mu/m CMOS process. The reference is factory programmed from 0.5 to 5V without trim circuits to 0.2mV accuracy. The chip shows long-term drift of 10ppm/(1khr)/sup 0 2/.
Reversion From Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition: A Meta-Analysis

The initiation of Alzheimer disease (AD) prevention studies has placed greater emphasis on the need to accurately detect individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) given their increased risk for developing AD. Several studies reporting on the incidence and prevalence of aMCI have also found that a substantial number of aMCI cases at baseline assessments revert to normal cognition at subsequent assessments. This instability presents a major challenge to intervention studies aimed at preventing the onset of clinical symptoms associated with aMCI. Reversion rates from 25 studies were used for this meta-analysis which found an overall reversion rate of approximately 24%. When the studies were separated by their setting (community vs. clinic), substantial differences in reversion rates were noted with clinic-based studies having a much lower reversion rate (14%) than community-based studies (31%). North American and European studies had high heterogeneity of reversion rates, whereas Asian studies had moderate levels of heterogeneity and significantly lower rates of reversion. Continued improvement in diagnostic and classification methodologies may help in more accurately identifying aMCI cases which are less likely to revert to normal cognition.
A physical radar cross-section model for a wind-driven sea with swell

A new spectrum model for the ocean surface is proposed. We determine the two unknown parameters in this spectrum by fitting it to radar observations. We find that this spectrum combined with two-scale scattering theory can predict much of the observed dependence of the radar cross section on radar frequency, polarization, angle of incidence, and wind velocity at incidence angles in the0\deg-70\degrange. The spectrum model is combined with a model for swell to examine the effect of swell on the radar cross section. We find that the effect of swell is significant for low radar frequencies (Lband) and near normal incidence but can be nearly eliminated by using higher frequencies (K_{u}band) and large angles of incidence (\approx 50\deg).
Cost-Effective Time-to-Digital Converter Using Time-Residue Feedback

This paper proposes a time-residue feedback scheme to balance resolution and complexity in a cell-based time-to-digital converter (TDC). The time residue is amplified and fed back into a cyclic-ring Vernier recursively until it cannot be detected correctly. Only one variable-resolution cyclic-ring Vernier and one tunable delay-chain time amplifier (TA) are adopted. Both coarse and fine oscillators of the proposed Vernier which are designed by the same variable-resolution digital controlled oscillator can be switched off to decrease ground bounce during TA activities. With various control codes, the TDC resolution is also programmable. The test application-specified integrated circuit which has a 13-b resolution and occupies 0.02 mm2 in TSMC 65-nm CMOS process can operate in either feedback or feedforward mode. In feedback mode, the measurements of sampling rate, resolution, input range, differential nonlinearity, and integral nonlinearity are 10 MHz, 0.98 ps, 5.76 ns, ± 0.8 LSB, and ± 2.2 LSB, respectively; it also consumes 3 mW at 1 V supply voltage. The sampling rate, resolution, and power dissipation of the feedforward operation are 250 MHz, 6.01 ps, and 17.5 mW, respectively.
The Tryptophan Residue at the Active Site Tunnel Entrance of Trichoderma reesei Cellobiohydrolase Cel7A Is Important for Initiation of Degradation of Crystalline Cellulose*

Background: Mutation of Trp-40 in the Cel7A cellobiohydrolase from Trichoderma reesei (TrCel7A) causes a loss of crystalline cellulose-degrading ability. Results: Mutant W40A showed reduced specific activity for crystalline cellulose and diffused the cellulose chain from the entrance of the active site tunnel. Conclusion: Trp-40 is essential for chain end loading to initiate processive hydrolysis of TrCel7A. Significance: The mechanisms of crystalline polysaccharide degradation are clarified. The glycoside hydrolase family 7 cellobiohydrolase Cel7A from Trichoderma reesei is one of the best studied cellulases with the ability to degrade highly crystalline cellulose. The catalytic domain and the cellulose-binding domain (CBD) are both necessary for full activity on crystalline substrates. Our previous high-speed atomic force microscopy studies showed that mutation of Trp-40 at the entrance of the catalytic tunnel drastically decreases the ability to degrade crystalline cellulose. Here, we examined the activities of the WT enzyme and mutant W40A (with and without the CBD) for various substrates. Evaluation and comparison of the specific activities of the enzymes (WT, W40A, and the corresponding catalytic subunits (WTcat and W40Acat)) adsorbed on crystalline cellulose indicated that Trp-40 is involved in recruiting individual substrate chains into the active site tunnel to initiate processive hydrolysis. This was supported by molecular dynamics simulation study, i.e. the reducing end glucose unit was effectively loaded into the active site of WTcat, but not into that of W40Acat, when the simulation was started from subsite −7. However, when similar simulations were carried out starting from subsite −5, both enzymes held the substrate for 50 ns, indicating that the major difference between WTcat and W40Acat is the length of the free chain end of the substrate required to allow initiation of processive movements; this also reflects the difference between crystalline and amorphous celluloses. The CBD is important for enhancing the enzyme population on crystalline substrate, but it also decreases the specific activity of the adsorbed enzyme, possibly by attaching the enzyme to non-optimal places on the cellulose surface and/or hindering processive hydrolysis.
Evaluation of the environmental quality associated with near-surface groundwater characteristics in coal-mining areas based on rough set and uncertainty measure theory

It is important to assess detrimental environmental effects, including those associated with groundwater, in arid and semi-arid areas of western China where coal mines are located. Here, we analyze geological and hydrogeological data for these coal-mining areas to better understand the environmental quality and conditions, and groundwater characteristics. Using rough set and uncertainty measure theory, we establish a model for evaluating the environmental conditions and effects associated with variations in near-surface groundwater characteristics (chemistry, circulation, and distribution) in coal-mining areas. Rough set theory is used to analyze the data of various evaluation indexes used for measuring environmental conditions and groundwater characteristics as well as to optimize the number of indexes by removing redundant/unimportant indexes and to assign the relative weightings of the remaining indexes. By using uncertainty measure theory to construct the uncertainty function of the evaluation index and to calculate the uncertainty evaluation vector, the level of environmental quality is determined according to the criterion of confidence recognition. To test the application and effectiveness of the model, it is used to evaluate the environmental quality and conditions associated with near-surface groundwater characteristics in five coal-mining areas in western China. The evaluation results are compared with the results obtained using the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and uncertainty measure theory without a reduction in the number of indexes in the evaluation. The results show that the model is appropriate for environmental studies, has a high level of applicability, and establishes a good reference for future evaluations of environmental and groundwater changes associated with coal-mining or other environmental disturbance.
Revisiting Proportional Fairness: Anonymity Among Users in Interference Coupled Wireless Systems

The paper revisits the problem of proportional fairness in interference coupled wireless systems. It models interference coupling in wireless systems based on an interference function framework through a set of axioms (introduced by Yates in 1995). It utilizes the collective choice function to represent resource allocation strategies and an axiomatic framework to emulate certain desirable properties of resource allocation strategies. We introduce the axiom of equal priority in the power domain (and in the interference domain) and motivate it as interference coordination fairness. We consider this as an anonymity among the users, from the perspective of a central controller, e.g. a base station or an operator. We show that the proportional fair resource allocation strategy is anonymous to the identity of the users at the signal processing layer. Such an anonymity is relevant to obtain interference coordination fairness in iterative resource allocation strategies frequently encountered in wireless systems.
Positive effect of exercise training at maximal fat oxidation intensity on body composition and lipid metabolism in overweight middle‐aged women

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that 10 weeks of supervised exercise training at the maximal fat oxidation (FATmax) intensity would improve important variables of body composition and lipid metabolism in overweight middle‐aged women. A longitudinal study design was employed to evaluate the effects of FATmax exercise training. Thirty women (45–59 years old; BMI 28·2 ± 1·8 kg m−2; body fat 38·9 ± 4·1%) were randomly allocated into the Exercise and Control groups, n = 15 in each group. Body composition, FATmax, predicted VO2max, lipid profile, plasma lipoprotein lipase activity and serum leptin concentration were measured before and after the experimental period. The Exercise group was trained at the individualized FATmax intensity, 5 days per week and 1 h per day for 10 weeks. No diet control was introduced during the experimental period for all participants. Exercise group obtained significant decreases in body mass, BMI, body fat % and abdominal fat mass, as well as the concentrations of triglycerides, serum leptin and blood glucose. The activity of lipoprotein lipase was increased in trained participants. There were no changes in these variables in the Control group. In addition, there was no significant change in daily energy intake for all participants before and after the experimental period. In conclusion, the 10‐week FATmax exercise training achieved improvements in body composition and lipid metabolism in overweight middle‐aged women. This result suggests FATmax is an effective exercise training intensity for obesity treatment.
Tolerability and anti-tumor activity of recombinant human IL-18 (rhIL-18) administered as five daily intravenous infusions in patients with solid tumors.

2553 Background: rhIL-18, a member of the Th-1 inducing family of cytokines, has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in a variety of preclinical tumor models. METHODS In an ongoing phase I dose-escalation study, rhIL-18 (SB485232) was administered as a 2 hour infusion daily for 5 consecutive days to patients (pts) with solid tumors. Doses ranging from 3-1000 μg/kg/day were planned. The objectives were to determine tolerability, define a biologically effective dose, and assess pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, immunomodulatory and anti-tumor activity of rhIL-18. Pts with detectable anti-SB-485232 antibodies at screening were excluded. RESULTS Twenty-six pts {metastatic renal cell carcinoma (21), advanced melanoma (4), Hodgkin's lymphoma (1)}were treated at dose levels up to1000 μg/kg/day . Two pts were withdrawn from the study: 1 pt at 10 μg/kg/day due to rapidly progressive disease and 1 pt at 100 μg/kg/day due to hypotension with bradycardia, a dose-limiting toxicity. This cohort was expanded to 6 pts with no further dose-limiting toxicities. Drug-related adverse event data are available for 25 pts: Grade (G) 1-2 fever (n=19), chills (n=14), rash (n=3) nausea/vomiting (n=8); G1 myalgia (n=3); G1-2 neutropenia (n=11), G1-3 lymphopenia (n=16), G1-2 thrombocytopenia (n=4), G1 elevated AST (n=4), G1-2 elevated ALT (n=5), G1 hypocalcemia (n=3), G1-2 hypoalbuminemia (n=12). Five pts developed antibodies to SB-485232. Increases in neopterin (24/25 pts), GM-CSF (25/25 pts), IL-18 BP (25/25 pts), sFas/L(22/25 pts), and INFγ (15/25 pts) were observed. Upregulation of FasL on NK, CD8+, and CD4+ cells as well as of CD69 on CD8+ cells was observed. Evidence of clinical activity was observed in two patients (metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma) treated at 100 μg/kg/day. CONCLUSIONS rhIL-18 administered as a single cycle was well tolerated. Preliminary data demonstrate evidence of immunomodulatory and clinical activity. [Table: see text].
Multimodal iron oxide nanoparticles for hybrid biomedical imaging

Iron oxide core nanoparticles are attractive imaging agents because their material properties allow the tuning of pharmacokinetics as well as the attachment of multiple moieties to their surface. In addition to affinity ligands, these include fluorochromes and radioisotopes for detection with optical and nuclear imaging. As the iron oxide core can be detected by MRI, options for combining imaging modalities are manifold. Already, preclinical imaging strategies have combined noninvasive imaging with higher resolution techniques, such as intravital microscopy, to gain unprecedented insight into steady‐state biology and disease. Going forward, hybrid iron oxide nanoparticles will help to merge modalities, creating a synergy that will enable imaging in basic research and, potentially, also in the clinic. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in Neurocognitive Functioning Following Lung Transplantation

Although neurocognitive impairment is relatively common among patients with advanced lung disease, little is known regarding changes in neurocognition following lung transplantation. We therefore administered 10 tests of neurocognitive functioning before and 6 months following lung transplantation and sought to identify predictors of change. Among the 49 study participants, native diseases included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 22), cystic fibrosis (n = 12), nonfibrotic diseases (n = 11) and other (n = 4). Although composite measures of executive function and verbal memory scores were generally within normal limits both before and after lung transplantation, verbal memory performance was slightly better posttransplant compared to baseline (p < 0.0001). Executive function scores improved in younger patients but worsened in older patients (p = 0.03). A minority subset of patients (29%) exhibited significant cognitive decline (i.e. >1 standard deviations on at least 20% of tests) from baseline to posttransplant. Patients who declined were older (p < 0.004) and tended to be less educated (p = 0.07). Lung transplantation, like cardiac revascularization procedures, appears to be associated with cognitive decline in a subset of older patients, which could impact daily functioning posttransplant.