Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emojis on the facade: exploring social media graphics to transmit urban issues on media facades

This paper describes the experience of a workshop in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in which the participants explored emojis to transmit site-specific content on a media facade. The question was how to use the media facade to communicate a broad urban issue in a friendly, site-specific way. Exploring the theme of Belo Horizonte's public transport, the participants developed an urban signage system that transmits, in real time, the level of occupancy of the buses passing by the media facade. Observations and interviews conducted in the area reveal that emojis were successful visual elements to attract people's interest and curiosity. This project highlights the potential of exploring social media graphics in media facades to communicate city-wide topics in a more accessible and friendly language.
THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER SODIUM-DEPENDENT MULTIVITAMIN TRANSPORTER: A MOLECULAR FUNCTIONAL IN VITRO-IN SITU CORRELATION

The molecular mechanism of biotin brain uptake was investigated using an in vitro bovine blood-brain barrier (BBB) cell model and an in situ mouse brain perfusion technique. A functional uptake/transport correlation of the in vitro and in situ characteristics of biotin uptake was investigated. Morphological and immunochemical characteristics (e.g., factor VIII expression) of the primary culture of brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMECs) were confirmed. Gene expression of the multidrug resistance (Mdr1) and sodium-dependent multivitamin (SMVT) transporters was also determined in BMECs. Biotin transport was saturable and Na+-dependent at the luminal side of the BBB. The estimated half-saturation concentrations (Km) of biotin uptake in vitro and in situ were 49.1 and 35.5 μM, respectively, supporting the presence of a carrier-mediated biotin transport system. Inhibition studies using various biotin derivatives and structural analogs demonstrated the structural requirements for biotin-SMVT interaction. Desthiobiotin and pantothenic acid significantly inhibited the uptake of biotin, whereas 2-iminobiotin and diaminobiotin were very weak inhibitors. Based on our results, there was a good correlation between the in vitro and in situ BBB models, suggesting that when a single membrane transporter is involved in substrate uptake, flexibility in choosing the experimental model can be afforded. The current results are also consistent with the suggestion that the properties of the BBB are likely to be organ-specific rather than species-specific. Further mechanistic and comparative studies are needed to validate these results. In conclusion, the in vitro transporter-based mechanism studies produced valuable molecular functional transport results that correlated well with in situ results.
Deterministic Propagation Model for the Planning of Hybrid Urban and Indoor Scenarios

With the growing interest for broadband mobile services in mobile communication networks, the investigation of radio transmission in and into buildings is getting more important. Popular empirical and deterministic models for the propagation inside buildings compute the Field strength based on the inner structure of the buildings (walls, furniture). But for current and future wireless networks (3G, B3G, W-LAN, WiMax,.), the neighboring buildings must also be considered to avoid interference problems in these buildings. Additionally the indoor coverage of outdoor transmitters must be analyzed to guarantee a high QoS even inside buildings. A new concept for the prediction of the field strength in such hybrid scenarios (urban and indoor) is presented in this paper. This new concept does not rely only on the direct ray (like empirical models) and it does not consider hundreds of rays for a single radio link (like ray tracing). The new model focuses on the most dominant path(s) between transmitter and receiver. The parameters of these paths are determined (e.g. path length, number and type of interactions, material properties of objects, .) and are used for the prediction of the path loss. This model allows also the computation of the transition from an urban to an indoor scenario and vice versa, thus allowing an accurate computation of the received power inside and around buildings. For the validation of the new model, measurements were made
Experimenting opportunistic networks with WiFi Direct

WiFi Direct introduces new opportunities to deploy real opportunistic networks through users' mobile devices. However, its original specification does not take into account all the parameters that can emerge from an opportunistic network scenario, not only in terms of technical requirements (e.g., available resources and connectivities) but also of users characteristics and profiles, which can heavily influence the system's performances and devices' interactions. In this work we investigate the feasibility of creating opportunistic networks on top of WiFi Direct framework by analyzing the protocol's performances in real scenarios with a variable number of mobile devices. Experimental results show the times required to form a group of variable size and the best configurations to support opportunistic networking operations and upper layer applications.
GENETIC TRANSFORMATION OF ELITE TURF-TYPE CULTIVARS OF TALL FESCUE

Biotechnology approaches can supplement conventional breeding efforts for turfgrass improvement. The objective of this study was to develop reliable transformation and selection schemes for elite turf-type tall fescue cultivars. Transgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) plants were obtained by microprojectile bombardment of embryogenic suspension cells of two elite turf-type cultivars, ‘Coronado’ and ‘Virtue’. Two selection systems were successfully used in the transformation. A bialaphos-based selection used plasmid pAHC25 that contains phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (bar) and β-glucuronidase (GUS) genes both driven by the maize ubi1 promoter. A two-step solid medium selection with increasing bialaphos concentration was used to obtain resistant callus. Alternatively, a hygromycin B (hyg B)-based selection strategy was employed using plasmid pAcH1 containing a hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) gene driven by the rice Act 1 gene promoter. A three-step liquid medium or a two-step solid medium selection was used to obtain resistant callus. Additional selection in the rooting medium eliminated escapes. Expression of the bar and GUS genes was demonstrated by resistance to the herbicide ‘Finale’ and by GUS activity assays, respectively. The transgenic nature of the resistant plants was confirmed by Southern hybridization analysis. Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC 27695-7620. *Corresponding author: rongda_qu@ncsu.edu
Phylogenetic analysis of mtDNA lineages in South American mummies

Some studies of mtDNA propose that contemporary Amerindians have descended from four haplotype groups, each defined by specific sets of polymorphisms. One recent study also found evidence of other potential founder haplotypes. We wanted to determine whether the four haplotypes in modern populations were also present in ancient South American aboriginals. We subjected mtDNA from Colombian mummies (470 to 1849 AD) to PCR amplification and restriction endonuclease analysis. The mtDNA D‐loop region was surveyed for sequence variation by restriction analysis and a segment of this region was sequenced for each mummy to characterize the haplotypes. Our mummies exhibited three of the four major characteristic haplotypes of Amerindian populations denned by four markers. With sequence data obtained in the ancient samples and published data on contemporary Amerindians it was possible to infer the origin of these six mummies.
Enterprise in orbit: The supply of communication satellites

This study develops a general understanding of the evolution of the Western World commercial communication sate-llite supply industry. Initial information classifies this industry as an oligopoly with the vendors as price setters. Over three generations, the technical attributes of communication satellites are advancing. Taking the hedonic regression approach, the customer’s willingness to pay for characteristics is calculated. Exploring the relationship between price and complexity, it is demonstrated that in the short run, the oligopoly structure of this industry is accompanied by a simple form of cost plus price setting, whereas in the long run, the engineering satellite pricing ‘rule of thumb’ applies.
The Association of Percent Body Fat and Lean Mass With HbA1c in US Adults

Context: Body fat and body composition distribution patterns affect diabetes risk and glycemic control, but most studies use proxy measures (e.g., body mass index). Objective: This study examined the association of percent body fat and lean mass with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in US adults. Design: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of cross-sectional studies that enroll nationally representative samples of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population. Setting: NHANES is designed to assess the health status of adults and children throughout the United States. Participants: This study included 11,125 participants aged 18 to 69 years from the 1999 through 2006 NHANES, comprising 846 persons with diagnosed diabetes and 10,125 without diabetes. Main Outcome Measures: Total and abdominal (trunk) percent body fat and lean mass were measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine their association with HbA1c. Results: Among those without diagnosed diabetes, total and trunk percent body fat, as well as trunk and total lean mass, were strongly associated with elevated HbA1c; odds ratios per 5% increment for the association of percent body fat with HbA1c >5.7% (39 mmol/mol) ranged from 1.60 to 2.01 across age and sex categories. Among adults with diabetes, higher total percent fat was associated with higher HbA1c in males age <40 years and higher trunk fat was associated with higher HbA1c in females across age categories. Conclusions: Lifestyle interventions to lower HbA1c should consider targeting both weight loss and body composition.
Left main coronary artery stenosis: severity evaluation and implications for management

ABSTRACT Introduction: The significant stenosis of the left main coronary artery is associated with poor outcomes and is considered a strong indication for revascularization. However, deciding whether the stenosis is significant can sometimes be challenging, especially when the degree of stenosis is intermediate, and can necessitate additional tests and imaging modalities. Areas covered: We did a literature search using keywords like ‘left main’, ‘imaging’, ‘intravascular ultrasound’, ‘fractional flow reserve’, ‘computed tomographic angiography’ and ‘magnetic resonance imaging’. The most commonly used methods for better characterizing intermediate left main coronary stenoses are intravascular ultrasound and fractional flow reserve, while optical coherence tomography is the newer technique that provides better images, but for which not as much data is available. The noninvasive techniques are coronary computed tomographic angiography and, to a lesser degree, coronary magnetic resonance imaging. Expert commentary: Accurately determining the severity of left main coronary stenosis can mean the difference between a major intervention and conservative therapy. The reviewed newer imaging modalities give us greater confidence that patients with left main stenosis are assigned to the right treatment modality.
Book-to-Market, Size and Momentum Factors in Market-Timing Models: The Case of the Polish Emerging Market

The main goal of this paper is to present modified multifactor extensions of classical markettiming models, with Fama and Frenchâ€™s spread variables SMB and HML, and Carhartâ€™s momentum factor WML, on the Polish emerging market1. The empirical results on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) show a pronounced Fisherâ€™s effect in the case of the main WSE indexes. For this reason, we include lagged values of the market factor as an additional independent variable in the regressions of market-timing models. The market-timing and selectivity abilities of fund managers are evaluated for the period January 2003 to December 2010. We test a group of selected Polish equity open-end mutual funds. We compare the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and the Newey-West method (HAC) results of the models and investigate their statistical properties.
POLA PENGELUARAN PANGAN RUMAH TANGGA MENURUT TINGKAT KETAHANAN PANGAN DI PROVINSI JAWA TENGAH

This research analyzes the system of food expenditure based on the household food security level in Central Java. The household food security levels are classified into four levels, consisting of food-secure, food-less secure, foodvulnerable and food-insecure. The data used are the Susenas data in the form of raw data. The results show that there are significant differences in the proportion of food expenditure among the households of food-secure and food-less secure to the households of food-vulnerable and food-insecure. In each level of household food-secure, household expenditure on instant foods and drinks shows the highest proportion compared to other food groups. The more insecure foods in a household, the higher expenditure proportion for tobacco. In each household group based on the level of food-secure, the households in urban areas have a smaller proportion of rice expenditure compared to the households in rural areas. Based on these results, hopefully the handling priority for the food-secure problem should be better given to the household groups of food-vulnerable and food-insecure. Keywords: food expenditure, food security level, urban, rural
Copulatory courtship signals male genetic quality in cucumber beetles

In the spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), males court females during copulation by stroking them with their antennae. Stroking occurs exclusively during the first stages of copulation, after a male has penetrated a female's vaginal duct but before he is allowed access to her bursa copulatrix. Females accept the spermatophore of fast–stroking males and reject those of slow–stroking males by relaxing or constricting muscles distorting the vaginal duct. Here, we measure the repeatability of stroking behaviour within males, examine the effect of losing one antenna on male attractiveness and test whether such female control results in direct phenotypic benefits for the discriminating female or indirect genetic benefits that appear in her offspring. We also use a half–sibling design to quantify the variance and heritability of stroking speed and endurance. Female beetles were paired with a male that was known to stroke either quickly or slowly. No difference was found in the resulting fecundity or egg–hatching rate of the females, or in the survivorship, development rate, size, age at first reproduction or fecundity of their offspring indicating that no direct benefits are gained by discriminating among males on the basis of stroking speed. There were, however, good–genes benefits for the mates of fast–stroking males. Offspring of fast–stroking fathers were also fast strokers and were more likely to be accepted as mates than offspring of slow–stroking fathers. There was substantial variance among sires in stroking speed and endurance and the heritability of each trait was high. The antennal stroking rate was highly repeatable in successive mating attempts and males with only one antenna were not accepted as mates. The repeatability within males, variability between males and heritability between generations of copulatory stroking combine to provide females with a reliable and honest signal of the genetic quality of courting males.
The Price Evolution in China's Automobile Market

type="main"> The automobile market in China has seen unprecedented expansion during the past decade with rapid model turnover and dramatic price decline. This paper aims to document the evolution of price and investigate the sources of price decline, paying attention to both market structure and cost factors. We estimate a market equilibrium model with differentiated multiproduct oligopoly using market-level sales data in China together with information from household surveys. Our counterfactual simulations show that (quality-adjusted) vehicle prices have dropped by 33% from 2004 to 2009. The decrease in markup from intensified competition accounts for about one third of this change and the rest comes from cost reductions through learning by doing and other channels. In addition, our simulations show that the price decline would have been larger had it not been for the growth of household income during this period.
A Modern History of Fiscal Prudence and Profligacy

We draw on a newly collected historical dataset of fiscal variables for a large panel of countries — to our knowledge, the most comprehensive database currently available — to gauge the degree of fiscal prudence or profligacy for each country over the past several decades. Specifically, our dataset consists of fiscal revenues, primary expenditures, the interest bill (and thus both the primary and the overall fiscal deficit), the government debt, and gross domestic product, for 55 countries for up to two hundred years. For the first time, a large cross country historical data set covers both fiscal stocks and flows. Using Bohn’s (1998) approach and other tests for fiscal sustainability, we document how the degree of prudence or profligacy varies significantly over time within individual countries. We find that such variation is driven in part by unexpected changes in potential economic growth and sovereign borrowing costs.
Teacher Education Policy in Europe : A Voice of Higher Education Institutions

This monograph has been written and published as a result of the growing co-operation within the Teacher Education Policy in Europe (TEPE) Network. The initiative to set up the TEPE Network was agreed in 2006 at Umea University (Sweden) and the first TEPE conference was organised at the University of Tallinn (Estonia) from 1 to 3 February 2007 within a relatively small group of participants from eight countries. The second conference was hosted by the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) from 21 to 23 February 2008. The conference brought together a significantly larger group of some 100 participants from 23 countries representing most European regions to discuss the current situation of Teacher Education in Europe, look at the future and formulate recommendations for Teacher Education policy at the local, national and European levels.
Defining protease specificity with proteomics: A protease with a dibasic amino acid recognition motif is regulated by a two‐component signal transduction system in Salmonella

Microbial proteases play diverse and important roles in bacterial virulence but their detection and characterisation is often hampered by their limited abundance or lack of expression in the absence of suitable environmental signals. We describe here a sensitive proteomic approach to detect proteases that are under the control of a virulence regulator and to characterise their recognition motifs. Using MG++‐depleted growth media or a mutant strain of Salmonella in which the PhoP‐PhoQ virulence regulatory system is constitutively active, truncated forms of DnaK, elongation factor G, elongation factor Tu and ribosomal protein S1 proteins were detected. Two other global regulatory mutants and cells exposed to acid or to oxidative stress failed to produce the truncated proteins, indicating specific control of the protease activity by the PhoP‐PhoQ system. Our results suggest that at least two proteases are induced. To define the proteolytic cleavage sites of one of the proteases, peptides from each of the truncated proteins were identified by tryptic mass fingerprinting/nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry and mapped onto the sequence of the intact protein. Alignment of the regions around the cut site indicates that the protease recognises a dibasic amino acid motif characteristic of the omptin protease family. The induction of such proteases in bacteria depleted of Mg++ ions may contribute to the PhoPQ‐mediated resistance of Salmonella to cationic antimicrobial peptides. Additionally, our results suggest it would be prudent to keep the concentration of this ion above micromolar levels during bacterial sample preparation for proteomic analyses.
Blunted hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis and insulin response to psychosocial stress in young adults born preterm at very low birth weight

Young adults born preterm at very low birth weight (VLBW, ≤1500 g) have higher levels of cardiovascular risk factors, including impaired glucose regulation, than their term‐born peers. This could be mediated through altered hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis (HPAA) response to stress.
Understanding technochange in ERP implementation through two case studies

This study provides an understanding of the organisational change that accompanies enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementations. While there is general agreement in the literature that organisational change through IT integration technochange is a key outcome to any ERP implementation, there is little evidence on how this change happens. Using two case studies of ERP implementations, we report two variations on the change process. The first is a thoroughly planned and quickly executed implementation that aims to achieve radical change outcomes. In the second case, change is unintended and emerges slowly and gradually as a consequence of implementation progress. An analysis of technochange process variables provides the framework for the cross-study comparison. This study's key findings suggest that thoroughly planned ERP implementations score high on outcome success measures while implementations fostering gradual change pay attention to process success measures.
AN EXPERIMENT ON BANKRUPTCY

This paper reports an experimental study on three well known solutions for bankruptcy problems, that is, the constrained equal-awards, the proportional and the constrained equal-losses rule. To do this, we first let subjects play three games designed such that the unique equilibrium outcome coincides with one of these three rules. Moreover, we also let subjects play an additional game, that has the property that all (and only) strategy profiles in which players unanimously agree on the same rule constitute a strict Nash equilibrium. While in the first three games subjects' play easily converges to the unique equilibrium rule, in the last game the proportional rule overwhelmingly prevails as a coordination device.