Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Urban Transport: Analysis of Commute Energy Use

Worldwide energy consumption is generally related with fossil fuels that increase CO₂ and other greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The transport sector represents a significant part of energy demand. As its share comes mostly from petroleum products, known for their highly polluting effects, there is the need to quantify energy use by transport. This assessment supports the planning and implementation of energy consumption mitigation policies that reduce negative environmental outcomes of transport systems. The research introduces an approach to estimate transport energy consumption obtained from available data and scaling factors. As the emphasis is put on urban transport, only commute road and rail transport are considered in the analysis. Data is stored and managed in a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) framework environment that also supports mapping the results. These maps allow identifying higher energy consumption areas by mode of transport and type of vehicle. Plotting the results also enables understanding the geographic distribution of energy demand from urban to rural regions, providing tools to perceive the relationship between urban form and energy consumption of the transport sector. Taking into account that the analysis is produced at a large scale, the obtained results offer support to planners and policy makers that seek solving transport-related problems, as pollution and high energy demand. Large scale analysis allows and enhances better planning, primarily when designing strategies for such detailed areas as urban spaces. Assessing and analysing energy consumption of the transport sector, enables deriving alternative energy layouts that present better energy efficiency, aiming for the final goal of mitigate the negative effects of urban transport systems.
Community-based tourism as a sustainable solution to maximise impacts locally? The Tsiseb Conservancy case, Namibia

Based on an in-depth field study in a rural area of Namibia, this article assesses the potential contribution of community-based tourism enterprises (CBTEs) to poverty alleviation and empowerment. It shows that tourism income captured locally improves rural households' livelihoods and generates linkages in the local economy. On the job learning, training sessions and extensive support by non-governmental organisations and donors are further shown to empower rural actors and unlock socioeconomic opportunities for the future. In this context, CBTEs can be characterised as pro-poor initiatives. However, this article provides counter evidence that the sustainability of such community tourism ventures is to be questioned. First, mainstreaming these projects within the competitive tourism commodity chain proves highly challenging and costly; second, communities' institutional and managerial capacity is weak and thus CBTEs' viability is limited; finally, inadequate support by donors and non-governmental organisations fails to tackle challenges faced by community tourism ventures.
Adiponectin Is Associated with Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hemodialysis Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, has been shown to prevent the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, recent studies have demonstrated increased levels of adiponectin according to the severity of chronic heart failure. We therefore investigated the relationships between adiponectin, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and LVH in type 2 diabetic patients on hemodialysis. Methods: The study population comprised 41 type 2 diabetic patients on hemodialysis. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and criteria for LVH were determined on the basis of echocardiographic findings. Serum adiponectin and plasma BNP levels were assayed with a commercially available kit. Results: Serum adiponectin levels significantly correlated with BMI (r = –0.49, p < 0.01), HDL-C (r = 0.36, p < 0.05) and TG (r = –0.49, p < 0.01). In addition, serum adiponectin levels correlated significantly and positively with plasma BNP levels (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). This relationship remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, and BMI (r = 0.34, p < 0.05). Serum adiponectin levels as well as plasma BNP levels were significantly higher than in patients without LVH (p < 0.05; p < 0.01, respectively), accompanied by a positive correlation between these levels and LVMI (r = 0.42, p < 0.01; r = 0.32, p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Increased levels of adiponectin were associated with elevated BNP levels and LVH in hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is speculated that adiponectin levels may be modulated by chronic hypervolemic state in this population.
ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN: TWO LESSONS TO LEARN BEFORE REORGANIZING

ABSTRACT There are two lessons to learn before reorganizing, that is, introducing a new organizational design. Lesson one: all organizations are hierarchical. The article aims at clarifying the difference between hierarchy and bureaucracy. Searching for non-hierarchical design alternatives will be futile. Lesson two: irrespective of whatever organizational design chosen and implemented it does not determine the way the organization will function. The main purpose is to explain why form does not determine function. We know little about how function affects organizational performance. That is why it is difficult to know in advance whether a new design will improve organizational performance or not.
A Framework for Exploring the Post-gelation Behavior of Ziff and Stell's Polymerization Models

Ziff and Stell (Kinetics of polymer gelation, J. Chem. Phys., 73 (1980), 3492-3499. ) pioneered the study of kinetic models of polymer growth and gelation which involve differential equations that describe the temporal evolution of oligomer concentrations and in which gelation is manifest as a finite-time singularity. Here we present a systematic framework for studying post-gelation behavior of these and related models that allows inclusion of the effects of diffusion and other transport mechanisms as well as those of sources and sinks, and which enables determination of, among other things, the final structure of the gel under a variety of conditions.
Flexible Insulin Therapy With Glargine Insulin Improved Glycemic Control and Reduced Severe Hypoglycemia Among Preschool-Aged Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background and Objectives. Insulin replacement regimens now stress the importance of administering throughout the day insulin doses that are based on flexible food choices and focusing on improved metabolic control. A flexible multiple daily insulin (FMDI) regimen (premeal lispro plus bedtime glargine) results in lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and fewer hypoglycemic episodes than does a multiple daily insulin (MDI) regimen among school-aged children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of FMDI therapy for a group of preschool-aged children with type 1 DM who were transitioned from MDI therapy (premeal lispro plus ultralente insulin twice per day), by comparing BMI, total daily insulin requirements, HbA1c levels, and episodes of severe hypoglycemia. Research Design and Methods. Data were collected over a 2-year period, during quarterly DM clinic visits, from 35 patients (17 female patients and 18 male patients, 4.8 ± 1.0 years of age) who had received MDI insulin therapy for ≥1 year before being transitioned to a FMDI regimen. Results. Although there was no significant change in BMI with FMDI therapy (17.1 ± 1.8 kg/m2 vs 17.0 ± 1.7 kg/m2), 43% of patients (6 female subjects and 9 male subjects) were overweight (BMI of >85th percentile for age) both before and after treatment. The total daily insulin requirement (0.67 ± 0.13 U/kg per day vs 0.78 ± 0.14 U/kg per day) and bolus/basal insulin ratio (1.1 ± 0.4 vs 1.9 ± 0.6) were significantly increased and overall glycemic control was improved after transition to FMDI therapy (HbA1c levels: 8.8 ± 0.9% vs 8.3 ± 0.8%). However, HbA1c levels improved only among normal-weight subjects (9.0 ± 1.0% vs 8.3 ± 1.0%) and not among overweight subjects (8.7 ± 0.7% vs 8.4 ± 0.6%) after FMDI therapy. The overall rate of severe hypoglycemia was significantly decreased with the FMDI regimen (25.5 events per 100 patient-years vs 10.6 events per 100 patient-years) but again only for normal-weight children (29.7 events per 100 patient-years vs 7.4 events per 100 patient-years). Conclusions. The use of FMDI therapy with glargine among preschool-aged children with type 1 DM was associated with improved overall glycemic control and decreased frequency of severe hypoglycemia. Although our study did not have a control group, these findings suggest that FMDI regimens may be a feasible therapeutic alternative to MDI treatment for preschool-aged children with type 1 DM. However, excess body weight status appeared to preclude a desirable therapeutic response in this group of patients.
Insider Trading, Informational Efficiency and Allocative Efficiency

A dominant, net buyer of a certain asset receives a private signal that is correlated with its mean value. We call this insider a Boesky Insider when the quality of the received signal is such that the future value of the asset can be predicted with certainty. We show that even an infinitesimal probability of a Boesky Insider results in informational inefficiency of prices. Insisting that the equilibrium be continuous in the signal accentuates the inefficiency to the extent that no information is conveyed. The informational inefficiency not withstanding, the regime that allows insider trading can result in greater liquidity and is, in an ex-ante sense, Pareto superior when compared to a regime in which insider trading is banned.
Market power in a non-monetarist inflation model for Greece

A post-Keynesian inflation model for Greece is constructed and tested. The model consists of three equations, including a ‘cost-demand’ price equation for the gross domestic expenditure deflator. Cost-demand functions have been occasionally estimated in the past. The equation presented is a more systematic test, since the effect of industry concentration is examined both theoretically and empirically. A ‘collective bargaining’ equation for the first time in Greece was simultaneously estimated. The role of public deficit was investigated and it was found that this exerts a moderate influence on inflation.
The anti‐HIV cyanovirin‐N domain is evolutionarily conserved and occurs as a protein module in eukaryotes

A novel protein family homologous to the sugar‐binding antiviral protein cyanovirin‐N (CVN) is described. CVN, an 11‐kDa protein that, by binding to the high‐mannose moiety of certain viral surface glycoproteins, blocks virus entry into target cells, has thus far been identified only in the cyanobacterium Nostoc ellipsosporum. Here we show that CVN belongs to a protein family identified by analysis of transcript sequences deriving from a gene expression profiling study conducted in the truffle Tuber borchii. Members of this family (named CyanoVirin‐N Homology) are found in filamentous ascomycetes and in the fern Ceratopteris richardii. As revealed by 3D structure‐based searches, all CVNH proteins have a predicted fold that matches the so far unique fold of the cyanobacterial polypeptide. The CVNH domain is a versatile protein module. In ferns and cyanobacteria it is found in secretory proteins. In filamentous ascomycetes it is found in nonsecretory monodomain proteins as well as part of multidomain proteins bearing functionally related modules such as the peptidoglycan and chitin‐binding domain LysM. Transcript abundance data further indicate that the expression of different CVNH forms is modulated in response to nutrient availability. These findings have implications for the understanding of protein–oligosaccharide interaction in fungi and plants, and provide candidate polypeptides to be tested and exploited as antiviral agents. Proteins 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The uneven spread of global science: Patterns of international collaboration in global environmental change research

This paper presents data on publication and collaboration patterns of USA and German research institutions in the field of global environmental change research. A dataset derived from the Web of Science showed that a marked rise in international co-authorship occured in the period 1993–2002. However, this increase covered different world regions unevenly. Building on interview data, four factors driving international collaboration in this particular research area are identified which help to explain this specific trend. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
A molecular dynamics study of thermodynamic and structural aspects of the hydration of cavities in proteins

The structure and activity of a protein molecule are strongly influenced by the extent of hydration of its cavities. This is, in turn, related to the free energy change on transfer of a water molecule from bulk solvent into a cavity. Such free energy changes have been calculated for two cavities in a sulfate‐binding protein. One of these cavities contains a crystallo graphically observed water molecule while the other does not. Thermodynamic integration and perturbation methods were used to calculate free energies of hydration for each of the cavities from molecular dynamics simulations of two separate events: the removal of a water molecule from pure water, and the introduction of a water molecule into each protein cavity. From the simulations for the pure water system, the excess chemical potential of water was computed to be −6.4 ± 0.4 kcal/mol, in accord with experiment and with other recent theoretical calculations. For the protein cavity containing an experimentally observed water molecule, the free energy change on hydrating it with one water molecule was calculated as −10.0 ± 1.3 kcal/mol, indicating the high probability that this cavity is occupied by a water molecule. By contrast, for the cavity in which no water molecules were experimentally observed, the free energy change on hydrating it with one water molecule was calculated as 0.2 ± 1.5 kcal/mol, indicating its low occupancy by water. The agreement of these results with experiment suggests that thermodynamic simulation methods may become useful for the prediction and analysis of internal hydration in proteins.
Knockout of the ASIC2 channel in mice does not impair cutaneous mechanosensation, visceral mechanonociception and hearing

Mechanosensitive cation channels are thought to be crucial for different aspects of mechanoperception, such as hearing and touch sensation. In the nematode C. elegans, the degenerins MEC‐4 and MEC‐10 are involved in mechanosensation and were proposed to form mechanosensitive cation channels. Mammalian degenerin homologues, the H+‐gated ASIC channels, are expressed in sensory neurones and are therefore interesting candidates for mammalian mechanosensors. We investigated the effect of an ASIC2 gene knockout in mice on hearing and on cutaneous mechanosensation and visceral mechanonociception. However, our data do not support a role of ASIC2 in those facets of mechanoperception.
Entity answer extraction of web table

This paper presents an entity answer extraction method based on list web table. Firstly, extract table from page using the features of web page table and label, segment the table that includes the potential entity answers by calculating the relevance of web table's title and query context, merge the table elements of each column according to table properties, and merge the web table's title with the merged elements of column again. Secondly, using merged passage as context of entity recognition, and recognize the entity for each element of the table, thus get the probability of the column elements belongs to the same type of entity answer, and locate the passages of entity answers and the entity answers. Finally, we conduct the experiment in the task of Entity Track of TREC2009. It turns out that the proposed method shows a very good result, the accuracy of entity answer extraction for web table has achieved 99.08%.
Fatty Acids in the Genus Bacillus I. Iso- and Anteiso-Fatty Acids as Characteristic Constituents of Lipids in 10 Species

Fatty acids produced by 22 strains of 10 species of the genus Bacillus were analyzed on a very efficient and selective gas-liquid chromatographic column. All of the 10 species, alvei, brevis, cereus, circulans, licheniformis, macerans, megaterium, polymyxa, pumilus, and subtilis, produced eight fatty acids, six branched (anteiso-C15, anteiso-C17, iso-C14, iso-C15, iso-C16, and iso-C17) and two normal (n-C14 and n-C16). In all cases, the six branched-chain fatty acids made up over 60% of the total fatty acids. In addition to the eight fatty acids, B. cereus produced four extra fatty acids, three branched (anteiso-C13, iso-C12, and iso-C13) and one monoenoic-n-C16. Furthermore, there were distinct differences in the relative amounts of fatty acids produced between B. cereus and the remaining nine species. B. cereus produced iso-C15 fatty acid in the largest amount on a glucose-yeast extract medium as well as on Pennassay Broth. On the other hand, for the remaining nine species, anteiso-C15 fatty acid was the major fatty acid from the glucose-yeast extract medium, whereas the amount of iso-C15 fatty acid from Penassay Broth became comparable to that of anteiso-C15 fatty acid. Mechanisms and various factors affecting the fatty acid distribution pattern in the 10 Bacillus species are discussed.
Water, Electricity, and the Poor: Who Benefits from Utility Subsidies?

While consumer utility subsidies are widespread in both the water and electricity sectors, their effectiveness in reaching and distributing resources to the poor is the subject of much debate. This publication brings together empirical evidence on subsidy performance across a wide range of countries. It documents the prevalence of consumer subsidies, provides a typology of the many variants found in the developing world, and presents a number of indicators useful in assessing the degree to which such subsidies benefit the poor, focusing on three key concepts: beneficiary incidence, benefit incidence, and materiality. The findings on subsidy performance will be useful to policy makers, utility regulators, and sector practitioners who are contemplating introducing, eliminating, or modifying utility subsidies, and to those who view consumer utility subsidies as a social protection instrument.
Celiac disease and antibodies associated with celiac disease in patients with inflammatory myopathy

Celiac disease is usually associated with autoimmune disorders and has occasionally been reported in patients with inflammatory myopathies. Our aim was to determine the presence of celiac disease and antibodies associated with celiac disease in patients with inflammatory myopathies and to investigate their relationship. Serum antigliadin, anti–tissue transglutaminase, and antiendomysial antibodies were determined in 51 patients with inflammatory myopathies. HLA‐DQ2 and ‐DQ8 alleles were studied to assess their complementary diagnostic value. Jejunal biopsy was performed in patients with moderate to high levels of antigliadin antibodies. Patients with jejunal histology consistent with celiac disease initiated a gluten‐free diet. Seventeen patients (31%) were positive for antigliadin antibodies, which were significantly more frequent in patients with inclusion‐body myositis than dermatomyositis (P < 0.001). Positive status to HLA‐DQ2 and/or ‐DQ8 did not differ between antigliadin‐positive (75% and 12.5%) or ‐negative (60% and 15%) patients. Three of five jejunal biopsies were diagnostic for celiac disease with histological normalization after a gluten‐free diet. Thus, celiac disease is more prevalent in patients with inflammatory myopathies than in the general population. Positive status to HLA‐DQ2 allele, which is known to be more frequent in patients with inflammatory myopathies, could explain the high prevalence of antigliadin antibodies in this population. The diagnostic value of HLA‐DQ2 or ‐DQ8 haplotypes to detect celiac disease in patients with inflammatory myopathy is limited. Muscle Nerve, 2006
The Sna93 Values as a Consistent Framework for Productivity Measurement: Unsolved Issues

The SNA93 as a source of a consistent set of values for productivity accounting is studied. In the valuation of intermediate inputs and outputs the main problems relate to the treatment of taxes and subsidies on products. In labor share the main problem is the separation of the labor compensation of the self‐employed. As to the value of capital input, the exact relationship between depreciation, efficiency decline and obsolescence is missing in the SNA93. All relevant assets are not allocated to industries. Treatment of the services of financial intermediaries is also problematic
Bridging Troubled Waters: Applying Consensus-Building Techniques to Water Planning

This research investigates a practical way to address clashes in stakeholder values and enhance outcomes in water allocation planning, in a case study of the water-stressed Lockyer catchment in Australia. A conflict assessment using photovoice interviews early in the process was used to identify divergent interests and values about sustainability, private and public benefit, and equity. A photovoice workshop as well as separate and joint meetings of government and irrigator groups using various consensus-building techniques fostered mutual respect, identified common ground, and contributed toward a negotiated package. This case study shows that techniques that clarify parties' values can reduce areas of divergence and refocus parties on topics for further negotiation in water planning. A consensus-building process need not be formalized in legislation; techniques can be tailored for the purpose and needs of the situation, and together with institutional change will contribute to more collaborative and deliberative planning processes.
Specialization and Agglomeration Patterns in Eastern Europe

The paper investigates specialization and agglomeration trends in EU-27 NUTS2 regions over 1991-2011 by means of two versions of the relative Theil indicator that use employment data. The paper’s main focus is on Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) regions. As a legacy of central planning, in the early ‘Nineties these regions presented significantly above-average specialization and agglomeration. The paper shows that over 1991-2011 these features change very little; moreover, while disproportions fall in the other EU members, they rise in CEECs, implying growing divergence among the two groups in real terms, notwithstanding EU emphasis on real convergence. Indicators disaggregated by sectors show that for CEECs specialization/agglomeration change most in agriculture, market services and manufacturing. The paper focuses on the last two sectors. It argues that performance in the service sector is largely due to capital regions catching up on previous underdevelopment in the sector, therefore getting closer to Western regions. Non-capital regions instead lag behind, moving away from the EU sectoral average. As far as manufacturing is concerned, CEECs regions continue to specialize in the more traditional lines of production, for which also agglomeration remains extremely high. Consideration of the changes over time gives a partially different picture and shows that the higher specialization in overall manufacturing results from the development of a small but dynamic medium-high technology sub-sector that is significantly disseminated across regions, thus appearing to result from successful industrial restructuring and reconversion.