Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Yes We Have No Bananas: A Critique of the 'Food Miles' Perspective

As modern food production and distribution becomes ever more complex and globalized, a "buy local" food movement has arisen. This movement argues that locally produced food is not only fresher and better tasting, but it is also better for the environment: Because locally produced food does not travel far to reach your table, the production and transport of the food expend less energy overall. The local food movement has even coined a term, "food miles," to denote the distance food has traveled from production to consumption and uses the food miles concept as a major way to determine the environmental impact of a food.This Policy Primer examines the origins and validity of the food miles concept. The evidence presented suggests that food miles are, at best, a marketing fad that frequently and severely distorts the environmental impacts of agricultural production. At worst, food miles constitute a dangerous distraction from the very real and serious issues that affect energy consumption and the environmental impact of modern food production and the affordability of food.The course of the debate over food miles is nonetheless instructive for policy makers. It highlights the need to remain focused on the issues that are important-in this case, the greenhouse gas emissions of highly subsidized first-world agriculture, the trade imbalances that prevent both developed and developing countries from realizing the mutual benefits of freer trade, biofuel subsidies, and third-world poverty. With the population of the planet growing rapidly, numerous food-policy issues other than food miles should preoccupy policy makers.
3D Reconstruction with Low Resolution, Small Baseline and High Radial Distortion Stereo Images

In this paper we analyze and compare approaches for 3D reconstruction from low-resolution (250x250), high radial distortion stereo images, which are acquired with small baseline (approximately 1mm). These images are acquired with the system NanEye Stereo manufactured by CMOSIS/AWAIBA. These stereo cameras have also small apertures, which means that high levels of illumination are required. The goal was to develop an approach yielding accurate reconstructions, with a low computational cost, i.e., avoiding non-linear numerical optimization algorithms. In particular we focused on the analysis and comparison of radial distortion models. To perform the analysis and comparison, we defined a baseline method based on available software and methods, such as the Bouguet toolbox [2] or the Computer Vision Toolbox from Matlab. The approaches tested were based on the use of the polynomial model of radial distortion, and on the application of the division model. The issue of the center of distortion was also addressed within the framework of the application of the division model. We concluded that the division model with a single radial distortion parameter has limitations.
A closed-form delay estimation model for current-mode high speed VLSI interconnects

Closed-form model for the delay estimation of current-mode Resistance Inductance Capacitance (RLC) interconnects in VLSI circuits is presented. The existing Eudes model for interconnect transfer function approximation is extended and applied for further accurate estimation of delay. With the equivalent lossy interconnect transfer function, finite ramp responses are obtained and line delay is estimated for various line lengths, per unit length inductances and load capacitances. The delay values are computed using Eudes model, extended Eudes model and are compared with the HSPICE W-element model. The obtained delay values of existing Eudes model max error percentage is 14.3% whereas our extended Eudes model is in good agreement with those of HSPICE results within 2% for the line lengths of 1mm to 10mm.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Do Regional Differences in Tissue Inflammation Matter?

sure suggests that regional differences in the immune inflammatory response may play an important role in determining the locations of airway and parenchymal destruction in COPD. Persistent exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with infiltration by immune inflammatory cells and remodeling of the tissue to produce enlargement of bronchial mucus glands, thickening of the walls and narrowing of the lumen of the smaller conducting airways, as well as emphysematous destruction of the alveolar surface. This inflammatory/immune remodeling process involves a complex interplay between lung epithelial cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts with the infiltrating neutrophils, macrophages and subpopulations of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells [6, 8, 9] . Activation and damage of tissues by cigarette smoke cause the release of various inflammatory mediators, cytokines and chemokines that promote the activation of endothelial cells, resulting in the upregulation of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin, thus increasing the accumulation of leukocytes in lung tissues. These leukocytes serve as an additional source of chemoattractant cytokines, promoting additional leukocyte traffic into the lung tissues which are thought to play a pivotal role in the development and progression of COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a worldwide health problem, and is associated with frequent hospital admissions, a decrease in quality of life and premature death [1] . Tobacco smoking as the major cause of COPD is supported by studies that showed a twoto threefold increase in the rate of decline in lung function in smokers compared with nonsmokers [1, 2] . Cigarette smoking elicits airway and lung tissue inflammation in all of those who smoke, but clinically significant COPD occurs in only a minority of smokers [3, 4] . In this minority who develop COPD, the inflammatory process is amplified and persists long after the individual has stopped smoking [5–7] . This amplified inflammatory response is thought to cause the tissue remodeling that results in the lesions that have been associated with chronic bronchitis, small airway obstruction and emphysematous tissue destruction [6, 8] and led to the concept that an abnormal inflammatory response to cigarette smoke leads to the development of COPD in susceptible individuals. To complicate issues further, the clinical and pathological spectrum of COPD is broad, with the majority of patients demonstrating a combination of both emphysema and airway disease to varying degrees. The fact that these two significantly different pathological processes develop following the same environmental expoPublished online: February 18, 2011
Searching Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers to Complex Diseases Using Genetic Algorithm Framework and a BoostMode Support Vector Machine

With the advent of large-scale high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, case-control association studies have been performed to identify predisposing genetic factors that influence many common complex diseases. These genotyping platforms provide very dense SNP coverage per one chip. Much research has been focusing on multivariate genetic model to identify genes that can predict the disease status. However, increasing the number of SNPs generates large number of combined genetic outcomes to be tested. This work presents a new mathematical algorithm for SNP analysis called IFGA that uses a "BoostMode" support vector machine (SVM) to select the best set of SNP markers that can predict a state of complex diseases. The proposed algorithm has been applied to test for the association study in two diseases, namely Crohn's and severity spectrum of &#946;º/Hb E Thalassemia diseases. The results revealed that our predicted SNPs can respectively best classify both diseases at 71.57% and 71.06% accuracy using 10-fold cross validation comparing with the optimum random forest (ORF) and classification and regression trees (CART) techniques.
ANALISIS PENGARUH KEMANFAATAN SISTEM PRESENSI BERBASIS FINGER PRINT TERHADAP KEMUDAHAN BAGI KARYAWAN PADA PT. LUCKY SAMUDRA PRATAMA

Perkembangan Teknologi saat ini menyebabkankebutuhan akan informasi yang cepat,tepat danakurat. Salah satu dari perkembangan teknologidiperusahaan adalah Finger Print. PT. LuckySamudra Pratama adalah salah satu yang menerapkansistem finger print yang dilakukan secara online dandiharapkan dapat membantu karyawan dalammeningkatkan finger print. Instrumen penelitianmengenai analisis pengaruh kemanfaatan sistempresensi berbasis finger print terhadap kemudahanbagi karyawan pada PT. Lucky Samudra Pratamaberupa angket dan objek penelitian adalah karyawanPT. Lucky Samudra Pratama sebanyak 50 respondendari karyawan yang diambil. Analisis data dilakukandengan teknik analisis deskriptif denganmenggunakan kategori dan persentase melalui skalaLikert. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwahubungan yang terjadi antara variabel X (Persepsiterhadap kemanfaatan) dengan variabel Y (PersepsiKemudahan Pemakai) dalam pengaruh sistem fingerprint pada PT. Lucky Samudra Pratama adalah2427,062 . Nilai korelasi sebesar ini sangat kuatpositif. Hubungan bersifat positif artinya terjadihubungan searah antara variabel X dan variabel Y.
3D group-cross symmetrical inductor: A new inductor architecture with higher self-resonance frequency and Q factor dedicated to advanced HR SOI CMOS technology

During past years, high resistivity (HR) SOI CMOS technology has emerged as a promising one for the integration of RF applications, mainly because of the improvement of passive component related to HR substrate. In this trend, 3D symmetrical spiral inductor (3DSI) has been proposed on SOI to lower the amount of area consumed by inductor while offering comparable performance than equivalent bulk technology. This paper presents a novel 3D structure group-cross symmetrical spiral inductor (3DGCSI), which has higher self-resonance frequency and quality factor, but has the same DC inductance and occupies the same layout area as 3DSI. Measurement data of 3DGCSI and 3DSI are compared with each other to show the advantages of this new inductor structure.
Inflammatory Cytokines, but Not Bile Acids, Regulate Expression of Murine Hepatic Anion Transporters in Endotoxemia

Endotoxin-mediated cholestasis stems from impaired hepatobiliary transport of bile acids and organic anions due to altered expression and activity of transporters, including Oatp,Mrp, Ntcp, and Bsep. However, the mechanisms by which the Oatp andMrp genes are down-regulated are largely unknown. Using in vivo and in vitro murine models of inflammation, we examined the role of cytokines and bile acids in regulating Oatp andMrp. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, cholic acid, taurocholate, or taurodeoxycholate was administered in vivo to mice or in vitro to Hepa 1-6 mouse hepatoma cells. Mrp,Oatp, and Bsep mRNA levels were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Mrp efflux activity was measured using 5-carboxyfluorescein. In vivo, LPS treatment profoundly suppressed hepatic mRNA levels of Mrp2, Mrp3,Oatp1, Oatp2, and Bsep to 15, 60, 44, 30, and 32% of controls, respectively (p < 0.05), but did not significantly alterMrp1 expression. IL-6 or IL-1β administration suppressed Mrp2, Oatp1,Oatp2, and Bsep mRNA levels to 20 to 60% controls (p < 0.05). TNF-α administration affected mRNA levels of Mrp2, Mrp3, andOatp2 but not Oatp1 orBsep. Bile acid treatment increased the in vivo expression of Bsep but not Mrp orOatp. Likewise, significantly lower mRNA levels ofMrp2 with a corresponding decrease in cellular efflux of 5-carboxyfluorescein was seen in vitro in IL-6- and IL-1β-treated Hepa 1-6 cells, whereas bile acids did not have significant effects. In conclusion, cytokines are key mediators in regulating hepatic expression of anion transporters in inflammatory cholestasis, whereas bile acids likely play a minor role.
Localization of all seven messenger RNAs for the actin-polymerization nucleator Arp2/3 complex in the protrusions of fibroblasts

The actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex is a crucial actin polymerization nucleator and is localized to the leading protrusions of migrating cells. However, how the multiprotein complex is targeted to the protrusions remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mRNAs for the seven subunits of the Arp2/3 complex are localized to the protrusions in fibroblasts, supporting a hypothesis that the Arp2/3 complex is targeted to its site of function by mRNA localization. Depletion of serum from culture medium inhibits Arp2/3-complex mRNA localization to the protrusion, whereas serum stimulation leads to significant mRNA localization within 30 minutes. The effect of serum suggests that Arp2/3-complex mRNA localization is a cellular response to extracellular stimuli. The localization of the Arp2/3 complex mRNAs is dependent on both actin filaments and microtubules, because disruption of either cytoskeletal system (with cytochalasin D and colchicine, respectively) inhibited the localization of all seven subunit mRNAs. In addition, myosin inhibitors significantly inhibit Arp2 mRNA localization in chicken embryo fibroblasts, suggesting a myosin motor dependent mechanism for Arp2/3-complex mRNA localization.
White Blood Cell DNA Adducts , Smoking , and NAT 2 and GSTM 1 Genotypes in Bladder Cancer : A Case-Control Study ’

We conducted a case-control study on 114 bladder cancer patients and 46 hospital controls. DNA adducts were measured in WBCs by 32P postlabeling and showed no association with smoking habits and the glutathione-Stransferase Ml genotype. A strong association between adduct levels and the N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) genotype was found (P = 0.0002). The NAT2 genotype was associated in a nonstatistically significant way to the case-control status (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-3.2). In a logistic regression model, the log of DNA adduct levels was associated in a highly significant way to the risk of bladder cancer (regression coefficient, 0.75; P = 0.0006), independently of smoking habits. Using the median of DNA adducts (RAL, 0.3) as a cutoff point, the odds ratio for the risk of bladder cancer was 4.1 (age-adjusted; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-9.0). Our study suggests that sources other than tobacco smoke contribute to the formation of aromatic DNA adducts in WBCs. The robe of WBC-DNA adducts in predicting bladder cancer is still to be clarified.
SPOC1-Mediated Antiviral Host Cell Response Is Antagonized Early in Human Adenovirus Type 5 Infection

Little is known about immediate phases after viral infection and how an incoming viral genome complex counteracts host cell defenses, before the start of viral gene expression. Adenovirus (Ad) serves as an ideal model, since entry and onset of gene expression are rapid and highly efficient, and mechanisms used 24–48 hours post infection to counteract host antiviral and DNA repair factors (e.g. p53, Mre11, Daxx) are well studied. Here, we identify an even earlier host cell target for Ad, the chromatin-associated factor and epigenetic reader, SPOC1, recently found recruited to double strand breaks, and playing a role in DNA damage response. SPOC1 co-localized with viral replication centers in the host cell nucleus, interacted with Ad DNA, and repressed viral gene expression at the transcriptional level. We discovered that this SPOC1-mediated restriction imposed upon Ad growth is relieved by its functional association with the Ad major core protein pVII that enters with the viral genome, followed by E1B-55K/E4orf6-dependent proteasomal degradation of SPOC1. Mimicking removal of SPOC1 in the cell, knock down of this cellular restriction factor using RNAi techniques resulted in significantly increased Ad replication, including enhanced viral gene expression. However, depletion of SPOC1 also reduced the efficiency of E1B-55K transcriptional repression of cellular promoters, with possible implications for viral transformation. Intriguingly, not exclusive to Ad infection, other human pathogenic viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2, HIV-1, and HCV) also depleted SPOC1 in infected cells. Our findings provide a general model for how pathogenic human viruses antagonize intrinsic SPOC1-mediated antiviral responses in their host cells. A better understanding of viral entry and early restrictive functions in host cells should provide new perspectives for developing antiviral agents and therapies. Conversely, for Ad vectors used in gene therapy, counteracting mechanisms eradicating incoming viral DNA would increase Ad vector efficacy and safety for the patient.
Efficient data delivery adaptable to moving nodes in mobile mesh network

With the spread of small wireless devices, mobile mesh networks (MMN) will be constructed in the near future by interconnecting such devices. However, it is difficult to reliably deliver data over the moving nodes in anMMNdue to the instability of the wireless medium and the movement itself of mobile nodes. Although an existing method, MORE, improves the efficiency of data delivery in fixed wireless mesh networks, it does not address the movement of nodes at all. In this paper, we propose a new data delivery method that is capable of delivering data among moving nodes. Through simulations, we show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A Low-Complexity Scheme to Reduce the PAPR of an OFDM Signal Using Taguchi-Genetic Algorithms

In this paper, we proposed a weighting factor estimation method for peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) based on Taguchi-genetic algorithm (TGA) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Partial transmit sequences (PTS) is one of the most attractive schemes to reduce the PAPR in OFDM systems. However, the conventional PTS scheme requires an exhaustive searching over all combinations of allowed phase factors. Consequently, the computational complexity increases exponentially with the number of the subblocks. In this study, a new PTS technique that uses a novel numerical stochastic optimization algorithm inspired from natural genetics and natural selection, designated as hybrid Taguchi-genetic algorithm (HTGA), for PAPR reduction in the OFDM system is introduced. The simulation results show that compared with the various stochastic search techniques developed previously, the proposed TGA-based PTS obtains the excellent PAPR performance with a low computational complexity.
Can second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) predict sensitivity to pain?

Objective S: Sexually dimorphic index 2D:4D (digit length ratio between the second and fourth finger) is believed to reflect prenatal effect of gonadal hormones. Higher index in women results from prenatal exposure to lower level of testosterone whereas lower index in men results from higher testosterone level We hypothesized that more masculine index will be associated with lower sensitivity and more feminine index with higher sensitivity to pain. MethO dS: Thirty four subjects (18 women and 16 men) underwent two thermal nociceptive tests: stimulation of fingers with the beam of radiant heat until appearance of withdrawal reaction and the cold pressor test (CPT - immersion of non-dominant hand into water 2°C for 2 min). Intensity of perceived cold pain was assessed in 15 s intervals on visual analogue scale. ReSultS : In thermal pain, we found no significant gender differences and no correlation between digit ratio and withdrawal latency from heat stimulus. In CPT, pain intensity correlated positively with digit ratio and women experienced more intensive pain than men. cONclu SiON: From these results it can be concluded that sexually dimorphic index 2D:4D is probably more associated with affective than with sensory component of pain.
The effects of ownership structure and board composition on the audit committee activity: span-ish evidence

This paper examines the factors that affect the activity of the audit committees. The data used in the analyses are collected from the Spanish stock market in 2003. We use the activity of the audit committee as a proxy of its efficacy. The results show the existence of a non-linear relationship between the managerial stock ownership and the activity of the audit committee. We have also verified the existence of a lower audit committee’s activity in highly leveraged firms and when the ownership structure is concentrated in the hands of large shareholders. The large firms have more active committees than small firms. Finally, we have not found any evidence of a significant influence of the composition of the board or the audit committee on the activity of the latter.
Low virulence evolves as a bet-hedging strategy in fluctuating environment

The effect of fluctuating environmental conditions (i.e. environmental stochasticity) on the evolution of virulence has been broadly overlooked, presumably due to a lack of connection between the fields of evolutionary epidemiology and insect ecology. Practitioners of the latter have known for a long time that stochastic environmental variations can impact the population dynamics of many insects, some of which are vectors of infectious diseases. Here we investigate whether environmental stochasticity affecting a vector’s life history can have an indirect impact on the evolutionarily expected virulence of the parasite, using Chagas disease as an example. We model the evolution of virulence using the adaptive dynamics framework, showing that parasite virulence should decrease when the vector's dynamics randomly change in time. The decrease is even more pronounced when environmental variations are frequent and ample. This decrease in virulence can be viewed as a bet-hedging strategy: when a parasite is at a risk of not being transmitted (e.g. because vectors are scarce), its best option is to stay in the host longer – that is, to be less virulent. Lowering virulence is thus very similar to increasing iteroparity, a well-known risk-spreading strategy, and should be expected to evolve whenever parasite transmission varies randomly in time.
Differential Evolution with Parent Centric Crossover

Differential evolution (DE) has emerged as a powerful tool for solving optimization problems in the last few years. However, the convergence rate of DE still does not meet all the requirements, and attempts to speed up differential evolution are considered necessary. In order to improve the performance of DE, we propose a modified DE algorithm called DEPCX which uses parent centric approach to manipulate the solution vectors. The performance of DEPCX is evaluated on a test bed of five functions. Numerical results are compared with original differential evolution (DE) and with TDE, another recently modified version of DE. Empirical results indicate that this modification enables the algorithm to get a better transaction between the convergence rate and robustness.