Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inventories and scenarios of nitrous oxide emissions

Effective mitigation for N2O emissions, now the third most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas and the largest remaining anthropogenic source of stratospheric ozone depleting substances, requires understanding of the sources and how they may increase this century. Here we update estimates and their uncertainties for current anthropogenic and natural N2O emissions and for emissions scenarios to 2050. Although major uncertainties remain, ‘bottom-up’ inventories and ‘top-down’ atmospheric modeling yield estimates that are in broad agreement. Global natural N2O emissions are most likely between 10 and 12 Tg N2O-N yr−1. Net anthropogenic N2O emissions are now about 5.3 Tg N2O-N yr−1. Gross anthropogenic emissions by sector are 66% from agriculture, 15% from energy and transport sectors, 11% from biomass burning, and 8% from other sources. A decrease in natural emissions from tropical soils due to deforestation reduces gross anthropogenic emissions by about 14%. Business-as-usual emission scenarios project almost a doubling of anthropogenic N2O emissions by 2050. In contrast, concerted mitigation scenarios project an average decline of 22% relative to 2005, which would lead to a near stabilization of atmospheric concentration of N2O at about 350 ppb. The impact of growing demand for biofuels on future projections of N2O emissions is highly uncertain; N2O emissions from second and third generation biofuels could remain trivial or could become the most significant source to date. It will not be possible to completely eliminate anthropogenic N2O emissions from agriculture, but better matching of crop N needs and N supply offers significant opportunities for emission reductions.
Membership Matters: Limits of the Functional Approach to European Institutions

Functional, transaction-cost approaches to international institutions depict them as passive fora for bargaining among states with autonomously derived preferences. This article probes the limits of the functional, intergovernmental account of the European Union. It suggests that EU institutions can affect political behaviour and outcomes in at least three broad ways: (1) by becoming autonomous political actors; (2) by creating options for domestic actors in their choice of allies and arenas (creating 'multi-level politics'); and (3) by inducing changes in domestic policies and institutions. The article provides instances of each effect in the European Union. It concludes that, in order to understand how the European Union works as well as how it has evolved, analysis must move beyond the limits of the functional, intergovernmentalist approach. Copyright 1996 BPL.
Structures of KOD and 9°N DNA Polymerases Complexed with Primer Template Duplex

Replicate it: Structures of KOD and 9°N DNA polymerases, two enzymes that are widely used to replicate DNA with highly modified nucleotides, were solved at high resolution in complex with primer/template duplex. The data elucidate substrate interaction of the two enzymes and pave the way for further optimisation of the enzymes and substrates.
Human Development Indicators in Rural Egypt

The study focused on human development indicators in rural Egypt, not only because the rural population is close to 60% and 60% of the rural household income from agricultural production, where the traditional agriculture system is of holdings smaller than 5 Feddans represents 80% of the landholdings. They perform under limitations of labor intensive, traditional irrigation technologies, and they suffer from high rural/urban human gap. The concerned human development indicators were the rural/Urban gap, poverty, income distribution, labor force structure and employment, health status, education and migration, the allocation and productivity of agricultural resources, particularly land, water and energy. The food Security development was assessed through the self-sufficiency ratios, dietary consumption pattern and the role of food and agriculture sectors in the national economy
Fragility of Reputation and Clustering in Risk-Taking

Concerns about constructing and maintaining good reputations are known to reduce borrowers’ excessive risk-taking. However, I find that the self-discipline induced by these concerns is fragile, and can break down without obvious changes in economic fundamentals. Furthermore, in the aggregate, breakdowns are clustered among borrowers with intermediate and good reputations, which can exacerbate an economy’s weakness and contribute to a broad economic crisis. These results come from an aggregate dynamic global game analysis of reputation formation in credit markets. The selection of a unique equilibrium is accomplished by assuming that borrowers have incomplete information about economic fundamentals.
MACROECONOMIC EFFECTS OF MINIMUM WAGE IN NIGERIA: A GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS

This paper examines the macroeconomic effects of minimum wage (MW) policy in Nigeria using a static computable general equilibrium. Data for the study is drawn from year 2005 National Account of the country. The data is used to construct a 22 x 22 social accounting matrix (SAM) for the economy. The calibration exercise shows that the model’s parameters are able to replicate the baseline data with acceptable precision. Simulation results show that a rise in MW would lead to increased productivity in all economic sectors. The impact of MW increase on employment is mixed; while it leads to marginal rise of employment in agricultural sector, there is a marginal fall in services sector’s employment, and no significant effect in manufacturing and mining and oil sectors. In terms of price effect, an increase in MW would lead to a significant rise in general price level. A rise in MW has positive effects on household income and consumption, as well as on government balances.
Calcium and phosphorus deficiency in rats: effects on PTH and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Weanling male Holtzman rats were fed calcium.deficient, phosphorus-deficient, or control diets for 8 wk. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) was measured by radioimmunoassay, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) by a competitive binding assay. Rats fed the calcium-deficient diet (0.01% calcium, 0.6% phosphorus) became mildly hypocalcemic after 6 days. Serum calcium levels reached 5.5 +/- 0.4 mg/dl (mean +/- SD) in 5 wk (control 10.3 +/- 0.4 mg/dl). PTH increased from 285 +/- 112 to 3658 +/- 428 pg/ml within 6 wk. Maximum serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 (111.8 +/- 17.3 vs. control 11.4 +/- 3.8 ng/dl) were reached at 3 wk and thereafter declined to 44.6 +/- 14.0 ng/dl. In rats fed the phosphorus-deficient diet (0.6% calcium, 0.04% phosphorus), serum phosphorus fell within 24 h from 9.1 +/- 0.6 to 3.2 +/- 0.1 mg/dl, recovered to 5.6 +/- 0.4 mg/dl for 2-3 days, and then declined again. Serum calcium reached a maximum of 14.4 +/- 0.4 mg/dl at day 2 (control 10.8 +/- 0.5 mg/dl) and then slowly declined. PTH decreased within 24 h from 243 +/- 59 to 36 +/- 0 pg/ml in phosphorus-depleted rats. Serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 increased within 24 h and remained elevated after 6 wk of phosphorus deprivation (61.2 +/- 11.7 ng/dl vs. control 18.3 +/- 0.4 ng/dl).
Fuzzy Consensus Clustering With Applications on Big Data

Consensus clustering aims to find a single partition of data that agrees as much as possible with existing basic partitions. Given its robustness and generalizability, consensus clustering has emerged as a promising solution to find cluster structures inside heterogeneous big data rising from various application domains. In the area of fuzzy systems, however, research along this line is still in its initial stage with some unsystematic algorithmic studies. Finding a fuzzy consensus partition from multiple fuzzy basic partitions in an efficient, flexible, and robust way is still an exciting open problem calling for further investigation. In light of this, this paper provides a systematic study of fuzzy consensus clustering (FCC) from a utility perspective. Specifically, we first define the objective function of FCC clearly using the novel fuzzified contingency matrix. We then derive a family of FCC Utility functions termed as FCCU that can transform FCC to a weighted piecewise fuzzy $c$ -means clustering (piFCM) problem. This helps us to establish an algorithmic framework for FCC with flexible choice of utility functions, and speeds FCC significantly with a FCM-like iterative process of piFCM. To meet the big data challenge, we further parallelize FCC on the Spark platform with both vertical and horizontal segmentation schemes. Extensive experiments on various real-world datasets demonstrate the excellent performance of FCC, even with a majority of poor basic partitions. In particular, our method exhibits interesting potential for big data clustering in two real-life applications concerned with online event detection and overlapping community detection, respectively.
Identification of Structural and Functional Domains in Mixed Lineage Kinase Dual Leucine Zipper-bearing Kinase Required for Complex Formation and Stress-activated Protein Kinase Activation*

Accumulating evidence suggests that mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways form modular signaling complexes. Because the mixed lineage kinase dual leucine zipper-bearing kinase (DLK) is a large modular protein, structure-function analysis was undertaken to examine the role of DLK domains in macromolecular complex formation. DLK mutants were used to demonstrate that a DLK leucine zipper-leucine zipper interaction is necessary for DLK dimerization and to show that DLK dimerization mediated by the leucine zipper domain is prerequisite for DLK activity and subsequent activation of stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK). Heterologous mixed lineage kinase family members can be co-immunoprecipitated. However, the DLK leucine zipper domain interacted specifically only with the DLK leucine zipper domain; in contrast, DLK NH2-terminal region was sufficient to co-immunoprecipitate leucine zipper kinase and DLK. DLK has been shown to associate with the putative scaffold protein JIP1. This association occurred through the DLK NH2-terminal region and occurred independently of DLK catalytic activity. Although the DLK NH2-terminal region associated directly with JIP-1, this region did not interact directly with either DLK or leucine zipper kinase. Therefore, DLK may interact with heterologous mixed lineage kinase proteins via intermediary proteins. The NH2-terminal region of overexpressed DLK was required for activation of SAPK. These results provide evidence that protein complex formation is required for signal transduction from DLK to SAPK.
An economic analysis of willingness to pay (WTP) for conserving the biodiversity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of eco‐tourism on the socio‐economic characteristics of the native inhabitants and natural resources in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), India. The paper estimates the recreational value and measures the willingness to pay (WTP) of the stakeholders and tourists to conserve the forest eco‐system.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws upon theories and issues of eco‐tourism to examine the economic value of forest ecosystem, including direct and indirect use values of the ecological regulatory services. The 60 sample stakeholders of the study were agricultural and forest dependents and tourist dependents in addition to 60 visitors of ATR spot.Findings – The travel cost had a significant negative influence on frequency of visits, while education had a positive impact. The agriculture and forest dependents, tourist dependents and tourists were WTP an average amount of Rs 202 (US$4.03), Rs 449 (US$9.55) and Rs 656 (US$14.00)/annum, respectively, tow.
The Effects of Community Violence on Child Development

Introduction The communities that children grow up in can have a profound effect on the adults they become. Many children are raised in calm and supportive environments with a wealth of resources. At the other end of the spectrum, millions of children grow up under conditions of adversity. This often translates into the absence of basic resources necessary for development. But adversity can also reflect heightened exposure to negative events that shape life outcomes.
A Queueing Network Model for Delay and Throughput Analysis in Multi-hop Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

In this paper we present a queueing network model for computing average end-to-end delay, and maximum throughput that can be attained in random access multi-hop wireless ad hoc networks with stationary nodes under two popular contention resolution schemes namely, Binary Exponential Back-off (BEB) and Double Increment Double Decrement (DIDD) rules. This model takes into consider some realistic features of the system like (i) the generation of different classes of packets at nodes, and (ii) the dependence of the transmission time and transmission probability on the distance between the transmitter and receiver. Probability distributions and the associated measures of characteristics of the time spent by a packet at arbitrary node are analytically derived by using phase type random variate theory, which in turn are used for the computation of average end-to-end delay and maximum achievable throughput. Theoretical results are numerically illustrated.
Subjective health complaints and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome following Giardia lamblia infection: A case control study

Objective. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated with unexplained medical symptoms, and the degree of somatic comorbidity may indicate whether the aetiology of IBS is predominantly psychological or biological in origin. The purpose of this study was to examine the comorbidity and quality of life of patients with IBS following infection with Giardia lamblia. Material and methods. Sixty-seven consecutive patients with persistent abdominal symptoms, initiated by an acute infection with G. lamblia, completed questionnaires for scoring of subjective health complaints (SHC) and quality of life (Short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI)). The scores were compared with corresponding scores in persons from the general population (n=70). Results. Compared with controls, each of the two groups of patients, those with present (n=17) and those with cured (n=50) G. lamblia infection, had significantly higher scores (p<0.0001) on SHC. However, subscores on somatic comorbidity (musculoskeletal pain) were low and similar to those in the general population (OR 1.2 (0.51–2.73)). Quality of life was substantially impaired in the patients; sum scores 30.0±8.0 (mean±SD) and 31.7±9.3 in the patient groups and 13.5±6.8 in the general population (p<0.0001). Conclusions. Patients with post-giardiasis IBS suffer very little somatic comorbidity, suggesting that the aetiology of this form of postinfective IBS is predominantly biological in origin and may thus differ from the more common, non-postinfective forms of IBS. The combination of persisting abdominal symptoms and psychological distress might be a perpetuating factor contributing to low quality of life.
THE EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENTAL BASIS OF WING PATTERN VARIATION IN THE BUTTERFLY BICYCLUS ANYNANA

We have studied interactions between developmental processes and genetic variation for the eyespot color pattern on the adult dorsal forewing of the nymphalid butterfly, Bicyclus anynana. Truncation selection was applied in both an upward and a downward direction to the size of a single eyespot consisting of rings with wing scales of differing color pigments. High heritabilities resulted in rapid responses to selection yielding divergent lines with very large or very small eyespots. Strong correlated responses occurred in most of the other eyespots on each wing surface. The cells at the center of a presumptive eyespot (the “focus”) act in the early pupal stage to establish the adult wing pattern. The developmental fate of the scale cells within an eyespot is specified by the “signaling” properties of the focus and the “response” thresholds of the epidermis. The individual eyespots can be envisaged as developmental homologues. Grafting experiments performed with the eyespot foci of the selected lines showed that additive genetic variance exists for both the response and, in particular, the signaling components of the developmental system. The results are discussed in the context of how constraints on the evolution of this wing pattern may be related to the developmental organization.
Investigation of Brownian diffusion and long-distance electrodynamic interactions of biomolecules

The dynamical properties and diffusive behavior of a collection of mutually interacting particles are numerically investigated for two types of long-range interparticle interactions: Coulomb-electrostatic and dipole-electrodynamic. It is shown that when the particles are uniformly distributed throughout the accessible space, the self-diffusion coefficient is always lowered by the considered interparticle interactions, irrespective of their attractive or repulsive character. Transitional phenomena are observed for Coulomb-electrostatic (repulsive) and dipole-electrodynamic (attractive) interactions considered both separately and in competition. The outcomes reported in this paper clearly indicate a feasible experimental method to probe the activation of resonant electrodynamic interactions among biomolecules.
Proteomic and phenotypic profiling of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis shows that genotype is linked to virulence

Population genetics of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) show that isolates are highly related and globally homogenous, data that are consistent with the recent epidemic spread of a previously endemic organism. Highly related isolates are predicted to be functionally similar due to low levels of heritable genetic diversity. To test this hypothesis, we took a global panel of Bd isolates and measured (i) the genetic relatedness among isolates, (ii) proteomic profiles of isolates, (iii) the susceptibility of isolates to the antifungal drug caspofungin, (iv) the variation among isolates in growth and phenotypic characteristics, and (v) the virulence of isolates against the European common toad Bufo bufo. Our results show (i) genotypic differentiation among isolates, (ii) proteomic differentiation among isolates, (iii) no significant differences in susceptibility to caspofungin, (iv) differentiation in growth and phenotypic/morphological characters, and (v) differential virulence in B. bufo. Specifically, our data show that Bd isolates can be profiled by their genotypic and proteomic characteristics, as well as by the size of their sporangia. Bd genotypic and phenotypic distance matrices are significantly correlated, showing that less‐related isolates are more biologically unique. Mass spectrometry has identified a set of candidate genes associated with inter‐isolate variation. Our data show that, despite its rapid global emergence, Bd isolates are not identical and differ in several important characters that are linked to virulence. We argue that future studies need to clarify the mechanism(s) and rate at which Bd is evolving, and the impact that such variation has on the host–pathogen dynamic.
Long-term cognitive outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Objective: To report the neurologic outcomes in long-term survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation as the presenting rhythm (OHCA VF) at a population level. Methods: All adults who experienced OHCA VF in Olmsted County, MN, from 1990 to 2008, survived more than 6 months postarrest, and were alive at the time of study recruitment were invited to participate in structured neuropsychological testing and a neurologic examination. Cognitive test results were compared to the normal population using the Mayo's Older Adults Normative Studies. Linear regression models were fit to evaluate each neuropsychological test result in relation to call-to-shock time, sex, age at cardiac arrest, time elapsed since event, witnessed vs unwitnessed arrest, and administration of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Results: Of 332 OHCA VF arrests, 140 people (42.2%, 95% confidence interval 36.9%–47.5%) survived to discharge. No patient entered a minimally conscious or permanent vegetative state. Long-term survivors (n = 47, median survival 7.8 years postarrest) had lower scores on measures of long-term memory and learning efficiency (p = 0.001) but higher than average scores on verbal IQ (p = 0.001). Nearly all survivors were functionally independent and scored high on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (median Barthel Index 100/100, median MMSE 29/30). Conclusions: Long-term survivors of OHCA VF have long-term memory deficits compared to the normal population at the same age and education level. These findings provide a baseline for cognitive outcomes studies of OHCA VF as new techniques are developed to improve survival.
2-Hydroxyglutarate is not a metabolite; d-2-hydroxyglutarate and l-2-hydroxyglutarate are!

In the recent study by Wang et al. (1), the prognostic significance of the assessment of serum 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) concentrations in acute myeloid leukemia was investigated. The authors report that in 87% of the patients with high serum concentrations of 2-HG, mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1/IDH2 occurred, versus 29% in the group with moderately high 2-HG concentrations. This finding led to their suggestion that other genetic or biochemical events cause 2-HG elevation.
An ultra-wideband, continuous-time, differential, single-bit quantizer in 90 nm CMOS

In this paper, we propose an ultra-wideband, differential, single-bit quantizer intended for impulse radio, ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) applications using standard 90 nm TSMC digital CMOS technology. The proposed quantizer is working in continuous-time for power-efficient IR-UWB implementations with a 5 GHz bandwidth and a very high differential gain of approximately 70 dB while consuming 33.5 mW from 1.2 V supply voltage. Coupled inductors are explored for bandwidth extension and post-layout simulated results are provided.
Research and development progress assessment through technological and scientific intelligence

It is critical for Research and Development (R&D)-driven organisations to have access to intelligence on the progress of the research in universities and public or private laboratories as well as on the status of their competitors. This paper introduces three concepts: time lag between different scientific indicators, visual correlation between scientific indicators and actual technology performance and finally an activity metric for assessment of competition between an existing and an emerging technology. The results indicate that the introduced concepts, which are based on the bibliometric and patent analysis approaches, allow researchers to generate intelligence on emerging technologies and innovations supported by the wealth of today's public electronic information database.