Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Driver evaluation based on classification of rapid decelerating patterns

This paper presents a novel method to evaluate risk levels of driving behaviors based on acceleration patterns while braking. Acceleration patterns were recorded with drive recorders mounted on such vehicles as taxis and trucks to detect "events," i.e., remarkable scenes while driving such as rapid acceleration and deceleration. They also captured video images of the vehicles in front of the drivers. The event data and video resources are used to analyze the causes of crashes and near-miss incidents and to evaluate the risk levels of the driving behaviors of individual drivers. Conventional driver evaluation methods generally use the frequencies of event occurrences detected with a certain acceleration threshold. Yet it remains unclear how the driver depresses and releases the brake pedal at each event or how dangerous each event is. To make it apparent, we introduce a method that characterizes braking patterns based on the time series of the acceleration signals around the events. Events of rapid deceleration were classified into four typical types of braking patterns based on how the brake pedal was depressed and released. Driver risk levels of braking actions were evaluated based on these four braking patterns from different points of view. We show results applying our proposed method to evaluate the driving behaviors of 35 drivers.
A RESEARCH ON THE WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR CERTIFICATED ECOTOURISM PRODUCT——THE EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS BASED ON THE TOURISTS OF ZHEJIANG'S FOUR SCENIC SPOTS

Tourist acceptance is a key for susscuss in marking ecotourism certification product in the world.In the article,the tourist perception and attitude towards ecotourism certification product are analyzed and the tourist willingness to pay is estimated.The results show the tourist's selection toward tourist product is affected by many socio-economic and demographic factors such as gender,education,income per month,travel frequency,travel way,tourist expense in the last year,the attitude towards ecotourism certification and the price of not certificated tourist product.The computed WTP indicates,on average,that the survey respondents are willing to pay a 35.1% premium in order to consume ecotourism certification product.
Slant Underestimation: A Model Based on the Size of the Viewing Aperture

By analyzing the projection plane in terms of the projected size of different elements on a surface, it is shown how the direction of the perpendicular, from the station point to the surface, is an important variable in the derivation of the slant angle. It is also shown that the test surfaces used in traditional slant-perception experiments contain no information about this direction. A model is proposed which is based on the idea that the direction of the line from the eye to one edge of the viewing aperture is mistaken for the perpendicular, and two options are derived to show how the information in the optical array could be interpreted on the basis of the perpendicular lying in this new direction. It is shown that both of these options are dependent upon the size of the field of view of the test surface and both are underestimations as long as half of the angle measuring the field of view is less than the actual slant of the surface. The model is tested against some data from previously reported experiments and is found to provide a close fit.
Cerebral hypoperfusion and clinical onset of dementia: The Rotterdam study

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity is decreased in patients with Alzheimer's disease. It is being debated whether this reflects diminished demand because of advanced neurodegeneration or that cerebral hypoperfusion contributes to dementia. We examined the relation of CBF velocity as measured with transcranial Doppler with dementia and markers of incipient dementia (ie, cognitive decline and hippocampal and amygdalar atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging) in 1,730 participants of the Rotterdam Study aged 55 years and older. Cognitive decline in the 6.5 years preceding CBF velocity measurement was assessed with repeated Mini‐Mental State Examinations in nondemented subjects (n = 1,716). Hippocampal and amygdalar volumes were assessed in a subset of 170 nondemented subjects. Subjects with greater CBF velocity were less likely to have dementia. Furthermore, in nondemented subjects, greater CBF velocity was related to significantly less cognitive decline over the preceding period (odds ratio per standard deviation increase in mean CBF 0.74 [95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.98]) and larger hippocampal and amygdalar volumes. A low CBF is associated with dementia, but also with markers of incipient dementia. Although we cannot exclude that this is caused by preclinical neurodegeneration leading to hypoperfusion, it does suggest that cerebral hypoperfusion precedes and possibly contributes to onset of clinical dementia. Ann Neurol 2005;57:789–794
The Structuring Role of Marine Life in Open Ocean Habitat: Importance to International Policy

Areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) lie outside the 200 nautical mile limits of national sovereignty and cover 58% of the ocean surface. Global conservation agreements recognise biodiversity loss in ABNJ and aim to protect ≥10% of oceans in marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2020. However, no agreed mechanism to create MPAs in ABNJ currently exists, and existing management is widely regarded as inadequate to safeguard biodiversity. Negotiations are therefore underway for an ‘internationally legally binding instrument’ (ILBI) to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to enable biodiversity conservation beyond national jurisdiction. While this agreement will, hopefully, establish a mechanism to create MPAs in ABNJ, discussions to date highlight a further problem: namely, defining what to protect. We have a good framework for terrestrial and coastal habitats, however habitats in ABNJ, particularly the open ocean, are less understood and poorly defined. Often, predictable broad oceanographic features are used to define open ocean habitats. But what exactly, constitutes the habitat - the water, or the species that live there? Complicating matters, species in the open sea are often highly mobile. Here, we argue that mobile marine organisms provide the structure-forming biomass and constitute ‘habitat’ in the open ocean. For an ABNJ ILBI to offer effective protection to marine biodiversity it must consider habitats a function of their inhabitants and represent all marine life within its scope. Only by enabling strong protection for every element of biodiversity can we hope to be fully successful in conserving it.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Potentiates, but Does Not Trigger, T Cell Proliferation Mediated by the IL-2 Receptor1

Proliferative signaling by the IL-2R can occur through two distinct pathways, one mediated by Stat5 and one by the adaptor protein Shc. Although Stat5 induces T cell proliferation by serving as a transcription factor, the mechanism of proliferative signaling by Shc is poorly defined. We examined the roles of two major signaling pathways downstream of Shc, the p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (extracellular signal-related kinase (Erk)) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways, in promitogenic gene induction and proliferation in the IL-2-dependent T cell line CTLL-2. Using IL-2R mutants and specific pharmacologic inhibitors, we found that the PI3K, but not Erk, pathway is required for maximal induction of c-myc, cyclin D2, cyclin D3, cyclin E, and bcl-xL by Shc. To test whether the PI3K pathway is sufficient for proliferative signaling, a tamoxifen-regulated form of PI3K (mp110*ER) was expressed in CTLL-2 cells. Activation of the PI3K pathway through mp110*ER failed to up-regulate expression of the c-myc, cyclin D2, cyclin D3, cyclin E, bcl-2, or bcl-xL genes or down-regulate expression of p27Kip1, even when coactivated with the Janus kinases (Jak) or the Raf/Erk pathway. Moreover, mp110*ER induced modest levels of thymidine incorporation without subsequent cell division. Although insufficient for mitogenesis, mp110*ER enhanced Stat5-mediated proliferative signaling through a mechanism independent of Stat5 transcriptional activity. Thus, in addition to serving a necessary, but insufficient role in Shc-mediated promitogenic gene expression, the PI3K pathway contributes to T cell proliferation by potentiating mitogenic signaling by Stat5.
Accurate Detection of Streptococcus pyogenes at the Point of Care Using the cobas Liat Strep A Nucleic Acid Test

The performance of a polymerase chain reaction–based point-of-care assay, the cobas Strep A Nucleic Acid Test for use on the cobas Liat System (cobas Liat Strep A assay), for the detection of group A Streptococcus bacteria was evaluated in primary care settings. Throat swab specimens from 427 patients were tested with the cobas Liat Strep A assay and a rapid antigen detection test (RADT) by existing medical staff at 5 primary care clinics, and results were compared with bacterial culture. The cobas Liat Strep A assay demonstrated equivalent sensitivity (97.7%) and specificity (93.3%) to reference culture with a 15-minute turnaround time. In comparison to RADTs, the cobas Liat Strep A assay showed improved sensitivity (97.7% Liat vs 84.5% RADT). The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments–waived cobas Liat Strep A assay demonstrated the ease of use and improved turnaround time of RADTs along with the sensitivity of culture.
Prognostic role of echocardiography among patients with acute pulmonary embolism and a systolic arterial pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher.

BACKGROUND The prognostic role of echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) dysfunction for predicting mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and a preserved systemic arterial pressure remains controversial. METHODS We evaluated 1035 patients with pulmonary embolism from the International Cooperative Pulmonary Embolism Registry who (1) presented with systolic systemic arterial pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher and (2) who underwent echocardiography within 24 hours of a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, showing presence (n = 405) or absence (n = 630) of RV hypokinesis. The main outcome measure was the cumulative survival rate through 30 days in patients with and without RV hypokinesis. RESULTS In patients with RV hypokinesis, the initial systolic systemic pressure was lower (125 +/- 22 mm Hg vs 131 +/- 22 mm Hg; P<.001), and the initial heart rate was higher (104 +/- 21 beats per minute vs 99 +/- 22 beats per minute; P<.001) than in patients without RV hypokinesis. Cancer was less often present (14.1% vs 22.5%, P = .001). The 30-day survival rates in patients with and without RV hypokinesis were 83.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 79.3%-87.0%) and 90.6% (95% CI, 88.0%-92.6%), respectively (log-rank P value <.001). The univariate hazard ratio of RV hypokinesis for predicting 30-day mortality was 2.11 (95% CI, 1.41-3.16; P<.001). Right ventricular hypokinesis remained an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.23-3.06) after adjusting for univariately significant predictors, including cancer, congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, age older than 70 years, systolic arterial pressure of 100 mm Hg or lower, administration of thrombolytic therapy, and heart rate greater than 100 beats per minutes. CONCLUSION Among patients with pulmonary embolism who present with a systolic arterial pressure greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg, echocardiographic RV hypokinesis is an independent predictor of early death.
Two Quantitative Approaches for Estimating Content Validity

Instrument content validity is often established through qualitative expert reviews, yet quantitative analysis of reviewer agreements is also advocated in the literature.Two quantitative approaches to content validity estimations were compared and contrasted using a newly developed instrument called the Osteoporosis Risk Assessment Tool (ORAT). Data obtained from a panel of eight expert judges were analyzed. A Content Validity Index (CVI) initially determined that only one item lacked interrater proportion agreement about its relevance to the instrument as a whole (CVI = 0.57). Concern that higher proportion agreement ratings might be due to random chance stimulated further analysis using a multirater kappa coefficient of agreement. An additional seven items had low kappas, ranging from 0.29 to 0.48 and indicating poor agreement among the experts. The findings supported the elimination or revision of eight items. Pros and cons to using both proportion agreement and kappa coefficient analysis are examined.
Interleukin-4 is not Critical to Pathogenesis in a Mouse Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Corneal Infection

Purpose: To determine the contribution of interleukin-4 (IL-4) to the initial host response during corneal infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a mouse model. Methods: Corneas of 6− to 8-week-old IL-4−/− and wild-type mice were topically challenged with P. aeruginosa. Ocular tissue was collected 24 hr and 7 days postchallenge. Viable bacterial counts, myeloperoxidase assays, cytokine levels, and clinical and histological examinations were performed. Results: During challenge with P. aeruginosa, no differences were observed clinically, histologically, or in bacterial load between IL-4−/− and wild-type mice at either time point. However, differences in cytokine levels of IL-6, KC, and IL-10 were observed. Conclusions: The data presented indicate that IL-4, a central Th2 cytokine, may not be critical to the pathogenesis or bacterial clearance in this model of P. aeruginosa bacterial keratitis during the early stages of the infectious process.
Von Willebrand’s Disease caused by Compound Heterozygosity for a Substitution Mutation (T1156M) in the D3 Domain of the Von Willebrand Factor and a Stop Mutation (Q2470X)

Summary Hereditary defects of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene cause von Willebrand’s disease (VWD) which shows great variability dependent on the nature and location of the mutation. We here describe the characteristics of a substitution of methionine for threonine 1156 in the D3 domain of the VWF, i.e. the domain involved in the intracellular multimerization of pro-VWF dimers. A VWD patient with severe symptoms was a compound heterozygote for the T1156M mutation and a null allele (Q2470X) on the other chromosome. This led to marked reduction of plasma VWF concentration to about 0.05 U/ml and an abnormality of VWF multimers as in type 2A VWD. Expression in vitro of the mutation demonstrated that 1156M-VWF is secreted from COS-7 cells in a much reduced amount and lacking large multimers. When coexpressed with normal VWF 1156M-VWF decreased the secretion of normal VWF in a dose-dependent manner, the secreted VWF showing all the multimers. Two relatives of the propositus were single heterozygotes for the T1156M mutation and were either asymptomatic or had the manifestations of mild type 1 VWD. The expression data and studies of platelet VWF indicate that the T1156M mutation results in intracellular retention of VWF rather than impaired synthesis. Three other members of the family were heterozygotes for the Q2470X mutation and demonstrated the variable expressivity of a null allele.
The application of wavelet multiresolution technology in medical image analysis

Based on wavelet multiresolution analysis theory, medical image are analyzed. Each wavelet coefficient is viewed as an observation and is judged if it belongs to the wavelet transform modulus maximum(WTMM). Then we employ an extended Ostu threshold algorithm to determine the global and multilevel thresholds so as to delete those false modulus maximum points with gray level values of pixels less than or equal to the given threshold. Then the piecewise cubic Hermite curves are interpolated between two adjacent edge points to fashion the edge contours. The experimental results show the effectiveness of this algorithm.
Japanese tourism: how a knowledge of Japanese buyer behaviour and culture can be of assistance to British hoteliers in seeking to develop this valuable market

The Japanese outward bound tourist market is expanding. Among the favoured destinations are Europe and Britain. However, if this market is to be developed beyond its initial stage, British hoteliers and the travel trade need to develop a better understanding of the Japanese tourist. This paper seeks to explain aspects of Japanese culture and buyer behaviour that are relevant to those involved in this market. In addition, since the nature of Japanese society is changing, it is becoming necessary to offer newer forms of vacation for younger segments while seeking to improve the length of vacation for older tourist segments.
Subunit Vaccine against the Seven Serotypes of Botulism

ABSTRACT Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most toxic proteins for humans and are classified as category A toxins. There are seven serotypes of BoNTs defined by the lack of cross-serotype toxin neutralization. Thus, an effective vaccine must neutralize each BoNT serotype. BoNTs are organized as dichain A-B toxins, where the N-terminal domain (light chain) is a zinc metalloprotease targeting soluble NSF attachment receptor proteins that is linked to the C-terminal domain (heavy chain [HC]) by a disulfide bond. The HC comprises a translocation domain and a C-terminal receptor binding domain (HCR). HCRs of the seven serotypes of BoNTs (hepta-HCR) were engineered for expression in Escherichia coli, and each HCR was purified from E. coli lysates. Immunization of mice with the E. coli-derived hepta-serotype HCR vaccine elicited an antibody response to each of the seven BoNT HCRs and neutralized challenge by 10,000 50% lethal doses of each of the seven BoNT serotypes. A solid-phase assay showed that the anti-hepta-serotype HCR sera inhibited the binding of HCR serotypes A and B to the ganglioside GT1b, the first step in BoNT intoxication of neurons. This is the first E. coli-derived vaccine that effectively neutralizes each of the seven BoNT serotypes.
Property tax reform and the development of Chinese cities

The property tax should be part of local tax. On view of city's devel opment, property tax is very important to improve the efficiency and level of th e cities. Our property tax reform should regard the effect on public service dev eloping. The tax property reform can build the system of public finance, improve the land management, advance the public service, accelerate the development of real estate.
Effects of Farm and Household Decisions on Labor Allocation and Profitability of Beginning Vegetable Farms in Virginia: a Linear Programming Model

The United States is facing a rising average age of principal farm operators and a decline in number of beginning farmers. With numerous barriers and challenges resulting in many farm failures, a majority of beginning farmers are relying on off-farm income to support their households. Decision-making and farm business planning are difficult skills to develop and improve, and the ability to develop a plan to balance onand off-farm labor could allow farmers to make more profitable decisions. In this study, a General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) is used to develop a labor management planning framework for use by Virginia’s beginning vegetable farmers or service providers, such as extension agents, with the goal of improving total (onand off-farm) profitability and farm viability. Study findings suggest that a willingness to work of 12 hours per day, 365 days per year and hired labor costs of $9.30 per hour, which is the national average for agricultural workers encourage a farmer to maintain an off-farm job, while a relatively lower off-farm wage or salary may encourage a farmer to work on the farm only. Lastly, higher hired labor costs may encourage a farmer to pursue his or her most profitable work opportunity, be it onor off-farm, without hiring labor to maintain the farm. The model developed in this study may be used to plan multiple years of farm management to include anticipated changes in off-farm employment opportunities, land availability, product mix, and access to farm labor. The author suggests that beginning farmers who use this planning tool are able to make more informed decisions related to allocation of labor time and resources, resulting in lower failure rates for beginning farmers in Virginia. A user-friendly interface may be developed based on the study framework, to strengthen the results and increase the practicality of
Diminished ICAM-1 Expression and Impaired Pulmonary Clearance of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in a Mouse Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Emphysema

ABSTRACT The airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are continually colonized with bacterial opportunists like nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), and a wealth of evidence indicates that changes in bacterial populations within the lung can influence the severity of COPD. In this study, we used a murine model for COPD/emphysema to test the hypothesis that COPD affects pulmonary clearance. Mice were treated with a pulmonary bolus of elastase, and as reported previously, the lungs of these mice were pathologically similar to those with COPD/emphysema at ∼1 month posttreatment. Pulmonary clearance of NTHi was significantly impaired in elastase-treated versus mock-treated mice. While histopathologic analysis revealed minimal differences in localized lung inflammation between the two groups, lower levels of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) were observed for the airway epithelial surface of elastase-treated mice than for those of control mice. Following infection, elastase-treated mice had lung pathology consistent with pneumonia for as long as 72 h postinfection, whereas at the same time point, mock-treated mice had cleared NTHi and showed little apparent pathology. Large aggregates of bacteria were observed within damaged lung tissue of the elastase-treated mice, whereas sparse individual bacteria were observed in lungs of mock-treated mice at the same time point postinfection. Additional infection studies showed that NTHi mutants with biofilm defects were less persistent in the elastase-treated mice than the parent strain. These findings establish a model for COPD-related infections and support the hypotheses that ICAM-1 promotes clearance of NTHi. Furthermore, the data indicate that NTHi may form biofilms within the context of COPD-related infections.
Adenosine diphosphate sugar pyrophosphatase prevents glycogen biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

An adenosine diphosphate sugar pyrophosphatase (ASPPase, EC 3.6.1.21) has been characterized by using Escherichia coli. This enzyme, whose activities in the cell are inversely correlated with the intracellular glycogen content and the glucose concentration in the culture medium, hydrolyzes ADP-glucose, the precursor molecule of glycogen biosynthesis. ASPPase was purified to apparent homogeneity (over 3,000-fold), and sequence analyses revealed that it is a member of the ubiquitously distributed group of nucleotide pyrophosphatases designated as “nudix” hydrolases. Insertional mutagenesis experiments leading to the inactivation of the ASPPase encoding gene, aspP, produced cells with marginally low enzymatic activities and higher glycogen content than wild-type bacteria. aspP was cloned into an expression vector and introduced into E. coli. Transformed cells were shown to contain a dramatically reduced amount of glycogen, as compared with the untransformed bacteria. No pleiotropic changes in the bacterial growth occurred in both the aspP-overexpressing and aspP-deficient strains. The overall results pinpoint the reaction catalyzed by ASPPase as a potential step of regulating glycogen biosynthesis in E. coli.