Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies on genetic male-sterile soybeans : v. Effects of male-sterility on the function and glycerolipid composition of chloroplast thylakoids.

Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) germplasm, isogenic except for loci controlling male sterility (ms(1)), was utilized to study the effects of reproductive development on certain aspects of photosynthesis. Plants were sampled at various times between flowering (77 days after transplanting) and maturity (147 days after transplanting). During that period photosynthetic rates declined more rapidly in the male-sterile genotypes than male-fertile genotypes; and after 105 days, the sterile genotypes maintained low but relatively constant carbon exchange rates. The decline of leaf photosynthesis in the male-sterile genotype occurred concomitantly with an inhibition of the photosynthetic electron transport chain associated with photosystem II. Changes in photosystem I activities, cytochrome f levels, and chlorophyll a/b ratios per se were not responsible for the decline in whole leaf photosynthesis. These conditions were independent of the source of nitrogen nutrition. Lipid analyses of the thylakoids revealed that a loss of phosphatidylglycerol was highly correlated with the inhibition of photosystem II activity. These results suggested a relation between the decline in leaf carbon exchange and the decline in photosynthetic electron transport activity.
Confidence intervals for predictive values with an emphasis to case–control studies

The accuracy of a binary‐scale diagnostic test can be represented by sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV). Although Se and Sp measure the intrinsic accuracy of a diagnostic test that does not depend on the prevalence rate, they do not provide information on the diagnostic accuracy of a particular patient. To obtain this information we need to use PPV and NPV. Since PPV and NPV are functions of both the accuracy of the test and the prevalence of the disease, constructing their confidence intervals for a particular patient is not straightforward. In this paper, a novel method for the estimation of PPV and NPV, as well as their confidence intervals, is developed. For both predictive values, standard, adjusted and their logit transformed‐based confidence intervals are compared using coverage probabilities and interval lengths in a simulation study. These methods are then applied to two case–control studies: a diagnostic test assessing the ability of the e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (ApoE.e4) on distinguishing patients with late‐onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a prognostic test assessing the predictive ability of a 70‐gene signature on breast cancer metastasis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early Neurological Deterioration after Recanalization Treatment in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Retrospective Study

Background: Early neurological deterioration (END) is a prominent issue after recanalization treatment. However, few studies have reported the characteristics of END after endovascular treatment (EVT) as so far. This study investigated the incidence, composition, and outcomes of END after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA) and EVT of acute ischemic stroke, and identified risk factors for END. Methods: Medical records of patients who received recanalization treatment between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015 were reviewed. Patients were classified into IV rt-PA or EVT group according to the methods of recanalization treatment. The END was defined as an increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥4 or an increase in Ia of NIHSS ≥1 within 72 h after recanalization treatment. Clinical data were compared between the END and non-END subgroups within each recanalization group. Results: Of the 278 patients included in the study, the incidence of END was 34.2%. The incidence rates of END were 29.8% in the IV rt-PA group and 40.2% in the EVT group. Ischemia progression (68.4%) was the main contributor to END followed by vasogenic cerebral edema (21.1%) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (10.5%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥160 mmHg (odds ratio [OR]: 2.312, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.105–4.837) and large artery occlusion after IV rt-PA (OR: 3.628, 95% CI: 1.482–8.881) independently predicted END after IV rt-PA; and admission SBP ≥140 mmHg (OR: 5.183, 95% CI: 1.967–13.661), partial recanalization (OR: 4.791, 95% CI: 1.749–13.121), and nonrecanalization (OR: 5.952, 95% CI: 1.841–19.243) independently predicted END after EVT. The mortality rate and grave outcome rate at discharge of all the END patients (26.3% and 55.8%) were higher than those of all the non-END patients (1.1% and 18.6%; P < 0.01). Conclusions: END was not an uncommon event and associated with death and grave outcome at discharge. High admission SBP and unsatisfactory recanalization of occluded arteries might predict END.
The Effects of Supply Contracts on the Output and Price of an Exhaustible Resource

This paper analyzes the effects of contracts for exhaustible resources. The conclusions are as follows: (1) for a single mine, with increased risk production for the spot market falls, long-term contracting increases, total output falls, contract length generally decreases, equilibrium spot prices increase, and contract prices may rise or fall; (2) with changing economies because of past production, output (spot prices) rises (fall) and then falls (rise), and this scalloped pattern remains with entry and storage included; and (3) contracting permits pairwise gains, may create losses for others, and prices are "fuzzy" signals as they may change for several different reasons.
Mapping areas of future urban growth in the Mgeni catchment

Due to increases in population and migration to cities, the areas of urban land use are increasing. This study models the plausible future urban growth in the Mgeni catchment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, using the SLEUTH Urban Growth Model (SLEUTH). The SLEUTH acronym stands for the input layers required for the model viz. Slope, Land use, Excluded areas, Urban Extent, Transport routes and Hillshade. The purpose of this study is to predict the scale and location of future urban growth, for use in hydrological impact assessment studies. SLEUTH was calibrated and applied to the Mgeni catchment to project future urban areas. The results revealed, when assessing the 95–100% probability class, that the Henley, Pietermaritzburg and Durban areas would experience the highest urban growth in the Mgeni catchment by the year 2050. It was concluded that the SLEUTH Model is suitable to account for the scale and location of future urban growth in the Mgeni catchment.
Isothermal aging effects on the dynamic performance of lead-free solder joints

Isothermal aging effects on lead-free solders have been extensively investigated in recent studies. There is researches show that aging effects will significantly degrade the mechanical properties of lead-free solders. However, very little work been done on the study of aging effects on the board level dynamic performance of lead-free solder joints, especially for large flip-chip BGA packages for ASICs. Due to the extreme sensitivity of aging effects on lead-free solders, it is crucial to investigate the aging effects on the board level dynamic performance of lead-free solders. In this study, dynamic performance of lead-free solder joints has been characterized and the isothermal aging effects have been investigated. It was found that dynamic shock performance of the lead-free FCBGA packages significantly degraded up to 20–35% after aging at varies elevated temperatures. It has also been discovered that aging at 100 °C shows more dramatic degradation than that of aging at 75 °C and 150 °C. It is a very critical finding due to the fact of that many electronic products operate at the 100 °C range for long period of time. The results will provide crucial guidelines in implementation of lead-free solders based on the products end-use conditions. The unique finding of aging effects is related the growth of Cu3Sn and Cu6Sn5 intermetallics after aging. Even though the failure analysis shows mixed failure of pad cratering and intermetallic compounds (IMC) failures, the IMC growth is the most sensitive factor to contribute to the failure observed in this study.
Locality and Community in the Politics of Local Economic Development

Abstract Concomitant with the contemporary restructuring of local economies in the United States has been a distinctive local politics: one which revolves around a competition among localities rather than conflict with in them. The role of the local dependence of various actors is explored with a view to explaining this politics. Some firms are locally dependent and form business coalitions to stimulate investment in their local economy. They attempt to harness the powers of local government, which are susceptible as a result of their own local dependence. Subsequent local economic development programs often pose threats to people in their workplaces and living places and elicit opposition. To overcome this opposition, business coalitions attempt to promulgate a shared interest in a local community. This interest is extended to include threats to the local community implied by the economic development programs of business coalitions elsewhere. The local dependence of people makes them receptive to this ar.
A review of total quality management in practice: understanding the fundamentals through examples of best practice applications ‐ part III

Part III of a three‐part series which represents a comprehensive review of the literature by discussing critical factors of TQM in key areas often stressed in implementation case studies, and supported by quality gurus and writers. Such factors are considered as being conducive to the success of TQM implementation. Covers issues related to the implementation aspects such as the role of culture, reasons for TQ programme failures, gestation period, etc. Presents a co‐ordinated approach to the literature which aims to link in all key elements.
Who is Targeted by One-Euro-Jobs? A Selectivity Analysis

"In 2005 major reforms of the means-tested unemployment benefit system were implemented in Germany. One element of the reforms was to activate benefit recipients by a workfare programme, the so-called One-Euro-Job programme. More than 600,000 benefit recipients entered this programme in the year 2005. This paper investigates for a sample of means-tested unemployment benefit recipients the selection into One-Euro-Jobs in spring 2005 with the help of binary probit models. As there are substantial gender and regional effects, we estimate the selection equations for men and women in East and West Germany separately. Women have a lower probability of participating if they have a child under the age of three, whereas this makes no difference for men. Then, we find that young adults below 25 years begin a One-Euro-Job with a higher probability than other age groups. Moreover, special target groups such as individuals with migration background are not promoted with One-Euro- Jobs. They participate with a lower probability than Germans without migration background. Overall, we conclude that a concentration on defined target groups cannot be observed. To analyse the sizable differences in participation probabilities of women in East and West Germany a Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition of effects is applied. It turns out that the differences can partly be traced back to characteristics such as qualification and employment history and to the availability of child care facilities. " (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
Gene expression profiling in blood cells of endurance horses completing competition or disqualified due to metabolic disorder.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Genomics using cDNA microarrays could provide useful information about physiological adaptations and metabolic disorders in endurance horses. OBJECTIVES In order to show that genes are modulated in leucocytes in relationship with performance and clinical status of the horses, gene expression in leucocytes, haematological and biochemical parameters were compared between successful and disqualified endurance horses. METHODS Blood samples were collected at rest (TO) and just after a 140-160 km endurance race (T1) in 2 groups of horses: 10 continuing successful (S) and 10 disqualified horses stopped at a vet-gate for metabolic disorders (D). Total RNA was extracted from the blood cells (leucocytes), checked for purity, amplified and hybridised using mouse cDNA microarrays including 15,264 unique genes. Differential gene expressions were studied by hybridisation of each sample T1 vs. a control sample collected at TO (pool of 20 sound horses). RESULTS Some significant differences were observed in the haematology and biochemistry of the 2 groups (S vs. D). In Group D, rhadomyolysis was confirmed with CK 13,124 u/l and AST 1242 u/l. The list of 726 (including 603 annotated genes) significant genes was filtered according to a high P-value cut-off (P<0.00001). Among them, 130 were upregulated (expression ratio>1.5) and 288 were down-regulated (<1/1.5). Analysis of variance revealed 62 genes differentially expressed (P<0.05) in Groups D and S. The expression levels of 28 and 50 genes were significantly correlated (r>0.75) with CK and AST level in Group D, respectively. The gene ontology classification showed that more genes were up-regulated in S than in the D. More genes were down-regulated in the disqualified horses. CONCLUSIONS Long exercise induced many significant gene modulations in leucocytes. Some genes were expressed in relationship with the clinical phenotype observed in Group D: rhabdomyolysis and haemolysis. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Some of these genes could be candidates to explain poor performance or pathologies. Further association studies with a greater number of genes should be conducted.
Partisan Pork Barrel in Parliamentary Systems: Australian Constiuency-Level Grants

This note examines the distributive calculus of the Australian Labor government in apportioning millions of dollars of constituency-level grants in the weeks preceding the 1990 and 1993 Australian federal elections. While parliamentary systems have long been assumed to stymie constituency-level electoral effects-given their foundation on party government, caucus discipline, and voter loyalties directed to parties, not candidates-they also create a collective incentive for the party in government to pursue victories in its most marginal seats, including the tactical apportioning of discretionary funds. The results confirm a distinctly parliamentary form of distributive politics dominated by partisan and marginal seats priorities, while the decision-making influence of cabinet members appears sufficient to secure them funds disproportionate to their marginality.
Analysis of adaptive clustering algorithms in wireless sensor networks

The paper presents the criteria that affect the performance of network lifetime in Wireless Sensor Networks. In sensor networks the nodes can be organized into clusters for one hop energy-efficient data routing. This work focuses on adaptive clustering of sensor nodes where the role of cluster head changes among nodes. The nodes take turn to become cluster head based on one or several parameters such as random selection, nodes residual energy, nodes ID, node proximity to other nodes or nodes with different energy levels (advanced nodes). Ideally, the number of elected cluster heads must match the optimal number of cluster heads which is determined a priori or via simulation for energy-efficient routing. Achieving the optimal number of cluster heads is crucial as this will ensure the minimum energy consumption for data transmission to base station. This paper presents simulation results of existing adaptive clustering algorithms. The simulation results show how the election criteria for cluster heads election such as node residual energy, node proximity to other nodes, random election and nodes with different energy level affect the number of cluster heads elected, their distribution in the network and the network lifetime. Simulation results are provided to show the comparative effectiveness of different clustering algorithm on network lifetime, cluster head selection and their distribution in the network. Modifications on the cluster head election criteria are done that combined the node residual energy and nodes proximity to other nodes and simulation shows that the network lifetime is improved.
TRANSFORMING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: TOWARDS ONE-STOP SERVICES AND THE CLIENT GROUP PRINCIPLE?

The creation of the new Social Security Benefits Agency in 1991 coincided with the final installation in local offices of the first Operational Strategy computer systems, which automated large parts of social security benefits administration. Since then the agency has refocused its strategic thinking towards a ten-year development programme which is centred around plans for‘one-stop’benefits delivery. The article shows why this programme is dependent on‘informatization’- the generation from, and application to, social security administration of new kinds of information, made possible by information and communications technologies (icts). It assesses the feasibility and implications of informatizing benefits administration and the likely effects of continuing pressures to reduce administrative costs. It argues that, whilst the agency will become more customer focused, the practical outcomes are likely to be two-edged for claimants. At a policy level, informatization will reinforce political pressures to rationalize and target the benefits system, especially if information-management problems are controlled by a shift to the client group principle.
Toward A Multilevel Perspective on the Allocation of Educational Resources

This review draws attention to the mutually reinforcing tendencies of analysts to neglect the study of how resources are allocated within schools and classrooms and to presume that decision makers at less centralized levels of the educational system react passively to resource allocation decisions made at more centralized levels. The purpose of the review is to demonstrate the importance of (a) striking a better balance between the level of attention given to resource allocation practices at macro compared to microlevels of decision making, and (b) learning more about the ways in which resource allocation decisions made at one level affect resource allocation practices at other levels of the educational system. The argument is supported by a detailed critique of exemplary studies drawn from the literature dealing with issues of equity and efficiency in the allocation of educational resources. Policy implications are given explicit attention throughout the review.
Nanotechnology and the end of Moore's Law?

In this letter, I will discuss the evolution of silicon very large scale integration (VLSI) as described by Moore's Law and how and when nanotechnology is likely to impact it. The evolution will be in three phases. In the first, there will be an increasing number of nanotechnologies that will allow conventional complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS) to continue to scale. In the second phase, nanotechnology will allow unconventional CMOS devices to be introduced. In the final phase, a true, new nanodevice will replace the CMOS transistor.
The relative performance of the PER and PSR filters with stochastic dominance: evidence from the Taiwan Stock Exchange

This study used stochastic dominance analysis, which is distribution-free, to test for the effect of price-to-earnings ratios (PER) and price-to-sales ratios (PSR) in the Taiwan stock market. The findings show that the PER and PSR effects observed are consistent with the US stock market. A comparison of the PER and PSR strategies reveals that the two strategies can provide equivalent performance for investors.
Safe nightlife collaborations: Multiple actors, conflicting interests and different power distributions

Given the expectation that people will consume more when safety is guaranteed, most cities have, along with the stimulation of nightlife districts, implemented special policies to promote safety. Safe nightlife policies fit in neatly in the larger context of â€˜integralâ€™ safety policies where many different actors are expected to collaborate and take responsibility. Very little is known, however, about the interactions between various actors within these new partnerships. This research acknowledges an emerging surveillant â€˜assemblageâ€™ in urban nightlife districts where different systems are brought together and practices and technologies are combined and integrated into a larger whole. Interviews with different actors involved in safe nightlife collaborations in Utrecht and Rotterdam (The Netherlands), show how differences in the emergence and set-up of these assemblages, conflicting interests and different power distributions between actors shape collaborations on the ground considerably and result in various local outcomes.
The effects of bandwidth changes on model validity: an empirical study

This simple study uses a variant of the Hsiao et al . (2006) test to analyse the impact of bandwidth changes on model validity using actual labour force data on workers in the Philippines. The test framework is used to verify the validity of several wage specifications. Results indicate that the tests are quite sensitive to chosen bandwidths for discrete regressors.
Functional limitations and changes in levels of depression among older adults: a multiple-hierarchy stratification perspective.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the effects of functional limitations on changes in levels of depression over time. A multiple-hierarchy stratification perspective framed the analyses of potential stratification-based contingencies of race, gender, and socioeconomic status. METHODS We derived data from a longitudinal study of adults aged 65 and older in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area over a 3-year period (2001-2003). We used ordinary least squares regression models in order to assess the focal associations across a set of social status interaction terms. RESULTS Changes in functional limitations were associated with changes in depression, but the patterns depended on interactions among race, gender, and socioeconomic status. DISCUSSION These observations contribute to research by blending ideas from double and triple jeopardy and differential vulnerability perspectives. Although analyses of multiple contingencies create analytical challenges, this complexity is needed to accurately specify the mental health effects of functional limitations.
High-level construal benefits, meaning making, and posttraumatic growth in cancer patients

Abstract Objective: The present study sought to explore the role of meaning making and high-level construal in the relationship between meaning discrepancy and posttraumatic growth among Chinese cancer patients. Method: The participants were 193 individuals diagnosed with cancer. Meaning discrepancy, meaning making, high-level construal in meaning making, and posttraumatic growth were measured. Bootstrapping and structural equation modeling were performed to test the mediation effects of high-level construal on the meaning-making process. Results: Mediation analysis revealed that perceived discrepancies were associated with individuals' meaning-making efforts. Meaning-making efforts prompted participants to adopt a high-level construal orientation, which in turn enhanced posttraumatic growth. Significance of results: Our study empirically tested construal level theory in a population suffering from severe chronic trauma. The results demonstrate the important role of high-level construal in the meaning-making process of cancer patients, suggesting a specific effective strategy to foster posttraumatic growth. It seems encouraging to indicate that adopting such high-level construal may be included as part of psychological interventions for cancer patients.