Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The politics of evidence: methodologies for understanding the global land rush

The most recent ‘land rush’ precipitated by the convergent ‘crises’ of fuel, feed and food in 2007–2008 has heightened the debate on the consequences of land investments, with widespread media coverage, policy commentary and civil society engagement. This ‘land rush’ has been accompanied by a ‘literature rush’, with a fast-growing body of reports, articles, tables and books with varied purposes, metrics and methods. Land grabbing, as it is popularly called, is now a hot political topic around the world, discussed amongst the highest circles. This is why getting the facts right is very important and having effective methodologies for doing so is crucial. Several global initiatives have been created to aggregate information on land deals, and to describe their scale, character and distribution. All have contributed to building a bigger (if not always better) picture of the phenomenon, but all have struggled with methodology. This JPS Forum identifies a profound uncertainty about what it is that is being counted, questions the methods used to collate and aggregate ‘land grabs’, and calls for a second phase of land grab research which abandons the aim of deriving total numbers of hectares in favour of more specific, grounded and transparent methods.
Enhancing COPD management in primary care settings.

CONTEXT Primary care physicians provide care for the majority of patients with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although clinical practice guidelines have been developed for COPD, their influence on primary care practice is unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine primary care decision making, perceptions, and educational needs relating to COPD. DESIGN A survey centered on COPD case-vignettes was developed and distributed to a random sample of physicians in adult primary care specialties. RESULTS From 943 respondents, 784 practicing primary care physicians were used in analysis. On average, physicians estimated that 12% of their patients had COPD. Although 55% of physicians were aware of major COPD guidelines, only 25% used them to guide decision-making. Self-identified guidelines showed that users were more likely to order spirometry for subtle respiratory symptoms (74% vs 63%, P < .01), to initiate therapy for mild symptoms (86% vs. 77%, P < .01), and to choose long-acting bronchodilators for persistent dyspnea (50% vs 32%, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Practice guidelines and CME programs are both valued resources, but have not yet adequately reached many physicians. Because guidelines appear to influence clinical decision-making, efforts to disseminate them more broadly are needed. Future education should present COPD assessment algorithms tailored to primary care settings, assess and strengthen spirometry interpretation skills, and discuss a reasoned approach to medication management. Patient-centered content that accurately reflects the nature of primary care practice may enhance physician's learning experience. Internet-based and distance learning formats may be essential for reaching physicians in many high-need areas.
Performance of the Genotype MTBDR Line Probe Assay for Detection of Resistance to Rifampin and Isoniazid in Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with Low- and High-Level Resistance

ABSTRACT We assessed the performance of the Genotype MTBDR line probe assay that offers the simultaneous identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its resistance to rifampin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) by detecting the most commonly found mutations in the rpoB and katG genes. One hundred thirteen M. tuberculosis isolates were tested. The nucleotide sequences of the katG and inhA genes and the mabA-inhA promoter region were also determined. The MTBDR assay detected 100% and 67% (n = 64) of the strains resistant to RIF and INH, respectively. Among the latter, 62 strains carried a Ser315Thr mutation in katG, 59 of them displaying a high level of resistance to INH. Two strains with a low level of INH resistance had a Ser315Asn mutation. No mutation was found by the MTBDR assay for 31 INH-resistant strains (33%), of which 24 showed a low level of resistance. By DNA sequencing, we found among them various mutations in the KatG protein for 7 strains, a C→T mutation in position −15 of the mabA-inhA promoter in 17 strains, and a Ser94Ala mutation in InhA for 7 strains. In conclusion, the MTBDR assay, which fits easily in the workflow of a routine laboratory, enabled the detection of 100% of the RIF-resistant strains and 89% of the INH-resistant strains with a high level of resistance but only 17% of the strains characterized by a low level of INH resistance, indicating that the test can be used as a rapid method to detect in the same experiment the rifampin-resistant and the high-level isoniazid-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis.
An Evidence-Based Approach to the Surgical Management of Pressure Ulcers

ObjectiveThis study aims to use the evidenced-based approach to better understand the surgical management and treatment of pressure ulcers. Summary of Background DataPressure sores are a cause of significant morbidity in the medical community. Although there are a multitude of preventative and treatment options, there remains some degree of uncertainty in the literature in defining the best way to treat and manage pressure sores. MethodsAn exhaustive literature search was performed using several electronic databases. The search revealed several identified modalities for treatment of pressure ulcers. We then assessed each modality individually for the level of evidence that exists in the most current literature, with preference given to more recent studies (2005-present). ResultsHere, we reviewed the most relevant, high-level evidence that exists for the following modalities for managing pressure ulcers from a surgical perspective: wound cleansers, repositioning, negative pressure therapy, enteral and parenteral feeding, vitamin and mineral supplementation, specialized mattresses, ultrasound therapy, honey, cellular therapy, debridement, ostectomy, and musculocutaneous and fasciocutaneous flap closure. ConclusionsAlthough many of the previously mentioned modalities are used, we encourage clinicians and health care providers to consider the evidence-based data when deciding how to most appropriately manage their patient’s pressure sores.
Deciphering the use and predictive value of “emergency medical services provider judgment” in out-of-hospital trauma triage: A multisite, mixed methods assessment

BACKGROUND: “Emergency medical services (EMS) provider judgment” was recently added as a field triage criterion to the national guidelines, yet its predictive value and real world application remain unclear. We examine the use and independent predictive value of EMS provider judgment in identifying seriously injured persons. METHODS: We analyzed a population-based retrospective cohort, supplemented by qualitative analysis, of injured children and adults evaluated and transported by 47 EMS agencies to 94 hospitals in five regions across the Western United States from 2006 to 2008. We used logistic regression models to evaluate the independent predictive value of EMS provider judgment for Injury Severity Score ≥16. EMS narratives were analyzed using qualitative methods to assess and compare common themes for each step in the triage algorithm, plus EMS provider judgment. RESULTS: 213,869 injured patients were evaluated and transported by EMS over the 3-year period, of whom 41,191 (19.3%) met at least one of the field triage criteria. EMS provider judgment was the most commonly used triage criterion (40.0% of all triage-positive patients; sole criterion in 21.4%). After accounting for other triage criteria and confounders, the adjusted odds ratio of Injury Severity Score ≥16 for EMS provider judgment was 1.23 (95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.47), although there was variability in predictive value across sites. Patients meeting EMS provider judgment had concerning clinical presentations qualitatively similar to those meeting mechanistic and other special considerations criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Among this multisite cohort of trauma patients, EMS provider judgment was the most commonly used field trauma triage criterion, independently associated with serious injury, and useful in identifying high-risk patients missed by other criteria. However, there was variability in predictive value between sites.
Suffodit inguina

Abstract When Julius Caesar was stabbed, 23 times, on the Ides of March, at least one of the daggers is supposed to have gone into his groin. He wasn't the last Roman to have his privates attacked. And he wasn't the last primate. In competition for sexual access, gonads are occasionally targeted: canine incisions in monkey and ape scrota are not uncommon; and rumors had a number of Roman emperors—from Caligula and Nero, to Galba, Vitellius, Domitian, Commodus, Caracalla, Elagabalus, to Balbinus, Pupienus and Valerian over the course of the third century crisis—done in with their genitals at risk, or with their genitals cut off.
Molecular and regulatory properties of glutamine synthetase from the phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata E1F1

The glutamine synthetase of the phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata E1F1 was purified to homogeneity by a procedure which used a single affinity chromatography step. Like enzymes from other photosynthetic procaryotes, native glutamine synthetase from R. capsulata E1F1 was found to be a dodecameric protein of approximately 660 kilodaltons with identical subunits of about 55 kilodaltons each. The Stokes radius and S20,w of the native enzyme were 8.35 nm and 19.20, respectively. The enzyme exhibited different aggregation states with detectable oligomers of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 subunits. Disaggregation of the glutamine synthetase occurred after the native protein was subjected to electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels, as well as occurring spontaneously at low ionic strength. Glutamine synthetase from R. capsulata E1F1 was regulated by an adenylylation-deadenylylation mechanism, and the adenylylation state of the protein depended on the nitrogen source, growth phase, and light intensity. Ammonia repressed glutamine synthetase, whereas glycine, serine, alanine, valine, and aspartate were noncompetitive inhibitors of the glutamine synthetase biosynthetic activity.
The Routinizing of Computer Programming

Computer programming was the accidental and largely unloved offspring of electrical engineering. This origin played a critical role in the development of programming as an occupation. The routinization of computer programming, while patterned after its parent field, is also facilitated by recent developments such as "high-level" languages, canned programs, and structured programming. The subsequent deskilling of programmers as a group calls into question arguments that increasingly sophisticated technology in the workplace creates work which is more complex and challenging than the work it displaces.
Feasibility study of applying compressed sensing recovery algorithms for launch vehicle telemetry

Compressed Sensing (CS) is a new signal acquisition technology that enables the reduction in the number of measurements required for recovery of sparse or compressible signal in some basis. Signal recovery is carried out with the help of optimization techniques. Here we are conducting a review of some of these algorithms and trying to find the best algorithm to make use of that in launch vehicle telemetry system.
The problems of independent agencies in the United States and the European Union

The word independent in the United States (US) context is most properly used in connection with the independent regulatory commissions. Those commissions are not independent of Congressional control. Both the commissions and the agencies of the regular cabinet departments live in a regime of statutory duties under which Congressional statutes not presidential policies control much of their behavior. Both are subject to judicial review. Commissions basically are independent in the sense that they are usually not subject to the complete control by commissioners of one political party. They are somewhat independent of the President in that no single President has appointed all the commissioners of a particular commission and commissioners may only be dismissed by the President for cause. American experience suggests that European Union (EU) independent agencies will create severe problems of co-ordination, legitimacy and control. These problems are not alleviated by the claim that EU agencies will have purel.
Entrepreneurship and dynamic capabilities - an empirical testing

Conceptually the literature acknowledges that entrepreneurship can promote dynamic capabilities. We argue that a firm's strategic entrepreneurial orientation (EO) capture an important aspect of the way a firm develop DC. An instrument to measure four types of DC was developed to test the assumptions. Utilising a longitudinal sample of 226 Norwegian small and medium sized enterprises (SME), we find that EO appears to be the main explanatory factor for the development of the different types of DC controlling for type of industry and different types of resources. This finding largely confirms central claims and assumptions in the literature that entrepreneurship can create and stimulate new combinations of resources.
A Probabilistic Method to Detect Anomalies in Embedded Systems

Current-day embedded systems are very vulnerable to faults and defects. Anomaly detection is often the primary means of providing early indication of faults and defects. This paper presents a probabilistic method, which employs the probability of data events to evaluate the behavior of system. In order to measure the probability of events in the system, sampling of two events with distinct distance is done. Consequently, during test stage, the probability of events can be measured. An anomaly exists in test data provided that this probability does not reach a predefined threshold. The experiments on 112 standard benchmarks show that the proposed method can detect 100% of anomalies. Also, the area overhead of the proposed detector grows linearly, while the area overhead of other typical detectors grows exponentially by the increase in one of the detector's parameters.
Conceptualising the influence of lead users and opinion leaders on accelerating the rate of innovation diffusion

There are a number of research studies that theoretically and empirically investigated the influence of lead users on the innovation process. It is argued that this lead-user innovation approach helps the firm to reduce the risk of failure associated with introducing new products to the market. However, there are only limited research studies that comprehensively evaluated the influence of lead users' innovations on the rate of diffusion. This paper presents a diffusion model that synthesises concepts from key research traditions. The purposes of this paper are: 1) to introduce an integrative model of innovation diffusion that evaluates lead users' influence on accelerating rate of diffusion through highlighting the link with opinion leadership as well as innovation attributes; 2) to offer research propositions that would provide directions for future research and represent implications for innovation management practice. The conceptual contribution of this research study is in the proposed integrative model that links lead user-ness, opinion leadership and innovation diffusion attributes. The proposed model posits that both lead user-ness and opinion leadership affect innovation attributes, which subsequently affect the rate of diffusion of innovation.
A Model of Users' Perspective on Change: The Case of Information Systems Technology Implementation

Change is a fundamental theme in human life. Yet some organizational behavior and MIS researchers have noted that individuals generally resist changes. MIS researchers have also attributed many implementation problems to users' resistance to change. However, there is no fundamental resistance to every change. Individuals readily adopt changes such as a pay raise or promotion. This article proposes that individuals attempt to evaluate most changes. Changes that are considered favorable are not resisted and may even be sought after and welcomed, while changes considered unfavorable are likely to be resisted. The equity-implementation (E-I) model provides a theory-based understanding of information systems users' resistance to change. It describes the processes employed by users in assessing the change associated with the implementation of an information system or technology in an organization. The model is based upon equity theory, which is a well-established and widely used theory in social sciences. Users employ three levels of analysis in evaluating the change introduced by an implementation. At the first level of analysis, a user is viewed as assessing a change in terms of the gain or loss in his or her equity status. At the second level of analysis, the user is viewed as comparing his or her relative outcomes with that of the organization. Finally, at the third level of analysis, the user is viewed as comparing hi or her relative outcomes with that of other users in the reference group. Users who evaluate the change to be unfavorable in terms of inequity or loss of equity are likely to be distressed by the change and resist it. The E-I model provides a useful framework of analysis for improving our understanding of users' assessment of a change. Managers will find the model useful for overcoming resistance to change during implementation.
A von Liebig Model for Water and Nitrogen Crop Response

The century-old "law of the minimum" proposed by von Liebig was tested using five independent sets of crop response data on wheat, corn, cotton, silage, and sugar beets. The rival models were polynomial functions reported in the literature as the most suitable models for interpreting those data. Overall, the von Liebig model performed very well. While the nonnested hypothesis test was inconclusive with regard to silage and sugar beets, the von Liebig model rejected the polynomial specifications for wheat, corn and cotton.
Democracies in international crisis

One of the most widely researched theoretical perspectives in international politics in recent years has been the so‐called theory of democratic peace. Although democracies may be no less prone than non‐democracies to engage in violence in pursuit of their interests, they rarely employ war as a means for resolving conflicts with other democracies. We extend the well‐known argument and propose that for nations locked in international crises, the presence or absence of democratic norms of conflict resolution will dictate whether or not such crises are likely to escalate to violence. Using data on international crises in the twentieth century, an indicator of democratic composition is proposed which is sensitive to both the coalitional proportion and overall proportion of democracies in crisis. We posit that as the prevalence of democracies in a crisis increases, the likelihood of escalation of military hostilities decreases, while the likelihood of involvement and effectiveness of international organization.
Combining fractional frequency reuse with coordinated multipoint transmission in MIMO-OFDMA networks

This paper presents a systematic comparative study involving two fundamental mechanisms envisaged to play a crucial role in 4G networks, namely, fractional frequency reuse (FFR) and coordinated multipoint transmission (CoMP). A simulation framework is developed to assess the performance of the most relevant coordination schemes under different user scheduling policies while also revealing what are the corresponding optimum settings for the FFR component. Moreover, for one particularly interesting CoMP technique, namely, zero-forcing (ZF) precoding, a novel power allocation strategy is proposed that is shown to significantly enhance its performance. Simulation results serve to confirm the benefits of combining both techniques, FFR and CoMP, in comparison to non-coordinated architectures.
Antigenic Variation of Ehrlichia chaffeensis Resulting from Differential Expression of the 28-Kilodalton Protein Gene Family

ABSTRACT The transcriptional activity and allele variation of the 28-kDa outer membrane protein gene (p28) of Ehrlichia chaffeensis were analyzed to determine the mechanism of the antigenic variation of the 28-kDa outer membrane proteins. Reverse transcriptase PCR amplification of mRNA indicated that 16 of the 22 members of the p28 multigene family were transcribed. Amino acid sequence analysis indicated that the p28-19 protein was produced in vitro in the Arkansas strain. The p28-19 gene and its promoter region were sequenced and compared in 12 clinical isolates of E. chaffeensis to determine allele variation. The variation of the p28-19 gene among the isolates is limited to three types represented by strains Arkansas, 91HE17, and Sapulpa, respectively. These results indicate that the majority of the p28 genes are active genes and that antigenic variation of the E. chaffeensis 28-kDa proteins may result from differential expression of the p28 gene family members rather than gene conversion.
Forecasting Interval-valued Crude Oil Prices via Autoregressive Conditional Interval Models

We propose two parsimonious autoregressive conditional interval-valued (ACI) models to forecast crude oil prices. The ACI models are a new class of time series models proposed by Han et al. (2009). They can characterize the dynamics of economic variables in both level and range of variation in a unified framework and hence facilitate informative economic analysis. A minimum DK-distance estimation method can also simultaneously utilize rich information of level and range contained in interval-valued observations, thus enhancing parameter estimation efficiency and model forecasting ability. Compared to other existing methods, the ACI models deliver significantly better out-ofsample forecasts, not only for interval-valued prices but also for point-valued highs, lows, and ranges. In particular, we find that the oil price range information is more valuable than the oil price level information in forecasting crude oil prices, which is consistent with observed facts of price movements in crude oil markets. We also find that speculation has predictive power for oil prices in our interval framework.
Assessment of the menstrual cycle, eating disorders and self-esteem of Polish adolescents

Abstract Introduction: Eating disorders are an important factor in menstrual cycle disorders in girls. Moreover, low self-esteem among adolescent girls may be a risk factor for eating disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the menstrual cycle, eating habits and self-esteem of Polish adolescents. Methods: The study was conducted from January 2014 to March 2015 and included 623 girls, aged 15–19, from randomly selected junior high schools in Silesia, Poland, in which their menstrual cycle, risk of eating disorders and self-esteem were evaluated. A five-part questionnaire was used to assess basic demographic data, lifestyle and physical activity, gynecological history, as well as Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). Results: Irregular menstrual cycles were observed in 236 (37.88%) girls; 5.20% presented secondary amenorrhea. Based on the EAT-26 test, 101 (16.21%) girls were indicated being at risk for an eating disorder. Low self-esteem was observed in 340 (54.57%) study girls on the base of SES. Discussion: Girls with irregular menses had higher scores on the EAT-26 test in subscales: EAT-overall score, EAT-diet and EAT–bulimia, while lower scores on the SES. In our study, we did not observe a significant relationship between exercise intensity, body mass, BMI and menstrual cycle regularity. Low self-esteem among adolescent girls may be a risk factor for eating disorders which could interrupt the menstrual cycle.