Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incorporation of biodiversity conservation targets on the optimal management of a size-distributed forest

The selective-logging regime is one of the most important instruments to support the sustainable development of forests, and reinforce the multiple services that they provide, such as the maintenance of biodiversity. The consideration of some stand features like having a certain volume of dead wood and/or large trees may help to preserve and enhance biodiversity in forest ecosystems, but as a consequence they may decrease the benefits obtained from timber sale. This paper presents a bioeconomic model that allows to determine the optimal forest management when biodiversity conservation is taken into account. It aims to analyze to which extent the requirement to fulfill some structural targets related to biodiversity preservation affects the optimal forest management regime, and the profitability of forests. With this purpose, an empirical analysis is conducted to determine the optimal selective-logging management of two diameter distributed stands of Pinus sylvestris in Catalonia, and the results are then compared with the outcome generated when some stand structural targets are imposed. The results show that the costs of biodiversity conservation in terms of reduced profitability can be significant.
Efficient dentry lookup with backward finding mechanism

As modern computer systems face the challenge of managing large data, filesystems must deal with a large number of files. This leads to amplified concerns of metadata and data operations. Filesystems in Linux manage the metadata of files by constructing in-memory structures such as directory entry (dentry) and inode. However, we found inefficiencies in metadata management mechanisms, especially in the path traversal mechanism of Linux file systems when searching for a dentry in the dentry cache. In this paper, we optimize metadata operations of path traversing by searching for the dentry in the backward manner. By using the backward finding mechanism, we can find the target dentry with reduced number of dentry cache lookups when compared with the original forward finding mechanism. However, this backward path lookup mechanism complicates permission guarantee of each path component. We addess this issue by proposing the use of a permission-granted list. We have evaluated our optimized techniques with several benchmarks including real-world workload. The experimental results show that our optimizations improve path lookup latency by up to 40% and overall throughput by up to 56% in real-world benchmarks which has a number of path-deepen files.
The surprising dynamics of scaffolding proteins

The function of scaffolding proteins is to bring together two or more proteins in a relatively stable configuration, hence their name. Numerous scaffolding proteins are found in nature, many having multiple protein–protein interaction modules. Over the past decade, examples of scaffolding complexes long thought to be stable have instead been found to be surprisingly dynamic. These studies are scattered among different biological systems, and so the concept that scaffolding complexes might not always represent stable entities and that their dynamics can be regulated has not garnered general attention. We became aware of this issue in our studies of a scaffolding protein in microvilli, which forced us to reevaluate its contribution to their structure. The purpose of this Perspective is to draw attention to this phenomenon and discuss why complexes might show regulated dynamics. We also wish to encourage more studies on the dynamics of “stable” complexes and to provide a word of caution about how functionally important dynamic associations may be missed in biochemical and proteomic studies.
Non-Factoid Japanese Question Answering through Passage Retrieval that Is Weighted Based on Types of Answers

We constructed a system for answering nonfactoid Japanese questions. We used various methods of passage retrieval for the system. We extracted paragraphs based on terms from an input question and output them as the preferred answers. We classified the non-factoid questions into six categories. We used a particular method for each category. For example, we increased the scores of paragraphs including the word “reason” for questions including the word “why. ” We participated at NTCIR-6 QAC-4, where our system obtained the most correct answers out of all the eight participating teams. The rate of accuracy was 0.77, which indicates that our methods were effective.
Child Sexual Abuse as a Public Health Issue: Recommendations of an Expert Panel

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a widespread problem that has been associated with a variety of negative health outcomes. There has been a call for prevention of first occurrences of CSA. Public health provides a unique framework for conceptualizing and implementing these prevention efforts. This article explains a model of the public health approach to prevention and illustrates the applicability of this model to CSA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention convened a panel of experts to advise the agency about raising awareness of CSA as a public health problem. A summary of the recommendations developed by this expert panel is presented.
Explaining Terrorism: Leadership Deficits and Militant Group Tactics

Abstract Certain types of militant groups—those suffering from leadership deficits—are more likely to attack civilians. Their leadership deficits exacerbate the principal-agent problem between leaders and foot soldiers, who have stronger incentives to harm civilians. We establish the validity of this proposition with a tripartite research strategy that balances generalizability and identification. First, we demonstrate in a sample of militant organizations operating in the Middle East and North Africa that those lacking centralized leadership are prone to targeting civilians. Second, we show that when the leaderships of militant groups are degraded from drone strikes in the Afghanistan-Pakistan tribal regions, the selectivity of organizational violence plummets. Third, we elucidate the mechanism with a detailed case study of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a Palestinian group that turned to terrorism during the Second Intifada because pressure on leadership allowed low-level members to act on their preexisting incentives to attack civilians. These findings indicate that a lack of principal control is an important, underappreciated cause of militant group violence against civilians.
A Study of the Effectiveness of an Alternative Licensure Program for Urban Elementary Teachers of English Language Learners

A STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE PROGRAM FOR URBAN ELEMENTARY TEACHERS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS Sabrina L. Wesley-Nero, Ph.D. George Mason University, 2007 Dissertation Director: Dr. Marjorie Hall Haley This study examined the qualifying portfolios of graduates of an alternative teacher licensure program to determine the extent to which the teachers evidenced effective instructional strategies for English language learners (ELLs). All study participants taught during the 2004-2005 school year in elementary classrooms in New York City public schools where at least 20% of the students were ELLs. The teachers in this study graduated from the Mercy College New Teacher Residency Program, a master’s degree and alternative teacher licensure program. This study used the standards for the preparation of teachers of ELLs produced by Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the relevant research on the effective instruction of ELLs as an evaluative framework. Data revealed that the study participants did not satisfy the requirements of the TESOL/NCATE standards. However, the teachers demonstrated some instructional practices effective for ELLs as defined in the TESOL/NCATE standards and the research literature by implementing content-area instruction that was assessment-driven, standards-based, and differentiated according to students’ academic needs. 1. Problem Statement General Problem Statement The linguistic, cultural, and ethnic diversity of America’s population is steadily increasing. In 1980, 83% of the U.S. population identified themselves as white. In 1990, this percentage had dropped to 80% (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1992). In 2000, 75% of the U.S. population identified themselves as white (Greico, 2001). According to the U.S. Census, in 1990 13.8% of the population over the age of five years old spoke a language other than English at home (Shin & Bruno, 2003). In 2000, that number had increased to 17.9%. This diversity is readily apparent in the nation’s public schools. Today’s public school population is increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2003, 42% of U.S. public school students “were considered to be part of a racial or ethnic minority group” (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2005a). In 1972, only 22% of U.S. public school students “were considered to be part of a racial or ethnic minority group” (NCES, 2005b). However, culturally and linguistically diverse students are not performing well in many public schools (Solis, 1999). Among the 22.4 million culturally and linguistically diverse students are at least 9.9 million students for whom English is their non-native language (NCES, 2005c). English language learners (ELLs), students for whom English is their non-native language and who are still acquiring proficiency in
Comparative Study of Portal Vein Embolization Versus Portal Vein Ligation for Induction of Hypertrophy of the Future Liver Remnant Using a Mini-Pig Model

Summary Background Data:The extent of hepatectomies is limited by the functional reserve of the remnant liver. The introduction of preoperative portal vein occlusion techniques to induce a preoperative hyperplasia of the future liver remnant has reduced the risk of postoperative liver failure. However, it has remained a matter of debate whether partial portal vein embolization (PVE) or suture ligation of the portal branches during exploration is the preferred technique. We compared both techniques under standardized experimental conditions in a large animal model by means of effectiveness and pathophysiologic differences. Methods:Thirteen mini-pigs underwent portal vein ligation (PVL), 11 mini-pigs underwent PVE of 75% of the liver volume, and 6 underwent a sham operation. The animals were killed after 28 days. Laboratory liver function and damage parameters, lobar liver-to-body weight indices, portal and arterial flow alterations, and histologic changes were assessed. Ex situ arteriograms and portograms were performed to examine adaptive changes in the macroarchitecture of both vascular systems. Results:The liver-to-body weight index of the nonoccluded lobe was highest after PVE (0.85) versus 0.6 (P < 0.05) after PVL. There was no significant reduction in global serum parameters reflecting total liver function. After 4 weeks, the PVL group consistently exhibited hepatopetal portal flow in the ligated lobes, which was present but significantly decreased after PVE. The ex situ angiography after PVE and PVL revealed the development of portal neocollaterals in the portal-occluded liver parts. Conclusions:Both PVL and PVE are able to induce hypertrophy of the future liver remnant. In comparison, PVE is the more effective technique to increase the future liver remnant. This is due to a more effective, durable occlusion of the portal branches. Formation of collaterals between occluded and nonoccluded liver parts seems to be the cause of inferior regeneration in the ligation group.
[Complications in children and adults with cochlear implant].

BACKGROUND Complications in Children and Adults with Cochlear Implant Background: Cochlear Implants (CI) are developed in the last 20 years to a regular therapy in congenital deaf children/newborns and deafened teens and adults. The success of speech understanding with the CI in adults is so extraordinary that meanwhile also unilateral deaf, contralateral normal hearing persons are implanted. In case of early implanted children a nearly normal speech development is possible in most of the cases. MATERIAL UND METHODS: Nevertheless the surgical procedures is a challenge concerning the potential complications combined with a foreign body, the CI, in a non-steril part of the ear. RESULTS This paper reports on the complications in a patients collective, implanted within 21 years. Separated within the severity of the complications and their therapeutic consequences (conservative and surgical) it could be shown that the incidence of severe perioperative complications within the second decade could be reduced from 3.92% (first decade) to 1.8%. Also the companies have learned to construct the products more save. CONCLUSION In summary the reliable and complete postoperative control and the modification of therapy concepts leads to a constant reduction of complications.
Disentangling chlorophyll fluorescence from atmospheric scattering effects in O2 A‐band spectra of reflected sun‐light

Global retrieval of solar induced fluorescence emitted by terrestrial vegetation can provide an unprecedented measure for photosynthetic efficiency. The GOSAT (JAXA, launched Feb. 2009) and OCO‐2 (NASA, to be launched 2013) satellites record high‐resolution spectra in the O2 A‐band region, overlapping part of the chlorophyll fluorescence spectrum. We show that fluorescence cannot be unambiguously discriminated from atmospheric scattering effects using O2 absorption lines. This can cause systematic biases in retrieved scattering parameters (aerosol optical thickness, aerosol height, surface pressure, surface albedo) if fluorescence is neglected. Hence, we demonstrate an efficient alternative fluorescence least‐squares retrieval method based solely on strong Fraunhofer lines in the vicinity of the O2 A‐band, disentangling fluorescence from scattering effects. Not only does the Fraunhofer line fit produce a more accurate estimate of fluorescence emission, but it also allows improved retrievals of atmospheric aerosols from the O2 A‐band.
Discussing strategies for software architecting and designing from an Agent-oriented point of view

Software design is a complex problem-solving process which requires to evaluate several design options while pursuing the objective of adhering to general principles of good quality. For instance, designing open, robust and secure architectures for novel application areas, calls for evaluating and/or integrating different distributed system technologies, such as peer-to-peer and multi-agent systems. This paper proposes a discussion on software architecting and designing strategies adopting an agent-oriented approach. Several works face this issue proposing methodologies based mainly on the use of architectural styles. Here we consider general strategies useful in the design process, such as divide-and-conquer, and principles for a good design, such as cohesion and decoupling, and argue that, performing goal analysis, according to Tropos, an agent-oriented methodology, provides methods for applying them. A case study in the domain of decision-support systems in agriculture is used to illustrate.
Empathy and Observed Anger and Aggression in Five-Year-Olds

In Roberts and Strayer (1996), we reported that emotional expressiveness and anger were important predictors of empathy for school-age children, and that empathy strongly predicted prosocial behaviors aggregated across methods and sources. In this paper, we report how empathy was associated with direct observations of anger and aggression in peer play groups. Twenty-four initially unacquainted five-year-old children (50% girls) were randomly assigned to six same-sex groups; each group met for three one-hour play sessions. Physical and verbal aggression, object struggles and anger were coded from videotapes, as were prosocial and social behaviors. As expected, empathy (aggregated across methods and sources) was negatively associated with aggression and anger, and positively associated with prosocial behaviors. Although children who were more angry were also more aggressive, anger and aggression did not covary across play sessions as a simple causal model requires. These results suggest further directions for research in emotions and aggression.
View-dependent layered projective texture maps

Capturing and rendering of real scenes in an immersive virtual environment is still a challenging task. We present a novel workflow, using high-quality, view-dependent projective texturing at low texture memory cost, while reinforcing artist's control over image quality. Photographs of a real scene are first used to create a 3D model with standard tools. Our method automatically orders geometry into optimized visibility layers for each photograph. These layers are subsequently used to create standard 2D image-editing layers, enabling artists to fill in missing texture using standard techniques such as clone brushing. The result of this preprocess is used by our novel layered projective texture rendering algorithm, which has low texture memory consumption, high interactive image quality and avoids the need for subdividing geometry for visibility. We show results of our implementation on a real-world project.
1H Spectroscopy in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Background and Purpose. The authors investigate changes in brain metabolites among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Twelve patients diagnosed with definite ALS (and 2 subgroups with either pronounced upper motoneuron signs or less obvious, probable upper motoneuron involvement) and 10 controls were examined.1H studies were performed on a 1.5‐T Siemens Magnetom Vision with single voxel (SV). A voxel (TR = 1500 ms, TE = 270 ms, 512 acquisitions, VOI = 8 cm3) was placed bilaterally in the precentral gyrus. In addition, chemical shift imaging (CSI) (VOI = 1 × 1 × 1.5 cm, TR = 1500 ms, TE = 135 ms) was performed. Ratios of peak integrals (N‐acetyl‐aspartate/choline, N‐acetyl‐aspartate/creatine, and creatine/choline) were determined. A Mann‐Whitney U Test and a Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test were applied. Methods. The statistical analysis failed to demonstrate any significant differences between the ALS patients and the controls with respect to ratio measures. Using CSI, it was found that patients with clinically pronounced upper motoneuron signs had significantly lower (P= .037) N‐acetyl‐aspartate/choline ratios in the more affected hemisphere. Conclusions. The authors conclude that CSI is more effective at detecting lower N‐acetyl‐aspartate/choline levels among ALS patients than is SV.
Anti-nuscleosome antibody, a reliable indicator for lupus nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). ANAs are aimed against native DNA, as well as histone proteins and small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, also could be targeted against the entire chromatin, consisted of nucleosomes. Herein, we assessed the frequency and the concentration of anti-nucleosome antibodies (aNS) in a group of 107 Hungarian patients with SLE. Moreover, correlations between these autoantibody concentrations and disease activity, as well as organ manifestations, mainly renal symptoms were evaluated. The occurrence of positive aNS, anti-dsDNA and anti-histone (aH) antibodies were 39.2, 28.0 and 47.6%, respectively. All the three autoantibodies were represented with significantly higher titers in patients with lupus nephritis. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of these autoantibodies and disease activity. The long disease duration (mean 8.5 years) and consequent low disease activity (mean disease activity index: 3.28) could be the reason for the relatively low occurrence of ANAs amongst patients. Besides anti-dsDNA, the assessment of aNS and aH antibodies could be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of SLE. The authors discuss the possible role of aNS autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.
Energy efficiency of 5G mobile networks with base station sleep modes

The paper presents system level simulation results on future base station energy saving using a time-triggered sleep model. The energy efficiency of future base station is compared in macro cellular network against a comparable baseline without usage of sleep modes. Furthermore, results for corresponding 4G case are shown using a restricted set of sleep modes supported by 4G networks. The paper also proposes an analytical method for approximating system level energy saving gains of a base station. The results show rising trend of energy saving gain, when increasing the SS burst period of a 5G base station. However, the gains are seen to saturate at certain SS burst periodicity of 20 ms–40 ms. Furthermore, the results illustrate the rising energy saving gains towards reduced system load. The results for 4G show energy saving gains up to 22 % due to reduced set of sleep modes available for use. Finally, the calculated energy saving gain values are closely aligned with the simulated values.
Personality correlates of self-appraised problem solving abilities

Abstract We examined the relations between the components of self-appraised problem solving abilities and personality constructs measured by a popular instrument. Results indicated that the Approach-Avoidance and Problem-Solving Confidence factors of the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI; Heppner, 1988) were significantly associated with the judging, perceiving, and feeling scales of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Myers & McCaulley, 1985) among 112 undergraduates. Our results elucidate the relations between problem-solving appraisal, emotional predispositions, Willfulness, and preferences for structure. Implications for theoretical models of social problem solving and counselling interventions are discussed.
Globalization and Labor: Reflections on Contemporary Latin America

As the editors note in their introduction to this special issue of the journal, for more than 500 years, indeed since the conquest, Latin-American economies and societies have been profoundly affected by developments in the world system. Over the past century alone, watershed moments such as the Great Depression of the 1930s and the oil shocks and international debt crisis of the 1970s and 80s, have rocked Latin-American economies, transforming development paradigms and with them the circumstances of the many millions who inhabit the region. Today, a quarter century has passed since Latin-American economies embarked, unevenly yet largely irreversibly, on the path of market-oriented reform. Designed to stimulate growth through insertion into global markets, structural adjustment programs swept Latin America in the wake of the debt crisis and were followed by a panoply of measures that sought an enduring restructuring of economies in the region. The pursuit of these so-called Washington Consensus policies did away with the inward-oriented strategies that had shaped development in the region throughout the postwar period. However reluctantly, Latin America staked its future on a renewed engagement with the world economy, and became a player in the highly contested processes of globalization that are reshaping societies and economies around much of the planet.
A Cognitive Neuropsychological Model of Limb Praxis

Abstract This paper is devoted to the development of a composite model of limb praxis processing that is supported by a series of dissociations noted in the performance of apraxic patients. These dissociations include die separability of praxis production from praxis reception, the selectivity of input modalities, an “assembled” route of praxis imitation, and the possible fragmentation of semantics into an action and a nonaction system.