Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forest tenure reforms and socio-environmental consequences: case studies on Guatemala and Nicaragua

En los ultimos 30 anos reformas legales han modificado normas y regulaciones sobre la apropiacion y uso de las tierras forestales. Estas reformas han cambiado las responsabilidades y han permitido el reconocimiento de derechos sobre bosques a grupos indigenas y comunidades locales organizados. Esta redefinicion formal de derechos a varios niveles se conoce como reformas de tenencia forestal. Este trabajo de tesis analizo diferentes tipos de reformas en tierras forestales en Guatemala y Nicaragua, con el fin de entender el grado en que estas reformas han reconocido los derechos colectivos de las comunidades que dependen de los bosques, y de esta manera comprender sus consecuencias socio-ambientales. Esta tesis se ha guiado por tres preguntas de investigacion: (1) ? Que factores motivan y dan forma al surgimiento de reformas de tenencia? , (2) ? De que forma el cambio institucional promovido por las reformas modifica los derechos de tenencia e impacta los medios de vida de las comunidades locales y las condiciones del bosque? , (3) ? Que condiciones relacionadas con la devolucion de derechos, conducen a la continuidad de las reformas de tenencia forestal? Los resultados evidencian la necesidad de analizar tres aspectos para entender la naturaleza de las reformas y sus resultados: 1) el cambio estatutario y el contexto en el que emerge la reforma, 2) como la implementacion de estos cambios se da en la practica, y 3) la forma en que las reformas permiten mejorar los medios de vida y las condiciones forestales, incluyendo el mantenimiento de las funciones ecosistemicas. Esta investigacion muestra que los derechos de tenencia estan inmersos en practicas socialmente construidas. El contexto social y politico de cada caso determina que grupo de reclamos se formalizara a traves de que tipo de derechos, que grupo de usuarios del bosque sera reconocido, y que grupo de instituciones estatales otorgara dichos derechos. Como demuestran los casos analizados en el presente trabajo, el analisis de las reformas forestales requiere una compresion de los procesos historicos y politicos que moldean las practicas y los derechos sobre el bosque, tomando en cuenta los cambios a lo largo del tiempo, asi como conflictos y negociaciones entre los actores a multiples escalas. El analisis de reformas forestales debe poner mas atencion en los procesos dinamicos que producen y modifican las instituciones y el comportamiento, incluyendo no solo el analisis de los cambios en los derechos de propiedad sino tambien procesos mas amplios de construccion del territorio. Estos escenarios dinamicos presentan desafios no solo para las comunidades sino tambien para los tomadores de decision y los implementadores de reformas. Para ello se requieren aproximaciones metodologicas y de esta manera generar un entendimiento profundo de los procesos de implementacion y los resultados.
Persistence of nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus identifies patients at lower risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma: results from a large multicenter cohort.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Recent population-based studies have shown a low risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in patients with nondysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE). We evaluated whether persistence of NDBE over multiple consecutive surveillance endoscopic examinations could be used in risk stratification of patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). METHODS We performed a multicenter outcomes study of a large cohort of patients with BE. Based on the number of consecutive surveillance endoscopies showing NDBE, we identified 5 groups of patients. Patients in group 1 were found to have NDBE at their first esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Patients in group 2 were found to have NDBE on their first 2 consecutive EGDs. Similarly, patients in groups 3, 4, and 5 were found to have NDBE on 3, 4, and 5 consecutive surveillance EGDs. A logistic regression model was built to determine whether persistence of NDBE independently protected against development of cancer. RESULTS Of a total of 3515 patients with BE, 1401 patients met the inclusion criteria (93.3% white; 87.5% men; median age, 60 ±17 years). The median follow-up period was 5 ± 3.9 years (7846 patient-years). The annual risk of EAC in groups 1 to 5 was 0.32%, 0.27%, 0.16%, 0.2%, and 0.11%, respectively (P for trend = .03). After adjusting for age, sex, and length of BE, persistence of NDBE, based on multiple surveillance endoscopies, was associated with a gradually lower likelihood of progression to EAC. CONCLUSIONS Persistence of NDBE over several endoscopic examinations identifies patients who are at low risk for development of EAC. These findings support lengthening surveillance intervals or discontinuing surveillance of patients with persistent NDBE.
IFN-β Increases Listeriolysin O-Induced Membrane Permeabilization and Death of Macrophages1

Type I IFN (IFN-I) signaling is detrimental to cells and mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. In this study, we investigate the impact of IFN-I on the activity of listeriolysin O (LLO), a pore-forming toxin and virulence protein released by L. monocytogenes. Treatment of macrophages with IFN-β increased the ability of sublytic LLO concentrations to cause transient permeability of the plasma membrane. At higher LLO concentrations, IFN-β enhanced the complete breakdown of membrane integrity and cell death. This activity of IFN-β required Stat1. Perturbation of the plasma membrane by LLO resulted in activation of the p38MAPK pathway. IFN-β pretreatment enhanced LLO-mediated signaling through this pathway, consistent with its ability to increase membrane damage. p38MAPK activation in response to LLO was independent of TLR4, a putative LLO receptor, and inhibition of p38MAPK neither enhanced nor prevented LLO-induced death. IFN-β caused cells to express increased amounts of caspase 1 and to produce a detectable caspase 1 cleavage product after LLO treatment. Contrasting recent reports with another pore-forming toxin, this pathway did not aid cell survival as caspase1-deficient cells were equally sensitive to lysis by LLO. Key lipogenesis enzymes were suppressed in IFN-β-treated cells, which may exacerbate the membrane damage caused by LLO.
Cooperative dual-hop relaying systems with beamforming over nakagami-m fading channels

In this paper, we investigate the end-to-end performance of dual-hop relaying systems with beamforming over Nakagami-m fading channels. Our analysis considers semi-blind (fixed-gain) relays with single antennas, and source and destination nodes equipped with multiple antennas. Closed-form expressions for the outage probability (OP), moment generating function (MGF), and generalized moments of the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are derived. The proposed expressions apply to general operating scenarios with distinct Nakagami-m fading parameters and average SNRs between the hops. The influence of the power imbalance, fading parameters, and antenna configurations on the overall system performance are analyzed and discussed through representative numerical examples. Furthermore, the exactness of our formulations is validated by means of Monte Carlo simulations.
Numerical analysis of signal distribution propagation in radar detection procedures

The paper presents the results of research on a histogram-based approach to numerical analysis of statistical distributions of signals in radar detection systems. The idea of this method consists in the numerical calculation of histogram equivalents of probability density functions or cumulative density functions of signals after each stage of a signal processing path. The considerations are illustrated by simulation examples. Their results are compared to the results of Monte Carlo simulations.
Multifractal Traffic Modeling using a Multiplicative Cascade with Generalized Multiplier Distributions

In this article we propose a multifractal traffic model that is based on a multiplicative cascade with generalized multiplier distributions. The multipliers are obtained through the estimation of their probability densities determined from real network traffic by using Kernel and Acceptance/Rejection methods. Statistical analysis and queueing behavior study were carried out for the model validation, verifying its performance in capturing the traffic trace characteristics in comparison to other multiplicative cascade based models.
Complete resection of the primary lesion improves survival of certain patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer.

Background The standard treatment for patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is systemic chemotherapy. However, certain patients, such as those with oligometastasis or M1a disease undergo resection of the primary lesion. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the records of 1,471 consecutive patients with NSCLC who underwent resection of the primary lesion for between June 2005 and May 2016. The present study included 38 patients with stage IV NSCLC who underwent complete resection of the primary lesion as first-line treatment. Results The median follow-up duration for the 38 patients (27 men) was 17.7 months (range, 1-82.3 months). The T factors were T1/T2/T3/T4 in 4/16/12/6 patients, respectively. The N factors were N0/N1/N2/N3 in 16/8/12/2 patients, respectively. The M factors were M1a/M1b/M1c in 19/13/6 patients, respectively. Of the 19 M1a patients, 11 were classified as cM0. We introduced the novel classification M-better/M-worse. M-better includes cM0 patients and M1b and M1c patients in whom all lesions have been locally controlled. M-worse includes cM1a patients and M1b and M1c patients in whom lesions cannot be locally controlled. The new M-better/M-worse statuses were 24/14 patients, respectively. The histology of NSCLC was adenocarcinoma/squamous cell carcinoma/others in 30/5/3 patients, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate was 29%, and the median survival time was 725 days. Squamous cell carcinoma and M-worse were significant factors predicting poor outcomes (P=0.0017, P=0.0007, respectively). Conclusions Even for stage IV NSCLC patients, resection of the primary lesion may be beneficial, especially for those with M-better status and those not diagnosed with squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC).
Simple Techniques for the Surgical Occlusion of Coronary Vessels in the Rat

From the Institut de Médecine et de Chirurgie expérimentales, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada. * The essence of this communication was presented to the International College of Angiology at a Meeting held in Montreal, February 20, 1960. t Fellow of the Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation. $ Fellow of the Rotary Club (D 191). Experimental coronary occlusion has been studied extensively in large laboratory animals, but these subjects do not lend themselves well to the large-scale testing of surgical procedures and drugs that may be useful in the prophylaxis
Small firm e-business adoption: a critical analysis of theory

Purpose – The paper critiques a range of theories and evaluates their ability to provide a lens for explaining the idiosyncratic nature of small firms and their e‐business adoption decisions.Design/methodology/approach – This literature review firstly summarises the existing research evidence that shows that small firms are idiosyncratic when it comes to e‐business adoption. It then critiques theories commonly used in the literature in this field to examine the extent to which they take this small firm idiosyncrasy into account when explaining e‐business adoption decisions.Findings – The critical analysis shows that no commonly‐used theory adequately explains small firm adoption of e‐business because each omits important aspects of small firm idiosyncrasy. The analysis suggests that an integrated theoretical framework is needed. Preliminary ideas on this framework are provided.Originality/value – Existing research generally applies a small number of selected theories and formulates research models of adop.
Sugars in sandflies.

The evidence for the acquisition of different types of sugars by wild caught sandflies is reviewed and the recent results summarised. Studies on Phlebotomus ariasi, P. perfiliewi and P. perniciosus in the Mediterranean region has shown that these sandflies take honeydew derived sugars from aphids or coccids; in a similar study in the New World, Lutzomyia peruensis has also been shown to have taken sugar from such sources. The use of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) as a technique for identification of such sugars is used as a more sensitive method for identifying trisaccharides and disaccharides; this method should supersede the van Handel cold anthrone test for sugar identification which only identifies the presence of fructose moieties. The possible significance of sugar feeding in the biology of sandflies and for the transmission of Leishmania are discussed.
A GSM demodulator based on a Delta&#8211;Sigma frequency discriminator with improved input sensitivity

A GSM receiver based on a ΔΣ frequency discriminator with enhanced input sensitivity is presented. The ΔΣ frequency discriminator architecture in this paper allows the effective frequency deviation to be increased thus utilizing a larger portion of the available dynamic range. This permits the demodulation of small-deviation FM signals while retaining a relatively high sampling rate. The new architecture is shown to be suitable for non-coherent demodulation of narrow band, continuous-phase FSK signals. The frequency discriminator is realized in a 0. 8µm BiCMOS process and consumes 75mW with a 3V supply and covers an area of 9mm2.
Performance assessment of photovoltaic power predictions using Univariate models

Integrations of photovoltaic systems to utility grids are widely implemented in many countries to meet increasing electricity demand for socio-economic development while reducing carbon foot print in their electricity generation sectors. However, the erratic nature of solar irradiance poses challenges to the utilities in operation and management. Thus, predicting the photovoltaic power generation is crucial to ensure the usage of the renewable energy output is optimized. Several prediction methods using Univariate models for predicting photovoltaic power were evaluated and compared in this article. The autoregressive and the Hourly-based Prediction models have demonstrated comparable ability in predicting PV power generation based on the climatological conditions selected for this study.
Design and fabrication of bandpass filters in glass interposer with through-package-vias (TPV)

This paper presents the integration of WLAN (2.4 and 5GHz) bandpass filters in glass interposer using through-package vias. The filters include novel embedded passive components such as stitched capacitors with reduced shunt parasitics and via-based inductors that provide area reduction. The filters designed for 2.4 GHz showed an insertion loss of less than 2dB and better than 15dB return loss, while the 5GHz filters showed an insertion loss of less than 1dB with better than 20dB return loss. Stop-band rejection of over 35dB was observed at 2.2 GHz on the 2.4 GHz bandpass filters. The measured results showed good agreement with the simulated values and indicated that the performance on glass interposer closely matches the performance of the more expensive high resistivity silicon with similar properties.
Polymorphism in the Y box controls level of cytokine-mediated expression of HLA-DRB1 genes.

The HLA class II molecules play an important role in immune response. The quality of immune response is dependent not only on the polymorphisms in the class II molecules, but also on the level of their cell-surface expression. In fact, it has been demonstrated that differences in the level of expression of DRB1 and DRB3 genes restricted and activated distinct CD4+ T lymphocytes. We and others have previously described allelic polymorphisms in the upstream regulatory regions of DRB genes, which affected DNA-protein interactions and resulted in significantly different promoter strengths. We showed that polymorphisms in both the X1 and Y box motifs affect level of constitutive expression of DRB1 genes in the DR1, DR51 and DR53 haplotype groups. In the present study, we examined the effect polymorphisms in the X1 box and the Y box on the cytokine (interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF))-mediated transcriptional activities of DRB1 promoters in these, i.e. DR1, DR51 and DR53, haplotype groups. The results demonstrate that the polymorphism in the X1 box does not affect cytokine-mediated strength of DRB1 gene promoters. In contrast, the polymorphism in the Y box, which affects the inverted CCAAT sequence, plays a dominant role on the cytokine-mediated transcriptional activity of DRB1 promoters.
Phosphorylation of HPr and Crh by HprK, Early Steps in the Catabolite Repression Signalling Pathway for the Bacillus subtilis Levanase Operon

ABSTRACT Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) of Bacillus subtiliscatabolic genes is mediated by CcpA and in part by P-Ser–HPr. For certain operons, Crh, an HPr-like protein, is also implicated in CCR. In this study we demonstrated that in ptsH1 crh1and hprK mutants, expression of the lev operon was completely relieved from CCR and that both P-Ser–HPr and P-Ser–Crh stimulated the binding of CcpA to the cresequence of the lev operon.
A 0.18/spl mu/m CMOS switched capacitor voltage modulator

A voltage modulator using only switched capacitors is presented. Depending on the desired output voltage a combination of capacitances is connected to the output capacitance, to increase or decrease the output voltage. The circuit is capable of delivering output signals within a frequency range from DC up to 100 kHz, with all harmonic distortion components below 30 dB. Operating at a supply voltage of 1.8 V, it delivers a maximum output power of 32mW with an efficiency of 72%.
A protein oxidase catalysing disulfide bond formation is localized to the chloroplast thylakoids

In chloroplasts, thiol/disulfide‐redox‐regulated proteins have been linked to numerous metabolic pathways. However, the biochemical system for disulfide bond formation in chloroplasts remains undetermined. In the present study, we characterized an oxidoreductase, AtVKOR‐DsbA, encoded by the gene At4g35760 as a potential disulfide bond oxidant in Arabidopsis. The gene product contains two distinct domains: an integral membrane domain homologous to the catalytic subunit of mammalian vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) and a soluble DsbA‐like domain. Transient expression of green fluorescent protein fusion in Arabidopsis protoplasts indicated that AtVKOR‐DsbA is located in the chloroplast. The first 45 amino acids from the N‐terminus were found to act as a transit peptide targeting the protein to the chloroplast. An immunoblot assay of chloroplast fractions revealed that AtVKOR‐DsbA was localized in the thylakoid. A motility complementation assay showed that the full‐length of AtVKOR‐DsbA, if lacking its transit peptide, could catalyze the formation of disulfide bonds. Among the 10 cysteine residues present in the mature protein, eight cysteines (four in the AtVKOR domain and four in the AtDsbA domain) were found to be essential for promoting disulfide bond formation. The topological arrangement of AtVKOR‐DsbA was assayed using alkaline phosphatase sandwich fusions. From these results, we developed a possible topology model of AtVKOR‐DsbA in chloroplasts. We propose that the integral membrane domain of AtVKOR‐DsbA contains four transmembrane helices, and that both termini and the cysteines involved in catalyzing the formation of disulfide bonds face the oxidative thylakoid lumen. These studies may help to resolve some of the issues surrounding the structure and function of AtVKOR‐DsbA in Arabidopsis chloroplasts.
Effect of iron on the growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum via photosynthesis

Iron is a limiting factor that controls the phytoplankton biomass in the modern ocean, and iron fertilization of the ocean could lead to blooms dominated by diatoms. Thus, iron plays an important role in controlling the distribution of diatoms. In this study, we measured the growth rate and photosynthetic activity of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum cultured under different iron concentrations and found that it grew more rapidly and had a much higher photosynthetic efficiency under higher iron concentrations. In order to explore the unique mechanism of the response of diatoms to iron, a proteomic analysis was carried out, and the results indicated that iron promotes the Calvin cycle of P. tricornutum. Diatoms can tolerate the pressure of iron limitation by replacing iron‐rich proteins with flavodoxin, and so on. Moreover, we found that the photosystem I (PSI) activity of iron‐limited algae that were treated by N’,N’,N’,N’‐tetramethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (TMPD) was increased significantly. As TMPD plays the role of a cytochrome b6/f complex that transfers electrons from photosystem II to PSI, the cytochrome b6/f complex is the key to photosynthesis regulation. Iron could influence the growth of P. tricornutum by regulating its biosynthesis. All of the results suggest that iron might affect the growth of diatoms through the Calvin cycle and the cytochrome b6/f complex.