Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diversification and labor productivity on US permaculture farms

Abstract The relationship between diversification and labor productivity is a pressing issue for diversified farming systems (DFS), which must compete with the high labor productivity of specialized and mechanized industrial farming systems. Synergies between multiple production systems represent an alternative pathway for enhancing labor productivity, contrasting with the economies of scale achieved by industrial farming. Facing a lack of technical and institutional support for managing diversified systems, DFS turn to grassroots agroecological networks for support. Permaculture is a grassroots network with an emphasis on diversified production that—despite its international scope and high public profile—has received little scholarly attention. In this exploratory study we assessed the relationship between diversification, labor productivity and involvement with permaculture, using data from 196 enterprises (i.e., distinct sources of income or aspects of a farm business) on 36 permaculture farms in the USA. We characterized diversification in two ways: by income at the level of the whole farm, and by labor for production enterprises only. By fitting a multilevel model of labor productivity (enterprises nested within farms) we assessed the evidence for synergies in production, i.e., positive relationships between diversification and returns to labor. Results indicated that both production diversity and level of involvement in the permaculture network had significant positive effects on labor productivity. This effect disappeared, however, when both diversity and participation were at their highest levels. Results also indicate that high levels of diversification shift tree crops from the lowest labor productivity of any type of production enterprise to the highest. Through this first ever (to our knowledge) systematic investigation of permaculture farms, our results provide support for the presence of production synergies in DFS, and for the role of permaculture in helping farmers achieve these synergies.
Audio Patterns as a Source of Information for the Perception and Control of Orientation

We discuss the use of dynamic auditory patterns to detect and control human action. We argue that such patterns can affect the ability of standing persons to control medio-lateral orientation of their body. Subjects (N = 10) stood a mechanical platform that could rotate in the subject's medio-lateral axis. Real-time data about platform roll were used to generate acoustic stimuli, presented via headphones. Subjects were asked to control standing sway so as to achieve specific patterns in the acoustic stimuli. The results suggest that acoustic stimuli can be used as a source of information for the perception and control of orientation.
Analysis of Translocations in Stable Cells and their Implications in Retrospective Biological Dosimetry

Abstract Rodríguez, P., Montoro, A. , Barquinero, J. F. , Caballín, M. R. , Villaescusa, I. and Barrios, L. Analysis of Translocations in Stable Cells and their Implications in Retrospective Biological Dosimetry. Radiat. Res. 162, 31–38 (2004). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the exclusion of cells with unstable aberrations in the elaboration of dose–effect curves for translocations and their implications in biological dosimetry of past exposures. To establish dose–effect curves, peripheral blood samples were irradiated with 60Co γ rays at ten different doses and the yield of translocations analyzed by FISH was considered in all cells and in stable cells (those without dicentrics, acentrics or rings). To discriminate transmissible translocations, the dose– effect curve for total apparently simple translocations in stable cells was chosen as the reference. In stable cells, dose– effect curves for apparently simple translocations without pseudosimple and complex-derived one-way patterns, t(Ab)t(Ba) and total translocations were obtained. None of these curves differed from the reference curve. When all cells were considered, only the curve for total translocations was significantly different from the reference curve. From the results obtained it can be concluded that the use of dose–effect curves for apparently simple translocations in stable cells and in all cells will give similar dose estimates in retrospective biological dosimetry studies. However, the use of dose–effect curves for total translocations in all cells will lead to underestimations of the dose mainly at high doses.
Do patients always prefer quicker treatment? : a discrete choice analysis of patients' stated preferences in the London Patient Choice Project.

The London Patient Choice Project (LPCP) was established to offer NHS patients more choice over where and when they receive treatment, and to reduce waiting times. The LPCP offered those patients waiting around 6 months for elective procedures a choice of treatment at an alternative NHS or private hospital, or treatment at an overseas hospital.The aim of this article is to investigate the following questions regarding patients' response to choice: (a) What are the factors that patients consider when deciding whether to accept the alternatives they are offered? (b) What is the relative importance to patients of each factor when making their choices, i.e. what trade-offs are patients prepared to make between time waited and other factors? (c) Are there any systematic differences between subgroups of patients (in terms of their personal, health and sociodemographic characteristics) in their response to choice? Patients' preferences were elicited using a discrete choice experiment. Patients eligible to participate in the LPCP were recruited prior to being offered their choice between hospitals and each presented with seven hypothetical choices via a self-completed questionnaire. Data were received from 2114 patients. Thirty percent of respondents consistently chose their 'current' over the 'alternative' hospital. All the attributes and levels examined in the experiment were found to exhibit a significant influence on patients' likelihood of opting for an alternative provider, in the expected direction. Age, education and income had an important effect on the 'uptake' of choice. Our results suggest several important implications for policy. First, there may be equity concerns arising from some patient subgroups being more predisposed to accept choice. Second, although reduced waiting time is important to most patients, it is not all that matters. For example, the reputation of the proffered alternatives is of key importance, suggesting careful thought is required about what information on quality and reputation can/should be made available and how it should be made available to facilitate informed choice.
Cardiac safety and antitumoral activity of a new nitric oxide derivative of pegylated epirubicin in mice

The use of epirubicin is limited by the risk of a dilatory congestive heart failure that develops as a consequence of induction of a mitochondrial-dependent cardiomyocyte apoptosis. In a previous in-vitro study, we have provided evidence that a new formulation of pegylated epirubicin- bearing moieties that release nitric oxide, named BP-747, exerted a potent antitumoral activity against a colon cancer cell line, which was completely devoid of cytotoxic activity against cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the antitumoral and cardiotoxic profile of BP-747 in Caco-2 and SKOV-2 tumor-bearing mice. Epirubicin-induced cardiomyopathy was detected by clinical (survival, weight loss), anatomical (heart weight loss) and biochemical evaluations (measurement of serum troponin and creatine phosphokinase levels). The antitumoral activity was investigated by the measurement of tumor diameters and weight. In comparison with free epirubicin and pegylated epirubicin, BP-747 showed more potent antineoplastic effects, as demonstrated by the 95% reduction of tumor volume. Moreover, while administration of epirubicin and pegylated epirubicin resulted in the development of a severe anthracycline cardiomyopathy, BP-747-treated mice were virtually devoid of clinical and biochemical signs of cardiotoxicity. The present data provide evidence that addition of a nitric oxide-releasing moiety to pegylated epirubicin confers a new and unique cytotoxic profile to the drug.
The Economics of Agricultural Biotechnology

This paper examines the economic determinants and impacts of agricultural research, particularly biotechnology research, with a view to understanding the potential of agricultural biotechnology to address the needs of the poor in developing countries. It surveys public and private agricultural research in developed and developing countries since the green revolution and discusses the public goods nature of much agricultural research. Unlike the research that launched the green revolution, agricultural biotechnology research is primarily being conducted by private firms in industrialized countries to address problems of temperate-zone commercial agriculture. These differences have important implications for the development and diffusion of new technologies to meet the needs of the poor. This paper was prepared as background material for the 2003 issue of The State of Food and Agriculture, which has the theme “Agricultural Biotechnology: Meeting the Needs of the Poor? ” Several companion papers are also available in the ESA Working Paper series.
Dual bridge LLC resonant converter with frequency adaptive phase-shift modulation control for wide voltage gain range

This paper presents an isolated DB LLC resonant converter with frequency adaptive phase-shift modulation control which overcomes the unity gain problem of conventional DB converter. The proposed control maintains the Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) to all switches under all operating voltage and load variations. The control proposed for this circuit based on two control variables: switching frequency and phase-shift angle of the secondary switches. The Switching frequency changes with the load in such a way that, it is secured ZVS to the primary side for all phase-shift angles. To do so, the voltage gain becomes independent of the loaded quality factor. On the other hand, the phase-shift angle in between two bridges is used to regulate the output voltage and power flows of the converter. However these two variables control is beneficial for reducing conduction losses and switch turn-on losses throughout the wide voltage and load operation. Experimental results of a 1-kW prototype converter with 200–400V input and 48V output are presented to verify all theoretical analysis and characteristics.
DC-link voltage sensorless control technique for single-phase two-stage photovoltaic grid-connected system

Control techniques, applied to single-phase two-stage grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, mainly achieve functions of maximum power point tracking (MPPT), voltage adjustment at inverter DC-link, and grid current control. Conventional control techniques require measurements of PV voltage and current, DC-link voltage, and grid voltage and current. Commonly, sensorless techniques are proposed to simplify system implementation and decrease its entire size and cost. However, most focus on eliminating PV voltage and/or current sensors. In this paper, a sensorless technique is proposed which keeps PV sensors, but eliminates the expensive high DC-link voltage sensor by mitigating the inverter DC-link voltage control loop. Alternatively, voltage regulation at inverter DC-link is achieved through power balance guarantee at this link. Hence, control complexity is minimized and system stability is enhanced. Moreover, the entire system implementation is simplified and its dynamic response is improved during sudden irradiance changes. Simulation work is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed technique when compared to the conventional one regarding their transient and steady-state performance under varying irradiance conditions.
Performance of SMEs in Tangier: the interface of networking and wasta

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of networking on business performance by uncovering particular and significant methods of pursuing business connections, for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Tangier. Design/methodology/approach A two-stage design, which incorporated both quantitative and qualitative approaches, was employed in this study. Approaches were employed in succession with the findings from the quantitative phase informing the qualitative phase. Initially, a paper and online survey questionnaire was administered to a population of 365 industrial SMEs to gain some insights on the perceptions of owner-managers of the impact of networking on business performance. Following the quantitative phase, fifteen in-depth face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with selected owner-managers of SMEs, forming a judgmental selection, to explore their experiences, beliefs, and attitudes with respect to networking factor. Findings Both quantitative and qualitative phases of the study found that networking was a significant factor in influencing the success of SMEs. The concept of ‘wasta’, the Arabic word for connections, emerged from the qualitative phase. Findings show that using ‘wasta’, through politico-business networks is important since it enables access to current information that is crucial for the success of SMEs. The concept of ‘wasta’ was also mentioned in relation to financial resources and suppliers. Findings revealed that strong relationships with suppliers enable firms to get financial resources in the form of trade credits. Furthermore, the relationship between ‘wasta’ and human resources was also revealed. Findings showed that owner-managers use their network relations through ‘wasta’ in order to recruit their staff. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study add to the understanding of networking in Arabic countries with the importance of 'wasta' in an economy that functions on relationships. The findings of this study could therefore be useful to international managers to assist their intercultural effectiveness by adjusting to culture-specific networking in Tangier. Originality/value This study is among those few studies located in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region that explore the performance of SMEs from the perceptions of owner-managers themselves, and not based on aggregate or economic data. It supports previous findings of several studies and contributes additional evidence that suggests the significance of 'wasta' and its impact on SME success.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Acinetobacter baumannii Infections in Critically Ill Patients with Cancer: A Matched Case-Control Study.

AIM To describe the characteristics and outcomes of Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) infections in critically ill cancer patients and to evaluate the impact of AB on mortality and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS In a 4-year case-control study of critically ill cancer patients, we identified 161 patients with AB infections and 232 matched patients who were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the same time period, but had no AB cultures. The case and control groups were matched for APACHE II, age, gender, type of malignancy, and mechanical ventilation. Most AB isolates were carbapenem-resistant (n=142, 88.2%). The majority of positive cultures were collected from the respiratory tract (58%) and blood (21.8%). The median ICU LOS and mortality rate for patients with AB infections were higher than those for the control group (12 days [IQR 6-23] vs. 3 days [IQR 1-7], p<0.0001 and 73.3% vs. 61.5%, p=0.015, respectively). AB infection was independently associated with ICU LOS and mortality: OR 1.108 (95% CI, 1.077-1.139), OR 1.658 (95% CI, 1.017-2.703), respectively. CONCLUSION AB infections in critically ill cancer patients were independently associated with increased mortality and increased ICU LOS. Measures to improve the outcomes of critically ill cancer patients infected with AB are necessary.
Sirt1’s beneficial roles in neurodegenerative diseases – a chaperonin containing TCP‐1 (CCT) connection?

Sir2/Sirt1 and its orthologues are known lifespan extension factors in several aging models from yeast to invertebrates. Sirt1 activation is also known to be beneficial and protective in both invertebrate and mammalian models of neurodegenerative disease. Sirt1’s lifespan extension effect, as well as the beneficial outcome of its activation in models of aging‐associated diseases, is often attributed to its ability to instill a gene expression profile that is pro‐survival and anti‐aging. A recent report from Nyström and colleagues showed that the yeast Sir2p affects the function of the polarisome in segregation and retrograde transport of damaged and aggregated proteins from the bud to the mother cell, thereby ensuring the generation of a ‘rejuvenated’ daughter cell. Interestingly, the role of Sir2p in this case involves deacetylation and activation of cytoplasmic chaperonin containing TCP‐1 (CCT, or TriC), thereby enhancing actin folding and polymerization. In view of a previously documented role of CCT in modulating polyglutamine‐containing protein aggregation and toxicity, we hypothesized that CCT deacetylation may also underlie Sirt1’s beneficial effects in several neurodegenerative diseases precipitated by toxic aggregates. Other than alterations in gene expression profile, another major way whereby Sirt1 activation may counter neural aging could be to promote neuronal survival via prevention of toxic aggregate formation through CCT.
The use of the distal radius and ulna classification for the prediction of growth: peak growth spurt and growth cessation.

AIMS We report the use of the distal radius and ulna (DRU) classification for the prediction of peak growth (PG) and growth cessation (GC) in 777 patients with idiopathic scoliosis. We compare this classification with other commonly used parameters of maturity. PATIENTS AND METHODS The following data were extracted from the patients' records and radiographs: chronological age, body height (BH), arm span (AS), date of menarche, Risser sign, DRU grade and status of the phalangeal and metacarpal physes. The mean rates of growth were recorded according to each parameter of maturity. PG was defined as the summit of the curve and GC as the plateau in deceleration of growth. The rates of growth at PG and GC were used for analysis using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine the strength and cutoff values of the parameters of growth. RESULTS The most specific grades for PG using the DRU classification were radial grade 6 and ulnar grade 5, and for GC were radial grade 9 and ulnar grade 7. The DRU classification spanned both PG and GC, enabling better prediction of these clinically relevant stages than other methods. The rate of PG (≥ 0.7 cm/month) and GC (≤ 0.15 cm/month) was the same for girls and boys, in BH and AS measurements. CONCLUSION This is the first study to note that the DRU classification can predict both PG and GC, providing evidence that it may aid the management of patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1689-96.
Application of sliding mode techniques to the delay identification of nonlinear systems

The issue of delay identification for autonomous nonlinear systems is addressed in this work. Using sliding modes control methods it is first proven that the estimation goal can be fulfilled by finding the global norm minimizer of an infinite dimensional mapping. This result is then exploited to design, under different assumptions on the system's knowledge, both a finite-time and an asymptotically convergent identifier.
How it feels, not just how it looks: when bodies interact with technology

This paper presents thoughts to extend our understanding of bodily aspects of technology interactions. The aim of the paper is to offer a way of looking at the role our kinaesthetic sense plays in human-computer interaction. We approach this issue by framing it around how our bodies establish relationships with things when interacting with technology. Five aspects of a conceptual tool, body-thing dialogue, potential for action, withinreach, out-of-reach and movement expression are introduced. We discuss the role this tool can play in our thinking about, further exploration and eventually our design for movement enabled technology interactions. The idea is that it can help us consider, not just how a design or a technology might look but also how it might feel to use.
A GP approach for price-speed optimizing negotiation

This work uses a Genetic Programming (GP) algorithm to co-evolve negotiation strategies of agents that have different preference criteria, namely optimizing price and optimizing negotiation speed. While GP and other algorithms have been extensively used for price-only optimization, the problem of price-speed optimization has not yet received the same amount of attention. In Cloud/Grid computing environments, any delay in acquiring resources will be considered an overhead, hence negotiation agents need to adopt strategies that will enable them not only to optimize resource price but also to reach early agreements. This research is the earliest work to apply a GP algorithm for evolving price-speed optimizing negotiation strategies. An important advantage of the GP is its representation, which allows solutions to be represented in terms of the problem parameters, rather than as binary or real-value code, as it has been the case until now with other algorithms. We apply the GP to different negotiation scenarios and compare its results to other previously published works on the problem of pricespeed optimizing negotiation agents. Results show that the GP 1) outperforms the algorithms from these previous works and 2) can evolve to an optimal or near optimal strategy.
Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular dyssynchrony in Egyptian children with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the presence of cardiac dyssynchrony in Egyptian children with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Materials and methods: A total of 30 children with congestive cardiac failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy and 30 healthy age-matched controls were examined with conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler, and speckle tracking imaging. Results: Conventional Doppler echocardiography demonstrated significant left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction in the patient group. Tissue Doppler showed significant decrease in S-wave velocity and E'/A' ratio, and prolonged isovolumic contraction and relaxation times of mitral annulus as well as significant prolongation in mean difference between time-to-peak systolic strain of the basal septal and basal lateral segments in the patient group compared with the control group (p<0.005). Speckle tracking imaging demonstrated significant prolongation in mean difference between time-to-peak systolic strain of anteroseptal and posterior segments in both circumferential and radial strain analysis in the patient group than in the control group (p<0.005). It also demonstrated significant prolongation in the mean difference between time-to-peak systolic strain of the basal septal and basal lateral segments in longitudinal strain analysis in the patient group than in the control group (p<0.005). A significant increase in the standard deviation of time-to-peak strain, as a marker of increased intra-ventricular dyssycnrony, was present in the patient group compared with the control group (p=0.008). Conclusion: Children with congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy usually suffer from significant intra-ventricular dyssynchrony. Tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking imaging strain analysis are helpful tools to detect the presence of cardiac dyssynchrony.