Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PS-INSAR MEASUREMENT OF LAND SUBSIDENCE IN BANGKOK METROPOLITAN AREA

It is well known that the metropolitan area of Bangkok, Thailand, has been subsiding during the past decades. This ground deformation has been monitored using leveling networks on annual basis since 1978. However, the employed technique is costly, time-consuming, and able to monitor only on a limited number of benchmarks. InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar), which can provide sub-centimeter accuracy when time series analysis method such as PSI is employed, has the additional advantage of having a large number of observations. Therefore, it is an attractive alternative technique to such task. Permanent Scatterer InSAR (PSI) is employed in this study to determine land subsidence in Bangkok Metropolitan Area. We used 13 Radarsat-1 Single Look Complex images in Fine Beam Mode (F1N) acquired from October 2005 to February 2009. The interferograms generated by DORIS, and StaMPS were then used to perform PS analysis. Result from PSI reveals subsidence rates as large as 15 mm/year in eastern central Bangkok with respect to other areas detected as stable. Unwrapping errors may affect also our results due to the sub-optimal number of images in the time-series and also from orbital errors of Radarsat-1 which has no on-board GPS. Nevertheless, PSI successfully detects more than 300,000 pixels that can serve as monitoring points, a number that is two orders of magnitude greater than all benchmarks of the level network in Bangkok. As such the study clearly demonstrates the potential of PSI as operational tool for geodetic task like land subsidence monitoring.
Effects of respiratory syncytial virus infection on the airway neuronal plasticity and its relationship to the bronchial hyperresponsiveness in rats

espite intense research efforts, the specific pathogenic mechanisms that underlie the link between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and childhood asthma remain unclear. Recent researches suggest that changes in the structure and function of the nerves themselves in response to changing conditions, a phenomenon known as neuronal plasticity, may also contribute to the pathophysiology of airway diseases. Therefore in the present study we developed a model of RSV infection in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and measured the neuronal plasticity and the airway responsiveness after a period of the viral infection. We also assessed the protective effect of a polyclonal antibody specific for the rat nerve growth factor (NGF) against RSV-induced neuronal plasticity and the airway responsiveness. Finally, we compared the expression of key substances of neuronal plasticity, synaptophysin (SYN) and neurofilament (NF), with airway responsiveness.
Towards a Theory of Indigenous Entrepreneurship

Indigenous populations throughout the world suffer from chronic poverty, lower education levels, and poor health. The 'second wave' of indigenous development, after direct economic assistance from outside, lies in indigenous efforts to rebuild their 'nations' and improve their lot through entrepreneurial enterprise. This paper suggests that there is a distinguishable kind of activity appropriately called 'indigenous entrepreneurship'. We believe that entrepreneurship among the indigenous-approximately 300 million strong worldwide-has a rich potential for rebuilding indigenous communities.We begin by defining the indigenous population and noting some general facts about their numbers and distribution. In an effort to discern the potential for economic development on indigenous peoples' own terms, we then explore three frameworks for understanding efforts at development, including indigenous development: modernisation theory, dependency theory and (at somewhat greater length) regulation theory. After distinguishing 'indigenous' from 'ethnic' entrepreneurship, we conclude by identifying a number of lead questions that present themselves at the outset of an enquiry into the nature of indigenous entrepreneurship.
Improvement of detectability for CMOS floating gate defects in supply current test

We already proposed a supply current test method for detecting floating gate defects in CMOS ICs. In the method, increase of the supply current caused by defects is promoted by superposing a sinusoidal signal on the supply voltage. In this study, we propose one way to improve detectability of the method for the defects. They are detected by analyzing the frequency of supply current and judging whether secondary harmonics of the sinusoidal signal exist or not. Effectiveness of our way is confirmed by some experiments.
The design and function of military footwear: a review following experiences in the South Atlantic.

Abstract It is clear from experience in the Falklands that many of the longstanding problems associated with military footwear design remain unsolved. This review examines the aspects of design in relation to function and elucidates the many conflicting requirements of ideal boot design. Mobility, protection, insulation, waterproofing, vapour permeability, durability, weight, fit and supply, for instance, make contrasting demands upon the design of boots. Furthermore, failure to solve those conflicts, it is suggested, resulted in many non-freezing cold injuries in the South Atlantic and frequently leads to other injuries, including frostbite, when present boot designs are tested in action. An attempt is made to reconcile these and other criteria with the suggestion of a modular infantry ‘footwear package’ consisting of an inner and a number of different middle and outer boots.
On the influence of spectral calibration in hyperspectral image classification of leaves

Automatic detection of physiological changes in leaves using close range hyperspectral data is becoming a new tool for biologists. Given the geometry of leaves, the reliability of spectral data strongly depends on a careful spectral and geometric calibrations. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of several calibration approaches on automatic classification of leave regions. For our experiments we employ an in-vivo leaf scanning system, then an unsupervised classifier is applied on each calibrated and non-calibrated image and the biological relevance of the output is evaluated using vegetative indexes. Finally, we make recommendations about how to improve the hyperspectral image processing pipeline for this kind of data sets.
Les voies de recherche en distribution

Cet article passe en revue les travaux récents consacrés à trois axes de recherche en distribution: l'analyse des canaux, et notamment la problématique des relations entre producteurs et distributeurs, la stratégie de la firme de distribution, et enfin la relation du consommateur avec le point de vente.
Studies of the organization of the human nociceptive withdrawal reflex *†

I. Andersen, O.K. , Jensen, L.M. , Brennum, J. & Arendt-Nielsen, L. 1994. Evidence for central summation of C and A nociceptive activity in man. Pain 59, 273–280. II. Andersen, O.K. , Sonnenborg, F.A. & ArendtNielsen, L. 1999. Functional organization of human leg withdrawal reflexes elicited by electrical stimulation of the foot sole. Muscle Nerve 22, 1520–1530. III. Andersen, O.K. , Graven-Nielsen, T. , Matre, D. , Arendt-Nielsen, L. & Schomburg, E.D. 2000. Interaction between cutaneous and muscle afferent activity in polysynaptic reflex pathways – a human experimental study. Pain 84, 29–36. IV. Arendt-Nielsen, L. , Sonnenborg, F.A. & Andersen, O.K. 2000. Facilitation of the withdrawal reflex by repeated transcutaneous electrical stimulation: an experimental study on central integration in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 81, 165–173. V. Andersen, O.K, Sonnenborg, F.A. & ArendtNielsen, L. 2001. Reflex receptive fields for human withdrawal reflexes elicited by non-painful and painful electrical stimulation of the foot sole. Clin Neurophysiol 112, 641–649. VI. Andersen, O.K. , Sonnenborg, F. , Matjacic, Z. & Arendt-Nielsen, L. 2003. Reflex receptive fields for human withdrawal reflexes in symmetrical standing position elicited by painful electrical stimulation of the foot sole. Exp Brain Res 152, 434–443. VII. Andersen, O.K. , Finnerup, N.B., Spaich, E.G., Jensen, T.S. & Arendt-Nielsen, L. 2004. Expansion of nociceptive withdrawal reflex receptive fields in spinal cord injured humans. Clin Neurophysiol 115, 2798–2812. VIII. Andersen, O.K. , Spaich, E.G., Madeleine, P. & Arendt-Nielsen, L. 2005. Gradual enlargement of human withdrawal reflex receptive fields following repetitive painful stimulation. Brain Res 1042, 194–204. Acta Physiol 2007, 189 (Suppl. 654), 1–35
ILAE Genetics Commission Conference Report: Molecular Analysis of Complex Genetic Epilepsies

Epilepsy is a diagnosis encompassing >40 clinical syndromes consisting of biochemical, anatomic, and physiologic changes that lead to recurrent seizures. Abundant evidence of a genetic contribution to the epilepsies derives from a variety of sources, including familial aggregation studies; twin studies; linkage, association, and gene identification studies in human epilepsies; and studies of human mendelian disorders with seizures as part of the phenotype (1,2). Most gene discoveries over the last 6-year period have been confined to epilepsies showing single-gene inheritance. These genes were mapped in relatively uncommon large pedigrees and subsequently identified by positional cloning or the positional candidate approach (3). Although there are undoubtedly more monogenic epilepsies to discover, many occur in pedigrees too small or few in number to allow successful gene localization. In addition, a large number of seizure disorders reflect complex inheritance, involving multiple, possibly interacting genes, with or without additional environmental influences.
Structure and transcription of an immediate-early region in the human herpesvirus 6 genome

The unique segment of the human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) genome is essentially collinear to the unique long DNA segment of another betaherpesvirus, the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). However, the HHV-6 genomic section that is analogous in position to the major immediate-early (IE) locus of HCMV does not exhibit recognizable sequence homologies. The respective HHV-6 region of 5.5 kbp is flanked on one side by 25 to 28 incomplete tandem repeats of 105 to 110 bp that contain, with one exception, a single KpnI restriction site (KpnI repeats). About 250 reiterations of the sequence motif CACATA are located on the other end. We identified two open reading frames of 375 and 2,595 nucleotides, respectively, on one strand. Strand-specific Northern blot analyses with RNA harvested from HHV-6 (strain U1102)-infected HSB-2 cells or cord blood lymphocytes revealed two transcripts of about 3.5 and 4.7 kb in the corresponding orientation. Sequence analyses of the respective cDNA clones and primer extension experiments were used to map the mRNAs. The two transcripts are coterminal and multiply spliced and code for the same putative 104.6-kDa protein, but they are initiated from different promoters. Characterization of smaller cDNA clones and Northern blotting with other strand-specific probes showed that singly spliced mRNAs of 1.0 and 1.5 kb are transcribed from the opposite strand; they could code for a 17.2-kDa polypeptide. Blocking experiments with cycloheximide led to the conclusion that only the 3.5-kb mRNA is synthesized in the absence of protein biosynthesis upon infection with cell-free virus. This identifies a single IE gene of HHV-6 at the genomic position corresponding to the major IE region of HCMV, although the coding content and transcriptional regulation are quite different for these two herpesvirus IE regions.
Las Vegas algorithms for matrix groups

We consider algorithms in finite groups, given by a list of generators. We give polynomial time Las Vegas algorithms (randomized, with guaranteed correct output) for basic problems for finite matrix groups over the rationals (and over algebraic number fields): testing membership, determining the order, finding a presentation (generators and relations), and finding basic building blocks: center, composition factors, and Sylow subgroups. These results extend previous work on permutation groups into the potentially more significant domain of matrix groups. Such an extension has until recently been considered intractable. In case of matrix groups G of characteristic p, there are two basic types of obstacles to polynomial-time computation: number theoretic (factoring, discrete log) and large Lie-type simple groups of the same characteristic p involved in the group. The number theoretic obstacles are inherent and appear already in handling abelian groups. They can be handled by moderately efficient (subexponential) algorithms. We are able to locate all the nonabelian obstacles in a normal subgroup N and solve all problems listed above for G/N. <<ETX>>
Determination of the precision and accuracy of morphological measurements using the Kinect™ sensor: comparison with standard stereophotogrammetry

The recent availability of the Kinect™ sensor, a low-cost Markerless Motion Capture (MMC) system, could give new and interesting insights into ergonomics (e.g. the creation of a morphological database). Extensive validation of this system is still missing. The aim of the study was to determine if the Kinect™ sensor can be used as an easy, cheap and fast tool to conduct morphology estimation. A total of 48 subjects were analysed using MMC. Results were compared with measurements obtained from a high-resolution stereophotogrammetric system, a marker-based system (MBS). Differences between MMC and MBS were found; however, these differences were systematically correlated and enabled regression equations to be obtained to correct MMC results. After correction, final results were in agreement with MBS data (p = 0.99). Results show that measurements were reproducible and precise after applying regression equations. Kinect™ sensors-based systems therefore seem to be suitable for use as fast and reliable tools to estimate morphology. Practitioner Summary: The Kinect™ sensor could eventually be used for fast morphology estimation as a body scanner. This paper presents an extensive validation of this device for anthropometric measurements in comparison to manual measurements and stereophotogrammetric devices. The accuracy is dependent on the segment studied but the reproducibility is excellent.
Theoretical framework of critical success factors (CSFs) for Business Intelligence (BI) System

Business Intelligence (BI) is relatively a new evolving research topic, it lacks to develop its own theoretical foundations. This study aims to propose theoretical framework of BI system success which combines together the critical success factors (CSFs) for BI system with quality constructs as a measurements to assess BI success. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by adding a new organizational factors such as user empowerment and organizational structure as a CSFs for BI system.
Addressing the Role of Cell Adhesion in Tumor Cell Dormancy

The dissemination of tumor cells prior to the surgical resection of early stage tumors poses a serious risk to the disease free survival of cancer patients. This risk arises from the latent capacity of these cells to form solid metastatic lesions after a prolonged period of dormancy, exacerbated by the fact that these cells are often refractory to adjuvant chemotherapeutic protocols. Ensuring the long term survival of cancer patients therefore necessitates an understanding of the mechanisms of tumor cell dormancy and the accompanying drug resistance. Experiments designed to compare the biological behavior of metastatic versus non-metastatic variants of tumor cells provide evidence that there exists a phenomenon of single-cell dormancy which may depend on a reciprocal dialogue between the tumor cell and the tissue microenvironment. Through a combination of 3-dimensional cell culture technique and in vivo models investigators are now beginning to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Here we review the results of a series of experiments describing the role of cell adhesion events in dictating tumor cell behavior, including the balance between proliferation and dormancy, and the acquisition of drug resistance.
Restructuring of multidisciplinary scientific meetings improves valuable exchange of information.

from more than 197 000 admissions to medical and surgical units of a tertiary academic medical center from 2003 to 2006 (Table 4 from the article). It is important to note that this analysis was undertaken with data from a hospital with lower-than-expected mortality, Magnet hospital designation, and a national ranking in the U.S. News and World Report. Data was obtained on actual patient census, RN staffing levels, admissions, transfers, and discharges for each nursing shift. For each patient the group then identified the unit on which the patient was located as well as the staffing data for the corresponding shifts during the patient’s hospitalization. A Cox proportional-hazards regression model was then used to analyze the effect of these staffing measures on inpatient mortality after adjustment for other common patient-level variables such as medical comorbidites, diagnosis, type of admission, and age. The authors demonstrated that up to 34.6% of patients were exposed to 3 or more shifts with below target RN staffing during the first 30 days of their hospitalization. After multivariate adjustment, there was a significant association between inpatient mortality and exposure to below-target RN staffing levels and high-turnover RN workloads. These findings were highly robust and held even if ICU patients were excluded or if only the first 5 days following admission were included. Shockingly, the authors estimated that the risk of death increased by 2% for each below-target shift and 4% for each high-turnover shift experienced by a given patient. This study certainly helps to clarify the issue of the impact of adequate RN staffing on patient outcomes. Although retrospective in nature, the use of patient-level exposures to varying RN staffing levels is a major strength of the analysis. Specific subgroups such as neurosurgical or even surgical patients were not individually analyzed; however, it is certainly plausible that complex patients such as neurosurgical patients would be particularly vulnerable to these effects of RN staffing levels. In conclusion, this article serves to highlight one more critical variable in the complex network of providing high quality inpatient care.
Purification and properties of poliovirus RNA polymerase expressed in Escherichia coli

A cDNA clone encoding the RNA polymerase of poliovirus has been expressed in Escherichia coli under the transcriptional control of a T7 bacteriophage promoter. The poliovirus enzyme was designed to contain only a single additional amino acid, the N-terminal methionine. The recombinant enzyme has been purified to near homogeneity, and polyclonal antibodies have been prepared against it. The enzyme exhibits poly(A)-dependent oligo(U)-primed poly(U) polymerase activity as well as RNA polymerase activity. In the presence of an oligo(U) primer, the enzyme catalyzes the synthesis of a full-length copy of either poliovirus or globin RNA templates. In the absence of added primer, RNA products up to twice the length of the template are synthesized. When incubated in the presence of a single nucleoside triphosphate, [alpha-32P]UTP, the enzyme catalyzes the incorporation of radioactive label into template RNA. These results are discussed in light of previously proposed models of poliovirus RNA synthesis in vitro.
Comparative distribution of azithromycin in lung tissue of patients given oral daily doses of 500 and 1000 mg.

OBJECTIVES The administration of antibacterial agents should be optimized on the basis of their distribution to enhance drug exposure and obtain bacterial eradication. This study examines the pharmacokinetics of azithromycin in plasma, lung tissue and bronchial washing in patients after oral administration of 500 mg versus 1000 mg once daily for 3 days. PATIENTS AND METHODS Samples of plasma, lung tissue and bronchial washing were obtained from a cohort of 48 patients during open-chest surgery for lung resection up to 204 h after the last drug dose, and assayed for antibiotic concentrations. RESULTS Azithromycin was widely distributed within the lower respiratory tract and sustained levels of the drug were detectable at the last sampling time in lung tissue. Doubling the dose of the antibiotic resulted in a proportional increase in lung area under the curve (AUC, 1245.4 versus 2514.2 h x mg/kg) and peak tissue concentration (Cmax, 8.93 +/- 2.05 versus 18.6 +/- 2.20 mg/kg). The pharmacodynamic parameter AUC/MIC for susceptible and intermediate strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (MICs 0.5 and 2 mg/L, respectively) increased after administration of the 1000 mg schedule compared with 500 mg (AUC/MIC0.5 2414 versus 1144 and AUC/MIC2 2112 versus 814.1 h x mg/kg, respectively) in pulmonary tissue. CONCLUSIONS Lung exposure to azithromycin is increased proportionally by doubling the dose, which results in a predictable pharmacokinetic behaviour of the drug in the lower respiratory tract.
Exercise Effects on Calorie Intake

The promotion of exercise for the treatment of obesity has been based on the double premise that exercise generates special metabolic signals and that these reduce food intake. The decrease in intake coupled with the increase in expenditure leads to weight loss. Strong support for this premise comes primarily from animal studies, not from studies in humans. This arises in part because the premise is so difficult to prove in people. It ought to be a simple matter to exercise sedentary people and watch them eat less. In fact, the methodologic problems associated with measuring energy expenditure, voluntary changes in energy intake, and small shifts in body composition are great. As a result, there is a paucity of information in this area.
Non-response to osteoporosis treatment

There are now a number of effective treatments for osteoporosis, which increase bone mineral density (BMD) and decrease the risk of fractures. There is no clear consensus on the optimal method for assessing response to treatment in the individual patient. The goal of osteoporosis treatment is to prevent fractures after minimal trauma, but these are relatively uncommon events and cannot be totally avoided by the use of currently available therapies. Alternative methods of assessing response to treatment include serial measurement of BMD or the biochemical markers of bone turnover, but the observed changes may be misleading if they do not exceed the least significant change. The proportion of patients who fail to respond to osteoporosis treatments is difficult to quantify. Clinical trials show continuing bone loss in up to 15% of participants on hormone replacement therapy or bisphosphonates. Non-response to treatment is probably more common in clinical practice, but may be due to poor adherence to treatment recommendations. Other potential causes of an apparent failure to respond to treatment include the use of a weak antiresorptive agent, differences in bioavailability, low dietary calcium intake, vitamin D insufficiency and underlying causes of secondary osteoporosis. The management of patients who fail to respond to treatment includes confirmation that they are adhering to treatment and have an adequate dietary calcium intake and vitamin D status and excluding causes of secondary osteoporosis. Consideration should also be given to the addition of calcium and vitamin D supplementation and the use of alternative treatments for osteoporosis.