Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calculating environmental cost indicators of apple farm practices indicates large differences between growers

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the environmental impact of current apple cultivation practices in Flanders, Belgium. It evaluates integrated production, the most common practice, and it compares this production method with conventional and organic production. The assessment was based on Farm Accountancy Data Network data from 2010 to 2012 for 64 farms in the region and a life cycle approach was used. The findings showed no significant improvement in environmental impacts for integrated farms compared to conventional farms and, even more, the former showed significantly higher average impacts per hectare for the categories ‘acidification’, and ‘non-renewable energy use’ in comparison with the latter. The organic production group showed higher average impacts per kilogram due to lower yields. Secondly, impacts related to the categories ‘acidification’, ‘eutrophication’ and ‘global warming potential’ were monetized based on the shadow price method in order to obtain external costs. Results show that external costs increase the production costs for integrated farming at least with 5%, both when these costs are expressed per kilogram and per hectare. However, the findings show a large variability in impacts and costs per farm. Farm-specific practices have therefore an important influence on the total environmental cost rather than production group-specific practices.
Flight to Quality? An Investigation of Changing Price Spreads in Commercial Real Estate Markets

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of the crisis on the pricing of asset quality attributes. This paper uses sales transaction data to examine whether flight from risk phenomena took place in the US office market during the financial crisis of 2007-2009. Design/methodology/approach - – Hedonic regression procedures are used to test the hypothesis that the spread between the pricing of low-quality and high-quality characteristics increased during the crisis period compared to the pre-crisis period. Findings - – The results of the hedonic regression models suggest that the price spread between Class A and other properties grew significantly during the downturn. Research limitations/implications - – Our results are consistent with the hypothesis of an increased price spread following a market downturn between Class A and non-Class A offices. The evidence suggests that the relationships between the returns on Class A and non-Class A assets changed during the period of market stress or crisis. Practical implications - – These findings have implications for real estate portfolio construction. If regime switches can be predicted and/or responded to rapidly, portfolios may be rebalanced. In crisis periods, portfolios might be reweighted towards Class A properties and in positive market periods, the reweighting would be towards non-Class A assets. Social implications - – The global financial crisis has demonstrated that real estate markets play a crucial role in modern economies and that negative developments in these markets have the potential to spillover and create contagion for the larger economy, thereby affecting jobs, incomes and ultimately people’s livelihoods. Originality/value - – This is one of the first studies that address the flight to quality phenomenon in commercial real estate markets during periods of financial crisis and market turmoil.
European Union and nationally based cohesion policies in the Italian regions

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the effects of cohesion policies on the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of the 20 Italian administrative regions for the period 1994–2013. The analysis includes both European Union and national funds. It estimates average partial effects through a control-function approach based on the funds’ allocation rules, and allows for the role of the regional environment on the impact of regional policies. A positive impact of European Union funds is found, as well as a less significant impact of (nationally financed) subsidies to firms. Quality of government has no relevance for European Union funds, but it enhances the impact of subsidies to firms.
Irradiation effect of HfO2 MOS structure under gamma-ray

The effect of gamma irradiation upon Al/HfO2/SiO2/Si MOS structure under different doses of 60Co is studied in this article as a function of total dosage. MOS capacitors with a stacked gate dielectric of 2.8nm thick SiO2 and 15nm thick HfO2 having electrode areas of 1mm*1mm are prepared on the p-Si substrate using thermal oxidation and atomic layer deposition respectively. The MOS capacitors are under zero bias during irradiation under 60Co gamma ray with total dose of 100Krad (Si)/500Krad (Si)/1Mrad (Si) and dose rate of 50rad (Si)/s. The high frequency Capacitor-Voltage (C-V) and Current-Voltage (I-V) characteristic of each structure are measured at room temperature before and after irradiation. As well as the C-V and I-V property, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) are also applied to determine the surface morphology, physical, and mechanical properties before and after different doses of radiation. The oxide trapped charge calculated from the high frequency C-V measurement is in the order of 1012 cm-2 and increases linearly with the increase of applied total dose. The XRD spectrum exhibits several phases of SiO2 and HfO2 variation under each total dose. The XPS result shows that each different total dosage leads to the binding energy peak drifting to a different degree demonstrating the influence of irradiation on the valence state of the elements, which can be attributed to the gamma-ray induced interface states.
Role of growth hormone in modulating the constitutive and phenobarbital-induced levels of two P-450(6)beta (testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase) mRNAs in rat livers.

The role of growth hormone in the expression of two forms of hepatic cytochrome P-450(P-450), P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3), and P-450(6)beta-4, was investigated using RNA blots. The level of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) mRNA was twenty times higher than that of P-450(6) beta-4 mRNAs in untreated male rat livers. The levels of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were increased two fold and three fold, respectively, by hypophysectomy of adult male rats. By intermittent injection of human growth hormone (hGH) into hypophysectomized male rats, both mRNAs were decreased to the level of normal rats, and almost disappeared after continuous infusion of hGH. In female rats, these two mRNAs were not detected, but were increased remarkably by hypophysectomy. The increases in these mRNAs were almost abolished after continuous infusion of hGH in hypophysectomized female rats. The effect of hGH on PB-mediated induction of P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs was also examined. The PB-mediated increases in P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were higher in hypophysectomized male rats (2.5-fold and 10.9-fold, respectively) than in normal male rats (1.5-fold and 5.2-fold, respectively). Thus, the levels of P-450(6)beta-1(6-beta-3) and P-450(6)beta-4 mRNAs were 4.1-fold and 7.3-fold, respectively, higher in PB-induced hypophysectomized rats than in normal male rats. Concerning the postnatal developmental profiles, P-450(6)beta-1(6 beta-3) mRNA was detectable at neonate and reached a maximal level at around 17 days of age. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Enabling Ecologically Sustainable Global Development for the Semiconductor Capital Equipment Industry

Reducing ecological impact of global economic development is an important emerging trend; this research will present an adaptable business framework to benefit from this trend in the context of semiconductor manufacturing. There is an apparent need for new market-based strategies that will reduce the ecological footprint of new products. Numerous industries have specifically identified this as a relevant business objective, therefore generating streams of research spanning business social responsibility, public policy, global standards, and regulations among others. The majority of existing research is contained in separate domains with no apparent attempt at an interdisciplinary approach to address the ecologically sustainable development challenge. However, the socioeconomic nature of such a problem presents a unique complexity to business, which necessitates the inclusion of both commercial and psychological dimensions. Existing research provides little insight for how to proceed with customer driven approaches for the development of ecologically and economically sustainable products. A commercial framework is needed to fully deploy the resourcefulness of business institutions towards the goal of sustaining global growth. Developing marketing models that encompass customer economic and social motivations is a suitable framework for including ecological considerations in the business decision-making process. Factors relating to customer belief about environmental utility of ecological product attributes, perceptions of the economic importance of these attributes, and ecological concern affect global new product development in such framework
PCR‐based high‐risk HPV test in cervical cancer screening gives objective risk assessment of women with cytomorphologically normal cervical smears

Cervical‐cancer screening programmes using cytomorphological criteria could be more efficient if the screening included objective individual risk factors for women with normal cytology, such as a test for high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV). The value of a PCR‐based test for high‐risk HPV types was studied in a cohort of 1622 women presenting in a routine biannual population‐based screening programme. Women were included in the study when they had no previous history of cervical dysplasia; and their initial Pap smear was read as normal (Pap 1 or 2). The mean age of the women was 42 years (range 34–54 years) and mean follow‐up time was 40 months (range 5–73 months). Women were referred for colposcopically directed biopsies if they had had 2 successive cervical smears read as Pap 3a (mild to moderate dyskaryosis) or one read as ≥ Pap 3b (severe dyskaryosis). Women with histologically confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) were considered positive cases. All women were tested for 14 high‐risk HPV genotypes. Of the 86 high‐risk HPV‐positive women, 6 developed CIN III, whereas only 1 of the 1536 HPV‐negative women did. The women with normal Pap smears containing high‐risk HPV genotypes were 116 times (95% Cl, 13–990) more at risk of developing CIN III, in contrast to women without high‐risk HPV. These results support the view that the interval between successive smears in cervical‐cancer screening can be increased considerably for women with cytomorphologically normal and high‐risk HPV‐negative cervical smears as determined by PCR. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
28-GHz patch antenna arrays with PCB and LTCC substrates

Ka-band spectrum is relatively abundant and therefore attractive for services of satellite communication, targeting radar, and wireless broadband access technologies. However, Ka-band patch antenna is difficult in realization because the accurate manufacturing is indeed a challenge in obtaining excellent antenna performance at such high frequencies. This study develops three patch antenna arrays for operation at 28 GHz. Two of the three patch arrays with 2×2 and 4×1 patches, respectively, are realized on microwave printed circuit boards (PCBs). The experimental PCB patch arrays have bandwidths up to 5.7% and gains up to 13 dBi. Another 2×2 stacked-patch antenna array is fabricated with low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology for further bandwidth enhancement. This LTCC stacked-patch array comprises a novel opposite-side feeding structure to prevent any electrical effect on the parasitic patch. A measured gain of 10.35 dBi and a wide bandwidth of 10.1% (26.75–29.6 GHz) are achieved.
Charge trap length dependence and transconductance characteristics of a 2T SONOS cell

In this paper, the program and erase characteristics of a two-transistor (2T) SONOS nonvolatile memory (NVM) cell have been described by using one-shot simulations and device simulations. In addition, a mismatched charge distribution between electrons and holes has been verified through measurements and device simulations. The program and erase (P/E) operations are performed through channel hot electron injection (CHEI) and band to band tunneling induced hot hole injection (BTBT-HHI), respectively. Because a complete erase operation can't be achieved with longer control gate (CG) lengths, the optimized CG length is a key factor in the 2T SONOS device. The proposed cell uses the whole channel to achieve good reliability during the program and erase operations. Nevertheless, it is strongly suspected that excess electrons might gradually build up in the nitride layer toward the source junction because of spatial mismatches of the injected electrons and holes during P/E cycles. This phenomenon of electron build-up has been confirmed through both device simulations and real measurements of the gate length dependence of the program and erase speeds. As a result of gradual accumulation of electrons, the cell transconductance (Gm) continues to become reduced. The degraded Gm value is also observed to be noticeably improved after a process of bake retention.
Identification of subunits of gonococcal RNA polymerase by immunoblot analysis: evidence for multiple sigma factors

Heparin-agarose and single-stranded DNA-cellulose chromatography were used to purify RNA polymerase 25-fold from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and the activity of the polymerase was characterized in altered assay systems. The core subunits (beta, beta', and alpha) were tentatively identified as major proteins copurifying with polymerase activity. The identification of the core subunits was confirmed by Western (immunoblot) analysis with polyclonal antisera to Escherichia coli core RNA polymerase. Gonococcal sigma factor heterogeneity was examined by Western blot analysis with polyclonal antiserum to the major E. coli sigma factor, sigma 70, to the E. coli heat shock sigma factor, sigma 32, and with a monoclonal antiserum to Salmonella typhimurium NtrA (sigma 54). Purified RNA polymerase and whole-cell extracts from type 1, type 4, heat-shocked, and anaerobically grown gonococci were examined. Four putative gonococcal sigma factors were detected in purified RNA polymerase preparations and in whole-cell extracts from all cell types. Two of these bands appeared as a doublet, which had an estimated Mr of 80,000. A single lower-Mr band, estimated to be 40,000, was also present. All three of these bands reacted with antisera to E. coli sigma 70 and to E. coli sigma 32. A fourth gonococcal protein reacted solely with a highly specific monoclonal antibody to sigma 54 and had an Mr of 90,000. We conclude that N. gonorrhoeae may contain multiple sigma factors, which it may use to regulate gene expression.
Effects of androgens on insulin action in women: is androgen excess a component of female metabolic syndrome?

Hyperinsulinemia as a consequence of insulin resistance causes hyperandrogenemia in women. The objective was to review evidence for the converse situation, i.e. whether androgens adversely influence insulin action. Androgen excess could potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes, and in obese peripubertal girls. An Entrez‐PubMed search was conducted to identify studies addressing the relationship of androgens with metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes in women. Studies reporting outcomes of androgen administration, interventions to reduce androgen effects in hyperandrogenemic women, and basic studies investigating androgen effects on insulin target tissues were reviewed. Multiple studies showed associations between serum testosterone and insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes risk in women, but their cross‐sectional nature did not allow conclusions about causality. Androgen administration to healthy women was associated with development of insulin resistance. Intervention studies in women with hyperandrogenism were limited by small subject numbers and use of indirect methods for assessing insulin sensitivity. However, in three of the seven studies using euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps, reduction of androgen levels or blockade of androgen action improved insulin sensitivity. Testosterone administration to female rats caused skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Testosterone induced insulin resistance in adipocytes of women in vitro. In conclusion, the metabolic consequences of androgen excess in women have been under‐researched. Studies of long‐term interventions that lower androgen levels or block androgen effects in young women with hyperandrogenism are needed to determine whether these might protect against metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes in later life. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early decline in the catecholamine release-inhibitory peptide catestatin in humans at genetic risk of hypertension.

Background Hypertension is a complex trait with an ill-defined genetic predisposition, in which adrenergic mechanisms seem to be involved even at the early stages. Chromogranin A is a pro-hormone stored and released with catecholamines by exocytosis; its fragment catestatin, formed in vivo, inhibits further catecholamine release as an antagonist at the physiologic trigger for secretion, the neuronal nicotinic cholinergic receptor. Methods We measured catestatin by radioimmunoassay in n = 277 subjects stratified by blood pressure (n = 61 hypertensive, n = 216 normotensive), and if normotensive by genetic risk of developing hypertension: family history positive (n = 176) versus negative (n = 40). Maximum likelihood analysis tested for bimodality. Involvement of catestatin in pathophysiology was probed by measurements of catecholamines and leptin, and the hemodynamic responses to environmental (cold) stress. Results The normotensive offspring of patients with hypertension already had diminished catestatin (P = 0.024), and family history was a better predictor of catestatin than age, ethnicity or gender (P = 0.014). Greater catestatin variance among family history-positive individuals (P = 0.021) suggested heterogeneity in this group, and a bimodal distribution (P < 0.001) identified 4.3% of individuals in a lower mode of catestatin values, all with positive family histories (P = 0.05). Catestatin correlated inversely with body mass index (r = −0.215, r2 = 0.046, n = 276, P < 0.001) and plasma leptin (r = −0.203, r2 = 0.041, n = 212, P = 0.003), while body mass index and leptin correlated directly (r = 0.59, r2 = 0.350, n = 212, P < 0.001). Family history-positive individuals had greater epinephrine excretion (P = 0.037) in addition to diminished catestatin, suggesting an inhibitory effect of catestatin on chromaffin cells in vivo. Low plasma catestatin predicted enhanced pressor response to a sympathoadrenal stressor (cold stress;r = −0.184, r2 = 0.034, n = 211, P = 0.007), suggesting an adrenergic mechanism whereby diminished catestatin might predispose to later development of hypertension. In white subjects, diminished catestatin also predicted greater systemic vascular resistance responses to cold stress (r = −0.307, r2 = 0.094, n = 75, P = 0.007), a relationship not found in Blacks (r = 0.122, r2 = 0.015, n = 94, P = 0.243). Conclusions We conclude that catestatin is diminished early in the course of development of hypertension, even in the normotensive offspring of patients with the disease. Low catestatin predicts augmented adrenergic pressor responses, suggesting a mechanism whereby diminished catestatin might increase the risk for later development of hypertension.
Transition to smallholder agriculture in Central Asia

The article reviews the development and the present status of smallholder farming in Central Asia’s former Soviet republics -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. One of the striking features of the transition in CIS agriculture in general, and in Central Asia in particular, is the dramatic shift, since 1992, from the predominance of large corporate farms (“agricultural enterprises”) to individual or family agriculture based on a spectrum of small farms (household plots and peasant farms). As of 2017, the individual sector accounts for most of agricultural production and controls a large share of arable land. This is a dramatic change from the pre-1990 period, when agricultural enterprises produced over 70% of GAO and controlled over 90% of arable land. In this article, we assemble evidence that, in our opinion, shows that individualization of agriculture is associated with the post-transition recovery in Central Asia (and in CIS in general) and that small family farms outperform the large enterprises. This clashes with the traditional Soviet philosophy of economies of scale and with the inherited ideology that views small family farms as an undesirable deviation from the capital-intensive, highly mechanized, and commercially oriented mainstream. We discuss the specific policies in the five countries that helped smallholder farms in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan and severely restricted their growth and development in Uzbekistan and especially Turkmenistan.
Leadership Experiences in Undergraduate Nursing Education: A Student Perspective

Registered nursing is a profession which recognizes that all nurses should demonstrate leadership skills within their various roles. Leadership is vital at all levels of health organizations to provide positive outcomes for not only clients, but also to achieve positive results for interdisciplinary teams, and larger societal systems to which health care is intricately connected. Nursing leadership and management are two distinct concepts that are often misunderstood by undergraduate nursing students. The purpose of our paper is to emphasize that leadership in nursing must be fostered beginning at the undergraduate level. In addition to providing leadership education in the clinical realm, it is also important for nursing professors to provide the undergraduate students with learning experiences on this topic outside of their formalized studies, by facilitating their involvement in leadership activities associated with nursing organizations and research.
Overproduction Timing Errors in Expert Dancers

The authors investigated how expert dancers achieve accurate timing under various conditions. They designed the conditions to interfere with the dancers' attention to time and to test the explanation of the interference effect provided in the attentional model of time processing. Participants were 17 expert contemporary dancers who performed a freely chosen duration while walking and executing a bilateral cyclic arm movement over a given distance. The dancers reproduced that duration in different situations of interference. The process yielded temporal overproductions, validating the attentional model and extending its application to expert populations engaged in complex motor situations. The finding that the greatest overproduction occurred in the transfer-with-improvisation condition suggests that improvisation within a time deadline requires specific training.