Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Farming and food systems potentials

Key messages For policy purposes, Africa’s 15 farming systems can be grouped into high, medium and low food security potential, representing 61, 29 and 10 per cent of Africa’s agricultural population respectively. A range of cross-cutting issues and linkages are common across farming systems, although strategic interventions must be tailored to each farming system’s context or to enhanced linkages between farming systems with benefits to market access, labour and livestock mobility, biosecurity and water conservation. Yield gaps vary according to farming systems. However, most crops and livestock currently have productivities around one-quarter or less of their potential. It is feasible to reduce these huge yield gaps and thereby improve food security in all farming systems. Intensification, diversification, increased farm size, increased off-farm income and exit from agriculture are strategies, taken singly or in combination, that households in different farming systems can implement for improvements in their livelihoods and food and nutrition security. Strategic interventions should consider the relative importance of these household strategies in different farming systems and the flow on effects. Extremely poor farmers (half of Africa’s agricultural population) who live in farming systems with low food security potential, give their highest priority to increasing their off-farm income and to exiting from agriculture. Those in high-potential systems favour farm intensification and diversification strategies. Better-off households in all farming systems assign a high priority to farm intensification and diversification.
Ventilation of patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome: Has new evidence changed clinical practice?*

Objectives:A recent randomized trial of mechanical ventilation in acute lung injury (ALI)/adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) demonstrated a 22% relative reduction in mortality rate using 6 mL/kg predicted body weight tidal volume vs. 12 mL/kg predicted body weight tidal volume. We determined whether publication of these findings changed clinical practice. Design:Retrospective cohort, 12 months before (Pre) and 12 months after publication (Post) of a randomized trial supporting the use of a 6 mL/kg predicted body weight tidal volume strategy. Setting:Three tertiary care hospitals in northern New England. Patients:From a sample of 943 patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation between 1998 and 1999 (Pre) and between 2000 and 2001 (Post), 300 patients meeting the American-European Consensus Conference definition of ALI or ARDS were selected for analysis. Interventions:The tidal volume, tidal volume/kg predicted body weight, and proportion receiving tidal volume/kg ≥6 mL/kg and ≤12 mL/kg predicted body weight were recorded at noon the first day after the diagnosis of ALI or ARDS was established. Measurements and Main Results:Pre and Post mean tidal volume (± sd) size and tidal volume size/kg predicted body weight were 759 ± 158 mL (median 750 mL) vs. 639 ± 138 mL (median 600 mL, p < .001) and 12.3 ± 2.7 mL/kg (median 11.7 mL/kg) vs. 10.6 ± 2.4 mL/kg (median 10.7 mL/kg, p < .001) respectively. Pre and Post plateau pressures and peak airway pressures were similar. Conclusion:Publication of a trial demonstrating large mortality reductions using small tidal volume was associated with significant reductions in tidal volume delivered to patients with ALI/ARDS. However, wide variation in practice persists, and the proportion of patients receiving tidal volumes within recommended limits (≤8 mL/kg) remains modest.
NEW BUSINESS MODEL IN THE GROWING E-SPORTS INDUSTRY

E-sports - competition based playing of video games is becoming a growing industry and an increasingly frequent subject of various international research. The purpose of this analysis is to design a new, innovative business model in the e-sports industry, which it will be possible to apply in the form of a significant business opportunity. The main goals of this paper include determining the key components of the success of e-sports in the growing video game industry and presenting some innovative ways of using them in the form of new business opportunities. By observing the concept of e-sports through several components, it is possible to analyze their profitability and the possibility of profiting primarily from the entrepreneurship perspective. Furthermore, the paper determines the segmentation of the e-sports target market and compares it to the traditional sports markets, since these two concepts, according to various authors, should be viewed separately.
Reliability and Price Risk Assessment of a Restructured Power System With Hybrid Market Structure

Summary form only given. In a restructured power system with hybrid market structure, generation companies and customers trade electricity and reserve either through a centralized power pool or by bilateral contracts based on their price and reliability offers and requirements. This results in difficulty in price and reliability management of such power systems. This paper presents techniques to evaluate both reliabilities and prices for the pool and bilateral customers in a hybrid power market. In these techniques, reliability and price models for the power pool and bilateral suppliers have been developed using reliability network equivalents to easily include various agreements among market participants. Customer responses to prices are modeled using customer damage functions. The reliability and price problems with and without considering agreements are formulated using improved optimal power flow techniques based on these models. The correlation between reliabilities and prices has been considered in the techniques. The modified IEEE Reliability Test System has been analyzed to illustrate the proposed techniques.
Impairment of apoptotic cell engulfment by pyocyanin, a toxic metabolite of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

RATIONALE Cystic fibrosis lung disease is characterized by accumulation of apoptotic neutrophils, indicating impaired clearance of dying cells. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the principal microbial pathogen in cystic fibrosis, manipulates apoptosis induction via production of toxic metabolites. Whether these metabolites, particularly pyocyanin, can also modulate apoptotic cell engulfment is unknown. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of pyocyanin on apoptotic cell engulfment by macrophages in vitro and in vivo and to investigate potential mechanisms of the observed effects. METHODS Human monocyte-derived macrophages were treated with pyocyanin before challenge with apoptotic neutrophils, apoptotic Jurkat cells, or latex beads, and phagocytosis was assessed by light microscopy and flow cytometry. Effects of pyocyanin production on apoptotic cell clearance in vivo were assessed in a murine model, comparing infection by wild-type or pyocyanin-deficient P. aeruginosa. Oxidant production was investigated using fluorescent probes and pharmacologic inhibition and Rho GTPase signaling by immunoblotting and inhibitor studies. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Pyocyanin treatment impaired macrophage engulfment of apoptotic cells in vitro, without inducing significant macrophage apoptosis, whereas latex bead uptake was preserved. Macrophage ingestion of apoptotic cells was reduced and late apoptotic/necrotic cells were increased in mice infected with pyocyanin-producing P. aeruginosa compared with the pyocyanin-deficient strain. Inhibition of apoptotic cell uptake involved intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and effects on Rho GTPase signaling. Antioxidants or blockade of Rho signaling substantially restored apoptotic cell engulfment. CONCLUSIONS These studies demonstrate that P. aeruginosa can manipulate the inflammatory microenvironment through inhibition of apoptotic cell engulfment, and suggest potential strategies to limit pulmonary inflammation in cystic fibrosis.
The Neuroprotective Effect of Xenon Administration during Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice

Background Xenon has been shown to be neuroprotective in several models of in vitro and in vivo neuronal injury. However, its putative neuroprotective properties have not been evaluated in focal cerebral ischemia. The purpose of this study was to determine if xenon offers neuroprotection in a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Methods C57BL/6 mice underwent 60 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The animals (n = 21 per group) were randomized to receive either 70% xenon + 30% O2, 70% N2O + 30% O2, or 35% xenon + 35% N2O + 30% O2. After 24 h, functional neurologic outcome (on three independent scales: four-point, general, and focal deficit scales) and cerebral infarct size were evaluated. Results The 70% xenon + 30% O2 group showed improved functional outcome (median [interquartile range], four-point scale: 2 [2], 70% xenon + 30% O2versus 3 [2], 70% N2O + 30% O2, P = 0.0061; general deficit scale: 9 [6], 70% xenon + 30% O2versus 10 [4], 70% N2O + 30% O2, P = 0.0346). Total cerebral infarct volumes were reduced in the 70% xenon + 30% O2 group compared with the 70% N2O + 30% O2 group (45 ± 17 mm3versus 59 ± 11 mm3, respectively; P = 0.0009). Conclusions In this model of transient focal cerebral ischemia, xenon administration improved both functional and histologic outcome.
Cued task‐specific training is better than exercise in improving sit‐to‐stand in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled trial

We examined whether 4 weeks of audio‐visual (AV) cued task‐specific training could enhance sit‐to‐stand (STS) and whether the treatment effects could outlast the treatment period by 2 weeks. Fifty‐two subjects with PD completed the study. They were randomly allocated to receive 4 weeks of AV cued task‐specific training, conventional exercise (Ex), or no treatment (control). Each subject was assessed before, at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks after treatment ended. After 2 weeks of training, the AV group significantly increased the peak horizontal velocity (by 13%, P<0.01) when compared with the Ex group. After 4 weeks of training, AV group increased both peak horizontal and vertical velocities, respectively by 18% and 51%, and reduced the time taken to complete STS by 25%. These improvements were greater than those of the Ex group, who showed 8% (nonsignificant between‐group) and 20% (P<0.05 between‐group) increases respectively for peak horizontal and vertical velocities, and 10% decrease in movement time (P<0.05). Worth‐noting is the improvements in AV group could be carried over to 2 weeks after treatment ended. These findings provided concrete evidence for the use of AV cued task‐specific training to reeducate STS in patients with PD. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society
Tourism Destination in Remote Area : Problems and Challenges of Tourism Development in North Halmahera as Remote and Border Areas of Indonesia-Philippines

This paper will describe the problems and challenges in North Halmahera tourism development and describe the coordination, resources, disposition of executor and bureaucratic system in the process of tourism policy implementation by local government. This research used a qualitative method and case study approach. The method used in this research is qualitative with case study approach. This research conducted in Kakara Island, Tagalaya Island, Bobale Island, Kumo Island, Luari Beach, Paca Lake, Duma Lake, and Mamuya Hot Spring as the priority in North Halmahera Tourism Development Program by local government. The results of the evaluation indicate that the bureaucratic system, resources (human resources and sources of funding), the disposition of the commissioning and coordination was instrumental in the process of implementation of the policy on tourism. The implications of the implementation of tourism policy hampered are the lack of participation of the community and damage to facilities and access for tourism which threaten the sustainability of tourism. Thus, it can be noted that the challenges in the development of the leading tourist attraction in North Halmahera Regency are an effort to increase community participation through partnerships to achieve sustainable tourism. Keywords : Bureaucracy System, Coordination, Disposition, Resources, Tourism Policy
REM Sleep Predicts Subsequent Food Intake 1

REM sleep time in a 12 hr period was found to predict accurately food intake in the subsequent 12 hr period in undisturbed cats fed ad lib. In all but one of the cats, the correlation between REM sleep and subsequent food intake was negative. REM sleep was a better predictor of food intake than either waking, slow wave sleep or previous food intake. Cats were then fed only during the 12 hr day period. It was found that REM sleep at night, during which no food was available, no longer predicted food intake. SEVERAL studies have suggested that there is a relationship between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and the regulation of motivated behavior. REM sleep deprivation in the cat facilitates subsequent aggressive and sexual behavior and increases food consumption [ response rates and lowers thresholds for rewarding brain in
Combined coding and adaptive thresholding algorithms for ECG compression

This paper proposes a new wavelet-based ECG compression technique. An adaptive thresholding, based on the required signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and the concept of energy packing efficiency, is used to classify the wavelet coefficients into significant and insignificant ones. Both coefficients are encoded using an efficient coding algorithm. The proposed technique is tested using several records taken from the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. The results show that high compression ratios with SNR's better than 18dB can be achieved.
Importance of Community Influence and Meter Message on Brand Value Co-creation: a Study In Social Commerce Research - in - Progress

Social commerce which emphasizes the importance of customer social networks has attracted increasing research attention. However, most previous studies in this area have focused on purchase decisions, and neglected that other customer behaviors can also benefit firms such as brand value co-creation. Despite that the marketing literature has recognized the important role of customers in brand value co-creation, little research has investigated what factors can contribute to customers’ brand value co-creation in social commerce. As social commerce facilitates the social interactions among customers and between customers and marketers, this research tries to explore customers’ brand value co-creation in social commerce from two dimensions: other customers and the marketer. It extends our understanding on social commerce by showing how community influences and marketers’ message framing can impact customers’ intention to co-create brand value in social commerce.
Controlo de tráfego em redes ATM: da qualidade de serviço à qualidade global

Resumo: Adopcao de uma rede universal de comunicacao, utilizando o Modo de Transferencia Assincrono (ATM, Asynchronous Transfer Mode), onde a capacidade de transmissao, o tipo de trafego e a qualidade de servico sao negociados no estabelecimento ou durante a fase activa das conexoes, permite a utilizacao de funcoes de qualidade global, onde os objectivos de controlo e os requisitos da qualidade de servico, sao quantificados e usados nas accoes de controlo de trafego e de gestao de recursos. Nesta perspectiva, analisa-se o conceito de qualidade nos diversos componentes dos sistemas de comunicacao, discute-se a quantificacao das variaveis de qualidade de servico e apresentam-se mecanismos de controlo de trafego e de administracao de redes de comunicacao. Mostra-se, igualmente, como uma funcao de parâmetros de qualidade pode ser utilizada no controlo de admissao de conexoes ATM e no encaminhamento de chamadas.
No Noise Is Good Noise: Noise Matching, Noise Canceling, and Maybe a Bit of Both for Wide-Band LNAs

Researchers have described the concept of noise matching since at least the 1950s, with studies demonstrating the interrelationships among the noise factor of a low-noise amplifier (LNA), the LNA's noise parameters, and the signal-source impedance Zs. Noise matching is accomplished when an LNA is driven by a signal source, the impedance (or admittance) of which is designed-perhaps using a matching network-to equal the LNA's optimum signal-source impedance for minimum noise, or Zopt. The complex Zopt = Gopt + jXopt represents two of the four noise parameters that completely characterize the noise behavior of a linear two-port device, such as an LNA. The other two noise parameters are the minimum noise factor, Fmin , and the Lange invariant N, which is, arguably, a more fundamental parameter than the often-used equivalent noise resistance, Rn.
3D rectangular waveguide integrated in embedded Wafer Level Ball Grid Array (eWLB) package

In this paper, we present for the first time the realization of a 3D rectangular waveguide in the fan-out area of an embedded Wafer Level Ball Grid Array (eWLB) Package using laminate inserts. To obtain the waveguide side walls in eWLB, a RF laminate with micro-vias is inserted in the fan-out area. The classical redistribution layer (RDL) on the one surface and an additional back side metallization on the other surface of the package are used to realize the top and bottom walls of the waveguide. Furthermore, we focus on a single-ended coplanar waveguide (CPW) to rectangular waveguide transition. We investigate and compare two concepts for the transformation of the transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode of a CPW to the transverse electric (TE) mode of a rectangular waveguide. The first concept is using a via in the waveguide structure to excite the waveguide TE mode. The second concept is a planar realization using a modified shape of the RDL to realize the mode transformation. We show by the means of measurements the characteristics of each version. We show that the mode change is done with almost no additional losses to those related to physical length of the transmission line. Furthermore we present several on-wafer measurements which agree very well with the RF behavior predicted by the simulations. This 3D waveguide integration in eWLB enables the realization of many new RF features in chip embedding technologies in the future.
Growth fraction in non-small cell lung cancer estimated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen and comparison with Ki-67 labeling and DNA flow cytometry data.

Results generated by the immunohistochemical staining with PC10, a new monoclonal antibody recognizing PCNA (a nuclear protein associated with cell proliferation) in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue were compared with those of Ki-67 labeling and DNA flow cytometry in 47 consecutive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PCNA reactivity was observed in all samples and confined to the nuclei of cancer cells. Its frequency ranged from 0 to 80% (37.7 +/- 23.6) and larger sized, early-staged and DNA aneuploid tumors expressed a significant higher number of PCNA-reactive cells. The PCNA and Ki-67 labeling rates were closely correlated (r = 0.383, P = 0.009). By flow cytometry, we observed a good correlation among PCNA labeling and S-phase fraction (r = 0.422, P = .0093) and G1 phase (r = 0.303, P = .051) of the cell cycle. Results indicate that PCNA labeling with PC10 is a simple method for assessing the proliferative activity in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of NSCLC and correlates well with Ki-67 labeling and S-phase fraction of the cell cycle.
Optic disc size in a population based study in northern China: the Beijing Eye Study

Aim: To determine the optic disc size in the adult Chinese population in an urban and a rural region of Beijing. Methods: The population based, cross sectional cohort study included 4439 subjects out of 5324 subjects invited to participate (response rate 83.4%). It was divided into a rural part (1973 (44.4%) subjects) and an urban part (2466 (55.6%) subjects). Mean age was 56.2 (SD 10.6) years (range 40–101 years). Colour optic disc photographs were morphometrically examined. Main outcome measure was optic disc area. Results: Optic disc photographs were available for 4027 (90.7%) subjects. Mean optic disc area measured 2.65 (0.57) mm2 (range 1.03 mm2–7.75 mm2). Optic disc area was significantly (p<0.001) correlated with myopic refractive error, with a steep decrease in optic disc area from high myopia to the mid-range of refractive error, a slightly horizontal course in the refractive error range between −8 dioptres and +4 dioptres, and a further decrease in optic disc area towards higher hyperopia. Optic disc area was not related to age (p = 0.14) or sex (p = 0.93) (optic disc area, males: 2.65 (0.56) mm2 versus females: 2.65 (0.57) mm2). “Microdiscs” may be defined as smaller than 1.51 mm2, and “macrodiscs” as larger than 3.79 mm2. Conclusions: Compared with data of preceding studies, mean optic disc size is larger in Chinese people than in white people. In Chinese people highly hyperopic eyes have significantly smaller optic discs, and highly myopic eyes have significantly larger optic discs than emmetropic eyes.
The motives for accepting or rejecting waste infrastructure facilities. Shifting the focus from the planners' perspective to fairness and community commitment

In environmental planning, decision making on land use for infrastructure increasingly causes conflicts, particularly with regard to contested waste facilities. Risk management and perceptions have become crucial. Empirical investigations of these conflicts brought clear advancement in the fields of environmental psychology, geography and risk research. However, in planning and policy design the dominant one-dimensional approach among planners remains, and the approach to address resistance to facility siting is not firmly founded in empirical evidence. Instead, it uses simplified assumptions about the motives of opponents, seeing residents as merely protecting their ‘turf’ and exclusively focusing on their own ‘backyard’. This paper presents the findings of an empirical study on risk perceptions, based on a large-scale survey in six decision-making processes for different types of waste facilities. A scale is developed to measure the planners' perspective of the motives for opposition. The analysis shows that the crucial factors in perceived risk perceptions are not personality traits (e.g. selfishness, economic rationality) but perceived environmental injustice, fairness of the process, and personal commitment to others. Continual thinking in terms of ‘backyard’ motives disregards the socially motivated norms for equity, fairness, and commitment to others and may easily undermine co-operative behaviour.