Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longwave radiative forcing of Saharan dust aerosols estimated from MODIS, MISR, and CERES observations on Terra

Using observations from the Multi‐angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments onboard the Terra satellite; we present a new technique for studying longwave (LW) radiative forcing of dust aerosols over the Saharan desert for cloud‐free conditions. The monthly‐mean LW forcing for September 2000 is 7 Wm−2 and the LW forcing efficiency (LWeff) is 15 Wm−2 per unit aerosol optical depth. Using radiative transfer calculations, we show that simultaneous measurements of the vertical distribution of aerosols, surface temperature and water vapor are critical to the understanding of dust LW aerosol forcing, and must come from other sources. Using well calibrated, spatially and temporally collocated data sets, we have combined the strengths of three sensors from the same satellite to quantify the LW forcing, and show that dust aerosols have a “warming” effect over the Saharan desert that will counteract the shortwave “cooling effect” of other aerosols.
The Velocity Dispersion of MS 1054–03: A Massive Galaxy Cluster at High Redshift

We present results from a dynamical study of the high-redshift, massive, X-ray-luminous galaxy cluster MS 1054-03. We significantly increase the number of confirmed cluster members by adding 20 to an existing set of 12; using the confirmed members, we estimate MS 1054-03's redshift, velocity dispersion, and mass. We find that z = 0.8329 ± 0.0017, σ = 1170 ± 150 km s-1, and the central mass is approximately 1.9 ± 0.5 × 1015 h-1 M☉ (within R = 1 h-1 Mpc; H0 = 100 h km s-1 Mpc-1, q0 = 0.5). MS 1054-03 is one of a handful of high-redshift (z > 0.5) clusters known that also has X-ray and weak-lensing observations; we find our dynamical mass agrees with mass estimates from both studies. The confirmation of MS 1054-03 as a massive cluster at z ~ 0.8 is consistent with an open (ΩM ~ 0.3) or flat, Λ-dominated (ΩM + ΩΛ = 1) universe. In addition, we compare MS 1054-03's velocity dispersion and X-ray temperature to a sample of low- and intermediate-redshift galaxy clusters to test for evolution in the σ-TX relation; we find no evidence for evolution in this relation to z ~ 0.8.
Exercise performance and physiological responses: the potential role of redox imbalance

Increases in oxidative stress or decreases in antioxidant capacity, or redox imbalance, are known to alter physiological function and has been suggested to influence performance. To date, no study has sought to manipulate this balance in the same participants and observe the impact on physiological function and performance. Using a single‐blind, placebo‐controlled, and counterbalanced design, this study examined the effects of increasing free radicals, via hyperoxic exposure (FiO2 = 1.0), and/or increasing antioxidant capacity, through consuming an antioxidant cocktail (AOC; vitamin‐C, vitamin‐E, α‐lipoic acid), on 5‐kilometer (km) cycling time‐trial performance, and the physiological and fatigue responses in healthy college‐aged males. Hyperoxic exposure prior to the 5 km TT had no effect on performance, fatigue, or the physiological responses to exercise. The AOC significantly reduced average power output (222 ± 11 vs. 214 ± 12 W), increased 5 km time (516 ± 17 vs. 533 ± 18 sec), suppressed ventilation (VE; 116 ± 5 vs. 109 ± 13 L/min), despite similar oxygen consumption (VO2; 43.1 ± 0.8 vs. 44.9 ± 0.2 mL/kg per min), decreased VE/VO2 (35.9 ± 2.0 vs. 32.3 ± 1.5 L/min), reduced economy (VO2/W; 0.20 ± 0.01 vs. 0.22 ± 0.01), increased blood lactate (10 ± 0.7 vs. 11 ± 0.7 mmol), and perception of fatigue (RPE; 7.39 ± 0.4 vs. 7.60 ± 0.3) at the end of the TT, as compared to placebo (main effect, placebo vs. AOC, respectively). Our data demonstrate that prior to exercise, ingesting an AOC, but not exposure to hyperoxia, likely disrupts the delicate balance between pro‐ and antioxidant forces, which negatively impacts ventilation, blood lactate, economy, perception of fatigue, and performance (power output and 5 km time) in young healthy males. Thus, caution is warranted in athletes taking excess exogenous antioxidants.
State control design for linear systems with distributed time delays

This paper is concerned with the problem of stabilization for continuous-time systems with distributed time delays. Using an extended form of the Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional the controller design conditions are derived with respect to application of structured matrix variables in linear matrix inequalities. The result giving a sufficient condition for stabilization of the system with distributed time delays is illustrated with a numerical example to note reduced conservatism in the system structure.
Misconceived Causal Explanations for Emergent Processes

Studies exploring how students learn and understand science processes such as diffusion and natural selection typically find that students provide misconceived explanations of how the patterns of such processes arise (such as why giraffes' necks get longer over generations, or how ink dropped into water appears to "flow"). Instead of explaining the patterns of these processes as emerging from the collective interactions of all the agents (e.g., both the water and the ink molecules), students often explain the pattern as being caused by controlling agents with intentional goals, as well as express a variety of many other misconceived notions. In this article, we provide a hypothesis for what constitutes a misconceived explanation; why misconceived explanations are so prevalent, robust, and resistant to instruction; and offer one approach of how they may be overcome. In particular, we hypothesize that students misunderstand many science processes because they rely on a generalized version of narrative schemas and scripts (referred to here as a Direct-causal Schema) to interpret them. For science processes that are sequential and stage-like, such as cycles of moon, circulation of blood, stages of mitosis, and photosynthesis, a Direct-causal Schema is adequate for correct understanding. However, for science processes that are non-sequential (or emergent), such as diffusion, natural selection, osmosis, and heat flow, using a Direct Schema to understand these processes will lead to robust misconceptions. Instead, a different type of general schema may be required to interpret non-sequential processes, which we refer to as an Emergent-causal Schema. We propose that students lack this Emergent Schema and teaching it to them may help them learn and understand emergent kinds of science processes such as diffusion. Our study found that directly teaching students this Emergent Schema led to increased learning of the process of diffusion. This article presents a fine-grained characterization of each type of Schema, our instructional intervention, the successes we have achieved, and the lessons we have learned.
A Legacy of Exclusion: How Felon Disenfranchisement Affects Patterns of Civic Engagement in Ex-Felony Offenders

Laws banning criminal offenders from voting have existed in the United States for more than two centuries. While a legacy of felon exclusion remains in the United States, the proportion of criminal offenders formally excluded from voting has decreased over time. Though many ex-offenders are eligible to vote, voter turnout amongst ex-felony offenders is exceptionally low. Existing scholarship has recognized criminal convictions and subsequent incarceration, as factors that explain the dismal levels of voter turnout demonstrated by ex-criminal offenders. I this dissertation, I alternatively argue that misinformation surrounding offender voting rights, and stigma associated with the convicted felon label negatively influence levels of political involvement amongst former felons. I conclude by arguing in favor of civic reeducation programs that inform ex-offenders of their rights and that may assist them reintegrate back into society. Mixed research methods were used to gather and analyze data in this dissertation. Research methods used include in-depth interviews, quasi-experimental methods, a survey and an experiment. This methodological approach was used to evaluate the extent of misinformation amongst ex-felons regarding their voting rights, and to estimate the causal effect of educating ex-offenders of their voting rights on levels of interest in government and civic engagement. I find that nearly half of eligible to vote, ex-felony offenders wrongly believe that they are disenfranchised. Further, I find that informing ex-felons of their voting rights increases personal knowledge of voting rights, desire to participate in upcoming elections and overall interest in politics and public affairs. This dissertation makes a theoretical contribution to existing literature on the topic of felon disenfranchisement and is essential reading for policy makers, criminal justice professionals and organizations interested in issues related to prisoner reentry.
Friend or Foe? The Current Epidemiologic Evidence on Selenium and Human Cancer Risk

Scientific opinion on the relationship between selenium and the risk of cancer has undergone radical change over the years, with selenium first viewed as a possible carcinogen in the 1940s then as a possible cancer preventive agent in the 1960s–2000s. More recently, randomized controlled trials have found no effect on cancer risk but suggest possible low-dose dermatologic and endocrine toxicity, and animal studies indicate both carcinogenic and cancer-preventive effects. A growing body of evidence from human and laboratory studies indicates dramatically different biological effects of the various inorganic and organic chemical forms of selenium, which may explain apparent inconsistencies across studies. These chemical form-specific effects also have important implications for exposure and health risk assessment. Overall, available epidemiologic evidence suggests no cancer preventive effect of increased selenium intake in healthy individuals and possible increased risk of other diseases and disorders.
A contemporary view of corporate finance theory, empirical evidence and practice

This article uses a survey of Australian corporate treasurers to shed light on the gap between the theory and practice of corporate finance in Australia. Seven areas are examined: capital structure, payout policy, cash holdings, initial public offerings, seasoned equity offering, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. We also exploit the global financial crisis (GFC) to examine the effect of liquidity shocks on a firm’s capital structure choices. We then compare our Australian survey results with results from a comprehensive US survey conducted by Graham and Harvey. Our survey shows that the board of directors plays the most important role in determining capital structure decisions and that corporate treasurers play the most important role in cash holding decisions. This contrasts with the academic literature that has typically focused on the role of chief executive officer (CEO) in both capital structure and cash holding decisions. In addition, our respondents do not view the tax advantage of interest deductibility to be of first order of importance for debt issuance choices, which contrasts with most of the US empirical studies. Finally, we juxtapose the theory–practice perspective, with a review of the most recent 5 years (2011–2015) of corporate finance research published in the leading Asia Pacific Basin finance journals.
Does financial intermediation matter for macroeconomic efficiency ? 7 July 2006

This paper investigates whether financial intermediary development influences macroeconomic technical efficiency on a sample of 47 countries, both developed and developing, over 1980-1995. We do so by applying Battese and Coelli (1995)’s method at the aggregate level. It is found that financial intermediary development, except financial depth, is on average associated with more efficiency. However we find strong evidence that this relationship is conditional on the level of economic development. The lower economic development the weaker is the impact of financial development on efficiency. That impact can even become negative in the poorest countries.
Social capital and health: contextualising health promotion within local community networks

LSE has developed LSE Research Online so that users may access research output of the School. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. Users may download and/or print one copy of any article(s) in LSE Research Online to facilitate their private study or for non-commercial research. You may not engage in further distribution of the material or use it for any profit-making activities or any commercial gain. You may freely distribute the URL (http://eprints.lse.ac.uk) of the LSE Research Online website.
The Valuation Impact of Joint Ventures

ing several hypotheses regarding stockholder wealth effects associated with such combinations. The importance of the joint venture in the international arena with respect to the diversification benefits which accrue to the shareholder is analyzed. Joint ventures are partial business combinations wherein two or more firms form a profit-motivated entity after negotiating the financial and legal terms of the combination. This provides an opportunity to combine resources in optimal proportions rather than in the fixed portfolio positions dictated by a merger or tender offer. The participants are partners rather than an acquirer and a target, and thus the formation of a joint venture does not provide the opportunity for one party to be the aggressor as in whole unit combination. The differing nature of the relationship between the parties and the selective resource combination indicates that the wealth effects of joint ventures may be different from those predicted by whole-unit combination. The following section reviews the evolution of the joint venture form of organization and the related literature. After the development of the hypotheses, the data and methodology are detailed. The empirical results and their interpretation follow and conclusions are drawn in the final section.
Study of Non-Isothermal Crystallization of Polydioxanone and Analysis of Morphological Changes Occurring during Heating and Cooling Processes

Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of polydioxanone (PDO), a polymer with well-established applications as bioabsorbable monofilar suture, was investigated by Avrami, Mo, and isoconversional methodologies. Results showed Avrami exponents appearing in a relatively narrow range (i.e., between 3.76 and 2.77), which suggested a three-dimensional spherulitic growth and instantaneous nucleation at high cooling rates. The nucleation mechanism changed to sporadic at low rates, with both crystallization processes being detected in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) cooling traces. Formation of crystals was hindered as the material crystallized because of a decrease in the motion of molecular chains. Two secondary nucleation constants were derived from calorimetric data by applying the methodology proposed by Vyazovkin and Sbirrazzuoli through the estimation of effective activation energies. In fact, typical non-isothermal crystallization analysis based on the determination of crystal growth by optical microscopy allowed secondary nucleation constants of 3.07 × 105 K2 and 1.42 × 105 K2 to be estimated. Microstructure of sutures was characterized by a stacking of lamellae perpendicularly oriented to the fiber axis and the presence of interlamellar and interfibrillar amorphous regions. The latter became enhanced during heating treatments due to loss of partial chain orientation and decrease of electronic density. Degradation under various pH media revealed different macroscopic morphologies and even a distinct evolution of lamellar microstructure during subsequent heating treatments.
Performer-Level Systems Analysis : How Systemic Are Behavioral Interventions ?

A review of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (1992-2001) was conducted to determine how “systemic” the applied behavioral interventions were. Criteria for the term “systemic” in an organizational behavior context were derived from Rummler and Brache’s (1995) Human Performance System (HPS). Six dependent measures derived from Rummler and Brache’s HPS were used to evaluate the systemic nature of the interventions. The dependent variables were classified into one of three mutually exclusive categories: whether the variable was modified, discussed but not modified, or absent. The classification of variables was used to determine the degree to which an intervention was “systemic. ” Results indicated that considerations of systemic factors were often modified and rarely merely discussed. A majority of the studies examined dealt with 2, 3, or 4 of the 6 systemic variables evaluated. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@ haworthpress.com> Website: <http://www.HaworthPress. com> © 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. ] Joseph R. Sasson and John Austin are affiliated with Western Michigan University. Address correspondence to: John Austin, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 (E-mail: john.austin@wmich.edu). Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, Vol. 22(4) 2002 http://www.haworthpress.com/store/product.asp? sku=J075  2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 10.1300/J075v22n04_03 27
Comparação de carteiras otimizadas segundo o critério média-variância formadas através de estimativas robustas de risco e retorno

This paper investigated the properties of equity portfolios under mean-variance framework and built on statistically robust estimates of risk and return. The motivation for this approach is that financial data contains more outliers and fatter tails than that predicted from a normal distribution. Portfolio stability properties and Sharpe ratio of returns were used to compare different portfolios that came out from the classical (where risk and return were estimated by the maximum likelihood estimator) and robust estimates of risk and return. Robust portfolios are more stable than the classical ones but their Sharpe ratio of returns is no different from their classical counter-part
Time-Dependent or State-Dependent Price Setting? Micro-Evidence from German Metal-Working Industries

Price setting in German metal-working industries is analysed using a monthly panel of individual price data for more than 2,000 plants covering the period from 1980 to 2001. Motivated by several models in the literature, a duration model is estimated. Price changes can be explained by a combination of state-dependence and time-dependence but time-dependence clearly dominates. Time-dependence is strongest if a price increase follows a price increase. This is typically the case during the observed period. A price increase is most likely to follow a price increase after 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, – quarters. This time-dependent effect is so strong and cost and price increases are so weak in the observed period that adjustment occurs before the sticky price sufficiently deviates from the flexible price, as traditional menu cost models assume. State-dependence seems to be most relevant in periods with decreasing demand. Then prices are reduced and the time between two price reductions only rarely exceeds four months.
Learning to Talk/Talking to Learn: Teaching Critical Dialogue.

Critical dialogue skills are a beneficial tool for reflective educational practice. Pre-service teachers can learn to examine underlying biases and assumptions that influence many important aspects of educational practice. Critical dialogue skills are thus of particular importance for work with diverse students and their families. This paper outlines procedures and practices instructors can use to teach critical dialogue skills to preservice teachers. The challenges and pitfalls involved in teaching critical dialogue are discussed. A four-step process, based on the author’s research, is explained in detail. Finally, important recommendations for those interested in teaching critical dialogue are outlined. Additional resources and a group evaluation checklist are included at the end of the document.
TESTING THE HOMOGENEOUS SYNCHROTRON SELF-COMPTON MODEL FOR GAMMA-RAY PRODUCTION IN MRK 421

Based on the detected variability time-scales of X-ray and Te V gamma-ray emission, and the observed multiwavelength photon spectrum, of Mrk 421 we place constraints on the allowed parameter space (magnetic field and Doppler factor of the emission region) for the homogeneous synchrotron self-Compton model. The spectra calculated for the allowed parameters are marginally consistent with the available spectral information above '" 1 Te V reported by the Whipple Observatory in the case of a 1-d flare time-scale. However, for the recently reported very short duration flares varying on a time-scale of 15 min, the calculated spectra are significantly steeper, suggesting that the homogeneous synchrotron self-Compton model has problems in describing the relatively flat observed spectra extending above a few TeV. We determine the maximum ratio of TeV gamma-ray luminosity to X-ray luminosity during flaring that is allowed by the homogeneous synchrotron self-Compton model for the case of no significant photon-photon absorption in the source.
Prevalence and Determinants of Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing among High School Students in Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Use of psychoactive drugs such as khat leaves (Catha edulis) alter moods and emotional state and lead to adverse effects on the health and social life of users. Ethiopia is a major producer and exporter of khat in east Africa and the majority of the khat comes from the eastern part of the country, however, no studies have been conducted to investigate the habit in this area. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and predictors of khat chewing among high school students in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. Methodology The study was conducted among 1,890 secondary school students in Harar town in April 2010. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed to examine the prevalence and predictors of khat chewing. Result The overall prevalence of khat chewing among the sample was 24.2% (95% CI 22.2%–26.2%). About 28.5% of females and 71.5% of males had chewed khat. Older age (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.16–1.49), male gender (OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.50–2.93), Muslim religion (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.17–3.04), having friends who chewed khat (OR 7.93; 95% CI 5.40–11.64), and availability of someone with a similar habit in the family (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.07–2.11) were found to be independent predictors of chewing. Conclusion A significant proportion of students chew khat. The use of khat is significantly associated with age, gender, Muslim religion, peer influence and habit of family and other relatives among students. Measures such as educational campaigns need to be instituted to create awareness among school adolescents and their parents in order to reduce the prevalence of the habit and its adverse social and health consequences.