Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Historical Fire Frequency based Forest Fire Risk Zonation Relating Role of Topographical and Forest Biophysical Factors with Geospatial Technology in Raipur and Chilla Range

www.ssarsc. org Page 1 Abstract—Forest fire can be a real ecological disaster, regardless of whether it is caused by natural forces or human activity. Although it is not possible to control nature, we have possibility to map forest fire risk zones using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS). Anticipation of factors influencing the occurrence of fire and understanding the dynamic behaviour of fire are critical aspects of fire management. A precise evaluation of forest fire problems, its influencing factors and decisions on solution methods can only be satisfactorily made when a fire risk zone map is available. Present study has been taken up to map the forest fire risk zones and to analyze long history of forest fire in relation with the various climatic, environmental, seasonal and anthropogenic factors in Raipur Range of Mussoorie Forest Division located in Uttarakhand, India. Satellite data and GIS has played vital role in identifying and mapping forest fires and in recording the frequency at which different vegetation types/zones are affected. A colour composite image from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) LISS IV (spatial resolution is 5.8m) was used for vegetation mapping. Slope, aspect and elevation along with other information such as roads and settlements were derived from digital elevation model (ASTER DEM), topographic maps and field information. Forest fire risk zones were delineated by assigning subjective weights to the classes of all the layers according to their sensitivity to fire or their fire-inducing capability. Two categories of fire sensitive regions such as most sensitive and sensitive fire intensity zones were identified. Almost 20% of the study area was predicted to be under most sensitive including Ringalgarh and Kund block. Through the study it has been observed that South West aspect having higher altitude ranges from 1500 to 1800m. with 2 0 -4 0 slopes are highly prone to fire if they have medium density forest and dry month of April and May. The evolved GIS-based forest fire risk model of the study area was found to be in strong agreement with actual fire-affected sites. Simultaneously anthropogenic activities were significantly affecting forest fire frequencies in these areas.
Twelve‐month longitudinal parasitological assessment of lymphatic filariasis‐positive individuals: impact of a biannual treatment with ivermectin and albendazole

Mass drug administration (MDA) for the control of lymphatic filariasis (LF), in Ghana, started in the year 2000. While this had great success in many implementation units, there remain areas with persistent transmission, after more than 10 years of treatment. A closer examination of the parasite populations could help understand the reasons for persistent infections and formulate appropriate strategies to control LF in these areas of persistent transmission.
miRNA Enriched in Human Neuroblast Nuclei Bind the MAZ Transcription Factor and Their Precursors Contain the MAZ Consensus Motif

While the cytoplasmic function of microRNA (miRNA) as post-transcriptional regulators of mRNA has been the subject of significant research effort, their activity in the nucleus is less well characterized. Here we use a human neuronal cell model to show that some mature miRNA are preferentially enriched in the nucleus. These molecules were predominantly primate-specific and contained a sequence motif with homology to the consensus MAZ transcription factor binding element. Precursor miRNA containing this motif were shown to have affinity for MAZ protein in nuclear extract. We then used Ago1/2 RIP-Seq to explore nuclear miRNA-associated mRNA targets. Interestingly, the genes for Ago2-associated transcripts were also significantly enriched with MAZ binding sites and neural function, whereas Ago1-transcripts were associated with general metabolic processes and localized with SC35 spliceosomes. These findings suggest the MAZ transcription factor is associated with miRNA in the nucleus and may influence the regulation of neuronal development through Ago2-associated miRNA induced silencing complexes. The MAZ transcription factor may therefore be important for organizing higher order integration of transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes in primate neurons.
Omnidirectional Linearly and Circularly Polarized Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antennas

The rectangular dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) centrally fed by a probe is investigated. Its operating mode is analogous to the TM011 mode of a cylindrical DRA. The DRA radiates like an electric monopole, generating omnidirectional linearly polarized (LP) fields. Based on this LP design, a novel omnidirectional circularly polarized (CP) DRA is studied for the first time. Slots are introduced to the sidewalls of the DRA, exciting a degenerate mode for the generation of CP fields. To demonstrate the idea, an omnidirectional CP DRA was designed for WLAN (2.4-2.48 GHz) applications. The reflection coefficient, axial ratio (AR), radiation pattern, and antenna gain are studied, and reasonable agreement between the measured and simulated results is observed.
Effects of regional climate change on rural fires in Portugal

Wildfires are a major problem in Portugal. Since 1980 an area equivalent to 3/5 of the forested surface has burned. The aim of the study was to assess the potential impact of regional climate change on wildfires in Portugal using an appropriate Burnt Area Model (BAM). Based on multiple regression analysis, the model was able to estimate the decimal logarithm of the monthly burnt areas in July and August using the Daily Severe Rating as a predictor in the pre-fire season (May and June) and the fire season (July and August). The BAM, which was able to explain 63% of the total observed variance from the 1980−2011 period, was then fed with simulated data by a Global Climate Model (GCM) for the present climate and for two 30 yr periods (2051−2080 and 2071−2100) of future IPCC emission scenario B1. Comparison analysis between the logarithm of burnt area in July and August under present and future climate conditions shows an increase in the mean values of 7 and 11% for the first and second 30 yr periods, respectively, and a decrease of 32% in the SD for the first (2051−2080) period but no distinction between the observed and the simulated values for the last (2071−2100) period. Obtained estimates with the developed approach consistently point towards an increasing risk of fire under future climate conditions, and thus an increasing likelihood of much larger burnt areas.
Company Disclosure In Indonesia: Corporate Governance Practice, Ownership Structure, Competition And Total Assets

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the extent of company disclosure in Indonesia is affected by external factors in addition to internal factors. Many previous studies relating to disclosure conducted in Indonesia only focused on the internal factors, e.g. corporate governance, ownership structure (blockholder) and total assets. Further, I address the possibility of non- linear relationship between ownership structure on company disclosure and also the impact of competition as an external factor to company disclosure level. This study employs Botosan Index and Herfindahl Index (HI) as a proxy for company disclosure and competition. The result shows that corporate governance practice, competition, and size have a positive influence on company disclosure leves. When blockholder ownership is divided into three groups: low ownership (less than or equal 20%), medium ownership (between 20.1% and 50%, and high ownership (greater than 50%), I find that companies with medium blockholder ownership have a lower disclosure level than low ownership, while companies with high ownership have a higher disclosure level. Therefore, the existence of blockholder ownership ranging between 20.1% until 50% tends to yield the alignment effect whereas blockholder ownership greater than 50% tends to yield the entrenchment effect. Finally, the result also shows that leverage does not significantly impact on company disclosure.Keywords: Corporate Governance, Competition, Company Disclosure, Ownership structure
MICROFINANCE INTERVENTION AND ENTERPRISES GROWTH: AN APPLICATION OF STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING (INTERACTIVE PAPER)

The purpose of this paper was to assess the impact of microfinance services on growth of micro and small enterprises structural equation modelling (SEM) in Tanzania. Specifically, sales revenue, assets levels and number of employees were used as indicators of MSEs growth. On the other hand loan received, loan invested, interest rate and repayment time were used as indicators of microfinance services. Through the use of SEM, the findings revealed that while the loan amount (i.e. amount received and amount invested affected growth positively, loan conditions (interest rate and repayment time) affect growth negatively. It is thus recommended that microfinance institutions (MFIs) should find proper conditions that will not hinder the growth of enterprises owned by their clients.
www.econstor.eu Decentralization, Vertical Fiscal Imbalance, and Political Selection

In a career-concern model of politics with endogenous candidacy and different types of politicians, following a decentralization reform, politicians with different skills are elected in municipalities characterized by different levels of autonomous resources. As an effect, consumer welfare increases only, or mainly, in richer municipalities. We test these predictions by exploiting the differentiated reduction in Vertical Fiscal Imbalance in Italian municipalities, due to the strong difference in the tax base, following the decentralization reforms of the ’90s. Results strongly support our predictions and are robust to several alternative stories. JEL-Code: D720, D780.
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FOR KAHNEMAN ' S SYSTEM 1 AND SYSTEM 2 THINKING IN DESIGN

This paper analyses design protocols of professional engineers and engineering students using the FBS schema, testing two hypotheses related to the use of system 1 and system 2 thinking. Cognitive psychologists often characterise human thinking as comprising two modes: one that is fast and intuitive, and one that is slow and tedious. Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, refers to these modes as "system 1" and "system 2" thinking, respectively. Its relevance for design thinking has already been shown conceptually; yet, there has not been any empirical validation for this claim. This paper provides empirical support for the existence of system 1 design thinking and system 2 design thinking.
The relationship between entrepreneurial activity, the business cycle and economic openness

We investigate the interplay between entrepreneurial activity, the business cycle and unemployment in relation to the openness of the economy. Also, we explore to what extent the observation frequency (quarterly versus annual data) influences estimation results. Following empirical literature, we estimate a pooled VAR model of the three macro-economic variables. Using both quarterly and annual data for 19 OECD countries over the period 1998-2007, we find that in the short run (after one quarter), a country’s entrepreneurial activity is stimulated when its business cycle is lagging the world’s business cycle, whereas in the medium run (after one to two years), entrepreneurial activity is stimulated when its business cycle is leading the world’s business cycle. This suggests that a country’s business cycle position relative to the world’s cycle creates different types of entrepreneurial opportunities depending on the time horizon considered. These results apply to relatively open economies only which suggests that economic openness plays a role for entrepreneurial opportunities related to a country’s cyclical performance.
“As if It Were Mine”: Imagery Works by Inducing Psychological Ownership

Imagery appeals are a powerful instrument in a communicator’s toolbox. Imagery allows evaluating an object prior to actual experience and simulating object ownership. This article investigates whether imagery and psychological ownership are systematically interlinked, thus causing objects to become “mine” through imagery. Across 2 studies, featuring 3 objects, 3 different types of advertisements, and based on more than 800 participants, this article supports a conceptual model that suggests that an inherent link between imagery and psychological ownership drives a varied set of consumer responses. Implications for marketers aiming to capitalize on the effects of imagery processing are derived.
Tobacco industry consumer research on socially acceptable cigarettes

Objective: To describe tobacco industry consumer research to inform the development of more “socially acceptable” cigarette products since the 1970s. Methods: Analysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents. Results: 28 projects to develop more socially acceptable cigarettes were identified from Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, British American Tobacco, and Lorillard tobacco companies. Consumer research and concept testing consistently demonstrated that many smokers feel strong social pressure not to smoke, and this pressure increased with exposure to smoking restrictions. Tobacco companies attempted to develop more socially acceptable cigarettes with less visible sidestream smoke or less odour. When presented in theory, these product concepts were very attractive to important segments of the smoking population. However, almost every product developed was unacceptable in actual product tests or test markets. Smokers reported the complete elimination of secondhand smoke was necessary to satisfy non-smokers. Smokers have also been generally unwilling to sacrifice their own smoking satisfaction for the benefit of others. Many smokers prefer smoke-free environments to cigarettes that produce less secondhand smoke. Conclusions: Concerns about secondhand smoke and clean indoor air policies have a powerful effect on the social acceptability of smoking. Historically, the tobacco industry has been unable to counter these effects by developing more socially acceptable cigarettes. These data suggest that educating smokers about the health dangers of secondhand smoke and promoting clean indoor air policies has been difficult for the tobacco industry to counter with new products, and that every effort should be made to pursue these strategies.
Comparative in vivo study of six hydroxyapatite‐based bone graft substitutes

Improvement of synthetic bone graft substitutes as suitable alternatives to a patient's own bone graft remains a challenge in biomaterials research. Our goal was to answer the question of whether improved osteoinductivity of a material would also translate to better bone‐healing orthotopically. Three porous biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics (BCPA, BCPB, and BCPC), consisting of hydroxyapatite and β‐tricalcium phosphate, a porous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic reinforced with a bioresorbable polylactic acid to improve its mechanical properties (BCPC+), a pure hydroxyapatite ceramic (HA), and a carbonated apatite ceramic (CA) were implanted intramuscularly and orthotopically by using a transverse process model in 11 goats for 12 weeks. BCPA and BCPB had similar chemical composition but differed in their microstructure. BCPB was not osteoinductive at all, but BCPA induced ectopic bone formation in 9 of 11 animals. Orthotopically, BCPA performed better than BCPB in both the amount and rate of bone formation. BCPC, similar to BCPA structurally and physicochemically, showed comparable results ectopically and orthotopically. Addition of resorbable polymer to BCPC made the material less osteoinductive (4 of 11 animals) and delayed bone formation orthotopically. Neither HA nor CA were osteoinductive, and their orthotopic performance was inferior to the osteoinductive ceramics. The results of the present study showed that material‐derived osteoinduction significantly enhanced bone healing orthotopically, and that this material property appeared more sensitive for predicting orthotopic performance than physicochemical and structural characteristics. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:1363–1370, 2008
A Comparison Between Habitual Pitch and Optimum Pitch in Preschool-Aged Children

The purpose of this study is to determine if the habitual pitch (HP) produced by normally developing preschool-aged children was different across structured speech tasks and free play and to determine if the HP across the same tasks differed from optimum pitch (OP) produced by these children. HP measurements were performed on ten normally developing preschool-aged children (2.6 to 6 years), without a history of speech, language, or hearing impairments, during both structured speech tasks and free play. In addition, pitch glide tasks were used to determine each participant’s modal F0 range from which OP was derived using a modified 25% Method recommended by Britto & Doyle (1990). The main finding of this study was a significant difference in HP during free play and OP for preschool-aged children. No other comparisons were found to be significantly different; although a considerable difference was noted between HP in conversation/story retell tasks and free play. Findings suggest that vocal usage of preschool-aged children during free play may be inefficient and putting these children at risk to develop voice disorders. Furthermore, findings recommend that acoustic data for the evaluation of young children’s voices should be collected from both structured speech tasks and free play. Collecting HP and OP data on preschool-aged children evaluated for voice disorders will enable Speech-Language Pathologists to better understand how they are using their voices. If treatment is warranted for the targeted voice disorders, education of self-awareness and self-monitoring of vocal usage can be provided to the particular group of children, as well as their families and care givers. Author name: Katie Micco
Modelling Trade, Investment, Growth and Liberalisation: Case Study of Pakistan

This study develops an econometric model to examine the impact of tariffs liberalisation on industrial productivity and economic growth in Pakistan. The model is estimated using annual data over the period 1972–2011. To measure trade reform policy, an index for trade liberalisation is constructed. We apply channel analysis to quantify the direct and indirect impacts of trade liberalisation on the industrial productivity in Pakistan. Our result suggests that trade liberalisation promotes industrial productivity through its favourable effects on private industrial investment, manufactured exports and capital goods imports. The direct contribution of trade liberalisation to industrial productivity is 30.49 percent, while the indirect contributions of trade liberalisation through its impacts on private industrial investment, manufactured exports and capital goods imports are 31.71 percent, 18.9 percent and 18.9 percent respectively. In overall term, the impact of liberalisation on industrial productivity is 0.164 percent which implies that an increase in trade liberalisation increases industrial productivity by 0.164 percent. The impact of trade liberalisation on manufactured exports and capital goods imports is 0.18 and 0.17 percent respectively, which implies that technological capability of exports and imports occupies 17-18 percent of the overall channels impact on industrial productivity.
Observed and Normative Discount Functions in Addiction and other Diseases

The aim of this paper is to find a suitable discount function able to describe the progression of a certain addiction or disease under treatment as a discounting process. In effect, a certain indicator related to a disease decays over time in a manner which is mathematically similar to the way in which discounting has been modeled. We analyze the discount functions observed in experiments which study addictive and other problematic behaviors as well as some alternative hyperbola-like discount functions in order to fit the patience exhibited by the subject after receiving the treatment. Additionally, it has been experimentally found that people with addiction display high rates of discount (impatience) and preference reversals (dynamic inconsistency). This excessive discounting must be correctly modeled by a suitable discount function, otherwise, it can become a trans-disease process underlying addiction and other disorders. The (generalized) exponentiated hyperbolic discount function is proposed to describe the progression of a disease with respect to the treatment, since it maintains the property of inconsistency by exhibiting a decreasing discount rate after an initial period in which the opposite occurs.
Establishment of Gene Copy Number-Specific Normal Ranges for Serum C 4 and its Utility for Interpretation of Patients with Chronically Low Serum C 4

Audrey A. Margery-Muir, John D. Wetherall, Alison S. L. Castley, Meilyn Hew 2, , Rebecca S Whidborne, Dominic F.J. Mallon, Patricia Martinez, Campbell S. Witt Audrey A. Margery-Muir BSc(Hons), John D. Wetherall PhD, Curtin University School of Biomedical Sciences, Bentley Campus, Perth, Western Australia. Alison S. L. Castley BSc; Meilyn Hew MBBS FRACP FRCPA; Rebecca S Whidborne BSc; Dominic F.J. Mallon MBBS; Patricia Martinez MBBS FRACP FRCPA PhD; Campbell S. Witt PhD, PathWest, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA 6000. Meilyn Hew MBBS FRACP FRCPA, University Department of Medicine and Dentistry Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle WA 6160. Campbell S. Witt PhD, School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009. Address correspondence to Campbell S. Witt PhD, Clinical Immunology, 197 Wellington St, Perth, Western Australia 6000. E-mail: Campbell.Witt@health.wa. gov.au.
Does Mandatory IFRS Adoption Level the Informational Playing Field Between Foreign and Domestic Analysts

We examine whether the European-wide mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) improves the forecast accuracy for foreign analysts relative to domestic analysts. First, we find that, on average, foreign analysts experience an improvement in forecast accuracy relative to domestic analysts, consistent with mandatory IFRS adoption reducing domestic analysts’ information advantage over foreign analysts. Second, we find that only those foreign analysts familiar with IFRS experience an improvement in forecast accuracy relative to domestic analysts; we find no such evidence for foreign analysts unfamiliar with IFRS. Third, the improvement in forecast accuracy relative to domestic analysts for those foreign analysts familiar with IFRS is concentrated among the set of firms that likely experience the most pronounced increase in disclosures under IFRS; that is, firms domiciled in countries with both strong enforcement regimes and domestic accounting standards that differ significantly from IFRS. Our results highlight that both familiarity with IFRS and the quality of countries’ enforcement environments play important roles in determining the extent to which mandatory IFRS adoption levels the informational playing field between foreign and domestic analysts.