Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing inter- and intra-specific variation in trunk carbon concentration for 32 neotropical tree species

Trunk carbon (C) concentrations were assessed for 32 species of tropical trees to understand sources of vari - ation. The main effect of species accounted for 38% of the total variance in C concentration (p < 0.0001). Tectona grandis demonstrated the greatest C concentration (49.4%), while Ormosia macrocalyx displayed the lowest C concen- tration (44.4%). We also observed significant differences among the sampling sites (F =2 .2,p < 0.02). For three of the species sampled in both plantations and natural forests, the natural forest individuals had significantly higher C concen - trations (Dipteryx panamensis: F = 6.10, p = 0.06; Hura crepitans: F = 5.53, p = 0.06; and Miconia argentea: F = 8.92, p = 0.02). C concentration was highly correlated with wood specific gravity (r 2 = 0.86). A canonical correspon- dence analysis was performed to identify the environmental and (or) growth factors explaining variation in trunk C concentration. The two factors with the highest loading values on the first canonical axis are site and diameter at breast height (DBH), while DBH and density load on axis 2. The biplot shows that species respond differently to environmen- tal factors. Our results suggest that a better consideration of interspecific variation in C concentration could reduce the error associated with estimates of C sequestration by up to 10%.
Stoichiometry of the iron oxidation reaction in silicate melts

Experiments have been performed that calibrate the stoichiometry and thermodynamics of the iron oxidation reaction in natural silicate melts. A series of experiments was carried out on six melt compositions covering a far larger range of oxygen fugacities than had been examined previously. Oxygen fugacities between air and 5.2 log,o units below those defined by the nickel-nickel oxide assemblage were investigated at 1360 "C and 1460 "C. Results of these experiments confirm that ln(X.ro,/Xo"o) is a linear function of ln/o, over this entire range, and that this linear behavior is independent of composition over the range considered. These results are inconsistent with an ideal mixing between FeO and FerO. components. They are, however, entirely consistent with ideal mixing between FeO and FeO,464r0003 (FeO.6FerOr) components. A second series of experiments was performed on a single mid-ocean ridge basalt composition (JDFD2) in order to better constrain the temperature dependence of the iron oxidation reaction in this simplified two-component subsystem. This series was carried out at temperatures between 1299 "C and 1636 'C in air, COr, and 0.2 log,o units below the fayalite-magnetite-quartz buffer assemblage. Results of both series of experiments were combined with the Sack et al. (1980) and Kilinc et al. (1983) databases to estimate thermodynamic parameters for the iron oxidatron reaction expressed in terms of FeO and FeO,464 components. These coefficients offer the most precise method available for estimation of iron oxidation state in natural silicate melts as a function of ln /o, temperature, and composition. Our results support the conclusion (Christie et at., 1986) that mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs) equilibrate as much as 3 log,o units below that defined by the nickel-nickel oxide assemblage.
STUDYING EFFECT OF SITE QUALITY ON ONLINE REPURCHASE INTENTION THROUGH SATISFACTION, TRUST AND COMMITMENT OF CUSTOMER

In the current era, such changes have occurred in the service sector which it has never experienced throughout its history. These changes have impact either on industry structure or competition nature. So, this study aims to Study effect of site quality on online repurchase intention through satisfaction, trust and commitment of customer. This research is survey research, in terms of methodology, it is casual and in terms of purpose, it is applied research. Statistical population in this study includes students of Arak Azad University who have online shopping record. 279 samples were chosen using convenience sapling method. To collect data, questionnaire has been employed. Data analysis has been done exploiting structural equations method and LISREL software and results obtained from structural equations showed that site quality has had a positive impact on satisfaction, trust and commitment of customer. Also, results showed that variables of satisfaction, trust and commitment of customer have a positive impact on customers‟ online repurchase intention. Customers‟ trust and satisfaction also have a positive impact on customers‟ commitment. Eventually, it was found that customer satisfaction has a positive impact on customer trust.
Serum and erythrocyte adenosine deaminase activities in patients with Behçet's disease

Objectives Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a non‐specific marker of the activation of the T cell, which has an important role in the etiology of Behçet's disease (BD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the determination of ADA activity as an index of T‐lymphocyte function in BD, which is known to have an T‐cell‐mediated immune response.
Systematic risk behavior of financially distressed firms

The apparent decline in systematic or beta risk with the onset of financial distress is a result that has puzzled a number of researchers. This study validates this result with different data and a new criterion for identifying financial distress. An analytical model presented in this study suggests that the leverage-increasing impact of financial distresson systematic risk may be more than outweighed by possible declines in systematic earnings risk associated with such distress, and it provides empirical evidence that is generally consistent with this proposition. The diminution of systematic risk is unaffected by several variants in beta risk estimation, including the index-weighing scheme and allowance for the turn-of-year effect. While numerically large, the average systematic risk decline is not highly significant in a statistical sense due to considerable variation in the behavior of betas from company to company.
Risk of Periodontal Disease in Patients With Asthma: A Nationwide Population‐Based Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND Studies have reported an association between asthma and oral diseases, including periodontal diseases. The aim of this retrospective study is to investigate risk of periodontal diseases for patients with asthma. METHODS Using the claims data of National Health Insurance of Taiwan and patients without a history of periodontal diseases, 19,206 asthmatic patients, who were newly diagnosed from 2000 through 2010, were identified. For each case, four comparison individuals without history of asthma and periodontal disease were randomly selected from the general population and frequency matched (categorical matched) by sex, age, and year of diagnosis (n = 76,824). Both cohorts were followed to the end of 2011 to monitor occurrence of periodontal diseases. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of periodontal disease were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS Overall incidence of periodontal diseases was 1.18-fold greater in the asthma cohort than in the comparison cohort (P <0.001). Patients with at least three emergency visits annually had an aHR of 55.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 50.6 to 61.7) for periodontal diseases compared with those with a mean of less than one visit. Patients with at least three admissions annually also had a similar aHR (51.8) for periodontal disease. In addition, asthmatic patients on inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy had greater aHRs than non-users (aHR = 1.12; 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.23). CONCLUSIONS In the studied population, asthmatic patients are at an elevated risk of developing periodontal diseases. The risk is much greater for those with emergency medical demands or hospital admissions and those on ICS treatment.
The Effect of Nonprofits' Taxable Activities on the Supply of Private Donations

Prior research indicates that donations respond to price and income effects as well as to alternative sources of nonprofit financing. Using a database of confidential nonprofit tax returns, we examine the effects of nonprofits' taxable activities on the supply of donations. We find that each additional dollar of taxable revenues crowds-out approximately $0.55 of donations to arts, culture, and humanities organizations and human services and public benefit organizations, suggesting that the recent rapid expansion of nonprofits' taxable activities comes at a financial cost. We do not find that donations to educational or medical nonprofits are sensitive to taxable activities.
Duurzame inzetbaarheid en een leven lang leren

The objective of this study is to explore in what way age is related to employability, workability and vitality of workers, and whether these relationships are influenced by the lifelong learning as perceived by workers. We analyze data from a survey among 178 employees from Dutch primary schools. Results reveal that age and employees' employability are positively related, but not age and workability or vitality. Lifelong learning is positively related to all three aspects of sustainable employment: employability, workability, and vitality. Finally, the interaction between age and lifelong learning showed significant effects for employability and workability. This means that older workers keep their employability and work ability, when they are interested in and perceive more possibilities for lifelong learning.
Asset Pricing Tests Using Realized Returns

Results from two-stage (cross-sectional) asset pricing tests vary with first-stage design choices and the test assets employed. First, I argue that time-varying loadings have higher construct validity as explanatory variables for the current expected return in that they do not contain future information and more accurately describe the timevarying risk of the firm. Second, I introduce randomly generated portfolios as test assets which, in sharp contrast to the systematically formed portfolios used in the literature, yield implied factor estimates that are consistent with a reduction in measurement error and robust to the arbitrary level of aggregation. Third, firm-level results on the market factor and HML factor are particularly dependent on the distinction between explaining contemporaneous returns and predicting future returns. This Draft: July 2012
An Author's Guide to Publication Ethics: A Review of Emerging Standards in Biomedical Journals

Universal definitions of ethical issues related to medical publishing have remained somewhat elusive. Training in the art of writing for medical journals is inconsistent and most commonly informal, involving collaborative efforts between mentors and students. This approach inadvertently may perpetuate erroneous assumptions as to what constitutes acceptable behavior. In contrast to instruction on composition, ethical considerations related to the publication of a paper are likely to receive little attention.
Schooled literacies? The use of vernacular literacy practices in Papua New Guinean communities

This paper describes an epistemological journey that explores taken-for-granted assumptions about literacy, empowerment, and the literate/illiterate dichotomy. I draw on Deleuze and Guattari’s (1987) descriptions of knowledge systems as rhizomatic to explore the connections between these assumptions and the implementation of vernacular education in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Specifically, the paper deals with the relationship between literacy and empowerment, the symbiotic attachments of L1 and L2 literacy learning, and the Vgotskyian connections between literacy and sociocultural practices. I draw on my work with primary school teachers in PNG to provide illustrations and examples of the practical implications of the unquestioned acceptance of these assumptions by educational policy makers, academics and literacy researchers.
Method to measure autonomic control of cardiac function using time interval parameters from impedance cardiography

The time difference between the electrocardiogram and impedance cardiogram can be considered as a measure for the time delay between the electrical and mechanical activities of the heart. This time interval, characterized by the pre-ejection period (PEP), is related to the sympathetic autonomous nervous control of cardiac activity. PEP, however, is difficult to measure in practice. Therefore, a novel parameter, the initial systolic time interval (ISTI), is introduced to provide a more practical measure. The use of ISTI instead of PEP was evaluated in three groups: young healthy subjects, patients with Parkinson's disease, and a group of elderly, healthy subjects of comparable age. PEP and ISTI were studied under two conditions: at rest and after an exercise stimulus. Under both conditions, PEP and ISTI behaved largely similarly in the three groups and were significantly correlated. It is concluded that ISTI can be used as a substitute for PEP and, therefore, to evaluate autonomic neuropathy both in clinical and extramural settings. Measurement of ISTI can also be used to non-invasively monitor the electromechanical cardiac time interval, and the associated autonomic activity, under physiological circumstances.
THE STRUCTURE AND STAR FORMATION HISTORY OF EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES IN THE UDF / GRAPES SURVEY

We present a two-pronged approach to the formation of early-type galaxies, using a sample of 18 galaxies at 0.5 < ∼ z < ∼ 1 from the HST/ACS Ultra Deep Field and GRAPES surveys: 1) We combine slitless low resolution spectroscopy from the GRAPES dataset with simple models of galaxy formation to explore their star formation histories. 2) We also perform an analysis of their surface brightness distribution with the unprecedented details provided by the ACS superb angular resolution and photometric depth. Our spectroscopic analysis reveals that their stellar populations are rather homogeneous in age and metallicity and formed at redshifts zF ∼ 2 − 5. Evolving them passively, they become practically undistinguishable from ellipticals at z = 0. Also, their isophotal shapes appear very similar to those observed for nearby ellipticals, in that the percentages of disky and boxy galaxies at z ∼ 1 are close to the values measured at z = 0. Moreover, we find that the isophotal structure of z ∼ 1 early-type galaxies obeys the correlations already observed among nearby ellipticals, i.e. disky ellipticals have generally higher characteristic ellipticities, and boxy ellipticals have larger half-light radii and are brighter in the restframe B band. In this respect then, no significant structural differences are seen for ellipticals between z = 0 and 1. Exception can be possibly made for the a3/a parameter, which is larger at z ∼ 1 than usually measured at z = 0. The a3/a parameter measures the deviations from a pure elliptical isophote which are not symmetric with respect to the galaxy center, as in the case of dust lanes and most notably of clumps. Blue clumps have been detected in nearly 50% of the z ∼ 1 early-type galaxies; their photometry is suggestive of young star clusters or dwarf irregulars if they are assumed to be at the same redshift as their host galaxies. We speculate that these clumps may represent recent accretion episodes, and that they could be a way to produce blue cores if their dynamical time is such for them to rapidly sink to the galaxy center. Subject headings: galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD – galaxies: evolution – galaxies: formation – galaxies: stellar content
A rapid modeling technique for measurable improvements in factory performance

This paper discusses a methodology for quickly investigating problem areas in semiconductor wafer fabrication factories by creating a model for the production area of interest only (as opposed to a model of the complete factory operation). All other factory operations are treated as "black boxes". Specific assumptions are made to capture the effect of re-entrant flow. This approach allows a rapid response to production questions when beginning a new simulation project. The methodology was applied to a cycle-time and capacity analysis of the photolithography operation for Siemens' Dresden wafer fab. The results of this simulation study are presented.
Liver fibrosis in HIV-infected individuals on long-term antiretroviral therapy: associated with immune activation, immunodeficiency and prior use of didanosine

Background:It is unclear whether HIV infection is associated with liver fibrosis in the absence of chronic hepatitis B or C virus (HBV/HCV) coinfection. We compared prevalence of liver fibrosis, noninvasively assessed by the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, between HIV-infected patients and uninfected controls, and explored determinants of a higher FIB-4 score, indicative of more liver fibrosis. Methods:FIB-4 was assessed in HIV-uninfected and HIV-1-infected, predominantly virologically suppressed participants of the AGEhIV Cohort Study without HBV and/or HCV coinfection, and aged at least 45. Using multivariable regression, we investigated associations between FIB-4 and HIV-status, HIV-disease characteristics, antiretroviral drugs and markers of microbial translocation and immune activation. Results:Prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis (FIB-4 ≥ 3.25) was low: 1.4% in HIV-infected and 1.0% in HIV-uninfected participants. After adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, detectable anti-hepatitis B core/anti-HCV antibodies and excessive alcohol intake, HIV remained significantly associated with higher FIB-4 (+4.2%, P = 0.05). Prior exposure to didanosine, longer duration of a CD4+ cell count below 500 cells/&mgr;l and a lower CD4+ cell count at enrollment were each associated with a higher FIB-4. Markers of immune activation (soluble CD163, activated CD8+ T-lymphocytes and regulatory T-lymphocytes) were associated with a higher FIB-4 in HIV-infected but not HIV-uninfected study participants. Conclusion:HIV infection was independently associated with higher FIB-4 scores, indicating more advanced liver fibrosis, though the difference in FIB-4 scores between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected was small. Higher levels of immune activation were associated with liver fibrosis in HIV-infected, even in the absence of HBV or HCV infection, but not in HIV-uninfected individuals.
Etude des déterminants de la divulgation environnementale et sociale des entreprises françaises

L'objectif de notre recherche est double : explorer l'evolution de la qualite et de l'etendue de la divulgation environnementale et sociale des entreprises francaises et developper un modele empirique de determination des facteurs susceptibles d'expliquer les strategies de communication de ce type d'informations. Notre etude est fondee sur la theorie des couts de l'information (l'approche couts et benefices), la theorie de la legitimite ainsi que certains parametres de gouvernance qui relevent du cadre de la theorie de l'agence. Afin de verifier empiriquement la relation entre la divulgation environnementale et sociale et ses determinants, il a ete procede a l'examen des rapports annuels et societaux des societes non financieres du SBF 120 durant trois annees 2001, 2002 et 2003. Nous montrons qu'en depit de la promulgation de l'article 116 de la loi NRE du 15 mai 2001, l'information environnementale diffusee par les entreprises francaises releve d'une strategie volontaire. L'outil d'analyse de la divulgation environnementale est une grille de codage, similaire a celle de Wiseman (1982) et Cormier et Magnan (1999 et 2003) adaptee au contexte legal et reglementaire francais et tenant compte de l'initiative internationale volontaire de normalisation des pratiques de reporting (le GRI). Nous etudions aussi le volet social de la divulgation des entreprises francaises afin d'explorer son impact sur le niveau de l'information environnementale communiquee. En ce qui concerne notre premier objectif, il ressort de nos resultats que nous assistons a un phenomene de convergence au fil du temps dans les pratiques de diffusion environnementale et sociale. Par rapport a notre second objectif, les resultats suggerent que les pressions des parties prenantes financieres, la legitimite de l'entreprise, les couts exclusifs a la firme de meme que les couts de collecte d'informations pour les utilisateurs et quelques parametres de gouvernance (taille du conseil et presence de membres independants en son sein) influencent les strategies de communication des informations environnementales adoptees par les entreprises francaises. En outre, le niveau de la divulgation sociale affecte significativement a la hausse, le niveau de communication des informations environnementales.
Neural networks with a self-refreshing memory: Knowledge transfer in sequential learning tasks without catastrophic forgetting

We explore a dual-network architecture with self-refreshing memory (Ans and Rousset 1997) which overcomes catastrophic forgetting in sequential learning tasks. Its principle is that new knowledge is learned along with an internally generated activity reflecting the network history. What mainly distinguishes this model from others using pseudorehearsal in feedforward multilayer networks is a reverberating process used for generating pseudoitems. This process, which tends to go up to network attractors from random activation, is more suitable for capturing optimally the deep structure of previously learned knowledge than a single feedforward pass of activity. The proposed mechanism for ? transporting memory? without loss of information between two different brain structures could be viewed as a neurobiologically plausible means for consolidation in long-term memory. Knowledge transfer is explored with regard to learning speed, ability to generalize and vulnerability to network damages. We show that transfer is more efficient when two related tasks are sequentially learned than when they are learned concurrently. With a self-refreshing memory network knowledge can be saved for a long time and therefore reused in subsequent acquisitions.
Design and Analysis of a Cost-Effective Magnetless Multiphase Flux-Reversal DC-Field Machine for Wind Power Generation

This paper proposes a new four-phase flux-reversal dc-field (FRDC) machine for the wind power generation applications. The key distinction of the proposed generator is to artfully design its stator pole and winding arrangement in a way imitating the permanent-magnet (PM) configurations, which the profound FRPM machine has. Hence, the proposed FRDC generator can provide the bipolar flux-linkage patterns and achieve performances similar to that of the high-quality FRPM generators. The proposed generator can regulate its controllable dc-field winding to vary its flux density effectively. Thus, it can achieve the constant-output-voltage characteristics at different situations in order to extend the battery life and to protect the power grid system. Without installation of any high-cost PM materials, the proposed magnetless FRDC generator can achieve better cost-effectiveness than its PM counterparts. The key performances of the proposed wind power generator are thoughtfully analyzed by the finite-element method, while the experimental prototype is also setup for verifications.