Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in poultry meat

The objectives of this study were i) to isolate Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in broiler wing meat samples, ii) to confirm the isolates by PCR, based on prs and hly A gene sequences, iii) to determine the seasonal and monthly distribution of the isolates. A total of 120 broiler wing meat samples (60 packaged pieces wrapped using strech film in styrofoam plates and 60 unpackaged pieces) bought from different markets in Hatay province were analysed. Listeria spp. was isolated from 57 (47.5%) out of 120 samples. Fifty-four, out of 57 Listeria spp. isolates were identified as L. monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes was isolated from the samples collected during the spring, winter, summer, and autumn at the levels of 26.6%, 40%, 53.3%, 60%, respectively. In this study, the isolation rates were found to be the highest in autumn, while the isolation rates were found to be the lowest in spring. As a consequence, high prevalence of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes in poultry wing meat samples may pose a risk for human health. We consider that with obeying the rules of good hygiene practices (GHP), good manufacturing practices (GMP) and HACCP can minimize the contamination with Listeria spp.
1 Observed shift towards earlier spring discharge in the main Alpine rivers 1

33 In this study, we analyse the observed long-term discharge time-series of the Rhine, the Danube, the Rhone 34 and the Po rivers. These rivers are characterised by different seasonal cycles reflecting the diverse climates 35 and morphologies of the Alpine basins. However, despite the intensive and varied water management 36 adopted in the four basins, we found common features in the trend and low-frequency variability of the 37 spring discharge timings. All the discharge time-series display a tendency towards earlier spring peaks of 38 more than two weeks per century. These results can be explained in terms of snowmelt, total precipitation 39 (i.e. the sum of snowfall and rainfall) and rainfall variability. The relative importance of these factors might 40 be different in each basin. However, we show that the change of seasonality of total precipitation plays a 41 major role in the earlier spring runoff over most of the Alps. 42
Stereotyping and Nonconformity: The Effects of Punk Music on Social Behavior

Previous research has demonstrated that nonconformist behavior can be primed via visual activation of nonconformist stereotypes. The present experiments were conducted to determine if nonconformity can be primed via aural activation of the punk stereotype. In Study 1, 46 male and 104 female students from McDaniel College were primed with punk, popular, or no music and exposed to social pressure. Not only did participants exposed to punk music fail to exhibit nonconformity, they conformed more than participants who heard popular music and almost as much as those without a prime. As Study 2 determined that members of the population in question did associate the stereotype of nonconformity with punk music, possible alternative explanations and areas for further research are discussed.
Particle breakage criteria in discrete-element modelling

Previous work by the authors, using the discrete element method (DEM) has used the octahedral shear stress within a sphere together with a Weibull distribution of strengths and a size effect on average strength, to determine whether fracture occurs or not. This leads to fractal particle size distributions and a normal compression line which are consistent with experimental data. However there is no agreement in the literature as to what the fracture criterion should be and as yet it is not clear whether other criteria could lead to the correct evolution of voids ratio and particle size distribution under increasing stress. Various possibilities for the criterion have been studied in detail here to ascertain whether these other criteria may give the correct behaviour under normal compression. The use of the major principal stress within a particle, the mean stress, and the stress calculated from the maximum contact force on a particle are each investigated as alternatives to the octahedral shear stress. Only the criterion based on the maximum contact force is shown to give behaviour observed experimentally and the simulations shed further insight into the micro mechanics of normal compression.
Operational Forces soldiers' perceptions of attributes and skills for career success

Orientation: A career within the South African Operational Forces is physically, mentally and emotionally challenging. It is a diverse working environment with its own organisational culture and unique challenges. Research purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of Operational Forces soldiers regarding the unique requirements that facilitated their career success. Motivation for the study: A low percentage of candidates successfully complete the Operational Forces training. The financial implications of training candidates make it important to be able to identify candidates who have the potential to be successful, early on in the process. Research design, approach and method: Data were collected through a self-administered qualitative survey ( n = 98). All participants were permanent Operational Forces soldiers with varying ranks and years of experience. The data were thematically analysed in order to identify themes and specific attributes and skills associated with a successful career in the Operational Forces. Main findings: A number of themes emerged from the data, each of which contributed to our understanding of the research question. The themes included self-concept, personality, interests, cognitive and physical factors. Practical and managerial implications: The research findings may help to inform decisions about approaches, practices and methodologies of the South African Operational Forces recruitment and selection process. Results also provide military organisations with the key characteristics to consider when identifying candidates with the highest potential for successful careers. Contribution and value-add: The study extends previous career success research by contributing an additional base of information regarding career success and factors that are perceived to influence it.
RESOLVING THE GAP AND AU-SCALE ASYMMETRIES IN THE PRE-TRANSITIONAL DISK OF V1247 ORIONIS

Pre-transitional disks are protoplanetary disks with a gapped disk structure, potentially indicating the presence of young planets in these systems. In order to explore the structure of these objects and their gap-opening mechanism, we observed the pre-transitional disk V1247 Orionis using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, the Keck Interferometer, Keck-II, Gemini South, and IRTF. This allows us to spatially resolve the AU-scale disk structure from near- to mid-infrared wavelengths (1.5–13 μm), tracing material at different temperatures and over a wide range of stellocentric radii. Our observations reveal a narrow, optically thick inner-disk component (located at 0.18 AU from the star) that is separated from the optically thick outer disk (radii ≳ 46 AU), providing unambiguous evidence for the existence of a gap in this pre-transitional disk. Surprisingly, we find that the gap region is filled with significant amounts of optically thin material with a carbon-dominated dust mineralogy. The presence of this optically thin gap material cannot be deduced solely from the spectral energy distribution, yet it is the dominant contributor at mid-infrared wavelengths. Furthermore, using Keck/NIRC2 aperture masking observations in the H, K′, and L′ bands, we detect asymmetries in the brightness distribution on scales of ∼15–40 AU, i.e., within the gap region. The detected asymmetries are highly significant, yet their amplitude and direction changes with wavelength, which is not consistent with a companion interpretation but indicates an inhomogeneous distribution of the gap material. We interpret this as strong evidence for the presence of complex density structures, possibly reflecting the dynamical interaction of the disk material with sub-stellar mass bodies that are responsible for the gap clearing.
Aerosol particle size distributions at a traffic exposed site and an urban background location in Oporto, Portugal

Aerosol size distributions from 6 to 700 nm were measured simultaneously at an urban background site and a roadside station in Oporto. The particle number concentration was higher at the traffic exposed site, where up to 90% of the size spectrum was dominated by the nucleation mode. Larger aerosol mode diameters were observed in the urban background site possibly due to the coagulation processes or uptake of gases during transport. Factor analysis has shown that road traffic and the neighbour stationary sources localised upwind affect the urban area thought intra-regional pollutant transport.
Biodiversity of fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) in orchards in different agro-ecological zones of the Morogoro region, Tanzania

Introduction. Fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) are among the major constraints in commercial horticulture in many African developing countries. Knowledge of the tephritid spectrum in any given area is a prerequisite for the development of an IPM program to alleviate the pest problem. We studied the fruit fly diversity in four main agro-ecological zones which are significant fruit-producing areas in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Materials and methods. Fruit fly diversity was investigated for one year (October 2004 - October 2005). Parapheromones, synthetic food attractant and protein-bait traps were used to trap the flies at the different locations in Morogoro region, Tanzania. One mixed orchard was selected at each of four locations representing the different agro-ecological zones of the region. Results. The recently intro- duced alien species, Bactrocera invadens, and three indigenous pest species, Ceratitis rosa, Dacus bivittatus and D. punctatifrons, were found at all the four sites, while Bactrocera cucurbitae, Ceratitis cosyra, Dacus chiwira and D. humeralis were found in three out of the four sites. The Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Horticulture Unit and Mikese sites had the highest species diversity while the Mkindo and Nyandira sites had the lowest diversity. The between-habitats diversity (Beta diversity) was similar among the SUA, Mkindo and Mikese sites. Only the Nyandira site had a higher dissimilarity in comparison with the other three sites. Discussion. The most abundant species at low- and mid-elevation sites was Bactrocera invadens while, at high elevation, Ceratitis rosa was the dominant species. Protein-baited traps attracted the highest diversity of fruit flies in comparison with the more specific parapheromones. The synthetic food attractant (three-component lure) was less efficient compared with the protein bait. The large dissimilarity at the Nyan- dira site is probably due to the different types of host fruits found and grown in high altitude areas (mainly temperate fruits). Fruit fly species associated with these types of fruits, e.g., Ceratitis rubivora and Tri- rhithrum coffeae, were found only at this site. Tanzania / fruit trees / Tephritidae / fruit flies / biodiversity / Ceratitis / Bactrocera / Dacus / surveys / traps / identification
Ownership Structure, Corporate Governance, and Corporate Performance: The Case of Chinese Stock Companies

The authors investigate whether ownership structure significantly affects the performance of publicly listed firms in China and if so, in what way. With publicly listed stocks, one can quantify the ownership mix and concentration, which makes it possible to study this issue. The authors use the recent literature on the role of large institutional shareholders in corporate governance as a theoretical base. A typical listed stock company in China has a mixed ownership structure, with three predominant groups of shareholders -the state, legal persons (institutions), and individuals- each holding about 30 percent of the stock. (Employees and foreign investors together hold less than 10 percent.) Ownership is heavily concentrated: the five largest shareholders accounted for 58 percent of outstanding shares in 1995, compared with 57.8 percent in the Czech Republic, 42 percent in Germany, and 33 percent in Japan. Their empirical analysis shows that the mix and concentration of stock ownership do indeed significantly affect a company's performamce: there is a positive, significant correlation between concentration of ownership and profitability; the effect of concentrated ownership is greater with companies dominated by institutions than with those dominated by state; the firms' profitability is positively correlated with the fraction of legal person (institutional) shares; it is either negatively correlated or uncorrelated with the fraction of state shares and with tradable A-shares held mostly by individuals. Labor productivity tends to decline as the proportion of state shares increases.
The Effect of Text Format upon Underachieving First Year College Students' Self-Efficacy for Reading and Subsequent Reading Comprehension

This study had two purposes. One was to investigate the effect of text format on underachieving first-year college students' self-efficacy for reading; the second was to compare self-efficacy ratings with subsequent reading comprehension. Seventy-six students in a university learning support services program at a large Northeastern university participated in this two day study. On day one, participants viewed eight versions of an approximately 250-word passage simultaneously, each with a different combination of font size, margin width, and heading, and were asked to make a judgment about their self efficacy for reading each. On day two, a few weeks later, the participants read and answered questions based on two passage formats, one that reflected their highest self-efficacy rated format and the other their lowest. A dependent samples t-test revealed that comprehension scores for the highest self-efficacy rated format were significantly higher than for the lowest self-efficacy rated format. In addition, a 2 × 2 × 2 randomized block factorial analysis indicated significant main effects for the presence of headings and the 12-point font condition, but not for margin width. We then make suggestions about how college faculty can offset students' negative self-efficacy for reading college material.
Study of the Permeability of Foam Conditioned Soils with Laboratory Tests

Problem statement: EPB tunneling requires that the excavated soil has a plastic and pulpy behavior to be able to apply a stabilizing pressure to the face, but it should also be impervious to counteract filtration forces that could develop ahe ad of the face. The evaluation of this parameter in granular soil, before and after conditioning, is th erefore of key importance for a correct conditionin g agents choice. Approach: A new laboratory procedure for testing the permeabi lity of conditioned soil with foam has been proposed. The tests have been ca rried out at different hydraulic loads, chosen to b e 0.1 bars and 1 bar. Results: The proposed procedure has been applied to determine the behavior of differently conditioned granular soils: a fluvial s and and a pozzolanic soil and has shown that an increasing of the FIR induces a relative increase i n the time required by water to pass through a standard sample, emphasizing, in this way, the effe ctiveness of the conditioning on impermeability of the soil. Conclusion: The tests have shown the laboratory procedure adeq uately captures the behavior of the conditioned soil. Further, the proposed test may also be used as an index for the preliminary definition of the quality of the soil conditioning and suitability for EPB tunneling.
Information and communication technology demands: outcomes and interventions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review four demands employees face when communicating through information and communication technologies (ICTs). The authors review the outcomes associated with each demand and discuss relevant interventions to provide a set of evidence-based recommendations. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews the following demands associated with ICTs: response expectations, constant availability, increased workload and poor communication. The authors draw upon empirical research to highlight outcomes and intervention strategies, before discussing implications for research and practice. Findings – The findings suggest that there are diverse outcomes associated with each demand. The outcomes were not inherently negative as evidence suggests that positive performance outcomes can arise from response expectations and constant availability, although they may be allied by health and well-being costs. Practical implications – A number of practical strategies are described.
THE MOST INTENSIVE GAMMA-RAY FLARE OF QUASAR 3C 279 WITH THE SECOND-ORDER FERMI ACCELERATION

The very short and bright flare of 3C 279 detected with Fermi-Large Area Telescope in 2013 December is tested by a model with stochastic electron acceleration by turbulences. Our time-dependent simulation shows that the very hard spectrum and asymmetric light curve are successfully reproduced by changing only the magnetic field from the value in the steady period. The maximum energy of electrons drastically grows with the decrease of the magnetic field, which yields a hard photon spectrum as observed. Rapid cooling due to the inverse-Compton scattering with the external photons reproduces the decaying feature of the light curve.The inferred energy density of the magnetic field is much less than the electron and photon energy densities. The low magnetic field and short variability timescale are unfavorable for the jet acceleration model from the gradual Poynting flux dissipation.
Income Smoothing and the Cost of Bank Loans -The Effect of Information Asymmetry-

This study investigates the link between income smoothing behavior and the cost of bank loans. In particular, this study focuses on information asymmetry between a firm and financial institutions and analyzes the effect of this information asymmetry on the link between income smoothing behavior and the cost of bank loans. Through the analysis, the current study provides three new pieces of empirical evidence. First, this study finds that income smoothing behavior by management lowers the cost of bank loans. Second, when considering information asymmetry, the statistically significant relation between income smoothing and the cost of bank loans in middleand high-information asymmetry firms can be found. Finally, in the low-information asymmetry firms, a statistically significant relation between income smoothing and the cost of bank loans cannot be observed. These results imply that information asymmetry strongly affects the link between income smoothing and the cost of bank loans.
Rhizosphere processes do not explain variation in P acquisition from sparingly soluble forms among Lupinus albus accessions

SevenLupinusalbusL.landraceswereselected,basedontheirgeographicoriginandthesoiltypeandpHatthe site of collection of the seeds, and compared with the cv. Kiev mutant. We hypothesised that those landraces collected from red/yellow acidic sands (pH 5-5.7) would be better at acquiring P from FePO4 or AlPO4 than those selected from brown neutral (pH 7) or fine, calcareous, alkaline sands (pH 9), and that those selected from fine calcareous sands would be more effectiveatacquiringPfromCa5OH(PO4)3.Plantsweregrowninsandandsuppliedwith40mgP/kgastheabovesparingly solubleforms,orassolubleKH2PO4;controlplantsreceivednoP.AllgenotypeswereabletousethesePsources. Variationin using poorly soluble P was not due to differences in rhizosphere carboxylate concentration, cluster-root development, or rhizosphere-extract pH. L. albus landraces with a better ability to use P from different sparingly soluble forms could be exploited to develop cultivars that are more P-acquisition efficient on soils that are low in (P) or highly P-sorbing; however, desirable genotypes cannot simply be selected based on soil type of origin.
A Comparative Study of Japanese and Indonesian Folklores

As in Indonesia, folklore has long been collected and studied by Japanese scholars, especially those in the humanities. The difference is that, in . Japan. folklore was from the outset collected by the Japanese themselves, while in Indonesia it was mostly collected by European scholars, especially Dutch, in the initial stage. While, beginning in 1910, and particularly since 1930, Japanese folklore materials were collected by Japanese folklorists, in Indonesia such was not the case, since folklore materials were collected by scholars in other disciplines, such as philologists, musicologists, cultural anthropologists, theologists (Catholics as well as Protestant), Dutch civil servants etc. [Danandjaja 1994b: 9-10J. According to Ronald A. Morse, folklore in Japan began to be recorded in 1910 by folklorists or folklore lovers. and by 1930 folklore had become a discipline in its own right, since when it has grown into an independent and mature discipline [Morse 1990: xvJ. Officially the first folklore in Japan was collected in 1910, in which year Yanagita Kunio collected and published the first book of folklore, entitled Tono Monogatari (The Legend of Tono), a literal work that is now considered to be a classic [Zoe. cit.J. The year 1930 was also important, because it was then that folklore in Japan become a separate discipline, and folklore study was intensified. In that period there were three groups of folklorists in Japan. The first group led by Yanagita Kunio, emphasized the expressive aspect of folklore and tried to reconstruct the history of folk ideas. This group was the most active. The second group, led by Origuchi Shinobu of Kokugakuin University, had its own folklore journal published by its own folklore institution. Although Origuchi was a former student of Yanagita and the best one, he continued to practice the traditional method developed by the philologists from the Tokugawa period. The third group was led
The Influence of Different Investment Horizons on Risk Behavior

For longer investment periods, investment consultants usually recommend a larger proportion of risky assets for investor portfolios. We examine the effect of different investment horizons on investors' risk behavior. We are interested both in participants' risk perceptions and in their asset allocation behavior. We find significant underestimations of long-term risks, which lead to a higher proportion of risky assets in the long-term portfolios. Our data show that the belief in mean reversion is a potential explanation for this behavior.
Do Regulations Based on Credit Ratings Affect a Firm&Apos;S Cost of Capital?

In February 2003, the SEC officially certified a fourth credit rating agency, Dominion Bond Rating Service ("DBRS"), for use in bond investment regulations. After DBRS certification, bond yields change in the direction implied by the firm's DBRS rating relative to its ratings from other certified rating agencies. A one notch better DBRS rating corresponds to a 39 basis point reduction in a firm's debt cost of capital. The impact on yields is driven by cases where the DBRS rating is better than other ratings and is larger among bonds rated near the investment-grade cutoff. These findings indicate that ratings-based regulations on bond investment affect a firm's cost of debt capital.