Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frame Element with Mixed Formulations for Composite and RC Members with Bond Slip. II: Correlation Studies

AbstractThis paper discusses the convergence and accuracy of the three mixed formulations in the companion paper for a new composite frame element that is suitable for the large-scale, large-displacement inelastic analysis of structures. The convergence is assessed with the inelastic response of a steel-concrete composite substructure under uniaxial loading. The accuracy of the formulations is assessed by correlating the numerical results with experimental data from a steel-concrete composite substructure under uniaxial loading and from the biaxial response of two reinforced concrete (RC) cantilever columns. The correlation studies confirm the accuracy and numerical robustness of the mixed formulations for global response measures such as the force-displacement relation and for local response measures such as the strain and relative slip distributions in the composite member. Special emphasis in the numerical studies is placed on the challenging cyclic, biaxial response of the RC cantilever columns that p.
IFRS Mandatory Adoption Effect on the Information Asymmetry: Immediate or Delayed?

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the mandatory adoption of IFRS/IAS and the information content of earnings in the European Union. More accurately, this study aims to determine if the effect of IFRS adoption on the level of information asymmetry, apprehended by the cost of capital and the financial analysts’ forecasts, is immediate or delayed. Based on a longitudinal study, we find evidence that for the two first years of adoption, international standards reduces significantly the cost of capital and the dispersion of the financial analysts’ forecasts. Furthermore, the magnitude of this effect increases with increasing the number of years after IFRS adoption. The findings further show that the effect of IFRS adoption on financial analysts’ errors is not immediate and that the errors decrease from the third year following the date of the first adoption. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the importance of adopting IFRS in the reduction of information asymmetry.
Effect of Parenteral Administration of Vitamin A in Late Pregnant Cows on Vitamin A Status of Neonatal Calves

To evaluate the effect of intramuscular administration of vitamin A in pregnant dairy cows during late stages of pregnancy, on vitamin A status of neonatal calves, a total of 30 cows were randomly selected and divided into three groups; two treatment groups and one control group. Single intramuscular injection of 2000000 IU vitamin A; was carried in 10 dairy cows at 7 months of pregnancy (group 1). In second group of treated animals (10 cows) the injection was performed in 8 months of pregnancy (group 2). Ten pregnant dairy cows were received saline injection as placebo and selected as control group. Blood samples were collected from experimental dairy cows at 7 and 8 months of pregnancy as well as their newborn calves’ pre and after colostrum intake. There was no significant difference between vitamin A and β-carotene concentration of dairy cows of three groups in two last months of pregnancy (P> 0.05). Vitamin A concentration of calves of two treatment groups before and after receiving of colostrum were significantly higher than that in control group (P 0.05). β-Carotene concentration of serum samples of dairy cows and neonatal calves of three groups were not significantly different as compared with together. From results of the present study it can be concluded that single injection of vitamin A during at 7 or 8 month of pregnancy can significantly increase level of vitamin A in their colostrum and neonatal calves. Keywords—Dry cow, Beta-carotene, Newborn calves, Vitamin
Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals Content of Soil Samples from Farms in Minna

Physico-chemical properties and heavy metals content of soils were determined from seven farms in Minna, central Nigeria. Conventional analytical methods were employed to determine the physico-chemical properties and the heavy metals were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The result showed that pH values ranged from 6.64 - 7.70 indicating slight acidity to slight alkalinity of the soils. The total organic carbon values ranged from 0.95-2.25 % resulting in the presence of organic matter (1.63-3.87). The electrical conductivity values ranged from 17-37 μS/cm. The cation exchange capacity of the soil samples ranged from 3.68-5.15 cmol/kg. The heavy metals levels were in the following range: Cd (0.00018-0.00134 mg/g), Cu (0.0069-0.0476 mg/g), Fe (1.942-2.2059 mg/g), Mn (0.1825-0.3696 mg/g), Ni (0.0065-0.0069 mg/g) and Zn (0.0157-0.2252 mg/g). The concentration of the metals in the soil samples varied according to the following trend: Fe>Mn>Zn> Cu>Ni>Cd. The average concentration of all the metals in each farm also gave the trend Farm B>Farm G>Farm E>Farm C>Farm F>Farm D>Farm A. The findings indicate the presence of heavy metals in all the farms but only Fe was above the FAO/WHO standards.
Immunogenic properties of outer membrane protein of Acinetobacter baumannii that loaded on chitosan nanoparticles

This study aimed to prepare an experimental nano vaccine for Acinetobacter baumannii . In current study, Acinetobacter isolates were identified by growth onto CHRO Magar TM Acinetobacter/MDR and standard biochemical tests. Identification of isolates of Acinetobacter isolates to species level was done by VITEK 2 compact system and API20. Chitosan nanoparticles was used in this study as an adjuvant, the results showed chitosan a perfect adjuvant because it carried outer membrane protein antigen and stimulates an immune response at treated rats, use of Chitosan nanoparticles as a carrier to OMP increased the concentration of cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IFN-ƴ), antibody titer, total leukocytes and differential leukocytes in treated rats compared with each control group and OMP group.
Diet of harbor porpoises along the Dutch coast: A combined stable isotope and stomach contents approach

High stranding frequency of porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, along the Dutch coast since 2006 has led to increased interest in the ecology of porpoises in the North Sea. Stranded porpoises were collected along the Dutch coast (2006–2008) and their diet was assessed through stomach content and stable isotope analysis (d13C and d15N) of porpoise muscle and prey. Stable isotope analysis (SIAR) was used to estimate the contribution of prey species to the porpoises' diet. This was compared to prey composition from stomach contents, to analyze differences between long- and short-term diet. According to stomach contents, 90.5% of the diet consisted of gobies, whiting, lesser sandeel, herring, cod, and sprat. Stable isotope analysis revealed that 70-83% of the diet consisted of poor cod, mackerel, greater sandeel, lesser sandeel, sprat, and gobies, highlighting a higher importance of pelagic, schooling species in the porpoises' diet compared to stomach contents. This could be due to prey distribution as well as differences in behavior of porpoises and prey between the coastal zone and offshore waters. This study supports the need for multi-method approaches. Future ecological and fishery impact assessment studies and management decisions for porpoise conservation should acknowledge this difference between the long- and short-term diet. High stranding frequency of porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, along the Dutch coast since 2006 has led to increased interest in the ecology of porpoises in the North Sea. Stranded porpoises were collected along the Dutch coast (2006–2008) and their diet was assessed through stomach content and stable isotope analysis (d13C and d15N) of porpoise muscle and prey. Stable isotope analysis (SIAR) was used to estimate the contribution of prey species to the porpoises' diet. This was compared to prey composition from stomach contents, to analyze differences between long- and short-term diet. According to stomach contents, 90.5% of the diet consisted of gobies, whiting, lesser sandeel, herring, cod, and sprat. Stable isotope analysis revealed that 70-83% of the diet consisted of poor cod, mackerel, greater sandeel, lesser sandeel, sprat, and gobies, highlighting a higher importance of pelagic, schooling species in the porpoises' diet compared to stomach contents. This could be due to prey distribution as well as differences in behavior of porpoises and prey between the coastal zone and offshore waters. This study supports the need for multi-method approaches. Future ecological and fishery impact assessment studies and management decisions for porpoise conservation should acknowledge this difference between the long- and short-term diet.
The Intraday Price of Money: Evidence from the E-Mid Market

We present a simple model, where intraday and overnight interest rates are linked by a no-arbitrage argument. The hourly interest rate is shown to be a function of the intraday term structure of the overnight rate. This property holds under both assumptions, where an explicit intraday market for interbank loans exists and when it does not. In the first case, such a property is an equilibrium condition; in the second one it holds by definition, as a synthetic hourly loan is a portfolio of overnight contracts. We then provide empirical evidence, based on tick- by-tick data for the e-MID money market (covering the whole 2003). The overnight rate shows a clear downward pattern throughout the operating day. A positive hourly interest rate emerges from the intraday term structure of the overnight rate: we estimate the market price of a one hour interbank loan to be slightly above a half basis point.
Contact And Explicit And Implicit Bias Towards Latinos/as

The positive effects of intergroup contact on prejudice reduction have been well established, with prior research demonstrating that real or imagined contact with outgroup members can reduce implicit and explicit racial bias (e.g., Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006; Turner, Crisp, & Lambert, 2007). The current research assessed non-Latino participants to more closely examine the relationship between contact and explicit bias (Study 1) and implicit bias (Study 2) towards Latinos. Additionally, this work examined if imagining a contact scenario with a Latino stranger was sufficient in reducing bias compared to those imagining contact with a stranger of unspecified race/ethnicity and if this effect could be mediated by alleviation of each integrated threat theory classifications (realistic threat, symbolic threat, intergroup anxiety, and negative stereotypes; Stephan & Stephan, 1996). Study 1 results indicated that the individuals with more close, current contact with Latinos exhibited lower explicit bias towards this racial/ethnic group. Study 2 replicated Study 1’s finding that current, close contact predicted explicit bias to an extent, although Study 2 provided little evidence to support that current, close contact is a predictor of implicit bias (i.e., stereotypic associations, attention allocation, and affect) towards Latinos. Study 3’s manipulation of imagined contact did not yield differences in biases (either implicit nor explicit) between the two groups. However, there were significant relationships between implicit associations, explicit biases, and each of the four threat classifications. This research has broad implications for the contact hypothesis literature and for non-Latino/Latino interactions in everyday life. Future research should continue examining non-Latino and Latino intergroup interactions to help determine mechanisms to reduce bias.
Does Informal Finance Help Formal Finance? Evidence from Third Party Loan Guarantees in China *

Building on the important studies by Allen, Qian and Qian (2005) and Ayyagari, Demirguc-Kunt and Maksimovic (2010), we examine the role of third-party loan guarantees in facilitating bank lending to SMEs. Using a proprietary database of loan guarantees in China, we find strong evidence that guarantors and banks disagree on pricing loan risk. This puzzling fact is mainly explained by the use of collateral. Banks require riskier borrowers to pledge more collateral and charge them higher loan rates, while guarantors give low risk measure when they see higher collateralization rate. We also find that banks can better predict loan defaults than guarantors. Besides, firm age, abnormal book value and guarantee officers’ capacity also have predictive power on loan default. Our findings provide evidence for both the rationale and limits of informal finance in China, and suggest that the risk assessment technique of informal financial institutions needs to be improved.
A large scale experimental approach to the measurement of spatially and temporally localised loading from the detonation of shallow-buried explosives

A large scale experimental approach to the direct measurement of the spatial and temporal variation in loading resulting from an explosive event has been developed. The approach utilises a fixed target plate through which Hopkinson pressure bars are inserted. This technique allows the pressure-time histories for an array of bars to be generated, giving data over a large area of interest. A numerical interpolation technique has also been developed to allow for the full pressure-time history for any point on the target plate to be estimated and hence total imparted impulse to be calculated. The principles underlying the design of the experimental equipment are discussed, along with the importance of carefully controlling the explosive preparation, and the method and location of the detonation initiation. Initial results showing the key features of the loading recorded and the consistency attainable by this method are presented along with the data interpolation routines used to estimate the loading on the entire face.
Techniques Linked to Rotavirus Characterization and Simple Research

Despite Rotavirus (RV) vaccination that initiates a reasonable immunity, RV can still infect and replicate in a host; due to the endless virus evolution. Numerous RV G/P combinations characterized in both animal and human. The continuous evolution of unusual strains occurred as a result of the segmented nature of RV genome. Uncommon RV strains developed accidentally either by human-human/ human-animal strains reassortment during mixed RV infection or via a direct interspecies transmission. RV genome modifiability creates an insistence for modifying the virus typing techniques for exact virus characterization; besides, precise preparation of the appropriate vaccine. Among RV detecting and classifying methods, each technique has its characteristic benefits and weak points over the others. More techniques applied in RV research to reveal the undiscovered virus secrets.
The potential use of mobile technology: enhancing accessibility and communication in a blended learning course

Mobile technology is increasingly being used to support blended learning beyond computer centres. It has been considered as a potential solution to the problem of a shortage of computers for accessing online learning materials (courseware) in a blended learning course. The purpose of the study was to establish how the use of mobile technology could enhance accessibility and communication in a blended learning course. Data were solicited from a purposive convenience sample of 36 students engaged in the blended learning course. The case study utilized a mixedmethods approach. An unstructured interview was conducted with the course lecturer and these data informed the design of the students’ semi-structured questionnaire. It was found that students with access to mobile technology had an increased opportunity to access the courseware of the blended learning course. Mobile technology further enhanced student-to-student and student-to-lecturer communication by means of social networks. The study concludes that mobile technology has the potential to increase accessibility and communication in a blended learning course. Recommendations, limitations of the present study, and suggestions for future research were made. Keywords: blended learning course, collaboration, communication, computer access, mobile technology, social networks
Initial Compensation Contracts for New Executives and Financial Distress Risk: An Empirical Investigation of UK Firms

This paper analyses the effect of financial distress risk on the initial compensation contracts of new executives in the UK, where credit markets are more concentrated than in the US. We find that financial distress risk has a negative and statistically significant impact on the level of cash-based compensation and total compensation of executives, who are newly hired from either outside or inside the firm. This negative impact is accentuated in firms with a high fraction of bank debt, suggesting that banks, as creditors, provide monitoring and influence initial executive compensation packages in firms with high financial distress risk. Additionally, we find that financial distress risk has a negative and significant impact on the fraction of equity-based compensation for both externally and internally appointed executives.
Lucky spectroscopy, an equivalent technique to lucky imaging

Context. Many massive stars have nearby companions. These hamper a characterization of massive stars through spectroscopy. Aims. We continue to obtain spatially resolved spectroscopy of close massive visual binaries to derive their spectral types. Methods. We used the lucky spectroscopy technique to obtain a large number of short long-slit spectroscopic exposures of 19 close visual binaries under good seeing conditions. We selected those with the best characteristics, extracted the spectra using multiple-profile fitting, and combined the results to derive spatially separated spectra. The results were analyzed in combination with data from lucky imaging, regular intermediate-resolution single-order spectroscopy, and échelle high-resolution spectroscopy. Results. The new application of lucky spectroscopy has allowed us (among other results) to [a] spatially disentangle two O stars (FN CMa B and 6 Cas B) with brighter BA supergiant companions for the first time; [b] determine that two B stars (α Sco B and HD 164 492 B) with close and more massive companions are fast rotators (in the second case, solving a case of mistaken identity); [c] extend the technique to cases with extreme magnitude differences (the previous two cases plus CS Cam A,B), shorter separations (HD 193 443 A,B), and fainter primary magnitudes down to B = 11 (HD 219 460 A,B); [d] spatially disentangle the spectra of stars with companions as diverse as an A supergiant (6 Cas A), a Wolf-Rayet star (HD 219 460 B = WR 157), and an M supergiant (α Sco A); [e] discover the unexpected identity of some targets such as two previously unknown bright O stars (HD 51 756 B and BD +60 544) and a new member of the rare OC category (HD 8768 A); and [f] identify and classify (in some cases for the first time) which of the components of four visual binaries (σ Ori, HD 219 460, HD 194 649, and HD 191 201) is a double-lined spectroscopic binary. For another seven systems (FN CMa, σ Sco, HD 51 756, HD 218 195, HD 17 520, HD 24 431, and HD 164 492), we detect signs of spectroscopic binarity using high-spectral-resolution spectroscopy. We also determine the limits of the technique.
Effects of head-display lag on presence in the oculus rift

We measured presence and perceived scene stability in a virtual environment viewed with different head-to-display lag (i.e., system lag) on the Oculus Rift (CV1). System lag was added on top of the measured benchmark system latency (22.3 ms) for our visual scene rendered in OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL). Participants made active head oscillations in pitch at 1.0Hz while viewing displays. We found that perceived scene instability increased and presence decreased when increasing system lag, which we attribute to the effect of multisensory visual-vestibular interactions on the interpretation of the visual information presented.
A possible pathway for rapid growth of sulfate during haze days in China

Abstract. Rapid industrialization and urbanization have caused frequent occurrence of haze in China during wintertime in recent years. The sulfate aerosol is one of the most important components of fine particles (PM2. 5) in the atmosphere, contributing significantly to the haze formation. However, the heterogeneous formation mechanism of sulfate remains poorly characterized. The relationships of the observed sulfate with PM2. 5, iron, and relative humidity in Xi'an, China have been employed to evaluate the mechanism and to develop a parameterization of the sulfate heterogeneous formation involving aerosol water for incorporation into atmospheric chemical transport models. Model simulations with the proposed parameterization can successfully reproduce the observed sulfate rapid growth and diurnal variations in Xi'an and Beijing, China. Reasonable representation of sulfate heterogeneous formation in chemical transport models considerably improves the PM2. 5 simulations, providing the underlying basis for better understanding the haze formation and supporting the design and implementation of emission control strategies.
Retrospective study on laparoscopic hysterectomy by vaginal vault closure method in a tertiary care centre

Background: Hysterectomy is the frequently performed operation for benign conditions of uterus, but the route of hysterectomy is always a matter of discussion. Laparoscopic hysterectomy is an expensive and time-consuming procedure and could be associated with increased risk of thermal damage related injuries to the surrounding structures. Presently, laparoscopic hysterectomy is considered to be a day care surgery because of technological improvement in electro-surgical unit and expertise of doing surgery. The objective of this study was as a retrospective observational study conducted in teaching hospital to study the factors like age, parity, indication and procedure related complications in detail.Methods: A total number of 40 patients who have undergone laparoscopic hysterectomy for various indications with vault closure by vaginal method with no. 1 PDS. A detailed analysis of cases was done according to age, parity, indication, intra-operative and post-operative outcomes.Results: Fibroid uterus was the most common indication for laparoscopic hysterectomy. Overall postoperative complication rate was 22.5% with no major morbidity reported.Conclusions: Laparoscopic hysterectomy has to be done with proper selection of patient and good peri-operative care. Vault closure by vaginal method has significantly reduced operating time, without increasing the morbidity.
Foreign Bank Entry and Entrepreneurship

Using unique firm-level data across 48 developin g countries and 36 manufacturing industries we gauge the importance of international b nks’ presence for promoting entrepreneurship, as measured by business formation . Our results suggest that greater foreign bank presence fosters greater business formation, e specially in industries with higher needs for external finance. The effect is particularly strong when the foreign banks present are headquartered in other developing countries. We als o investigate how an industry’s use of relatively standardized inputs affects the advantag es it reaps from foreign bank entry. In developing countries, the effect on business format ion of foreign bank presence is greater in industries with more standardized inputs, especiall y when the foreign banks present are from other developing countries. The effects of foreign bank presence on business formation are greater in economies with stronger legal enforcemen t, a d foreign bank entrants from developed economies are especially dependent on str ger legal frameworks; banks entrants from developing countries have larger effects on bu siness formation in developing countries where legal protections are relatively weak.