Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rethinking concepts of the strange and the stranger

Abstract In this paper, we analyse debates regarding the strange and the stranger. In critiquing these debates in geography and the social sciences, we argue that the stranger as a term is often taken for granted and implies assumed knowledge. In deconstructing ‘the stranger’ in the complexities of the modern world, defined by hyper-mobility, super-diversity and increased contact with ‘strangers’, we question the way in which such definitions might lead us to new distinctions allowing us to think beyond the stranger as a figure in isolation to something more relational and complex in nature. In so doing, we flesh out a way in which the geographies of encounter and thinking across difference might build on these theoretical considerations to further knowledge across and beyond difference as identity category, social construct and lived materiality.
Screening Adherence and Emotional Adjustment of Daughters of Breast Cancer Patients

This study longitudinally profiled anxiety and depressive symptoms of daughters of breast cancer patients, and examined mother’s survival status, daughter age at time of mother’s diagnosis, and style of family communication about breast cancer as moderators of change in symptomatology across participants’ first three appointments at the UCLA Revlon Breast Center High Risk Clinic. To evaluate the effects of hypothesized predictors on change in anxiety and depressive symptoms, 3 (symptomatology at first, second, and third clinic visits) × 2 (mother survived or died) × 2 (< 20 years or ≥ 20 years old at diagnosis) × 2 (open or closed family communication) repeated measures ANOVAs were employed. Results showed a main effect for time on state anxiety, demonstrating a significant reduction in anxiety across clinic visits overall (p < .001). There were also significant 3-way interactions. For state anxiety, mother’s survival status moderated the Time × Age at Diagnosis and Time × Family Communication interaction effects. For daughters whose mothers died, decreased anxiety was observed in those who were younger at the time of diagnosis (p = .001). For daughters whose mothers survived, anxiety was decreased for those with closed family communication styles (p = .001). The Time × Mother’s Survival × Age at Diagnosis interaction was also significant for
Exploring How Referral Reward Program Design Affects Consumer Intent to Purchase from a Recipient Perspective

The purpose of this study is to examine how enterprises use referral reward programs to acquire new customerseffectively. We adopt two experimental designs and establish four hypotheses based on how referral rewardsubject category and reward type affect the likelihood of customer response. The results show thatlow-involvement products should reward recipients or offer financial rewards to increase intent to purchase.Customers perceive fairness of distributive justice as the underlying mechanism for the influence that rewardrecipient category and product involvement have on intent to purchase. Finally, implications and limitations forfuture research are discussed.
Household Bargaining and Spending on Children: Experimental Evidence from Tanzania.

It is frequently assumed that money in the hands of women leads to better outcomes for their children than money in the hands of men. However, empirical and theoretical evidence are mixed. We conduct a novel between-subject lab-in-the-Field experiment to study whether increasing the wife's control over resources causes a couple to allocate more to their child. The paper provides two main insights. First, increasing the wife's bargaining power does not increase the share allocated to the child, but leads to more gender-equal allocations to children. Second, time preferences are important in explaining household decision-making; it is better for the child that the most patient spouse has more relative bargaining power. Our results highlight the importance of taking a broader set of preferences into Account when studying household decision-making, and suggest that policy aimed to increase spending on children should target the spouse with preferences most aligned with such spending.
Physical modeling of intermediate cross-shore beach morphology: transients and equilibrium states

Laboratory experiments on cross-shore beach morphodynamics are presented. A lightweight sediment (density rho(s) = 1.19 g cm(-3)) model is used in order to fulfill a Shields number and Rouse number scaling. This choice aims at correctly reproducing bed load transport as well as suspension dynamics. Terraces and barred beach profiles obtained in the experiments also present close similarities with profiles observed in the field. In order to question the concept of equilibrium beach profile, wave forcings conforming to a JONSWAP spectrum were imposed over long periods (up to more than a hundred hours). An average bottom evolution velocity is defined and used to determine when the profile reaches equilibrium. Usually, beach profiles are characterized according to the Wright and Short (1984) classification based on the Dean number W. This well-known classification is investigated and refined in the intermediate range, that is, for 1 = Omega 5. For W close to 1, a typical reflective profile is obtained. Terraces are obtained for the Omega = 2.5 cases. For Omega approximate to 3.7, the profiles exhibit two parts: a mild dissipative offshore slope producing low reflection and a steeper beach face with slightly higher reflection. The wave dissipation, velocity skewness, and acceleration skewness are computed from the free surface elevation time series. The dissipation and wave nonlinearities patterns are similar for similar equilibrium beach profiles, that is, with the same Dean number. Dissipation peaks coincide with bottom slope transitions as higher energy dissipation occurs with milder bottom slope sections. Besides, the uniformity of volumetric wave energy dissipation seems to concern only a limited zone of beaches with a widely developed surf zone.
Estimating the economic benefits of maintaining residential lake levels at an irrigation reservoir: A contingent valuation study

The contingent valuation method (CVM) was used to estimate homeowners' willingness to pay for water leasing to maintain stable lake levels at an irrigation reservoir in a residential neighborhood. A binary logit model was used to analyze households' voter referendum responses for maintaining the lake level. The median willingness to pay (WTP) was found to be $368 per year for lakefront residents and $59 per year for off‐lake residents. The median WTP for lakefront residents was significantly different from off‐lake residents at the 90% confidence level. Using the median WTP for lakefront and nonlakefront residents, we found that the increase in homeowner association fees would generate approximately $43,000, enough money to lease sufficient water to reach the target higher lake level in a normal water year.
Development and validation of an organisational justice measurement instrument for a South African context.

Measuring organisational justice in a South African context is a concern as the concept is multidimensional and there is no comprehensive definition; therefore, an integrative and well-developed measure of organisational justice can advance the measurement and analysis of this concept. This study investigates the development and validity of an organisational justice measuring instrument (OJMI), and determines the relationships between the different dimensions of the concept organisational justice. Data was gathered from 289 participants, employed in a public service organisation. To analyse the data the descriptive and inferential statistics used are Cronbach alpha coefficient, means, the explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). It was found that the model fitted the data well and the measurement of each dimension, namely strategic direction; distributive, procedural, interactional, informational, diversity management; customer relations; service delivery innovation as well as ethical leadership and management justice were confirmed to be statistically significant and positive. These results indicate that OJMI is a reliable and valid measure that organisations need in order to measure perceptions of fairness, and to monitor trends of fair practices. The validated measuring instrument for organisational justice and the conducted analysis of the interrelationships between the different dimensions of the concept will enable organisations to initiate proactive and reactive interventions to facilitate justice and fair practices.
UNIFORM CONVERGENCE RATES OF KERNEL-BASED NONPARAMETRIC ESTIMATORS FOR CONTINUOUS TIME DIFFUSION PROCESSES: A DAMPING FUNCTION APPROACH

In this paper, we derive uniform convergence rates of nonparametric estimators for continuous time diffusion processes. In particular, we consider kernel-based estimators of the Nadaraya–Watson type, introducing a new technical device called a damping function. This device allows us to derive sharp uniform rates over an infinite interval with minimal requirements on the processes: The existence of the moment of any order is not required and the boundedness of relevant functions can be significantly relaxed. Restrictions on kernel functions are also minimal: We allow for kernels with discontinuity, unbounded support, and slowly decaying tails. Our proofs proceed by using the covering-number technique from empirical process theory and exploiting the mixing and martingale properties of the processes. We also present new results on the path-continuity property of Brownian motions and diffusion processes over an infinite time horizon. These path-continuity results, which should also be of some independent interest, are used to control discretization biases of the nonparametric estimators. The obtained convergence results are useful for non/semiparametric estimation and testing problems of diffusion processes.
A Prospective Study of Participation in Optional School Physical Education Using a Self-Determination Theory Framework.

This study examined whether contextual and personal motivational variables, taken from selfdetermination theory, could predict student cognitive and affective experiences in school physical education (PE), as well as participation in optional PE in the following school year. Structural equation modeling analysis with a sample of 302 British adolescents showed that need support provided by the PE teachers was related to student need satisfaction, which in turn predicted self-determined motivation. The latter predicted directly various motivational indices and indirectly future participation in optional PE. Furthermore, multivariate analysis of variance tests showed that those who opted for PE (n 171), compared with those who did not (n 131), reported more positive motivational experiences in the previous school year. The findings call for the promotion of self-determined motivation in PE in order to enhance student positive experiences and participation rates.
Award Number: W81XWH-13-1-0016 TITLE: Underbody Blast Models of TBI Caused by Hyper- Acceleration and Secondary Head Impact PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Gary Fiskum

Blast-related traumatic brain injury (bTBI) resulting from improvised explosive devices is the hallmark injury of recent wars, and affects many returning veterans who experienced either direct or indirect exposure. Many of these veterans have long-term neurocognitive symptoms. However, there is very little evidence to show whether blast-induced acceleration alone, in the absence of secondary impacts, can cause mild TBI. In this study, we examine the effect of under-vehicle blast-induced hyperacceleration (uBIH) of *1700 g on the biochemical and microstrucutral changes in the brain using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Two groups of adult male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to a sham procedure and uBIH, respectively. Axonal and neurochemical alterations were assessed using in vivo DTI and MRS at 2 h, 24 h, and 7 days after uBIH. Significant reduction in mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were observed in the hippocampus, thalamus, internal capsule, and corpus callosum as early as 2 h, and sustained up to 7 days post-uBIH. Total creatine (Cr) and glutamine (Gln) were reduced in the internal capsule at 24 h post-uBIH. The reductions in DTI parameters, Cr and Gln in vivo suggest potential activation of astrocytes and diffuse axonal injury following a single underbody blast, confirming previous histology reports.
How Does Strategic Choice Affect Business Results? A Case Study of Mutual Guarantee Societies

We analyzed the relationship between various strategies and the results for certain strategic variables for Mutual Guarantee Societies (MGSs). After performing a factor analysis, three types of strategies were identified. Subsequently, cluster analysis allowed us to group the MGSs into four clusters. The information obtained from this analysis suggests that MGS results are conditioned by their strategies.
Association between demographic factors, motivation and self-regulation of learning from a Vygotskian perspective in engineering students

We analyzed the association between motivation, demographic factors (age, gender) and self-regulation of learning from the Vygotsky theory in 950 students of the engineering programs of the University of the Guajira between 2014 and 2016. The instrument for collecting the information was the Self-Regulation Inventory for Learning (SRLI) designed by Lindner, Harris and Gordon (1993) which was modified for the requirements of the research and validated by Cronbach's Alpha. For the relationship analysis, the variables were crossed and the bar diagrams and the 2x2 contingency tables were constructed by applying the Chi-Square independence test, which showed the degree of statistical significance among the variables. The value of 0.87 for the Cronbach's Alpha allowed to validate the instrument used. The results indicate (p = 0.0006) that there is an important degree of statistical significance between motivation and self-regulation of learning from Vygotsky's theory with a 95% confidence level. This allowed to identify that the motivation plays an important paper in the students of Engineering of the University of the Guajira, since when this one increases or to diminish, it will change in the same proportion the Autorregulación of the learning if she is weighted from Vigotsky's perspective.
Modelling the Flow of Knowledge and Human Capital: A Framework of Innovative Capital

Recently, the EU Council adopted a new labour migration policy instrument - the EU Blue Cards (BC) - for attracting the highly skilled workers to the EU. The present paper examines the potential impacts, which BC may cause on less developed sending countries (LDC). Our results suggest that the EU BC will reduce human capital in LDC. In addition, BC will also have a negative impact on knowledge capital. These findings suggest that without appropriate policy responses, BC makes developing country growth prospects rather bleak than blue. Therefore, we propose and analyse alternative migration policy instruments for LDC. We find that policies implemented on the demand side of the skilled labour market are the most efficient. In contrast, policies that address the supply side of the skilled labour market are the least efficient, though they might be less costly to implement.
Response of dust accumulation on roadside plant species due to open cast mining at Jhansi-Allahabad NH-76, Uttar Pradesh, India

Deposition of dust on roadside plant and its impact on leaf i.e. leaf pigment concentration, the carotenoid and protein has been investigated on fifteen selected roadside plants species namely Ailanthus excelsa, Azadirachta indica, Butea monosperma, Calotropis procera, Cassia fistula, Datura metel, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus hispida, Ficus infectoria, Ficus religiosa, Holoptelea integrifolia, Millettia pinnata, Nerium oleander, Phoenix dactylifera and Psidium guajava respectively at Jhansi-Allahabad National Highway-76. The variation in terms of dust deposition with species specific result observed during the entire study. Declination of leaf pigment concentration, carotenoid content and protein content indicate the positive impact of dust pollution. Above findings may be helpful to find out some species which is resistant or to cope with open cast mining generated dust pollution in and around mining areas as well as beautification of adjacent highways. The maximum deposition was found in Ficus hispida followed by Calotropis procera, Butea monosperma, Ficus benghalensis, Ailanthus excelsa, Azadirachta indica.
Evolution of the T Tauri star population in the Lupus association

Aims: In a recent study, we derived individual distances for 109 pre-main sequence stars that define the Lupus kinematic association of young stars. Here, we use these new distances to derive the masses and ages of Lupus T Tauri stars with the aim of better constraining the lifetime of their circumstellar disks. Methods: Using the photometric and spectroscopic information available in the literature, we computed the photospheric luminosity of 92 T Tauri stars in the Lupus association. Then, we estimated their masses and ages from theoretical evolutionary models. Based on Monte Carlo simulations and statistical tests, we compare the mass and age distribution of the classical T Tauri stars (CTTS) and weak-line T Tauri (WTTS) in our sample. Results: We show that the CTTSs are on average younger than the WTTSs and that the probability that both T~Tauri subclasses are drawn from the same mass and age parental distribution is very low. Our results favor the scenario proposed earlier for the Taurus-Auriga association, where the CTTSs evolve into WTTSs when their disks are fully accreted by the star. Based on an empirical disk model, we find that the average disk lifetime for the T Tauri stars in the Lupus association is $\tau_{d}=3\times10^{6}\,(M_*/M_{\odot})^{0.55}$ yr. Conclusions: We find evidence that the average lifetime of the circumstellar disks in the Lupus association is shorter than in the Taurus-Auriga association and discuss the implications of this result.
Predictable Signals in Excess Returns: Evidence from Non-Gaussian State Space Models

The present work investigates predictable components in size-based and value-weighted market portfolios excess returns from NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ stocks over US Treasury bills using various Gaussian and non-Gaussian versions of state space or unobserved components models. Our state space or unobserved components model improves on Conrad and Kaul (1988) by taking into account fat tails that are widely documented in the returns series. Statistical hypotheses tests show existence of predictable components in excess returns for most size-based portfolios (Cap-1 through Cap-9) even at percent level of significance. However, for value-weighted market and largest size-based portfolio (Cap-10) the hypothesis tests fail to reveal existence of any predictable component. The results for most size-based portfolios are in conformance with Conrad and Kaul (1988) except the value-weighted market excess returns as well as the largest size-based portfolio (Cap-10). Conrad and Kaul (1988) isolated time-varying expected returns in weekly size-based excess returns using the same methodology but in a Gaussian setting. However, our results on value-weighted market excess returns are in line with Bidarkota and McCulloch (2004) who investigated value-weighted market excess returns in CRSP data.
Including an environmental quality index in a demographic model

This paper presents a new well-being index which allows environmental quality to be measured through CO2 emissions, renewable energies and nuclear power. Its formula derives from a geometric mean used to calculate which things in the human production system warm the planet and which do not. This index has been introduced into a gender-defined stochastic population dynamic mathematical model which measures well-being in a country. The main variables in this model are rates of death, birth, emigration and immigration, as well as three UN indices: Human Development Index, Gender Development Index and Gender Empowerment Index. This model has been extended with variables that allow an environmental quality evaluation, and it has been validated for Spain during the 2001-2010 period. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis has been carried on the simulated future trend (2011-2020) to see which environmental quality variables refer more to deaths, births or the Human Development Index.
Phosphate addition has minimal short-term effects on bacterioplankton community structure of the P-starved Eastern Mediterranean

The effect of the addition of a limiting nutrient to the composition and structure of bacterial communities in oligotrophic environments remains an interesting question. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to study short-term effects of phosphorus addition on bacterioplankton communities in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is a phosphorus-starved ecosystem. Inorganic phosphorus was added to 10 m deep pelagic water which was transported from offshore Crete, Greece, to mesocosms to yield a final concentration of 100 nM. Using 454 16S amplicon sequencing, we found that phosphorus addition during the first 72 h of the experiment had a minimal effect on bacterioplankton community composition and structure, affecting mostly the abundance of the ‘non-unique’ members of the community.
GENETIC VARIABILITY AND DIVERGENCE STUDIES IN ELITE RICE GENOTYPES FOR BIOMETRICAL TRAITS

Rice is the world’s largest food crop, providing the caloric needs of millions of people daily. Rice is the prime cereal in the human diet, supply humanity with 23% of its calorie (Khush, 2003). Oryza sativa is distributed globally with a high concentration in Asia (Vaughan et al., 2003). Globally, rice is cultivated now on 163 million hectares with annual production of around, 719 million tonnes and average productivity of 4.4 tonnes/ha (FAO, 2013-2014). In India, during 2012 13 the production of rice was 104.7 million tonnes from 43.61 million ha and it stands second in position in the world’s production after China. It is estimated that the demand for rice will be 121.2 million tonnes by the year 2030, 129.6 million tonnes by 2040 and 137.3 million tonnes by 2050 for internal consumption (C.R.R.I. 2012-13).
FIRST NEW SOLAR MODELS WITH OPAS OPACITY TABLES

Stellar seismology appears more and more as a powerful tool for a better determination of the fundamental properties of solar-type stars. However, the particular case of the Sun is still challenging. For about a decade now, the helioseismic sound-speed determination has continued to disagree with the standard solar model (SSM) prediction, questioning the reliability of this model. One of the sources of uncertainty could be in the treatment of the transport of radiation from the solar core to the surface. In this Letter, we use the new OPAS opacity tables, recently available for solar modeling, to address this issue. We discuss first the peculiarities of these tables, then we quantify their impact on the solar sound-speed and density profiles using the reduced OPAS tables taken on the grids of the OPAL ones. We use the two evolution codes, Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics and Code Liégeois d’Evolution Stellaire, that led to similar conclusions in the solar radiative zone. In comparison to commonly used OPAL opacity tables, the new solar models are computed for the most recent photospheric composition with OPAS tables and present improvements to the location of the base of the convective zone and to the description of the solar radiative zone in comparison to the helioseismic observations, even if the differences in the Rosseland mean opacity do not exceed 6%. We finally carry out a comparison to a solar model computed with the OP opacity tables.