Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Habitat use by kiore (Rattus exulans) and Norway rats (R. norvegicus) on Kapiti Island, New Zealand.

The continued coexistence of ecologically similar species relies on niche separation in space or time. Four similar species of introduced rodent occur in New Zealand, but the mechanism(s) allowing them to coexist in varying species combinations throughout the country is poorly understood. In order to investigate the coexistence of kiore or Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) and Norway rats (R. norvegicus) on Kapiti Island, rats were kill-trapped in exotic grassland and four forest types between 1992 and 1996. At each trap site, vegetation and microhabitat variables were measured and related to rat capture at that site with the aim of identifying and describing the preferred habitat of each species in the presence of the other. The demography and productivity of each species in each habitat was measured to determine the distribution and success of rats over the island. From 12 202 corrected trap nights, 923 rats were caught (391 Norway, 518 kiore, 14 unknown). Kiore were associated with low-growing vegetation in well-drained, flat areas whereas Norway rats were associated with taller vegetation, growing in steeper areas that were poorly drained. There was no significant inverse relationship between species capture rates. The number of kiore captured varied with year, season, and habitat. Kiore were most common in grassland and kānuka (Kunzea ericoides) forest. However, kiore were larger and produced more offspring per female in kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile) forest. Norway rat capture also varied with year and habitat, but was unaffected by season. Norway rats reached similar sizes, and produced similar numbers of offspring per female, in all habitats. The coexistence of rats on Kapiti Island appears to be due to the variety of habitats present combined with spatial partitioning of those habitats and the presence of some habitats in which kiore are, at least seasonally, very successful.
De ning Institutional Quality-a Game Theoretic Approach

This paper discusses de nitions of institutions and proposes three different game theoretic de nitions of institutional quality. The setting used is a repeated game between an investor and a country. Three de nitions of institutional quality are presented: institutional quality as utility maximization, as credible commitment, and as length of foresight. The merits and drawbacks of the di erent de nitions are discussed, as well as their complementarity and compatibility. The relationship between the technical de nitions, and an example of an actual empirical measure of institutional quality are also touched upon.
Some factors influencing the availability of colostrum to piglets

Five experiments, involving the hand milking of 53 farrowing sows, examined aspects of colostrum yield during and soon after farrowing. The initial and abundant yield of colostrum from a teat (averaging 6 to 10 g/min) declined after several minutes of continuous milking. Thereafter, most colostrum was released in discrete ejections, possibly caused by discrete releases of oxytocin. Colostrum ejections varied greatly in their yield and duration, and were sometimes associated with the birth of a piglet, sounds of other sows nursing, or other factors. Teats varied greatly in their yield. During the initial minutes of milking, the most anterior teats gave, on average, 3 to 5 times more colostrum than the most posterior teats, with a nearly monotonic decline from front to rear. However, the difference between anterior and posterior teats disappeared after several minutes of continuous milking. Stimulation of the anterior teats appeared to cause the release of more colostrum than did either the stimulation of the posterior teats or no stimulation of the udder at all. A strong sucking stimulus, applied to several teats by a milking machine, elicited a large, prolonged release of colostrum. The results suggest that (1) much of the colostrum received by newborn piglets is obtained in discrete ejections rather than in a continuous manner; (2) appropriate stimulation of the udder by the piglets may be important to elicit maximum colostrum yield; and (3) a high initial yield from anterior teats, coupled with a higher yield when anterior teats are stimulated, may help to explain the piglets' preference for anterior positions on the udder.
Equilibrium Determinacy of a Two-Sector AK Model

This paper explores a two-sector model of endogenous growth with AK technologies and production externalities. Unlike the standard one-sector AK model, the two-sector model may involve the relative price dynamics, so that there may exist transitional processes. It is shown that under certain conditions for the relative magnitudes of factor intensities, the balanced growth equilibrium exhibits local indeterminacy.
The suppression of regucalcin gene expression may lead to hepatocarcinogenesis

Regucalcin, which was discovered in 1978 as a calcium-regulatory protein, plays a multifunctional role as a suppressor in signal transduction in various types of cells and tissues. The regucalcin gene (rgn) is localized on the X chromosome. Regucalcin was found to suppress nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid synthesis in liver cells. Overexpression of endogenous regucalcin revealed suppressive effects on proliferation in the modeled rat hepatoma cells due to regulating the gene expression of various proteins that are involved in cell cycle and carcinogenesis. Regucalcin mRNA expression was uniquely downregulated in the development of carcinogenesis in the liver of rats in vivo. The expressions of regucalcin mRNA was found to depress in human hepatoma tissues. The suppressed regucalcin gene expression was found to be associated with progression of hepatocarcinogenesis by proteosome analysis. The regucalcin gene may be a target in the therapy of hepatocarcinoma.
Inclusion of propylene glycol in the diet of sheep and its effect on their lambs’ protein and mineral metabolites

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of propylene glycol (PG) added to the water sheep drank during lactation on protein and mineral metabolites of their suckling lambs. We assessed 24 lambs born to sheep fed levels of propylene glycol in the water (0; 1.5; 3.0 and 4.5%). The sheep were subdivided according to a completely randomized design, in a split-plot scheme. There was no interaction effect between lamb age and amount of PG provided to the sheep on the concentration of protein and mineral metabolites of the lambs. The concentration of total protein, globulin, and albumin: globulin ratio, uric acid and creatinine in the lambs was not affected by the inclusion of PG (p > 0.05). The concentration of urea and magnesium in the lambs presented a quadratic response as a function of the addition of PG; there was linear response for albumin concentration. The addition of PG to the sheep’s diet and the lambs’ age affect the concentration of protein and mineral metabolites in the lambs. However, using PG to feed lactating sheep does not have negative effects on the lambs’ blood parameters, as evidenced by the absence of nutritional deficiency (protein and minerals) in the suckling lambs.
Designing a Teacher Development Programme for improving the Content Knowledge of Grade 12 Mathematics and Science Teachers

This paper profiles a community engaged initiative that is in a form of a teacher development programme (TDP) offered by the Institute for Science and Technology Education (ISTE). The programme sought to improve grade 12 mathematics and science teachers’ content knowledge. The ISTE TDP adopts an iterative approach where feedback from participating teachers informed the planning and design of the following year’s edition. ISTE TDP is based on the teachers’ needs; conducted by facilitators who are significantly versed in the teaching and learning conditions in schools; has interactive sessions that are largely participant-centred; and takes place over 5days of 8hours each. The benefit of ISTE TDP is a capacitated community of teachers with more confidence and enthusiasm.
Ethics and economics: Lewis Gray and the conservation question

In “The Economic Possibilities of Conservation” [1913], Lewis Gray reinterpreted from an economic point of view the idea of conservation which had popularized the American Conservation Movement. He linked intergenerational equity and non-renewable resource extraction rate. Gray’s article can be considered as an antecedent of two significant debates in modern natural resource economics. On the one hand, it is a direct precedent of the environmental discussion about the meaning of discounting. On the other, it is an important element in the historical conformation of the sustainability debate.
Statistic analysis of swarm activities around the Boso Peninsula, Japan: Slow slip events beneath Tokyo Bay?

Seismicity reflects underground stress states, satisfying scaling laws such as Gutenberg-Richter law and Omori-Utsu law. Standard seismicity models based on these scaling laws, such as the Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence (ETAS) model, are useful to identify swarm anomalies in seismicity catalogs. Llenos et al. (2009) applied the ETAS model to swarms triggered by slow slip events (SSEs) and found that stressing rate controls the background seismicity μ suggesting that swarms can be utilized to monitor stress change due to various aseismic processes. Following their work, we analyze the 2002 and 2007 Boso swarms triggered by the Boso SSEs (Ozawa et al., 2007) and a swarm beneath Tokyo Bay, in June 2005. A single ETAS model cannot explain the high seismicity during a swarm. Although a combination of three ETAS models for pre-swarm, swarm, and post-swarm periods better explains the data, a simpler model with an ETAS model and a boxcar function is even better. Similarity of the seismicity model, together with the locations and focal mechanisms, suggests that three swarms share a common source of stress, and the possibility of undetected SSE beneath Tokyo Bay.
Ultrasonic pulse technique for evaluation of mechanical damage in processed coffee beans

The knowledge of the physical characteristics of the coffee bean allows the transition from the conventional storage model in bags to the silo storage, and as an indirect measure of the improvement and conservation of the quality of the stored grain. The elastic modulus allows comparisons on the strength of material. The variations of this occur due to its chemical composition, microstructures and material defects, being able to be used as indicator of the physical integrity of the grain. The ultrasonic pulse technique is an alternative to obtain the elastic modulus in a simple and non-destructive way. In this context, it was proposed the development of a non-destructive methodology that will perform the quality evaluation by determining the elastic modulus of the coffee beans. For this purpose, a reference silo was constructed, reproducing the storage conditions, and the elastic modulus values were determined. The values obtained by the Stress Wave Timer apparatus are between 2.54 and 4.23 MPa, with a maximum load of 8.32 kN, and a calculated vertical pressure of 1,526 kPa. To evaluate the impact of the storage conditions and the loads applied during the non-destructive test, laboratory tests applied in seeds were performed, and the tetrazolium test was the only one able to differentiate the samples. It was concluded that Stress Wave Timer was able to determine the elastic modulus values for the coffee bean mass and could be used as an indicative of the quality.
Competitive strategy in three dimensions: towards a model for enhancing learning

This paper briefly reviews ideas of competitive advantage from the development of Porter’s generic strategy ideas to the present day. It is the first part of a study to investigate ways to improve the teaching and learning of strategy. There has been a history of searching for models that allow the simple classification of firms’ strategies into specific ideal types. These models contain gaps and ambiguous concepts. This paper contends that interweaving the positional ideas of Porter with resource based ideas (Barney, 1991) in a single model allows student to better understand the complexity of real life strategic situations. A three dimensional model that can be used in such an exercise is proposed. The strategy cube model uses price, cost and perceived benefits for understanding competitive advantage from both a market and resource perspective (Jenkins, 2004, Jenkins, 2005). The model also seeks to emphasise the dynamic nature of strategy and the concept that firms exist in competitive situations that may be temporary. The aim is to help students to understand the complex nature of strategy as something beyond positioning in a static market. Some initial results indicate that students using this model do gain an understanding of competition and competitive advantage that is multi-faceted. It is intended to use this model in student assignments, to assess the assignments and then interview students about their understanding. Teachers will also be interviewed in future studies. Through this process it is intended to identify areas that students find troublesome and hence further improve strategy teaching. These ideas are related to those of threshold concepts in that it is intended to help students to gain greater insights into strategy by having a greater understanding of its underpinning concepts (Meyer and Land, 2005).
Innovations and productivity: the shift during the 2008 crisis

Abstract This paper investigates how the recent crisis of 2008 changed relations between innovation and firm performance in Western Europe. We apply a structural framework of CDM modelling, which incorporates different stages of the knowledge creation process and takes into account the complex nature of innovations. The study is based on a balanced panel data of 420 listed manufacturing firms from the U.K., Germany and France. All the information is gathered from common sources, thereby reducing subjectivity, a typical problem in the field. We found, the crisis resulted in appreciable changes in the model. The most important evidence is enhancement of the role of firm resources in the post-recession period. We also reveal larger barriers for innovations, increased uncertainty and lower state dependence in R&D engagement, product creation and economic performance. These results could indicate the ‘cleaning effect’ of the crisis, which has worsened the business environment and enhanced competition.
Detection of Two TeV Shell-type Remnants at GeV Energies with FERMI LAT: HESS J1731-347 and SN 1006

We report the first high-significance GeV γ-ray detections of supernova remnants HESS J1731−347 and SN 1006, both of which have been previously detected by imaging atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes above 1 TeV. Using 8 years of Fermi-LAT Pass 8 data at energies between 1 GeV and 2 TeV, we detect emission at the position of HESS J1731−347 with a significance of and a spectral index of . The hardness of the index and the good connection with the TeV spectrum of HESS J1731−347 support an association between the two sources. We also confirm the detection of SN 1006 at with a spectral index of . The northeast (NE) and southwest (SW) limbs of SN 1006 were also fit separately, resulting in the detection of the NE region ( ) and the non-detection of the SW region. The significance of different spectral components for the two limbs is , providing first indications of an asymmetry in the GeV γ-ray emission.
A Study of Etiological And Clinical Profile with associated Risk Factors of Deep Vein Thrombosis Detected In A Hospital Based Setting And Review of Literature of This As An Emerging Health Problem In Hospitals

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the commonest thrombotic manifestations encountered in a hospital setting due to several causes. Method: This cross sectional, observational study was conducted in a tertiary care centre in Western India on 30 patients of proven deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to assess clinical profile, etiology and risk factors. Data was compiled in Epi info version 7 software for analysis. Results: The age group most commonly affected was 31-44 years (36.67%) with a male preponderance (80%). Most patients of DVT had Body Mass Index (BMI) 20-25(43.33%). The most common risk factor was immobilization (80%) out of which,50% patients were immobile due to coexisting medical problems and 30% due to fracture(13.3%) or other trauma(16.67%). Congestive cardiac failure (26.67%),diabetes with urosepsis who were in intensive care unit, one of whom had mechanical ventilation ( 20%)were the common medical morbidities. The remaining 20% had DVT due to mostly acquired and less commonly hereditary causes of hypercoagulability.83. 33% patients had proximal DVT and the rest had distal DVT.13.33% patients had pulmonary embolism successfully treated. There were no deaths. Conclusion: In this study, as compared to others, younger economically productive age group with normal BMI or mild obesity is affected. The main risk factor is immobilisation due to medical comorbidities and traumatic injuries.
Construction of Cauchy Data of Vacuum Einstein field equations Evolving to Black Holes

We show the existence of complete, asymptotically flat Cauchy initial data for the vacuum Einstein field equations, free of trapped surfaces, whose future development must admit a trapped surface. Moreover, the datum is exactly a constant time slice in Minkowski space-time inside and exactly a constant time slice in Kerr space-time outside. The proof makes use of the full strength of Christodoulou's work on the dynamical formation of black holes and Corvino-Schoen's work on the constructions of initial data set.
The effect of replacing soybean oil with glycerol in feeding mixtures designed for utility layers on their production and state of health

The objective of this experiment was to replace soybean oil with glycerol in feeding mixtures for layers and assess its effect on performance, selected parameters of egg quality and health. Layers were divided into control (C) and experimental (E1, E2) groups of 24 layers each. The experiment was performed from week 20 until week 44 of layers’ age. Soybean oil replacement with glycerol reached 50 and 100 % in experimental feeding mixtures E1 and E2, as compared to the control. Oil replacement with glycerol in experimental groups resulted in a significant decrease (P≤0.01) in weight of eggs, as compared to the control group - C (65.5±5.780 g), E1 (64.53±4.640 g) and E2 (63.66±5.610 g), and egg shell stability (N/cm 2 ) - C 33.79±6.557, E1 31.96±6.995 and E2 31.8±6.621. The difference in the weight of egg shell between groups C (7.13±0.687 g) and E2 (6.85±0.670 g) was highly significant (P≤0.01), the difference between E1 (7.00±0.820 g) and E2 groups for the same parameter was significant (P≤0.05). No significant differences were found between mean values of the weight of egg yolk and white. With regard to feed consumption, 50 % replacement of oil with glycerol did not increase significantly the daily consumption of a feeding mixture per layer (1 egg) - C 122 g (132 g) and E1 123g (136 g), as compared to 100 % replacement in E2 131 g (150 g). The analysis of blood plasma after the prolonged continuous administration of glycerol in a feed did not show any negative effect on layers’ health.
Study of the Relationship between Empowerment and Quality of Staff Working Life of Iran Telecommunication Company

The aim of this research is to identify the relationship between empowerment and quality of work life in Iran Telecommunication Company. This empowers and increases staff performance, which would develop organizations. Therefore, higher income and quality of working conditions enhance the performance of the status of the company. Quality of working life includes legalism, growth opportunities, fairly payment, social affiliation, and the general atmosphere of life, social integration, safe work environment and the development of capabilities. Empowerment includes effectiveness, significance, sense of competence and the right choice. Research methodology is correlation and functional and data collection method is documentary and survey questionnaires. The researcher made questionnaire for the quality of working life and for empowering, he used from PEQ standard questionnaire. The population includes employees of Iran Telecommunication Company with 240 people that were selected by using Cochran formula with 147 people. The output results of the SPSS software show confirmed the relationship between employee empowerment and working life quality with amount of 0.734 and the significant level of 0.001. A significant and positive correlation was found between empowering and growth opportunities and variables of legalism, independence and social integration.
Optimizing seed germination threatened endemic species of the Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium boiss.)

Persian shallot grows as a wild plant in Zagros Mountain. In this experiment, attempt was made to study the different aspects of Allium hirtifolium Boiss germination for the first time in controlled laboratory conditions. In the first experiment, treatments were 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of stratification. In the second experiment, seeds were imbibed in 0, 500 and 1000 ppm GA3 for 12 h and transferred to an incubator at 5, 10, 15, 25°C. Results showed that an increased stratification time improved Germination percentage after the sixth week in 4°C. The GA3 concentration did not affect the germination percentage. A significant increase in mean germination time (MGT) was observed in treatments where GA3 concentration increased. Maximum germination percentage reached the highest amount (38%) at 10°C. 10°C was the temperature, which allowed the lowest MGT, meaning the greatest germination rate. In general, 10°C temperature after prolonged period of stratification in 4°C were sufficient for germination of Iranian shallot native to the central part of Iran. Key words: Germination rate, endemic, GA3, stratification, Iranian shallot.
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT CHOICES AND IPO FIRM SURVIVAL

We empirically examine the impact of firm-level strategic investment choices on post-issue operating performance and survival of initial public offerings (IPOs). The relationship between variables associated with strategic investment choices and the probability of occurrence and timing of post-IPO failure is modeled using the Cox Proportional Hazard Model. Our results indicate that while issuing firm’s investment in R&D above industry norms is negatively associated with post-issue operating performance, it is positively related to probability of survival and time to failure. Further, the extent of diversification is positively associated with post-IPO operating performance and both probability of survival and time to failure. Overall, our results indicate that investments by issuing firms in expanding the breadth of their product line and in R&D expenditures enhance the ability of IPO issuing firms to remain viable for longer periods of time, and thereby allow them time to adjust to the structural and often destabilizing changes that occur as a result of going public. Our study provides new insights on the impact of managerial investment decisions on subsequent performance of newly public firms.
CURRENT ACCOUNTS DEFICITS SUSTAINABILITY: IMPLICATIONS OF INTERTEMPORAL FOREIGN BORROWING CONSTRAINT FOR PAKISTAN

Theory of intertemporal budget constraints is applied to current account deficits of Pakistan for 1980:12004:2 periods. The aim of this study is to demonstrate whether the foreign debt arising from deficit current accounts policies has sustainability in the current economic policies of Pakistan. By means of the revenues and expenditures of current accounts, it is tested if current account deficits are too large. The results obtained have demonstrated that current account deficits are not sustainable.