Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Corporate Tax Lobbying Affect a Firm's Tax Rate?

Corporate lobbying has undergone a large amount of growth in the past decade and it continues to overshadow political campaign contributions. However, empirical studies on the topic are limited. By using a unique dataset of U.S. firms with publicly available financial information, I assess the benefits accrued to firms from lobbying for tax purposes. I find that firms that spend more on registered lobbying pay lower effective tax rates. In particular, an increase of 1% on lobbying expenditures lowers effective tax rates by 0.852 percentage points for the average firm that lobbies. When aggregated across all firms, for $7 billion of total tax lobbying expenditure, this results in a massive amount tax savings of roughly $65 billion. Therefore, the marginal return for an additional $1 of lobbying is $9.
Temperature and Density Effects on the Local Segmental and Global Chain Dynamics of Poly(oxybutylene)

Dielectric spectroscopy measurements over a broad range of temperature and pressure were carried out on poly(oxybutylene) (POB), a type A polymer (dielectrically active normal mode). There are three dynamic processes appearing at lower frequency: the normal and segmental relaxation modes and a conductivity arising from ionic impurities. In combination with pressure−volume−temperature measurements, the dielectric data were used to assess the respective roles of thermal energy and density in controlling the relaxation times and their variation with T and P. We find that the local segmental and the global relaxation times are both a single function of the product of the temperature times the specific volume, with the latter raised to the power of 2.65. The fact that this scaling exponent is the same for both modes indicates they are governed by the same local friction coefficient, an idea common to most models of polymer dynamics. Nevertheless, near Tg, their temperature dependences diverge. The magnitude o.
Evaluating Text Segmentation

This thesis investigates the evaluation of automatic and manual text segmentation. Text segmentation is the process of placing boundaries within text to create segments according to some task-dependent criterion. An example of text segmentation is topical segmentation, which aims to segment a text according to the subjective definition of what constitutes a topic. A number of automatic segmenters have been created to perform this task, and the question that this thesis answers is how to select the best automatic segmenter for such a task. This requires choosing an appropriate segmentation evaluation metric, confirming the reliability of a manual solution, and then finally employing an evaluation methodology that can select the automatic segmenter that best approximates human performance. A variety of comparison methods and metrics exist for comparing segmentations (e.g., WindowDiff, Pk), and all save a few are able to award partial credit for nearly missing a boundary. Those comparison methods that can award partial credit unfortunately lack consistency, symmetricity, intuition, and a host of other desirable qualities. This work proposes a new comparison method named boundary similarity (B) which is based upon a new minimal boundary edit distance to compare two segmentations. Near misses are frequent, even among manual segmenters (as is exemplified by the low inter-coder agreement reported by many segmentation studies). This work adapts some inter-coder agreement coefficients to award partial credit for near misses using the new metric proposed herein, B. The methodologies employed by many works introducing automatic segmenters evaluate them simply in terms of a comparison of their output to one manual segmentation of a text, and often only by presenting nothing other than a series of mean performance values (along with no standard deviation, standard error, or little if any statistical hypothesis testing). This work asserts that one segmentation of a text cannot constitute a “true” segmentation; specifically, one manual segmentation is simply one sample of the population of all possible segmentations of a text and of that subset of desirable segmentations. This work further asserts that an adapted inter-coder agreement statistics proposed herein should be used to determine the reproducibility and reliability of a coding scheme and set of manual codings, and then statistical hypothesis testing using the specific comparison methods and methodologies demonstrated herein should be used to select the best automatic segmenter. This work proposes new segmentation evaluation metrics, adapted inter-coder agreement coefficients, and methodologies. Most important, this work experimentally compares
InGaAs Tunneling Field-Effect-Transistors With Atomic-Layer-Deposited Gate Oxides

In<sub>0.7</sub>Ga<sub>0.3</sub>As tunneling field-effect-transistors (TFETs) using the p<sup>+</sup> (6 nm)/undoped (6 nm) tunneling junction with 5-nm HfO<sub>2</sub> gate oxides have been demonstrated with an on-current of 50 μA/μm and a minimum subthreshold swing (SS) of 86 mV/dec. The impacts of tunneling junction structures on TFETs' performance have been investigated. It has been found that In<sub>0.7</sub>Ga<sub>0.3</sub>As TFETs with the p<sup>+</sup> (4 nm)/undoped (8 nm) tunneling junction provide ~ 80% higher on -currents than In<sub>0.7</sub>Ga<sub>0.3</sub>As TFETs with the p<sup>+</sup> (6 nm)/undoped (6 nm) junction, and In<sub>0.7</sub>Ga<sub>0.3</sub>As TFETs exhibit much higher on-currents than In<sub>0.53</sub>Ga<sub>0.47</sub>As TFETs. Different atomic-layer-deposited gate oxides have been used, and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/HfO<sub>2</sub> bilayer gate oxides effectively improve the SS compared with HfO<sub>2</sub> single gate oxide. The effects of equivalent oxide thickness scaling and operating temperatures on the on-current, the SS, and the gate-bias-dependent Esaki diode behavior have been also investigated.
Establishment of sexual dimorphism in north indian population by odontometric study of permanent maxillary canine teeth

Aim: To investigate whether sexual dimorphism can be established by odontometric study of permanent maxillary canine teeth as well as inter-canine width in north Indian population. Study Design: The study was carried out at department of oral and maxillofacial pathology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India on students and patients reporting at OPD. Out of total 180 subjects examined 90 subjects were female and 90 were male. Impressions of the upper arch were made using alginate and casts poured in dental stone. The mesiodistal diameter (MD) of the crown of permanent maxillary canine both on right and left sides and inter-canine width were measured. From these measurements, maxillary canine index was calculated. The percentage of sexual dimorphism (SD) was assessed for all the parameters. Results: In the present study, the MD of maxillary canine for both right (P = 0.001) and left side (P = 0.005) was significantly higher among male subjects than females, Similar observation was found for inter-canine width too (P = 0.0001). However, the maxillary canine index for right and left was almost similar (P > 0.05) for both male and female subjects. The SD in right and left MDs of maxillary canine was 4.2% and 3.6% respectively. For, inter-canine width it was maximum (13.7%). However, SD in right and left canine index showed negative values (−2.1% and -0.9% respectively). Conclusion: There was SD in MD and inter-canine width of permanent maxillary canine teeth. SD was more on right permanent maxillary canine teeth than left permanent maxillary canine.
Environment challenges in Africa: further dimensions to the trade, MNCs and energy debate

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the linkage between environmental challenges, multinational corporations (MNCs) activities, trade and energy in Africa; and further elaborate on the role of institutions, as an intervening variable. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, the authors extended the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) model by including indicators of the presence of MNCs, trade and energy in the basic EKC model that has measures of environmental pollution (CO2), economic growth (gross domestic product per capita) and its squared value. The role of institutions was also considered and included as an inter-mediating variable. This model was tested on a sample of 27 African countries, for the period 1996-2010. The systems GMM was applied for the empirical analysis. This approach was aimed at circumventing the possibility of reverse causality and endogenous explanatory variables-such as institutions. Findings – Trade and MNCs’ activities may not have much contemporaneous impac.
Comparison of Push Nets and Tow Nets for Sampling Larval Fish with Implications for Assessing Littoral Habitat Utilization

Abstract Understanding sampling effectiveness is critical to gear selection and the determination of larval fish dynamics. We evaluated bow-mounted push nets for collecting larval fish across reservoirs and habitats and compared them with traditional tow nets. By means of a pushed 0.5-m-diameter conical net and towed 0.5-m-diameter and 0.75-m-diameter conical nets, ichthyoplankton samples were taken during daylight hours from May to July on 21 reservoirs that varied in morphological and environmental characteristics. The push net had higher catches than the same-diameter tow net. However, the push net was not as efficient as the larger-sized tow net in July, when larvae are larger. For pelagic habitats, bow-mounted push nets or large tow nets will sample the larval fish community more efficiently than traditional 0.5-m-diameter conical tow nets. We also assessed push nets for sampling nearshore littoral habitats (<1.0 m in depth). Across reservoirs the littoral areas had much higher catch rates than did t.
Azotobacter chroococcum: Utilization and potential use for agricultural crop production: An overview

It is important to develop integrated crop production strategies that enhance the productive ability of crops in a sustainable manner for the developing nations worldwide. Intensive farming practice of high yielding crop production is mainly dependent on chemical inputs as fertilizer, pesticide and weedicides. However, excessive use of chemical inputs has negative impact on environment in the form of soil infertility, ground water contamination, imbalance of biological ecosystem and cost inputs. Soil health is an important aspect of productive sustainable agriculture and in recent years maintaining soil quality can reduce the problems of land degradation, decreasing soil fertility through use of advanced technologies in the field of biofertilizers. Biofertilizers can produce mineral nutrients through natural processes of biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization and also stimulation plant growth through the synthesis of plant growth promoting substances. Thus, in recent years biofertilizers have become an important component of integrated management for enhanced crop production. This paper reviews the facts and observations regarding an important biofertilizer microorganism Azotobacter chroococcum and its potential for crop production based.
Chapter 13 Expression and Nutritional Regulation of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Genes in the Ruminant Mammary Gland : Relationship with Milk Fatty Acid Composition

In lactating ruminants, stearoyl-CoA desaturase ( SCD ) gene expression in the mammary gland focused particular attention due to its implication in milk technological and nutritional qualities for human consumers. Indeed, the mammary enzyme SCD or ∆9-desaturase by introducing a cis double bond between carbons 9 and 10 of the fatty acids (FA) has a key role in the synthesis of milk monounsaturated FA and specifi c conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers only found in ruminant products. Then, in milk, about 60 % of oleic (cis-9-18:1; a major milk FA), 50–56 % of palmitoleic (cis-9-16:1), 90 % of myristoleic (cis-9-14:1), and >60 % of the major isomer of CLA (cis-9, trans-11-18:2 or rumenic acid) originate from mammary gland synthesis by the action of SCD enzyme on circulating stearic (18:0), palmitic (16:0), myristic (14:0), and vaccenic acids (trans-11-18:1), respectively. This action is very important due to the impact of milk fat concentration and FA profi le in determining milk nutritional quality. Indeed, certain saturated FA (mainly 12:0, 14:0 and 16:0) and trans-FA are considered to exert negative effects when consumed in excess, whereas others (4:0, anteiso-15:0, cis-9-18:1, 18:3 n -3, and some CLA isomers) have potentially positive effects on human health (Parodi 2005 ; Shingfi eld et al. 2008b ). For example, cis-9, trans-11-18:2, the major isomer of CLA in ruminant milk, exhibits anticarcinogenic and antiatherogenic (Wahle et al. 2004 ) properties in animal models. Thus, by contributing to the synthesis of FA that are benefi cial from the point of view of human nutrition, e.g., cis-9, trans11-CLA and to a lesser extent cis-9-18:1, SCD contribute to improve the nutritional quality of milk fat. In addition, by introducing a cis-9 double bond to FA, Chapter 13 Expression and Nutritional Regulation of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Genes in the Ruminant Mammary Gland: Relationship with Milk Fatty Acid Composition
Lateral heterogeneity and azimuthal anisotropy of the upper mantle: Love and Rayleigh waves 100–250 s

The lateral heterogeneity and apparent anisotropy of the upper mantle are studied by measuring Rayleigh and Love wave phase velocities in the period range 100-250 s. Spherical harmonic descriptions of the lateral heterogeneity are obtained for order and degree up to 1 = m = 10. Slow regions are evident at the East Pacific Rise, northeast Africa, Tibet, Tasman Sea, southwestern North America, and triple junctions in the northern Atlantic and Indian oceans. Fast regions occur in Australia, western Pacific, and the southern Atlantic. These features are also found by a completely different analysis based on the Backus-Gilbert method. The Backus-Gilbert method also shows that the obtained phase velocities are averaged values within an area of about 2000-km radius and the errors are about 1% of the phase velocity in the zeroth-order spherically symmetric earth. Inversion for azimuthal dependence shows that for low angular order the fast phase velocity directions seem to correlate well with the plate motion vectors. However, resolution analysis by the Backus-Gilbert method shows that the current data do not have enough resolution for everywhere on the globe. Only a few regions currently have adequate azimuthal coverage. Thus confirmation of the above correlation requires a more complete data set.
Herbivory in Complex and Simple Tropical Successional Ecosystems

To investigate the relationship between herbivory and floristic complexity, we measured losses to herbivores in four 0.1- to 4-yr-old tropical ecosystems: (1) unman? ipulated successional vegetation, (2) successional vegetation with higher plant diversity than the unmanipulated succession, (3) an ecosystem of investigator-controlled species composition, designed to imitate the physiognomy and species richness of the successional vegetation, and (4) monocultures of maize, cassava, and Cordia alliodora. We measured herbivory rates (loss of leaf area per day) on dominant plant species in each system and aggregated these over species to estimate rates for plant communities. Although herbivory rates varied widely among species, losses to herbivores in terms of mass of leaf tissue lost per unit of ground area were approximately equal in the four systems, 71.5to78. 5gm-2- yr~ *. Ecosystems with greater plant species richness lost a lower proportion of available leaf area and exhibited lower temporal variability in herbivory. Species-rich ecosystems had relatively constant, predictable rates of herbivory due to counterbalancing of low rates on some species with high rates on others. The rate of herbivory on any species was strongly influenced by the nature of the surrounding vegetation. Although surrounding vegetation often conferred protection upon potential pest targets, in some cases a plant species ex- perienced increased susceptibility to herbivores through association with other species.
Muscle Fiber Types and Training

HOW SKELETAL MUSCLES ADAPT to a repeated stimulus depends, to a large extent, on the neuromuscular recruitment of muscle fibers as well as on the inherent characteristics of the muscles themselves. The specific types of fibers that make up individual muscles greatly influence the way your clients will adapt to their training programs. There is a reason why some people get bigger muscles more easily than others and why some people are able to run for much longer periods of time without fatigue. In order to design programs that will work best for each of your clients, it is important for fitness professionals to understand at least some of the complexities of skeletal muscles.
Optimizing Income over Feed Supplement Costs

Large fluctuations in milk and supplemental feed prices create anxiety and uncertainties. Profit margin may shrink rapidly when milk price goes down and supplemental feed prices go up. Thus, it is important that correct decisions are made to maximize return on supplemental feed expenses. The change in prices and milk production response to feed supplements are especially important because they impact directly the profitability of dairy farms. Supplements might represent the largest portion of expenses and milk is by far the most important revenue generator in a dairy enterprise. Usually, more than 90% of dairy farm revenue comes from the milk check and more than 40% of the expenses are used on purchased feeds. Analyses from surface responses to income over feed cost for different crude protein (CP) levels have been studied in the past (Roffler et al., 1986), but the distinction between rumen undegradable protein (RUP) protein and rumen degradable protein (RDP) creates a need to further fine-tune the formulation of supplements for maximum income over feed cost. Volatile market conditions that are greatly impacting feeds and milk prices require the ability to make strategic ration formulation adjustments promptly and efficiently to maintain dairy margins and remain economically competitive. An interactive simulation model may be beneficial in exploring those strategic decisions in responses to fluctuating milk and feed prices.
A submilliwatt terahertz high-temperature superconductive photomixer array source: analysis and design

A continuous-wave terahertz photomixer array source made of a high-temperature superconductor material is proposed, and its radiation characteristic is studied. Employing photomixer/antenna elements in an array configuration increases the available terahertz power. It is shown that a submilliwatt terahertz power is achievable from a typical array structure. The beam steering capability of the proposed device is also investigated.
THE NAKED AND THE DEAD: THE REPRESENTATION OF THE DEAD AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OTHER IN CONTEMPORARY CINEMA: THE CASE OF M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN

The article proposes a hermeneutic approach to the films of M. Night Shyamalan based on a study of the convergence of three parallel processes: the detailed use of planning and, most of all, the shotcountershot, and the dialectic between field and out of field, the open construction of otherness; and, lastly, the narrative motif of the dead person who returns. The director manages to link those three aspects with a detailed investigation into the possibilities of the fantastic genre in order to metaphorically approach the problems of contemporary society and a new involvement of the viewer in the suspension of disbelief required by fiction.
Interventions that change clinician behaviour: mapping the literature

A safety support structure is provided which comprises a post with upper and lower ends adapted to abut firmly against a ceiling surface and a floor surface, and an accessory mounting region disposed between the upper end and the lower end. The post has a length adjustment means and a pressure indicating means to indicate whether the pressure on the structure, when positioned between a floor surface and ceiling surface, lies inside or outside a predetermined range so as to avoid inflicting damage on the floor or ceiling and to inhibit slippage of the post. The accessory mounting region carries mounting formations, to cooperate with laterally extending support accessories clamped to it and positively to resist axial and/or rotational displacement of the support accessories relative to the post.
Mitochondrial DNA diversity, population structure, and conservation genetics of four native carps within the Yangtze River, China

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon piceus), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), and black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) rank first, second, fourth, and seventh in world fish production. In China, the Yangtze River harbours the most important natural populations of these species. We performed a polymerase chain reaction n restriction fragment length poymorphism analysis on 365 juvenile fish representing three nursery grounds to provide a first assessment of the mitochondrial DNA diversity in these species and test the hypothesis that they are composed of more than one genetic stock. The mitochondrial DNA diversity was high in silver, bighead, and black carp, and much less in grass carp. Analysis of heterogeneity of genotype frequency, fixation indices, intersite molecular variance, and localization indices indicated that juvenile silver, bighead, and black carp from different nursery areas belong to genetically distinct populations. These results suggest that their population structure may be determined by the number of environmental settings that permit closure of their life cycle. They also imply that carp from the Yangtze River cannot be managed as a single unit and that human disturbance through exploitation and habitat modifications, in particular the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, will have differential impacts on fish abundance for different parts of the river.
Assessment of Water Quality of Euphrates River Using Cluster Analysis

Multivariate statistical method including cluster analysis (CA) was used to assess temporal and spatial variations in the water quality of Euphrates River, Iraq, for a period 2008-2009 using 16 parameters at 11 sampling sites. Hierarchical CA grouped the 8 months into three periods (I, II and III) and classified the 11 sampling sites into two groups (I and II) based on similarities of water quality characteristics. The temporal pattern shows that April has higher pollution level relative to the other months. Spatially, sampling site 7 (S7) has lower pollution level while the other sampling sites have higher pollution level. Thus, this study shows usefulness of cluster analysis method for analyzing and interpreting of surface water dataset to assess the temporal and spatial variations in the water quality parameters and the optimization of regional water quality sampling network.
Pacific plate‐motion change at the time of the Hawaiian‐Emperor bend constrains the viscosity of Earth's asthenosphere

Important constraints on asthenospheric viscosity come primarily from modeling the glacial rebound of the past 20 kyr, but remain somewhat loose because of the intrinsic resolving power of these models. We obtain narrower bounds by building on the notion that the asthenosphere also controls the ability to change plate motions over Myr. We focus on the Pacific kinematic change at the time of the Hawaiian‐Emperor bend event, which is linked to the coeval inception of subduction in the Western Pacific. We sample plausible asthenospheric viscosity and thickness values by requiring the rate at which torque varied to generate the observed kinematics consistent with the nature of subduction initiation. Uncertainties on the bend event duration and the occurrence of Pacific hot spots drift do not hamper our results that suggest that the asthenosphere viscous response to vertical shear over kyr is consistent with that to horizontal shear over Myr.