Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coordination with Flexible Information Acquisition

We study flexible information acquisition in a coordination game. “Flexible” acquisition means that players choose not only how much but also what kind of information to acquire. Information acquisition has a cost proportional to reduction of entropy. Hence, players will collect the information most relevant to their welfare but can be rationally inattentive to other aspects of the fundamental. When information is cheap, this flexibility enables players to acquire information that makes efficient coordination possible, which also leads to multiple equilibria. This result contrasts with the global game literature, where information structure is less flexible and cheap information leads to a unique equilibrium with inefficient coordination.
Variations of leaf N and P concentrations in shrubland biomes across northern China : phylogeny , climate , and soil

Concentrations of leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are two key traits of plants for ecosystem functioning and dynamics. Foliar stoichiometry varies remarkably among life forms. However, previous studies have focused on the stoichiometric patterns of trees and grasses, leaving a significant knowledge gap for shrubs. In this study, we explored the intraspecific and interspecific variations of leaf N and P concentrations in response to the changes in climate, soil property, and evolutionary history. We analysed 1486 samples composed of 163 shrub species from 361 shrubland sites in northern China encompassing 46.1 (86.7–132.8 E) in longitude and 19.8 (32.6–52.4 N) in latitude. Leaf N concentrations decreased with precipitation, while leaf P concentrations decreased with temperature and increased with precipitation and soil total P concentrations. Both leaf N and P concentrations were phylogenetically conserved, but leaf P concentrations were less conserved than leaf N concentrations. At the community level, climate explained more interspecific variation of leaf nutrient concentrations, while soil nutrients explained most of the intraspecific variation. These results suggested that leaf N and P concentrations responded to climate, soil, and phylogeny in different ways. Climate influenced the community chemical traits through the shift in species composition, whereas soil directly influenced the community chemical traits. New patterns were discovered using our observations on specific regions and vegetation types, which improved our knowledge of broad biogeographic patterns of leaf chemical traits.
Effect of Formulation and Application Time of Day on Detecting Dicamba in the Air under Field Conditions

Abstract The development of dicamba-tolerant and other auxin-tolerant crops will enable the use of these effective herbicides in soybean and cotton at application timings such as at planting or over-the-top that are not currently possible. This research examined the effect of various factors on detection of postapplication amounts of dicamba in the air under field conditions by coupling a sample collection system with advanced chemical analysis of those samples. The quantity of dimethylamine salt of dicamba that was detected within 48 hr after application was two times greater (P < 0.05) than the quantity of diglycoamine salt formulation based on field studies in 2009. Regardless of application timing, the amount of detected dicamba was greatest during the 0 to 12 hr time period after application. However, the total detected after 48 hr was less for evening applications (5 micrograms [µg]) compared with midday (17 µg) or morning (14 µg) applications based on 2010 field trials. Average ambient air temperature (and other weather variables) correlated with higher detection levels of dicamba in the air in the field. Nomenclature: Dicamba, soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.
Performance Feedback: How Structure, Culture, and Agency Affects Feedback

Federal and state mandates have placed an added pressure on teachers to demonstrate “effective” instructional practices. These mandates also affect the role of a principal, as an evaluator of “effective” instructional strategies, and as an instructional leader who continuously needs to build teacher capacity to satisfy these mandates. Accountability mandates promise to improve students’ academic performance but they have lacked professional development that would provide the support teachers and principals need to achieve success. Feedback is arguably a valuable mechanism to build teacher capacity and respond to accountability pressures, however, the implementation of feedback and its consequences for teacher’s professional growth is not well understood. In general, research on efforts to improve educational outcomes show that structural, cultural and agentive factors, in interaction, influence educational outcomes. Using this theoretical frame, this study examines the factors that support or challenge the feedback that occurs between principals and teachers in an educational context. To understand feedback processes, a qualitative comparative case study was conducted at two school sites in a southern Californian district. To gather multiple perspectives on the implementation of feedback at each school, two principals and eight teachers were interviewed. The findings of this study suggest that principals’ beliefs regarding feedback, prioritization and strategies used by the principal increase teachers’ willingness to use feedback to improve their teaching. Teachers see the perceived benefits when: they have trust in their principal, feedback is tied to a planned goal, there is a clear understanding of the feedback process, and teachers have a growth mindset. Additionally, the findings suggest that context has an influence on feedback. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that when teachers and principals do not define feedback as professional development, there are implications for practice, although more research is warranted in this area. This study deepens our understanding of what makes and does not make the implementation of feedback at a school site successful and exposes the factors that influence teachers’ willingness to receive feedback from their principals. It offers significant implications for principals and policy makers who seek to enact strategies that can build teacher capacity. DEDICATION To my parents, Ruben and Angelica, without your unconditional love, support, and guidance I would not be where I am today. I owe everything to you both. This is for you. To my husband, Pierre, my inspiration for life’s journey. I could not have made it without you.
Effects of Different Techniques of Malolactic Fermentation Induction on Diacetyl Metabolism and Biosynthesis of Selected Aromatic Esters in Cool-Climate Grape Wines

The effects of different malolactic bacteria fermentation techniques on the bioconversion of aromatic compounds in cool-climate grape wines were examined. During three wine seasons, red and white grape wines were produced using various malolactic fermentation induction techniques: Coinoculation, sequential inoculation, and spontaneous process. Volatile compounds (diacetyl and the products of its metabolism, and selected ethyl fatty acid esters) were extracted by solid phase microextraction. Compounds were identified with a multidimensional gas chromatograph—GC × GC-ToFMS with ZOEX cryogenic (N2) modulator. Sensory evaluation of the wines was also performed. It was found that the fermentation-derived metabolites studied were affected by the malolactic bacteria inoculation regime. Quantitatively, ethyl lactate, diethyl succinate, and ethyl acetate dominated as esters with the largest increase in content. The total concentration of ethyl esters was highest for the coinoculation technique, while the highest concentration of diacetyl was noted for the spontaneous technique. Controlled malolactic fermentation, especially using the coinoculation technique, can be proposed as a safe and efficient enological practice for producing quality cool-climate grape wines enriched with fruity, fresh, and floral aromas.
Diet of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) from the continental slope and oceanic features of the Ross Sea region, Antarctica

Abstract The diet of Dissostichus mawsoni captured by bottom longline in the Ross Sea region was examined during 2003, 2005 and 2010. The diet of sub-adult toothfish was similar to adult toothfish, comprising mainly benthic fishes and cephalopods. Sub-adult toothfish ate a greater variety of smaller prey than adults, including smaller fish and prawns. Grenadiers (Macrourus spp.) were the most important fish and overall prey species. On the continental slope, icefish (Channichthyidae) and eel cods (Muraenolepididae) were also important fish prey, while Psychroteuthis glacialis was the most important cephalopod prey. On oceanic features, toothfish fed mainly on Macrourus spp. but also fed on Antimora rostrata, cephalopods and the occasional mesopelagic to epipelagic fish. Diet varied significantly with toothfish size and location on northern parts of the Mawson and Iselin banks of the Ross Sea continental slope. There was no significant temporal change in diet composition.
NiFeO x as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction ( OR ) and Evolution ( OE ) Reaction in Alkaline Media

This article reports the two-step synthesis of NiFeOx nanomaterials and their characterization and bifunctional electrocatalytic activity measurements in alkaline electrolyte for metal-air batteries. The samples were mostly in layered double hydroxide at the initial temperature, but upon heat treatment, they were converted to NiFe2O4 phases. The electrochemical behaviour of the different samples was studied by linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry on the glassy carbon electrode. The OER catalyst activity was observed for low mass loadings (0.125 mg cm−2), whereas high catalyst loading exhibited the best performance on the ORR side. The sample heat-treated at 250 ◦C delivered the highest bi-functional oxygen evolution and reduction reaction activity (OER/ORR) thanks to its thin-holey nanosheet-like structure with higher nickel oxidation state at 250 ◦C. This work further helps to develop low-cost electrocatalyst development for metal-air batteries.
The Impact of Restricting Abortion Funding on the Infant Mortality Rate

Health data indicates that there is a large discrepancy between the infant mortality rate among different racial groups. Research attributes this disparity to unequal access to health care and services, but the literature defining this relationship has been ultimately inconclusive. This paper expands on past literature by exploring a relationship between state funding for Medicaid through abortion services and infant mortality rate. My results show that limiting funding for abortion services has a much greater impact on the health of black infants than white infants, as this policy increases the black infant mortality rate by 2.214 (p < 0.01) and only increases the white infant mortality rate by . 657 (p<0.01). Further research needs to be done on the potential for an implicit racial bias in the Medicaid program.
Preliminary serological and molecular investigation of selected viral pathogens in Croatian cervid species

A total of 131 blood samples and 175 spleen samples were collected from three cervid species: roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) and fallow deer ( Dama dama ) inhabiting the continental part of Croatia. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against bovine herpesvirus 1, parainfluenza-3 virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis E virus, bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus. The tested sera were negative for bovine viral diarrhoea virus, enzootic bovine leukosis virus, bluetongue virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and hepatitis E virus antybodies. The antibody prevalence in roe deer and red deer samples was 21.11% for bovine herpesvirus 1 and 75.55% for parainfluenza-3 virus. Sera from bovine herpesvirus 1 positive animals were subsequenty tested with comparative virus neutralization test and bovine herpesvirus 1 neutralising antibodies were found in 18 (out of 19) sera. In fallow deer, no antibodies against any of the viral pathogens were detected. All spleen samples tested for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and enzootic bovine leukosis virus came back negative, except for one red deer spleen sample found to be weakly diarrhoea virus-positive. Our findings provide the first information on the exposure of Croatia-inhabiting cervid species to viral pathogens, and could serve as valuable baseline data for future investigations regarding deer exposure to various pathogens and the distribution of diseases shared between wildlife and livestock. As of now, the epidemiology of these viruses in the Croatian cervid population has been only poorly understood, so that further research is recommended.
Women ' s Political Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa ' ' Engendering ' ' Politics : The Impact of Descriptive Representation on

Globally, there is a significant gender gap in political engagement between men and women; however, this gender gap varies both across countries and within countries over time. Previous research has argued that the inclusion of women in elite political positions encourages women’s political engagement at the citizen level—by augmenting women’s symbolic representation—and can reduce this gender gap. Using Afrobarometer data from 20 African countries across four waves of surveys from 1999 to 2008, we employ an interactive multilevel model that controls for the sex of the respondent, the percentage of women in the legislature, and the interaction of these two variables. We find that as women’s descriptive representation increases, the political engagement gender gap diminishes. This finding is robust across several measures of political engagement. Our findings suggest that the incorporation of women into political institutions encourages the political engagement of women at the citizen level. Article at UNIV OF KENTUCKY on January 27, 2014 cps.sagepub. com Downloaded from 768 Comparative Political Studies 46(7)
Inclusion of radiobiological factors in prostate brachytherapy treatment planning

Abstract Purpose: Comparison of prostate seed implant treatment plans is currently based on evaluation of dose-volume histograms and doses to the tumour and normal structures. However, these do not account for effects of varying dose-rate, tumour repopulation and other biological effects. In this work, incorporation of the radiobiological response is used to obtain a more inclusive and clinically relevant treatment plan evaluation tool. Materials and Methods: Ten patients were evaluated. For each patient, six different treatment plans were created on the Prowess system. Plans with iodine-125 used a prescription dose of 145 Gy while plans with palladium-103 used 115 Gy. The biologically effective dose was used together with the tumour control probability and the normal tissue complication probabilities of urethra, bladder, rectum and surrounding tissue to evaluate the effectiveness of each treatment plan. Results from the radiobiological evaluation were compared to standard dose quantifiers. Results: The use of response probabilities is seen to provide a simpler means of treatment evaluation compared to standard dose quantifiers. This allows for different treatment plans to be quickly compared. Additionally, the use of radiobiologically-based plan evaluation allows for optimisation of seed type and initial seed strengths to find the ideal balance of TCP and NTCP. Conclusion: The goal of this work was to incorporate the biological response to obtain a more complete and clinically relevant treatment plan evaluation tool. This resulted in a simpler means of plan evaluation that may be used to compare and optimise prostate seed implant treatment plans.
Heat-Induced Discoloration of Chromophore Structures in Eucalyptus Lignin

The color changes corresponding to chromophore structures in lignin caused by exposure of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla) to heat were investigated. Eucalyptus wood powders were heat treated under saturated steam atmospheres for 10 h at 110 °C, 130 °C and 150 °C. The lignin was isolated before and after heat treatment. The physicochemical properties of the lignin and changes in chromophore structures during heat treatment was evaluated through wet chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (DRUV-Vis), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and 13C Cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CPMAS NMR). Wood color darkened and reddened with the increase in pressure and temperature. Depolymerization and dehydration reactions occurred via demethoxylation with heat treatment in saturated steam at 110 °C or 130 °C. Lignin condensed to form insoluble compounds after heat treatment in saturated steam at 150 °C. G units increased and S units decreased through demethylation during heat treatment, as revealed by FTIR and 13C-NMR analysis.
Effect of feeding strategy and social housing on behaviour at weaning in dairy calves

ii Acknowledgments.iii Table of contents . iv List of tables. vi List of figures . vii List of abbreviations . viii Chapter 1: Introduction . 1 1.1 Accelerated Milk Feeding Programs. 2 1.2 Weaning Programs. 6 1.3 Solid Feed for Young Calves. 9 1.4 Social housing at weaning time. 13 1.5 Behaviour and time budgets of calves. 15 1.6 Thesis Objectives. 19 Chapter 2: Impact of social housing on time budgets of dairy calves around weaning 2.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHAETOGASTER LIMNAEI (OLIGOCHAETA: NAIDIDAE) WITH A VARIETY OF GASTROPOD SPECIES

Two subspecies of Chaetogaster limnaei (von Baer) are recognized: C. 1. limnaei (von Baer) inhabits the outer surfaces of its gastropod host and C. 1. vaghini Gruffydd is found in the renal organ (Gruffydd 1965). Many authors have recorded C. 1. limnaei, either in studies of the worm itself or of its relationship with trematode populations, in British species of gastropod in genera such as Acroloxus, Ancylus, Lymnaea, Physa and Planorbis, and in foreign species in genera such as Australorbis, Biomphalaria, Bulinus, Helisoma, Lymnaea, Melanoides, Physa, Physopsis and Segmentina. The subspecies Chaetogaster limnaei vaghini, although not always recognized as such, has been recorded by fewer authors, and only in Lymnaea and Physa (Buse 1968). Observations on Chaetogaster limnaei in the pond at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, in which Lymnaea stagnalis (L.) and L. peregra (Mull.) were the dominant gastropod species, showed that Chaetogaster limnaei vaghini occurred only in the former and C. 1. limnaei solely in the latter. This suggested that the worm might be able to differentiate between various species of gastropod, and it was therefore decided to examine the behavioural relationship of C. limnaei, collected from a wide range of gastropod species, with its host. Setal lengths were also studied, to determine whether any morphological differences were apparent.
Ceramic Dental Implants: A Literature Review

Dentists and dental specialists use significant clinical skills in an attempt to deal with the consequences of complete and/or partial edentulism [6]. The therapy of completely and partially edentulous patients with dental implants is an accepted and eminent treatment modality [2]. Zirconia is one of the most capable restorative biomaterial, due to its highly positive mechanical and chemical properties appropriate for medical application. Zirconia ceramics (ZrO2) are becoming a widespread biomaterial in dentistry and dental implantology [2]. Titanium has been the preference for dental implants for the past many years. Its properties and characteristics have been found to be most fitting for the success of implant treatment. But lately, zirconia is gradually rising as one of the materials to reinstate the gold standard of dental implant, i.e., titanium [1]. Dental implants are biocompatible metal anchors surgically placed in the jaw bone beneath the gums to hold an artificial crown where natural teeth are missing.
The effect of Yucca schidigera powder added to lamb feed on fatteningperformance, some blood parameters, the immune system, and theantioxidative metabolism of the hepatic tissue

In this study, Yucca schidigera powder (YSP) added to lamb feed was investigated for its effects on performance, some blood parameters, the immune system, and the antioxidative metabolism of the hepatic tissue. Throughout a 10-week fattening period, twenty-four 2.5-month-old male Akkaraman lambs were used. Three groups were established, including a control group © and groups YSPI and YSPII, which received a basal ration alone, a basal ration + 100 ppm YSP, and a basal ration + 200 ppm YSP, respectively. The groups did not differ for performance parameters (P > 0.05). While 100 ppm YSP increased serum NH3 levels (P < 0.05), 200 ppm YSP significantly decreased serum cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and Mg levels (P < 0.05). The groups did not differ for antibody titers against the Brucella melitensis vaccine (Rev 1). In groups YSPI and YSPII, hepatic CAT activity and LPO levels were significantly lower than those of Group C (P < 0.01). While the GSH levels of group YSPI were significantly higher than those of groups C and YSPII, the SOD activity of group YSPII was significantly lower than those of groups C and YSPI (P < 0.01). As a result, while YSP did not affect the performance parameters or immune system, it significantly affected NH3 levels, lipid metabolism, and the antioxidant system.
THE HEMOCYTE TYPES, DIFFERENTIAL AND TOTAL COUNT IN PAPILIO DEMOLEUS L. (LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONIDAE) DURING POST-EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT

The present study was undertaken to recognize the types of hemocytes of P. demoleus by electron microscopy. Six types were identified: prohemocytes (PR), plasmatocytes (PL), granulocytes (GR), spherulocytes (SP), adipohemocytes (AD), oenocytoids (OE), with two additional types, vermicytes (VE) and podocytes (PO), having debatable identities. The PRs were mostly rounded small cells with characteristically large and filling nucleus showing an uneven surface due to the presence of vaguely concentric and elevated circles by SEM. The PLs were polymorphic but largely spindle-shaped. The GRs were rounded to ovoid with relatively small and eccentric nucleus. The SPs were also rounded to ovoid with cytoplasm appearing lobulated. The ADs were rounded to elongate with cytoplasm containing lipid droplets. The OEs were rounded, and mostly large. The PL and GR remained relatively high and SP, AD and OE low throughout the postembryonic development. The VEs, were greatly elongated and narrow cells with pointed ends. The POs were flat cells with three or more cytoplasmic arms projecting from a central body. These later cells appear for a limited period only in the early pupa. The THC steadily decreases during the developmental stages, attains its peak in the late 5th (prepupa) instar and steeply declines in the pupa.