Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphological variation of mountain blackeye (Chlorocharis emiliae) populations in Malaysian Borneo

The mountain blackeye (Chlorocharis emiliae) is one of the few Bornean endemic birds which presents an excellent model species to illustrate evolution and speciation. Here, we use discriminant function analysis to elucidate the morphological variation on 40 specimens of mountain blackeye from four populations namely Mount Kinabalu, Mount Trus Madi, Mount Murud and Mount Mulu. The test successfully distinguished all four populations accordingly by respective nominated subspecies. Tarsus length and bill length were identified as the best predictors from nine character loadings observed which also included bill depth, bill width, head bill, wing length, wing span, tail length and total length. Along with this, the morphological patterns also revealed that solid skeletal characters such as bill length, bill depth, bill width and tarsus are genuine predictors of morphological variation and body size within species as compared to feather-based characters. The evolution of such morphological traits is more pronounced due to different ecological adaptation of the mountain blackeye populations. Several factors such as phenotypic plasticity, foraging behaviours and food availability may have influenced the morphological variation between the subspecies.
New findings and vegetative compatibility groups of Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) M. E. Barr in the Czech Republic.

Jankovský L. , Haltofova P., Palovcikova D. (2010): New findings and vegetative compatibility groups of Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) M. E. Barr in the Czech Republic. Plant Protect. Sci., 46: 19–24. This study provides new information on the distribution of the chestnut blight agent Cryphonectria parasitica and its vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) in the Czech Republic. This study has revealed the presence of the disease in six localities. The VCG tests showed that each locality was represented by a single distinct VCG, which was different from the others collected in the country. The tests with 31 European testers of C. parasitica VCGs (EU-1 to EU-31) had assigned Czech isolates to VCGs EU-1, EU-4, EU-12, EU-13, EU-15, and EU-19. Moreover, the study showed that in the Czech Republic chestnut blight attacks young trees, not exceeding 35 years of age, and that climatic conditions in the country are suitable for C. parasitica. As two of the diseased localities were ornamental tree nurseries, one might expect its further spread over the country as a result of plant trade. The origin of infection remains unknown in all the localities where C. parasitica was detected.
Numerical simulations of negatively buoyant jets in an immiscible fluid using the Particle Finite Element Method

Negatively buoyant jets consist in a dense fluid injected vertically upward into a lighter ambient fluid. The numerical simulation of this kind of buoyancy‐driven flows is challenging as it involves multiple fluids with different physical properties. In the case of immiscible fluids, it requires, in addition, to track the motion of the interface between fluids and accurately represent the discontinuities of the flow variables.
Trajectories of exposure and vulnerability of small islands to climate change

This article advocates for a dynamic and comprehensive understanding of vulnerability to climate‐related environmental changes in order to feed the design of adaptation future pathways. It uses the trajectory of exposure and vulnerability (TEV) approach that it defines as ‘storylines of driving factors and processes that have influenced past and present territorial system exposure and vulnerability to impacts associated with climate variability and change. ’ The study is based on the analysis of six peer‐reviewed Pacific island case studies covering various geographical settings (high islands vs low‐lying reef islands, urban vs rural) and hazards associated with climate variability and change; that addressed the interactions between natural and anthropogenic driving factors; and adopted multidecadal past‐to‐present approaches. The findings emphasize that most urban and rural reef and high islands have undergone increasing exposure and vulnerability as a result of major changes in settlement and demographic patterns, lifestyles and economies, natural resources availability, and environmental conditions. The article highlights three generic and successive periods of change in the studied islands’ TEV: from geopolitical and political over the colonization‐to‐political independence period; to demographic, socio‐economic, and cultural from the 1960s to the 1980s; culminating in the dominance of demographic, socio‐economic, cultural, and environmental drivers since the 1980s. Based on these empirical insights, the article emphasizes the existence of anthropogenic‐driven path‐dependency effects in TEV, thus arguing for the analysis of the temporal dimensions of exposure and vulnerability to be a prerequisite for science to be able to inform policy‐ and decision‐making processes toward robust adaptation pathways. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e478. doi: 10.1002/wcc.478
ASSESSMENT ON THE MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF STEEL FIBRE REINFORCED CONCRETE USING FIBRES GEOMETRICAL FACTOR

This research investigate fibres geometrical factor to the performance of steel fibre reinforced concrete. For this purpose, three types of hooked-end deformed steel fibres with 33 mm, 50 mm and 60 mm length were chosen as a compliment with C40 grade concrete. These types of steel fibres were chosen based on their frequent use in various research investigations as well as the industrialisation program. The steel fibres were identified as SF60, SF50 and SF33, and for each length, the volume fraction were gradually increased from 0% and up to 2% with 0.25% increment. This give a total of 24 batches for SFRC with different volume fraction and aspect ratio, and one batch of plain concrete as a control. The research methodology focused on assessed the mechanical performances of SFRC based on compressive, splitting tensile and flexural behaviour compared with plain concrete. Correlations between factor of fibres geometry as well as concrete strength were proposed as a reliable benchmark to assist SFRC investigators in the future works. Reliabilities of the proposed correlations were made based on the comparison with other previous models. The proposed correlation equations give pattern approaching the experimental data and strong coefficient of determination.
Pro-poor Growth and Policies: The Asian Experience

The objective of this paper is to assemble on a systematic basis the available data on Asian countries and then analyse the relationship between growth and poverty reduction in a long-term perspective, as well as the impact of different macroeconomic variables on the intensity of this relationship. The results indicate that there is not only a strong positive relationship between growth and poverty reduction, but also that this relationship is highly variable across countries and time periods. The key macroeconomic determinants of the degree of pro-poor growth appear to be the rates of employment and agricultural growth. Inflation, at least up to a certain rate, does not impact poverty negatively, while the role of exports is essentially indirect through the contribution to the overall rate of economic growth. Examination of the change in policy stance of the Asian countries during the 1990s in relation to the 1980s demonstrates that on balance the mix of policies has not been pro-poor. The apparent sacrifice of growth in pursuit of macroeconomic stability has diminished the impact on poverty reduction. Given the relatively weak trade-off between inflation and growth with regard to the impact on poverty and the fact that inflation rates are currently low in the region, it is argued that countries can be more flexible in their policy stance with regard to the adoption of more growth-oriented as opposed to stabilisation policies. In particular, a case is made for resorting to a more expansionary counter-cyclical fiscal policy, led by higher levels of public investment, supported by appropriate monetary and exchange rate policies. The paper concludes with a detailed description of the policies designed to achieve faster agricultural development and greater employment generation.
Spatial Relationships of Landscape Attributes and Wheat Yield Patterns

Success of precision farming practices requires knowledge of fields such as soil type, topography, soil nutrients, spatial variability effects, yield patterns and their spatial relationships. A three year (2008-09 to 2010-11) field experimental study was conducted at Postgraduate Agricultural Research Station, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, to identify the influencing landscape parameters and their spatial distribution, having effects on wheat yield patterns using artificial neural network (ANN) and GIS map overlay techniques. A total of 48 soil samples were collected from top 30 cm of the soil, before sowing, at center of each grid of 24 x 67 m in size along with position data using Global Positioning System receiver (GARMIN, GPS60). Landscape attributes such as elevation, %sand, %silt, %clay, soil electrical conductivity (EC), pH, soil nitrogen (N) and soil phosphorus were included in the analysis. ANN analysis revealed that urea fertilizer treatments, followed by %sand, %silt, % clay, elevation, soil nitrogen and EC were ranked as the most influencing parameters. The yield data, however, were normalized to remove fertilizer treatments effects and then were used in the subsequent analysis. The map overlay analysis showed that the areas having lower elevation, lower soil EC and higher levels of soil N produced higher yields. Whereas the areas having higher elevation, higher soil EC and moderate soil N produced lower yields, establishing the cause-effect relationships. These results indicated that ANN and GIS techniques were helpful in identifying the influencing parameters affecting wheat yield, which can be managed under precision farming practices.
A practical knowledge management framework within the pyrometallurgical industry

In this article, a case is made for the importance of the transfer and management of tacit knowledge to ensure continued sustainable competitive advantage within the pyrometallurgical industry in South Africa. The state of knowledge management (KM) is assessed through a theoretical and empirical study. The empirical part of the study was conducted by means of a survey questionnaire. An important prerequisite within the research entailed determining the current state of KM within the pyrometallurgical industry, and the findings are presented throughout this article. The research argues for initiatives to address the high turnover of pyrometallurgical knowledge workers. Th is industry needs to entrench tacit knowledge and therefore address the problems associated with the continuous loss of inherent specialized knowledge. Appropriately, emphasis is placed on identifying initiatives required to embed and retain not only human capital lost through mobility, but rather retaining tacit knowledge through a practical KM framework.
MISPERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL NORMS ABOUT TAX COMPLIANCE (2): A FIELD-EXPERIMENT

Based on insights from an earlier study with a student sample (Wenzel, 2001), the present research evaluated an intervention to increase tax compliance that involved two steps. In step 1, taxpayers were sent a survey about their own personal norms and behaviour as well as others’ norms and behaviour concerning taxpaying. In step 2, they were informed about a systematic self-other discrepancy in their perceptions, suggesting that taxpayers wrongly think that most taxpayers hold norms of honesty to a lesser degree (injunctive norm) and act less honestly (descriptive norm) than they themselves do. Feedback about the survey results should encourage taxpayers to correct their perceptions of social norms and thus increase compliance. Deduction claims of four groups of taxpayers (injunctive norm feedback, descriptive norm feedback, survey only, control) were analysed and revealed no treatment effects for claims for work-related expenses, but a significant reduction of claims for other deductions in the injunctive norm feedback condition compared to the control conditions. Misperceptions of social norms about tax compliance (2): A field-experiment Michael Wenzel
Analysis and assessment of dynamic response to passengers during lift emergency braking

The paper presents an analysis and assessment of recorded accelerations acting on Hybrid III dummy during emergency braking of a passenger lift. The dummy was equipped with a system of three-axis accelerometers. The type of progressive safety gear that has the shortest time of reaction and the shortest effective braking distance in its group, was chosen for tests. The tests were carried out on an emplacement, which simulated the movement of passenger lift. Tests of emergency braking were performed at variable load of a cabin corresponding to the mass of different passengers number. The cabin was dispelled by the gravity force using its free-fall. During the braking, the values of accelerations effected on individual parts of dummy, were measured. Based on them and using HIC and Nij indexes, the impact of temporary accelerations on passenger’s health was determined.
Towards an oral healthcare framework and policy analysis for Swaziland

Background and Rationale: A synopsis by the researcher suggested that caries was becoming a public health problem among the youth, hence there was a need for deeper investigations which would lead to possible oral health interventions. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess dental care practices and experiences among teenagers in the Northern region of Swaziland. Based on the outcomes and views from health professionals; develop a framework for oral healthcare delivery and policy analysis. Design: The study engaged a randomized-survey design. The subjects filled a total of 562 questionnaires, of which 508 were selected for data-analysis. Their ages ranged between 12-20years. Essential Results: Regression-analysis results indicated that, taking soft-drinks increased the odds of having caries by 3.33 times compared with sugar-free drinks. What was strange among this group was that knowing causes of caries doubled the odds (eB=1.918) compared to lack of knowledge. Living within 10kms radius from the dental-clinic significantly reduced the odds of being found with caries by a factor of 0.719 compared to living >10km away. Conclusion: All the signs of the corresponding regression-coefficients seemed to be in the right direction except for “knowledge on how tooth-decay occurs” amongst this group. Based on these findings regarding caries experiences and practices amongst the youth, a framework for oral health care and policy analysis for Swaziland was developed.
Community Capacity Building, Local Community Involvement in Tourism Activities and Community Welfare in Uganda

This study sought to examine the relationship between capacity building, community involvement in tourism activities and community welfare among the local communities living around protected areas in Uganda. The design of the study was cross sectional in that both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used in the analysis of the findings. A significant positive relationship existed between capacity building, community involvement and community welfare respectively. A strong positive relationship existed between community involvement and community welfare. Where community involvement existed, community welfare improved and vice versa. Among all the factors, community welfare significantly depended on community involvement in tourism activities. The study recommended tourism stakeholders and policy makers to encourage local communities living around protected areas to engage in tourism activities as a way of improving their welfare. Keywords: Community capacity building, Community involvement, Tourism, Community welfare, Local communities
Negative appendectomy rate during 5 years in Modarres Hospital of Tehran, Iran, and correlation with imaging

Introduction: Appendicitis is the most common emergency surgical admission regardless of the age group. In case of delay in diagnosis, serious complications may occur, needing immediate actions. Complications of acute appendicitis like perforation, peritonitis, and sepsis are to justify massive negative appendectomies. In this study, it has been tried to collect data about negative appendectomy during last 5 years in Modarres hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran, based on demographics and correlation with diagnostic studies before operation. This study is important in terms of economy and health care aspects. Methods: Data were collected about all patients appendectomized during 5 years between 2012 and 2017 at Modarres hospital. There were 1454 records, of which 108 records were excluded from the study due to the lack of enough data, interval appendectomy, and clean appendectomy. Finally, end 1346 appendectomies were assessed. Results: There were 275 (20.4%) and 1071 (79.6%) negative appendectomy and suppurative appendicitis, respectively. Preoperative ultrasonography (US) was performed on 753 (56.0%) patients, of which 472 (62.7%) and 281 (37.3%) cases were coordinated with and different from pathologic records, respectively. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan was performed for 316 (23.5%) patients, which matched and differed pathologic records in 280 (88.6%) and 36 (11.4%) cases, respectively. Conclusion: Diagnosis of appendicitis should still mainly be based on history, and clinical and laboratory data.
Infrastructure and growth in the European Union : an empirical analysis at the regional level in a spatial framework

In this paper we examine the return of public investment in the EU regions. We consider different forms of infrastructure capital by examining the relationship between a set of infrastructure indicators and economic performance at the NUTS2 level with an empirical model derived from the production-function approach. From a social planner’s perspective, we want to see which form of infrastructure investment has higher returns, considering structural differences in regions. The main contribution of this paper is to consider the impact of different types of infrastructure on growth, disaggregated at the regional level in the European Union, with an explicit focus on the New Member States, and correcting for spatial dependence and heterogeneity issues. We find that the highest rates of return are associated mainly with TLC, quality and accessibility of the region’s transportation network, while endowment of traditional road and railway infrastructure has a positive but slightly lower impact. We also contribute to the debate on convergence, finding that the β-convergence hypothesis holds also when the model encompasses several controls.
Inherited or Earned? Performance of Foreign Banks in Central and Eastern Europe

Using a combination of propensity score matching and difference-in-difference techniques we investigate the impact of foreign bank ownership on the performance and market power of acquired banks operating in Central and Eastern Europe. This approach allows us to control for selection bias as larger but less profitable banks were more likely to be acquired by foreign investors. We show that during three years after the takeover, banks have become more profitable due to cost minimization and better risk management. They have additionally gained market share, because they passed their lower cost of funds to borrowers in terms of lower lending rates. Previous studies failed to pick up the improvements in performance of takeover banks, because they did not account for the performance of financial institutions before acquisitions.
The Role of Forest and Soil Carbon Sequestrations on Climate Change Mitigation

The emission of CO 2 concentration from industries, burning of fossil fuels and deforestation causes GHGs. Hence, forests in terms of agroforestry, plantation, reforestation has been suggested as one of the most appropriate land management systems for mitigating atmospheric CO 2 through photosynthesis process. Forest ecosystems also contribute to store more than 80% of all terrestrial aboveground C and more than 70% of all SOC. Forests operate both as vehicles for capturing additional carbon and as carbon reservoirs in different carbon pools (above ground, root and litter). The other form of carbon pool is soil carbon sequestration also increases SOC stocks through judicious land use and recommended management practices. Forest soils are one of the major carbon sinks on earth, because of their higher organic matter content. Furthermore, soil carbon sequestration is a bridge across three global issues climate change, desertification, and biodiversity. Therefore, developed countries can implement their emission reductions at lower costs and developing countries receive more capital for environmentally sound investments that contribute to sustainable development. This offers an economic opportunity for subsistence farmers in developing countries, the major practitioners of agroforestry, afforestation and reforestation for selling of carbon sequestered to industrialized countries and it will be an environmental benefit to the global community at large as well.
Uncommon pelagic and deep-sea cephalopods in the Mediterranean: new data and literature review

Compared to their shelf-living relatives, the biology and ecology of most pelagic and deep-sea cephalopods is currently rather unknown owing to the difficulties to catch them. To cover the lack of information on these cephalopods, scientists have to make use of the limited and fragmentary data gathered from different sources such as sporadic captures, strandings or stomach contents of their predators. Here, we give some biological and ecological information on eleven uncommon pelagic and deep-sea cephalopods collected during more than fifteen years of fisheries surveys in the western Mediterranean Sea. The cephalopods investigated include two epipelagic octopuses ( Ocythoe tuberculata and Tremoctopus violaceus ), one deep-sea cirrate octopus ( Opisthoteuthis calypso ), the sepiolid Stoloteuthis leucoptera and seven teuthoid species inhabiting preferentially mesopelagic and bathypelagic waters ( Abraliopsis morisii, Ancistrocheirus lesueurii, Brachioteuthis riisei, Chiroteuthis veranyi, Chtenopteryx sicula, Onychoteuthis banksii and Taonius pavo ). Although all of these species are either cosmopolitan or present a wide distribution in other oceans, they are nevertheless relatively rare in catches, and therefore remain poorly known. The finding of T. pavo represents the first record of this cephalopod in the Mediterranean.