Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Farmers Markets and Food‐Borne Illness*

&NA; Using longitudinal administrative data on all U.S. states and the District of Columbia for the years 2004, 2006, and 2008–2013, we study the relationship between farmers markets and food‐borne illness. We find a positive relationship between the number of farmers markets per million individuals and the number per million of reported (i) total outbreaks and cases of food‐borne illness, (ii) outbreaks and cases of norovirus, and (iii) outbreaks of campylobacter in the average state‐year. Our estimates indicate that doubling the number of farmers markets in the average state‐year would be associated with 2.6 additional outbreaks of food‐borne illness, 0.8 additional outbreaks of norovirus, and 0.3 additional outbreaks of campylobacter per million, as well as with 34.5 additional total cases of food‐borne illness, 22.9 additional cases of norovirus, and 1.5 additional cases of campylobacter per million in the same state‐year. Our core results are robust to different specifications as well as to deleting outliers and leverage points.
Benthic Marine Fauna and Flora of Two Nearshore Coastal Locations in the Western and Central Canadian Arctic

Baseline data on nearshore benthic macrofauna and flora assemblages are necessary for successful environ­mental monitoring in the Arctic, where major climate and industrial changes are underway, yet to date these environments remain understudied. This study used bottom video and benthic grab samples to compare shallow benthic marine (1 – 40 m) floral and faunal distribution and composition in two nearshore locations in the Canadian Arctic with different geomorphic settings. Sachs Harbour, located on southwestern Banks Island, has a submergent soft-sediment shoreline with locally rapid coastal erosion, while Gjoa Haven, located on southeastern King William Island, has an emergent shoreline dominated by coarse ice-contact Quaternary sediments with little to no coastal erosion. Gjoa Haven’s sediment-starved, heterogeneous nearshore area contributes to a more diverse macroalgal flora than is found at Sachs Harbour, where a continuous supply of sand and mud from thermally driven coastal erosion and muddy runoff produces a more homogeneous nearshore environment. Seventy-four species (10 macroalgae, 64 macrofauna) were recorded from southwestern Banks Island and 65 species (26 macroalgae, 39 macrofauna) from southeastern King William Island. Species composition differed greatly among locations and varied significantly among substrate and depth classes for grab- and video-sampled biota at Gjoa Haven and among depth classes for bottom video biota at Sachs Harbour. Faunally barren, shallow, mobile sand sheets were the dominant habitat sampled in Sachs Harbour. Gjoa Haven’s habitats differed significantly along a depth gradient, with sand and gravel substrates covered by Fucus sp. at depths shallower than 10 m and muddy substrates with filamentous green algae, Coccotylus truncatus , and cerianthid anemones inhabiting water down to 40 m.
Evaluation of clinical and psychological parameters in subgroups of people with paroxysmal, persistent, and long- standing persistent atrial fibrillation

Background. Atrial fibrillation (AF) may cause worsening of haemodynamic function of the heart, occur-rence of peripheral embolism, emotional disorders, and secondary occurrence of cognitive deterioration. It seems that patients with AF constitute a heterogeneous group in terms of features characterising both the arrhythmia itself and their psychophysical efficiency. Taking this into account, the aim of the work was to assess the psychophysical condition of patients with various forms of AF. Methods. The study included 80 subjects diagnosed with AF. Patients underwent a clinical and neuropsy-chological evaluation, including clinical interview and physical examination, biochemical and echocar-diographic parameters, physical performance (6MWT), cognitive and executive functions (TMT A and B, Stroop 1 and 2, RAVLT), and severity of depressive symptoms (BDI). Results. Analysis of the results of neuropsychological tests revealed significantly worse performance of TMT B and RAVLT A3 by patients with long-standing persistent AF than among patients with non-perma-nent AF. The subjects with long-standing persistent arrhythmia also walked a significantly shorter distance in 6MWT. In 55% of subjects, clinically significant depressive symptoms were observed. However, there were no significant differences in the values of echocardiographic parameters between particular groups. Conclusions. Long-standing persistent type of AF was associated with worse results of psychophysical efficiency, and exercise performance, likewise in cognitive and executive functioning. More than half of patients with AF presented features of depressive disorders.
Korean Heritage Learners’ Affect and Performance

This study was conducted with Korean heritage learners to examine how their affect is related to their performance in the Korean course. Questionnaires that measure the students’ foreign language classroom anxiety and achievement goals were administered to 18 college students enrolled in the second-year Korean writing course. The study first examined the effects of anxiety on the students’ performance and found that those who experienced lower levels of anxiety performed better. A correlation analysis also confirmed the finding, i.e., the students’ anxiety was highly correlated with their performance in the course. Furthermore, it was found from the multiple regression analysis that both anxiety and functional goals explained the variance of the students’ performance. In other words, those two variables were found to predict learner performance.
New records of Plio-Pleistocene koalas from Australia: palaeoecological and taxonomic implications

ab S tract . Koalas (Phascolarctidae, Marsupialia) are generally rare components of the Australian fossil record. However, new specimens of fossil koalas were recovered during recent systematic excavations from several eastern Plio-Pleistocene deposits of Queensland, eastern Australia, including the regions of Chinchilla, Marmor and Mt. Etna. The new records are significant in that they extend the temporal and geographic range of Plio-Pleistocene koalas from southern and southeastern Australia, to northeastern central Queensland. We provide the first unambiguous evidence of koalas in the Pliocene Chinchilla Local Fauna (phascolarctid indet. and Ph. ? stirtoni): important additions to an increasingly diverse arboreal mammalian assemblage that also includes tree kangaroos. The persistence of koalas and local extinction of tree kangaroos in the Chinchilla region today suggests that significant habitat and faunal reorganization occurred between the Pliocene and Recent, presumably reflecting the expansion of open woodlands and grasslands. Other koala records from the newly U/Th-dated Middle Pleistocene Marmor and Mt. Etna fossil deposits (Phascolarctos sp. and Ph. ? stirtoni), along with independent palaeohabitat proxies, indicate the former presence of heterogeneous habitats comprised of rainforests, open woodlands and grasslands. The lack of such habitat mosaics in those regions today is likely the product of significant Middle Pleistocene climate change.
The Influence of Productivity on Asset Pricing

Ceteris Paribus, highly productive industries should translate into high economic growth and high expected returns. To test this, we create a productivity factor using industry-level total factor productivity estimates. This factor captures the difference in returns between industries with high productivity and industries with low productivity. On average, the productivity premium contributes 0.75 to 2.41 percent per annum for the range of productivity factors we construct, from July 1963 to December 2002. To test whether productivity drives the cross-section of stock returns, we augment standard asset pricing models with this productivity factor. Our results show that i) in accordance with our hypothesis, productivity has a bigger impact on smaller firms, and that growth firms have a higher productivity beta, and ii) productivity is priced even when size and book-to-market factors are included. Finally, we examine the impact of productivity in different market structures, where the latter is measured by the Herfindahl index for each industry.
Application of sonication-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Chenopodium rubrum L.

Chenopodium rubrum belongs to the plant species in which standard Agrobacterium-mediated transformation procedures remain inefficient. We demonstrate that the employment of sonication-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (SAAT) effectively enhanced transient expression of GUS gene coding for β-glucuronidase in Chenopodium rubrum. Further the results indicated that the age of seedlings is one of the limiting factors affecting the potency of Agrobacterium tumefaciens infection. Histochemical detection of β-glucuronidase activity revealed that two-days-old seedlings were much more susceptible to infection than ten-days-old ones. According to our results SAAT technology could provide an efficient tool for obtaining stable transformants when applied to two-days-old seedlings of Chenopodium rubrum.
Fundamental Economic Factors That Affect Housing Prices: Comparative Analysis between Kosovo and Slovenia

The purpose of this study is to provide strategic implications for real estate appraisers and real estate managers to know the economic determinants of housing price dynamics in Kosovo. The fundamental economic determinants of housing prices, adopted from previous studies, are Gross Domestic Product growth, demographics, real interest rates, and construction costs. The research methodology used is quantitative factor analysis. The main question addressed is, whether the conventional fundamental determinants of housing prices, such as Gross Domestic Product per capita, real interest rates, demographic factors, and construction costs have driven the observed housing prices in Kosovo. By sampling the determinants of housing prices in Kosovo, the study shows their effects on housing price dynamics. The study shows that housing prices in Kosovo are significantly determined by the underlying conventional fundamentals. This is the first research that tries to determine whether the fundamental economic factors influence the housing prices in Kosovo.
Watershed protection: Capturing the benefits of nature's water supply services

Healthy watersheds provide valuable services to society, including the supply and purification of fresh water. Because these natural ecosystem services lie outside the traditional domain of commercial markets, they are undervalued and underprotected. With population and development pressures leading to the rapid modification of watershed lands, valuable hydrological services are being lost, which poses risks to the quality and cost of drinking water and the reliability of water supplies. Increasing the scale and scope of programmes to protect hydrological services requires policies that harmonize land uses in watersheds with the provision of these important natural services. This article summarizes key attributes of hydrological services and their economic benefits; presents a spectrum of institutional mechanisms for safeguarding those services; discusses programmes in Quito (Ecuador), Costa Rica and New York City; and offers some lessons learned and recommendations for achieving higher levels of watershed protection.
ournal of C osmology and A stroparticle hysics J A second Higgs doublet in the early universe: baryogenesis and gravitational waves

We show that simple Two Higgs Doublet models might still provide a viable explanation for the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe via electroweak baryogenesis, even after taking into account the recent order-of-magnitude improvement on the electron-EDM experimental bound by the ACME Collaboration. Moreover we show that, in the region of parameter space where baryogenesis may be possible, the gravitational wave spectrum generated at the end of the electroweak phase transition is within the sensitivity reach of the future space-based interferometer LISA.
Effect of Deficit Irrigations and Sowing Methods on Mung Bean Productivity

A field experiment was designed to study the response of Mungbean to deficit irrigation levels and sowing methods. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement replicated three times. Water treatments were controlled at I 0 (zero percent irrigation), I 33 (33% of full irrigation), I 67 (67% of full irrigation) and I 100 (full irrigation). Full irrigation was determined on the basis of 65% management allowed deficit (MAD). Results shows that I 67 and I 100 not significant for pods plant -1 while these were highly significant for the sowing methods. The pods per plant are highly significant for I 0 and I 33 levels. The sowing methods and irrigation levels both have significant impact on grain yield and biological yield. The biological yields continuously and consistently increase with the increase in irrigation levels. The harvest index of Mungbean and its water productivity both increase in irrigation levels certain level. The maximum irrigation applied at 65% MAD substantially decreases the Mungbean water productivity when compared to the harvest index. It was concluded that Mungbean MAD in semi-arid region of Peshawar may be exploited further; more moisture contents may be further extracted before applying next irrigation in raised bed technique in special and as usual in flat beds. Keywords: Deficit irrigation, Irrigation levels, Sowing method, Growth attributes, Mung bean.
Theoretical and practical limitations of the acetylene inhibition technique to determine total denitrification losses

Abstract. The loss of N2 from intensively managed agro-ecosystems is an important part of the N budget. Flux monitoring of N2 emissions at the field scale, e.g., by eddy correlation or aerodynamic gradient method, is impossible due to the large atmospheric N2 background (78%). The acetylene (C2H2) inhibition technique (AIT) is a rather simple and frequently used, albeit imperfect, method to determine N2 losses from intact soil cores. In principle, AIT allows an estimation of total denitrification at high temporal resolution and on small spatial scales, with limited workload and costs involved. To investigate its potential and limitations, a laboratory system with two different detection systems (photoacoustic IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography) is presented, which allowed simultaneous measurements of up to 7 intact soil cores in air-tight glass tubes in a temperature controlled cabinet (adjusted to field conditions) with automated C2H2 injection. A survey of total denitrification losses (N2 + N2O) over 1.5 yr in soil cores from an intensively managed, cut grassland system in central Switzerland supports previous reports on severe limitations of the AIT, which precluded reliable estimates of total denitrification losses. Further, the unavoidable sampling and transfer of soil samples to the laboratory causes unpredictable deviations from the denitrification activity in the field.
Effect of CO2 Enrichment on Photosynthetic Behavior of Podophyllum Hexandrum Royle, an Endangered Medicinal Herb.

The effect of a doubling in the atmospheric CO2 concentration on the morpho-physiology of an endangered medicinal herb, Podophyllum hexandrum Royle was investigated. Open top chambers (OTCs, 3.0 m diameter, 2.4 m in height) were used to expose plants to ambient and elevated CO2 concentration (650±50 µmol mol -1 ) from June to September at an alpine expanse of Garhwal Himalaya. Photosynthetic rate (A, µmol m -2 s -1 ) expressed per unit leaf area was stimulated during the first 30 days thereafter a significant decrease in its rate was recorded. Transpiration rate (E, mmol m -2 s -1 ) was found decreased significantly throughout the CO2 enrichment wherein stomatal conductance (gs, mol m -2 s -1 ) have shown a significant reduction initially. At the end of the study, SLA was reduced by 29.45 %, which can partly be explained by an increased dry matter content of the leaves. Total dry matter production significantly increased by 96.40 % after 90 days of CO2 exposure. This significant increase may be explained by increased RWR. Organic Carbon in aboveground and belowground compartment has shown a significant increment whereas in case of total nitrogen results were found non-significant. Overall study concludes that the medicinally used part of this plant i.e. rhizome/root have shown a significant increment. Thus, further studies on impact of elevated CO2 on principle active component of this endangered plant may be observed. (Journal of American Science 2009; 5(5): 113-118). (ISSN: 1545-1003).
Effect of bedrock inclination on seismic slope stability according to Iran seismically data

In this paper, the effect of bedrock inclination on seismic performance of slopes is investigated. The study was conducted based on dynamic analysis of different slopes, evaluation of the earthquake acceleration in sliding mass, and calculating the permanent displacement of the slope, using Newmark sliding block. The investigation indicates that variation of the bedrock inclination may cause the acceleration magnitude and the displacement in the sliding mass to reach to their maximum level. This may happen in conditions that the mean period of the acceleration time history on failure surface (Tmt) and the predominant period of the slope (Ts ) are close to each other. Typical results are presented and discussed. A two dimensional model of a typical slope was considered and conducting dynamic analyses, the slope performance was studied for different geometries, strength parameters and shear wave velocities. Such a performance has been studied by assessing the record of acceleration in sliding mass (the mass above the critical sliding surface) and calculating the slope displacement using Newmark method. It is shown that neglecting the effect of bedrock inclination, would lead to non-real results in assessing the seismic slope performance.
Performance of hot pepper (Cupsicum annuum) varieties as influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers at Bure, Upper Watershed of the Blue Nile in Northwestern Ethiopia

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of N and P and evaluate the performance of hot pepper varieties. Treatments comprised three rates of N (0, 46 and 92 kg N ha -1 and three rates of P2O5 (0, 69 and 138 kg P2O5 ha -1 ) , and three hot pepper varieties (Marako fana, Melka zala and a local variety). The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design in a 3 x 3 x 3 factorial arrangement with three replications. The results indicated that the interaction effect of N, P2O5 and variety was significant on many of the parameters considered. Treatments that received fertilizer combination of 92 kg N ha -1 and 138 kg P2O5 ha -1 gave maximum fresh fruit yield (10.92 t ha -1 )(Mareko fana), highest total dry fruit yield (1.97 t ha -
A Novel Method of Robust Trajectory Linearization Control Based on Disturbance Rejection

A novel method of robust trajectory linearization control for a class of nonlinear systems with uncertainties based on disturbance rejection is proposed. Firstly, on the basis of trajectory linearization control (TLC) method, a feedback linearization based control law is designed to transform the original tracking error dynamics to the canonical integral-chain form. To address the issue of reducing the influence made by uncertainties, with tracking error as input, linear extended state observer (LESO) is constructed to estimate the tracking error vector, as well as the uncertainties in an integrated manner. Meanwhile, the boundedness of the estimated error is investigated by theoretical analysis. In addition, decoupled controller (which has the characteristic of well-tuning and simple form) based on LESO is synthesized to realize the output tracking for closed-loop system. The closed-loop stability of the system under the proposed LESO-based control structure is established. Also, simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the control strategy.
Productivity Before and After Exports: The Case of Korean Food Processing Firms

In this article, we analyze the export decision of Korean manufacturing firms with emphasis on those in the food processing sector. A dynamic discrete choice model based on sunk (entry or exit) costs is specified for export behavior. Data for 1996-2002 on 1022 Korean firms, of which 95 are in the food processing sector, are assembled. A nonparametric measure of firm productivity is derived for use in the export-behavior (probit) model. Results show the significant effects of sunk costs on the export decision of Korean firms. A firm-size effect on export behavior is identified for food processing firms, unlike in the case of their manufacturing counterparts. We also find a firm-size effect on productivity in all manufacturing firms.
Pseudorapidity Distribution of Charged Particles and Square Speed of Sound Parameter in or Collisions over an Energy Range from 0.053 to 7 TeV

Pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton () or proton-antiproton () collisions over an energy range from 0.053 to 7 TeV are studied by using the four-component Landau hydrodynamic model. The results calculated by the model are in agreement with the experimental data of the UA5, PHOBOS, UA1, P238, CDF, ALICE, and CMS Collaborations which present orderly from low to high energies. According to the distribution widths of different components, the values and some features of square speed of sound parameter for “participant” and “spectator” quark components are obtained. It is shown that the speed of sound for “participant” quark components agrees approximately with that for “spectator” quark components in the error ranges. The present work is useful for studying nucleus-nucleus collisions in the related energy range.
RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON SHOCK DRIFT ACCELERATION IN LOW MACH NUMBER GALAXY CLUSTER SHOCKS

An extreme case of electron shock drift acceleration (SDA) in low Mach number collisionless shocks is investigated as a plausible mechanism for the initial acceleration of relativistic electrons in large-scale shocks in galaxy clusters, where the upstream plasma temperature is of the order of 10 keV and the degree of magnetization is not too small. One-dimensional electromagnetic full particle simulations reveal that, even when a shock is rather moderate, a part of the thermal incoming electrons are accelerated and reflected through relativistic SDA and form a local non-thermal population just upstream of the shock. The accelerated electrons can self-generate local coherent waves and further be back-scattered toward the shock by those waves. This may be a scenario for the first stage of the electron shock acceleration occurring at the large-scale shocks in galaxy clusters, such as CIZA J2242.8+5301, which have well-defined radio relics.
Teaching Building Performance Simulation using Generic Simulation Model

Building performance modeling and simulation is quite complex matter. In order to obtain plausible results good knowledge of building physics and advanced computer skills are required. In case of students the complexity of simulation software can represent serious problem. This issue can be addressed through tailored “generic” (underlying) models controlled via external user-friendly interface. The generic models are simulation models developed using existing simulation software and controlled by an external application. The external application is facilitating the change of some selected variables or making even possible selection from among several pre-modeled HVAC systems without having to learn the simulation software.