Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Air pollution and PEF measurements of children in the vicinity of a steel works

The effects of short-term changes in particulate air pollution on the respiratory health of symptomatic children living near a steel works at Raahe, Finland, were assessed to determine whether particulate air pollution is associated with adverse respiratory effects, and whether specific sources of air pollution are responsible for these effects. A screening questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was distributed to 1355 primary school children during the winter, asking about lower respiratory symptoms (wheezing, attacks of wheezing, dry cough, asthma). 56 symptomatic children (34 with asthma and 16 with dry cough) were followed up for four months with measurements of daily peak expiratory flow (PEF). The acute effects of inhalable particles (PM 10 ), fine particles (PM 2.5 ), elements (Al, K, Cu, Zn, S0 4 2- ) and sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) were estimated by linear first-order autoregressive model. Mean daily PM 2.5 concentrations were 10 μg m -3 . Most regression coefficients between air pollution and morning and evening PEF were negative but not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant association between particulate air pollution and respiratory health among these symptomatic children. The only significant association was between Cu lag 3 (three days before) and morning PEF, it is difficult to assess, the meaning of this association, because the other variables related to Cu had no significant associations with morning or evening PEF. The significance of this observation therefore requires confirmation and further investigation.
Motivations for derivatives usage among New Zealand firms

Theoretical research argues that using derivative instruments for risk management can add value to a firm if there are capital market imperfections such as costs associated with financial distress, progressivity in tax rates, and conflicts of interest between the fixed claimholders and the shareholders. For comparison this study repeats Berkman and Bradbury’s (1996) research to provide non-survey evidence on the use of derivative financial instruments from the 1999 audited financial reports of 117 New Zealand firms. Three models are used to analyse derivative use. The first two models use a Tobit regression model with the fair and contract values scaled by the market value of the firm to measure the extent of derivative use. Due to possible misclassification of derivative and non-derivative users, the third model uses a binary dependent variable to represent if a firm is a user or non-user of derivatives. Support is found for some of the theoretical models of derivative use for risk management. However, these results are sensitive to the way in which the derivative user is classified. The author is grateful to Scott Beighley, Gurmeet Bharbra, Glenn Boyle, Scott Chaput, Luke Gorton, Peter Grundy, Charlotte Hill, Warren McNoe, Vivien Pullar, and Alan Stent for their extremely useful assistance. He is grateful for the financial assistance provided by the NZ Society of Corporate Treasurers.
A Psycholinguistic Model of the Chinese ESL Reader.

Chinese students' reading strategies are shaped by their cultural assumptions and by the background information, or lack of it, that they bring to the material. Most important, their reading strategies are influenced by (1) traditional methods of reading that have led to investigating each word without always understanding the general concepts of the work, and (2) an attitude toward literature that assumes a philosophical meaning of depth and significance, slowing the reading process and possibly causing the student to use concrete strategies when they are not needed. Once these issues are consciously manipulated by Chinese students, they will learn to develop reading strategies that are appropriate for the reading task at hand. (MSE) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MAT RIAL HAS GRAN D BY
Trade Liberalization and Industrial Productivity: Evidence from Pakistan

This study examines the impact of trade liberalization on industrial productivity for a panel of twenty seven 3-digit manufacturing industries in Pakistan over the period 1980-2006. Following Olley and Pack’s (1996) Control Function Approach (CFA) we deal with the endogeneity arises from unobserved productivity shocks. Using a variant of Cobb-Douglas production function, in the first step we estimate output elasticities. We find positive output elasticities with respect to labor, capital and raw materials for the pre-trade liberalization period (1981-1995) and post-trade liberalization period (1996-2006). For the pre-liberalization, we observed positive output elasticity with respect to energy, while it turns out to be negative in the post-liberalization period; probably due to energy crisis in Pakistan. In the second stage, we estimate total factor productivity (TFP) and examine the impact of trade liberalization on TFP for pre-and post-trade liberalization regimes. The results reveal that trade liberalization proxied by excise duty has positive but negligible impact on TFP in the pre-as well as post-liberalization periods. On the other hand, effective rate of protection exerts large negative impact on TFP in the post-liberalization than the pre-liberalization period.
Optimal Management of Pinus radiata Silvopastoral Systems Established on Abandoned Agricultural Land in Galicia (North-Western Spain)

Timber production has been the main objective in forest production in Galicia for a long time. Nevertheless, factors such as fire risk and the need to obtain non-timber benefits make other production alternatives like silvopastoral systems worth of consideration. Integration of grazing in the production system not only diversifies products and benefits, but also decreases fire risk by enhancing fuel control. Nonetheless, few studies have examined the economic profitability of these systems. This article analyses the economics of silvopastoral systems established on abandoned agricultural soils afforested with Pinus radiata D. Don. Different tree planting densities, discounting rates, grass values and fire risk scenarios were analysed. The technique employed is based on the combination of an optimization algorithm and a simulator of stand growth and grass yield. The most profitable schedules were obtained with initial stand densities of 1500 trees per hectare. However, with high unit values of pasture production (high value of grass), schedules with an initial stand density of 500 trees per hectare were the most profitable. When the risk of fire was included in the analyses, silvopastoral systems were always more profitable than timber production systems. With an assumption that grazing reduces fire risk thinnings should be done earlier and heavier to reduce the expected losses due to fire and to promote grass production. This lengthens the pasture period. In general, rotation lengths of silvopastoral systems were shorter than in timber production.
Interactive effect of self-efficacy and incentive value on peripheral physiological reactivity in the performance of a cognitive task

El presente experimento tenia por objeto verificar el supuesto de interaccion entre la autoeficacia y el valor del incentivo sobre la reactividad fisiologica periferica (autonomica y somatica). 32 sujetos fueron asignados a los 4 grupos experimentales que surgen de combinar 2 condiciones de manipulacion de la autoeficacia (alta o baja) con 2 condiciones de manipulacion del valor del incentivo (alta o baja). Todos los sujetos efectuaron una tarea de concatenacion de palabras asistida por ordenador y que implicaba respuestas verbales. Se registraron 4 variables fisiologicas: frecuencia respiratoria, frecuencia cardiaca, resistencia electrodermal y actividad mioelectrica frontal. Los resultados sugieren que la autoeficacia y el valor del incentivo determinan, en parte, la reactividad autonomica manifestada ante una situacion de afrontamiento activo, produciendo su efecto de manera interactiva. Ello parece indicar que el valor del incentivo tiene un papel modulador de la relacion autoeficacia-reactividad autonomica. Sin embargo, sobre la actividad somatica, representada por la electromiografia frontal, tales variables parecen ejercer un efecto no interactivo.
Phase Relations and Chemical Composition of Phengite and Paragonite in Pelitic Schists During Decompression: a Case Study from the Monte Rosa Nappe and Camughera- Moncucco Unit, Western Alps

The metamorphic evolution of metapelites from the eastern part of the Monte Rosa nappe and the Camughera–Moncucco unit, both situated in the upper Penninic units SW of the Simplon line, were investigated using microstructural relationships and equilibrium phase diagrams. The units under consideration experienced preAlpine amphibolite-facies conditions and underwent a complex metamorphic evolution during the Alpine orogeny. Peak pressures during an early Alpine high-pressure stage of 12� 5–16 kbar were similar in the Monte Rosa nappe and Camughera–Moncucco unit. A pronounced thermal gradient is indicated during decompression leading to an amphibolite-facies overprint, as the decompression paths went through the chlorite, biotite and plagioclase stability fields in most of the Monte Rosa nappe, through the staurolite field in the easternmost Monte Rosa nappe and in the Camughera– Moncucco unit, and through the sillimanite field in the easternmost Camughera–Moncucco unit. In high-Al metapelites the initial formation of staurolite is related to continuous paragonite breakdown and associated formation of biotite. In the course of this reaction phengite becomes successively sodium enriched. In low-Al metapelites, in contrast, the initial staurolite formation occurs via the continuous breakdown of sodium-rich phengite. In both low- and high-Al metapelites the largest volume of staurolite is formed during the continuous breakdown of sodium-rich phengite below P–T conditions of about 9� 5 kbar at 600–650 � C. During this reaction phengite becomes successively potassium enriched as sodium from phengite is used to form the albite component in plagioclase. For ‘ normal’ pelitic chemistries, phengite becomes Na enriched during decompression through the breakdown of paragonite along a nearisothermal decompression path. The Na content in phengite reaches its maximum when paragonite is entirely consumed. During further decompression the paragonite component in phengite decreases again because Na is preferentially incorporated into the albite component of plagioclase.
Organizational Commitment: Towards an Integrated Concept Linking the Attitudinal and Behavioral Approaches

This study examines a set of attitudinal and behavioral variables in order to develop an integrative concept of organizational commitment. Structural Equation Modeling was utilized to assess a possible conceptual overlap between organizational commitment and other related constructs. Five measures were employed: the affective scale; the continuance scale; the behavioral intentions to organizational commitment scale and the behavioral intentions to remain in the organization scale. Obtained results (N=1,869) indicate that: 1) The continuance dimension does not integrate the concept of organizational commitment; 2) Attitudinal organizational commitment is a unidimensional construct, constituted only by the affective dimension; and 3) The intentions to remain in the organization are not a component of the organizational commitment. We conclude that organizational commitment is best described as a sort of social attachment established between the worker and an organization, composed largely of an affective component which predisposes individuals to assume proactive behaviors toward an organization.
Revision Processes in First Language and Foreign Language Writing: Differences and Similarities in the Success of Revision Processes

Writing academic texts in one’s native language (L1) and – even more – in a foreign language (FL) places high cognitive demands on students. In order to cope with these demands, writers should learn to adapt their writing methods flexibly to their tasks, depending on the language and the genre they are writing in. Crucial aspects here are the methods of revising because the need for linguistic revision will be higher in the FL text than in the L1 text; at the same time, it should not be the main or only focus of the revision process. In order to analyse the differences in L1 and FL revision, a study was set up in which ten L1 German students wrote academic essays in German and in English. The production process was protocolled with the help of keylogging, so that the revising processes could be analysed. The results show that the participants revised similarly in both the L1 and the FL. They focussed on the same aspects (content, typing mistakes, and language errors that were not L1 related). At the same time, there are differences in finer grades. These differences in revision do not seem to be a conscious decision, however, but are rather the result of the higher cognitive demands in FL academic writing and the lower degree of language knowledge. Additionally, the analysis of the final FL texts showed that most of the errors that were not corrected were L1 induced. When one looks at the revisions, however, one sees that hardly any revisions were made in these aspects: the L1 influence went more or less unnoticed. For writing pedagogy, this means that one has to put a higher focus on revision strategies during teaching, in order to give students the tools to write successfully in L1 and in FL, and to motivate them in enhancing their papers.
FOUND IN TRANSLATION

Formulaic language represents a challenge to even the most proficient of language learners. Evidence is mixed as to whether native and nonnative speakers process it in a fundamentally different way, whether exposure can lead to more nativelike processing for nonnatives, and how L1 knowledge is used to aid comprehension. In this study we investigated how advanced nonnative speakers process idioms encountered in their L2. We used eye-tracking to see whether a highly proficient group of L1 Swedes showed any evidence of a formulaic processing advantage for English idioms. We also compared translations of Swedish idioms and congruent idioms (items that exist in both languages) to see how L1 knowledge is utilized during online processing. Results support the view that L1 knowledge is automatically used from the earliest stages of processing, regardless of whether sequences are congruent, and that exposure and advanced proficiency can lead to nativelike formulaic processing in the L2.
Explaining Cross-national Variations in the Size of the Shadow Economy in Central and Eastern Europe

Cross-national variations in the size of the shadow economy have been variously explained to be a result of: economic underdevelopment (modernization theory); high taxes, public sector corruption and state interference in the free market (neoliberal theory) or inadequate levels of state intervention to protect workers (political economy theory). The aim of this paper is to start to evaluate critically these competing theories by comparing cross-national variations in the size of the shadow economy with the various aspects of the broader economic and social environment denoted as determinants of the shadow economy in each of the theories. The finding is that across Central and Eastern Europe, smaller shadow economies prevail in wealthier, more modern and equal societies and countries with higher levels of social protection expenditure, greater state intervention in the labour market, more effective social transfers and lower levels of poverty. No evidence is, therefore, found to support the neoliberal suggestion that decreasing tax rates, deregulating the economy and cutting back work and welfare expenditure by the state will reduce the shadow economy. The paper concludes by discussing the theoretical and policy implications of the findings.
Predicting risk of school refusal: examining the incremental role of trait EI beyond personality and emotion regulation

Research has not yet been deepened in the link between personality factors and risk of school refusal. Furthermore, previous studies fail to verify the direct relation between trait EI and the risk of school refusal. The present study examined personality traits, emotion regulation and trait EI for the contributory role they may play in predicting the risk of school refusal. The sample consisted of 311 participants, 112 males (36%) and 199 females (64%) with an average age of 14.19 (SD = .60), from a high school in the city of Messina (Sicily, Italy). Results show that the risk of school refusal is positively related to neuroticism and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, while it is negatively related to the extroversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness and trait EI. Moreover, trait EI can be considered as a strong incremental negative predictor of risk of school refusal over and above personality traits and emotion regulation.
Comparative Studies of Different Imputation Methods for Recovering Streamflow Observation

Faulty field sensors cause unreliability in the observed data that needed to calibrate and assess hydrology models. However, it is illogical to ignore abnormal or missing values if there are limited data available. This study addressed this problem by applying data imputation to replace incorrect values and recover missing streamflow information in the dataset of the Samho gauging station at Taehwa River (TR), Korea from 2004 to 2006. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and two machine learning techniques, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Self Organizing Map (SOM), were employed to estimate streamflow using reasonable flow datasets of Samho station from 2004 to 2009. The machine learning models were generally better at capturing high flows, while SWAT was better at simulating low flows.
Coagulation Factor XII –A Key Pro-Inflammatory and Pro-Coagulant Protein

Coagulation factor XII (FXII) is a multidomain serine protease that is the starter of intrinsic coagulation pathway. FXII deficiency and clinical hemostasis are not associated with bleeding, so investigators have not considered FXII important in physiology for a long time. In seeking explanation for FXII-independent physiologic hemostasis, investigators found FXII is an essential constitute of contact system that mediates procoagulation and proinflammatory via the intrinsic coagulation pathway or the Kallikrein-kinin system, respectively. Date obtained in infectious inflammation have revealed FXII mediated clotting that limited bacterial or toxin spread in early phases, and regulated fibrinolysis in later. Moreover, FXII mediated two non- infectious inflammation Hereditary angioedema (HAE) and non-specific allergy via bradykinin (BK) formation. In the coagulation, thrombosis not only is involved with coagulation, but is redefined as thrombo-inflammatory disorder. This paper reviews in det ail the progresses in roles of FXII intersection between inflammation and coagulation.
Spectrophotometric study of the anti-caseinolytic activity of root extracts of Teclea nobilis and Vepris zambesiaca on Bitis arietans venom

The study focused on the inhibition of the caseinolytic activity of Bitis arietans venom by aqueous methanol crude root extracts of Teclea nobilis and Vepris zambesiaca. Snake venom samples were collected from Snake World near Harare, and the medicinal plants were obtained from Mash Central Province, Zimbabwe. Data on the kinetics of the digestion of casein by the B. arietans venom and the inhibition of the caseinolytic activity of the venom were generated spectrophotometrically. Lineweaver-Burk plots to explore the kinetics of the digestion of casein by B. arietans venom gave Vmax and KM values of 8.33 × 103 mol dm-3 s-1and 7.35 × 106 mol dm-3, respectively. Maximum inhibition of caseinolytic activity of the B. arietans venom of 70 and 60% was observed when incubation was performed in the presence of 6.25 and 8.50 µg/ml of T. nobilis and V. Zambesiaca, respectively. The inhibitory effect of the extracts was correlated to the levels of flavonoids, flavonols and phenolics. The results demonstrate that T. nobilis and V. zambesiaca have great potential as medicinal plants and are possible candidates for new therapeutic agents in the treatment of snake bite envenomations. Key words: Bitis arietans, inhibition, caseinolytic effect, Teclea nobilis, Vepris zambesiaca.
Value of Time for Commercial Vehicle Operators

The spring load restriction policy of Minnesota has been in effect for over 50 years with little consideration given to the cost that it imposes on the freight industry. A cost-benefit study was recently commissioned to examine the policy. The cost-benefit analysis required a precise estimate of the value of time for commercial vehicle operators in Minnesota. An estimate was not available from previous studies, or from previous data. The necessary revealed preference (RP) information does not exist, and relevance of previous studies was questioned based on the differences in geographic location and the age of data used to construct the estimates. A sample was constructed from several trucking industry sources to conduct a survey. Interviews were conducted using an adaptive stated preference (ASP) survey to derive an estimate to the nearest dollar. A tobit model was fit to the data from the interviews to derive the estimate for value of time. A mean of $49.42 was found, with a 95 percent confidence interval from $40.45 to $58.39. Variation in the distribution of values is largely undetermined, with the exception of fleet operation, whether it is a for-hire truck fleet, or a private truck fleet.
State and provincial estimates of American black bear numbers versus assessments of population trend

Abstract Wildlife management agencies in US states and Canadian provinces and territories routinely assess population trends of American black bears (Ursus americanus) and estimate population size. State or province-wide population estimates are often extrapolated from small, short-term studies or are based on other expert opinions. We compiled black bear population estimates provided by 51 states and provinces for the period 1988–2001. Only 57% of trends ascertained from these serial population estimates (or less, depending on the method for determining trend and what was considered a match) agreed with corresponding agency assessments of trend for the same period. That is, nearly half the management agencies felt that the trend in their bear population was different than indicated by the estimates they produced. Most mismatches were cases where agencies perceived their populations as increasing but their estimates showed no discernible trend. Pooling all population estimates for North America suggested that continent-wide black bear numbers had increased by about 2%/year, but this growth cannot be statistically corroborated because of the subjective nature of the individual estimates (guesstimates). State or province-wide black bear population estimates may aid in managing bear harvests, but for the most part, they are not precise or rigorous enough to provide useful information on population trend.
Non-Standard Semiparametric Regression via BRugs

We provide several illustrations of Bayesian semiparametric regression analyses in the BRugs package. BRugs facilitates use of the BUGS inference engine from the R computing environment and allows analyses to be managed using scripts. The examples are chosen to represent an array of non-standard situations, for which mixed model software is not viable. The situations include: the response variable being outside of the one-parameter exponential family, data subject to missingness, data subject to measurement error and parameters entering the model via an index.