Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Revision of the Poecilimon ornatus group (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae) with particular reference to the taxa in Bulgaria and Macedonia.

The Poecilimon ornatus group has an exclusively European distribution and includes the largest species in the genus. A revision of the taxa belonging to this group in Bulgaria and Macedonia (Central and Eastern Balkan Peninsula) is presented. Nine taxa described from Bulgaria are synonymised with 3 previously known species, as follows: Poecilimon ornatus (= P. mistshenkoi marzani, syn. n., P. mistshenkoi tinkae, syn. n., P. mistshenkoi vlachinensis, syn. n.), P. affinis s. str. (= P. mistshenkoi mistshenkoi, syn. n., P. affinis ruenensis, syn. n., P. affinis rilensis, syn. n., P. affinis medimontanus, syn. n., P. harzi, syn. n.) and P. hoelzeli (= P. kisi, syn. n.). The synonymy of P. poecilus with P. affinis and the subspecific status of P. affinis komareki are confirmed. One species, Poecilimon jablanicensis, sp. n. , is described as new to science. A tabulated key, lists and maps of all known localities and oscillograms of the songs of all the species in this group are presented. The phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trends in the Poecilimon ornatus group are discussed.
Discrepancies in Financial Performance between Domestic and Foreign Owned Enterprises: The case of Greece

This study examines whether there are differences between domestic and foreign owned firms operating in Greece, and in particular it focuses on financial management characteristics of the firms under investigation. The data come from the individual companies’ balance sheets for the year 2008. The firms under investigation are grouped into two categories based on the origin of their capital share. Using a non-linear model, we arrive at the following results: foreign enterprises have higher use of capital, manage more financial elements, have more access to long-tern borrowing, while they fall short against domestic firms in short term financing. Finally, foreign firms have higher sales and present greater profitability.
Towards caring for caregivers: assessing the burden of care and experience of associative stigma among caregivers of patients with chronic mental illnesses at a mental healthcare facility in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

Background. Mental illness is becoming an inevitable part of life with an estimation of over 150 million cases occurring worldwide, commencing as early as age 15 and leading to disability and impairments. Caring for patients with chronic mental illnesses is increasingly becoming an unending fastidious task. The goal, which is often to help improve functioning and relieve symptoms, often places many demands and eventually leads to some form of burdensome experiences for the caregivers. The magnitude of this problem among caregivers, however, remains largely unknown in sub-Saharan Africa. Objectives. the study sought to describe the level and correlation of the burden experienced by caregivers in the families of patients with chronic mental illnesses, to determine the relationship between family functioning and the level of caregiver burden and, lastly, to determine the prevalence of stigma by association/family stigma in the study population. Material and methods. A total of 402 family caregivers of patients with chronic mental illnesses attending the outpatient clinics of the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, were interviewed using a socio-demographic data collection sheet, family functioning (APGAR) scale, the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) instrument and questions measuring the psychological effects of being a relative of a patient with severe mental illness. Results. The results of the study showed that 42% of the subjects experienced a high level of burden, and this was significantly associated with the gender of caregivers, their level of education, familial relationship of the caregivers to the patients, income, distance of residence from a health facility, family functioning and experience of family stigma. Conclusions. Chronic mental illnesses are associated with a high level of caregiver burden in nearly half of the study population. A low level of income is an important predictor of high burden that could be addressed through occupational rehabilitation of patients and provision of employment with a view to improving family income. Introduction of support groups and continuous advocacy against stigmatisation of individuals with mental illnesses and their families are essential.
Investigating Entrepreneurs' Dark Personality: How Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy Relate to Entrepreneurial Intention

Personality has a longer research tradition as a predictor for entrepreneurial behavior. In psychological personality research, the Dark Triad of Personality (DT) describes a cluster of three undesirable and interpersonally problematic behavior styles of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and subclinical psychopathy that has recently attracted interest in management research. In this research we aim at illuminating how the DT is related to entrepreneurial intention. For this purpose, we conducted an empirical study among Entrepreneurship students participating in a state-wide business plan competition. Our results show that narcissism and psychopathy are positively related to general entrepreneurial intention, as well as to various subfactors in Krueger’s (1993) model of entrepreneurial intention. From these results, we offer avenues for further research and implications for practitioners.
The relationship of Social Interactions and Satisfaction for Agritourism Service Encounters

This study suggests that four types of visitors’ social interactions exist in agritourismwith service providers (farmers), companion travelers, other customers, and local residents, based on social exchange theory and resource theory, addressing how those affect satisfaction. Of these interactions, the first interaction has been extensively examined with respect to its effect on positive post-purchase behaviors as it is often deemed more controllable than other types of interactions. However, all interactions or relationships at service encounters can individually or in combination, positively influence post-purchase behaviors, although it is often difficult to untangle their effects. By incorporating multiple observable relationships associated with service delivery specific to agritourism settings, this study will provide insight into service encounter research applicable to small-scale enterprises which predominate agritourism operations. A survey of 400 visitors to farms located in Texas reveals that most of hypotheses are supported.
Lending Relationships and Credit Rationing: The Impact of Securitization

Do lending relationships mitigate credit rationing? Does securitization influence the impact of lending relationships on credit rationing? If so, is its impact differently in normal periods versus crisis periods? This paper combines several unique data sets to address these questions. Employing a disequilibrium model to identify credit rationing, we find that more intense lending relationships, measured through their length and lower number, considerable improve credit supply and reduce the degree of credit rationing. In general, we find that a relationship with a bank that is more involved in securitization activities relaxes credit constraints in normal periods; however, it also increases credit rationing during crisis periods. Finally, we study the impact of different types of securitization – covered bonds and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) – on credit rationing. While both types of securitization reduce credit rationing in normal periods, the issuance of MBS by a firm’s main bank aggravates these firm’s credit rationing in crisis periods.
PERIODIC MOVING AVERAGES OF RANDOM VARIABLES WITH REGULARLY VARYING TAILS

In this paper we establish the basic asymptotic theory for periodic moving averages of i.i. d. random variables with regularly varying tails. The moving average coefficients are allowed to vary according to the season. A simple reformulation yields the corresponding results for moving averages of random vectors. Our main result is that when the underlying random variables have finite variance but infinite fourth moment, the sample autocorrelations are asymptotically stable. It is well known in this case that sample autocorrelations in the classical stationary moving average model are asymptotically normal.
A MICROBIAL CONTINUOUS CULTURE SYSTEM WITH DIFFUSION AND DIVERSIFIED GROWTH

A reaction-diffusion model is presented to describe the microbial continuous culture with diversified growth. The existence of nonnegative solutions and attractors for the system is obtained, the stability of steady states and the steady state bifurcation are studied under three growth conditions. In the case of no growth inhibition or only product inhibition, the system admits one positive constant steady state which is stable; in the case of growth inhibition only by substrate, the system can have two positive constant steady states, explicit conditions of the stability and the steady state bifurcation are also determined. In addition, numerical simulations are given to exhibit the theoretical results.
Thermospheric mass density specification using an ensemble Kalman filter

This paper presents an application of ensemble Kalman filtering (EnKF) to a general circulation model of the thermosphere and ionosphere. It is designed to incorporate the feedback between plasma and neutral variables in both the analysis and forecast steps of filtering so that thermospheric parameters can be inferred from ionospheric observations and vice versa. We make a case that the global neutral density specification can greatly benefit from this approach based on a number of filtering experiments conducted under the assumption of no model bias. Specific observations considered are (i) neutral mass densities obtained from the accelerometer experiment on board the CHAMP satellite and (ii) electron density profiles obtained from the COSMIC/FORMOSAT‐3 mission. Assimilation of the neutral mass density obtained from the CHAMP mission into the TIEGCM is shown to improve the neutral density specification in the vicinity of satellite orbits, but is short of making a global impact unless accompanied by the estimation of the primary driver of the density variability such as solar EUV flux. On the other hand, assimilation of the COSMIC/FORMOSAT‐3 electron density profiles into the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) is far more effective than the CHAMP neutral density in terms of improving the global neutral mass density specification. This suggests a synthesis of thermospheric and ionospheric observations into the general circulation model, brought about with the help of the latest EnKF techniques, can effectively increase the geophysical information content of observations.
Geogenic Imprint on Groundwater and Its Quality in Parts of the Mamfe Basin, Manyu Division, Cameroon

Groundwater studies in parts of the Mamfe basin are sparse and the Mamfe area has the highest population density in the Mamfe basin. An in-depth study of groundwater rock interaction and groundwater quality is of vital importance. This same part of the basin is the economic centre and as such development of businesses in this area requires knowledge of the groundwater quality. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the input of the rock formations on the groundwater solute chemistry and groundwater domestic-agro-industrial quality using hydrogeochemical tools and physicochemical parameters: Ionic ratios, Gibbs diagrams, Piper diagrams, Durov diagrams and water quality indices. From physicochemical parameters, in the rainy season, pH ranged from, 4.3 - 8.6; EC, 3 - 1348 μS/cm; Temperature, 24.4℃ - 30.1℃ andTDS, 2.01 - 903.16 mg/L and in the dry season, pH ranged from 5.5 - 9.3; EC, 6 - 994 μS/cm; Temperature, 25℃ - 38.6℃ andTDS, 4.02 - 632.48 mg/L. Forty groundwater samples: 20 per season, wet and dry were analysed. The major ions fell below WHO acceptable limits for both seasons. The sequences of abundance of major ions were: Ca2+ > K+ > Mg2+ > > Na+, Cl- > > > > NO3 in wet season and Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ > Na+, > Cl- > > > in dry season. Ion-exchange, simple dissolution and uncommon dissolution processes determined groundwater character. Groundwater ionic content was as a result of ion exchange from rock-weathering. Water types are: CaSO4 and MgHCO3 in both seasons. Hydrogeochemical facies are Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 and Ca-Mg-HCO3. SAR for wet season 0.05 - 0.06 and dry season 0.00 - 0.05, %Na wet season 3.64 - 16.59 and dry season 1.22 - 10.97, KR wet season 0.01 - 0.02 and 0.00
Characterization of footprint‐scale surface soil moisture variability using Gaussian and beta distribution functions during the Southern Great Plains 1997 (SGP97) hydrology experiment

The behavior of satellite footprint‐scale surface soil moisture probability density functions (PDF) was analyzed using 50‐km‐scale samples taken from soil moisture images collected during the Southern Great Plains 1997 (SGP97) hydrology experiment. Under the observed wetness conditions, soil moisture variability generally peaked in the midrange of mean soil moisture content and decreased toward the wet and dry ends, while in the midrange it was more widely distributed. High variability in the midrange is attributed to the multimodality of soil moisture PDFs, which apparently results from fractional precipitation within the footprint‐scale fields. Single Gaussian, single beta, and mixtures of two Gaussian distributions were utilized to fit observed footprint‐scale soil moisture distributions. As a single‐component density, the Gaussian PDF was shown to be a good choice, compared to the beta distribution, for representing spatial variability, particularly under wet conditions. The performance of the Gaussian PDF was greatly improved by using a mixture of two Gaussian distributions. Implications of this study for the validating spaceborne remotely sensed soil moisture estimates and for parameterization of subgrid‐scale surface soil moisture content in land surface models are discussed.
Water soluble EDTA-linked chitosan as a zwitterionic flocculant for pH sensitive removal of Cu(II) ion

A linear and non-crosslinked polymer, EDTA-linked chitosan (ED-ch), was synthesized by N-acylation of chitosan with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) monoanhydride under acidic to slightly basic aqueous conditions. The degree of substitution (D.S.) of EDTA residues in the product was changeable depending on the stoichiometry of the acylation reagent, and the structure was confirmed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The newly introduced functional group in ED-ch provided properties such as being a strong chelating reagent and an amphoteric polyelectrolyte. It was found that ED-ch had good water solubility in both acidic and basic regions and precipitated in a narrow pH region. Applicability of ED-ch to the removal of heavy metal ions by flocculation was proven by a model experiment using 10 ppm Cu(II) solution. A simple procedure, mixing ED-ch with D.S. 41% and 70%, and subsequent pH adjustment (4.5 and 2.5) and centrifugal separation of the flocs formed, was shown to remove Cu(II) almost completely from aqueous solution. The residual Cu(II) concentration after these flocculation/separation process with ED-ch reached 0.03 ppm.
BUFFERING THE FAILURE OF NEW PRODUCT DEVELOMENT PROJECTS: A MULTI-LEVEL APPROACH

We develop a multi-level model of the impact of new product development (NPD) failures on firm valuation based on organizational, managerial, and product-level characteristics of high technology firms. Drawing on signalling theory we argue that the impact of failure increases with the product’s development stage, and that this effect is contingent on the resources of the firm. Using data on 234 NPD failures of biopharmaceutical firms listed on the NASDAQ Biotechnology index, the findings largely support our model and demonstrate that organizational and managerial characteristics are important factors that mitigate the impact of NPD failures in new technology firms. We discuss implications for the product development literature.
Monitoring global tropospheric OH concentrations using satellite observations of atmospheric methane

Abstract. The hydroxyl radical (OH) is the main tropospheric oxidant and the main sink for atmospheric methane. The global abundance of OH has been monitored for the past decades using atmospheric methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3) as a proxy. This method is becoming ineffective as atmospheric CH3CCl3 concentrations decline. Here we propose that satellite observations of atmospheric methane in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) can provide an alternative method for monitoring global OH concentrations. The premise is that the atmospheric signature of the methane sink from oxidation by OH is distinct from that of methane emissions. We evaluate this method in an observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) framework using synthetic SWIR and TIR satellite observations representative of the TROPOMI and CrIS instruments, respectively. The synthetic observations are interpreted with a Bayesian inverse analysis, optimizing both gridded methane emissions and global OH concentrations. The optimization is done analytically to provide complete error accounting, including error correlations between posterior emissions and OH concentrations. The potential bias caused by prior errors in the 3-D seasonal OH distribution is examined using OH fields from 12 different models in the ACCMIP archive. We find that the satellite observations of methane have the potential to constrain the global tropospheric OH concentration with a precision better than 1 % and an accuracy of about 3 % for SWIR and 7 % for TIR. The inversion can successfully separate the effects of perturbations to methane emissions and to OH concentrations. Interhemispheric differences in OH concentrations can also be successfully retrieved. Error estimates may be overoptimistic because we assume in this OSSE that errors are strictly random and have no systematic component. The availability of TROPOMI and CrIS data will soon provide an opportunity to test the method with actual observations.
The eleven years of European Conference on IT evaluation: Retrospectives and perspectives for possible future research

This paper provides an overview of the papers that have been presented at the European Conference on IT Evaluation during the past eleven years. It considers the main issues, and learning themes addressed in papers presented to these Conferences. The paper also reflects on the possible future direction, which this research may take and three major research themes are suggested. Some 356 papers have been presented at ECITE. Over the eleven year period it is clear that the level of understanding as reflected in the papers has significantly increased. Themes, which were particularly well addressed, include IT and IS value, the multidisciplinary nature of evaluation, the importance of stakeholder analysis, organisational learning and life cycle management. Three issues are identified as particularly important for further research. These are, the theoretical underpinning of IT evaluation, improving the data sets for research and establishing a more common core of concepts.
Pathogen toxin-indiced electrolyte leakage and phytoalexin accumulation as indices of red-rot (Colletotrichum falcatum Went) resistance in sugarcane

A phytotoxin produced by the sugarcane red-rot fungus Colletotrichum falcatum Went was partially purified. The phytotoxin caused increased electrolyte leakage in susceptible sugarcane varieties and higher levels of phytoalexins (3-deoxyanthocyanidins) in resistant sugarcane varieties. This relationship between phytotoxin induced changes and disease reaction could possibly be used as an additional index to rapidly identify red-rot resistant varieties.
Intertemporal Collusion with Multiperiod Signaling

Pre-announcement of product release dates may serve as a practice that facilitates collusion by allowing firms to schedule their product releases so as not to coincide with one another. An economic experiment is used to determine if subjects can collude using these tools. This experiment differs from others in that a multiperiod signalling mechanism is used as ap roxy for costless product release announcements. The primary finding is that while individual subjects show tendencies towards collusive behavior, inexperienced groups are still unable to coordinate.
A Physically Motivated and Empirically Calibrated Method to Measure the Effective Temperature, Metallicity, and Ti Abundance of M Dwarfs

The ability to perform detailed chemical analysis of Sun-like F-, G-, and K-type stars is a powerful tool with many applications, including studying the chemical evolution of the Galaxy and constraining planet formation theories. Unfortunately, complications in modeling cooler stellar atmospheres hinders similar analyses of M dwarf stars. Empirically calibrated methods to measure M dwarf metallicity from moderate-resolution spectra are currently limited to measuring overall metallicity and rely on astrophysical abundance correlations in stellar populations. We present a new, empirical calibration of synthetic M dwarf spectra that can be used to infer effective temperature, Fe abundance, and Ti abundance. We obtained high-resolution (R ∼ 25,000), Y-band (∼1 μm) spectra of 29 M dwarfs with NIRSPEC on Keck II. Using the PHOENIX stellar atmosphere modeling code (version 15.5), we generated a grid of synthetic spectra covering a range of temperatures, metallicities, and alpha-enhancements. From our observed and synthetic spectra, we measured the equivalent widths of multiple Fe i and Ti i lines and a temperature-sensitive index based on the FeH band head. We used abundances measured from widely separated solar-type companions to empirically calibrate transformations to the observed indices and equivalent widths that force agreement with the models. Our calibration achieves precisions in Teff, [Fe/H], and [Ti/Fe] of 60 K, 0.1 dex, and 0.05 dex, respectively, and is calibrated for 3200 K < Teff < 4100 K, −0.7 < [Fe/H] < +0.3, and −0.05 < [Ti/Fe] < +0.3. This work is a step toward detailed chemical analysis of M dwarfs at a precision similar to what has been achieved for FGK stars.
Comparative assessment of cellular proliferative potential in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions by quantitative analysis of nucleolar organizer regions

Background: The potential for malignant change in oral lichen planus (OLP) is still a matter of controversy. Adding to the persisting controversy, recently there is evidence that oral lichenoid lesions (OLL) may also possess a malignant potential. Increase in cellular proliferation rate enhances the chances that cells may undergo mutations during mitosis which in turn could result in a malignant phenotype. Aims: The present study is aimed at comparing the proliferative rate of OLP and OLL based on quantitative argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) analysis. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of the use of 25 archival paraffinembedded blocks of histopathologically diagnosed cases of OLP (n = 14) and OLL (n = 11). Sections were then stained using an AgNOR technique. Group mean AgNOR values were derived and independent student t-test was applied for statistical analysis. Results: The mean AgNOR value in OLP group was 2.49 ± 0.91 and the same in OLL group was 2.31±0.43. There was no statistically significant difference noted between the two groups with a probability value of 0.531(P ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: On AgNOR analysis, OLP and OLL behave in a similar manner in terms of cellular proliferation. Accordingly, either OLP or OLL may have a similar predisposition to undergo malignant transformation.