Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hard X-ray flares in IGR J08408-4503 unveil clumpy stellar winds

Context. A 1000-s flare from a new hard X-ray transient, IGR J08408-4503, was observed by INTEGRAL on May 15, 2006 during the real-time routine monitoring of IBIS/ISGRI images performed at the INTEGRAL Science Data Centre. The flare, detected during a single one-hour long pointing, peaked at 250 mCrab in the 20-40 keV energy range. Aims. Multi-wavelength observations, combining high-energy and optical data, were used to unveil the nature of IGR 108408-1503. Methods. A search in all INTEGRAL public data for other bursts from IGR J08408-1503 was performed, and the detailed analysis of another major flare is presented. The results of two Swift Target of Opportunity observations are also described. Finally, a study of the likely optical counterpart, HD 74194, is provided. Results. IGR J08408-4503 is very likely a supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT) system. The system parameters indicate that the X-ray flares are probably related to the accretion of wind clumps on a compact object orbiting about 10 13 cm from the supergiant HD 74194. The clump mass loss rate is of the order of 10 -6 M O yr -1 . Conclusions. Hard X-ray flares from SFXTs allow to probe the stellar winds of massive stars, and could possibly be associated with wind perturbations due to line-driven instabilities.
Underlying mechanisms of transient luminous events: a review

Abstract. Transient luminous events (TLEs) occasionally observed above a strong thunderstorm system have been the subject of a great deal of research during recent years. The main goal of this review is to introduce readers to recent theories of electrodynamics processes associated with TLEs. We examine the simplest versions of these theories in order to make their physics as transparent as possible. The study is begun with the conventional mechanism for air breakdown at stratospheric and mesospheric altitudes. An electron impact ionization and dissociative attachment to neutrals are discussed. A streamer size and mobility of electrons as a function of altitude in the atmosphere are estimated on the basis of similarity law. An alternative mechanism of air breakdown, runaway electron mechanism, is discussed. In this section we focus on a runaway breakdown field, characteristic length to increase avalanche of runaway electrons and on the role played by fast seed electrons in generation of the runaway breakdown. An effect of thunderclouds charge distribution on initiation of blue jets and gigantic jets is examined. A model in which the blue jet is treated as upward-propagating positive leader with a streamer zone/corona on the top is discussed. Sprite models based on streamer-like mechanism of air breakdown in the presence of atmospheric conductivity are reviewed. To analyze conditions for sprite generation, thunderstorm electric field arising just after positive cloud-to-ground stroke is compared with the thresholds for propagation of positively/negatively charged streamers and with runway breakdown. Our own estimate of tendril's length at the bottom of sprite is obtained to demonstrate that the runaway breakdown can trigger the streamer formation. In conclusion we discuss physical mechanisms of VLF (very low frequency) and ELF (extremely low frequency) phenomena associated with sprites.
Rumen In Vitro Fermentation and In Situ Degradation Kinetics of Winter Forage Brassicas Crops

Simple Summary Winter brassica crops such as kales and swedes are used to supply feed in times of seasonal shortage. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is little information about the fermentation characteristics of these forages in the rumen. This study assessed the nutrient concentration, in vitro fermentation and in situ rumen degradation characteristics of Brassica oleracea (L.) ssp. acephala (kales) and Brassica napus (L.) ssp. napobrassica (swedes). The kales and swedes both showed different nutrient concentrations and fermented fast and extensively in the rumen. However, in vitro fermentation of swedes resulted in lower acetate and greater proportions of butyrate and propionate. Varieties of swedes showed more differences in terms of degradation and fermentation in the rumen compared to kale varieties. Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the nutritional value, the rumen in vitro fermentation, and the in situ degradation of Brassica oleracea (L.) ssp. acephala (kales) and Brassica napus (L.) ssp. napobrassica (swedes) for winter use. Five varieties of each brassica were used in three field replicates and were randomized in a complete block nested design. All forage varieties were harvested at 210 days post-sowing to analyze the chemical composition, in vitro gas production, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and in situ dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability. Kales presented higher DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content (p < 0.01), whereas swedes showed higher CP, metabolizable energy (ME), glucose, fructose, total sugars, NFC, and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) content (p < 0.01). The kale and swede varieties differed in their CP and sugar concentrations, whereas the kale varieties differed in their DM and raffinose content. The rates of gas production were higher for swedes than for kales (p < 0.01). No differences between the brassica species (p > 0.05) were observed in the total VFA production, whereas kales had a higher proportion of acetate and swedes had higher proportions of butyrate (p < 0.05). Only the swede varieties showed differences in VFA production (p < 0.05). The soluble fraction “a”, potential and effective in situ DM degradability were higher in swedes (p < 0.01), but kales presented greater DM and CP degradation rates. Differences were observed between brassica species in the chemical composition, degradation kinetics, and ruminal fermentation products, whereas differences among varieties within species were less frequent but need to be considered.
Eddies in the Subarctic seas - on their characteristics and generation mechanism

The advent of satelitte observations revolutionalized Oceanography, an it has unveiled a turbulent ocean circulation dominated by mesoscale eddies (10-100km). Eddies represent an important aspect of the flow, and understanding them is essential to advance our perception of numerous ocean processes. Gaining knowledge of eddies generation mechanisms, evolution and impacts has been at the heart oceanographic research during the last decades. In this study we aim to investigate the characteristics of eddies in the Subarctic seas, and also to examine one of their generations mechanisms, baroclinic instability. Baroclinic instability has greatly aided our knowlegde of atmospheric eddies, and is also believed to the key advocator for eddies in the Ocean. We put forth the hypothesis that it can be held resposible for the large eddy acticity in th Subartctic Seas. To adress this issue we perform a linear stability analysis, that provide characteristics of the most unstable wave growing at the expense of an unstable background flow. The unstable wave’s spatial and time scales are compared to the estimates of a simpler model (Eady) of baroclinic instability. An eddy census is conducted from a ten year model simulation. Coherent vortices are extracted from the flow and tracked in time. Characteristics such as size, vorticity, lifetimes are recorded and analyzed. The scales of the linear waves and nonlinearly evolving eddies from the detection scheme are then compared. We do not anticipate that local baroclinic instability can account for all aspects of a fully turbulent field, but to what a degree it appears to be active in the initial stages of the eddies, is still possible to be traced.
Rosemary and Sage Outperformed Six other Culinary Herbs in Antioxidant and Antibacterial PropertiesRosemary and Sage Outperformed Six other Culinary Herbs in Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties

The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Labiatae culinary herbs are well documented but the effects of different drying methods are poorly studied. In this study, the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of fresh and oven-dried herbs of oregano, marjoram, rosemary, sage, basil, thyme, peppermint and spearmint were compared with available commercial herbs. Antioxidant properties of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, caffeoylquinic acid content, free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing power and ferrous ion chelating ability were assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, molybdate, DPPH radical scavenging, potassium ferricyanide and ferrozine assays, respectively. Antibacterial properties were assessed using the disc diffusion assay based on mean diameter of inhibitory zone and minimum inhibitory dose. The two drying treatments were oven drying at 50 o C (OD) and microwave pre-treatment followed by oven drying at 50 o C (MOD). Fresh rosemary and dried oregano had the strongest antioxidant properties. For most herbs, oven drying resulted in loss of Â antioxidant values compared to fresh herbs with the exception of oregano. Values of OD and MOD oregano, spearmint, thyme, peppermint and basil were higher than commercial samples, while those of rosemary were lower. Of the six commercial herbs, rosemary had the highest values, followed by oregano, spearmint, thyme, peppermint and basil. Rosemary, sage, peppermint and spearmint inhibited the growth of all three Gram-positive bacteria of Bacillus cereus , Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus . Rosemary and sage had stronger antibacterial properties than green and black teas of Camellia sinensis . When used in combination, rosemary and sage can have enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial effects, which are desirable in developing nutraceutical products, and in controlling rancidity and bacterial growth in food.
Foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and nutrients for improvement of lily flowers.

Foliar application of either GA3 (20mgL), or a nutrient solution (comprising of KNO3, 19mgL; NH4NO3, 16.5 mgL; KH2PO4, 1.7mgL, CaCl2, 4.4 mgL and MgSO4, 3.7mgL) or both on lily plants was undertaken. It was found that flower stem length of the plants sprayed with nutrients alone increased by 25% over those of the control plants. Mean shoot length of the plants sprayed with both the hormones and nutrients increased by 33% over the control plants and by 6% over the other set of plants, which received the treatment of nutrients alone. Number of nodes per stem was also found to increase in the dually treated plants by 71% and 42% in that order. The plants receiving dual treatment harbored 92% greater number of buds per stem over the control plants whereas nutrientsalone treated lily plant showed only 28% greater number of buds. Mean number of flowers produced by nutrient fed plants was 14% greater over the control plants. Foliar application of GA3 and nutrients application was found to have improved the productivity and quality of lily cut flowers and may be exploited commercially in horticulture industry to fetch premium price for cut flowers.
Reproductive biology of Cetengraulis edentulus (Cuvier, 1829), the major fishery resource in Guanabara Bay, Brazil

Cetengraulis edentulus is a broadely distributed engraulid in Southwest Atlantic, currently accounting for the main fish species commercially exploited at Guanabara Bay, Brazil. This study aimed to extend the knowledge on reproduction of C. edentulus at Guanabara Bay and to test whether some descriptors of reproductive activity, especially the gonadosomatic index (GSI), and the index of reproductive activity (IRA) changed among seasons. A total of 978 C. edentulus specimens were retrieved from purse seine commercial landings at Conservas Rubi S.A. company, in Sao Goncalo city, RJ. Subsamples of 90-120 individuals were collected from bimonthly yields between July 2010 (winter) and June 2011 (autumn). Most fish were adults (120-170 mm TL), in response to the high selectivity of commercial fisheries. All descriptors indicated a broad spawning period (late winter to spring), peaking in November, suggesting this is the critical period to protect C. edentulus stocks from overfishing at Guanabara Bay. Fecundity averaged 12,720 oocytes and was positively related to fish size, GSI and fullness index, indicating that preserving larger individuals (TL > 160 mm) could contribute significantly to the reproductive success of C. edentulus, since they produce more oocytes. Cetengraulis edentulus e um engraulideo amplamente distribuido no Atlântico Sudoeste, sendo um importante recurso comercialmente explorado na baia de Guanabara, Brasil. O presente estudo teve como objetivo ampliar o conhecimento sobre a reproducao de C. edentulus na baia de Guanabara e testar quais descritores da atividade reprodutiva, especialmente o indice gonadossomatico (IGS) e o indice de atividade reprodutiva (IAR) se modificaram ao longo das estacoes do ano. Um total de 978 individuos de C. edentulus foram capturados pelo metodo de rede de cerco da frota comercial no cais da empresa Conservas Rubi S.A. , na cidade de Sao Goncalo, RJ. Subamostras de 90-120 individuos de C. edentulus foram coletados bimestralmente durante o periodo de julho de 2010 (inverno) e junho de 2011 (outono). A maioria dos individuos foram adultos (120-170 mm CT), em resposta a alta seletividade das capturas comerciais. Todos os indices indicaram um amplo periodo reprodutivo (final do inverno e primavera), com pico em novembro, sugerindo que este seria um periodo critico para preservar os estoques de C. edentulusda sobrepesca na baia de Guanabara. A fecundidade media foi de 12720 ovocitos e foi positivamente relacionada com tamanho do peixe, IGS e indice de replecao, indicando que preservar maiores individuos (CT > 160 mm) poderia contribuir significativamente para o sucesso reprodutivo de C. edentulusna area, visto que esses individuos produzem um maior numero de ovocitos.
It's not me, it's you: A multilevel examination of variables that impact employee coaching relationships.

Employee coaching, which we consider to be a critical part of the performance management process, is coaching done by a manager or supervisor with his or her direct reports. The current article builds on recent research on the importance of the employee coaching relationship by investigating individual difference and contextual variables that contribute to the quality of employee coaching relationships. The study uses a multilevel modeling approach to test the effects of such variables as supervisor leadership style, emotional intelligence, empathy, implicit person theory, trust, and feedback environment on employees’ perceptions of the coaching relationships they share with their supervisors. Overall, supervisors’ individual consideration, empathy, trust, and the feedback environment all accounted for significant variance in employees’ evaluations of coaching relationships.
A comparison of nutritional value of raisin wastes obtained from two Iranian grape varieties by in vitro rumen fermentation

In vitro cumulative gas production and some laboratory methods were used to evaluate raisin wastes obtained from two Iranian grape varieties (Paykami and Askari) for their nutritive value and chemical composition. Results showed that Paykami raisin wastes (PRW) had numerically more (P>0.05) dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE) and ash than Askari raisin wastes (ARW). In another experiment, an in vitro gas production (GP) technique was applied to evaluate the nutritive value of raisin wastes. Total gas volume (GP24, GP48 and GP96h after incubation), total volume of gas produced from the insoluble and fermentable section (Bgas), constant rate for total gas production (Cgas), short chain volatile fatty acids (SCFA), microbial protein yield (MPY), organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolisable energy (ME) and degradability of dry matter (DMD) were not differ significantly between two treatments. Both treatments had high levels of tannin and phenolic compounds (especially for Askari raisin wastes). Despite having moderate nutritive values for both raisin wastes with high concentration of tannins, the feed consumption of them should be with caution in livestock.
Radioactive heat production of six geologically important nuclides

Heat production rates for the geologically important nuclides 26Al, 40K, 60Fe, 232Th, 235U, and 238U are calculated on the basis of recent data on atomic and nuclear properties. The revised data differ by several percent from some older values but indicate that more recent analyses converge toward values with an accuracy sufficient for all common geoscience applications, although some possibilities for improvement still remain, especially in the case of 40K and with regard to the determination of half‐lives. A Python script is provided for calculating heat production (https://github.com/trg818/radheat).
Cytohistological Study of Head and Neck lesions and their Diagnostic Pitfalls

Background : Head and neck swellings often present with a perplexing diagnostic dilemma and may originate from lymph nodes, thyroid and salivary glands. FNAC is presently employed for both therapeutic and prognostic reasons, thereby helping the surgeon to decide modality of treatment. Thus this study was conducted with an aim to correlate cytological diagnosis of head and neck swellings with histopathology and to compare statistical data employing sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy. Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out for duration of 3 years and included 1231 cases referred to the Department of Pathology. FNAC was done from palpable head and neck masses and correlated with histopathology findings. Statistical analysis was done to calculate the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of cytological diagnosis. Results: Of 1231 cases for which FNAC was done, 234 cases were available for histopathological correlation. There was an overall male preponderance with male:female ratio being 1.04:1. The age of patients ranged between 16 years to 90 years . The maximum number of aspirates were from lymph nodes (680 cases, 55.23%) followed by thyroid gland (324 cases 26.32%), neck and post-auricular swellings (117, 9.5%) and salivary gland (110, 8.9%) . Statistical analysis was done to calculate overall diagnostic accuracy sensitivity, specificity of FNAC and was found to be 93.4%, 72.8%, 97.3% respectively. Conclusion: FNAC is fairly accurate, reliable and cost effective method for rapid and reliable diagnosis of palpable lesions in the head and neck region, thus helping the surgeon modify or monitor his surgical approach.
A Sustainable Graphene Aerogel Capable of the Adsorptive Elimination of Biogenic Amines and Bacteria from Soy Sauce and Highly Efficient Cell Proliferation.

A graphene aerogel (GA) with a three-dimensional (3D) structure, ultra-lightweight nature, and high hydrophobicity was simply fabricated by the one-step pyrolysis of glucose and ammonium chloride. The as-synthesized GA exhibited a 3D interconnected microporous architecture with a high surface area of ~2860 m2∙g-1 and pore volume of 2.24 cm3∙g-1. The hydrophobic GA (10 mg∙100 mL-1) demonstrated rapid and excellent adsorption performance for the removal of food toxins such as various biogenic amines (histamine, cadaverine and spermine) and the hazardous bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (a food contaminant and a cause of poor wound healing) from a liquid matrix with a maximum simultaneous adsorption capacity for multiple biogenic amines of > 85.19% (histamine), 74.1 % (cadaverine), and 70.11% (spermidine) and a 100% reduction in the viable cell count of S. aureus within 80 min of interaction. The outstanding adsorption capacity can be attributed to a highly interconnected porous network in the 3D architecture and a high surface-to-volume ratio. A case study using soy sauce spiked with multiple biogenic amines showed successful removal of toxins with excellent recyclability without any loss in absorption performance. Biocompatibility of the GA in terms of cell viability was observed even at high concentrations (83.46% and 75.28% at 25 and 50 mg.mL-1, respectively). Confirmatory biocompatibility testing was conducted via live/dead cell evaluation and the morphology of normal lung epithelial cells examined via scanning electron microscopy showed no cellular shrinkage. Moreover, GA showed excellent removal of live colonies of S. aureus from the food matrix and immunoblotting analysis showed elevated protein expression levels of β-catenin and α-SMA (α-smooth muscle actin). The biocompatible sugar-based GA could simultaneous adsorb multiple biogenic amines and live bacteria and was easy to regenerate via simple separation due to its high floatability, hydrophobicity, surface area, and porosity without any structural and functional loss, making it especially relevant for food safety and biomedical applications.
Monetary and Macroprudential Policies in an Estimated Model with Financial Intermediation

We estimate the Smets and Wouters (2007) model augmented with the Gertler and Karadi (2011) financial intermediation sector on US data by using real and financial observables. Given the framework of the estimated model, we address the question whether and how standard monetary policy should interact with macroprudential policy in order to safeguard real and financial stability. For this purpose, monetary policy is described by a flexible inflation targeting regime using the interest rate as instrument, while the macroprudential regulator adopts a tax/subsidy on bank capital in a countercyclical manner in order to stabilize nominal credit growth and the output gap. We look at the gains from coordination between the central bank and the macroprudential regulator under alternative assumptions regarding the degree of importance assigned to output gap fluctuations in the macroprudential mandate. The results suggest that there can be considerable gains from coordination if the macroprudential regulator has been assigned a sufficiently high weight on output gap stabilization, i.e. the common objective with monetary policy. If, on the other hand, the main focus of the macroprudential mandate is on credit growth, the macroprudential policy maker can reach better outcomes, while the central bank does worse, in the absence of coordination. Therefore, whether and to which extent monetary policy gains from coordination with the macroprudential regulator depends on the relative weight assigned to output fluctuations in the macroprudential mandate. Our counterfactual analysis further confirms the effectiveness of the countercyclical macroprudential tax/subsidy in containing the amplification effects triggered by a financial shock, and suggests that having a macroprudential regulatory tool at work could have successfully avoided the massive drop in credit such as the one observed at the onset of the Great Recession.
The Cohesion vs Growth Tradeoff - Evidence from EU Regions (1980-2000)

This paper provides an empirical investigation of the cohesion versus growth tradeoff on European regions at a fine geographical disaggregation level. We use data on gdp per capita at the NUTS3 level for 1980-2000 to estimate the influence of income dispersion within NUTS1 on their economic growth. We analyze the existence of the tradeoff using Redding and VenablesÂ’(2004) approach. From a simple new economic geography model in which we add a technological externality in order to allow for local growth, we derive an estimable equation linking the level of factor prices in a region to the level of inequalities inside that region, as well as the regionÂ’s access to markets. Our results show a positive relation between the gdp per capita growth rate of a region and the change in the level of inequalities inside the region. Finally, an increase in market potential, as expected, has an unambiguous positive impact on local growth.