Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An assessment of the impact of floodplain woodland on flood flows

This paper examines the potential role of floodplain woodland in flood alleviation. In theory, the presence of trees and associated woody debris on the floodplain increases the hydraulic roughness, thus slowing down flood flows and enhancing flood storage. One and two‐dimensional models were used to simulate a 2.2 km reach of river in south‐west England to test this theory for a 1 in 100 year flood using appropriate roughness parameters. Both models predicted a reduction in water velocity within the woodland, increasing water level by up to 270 mm and creating a backwater effect that extended nearly 400 m upstream. Flood storage increased by 15 and 71%, while flood peak travel time was increased by 30 and 140 min for the two scenarios simulated. The results suggest that there is considerable scope for using strategically placed floodplain woodland to alleviate downstream flooding. In particular, it offers a means of tackling the increased flood risk associated with climate change.
Remembered Duration: Evidence for a Contextual-Change Hypothesis

Two experiments used levels-of-processing tasks to investigate hypotheses on remembered duration of relatively long intervals. In Experiment 1, level of processing (shallow or deep) of presented information did not affect remembered duration, even though it had a substantial effect on memory for individual stimulus events. In Experiment 2, an interval containing different kinds of tasks (both shallow and deep processing) was remembered as being longer than one containing a single kind of task (either shallow or deep processing). Current formulations of event-memory, attentional, and informational hypotheses on remembered duration cannot easily explain these findings. However, the findings are consistent with a contextual-change hypothesis, which emphasizes memory for the overall amount of change in cognitive context during an interval. Implications regarding contextual factors in memory are discussed.
Fourier Analysis of Cerebral Metabolism of Glucose: Gender Differences in Mechanisms of Color Processing in the Ventral and Dorsal Streams in Mice

Conventional imaging methods could not distinguish processes within the ventral and dorsal streams. The application of Fourier time series analysis was helpful to segregate changes in the ventral and dorsal streams of the visual system in male and female mice. The present study measured the accumulation of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) in the mouse brain using small animal positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) during light stimulation with blue and yellow filters, compared to during conditions of darkness. Fourier analysis was performed using mean standardized uptake values (SUV) of [18F]FDG for each stimulus condition to derive spectral density estimates for each condition. In male mice, luminance opponency occurred by S-peak changes in the sub-cortical retino-geniculate pathways in the dorsal stream supplied by ganglionic arteries in the left visual cortex, while chromatic opponency involved C-peak changes in the cortico-subcortical pathways in the ventral stream perfused by cortical arteries in the left visual cortex. In female mice, there was resonance phenomenon at C-peak in the ventral stream perfused by the cortical arteries in the right visual cortex during luminance processing. Conversely, chromatic opponency caused by S-peak changes in the subcortical retino-geniculate pathways in the dorsal stream supplied by the ganglionic arteries in the right visual cortex. In conclusion, Fourier time series analysis uncovered distinct mechanisms of color processing in the ventral stream in males, while in female mice color processing was in the dorsal stream. It demonstrated that computation of colour processing as a conscious experience could have a wide range of applications in neuroscience, artificial intelligence and quantum mechanics.
Quality Incentives in Informal Markets: The Case of Ecuadorian Cocoa

We investigate the economic importance of implicit quality incentives in an agricultural market that lacks the institutional capacity for measuring quality verifiably. We measure the magnitude of implicit price premiums for quality, and we distinguish empirically between hedonic-pricing and implicit-contracting motivations for observed incentives. We find price premiums comparable in magnitude to premiums observed in other agricultural markets where quality is measured verifiably. Premiums are highest for relatively low-value but highly-informative quality characteristics, and buyers who are informationally close to farmers implicitly reward actions that affect unobservable quality characteristics. We conclude that implicit contracting is used to provide quality incentives comparable in magnitude to what is provided through more explicit means in formally organized markets.
The Effects of Assortative Mating on Income Inequality: A Decompositional Analysis

Using the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Survey of Income and Household Costs, this paper explores the effect of changing assortative mating patterns on income inequality. Evidence from theoretical and mathematically calibrated models suggest that assortative mating has distributional implications for measurable traits, which include income. Using a semi-parametric conditional weighted kernel density estimation framework we analyse the effect of assortative mating on the distribution of income in Australia. In controlling for labour force participation, family characteristics, education and other demographic variables, we find some evidence to suggest that assortative mating has had an influence on the increase in income inequality in the 17 years to 2003. The results are robust to several changes in specification.
TH17 Cells in Cancer Related Inflammation

Until 2005, T helper (CD4+) cells were proposed to be a binary system, consisting of TH1 and TH2 cells (Mosmann TR et al.,1986) , when a third T helper -cell subset, known as TH17 (interleukin-17 (IL-17) expressing cells), was identified (Harrington LE et al., 2005, Park H et al., 2005). This was followed up by the another independent discovery in three different laboratories of the differentiation factors cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-┚), that simplified in vitro analysis of this T cell subset to a large extent (Veldhoen M et al., 2006, Bettelli E et al., 2006, Mangan et al., 2006). The discovery of these unique TH17 cells has opened up exciting new avenues for research into the etiology and therapeutics of a broad spectrum of human diseases and data on the biology of these cells have emerged at an astounding pace in just 5 years. The reason for these cells to receive considerable attention in these recent years is their emerging involvement as principal mediators of pathogenesis in several autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders. Many reviews of the field have already highlighted the important role of TH17 cells in the diverse group of human autoimmune and inflammatory diseases (Tesmer et al., 2008, Sallusto and Lanzavecchia 2009, Torrado and Cooper 2010, Kimura and Kishimoto 2011, Cosmi et al., 2011).
Epley’s maneuver versus Semont’s maneuver in treatment of posterior canal benign positional paroxysmal vertigo

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is characterized by brief but violent attacks of paroxysmal vertigo provoked by certain positions of the head. BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo, resulting from migration of otoconia into the semicircular canals. Majority of patients have posterior canal BPPV. Epley’s Canalith Repositioning and Semont Liberatory Maneuver have been shown to be highly efficacious in the successful treatment of posterior canal BPPV. The main objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of Epley’s maneuver versus Semont’s maneuver in the management of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of a rural Medical College in Kerala, for a period of one and half year, from January 2015 to June 2016. It was an observational prospective cohort study. 200 patients with posterior canal BPPV were enrolled in this study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were allotted alternatively to Epley’s group and Semont’s group, 100 patients in each group based on the treatment maneuvers they underwent. Efficacy of maneuvers were assessed at the end of 1st week, 1 st month and 3 rd month on the basis of resolution of symptoms and Dix-Hallpike negativity. Results: Of the 100 cases managed by Epley’s maneuver 95 cases showed complete relief of symptoms after 3 months. Out of 100 cases managed by Semont’s maneuver, 94 cases showed complete recovery after 3 months. The results were compared by Chi square test, as the data was mainly qualitative in nature. The results of both the groups were compared at the end of 1 st week, 1 st month and 3 rd month, which revealed that both the Semont’s and Epley’s maneuver are equally effective in the treatment of posterior canal BPPV. Conclusions: Both Epley’s and Semont’s maneuver are equally effective for treating the patients of posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
Kinetics of charcoal devolatilization

The devolatilization kinetics of a biomass charcoal was studied by thermogravimetry−mass spectrometry. The overall mass loss rate (DTG curve) and the mass spectrometric intensities of ions H2+, CH3+, C2H2+, C2H3+, and C2H5+ were evaluated. The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) was employed, since it can mathematically represent the physical and chemical inhomogeneity of the charcoal. Some of the evaluated experimental curves consisted of 2−4 overlapping partial peaks. In those cases parallel reactions were assumed, and each reaction was described by a DAEM. The unknown parameters were determined by a simultaneous least-squares evaluation of a series of experiments. Parameters were identified that enabled the model to describe equally well the nonisothermal experiments and the experiments containing isothermal sections. Kinetic information was obtained on the drying and the evaporation of the organics trapped on the surface of the samples, the decomposition of the side groups with low thermal stab.
Phylogeny of Andropogoneae Inferred from Phytochrome B, GBSSI, and ndhF

Andropogoneae is a monophyletic tribe of 85 genera that includes Zea and Sorghum. All members exhibit C4 photosynthesis and have inflorescences of paired spikelets. Previous studies of the chloroplast gene ndhF and the nuclear gene GBSSI identified numerous mutations that distinguish genera of the tribe but do not indicate relationships among them; the deep branches of the trees are quite short. Here we add newly collected data from phytochrome B to the data from the other two genes. The same pattern holds, with very short branches along the backbone of the tree indicating that the tribe resulted from rapid radiation. The phylogeny shows a single origin of a disarticulating rachis, which is a synapomorphy for the tribe. We find strong support for a core Andropogoneae that includes Andropogon, Bothriochloa, Capillipedium, Cymbopogon, Dichanthium, Heteropogon, Hyparrhenia, and Schizachyrium and support for its relationship with an expanded Saccharinae that includes Microstegium. The combined data reject the monophyly of subtribes Andropogoninae and Anthistiriinae and provide evidence that subtribes Sorghinae, Saccharinae, and Rottboelliinae are para‐ or polyphyletic, as is the traditional Maydeae. A relationship with Zea and Tripsacum is indicated for Elionurus, while Chionachne and Phacelurus are shown to diverge early in the history of the tribe. Arundinella hirta and Arundinella nepalensis can be included in an expanded Andropogoneae.
Title Cloning and expression of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene of Neurospora crassa and processing of its product Permalink

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) catalyzes the formation of decarboxylated AdoMetDC, a precursor of the polyamines spermidine and spermine. The enzyme is derived from a proenzyme by autocatalytic cleavage. We report the cloning and regulation of the gene for AdoMetDC in Neurospora crassa, spe-2, and the eect of putrescine on enzyme maturation and activity. The gene was cloned from a genomic library by complementation of a spe-2 mutant. Like other AdoMetDCs, that of Neurospora is derived by cleavage of a proenzyme. The deduced sequence of the Neurospora proenzyme (503 codons) is over 100 codons longer than any other AdoMetDC sequence available in genomic databases. The additional amino acids are found only in the AdoMetDC of another fungus, Aspergillus nidulans, a cDNA for which we also sequenced. Despite the conserved processing site and four acidic residues required for putrescine stimulation of human proenzyme processing, putrescine has no effect on the rate (t0.5 10 min) of processing of the Neurospora gene product. However, putrescine is absolutely required for activity of the Neurospora enzyme (K0.5 100 lM). The abundance of spe-2 mRNA and enzyme activity is regulated 2to 4-fold by spermidine.
Transmission of Global Food Prices to Domestic Prices: Evidence from Sri Lanka

Food prices have been increasing sharply since 2003. In the globalized world, the transmission of global foodprice increases to domestic market determines the decision of economic agents and policy makers of a domesticeconomy. The recent growth of global food prices affects the welfare of poor consumers and producers. In SriLanka, large segment of the population spends more than 50 percent of their income on food. Thus, this studyinvestigates and assesses how international food price surge affects domestic inflation process in Sri Lanka. Theempirical statistical results are derived by using a battery of parametric and non-parametric econometrictechniques using monthly data of price series for the period from 2003M1 to 2013M12. The co-integrationanalysis results confirm that global food prices, domestic prices are co-integrated. Therefore, Sri Lankangovernment needs to develop a safety net program for the poor and a longer term poverty reduction strategy.Policy attention needs to shift towards efforts to increase food production. The results of this study have variouspolicy implications for monetary policy, food and agricultural policy and trade policy for Sri Lanka.
The impact of process quality measurement on financial performance of market oriented firm

Market orientation and process quality measurement had been regarded in the literature as sources of competitive advantage for business performance.However, both these concepts had been discussed separately in their own respective academic discipline. In the context of business operation today,the organisation need to work as a team to survive in the challenging business environment. Market orientation originates from the marketing concept. On the other hand, process quality measurement originates from quality management principles and is viewed as one of its tools. Despite their importance, many organisations have not combined them in order to become a market driven and quality oriented organisation. Thus, this study investigated the impact of process quality measurement on the relationship between market orientation and financial performance of manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Although the overall results showed lack of evidence on the impact of process quality measurement on market orientation-financial performance relationships, individual results signified that process quality measurement moderate the relationship between market action and financial performance.
UPAYA MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR SERVIS ATAS BOLA VOLI MELALUI MEDIA PEMBELAJARAN LEMPAR PUKUL BOLA KERTAS PADA SISWA KELAS VII SMP

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peningkatan hasil belajar servis atas bola voli pada siswa kelas VII SMP Swasta Berdikari Tanjung Keriahan Kecamatan Sirapit Kebupaten Langkat, melalui media pembelajaran lempar pukul bola kertas. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas (PTK). Penelitian ini dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus, dengan tiap siklus terdiri atas perencanaan, pelaksanaan tindakan, observasi, dan refleksi. Sumber data dalam penelitian ini adalah hasil tes siswa yang berbentuk aplikasi servis atas bola voli. Teknik pengumpulan data dengan penilaian hasil belajar servis atas bola voli. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah secara deskriptif yang didasarkan pada analisis kualitatif dengan prosentase. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diperoleh simpulan: (1) Melalui pembelajaran dengan media pembelajaran lempar pukul bola kertas, sangat baik untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar servis atas bola voli pada siswa kelas VII SMP Berdikari Tanjung Keriahan Tahun ajaran 2014/2015. Dari analisis yang diperoleh peningkatan yang signifikan dari siklus I dan siklus II. Hal ini diketahui dari tes awal 12 siswa yang tuntas (35,29%) dengan nilai rata-rata 60, disiklus I terdapat 22 siswa yang tuntas (64,70%) dengan nilai rata-rata 71, dan siklus II terdapat 30 siswa yang tuntas (88,23%) dengan nilai rata-rata 76.
Impacts of Executive Compensation on Employee Wages

We study the impact of CEO equity-based compensation (EBC) on employee wages. Using pay-performance sensitivity (PPS) as a measure for CEO equity-based compensation, we find that CEOs with higher EBC tend to pay their employees lower wages. We also examine the impact of EBC on average employee wage in different industries and find that such an impact is more evident in non-technology firms than in technology firms. Finally, we find that CEOs with higher pay-performance sensitivities are more likely to depress employee wages when the business cycle shows downturn. While the literature of CEO compensation suggests that EBC can mitigate agency conflicts between managers and shareholders, we find that the high level of EBC can create another aspect of agency conflicts between managers and shareholders, contributing to income inequality even within corporations.
A Simplified Load Rating Method for Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Arch Bridges

As arch structure has been a scientific and engineering subject for more than 300 years, numerous methods such as graphical methods have been introduced to analyze this type of structure. While the AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering does not provide a guideline for the analysis of masonry arches, British and Canadian specifications have provided provisions for the load rating of masonry arch bridges. However, their methods incorporate complex collapseload analysis, which requires an understanding of limit state analysis of masonry structures. In recent years, the analyses of arch bridges have arrived at a new stage with the assistance of computer analysis software. Many researchers have analyzed a number of existing masonry arch bridges using computer programs and found the analysis results are compatible to field measurements. However the computer analysis still requires costly 3D analysis software specifically intended to handle soil-structure interaction. This paper will introduce a simplified analysis method for the load rating of stone masonry arch bridges as well as reinforced concrete arch bridges. This simplified frame model of the structure will utilize commonly available structural analysis software such as LARSA. A detailed analysis of the CSX Thomas Viaduct arch bridge will be presented as an example of rating a stone masonry arch bridge. The load rating method for reinforced concrete arch bridges will be also discussed in this paper.
Comparison between Ultrasound-Guided and Anatomic Landmark Puncture of the Right Internal Jugular Vein

Introduction: Central venous puncture guided by Ultrasound (US) is considered the technique of choice by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA), and performing central venous puncture without employing US is considered poor medical practice. Methods: After approval by the Research Ethics Committee of the National Institute of Cardiology a randomized clinical trial was conducted electronically with 40 patients (of both genders) who were between 45 and 65 years old and were scheduled to undergo Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG). The patients were electronically randomized (GraphPad 5.0 OS for Macintosh) divided into two groups of 20: the Ultrasound Group (USG) and the Blind Group (BG). The BG subjects were punctured according to anatomical definitions, and the USG subjects were punctured with US guidance. Results: There were no differences in the demographic data. The duration of the puncture procedure was equal for the two groups (USG=130.7 ± 57.1 sec and BG=149.4 ± 98.1 sec; p=0.78). The incidence of carotid puncture was the same for the two groups (USG=0 (0%) and BG=2 (8.5%); p=0.48). The USG had a lower incidence of changing the puncture site (USG=0 (0%) and BG=4 (23%); p=0.03) and a higher incidence of catheter implantation in a single attempt (USG=16 (100%) and BG=10 (58%). Conclusions: The use of US for insertion of central venous catheters is associated with a higher incidence of performing venous puncture in a single attempt, a lower incidence of vascular complications and a lower incidence of changing the puncture site.
Tolerability and safety of black cumin seed oil (Bcso) administration for 20 days in healthy subjects

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of black cumin seed oil (BCSO) on hematology, level of aspartat aminotransferase (AST)/alanin aminotransferase (ALT), level of ureum and creatinine, and also immune response in healthy subjects. This study applied a phase 1 of clinical trial. The 36 healthy subjects were divided into three groups, 12 subjects each group. Group I, subjects received 1 × 3 soft capsules of BCSO. Group II, subject received 2 × 3 soft capsules of BCSO and in groups III subject received 3 × 3 soft capsules of BCSO. Each soft capsule contained of 0.5 ml standardized BCSO. On the 21st day, the blood cell, level of ALT and AST and level of ureum and creatinine were measured. The average number of blood cells, levels of ALT/AST and level of ureum and creatinine then were been analyzed with one way ANOVA test. Statistical analysis was performed on 95% confidence level. The results showed that the administration of three doses of BCSO soft capsule did not increase number of blood cells, level of ALT/AST and level of ureum and creatinine (p>0.05). BCSO also did not affect number of CD4+ Th and CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and also expression of IFN-γ (p>0.05). The consumption of BCSO at three doses 1.5, 3, and 4.5 ml/d for 21 days in healthy subjects were tolerable and safety.
Dynamics of the Symmetric Eigenvalue Problem with Shift Strategies

A common algorithm for the computation of eigenvalues of real symmetric tridiagonal matrices is the iteration of certain special maps F¾ called shifted QR steps. Such maps preserve spectrum and a natural common domain is T¤, the manifold of real symmetric tridiagonal matrices conjugate to the diagonal matrix ¤. More precisely, a (generic) shift s 2 R defines a map Fs : T¤ ! T¤. A strategy ¾ : T¤ ! R specifies the shift to be applied at T so that F¾(T ) = F¾(T)(T ). Good shift strategies should lead to fast deflation: some off-diagonal coordinate tends to zero, allowing for reducing of the problem to submatrices. For topological reasons, continuous shift strategies do not obtain fast deflation; many standard strategies are indeed discontinuous. Practical implementation only gives rise systematically to bottom deflation, convergence to zero of the lowest off-diagonal entry b(T ). For most shift strategies, convergence to zero of b(T ) is cubic, |b(F¾(T ))| = £(|b(T )| k ) for k = 3. The existence of arithmetic progressions in the spectrum of T sometimes implies instead quadratic convergence, k = 2. The complete integrability of the Toda lattice and the dynamics at non-smooth points are central to our discussion. The text does not assume knowledge of numerical linear algebra.