Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A comparison of the potentiation by desflurane of the effects of rocoronium and cisatracurium

II OPSOMMING IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 1 LIST OF FIGURES 2 LIST OF TABLES 3 INTRODUCTION 4 HISTORY OF THE POTENTIATION OF THE EFFECTS OF NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKERS BY VOLATILE ANAESTHETIC AGENTS 4 PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF THE NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION 4 EVALUATION OF NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION 7 CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL SOURCES OF ERROR 11 EFFECTS OF INTERACTIONS OF VOLATILE AGENTS ON NDMR 13 STUDIES INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF MODERN VOLATILE ANAESTHETIC AGENTS ON MODERN NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKERS 14 FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE DEGREE OF POTENTIATION OF NDMR 23 PROPOSED MECHANISM BY WHICH VOLATILE AGENTS POTENTIATE THE EFFECT OF NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKERS 26 EFFECT OF PROPOFOL, SUFENTANIL AND NITROUS OXIDE ON NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTION 28 NDMR USED IN THIS STUDY 29 PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY 31 Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
Long-term starspot evolution, activity cycle, and orbital period variation of V711 Tauri (HR 1099)

The long-term optical photometry of V711 Tau (HR 1099) from 1975 to 2001 is analysed with different techniques to provide information on the activity of this widely studied RS CVn-type binary. Pooled variance analysis gives a characteristic timescale of evolution for the photospheric pattern of starspots of the order of 100–200 days, while periodogram analysis of seasonal photometric data reveals that the rotational modulation period is 2.837 ± 0.094 d, without significant changes during the 26 analysed years. Considering subsets of the entire data sequence along which the rotational modulation of the optical flux stays stable, a set of 66 light curves is obtained. They are modelled by means of inversion techniques based on Maximum Entropy and Tikhonov regularizations to derive the distributions in longitude and the total amount of the spotted area on the more luminous K1 IV component that dominates the optical variability of the system. An extensive comparison with published Doppler Imaging maps shows the advantages and drawbacks of inversion techniques based solely on optical photometry. The large-scale structure of the longitudinal distribution of the spotted area is correctly reproduced, although individual starspots revealed by Doppler Imaging cannot be detected because of the limited spatial resolution of the photometric imaging. On the other hand, the variation of the total spotted area is best reconstructed from optical photometry and shows an activity cycle with a period of 19.5 ± 2.0 yr, upon which a short-term modulation might be superposed having variable amplitude and phase and a mean duration of approximately 3–5 years. The distributions of the spotted area versus longitude show the presence of one dominant preferential longitude from 1975 to 1989; afterwards, two preferential longitudes with comparable spotted areas are detected. Their migration rates with respect to the orbital reference frame are variable versus time, possibly as a consequence of a variable drift rate of the respective non-axisymmetric dynamo modes. The variation of the orbital period of the system appears to be correlated with the magnetic activity of the K1 IV component. Specifically, the decrease of the orbital period that occurred around 1990 coincides with a re-configuration of the stellar magnetic field, as indicated by the simultaneous variation of its different proxies. In combination with previous studies, these results allow us to discriminate among different theoretical models proposed to explain the connection between magnetic activity and orbital dynamics.
Is There Bull and Bear Markets in the Indonesia Stock Exchange

Emerging participants in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (ISE) are the group of local retail players, characterized by small, frequent, and short-term trading activities that rely on market phases. Hence it is important for brokerage houses as well as the local retail players to enter the market at the appropriate moments. The goal of this paper, therefore, is to use regime-switching model using the weekly ISE index data to identify periods where the market is in a volatile period. Results from the calculation shows that the market is divided into two regimes: stable and volatile. Average length of period for each regime is 16 weeks and 10 weeks.
Evaluation of the impact of government land use policies on tree canopy coverage in the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area

CANOPY COVERAGE IN THE ATLANTA METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA by ELIZABETH SHORE HILL (Under the direction of JEFFREY H. DORFMAN) ABSTRACT This thesis presents an analysis of the effectiveness of land use policies in reducing the change in the percent of tree canopy covering land in Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area during the period from 1991 to 2001. High rates of tree canopy loss in the region during that period have been associated with the region’s explosive population growth, and it is expected that certain policies can substantially alleviate the loss of tree canopy. Two conclusions originated from the findings of this study. First, impervious surface, tree ordinance robustness, quality growth projects, increased existence of land uses that naturally sustain higher tree canopy levels, and emphasis on quality growth and tree canopy protection each aid in reducing the loss of the percent of tree canopy cover county land. Second, urbanization plays a major role in whether or not a county has established land use policies to protect tree canopy coverage.
The demand for housing services in the Netherlands

We investigate the effect of subsidies and levies on the behaviour of households on the Dutch housing market. Our primary interest lies in the effect on the tenure choice and on the levels of housing consumption for the whole population. The housing consumption level is not a priori defined. We chose a one-dimensional housing concept. Differences between market values may reflect differences in house characteristics, but may also stem from differences between markets. To find the Â‘trueÂ’ levels of housing, we break up market values of houses into price and quantity, resulting in regional price indices for owner-occupied and rented houses separately. After correction for actual subsidies and levies (for the current tenure choice) and for imputed values (for the alternative choice), households face individually varying prices. We use a survey data set of about 60,000 Dutch households. Behaviour is estimated using a utility maximising consumption model with equations for both tenure choice and the consumption levels for owning respectively renting a house. The relation between choice and quantity is taken into account. The resulting price and income effects are in line with standard theory. Higher income gives a tendency towards owning rather than renting.
INTESTINAL LYMPHOMA AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE IN FERRETS (MUSTELA PUTORIUS FURO) by PAOLA CAZZINI

(MUSTELA PUTORIUS FURO) by PAOLA CAZZINI (Under the Direction of Bridget Garner) ABSTRACT The objective of our first study was to identify correlations between enteric histological lesions and the severity of clinical signs in ferrets with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). No significant correlation was identified using 2 grading schemes developed for cats and dogs. After dividing the histologic samples into groups based on clinical severity, other histologic characteristics that differed between groups were identified, and those correlated with clinical severity. The established retrospective grading scheme may have clinical utility in determining severity of IBD in ferrets. The objective of our second study was to determine the agreement in the diagnosis of IBD versus lymphoma reached solely using hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections versus using a combination of HE and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results suggest that while IHC is not necessary to distinguish IBD from intestinal lymphoma in ferrets, it can be a useful tool in ambiguous cases.
Performance of forage millet in response to differentcombinations of organic-, inorganic- and bio- fertilizers

Plant nutrition plays an important role in crop production and environmental pollution. Thus, a field experiment was conducted at the farm of Giza Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt, during 2013 and 2014 summer seasons to determine the effect of the following treatment combinations of inorganic nitrogen, bio- and organic-fertilizers on growth traits, forage yield and grain quality of forage millet (var. Shandaweel-1): T1 (recommended N 100%), T2 (50% of N + Microbin), T3 (50% N+ 6 ton fed Compost), 1 T4 (50% N+ Microbin + 6 ton fed Compost), T5 (75% of N + Microbin),T6 (75% N+ 3 ton fed Compost) and 1 1 T7 (75% N+ Microbin + 3 ton fed Compost). Results indicated that the studied traits were significantly affected 1 by the fertilization treatments. The application of T7 gave the highest values of plant height, number of tillers/m2, stem diameter, leaf/stem ratio, total fresh and dry forage yields, crude protein, crude fiber, ash, total digestible nutrient and digestible forage crude protein yields. Germination percentage after 7 days, shoot length, radical length, seedling fresh weight, 100-grain weight; also protein, carbohydrate, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, P and K elements in pearl millet grain were increased under T7 application. Afeasibility study proved that forage millet is economically advisable under treatment T7, where net farm return per year and net return per invested one L.E. were 9589.5 and 2.9 L.E. , respectively. Integrating organic and biofertilizers with inorganic nitrogen are economically better than using the recommended nitrogen rate (120kg N fed 1). Therefore, it could be possible to replace 25% of the recommended N mineral fertilization by a mixture of bio-and organic fertilization
Content of Magnesium in Soil and Plants as Affected by Green Manure

The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of the catch crop used as green manure on magnesium content in soil and in the grain and straw of spring barley cultivated afterward in different soil conditions. The fi eld study was carried out in 2008-11 in two different soils: lessive soil (location 1) and typical black earth (location 2). The experimental factor was the catch crop (fi eld pea) used as green manure for spring barley cultivated in the following year. Three treatments were assessed: I) catch crop ploughed in autumn, II) catch crop left over winter as mulch (uncut), and III) control – without the catch crop. Mg content in spring barley grain and straw was determined using the colorimetric method with titanium yellow. Mg content in spring barley grain was not dependent on the catch crop used as green manure. This factor had a better effect on Mg concentration in straw. In both locations it was signifi cantly higher in the control than after the catch crop. Ploughing in the catch crop resulted in a signifi cant decrease in Mg content in straw of barley cultivated in lessive soil as compared with mulch. The content of this element in straw of barley cultivated in the typical black earth was signifi cantly higher in the treatment with ploughed-in catch crop than with mulch. Mg content in spring barley grain was not correlated or negatively correlated with soil abundance in this element. However, a positive correlation between Mg content in soil before spring barley sowing and in straw of this plant was found.
A NEW RAPID AND SIMPLE METHOD OF SCREENING WHEAT PLANTS AT EARLY STAGE OF GROWTH FOR SALINITY TOLERANCE

As efficient, reproducible, economical and simple mass screening technique for the selection of salt tolerant wheat genotypes has been developed. This method is able to identify genetic variation in salinity tolerance in breeding material or in a large number of genotypes of wheat. The germinated seeds of wheat were transplanted in vermiculite filled Japanese paper pots. As the first leaf blade became fully expanded, the Japanese paper pots along with seedlings were transferred to NaCl solution. The NaCl was increased stepwise in two third seedlings, up to the desired salinity levels which were 200 or 100 mol m -3 NaCl and one third Japanese paper pots remained only in nutrient solution as control. Two salt tolerant and two salt sensitive cultivars were included in the study. The plants were grown for 15 days in full strength nutrient solution or at desired NaCl level. The shoot weights were used as estimate of plant salinity tolerance. Shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), Na + and K + contents were measured for the assessment of salt tolerance. The validity of this technique was tested by growing the same cultivars at the same salinity levels in hydroponics or in soil filled pots. Salt tolerance of the cultivars was compared in three screening methods. Good reproducibility of the results among three screening methods authenticated the validity of the Japanese Paper Pot technique for the assessment of salinity tolerance at the early stage of plant growth in cereals.
Trends of PM2.5 and Chemical Composition in Beijing, 2000-2015

ABSTRACTPM2.5 is the major pollutant in most cities of China, especially contributed significantly to the poor air quality in Beijing. This study aimed to investigate the long-term trend (2000–2015) of PM2.5, based on intensive observation and comprehensive literature investigation of PM2.5 and its chemical components. Results showed that the annual average concentration of PM2.5 generally decreased by 1.5 µg m–3 year–1 from 2000 to 2015 under the implementation of 16 phases’ air pollution control measures. In the most polluted season (winter), four change stages were found related with emission control effect and meteorological conditions: PM2.5 decreased in 2000–2008 and 2010–2013, increased in 2008–2010, and was at a high level in 2013–2015. As for detailed chemical components, OC, soil dust and typical elements (Si, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and K) presented a downward trend generally. EC had almost no change before 2003, increased from 2003 to 2007, but decreased after 2007; this may be caused by the replacement of fossil fuel and control of biomass emission. The continuous rising of OC/EC and SOC/OC (secondary organic carbon, SOC) in recent years illustrated the secondary carbonaceous species pollution is becoming serious. SO42– showed a slight increase from 2000–2013, but decreased obviously from 2013–2015. NO3– and NH4+ had an upward trend during the past decade. The proportion of secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) increased at a rate of 0.7% yr–1, and it has become the major composition of PM2.5 in Beijing instead of carbonaceous component since 2009. In general, PM2.5 change trend indicated the emission mitigation measures implemented in Beijing have reduced the primary PM2.5 effectively. However, the control of secondary components should be paid special attention in order to further improve the air quality in Beijing effectively.
Hydrological assessment of the Baltic Sea impact on the Polish coastline

Th e purpose of this work was to assess the hydrological eff ects of the impact of the Baltic Sea on the Polish coastal zone. Th e research area includes the Polish Baltic coastal zone, the Vistula River Delta, and the Baltic Sea coastal drainage basin. Man-made and land-based factors take part in this area. Th e most important hydrological eff ect is the change in sea level. Th e seawater intrusions is another eff ect of the hydrological activity of the Baltic Sea.
A case study of anthropogenic impact on the CO2 levels in low-volume profile of the Balcarka Cave (Moravian Karst, Czech Republic)

Anthropogenic impact on CO2 levels was studied in the low-volume chamber connected with the low-profile corridor in Balcarka Cave, the show cave in Moravian Karst, during the period of limited ventilation. Modeling showed that the natural CO2 levels were controlled by the CO2 fluxes (up to ~ 3.14 × 10-2 mol s-1) from adjacent spaces. These fluxes changed with cave airflows and ventilation modes. Two main components of anthropogenic impact were recognized: (1) visitor breathing and (2) visitor movement. The CO2 input derived from individual visitor groups varied from 1.96 × 10-4 to 2.45 × 10-3 mol s-1, which was the significant part of the CO2 fluxes from adjacent spaces. The visitor movement induced the airflows up to 0.2 m3 s-1. They exceeded the natural airflows (up to 3.2 × 10-3 m3 s-1) by factor of more than 60. These airflows caused cave ventilation mode’s switching and, significant drop of CO2 fluxes/levels due to changed ventilation. The study therefore indicates that various anthropogenic influences in show cave can balance and neutralize each other, in dependence on cave morphology and seasonal conditions.
THE EUROPEAN BADGER (MELES MELES) DIET IN A MEDITERRANEAN AREA

A study on food habits of the European badger (Meles meles) was carried out over a two year period (march 1996 - February 1998) in an area of ca 55 hectares in the Burano Lake Nature Re- serve, central Italy. The badger's diet was determined by faecal analysis. The results, expressed as the frequency of occurrence, estimated volume (%) and percentage volume of each food item in the overall diet, showed that in this area the badger can be considered as a generalist, with fruit and insects as prin- cipal food items during the whole year, although some seasonal differences did occur.
Spatial and temporal variability of precipitation and drought in Portugal

Abstract. The spatial variability of precipitation and drought are investigated for Portugal using monthly precipitation from 74 stations and minimum and maximum temperature from 27 stations, covering the common period of 1941–2006. Seasonal precipitation and the corresponding percentages in the year, as well as the precipitation concentration index (PCI), was computed for all 74 stations and then used as an input matrix for an R-mode principal component analysis to identify the precipitation patterns. The standardized precipitation index at 3 and 12 month time scales were computed for all stations, whereas the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the modified PDSI for Mediterranean conditions (MedPDSI) were computed for the stations with temperature data. The spatial patterns of drought over Portugal were identified by applying the S-mode principal component analysis coupled with varimax rotation to the drought indices matrices. The result revealed two distinct sub-regions in the country relative to both precipitation regimes and drought variability. The analysis of time variability of the PC scores of all drought indices allowed verifying that there is no linear trend indicating drought aggravation or decrease. In addition, the analysis shows that results for SPI-3, SPI-12, PDSI and MedPDSI are coherent among them.
Reversible loss of superfluidity of a Bose–Einstein condensate in a 1D optical lattice

We apply a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice, formed by two laser beams with a wavelength of 852 nm, to a 3D 87Rb Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) in a shallow magnetic trap. We use Kapitza–Dirac scattering to determine the depth of the optical lattice. A qualitative change in behavior of the BEC is observed at a lattice depth of 30Erec, where the quantum gas undergoes a reversible transition from a superfluid state to a state that lacks well-to-well phase coherence. Our observations are consistent with a 1D Mott insulator transition, but could also be explained by mean-field effects.
The impact of atrazine on several biochemical properties of chernozem soil

The impact of the pesticide atrazine on biochemical processes in soil was investigated. Atrazine loadings of 8.0, 40.0 and 80.0 mg/kg soil were laboratory tested in an experiment set up on a clay loam soil. Dehydrogenase activity, change in biomass carbon, soil respiration and metabolic coefficient were examined. The samples were collected for analysis 1, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60 days after atrazine application. The acquired data indicated that the effect of atrazine on the biochemical activity of the soil depended on its application rate and duration of activity, and the effect was either stimulating or inhibiting. However, the detected changes were found to be transient, indicating that there is no real risk of the compound disrupting the balance of biochemical processes in soil.
WHEN TO GREENLIGHT:Examining the Pre-release Factors that Determine Future Box Office Success of aMovie in the United States

The motion picture business in the United States is a multi-billion dollar industry which is an important part of the country’s economy. There were over 120,000 movies that were produced and shown in movie theaters across the U.S. in 2010. Some were successful and many were not. Given the amount of risk and investment required to produce a movie, it is essential to investigate the factors that can be selected prior to release (production phase) to determine box office success of a movie. In this paper we examine the impact of twentynine variables on total U.S. box-office revenue as well as the revenue-to-budget ratio. We use data from one hundred and fifty top grossing movies of 2010, and found that genre, MPAA rating, budget, star power, adaptation from another medium, sequels and remakes are significant predictors in determining box office revenue and/or profitability of movies.
Does Analyst Following Curb Earnings Management ? International Evidence

We investigate the role of analyst following as a monitoring device reducing earnings management. We find strong evidence that analysts are more effective monitors in transparent environments than in opaque environments. In a sample of 51,401 observations for 10,866 non-financial firms in 26 countries from 1994 to 2002, we find that the more transparent the country, the stronger the reduction in earnings management activity associated with analyst following. We also find that firms in transparent countries use short-term earnings management techniques to reach the consensus analyst forecast. Taken together, our findings suggest that while analyst following acts as a curb on the most visible forms of earnings management in transparent countries, it also encourages more subtle, short-term forms of earnings management to reach the analyst consensus. In transparent countries monitoring effectiveness more than offsets consensus fixation. In opaque countries, analyst following does not act as a curb on total earnings management, but neither does it create any short-term pressure to manage earnings. Our results are robust to (1) our measure of transparency, (2) reverse causality checks and (3) our choice of measure of earnings management.
Brain Responses to Movie Trailers Predict Individual Preferences for Movies and Their Population-Wide Commercial Success

Although much progress has been made in relating brain activations to choice behavior, evidence that neural measures could actually be useful for predicting the success of marketing actions remains limited. To be of added value, neural measures should significantly increase predictive power, beyond conventional measures. In the present study, the authors obtain both stated preference measures and neural measures (electroencephalography; EEG) in response to advertisements for commercially released movies (i.e., movie trailers) to probe their potential to provide insight into participants’ individual preferences as well as movie sales in the general population. The results show that EEG measures (beta and gamma oscillations), beyond stated preference measures, provide unique information regarding individual and population-wide preference and can thus, in principle, be used as a neural marker for commercial success. As such, these results provide the first evidence that EEG measures are related to real-world outcomes and that these neural measures can significantly add to models predicting choice behavior relative to models that include only stated preference measures.