Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards the equation of state in 2+1 flavor QCD with improved Wilson quarks in the fixed scale approach

We report on the status of our study towards the equation of state in 2 + 1 flavor QCD with improved Wilson quarks. To reduce the computational cost which is quite demanding for Wilsontype quarks, we adopt the fixed scale approach, i.e. the temperature T is varied by Nt at fixed lattice spacing. Since the conventional integral method to obtain the pressure is inapplicable at a fixed scale, we adopt the "T-integral method", to calculate the pressure non-perturbatively. Reduction of the computational cost of T = 0 simulations thus achieved is indispensable to study EOS in QCD with dynamical quarks.
Political Intervention, Corporate Governance and Firm Performance: An Empirical Investigation in Japan and Taiwan

This paper investigates the interaction of government and financial institutions in the operation of a company through the relationship of the main bank system and the system of amakudari (appointing retired bureaucrats to the boards of public companies). Consistent with resource dependency theory, the empirical results suggest that governments and financial institutions tend to appoint representatives to the board in order to help troubled companies. However, a negative relationship is established between the presence of such amakudari and subsequent firm performance. Thus, while the system of amakudari may use its influence in an attempt to save troubled companies, it is possible that, as suggested by agency theory, the monitoring ability of the board may consequently be jeopardized to the detriment of overall firm performance.
Outcome-based Contract Performance and Co-production in B2B Maintenance and Repair Service

This paper investigates co-production in a B2B Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) service contract where the firm is tasked to deliver outcomes of MRO service rather than activities directly related to maintenance and repair. Our qualitative findings show that the promise of outcomes has extended the boundary of the firm to include the customer system within its responsibility, resulting in the allowance of customer variety into the firm’s system as the consumption of the service is contextual and varied. The ability to deliver the service in such an environment requires the firm’s operations process design to be extended beyond supply chain management for material/equipment transformation, but to include information and people transformation as well. Through a quantitative study and Partial Least Squares analysis, the paper shows that outcome-based contract performance is dependent on the co-production alignments of behaviors and information but not material/equipment, with the alignments partially driven by the co-production inputs of complementary competencies and congruence of expectations.
The SAMI galaxy survey: Kinematics of dusty early-type galaxies

Recently, large samples of visually classified early-type galaxies (ETGs) containing dust have been identified using space-based infrared observations with the Herschel Space Telescope. The presence of large quantities of dust in massive ETGs is peculiar as X-ray haloes of these galaxies are expected to destroy dust in ∼10^7 yr (or less). This has sparked a debate regarding the origin of the dust: Is it internally produced by asymptotic giant branch stars, or is it accreted externally through mergers? We examine the 2D stellar and ionized gas kinematics of dusty ETGs using integral field spectroscopy observations from the SAMI Galaxy Survey, and integrated star formation rates, stellar masses and dust masses from the GAMA survey. Only 8 per cent (4/49) of visually classified ETGs are kinematically consistent with being dispersion-supported systems. These ‘dispersion-dominated galaxies’ exhibit discrepancies between stellar and ionized gas kinematics, either offsets in the kinematic position angle or large differences in the rotational velocity, and are outliers in star formation rate at a fixed dust mass compared to normal star-forming galaxies. These properties are suggestive of recent merger activity. The remaining ∼90 per cent of dusty ETGs have low velocity dispersions and/or large circular velocities, typical of ‘rotation-dominated galaxies’. These results, along with the general evidence of published works on X-ray emission in ETGs, suggest that they are unlikely to host hot, X-ray gas consistent with their low M* when compared to dispersion-dominated galaxies. This means that dust will be long-lived and thus these galaxies do not require external scenarios for the origin of their dust content.
Relating Biomass and Leaf Area Index to Non-destructive Measurements in Order to Monitor Changes in Arctic Vegetation

This paper reports an alternative method for seasonal and long-term monitoring of biomass and the leaf area index (LAI) at Arctic tundra sites. Information related to the historical and projected change in abundance and distribution of biomass and LAI is required to address numerous environmental and resource management issues. Observations of earth from satellites could potentially be used to derive seasonal and long-term changes in biomass and the LAI. To realize this potential, seasonal and long-term ground monitoring data for validation are essential; however, the conventional destructive sampling method for measuring biomass and the LAI does not allow repetitive measurements at the same plots and thus is not suitable for monitoring change over time. Alternative methods, such as sampling nearby similar plots, can be laborious and easily subject to large sampling errors, especially in Arctic tundra sites with low vegetation cover. In this study, we developed a practical method for relating non-destructive measurements (percent cover and mean height) to biomass and the LAI for 13 major Arctic plant groups, or seven plant functional types, on the basis of measurements at 196 plots across Canada’s Arctic tundra ecosystems. Using the method at the plant group level to estimate plot total vascular aboveground biomass, foliage biomass, and LAI, we had r 2 = 0.91–0.95 and relative mean absolute error of 25–29%. By this method, one could monitor seasonal and long-term changes in biomass and the LAI through repeated, non-destructive observations of percent cover and mean height at the same permanent plots.
An Estimation of Residential Water Demand Using Co-integration and Error Correction Techniques

The purpose of this paper is to measure the short- and long-run effect ofthe price of water on residential water use. Unit root tests reveal that water use series and series of other variables affecting use are non-stationary. However, a long-run co-integrating relationship is found in the demand model, which makes possible to obtain a partial correction term and to estimate an error correction model. The empirical application uses monthly time-series observations from Seville (Spain). The price-elasticity of demand is estimated as around -0.1 in the short run and -0.5 in the long run. These results are robust to the use of different specifications.
Security, perceived safety, and event attendee enjoyment at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

International sport event organizers around the world have placed considerations of terrorism high on their planning and risk management agendas since September 11, 2001. Increased public awareness about the threat of terrorism and associated safety concerns have led to increased security, especially for large multicountry international events. To date there has been limited empirical research on the relationship between sport event attendance and the impact of terrorism, with the exception of the body of work on the 1972 Olympic Games. In this article the authors outline the extensive antiterrorism security measures taken at the 2003 Rugby World Cup held in Australia. To determine the impact of these measures, event attendees were surveyed to determine the extent to which terrorism influenced event attendees' motivations, perceptions of safety, and level of enjoyment. The results indicate that security measures were perceived as sufficient and attendees were generally not deterred by the threat of terrorism. The heightened security enhanced the event experience for some attendees, with only a small minority reporting a negative impact on satisfaction. Suggestions for further research and practice are discussed.
Monotonicity of the Selling Price of Information with Risk Aversion in Two Action Decision Problems

Various approaches have been introduced over the years to evaluate information in the expected utility framework. This paper analyzes the relationship between the degree of risk aversion and the selling price of information in a lottery setting with two actions. We show that the initial decision on the lottery as well as the attitude of the decision maker towards risk as a function of the initial wealth level are critical to characterizing this relationship. When the initial decision is to reject, a non-decreasingly risk averse decision maker asks for a higher selling price as he gets less risk averse. Conversely, when the initial decision is to accept, non-increasingly risk averse decision makers ask a higher selling price as they get more risk averse if information is collected on bounded lotteries. We also show that the assumption of the lower bound for lotteries can be relaxed for the quadratic utility family.
Use of anise seed and/or α-tocopheryl acetate in laying Japanese quail diets

An experiment was conducted to investigate the possible use of anise (Pimpinella anisum) and/or α-tocopheryl acetate as dietary supplements on the performance and some egg quality characteristics of laying Japanese quail. One hundred and eight Coturnix japonica quail (72 females and 36 males), 149 days old, were randomly allocated to four equal groups with three subgroups of nine birds each (six females and three males). A commercial laying diet was fed to the control group (Group A). The remaining three groups received the same diet supplemented with anise seed at 10 g/kg (Group B) or 20 g/kg (Group C), or additional 600 mg α-tocopheryl acetate/kg (Group D). The birds were given feed and water ad libitum for a period of 29 days, while being kept under commercial conditions. During the experiment, egg production, feed consumption and mortality were recorded daily. Also, at the end of experiment, egg weight, egg yolk, albumen and shell weight percentages, egg yolk colour (using the L*a*b* colour space), blood serum total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were determined. Neither the supplementation of anise nor that of α-tocopheryl had any effect on the performance of the birds or the quality of their eggs, except for a significant change of the colour of the egg yolk. Cholesterol concentration in the serum tended to decrease with the addition of anise to the diet.
Pension design, labor supply distortions and human capital investment

This paper studies the optimal design of a PAYG pension system in the presence of endogenous human capital formation. We therefore construct a large scale OLG model in the spirit of Heckman, Lochner and Taber (1998) and Gallipoli, Meghir and Violante (2008) in which individuals can decide about both their schooling level and about how much to invest into human capital formation on the job. Labor supply is endogenous and labor income is due to idiosyncratic shocks. In this model we try to find the optimal pension system with respect to progressivity and the number of years that should be used to calculate pension benefits. Our simulations indicate that a progressive pension system only comes at efficiency costs, since the distortive effect of pension progressivity on both labor supply and human capital investment outweighs the gains from income insurance. In addition, we find that efficiency is reduced if pension benefits are only calculated from the last year of income rather than from a full income history.
Financial Market Frictions, Productivity Growth and Crises in Emerging Economies

This paper documents that financial crises in emerging countries involve large and persistent losses in labor productivity. It then presents a model which features endogenous TFP growth through the adoption of new varieties of intermediates, and in which an agency problem in financial markets implies that technology adopters may be credit constrained. A crisis shock generates a decline in TFP of size and persistence comparable to the data. Financial frictions are quantitatively important, explaining half the medium run TFP decline. Both endogenous growth and the financial friction substantially contribute to a more persistent output decline and to an amplified short run response of consumption. These mechanisms also help in accounting for the time series properties of Argentina's GDP and Solow residual, especially at medium frequencies.
FORMATION OF THE WIDE ASYNCHRONOUS BINARY ASTEROID POPULATION

We propose and analyze a new mechanism for the formation of the wide asynchronous binary population. These binary asteroids have wide semimajor axes relative to most near-Earth and main belt asteroid systems. Confirmed members have rapidly rotating primaries and satellites that are not tidally locked. Previously suggested formation mechanisms from impact ejecta, from planetary flybys, and directly from rotational fission events cannot satisfy all of the observations. The newly hypothesized mechanism works as follows: (1) these systems are formed from rotational fission, (2) their satellites are tidally locked, (3) their orbits are expanded by the binary Yarkovsky–O'Keefe–Radzievskii–Paddack (BYORP) effect, (4) their satellites desynchronize as a result of the adiabatic invariance between the libration of the secondary and the mutual orbit, and (5) the secondary avoids resynchronization because of the YORP effect. This seemingly complex chain of events is a natural pathway for binaries with satellites that have particular shapes, which define the BYORP effect torque that acts on the system. After detailing the theory, we analyze each of the wide asynchronous binary members and candidates to assess their most likely formation mechanism. Finally, we suggest possible future observations to check and constrain our hypothesis.
Non-native macroalga may increase concentrations of Vibrio bacteria on intertidal mudflats

We investigated whether the proliferation of a non-native macroalga, Gracilaria ver- miculophylla, within the mid-Atlantic coast region, USA, could be related to concentrations of Vibrio bacteria in water, sediment, and oysters on intertidal mudflats where mats of the macroalga are found. Vibrio spp. are naturally found in a range of aquatic environments; in estuaries they are recognized as being biogeochemically and ecologically important. While most species are harm- less, some pathogenic species (e.g. V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus) can cause symptoms of disease in humans that range from gastrointestinal and wound infections to septicemia and death. Recent research efforts have focused on potential reservoirs and environmental conditions that can increase the incidence of human exposure to these species of bacteria. Our data indicated that V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus were commonly found on the macroalga in both summer and early fall. Summer and fall seasonal samplings indicated that mudflats with mats of G. ver- miculophylla were associated with higher total Vibrio, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus con- centrations of proximal water, sediment, and oysters when compared with mudflats without macroalgal coverage. In addition, of all isolates confirmed to be V. vulnificus, regardless of source, 68% were confirmed as a highly virulent genotype, which indicated the presence of pathogenic forms of Vibrio across a range of matrices within the estuarine environment.
Analysis of Cross-Country Differences in the Non-Profit Sector Size

This paper theoretically and empirically investigates variations in the size of the non-profit sector among countries. Although the non-profit sector has experienced growth in relative socio-economic importance in recent decades, the available data on the size of the sector indicates substantial variations among countries. Existing literature provides several multi- and interdisciplinary theories, hypotheses and concepts that try to explain those differences, such as for instance the heterogeneity and failure theories, the resource dependence theory and interdependence theory. Empirical findings indicate that the selection of the measurement of sector size influences the ability to explain the differences in the size of the sector across countries. The results of a crosssection regression analysis indicate that almost three quarters of cross-national variation in the sector workforce could be explained, whereas pooled regression indicates that almost three fifths of variation in sector size, if workforce and expenditures are taken as dimensions of the sector, could be explained. Moreover, regression analysis tends to support the propositions of resource dependence and demand heterogeneity (government failure) theory, although there is also some ground for supporting the interdependence theory.
A Study on Telugu – Speaking Immigrants of Tamil Nadu, South India

Abstract Aluinsertion/deletion polymorphisms (AluACE, AluPV92 and AluAPO) were studied in three Telugu – speaking immigrants of Tamil Nadu, to understand their affinities with Andhra Pradesh population. Gene frequencies and average heterozygosity were calculated. All the three loci are polymorphic in nature and showed high levels of heterozygosity. Phylogenetic analysis of the present data with the available data of two Tamil Nadu caste population and Yadavar of Andhra Pradesh revealed that all the three immigrant populations did not show closeness with the Andhra Yadavar.
Resource utilization patterns of epifauna from mangrove forests with contrasting inputs of local versus imported organic matter

Mangrove epifaunal communities have access to various carbon and nitrogen sources and we hypothesized that the degree of material exchange with the aquatic environment might influence the overall use of different substrates by intertidal communities. Therefore, we analyzed C and N stable isotope ratios in primary producers, sediments and 245 samples of epifauna hand-collected from 5 sites in India, Sri Lanka and Kenya (representing estuarine, lagoonal and basin-type mangrove forests). Several patterns emerged from this data set. First, epifaunal communities used a range of available food substrates at all sites studied, including mangrove-derived organic matter, local microphytobenthos and micro-epiflora, as well as imported C and N from the aquatic environment (i.e. phytoplankton- and/or seagrass-derived organic matter). Secondly, our data indicate that at sites with significant inputs of aquatic sources, use of mangrove carbon is rather limited on a community basis, whereas in systems with less material exchange with adjacent waters, the relative importance of mangroves is higher. Thus, despite the unquestionable impact some epifaunal species may have on leaf litter dynamics, the dependency of the invertebrate community as a whole on mangrove litter is not ubiquitously large and varies according to the availability of local versus tidally imported sources. Precise quantification of the relative importance of different substrates with δ 13 C and δ 15 N is, however, not always straightforward due to the multitude of available sources and the overlap in source stable isotope signatures. Micro-epiflora on mangroves trees were remarkably depleted in 15 N in all systems (δ 15 N between -8.2 and -2.4‰) and thus form an example where δ 15 N is a useful source indicator, as low δ 15 N values of several gastropod species indicated substantial feeding on such epiflora.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF A CHINESE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ZONE

This study was exploratory in nature; it was one of the first to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) dimensions and firm performance in China. The authors undertook a questionnaire survey of firms located in the Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone in Sichuan Province, China, in order to establish the link between managers' perception of their firms' adoption of corporate social responsibility and of their firm performance. Factor analysis demonstrated that the CSR activities or attributes adopted by firms could be grouped into three orientations: employee and consumer interests, community involvement, and disclosure. The 256 respondent firms were then categorized into three groups based on their factor analysis scores: Group 1, a disclosure-oriented group; Group 2, an employee and consumer oriented-group; and Group 3, a community-oriented group. The firm performance for the three groups was then compared: group 3 had higher levels of assessment for both financial and non-financial performance. The authors suggest three possible explanations for these findings. The uncertainty the causation link between adoption of community CSR attributes and higher financial performance complicates recommendations for Chinese firms' adoption of CSR attributes.
Prolonged Intake of Juice (Citrus Unshiu) Reinforced with β-Crypthoxanthin Has an Effect on Circulating Bone Biochemical Markers in Normal Individuals

A change in circulating biochemical markers of bone metabolism in normal individuals with the intake of juice prepared from Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu MARC.) containing β-crypthoxanthin was investigated. Twentyone volunteers (ten males and eleven females) were divided into two groups of ten volunteers (five males and five females) and eleven volunteers (five males and six females), and each group was given sequentially juice (192 ml) containing two different contents of β-crypthoxanthin once a day for 28 or 56 days as follows: either regular juice with naturally occurring 802 µg β-cryptoxanthin/100 ml or a reinforced juice containing 1500 µg β-cryptoxanthin/ 100 ml. As serum bone markers, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, γ-carboxylated osteocalcin, bone tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and N-telopeptide of type I collagen were assayed. The intake of regular juice for 28 or 56 days caused a significant increase in γ-carboxylated osteocalcin, a marker of bone formation, and the intake for 56 days produced a significant decrease in serum bone TRAP activity. Moreover, intake of the β-cryptoxanthin reinforced juice for 28 or 56 days caused a significant increase in serum β-carboxylated osteocalcin concentration and a corresponding decrease in serum bone TRAP activity and N-telopeptide of type I collagen, a marker of bone resorption. This study suggests that the intake of β-cryptoxanthin reinforced juice has a stimulatory effect on bone formation and an inhibitory effect on bone resorption in normal individuals.