Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term and large-scale variability in productivity of the tellinid bivalve Macoma balthica on Wadden Sea tidal flats

A series of 27 successive annual estimates of production of soft parts of the bivalve Macoma balthica (L.) populating the tidal flats of Balgzand (western Wadden Sea, The Netherlands) was obtained using multi-station (15 sites) and long-term (27 yr: 1978 to 2004, inclusive) monitoring data on numerical densities and ash-free dry mass (AFDM). Annual production values were esti- mated from seasonal growth increments, which were positive in spring and early summer and (in adults) negative in the remainder of the year, when up to 70% of individual weight gain of the preceding growing season was lost. Annual estimates based on twice-annual sampling were checked and refined on the basis of a detailed 2 yr study. Weight loss proportions increased with age of ani- mals and with water temperature in winter. Net annual somatic production of the entire population varied from 1 to 9 (27 yr mean: 2.9 ± 0.3) g AFDM m -2 yr -1 . Lifetime production per individual averaged 0.007 g AFDM for recruits of ~3 mo old and 0.032 g AFDM for ~10 mo olds. Numerical den- sities of ~10 mo old recruits predicted, within narrow limits, subsequent cohort production by way of a positive linear relationship. However, production of 3 mo old recruits was on average higher at low than at high densities, owing to better juvenile survival at low densities. Local (between-station) variation in mean annual production was primarily related to local variation in recruitment. However, production per recruit was significantly higher at low than at high intertidal levels, in accordance with higher growth and lower mortality rates at lower levels. Strong temporal and local variation was also found in annual production/biomass (P/ - B) ratio values, which reflected the variable age compo- sition of the population: P/ - B ratio values were augmented whenever mean age was low. Consistently higher mean P/ - B ratio values (~0.6 vs. ~0.4 yr -1 ) were found at high near-coast compared with low off-shore tidal flats, in accordance with higher mortality rates on high flats. Environmental factors affecting variation in annual production included between-year variability in recruitment (which was related to winter temperature and shrimp predation pressure) and growth (which was related to diatom abundance).
Personal remittances, banking sector development and economic growth in Israel

The current study investigates the causal relationship between personal remittances and economic growth using Israel time series data from 1975 to 2011. In a bid to contain the omission-of-variable bias not addressed in many past studies on this topic, this study included banking sector development as a third variable in the relationship between personal remittances and economic growth to create a tri-variate causality framework. Personal remittances as a ratio of GDP, domestic credit to private sector by banks as a ratio of GDP and GDP per capita were used as proxies for personal remittances, banking sector development and economic growth respectively for the purposes of this study. It used the Johansen co-integration test to examine the existence of the long run relationship and vector error correction model (VECM) to determine the direction of causality between personal remittances, banking sector development and economic growth both in the long and short run. The findings reveal that: (1) there is a significant long run causality relationship running from GDP per capita and banking sector development towards personal remittances, (2) there is an insignificant long run causality relationship running from personal remittances and GDP per capita towards banking sector development, (3) there is no long run causality relationship running from personal remittances and banking sector development towards GDP per capita and there is no short run causality relationship between the three variables that were under study in Israel. The author therefore recommends the authorities of Israel to speed up the implementation of banking sector development and economic growth programmes in order to increase the quantity of personal remittances inflows.
The discovery of two mildly-recycled binary pulsars in the Northern High Time Resolution Universe pulsar survey

We report the discovery and the results of follow-up timing observations of PSR J2045+3633 and PSR J2053+4650, two binary pulsars found in the Northern High Time Resolution Universe pulsar survey being carried out with the Effelsberg radio telescope. Having spin periods of 31.7 and 12.6 ms, respectively, and both with massive white dwarf companions, M_c > 0.8 M_⊙, the pulsars can be classified as mildly recycled. PSR J2045+3633 is remarkable due to its orbital period (32.3 d) and eccentricity e = 0.017 212 44(5), which is amongst the largest ever measured for this class. After almost two years of timing, the large eccentricity has allowed the measurement of the rate of advance of periastron at the 5σ level, 0.0010(2)°yr^− 1. Combining this with a detection of the orthometric amplitude of the Shapiro delay, we obtained the following constraints on the component masses (within general relativity): $$M_{\text{p}}\, = \, 1.33^{+0.30}_{-0.28}\, \mathrm{M}_{{\odot }}$$; and $$M_{\text{c}}\, = \, 0.94^{+0.14}_{-0.13}\, \mathrm{M}_{{\odot }}$$. PSR J2053+4650 has a 2.45 d circular orbit inclined to the plane of the sky at an angle $$i\, = \, 85.0^{+0.8}_{-0.9}\,{\rm deg}$$. In this nearly edge-on case the masses can be obtained from the Shapiro delay alone. Our timing observations resulted in a significant detection of this effect giving: $$M_{\text{p}}\, = \, 1.40^{+0.21}_{-0.18}\, \mathrm{M}_{{\odot }}$$; and $$M_{\text{c}}\, = \, 0.86^{+0.07}_{-0.06}\, \mathrm{M}_{{\odot }}$$.
Analysis of stomach contents of the porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus Bonnaterre) in the northwest Atlantic

Stomachs of 1022 porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus) ranging in size from 85-264 cm were examined from the Canadian porbeagle shark fishery and a scientific cruise in the northwest Atlantic between February 1999 and January 2001. Teleosts occurred in the majority of stomachs and constituted 91% of the diet by weight. Cephalopods occurred in 12% and were the second most important food category consumed. Pelagic fish and cephalopods comprised the largest portion of the diet in the spring while groundfish dominated the diet in the fall. Diet did not differ significantly between the sexes. Stomach fullness differed slightly but significantly across months and declined slightly with fork length. The porbeagle is primarily an opportunistic piscivore with a diet characterized by a wide range of species. Diet composition changed seasonally following a migration from deep to shallow water.
Surface water floods in Switzerland: what insurance claim records tell us about the damage in space and time

Abstract. Surface water floods (SWFs) have received increasing attention in the recent years. Nevertheless, we still know relatively little about where, when and why such floods occur and cause damage, largely due to a lack of data but to some degree also because of terminological ambiguities. Therefore, in a preparatory step, we summarize related terms and identify the need for unequivocal terminology across disciplines and international boundaries in order to bring the science together. Thereafter, we introduce a large (n = 63 117), long (10–33 years) and representative (48 % of all Swiss buildings covered) data set of spatially explicit Swiss insurance flood claims. Based on registered flood damage to buildings, the main aims of this study are twofold: First, we introduce a method to differentiate damage caused by SWFs and fluvial floods based on the geographical location of each damaged object in relation to flood hazard maps and the hydrological network. Second, we analyze the data with respect to their spatial and temporal distributions aimed at quantitatively answering the fundamental questions of how relevant SWF damage really is, as well as where and when it occurs in space and time. This study reveals that SWFs are responsible for at least 45 % of the flood damage to buildings and 23 % of the associated direct tangible losses, whereas lower losses per claim are responsible for the lower loss share. The Swiss lowlands are affected more heavily by SWFs than the alpine regions. At the same time, the results show that the damage claims and associated losses are not evenly distributed within each region either. Damage caused by SWFs occurs by far most frequently in summer in almost all regions. The normalized SWF damage of all regions shows no significant upward trend between 1993 and 2013. We conclude that SWFs are in fact a highly relevant process in Switzerland that should receive similar attention like fluvial flood hazards. Moreover, as SWF damage almost always coincides with fluvial flood damage, we suggest considering SWFs, like fluvial floods, as integrated processes of our catchments.
Aluminum Pollution Removal from Water Using a Natural Zeolite

Aluminum ion adsorption capacity of zeolite from polluted tap water was investigated in this study. For the experimental studies, zeolite mineral which was 20-200 mesh size was used by activating with HCl and aluminum ion removal efficiencies were examined. Experiments were studied under laboratory, batch conditions were run at different pH values, temperatures. The highest removal efficiency was found as about 84.7% at pH 6.5. Similarly, experiments were carried out at different temperature values, and the maximum efficiency was obtained at 30°C. The efficiency obtained under the same conditions was 93%. The highest aluminum removal efficiency was obtained with 180 rpm shaking speed.
Evaluation of thrombin generation in classical Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms

Introduction: Patients with Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (Ph-MPN), polycytemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), are prone to develop thrombotic events. We aimed to investigate the coagulation status in their plasma using thrombin generation assay (TGA), a functional global assay, on Ceveron® Alpha. Materials and methods: The samples were collected from 89 consecutive Ph-negative MPN patients and from 78 controls into K2EDTA and CTAD tubes for blood cell counts, TGA and coagulation screening tests. Thrombin generation was analysed in platelet-poor plasma using Technothrombin® TGA assay kit. Results: We found a significantly increased peak thrombin generation (p=0.049) and velocity index (VI) (p=0.012) in patients in comparison with controls, especially in ET patients, and a significantly higher values for peak thrombin (p=0.043) and VI (p=0.042) in patients receiving anagrelide in comparison with those treated with hydroxyurea. We also noticed an inverse correlation between the length of cytoreductive therapy and TGA parameters, (peak thrombin R=-0.25, p=0.018, AUC R=-0.257, p=0.015, and VI R=-0.21, p=0.048). Conclusion: Our results suggest that Ph-MPN patients, and especially those with ET, are predisposed to thrombotic events due to their higher peak thrombin and VI values and their risk may decreases as treatment is longer. Patients treated with hydroxyurea generate less thrombin and could be less prone to develop thrombotic events in comparison with those treated with anagrelide.
Investigation of FATİH Project within the Scope of Teachers, School Administrators and YEGITEK Administrators’ Opinions: A Multiple Case Study

Bilgi ve Iletisim Teknolojileri (BIT) bir cok alani oldugu gibi egitim ortamlarini da etkilemektedir. Son yillarda Turkiye’de devlet tarafindan FATIH Projesi (Firsatlari Arttirma ve Teknoloji Iyilestirme Hareketi Projesi) baslatilmistir. Bu proje kapsaminda cesitli teknolojiler ulke genelindeki okullara kuruluyor. FATIH Projesinin basarisinda ogretmenlerin bu teknolojileri nasil karsiladiklarinin yanisira okul yoneticileri ve proje yurutuculerinin gorusleri buyuk onem tasiyabilir. Bundan dolayi bu calismada ogretmenlerin, okul yoneticilerinin ve YEĞITEK (Yenilik ve Egitim Teknolojileri Genel Mudurlugu) yoneticilerinin FATIH Projesindeki teknolojilerin egitimde basarili olarak kullanimini etkileyen faktorler hakkinda gorus ve dusuncelerinin incelenmesi amaclanmistir. Bu amac icin “BIT’nin etkili entegrasyonunu etkileyen kosullar” calismada teorik temel olarak ele alinmis ve nicel coklu durum calismasi metot olarak kullanilmistir. Arastirma sorularini cevaplayabilmek icin bir ilkogretim okulu ve bir lise calismada iki durum olarak secilmistir. Veriler bu iki okuldaki ogretmenler ve okul yoneticileri ile YEĞITEK yoneticilerinden derinlemesine gorusme yontemiyle toplanmistir. Verilerin analizinde alti basamaktan olusan icerik analizi yontemi kullanilmistir. Calismada elde edilen bulgular mevcut durumdan memnuniyetsizlik, yeterli zaman, kaynaklar, bilgi ve beceriler, odul ve tesvik, katilim, yukumluluk, ve liderlik basliklari altinda sunulmustur
LUISS GUIDO CARLI DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN DIRITTO ED ECONOMIA

Il contributo analizza gli assetti strutturali e regolamentari dell’industria aeroportuale italiana da una duplice prospettiva, guardando, cioè, agli spazi per la diffusione della concorrenza e al grado d’incertezza regolatoria attualmente percepito dagli attori di mercato. Con riferimento alla prima prospettiva d’analisi, si suggerisce che, a dispetto delle tradizionali conclusioni sul potere di mercato dei gestori, la concorrenza aeroportuale costituisce una peculiare caratteristica del nuovo contesto industriale di liberalizzazione dei cieli e crescente domanda di servizi di trasporto aereo. In particolare, l’effettivo livello di concorrenza (intra-modale e/o inter-modale) varia ampiamente in funzione delle caratteristiche strutturali e geografiche degli scali e dipende, poi, in misura cruciale dalla tipologia di rotta considerata. L’articolo guarda anche alle specificità dell’attuale quadro regolatorio, allo scopo di mostrarne le ambiguità più evidenti e le conseguenze più immediate. Il contesto di incertezza normativa – nel quale si riflette l’inconsistenza temporale delle scelte statali, la sovrapposizione di regole e regolatori e l’assenza di una vera strategia di politica industriale – condiziona il senso stesso della scelta di regolare, perché legittima l’opportunismo degli operatori e non assicura adeguata trasparenza tariffaria.
GEOCHRONOLOGY OF THE QUADRILÁTERO FERRÍFERO: A REVIEW

Os estudos geocronologicos, especialmente com o uso do metodo U-Pb, tem sido fundamentais para oconhecimento da evolucao arqueana do Quadrilatero Ferrifero. A regiao registra a atuacao de diversoseventos magmaticos e tectono-metamorficos, entre 2860 e 2600 Ma. A datacao de rochas vulcânicasfelsicas em ca. 2772 Ma permite balizar a idade do Greenstone Belt Rio das Velhas. Tais vulcanitosfelsicos parecem posicionar-se proximo ao topo da sucessao basal do greenstone belt. Nao se conhece aocorrencia de rochas vulcânicas dataveis nas unidades supracrustais proterozoicas do Quadrilatero Ferrifero,de forma que suas idades de deposicao podem apenas ser inferidas atraves das analises de zircoes detriticos.A atuacao da Orogenia Transamazonica na regiao encontra-se bem registrada, por meio da datacao decorpos granitoides e eventos de metamorfismo entre 2120-2040 Ma.
Dealing with Students’ Plagiarism Pre-Emptively Through Teaching Proper Information Exploitation

The present contribution looks into the much discussed issue of student plagiarism, which is conjectured to stem from problems with information searching and exploitation, underdeveloped exposition skills and difficulty in using sources, especially concerning quotations and references. The aim of the study is to determine how effective pre-emptive measures can be if information exploitation and writing from sources are approached as skills that need to be taught. The results show that addressing source use as a skill tends to gradually if slowly reduce the number of plagiarized assignments submitted by students.
Axino dark matter and baryon number asymmetry production by the Q-ball decay in gauge mediation

We investigate the Q-ball decay into the axino dark matter in the gauge-mediated supersymmetry breaking. In our scenario, the Q ball decays mainly into nucleons and partially into axinos to account respectively for the baryon asymmetry and the dark matter of the universe. The Q ball decays well before the big bang nucleosynthesis so that it is not affected by the decay. We show the region of the parameters which realizes this scenario.
Effects of perceived employee emotional competence on customer satisfaction and loyalty: The mediating role of rapport

Purpose – During service encounters, it has been suggested that emotionally competent employees are likely to succeed in building rapport with their customers, which in turn often leads to customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, these relationships have not been empirically examined. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of customer perceived employee emotional competence (EEC) on satisfaction and loyalty. The paper also examines how and to what extent rapport mediates these effects.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on the theory of affect‐as‐information, suggesting that emotions inform human behavior, the paper develops a structural model and tests it on a sample of 247 customers in a personal service setting.Findings – Customer perceptions of EEC positively influence customer satisfaction and loyalty. Rapport partially mediates both effects.Practical implications – The extent to which customers perceive employees as emotionally competent is related to the development of .
Structural Change in the U.S. Food Manufacturing Sector

This study examines the market structure-conduct-performance relationship for 48 four-digit SIC Food and Tobacco Processing Industries during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. The simultaneous-equation analyses are used to explore the relationship among price-cost margin (PCM), market concentration, advertising outlay, and various control variables. With an intertemporal setting, our findings provide evidence of structural changes over time in the U.S. food manufacturing sector and support some of the conventional SCP wisdoms, but challenge others.
Sri Lankan Citizens’ Use Behaviour towards E-Government Services

This research study focused on the main factors influencing Sri Lankan citizens’ adoption of e-Government services. After reviewing existing literatures on technology adoption, the researchers chose the UTAUT model and picked up key determinants from it. The researchers aimed at answering research questions and testing the credibility of hypotheses brought about from the model. Entire Sri Lankan populations’ internet users were selected as the population of this study and sample size was calculated properly for collecting data. Questionnaire was developed and made available in three languages; English, Sinhala and Tamil. Reliability test was carried out to see the internal consistency of the data. The collected data were analysed using SPSS 20 and Minitab 16, and Excel 2010 was also used at times. Correlation and regressions were calculated to see the underlying relationships among the constructs and their impacts. Analysis found that Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence had influence on Sri Lankan citizens’ Intention to Use e-Government services and this intention influenced Use Behaviour of the citizens. Keywords: E-Government, Adoption, UTAUT, Use Behaviour, Citizens, Sri Lanka
The service quality - loyalty relationship in sports clubs: does the social context matter?

4 1.Introduction . 9 1.1 Customer loyalty . 9 1.2 Customer relationship . 9 1.3 Social context . 10 1.4 Problem definition . 10 1.5 Research approach . 11 1.6 Theoretical importance . 11 1.7 Practical importance. 11 1.8 Reading guide . 12 2. Literature Review . 13 2.1 Customer loyalty . 13 2.1.1 What is loyalty? 13 2.1.2 What does loyalty indicate? 14 2.1.3 Dimensions of loyalty . 14 2.2 Service quality . 15 2.2.1 What is service quality? 15 2.2.2 Dimensions of service quality . 15 2.2.3 Service quality in the sport branch . 16 2.3 Customer satisfaction . 17 2.3.1 What is customer satisfaction? 17 2.3. 2 What does customer satisfaction indicate? 17 2.4 Trust . 19 2.4. 1 What is trust? 19 2.4. 2 What does trust indicate? 19 2.5 Social Context . 20 2.6 Hypotheses . 21 3. Research Methodology . 22 3.1 Research method . 22
Possible Effects of Future Climate Changes on the Maximum Number of Generations of Anopheles in Monsoon Asia

The predicted increase in global temperatures is expected to affect ecosystem, human health and society. In particular, a longer growing period due to climate warming is expected to enhance the growth and reproduction of some kinds of organisms (Kiritani, 2006; Ohta & Kimura, 2007). Northern and altitudinal shifts in vector species that cause infectious diseases have been observed worldwide (Barker & Lindsay, 2000; Hales et al., 2002). Conversely, the endemicity of vector-borne diseases such as malaria has decreased during the past century (Gething et al., 2010). The reason for this decrease is the economic development and disease control during this period (Hay et al., 2009; Gething et al., 2010). However, the recession of malaria during the last century did not correspond to a reduction in the ranges of vector species. Because of the complex relationship between malaria and climate (Martin & Lefebvre, 1995), the potential distribution of vectors and climate conditions of their habitats without human interference need to be elucidated. Malaria is the chief disease caused by vectors breeding on shallow surface waters. Because survival and reproduction rates of mosquitoes are mainly determined by the temperature and humidity of their habitats, climate factors determine whether a location is suitable for the transmission of a wide range of infectious diseases. Projected changes in temperatures and the hydrological cycle will cause changes in the geographical distributions and population dynamics of vectors, thus altering the patterns of infectious disease transmission (Martin & Lefebvre, 1995; Martens et al., 1999). In particular, one of the most interesting aspects is how climate change could affect the geographical distributions and incidence patterns of the diseases caused by mosquitoes. However, most investigators assessing the impacts of climate change on the incidence and geographical range of malaria assume that mosquito distribution would not change under future climate conditions (Martens et al., 1999; van Lieshout et al., 2004). These investigators assessed the risk of malaria transmission based on the geographical distribution of particular mosquito species by country or administrative unit (World Health Organization, 1989; Jetten & Takken, 1994). However, mosquitoes are not always uniformly distributed within a country, and their range typically crosses national borders (Kashiwada & Ohta, 2010). Martin & Lefebvre (1995) developed the Malaria Potential Occurrence Zone model,
Accelerated nonlocal nonsymmetric dispersion for monostable equations on the real line

ABSTRACT We consider the accelerated propagation of solutions to equations with a nonlocal linear dispersion on the real line and monostable nonlinearities (both local or nonlocal, however, not degenerated at 0), in the case when either of the dispersion kernel or the initial condition has regularly heavy tails at both , perhaps different. We show that, in such case, the propagation to the right direction is fully determined by the right tails of either the kernel or the initial condition. We describe both cases of integrable and monotone initial conditions which may give different orders of the acceleration. Our approach is based, in particular, on the extension of the theory of sub-exponential distributions, which we introduced early.