Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing genetic diversity of some Anthurium andraeanum Hort. cut-flower cultivars using RAPD Markers

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers fingerprinting were used to assess the level of genetic variations among 24 cut-flower Anthurium andraeanum Hort. cultivars. Eight decamer primers produced a total of 98 reproducible PCR bands that were used to calculate the Nei and Li’s genetic distance (GDNL) coefficients amongst the cultivars. GDNL values ranged from 0.018 to 0.163 with an average of 0.09 (representing an average genetic similarity of 91.34%). This significantly low average genetic distance among the various cultivars indicated that genetic variation among the cultivars was low. A dendrogram, produced using unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA), grouped the cultivars into four main clusters. Cultivar ‘Antartica’ was genetically distinct from all the others. ‘Midori’ and ‘Bourgogne’ together formed a cluster whereas the remaining 21 cultivars grouped into two clusters and were closely related to each other. Clusters did not relate to cultivar provenance or origin and were independent of floral colour and spathe category. Finding correlations between these morphological traits to RAPD markers would necessitate extensive primer screening. Nevertheless, RAPD markers fingerprinting allowed a rapid assessment of the level of genetic variation that would otherwise be difficult to evaluate using the limited number of morphological markers present among these closely related anthurium cultivars.
Estimates of biomass burning emissions in tropical Asia based on satellite-derived data

Abstract. Biomass burning in tropical Asia emits large amounts of trace gases and particulate matter into the atmosphere, which has significant implications for atmospheric chemistry and climatic change. In this study, emissions from open biomass burning over tropical Asia were evaluated during seven fire years from 2000 to 2006 (1 March 2000–31 February 2007). The size of the burned areas was estimated from newly published 1-km L3JRC and 500-m MODIS burned area products (MCD45A1). Available fuel loads and emission factors were assigned to each vegetation type in a GlobCover characterisation map, and fuel moisture content was taken into account when calculating combustion factors. Over the whole period, both burned areas and fire emissions showed clear spatial and seasonal variations. The size of the L3JRC burned areas ranged from 36 031 km2 in fire year 2005 to 52 303 km2 in 2001, and the MCD45A1 burned areas ranged from 54 790 km2 in fire year 2001 to 148 967 km2 in 2004. Comparisons of L3JRC and MCD45A1 burned areas using ground-based measurements and other satellite data were made in several major burning regions, and the results suggest that MCD45A1 generally performed better than L3JRC, although with a certain degree of underestimation in forest areas. The average annual L3JRC-based emissions were 123 (102–152), 12 (9–15), 1.0 (0.7–1.3), 1.9 (1.4–2.6), 0.11 (0.09–0.12), 0.89 (0.63–1.21), 0.043 (0.036–0.053), 0.021 (0.021–0.023), 0.41 (0.34–0.52), 3.4 (2.6–4.3), and 3.6 (2.8–4.7) Tg yr−1 for CO2, CO, CH4, NMHCs, NOx, NH3, SO2, BC, OC, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively, whereas MCD45A1-based emissions were 122 (108–144), 9.3 (7.7–11.7), 0.63 (0.46–0.86), 1.1 (0.8–1.6), 0.11 (0.10–0.13), 0.54 (0.38–0.76), 0.043 (0.038–0.051), 0.033 (0.032–0.037), 0.39 (0.34–0.47), 3.0 (2.6–3.7), and 3.3 (2.8–4.0) Tg yr−1. Forest burning was identified as the major source of the fire emissions due to its high carbon density. Although agricultural burning was the second highest contributor, it is possible that some crop residue combustion was missed by satellite observations. This possibility is supported by comparisons with previously published data, and this result may be due to the small size of the field crop residue burning. Fire emissions were mainly concentrated in Indonesia, India, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Furthermore, the peak in the size of the burned area was generally found in the early fire season, whereas the maximum fire emissions often occurred in the late fire season.
Investability of the European Union emissions trading scheme: an empirical investigation under economic uncertainty

This paper explores investment characteristics of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). We show that the EU ETS demonstrates significant price volatility, risk-adjusted return under-performance and positive correlations with international equity markets during the GFC, while an OLS regression reveals that carbon market returns are only statistically linked to European equity market returns (both lagged and unlagged). The poor investment performance of carbon assets, interpreted alongside our additional findings and the context of the EU ETS, indicates that during financial crises impacting on developed economies, investors in such economies may need to avoid buy-and-hold strategies and reduce portfolio weightings. Moreover, these investors may need to consider diversifying their portfolio holdings until there is an improvement in economic conditions and/or greater certainty with global climate change policy.
Evaluation of Football Shaped Rumble Strips Versus Rectangular Rumble Strips

Shoulder and centerline rumble strips have become predominantly used safety measures along American highways in almost all states and in Canadian provinces. Milled shoulder rumble strips are cut indentations along the shoulder of a highway to warn drivers with an audible and tactile alert if they start drifting off the road. Centerline rumble strips are similar, but are placed between lanes, usually on undivided two-way, two-lane highways, to warn drivers who may start drifting into oncoming traffic. Researchers at Kansas State University (KSU) have conducted research on a new football-shaped highway rumble strip designed by an independent firm in Kansas. Test strips were installed along a Kansas highway, and the KSU research team conducted several tests to evaluate the new football shaped rumble strip versus the rectangular rumble strip. The comparison consisted of water and debris collection, interior sound and vibration production, and the opinions of bicyclists.Based on the literature review, the limited tests performed, and the surveys conducted, it can be concluded that no significant difference was found between the two types of rumble strips.
Variations on Quantum Adversary

The (negative-weighted) quantum adversary bound is a tight characterisation of the quantum query complexity for any partial function [28, 38]. We analyse the extent to which this bound can be generalised. Ambainis et al. [3] and Lee et al. [34] generalised this bound to the state generation and state conversion problems, respectively. Using the ideas by Lee et al., we get even further generalisations of the bound. We obtain a version of the bound for general input oracles, which are just arbitrary unitaries. We also generalise the bound to the problem of implementing arbitrary unitary transformations. Similarly to the bound by Lee et al., our bound is a lower bound for exact transformation and an upper bound for approximate transformation. This version of the bound possesses the tight composition property. Using this construction, we also obtain lower bounds on the quantum query complexity of functions and relations with general input oracles.
Visual Brand Identity of Food Products: A Customer’s Perspective

Purpose – The aim of this research is to explore the benefits of a customer based approach on food packaging design. A case study of a small production honey brand is used. Design/methodology/approach – For the design process, a survey that involved visual elements was conducted as an online questionnaire. The final size of the sample consists of 285 questionnaires. Findings – The research findings indicate that packaging is a great influencer for consumers and the synergy of consumers with companies can be a catalyst for the product design process resulting in package designs, which engage potential customers and drive sales. Originality/value – According to this research high potential lies in the area of a customer driven package design process and thus it should be further investigated.
Effect of extraction solvents on the phenolic content and antioxidant properties of two papaya cultivars

In this study, three types of solvent extracts from two cultivars of papaya fruit (Hongkong and Eksotika) were used to examine the effects of extraction solvent on total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antioxidant activity by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were determined spectrophotometrically. Results showed that extraction solvent had significant effects on TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity of methanol and acetone extract. The highest content of TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH and ABTS) were found in 50% methanol and 50% acetone extracts. The TPC varied for both cultivars (Hongkong and Eksotika) from 16.35 to 46.65, 67.50 to 23.38 mg gallic acid/100 g fresh weight, and TFC were between 19.40 and 36.17, 39.81 and 21.04 mg quercetin/100 g fresh weight and antioxidant activity (FRAP from 124.84 to 90.23, 190.59 to 159.98 mg Trolox equivalents/100 g fresh weight), DPPH were between 47.82 and 28.72%, 74.56 and 38.57%) and (ABTS from 57.34 to 31.49% and 69.06 to 34.84%), respectively. The largest amount of TPC and TFC which leads to more effective radical scavenging effect was shown by 50% methanol extract. Moreover, amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities increased in methanol and acetone extract. Therefore, a positive correlation occurred between antioxidant activity and phenolics compound. Methanol 50% and acetone 50% solvent showed the greatest capability in extracting antioxidants and inhibiting the free radicals produced. It was concluded that extraction solvent play important roles on the phenolics compounds and their antioxidant activity of papaya fruit extract. Key words: Papaya, extraction solvent, antioxidant activity, phenolic compound.
Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Poverty Reduction in Nigeria, (1980-2009).

The impetus for this study stems from the paradoxical observation that, although Nigeria is blessed with a huge influx of foreign direct investment (FDI), the country suffers from acute and chronic poverty. While this casual observation appears to cast doubts about the effect of FDI, it could be camouflaged by omission of potentially relevant variables. It is the objective of this study, then to investigate the relationship between FDI and poverty in a systematic manner (i.e. By controlling for the effects of other potentially relevant variables). Towards this end, an empirical analysis of the relationship between poverty (measured by the head count ratio) and FDI as well as a host of control variables (such as government expenditure, national debt, inflation, human capital, and infrastructural) was conducted during the period (1980-2009). Since this study employed time series data, the issue of nonstationarity needs to be addressed beforehand. Using a standard unit root test (i.e. the Augmented Dickey-Fuller test). this study found that each variable is nonstationary in first differences, suggesting a possibility for co-integration. Using standard co-integration tests (i.e. Engle-Granger and Johansen-juselius tests, respectively), this study found that the variables are co-integrated, suggesting that there exists a short relationship among them. The result from Error Correction Model (ECM), uncovered the short-run relationship among the variables under study. The ECM-based estimation results showed that, while poverty reduction is positively related to FDI, government expenditure, and infrastructure, it is negatively related to inflation, national debts, and human capital. Of these findings, a special interest is the result of FDI and poverty reduction, which suggest that FDI does have a positive relationship on poverty reduction. Accordingly, more FDI should be encouraged to Nigeria, especially those that will prompt employment opportunities to the populace. Key words Foreign Direct Investment, Poverty reduction, Nigeria
Impact of Monetary Policy on the Volatility of Stock Market in Pakistan

This paper addresses the linkages between the monetary policy and the stock market in Pakistan. The estimation technique employed includes Engle Granger two step procedure and the bivariate EGARCH method. The results indicate that any change in the monetary policy stance have a significant impact on the volatility of the stock market. Thus contributing to the ongoing debate in the monetary policy rule literature regarding the proactive and reactive approach.
Response to Reviewers ’ Comments , GMD D 2017-243

Isca is a framework for the idealized modelling of the global circulation of planetary atmospheres at varying levels of complexity and realism. The framework is an outgrowth of models from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory : in :::::::::: Princeton, ::::: USA, : designed for Earth’s atmosphere, but it may readily be extended into other planetary regimes. Various 5 forcing and radiation options are available, from dry, time invariant, Newtonian thermal relaxation to moist dynamics with radiative transfer. Options are available in the dry thermal relaxation scheme to account for the effects of obliquity and eccentricity (and so seasonality), different atmospheric optical depths and a surface mixed layer. An idealized gray radiation scheme, a two-band scheme and a multi-band scheme are also available, all with simple 10 moist effects and astronomically-based solar forcing. At the complex end of the spectrum the framework provides a direct connection to comprehensive atmospheric general circulation models. For Earth modeling, options include an aqua-planet and configurable continental outlines and topography. Continents may be defined by changing albedo, heat capacity and evaporative 15 parameters, and/or by using a simple bucket hydrologymodel. Oceanic Q-fluxesmay be added to reproduce specified sea-surface temperatures, with arbitrary continental distributions. Planetary atmospheres may be configured by changing planetary size and mass, solar forcing, atmospheric mass, radiative, and other parameters. Examples are given of various Earth configurations as well as a Jovian ::::: giant ::::: planet : simulation, a Venusian :::::::::::::: slowly-rotating 20
Aprimoramentos de um Sistema Fuzzy-Genético para Análise de Séries Temporais

Resumo—Este trabalho trata de um Sistema Fuzzy-Genético aplicado à previsão de séries temporais, denominado de Genetic Programming Fuzzy Inference System for Forecasting problems (GPFIS-Forecast). O modelo GPFIS-Forecast difere da abordagem convencional em Sistemas Fuzzy-Genéticos pois busca uma maior integração com a meta-heurística: Programação Genética Multigênica. Além disso, facilita a inclusão de operadores tnorma, t-conorma, negação e modificadores linguísticos, assim como utiliza métodos de associação e operadores de agregação. Para avaliar a abordagem proposta, foram usadas as competições NN3 e M3 como base para os experimentos realizados. Os resultados demonstram a potencialidade do modelo GPFIS-Forecast, destacando-se a compacidade das bases de regras criadas.
Human Resources Management Practices, Psychological Contract Fulfillment and Organizational Commitment in Deluxe Hotels in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

This paper study the relationship of the effectiveness of the human resources management practices of the hotels employees in the western region (Jeddah City) of Saudi Arabia with respect to their Psychological contract fulfilment (PCFul) and Organizational Commitment (OC). Data was collected from 36 hotels. Using the employees' responses, the study indicated that Human Resources practices influenced employees’ perceived Psychological contract fulfilment and their Organizational Commitment, where Human Resources Management (HRM) practices are positively related to Psychological contract fulfilment and OC. The study examined whether employees consider (HRM) practices an important tool while developing psychological contracts, and presented the prospective role of the Human Resources for Developmental Purposes to foster change in the hotel industry in Saudi Arabia.
Does Home Financing Promote Affordability of Home Ownership in Malaysia? An Empirical Analysis Between Islamic and Conventional Banks

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of home financing offered by both Islamic and conventional banks and affordability of home ownership (as measured by House Price/GDP per capita) in Malaysia. At the same time, it attempts to assess the effects of employment and interest rate as measured by Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) on home ownership affordability. The study employs the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) on yearly data from 2007 to 2014 in order to investigate the link between affordability and selected banking variables such as total home financing by Islamic banks and OPR. Data were extracted from the National Property Information Center (NAPIC) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Monthly Statistical Bulletin. This study finds that there are cointegrating relationships among all the selected variables at the selected lag length. Home financing of both Islamic and conventional banks were found to be significant in influencing Affordability of Home ownership in Malaysia. Consistent with the fundamentals of Islamic finance, our findings further suggest that OPR (interest rate) is less significant in determining home affordability in the case of Islamic home financing compared to conventional home loan. This study is an empirical attempt to analyze the effect of Islamic home financing as well as conventional loan on affordability. The approach used is technically not new, but it offers better insights into the applicability of Islamic finance in promoting affordability of home ownership. This finding therefore warrants a more in-depth analysis to explore alternative home financing mechanisms such as rental rate pricing to promote home ownership affordability among low to medium income earners in Malaysia.
The near-infrared structure of the barred galaxy NGC 253 from VISTA

Context. The presence of a bar affects the distribution and dynamics of a stellar disk at all scales, from a fraction of a kpc in the inner central region to tens of kpc at the disk’s edge. The quantitative study of the disk response to a bar can be hampered by the presence of dust, which is common in late type spirals. Aims. We want to quantify the structures in the stellar disk of the barred Sc galaxy NGC 253 located in the Sculptor group, at 3.47 Mpc distance. Methods. We use J and K s band images acquired with the VISTA telescope as part of the Science Verification. The wide field of view and the high angular resolution of this survey facility allow the mapping of the large and small scale structure of the stellar disk in NGC 253. We use unsharp masking and two dimensional modelling of the smooth light distribution in the disk to identify and measure the sub-structures induced by the bar in the stellar disk of NGC 253. We build azimuthally-averaged profiles in the J and K s bands to measure the radial surface brightness profile of the central bulge, bar and disk. Results. Moving outward from the galaxy center, we find a nuclear ring within the bright 1 kpc diameter nucleus, then a bar, a ring with 2.9 kpc radius, and spiral arms in the outer disk. From the K s image we obtain a new measure of the de-projected length of the bar of 2.5 kpc. The bar’s strength, as derived from the curvature of the dust lanes in the J - K s image, is typical of weak bars with Δ α = 25 degree/kpc. From the de-projected length of the bar, we establish the co-rotation radius ( R CR = 3 kpc) and bar pattern speed (Ω b = 61.3 km s -1 kpc -1 ), which provides the connection between the high frequency structures in the disk and the orbital resonances induced by the bar. The nuclear ring is located at the Inner Lindblad resonance. The second ring (at 2.9 kpc) does not have a resonant origin, but it could be a merger remnant or a transient structure formed during an intermediate stage of the bar formation. The inferred bar pattern speed places the Outer Lindblad resonance within the optical disk at 4.9 kpc, in the same radial range as the peak in the HI surface density. The disk of NGC 253 has a down-bending profile with a break at R ~ 9.3 kpc, which corresponds to about 3 times the scale length of the inner disk. We discuss the evidence for a threshold in star formation efficiency as a possible explanation for the steep gradient in the surface brightness profile at large radii. Conclusions. The near-infrared photometry unveils the dynamical response of the NGC 253 stellar disk to its central bar. The formation of the bar may be related to the merger event that determined the truncation of stars and gas at large radii and the perturbation of the disk’s outer edge.
Modeling the South American regional smoke plume: aerosol optical depth variability and surface shortwave flux perturbation

Abstract. Intra-seasonal variability of smoke aerosol optical depth (AOD) and downwelling solar irradiance at the surface during the 2002 biomass burning season in South America was modeled using the Coupled Chemistry-Aerosol-Tracers Transport model with the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CCATT-BRAMS). Measurements of total and fine mode fraction (FMF) AOD from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) and solar irradiance at the surface from the Solar Radiation Network (SolRad-NET) were used to evaluate model results. In general, the major features associated with AOD evolution over the southern part of the Amazon basin and cerrado ecosystem are captured by the model. The main discrepancies were found for high aerosol loading events. In the northeastern portion of the Amazon basin the model systematically underestimated total AOD, as expected, since smoke contribution is not dominant as it is in the southern portion and emissions other than smoke were not considered in the simulation. Better agreement was obtained comparing the model results with observed FMF AOD, which pointed out the relevance of coarse mode aerosol emission in that region. Likewise, major discrepancies over cerrado during high AOD events were found to be associated with coarse mode aerosol omission in our model. The issue of high aerosol loading events in the southern part of the Amazon was related to difficulties in predicting the smoke AOD field, which was discussed in the context of emissions shortcomings. The Cuiaba cerrado site was the only one where the highest quality AERONET data were unavailable for both total and FMF AOD. Thus, lower quality data were used. Root-mean-square error (RMSE) between the model and observed FMF AOD decreased from 0.34 to 0.19 when extreme AOD events (FMF AOD 550 nm ≥ 1.0) and Cuiaba were excluded from the analysis. Downward surface solar irradiance comparisons also followed similar trends when extreme AOD were excluded. This highlights the need to improve modelling of the regional smoke plume in order to enhance the accuracy of the radiative energy budget. An aerosol optical model based on the mean intensive properties of smoke from the southern part of the Amazon basin produced a radiative flux perturbation efficiency (RFPE) of −158 Wm −2 /AOD 550 nm at noon. This value falls between −154 Wm −2 /AOD 550 nm and −187 Wm −2 /AOD 550 nm , the range obtained when spatially varying optical models were considered. The 24 h average surface radiative flux perturbation over the biomass burning season varied from −55 Wm −2 close to smoke sources in the southern part of the Amazon basin and cerrado to −10 Wm −2 in remote regions of the southeast Brazilian coast.