Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Complimentarity of Different Approaches for Assessing Vertical Turbulent Exchange Intensity in Natural Stratified Basins

The comparison of previously proposed theoretical and semi-empirical approaches for assessing dependence of vertical turbulent exchange on stratification in the natural basins is carried out. The following models are compared: the semi-empirical model based on vertical probing data for revealing dependence of the required parameters on the stratification; the theoretical “spectral” model indicating qualitative differences in the exchange parameters in the “strongly” and “weakly” stratified layers of the main pycnocline in natural basins; the 1.5D model of the Black Sea vertical exchange developed within the framework of the inverse problem. The models, being analyzed in the course of calculating dependence of the energy dissipation rate ε and the diffusion coefficient K upon the buoyancy frequency N, show that they do not contradict each other and, if necessary, can complement each other. In addition, it is found that the greatest physical completeness among the considered models contains the “spectral” model that takes into account a variety of possible distributions in the upper “strongly” stratified layer. However, there are certain difficulties with assessment of the relevant coefficients in, dependencies. The latter problem can be solved within the framework of this approach via proper measurements in the investigated area using the semi-empirical approach relationships. A correspondence between the pair of “spectral” model and semi-empirical model and the 1.5D model for the Black Sea, which will be used in the future, should be also noted.
Engineering Students' Perceptions of the Future: Exploratory Instrument Development

The purpose of this research paper is to understand how engineering students’ long-term motivation, as previously described qualitatively in terms of student perceptions of future goals, can be explained quantitatively. Future Time Perspective (FTP) served as the theoretical framing for this work, and provides a model for how students’ perceptions of the future can guide their actions in the present. The guiding questions for this work seek to understand how qualitative results about engineering students’ FTP generalize to a quantitative survey for a different student population. To answer this research question, an exploratory instrument development mixed methods study with parallel sampling was conducted. Participants in the qualitative portion of the study, second year engineering students (n=9) at a southeastern land-grant institution, were interviewed about their perceptions of the future, perceptions of the present, and the interconnections between the future and present. Qualitative results informed development of a survey about student motivation. Participants in the quantitative portion of the study were from a western land grant institution. Students in a first year engineering course (n=360, response rate 52.8%) completed the Likert-type survey that assessed motivation related to their goal orientations, expectancies, and FTPs. Results of exploratory factor analysis indicated seven unique factors, three of which were related to FTP (perceptions of the future, perceived instrumentality of present tasks, and the influence of the future on the present). A k-means cluster analysis was then performed using these three FTP factors to determine what groupings may exist based on students’ FTPs. The cluster analysis indicated three unique groupings that showed similar characteristics to the three groupings found through qualitative analysis. Results of this mixed methods study indicate that previous qualitative results are generalizable to a different engineering population. This work brings us a step closer to developing a valid instrument to assess motivation based on FTP for use alongside performance assessments, allowing for better understanding of how the affective domain influences cognitive performance in engineering.
Short-Term and Long-Term Growth Effects of Exchange Rate Adjustment

The European sovereign debt crisis revived the discussion concerning the pros and cons of exchange rate adjustment in the face of asymmetric shocks. Exit from the euro area is to regain rapidly international competitiveness. Exchange rate stability with structural reforms could be beneficial for long-run growth. We augment the literature by analyzing short- and long-term growth effects of exchange rate flexibility in a panel-cointegration framework. Countries with a high degree of exchange rate stability exhibit lower short-term and higher long-term growth. The degree of business cycle synchronization with the anchor country matters for the impact of exchange rate flexibility on growth
Nutritional evaluation of different sources of nitrogen on digestible nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and production of rumen metabolites in growing Yankasa sheep

A study was conducted to evaluate digestible nutrient intake, nitrogen balance and rumen metabolites in twenty growing Yankasa rams fed urea and /or sundried broiler litter (SDBL) as a partial or complete replacement for cotton seed cake (CSC) in diets for 90 days. The diets were: 1(CSC; control), 2(urea), 3(urea/SDBL), 4(CSC/urea) and 5(CSC/SDBL). The results indicated difference (P<0.05) in DM intake across diets, with animals fed CSC, urea and CSC/urea having the highest values (543.1, 523.4 and 483.6 g/day respectively), while those fed urea/SDBL and CSC/SDBL ((459.5 and 424.3g/day respectively) had the lowest feed intake. Mean digestible CP intake differed (P<0.001)across the diets and the values were higher for rams fed CSC and urea (75.7 and 72.7g/day) and lowest for those on CSC/SDBL (49.0g/day). However, mean digestible ADF intake was similar among the diets. A positive nitrogen balance was observed for all animals across the treatments, with significant (P<0.05) differences between treatments ranging from 4.3g/day for rams fed CSC/SDBL to 7.5g/day for those on urea. pH decreased with time after feeding. At 3 hrs post feeding, pH was highest (P<0.01) for rams fed CSC/SDBL and CSC/urea (6.9) and lowest for those on urea alone (6.1) and CSC (6.2). There was a gradual increase in the concentrations of both rumen ammonia-N (RAN) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) after feeding. Rams fed urea and urea/SDBL (37.5 and 34.2mg/100ml respectively) had the highest (P<0.001) RAN concentration 3 hrs after feeding, while those on the other diets recorded the lowest. On the other hand, rams fed CSC/SDBL (13.1mmol/100ml) had the highest (P<0.001) VFA concentrations while those on urea the lowest (10.5mmol/100ml). It was concluded from this study that diets containing urea and CSC/urea fed to Yankasa sheep gave results comparable to those fed cotton seed cake (control), which are better than for those fed sundried broiler litterbased diets in terms of digestible nutrients intake, positive nitrogen balance and production of adequate rumen ammonia-N. However, rams fed CSC/SDBL had a better concentration of total volatile fatty acids of rumen fluid after feeding.
The Dark Side of Neutron Stars

We review severe constraints on asymmetric bosonic dark matter based on observations of old neutron stars. Under certain conditions, dark matter particles in the form of asymmetric bosonic WIMPs can be effectively trapped onto nearby neutron stars, where they can rapidly thermalize and concentrate in the core of the star. If some conditions are met, the WIMP population can collapse gravitationally and form a black hole that can eventually destroy the star. Based on the existence of old nearby neutron stars, we can exclude certain classes of dark matter candidates.
Modelling sub-grid wetland in the ORCHIDEE global land surface model: evaluation against river discharges and remotely sensed data

The quality of the global hydrological simulations performed by land surface models (LSMs) strongly depends on processes that occur at unresolved spatial scales. Approaches such as TOPMODEL have been developed, which allow soil moisture redistribution within each grid-cell, based upon sub-grid scale topography. Moreover, the coupling between TOPMODEL and a LSM appears as a potential way to simulate wetland extent dynamic and its sensitivity to climate, a recently identified research problem for biogeochemical modelling, including methane emissions. Global evaluation of the coupling between TOPMODEL and an LSM is difficult, and prior attempts have been indirect, based on the evaluation of the simulated river flow. This study presents a new way to evaluate this coupling, within the ORCHIDEE LSM, using remote sensing data of inundated areas. Because of differences in nature between the satellite derived information - inundation extent - and the variable diagnosed by TOPMODEL/ORCHIDEE - area at maximum soil water content, the evaluation focuses on the spatial distribution of these two quantities as well as on their temporal variation. Despite some difficulties in exactly matching observed localized inundated events, we obtain a rather good agreement in the distribution of these two quantities at a global scale. Floodplains are not accounted for in the model, and this is a major limitation. The difficulty of reproducing the year- to-year variability of the observed inundated area (for instance, the decreasing trend by the end of 90s) is also underlined. Classical indirect evaluation based on comparison between simulated and observed river flow is also performed and underlines difficulties to simulate river flow after coupling with TOPMODEL. The relationship between inundation and river flow at the basin scale in the model is analyzed, using both methods (evaluation against remote sensing data and river flow). Finally, we discuss the potential of the TOPMODEL/LSM coupling to simulate wetland areas. A major limitation of the coupling for this purpose is linked to its ability to simulate a global wetland coverage consistent with the commonly used datasets. However, it seems to be a good opportunity to account for the wetland areas sensitivity to the climate and thus to simulate its temporal variability.
Psychological Variables Underlying Cooperative Behavior for Local Communities: The Case of Regional Charismas in Japan

Many empirical findings have shown that local communities can be improved if at least one altruistic person engages in cooperative behavior for the benefit of the community, as in the case of â€œThe 100 charisma ambassadors of tourismâ€ in Japan. This paper conducted a multilevel analysis to elucidate the psychological variables underlying such cooperative behavior (CB). A questionnaire survey was conducted using items previously proposed for measuring determinant factors of CB. The respondents were: â€œthe 100 charisma ambassadors of tourismâ€ (n = 95), residents living in the same region as the charismas (n = 400), and residents living in other regions (n = 500). By comparing different groups, personality and environmental factors promoting CB were examined. The results indicate that Schwartzâ€™s norm-activation factors contribute to the personality characteristics of the charismas, and that feelings of sympathy among residents contribute to the environmental characteristics of the locality of the charismas.
Identification of isoquinoline alkaloids from Berberis microphylla by HPLC ESI-MS/MS

Berberis microphylla (G. Forst) es un arbusto nativo que crece en la Patagonia. Actualmente, esta planta ha sido foco de estudio dada las propiedades biologicas que presenta, atribuidas principalmente al contenido de alcaloides. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la distribucion y proporcion de alcaloides isoquinolinicos en hojas, tallos y raices de B. microphylla colectadas en dos zonas climaticas de la Patagonia chilena. Mediante CLAE IES-MS/MS se informa por primera vez la presencia de isocoridina jatrorrizina, palmatina, reticulina, escoulerina, tetrahidroberberina y talifendina en esta especie y se confirma la presencia de allocriptopina, berberina, calafatina y protopina, identificados previamente en B. microphylla . El perfil de alcaloides mostro diferencias en la presencia de compuestos en las muestras colectas en las dos zonas climaticas, observandose un mayor numero de compuestos en plantas provenientes de Lago Deseado. Ademas, un mayor numero de compuestos se identifico en extractos de tallos y raices donde berberina y talifendina fueron detectados en mayor proporcion.
Drift in Transaction‐Level Asset Price Models

We study the effect of drift in pure‐jump transaction‐level models for asset prices in continuous time, driven by point processes. The drift is assumed to arise from a non‐zero mean in the efficient shock series. It follows that the drift is proportional to the driving point process itself, that is, the cumulative number of transactions. This link reveals a mechanism by which properties of intertrade durations (such as heavy tails and long memory) can have a strong impact on properties of average returns, thereby potentially making it extremely difficult to determine long‐term growth rates or to reliably detect an equity premium. We focus on a basic univariate model for log price, coupled with general assumptions on the point process that are satisfied by several existing flexible models, allowing for both long memory and heavy tails in durations. Under our pure‐jump model, we obtain the limiting distribution for the suitably normalized log price. This limiting distribution need not be Gaussian and may have either finite variance or infinite variance. We show that the drift can affect not only the limiting distribution for the normalized log price but also the rate in the corresponding normalization. Therefore, the drift (or equivalently, the properties of durations) affects the rate of convergence of estimators of the growth rate and can invalidate standard hypothesis tests for that growth rate. As a remedy to these problems, we propose a new ratio statistic that behaves more robustly and employ subsampling methods to carry out inference for the growth rate. Our analysis also sheds some new light on two long‐standing debates as to whether stock returns have long memory or infinite variance.
Qualitative Research Synthesis: How the Whole Can Be Greater than the Sum of Its Parts

The rise of the knowledge society has led to an increase in the amount of research that is produced and an increased demand from decision makers for summaries of this research. As a result, research syntheses have become increasingly important in applied research, especially within the health sciences. However, this methodology has not been adopted with the same enthusiasm in the field of anthropology. In this article, we describe the main principles of this approach and the history of its development and discuss whether qualitative research synthesis can be seen as compatible with (the goal of) anthropological methodology. Finally, we argue for a greater adoption of research synthesis within applied anthropology and call for a greater engagement from anthropologists in the further development of this methodology.
Changes in litter and dead wood loads following tree death beneath subalpine conifer species in northern Colorado

Litter and dead wood affect important processes in forest ecosystems such as nutrient and carbon cycling and are key influences on biodiversity and fire behavior. Increased tree mortality rates in western North America associated with climate trends and increased bark beetle activity highlight the need to better understand the dynamics of litter and dead wood following tree death. For eight old-growth stands in a subalpine forest landscape in northern Colorado (USA), we compared litter and dead wood loads beneath more than 200 dead and live Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. ), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loudon). The dynamics of litter and dead wood were analyzed using chronosequences of tree death dates over >100 years that we determined from tree rings. Immediately following tree death, high loads of litter accumulated, particularly for the biggest spruces, which accumulated 10 times more litter than live spruces (five t.
Dynamic flows with time-varying network parameters: Optimality conditions and strong duality

Dynamic network flow problems model the temporal evolution of flows over time and also consider changes of network parameters such as capacities, costs, supplies, and demands over time. These problems have been extensively studied in the past because of their important role in real world applications such as transport, traffic, and logistics. This has led to many results, but the more challenging continuous time model still lacks some of the key features such as network related optimality conditions and algorithms that are available in the static case. The aim of this paper is to advance the state of the art for dynamic network flows by developing the continuous time analogues of several well-known optimality conditions for static network flows. Specifically, we establish a reduced cost optimality condition, a negative cycle optimality condition, and a strong duality result for a very general class of dynamic network flows. The underlying idea is to construct a dual feasible solution that proves optimality when the residual network (with respect to a given flow) contains no dynamic cycles with negative cost. We also discuss a generic negative cycle-canceling algorithm resulting from the corresponding optimality criterion and point out promising directions for future research.
Education financing and student achievement

We briefly review how schoolsÂ’ financial resources affect the amount, quality, and heterogeneity of education, and how in turn the provision of educational services bears on studentsÂ’ achievement. Then, we discuss the implications of different ways of linking school resources to student achievement, focusing in particular on the distinction between family-based and State-based channels of financial support. (DIPF/Orig.) Der vorliegende Beitrag gibt zunachst einen kurzen Uberblick daruber, wie sich finanzielle Ressourcen auf die Menge, die Qualitat und die Heterogenitat von Bildungsangeboten auswirken und dadurch den Ausbildungserfolg beeinflussen. Anschliessend werden die Effekte unterschiedlicher Moglichkeiten, mit dem Einsatz finanzieller Ressourcen den Ausbildungserfolg zu beinflussen, diskutiert. Speziell wird der Unterschied zwischen familienbasierter und staatlicher finanzieller Unterstutzung fokussiert. (DIPF/Orig.)
Determinants Of Manufactured Exports In Kenya: An Application Of Control Function Approach

This paper uses firm level survey panel data to estimate parameters of export propensity and intensity in Kenyan manufacturing. The effects of unobservable factors that would otherwise bias the estimated parameters are removed using a control function regression procedure. The key finding of the study is that export propensity and intensity are strongly responsive to total factor productivity. In particularly a 10% increase in total factor productivity increases export propensity by 54%, but export intensity rises less steeply by 18%. We also find that ownership structure of the firm and unobserved factors specific to firms strongly influence exports. Taken together, the estimation results provide insights into the policies needed to promote entry and stay of firms in export markets. The findings suggest that policy measures to improve export performance of Kenyan firms should focus on improving total factor productivity, encouraging foreign direct investment and stimulating modernization of manufacturing capital. Keywords: Exports, manufacturing firms, total factor productivity, control function approach, Kenya.
Molecular cloning of human dendritic cell associated lectin-1 (DECTIN-1) isoform genes, expression and localization as a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion in caco-2 cell line

The human Dectin-1 molecule known as a β-glucan receptor is an immune cell surface receptor implicated in the immunological defense against fungal and other pathogens. Dectin-1 is a type II transmemebrane receptor with a single extracellular carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), a stalk region which separates the CRD from the membrane and an immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif in its cytoplasmic tail. The objectives of the present study were isolation of the Dectin-1 genes from the human monocyte complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA), cloning of the isolated human Dectin-1 isoform transcripts into the mammalian expression vector, make a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion, expression and sub-cellular localization of the GFP fusion in the mammalian cell line. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Vector NTI sequence analysis revealed six transcripts from a human monocyte cDNA. Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analysis showed the transcripts are member of the human Dectin-1 gene family. Sequence alignment analysis using contig express and ClustalW revealed a 100% sequence similarity with the human Dectin-1 isoform A, B and F with a size of 741, 603 and 232 bp, respectively and another one transcript (193 bp) which do not homologous with the six isoforms. Cloning of the four isolated human Dectin-1 isoform transcripts into the mammalian expression vector at the 3’end of cytomegalovirus promoter (CMVp) and the GFP was ligated at the 3’end of the cloned Dectin-1 gene. The ligation experiment was proven by restriction enzyme digestion. Transient transfection of the plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA’s) that contain the chimeric human Dectin-1 isoform-GFP fusion transcripts into a Caco-2 cells were conducted and after 24 h of nucleofection. The tissue culture plate cells were examined by fluorescent microscope and all the tested samples showed green fluorescence signal. Transfection efficiency of 40.2 to 58.0% and 70.7 to 82.8% cell viability were recorded using flow cytometry assay at 48 h of post nucleofection on cells that were cultured on tissue culture plate. Localization of fused GFP was assessed using a laser scanning confocal microscopy after 24 h of transfection on cells that were cultured on a chambered tissue culture coverglass and revealed the GFP is localized on the cell membrane.
Can Integrated Rice-Fish System Increase Welfare of the Marginalized Extreme Poor in Bangladesh? A DID Matching Approach

Although Integrated Rice-Fish farming (IRFF) system is a potential technology but the adoption of IRFF farming system is very low and even decreasing. This raises the question of whether the returns and adoption of rice-fish systems are being adequately investigated. Most micro-level impact studies so far are based on cross-sectional data, which can lead to unreliable impact estimates, and also focus on productivity of IRFF systems, not its impact. This article presents results of a two-year panel survey with adopting and non-adopting indigenous farm households in Bangladesh to estimate the impact of adopting IRFF on small-scale indigenous farmers’ overall welfare. Using propensity score matching with a difference-in-difference estimator we found that adopting IRFF has a positive and statistically significant effect on household total income and expenditure, total farm income, number of days fish is consumed in a month and the quantity of fish consumption per day in a month.