Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sacralization of the Mekong River Through Folk Narratives

This paper aims to identify the construction of the sacredness of the Mekong River through folk narratives created by the communities of Tibet, China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, located along the banks of the Mekong River. In this paper, the sacralization of the Mekong River is explained through four major kinds of folk narrative; firstly, those about the origin and the characteristics of the Mekong River; secondly, narratives about sacred objects and sacred places; thirdly, narratives about sacred animals and sacred trees; and fourthly, narratives explaining rituals and traditions. This paper discusses the relationship between the Mekong River and folk Buddhism through folk narratives, beliefs and rites that exist among the riverine communities along the Mekong River. This paper will shed light on the folk perspective of the Mekong River as a sacred river through the folk narratives related to the Lord Buddha. Overall, the analysis in 1 This paper is a part of a post-doctoral research entitled, “The Mekong River: Myths and Relationship with the Tai Peoples,” granted by Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC) and The Thailand Research Fund (TRF). 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Thai and Oriental Languages, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mahasarakham University this paper indicates the influence and the integration of Buddhism in the folk perception and folk beliefs on the Mekong
In-silico investigation of genomic regions related to ascites and identifying their pathways in broilers

The importance of ascites in the poultry industry warrants a comprehensive systematic review and in-silico modelling to explain responses seen in previous studies in this field. By identifying the genes which are effective and relevant to different indicator traits of ascites in poultry, genes were separated base on chromosomes to determine the most effective chromosome in ascites. Consequently, 12 chromosomes have been discovered as containing effective regions on ascites incidence. Meanwhile, 24 genes including MPPK2, AT1, RhoGTPase, MC4R, CDH6, NOS3, HIF-1A, OSBL6, CCDC141, BMPR2, LEPR, AGTR1, UTS2D, 5HT2B, SST, CHRD, TFRC, CDH13, ACVRL1, ARNT, ACE, ACVRL1, MEF2C, and HTR1A affect ascites according to published studies. The results show that chromosome 9, with the presence of six related genes, chromosomes 1, 2 and 7 with three related genes and Z containing two genes have the most influence on the sensitivity to the ascites syndrome, respectively.
Salt stress induces genotype-specific DNA hypomethylation in ZmEXPB2 and ZmXET1 genes in maize

Maize, a moderately salt sensitive crop, first experiences osmotic stress that cause reduction in plant growth under salt stress. Fluctuation in cell wall elongation is one of the reasons of this reduction. Along with others, two important proteins expansins and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase are involved in regulation of cell wall elasticity, but the role of epigenetic mechanisms in regulating the cell wall related genes is still elusive. The present study was conducted with the aim of understanding the role of DNA methylation in regulating ZmEXPB2 and ZmXET1 genes. One salt sensitive and one salt tolerant maize cultivar was grown under hydroponic conditions at different levels of salt stress: T1 = 1 mM (control), T2 = 100 mM and T3 = 200 mM in three replicates. DNA and RNA were extracted from roots. After bisulfite treatment, Methyl Sensitive PCR was used for the DNA methylation analysis. It was revealed that fragment in promoter of ZmEXPB2 gene showed high level of DNA methylation under T1 in both varieties. Comparison of different stress treatments revealed decrease in DNA methylation with the increase in salt stress, significantly lower methylation appearing in T3. Similarly, the fragment in promoter of ZmXET1 gene also showed high levels of DNA methylation in T1. When different treatments were analysed, this gene significantly hypomethylated at T2 which continued to decrease in T3 in sensitive variety but remain stable in tolerant variety. Although, further in-depth analysis is required, our results demonstrate region-specific and genotype-specific methylation shift in the promoter of the ZmEXPB2 and ZmXET1 genes when subjected to the salt stress confirming the epigenetic regulation of these genes under stress conditions.
Studies on Tursiops truncatus and Stenella coeruleoalba Dolphin Species: from Retinal Cell Morphological Comparisons Towards its Surrounding environment.

Abstract In this current study, the retinal cell morphology of two dolphin species, Tursiops truncatus and Stenella coeruleoalba was compared, and supplemented with a miniature review of how it relates to surrounding environment. Retinal cell morphology involved sectioning and retino-separation of eyes, morphometric analysis of retinal cell layers and its corresponding neurons, followed by stratigraphy of both retina and area/density of ganglion neuron cell bodies. A qualification criteria was developed to describe both thickness and visibility. To relate with surrounding environment of studied species, we searched relevant synthesized literature combining such key words as ‘dolphin’, ‘Tursiops truncatus’, ‘Stenella coeruleoalba’, ‘eye’, ‘vision’, ‘ecology’ and ‘environment’. Retinal cell morphology comparisons showed that the thickness of outer nuclear layer had upper (37.8 – 38.5 μm) whereas outer plexiform layer had lower (7.8 – 8.7 μm) range values, with some differences between individual retinal layers (p<0.05) but specific to some cases. Area of ganglion cell layer of multipolar neurons of retina of both studied species could surpass the 800 μm2 mark, which suggests the presence of ‘giant’ size cell types. Plausibly, the retino-morphological comparisons of studied dolphin species depict the context of micro-view, and able to relate with a macro-view with respect to its surrounding environment.
Ultrawideband Network Channel Models for Next-Generation Wireless Avionic System

This paper proposes an impulse radio ultrawideband (IR-UWB) wireless network channel model for next-generation wireless avionic system (NGWAS). Complexities such as poor network localization, redundant wiring, network security flaws, suitable physical proximity to the aircraft system's controller and need to guarantee scalable wireless network access have necessitated the adoption of wing system units of a passenger aircraft for this scheme's deployment. The proposed IR-UWB approach aims at alleviating the attendant drawbacks by selecting optimal channel path from available paths on the basis of bit error rate (BER), based on the numerical results obtained from the Saleh–Valenzuela (S-V) principle. Cooperative relay transmission schemes factored upon transmission power, overall outage probability and spectral-energy efficiency tradeoffs for the relay network communication were also investigated and compared with the noncooperative schemes. Simulation results validate maximum data packet delivery while a strong network signal strength is attained. Comparative approach of the performances of the IR-UWB standardized channel models are also evaluated.
The Mass Profile of Galaxy Clusters out to ~2r200

We use the public release of ≃100,000 galaxies from the Two Degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS) to analyze the internal dynamics of galaxy clusters. We select 43 noninteracting clusters that are adequately sampled in the 2dFGRS public release. Members of these clusters are selected out to ~2 virial radii. We build an ensemble cluster by stacking together the 43 clusters, after appropriate scaling of their galaxy velocities and clustercentric distances. We solve the Jeans equation for the hydrostatic equilibrium for the member galaxies within the virial radius of the ensemble cluster, assuming isotropic orbits. We constrain the cluster mass profile within the virial radius by exploring parameterized models for the cluster mass density profile. We find that both cuspy profiles and profiles with a core are acceptable. In particular, the concentration parameter of the best-fit Navarro-Frenk-White model is as predicted from numerical simulations in a Λ cold dark matter cosmology. Density profiles with very large core radii are ruled out. Beyond the virial radius, dynamical equilibrium cannot be taken for granted, and the Jeans equation may not be applicable. In order to extend our dynamical analysis out to ~2 virial radii, we rely on the method that uses the amplitude of the caustics in the space of galaxy clustercentric distances and velocities. We find very good agreement between the mass profile determined with the caustic method and the extrapolation to ~2 virial radii of the best-fit mass profile determined by the Jeans analysis in the virialized inner region. We determine the mass-to-number density profile and find that it is fully consistent with a constant within the virial radius. The mass-to-number density profile is, however, inconsistent with a constant when the full radial range from 0 to ~2 virial radii is considered, unless the sample used to determine the number density profile is restricted to the early-type galaxies.
Devolving Health and Social Care: Learning from Greater Manchester

In February 2015, Greater Manchester secured an agreement with the government to take what was described as “devolved control” of the £6 billion pa budget for health and social care for the 2.8 million people of the city-region. The aim was to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities both within Greater Manchester and between Greater Manchester and other areas of England, and to address a growing gap between need and demand for health and social care and available resources to provide them. A new Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership was established, bringing together NHS organisations, local authorities and other stakeholders in health and social care in the city-region. These changes have taken place in the context of a wider devolution deal for Greater Manchester, and a growing interest nationally in devolution and regional governance in England. There has been a great deal of interest in health and social care devolution in Greater Manchester, and what others could learn from this experiment. A report by academics at Alliance Manchester Business School - Devolving health and social care: Learning from Greater Manchester- released today, presents findings from research commissioned and funded by The Health Foundation and the NIHR CLAHRC for Greater Manchester, which set out to understand how health and social care devolution policy developed, what changes it brought to governance, accountability and organisational arrangements, and how changes to health and care services for people were planned and implemented.
Word of Mouth, Noise-Driven Volatility, and Public Disclosure

This paper examines how a firm's information environment is affected by technological innovations that enhance investors' private information. We show that refining investors' private information imposes an endogenous cost of amplifying supply shocks and increasing price volatility. We also examine how the firm reacts to such changes. We derive a necessary and sufficient condition under which the firm improves its disclosure quality when its investors are informed with better private signals. The analysis indicates a "dark side" of investors' word-of-mouth communications even when the communications are assumed to be unbiased and truthful. We generate empirical predictions regarding how market depth, volatility, and firms' disclosure qualities would change as technological innovations, such as social media, facilitate investors' private communications.
Antitrust analysis with upward pricing pressure and cost efficiencies

We investigate the accuracy of UPP as a tool in antitrust analysis when there are cost efficiencies from a horizontal merger. We include merger-specific cost efficiencies in a tractable manner in the model and extend the standard UPP formulation to account for these efficiencies. The efficacy of the new UPP formulations is analyzed using Monte Carlo simulation of 40,000 mergers (8 scenarios, 5,000 mergers in each scenario). We find that the new UPP formulations yield substantial gains in prediction of post-merger prices, and there are substantial gains in merger screening accuracy as well. Moreover, the new UPP formulations outperform the standard UPP formulation at higher thresholds for all the standard cases in the paper. The results are robust to several additional analyses. The results show that including cost efficiencies in a manner guided by the theoretical model may yield substantial improvements in accuracy of UPP as a tool in antitrust analysis.
Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure and Financial Performance of Quoted Nigerian Cement Companies

The issue of CSRD has been recognized as an evolving phenomenon since late 1970’s and it has been given attention in accounting literature with increased pressure from the stakeholders on companies to pay-back to their host communities. This study examines empirically the relationship between corporate social responsibility disclosure and financial performance of quoted cement companies in Nigeria. Secondary data were sourced and used from the quoted Nigerian cement companies annual reports. A Samples of three [3] companies emerged from the population of five [5] companies using purposive sampling technique method. This study utilizes annual report of ten [10] years period covering [2008-2017] to obtain data for the study. The objective of this study is to examine relationship between CSRD and financial performance of quoted cement companies in Nigeria. Pooled OLS and Random Effect [RE] Panel Estimation analysis methods were used to display and discuss the results using STATA Version 12. The results revealed that corporate social responsibility disclosure have a significant and positive impact on the return on equity and return on capital employed. However, leverage and company size as control variables have a positive significant effects on the financial performance of quoted cement companies in Nigeria. Thus, CSRD is an important component to consider in determining financial performance of companies. The study recommends that quoted cement companies should increase the level of their CSR activities due to its enormous benefits on their financial performance, especially on the ROE and ROCE and Government should set quantum amount of atleast 2.5% on PBT of cement companies for execution of CSR activities to their immediate communities.
IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON GENDER INEQUALITY IN LABOUR MARKET OF PAKISTAN

This study investigates the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Trade Openness (TO) on gender-based Labour Force Participation Rate Difference (LFPRD) and Wage Ratio (WR) in Pakistan. Using time series data (1982-2012), OLS and ARDL approach to cointegration are applied. The results indicate that FDI positively affects LFPRD and WR whereas openness is found negatively affecting LFPRD. To make certain the validity of results, all standard diagnostic tests related to error term, coefficients and model specification are applied. Further, results of the study are supported by recent empirical evidence. The main policy implication based on results of the study is that TO should be enhanced to decrease LFPRD in Pakistan, and FDI in non-services sector should be encouraged to enhance FLFP.
Discounting Time and Time Discounting: Subjective Time Perception and Intertemporal Preferences

Consumers often make decisions about outcomes and events that occur over time. This research examines consumers' sensitivity to the prospective duration relevant to their decisions and the implications of such sensitivity for intertemporal trade-offs, especially the degree of present bias (i.e., hyperbolic discounting). The authors show that participants' subjective perceptions of prospective duration are not sufficiently sensitive to changes in objective duration and are nonlinear and concave in objective time, consistent with psychophysical principles. More important, this lack of sensitivity can explain hyperbolic discounting. The results replicate standard hyperbolic discounting effects with respect to objective time but show a relatively constant rate of discounting with respect to subjective time perceptions. The results are replicated between subjects (Experiment 1) and within subjects (Experiments 2), with multiple time horizons and multiple descriptors, and with different measurement orders. Furthermore, the authors show that when duration is primed, subjective time perception is altered (Experiment 4) and hyperbolic discounting is reduced (Experiment 3).
Replicating a study about children’s drawings concerning radiation

Radiation surrounds us in various forms and plays a huge role in our everyday life. However, little is known about student and children’s conceptions of this topic. This study is part continuation part replication of the studies carried out by Neumann and Hopf (2013). The method employed in both studies was identical. 459 students drew pictures associated with the concept “radiation” under observation. The resulting motives were subsequently categorized and compared. In this study the children barely associate the concept of “radiation” with the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster. Moreover, a number of differences could be realized when compared to the reference study. For instance, significantly more students drew cell phones and computer monitors in the current study. Additionally, a greater number of drawings related to radioactivity could be observed. Overall, the findings of this work indicate that not only are students exposed to the media at a much younger age, but also more frequently. This leads to the conclusion that more and more children build their own understanding of a particular subject, which could potentially result in misconceptions.
Inhalation Induction in Tracheostomized Patients: Comparison of Desflurane and Sevoflurane

Background: Inhalation induction (II) of anesthesia is a commonly used method in difficult airway management, pediatric anesthesia and also tracheostomized patients’ surgical practices. Sevoflurane and desflurane are the most common inhalation agents for II in these procedures of patients. We demonstrated that II with sevoflurane or desflurane in tracheostomized patients who are not studied up until now and their outcomes. Cardiorespiratory changes in II should be the same in tracheostomized patients with desflurane compared to sevoflurane. Methods: We studied 60 adult tracheostomized patients (ASA physical status 2 or 3), scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were allocated randomly to receive either desflurane (Group D) or sevoflurane (Group S) for II. Following 1 mg midazolam and 1 μg/kg fentanyl, all patients were intubated via tracheostomy with a montandon tracheostomy tube. In the Group D, patients were firstly instructed to breath and then they immediately started using desflurane and 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen (3/3 L). Desflurane was introduced at an inspired concentration of 3% and increased by 1% every 4-6 breaths as tolerated, up to a maximum of 12%. In the Group S, patients were also instructed to breathe firstly and then they immediately started using sevoflurane and 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen (3/3 L). Sevoflurane was introduced at an inspired concentration of 1% and increased by 0.3% every 4-6 breaths as tolerated, up to a maximum of 6%. Hemodynamic values [(SpO2, heart rate (HR) and arterial pressure (MAP)], respiratory complications (coughing, bronchospasm, desaturation, breath-holding), purposeful movement of limbs, secretions requiring removal by suction, time to loss of response to command and concentration of expired inhalation agent (desflurane or sevoflurane) were recorded for 10 minutes of II. Mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage were used for descriptive statistics with SSPS 20.0. Results: Couching, bronchospasm, desaturation, breathholding and purposeful movements distributions did not show any differences in Group D and Group S. Requirement of secretion removal was higher in Group D. Hemodynamic values were more stable in Group S. Conclusion: In tracheostomized patients’ II; desflurane has similar airway irritation with sevoflurane but II is more stable with sevoflurane than desflurane.
Parental intent for children to study abroad: the role of educational aspiration and children’s characteristics

ABSTRACT Despite China being a major source country of international students, factors associated with Chinese parents’ intent for children to study abroad remains under-investigated. Inspired by a Bourdieusian framework, this study examined whether parental desire for children’s international education can be delineated by family background, while investigating the role of parental educational aspiration and children’s characteristics. A national sample of 4,348 from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) was adopted. Findings suggest that better family background is significantly associated with parental intent. The parents’ educational aspiration mediates this association, and parents’ perceptions of their children’s characteristics further moderate the relationship between educational aspiration and parental intent. This study sheds light on how the internationalisation of education is utilised by parents as a strategy to avoid potential failure in the domestic educational system and to reproduce social and educational privileges, which may entrench the reproduction of inequality in the long term.
Diet of brushtail possums over a pasture-alpine gradient in Westland, New Zealand.

The diet of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr) in mixed hardwood forests on a central Westland hillside is described from analysis of plant cuticle fragments and seeds in their faeces. Faeces were collected monthly for 2.25 years from animals live-trapped from low altitude forest/ pasture margins through to high altitude alpine shrublands. The diet included forest and pasture foliage, buds, and fruits of over 100 species, although most were eaten infrequently. Foliage was taken most often from woody forest species (88%), with three canopy species, kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa), southern rata (Metrosideros umbellata), and mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), providing 69% of the leaf intake. Pasture species formed 12% of the diet of possums living within 300 m of the forest edge, with 90% of this being clovers (Trifolium spp.) and grasses. Fruit was taken from a wide range of forest species. Diet varied with sex, season, and altitude. Males ate more pasture foliage and less ferns than females and differed significantly in their use of many of the major woody species. Woody species were favoured most in winter and spring, ferns and fruits in autumn and winter, and pasture species in autumn. Pasture species were eaten only by possums denning within 1000 m of the forest/pasture margin, and high-altitude species by possums denning nearby. Only 15 forest species were eaten as much as or more than expected from their relative abundance. Ten of these species were frequently eaten, and the remainder infrequently, being locally rare. Preferred species showed clear evidence of possum browse and were often represented by many dead stems. This demonstrated the adverse effects of possums in such mixed hardwood forests.