Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unsettling feminist geopolitics: forging feminist political geographies of violence and displacement

Abstract Feminist geopolitics has analyzed violence across scales and critiqued the dominant epistemology of political geography for almost two decades. What theoretical and political purchase does it have today, given the potpourri of perspectives and reimaginings of the idea? Current research on violence, human displacement and the security of people out of place is used to explore answers to this question, finding that feminist political geography – a bigger tent than just feminist geopolitics – is indispensable to geographical thinking. Recent non-human feminist geopolitics of ‘earthliness’ offer an original theoretical departure from what has come before, though truncate political possibilities by refusing to engage the individuated subjects of ‘conventional’ feminist geopolitics. Feminist geopolitics and its consonant concepts remain relevant to addressing the fast violence of war, displacement, detention and the attendant waiting, or slow violence, that these power relations imply. Feminist geopolitics can and has been enriched by critical work on subaltern geopolitics and post-secular geographies and is shown to be vital to understanding human displacement for those living in the postcolonies of the global South. A case study of private refugee sponsorship to Canada is critically analyzed as one pathway out of protracted displacement. While resettlement is valorized by states and their civil societies as a laudable ‘solution’ offering permanent protection, a feminist geopolitical analysis exposes the Canadian Government’s racialized preferences and prejudice against Sub-Saharan African asylum seekers, masked as geography. The research presented exposes some of the Orientalist assumptions that frame and figure private refugee sponsorship. Taking this Orientalist critique and these additional literatures into the fold of feminist geopolitics, ‘feminist political geography’ offers a larger umbrella under which to collaborate, innovate, and intervene in political struggles that interrupt salient geopolitics and state discourse across world regions and inhibit violence wherever possible.
Credit Constraints and the Inverted‐U Relationship between Competition and Innovation

Empirical studies have uncovered an inverted‐U relationship between product‐market competition and innovation. This is inconsistent with the original Schumpeterian model, where greater competition always reduces the profitability of innovation and thus the incentives to innovate. We show that the model can predict the inverted‐U if the innovators’ talent is heterogeneous and asymmetrically observable. When competition is low and profitability is high, talented innovators are credit‐constrained, since untalented innovators are eager to mimic them. As competition increases and profitability decreases, untalented innovators become less eager to mimic, and talented innovators can invest more. This generates the increasing part of the relationship. When competition is high and profitability is low, credit constraints disappear, and the relationship is decreasing. Our theory generates additional specific predictions that are well borne out by the existing evidence.
Wild Oat (Avena fatua) Seed Environment and Germination

Experiments were conducted in the field and laboratory from 1978 to 1981 to determine the effect of crop residues, manure, and inorganic nitrogen on wild oat (Avena fatua L. ♯3 AVEFA) seed (seed as used here represents an intact floret) dormancy. Turkey manure usually stimulated wild oat seed germination more than crop residue, cow manure, or inorganic nitrogen. Seed germination of different wild oat accessions varied in response to turkey manure. Germination of dormant seed in water was stimulated after 8 weeks or after overwintering in the presence of turkey manure in the field and after 10 days in the presence of turkey manure in petri dishes in the laboratory. Turkey manure caused growth of wild oat shoots in petri dishes, but usually roots were absent. A nonmicrobial, water-soluble component of turkey manure was responsible for stimulating wild oat seed germination. Turkey manure treatment of dormant wild oat seed increased the percentage of seed that would not germinate in gibberellic acid. Germination of nondormant wild oat seed of Accession 77 was reduced, but Accession 64 was unaffected by turkey manure. Germination of wild oat was low when the seeds overwintered on the soil surface, regardless of seed age or length of overwintering.
The Other Side of the Fascia: The Smooth Muscle Part 1

According to current scientific standards, the fascia is a connective tissue derived from two separate germ layers, the mesoderm (trunk and limbs, part of the neck) and the ectoderm (cervical tract and skull). The fascia has the property of maintaining the shape and function of its anatomical district, but it also can adapt to mechanical-metabolic stimuli. Smooth muscle and non-voluntary striated musculature originated from the mesoderm have never been properly considered as a type of fascia. They are some of the viscera present in the mediastinum, in the abdomen and in the pelvic floor. This text represents the first article in the international scientific field that discusses the inclusion of some viscera in the context of what is considered fascia, thanks to the efforts of our committee for the definition and nomenclature of the fascial tissue of the Foundation of Osteopathic Research and Clinical Endorsement (FORCE).
Effects of CGA-154281 and Temperature on Metolachlor Absorption and Metabolism, Glutathione Content, and Glutathione-S-Transferase Activity in Corn (Zea mays)

CGA-154281 and temperature effects on metolachlor absorption and metabolism were studied in corn seedlings grown in untreated soil or soil treated with metolachlor, CGA-154281, or both. Seedlings were grown under a cool (21/13 C, 16-h day) or warm (30/21 C, 16-h day) temperature regime and exposed to 14C-metolachlor for 10 min at either 21 or 30 C. Corn grown under the cool temperature regime absorbed slightly more 14C-metolachlor than corn grown under the warm temperature regime. Corn held at 21 C during a 10-min 14C-metolachlor exposure period metabolized metolachlor more slowly than corn held at 30 C. Decreased corn tolerance to metolachlor observed at lower temperatures may be due in part to slower metolachlor metabolism. Corn grown in the presence of metolachlor plus CGA-154281 metabolized 14C-metolachlor to the glutathione conjugate twice as fast as corn grown in the presence of metolachlor alone. The increase in metabolism rate was due to a fivefold increase in glutathione-S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) activity and not to an increase in glutathione (GSH) content. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that CGA-154281 protects corn from metolachlor injury by enhancing GST activity, which accelerates metolachlor detoxification via GSH conjugation.
The drift diffusion model as the choice rule in inter-temporal and risky choice: A case study in medial orbitofrontal cortex lesion patients and controls

Sequential sampling models such as the drift diffusion model have a long tradition in research on perceptual decision-making, but mounting evidence suggests that these models can account for response time distributions that arise during reinforcement learning and value-based decision-making. Building on this previous work, we implemented the drift diffusion model as the choice rule in inter-temporal choice (temporal discounting) and risky choice (probability discounting) using a hierarchical Bayesian estimation scheme. We validated our approach in data from nine patients with focal lesions to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex / medial orbitofrontal cortex (vmPFC/mOFC) and nineteen age- and education-matched controls. Choice model parameters estimated via standard softmax action selection were reliably reproduced using the drift diffusion model as the choice rule, both for temporal discounting and risky choice. Model comparison revealed that, for both tasks, the data were best accounted for by a variant of the drift diffusion model including a non-linear mapping from value-differences to trial-wise drift rates. Posterior predictive checks of the winning models revealed a reasonably good fit to individual participants reaction time distributions. We then applied this modeling framework and 1) reproduced our previous results regarding temporal discounting in vmPFC/mOFC patients and 2) showed in a previously unpublished data set on risky choice that vmPFC/mOFC patients exhibit increased risk-taking relative to controls. Analyses of diffusion model parameters revealed that vmPFC/mOFC damage abolished neither value sensitivity nor asymptote of the drift rate. Rather, it substantially increased non-decision times and reduced response caution during risky choice. Our results highlight that novel insights can be gained from applying sequential sampling models in studies of inter-temporal and risky decision-making in cognitive neuroscience.
The Effectiveness of Melanin from Squid Ink (Loligo sp.) as Antibacterial Agent Against Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes

Melanin from squid ink contain bioactive compounds that can be used as antibacterial agents. E. coli and L. monocytogenes are pathogenic bacteria that cause food damage and disease in human so a natural antibacterial compound is required to replace synthetic antibacterial agent for inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Melanin was extracted from squid ink, then it was analyzed quantitavely and qualitatively using phytochemical, testing on antibacterial activity of melanin squid ink against E. coli and L. monocytogenes. The variables measured were yield from melanin, quantitative and qualitative phytochemical test, positive control test of Amoxicilin, negative control test by using HCl and aquabidest, and inhibitory zone melanin from squid ink extract using paper disc method with concentration of 4%; 8%; 16%; and 32% with three replications. The result showed that yield from melanin was 0.692%. Dominant substances found by quantitative phytochemical on melanin squid ink were alkaloids 2390.87±0.77ppm; flavonoids 365.11±0.84ppm; phenols 292.03±0.74ppm; and saponins 173.86±0.66ppm. Qualitative phytochemical test detected steroids and triterpenoids compounds. The inhibition zones from melanin against L. monocytogenes and E. coli were between 2.15–6.18 mm and 1.84–4.69 mm, respectively which is considered as concentration of weak to medium antibacterial activity. Best concentration of melanin from squid ink was 32% on diameter of inhibition zone.
A reality check for students? How participating to the Model United Nations influences skills, IR perceptions, and perspectives on future career

Despite a growing number of studies on simulations and International Relations (IR), few analyses investigate how participating in a simulation affects students’ perceptions of relevant IR issues. In addition, almost none of the current analyses on role playing and IR investigate how the involvement in a simulation affects students’ views on university enrolment or future career. This article seeks to fill these gaps, addressing how students’ interpretations and expectations change after participating in the Model United Nations (MUN). This article studies how the MUN is perceived as an experience that helps improve personal skills such as language ability, negotiation skills, and knowledge related to IR issues. This article also analyses how perceptions about selected IR issues and views on future university enrolment or future career vary before and after the MUN. The article is based on an original data set from a survey submitted to high school and university students participating to two MUNs held in Spring 2018. This article also employs ordinary least squares (OLS) multivariate regression analysis to test alternative hypotheses.
Fuzzy Grey Choquet Integral for Evaluation of Multicriteria Decision Making Problems With Interactive and Qualitative Indices

Multicriteria decision making (MCDM) problems are often encountered in complex system design. Most of them need to be evaluated with a large number of interactive and qualitative indices, which are difficult to be addressed effectively through the existing methods. In this paper, a novel fuzzy Choquet integral-based grey comprehensive evaluation (GCE) method, called fuzzy grey Choquet integral (FGCI), is proposed to evaluate MCDM problems with many interactive and qualitative indices. In this method, expert evaluation of qualitative indices is represented through fuzzy linguistic values. Fuzzy values are defuzzified and standardized to obtain the original evaluation matrix. The original values are replaced by the correlation coefficients, which, to a certain extent, eliminate the influence of experts’ subjective preference. An improved teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm is employed to identify <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$ {\lambda }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-fuzzy-measures following the weights given by experts in order to enhance the consistency of weights. Then the correlation coefficients are aggregated through Choquet integral among <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\lambda }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-fuzzy-measures, which can reflect interactions among indices. In addition, according to the characteristics of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\lambda }$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-fuzzy-measures, the construction guidelines for a corresponding index system are given to overcome the limitations of FGCI. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is demonstrated via a practical example of green design evaluation and compared with the GCE method. The results validate its feasibility and effectiveness.
Modeling Consumer Acceptance of Electronic Personal Health Records

The goal of this study is to build and empirically validate a theoretical model differentiating between consumer information-related and technology-related factors of adopting electronic personal health records (PHRs). Encouraging healthy people to monitor their own health, record data in online PHRs, and engage more in health self-management can help to improve their lives while saving health system costs by preventing rather than treating diseases. To elicit consumer views on PHRs and test the adoption model proposed, a cross-sectional theory-based survey was conducted with a panel of 383 Canadian individuals. Results demonstrate a valid model according to which technology-related perceptions are more important than information-related perceptions for PHR adoption. Overall, this study opens the door for further investigations of healthy consumer views on PHRs in order to understand the factors that would increase the adoption rate of this new artifact in health promotion with society-wide positive implications.
Grain Refinement of Hypereutectic Immiscible Cu-50Cr Alloy during Rapid Melting and Solidification Induced by High Power Density Laser Beams

The microstructure of hypereutectic immiscible Cu-50Cr alloy (wt%) was effectively refined and homogenized by a high power density Nd:YAG continuous laser beam (power density 104–105 MW/m2). The average grain size of Cr was effectively refined from ~100 μm to ~1 μm, and some of the Cr particles even decreased to a few hundred nanometers. The high cooling rate (7.29 × 106 K/s) effectively inhibited the coarsening effect on Cr particles during liquid phase separation (LPS). The spherical Cr particles were preferably dispersed in the melt layer, and the thickness of the layer was up to ~150 μm. The refinement and dispersion of the Cr phase contributed to improving the interruption capability of the Cu-Cr contacts. Compared with the untreated samples, the arc duration and the withstanding voltage of the laser surface melting (LSM) treated contacts with refined microstructure increased to 21% and 33%, respectively. The results demonstrated that the LSM method was an effective approach to optimize the microstructure of Cu-Cr alloy, which made it a promising modification method for Cu-Cr vacuum contact applications.
Modeling the Vegetation Dynamics of Northern Shrubs and Mosses in the ORCHIDEE Land Surface Model

Parameterizations of plant competition processes involving shrubs, mosses, grasses, and trees were introduced with the recently implemented shrubs and mosses plant functional types in the ORCHIDEE dynamic global vegetation model in order to improve the representation of high latitude vegetation dynamics. Competition is based on light capture for growth, net primary productivity, and survival to cold‐induced mortality during winter. Trees are assumed to outcompete shrubs and grasses for light, and shrubs outcompete grasses. Shrubs are modeled to have a higher survival than trees to extremely cold winters because of thermic protection by snow. The fractional coverage of each plant type is based on their respective net primary productivity and winter mortality of trees and shrubs. Gridded simulations were carried out for the historical period and the 21st century following the RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. We evaluate the simulated present‐day vegetation with an observation‐based distribution map and literature data of boreal shrubs. The simulation produces a realistic present‐day boreal vegetation distribution, with shrubs, mosses north of trees and grasses. Nevertheless, the model underestimated local shrub expansion compared to observations from selected sites in the Arctic during the last 30 years suggesting missing processes (nutrients and microscale effects). The RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 projections show a substantial decrease of bare soil, an increase in tree and moss cover and an increase of shrub net primary productivity. Finally, the impact of new vegetation types and associated processes is discussed in the context of climate feedbacks.
On the large difference between Benjamin’s and Hanratty’s formulations of perturbed flow over uneven terrain

Flow over an uneven terrain is a complex phenomenon that requires a chain of approximations in order to be studied. In addition to modelling the intricacies of turbulence if present, the problem is classically first linearized about a flat bottom and a locally parallel flow, and then asymptotically approximated into an interactive representation that couples a boundary layer and an irrotational region through an intermediate inviscid but rotational layer. The first of these steps produces a stationary Orr–Sommerfeld equation; since this is a one-dimensional problem comparatively easy for any computer, it would seem appropriate today to forgo the second sweep of approximation and solve the Orr–Sommerfeld problem numerically. However, the results are inconsistent! It appears that the asymptotic approximation tacitly restores some of the original problem’s non-parallelism. In order to provide consistent results, Benjamin’s version of the Orr–Sommerfeld equation needs to be modified into Hanratty’s. The large difference between Benjamin’s and Hanratty’s formulations, which arises in some wavenumber ranges but not in others, is here explained through an asymptotic analysis based on the concept of admittance and on the symmetry transformations of the boundary layer. A compact and accurate analytical formula is provided for the wavenumber range of maximum laminar shear-stress response. We highlight that the maximum turbulent shear-stress response occurs in the quasi-laminar regime at a Reynolds-independent wavenumber, contrary to the maximum laminar shear-stress response whose wavenumber scales with a power of the boundary-layer thickness. A numerical computation involving an eddy-viscosity model provides a warning against the inaccuracy of such a model. We emphasize that the range $k\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}/u_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}<10^{-3}$ of the spectrum remains essentially unexplored, and that the question is still open whether a fully developed turbulent regime, similar to the one predicted by an eddy-viscosity model, ever exists for open flow even in the limit of infinite wavelength.
Green synthesis of CeO2 nanostructures by using Morus nigra fruit extract and its antidiabetic activity

The present article reports a biogenic method of preparation of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Fruit extract of Morus nigra has been explored for the fabrication of cerium oxide nanoparticles that are characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible absorption and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Morphology of the nanoparticles is examined by TEM and confirmed their crystalline structure with XRD. The cell viability of cerium oxide nanoparticles are studied using L929 cell lines, which confirmed its biocompatible nature. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles are found to possess excellent antidiabetic activity that render for applications in biomedical field.The present article reports a biogenic method of preparation of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Fruit extract of Morus nigra has been explored for the fabrication of cerium oxide nanoparticles that are characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible absorption and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Morphology of the nanoparticles is examined by TEM and confirmed their crystalline structure with XRD. The cell viability of cerium oxide nanoparticles are studied using L929 cell lines, which confirmed its biocompatible nature. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles are found to possess excellent antidiabetic activity that render for applications in biomedical field.
Derivation of Strong Interactions from a Gauge Invariance

A b s t r a c t : A rep re sen t a t i on for t he b a r y o n s and bosons is sugges ted , based on t he Lie a lgebra of t he 3 -d imens iona l t raceless mat r ices . Th i s enables u s to gene ra te t he s t r o n g in te rac t ions f rom a gauge invar iance principle, involv ing 8 vec tor bosons. Some connec t ions wi th t h e e lec t romagne t i c and weak in te rac t ions are f u r t h e r discussed.
Gender Perceptions of Prospective Teachers: The Role of SocioDemographic Factors

Available online 17.04. 2019 The aim of the present study was to understand how gender perceptions of prospective teachers differ in terms of socio-demographic factors. The study sample consisted of 1075 prospective teachers (738 females, 68.7%; 337 males, 31.3%). Stratified random sampling technique was used to recruit a representative sample. Perception of Gender Scale and Demographic Information Form were used as measuring instruments. Independent-samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to test research hypotheses. The results of independent-samples t-test showed that gender perceptions differed according to gender and working status of mother. However, gender perceptions of prospective teachers did not differ according to family structure. The results of ANOVA tests indicated that gender perceptions of prospective teachers did not differ in terms of age groups. Nevertheless, it was determined that residential settlement where participants lived most, monthly family income, family type, parental educational levels had significant influences on gender perceptions of prospective teachers. The findings and limitations are discussed, suggestions for future research are provided. © 2019 IOJES. All rights reserved