Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atmospheric Seasonal Predictability and Estimates of Ensemble Size

Abstract Results from a set of nine-member ensemble seasonal integrations with a T63L19 version of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model are presented. The integrations are made using observed specified sea surface temperature (SST) from the 5-year period 1986–90, which included both warm and cold El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The distributions of ensemble skill scores and internal ensemble consistency are studied. For years in which ENSO was strong, the model generally exhibits a relative high skill and high consistency in the Tropics. In the northern extratropics, the highest skill and consistency are found for the northern Pacific–North American region in winter, whereas for the northern Atlantic–European region the spring season appears to be both skillful and consistent. For years in which ENSO was weak, the distributions of ensemble skill and consistency are relatively broad and no clear distinction between Tropics and extratropics can be made. Applying a.
The Behavioral Response of Culex erraticus to Different Snake Odors

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is an arbovirus that can cause fatal infections in humans and horses. Unfortunately, the transmission mechanisms of this virus are still largely unknown. Culex erraticus displays a strong potential for serving as a vector of EEEV because of its indiscriminate feeding pattern and abundance in areas with the highest prevalence of infection. However, Culex erraticus is incapable of overwintering the virus, yet EEE recurs each spring. Snakes may play an important role in over-wintering the virus, and certain snake species may be infected more frequently than others. This study was conducted to determine if Culex erraticus showed a behavioral response to odors released by snake skins of different species. Culex erraticus mosquitoes were collected in Bulloch County, Georgia, and bioassays were completed comparing the response of the mosquitoes to each snake skin alone and then comparing the response between two snake species. Culex erraticus did not show a strong behavioral response to any of the snake skins tested in this study. This may suggest that Culex erraticus is not attracted to the odor released by these snake species. It may also suggest that if odor does attract Culex erraticus to snakes, the attracting odor is not solely produced by the skin. Future studies should be conducted using skins of other snake species, especially those shown previously to have active viruses or antibodies against EEEV. Also, bioassays conducted on intact snakes would help indicate if factors other than snake skin odor attract Culex erraticus. Thesis Mentor: _______________________ Dr. William Irby Honors Director: _____________________ Dr. Steven Engel December 2015 Biology Department University Honors Program Georgia Southern University
Long-Run Performance of Initial Public Offerings (Ipos) in the Spanish Capital Market

Academic research into firms that have gone public has been focused on the study of two anomalies: initial underpricing and long-run underperformance. The first aim of this study is to analyse all the Spanish Initial Public Offerings(IPOs) during the period 1987-1997, with a sample consisting of 56 firms, in order to provide additional evidence on the long-run performance of IPOs. Nevertheless, since several works have reported the existence of a relationship between the two anomalies of the IPOs –shortrun underpricing and long-run underperformance– we have also analysed the initial returns of the IPOs. There is considerable variation in the measures of abnormal returns and the statistical tests that empirical researchers use to detect long-run abnormal stock returns. In fact, several recent works –for example, Barber and Lyon (1997) and Lyon et al. (1999)have revealed that the method for calculating returns influences both the magnitude of the measured abnormal return as well as the size and power of the statistical tests. In our study, following these works, we have used different methods, in order to examine the robustness of the long-run performance of the IPOs regarding various specifications of the model: buy-and-hold returns (BHR), calendar-time portfolios and the Fama and French three-factor model. In buy-and-hold returns and calendar-time portfolios, we have used different benchmarks: a value-weighted market index (IGBM), an equal-weighted market index, size and/or book-to-market portfolios, as well as a control firm selected in terms of the above criteria. The results of the study show that the existence of long-run underperformance for the Spanish IPOs depends on the methodology used. Thus, there exists long-run underperformance when buy-and-hold returns are used and not when mean calendar-time returns (monthly) are employed. This result is in line with the evidence presented by Brav et al. (2000) in reference to the fact that the use of BHRs tends to magnify the long-run underperformance of IPOs. The study of the influence of the IPO prospectus information on the long-run performance of the firm is the second objective of this work. We analyse whether investors can use this information to distinguish firms with good or bad long-run performance. The results show that neither the characteristics of the IPO –size of the issue, the underwriter s reputation– nor those of the firm in the year prior to going public –size, return on assets– have a statistically significant influence on the stock return of the firm three or five years after going public. On the other hand, the percentage of stocks retained in the offer, the initial underpricing of the IPO and the number of seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) made since going public to the end of the study period are variables that are directly related to the long-run performance of the IPOs. This result confirms the signalling hypothesis for the explanation of the initial underpricing and the long-run underperformance of IPOs in the Spanish capital market.
Scalable Implementations of Ensemble Filter Algorithms for Data Assimilation

Abstract A variant of a least squares ensemble (Kalman) filter that is suitable for implementation on parallel architectures is presented. This parallel ensemble filter produces results that are identical to those from sequential algorithms already described in the literature when forward observation operators that relate the model state vector to the expected value of observations are linear (although actual results may differ due to floating point arithmetic round-off error). For nonlinear forward observation operators, the sequential and parallel algorithms solve different linear approximations to the full problem but produce qualitatively similar results. The parallel algorithm can be implemented to produce identical answers with the state variable prior ensembles arbitrarily partitioned onto a set of processors for the assimilation step (no caveat on round-off is needed for this result). Example implementations of the parallel algorithm are described for environments with low (high) communication lat.
QuEChERS-HPLC METHOD FOR AFLATOXIN DETECTION OF DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED FOOD IN JORDAN

A method for the analysis of aflatoxins in food samples was developed. The preliminary work focused on optimizing sample pretreatment conditions such as the extraction solvent; the type and amount of drying agents; the extraction time; and the solvent-sample ratio. A 60:40 methanol/acetonitrile (%, v/v) extraction mixture provided recoveries in the range of 71.8–107.7% at spike levels of 1.5–50.0 µg/kg with relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 15%. The separation of the four aflatoxin compounds with high selectivity and sensitivity, and within reasonable retention times, was performed by a C18 250 mm × 4.6 mm × 5 µm column (Nucleodur 250-5) at 45°C. The developed QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) procedure, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was then compared with the fluorometric determination method. It was found that the fluorometric determination method had a poor precision and positive bias as compared to QuEChERS-HPLC method. A total of 669 domestic and imported food samples in Jordan were analyzed for their aflatoxins content. Peanut and peanut butter samples showed the highest incidence of contamination (10 contaminations) followed by pistachio nut samples (6 contaminations) and sesame seed samples (2 contaminations).
Translating "What Works" into Sustainable Everyday Practice: Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation

A major challenge for community correctional agencies is translating “what works” knowledge into effective everyday practice. Service delivery adherence to the principles of Risk, Need and Responsivity (RNR) is threatened by a variety of design, implementation, and evaluation issues found in the “real world” of community supervision. The Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision (STICS) was designed as a service delivery model and implementation training package, which attempted to translate these principles into the routine practice of probation officers. In this report, we describe the challenges and issues that should be addressed when trying to bring research to the real world of community supervision faced by probation officers and we evaluate our efforts to overcome these challenges through STICS. Firmly rooted in RNR principles, the STICS supervision model emphasizes officers’ interventions that facilitate prosocial attitudinal/cognitive change in moderate to high-risk offenders. In order to maintain service integrity and officers’ skill maintenance, STICS not only provided probation officers with initial three-day training in the model and basic cognitive-behavioural interventions but the model also provided ongoing clinical supervision. Random assignment and direct observation of probation officer behaviour during interactions with their clients are key components of the evaluation of this initiative. Preliminary results suggest that STICS had a significant impact in improving probation officers’ use of effective core correctional practices.
Mate Choice in Adolescence: Idealizing Romantic Partners

A number of studies suggest a universal pattern for mate choice preferences in humans, with striking sex differences. Filling a gap in the study of mate choice, we identified relevant characteristics in potential mates during adolescence and assessed their level of importance. Our samples were made up of 467 Brazilian students, and by using an open questionnaire and a Likert scale, we observed sex differences and the assessments of the degree of importance for some factors. However, similarities between the sexes also emerged in our analysis. The use of an open questionnaire allowed us to update the list of traits considered important by adolescents during mate choice, as well as to adapt the instrument that evaluates the importance of these traits to the vocabulary and preferences of adolescents, thus contributing to the understanding of adolescent reproductive behavior.
Regional-scale modeling of near-ground ozone in the Central East China, source attributions and an assessment of outflow to East Asia The role of regional-scale transport during MTX2006

Regional-scale modeling of near-ground ozone in the Central East China, source attributions and an assessment of outflow to East Asia – The role of regional-scale transport during MTX2006 J. Li, Z. Wang, H. Akimoto, K. Yamaji, M. Takigawa, P. Pochanart, Y. Liu, and Y. Kanaya Frontier Research Center for Global Change, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Japan State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry(LAPC), Nansen-Zhu International Research Center (NZC), Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Improvement of the spatial frequency response of photopolymer materials by modifying polymer chain length

One of the key predictions of the nonlocal photopolymerization driven diffusion (NPDD) model is that a reduction in the extent of the nonlocal effects within a material will improve the high spatial frequency response. The NPDD model is generalized to more accurately model material absorbtivity. By eliminating the necessity for the steady-state approximation to describe the rate of change of monomer radical concentration, a more accurate physical representation of the initial transient behavior, at the start of grating growth, is achieved, which includes the effects of oxygen-based inhibition. The spatial frequency response of an acrylamide/polyvinylalcohol-based photopolymer is then improved through the addition of a chain transfer agent (CTA), sodium formate. Using the NPDD model demonstrates that the CTA has the effect of decreasing the average length of the polyacrylamide (PA) chains formed, thus reducing the nonlocal response parameter, σ. Further independent confirmation of the resulting reduction in the PA average molecular weight is provided using a diffusion-based holographic technique.
Performance of Islamic Commercial Banks in Malaysia: An Empirical Study

The objective of this paper is to characterize some of indicators of overall bank performance and to decide which, among performance determinants, appears to be the most important and significant. A regression model comprising of dependent variable (ROA or ROE) and numerous independent variables was used to analyze performance of Islamic commercial banks. The empirical results indicated that credit risk is the most significant meaning in performance of local Islamic Commercial Banking in Malaysian. Other contributing factors are liquidity rate and concentration of Islamic commercial Banking.
Postrelease Performance of Acclimated and Directly Released Hatchery Summer Steelhead into Oregon Tributaries of the Snake River

Abstract In a study using 14 paired-release groups over 10 release years, we compared the performance of hatchery summer steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss that were acclimated as smolts (AC) for 16–57 d before release into ponds supplied with ambient stream water with that of fish trucked from the hatchery and directly released (DR) into Spring, Deer, and Little Sheep creeks in northeastern Oregon. After releasing the fish into streams, we monitored out-migration travel times and survival to Lower Granite Dam (LGD) on the Snake River using freeze brand marks or implanted passive integrated transponder tags in a subsample of each release group. Across all release groups, travel time was significantly slower for AC fish (34.7 d) than for DR fish (31.8 d), though there was no significant difference in survival probability to LGD. We used recoveries of coded wire tags to estimate smolt-to-adult survival (SAS) and a stray rate index (SRI) for the AC and DR strategies. Across all release groups, SAS was 33% higher .
Effect of crumb rubber and nano silica on the fatigue performance of roller compacted concrete pavement

Abstract Roller compacted concrete (RCC) pavement is subjected to continues traffic loading from vehicular activities which can results to fatigue cracking. Fatigue is one of the commonest defects affecting pavement which affect the cost of maintenance, and shortens pavement design life. To carter for these factors, higher deformation resistant pavements with longer design life need to be designed. Therefore, in this study, crumb rubber was used as a partial replacement to fine aggregate in RCC pavement to improve its fatigue life. Five mixtures were considered; one control mixture, two mixtures with fine aggregate replaced using crumb rubber at 10 and 20% by volume; one mixture containing 20% crumb rubber as partial replacement to fine aggregate 1% nano silica added by weight of cementitious materials. Lastly, one high volumefly ash (HVFA) RCC pavement mixture where 50% cement was replaced with fly ash, and 20% fine aggregate replaced with crumb rubber. The results showed that both crumb rubber and nano silica increases the bending resistance and fatigue life of RCC pavement. While HVFA decreases both flexural strength and fatigue performance of RCC pavement. The double logarithmic-equation can best be used to determine the stress level–number of cycles (S–N) fatigue behavior and relation for RCC pavement mixtures.
Sovereign Risk Premia

Emerging countries tend to default when their economic conditions worsen. If bad times in an emerging country correspond to bad times for the US investor, then these foreign sovereign bonds are particularly risky and should offer high returns. We explore how this mechanism plays out in the data and in a general equilibrium model of optimal borrowing and default. Empirically, we obtain a cross-section of sovereign bond returns: the higher the correlation between past bond returns and US corporate default risk, the higher the average bond returns. A model of risk-averse lenders with external habit preferences can replicate this feature.
Gender Differences in Identity Features and Self - Determination Process

This article describes the results of the investigation which was conducted among adult Russian males and females. The purpose of the investigation was to describe the gender differences of identity and self-determination process. In this investigation we also confirmed our model of identity statuses that was elaborated on the base of Marcia’s model. Forty-five people were interviewed. The results indicate that women have the identity status ‘open stable identity’ more often than men (p<0.05), and it is accompanied by the more intensive process of self-determination (p<0.05). The identity status ‘closed stable identity’ is more typical for men (p<0.05), and is associated with the weakening of the desire for change that may hinder the process of self-determination and self-development. For women, the main stimulus of self-determination is the family's welfare, and for men the main stimulus is selfdevelopment and achievement of status in society. Based on these results, we elaborated a program of individual coaching for women, which promotes open innovation processes and self-determination. The results can be also used in family therapy and occupational counseling.
SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY ON TOXOPLASMIC INFECTION AMONG HIGH-SCHOOL GIRLS BY IFAT IN ESFAHAN CITY, IRAN

هديكچ : اق عويش هب هجوت اب لـگنا هـظحلام لب امـسلاپوسكوت نيـنج طقـس ناـكما و ناـهج حطـس رد , رياـس و سردوز ناـمياز ياهيراجنهان يم ايند هب لگنا نيا هب هدولآ ناردام زا هك يناكدوكرد يدازردام ، دنيآ ـگيد فرـط زاو رد نآ تواـفتم عويـش ر هعماج راشقا , نانز تيعمج زا علاطا و نارتخد لگنا هب نميا ريغ وسكوت لاپ امس دـسر يـم رـظن هـب يرورـض ، . شور IFAT , نييعت تهج یبسانم شور تسا هتخاي کت نيا هب یگدولآ . هعلاطم نيا رد يفيصوت ـ یليلحت هك لاس یط یاه ۸۲ ۱۳۸۱ وـص ناهفـصا يتـشادهب تاـقيقحت و شزومآ زكرم رد ر ت دادعت ،تفرگ ٤١٤ ن شور هـب ناهفـصا رهش فلتخم قطانم يناتسريبد نارتخد زا رفن يرـيگ هـنوم یفداـصت هـشوخ باـختنا يا زا و دندش مادکره تيركوتامه هلول ود نازيم هب دـش هتفرگ نوخ هنومن و اـب اـسرولفونوميا شور ن ميقتـسم رـيغ س تـقر رد ١:١٠٠ يداب يتنآ رد دوجوم ياه دش يبايزرا مرس . هنومن رتيت اب تبثم یاه ۱:۱۰۰ قـيقر رـتيت ظاـحل زا رارـق شياـمزآ دروـم رـت فرگ ت . ، شهوژپ نيا رد يگدولآ نييعت كلام و هقباـس اـي یگدوـلآ رـتيت ١:١٠٠ دوـب . رـب رثوـم لـماوع یـخرب نيـيعت تـهج یگدولآ , ليبق زا يتاعلاطا و ميظنت يا همانشسرپ ردپ لغش ،نس و ،ردام تشوگ ندروخ هقباس ،هبرگ اب سامت هقباس مـك ياه ماخ رگج ندروخ ،هتخپ رد رويط يرادهگن هقباس ، نم رد دارفا يهاگآ نازيم ،لز زومسلاپوسكوت يراميب هقباس و يراميب دروم مرف رد دش تبث يتاعلاطا ياه . امسلاپوسکوت نتداپ نازيم يتس هدودحم رد يناتسريبد نارتخد نيب رد يا هدنوگ ١٩ ١٤ اـب رـبارب هلاـس ٤ / ١٨ % دوـب . نـيا رد نازيم و توافتم فلتخم يحاون هيحان رد نآ نيرتشيب کي زومآ شرورـپ و ش لداـعم ٥ / ٢٧ % رد نآ نيرـتمك و هـيحان جنـپ ربارب ٥ / ١٤ % دوب . زا هك داد ناشن يسررب جياتن غتم نيب ي يرادـهگن هقباـس و هـبرگ اـب سامت هقباس نيب اهنت ، نومزآ دروم ياهر رد رويط اب لزنم نتداپ نازيم امسلاپوسکوت دراد دوـجو راد يـنعم فلاتخا (P<0/05) اوع رياـس دروـمرد و نازـيم لـثم لـم يهاگآ و ردپ لغش ،يياذغ تاداع ،دارفا و ردام دشن تفاي يراد ينعم طابترا چيه هريغ . چيه رد ،هـعلاطم دروـم دارـفا زا مادـك دننام یمئلاع و بت وندافنل دشن هديد هريغ و يتاپ . اسا رب س هك دوش يم هظحلام هلصاح جياتن زا شيب ٨٠ % دروم دارفا زا لورـس ظاـحل زا هـعلاطم كيژو IFAT يـفنم يـم و دنشاب اب دارفا نيا تيساسح هب هجوت لامتحا ءلاتبا آ و نان نادنزرف رد ناش دراد دوـجو زومسلاپوسکوت یراميب هب هدنيآ ، انمـض یم ناشن تاعلاطم هک دنهد نازيم تبثم یژولورس دراوم دباي یم شيازفا نس شيازفا اب . اهنت يفرط زا ٤ / ٢ % يهاـگآ دارـفا نيا لوبق لباق رد ي و هتشاد يراميب دروم رد يتاعلاطا يهاگآ دقاف ارثكا هدوـب يراـميب نـيا هنيمز دـنا ، اذـل يـم داهنـشيپ هـك دوـش شيامزآ زومسلاپوسكوت شيامزآ زا يكي هب ياه تـشادهب شزوـمآ نيـنچمه و دوـش ليدـبت ينتـسبآ زا لبق يرابجا اـقترا و ي يهاگآ يارب و نارتخد ناردام روظنم هب ت زا يريگشيپ دلو دازون دريگ رارق ديكات دروم يداز ردام ياهيراجنهان ياراد . يديلك ناگژاو : امسلاپوسکوت نتداپ يژولورس ، ، IFAT يناتسريبد نارتخد ،
Task-involving and ego-involving properties of evaluation: Effects of different feedback conditions on motivational perceptions, interest, and performance.

I designed this study to test the hypothesis that the impact of information about performance on subsequent intrinsic motivation depends significantly on the degree to which this information promotes a task-involved or an ego-involved motivational orientation. A total of 200 fifth- and sixth-grade students with high or low school achievement were given interesting divergent thinking tasks in each of three sessions. Individual comments, numerical grades, standardized praise, or no feedback were received after Sessions 1 and 2. Results confirmed that at Session 3 (posttest), interest, performance, and attributions of effort, outcome, and the impact of evaluation to taskinvolved causes were highest at both levels of achievement after receipt of comments. Egoinvolved attributions were highest after receipt of grades and praise. These findings support the conceptualization of the feedback conditions as task involving (comments), ego involving (grades and praise), or neither (no feedback). The similar impact of grades and praise would not be predicted by cognitive evaluation theory. I discuss the importance of distinguishing between taskand ego-involved orientations in the study of continuing motivation. In several recent articles, Nicholls (1979, 1983) distinguishes among three main kinds of task motivation, according to the primary goal or focus of behavior characteristic of each. In a conceptualization similar to that suggested by deCharms (1968), Nicholls defines task involvement as a motivational state in which an activity is perceived as inherently satisfying and in which the individual is concerned primarily with assessing and developing individual mastery in relation to task demands or prior performance. Thus, greater effort is expected to yield greater competence. In ego involvement, on the other hand, attention is focused primarily on assessing ability, which is perceived as a stable dimension of individual differences. Because such capacity can only be evaluated against the performance of others, ego involvement should promote a self-worth orientation in which one's main concern is to demonstrate high ability or mask low ability relative to others. Finally, extrinsic motivation is assumed to operate when an activity is undertaken as a means to some other end. Attention is thus focused primarily on attaining the desired goal, rather than on demonstrating either individual mastery or normative ability. Nicholls (1984) has been concerned mainly with exploring the implications of task-involved and ego-involved motivation for immediate achievement behavior, whereas extrinsic motivation has been studied mainly within the context of research on the effects of incentives on subsequent interest (Lepper & Greene, 1978). In the present study, I attempt to bridge these traditions by suggesting that continuing interest