Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations in the Bay of Bengal: Awareness and Occurrence

*IUCN, P.O. Box 13513, Dar es salaam, Tanzania Abstract. Reef fish spawning aggregations are highly vulnerable to over exploitation. Little research has focused on spawning aggregations in the Bay of Bengal. Interview surveys were conducted among fishers in India, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand in order to determine the level of awareness of spawning aggregations, to identify aggregation sites and species, and to assess fishing pressure on and status of spawning aggregations. Results show low awareness of spawning aggregations throughout the region except in the Maldives where fishers relying on visually aided hook-and-line line fishing reported in-water observation. 91 spawning aggregation sites corroborated by several fishers were identified in four atolls in the Maldives, including those of Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, E. lanceolatus, E. polyphekadion, Plectropomus areolatus, P. pessuliferus and Lutjanus bohar. This is the first record of spawning aggregations of P. pessuliferus. The spawning aggregations are fished, and the growing grouper fishery will require a precautionary management approach. Increasing awareness among managers and policy makers as well as fishers of the ecological significance and vulnerability of reef fish spawning aggregations remains a high priority.
Model‐based interpretation of sediment concentration and vertical flux measurements in a shallow estuarine environment

A one‐dimensional numerical model describing tidally varying vertical mixing and settling was used to interpret sediment concentrations and vertical fluxes observed in the shoals of South San Francisco Bay by two acoustic Doppler velocimeters (ADVs) at elevations of 0.36 m and 0.72 m above bed. Measured sediment concentrations changed by up to 100 g m−3 over the semidiurnal tidal cycle. These dynamics were dominated by local resuspension and settling. Multiple particle class models suggested the existence of a class with fast settling velocities (ws of 9.0 × 10−4 m s−1 in spring and 5.8 × 10−4 m s−1 in fall) and a slowly settling particle fraction (ws of <1 × 10−7 m s−1 in spring and 1.4 × 10−5 m s−1 in fall). Modeled concentrations of slowly settling particles at 0.36 m were as high as 20 g m−3 during fall and varied with the spring‐neap cycle while fine sediment concentrations in spring were constant around 5 g m−3. Analysis of in situ water column floc size distributions suggested that floc properties in the lower part of the water column were most likely governed by particle‐size distribution on the bed and not by coagulation, validating our multiple particle size approach. A comparison of different sediment bed models with respect to model performance, sensitivity, and identifiability suggested that the use of a sediment erosion model linear in bottom shear stress τb (E = M (τb − τc)) was the most appropriate choice to describe the field observations when the critical shear stress τc and the proportionality factor M were kept constant.
Impact of Petroleum Profit Tax on Economic Development of Nigeria

This thesis is on the Impact of Petroleum Profit Tax on the economic development of Nigeria. Its primary objective is to ascertain the Impact of Petroleum Profit Tax on the growth of Nigerian economy for the period 2000- 2010. The method of analysis used was ordinary least square method, after the analysis the research findings includes: Petroleum profit tax impact positively on Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria and it is statistically significant. Also total oil revenue impact positively on Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria and it is statistically significant. It is therefore recommended that concerted efforts should be made to improve on the effectiveness and efficiency of the administration and collection of taxes by government and overhaul of the government agency responsible for the overseeing Oil Operations to allow for correct data capture be carried out.
Intergroup Threat Increases Implicit Stereotyping

Although many theories of intergroup relations propose that threat leads to outgroup hostility, relatively little research has examined the effects of collective threat on stereotyping. Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that intergroup threat leads to greater implicit stereotyping of the threatening group. In Study 1, White participants exposed to information portraying Asians as collectively threatening implicitly stereotyped Asians more than did participants who were not threatened. In Study 2, collective threat again resulted in greater stereotypic processing of Asians, which was also associated with increases in collective self-esteem. These findings suggest that implicit stereotyping following threat may serve to restore collective self-esteem.
Cross-Cultural Variation in Mate Preferences for Averageness, Symmetry, Body Size, and Masculinity

Sexual selection has greatly influenced the evolved biology, psychology, and culture of humans and favors individuals who choose healthy and fertile mates. Physical traits that cue quality are generally preferred and perceived as attractive. However, because such traits often involve cost-benefit trade-offs, mate preferences are expected to vary among cultures as a function of local ecology and social environment and among individuals as a function of one’s personal experiences and life history. As such, it is essential to understand how ontogenetic and environmental factors influence mate preferences that may be locally adaptive and context specific. Here the authors review a growing body of comparative research, demonstrating predictable patterns in men’s and women’s preferences for facial averageness, facial symmetry, stature, body mass, and facial and vocal masculinity or femininity both between and within cultures. The authors consider potential factors influencing variation in preferences that include resource availability, disease prevalence, paternal investment, visual experience, and cultural norms.
INDIRECT IMPACT OF TRADE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM ASIAN-5 ECONOMIES

Past studies indicate that trade and economic growth do not show a parallel co-movement, or in other words, high level of trade does not necessarily lead to high economic growth. By using five selected East Asian economies as case studies, we attempt to investigate the source of this inconsistency. The indirect impact procedure is applied so as to help us to determine through which channel trade will positively affect economic growth, vice versa. We found that in order for ASEAN to emulate the success of South Korea in developing its economy, ASEAN has to ensure that they are moving towards greater competitiveness by enhancing the level of efficiency as well as technological development.
Effect of boron and zinc fertilization on white oats grown in soil with average content of these nutrients

ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fertilization with zinc or boron on the growthand dry matter production, nutritional value and accumulation of nutrients in white oats. The study comprised two experimentsconducted in glasshouses, the first consisting of the application of four doses of zinc (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/dm 3 ) in the formof zinc sulphate (20% Zn), and the second consisting of the application of four doses of boron (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/dm 3 )in the form of Borax (11% B). The experimental design in each case was a randomized block design, with five replicates.Fertilization with zinc and boron increased the growth of white oats, but had no significant effect on the nutritional valueof the forage. Higher levels of absorption and accumulation of nutrients in plant tissues were observed following the applicationof boron and zinc at rates of up to 0.60 mg/dm 3 of soil.Key Words: Avena sativa , crude protein, dry matter Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia
The New Keynesian Phillips Curve in an Inflation Targeting Country: The Case of Turkey

The possible short-run trade-off between the inflation (gap) and the output (gap) remains a critical policy issue for any emerging economy; particularly when an implicit or an explicit inflation targeting monetary policy is considered. The New Keynesian Phillips Curve (NKPC) has recently set up a framework on the trade-off between the inflation (gap) and the difference between the actual output and potential (efficient) output under the assumption of real wage rigidities. In this paper, we estimate the NKPC based on this framework for the Turkish economy over a period of implicit and explicit inflation targeting monetary policy. The results from Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) estimation suggest that empirical findings are consistent with the theoretical background and the parameter restrictions are satisfied.
The role of rural producer organizations in enhancing market participation of smallholder farmers in Uganda: Enabling and disabling factors

The study investigates the factors influencing the effectiveness of second-tier rural producer organizations (RPOs) in linking their members to output markets in Uganda. The percentage of farmers who sold some of their produce through the RPO was used as a proxy for effectiveness. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis indicated that RPO effectiveness was positively related to the size of a RPO and democratic leadership. On the other hand, the proportion of RPO leaders with leadership training, enforcement of internal control practices, bulking distance and size of executive committee had a significant negative effect on the effectiveness of such organizations. It was concluded that improving the effectiveness of RPOs required the (i) use of numerous sub-committee instead of many all-member meetings and smaller executive committees; (ii) dedication, respect and commitment by leaders of RPOs when imparting skills learnt in order to boost members’ morale; (iii) devising reward systems for leaders or putting in place stringent rules, such as leadership codes, to guide leader behaviour so as to prevent conflict of interest and possible elite capture; and (iv) policies guiding Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) lending conditions be reviewed to match rural producers’ economic status and seasonality of enterprises.
Geographic mosaics of plant–soil microbe interactions in a global plant invasion

Aim Our aim in this study was to document the global biogeographic variation in the effects of soil microbes on the growth of Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle; Asteraceae), a species that has been introduced throughout the world, but has become highly invasive only in some introduced regions.
Interplanetary magnetic field orientation and the magnetospheres of close-in exoplanets

The abundance of exoplanets with orbits smaller than that of Mercury most likely implies that there are exoplanets exposed to a quasiparallel stellar-wind magnetic field. Many of the generic features of stellar-wind interaction depend on the existence of a nonzero perpendicular interplanetary magnetic field component. However, for closer orbits the perpendicular component becomes smaller and smaller. The resulting quasiparallel interplanetary magnetic field may imply new types of magnetospheres and interactions not seen in the solar system. We simulate the Venus-like interaction between a supersonic stellar wind and an Earth-sized, unmagnetized terrestrial planet with ionosphere, orbiting a Sun-like star at 0.2 AU. The importance of a quasiparallel stellar-wind interaction is then studied by comparing three simulation runs with different angles between stellar wind direction and interplanetary magnetic field. The plasma simulation code is a hybrid code, representing ions as particles and electrons as a massless, charge-neutralizing adiabatic fluid. Apart from being able to observe generic features of supersonic stellar-wind interaction we observe the following changes and trends when reducing the angle between stellar wind and interplanetary magnetic field 1) that a large part of the bow shock is replaced by an unstable quasiparallel bow shock; 2) weakening magnetic draping and pile-up; 3) the creation of a second, flanking current sheet due to the need for the interplanetary magnetic field lines to connect to almost antiparallel draped field lines; 4) stellar wind reaching deeper into the dayside ionosphere; and 5) a decreasing ionospheric mass loss. The speed of the last two trends seems to accelerate at low angles.
Incentive Compensation in Energy Firms: Does Regulation Matter?

Manuscript Type Empirical Research Question/Issue While regulation reduces the discretion of CEOs, it is also expected to prompt effort and efficiency. This paper develops a link between regulation and the two main competing theories of executive compensation (efficiency vs. entrenchment) and investigates whether CEO pay-performance sensitivity differs across alternative regulatory regimes in the European energy industry. Research Findings/Insights Using a panel of energy utilities from 12 EU countries tracked from 2000 to 2011, we find that managerial compensation is sensitive to performance only if the firm is subject to incentive regulation, not in the case of cost-based contracts. We also find that incentive regulation makes managerial entrenchment less likely, while CEOs subject to cost-based regulation appear to be more entrenched with the board, obtaining compensation that may even increase when (accounting) performance deteriorates. Theoretical/Academic Implications We derive a conceptual framework that enables us to investigate the interplay between the strength of corporate governance (incentives vs. board monitoring) and the type of regulatory contracts. Practitioner/Policy Implications Our findings suggest that in industries where competition looms – mimicked by the regulatory framework – CEO compensations are more responsive to stock-based and accounting performance measures and managerial entrenchment is less likely. Hence, corporate governance (monitoring and/or compensation) and regulation complement each other. In contrast, where regulation is not efficiency oriented, the adoption of performance-related contracts seems to bring no advantage to firms and only additional costs to shareholders, also due to CEO entrenchment.
Investigate the effect of agility capabilities in the automotive industry supply chain network (Case Study: Sapko parts supply network)

Nowadays, supply chain management is raised as one of the infrastructural foundations of implementation the businesses in the world. Formally supply chain is an integrated process that the raw materials were converted into finished products and then are delivered to customers. The aim of this study is to investigate the rate of effect the agility capabilities on agility of Sapko parts of supply network. The used method is descriptive survey method in this research that for this purpose with the use of questionnaire of collected data and for test the hypotheses was used structural equation modeling technique by using Lisrel software. The statistical population including senior managers and experts of Sapco that was used in terms of data and information needed in the period of 2011 to 2014. 220 persons were determined as a studied sample by using the Kocaran formulate. The results show that components of consciousness, accessibility, decisiveness, flexibility and speed have a significant impact on agility of supply chain network. So the impact of all of the research components was confirmed. OPEN ACCESS
Evaluating Technical Efficiency Of Rice Production By Using A Modified Three-Stage Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case Study In Thailand

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the technical efficiency of rice production in four regions of Thailand using a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model during the period from 2006 to 2015. The results show a relatively high level of technical efficiency in their production and environmental factors have a significance influence on the production efficiency. In addition, our results indicated that northeastern region has the best scores of technical efficiency and was recognized as the best region for Thai rice production. The findings from this study contribute to improving efficiency production for sustainable development. It is proposed that the Thai government should pay attention to zoning area for rice production and the land holdings should provide sound policies to support modern agricultural machinery for rice production.
Dependence of the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction on the quantum well width

We measured the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction coefficient β₁ for (001)-grown GaAs/Al0. ₃Ga0. ₇As quantum wells for six different well widths w between 6 and 30 nm. The varying size quantization of the electron wave vector z-component 〈kz²〉∼(π/w)² influences β1=−γ〈kz²〉 linearly. The value of the bulk Dresselhaus coefficient γ=(−11±2) eVA³ was determined. We discuss the absolute sign of the Lande g factors and the effective momentum scattering times.
Ring Chromosome and Clinical Findings: Reports Cases of 4 Different Chromosomes in Beninese Population

Ring chromosome is a disorder in which one or both ends of chromosome are lost and joined, so they could show a ring-shaped structure. Patients with ring chromosome could therefore present with features of deletion of long or short arms of the chromosome syndromes or a combination of both. Phenotypic of these individuals depends on the size of the ring chromosome, amount of genetic material lost in breakage, the stability of the ring chromosome and the presence of secondary chromosomal aberrations including the varying degrees of mosaicism. Ring chromosomes accounts for a very low percentage of structural chromosomal abnormalities but could lead to a major clinical concern and complicated genetic counseling. Practitioner awareness must be permanently raised up to help in managing with efficacy patient with ring condition. We report here 4 cases of ring on chromosome 4, 9, 15 and X. We described their clinical finding and draw attention on common key signs that were present in the reported cases and also discussed recurrence risk.
A Gemini/GMOS study of the physical conditions and kinematics of the blue compact dwarf galaxy Mrk 996

We present an integral field spectroscopic study with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) of the unusual blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxy Mrk 996. We show through velocity and dispersion maps, emission-line intensity and ratio maps, and by a new technique of electron density limit imaging that the ionization properties of different regions in Mrk 996 are correlated with their kinematic properties. From the maps, we can spatially distinguish a very dense high-ionization zone with broad lines in the nuclear region, and a less dense low-ionization zone with narrow lines in the circumnuclear region. Four kinematically distinct systems of lines are identified in the integrated spectrum of Mrk 996, suggesting stellar wind outflows from a population of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in the nuclear region, superposed on an underlying rotation pattern. From the intensities of the blue and red bumps, we derive a population of $\sim$473 late nitrogen (WNL) stars and $\sim$98 early carbon (WCE) stars in the nucleus of Mrk 996, resulting in a high N(WR)/N(O+WR) of 0.19. We derive, for the outer narrow-line region, an oxygen abundance 12+log(O/H)=7.94$\pm$0.30 ($\sim$ 0.2 Z$_\odot$) by using the direct T$_e$ method derived from the detected narrow [OIII]$\lambda$4363 line. The nucleus of Mrk 996 is, however, nitrogen-enhanced by a factor of $\sim$20, in agreement with previous CLOUDY modeling. This nitrogen enhancement is probably due to nitrogen-enriched WR ejecta, but also to enhanced nitrogen line emission in a high-density environment. Although we have made use here of two new methods - Principal Component Analysis (PCA) tomography and a method for mapping low- and high-density clouds - to analyze our data, new methodology is needed to further exploit the wealth of information.
Title Role of impaired Nrf 2 activation in the pathogenesis of oxidative stress and inflammation in chronic tubulo-interstitial nephropathy Permalink

Background. Tubulo-interstitial nephropathy (TIN) is a common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Consumption of an adenine-containing diet causes the accumulation of 2,8-dihydroxyadenine in the renal tubules triggering intense chronic TIN and progressive CKD in rats. CKD in this model is associated with, and largely driven by, oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation in rats with spontaneous focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and rats with CKD induced by 5/6 nephrectomy are associated with an impaired activation of nuclear factor-erythroid2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) which is the master regulator of genes encoding many antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. The effect of TIN on the Nrf2 pathway and its key target genes is unknown and was investigated here. Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to control and adenine-treated (rat chow-containing 0.7% adenine for 2 weeks) groups and followed up for 4 weeks. Results. The adenine-treated animals exhibited marked azotemia, impaired urinary concentrating capacity, intense tubular and glomerular damage, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. This was associated with an increased expression of NAD(P)H oxidase, cyclooxygenase-2 and 12-lipoxygenase, and activation of NF-κB, the master regulator of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidneys of adenine-treated animals was accompanied by an impaired activation of Nrf2 and down-regulation of its target gene products including, catalase, heme oxygenase-1 and glutamate-cysteine ligase. Conclusions. Chronic TIN is associated with impaired Nrf2 activity which contributes to the pathogenesis of oxidative stress and inflammation and amplifies their damaging effects on the kidney.
Performance imbalances in the chain: EU traditional food sector

Organizations nowadays no longer compete as independent entities, but as chains (Christopher, 1998; Cox, 1999; Lambert and Cooper, 2000). Hence, being part of a well-performing chain is crucial for the future of the individual food firm, especially in the context of the globalizing economy. As a result, the objective of this study is to identify performance imbalances of traditional food chains. Therefore, quantitative data were collected via individual interviews with 271 chain members (91 suppliers, 91 focal companies and 89 customers) of 91 traditional food chains from three European countries (Belgium, Italy and Hungary), representing six different traditional food product categories (cheese, beer, ham, sausage, white pepper and bakery). The results differentiate six different kinds of chain imbalances, namely: dyadic upper and lower, up- and downstream, internal and external indicate both dyadic and chain-wise imbalance. Most chain imbalances are noticed in relation to lowering logistic costs and to reducing lead time. Future research should extend the list of performance indicators with parameters other than economical ones such as ecological and social ones.
Light variations of massive stars (alpha Cyg variables). XVIII. The B[e] supergiants S 18 in the SMC and R 66 = HDE 268835 and R 126 = HD 37974 in the LMC

We discuss photometric monitoring (VBLUW system) of three B(e) supergiants. All three objects appear to be variable. They are subject to two (R 66 and R 126 in the LMC) and three (S 18 in the SMC) types of light oscillations which range from a few days to years, and are probably due to pulsations. We argue that a classication as Cyg variables is justied. Their classication as mixed B(e)/S Dor variables is less certain, though not impossible. Also based on other cases, a strong B(e){S Dor variable connection seems to be present.