Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Limitations of a coupled regional climate model in the reproduction of the observed Arctic sea-ice retreat

The effects of internal model variability on the simulation of Arctic sea-ice extent and volume have been examined with the aid of a seven-member ensemble with a coupled regional climate model for the period 1948–2008. Beyond general weaknesses related to insufficient representation of feedback processes, it is found that the model's ability to reproduce observed summer sea-ice retreat depends mainly on two factors: the correct simulation of the atmospheric circulation during the summer months and the sea-ice volume at the beginning of the melting period. Since internal model variability shows its maximum during the summer months, the ability to reproduce the observed atmospheric summer circulation is limited. In addition, the atmospheric circulation during summer also significantly affects the sea-ice volume over the years leading to a limited ability to start with reasonable sea-ice volume into the melting period. Furthermore, the sea-ice volume pathway shows notable decadal variability that varies in amplitude among the ensemble members. The scatter is particularly large in periods when the ice volume increases, indicating limited skill in reproducing high-ice years.
The right infant nutrition: do nutrition and growth matter in the 6 to 24 month period?

In the last decades several studies tested the hypothesis that at early developmental stages certain foods or nutrients, in specific amounts, fed during limited sensitive periods, may lead to clinical alterations that take place decades later ( early nutritional programming of long term health). In spite of suggestions from different early dietary habits, epidemiologic data show that episodes of rapid growth (growth acceleration hypothesis), whichever the dietary habits, are associated with later unfavorable health conditions and should be prevented. Early fast weight gain may be associated with increased likelihood of developing insulin resistance, dyslipidemic conditions, obesity, elevated blood pressure, and endothelial dysfunction. Accordingly, infant’s growth pattern may represent the interaction between genetic background and environment, inclusive of nutrition. The branch of science focusing on these aspects is known as epigenetics . Different studies have shown on the other hand a reduced growth in infants with specific disorders (milk allergy, HIV) even before the overt clinical symptoms of the disease. Within this context the nutritionist’s task is the prevention of deficiencies, but intervention strategies to prevent malnutrition should emphasize improvements in linear growth in the first 2-3 years of life rather than aim at gaining weight, to prevent the event of rapid early weight gain. The present constraints of the global economic crisis require cost/benefit analyses for all the interventions to optimize nutrition and growth in early years. Recent indications for complementary feeding indicate the beneficial effects of introducing earlier food items such as egg and fish, together with breastfeeding continuation through the first year, in reducing the later risk of immune allergic disorders and metabolic impairments. Proceedings of the 10 th International Workshop on Neonatology · Cagliari (Italy) · October 22 nd -25 th , 2014 · The last ten years, the next ten years in Neonatology Guest Editors: Vassilios Fanos, Michele Mussap, Gavino Faa, Apostolos Papageorgiou
Development of a quality index scheme and shelf-life study for whole tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

The study developed a sensory scheme based on the Quality Index (QI) and estimated the shelf-life for whole tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818), stored in ice, assessing and determining the most appropriate chemical, physical, bacteriological and quality sensory parameters and their changes during storage time. Ninety six fish were evaluated at 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19 and 22 days of ice-storage. The developed quality index (QI) showed four main quality attributes with a total of 29 demerit scores. The skin mucus and odor, as well as general appearance and ventral elasticity had a great importance for the statistical model applied, while eyes, gills mucus and dorsal elasticity showed lower significance for tambaqui QI. The pH showed few variations during the ice storage. The nitrogen bases, as well as the total count of specific spoilage bacteria, had a linear correlation with the storage time. The QI proved to be efficient to assess tambaqui quality and loss of sensory quality over the storage period. The results suggest that whole, ice-stored Colossoma macropomum is fit for consumption until the 22nd day
Species-distinctiveness in the vocal behaviour of six sympatric bulbuls (genus Pycnonotus) in South-East Asia

Abstract Bulbuls (Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae) are a biodiverse group of birds that produce a variety of vocalisations, yet the vocal behaviour of most bulbuls has not been formally described or the subject of bioacoustical study. We present the first detailed descriptions of the song and singing behaviours of six species of bulbul in the genus Pycnonotus, based on recordings of birds in mixed-species flocks in the tropical forests of northern Thailand. All six species are frugivores that often forage together in the same fruiting tree. We compared nine fine structural features of the songs of these species to understand the vocal behaviour of each and the potential importance of vocalisations in species recognition in these mixed-species flocks. Our analyses reveal substantial differences in the structure of songs as well as marked differences in singing behaviour between species. Discriminant function analysis readily distinguishes the songs of the six species based on structural differences. Discriminant function analysis of species with the most similar plumage features (as assessed by human observers) readily distinguishes between phenotypically similar pairs of congeners. Our results provide evidence that vocalisations may be important in species recognition and as species-isolating mechanisms between closely related and sympatric Pycnonotus bulbuls. The species-typical features describedhere may be helpful to biologists and conservationists, particularly as several species of bulbul are of conservation concern.
Visualizing QoS in Networks

Network simulations generate large volumes of data. This thesis presents an animated visualization system that utilizes the latest affordable Computer Graphics (CG) hardware to simplify the task of visualizing and analyzing these large volumes of data. The use of modern CG hardware allows us to create an interactive system which allows the user to interact with the data sets and extract the relevant data in real time. We also present an alternate approach to the network layout problem, using Self Organizing Maps to find an aesthetic layout for a network which is fundamental to a successful network visualization. We finally discuss the design and implementation of such an network visualization tool.
Does Uncovered Interest Rate Parity Hold After All?

This paper tests Uncovered Interest Rate Parity (UIP) using LIBOR rates for six major international currencies for the period January 2001 to December 2008. We find that UIP generally holds over a short-term (above 5-months) horizon for individual as well as groups of currencies. Our results suggest that it is important to consider the cross-correlation between currencies. We also find that “state dependence” plays an important role for currencies with a negative interest rate differential vis-à-vis the US dollar. This state dependence could also be instrumental in explaining exchange rate overshooting.
Productivity, Costs, and Selected Environmental Impacts of Remote-Controlled Mini Forestry Crawlers

An effective way to reduce off-road traffic in forests is to implement greater distances between skid trails. However, this implies that trees beyond the boom reach of the harvester need to be felled motor manually before being winched to the skid trail, for example using a remote-controlled mini forestry crawler (MFC). They are only a few local studies which have evaluated the performance of such MFCs. The use of MFCs for wood extraction operations in mixed soft- and hardwood stands is presented in this study conducted in Southwestern Germany. The aim of this study was to analyze the productivity, costs, and selected environmental impacts of mini forestry crawlers during winching operations through a time study. Using statistical regression, time consumption was analyzed in order to determine significant explanatory variables. Environmental impacts were evaluated using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology with Umberto software. The mean net cycle time was 4.82 min and the net productivity rate was 7.77 m3 by productive machine hour (PMH0). Explanatory variables which significantly affected the net cycle time were the winched volume, the number of trees per load, and winching distance. Environmental analysis showed that inputs of fossil energy were mostly due to diesel and lubricant consumption. Raw materials for machine manufacture and maintenance showed the highest impact in human toxicity potential category. The MFCs showed good environmental performances, but the harvesting system should become more productive in order to be more cost effective.
Seeing Through Their Eyes: When Majority Group Members Take Collective Action on Behalf of an Outgroup

We examined majority group members' collective action on behalf of a minority group, focusing on the role of outgroup perspective taking and group-based guilt. As expected, outgroup perspective taking was positively associated with heterosexuals' collective action in response to hate crimes against non-heterosexuals and Whites' action in response to hate crimes against Blacks (Studies 1 and 2). This association was partially mediated by group-based guilt (Studies 2 and 3). We also examined the role of group-based anger; although it directly related to collective action, it did not mediate the association between perspective taking and collective action. Finally, we manipulated outgroup perspective taking to demonstrate its causal role in the subsequent outcomes (Study 3).
Effect of oral contraceptive pills on rheumatoid arthritis disease activity in women: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. Because immunological changes can be induced by steroid hormones, it seems that oral contraceptive pills can affect the severity of the disease. In this study, we examined the effect of oral contraceptive pills on rheumatoid arthritis activity in women. Methods: This blinded randomized clinical control trial was performed in the selected rheumatology centers in Tehran, Iran, in 2011. A total of 100 women with rheumatoid arthritis were included (50 in the intervention and 50 in the control groups), and those in the intervention group took oral contraceptive pills intermittently for 8 weeks. Disease activity was measured at 1 and 9 weeks based on DAS-28, which includes the number of tender joints, number of swollen joints, ESR, and GH. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, and significance level was set at p≤0.05. This study was registered in IRCT (number: 138904224364N1) and all interventions were done after receiving confirmation from the Ethical Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Code: 250/ 6441). Results: After administering oral contraceptive pills to the intervention group, we found significant differences between the 2 groups in disease activity and severity scores (p=0.04). Intervention group showed lower swollen joints score (p=0.02), lower joint tenderness score (p=0.02), and lower general health score (p=0.001) than the control group. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, oral contraceptive pills can improve rheumatoid arthritis activity and severity. As these pills are used for contraception, women with rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from both effects of these pills.
K-stability for Fano manifolds with torus action of complexity $1$

We consider Fano manifolds admitting an algebraic torus action with general orbit of codimension one. Using a recent result of Datar and Szekelyhidi, we effectively determine the existence of Kahler-Ricci solitons for those manifolds via the notion of equivariant K-stability. This allows us to give new examples of Kahler-Einstein Fano threefolds, and Fano threefolds admitting a non-trivial Kahler-Ricci soliton.
Crystal Structural Determination of SrAlD5 with Corner-Sharing AlD6 Octahedron Chains by X-ray and Neutron Diffraction

Aluminium-based complex hydrides (alanates) composed of metal cation(s) and complex anion(s), [AlH4]− or [AlH6]3− with covalent Al–H bonds, have attracted tremendous attention as hydrogen storage materials since the discovery of the reversible hydrogen desorption and absorption reactions on Ti-enhanced NaAlH4. In cases wherein alkaline-earth metals (M) are used as a metal cation, MAlH5 with corner-sharing AlH6 octahedron chains are known to form. The crystal structure of SrAlH5 has remained unsolved although two different results have been theoretically and experimentally proposed. Focusing on the corner-sharing AlH6 octahedron chains as a unique feature of the alkaline-earth metal, we here report the crystal structure of SrAlD5 investigated by synchrotron radiation powder X-ray and neutron diffraction. SrAlD5 was elucidated to adopt an orthorhombic unit cell with a = 4.6226(10) A, b = 12.6213(30) A and c = 5.0321(10) A in the space group Pbcm (No. 57) and Z = 4. The Al–D distances (1.77–1.81 A) in the corner-sharing AlD6 octahedra matched with those in the isolated [AlD6]3− although the D–Al–D angles in the penta-alanates are significantly more distorted than the isolated [AlD6]3−.
Proteomic analysis of 'Arabidopsis' constitutive expresser of pathogenesis-related gene1 ('Cpr30/cpr1-2') mutant

We have previously identified a gain-of-resistance mutant named 'constitutive expresser of pathogenesis-related gene1 (cpr30/cpr1-2'). The mutant has dwarf morphology and gives rise to constitutive resistance to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis. To elucidate the pattern of protein expression regulated by CPR1, we carried out a proteomic analysis of the 'cpr1-2' mutant compared with wild type (WT). Proteins of both 4-week-old WT and 'cpr1-2' plants were extracted by TCA-acetone-phenol and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The results showed that the expression levels of some proteins were significantly affected in the 'cpr1-2' mutant, including pathogen defense-related proteins, redox-related proteins, energy metabolism proteins, signal transduction proteins, and proteins involved in protein folding and homeostasis. A majority of the identified proteins were related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and some were central components of the unfolded protein response (UPR), suggesting that the mutation of CPR1 evoked oxidative stress and UPR signaling pathway activation, which may have contributed to the gain-of-resistance phenotype of 'cpr1-2'. Some novel components of the differentially expressed proteins, such as GSR1, GB3, ClpC1, and ClpP5 that are rarely reported to be related to pathogen defense, were up-regulated in 'cpr1-2', indicating new functions of these proteins or CPR1.
The benefits of specific risk-factor disclosures

Practitioners have long criticized risk-factor disclosures in the 10-K as generic and boilerplate. In response, regulators emphasize the importance of being specific. By using a computing algorithm, this paper establishes a new measure (Specificity) to quantify the level of specificity of firms’ qualitative risk-factor disclosures. We first examine determinants of variations in Specificity, and document that firms with high proprietary costs provide less specific risk-factor disclosures. More importantly, we find that, controlling for numerous determinants, the market reaction to the 10-K filing is positively and significantly associated with Specificity. In addition, our results suggest that analysts are better able to assess fundamental risk when firms’ risk-factor disclosures are more specific. Together, these findings suggest that more specific risk-factor disclosures benefit users of financial statements.
Sample selection and sources of data The paper measures investor ’ s decision with equity fund flows

The paper empirically studies the relationship between ambiguity and mutual fund investor behaviour. Theoretical models for investment decisions incorporating ambiguity motivate our analyses. While the models indicate that investors would less likely to invest in financial markets when ambiguity increases, there is rare empirical evidence in natural occurring financial data to examine this hypothesis. In this paper, we test the hypothesis with equity fund flow data as for investment decisions and ambiguity with the degree of disagreement in equity analysts’ prediction about asset returns. Our results support the hypothesis that increases in ambiguity could lead to less fund flows and this result remains consistently when adding various control variables affecting fund flows. Besides, we find that heterogeneous impacts of ambiguity: equity funds with high yield targets and active management style are affected more than funds investing in stable stocks; funds with larger proportion of institutional investors are more sensitive and affected by the ambiguity.
Price Complexity and Buyer Confusion in Markets

This paper reports a duopoly market experiment that examines the effects of price complexity on market prices. In my experimental posted-offer markets, each seller offers an identical good to buyers with homogeneous preferences. First, sellers simultaneously decide on the price and the tariff structure of their good, then buyers make their choices. Each seller can choose to have a one-, two- or three-part tariff. The tariff structure affects neither the value nor the price of the good but influences buyers’ ability to calculate the good's price. The main results show that high-price sellers choose high complexity more often than low-price sellers if buyers are simulated in accordance with the bounded rationality model of Carlin (2009). However, the evidence for this effect is weaker if the buyers are human subjects. Importantly, prices are higher when the sellers can confuse buyers using price complexity than when sellers interact with perfectly rational robot buyers.
Effect of rosemary in combination with yeast extract on microbiology quality, oxidative stability and color of non-fermented cooked salami “Inovec”

The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial and antioxidant effect of dried rosemary (1 g/kg) in combination with yeast extract 1 g/kg (1 st experimental group) and 2 g/kg (2 nd experimental group) in compare to control sample (without rosemary extract and treated with E316 and E621) in non-fermented heat-treated product Inovec salami. Inovec salami is a product produced all over the Slovakia. The similar product can be found in Polish (Polish salami) or in the Czech Republic (Vysocina salami). The samples were vacuum packaged and were kept at 4 °C for 30 days. Determination of psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC), count of Enterobacteriaceae family (ETB), yeast and moulds, Lactobacillus spp. bacteria count (LAB) was done by cultivation methods. Oxidative stability was determined by TBARS value. Color spaces L*, a*, b* of Inovec salami was determined by CM 2600D spectrophotometer ( Konica Minolta , Germany). It was found non-significant ( p >0.05) color loss (decrease in redness) over time, and the treatments had a non-significant impact ( p >0.05) on redness of the salami in compare to control sample. TBARS values of the rosemary treated cooked salami with different amount of yeasts extracts were significantly lower compare to control sample at the end of the shelf life. Also, lower value of TBARS was determined in salami with rosemary in combination with higher amount of yeast extract. The lowest count of PBC was determined in the second experimental group after 15 days. The rosemary extract in combination of yeast extract treatments were not able to influence the growth of the yeasts and moulds. It was found that rosemary extract in combination with yeast extract in the salami of the second experimental group after 15 days of storage significantly ( p < 0.05) decrease count of Lactobacillus bacteria.
Epigenetic modulation during hippocampal development ( Review )

The hippocampus is located in the limbic system and is vital in learning ability, memory formation and emotion regulation, and is associated with depression, epilepsy and mental retardation in an abnormal developmental situation. Several factors have been found to modulate the development of the hippocampus, and epigenetic modification have a crucial effect in this progress. The present review summarizes the epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNAs, regulating all stages of hippocampal development, focusing on the growth of Ammon's horn and the dentate gyrus in humans and rodents. These modifications may significantly affect hippocampal development and health in addition to cognitive processes.
Property blending relationships for binary mixtures of mineral oil and elektrionised vegetable oil: viscosity, solvent power, and seal compatibility index

The present study provides quantitative data on the physicochemical properties of binary mixtures of a special class of bio‐based lubricity additives — elektrionised vegetable oils — with various classes of mineral base oils. A specific emphasis is placed upon viscosity blending relationships, solubility and seal compatibility. Experimental data are rationalised using appropriate theoretical models, which can be readily applied to property blending practice.
Integrating Technology Into the Early Childhood Classroom: The Case of Literacy Learning

Integration of computers across the classroom curriculum has been an object of debate for over 15 years. This paper compares the integration of computers with what has been learned about literacy education. The integration of literacy learning into the classroom is given as a model for computer integration. Examples are given of what constitutes quality computer integration and what does not. A basic set of "curriculum integration software" is described and recommended. A brief discussion of how computers can function as scaffolds and manipulatives is presented. A detailed example is given of how to design an integrated unit that incorporates technology. What children need to know to be independent computer users is also discussed. The authors emphasize that computers and other information technology should be thought of as just another learning tool It is the software and the context within whichit is used that makes the difference.