Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling micro- and macrophysical contributors to the dissipation of an Arctic mixed-phase cloud during the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study (ASCOS)

Abstract. The Arctic climate is changing; temperature changes in the Arctic are greater than at midlatitudes, and changing atmospheric conditions influence Arctic mixed-phase clouds, which are important for the Arctic surface energy budget. These low-level clouds are frequently observed across the Arctic. They impact the turbulent and radiative heating of the open water, snow, and sea-ice-covered surfaces and influence the boundary layer structure. Therefore the processes that affect mixed-phase cloud life cycles are extremely important, yet relatively poorly understood. In this study, we present sensitivity studies using semi-idealized large eddy simulations (LESs) to identify processes contributing to the dissipation of Arctic mixed-phase clouds. We found that one potential main contributor to the dissipation of an observed Arctic mixed-phase cloud, during the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study (ASCOS) field campaign, was a low cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) of about 2 cm−3. Introducing a high ice crystal concentration of 10 L−1 also resulted in cloud dissipation, but such high ice crystal concentrations were deemed unlikely for the present case. Sensitivity studies simulating the advection of dry air above the boundary layer inversion, as well as a modest increase in ice crystal concentration of 1 L−1, did not lead to cloud dissipation. As a requirement for small droplet numbers, pristine aerosol conditions in the Arctic environment are therefore considered an important factor determining the lifetime of Arctic mixed-phase clouds.
Fe-Ti OXIDE MINERALS IN THE HOROMAN PLUTONIC COMPLEX OF THE HIDAKA METAMORPHIC BELT, HOKKAIDO

Fe:Ti oxide minerals in the Horoman plutonic complex of the Hidaka meta morphic belt are mostly of ilmenite (a-phase: ilmenite-hematite solid solution) and the occurrence of f}-phase (magnetite­ ulvospinel solid solu tion) ha s not been reported so far. The ilmenite fr om Horoman are chemicall y analyzed in order to estima te the crystallizat ion condition of the dioritic host rocks. Although the Mn/Fe 2+ ratio of the host rocks remains constant during the differentia ti on, the Mn/ Fe2+ ratio and R2 OJ content of t he ilmenite increase successively as the differentiation proceeds. This change in co mposition must be largely attributed to a decrease of temperature and an increase of oxygen activity in the magma from which the ilmenite crys tallized. This observation implies that the Horoman diorite was formed under the 'oxidizing' condition, which means that the decreasing rate of /02 was lower than that of the standard buffer curve and the cry stallization might have proceeded along the course intersecting QFM buffer curve. With these points as background, the crys tallizati on condition of the plutonic rocks in the Hidaka metamorphic belt is briefly discussed with respect to /02, refering to the isotopic data prese nted by Sasaki and Ishihara (1979) and Shibata and Ishihara (1979).
Analysis of reporter proteins GUS and DsRed driven under the control of CaMV35S promoter in syncytia induced by beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii in Arabidopsis roots

Background : Cyst nematodes induce specialized feeding structures called syncytia in the plant roots. The expression of CaMV promoter in syncytia has remained topic of debate. The objective of this research was to study the activity of CaMV promoter by using reporter proteins like GUS and DsRed under the control of CaMV35S promoter in syncytia induced by H. schachtii in Arabidopsis roots. Methods: pMAA-Red and pPZP3425 plasmids were used to study expression of GUS and DsRed in syncytia. The plants were grown in 2% Knop medium under sterile conditions in growth chambers at 25°C in long day conditions. GUS activity in syncytia was studied through staining of syncytia using X-gluc solution. Ds-Red fluorescence in syncytia was detected by using an inverse microscope equipped with UV filter. Results: The expression analysis of DsRed protein driven by CaMV promoter demonstrated that this promoter is active in syncytia at all the time points. All the syncytia showed DsRed expression at 5 dpi. At 7 dpi, 10 dpi and 15 dpi over 90%, 80% and 50% of the syncytia showed DsRed fluorescence respectively. There was very high fluorescence in the syncytia as compared to the uninfected root segments due to high expression. CaMV:: GUS lines showed GUS expression in 80% of 5dpi syncytia. However, unlike expression of DsRed , the number of GUS stained syncytia decreased quickly to around 50% at 7 dpi and to about 5% in the 15 dpi syncytia. Conclusions: The results conclude that CaMV promoter is more active in younger syncytia as compared to older syncytia but can be used for expression in syncytia. Moreover, DsRed protein could be used as better reporter for evaluation of gene expression in syncytia as compared to GUS .
A fundamental tax reform in Norway : a comparison of the allowance for corporate equity system and the comprehensive business income tax system in a Norwegian setting

I examine distortions in the Norwegian tax system and find that the current Norwegian system discriminates equity, as the cost of debt is deducted in a firm’s tax account while the cost of equity is not. I also find that the treatment of depreciations is non-neutral as there is an inequality between true economic depreciations and depreciations for tax purposes. Comparing ACE – the Allowance for Corporate Equity system and CBIT – the Comprehensive Business Income Tax system, I find that only ACE ensures correct depreciations. Only CBIT, however, is completely neutral with respect to the choice between debt and equity, as CBIT removes the possibility of deducting the cost of debt. This offsets the possibility of thin capitalization strategies by multinational companies. Neither CBIT, nor ACE will remove the incentive to shift profits to low tax countries. This makes it desirable to reduce the tax rate, and I find that this is best accommodated if introducing a CBIT tax system. The CBIT system will increase the cost of capital and thus decrease investments, but a reduced tax rate will offset this. As a conclusion, I recommend implementing a CBIT system, and agree in this respect with the Swedish tax commission that just delivered their proposal.
To QE or Not to QE? The Japanese Experience

This paper studies the effect of a series of quantitative easing initiatives belonging to the Bank of Japan on Central and Eastern European sovereign CDSs. Using daily data for the 2005 – 2013 period and considering 23 announcements of QE initiatives we build an econometric event study approach in order to compute and investigate the abnormal returns induced by these announcements. The results indicate a strong effect of the Japanese QE policies on the CEE sovereign Credit Default Swaps.
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Coating on Alkali Treated TiO2 Nanotubes Surface for Improvement of Biocompatibility

The aim of this study is to enhance the bioactivity of pure titanium using multiple surface treatments for the application of the implant. To form the biofunctional multilayer coating on pure titanium, anodization was conducted to make titanium dioxide nanotubes, then multi-walled carbon nanotubes were coated using a dipping method after an alkali treatment. The surface characteristics at each step were analyzed using a field emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The effect of the multilayer coating on the biocompatibility was identified using immersion and cytotoxicity tests. Better hydroxyapatite formation was observed on the surface of multilayer-coated pure titanium compared to non-treated pure titanium after immersion in the simulated body fluid. Improvement of biocompatibility by multiple surface treatments was identified through various cytotoxicity tests using osteoblast cells.
A Review of Cyanogenic Glycosides in Edible Plants

Cyanogenic glycosides are natural plant toxins that are present in several plants, most of which are consumed by humans. Cyanide is formed following the hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycosides that occur during crushing of the edible plant material either during consumption or during processing of the food crop. Exposure to cyanide from unintentional or intentional consumption of cyanogenic glycosides may lead to acute intoxications, characterized by growth retardation and neurological symptoms resulting from tissue damage in the central nervous system (CNS). Processing methods can detoxify cyanogenic glycosides and reduce the risk of cyanide poisoning. The efficiency of cyanide removal, however, depends on the processing technique employed and the extent of processing. Processing operations such as fermentation, boiling/ cooking, and drying, applied to process food‐containing cyanogenic glycosides have been reported to reduce cyanide content to acceptably safe levels. The present review discusses the level of cyanogenic glycosides in specific plant foods, health implications of consuming cyanogenic plants and effect of various processing method on cyanogenic glycosides with updated information gathered from the published reports on cyano‐ genic glycosides.
Laboratory Experiment to Study the Effect of Salinity Variations on Benthic Foraminiferal Species - Pararotalia nipponica (Asano)

Culture experiment has been carried out to observe the response of Pararotalia nipponica (Asano) to different salinities and its salinity tolerance limits. The specimens of P nipponica kept in 33%0 saline water achieved optimum growth, while rest of the specimens maintained under either higher or lower salinities showed comparatively lower growth Pararotalia nipponica specimens kept at 10%0 and 15% salinity started becoming opaque and later their test dissolved, within a span of 25 days. Towards the end of experiment in order to find the maximum salinity tolerance limit, the salinity was gradually increased to 100%o, in the culture dishes having specimens at 40%0 saline water and it was noted that P nipponica specimens were alive even at 100%o salinity. It is concluded that comparatively lower sallinities are much more detrimental to the foraminiferal tests than higher salinities. Results are significant as the salinity response of benthic foraminifera is being used for environmental assessment.
Thermal aging properties and electric heating behaviors of carbon fiber paper-based electric heating wood floors

Carbon fiber (CF) paper is an excellent material for use in electric heating wood floors systems. In this paper, a CF paper-based electric heating wood floor was prepared using a hot pressure process. The thermal aging properties and electric heating behaviors of the CF paper-based wood floors were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and a temperature recorder. The CF paper exhibited excellent thermal stability, and its structure and morphology did not show any changes after exposure to 110 °C for 15 h. The surface temperature of the CF paper increased as input voltage increased. The positioning of CF paper in the middle of wood floors was believed to be the optimum design for electric heating wood floors. Theoretical calculations showed that the CF paper based electric heating wood floors (1.1 m2) could increase room (3 m × 4 m × 2.6 m) temperature by 12.9 °C.
Improving strength grading of timber by grain angle measurement and mechanical modeling

Abstract Timber strength grading has become a major issue in the European Union during the last years, due to the introduction of the Eurocode 5 and all its related standards. Currently, the most performing strength grading machines are able to locally detect the boards’ knots sizes and positions and interpret this information through adapted grading models. The best lead to improve their accuracy seems to be the introduction of new information about the boards and adapt the mechanical model to take them in account. Small grain angle causes high reduction of clear wood's mechanical properties; local value of slope of grain appears to be of high interest. The aim of this study is to quantify the additional accuracy that grain angle information can bring to an optical scanner used as a strength grading machine. A specific grading model has been developed accordingly, and the results obtained for different machine/model/loading combinations are presented. These results show that slope of grain measurement can significantly improve the accuracy of the optical scanner, for both modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture estimations.
What Do Voices Say in The Garden Party? An Analysis of Voices in the Persian Translation of Mansfield's Short Story

This study aims at investigating voices in the Persian translation of Katherine Mansfield's The Garden Party. In so doing, after a stylistic analysis of the voices in the original is done, it is argued by the authors that the polyphonous nature of the story is to a great extent due to the deployment of various sociolects in the story as well as the choice of Free Indirect Discourse (FID) as the mode of narration. Then, considering these stylistic features, a comparison is made between the original text and translation. In the light of the comparison, it is revealed that the range of voices heard from the translation is limited compared to the original. This diminishing of the voices in the translation is argued that is partly attributable to the observed decrease in the range of sociolects in the translation as well as the partial failure in reproducing the grammatical features of FID. All in all, this study adds one more piece of evidence to the hypothesis made in the discussions of voices and ideology in translation as to the tendency of translators to bring voices together.
Genetic variation within a collection of Nigerian accessions of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) revealed by RAPD primers

African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa, Hochst. ex A. Rich, Harms) an indigenous food crop legume in tropical Africa, is highly under-exploited. Very little information is available on the nature and extent of genetic diversity of Nigerian accession of African yam bean (AYB) particularly using molecular markers. In this study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were used to assess genetic diversity in twenty-four accessions of Nigerian collection of AYB. Eleven random decamer primers were used for PCR amplification, but only nine RAPD primers that gave distinct bands were considered for analysis. A total of Fifty-three RAPD bands were generated by the nine RAPD primers and analyzed using Numeric Taxonomy System of Statistic (NTSYS). The similarity indices ranged from 0.42 to 0.96; 8 distinct DNA cluster groups were identified at 0.80 similarity indexes. Results showed a high genetic diversity among Nigerian accession of African yam bean. Such genetic diversity is useful in facilitating the development of large number of new varieties through hybridization, transfer of useful genes, thus maximizing the use of such available germplasms as genetic resource materials for breeders.
Spatial associations between lotic fish, macroinvertebrate prey and the stream habitat : A multi-scale approach

We adopted a multiscale approach to examine the spatial relations between stream fish, macroinvertebrate prey, and habitat characteristics in a boreal stream. The study site was divided into 279 cells, and abundances of brown trout and Arctic bullhead were quantified at each cell. Depth, water velocity, substrate size and aquatic vegetation were measured, and benthic samples collected, at each quadrat. Shaded contour plots showing the spatial distribution of selected variables within the sample space were produced and fish distributions were superimposed on these plots. High-density patches of trout and bullhead were in separate sections of the riffle, and bullhead were closely associated with their benthic prey, especially semisessile macroinvertebrates. Semivariograms were produced for two variables, water depth and density of semisessile invertebrates. There was spatial dependence, especially in the density data, at lags shorter than 2 metres. Kriging was then used to create maps displaying the spatial patterns of the variables within the sample space. We believe this kind of multi-scale sampling strategy combined with standard geostatistical tools and statistical modeling will prove valuable in the study of aquatic consumer-resource interactions.
Anatomical predictors of successful prism adaptation in chronic visual neglect

Visual neglect is a frequent and disabling consequence of right hemisphere damage. Previous work demonstrated a probable role of posterior callosal dysfunction in the chronic persistence of neglect signs. Prism adaptation is a non-invasive and convenient technique to rehabilitate chronic visual neglect, but it is not effective in all patients. Here we aimed to assess the hypothesis that prism adaptation improves left neglect by facilitating compensation through the contribution of the left, undamaged hemisphere. We assessed the relationship between prism adaptation effects, cortical thickness and white matter integrity in a group of 14 patients with unilateral right-hemisphere strokes and chronic visual neglect. Results showed that patients who benefitted from prism adaptation had thicker cortex in temporo-parietal, prefrontal and cingulate areas of the left, undamaged hemisphere. Additionally, these patients had a higher fractional anisotropy value in the body and genu of the corpus callosum. Results from normal controls show that these callosal regions connect temporo-parietal, sensorimotor and prefrontal areas. Finally, shorter time intervals from the stroke tended to improve patients’ response to prism adaptation. We concluded that prism adaptation may improve left visual neglect by promoting the contribution of the left hemisphere to neglect compensation. These results support current hypotheses on the role of the healthy hemisphere in the compensation for stroke-induced, chronic neuropsychological deficits, and suggest that prism adaptation can foster this role by exploiting sensorimotor/prefrontal circuits, especially when applied at early stages post-stroke.
The Influence of Uniform in Establishing Unity, Hierarchy, and Conformity at Thai Universities

In most countries, wearing uniform in the university level is a rare practice. Interestingly, Thailand is one of a very few countries requiring the undergraduate students to wear the student uniform to attend class on daily basis. The university uniform has been seen to represent the ideas of politeness, honor, unity, and uniqueness of Thai culture. Hence, the practice of wearing the uniform is anchored on Thainess, the core of which is founded on kingship, religion, and nation creating a sense of shared identity among the Thai people. This research investigated (1) students’ experiences of wearing the uniform concerning power relation among Thai university students inside and outside their universities, and (2) students’ experiences regarding their personal development and how the university dress code affects them. This is the qualitative study of which theoretical frameworks are grounded on concepts of habitus and cultural representation by Pierre Bourdieu and Stuart Hall. As the study focuses on students’ experiences, the phenomenological approach was applied. A total of eight interviews were carried out with students in Kasetsart University (Kamphaeng Saen Campus) and Nakorn Pathom Rajabhat University by purposive sampling. Data analysis was conducted with thematic content analysis. The research findings reveal experiences of the strict dress code indicating that the uniform engages with symbolic communication and hierarchical empowerment. Wearing the uniform keeps up the illusion of uniformity while exerting suppression of individuality. Further the strict dress code creates problematic gender issues but does not promote students’ life goals.
Influence of Protein Content on Durum Wheat Gluten Strength Determined by the SDS Sedimentation Test and by Other Methods

Gluten strength in semolina is mainly responsible for pasta cooking quality, and it can be measured by different tests (micromixograph, viscoelastograph, farinograph, alveograph, gluten index, SDS sedimentation) as well as by manual sensory evaluation. A systematic study was performed on the influence of protein content on test results by determining a series of gluten quality values (alveograph W, SDS sedimentation value, gluten index) on semolinas obtained from an extraction and reconstitution experiment where four protein levels (namely 10, 11, 12, and 13% protein at 14% m.b.) were reconstituted from six samples belonging to three different cultivars possessing different gluten strengths. Furthermore, gluten quality was determined by means of several tests on 70 grain samples (11 cultivars) to study the simple correlations between the obtained values. The SDS sedimentation and the W alveograph values were clearly influenced by protein content and corrected values are proposed. The corrected SDS value was not influenced by other variables, and it was strongly correlated with the manual sensory values and the gluten index values. A classification of gluten strength based on corrected SDS values is proposed, which could be conveniently used for screening purposes in breeding programs or for rapid quality evaluation in the durum wheat industry.
Can Rotational Thromboelastometry be a New Predictive Tool for Retinal Vein Occlusion Development?

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate clotting dynamics by a new tool called rotational tromboelastometry (ROTEM) in retinal vein occlusion. Materials and methods: Thirty-six patients who were diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion and 43 age and sex matched healthy controls were included in this study. Diabetes and use of anticoagulant therapy were exclusion criteria. All study participants underwent detailed ophthalmologic and systemic medical examination, including blood pressure measurement, hemoglobin-hematocrit levels, platelet count, coagulation parameters including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, ﬁbrinogen levels, and D-dimer levels. Peripheral blood samples were collected and analyzed with ROTEM Coagulation Analyzer (Tem International, Munich, Germany). Results: The RVO patients and controls did not differ with respect to age, sex, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet numbers, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, ﬁbrinogen levels, D-dimer levels, and glucose levels. When extrinsic thromboelastometry results were analyzed, RVO patients showed a signiﬁcantly decreased clotting time (76.5 ± 15.0 vs. 95.0 ± 21 s, respectively; p = 0.01) and clot formation time (83.3 ± 22 vs. 99.7 ± 24s; p = 0.01) as compared with healthy controls. Other ROTEM parameters did now show any difference between two groups. Conclusion: Patients with retinal vein occlusion showed faster clotting time and shorter clotting formation time as compared with healthy controls. ROTEM detects the altered clotting dynamics and may be a useful tool to elucidate the disease pathophysiology. Further studies are needed to investigate if it can be used as a screening test for individuals who are under risk to develop RVO or as a first step test to evaluate hypercoagulable state in RVO.
A Road Map for Efficiently Taxing Heterogeneous Agents

This paper characterizes optimal labor income taxes that depend on age, household assets, and filing status (one or two earners) within a life-cycle model with heterogeneous, two-member households. The key innovation is a labor supply elasticity that varies endogenously among households. I find that tax distortions should be hump shaped in age, decrease in household assets, and be lower for joint relative to single filers. Age and assets act as complements within the optimal tax policy. Overall, a tax system using all three tags can increase consumption up to 6.4 percent and welfare up to 1.5 percent. (JEL D14, D91, H21, H24, J22, J31)