Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The determinants of household saving behaviour in Malta

This study analyses the determinants of the aggregate household saving rate in Malta; an important macroeconomic variable which in standard short-term analysis is considered as a ‘residual’. The aggregate household saving rate, fluctuated significantly over the past thirteen years, rising from 6.4% in 2000 to 10.3% by 2002, falling significantly to 4.1% by 2006, doubling to 8.4% during 2007 and stabilising between 5% and 7% in the years 2008 to 2012. Such sharp swings warrant an investigation to uncover the underlying drivers, and this paper finds evidence that the estimate of the saving rate correlates with a set of macroeconomic variables The results of an estimated equation are in line with the theory and robust to different estimation techniques. One should keep in mind that there are no official statistics on disposable income and therefore this paper uses an in-house estimate of disposable income, which may be subject to measurement errors. It results that developments in bank deposit rates played a major role in driving the saving rate over the period of interest. In addition it appears that households tended to be somewhat ‘Ricardian’ by increasing their saving following a deterioration in the government budget deficit, although only around a third of changes in public savings were offset with a corresponding change in household saving. The absence of complete Ricardian equivalence is in line with other studies on the Maltese economy. An element of precautionary saving, a feature at the heart of the literature surveyed, was also observed. Faced with uncertainty, households attempt to keep a buffer stock of wealth proportional to their income as a means of ‘saving for a rainy day’. In the context of a falling fertility rate over the past forty years and an ageing population, demographic factors do not seem to have had an influence on saving decisions over the period covered in this study, even though they are bound to have some impact in the coming years through a lower household saving rate, unless corrective actions are taken.
CHAPTER 11 THERMOCHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF THE LOWER MANTLE : SEISMOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND CONSEQUENCES FOR GEODYNAMICS

We combine recent progress in seismic tomography and numerical modeling of thermochemical convection to infer robust features on mantle structure and dynamics. First, we separate the observed density anomalies into their thermal and compositional contributions. The tomographic maps of thermo-chemical variations were computed using a new approach that combines a careful equation of state modeling of the lower mantle, independent constraints on density from probabilistic tomography, and a full statistical treatment for uncertainties analyses. We then test models of thermo-chemical convection against these density components. We compute synthetic anomalies of thermal and compositional density from models of thermo-chemical convection calculated with the anelastic approximation. These synthetic distributions are filtered to make meaningful comparisons with the observed density anomalies. Our comparisons suggest that a stable layer (i.e., that no domes or piles are generated from it) of dense material with buoyancy ratio B ≥ 0.3 is unlikely to be present at the bottom of the mantle. Models of piles entrained upwards from a dense, but unstable layer with buoyancy ratio B ∼ 0.2, explain the observation significantly better, but discrepancies remain at the top of the lower mantle. These discrepancies could be linked to the deflection of slabs around 1000 km, or to the phase transformation at 670 km, not included yet in the thermo-chemical calculations. 293 D. A. Yuen et al. (eds.), Superplumes, 293–320. © 2007 Springer. 294 Frédéric Deschamps et al.
Effects of solar radiation on collagen-based biomaterials

The effect of solar radiation on collagen and collagen/synthetic polymer blends in the form of thin films and solutions has been studied by UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopies. Films and solutions of collagen blended with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) were irradiated by solar light. It was found that UV-VIS spectra, which characterize collagen, collagen/PVA, and collagen/PVP blended films, were significantly altered by solar radiation. FTIR spectra of collagen, collagen/PVA, and collagen/PVP films showed that after solar irradiation, the positions of Amide A bands were shifted to lower wavenumbers. There was not any significant alteration in the position of Amide I and Amide II bands of collagen and its blends after solar radiation. The effect of solar UV radiation in comparison with artificial UV radiation has been discussed.
Carbon cycling in boreal wetlands: A comparison of three approaches

Three independent methods were used to measure net ecosystem production (NEP) in four wetlands near Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. The first method calculated NEP by subtracting heterotrophic respiration from net primary productivity, using both measurements and estimates derived from the literature. The second method used radiocarbon data from cores to derive long-term NEP averaged over the past several decades. The third method used direct measurement of NEP combined with a model to fill in for days with no data. The three methods, with their independently derived uncertainties, all show the same magnitude and pattern of NEP variation across four different wetland types. However, direct measurement yielded distinctly lower estimates of NEP in the most productive sites. Highest NEP (31–180 gC m−2 yr−1) was observed in the two wetlands with the highest proportion of sedge vegetation. A bog collapse scar and a nutrient-rich fen had NEP values not significantly different from zero. The maximum NEP at sites with intermediate nutrient status is due to slower overall decomposition and is likely associated with greater allocation of production below ground by sedges. The three methods for estimating NEP differ in the effort required, the sources of error, and in the timescale over which they apply. Used in combination, they allow estimation of parameters such as below- ground production and the contribution of heterotrophic decomposition to total soil respiration. Using the radiocarbon method, we also derived estimates of the rate of N accumulation in the four wetland types.
GRASPING THE DYNAMISM OF LIFEWORLD

ABSTRACT Recent attempts by geographers to explore the human experience of space have focused on overt behavior and its cognitive foundations. The language and style of our descriptions, however, often fail to speak in categories appropriate for the elucidation of lived experience, and we need to evaluate our modes of knowing in the light of modes of being in the everyday world. Phenomenologists provide some guidelines for this task. They point to the preconsciously given aspects of behavior and perception residing in the “lifeworld”—the culturally defined spatiotemporal setting or horizon of everyday life. Scientific procedures which separate “subjects'’and “objects,'’thought and action, people and environments are inadequate to investigate this lifeworld. The phenomenological approach ideally should allow lifeworld to reveal itself in its own terms. In practice, however, phenomenological descriptions remain opaque to the functional dynamism of spatial systems, just as geographical descriptions of space .
Time-domain effective-one-body gravitational waveforms for coalescing compact binaries with nonprecessing spins, tides, and self-spin effects

We present TEOBResumS, a new effective-one-body (EOB) waveform model for nonprecessing (spin-aligned) and tidally interacting compact binaries. Spin-orbit and spin-spin effects are blended together by making use of the concept of centrifugal EOB radius. The point-mass sector through merger and ringdown is informed by numerical relativity (NR) simulations of binary black holes (BBHs) computed with the SpEC and bam codes. An improved, NR-based phenomenological description of the postmerger waveform is developed. The tidal sector of TEOBResumS describes the dynamics of neutron star binaries up to merger and incorporates a resummed attractive potential motivated by recent advances in the post-Newtonian and gravitational self-force description of relativistic tidal interactions. Equation-of-state-dependent self-spin interactions (monopole-quadrupole effects) are incorporated in the model using leading order post-Newtonian results in a new expression of the centrifugal radius. TEOBResumS is compared to 135 SpEC and 19 bam BBH waveforms. The maximum unfaithfulness to SpEC data ¯ F—at design Advanced LIGO sensitivity and evaluated with total mass M with a variance of 10M⊙≤M≤200M⊙—is always below 2.5×10−3 except for a single outlier that grazes the 7.1×10−3 level. When compared to bam data, ¯ F is smaller than 0.01 except for a single outlier in one of the corners of the NR-covered parameter space that reaches the 0.052 level. TEOBResumS is also compatible, up to merger, to high-end NR waveforms from binary neutron stars with spin effects and reduced initial eccentricity computed with the bam and thc codes. The data quality of binary neutron star waveforms is assessed via rigorous convergence tests from multiple resolution runs and takes into account systematic effects estimated by using the two independent high-order NR codes. The model is designed to generate accurate templates for the analysis of LIGO-Virgo data through merger and ringdown. We demonstrate its use by analyzing the publicly available data for GW150914.
Supplement Impact on Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Article history: Received 25 August 2015 Accepted 07 September 2015 Available online 12 September 2015 Dr. Ben Kim supplement is a super green food mixture that is the highest quality and most effective nutritional supplement. The study aimed to investigate the effect of Dr. Ben Kim and bakol on the level of triglycerides was investigate. The subject used Dr. Ben Kim supplied from Korea and bakol supplied from Arkopharma, France. Lipid profile measurement done with Reflotron plus EN device from German with Reflotron strip. The samples collected at 0, 7, 17, and 27 days. This supplement can decrease the level of cholesterol and triglyceride effect while increase the level of high density lipoprotein thus this supplement have cardio-protective impact.
ILC2s and miRNA regulation in allergy and asthma

Asthma is a common respiratory disease that is characterized by chronic immune response is driven by pro-4, IL-5 and IL-13) that correlate with hypersensitivity to environmental allergens and increased numbers of eosinophils in the airways and blood. In 2010, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) were ident producing cell population. They were later found to promote allergen-related immune responses in the airway mucosa, where the alarmin cytokine IL-33 is an important driver. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that cause excessive immune activation is an important area of asthma research. Gene regulatory microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as promising targets for modulation of type 2 immunity and play important roles in models of allergic asthma. However, miRNA expression in ILC2s and in the airways of human asthmatics is currently understudied. Using samples from asthmatic subjects and -155 (miR155) is critical for ILC2Paper I). Lung ILC2s increased miR-155 expression upon IL-33-mediated activation in vitro and miR-155 deficient ILC2s demonstrated decreased IL-13 production and lowered proliferative capacity to IL-33 administration in vivo. Importantly, this that miRh allergic asthma compared to healthy controls (Paper II). Furthermore, induced sputum isolated from allergic asthmatics in and out of pollen season revealed that the level of miR-155 in sputum lymphocytes varied with the season. In Paper III, a previously unrecognized role of ILC2s locally in murine bone marrow. We found that IL-5-producing ILC2s contribute to the development and overproduction of eosinophils that promoted expression by examining miRNA and healthy individuals (Paper IV). Taken together, these studies demonstrate that miRNAs play important roles in airway immunity; miR-155 is necessary for the proof ILC2s, miR-155 expression is altered in airway lymphocytes from asthmatic subjects and a distinct miRNA signature is present in asthmatic airway macrophages. We also demonstrated that ILC2s have additional roles in aller by local reactions in the bone marrow. An increased understanding of the mechanisms cells, is essential for the development of improved prevention and therapy of the disease in the future.
Using an Expectancy-Value Model to Identify Christian School Teachers' Motivations for Postgraduate Study

Postgraduate study for teachers resulting in an award such as a Master’s degree is a form of Professional Development that involves a sustained and long term commitment. Postgraduate study can provide the skills and expertise for teachers to more effectively develop curriculum for the classroom setting and thus enhance students’ outcomes. Studies have shown that students’ achievements are strongly influenced by the assigned teacher who has been shown to be more influential than other factors such as class size and the socio-economic composition of the class (Darling-Hammond & Youngs, 2002; Hattie, 2009 & 2012, Zammit et al., 2007). The literature also shows that student achievement is linked to teacher qualifications. The more qualified a teacher is, the more likely students are to perform well (Darling-Hammond, 2000; Zammit et al., 2007). In particular, a study in the USA by Ferguson (1991, cited in Darling Hammond, 2000, p. 9) found that more highly qualified teachers such as those with postgraduate qualifications increase student achievement more than money spent on “less instructionally focused uses of school resources. ” As outlined above postgraduate courses provide a degree, knowledge and skills, and also have the potential to improve the students’ outcomes. However, in Australia teacher motivation for postgraduate study is relatively low. Most teachers teach for over 30 years with no upgrade on their initial Bachelor’s degree. Anecdotal evidence suggests that postgraduate study is time consuming and expensive. So what motivates teachers to engage in postgraduate study in Australia?
Chemical composition and carbohydrate content of several varieties of faba bean and pea seeds

The chemical composition of mature whole seeds of four cultivars of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), seven cultivars of white-flowered pea (Pisum sativum hortense L.) and two cultivars of coloured-flowered pea (Pisum sativum arvense L.) was determined with special emphasis on carbohydrates. The average content (per kg D M ) of total and enzyme-susceptible starch in faba beans, whiteand coloured-flowered peas was 430 and 367 g, 461 and 419 g, and 459 and 390 g, respectively. Faba beans contained less a-galactosides (28 vs. 58 g) than peas. Verbascose was the main constituent (16 g on average) of faba bean a-galactosides, while verbascose (26 g) and stachyose (24 g) were the major a-galactosides in pea seeds. Faba beans contained, on average, 177 g non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), while the level of these polysaccharides in pea seeds amounted to 183 g. In faba beans and in pea seeds, NSP were composed mainly of glucose, arabinose and uronic acids. In general, there were no significant differences among cultivars within each species in terms of NSP content and their chemical composition.
A modern pollen–climate calibration set from northern Europe: developing and testing a tool for palaeoclimatological reconstructions

Aims and location The potential of pollen records in quantitative climate reconstructions has been widely debated but seldom tested. Our aim is to develop a pollen–climate transfer function for northern Europe and test its performance and inference power by numerical cross‐validation with modern climate data. Annual mean temperature (Tann) was assessed as the critical climatic variable because Tann has a distinct south–north gradient (5.5 to −4.7 °C) in the study region with a corresponding zonal vegetation gradient from the hemiboreal zone in the south to the northern boreal zone in the north.
Microstructural deformation mechanisms of unsaturated granular soils

A discrete model for unsaturated granular soils has been developed. Three discrete entities have been defined: particles, water menisci and pores. Local interaction forces and water transfer mechanisms have been integrated into a model through the appropriate equilibrium and balance equations. The results of several numerical tests using this model have been described and discussed. Simulations include wetting and drying under load tests, the application of suction cycles and the effect of a deviatoric stress ratio on wetting‐induced collapse. The model reacts just as true granular soil samples behave in laboratory tests. The model provides a new insight into the internal mechanisms leading to large‐scale features of behaviour such as wetting‐induced collapse or the increase in soil strength provided by suction. The paper also stresses that matric suction changes acting on a granular structure are capable of explaining most of the macroscopic features of stress–strain behaviour. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EVALUATING DIFFERENT IRRIGATION SCHEDULING CRITERIA FOR AUTUMN-SOWN MAIZE UNDER SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT

Drought is a foundation reason of low grain yield in many field crops including maize (Zea mays L.). Identifying growth stages of any promising cultivar under local climate and soil fertility permits irrigation scheduling to maximize yield. Potential soil moisture deficit (PSMD) approach (a difference between potential evapotranspiration and rainfall plus irrigation) describes the response of canopy growth to water shortage. To examine the productivity of different autumnsown maize hybrids under irrigation scheduling at different growth stages and PSMD levels, a field study was conducted with a split plot arrangement at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (Pakistan) during 2009. The treatments consisted of two maize hybrids (Monsanto-919 and Pioneer-30Y87) and seven irrigation levels: I1 = no irrigation (control), I2 = 4 irrigations, I3 = 6 irrigations, I4 = 8 irrigations, I5 = 10 irrigations (1 st irrigation starting at 6 leaf stage, followed by subsequent irrigations at an interval of 4 leaf stages in all irrigation treatments and addition of two reproductive stages in I3, I4 and I5 successively), I6 = irrigation at 25mm PSMD and I7 = irrigation at 50mm PSMD. The results showed that Pioneer-30Y87 produced more plant height but the two hybrids did not differ significantly in other growth and yield parameters. Among all irrigation treatments, 6 and 8 irrigation treatments were statistically at par with treatments of 10 irrigations and irrigation at 25 mm PSMD in radiation use efficiency, water use efficiency, 500-grain weight, grain yield and TDM production. More number of irrigations is not a standard for getting maximum yield in all maize hybrids. PSMD can be used as a useful measure for scheduling irrigation in irrigated conditions of Pakistan.
Morphology as a key to behavioural flexibility: body shape and swimming variability in the dimorphic crucian carp

Swimming trajectories of length-matched deep-bodied and shallow-bodied crucian carp were quantified in the laboratory using motion analysis software and compared in terms of swimming velocity, turning behaviour and associated coefficients of variation. The mean velocities of the two morphs were similar, but slower than predicted, and there was no difference in turning behaviour. In line with predictions from analysis of power curve steepness, swimming velocities of deep-bodied, high-drag individuals were significantly less variable than shallow-bodied conspecifics, thus indicating an association between body shape behavioural flexibility in terms of swimming variability.
Credit Risk Discovery in the Stock and CDS Markets: Who Leads in Times of Financial Crisis?*

In this paper, we analyze the dynamic relationship between CDS spreads and stock market implied credit spreads for a large set of European companies during the period 20022008. We document that the stock market’s informational dominance reported in previous studies holds only in times of financial crisis. During tranquil times, the CDS market’s contribution to price discovery proves to be equal or higher than that of the stock market. In addition, we find that the credit risk level of the company has a positive effect on the information share of its stocks beyond the effect of the overall state of the economy. These conclusions are not in contradiction with the argument of insider trading in credit derivatives. Along with previous results, we provide evidence of a positive relationship between the presence of severe credit downturns and the information share of the CDS market.
Awareness based technologies for leadership development: utilising Immunity to Change coaching

This article presents a study of the use of Immunity to Change (ITC) coaching in an integrated leadership development programme as an example of awareness based leadership development technology. Constructivist developmental theories of leadership, self-awareness and the use of ITC coaching are reviewed. Findings from interviews with eight ITC coaches revealed a process of movement from embeddedness and a socialized mindset to detachment and evidence of an emerging self-authoring mindset. Discussion leads to conclusions that the ITC coaching process can make a significant contribution to leadership development.
Co-infections a threat in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from topical wounds of both HIV positive and HIV negative patients

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is documented as an opportunistic pathogen in HIV/AIDS infection. Increasing prevalence of resistance by S. aureus to commonly prescribed antimicrobials pose a threat in its treatment, resulting to increased morbidity and mortality. The importance of each pathogen in resistance of S. aureus to antimicrobials has not been established. Objectives: To identify, characterised and determine bacteria associated with wound infection. To determine the relationship between HIV and infectors of wounds and the correlation of co-infection in S. aureus and drug susceptibility. Design: A cross-sectional study conducted for over five years from 2003-2007. Setting: Centre for infections and parasitic disease Control Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute Clinic. Subject: Outpatient who were 18 years and above presenting with topical wounds at CIPDCR- Busia; Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) clinic. Results: A total of 175 isolates were obtained. One hundred and four (59.4%) were S. aureus , 28(16.0%) Proteus spp , 25(14.3%) E. coli and 18(10.3) Pseudomonas spp . 59(49.2%) wounds had one bacteria, 58(48.3%) had more than one and three (2.5%) had none. Out of the 70 HIV + patients, 38(54.3%) had one bacteria and 32(45.7%) had more than one bacteria. Out of the 50 HIV - patients, 21(42.0%) had one bacteria and 26(52.0%) had more than one bacteria. Resistances of S. aureus from co-infected (with more than one bacteria) wounds were higher than those S. aureus from singly infected wounds that is, MRSA in single infection and co-infections showed significance differences as follows: [P values = 0.045, odds =5.5 (1-29.2) for S. aureus versus S. aureus and E. coli ], [P values = 0.032, odds =9.0 (1.0-8.0); S. aureus versus S. aureus and Proteus ], [P values = 0.046, odds = 8.0 (0.88-72.1); S. aureus versus S. aureus and Pseudomonas] . Significant drug susceptibility difference between HIV+ and HIV- patients was shown by chloramphenicol with P =0.027, odds= 5.7(1.3-24.1). Thus HIV + patients are five fold likely to develop resistance to chloramphenicol as compared to HIV – patients. Conclusion: More antibiotic susceptibility studies need to be done to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of S. aureus that is isolated from co-infected wounds.