Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measure-Valued Branching Diffusions with Singular Interactions

Abstract The usual super-Brownian motion is a measure-valued process that arises as a high density limit of a system of branching Brownian particles in which the branching mechanism is critical. In this work we consider analogous processes that model the evolution of a system of two such populations in which there is inter-species competition or predation. We first consider a competition model in which inter-species collisions may result in casualties on both sides. Using a Girsanov approach, we obtain existence and uniqueness of the appropriate martingale problem in one dimension. In two and three dimensions we establish existence only. However, we do show that, in three dimensions, any solution will not be absolutely continuous with respect to the law of two independent super-Brownian motions. Although the supports of two independent super-Brownian motions collide in dimensions four and five, we show that there is no solution to the martingale problem in these cases. We next study a prédation model in which collisions only affect the "prey" species. Here we can show both existence and uniqueness in one, two and three dimensions. Again, there is no solution in four and five dimensions. As a tool for proving uniqueness, we obtain a representation of martingales for a super-process as stochastic integrals with respect to the related orthogonal martingale measure. We also obtain existence and uniqueness for a related single population model in one dimension in which particles are killed at a rate proportional to the local density. This model appears as a limit of a rescaled contact process as the range of interaction goes to infinity.
Anaemia in Expectant Mothers Presenting at Mabvuku Polyclinic Zimbabwe

Anaemia is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including maternal mortality, preterm delivery and low birth weight and is most prevalent in developing countries. The burden of anemia in pregnancy still remains poorly estimated and is a major concern in endemic countries including Zimbabwe. The general objective of the current study was to ascertain the magnitude of the anaemia in pregnant women attending Mabvuku Polyclinic from June 2017 to August 2017. The study was a cross-sectional design and conducted at Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital (BRIDH) laboratory which processes antenatal samples from Mabvuku Polyclinic. Of 249 expectant mothers included in the study, it was found that 72 (28.9%) were anaemic. Severe anaemia (Hb <7g/dl) occurred in 9 (3.61%), moderate anaemia (Hb 7 - 9.9 g/dl) in 36 (14.6%) and mild anaemia (Hb 10 - 10.9g/dl) in 27 (10.8%) of the presenting expectant mothers. The most common type of anaemia was microcytic hypochromic anaemia (32.1%). There was no significant difference in prevalence of anaemia by age-group or gravidity status among the expectant mothers. It was concluded that there was a high prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy affecting nearly one in every three expectant mothers presenting for antenatal care at Mabvuku Polyclinic. Targeted preventive measures are recommended for all expectant mothers such as prophylactic iron and vitamin supplementation.
Noteworthy records of freshwater insects in Norway

These days there is a huge demand for up-to-date information, with accurate geographical data, on all kinds of organisms, particularly with regard to rare and threatened species. This is necessary to better manage the biological diversity of the country or within a certain area. Red lists are due every five years in Norway, and in order to improve them between each edition, new information must be made available.
Shock Loading-Unloading Mechanism in Rockburst Shear Fractures in Quartzite Causing Genesis of Polyhedral Sub-Particles in the Fault Gouge

The presence of polyhedral sub-particles in dynamically-formed shear zones in quartzite is a specific manifestation of a very complicated and still enigmatic mechanism of shear fracture development. The existence of these sub-particles allows disclosure of one important feature of this mechanism. Comprehensive analysis of the geometrical shape of the sub-particles gave reason to conclude that the most plausible explanation of their formation is shock unloading taking place in the fracture zone. At the same time the fact that a relatively minute and very strong quartz grain can be disrupted into elemental sub- particles of approximately 25 micrometres in size must indicate the presence of enormous amount of energy within the grain before the shock unloading. This energy can be provided, in particular, by shock loading preceding the shock unloading. The paper discusses a new shear rupture mechanism which can provide the combination of extreme dynamic compressive loading followed by shock unloading within some special zones of the fault. According to this mechanism a general fault develops as a cascade of segments triggered in series one after another. Interaction and linkage of the segments propagating toward each other at a relative speed comparable with shear wave speed can cause shock-like loading-unloading impulses necessary for the particle formation due to specific structure of linkage zones.
Private Equity, Corporate Governance and Out-Performance of High-Growth Firms

The paper investigates how Private Equity (PE) ownership influences out-performance of a high-growth firm, and whether it differs from the effect of two other important types of financial investors: banks and non-bank financial firms. We transform the levered return on equity into a unlevered return and empirically test on some 30 thousand high growth European firms whether Private Equity' or other financial investors' ownership matter. The empirical analysis suggests three major conclusions. The shareholding by PE and bank has influence on out-performance but only if either the PE investor or the bank hold between 75 to 100 percent of firm's shares. The direction of the effect is opposite. PE has a positive, while bank has a negative influence on firm's out-performance. We also show that the out-performance of a firm with shareholding of non-bank financial firms up to 50 percent is lower than the out-performance of a firm that does not have such ownership.
Antibacterial Activity Of Amchur Extracts On Some Indigenous Oral Microbiota Causing Dental Caries

The antibacterial activity of amchur (dried pulp of unripe Mangifera indica) extract (50% ethanol) was tested against ten bacterial strains causing dental plaque by agar well diffusion method. The crude extract showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity inhibiting both the groups of Gram-positive & Gram-negative bacteria. The extract was most effective against Bacillus sp. , followed by Staphylococcus mutans and Pseudomonas sp. , whereas Halobacterium sp. was found to be the most resistant. Chlorhexidine (present in mouthwashes to prevent infection of dental caries) was used as a positive control. Natural extract of amchur was found to be more effective as compared to chlorhexidine. This study shows the potential of amchur in the treatment of dental caries.
Salmon, sensors, and translation: The agency of Big Data in environmental governance

This paper explores the emerging role of Big Data in environmental governance. We focus on the case of salmon aquaculture management from 2011 to 2017 in Macquarie Harbour, Australia, and compare this with the foundational case that inspired the development of the concept of ‘translation’ in actor-network theory, that of scallop domestication in St Brieuc Bay, France, in the 1970s. A key difference is the salience of environmental data in the contemporary case. Recent dramatic events in the environmental governance of Macquarie Harbour have been driven by increasing spatial and temporal resolution of environmental monitoring, including real-time data collection from sensors mounted on the fish themselves. The resulting environmental data now takes centre stage in increasingly heated debates over how the harbour should be managed: overturning long-held assumptions about environmental interactions, inducing changes in regulatory practices and institutions, fracturing historical alliances and shaping the on-going legitimacy of the industry. Environmental Big Data is now a key actor within the networks that constitute and enact environmental governance. Given its new and unpredictable agency, control over access to data is likely to become critical in future power struggles over environmental resources and their governance.
Investigating Scalable Manufacturing of High-Conductivity Wires and Coatings From Ultra-Long Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a promising candidate for next generation of electrical wirings and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials due to their exceptional mechanical and electrical properties. Wires and coatings from ultralong nanotubes that are highly crystalline, well-aligned and densely packed can achieve this goal. High-performance CNT conductors will be relatively lightweight and resistant to harsh conditions and therefore can potentially replace current conductors in many industries including aerospace, automotive, gas and oil. This thesis investigates a new manufacturing approach, based on conventional solution coating and wire drawing methods, to fabricate high conductivity wires and coatings from ultra-long carbon nanotubes. This approach enables forming dense and aligned coatings of CNTs on various substrate wires. To achieve the carbon nanotube coating, millimeters long and vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays are first dispersed in sulfuric acid via mild shear mixing, forming CNT fibers. The resulting vi fibers are subsequently solution coated onto a substrate wire (i.e., nylon and copper here) and the coating was subsequently drawn through a series of dies. During each drawing step, the CNT coated wire is passed through a wire drawing die to decrease the coating thickness and to coax the CNTs to align and pack. Effects of various processing parameters on the structure and resulting electrical conductivity of coated wires were investigated. By controlling processing parameters and number of dip coatings, both thin and thick coatings were formed on substrate wires; coatings accounting for up to 80% of the total wire cross-section were achieved. Microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were utilized to probe the structure of CNTs in the coatings. Adding short single-walled nanotubes to the ultra-long multi-walled ones in the coating solution resulted in 46.8% improvement in conductivity of the coatings. It was concluded that the continuous coating process introduced here can be used to manufacture high conductivity coatings and wires. In chapter 1, the motivation behind this study is presented and structure of CNTs are explained. Chapter 2 reviews, in detail, CNT synthesis approaches and also our results on chemical vapor deposition of CNTs. Chapter 3 discusses advantages and disadvantages of different CNT wire and fiber manufacturing techniques, solution coated wires using our novel approach, and results of CNT coated copper and nylon wires. Electrical properties of the prepared wires and their structural characterization via Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron and light microscopies are discussed in chapters 4 and 5. Finally, a discussion of structure-property relationships of the CNT coated wires is presented in chapter 6.
ournal of C osmology and A stroparticle hysics J The observed galaxy bispectrum from single-ﬁeld inﬂation in the squeezed limit

Using the consistency relation in Fourier space, we derive the observed galaxy bispectrum from single-ﬁeld inﬂation in the squeezed limit, in which one of the three modes has a wavelength much longer than the other two. This provides a non-trivial check of the full computation of the bispectrum based on second-order cosmological perturbation theory in this limit. We show that gauge modes need to be carefully removed in the second-order cosmological perturbations in order to calculate the observed galaxy bispectrum in the squeezed limit. We then give an estimate of the eﬀective non-Gaussianity due to general-relativistic lightcone eﬀects that could mimic a primordial non-Gaussian signal.
A note on cytogenetic monitoring of Polish Red cattle

The cytogenetic control system of bulls sent to AI stations has been in use in Poland since 1989 and it is aimed to eliminate from breeding the bulls and semen of sires affected by chromosome abnormalities, with provision for extension of the studies with family material. In the years 1989-2002 451 animals of Polish Red cattle were cytogenetically investigated and in this population four cases of 60,XX/60,XY leucocyte chimerism and three cases of 1;29 Robertsonian translocation had been found. The aberration carriers were not related. The next four cases of 1;29 Robertsonian translocation, recently diagnosed (2003) in a herd of Polish Red cattle, suggest the need for cytogenetic monitoring of genetic reserve breeds of cattle that would also account for females.
EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE ACTION OF ETHEPHON AND SODIUM SELENITE ON SOME HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN RATS

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is one of the most intensely used plant growth regulators. Aim: Assessment of hematological parameters during subacute intoxication with ethephon (200 mg/kg bw/day) in rats and evaluation of the potential protective effect of selenium (1 mg/kg bw/day) (administered as sodium selenite) in rats during the experimental intoxication by oral route with high doses of ethephon (200 mg/kg bw/day). Material and methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Control group, Ethephon group (200 mg ethephon/kg bw/day, 14 days), Selenium group (1 mg Se/kg bw/day, 14 days), Selenium+ethephon group (200 mg ethephon/kg bw/day and 1 mg Se/kg bw/day). Blood samples were collected on the 15th day and a complete blood count was conducted by using an automated hematology analyzer. Results: Mean red blood cell count was 7.06x106/µl in the Ethephon group and 7.18x106/µl in the Selenium group, as compared to 7.16x106/µl in the Control group. Platelet count decreased from 1028.66x103/µl in the Control group to 999.66x103/µl in the Ethephon group. Total leukocyte count was 7.82x103/µl in the Ethephon group and 8.40x103/µl in the Selenium+ethephon group, as compared to a mean of 8.07x103/µl in the Control group. Conclusions: The modification of some of the hematological parameters in the groups to which ethephon was administered can be suggestive of the harmful effect of this substance (which is present as a residue in food products) on consumer health. Orally administered selenium (as sodium selenite) at a dose of 1 mg Se/kg bw, seems to have acted as a toxic and not as a protective agent during the intoxication with ethephon.
Cyclical productivity and the workweek of capital

Standard specifications of the production function assume that an increase in labor given the stock of physical capital will reduce the capital-labor ratio. Since the stock of physical capital is quasi-fixed, the elasticity of output with respect to labor should be less than 1 as long as there are constant returns to scale. However, empirical studies of productivity typically find short-run increasing returns to labor. But the effective stock of capital should not be regarded as fixed if, when labor increases, it goes onto a previously inoperative shift. Labor that works the late shift will have at least as much capital as labor working days. Hence, for increases in labor that are accompanied by increases in the workweek of capital, there is no presumption of diminishing marginal product of labor. This paper describes briefly a data set that provides a direct measure of the workweek of capital and then investigates its role in cyclical productivity. It finds that much of the apparent cyclicality of total factor productivity is accounted for by variation in the workweek of capital.
Converting isotope values to diet composition: the use of mixing models

Abstract A common use of stable isotope analysis in mammalogy is to make inferences about diet from isotope values (typically &dgr;13C and &dgr;15N) measured in tissues and food sources of a consumer. Mathematical mixing models are used to estimate the proportional contributions of food sources to the isotopic composition of the tissues of a consumer, which reflect the assimilated diet. This paper reviews basic mixing models and how they work; additional refinements also are described that include addressing uncertainty, larger numbers of sources, combining sources, concentration effects, and Bayesian statistical frameworks. Information is provided on where to access software for the various models. Numerous examples are cited to show application of these models in the mammal research literature.
Coronal mass ejection-related particle acceleration regions during a simple eruptive event

An intriguing feature of many solar energetic particle (SEP) events is the detection of particles over a very extended range of longitudes in the heliosphere. This may be due to peculiarities of the magnetic field in the corona, to a broad accelerator, to cross-field transport of the particles, or to a combination of these processes. The eruptive flare on 26 April 2008 provided an opportunity to study relevant processes under particularly favourable conditions since it occurred in a very quiet solar and interplanetary environment. This enabled us to investigate the physical link between a single well-identified coronal mass ejection (CME), electron acceleration as traced by radio emission, and the production of SEPs. We conduct a detailed analysis, which combines radio observations (Nancay Radio Heliograph and Nancay Decametre Array, Wind/Waves spectrograph) with remote-sensing observations of the corona in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and white light, as well as in situ measurements of energetic particles near 1AU (SoHO and STEREO spacecraft). By combining images taken from multiple vantage points, we were able to derive the time-dependent evolution of the 3D pressure front that was developing around the erupting CME. Magnetic reconnection in the post-CME current sheet accelerated electrons, which remained confined in closed magnetic fields in the corona, while the acceleration of escaping particles can be attributed to the pressure front ahead of the expanding CME. The CME accelerated electrons remotely from the parent active region, owing to the interaction of its laterally expanding flank, which was traced by an EUV wave, with the ambient corona. SEPs detected at one STEREO spacecraft and SoHO were accelerated later, when the frontal shock of the CME intercepted the spacecraft-connected interplanetary magnetic field line. The injection regions into the heliosphere inferred from the radio and SEP observations are separated in longitude by about 140 •. The observations for this event show that it is misleading to interpret multi-spacecraft SEP measurements in terms of one acceleration region in the corona. The different acceleration regions are linked to different vantage points in the interplanetary space.
The relationship between leader emotional intelligence and psychological climate: An exploratory study

This study, which was conducted in a clothing manufacturing plant, investigated the relationship between two important constructs for organisations, namely: leader emotional intelligence and psychological climate. A random cluster sample of 600 participants were drawn from a total employee population of 1725 and 297 completed responses were returned for analyses (49,5% response rate). An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted on both the Swinburne University Emotional Intelligence Test (SUEIT) and the Organisational Climate Questionnaire of Koys and DeCotiis (1991). Both scales were found to be valid and reliable. Stepwise Discriminant analysis provided evidence that a single psychological climate existed in the organisation. The results of a Pearson correlation analysis and Hierarchical Multiple Regression further indicated that leader emotional intelligence is significantly positively related to the psychological climate.
Dynamic Capabilities and Competitive Advantage of Fast Foods Restaurants

The study focused on the relationship between dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage of fast foods restaurants in Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, while primary data was collected via the administration of a structured questionnaire. Three hypotheses were formulated that, the dimensions of dynamic capabilities do not significantly correlate with the competitive advantage of the firms. However, the result of the analysis disproved the null hypotheses, meaning that dynamic capabilities of the firms significantly influence their levels of competitive advantage. It was recommended that managers of the firms should encourage quick response to environmental changes, by enhancing their employees’ capability to detect, monitor and respond to competition. Also, employees should be exposed to current trends, technologies and business applications in the sector to enhance their competencies which will, in turn, improve the competitive advantage of the firm.
A general theory for the lifetimes of giant molecular clouds under the influence of galactic dynamics

We propose a simple analytic theory for environmentally-dependent molecular cloud lifetimes, based on the large-scale (galactic) dynamics of the interstellar medium. Within this theory, the cloud lifetime is set by the time-scales for gravitational collapse, galactic shear, spiral arm interactions, epicyclic perturbations and cloud-cloud collisions. It is dependent on five observable quantities, accessible through measurements of the galactic rotation curve, the gas and stellar surface densities, and the gas and stellar velocity dispersions of the host galaxy. We determine how the relative importance of each dynamical mechanism varies throughout the space of observable galactic properties, and conclude that gravitational collapse and galactic shear play the greatest role in setting the cloud lifetime for the considered range of galaxy properties, while cloud-cloud collisions exert a much lesser influence. All five environmental mechanisms are nevertheless required to obtain a complete picture of cloud evolution. We apply our theory to the galaxies M31, M51, M83, and the Milky Way, and find a strong dependence of the cloud lifetime upon galactocentric radius in each case, with a typical cloud lifetime between 10 and 50 Myr. Our theory is ideally-suited for systematic observational tests with the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre array.
Video market data for calves and yearlings confirms price discounts for Western cattle

We used 11 years of data from video auction sales across the western United States to address two long-standing questions posed by California cattle ranchers. First, as expected, ranchers receive lower prices for cattle sold here compared to prices received by ranchers in the Midwest. Second, some (but not all) “value-adding” production and marketing practices raise prices received by ranchers. We report the average amount of location discounts and quality premiums for several market regions.