Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smoothing of Limit Linear Series on Curves and Metrized Complexes of Pseudocompact Type

Abstract We investigate the connection between Osserman limit series (on curves of pseudocompact type) and Amini–Baker limit linear series (on metrized complexes with corresponding underlying curve) via a notion of pre-limit linear series on curves of the same type. Then, applying the smoothing theorems of Osserman limit linear series, we deduce that, fixing certain metrized complexes, or for certain types of Amini–Baker limit linear series, the smoothability is equivalent to a certain “weak glueing condition”. Also for arbitrary metrized complexes of pseudocompact type the weak glueing condition (when it applies) is necessary for smoothability. As an application we confirm the lifting property of specific divisors on the metric graph associated with a certain regular smoothing family, and give a new proof of a result of Cartright, Jensen, and Payne for vertex-avoiding divisors, and generalize it for divisors of rank one in the sense that, for the metric graph, there could be at most three edges (instead of two) between any pair of adjacent vertices.
Localizing Proton-Mediated Inhibitory Feedback at the Retinal Horizontal Cell–Cone Synapse with Genetically-Encoded pH Probes

Lateral inhibition in the vertebrate retina depends on a negative feedback synapse between horizontal cells (HCs) and rod and cone photoreceptors. A change in pH is thought to be the signal for negative feedback, but its spatial profile in the synaptic cleft is unknown. Here we use three different membrane proteins, each fused to the same genetically-encoded pH-sensitive Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) (pHluorin), to probe synaptic pH in retina from transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) of either sex. We used the cone transducin promoter to express SynaptopHluorin (pHluorin on vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP2)) or CalipHluorin (pHluorin on an L-type Ca2+ channel) and the HC-specific connexin-55.5 promoter to express AMPApHluorin (pHluorin on an AMPA receptor). Stimulus light led to increased fluorescence of all three probes, consistent with alkalinization of the synaptic cleft. The receptive field size, sensitivity to surround illumination, and response to activation of an alien receptor expressed exclusively in HCs, are consistent with lateral inhibition as the trigger for alkalinization. However, SynaptopHluorin and AMPApHluorin, which are displaced farther from cone synaptic ribbons than CalipHluorin, reported a smaller pH change. Hence, unlike feedforward glutamatergic transmission, which spills over to allow cross talk between terminals in the cone network, the pH change underlying HC feedback is compartmentalized to individual synaptic invaginations within a cone terminal, consistent with private line communication. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Lateral inhibition (LI) is a fundamental feature of information processing in sensory systems, enhancing contrast sensitivity and enabling edge discrimination. Horizontal cells (HCs) are the first cellular substrate of LI in the vertebrate retina, but the synaptic mechanisms underlying LI are not completely understood, despite decades of study. This paper makes a significant contribution to our understanding of LI, by showing that each HC–cone synapse is a “private-line” that operates independently from other HC–cone connections. Using transgenic zebrafish expressing pHluorin, a pH-sensitive GFP variant spliced onto three different protein platforms expressed either in cones or HCs we show that the feedback pH signal is constrained to individual cone terminals, and more stringently, to individual synaptic contact sites within each terminal.
The effect of governance system and degree of convergence to IFRs on the quality of financial reporting: Evidence from Asia

This research investigates the effect of governance system and degree of convergence to IFRS on financial reporting quality. With sample of Asian countries, this study concludes that country level and firm level governance systems, both at, and the degree of convergence have positive influence on financial reporting quality.The effect of degree of convergence of local GAAP to IFRS and corporate governance practice to financial reporting quality will be stronger for companies in countries with weak investor protection. Also, we find that in company with weak corporate governance practice, the adoption of international standards will increase the quality of financial reporting.The results indicate that the adoption of international accounting standard become more important in the countries and companies with weak governance system.
Continuability in Time of Smooth Solutions of Strong-Nonlinear Nondiagonal Parabolic Systems

A class of quasilinear parabolic systems with quadratic nonlinearities in the gradient is considered. It is assumed that the elliptic operator of a system has variational structure. In the multidimensional case, the behavior of solutions of the Cauchy-Dirichlet problem smooth on a time interval (0, T ) is studied. Smooth extendibility of the solution up to t = T is proved, provided that "normilized local energies" of the solution are uniformly bounded on (0, T ) . F or the case where (0, T ) determines the maximal interval of existence of a smooth solution,the Hausdorff measure of a singular set at the moment t = T is estimated.
The importance of very high life satisfaction for students’ academic success

Abstract This study investigated whether very high levels of life satisfaction were associated with academic success at the college level. Three-hundred fifty-seven university students reported on their life satisfaction and various indicators of educational functioning. Participants with very high life satisfaction (top 10%) were compared to those with average and low levels of life satisfaction to explore differences in these academic factors. Results indicated that although both groups were satisfied with life, the students with very high life satisfaction were at a significant advantage over those with average life satisfaction in terms of academic performance, including greater student engagement, academic self-efficacy, and approach-oriented achievement goals and lower academic stress. The most satisfied students also earned higher Grade Point Averages (GPAs) than their less satisfied peers. There were no differences in educational functioning between the average and low life satisfaction students. These findings suggest that very high life satisfaction is associated with academic advantages that are not present among students with average or low satisfaction levels.
CONTROL DE Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky CON POLVOS INERTES CONTROL OF Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky WITH INERT DUSTS

Seven inert powders (0.1%, 1% and 2%, w/w) were evaluated in laboratory to control Sitophilus zeamais M. The evaluated variables were insect mortality and emergence of adult insects, grain weight loss and germination, and residual effect. The experimental design was completely randomized, the treatments had three replicates, and the treatments group was repeated three times. The highest mortality was obtained with diatomeous earth at 1% (92.6%) and 2% (98.8%); and with calcium carbonate at 1% (70.2%) and 2% (84.2%). The lowest adult insects emergence was obtained with the same treatments, and talc at 1% and 2%. Weight loss in grain treated with diatomeous earth and calcium carbonate was less than 5%. Grain germination showed no significant change, and the effectiveness of inert powders was maintained during 90 d.
Treating Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura With Plasma Exchange

Plasma exchange with fresh-frozen plasma has been used for several years as therapy for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), among other disorders. A review of the literature describing TTP indicated successful treatment with cryoprecipitate-poor plasma in plasma exchange alone or with fresh-frozen plasma. Inquiry with our hospital's plasma supplier provided information about cryoprecipitate-poor plasma and a newly approved plasma product, solvent/detergent-treated plasma, that substantially reduces the risk for transmission of HIV or hepatitis C virus. Use of more than one plasma product can result in more effective and economic treatment than with one product alone and can provide flexibility for both the blood bank and the supplier when demand exceeds supply.
Study on Expressway Crack Segmentation Algorithm Combined with Pulse-Coupled Neural Network and Cross-Entropy Algorithm

The expressway crack identification is significantly important for the expressway safety maintenance, and the crack detection is one of key technologies for the crack identification. This paper proposed an expressway crack detection method based on improved Pulse-Coupled Neural Network (PCNN), used minimum cross-entropy algorithm to obtain the optimal iterations of PCNN algorithm, and then complete the segmentation of expressway images by combining the simplified PCNN algorithm. The results showed that this method could inhibit the background noise and better extract continuous crack edge to provide good characteristics for crack identification in the next step.
Haptoglobin polymorphism among three populations of Manipur, India: a critical analysis

Haptogloin is a plasma protein that binds free hemoglobin, thereby inhibiting hemoglobin induced oxidative damage. The distribution of haptoglobin alleles varies according to the geographical location and ethnicity. The present study is carried out to study the frequency distribution of haptoglobin in three endogamous populations of Manipur, India. Serum was separated from blood samples collected from 335 Muslims, 262 Meitei Brahmins and 121 Kabuis. HP*2 is found to be highest among Kabuis (0.924) followed by Muslims (0.918) and Meitei Brahmins (0.836). Muslims are found to deviate from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p=0.006). Comparison between the populations show a significant difference between Muslims and Meitei Brahmins (p=0.00) and Meitei Brahmins and Kabuis (p=0.005). The frequency of HP*2 is also found to have increased significantly in comparison to earlier reported data, supporting the hypothesis that haptoglobin polymorphism is still in transient form.
Business Intelligence Practices for Exporting SMEs

The aim of this paper is to study business intelligence practices of exporting SME and their relationship to the level of international commitment. The results show that managers’ sensitivity, influenced by the level of international commitment, plays a central role in the organization of their intelligence practices. The research focused on Quebec SME exporters and used the PLS method to verify research assumptions.
Three-Dimensional Geometry of the Reelfoot Blind Thrust: Implications for Moment Release and Earthquake Magnitude in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Mapping of the Reelfoot blind thrust using portable array for numerical data acquisition (PANDA) seismicity suggests that it is a complex fault that changes its geometry along strike. The thrust appears to be bounded to the north by an east-trending strike-slip fault. The southern end of the thrust is defined by seismicity and does not terminate at a known transverse fault. The northern portion of the thrust steepens at shallow levels, forming a listric (concave upward) shape in cross section. The southern segment of the thrust is interpreted to flatten near the top of the Precambrian basement. Although some segmentation of the blind thrust is observed from the mapping of 3-km-wide strips of seismicity oriented perpendicular to the fault, it does not appear to be significant enough to prevent rupture along its entire length. The area of the blind thrust (1301 km 2 ), coupled with several estimates of displacement in the 7 February 1812 event, is used to determine the moment released during the event. The values of M 0 range from 6.8 × 10 26 to 1.4 × 10 27 dyne cm, with preferred values between 6.8 × 10 26 and 8.7 × 10 26 dyne cm. Similar calculations for an earthquake in A.D. 1450 yield a moment release of 1.0 × 10 27 dyne cm. Computed moment magnitude for the 7 February 1812 event ranges from M w 7.2 to 7.4, with preferred values between M w 7.2 and 7.3. The moment magnitude for the A.D. 1450 event is computed as M w 7.3. These values for the magnitude of the 1812 earthquake are lower than previous estimates based on historical records of shaking. However, this does not imply a lowered seismic risk in the New Madrid seismic zone, as site effects in the Mississippi embayment may significantly amplify the ground motion caused by earthquakes of a given magnitude.
Minimum Wage Enforcement in the Developing World

Drawing on evidence from developing country studies, this paper considers several key issues. We discuss the impact of minimum wages in the developing world based on a selection of recent studies and highlight non-compliance with minimum wage laws as an important research and policy issue. We then briefly review the existing empirical evidence on non-compliance, which reveals relatively high levels of violation in the cases for which data are available. Reflecting on this evidence we have suggested a new Index of Violation to measure absolute and relative levels of minimum wage violation. Arguably such a measure is a potentially powerful policy tool for guiding where enforcement resources need to be channelled. Yet we also understand very little about the various factors which impact on violation of the minimum wage. We identify individual, institutional, firm and local labour market characteristics as a composite set of dependent variables, which may explain non-compliance with the law. While the evidence is scant, it does support the notion that these factors are critical as ‘inputs’ in understanding the ‘output’ of minimum wage violation. Based on the assembled evidence, a comparison of policy approaches regarding enforcement are discussed – with a view to suggesting an optimal policy intervention matrix for minimum wage enforcement in developing countries.
Scrape-marking behavior of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor)

Abstract Marking behaviors of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor) were investigated by linking sign from transect surveys to species, sex, and individual detected by camera traps along trails in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. The most commonly encountered big-cat signs were scrape marks. These were produced by cats raking the ground with their feet. Scrapes were associated more strongly with presence of male pumas than with female pumas or jaguars of either sex. Scats found in scrapes were genotyped to species level and indicated that jaguars produced larger scrapes than pumas and that pumas were more likely to scrape with their hind feet than with front feet. Scrapes were spatially clustered along trails, indicating that individuals scrape in response to other scrapes in the same area. High scraping frequencies were not associated with the presence of specific individuals, suggesting that scrape-marking behavior does not signal dominance in this area.
IKVAV-Containing Cell Membrane Penetrating Peptide Treatment Induces Changes in Cellular Morphology after Spinal Cord Injury

A cell membrane spanning peptide was used to increase the concentration of the IKVAV motif within damaged mouse spinal cord tissue. This peptide was injected directly to the lesion 24 hours after spinal cord compression injury. Because the membrane-spanning portion of the peptide adheres to tissue upon injection with a long half-life we hypothesized that the bioactive IKVAV sequence will provide a sustained regenerative signal at the sight of injury. Five different groups of mice were used and cellular morphology observations were undertaken using light and electron microscopy. Three surgical control groups: IKVAV, peptide and mannitol; one surgical treatment group: IKVAV-peptide; and one non-surgical control group: normal, were used in this experiment. In this study, treatment with IKVAV-peptide after SCI resulted in an increased number of protoplasmic astrocytes, large active motor neurons, and regeneration of muscle bundles followed by behavioral improvement. In this paper, we describe the cellular differences between all groups.
DOES MANAGER IN BETTER ECONOMIC VALUE ADDED’S COMPANIES FEELING MORE SATISFIED? AN INVESTIGATION OF EVA’s ROLE IN MITIGATING AGENCY PROBLEM PROXIES: EMPIRICAL RESEARCH FROM EMERGING MARKET SAMPLE, NAMELY INDONESIA

This research is formulating the cause of agency conflict into three factors. The first one is agent unsatisfactory on the existing compensation system. The second is the high ratio of free cash flow in the company. The last is the absence of good monitoring on the company operation. Based on those three factors, this research aims to find a full perspective of these occurrences. One of the tools to investigate it is using EVA® as investigator tools, which is relatively new as a performance measurement in Emerging Market. The proxy variables on agency conflict are new investment ratio and total asset turn over. The control variables are dividend payout ratio and leverage. There are two research questions that being addressed in this research. The first, if there are any differences in agency conflict proxies between companies that have positive EVA® in their performance and companies with negative EVA®. The Second is to analyze if EVA® has significant role to influence the behavior of manager which tend to trigger the agency conflict within the company. The Methodology of this research was paired t-test data comparison between positive EVA companies and negative EVA. In addition, we analyzed the relationship of variable within the model with Data pool from 2002 until 2011To sum up the methodology; we tested the model with robustness test and Causality Test as well. The research finds out that Manager in companies with better EVA® tend to have lower agency conflict level. In conclusion, EVA® is strongly supporting the control variable in explaining its influence on dependent variables or agency conflict proxies.
Low latitude thermospheric responses to magnetic storms

Thermospheric density and neutral velocity perturbations associated with three magnetic storms in the autumn season of 2011 are examined using data from the neutral wind meter (NWM) on the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) satellite. The data from perigee passes near 400 km altitude show marked increases in neutral density during the storms and associated increases in horizontal neutral flow speeds. These thermospheric responses are characterized by enhanced meridional neutral flows with peak perturbation amplitudes near 100 m/s and relative neutral density enhancements ranging from 50–100%. The increases in the neutral density and meridional flow velocity at equatorial latitudes occur about 5–7 h after the initial perturbations are observed in the z component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and they persist for 20–30 h. The perturbations in the neutral density are in good agreement with temperature increases predicted by an empirical model that has been validated using data from the CHAMP and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment missions, with a maximum lag time of ~1–1.5 h between the model temperature increases and the observed density perturbations. The model temperatures are in excellent agreement with ground‐based low‐latitude temperature measurements during the storms. Ground‐based wind measurements during one of the storms provide additional data for comparison with the perturbation wind amplitudes measured aboard the satellite.
Host specificity of the tribe Chrysidini (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) in Estonia ascertained with trap-nesting

Cuckoo wasps (Chrysididae) are a medium-sized and widespread family of Hymenoptera whose species are generally para- sitoids or cleptoparasites of solitary wasps and bees. The identities of the hosts are known from various studies and occasional records; however the utility of such data is often low due to unstable taxonomy of the species and the inappropriate methods used to determine the host species. Therefore, despite numerous publications on the subject, the host-parasite relationships of cuckoo wasps are poorly understood. Moreover, a revision of existing literature reveals that cuckoo wasps are often unreasonably considered to be unspecialized (i.e., sharing host species). In this study we use an accurate method (trap-nests) to determine the host relationships of Estonian cuckoo wasps of the genera Chrysis and Trichrysis and determine their level of specialization. 568 trap nest bundles (each containing 15-20 single reed stems) were established at 361 locations across Estonia during the vegetation periods of 2009-2011. Nests built in traps were opened and the order of cells documented in order to determine the host-parasite relationships of mason wasps and cuckoo wasps. Altogether, 5386 insects were recorded, including 12 species of Chrysidini. Hosts of all 12 cuckoo wasp species were determined and included some not previously recorded. Analysis of host-parasite relationships revealed that Estonian species of Chrysidini exhibit a greater degree of host specialization than previously thought, with only a minimal overlap in hosts between species. Such a high degree of specialization accounts for the high species diversity of cuckoo wasps, as the diversity of parasitic insects is often associated with narrow host specialization.
Development of a procedure to evaluate the air leakage distribution from fan pressurization test - validation of three airflow models

SUMMARY A number of airflow models have been developed to assist the designer in the design of energy efficient and healthy built environment. The models range from very simple empirical algorithms to calculate the global airflow rate to sophisticated computerized fluid-dynamic techniques solving the Navier-Stokes equations. The multi-zone approach falls between these two extreme cases. This approach assumes that the interior of the building is divided into regions of differing pressures interconnected by leakage paths. The advantage of multi-zone models, besides being able to simulate infiltration in larger buildings, is that they can be used to calculate mass flow interactions between the different zones inside buildings as well as inside and outside. This knowledge is needed for the design of heating/cooling and ventilation systems. An essential part of the development of any computer model is its validation, and the essential information needed for validation of airflow models is the distribution of air leakage distribution. This paper first describes a methodology to distribute global air leakage of whole house and whole garage among cracks and gaps on exterior walls and roof, and report the validation of three airflow models. From the comparisons it can be seen that there are good agreement between the predictions made by the models and measured data, as well as between three models. Therefore, it can be concluded that the methodology for air leakage distribution is correct, and the performances of COMIS, CONTAM and ESP-r for predicting airflow rates in single-family house are similar.