Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sustainable supply chain management in tourism

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) encapsulates the trend to use purchasing policies and practices to facilitate sustainable development at the tourist destination. Most research has focused on environmental aspects of manufacturing, while other aspects of sustainability or the challenges for the service sector are largely ignored. Yet SSCM is particularly important for tour operators, as the product depends on the activities of suppliers, such as accommodation, transport and activities. Therefore, tour operators' contribution to sustainable tourism will be more effective through the definition and implementation of policies that acknowledge responsibility for the impacts of suppliers. Exploratory research of SSCM practices amongst tour operators generated a wide range of examples of good practice across the whole supply chain, and recommendations are made for more widespread engagement. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Aggregative feeding behavior in sea urchins leads to destructive grazing in a Nova Scotian kelp bed

Grazing aggregations of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis drive the transition between alternative ecosystem states in Nova Scotia, from productive kelp beds to less productive barrens. This transition can be initiated by the formation of gaps within a kelp bed, containing dense aggregations of sea urchins. We examined the importance of local density of sea urchins and pre-existing gaps in a kelp canopy in mediating the formation of destructive grazing aggregations of sea urchins in a kelp bed. We transplanted 14 000 adult sea urchins from a barrens on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia into ~4.5 m 2 plots within a nearby kelp bed, at densities above and below a predicted threshold value for destructive grazing, and simulated disturbance to the kelp bed by removing the kelp canopy in half of the plots. Sea-urchin abundance and gap formation and expansion (as loss of kelp canopy cover) were monitored in and around plots weekly for 9 wk. Grazer-mediated gap formation began 3 wk after sea urchins were introduced, and increased for the remainder of the exper- iment. Our results indicate a direct linear relationship between sea-urchin abundance and increase in gap area within undisturbed treatments. Gaps expanded in the kelp bed at sea- urchin densities below the putative threshold for destructive grazing, indicating that the kelp bed was less resilient to grazing than predicted. Our findings provide insights into mechanisms controlling the stability of the kelp-bed ecosystem state and mediating shifts from kelp beds to barrens in Nova Scotia.
Critical natural frequency: an improved empirical effectiveness criterion in vibration stress relief of rectangle welded plates

Decreasing of natural frequency of the treated structure is the most frequently used empirical effectiveness criteria in vibration stress relief (VSR). However, dependability and reliability of this criteria is still far from sufficient. In this study, a covert negative treatment phenomenon was investigated, i.e. natural frequency of welded structures decreased after VSR but residual stress in one direction increased. Relationship between natural frequency and residual stresses was studied by mathematical deduction and finite element method. “Natural Frequency Function” and “Natural Frequency Surface (NFS)” was proposed to describe that relationship. “Critical Natural Frequency” (CNF) was proposed to depict possible situations after VSR. A quantitative natural frequency criterion for VSR effectiveness estimation was proposed.
The acquisition of coordination and recursion of PPS: how to fare the development of these computations?

A recursividade, um calculo implementado atraves da insercao de um constituinte dentro de outro, e amplamente reconhecido como uma capacidade cognitiva fundamental. Uma discussao interessante sobre o tema gira em torno da especificidade do dominio dessa cognicao, ou seja, se ela esta nas bases da capacidade de linguagem ou se e parte integral de recursos cognitivos gerais e e posta em acao na linguagem como um fator externo. Naturalmente, e primordial para essa discussao saber quando a recursividade e adquirida. Este estudo quer contribuir para esta discussao ampla, concentrando-se na aquisicao de uma instancia recursiva - a dos sintagmas preposicionais (PPs) em Portugues do Brasil. Os resultados apontam para a faixa etaria de 4 anos como sendo a idade em que a recursividade comeca a ser processada de forma significativa.
Gender Disparities in Sciences: The Question of Parental Influence on Children's Self-Concept and Utility-Value.

Self-concept and utility-values are thought to influence differences in choices, participation and performance in schools-careers between students of different genders and ages. This study was investigating existence of gender differences in such constructs regarding science. Further, the study investigated whether development of such constructs is still influenced by how children feel their parents perceive them in relation to sciences. Using a 30item, Lickert-type questionnaire, data were collected from a random sample of 184 second and third graders. Results showed that, students’ self perceptions and those of parents regarding science are positively related. Further, self-concept and utility-values were higher among boys than girls. Based on the result, it was concluded that, parents’ gender-based perceptions regarding science that are still communicated at home might be the reason for the development of children’s gender-based self-perceptions regarding sciences.
Isolation and purification of phytocystatin from almond: Biochemical, biophysical, and immunological characterization

Abstract It is well known that fruit nuts contain wide variety of flavonoids and various proteins, consumption of which has been associated with the reduced risk of chronic diseases. Cystatins, a family of cysteine proteinase inhibitors, ubiquitously present in all cells serve various important and critical physiological functions. In this study a phytocystatin with molecular mass of 63.4 kDa was purified to homogeneity by a three-step process including ammonium sulfate fractionation (50–70%), acetone precipitation, and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S100-HR column. The purified inhibitor migrated as single band under native and SDS-PAGE. The Ki values for purified inhibitor with papain, ficin, and bromelain were found to be 45.45, 83.33, and 90.9 nM, respectively, suggesting higher affinity of the inhibitor for papain as compared to ficin and bromelain. Phytocystatin was stable in broad pH and temperature range. Purified cystatin appeared to be antigenic as observed in western blot analysis. ITC assay data show a binding stoichiometry of 0.870 ± 0.03 sites for cystatin and papain interaction which indicated that cystatin is surrounded by nearly one papain molecule. FTIR, UV, and fluorescence studies showed significant conformational changes on cystatin–papain complex formation. Purified cystatin was found to possess 36.8% α-helical content as observed by CD spectroscopy.
Retrieval of temperature, H 2 O, O 3 , HNO 3 , CH 4 , N 2 O, ClONO 2 and ClO from MIPAS reduced resolution nominal mode limb emission measurements

Abstract. Retrievals of temperature, H2O, O3, HNO3, CH4, N2O, ClONO2 and ClO from MIPAS reduced spectral resolution nominal mode limb emission measurements outperform retrievals from respective full spectral resolution measurements both in terms of altitude resolution and precision. The estimated precision (including measurement noise and propagation of uncertain parameters randomly varying in the time domain) and altitude resolution are typically 0.5–1.4 K and 2–3.5 km for temperature between 10 and 50 km altitude, and 5–6%, 2–4 km for H2O below 30 km altitude, 4–5%, 2.5–4.5 km for O3 between 15 and 40 km altitude, 3–8%, 3–5 km for HNO3 between 10 and 35 km altitude, 5–8%, 2–3 km for CH4 between 15 and 35 km altitude, 5–10%, 3 km for N2O between 15 and 35 km altitude, 8–14%, 2.5–9 km for ClONO2 below 40 km, and larger than 35%, 3–7 km for ClO in the lower stratosphere. As for the full spectral resolution measurements, the reduced spectral resolution nominal mode horizontal sampling (410 km) is coarser than the horizontal smoothing (often below 400 km), depending on species, altitude and number of tangent altitudes actually used for the retrieval. Thus, aliasing might be an issue even in the along-track domain. In order to prevent failure of convergence, it was found to be essential to consider horizontal temperature gradients during the retrieval.
EFFECTS OF DISCOURSE AND RESPONSE MODE ON THE MEASUREMENT OF WRITING COMPETENCE

The need for school district and state assessment programs to test the development of student competence in the basic skills has focused attention on some persistent methodological problems inherent in measuring writing competence. Researchers from such disciplines as cognitive psychology, psychometrics, linguistics and rhetoric differ markedly in their definitions of components of the complex skill domain of writing and in their views on how to test it. There is controversy about types, lengths and numbers of writing tasks that should be administered for a given test form, and even about whether some aspects of composition require "direct" assessment through the collection of writing samples. Considerable difficulty in designing writing competency tests arises from the requirement that competency tests possess construct, content and ecological validity. Test validation needs to be concerned with features of test item content, or task structure, as a basis for understanding test performance. The underlying question is whether test items tap the domain of knowledge and processes which a test purports to measure. Studies of the technical adequacy of competency measurement are turning from emphasis on predictive validity toward a balanced analysis both of the cognitive components required by test tasks or items and of the resulting response patterns (Harnisch & Linn, 1981; McArthur, 1982).
From the Sun to the outer heliosphere: Modeling and analyses of the interplanetary propagation of the October/November (Halloween) 2003 solar events

[1] We use the space weather validated 3-D HAFv2 model to help us study the interplanetary propagation of the October/November 2003 solar eruptions from the Sun to >90 AU and over a wide range of heliolongitudes and heliolatitudes. The HAFv2 model predictions at ACE (1 AU), Ulysses (5.23 AU), Cassini (8.67 AU), Voyager 2 (73 AU), and Voyager 1 (93 AU) are compared with available data. These comparisons indicate the importance of asymmetric interplanetary propagation both in heliolongitude and heliolatitude. We recommend that these effects explicitly be taken into account. The HAFv2 results appear to be useful for interpreting the Voyager 2 and Voyager 1 energetic particle data in the outer heliosphere. They are consistent with the effects of the Halloween solar events observed in the energetic particle data at both spacecraft. The HAFv2 results also may be helpful for predicting the plasma wave 2–3 kHz radio emission previously associated with large shocks and their interaction with the heliopause. Our study indicates that the Halloween events may give rise to 2–3 kHz radio emission in early 2005, assuming that the shocks which propagated beyond Voyager 1 will be strong enough.
Reproductive Responses of Northern Goshawks to Variable Prey Populations

Abstract Developing comprehensive conservation strategies requires knowledge of factors influencing population growth and persistence. Although variable prey resources are often associated with fluctuations in raptor demographic parameters, the mechanisms of food limitation are poorly understood, especially for a generalist predator like the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). To determine the reproductive responses of goshawks to variable prey populations, we evaluated 823 goshawk breeding opportunities on the Kaibab Plateau, Arizona, USA, during 1994–2002. Concurrently, density was estimated for 4 prey species (2 avian, 2 mammalian). We explored the relationship between goshawk reproduction and prey density at one temporal scale (year) and 2 spatial scales (study area, forest type). Prey density for all 4 species combined accounted for 89% of the variation in goshawk reproduction within the entire study area (P < 0.001), 74% in mixed conifer forest (P = 0.003) and 85% in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest (P < 0.001). We found that an incremental increase in prey density resulted in a greater increase in goshawk reproduction in ponderosa pine forest than in mixed conifer forest, suggesting that the denser structural conditions of mixed conifer forest may have reduced prey availability. Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) density explained more annual variation in goshawk reproduction within the study area (r2 = 0.87, P < 0.001), mixed conifer forest (r2 = 0.80, P = 0.001), and ponderosa pine forest (r2 = 0.85, P < 0.001) than did any other individual species. Although certain prey species were more strongly correlated with fluctuations in goshawk reproduction than were others, the high model selection uncertainty and the strong relationship between total prey density and number of goshawk fledglings produced indicated that alternate prey species were readily substituted for one another. Therefore, conservation strategies concerned with the status of goshawk populations should incorporate forest management practices that increase the abundance, diversity, and availability of prey resources.
Female remating inhibition and fitness of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) associated with male accessory glands

Abstract Polyandry Is widespread among insects but male accessory gland products can influence the propensity of former mates to copulate later with other males. In addition, females may receive nutritional supplements in accessory gland fluids that substantially increase fitness regardless of whether remating has been inhibited. In this study, we investigated polyandry in female Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the relationship between remating and male accessory gland contents. Similar to other fruit flies, 2 kinds of accessory glands were observed in male B. dorsalis. Male mesodermal accessory glands expanded significantly in length and area when copulation finished. A remating refractory period occurred in B. dorsalis females, but It did not differ in duration following copulations with either virgin or non-virgin males. Besides, we found that virgin females lived longer, but produced much fewer eggs than mated females. Remating with a refractory period resulted In more eggs being laid and offspring produced than continuous exposure to 2 mates. In addition, females In the continuous presence of 2 males produced significantly more offspring than females with only 1 male present. We also observed that increases in male and female age reduced the rate of fertilization. These results indicated that multiple matings increased the fitness of B. dorsalis females, although remating inhibition existed in B. dorsalis fruit flies. It is the great reproductive ability of S. dorsalis that enable flourishing populations to occur in wild.
Urban renewal after the Berlin Wall: a place-based policy evaluation

We use a quasi-experimental research design to study the effects of a spatially targeted renewal policy implemented in Berlin, Germany, in the aftermath of the city’s division during the Cold War period. Our results suggest that over the course of 20 years, the policy helped to reduce (increase) the propensity of buildings being in poor (good) condition within the targeted areas by, on average, 1.2–3% (0.6–2.5%) per year. The estimated effects on property prices range from 0.1% to 2% per year. In each case, the lower-bound estimate is not statistically significant. We find little evidence of positive housing externalities or positive welfare effects.
Understanding Translation Work: The evolving interpretation of a trade union idea

This paper uses data from a longitudinal, seven-year, cross-national study to explore the translation of a trade union idea. The aim of the paper is to examine and explicate the nature of the translation work undertaken to translate a trade union idea in a multi-organizational setting. In examining how the idea of the learning representative initiative was translated into the New Zealand context we draw upon a narrative analysis to reveal the complexities of the dynamic and ongoing translation of the idea and identify the nature of the translation work required. As such we contribute to the literature on the translation of ideas firstly by explicating the concept of real-time translation work in a novel empirical context, and secondly theoretically, by drawing attention to the distinctive characteristics of trade union translation work. In doing so we argue that translation work in this distinctive socio-political context requires ongoing vigilance and proprietorship of the idea by trade union actors and that such proprietorship is crucial in other cases where translators are coming from subordinate positions.
Comparison of transvaginal sonography (TVS) and saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS) for the diagnosis of causes of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB)

International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health | 2016 | Vol 5 | Issue 01 (Online First) 1 International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health Online 2016. © 2016 Alok S Goyal. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license. Research Article
Toxin profile change in vegetative cells and pellicle cysts of Alexandrium fundyense after gut passage in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica

Vegetative cells and pellicle cysts of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium fundyense Balech were fed to the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica Gmelin under controlled conditions. Para - lytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) were measured in vegetative cells and pellicle cysts prior to feeding and directly after passage through the oyster alimentary canal and defecation as intact cells. Oysters fed with vegetative cells and those fed with pellicle cysts accumulated toxins. One experimental treat- ment tested for direct uptake of toxins from the water (oysters and A. fundyense cells were separated by a screen); PSTs were not accumulated from the water by the oysters. There were no significant changes in total, per-cell toxicity after passage through the oyster alimentary canal, suggesting lim- ited transfer of toxins from intact cells to the oysters. However, there were statistically significant changes in the toxin composition of cells following gut passage. Vegetative cells and pellicle cysts from feces had increased amounts of saxitoxin (STX) and decreased amounts of gonyautoxin 4 (GTX4) per cell, compared to amounts prior to gut passage. Following gut passage, pellicle cysts showed better survival in the feces than vegetative cells, which is consistent with the view of pellicle- cyst formation as a successful survival strategy against adverse conditions.
Anomaly Detection and its Adaptation: Studies on Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are complex systems where physical operations are supported and coordinated by Information and Communication Technology (ICT). From the point of view of security, ICT technology offers new opportunities to increase vigilance and real-time responsiveness to physical security faults. On the other hand, the cyber domain carries all the security vulnerabilities typical to information systems, making security a new big challenge in critical systems. This thesis addresses anomaly detection as security measure in CPS. Anomaly detection consists of modelling the good behaviour of a system using machine learning and data mining algorithms, detecting anomalies when deviations from the normality model occur at runtime. Its main feature is the ability to discover the kinds of attack not seen before, making it suitable as a second line of defence.The first contribution of this thesis addresses the application of anomaly detection as early warning system in water management systems. We describe the evaluation of an anomaly detection software when integrated in a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system where water quality sensors provide data for real-time analysis and detection of contaminants. Then, we focus our attention to smart metering infrastructures. We study a smart metering device that uses a trusted platform for storage and communication of electricity metering data, and show that despite the hard core security, there is still room for deployment of a second level of defence as an embedded real-time anomaly detector that can cover both the cyber and physical domains. In both scenarios, we show that anomaly detection algorithms can efficiently discover attacks in the form of contamination events in the first case and cyber attacks for electricity theft in the second. The second contribution focuses on online adaptation of the parameters of anomaly detection applied to a Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) for disaster response. Since survivability of the communication to network attacks is as crucial as the lifetime of the network itself, we devised a component that is in charge of adjusting the parameters based on the current energy level, using the trade-off between the node's response to attacks and the energy consumption induced by the intrusion detection system. Adaption increases the network lifetime without significantly deteriorating the detection performance.
Reversal of Early Atherosclerosis in Metabolic Syndrome by Yoga-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a strong risk factor for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and type II Diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of the present study was to determine whether yoga can regress early atherosclerosis in patients with MetS, as measured by carotid intima thickness (cIMT). 100 adult patients of MetS were randomized to yoga and control group and were followed for 1 year. 81% patients completed the study. At the end of 1 year, the yoga group showed a significant regression of cIMT (0.842 ± 0.176 to 0.808 ± 0.204, p<0.001) whereas there was no significant change in cIMT in the control group (0.831 ± 0.171 to 0.834 ± 0.131, p=NS). In addition the yoga group also showed greater reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), LDL cholesterol and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP). On the basis of this randomized study, we conclude that practice of yoga can regress early atherosclerosis in MetS and has also beneficial effects on several metabolic parameters. The mechanisms of the improvement are not evident from the present study andneed further investigations.
Asymptotic Expansion for Layer Solutions of a Singularly Perturbed Reaction-Diffusion System

For a singularly perturbed n-dimensional system of reactiondiffusion equations, assuming that the 0th order solutions possess boundary and internal layers and are stable in each regular and singular region, we construct matched asymptotic expansions for formal solutions in all the regular, boundary, internal and initial layers to any desired order in E. The formal solution shows that there is an invariant manifold of wave-front-like solutions that attracts other nearby solutions. We also give conditions for the wave-front-like solutions to converge slowly to stationary solutions on that manifold.