Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How brain corals record climate: an integration of skeletal structure, growth and chemistry of Diploria labyrinthiformis from Bermuda

The aragonite skeleton of massive reef-building corals contains a record of the oceanic environment in which they grow. However, reading of the record requires understanding of how it is archived, a process complicated by the elaborate skeletal construction and seasonal growth patterns that characterize many species. In this study, we assess the utility of the massive brain coral Diploria labyrinthiformis as an archive of sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the western North Atlantic. In situ staining of live colonies combined with microscale analysis of skeletal chemistry indi- cate that D. labyrinthiformis grows throughout the year on Bermuda and records the full annual cycle of SST variability. However, skeleton accreted during the summer is overlain (thickened) by skeleton accreted during the subsequent fall and winter. As a result, conventional coarse sampling for δ 18 O enables seasonal δ 18 O cycles to be resolved but these do not capture the full amplitude of the annual SST cycle. Our data show that the shallow gradient of the δ 18 O-SST regression equation derived for D. labyrinthiformis (-0.113‰ oC -1 ) relative to the expected -0.22‰ oC -1 for marine skeletons results from dampening of the summertime peak in δ 18 O. In contrast, skeleton accreted during the winter is not thickened and wintertime δ 18 O captures the interannual wintertime SST variability at this site. Using SIMS ion microprobe to analyse strontium to calcium ratios (Sr/Ca), we avoided the thickening deposits and were able to resolve the full amplitude of the annual Sr/Ca cycle. The Sr/Ca-SST relationship obtained for D. labyrinthiformis (-0.0843 mmol/mol oC -1 ) corresponds to that derived from fast-growing tropical reef corals. X-ray intensity ratios, used as a proxy for skeletal density, reveal the expected seasonal changes associated with growth banding as well as variability on inter- annual and decadal timescales. These variations are well correlated with wintertime SST variability in the subtropical gyre and may be a valuable proxy thermometer for the North Atlantic.
Direct and indirect effects of transformational leadership on innovative behavior

This study aims at investigating how transformational leaders directly and indirectly (via affective commitment to the organization, the career, the leader, and the team and innovative climate) affect employees’ innovative behavior. The hypotheses are tested by applying quantitative analyses to data collected from 39 employees of a multinational high-technology group, specialized in the photo sensor technology in the Netherlands. The results of the analysis do not support the direct link between transformational leadership and innovative employee behavior. Yet, they support the moderator effect of affective commitment to the organization and the moderator effect of innovative climate between transformational leadership and innovative employee behavior. Likewise, a positive relationship between transformational leadership and innovative climate as well as affective commitment towards the leader got supported. Nevertheless, innovative behavior might have been influenced by other factors rather than transformational leadership. The limitations of the findings and recommendations for future research are discussed
Securities’ Liquidity under Uncertainty in Financial Intermediaries’ Liquidity

This paper investigates whether asset liquidity (i.e. the ease with which assets are traded) is determined by financial intermediaries’ liquidity (i.e. the funding that intermediaries provide). Unlike standard production-based asset pricing models where firms have access to external financing at some costs, we derive stock returns and stock liquidity under financial constraints of financial intermediaries. We show that the marginal funding provided by intermediaries is a factor not only for asset returns but also for asset liquidity. Using intermediaries’ balance sheet data from 1955 to 2009, we find support for the model predictions.
Scale dependence of fNL in N-flation

Adopting the horizon-crossing approximation, we derive the spectral index of fNL in general N-flation model. Axion N-flation model is taken as a typical model for generating a large fNL which characterizes the size of local form bispectrum. We find that its tilt nfNL is negligibly small when all inflatons have the same potential, but a negative detectable nfNL can be achieved in the axion N-flation with different decay constants for different inflatons. The measurement of nfNL can be used to support or falsify the axion N-flation in the near future.
Export of deep-sea hydrothermal particles, indigenous thermophilic microorganisms and larvae to the surrounding Ocean

To assess the production and the export of particulate and biological material in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, four moorings with sediment traps and current meters were deployed for 24 days in the Azores Triple Junction (ATJ) region. They were deployed along an axis starting at the base of a hydrothermal vent chimney and ending 1000 m away. The particles sampled at the base of the chimney were characterized by high concentrations in total sulfur (16%) and iron (4%). The particle composition changed drastically with distance from the vent: the sulfur concentration decreased with an increase in clay components. Thermophilic microorganisms were successfully enriched from all the particle samples. Cultured strains were closely related to hydrothermal species, suggesting that viable hydrothermal vent microorganisms can be exported easily from one hydrothermal field to the open ocean. Fauna collected in the trap at the base of the chimney also included the hydrothermal mytilid species Bathymodiolus azoricus (prejuvenile prodissoconch late stage), larval or juvenile polychaetes and two vent gastropod species (Shinkailepas sp. and Phymorhynchus sp.). These organisms were not sampled by the others sediment traps. The most common taxa found in the traps off the vent were polychaetes, euphausiaceans and copepods (harpacticoids, nauplii and calanoids).
Simulation Based Insight into Solvation Properties of Ferric Chloride Based Eutectic Solvent

Our experiments on desulfurization of liquid fuels reveals suitability of novel type I deep eutectic solvents (DES) as potential solvents for thiophenic compounds. While the results are intriguing, molecular interactions leading to the solubility remains unclear. We herein, perform Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations on tetrabutylphosphonium bromide/ferric chloride (TBP.Br-Fe.Cl3), a DES which showed higher affinity to thiophenic compounds. Simulations on the DES itself shows a preference of chloride ion by TBP over the bromide ion, forming a TBP.Cl. Br complex structure, which possibly explains the freezing point depression associated with formation of the DES. MD analysis of the DES in the presence of thiophene and dibenzothiophene (DBT) shows strong interactions between sulphur-based central ring of these compounds with the TBP ion. Further work need to be done on optimizing these results for possible extraction of sulfurbased solutes from liquid fuels.
Time-dependent singularities in the Navier-Stokes system

We show that, for a given H\"older continuous curve in $\{(\gamma(t),t)\,:\, t>0\} \subset R^3\times R^+$, there exists a solution to the Navier-Stokes system for an incompressible fluid in $R^3$ which is smooth outside this curve and singular on it. This is a pointwise solution of the system outside the curve, however, as a distributional solution on $R^3\times R^+$, it solves an analogous Navier-Stokes system with a singular force concentrated on the curve.
Dividends and Foreign Performance Signaling

This study uses Hines' (1996) dividend process model to test the effect of domestic versus foreign profitability shocks on firms' dividend payout policy. Investigating an international sample of 283 companies from Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S.A. and Canada, we find that increases in some foreign market earnings stimulate higher cash distributions than similar increases in domestic earnings. The disaggregation of foreign performance across country-specific markets reveals that managers are predominantly using dividends to signal foreign profit movements that have been generated in emerging markets and Asian Pacific developed markets - while they do not feel compelled to send signals related to positive earnings news originating from other mature developed markets (i.e. North America and Western Europe). The findings also confirm the popular view that due to their higher variance and lower persistence, positive foreign profitability shocks coming from emerging markets are more difficult to integrate into stable dividend policies.
Bivalirudin in the Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

Periprocedural anticoagulation continues to be a vital aspect in the management of coronary artery disease. Bivalirudin is a relatively new drug that has caught much attention in the last decade, especially in the context of percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndromes. Multiple clinical trials have shown the efficacy, safety profile and limitations of bivalirudin in contrast to previously used heparin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. These trials have included patients with moderate to high-risk stable angina, unstable angina, non-ST-elevation and ST-elevation myocardial infarctions requiring PCI. The growing body of evidence on bivalirudin has also improved the understanding of its applicability and efficacy over other hirudin-based anticoagulants, however continual review of more recent evidence is important in order to integrate bivalirudin more widely across the various guidelines. This article aims to study the cross-section of the evidence base to date on the clinical use, efficacy and risks related to the use of bivalirudin and attempts to provide the clinician with a practical overview of the role of bivalirudin in the most recent guidelines.
Consumer Responses to CSR Driven Microfinance Strategy of Banks-An Empirical Investigation Based on India

Purpose–There exists only limited research investigating microfinance customers’ reactions on CSR initiatives of financial institutions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which the consumers of selected microfinance institution and some new age banks in India perceive the financial services provided in the context of well known corporate social responsibility (CSR) principles. It investigates whether consumers of microfinance under the CSR banner have repurchase intentions and if so why they do that? Design/methodology/approach–A representative sample of 301 banking customers from ICICI and ABN Amro Bank located in the state of Tamilnadu and Kerala was recruited through a microfinance institution funded by the abovementioned banks. The approach of the study was to determine consumer experience and contentment with regard to the CSR strategy of the banks. A cluster sampling approach was followed, with each State representing a cluster. The main instrument to survey customers was the Consumer Discontentment Scale (CDS), developed by Lundstrom and Lamont (1976). The questionnaire was designed to collect the contentment and discontentment of customers. Findings–Consumers were content with the level of CSR activity. However the research found only a weak link between contentment and purchase intention. The study seems to suggest that it is not the CSR fit of microfinance and banks which is bringing rewards in the form of consumer re purchase. Originality/value–This is the first research examining microfinance customers’ contentment in response to different CSR initiatives of New Age Banks in India and the potential link between CSR contentment and purchase intention . It has implications for banks developing microfinance strategies under the CSR banner.
Steers bred for improved net feed efficiency eat less for the same feedlot performance

Angus and Angus X Hereford and Angus X Shorthorn steer progeny of parents previously ranked for postweaning net feed efficiency (NFE) were grown out in a feedlot. Net feed efficiency is measured as net feed intake, which is the difference between feed consumed and the feed intake predicted from liveweight and growth rate. Selection for postweaning NFE produced steers that grew as fast, or faster, than low NFE steers but ate less feed per unit gain and had more favourable feed conversion ratios. The high NFE steers had slightly less subcutaneous fatness and smaller eye-muscle area than the low NFE steers which could imply an association of efficiency with maturity pattern. However, there was no evidence to suggest that a single generation of selection for and against NFE had produced steers that differed in their ability to meet market specifications, nor differed in the percentage yield of retail beef from their carcases.
Generalized One-Pot Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Hierarchical BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) Nanoplate Microspheres

A general one-pot solvothermal process was explored to prepare BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) powders by employing ethylene glycol as the solvent. The as-prepared BiOX powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV−vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and nitrogen sorption. The resulting BiOX samples were phase-pure and of hierarchical microspheres consisting of nanoplates. The band gaps of the as-prepared powders were estimated to about 3.22, 2.64, and 1.77 eV for BiOCl, BiOBr, and BiOI, respectively. On the basis of characterization results, we proposed a possible process for the growth of hierarchical BiOX nanoplate microspheres. Moreover, we evaluated their photocatalytic activities on the degradation of methyl orange and compared them with TiO2 (Degussa, P25) under UV−vis light irradiation and C-doped TiO2 under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation, respectively. It was found that al.
Research Update: Energy Strategies for Dry Cows

Nutritional strategies for the dry cow have varied during the last decades with several different ones being used on dairy farms today. Because dry matter intakes (DMI) invariably drop before calving, some authors have proposed to increase the energy content of the prepartum ration in order to improve production and health in early lactation (Grummer, 1995; McNamara et al., 2003) and it was shown that DMI is increased in the prepartum period when higher energy diets are fed. On the other hand, research and experience in the field have shown beneficial effects to feeding cows a controlled energy diet prepartum (Drehmann, 2000; Douglas et al., 2006; Janovick et al., 2011; Vickers et al., 2013). A difference was shown for the effect of diets differing in energy being fed either during the far-off or close-up period and the authors concluded that overfeeding in the far-off period had more severe negative consequences than overfeeding in the close-up period (Dann et al., 2006).
Coexistence of specialist parasitoids with host refuges in the laboratory and the dynamics of spatial heterogeneity in attack rate

There is a well documented relationship between parasitoid species assemblage size and host feeding niche. Parasitoid assemblage size peaks on hosts thought to have intermediate levels of physical refuge. We examined the influence of refuges on parasitoid coexistence using pairs of specialist parasitoids in a controlled laboratory environment. Using physical barriers we excluded parasitoids from 0, 25, 50 or 75% of the hosts to simulate host refuge. We found no evidence that host refuges can promote parasitoid coexistence in a simplified laboratory environment. Results were similar whether pairs of parasitoid species were competitively disparate or competitively similar. Our results suggest that spatial heterogeneity in parasitoid attack rate was not sufficient to maintain parasitoid coexistence regardless of host refuge, and we argue that the level of spatial heterogeneity necessary to promote coexistence is rare in nature. We conclude that in most systems the coexistence of specialist parasitoids cannot be explained by a host refuge effect.
Growth, Feed Efficiency, Behaviour, Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Goats Fed Fermented Bagasse Feed

The effects of long-term feeding of diets based on bermudagrass hay supplemented with lucerne hay cube (LH) or fermented bagasse feed (FBF) on the growth rate, feed efficiency, behaviour, gut development, carcass characteristics and meat quality of goats were investigated. Six spring-born 8-month-old male crossbred (Japanese Saanen×Tokara native goats) bucks weighing mean 21.6 kg were allotted to 2 treatment groups (3 animals each) and each animal had ad libitum access to feeds, i.e. bermudagrass hay (basal diet)+LH or FBF throughout the experiment. The FBF was produced by the solid-state fermentation of substrates containing dried sugarcane bagasse mixed with wheat bran in a ratio of 1:3 (w/w DM) with Aspergillus sojae. The live body weight, final weight and average daily gain were not different between treatments. Average basal diet intake of goats fed FBF diet was significantly higher than that fed LH diet (p<0.05), but average dry matter intake (DMI; g/day and g/W 0.75 ), feed conversion ratio, digestible crude protein (DCP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) intake of experimental diets were not significantly different between treatments. Goats fed on LH and FBF diets had similar eating, rumination, resting and drinking behaviours, and blood constituents except for phosphorus content. Slaughter and carcass weights, net meat percentage ((total meat/carcass weight)×100), loin ratio ((loin/total meat)×100) and rib-eye area were not different between treatments. However, goats fed FBF diet had lower dressing percentage and higher bone/muscle ratio compared with goats fed LH diet (p<0.01). Empty gut and guts fill of goats fed FBF diet were significantly greater (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively) than those fed LH diet. The weights of rumen and abomasum were also significantly heavier in goats fed FBF diet (p<0.05), but the length and density of papillae of rumen in goats were not different between treatments. Although meat composition of loin was not different in both groups, the meat of goats fed FBF diet was superior to that of LH diet in flavor, aroma and overall quality of loin (p<0.01). In conclusion, the nature of the diet consumed voluntarily did not affect subsequent growth, nutrient intake and behaviour of goats but had an influence on carcass traits and sensory evaluation of meat partly, when either of LH or FBF was fed with bermudagrass hay. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2005. Vol 18, No. 11 : 1594-1599)
Genetic differentiation of the Meriones tristrami (Mammalia: Rodentia) subpopulations in Turkey - inferring allozyme variations

Allozyme variations of Tristram's jird Meriones tristrami, which is distributed in the steppe and semiarid areas of Turkey, were studied using 24 loci of 83 specimens from ten locations in Turkey. Seven loci were found to be polymorphic. According to the patterns of allozyme variation, the percentage of polymorphic loci was 12.5. FST was found to be 0.44, indicating high genetic variations among M. tristrami; accordingly the Nm value (0.3157) appeared quite low. The UPGMA dendrogram, based on genetic distance, showed that the populations established two very close subclusters, and supported the idea that the westernmost population connected to the northern part of the central Anatolian population. As expected, the eastern population appeared to be more divergent due to geographic distance. Our findings supported that genetic isolation among these subpopulations might be caused by geographic isolation.
Traditional Small Retail Shops vs. Emerging Supermarkets and Shopping Malls in a Sri Lankan City

Street retail shops are an emblematic image of the Sri Lankan urban landscape. Retail shops vary in size, sell a diversity of household, mechanical and convenience items and appear as an integral part of urban form. While retails shops provide essential services to a variety of consumers generate employment and make urban streets vibrant, there have been few investigations into the nature of retail form in Sri Lanka. It appears that the global spread of supermarkets and shopping malls are transforming the retail space in Sri Lankan cities. Utilizing field observation data, this study investigates the extent to which traditional retail outlets dominate the retail form in the urban landscape, creates employment, and attracts customers. This study also examines to what extent city retail outlets are retained as shop houses. Results show that while Sri Lankan traditional small retail shops form a greater number of retail shops and continue to be an emblem of the urban landscape, the development of a few new shopping malls and supermarkets have impacted the daily shopping behaviour of people and are slowly transforming the retail form as well as urban landscape.
Simulations of inner magnetosphere dynamics with an expanded RAM‐SCB model and comparisons with Van Allen Probes observations

Simulations from our newly expanded ring current‐atmosphere interactions model with self‐consistent magnetic field (RAM‐SCB), now valid out to 9 RE, are compared for the first time with Van Allen Probes observations. The expanded model reproduces the storm time ring current buildup due to the increased convection and inflow of plasma from the magnetotail. It matches Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) observations of the trapped high‐energy (>50 keV) ion flux; however, it underestimates the low‐energy (<10 keV) Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) observations. The dispersed injections of ring current ions observed with the Energetic particle, Composition, and Thermal plasma (ECT) suite at high (>20 keV) energy are better reproduced using a high‐resolution convection model. In agreement with Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) observations, RAM‐SCB indicates that the large‐scale magnetic field is depressed as close as ∼4.5 RE during even a moderate storm. Regions of electromagnetic ion cyclotron instability are predicted on the duskside from ∼6 to ∼9 RE, indicating that previous studies confined to geosynchronous orbit may have underestimated their scattering effect on the energetic particles.
DINOFLAGELLATE CYSTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EVOLUTION OF THE OLIGOCENE TO LOWER MIOCENE AT SITE 1148, ODP LEG 184, SOUTH CHINA SEA

Abstract The Oligocene to Lower Miocene of Site 1148, Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 184 was investigated palynologically to explore environmental change within the newly formed rifted South China Sea. The basin first developed 32.8 Ma ago during an initial rifting phase, and before sea floor spreading. Palynomorph Assemblage A contains abundant coastal and neritic dinoflagellate cysts (for example, Lingulodinium and Spiniferites) and a small number of oceanic Impagidinium species, together with abundant pollen, spores, and terrigenous phytoplankton. Offshore transportation induced by basement subsidence played an important role in the makeup of this assemblage. Paleoenvironments during the earliest Oligocene include shallow shelf, shelf/slope boundary, and mid slope regimes. The latter is indicated by the intermittent and rare occurrences of Impagidinium. Later, in the Early Oligocene to earliest Late Oligocene, there was a deepening of the basin with increasing influence of lower slope environments, indicated by increasing abundances of Impagidinium. A barren zone corresponding to a period of sea floor spreading during the latest Oligocene to the earliest Miocene effectively separates assemblages A and B. The Early Miocene environment deepened to a lower slope (>1500 m) regime, indicated by Assemblage B with consistent Impagidinium. This regime was relatively stable with much less terrigenous input, indicated by the rare occurrence of pollen and spores, and the absence of terrigenous phytoplankton.