Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of pH and osmolality in plant based extenders for freezing buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bull spermatozoa.

Present investigation was undertaken in four healthy adult Murrah buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls aged 3.5 to 5.0 years and body weight varying from 619 to 692 kg, under identical nutrition and management conditions from the Artificial Breeding Complex, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana-132001 (India) to study the behaviour of sperm in different combinations of pH and osmolality in a plant based extender The extenders were prepared by mixing 71 parts of buffer with 29 parts of soymilk containing antibiotics. A total of 12 ejaculates each from four bulls were taken for the study. The semen processed at different pH and osmolality combinations were left for an hour and then cultured on plate count agar media. Standardization of the best semen processing pH and osmolality condition was done by doing TPC on the media plate and the best semen quality [initial motility, non-eosinophilic percent, abnormalities and acrosome Integrity]. The split ejaculates were subjected to different treatments for evaluating freezability criteria after freezing and thawing (post-thaw motility, post-thaw noneosinophilic percent, post-thaw acrosome integrity and sperm motility recovery percent). The tolerance of buffalo sperm to hypo- and hyper-osmotic conditions and against supra- and sub-optimal pH levels in the liquid state at 5°C was studied by formulating extenders containing 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30M Tris, and enough citric acid to vary the pH from about 6.0 to 7.0. The results obtained in the present study favoured the optimum pH of extender to 6.5 and osmolality at 240 to 300 mOsmol/ kg for non-glycerolated plant based extender and same pH and osmolality of 1220 to 1280 mOsmol/ kg for glycerolated plant based extender. These values can be taken as guidelines for considerations regarding osmolality and pH while preparing the extenders.
Information Processing Constraints and Asset Mispricing

I analyse a series of natural quasi‐experiments – centred on betting exchange data on the Wimbledon Tennis Championships – to determine whether information processing constraints are partially responsible for mispricing in asset markets. I find that the arrival of information during each match leads to substantial mispricing between two equivalent assets, and that part of this mispricing can be attributed to differences in the frequency with which the two prices are updated inplay. This suggests that information processing constraints force the periodic neglect of one of the assets, thereby causing substantial, albeit temporary, mispricing in this simple asset market.
Anisotropic sub-Doppler laser cooling in dysprosium magneto-optical traps

Magneto-optical traps (MOTs) of Er and Dy have recently been shown to exhibit populationwide sub-Doppler cooling due to their near degeneracy of excited- and ground-state Land´ e g factors. We discuss here an additional, unusual intra-MOT sub-Doppler cooling mechanism that appears when the total Dy MOT cooling laser intensity and magnetic quadrupole gradient increase beyond critical values. Specifically, anisotropically sub-Dopplercooled cores appear, and their orientation with respect to the quadrupole axis flips at a critical ratio of the MOT laser intensity along the quadrupole axis versus that in the plane of symmetry. This phenomenon can be traced to a loss of the velocity-selective resonance at zero velocity in the cooling force along directions in which the atomic polarization is oriented by the quadrupole field. We present data characterizing this anisotropic laser cooling phenomenon and discuss a qualitative model for its origin based on the extraordinarily large Dy magnetic moment and Dy’s near degenerate g factors.
Cancellation of elective surgical procedures in the university teaching hospital center Yalgado Ouedraogo in Burkina Faso: incidence, reasons and proposals for improvement

Background: Cancellation of scheduled surgery leads to operating theatre under-occupancy and is recognised as a major cause of emotional trauma to patients and their families. This study aimed to assess the incidence of elective surgery cancellation in order to make proposals for healthcare improvement. Methods: A prospective study was undertaken on cancellation of scheduled surgery in the general surgery service. Cancellation is considered to have occurred when planned surgery did not take place on the day it was scheduled and recognised as ‘final’ when it was no longer considered at a later date. Cancellations were classed as ‘avoidable’ or ‘unavoidable’. Results: A total of 103 surgeries were scheduled for patients with an average age of 41.1 years. Abdominal surgery (36.9%) dominated and 63.1% (n = 65) of the operations were scheduled. Some 36.9% (n = 38) of interventions were delayed, of which 9.7% (n = 10) were definitively cancelled and 27.2% (n = 28) were carried forward. Half of the cancellations (47.4%) were related to equipment and 31.6% related to patient factors. Hospital-related cancellation accounted for 63.9%. Cancellation was avoidable in 68.5% of cases. A financial cause was relevant for 16.6% (n = 6) and 2.6% of cancellations were due to a ‘long preceding intervention’. Conclusion: The impact of cancellation is high and better organisation and communication between relevant role players within the operating theatre should reduce unnecessary cancellation.
Adaptive Investment Strategies During Financial Crises and the Role of Corruption: An Experiment with Financial Professionals

I employ experimental methods to study the way financial professionals adapt investment strategies in sovereign-bonds during financial crises. I find that when the complexity of the environment increases, investors reduce information processing and shift to strategies in which they systematically focus on a selective subset of bond aspects, neglecting information considered as relevant during “normal” times. The issuer’s level of corruption is found to be an aspect on which investors anchor during crises. I suggest that this mechanism makes corrupt emerging markets more prone to bond sell-off and comovement with global markets when investor sentiment deteriorates.
The Effect of Indoor Air Pollution on Cognitive Performance: Evidence from the UK

Mental acuity is essential to most white-collar jobs and possibly associated with indoor air quality. I examine this potential link using a unique data set on indoor air pollution exposure and final examination results from a British university. To account for potential confounders, I exploit the panel structure of the data to estimate models with subject and student fixed effects. I find that exposure to elevated levels of indoor particulate matter (PM10) has a statistically and economically significant effect on test scores. I also find that the effect is larger among male, high ability and STEM subgroups and is present at levels considerably lower than current EPA standards. The results suggest that a narrow focus on traditional health outcomes, such as hospitalization, may understate the true cost of pollution as indoor air quality also affects productivity. *The London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK. E-mail: s.j.roth@lse.ac. uk I benefited from comments and suggestions by Pedro Carneiro, Arnaud Chevalier, Victor Lavy, Nico Pestel and Jonathan Wadsworth, and from seminar participants at The London School of Economics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the IZA Conference on Labor Market Effects of Environmental Policies, Ben-Gurion University, University of Haifa and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Security needs: some considerations about its integration into the Self-determination Theory (SDT)

According to Self-determination Theory (SDT), there are only three psychological needs - competence, autonomy and relatedness - truly fundamental and essential for human being’s health and well-being, which can be satisfied by individuals while engaging in a wide variety of behaviors that may differ among individuals and be differentially manifest in different cultures. However, a number of questions have been raised about SDT’s contention that there are only those three basic psychological needs. The present study discusses the possibility that the security need should be considered as a basic need and its relation to the accepted three basic psychological needs. Using the Cultural Theory framework the degree of satisfaction of the basic needs, depending on the type of culture, is also presented. Keywords : Security needs, basic psychological needs, risks, self-determination, Cultural Theory. Las necesidades de seguridad: algunas consideraciones sobre su integracion en la Teoria de la Auto-determinacion (TAD) Resumen : De acuerdo con la Teoria de la Autodeterminacion (SDT, por sus siglas en ingles) solamente existen tres necesidades psicologicas – competencia, autonomia y asociacion – verdaderamente fundamentales y esenciales para la salud y el bienestar de los seres humanos, las cuales pueden ser satisfechas por los individuos en una gran variedad de comportamientos que pueden diferir entre los individuos y manifestarse de distinta manera en diferentes culturas. Sin embargo, han surgido una serie de cuestionamientos sobre la afirmacion de la Teoria de la Autodeterminacion de que solo existen esas tres necesidades basicas. El presente estudio discute la posibilidad de que la necesidad de seguridad debe ser considerada como una necesidad basica y su relacion con las tres necesidades psicologicas aceptadas. Palabras clave : Necesidades de seguridad, necesidades psicologicas basicas, riesgos, autodeterminacion, Teoria Cultural.
Detection of Blade Mistuning in a Low Pressure Turbine Rotor Resulting from Manufacturing Tolerances and Differences in Blade Mounting

For a serious prediction of vibration characteristics of any structure, a detailed knowledge of the modal characteristic is essential. This is especially important for bladed turbine rotors. Mistuning of the blading of a turbine rotor can appear due to manufacturing tolerances or because of the blading process itself due to unequal mounting of the blades into the disk. This paper investigates the mistuning of the individual blades of a low pressure turbine with respect to the effects mentioned above. Two different rotors with different aerodynamic design of the blades were investigated. The blades were mounted to the disk with a so-called hammer head root which is especially prone to mounting irregularities. For detailed investigations, the rotor was excited with a shaker system to detect the forced response behavior of the individual blades. The measurements were done with a laser vibrometer system. As the excitation of rotor structure was held constant during measurement, it was possible to detect the line of nodes and mode shapes as well. It could be shown that the assembly process has an influence on the mistuning. The data were analyzed and compared with numerical results. For this, different contact models and boundary conditions were used. The above described characterization of modal behavior of the rotor is the basis for the upcoming aeroelastic investigations and especially for the blade vibration measurements of the rotor, turning with design and off-design speeds.
Atmospheric behavior and extreme beginning heights of the thirteen brightest photographic Leonid meteors from the ground‐based expedition to China

Abstract— Precise atmospheric trajectories including dynamic and photometric data on thirteen of the brightest Leonid fireballs have been determined from the double‐station photographic observations of Leonid meteors during the ground‐based expedition to China in 1998 November. the expedition was organized as a collaboration between the dutch and chinese academy of sciences and was supported by the leonid multi‐instrument aircraft campaign (mac) program (jenniskens and butow, 1999). All data presented here were taken at Xinglong Observatory and at a remote station, Lin Ting Kou near Beijing, on the night of 1998 November 16/17. At the Xinglong station, photographic cameras were accompanied by an all‐sky television camera equipped with an image intensifier and 15 mm fish‐eye objective in order to obtain precise timings for all observed meteors up to magnitude +2. Whereas beginning heights of photographed meteors are all lower than 130 km, those observed by the all‐sky television system are at ∼160 km, and for three brightest events, even > 180 km. Such high beginnings for meteors have never before been observed. We also obtained a precise dynamic single‐body solution for the Leonid meteor 98003, including the ablation coefficient, which is an important material and structural quantity (0.16 s2 km−2). From this and from known photometry, we derived a density of this meteoroid of 0.7 g/cm3. Also, all PE coefficients indicate that these Leonid meteors belonged to the fireball group IIIB, which is typical for the most fragile and weak interplanetary bodies. From a photometric study of the meteor lightcurves, we found two typical shapes of light curves for these Leonid meteors.
Hotshots, hot spots, and female preference: exploring lek formation models with a bower-building cichlid fish

In many animals, males congregate in leks that females visit for the sole purpose of mating. We observed male and female behavior on 3 different-sized leks of the bower-building cichlid fish Nyassachromis cf. microcephalus to test predictions of 3 prominent lek models: the "hotshot," "hot spot," and "female preference" models. In this system, we were able to refine these predictions by distinguishing between indirect mate choice, by which females restrict their set of potential mates in the absence of individual male assessment, and direct mate choice, by which females assess males and their territories through dyadic behavioral interactions. On no lek were males holding central territories favored by indirect or direct mate choice, contrary to the prediction of the hotshot model that leks form because inferior males establish territories surrounding hotshot males preferred by females. Average female encounter rate of males increased with lek size, a pattern typically interpreted as evidence that leks form through female preference for lekking males, rather than because males congregate in hot spots of high female density. Female propensity to engage in premating behavior once courted did not increase with lek size, suggesting female preference for males on larger leks operated through indirect choice rather than direct choice based on individual assessment. The frequency of male--male competitive interactions increased with lek size, whereas their foraging rate decreased, implying a cost to males maintaining territories on larger leks. Together these data most strongly support the female preference model, where females may benefit through indirect mate choice for males able to meet the competitive cost of occupying larger leks. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.
Reliability of Scapular Downward Rotation Measurement in Subjects With Scapular Downward Rotation Syndrome

The purposes of the current study were to (1) estimate the inter-rater agreement for visual assessment of scapular downward rotation (SDR), (2) develop the scapular downward rotation index (SDRI) as a method to measure SDR objectively and quantitatively, and (3) analyze the intra- and inter rater reliability of the SDRI. Twenty subjects with scapular downward rotation syndrome (SDRS) were recruited for this study. The visual assessment and the measurement for the SDRI were conductedby two examiners in two sessions each. The SDRI [(a-b)÷a×100] is calculated with the measurement of two linear distances: One is a perpendicular distance from the root of the scapular spine to the thoracic mid-line (a), and the other is a perpendicular distance from the inferior angle of the scapula to the thoracic mid-line (b). Cohen’s kappa coefficient was calculated to estimate the inter-rater agreement for visual assessment. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), thestandard error of measurement, and minimal detectable differences were calculated to assess intra- and inter-rater reliability of SDR measurement using the SDRI. The results indicated that the kappa coefficient of inter-rater agreement for visual assessment was fair (κ=.21). The intra-rater reliability of SDR measurement using the SDRI was excellent for examiner 1 (ICC=.92, 95% CI=.78∼.97) and good for examiner 2 (ICC=.82, 95% CI=.55∼.93). The inter-rater reliability was moderate (ICC=.73, 95% CI=.32∼.89). These findings showed that SDR measurement using the SDRI for subjects with SDRS may beconsidered reliable and better than the visual assessment
A Multivariate Generalization of the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck Stochastic Volatility Model

This paper generalizes the univariate Ornstein-Uhlenbeck stochastic volatility model, proposed by Barndor-Nielsen and Shephard (2001) to the multivariate case. We show that most of the properties of the univariate model are still available in closed form for the multivariate model. Deriving the second order properties of the returns and their outer product allows us to establish a state-space representation for the joint sequence, which can be used to estimate the model via quasi maximum likelihood. Moreover, the state-space representation provides a straight forward way to filter out the unobservable, time varying covolatility using the Kalman filter. Noteworthy, many of our results are also shown to be valid for more general multivariate stochastic volatility models, which are driven by a stationary and square-integrable covariance process.
Investigating the Mechanisms of Forgetting in Aging Using Eyetracking

Recent studies in rodents (McTighe et al, 2010; Burke et al, 2010) have suggested that forgetting is caused by the misidentification of novel stimuli as being familiar, matching the predictions of the representational-hierarchical model of Saksida & Bussey (2010). Here, we tested this idea in humans. Three groups of participants (young, healthy elders, elders at-risk for MCI) viewed novel and repeated stimuli in a continuous viewing task while their eye movements were recorded. According to the eye-movement based memory effect (Ryan et al, 2000) individuals make fewer fixations on items which are perceived as familiar. As interference increased, eyemovements directed to the novel stimuli declined, indicating these novel items were perceived as familiar. This effect was stronger in groups more vulnerable to interference (eg. at-risk elders). These results suggest that forgetting in humans, like rats, is driven by the misidentification of novel items as being familiar.
Knowledge and perceptions of plant viral diseases by different stakeholders in Zimbabwes agricultural sector: Implications for disease management

Plant viruses are major constraints to crop production worldwide, causing US$60 billion losses annually. This study assessed various agricultural sector stakeholders’ knowledge and perceptions of plant viruses in Zimbabwe. Data was collected from six provinces using surveys and participatory rural appraisal methodologies between December 2013 and October 2014. Maize streak virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, Cucumber mosaic virus, Tomato mosaic virus and Groundnut rosette virus were ranked as the country’s five most important plant viruses by agricultural technical staff. Most (72%) technical staff rated Maize streak virus as the most important plant virus in Zimbabwe. Over 30% of farmers were self-taught to identify diseases, while only 15.3% were trained by agricultural extension staff. Most (95.8%) technical staff trained people in disease identification through running short courses, use of demonstration plots and field days. The majority (41.9%) of farmers recommended the use of radio/TV/newspaper broadcasts to improve virus awareness. Only 23.7% of farmers and 41.6% of technical staff had heard about TSWV/tospoviruses. While most (97.2%) technical staff rated TSWV/tospoviruses as “fairly important” to “very important” plant pathogens, only 15.7% were able to correctly identify tospoviral vectors. The study showed that there is poor knowledge of plant viruses the stakeholders in the agricultural sector. There is need to train the technical staff in plant virology so that they can disseminate their knowledge to farmers for improved virus disease management. Key words: Awareness, disease identification, tospoviruses, training.
Anthurium andraeanum (Linden ex André) Culture: In Vitro and Ex Vitro

In order to optimize the establishment of both in vitro and ex vitro cultures of Anthurium andraeanum, recently expanded leaves from 3to 4-year-old greenhouse plants were disinfected with 1.43% NaOCl and treated in an antioxidant solution with 150 mg.L -1 citric acid, 100 mg.L -1 ascorbic acid and 200 mg.L -1 cysteine. Callus formation was induced from disinfected leaf explants ( 1 cm 2 ) on half Murashige and Skoog (MS/2) medium supplemented with 0.08 mg.L -1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg.L -1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), with and without 1 mg.L -1 N6-isopentenyl adenine (2iP), while shoots were induced to root on MS medium with BAP (0.0; 0.5 or 1.0 mg.L -1 ). Somaclonal variation was not observed. Organic soil, or vermiculite, or both (1:1), or both combined with sand, xaxim, sphagnum, pine cone, carbonized rice hull, turf, or sawdust (1:1:1), were used to test the efficacy of ex vitro acclimatization. This protocol resulted in the production of regenerants in about 120 days from the in vitro incubation of foliar explants to the ex vitro establishment of plantlets: callus was formed after 56 days of incubation; aerial buds and roots appeared after 28 days on regeneration medium, and the first leaves, after 33 days; after 70 days, 3 to 4 cordiform and dark green leaves were observed. MS/2 medium + 0.08 mg.L -1 2,4-D + 1 mg.L -1 BAP + 1 mg.L -1 2iP for callus induction, and MS + BAP 0.5 mg.L -1 for regenerating shoots are important protocol steps. Successful ex vitro growth was achieved within 7 months on all substrates with the exception of that containing sawdust.
Combining ability analysis in medium maturing yellow seeded maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids

The present investigation consisted of 36 hybrids along with 15 parents and 4 checks viz., Pratap Hybrid Maize-3, Vivek Hybrid-43, Pratap Makka -9 and HM-11, the total of 55 entries were evaluated during Kharif-2016 in randomized block design with three replications. The data was recorded on fifteen traits to study of the general and specific combining ability effects. The ratio of  sca /  gca was greater than over for all the traits except anthesis-silking interval, number of leaves per plant, harvest index, grain yield per plant, oil content protein content and starch content. This indicated that the preponderance of non-additive gave effects in the expression of these traits. The inbred line L10 was found good general combiners for grain yield per plant, cob girth, number of grain rows per cob, harvest index oil content and starch content, whereas the testers T3 was good general combines for yield and majority of traits viz., grain yield per plant, harvest index, oil content, protein content and starch content. The general combing ability due to additive and additive x additive gene effects. Which are the fixable component of genetic variation. Twelve hybrids showed significant positive sca effects for grain yield per plant. The maximum significant positive sca effects for grain yield per plant was depicted by hybrid L12 x T3, followed by hybrids L1 x T2, L11 x T2, L7 x T1 and L4 x T2. This was cross between average x good gca effects parents for grain yield per plant.