Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
European Listed Real Estate: The Capital Structure Perspective

This paper studies the capital structure decisions of European listed real estate companies, tax-neutral REITs (Real estate investment trusts), and tax-paying entities, REOCs (Real estate operating companies). The practical implications of REITs’ tax neutral status for their capital structure are of utmost interest not only for real estate practitioners, but also for financiers, such as equity holders, banks, and other potential sources of capital. The study concludes that the tax-neutral REITs are significantly less levered than their taxed counterparts, REOCs: Along with tax neutrality, a further potential reason for the structurally less monitored REOCs’ higher leverage could be an attempt to mitigate the potential agency costs with additional debt. The observed pattern in REIT/ REOC leverage is consistent throughout the studied sample.
Mid-pliocene Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation not unlike modern

Abstract. In the Pliocene Model Intercomparison Project (PlioMIP), eight state-of-the-art coupled climate models have simulated the mid-Pliocene warm period (mPWP, 3.264 to 3.025 Ma). Here, we compare the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), northward ocean heat transport and ocean stratification simulated with these models. None of the models participating in PlioMIP simulates a strong mid-Pliocene AMOC as suggested by earlier proxy studies. Rather, there is no consistent increase in AMOC maximum among the PlioMIP models. The only consistent change in AMOC is a shoaling of the overturning cell in the Atlantic, and a reduced influence of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) at depth in the basin. Furthermore, the simulated mid-Pliocene Atlantic northward heat transport is similar to the pre-industrial. These simulations demonstrate that the reconstructed high-latitude mid-Pliocene warming can not be explained as a direct response to an intensification of AMOC and concomitant increase in northward ocean heat transport by the Atlantic.
Investigation of inorganic and organic agricultural systems for Vigna spp. production in Thailand

Yield, yield components, antioxidant activity and genetic variation of fifty genotypes on Vigna spp. were evaluated under two production systems (inorganic and organic agricultural systems) at the field trails in the Kingdom of Thailand. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications and twenty plants in blocks. It was found that pod length, fresh pod weight, number of seeds, number of pods, fresh pod yield, 100 seed weight and harvest index showed significant difference (p≤0.05). The highest quality number of pods was found on Fakdang 71.75 and 55.25 pod.plant under inorganic and organic agricultural system, respectively. The Kangkragan produced the highest quality yield 1,385.20 and 1,135.30 g.plant under inorganic agricultural system and organic agricultural system, respectively. Suarpran had the lowest quality yield 208.10 g.plant under organic agricultural system. The highest values for trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability (DPPH) were obtained from Panomsarakram and Fakdang (95.36 and 35.61% of inhibition, respectively). The outcome of this study can be used as guidance for Vigna spp. production in Thailand.
Should we turn all Airline Pilots into Examiners? The Potential that Evaluating other Pilots’ Performance has for improving Practice

Two studies were designed to investigate how pilots of different rank evaluate flight-deck performances shown in videotaped scenarios. Study one consisted of 92 airline pilots of differing rank. The second study involved eighteen pilots (six flight examiners, six captains, and six first offices) evaluating performances in pairs of similar-ranked pilot. Both studies asked subjects to examine 3 different videos featuring pilots in a simulator exhibiting poor, average, and good performance. The subjects used a standardized assessment form, which included six measures, each having a 5-point rating scale. Study 1 had pilots assess individually, where study two asked paired pilots to collectively assess the performance of pilots using a single assessment form. Preliminary analyses of the first study show that there are great variations in the performance ratings within flight examiners, captains, and first officers. These variations are taken up in the second study, which reveals reasons for why the pilots of all ranks arrived at very different assessments. The results are interpreted with respect to the potential of improving pilots' reflections on practice.
Stability switch and periodic solutions in delayed three-species model with Holling type III functional response

In this paper, a system of delay differential equations that models two predator populations consuming a single prey population is considered. The prey population follows a logistic growth in the absence of predators while each of the predator populations has functional response of Holling type III. Each of these response terms includes a delay time which reflects the gestation period of the respective predator population. The positive equilibrium solution of the form (x, y, y) is called the symmetric equilibrium. This work examines the effects of the difference in gestation periods to the dynamical behaviour of the symmetric equilibrium. Conditions for stability and bifurcations of the symmetric equilibrium are given when the delay times are unequal. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate stability switch and emergence of periodic solution through Hopf bifurcation.
Molecular Changes of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 Pathway in Myocardial Tissue from Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Heart Transplantation

Background: The angiotensin-converting enzyme homologue ACE2 and the peptide angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) have antifibrotic effects, but it is not understood whether they have a protective role in cardiac remodeling. We aimed to analyze the Ang 1-7 Mas receptor and ACE2 expresion levels and their relationship with fibrotic and remodeling factors in human heart failure (HF) and compared them with non-pathological human hearts.Methods: This was a human case-control study in which two groups of samples were analyzed. Controls were organ donors without cardiovascular pathology, but whose heart could not be used for transplantation. Cases were patients with end-stage HF and left ventricle samples were harvested right after the heart transplantation surgery. They were either kept with liquid nitrogen until their analysis or were processed for paraffin embedding. We quantified mRNA expression by real time PCR and ACE2 protein levels by western blot. The collagen deposition was stained by sirius red and quantified with morphometric analysis.Results: Expression of the MMP3 stromelysin mRNA was only detectable in 10 out of 33 pathological samples and in 1 out of 13 control samples. Expression of components of the ACE2 pathway and fibrotic factors were higher in patients with detectable MMP3 expression than in patients with non-detectable MMP3. No differences were found between patients with MMP3 expression or no MMP3 expression regarding etiology, functional class, ventricle dilatation or medication.Conclusions: Only a subset of myocardiums from HF patients is active in the remodeling process at the moment of heart transplantation, as indicated by the MMP3 expression and the higher levels of fibrotic factors. Angiotensin 1-7 Mas receptor expression and ACE2 protein levels are increased in this myocardium subset, suggesting a role for the ACE2 in this process. Overall, we encountered molecular differences in transplanted hearts from patients with similar clinical characteristics.
Characterization of germanium photodiodes and trap detector

We have developed and characterized new detectors based on germanium (Ge) photodiodes to be used in the wavelength region between 900 and 1650 nm. The effects of spatial uniformity, temperature and low shunt resistance on the spectral responsivity measurements are studied. Our results for the spatial uniformities show improvements as compared with earlier studies. The spectral reflectances of a Ge photodiode and trap detector are also studied, and the trap reflectance is found to be less than 10−4 at wavelengths longer than 900 nm. The results of this study show that with careful use, the large area Ge photodiodes can offer a cost-effective alternative as compared with InGaAs photodiodes of similar diameters.
STATISTICS OF SATELLITE GALAXIES AROUND MILKY-WAY-LIKE HOSTS

We calculate the probability that a Milky-Way (MW)-like halo in the standard cosmological model has the observed number of Magellanic Clouds (MCs). The statistics of the number of MCs in the lambda cold dark matter model are in good agreement with observations of a large sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) galaxies. Under the subhalo abundance matching assumption of a relationship with small scatter between galaxy r-band luminosities and halo internal velocities vmax, we make detailed comparisons to similar measurements using SDSS Data Release 7 data by Liu et al. Models and observational data give very similar probabilities for having zero, one, and two MC-like satellites. In both cases, MW luminosity hosts have just a ∼10% chance of hosting two satellites similar to the MCs. In addition, we present a prediction for the probability for a host galaxy to have Nsats satellite galaxies as a function of the magnitudes of both the host and satellite. This probability and its scaling with host properties is significantly different from that of mass-selected objects because of scatter in the mass–luminosity relation and because of variations in the star formation efficiency with halo mass.
Winds of Change? BRICS as a Perspective in International Media Research

This article explores the potential that BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has in providing an alternative angle of analysis to the Western centrism that still dominates the international media studies landscape. BRICS is presented as a heterogeneous group of countries united by a common cause: the struggle for recognition in the face of Western hegemony in the neoliberal global order. As postcolonial studies attribute the existing patterns of asymmetry to the burden of the colonial past, a BRICS perspective focuses on the unipolar neoliberal global order and the manner in which it influences the logic of academic research.
Ordered Mesoporous Materials

PREFACE INTRODUCTION SYNTHESIS APPROACH OF MESOPOROUS MOLECULAR SIEVES Synthesis Hydrothermal Synthesis Removal of Template Basic Synthesis Acidic Synthesis Nonaqueous Syntheses Postsynthesis Treatment Stability of Mesoporous Materials Pore-Size Control MECHANISMS FOR FORMATION OF MESOPOROUS MATERIALS Introduction Synthesis Pathways Mesophase Tailoring Hard-Templating Approach STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION METHODS XRD Electron Microscopy NMR Physical Sorption REPRESENTATIVE MESOPOROUS SILICA MOLECULAR SIEVES D Mesostructures 3D Hexagonal Phases Cubic Phases Disordered Mesostructures DOPING IN MESOPOROUS MOLECULAR SIEVES Aluminum Doping Boron Doping Gallium and Indium Doping Germanium and Tin Doping Transition-Metal Doping MORPHOLOGY CONTROL The Methods and Techniques Typical Morphologies Magnetically Responsive Ordered Mesoporous Materials MESOPOROUS NONSILICA MATERIALS Mesoporous Carbon Mesoporous Polymers Mesoporous Nonsiliceous Oxides Mesoporous Metals Mesoporous Metal Chalcogenides Ordered Mesoporous Nonoxide Ceramic Materials Mesoporous Metal Nitrides, Carbides and Fluorides ORGANIC GROUP FUNCTIONALIZED MESOPOROUS SILICAS Synthetic Approaches Combinatorial Synthesis Accessibility to the Active Site and Applications Conclusions APPLICATIONS OF MESOPOROUS MOLECULAR SIEVES Catalysts and Carriers Biology, Separation and Adsorption Photoelectric Applications High-Tech Fields Such as Electromagnetism OUTLOOK INDEX
Comparison of the rate of exclusive breast-feeding between pacifier sucker and non-sucker infants

Objective: Pacifier as a non-nutritive and comforting object instead of mother’s breast is used widespread in civilised societies. The most possible risks of this habit are increased incidence of oral thrush; dental deformities, recurrent acute otitis media and dental caries, but there are still some reports on its beneficial effects. We carried out this study to compare the rate of exclusive breast-feeding during the first six months of life between the pacifier sucker and non-sucker infants. Material & Methods: The study was designed as a case-control study on infants who came to outpatient clinic in a primary health care center, affiliated to Babol University of medical sciences during 2003-4. Inclusion criteria were: infants aged 6-12 months, born at term via normal vaginal delivery with a normal birth weight. We divided them into pacifier suckers as case group (n=100) and non-suckers as control group (n=120) by frequency matching. Pacifier suckers were given by their mothers a pacifier to suck as a soothing object before 2 month of life. Outcome characteristics including exclusive breast-feeding, rate of early weaning and substitution of mother milk with a non-mother milk in infants who were pacifier suckers were compared with those of the infants who were not used to suck a pacifier. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered being significant. Findings: Success rate of exclusive breast-feeding in pacifier suckers was 30% (n=30), in nonsuckers 64% (n=77), (CI: 2.3-7.3; OR=1.24; P<0.001). The rate of early cessation of breastfeeding among pacifier suckers was 16% and non-suckers 0.01% (p<0.001). Conclusion: To promote successful breast-feeding and to reduce early cessation of breastfeeding, the use of pacifiers should be avoided or restricted.
Maternal dietary and nutritional characteristics as predictor of newborn birth weight in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia, 2017

Maternal nutrition plays a major role in influencing fetal growth and birth outcomes. It is a modifiable risk factor which drags a significant public health consideration to avert adverse birth outcomes, specially, in low and middle income countries. Suboptimal dietary and nutritional characteristics and low birth weight are prevalent in the present study setting. This study was conducted to assess the association of maternal dietary and nutritional characteristics and newborn birth weight among pregnant mother who delivered in health institutions. Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 541 pregnant mothers who delivered in Health Institutions of Jimma Town from March 1st, 2017 to April 30th, 2017. Data were entered into EPI data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS for windows, version 20.0; SPSS. Bivariate analysis was used to assess the association between birth weight and list of independent variables and to test significance of the association at p-value <0.25 for multivariable linear regression. Multivariable linear regression model was used to recognize the important predictors by controlling for possible confounding variables and statistical significance was measured at p-value <0.05. Majority of newborns had normal birth weight (91.0%). The mean birth weight of the newborns was 3224.6 ± 438.5 grams while low birth weight was 2%. In Multivariable linear regression analyses, birth weight was found to have increased by 13.5 grams (β=13.5, P=0.04), for every centimeter increment in maternal mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Similarly, with each increase in parity of the mother an increase in birth weight increased by 96.81 grams (β=96.81, P=0.01) was observed. Wealth index was also found to have a positive association with birth weight (β=49.04, P=0.01). Maternal MUAC, parity and wealth index were found to have a positive association with birth weight. Intervention directed on nutrition of pregnant mothers through nutrition counseling should be the major priority in addition to economic measure. Key words: Newborn birth weight, nutritional characteristics, mid-upper arm circumference.
The anatomy and relationships of Piscobalaena nana (Cetacea, Mysticeti) a Cetotheriidae s.s. from the early Pliocene of Peru.

Piscobalaena nana Pilleri & Siber, 1989 is a small fossil baleen-bearing mysticete from the early Pliocene of the Pisco Formation, Peru. The holotype of this species is an incomplete skull (lacking the vertex) with associated tympanics. The description of five remarkably preserved new specimens of this taxon (three of them associated with partial post-cranial skeletons) provides the opportunity to understand the intraspecific variation within one single fossil mysticete species. These specimens constitute a partial ontogenetic series including one sub-adult animal, three adults and one old individual. Piscobalaena nana is compared to Nannocetus eremus Kellogg, 1929, Cetotherium rathkei Brandt, 1843, Herpetocetus sendaicus (Hatai, Hayasaka & Masuda, 1963) and Metopocetus durinasus Cope, 1896, which are similar in morphology and age to the Peruvian species. A parsimony analysis of 101 morphological characters of the skull, auditory area and dentary tested on 23 taxa confirms the paraphyly of the Cetotheriidae as traditionally defined. It also suggests that six (Piscobalaena, Herpetocetus, Metopocetus, Cetotherium, Nannocetus, Mixocetus) of the 12 studied fossil baleen mysticetes constitute a clade: the Cetotheriidae s.s. Its monophyly is supported by 10 characters of the skull (e.g., ascending processes of the maxillae contacting medially or very approximated at apex; lateral edges of nasals strongly convergent posteriorly; supraorbital process of the frontal anteriorly oriented), and five characters of the auditory area (e.g., anterior edge of facial foramen on the internal acoustic meatus is notched [slightly to deeply] for the passage of the greater petrosal nerve). The Cetotheriidae share with the Balaenopteridae the presence of an interdigitation of the rostral and cranial bones such as the posteriorly elongated ascending process of the maxilla. This condition reinforces the cranial architecture and could suggest a similar engulfment way of feeding as observed in the Balaenopteridae.
The Study of the Radiographic Positionings of the Canine Elbow for Identifying the Medial Coronoid Process

Twenty cadaver canine forelimbs, 9 right and 11 left, were used to evaluate the most effective radiographic position that can enhance the cranial aspect of the medial coronoid process (MCP) of the ulna. A lead pellet (1 mm) was buried to represent the area representing the cartilegenous fragment in the canine patient in the fragmented medial coronoid process (FMCP). The distance between the pellet and the radial surface and the superimposition of the humeral condyle silhouette on the pellet were used as parameters for analysis. The results showed that the disto45 medialproximolateral oblique (Di45M-PrLO) position with a 40 flexed elbow had not only the least distance between the pellet and the radial surface but also the least superimposition of the humeral condyle silhouette on the pellet. In conclusion, the Di45M-PrLO position with a 40 flexed elbow is the best position for viewing MCP radiography in a dog with suspected FMCP.
Are there Differences between Adolescent Males and Females for Maintaining the Metabolic Cost at Maximal Oxygen Uptake

Purpose: The present study looked at gender difference in oxygen delivery-extraction at maximal oxygen uptake in healthy adolescents. Methods: 36 adolescent males (14.9 ± 1.1 years) and 33 adolescent females (15.0 ± 1.1 years) underwent a maximal oxygen uptake test and a two dimensional direct m-mode echocardiography performed on a bicycle ergometry. Arteriovenous oxygen difference was defined by utilizing the Fick equation. Results: At rest, males compared to females had significantly (p<0.05) higher oxygen extraction (38.8 ± 1.4 and 31.8 ± 1.2 mL.kg-1 .min-1 respectively), systolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure. At peak exercise test, males compared to females demonstrated significant (P<0.05) higher values for cardiac output (16.6 ± 0.7 and 15.4 ± 0.6 L∙min-1 respectively), stroke volume (83.9 ± 5.1 and 78.5 ± 4.6 mL respectively), oxygen uptake (47.3 ± 3.7 and 39.6 ± 1.1 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, respectivel y), while oxygen extraction was significantly higher in females compared to males (123.6 ± 7.6 and 115.5 ± 5.4 mL∙L-1 respectively). Conclusions: This study suggests that normal adolescents; male and females respond to the maximal oxygen uptake test by increased their left ventricular systolic function, however, it was less augmented in the females due to gender and energy metabolism differences. Consequently, females increased their oxygen extraction more than the males as a compensation for the lower cardiac output and hence, lower oxygen delivery.
Consumer innovativeness among females in specific fashion stores in the Menlyn shopping centre

Early in the product life cycle certain consumers, called innovators, embrace innovations. The consumer innovator plays a prominent role in the diffusion and ultimate adoption of new products. This article examines consumer innovativeness among females in the context of the fashion industry. Fashion innovators represent a profitable market segment in the fashion industry, and understanding consumer fashion innovativeness may enable fashion suppliers to obtain a suitable return on their investment. Results show positive relationships between consumer fashion innovativeness and fashion opinion leadership, fashion involvement and need for uniqueness. A recommendation is made that fashion retailers should design unique, customised offerings in order to fulfil the needs and wants of innovators.
The value of express delivery services for cross-border e-commerce in European Union markets

Further growth of cross-border e-commerce in the European Union markets requires improved express delivery services. The framework presented in this paper identifies relevant contextual factors that affect express delivery adoption rates in European cross-border e-commerce. This framework leads to a set of hypotheses, both on the effects of express deliveries on financial performance indicators (order incidence, order size, and repurchase rate) and on the factors that drive demand for express deliveries (consumer income, logistic costs, and lead-time benefits). A case study provides empirical tests of the hypotheses, using data on about forty thousand sales transactions from a consumer electronics manufacturer’s cross-border online shop. The findings are that express delivery has positive effects on financial performance, as it leads to higher order incidence, larger order size, and higher repurchase rates in cross-border transactions. Demand for express delivery services increases with higher income, larger lead-time benefits, and lower logistic costs. Managers can employ the presented framework to formulate and analyse their own targets for performance and express delivery services.