Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of survival in dairy cows using supplementary data on type scores and housing systems

Modern methods of survival analysis allow the use of censored (date of culling not known) and uncensored (date of culling known) records when estimating genetic effects, variance components and environmental effects on survival. In a survival analysis, type traits can be included as covariates to evaluate their use as predictors for survival. One problem in such an analysis is the availability of suitable data. Ideally, data from all cows in a population should be used. Whereas data on the length of productive life (LPL) of individual cows can be retrieved from milk recording data, for type traits this requires that all cows in the population are scored for type at least once. In the present analysis a data set from the Osnabrueck region in North-Western Germany, which fulfilled this requirement in recent years was used. Data consisted of 169,733 cows with information on LPL for calving years 1980 to 1996 (data set 1) and of 39,233 cows with information on LPL and type for calving years 1990 to 1996 (data set 2). A further data set (data set 3) contained 43116 cows from calving years 1987 to 1996 and included information on the housing system for each herd. The basic model used included stage of lactation, relative production within herd, change of herd size and year-season as time dependent effects, age at calving as a time independent effect, and herd-year-season and sire as random effects. Other effects (information on type, housing system) were included additionally. For data set 2, the scores for 15 linear type traits were also included as corrected phenotypic values, estimated breeding values and residuals from a previous BLUP analysis. The package SURVIVAL KIT 3.01, developed by Ducrocq and Solkner (1998) was used for all analyses. The results indicate a moderate heritability of 0.22 and 0.21 for true and functional LPL (data set 1). Almost all type traits analyzed (data set 2) exceed a 0.001 level of significance in their effect on survival. Strongest relationships between survival and type were found for udder depth, fore udder attachment, and front teat placement. The main result from the comparison of housing systems (data set 3) was that bedding has a positive effect on survival.
FIRM EFFICIENCY AND THE DESTINATION OF EXPORTS: EVIDENCE FROM KENYAN PLANT‐LEVEL DATA

Investigating the link between firm efficiency and exports in Kenyan manufacturing, the results show that exporters are more efficient than non-exporters, and that relatively efficient firms self-select into exporting. An important new finding is that only for export markets outside Africa must firms be efficient prior to entry. The probability of exporting to other African countries increases if production is intense in physical and human capital. For export activities outside Africa, firm size is more important. Contrary to many other studies, it is also found that export participation yields learning effects. When testing the hypothesis that the main source of learning effects is trade with developed countries (south–north), as opposed to trade with other developing countries (south–south), yet another new finding is that learning effects only obtain in south–south trade. Therefore, one can conclude that controlling for the destination of exports importantly improves the understanding of the relationship between firm efficiency and exports.
Structure and Function of the Zooplankton Community of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire

An intensive study of the zooplankton community of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, was undertaken over a 3-yr period. Our objectives in the lake study have included measurements of a number of attributes of the zooplankton community that integrate structure and function at the ecosystem level; among these are dispersion, biomass, productivity, respiration, and nutrient cycling. Eight species of rotifers and 3 species of cladocerans were successfully cultured. Generation time for planktonic rotifers was -8-10 days (170C). The effect of higher food levels on rotifers was to shorten generation time and to increase brood size. In cladocerans, high food levels caused an increase in length and brood size. A curvilinear relationship existed between zooplankton community respiration and temperature in Mirror Lake. Mean monthly zooplankton community respiration ranged from 96.0 kg C/ha/mo in June of 1969 to a low of 20.5 kg C/ha/mo in April of 1970. Over a 3-yr period, respiration was 79.9% of assimilation. The 0 to 4.5-m strata (;epilimnion) contributed 68.5% and 46.5% of the annual zooplankton production and biomass. Zooplankton community production ranged from 22.3 kg C/ha/yr to 29.3 kg C/ha/yr with a 3-yr mean of 25.2 kg C/ha/yr. The annual zooplankton biomass ranged from 1.4 to 2.6 kg C/ha with a 3-yr mean of 2.0 kg C/ha. A linear relationship was found to exist between net phytoplankton and zooplankton production in various lakes of the world. Ecological efficiency apparently increases with the trophic status of the lake. It is recommended that the term ecological efficiency be refined to include both autochthonous and allochthonous inputs of reduced carbon into the lake. Rotifers assume a major role in intrasystem nutrient cycling and energy transfer within the lake ecosystem. Of the total amount of P incorporated into the organic matter of zooplankton community each year, 33.5% is assimilated in rotifer tissue. The annual turnover rate of P by rotifers is 30.9 and is high compared to crustaceans (10.1). Copepods comprise 55.4% of the total zooplankton biomass. However, the copepods, with their slow growth over an entire year, represent only 19.3% of the zooplankton production, while rotifers account for 39.8% of the zooplankton production annually in Mirror Lake. Also, evidence is presented that rotifers play a major role in energy transfer in lakes of varying trophic status (oligotrophic to eutrophic).
Logistics Aspects Of Transport Modalities On The Exports Of Raw Sugar

This work aims to present the current scenario of the Brazilian raw sugar export logistics, focusing on transportation, pointing out the benefits of intermodal road-rail in the flow of bulk sugar from mills to the Port of Santos. The study analyzes the evolution of modes of transportation and new investments focused on port infrastructure. It is possible to notice throughout the work that most of the investments in the area comes from private business groups seeking partnerships to improve competitiveness for the sector, such as Rumo Logistica and America Latina Logistica, which holds the largest concession and rail network in the state. The state of Sao Paulo currently offers transshipment options warehouses located in its territory and can meet the demand of the sugar mills to flow their product. It could be identified that the existence of a logistical planning well done using these two modes (road and rail) can guarantee competitive prices, load security and a transit time that does not compromise the receipt of the goods at the port, which historically suffer from the accumulation of vehicles, and is a great alternative for reducing air pollutants, with the reduction of vehicles circulating on the roads.
Predicting aquatic macrophyte occurrence in soft-water oligotrophic lakes (Pyrenees mountain range)

Distribution of aquatic macrophytes in lakes is related to geographical, morphological, catchment and water chemistry variables as well as human impacts, which modify the original environment. Here, we aim at building statistical models to establish the ecological niches of 11 aquatic macrophytes (10 different phanerogams and the genus Nitella ) from oligotrophic soft-water lakes and infer their ecological requirements and environmental constraints at the southernmost limit of their distribution. Macrophyte occurrence and environmental variables were obtained from 86 non-exploited oligotrophic soft-water lakes from the Pyrenees (Southern Europe; 42o50´N, 1o00´E); macrophytes inhabited 55 of these lakes. Optimum ranges and macrophyte occurrence were predicted in relation to 18 geographical, morphological, catchment and water chemistry variables using univariate and multivariate logistic models. Lakes at low altitude, in vegetated catchments and with low water concentration of NO 3 - and SO 4 -2 , were the most suitable to host macrophytes. In general, individual species of aquatic macrophytes showed clear patterns of segregation along conductivity and pH gradients, although the specific combination of variables selected in the best models explaining their occurrence differed among species. Based on the species response to pH and conductivity, we found Isoetes lacustris have its optimum in waters with low conductivity and pH (i.e. negative monotonic response). In contrast, Callitriche palustris , Ranunculus aquatilis , Subularia aquatica , Nitella spp. , and Myriophyllum alterniflorum showed an optimum at intermediate values ( i.e. unimodal response), whereas Potamogeton berchtoldii , Potamogeton alpinus , and Ranunculus trichophyllus as species had their optimum at relatively high water pH and conductivity (i.e. positive monotonic response). This pattern has been observed in other regions for the same species, although with different optima and tolerance ranges. The parsimonious models developed here allowed us to explore niche requirements for each species and to predict the occurrence of macrophytes and of individual species in any particular lake by using only few, easily measured environmental variables. This is of interest to forecast possible changes related to global change and to assist managers in making conservation, management and restoration decisions.
My Computer, My Friend, My Therapist: Exploring and questioning the theories and methodologies that guide the design of empathic agents

Affective computing is an approach to computer systems design that attempts to understand, sense, influence or evoke human emotions during interaction with intelligent systems. In recent years, many researchers and practitioners of affective computing have focused their efforts on the design and development of empathic agents – virtually embodied artificial intelligence systems that serve as “emotionally intelligent” help systems, teachers, coaches, therapists or even “friends” to human users. This paper takes a critical look at the fundamental role of the human tendency to unconsciously overanthropomorphize the behaviors of computer technology – a phenomenon known commonly as the “ELIZA effect” – in empathic agent systems. Using the ELIZA effect as a springboard, I first examine and then question the theories and methodologies behind empathic agent design, ultimately suggesting alternative theories that may be both more fruitful and less ethically consequential than those currently in existence.
Do immigrant-owned businesses grow financially? An empirical study of African immigrant-owned businesses in the South Africa

Given the fact that numerous challenges prohibit African immigrants from availing financial capital for the purpose of starting a business in South Africa, this paper sets out to investigate whether those that succeeded experienced a significant increment in their financial capital three or more years after start-up. This paper was designed within the quantitative and qualitative research paradigms. A triangulation of three methods was utilised to collect and analyze the data. From a quantitative perspective, the survey questionnaire was used. To complement the quantitative approach, personal interviews and focus groups were utilised as the methods within the qualitative approach paradigm. The primary data collection instrument used was the survey questionnaire which was complemented by personal interviews and focus group debates. The results revealed that the majority (71,1%) African immigrants had an estimated start-up financial in the range of R 1 000 and R 5 000, which tended to vary across the different ethnic groups studied. After three of more years, the estimated financial capital of the majority (39,3%) of the respondents moved to a new range of R 50 001 to R 100 000. Noting a disparity in capital growth exhibited by the different ethnic groups, it was found that all the Ethiopians who started with a capital within the range of R1 000-R5 000 moved into a new capital range (R50 001- R100 000) three or more years after business start-up. Although the absolute migration in terms of capital demonstrated by the Ethiopians is not into the highest capital range, they were nonetheless the only country that experienced this phenomenal growth. In terms of occupying the highest capital range (R250 001- R500 000), 11,1% of Cameroonians moved into that range followed by 7,4% of Somalians. Using an increase in financial capital (generated by ploughing back profits) as a proxy for growth, we were able to prove that these African immigrants owned business grow and the rate of growth varied across the different ethnic groups studied.
Economic Deprivation and Willingness to Relocate among Urban Slum Dwellers in Lagos

Abstract In spite of deplorable conditions, slum dwellers have often been persistent in remaining in the so called urban hell holes. It has however been asserted that in many cases, the conditions in the slums are worse than those in the rural areas from which many migrated scholars have therefore been interested in the factors that motivate slum dwellers’ willingness to remain in the slums or to relocate. In a survey (n = 383), this study explored the living conditions of the slum dwellers, their level of absolute deprivation, and the factors that motivate or impede their willingness to relocate from the slum. The results showed that deprivation and marginalization in the slum were very high. Curiously however, the results showed an insignificant negative correlation between willingness to relocate and the level of absolute deprivation. It was however shown that slum dwellers’ willingness to relocate was contingent upon their social and demographic characteristics.
The Dispositional Sources of Job Satisfaction: A Comparative Test

This study related three personality taxonomies—positive affectivity and nega-tive affectivity (PA and NA), the five-factor model (the “Big Five”), and core selfevaluations—to job satisfaction in an integrative test. In a longitudinal design with multi-source data, results indicated that the traits from all three taxonomies generally were significantly related to job satisfaction, even when the traits and job satisfaction were measured with independent sources. However, when all three typologies were examined concurrently, the core self-evaluations typology was the only typology that was significantly related to job satisfaction. The study extends research on the validation of these frameworks by assessing convergent and discriminant validity issues, and shows that core self-evaluations adds to our understanding of the dispositional source of job satisfaction. Cette etude a rapproche trois echelles de personnalite, l’echelle de l’affectivite positive et de l’affectivite negative (PA et Na), le modele de personnalite en 5 facteurs (le “Big Five”) et le coeur des auto-evaluations, de la satisfaction au travail dans un test integratif. Dans une conception longitudinale qui croise de multiples sources de donnees, les resultats indiquent que les traits provenant des trois echelles sont generalement relies significativement a la relation au travail, meme quand les traits et la satisfaction au travail sont mesures avec des sources independantes. Cependant, quand les trois typologies sont examinees en parallele, le coeur des auto-evaluations est la seule echelle reliee significativement a la satisfaction au travail. L’etude se prolonge par une recherche sur la validation de ces structures en evaluant la validite convergente et la validite discriminante, elle montre que le coeur des auto-evaluations nous permet de saisir l’origine dispositionnelle de la satisfaction au travail.
Effect of Photodynamic Therapy with Different Formulations of Methylene Blue in Teeth Contaminated by Enterococcus faecalis

The aim of this study was to compare the disinfection of dentine using photodynamic therapy with methylene blue in different formulations. Thirty bovine teeth roots were autoclaved and incubated with a suspension of Enterococcus faecalis. The specimen were randomly divided into three groups: G1, the roots were filled with 10 mM methylene blue dissolved in water; G2, the roots were filled with 10 mM methylene blue dissolved in a mixture of glycerol: ethanol: water; G3, roots filled with 100 mM methylene blue dissolved in water. The groups were irradiated with a 660 nm diode laser with an output power of 100 mW for 4 min, energy density of 850 J/cm2 and after this procedure, the sensitizer was removed and microbial samples were collected from within the root canals. The samples were plated on mEnterococcus to count the colony-forming units (CFU/mL). The means were: Group 1=513×103, Group 2=1431×103 and Group 3=2.96×103. The statistical analysis detected higher disinfection achieved by G3 when compared with groups G1 and G2, and no significant difference between the groups G1 and G2 (P>0.05). The increase of the concentration of methylene blue dye achieved higher disinfection in photodynamic therapy.
MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

The current computer-based instructional technologies found in schools around the world provide enormous opportunities for teachers to use them for effective and efficient lesson delivery. This study was aimed at comparing the level of computer use for teaching purposes by business and science stream teachers in the secondary schools of Maldives. A descriptive research methodology was conducted to collect data for this quantitative study. A survey questionnaire was administrated to 85 participants (43 business teachers and 42 science teachers). The findings of this study indicate that science stream teachers have higher level of computer use for teaching purposes in comparison with business stream teachers. An independent sample t-test analysis indicated that there is no significance in the perceived support for computer use between business and science stream teachers. To increase technology use for teaching purposes and decrease the differences between two groups of teacher, training programs need to be carried out separately to meet the training needs of the each group of teachers.
An Inequality for Similarity Condition Numbers of Unbounded Operators with Schatten - von Neumann Hermitian Components

Let $H$ be a linear unbounded operator in a separable Hilbert space. It is assumed the resolvent of $H$ is a compact operator and $H-H^*$ is a Schatten - von Neumann operator. Various integro-differential operators satisfy these conditions. Under certain assumptions it is shown that $H$ is similar to a normal operator and a sharp bound for the condition number is suggested. We also discuss applications of that bound to spectrum perturbations and operator functions.
Valuation of Urban Environmental Amenities in Developing Countries: A Case Study from Chandigarh, India

Studies related to the valuation of urban environmental amenities like water bodies, green spaces and clean air are very scarce in developing countries. The present study is a first of its kind in India where Hedonic Pricing Method (HPM) has been used to study the impact of key environmental attributes like proximity of an urban lake having good water quality, parks/gardens, clean air and traffic noise attenuation on the market rates of residential plots in a planned city. Two functional hedonic pricing models, double log with weighted least square and ordinary least square, were constructed. Both the models offered comparable and reliable results. Proximity to Sukhna lake of Chandigah city and Leisure valley chain of green spaces raised housing prices by about 10 % and 2 % respectively. Air quality showed significant improvement near green spaces. The study demonstrates that there is significant scope of enhancing government controlled collector rate of urban residential property in areas near to Sukhna lake. The revenue so realized could be ploughed back in conservation efforts of the lake and expanding the green spaces in the city. Values accorded to urban environmental amenities in the study can justify the public spending and seek more funding for the betterment of urban water bodies and green spaces in developing countries.
Population dynamics of Acetes erythraeus (Nobili, 1905) in the Kutubdia Channel of Bangladesh

ELEFAN I, ELEFAN II were used to estimate population parameters in Acetes erythraeus based on length-frequency data collected from Kutubdia Channel of Bangladesh coastal water. The asymptotic length L and growth constant (K) for the species were 37.00 mm and 1.20/year respectively. The annual rate of natural mortality (M), fishing mortality (F) and total mortality (Z) were found to be 3.61, 1.11 and 4.72 respectively. The rate of exploitation (E) was estimated as 0.24. The mean length at first capture (Lc) was estimated as 18.206 mm. This shrimp was recruited continuously with peak during April to June. Emax was found to be 0.87. From the analysis, Acetes erythraeus was found to be below optimum fishing pressure (i.e. E<0.50) in the investigated area.
Prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis among elderly patients with systolic heart failure or conduction disorders

Abstract Objective: Cardiac amyloid infiltration can lead to systolic heart failure (HF) or to conduction disorders (CD). Patients with transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis are particularly exposed. We sought to determine the prevalence of ATTR and AL among patients >60 years admitted with CD or unexplained systolic HF and increased wall thickness. Materials and Methods: We studied 143 patients (57% males, 79 ± 9 years) with HF (N = 28) or CD requiring pacemaker implantation (N = 115). In total, 139 (97%) patients (28 with HF and 111 with CD) underwent 99mTc-DPD scintigraphy to detect ATTR, and 105 (73%; 19 HF and 86 CD) underwent AL screening. Results: Five patients (4%; 95%CI:0–7%) exhibited wild-type ATTR (ATTRwt) amyloidosis, 2 (2%; 95%CI:0–4%) had CD and 3 (11%; 95%CI:0–23%) HF. No patient showed AL. The 2 ATTRwt patients with CD were previously asymptomatic, did not show classical ECG signs and exhibited mild LV hypertrophy with preserved LVEF. By contrast, all ATTRwt patients with HF had ECG and echocardiographic signs of amyloid. During a mean follow-up of 18 ± 11 months, 3(60%) patients with ATTRwt amyloidosis (1 CD and 2 HF) and 14(10.4%) without died. Conclusion: Prevalence of ATTRwt amyloidosis in patients with CD requiring pacemaker is low. Although, additional studies are needed, prevalence seems to be higher in elderly patients with systolic HF.