Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends in the Density of Zooxanthellae in Acropora millepora (Ehrenberg, 1834) at the Palm Island Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

It is important to understand the natural variation of coral zooxanthellae considering the implications of loss of these micro-algal symbionts for coral survival during bleaching. This study explores the seasonal trend of zooxanthellae densities in the common coral, Acropora millepora over a period of seven months at a relatively undisturbed environment, the inshore reefs of the Palm Island Group in the Central Section of the Great Barrier Reef. Zooxanthellae densities increased twofold at both sites with the onset of colder temperatures and lower solar flux. This strongly suggests that a seasonal component is responsible for the observed changes in algal densities in A. millepora. Zooxanthellae densities also varied between colonies (F=4.858, p=0.000) and branches (F=1.565, p=0.001). The results of this study stress the importance of accounting for seasonal variation and for variation within and among colonies when designing studies to determine zooxanthellae densities and assessing the intensity of bleaching during mass bleaching events.
Determination of allelopathic potentials in plant species in Sino-Japanese floristic region by sandwich method and dish pack method

The Sino-Japanese Floristic Region appears as one of the major centers of development of higher plants. This region have been relevant for the study of evolution and systematics of many flowering plants. The taxonomic richness of endemic plant species in this region have survived several years of extreme climate conditions. Endemic mountainous plant species that have survived extreme climate conditions are of allelopathic and medicinal interest. For this reason, 251 plant species collected from the Sino-Japanese Floristic Region were screened for allelopathic plant species. Sandwich method and dish pack method were respectively used to screen plant leaf leachates and volatile materials with lettuce ( Lactuca sativa CV. Great Lakes 366) as receptor plant. Among the 84 species that showed inhibitory effect on lettuce radicle elongation in our sandwich bioassay, Photinia glabra showed complete inhibition of lettuce radicle elongation (0% radicle elongation). In the dish pack bioassay, Photinia glabra , Liquidambar styraciflua , and Cinnamomum camphora (90.6%, 61.4%, and 50.2% respectively) were among the nine species that were observed with strong inhibitory effect on lettuce radicle growth. On the other hand, nine other species promoted lettuce radicle growth when compared to the control. Aesculus turbinata and Quercus gilva were the species with the highest growth stimulatory effect (33.0% and 16.1% respectively). We hereby present Photinia glabra as an allelopathic candidate species for both leachate and volatile compounds.
Attention Bias Modification with or without Reward for Social Anxiety Disorder: A randomized controlled trial

5 Social Anxiety Disorder 6 Attentional bias 6 Treatments for SAD 7 Attentional bias modification 8 Positive reinforcement and priming 9 Aims and hypotheses 10 Method 11 Participants 11 Equipment 11 Measures 12 Stimuli 13 Design 13 Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy 14 Procedure 14 Statistical Analyses 15 Results 18 Baseline Profile 18 Attentional bias 19
DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF FLETTNER ROTORS WITH AND WITHOUT THOM DISCS

The paper presents U-RANS simulations for 3-D flow 0past a rotating cylinder for a range of Reynolds numbers and rotation rates relevant to the performance of ships propelled by Flettner rotors in place of sails. Comparisons are drawn with existing LES data of similar flows at much lower Reynolds numbers. Ttheresafter the performance is examined for values of Re within the probable range of actual rotor operating conditions including the effects of adding discs mounted along the length of the cylinder which Thom (1934) had suggested led to improved performance at high spin rates.
Preferential Association Among Kin Exhibited in a Population of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis)

Author(s): Welsh, Lillian S. ; Herzing, Denise L. | Abstract: While it is widely accepted that dolphins form associations with conspecifics based primarily on similarities in age class and reproductive status, perhaps equally important is the investigation into secondary influences such as kinship. Preferential association among kin is well-researched in numerous terrestrial species, but has only recently been investigated in cetaceans. This study brings another species into the body of work being formed on the influence of relatedness on cetacean relationships. The association indices of 26 individuals with known relatives in a population of Atlantic spotted dolphins, Stenella frontalis, were compiled from encounters in the Bahamas from 2002-2006. Analysis demonstrated that there is preferential association among kin in this population. Mean association indices were found to be significantly higher within families than between families, and there was a positive correlation between relatedness and coefficient of association. Also, the effects of social segregation based on sex and age class, which were evident in the sample population as a whole, were absent in kin dyads.
USELESS DEGREES OR USELESS STATISTICS? A COMPARISON OF THE NET PRESENT VALUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION BY FIELD OF STUDY IN FIVE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MIROSLAV BEBLAVÝ, SOPHIE LEHOUELLEUR AND

With higher education increasingly available to young people regardless of their socioeconomic status, the question “what to study” is steadily replacing “whether to study” as the key question facing students today. This paper examines, in a comparative and methodologically innovative manner, incentives for studying various fields measured by net present value of university education. We use data from five European countries (France, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia) and include (opportunity) costs in the computation. Results suggest that enrolling in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) faculties is often not the best bargain, especially for female students. Decisions made by students are therefore consistent with their private returns, which points to the fact that if policy-makers desire to induce changes in behaviour, they should consider changing the incentives themselves.
No Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Breast Cancer Patients with Sentinel Lymph Node Micrometastasis

Follow-up data of a series of 75 breast cancer patients with sentinel node (SN) micrometastases only (between 0.2 and 2 mm) and favorable histopathological features of the primary tumor (well-differentiated, T1 tumors without lymphovascular invasion) who refused completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or who were unsuitable for surgery were assessed in order to detect the rate of axillary recurrence after an adjuvant chemoand/or hormonal adjuvant treatment was given. The great majority of patients (81.3%) did not undergo ALND due to the existence of favorable histopathologic factors while the rest were equally distributed among over 75-year-old women (10.6%) and patients at a high surgical risk due to comorbid conditions (9.3%). Sixty-six patients (88%) underwent conservative treatment (lumpectomy followed by adjuvant breast radiotherapy) while the remaining nine patients (12%) had total mastectomy; 72 out of 75 patients (96%) received some forms of adjuvant chemoand/or hormone-therapy. After a median follow-up of 38 months (range 12 - 84 months), nine out of 75 patients (12%) had a disease relapse, only one of them (1.3%) being affected by an axillary recurrence in the untreated axilla three years after primary surgery. On these grounds, completion ALND could be safely omitted in patients with SN micrometastasis and favorable histopathological characteristics of the primary neoplasm due to the very low rate of axillary recurrence with no detrimental effect on survival.
Assessment of nutritional status of in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Adolescents are tomorrow’s adult population, hence their health and well-being are crucial. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional status of in-school adolescents in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 93 in-school adolescents attending a diabetes mellitus sensitisation and education programme, selected by simple random sampling (the ballot method) using a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were carried out on the subjects by trained researchers. Data were analysed using SPSS® software, version 17. Results: Study subjects comprised 29 males (31.2%) and 64 females (68.8), with an overall mean age of 15.67 (± 1.25) years. All of them were in senior grades of their secondary education. Approximately 90% of respondents’ parents had attained at least secondary education. The television was the most popular source of health information for the study subjects (33.3%). Nearly a third of them were underweight [body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2] and 7.6% of them were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). However, the prevalence of underweight was higher in the male respondents than in their female counterparts (41.4% vs. 23.4%, respectively). Statistically significant differences were also observed when the mean BMI and mean BMI percentiles for age and sex were compared (p < 0.05 in both instances). Conclusion: The study showed that malnutrition, and especially undernutrition, is still a problem in adolescents, with a higher prevalence in boys. Nutrition education in schools, and special programmes like the one attended by the study subjects, would help considerably in improving the health and well-being of the nation’s adolescents; tomorrow’s adult population.
The methods of evaluating storage volume for single-chamber reservoir in urban catchments

Abstract The article presents a method of designing single-chamber rectangular detention reservoirs based on nomographs connecting the parameters and the shape of the inflow with the reservoir hydrograph (triangular, described by the power function and described by the gamma distribution) as well as the hydraulic characteristics of the accumulation chamber and the orifice. The preparation of nomographs involved using the SWMM (Storm Water Management Model) program with the application of numerical calculations’ results of a differential equation for the stormwater volume balance. The performed analyses confirm a high level of similarity between the results of calculating the reservoir volume obtained by using the above mentioned program and using the developed nomographs. The examples of calculations presented in the paper confirm the application aspects of the discussed method of designing the detention reservoir. Moreover, based on the conducted analyses it was concluded that the inflow hydrograph described by the gamma distribution has the greatest impact on the reservoir’s storage volume, whereas the hydrograph whose shape in the rise and recession phases is described by the power function has the smallest effect.
PREDICTION OF VORTEX-INDUCED VIBRATION OF FLEXIBLE RISER USING AN IMPROVED WAKE-OSCILLATOR MODEL

Based on improving the wake-oscillator model, an analytical model for vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of flexible riser under non-uniform current is presented, in which the variation of added mass at lock-in and the nonlinear relationship between amplitude of response and reduced velocity are considered. By means of empirical formula combining iteration computation, the improved analytical model can be conveniently programmed into computer code with simpler and faster computation process than CFD so as to be suitable to application of practical engineering. This model is validated by comparing with experimental result and numerical simulation. Our results show that the improved model can predict VIV response and lock-in region more accurately. At last, illustrative examples are given in which the amplitude of response of flexible riser experiencing VIV under action of non-uniform current is calculated and effects of riser tension and flow distribution along span of riser are explored. It is demonstrated that with the variation of tension and flow distribution, lock-in region of mode behaves in different way, and thus the final response is a synthesis of response of locked modes.
Development of laboratory methods to detect meat tenderness

ix Chapter I 1.Introduction . 1 Chapter II 2.Literature Review 2.1.Tenderness . 5 2.1.1.Tenderness Importance for consumers . 5 2.1. 2.Tenderness Research Importance for Industry. 8 2.2. Factor Affecting Tenderness . 10 2.3. Skeletal Muscle Structure and Composition . 13 2.4. Conversion of Muscle to Meat . 14 2.4. 1.Post Rigor Tenderization Phase . 16 2.5. The Calpain-Calpastatin Enxyme System . 18 2.5. 1.Calpain . 20 2.5. 1.1.Calpain Structure . 21 2.5. 2.Calpastatin . 22 2.5. 2.1. Isolation of Calpastatin . 22 2.5. 2.2.Calpastatin and meat tenderness . 24 2.6. Calpastatin Activity Versus Quantity . 25 2.7. Tenderness Prediction Methods . 27 2.7. 1.Traditional Calpastatin Assay . 28 2.7. 2.ELISA . 29 2.7. 3.Western Blot . 29 2.7. 4.Newer Research . 30
Quantum transport in a low-density periodic potential: homogenisation via homogeneous flows

We show that the time evolution of a quantum wavepacket in a periodic potential converges in a combined high-frequency/Boltzmann-Grad limit, up to second order in the coupling constant, to terms that are compatible with the linear Boltzmann equation. This complements results of Eng and Erdos for low-density random potentials, where convergence to the linear Boltzmann equation is proved in all orders. We conjecture, however, that the linear Boltzmann equation fails in the periodic setting for terms of order four and higher. Our proof uses Floquet-Bloch theory, multi-variable theta series and equidistribution theorems for homogeneous flows. Compared with other scaling limits traditionally considered in homogenisation theory, the Boltzmann-Grad limit requires control of the quantum dynamics for longer times, which are inversely proportional to the total scattering cross section of the single-site potential.
Cultures of Corruption: Evidence from Diplomatic Parking Tickets

Corruption is believed to be a major factor impeding economic development, but the importance of legal enforcement versus cultural norms in controlling corruption is poorly understood. To disentangle these two factors, we exploit a natural experiment, the stationing of thousands of diplomats from around the world in New York City. Diplomatic immunity means there was essentially zero legal enforcement of diplomatic parking violations, allowing us to examine the role of cultural norms alone. This generates a revealed preference measure of government officials' corruption based on real-world behavior taking place in the same setting. We find strong persistence in corruption norms: diplomats from high corruption countries (based on existing survey-based indices) have significantly more parking violations, and these differences persist over time. In a second main result, officials from countries that survey evidence indicates have less favorable popular views of the United States commit significantly more parking violations, providing non-laboratory evidence on sentiment in economic decision-making. Taken together, factors other than legal enforcement appear to be important determinants of corruption.
Evidence on the Characteristics of Cross Sectional Variation in Stock Returns

Firm size and book-to-market ratios are both highly correlated with the returns of common stocks. Fama and French (1993) have argued that the association between these firm characteristics and their stock returns arises because size and book-to-market ratios are proxies for non-diversifiable factor risk. In contrast, the evidence in this paper indicates that the return premia on small capitalization and high book-to-market stocks does not arise because of the co-movements of these stocks with pervasive factors. It is the firm characteristics and not the covariance structure of returns that explain the cross-sectional variation in stock returns.
Efficiency of Polymeric Membrane Graphene Oxide-TiO2 for Removal of Azo Dye

Achieving the desired standard of drinking water quality has been one of the concerns across water treatment plants in the developing countries. Processes such as grid chamber, coagulation, sedimentation, clarification, filtration, and disinfection are typically used in water purification plants. Among these methods, unit filtration which employs polymers is one of the new technologies. There have been many studies about the use of semiconductive TiO2 with graphene oxide (GO) on the base of different polymeric membranes for the removal of azo dyes, especially methylene blue (MB). Polymeric GO-TiO2 membranes have high photocatalytic, antifouling property and permeate the flux removal of organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of different polymeric membranes such as anionic perfluorinated polymer (Nafion), cellulose acetate, polycarbonate (PC), polysulfone fluoride (PSF), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The result of this study showed that the GO-TiO2 membrane can be used in the field of water treatment and will be used for the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from wastewater.
Coexistence of forest and savanna in an Amazonian area from a geological perspective

Question: How can the coexistence of savanna and forest in Amazonian areas with relatively uniform climates be explained? Location: Eastern MarajoIsland, northeast Amazo- nia, Brazil. Methods: The study integrated floristic analysis, ter- rain morphology, sedimentology and d 13 Co f soil organic matter. Floristic analysis involved rapid eco- logical assessment of 33 sites, determination of occurrence, specific richness, hierarchical distribution and matrix of floristic similarity between paired vege- tation types. Terrain characterization was based on analysis of Landsat images using 4(R), 5(G) and 7(B) composition and digital elevation model (DEM). Sedimentology involved field descriptions of surface and core sediments. Finally, radiocarbon dating and analysis of d 13 C of soil profile organic matter and natural ecotone forest-savanna was undertaken. Results: Slight tectonic subsidence in eastern Marajo´ Island favours seasonal flooding, making it unsuita- ble for forest growth. However, this area displays slightly convex-up, sinuous morphologies related to paleochannels, covered by forest. Terra-firme low- land forests are expanding from west to east, preferentially occupying paleochannels and repla- cing savanna. Slack, running water during channel abandonment leads to disappearance of varzea/ gallery forest at channel margins. Long-abandoned channels sustain continuous terra-firme forests, be- cause of longer times for more species to establish. Recently abandoned channels have had less time to become sites for widespread tree development, and are either not vegetated or covered by savanna. Conclusion: Landforms in eastern MarajoIsland reflect changes in the physical environment due to reactivation of tectonic faults during the latest Quaternary. This promoted a dynamic history of channel abandonment, which controlled a set of interrelated parameters (soil type, topography, hy- drology) that determined species location. Inclusion of a geological perspective for paleoenvironmental reconstruction can increase understanding of plant distribution in Amazonia.
Evaluating the importance of financial and non-financial indicators for the evaluation of company’s performance

The topicality of the research is determined by the studies on financial and non-financial indicators by many authors, although there are difficulties in their practical use since there is no united approach in the measurement and evaluation of both financial and non-financial indicators. The current research is based on the earlier theoretical studies by the author on the use of the financial and non-financial indicators in the evaluation of the company’s performance; as a result of the previous research the groups of the financial and non-financial indicators were established and later on used in the practical research by the author. The aim of the research is to assess the importance of the financial and non-financial indicators in accordance with the opinions of the Latvian business persons and top-level officials of the Latvian companies. The research methods used in the research: information analysis and synthesis, logically constructive method, methods of data classification, comparative method, factor analysis and clustering methods. The results of the research demonstrate that the majority of the respondents find the financial indicators to be moderately important or very important, but the non-financial indicators- highly important. It could be concluded that the non-financial indicators are evaluated higher than the financial indicators, which confirms the necessity to use the non-financial indicators in the evaluation of the company’s performance. JEL codes: G30, M21.
The Determinants of Rural Child Labor: An Application to India

There are several factors that may contribute to the decision to send a child to work, such as poverty, market imperfections and parental preferences. The aim of this paper is to determine empirically the relative importance of these diverse factors on the incidence of child labor in rural India. In order to examine several potentially influential factors separately, we outline a theoretical model of child labor in a peasant household based on the model presented in Bhalotra and Heady (2003) with modifications to allow for the child to participate in different types of labor. We then use the theoretical model to specify and estimate an empirical model of rural child labor participation. Our results indicate that parental education and household income appear to play the most important role in determining whether a child works, attends school or is idle. Market imperfections, on the other hand, only play an important role in determining whether the child participates in family labor.
A Microfounded Mechanism of Observed Substantial Inflation Persistence

Recently, it has been argued that trend inflation may be the solution to the puzzle of inflation persistence in the New Keynesian Phillips curve (NKPC). However, incorporating trend inflation into the NKPC raises another serious problem—it lacks a microfoundation. The paper presents a microfoundation for trend inflation, which indicates that trend inflation is a natural consequence of simultaneous optimization by the government and households. A purely forward-looking model is constructed based on the microfoundation presented. The model enables a unified explanation for various types of inflation. It also indicates that, if inflation is assumed to follow an autoregressive process without considering trend inflation, many measures of inflation persistence will spuriously indicate that inflation is intrinsically substantially persistent and has a backward-looking property.