Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The informational value of pressure-based proxies for past storm activity

Air pressure readings and their variations are commonly used to make inferences about storm activity. More precisely, it is assumed that the variation of annual and seasonal statistics of several pressure-based proxies describes changes in the past storm climate qualitatively – an assumption that has yet to be proven. This work presents a systematic evaluation of several cases of such pressure-based proxies for storm activity. The results indicate that the statistics of geostrophic wind speeds are a valuable proxy for describing past storm activity. On the contrary, results from analyses of proxies derived from pressure readings from single stations show that the informational value of the statistics of such proxies is lower. Pressure proxies also make it possible to determine how realistically historic climate simulations or reanalyses reproduce the past storm climate and associated long-term trends. The present work compares the storm climate over the Northeast Atlantic from the Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) dataset with storminess derived from pressure observations reaching back to the 1880s through using geostrophic wind speed statistics. The results point to large inconsistencies between storminess in 20CR and storminess derived from observations in the 19th and mid-20th century in that region due to an increasing number of assimilated pressure observations over time. Der Informationsgehalt luftdruckbasierter Proxies für vergangene Sturmaktivität
The warm molecular hydrogen of PKS B1718-649: feeding a newly born radio AGN

We present new SINFONI VLT observations of molecular hydrogen (H2) in the central regions ( 650 pc) is aligned with other components of the galaxy (atomic hydrogen, stars, dust), while the inner disk (r< 600 pc) is perpendicular to it and is polar with respect to the stellar distribution. However, in the innermost 75 pc, the data show the presence of H2 gas redshifted with respect to the rotating inner disk ($\Delta v\,$+150 km/s) which may trace gas falling into the super-massive black hole associated with the central radio source. Along the same line of sight, earlier observations had shown the presence in the central regions of PKS B1718-649 of clouds of atomic hydrogen with similar unsettled kinematics. The range of velocities and mass of these unsettled clouds of HI and H2 suggest they may be actively contributing in fuelling the central newly-born radio source.
DEVELOPMENT OF SOME TOLERANT YEAST (SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE) STRAINS TO HEAT AND SALT STRESSES

All living organisms are subjected to changing in conservational conditions, to which they must adapt to. Stress is defined as a threat refers to the physiological balance of systems critical to survival organisms. Five yeast strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were subjected to different adverse environmental situations, such as thermal, osmotic and oxidative (salt) stresses. The objective of this work was to detect the most tolerant yeast strains under salt or heat stresses. Five yeast strains were exposed in a first experiment to heat stress at 20°C or 40°C beside to the control at 30°C to detect the more tolerant strain. The same yeast strains were subjected in a second experiment to two different concentrations of salt stress (NaCl); 0.5 or 1.0 M, separately, for two days (at 30°C as normal temperature for growth), other strains were exposed to 0.5 M concentration of NaCl for 24 hours, then 1 M for another 24 hours. For the heat stress results, strain S4 was more tolerant at 40 o Cwith insignificant difference compared to the control (30 o C), while it showed significant difference at 20°C. Strain S5 also was more tolerant at 20 o C with insignificant difference compared to the control. For salt treatment, the only insignificant value was for strain S3at 0.5M NaCl compared with the control.
Grassland harvesting alters ant community trophic structure: An isotopic study in tallgrass prairies

Abstract Disturbances have long been recognized as important forces for structuring natural communities but their effects on trophic structure are not well understood, particularly in terrestrial systems. This is in part because quantifying trophic linkages is a challenge, especially for small organisms with cryptic feeding behaviors such as insects, and often relies on conducting labor‐intensive feeding trials or extensive observations in the field. In this study, we used stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to examine how disturbance (annual biomass harvesting) in tallgrass prairies affected the trophic position, trophic range, and niche space of ants, a widespread grassland consumer. We hypothesized that biomass harvest would remove important food and nesting resources of insects thus affecting ant feeding relationships and trophic structure. We found shifts in the feeding relationships inferred by isotopic signatures with harvest. In particular, these shifts suggest that ants within harvest sites utilized resources at lower trophic levels (possibly plant‐based resources or herbivores), expanded trophic breadth, and occupied different niche spaces. Shifts in resource use following harvest could be due to harvest‐mediated changes in both the plant and arthropod communities that might affect the strength of competition or alter plant nitrogen availability. Because shifts in resource use alter the flow of nutrients across the food web, disturbance effects on ants could have ecosystem‐level consequences through nutrient cycling.
Visually Synthesizing the Genotype-Phenotype Distinction in Cannabis sativa

Presented are results of two numerical experiments: the whole chloroplast genome chaos game representation of Cannabis sativa and the comparison of two state-of-the-art neural network architectures applied to the neural style transfer problem. A brief explanation of the chaos game representation is given followed by results illustrating that the whole chloroplast genome has global structure. An explication of neural style transfer and the ResNet and FractalNet neural network architectures is then given followed by results when both networks are trained to learn the underlying feature representation of an image of Cannabis sativa . Finally, the artistic motivation of these numerical experiments is presented in the context of the genotype-phenotype distinction
Impact of oligohydramnios on maternal and perinatal outcome: a comparative study

Background: Oligohydramnios has got significant impact on perinatal outcome and maternal morbidity. Therefore, early detection and its management will help in reduction of perinatal morbidity and mortality, decreased operative interventions. Hence, the present study is undertaken to study the impact of oligohydromnios on perinatal-maternal outcome.Methods: The present study was prospective comparative observational study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mallareddy Narayana Multispecialty Hospital, reputed teaching hospital from January 2015 to August 2017. The women were divided into study and control groups based on AFI, 100 cases were selected in each group.Results: Out of the 200 women, included in the present study, in study group AFI <5 cm was present in 51% of patients and AFI 5-8 cm in 49% of patients. Doppler abnormalities found in study group (n = 33). 32% of the patients in study group had non-reactive NST while in control group 8%. Caesarean section was performed in 70% of cases in study group as compared to 9% in control group. Foetal distress was the most common indication for LSCS. There were no perinatal deaths in this study.Conclusions: In this study amniotic fluid index of ≤5 cm was commonly associated with increased cesarean section rates, intrauterine growth restriction, Non-reactive NST and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry studies. Hence, every case of oligohydramnios needs to be evaluated carefully, early detection and initiation of appropriate treatment and treat the cause if possible.
Managerial Auditing Journal Does audit committee substitute or complement other corporate governance mechanisms : Evidence from an emerging economy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between audit committee (AC) and a set of other corporate governance mechanisms in one of the emerging economies, United Arab of Emirates (UAE). In particular, the current study examines whether an effective AC can serve as a substitute or as a complement mechanism to board characteristics and ownership structure of Emirati listed non-financial companies. Design/methodology/approach – Using substitution and complementary theories, a panel data from 48 nonfinancial companies listed on the UAE Stock Exchanges [Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange and Dubai Financial Market] during the period between 2011 and 2013 were used in the current study. A composite measure of four proxies has been used to measure the AC effectiveness, namely, AC size, independence, financial expertise and diligence. To test the hypotheses formulated for the study, a logistic regression model was used to identify the influence of a set of board characteristics and ownership structure variables on the effectiveness of the AC after controlling for firm size, auditor type, industry type and profitability. Findings – While AC effectiveness appeared to be positively associated with board size and board independence, it is negatively associated with CEO duality. This points to a complementary governance relation. On the other hand, the negative relationship between AC effectiveness and each of institutional and government ownership suggests substitutive relations. Research limitations/implications – The main shortcoming of the current study is that it examines the influence of a certain set of corporate governance factors on the effectiveness of AC. Other corporate governance mechanismsmay, however, contribute to the effectiveness of AC. The findings of the study can be used by companies’managements and regulators in the UAE to improve the corporate governance system. Originality/value – To the best of researchers’ knowledge, this study provides the first evidence about the interaction among multiple governance mechanisms required by the code of corporate governance issued by the UAE Ministry of Economy in 2009. The current paper is expected to add to the limited AC literature in Middle East and North African countries in general andArabWorld in particular.
Abscisic acid (ABA) seed soaking induced changes in physiology of two wheat cultivars under water stress

Wheat production is severely limited by water stress. Exploring water stress resistance physiological mechanisms for different wheat genotypes is of prime importance to find out new drought resistant gene resources. During present investigation two local primitive cultivars of wheat Viz. 011251 and 011393 belonging to arid regions of the country, were used to study the response of cultivars evolved in the natural arid environment to water stress and Abscisic acid (ABA) seed soaking at two important growth stages of the crop (booting and grain filling) in a pot experiment. Changes in endogenous ABA (bound and free) and the growth promoting hormones i.e. trans zeatin ribiside (t-zr), Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) and gibberellins (GA) were monitored. Stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were also measured. Re-watering was done to study the recovery process as well. Significant decrease in all growth promoting phytohormones (IAA, t-zr and GA), transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were observed while an increase was noticed in endogenous ABA (bound and free) under water stress condition at both growth stages. ABA seed soaking helped in mitigating the harmful effects of water stress in both cultivars. But this response was genotype specific and diminished with the progression of the developmental stage of the crop.
Asset Prices, Exchange Rates and the Current Account

This paper analyses the role of asset prices in comparison to other factors, in particular exchange rates, as a driver of the US trade balance. It employs a Bayesian structural VAR model that requires imposing only a minimum of economically meaningful sign restrictions. We find that equity market shocks and housing price shocks have been major determinants of the US current account in the past, accounting for up to 30% of the movements of the US trade balance at a horizon of 20 quarters. By contrast, shocks to the real exchange rate have been less relevant, explaining about 9% and exerting a more temporary effect on the US trade balance. Our findings suggest that large exchange rate movements may not necessarily be the key element of an adjustment of today's large current account imbalances, and that in particular relative global asset price changes could be a potent source of adjustment.
Pre-launch calibration results of the TROPOMI payload on-board the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite

Abstract. The Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite was successfully launched on 13 October 2017, carrying the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) as its single payload. TROPOMI is the next-generation atmospheric sounding instrument, continuing the successes of GOME, SCIAMACHY, OMI, and OMPS, with higher spatial resolution, improved sensitivity, and extended wavelength range. The instrument contains four spectrometers, divided over two modules sharing a common telescope, measuring the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared reflectance of the Earth. The imaging system enables daily global coverage using a push-broom configuration, with a spatial resolution as low as 7×3.5 km2 in nadir from a Sun-synchronous orbit at 824 km and an Equator crossing time of 13:30 local solar time. This article reports the pre-launch calibration status of the TROPOMI payload as derived from the on-ground calibration effort. Stringent requirements are imposed on the quality of on-ground calibration in order to match the high sensitivity of the instrument. A new methodology has been employed during the analysis of the obtained calibration measurements to ensure the consistency and validity of the calibration. This was achieved by using the production-grade Level 0 to 1b data processor in a closed-loop validation set-up. Using this approach the consistency between the calibration and the L1b product, as well as confidence in the obtained calibration result, could be established. This article introduces this novel calibration approach and describes all relevant calibrated instrument properties as they were derived before launch of the mission. For most of the relevant properties compliance with the calibration requirements could be established, including the knowledge of the instrument spectral and spatial response functions. Partial compliance was established for the straylight correction; especially the out-of-spectral-band correction for the near-infrared channel needs future validation. The absolute radiometric calibration of the radiance and irradiance responsivity is compliant with the high-level mission requirements, but not with the stricter calibration requirements as the available on-ground validation shows. The relative radiometric calibration of the Sun port was non-compliant. The non-compliant subjects will be addressed during the in-flight commissioning phase in the first 6 months following launch.
Does Importing More Inputs Raise Productivity and Exports? Some Evidence from Indian Manufacturing

This study aims to analyse the role of imported inputs on productivity and export performance of the manufacturing industries of India. Our results indicate that imported inputs are crucial determinates of Total Factor Productivity (TFP). However, the impact varies greatly across industries. Furthermore, results regarding research and development (R&D) intensity suggest that inhouse R&D activities do not play a significant role in the productivity performance of Indian manufacturing firms. Our results also indicate that imports lead to a substantial growth in exports. In particular, exports in the chemical, machinery and transport equipment industries are highly dependent on imported intermediate goods. The results also indicate that although R&D is not linked with the productivity of industries, it has an important role in the export performance of these industries. TFP is also estimated to have a significant and sizable impact on export performance. This, in turn, supports the self-selection hypothesis, which explains the self-selection of more productive firms into the export market. Overall, our results support both hypotheses: learning by importing and self-selection in the import market.
Physicochemical characterization and evaluation of in vitro and in vivo toxicity of goldenberry extract nanoemulsion

ABSTRACT: Oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion containing goldenberry extract was elaborated using a high-energy ultrasonic bath method. Physicochemical characterization of the formulation was carried out by determining pH, mean droplet diameter, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential. Nanoemulsion toxicity was assessed using in vitro assays with tumor and non-tumor cell lines, and in vivo using Caenorhabditis elegans. The pH of the nanoemulsion was 3.84, the mean droplet diameter was 268 ± 7 nm, PDI 0.113 and zeta potential -13.94 mV. Results of the cytotoxicity assays employing non-tumor cells indicated that the extract associated or not with nanoemulsion maintained cell viability at different concentrations tested. In the assays using tumor lineage, it is observed that the nanoemulsion containing the extract had higher antitumor activity than the free extract. As for the in vivo tests, there was no change in the survival rate of the worms.
Cellular uptake, intracellular distribution and degradation of Her2-targeting silk nanospheres

Background The development of nanocarrier technology has attracted great interest in the last decade. Biodegradable spheres made of functionalized silk have considerable potential to be used as drug delivery systems for cancer treatment. A targeting ligand displayed at the surface of a carrier, with a specific affinity towards a particular receptor, can further enhance the accumulation and uptake of nanoparticles at the site of a tumor. Materials and methods The hybrid constructs were obtained by adding a Her2-binding peptide (H2.1) to MS1 and MS2 bioengineered silks based on the MaSp1 and MaSp2 proteins from N. clavipes, respectively. The H2.1MS1 and H2.1MS2 proteins were blended at a weight ratio of 8:2. Stable silk particles were formed by mixing a soluble protein with potassium phosphate using a micromixing technique. We used specific inhibitors of endocytosis to determine the cellular uptake pathway of the silk nanoparticles in human Her2-positive breast cancer cells. The subcellular distribution of silk particles was investigated by evaluating the signal colocalization with organelle-specific tracker. Moreover, lysosomal and exosomal inhibitors were implemented to evaluate their impact on the silk spheres behavior and degradation. Results The functionalized spheres were specifically taken up by Her2-positive cancer cells. Silk particles facilitated the entry into cells through both the clathrin- and caveola-dependent pathways of endocytosis. Upon entering the cells, the particles accumulated in the lysosomes, where intracellular degradation occurred. Conclusions The present study demonstrated directly that the lysosomal function was essential for silk-based carrier elimination. The degradation of the carrier is of great importance to develop an optimal drug delivery system.
Inequality, Political Systems and Public Spending

Political regimes and institutions di®er across countries. Such char- acteristics in°uence public spending within each country. The aim of this paper is to check for the existence of a link between political institu- tions, income inequality and public spending. We develop an empirical investigation, based on panel data analysis, on the determinants of pub- lic spending focusing on political, economic, demographic and social variables in large sample of developed and developing countries from 1970 to 2005. In particular, we focus on the e®ects of electoral rules on government consumption ¯nding that in countries with proportional electoral rule an increase in the heterogeneity of the government in- creases government consumption, while in countries with majoriratian electoral rule, a shift from presidential to parliamentary system leads to an increase in government consumption. We ¯nd that the link between income distribution, measured by the Gini index, and public spending depends upon institutional characteristics. Moreover, we ¯nd empiri- cal support for the argument that government spending is a policy tool used by governments to insurance the domestic economy from external shocks stemming from international trade.
An Eye for an Eye: Examining Personality-Based Predictors of Trait Vengefulness

Copyright 2010 by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Vol. 15, No. 2/ISSN 1089-4136) Social interactions sometimes give rise to interpersonal offense, whether in the form of a tasteless joke, a hurtful remark, or a betrayed trust. When an individual feels hurt by someone, feelings of unforgiveness often result. Unforgiveness refers to a constellation of generally negative emotions resulting from the perception of an interpersonal transgression; such emotions may include anger, bitterness, hatred, resentment, and rumination (Berry, Worthington, O’Connor, Parrott, & Wade, 2005). Different people attempt to resolve, reduce, or avoid these negative feelings in different ways (Worthington & Wade, 1999). Some may choose to forgive their transgressor, freely relinquishing those negative emotions and any claims they might have to restitution or justice for the harm they suffered (Exline, Baumeister, Bushman, Campbell, & Finkel, 2004). When people genuinely forgive their transgressors, the result is a motivational transformation away from retaliation and estrangement and toward goodwill, compassion, and mercy (McCullough, Worthington, & Rachal, 1997). By contrast, some may choose to seek vengeance. Vengeance is a form of retributive aggression in which the victim of some transgression responds in a manner that is usually aggressive, disproportionate, intense, highly personal, and temporally incontiguous to the harm suffered, typically following a period of angry rumination (Stuckless & Goranson, 1992). Although both forgiveness and vengeance have the effect of reducing the negative feelings associated with unforgiveness (Worthington & Wade, 1999), there is abundant evidence that the two are unequal in most other respects. For instance, the literature indicates that vengeance is a highly malicious and antisocial behavior implicated in a number of violent crimes, including arson (O’Sullivan & Kelleher, 1987), homicide (Porporino, Doherty, & Sawatsky, 1987), and rape (Scully & Marolla, 1985). Conversely, the literature paints forgiveness as a prosocial behavior that confers both physical and mental health benefits on its practitioners. Forgiveness-based therapeutic interventions, such as that designed by Enright and the Human Development Study Group (1991), have resulted in significant long-term mental health improvements in participating clients who identified as suffering from recent emotional distress (e.g., Al-Mabuk, Enright, & Cardis, 1995). Thus, forgiveness and vengefulness, although clearly related, are empirically distinct phenomena. Sean e. WiSnieSki